UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT
OF 1934
For
the quarterly period ended September 30, 2022
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT
OF 1934
For
the transition period from ______to_______ .
001-32146
Commission
file number
DSS, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New
York
16-1229730
(State
or other Jurisdiction of
incorporation-
or Organization)
(IRS
Employer
Identification
No.)
275
Wiregrass Pkwy ,
West
Henrietta , NY 14586
(Address
of principal executive offices)
(585)
325-3610
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
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 Date 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 definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller
reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated
filer ☐
Non-accelerated
filer ☒
Smaller
reporting company ☒
Emerging
growth company ☐
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 is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) Yes ☐ No ☒
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of each class
Ticker
symbol(s)
Name
of each exchange on which registered
Common
Stock, $0.02 par value per share
DSS
The
NYSE American LLC
As
of November 09, 2022 there were 139,017,172 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.02 par value, outstanding.
DSS,
INC.
FORM
10-Q
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
PART
I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
3
Item
1
Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
3
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021
3
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
4
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
5
Condensed
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
6
Notes
to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
7
Item
2
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
29
Item
4
Controls
and Procedures
36
PART
II
OTHER
INFORMATION
37
Item
1
Legal
Proceedings
37
Item
1A
Risk
Factors
37
Item
2
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
37
Item
3
Defaults
upon Senior Securities
37
Item
4
Mine
Safety Disclosures
37
Item
5
Other
Information
37
Item
6
Exhibits
37
2
PART
I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DSS,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
September
30, 2022
December
31, 2021
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash
equivalents
$ 22,845,000
$ 56,595,000
Accounts receivable, net
8,989,000
5,673,000
Inventory
8,663,000
8,261,000
Current portion of notes
receivable
12,273,000
6,310,000
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
2,898,000
3,466,000
Total current assets
55,668,000
80,305,000
Property, plant and equipment, net
16,065,000
17,674,000
Investment in real estate, net
55,493,000
56,374,000
Other investments
8,190,000
11,001,000
Investment, equity method
1,326,000
1,080,000
Marketable securities
28,083,000
14,172,000
Notes receivable
1,704,000
5,878,000
Other assets
1,393,000
489,000
Right-of-use assets
8,459,000
498,000
Goodwill
56,606,000
56,606,000
Other intangible assets,
net
31,893,000
38,630,000
Total
assets
$ 264,880,000
$ 282,707,000
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 4,048,000
$ 1,920,000
Accrued expenses and deferred
revenue
11,627,000
21,180,000
Other current liabilities
396,000
402,000
Current portion of lease
liability
819,000
393,000
Current
portion of long-term debt, net
6,680,000
3,916,000
Total current liabilities
23,570,000
27,811,000
Long-term debt, net
50,163,000
55,711,000
Long term lease liability
7,991,000
120,000
Other long-term liabilities
507,000
880,000
Commitments and contingencies
(Note 9)
-
-
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $ .02 par
value; 47,000 shares authorized, zero shares issued and outstanding ( zero on December 31, 2021); Liquidation value $ 1,000 per share,
zero aggregate. zero on December 31, 2021).
-
-
Common stock, $ .02 par value; 200,000,000
shares authorized, 139,017,172 shares issued and outstanding ( 79,745,886 on December 31, 2021)
2,779,000
1,594,000
Additional paid-in capital
317,125,000
294,685,000
Accumulated
deficit
( 167,417,000 )
( 134,503,000 )
Total stockholders’
equity
152,487,000
161,776,000
Non-controlling
interest in subsidiaries
30,162,000
36,409,000
Total stockholders’
equity
182,649,000
198,185,000
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 264,880,000
$ 282,707,000
See
accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
DSS,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited)
2022
2021
2022
2021
For
the Three Months Ended
September 30,
For
the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2022
2021
2022
2021
Revenue:
Printed products
$ 5,032,000
$ 3,416,000
$ 12,650,000
$ 10,652,000
Rental income
1,485,000
184,000
4,656,000
184,000
Management fee income
38,000
-
38,000
-
Net investment income
370,000
-
644,000
-
Direct
marketing
4,937,000
966,000
17,939,000
2,382,000
Total revenue
11,862,000
4,566,000
35,927,000
13,218,000
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenue
11,368,000
3,406,000
27,653,000
10,045,000
Selling,
general and administrative (including stock based compensation)
14,677,000
6,705,000
40,316,000
19,164,000
Total costs and expenses
26,045,000
10,111,000
67,969,000
29,209,000
Operating loss
( 14,183,000 )
( 5,545,000 )
( 32,042,000 )
( 15,991,000 )
Other income (expense):
Interest income
319,000
1,593,000
613,000
3,130,000
Other income (expense)
3,627,000
325,000
4,203,000
575,000
Interest expense
( 606,000 )
( 31,000 )
( 2,105,000 )
( 157,000 )
Gain on extinguishment
of debt
-
-
110,000
116,000
Gain/(loss) on equity method
investment
344,000
( 1,645,000 )
134,000
( 2,556,000 )
Loss on investments
( 14,302,000 )
( 2,996,000 )
( 10,479,000 )
( 10,894,000 )
Gain
on sale of assets
-
-
405,000
-
Loss from continuing operations
before income taxes
( 24,801,000 )
( 8,299,000 )
( 39,161,000 )
( 25,777,000 )
Income tax benefit
-
1,624,000
-
4,315,000
Loss from continuing operations
( 24,801,000 )
( 6,675,000 )
( 39,161,000 )
( 21,462,000 )
Income
from discontinued operations, net of tax
-
-
-
2,129,000
Net
loss
( 24,801,000 )
( 6,675,000 )
( 39,161,000 )
( 19,333,000 )
Loss from continuing
operations attributed to noncontrolling interest
4,587,000
77,000
6,247,000
336,000
Net
loss attributable to common stockholders
( 20,214,000 )
( 6,598,000 )
( 32,914,000 )
( 18,997,000 )
Loss per common share:
Basic
$ ( 0.15 )
$ ( 0.19 )
$ ( 0.32 )
$ ( 0.78 )
Diluted
$ ( 0.15 )
$ ( 0.19 )
$ ( 0.32 )
$ ( 0.78 )
Earnings per common share
- discontinued operations:
Basic
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 0.08
Diluted
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 0.08
Shares used in computing
loss per common share:
Basic
134,893,360
34,888,054
102,390,079
27,203,137
Diluted
134,893,360
34,888,054
102,390,079
27,203,137
See
accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
DSS,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For
the Nine Months Ended September 30,
(unaudited)
2022
2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss from continuing operations
$ ( 39,161,000 )
$ ( 21,462,000 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to net cash used by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
9,351,000
2,075,000
Stock based compensation
4,000
74,000
Gain/(loss) on equity method investment
( 134,000 )
2,556,000
Loss (gain) on investments
10,479,000
10,894,000
Loss on allowance for obsolescence of inventory
326,000
-
Change in ROU assets and lease liabilities, net
336,000
-
Gain on extinguishment of debt
( 110,000 )
( 116,000 )
Deferred tax benefit
-
( 4,315,000 )
Accretion of debt discount, origination fee and prepaid interest
-
( 2,287,000 )
Gain on sale of assets
( 405,000
)
Impairment of notes receivable and other investments
1,899,000
-
Decrease (increase) in assets:
Accounts receivable
( 3,316,000 )
829,000
Inventory
( 728,000 )
( 1,580,000 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
568,000
( 277,000 )
Other assets
( 904,000 )
( 25,000 )
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
Accounts payable
2,128,000
432,000
Accrued expenses
( 3,205,000 )
1,808,000
Other liabilities
( 379,000 )
( 1,054,000 )
Net cash used by operating activities
( 23,251,000 )
( 12,448,000 )
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
( 1,349,000 )
( 2,816,000 )
Purchase of real estate
( 689,000 )
( 6,565,000 )
Purchase of investment
-
( 19,026,000 )
Purchase of marketable securities
( 14,254,000 )
( 8,789,000 )
Disposal of property, plant and equipment
2,557,000
-
Asset acquired with APB acquisition
-
1,235,000
Purchase of equity investment
-
( 1,276,000 )
Sale of marketable securities
-
9,185,000
Issuance of new notes receivable, net origination fees
( 4,687,000 )
( 24,048,000 )
Payments received on notes receivable
786,000
-
Purchase of intangible assets
( 180,000 )
( 1,115,000 )
Net cash used by investing activities
( 17,816,000 )
( 53,215,000 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments of long-term debt
( 561,000 )
( 1,893,000 )
Borrowings of long-term debt
6,360,000
7,102,000
Deferred financing fees
-
( 186,000 )
Issuances of common stock, net of issuance costs
1,518,000
121,737,000
Net cash provided by financing activities
7,317,000
126,760,000
Cash flows from discontinued operations:
Cash provided by discontinued operations
-
207,000
Cash provided by investing activities
-
3,000,000
Net cash used by discontinued operations
-
3,207,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash
( 33,750,000 )
64,304,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
56,595,000
5,183,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$ 22,845,000
$ 69,487,000
See
accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
DSS,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
(unaudited)
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Capital
Deficit
Equity
Subsidiary
Total
Common
Stock
Preferred
Stock
Additional
Paid-in
Accumulated
Total
DSS
Non-
controlling Interest in
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Capital
Deficit
Equity
Subsidiary
Total
Balance, December 31, 2021
79,746,000
$ 1,594,000
-
$ -
$ 294,685,000
$ ( 134,503,000 )
$ 161,776,000
$ 36,409,000
$ 198,185,000
Issuance of common stock, net of expenses
42,924,000
858,000
-
-
16,547,000
-
17,405,000
-
17,405,000
Stock based payments
16,347,000
327,000
-
-
5,893,000
-
6,220,000
-
6,220,000
Net loss
-
-
-
-
-
( 32,914,000 )
( 32,914,000 )
( 6,247,000 )
( 39,161,000 )
Balance, September
30, 2022
139,017,000
$ 2,779,000
-
$ -
$ 317,125,000
$ ( 167,417,000 )
$ 152,487,000
$ 30,162,000
$ 182,649,000
Balance, December 31, 2020
5,836,000
$ 116,000
43,000
$ 1,000
$ 174,380,000
$ ( 101,382,000 )
$ 73,115,000
3,430,000
$ 76,545,000
Beginning balance
5,836,000
$ 116,000
43,000
$ 1,000
$ 174,380,000
$ ( 101,382,000 )
$ 73,115,000
3,430,000
$ 76,545,000
Issuance of common stock, net of expenses
67,340,000
1,347,000
-
-
120,434,000
-
121,781,000
-
121,781,000
Stock based payments
-
-
-
-
( 2,000 )
-
( 2,000 )
-
( 2,000 )
Conversion of preferred stock
6,570,000
131,000
( 43,000 )
( 1,000 )
( 130,000 )
-
-
-
-
Acquisition of American Pacific Bancorp
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
20,301,000
20,301,000
Net loss
-
-
-
-
-
( 18,997,000 )
( 18,997,000 )
( 336,000 )
( 19,333,000 )
Balance, September
30, 2021
79,746,000
$ 1,594,000
-
$ -
$ 294,682,000
$ ( 120,379,000 )
$ 175,897,000
$ 23,395,000
$ 199,292,000
Ending balance
79,746,000
$ 1,594,000
-
$ -
$ 294,682,000
$ ( 120,379,000 )
$ 175,897,000
$ 23,395,000
$ 199,292,000
See
accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
DSS,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September
30, 2022
(Unaudited)
1.
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
The
Company, incorporated in the state of New York in May 1984 has conducted business in the name of Document Security Systems, Inc. On September
16, 2021, the board of directors approved an agreement and plan of merger with a wholly owned subsidiary, DSS, Inc. (a New York corporation,
incorporated in August 2020), for the sole purpose of effecting a name change from Document Security Systems, Inc. to DSS, Inc. This
change became effective on September 30, 2021. DSS, Inc. maintained the same trading symbol “DSS” and updated its CUSIP number
to 26253C 102.
DSS,
Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, referred to herein as “DSS,” “we,” “us,” “our”
or the “Company”) currently operates nine (9) distinct business lines with operations and locations around the globe. These
business lines are: (1) Product Packaging, (2) Biotechnology, (3) Direct Marketing, (4) Commercial Lending, (5) Securities and Investment
Management, (6) Alternative Trading (7) Digital Transformation, (8) Secure Living, and (9) Alternative Energy. Each of these business
lines are in different stages of development, growth, and income generation.
Our
divisions, their business lines, subsidiaries, and operating territories: (1) Our Product Packaging line is led by Premier Packaging
Corporation, Inc. (“Premier”), a New York corporation. Premier operates in the paper board and fiber based folding carton,
consumer product packaging, and document security printing markets. It markets, manufactures, and sells sophisticated custom folding
cartons, mailers, photo sleeves and complex 3-dimensional direct mail solutions. Premier is currently located in its new facility in
Rochester, NY, and primarily serves the US market. (2) The Biotechnology business line was created to invest in or acquire companies
in the BioHealth and BioMedical fields, including businesses focused on the advancement of drug discovery and prevention, inhibition,
and treatment of neurological, oncological, and immune related diseases. This division is also targeting unmet, urgent medical needs,
and is developing open-air defense initiatives, which curb transmission of air-borne infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and influenza.
(3) Direct Marketing, led by the holding corporation, Decentralized Sharing Systems, Inc. (“Decentralized”) provides services
to assist companies in the emerging growth “Gig” business model of peer-to-peer decentralized sharing marketplaces. Direct
specializes in marketing and distributing its products and services through its subsidiary and partner network, using the popular gig
economic marketing strategy as a form of direct marketing. Direct Marketing’s products include, among other things, nutritional
and personal care products sold throughout North America, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Eastern Europe. (4) Our Commercial Lending business
division, driven by American Pacific Bancorp (“APB”), is organized for the purposes of being a financial network holding
company, focused on acquiring equity positions in (i) undervalued commercial bank(s), bank holding companies and nonbanking licensed
financial companies operating in the United States, South East Asia, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, and (ii) companies engaged in—nonbanking
activities closely related to banking, including loan syndication services, mortgage banking, trust and escrow services, banking technology,
loan servicing, equipment leasing, problem asset management, SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) consulting services, and advisory
capital raising services. (5) Securities and Investment Management was established to develop and/or acquire assets in the securities
trading or management arena, and to pursue, among other product and service lines, broker dealers, and mutual funds management. Also
in this segment is the Company’s real estate investment trusts (“REIT”), organized for the purposes of acquiring hospitals
and other acute or post-acute care centers from leading clinical operators with dominant market share in secondary and tertiary markets,
and leasing each property to a single operator under a triple-net lease. the REIT was formed to originate, acquire, and lease a credit-centric
portfolio of licensed medical real estate. (6) Alternative Trading was established to develop and/or acquire assets and investments in
the securities trading and/or funds management arena. Alternative Trading, in partnership with recognized global leaders in alternative
trading systems, intends to own and operate in the US a single or multiple vertical digital asset exchanges for securities, tokenized
assets, utility tokens, and cryptocurrency via an alternative trading platform using blockchain technology. The scope of services within
this section is planned to include asset issuance and allocation (securities and cryptocurrency), FPO, IPO, ITO, PPO, and UTO listings
on a primary market(s), asset digitization/tokenization (securities, currency, and cryptocurrency), and the listing and trading of digital
assets (securities and cryptocurrency) on a secondary market(s). (7) Digital Transformation was established to be a Preferred Technology
Partner and Application Development Solution for mid cap brands in various industries including the direct selling and affiliate marketing
sector. Digital improves marketing, communications and operations processes with custom software development and implementation. (8)
The Secure Living division has developed a plan for fully sustainable, secure, connected, and healthy living communities with homes incorporating
advanced technology, energy efficiency, and quality of life living environments both for new construction and renovations for single
and multi-family residential housing. (9) The Alternative Energy group was established to help lead the Company’s future in the
clean energy business that focuses on environmentally responsible and sustainable measures. Alset Energy, Inc, the holding company for
this group, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Alset Solar, Inc., pursue utility-scale solar farms to serve US regional power grids and
to provide underutilized properties with small microgrids for independent energy.
7
On
September 9, 2021, the Company finalized a stock purchase agreement (the “SPA”) with American Pacific Bancorp, Inc. (“APB”),
which provided for an investment of $ 40,000,200 by the Company into APB for an aggregate of 6,666,700 shares of the APB’s Class
A Common Stock, par value $ 0.01 per share. Subject to the terms and conditions contained in the SPA, the shares issued at a purchase
price of $ 6.00 per share. As a result of this transaction, DSS became the majority owner of APB. (see Note 5).
