CĪON Investment (CICB) 2026 proxy on directors, auditor and buybacks
CĪON Investment Corporation is asking shareholders to vote at its 2026 annual meeting, held virtually on June 25, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. Holders of common stock as of April 30, 2026, when 49,789,210 shares were outstanding, are entitled to vote.
Shareholders will elect two Class II independent directors (Robert A. Breakstone and Catherine K. Choi) and vote on ratifying RSM US LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026. The Board, including all independent directors, unanimously recommends voting “FOR” both proposals.
The proxy describes a majority-independent Board, detailed committee structure, and director pay, as well as related-party arrangements with its adviser CIM. It also notes an $80 million share repurchase authorization, under which the company bought about 1.77 million shares in 2025 at an average of $9.70.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Key Terms
broker non-votes financial
quorum financial
Rule 10b5-1 trading plan financial
audit committee financial expert financial
business development company financial
co-investment transaction financial
Compensation Summary
| Name | Title | Total Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Gatto | ||
| Michael A. Reisner |
- Election of two Class II Directors
- Ratification of RSM US LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for 2026
☐ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☒ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ | Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
☒ | No fee required. |
☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |

(i) | elect two directors of the Company for three-year terms expiring in 2029, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified; and |
(ii) | ratify the selection of RSM US LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. |
Sincerely yours, | |||
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Mark Gatto | Michael A. Reisner | ||
Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors | Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors | ||
1. | To elect two directors of the Company, who will each serve for a term of three years expiring in 2029, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified; and |
2. | To ratify the selection of RSM US LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026. |
By Order of the Board of Directors, | |||
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Stephen Roman, | |||
Corporate Secretary | |||
1. | To elect two directors of the Company, who will each serve for a term of three years expiring in 2029, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified (the “Class II Director Proposal”); and |
2. | To ratify the selection of RSM US LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026 (the “Auditors Proposal”). |
Proposal | Vote Allowed and Impact | Vote Required | ||||||
Proposal 1 – Class II Director Proposal | Each Share may be voted for each of the Director nominees. Votes that are withheld will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on this proposal. Shares represented by broker non-votes are also not considered votes cast and thus have no effect on this proposal. Proxies received will be voted “FOR” the election of the Director nominees named in this Proxy Statement unless shareholders designate otherwise. | Each Director shall be elected by a plurality of all the votes cast at the Meeting virtually or by proxy (i.e., more votes for the Director than any other option for the position), provided that a quorum is present. | ||||||
Proposal 2 – Auditors Proposal | You may vote for or against or abstain from voting on the Auditors Proposal. Abstentions will not count as votes cast and thus have no effect on this proposal. Because brokers will have discretionary authority to vote for the Auditors Proposal in the event that they do not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owner of the Shares, there will not be any broker non-votes with respect to this proposal. | Approval of the Auditors Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting virtually or by proxy, provided that a quorum is present. | ||||||
• | Instructions on how to attend and participate via the Internet, including how to demonstrate proof of Share ownership, are posted at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CION2026; |
• | Assistance with questions regarding how to attend and participate via the Internet will be provided at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CION2026 on the day of the Meeting; |
• | Webcast starts at 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time; |
• | You will need your 16-digit control number to enter the Meeting via the Internet; and |
• | Shareholders may submit questions while attending the Meeting via the Internet. |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares Owned Beneficially(1) | Percentage of Class(2) | ||||
Interested Directors: | ||||||
Mark Gatto(3) | 45,424.38 | * | ||||
Michael A. Reisner(4) | 46,474.38 | * | ||||
Independent Directors: | ||||||
Robert A. Breakstone(5) | 18,255.31 | * | ||||
