Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

v2.4.0.8
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The condensed 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 condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of A-Mark, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, CFC, AMTAG and TDS (collectively the “Company”). All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The condensed consolidated statements of income include all revenues and costs attributable to the Company's operations, including costs for certain functions and services performed by SGI and directly charged or allocated based on usage or other systematic methods. The allocations and estimates are not necessarily indicative of the costs and expenses that would have resulted if the Company's operations had been operated as a separate stand-alone entity. Allocations for inter-company shared service expense are made on a reasonable basis to approximate market costs for such services; these allocations are only applicable for periods prior to the spin off. Management believes the allocation methods are reasonable.
Unaudited Interim Financial Information
The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for interim financial reporting. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments and accruals) necessary to present fairly the condensed consolidated balance sheets, condensed consolidated statements of income, condensed consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity, and condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the periods presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Operating results for the three and six months ended December 31, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending June 30, 2014 or for any other interim period during such year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on the Form S-1 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 (the “2013 Annual Report”), as filed with the SEC. Amounts related to disclosure of June 30, 2013 balances within these interim condensed consolidated financial statements were derived from the aforementioned audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the 2013 Annual Report.

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions including inter-company profits and losses, and inter-company balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates
The preparation of condensed 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 condensed 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 determinations on deferred tax assets, and revenue recognition judgments. Significant estimates also include the Company's fair value determinations 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 never 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. Credit risk with respect to loans of inventory to customers is minimal, as substantially all amounts are secured by letters of credit issued by creditworthy financial institutions. 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. 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.
Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash equivalents.
Concentration of Suppliers
A-Mark buys precious metals from a variety of sources, including through brokers and dealers, from sovereign and private mints, from refiners and directly from customers. The Company believes that no one or small group of suppliers is critical to its business, since other sources of supply are available that provide similar products on comparable terms.
Concentration of Customers
Customers providing 10 percent or more of the Company's revenues for the three and six months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 are listed below:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
December 31, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
in thousands
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Total revenue
$
1,488,653

 
100.0
%
 
$
1,696,781

 
100.0
%
 
$
2,984,632

 
100.0
%
 
$
3,316,596

 
100.0
%
Customer concentrations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HSBC Bank USA
$
393,148

 
26.4
%
 
$
162,748

 
9.6
%
 
$
705,693

 
23.6
%
 
$
257,967

 
7.8
%
Johnson Matthey
32,169

 
2.2

 
191,810

 
11.3

 
56,596

 
1.9

 
719,226

 
21.7

Total
$
425,317

 
28.6
%
 
$
354,558

 
20.9
%
 
$
762,289

 
25.5
%
 
$
977,193

 
29.5
%
Customers providing 10 percent or more of the Company's accounts receivable, excluding $31.9 million and $35.6 million of secured loans as of December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013, respectively, are listed below:
 
December 31, 2013
 
June 30, 2013
 
 
 
 
in thousands
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Total accounts receivable, net (without secured loans)
$
51,421

 
100.0
%
 
$
59,028

 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States Mint
$
34,240

 
66.6
%
 
$
44,185

 
74.9
%
Royal Canadian Mint
3,556

 
6.9

 
8,593

 
14.6

Total
$
37,796

 
73.5
%
 
$
52,778

 
89.5
%
Customers providing 10 percent or more of the Company's secured loans as of December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013, respectively, are listed below:
 
December 31, 2013
 
June 30, 2013
 
 
 
 
in thousands
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Total secured loans, net
$
31,935

 
100.0
%
 
$
35,585

 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Customer A
$

 
%
 
$
15,800

 
44.4
%
      Customer B
2,046

 
6.4

 
3,659

 
10.3

      Customer C
4,200

 
13.2
%
 

 
%
Total
$
6,246

 
19.6
%
 
$
19,459

 
54.7
%

The loss of any of the above customers could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company.

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 premium component included in inventories as of December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013 was $3.3 million and $1.8 million, respectively (See Note 4).

