UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark one)

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from __________ to __________

Commission file number 000-05576

DOMINARI HOLDINGS INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2022: $30,913,061 based upon the closing sale price of our common stock of $5.90 on that date. Common stock held by each officer and director and by each person known to own in excess of 5% of outstanding shares of our common stock has been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. The determination of affiliate status in not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

There were 4,840,597 shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding as of March 20, 2023.

DOMINARI HOLDINGS INC.

(Formerly AIkido Pharma, Inc.)

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PART I

SPECIAL CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward looking statements are often identified by the words “will,” “may,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects” and words of similar import. Such words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but are not intended to constitute the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those described in “Risk Factors” below that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

All references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Dominari Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries unless the context requires otherwise.

Item 1. BUSINESS.

OVERVIEW

Dominari Holdings Inc. (“Dominari”) is a holding company that, through its various subsidiaries, is engaged in financial services, investment advising and wealth management, asset management, investment banking, the acquisition of interests in high growth industries, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical research and development.  In addition to capital investment, Dominari provides management support to the executive teams of its subsidiaries, helping them to operate efficiently and reduce cost under a streamlined infrastructure. Dominari and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein as “Company”, “we”, “our” or “us”.

Dominari Financial, Inc. (“Dominari Financial”), our wholly-owned financial subsidiary, is the M&A arm of Dominari and will execute the Company’s roll-up strategy in the financial sector. The roll-up strategy seeks to acquire third-party financial assets such as registered investment advisors, broker dealers, asset management firms and fintech firms. Our first transaction in furtherance of our financial roll-up strategy, the acquisition of 100% of a registered broker-dealer from Fieldpoint Private Bank & Trust, was consummated on March 27, 2023. The newly acquired dually registered broker-dealer and investment adviser will be renamed Dominari Securities, LLC (“Dominari Securities”) and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dominari Financial. Dominari Securities will provide wealth management services, asset management services, investment banking and sales and trading.

The Company is in the process of winding down its historical pipeline of biotechnology assets held by Aikido Labs, LLC. These biotechnology assets consist of patented technology from leading universities and researchers, including prospective treatments for pancreatic cancer, acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  The Company is also developing a broad-spectrum antiviral platform, in which the lead compounds have activity in cell-based assays against multiple viruses including Influenza virus, Ebolavirus and Marburg virus, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19.

HISTORY

The Company was founded in 1967 as Spherix Incorporated. In 2017 the Company changed its name to Aikido Pharma Inc. From 2017 to 2022, the Company operated as a biotechnology company with a diverse portfolio of small-molecule anticancer and antiviral therapeutics in development. During the second half of 2022, in an effort to enhance shareholder value, the Company shifted its primary focus away from biotechnology to a new line of business in the financial services industry.  In furtherance of this new focus, in June of 2022, the Company formed Dominari Financial, with the purpose of making strategic acquisitions across the financial services industry. On December 22, 2022, the Company changed its name to Dominari Holdings Inc. 

On September 9, 2022, we entered into a membership interest purchase agreement (the “FPS Purchase Agreement”) with Fieldpoint Private Bank & Trust (“Seller”), a Connecticut bank, for the purchase of its wholly owned subsidiary, Fieldpoint Private Securities, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company (“FPS”) and broker-dealer registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).   Pursuant to the terms of the FPS Purchase Agreement, we purchased from the Seller 100% of the membership interests in FPS (the “Membership Interests”) and, as a result thereof, will operate the newly acquired dual registered broker-dealer and investment adviser as a wholly owned subsidiary.  The FPS Purchase Agreement provided for Dominari’s acquisition of FPS’s Membership Interests in two closings, the first of which occurred on October 4, 2022 (the “Initial Closing”), at which Dominari paid to the Seller $2,000,000 in consideration for a transfer by the Seller to Dominari of 20% of the Membership Interests.   Following FINRA’s approval of the Continuing Membership Application pursuant to FINRA Rule 1017 (the “Rule 1017 Application”) on March 20, 2023, the second closing occurred on March 27, 2023 (the “Second Closing”), at which time Dominari paid to the Seller an additional $1.00 in consideration for a transfer by the Seller to Dominari of the remaining 80% of the Membership Interests.

DOMINARI SECURITIES

Dominari Securities plans to offer a broad range of broker-dealer and registered investment adviser services, commencing shortly after the completion of its acquisition of FPS, which is expected to begin in April 2023, including:

Wealth Management Services

Dominari Securities plans to provide a comprehensive array of financial services to high-net-worth individuals and families, corporate executives, and public and private businesses. Clients will be able to choose a variety of ways to establish a relationship and conduct business, including by establishing brokerage accounts with transaction-based pricing and/or investment advisory accounts with asset-based fee pricing. Dominari Securities also plans to provide the following private client services:

Full-Service Brokerage.  Dominari Securities plans to offer full-service brokerage services covering investment alternatives, including exchange-traded and over-the-counter corporate equity and debt securities, money market instruments, exchange-traded options, municipal bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and unit investment trusts. Dominari Securities expects its revenue to be derived from commissions from private clients through accounts with transaction-based pricing. Dominari Securities will charge brokerage commissions on investment products in accordance with a schedule which Dominari Securities plans to formulate. Discounts will be made available to and will able to be negotiated with customers based on transaction size and volume as well as a number of other factors.

Wealth Planning. Dominari Securities also plans to offer financial and wealth planning services which will include asset management, individual and corporate retirement solutions, insurance and annuity products, IRAs and 401(k) plans, U.S. stock plan services to corporate executives and businesses, education savings programs, and trust and fiduciary services to individual and corporate clients through third-party trust companies.

Margin Lending. Dominari Securities, through its clearing partnerships, also intends to extend credit to its customers, collateralized by securities and cash in the customer’s account, for a portion of the purchase price, and to receive income from interest on such extensions of credit at interest rates derived from Dominari Securities’ posted rate as adjusted, from time to time.

Asset Management

Dominari Securities also plans to offer discretionary and non-discretionary fee-based programs to provide tailored investment management solutions and services to high-net-worth private clients, institutions and corporations and/or plans sponsored by them. These will include, but will not be limited to, portfolio management, manager research and due diligence through third party partners, asset allocation advice and financial planning. Dominari Securities plans to offer Portfolio management strategies and third-party investment management capabilities through separately managed accounts, alternative investments and discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management programs as well as managed portfolios of mutual funds. Platform support functions will include sales and marketing along with administrative services such as trade execution, client services, records management and client reporting and performance monitoring. Dominari Securities expects to generate revenues through the receipt of investment advisory and transactional fees for advisory services and to also generate revenue from fees earned through sharing arrangements with registered and private alternative investment vehicles. Dominari Securities also expects to earn investment advisory fees on all assets held in discretionary and non-discretionary asset-based programs. These fees will be typically billed monthly in advance, and will be calculated based on all fee-based assets under management balances at the end of the prior month. Dominari Securities also expects to receive income from revenue-sharing arrangements that are derived from management and incentive fees on alternative investments and will be calculated on a pre-determined basis with registered and private investment companies. The Company’s asset management services are expected to include:

Separately Managed Accounts. The Company plans to provide clients with fee-based programs: (i) a unified managed account which allows multiple investment managers, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds to be combined in a single custodial account; and (ii) an asset review dual contract program designed for clients seeking a direct contractual relationship with investment managers.

Discretionary Advisory Accounts.  Dominari Securities plans to offer client-focused discretionary fee-based investment programs managed by Dominari Securities advisors.

Non-Discretionary Advisory Accounts. Dominari plans to provide fee-based non-discretionary investment advisory services and consultation to clients.

Alternative Investments. Dominari plans to offer high net worth and institutional investors the opportunity to participate in a wide range of non-traditional investment strategies. Strategies are expected to include single manager hedge funds, fund of funds, diversified private equity funds and single investment late stage private equity funds.

Private Market Platform.Through a collaborative effort among the firm’s business units, Dominari’s private market platform will focus on sourcing private investments across various sectors. Transactions are expected to cover the full spectrum of private investments, including early stage, late stage, direct, co-investments, funds and secondary market transactions in debt, equity and hybrid securities.

Investment Banking

Dominari Securities’ investment banking division will provide strategic advisory services and capital markets products to emerging growth and middle market businesses. The investment banking groups will focus on the consumer and retail, energy, financial institutions, healthcare, rental services, technology, education, and transportation and logistics sectors. Investment banking services include:

Financial Advisory. Dominari Securities will advise buyers and sellers on sales, divestitures, mergers, acquisitions, tender offers, privatizations, spin-offs, joint ventures, restructurings and liability management. Dominari Securities intends to provide dedicated senior bankers to clients focusing throughout the financial advisory process, which combines our structuring and negotiating expertise with our industry knowledge, extensive relationships and capital markets capabilities.

Equities Capital Markets. Dominari Securities will provide capital raising solutions for corporate clients through initial public offerings, follow-on offerings, confidentially marketed public offerings, registered directs, private investments in public equity, private placements, at-the-market offerings, and equity-linked offerings.

Debt Capital Markets. Dominari Securities plans to offer debt capital markets solutions for emerging growth and middle market companies. Dominari Securities will focus on structuring and distributing public and private debt through financing transactions, including leveraged buyouts, acquisitions, growth capital financings, recapitalizations and Chapter 11 exit financings. Dominari Securities will also participate in high yield debt and fixed and floating-rate senior and subordinated debt offerings.

Fund Placement. Dominari Securities will provide alternative investment firms with a broad and deep portfolio of value-added services. Services will include bespoke strategic and tactical advisory as well as primary fundraises, co-investments and direct transactions.

Debt Advisory & Restructuring. Dominari Securities will offer creative solutions to leveraged corporate issuers and credit investors. We will evaluate a full range of strategic alternatives, identify the appropriate structure and source of funds to provide our clients the ability to pursue an optimal and value maximizing outcome.

Sales and Trading

We intend to provide a broad range of sales and trading services to our clients. Sales and trading services will include:

Institutional Equity Sales and Trading. Dominari Securities will act as an agent in the execution of its customers’ orders through our clearing strategic partners.