On
September 13, 2021, the Company finalized a shareholder agreement between its subsidiary, DSS Financial Management, Inc. (“DFMI”)
and HR1 Holdings Limited (“HR1”), a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, for the purpose of operating a vehicle
for private and institutional investors seeking a highly liquid investment fund with attractive risk adjusted returns relative to market
unpredictability and volatility. Under the terms of this agreement, 4000 shares or 40% of the Company’s subsidiary Liquid Asset
Limited Management Limited (“LVAM”), a Hong Kong company was transferred to HR1 whereas at the conclusion of the transaction
DFMI would own 60% of LVAM and HR1 would own 40%. LVAM executes within reliable platforms and broad market access and uses proprietary
systems and algorithms to trade liquid exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stocks, futures or crypto. Aimed at providing consistent returns
while offering the unique ability to liquidate the portfolio within 5 to 10 minutes under normal market conditions, LVAM provides an
array of advanced tools and products enabling customers to explore multiple opportunities, strengthen and diversify their portfolios,
and meet their individual investing goals .
On
December 23, 2021, DSS purchased 50,000,000 shares at $ 0.06 per share of Sharing Services Global Corporation (“SHRG”) via
a private placement. With this purchase, DSS increased its ownership of voting shares from approximately 47% of SHRG to approximately
58 % . SHRG aims to build shareholder value by developing or acquiring businesses that increase the Company’s product and services
portfolio, business competencies and geographic reach. Currently, the Company, through its subsidiaries, markets and distributes its
health and wellness and other products primarily in the United States, Canada, and the Asia Pacific region using a direct selling business
model. SHRG markets its products and services through its independent sales force, using its proprietary websites, including: www.elevacity.com
and www.thehappyco.com. SHRG, headquartered in Plano, Texas, was incorporated in the State of Nevada on April 24, 2015, and is an emerging
growth company. SHRG Common Stock is traded, under the symbol “SHRG,” in the OTCQB Market, an over-the-counter trading platforms
market operated by OTC Markets Group Inc.
The
accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments, unless
otherwise indicated) necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021,
and the results of our consolidated operations for the interim periods presented. We follow the same accounting policies when preparing
quarterly financial data as we use for preparing annual data. These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial
statements and the notes included in our latest annual report on Form 10-K, and 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (“Form
10-K”, “Form 10-K/A”), and our other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Principles
of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of DSS, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All significant
intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use
of Estimates - The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the financial
statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. On an ongoing basis, the Company
evaluates its estimates, including those related to the accounts receivable, convertible notes receivable, inventory, fair values of
investments, intangible assets and goodwill, useful lives of intangible assets and property and equipment, fair values of options and
warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock, preferred stock, deferred revenue and income taxes, among others. The Company
bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which
form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.
Reclassifications
- Certain amounts on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets for the year ended December 31, 2021, have been reclassified
to conform to current period presentation, as have certain amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.
Cash
Equivalents – All highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase are classified
as cash equivalents. Amounts included in cash equivalents in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are money market funds whose
adjusted costs approximate fair value.
Notes
receivable, unearned interest, and related recognition - The Company records all future payments of principal and interest on
notes as notes receivable, which are then offset by the amount of any related unearned interest income. For financial statement purposes,
the Company reports the net investment in the notes receivable on the consolidated balance sheet as current or long-term based on the
maturity date of the underlying notes. Such net investment is comprised of the amount advanced on the loans, adjusting for net deferred
loan fees or costs incurred at origination, amounts allocated to warrants received upon origination, and any payments received in advance.
The unearned interest is recognized over the term of the notes and the income portion of each note payment is calculated so as to generate
a constant rate of return on the net balance outstanding. Net deferred loan fees or costs, together with discounts recognized in connection
with warrants acquired at origination, are accreted as an adjustment to yield over the term of the loan.
Investments
– Investments in equity securities with a readily determinable fair value, not accounted for under the equity method, are
recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. For equity securities without a readily determinable fair
value, the investment is recorded at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus adjustments related to observable transactions for the
same or similar securities, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings.
8
For
equity method investments, the Company regularly reviews its investments to determine whether there is a decline in fair value below
book value. If there is a decline that is other-than-temporary, the investment is written down to fair value. See Note 6 for further
discussion on investments.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments - Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to
transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Fair Value Measurement Topic
of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) establishes a
three-tier fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to
unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable
inputs (Level 3 measurements). These tiers include:
●
Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
●
Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted
prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active;
and
●
Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions,
such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.
The
carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheet of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, prepaids, accounts payable
and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Marketable
securities classify as a Level 1 fair value financial instrument. The fair value of notes receivable approximates their carrying value
as the stated or discounted rates of the notes do not reflect recent market conditions. The fair value of revolving credit lines notes
payable and long-term debt approximates their carrying value as the stated or discounted rates of the debt reflect recent market conditions.
The fair value of investments where the fair value is not considered readily determinable, are carried at cost.
Inventory –
Inventories consist primarily of paper, pre-printed security paper, paperboard, fully prepared packaging, air filtration systems,
and health and beauty products which and are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value on the first-in, first-out
(“FIFO”) method. Packaging work-in-process and finished goods included the cost of materials, direct labor and overhead.
At the closing of each reporting period, the Company evaluates its inventory in order to adjust the inventory balance for obsolete
and slow-moving items. An allowance for obsolescence of approximately $ 434,000
and $ 388,000
associated with the inventory at our SHRG subsidiary was recorded as of September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, respectively.
Write-downs and write-offs are charged to cost of revenue.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill - The Company monitors the carrying value of long-lived assets for potential impairment and
tests the recoverability of such assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable.
If a change in circumstance occurs, the Company performs a test of recoverability by comparing the carrying value of the asset or asset
group to its undiscounted expected future cash flows. If cash flows cannot be separately and independently identified for a single asset,
the Company will determine whether impairment has occurred for the group of assets for which the Company can identify the projected cash
flows. If the carrying values are in excess of undiscounted expected future cash flows, the Company measures any impairment by comparing
the fair value of the asset or asset group to its carrying value.
9
Acquisitions
- Business combinations and non-controlling interests are recorded in accordance with FASB ASC 805 Business Combinations. Under
the guidance, the assets and liabilities of the acquired business are recorded at their fair values at the date of acquisition and all
acquisition costs are expensed as incurred. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values is recorded as goodwill.
If the fair value of the assets acquired exceeds the purchase price and the liabilities assumed, then a gain on acquisition is recorded.
The application of business combination accounting requires the use of significant estimates and assumptions. See Note 5 regarding the
acquisitions.
Acquisition
of assets are recorded at their relative fair value based on total accumulated costs of the acquisition. Direct acquisition-related costs
are capitalized as a component of the acquired assets. This includes all costs related to finding, analyzing and negotiating a transaction.
The allocation of the purchase price is an area that requires judgment and significant estimates. Tangible and intangible assets include
land, building and improvements, furniture, fixtures and equipment, acquired above market and below market leases, in-place lease value
(if applicable). Acquisition-date fair values of assets and assumed liabilities are determined based on replacement costs, appraised
values, and estimated fair values using methods similar to those used by independent appraisers and that use appropriate discount and/or
capitalization rates and available market information.
(Loss)
Earnings Per Common Share - The Company presents basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share. Basic (loss) earnings per share
reflect the actual weighted average of shares issued and outstanding during the period. Diluted (loss) earnings per share are computed
including the number of additional shares from outstanding warrants, stock options and preferred stock that would have been outstanding
if dilutive potential shares had been issued and is calculated utilizing the treasury stock method. In a loss period, the calculation
for basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share is the same, as the impact of potential common shares is anti-dilutive. For the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2022, potential dilutive instruments include both warrants and options of 0 and 11,597 shares respectively.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, potential dilutive instruments include both warrants and options of 29,314 and
13,596 shares respectively.
Concentration
of Credit Risk - The Company maintains its cash in bank deposit accounts, which at times may exceed federally insured
limits. The Company believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk as a result of any non-performance by the financial institutions.
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2022, one customer accounted for 13 %
of our consolidated revenue. As of September 30, 2022, this same customer accounted for 35 %
of our consolidated trade accounts receivable
balance. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, this customer accounted for 31 %
of our consolidated revenue and 57 %
of our consolidated trade accounts receivable
balance.
During the nine months ended September
30, 2022, vendor 1 accounted for 43 % and vendor 2 accounted for 21 % of our consolidated inventory purchases. As of September 30, 2021,
vendor 1 accounted for 76 % of our consolidated inventory purchases.
Income
Taxes - The Company recognizes estimated income taxes payable or refundable on income tax returns for the current year and for
the estimated future tax effect attributable to temporary differences and carry-forwards. Measurement of deferred income items is based
on enacted tax laws including tax rates, with the measurement of deferred income tax assets being reduced by available tax benefits not
expected to be realized. We recognize penalties and accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements - In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Financial
Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326)”, which requires entities to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held
at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This replaces the
existing incurred loss model and is applicable to the measurement of credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost. This
guidance is effective for the Company for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022.
The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.
10
2.
Revenue
The
Company recognizes its products and services revenue based on when the title passes to the customer or when the service is completed
and accepted by the customer. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for shipped
product or service provided. Sales and other taxes billed and collected from customers are excluded from revenue. The Company recognizes
rental income associated with its REIT, net of amortization of favorable/unfavorable lease terms relative to market and includes rental
abatements and contractual fixed increases attributable to operating leases, where collection has been considered probable, on a straight-line
basis over the term of the related lease. The Company recognizes net investment income from its investment banking line of business as
interest owed to the Company occurs. The Company generates revenue from its direct marketing line of business primarily through internet
sales and recognizes revenue as items are shipped.
As
of September 30, 2022, the Company had no unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected duration of greater
than one year. Pursuant to Topic 606, the Company has applied the practical expedient with respect to disclosure of the deferral and
future expected timing of revenue recognition for transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations. The Company elected
the practical expedient allowing it to not recognize as a contract asset the commission paid to its salesforce on the sale of its products
as an incremental cost of obtaining a contract with a customer but rather recognize such commission as expense when incurred as the amortization
period of the asset that the Company would have otherwise recognized is one year or less.
Accounts
Receivable
The
Company extends credit to its customers in the normal course of business. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations and generally
does not require collateral. Payment terms are generally 30 days but up to net 105 for certain customers. The Company carries its trade
accounts receivable at invoice amount less an allowance for doubtful accounts. On a periodic basis, the Company evaluates its accounts
receivable and establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon management’s estimates that include a review of the history
of past write-offs and collections and an analysis of current credit conditions. At September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, the Company
established a reserve for doubtful accounts of approximately $ 42,000 and $ 20,000 respectively. The Company does not accrue interest on
past due accounts receivable.
Sales
Commissions
Sales
commissions are expensed as incurred for contracts with an expected duration of one year or less. There were no sales commissions capitalized
as of September 30, 2022.
Shipping
and Handling Costs
Costs
incurred by the Company related to shipping and handling are included in cost of products sold. Amounts charged to customers pertaining
to these costs are reflected as revenue.
See
Note 12 for disaggregated revenue information.
11
3.
Notes Receivable
Note
1
On
October 15, 2020, APB entered into a loan agreement with (“Note 1”) with Borrower 1. Note 1, not to exceed the principal
sum of $ 200,000 , has an interest rate of 12 %, and matures on October 15, 2022 . The outstanding principal and interest as of September
30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, approximated $ 0 and $ 39,000 , respectively and is classified as a Current portion of notes receivable
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2021. The outstanding balance of $ 39,000 was converted to equity in Borrower 1.
Note
2
On
February 8, 2021, the Company entered into a convertible promissory note (“Note 2”) with Borrower 2, a company registered
in Gibraltar. The Company loaned the principal sum of $ 800,000 , with principal and interest at a rate of 4 % , due in one year from date
of issuance. The outstanding principal and interest as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, approximated $ 0 and $ 829,000 , respectively,
and is classified as a Current portion of notes receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2021. Borrower 2 repaid
the principal and interest in full in April 2022.
Note
3
On
February 21, 2021, Impact BioMedical, Inc. a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a promissory note (“Note 3”) with an
individual. The Company loaned the principal sum of $ 206,000 , with interest at a rate of 6.5 % , and maturity date of August 19, 2022.
This note was amended to extend the maturity date to February 19, 2024 .Monthly payments are due on the twenty-first day of each month
and continuing each month thereafter until February 19, 2024, at which time all accrued interest and the entire remaining principal shall
be due and payable in full. This note is secured by certain real property situated in Collier County, Florida. The outstanding principal
and interest as of September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021 approximated $ 206,000 and $ 197,000 respectively, with $ 16,000 classified
in Current portion of notes receivable and $ 190,000 classified as Notes receivable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Note
4, related party
On
May 13, 2021, and later amended in April 2022, Sentinel Brokers, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company entered a revolving credit
promissory note (“Note 4”) with Borrower 4, a company registered in the state of New York, of which Sentinel Brokers,
LLC., owns 24.9 % of the company’s outstanding common stock. The Note 4 has an aggregate principal balance up to $ 3,000,000 ,
to be funded at request of Borrower 4. Note 4, which incurs interest at a rate of 6.65 %
is payable in areas until the principal is paid in full at the maturity date of
May 13, 2023 . As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there was $ 309,000
and $ 0 ,
respectively, and is included in Current portion of notes receivable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
Note
5
On
May 14, 2021, DSS Pure Air, Inc. a subsidiary of the Company entered into a convertible promissory note (“Note 5”) with Borrower
5, a company registered in the state of Texas. Note 5 has an aggregate principal balance up to $ 5,000,000 , to be funded at request of
Borrower 5. Note 5interest accrues at a rate of 6.5 % due quarterly, and has a maturity date of May 14, 2023 . Note 5 contains an optional
conversion clause that allows the Company to convert all, or a portion of all, into new issued member units of Borrower 5 with the maximum
principal amount equal to 18% of the total equity position of Borrower 5 at conversion. The outstanding principal and interest as of
September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, approximated $ 5,333,000 and $ 5,081,000 , respectively, which is included in Current portion
of notes receivable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
Note
6
On
September 23, 2021, APB entered into refunding bond anticipatory note (“Note 6”) with Borrower 6, which operates as a conservation
and reclamation district pursuant to Chapter 3891, Texas Special District Local Laws Code; Chapter 375, Texas Local Government Code;
and Chapter 49, Texas Water Code. The District Note was in the sum of $ 3,500,000 and incurs interest at a rate of 4.15 % per annum. Principal
and interest are due in full on September 22, 2022 . This note may be redeemed prior to maturity with 10 days written notice to APB at
a price equal to principal plus interest accrued on the redemption date. At maturity, the outstanding principal and interest of $ 3,645,000
of Note 6 was converted into a new note with interest accruing at approximately 5.6 % per year with a maturity date of September 21, 2023.
The outstanding principal and interest of $ 3,650,000 and $ 3,540,000 of the Note 6 is included in Current portion of notes receivable
on the consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.
12
Note
7
On
October 25, 2021, APB entered into loan agreement (“Note 7”) with Borrower 7, a company registered in the state of Utah.
Note 7 has an initial aggregate principal balance up to $ 1,000,000 , to be funded at request of Borrower 7, with an option to increase
the maximum principal borrowing to $ 3,000,000 . Note 7, which incurs interest at a rate of 8.0 % with principal and interest due at the
maturity date of October 25, 2022 . This note contains an optional conversion feature allowing APB to convert the outstanding principal
to a 10% membership interest . APB, as holder of Note 7, has the right to elect one member to the Board of Managers. The outstanding principal
and interest of approximately $ 937,000 and $ 784,000 of the note is included in Current portion of notes receivable on the consolidated
balance sheet at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The maturity date of Note 7 is in the process of being extended.
Note
8
On
June 13, 2019, APB extended the credit (“Note 8”) to an individual (“Borrower 8”) in the form of a promissory
note for $ 250,000 , bearing interest at 15 % , with a maturity date of May 15, 2020 . On June 5, 2020, the Company further extended the same
credit in the form of a promissory note for $ 250,000 , bearing interest at 15 % , with a maturity date of May 14, 2021 . On August 30, 2021,
the Company further extended the same credit in the form of a promissory note for $ 250,000 , bearing interest at 12.5 % , with a maturity
date of May 15, 2023 . The modification agreement is effective May 14, 2021. This promissory note is secured by a deed of trust on a tract
of land, which is approximately 315 acres, and located in Coke County, Texas. The outstanding principal and interest of approximately
$ 256,000 is included in Current portion of notes receivable on the consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2022 and $ 260,000 is in
included in Notes receivable at December 31, 2021.
