UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 10-K
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2016
Commission File Number: 001-36347
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A-MARK PRECIOUS METALS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware (State of Incorporation) | | 11-2464169 (IRS Employer I.D. No.) |
429 Santa Monica Blvd.
Suite 230
Santa Monica, CA 90401 (Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
(310) 587-1477
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
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Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
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Title of each class Common Stock, $0.01 par value | | Name of each exchange on which registered NASDAQ Global Select Market |
Securities registered under Section 12 (g) of the Exchange Act: None
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. | | Yes. o No. þ |
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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. o No. þ |
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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. þ No. ¨ |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files). | | Yes. þ No. ¨ |
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Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. | | o |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act: |
Large accelerated filer ¨ | Accelerated filer ¨ | Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company þ |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). | | Yes. ¨ No. þ |
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Aggregate market value of registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on December 31, 2015, based upon the closing price of Common Stock on such date as reported by NASDAQ Global Select Market, was approximately $70,716,067. Shares of common stock known to be owned by directors and executive officers of the Registrant subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are not included in the computation. No determination has been made that such persons are “affiliates” within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act. |
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As of September 21, 2016, the registrant had 7,021,450 shares of common stock outstanding, par value $0.01 per share. | | |
A-MARK PRECIOUS METALS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
For the Year Ended June 30, 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I | | | |
| Item 1. | Description of Business | |
| Item 1A. | Risk Factors | |
| Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments | |
| Item 2. | Properties | |
| Item 3. | Legal Proceedings | |
| Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | |
PART II | | | |
| Item 5. | Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | |
| Item 6. | Selected Financial Data | |
| Item 7. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | |
| Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | |
| Item 8. | Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | |
| Item 9. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure | |
| Item 9A. | Controls and Procedures | |
| Item 9B. | Other Information | |
PART III | | | |
| Item 10. | Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance | |
| Item 11. | Executive Compensation | |
| Item 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters | |
| Item 13. | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence | |
| Item 14. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services | |
PART IV | | | |
| Item 15. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules | |
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Signatures | | | |
Exhibit Index | | |
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Overview
A-Mark, also referred to (together with its subsidiaries) as "we", "us" and the "Company", is a full-service precious metals trading company. It is a wholesaler of gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion and related products, including bars, wafers, grain and coins. A-Mark also-
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• | | distributes gold and silver coins and bars from sovereign and private mints; |
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• | | provides financing for the purchase of bullion and numismatics; |
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• | | offers secure storage for bullion; and |
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• | | offers complementary products such as consignment, customized finance and liquidity programs such as repurchase ("Repo") accounts, and trade quotes in a variety of foreign currencies. |
A-Mark believes it has one of the largest customer bases in each of its markets and provides one of the most comprehensive offerings of products and services in the precious metals trading industry. Our customers include mints, manufacturers and fabricators, refiners, coin and bullion dealers, e-commerce retailers, banks and other financial institutions, commodity brokerage houses, industrial users of precious metals, investors and collectors. We serve customers on six continents, with over 10% of our customers being outside the United States.
A-Mark believes its businesses largely function independently of the price movement of the underlying commodities. However, factors such as global economic activity or uncertainty and inflationary trends, which affect market volatility, have the potential to impact demand, volumes and margins.
We conduct our operations within one business segment.
History
A-Mark was founded in 1965 as a small numismatics firm, which subsequently grew to include wholesale bullion trading and precious metals financing. Spectrum Group International, Inc. ("SGI"), then known as Greg Manning Auctions, Inc., acquired an 80% interest in A-Mark in 2005. The remaining 20% of A-Mark was acquired by Afinsa Bienes Tangibles, S.A. ("Afinsa"), at the time SGI's controlling shareholder. In 2012, SGI acquired from Afinsa its interest in A-Mark, as a result of which A-Mark became a wholly-owned subsidiary of SGI.
In March 2014, SGI distributed all of the shares of common stock of A-Mark to its stockholders, effecting a spinoff of A-Mark from SGI. As a result of this distribution, which we refer to as the spinoff, the Company is now a publicly traded company independent from SGI.
Over the years, A-Mark has been steadily expanding its products and services. In 1986, A-Mark became an authorized purchaser of gold and silver coins struck by the United States Mint. Similar arrangements with other sovereign mints followed, so that by the early 1990s, A-Mark had distribution relationships with all major sovereign mints offering bullion coins and bars internationally. In 2005, A-Mark launched its Collateral Finance Corporation ("CFC") subsidiary for the purpose of making secured wholesale and retail loans collateralized by numismatic and semi-numismatic coins and bullion.
A-Mark opened an overseas office in Vienna, Austria in 2009, for the purpose of marketing its goods and services in the European markets, and the office commenced full trading activity in 2012. This resulted in the expansion of A-Mark's trading hours from 12 to 17 hours a day, 5 days a week. Also in 2012, A-Mark formed Transcontinental Depository Services, LLC ("TDS"), a subsidiary that provides customers with a turnkey global storage solutions for their precious metals and precious metal products.
A-M Global Logistics, LLC ("Logistics"), a Las Vegas-based logistics fulfillment center and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, commenced operations in July 2015.
Business Strategy
Through strategic relationships with its customers and suppliers and vertical integration across its markets, A-Mark seeks to grow its business volume, expand its presence in non-U.S. markets around the globe, with a principal focus on Europe and Asia, and enlarge its offering of complementary products and services. A-Mark seeks to continue its expansion by building on its strengths and what it perceives to be its competitive advantages. These include-
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• | | vertically integrated operations that span trading, distribution, storage, financing and other consignment products and services; |
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• | | an extensive and varied customer base that includes banks and other financial institutions, coin dealers, collectors, private investors, investment advisors, industrial manufacturers, refiners, sovereign mints and mines; |
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• | | secure storage for bullion; |
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• | | access to primary market makers, suppliers, refiners and government mints that provide a dependable supply of precious metals and precious metal products; |
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• | | trading offices in Santa Monica, California and Vienna, Austria, giving our customers live access to our trading desk 17 hours each trading day, even when many major world commodity markets are closed; |
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• | | the largest precious metals dealer network in North America; |
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• | | depository relationships in major financial centers around the world; |
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• | | experienced traders who effectively manage A-Mark's exposure to commodity price risk; and |
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• | | a strong management team, with over 100 years of collective industry experience. |
Business Units
A-Mark operates through several business units comprising a single segment for accounting purposes, including Industrial, Coin and Bar, Trading, Finance, CFC, TDS and Logistics.
Industrial. Our Industrial unit sells gold, silver, platinum and palladium to industrial and commercial users. Customers include coin fabricators such as mints, industrial manufacturers and fabricators, including electronics, component parts companies, and refiners. Depending on the intended usage, the metals are either investment or industrial grade and are generally in bars, wafers, plates, or grains.
Coin & Bar. Our Coin & Bar unit deals in over 200 different products, including gold and silver coins from around the world and gold, silver, platinum and palladium bars and ingots in a variety of weights, shapes and sizes. We currently market a limited number of such products with our proprietary “A-Mark” rounds and bars. Our customers are primarily coin and bullion dealers, although we also deal directly with banks and other financial institutions, commodity brokerage house, manufacturers, investors, investment advisors, and collectors who qualify as “eligible commercial entities” and “eligible contract participants,” as those terms are defined in the Commodity Exchange Act. Our customers range in size from large financial institutions to small local dealers.
We are an authorized distributor (and, in the case of the United States Mint, an authorized purchaser) of gold and silver coins for all of the major sovereign mints and various private mints. The sovereign mints include the United States Mint, the Australian (Perth) Mint, the Austrian Mint, the Royal Canadian Mint, the China Mint, Banco de Mexico, the South African Mint (Rand Refinery) and the Royal Mint (United Kingdom). We purchase and take delivery of coins from the mints for resale to coin dealers and other qualified purchasers.
Our distribution and purchase agreements with the mints are non-exclusive, and may be terminated by the mints at any time, although in practice our relationship with the mints are long-standing, in some cases, as with the U.S. Mint, extending back for over 20 years. In some cases, we have developed exclusive products with sovereign and private mints for distribution through our dealer network.
In our Industrial and Coin and Bar units, orders are taken primarily telephonically, although some orders are placed on an electronic trading platform. Pricing is generally based on screen quotes for bullion transactions in the spot market, with two-day settlement, although special pricing and extended settlement terms are also available. For example, a customer can leave an order with A-Mark to purchase at a specified price below the current market price or an order to sell at a specified price above the current market price. Almost all customers in these units take physical delivery of the precious metal. Product is shipped upon receipt of payment, except where the purchase is financed under credit arrangements between A-Mark and the customer. We have relationships with precious metal depositories around the world to facilitate shipment of product from our inventory to these
customers, in many cases for next day delivery. Product may either be drop shipped to the customer's location or delivered to a depository or other storage facility designated by the customer.The Company also periodically loans metals to customers on a short-term consignment basis, charging interest fees based on the value of the metals loaned. Such metal inventories are removed at the time the customers elect to price and purchase the metals, and the Company records a corresponding sale and receivable.
Trading and Finance. Our Trading and Finance units engage in commodity hedging and borrowing and lending transactions in support of our Industrial and Coin & Bar units.
The Trading unit hedges the commodity risk on A-Mark's inventory in order to protect A-Mark from price fluctuations in situations where settlement of a transaction is delayed or deferred. A-Mark maintains relationships with major market-makers and multiple futures brokers in order to provide a variety of alternatives for its hedging needs. Our traders employ a combination of future and spot transactions to hedge transactional exposure, and a combination of future, and forward contracts to hedge inventory exposure. Because it seeks to substantially hedge its market exposure, A-Mark believes that its business largely functions independently of the price movements in the underlying commodity. Through its hedging activities, A-Mark may also earn contango yields, in which futures price are higher than the spot prices, or backwardation yields, in which futures prices are lower than the spot prices. A-Mark also offers precious metals price quotes in a number of foreign currencies.
Our Finance unit engages in precious metals borrowing and lending transactions and other customized financial transactions with or on behalf of our customers and other counterparties. These arrangements range from simple hedging structures to complex inventory finance arrangements and forward purchase and sale structures, tailored to the needs of our customers.
CFC. Our Collateral Finance Corporation subsidiary is a California licensed finance lender that makes and acquires commercial loans secured by numismatic and semi-numismatic coins and bullion. CFC's customers include coin and precious metal dealers, investors and collectors. CFC's activities are complementary to our bullion and coin businesses, and affords customers a convenient means of financing their inventory or collections. CFC takes physical delivery of the coins or bullion collateralizing the loans, and requires loan-to-value ratios of between 50% and 80%. The loan-to-value ratio refers to the principal amount of the loan divided by the liquidation value of the collateral, as conservatively estimated by CFC. Secured loans include a combination of on-demand and short term (i.e., with terms of between three and twelve months) facilities, and bear interest at fixed rates prevailing at the time the loan is made. Other terms of the loan may be customized in accordance with the particular needs and circumstances of the borrower.
TDS. Our Transcontinental Depository Services subsidiary provides storage solutions for precious metals and numismatic coins for financial institutions, dealers, investors and collectors worldwide. TDS contracts on behalf of our clients with independent storage facilities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong, for either fully segregated or allocated storage. We assist our clients in developing appropriate storage options for their particular requirements, and we manage the operational aspects of the storage with the third party facilities on our clients' behalf.
Logistics. Our A-Mark Global Logistics ("Logistics") subsidiary commenced operations in July 2015. Located in Las Vegas, Logistics provides our customers an array of complementary services, including: packaging, shipping, handling, receiving, processing, and inventorying of precious metals and custom coins on a secure basis.
To support our wholesale trading business, Logistics will ultimately provide a significant amount of the secured storage, shipping and delivery services that have historically been outsourced to third-party depositories in their various locations. We have consolidated a portion of these third-party locations into the Las Vegas facility as of year end. By consolidating those operations into one central location under our control, we will reduce dependence on third-party service providers while, we believe, enhancing quality control and reducing operating costs.
Logistics also provides turn-key logistics services to our customers engaged in the retail business. Through our facility, we provide these customers one-stop financing, hedging, inventory handling, storage, and seamless drop-shipping directly to their own retail customers.
Market Making Activity
We act as a principal market maker, maintaining a two-way market for buying and selling precious metals. This means we both sell product to and purchase product from our customers.
Inventory
We maintain a substantial inventory of bullion and coins in order to provide our customers with selection and prompt delivery. We acquire product for our inventory in the course of our trading activities with our customers, directly from mints, mines and refiners and from commodities brokers and dealers, privately and in transactions on established commodity exchanges. Except for certain lower of cost or market products, our inventory is “marked to market” daily for accounting and financial reporting purposes.
Sales and Marketing
We market our products and services primarily through our offices in Santa Monica, California and Vienna, Austria, our website and our dealer network, which we believe is the largest of its kind in North America. The dealer network consists of over 1,000 independent precious metal and coin companies, with whom we transact on a non-exclusive basis. The arrangements with the dealers vary, but generally the dealers acquire product from us for resale to their customers. In some instances, we deliver bullion to the dealers on a consignment basis. We also participate from time to time in trade shows and conventions, at which we promote our products and services.
As a vertically integrated precious metals concern, a key element of our marketing strategy is being able to cross-sell our products and services to customers of our different business units.
Operational Support
A-Mark maintains administrative and operational support at its office in Santa Monica, California for processing its trading and service activities and arranging for physical delivery and storage of product. We believe that our existing administrative and operational support infrastructure has the capacity to scale up with our business activities . We store our inventories of bullion and numismatics at third party depositories in major financial centers around the world and at our facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.
With a third party software developer, we have created a proprietary trading program, referred to as the Metals Trading System ("MTS"). Through MTS we are able to input, process, track and document our trading activity, including complex hedging and similar transactions. We have developed and implemented an electronic trading platform for receiving and processing customer orders, with the objective of improving transactional ease and efficiency. In fiscal 2017, the Company expects to complete its integration of MTS with a new business management system.
Supplier and Customer Concentrations
A-Mark buys a majority of its precious metals from a limited number of suppliers. The Company believes that numerous other suppliers are available and would provide similar products on comparable terms.
For the year ended June 30, 2016, the Company had two customers, HSBC Bank USA and JM Bullion Inc., each comprising more than 10% of our revenues (see Note 17.) Trading Competition
A-Mark's activities cover a broad spectrum of the precious metals industry, with a concentration on the physical market. We service public, industrial and private sector consumers of precious metals which include industrial manufactures, refiners, minting facilities, banks, brokerage houses and private investors. We frequently face different competitors in each area and it is not uncommon for a customer and/or a supplier .
