Company: RILYN
Filing Date: 2025-09-19
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001464790-25-000011
Chunk: 159

Company: B. Riley Financial, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-09-19
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 159
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, asset management and other businesses. The volume and amount of damages claimed in litigation, arbitrations, regulatory enforcement actions and other adversarial proceedings against financial services firms have increased in recent years. We also are subject to claims from disputes with our employees and our former employees under various circumstances. Risks associated with legal liability often are difficult to assess or quantify and their existence and magnitude can remain unknown for significant periods of time, making the amount of legal reserves related to these legal liabilities difficult to determine and subject to future revision. Legal or regulatory matters involving our directors, officers or employees in their individual capacities also may create exposure for us because we may be obligated or may choose to indemnify the affected individuals against liabilities and expenses they incur in connection with such matters to the extent permitted under applicable law. In addition, like other financial services companies, we may face the possibility of employee fraud or misconduct. The precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases and there can be no assurance that we will be able to deter or prevent fraud or misconduct. 

Exposures from and expenses incurred related to any of the foregoing actions or proceedings could have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, future results of operations could be adversely affected if reserves relating to these legal liabilities are required to be increased or legal proceedings are resolved in excess of established reserves.

Recent events and developments related to our investment in Freedom VCM and our prior business relationship with Brian Kahn and related to the SEC subpoenas we received have had and may continue to have adverse effects on our business, results of operations, reputation, and stock price.

On August 21, 2023, we completed the FRG take-private transaction. In November 2023, we learned from news reports that Mr. Kahn was identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in criminal and civil charges of securities fraud against the executive of an unrelated hedge fund.

While we had no involvement with, or knowledge of, any of the alleged misconduct concerning that hedge fund (and each of the separate review and investigations undertaken by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors confirmed this), as a result of these matters we have experienced and will likely continue to experience adverse impacts on our business, results of operations, reputation, and/or stock price. These adverse impacts have arisen and will likely continue to arise out of current and future legal proceedings initiated since the November 2023 news reports, the many continuing unfounded allegations by short sellers and others, the substantial short pressure on our