Note
9, related party
On
October 7, 2021, HWH World, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company entered into a revolving loan commitment (“Note 9”) with
Borrower 9, a company registered in Taiwan. Note 9 has an principal balance of $ 52,000
and incurred no interest through the maturity date of December
31,2021 . The outstanding principal at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 is $ 61,000
and $ 52,000 ,
respectively, and is included in the Current portion of notes receivable. This note was amended in April 2022 to extend the maturity
date through April 2023. The Chief Operating Officer of DSS is the sole shareholder of Borrower 9.
Note
10
On
December 28, 2021, APB entered into promissory note (“Note 10”) with Borrower 10, a company registered in the state of California.
Note 10 has an principal balance of $ 700,000 . Note 10, which incurs interest at a rate of 12.0 % with principal and interest due at the
maturity date of December 28, 2022 . The outstanding principal and interest of $ 759,000 and $ 700,000 of Note 10 is included in Current
portion of notes receivable on the consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
Note
11
On
January 24, 2022, APB and Borrower 11 entered into a promissory note (“Note 11”) in the principal sum of $ 100,000 with interest
of 6 % , due annually, and maturing in January 2024. The outstanding principal and interest at September 30, 2022 approximates $ 104,000 ,
and is included in Notes receivable on the accompanying consolidate balance sheet.
Note
12
On
March 2, 2022, APB and Borrower 12, a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea entered into a promissory note (“Note
12”). Under the terms of Note 12, APB at its discretion, may lend up to the principal sum of $ 893,000 with an interest rate of
8 % , and matures in March 2024, with interest payable quarterly. The outstanding principal and interest at September 30, 2022 is $ 887,000 ,
of which $ 446,000 is included in Current notes receivable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
Note
13
On
May 9, 2022, DSS PureAir and Borrower 5 entered into a promissory note (“Note 13”) in the principal sum of $ 210,000 with
interest of 10 % , is due in three quarterly installments beginning on August 9, 2022 with the first two payment consisting of interest
only. All unpaid principal and interest is due on February 9, 2023. The outstanding principal and interest at September 30, 2022 approximates
$ 218,000 , and is included in Current portions of notes receivable on the accompanying consolidate balance sheet.
Note
14, related party
On
August 29, 2022, DSS Financial Management, Inc. (“DSSFM”) entered into subordinated loan agreement (“Note
14”) with Borrower 14, a broker/dealer, of which DSSFM owns 24.9 % of the company’s outstanding common stock, in the
principal sum of $ 100,000
with interest of 8 % ,
due at maturity date of August
29, 2025 . The outstanding principal and interest at September 30, 2022 approximates $ 101,000 ,
and is included in Notes receivable on the accompanying consolidate balance sheet.
Note
15
On
July 26, 2022, APB entered into a revolving credit promissory note (Note 15) with Borrower 15 for the principal sum up to $ 1,000,000
which accrues interest at 8 % per year and maturing on July 26, 2024 . Interest payments are due quarterly beginning on September 30, 2022.
Principal and any unpaid interest is due upon maturity. The outstanding principal and interest at September 30, 2022 approximates $ 917,000 ,
and is included in Notes receivable on the accompanying consolidate balance sheet.
13
4.
Financial Instruments
Cash,
Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Marketable Securities
The
following tables show the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities by significant investment
category as of September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021:
Schedule of Cash and Marketable Securities by Significant Investment Category
2022
Adjusted
Cost
Unrealized
Gain/(Loss)
Fair
Value
Cash
and
Cash
Equivalents
Marketable
Securities
Investments
Cash
$ 21,151,000
$ -
$ 21,151,000
$ 21,151,000
$ -
$ -
Level 1
Money Market Funds
1,694,000
-
1,694,000
1,694,000
-
-
Marketable Securities
32,498,000
( 4,415,000 )
28,083,000
-
28,083,000
-
Investment in unconsolidated
subsidiaries
-
-
-
-
-
-
Level 2
Warrants
3,318,000
( 2,246,000 )
1,072,000
-
-
1,072,000
Convertible securities
1,023,000
( 725,000 )
298,000
-
-
298,000
Total
$ 59,684,000
$ ( 7,386,000 )
$ 52,298,000
$ 22,845,000
$ 28,083,000
$ 1,370,000
2021
Adjusted
Cost
Unrealized
Gain/(Loss)
Fair
Value
Cash
and
Cash
Equivalents
Marketable
Securities
Investments
Cash
$ 50,286,000
$ -
$ 50,286,000
$ 50,286,000
$ -
$ -
Level 1
Money Market Funds
$ 6,309,000
-
6,309,000
6,309,000
-
-
Marketable Securities
$ 12,993,000
1,544,000
14,537,000
-
14,537,000
-
Level 2
Warrants
$ 3,318,000
-
3,318,000
-
-
3,318,000
Convertible
securities
$ 1,023,000
-
1,023,000
-
-
1,023,000
Total
$ 73,929,000
$ 1,544,000
$ 75,473,000
$ 56,595,000
$ 14,537,000
$ 4,341,000
14
The
Company typically invests with the primary objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss. The Company’s investment
policy generally requires securities to be investment grade and limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. Fair values were
determined for each individual security in the investment portfolio.
5.
Acquisitions
Sharing
Services Global Corp. (“SHRG”)
As
of and through September 30, 2020, the Company classified its investment in Sharing Services Global Corp. (“SHRG”), a publicly
traded company, as marketable equity security and measured it at fair value with gains and losses recognized in other income. In July
2020, through continued acquisition of common stock, as detailed below, the Company obtained greater than 20 % ownership of SHRG, and
thus has the ability to exercise significant influence over it. During the quarter ended September 30, 2020, the Company began to account
for its investment in SHRG using the equity method in accordance with ASC Topic 323, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures
recognizing our share of SHRG’s earnings and losses within our consolidated statement of operations. Through a series of transactions,
DSS increased its ownership of voting shares in SHRG to approximately 58% on December 23, 2021. The 58 % ownership of SHRG meets the definition
of a business with inputs, processes, and outputs, and therefore, the Company has concluded to account for this transaction in accordance
with the acquisition method of accounting under Topic 805 and began consolidating the financial results of SHRG as of December 31, 2021.
As of December 31, 2021, SHRG had total current assets of $ 28,494,000 and total assets of $ 45,660,000 . Also as of December 31, 2021 SHRG
had total current liabilities of $ 10,418,000 and total liabilities of $ 22,463,000 .
On
January 24, 2022, the Company exercised 50,000,000 warrants received as part of a consulting agreement with SHRG at the exercise price
of $ 0.0001 , bring its ownership percentage of voting shares to approximately 65 % . The acquisition of SHRG meets the definition of a business
with inputs, processes, and outputs, and therefore, the Company has concluded to account for this transaction in accordance with the
acquisition method of accounting under Topic 805. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, SHRG incurred $ 1,632,000 of losses
of which, $ 702,000 is attributed to non-controlling interest.
We
are currently in the process of completing the purchase price accounting and related allocations associated with the acquisition of SHRG.
The Company is in the process of completing valuations and useful lives for certain assets acquired in the transaction. We expect the
preliminary purchase price accounting to be completed during the year ending December 31, 2022.
15
6.
Investments
Alset
International Limited , related party
The
Company owns 127,179,311 shares or approximately 4 % of the outstanding shares of Alset International Limited (“Alset Intl”),
a company incorporated in Singapore and publicly listed on the Singapore Exchange Limited. This investment is classified as a marketable
security and is classified as long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheets as the Company has the intent and ability to hold the
investments for a period of at least one year. The Chairman of the Company, Mr. Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, is the Executive Director and
Chief Executive Officer of Alset Intl. Mr. Chan is also the majority shareholder of Alset Intl as well as the largest shareholder of
the Company. The fair value of the marketable security as of September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, was approximately $ 3,370,000
and $ 4,909,000 respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, the Company recorded unrealized
loss on this investment of approximately $ 1,539,000 and $ 967,000 , respectively.
West
Park Capital, Inc.
On
October 10, 2019, the Company entered into a convertible promissory note (“TBD Note”) with Century TBD Holdings, LLC (“TBD”),
a Florida limited liability company. The Company loaned the principal sum of $ 500,000 , of which up to $ 500,000 and all accrued interest
can be paid by an “Optional Conversion” of such amount up to 19.8 % (non-dilutable) of all outstanding membership interest
in TBD. This TBD Note accrues interest at 6 % and matures on October 9, 2021 . As of December 31, 2021, this TBD Note had outstanding principal
and interest of approximately $ 537,000 and was classified as Current portion of notes receivable on the consolidated balance sheet. On
December 30, 2020, the Company signed a binding letter of intent with West Park Capital, Inc (“West Park”) and TBD where
the parties agreed to prepare a note and stock exchange agreement whereby DSS will assign the TBD Note to West Park and West Park shall
issue to DSS a stock certificate reflecting 7.5 % of the issued and outstanding shares of West Park. This note and stock exchange agreement
was finalized during the first quarter 2022 and valued at approximately $ 500,000 and is included in Investments on the consolidated balance
sheet on September 30, 2022. The remaining $ 37,000 is included in gain (loss) on investments on the consolidated statement of operations
at September 30, 2022.
BMI
Capital International LLC
On
September 10, 2020, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary DSS Securities, Inc. entered into membership interest purchase agreement
with BMI Financial Group, Inc. a Delaware corporation (“BMIF”) and BMI Capital International LLC, a Texas limited liability
company (“BMIC”) whereas DSS Securities, Inc. purchased 14.9 % membership interests in BMIC for $ 100,000 . DSS Securities also
had the option to purchase an additional 10 % of the outstanding membership interest which it exercised for $ 100,000 in January of 2021
and increased its ownership to 24.9 % . Upon achieving greater than 20 % ownership in BMIC during the quarter ended September 30, 2021,
the Company is currently accounting for this investment under the equity method of accounting per ASC 323. The Company’s portion
of net loss in BMIC during the nine months ended September 30, 2022, approximated $ 10,000 .
BMIC
is a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority,
Inc. (“FINRA”), and is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”). The Company’s
chairman of the board and another independent board member of the Company also have ownership interest in BMIC.
16
BioMed
Technologies Asia Pacific Holdings Limited
On
December 19, 2020, Impact BioMedical, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a subscription agreement (the “Subscription
Agreement”) with BioMed Technologies Asia Pacific Holdings Limited (“BioMed”), a limited liability company incorporated
in the British Virgin Islands, pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase 525 ordinary shares or 4.99 % of BioMed at a purchase
price of approximately $ 632,000 . The Subscription Agreement provides, among other things, the Company has the right to appoint a new
director to the board of BioMed. With respect to an issuance of shares to a third party by BioMed, the Company will have the right of
first refusal to purchase such shares, as well as customary tag-along rights. In connection with the Subscription Agreement, Impact Biomedical
entered into an exclusive distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with BioMed, to directly market, advertise,
promote, distribute, and sell certain BioMed products, which focus on manufacturing natural probiotics, to resellers. This investment
is valued at cost as it does not have a readily determined fair value.
BioMed
focuses on manufacturing natural probiotics, pursuant to which the Company will directly market, advertise, promote, distribute and sell
certain BioMed products to resellers. The products to be distributed by the Company include BioMed’s PGut Premium Probiotics ® ,
PGut Allergy Probiotics ® , PGut SupremeSlim Probiotics ® , PGut Kids Probiotics ® , and PGut
Baby Probiotics ® .
Under
the terms of the Distribution Agreement, the Company will have exclusive rights to distribute the products within the United States,
Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea and non-exclusive distribution rights in all other countries. In exchange, the Company agreed
to certain obligations, including mutual marketing obligations to promote sales of the products. This agreement is for ten years with
a one year auto-renewal feature.
Vivacitas
Oncology, Inc.
On
March 15, 2021, the Company, through one of its subsidiaries, entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Vivacitas Agreement
#1”) with Vivacitas Oncology Inc. (“Vivacitas”), to purchase 500,000 shares of its common stock at the per share price
of $ 1.00 , with an option to purchase 1,500,000 additional shares at the per share price of $ 1.00 . This option will terminate upon one
of the following events: (i) Vivacitas’ board of directors cancels this option because it is no longer in the best interest of
the Company; (ii) December 31, 2021; or (iii) the date on which Vivacitas receives more than $1.00 per share of the Company’s common
stock in a private placement with gross proceeds of $ 500,000 . Under the terms of the Vivacitas Agreement #1, the Company will be allocated
two seats on the board of Vivacitas. On March 18, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with Alset EHome International, Inc. (“Seller”),
a related party, to purchase from the Seller’s its wholly owned subsidiary Impact Oncology PTE Ltd. (“IOPL”) for a
purchase price $ 2,480,000 . The acquisition of IOPL has been treated as an asset acquisition as IOPL does not meet the definition of a
business as defined in Topic 805. IOPL owns 2,480,000 shares of common stock of Vivacitas along with the option to purchase an additional
250,000 shares of common stock. The Sellers largest shareholder is Mr. Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, the Chairman of the Company’s board
of directors and its largest shareholder.
On
April 1, 2021, the Company entered into an additional stock purchase agreement with Vivacitas (“Vivacitas Agreement #2”),
whereas Vivacities wished to employ the service of the Chief Business Officer of Impact Biomedical, and in return for the services of
this individual, Vivacitas shall issue to the Company, the aggregate purchase price for the Class A Common Shares of Vivacitas at the
value of $1.00 per share shall be $ 120,000 to be paid in twelve (12) equal monthly installments for the period between April 1, 2021
and March 31, 2022 .
On
July 22, 2021, the Company exercised 1,000,000 of the available options under the Vivacitas Agreement #1 for $ 1,000,000 . This, along
with the shares received as part Vivacitas Agreement #2 increased the Company’s equity position in Vivacitas to approximately 120,000
shares or 16 % as of September 30, 2022. As of September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, the fair value of the Company’s investment
in Vivacitas is not readily available, and therefore is recorded at cost in the amount of $ 4,100,000 and $ 4,035,000 , respectively.
17
Sentinel
Brokers Company, Inc.
On
May 13, 2021, a Sentinel Brokers, LLC., subsidiary of the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement (“Sentinel Agreement”)
to acquire a 24.9 % equity position of Sentinel Brokers Company, Inc. (“Sentinel”), a company registered in the state of New
York, for the purchase price of $ 300,000 . During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company contributed and additional $ 750,000
capital into Sentinel, increasing its total capital investment to $ 1,050,000 as of September 30, 2021. Under the terms of this agreement,
the Company as the option to purchase an additional 50.1 % of the outstanding Class A Common Shares. Upon the exercising of this option,
but no earlier than one year following the effective date the Sentinel Agreement, Sentinel has the option to sell the remaining 25 % to
the Company. In consideration of purchase price investment in Sentinel, the Company is entitled to an additional 50.1 % of the net profits
of Sentinel. The Company currently accounts for its investment in Sentinel using the equity method in accordance with ASC Topic 323,
Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures recognizing our share of Sentinel’s earnings and losses within our consolidated
statement of operations., as it currently owns 24.9 % of Sentinel. The Company’s portion of net gain in Sentinel for the nine months
ended September 30, 2022 approximated $ 143,000
Sentinel
is a broker-dealer operating primarily as a fiduciary intermediary, facilitating intuitional trading of municipal and corporate bonds
as well as preferred stock, and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), and is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”).
Stemtech
Corporation
In September 2021, the Company, Stemtech Corporation
(“Stemtech”) and Globe Net Wireless Corp. (“GNTW”) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”)
pursuant to which the Company invested $ 1.4 million in Stemtech in exchange for: (a) a Convertible Promissory Note in the amount of $ 1.4
million in favor of the Company (the “Convertible Note”) and (b) a detachable Warrant to purchase shares GNTW common stock
(the “GNTW Warrant”). Stemtech is a subsidiary of GNTW. As an inducement to enter into the SPA, GNTW agreed to pay to the
Company an origination fee of $ 500,000 , payable in shares of GNTW’s common stock. The Convertible Note matures on September 9,
2024, bears interest at the annual rate of 10 % , and is convertible, at the option of the holder, into shares of GNTW’s common stock
at a conversion rate calculated based on the closing price per share of GNTW’s common stock during the 30-day period ended September
19, 2021. The GNTW Warrant expires on September 13, 2024 and conveys the right to purchase up to 1.4 million shares of GNTW’s common
stock at a purchase price calculated based on the closing price per share of GTNW’s common stock during the 10-day period ended
September 13, 2021. In September 2021, GNTW issued to the Company 154,173 shares of its common stock, or less than 1% of the shares of
GNTW then issued and outstanding, in payment of the origination fee. In November 2021, Globe Net Wireless Corp. changed its corporate
name to Stemtech Corporation. In connection therewith, the investee’s common stock is now traded under the symbol “STEK”.
The Company
carries its investment in the Convertible Note, the GNTW Warrant and the shares of GNTW common stock at fair value in accordance with
GAAP. During the three and six months ended September 30, 2022, the Company recognized losses, before income tax, of $ 8.6 million and
$ 3.7 million in connection with its investment in the Convertible Note, the GNTW Warrant and the shares of GNTW common stock.
