Freedom Holding Corp. - Annual Report: 2021 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-K

Commission File Number 001-33034

+7 727 311 10 64
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

☐ Yes      ☒ No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

☐ Yes      ☒ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

☒ Yes      ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files.)

☒ Yes      ☐ No

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

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.) 

☐ Yes      ☒ No

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity last sold as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $379,197,514.

As of June 8, 2021, the registrant had 59,474,712 shares of common stock, par value $0.001, outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated herein by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K to the extent stated herein. Such proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of the registrant’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.

Table of Contents

FREEDOM HOLDING CORP.

Unless otherwise specifically indicated or as is otherwise contextually required, references herein to the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “us” means Freedom Holding Corp. a Nevada corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, as well as any predecessor entities. References to “fiscal 2020” and “fiscal 2021” mean the periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Special Note about Forward-Looking Information

Certain information included in this annual report, including without limitation “Business” in Item 1 of Part I, “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7 of Part II of this annual report, contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking. You can recognize these statements through our use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “strategy,” “forecast,” “potential,” “future,” “predict,” “project,” “likely,” “should,” “will,” “would,” other similar expressions and their negatives.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which may be beyond our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, expressed or implied, in forward looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to, the following:

Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management and apply only as of the date of this annual report or the respective dates of the documents from which they incorporate by reference. Neither we nor any other person assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of forward-looking statements. Further, except to the extent require by law, we undertake no obligations to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, a change in events, conditions, circumstances or assumptions underlying such statements, or otherwise.

                The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes contained elsewhere in this annual report and in our other filings with the SEC. All references to our “consolidated financial statements” are to “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in Item 8 of Part II of this annual report.

PART I

Item 1. Business

OVERVIEW

Freedom Holding Corp. (referred to herein as the “Company”, “FRHC”, “we” “our” and “us”) is a corporation organized in the United States under the laws of the State of Nevada. We are a holding company that owns and operates several diversified financial services businesses. Our subsidiaries engage in a broad range of activities in the securities industry, including retail securities brokerage, investment research, investment counseling, securities trading, market making, investment banking and underwriting services in Eurasia, and consumer banks servicing clients in Russia and Kazakhstan and an agency only institutional brokerage at the New York Stock Exchange. Our headquarters is in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with supporting administrative office locations in Russia, Cyprus and the United States.

We own directly, or through subsidiaries, the following companies:

We own a 32.88% interest in Freedom UA. The remaining 67.12% interest of Freedom UA is held by Askar Tashtitov, the Company’s president. However, as a result of a series of contractual relationships between the Company and Freedom UA, we account for Freedom UA as a variable interest entity (“VIE”) under the accounting standards of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). Accordingly, the financial statements of Freedom UA are consolidated into the financial statements of the Company provided with this annual report.

In July 2020 we completed the acquisition of Zerich Capital Management (“Zerich”). On December 27, 2020, Zerich was merged into Freedom RU and its separate legal existence terminated. In connection with the merger, the assets and liabilities of Zerich were transferred to Freedom RU.

Through our operating companies we are professional participants on the:

We are also members of the:

We also own minority equity interests in both the UX (24.3%) and the SPBX (12.8%). Our Cyprus brokerage office serves to provide our clients with operations support and access to the investment opportunities, relative stability, and integrity of the U.S. and European securities markets, in cases where the regulatory regimes of the jurisdictions of our other subsidiaries provide only limited or no direct investor access to international securities markets.

We operate under various securities licenses in the jurisdictions where we conduct business, plus we have banking licenses in Russia and Kazakhstan that allows us to expand the types of financial services we provide to our Russian and Kazakhstani clientele. Our Cyprus operations are conducted in Limassol, Cyprus where we are licensed to receive, transmit and execute customer orders, establish custodial accounts, engage in foreign currency exchange services and margin lending, and trade our own investment portfolio. Through our Cyprus office we provide transaction handling and intermediary services to our offices requiring access to securities markets in the U.S. and Europe.

We are a member of the Russian National Association of Securities Market Participants (“NAUFOR”), a statutory self-regulatory organization with wide responsibility in regulation, supervision and enforcement of its broker-dealer, investment banking, commercial banking and other member firms in Russia. Freedom Bank RU is a member of the National Financial Association in Russia. In Kazakhstan, Freedom KZ and Freedom Bank KZ are members of the Association of Financiers of Kazakhstan. Freedom UA is a member of the Professional Association of Capital Market participants and Derivatives (“PARD”) in Ukraine. Freedom EU is a member of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (“AFME”).

PrimeEx is registered as an agency only execution broker-dealer that operates on the floor of the NYSE and is a member of NASDAQ, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and the Securities Investor Protection Corp (“SIPC”). PrimeEx is not registered as an investment adviser under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”).

Our common stock is listed for trading in the United States on the Nasdaq Capital Market, in Kazakhstan on the KASE and in Russia on the SPBX.

RETAIL BROKERAGE SERVICES

We provide a comprehensive array of financial services to our target retail audience which is individuals, businesses and financial institutions seeking to diversify their investment portfolios to manage economic risk associated with political, regulatory, currency, banking, and national uncertainties. Our clients also include other broker-dealers. Clients are provided online tools and retail locations to establish accounts and conduct securities trading on transaction-based pricing. We market to our customer demographic through a number of channels, including telemarketing, training seminars and investment conferences, print and online advertising using social media, mobile app and search engine optimization activities.

We serviced more than 290,000 client accounts in fiscal 2021, of which more than 63% carried positive cash or asset account balances as of March 31, 2021. During fiscal 2021 customer accounts increased by approximately 150,000 as we continued to have our customer base grow organically and nonorganically. Internally, we designate “active accounts” as those in which one transaction occurs per quarter. During fiscal 2021 we had approximately 97,000 active accounts.

We have accelerated our growth through nonorganic growth strategies, including several strategic acquisitions which has enabled us to expand our market reach, increase our client base and provide our clientele the convenience of both a state-of-the-art proprietary electronic trading platform, Tradernet, and 98 retail brokerage and financial services offices located across Kazakhstan (26), Kyrgyzstan (1), Russia (44), Uzbekistan (8), Ukraine (13), Cyprus (2), Germany (2), Azerbaijan (1) and the U.S. (1) that provide our full array of financial services, investment consulting and education. In Russia 28 brokerage and financial services offices also provide banking services to firm customers. In Kazakhstan eight brokerage and financial services offices also provide banking services to firm customers.

Tradernet Software Platform — Our Tradernet software platform provides clients a browser-based desktop application and, in some countries, a supporting mobile app to facilitate trading activity. Tradernet provides clients with trading capabilities and access to monitor multiple markets around the world simultaneously, including KASE, AIX, UX, MOEX, SPBX, NYSE, NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Deutsche Börse and to execute trades electronically in these markets in multiple products from a single trading account. Additionally, Tradernet allows clients to monitor and manage all aspects of their personal accounts, including non-trading orders and participate in our client social network. We also use Tradernet for client margin risk evaluation and for middle office security transfer requests.

We offer our customers seamless access to all classes of tradable, primarily exchange-listed products traded on numerous exchanges and market centers around the world. The emerging complexity of multiple market centers has provided us the opportunity to build and continually adapt our software to provide excellent service. We provide our customers with what we believe to be one of the most effective and efficient electronic brokerage platforms in the industry.

Full-Service Brokerage - We offer full-service brokerage covering a broad array of investment alternatives including exchange-traded and over-the-counter corporate equity and debt securities, money market instruments, exchange traded options and futures contracts, government bonds, and mutual funds. A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from commissions from clients through accounts with transaction-based pricing. Brokerage commissions are charged on investment products in accordance with a schedule we have formulated that aligns with local practices.  

Margin Lending - We extend credit to clients, collateralized by securities and cash in the customer’s account, for a portion of the purchase price of securities, and we receive income from interest charged on such extensions of credit. The customer is charged for such margin financing at interest rates established by us.

Investor Education - We provide a variety of investment education and training courses to clients. We do not engage currently in asset or portfolio management nor do we engage in discretionary trading in our client account investment advisory services. Our clients are provided online access to tools that enable them to manage and monitor their accounts and portfolio performance via the Tradernet platform.

Investment Research - We employ 27 research and securities analysts that conduct equity and debt research covering a number of individual securities worldwide. We provide regular research reports, notes and earnings updates to our clients. The research department supports our clients and sales department with equity and fixed-income research focused on the Kazakhstani, Ukrainian, Russian, European and U.S. markets. Our research reports focus primarily on large, liquid public companies along with other linked commodities and currency markets. Our research reports are based on fundamental valuation and are typically issued on a quarterly-basis or when significant events occur. Our analysts also perform analysis of fixed-income securities and portfolios and provide research and analysis of market forecasts and macroeconomic conditions for certain industries.

Consumer Banking - In Russia and Kazakhstan we have augmented our brokerage operations with consumer banking services. We generate banking service fees and commissions by providing services that include lending operations, payment card services, deposit services, money transfers, opening and maintaining correspondent accounts, renting safe deposit boxes, e-commerce money transfer services for legal entities, and tender guarantees. We are an authorized Visa/MasterCard issuer. In Russia we are also a participant in the Mir payment system. The Mir payment system is a national electronic payment system established by the National Bank of Russia. We also issue multi-currency cards, which allow purchases to be made in multiple different currencies with the use of a single card. We provide internet banking and mobile applications for Android/iOS for companies and individuals. In addition, we offer clients several investment and structured banking products (insured deposits with option features and currency risk hedging products as permitted by local laws).

In Russia, the Deposit Insurance Agency of Russia insures 100% of deposits of individuals up to 1.4 million Russian rubles (approximately $18,400 as of March 31, 2021). In Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan Deposit Insurance Fund (“KDIC”) administers the deposit insurance system. The KDIC insures deposits in the case of liquidation of the bank-member of the Fund. Deposits are insured up to 15 million Kazakhstani tenge (approximately $35,300 as of March 31, 2021), per client.

Additionally, we have developed a payment card we call the “invest card”. At the client’s election the card can be a virtual card or a plastic card. The invest card allows our clients the ability to manage their investment accounts both online or in person. It offers features unique to the Kazakhstani market including:

Freedom Bank KZ is also focused on developing and digitizing other classic banking products, such as mortgages to reduce wait times and enhance client convenience.

CAPITAL MARKETS

Our success and growth in retail securities brokerage has allowed us to extend our activities and participation in the capital markets and issuer funding activities.

Investment Banking

 We have established teams of investment banking professionals in Almaty and Moscow. Our investment banking division provides strategic advisory services and capital markets products. Our investment banking team focuses on certain sectors including consumer and business services, energy, financial institutions, real estate, technology, media and communications. Our investment banking activities are concentrated in Kazakhstan, Russia and Uzbekistan where the governments continue to privatize industries, but commercial banks concentrate their services on large enterprises or state-owned enterprises. In these countries, the commercial lending sources also impose loan structures and debt covenants that exclude many companies. This has created growing interest and demand in our services. To date our activities have included underwriting of debt and equity offerings on “best efforts” and firm underwriting bases.

Equities Capital Markets - We provide capital raising solutions for corporate clients through initial public offerings and follow-on offerings including listing companies on appropriate exchanges. We focus on companies in growth industries and participate as market makers in our underwritten securities offerings after the initial placements of shares.

Debt Capital Markets - We offer a range of debt capital markets solutions for emerging growth and small market companies. We focus on structuring and distributing private and public debt, for various purposes including buyouts, acquisitions, growth capital financings, and recapitalizations. In addition, we participate in bond financings for both sovereign and corporate emerging market issuers.

Proprietary Trading and Investment Activities

In the regular course of our business, we take securities positions as a market maker and/or principal to facilitate customer transactions and for investment purposes. In market making activities and when trading for our own account, we expose our own capital to the risk of fluctuations in market value. Investment decisions are determined in accordance with internal policies and recommendations of our internal investment committees. The size of our securities positions vary substantially based upon economic and market conditions, allocations of capital, underwriting commitments and trading volume of an individual issuer’s securities. Also, the aggregate value of inventories of securities which we may carry is limited by the Net Capital Rule as in effect in the jurisdictions where we conduct our business. See “Regulatory Oversight” in this Item 1 of Part I and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Item 7 of Part II, of this annual report.

Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Agreements

Additionally, through the use of securities sold under agreements to repurchase and securities purchased under agreements to resell, we act as an intermediary between borrowers and lenders of short-term funds and provide funding for various inventory positions. We also employ repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements in our proprietary trading activities. For additional information regarding our repurchase and reverse repurchase activities see “Securities reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements” in Note 2 and Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements.

COMPETITION

We face aggressive competition in each of the markets where we offer our services. We compete with international, regional and local brokerage, banking, and financial services firms that offer an array of financial products and services. The brokerage and financial service firms with which we principally compete for customers include: (i) Tinkoff, BCS, BrokerCreditService and JSC IC Finam in Russia; (ii) Halyk Finance, BCC Invest and First Heartland Securities in Kazakhstan; (iii) BrokerCreditService and Otkrytie in Cyprus. While there are many large banks in Russia and Kazakhstan, Freedom Bank RU has identified its principal banking competitors as Tinkoff, BCS and Alfa-Bank; and Bank Freedom KZ has identified its principal banking competitors as Kaspi Bank, Altyn Bаnk and Alfa-Bank.

Many of the firms with which we compete are larger, provide additional and more diversified services and products, provide access to more international markets, and have greater technical, and financial resources. We leverage competitive advantages we have developed, including our extensive experience in providing local investors access to the U.S. and European securities markets, our ability to deliver high quality analytical information and our focus on providing convenient, high tech user-friendly access to our services and the markets. We also believe we provide our customers advantages in their regional markets, particularly in the area of access to participation in IPOs of foreign issuers and well-known global companies. We have also been an active participant in various privatization programs, which has allowed us to develop expertise and a prominent reputation in the public placement of securities of local issuers in the regions where we operate.

BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN

We identify business continuity as the capability to continue the delivery of services to our clients, employees and various business partners and counterparties at acceptable predefined levels following a disruption that may occur in one or more business activities and/or in one or more operating locations due to local, national, regional or worldwide disasters, including pandemics, such as COVID-19, or due to failure of one or more components of information technology infrastructure, including proprietary or self-developed information systems, databases, software and hardware that we operate to provide such service. Since our operations are conducted through our subsidiary companies in different geographic locations, our business continuity plans are developed, tested and managed locally by our subsidiaries to cover key business areas, provide contingency plans for IT infrastructure and communication to employees, clients and counterparties.

Our operating subsidiaries in each geographical location rely on local public utilities for electric power with additional electric generator back up (if available). For telephone and internet services we engage, where available, back up providers. All of these service providers have assured management of our subsidiary companies that they have plans for providing continued service in the case of an unexpected event that might disrupt their services. At the same time, our business continuity plans have little impact if a failure occurs from disruption of third-party service providers that cannot be replaced in a reasonable time by another provider due to uniqueness or special services, such as stock exchanges, depositories, clearing houses, clearing firms or other financial intermediaries used to facilitate our securities transactions. For this purpose, our subsidiaries have established continuous communication with the service providers to ensure timely receipt of data about their planned and actual activities. We are continuing to implement increased uniformity across our subsidiaries to address business operations continuity and expertise by pursuing a standard for business continuity consistent with the standards of ISO 22301 Societal security - Business continuity management systems.