Peter I. Finlay(6) | 2,750.00 | * | ||||
Aron I. Schwartz(7) | 2,000.00 | * | ||||
Earl V. Hedin(8) | 7,888.56 | * | ||||
Catherine K. Choi | 2,000.00 | * | ||||
Edward J. Estrada | 3,695.00 | * | ||||
Executive Officers: | ||||||
Keith S. Franz(9) | 101,748.88 | * | ||||
Gregg A. Bresner(10) | 64,599.00 | * | ||||
Stephen Roman(11) | 14,942.67 | * | ||||
Eric A. Pinero(12) | 11,011.25 | * | ||||
All Executive Officers and Directors as a group (12 persons) | 320,789.43 | * | ||||
* | Less than 1%. |
(1) | Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). |
(2) | Based on a total of 49,789,210 Shares outstanding on April 30, 2026. |
(3) | Mr. Gatto is the record holder of 10,905 Shares, and CION Investment Group, LLC (“CIG”) is the record holder of 62,598.77 Shares that includes 5,932.67 Shares acquired under the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan. Messrs. Gatto and Reisner control CIG and, as a result, may be deemed to be the indirect beneficial owners of the Shares held by CIG. As permitted by Rule 16a-1(a)(4) under the Exchange Act, Mr. Gatto disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares held by CIG except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Also includes (i) 3,070 Shares held by the Gatto Living Trust in which Mr. Gatto, as Co-Trustee of the Gatto Living Trust, may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares held by the Gatto Living Trust, (ii) 50 Shares held for A.G., the child of Mr. Gatto, through a custodial account established pursuant to the Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (the “UTMA”) for which Mr. Gatto serves as custodian, (iii) 50 Shares held for G.G., the child of Mr. Gatto, through a custodial account established pursuant to the UTMA for which Mr. Gatto serves as custodian, and (iv) 50 Shares held for M.G., the child of Mr. Gatto, through a custodial account established pursuant to the UTMA for which Mr. Gatto serves as custodian. |
(4) | Mr. Reisner is the record holder of 15,175 Shares, and CIG is the record holder of 62,598.77 Shares that includes 5,932.67 Shares acquired under the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan. Messrs. Gatto and Reisner control CIG and, as a result, may be deemed to be the indirect beneficial owners of the Shares held by CIG. As permitted by Rule 16a-1(a)(4) under the Exchange Act, Mr. Reisner disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares held by CIG except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
(5) | Includes 6,360.31 Shares acquired under the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan. An individual retirement account (“IRA”) is the record holder of these Shares. Mr. Breakstone is the indirect beneficial owner with sole voting and investment power with respect to the Shares held by the IRA. |
(6) | A self-employed pension plan is the record holder of these Shares. Mr. Finlay is the indirect beneficial owner with sole voting and investment power with respect to the Shares held by the self-employed pension plan. |
(7) | An IRA is the record holder of these Shares. Mr. Schwartz is the indirect beneficial owner with sole voting and investment power with respect to the Shares held by the IRA. On April 17, 2026, Mr. Schwartz, a Class II Independent Director, notified the Board that he would not stand for |
(8) | Includes 4,037.69 Shares acquired under the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan. An IRA is the record holder of these Shares. Mr. Hedin is the indirect beneficial owner with sole voting and investment power with respect to the Shares held by the IRA. |
(9) | Mr. Franz is the record holder of 97,307.27 Shares that includes 28,592.27 Shares acquired under the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan, and an IRA is the record holder of 4,441.61 Shares that includes 1,941.61 Shares acquired under the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan. Mr. Franz is the indirect beneficial owner with sole voting and investment power with respect to the Shares held by the IRA. |
(10) | Mr. Bresner is the record holder of 50,099 Shares and certain IRAs are the record holder of 14,500 Shares. Mr. Bresner is the indirect beneficial owner with sole voting and investment power with respect to the Shares held by the IRAs. |
(11) | Includes 5,052.67 Shares acquired under the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan. |
(12) | Includes 3,721.25 Shares acquired under the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan. |
Name of Director | Dollar Range of Equity Securities Beneficially Owned in the Company(1)(2)(3) | ||
Independent Directors: | |||
Robert A. Breakstone | $100,001 – $500,000 | ||
Peter I. Finlay | $10,001 – $50,000 | ||
Aron I. Schwartz | $10,001 – $50,000 | ||
Earl V. Hedin | $50,001 – $100,000 | ||
Catherine K. Choi | $10,001 – $50,000 | ||
Edward J. Estrada | $10,001 – $50,000 | ||
Interested Directors: | |||
Mark Gatto | $100,001 – $500,000 | ||
Michael A. Reisner | $100,001 – $500,000 | ||
(1) | The dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned are as follows: None, $1—$10,000, $10,001—$50,000, $50,001—$100,000, $100,001—$500,000, $500,001—$1,000,000, or over $1,000,000. |