Equity Derivatives and Index Options. Dominari Securities will offer listed equity and index options strategies for investors seeking to manage risk and optimize returns within the equities market.

Institutional Fixed Income Sales and Trading. Dominari Securities will trade and in public and private debt (including sovereign debt) securities, including investment and non-investment grade, distressed and convertible corporate securities as well as municipal securities through our clearing partners.

Securities Lending. In connection with both its trading and brokerage activities, Dominari Securities, through its clearing relationships, will borrow securities to cover short sales and to complete transactions in which customers have failed to deliver securities by the required settlement date and lend securities to other brokers and dealers for similar purposes. Dominari Securities will earn interest on its cash collateral provided and will pay interest on the cash collateral received less a rebate earned for lending securities.

Regulation

Regulation in the United States

The financial services industry in which we will operate is subject to extensive regulation. In the U.S., the SEC is the federal agency responsible for the administration of federal securities laws. In addition, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) is a self-regulatory organization (“SRO”) that is actively involved in the regulation of securities businesses. In addition to federal regulation, we are subject to state securities regulations in each state and U.S. territory in which we conduct securities or investment advisory activities. The SEC, FINRA, and state securities regulators conduct periodic examinations of broker-dealers and investment advisors. The designated examining authority under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) for Dominari Securities’ activities as a broker-dealer is FINRA. Financial services businesses are also subject to regulation and examination by state securities regulators and attorneys general in those states in which they do business. In addition, broker-dealers and investment advisors must also comply with the rules and regulation of clearing houses, exchanges, and trading platforms of which they are a member.

Broker-dealers are subject to SEC, FINRA, and state securities regulations that cover all aspects of the securities business, including sales and trading methods, trade practices among broker-dealers, use and safekeeping of customers’ funds and securities, capital structure and requirements, anti-money laundering efforts, recordkeeping and the conduct of broker-dealer personnel including officers and employees (although state securities regulations are, in a number of cases, more limited). Registered investment advisors are subject to, among other requirements, SEC regulations concerning marketing, transactions with affiliates, custody of client assets, disclosures to clients, conflict of interest, insider trading and recordkeeping. Additional legislation, changes in rules promulgated by the SEC, FINRA, and other SROs of which the broker-dealer is a member, and state securities regulators, or changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws or rules may directly affect the operations and profitability of broker-dealers and investment advisors. The SEC, FINRA, and state securities regulators and state attorneys general may conduct administrative proceedings or initiate civil litigation that can result in adverse consequences for Dominari Securities, its affiliates, including affiliated investment advisors, as well as its and their officers and employees (including, without limitation, injunctions, censures, fines, suspensions, directives that impact business operations (including proposed expansions), membership expulsions, or revocations of licenses and registrations).

SEC Regulation Best Interest (“Reg BI”) requires that a broker-dealer and its associated persons act in a retail customer’s best interest and not place their own financial or other interests ahead of a retail customer’s interests when recommending securities transactions or investment strategies, including recommendations of types of accounts. To meet this best interest standard, a broker-dealer must satisfy four component obligations including a disclosure obligation, a care obligation, a conflict of interest obligation, and a compliance obligation and both broker-dealers and investment advisors are required to provide disclosures about their standard of conduct and conflicts of interest.

In addition, certain states, have proposed or adopted measures that would make broker-dealers, sales agents and investment advisors and their representatives subject to a fiduciary duty when providing products and services to customers. The SEC did not indicate an intent to pre-empt state regulation in this area, and some of the state proposals would allow for a private right of action. In the event out wealth management division makes recommendations to retail customers, it will be required to comply with the obligations imposed under Reg BI and applicable state laws.

Regulatory Capital Requirements 

Dominari Securities will be subject to financial capital requirements that are set by regulation. Dominari Securities is a registered broker-dealer and is required to maintain net capital in an amount equal to SEC minimum financial requirements. As a broker-dealer, Dominari Securities is subject to the SEC’s Uniform Net Capital Rule (the “Net Capital Rule”). Compliance with the Net Capital Rule could limit Dominari Securities’ operations, such as underwriting and trading activities, and financing customers’ prime brokerage or other margin activities, in each case, that could require the use of significant amounts of capital, limit its ability to engage in certain financing transactions, such as repurchase agreements, and may also restrict its ability (i) to make payments of dividends, withdrawals or similar distributions or payments to a stockholder/parent or other affiliate, (ii) to make a redemption or repurchase of shares of stock, or (iii) to make an unsecured loan or advance to such shareholders or affiliates.

Under the Exchange Act, state securities regulators are not permitted to impose capital, margin, custody, financial responsibility, making and keeping records, bonding, or financial or operational reporting requirements on registered broker-dealers that differ from, or are in addition to, the requirements in those areas established under the Exchange Act, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Regulation outside the United States

In the event Dominari Securities provides financial services internationally, it will be subject to extensive regulations proposed, promulgated and enforced by, among other regulatory bodies, the European Commission and European Supervisory Authorities (including the European Banking Authority and European Securities and Market Authority), U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (“BaFin”), Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, the Japan Financial Services Agency, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Every country in which we may do business will impose upon us laws, rules and regulations similar to those in the U.S., including with respect to some form of capital adequacy rules, customer protection rules, data protection regulations, anti-money laundering and anti-bribery rules, compliance with other applicable trading and investment banking regulations and similar regulatory reform.

Competition

All aspects of our business are expected to be intensely competitive. We will compete primarily with small to mid-size bank holding companies that engage in wealth management, investment banking and capital markets activities as one of their lines of business and that have greater capital and resources than we do. We will also compete against other broker-dealers, asset managers and boutique firms. We believe the principal factors that will drive our competitiveness in the future will include our ability to: provide differentiated insights to our clients that lead to better business outcomes; attract, retain and develop skilled professionals; deliver a competitive breadth of high-quality service offerings; and to maintain a flat, nimble and entrepreneurial culture built on immediacy and client service.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity presents significant challenges to the business community in general, including to the financial services industry. Increasingly, bad actors, both domestic and international, attempt to steal personal data and/or interrupt the normal functioning of businesses through accessing individuals' and companies' files and equipment connected to the internet. Recent incidents have reflected the increasing sophistication of intruders and their intent to steal personally identifiable information as well as funds and securities. These intruders sometimes use instructions that are seemingly from authorized parties but in fact, are from parties intent on attempting to steal. In other instances these intruders attempt to bypass normal safeguards and disrupt or steal significant amounts of information and then either release it to the internet or hold it for ransom. Regulators are increasingly requiring companies to provide heightened levels of sophisticated defenses. Dominari Securities will maintain ongoing planning and systems to prevent any such attack from disrupting its services to clients as well as to prevent any loss of data concerning its clients, their financial affairs, as well as Company privileged information.

Employees

As of December 31, 2022, we have 7 full-time employees and 1 part-time employee, none of which are represented by a labor union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS.

The Company’s business and operations are subject to numerous risks. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect the Company are described below. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties that are presently unknown, management is not aware of or focused on or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair the Company’s business operations. If any of the following risks actually occur, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

BUSINESS RISKS

Because we have a limited operating history to evaluate our company, the likelihood of our success must be considered in light of the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications and delays frequently encountered by an early-stage financial services company.

Since we have a limited operating history in our current financial services business, it will make it difficult for investors and securities analysts to evaluate our business and prospects. You must consider our prospects in light of the risks, expenses, and difficulties we face as an early-stage financial services company with a limited operating history. Investors should evaluate an investment in our securities in light of the uncertainties encountered by early-stage companies in an intensely competitive industry. There can be no assurance that our efforts will be successful or that we will be able to become profitable.

Accordingly, you should consider the Company’s prospects in light of the costs, uncertainties, delays and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in their start-up stages, particularly those in the financial services industry. Shareholders should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties that a business with no operating history will face. In particular, shareholders should consider that there is a significant risk that we will not be able to:

Any of the foregoing risks may adversely affect the Company and result in the failure of our business. In addition, we expect to encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other known and unknown factors.

We continue to incur operating losses and may not achieve profitability.

Our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $22.1 million. Our accumulated deficit was $185.9 million as of December 31, 2022. Our ability to become profitable depends upon our ability to generate revenue from our financial products. We do not know when, or if, we will generate any revenue from such financial products. Even though our revenue may increase, we expect to incur significant additional losses while we grow and expand our business. We cannot predict if and when we will achieve profitability. Our failure to achieve and sustain profitability could negatively impact the market price of our common stock.

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud and our business may be harmed and our stock price may be adversely impacted.

Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and to effectively prevent fraud. Any inability to provide reliable financial reports or to prevent fraud could harm our business. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires management to evaluate and assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In order to continue to comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we are required to continuously evaluate and, where appropriate, enhance our policies, procedures and internal controls. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls over financial reporting, we could be subject to litigation or regulatory scrutiny and investors could lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports. We cannot assure you that in the future we will be able to fully comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or that management will conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective. If we fail to fully comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our business may be harmed and our stock price may decline.

Our assessment, testing and evaluation of the design and operating effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting resulted in our conclusion that, as of December 31, 2022, our internal control over financial reporting was not effective, due to our lack of segregation of duties, and lack of controls in place to ensure that all material transactions and developments impacting the consolidated financial statements are reflected. We can provide no assurance as to conclusions of management with respect to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in the future.

Developments in market and economic conditions may adversely affect the Company’s business and profitability.

Performance in the financial services industry is heavily influenced by the overall strength of economic conditions and financial market activity, which generally have a direct and material impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. These conditions are a product of many factors, which are mostly unpredictable and beyond the Company’s control, and may affect the decisions made by financial market participants.

Changes in economic and political conditions, including economic output levels, interest and inflation rates, employment levels, prices of commodities including oil and gas, exogenous market events, consumer confidence levels, and fiscal and monetary policy can affect market conditions. For example, the Federal Reserve’s policies determine, in large part, the cost of funds for lending and investing and the return earned on those loans and investments. Changes in the Federal Reserve’s policies are beyond our control and, consequently, the impact of these changes on our activities and results of our operations are difficult to predict. While global financial markets have shown signs of improvement in recent years, uncertainty remains. A period of sustained downturns and/or volatility in the securities markets, and/or prolonged levels of increasing interest rates, could lead to a return to increased credit market dislocations, reductions in the value of real estate, and other negative market factors which could significantly impair our revenues and profitability.

