20. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company owns 127,179,291 shares or approximately 4% of the outstanding shares of Alset International Limited (“Alset Intl”), a company incorporated in Singapore and publicly listed on the Singapore Exchange Limited. This investment is classified as a marketable security and is classified as long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheets as the Company has the intent and ability to hold the investments for a period of at least one year. The Chairman of the Company, Mr. Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Alset Intl. Mr. Chan is also the majority shareholder of Alset Intl as well as the largest shareholder of the Company. The fair value of the marketable security as of December 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, was approximately $2,277,000 and $2,518,000 respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company recorded unrealized loss on this investment of approximately $242,000 and unrealized loss of $750,000, respectively.

On October 13, 2021, LVAM entered into loan agreement with BMIC International (“BMIC International Loan”), a related party, whereas LVAM borrowed the principal amount of $3,000,000, with interest to be charged at a variable rate to be adjusted at the maturity date. The BMIC International Loan contains an auto renewal period of three months, with a maturity date of January 2026 as of December 31, 2025. As of December 31 2025, and December 31, 2024, the outstanding principal and interest of approximately $33,000 and $463,000, respectively, are included in Current portion of long-term debt – related party, net on the consolidated balance sheet.

On October 13, 2021, LVAM entered into a loan agreement with Lee Wilson Tsz Kin (“Wilson Loan”), a related party, whereas LVAM borrowed the principal amount of $3,000,000, with interest to be charged at a variable rate to be calculated at the maturity date. The Wilson Loan contains an auto renewal period of three months, with a maturity date of January 2026 as of December 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, the outstanding principal and interest of approximately $145,000 and $145,000, respectively, are included in Current portion of long-term debt – related party, net on the consolidated balance sheet.

The Company owns 81,836,908 shares of True Partners Capital Holding Limited (“True Partners”), a publicly listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. On February 28, 2022, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Alset EHome International Inc. (“AEI”), pursuant to which AEI has agreed to sell a subsidiary holding 62,336,908 shares of stock of True Partner Capital Holding Limited exchange for 17,570,948 shares of common stock of the Company (the “DSS Shares”). The Company’s Executive Chairman and a significant stockholder, Heng Fai Ambrose Chan is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and largest shareholder of AEI. Further, on February 20, 2025, the Company acquired an additional 19,500,000 shares of True Partners. The fair value of the marketable security as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, was approximately $4,206,000 and $3,815,000, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company recorded unrealized loss on this investment of approximately $609,000 and unrealized loss of $590,000, respectively.

On July 26, 2022, APF and VEII entered into a promissory note (“Note 8”) in the principal sum of $1,000,000 with interest of 8% with all unpaid principal and interest due on July 26, 2024. This note was amended so that all unpaid principal and interest is due July 26, 2025. The outstanding principal and interest as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 approximates $917,000. This note was fully reserved for as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, the Chairman of DSS, Inc is also the on the board of directors of VEII.

On August 29, 2022, DSS Financial Management Inc and BMIC LLC, a related party, entered into a promissory note (“Note 6”) in the principal sum of $100,000 with interest of 8%, is due in three quarterly installments beginning on September 14, 2022. All unpaid principal and interest was due on August 29, 2025. The outstanding principal and interest at December 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024 approximated $86,000, and was fully reserved for as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. DSS owns 24.9% of the outstanding common shares of BMIC LLC.

On August 29, 2024, APF entered into a promissory note with WestPark. This note has a principal balance of $459,000, which incurs interest at a rate of 10.0% with principal and interest due at the maturity date of April 27, 2026. On November 1, 2024, monthly payments of approximately $28,000 are due with any unpaid interest and principal due at maturity. As of December 31, 2025, the outstanding principal and interest approximates $237,000, which is classified as Current notes receivable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2024, the outstanding principal and interest approximates $450,000, of which $337,000 is classified as Current notes receivable and the remaining $113,000 is classified as Non-current notes receivable – related party on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

On May 8, 2023, DSS Financial Management Inc and BMIC LLC entered into a promissory note (“Note 7”) in the principal sum of $102,000 with interest at the prime rate plus 2% with a maturity date of May 7, 2026. The outstanding principal and interest at December 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024 approximated $110,000, and was fully reserved for as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. DSS owns 24.9% of the outstanding common shares of BMIC LLC.

On December 10, 2024, DSS entered into a securities purchase agreement with Alset Inc., a related party, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell and issue in a private placement an aggregate of 820,597 shares of the Company’s common stock for approximately $803,000.

On December 10, 2024, DSS entered into a securities purchase agreement with Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, the Chaiman of the Board of Directors and a related party, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell and issue in a private placement an aggregate of 205,149 shares of the Company’s common stock for approximately $197,000.

In August of 2025, DSS issued a $500,000 convertible promissory note to Alset, Inc. (“holder”), the Company’s largest shareholder and a related party, bearing interest at Prime (6.75% at December 31, 2025). The first 12 months’ interest is to be paid in shares of the Company; thereafter, interest is prepaid annually in cash or shares at the holder’s election. The note is convertible at the holder’s option at a fixed $0.86 per share, is payable on demand (or July 31, 2028 if not demanded) and may be redeemed by the Company on or after the first anniversary. The Company is required to reserve sufficient authorized shares and maintain the listing/quotation of its common stock. Under ASU 2020-06 and ASC 815-40, the debt host’s embedded conversion feature is indexed to the Company’s own stock and is equity-classified; accordingly, no embedded derivative is bifurcated and the instrument is accounted for as single-unit debt using the effective interest method. Interest is recognized in interest expense; when settled in shares, a credit to APIC is recorded at the fair value of shares on settlement, and any prepaid interest is recorded as a discount/prepaid and amortized to expense over the related period. The outstanding principal and interest, approximates $512,000 and is included in Convertible note payable, related party on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2025.

On February 6, 2025, as a bonus for compensation awarded to Heng Fai Holdings Limited (“HFHL”), a Hong Kong Company, which is beneficially owned by Mr. Heng Fai Ambrose Chan, Director of DSS, Inc., HFHL was awarded 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, approximating $870,000. The issuance was approved by the board of directors on January 31, 2025.

On March 21, 2025, DSS, the parent company of Impact Biomedical, Inc. completed the sale of 499,800 shares of Impact Biomedical common stock. These shares were acquired by DSS during Impact’s initial public offering on September 16, 2024. The sale of these shares, which were previously held by DSS as part of its ownership interest in Impact, was completed for a total value of $1,500,000, which represents the consideration received from the transaction. With this sale, the shares are now publicly held and are no longer held by DSS.

On April 4, 2025, DSS, the parent company of Impact Biomedical, Inc. completed the sale of 890,800 shares of Impact Biomedical common stock. The sale of these shares, which were previously held by DSS as part of its ownership interest in Impact, was completed for a total approximate value of $845,000, which represents the consideration received from the transaction. With this sale, the shares are now publicly held and are no longer held by DSS.

On May 22, 2025, DSS, the parent company of Impact Biomedical, Inc. completed the sale of 115,600 shares of Impact Biomedical common stock. The sale of these shares, which were previously held by DSS as part of its ownership interest in Impact, was completed for a total approximate value of $63,000, which represents the consideration received from the transaction. With this sale, the shares are now publicly held and are no longer held by DSS.

On May 23, 2025, DSS, the parent company of Impact Biomedical, completed the sale of 45,400 shares of Impact Biomedical common stock. The sale of these shares, which were previously held by DSS as part of its ownership interest in Impact, was completed for a total approximate value of $24,000, which represents the consideration received from the transaction. With this sale, the shares are now publicly held and are no longer held by DSS.