(2) | The dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned in the Company is based on the closing price for the Company’s common stock of $7.76 on April 30, 2026 on the NYSE. |
(3) | Beneficial ownership determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Exchange Act. |
• | Instructions on how to attend and participate via the Internet, including how to demonstrate proof of Share ownership, are posted at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CION2026; |
• | Assistance with questions regarding how to attend and participate via the Internet will be provided at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CION2026 on the day of the Meeting; |
• | Webcast starts at 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time; |
• | You will need your 16-digit control number to enter the Meeting via the Internet; and |
• | Shareholders may submit questions while attending the Meeting via the Internet. |
Class I - Independent (Term expires at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2028) | Class II - Independent (Term expires at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2026) | Class III - Interested (Term expires at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2027) | ||||
Edward J. Estrada | Robert A. Breakstone (director nominee) | Mark Gatto | ||||
Peter I. Finlay | Catherine K. Choi (director nominee) | Michael A. Reisner | ||||
Earl V. Hedin | Aron I. Schwartz | — | ||||
Name, Address(1), Age and Position(s) with Company | Term of Office(2) and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) | Other Public Directorships Held by Director During the Past 5 Years | ||||||
Robert A. Breakstone Age: 88 Director | 2012 – 2026 | Robert A. Breakstone has served as a member of the Board since 2012. He has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Landmark International Group, Inc., an independent consulting firm providing business development, financial, information technology, and marketing services to major corporations and start-up entrepreneurial ventures, since 1995. Previously, Mr. Breakstone served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at GTECH Corporation, a provider of technology-based gaming systems and services, from 1988 to 1995, where he took the firm private in a leveraged buyout and then public again later in an initial public offering. Prior to GTECH, he was President and Chief Executive Officer at Health-tex, Inc., which we believe is a leading marketer and retailer of children’s apparel, from 1985 to 1988, where he led a management buyout of the firm from Chesebrough Pond’s Inc., where he served as Group Vice President and served on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors from 1974 to 1985. Prior to Chesebrough Pond’s, Mr. Breakstone was a Group Executive with the Chase Manhattan Bank N.A. from 1970 to 1974, where he managed major corporate, domestic and international banking divisions. From 1967 to 1970, he was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Systems Audits, Inc., a management consulting firm providing information technology services to the financial industry. Mr. Breakstone also served on the board of directors of By Design International Ltd., a private, for-profit designer and marketer of women’s apparel and on the advisory board of Hoffinger Industries, Inc., a leader in the above-ground pool/filtration industry. In addition to his prior service as a member of the board of Chesebrough Pond’s, Mr. Breakstone also served on the board of directors of OSF, Inc., a Canadian publicly traded company, from 1996 to 1998 where, as a member of an independent special committee, he was responsible for selling the company to a US-based financial entity. Mr. Breakstone served as an Adjunct Professor at the Graduate School of Business at Mercy College from 1999 to 2006. From 1963 to 1967, Mr. Breakstone was an adjunct professor at New York University. In addition, from 1967 to 1969, Mr. Breakstone was an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Pace University. Mr. Breakstone’s degrees include a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.B.A. from the City College of New York. Mr. Breakstone has extensive operating experience in both public and private companies in a variety of industries and has served as a member of various boards. This experience has provided Mr. Breakstone, in the opinion of the Board, with experience and insight that is beneficial to the Company. | None | ||||||
Name, Address(1), Age and Position(s) with Company | Term of Office(2) and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) | Other Public Directorships Held by Director During the Past 5 Years | ||||||