U.S. markets may also be impacted by political and civil unrest occurring in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Russia, Venezuela and Asia. Continued uncertainties loom over the outcome of the EU’s financial support programs. It is possible that other EU member states may choose to follow Britain’s lead and leave the EU. Any negative impact on economic conditions and global markets from these developments could adversely affect our business, financial condition and liquidity.

Uncertain or unfavorable market or economic conditions could result in reduced transaction volumes, reduced revenue and reduced profitability in any or all of the Company’s principal businesses. For example: 

The Company may make strategic acquisitions of businesses, engage in joint ventures or divest or exit existing businesses, which could result in unforeseen expenses or disruptive effects on its business.

From time to time, the Company may consider acquisitions of other businesses or joint ventures with other businesses. Any acquisition or joint venture that the Company determines to pursue will be accompanied by a number of risks. After the announcement or completion of an acquisition or joint venture, the Company’s share price could decline if investors view the transaction as too costly or unlikely to improve the Company’s competitive position.

Costs or difficulties relating to such a transaction, including integration of products, employees, offices, technology systems, accounting systems and management controls, may be difficult to predict accurately and be greater than expected causing the Company’s estimates to differ from actual results. The Company may be unable to retain key personnel after the transaction, and the transaction may impair relationships with customers and business partners. In addition, the Company may be unable to achieve anticipated benefits and synergies from the transaction as fully as expected or within the expected time frame. Divestitures or elimination of existing businesses or products could have similar effects, including the loss of earnings of the divested business or operation. These difficulties could disrupt the Company’s ongoing business, increase its expenses, and adversely affect its operating results and financial condition. As the costs of doing business increase, the Company may not be able to continue to grow its revenues through “organic” growth (the growth attendant to hiring one employee at a time or through expanding into a new business line through a limited investment in technology and employment). In lieu of organic growth, it becomes increasingly necessary to grow through the acquisition of a business or businesses that fulfill the Company’s strategic decisions for growth. However, due to competition or the cost of such acquisitions, such expansion may not be available on a profitable basis and may threaten the Company’s ongoing ability to expand its business.

The ability to attract, develop and retain highly skilled and productive employees, particularly qualified financial advisors is critical to the success of the Company’s business.

The Company faces intense competition for qualified employees from other businesses in the financial services industry, and the performance of its business may suffer to the extent it is unable to attract and retain employees effectively, particularly given the relatively small size of the Company and its employee base compared to some of its competitors. The primary sources of revenue in each of the Company’s business lines are commissions and fees earned on advisory and underwriting transactions and customer accounts managed by its employees, who are regularly recruited by other firms and in certain cases are able to take their client relationships with them when they change firms. Experienced employees are regularly offered financial inducements by larger competitors to change employers, and thus competitors can de-stabilize the Company’s relationship with valued employees. Some specialized areas of the Company’s business are operated by a relatively small number of employees, the loss of any of whom could jeopardize the continuation of that business following the employee’s departure.

Turnover in the financial services industry is high. The cost of retaining skilled professionals in the financial services industry has escalated considerably. Financial industry employers are increasingly offering guaranteed contracts, upfront payments, and increased compensation. These can be important factors in a current employee’s decision to leave us as well as in a prospective employee’s decision to join us. As competition for skilled professionals in the industry remains intense, we may have to devote significant resources to attracting and retaining qualified personnel. To the extent we have compensation targets, we may not be able to retain our employees, which could result in increased recruiting expense or result in our recruiting additional employees at compensation levels that are not within our target range. In particular, our financial results may be adversely affected by the costs we incur in connection with any upfront loans or other incentives we may offer to newly recruited financial advisors and other key personnel. If we were to lose the services of any of our investment bankers, sales and trading professionals, asset managers, or executive officers to a competitor or otherwise, we may not be able to retain valuable relationships and some of our clients could choose to use the services of a competitor instead of our services. If we are unable to retain our senior professionals or recruit additional professionals, our reputation, business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. Further, new business initiatives and efforts to expand existing businesses generally require that we incur compensation and benefits expense before generating additional revenues.

Moreover, companies in our industry whose employees accept positions with competitors frequently claim that those competitors have engaged in unfair hiring practices. We may be subject to claims in the future as we seek to hire qualified personnel, some of whom may work for our competitors. Some of these claims may result in material litigation.

We could incur substantial costs in defending against these claims, regardless of their merits. Such claims could also discourage potential employees who work for our competitors from joining us. Recent actions by some larger competitors to reject the “Recruiting Protocol”, an industry adopted set of practices permitting financial advisors to port their client relationships to a new firm under strict rules, is likely to increase the likelihood of litigation among competitors surrounding the employment of new advisors and their solicitation of their clients and may act as a new barrier to recruitment of financial advisors.

The Company depends on its senior employees and the loss of their services could harm its business.

The Company’s success is dependent in large part upon the services of its senior executives and employees. Any loss of service of the chief executive officer (“CEO”) may adversely affect the business and operations of the Company. If the Company’s senior executives or employees terminate their employment and the Company is unable to find suitable replacements in relatively short periods of time, its operations may be materially and adversely affected.

The precautions the Company takes to prevent and detect employee misconduct may not be effective and the Company could be exposed to unknown and unmanaged risks or losses.

The Company runs the risk that employee misconduct could occur. Misconduct by employees could include, employees binding the Company to transactions that exceed authorized limits or present unacceptable risks to the Company (rogue trading); employee theft and improper use of Company or client property; employees conspiring with other employees or third parties to defraud the Company; employees hiding unauthorized or unsuccessful activities from the Company, including outside business activities that are undisclosed and may result in liability to the Company; employees steering or soliciting their clients into investments which have not been sponsored by the Company and without the proper diligence; the improper use of confidential information; employee conduct outside of acceptable norms including harassment; or employees engaging in “hacking” or breaching our cybersecurity safeguards.

These types of misconduct could result in unknown and unmanaged risks or losses to the Company including regulatory sanctions and serious harm to its reputation. The precautions the Company takes to prevent and detect these activities may not be effective. If employee misconduct does occur, the Company’s business operations could be materially adversely affected.

There have been a number of highly-publicized cases involving fraud or other misconduct by employees in the financial services industry and there is a risk that our employees could engage in misconduct in the future that adversely affects our business. We are subject to a number of obligations and standards arising from our asset management business and our authority over the assets managed by our asset management business. In addition, our financial advisors may act in a fiduciary capacity, providing financial planning, investment advice and discretionary asset management. The violation of these obligations and standards by any of our employees could adversely affect our clients and us. It is not always possible to deter employee misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in all cases. If our employees engage in misconduct, our business could be materially adversely affected, including our cash position.

Employee misconduct, including harassment in the workplace, has come under increasing scrutiny in the national media. While the Company has adopted a Code of Conduct and instituted training for its employees, it is difficult to predict when an employee may deviate from acceptable practices and open the Company to liability either from actions taken by other employees or by authorities. The Company could also become liable for its actions in enforcing its rules of conduct on former employees who disagree with the Company’s actions.

FINANCIAL RISKS

Market Risk

Market risk refers to the risk that a change in the level of one or more market prices, rates, indices, volatilities, correlations or other market factors, such as market liquidity, will result in losses for a position or portfolio owned by us.

Our results of operations may be materially affected by market fluctuations and by global and economic conditions and other factors, including changes in asset values.

Our results of operations may be materially affected by market fluctuations due to global financial markets, economic conditions, changes to global trade policies and tariffs and other factors, including the level and volatility of equity, fixed income and commodity prices, the level and term structure of interest rates, inflation and currency values, and the level of other market indices. The results of our Capital Markets business segment, particularly results relating to our involvement in primary and secondary markets for all types of financial products, are subject to substantial market fluctuations due to a variety of factors that we cannot control or predict with great certainty. These fluctuations impact results by causing variations in business flows and activity and in the fair value of securities and other financial products. Fluctuations also occur due to the level of global market activity, which, among other things, affects the size, number and timing of investment banking client assignments and transactions and the realization of returns from our principal investments.

During periods of unfavorable market or economic conditions, the level of individual investor participation in the global markets, as well as the level of client assets, may also decrease, which would negatively impact the results of our Private Client and Asset Management business segments. Substantial market fluctuations could also cause variations in the value of our investments in our funds, the flow of investment capital into or from Assets Under Management (“AUM”), and the way customers allocate capital among money market, equity, fixed income or other investment alternatives, which could negatively impact our Private Client and Asset Management business segments.

The Company may incur losses and be subject to reputational harm to the extent that, for any reason, it is unable to sell securities it purchased as an underwriter at anticipated price levels. As an underwriter, the Company is subject to heightened standards regarding liability for material misstatements or omissions in prospectuses and other offering documents relating to offerings it underwrites. Any such misstatement or omission could subject the Company to enforcement action by the SEC and claims of investors, either of which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and reputation. As a market maker and dealer, the Company may own large positions in specific securities, and these undiversified holdings concentrate the risk of market fluctuations and may result in greater losses than would be the case if the Company’s holdings were more diversified.

The value of our financial instruments may be materially affected by market fluctuations. Market volatility, illiquid market conditions and disruptions in the credit markets may make it extremely difficult to value and monetize certain of our financial instruments, particularly during periods of market displacement. Subsequent valuations in future periods, in light of factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the values of these instruments and may adversely impact historical or prospective fees and performance-based fees (also known as incentive fees, which include carried interest) in respect of certain businesses. In addition, at the time of any sales and settlements of these financial instruments, the price we ultimately realize will depend on the demand and liquidity in the market at that time and may be materially lower than their current fair value. Any of these factors could cause a decline in the value of our financial instruments, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations in future periods. In addition, financial markets are susceptible to severe events evidenced by rapid depreciation in asset values accompanied by a reduction in asset liquidity. Under these extreme conditions, hedging and other risk management strategies may not be as effective at mitigating trading losses as they would be under more normal market conditions. Moreover, under these conditions, market participants are particularly exposed to trading strategies employed by many market participants simultaneously and on a large scale. Our risk management and monitoring processes seek to quantify and mitigate risk to more extreme market moves. However, severe market events have historically been difficult to predict and we could realize significant losses if extreme market events were to occur.

