SPGZ S-1/A .2 (w 2013 Sep Financials)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2014
Registration No. 333-192260
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 2
to
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
A-MARK PRECIOUS METALS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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Delaware | 5094 | 11-2464169 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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429 Santa Monica Blvd.
Suite 230
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 587-1477
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area
Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
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Carol Meltzer
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc.
429 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 230
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 587-1477
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
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Douglas J. Frye, Esq. Frye & Hsieh, LLP 24955 Pacific Coast Highway Suite A201 Malibu, CA 90265 (310) 456-0800 | Copies To: | Scott S. Rosenblum, Esq. Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 (212) 715-9100 |
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Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ⌧
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box and list the Securities Act.
Registration Statement number of the earlier effective Registration Statement for the same offering. ☐
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act of 1933 Registration Statement number of the earlier effective Registration Statement for the same offering. ☐
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act of 1933 Registration Statement number of the earlier effective Registration Statement for the same offering. ☐
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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ⌧ |
Non-accelerated filer ☐ | |
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company ☐ |
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Registration Statement has been prepared on a prospective basis on the assumption that, among other things, the spinoff of the Registrant from SGI (as described in the Prospectus which is a part of this Registration Statement) and the related transactions and approvals contemplated to occur prior to or contemporaneously with the spinoff will be consummated as contemplated by the Prospectus. There can be no assurance, however, that any or all of such transactions will occur or will occur as so contemplated. Any significant modifications to or variations in the transactions contemplated will be reflected in an amendment or supplement to this Registration Statement.
The information in this Preliminary Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not issue these securities until the Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Preliminary Prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED JANUARY 31, 2014
PROSPECTUS
Shares of Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share
This Prospectus is being furnished to you as a shareholder of Spectrum Group International, Inc., referred to as SGI, in connection with the planned distribution by SGI to its shareholders of all the shares of common stock of A‑Mark Precious Metals, Inc., referred to as A-Mark or the Company. We refer to this transaction as the spinoff and to the distribution of A-Mark shares in the spinoff as the distribution. Immediately prior to the distribution, SGI will hold all of the outstanding shares of A-Mark common stock.
SGI will distribute all of the A-Mark common stock on a pro rata basis to holders of SGI common stock as of the close of business on [●], 2014, the record date for the distribution. SGI shareholders as of the record date will be entitled to receive one share of A-Mark common stock for every four shares of SGI common stock that they own. Fractional shares of A-Mark common stock will not be distributed. Instead, the distribution agent will aggregate fractional shares into whole shares, sell the whole shares in the open market at prevailing rates and distribute the net cash from proceeds from the sales pro rata to each holder who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fractional share. We expect that the spinoff will be tax-free to SGI shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except for any cash received in lieu of fractional shares.
The distribution will be effective as of 11:59 p.m., New York City time on [_________], 2014, which we refer to as the distribution date. Immediately after the distribution is completed, we will be a publicly traded company independent from SGI. Shareholders of SGI will continue to own their SGI common stock following the distribution, which at that point will include the remaining businesses of SGI.
If the spinoff is consummated, SGI intends to reduce the number of record holders of its common stock to fewer than 300 through a reverse stock split and to terminate the registration of its common stock under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act, with the result that SGI will no longer be required to file periodic and other reports with the SEC. It is expected that SGI common stock will be quoted on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol “SPGZ” following the deregistration of its shares under the Securities Exchange Act. All SGI shareholders will receive A‑Mark common stock in the spinoff even if they will cease to be SGI shareholders following the reverse stock split, unless they own fewer than four shares of SGI common stock. A special meeting of SGI shareholders to approve an amendment to its certificate of incorporation providing for the reverse stock split is scheduled for [_________], 2014.
In reviewing this Prospectus, you should carefully consider the matters described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13 for a discussion of certain factors that should be considered by recipients of the A-Mark common stock.
(Continued on the following page)
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NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.
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The date of this Prospectus is [●], 2014.
You will not be required to take any action to receive shares of A-Mark common stock. This means that:
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• | No vote of SGI shareholders is required in connection with the distribution. We are not asking you for a proxy, and you are requested not to send us a proxy. |
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• | You will not be required to pay for the shares of A-Mark common stock that you receive in the distribution. |
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• | You do not need to surrender or exchange any of your SGI shares in order to receive shares of A-Mark common stock, or take any other action in connection with the spinoff. |
There is currently no trading market for the A-Mark common stock. We intend to list the A-Mark common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “AMRK”, and expect that trading will begin the first trading day after the completion of the distribution. We do not plan to have a “when-issued” market for the A-Mark common stock prior to the distribution.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY | | |
RISK FACTORS | | |
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | | |
DIVIDEND POLICY | | |
CAPITALIZATION | | |
SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA | | |
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS | | |
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES | | |
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK | | |
MANAGEMENT | | |
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS | | |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | | |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP BY CERTAIN BENEFICAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | | |
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS | | |
DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK | | |
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE | | |
USE OF PROCEEDS | | |
DETERMINATION OF THE OFFERING PRICE | | |
LEGAL MATTERS | | |
EXPERTS | | |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | | |
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED AND INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | | |
OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION | | |
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS | | |
RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES | | |
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES | | |
UNDERTAKINGS | | |
You should not assume that the information contained in this Prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date set forth on the cover. Changes to the information contained in this Prospectus may occur after that date, and we undertake no obligation to update the information, except in the normal course of our public disclosure obligations and practices.
PART I
SUMMARY INFORMATION AND RISK FACTORS
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus and may not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a more complete understanding of our business and the spinoff, you should read this summary together with the more detailed information and financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. You should read this entire Prospectus carefully, including the “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” sections.
“A-Mark,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. and our subsidiaries.
Our Company
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. The functional currency of the trading center in Vienna, Austria is U.S. Dollars. In addition to wholesale and trading activity, A-Mark offers its customers a variety of services, including financing, consignment and various customized financial programs. As a U.S. Mint-authorized purchaser of gold, silver and platinum coins, A-Mark purchases bullion products directly from the U.S. Mint for sale to its customers. A-Mark also has distributorships with other sovereign mints, including in Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Mexico and South Africa. Customers of A‑Mark include mints, manufacturers and fabricators, refiners, coin and metal dealers, banks and other financial institutions, jewelers, investors and collectors.
The Company’s precious metals inventory and certain of its transactional activities are subject to fluctuation of underlying commodity market prices. A-Mark enters into transactions to hedge substantially all of its exposure to changes in market price.
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 metal dealers, investors and collectors. All loans made by CFC are collateralized with loan-to-value ratios—principal loan amount divided by the liquidation value of the collateral – of, in most cases, 50% to 80%. The loans have fixed interest rates, based on prevailing rates at the relevant time, and maturities from three to twelve months. 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.
We believe that our businesses largely function independently of the price movement of the underlying commodities in which we deal. However, factors such as global economic activity or uncertainty and inflationary trends, which affect market volatility, have the potential to impact customer demand, volume and margins.
Our Capital Stock
Immediately prior to the spinoff, A-Mark’s outstanding capital stock will consist of A-Mark common stock, par value $.01 per share, all of which will be held by SGI. The A-Mark common stock being distributed in the spinoff will represent 100% of A-Mark’s equity and general voting power. Holders of A-Mark common stock will be entitled to one vote per share.
Our Relationship with SGI
In July 2005, all of the outstanding common stock of A-Mark was acquired by Spectrum PMI, Inc. Spectrum PMI was a holding company whose outstanding common stock was owned 80% by SGI, and 20% by Auctentia, S.L. At that time Auctentia, together with its parent company, Afinsa Bienes Tangibles, S.A., held a majority of SGI’s common stock. In September 2012, SGI purchased from Auctentia its 20% interest in Spectrum PMI. On September 30, 2013 Spectrum PMI was merged with and into SGI, as a result of which all of the outstanding shares of A‑Mark are now owned directly by SGI.
In connection with the distribution, we will enter into a separation and distribution agreement with SGI which will govern the distribution and certain aspects of our relationship with SGI following the distribution. We and SGI will also enter into a tax separation agreement, which will address various tax matters affecting the two companies following the distribution. These agreements will be made in the context of a parent-subsidiary relationship and were negotiated in the overall context of our separation from SGI. The terms of these agreements may be more or less favorable than those we could have negotiated with
unaffiliated third parties. For more information regarding the agreements between us and SGI, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Agreements with SGI” in this Prospectus.
Risk Factors
Our business is subject to various risks, which are highlighted in the section entitled “Risk Factors”. These risks include:
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• | Our exposure to commodity price risks, concentration of credit risk, and the risks of default of our counterparties. |
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• | The demand nature of our credit facility. |
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• | The possible loss of a key government distributorship arrangement. |
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• | Potential losses in connection with our financing operations. |
Corporate Information
A-Mark was founded in 1965 as a New York corporation. On January 30, 2014, the Company was reincorporated in Delaware.
Our principal executive offices are located at 429 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 230, Santa Monica, CA 90401, tel. (310) 587-1477. Our website address is www.amark.com.