Catherine K. Choi Age: 54 Director | 2021 – 2026 | Catherine K. Choi has served as a member of the Board since 2021. Ms. Choi has served as President of BULBRITE Industries, a leading manufacturer and supplier of energy-efficient lighting solutions, since 2009. Founded 50 years ago by her parents, BULBRITE is a family-owned business renowned for its commitment to innovation, education and exceptional service. In her role as President, Ms. Choi oversees all aspects of the company’s operations including sales, marketing, operations, manufacturing and product development. During her tenure as President of BULBRITE, Ms. Choi has expanded sales and services to a broader community and distributor base throughout North America. She has helped expand the breadth of the company’s product line to LED decorative bulbs and patio string lights as well as a line of smart bulbs, Bulbrite Solana®, that has been featured in the Washington Post, Dwell, House Beautiful and Apartment Therapy. Recipient of the 2021 Women in Lighting Leadership Award and Residential Lighting Industry Leadership Award in 2010, Ms. Choi is an active leader in the lighting industry, serving on the Lighting Board of Governors for the Dallas Market Center since 2018, and was a former Chair of the American Lighting Association Education Foundation Board from 2013 to 2015. She is an ALA Certified Lighting Specialist. Ms. Choi was recognized as a Woman of Influence in 2013 by the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey. She is also an elected member of the President’s Council for Cornell Women since 2017, and has served as a director for the Ridgewood Public Library Foundation since 2017 and for a privately held company in New Jersey since 2015. Ms. Choi earned her M.B.A. from New York University in 1996 and her B.A. from Cornell University in 1993. She is the Co-Chair of the NYU Stern Women in Business Alumnae Group, and an Advisory Council Member for the Seton Hall Business School Leadership Program. In the opinion of the Board, Ms. Choi’s extensive entrepreneurial experience as the principal executive of a privately owned, family business brings value to the Board. | None | ||||||
Name, Address(1), Age and Position(s) with Company | Term of Office(2) and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) | Other Public Directorships Held by Director During the Past 5 Years | ||||||
Peter I. Finlay Age: 64 Director | 2016 – 2028 | Peter I. Finlay has served as a member of the Board since 2016. He is the founder and Managing Principal of Ardentis LLC, a corporate finance consulting firm that provides advisory services to companies in the U.S. and international markets. From 2008 to 2013, Mr. Finlay served as Managing Director of ICON Capital, LLC and was responsible for managing new business origination in Europe and North America. Prior to 2008, Mr. Finlay held various management positions both in financial institutions and in relevant industries. From 2006 to 2008, he served as Director of Equipment Finance at Landsbanki Commercial Finance where he established a new industrial finance business with a focus on originating middle market secured debt transactions. From 2003 to 2006, he served as Vice President & Regional Director Europe for GMAC Commercial Finance where he started a new equipment finance business. From 2000 to 2003, Mr. Finlay served as a Director of Project Finance Organization at Bell Labs Lucent Technologies and from 1997 to 1999 he served as a Marketing Director of Structured Finance at Transamerica Leasing, where he established a structured finance operation covering Europe and the Middle East. Mr. Finlay started his career at National Westminster Bank (1979 – 1986) before moving to Barclays (1986 – 1997), where he held various positions, including Manager in the middle market structured leasing department and Manager in the para-banking inspection department, where he was responsible for reviewing risk management compliance and risk underwriting in the bank’s European equipment finance subsidiaries. Since 2014, Mr. Finlay has been the Managing Principal of Ardentis LLC. From 2015 to 2021, he was also an advisor to the board of EMM Investments LLC, a privately held asset manager engaged in lending to asset intensive companies. From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Finlay served as Chairman and non-executive Director of Premier Telesolutions Ltd. (UK). Mr. Finlay became an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in England and Wales in 1994 and completed a Diploma in Financial Studies in 1997. He completed an M.B.A. at City University Business School in London in 1997 and subsequently served as a tutor in the evening M.B.A. program. In the opinion of the Board, Mr. Finlay’s experience of working with large financial institutions in the middle market combined with his knowledge of structured finance, risk management and financial control, brings value to the Board. | None | ||||||
Name, Address(1), Age and Position(s) with Company | Term of Office(2) and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) | Other Public Directorships Held by Director During the Past 5 Years | ||||||