Trading Seasonality
While our precious metals trading business is not seasonal, we believe it is directly impacted by the perception of market trends and global economic activity. Historically, anticipation of increases in the rate of inflation,interest rates as well as anticipated devaluation of the U.S. dollar, has resulted in higher levels of interest in precious metals as well as higher prices for such metals.
Employees
As of June 30, 2016, we had 83 employees, with 81 located in North America, and 2 in Europe; all of these employees were considered full-time employees.
We regard our relations with our employees as good.
Corporate Information
A-Mark was founded in 1965 as a New York corporation. In December 2013, the Company was reincorporated in Delaware. Our executive offices are located at 429 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 230, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Our telephone number is (310) 587-1477, and our website is www.amark.com. Through this website, we make available, free of charge, all of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including those under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"). Such reports are made available on the same day that they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. In addition, copies of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Employees, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Senior Financial and Other Officers, and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors are available through this website, along with other information regarding our corporate governance policies.
Geographic Information
See Note 18 in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for information about Company's geographic operations.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Risks Relating to Our Business Generally
Our business is heavily dependent on our credit facility.
Our business depends substantially on our ability to obtain financing for our operations. A-Mark’s borrowing facility, which we refer to as the Trading Credit Facility, provides the Company with the liquidity to buy and sell billions of dollars of precious metals annually. The Trading Credit Facility is an uncommitted facility with a syndicate of banks and has a one-year maturity. A-Mark routinely uses the Trading Credit Facility to purchase metals from its suppliers and for operating cash flow purposes. Our CFC subsidiary also uses the facility to finance its lending activities.
The Trading Credit Facility requires us to maintain certain financial ratios and to comply with various operational and other covenants. If there were an event of default under the Trading Credit Facility that was not cured or waived, the lenders could cause all amounts outstanding with respect to that debt to be due and payable immediately. We cannot assure you that our assets or cash flow would be sufficient to fully repay borrowings under our outstanding debt instruments, either upon maturity or if accelerated, upon an event of default, or that we would be able to refinance or restructure the payments under the Trading Credit Facility. The failure of A-Mark to renew or replace the Trading Credit Facility under such circumstances would reduce the financing available to us and could limit our ability to conduct our business, including the lending activity of our CFC subsidiary. There can be no assurance that we could procure replacement financing on commercially acceptable terms on a timely basis, or at all.
Because interest under the Trading Credit Facility is variable, we are subject to fluctuations in interest rates and we may not be able to pass along to our customers and borrowers some or any part of an increase in the interest that we are required to pay under the facility. Amounts under the Trading Credit Facility bear interest based on one month LIBOR plus a 2.50% margin for revolving credit line loans and a 4.50% margin for bridge loans (that is, for loans that exceed the available revolving credit line). The LIBOR rate was approximately 0.47% and 0.19% as of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, respectively.
We could suffer losses with our financing operations.
We engage in a variety of financing activities with our customers:
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• | Receivables from our customers with whom we trade in precious metal products are effectively short-term, non-interest bearing extensions of credit that are, in most cases, secured by the related products maintained in the Company’s possession or by a letter of credit issued on behalf of the customer. On average, these receivables are outstanding for periods of between 8 and 9 days. |
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• | The Company operates a financing business through CFC that makes secured loans at loan to value ratios—principal loan amount divided by the "liquidation value", as conservatively estimated by management, of the collateral—of, in most cases, 50% to 80%. These loans are both variable and fixed interest rate loans, with maturities from three to twelve months. |
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• | We make advances to our customers on unrefined metals secured by materials received from the customer. These advances are limited to a portion of the materials received. |
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• | The Company makes unsecured, short-term, non-interest bearing advances to wholesale metals dealers and government mints. |
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• | The Company periodically extends short-term credit through the issuance of notes receivable to approved customers at interest rates determined on a customer-by-customer basis. |
Our ability to minimize losses on the credit that we extend to our customers depends on a variety of factors, including:
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• | our loan underwriting and other credit policies and controls designed to assure repayment, which may prove inadequate to prevent losses; |
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• | our ability to sell collateral upon customer defaults for amounts sufficient to offset credit losses, which can be affected by a number of factors outside of our control, including (i) changes in economic conditions, (ii) increases in market rates of interest and (iii) changes in the condition or value of the collateral; and |
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• | the reserves we establish for loan losses, which may prove inadequate. |
Our business is dependent on a concentrated customer base.
One of A-Mark's key assets is its customer base. This customer base provides deep distribution of product and makes A-Mark a desirable trading partner for precious metals product manufacturers, including sovereign mints seeking to distribute precious metals coinage or large refiners seeking to sell large volumes of physical precious metals. Two customers represented 29.0% of A-Mark's revenues for the year ended June 30, 2016. A single customer represented 30.9% of A-Mark's revenues for the year ended June 30, 2015. If our relationship with these customers deteriorated, or if we were to lose these customers, our business would be materially adversely affected.
The loss of a government purchaser/distributorship arrangement could materially adversely affect our business.
A-Mark’s business is heavily dependent on its purchaser/distributorship arrangements with various governmental mints. Our ability to offer numismatic coins and bars to our customers on a competitive basis is based on the ability to purchase products directly from a government source. The arrangements with the governmental mints may be discontinued by them at any time. The loss of an authorized purchaser/distributor relationship, including with the U.S. Mint could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The materials held by A-Mark are subject to loss, damage, theft or restriction on access.
A-Mark has significant quantities of high-value precious metals on site, at third-party depositories and in transit. There is a risk that part or all of the gold and other precious metals held by A-Mark, whether on its own behalf or on behalf of its customers, could be lost, damaged or stolen. In addition, access to A-Mark’s precious metals could be restricted by natural events (such as an earthquake) or human actions (such as a terrorist attack). Although we maintain insurance on terms and conditions that we consider appropriate, we may not have adequate sources of recovery if our precious metals inventory is lost, damaged, stolen or destroyed, and recovery may be limited. Among other things, our insurance policies exclude coverage in the event of loss as a result of terrorist attacks or civil unrest.
In addition, with the establishment of our Logistics facility and the transfer of our wholesale storage operations from third party depositories to that facility, we are assuming greater potential liability for any loss suffered in connection with the stored inventory. Among other things, our insurance, rather than the third-party depository’s, is now the primary risk policy. While we believe we have adequate insurance coverage covering these operations, in the event of any loss in excess of our coverage, we may be held liable for that excess.
Our business is subject to the risk of fraud and counterfeiting.
The precious metals (particularly bullion) business is exposed to the risk of loss as a result of “materials fraud” in its various forms. We seek to minimize our exposure to this type of fraud through a number of means, including third-party authentication and verification, reliance on our internal experts and the establishment of procedures designed to detect fraud. However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in preventing or identifying this type of fraud, or in obtaining redress in the event such fraud is detected.
Our business is influenced by political conditions and world events.
The precious metals business is especially subject to global political conditions and world events. Precious metals are viewed by some as a secure financial investment in times of political upheaval or unrest, particularly in developing economies, which may drive up pricing. The volatility of the commodity prices for precious metals is also likely to increase in politically uncertain times. Conversely, during periods of relative international calm precious metal volatility is likely to decrease, along with demand, and the prices of precious metals may retreat. Because our business is dependent on the volatility and pricing of precious metals, we are likely to be influenced by world events more than businesses in other economic sectors.
We have significant operations outside the United States.
We derive over 10% of our revenues from business outside the United States, including from customers in developing countries. Business operations outside the U.S. are subject to political, economic and other risks inherent in operating in foreign countries. These include risks of general applicability, such as the need to comply with multiple regulatory regimes; trade protection measures and import or export licensing requirements; and fluctuations in equity, revenues and profits due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Currently, we do not conduct substantial business with customers in developing countries. However, if our business in these areas of the world were to increase, we would also face risks that are particular to developing countries, including the difficulty of enforcing agreements, collecting receivables; protecting inventory and other assets through foreign legal systems; limitations on the repatriation of earnings; currency devaluation and manipulation of exchange rates; and high levels of inflation.
We try to manage these risks by monitoring current and anticipated political, economic, legal and regulatory developments in the countries outside the United States in which we operate or have customers and adjusting operations as appropriate, but there can be no assurance that the measures we adopt will be successful in protecting the Company’s business interests.
We are dependent on our key management personnel and our trading experts.
Our performance is dependent on our senior management and certain other key employees. We have employment agreements with Greg Roberts, our CEO, and Thor Gjerdrum, our President, which expire on June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019, respectively. These and other employees have expertise in the trading markets, have industry-wide reputations, and perform critical functions for our business. We cannot offer assurance that we will be able to negotiate acceptable terms for the renewal of the employment agreements or otherwise retain our key employees. Also, there is significant competition for skilled precious metals traders and other industry professionals. The loss of our current key officers and employees, without the ability to replace them, would materially have an adverse affect our business.
We are focused on growing our business, but there is no assurance that we will be successful.
We expect to grow both organically and through opportunistic acquisitions. We have devoted considerable time, resources and efforts over the past few years to our growth strategy. We may not be successful in implementing our growth initiatives, which could adversely affect our business.
With the establishment of our Logistics facility, we are undertaking direct responsibility for comprehensive inventory and depository services to support our wholesale operations beyond that which we have provided in the past. We may not have the expertise to perform such services successfully. In addition, we have no prior experience offering the type of turn-key logistics services to our retail customers that Logistics intends to provide. The efforts to establish and operate Logistics have placed, and are expected to continue to place, demands on our management and other personnel and resources, and have required, and will continue to require, timely and continued investment in facilities, personnel and financial and management systems and controls. If we are not successful with our Logistics operations, our operations as a whole could be adversely affected.
Our bank group, a syndicate of banks with Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A. acting as lead lender and administrative agent for the syndicate, has approved our Logistics facility as an authorized depository. If that approval were to be withdrawn for any reason, we would no longer be able to keep inventory at that location, which would substantially limit our ability to conduct business from that facility.
Liquidity constraints may limit our ability to grow our business.
To accomplish our growth strategy, we will require adequate sources of liquidity to fund both our existing business and our expansion activity. Currently, our sources of liquidity are the cash that we generate from operations and our borrowing availability under the Trading Credit Facility. There can be no assurance that these sources will be adequate to support the growth that we are hoping to achieve or that additional sources of financing for this purpose, in the form of additional debt or equity financing, will be available to us, on satisfactory terms or at all. Also, the Trading Credit Facility contains, and any future debt financing is likely to contain, various financial and other restrictive covenants. The need to comply with these covenants may limit our ability to implement our growth initiatives.
We expect to grow in part through acquisitions, but an acquisition strategy entails risks.
We expect to grow in part through acquisitions. We will consider potential acquisitions of varying sizes and may, on a selective basis, pursue acquisitions or consolidation opportunities involving other public companies or privately held companies. However, it is possible that we will not realize the expected benefits from our acquisitions or that our existing operations will be adversely affected as a result of acquisitions. Acquisitions entails certain risks, including: unrecorded liabilities of acquired companies that we fail to discover during our due diligence investigations; difficulty in assimilating the operations and personnel of the acquired company within our existing operations or in maintaining uniform standards; loss of key employees of the acquired company; and strains on management and other personnel time and resources both to research and integrate acquisitions.
We expect to pay for future acquisitions using cash, capital stock, notes and/or assumption of indebtedness. To the extent that our existing sources of cash are not sufficient to fund future acquisitions, we will require additional debt or equity financing and, consequently, our indebtedness may increase or shareholders may be diluted as we implement our growth strategy.
We are subject to laws and regulations
We are subject to various laws, litigation, regulatory matters and ethical standards, and our failure to comply with or adequately address developments as they arise could adversely affect our reputation and operations. Our policies, procedures and practices and the technology we implement are designed to comply with federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations, including those imposed by the SEC and other regulatory agencies, the marketplace, the banking industry and foreign countries, as well as responsible business, social and environmental practices, all of which may change from time to time. Significant legislative changes, including those that relate to employment matters and health care reform, could impact our relationship with our workforce, which could increase our expenses and adversely affect our operations. In addition, if we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations or implement responsible business, social and environmental practices, we could be subject to damage to our reputation, class action lawsuits, legal and settlement costs, civil and criminal liability, increased cost of regulatory compliance, restatements of our financial statements, disruption of our business and loss of customers. Any required changes to
our employment practices could result in the loss of employees, reduced sales, increased employment costs, low employee morale and harm to our business and results of operations. In addition, political and economic factors could lead to unfavorable changes in federal and state tax laws, which may increase our tax liabilities. An increase in our tax liabilities could adversely affect our results of operations. We are also regularly involved in various litigation matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. Litigation or regulatory developments could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
There are various federal, state, local and foreign laws, ordinances and regulations that affect our trading business. For example, we are required to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and a variety of anti-money laundering and know-your-customer rules in response to the USA Patriot Act.
The SEC has promulgated final rules mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act regarding disclosure, on an annual basis, of the use of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold, known as conflict minerals, in products manufactured by public companies. These new rules require due diligence to determine whether such minerals originated from the Democratic Republic of Congo (the "DRC") or an adjoining country and whether such minerals helped finance the armed conflict in the DRC.
The Company has concluded that it is not currently subject to the conflict minerals rules because it is not a manufacturer of conflict minerals under the definitions set forth in the rules. Depending on developments in the Company’s business, it could become subject to the rules at some point in the future. In that event, there will be costs associated with complying with these disclosure requirements, including costs to determine the origin of gold used in our products. In addition, the implementation of these rules could adversely affect the sourcing, supply and pricing of gold used in our products. Also, we may face disqualification as a supplier for customers and reputational challenges if the due diligence procedures we implement do not enable us to verify the origins for the gold used in our products or to determine that the gold is conflict free.
CFC operates under a California Finance Lenders License issued by the California Department of Corporations. CFC is required to submit a finance lender law annual report to the state which summarizes certain loan portfolio and financial information regarding CFC. The Department of Corporations may audit the books and records of CFC to determine whether CFC is in compliance with the terms of its lending license.
There can be no assurance that the regulation of our trading and lending businesses will not increase or that compliance with the applicable regulations will not become more costly or require us to modify our business practices.
On October 25, 2015, the Company received notification from the City of Santa Monica that the City was challenging the Company's classification as an "agent/broker" for purposes of computing the business license fee due to the City. The matter has since been resolved in the Company's favor resulting in no change to the Company's prior filings.
We operate in a highly competitive industry.
The business of buying and selling precious metals is global and highly competitive. The Company competes with precious metals trading firms and banks throughout North America, Europe and elsewhere in the world, some of whom have greater financial and other resources, and greater name recognition, than the Company. We believe that, as a full service firm devoted exclusively to precious metals trading, we offer pricing, product availability, execution, financing alternatives and storage options that are attractive to our customers and allow us to compete effectively. We also believe that our purchaser/distributorship arrangements with various governmental mints give us a competitive advantage in our coin distribution business. However, given the global reach of the precious metals trading business, the absence of intellectual property protections and the availability of numerous, evolving platforms for trading in precious metals, we cannot assure you that A-Mark will be able to continue to compete successfully or that future developments in the industry will not create additional competitive challenges.