We have employees in a number of cities in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Germany, Cyprus, Azerbaijan and the U.S. all of whom need to work and communicate as an integrated team. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, each country in which we operate instituted some form of quarantine, stay at home or remote work order, social distancing guidelines, travel and/or other restrictions and a significant percentage of our employees have transitioned to being able to work remotely, as needed. Generally, the business continuity plans we had in place and continue to develop have allowed us and our employees to continue to deliver services to our customers, various business partners and counterparties.

HUMAN CAPITAL

As of March 31, 2021, we had 2,546 (2,028 full-time and 518 part-time) employees worldwide. While we have offices in Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Cyprus, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and the U.S., most of our employees are based in Kazakhstan and Russia. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We have never experienced a strike or similar work stoppage, and we consider our relations with our employees to be good.

We understand that our success is dependent on the talents and dedication of our staff, and our mission is to provide our employees in return:

We advance this mission through a diversified operating model which allocates human capital management separately to each subsidiary with a flatter management structure. We believe this localized approach provides each subsidiary the flexibility to assess how best to competitively attract, develop and retain employees in its locale. Through this approach we believe we have assembled a talented and motivated team and we expect to continue to incentivize our employees who continue to provide value to us and our customers.

INFORMATION SECURITY

Information security, with a particular focus on cyber security, is a high priority for us. We have and continue to develop and implement safeguards, policies and technology designed to protect the information provided to us by our clients and our own information from cyber attacks and other misappropriation, corruption or loss. We also consult advisory organizations and follow regulatory requirements regarding information security. For additional information regarding information security see “Risks Related to Information Technology and Cyber Security” in Item 1A of this annual report.

REGULATORY OVERSIGHT

We operate in a highly regulated industry across several legal jurisdictions. Our securities and banking business activities are subject to extensive regulation and oversight by the stock exchanges, central/national banks, governmental and self-regulatory authorities in the foreign jurisdictions where we conduct business activities, the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II and Regulation of the European Union, and certain laws and regulations of the United States. We expect that the regulatory environment will continue to raise standards and impose new regulation with which we will be required to comply in a timely manner.

In the foreign jurisdictions where we conduct business we are subject to often overlapping schemes of regulation that govern all aspects of our relationship with our customers. These regulations cover a broad range of practices and procedures, including:

The regulatory authorities in each jurisdiction where we operate establish minimum net capital requirements, we must meet to maintain our licensure to conduct the brokerage and/or banking services we provide. These minimum net capital requirements currently range from approximately $5,000 to $23,600,000 and fluctuate depending on various factors. As of March 31, 2021, the aggregate net capital requirements of our subsidiaries was approximately $30,100,000. In the event we fail to maintain minimum net capital, we may be subject to fines and penalties, suspension of operations, and disqualification of our management from working in the industry. Our subsidiaries are also subject to rules and regulations regarding liquidity and capital adequacy ratios.

Compliance with minimum capital requirements could limit our expansion into activities and operations that require significant capital. Minimum capital requirements could also restrict our ability to transfer funds among our subsidiaries or the FRHC.

We spend considerable resources in our general efforts to comply with the various regulations to which we are subject. We do not expect this burden to decrease in the future.

Violations of securities, banking, anti-money laundering and financing of terrorism laws, rules and regulations can subject us to a broad range of disciplinary actions including imposition of fines and sanctions, other remedial actions, such as cease and desist orders, removal from managerial positions, loss of licensing, and civil and criminal proceedings.

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In the U.S., the 1970 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, broadly prohibits foreign bribery and mandates recordkeeping and accounting practices. The foreign countries where our subsidiaries operate have similar anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws imposed on our subsidiaries. The anti-bribery provisions make it illegal for us, either directly or through any subsidiary that we may acquire, to bribe any foreign official for the purpose of obtaining business. The term “public official” is defined broadly to include persons affiliated with government-sponsored or owned commercial enterprises as well as appointed or elected public officials. The recordkeeping provisions require that we and our subsidiaries make and maintain books that, in reasonable detail, reflect our transactions and dispositions of assets and devise and maintain a system of internal accounting controls that enables us to provide reasonable assurance that transactions are properly recorded in accordance with management’s authorizations, that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements, that access to our funds and other assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorizations, and that the recorded accounts for assets are compared periodically with the existing assets to assure conformity.

The FCPA requires that we establish and maintain an effective compliance program to ensure compliance with U.S. law. Failure to comply with the FCPA can result in substantial fines and other sanctions.

Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Funding and Economic Sanctions Laws. The USA Patriot Act, the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act and similar legislation in the jurisdictions where our subsidiaries operate, as well as certain exchanges and self-regulatory organizations impose a variety of rules that require registered broker-dealers to “know their customers” and monitor their customers’ transactions for potentially suspicious activities. Our subsidiaries have implemented policies, procedures and internal controls that are designed to comply with local anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing (“AML”) rules and regulations, that require significant due diligence and verification of customer information.

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), in connection with its administration and enforcement of economic and trade sanctions publishes lists of individuals and companies, known as “Specially Designated Nationals,” or SDNs. Assets of SDNs are blocked, and U.S. companies are generally prohibited from dealing with them. OFAC also administers a number of comprehensive sanctions and embargoes that target certain countries, governments and geographic regions. Under our U.S. Sanctions Compliance Policies and Procedures, we, and in certain instances our subsidiaries, might be prohibited from engaging in transactions involving any individual, entity, country, region or government that is subject to such sanctions. Additionally, our U.S. subsidiary, PrimeEx, operates under its own U.S. Sanctions Compliance Policies and Procedures, which governs its own sanctions compliance activities with its institutional clients and with other FRHC subsidiaries.

Protection of Customer Assets. Our business is subject to extensive oversight by regulators around the world relating to, among other things, the fair treatment of clients, safeguarding of client assets and our management of client funds.

Freedom EU is subject to the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (“MiFID”) and/or related regulations and must, when holding funds belonging to clients, make adequate arrangements to safeguard the rights of clients and maintain their records and accounts in a way that ensures their accuracy. Freedom Global is subject to Astana International Financial Centre business rules and is required to have systems and controls in place to ensure the proper safeguarding of client assets which includes conducting proper due diligence of the third parties in which client assets will be held and confirming that the laws and regulations that govern such third parties are appropriate.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. The 2010 Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) was enacted in the United States to target non-compliance by U.S. taxpayers using foreign accounts. FATCA requires foreign financial institutions, such as the Freedom Companies, to report to the United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) information about financial accounts held by U.S. taxpayers, or by foreign entities in which U.S. taxpayers hold a substantial ownership interest.

The United States has entered into intergovernmental agreements with a number of countries establishing mutually agreed-upon rules for the implementation of the data sharing requirements of FATCA. It has not, however, entered into such an agreement with Russia. As a result, Russia adopted legislation to allow financial institutions to share foreign taxpayer data with foreign tax authorities, such as the IRS, without breaching Russian data protection and confidentiality laws. The Russian legislation sets forth extensive rules relating to when and how the financial institution may gather and share foreign taxpayer information. The Russian legislation establishes extensive monitoring procedures requiring, among other things, the notification to various Russian state bodies by the financial institution of registration with a foreign tax authority, receipt of requests for foreign taxpayer data, and the delivery to Russian state bodies of foreign taxpayer data prior to delivery to a foreign tax authority. Under the legislation, Russian regulators retain the right to prohibit disclosure of foreign taxpayer information in certain instances. Failure to comply with the Russian legislation may result in monetary fines for the financial institution and its officers.

Because of the lack of an agreement between the U.S. and Russia establishing mutually agreed-upon guidelines for data sharing, inconsistencies in the two legal regimes exist, which can place financial institutions in Russia, such as Freedom RU and Freedom Bank RU, in the position of having to decide whether to comply with Russian legislation or with FATCA. For example, under Russian legislation, a financial institution may share foreign taxpayer data only with the consent of the foreign taxpayer, and even when consent is given, Russian regulators may, in certain circumstances, prohibit disclosure. There is no exemption for foreign financial institutions from the FATCA disclosure requirements. Similarly, FATCA generally requires foreign financial institutions to withhold 30% of designated payments. However, the Russian legislation does not grant financial institutions the authority to act as a withholding agent for a foreign tax authority. The Russian legislation does allow financial institutions to decline to provide services to foreign taxpayers.

Cyprus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan have entered into Model 1 intergovernmental agreements with the United States containing provisions regulating the process for financial institutions in these countries to collect information on U.S. taxpayer accounts and provide that information to the IRS. In general, the requirements of the agreements concern the analysis of new and existing customer accounts to identify U.S. taxpayers. The agreement requires financial institutions in these countries to identify their clients and analyze their products to identify the accounts of customers affected by FATCA and collect all necessary information to classify those accounts in compliance with the requirements of FATCA. After classifying the accounts, financial institutions are obligated to regularly present information, including name, taxpayer identification number, and account balance, to the local tax authorities for transfer to the IRS. The agreements also address when financial institutions in these countries are required to withhold taxes to be remitted to the IRS. Pursuant to these intergovernmental agreements, our subsidiaries in these countries are required to obtain client documentation associated with the indicia of his, her, or its U.S. tax residency status as well as related account information in order to report accordingly.

The failure to comply with FATCA could result in adverse financial and reputational consequences to us as well as the imposition of sanctions or penalties including responsibility for the taxes on any funds distributed without the proper withholdings set aside.

MONETARY POLICY

Our earnings are and will be affected by domestic economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Cyprus and the United States. The monetary policies of these countries may have a significant effect upon our operating results. It is not possible to predict the nature and impact of future changes in monetary and fiscal policies.

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers as of June 14, 2021:

Timur Turlov – Mr. Turlov has served as the chief executive officer and chairman of the board since November 2015. He graduated from Russia State Technic University (named after Tsiolkovsky) in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and management. Mr. Turlov holds a management certificate in stock exchange operations and securities broker and dealer management granted by the Russian National Securities Market Association and has more than 10 years of experience in various areas in the international securities industry. From July 2013 to July 2017, he served as the Advisor to the Chairman of the Board of Freedom KZ. In that capacity, he was primarily responsible for strategic management, public and investor relations events, investment strategy, sales strategy, and government relations. In July 2017, Mr. Turlov became Chairman of the Board of Directors of Freedom KZ.  As the General Director, he is responsible for establishing Freedom RU’s strategic goals, including acquisition and retention of large clients, sales strategy and company development. From May 2012 through January 2013, he served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC Nomad Finance where he oversaw business set up and acquisition of large clients. From July 2010 through August 2011, he was employed as the Vice Director of the International Sales Department of Nettrader LLC. In this capacity, his major responsibilities included consulting to set up access to foreign markets, trading, back office, and internal accounting functions. Mr. Turlov was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Freedom Bank KZ in December 2020, and in that role he participates in determining the priority areas of the Freedom Bank KZ's business activities and development strategy. He has served as a member of the Supervisory Board of LLP AK Niet Group since April 2020.

Askar Tashtitov - Mr. Tashtitov has served as president of the Company since June 2018 and leads our investment banking activities.  He has served as a director of the Company since May 2008 and was employed with BMB Munai, Inc., the predecessor of the Company, from 2004 through 2015, serving as the president from May 2006 to November 2015. From 2011 to 2015 Mr. Tashtitov was engaged in private equity projects. From 2002 to 2004 Mr. Tashtitov was a management consultant with PA Government Services Inc. Mr. Tashtitov earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in economics and history in 2002. 

Evgeniy Ler - Mr. Ler has served as the chief financial officer of the Company since November 2015. Prior to that time, he served as chief financial officer of BMB Munai, Inc., the predecessor of the Company from April 2009 to November 2015. BMB Munai, Inc. was a public company listed on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX). Mr. Ler joined BMB Munai in 2006 and served in several capacities including finance manager and reporting manager before being appointed chief financial officer. During 2013 and 2014 Mr. Ler was engaged in private equity projects. From 2003 to 2006 Mr. Ler was an auditor at Deloitte Kazakhstan. In 2003, Mr. Ler was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in financial management from the Kazakh-American University located in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

There are no arrangements or understandings between any of our executive officers and any other person pursuant to which such individual was selected as an executive officer.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

Our investor relations website is located at https://ir.freedomholdingcorp.com. We intend to use our investor relations website as a means for disclosing material non-public information and for complying with SEC Regulation FD and our other disclosure obligations. In addition to our investor relations website, our subsidiaries maintain corporate websites and we may use social media to communicate with the public. It is possible that information we post on social media could be deemed to be material to investors. We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. Reports filed with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, including annual and quarterly reports, are available free of charge, through our website. We make them available on our website as soon as reasonably possible after we file them with the SEC. The reports we file with or furnish to the SEC are also available on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Our corporate governance policies, code of ethics and Board committee charters are also posted on our investor relations website. The content of our website, the websites of our subsidiaries, and the information we communicate through social media is not intended to be incorporated by reference into this annual report or in any other report or document that we file.

Item 1A. Risk Factors                   

The risks and uncertainties described in the risk factors below are those that we currently consider material, and the statements contained elsewhere in this annual report, including our financial statements, should be read together with these risk factors. The occurrence of any of, or a combination of, the following risks or uncertainties, or additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations, liquidity, cash flows, or reputation.

Summary of Risk Factors

The following is a summary of some of the principal risks that could affect our businesses and should be read with the more complete discussion of risks and uncertainties set forth below it.

Risks Related to the U.S. and International Securities Brokerage and Banking Industry:

Risks Related to Our Securities and Banking Business Activities:

Geographic, Currency and Political Risks:

Taxation Risks Related to our International Operations:

Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Internal Operations:

Risks Related to Information Technology and Cyber Security:

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Securities:

General Business Risks:

Risks Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic:

Credit Related Risks:

Risks Related to the U.S. and International Securities Brokerage and Banking Industries

We operate in highly regulated industries.

The business of the Company and its subsidiaries is subject to extensive government regulation and oversight in multiple jurisdictions. This includes but is not limited to laws, regulations and rules or other obligations concerning:

Failure to comply with these often complex and frequently changing legal obligations could materially harm our business.

As the Company and/or its subsidiaries introduce new products and services, expand existing product and service offerings and/or acquire new businesses they may be subject to additional regulations, restrictions, and licensing requirements and related regulatory oversight. Similarly, as the Company expands its international activities, it will be obligated to be aware of, comprehend and comply with the laws of the new markets and jurisdictions in which it operates.

Further, the various jurisdictions in which the Company’s subsidiaries operate may impose different or even conflicting obligations than those applicable to the Company or other subsidiaries. For example, laws regulating the internet, mobile, and related technologies used by the Company’s subsidiaries outside of the U.S. often impose different, more specific, or even conflicting obligations, as well as broader liability. In addition, certain transactions that may be prohibited by economic sanctions regulations of U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) if undertaken by the Company or in the United States may be permissible if undertaken independently by a non-U.S. subsidiary where there is no U.S. nexus.

