Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Inventories

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Inventories
9 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]  
Inventories
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 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. The premium component of market value included in the inventories as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 totaled $3.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively. Commemorative coins, which are not hedged, are also included in inventory at the lower of cost or market and represent totaled $1.8 million and $0.0 million as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, respectively. For the nine months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the unrealized gains (losses) resulting from the difference between market value and cost of physical inventories were $3.1 million and $3.8 million, respectively.

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 condensed consolidated balance sheets and totaled $8.6 million and $20.1 million as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, respectively. The Company mitigates market risk of its physical inventories through commodity hedge transactions (see Note 11).

Inventory includes amounts for obligations under product financing agreement. A-Mark entered into a product financing agreement for the transfer and subsequent re-acquisition of gold and silver at a fixed price to a third party finance company. 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 A-Mark at an agreed-upon price based on the spot price on the finance arrangement termination date, pursuant to the guidance in ASC 470-40 Product Financing Arrangements. 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. These transactions do not qualify as sales and therefore have been accounted for as financing arrangements and reflected in the 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 are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value included in cost of sales in the condensed consolidated statements of income. Such obligation totaled $49.7 million and $38.6 million as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, respectively (see Note 10).

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 March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 totaled $7.8 million and $2.6 million, respectively. Such inventory is removed at the time the customer elects 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.