MojiLife,
LLC
In September 2021, the Company entered into a Membership Unit Purchase
Agreement pursuant to which the Company acquired a 30.75 % equity interest in MojiLife, LLC, a limited liability company organized in the
State of Utah, in exchange for $ 1,537,000 . MojiLife is an emerging growth distributor of technology-based consumer products for the home
and car. MojiLife’s products include esthetically attractive, cordless scent diffusers for the home or for the car, as well as proprietary
home cleaning products and accessories.
7.
Short-Term and Long-Term Debt
DSS,
Inc .
Promissory
Notes - On March 2, 2020, AMRE entered into a $ 200,000 unsecured promissory note with LVAMPTE, a related party. The Note calls
for interest to be paid annually on March 2 with interest fixed at 8.0 % . As further incentive to enter into this Note, AMRE granted LVAMPTE
warrants to purchase shares of common stock of AMRE (the “Warrants”). The amount of the warrants granted is the equivalent
of the Note Principal divided by the Exercise Price. The Warrants are exercisable for four years and are exercisable at $ 5.00 per share
(the “Exercise” Price). In March 2022, this debt was converted into equity in AMRE, and LVAMPTE exercised the warrants for
$ 200,000 (see the consolidated statement of changes in stockholders’ equity) The holder is a related party owned by the Chairman
of the Company’s board of directors.
18
On
March 16, 2021, American Medical REIT, Inc. received loan proceeds in the amount of approximately $ 110,000 under the Paycheck Protection
Program (“PPP”) with a fixed rate of 1 % and a 60-month maturity term. The PPP, established as part of the Coronavirus Aid,
Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), provides for loans to qualifying businesses for amounts up to 2.5 times of
the average monthly payroll expenses of the qualifying business. These funds were used for payroll, benefits, rent, mortgage interest,
and utilities. As of December 31, 2021, the outstanding principal and interest approximated $ 111,000 is included in long-term debt, net
on the consolidated balance sheet. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the PPP loan was forgiven in full and recorded as
a gain on extinguishment of debt on the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.
On
May 20, 2021, Premier Packaging entered into master loan and security agreement (“BOA Note”) with Bank of America, N.A. (“BOA”)
to secure financing approximating $ 3,710,000 to purchase a new Heidelberg XL 106-7+L printing press. The aggregate principal balance
outstanding under the BOA Note shall bear interest at a variable rate on or before the loan closing. At closing, the interest rate shall
be fixed for the duration of the Loan. As of September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, the outstanding principal on the BOA Note was
$ 3,521,000 and $ 3,339,000 , respectively and had an interest rate of 4.63 %. The outstanding balance at December 31, 2021 is included in
Long-term debt, net on the consolidated balance sheet. As of September 30, 2022, $ 468,000 was included in Current portion of long-term
debt, net, and the remaining balance of approximately $ 3,053,000 recorded as Long-term debt, net The BOA Note contains certain covenants
that are analyzed annual. As of September 30, 2022, Premier is in compliance with these covenants.
On
June 18, 2021, AMRE
Shelton, LLC., (“AMRE Shelton”) a subsidiary of AMRE, entered into a loan agreement (“Shelton Agreement”) with
Patriot Bank, N.A. (“Patriot Bank”) in an amount up to $ 6,155,000 ,with the amount financed approximating $ 5,105,000 . The Shelton Agreement contains monthly payments of principal and an initial interest 4.25 %.
The interest will be adjusted commencing on July 1, 2026 and continuing for the next succeeding 5
year period shall be determined one month prior
to the change date and shall be an interest rate equal to two hundred fifty (250) basis points above the Federal Home Loan Bank Boston
5-Year/25-Year amortizing advance rate, but in no event less than 4.25 %
for the term of 120 months with a balloon payment approximating $ 2,829,000
due at term end. The funds borrowed were used
to purchase a 40,000 square
foot, 2.0 story, Class A+ multi-tenant medical office building located on a 13.62
acre site (See Note 5). As of September 30, 2022,
the total balance due net of deferred financing costs of $ 79,000 is $ 4,821,000 . $ 216,000 is classified as Current portion of
long-term debt, net, and the remaining balance of approximately $ 4,605,000
recorded as Long-term debt.
On
October 13, 2021, LVAM entered into loan agreement with BMIC (“BMIC Loan”), a related party, whereas LVAM borrowed the principal
amount of $ 3,000,000 , with interest to be charged at a variable rate to be adjusted at the maturity date. The BMIC Loan matures on October
12, 2022 , and contains an auto renewal period of nine months. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, $ 3,068,000 and $ 3,000,000 ,
respectively, is included in Current portion of long-term debt, net on the consolidated balance sheet.
On
October 13, 2021, LVAM entered into loan agreement with Lee Wilson Tsz Kin (“Wilson Loan”), a related party, whereas LVAM
borrowed the principal amount of $ 3,000,000 , with interest to be charged at a variable rate to be calculated at the maturity date. The
Wilson Loan matures on October 12, 2022, and contains an auto renewal period of nine months. This loan was funded during March 2022.
As of September 30, 2022 $ 3,000,000 is included in Current portion of long-term debt, net on the consolidated balance sheet.
On
November 2, 2021, AMRE LifeCare entered into a loan agreement (“LifeCare Agreement”) with Pinnacle Bank, (“Pinnacle
Bank”) in the amount of $ 40,300,000 .
The LifeCare Agreement calls for the principal amount of the in equal, consecutive monthly installments based upon a twenty-five ( 25 )
year amortization of the original principal amount of the LifeCare Agreement at an initial rate of interest equal to the interest rate
determined in accordance as of July 29, 2022 provided, however, such rate of interest shall not be less than 4.28%, with the first such
installment being payable on August 29, 2022 and subsequent installments being payable on the first day of each succeeding month thereafter
until the maturity date, at which time any outstanding principal and interest is due in full. The maturity date of November 2, 2023,
may be extended to November
2, 2024 . As of December 31, 2021, the outstanding
principal and interest of the LifeCare agreement approximates $ 39,448,000 ,
net of deferred financing costs of $ 1,002,000 .
As of September 30, 2022, the outstanding principal and interested, net of deferred financing costs of $ 352,000
approximates $ 40,133,000
is included in Current portion of long-term debt,
on the consolidated balance sheet. This agreement contains certain covenants that are analyzed on an annual basis, starting December
31, 2021 At September 30, 2022, AMRE is in compliance with all covenants.
In
November 2021, AMRE entered into a convertible promissory note (“Alset Note”) with Alset International Limited (“Alset
International”), a related party, for the principal amount of $ 8,350,000 . The Alset Note accrues interest at 8 % per annum and matures
in December 2023, with interest due quarterly and the principal due at maturity. Principal and interest of approximately $ 8,805,000 is
included in long-term debt, net on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet on June 30, 2022. On May 17, 2022, the shareholders of
the Company approved the issuance of up to 21,366,177 Shares our Common Stock to Alset International to purchase the Convertible Promissory
Note issued by American Medical REIT, Inc. with a principal amount of $ 8,350,000 and accrued but unpaid interest of $ 367,000 through
May 15, 2022. This transaction was finalized in July 2022 and is eliminated upon consolidation into DSS.
On
March 17, 2022, AMRE Winter Haven, LLC (“AMRE Winter Haven”) and Pinnacle Bank (“Pinnacle”) entered into a
term loan (“Pinnacle Loan”) whereas Pinnacle lent to AMRE Winter Haven the principal sum of $ 2,990,000 ,
maturing on March
7, 2024 . Payments are to be made in equal, consecutive installments based on a 25-year amortization period with interest at 4.28 % .
The first installment is due January 1, 2023. This agreement contains certain covenants that are analyzed on an annual basis,
starting December 31, 2021 At September 30, 2022, AMRE is in compliance with all covenants. The outstanding principal and interest,
net of debt issuance costs of $ 104,000 ,
approximates $ 2,904,000
and is included in Long-term debt, net on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2022.
19
Sharing
Services Global Corporation
In
October 2017, Sharing Services issued a Convertible Promissory Note in the principal amount of $ 50,000 (the “Note”) to HWH
International, Inc. (“HWH” or the “Holder”), a related party. HWH is affiliated with Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, who
became a Director of the Company in April 2020. The Note is convertible into 333,333 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Concurrent
with issuance of the Note, the Company issued to HWH a detachable stock warrant to purchase up to an additional 333,333 shares of the
Company’s Common Stock, at an exercise price of $ 0.15 per share. Under the terms of the Note and the detachable stock warrant,
the Holder is entitled to certain financing rights. If the Company enters into more favorable transactions with a third-party investor,
it must notify the Holder and may have to amend and restate the Note and the detachable stock warrant to be identical. On August 9, 2022,
HWH and the Company executed an agreement to settle the Note and cancel the related stock warrant for $ 78,635.62 , which amount represents
the principal plus accrued interest. The Company made the payment to HWH on August 9, 2022.
In
December 2019, SHRG and the holder of the SHRG $ 100,000 convertible note dated April 13, 2018 (the “April 2018Note”) entered
into an amendment to the underlying promissory note. Pursuant to the amendment, the parties extended the maturity date of the note to
April 2021. In addition, after giving effect to the amendment, the April 2018 Note is non-interest bearing. All other terms of the April
2018 Note remain unchanged. This Note was repaid in full during March 2022.
8.
Lease Liability
The
Company has operating leases predominantly for operating facilities. As of September 30, 2022, the remaining lease terms on our operating
leases range from less than one to twelve years. Renewal options to extend our leases have not been exercised due to uncertainty. Termination
options are not reasonably certain of exercise by the Company. There is no transfer of title or option to purchase the leased assets
upon expiration. There are no residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. There are no significant finance leases as
of September 30, 2022.
Future
minimum lease payments as of September 30, 2022, are as follows:
Maturity
of Lease Liability:
Schedule
of Future Minimum Lease Payments
Totals
2022
284,000
2023
1,132,000
2024
908,000
2025
877,000
2026
890,000
2027
904,000
After
5,768,000
Total lease payments
10,763,000
Less: Imputed Interest
( 1,953,000 )
Present value of remaining
lease payments
$ 8,810,000
Current
$ 819,000
Noncurrent
$ 7,991,000
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
14.9
Weighted-average discount rate
4.3 %
In
March of 2022, Premier Packaging began leasing its relocated manufacturing facilities to West Henrietta, New York. This lease contains
an escalating payment clause, ranging from $ 61,000 per month to $ 78,000 per month, over the twelve year term of the lease.
20
9.
Commitments and Contingencies
The
Ronaldi Litigation
In
April 2019 DSS commenced an action in New York State Supreme Court, Monroe County, Index No. E2019003542, against Jeffrey Ronaldi, our
former Chief Executive Officer. The New York action sought a declaratory judgment that, contrary to informal claims made by him, Mr.
Ronaldi’s employment agreement with us expired by its terms and that he is not entitled to any cash bonuses or other unpaid amounts.
The lawsuit also sought an injunction against Mr. Ronaldi from interfering with any of DSS’ IP litigation. Mr. Ronaldi subsequently
commenced an action against DSS in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, on November 8, 2019, under case number 37-2019-00059664-CU-CO-CTL,
in which he alleged that DSS terminated his employment in April 2019 in order to avoid paying him certain employment-related amounts.
DSS was successful in dismissing the California case and consolidating it with the action pending in Monroe County, New York. Mr. Ronaldi
asserted counterclaims in the Monroe County, New York action similar to those he originally brought in California. Mr. Ronaldi claimed
that his termination violated an alleged employment agreement or implied-in-fact employment agreement and that he should have remained
employed through 2019. Mr. Ronaldi seeks to recover: (i) $ 144,658 in wages from April 11, 2019 through December 31, 2019; (ii) $ 769 in
alleged unpaid based salary for time worked before April 11, 2019; (iii) $ 15,385 in alleged paid time off compensation; (iv) $ 3,077 in
alleged unpaid sick time compensation; (v) $ 26,077 in waiting-time penalties; (vi) $ 91,000 in unspecified expense reimbursement; (vii)
$ 300,000 in alleged cash bonuses ($ 100,000 per year) based on DSS’s performance in 2017, 2018 and 2019; and (viii) a $ 450,000 performance
bonus based on the result of certain alleged net proceeds from patent infringement litigation. He further claimed an interest in any
recovery in DSS Technology Management v. Apple, Inc., Case No. 4:14-cf05330-HSG .
Additionally,
on March 2, 2020, DSS and DSSTM filed a second litigation action against Jeffrey Ronaldi in the State of New York, Supreme Court, County
of Monroe, Document Security Systems, Inc. and DSS Technology Management, Inc. vs. Jeffrey Ronaldi, Index No.: 2020002300, alleging acts
of self-dealing and conflicts of interest while he served as CEO of both DSS and DSS TM. Mr. Ronaldi filed a Notice of Removal of this
civil litigation to the United States District Court for the Western District of New York where it was assigned Case No. 6:20-cv-06265-EAW.
Both
pieces of Ronaldi litigation were settled and were discontinued with prejudice as of October 19, 2022.
21
Maiden
Biosciences Litigation
On
February 15, 2021, Maiden Biosciences, Inc. (“Maiden”) commenced an action against DSS, Inc. (“DSS”), Decentralized
Sharing Systems, Inc. (“Decentralized”), HWH World, Inc. (“HWH”), RBC Life International, Inc. (RBC International)
(together, the “DSS Defendants”), Frank D. Heuszel (“Heuszel”), RBC Life Sciences, Inc (“RBC”), Steven
E. Brown, Clinton Howard, and Andrew Howard (collectively, “Defendants”). The lawsuit is currently pending in the United
States District Court Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, and is styled and numbered Maiden Biosciences, Inc. v. Document Security
Stems, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:21-cv-00327.
This
lawsuit relates to two promissory notes executed by RBC in the 4 th quarter of 2019 in favor of Decentralized and HWH, totaling
approximately $ 1,000,000 . Maiden, a 2020 default judgment creditor of RBC, in the principal amount of $ 4,329,000 , now complains about
those notes, the funding of those notes, the subsequent default of those notes by RBC, and HWH and Decentralized’s subsequent Article
9 foreclosure or deed-in-lieu debt conveyances. In the instant lawsuit, Maiden first asserted claims against Defendants for unjust enrichment,
fraudulent transfer under the Texas Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act (“TUFTA”), and violation of the Racketeer Influenced
and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”). Maiden also sought a judgment from the court declaring: “(1) Defendants lacked
a valid security interest in RBC and RBC Subsidiaries’ assets and therefore lacked the authority to sell the assets during the
public foreclosure sale; (2) Defendant Heuszel’s low bid at the public foreclosure sale was invalid and void; (3) the public foreclosure
sale was conducted in a commercially unreasonable manner; and (4) Defendants do not have the legal authority to transfer RBC and RBC’s
Subsidiaries assets to Heuszel and HWH.” Maiden sought to recover from Defendants: (1) treble damages or, alternatively, damages
in the amount of their underlying judgment plus the other creditors’ claims or the value of the assets transferred, whichever is
less, plus punitive or exemplary damages; (2) pre- and post-judgment interest; and (3) attorneys’ fees and cost.
On
March 30, 2021, Defendants DSS, Decentralized, HWH, RBC International, and Heuszel filed a motion to dismiss seeking to dismiss Maiden’s
unjust enrichment, exemplary damages, and RICO claims against DSS, Decentralized, HWH, RBC Life International, Inc., and Heuszel, as
well as Maiden’s fraudulent transfer claims against DSS and RBC International. On August 9, 2021, the Court then entered an order
granting in part the motion to dismiss filed on behalf of DSS, Decentralized, HWH, RBC International, and Heuszel. Among other things,
the Court held that Maiden failed to plausibly plead certain causes of action, including (1) the civil RICO claim against DSS, Decentralized,
HWH, RBC International, and Heuszel, (2) the TUFTA claim against DSS, and (3) the unjust enrichment claim against DSS and RBC International.
Notably, the Court declined the request to dismiss the TUFTA claim against RBC International. On September 3, 2021, Maiden filed its
first amended complaint, asserting a single cause of action against the DSS Defendants, Heuszel, and RBC for an alleged TUFTA violation.
Generally,
Maiden sought the same relief requested in its original complaint. Maiden, however, abandoned its request for treble damages. On September
17, 2021, the DSS Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint seeking to dismiss Maiden’s TUFTA claim to the extent
it seeks to avoid a transfer of assets owned by any of RBC’s subsidiaries, including but not limited to RBC Life Sciences USA,
Inc. (“RBC USA”). Further, the motion to dismiss sought the dismissal of Maiden’s TUFTA claim against Heuszel. On November
19, 2021, the Court granted the motion to dismiss in part, dismissing Maiden’s claim against Heuszel and determined Maiden failed
to plead that it was a creditor of RBC USA or RBC’s other subsidiaries. However, the Court permitted Maiden to replead once again.