Earl V. Hedin Age: 70 Director | 2017 – 2028 | Earl V. Hedin has served as a member of the Board since 2017. He is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Hudson Partners Group LLC. The firm provides capital market advisory services and previously assisted investment managers in raising institutional capital for hedge funds, private equity and other alternative investment strategies through its wholly owned subsidiary Hudson Partners Securities LLC. Mr. Hedin is also a FINOP professional for Stone Key Securities LLC since 2010. From 1999 to 2007, Mr. Hedin served as a Senior Managing Director at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., where he held various senior roles building and guiding the Bear Stearns Asset Management Group. These roles included Chief Financial Officer, Director of Alternatives and co-head and founder of the firm’s Private Funds Group. He was responsible for the firm’s sponsored venture capital funds and headed the approximately $1 billion private equity fund-of-funds program. During his tenure, he created numerous alternative asset products and helped raise over $3 billion for these funds. Mr. Hedin also created the first hedge fund-of-funds product at Bear Stearns. From 1995 to 1998, he served as a Managing Director – Principal, and worked on several key international financial structuring projects, including the creation of Bear Stearns Irish Bank in Dublin. Additionally, Mr. Hedin created the Bear Stearns Dublin Development Center to reduce technology related costs. From 1994 to 1995, he served as Vice President at Bankers Trust New York Corporation, where he was responsible for strategic planning and management reporting. Prior to that, from 1989 to 1993, he worked as a Vice President and Controller in the firm’s Domestic Merchant Bank and directed all financial management functions across a variety of business units. During that time, he was also actively involved in the buying and selling of LBO partnership interests. From 1988 to 1989, he served as Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer of American International Group’s credit subsidiary, A.I. Credit Corporation, and managed the firm’s liability portfolio. Previously, Mr. Hedin was an Associate in Morgan Stanley’s venture capital group as well as the Chief Financial Officer of the group’s activities. Prior to that, he served as a Senior Accountant at Price Waterhouse. Mr. Hedin received his M.B.A from Rutgers Graduate School of Management in 1980 and did graduate studies at Carnegie-Mellon University. He received his B.A. from Rutgers College in 1978. Mr. Hedin is a holder of the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation and is a Certified Public Accountant (retired). Mr. Hedin also holds various FINRA licenses including Series 7, 63, 99, 24 (Securities Principal) and 27 (Financial Principal). In the opinion of the Board, Mr. Hedin’s extensive experience working with large financial institutions combined with his knowledge of various alternative investment strategies and industries, provides experience and insight that is beneficial to the Company. | None | ||||||
Name, Address(1), Age and Position(s) with Company | Term of Office(2) and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) | Other Public Directorships Held by Director During the Past 5 Years | ||||||
Edward J. Estrada Age: 53 Director | 2021 – 2028 | Edward J. Estrada has served as a member of the Board since 2021. Mr. Estrada is the Principal of Estrada Legal Consulting, a legal management consulting business working with law firms on strategy development, implementation and alignment, market positioning, margin improvement, and operational efficiency. Mr. Estrada was in private legal practice for 25 years. Most recently, he was a partner with the global law firm, Reed Smith, LLP, in its Global Financial Industry Group. Mr. Estrada is a Trustee of CION Grosvenor Infrastructure Fund, a diversified, closed-end management investment company, since 2024. In addition, Mr. Estrada has been a partner at American Redress Partners, LLP since 2024. He has served as a director for a family foundation since 2021 and as an advisory and executive board member for certain nonprofit businesses. At Reed Smith LLP, Mr. Estrada counseled his clients in a wide range of business matters, including acting as outside counsel, and addressing their regulatory, transactional and litigation needs. He held multiple leadership positions at Reed Smith, LLP, most recently as global chair of the firm’s Financial Industry Group from 2016 to 2021. Mr. Estrada also served as co-head of Reed Smith, LLP’s U.S. Litigation Group (2010 to 2012), served two terms on the firm’s Executive Committee (2009 and 2014), served as Managing Partner of the New York Office (2012 to 2014), and served as the firm’s Global Head of Business Strategy on the firm’s Senior Management Team (2014 to 2016). In his practice, and in his role as global chair of Reed Smith, LLP’s Financial Industry Group, Mr. Estrada counseled clients ranging from private funds to investment and regional banks and was responsible for identifying and responding to market and industry trends. Mr. Estrada received his J.D. from George Washington Law School in 1997 and his B.A. from Cornell University in 1994. In the opinion of the Board, Mr. Estrada’s extensive legal experience, particularly with counseling private funds and investment and regional banks on a broad range of legal matters, including, without limitation, litigation and commercial transactions, brings value to the Board. | CION Grosvenor Infrastructure Fund | ||||||
