19 October 2026 | Monday | News
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AtlasClear Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: ATCH) (“AtlasClear” or the “Company”), a company building regulated financial infrastructure for smaller institutions, fintechs and advisors, announced that it has entered into a definitive business combination agreement to acquire Ark Financial Services, Inc. (“Ark”), the parent company of Dawson James Securities, Inc. (“Dawson James”), a full-service investment bank headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. Concurrently with signing, AtlasClear completed the purchase of 24.9% of Ark’s outstanding equity. AtlasClear expects to acquire the remaining 75.1% upon receipt of FINRA approval and satisfaction of other closing conditions.
A Larger, More Diversified Company
On a combined basis, AtlasClear and Dawson James generated total revenues plus interest income* of approximately $47.0 million in their most recent fiscal years (AtlasClear’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2026, and Dawson James’s year ended December 31, 2025), more than double AtlasClear’s standalone total revenues plus interest income of $21.9 million* and up approximately 100% from a combined approximately $23.5 million for the companies’ respective prior fiscal years (AtlasClear’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, and Dawson James’s year ended December 31, 2024). AtlasClear presents its interest income, which is earned on balances held at its broker-dealer subsidiary, in other income; Dawson James includes interest income in revenue. Management believes that adding AtlasClear’s interest income to its total revenues presents the two companies’ results on a consistent basis. Combined total revenues were approximately $45.2 million for the most recent combined fiscal year, up approximately 110% from approximately $21.5 million for the prior combined fiscal year. The table below reconciles total revenues plus interest income to each company’s total revenues determined in accordance with GAAP.
* This is a non-GAAP measure; see “Basis of Combined Information” below for additional information.
The combination also broadens the Company’s revenue base. AtlasClear’s growth in fiscal 2026 was led by stock locate fees, and Dawson James’s revenue is driven primarily by investment banking and advisory fees. Together, approximately 73% of combined total revenues plus interest income for the most recently completed fiscal year of each company came from sources other than brokerage commissions. Dawson James was profitable in 2025, reporting audited net income of approximately $2.4 million.
| ($ millions) | Prior fiscal year (1) |
Most recent fiscal year (2) |
Change | ||
| AtlasClear total revenues | 10.9 | 20.1 | +85 | % | |
| Dawson James total revenues | 10.6 | 25.1 | +136 | % | |
| Combined total revenues | 21.5 | 45.2 | +110 | % | |
| AtlasClear interest income (other income under GAAP) | 2.0 | 1.8 | |||
| Combined total revenues plus interest income (3) | 23.5 | 47.0 | +100 | % | |
| Dawson James net income (loss) | (0.7 | ) | 2.4 | ||
(1) AtlasClear fiscal year ended June 30, 2025; Dawson James year ended December 31, 2024. (2) AtlasClear fiscal year ended June 30, 2026; Dawson James year ended December 31, 2025. (3) Total revenues plus interest income is a supplemental measure that is not calculated in accordance with GAAP; see “Basis of Combined Information” below. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Strategic Rationale
Dawson James is an active placement agent and underwriter for small-cap and micro-cap companies and ranked #14 by transaction volume in the first quarter of 2026, according to PlacementTracker’s Market League Tables. Dawson James has begun clearing through AtlasClearing, and the Company expects that business to grow over time. The combination allows AtlasClear to participate in the full life of a transaction — from capital raising and distribution through execution, clearing and settlement — and to bring the capital formation needs of Dawson James’s issuer clients together with AtlasClearing’s clearing, stock locate and custody services and, following completion of its planned acquisition of Commercial Bancorp of Wyoming, commercial banking.
Management Commentary
“Today we take a major step toward the company we set out to build,” said John Schaible, Executive Chairman of AtlasClear Holdings. “On a combined basis, this transaction more than doubles our revenue and interest income, to approximately $47 million on a historical basis, and adds a profitable, well-known investment bank to a clearing platform that grew revenue 85% last year. Dawson James brings issuers, deal flow and distribution; AtlasClearing brings clearing, stock locate and custody; and with Commercial Bancorp we intend to add banking. Very few firms serving small-cap and micro-cap companies can offer all of that under one roof. We also built this deal to protect our shareholders. Not one share was issued for our initial stake, and no shares will be issued unless the transaction closes. When shares are issued, they will be priced at the market, with no discount and no warrants.”
“Dawson James has already begun clearing through AtlasClearing,” said Craig Ridenhour, President of AtlasClear Holdings and Chairman of AtlasClearing, Inc. “Bringing an active underwriter and placement agent onto our platform gives our clearing, stock locate and custody operations direct access to new issuer and investor flow, and we expect that business to grow as we integrate the two firms.”
Structured to Limit Dilution
AtlasClear’s management structured the transaction to limit dilution to existing stockholders:
Transaction Terms
Under the business combination agreement, AtlasClear purchased 24.9% of Ark’s outstanding equity from Ark’s majority stockholder for $2.5 million in cash and a $2.5 million promissory note payable within 90 days (or sooner under certain circumstances). At the closing of the transaction, AtlasClear will acquire the remaining equity of Ark for $2.4375 million in cash and $13.8125 million in AtlasClear common stock, valued at the five-day volume-weighted average price ending on the closing date, of which a total of $1.65 million in cash and stock will be held in escrow to support indemnification obligations. Ark’s former stockholders may also receive up to $3.25 million of deferred consideration, payable 25% in cash and 75% in AtlasClear common stock, based on revenue for the twelve-month periods ending December 31, 2026 and 2027. Total consideration is up to $24.5 million. In addition, as is customary for broker-dealer acquisitions, net capital of Dawson James in excess of $1.0 million at closing, valued at market, will be paid to Ark’s stockholders in cash or, at the majority stockholder’s election, in AtlasClear shares at the same closing price.
Completion of the transaction is subject to approval by FINRA of Dawson James’s continuing membership application under FINRA Rule 1017, approval of AtlasClear’s stockholders to the extent required by the NYSE American Company Guide, and other customary closing conditions. Because Bob Keyser, the majority owner of Ark, is a director of AtlasClear, the transaction was reviewed and approved by the independent members of AtlasClear’s Board of Directors. Greenberg Traurig, LLP is serving as legal counsel to AtlasClear, and ArentFox Schiff LLP is serving as legal counsel to Ark.
The information set forth in this release is subject to the more complete information set forth in the Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by AtlasClear.
Basis of Combined Information
The combined financial information in this release is the arithmetic sum of (i) AtlasClear’s audited consolidated results for its fiscal years ended June 30, 2025 and 2026 [as reported in its Annual Report on Form 10-K] and (ii) Dawson James Securities, Inc.’s audited results for its years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025, as reported in its annual reports filed with the SEC under Rule 17a-5. The two companies have different fiscal years, and the periods combined are not the same. The combined information is not pro forma financial information prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X; it does not reflect acquisition accounting, transaction costs, financing, intercompany eliminations, anticipated synergies, or the results of Ark Financial Services, Inc. and its other subsidiaries, and it is not necessarily indicative of the results the combined company would have achieved or will achieve. AtlasClear will file audited financial statements of Ark and pro forma financial information as and when required by SEC rules.
Total revenues plus interest income is a supplemental measure that is not calculated in accordance with GAAP; it is the sum of total revenues and interest income and should not be considered a substitute for total revenues determined in accordance with GAAP. Interest income is presented in other income under GAAP. This measure should not be considered a substitute for total revenue determined in accordance with GAAP.
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