A failure or perceived failure to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, or orders of any cognizant government authority may subject the Company or its subsidiaries to investigation, which may involve extensive legal-related costs. A finding of noncompliance could result in criminal or civil enforcement in one or more jurisdictions leading to significant fines or penalties, including forfeiture of assets; result in additional compliance and licensure requirements; result in loss of existing licenses or prevent or delay obtaining additional licenses that may be required for our business; increase regulatory scrutiny; restrict our operations or require that we change certain business practices, make product or operational changes; increase expenses; and delay planned transactions, product launches or improvements. Any of the foregoing could, individually or in the aggregate, harm our reputation, damage our brands and business, and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, but notwithstanding these measures it is possible that our employees, contractors, and agents could nevertheless breach such laws and regulations.

As a U.S. public company listed on Nasdaq, we are subject to resource intensive obligations.

We are subject to extensive corporate governance, reporting and accounting disclosure requirements under U.S. securities laws and regulations of the SEC. These laws, as well as the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, impose certain compliance requirements, costs and obligations on listed companies. This requires a significant commitment of resources and management oversight. The expenses associated with being a public company include auditing, accounting and legal fees and expenses, investor relations expenses, increased directors’ fees, registrar and transfer agent fees and listing fees, as well as other expenses. Failure to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley Act or Dodd-Frank Act could potentially subject us to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory, exchange or market authorities.

We are subject to risks related to anti-corruption laws in effect in the United States and the non-U.S. jurisdictions where we conduct business.

The Company is subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and similar non-U.S. anti-corruption laws that generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments or providing anything of value to influence foreign government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or obtaining an unfair advantage. Recent years have seen a substantial increase in the global enforcement of anti-corruption laws, with more frequent voluntary self-disclosures by companies, aggressive investigations and enforcement proceedings, resulting in record fines and penalties, increased enforcement activity, and increases in criminal and civil proceedings brought against companies and individuals.

The Company operates through subsidiaries in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, the United States, Germany and Cyprus. Enforcement officials generally interpret anti-corruption laws’ prohibitions to include improper payments to government officials like those of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Center for Coordination and Development of Securities Market of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the National Commission for securities markets of Ukraine and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, the principal regulatory bodies that would control and monitor our operations in certain of these countries. Our internal policies and those of our subsidiaries provide for training and compliance with all applicable anti-corruption laws and regulations. Despite our training and compliance programs, it is possible that our employees, agents or independent contractors may cause the Company or a subsidiary to violate applicable laws. In the event that we believe or have reason to believe that our employees, agents or independent contractors have or may have caused the Company or a subsidiary to violate applicable anti-corruption laws, we may be required to investigate or have outside counsel investigate the relevant facts and circumstances, which can be costly and require significant time and attention from senior management. Non-compliance with these laws may result in criminal or civil penalties, which could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition, the result of operations and cash flows, and reputational damage.

Non-compliance with U.S., EU or other sanctions programs or an expansion of these programs could adversely impact our business.

The U.S. and European Union and other jurisdictions have imposed economic sanctions on certain countries and persons. The Company is committed to compliance with applicable economic sanctions.

U.S. economic sanctions include prohibitions (‘primary’ sanctions) that are generally administered and enforced by OFAC. With the exception of OFAC’s Iran and Cuba sanctions programs these prohibitions apply to U.S. Persons, including companies organized under the laws of the United States and their overseas branches, but do not apply to non-U.S. subsidiaries of U.S. Persons. U.S. economic sanctions also include ‘secondary’ sanctions that make certain activities of non-U.S. companies sanctionable under U.S. statutes such as the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (“CAATSA”). These sanctions are administered by OFAC and/or the U.S. Department of State. The Company requires its subsidiaries to fully comply with all U.S. primary sanctions that are applicable to such subsidiaries and/or to transactions in which they are involved, and to refrain from participation in any conduct that is sanctionable under U.S. secondary sanctions.

Of specific relevance to the Company’s operations, the U.S. has imposed primary sanctions on certain Russian and Ukrainian persons and entities in connection with the alleged role of the Russian Federation in events in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea (“Ukraine/Russia-related Sanctions”). Among other things these sanctions prohibit dealing in certain debt or equity issued by a number of major state-owned Russian financial institutions and certain state-owned entities in the Russian energy and defense sectors.

The Company, which is a U.S. domiciled holding company with limited operations of its own, is obliged to comply with Ukraine/Russia-related Sanctions, but those sanctions do not apply to the fully independent activities of its non-U.S. subsidiaries where there is no U.S. nexus. If, however, the Company were to be determined to have facilitated activities of its subsidiaries that are prohibited under Ukraine/Russia-related Sanctions the Company could be subject to civil or criminal penalties under OFAC regulations.

In addition, non-U.S. companies that cause U.S. companies to violate OFAC regulations may be subject to enforcement action and thereby the imposition of civil or criminal penalties. This may occur for example if a Company subsidiary were to process a U.S dollar transaction involving sanctioned securities through the U.S. financial system. The risk of noncompliance may arise in connection with international transactions conducted in U.S. dollars, transfers to or from U.S. bank accounts, or dealings with U.S. broker-dealers.

In the event that we believe or have reason to believe that our employees, agents or independent contractors have or may have caused the Company or a subsidiary to violate applicable economic sanctions laws, we may be required to investigate or have outside counsel investigate the relevant facts and circumstances, which can be costly and require significant time and attention from senior management. Non-compliance with these laws may result in criminal or civil penalties, which could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition, the result of operations and cash flows.

Finally, should there be a large scale expansion of U.S. sanctions on Russia, private sector financial institutions in Russia or Russian’s banking system it could negatively affect the Company’s Russian subsidiaries by limiting or prohibiting their access to the U.S. financial system or financial markets. Such large scale expansion may also negatively affect the Russian economy and investment climate, and lead to deterioration of the Russian financial markets. The impact of any such expansion would depend on the nature of such sanctions.

The countries in which we operate have changing regulatory regimes, regulatory policies, and interpretations.

The countries in which we operate have differing, and sometimes conflicting, regulatory regimes governing the delivery of financial services in each country, the transfer of funds to and from such countries, and other aspects of the broker-dealer, finance, investment and banking industries. These provisions were promulgated during changing political circumstances, are continuing to change, and may be relatively untested, particularly insofar as they apply to foreign investments by residents of various countries. Therefore, there may exist little or no administrative or enforcement history or established practice that can aid us in evaluating how the regulatory regimes may impact our operations or our clients. It is possible that governmental policies will change or that new laws and regulations, administrative practices or policies, or interpretations of existing laws and regulations including those governing capital, liquidity, leverage, long-term debt, margin requirements, restrictions on leveraged lending or other business practices, reporting requirements and tax burdens will materially and adversely affect our activities in one or more of the countries where we operate. Further, since the history and practice of industry regulation is limited, our activities may be particularly vulnerable to the decisions and positions of individuals, who may change, be subject to external pressures, or administer policies inconsistently. Internal bureaucratic politics may have unpredictable and negative consequences. If we fail to develop and maintain good working relationships with local regulators, or a local regulator determines that we have violated local laws in a particular market we could realize significant and negative impacts on our businesses in that market and to our reputation generally.

Our revenue and profitability could be affected by changes to rules and regulations that impact the business and financial communities generally, including changes to the laws governing foreign ownership, electronic commerce, client privacy and security of client data. In addition, changes to laws, rules and regulations or changes in the enforcement of existing laws, rules or regulations, could:

Changes in regulations impacting broker-dealers, banks, or market participants, including taxes on stock transfers and other financial transactions, could reduce market transactions and impact our business.

Changes to laws or regulations, such as tax laws, could also have a disproportionate impact on our business or profitability, based on the way those laws or regulations are applied to us due to our corporate structure. For example, the current U.S. presidential administration has proposed tax policy ideas that if enacted would, among other things, increase the corporate tax rate and the U.S. tax rate on Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (GILTI). Because of certain tax advantages we realize in certain jurisdiction where we operate, the proposed changes in the GILTI tax rate by the current administration, which has not yet been adopted and may change significantly before being implemented, if at all, could result in significantly higher tax burdens on the Company in the U.S., which could offset some of the favorable tax advantages we realize in some of the jurisdictions where we conduct business.

We are subject to risks of litigation, administrative and regulatory action arising from our operating activities.

We operate in highly regulated industries and are exposed to significant legal risks. We may be subject to legal claims from our customers and counterparties, as well as regulatory actions brought against us by the regulators and self-regulatory agencies that oversee and regulate the industries in which we operate. From time to time, we have been, and in the future may be subject to investigations, regulatory proceedings, fines and penalties brought by regulators. We may be subject to employment-related claims and disputes with taxing authorities and other claims. We are also subject to laws and regulations governing anti-corruption, anti-bribery, and economic and trade sanctions. Violation of these or similar laws and regulations could result in significant monetary penalties and restrictions on our activities. We could experience negative publicity and reputational damage as a result of future lawsuits, claims or regulatory actions, in addition to potential significant costs incurred to defend ourselves or settling claims, fines, penalties and judgments. This could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to Our Securities and Banking Business Activities

Failure to meet capital adequacy and liquidity guidelines could affect the financial condition and operations of our subsidiaries.

Our subsidiary companies must meet certain ongoing capital and liquidity standards, which are subject to evolving rules and qualitative judgments by government regulators regarding the adequacy of their capital and internal assessment of their capital needs. These net capital rules may limit the ability of each subsidiary to transfer capital to us. New regulatory capital, liquidity, and stress testing requirements may limit or otherwise restrict how each subsidiary utilizes its capital and may require us to increase our capital and/or liquidity or to limit our growth. Failure by our subsidiaries to meet minimum capital requirements could result in certain mandatory and additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could adversely affect our liquidity, business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

We may suffer significant losses from credit exposures.

Our business is subject to the risk that a customer, counterparty or issuer will fail to perform its contractual obligations, or that the value of collateral held to secure obligations will prove to be inadequate to cover their obligations to us. We are also subject to the same risk in connection with our own failures in connection with our proprietary trading. While we have policies and procedures designed to manage this risk, the policies and procedures may not be fully effective to protect us against the risk of loss. Our exposure results principally from repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, margin lending, clients’ options trading, futures activities, securities lending, our role as counterparty in financial contracts, investing activities, and our proprietary trading.

When we purchase securities on margin, enter into securities repurchase agreements, or trade options or futures, we are subject to the risk that we, or our customers, may default on those obligations when the value of the securities and cash in our own proprietary or in the customers’ accounts falls below the amount of the indebtedness. Abrupt changes in securities valuations and the failure to meet margin calls could result in substantial financial losses.

We have exposure to credit risk associated with our proprietary investments. Our investments are subject to price fluctuations as a result of changes in the financial markets’ assessment of credit quality. Loss in securities value can negatively affect our financial performance and earnings if our management determines that such securities are other-than-temporarily-impaired (OTTI). The evaluation of whether OTTI exists is a matter of judgment, which includes the assessment of several factors. If our management determines that a security is OTTI, the cost basis of the security may be adjusted, and a corresponding loss may be recognized in current earnings. Deterioration in the value of securities held in our proprietary portfolio could result in the recognition of future impairment charges. Even if a security is not considered OTTI, if we were forced to sell the security sooner than intended, we may have to recognize an unrealized loss at that time.

We rely upon the use of credit arrangements as a significant component of our trading strategy. We are constantly searching for reliable counterparties for such transactions. Our inability to access an adequate pool of quality reliable counterparties to engage with could limit our ability to undertake certain transactions, which could negatively impact our business, results of operations and cash flows.

Our investments can expose us to a significant risk of capital loss.

We use a significant portion of our capital to engage in a variety of investment activities for our own account, as well as in our exchange-based market making activities. We have relied on leveraging to increase the size of our proprietary portfolio. As a result, we may face risks of illiquidity, loss of principal and revaluation of assets. The companies in which we invest may concentrate on markets which are or may be disproportionately impacted by pressures in the sectors on which they focus, and their existing business operations or investment strategies may not perform as projected. As a result, we may suffer losses from our investment activities. 

Our proprietary portfolio is leveraged and concentrated in the sovereign debt instruments of a few non-U.S. countries and debt and equities of a number of companies. A consequence of this investment strategy is that our investment returns could be materially and adversely affected if these investments do not perform as anticipated or if the market performs differently than we forecast. Moreover, because we rely on leverage in our portfolio, when an investment does not perform within the time horizon we project, we face significant risk of either having to close the position at a time when the market price or liquidity might be unfavorable, or extending financing arrangements beyond the time frame initially anticipated, which can result in paying higher financing costs than projected. If a significant investment such as this fails to perform as anticipated our return on investment, business, liquidity, cash flow, financial condition and results of operations could be materially negatively affected, and the magnitude of the loss could be significant.

Substantially all of our investing and market-making positions are marked-to-market on a daily basis and declines in asset values directly and immediately impact our earnings. Although we may take measures to manage market risk, such as employing position limits, hedging and using quantitative risk measures, we may incur significant losses from our trading activities due to leverage, market fluctuations, currency fluctuations and volatility. To the extent that we own assets, i.e., have long positions, a downturn in the value of those assets or markets could result in losses. Conversely, to the extent we have sold assets we do not own, i.e., have short positions, an upturn in those markets could expose us to potentially large losses as we attempt to cover our short positions by acquiring assets in a rising market. We cannot give assurance that our investing and market-making strategies will be effective in all situations or that those activities will always be profitable. For example, an increase in interest rates, a general decline in debt or equity markets, an inability to properly and cost effectively hedge, economic slowdowns, delays in timing of anticipated events, an inability to identify and engage suitable counterparties, or other market conditions adverse to companies or investments of the type in which we invest or for which we make markets, or other world events, such as wars, natural disasters or the outbreak of a pandemic like COVID-19, could result in a decline in the value of our investments.

Additionally, changes in existing laws, rules or regulations, or judicial or administrative interpretations thereof, or new laws, rules or regulations could have an adverse impact on our investments.

We may need to raise additional capital, and we cannot be sure that additional financing will be available or available on attractive terms.

To satisfy or refinance existing obligations, service our debt obligations, support the development of our business or pursue additional growth through acquisition, we depend on our ability to generate cash flow from operations and to borrow funds and issue securities in the capital markets. To the extent we are unable to generate cash flows sufficient to meet our obligations, we may require additional financing for liquidity, capital requirements or growth initiatives. We may not be able to obtain financing on terms and at interest rates that are favorable to us, or at all. An inability to obtain financing in the future could materially and adversely affect our plans, business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

We are dependent upon our relationships with U.S. securities broker-dealer and clearing firms to receive and transmit funds internationally.

Funds invested by our customers in securities of U.S. companies are transmitted to U.S. registered securities broker-dealer and clearing firms. Funds from the sale of securities are transmitted from such U.S. registered securities broker-dealer and clearing firms back to us through international banking electronic transfers, which can experience clerical and administrative mistakes, be subject to technical interruption, be delayed, or otherwise fail to work as planned. We do not have any control over these funds transfers. Failures or substantial delays in funds transfers could impair our customer relationships. Damage to or the loss of our relationships with these U.S. registered securities broker-dealer and clearing firms could also impair our ability to continue to offer such services to our customers which could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and/or financial condition.