Name, Address(1), Age and Position(s) with Company | Term of Office(2) and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) | Other Public Directorships Held by Director During the Past 5 Years | ||||||
Mark Gatto Age: 53 Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company | 2011 – 2027 | Mark Gatto serves as Co-Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company (since 2011) and CIG. Mr. Gatto serves on the investment committee of CIM. In addition, Mr. Gatto is a Trustee, Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer and serves on the investment allocation committee of CION Ares Diversified Credit Fund, a diversified, closed-end management investment company, and is a Trustee, Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of CION Grosvenor Infrastructure Fund, also a diversified, closed-end management investment company. He joined CION Investments in 1999. Mr. Gatto was formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Acquisitions Officer from May 2007 through January 2008. He served as Executive Vice President of Business Development from May 2006 through May 2007 and Vice President of Marketing from August 2005 through February 2006. Mr. Gatto was also Associate General Counsel for CIG from November 1999 until October 2000. Previously, Mr. Gatto was an executive for a leading international product development and marketing company from 2000 through 2003 and later co-founded a specialty business-consulting firm in New York City where he served as its managing partner before re-joining CION Investments in 2005. Mr. Gatto was also an attorney in private practice from 1996 through 1999. Mr. Gatto received an M.B.A from the W. Paul Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University, a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, and a B.S. from Montclair State University. Through his broad experiences in business and corporate development, Mr. Gatto brings to the Company unique business expertise as well as extensive financial and risk assessment abilities. Mr. Gatto’s service with CION Investments provides him with a specific understanding of the Company, its operations, and the business and regulatory issues similar to those issues facing business development companies. Mr. Gatto’s positions as Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company provide the Board with a direct line of communication to, and direct knowledge of the operations of, the Company. | CION Ares Diversified Credit Fund CION Grosvenor Infrastructure Fund | ||||||
Name, Address(1), Age and Position(s) with Company | Term of Office(2) and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) | Other Public Directorships Held by Director During the Past 5 Years | ||||||
Michael A. Reisner Age: 55 Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company | 2011 – 2027 | Michael A. Reisner serves as Co-Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company (since 2011) and CIG. Mr. Reisner serves on the investment committee of CIM. In addition, Mr. Reisner is a Trustee, Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer and serves on the investment allocation committee of CION Ares Diversified Credit Fund, a diversified, closed-end management investment company, and is a Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of CION Grosvenor Infrastructure Fund, also a diversified, closed-end management investment company. He joined CION Investments in 2001. Mr. Reisner was formerly Chief Financial Officer from January 2007 through April 2008. Mr. Reisner was also formerly Executive Vice President — Originations from February 2006 through January 2007. Mr. Reisner was Senior Vice President and General Counsel from January 2004 through January 2006. Mr. Reisner was Vice President and Associate General Counsel from March 2001 until December 2003. Previously, from 1996 to 2001, Mr. Reisner was an attorney in private practice in New York. Mr. Reisner received a J.D., cum laude, from New York Law School and a B.A. from the University of Vermont. Through his extensive experiences as a senior executive, including his time as chief financial officer of CION Investments, Mr. Reisner brings business expertise, finance and risk assessment skills to the Company. Mr. Reisner’s prior position as a corporate attorney allows him to bring to the Board and the Company the benefit of his experience negotiating and structuring various investment transactions as well as an understanding of the legal, business, compliance and regulatory issues similar to those issues facing business development companies. Mr. Reisner’s positions as Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company provide the Board with a direct line of communication to, and direct knowledge of the operations of, the Company. | CION Ares Diversified Credit Fund CION Grosvenor Infrastructure Fund | ||||||
Name, Address(1), Age and Position(s) with Company | Term of Office and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Other Public Directorships Held by Officer During the Past 5 Years | ||||||