Holding large and concentrated positions may expose us to losses. Concentration of risk may reduce revenues or result in losses in our market-making, investing, underwriting, including block trading, and lending businesses in the event of unfavorable market movements, or when market conditions are more favorable for our competitors. Changes in interest rates (especially if such changes are rapid), sustained low or high interest rates or uncertainty regarding the future direction of interest rates, may create a less favorable environment for certain of the Company’s businesses, particularly its fixed income business, resulting in reduced business volume and reduced revenue. If interest rates remain at low levels, the Company’s profitability will be negatively impacted.

Credit Risk

Credit risk may expose the Company to losses caused by the inability of borrowers or other third parties to satisfy their obligations.

The Company is exposed to the risk that third parties that owe it money, securities or other assets will not perform their obligations.

The Company is exposed to credit risk related to third parties such as trading counterparties, customers, clearing agents, exchanges, clearing houses, and other financial intermediaries as well as issuers whose securities we hold. These parties may default on their obligations owed to the Company due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, operational failure or other reasons. This default risk may arise, for example, from holding securities of third parties, executing securities trades that fail to settle at the required time due to non-delivery by the counterparty or systems failure by clearing agents, exchanges, clearing houses or other financial intermediaries, and extending credit to clients through bridge or margin loans or other arrangements. Significant failures by third parties to perform their obligations owed to the Company could adversely affect the Company’s revenue and its ability to borrow in the credit markets.

Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk refers to the risk that we will be unable to finance our operations due to a loss of access to the capital markets or difficulty in liquidating our assets. Liquidity risk also encompasses our ability (or perceived ability) to meet our financial obligations without experiencing significant business disruption or reputational damage that may threaten our viability as a going concern as well as the associated funding risks triggered by the market or idiosyncratic stress events that may negatively affect our liquidity and may impact our ability to raise new funding.

Liquidity is essential to our businesses and we rely on external sources to finance a significant portion of our operations.

Our liquidity could be negatively affected by our inability to raise funding in the long-term or short-term debt capital markets, our inability to access the secured lending markets, or unanticipated outflows of cash or collateral by customers or clients. Factors that we cannot control, such as disruption of the financial markets or negative views about the financial services industry generally, including concerns regarding fiscal matters in the U.S. and other geographic areas, could impair our ability to raise funding. In addition, our ability to raise funding could be impaired if investors or lenders develop a negative perception of our long-term or short-term financial prospects due to factors such as an incurrence of large trading losses, a downgrade by the rating agencies, a decline in the level of our business activity, if regulatory authorities take significant action against us or our industry, or we discover significant employee misconduct or illegal activity. If we are unable to raise funding using the methods described above, we would likely need to finance or liquidate unencumbered assets, such as our investment portfolios or trading assets, to meet maturing liabilities or other obligations. We may be unable to sell some of our assets or we may have to sell assets at a discount to market value, either of which could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Operational Risk

Operational risk refers to the risk of loss, or of damage to our reputation, resulting from inadequate or failed processes or systems, from human factors or from external events (e.g., fraud, theft, legal and compliance risks, cyber-attacks or damage to physical assets). We may incur operational risk across the full scope of our business activities, including revenue-generating activities (e.g., sales and trading) and support and control groups (e.g., information technology and trade processing).

We are subject to operational risks, including a failure, breach or other disruption of our operations or security systems or those of our third parties (or third parties thereof), as well as human error or malfeasance, which could adversely affect our businesses or reputation.

Our businesses are highly dependent on our ability to process and report, on a daily basis, a large number of transactions across numerous markets. We may introduce new products or services or change processes or reporting, including in connection with new regulatory requirements, resulting in new operational risk that we may not fully appreciate or identify. The trend toward direct access to automated, electronic markets and the move to more automated trading platforms has resulted in the use of increasingly complex technology that relies on the continued effectiveness of the programming code and integrity of the data to process the trades. We rely on the ability of our employees, consultants, and internal systems to operate our different businesses and process a high volume of transactions. Additionally, we are subject to complex and evolving laws and regulations governing cybersecurity, privacy and data protection, which may differ and potentially conflict, in various jurisdictions. As a participant in the global capital markets, we face the risk of incorrect valuation or risk management of our trading positions due to flaws in data, models, electronic trading systems or processes or due to fraud or cyber-attack.

We also face the risk of operational failure or disruption of any of the clearing agents, exchanges, clearing houses or other financial intermediaries we use to facilitate our lending and securities transactions. In the event of a breakdown or improper operation of our or a direct or indirect third party’s systems (or third parties thereof) or processes or improper or unauthorized action by third parties, including consultants and subcontractors or our employees, we could suffer financial loss, an impairment to our liquidity position, a disruption of our businesses, regulatory sanctions or damage to our reputation. In addition, the interconnectivity of multiple financial institutions with central agents, exchanges and clearing houses, and the increased importance of these entities, increases the risk that an operational failure at one institution or entity may cause an industry-wide operational failure that could materially impact our ability to conduct business. Furthermore, the concentration of Company and personal information held by a handful of third parties increases the risk that a breach at a key third party may cause an industry-wide data breach that could significantly increase the cost and risk of conducting business. There can be no assurance that our business contingency and security response plans fully mitigate all potential risks to us. Our ability to conduct business may be adversely affected by a disruption in the infrastructure that supports our businesses and the communities where we are located. This may include a disruption involving physical site access; cybersecurity incidents; terrorist activities; political unrest; disease pandemics; catastrophic events; climate-related incidents and natural disasters (such as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and wildfires); electrical outages; environmental hazards; computer servers; communications or other services we use; and our employees or third parties with whom we conduct business. Although we employ backup systems for our data, those backup systems may be unavailable following a disruption, the affected data may not have been backed up or may not be recoverable from the backup, or the backup data may be costly to recover, which could adversely affect our business.

Notwithstanding evolving technology and technology-based risk and control systems, our businesses ultimately rely on people, including our employees and those of third parties with which we conduct business. As a result of human error or engagement in violations of applicable policies, laws, rules or procedures, certain errors or violations are not always discovered immediately by our technological processes or by our controls and other procedures, which are intended to prevent and detect such errors or violations. These can include calculation errors, mistakes in addressing emails or other communications, errors in software or model development or implementation, or errors in judgment, as well as intentional efforts to disregard or circumvent applicable policies, laws, rules or procedures. Human errors and malfeasance, even if promptly discovered and remediated, can result in material losses and liabilities for us. Any theft of data, technology or intellectual property may negatively impact our operations and reputation, including disrupting the business activities of our subsidiaries, affiliates, joint ventures or clients conducting business in those jurisdictions.

The Company’s information systems may experience an interruption or breach in security.

The Company relies heavily on communications and information systems to conduct its business. Any failure, interruption or breach in security of these systems could result in failures or disruptions in the Company’s customer relationship management, regulatory or other reporting, general ledger, and other systems. While the Company has policies and procedures designed to prevent or limit the effect of the failure, interruption or security breach of its information systems, there can be no assurance that any such failures, interruptions or security breaches will not occur or, if they do occur, that they will be adequately addressed. Recent disclosures of such incursions by foreign and domestic unauthorized agents aimed at large financial institutions reflect higher risks for all such institutions. The occurrence of any failures, interruptions or security breaches of the Company’s information systems could damage the Company’s reputation, result in a loss of customer business, subject the Company to additional regulatory scrutiny, or expose the Company to civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Our businesses rely extensively on data processing and communications systems. In addition to better serving clients, the effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables us to reduce costs. Adapting or developing our technology systems to meet new regulatory requirements, client needs, and competitive demands is critical for our business. Introduction of new technology presents challenges on a regular basis. There are significant technical and financial costs and risks in the development of new or enhanced applications, including the risk that we might be unable to effectively use new technologies or adapt our applications to emerging industry standards. Our continued success depends, in part, upon our ability to: (i) successfully maintain and upgrade the capability of our technology systems; (ii) address the needs of our clients by using technology to provide products and services that satisfy their demands; and (iii) retain skilled information technology employees. Failure of our technology systems, which could result from events beyond our control, or an inability to effectively upgrade those systems or implement new technology-driven products or services, could result in financial losses, liability to clients, and violations of applicable privacy and other applicable laws and regulatory sanctions.

Cybersecurity - Security breaches of our technology systems, or those of our clients or other third-party vendors we rely on, could subject us to significant liability and harm our reputation.

Our operational systems and infrastructure must continue to be safeguarded and monitored for potential failures, disruptions, cyber-attacks and breakdowns. Our operations rely on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information in our computer systems and networks. Although cybersecurity incidents among financial services firms are on the rise, we have not experienced any material losses relating to cyber-attacks or other information security breaches. However, there can be no assurance that we will not suffer such losses in the future.

Despite our implementation of protective measures and endeavoring to modify them as circumstances warrant, our computer systems, software and networks may be vulnerable to human error, natural disasters, power loss, spam attacks, unauthorized access, distributed denial of service attacks, computer viruses and other malicious code and other events that could have an impact on the security and stability of our operations. Notwithstanding the precautions we take, if one or more of these events were to occur, this could jeopardize the information we confidentially maintain, including that of our clients and counterparties, which is processed, stored in and transmitted through our computer systems and networks, or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations or the operations of our clients and counterparties. We may be required to expend significant additional resources to modify our protective measures, to investigate and remediate vulnerabilities or other exposures or to make required notifications or disclosures. We may also be subject to litigation and financial losses that are neither insured nor covered under any of our current insurance policies.

A technological breakdown could also interfere with our ability to comply with financial reporting and other regulatory requirements, exposing us to potential disciplinary action by regulators. Our regulators have introduced programs to review our protections against such incidents which, if they determined that our systems do not reasonably protect our clients’ assets and their data, could result in enforcement activity and sanctions.