The Company’s inventories are subsequently recorded at their fair market values. Daily changes in fair market value are recorded in the income statement through cost of sales and are offset by hedging derivatives, with changes in fair value of the hedging derivatives also recorded in cost of sales in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

Inventories included 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 $11.2 million and $20.1 million, respectively as of December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013. The Company mitigates market risk of its physical inventories through commodity hedge transactions.The Company also protects substantially all of its physical inventories from market risk through commodity hedge transactions (see Note 11).
The Company periodically loans metals to customers on a short-term consignment basis, charging interest fees based on the value of the metals loaned. Inventories loaned under consignment arrangements to customers as of December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013 totaled $5.4 million and $2.6 million. Such inventories are removed at the time the customers elect to price and purchase the metals, and the Company records a corresponding sale and receivable. Substantially, all inventories loaned under consignment arrangements are collateralized for the benefit of the Company.
Inventory includes amounts for obligations under product financing agreement. A-Mark entered into an agreement for the sale of gold and silver at a fixed price to a third party. This inventory is restricted and the Company is allowed to repurchase the inventory at an agreed-upon price based on the spot price on the repurchase 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 in the condensed consolidated statements of income. These transactions do not qualify as sales and therefore have been accounted for as financing arrangements and reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheet within obligation under product financing arrangement. The obligation is stated at the amount required to repurchase the outstanding inventory. Both the product financing and the underlying inventory (which is entirely restricted) are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value included as component of cost of precious metals sold. Such obligation totaled $25.5 million and $38.6 million as of December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013, respectively.
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 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 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 a of December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013, the Company had no 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 four 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. For the six months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 management concluded that an impairment write-down was not required.
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.
a.Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013. Fair value is defined as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
 
 
 
December 31, 2013
 
June 30, 2013
 
in thousands
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair value
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair value
 
 
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash
 
$
15,015

 
$
15,015

 
$
21,565

 
$
21,565

 
Receivables, advances receivables and secured loans
 
83,326

 
83,326

 
94,509

 
94,509

 
Derivative assets - open sales and purchase commitments, net, included in receivable
 
3,293

 
3,293

 

 

 
Derivative assets - futures contracts included in receivable
 
10,921

 
10,921

 
14,967

 
14,967

 
Derivative assets - forward contracts included in receivable
 
4,933

 
4,933

 
471

 
471

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lines of credit
 
$
106,000

 
$
106,000

 
$
95,000

 
$
95,000

 
Liability for borrowed metals
 
11,226

 
11,226

 
20,117

 
20,117

 
Product financing obligation
 
25,506

 
25,506

 
38,554

 
38,554

 
Derivative liabilities - open sales and purchase commitments, net, included in payable
 
32,027

 
32,027

 
30,192

 
30,192

 
Derivative liabilities - forward contracts included in payable
 
10

 
10

 

 

 
Accounts payable, margin accounts, advances and other payables
 
52,573

 
52,573

 
55,818

 
55,818

 
Accrued liabilities
 
4,985

 
4,985

 
6,601

 
6,601

 
Payable to parent
 
7,615

 
7,615

 
9,520

 
9,520


The fair values of the financial instruments shown in the above table as of December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013 represent the amounts that would be received to sell those assets or that would be paid to transfer those liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at that date. Those fair value measurements maximize the use of observable inputs. However, in situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date, the fair value measurement reflects the Company’s own judgments about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Those judgments are developed by the Company based on the best information available in the circumstances, including expected cash flows and appropriately risk‑adjusted discount rates, available observable and unobservable inputs.
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and secured loans, accounts receivable and consignor advances, and accounts payable approximated fair value due to their short-term nature. The carrying amounts of lines of credit approximate fair value based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for bank loans with similar terms and average maturities.
b. Valuation Hierarchy
Topic 820 of the ASC established a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:
Level 1 - inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 - inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

Level 3 - inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

There were no transfers in or out of Level 2 or 3 during the six months ended December 31, 2013.

Commodities
Commodities consisting of the precious metals component of the Company’s inventories are carried at fair value. The fair value for commodities inventory is determined using pricing and data derived from the markets on which the underlying commodities are traded. Precious metals commodities are classified in Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.
Derivatives
Futures contracts, forward contracts and open sales and purchase commitments are valued at their intrinsic values, based on the difference between the quoted market price and the contractual price, and are included within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.
Margin and Borrowed Metals Liabilities
Margin and borrowed metals liabilities consist of the Company's commodity obligations to margin customers and suppliers, respectively. Margin liabilities and borrowed metals liabilities are carried at fair value, which is determined using quoted market pricing and data derived from the markets on which the underlying commodities are traded. Margin and borrowed metals liabilities are classified in Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.