We rely extensively on computer systems to execute trades and process transactions, and we could suffer substantial damages if the operation of these systems were interrupted.
We rely on our computer and communications hardware and software systems to execute a large volume of trading transactions each year. It is therefore critical that we maintain uninterrupted operation of these systems, and we have invested considerable resources to protect our systems from physical compromise and security breaches and to maintain backup and redundancy. Nevertheless, our systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, security breaches, including breaches of our transaction processing or other systems, catastrophic events such as fires, tornadoes and hurricanes, and usage errors by our employees. If our systems are breached, damaged or cease to function properly, we may have to make a significant investment to fix or replace them, we may suffer interruptions in our ability to provide quotations or trading services in the interim, and we may face costly litigation.
If our customer data were breached, we could suffer damages and loss of reputation.
By the nature of our business, we maintain significant amounts of customer data on our systems. Moreover, certain third party providers have access to confidential data concerning the Company in the ordinary course of their business relationships with the Company. In recent years, various companies, including companies that are significantly larger than us, have reported breaches of their computer systems that have resulted in the compromise of customer data. Any significant compromise or breach of customer or company data held or maintained by either the Company or our third party providers could significantly damage our reputation and result in costs, lost trades, fines and lawsuits. The regulatory environment related to information security and privacy is increasingly rigorous, with new and constantly changing requirements applicable to our business, and compliance with those requirements could result in additional costs. There is no guarantee that the procedures that we have implemented to protect against unauthorized access to secured data are adequate to safeguard against all data security breaches.
Risks Relating to Commodities
A-Mark’s business is heavily influenced by volatility in commodities prices.
A primary driver of A-Mark’s profitability is volatility in commodities prices, which leads to wider bid and ask spreads. Among the factors that can impact the price of precious metals are supply and demand of precious metals; political, economic, and global financial events; movement of the U.S. dollar versus other currencies; and the activity of large speculators such as hedge funds. If commodity prices were to stagnate, there would likely be a reduction in trading activity, resulting in less demand for the services A-Mark provides, which could materially adversely affect our business, liquidity and results of operations.
Our business is exposed to commodity price risks, and our hedging activity to protect our inventory is subject to risks of default by our counterparties.
A-Mark’s precious metals inventories are subject to market value changes created by change in the underlying commodity price, as well as supply and demand of the individual products the Company trades. In addition, open sale and purchase commitments are subject to changes in value between the date the purchase or sale is fixed (the trade date) and the date metal is delivered or received (the settlement date). A-Mark seeks to minimize the effect of price changes of the underlying commodity through the use of financial derivative instruments, such as forward and futures contracts. A-Mark’s policy is to remain substantially hedged as to its inventory position and its individual sale and purchase commitments. A-Mark’s management monitors its hedged exposure daily. However, there can be no assurance that these hedging activities will be adequate to protect the Company against commodity price risks associated with A-Mark’s business activities.
Furthermore, even if we are fully hedged as to any given position, there is the risk of default by our counterparties to the hedge. Any such default could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.
Increased commodity pricing could limit the inventory that we are able to carry.
We maintain a large and varied inventory of precious metal products, including bullion and coins, in order to support our trading activities and provide our customers with superior service. The amount of inventory that we are able to carry is constrained by the borrowing limitations and working capital covenants under the Trading Credit Facility . If commodity prices were to rise substantially, and we were unable to modify the terms of the Trading Credit Facility to compensate for the increase, the quantity of product that we could finance, and hence maintain in our inventory, would fall. This would likely have a material adverse effect on our operations.
The Dodd-Frank Act could adversely impact our use of derivative instruments to hedge precious metal prices and may have other adverse effects on our business.
On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which requires the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to promulgate rules and regulations implementing the new legislation, including with respect to derivative contracts on commodities. This legislation and any implementing regulations could significantly increase the cost of some commodity derivative contracts (including through requirements to post collateral, which could adversely affect our available liquidity), materially alter the terms of some commodity derivative contracts, reduce the availability of some derivatives to protect against risks, reduce our ability to monetize or restructure our existing commodity derivative contracts and potentially increase our exposure to less creditworthy counterparties. If we reduce our use of derivatives as a result of the Dodd-Frank legislation and regulations, we would be exposed to inventory and other risks associated with fluctuations in commodity prices. Also, if the Dodd-Frank legislation and regulations reduces volatility in commodity prices, our revenues could be adversely affected.
We rely on the efficient functioning of commodity exchanges around the world, and disruptions on these exchanges could adversely affect our business.
The Company buys and sells precious metals contracts on commodity exchanges around the world, both in support of its customer operations and to hedge its inventory and transactional exposure against fluctuations in commodity prices. The Company’s ability to engage in these activities would be compromised if the exchanges on which the Company trades or any of their clearinghouses were to discontinue operations or to experience disruptions in trading, due to computer problems, unsettled markets or other factors. The Company may also experience risk of loss if futures commission merchants or commodity brokers with whom the Company deals were to become insolvent or bankrupt.
Risks Relating to Our Common Stock
Public company costs have increased our expenses and administrative burden, in particular in order to bring our Company into compliance with certain provisions of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.
As a public company, we are incurring significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. These increased costs and expenses may arise from various factors, including financial reporting costs associated with complying with federal securities laws (including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and related regulations implemented by the SEC and NASDAQ have created uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance costs and making some activities more time consuming. We are currently evaluating and monitoring developments with respect to new and proposed rules and cannot predict or estimate the amount of the additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs. Applicable laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We intend to invest resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, and this investment may result in increased selling, general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management’s time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. If our efforts to comply with new laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to practice, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us and our business may be harmed.
Failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley could have a material adverse effect on our business.
As a public company, we are required to document and test our internal control over financial reporting in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley, which requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.
We are required to implement standalone policies and procedures to comply with the requirements of Section 404. During the course of our testing of our internal controls and procedures, we may identify deficiencies which we may not be able to remediate in time to meet our deadline for compliance with Section 404. Testing and maintaining internal controls can divert our management’s attention from other matters that are also important to the operation of our business. We also expect that the imposition of these regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more difficult, time consuming and costly. We may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404. If we are unable to conclude that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting, then investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, which would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of our common stock. In addition, if we do not maintain effective internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial information on a timely basis, which could harm the trading price of our common stock, impair our ability to raise additional capital, or jeopardize our continued listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market or any other stock exchange on which common stock may be listed.
The Company has determined that it qualifies as a smaller reporting company as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. As such, it is not categorized as an accelerated filer for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015. Therefore, the Company is not required to obtain a report by our independent registered public accounting firm that addresses the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting for that year. The Company will continue to be exempt from the requirement of obtaining such a report unless and until it meets the definition of an accelerated filer.
We may not be able to continue to pay dividends.
Effective March 2, 2015, the Board of Directors approved a cash dividend policy calling for the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per common share. The policy was amended on February 2, 2016 to provide for a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per common share. The declaration of cash dividends in the future is subject to the determination each quarter by the Board of Directors, based on a number of factors, including the Company’s financial performance, available cash resources, cash requirements, bank covenants, and alternative uses of cash that the Board of Directors may conclude would represent an opportunity to generate a greater return on investment for the Company. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Company will continue to pay dividends on a regular basis. If the Board of Directors were to determine not to pay dividends in the future, shareholders would not receive any further return on an investment in our capital stock in the form of dividends, and may only obtain an economic benefit from the common stock only after an increase in its trading price and only by selling the common stock.
Provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and of Delaware law may prevent or delay an acquisition of the Company, which could decrease the trading price of our common stock.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and Delaware law contain certain anti-takeover provisions that could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire, control of the Company without negotiating with our board of directors. Such provisions could limit the price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for the Company’s securities. Certain of such provisions allow the Company to issue preferred stock with rights senior to those of the common stock, impose various procedural and other requirements which could make it more difficult for Shareholders to effect certain corporate actions and set forth rules regarding how shareholders may present proposals or nominate directors for election at shareholder meetings.
We believe these provisions protect our shareholders from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics by requiring potential acquirers to negotiate with our Board of Directors and by providing our Board of Directors with more time to assess any acquisition proposal. However, these provisions apply even if an acquisition offer may be considered beneficial by some shareholders and could delay or prevent an acquisition that our Board of Directors determines is not in the best interests of our Company and our Shareholders. Accordingly, in the event that our board determines that a potential business combination transaction is not in the best interests of our Company and our Shareholders, but certain shareholders believe that such a transaction would be beneficial to the Company and its Shareholders, such Shareholders may elect to sell their shares in the Company and the trading price of our common stock could decrease.
Your percentage ownership in the Company could be diluted in the future.
Your percentage ownership in A-Mark potentially will be diluted in the future because of additional equity awards that we expect will be granted to our directors, officers and employees. We have established an equity incentive plan that provides for the grant of common stock-based equity awards to our directors, officers and other employees. In addition, we may issue equity in order to raise capital or in connection with future acquisitions and strategic investments, which could dilute your percentage ownership.
Our board and management beneficially own a sizeable percentage of our common stock and therefore have the ability to exert substantial influence as shareholders.
Members of our board and management beneficially own over 45% of our outstanding common stock. Acting together in their capacity as shareholders, the board members and management could exert substantial influence over matters on which a shareholder vote is required, such as the approval of business combination transactions. Also because of the size of their beneficial ownership, the board members and management may be in a position effectively to determine the outcome of the election of directors and the vote on shareholder proposals. The concentration of beneficial ownership in the hands of our board and management may therefore limit the ability of our public shareholders to influence the affairs of the Company.
If the Company's spinoff from SGI is determined to be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our shareholders could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities.
In connection with the spinoff, SGI received the written opinion of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP ("Kramer Levin") to the effect that the spinoff qualified as a tax-free transaction under Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code, and that for U.S. federal income tax purposes (i) no gain or loss was recognized by SGI upon the distribution of our common stock in the spinoff, and (ii) no gain or loss was recognized by, and no amount was included in the income of, holders of SGI common stock upon the receipt of shares of our common stock in the spinoff. The opinion of tax counsel is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or the courts, and there is no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position. In addition, the opinion of Kramer Levin relied on certain representations and covenants delivered by SGI and us. If, notwithstanding the conclusions included in the opinion, it is ultimately determined that the distribution does not qualify as tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes, each SGI shareholder that is subject to U.S. federal income tax and that received shares of our common stock in the distribution could be treated as receiving a taxable distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of such shares. In addition, if the distribution were not to qualify as tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then SGI would recognize gain
in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of our common stock distributed to SGI shareholders on the date of the distribution over SGI’s tax basis in such shares. Also, we could have an indemnification obligation to SGI related to its tax liability.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our headquarters is located in Santa Monica, California , our trading desk operations are conducted from facilities in Santa Monica, California and Vienna, Austria and our logistics fulfillment center is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Below is a table summarizing the properties we occupied during the year ended June 30, 2016.
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| | | | | |
Location | | Square Footage | | Lease Term/Expiration |
Santa Monica, California | | 7,100 |
| | April 2017 |
Las Vegas, Nevada | | 17,600 |
| | April 2020 |
Vienna, Austria | | 2,100 |
| | September 2016 |
In fiscal 2017, the Company plans to relocate its corporate headquarter to El Segundo, California and its trading desk in Vienna, Austria. On July 7, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to lease approximately 9,000 square feet of office space in El Segundo, California for a term that expires on March 31, 2026. On September 9, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to lease 248 square feet of office space in Vienna, Austria for a term of less than one year, with renewable lease-term options.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
SGI effected the spinoff of A-Mark on March 14, 2014. On March 17, 2014, A-Mark’s shares of common stock commenced trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "AMRK."
As of September 21, 2016, there were 600 registered stockholders of record of our common stock and the last reported sale price of our stock as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market was $16.20.
The following table sets forth the range of high and low closing prices for our common stock for each full quarterly period during fiscal 2016 and 2015, as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market. These quotations below reflect inter-dealer closing prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2016 | | 2015 |
Quarter | High | | Low | | High | | Low |
First | $ | 11.77 |
| | $ | 10.28 |
| | $ | 12.04 |
| | $ | 11.20 |
|
Second | $ | 18.91 |
| | $ | 11.45 |
| | $ | 11.15 |
| | $ | 9.44 |
|
Third | $ | 21.73 |
| | $ | 15.79 |
| | $ | 10.74 |
| | $ | 9.61 |
|
Fourth | $ | 21.99 |
| | $ | 14.14 |
| | $ | 10.96 |
| | $ | 10.08 |
|
| | | | | | | |
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
None.