In providing services to clients, we may manage, utilize and store sensitive or confidential client or employee data, including personal data. As a result, we may be subject to numerous laws and regulations designed to protect this information, such as U.S. federal and state and international laws governing the protection of personally identifiable information. These laws and regulations are increasing in complexity and number. If any person, including any of our associates, negligently disregards or intentionally breaches our established controls with respect to client or employee data, or otherwise mismanages or misappropriates such data, we could be subject to significant monetary damages, regulatory enforcement actions, fines and/or criminal prosecution. In addition, unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential client or employee data, whether through system failure, employee negligence, fraud or misappropriation, could damage our reputation and cause us to lose clients and related revenue.

Potential liability in the event of a security breach of client data could be significant. Depending on the circumstances giving rise to the breach, this liability may not be subject to a contractual limit or an exclusion of consequential or indirect damages. The federally mandated Consolidated Audit Trail (“CAT”) program which requires that client personally identifiable information be submitted to a database not controlled by us may expose us to liability for breaches of that database not under our control.

As a result of the foregoing, the Company has and is likely to incur significant costs in preparing its infrastructure and maintaining it to resist any such attacks. In addition to personnel dedicated to overseeing the infrastructure and systems to defend against cybersecurity incidents, senior management is regularly briefed on issues, preparedness and any incidents requiring response. At their regularly scheduled meetings, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors are briefed and brought up to date on cybersecurity.

The Company continually encounters technological change.

The financial services industry is continually undergoing rapid technological change with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services, driven by the emergence of the Fintech industry. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and reduce costs. The Company’s future success depends, in part, upon its ability to address the needs of its customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands, as well as to create additional efficiencies in the Company’s operations. Many of the Company’s competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. Failure to successfully keep pace with technological change affecting the financial services industry could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business and, in turn, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

There is risk associated with the sufficiency of coverage under the Company’s insurance policies.

The Company’s operations and financial results are subject to risks and uncertainties related to the use of a combination of insurance, self-insured retention and self-insurance for a number of risks, including most significantly property and casualty, general liability, cyber-crime, workers’ compensation, and the portion of employee-related health care benefits plans funded by the Company, and certain errors and omissions liability, among others.

While the Company endeavors to purchase insurance coverage that is appropriate to its assessment of risk, it is unable to predict with certainty the frequency, nature or magnitude of claims for direct or consequential damages. The Company’s business may be negatively affected if in the future its insurance proves to be inadequate or unavailable. In addition, insurance claims may divert management resources away from operating the business.

Climate change concerns could disrupt our businesses, adversely affect client activity levels, adversely affect the creditworthiness of our counterparties and damage our reputation.

Climate change may cause extreme weather events that, among other things, could damage our facilities and equipment, injure our employees, disrupt operations at one or more of our primary locations, negatively affect our ability to service and interact with our clients, and adversely affect the value of our investments. Any of these events may increase our costs including our costs to insure against these events.

Climate change may also have a negative impact on the financial condition of our clients, which may decrease revenues from those clients and increase the credit exposures to those clients. Additionally, our reputation and client relationships may be damaged as a result of our involvement, or our clients’ involvement, in certain industries associated with causing or exacerbating, or alleged to cause or exacerbate, climate change. We also may be negatively impacted by any decisions we make to continue to conduct or change our activities in response to considerations relating to climate change. New regulations or guidance relating to climate change, as well as the perspectives of shareholders, employees and other stakeholders regarding climate change, may affect whether and on what terms and conditions we engage in certain activities or offer certain products.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Risks

Increasingly our society and our business are faced with challenges associated with the implementation of policies and practices that are supportive of concerns related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. We continue to explore implementing ESG considerations across our business practices and operations, a task complicated by the lack of consensus around a defining standard of ESG. We continue to focus on improving the resilience of our operations, fostering an inclusive workforce and maintaining a system of good corporate governance. However, our efforts in this regard may be insufficient and may expose the Company to reputational risk from entities purporting to “grade” ESG platforms, reductions in business with certain clients demanding greater ESG efforts or to regulatory expectation and enforcement if such practices become the subject of rule-making by regulators to whom we are subject.

LEGAL, REGULATORY AND COMPLIANCE RISKS

The Company is subject to extensive securities regulation and the failure to comply with these regulations could subject it to monetary penalties or sanctions.

The securities industry and the Company’s business are subject to extensive regulation by the SEC, state securities regulators, other governmental regulatory authorities and industry self-regulatory organizations. The Company may be adversely affected by new or revised legislation or regulations or changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules by these governmental authorities and self-regulatory organizations.

Dominari Securities is a broker-dealer and investment adviser registered with the SEC and is primarily regulated by FINRA. Broker-dealers are subject to regulations which cover all aspects of the securities business, including, without limitation sales methods and supervision, underwriting, trading practices among broker-dealers, emerging standards concerning fees and charges imposed on clients for fee-based programs, use and safekeeping of customers’ funds and securities, anti-money laundering and the USA Patriot Act (the “Patriot Act”) compliance, capital structure of securities firms, trade and regulatory reporting, cybersecurity, pricing of services, compliance with DOL rules and regulations for retirement accounts, compliance with lending practices (Regulation T), record keeping, and the conduct of directors, officers and employees.

Compliance with many of the regulations applicable to the Company involves a number of risks, particularly in areas where applicable regulations may be subject to varying interpretation. The requirements imposed by these regulations are designed to ensure the integrity of the financial markets and to protect customers and other third parties who deal with the Company. New regulations may result in enhanced standards of duty on broker-dealers in their dealings with their clients (fiduciary standards). Consequently, these regulations often serve to limit the Company’s activities, including through net capital, customer protection and market conduct requirements, including those relating to principal trading. Much of the regulation of broker-dealers has been delegated to self-regulatory organizations, principally FINRA. FINRA adopts rules, subject to approval by the SEC, which govern its members and conducts periodic examinations of member firms’ operations.

If the Company is found to have violated any applicable laws, rules or regulations, formal administrative or judicial proceedings may be initiated against it that may result in censure, fine, civil or criminal penalties, including treble damages in the case of insider trading violations, the issuance of cease-and-desist orders, the suspension or termination of our broker-dealer or investment advisory activities, the suspension or disqualification of our officers or employees; or other adverse consequences.

The imposition of any of the above or other penalties could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

Financial services firms have been subject to increased regulatory scrutiny increasing the risk of financial liability and reputational harm resulting from adverse regulatory actions.

Firms in the financial services industry have been operating in an onerous regulatory environment. The industry has experienced increased scrutiny from a variety of regulators, including the SEC,FINRA, and state regulators. Penalties and fines sought by regulatory authorities have increased substantially. We may be adversely affected by changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules by these governmental authorities and SROs. Each of the regulatory bodies with jurisdiction over us has regulatory powers dealing with many different aspects of financial services, including, but not limited to, the authority to fine us and to grant, cancel, restrict or otherwise impose conditions on the right to continue operating particular businesses. For example, the failure to comply with the obligations imposed by the Exchange Act on broker-dealers and the Advisers Act on investment advisers, including recordkeeping, registration, advertising and operating requirements, disclosure obligations and prohibitions on fraudulent activities, or by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), could result in investigations, sanctions and reputational damage. Increasingly, regulators have instituted a practice of “regulation by enforcement” where new interpretations of existing regulations are introduced by bringing enforcement actions against securities firms for activities that occurred in the past but were not then thought to be problematic. We also may be adversely affected as a result of new or revised legislation or regulations imposed by the SEC, other U.S. or foreign governmental regulatory authorities or SROs (e.g., FINRA) that supervise the financial markets. Substantial legal liability or significant regulatory action taken against us could have a material adverse effect on our business prospects including our cash position.

Numerous regulatory changes, and enhanced regulatory and enforcement activity, relating to the asset management business may increase our compliance and legal costs and otherwise adversely affect our business.

U.S. and foreign governments have taken regulatory actions impacting the investment management industry, and may continue to take further actions, including expanding current (or enacting new) standards, requirements and rules that may be applicable to us and our subsidiaries, particularly those subsidiaries that are SEC registered investment advisers. For example, the SEC and several states and municipalities in the United States have adopted “pay-to-play” rules, which could limit our ability to charge advisory fees. Such “pay-to-play” rules could affect the profitability of that portion of our business. Additionally, the use of “soft dollars,” where a portion of commissions paid to broker-dealers in connection with the execution of trades also pays for research and other services provided to advisors has been mostly prohibited in Europe and, is periodically reexamined in the U.S. and may be limited or modified in the future. Furthermore, new regulations regarding the management of hedge funds and the use of certain investment products may impact our investment management business and result in increased costs. For example, many regulators around the world adopted disclosure and reporting requirements relating to the hedge fund business.

On June 5, 2019, the SEC adopted Regulation Best Interest (“Reg BI”) as Rule 15l-1 under the Exchange Act. Reg BI imposes a new federal standard of conduct on registered broker-dealers and their associated persons when dealing with retail clients and requires that a broker-dealer and its representatives act in the best interest of such client and not place its own interests ahead of the customer’s interests. Reg BI requires enhanced documentation for recommendations of securities transactions to broker-dealer retail clients. The new rules and processes related thereto will likely limit revenue and most likely involve increased costs, including, but not limited to, compliance costs associated with new or enhanced technology as well as increased litigation costs.

It is not possible to determine the extent of the impact of any new laws, regulations or initiatives that may be imposed, or whether any existing proposals will become law. Conformance with any new laws or regulations could make compliance more difficult and expensive and affect the manner in which we conduct business.

If the Company violates the securities laws, or is involved in litigation in connection with a violation, the Company’s reputation and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Many aspects of the Company’s business involve substantial risks of liability. An underwriter is exposed to substantial liability under federal and state securities laws, other federal and state laws, and court decisions, including decisions with respect to underwriters’ liability and limitations on indemnification of underwriters by issuers. For example, a firm that acts as an underwriter may be held liable for material misstatements or omissions of fact in a prospectus used in connection with the securities being offered or for statements made by its securities analysts or other personnel. The Company’s underwriting activities will usually involve offerings of the securities of smaller companies, which often involve a higher degree of risk and are more volatile than the securities of more established companies. In comparison with more established companies, smaller companies are also more likely to be the subject of securities class actions, to carry directors and officers liability insurance policies with lower limits or not at all, and to become insolvent. In addition, in market downturns, claims tend to increase. Each of these factors increases the likelihood that an underwriter may be required to contribute to an adverse judgment or settlement of a securities lawsuit.