Summary of the Spinoff
The following is a summary of the terms of the distribution. See “The Spinoff” in this Prospectus for a more detailed description of the matters described below. |
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Distributing Company | Spectrum Group International, Inc. is the distributing company. Immediately following the spinoff, SGI will not own any capital stock of A-Mark. |
Distributed Company | A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. is the company whose stock is being distributed. |
Primary Purposes of the Spinoff | For the reasons more fully discussed in “Questions and Answers About the Company and The Spinoff—What are the reasons for the spinoff?,” the SGI board of directors believes that separating A-Mark from SGI is in the best interests of both SGI and A‑Mark. |
Distribution Ratio
| Each holder of SGI common stock will receive one share of A-Mark common stock for every four shares of SGI common stock held on [●], 2014, the record date for the distribution. Cash will be distributed in lieu of any fractional shares of A-Mark common stock, as described below. |
Securities to be Distributed | All of the shares of A-Mark common stock owned by SGI, which is 100% of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the distribution, will be distributed to holders of SGI common stock as of the record date. Based on the approximately [●] shares of SGI common stock outstanding on [●], and applying the distribution ratio, approximately [●] of our shares of A-Mark will be distributed, subject to the treatment of fractional shares. |
Record Date | The record date for the distribution is the close of business on [●], 2014. |
Distribution Date | The distribution date will be [__________], 2014 |
The Spinoff | On the distribution date, SGI will deliver all of its shares of A-Mark common stock to the distribution agent for distribution to SGI shareholders. The distribution will be made in book-entry form. It is expected that it will take the distribution agent up to ten business days following the distribution date to complete the distribution, including payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares. You will not be required to make any payment, surrender or exchange your SGI common stock or take any other action to receive your shares of A-Mark common stock. |
Post-distribution Ownership | See “Security Ownership by Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in this Prospectus for a description of the anticipated beneficial ownership of our capital stock by certain shareholders following the distribution. |
No Fractional Shares | No fractional shares of A-Mark common stock will be distributed. Instead, the distribution agent will aggregate fractional shares into whole shares, sell the whole shares in the open market at prevailing market prices and distribute the aggregate net cash proceeds of the sales pro rata to each holder who otherwise would have been entitled to receive a fractional share in the distribution. Recipients of cash in lieu of fractional shares will not be entitled to any interest on payments made in lieu of fractional shares. The receipt of cash in lieu of fractional shares generally will be taxable to the recipient shareholders that are subject to U.S. federal income tax as described in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in this Prospectus. |
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Conditions to the Spinoff | • The following events or circumstances, which are referred to as the conditions to the spinoff, will occur or be in effect prior to the spinoff, except as SGI may otherwise determine: • the SGI board of directors has authorized and approved the distribution and related transactions and declared a dividend of A-Mark common stock to SGI shareholders; • the separation and distribution agreement and tax separation agreement between A‑Mark and SGI have been executed; • the Securities and Exchange Commission has declared effective our Registration Statement on Form S-1, of which this Prospectus is a part, under the Securities Act of 1933, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the SEC; • our common stock has been accepted for listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, subject to official notice of issuance; • SGI has received the written opinion of its counsel, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP (which we refer to as Kramer Levin), in form and substance reasonably acceptable to SGI, to the effect that the spinoff will qualify as a tax-free transaction under Sections 355 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and that for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) no gain or loss will be recognized by SGI upon the distribution of our common stock in the spinoff, and (ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by, and no amount will be included in the income of, holders of SGI common stock upon the receipt of shares of our common stock in the spinoff; • SGI has received a written solvency opinion from a financial advisor, in form and substance acceptable to the SGI, regarding the effect of the spinoff and related transactions on SGI’s solvency; • there is no order, injunction or decree issued by any governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing consummation of the distribution, and no other event outside the control of SGI has occurred or failed to occur that prevents the consummation of the distribution; • no other events or developments have occurred prior to the distribution that, in the judgment of the board of directors of SGI, would result in the distribution having a material adverse effect on SGI or the shareholders of SGI; • this Prospectus has been made available to the holders of SGI common stock as of the record date; • the individuals listed in this Prospectus as members of our post-spinoff board of directors have been duly elected, so that they will be the members of our board of directors immediately after the spinoff; • each individual who is an officer or director of SGI immediately prior to the spinoff, and who will be an officer or director of A‑Mark immediately after the spinoff, has tendered to SGI his or her resignation, effective upon the deregistration of the SGI shares under the Securities Exchange Act, other than Gregory N. Roberts, who will remain an officer and director of SGI, and Carol Meltzer, who will remain an officer and become a director of SGI (however, Mr. Roberts and Ms. Meltzer will be employees of A-Mark and will not be employees of SGI); and • our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, each in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, will be in effect. |
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Regulatory Requirements | We are not aware of any material federal or state regulatory requirements that must be complied with or any material approvals that must be obtained, other than compliance with SEC rules and regulations and the declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement by the SEC, in connection with the distribution. |
Right to Abandon or Modify the Terms of the Spinoff | The fulfillment of the conditions to the spinoff will not create any obligation on the part of SGI to effect the spinoff. Even if all the conditions are satisfied, at any time prior to the distribution, the board of directors of SGI may determine, in its sole discretion, that the spinoff is not in the best interests of SGI or its shareholders, or that market conditions are such that it is not advisable to effect the distribution, or it may determine to abandon the spinoff for another reason. In addition, SGI may at any time until the distribution decide to modify or change the terms of the distribution, including by delaying the timing of the consummation of the distribution. If SGI makes any material change to the terms of the spinoff prior to the distribution, we will amend the Registration Statement or supplement this Prospectus as appropriate. |
Trading Market and Symbol
| We intend to list our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “AMRK” and expect that trading will begin the first trading day after the completion of the distribution. We do not plan to have a “when-issued” market for our common stock prior to the distribution. |
Dividend Policy
| We have as yet made no determination regarding our policy on the payment of dividends. We expect that, following the spinoff, our board or directors will make a determination on the payment of regular dividends based upon our financial performance, need for operating liquidity, applicable covenants in our financing agreements, business development and expansion programs, market expectations and other relevant factors. |
Tax Consequences to SGI Shareholders | Assuming that the spinoff qualifies as a tax-free transaction under Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code, SGI shareholders will not recognize any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes solely as a result of the distribution except with respect to any cash received in lieu of fractional shares. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in this Prospectus for a more detailed description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the distribution. Each shareholder is urged to consult his, her or its tax advisor as to the specific tax consequences of the distribution to that shareholder, including the effect of any state, local or non-U.S. tax laws and of changes in applicable tax laws. |
Transfer Agent
| After the distribution, the transfer agent for our common stock will be American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, New York, NY. |
Distribution Agent
| The distribution agent for the spinoff will be American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, New York, NY. |
Risk Factors | You should carefully consider the matters discussed under the section entitled “Risk Factors,” including detailed risks relating to our business generally, our common stock and the distribution, and the spinoff, in evaluating the Company and our common stock.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE SPINOFF
Set forth below are commonly asked questions and answers about the spinoff and related transactions. You should read the section entitled “The Spinoff” beginning on page 25 of this Prospectus, and the other information in this Prospectus, for a more detailed description of the matters described below.
Q: What is the spinoff?
A: A-Mark is currently wholly-owned by SGI. The spinoff is the transaction separating A-Mark from SGI that will result in SGI shareholders owning all of the common stock of A-Mark. The spinoff will be effected on the distribution date by the pro rata distribution of the A-Mark common stock to SGI shareholders.
Following the spinoff, we will be a publicly traded company independent from SGI, and SGI will not retain any ownership interest in us.
Q: What is A-Mark’s business?
A: 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 and trading activity, A-Mark offers its customers a variety of services, including financing, consignment 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 it also purchased products from 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 metal dealers, investors and collectors. All loans made by CFC are collateralized with loan-to-value ratios—principal loan amount divided by the liquidation value of the collateral – of, in most cases, 50% to 80%. The loans have fixed interest rates, based on prevailing rates at the relevant time, and maturities from three to twelve months. 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.
A-Mark’s principal executive offices are located at 429 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 230, Santa Monica, CA 90401, tel. (310) 587-1477. Our website address is www.amark.com.
Q: What are the reasons for the spinoff?
A: SGI’s board of directors has determined that pursuing a disposition of A-Mark through a spinoff is in the best interests of SGI and its shareholders, and that separating A-Mark from SGI would provide, among other things, operational, managerial and market benefits to both A-Mark and SGI, including but not limited to the following expected benefits:
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• | Strategic Focus and Flexibility. The precious metals trading business of A-Mark and the collectibles business of SGI have different business models, require personnel with different skill sets and have different growth opportunities. SGI’s board of directors believes that following the spinoff, A-Mark and SGI will each be better positioned to focus on their own needs, and be better able to dedicate resources to pursue appropriate growth opportunities and execute strategic plans best suited to their respective businesses. |
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• | Focused Management. The spinoff will allow management of each company to devote its time and attention to the development and implementation of corporate strategies and policies that are based primarily on the specific business characteristics of the respective companies. |
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• | Overhead Allocation. The spinoff will rationalize the allocation of overhead between the two companies. Currently, A-Mark supports the public company expense of both companies, an expense that the SGI Board believes is not justified for the collectibles business because of its smaller size. The spinoff will allow SGI to deregister under the Securities Exchange Act through a reverse stock split, which it currently intends to do following the spinoff. |
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• | Alignment of Compensation Incentives. The spinoff will allow each company to design more tailored compensation structures that better reflect its strategies, policies, and business characteristics. In particular, in the case of A-Mark, |
separate equity-based compensation arrangements should more closely align the interests of management with the interests of shareholders and more directly incentivize the employees of A-Mark, which will allow A-Mark to more efficiently recruit and retain its employees.
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• | Improved Market Presence. SGI’s board of directors believes that the spinoff will increase investor understanding of A‑Mark and its market position within its industry, while also allowing for a more natural and interested investor base. Separating A-Mark from SGI also allows investors to make independent decisions with respect to each of SGI and A-Mark based on, among other factors, their different business models, strategies and industries. |
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• | Acquisition Currency. The spinoff will also provide A‑Mark with its own publicly traded equity currency for pursuing acquisitions tailored to its business and business strategy. |
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• | Enhanced Visibility and Respectability. The SGI board believes that, as a standalone public company, A-Mark will have greater visibility and enhanced respectability among its customers, suppliers and trading counterparties. The SGI board is hopeful that, in addition to being a business driver, this visibility will lead to debt and equity financing opportunities to support the growth of the precious metals trading business. |
Q: Why is the separation of A-Mark structured as a spinoff?
A: SGI believes that a tax-free distribution of our common stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes is the most efficient way to separate our business from SGI in a manner that will improve flexibility and benefit both SGI and us.
Q: What will I receive in the spinoff?
A: As a holder of SGI common stock, you will receive a distribution of one share of A-Mark common stock for every four shares of SGI common stock held by you on the record date for the distribution. This is referred to as the distribution ratio. SGI shareholders that own less than four shares of SGI common stock will not receive any A-Mark shares and instead will receive cash in lieu of the fractional share to which they would otherwise be entitled. See “The Spinoff.”
Q: How was the distribution ratio determined?
A: The distribution ratio was determined by the board of directors of SGI, in consultation with its advisors, with a view to satisfying the minimum price requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market, otherwise providing for a trading price in a range that will be attractive to investors and there being a sufficient number of outstanding shares for a liquid trading market. The distribution ratio was not determined on the basis of any specific formula.
Q: How many shares will be distributed in the spinoff?
A: Approximately [●] shares of our common stock will be distributed in the spinoff, based on the number of shares of SGI common stock outstanding as of the record date and the distribution ratio. This will represent 100% of A‑Mark’s outstanding capital stock and voting power immediately following the spinoff. For more information on the shares being distributed in the spinoff, see “Description of Our Capital Stock.” For information on certain stock options and other equity awards to be granted by A-Mark at the time of the distribution, see “Executive Compensation – Treatment of Equity-Based Compensation as a Result of the Spinoff.”
Q: How will the A-Mark shares be distributed?
A: If you currently hold your SGI shares “in street name,” that is in a securities account with a bank, broker or other financial institution, your A-Mark shares will be deposited to the same account in accordance with the practices and procedures of the Depository Trust Company. If you are a holder of record of SGI shares, your A‑Mark shares will be distributed to you through A‑Mark’s direct registration system, and you should receive an account statement showing your ownership of the shares within ten business days after the distribution. See “The Spinoff— Manner of Effecting the Spinoff.”
Q: How will fractional shares be treated in the spinoff?
A: No fractional shares will be distributed to SGI shareholders in connection with the spinoff. Instead, the distribution agent will aggregate all fractional shares into whole shares and sell the whole shares in the open market at prevailing market prices. The distribution agent will then distribute the aggregate cash proceeds of the sales, net of brokerage fees and other costs, pro rata to each SGI shareholder who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fractional share in the distribution. See “The Spinoff—Manner of Effecting the Spinoff.”
The receipt of cash in lieu of fractional shares generally will be taxable to the recipient shareholders that are subject to U.S. federal income tax as described in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”
Q: What is the record date for the distribution?
A: Record ownership will be determined as of the close of business on [●], 2014, which we refer to as the record date.
Q: When will the distribution occur?
A: The distribution date for the spinoff is expected to be [__________], 2014. We expect that it will take the distribution agent up to ten business days after the distribution date to fully distribute the shares of our common stock, and cash for fractional shares, to SGI shareholders. However, shareholders will be deemed to own their shares of A-Mark common stock as of the distribution date.
Q: What do SGI shareholders need to do to participate in the distribution?
A: Shareholders who hold SGI common stock as of the record date will not be required to take any action to receive our common stock in the distribution or a cash payment in respect to any fractional shares. No shareholder approval of the distribution is required or sought. You will not be required to make any payment, surrender or exchange any of your shares of SGI common stock or take any other action to participate in the distribution. However, we urge you to read this document carefully.
Q: What will happen to the SGI shares?
A: The spinoff will not affect the shareholdings or the proportionate interests of SGI shareholders in SGI. However, if the spinoff is consummated, SGI intends to reduce the number of record holders of its common stock to fewer than 300 and to terminate the registration of its common stock under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. SGI intends to do this by means of an amendment to its certificate of incorporation, in which the shares of SGI common stock will be reverse split in the ratio of one to 1,000 As a result, SGI shareholders who own 999 or fewer shares of SGI common stock will cease to be shareholders of SGI and will receive $0.65 in cash for each SGI share that they previously owned. SGI will then file a Form 15 with the SEC to terminate the registration of its shares under the Securities Exchange Act, with the result that SGI will no longer be required to file periodic and other reports with the SEC. It is expected that the SGI common stock will be quoted on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol “SPGZ” following the deregistration of its shares under the Securities Exchange Act.