Significant reliance on a related party brokerage firm poses risks associated with a concentrated source of revenue and evolving market regulations might increase risks for conflicts of interest, direct competition, and reduce commission revenue from that brokerage.

Since November 2015 Timur Turlov has been our controlling shareholder and served as a member of the Company’s board of directors and its CEO. In July of 2014 he created and has remained the sole owner of FFIN Brokerage Services, Inc., a corporation registered in and licensed as a broker dealer in Belize (“FFIN Brokerage”). Many of our clients are also clients of FFIN Brokerage. In Eurasia, as a foreign broker dealer, FFIN Brokerage has been able to provide easier access to the U.S. securities markets, which conduct business in U.S. dollars, to investors in Russia and Kazakhstan, due to local regulations that imposed restrictions on foreign currency accounts, required mandatory securities custody in-country, and limited access to foreign securities, unless listed on local exchanges. Over the past few years, the securities markets in Russia and Kazakhstan have developed substantially and many of the barriers to open access to foreign securities and foreign stock markets have been reduced or eliminated. However, since 2015 our subsidiaries have conducted substantial business with FFIN Brokerage and as disclosed in Note 23 to our consolidated financial statements, we continue to realize a substantial majority of our annual commission revenue from transactions conducted with FFIN Brokerage. We anticipate that the maturing of foreign securities markets might reduce the competitive advantage of FFIN Brokerage to clients in Russia and Kazakhstan, resulting in slower or negative growth to FFIN Brokerage. We do not know how this might change that firm’s strategy or impact us. Additionally, FFIN Brokerage is a securities dealer and has direct client relationships with some of our subsidiaries. This aspect of our relationship has provided our subsidiaries substantial liquidity pools and has enhanced our ability to act as a prominent market maker on local securities exchanges. Significant changes to FFIN Brokerage or our relationship with that firm and its clients might result in increased direct competition or create conflicts of interests that might not be resolved in our favor, as well as adversely affect our business strategy and the revenue we currently derive from executing it.

We may suffer significant loss from changes in the KASE’s requirements related to the discount coefficients on the securities in securities repurchase transactions.

As part of our investment activities, we raise funds through repurchase transactions on the KASE. Depending on the reliability of the instrument used to secure the repurchase transaction, the KASE has established the size of the discount for securities. The discount is a decreasing coefficient that sets the maximum borrowing amount for repurchase transactions in relation to each individual instrument. In the event of unexpected changes in the terms of the discount, we may incur financial losses associated with the need to sell securities to cover liquidity at a cost disadvantageous to us, or due to the need to borrow necessary funds at higher rates.

Geographic, Currency and Political Risks

We face risks relating to doing business in some Eurasian markets and consumer financial services sectors within those markets.

Operating in the consumer financial services sectors in emerging Eurasian markets exposes us to certain risks that are different from those in the U.S. and more developed markets, including:

The Russian political regime poses special challenges which could impact adversely our major business commitments and activities in country.

Notable risks related to operating in Russia, include:

We are exposed to foreign currency fluctuation risks.

Because our business is conducted outside the U.S., we face exposure to movements in foreign currency exchange rates. This exposure may change over time as business practices evolve and can have a material impact on our financial statements. Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar. The functional currencies of our subsidiaries include the Russian ruble, European euro, Ukrainian hryvnia, Uzbekistani som, Kazakhstani tenge, Kyrgyzstani som and the Azerbaijani manat. For financial reporting purposes, those currencies are translated into U.S. dollars as the reporting currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet dates. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average rate of exchange prevailing during the reporting period. As the value of the functional currencies of our subsidiaries weakens against the U.S. dollar, we may realize losses arising as a result of translating such foreign currencies to U.S. dollars. Conversely, as the value of the U.S. dollar weakens against the functional currencies of our subsidiaries, we may realize gains arising as a result of currency translation.

We conduct operations in several different currencies. This subjects us to currency exchange rate risk. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates have had, and will continue to have, an impact on our results of operations. We cannot assure that such currency exchange rate fluctuations will not adversely impact our operating results, cash flows and financial condition. While we may employ strategies to hedge against currency fluctuations, the use of such strategies can also result in the loss of potential benefits that might result from favorable exchange rate fluctuations.

We face interest rate change risks.

Fluctuations in interest rates can impact our earnings. Declines in interest rates can have a detrimental effect on the interest we earn. While we believe we are positioned to benefit from rising interest rates, a rise in interest rates could negatively impact us if market conditions or the competitive environment induces us to raise our interest rates or replace deposits with higher cost funding sources without offsetting increases in yields on interest-earning assets.

Deterioration of Russia’s relations with other countries could negatively affect the economies of Russia and the neighboring countries in which our subsidiaries operate.

Over the past several years, Russia has been involved in economic and military conflicts that have on several occasions resulted in the deterioration of Russia’s relations with other members of the international community, including the United States, Ukraine and various countries in Europe. These jurisdictions are home to important financial markets, financial institutions and companies that are significant investors in Russia whose investment strategies and decisions may be affected by such conflicts and by worsening relations with Russia.

Further, events in Ukraine, Crimea and Syria have prompted condemnation by members of the international community and have been strongly opposed by the European Union and the United States, with a resulting material negative impact on the relationship between the United States and Russia. The Ukraine crisis, which began in 2013, remains unresolved, and has brought additional tensions between Russia and the United States. Other recent points of tension between Russia and Western governments have included: the Russian role in the Syrian crisis and its military support for the government of Syria; the alleged involvement of the Russian government in the cyber-attacks aimed at disrupting the election process in the U.S.; the alleged involvement of the Russian intelligence service in an attempted poisoning of a Russian citizen in the UK; the incident involving Ukrainian vessels near the Kerch Strait in November 2018; and, most recently, the incarceration of a prominent Russian public figure Alexey Navalny. These events have contributed to the escalation of geopolitical tensions, and have initiated responses from Ukraine, the European Union, and the United States in the form of economic sanctions on certain Russian government officials, private individuals and Russian companies.

The emergence of new or escalated tensions between Russia and the United States, Ukraine or European countries could negatively affect the economies of Russia, Ukraine and other countries in which we operate. This, in turn, may result in a general lack of confidence among international investors in the region’s economic and political stability and in Russian regional investments generally. Such lack of confidence may result in reduced liquidity, trading volatility and significant declines in the price of listed securities of companies with operations in the region, and in our inability to attract, retain or grow our customer base and their investments related to our broker-dealer and banking operations in these countries, which would, in turn, could negatively affect our business growth, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Taxation Risks Related to our International Operations

Global anti-offshore measures could adversely impact our business.

In 2013 the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) and G20 countries accepted that existing international tax rules create opportunities for base erosion and profit shifting, because these rules have been designed more than a century ago. Pursuing solutions for this problem, OECD and G20 countries adopted a 15-point Action Plan to Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS”). The BEPS package of measures represents the substantial renovation of the international tax rules. In light of the new measures, it is expected that profits will be reported where the economic activities that generate them are carried out and where value is created.

The Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters developed by the Council of Europe and the OECD in 1988 and amended by Protocol in 2010 is now signed by 141 jurisdictions (the Russian Federation, Cyprus, Kazakhstan are among the signatories). This Convention, requires competent authorities of jurisdictions-signatories to participate in the automatic exchange of information that is foreseeably relevant for the administration or enforcement of their domestic laws concerning the taxes. In addition the Convention requires competent authorities of jurisdictions-signatories to participate in the exchange of information on request and, by virtue of Article 7, stipulates that such competent authorities should participate in spontaneous exchange of information. In 2016 the Russian Federation (in 2018 Kazakhstan) joined the Standard for Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information (Common Reporting Standard, the “CRS”). CRS calls on jurisdictions to obtain information from their financial institutions and automatically exchange that information with other jurisdictions on an annual basis. The Russian Federation also adopted country-by-country reporting (“CbCR”) requirements which assume automatic exchange of county-by-country reports.

The above developments in terms of global information exchange could complicate tax planning as well as related business decisions and could possibly expose us to significant fines and penalties and to enforcement measures, despite our best efforts at compliance, and could result in a greater than expected tax burden.

On November 24, 2016, the OECD published the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent BEPS (“MLI”) which introduces new provisions to existing double tax treaties limiting the use of tax benefits provided thereby. As a minimum standard MLI implements principle purposes test, under which treaty benefits are disallowed if one of the principle purposes of the transaction or the structure was to obtain a tax benefit.

On May 1, 2019 the MLI was ratified by the Russian Federation. Cyprus ratified the MLI on January 22, 2020 while Kazakhstan ratified MLI on February 20, 2020. Application of MLI could potentially limit tax benefits granted by double tax treaties of Russian Federation, Cyprus and Kazakhstan.

The implementation of global instruments means the application of such instruments by competent authorities on mutually agreed grounds, however, there might be a risk that competent authorities of jurisdictions where our subsidiaries operate would apply newly introduced global transparency instruments inconsistently, which would lead to the imposition of additional taxes on us.

Frequent changes in the Russian tax system could adversely affect our business and the value of investments in Russia.

We are subject to a broad range of taxes and other compulsory payments imposed at federal, regional and local levels, including, but not limited to, profits tax, VAT and social contributions. Tax laws, namely the Russian Tax Code, have been in force for a short period relative to tax laws in more developed market economies, and the implementation of these tax laws is still unclear or inconsistent. The Russian tax laws and regulations are subject to frequent changes, varying and contradicting interpretations and inconsistent and selective enforcement. Although the quality of Russian tax legislation has generally improved since the introduction of the first and second parts of the Russian Tax Code, there is a possibility that in the future Russia may impose arbitrary or burdensome taxes and penalties, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

On November 27, 2017, the Federal Law No. 340-FZ introducing CbCR requirements was published. The mandatory filing requirements or CbCR apply to financial years starting in 2017 (except for the provisions regarding the national documentation). Thus, if we reach the reporting threshold established for the consolidated revenue of the group (over RUB 50 billion if parent company for CbCR purposes is regarded as Russian tax resident or over relevant threshold established in any other jurisdiction as applicable (e.g. EUR 750 million for Cyprus))) we may be liable to submit relevant CbCR. It is unclear at the moment how the above measures will be applied in practice by the tax authorities and courts.

Certain other changes were introduced to the Russian Tax Code over the recent years, namely changes to types of controlled transactions subject to transfer pricing rules, increase of the VAT rate to 20%, etc.

On September 8, 2020, the protocol on amendment of double tax treaty between Russia and Cyprus was signed. The amendments increased the withholding tax rate of the double tax treaty with respect to dividends and interest to 15% (with certain exceptions). The amendments were ratified in the end of 2020 and came into effect starting from January 1, 2021.

Further changes to the Russian tax regime, particularly those that would require us to make substantially larger tax payments or impede effective tax planning, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Russian and Cypriot transfer pricing legislation may require pricing adjustments and impose additional tax liabilities.

Russian Transfer Pricing Legislation

The existing Russian transfer pricing rules became effective from January 1, 2012. Under these rules the Russian tax authorities are allowed to make transfer-pricing adjustments and impose additional tax liabilities in respect of certain types of transactions (“controlled” transactions). The list of the “controlled” transactions includes transactions with related parties (with several exceptions such as guarantees between Russian non-banking organizations and interest-free loans between Russian related parties) and certain types of cross border transactions.

The burden of proving market prices, as well as keeping specific documentation, lies with the taxpayers. In certain circumstances, the Russian tax authorities may apply the transfer pricing rules and methods in cases where the rules are formally not applicable, claiming additional tax charges calculated using the transfer rules but based on other tax concepts (e.g. anti-avoidance rules, lack of economic justification of expenses, etc.). It is therefore possible that Company subsidiaries established in Russia may become subject to transfer pricing tax audits by tax authorities in the foreseeable future. As a result, the Russian tax authorities may challenge the level of prices applied by the Company under the “controlled” transactions (including certain intercompany transactions) or challenge the methods used to prove prices applied by the Company, and as a result accrue additional tax liabilities. If additional taxes are assessed with respect to these matters, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Cypriot Transfer Pricing Legislation

The arm’s length principle in the Cyprus income tax law requires that all transactions between related parties should be carried out on an arm’s length basis, being at fair values and on normal commercial terms.

The amendment to the income tax law, effective as of January 1, 2015, extends the arm’s length principle by introducing the possibility of, in cases where two related Cyprus tax residents transact and the Cyprus tax authorities make an upward arm’s length adjustment to one of them, effecting a corresponding downwards adjustment to the other one.

On June 30, 2017, the Cyprus tax authorities issued a tax technical circular (Circular) providing guidance for the tax treatment of intra-group financing transactions (IGFTs). The Circular effective as from July 1, 2017 closely follows the application of the arm’s length principle of the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines and it applies for all relevant existing and future IGFTs. In this respect, the remuneration on all IGFTs should be supported by a transfer pricing study in order to be accepted by the Cyprus tax authorities.

IGFTs for the purposes of the Circular are defined as (i) any activity relating to granting of loans or cash advances to related companies that is or should be remunerated by interest; and (ii) such activity is financed by financial means and instruments, such as debentures, private loans, cash advances and bank loans.

The Circular requires that the transfer pricing study should be prepared by independent experts and will have to be based on the relevant OECD standards for the purposes of (i) describing (delineating) the IGFT by performing a comparability analysis based on the functional and risk profile of the company; and (ii) determining the applicable arm’s length remuneration by performing an economic analysis.

There are no specific transfer pricing rules or any transfer pricing documentation requirements in the Cyprus tax laws with respect to any other related party transactions. However, Cyprus is in the late stages of adopting transfer pricing rules, covering all types of transactions, that are applicable to Cyprus tax resident companies or Cyprus permanent establishments that meet the standards set in the OECD BEPS Action 13: Transfer Pricing Documentation and Country-by-Country Reporting. The Cyprus draft transfer pricing legislation is expected to be enacted within the coming months.

Russian anti-offshore measures expose us to tax liability risks.

The Russian Federation, like a number of other countries in the world, is actively involved in implementation of measures against tax evasion through the use of low tax jurisdictions as well as aggressive tax planning structures. Starting from January 1, 2015, the Federal Law No. 376-FZ, introducing the concept of “controlled foreign companies” (the “CFC Rules”), the concept of “corporate tax residency” and the concept of “beneficial ownership” into Russian tax legislation, came into force. Moreover, Russia has entered into several multilateral agreements for the exchange of information between the tax authorities of different countries.

Under the Russian CFC Rules, in certain circumstances, undistributed profits of foreign companies and non-corporate structures (e.g., trusts, funds or partnerships) domiciled in foreign jurisdictions, which are ultimately owned and/ or controlled by Russian tax residents (legal entities and individuals) will be subject to taxation in Russia. The Russian CFC Rules are being constantly developed. A number of amendments to the Russian CFC Rules were made within 2015-2020 years. In the meantime, certain provisions of the Russian CFC Rules are still ambiguous and may be subject to arbitrary interpretation by the Russian tax authorities.