On
December 17, 2021, Maiden filed its second amended complaint which now asserts a single TUFTA claim against only the DSS Defendants,
RBC, and RBC USA. During the discovery period, the Parties conducted written discovery, production of documents, and depositions of fact
witnesses and expert witnesses. The discovery period closed on August 9, 2022. The DSS Defendants have engaged Stout Risius Ross, LLC
to provide expert opinions regarding the value of the assets at issue. On August 15, 2022, the DSS Defendants filed a motion to exclude
Maiden’s designated expert. The DSS Defendants’ motion to exclude is still before the Court for determination. Currently,
the Company is preparing for trial which is set for December 5, 2022 on the Court’s two-week docket. The Company intends to vigorously
defend its position at trial that Maiden should recover nothing on account of its TUFTA claim.
In
addition to the foregoing, we may become subject to other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business and have not
been finally adjudicated. Adverse decisions in any of the foregoing may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations,
cash flows or our financial condition. The Company accrues for potential litigation losses when a loss is probable and estimable.
License
Agreement
On
March 19, 2022, Impact BioMedical entered into a License Agreement (“Equivir License”) with a third-party (“Licensee”)
where the Licensor is granted the right, amongst other things, to develop, commercialize, and sell the Company’s Equivir technology.
In exchange, the Licensee shall pay the Company a royalty of 5.5 % of net sales. Under the terms of the Equivir Agreement, the Company
shall reimburse the Licensee for 50% of the development costs provided that the development costs shall not exceed $ 1,250,000 . As of
September 30, 2022, no liability has been recorded in relation to the Equivir License as development of the Equivir technology has not
begun and no reasonable amount can be estimated.
22
10.
Stockholders’ Equity
Sales
of Equity –
On
February 28, 2022, DSS entered into an Amendment to Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Amendment”) with its shareholder
Alset EHome International Inc. (“AEI”), pursuant to which the Company and AEI have agreed to amend certain terms of the
Stock Purchase Agreement dated January 25, 2022 (the “SPA”). Pursuant to the SPA, AEI had agreed to purchase up to 44,619,423
shares of the Company’s common stock for a purchase price of $ 0.3810
per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $ 17,000,000 .
Pursuant to the Amendment, the number of shares of the common stock of the Company that the AEI will purchase has been reduced to 3,986,877
shares for an aggregate purchase price of $ 1,519,000 .
This transaction was completed on March 9, 2022. In addition, the Company’s Executive Chairman and a significant stockholder,
Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and largest shareholder of AEI.
On
March 10, 2022, the Company issued 894,084 shares of common stock to Mr. Heng Fai Ambrose Chan pursuant to his employment agreement.
These shares were issued in consideration of $ 340,000 due under this employment agreement.
On
May 5, 2022, the Company issued 63,205 shares of common stock to Mr. Frank Heuszel, CEO of DSS, pursuant to his employment agreement.
These shares were issued in consideration of $ 29,000 due under this employment agreement.
On
May 25, 2022, the Company issued 15,389,995 shares of common stock to Mr. Heng Fai Ambrose Chan pursuant to his employment agreement.
These shares were issued in consideration of $ 5,847,000 due under this employment agreement.
On
May 17, 2022, the shareholders of the Company approved the issuance of up to 21,366,177
Shares of our Common Stock to Alset International, a related party, to purchase the Convertible Promissory Note issued by American
Medical REIT, Inc. with a principal amount of $ 8,350,000
and accrued but unpaid interest of $ 367,000
through May 15, 2022. This transaction was finalized in July 2022.
On
May 17, 2022, the shareholders of the Company approved the acquisition of 62,122,908 shares of True Partners Capital Holdings Limited
(“True Partners”), a company publicly traded on the Hong Kong stock exchange in exchange for 17,570,948 shares of DSS stock.
The True Partner shares were acquired from Alset EHome International, Inc. (“Alset EHome”), a related party. Mr. Heng Fai
Ambrose Chan, our director and Executive Chairman, is also Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and the largest beneficial
owner of the outstanding shares of Alset EHome. This transaction was completed with the transfer of DSS share to Alset EHome on July
1, 2022 with the issuance of DSS shares, which were valued at $0.34 per share, to Alset EHome.
Stock-Based
Compensation - The Company records stock-based payment expense related to options and warrants based on the grant date fair value
in accordance with FASB ASC 718. Stock-based compensation includes expense charges for all stock-based awards to employees, directors
and consultants. Such awards include option grants, warrant grants, and restricted stock awards. During the nine months ended September
30, 2022, the Company’s stock compensation approximated $ 4,000 .
11.
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
The
following table summarizes supplemental cash flows for the nine-months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021:
Schedule of Supplemental Cash Flow Information
2022
2021
Cash paid for interest
$ 1,907,000
$ 139,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Termination of right of use lease asset
$ -
$ ( 744,000 )
Termination of right of use lease liability
$ -
$ 744,000
Shares received for loan origination fee
$ -
$ ( 3,000,000 )
Shares received for prepaid loan interest
$ -
$ ( 2,440,000 )
Notes receivable converted to equity investments
$ 1,940,000
$
-
Shares issued for the acquisition of marketable securities
$ 7,169,000
$
-
Shares issued for the acquisition of notes receivable
$ 8,717,000
$
-
Right of use asset addition
$ 9,895,000
$ -
Shares issued in lieu of bonus cash
$ 6,216,000
$ -
23
12.
Segment Information
The
Company’s nine businesses lines are organized, managed and internally reported as five operating segments. One of these operating
segments, Product Packaging, is the Company’s packaging and printing group. Product Packaging operates in the paper board folding
carton, smart packaging, and document security printing markets. It markets, manufactures, and sells mailers, photo sleeves, sophisticated
custom folding cartons, and complex 3-dimensional direct mail solutions. These products are designed to provide functionality and marketability
while also providing counterfeit protection. A second, Biotechnology, invests in, or acquires companies in the biohealth and biomedical
fields, including businesses focused on the advancement of drug discovery and prevention, inhibition, and treatment of neurological,
oncological, and immune related diseases. This division is also developing open-air defense initiatives, which curb transmission of air-borne
infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and influenza. Biotechnology is also targeting unmet, urgent medical needs. A third operating
segment, Securities and Investment Management (“Securities”) was established to develop and/or acquire assets and investments
in the securities trading and/or funds management arena. Further, Securities, in partnership with recognized global leaders in alternative
trading systems, intends to own and operate in the US a single or multiple vertical digital asset exchanges for securities, tokenized
assets, utility tokens, stable coins and cryptocurrency via a digital asset trading platform using blockchain technology. The scope of
services within this section is planned to include asset issuance and allocation (securities and cryptocurrency), FPO, IPO, ITO, PPO,
STO and UTO listings on a primary market(s), asset digitization/tokenization (securities, currency and cryptocurrency), and the listing
and trading of digital assets (securities and cryptocurrency) on a secondary market(s). Also in this segment is the Company’s real
estate investment trust (“REIT”), organized for the purposes of acquiring hospitals and other acute or post-acute care centers
from leading clinical operators with dominant market share in secondary and tertiary markets, and leasing each property to a single operator
under a triple-net lease. the REIT was formed to originate, acquire, and lease a credit-centric portfolio of licensed medical real estate.
The fourth segment, Direct, provides services to assist companies in the emerging growth gig business model of peer-to-peer decentralized
sharing marketplaces. It specializes in marketing and distributing its products and services through its subsidiary and partner network,
using the popular gig economic marketing strategy as a form of direct marketing. Direct marketing products include, among other things,
nutritional and personal care products sold throughout North America, Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe. The fifth business line, Commercial
Banking, is organized for the purposes of being a financial network holding company, focused providing commercial loans and on acquiring
equity positions in (i) undervalued commercial bank(s), bank holding companies and nonbanking licensed financial companies operating
in the United States, South East Asia, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, and (ii) companies engaged in—nonbanking activities closely
related to banking, including loan syndication services, mortgage banking, trust and escrow services, banking technology, loan servicing,
equipment leasing, problem asset management, SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) consulting, and advisory capital raising services.
From this financial platform, the Company shall provide an integrated suite of financial services for businesses that shall include commercial
business lines of credit, land development financing, inventory financing, third party loan servicing, and services that address the
financial needs of the world Gig Economy.
Our
segment structure presented below represents a change from the prior year for the inclusion of our Biotechnology, Securities, and Commercial
Lending segments and the removal of our Plastics segment, Digital Group and IP Technology Management segment as the Plastics segment
was discontinued in 2020, DSS Digital was sold and discontinued in May 2021 and activities surrounding our IP Technology Management segment
have significantly decreased. The amounts for these segments have been included in the Corporate reporting segment for the three and
nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, as necessary, below for reconciliation purposes.
Approximate
information concerning the Company’s operations by reportable segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and
2021 is as follows. The Company relies on intersegment cooperation and management does not represent that these segments, if operated
independently, would report the results contained herein:
Schedule of Operations by Reportable Segment
Three Months
Ended September 30, 2022
Product
Packaging
Commercial
Lending
Direct
Marketing
Biotechnology
Securities
Corporate
Total
Revenue
$ 4,707,000
$ 370,000
$ 4,956,000
$ -
$ 1,646,000
$ 183,000
$ 11,862,000
Depreciation and amortization
168,000
-
41,000
278,000
2,423,000
17,000
2,927,000
Interest expense
42,000
-
193,000
-
371,000
-
606,000
Interest income
-
-
3,000
94,000
79,000
143,000
319,000
Net income (loss) from
continuing operations
( 1,077,000 )
221,000
( 15,379,000 )
( 909,000 )
( 3,182,000 )
( 4,475,000 )
( 24,801,000 )
Capital expenditures
300,000
-
73,000
-
-
-
373,000
Identifiable assets
24,035,000
48,121,000
39,979,000
57,225,000
81,766,000
13,754,000
264,880,000
Three Months
Ended September 30,2021
Product
Packaging
Commercial
Lending
Direct
Marketing
Biotechnology
Securities
Corporate
Total
Revenue
$ 3,416,000
$ -
$ 966,000
$ -
$ 184,000
$ -
$ 4,566,000
Depreciation and amortization
152,000
-
100,000
278,000
135,000
74,000
739,000
Interest expense
11,000
-
-
-
37,000
( 17,000 )
31,000
Stock based compensation
1,000
-
-
-
-
12,000
13,000
Income tax benefit
-
-
-
-
-
1,624,000
1,624,000
Net income (loss) from
continuing operations
358,000
64,000
( 1,304,000 )
( 647,000 )
( 835,000 )
( 4,311,000 )
( 6,675,000 )
Capital expenditures
1,399,000
-
-
-
186,000
55,000
1,640,000
Identifiable assets
24,752,000
60,388,000
43,695,000
55,848,000
11,376,000
23,017,000
219,076,000
Nine Months
Ended September 30, 2022
Product
Packaging
Commercial
Lending
Direct
Marketing
Biotechnology
Securities
Corporate
Total
Revenue
$ 11,876,000
$ 644,000
$ 18,000,000
$ 94,000
$ 4,817,000
$ 496,000
$ 35,927,000
Depreciation and amortization
525,000
-
248,000
835,000
7,637,000
106,000
9,351,000
Interest expense
100,000
-
193,000
-
1,812,000
-
2,105,000
Stock based compensation
1,000
-
-
-
-
3,000
4,000
Net income (loss) from
continuing operations
( 755,000 )
638,000
( 19,102,000 )
( 2,198,000 )
( 8,334,000 )
( 9,410,000 )
( 39,161,000 )
Capital expenditures
1,242,000
-
88,000
-
15,000
4,000
1,349,000
Identifiable assets
24,035,000
48,121,000
39,979,000
57,225,000
81,766,000
13,754,000
264,880,000
Nine Months
Ended September 30,2021
Product
Packaging
Commercial
Lending
Direct
Marketing
Biotechnology
Securities
Corporate
Total
Revenue
$ 10,652,000
$ -
$ 2,382,000
$ -
$ 184,000
$ -
$ 13,218,000
Depreciation and amortization
459,000
-
419,000
835,000
134,000
228,000
2,075,000
Interest expense
49,000
-
2,000
1,000
87,000
18,000
157,000
Stock based compensation
2,000
-
-
-
-
40,000
42,000
Income tax benefit
-
-
-
-
-
4,315,000
4,315,000
Net income (loss) from
continuing operations
641,000
64,000
( 9,088,000 )
( 1,955,000 )
( 1,066,000 )
( 10,058,000 )
( 21,462,000 )
Capital expenditures
2,621,000
-
6,000
-
6,750,000
4,000
9,381,000
Identifiable assets
24,752,000
60,388,000
43,695,000
55,848,000
11,376,000
23,017,000
219,076,000
24
The
following tables disaggregate our business segment revenues by major source:
Schedule of Disaggregation of Revenue
Printed
Products Revenue Information:
Three months
ended September 30, 2022
Packaging Printing and Fabrication
$ 4,888,000
Commercial and Security
Printing
144,000
Total
Printed Products
$ 5,032,000
Three months
ended September 30, 2021
Packaging Printing and Fabrication
$ 3,373,000
Commercial and Security
Printing
43,000
Total
Printed Products
$ 3,416,000
Nine months
ended September 30, 2022
Packaging Printing and Fabrication
$ 12,357,000
Commercial and Security
Printing
293,000
Total
Printed Products
$ 12,650,000
Nine months
ended September 30, 2021
Packaging Printing and Fabrication
$ 10,428,000
Commercial and Security
Printing
224,000
Total
Printed Products
$ 10,652,000
Direct
Marketing
Three months
ended September 30, 2022
Direct Marketing
Internet Sales
$ 4,937,000
Total
Direct Marketing
$ 4,937,000
Three months
ended September 30, 2021
Direct Marketing
Internet Sales
$ 966,000
Total
Direct Marketing
$ 966,000
Nine months
ended September 30, 2022
Direct Marketing
Internet Sales
$ 17,939,000
Total
Direct Marketing
$ 17,939,000
Nine months
ended September 30, 2021
Direct Marketing
Internet Sales
$ 2,382,000
Total
Direct Marketing
$ 2,382,000
25
Rental
Income
Three months
ended September 30, 2022
Rental income
$ 1,485,000
Total Rental Income
$ 1,485,000
Three months
ended September 30, 2021
Rental income
$ 184,000
Total Rental Income
$ 184,000
Nine months
ended September 30, 2022
Rental income
$ 4,656,000
Total Rental Income
$ 4,656,000
Nine months
ended September 30, 2021
Rental income
$ 184,000
Total Rental Income
$ 184,000
Management
Fee Income
Three months
ended September 30, 2022
Management
fee income
$ 38,000
Total Rental Income
$ 38,000
Three months
ended September 30, 2021
Management
fee income
$ -
Total Rental Income
$ -
Nine months
ended September 30, 2022
Management
fee income
$ 38,000
Total Management fee
income
$ 38,000
Nine months
ended September 30, 2021
Management
fee income
$ -
Total Management fee
income
$ -
Net
Investment Income
Three months
ended September 30, 2022
Net Investment
Income
$ 370,000
Total Investment Income
$ 370,000
Three months
ended September 30, 2021
Net Investment
Income
$ -
Total Rental Income
$ -
Nine months
ended September 30, 2022
Net investment
income
$ 644,000
Total Management fee
income
$ 644,000
Nine months
ended September 30, 2021
Net Investment
Income
$ -
Total Management fee
income
$ -
26
13.
Related Party Transactions
The
Company owns 127,179,311 shares or approximately 4 % of the outstanding shares of Alset International Limited (“Alset Intl”),
a company incorporated in Singapore and publicly listed on the Singapore Exchange Limited. This investment is classified as a marketable
security and is classified as long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheets as the Company has the intent and ability to hold the
investments for a period of at least one year. The Chairman of the Company, Mr. Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, is the Executive Director and
Chief Executive Officer of Alset Intl. Mr. Chan is also the majority shareholder of Alset Intl as well as the largest shareholder of
the Company. The fair value of the marketable security as of September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, was approximately $ 3,370,000
and $ 4,909,000 respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, the Company recorded unrealized
loss on this investment of approximately $ 1,539,000 and $ 967,000 , respectively.