A special meeting of SGI shareholders to approve the amendment to its certificate of incorporation is scheduled for _______, 2014. SGI has filed a Schedule 13E-3 with SEC concerning the reverse stock split and the deregistration, and will be separately distributing to its shareholders proxy materials for the special meeting.
The reverse stock split will occur only after the distribution is consummated. Accordingly, all SGI shareholders will receive A‑Mark common stock in the spinoff even if they will cease to be SGI shareholders as a result of the reverse split, unless they own fewer than four shares of SGI common stock.
Q: Will the spinoff affect the trading price of the SGI common stock?
A: The trading price of SGI common stock following the distribution should be lower than immediately prior to the distribution because the trading price will no longer reflect the value of the common stock of A-Mark that is being spun-off in the distribution. The price of the SGI common stock may also be affected by the prospect of its' deregistration under the Securities Exchange Act and other factors. In addition, the price of the SGI common stock may be more volatile following the spinoff, until the market participants have fully analyzed the value of SGI without A-Mark.
Q: How will the SGI common stock trade prior to the spinoff?
A: Up to and including the distribution date, SGI common stock will trade on the “regular-way market”, meaning that the stock will trade with the buyer being entitled to shares of A-Mark common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. See “The Spin Off-Trading and Listing-Trading of SGI Common Stock.”
Q: What if I want to sell my SGI common stock or my shares of A-Mark common stock?
A: You should consult with your financial advisor, such as your stockbroker, bank or tax advisor. Neither SGI nor A-Mark makes any recommendations on the purchase, retention or sale of SGI common stock or the shares of A-Mark common stock to be distributed in the spinoff.
Up to and including the distribution date, the SGI common stock will trade on the “regular-way” market; that is, with an entitlement to shares of A-Mark common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. SGI common stock will not trade on an ex-distribution market; that is, without an entitlement to shares of A-Mark common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. Therefore, if you sell SGI common stock up to and including the distribution date, you will be selling your right to receive shares of A-Mark common stock in the distribution. See “The Spinoff-Trading and Listing - Trading of SGI Common Stock.”
Q: What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the spinoff?
A: SGI has made it a condition to the spinoff that it receive a written opinion of Kramer Levin to the effect that the spinoff will qualify 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 will be recognized by SGI upon the distribution of our common stock in the spinoff, and (ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by, and no amount will be included in the income of, holders of SGI common stock upon the receipt of shares of our common stock in the spinoff. These conditions, as well as all other conditions to the spinoff, may be waived by the SGI board of directors in its sole discretion. We expect to receive the opinion of Kramer Levin on or prior to the distribution date.
The tax consequences of the distribution are described in more detail below under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”
Each SGI shareholder is urged to consult his, her or its tax advisor as to the specific tax consequences of the distribution to that shareholder, including the effect of any state, local or non-U.S. tax laws and of changes in applicable tax laws.
Q: Does A-Mark intend to pay cash dividends?
A: We expect that, following the spinoff, our board of directors will make a determination concerning the Company’s dividend policy. A-Mark’s credit facility has certain restrictive financial covenants that require A-Mark to maintain a minimum tangible net worth (as defined) of $25.0 million. Our ability to pay dividends, if our board determined to do so, could be limited as a result of this covenant.
Q: How will the A-Mark common stock trade?
A: Currently, there is no public market for our common stock. We intend to list our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “AMRK” and expect that trading will begin the first trading day after the completion of the distribution. We do not plan to have a “when-issued” market for our common stock prior to the distribution. “When-issued” trading in the context of a spinoff refers to a transaction effected on or before the distribution date and made conditionally because the securities of the spun-off entity have not yet been distributed. On the first trading day following the distribution date, we expect that “regular-way” trading will begin. “Regular-way” trading refers to trading after the security has been distributed and typically involves a trade that settles on the third full trading day following the date of the sale transaction. See “The Spinoff—Trading and Listing—Trading and Listing of A-Mark Common Stock.” We cannot predict the trading prices for our common stock or whether an active trading market for our common stock will develop. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Common Stock and the Distribution.”
Q: Do I have appraisal rights?
A: No. Holders of SGI common stock are not entitled to appraisal rights in connection with the spinoff.
Q: Are there risks associated with owning the A-Mark common stock?
A: Our business is subject to both general and specific risks and uncertainties relating to our business. Our business is also subject to risks relating to the spinoff. Following the spinoff, we will also be subject to risks relating to being a publicly traded company independent from SGI. Accordingly, you should read carefully the information set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page [●] of this Prospectus.
Q: Can SGI decide to cancel the distribution or modify its terms even if all conditions to the distribution have been met?
A: Yes. SGI may terminate the distribution at any time prior to the distribution date (even if all the conditions to the spinoff are satisfied). Also, SGI may modify or change the terms of the distribution, including by delaying the timing of the consummation of all or part of the distribution. If SGI makes any material change to the terms of the spinoff prior to the distribution, we will amend the Registration Statement or supplement this Prospectus as appropriate.
Q: Where can I get more information?
A: If you have any questions relating to the mechanics of the distribution, you should contact the distribution agent at:
American Stock Transfer and Trust Company
59 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
(Toll free) (800) 937-5449
(International) (718) 921-8200
(Email) info@amstock.
RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all of the other information included in this Prospectus, in evaluating the Company and our common stock. The following risk factors could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and stock price.
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 A-Mark and CFC with the liquidity to buy and sell billions of dollars of precious metals annually. The Trading Credit Facility is a demand facility with a variable rate interest in which five lending institutions participate. 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.
An institutional participant in the Trading Credit facility can withdraw at any time on written notice to the Company. The loss of one or more of the lines under the Trading Credit Facility, and the failure of A-Mark to replace those lines, would reduce the financing available to the Company 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 if all or part of the Trading Credit Facility were terminated, on commercially acceptable terms and on a timely basis, or at all.
Because the Trading Credit Facility is a demand facility, the lenders may require us to repay the indebtedness outstanding under the facility at any time. They may require repayment of the indebtedness even if we are in compliance with the financial and other covenants under the Trading Credit Facility. If the lenders were to demand repayment, we may not at the time have the financial resources to comply. As of September 30, 2013, the maximum available amount to borrow under the Trading Credit Facility was $170.0 million. Borrowings totaled $99.7 million so that the amounts available under the Trading Credit Facility was $70.3 million.
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 margin and vary by financial institution. The LIBOR rate was approximately 0.18%, 0.19% and 0.24% as of September 30, 2013, June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012, respectively.
A change in the rates of interest charged by the lenders could adversely impact our profitability in a number of ways.
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• | The prices that we charge our trading customers include an interest carrying factor that reflects our cost of funds. The trading business is highly price competitive, and characterized by narrow margins. If our cost of funds increases and we cannot pass on the increase to our customers, we will lose sales. |
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• | We borrow to finance, in part, our inventory of precious metals and coins. If our interest costs increase, we would either have to absorb the increased costs, cutting into our margins, or reduce our inventory levels, which could adversely impact our ability to service our customers. |
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• | In certain cases, our ability to offer customers financing for their purchases of precious metals and coins at competitive rates is an important factor the customers’ decision to transact with us. The financing we provide to our customers is funded, in part, through the borrowings under our credit facility. If our borrowing costs increase, and our customers are unwilling to finance their purchases at the higher rates, we would lose sales. |
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 six 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. A-Mark's top three customers represented 20.9%, 11.3% and 1.6%, respectively, of trading revenues for the the three months ended September 30, 2013. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, A-Mark's top three customers represented 11.4%, 11.2%, and 10.7%, respectively of our revenues. If our relationships with these customers deteriorated, or if we were to lose one or more of 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 materially 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 gold 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.
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 15% 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 Company’s 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 President and CEO, and with three other employees, the president of trading, a senior vice president of trading and the chief operating officer of A-Mark. These employment agreements all expire at the end of fiscal 2016. 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 and adversely 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. These efforts 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. We may not be successful in implementing our growth initiatives, which could adversely affect our business.
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 government regulations, and the cost of compliance could increase.
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 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 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 first conflict minerals report required by the new rules is due by May 31, 2014 and annually thereafter. 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.
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.
We are in the process of developing an electronic trading platform that will allow our customers to place orders with us using a computerized interface. While we believe that this platform will offer many advantages to us and our customers in terms of efficiency and ease of operation, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in implementing this platform, in a manner that will be attractive to our customers or at all. Also, as in any new systems, we may experience operational difficulties with the platform in the early stages of its use, which could adversely affect relationships with our customers.
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 lead 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.
This volatility may drive fluctuation of our revenues, as a consequence of which our results for any one period may not be indicative of the results to be expected for any other period. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition 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 purchase and sale 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 purchase and sale 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 our credit facility. If commodity prices were to rise substantially, and we were unable to modify the terms of our 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 result in less 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 and the Distribution
Becoming a public company will increase 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 to which we are not currently subject.
As a public company, we will incur 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). Currently we bear some such costs as a subsidiary of SGI, but following the spinoff we will be responsible for all such costs with respect to our business. Also, in anticipation of becoming a public company, we are required to create or revise the documentation prescribing the roles and duties of our board and committee members, adopt additional internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures, retain a transfer agent and adopt an insider trading and other policies and procedures, in compliance with our obligations under the securities laws.
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 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.
Currently, our directors are officers either of A-Mark or SGI, and our directors and officers are covered by the directors and officers insurance policy of SGI. Following the spinoff, our board will consist almost entirely of independent directors, and we will be required to obtain our own insurance coverage for our directors and officers. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain such insurance with coverage limits and other terms that will enable us to attract and retain qualified officers and qualified persons to serve on our board of directors and its committees, particularly to serve on our audit committee.
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 will be required to document and test our internal control over financial reporting in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley, which will require annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, beginning with our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ending June 30, 2015. As a subsidiary of SGI, which is currently a public company whose common stock is registered under the Securities Exchange Act, we participate in SGI’s program for maintaining controls over financial reporting. Following the spinoff, however, we will be required to implement standalone policies and procedures to comply with the requirements of Section 404. Also, unless we are not categorized as an accelerated filer, which would be the case if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates as of our most recently completed second quarter is less than $75 million, we will also be required to obtain a report by our independent registered public accounting firm that addresses the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. As a smaller reporting company, SGI is not required to obtain and file such reports.
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. We are in the process of enhancing our internal controls over financial reporting but there can be no assurance that our controls will function as intended.
We have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, and our business and stock price may be adversely affected if we do not adequately address this weakness or if we have other material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting.
The Company has in the past operated with inadequate and insufficient accounting and finance resources to ensure timely and reliable financial reporting. As a result of this material weakness, the Company's management has concluded that, as of June 30, 2013, its internal control over financial reporting was not effective. To remediate this material weakness, during fiscal 2014, we intend to:
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• | Determine the appropriate complement of corporate accounting and finance personnel required to ensure timely and reliable financial reporting; |
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• | Hire the requisite additional personnel and/or contractors with public company accounting and reporting experience, and; |
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• | Organize and design our internal review and evaluation process to include more formal management oversight of the methods and review procedures utilized and the conclusions reached, including for purposes of evaluating and ensuring the sufficiency of accounting resources. |
We can give no assurance that the measures we take will remediate the material weakness that we identified or that any additional material weaknesses will not arise in the future. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these and other processes, procedures and controls and will make any further changes management determines appropriate.
The existence of one or more other material weaknesses or significant deficiencies could result in errors in our financial statements, and substantial costs and resources may be required to rectify any internal control deficiencies. If we cannot produce reliable financial reports, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, the market price of our stock could decline significantly, we may be unable to obtain additional financing to operate and expand our business, and our business and financial condition could be adversely affected.