Product Financing Obligations
Product Financing Obligations consist of the sale of gold and silver at a fixed price to a third party. Such transactions allow the Company to repurchase this inventory at an agreed-upon price based on the spot price on the repurchase date. The third party charges monthly interest as a percentage of the market value of the outstanding obligation, which is carried at fair value. Fair value is determined using quoted market pricing and data derived from the markets on which the underlying commodities are traded. Product Financing Obligations are classified in Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.
The following tables present information about the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013 aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the measurements fall:
 
 
December 31, 2013
 
 
Quoted Price in
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Active Markets
 
Significant Other
 
Significant
 
 
 
 
for Identical
 
Observable
 
Unobservable
 
 
 
 
Instruments
 
Inputs
 
Inputs
 
 
in thousands
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
 
Total Balance
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inventory
 
$
160,029

 
$

 
$

 
$
160,029

Derivative assets — open sales and purchase commitments, net
 
3,293

 

 

 
3,293

Derivative assets — futures contracts
 
10,921

 

 

 
10,921

Derivative assets — forward contracts
 
4,933

 

 

 
4,933

Total assets valued at fair value
 
$
179,176

 
$

 
$

 
$
179,176

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liability on borrowed metals
 
11,226

 

 

 
11,226

Obligation under product financing arrangement
 
25,506

 

 

 
25,506

Liability on margin accounts
 
6,469

 

 

 
6,469

Derivative liabilities — open sales and purchase commitments, net
 
32,027

 

 

 
32,027

Derivative liabilities — forward contracts
 
10

 

 

 
10

Total liabilities, valued at fair value
 
$
75,238

 
$

 
$

 
$
75,238

 
 
June 30, 2013
 
 
Quoted Price in
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Active Markets
 
Significant Other
 
Significant
 
 
 
 
for Identical
 
Observable
 
Unobservable
 
 
 
 
Instruments
 
Inputs
 
Inputs
 
 
in thousands
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
 
Total Balance
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inventory
 
$
162,378

 
$

 
$

 
$
162,378

Derivative assets — futures contracts
 
14,967

 

 

 
14,967

Derivative assets — forward contracts
 
471

 

 

 
471

Total assets, valued at fair value
 
$
177,816

 
$

 
$

 
$
177,816

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liability on borrowed metals
 
$
20,117

 
$

 
$

 
$
20,117

Obligation under product financing arrangement
 
38,554

 

 

 
38,554

Liability on margin accounts
 
6,636

 

 

 
6,636

Derivative liabilities — open sales and purchase commitments, net
 
30,192

 

 

 
30,192

Total liabilities valued at fair value
 
$
95,499

 
$

 
$

 
$
95,499


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 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 condensed 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 condensed consolidated statements of income.
Interest Income
The Company enters into certain types of metals transactions with its customers, where both parties have the capacity to make and take delivery of the metals and neither party has any obligation to settle any transactions by other than making or taking physical delivery of the metal, such as its spot deferred transactions. The Company maintains a security interest in the metals and records financing revenue over the terms of the receivable in a form of interest and related fees.
Derivative Instruments
The Company’s inventory consists of precious metals bearing products, and for which Company regularly enters into commitment transactions to purchase and sell precious metal bearing products. The value of our inventory and these commitments is intimately 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 in Note 11.