Under the concept of “corporate tax residency” a foreign legal entity may be recognized as a Russian tax resident if: (i) its executive body(ies) operates in respect of such company in Russia on regular basis (however, the activity of executive body will not be viewed as regular if it is insignificant compared to the one in the other jurisdiction), or (ii) senior executive personnel of the company who are authorized to plan and control activities of the company and take responsibility over it basically carry out management of the company from Russia (i.e. make decisions or take any other measures in respect of operational activities of the company that are within the competence of the company’s executive body). When an entity is recognized as Russian tax resident it is obligated to register with the Russian tax authorities, calculate and pay Russian tax on its worldwide income and comply with other tax-related rules established for Russian entities. There is still an uncertainty as to how these criteria will be applied by the Russian tax authorities in practice.

Under the Russian Tax Code, a beneficial owner is defined as a person who by means of direct and/or indirect participation or control over other organizations or otherwise, has the right to own, use or dispose of income, or the person on whose behalf another person is authorized to use and/or dispose of such income. When determining the beneficial owner, the functions of a foreign person that is claiming the application of reduced tax rates under an applicable double tax treaty and the risks that such person takes should be analyzed. Starting from January 1, 2017, the Russian Tax Code requires a tax agent, i.e. the payer of income, in addition to a certificate of tax residency to obtain a confirmation from the recipient of the income that it is the beneficial owner of the income. To date, there is still no approved or recommended format of such confirmation letter and (or) the precise list of documents to be obtained from the recipient of income claiming the beneficial owner status.

We might be subject to additional tax liabilities because of these changes, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Uncertainties and ongoing changes in Kazakhstan’s tax regime may have an adverse impact on our business.

Kazakhstan’s tax regime is subject to ongoing changes, resulting in unknowns in the interpretation and application of its tax laws.

For example, the Kazakhstan government has taken steps to promote investment in its financial markets, including providing a preferential tax regime on the territory of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) established by the AIFC Constitutional Law. Among other tax benefits, there is an exemption from corporate income tax of commission income earned by the AIFC-registered member from rendering defined financial services in the territory of the AIFC.  It is currently unclear whether an AIFC-registered member is eligible for the tax benefits if, for example, it renders services online through employees working outside the territory of AIFC. As a result of these uncertainties, the availability of the new tax exemptions to the Company is currently unclear. which could have an adverse impact on our business and financial condition.

More generally, Kazakhstan tax legislation is subject to frequent changes, varying and potentially contradicting interpretations and inconsistencies. There can be no assurance that the Kazakhstan tax legislation will not be changed in the future in a manner that makes our tax planning unpredictable. Further, the introduction of new taxes, amendments to current taxation rules, or new interpretations of existing tax law may have a substantial impact on the overall amount of our tax liabilities. There is no assurance that we would not be required to make substantially larger tax payments in the future, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure and Internal Operations

We are a diversified holding company with few operations of our own and are reliant on the operations of our subsidiaries to fund holding company operations.

Our operations are conducted primarily through our subsidiaries and our ability to generate cash to fund our operations and expenses, to pay dividends or to meet debt service obligations is highly dependent on the earnings and the receipt of funds from our subsidiaries through dividends or intercompany loans. Deterioration in the financial condition, earnings or cash flow of our subsidiaries for any reason, including the risks discussed herein as applicable or the occurrence of such events to any such subsidiary, could limit or impair their ability to pay such distributions. Additionally, to the extent our subsidiaries are restricted from making such distributions under applicable laws or regulations or under the terms of financing arrangements or are otherwise unable to provide funds to the extent of our needs, there could be a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

As a “controlled company” under Nasdaq rules, we qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that may adversely affect our stock price.

Timur Turlov controls a majority of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. Accordingly, we qualify as a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq corporate governance standards. Under Nasdaq rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by one individual is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance standards, including the requirements that:

We currently utilize an exemption to allow Mr. Turlov to sit on each of our nominating and corporate governance committee. The charters for each committee provide for annual performance evaluations. Currently we do have a majority of independent directors on the board of directors. Our status as a controlled company and resulting available exemptions from corporate governance standards could make our common stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise harm our stock price.

Timur Turlov has control over key decision making.

Timur Turlov, our chief executive officer and chairman of our board of directors, beneficially owns 71.3% of our outstanding common stock. Mr. Turlov currently has sole voting control of FRHC and can control the outcome of matters submitted to stockholders for approval, including the election of directors, stock splits, recapitalizations, and any merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, Mr. Turlov has the ability to control our management and affairs as a result of his position as our chief executive officer, chairman of our board of directors and his ability to control the election of our directors. As a board member and officer, Mr. Turlov owes fiduciary duties to our stockholders and must act in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interest of our stockholders. As a stockholder, however, Mr. Turlov is entitled to vote his shares of common stock according to his personal interests, which may not always be in the interest of our stockholders generally. Mr. Turlov is prohibited from membership on our audit committee under the terms of the audit committee charter adopted by our board of directors.

We are dependent on our executive management team, particularly Timur Turlov, and our ability to hire and retain skilled personnel.

We depend on the efforts, skills, reputations and business contacts of our executive management team, in particular Timur Turlov, and the management teams of our subsidiaries. These individuals have made significant contributions to our success and we believe our success moving forward depends, to a significant extent, upon the experience of these individuals, whose continued service is not guaranteed. If certain individuals leave or are otherwise no longer available to us for any number of reasons, including because of the outbreak of a pandemic such as COVID-19, we may not be able to replace them with comparable capable personnel.

The pool of experienced and qualified employee candidates is limited in some of the geographical areas where we conduct business, and competition for skilled employees can be significant. We are dependent, in part, on our continued ability to hire, engage and retain skilled employees. Additionally, we rely upon experienced managerial, marketing and support personnel to effectively manage our business and to successfully promote our services. If we do not succeed in engaging and retaining skilled employees and other personnel, or if we experience a loss of such personnel, or if productivity significantly declines, we may be unable to meet our objectives and, as a result, our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.

We anticipate that acquisitions will continue to play a key role in our growth strategy, but we may be unable to identify, acquire, close or integrate acquisition targets successfully.

Acquisitions have been, and will likely continue to be, a significant component of our growth strategy; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to grow our business through acquisitions as we have done historically, that businesses acquired will perform in accordance with our expectations or that business judgments concerning the value, strengths and weaknesses of businesses acquired will prove to be correct. We will continue to analyze and evaluate the acquisition of strategic businesses or product lines with the potential to strengthen our industry position, expand our customer base or enhance our existing service offerings. There is no assurance that we will identify or successfully complete transactions with suitable acquisition candidates in the future, nor is there assurance that completed acquisitions will be successful. If an acquired business fails to operate as anticipated or cannot be successfully integrated with our existing business, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.

In addition, there is substantial cost and time expended to complete post-closing integration of acquisitions, including human resource training, data and technology systems and operational processes. We may also incur unanticipated liabilities. Any such difficulties could disrupt our ongoing business, distract our management and employees, increase our expenses and adversely affect our results of operations. Furthermore, we cannot provide any assurance that we will realize the anticipated benefits and/or synergies of any such acquisition or investment.

Risks Related to Information Technology and Cyber Security

Our broker-dealer, financial services, and banking operations are highly dependent on the continued and proper functioning of our information technology systems and particularly “Tradernet”, our proprietary electronic trading platform.

Our broker-dealer, financial services and banking businesses are highly dependent on processing, on a daily basis, a large number of communications and increasingly complex transactions across diverse markets, in various languages. These communications and transactions are accomplished primarily through electronic information technology systems (“IT”) that are comprised of a wide array of computer systems, software and underlying infrastructure that enable them to function. The financial, accounting, or other data processing systems we or the firms that clear transactions on behalf of our customers use may fail to operate properly, become disabled, or otherwise become unavailable, as a result of events that are wholly or partially beyond our control. These events may include a disruption of electrical, communications, internet or other infrastructure, or related services, or our inability to access or use one or more of our facilities, as a result of any number of occurrences, including the outbreak of a pandemic such as COVID-19.

The inability of these systems to accommodate an increasing volume of transactions could also constrain our ability to expand our business operations. If any of these systems do not operate properly or are disabled or otherwise unavailable, or if there are other shortcomings or failures in our internal processes, personnel, or systems related to the electronic communications and functionality our operations depend on, we could suffer impairment to our liquidity, financial loss, a disruption of business, liability to clients, regulatory intervention, or reputational damage.

Further, our “Tradernet” electronic trading platform is proprietary technology that plays a key role in both our customers’ use of our services and for other important aspects of our business. Errors, failures, delays, interruptions, disruptions, vulnerabilities, bugs, incompatibility, obsolescence, or similar issues with Tradernet, or the software or systems upon which Tradernet relies for its functionality, however caused, could result in business disruptions, financial loss, reputational damage, and other adverse impacts on our business.

Our electronic trading platform “Tradernet” is subject to competition risks.

Our “Tradernet” electronic trading platform is proprietary technology that has taken substantial resources and time to develop and requires continued development to compete with other trading platforms. Adoption or development of similar or superior platforms or technologies by our competitors may require that we devote substantial resources to the further development of Tradernet, or other software platforms, to remain competitive. The markets in which we provide services are characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards and changing trading systems, practices and techniques. Although Tradernet has remained competitive in our markets in the past, we may not be able to keep up with these rapid changes in the future, develop new technology, realize a return on amounts invested in developing new technologies or remain competitive in the future.

We interact with large volumes of sensitive data that exposes us to IT breach and other data security risks and liabilities.

Our operations rely on the secure processing, storage, and transmission of confidential, personal, financial and other information in our computer systems and networks. Our computer systems, software, and networks may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses, spyware or other malicious code, and other evolving cyber security threats. The occurrence of one or more of these events could: (a) jeopardize confidential and other information processed by, stored in, and transmitted through our computer systems and networks or the computer systems and networks of our customers or other third parties with whom we conduct business; or (b) otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations or the operations of our customers or third parties with whom we conduct business. In addition, new and expanding data privacy laws and regulations are, or soon will be, in effect in many of the jurisdictions where we conduct business. These pose increasingly complex compliance challenges, which may increase compliance costs, and compliance failures could result in significant fines, penalties and liability.

We have previously encountered cyber security incidents which targeted our information systems, but which were contained by our response teams and generated negligible impacts. There is also a possibility that we are not currently aware of certain undisclosed vulnerabilities in our IT systems and other assets. Although our subsidiaries have implemented cyber security strategies for mitigating these risks, we cannot be sure that our network and information technology systems will not be subject to such issues, or, if they are, that we will be able to maintain the integrity of our customers’ and employees’ data or that malware or other technical or operational issues will not disrupt our network or systems and cause significant harm to our operations. If our services are affected by such attacks and malware and this degrades our services, our products and services may be perceived as being vulnerable to cyber risk and the integrity of our data protection systems may be questioned. As a result, users and customers may curtail or stop using our products and services, and we may incur reputational damage, litigation exposure, regulatory fines, penalties, reimbursement or other compensatory costs.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the vast majority of our employees, including those who process our transactions are working remotely, which may further increase the risk of cyber security breaches. While we have implemented risk management and contingency plans and taken other precautions designed to address cyber security, there is no guarantee such measures will adequately protect our business, as remote working environments may be less secure and more susceptible to cyber security threats.

We do not maintain insurance policies to mitigate these risks because such insurance may not be available or may be more expensive than the perceived benefit. Further, any insurance that we may purchase to mitigate certain risks may not cover all losses.

The infrastructure on which our IT systems depend, and particularly those in the emerging markets of our subsidiaries, are subject to events that could interrupt our ability operate.

The infrastructure upon which our operations and IT systems depend, including electrical communications and internet, and transportation and other services, are vulnerable to damage or disruptions from events outside our control, including natural disasters, military conflicts, power, telecommunications and internet unavailability or outages, terrorist acts, riots, government shutdown orders, changes in government regulation, equipment or system failures or an inability to access or operate such equipment or systems, human error or intentional wrongdoings, cyber-attacks or any other types of information technology security threats. In addition, as we operate in emerging markets which may have an increased threat of terrorism, military conflict, social unrest or governmental interference with infrastructure, which could result in property damage, business interruption and damage to our brand or reputation. The local authorities may order our subsidiaries to temporarily shut down their entire network or part or all of our networks may be shut down due to actions relating to military conflicts or nationwide strike.

Because we have employees in a number of cities in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Germany, the United States and Cyprus, all of whom need to work and communicate as an integrated team, the functionality of the infrastructure affects our ability to conduct business. If a disruption occurs in one location and our employees in that location are unable to communicate with or travel to other locations, our ability to service and interact with our customers may suffer. While we have contingency plans in place to address such issues, these plans may not always be deployed successfully or be sufficiently adequate to fully offset the impacts of such disruptions. We do not maintain insurance policies to mitigate these risks because such insurance may not be available or may be more expensive than the perceived benefit. Further, any insurance that we may purchase to mitigate certain risks may not cover all losses.

In addition, the computers and data centers that process trades and payments are located in the same locale. If a catastrophic event were to occur at that locale it may result in the permanent data loss. More generally, substantial property and equipment loss, and disruption in operations as well as any defects in our systems or those of third parties or other difficulties could expose us to liability and materially adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations in all of our operating segments. In addition, any outage or disruptive efforts could adversely impact our reputation and future prospects.

Failure of third-party systems and operations on which we rely could adversely affect our business.

We rely on certain third-party computer systems or third-party service providers, including clearing systems, exchange systems, banking systems, Internet service, co-location facilities, communications facilities and other facilities. Any interruption in these third-party services, or deterioration in their performance, could be disruptive to our business. If our arrangement with any third-party is terminated, we may not be able to find an alternative source of systems support on a timely basis or on commercially reasonable terms. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our success also depends on the continued availability, development and maintenance of the internet infrastructure globally and particularly in the countries in which we operate. This includes maintenance of a reliable network backbone with the necessary speed, data capacity and security for providing reliable internet services. Any disruption in the network access provided by third parties or any failure by them to handle current or higher future volumes of use may significantly harm our business. We have experienced and expect to continue to experience interruptions and delays in service from time to time. Furthermore, we depend on hardware and software suppliers for prompt delivery, installation and service of servers and other equipment to deliver our services.

A recent law, which partly came in force in November 2019, introduced tighter regulation of traffic routing in the Russian internet. While it is not entirely clear yet how this regulation will be applied in practice, its implementation, among other things, may lead to a requirement that Russian internet traffic should be routed through Russian communication centers. This could reduce data transfer speed significantly and even result in interruptions and delays of the online services in the Russian internet.

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Securities

The price of our common stock has fluctuated historically and may be volatile.

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly. Among the factors that could affect our stock price are:

Stock markets can experience extreme volatility unrelated to the operating performance of any particular company. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, class action litigation has often been instituted against the affected company. Any litigation of this type brought against us could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Future offerings of securities which would rank senior to our common stock may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

Our Articles of Incorporation authorize our board of directors to fix the relative rights and preferences of our 20,000,000 shares of authorized preferred stock, without approval from our stockholders. This could affect the rights of our common stockholders regarding, among other things, voting, distributions, dividends and liquidation. We could also use the preferred stock to deter or delay a change in control of FRHC that may be opposed by our management, even if the transaction might be favorable to our common stockholders.