Keith S. Franz Age: 57 Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | Since 2011 | Keith S. Franz has served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2011. Mr. Franz is principally responsible for the Company’s financial and day-to-day operating activities. Mr. Franz is also the Chief Financial Officer of CIM, the Company’s registered investment advisor. Mr. Franz joined CION Investments in March 2009 and was formerly the Vice President of Finance and Accounting and then a Senior Vice President and Principal Financial Officer through 2011. Prior to joining CION Investments, Mr. Franz was a senior executive for a business advisory and consulting firm from 2008 to 2009, the Vice President of Corporate Finance for a large publicly traded company from 2004 through 2008 and a Senior Audit Manager with E&Y, LLP in their assurance and business advisory group from 1991 through 2004. Mr. Franz received a B.S. from Binghamton University and is a certified public accountant and a Series 27 Financial and Operations principal. | None | ||||||
Name, Address(1), Age and Position(s) with Company | Term of Office and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Other Public Directorships Held by Officer During the Past 5 Years | ||||||
Gregg A. Bresner Age: 58 President and Chief Investment Officer | Since 2016 | Gregg A. Bresner joined the Company as President and Chief Investment Officer in 2016. Mr. Bresner has over 25 years of corporate finance, investment and portfolio management experience with a focus in the leveraged finance sector. Prior to joining the Company and CIM, Mr. Bresner worked at investment management and banking firms including Wasserstein Perella & Co., Bankers Trust Company, BT Alex. Brown, Deutsche Bank, Briscoe Capital Management and Plainfield Asset Management. Previously, Mr. Bresner served as the operating Chief Financial Officer of JDS Therapeutics from 2012 to 2016. At JDS, Mr. Bresner led the company’s financial, accounting, capital raising, corporate development and human resource functions and completed multiple capital raises, licensing transactions and acquisitions. In 2010, Mr. Bresner co-founded Tyto Capital, an investment firm specializing in private debt and equity investments in U.S. based middle-market companies. Tyto originated and acquired multiple private investments from 2010 to 2012, including an equity investment in JDS Therapeutics. In 2003, Mr. Bresner co-founded Briscoe Capital Management, a registered investment manager and the portfolio manager of the Fairfield Briscoe Senior Capital Fund, a debt fund focused on non-investment grade senior secured debt assets. Mr. Bresner actively managed a diversified loan portfolio of approximately 100 issuers. While at Briscoe, Mr. Bresner successfully raised and utilized approximately $700 million of committed debt facilities with Citigroup and CIBC. In mid-2006, the Briscoe Capital team merged into Plainfield Asset Management, a multi-billion-dollar special situations hedge fund platform. From 2006 to 2010, Mr. Bresner served as a Managing Director of Plainfield, where he sourced and executed direct U.S. debt and equity investments for various Plainfield investment funds. Mr. Bresner began his investment banking career in the Mergers & Acquisitions group of Wasserstein Perella, where he advised middle-market companies and private equity sponsors on mergers and acquisitions, leveraged recapitalization and restructuring transactions. While at Bankers Trust Company and Deutsche Bank, Mr. Bresner was a senior investment banker in the Financial Sponsors Group where he focused on sourcing, structuring and executing leveraged senior debt, high yield debt and mezzanine financings for private equity sponsors. Mr. Bresner graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and received his M.B.A. from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, where he was a Beta Gamma Sigma scholar. Mr. Bresner is a holder of the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. | None | ||||||
Name, Address(1), Age and Position(s) with Company | Term of Office and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Other Public Directorships Held by Officer During the Past 5 Years | ||||||
Stephen Roman Age: 45 Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary | Since 2016 | Stephen Roman has served as the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary since February 2016 and is also the Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary of CION Grosvenor Infrastructure Fund since 2024. He advises on regulatory, compliance, fund governance, and operational matters for alternative investment funds and their advisers. Prior to joining CIG in 2013, Mr. Roman practiced law in New York, and earlier in his career, he was an analyst at Forex Capital Markets. Mr. Roman holds a B.S. from New York University and a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law. He is a CFA® Charterholder. | None | ||||||
Name, Address(1), Age and Position(s) with Company | Term of Office and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Other Public Directorships Held by Officer During the Past 5 Years | ||||||