RISK MANAGEMENT

The Company’s risk management policies and procedures may leave it exposed to unidentified risks or an unanticipated level of risk.

The policies and procedures the Company employs to identify, monitor and manage risks may not be fully effective. Some methods of risk management are based on the use of observed historical market behavior. As a result, these methods may not predict future risk exposures, which could be significantly greater than historical measures indicate. Other risk management methods depend on evaluation of information regarding markets, clients or other matters that are publicly available or otherwise accessible. This information may not be accurate, complete, up-to-date or properly evaluated. Management of operational, legal and regulatory risk requires, among other things, policies and procedures to properly record and verify a large number of transactions and events. The Company cannot give assurances that its policies and procedures will effectively and accurately record and verify this information.

The Company seeks to monitor and control its risk exposure through a variety of separate but complementary financial, credit, operational, compliance and legal reporting systems. The Company believes that it effectively evaluates and manages the market, credit and other risks to which it is exposed. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of the Company’s ability to manage risk exposure can never be completely or accurately predicted or fully assured, and there can be no guarantee that the Company’s risk management will be successful. For example, unexpectedly large or rapid movements or disruptions in one or more markets or other unforeseen developments can have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. The consequences of these developments can include losses due to adverse changes in securities values, decreases in the liquidity of trading positions, higher volatility in earnings, and increases in general systemic risk. Certain of the Company’s risk management systems are subject to regulatory review and may be found to be insufficient by the Company’s regulators potentially leading to regulatory sanctions. There can be no guarantee that the operation of these systems will allow the Company to prevent or mitigate the various risks faced by its businesses. Various regulators periodically review companies’ risk control practices, and, if found inadequate, bring enforcement actions and sanctions against such firms.

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK

Our common stock may be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market if we fail to comply with continued listing standards.

Our common stock is currently traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “DOMH”. If we fail to meet any of the continued listing standards of The Nasdaq Capital Market, our common stock could be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market. These continued listing standards include specifically enumerated criteria, such as:

If we fail to comply with Nasdaq’s continued listing standards, we may be delisted and our common stock will trade, if at all, only on the over-the-counter market, such as the OTC Bulletin Board or OTCQX market, and then only if one or more registered broker-dealer market makers comply with quotation requirements. In addition, delisting of our common stock could depress our stock price, substantially limit liquidity of our common stock and materially adversely affect our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all. Further, delisting of our common stock would likely result in our common stock becoming a “penny stock” under the Exchange Act.

Our share price may be volatile and there may not be an active trading market for our common stock.

There can be no assurance that the market price of our common stock will not decline below its present market price or that there will be an active trading market for our common stock. The market prices of upstart financial services companies have been and are likely to continue to be highly volatile. Fluctuations in our operating results and general market conditions for upstart financial services stocks could have a significant impact on the volatility of our common stock price. We have experienced significant volatility in the price of our common stock. From January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022, the share price of our common stock (on a split-adjusted basis) ranged from a high of $11.56 to a low of $3.02. The reason for the volatility in our stock is not well understood and may continue. Factors that may have contributed to such volatility include, but are not limited to:

Our shares of common stock are thinly traded and, as a result, stockholders may be unable to sell at or near ask prices, or at all, if they need to sell shares to raise money or otherwise desire to liquidate their shares.

Our common stock has been “thinly-traded” meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our common stock at or near ask prices at any given time may be relatively small or non-existent. This situation is attributable to a number of factors, including the fact that we are a small company that is relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such persons, they tend to be risk-averse and would be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares until such time as we become more seasoned and viable. Our trading volumes are further adversely affected by the 1-for-19 reverse stock split that was effective as of March 4, 2016. In addition, we believe that due to the limited number of shares of our common stock outstanding, an options market has not been established for our common stock, limiting the ability of market participants to hedge or otherwise undertake trading strategies available for larger companies with broader shareholder bases which prevents institutions and others from acquiring or trading in our securities. Consequently, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. We cannot give stockholders any assurance that a broader or more active public trading market for our common shares will develop or be sustained, or that current trading levels will be sustained.

Because of the “anti-takeover” provisions in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Amended and Restated Bylaws and Delaware General Corporation Law, a third party may be discouraged from making a takeover offer that could be beneficial to our stockholders.

The effect of certain provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Amended and Restated Bylaws and the anti-takeover provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), could delay or prevent a third party from acquiring us or replacing members of our Board of Directors, or make more costly any attempt to acquire control of the Company, even if the acquisition or the Board designees would be beneficial to our stockholders. These factors could also reduce the price that certain investors might be willing to pay for shares of the common stock and result in the market price being lower than it would be without these provisions.

Dividends on our common stock are not likely.

During the last five years, we have not paid cash dividends on our common stock, and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Investors must look solely to the potential for appreciation in the market price of the shares of our common stock to obtain a return on their investment.

Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the information required by this item.

Item 2. PROPERTIES.

We lease offices located in New York, New York and we believe that the New York offices are sufficient to meet our current needs.

Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

In the past, in the ordinary course of business, we actively pursued legal remedies to enforce our intellectual property rights and to stop unauthorized use of our technology. Other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, we know of no material, active or pending legal proceedings against us.

Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

Market Information

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “DOMH”. On March 20, 2023, the closing price of our common stock, as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market, was $3.30.

Holders

As of March 20, 2023, we had approximately 135 holders of record of our common stock.

Dividend Policy

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to declare cash dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to applicable laws, and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, general business conditions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.

Share Repurchases

Following are our monthly share repurchases for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2022:

All share repurchases were made using cash resources. Our share repurchases may occur through open market purchases or pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The above table excludes shares repurchased to settle employee tax withholding related to the vesting of stock awards.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information about our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under all of our existing equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2022. 

Item 6. [RESERVED]

Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward-Looking Statements

You should read this discussion together with the Consolidated Financial Statements, related Notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The following discussion contains assumptions, estimates and other forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

Overview

Dominari Holdings Inc. (the “Company”), formerly known as AIkido Pharma, Inc., was founded in 1967 as Spherix Incorporated. Since 2017, the Company has operated as a biotechnology company with a diverse portfolio of small-molecule anticancer and antiviral therapeutics and their related patent technology. In an effort to enhance shareholder value, in June of this year, the Company formed a wholly owned financial services subsidiary, Dominari Financial Inc. (“Dominari”), with the intent of shifting the Company’s primary operating focus away from biotechnology to the fintech and financial services industries. Through Dominari Holdings, the Company plans to make strategic acquisitions across the fintech and financial services industries.

On September 9, 2022, Dominari entered into a membership interest purchase agreement (the “FPS Purchase Agreement”) with Fieldpoint Private Bank & Trust (“Seller”), a Connecticut bank, for the purchase of its wholly owned subsidiary, Fieldpoint Private Securities, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company (“FPS”), that is a broker-dealer registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).   Pursuant to the terms of the FPS Purchase Agreement, Dominari purchased from the Seller 100% of the membership interests in FPS (the “Membership Interests”). FPS’s registered broker-dealer and investment adviser businesses will be operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Dominari.  The FPS Purchase Agreement provides for Dominari’s acquisition of FPS’s Membership Interests in two closings, the first of which occurred on October 4, 2022 (the “Initial Closing”), at which Dominari paid to the Seller $2,000,000 in consideration for a transfer by the Seller to Dominari of 20% of the FPS Membership Interests.   Following the Initial Closing, FPS filed a continuing membership application requesting approval for a change of ownership, control, or business operations with FINRA in accordance with FINRA Rule 1017 (the “Rule 1017 Application”) which was approved on March 20, 2023.  The second closing “Second Closing”), occurred on March 27, 2023. Dominari paid the Seller an additional $1.00 in consideration for the transfer by the Seller to Dominari of the remaining 80% of the Membership Interests.  The Second Closing is subject to customary closing conditions, including the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the applicable parties under the FPS Purchase Agreement and compliance therewith. 

Additionally, AIkido Labs, LLC (“Aikido Labs”), another wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has explored opportunities in high growth industries.  To date, Aikido Labs has made equity investments in Anduril Industries, Inc, Databricks, Inc., Discord, Inc., Epic Games, Inc., Payward, Inc. dba Kraken, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. dba SpaceX, Tevva Motors Ltd., Thrasio, LLC, and Yanka Industries, Inc. dba Masterclass.  The Company is in the process of winding down its historical pipeline of biotechnology assets consisting of patented technologies from leading universities and researchers, including prospective treatments for pancreatic cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  The Company is also developing a broad-spectrum antiviral platform, in which the lead compounds have activity in cell-based assays against multiple viruses including Influenza virus, Ebolavirus, the Marburg virus, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19.

Reverse Stock Split

On June 7, 2022, the Company effected a seventeen-for-one (17-for-1) reverse stock split of its class of common stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Reverse Stock Split, which was approved by stockholders at an annual stockholder meeting on May 20, 2022, was consummated pursuant to a Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on June 2, 2022. The Reverse Stock Split was effective on June 7, 2022. All references to common stock, convertible preferred stock, warrants to purchase common stock, options to purchase common stock, restricted stock units, restricted stock awards, share data, per share data and related information contained in the consolidated financial statements have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the effect of the Reverse Stock Split for all periods presented. Payment for fractional shares resulting from the reverse stock split amounted to $26,000.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our critical accounting policies are disclosed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of recent accounting standards.

Results of Operations

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022, Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021

The Company did not recognize revenue from operations, nor do we expect to recognize any revenue until our operational transition into the financial services industry is complete.