Dividend Policy
As of June 30, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a dividend policy which calls for the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per common share. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be dependent upon financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, restrictive financial covenants, and such other factors as our Board of Directors deems relevant. A-Mark’s credit facility has certain restrictive financial covenants that require A-Mark to maintain a minimum tangible net worth (as defined) of $35.0 million.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table provides information as of June 30, 2016, with respect to the shares of our common stock that may be issued under existing equity compensation plans.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Plan category | | (a) Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | | | (b) Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | | | (c) Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) | |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | | 581,527 |
| (1) | | $ | 17.55 |
| | | 273,600 |
| (2) |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | | — |
| | | — |
| | | — |
| |
Total | | 581,527 |
| | | $ | 17.55 |
| | | 273,600 |
| |
| | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | |
_________________________________ |
(1) | | Consists of stock options granted by A-Mark to replace outstanding SGI stock optionsin connection with the spinoff and options issued by A-Mark subsequent to the spinoff. The former SGI equity awards had been granted by SGI under its 2012 Stock Award and Incentive Plan ("2012 Plan") and its 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended ("1997 Plan"). The terms of the 2012 Plan and 1997 Plan governing equity awards generally apply to the replacement awards granted by A-Mark, but A-Mark was not and is not authorized to grant equity awards under those Plans other than the equity awards that directly replaced the former SGI equity awards. | |
| | | |
(2) | | These shares are available for future issuance under A-Mark's 2014 Stock Award and Incentive Plan ("2014 Plan"). All 2014 Plan shares are available for awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, restricted stock and other "full-value" awards. | |
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Not applicable for a smaller reporting company.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Cautionary Statement Pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Form 10-K") contains statements that are considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give the Company's current expectations and forecasts of future events. All statements other than statements of current or historical fact contained in this Annual Report, including statements regarding the Company's future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the Company's current plans, and the Company's actual future activities and results of operations may be materially different from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. Any or all of the forward-looking statements in this Annual Report may turn out to be inaccurate. The Company has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that it believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. The forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events occurring after the date hereof. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements
attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this Form 10-K.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes contained elsewhere in this Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those factors discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report, particularly in “Risk Factors.” Introduction
Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is provided as a supplement to the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes to help provide an understanding of our results of operations and financial condition. Our discussion is organized as follows:
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• | Executive overview. This section provides a general description of our business, as well as significant transactions and events that we believe are important in understanding the results of operations. |
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• | Results of operations. This section provides an analysis of our results of operations presented in the accompanying consolidated statements of income by comparing the results for the respective years. Included in our analysis is a discussion of five performance metrics: (i) ounces of gold sold, (ii) ounces of silver sold, (iii) trading ticket volume, (iv) inventory turnover ratio and (v) number of secured loans at period-end. |
| |
• | Financial condition and liquidity and capital resources. This section provides an analysis of our cash flows, as well as a discussion of our outstanding debt as of June 30, 2016. Included in the discussion of outstanding debt is a discussion of the amount of financial capacity available to fund our future commitments, as well as a discussion of other financing arrangements. |
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• | Critical accounting estimates. This section discusses those accounting policies that both are considered important to our financial condition and results, and require significant judgment and estimates on the part of management in their application. In addition, all of our policies, including critical accounting policies, are summarized in Note 2 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements. |
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• | Recent accounting pronouncements. This section discusses new accounting pronouncements, dates of implementation and impact on our accompanying consolidated financial statements. |
Executive Overview
Our Business
A-Mark is a full-service precious metals trading company, and an official distributor for many government mints throughout the world. We offer gold, silver, platinum and palladium in the form of bars, plates, powder, wafers, grain, ingots and coins. Our Industrial unit services manufacturers and fabricators of products utilizing or incorporating precious metals. Our Coin & Bar unit deals in over 200 coin and bar products in a variety of weights, shapes and sizes for distribution to dealers and other qualified purchasers. We have trading centers in Santa Monica, California and Vienna, Austria for buying and selling precious metals. In addition to wholesale trading activity, A-Mark offers its customers a variety of services, including financing, storage, consignment, logistics and various customized financial programs. As a U.S. Mint-authorized purchaser of gold, silver and platinum coins, A-Mark purchases product directly from the U.S. Mint and other sovereign mints for sale to its customers.
Through our subsidiary Collateral Finance Corporation, referred to as CFC, a licensed California Finance Lender, we offer loans collateralized by numismatic and semi-numismatic coins and bullion to coin and precious metal dealers, investors and collectors. Through our Transcontinental Depository Services subsidiary, referred to as TDS, we offer a variety of managed storage options for precious metals products to financial institutions, dealers, investors and collectors around the world. TDS started doing business in 2012. Our financing business generates interest income that is not classified as revenues. If interest income generated by the financing business were classified as revenues, it would represent less than 1% of our total revenues for each of the periods presented. Our storage business generates less than 1% of total revenues for each of the periods presented.
The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, A-M Global Logistics, LLC, referred to as Logistics, commenced operations as a logistics fulfillment center in July 2015. Logistics, based in based in Las Vegas, Nevada. provides our customers an array of complementary services, including storage, shipping, handling, receiving, processing, and inventorying of precious metals and custom coins on a secure basis. Our logistics business generates less than 1% of the total revenues for each of the periods presented.
Our Strategy
The Company has grown from a small numismatics firm in 1965 to a significant participant in the bullion and coin markets, with approximately $6.7 billion and $6.1 billion in revenues for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015., respectively Our strategy continues to focus on growth, including the volume of our business, our geographic presence, particularly in Europe, and the scope of complementary products and services that we offer to our customers. We intend to promote our growth by leveraging off the strengths of our existing integrated operations: the depth of our customer relations; our access to market makers, suppliers and government mints and other mints; our trading offices in the U.S. and Europe, which are open 17 hours a day 5 days a week; our expansive precious metals dealer network; our depository relationships around the world; our knowledge of secured lending; our logistics capabilities; our trading expertise; and the quality and experience of our management team.
Our Customers
Our customers include financial institutions, bullion retailers, industrial manufacturers and fabricators, sovereign mints, refiners, coin and metal dealers, investors and collectors. The Company makes a two way market, which results in many customers also operating as our suppliers. This diverse base of customers purchases a variety of products from the Company in a multitude of grades, primarily in the form of coins and bars.
Factors Affecting Revenues, Gross Profits, Interest Income and Interest Expense
Revenues. The Company enters into transactions to sell and deliver gold, silver, platinum and palladium to coin fabricators, such as mints, industrial manufacturers and fabricators, including electronics, and component parts companies, and refiners in investment or industrial grade, in a variety shapes and sizes.
The Company also sells precious metals on forward contracts at a fixed price based on current prevailing precious metal spot prices with a certain delivery date in the future (up to six months from date of the forward contract.) Typically, these forward contracts are net settled against our other positions or are settled in cash, whereby no physical product is delivered. Sales on forward contracts can range, approximately, between 20% to 35% of our total revenues in any given period. We enter into these forward contacts as part of our hedging strategy to mitigate our price risk of holding inventory; they are not entered into for speculative purposes.
The Company also engages in lending transactions of precious metal products and other customized financial transactions related to precious metal products with or on behalf of our customers and other counterparties, whereby the Company earns a fee based on the underlying value of the precious metal.
In addition, the Company earns revenue by providing storage solutions for precious metals and numismatic coins for financial institutions, dealers, investors and collectors worldwide and by providing storage and order-fulfillment services to our retail customers. These revenue streams are complementary to our trading activity, and represents less than 1% of our revenues.
The Company operates in a high volume/low margin industry. Revenues are impacted by three primary factors: product volume, market prices and market volatility. A material change in any one or more of these factors may result in a significant change in the Company’s revenues. A significant increase or decrease in revenues can occur simply based on changes in the underlying commodity prices and may not be reflective of an increase or decrease in the volume of products sold.
Gross Profits. Gross profit is the difference between our revenues and the cost of our products. Since we quote prices based on the current commodity market prices for precious metals, we enter into a combination of forward and futures contracts to effect a hedge position equal to the underlying precious metal commodity value, which substantially represents inventory subject to price risk. We enter into these derivative transactions solely for the purpose of hedging our inventory, and not for speculative purposes. Our gross profit includes the gains and losses resulting from these derivative instruments. However, the gains and losses on the derivative instruments are substantially offset by the gains and losses on the corresponding changes in the market value of our precious metals inventory. As a result, our results of operations generally are not materially impacted solely by changes in commodity prices.
Volatility also affects our gross profits. Greater volatility typically causes the trading spreads to widen resulting in an increase in the gross profit. Product supply constraints during extended periods of higher volatility has historically resulted in a heightening of wider trading spreads resulting in further improvement in the gross profit.
Recently, the Company has also been able to increase incremental margins, with corresponding positive contributions to gross profits, through certain distribution contracts and strategic partnerships. Under these arrangements, the Company sells unique bullion products to distributors for marketing to the retail public, under its standard trading terms with no right of return. The related distribution contracts provide the Company with higher margins than its ordinary trading activities.
Interest Income. The Company enters into secured loans and secured financing structures with its customers under which it charges interest income. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, CFC, the Company also enters into loans secured by precious
metals and numismatic material owned by the borrowers and held by the Company for the term of the loan. The Company offers a number of secured financing options to its customers to finance their precious metals purchases including consignments and other structured inventory finance products.
Interest Expense. The Company incurs interest expense as a result of usage under its lines of credit. Also, the Company incurs interest expense as a result of its product financing agreements for the transfer and subsequent re-acquisition of gold and silver at a fixed price to a third-party finance company, and the Company incurs interest expense when we borrow precious metals from our suppliers under short-term arrangements, which bear interest at a designated rate.
Performance Metrics
In addition to financial statement indicators, our management utilizes certain metrics to assess the performance of our business.
We look at the number of ounces of gold and silver sold and delivered to our customers (excluding ounces recorded on forward contracts). These numbers reflect the volume of the business that we are doing without regard to changes in commodity pricing, which figure into revenues and can mask actual business trends.
Another measure of our business volume, unaffected by changes in commodity pricing, is what we refer to as trading ticket volume, which is the total number orders processed by our trading desks in Santa Monica and Vienna. In periods of higher volatility, there is generally increased trading in the commodity markets, and increased demand for our products, which translates into higher business volume.
Inventory turnover is another performance measure on which we are focused. We define inventory turnover as the cost of sales during the relevant period divided by the average inventory during the period. Inventory turnover is a measure of how quickly inventory has moved during the period. A higher inventory turnover ratio, which we typically experience during periods of higher volatility when trading is more robust, reflects a more efficient use of our capital.
Finally, as a measure of the size of our lending business, we look at the number of secured loans at the end of the fiscal quarter.
Fiscal Year
Our fiscal year end is June 30 each year. Unless otherwise stated, references to years in this report relate to fiscal years rather than to calendar years.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Overview of Results of Operations for the Years Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Results of Operations
The operating results of our business for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
in thousands, except per share data and performance metrics | | |
Years Ended June 30, | 2016 | | 2015 | | $ | | % |
| $ | | % of revenue | | $ | | % of revenue | | Increase/(decrease) | | Increase/(decrease) |
Revenues | $ | 6,784,039 |
| | 100.000 | % | | $ | 6,070,234 |
| | 100.000 | % | | $ | 713,805 |
| | 11.8 | % |
Gross profit | 34,521 |
| | 0.509 | % | | 24,498 |
| | 0.404 | % | | $ | 10,023 |
| | 40.9 | % |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | (22,233 | ) | | (0.328 | )% | | (17,131 | ) | | (0.282 | )% | | $ | 5,102 |
| | 29.8 | % |
Interest income | 8,795 |
| | 0.130 | % | | 6,073 |
| | 0.100 | % | | $ | 2,722 |
| | 44.8 | % |
Interest expense | (6,319 | ) | | (0.093 | )% | | (4,311 | ) | | (0.071 | )% | | $ | 2,008 |
| | 46.6 | % |
Other income | 701 |
| | 0.010 | % | | — |
| | — | % | | $ | 701 |
| | — | % |
Unrealized gains on foreign exchange | 99 |
| | 0.001 | % | | 19 |
| | — | % | | $ | 80 |
| | NM |
|
Net income before provision for income taxes | 15,564 |
| | 0.229 | % | | 9,148 |
| | 0.151 | % | | $ | 6,416 |
| | 70.1 | % |
Provision for income taxes | (6,293 | ) | | (0.093 | )% | | (2,097 | ) | | (0.035 | )% | | $ | 4,196 |
| | 200.1 | % |
Net income | $ | 9,271 |
| | 0.137 | % | | $ | 7,051 |
| | 0.116 | % | | $ | 2,220 |
| | 31.5 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Per Share Data: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | $ | 1.33 |
| | | | $ | 1.01 |
| | | | $ | 0.32 |
| | 31.7 | % |
Diluted | $ | 1.30 |
| | | | $ | 1.00 |
| | | | $ | 0.30 |
| | 30.0 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Performance Metrics: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gold ounces sold(1) | 2,968,000 |
| | | | 2,053,000 |
| | | | 915,000 |
| | 44.6 | % |
Silver ounces sold(2) | 126,349,000 |
| | | | 88,479,000 |
| | | | 37,870,000 |
| | 42.8 | % |
Trading ticket volume(3) | 88,486 |
| | | | 85,094 |
| | | | 3,392 |
| | 4.0 | % |
Inventory turnover ratio(4) | 30.9 |
| | | | 32.9 |
| | | | (2.0 | ) | | (6.1 | )% |
Number of secured loans at period end(5) | 1,173 |
| | | | 346 |
| | | | 827 |
| | 239.0 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | | |
_________________________________ |
| | | |
NM | | Not meaningful. | |
| | | |
(1) | | Gold ounces sold represents the ounces of gold product sold and delivered to the customer during the twelve-month period, excluding ounces of gold recorded on forward contracts. | |
| | | |
(2) | | Silver ounces sold represents the ounces of silver product sold and delivered to the customer during the twelve-month period, excluding ounces of silver recorded on forward contracts. | |
| | | |
(3) | | Trading ticket volume represents the total number of product orders processed by our trading desks in Santa Monica and Vienna during the twelve-month period. | |
| | | |
(4) | | Inventory turnover ratio is the cost of sales divided by average inventory, measured at recorded fair value. | |
| | | |
(5) | | Number of outstanding secured loans to customers at the end of the period. | |
Revenues
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Years Ended June 30, | 2016 | | 2015 | | $ | | % |
in thousands, except performance metrics | $ | | % of revenue | | $ | | % of revenue | | Increase/(decrease) | | Increase/(decrease) |
Revenues | $ | 6,784,039 |
| | 100.000 | % | | $ | 6,070,234 |
| | 100.000 | % | | $ | 713,805 |
| | 11.8 | % |
Performance Metrics | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gold ounces sold | 2,968,000 |
| | | | 2,053,000 |
| | | | 915,000 |
| | 44.6 | % |
Silver ounces sold | 126,349,000 |
| | | | 88,479,000 |
| | | | 37,870,000 |
| | 42.8 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues for the year ended June 30, 2016 increased $713.8 million, or 11.8%, to $6.784 billion from $6.070 billion in 2015. Our revenues increased primarily due to an increase in the total amount of gold ounces and silver ounces sold during the year ended June 30, 2016 as compared to 2015.
Gold ounces sold for the year ended June 30, 2016 increased 915,000 ounces, or 44.6%, to 2,968,000 ounces from 2,053,000 ounces in 2015. Silver ounces sold for the year ended June 30, 2016 increased 37,870,000 ounces, or 42.8%, to 126,349,000 ounces from 88,479,000 ounces in 2015. On average, the prices for gold declined 4.7% and prices for silver declined 10.8% during the year ended June 30, 2016 as compared to 2015.
Key market factors contributing to the increase in revenue were the volatility and decrease in the commodity prices in 2016. These market factors were most evident during our first fiscal quarter of 2016, and lead our customers to increase their orders to take advantage of the lower prices while market supplies lasted, resulting in a limited market supply of bullion products. The increase in volatility was due to macro-economic factors which created an increase in demand at lower commodity prices. When the average spot prices began to increase during the third quarter of 2016 from a two-year low in average spot prices, demand for our bullion products began to reflect more typical levels of sales activity as market supply levels normalized.