If, in the future, we issue debt or equity securities that rank senior to our common stock, it is possible that such securities will be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock and may result in dilution to owners of our common stock. We and, indirectly, our stockholders, will bear the cost of issuing and servicing such securities. Because our decision to issue debt or equity securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, holders of our common stock will bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and diluting the value of their stock holdings in the Company.

We do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future and, consequently, our stockholders’ ability to achieve a return on their investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our common stock.

We currently intend to use our future earnings to repay debt, to fund our growth, to develop our business, for working capital needs and for general corporate purposes. We are not likely to pay dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future, and the success of an investment in our common stock will depend upon any future appreciation in the value of our common stock. There is no guarantee that our common stock will appreciate in value or even maintain its current value. Payments of dividends, if any, are at the sole discretion of our board of directors after taking into account various factors, including general and economic conditions, our financial condition and operating results, our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions and implications of the payment of dividends by us to our stockholders or by our subsidiaries to us, and such other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant. In addition, our operations are conducted almost entirely through our subsidiaries. As such, to the extent that we determine in the future to pay dividends on our common stock, none of our subsidiaries will be obligated to make funds available to us for the payment of such dividends. Further, Nevada law imposes additional requirements that may restrict our ability to pay dividends to holders of our common stock.

General Business Risks

Our business is affected by general business and economic conditions and securities market performance, and those in the particular countries in which we operate.

Demand for our products and services is affected by a number of general business and economic conditions. A decline in the Russian, Kazakhstani, Ukrainian, Cypriot, European or U.S. financial markets or general economies could materially and adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Our profit margins, as well as overall demand for our services, can be affected by a number of factors beyond our control, including economic recessions, changes in customer preferences, investor and consumer confidence, inflation, availability of credit, fluctuation in interest and currency exchange rates, changes in the fiscal or monetary policies of governments, a widespread pandemic, such as COVID-19, and political circumstances (including wars and terrorist acts) in the regions in which we operate.

We do not produce predictable earnings. We cannot foresee the duration of current conditions or the timing or strength of any future activities on economies generally, or the global markets. Weakness in the markets in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. More generally, because our business is correlated to the general economic outlook, a significant deterioration in that outlook or realization of certain events could have a significant negative impact on our businesses and overall results of operations.

Unforeseen or catastrophic events, including pandemics, terrorist attacks, extreme weather events or other natural disasters or political discord could negatively impact our business.

The occurrence of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of a pandemic or other widespread health emergency (or concerns over the possibility of such an emergency), political discord, terrorist attacks, armed conflict, extreme weather events or other natural disasters, could create, and in the case of COVID-19 has created, and may continue to create, economic and financial disruptions, and could lead to operational difficulties (including quarantine, shelter in place and travel limitations) that could impair our ability to operate our business as it has normally operated.

Risks Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and will likely continue to impact the global economy, global financial markets and our business financial condition and results of operations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created financial disruption and impacted the economies of every country in which we operate. Health and safety measures implemented to address the spread of the pandemic have impacted our business, our operations and our employees. The extent to which the pandemic will impact our business, operational and financial performance, results of operations and liquidity in future periods will depend on the duration and severity of the pandemic in future periods, which is uncertain and cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

We believe that as a result of interventions by governments and central banks in response to the initial market declines related to the COVID-19 pandemic interest in financial markets significantly increased in the Eurasian markets where we operate. Since then, we have experienced unprecedented growth in client accounts, trading volume, commission and fee income and net income. We cannot foresee at this time, how long this trend may continue. Nor can we predict whether a return to more normal pre-COVID-19 conditions will result in continued growth at current rates or a return to more traditional levels of client account growth, trading volume, commission and fee income and net income we realized prior to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Although financial markets have rebounded from the significant declines experienced during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak signs of underlying economic weakness persist, including elevated levels of market volatility, high unemployment, lack of consumer confidence, low interest rates, depressed levels of business activity in certain sectors, and increased cyber security, information security and operational risks resulting from expansion of remote work. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on our business, operational and financial performance going forward will continue to depend on certain developments, including the duration and severity of COVID-19 going forward, measures implemented by governments to address further outbreaks of the pandemic, and the impact on our customers, employees, the financial markets, the global economy and the economies of the countries in which we operate, all of which remain uncertain at this time.

Credit Related Risks

Our businesses have been and may in the future be adversely affected by disruptions or lack of liquidity in the credit markets, including reduced access to credit and higher costs of obtaining credit.

Widening credit spreads, as well as significant declines in the availability of credit, have in the past adversely affected our ability to borrow on a secured and unsecured basis and may do so in the future. We fund ourselves on an unsecured basis by issuing long-term debt and commercial paper, by raising deposits at our bank subsidiaries, by issuing hybrid financial instruments and by obtaining loans or lines of credit from commercial or other banking entities. We seek to finance many of our assets on a secured basis. Any disruptions in the credit markets may make it harder and more expensive to obtain funding for our businesses. If our available funding is limited or we are forced to fund our operations at a higher cost, these conditions may require us to curtail our business activities and increase our cost of funding, both of which could reduce our profitability, particularly in our businesses that involve investing, lending and market making.

Our clients engaging in mergers, acquisitions and other types of strategic transactions often rely on access to the secured and unsecured credit markets to finance their transactions. A lack of available credit or an increased cost of credit can adversely affect the size, volume and timing of our clients’ merger and acquisition transactions, particularly large transactions, and adversely affect our financial advisory and underwriting businesses.

Our credit businesses have been and may in the future be negatively affected by a lack of liquidity in credit markets. A lack of liquidity reduces price transparency, increases price volatility and decreases transaction volumes and size, all of which can increase transaction risk or decrease the profitability of these businesses.

Reductions in our credit ratings or an increase in our credit spreads may adversely affect our liquidity and cost of funding.

Our cost of obtaining long-term unsecured funding is directly related to our credit spreads (the amount in excess of the interest rate of benchmark securities that we need to pay). Increases in our credit spreads can significantly increase our cost of this funding. Changes in credit spreads are continuous, market-driven, and subject at times to unpredictable and highly volatile movements. Our credit spreads are also influenced by market perceptions of our creditworthiness and movements in the costs to purchasers of credit default swaps referenced to our long-term debt. The market for credit default swaps has proven to be extremely volatile and at times has lacked a high degree of transparency or liquidity.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 2. Properties

Our principal executive offices are located at “Esentai Tower BC, Floor 7, 77/7 Al Farabi Ave. Almaty, Kazakhstan 050040. We lease this space under an operating lease agreement.

We currently lease office space for 98 retail, executive, administrative and operational facilities in Eurasia, including in Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Cyprus, Germany, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan. We also have one leased office location in New York. Our total aggregate leased square footage is approximately 280,000 square feet (26,012 square meters) for which we incur rent expense of approximately $550,000 per month. Our leases expire at various times through March 2031, subject to various renewal options. In connection with the acquisition of Freedom Bank KZ, we acquired nine buildings, consisting of approximately 102,600 square feet (9,531 square meters) of office space, which house administrative functions as well as retail banking locations of Freedom Bank KZ.

We consider our properties to be in good condition. While we believe our properties are adequate for our current needs, we have engaged in a number of business acquisitions in the past, and future acquisitions may require us to add additional space or dispose of existing space. For additional information regarding our office lease commitments see Note 26 to our consolidated financial statements.

Item 3.   Legal Proceedings

The financial services industry is highly regulated. In recent years, there has been an increasing incidence of litigation involving the brokerage industry, including client and shareholder class action suits that generally seek substantial damages, including in some cases punitive damages. Compliance and trading problems that are reported to federal, state and provincial regulators, exchanges or other self-regulatory organizations by dissatisfied customers are investigated by such regulatory bodies, and, if pursued by such regulatory body or such customers, may rise to the level of arbitration or disciplinary action. We are also subject to periodic governmental and regulatory audits and inspections that might result in fines or other charges

From time to time, we or our subsidiaries may be named as defendants in various routine legal proceedings, claims, and regulatory inquiries arising out of the ordinary course of our business. Management believes that the results of these routine legal proceedings, claims, and regulatory matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, or on our operations and cash flows. However, we cannot estimate the legal fees and expenses to be incurred in connection with these routine matters and, therefore, are unable to determine whether these future legal fees and expenses will have a material impact on our operations and cash flows. It is our policy to expense legal and other fees as incurred.

Estate of Toleush Tolmakov Litigation

Freedom Holding Corp., and its subsidiary FFIN have been sued and have filed a counterclaim in the Third Judicial District Court of Salt Lake County, State of Utah. The Company was served with a summons and complaint on May 6, 2021. On May 20, 2021, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint and filed a motion for interpleader and other motions. The parties to the lawsuit are Freedom Holding Corp. f/k/a BMB Munai, Inc., FFIN Securities, Inc., the Estate of Toleush Tolmakov, Assel Tolmakova, Murat Tolmakov, Kamil Tolmakov, Aslanbek Tolmakov, Fatima Tolmakova, Vasilya Bikmuhambetova, Dauren Tolmakov, Kamilla Tolmakova, Saida Tolmakova, Gulziya Ayapova, Zhiger Tolmakov, Ayanat Tolmakova, and Simage Limited. This proceeding relates to cash distributions arising from the 2011 sale of Emir Oil, LLP, then a subsidiary of BMB Munai, Inc. and shares of common stock of the Company (the “Assets”) belonging to the Toleush Tolmakov, who was a shareholder of the Company at the time he died in 2011, and Simage Limited, a now defunct British Virgin Islands corporation, in which Mr. Tolmakov may have had an interest and therefore the Assets belonging to Simage Limited may be part of Mr. Tolmakov’s estate (the “Estate”). Since the 2011 death of Mr. Tolmakov, his putative heirs have litigated various disputes in Kazakhstan’s courts related to which of the putative heirs actually are heirs, the proper distribution of the estate and other matters, but without a conclusive final order regarding the distribution of the Assets. Since 2011, the Company has received several inconsistent claims to the Assets. In addition, the legal status of the portion of the Assets belonging to Simage is unclear because as a defunct entity, Simage Limited is unable to act. The Company has held the Assets since Mr. Tolmakov’s death because it did not know to whom they should be distributed and no party has yet established legal right of ownership of the Assets. The Company does not dispute that the Assets are owed to the rightful heirs of Mr. Tolmakov and Simage Limited. As the Estate has not cooperated to facilitate the distribution of Assets to the Estate and one or more heirs have expressed a desire that the Assets not be paid into the Kazakhstani courts, the Company has held the distribution funds in a segregated account for a number of years. As part of the litigation, the Company is seeking a judicial determination regarding legal ownership of the Assets. In addition to the dispute regarding the Assets, the Estate claims that it is entitled to damages or interest in the amount of $2,988,211.74. The nature of the Estate’s claim is unclear, in that it has variously claimed that it is entitled to $2,988,211.74 as damages for an alleged breach of fiduciary duty claim and, in other filings that the $2,988,211.74 is pre-judgment interest, although no judgment has been entered. The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter as it denies all liability.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5.   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “FRHC”. Our common stock also trades on the KASE under the symbol “US_FRHC” and on the SPBX under the symbol “FRHC”.

Holders

As of June 8, 2021, we had approximately 527 shareholders of record. The number of record holders was determined from the records of our stock transfer agent and does not include beneficial owners of common stock whose shares are held in street name (i.e., in the names of various securities brokers, dealers, and registered clearing houses or agencies or similar institutions).

Dividends

We have not declared or paid a cash dividend on our common stock during the past two fiscal years. Any payment of cash dividends on stock in the future will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our results of operations, earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, future prospects, contractual and legal restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. We currently intend to retain any future earnings to fund the operation, development and expansion of our business, and therefore we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on common stock in the foreseeable future.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

Information regarding securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans is set forth under the heading “Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans” in “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” in Item 12 of this annual report.

Stock Performance Graph

This information is not required to be provided by smaller reporting companies.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities

During fiscal 2021, we did not sell any unregistered shares of our equity securities.

Issuer Repurchases of Equity Securities

We did not repurchase any equity securities of the Company during fiscal 2021.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

This information is not required to be provided by smaller reporting companies.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in this annual report. This discussion contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors as described under the heading “Special Note about Forward-Looking Information” in this annual report. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties, please see the disclosure under the heading “Risk Factors” in Item 1A or Part I of this annual report.

This discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting our consolidated operating results, financial condition, liquidity and capital resources during fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020. All dollar amounts presented in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis are presented in thousands of U.S. dollars unless the context indicates otherwise.

Overview

We conduct full-service retail securities brokerage, complementary banking services, investment counseling, securities trading, investment banking and underwriting services in Eurasia through our subsidiary companies. We also own an agency only institutional brokerage at the NYSE. We are headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with supporting administrative offices in Russia, Cyprus and the United States. We have retail brokerage and financial services offices in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Germany.

Our companies are professional participants of the KASE, AIX, MOEX, SPBX, UX, UZSE, UZCE and a member of the NYSE and NASDAQ. We also own minority equity interests in both the UX and SPBX. We operate a brokerage office in Cyprus that serves to provide our clients with operations support and access to the investment opportunities, relative stability, and integrity of the U.S. and European securities markets.

We provide a comprehensive array of financial services to our target retail audience of individuals, businesses and financial institutions seeking to diversify their investment portfolios to manage economic risk associated with political, regulatory, currency, banking, and national uncertainties. Our customers are provided online tools and retail locations to establish accounts and conduct securities trading on transaction-based pricing. We market to our customer demographic through a number of channels, including telemarketing, training seminars and investment conferences, print and online advertising using social media, mobile app and search engine optimization activities.

Significant Events

Acquisitions

Zerich

In July 2020 we completed the acquisition of Zerich. Zerich commenced business in 1995 and is one of the oldest securities brokerage firms in Russia, currently ranking as the 19th largest brokerage house in Russia in terms of clients. In December 2020 Zerich was merged into Freedom RU and its separate legal existence terminated. In connection with the merger, the assets and liabilities of Zerich were transferred to Freedom RU. The acquisition of Zerich has allowed us to enhance the securities brokerage services in Russia and to expand our client base.

Freedom Bank KZ

In December 2020 we completed the previously announced acquisition of Freedom Bank KZ (formerly known as JSC Kassa Nova Bank). Freedom Bank KZ, a Kazakhstani consumer bank, was established in 2009 and has ten branch offices across Kazakhstan. Historically, Freedom Bank KZ’s core business was secured and unsecured consumer lending to individuals and legal entities. As a condition to closing, Freedom Bank KZ sold all but a small portion of its loan portfolio for cash, as we did not anticipate engaging in significant consumer lending activities, consistent with our existing business model.

The acquisition and integration of Freedom Bank KZ products with those currently offered by Freedom KZ has and will allow us to expand and enhance our financial services offerings in Kazakhstan.

We expect integration of Freedom Bank KZ’s banking services and Freedom KZ’s securities brokerage services to continue over the next six to 12 months. As part of the integration, we have restructured management and the board of Freedom Bank KZ and reduced overlapping, redundant or unneeded roles at Freedom Bank KZ to create greater operating efficiencies.

