Adam J. Patinkin
About Adam J. Patinkin
Adam J. Patinkin (age 40) is an independent director of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (KFS), appointed March 31, 2025 and nominated for election at the May 19, 2025 annual meeting . He is Founder and Managing Partner of David Capital Partners, LLC, holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College (History and Government) . He is an investor-director with significant share ownership through David Capital funds .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield Asset Management, L.L.C. | Investment team member | 2007–2010 | Long/short equity experience; foundational to investor skillset |
| David Capital Partners, LLC | Founder & Managing Partner | 2011–present | Leads long-term oriented alternative investment firm |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Type | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flamingo Group, Inc. | Director | Private enterprise software (multi-family apartment industry) | Board service; industry software exposure |
Board Governance
- Independence: Designated “Independent” under NYSE and SEC standards .
- Appointment and election: Appointed to the Board on March 31, 2025; nominated for election at the 2025 annual meeting .
- Committee memberships: As of April 9, 2025, listed as “Board” only; no committee assignments disclosed for Mr. Patinkin .
- Board operations context: In 2024, the Board met eight times; each director (then in office) attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings; this predates Mr. Patinkin’s appointment .
- Board leadership: Independent, non-executive Chairman (Terence M. Kavanagh); risk oversight distributed across Board with Audit Committee oversight of reporting/control risks .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Terms | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (non-employee directors) | $80,000 | Payable quarterly in advance |
| Chair fees | +$40,000 for Chairman of the Board; +$40,000 for Audit Chair | Payable quarterly in advance |
| 2024 cash paid to Patinkin | — | Appointed Mar 31, 2025; no 2024 fees |
| Meeting fees | None disclosed | Program described as single retainer; no meeting fees stated |
In connection with their service, new directors (including Mr. Patinkin) will be compensated per the Company’s standard non-employee director policies as described in the proxy; no additional arrangements disclosed .
Performance Compensation
| Metric Type | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Equity-based director awards (RSUs/PSUs/options) | None disclosed for directors | 2024 Director Compensation table shows only cash fees; no director equity awards listed |
| Performance metrics tied to director pay | None disclosed | Program described as a retainer; no performance conditions for director fees |
| Clawbacks/COC/severance for directors | Not disclosed | Section covers executives; no director-specific provisions |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public/Private | Role | Interlocks/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed (public) | — | — | Mr. Patinkin has no public company board memberships listed |
| Flamingo Group, Inc. | Private | Director | Enterprise software; not a KFS supplier/customer per disclosure |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Investment acumen: Founder/Managing Partner of David Capital; prior hedge fund experience at Sheffield Asset Management .
- Professional credentials: CFA charterholder .
- Education: B.A., Dartmouth College (History & Government) .
- Board-relevant skills: Capital allocation, investor perspective; complements KFS’s strategy in asset-light services and “Search Fund” model per appointment release .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Outstanding | Beneficial Ownership Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam J. Patinkin | 1,232,000 | 4.47% | 748,000 via David Capital Partners Fund LP; 484,000 via David Capital Partners Special Situation Fund, LP |
| Shares outstanding (record date) | 27,537,151 | — | Common Shares outstanding as of March 24, 2025 |
Additional disclosure notes affiliates of David Capital acquired positions representing approximately 9.2% of outstanding common shares via common and options; none sold or issued by KFS (press release context; may reflect options methodology/timeframe) .
Governance Assessment
- Alignment: Material personal alignment via significant beneficial ownership (4.47%); ownership through investment partnerships aligns incentives with shareholder returns .
- Independence and conflicts: Classified independent; related party transaction policy indicates no director had material interests other than disclosed items (none involving Mr. Patinkin) .
- Compensation structure: Cash-only director fees; no equity or performance-linked director compensation disclosed, limiting pay-for-performance signals but avoiding complex director incentives .
- Risk controls: Securities Trading Policy prohibits hedging/monetization transactions in KFS securities, supporting ownership integrity and alignment .
- Engagement signal: Newly appointed investor-director with stated intent to contribute operational scale and capital markets visibility; Board will determine committee assignments—no committee role yet as of the proxy date .
Potential RED FLAGS to monitor
- Concentrated investor influence: Combined substantial holdings across investor-affiliated directors/funds (e.g., Stilwell, Oakmont, David Capital) may shape governance dynamics; ensure continued adherence to independence standards and majority voting policy .
- Absence of director equity grants: While cash simplicity can reduce conflicts, lack of equity holding requirements/guidelines for directors is not disclosed; monitor for adoption of ownership guidelines to strengthen alignment .
- Committee placement timing: No audit/compensation/nominating assignments disclosed for Mr. Patinkin yet; watch for future committee roles that leverage his financial expertise .