Eric A. Pinero Age: 50 Chief Legal Officer | Since 2021 | Eric A. Pinero has served as the Company’s Chief Legal Officer since November 2021 and as Senior Director and Counsel of CIG and its affiliated entities since July 2013. At CIG, Mr. Pinero advises on all legal, compliance and regulatory matters, including, among others, matters related to corporate and securities law compliance for CIG as well as CIG’s sponsored alternative investment products, including the Company. Prior to joining CIG in 2013, Mr. Pinero was an attorney with several highly regarded regional law firms representing both issuers and underwriters concentrating on securities law compliance, public and private debt and equity securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and a diverse range of corporate and commercial transactions. Mr. Pinero received a B.S. in Political Science and History from Roger Williams University and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. | None | ||||||
(1) | The address for each Director and executive officer is c/o CĪON Investment Corporation, 100 Park Avenue, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017. |
(2) | The Company’s Directors are divided into three classes, each holding office for a three-year term. At each annual meeting of shareholders, the successors to the class of Directors whose terms expire at such meeting will be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders held in the third year following the year of their election. Each Director will hold office for the term to which he or she is elected and serve until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. |
(3) | “Interested person” of the Company as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. Messrs. Gatto and Reisner are each an “interested person” because of their affiliation with CIM. |
• | The name of the shareholder and evidence of the person’s ownership of Shares, including the number of Shares owned and the length of time of the ownership; |
• | The name of the candidate, the candidate’s resume or a listing of his or her qualifications to be a Director of the Company and the person’s consent to be named as a Director if selected by the nominating and corporate governance committee and nominated to the Board; and |
• | If requested by the nominating and corporate governance committee, a completed and signed Director’s questionnaire. |
Name | Aggregate Compensation From the Company(1) | ||
Independent Directors | |||
Robert A. Breakstone(2) | $131,841 | ||
Catherine K. Choi | $105,595 | ||
Edward J. Estrada | $107,335 | ||
Peter I. Finlay | $107,868 | ||
Earl V. Hedin | $107,468 | ||
Aron I. Schwartz(3) | $138,154 | ||
Interested Directors(4) | |||
Mark Gatto | None | ||
Michael A. Reisner | None | ||
(1) | Figure includes amount of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed to the Director during the period. The Company did not award any portion of the fees earned by the Directors in stock or options during the year ended December 31, 2025. The Company does not have a profit-sharing plan, and Directors do not receive any pension or retirement benefits from the Company. |
(2) | Includes compensation as chairman of the nominating and corporate governance committee. |
(3) | Includes compensation as chairman of the audit committee. |
(4) | Messrs. Gatto and Reisner are each an Interested Director and, as such, receive no compensation from the Company for their service as Directors. |
Fiscal Year | Audit Fees* | Audit-Related Fees** | Tax Fees*** | All Other Fees**** | ||||||||
2025 | $1,312,740 | $— | $25,725 | $— | ||||||||
2024 | $1,142,592 | $— | $26,600 | $— | ||||||||
* | “Audit Fees” consist of fees billed to the Company by RSM for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s year-end financial statements. These fees billed include fees related to RSM’s review of the Company’s debt offering documents. |
** | “Audit-Related Fees” are those fees billed to the Company by RSM relating to audit services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” |
*** | “Tax Fees” are those fees billed to the Company by RSM in connection with tax compliance services, including primarily the review of the Company’s income tax returns. |
**** | “All Other Fees” are those fees billed to the Company by RSM in connection with permitted non-audit services. |
(1) | The material in this report is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed “filed” with the SEC, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing. |
March 10, 2026 | |||
The Audit Committee | |||
Aron I. Schwartz, Chair | |||
Robert A. Breakstone | |||
Peter I. Finlay | |||
Earl V. Hedin | |||
Catherine K. Choi | |||
Edward J. Estrada | |||
1. | Election of Class II Directors, who will each serve for a term of three years expiring in 2029, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. |
Nominee: | Robert A. Breakstone | |||||||||||
☐ FOR | ☐ WITHHOLD | ☐ ABSTAIN | ||||||||||
Nominee: | Catherine K. Choi | |||||||||||
☐ FOR | ☐ WITHHOLD | ☐ ABSTAIN | ||||||||||
2. | To ratify the selection of RSM US LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026. |
☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN | |||||||
☐ YES | ☐ NO | ||||||||
Print name | Signature | Date | ||||
Print name | (Joint Owners) | Signature | Date | ||||||