On
March 2, 2020, AMRE entered into a $ 200,000 unsecured promissory note with LVAMPTE, a related party. The Note calls for interest to be
paid annually on March 2 with interest fixed at 8.0 % . As further incentive to enter into this Note, AMRE granted LVAMPTE warrants to
purchase shares of common stock of AMRE (the “Warrants”). The amount of the warrants granted is the equivalent of the Note
Principal divided by the Exercise Price. The Warrants are exercisable for four years and are exercisable at $ 5.00 per share (the “Exercise”
Price). In March 2022, this debt was converted into equity in AMRE, and LVAMPTE exercised the warrants for $ 200,000 (see the consolidated
statement of changes in stockholders’ equity) The holder is a related party owned by the Chairman of the Company’s board
of directors.
On
March 18, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with Alset EHome International, Inc. (“Seller”), a related party, to
purchase from the Seller’s its wholly owned subsidiary Impact Oncology PTE Ltd. (“IOPL”) for a purchase price $ 2,480,000 .
The acquisition of IOPL has been treated as an asset acquisition as IOPL does not meet the definition of a business as defined in Topic
805. IOPL owns 2,480,000 shares of common stock of Vivacitas along with the option to purchase an additional 250,000 shares of common
stock. The Sellers largest shareholder is Mr. Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, the Chairman of the Company’s board of directors and its largest
shareholder.
On
or about August 28, 2020, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, DSS Securities, Inc. entered into a corporate venture to form
and operate a real estate title agency, under the name of Alset Title Company, Inc, a Texas corporation (“ATC”). DSS Securities,
Inc. shall own 70% of this venture with the other two shareholders being attorneys necessary to the state application and permitting
process. The Company’s CEO, who is a licensed attorney, has a stated non-compensated 15% ownership interest in the venture. There
was minimal activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 .
On
September 9, 2021, the Company finalized a stock purchase agreement (the “SPA”) with American Pacific Bancorp (“APB”),
which provided for an investment of $ 40,000,000 by the Company into APB for an aggregate of 6,666,700 shares of the APB’s Class
A Common Stock, par value $ 0.01 per share. Subject to the terms and conditions contained in the SPA, the shares issued at a purchase
price of $ 6.00 per share. As a result of this transaction, DSS owns approximately 53 % of APB, and as a result its operating results will
be included in the Company’s financial statements beginning September 9, 2021. The Company incurred approximately $ 36,000 in cost
associated with the acquisition of APB which were recorded as general and administrative expenses. The acquisition of APB meets the definition
of a business with inputs, processes and outputs, and therefore, the Company has concluded to account for this transaction in accordance
with the acquisition method of accounting under Topic 805. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, APB had net income of $ 645,000 ,
of which, $ 306,000 is attributable to non-controlling interest. The next largest shareholder of APB is Alset EHome International, Inc.
(“AEI”). AEI’s Chairman and CEO, Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, and a member of the AEI’s Board of Directors, Wu Wai
Leung William, each serve on both the AEI Board and the Board of the Company. The CEO of the Company, Mr. Frank D. Heuszel, also has
an approximate 2 % equity position of APB. APB and the company in which APB owns marketable securities share a common director.
On
October 7, 2021, HWH World, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company entered into a revolving loan commitment (“Note 9”) with Borrower
9, a company registered in Taiwan. Note 9 has an principal balance of $ 52,000 and incurred no interest through the maturity date of December
31,2021 . The outstanding principal at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 is $ 61,000 and $ 52,000 , respectively, and is included
in the Current portion of notes receivable. This note was amended in April 2022 to extend the maturity date through April 2023.
27
On
October 13, 2021, LVAM entered into loan agreement with BMIC (“BMIC Loan”), a related party, whereas LVAM borrowed the principal
amount of $ 3,000,000 , with interest to be charged at a variable rate to be adjusted at the maturity date. The BMIC Loan matures on October
12, 2022 , and contains an auto renewal period of three months. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, $ 3,068,000 and $ 3,000,000 ,
respectively, is included in Current portion of long-term debt, net on the consolidated balance sheet.
On
October 13, 2021, LVAM entered into loan agreement with Lee Wilson Tsz Kin (“Wilson Loan”), a related party, whereas LVAM
borrowed the principal amount of $ 3,000,000 , with interest to be charged at a variable rate to be calculated at the maturity date. The
Wilson Loan matures on October 12, 2022 , and contains an auto renewal period of nine months. This loan was funded during March 2022.
As of September 30, 2022 $ 3,000,000 is included in Current portion of long-term debt, net on the consolidated balance sheet.
In
November 2021, AMRE entered into a convertible promissory note (“Alset Note”) with Alset International Limited (“Alset
International”), a related party, for the principal amount of $ 8,350,000 . The Alset Note accrues interest at 8% per annum and matures
in December 2023, with interest due quarterly and the principal due at maturity . Principal and interest of approximately $ 8,805,000 is
included in long-term debt, net on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet on June 30, 2022. On May 17, 2022, the shareholders of
the Company approved the issuance of up to 21,366,177 Shares our Common Stock to Alset International to purchase the Convertible Promissory
Note issued by American Medical REIT, Inc. with a principal amount of $ 8,350,000 and accrued but unpaid interest of $ 367,000 through
May 15, 2022. This transaction was finalized in July 2022 and is eliminated upon consolidation into DSS.
On
February 28, 2022, DSS entered into an Amendment to Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Amendment”) with its shareholder Alset
EHome International Inc. (“AEI”), pursuant to which the Company and AEI have agreed to amend certain terms of the Stock Purchase
Agreement dated January 25, 2022 (the “SPA”). Pursuant to the SPA, AEI had agreed to purchase 44,619,423 shares of the Company’s
common stock for a purchase price of $ 0.3810 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $ 17,000,000 . Pursuant to the Amendment, the
number of shares of the common stock of the Company that the AEI will purchase has been reduced to 3,986,877 shares for an aggregate
purchase price of $ 1,519,000 . This transaction was completed on March 9, 2022. In addition, the Company’s Executive Chairman and
a significant stockholder, Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and largest shareholder of AEI.
On
May 13, 2021, and later amended in April 2022, Sentinel Brokers, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company entered a revolving credit promissory
note (“Note 4”) with Borrower 4, a company registered in the state of New York and related party. Note 4 has an aggregate
principal balance up to $ 3,000,000 , to be funded at request of Borrower 4. Note 4, which incurs interest at a rate of 6.65 % is payable
in areas until the principal is paid in full at the maturity date of May 13, 2023 . As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there
was $ 309,000 and $ 0 , respectively, outstanding on the, and is included in current notes receivable on the accompanying consolidated
balance sheet. During the three months ended September 30, 2022, Sentinel Brokers converted approximately $ 1,364,000 of Note 4 into 13.64
preferred shares of Borrower 4.
In October 2017, Sharing Services issued a Convertible Promissory Note in the principal amount of $ 50,000
(the “Note”) to HWH International, Inc. (“HWH” or the “Holder”), a related party. HWH is affiliated
with Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, who became a Director of the Company in April 2020. The Note is convertible into 333,333 shares of the Company’s
Common Stock. Concurrent with issuance of the Note, the Company issued to HWH a detachable stock warrant to purchase up to an additional
333,333 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, at an exercise price of $ 0.15 per share. Under the terms of the Note and the detachable
stock warrant, the Holder is entitled to certain financing rights. If the Company enters into more favorable transactions with a third-party
investor, it must notify the Holder and may have to amend and restate the Note and the detachable stock warrant to be identical. On August
9, 2022, HWH and the Company executed an agreement to settle the Note and cancel the related stock warrant for $ 78,635.62 , which amount
represents the principal plus accrued interest. The Company made the payment to HWH on August 9, 2022.
On
May 17, 2022, the shareholders of the Company approved the issuance of up to 21,366,177 Shares our Common Stock to Alset International
Limited (“Alset International”), a related party, to purchase the Convertible Promissory Note issued by American Medical
REIT, Inc. with a principal amount of $ 8,350,000 and accrued but unpaid interest of $ 367,400 through May 15, 2022. This transaction was
finalized in July 2022.
On
May 17, 2022, the shareholders of the Company approved the acquisition of 62,122,908 shares of True Partners Capital Holdings Limited
(“True Partners”), a company publicly traded on the Hong Kong stock exchange in exchange for 17,570,948 shares of DSS stock.
The True Partner shares were acquired from Alset EHome International, Inc. (“Alset EHome”), a related party. Mr. Heng Fai
Ambrose Chan, our director and Executive Chairman, is also Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and the largest beneficial
owner of the outstanding shares of Alset EHome. This transaction was completed with the transfer of DSS share to Alset EHome on July
1, 2022 with the issuance of DSS shares, which were valued at $ 0.34 per share, to Alset EHome.
14.
Subsequent Events
On October 20, 2022, Sentinel Brokers, LLC. entered into an on demand promissory note with Borrower 4, a related
party, in the amount of $ 1,000,000 . This note accrues interest at 8 % per year with principal and interest due in full on April 20, 2023.
28
ITEM
2 - MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
Certain
statements contained herein this report constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “1995 Reform Act”). Except for the historical information contained herein, this report
contains forward-looking statements (identified by words such as “estimate”, “project”, “anticipate”,
“plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “believe”, “hope”, “strategy” and
similar expressions), which are based on our current expectations and speak only as of the date made. These forward-looking statements
are subject to various risks, uncertainties and factors, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated
in the forward-looking statements.
Overview
The
Company, incorporated in the state of New York in May 1984 has conducted business in the name of Document Security Systems, Inc. On September
16, 2021, the board of directors approved an agreement and plan of merger with a wholly owned subsidiary, DSS, Inc. (a New York corporation,
incorporated in August 2020), for the sole purpose of effecting a name change from Document Security Systems, Inc. to DSS, Inc. This
change became effective on September 30, 2021. DSS, Inc. maintained the same trading symbol “DSS” and updated its CUSIP number
to 26253C 102.
DSS,
Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, referred to herein as “DSS,” “we,” “us,” “our”
or the “Company”) currently operates nine (9) distinct business lines with operations and locations around the globe. These
business lines are: (1) Product Packaging, (2) Biotechnology, (3) Direct Marketing, (4) Commercial Lending, (5) Securities and Investment
Management, (6) Alternative Trading (7) Digital Transformation, (8) Secure Living, and (9) Alternative Energy. Each of these business
lines are in different stages of development, growth, and income generation.
Our
divisions, their business lines, subsidiaries, and operating territories: (1) Our Product Packaging line is led by Premier Packaging
Corporation, Inc. (“Premier”), a New York corporation. Premier operates in the paper board and fiber based folding carton,
consumer product packaging, and document security printing markets. It markets, manufactures, and sells sophisticated custom folding
cartons, mailers, photo sleeves and complex 3-dimensional direct mail solutions. Premier is currently located in its new facility in
Rochester, NY, and primarily serves the US market. (2) The Biotechnology business line was created to invest in or acquire companies
in the BioHealth and BioMedical fields, including businesses focused on the advancement of drug discovery and prevention, inhibition,
and treatment of neurological, oncological, and immune related diseases. This division is also targeting unmet, urgent medical needs,
and is developing open-air defense initiatives, which curb transmission of air-borne infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and influenza.
(3) Direct Marketing, led by the holding corporation, Decentralized Sharing Systems, Inc. (“Decentralized”) provides services
to assist companies in the emerging growth “Gig” business model of peer-to-peer decentralized sharing marketplaces. Direct
specializes in marketing and distributing its products and services through its subsidiary and partner network, using the popular gig
economic marketing strategy as a form of direct marketing. Direct Marketing’s products include, among other things, nutritional
and personal care products sold throughout North America, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Eastern Europe. (4) Our Commercial Lending business
division, driven by American Pacific Bancorp (“APB”), is organized for the purposes of being a financial network holding
company, focused on acquiring equity positions in (i) undervalued commercial bank(s), bank holding companies and nonbanking licensed
financial companies operating in the United States, South East Asia, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, and (ii) companies engaged in—nonbanking
activities closely related to banking, including loan syndication services, mortgage banking, trust and escrow services, banking technology,
loan servicing, equipment leasing, problem asset management, SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) consulting services, and advisory
capital raising services. (5) Securities and Investment Management was established to develop and/or acquire assets in the securities
trading or management arena, and to pursue, among other product and service lines, broker dealers, and mutual funds management. Also
in this segment is the Company’s real estate investment trust (“REIT”), organized for the purposes of acquiring hospitals
and other acute or post-acute care centers from leading clinical operators with dominant market share in secondary and tertiary markets,
and leasing each property to a single operator under a triple-net lease. the REIT was formed to originate, acquire, and lease a credit-centric
portfolio of licensed medical real estate. (6) Alternative Trading was established to develop and/or acquire assets and investments in
the securities trading and/or funds management arena. Alt. Trading, in partnership with recognized global leaders in alternative trading
systems, intends to own and operate in the US a single or multiple vertical digital asset exchanges for securities, tokenized assets,
utility tokens, and cryptocurrency via an alternative trading platform using blockchain technology. The scope of services within this
section is planned to include asset issuance and allocation (securities and cryptocurrency), FPO, IPO, ITO, PPO, and UTO listings on
a primary market(s), asset digitization/tokenization (securities, currency, and cryptocurrency), and the listing and trading of digital
assets (securities and cryptocurrency) on a secondary market(s). (7) Digital Transformation was established to be a Preferred Technology
Partner and Application Development Solution for mid cap brands in various industries including the direct selling and affiliate marketing
sector. Digital improves marketing, communications and operations processes with custom software development and implementation. (8)
The Secure Living division has developed a plan for fully sustainable, secure, connected, and healthy living communities with homes incorporating
advanced technology, energy efficiency, and quality of life living environments both for new construction and renovations for single
and multi-family residential housing. (9) The Alternative Energy group was established to help lead the Company’s future in the
clean energy business that focuses on environmentally responsible and sustainable measures. Alset Energy, Inc, the holding company for
this group, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Alset Solar, Inc., pursue utility-scale solar farms to serve US regional power grids and
to provide underutilized properties with small microgrids for independent energy.
29
On
February 8, 2021, DSS Securities announced that it entered into a joint venture (“JV”) with Coinstreet Partners (“Coinstreet”),
a global decentralized digital investment banking group and digital asset financial service firm, and GSX Group (“GSX”),
a global digital exchange ecosystem for the issuance, trading, and settlement of tokenized securities, using its proprietary blockchain
solution. The JV leverages the operational strengths and assets of three key leaders in their field, combining traditional capital market
experience, Fintech innovations, and business networks from three continents, North America, Europe, and Asia, to capitalize on unique
digital asset opportunities. The JV reported that it intended to first pursue a digital securities exchange license in the US. Moving
forward, this JV will be the key operational company building and operating a digital securities exchange that utilizes the GSX STACS
blockchain technology, serving corporate issuers and investors in the sector.
On
February 25, 2021, DSS Securities announced its acquisition of an equity interest in WestPark Capital, Inc.(“WestPark”) and
an investment in BMI Capital International LLC (“BMICI”). DSS Securities executed two separate transactions that were designed
to grow the securities division by signing a binding note and stock exchange letter of intent to own 7.5% of the issued and outstanding
shares of WestPark and acquiring 24.9% of BMICI through a purchase agreement. WestPark is a full-service investment banking and securities
brokerage firm which serves the needs of both private and public companies worldwide, as well as individual and institutional investors.
BMI is a private investment bank specializing in corporate finance advising, raising equity, and venture services, providing a global
“one-stop” corporate consultancy to listed companies. From corporate finance to professional valuation, corporate communications
to event management, BMICI services companies in the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Canada, and Australia.
On
March 1, 2021, Decentralized Sharing Systems, Inc. (“Decentralized”) announced that it increased its investment in Sharing
Services Global Corporation (“Sharing Services” or “SHRG”), a publicly traded company dedicated to maximizing
shareholder value through the acquisition and development of innovative companies, products, and technologies in the direct selling industry,
through a $30 million convertible promissory note dated April 5, 2021. Decentralized’s financing was made as an investment that
would help accelerate Sharing Services sales and growth, as well as international expansion, with the expectation that such capital reserves
would help make Sharing Services a dominant player in the global marketplace over the next two years. It was reported that the new $30
million investment would have the potential to exponentially increase Sharing Services sales channels and substantially expand its product
portfolio, and to position Sharing Services to capitalize on consolidation and roll up opportunities of other direct selling companies.