Gross Profit
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Years Ended June 30, | 2016 | | 2015 | | $ | | % |
in thousands | $ | | % of revenue | | $ | | % of revenue | | Increase/(decrease) | | Increase/(decrease) |
Gross profit | $ | 34,521 |
| | 0.509 | % | | $ | 24,498 |
| | 0.404 | % | | $ | 10,023 |
| | 40.9 | % |
Performance Metrics | | | | | | | | | | | |
Trading-ticket volume | 88,486 |
| | | | 85,094 |
| | | | 3,392 |
| | 4.0 | % |
Inventory turnover ratio | 30.9 |
| | | | 32.9 |
| | | | (2.0 | ) | | (6.1 | )% |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross profit for the year ended June 30, 2016 increased by $10.0 million, or 40.9%, to $34.5 million from $24.5 million in 2015. The Company’s profit margin percentage increased by 26.0% to 0.509% from 0.404% in 2015. The Company’s profit margin increase was primarily due to higher premium spreads on the Company’s primary products, in particular during the quarter ended September 30, 2015. The Company experienced higher volatility and greater supply constraints compared to 2015, which resulted in a widening of trading spreads especially during the first fiscal quarter of 2016.
The trading-ticket volume for the year ended June 30, 2016 increased by 3,392 tickets, or 4.0%, to 88,486 tickets from 85,094 tickets in 2015. The increase in our trading-ticket volume was primarily the result of unusually strong market conditions and demand in the three months ended September 30, 2015.
Our inventory turnover rate for the year ended June 30, 2016 decreased by 6.1%, to 30.9 from 32.9 in 2015. The decrease in our inventory turnover rate was primarily due to certain product finance arrangements (arrangements where the Company carries inventory for long periods on behalf of the customer for a fee), and the longer carry periods associated with our higher margin custom products that resulted in the Company carrying higher inventory levels at lower turnover rates as compared to 2015.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Years Ended June 30, | 2016 | | 2015 | | $ | | % |
in thousands | $ | | % of revenue | | $ | | % of revenue | | Increase/(decrease) | | Increase/(decrease) |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | (22,233 | ) | | (0.328 | )% | | $ | (17,131 | ) | | (0.282 | )% | | $ | 5,102 |
| | 29.8 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended June 30, 2016 increased $5.1 million, or 29.8%, to $22.2 million from $17.1 million in 2015. The increase is primarily due to performance-based compensation accruals, the operational cost of a logistics facility established to provide fulfillment services to our customers, costs related to the development of the Company's informational technology infrastructure and increases in salaries. In fiscal 2016, the Company strengthened its management team by hiring a Chief Financial Officer and other experienced management professionals.
In fiscal 2015, the Company expanded its logistics capabilities by relocating to a new facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. In fiscal 2016, the Company began to receive and ship inventory from this facility. As a result of this relocation, the Company expects overall storage costs will be reduced and expanded capacity will drive growth of the Company's logistic operations and related support services.
Interest Income
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Years Ended June 30, | 2016 | | 2015 | | $ | | % |
in thousands, except performance metrics | $ | | % of revenue | | $ | | % of revenue | | Increase/(decrease) | | Increase/(decrease) |
Interest income | $ | 8,795 |
| | 0.130 | % | | $ | 6,073 |
| | 0.100 | % | | $ | 2,722 |
| | 44.8 | % |
Performance Metrics | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of secured loans at quarter-end | 1,173 |
| | | | 346 |
| | | | 827 |
| | 239.0 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income for the year ended June 30, 2016 increased $2.7 million, or 44.8%, to $8.8 million from $6.1 million in 2015. Interest income increased primarily due to an increase in the size of the CFC loan portfolio as well as improvement in certain finance products. The improvement in the value of loans outstanding, which resulted in higher interest income, was due primarily to an increase in the number of secured loans. The number of secured loans outstanding increased by 239.0% to 1,173 from 346 in 2015, primarily due to the acquisition of bullion-based loan portfolios. In addition, finance fees earned related to certain product finance arrangements increased by 99.7% in comparison to the same year-ago period.
Interest Expense
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Years Ended June 30, | 2016 | | 2015 | | $ | | % |
in thousands | $ | | % of revenue | | $ | | % of revenue | | Increase/(decrease) | | Increase/(decrease) |
Interest expense | $ | (6,319 | ) | | (0.093 | )% | | $ | (4,311 | ) | | (0.071 | )% | | $ | 2,008 |
| | 46.6 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense for the year ended June 30, 2016 increased $2.0 million, or 46.6% to $6.3 million from $4.3 million in 2015. The increase was related primarily to greater usage of our lines of credit, resulting from continued growth in the Company’s finance products, as well as holding higher average inventory levels, and higher LIBOR interest rates that went in to effect subsequent to the Federal Reserve rate increase on December 16, 2015.
In fiscal 2016, the Company established a new credit facility with a syndicate of banks, which replaced the Company's previous credit facility with a group of financial institutions under an inter-creditor agreement, that provides the Company with access up to $275.0 million, featuring a $225.0 million base with a $50.0 million accordion option. We believe the interest rates charged on borrowings under our credit facility (LIBOR plus a 2.5% margin) are consistent with current market interest rates for first lien demand loans secured by inventory and receivables.
Provision for Income Taxes
Our effective rate could be adversely affected by the relative proportions of revenue and income before taxes in the various domestic and international jurisdictions in which the Company operates. The Company is also subject to changing tax laws, regulations and interpretations in multiple jurisdictions in which we operate. The Company's effective rate can also be influenced by the tax effects of purchase accounting for acquisitions and non-recurring charges, which may cause fluctuations between reporting periods.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Years Ended June 30, | 2016 | | 2015 | | $ | | % |
in thousands | $ | | % of revenue | | $ | | % of revenue | | Increase/(decrease) | | Increase/(decrease) |
Provision for income taxes | $ | (6,293 | ) | | (0.093 | )% | | $ | (2,097 | ) | | (0.035 | )% | | $ | 4,196 |
| | 200.1 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Our provision for income taxes was $6.3 million and $2.1 million for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Our effective tax rate was approximately 40.4% and 22.9% for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Our effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate due to permanent adjustments for nondeductible items. The change in the effective tax rate was primarily due to various non-recurring state tax provision benefits in 2015.
LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
Primary Sources and Uses of Cash
Overview
Liquidity is defined as our ability to generate sufficient amounts of cash to meet all of our cash needs. Liquidity is of critical importance to us and imperative to maintain our operations on a daily basis.
A substantial portion of our assets are liquid. As of June 30, 2016, approximately 94% of our assets consisted of cash, customer receivables, and precious metals inventory, measured at fair value. Cash generated from the sales of our precious metals products is our primary source of operating liquidity.
Typically, the Company acquires its inventory by: (1) purchasing inventory from our suppliers by utilizing our own capital and lines of credit; (2) borrowing precious metals from our suppliers under short-term arrangements which bear interest at a designated rate, and (3) repurchasing inventory at an agreed-upon price based on the spot price on the specified repurchase date.
In addition to selling inventory, the Company generates cash from earned interest income. Through CFC, the Company enters into secured loans and secured financing structures with its customers under which it charges interest income. The Company offers a number of secured financing options to its customers to finance their precious metals purchases including consignments and other structured inventory finance products. The loans are secured by precious metals and numismatic material owned by the borrowers and held by the Company as security for the term of the loan. Furthermore, our customers may enter into purchase agreements whereby the customer agrees to purchase our inventory at the prevailing spot price for delivery of the product at a specific point in time in the future; interest income is earned from contract date until the material is delivered and paid for in full.
We continually review our overall credit and capital needs to ensure that our capital base, both stockholders’ equity and available credit facilities, can appropriately support our anticipated financing needs. The Company also continually monitors its current and forecasted cash requirements, and draw upon and pays down its lines of credit so as to minimize interest expense.
Lines of Credit
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
in thousands | | | | | |
| | June 30, 2016 | | June 30, 2015 | | June 30, 2016 Compared to June 30, 2015 | |
Lines of credit | | $ | 212,000 |
| | $ | 147,000 |
| | $ | 65,000 |
| |
A-Mark has a borrowing facility ("Trading Credit Facility') with a syndicate of banks, Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A. ("Rabobank") acting as lead lender and administrative agent for the syndicate. The Trading Credit Facility, which replaced the Company's previous borrowing facility with a group of financial institutions under an inter-creditor agreement, provides the Company with access up to $275.0 million, featuring a $225.0 million base with a $50.0 million accordion option. The Trading Credit Facility has a one-year maturity. The Company believes that the Trading Credit Facility provides adequate means to capital for its operations.
The Company routinely uses the Trading Credit Facility to purchase precious metals from suppliers and for operating cash flow purposes. Amounts under the Trading Credit Facility bear interest based on London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a 2.50% margin for revolving credit line loans and a 4.50% margin for bridge loans (that is, for loans that exceed the available revolving credit line). The one-month LIBOR rate was approximately 0.47% and 0.19% as of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, respectively. Borrowings are due on demand and totaled $212.0 million and $147.0 million at June 30, 2016 and at June 30, 2015, respectively. The amounts available under the respective borrowing facilities are determined at the end of each week following a specified borrowing base formula. The Company is able to access additional credit as needed to finance operations, subject to the overall limits of the borrowing facilities and lender approval of the revised borrowing base calculation. Based on the latest approved borrowing bases in effect, the amounts available under the Trading Credit Facility after taking into account current
borrowings, totaled $17.8 million and $20.9 million as determined on the Friday before June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, respectively.
Liability on Borrowed Metals
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
in thousands | | | | | |
| | June 30, 2016 | | June 30, 2015 | | June 30, 2016 Compared to June 30, 2015 | |
Liability on borrowed metals | | $ | 4,352 |
| | $ | 9,500 |
| | $ | (5,148 | ) | |
We borrow precious metals from our suppliers under short-term arrangements which bear interest at a designated rate. Amounts under these arrangements are due at maturity and require repayment either in the form of precious metals or cash. Our inventories included borrowed metals with market values totaling $4.4 million and $9.5 million at June 30, 2016 and at June 30, 2015, respectively.
Product Financing Arrangement
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
in thousands | | | | | |
| | June 30, 2016 | | June 30, 2015 | | June 30, 2016 Compared to June 30, 2015 | |
Product financing agreement | | $ | 59,358 |
| | $ | 39,425 |
| | $ | 19,933 |
| |
The Company has agreements with financial institutions (third parties) that allows the Company to transfer its gold and silver inventory at a fixed price to this third party, which provides alternative sources of liquidity. Such agreements (also referred to as reverse-repurchase agreements) allow the Company to repurchase this inventory at an agreed-upon price based on the spot price on the repurchase date. The third parties charge monthly interest as a percentage of the market value of the outstanding obligation; such monthly charges are classified in interest expense. These transactions do not qualify as sales and therefore have been accounted for as financing arrangements and reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as product financing arrangements. The obligation is stated at the amount required to repurchase the outstanding inventory. Both the product financing arrangement and the underlying inventory (which is entirely restricted) are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value included as a component of cost of sales. Such obligation totaled $59.4 million and $39.4 million as of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, respectively.
Secured Loans |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
in thousands | | | | |
| | June 30, 2016 | | June 30, 2015 | | June 30, 2016 Compared to June 30, 2015 |
Secured loans | | $ | 70,504 |
| | $ | 49,316 |
| | $ | 21,188 |
|
The Company is a California license finance lender that makes and acquires commercial loans secured by numismatic and semi-numismatic coins and bullion that affords our customers a convenient means of financing their inventory or collections. Predominantly, most of the Company's secured loans are short-term in nature and the renewal of these instruments is at the discretion of the Company and, as such, provides us with some flexibility in regards to our capital deployment strategies.
Dividends |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
in thousands | | | | |
| | June 30, 2016 | | June 30, 2015 | | June 30, 2016 Compared to June 30, 2015 |
Dividends, declared | | $ | 1,675 |
| | $ | 698 |
| | $ | 977 |
|
In fiscal 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company initiated a cash dividend policy that calls for the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per common share. In fiscal 2016, the Board of Directors modified the policy by increasing the quarterly cash dividend to $0.07 per common share.
On September 7, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per common share to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 19, 2016, which is scheduled to be paid on or about October 7, 2016.
Cash Flows
The majority of the Company’s trading activities involve two day value trades under which payment is made in advance of delivery or product is received in advance of payment. The high volume, rapid rate of inventory turn, and high average value per trade can cause material changes in the sources of cash used in or provided by operating activities on a daily basis. The Company manages these variances through its liquidity forecasts and counterparty limits maintaining a liquidity reserve to meet the Company’s cash needs. The Company uses various short-term financial instruments to manage the rapid cycle of our trading activities from customer purchase order to cash collections and product delivery, which can cause material changes in the amount of cash used in or provided by financing activities on a daily basis.
The following summarizes components of our consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
in thousands | | | | | |
Years Ended | | June 30, 2016 | | June 30, 2015 | | June 30, 2016 Compared to June 30, 2015 | |
Net cash used in operating activities | | $ | (56,156 | ) | | $ | (4,691 | ) | | (51,465 | ) | |
Net cash used in investing activities | | $ | (30,219 | ) | | $ | (13,392 | ) | | (16,827 | ) | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | $ | 82,590 |
| | $ | 25,817 |
| | 56,773 |
| |
Our principal capital requirements have been to fund (i) working capital and (ii) capital expenditures. Our working capital requirements fluctuate with market conditions, the availability of precious metals and the volatility of precious metals commodity pricing.
Net cash used in operating activities
Operating activities used $56.2 million and used $4.7 million in cash for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, representing a $51.5 million increase in the use of cash compared to the year ended June 30, 2015. This period over period increase in the of use of funds in operating activities was primarily due to changes in the balances of inventory, receivables, accounts payable, liabilities on borrowed metals and derivative assets, offset by changes in the balances of derivative liabilities, income tax receivables, and deferred income taxes.
Net cash used in investing activities
Investing activities used $30.2 million and used $13.4 million in cash for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, representing a $16.8 million increase in the use of cash compared to the year ended June 30, 2015. This period over period increase is the result of the change in balance of secured loans of $14.4 million that was primarily due to additional acquisitions of loan portfolios, and an increase in investments of $2.7 million made in the current comparable period.
Net cash provided by financing activities
Financing activities provided $82.6 million and provided $25.8 million in cash for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, representing an increase of $56.8 million in the in funds provided by financing activities compared to year ended June 30, 2015. This period over period increase of funds provided by financing activities was primarily due to changes in the balance of product financing arrangement of $5.1 million and from increases in borrowings drawn from the Trading Credit Facility of $53.2 million.
CAPITAL RESOURCES
We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, availability under the Trading Credit Facility and product financing arrangements (i.e., reverse-repurchase agreements), and cash we anticipate to generate from operating activities will provide us with sufficient liquidity to satisfy our working capital needs, capital expenditures, investment requirements and commitments through at least the next twelve months.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COMMITMENTS
Counterparty Risk
We manage our counterparty risk by setting credit and position risk limits with our trading counterparties. These limits include gross position limits for counterparties engaged in sales and purchase transactions and inventory consignment transactions with us. They also include collateral limits for different types of sale and purchase transactions that counterparties may engage in from time to time.