We may not be able to or may choose not to pay dividends.
We expect that, following the spinoff, our board of directors will make a determination concerning the Company’s dividend policy, and we cannot at this time predict whether our board will institute a policy of regular dividends. Further, our current credit arrangements contain restrictions on the payment of dividends. As a result, you may not receive any 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.
There currently exists no market for our common stock, and an active trading market for our common stock may not develop.
There is currently no public market for our common stock. We intend to list our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “AMRK” and expect that trading will begin the first trading day after the completion of the distribution. We do not plan to have a “when-issued” market for our common stock prior to the distribution. There can be no assurance that an active and liquid trading market for our common stock will develop as a result of the spinoff or be sustained in the future. The lack of an active market may make it more difficult for you to sell our shares and could lead to our share price being depressed or more volatile.
Our common stock may have a low trading volume and limited liquidity, resulting from a lack of analyst coverage and institutional interest.
Our common stock may receive limited attention from market analysts. Lack of up-to-date analyst coverage may make it difficult for potential investors to fully understand our operations and business fundamentals, which may limit our trading volume. Such limited liquidity may impede the development of institutional interest in our common stock, and could limit the value of our common stock. Additionally, low trading volumes and lack of analyst coverage may limit your ability to resell your stock.
Our share price, and the value of your investment, may decline after the distribution.
We cannot predict the prices at which our common stock may trade after the spinoff. The market price of our common stock may fluctuate widely, depending on many factors, some of which may be beyond our control. In addition to the factors described above that could affect our business, and therefore our common stock price, the following factors may also contribute to fluctuations in our market price following the distribution:
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• | our business profile and market capitalization, which may not fit the investment objectives of some SGI shareholders and, as a result, these SGI shareholders may sell our shares after the distribution; |
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• | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results due to factors related to our business; |
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• | success or failure of our business strategy; |
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• | actual or anticipated changes in the U.S. and global economies; |
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• | our quarterly or annual earnings, or those of other companies in our industry; |
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• | our ability to obtain third-party financing as needed; |
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• | announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions or dispositions; |
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• | the failure of securities analysts to cover our common stock after the spinoff; |
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• | changes in earnings estimates by securities analysts or our ability to meet those estimates; |
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• | the operating and stock price performance of comparable companies; |
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• | overall market fluctuations; |
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• | changes in laws and regulations affecting our business; |
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• | actual or anticipated sales or distributions of our capital stock by our officers, directors or certain significant shareholders; |
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• | terrorist acts or wars; and |
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• | general economic and market conditions. |
These factors could affect the price of the A-Mark stock differently than their effect, to the extent applicable, on the SGI common stock had the spinoff not taken place. If the market price for our common stock were to decline following the distribution, the value of your investment would decline, although it might not have done so, or might not have done so to the same extent, had the spinoff not occurred.
Substantial sales of common stock may occur in connection with the spinoff, which could cause the price of our common stock to decline.
Although we have no actual knowledge of any plan or intention on the part of any significant shareholder to sell our capital stock following the spinoff, it is possible that some shareholders, possibly including our significant shareholders, will sell shares of our capital stock if, for reasons such as our business profile or market capitalization as a company independent from SGI, we do not fit their investment objectives. Sales of a substantial number of shares of common stock could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and could impair our future ability to raise capital through an offering of our equity securities.
The common stock held by our “affiliates” may be sold in the public market only if registered or if the holders thereof qualify for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, summarized under “Shares Eligible for Future Sale.” Individuals who may be considered our affiliates after the spinoff include individuals who control, are controlled by or are under common control with us, as those terms generally are interpreted for federal securities law purposes. These individuals may include some or all of our directors and executive officers.
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 that will become effective at the time of the distribution 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 and by providing our board 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 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 will 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 in the future and because of equity awards we intend to grant as part of the replacement and adjustment of outstanding SGI equity awards held by SGI and A-Mark employees and directors. See “Executive Compensation – Treatment of Equity-Based Compensation as a Result of the Spinoff.” We intend to establish equity incentive plans that will provide 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 would dilute your percentage ownership.
Our board and management will likely beneficially own a sizeable percentage of our common stock and will therefore have the ability to exert substantial influence as shareholders.
After giving effect to the distribution, members of our board and management are expected to beneficially own over 43% 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.
Risks Relating to the Spinoff
If the distribution is determined to be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our shareholders could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities.
It is a condition to the spinoff that SGI shall have received the written opinion of Kramer Levin, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to SGI, to the effect that the spinoff will qualify 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 will be recognized by SGI upon the distribution of our common stock in the spinoff, and (ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by, and no amount will be 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 will rely on certain representations and covenants to be 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 receives 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. For a more detailed discussion, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”
We might not be able to engage in desirable strategic transactions and equity issuances following the distribution because of restrictions relating to U.S. federal income tax requirements for tax-free distributions.
Our ability to engage in significant equity transactions will be limited or restricted after the distribution in order to preserve for U.S. federal income tax purposes the tax-free nature of the distribution by SGI. Even if the distribution otherwise qualifies for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code, it may be taxable to SGI if 50% or more, by vote or value, of shares of our common stock or SGI’s common stock are acquired or issued as part of a plan or series of related transactions that includes the distribution. For this purpose, any acquisitions or issuances of SGI’s common stock within two years before the distribution, and any acquisitions or issuances of our or SGI’s common stock within two years after the distribution, generally are presumed to be part of such a plan, although we or SGI may be able to rebut that presumption. If an acquisition or issuance of shares of our common stock or SGI’s common stock triggers the application of Section 355(e) of the Code, SGI would recognize a taxable gain to the extent the fair market value of our common stock immediately prior to the distribution exceeds SGI’s tax basis in our common stock at such time.
Under the tax separation agreement, there will be restrictions on our ability to take actions that could cause the distribution to fail to qualify for favorable treatment under the Internal Revenue Code. These restrictions may prevent us from entering into transactions which might be advantageous to us or our shareholders. For a description of the tax separation agreement, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Agreements with SGI—Tax Separation Agreement.”
We may be unable to achieve some or all of the benefits that we expect to achieve from our spinoff from SGI.
As a publicly traded company independent from SGI, we believe that our business will benefit from, among other things, allowing us to better focus our financial and operational resources on our specific business, allowing our management to design and implement corporate strategies and policies that are based primarily on the characteristics and strategic decisions of our business, allowing us to more effectively respond to industry dynamics and allowing the creation of effective incentives for our management and employees that are more closely tied to our business performance. However, we may not be able to achieve some or all of the benefits that we expect to achieve as a company independent from SGI in the time we expect, or at all.
If the spinoff is consummated, SGI intends to deregister its shares under the Securities Exchange Act.
If the spinoff is consummated, SGI intends to reduce the number of record holders of its common stock to fewer than 300 and to terminate the registration of its common stock under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act. SGI intends to do this by means of an amendment to its certificate of incorporation, in which the shares of SGI common stock will be reverse split in the ratio of one to 1,000. As a result, SGI shareholders who own 999 or fewer shares of SGI common stock will cease to be shareholders of SGI and will receive $0.65 in cash for each SGI share that they previously owned. SGI will then file a Form 15 with the SEC to terminate the registration of its shares under the Securities Exchange Act, with the result that SGI will no longer be required to file periodic and other reports with the SEC. While SGI anticipates that its shares will be quoted on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol “SPGZ,” following deregistration, SGI will no longer be required to file periodic reports and other information with the SEC. As a consequence, less information will be available concerning the business and operations of SGI, and the SGI shares may trade at lower prices (adjusted for the stock split) than they otherwise might have traded.
The combined post-distribution value of our common stock and SGI common stock may not equal or exceed the pre-distribution value of SGI common stock.
We cannot assure you that the combined trading prices of SGI common stock, as adjusted for the reverse stock split described above, and our common stock after the distribution, as adjusted for any other changes in the combined capitalization of these companies, will be equal to or greater than the trading price of SGI common stock prior to the distribution. Furthermore, until the market has fully evaluated our business, the price at which shares of our common stock trade may fluctuate significantly.
Our historical consolidated financial information is not necessarily representative of the results we would have achieved as a publicly traded company independent from SGI and may not be a reliable indicator of our future results.
The historical financial information we have included in this Prospectus may not reflect what our results of operations, financial position and cash flows would have been had we been a publicly traded company independent from SGI, during the periods presented, or what our results of operations, financial position and cash flows will be in the future when we are independent from SGI. This is primarily because:
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• | our historical financial information reflects allocations for certain services and expenses historically provided to us by SGI that may not reflect the costs we will incur for similar services in the future as a company independent from SGI; and |
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• | our historical financial information does not reflect changes that we expect to experience in the future as a result of our spinoff from SGI, including changes in the cost structure, personnel needs, financing and operations of our business. |
Following the spinoff, we also will be responsible for the additional costs associated with being a publicly traded company independent from SGI, including costs related to corporate governance and public reporting. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that our historical financial information presented herein will be indicative of our future results.
For additional information about our past financial performance and the basis of presentation of our financial statements, see “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
SGI has obtained an opinion to the effect that it will be solvent following the spinoff, but there can be no assurance that SGI will not enter insolvency proceedings.
As a condition to the spinoff, SGI will obtain the opinion of its financial advisor that, subject to the limitations and qualifications contained in the opinion, following the distribution, the assets of SGI will exceed its debts (including contingent liabilities) at a fair valuation; SGI should be able to pay its debts (including contingent liabilities) as they become due; and SGI will not have an unreasonably small amount of assets (or capital) for the businesses in which it is engaged or in which its management has indicated it intends to engage. There is no assurance, however, that after the spinoff, SGI will not be subject to bankruptcy or other insolvency proceedings. If that were the case, SGI creditors may allege that SGI was insolvent at the time of the distribution, or was rendered insolvent as a result of the distribution, such that the distribution constituted a fraudulent conveyance, and such creditors could seek to recover the A-Mark shares distributed in the spinoff or their value.
As disclosed in SGI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, in May 2006, Spanish judicial authorities shut down the operations of Afinsa and began an investigation related to alleged criminal wrongdoing, including money laundering, fraud, tax evasion and criminal insolvency. The Spanish criminal investigation initially focused on Afinsa and certain of its executives and was later expanded to include several former officers and directors of SGI and Central de Compras, including Greg Manning, a former chief
executive officer of SGI. The allegations against Afinsa and the certain named individuals relate to the central claim that Afinsa's business operations constituted a fraudulent “Ponzi scheme,” whereby funds received from later investors were used to pay interest to earlier investors, and that the stamps that were the subject of the investment contracts were highly overvalued. Spanish authorities have alleged that Mr. Manning knew Afinsa's business, and aided and abetted in its activity by, among other things, causing SGI to supply allegedly overvalued stamps to Afinsa.
SGI understands that, under Spanish law that, if any of the former officers or directors of SGI or its subsidiary were ultimately found guilty, then, under the principle of secondary civil liability, SGI could be held liable for certain associated damages. In July 2013, the Spanish judicial authorities determined to bring formal charges of indictment against certain persons formerly associated with Afinsa and SGI, including Mr. Manning. The charges include a civil demand for substantial monetary damages. On October 7, 2013, the Spanish court issued an order naming SGI as a party, on a secondary civil liability basis, to the proceedings. SGI has not appeared in the proceedings and is therefore not yet subject to the jurisdiction of the Spanish courts. SGI will not appear unless and until it is adequately served and the Spanish court complies with all other requirements of applicable international treaties. If SGI is brought into the proceedings, it intends to defend its interests vigorously. We cannot, however, predict the outcome of the proceedings, and we cannot assure you that the solvency of SGI could not be deemed to be affected by the proceedings.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements made in this Prospectus contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our future financial performance, business strategy, plans, goals and objectives.