In the joint announcement, Sharing Services reported that the additional funding would now allow it to accelerate its global expansion
with a direct focus on the Asian markets, and specifically in countries such as South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Taiwan,
Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In accordance with the April 5, 2021, convertible promissory note, SHRG issued to the Company
27,000,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock, including 15,000,000 shares in payment of the loan origination fee and 12,000,000 shares
in prepayment of interest for the first year. As of and through September 30, 2020, the Company classified its investment in Sharing
Services Global Corp. (“SHRG”), a publicly traded company, as marketable equity security and measured it at fair value with
gains and losses recognized in other income. In July 2020, through continued acquisition of common stock, as detailed below, the Company
obtained greater than 20% ownership of SHRG, and thus has the ability to exercise significant influence over it. During the quarter ended
September 30, 2020, the Company began to account for its investment in SHRG using the equity method in accordance with ASC Topic 323,
Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures recognizing our share of SHRG’s earnings and losses within our consolidated
statement of operations. Through a series of transactions, DSS increased its ownership of voting shares in SHRG to approximately 58%
on December 23, 2021. The 58% ownership of SHRG meets the definition of a business with inputs, processes, and outputs, and therefore,
the Company has concluded to account for this transaction in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting under Topic 805 and
began consolidating the financial results of SHRG as of December 31, 2021. On January 24, 2022, the Company exercised 50,000,000 warrants
received as part of a consulting agreement with SHRG at the exercise price of $0.0001, bring its ownership percentage of voting shares
to approximately 65%. The Company, via three (3) of the Company’s existing board members, currently holds four (4) of the five
(5) SHRG board of director seats. Mr. John “JT” Thatch, DSS’s Lead Independent Director and as well the CEO of SHRG
is on the SHRG Board, along with Mr. Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, DSS’s Executive Chairman of the board of directors (joined the SHRG
Board effective May 4, 2020), and Mr. Frank D. Heuszel, the CEO of the Company (joined the SHRG Board effective September 29, 2020).
On
March 15, 2021, the Company, through one of its subsidiaries, DSS BioMedical International, Inc. entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement
(the “Agreement”) with Vivacitas Oncology Inc. (“Vivacitas”), to purchase 500,000 shares of its common stock
at the per share price of $1.00, with an option to purchase 1,500,000 additional shares at the per share price of $1.00. In addition,
under the terms of the Agreement, the Company will be allocated two seats on the board of Vivacitas. On March 18, 2021, the Company entered
into an agreement with Alset EHome International, Inc. (“Seller”) to acquire the Seller’s wholly owned subsidiary Impact
Oncology PTE Ltd for the purchase price of $2,480,000 to effectively purchase ownership of 2,480,000 shares of common stock of Vivacitas.
This agreement includes an option to purchase an additional 250,000 shares of common stock. As a result of these two transactions, which
were closed on March 21, 2021, and March 29, 2021, respectively, the Company owns an approximate 15.7% equity position in Vivacitas.
The Seller’s largest shareholder is Mr. Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, the Chairman of the Company’s board of directors and its largest
shareholder. On July 22, 2021, the Company exercised 1,000,000 of the available options under the Vivacitas Agreement #1. The Company’s
current equity position in Vivacitas approximates 16%.
30
On
April 21, 2021, the Company announced its wholly owned subsidiary, Premier Packaging Corporation’s intentions to relocate from
its current 48,000 square-foot manufacturing facility from Victor, NY to a new 105,000 square-foot facility in the Town of Henrietta,
NY approximately 15 miles from its Victor location by the end of 2021. In connection with this relocation, Premier Packaging has entered
into an agreement to sell its current Victor location and closed on the transaction in March 2022.
On
May 13, 2021, Sentinel Brokers, LLC., a subsidiary of the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement (“Sentinel Agreement”)
to acquire a 24.9% equity position of Sentinel Brokers Company, Inc. (“Sentinel”), a company registered in the state of New
York, for the purchase price of $300,000. Under the terms of this agreement, the Company as the option to purchase an additional 50.1%
of the outstanding Class A Common Shares. Upon the exercising of this option, but no earlier than one year following the effective date
the Sentinel Agreement, Sentinel has the option to sell the remaining 25% to the Company. In consideration of purchase price investment
in Sentinel, the Company is entitled to an additional 50.1% of the net profits of Sentinel
On
May 14, 2021, the Company announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, DSS PureAir, Inc., a Texas corporation (“DSS PureAir”),
closed on a Securities Purchase Agreement with Puradigm LLC, a Nevada limited liability corporation (“Puradigm”). Pursuant
to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, DSS PureAir agreed to provide Puradigm a secured convertible promissory note in the
maximum principal amount of $5,000,000.00 (the “Puradigm Note”). The Puradigm Note has a two-year term with interest at 6.65%
payable quarterly. All, or part of the Puradigm Note principal balance can be converted at the sole discretion of DSS PureAir for up
to an 18% membership interest in Puradigm LLC. The Puradigm Note is secured by all the assets of Puradigm under a security agreement
with Puradigm. The outstanding principal and interest as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, approximated $5,333,000
and $5,081,000, respectively, which is included in Current portion of notes receivable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
On
June 18, 2021, AMRE Shelton, LLC., (“AMRE Shelton”) a subsidiary of AMRE financed the purchase of a 40,000 square foot, 2.0
story, Class A+ multi-tenant medical office building located on a 13.62-acre site in Shelton, Connecticut (See Note 7). In accordance
with Topic 805, the acquisition of the medical acquired has been determined to be an acquisition of assets as substantially all of the
fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. This
property was appraised at approximately $7,150,000, of which $6,027,000 and $815,000 was allocated to the facility and land respectively.
Also include in the value of the property is $308,000 of intangible assets with an estimated useful life of 11 years. Contained within
the sale-purchase agreement for this facility, is a $1,500,000 earnout due to the seller if certain criteria are met. As of September
30, 2022, no liability has been recorded for this earnout as management determined it is currently remote.
On
September 9, 2021, the Company finalized a stock purchase agreement (the “SPA”) with American Pacific Bancorp (“APB”),
which provided for an investment of $40,000,000 by the Company into APB for an aggregate of 6,666,700 shares of the APB’s Class
A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share. Subject to the terms and conditions contained in the SPA, the shares issued at a purchase
price of $6.00 per share. As a result of this transaction, DSS became the majority owner of APB. APB is organized for the purposes of
being a financial network holding company, focused providing commercial loans and on acquiring equity positions in (i) undervalued commercial
bank(s), bank holding companies and nonbanking licensed financial companies operating in the United States, South East Asia, Taiwan,
Japan and South Korea, and (ii) companies engaged in—nonbanking activities closely related to banking, including loan syndication
services, mortgage banking, trust and escrow services, banking technology, loan servicing, equipment leasing, problem asset management,
SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) consulting, and advisory capital raising services. From this financial platform, the Company
shall provide an integrated suite of financial services for businesses that shall include commercial business lines of credit, land development
financing, inventory financing, third party loan servicing, and services that address the financial needs of the world Gig Economy.
On
September 13, 2021, the Company finalized a shareholder agreement and joint venture between its subsidiary, DSS Financial Management,
Inc. (“DFMI”) and HR1 Holdings Limited (“HR1”), a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, for the
purpose to operate a vehicle for private and institutional investors seeking a highly liquid investment fund with attractive risk adjusted
returns relative to market unpredictability and volatility. Under the terms of this agreement, 4000 shares or 40% of the Company’s
subsidiary Liquid Asset Limited Management Limited (“LVAM”), a Hong Kong company was transferred to HR1 whereas at the conclusion
of the transaction DFMI would own 60% of LVAM and HR1 would own 40%. LVAM executes within reliable platforms and broad market access
and uses proprietary systems and algorithms to trade liquid exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stocks, futures or crypto. Aimed at providing
consistent returns while offering the unique ability to liquidate the portfolio within 5 to 10 minutes under normal market conditions,
LVAM provides an array of advanced tools and products enabling customers to explore multiple opportunities, strengthen and diversify
their portfolios, and meet their individual investing goals.
On
April 7, 2021, the Company entered into a transfer and assignment agreement (“RIA Agreement”) between DSS Securities, Inc.
(“DSSS”) and AmericaFirst Capital Management, LLC (“Advisor”), a California limited liability company and the
registered investment advisor (“RIA”) to all the funds within the AmericaFirst Quantitative Funds Trust (“Trust”).
In September of 2021, with the approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees and its shareholders, and with the consideration of $600,000
paid, DSSS became the new registered investment advisor to the Trust. Upon the completion of the transfer, the Trust was renamed to the
DSS AmericaFirst Quantitative Trust. The DSS AmericaFirst Quantitative Trust is a Delaware business trust established in 2012. The Trust
currently consists of 4 mutual funds managed by DSS Wealth Management, Inc.: The DSS AmericaFirst Income Trends Fund, DSS AmericaFirst
Defensive Growth Fund, DSS AmericaFirst Risk-On Risk-Off Fund, and DSS AmericaFirst Large Cap Buyback Fund. The funds seek to outperform
their respective benchmark indices by applying a quantitative rules-based approach to security selection. The DSS AmericaFirst Quantitative
Funds is a suite of mutual funds managed by DSS Wealth Management, Inc. that will expand into numerous investment platforms including
additional mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, unit investment trusts and closed-end funds. We see substantial growth opportunities
in each of these platforms as we are committed to building and expanding upon an experienced distribution infrastructure. For DSSS services
rendered in its role as RIA, the Trust shall pay a fee for each fund calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets. The
$600,000 consideration given is recorded as an Other intangible asset, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2022. As
the RIA Agreement has no defined period, this asset has been deemed an infinite life asset and no amortization has been taken.
On
November 4, 2021, AMRE LifeCare Portfolio, LLC. (“AMRE LifeCare”), a subsidiary of AMRE, acquired three medical facilities
located in Fort Worth, Texas, Plano, Texas, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a purchase price of $62,000,000. In accordance with Topic
805, the acquisition of the medical facility has been determined to be an acquisition of assets as substantially all of the fair value
of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. These assets are
classified as investments, real estate on the consolidated balance sheet. The purchase price has been allocated as $32,100,000, $12,100,000,
and $1,500,000 for the facility, land and site improvements respectively. Also include in the value of the property is $16,321,000 of
intangible assets with estimated useful lives ranging from 1 to 11 years. All assets were allocated on a relative fair value basis.
On
December 21, 2021, AMRE Winter Haven, LLC. (“AMRE Winter Haven”), a subsidiary of AMRE, acquired a medical facility located
in Winter Haven, Florida for a purchase price of $4,500,000. In accordance with Topic 805, the acquisition of the medical facility has
been determined to be an acquisition of assets as substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in
a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. These assets are classified as investments, real estate on the
consolidated balance sheet. The purchase price has been approximately allocated as $3,200,000, $1,000,000, and $222,000 for the facility,
land and site and tenant improvements respectively. Also include in the value of the property is $29,000 of intangible assets with an
estimated useful life of approximating 5 years. All assets were allocated on a relative fair value basis.
31
On
December 23, 2021, DSS purchased 50,000,000 shares at $0.06 per share of Sharing Services Global Corporation (“SHRG”) via
a private placement. With this purchase, DSS increased its ownership of voting shares from approximately 47% of SHRG to approximately
58%. On January 24, 2022, the Company exercised 50,000,000 warrants received as part of a consulting agreement with SHRG at the exercise
price of $0.0001, bringing its ownership percentage of voting shares to approximately 65%. SHRG aims to build shareholder value by developing
or acquiring businesses that increase the Company’s product and services portfolio, business competencies and geographic reach.
Currently, the Company, through its subsidiaries, markets and distributes its health and wellness and other products primarily in the
United States, Canada, and the Asia Pacific region using a direct selling business model. The Company markets its products and services
through its independent sales force, using its proprietary websites, including: www.elevacity.com and www.thehappyco.com. The Company,
headquartered in Plano, Texas, was incorporated in the State of Nevada on April 24, 2015, and is an emerging growth company. The Company’s
Common Stock is traded, under the symbol “SHRG,” in the OTCQB Market, an over-the-counter trading platforms market operated
by OTC Markets Group Inc.
On
May 17, 2022, the shareholders of the Company approved the issuance of up to 21,366,177 Shares our Common Stock to Alset International
Limited (“Alset International”), a related party, to purchase the Convertible Promissory Note issued by American Medical
REIT, Inc. with a principal amount of $8,350,000 and accrued but unpaid interest of $367,400 through May 15, 2022. This transaction was
finalized in July 2022.
On
May 17, 2022, the shareholders of the Company approved the acquisition of 62,122,908 shares of True Partners Capital Holdings Limited
(“True Partners”), a company publicly traded on the Hong Kong stock exchange in exchange for 17,570,948 shares of DSS stock.
The True Partner shares were acquired from Alset EHome International, Inc. (“Alset EHome”), a related party. Mr. Heng Fai
Ambrose Chan, our director and Executive Chairman, is also Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and the largest beneficial
owner of the outstanding shares of Alset EHome. This transaction was completed with the transfer of DSS share to Alset EHome on July
1, 2022 with the issuance of DSS shares, which were valued at $0.34 per share, to Alset EHome.
On August 25, 2022, DSS PureAir, a subsidiary of the Company finalized
an asset purchase agreement with Celios Corporation (“Celios”) to acquire inventory, patents associated with that inventory,
and other intangible assets from Celios for $900,000. In accordance with Topic 805, the acquisition of the inventory and related patents
acquired has been determined to be an acquisition of assets as substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated
in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. The inventory acquired was valued at $491,000, while the related
patents were valued at $340,000 with an estimated remaining useful life of 20 years.
The
five reporting segments are as follows:
Premier
Packaging: Premier Packaging Corporation provides custom packaging services and serves clients in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical,
consumer goods, beverage, specialty foods, confections, photo packaging and direct marketing industries, among others. The group also
provides active and intelligent packaging and document security printing services for end-user customers. In addition, the division produces
a wide array of printed materials, such as folding cartons and paperboard packaging, security paper, vital records, prescription paper,
birth certificates, receipts, identification materials, entertainment tickets, secure coupons and parts tracking forms. The division
also provides resources and production equipment for our ongoing research and development of security printing, brand protection, consumer
engagement and related technologies. Premier is nearing completion of its facility expansion with operations expected to begin at the
new 105,000 sq. ft. facility in early March 2022.
For
over 25 years, Premier has been a market leader in providing solutions for paperboard packaging from consumer retail packaging and heavy
mailing envelopes, to sophisticated custom folding cartons and complex three-dimensional direct mail solutions. Premier’s innovative
products and design team delivers packaging that provides functionality, marketability, and sustainability, with its fiber-based packing
solutions providing an alternative to traditional plastic packaging.
Since
2019, we have accelerated the transformation of Premier’s operations, investing in state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, people,
and processes to increase its capacity, improve quality and delivery, and to ensure it has the resources to support its growing customer
base and their evolving supply chain demands.
Commercial
Lending: (“Commercial Lending”) through its operating company, American Pacific Bancorp (“APB”) provides
an integrated suite of financial services for businesses that include commercial business lines of credit, land development financing,
inventory financing, third party loan, servicing, and services that address the financial needs of the world Gig Economy. APB intends
to continue to develop and expand its lending platform to serve the small to mid-size commercial borrower and to continue to acquire
equity positions of commercial banks in the US to develop its lending network and to provide global banking services to clients worldwide,
including servicing markets with limited access to traditional US banking services. APB’s target customers are businesses with
annual revenues of $5 million to $50+ million, including manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, distributors, importers, and service
companies. APB has expertise in, and services tailored for, specific industries, including beverage, food and agribusiness, technology,
healthcare, government, higher education, clean technology, and environmental services.
Biotechnology:
(“Biotech”) This sector, through its subsidiary Impact BioMedical, Inc. targets unmet, urgent medical needs and expands
the borders of medical and pharmaceutical science. Impact drives mission-oriented research, development, and commercialization of solutions
for medical advances in human wellness and healthcare. By leveraging technology and new science with strategic partnerships, Impact Bio
provides advances in drug discovery for the prevention, inhibition, and treatment of neurological, oncology and immuno-related diseases.
Other exciting technologies include a breakthrough alternative sugar aimed to combat diabetes and functional fragrance formulations aimed
at the industrial and medical industry.
The
business model of BioHealth and Impact BioMedical revolves around two methodologies – Licensing and Sales Distribution.
1)
Impact develops valuable and unique patented technologies which will be licensed to pharmaceutical, large consumer package goods
companies and venture capitalists in exchange for usage licensing and royalties.
2)
Impact utilizes the DSS ecosystem to leverage its sister companies that have in place distribution networks on a global scale. Impact
will engage in branded and private labelling of certain products for sales generation through these channels. This global distribution
model will give direct access to end users of Impact’s nutraceutical and health related products.
32
Securities
and Investment Management: (“Securities”) Securities was established to develop and/or acquire assets in the securities
trading or management arena, and to pursue, among other product and service lines, real estate investment funds, broker dealers, and
mutual funds management. This business sector has already established the following business lines and associated products and services:
●
REIT
Management Fund: In March 2020, DSS Securities formed AMRE (“American Medical REIT”) and its management company AAMI
(“AMRE Asset Management, Inc.) Through AAMI/AMRE, a medical real estate investment trust, fulfills community needs for quality
healthcare facilities while enabling care providers to allocate their capital to growth and investment in their contemporary clinical
and critical care businesses. Urban and suburban communities are in need of modern healthcare facilities that provide a range of
medical outpatient services. The funds ultimate product is an investor opportunity in a managed medical real estate investment trust.