Commodities Risk and Derivatives
We use a variety of strategies to manage our risk including fluctuations in commodity prices for precious metals. See Note 11 in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Our inventories consist of, and our trading activities involve, precious metals and precious metal products, whose prices are linked to the corresponding precious metal commodity prices. Inventories purchased or borrowed by us are subject to price changes. Inventories borrowed are considered natural hedges, since changes in value of the metal held are offset by the obligation to return the metal to the supplier. Open sale and purchase commitments in our trading activities are subject to changes in value between the date the purchase or sale price is fixed (the trade date) and the date the metal is received or delivered (the settlement date). We seek to minimize the effect of price changes of the underlying commodity through the use of forward and futures contracts. Our open sale and purchase commitments generally settle within 2 business days, and for those commitments that do not have stated settlement dates, we have the right to settle the positions upon demand.
Our policy is to substantially hedge our underlying precious metal commodity inventory position. We regularly enter into metals commodity forward and futures contracts with major financial institutions to hedge price changes that would cause changes in the value of our physical metals positions and purchase commitments and sale commitments. We have access to all of the precious metals markets, allowing us to place hedges. However, we also maintain relationships with major market makers in every major precious metals dealing center, which allows us to enter into contracts with market makers. Futures and forwards contracts open at June 30, 2016 are scheduled to settle within 30 days.
The Company enters into these derivative transactions solely for the purpose of hedging our inventory holding risk, and not for speculative market purposes. Due to the nature of our hedging strategy, we are not using hedge accounting as defined under, Derivatives and Hedging Topic 815 of the Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC".) Gains or losses resulting from our futures and forward contracts are reported as cost of sales with the related amounts due from or to counterparties reflected as a derivative asset or liability (see Note 11 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.) Gains or losses resulting from the termination of hedge contracts are reported as cost of sales. The Company’s gains (losses) on derivative instruments are substantially offset by the changes in fair market value underlying precious metals inventory and open sale and purchase commitments, which is also recorded in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income. Net losses on derivative instruments in the consolidated statements of income totaled $5.9 million and $52.8 million for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively (see Note 11.) Commitments and Contingencies
Refer to Note 15 for information relating to minimum rental payments under operating and capital leases, consulting and employment contracts, and other commitments.
In a hedging relationship, the change in the value of the derivative financial instrument is offset to a great extent by the change in the value of the underlying hedged item. The following table summarizes the results of our hedging activities as follows at June 30, 2016 and at June 30, 2015, showing the precious metal commodity inventory position, net of open sale and purchase commitments, which is subject to price risk:
|
| | | | | | | | |
| | June 30, 2016 | | June 30, 2015 |
Inventory | | $ | 245,057 |
| | $ | 191,501 |
|
Less unhedgable inventory: | | | | |
Commemorative coin inventory, held at lower of cost or market | | (16 | ) | | (1,518 | ) |
Premium on metals position | | (4,627 | ) | | (3,255 | ) |
Inventory value not hedged | | (4,643 | ) | | (4,773 | ) |
| | | | |
Subtotal | | 240,414 |
| | 186,728 |
|
Commitments at market: | | |
| | |
|
Open inventory purchase commitments | | 550,810 |
| | 444,023 |
|
Open inventory sales commitments | | (237,325 | ) | | (249,081 | ) |
Margin sale commitments | | (12,439 | ) | | (12,430 | ) |
In-transit inventory no longer subject to market risk | | (7,363 | ) | | (13,807 | ) |
Unhedgable premiums on open commitment positions | | 400 |
| | 528 |
|
Inventory borrowed from suppliers | | (4,352 | ) | | (9,500 | ) |
Product financing arrangements | | (59,358 | ) | | (39,425 | ) |
Advances on industrial metals | | 4,521 |
| | 3,340 |
|
Inventory subject to price risk | | 475,308 |
| | 310,376 |
|
| | | | |
Inventory subject to derivative financial instruments: | | | | |
Precious metals forward contracts at market values | | 188,530 |
| | 202,323 |
|
Precious metals futures contracts at market values | | 286,449 |
| | 107,993 |
|
Total market value of derivative financial instruments | | 474,979 |
| | 310,316 |
|
| | | | |
Net inventory subject to commodity price risk | | $ | 329 |
| | $ | 60 |
|
We are exposed to the risk of default of the counter parties to our derivative contracts. Significant judgment is applied by us when evaluating the fair value implications. We regularly review the creditworthiness of our major counterparties and monitor our exposure to concentrations. At June 30, 2016, we believe our risk of counterparty default is mitigated based on our evaluation of the creditworthiness of our major counterparties , the strong financial condition of our counterparties, and the short-term duration of these arrangements.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
As of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, we had the following outstanding sale and purchase commitments and open forward and future contracts, which are normal and recurring, in nature:
|
| | | | | | | | |
in thousands | | June 30, 2016 | | June 30, 2015 |
Purchase commitments | | $ | 550,810 |
| | $ | 444,023 |
|
Sales commitments | | $ | (237,325 | ) | | $ | (249,081 | ) |
Margin sale commitments | | $ | (12,439 | ) | | $ | (12,430 | ) |
Open forward contracts | | $ | 188,530 |
| | $ | 202,323 |
|
Open futures contracts | | $ | 286,449 |
| | $ | 107,993 |
|
Foreign exchange forward contracts | | $ | 1,992 |
| | $ | 6,242 |
|
The notional amounts of the commodity forward and futures contracts and the open sales and purchase orders, as shown in the table above, are not reflected at the notional amounts in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company records commodity forward and futures contracts at the fair value, which is the difference between the market price of the underlying metal or contract measured on the reporting date and at fair value of trade amount measured on the date the contract was transacted. The fair value of the open derivative contracts are shown as a component of receivables or payables in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
The Company enters into the derivative forward and future transactions solely for the purpose of hedging its inventory holding risk, and not for speculative market purposes. The Company’s gains (losses) on derivative instruments are substantially offset by the changes in fair market value underlying precious metals inventory position, including our open sale and purchase commitments . The Company records the derivatives at the trade date, and the corresponding unrealized gains or losses are shown as a component of cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income. We adjust the carrying value of the derivatives to fair value on a daily basis until the transactions are physically settled (see Note 11.) CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). In connection with the preparation of our financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions about future events and apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and related disclosures. We base our assumptions, estimates and judgments on historical experience, current trends and other factors that we believe to be relevant at the time our consolidated financial statements are prepared. On a regular basis, we review our accounting policies, assumptions, estimates and judgments to ensure that our consolidated financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with U.S. GAAP. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could materially differ from our estimates.
Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 1 and Note 2, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, respectively, of the Notes to the accompanying consolidated financial statements that are included in Item 8, Financial Statements, of this Annual Report. We believe that the following accounting policies are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results, and they require our most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, resulting from the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. We have reviewed these critical accounting estimates and related disclosures with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. Revenue Recognition
Revenues are recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed or determinable, no obligations remain and collection is probable. We record sales of precious metals upon the transfer of title, which occurs upon receipt by customer. We record revenues from our metal assaying and melting services after the related services are completed and the effects of forward sales contracts are reflected in revenue at the date the related precious metals are delivered or the contracts expire.
We account for our metals and sales contracts using settlement date accounting. Pursuant to such accounting, we recognize the sales or purchases of the metals at the settlement date. During the period between trade and settlement dates, we have essentially entered into a forward contract that meets the definition of a derivative in accordance with the Derivatives and Hedging Topic 815 of the of the Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"). We record the derivatives at the trade date; the fair value of the open derivative contracts are shown as a component of receivables or payables in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The corresponding unrealized gains or losses are shown as a component of cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income. We adjust the carrying value of the derivatives to fair value on a daily basis until the transactions are physically settled. Sales which are physically settled are recognized at the gross amount in the consolidated statements of income.
Inventories
The Company's inventories primarily include bullion and bullion coins and are acquired and initially recorded at fair market value. The fair market value of the bullion and bullion coins is comprised of two components: (1) published market values attributable to the cost of the raw precious metal, and (2) a published premium paid at acquisition of the metal. The premium is attributable to the additional value of the product in its finished goods form and the market value attributable solely to the premium may be readily determined, as it is published by multiple reputable sources. The premium is included in the cost of the inventory, paid at acquisition, and is a component of the total fair market value of the inventory. The precious metal component of the inventory may be hedged through the use of precious metal commodity positions, while the premium component of our inventory is not a commodity that may be hedged.
The Company’s inventories, except for certain lower of cost or market basis products (as described below), are subsequently recorded at their fair market values. The daily changes in the fair market value of our inventory are offset by daily changes in the fair market value of hedging derivatives that are taken with respect to our inventory positions; both the change in the fair market
value of the inventory and the change in the fair market value of these derivative instruments are recorded in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income.
As of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, the unrealized gains (losses) resulting from the difference between market value and cost of physical inventories were $12.7 million and $(3.9) million, respectively. The premium component of market value included in the inventories as of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015 totaled $4.6 million and $3.3 million, respectively.
While the premium component included in inventories is marked-to-market, our commemorative coin inventory, including its premium component, is held at the lower of cost or market, because the value of commemorative coins is influenced more by supply and demand determinants than on the underlying spot price of the precious metal content of the commemorative coins. Unlike our bullion coins, the value of commemorative coins is not subject to the same level of volatility as bullion coins because our commemorative coins typically carry a substantially higher premium over the spot metal price than bullion coins. Additionally, neither the commemorative coin inventory nor the premium component of our inventory is hedged. As of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, our commemorative coin inventory totaled $16,000 and $1.5 million, respectively.
Inventories include amounts borrowed from suppliers under arrangements to purchase precious metals on an unallocated basis. Unallocated or pool metal represents an unsegregated inventory position that is due on demand, in a specified physical form, based on the total ounces of metal held in the position. Amounts under these arrangements require delivery either in the form of precious metals or cash. Corresponding obligations related to liabilities on borrowed metals are reflected on the consolidated balance sheets and totaled $4.4 million and $9.5 million as of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, respectively. The Company mitigates market risk of its physical inventories and open commitments through commodity hedge transactions (see Note 11.) The Company enters into product financing agreements for the transfer and subsequent re-acquisition of gold and silver at a fixed price to a third party finance company (this type of agreement is also known as reverse-repurchase agreements). This inventory is restricted and is held at a custodial storage facility in exchange for a financing fee, by the third party finance company. During the term of the financing, the third party finance company holds the inventory as collateral, and both parties intend to return the inventory to the Company at an agreed-upon price based on the spot price on the finance arrangement termination date. The third party charges a monthly fee as percentage of the market value of the outstanding obligation; such monthly charge is classified in interest expense. This type of transaction does not qualify as sales. Pursuant to the guidance in ASC 470-40 Product Financing Arrangements, the Company accounts for transaction as increase to inventory and an increase to product financing arrangements (a liability) on the consolidated balance sheets. The obligation is stated at the amount required to repurchase the outstanding inventory. Both the product financing and the underlying inventory are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value included in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income. Such obligation totaled $59.4 million and $39.4 million as of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, respectively.
The Company periodically loans metals to customers on a short-term consignment basis, charging interest fees based on the value of the metal loaned. Inventories loaned under consignment arrangements to customers as of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015 totaled $8.0 million and $5.6 million, respectively. Such inventories are removed at the time the customer elects to price and purchase the metals, and the Company records a corresponding sale and receivable.
The Company enters into financing arrangements with certain customers under which A-Mark purchases precious metals products that are subject to repurchase by the customer at the fair value of the product on the repurchase date. The Company or the counterparty may typically terminate any such arrangement with 14 days' notice. Upon termination the customer’s rights to repurchase any remaining inventory is forfeited. As of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, included within inventory is $92.3 million and $49.1 million of precious metals products subject to repurchase.
Goodwill and Other Purchased Intangible Assets
We evaluate goodwill and other indefinite life intangibles for impairment annually in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year (or more frequently if indicators of potential impairment exist) in accordance with the Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Topic 350 of the ASC. Other finite life intangible assets are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. We may first qualitatively assess whether relevant events and circumstances make it more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill is less than its carrying value. If, based on this qualitative assessment, we determine that goodwill is more likely than not to be impaired, a two-step impairment test is performed. This first step in this test involves comparing the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step in the test is performed, which is measurement of the impairment loss. The impairment loss is calculated by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill, as if the reporting unit has been acquired in a business combination, to its carrying amount. In accordance with ASU No. 2011-08, we performed a qualitative assessment on our goodwill, totaling $4.6 million, and determined no impairment was necessary as of June 30, 2016.
We utilize the discounted cash flow method to determine the fair value of the Company. In calculating the implied fair value of the Company's goodwill, the present value of the Company's expected future cash flows is allocated to all of the other
assets and liabilities of the Company based on their fair values. The excess of the present value of the Company's expected future cash flows over the amount assigned to its other assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill.
Estimates critical to these calculations include projected future cash flows, discount rates, royalty rates, customer attrition rates and foreign exchange rates. Imprecision in estimating unobservable market inputs can impact the carrying amount of assets on the balance sheet. Furthermore, while we believe our valuation methods are appropriate, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain assets could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date.
Income Taxes
As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we are required to estimate our provision for income taxes in each of the tax jurisdictions in which we conduct business, in accordance with the Income Taxes Topic 740 of the ASC. We compute our annual tax rate based on the statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available to us in the various jurisdictions in which we earn income. Significant judgment is required in determining our annual tax rate and in evaluating uncertainty in its tax positions. We recognize a benefit for tax positions that we believe will more likely than not be sustained upon examination. The amount of benefit recognized is the largest amount of benefit that we believe has more than a 50% probability of being realized upon settlement. We regularly monitor our tax positions and adjust the amount of recognized tax benefit based on our evaluation of information that has become available since the end of our last financial reporting period. The annual tax rate includes the impact of these changes in recognized tax benefits. The difference between the amount of benefit taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the amount of benefit recognized for financial reporting represents unrecognized tax benefits. These unrecognized tax benefits are presented in the consolidated balance sheet principally within accrued liabilities. We record valuation allowances to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. Significant judgment is applied when assessing the need for valuation allowances. Areas of estimation include our consideration of future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.
Should a change in circumstances lead to a change in judgment about the utilization of deferred tax assets in future years, we would adjust related valuation allowances in the period that the change in circumstances occurs, along with a corresponding increase or charge to income. Changes in recognized tax benefits and changes in valuation allowances could be material to our results of operations for any period, but is not expected to be material to our consolidated financial position.