Statements preceded or followed by, or that otherwise include, the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “project,” “estimates,” “plans,” “forecast,” “is likely to” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “may,” “would,” “should” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of SGI’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ from those set forth in the forward- looking statements:
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• | our inability to execute our growth strategy; |
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• | our inability to maintain the security of customer or company information; |
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• | the impact of complying with laws and regulations relating to our trading and financing operations; |
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• | changes in our liquidity and capital requirements; |
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• | changes in the political or economic environments of the countries in which we do business; |
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• | the loss of key management or trading personnel; |
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• | the inability of our historical financial statements to be indicative of our future performance; |
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• | the impact of increased costs associated with being a public company; |
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• | our inability to maintain effective internal controls as a public company; |
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• | our inability or determination not to pay dividends; |
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• | low trading volume of our capital stock due to limited liquidity or a lack of analyst coverage; |
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• | the ability of our principal shareholders to exert substantial control over us or prevent a change of control; |
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• | the costs to shareholders in the event the spinoff is determined to be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
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• | our inability to engage in desirable strategic transactions and equity issuances due to restrictions related to the tax free nature of the distribution; and |
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• | our failure to fully realize expected benefits from the spinoff. |
Certain of these and other factors are discussed in more detail in “Risk Factors” in this Prospectus. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this Prospectus. While we believe that our forecasts and assumptions are reasonable, we caution that actual results may differ materially. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what we projected. Consequently, actual events and results may vary significantly from those included in or contemplated or implied by our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this Prospectus are made only as of the date of this Prospectus, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement made by us or on our behalf, whether as a result of new information, future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise.
THE SPINOFF
General
On October 15, 2013, SGI announced its plan to spinoff A-Mark as a publicly traded company independent from SGI, to be accomplished by means of a pro rata dividend to SGI’s shareholders.
On ___________, 2014, the distribution date, each SGI shareholder will receive one share of A-Mark common stock for every four shares of SGI common stock held as of the close of business on the record date of [●], 2014. No fractional shares of A-Mark common stock will be distributed, and cash will be distributed in lieu of fractional shares as described below.
The number of shares of SGI common stock for which one share of A-Mark common stock will be received is referred to as the distribution ratio. The distribution ratio was determined by the board of directors of SGI, in consultation with its advisors, with a view to satisfying the minimum price requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market, otherwise providing for a trading price in a range that will be attractive to investors and there being a sufficient number of outstanding shares for a liquid trading market. The distribution ratio was not determined on the basis of any specific formula.
Immediately following the distribution, SGI’s shareholders will own 100% of the general voting power of A-Mark. You will not be required to make any payment, surrender or exchange your common stock of SGI or take any other action to receive your shares of A-Mark common stock. Following the distribution, we will be a publicly traded company independent from SGI, and SGI will not retain any ownership interest in us.
The distribution of shares of our common stock as described in this Prospectus is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, and SGI is under no obligations to consummate the spinoff even if these conditions are satisfied. For a more detailed description of these conditions, see “—Spinoff Conditions” below.
Reasons for the Spinoff
SGI’s board of directors has determined that pursuing a disposition of A-Mark through a spinoff is in the best interests of SGI and its shareholders, and that separating A-Mark from SGI would provide, among other things, operational, managerial and market benefits to both A-Mark and SGI, including but not limited to the following expected benefits:
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• | Strategic Focus and Flexibility. The precious metals trading business of A-Mark and the collectibles business of SGI have different business models, require personnel with different skill sets and have different growth opportunities. SGI’s board of directors believes that following the spinoff, A-Mark and SGI will be better positioned to focus on their own needs, and be better able to dedicate resources to pursue appropriate growth opportunities and execute strategic plans best suited to their respective businesses. |
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• | Focused Management. The spinoff will allow management of each company to devote its time and attention to the development and implementation of corporate strategies and policies that are based primarily on the specific business characteristics of the respective companies. |
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• | Overhead Allocation. The spinoff will rationalize the allocation of overhead between the two companies. Currently, A-Mark supports the public company expense of both companies, an expense that the SGI Board believes is not justified for the collectibles business because of its smaller size. The spinoff will allow SGI to deregister under the Securities Exchange Act through a reverse stock split, which it currently intends to do following the spinoff. |
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• | Alignment of Compensation Incentives. The spinoff will allow each company to design more tailored compensation structures that better reflect its strategies, policies, and business characteristics. In particular, in the case of A-Mark, separate equity-based compensation arrangements should more closely align the interests of management with the interests of shareholders and more directly incentivize the employees of A-Mark, which will allow A-Mark to more efficiently recruit and retain its employees. |
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• | Improved Market Presence. SGI’s board of directors believes that the spinoff will increase investor understanding of A‑Mark and its market position within its industry, while also allowing for a more natural and interested investor base. Separating A-Mark from SGI also allows investors to make independent decisions with respect to each of SGI and A-Mark based on, among other factors, their different business models, strategies and industries. |
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• | Enhanced Visibility and Respectability. The SGI board believes that, as a standalone public company, A-Mark will have greater visibility and enhanced respectability among its customers, suppliers and trading counterparties. The SGI board is hopeful that, in addition to being a business driver, this visibility will lead to debt and equity financing opportunities to support the growth of the precious metals trading business. |
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• | Acquisition Currency. The spinoff will also provide A-Mark with its own publicly traded equity currency for pursuing acquisitions tailored to its business and business strategy. |
Manner of Effecting the Spinoff
For every four shares of SGI common stock that you own as of the close of business on [●], 2014, the record date, you will receive one share of our common stock. This is sometimes referred to as the distribution ratio. SGI will distribute shares of our common stock on __________, 2014, the distribution date. The distribution will be made by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, which will serve as the distribution agent and, thereafter, as transfer agent and registrar for our common stock. We estimate that it will take the distribution agent ten business days to complete the distribution of the A-Mark shares and the cash paid in lieu of fractional shares. However, shareholders will be deemed to own their shares of A-Mark common stock as of the distribution date.
Distribution of A-Mark Shares
The distribution will be made in book-entry form. If you hold your SGI common stock in “street name,” that is in a securities account at a bank, brokerage firm or other financial institution that is a direct or indirect participant in the Depository Trust Company (DTC), your shares of A-Mark common stock will be credited to the same account, in accordance with the practices and procedures of the DTC. If you have any questions concerning the mechanics of having shares held in “street name,” we encourage you to contact your bank, brokerage firm or other financial institution at which you maintain your securities account.
If you do not hold your SGI common stock in “street name,” and your shares are either certificated or held through SGI’s direct registration system, your shares of A-Mark common stock will be issued through A-Mark’s direct registration system. This means that you will not receive a physical certificate for your shares of A-Mark common stock. Instead, the shares will be registered in your name on the books and records of our transfer agent, and you will receive an account statement from our transfer agent evidencing the ownership of your shares. If your SGI shares are certificated, you will not be required to surrender the certificate representing your SGI shares in order to receive your A-Mark shares.
Fractional Shares
Fractional shares of common stock will not be distributed to SGI’s shareholders. Instead, the distribution agent will aggregate fractional shares into whole shares, sell the whole shares in the open market at prevailing market prices and distribute the aggregate net cash proceeds of the sales pro rata to each holder who otherwise would have been entitled to receive a fractional share in the distribution. The distribution agent, in its sole discretion, without any influence by SGI or us, will determine when, how, through which broker-dealer and at what price to sell the whole shares. Any broker-dealer used by the distribution agent will not be an affiliate of either SGI or us.
If your SGI shares are certificated, or you hold your shares through SGI’s direct registration system, you will receive a check from the distribution agent for the cash you are owed in lieu of a fractional share of A-Mark common stock. If you hold your SGI shares in “street name,” any cash to which you are entitled in lieu of a fractional share of A-Mark common stock will be electronically credited to the account in which your SGI shares are held.
Results of the Spinoff
After our separation from SGI, we will be a publicly traded company independent from SGI.
Our outstanding capital stock immediately following the distribution will consist of approximately [●] shares of common stock, based on the number of shares of SGI common stock outstanding on the record date and the distribution ratio. Shares of our common stock that SGI will receive in respect of SGI treasury shares, if any, will be contributed to us for cancellation immediately following the distribution.
The distribution will not affect the number of outstanding shares of SGI common stock or any rights of SGI’s shareholders. The distribution will occur prior to the proposed reverse split of the SGI common stock to facilitate the deregistration of the SGI common stock under the Securities Exchange Act, and will not be affected by the reverse split. See “—Deregistration of SGI Common Stock” below.
Immediately following the distribution, we expect to have approximately 716 shareholders of record, based on the number of registered holders of SGI common stock on January 29, 2014.
Trading and Listing
Trading and Listing of A-Mark Common Stock
As of the date of this Prospectus, we are a wholly-owned subsidiary of SGI. Accordingly, there is currently no public market for our capital stock. We intend to list our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “AMRK” and expect that trading will begin the first trading day after the completion of the distribution.
We do not plan to have a “when-issued” market for our common stock prior to the distribution. “When-issued” trading in the context of a spinoff refers to a transaction effected on or before the distribution date and made conditionally because the securities of the spun-off entity have not yet been distributed. On the first trading day following the distribution date, we expect that “regular-way” trading will begin. “Regular-way” trading refers to trading after the security has been distributed and typically involves a trade that settles on the third full trading day following the date of the sale transaction.
Transferability of A-Mark Common Stock
The shares of A-Mark common stock distributed to SGI shareholders will be freely transferable, except for shares received by entities and individuals who are our affiliates. Entities and individuals who may be considered our affiliates after the spinoff include entities and individuals who control, are controlled by or are under common control with us, as those terms generally are interpreted for federal securities law purposes. These entities and individuals may include some or all of our directors and executive officers. Individuals who are our affiliates will be permitted to sell their shares of A-Mark common stock only pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, such as the exemptions afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act or Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
Trading of SGI Common Stock
Up to and including the distribution date, the SGI common stock will trade on the “regular-way” market; that is, with an entitlement to shares of A-Mark common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. SGI common stock will not trade on an ex-distribution market; that is, without an entitlement to shares of A-Mark common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. Therefore, if you sell SGI common stock up to and including the distribution date, you will be selling your right to receive shares of A-Mark common stock in the distribution. Following the distribution, SGI expects that its common stock will be quoted on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol “SPGZ.”
Other
Neither we nor SGI can assure you as to the trading price of SGI common stock or the A-Mark common stock after the spinoff, or as to whether the combined trading prices of our common stock and the SGI common stock after the spinoff will be equal to or greater than the trading prices of SGI common stock prior to the spinoff. The trading price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly following the spinoff. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Common Stock and the Distribution.”
Deregistration of SGI Common Stock
If the spinoff is consummated, SGI intends to reduce the number of record holders of its common stock to fewer than 300 and to terminate the registration of its common stock under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act. SGI intends to do
this by means of an amendment to its certificate of incorporation, in which the shares of SGI common stock will be reverse split in the ratio of one to 1,000. As a result, SGI shareholders who own 999 or fewer shares of SGI common stock will cease to be shareholders of SGI and will receive $0.65 in cash for each SGI share that they previously owned. SGI will then file a Form 15 with the SEC to terminate the registration of its shares under the Securities Exchange Act, with the result that SGI will no longer be required to file periodic and other reports with the SEC. It is expected that SGI common stock will be quoted on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol “SPGZ” following the deregistration of its shares under the Securities Exchange Act.
A special meeting of SGI shareholders to approve the amendment to its certificate of incorporation is scheduled for _______,2014. SGI has filed a Schedule 13E-3 with SEC concerning the reverse stock split and the deregistration, and will be separately distributing to its shareholders proxy materials for the special meeting.
The reverse stock split will occur only after the distribution is consummated. Accordingly, all SGI shareholders will receive A‑Mark common stock in the spinoff even if they will cease to be SGI shareholders as a result of the reverse split, unless they own fewer than four shares of SGI common stock.