●
Real
Estate Title Services: Alset Title Company, Inc. provides buyers, sellers, and brokers alike confidence during big real estate
transactions, not just in a transaction, but in the property itself. Through bundled services, Alset Title Company, Inc. provides
it all from title searches and insurance to escrow agent assistance.
●
Sentinel:
Sentinel primarily operates as a financial intermediary, facilitating institutional trading of municipal and corporate bonds
as well as preferred stock, and accelerates the trajectory of the DSS digital securities business.
●
WestPark:
WestPark, a company we hold a minority interest in, is a full-service investment banking and securities brokerage firm which
serves the needs of both private and public companies worldwide, as well as individual and institutional investors.
●
BMI:
BMI is a private investment bank specializing in corporate finance advising, raising equity, and venture services, providing
a global “one-stop” corporate consultancy to listed companies. From corporate finance to professional valuation, corporate
communications to event management, BMI services companies in the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Canada, and Australia.
●
DSS
AmericaFirst: DSS AmericaFirst is a suite of mutual funds managed by DSS Wealth Management. DSS AmericaFirst expects to expand
into numerous investment platforms including additional mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, unit investment trusts, and closed-end
funds. DSS AmericaFirst currently consists of four mutual funds that seek to outperform their respective benchmark indices by applying
a quantitative rules-based approach to security selection.
Direct
Marketing: (“Direct”) Through its holding company, Decentralized Sharing Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries and partners,
including Sharing Services Global Corporation provide an array of products and services, through an independent contractor network.
For
example, Decentralized’s wholly owned subsidiary, HWH World, Inc. promotes products and services that fulfill its corporate position
of health, wealth, and happiness. The HWH Marketplace through its brands desires to help its customers become the healthiest, happiest
versions of themselves. For the health component , the company offers herbal alternatives of nutraceutical, consumables and topicals,
dietary supplements, beauty and skin care products, personal care, gut health products, aloe vera based supplements, and other wellness
products. As to the wealth component , the company is developing educational tools to its users to better manage individual finances
and savings programs to help its consumers find each consumer’s individual financial goal. As to the happiness component ,
the company is working with other partners to either acquire or partner in products and/or services to allow its consumers to enjoy and
healthy living, including a global travel membership network.
Further,
Sharing Services, through its subsidiary Elevacity, markets and distributes health and wellness products under the “Elevate”
brand, primarily in the United States and Canada. Sharing Services markets its products and services through its independent contractor
distribution system and using its proprietary website: www.elevacity.com. In February 2021, the Company launched its new business brand,
“The Happy Co.,” at its Elevacity division. Elevacity as several well-known and signature products, including its top product
lines of “Happy Coffees” and “Nootropic Beverages”. Elevacity also sells a “healthy shake”, a “Keto
Coffee Booster”, “Energy Caps”, “XanthoMax© Happy Caps”, “Wellness Vitamin Patches”, various
beauty and skin care products, and other wellness products.
Results
of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.
This
discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes contained in this Quarterly Report and in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K and 10K/A for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Revenue
Three
months ended September 30, 2022
Three
months ended September 30, 2021
%
Change
Nine
months ended September 30, 2022
Nine
months ended September 30, 2021
%
Change
Printed
products
$ 5,032,000
$ 3,416,000
47 %
$ 12,650,000
$ 10,652,000
19 %
Rental
income
1,485,000
184,000
707 %
4,656,000
184,000
2430 %
Management
fee income
38,000
-
N/A
38,000
-
N/A
Net
investment income
370,000
-
N/A
644,000
-
N/A
Direct
marketing
4,937,000
966,000
411 %
17,939,000
2,382,000
653 %
Total
Revenue
$ 11,862,000
$ 4,566,000
160 %
$ 35,927,000
$ 13,218,000
172 %
For
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, total revenue increased 160% and 172% respectively, as compared to the three and
nine months ended September 30, 2021. Revenues from the sale of Printed products increased 47% and 19% during the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021, primarily due to efforts to meet customer demands after
manufacturing down time that occurred during Q1 2022 related to relocating Premier’s manufacturing plant during Q1 2022.
Rental income increased 707% and 2430% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 as compared to the same period in 2021
as it represented new revenue stream beginning in June 2021. Net investment income of $370,000 and $644,000 for the three and nine
months ended represents a new revenue stream beginning in September 2021 for the Company associated with our Commercial Lending
business segment. The Company’s Direct Marketing revenues increased 411% and 653% for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2022 as compared to 2021 due primarily to the increase sales in our Asian markets, and the inclusion of SHRG revenue
for the period January 1, 2022, to September 30, 2022.
33
Costs
and expenses
Three
months ended September 30, 2022
Three
months ended September 30, 2021
%
Change
Nine
months ended September 30, 2022
Nine
months ended September 30,2021
%
Change
Cost of revenue, inclusive of depreciation
and amortization
$ 11,368,000
$ 3,406,000
234 %
$ 27,653,000
$ 10,045,000
175 %
Sales, general and administrative compensation
6,968,000
3,242,000
115 %
20,117,000
9,569,000
111 %
Professional fees
2,919,000
1,245,000
134 %
6,416,000
3,444,000
86 %
Stock based compensation
-
13,000
-100 %
4,000
42,000
-90 %
Sales and marketing
3,110,000
1,060,000
193 %
9,952,000
2,586,000
285 %
Rent and utilities
295,000
42,000
602 %
632,000
175,000
261 %
Research and development
331,000
190,000
74 %
705,000
645,000
9 %
Other operating expenses
1,054,000
913,000
15 %
2,430,000
2,703,000
-10 %
Total
costs and expenses
$ 26,045,000
$ 10,111,000
158 %
$ 67,969,000
$ 29,209,000
133 %
Costs
of revenue, inclusive of depreciation and amortization includes all direct costs of direct marketing and printed products revenues,
including materials, direct labor, transportation, manufacturing facility costs and depreciation. Costs of goods sold increased 234%
and 175% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively as compared to the same periods in 2021. This increase
is driven primarily by an increase in depreciation and amortization associated with assets acquired by our REIT line of business as well
as increases in manufacturing costs associated with the products sold as part of our Direct Marketing, and Packaging and Printing segments,
in particular, increases in freight, paper, and overhead costs.
Sales,
general and administrative compensation costs, excluding stock-based compensation, increased 115% and 111% for the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2022 as compared to the same periods in 2021 primarily due to additional head count associated with the inclusion
of SHRG compensation costs for the beginning on January 1, 2022.
Professional
fees increased 134% and 86%, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the same periods in 2021 respectively,
primarily due to an increase in legal fees associated with the direct marketing segment, accounting fees, and due diligence fees related
to potential acquisitions.
Stock
based compensation includes expense charges for all stock-based awards to employees, directors and consultants. Such awards include
option grants, warrant grants, and restricted stock awards. Stock based compensation decreased 100% and 90% during the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the same periods in 2021 respectively, driven by the expiration of options awarded
to employees no longer with the Company.
Sales
and marketing which include internet and trade publication advertising, travel and entertainment costs, sales-broker commissions,
and trade show participation expenses. Sales and marketing increased 193% and 261% during the three and nine months ended September 30,
2022 as compared to the same periods in 2021 respectively, is a result of the commissions paid to brokers associated with the Company’s
Direct Marketing segment, and in particular, the inclusion of SHRG financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30,
2022.
Rent
and utilities increased 602% and 261% during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the same period in
2021 respectively, primarily due to a new facility lease in Houston, Texas started during the first quarter of 2021 as well as Premier
Packaging’s leased facility beginning in March 2022.
Research
and development costs increased 74% and 9% during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the same period
in 2021 respectively, due to a increase in such activities at our Impact Biomedical, Inc. subsidiary.
Other
operating expenses consist primarily of equipment maintenance and repairs, office supplies, IT support, and insurance costs. During
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, other operating expenses increased 15% and decreased 10% as compared to the same
period in 2021 respectively, due to increased software costs associated with enhancements to the Company’s ERP system as well as
new software implement as part of the Company’s Direct Marketing segment and increased D&O insurance premiums.
34
Other
Income (Expense)
Three
months ended September 30, 2022
Three
months ended September 30, 2021
%
Change
Nine
months ended September 30, 2022
Nine
months ended September 30,2021
%
Change
Interest Income
$ 319,000
$ 1,593,000
-80 %
$ 613,000
$ 3,130,000
-80 %
Interest Expense
(606,000 )
(31,000 )
1855 %
(2,105,000 )
(157,000 )
1241 %
Other Income (expense)
3,627,000
325,000
1016 %
4,203,000
575,000
631 %
Loss on investments
(14,302,000 )
(2,996,000 )
377 %
(10,479,000 )
(10,894,000 )
-4 %
Gain/(loss) on equity method investment
344,000
(1,645,000 )
-121 %
134,000
(2,556,000 )
-105 %
Gain/(Loss) on extinguishment of debt
-
-
N/A
110,000
116,000
-5 %
Gain on disposal of
operations, net of taxes
-
-
N/A
405,000
-
N/A
Total
other income
$ (10,618,000 )
$ (2,754,000 )
-286 %
$ (7,119,000 )
$ (9,786,000 )
27 %
Interest
income is recognized on the Company’s money markets, and a portion of notes receivable, identified in Note 4.
Other
income (expense) for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 is driven by the impairment of investments and notes receivables for
SHRG approximating $1,745,000, offset by income tax benefits at SHRG approximating $4,109,000
Interest
expense increased 1855% and 1241% during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021,
due to increasing debt balances, in particular within our REIT business line.
Loss
on investments consists of net realized losses on marketable securities which are recognized as the difference between the purchase
price and sale price of the common stock investment. Also included are net unrealized losses on marketable securities which are recognized
on the change in fair market value on our common stock investment.
Loss
on equity method investment is the Company’s prorated portion of earnings on its investments treated under the equity method
of account for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Gain
on extinguishment of debt consists of funds received by AAMI in April 2020, by the SBA Paycheck Protection Program of $116,000. As
of January 8, 2021, this note was forgiven in full. Also, during the nine months ended September 30, 2022, SHRG’s $110,000 SBA
Paycheck Protection Program was forgiven in full.
Gain
on sale of assets is driven by the Company’s gain on the sale of Premier’s manufacturing facility in Victor, NY, as well
as other capital assets.
Net
Loss from Continuous Operations
Three
months ended September 30, 2022
Three
months ended September 30, 2021
%
Change
Nine
months ended September 30, 2022
Nine
months ended September 30,2021
%
Change
Loss
from continuing operations
$ (24,801,000 )
$ (6,675,000 )
-272 %
$ (39,161,000 )
$ (21,462,000 )
-82 %
Income
from discontinued operations, net of tax
-
-
NA
-
2,129,000
100 %
Net
loss
$ (24,801,000 )
$ (6,675,000 )
-272 %
$ (39,161,000 )
$ (19,333,000 )
-103 %
For
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company recorded net losses of $24,801,000 and $39,161,000, respectively
as compared to net losses of $6,675,000 and $21,462,000, respectively for September 30, 2021. The increase in net loss during the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the same periods in 2021 primarily reflect the performance of Company investments.
35
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The
Company has historically met its liquidity and capital requirements primarily through the sale of its equity securities and debt financings.
As of September 30, 2022 the Company had cash of approximately $22.8 million. As of September 30, 2022, the Company believes that it
has sufficient cash to meet its cash requirements for at least the next 12 months from the filing date of this Annual Report. In addition,
the Company believes that it will have access to sources of capital from the sale of its equity securities and debt financings.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities
was $23,251,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 as compared to $12,448,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
This increase is driven by an increase in net loss of $4,833,000 as well as an increase in accounts receivable of $4,146,000.
Cash Flow from Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities
was $17,816,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 as compared to $53,215,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we purchased $1,349,000 in property, plant, and equipment, purchased $14,254,000 in marketable
securities, and issued $4,687,000 in new notes receivable. This was offset by cash received on the disposal of assets approximating $2,557,000.
Cash Flow from Financing Activities
Net cash provided from financing activities was $7,317,000 for the nine months ended September
30, 2022 as compared to $126,760,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we
borrowed $6,360,00 of long-term debt, had new issuances of common stock in the amount of $1,518,000. This was offset by payments of debt
of $561,000.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
We
do not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, an effect on our financial condition,
financial statements, revenues or expenses.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make judgments, assumptions
and estimates that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements and accompanying notes. The financial statements as of December
31, 2021, describe the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the financial statements. There have been
no material changes to such critical accounting policies as of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
2022.
ITEM
4 - CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Under
the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer,
we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e)
and Rule 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on this
evaluation and on the material weaknesses disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2021
which remained as of September 30, 2022, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that as of September
30, 2022, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports
filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is being recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in
the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that our disclosure controls are not effectively designed to ensure
that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is being accumulated and
communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar
functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management has also concluded that our
internal control over financial reporting was not effective. In connection with management’s assessment of our internal
control over financial reporting described above, the following weakness have been identified in the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021: (1) the Company did not maintain a sufficient complement of qualified accounting personnel
and controls associated with segregation of duties over complex transactions, and (2) there was no systematic method of documenting that
timely and complete monthly reconciliation and closing procedures take place.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation
of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that
the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed,
have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect
to financial statement preparation and presentation.
Plan
for Remediation of Material Weaknesses
As
discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company has a remediation plan and is committed
to maintaining a strong internal control environment and believes that these remediation efforts will represent significant improvements
in our controls. The Company has started to implement these steps, however, some of these steps will take time to be fully integrated
and confirmed to be effective and sustainable. Additional controls may also be required over time. Until the remediation steps set forth
above are fully implemented and tested, the material weaknesses described above will continue to exist.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
While
changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2022, as the
Company began implementation of the remediation steps described above, we believe that there were no changes in the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2022, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely
to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
36
PART
II
OTHER
INFORMATION
ITEM
1 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
See
commentary in Note 9 Commitments and Contingencies.
ITEM
1A - RISK FACTORS
There
have been no material changes to the discussion of risk factors previously disclosed in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
ITEM
2 - UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
On
January 25, 2022, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with Alset EHome International, Inc. (the “January 25, 2022
SPA”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue to Alset EHome International, Inc. (“AEI”) up to 44,619,423 shares
of the Company’s common stock (the “Shares”) for a purchase price of $0.3810 per share. On February 28, 2022, the Company
entered into an Amendment to Stock Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Company and AEI agreed to amend certain terms of the January
25, 2022 SPA. Pursuant to the Amendment, the number of shares of the common stock of the Company that the AEI will purchase has been
reduced from 44,619,423 to 3,986,877 shares for an aggregate purchase price of $1,519,000.
On
January 18, 2022, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with AEI, pursuant to which AEI sold to the Company 100% of the
shares of common stock of its wholly owned subsidiary True Partner International Limited (HK) (“TP”), and all of TP’s
62,122,908 ordinary shares of True Partner Capital Holding Limited, for a purchase price of 11,397,080 newly issued shares of the Company’s
common stock. This agreement was terminated on February 25, 2022. On February 28, 2022, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement
with Alset EHome International Inc. (the “True Partner Revised Stock Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which AEI has agreed
to sell a subsidiary holding 62,122,908 shares of stock of True Partner Capital Holding Limited in exchange for 17,570,948 shares of
common stock of the Company. On July 7, 2022, the Company issued 17,570,948 shares to Alset EHome International Inc. (“AEI”).
ITEM
3 - DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM
4 - MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not
applicable.
ITEM
5 - OTHER INFORMATION
None.
ITEM
6 - EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
Description
3.1
Articles of Incorporation
3.2
Bylaws
10.1
Revolving Credit Promissory Note between APB and Borrower 15 dated July 26, 2022.
10.2
Asset Purchase Agreement between DSS PureAir and Celios Corporation dated August 25, 2022
10.3
Subordinated Loan Agreement between DSS Financial Management and Borrower 14 dated August 29, 2022
10.4
Agreement between HWH and DSS dated August 9, 2022
37
31.1
Rule
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.*
31.2
Rule
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer. *
32.1
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.*
32.2
Certification
of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.*
101.INS
Inline
XBRL Instance Document*
101.SCH
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document*
101.CAL
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document*
101.DEF
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document*
101.LAB
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document*
101.PRE
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document*
104
Cover
Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)*
*Filed
herewith.
38
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
DSS,
INC.
November
14, 2022
By:
/s/
Frank D. Heuszel
Frank
D. Heuszel
Chief
Executive Officer
(Principal
Executive Officer)
November
14, 2022
By:
/s/
Todd D. Macko
Todd
D. Macko
Chief
Financial Officer
39
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.