PrimeEx

In December 2020 we completed the acquisition of PrimeEx. PrimeEx is a broker dealer registered with the SEC and a member of the NYSE where it acts as an agency only institutional brokerage at the NYSE. PrimeEx is also a member of NASDAQ, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and the Securities Investor Protection Corp (“SIPC”). PrimeEx was founded in 1986 and is a qualified “Blue Line” NYSE brokerage firm. PrimeEx combines an experienced sales team, brokers and all the available technologies provided by the NYSE to a wide variety of clients on both the buy side and sell side. During fiscal 2021 Prime executed more than 13 billion shares of U.S. equities as agent for their clients.

The acquisition of PrimeEx represents our initial entry into the U.S. markets. We expect this acquisition will provide our customers another avenue for execution of U.S. market trades, that is both cost efficient and timely. We anticipate the PrimeEx acquisition will also allow us to continue expanding our core business by making cross-market financial opportunities available to U.S. and Eurasian market participants.

For information regarding the purchase price allocation for the Zerich, Freedom Bank KZ and PrimeEx acquisitions, see Note 27 to our consolidated financial statements.

Business Environment

Financial services industry performance is closely correlated to economic conditions and financial market activity. Market conditions and activity are a product of many variables, most of which are generally beyond our control and unpredictable. These factors may affect the financial and investing decisions of our clients, including their level of participation in the financial markets and use of our services. Our clients’ financial decisions can directly affect our business.

Our results of operations and financial condition during fiscal 2021 were significantly impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic and related measures designed to limit its spread, including quarantines, shelter-in-place orders, business closures and restrictions on workplace attendance, social distancing, travel bans and restrictions, and similar measures, had a significant impact on world financial markets and the global economy. During the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the first few months of 2020, the markets declined. However, this led to significant intervention from the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, other central banks and various governments which has resulted in a significant rebound in the financial markets and stimulated significant volatility and activity in the equity and debt capital markets.

We believe that in connection with the intervention from banks and governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the prospects and eventual introduction of viable vaccines, and increased time people spent at home during fiscal 2021, there was a corresponding opportunity and optimism in opening investment accounts and investing in financial markets worldwide, particularly in the U.S. capital markets, and in the Eurasian markets where we operate. The increased levels of client activity combined with greater market volatility led to unprecedented growth in client accounts, trading volume, commission and fee income and net income during our 2021 fiscal year.

While the overall impact of COVID-19 for fiscal 2021 was largely positive for our business, its future impacts on our business, operational and financial performance is uncertain. Developments such as the duration and severity of future outbreaks of the same or a different strain of the disease, the effectiveness of vaccines, new or additional measures implemented by governments, might impact our customers and employees, the financial markets, the global economy and the economies of the countries in which we operate. Because of these uncertainties, we cannot determine the future impacts of COVID-19 on our business.

Financial Results

During fiscal 2021, we realized total net revenue of $352,551, net income of $142,924 and basic and diluted earnings per share of approximately $2.45, respectively, compared total net revenue of $121,902, net income of $22,130 and basic and diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.38, respectively, during fiscal 2020.

Results of Operations

The following year to year comparison of our financial results is not necessarily indicative of future results.

* Reflects percentage of total revenues, net.

Revenue

We derive revenue primarily from fee and commission income earned from our retail brokerage clients, fees and commission from investment banking services, our proprietary trading activities and interest income.

We realized total net revenue of $352,551 during fiscal 2021, a 189% increase, compared to fiscal 2020.

Fee and commission income. Fee and commission income consisted principally of broker fees from customer trading and related banking services, underwriting and market making services. During fiscal 2021 fee and commission income increased by $179,271, a 193% increase over fiscal 2020. This increase was the result of:

Growth in fees and commissions from brokerage services and related banking services was primarily attributable to a number of factors, including:

The increase in fees from underwriting services was driven mainly by increases in the volume and size of debt capital market transactions arranged by Kazakhstan brokerage companies, and the unique market opportunities created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Net gain on trading securities. Net gain on trading securities reflects the gains and losses from trading activities in our proprietary trading accounts. Net gains or losses are comprised of realized and unrealized gains and losses. Gains or losses are realized when we close a position in a security and realize a gain or a loss on that position. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) require that we reflect in our financial statements unrealized gains and losses on all our securities trading positions that remain open as of the end of each period. Fluctuations in unrealized gains or losses from one period to another may result from factors within our control, such as when we elect to close an open securities position, which would have the effect of reducing our open positions and, thereby potentially reducing or increasing the amount of unrealized gains or losses in a period. Changes in unrealized gains and losses from period to period may also occur as a result of factors beyond our control, such as fluctuations in the market prices of the open securities positions we hold. This may adversely affect the ultimate value we realize from these investments. Unrealized gains or losses in a particular period may or may not be indicative of the gain or loss we will realize on a securities position when the position is closed. As a result, we may realize significant swings in gains and losses realized on our trading securities year-over-year and quarter-to-quarter. You should not assume that a gain or loss in any particular period is indicative of a trend or of the gain or loss we may ultimately realize when we close a position. 

See the following table for information regarding our net gains and losses during fiscal 2021 and 2020:

The main contributing factors to the increase in net gain on trading securities in fiscal 2021 included increased size of our trading portfolio, favorable market conditions, increased use and success of intraday algorithmic trading and market-making activities on the SPBX outside of regular U.S. market hours.

Interest income. During fiscal 2021 and 2020 we realized an $18,739, or 154% increase in interest income. We earned interest income from several sources including:

Interest income on trading securities consists of interest earned from investments in debt securities and dividends earned on equity securities held in our proprietary trading accounts. We realized a $16,890, or 169% increase in interest income from trading securities during fiscal 2021 because we increased (i) the total size of our trading portfolio and (ii) the percentage of our investments in bonds. We also realized a $1,381, or 87% increase in interest from reverse repurchase transactions because we engaged in an increased volume of such transactions during fiscal 2021. The increase in interest income due from banks of $461 resulted primarily from increased overnight deposit transactions during fiscal 2021.

 Net gain on foreign exchange operations. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, we are required to revalue assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency into our reporting currency, which is the U.S. dollar. During fiscal 2021 we recognized a $1,113 increase in net gain on foreign exchange operations as the value of Kazakhstani tenge and Russian ruble appreciated by 4.8% and 2.6%, respectively against U.S. dollar.

Expense

During fiscal 2021 we incurred total expenses of $179,529, a 91% increase compared to fiscal 2020. Expenses increased with the growth of our business during fiscal 2021, primarily in connection with corresponding administrative costs and fees from the growth in our revenue generating activities and integrating our acquisition targets.

Fee and commission expense. Fee and commission expense increased by $51,164, or 233%, during fiscal 2021. This included increases in:

The increases in fee and commission expense were the result of both growth in our client base and increased transaction volume from our clients. Generally, we expect fee and commission expense to increase and decrease in correspondence with increases and decreases in fee and commission income.

Interest expense. During fiscal 2021 we incurred a 121% increase in interest expense. The increased interest expense is primarily attributable to:

We increased our volume of short-term financing through securities repurchase agreements primarily in order to fund our investment portfolio. The increase in interest on client deposits was a result of a growth of customer deposits. The increase of interest expense on debt securities was due to increased interest payments paid on the FRHC Notes issued in December 2019 and February 2020.

Operating expenses. Operating expenses for fiscal 2021 totaled $77,434, a $17,444 increase compared to fiscal 2020. This increase was primarily attributable to a $14,015 increase in payroll and bonus expense as a result expansion of our workforce through acquisition and hiring.

Provision for impairment losses

During fiscal 2021, receivables in the amount of approximately $3,283 were repaid, including $1,703 which management had previously estimated may be uncollectible and for which management had recognized an impairment loss in a prior period. This recovery was partially offset by an additional provision for impairment losses in the amount of approximately $3,264.  

Income tax expense

We recognized net income before income tax of $173,022 and $28,132 during fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, respectively. Our effective tax rate during fiscal 2021 decreased to 17%, from 21% during fiscal 2020, as a result of changes in the composition of the revenues we realized from our operating activities and the tax treatment of those revenues in the various foreign jurisdictions where our subsidiaries operate along with the incremental U.S. tax on GILTI. Despite the decrease in our effective tax rate, as a result in the increase of our net income before income tax by $144,890, our income tax expense increased by $24,096 during the fiscal 2021.

Noncontrolling Interest

We own a 32.88% interest in Freedom UA. The remaining 67.12% interest is owned by Askar Tashtitov, the President of FRHC. Through a series of agreements entered into with Freedom UA that obligate us to guarantee the performance of all Freedom UA obligations, provide Freedom UA adequate funding to cover its operating losses and net capital requirements, provide the management competence and operational support and ongoing access to our significant assets, technology resources and expertise in exchange for 90% of all net profits of Freedom UA after tax, we account for Freedom UA as a variable interest entity. We reflect our ownership of Freedom UA as a noncontrolling interest in our consolidated statements of financial condition, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statements of changes in equity and consolidated statements of cash flows. As a result, we recognized net income attributable to noncontrolling interest of $631 during fiscal 2021, compared to a net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest of $2,707 during fiscal 2020.

Comprehensive income

The functional currencies of our operating subsidiaries are the Russian ruble, Kazakhstani tenge, European euro, U.S. dollar, Ukrainian hryvnia, Uzbekistani som, Kyrgyzstani som and Azerbaijani manat. Our reporting currency is the United States dollar. Pursuant to U.S. GAAP we are required to revalue our assets from our functional currencies to our reporting currency for financial reporting purposes. Due to the appreciation of the value of Kazakhstani tenge and Russian ruble by nearly 4.8% and 2.6%, respectively against U.S. dollar during the periods covered in this annual report, we realized a foreign currency translation gain of $1,857 during fiscal 2021, compared to a foreign currency translation loss of $14,851 during fiscal 2020.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity is a measurement of our ability to meet our potential cash requirements for general business purposes. During fiscal 2021 and 2020 our operations were primarily funded through a combination of existing cash on hand, cash generated from operations, returns generated from our proprietary trading and proceeds from the sale of bonds and other borrowings.

We regularly monitor and manage our leverage and liquidity risk through various committees and processes we have established. We assess our leverage and liquidity risk based on considerations and assumptions of market factors, as well as other factors, including the amount of available liquid capital (i.e., the amount of cash and cash equivalents not invested in our operating business). While we are confident in the risk management monitoring and management processes we have in place, a significant portion of our trading securities and cash and cash equivalents are subject to collateralization agreements. This significantly enhances our risk of loss in the event financial markets move against our positions. When this occurs our liquidity, capitalization and business can be negatively impacted. Certain market conditions can impact the liquidity of our assets, potentially requiring us to hold positions longer than anticipated. Our liquidity, capitalization, projected return on investment and results of operations can be significantly impacted by market events over which we have no control, and which can result in disruptions to our investment strategy for our assets.

We maintain a majority of our tangible assets in cash and securities that are readily convertible to cash, including governmental and quasi-governmental debt and highly liquid corporate equities and debt. Our financial instruments and other inventory positions are stated at fair value and should generally be readily marketable in most market conditions. As of March 31, 2021 and 2020, we had:

During fiscal 2021 and 2020 we had total liabilities of $1,742,974 and $324,486, respectively, including customer liabilities of $1,163,697 and $168,432, respectively.

We financed our assets primarily from cash flows from operations and short-term and long-term financing arrangements.

Cash Flows

The following table presents our cash flows for fiscal 2021 and 2020:

Net cash from operating activities during fiscal 2021 was driven by net income adjusted for non-cash movements (depreciation and amortization, non-cash lease expense, non-cash stock compensation expense, unrealized gain on trading securities, allowance for receivables) and net cash from operating activities. Net cash from operating activities resulted primarily from changes in operating assets and liabilities. Such changes included:

During fiscal 2021, net cash from investing activities included $157,382 received in the acquisitions of Freedom Bank KZ, Zerich and Prime Executions and $6,437 from proceeds on the sale of investments available-for-sale. Net cash from investing activities was partially offset by the acquisitions of Freedom Bank KZ for $53,097, Zerich for $7,110 and PrimeEx for $2,500 and the purchase of fixed assets, net of sales, of $4,072. Cash used in investing activities during fiscal 2020, was used for the purchase of fixed assets, net of sales, in the amount of $4,346 and to purchase available-for-sale securities in the amount of $6,508.

Net cash from financing activities for fiscal 2021 consisted principally of proceeds from securities repurchase agreement obligations in the amount of $349,717 and loans received of $3,300, partially offset by net cash used in the repurchase of outstanding Freedom KZ debt securities in the amount of $4,724. Net cash used in financing activities during fiscal 2020, consisted principally of:

Financing Arrangements

Short-term

Securities Repurchase Arrangements - Our short-term financing is primarily obtained through securities repurchase arrangements. We use repurchase arrangements, among other things, to finance our inventory positions. As of March 31, 2021, $426,669, or 58%, of the trading securities held in our proprietary trading account were subject to securities repurchase obligations compared to $54,222, or 35%, as of March 31, 2020. Securities pledged as collateral by the Company under repurchase agreements are anticipated to be liquid trading securities with market quotes and significant trading volume. For additional information regarding our securities repurchase agreement obligations see Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements.

Long-term

FRHC Notes - As of March 31, 2021, we had outstanding $20,497 in principal amount of FRHC 7.000% notes (the “FHRC Notes”). The FRHC Notes provide for semi-annual interest payments in June and December and include customary events of default relating to the disposition of Company assets outside the ordinary course of business, defaults on other Company liabilities and obligations, corporate reorganizations, initiation of bankruptcy proceeding, termination of the AIX listing by us, and substitution of the principal debtor without requisite approval. The FRHC Notes mature on December 2022.

Freedom RU USD Bonds - As of March 31, 2021, we had outstanding $30,043 in principal amount of Freedom RU U.S. dollar denominated 6.5% bonds (the “Freedom RU USD Bonds”). The Freedom RU USD Bonds have a term of three years, with a quarterly coupon payment. The Freedom RU USD Bonds were issued in denominations of U.S. $1,000, with a minimum purchase requirement of 1.4 million Russian rubles. Freedom RU is authorized to place up to a maximum of 40,000 of these Freedom RU USD Bonds. The Freedom RU USD Bonds are listed on the MOEX and are governed by the “Exchange Bond Terms and Conditions in the Framework of the Exchange Bonds Program,” a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 4.03 to our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020, and incorporated herein by this reference. The Freedom RU USD Bonds mature on January 2023.

Freedom RU RUB Bonds - As of March 31, 2021, we had outstanding $6,605 in principal amount of Freedom RU RUB denominated 12% bonds (the “Freedom RU RUB Bonds”). The Freedom RU RUB Bonds have a term of three years, with a semiannual coupon payment. The Freedom RU RUB Bonds were issued in denominations of RUB 1,000. The Freedom RU RUB Bonds are listed on the MOEX and mature in February 2022.

Freedom KZ USD Bonds - As of March 31, 2021, we had outstanding $10,203 in principal amount of Freedom KZ U.S. dollar denominated 8% bonds (the “Freedom KZ USD Bonds”). The Freedom KZ USD Bonds have a term of three years, with a semiannual coupon payment. The Freedom KZ USD Bonds were issued in denominations of KZT 1,000. The Freedom KZ USD Bonds were listed on the KASE until they were redeemed in full in May 2021.