The reverse split is not a condition to the spinoff, and SGI intends to proceed with the spinoff even if it appears for any reason that the reverse stock split will or may not occur.
Spinoff Conditions
The following events or circumstances will occur or be in effect prior to the spinoff. These are referred to as the conditions to the spinoff, although they may be waived or modified by SGI in its sole discretions, and SGI may determine not to proceed with the spinoff, as explained below, even if all the conditions are satisfied. These conditions are—
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• | the SGI board of directors has authorized and approved the distribution and related transactions and declared a dividend of A-Mark common stock to SGI shareholders; |
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• | the distribution agreement and tax separation agreement between A‑Mark and SGI have been executed; |
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• | the Securities and Exchange Commission has declared effective our Registration Statement on Form S-1, of which this Prospectus is a part, under the Securities Act, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the SEC; |
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• | our common stock has been accepted for listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, subject to official notice of issuance; |
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• | SGI has received the written opinion of its counsel, Kramer Levin, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to SGI, to the effect that the spinoff will qualify 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 will be recognized by SGI upon the distribution of our common stock in the spinoff, and (ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by, and no amount will be included in the income of, holders of SGI common stock upon the receipt of shares of our common stock in the spinoff; |
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• | SGI has received a written solvency opinion from a financial advisor, in form and substance acceptable to the SGI, regarding the spinoff and related transactions; |
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• | there is no order, injunction or decree issued by any governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing consummation of the distribution, and no other event outside the control of SGI has occurred or failed to occur that prevents the consummation of the distribution; |
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• | no other events or developments have occurred prior to the distribution that, in the judgment of the board of directors of SGI, would result in the distribution having a material adverse effect on SGI or the shareholders of SGI; |
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• | this Prospectus has been made available to the holders of SGI common stock as of the record date; |
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• | the individuals listed in this Prospectus as members of our post-spinoff board of directors have been duly elected, so that they will be the members of our board of directors immediately after the spinoff; |
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• | each individual who is an officer or director of SGI immediately prior to the spinoff, and who will be an officer or director of A‑Mark immediately after the spinoff, has tendered to SGI his or her resignation, effective upon the deregistration of the SGI shares under the Securities Exchange Act, other than Gregory N. Roberts, who will remain an officer and director of SGI, and Carol Meltzer, who will remain and officer and become a director of SGI. (However, Mr. Roberts and Ms. Meltzer will be employees of A-Mark and will not be employees of SGI); and |
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• | our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, each in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, will be in effect. |
The fulfillment of these conditions will not create any obligation on the part of SGI to effect the spinoff. Even if all the conditions are satisfied, SGI will not be obligated to complete the spinoff. At any time prior to the distribution, the board of directors of SGI may determine, in its sole discretion, that the spinoff is not in the best interests of SGI or its shareholders, or that market conditions are such that it is not advisable to effect the distribution, or it may determine to abandon the spinoff for another reason. In addition, SGI may at any time until the distribution decide to modify or change the terms of the distribution, including by delaying the timing of the consummation of the distribution. If SGI makes any material change to the terms of the spinoff prior to the distribution, we will amend the Registration Statement or supplement this Prospectus as appropriate.
Regulatory Requirements
We are not aware of any material federal or state regulatory requirements that must be complied with or any material approvals that must be obtained, other than compliance with SEC rules and regulations, and the declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement by the SEC, in connection with the distribution.
Reason for Furnishing this Prospectus
This Prospectus is being furnished solely to provide information to SGI shareholders who will receive shares of A-Mark common stock in the distribution. It is not to be construed as an inducement or encouragement to buy or sell any of our securities or any securities of SGI, nor is it to be construed as a solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed distribution or any other matter. We believe that the information contained in this Prospectus is accurate as of the date set forth on the cover. Changes to the information contained in this Prospectus may occur after that date, and neither we nor SGI undertakes any obligation to update the information except in the normal course of our respective public disclosure obligations and practices.
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences (i) to SGI and to U.S. Holders of SGI common stock in connection with the spinoff and (ii) to non-U.S. Holders of SGI common stock, of holding our common stock following the spinoff constitutes the opinion of Kramer Levin. This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code, referred to as the Code, the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, in each case as in effect and available as of the date of this Prospectus and all of which are subject to change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. Any such change could affect the tax consequences described below.
This summary does not discuss all tax considerations that may be relevant to shareholders in light of their particular circumstances, nor does it address the consequences to shareholders subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as:
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• | dealers or traders in securities or currencies; |
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• | banks, financial institutions or insurance companies; |
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• | persons who acquired SGI common stock pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation; |
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• | holders owning SGI common stock as part of a position in a straddle or as part of a hedging, conversion or other risk reduction transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
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• | certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States; |
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• | holders who are subject to the alternative minimum tax; or |
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• | persons that own SGI common stock through partnerships or other pass-through entities. |
For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of SGI common stock that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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• | an individual who is a citizen or a resident of the United States; |
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• | a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
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• | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
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• | a trust, if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or (ii) in the case of a trust that was |
treated as a U.S. trust under the law in effect before 1997, a valid election is in place under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
A non-U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of SGI common stock that is not a U.S. Holder and that is not a partnership (or any other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes).
If a partnership (or any other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds SGI common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in that partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Such a partner or partnership should consult its own tax advisor as to the tax consequences of the Distribution.
This summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to SGI shareholders who do not hold SGI common stock as a capital asset. Moreover, this summary does not address any state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences or any estate, gift or other non-income tax consequences.
YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISTRIBUTION.
Consequences of the Spinoff to U.S. Holders
It is a condition to the spinoff that SGI shall have received the written opinion of Kramer Levin, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to SGI, to the effect that the spinoff will qualify as a tax-free transaction under Section 355 of the Code, and that for U.S. federal income tax purposes (i) no gain or loss will be recognized by SGI upon the distribution of our common stock in the spinoff, and (ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by, and no amount will be included in the income of, holders of SGI common stock upon the receipt of shares of our common stock in the spinoff. Assuming the distribution qualifies under Section 355 of the Code, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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• | no gain or loss will be recognized by SGI as a result of the distribution; |
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• | no gain or loss will be recognized by, or be includible in the income of, a holder of SGI common stock, solely as a result of the receipt of our common stock in the distribution; |
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• | the aggregate tax basis of the SGI common stock and shares of our common stock in the hands of an SGI shareholder immediately after the distribution will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the SGI common stock held by the holder immediately before the distribution, allocated among the SGI common stock and shares of our common stock, including any fractional share interest for which cash is received, in proportion to their relative fair market values on the date of the distribution; |
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• | the holding period of shares of our common stock received by an SGI shareholder, including any fractional share interest for which cash is received, will include the holding period of such shareholder’s SGI common stock; and |
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• | an SGI shareholder who receives cash in lieu of a fractional share of our common stock in the distribution will be treated as having sold such fractional share for cash and generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and such shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the fractional share. That gain or loss will be a long term capital gain or loss if the shareholder’s holding period for its SGI common stock exceeds one year. |
The opinion that SGI expects to receive from Kramer Levin will address all of the requirements necessary for the distribution to qualify under Section 355 of the Code and will be based on certain facts and assumptions, and certain representations and undertakings, provided by us and SGI. If any of these facts, representations, assumptions or undertakings is not correct or has been violated, the ability to rely on the opinion of counsel could be jeopardized. We are not aware of any facts or circumstances, however, that would cause these facts, representations or assumptions to be untrue or incomplete, or that would cause any of these undertakings to fail to be complied with, in any material respect.
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, 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. In addition, if the distribution were not to 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 receives 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. You could be taxed on the full value of the shares of our common stock that you receive, which generally would be treated first as a taxable dividend to the extent of SGI’s earnings and profits, then as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of your tax basis in your SGI common stock, and thereafter as capital gain with respect to any remaining value.
Even if the distribution otherwise qualifies for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code, it may result in corporate-level gain to SGI and certain of its affiliates under Section 355(e) of the Code if 50% or more, by vote or value, of our common stock or SGI’s common stock is acquired or issued as part of a plan or series of related transactions that includes the distribution. For this purpose, any acquisitions or issuances of SGI’s common stock within two years before the distribution and any acquisitions or issuances of our common stock or SGI’s common stock within two years after the distribution generally are presumed to be part of such a plan, although we or SGI may be able to rebut that presumption. We are not aware of any acquisitions or issuances of SGI’s common stock within the two years before the date of the distribution (up through the date of this Prospectus) that would be considered to be part of a plan or series of related transactions that includes the distribution or that would trigger the application of Section 355(e). If an acquisition or issuance of our common stock or SGI’s common stock triggers the application of Section 355(e) of the Code, SGI would recognize taxable gain as described above.
SGI’s shareholders that have acquired different blocks of SGI common stock at different times or at different prices should consult their tax advisors regarding the allocation of their aggregate adjusted basis among, and their holding period of, shares of our common stock distributed with respect to such blocks of SGI common stock.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Payments of cash in lieu of a fractional share of our common stock may, under certain circumstances, be subject to “backup withholding,” unless a holder provides proof of an applicable exemption or a correct taxpayer identification number, and otherwise complies with the requirements of the backup withholding rules. Corporations will generally be exempt from backup withholding, but may be required to provide a certification to establish their entitlement to the exemption. Backup withholding does not constitute an additional tax, but is merely an advance payment that may be refunded or credited against a holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability if the required information is supplied to the IRS on a timely basis.
U.S. Treasury Regulations require each U.S. Holder that immediately before the distribution owned 5% or more (by vote or value) of the total outstanding SGI common stock to attach to its U.S. federal income tax return for the year in which our common stock is received a statement setting forth certain information related to the distribution.
Consequences of Holding our Common Stock to Non-U.S. Holders
U.S. Trade or Business Income
For purposes of this discussion, dividend income and gain on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock will be considered to be ‘‘U.S. trade or business income’’ if such income or gain is (i) effectively connected with the conduct by a non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States and (ii) in the case of a non-U.S. Holder that is eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty with the United States, attributable to a permanent establishment (or, for an individual, a fixed base) maintained by the non-U.S. Holder in the United States. Generally, U.S. trade or business income is not subject to U.S. federal withholding tax (provided the non-U.S. Holder complies with applicable certification and disclosure requirements); instead, a non-U.S. Holder is subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at regular U.S. federal income tax rates (in the same manner as a U.S. person) on its U.S. trade or business income. Any U.S. trade or business income received by a non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a ‘‘branch profits tax’’ at a 30% rate, or at a lower rate prescribed by an applicable income tax treaty, under specific circumstances.
Dividends
In general (and subject to the discussion below under the heading “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act”), any distribution we make to a non-U.S. Holder with respect to our common stock that constitutes a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30%, or at a reduced rate prescribed by an applicable income tax treaty. A distribution will constitute a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. If the amount of a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess first will be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the non-U.S. Holder's tax basis in our common stock, and thereafter will be treated as capital gain. In order to obtain a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty, a non-U.S. Holder will be required to provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or other appropriate version of IRS Form W-8 certifying its entitlement to benefits under the treaty. A non-U.S. Holder of our common stock that is eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax under an income tax treaty may obtain a refund or credit of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for a refund with the IRS on a timely basis. A non-U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding its possible entitlement to benefits under an income tax treaty.
The U.S. federal withholding tax described in the preceding paragraph does not apply to dividends that represent U.S. trade or business income of a non-U.S. Holder who provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States. In such circumstances, dividends will be subject to tax on a net income basis as described above under the caption entitled ‘‘U.S. Trade or Business Income.’’