We account for uncertainty in income taxes under the provisions of Topic 740 of the ASC. These provisions clarify the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements, and prescribe a recognition threshold and measurement criteria for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The provisions also provide guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest, and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The potential interest and/or penalties associated with an uncertain tax position are recorded in provision for income taxes on the consolidated statements of income. Please refer to Note 12 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion regarding these provisions. Income taxes are accounted for using an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be realized. The factors used to assess the likelihood of realization include our forecast of the reversal of temporary differences, future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the net deferred tax assets. Failure to achieve forecasted taxable income in applicable tax jurisdictions could affect the ultimate realization of deferred tax assets and could result in an increase in our effective tax rate on future earnings.
Based on our assessment it appears more likely than not that most of the net deferred tax assets will be realized through future taxable income. Management has established a valuation allowance against the deferred taxes related to certain net operating loss carryovers. Management believes the utilization of these losses may be limited. We will continue to assess the need for a valuation allowance for our remaining deferred tax assets in the future.
The Company's consolidated financial statements recognized the current and deferred income tax consequences that result from the Company's activities during the current and preceding periods, as if the Company were a separate taxpayer prior to the date of the Distribution rather than a member of the Former Parent's consolidated income tax return group. Current tax receivable reflects balances due from the Former Parent for the Company's share of the income tax assets of the group.
Following the Distribution, the Company files federal and state income tax filings that are separate from the SGI tax filings. The Company recognizes current and deferred income taxes as a separate taxpayer for periods ending after the date of Distribution.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
For a description of accounting changes and recent accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects, if any, on our consolidated financial statements, see Note 2 in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K. ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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The Board of Directors and Stockholders'
A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), as of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries as of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ Grant Thornton LLP
September 22, 2016
A-MARK PRECIOUS METALS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(amounts in thousands, except for share data)
|
| | | | | | | |
| June 30, 2016 | | June 30, 2015 |
| | | |
ASSETS | | | |
Current assets: | | | |
Cash | $ | 17,142 |
| | $ | 20,927 |
|
Receivables, net | 43,302 |
| | 30,025 |
|
Derivative assets | 33,732 |
| | 11,364 |
|
Secured loans receivable | 70,004 |
| | 48,666 |
|
| | | |
Inventories: | | | |
Inventories | 185,699 |
| | 152,076 |
|
Restricted inventories | 59,358 |
| | 39,425 |
|
| 245,057 |
| | 191,501 |
|
| | | |
Income taxes receivable | 7,318 |
| | 7,846 |
|
Income taxes receivable from Former Parent | 203 |
| | 1,095 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 1,503 |
| | 1,202 |
|
Total current assets | 418,261 |
| | 312,626 |
|
| | | |
Property and equipment, net | 3,482 |
| | 2,850 |
|
Goodwill | 4,620 |
| | 4,884 |
|
Intangibles, net | 1,987 |
| | 2,369 |
|
Long-term secured loans receivable | 500 |
| | 650 |
|
Long-term investments | 7,873 |
| | 2,500 |
|
Deferred tax assets - non-current | 424 |
| | 783 |
|
Total assets | $ | 437,147 |
| | $ | 326,662 |
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | |
Lines of credit | $ | 212,000 |
| | $ | 147,000 |
|
Liability on borrowed metals | 4,352 |
| | 9,500 |
|
Product financing arrangement | 59,358 |
| | 39,425 |
|
Accounts payable | 46,769 |
| | 50,639 |
|
Derivative liabilities | 36,454 |
| | 17,897 |
|
Accrued liabilities | 7,660 |
| | 5,330 |
|
Total current liabilities | 366,593 |
| | 269,791 |
|
Deferred tax liabilities - non-current | 7,245 |
| | 909 |
|
Total liabilities | 373,838 |
| | 270,700 |
|
| | | |
Commitments and contingencies |
| |
|
| | | |
Stockholders’ equity: | | | |
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: none as of June 30, 2016 and 2015 | — |
| | — |
|
Common Stock, par value $0.01; 40,000,000 shares authorized; 7,021,450 and 6,973,549 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively | 71 |
| | 70 |
|
Additional paid-in capital | 22,220 |
| | 22,470 |
|
Retained earnings | 41,018 |
| | 33,422 |
|
Total stockholders’ equity | 63,309 |
| | 55,962 |
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 437,147 |
| | $ | 326,662 |
|
A-MARK PRECIOUS METALS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except for share and per share data)
|
| | | | | | | | | |
Years Ended June 30, | | 2016 | | 2015 | |
Revenues | | $ | 6,784,039 |
| | $ | 6,070,234 |
| |
Cost of sales | | 6,749,518 |
| | 6,045,736 |
| |
Gross profit | | 34,521 |
| | 24,498 |
| |
| | | | | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | | (22,233 | ) | | (17,131 | ) | |
Interest income | | 8,795 |
| | 6,073 |
| |
Interest expense | | (6,319 | ) | | (4,311 | ) | |
Other income | | 701 |
| | — |
| |
Unrealized gains on foreign exchange | | 99 |
| | 19 |
| |
Net income before provision for income taxes | | 15,564 |
| | 9,148 |
| |
Provision for income taxes | | (6,293 | ) | | (2,097 | ) | |
Net income | | $ | 9,271 |
| | $ | 7,051 |
| |
| | | | | |
Basic and diluted income per share: | | | | | |
Basic - net income | | $ | 1.33 |
| | $ | 1.01 |
| |
Diluted - net income | | $ | 1.30 |
| | $ | 1.00 |
| |
Weighted average shares outstanding: | | | | | |
Basic | | 6,981,900 |
| | 6,962,800 |
| |
Diluted | | 7,120,300 |
| | 7,062,600 |
| |
A-MARK PRECIOUS METALS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(in thousands, except for share data)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Common Stock (Shares) | | Common Stock | | Additional Paid-in Capital | | Retained Earnings | | Total Stockholders’ Equity | |
Balance, June 30, 2014 | | 6,962,742 |
| | $ | 70 |
| | $ | 22,317 |
| | $ | 27,069 |
| | $ | 49,456 |
| |
Net income | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 7,051 |
| | 7,051 |
| |
Share-based compensation | | — |
| | — |
| | 253 |
| | — |
| | 253 |
| |
Release of restricted stock units | | 20,377 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| |
Repurchase and retirement of restricted stock units for payroll taxes | | (9,570 | ) | | — |
| | (100 | ) | | — |
| | (100 | ) | |
Dividends declared | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (698 | ) | | (698 | ) | |
Balance, June 30, 2015 | | 6,973,549 |
| | $ | 70 |
| | $ | 22,470 |
| | $ | 33,422 |
| | $ | 55,962 |
| |
Net income | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 9,271 |
| | 9,271 |
| |
Share-based compensation | | — |
| | — |
| | 419 |
| | — |
| | 419 |
| |
Release of restricted stock units | | 86,298 |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| |
Repurchase and retirement of restricted stock units for payroll taxes | | (38,397 | ) | | — |
| | (669 | ) | | — |
| | (669 | ) | |
Dividends declared | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (1,675 | ) | | (1,675 | ) | |
Balance, June 30, 2016 | | 7,021,450 |
| | $ | 71 |
| | $ | 22,220 |
| | $ | 41,018 |
| | $ | 63,309 |
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(amounts in thousands)
|
| | | | | | | | | |
Years Ended June 30, | | 2016 | | 2015 | |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 9,271 |
| | $ | 7,051 |
| |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: | |
| |
| |
Depreciation and amortization | | 1,216 |
| | 895 |
| |
Amortization of loan cost | | 204 |
| | — |
| |
Deferred income taxes | | 6,695 |
| | (1,363 | ) | |
Interest added to principal of secured loans | | (83 | ) | | (212 | ) | |
Provision for doubtful accounts | | — |
| | — |
| |
Share-based compensation | | 419 |
| | 253 |
| |
Earnings from equity method investment | | (701 | ) | | — |
| |
Loss on sale of property and equipment | | — |
| | 41 |
| |
Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | | | |
Receivables | | (13,277 | ) | | 9,354 |
| |
Secured loans | | 4,345 |
| | (737 | ) | |
Secured loans to Former Parent | | (1,369 | ) | | 2,562 |
| |
Derivative assets | | (22,368 | ) | | 10,820 |
| |
Income tax receivable | | 528 |
| | (7,846 | ) | |
Inventories | | (53,556 | ) | | (15,947 | ) | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | (505 | ) | | (589 | ) | |
Accounts payable | | (3,870 | ) | | 5,995 |
| |
Derivative liabilities | | 18,557 |
| | (14,885 | ) | |
Liabilities on borrowed metals | | (5,148 | ) | | 791 |
| |
Accrued liabilities | | 2,594 |
| | (740 | ) | |
Receivable from/payables to Former Parent | | 892 |
| | 2,044 |
| |
Income taxes payable | | — |
| | (2,178 | ) | |
Net cash used in operating activities | | (56,156 | ) | | (4,691 | ) | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | |
Capital expenditures for property and equipment | | (1,466 | ) | | (1,784 | ) | |
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment | | — |
| | 60 |
| |
Purchase of long-term investments | | (4,672 | ) | | (2,000 | ) | |
Secured loans, net | | (24,081 | ) | | (9,668 | ) | |
Net cash used in investing activities | | (30,219 | ) | | (13,392 | ) | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | |
Product financing arrangement, net | | 19,933 |
| | 14,815 |
| |
Dividends paid | | (1,675 | ) | | (698 | ) | |
Borrowings (repayments) under lines of credit, net | | 65,000 |
| | 11,800 |
| |
Release of common stock | | 1 |
| | — |
| |
Repurchase and retirement of restricted stock for payroll taxes | | (669 | ) | | (100 | ) | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | 82,590 |
| | 25,817 |
| |
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | | (3,785 | ) | | 7,734 |
| |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | | 20,927 |
| | 13,193 |
| |
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | | $ | 17,142 |
| | $ | 20,927 |
| |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | | | | | |
Cash paid during the period for: | | | | | |
Interest expense | | $ | 6,143 |
| | $ | 4,141 |
| |
Income taxes | | $ | 149 |
| | $ | 12,883 |
| |
Non-cash investing and financing activities: | | | | | |
Interest added to principal of secured loans | | $ | 83 |
| | $ | 212 |
| |
A-MARK PRECIOUS METALS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“A-Mark” or the “Company”) is a full-service precious metals trading company. Its products include gold, silver, platinum and palladium for storage and delivery primarily in the form of coins, bars, wafers and grain. The Company's trading-related services include financing, consignment, logistics, hedging and various customized financial programs.
Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Collateral Finance Corporation (“CFC”), a licensed California Finance Lender, the Company offers loans on precious metals, rare coins and other collectibles collateral to coin dealers, collectors and investors. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, A-Mark Trading AG (“AMTAG”), the Company promotes A-Mark bullion products throughout the European continent. Transcontinental Depository Services (“TDS”), also a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, offers worldwide storage solutions to institutions, dealers and consumers.
The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, A-M Global Logistics, LLC ("Logistics"), operates the Company's logistics fulfillment center based in Las Vegas, Nevada, which began operations in July 2015. Logistics provides our customers an array of complementary services, including: packaging, shipping, handling, receiving, processing, and inventorying of precious metals and custom coins on a secure basis.
Spinoff from Spectrum Group International, Inc.
On March 14, 2014, the Company's former parent, Spectrum Group International, Inc. ("SGI" or the "Former Parent"), effected a spinoff (the "spinoff" or the "Distribution") of the Company from SGI. As a result of the Distribution, the Company became a publicly traded company independent from SGI. On March 17, 2014, A-Mark’s shares of common stock commenced trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "AMRK."
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements reflect the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the Company, and were prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The Company operated in one segment for all periods presented.
These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of A-Mark, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, CFC, AMTAG, Logistics and TDS (collectively the “Company”). All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Reclassifications
Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current fiscal year's consolidated financial statement presentation. In the previous reported period, account receivables included secured loans and derivative assets; these components are shown as separate lines items on the consolidated balance sheets and cash flow statements. Similarly, accounts payables included derivative liabilities; these components are shown as separate lines items on the consolidated balance sheets and cash flow statements. Also, in the previous reported periods, deferred tax assets and liabilities were classified as current and non-current on the consolidated balance sheets; these items are shown as non-current tax assets and liabilities.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. These estimates include, among others, determination of fair value, and allowances for doubtful accounts, impairment assessments of long-lived assets and intangible assets, valuation reserve determination on deferred tax assets, and revenue recognition judgments. Significant estimates also include the Company's fair value determination with respect to its financial instruments and precious metals materials. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Cash is maintained at financial institutions and, at times, balances may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses related to these balances.
Assets that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of receivables, loans of inventory to customers, and inventory hedging transactions. Concentration of credit risk with respect to receivables is limited due to the large number of customers composing the Company's customer base, the geographic dispersion of the customers, and the
collateralization of substantially all receivable balances. Based on an assessment of credit risk, the Company typically grants collateralized credit to its customers. The Company enters into inventory hedging transactions, principally utilizing metals commodity futures contracts traded on national futures exchanges or forward contracts with credit worthy financial institutions. Credit risk with respect to loans of inventory to customers is minimal; substantially all inventories loaned under consignment arrangements are collateralized for the benefit of the Company. All of our commodity derivative contracts are under master netting arrangements and include both asset and liability positions. Substantially all of these transactions are secured by the underlying metals positions.
Foreign Currency
The functional currency of the Company is the United States dollar ("USD"). Also, the functional currency of the Company's wholly-owned foreign subsidiary, AMTAG, is USD, but it maintains its books of record in Euros. The Company remeasures the financial statements of AMTAG into USD. The remeasurement of local currency amounts into USD creates remeasurement gains and losses, which are included in the consolidated statements of income.
To manage the effect of foreign currency exchange fluctuations, the Company utilizes foreign currency forward contracts. These derivatives generate gains and losses when they are settled and/or when they are marked to market. The change in the value in the derivative instruments is shown on the face of the consolidated statements of income as unrealized net gains (losses) on foreign exchange.
Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash equivalents.
Inventories
Inventories principally include bullion and bullion coins and are acquired and initially recorded at fair market value. The fair market value of the bullion and bullion coins is comprised of two components: (1) published market values attributable to the costs of the raw precious metal, and (2) a published premium paid at acquisition of the metal. The premium is attributable to the additional value of the product in its finished goods form and the market value attributable solely to the premium may be readily determined, as it is published by multiple reputable sources.
The Company’s inventories, except for certain lower of cost or market basis products (as discussed below), are subsequently recorded at their fair market values, that is, "marked-to-market". The daily changes in the fair market value of our inventory are offset by daily changes in the fair market value of hedging derivatives that are taken with respect to our inventory positions; both the change in the fair market value of the inventory and the change in the fair market value of these derivative instruments are recorded in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income.