Commodity futures and forward contract transactions are recorded at fair value on the trade date.
Open futures and forward contracts are reflected in receivables or payables in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at fair value, which is the difference between the original contract value and the market value. The change in unrealized gain (loss) on open contracts from one period to the next is reflected in net gain (loss) on derivative instruments, which is a component of cost of sales in the condensed consolidated statements of income.
Gains or losses resulting from the termination of hedge contracts are reported as realized gains or losses on commodity contracts. Net gain (loss) on derivative instruments, which is included in the cost of sales, includes amounts recorded on the Company's outstanding metals forwards and futures contracts and on open physical sales and purchase commitments. The Company records changes in the market value of its metals forwards and futures contracts in costs of sales, the effect of which is to offset changes in market values of the underlying metals positions.
The Company records the difference between market value and trade value of the underlying commodity contracts as a derivative asset or liability (see Note 3 and Note 7), as well as recording an unrealized gain or loss on derivative instruments in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of income. During the three and six months ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded a net unrealized gain (loss) on open future commodity and forward contracts and open sales and purchase commitments of $14.0 million and $(1.8) million, respectively, and a net realized loss on future commodity contracts of $(6.5) million and $(8.2) million, respectively. During the three and six months ended December 31, 2012, the Company recorded a net unrealized loss on open future commodity and forward contracts and open sales and purchase commitments of $(80.9) million and $(39.9) million, respectively, and a net realized gain on future commodity contracts of $52.5 million and $31.8 million, respectively.

Advertising
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was $0.2 million and $0.3 million respectively, for the three and six months ended December 31, 2013 and was $0.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively for the three and six months ended December 31, 2012.

Shipping and Handling Costs
Shipping and handling costs represent costs associated with shipping product to customers, and receiving product from vendors. Shipping and handling costs incurred totaled $1.3 million and $3.0 million respectively, for the three and six months ended December 31, 2013 and $0.8 million and $1.8 million for the three and six months ended December 31, 2012 respectively, and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

Share-Based Compensation
Certain key employees of the Company participated in Stock Incentive Plans (“Plans”) of the Parent. The Plans permit the grant of stock options and other equity awards to employees, officers and non-employee directors. The Company accounts for equity awards under the provisions of the Compensation - Stock Compensation Topic 718 of the ASC, which establishes fair value-based accounting requirements for share-based compensation to employees. Topic 718 of the ASC 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 condensed consolidated financial statements.
Prior to the Distribution, the equity awards had been settled in shares of SGI stock and A-Mark did not reimburse SGI for the expense; therefore it was treated as a capital contribution to A-Mark. Following the Distribution, the Company will settle share-based awards by the delivery of shares of the Company's common stock (see Note 1).
Income Taxes
As part of the process of preparing its condensed 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. 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 condensed 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 condensed consolidated balance sheet principally within income taxes payable.
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 condensed consolidated financial position.
The Company accounts 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 condensed consolidated statements of income. Please refer to Note 8 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 the Company’s assessment, it appears more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets will be realized through future taxable income.  Accordingly, no valuation allowance has been established against any of the deferred tax assets.  The Company will continue to assess the need for a valuation allowance in the future.
The Company's condensed 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 rather than a member of the Parent's consolidated income tax return group. Current tax payable reflects balances due to the Parent for the Company's share of the income tax liabilities of the group.
Following the Distribution, the Company will file federal and state income tax returns that are separate from the SGI tax filings. The Company will recognize current and deferred income taxes as a separate taxpayer for periods ending after the Distribution (see Note 1).
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 plan awards, including unexercised stock options.

To determine the weighted average number of common shared outstanding for the periods presented prior to the Distribution, the Parent's weighted average number of common shares outstanding was multiplied by distribution ratio of one share of the Company's common stock for every four shares of the Parent's common stock.

A reconciliation of shares used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per common shares follows. There is no dilutive effect of SARs as such obligations are not settled and were out of the money for the three and six months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
A reconciliation of basic and diluted shares is as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
in thousands
 
December 31, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (1)
 
7,729

 
7,657

 
7,729

 
7,926

Effect of common stock equivalents — stock options and stock issuable under employee compensation plans
 
156

 
52

 
157

 
52

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
 
7,886

 
7,709

 
7,886

 
7,978

(1)
Basic weighted average shares outstanding include the effect of vested but unissued restricted stock grants.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-11, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. In January 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-01, Clarifying the Scope about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, which limited the scope of ASU No. 2011-11 guidance to derivatives, repurchase type agreements, and securities borrowing and lending activity. These ASUs require an entity to disclose gross and net information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. Both ASUs are effective for annual and interim periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. The adoption of the accounting standards in these updates did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.