Gain on Sale or Other Disposition of our Common Stock
In general (and subject to the discussion below under the heading “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act”), a non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of any gain on a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock unless:
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• | the gain is U.S. trade or business income (as described above); |
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• | the non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the disposition and meets certain other conditions; or |
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• | we are or have been a "U.S. real property holding corporation" (which we refer to as USRPHC) under Section 897 of the Code at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition and the non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for our common stock, and either our stock is not regularly traded on an established securities market, or the non-U.S. Holder held more than five percent of our common stock at some time during such period. |
If an individual non-U.S. Holder is present in the United States for at least 183 days during the taxable year, the non-U.S. Holder may pay a flat 30% tax on the capital gains from the sale or other disposition of our common stock (other than those effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business), which may be offset by U.S.-source capital losses. In general, a corporation is a USRPHC if the fair market value of its ‘‘U.S. real property interests’’ equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its U.S. real property interests, its interests in real property located outside the U.S., and its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. We do not believe that we currently are a USRPHC, and we do not anticipate becoming a USRPHC in the future. However, no assurance can be given that we will not be a USRPHC during the non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for our common stock.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Under the provisions of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act of 2010 referred to as "FATCA," dividends with respect to and the gross proceeds from a sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock paid to certain non-U.S. persons, including certain foreign financial institutions and investment funds, could be subject to a 30% withholding tax unless such non-U.S. person complies with certain requirements, including reporting requirements regarding its direct and indirect U.S. shareholders and/or U.S. account holders. Such withholding could apply to payments made to a non-U.S. person regardless of whether the non-U.S. person is the beneficial owner of our common stock or holds our common stock for the account of others. To comply with the requirements of FATCA, we may, in appropriate circumstances, require non-U.S. holders of our common stock to provide information and documentation, including information regarding their direct and indirect owners.
The IRS has promulgated final regulations and subsequent additional guidance that generally provide that FATCA withholding will not be imposed with respect to payments made prior to July 1, 2014, and FATCA withholding tax on gross proceeds will not be imposed with respect to payments made prior to January 1, 2017. The U.S. Treasury is also in the process of signing intergovernmental agreements, referred to as IGAs, with other countries to implement the exchange of information under FATCA. Non-U.S. Holders of our common stock are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of FATCA and IGAs.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
We must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. Holder the amount of dividends paid to, and the tax withheld with respect to, each non-U.S. Holder. These reporting requirements apply regardless of whether withholding was reduced or eliminated by an applicable tax treaty. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific tax treaty or agreement with the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.
DIVIDEND POLICY
During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the year ended June 30, 2013 and the year ended June 30, 2011, the Company paid a cash dividend to SGI of $5.0 million, $15.0 million and $3.7 million, respectively. There were no dividends paid for the year ended June 30, 2012. SGI has not paid any dividends to its shareholders during the last five years.
We have as yet made no determination regarding our policy on the payment of dividends. We expect that, following the spinoff, our board or directors will make a determination on the payment of regular dividends based upon our financial performance,
need for operating liquidity, applicable covenants in our financing agreements, business development and expansion programs, market expectations and other relevant factors.
A-Mark’s credit facility has certain restrictive financial covenants that require A-Mark to maintain a minimum tangible net worth (as defined) of $25.0 million. Our ability to pay dividends, if our board determined to do so, could be limited as a result of this covenant. At September 30, 2013, the Company could make dividends payments without violating this covenant.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table presents our capitalization as of September 30, 2013 on an adjusted basis to give effect to the transactions, including:
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• | the authorization of A-Mark to authorize 10,000,000 preferred stock shares and to issue none of those shares; |
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• | the authorization of A-Mark to authorize 40,000,000 common stock shares and to issue 7,712,267 of those shares; and |
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• | the issuance to all SGI stockholders on the record date of one A-Mark share for every four SGI shares. |
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| As of September 30, 2013 |
| (in thousands) |
| Actual | | As Adjusted |
Debt Outstanding: | | | |
Lines of Credit | $ | 99,700 |
| | $ | 99,700 |
|
Total Debt | 99,700 |
| | 99,700 |
|
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Stockholders' Equity | | | |
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01; 10,000,000 authorized none issued and outstanding | — |
| | — |
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Common Stock, no par value; 200 shares authorized 100 shares issued and outstanding | 75 |
| | — |
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Common Stock, par value $0.01; 40,000,000 authorized 7,712,267 issued and outstanding | — |
| | 771 |
|
Additional paid-in capital | 24,406 |
| | 23,710 |
|
Retained earnings | 26,176 |
| | 26,176 |
|
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Total Capitalization (debt plus stockholders' equity) | $ | 150,357 |
| | $ | 150,357 |
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This table should also be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table includes the historical selected consolidated financial and other financial data of A-Mark. The consolidated statements of income data set forth below for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2013, June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 and consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The consolidated statements of income data set forth below for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012 and consolidated balance sheet data as of September 30, 2013 are derived from our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The consolidated statements of income data for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2010 and June 30, 2009 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2011, June 30, 2010 and June 30, 2009 are derived from consolidated financial statements that are not included in this Prospectus.
The selected historical consolidated financial and other financial data presented below should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this Prospectus. Our consolidated financial information may not be indicative
of our future performance and does not necessarily reflect what our financial position and results of operations would have been had we operated as a publicly traded company independent from SGI during the periods presented, including changes that will occur in our operations and capitalization as a result of the distribution and spinoff from SGI.
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| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Year Ended June 30, |
| | | | | | | | |
| 2013 (unaudited) | 2012 (unaudited) | | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 |
| (dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts) |
Consolidated Statements of Income |
Net revenues | $ | 1,495,979 |
| $ | 1,619,814 |
| | $ | 7,247,717 |
| | $ | 7,782,340 |
| | $ | 6,988,876 |
| | $ | 5,858,854 |
| | $ | 4,128,725 |
|
Net income | 2,366 |
| 1,685 |
| | 12,514 |
| | 10,574 |
| | 12,660 |
| | 6,573 |
| | 16,736 |
|
Basic and diluted weighted average common shares | 100 |
| 100 |
| | 100 |
| | 100 |
| | 100 |
| | 100 |
| | 100 |
|
Basic and diluted income per share | $ | 23,660 |
| $ | 16,850 |
| | $ | 125,140 |
| | $ | 105,740 |
| | $ | 126,603 |
| | $ | 65,730 |
| | $ | 167,360 |
|
Basic pro forma net income per share (1) unaudited | $ | 0.31 |
| $ | 0.21 |
| | $ | 1.61 |
| | $ | 1.29 |
| | $ | 1.56 |
| | $ | 0.82 |
| | $ | 2.16 |
|
Diluted pro forma net income per share (1) unaudited | $ | 0.30 |
| $ | 0.21 |
| | $ | 1.59 |
| | $ | 1.29 |
| | $ | 1.55 |
| | $ | 0.82 |
| | $ | 2.12 |
|
Basic pro forma weighted average common shares (1) unaudited | 7,729,500 |
| 8,195,750 |
| | 7,787,250 |
| | 8,169,750 |
| | 8,117,250 |
| | 7,984,500 |
| | 7,733,250 |
|
Diluted pro forma weighted average common shares (1) unaudited | 7,875,250 |
| 8,195,750 |
| | 7,858,500 |
| | 8,216,250 |
| | 8,181,000 |
| | 7,984,500 |
| | 7,912,500 |
|
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (at end of period) |
Total Assets | $ | 271,352 |
| $ | 338,608 |
| | $ | 309,608 |
| | $ | 309,115 |
| | $ | 285,469 |
| | $ | 181,367 |
| | $ | 152,078 |
|
Lines of Credit | $ | 99,700 |
| $ | 95,000 |
| | $ | 95,000 |
| | $ | 91,000 |
| | $ | 129,500 |
| | $ | 45,200 |
| | $ | 52,750 |
|
Total current liabilities | $ | 220,143 |
| $ | 255,802 |
| | $ | 255,802 |
| | $ | 253,211 |
| | $ | 240,604 |
| | $ | 145,643 |
| | $ | 104,462 |
|
__________
(1) Based on historical SGI basic and diluted weighted average shares of common stock, adjusted on a pro forma basis for the issuance of one share of A-Mark common stock for every four shares of SGI common stock outstanding in the respect periods.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes contained elsewhere in this Prospectus. 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 Prospectus, particularly in “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements.”
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 financial condition, the changes in our financial condition and the results of operations. Our discussion is organized as follows:
| |
• | Executive overview. This section provides a general description of our business, as well as recent significant transactions and events that we believe are important in understanding the results of operations, as well as to anticipate future trends in those operations. |
| |
• | Impact from the spinoff. This section provides a general description of how the spinoff will effect the results and operations of A-Mark as a standalone entity. |
| |
• | 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 and interim periods then ended. |
| |
• | 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 that existed as of the balance sheet date. 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. |
| |
• | 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 significant accounting policies, including critical accounting policies, are summarized in Note 2 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements. |
| |
• | Recent accounting pronouncements. This section discusses new accounting pronouncements, dates of implementation and impact on our accompanying consolidated financial statements, if any. |
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 and trading activity, A-Mark offers its customers a variety of services, including financing, consignment 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 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 storage business generates less than 1% of total revenues for each of the periods presented. 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 Strategy
The Company has grown from a small numismatics firm in 1965 to a significant participant in the bullion and coin markets, with over $7 billion in revenues in the year ended June 30, 2013. 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 of our existing, integrated operations; the depth of our customer relations; our access to market makers, suppliers and government and other mints; our trading offices in the U.S. and Europe, which are open even when the commodity markets are closed; our expansive precious metals dealer network; our depositary relationships around the world; our logistical capabilities; our trading expertise; and the quality and experience of our management.
Our Business Operations
The Company sells gold, silver, platinum and palladium products to a wide array of customers, including financial institutions, bullion retailers, industrial manufacturers, and sovereign mints. 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 grades primarily in the form of coins and bars.
Factors Affecting Revenues and Gross Profits
The Company operates in a high volume low margin industry. Revenues are impacted by three primary factors, product volume, market prices and market volatility, and 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 profit is the difference between our revenues and the cost to us of the products we sell. Since we quote prices
based on the current commodity market prices for precious metals, we enter in to a combination of forward and futures contracts exclusively 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 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.
The Company has also been able recently to increase incremental margins, with a corresponding increase in 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.
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. The following fiscal periods are presented in this report.
|
| | |
Fiscal Year | | Ended |
| | |
2011 | | June 30, 2011 |
2012 | | June 30, 2012 |
2013 | | June 30, 2013 |
The Spinoff
On October 15, 2013, SGI announced its plan to spinoff A-Mark as a publicly traded company independent from SGI, to be accomplished by means of a pro rata dividend to SGI’s shareholders. On the distribution date, each SGI shareholder will receive one share of A-Mark common stock for every four shares of SGI common stock held as of the close of business on the
record date. No fractional shares of A-Mark common stock will be distributed, and cash will be distributed in lieu of fractional shares as described below.
Immediately following the distribution, SGI’s shareholders will own 100% of the general voting power of A-Mark. Following the distribution, we will be a publicly traded company independent from SGI, and SGI will not retain any ownership interest in us.
The distribution of shares of our common stock as described in this Prospectus is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, and SGI is under no obligations to consummate the spinoff even if these conditions are satisfied. For a more detailed description of these conditions, see the section entitled “The Spinoff—Spinoff Conditions” in this Prospectus.
Corporate Services and Other Corporate Charges: Historically, SGI has provided us with a variety of corporate services and our financial statements include an allocation for SGI services and other corporate charges such as audit fees, anti-money laundering compliance fees, and SEC filing tools and fees. For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, we allocated for these service expenses and other corporate charges, amounts of $0.4 million and $0.5 million, respectively. For the years ended June 30, 2013, 2012 and 2011, we allocated for these services expenses and other corporate charges of $2.0 million, $2.1 million and $3.1 million, respectively. These amounts were allocated based on (1) the estimated percentage of the service or corporate charge utilized by A-Mark and (2) the specific costs associated with A-Mark employees. We believe that this allocation methodology is reasonable. However, such allocated services and other corporate charges, although arrived at through a reasonable method, may not be indicative of the actual level of expense that would have been incurred or will be incurred by us when we operate as a publicly traded company independent of SGI. None of these services will be provided to the Company by SGI subsequent to the spinoff.