While the premium component included in inventories is marked-to-market, our commemorative coin inventory, including its premium component, is held at the lower of cost or market, because the value of commemorative coins is influenced more by supply and demand determinants than on the underlying spot price of the precious metal content of the commemorative coins. Unlike our bullion coins, the value of commemorative coins is not subject to the same level of volatility as bullion coins because our commemorative coins typically carry a substantially higher premium over the spot metal price than bullion coins. Neither the commemorative coin inventory nor the premium component of our inventory is hedged (see Note 6.) Property and Equipment and Depreciation
Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using a straight line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets, ranging from three years to five years.
Goodwill and Purchased Intangible Assets
Goodwill is recorded when the purchase price paid for an acquisition exceeds the estimated fair value of the net identified tangible and intangible assets acquired.
Goodwill and other indefinite life intangibles are evaluated for impairment annually in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year (or more frequently if indicators of potential impairment exist) in accordance with the Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Topic 350 of the Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC".) Other purchased intangible assets continue to be amortized over their useful lives and are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. The Company may first qualitatively assess whether relevant events and circumstances make it more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill is less than its carrying value. If, based on this qualitative assessment, management determines that goodwill is more likely than not to be impaired, the two-step impairment test is performed. This first step in this test includes comparing the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step in the test is performed, which is measurement of the impairment loss. The impairment loss is calculated by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill, as if the reporting unit has
been acquired in a business combination, to its carrying amount. As of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, the Company has not identified any impairments.
If the Company determines it will quantitatively assess impairment, the Company utilizes the discounted cash flow method to determine the fair value of each of its reporting units. In calculating the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill, the present value of the reporting unit's expected future cash flows is allocated to all of the other assets and liabilities of that unit based on their fair values. The excess of the present value of the reporting unit's expected future cash flows over the amount assigned to its other assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. In calculating the implied value of the Company's trade names, the Company uses the present value of the relief from royalty method.
Amortizable intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis which approximates economic use, over periods ranging from three years to fifteen years. The Company considers the useful life of the trademarks to be indefinite. The Company tests the value of the trademarks and trade name annually for impairment.
Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, other than goodwill and purchased intangible assets with indefinite lives are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. In evaluating impairment, the carrying value of the asset is compared to the undiscounted estimated future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. An impairment loss is recognized when estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying amount. Estimates of future cash flows may be internally developed or based on independent appraisals and significant judgment is applied to make the estimates. Changes in the Company's strategy, assumptions and/or market conditions could significantly impact these judgments and require adjustments to recorded amounts of long-lived assets. As of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, management concluded that impairment was not required.
Long-Term Investments
Investments in privately-held entities that are at least 20% but less than 50% owned by the Company are accounted for using the equity method. Under the equity method the carrying value of the investment is adjusted for the Company’s proportionate share of the investee’s earnings or losses, with the corresponding share of earnings or losses reported in other income (expense), net. The carrying value of the investment is reduced by the amount of the dividends received from the equity-method investee, they are considered as a return of capital.
Investments in privately-held entities that are less than 20% owned by the Company are accounted for using the cost method, unless the Company can exercise significant influence or the investee is economically dependent upon the Company, in which case the equity method is used. Under the cost method, investments are carried at cost and other income is recorded when dividends are received from the cost-method investee.
We evaluate our long-term investments for impairment quarterly or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable. As of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015, the Company did not identify any impairments.
Fair Value Measurement
The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic 820 of the ASC ("ASC 820"), creates a single definition of fair value for financial reporting. The rules associated with ASC 820 state that valuation techniques consistent with the market approach, income approach and/or cost approach should be used to estimate fair value. Selection of a valuation technique, or multiple valuation techniques, depends on the nature of the asset or liability being valued, as well as the availability of data (see Note 3.) Revenue Recognition
Revenues are recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed or determinable, no obligations remain and collection is probable. The Company records sales of precious metals, which occurs upon receipt by the customer. The Company records revenues from its metal assaying and melting services after the related services are completed and the effects of forward sales contracts are reflected in revenue at the date the related precious metals are delivered or the contracts expire. The Company records revenues from its storage and logistics services after the related services are completed.
The Company accounts for its metals and sales contracts using settlement date accounting. Pursuant to such accounting, the Company recognizes the sale or purchase of the metals at settlement date. During the period between trade and settlement date, the Company has essentially entered into a forward contract that meets the definition of a derivative in accordance with the Derivatives and Hedging Topic 815 of the ASC. The Company records the derivative at the trade date with a corresponding unrealized gain (loss), which is reflected in the cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income. The Company adjusts the derivatives to fair value on a daily basis until the transaction is physically settled. Sales which are physically settled are recognized at the gross amount in the consolidated statements of income.
Interest Income
The Company uses the effective interest method to recognize interest income on its secured loans transactions. For these arrangements, the Company maintains a security interest in the precious metals and records interest income over the terms of the secured loan receivable. Recognition of interest income is suspended and the loan is placed on non-accrual status when management determines that collection of future interest income is not probable. The interest income accrual is resumed, and previously suspended interest income is recognized, when the loan becomes contractually current and/or collection doubts are removed. Cash receipts on impaired loans are recorded first against the principal and then to any unrecognized interest income (see Note 5.) Also, the Company enters into repurchase agreements, whereby the Company agrees to deliver products at the prevailing spot price plus a premium, and then repurchases the products back from the customer at the prevailing spot price, thereby earning a fee (recorded as interest income) based on a calculated premium over the spot price, resulting in an open sales commitment to deliver products at the agreed upon date and price.
Interest Expense
The Company incurs interest expense and related fees as a result of usage under its lines of credit, product financing arrangement and liability on borrowed metals.
The Company incurs interest expense based on usage under its Trading Credit Facility recording interest expense using the effective interest method.
The Company incurs financing fees (classified as interest expense) as a result of its product financing arrangement (i.e., reverse-purchase agreements) for the transfer and subsequent re-acquisition of gold and silver at a fixed price to a third party finance companies. During the term of this type of financing agreement, a third party finance company holds the designated inventory, with the intent to return the inventory to the Company at an agreed-upon price based on the spot price on the finance arrangement termination date. The third party charges a monthly fee as a percentage of the market value of the outstanding obligation. In addition, the Company incurs a financing fee related to custodial storage facility charges related to the transferred collateral inventory; this collateral is classified as restricted inventory on our consolidated balance sheets.
Additionally, the Company incurs interest expense when we borrow precious metals from our suppliers under short-term arrangements, which bear interest at a designated rate. Amounts under these arrangements are due at maturity and require repayment either in the form of precious metals or cash. This liability is reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as a liability on borrowed metals.
Derivative Instruments
The Company’s inventory, and purchase and sale commitment transactions consist of precious metals products. The value of our inventory and these commitments are linked to the prevailing price of the underlying precious metal commodity. The Company seeks to minimize the effect of price changes of the underlying commodity and enters into inventory hedging transactions, principally utilizing metals commodity futures contracts traded on national futures exchanges or forward contracts with only major credit worthy financial institutions. All of our commodity derivative contracts are under master netting arrangements and include both asset and liability positions. Substantially all of these transactions are secured by the underlying metals positions. Notional balances of the Company's derivative instruments, consisting of contractual metal quantities, are expressed at current spot prices of the underlying precious metal commodity.
Commodity futures and forward contract transactions are recorded at fair value on the trade date. The difference between the original contract value and the market value of the open futures and forward contracts are reflected in derivative assets or derivative liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at fair value.
The Company records the change between fair value and trade value of the underlying open commodity contracts as a derivative asset or liability, and the Company correspondingly records the related unrealized gains or losses. The change in unrealized gain (loss) on open commodity contracts from one period to the next is reflected in net gain (loss) on derivative instruments. These unrealized gains and losses are included as a component of cost of sales on the consolidated statements of income. Gains or losses resulting from the termination of commodity contracts are reported as realized gains or losses on commodity contracts, which is recorded as a component of cost of sales on the consolidated statements of income.
The Company enters into derivative transactions solely for the purpose of hedging our inventory holding risk, and not for speculative market purposes. The Company’s gains (losses) on derivative instruments are substantially offset by the changes in the fair market value of the underlying precious metals inventory, which is also recorded in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income (see Note 11.) Advertising
Advertising expense was $645,000 and $608,000, respectively, for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.
Shipping and Handling Costs
Shipping and handling costs represent costs associated with shipping product to customers, and receiving product from vendors and are included in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of income. Shipping and handling costs incurred totaled $7.5 million and $7.0 million, respectively, for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.
Share-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for equity awards under the provisions of the Compensation - Stock Compensation Topic 718 of the ASC ("ASC 718"), which establishes fair value-based accounting requirements for share-based compensation to employees. ASC 718 requires the Company to recognize the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to employees as expense over the service period in the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Income Taxes
As part of the process of preparing its consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its provision for income taxes in each of the tax jurisdictions in which it conducts business, in accordance with the Income Taxes Topic 740 of the ASC ("ASC 740"). The Company computes its annual tax rate based on the statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available to it in the various jurisdictions in which it earns income. Significant judgment is required in determining the Company's annual tax rate and in evaluating uncertainty in its tax positions. The Company recognizes a benefit for tax positions that it believes will more likely than not be sustained upon examination. The amount of benefit recognized is the largest amount of benefit that the Company believes has more than a 50% probability of being realized upon settlement. The Company regularly monitors its tax positions and adjusts the amount of recognized tax benefit based on its evaluation of information that has become available since the end of its last financial reporting period. The annual tax rate includes the impact of these changes in recognized tax benefits. When adjusting the amount of recognized tax benefits, the Company does not consider information that has become available after the balance sheet date, but does disclose the effects of new information whenever those effects would be material to the Company's consolidated financial statements. The difference between the amount of benefit taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the amount of benefit recognized for financial reporting represents unrecognized tax benefits. These unrecognized tax benefits are presented in the consolidated balance sheet principally within accrued liabilities.
The Company records valuation allowances to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. Significant judgment is applied when assessing the need for valuation allowances. Areas of estimation include the Company's consideration of future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. Should a change in circumstances lead to a change in judgment about the utilization of deferred tax assets in future years, the Company would adjust related valuation allowances in the period that the change in circumstances occurs, along with a corresponding increase or charge to income. Changes in recognized tax benefits and changes in valuation allowances could be material to the Company's results of operations for any period, but is not expected to be material to the Company's consolidated financial position.
The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes under the provisions of ASC 740. These provisions clarify the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements, and prescribe a recognition threshold and measurement criteria for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The provisions also provide guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest, and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The potential interest and/or penalties associated with an uncertain tax position are recorded in provision for income taxes on the consolidated statements of income. Please refer to Note 12 for further discussion regarding these provisions. Income taxes are accounted for using an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be realized. The factors used to assess the likelihood of realization include the Company's forecast of the reversal of temporary differences, future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the net deferred tax assets. Failure to achieve forecasted taxable income in applicable tax jurisdictions could affect the ultimate realization of deferred tax assets and could result in an increase in the Company's effective tax rate on future earnings.
Based on our assessment it appears more likely than not that most of the net deferred tax assets will be realized through future taxable income. Management has established a valuation allowance against the deferred taxes related to certain state net operating loss carryovers. Management believes the utilization of these losses may be limited. We will continue to assess the need for a valuation allowance for our remaining deferred tax assets in the future.
The Company's consolidated financial statements recognized the current and deferred income tax consequences that result from the Company's activities during the current and preceding periods, as if the Company were a separate taxpayer prior to the date of the Distribution rather than a member of the consolidated income tax return group of its Former Parent, Spectrum Group International, Inc. Following its spin-off, the Company files federal and state income tax filings that are separate from the Former Parent's tax filings. The Company recognizes current and deferred income taxes as a separate taxpayer for periods ending after the date of Distribution.
Income taxes receivable from Former Parent reflects balance due from the Former Parent pursuant to a tax sharing agreement between the parties.
Earnings per Share ("EPS")
The Company computes and reports both basic EPS and diluted EPS. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net earnings by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the total potential dilution that could occur from outstanding equity awards, including unexercised stock options, utilizing the treasury stock method.
A reconciliation of shares used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per common shares follows. There is no dilutive effect of stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), as such obligations are not settled and were out of the money for the years ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
in thousands | | | |
Years Ended June 30, | | 2016 | | 2015 | |
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (1) | | 6,982 |
| | 6,963 |
| |
Effect of common stock equivalents — stock issuable under outstanding equity awards | | 138 |
| | 100 |
| |
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | | 7,120 |
| | 7,063 |
| |
| |
_________________________________ | |
(1) | | Basic weighted average shares outstanding include the effect of vested but unissued restricted stock grants. | |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In August 2016 the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This new standard will make eight targeted changes to how cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. This update is effective for the Company, on July 1, 2018. The new standard will require adoption on a retrospective basis unless it is impracticable to apply, in which case we would be required to apply the amendments prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. We are currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2016-15 on our consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, (“ASU 2016-09”), Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The amendments in this update simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions including: (a) income tax consequences; (b) classification of awards as either equity or liabilities; and (c) classification on the statement of cash flows. This update is effective for the Company, on July 1, 2017 (financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods). We are evaluating the new guidelines to see if they will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows and related disclosures.
In February 2016, FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, (“ASU 2016-02”), Leases (Topic 842). The amendments in this update require lessees to recognize a lease liability measured on a discounted basis and a right-of-use asset for all leases at the commencement date. This update is effective for the Company, on July 1, 2019 (for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years), and is to be applied using a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. We are evaluating the new guidelines to see if they will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows and related disclosures.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU No. 2014-09 is to recognize revenues
when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU No. 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) (“ASU 2016-08”). The amendments in ASU 2016-08 clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (“ASU 2016-10”). The amendments in ASU 2016-10 clarify aspects relating to the identification of performance obligations and improve the operability and understandability of the licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. The amendments in ASU 2016-12 address certain issues identified on assessing collectability, presentation of sales taxes, non-cash consideration, and completed contracts and contract modifications at transition. For all of the ASUs noted above, the effective date for Company is July 1, 2018 for annual and interim reporting periods. Either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method is permitted. We are still evaluating what impact this standard will have on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows and related disclosures.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted
In November 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2015-17, Income Taxes: Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (“ASU 2015-17”), which simplifies the presentation of deferred taxes by requiring deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as non-current on the balance sheet. This update is effective for the Company, on July 1, 2017. This guidance may be adopted prospectively or retrospectively and early adoption is permitted. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, we elected to early adopt ASU 2015-17. The adoption of this update did have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. For comparison purposes, we have reclassified the prior year current net deferred tax liability of $126,000 to long-term deferred taxes (comprised of $783,000 of long-term deferred assets and $909,000 long-term deferred liabilities).
3. ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, AT FAIR VALUE
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
in thousands | | | | | | | | |
| | June 30, 2016 | | |