During the years ended December 31, 2022, and 2021, we incurred a loss from operations of approximately $14.4 million and $9.4 million, respectively. The approximate $5.0 million increase in loss was primarily attributable to the following:

During the year ended December 31, 2022, and 2021, other (expense) income was approximately $(7.8) million and $2.3 million, respectively. The activity for the years ended December 31, 2022, and 2021, is primarily a result of overall volatility in investment valuations due to macroeconomic uncertainty (i.e. inflation, global tensions in the Ukraine, etc.) impacting marketable securities and the change in fair value of short and long-term investments. Specifically:

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We continue to incur ongoing administrative and other expenses, including public company expenses. While we continue to implement our business strategy, we intend to finance our activities through:

Our ultimate success is dependent on our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet our obligations on a timely basis. Our business may require significant amounts of capital to sustain operations that we need to execute our longer-term business plan to support our transition into the financial services industry. Our working capital amounted to approximately $48.9 million as of December 31, 2022. We may need to obtain additional debt or equity financing, especially if we experience downturns in our business that are more severe or longer than anticipated, or if we experience significant increases in expense levels resulting from being a publicly-traded company or from continuing operations. If we attempt to obtain additional debt or equity financing, we cannot assume that such financing will be available to the Company on favorable terms, or at all.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

For the years ended December 31, 2022, and 2021, net cash used in operations was approximately $10.6 million and $6.6 million, respectively. The cash used in operating activities for the year ending December 31, 2022, is primarily attributable to a net loss of approximately $22.1 million. The net loss was slightly offset by approximately $4.9 million in unrealized losses on marketable securities, approximately $2.6 million relating to the change in fair value of short-term investments, approximately $1.8 million in research and development expense related to acquired licenses, approximately $1.5 million related to stock-based compensation, and approximately $1.4 million of realized loss on marketable securities. The cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2021, is primarily attributable to a net loss of approximately $7.2 million, further increased by approximately $3.6 million for a change in fair value of short-term investments, and slightly offset by approximately $3.1 million in unrealized losses on marketable securities and approximately $1.1 million in research and development expense related to acquired licenses.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

For the years ended December 31, 2022, and 2021, net cash used in investing activities was approximately $14.6 million and $8.9 million, respectively. The cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily resulted from our purchase of marketable securities of approximately $26.8 million, purchase of investments of approximately $15.0 million, purchase of research and development licenses of approximately $1.8 million, and the purchase of promissory notes of approximately $1.6 million, partially offset by our sale of marketable securities of approximately $28.7 million since we invest excess cash into marketable securities until additional cash is needed. The cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily resulted from our purchase of marketable securities of approximately $93.4 million, the purchase of promissory notes of approximately $6.9 million, purchase of short-term and long-term investments of approximately $5.7 million, deposits of approximately $4.2 million and the purchase of convertible notes of approximately $2.0 million, partially offset by our sale of marketable securities of approximately $103.0 million.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

For the year ended December 31, 2022, cash used in financing activities was approximately $7.2 million, which reflects the cost for redemption of Series O and Series P Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock of approximately $22.0 million and cost for purchase of treasury stock of approximately $3.1 million, partially offset by net proceeds of approximately $17.9 million from investors in exchange of issuance of issuance of Series O and Series P Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock. For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash provided by financing activities was approximately $78.2 million, which is primarily attributable to the approximate $78.2 million from investors in exchange of issuance of common stock and warrants.

Contractual obligations

None.

Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the information required by this item.

Item 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Consolidated financial statements and supplementary data required by this Item 8 follow.

 Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of 

Dominari Holdings Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Dominari Holdings Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022, the related consolidated statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year in the period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Valuation of investments and notes receivable

Description of the Matter

As of December 31, 2022, the Company held $23.1 million of investments measured using an adjusted cost method measurement alternative for investments in equity securities without readily determinable fair values, and $8.6 million of notes receivable measured using the fair value option at each reporting date. We identified the valuation of these investments and notes receivable as a critical audit matter because of the significant judgement management uses to estimate their value. This is a challenging audit area due to the subjectivity in assessing, for the investments, whether there has been an observable transaction involving the same or a similar investment with the same issuer, or if there has been impairment, and for notes receivable, whether the general economic and stock market conditions and those characteristics specific to the underlying issuer indicate there should be a change in the measurement of fair value.

How we Addressed the Matter in our Audit

Our audit procedures addressing the matter involved (1) obtaining an understanding of management’s process for accounting for their investments that do not have readily determinable fair values. (2) We evaluated the characteristics specific to the issuer of notes and general economic and stock market conditions that indicate if there should be a change in the measurement of fair value. (3) We evaluated the accounting conclusions reached by the Company as to whether any observable transactions had occurred that were identical or similar in nature through inspecting the Company’s available financial and other information regarding the investments. For the investments and the notes (4) we considered the appropriateness of the Company’s application of accounting policy by obtaining and reviewing the Company’s analysis and confirming its compliance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. (5) We tested the mathematical accuracy of the Company’s carrying value calculations and (6) considered whether or not any of the investments or notes should be impaired. (7) We also performed public searches for corroborating or contradictory information. (8) We evaluated the adequacy of the Company’s disclosures in the notes to the consolidated financial statements in relation to this matter.

/s/ Marcum llp

Marcum llp

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2022.

New York NY

March 31, 2023

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

Dominari Holdings Inc.

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Dominari Holdings Inc. (formerly AIkido Pharma, Inc.) (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows, for the year then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that is communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Valuation of investments in privately-held companies

Description of the Matter

As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $9.5 million of investments in companies without readily determinable fair values. The Company typically measures these investments at cost less any impairment, adjusted for observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment. We identified the valuation of these investments as a critical audit matter because of the significant judgement management uses to estimate the investment value. This is a challenging audit area due to the subjectivity in assessing whether observable price changes have occurred for investments that are identical or similar to the investment the Company holds, and in assessing whether an investment is impaired.

How we Addressed the Matter in our Audit

Addressing the matter involved obtaining an understanding of management’s process for accounting for their investments that do not have readily determinable fair values. We considered the appropriateness of the Company’s application of accounting policy by obtaining and reviewing the Company’s analysis and confirming its compliance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. We tested the mathematical accuracy of the Company’s carrying value calculations and considered whether or not any of the investments should be impaired. We evaluated the accounting conclusions reached by the Company as to whether any observable transactions had occurred that were identical or similar in nature through reading of the Company’s available financial and other information regarding the investee and through public searches for corroborating or contradictory information. Further, we evaluated the Company’s impairment conclusions considering this internal and external information. We also evaluated the adequacy of the Company’s disclosures in Note 7 in relation to this matter.

/s/WithumSmith+Brown, PC

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2021.

New York, New York

March 28, 2022

PCAOB ID Number 100

DOMINARI HOLDINGS INC.

(Formerly AIkido Pharma, Inc.)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

($ in thousands except share and per share amounts)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

DOMINARI HOLDINGS INC.

(Formerly AIkido Pharma, Inc.)

Consolidated Statements of Operations

($ in thousands except share and per share amounts)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 

DOMINARI HOLDINGS INC.

(Formerly AIkido Pharma, Inc.)

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

($ in thousands except share and per share amounts)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

DOMINARI HOLDINGS INC.

(Formerly AIkido Pharma, Inc.)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

($ in thousands)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

DOMINARI HOLDINGS INC.
(Formerly AIkido Pharma, Inc.)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1. Organization and Description of Business and Recent Developments

Organization and Description of Business

Dominari Holdings Inc. (the “Company”), formerly AIkido Pharma, Inc., was founded in 1967 as Spherix Incorporated. Since 2017, the Company has operated as a biotechnology company with a diverse portfolio of small-molecule anticancer and antiviral therapeutics and their related patent technology. In an effort to enhance shareholder value, in June of this year, the Company formed a wholly owned financial services subsidiary, Dominari Financial Inc. (“Dominari”), with the intent of shifting the Company’s primary operating focus away from biotechnology to the fintech and financial services industries. Through Dominari, the Company plans to make strategic acquisitions across the fintech and financial services industries. 

On September 9, 2022, Dominari entered into a membership interest purchase agreement, as amended and restated on March 27, 2023 (the “FPS Purchase Agreement”) with Fieldpoint Private Bank & Trust (“Seller”), a Connecticut bank, for the purchase of its wholly owned subsidiary, Fieldpoint Private Securities, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company (“FPS”), that is a broker-dealer registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).   Pursuant to the terms of the FPS Purchase Agreement, Dominari purchased from the Seller 100% of the membership interests in FPS (the “Membership Interests”). FPS’s registered broker-dealer and investment adviser businesses will be operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Dominari.  The FPS Purchase Agreement provides for Dominari’s acquisition of FPS’s Membership Interests in two closings, the first of which occurred on October 4, 2022 (the “Initial Closing”), at which Dominari paid to the Seller $2.0 million in consideration for a transfer by the Seller to Dominari of 20% of the FPS Membership Interests.   Following the Initial Closing, FPS filed a continuing membership application requesting approval for a change of ownership, control, or business operations with FINRA in accordance with FINRA Rule 1017 (the “Rule 1017 Application”).  The Rule 1017 Application was approved by FINRA on March 20, 2023. The second closing (the “Second Closing”) occurred on March 27, 2023. Dominari paid to the Seller an additional $1.00 in consideration for a transfer by the Seller to Dominari of the remaining 80% of the Membership Interests.  The Second Closing is subject to customary closing conditions, including the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the applicable parties under the FPS Purchase Agreement and compliance therewith.

Additionally, AIkido Labs, LLC (“Aikido Labs”), another wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has and will continue to explore other opportunities in high growth industries.  To date, Aikido Labs has made equity investments in Anduril Industries, Inc, Databricks, Inc., Discord, Inc., Epic Games, Inc., Payward, Inc. dba Kraken, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. dba SpaceX, Tevva Motors Ltd., Thrasio, LLC, and Yanka Industries, Inc. dba Masterclass. Finally, the Company will continue to foster and develop its historical pipeline of biotechnology assets consisting of patented technologies from leading universities and researchers, including prospective treatments for pancreatic cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  The Company is also developing a broad-spectrum antiviral platform, in which the lead compounds have activity in cell-based assays against multiple viruses including Influenza virus, Ebolavirus, the Marburg virus, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19.