Net Capital Requirements

We are required to maintain net capital in certain regulated subsidiaries within a number of jurisdictions, which is partially maintained by retaining cash and cash equivalent investments in those subsidiaries or jurisdictions. As a result, such subsidiaries may be restricted in their ability to transfer cash between different jurisdictions and to FRHC. Additionally, transfers of cash between international jurisdictions may have adverse tax consequences that could discourage such transfers.

These minimum net capital requirements range from approximately $5,000 to $23,600,000 and fluctuate depending on various factors. At March 31, 2021, the aggregate net capital requirements of our subsidiaries was approximately $30,100,000. Each of our subsidiaries that are subject to net capital requirements exceeded the minimum required amount at March 31, 2021. Although we operate with a level of net capital substantially greater than the minimum established thresholds, in the event we fail to maintain minimum net capital, we may be subject to fines and penalties, suspension of operations, revocation of licensure and disqualification of our management from working in the industry. Our subsidiaries are also subject to other various rules and regulations, including liquidity and capital adequacy ratios. Our operations that require the intensive use of capital would be limited to the extent necessary to meet all our regulatory requirements.

Over the past several years, we have pursued an aggressive growth strategy both through acquisitions and organic growth efforts. During fiscal 2022 we anticipate continuing efforts to expand the footprint of our business in Eurasia on a scale similar to fiscal 2021. While this strategy has led to revenue growth it also results in increased expenses and greater need for capital resources. Additional growth and expansion may require greater capital resources than we currently possess, which could require us to pursue additional equity or debt financing from outside sources. We cannot assure that such financing will be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all, at the time it is needed.

We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, cash expected to be generated from operating activities, and forecasted returns from our proprietary trading, combined with our ability to raise additional capital will be sufficient to meet our present and anticipated financing needs.

Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements

For a discussion of off-balance sheet financing arrangements of the Company as of March 31, 2021, see Note 28 to our consolidated financial statements.

Contractual Obligations

The following table sets forth information related to our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2021:

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Following are the accounting policies that reflect our more significant estimates, judgments and assumptions and which we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results.

Allowance for accounts receivable

Allowance for accounts receivable is a valuation allowance for probable incurred credit losses. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of an account receivable balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. Management estimates the allowance balance required using past accounts receivable loss experience, the nature and volume, information about specific counteragent situation and estimated collateral values, economic conditions, and other factors. Allocations of the allowance may be made for specific accounts receivable, but the entire allowance is available for any accounts receivable that in management’s judgment should be charged off.

The allowance consists of specific and general components, the specific component relates to accounts receivable that are individually classified as impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the agreement. The general component is based on historical loss experience adjusted for current factors. The historical loss experience is based on the actual loss history we have experienced over the most recent period of time, mostly 3-5 years, which management reviews periodically.

Business combinations

We have accounted for our acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting. The acquisition method requires us to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially at the acquisition date as we allocate the purchase price to the estimated fair values of acquired tangible and intangible assets and the liabilities assumed. We also use our best estimates to determine the useful lives of the tangible and definite-lived intangible assets, which impact the periods over which depreciation and amortization of those assets are recognized. These best estimates and assumptions are inherently uncertain as they pertain to forward looking views of our businesses, client behavior, and market conditions. In our acquisitions, we have also recognized goodwill at the amount by which the purchase price paid exceeds the fair value of the net assets acquired.

Our ongoing accounting for goodwill and the tangible and intangible assets acquired requires us to make significant estimates and assumptions as we exercise judgement to evaluate these assets for impairment. Our processes and accounting policies for evaluating impairments are further described in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had goodwill of $7,868. One of our reporting units has a goodwill in the amount of $7,868. The results of the 2021 annual goodwill impairment testing of all our reporting units indicated no goodwill impairment.

Income taxes

We are subject to income taxes in both the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. These tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and the relevant governmental taxing authorities. Significant judgement is required in determining the provision for income tax. There are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. As a result, actual future tax consequences relating to uncertain tax positions may be materially different than our determinations or estimates.

We recognize deferred tax liabilities and assets based on the difference between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by the amount of any tax benefits that, based on available evidence, are not expected to be realized.

Income taxes are determined in accordance with the laws of the relevant taxing authorities. As part of the process of preparing financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. We account for income taxes using the asset and liability approach. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for tax consequences in future years based on differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements at each year-end and tax loss carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates applicable to the differences that are expected to affect taxable income.

We periodically evaluate the likelihood of tax assessments based on current and prior years’ examinations, and unrecognized tax benefits related to potential losses that may arise from tax audits are established in accordance with the relevant accounting guidance. Once established, unrecognized tax benefits are adjusted when there is more information available or when an event occurs requiring a change.

Legal contingencies

We review outstanding legal matters at each reporting date, in order to assess the need for provisions and disclosures in our financial statements. Among the factors considered in making decisions on provisions are the nature of the matter, the legal process and potential legal exposure in the relevant jurisdiction, the progress of the matter (including the progress after the date of the financial statements but before those statements are issued), the opinions or views of our legal advisers, experiences on similar cases and any decision of our management as to how we will respond to the matter.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For details of applicable new accounting standards refer to Recent accounting pronouncements in Note 2 of our financial statements accompanying this annual report.

Effects of Inflation

 Because our assets are primarily short-term and liquid in nature, they are generally not significantly impacted by inflation. The rate of inflation does, however, affect our expenses, including employee compensation, communications and information processing and office leasing costs, which may not be readily recoverable from our customers. To the extent inflation result in rising interest rates and has adverse impacts upon securities markets, it may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Item 7A. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk

The following information, together with information included in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, describe our primary market risk exposures. Market risk is the risk of economic loss arising from the adverse impact of market changes to the market value of our trading and investment positions. We are exposed to a variety of market risks, including interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange risk and equity price risk.

Interest Rate Risk

Our exposure to changes in interest rates relates primarily to our investment portfolio and outstanding debt. While we are exposed to global interest rate fluctuations, we are most sensitive to fluctuations in Kazakhstani and Russian interest rates. Changes in Kazakhstani and Russian interest rates may have significant effect on the fair value of our securities.

Our investment policies and strategy are focused on preservation of capital and supporting our liquidity requirements. We typically invest in highly rated securities, with the primary objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss. Our investment policies generally require securities to be investment grade and limit the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. To provide a meaningful assessment of the interest rate risk associated with our investment portfolio, we performed a sensitivity analysis to determine the impact a change in interest rates would have on the value of the investment portfolio assuming a 100 basis point parallel shift in the yield curve. Based on investment positions as of March 31, 2021 and 2020, a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates across all maturities would have resulted in $31,055 and $2,903 incremental decline in the fair market value of the portfolio, respectively. Such losses would only be realized if we sold the investments prior to maturity. A hypothetical 100 basis point decrease in interest rates across all maturities would have resulted in a $32,906 and $3,072 incremental rise in the fair market value of the portfolio, respectively.

The table below presents our issuers’ current credit ratings as of March 31, 2021 and 2020:

Foreign currency exchange risk

We have business operations in the Kazakhstan, Russia, Cyprus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, United States and Azerbaijan. The activities and accumulated earnings in our foreign subsidiaries are exposed to fluctuations in foreign exchange rate between our functional currencies and our reporting currency, which is the U.S. dollar.

In accordance with our risk management policies, we manage foreign currency exchange risk on financial assets by holding or creating financial liabilities in the same currency, maturity and interest rate profile. This foreign exchange risk is calculated on a net foreign exchange basis for individual currencies. We may also enter into foreign currency forward, swap and option contracts with financial institutions to mitigate foreign currency exposures associated with certain existing assets and liabilities, firmly committed transactions and forecasted future cash flows

An analysis of the March 31, 2021 and 2020, balance sheets estimates the net impact of a 10 percent adverse change in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to all other currencies, to have a net impact to net income before income tax of loss $42,904 and $5,003, respectively.

Equity price risk

Our equity investments are susceptible to market price risk arising from uncertainties about future values of the investment securities. Equity price risk results from fluctuations in price and level of the equity securities or instruments we hold. We also have equity investments in entities where the investment is denominated in a foreign currency, or where the investment is denominated in U.S. dollars but the investee primarily makes investments in foreign currencies. The fair values of these investments are subject to change at the spot foreign exchange rate between these currencies and our functional currency fluctuates. We attempt to manage the risk of loss inherent in our equity securities portfolio through diversification and by placing limits on individual and total equity instruments we hold. Reports on our equity portfolio are submitted to the management on a regular basis.

As of March 31, 2021, and 2020, our exposure to equity investments at fair value was $47,340 and $69,530, respectively. An analysis of the March 31, 2021 and 2020, balance sheets estimates a decrease of 10% on the equity price would have reduced the value of the equity securities or instrument we held by approximately $4,734 and $6,953, respectively.  

Credit risk

Credit risk refers to the risk of loss arising when a borrower or counterparty does not meet its financial obligations to us. We are primarily exposed to credit risk from institutions and individuals through the brokerage services we offer. We incur credit risk in a number of areas, including margin lending.

Margin lending receivables risk

We extend margin loans to our customers. Margin lending is subject to various regulatory requirements of the MiFID and the Central Bank of Russian Federation. Margin loans are collateralized by cash and securities in the customers’ accounts. The risks associated with margin credit increase during periods of fast market movements, or in cases where collateral is concentrated and market movements occur. During such times, customers who utilize margin loans and who have collateralized their obligations with securities may find that the securities have a rapidly depreciating value and may not be sufficient to cover their obligations in the event of a liquidation. We are also exposed to credit risk when our customers execute transactions, such as short sales of options and equities that can expose them to risk beyond their invested capital.

We expect this kind of exposure to increase with the growth of our overall business. Because we indemnify and hold harmless our clearing houses and counterparties from certain liabilities or claims, the use of margin loans and short sales may expose us to significant off-balance-sheet risk in the event that collateral requirements are not sufficient to fully cover losses that customers may incur and those customers fail to satisfy their obligations. As of March 31, 2021, we had $58,095 margin lending receivables from our customers. The amount of risk to which we are exposed from the margin lending we extend to our customers and from short sale transactions by our customers is unlimited and not quantifiable as the risk is dependent upon analysis of a potential significant and undeterminable rise or fall in stock prices. As a matter of practice, we enforce real-time margin compliance monitoring and liquidate customers’ positions if their equity falls below required margin requirements.

We have a comprehensive policy implemented in accordance with regulatory standards to assess and monitor the suitability of investors to engage in various trading activities. To mitigate our risk, we also continuously monitor customer accounts to detect excessive concentration, large orders or positions, patterns of day trading and other activities that indicate increased risk to us.

Our credit exposure is to a great extent mitigated by our policy of automatically evaluating each account throughout the trading day and closing out positions automatically for accounts that are found to be under-margined. While this methodology is effective in most situations, it may not be effective in situations where no liquid market exists for the relevant securities or commodities or where, for any reason, automatic liquidation for certain accounts has been disabled. We continually monitor and evaluate our risk management policies, including the implementation of policies and procedures to enhance the detection and prevention of potential events to mitigate margin loan losses.

Operational Risk

Operational risk generally refers to the risk of loss, or damage to our reputation, resulting from inadequate or failed operations or external events, including, but not limited to, business disruptions, improper or unauthorized execution and processing of transactions, deficiencies in our technology or financial operating systems and inadequacies or breaches in our control processes including cyber security incidents. For descriptions of related risks, see the information under the heading “Risks Related to Information Technology and Cyber Security” in Item 1A of this annual report.

To mitigate and control operational risk, we have developed and continue to enhance policies and procedures that are designed to identify and manage operational risk at appropriate levels throughout the organization and within such departments. We also have business continuity plans in place that we believe will cover critical processes on a company-wide basis, and redundancies are built into our systems as we have deemed appropriate. These control mechanisms attempt to ensure that operational policies and procedures are being followed and that our various businesses are operating within established corporate policies and limits.

Legal and Compliance Risk

We operate in a number of jurisdictions, each with its own legal and regulatory structure that is unique and different from the other. Legal and regulatory risk includes the risk of non-compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements and damage to our reputation as a result of failure to comply with laws, regulations, rules, related self-regulatory organization standards and codes of conduct applicable to our business activities. Such non-compliance could result in the imposition of legal or regulatory sanctions, material financial loss, including fines, penalties, judgments, damages and/or settlements, or loss to reputation that we may suffer as a result of compliance failures. These risks include contractual and commercial risk, such as the risk that a counterparty’s performance obligations will be unenforceable. It also includes compliance with AML, terrorist financing, anti-corruption and sanctions rules and regulations.

We have established and continue to enhance procedures designed to ensure compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, such as public company reporting obligations, regulatory net capital requirements, sales and trading practices, potential conflicts of interest, anti-money laundering, privacy, sanctions and recordkeeping. The legal and regulatory focus on the financial services industry presents a continuing business challenge for us.

Our business also subjects us to the complex income tax laws of the jurisdictions in which we operate, and these tax laws may be subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and the relevant governmental taxing authorities. We must make judgments and interpretations about the application of these inherently complex tax laws when determining the provision for income taxes.

Effects of Inflation

Because our assets are primarily short-term and liquid in nature, they are generally not significantly impacted by inflation. The rate of inflation does, however, affect our expenses, including employee compensation, communications and information processing and office leasing costs, which may not be readily recoverable from our customers. To the extent inflation result in rising interest rates and has adverse impacts upon securities markets, it may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The financial statements and supplementary data required by this Item 8 are included beginning at page F-1 of this annual report.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in such reports is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

In July 2020 we completed the acquisition of Zerich. In December 2020 we completed the acquisitions of Freedom Bank KZ and PrimeEx. In conducting our evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for our fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, we excluded Freedom Bank KZ and PrimeEx from our evaluation as permitted under existing SEC Staff interpretive guidance for newly acquired businesses. For the year ended March 31, 2021, Freedom Bank KZ, PrimeEx and Zerich accounted for $1,536 of our total net revenue, and as of March 31, 2021, had total assets of $477,298 (inclusive of acquired goodwill and identifiable intangible assets of $8,899).

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Management conducted an assessment of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on the framework established by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on this assessment and the criteria set forth by COSO in 2013, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of March 31, 2021. The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2021, has been audited by WSRP, LLC, an independent registered public accounting firm which has also audited our consolidated financial statements, as stated in their report included in this annual report.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There was no significant change in our internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls

Our management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the reality that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by individual acts or by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

Item 9B. Other Information

None.

PART III

Except as otherwise provided herein, the information required by Items 10 through 14 of this annual report is, pursuant to General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K, incorporated by reference herein from our definitive proxy statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with SEC (the “Proxy Statement”) within 120 days of the end of our fiscal year.

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Information regarding our executive officers is incorporated herein by reference to Part I, Item 1 above. Other information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information about security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management will be contained in the Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table provides information as of June 8, 2021, with respect to compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance:

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

The information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

The information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

(a) The following documents are filed as part of this annual report:

Financial Statements

Financial Statement Schedules

Schedules are omitted because the required information is either inapplicable or presented in the financial statements or related notes.

Exhibits