Reverse Stock Split

On June 7, 2022, the Company effected a seventeen-for-one (17-for-1) reverse stock split of its class of common stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Reverse Stock Split, which was approved by stockholders at an annual stockholder meeting on May 20, 2022, was consummated pursuant to a Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on June 2, 2022. The Reverse Stock Split was effective on June 7, 2022. All references to common stock, convertible preferred stock, warrants to purchase common stock, options to purchase common stock, restricted stock units, restricted stock awards, share data, per share data and related information contained in the consolidated financial statements have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the effect of the Reverse Stock Split for all periods presented. Payment for fractional shares resulting from the reverse stock split amounted to $26,000.

Note 2. Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company continues to incur ongoing administrative and other expenses, including public company expenses, in excess of corresponding (non-financing related) revenue. While the Company continues to implement its business strategy, it intends to finance its activities through managing current cash on hand from the Company’s past equity offerings.

Based upon projected cash flow requirements, the Company has adequate cash to fund its operations for at least the next twelve months from the date of the issuance of these consolidated financial statements.

DOMINARI HOLDINGS INC.
(Formerly AIkido Pharma, Inc.)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for financial information.

Our policy is to consolidate all entities that we control by ownership of a majority of the membership interest or outstanding voting stock. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Aikido Labs and Dominari. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with US GAAP. This requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. The Company’s significant estimates and assumptions include stock-based compensation, the valuation of investments, the valuation of notes receivable and the valuation allowance related to the Company’s deferred tax assets. Certain of the Company’s estimates could be affected by external conditions, including those unique to the Company and general economic conditions. It is reasonably possible that these external factors could have an effect on the Company’s estimates and could cause actual results to differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Segments

Operating segments are defined as components of an entity for which discrete financial information is available that is regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources to an individual segment and in assessing performance. The CODM reviews financial information for the purposes of making operating decisions, allocating resources, and evaluating financial performance of the business of the reportable operating segments, based on discrete financial information. The Company’s chief executive officer is the CODM. As of December 31, 2022, the CODM does not receive or evaluate the business lines separately and therefore the Company currently operates as one segment and, accordingly, no further segment disclosures have been presented herein.

Concentration of Cash

The Company maintains cash balances at two financial institutions in checking accounts. From time to time, the Company’s cash account balances exceed the balances as covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance System. The Company has never suffered a loss due to such excess balances. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had no cash equivalents.

Marketable Securities

Marketable securities are classified as trading and are carried at fair value. The Company’s marketable securities consist of highly liquid mutual funds and exchange-traded & closed-end funds which are valued at quoted market prices.

Research and Development

Research and development costs, including acquired in-process research and development expenses for which there is no alternative future use, are expensed as incurred. Advance payments for goods and services that will be used in future research and development activities are expensed when the activity has been performed or when the goods have been received rather than when the payment is made.

Accounting for Warrants

The Company accounts for the issuance of common stock purchase warrants issued in connection with the equity offerings in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The Company classifies as equity any contracts that (i) require physical settlement or net-share settlement or (ii) gives the Company a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in its own shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement).

DOMINARI HOLDINGS INC.
(Formerly AIkido Pharma, Inc.)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Stock-based Compensation

The Company accounts for share-based payment awards exchanged for services at the estimated grant date fair value of the award. Stock options issued under the Company’s long-term incentive plans are granted with an exercise price equal to no less than the market price of the Company’s stock at the date of grant and expire up to ten years from the date of grant. These options generally vest over a one- to five-year period.

The Company estimates the fair value of stock option grants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock-based awards represent management’s best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment.

Expected Term - The expected term of options represents the period that the Company’s stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding based on the simplified method, which is the half-life from vesting to the end of its contractual term.

Expected Volatility - The Company computes stock price volatility over expected terms based on its historical common stock trading prices.

Risk-Free Interest Rate - The Company bases the risk-free interest rate on the implied yield available on U. S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with an equivalent remaining term.

Expected Dividend - The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its common shares and does not plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future, and, therefore, uses an expected dividend yield of zero in its valuation models.

The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

Fair Value Option - Short-term Note and Convertible Note

The guidance in ASC 825, Financial Instruments, provides a fair value option election that allows entities to make an irrevocable election of fair value as the initial and subsequent measurement attribute for certain eligible financial assets and liabilities. The Company has elected to measure the purchases of its notes using the fair value option at each reporting date. Under the fair value option, bifurcation of an embedded derivative is not necessary, and all related gains and losses on the host contract and derivative due to change in the fair value will be reflected in interest income and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations. Interest accrues on the unpaid principal balance on a quarterly basis and is recognized in interest income in the consolidated statements of operations.

The decision to elect the fair value option is determined on an instrument-by-instrument basis and must be applied to an entire instrument and is irrevocable once elected. Pursuant to this guidance, assets and liabilities are measured at fair value based, in part, on general economic and stock market conditions and those characteristics specific to the underlying investments. The carrying value is adjusted to estimated fair value at the end of each quarter, required to be reported separately in our consolidated balance sheets from those instruments using another accounting method

Long-term investments

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-01 and related ASU 2018-03 and ASU 2019-04 concerning recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. In adopting this guidance, the Company has made an accounting policy election to adopt an adjusted cost method measurement alternative for investments in equity securities without readily determinable fair values.

For equity investments that are accounted for using the measurement alternative, the Company initially records equity investments at cost but is required to adjust the carrying value of such equity investments through earnings when there is an observable transaction involving the same or a similar investment with the same issuer or upon an impairment.

DOMINARI HOLDINGS INC.
(Formerly AIkido Pharma, Inc.)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Investment deposit

In April 2021, the Company deposited $5 million with a fund to identify opportunities to expand the Company’s investments in Asia. The cash is held, net management expenses, in bank accounts on behalf of the Company until the fund manager identified investments. In October 2022, the Company withdrew and transferred the funds to its marketable securities account. During the period ended October 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company incurred legal and advisory fees related to the account of approximately $8 thousand and $0.8 million, respectively. Investment deposit was $0 and $4.2 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Investment in FPS

October 4, 2022, the Company completed the first of two closings related the FPS Purchase Agreement, wherein, the Company paid to the Seller $2.0 million in consideration for a transfer by the Seller to the Company of 20% of the Membership Interests in FPS. The $2.0 million is held in a bank account as collateral pending the completion of the second closing. Upon completion of the second closing, the $2.0 million will be released back to the Company. There were no indicators of impairment from date of investment, October 4, 2022, through December 31, 2022. The Investment in FPS was $2.0 million as of December 31, 2022.

Leases

The Company accounts for its leases under ASC 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). Under this guidance, arrangements meeting the definition of a lease are classified as operating or financing leases and are recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as both a right-of-use asset and lease liability, calculated by discounting fixed lease payments over the lease term at the rate implicit in the lease or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. Lease liabilities are increased by interest and reduced by payments each period, and the right-of-use asset is amortized over the lease term. For operating leases, interest on the lease liability and the amortization of the right-of-use asset result in straight-line rent expense over the lease term. For finance leases, interest on the lease liability and the amortization of the right-of-use asset results in front-loaded expense over the lease term. Variable lease expenses are recorded when incurred. See Note 14 - Commitment and Contingencies.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock is recorded at cost and is presented as a reduction of stockholders’ equity.

Income Taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). Under this method, income tax expense is recognized as the amount of: (i) taxes payable or refundable for the current year and (ii) deferred tax consequences of temporary difference resulting from matters that have been recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statement or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the consolidated financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities measured at the enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which these items are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by valuation allowances if, based on the consideration of all available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was enacted into law and is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, and remains subject to future guidance releases. This legislation, among other tax law changes, imposes a Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax as well as a 1% excise tax on stock buy-backs. The Company has not completed its analysis of this legislation, but it is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s tax liability.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”), which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU No. 2019-12 effective January 1, 2021, and the adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

DOMINARI HOLDINGS INC.
(Formerly AIkido Pharma, Inc.)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Effect of new accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions, to clarify that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security and, therefore, is not considered in measuring the fair value of the equity security. ASU 2022-03 also clarifies that an entity cannot recognize and measure a contractual sale restriction as a separate unit of account. The amendments in ASU 2022-03 may be early adopted and are effective on a prospective basis for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the amendments on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and whether it will early adopt the amendments in ASU 2022-03. 

Effect of new accounting pronouncements to be adopted in future periods

We reviewed all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they were either not applicable or not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Note 4. License agreements

Silo Pharma Inc.

Effective January 5, 2021, the Company entered into an exclusive patent license agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Silo Pharma Inc., a Delaware corporation and Silo Pharma Inc., a Florida corporation, and their affiliates/subsidiaries (collectively, “Silo Pharma”). On April 12, 2021, the Company entered into an amendment to the License Agreement, effective as of January 5, 2021, in which 500 shares of the Company’s Series M Convertible Preferred Stock were exchanged for 36,764 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, or approximately $0.5 million. The Company paid a one-time nonrefundable cash payment of $0.5 million to Silo Pharma for the License Agreement. The restricted stock and cash payment were recorded as research and development expense when incurred. The Company paid Silo Pharma a running royalty equal to 2% of “net sales” (as such term is defined in the License Agreement). Running royalties are amounts paid to the licensor over time based on the revenue earned by the licensee from sales of products that embody the licensed IP, if any.

University of Maryland

On April 13, 2020, the Company entered into a license agreement with the University of Maryland (“UM”) pursuant to which UM granted the Company an exclusive, worldwide, royalty bearing license to certain intellectual property to, among other things, discover, develop, make, have made, use and sell certain licensed products and sell, use and practice certain licensed services with respect to cancer.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company paid approximately $1.8 million of additional license fees to UM.

Note 5. Investments in Marketable Securities

The realized gain or loss, unrealized gain or loss, and dividend income related to marketable securities for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, which are recorded as a component of gains and (losses) on marketable securities on the consolidated statements of operations, are as follows ($ in thousands):

Note 6. Short-term investments

The following table presents the Company’s short-term investments as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 ($ in thousands):