We expect increased costs related to being a publicly traded company and increased costs related to establishing stand alone services. We estimate these cost increases to range from $2.0 million to $3.0 million annually including our current corporate allocation. We estimate the non-recurring costs related to establishing the standalone services service to be immaterial.
Spinoff Transaction Costs: All expenses relating to the spinoff will be borne by SGI ,and the Company will not incur any costs related to the spinoff.
Results of Operations
Overview of Results of Operations for the Three-Months Ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012
Results of Operations
The operating results of our business for the three-months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012 are as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, |
| (dollars in thousands except per share amounts) (unaudited) |
| 2013 | | % of Net revenues | | 2012 | | % of Net revenues | |
NET REVENUES | $ | 1,495,979 |
| | 100.0 | % | | $ | 1,619,814 |
| | 100.0 | % | |
COST OF SALES AND EXPENSES | | | | | | | | |
Cost of Sales | 1,488,796 |
| | 99.5 | % | | 1,614,669 |
| | 99.7 | % | |
Gross Profit | 7,183 |
| | 0.5 | % | | 5,145 |
| | 0.3 | % | |
Selling, general and administrative | 3,849 |
| | 0.3 | % | | 3,204 |
| | 0.2 | % | |
Total cost of sales and expenses | 1,492,645 |
| | 99.8 | % | | 1,617,873 |
| | 99.9 | % | |
INTEREST INCOME | 1,504 |
| | 0.1 | % | | 2,052 |
| | 0.1 | % | |
INTEREST EXPENSE | (988 | ) | | (0.1 | )% | | (929 | ) | | (0.1 | )% | |
OTHER INCOME (LOSS) | 36 |
| | — | % | | (26 | ) | | — | % | |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 3,886 |
| | 0.3 | % | | 3,038 |
| | 0.2 | % | |
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES | (1,520 | ) | | (0.1 | )% | | (1,353 | ) | | (0.1 | )% | |
NET INCOME | $ | 2,366 |
| | 0.2 | % | | $ | 1,685 |
| | 0.1 | % | |
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE | | | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted income per common share (1) | $ | 23,664 |
| | | | $ | 16,843 |
| | | |
Basic pro forma income per common share (2) unaudited | 0.31 |
| | | | 0.21 |
| | | |
Fully diluted pro forma weighted average income per common shares outstanding (2) unaudited | 0.30 |
| | | | 0.21 |
| | | |
| |
(1) | Basic and diluted income per share based on actual A-Mark shares outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. |
(2) Pro Forma Basic and Diluted Income per shares based on historical SGI basic and fully diluted share figures, adjusted on a pro forma basis of one share of A-Mark stock issued for every four shares of SGI stock held.
Overview of Results of Operations for the Years Ended June 30, 2013, 2012 and 2011
Results of Operations
The operating results of our business for the years ended June 30, 2013, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended June 30, |
| (dollars in thousands except per share amounts) |
| 2013 | | % of Net revenues | | 2012 | | % of Net revenues | | 2011 | | % of Net revenues |
NET REVENUES | $ | 7,247,717 |
| | 100.0 | % | | $ | 7,782,340 |
| | 100.0 | % | | $ | 6,988,876 |
| | 100.0 | % |
COST OF SALES AND EXPENSES | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of Sales | 7,217,370 |
| | 99.6 | % | | 7,755,900 |
| | 99.7 | % | | 6,959,092 |
| | 99.6 | % |
Gross Profit | 30,347 |
| | 0.4 | % | | 26,440 |
| | 0.3 | % | | 29,784 |
| | 0.4 | % |
Selling, general and administrative | 14,120 |
| | 0.2 | % | | 15,563 |
| | 0.2 | % | | 13,455 |
| | 0.2 | % |
Total cost of sales and expenses | 7,231,490 |
| | 99.8 | % | | 7,771,463 |
| | 99.9 | % | | 6,972,547 |
| | 99.8 | % |
INTEREST INCOME | 7,793 |
| | 0.1 | % | | 12,225 |
| | 0.2 | % | | 8,926 |
| | 0.1 | % |
INTEREST EXPENSE | (3,484 | ) | | — | % | | (4,248 | ) | | (0.1 | )% | | (3,324 | ) | | — | % |
OTHER INCOME (LOSS) | 30 |
| | — | % | | 62 |
| | — | % | | (187 | ) | | — | % |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 20,566 |
| | 0.3 | % | | 18,916 |
| | 0.2 | % | | 21,744 |
| | 0.3 | % |
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES | (8,052 | ) | | (0.1 | )% | | (8,342 | ) | | (0.1 | )% | | (9,084 | ) | | (0.1 | )% |
NET INCOME | $ | 12,514 |
| | 0.2 | % | | $ | 10,574 |
| | 0.1 | % | | $ | 12,660 |
| | 0.2 | % |
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted income per common share (1) | $ | 125,138 |
| | | | $ | 105,740 |
| | | | $ | 126,603 |
| | |
Basic pro forma income per common share (2) unaudited | 1.61 |
| | | | 1.29 |
| | | | 1.56 |
| | |
Fully diluted pro forma weighted average income per common shares outstanding (2) unaudited | 1.59 |
| | | | 1.29 |
| | | | 1.55 |
| | |
| |
(1) | Basic and diluted income per share based on actual A-Mark shares outstanding in 2013, 2012 and 2011. |
| |
(2) | Pro Forma Basic and Diluted Income per shares based on historical SGI basic and fully diluted share figures, adjusted on a pro forma basis of one share of A-Mark stock issued for every four shares of SGI stock held. |
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
Revenues
Revenues decreased $123.8 million, or 7.6%, to $1.50 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2013 from $1.62 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2012. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the average precious metals prices, as well as a decrease in silver ounces sold. The gold ounces sold was practically unchanged.
Gross Profit
Our gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2013 increased $2.0 million to $7.2 million, or a gross profit margin of 0.48%, from $5.2 million, or a gross profit margin of 0.32% for the three months ended September 30, 2012. The Company’s gross profit and profit margin percentage improved as a result of the higher level of volatility experienced in the precious metals commodity markets in the first quarter of the Company’s fiscal year 2014. Gross profits and profit margin percentages also increased as a result of a number of distribution contracts for bullion marketed to the retail public that the Company executed during the year ended June 30, 2013, under its standard trading terms with no right of return.
Selling General and Administrative
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.6 million, or 20.2%, to $3.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 from $3.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. This is primarily attributable to a higher level if discretionary compensation expenses and a signing bonus compared to the prior year quarter.
Interest Income
Interest income decreased $0.5 million, or 26.7%, to $1.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 from $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. Interest income results primarily from our financing of bullion products and secured bullion and numismatic lending. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in commodity prices which decreased the gross value of the financing and liquidity services we provide to our customers.
Interest Expense
Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2013 increased $0.1 million or 6.4% to $1.0 million from $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. This increase related primarily to our increased usage of our borrowing facility with a group of financial institutions, which we refer to as our Trading Credit Facility. We believe the interest rates paid on borrowings under our Trading Credit Facility are consistent with current market interest rates for first lien demand loans secured by inventory and receivables. We utilize our Trading Credit Facility extensively for working capital requirements. For the three months ended September 30, 2013, our average debt balance was approximately $110.9 million, as compared to $109.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012.
Provision for Income Taxes
Our provision for income taxes was approximately $1.5 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Our effective tax rate was 39.1% and 44.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Our effective tax rate decreased primarily due to state timing differences. The Company's effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate due to permanent adjustments for nondeductible items, and state tax rate differentials.
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 we operate. We are also subject to changing tax laws, regulations and interpretations in multiple jurisdictions in which we operate. Our 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.
Income per Common Share
For the three months ended September 30, 2013, basic and diluted earnings per share were $23,664 compared to $16,843 in three months ended September 30, 2012. Earnings per share is based on the Company’s weighted average basic and
diluted shares outstanding which totaled 100 shares in the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. The change in earnings per share was due to changes in our net income. Basic and diluted earnings per share (on a pro-forma basis) were $0.31 and $0.30, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to $0.21 and $0.21 in the same period ended 2012. The change in both basic and diluted pro-forma earnings per share was primarily due to changes in our net income.
Year Ended June 30, 2013 Compared to Year Ended June 30, 2012
Revenues
Revenues for the year ended June 30, 2013 decreased $534.6 million, or 6.9%, to $7.25 billion from $7.78 billion in 2012. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the average precious metals prices, as well as a decrease in silver ounces sold. This was partially offset by an increase in gold ounces sold.
Gross Profit
Our gross profit for the year ended June 30, 2013 increased $3.9 million to $30.3 million, or a gross profit margin of 0.42%, from $26.4 million, or a gross profit margin of 0.34% in 2012. The Company’s gross profit and profit margin percentage improved as a result of the high level of volatility experienced in the precious metals commodity markets in the fourth quarter of the Company’s fiscal year. Gross profits and profit margin percentages also increased as a result of a number of distribution contracts for bullion marketed to the retail public that the Company executed during the 2013 fiscal year, under its standard trading terms with no right of return.
Selling General and Administrative
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $1.5 million, or 9.6%, to $14.1 million in 2013 from $15.6 million in 2012. This is primarily attributable to the recording of a $1.0 million reserve for a potential shortfall in our commodities accounts with M.F. Global, Inc. in 2012 of which $0.7 million was reversed in 2013 as a result of the Company’s sale of the claim.
Interest Income
Interest income decreased $4.4 million, or 36.1%, to $7.8 million for the year ended June 30, 2013 from $12.2 million in 2012. Interest Income results primarily from our financing of bullion products and secured bullion and numismatic lending. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in commodity prices which decreased the gross value of the financing and liquidity services we provide to our customers.
Interest Expense
Interest expense for the year ended June 30, 2013 decreased $0.7 million or 16.7% to $3.5 million for the year ended June 30, 2013 from $4.2 million in 2012. This decrease related primarily to our decreased usage of our borrowing facility with a group of financial institutions, which we refer to as our Trading Credit Facility. We believe the interest rates paid on borrowings under our Trading Credit Facility are consistent with current market interest rates for first lien demand loans secured by inventory and receivables. We utilize our Trading Credit Facility extensively for working capital requirements. For the year ended June 30, 2013, our average debt balance was approximately $102.3 million, as compared to $122.6 million in 2012.
Provision for Income Taxes
Our provision for income taxes was approximately $8.1 million and $8.3 million for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Our effective tax rate was 39.2% and 44.1% for the year ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Our effective tax rate decreased primarily due to state timing differences. The Company's effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate due to permanent adjustments for nondeductible items, state taxes and foreign tax rate differentials.
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 we operate. We are also subject to changing tax laws, regulations and interpretations in multiple jurisdictions in which we operate. Our 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.
Income per Common Share
For the year ended June 30, 2013, basic and diluted earnings per share were $125,138 in 2013 compared to $105,740 in 2012. Earnings per share is based on the Company’s weighted average basic and diluted shares outstanding which totaled 100 shares in fiscal 2013 and 2012. The change in earnings per share was due to changes in our net income. Basic earnings per share (on a pro-forma basis) were $1.61 in 2013 compared to $1.29 in pro-forma 2012, while diluted earnings per share increased to $1.59 in 2013 from $ 1.29 in 2012. The change in both basic and diluted pro-forma earnings per share was primarily due to changes in our net income.
Year Ended June 30, 2012 Compared to Year Ended June 30, 2011
Revenues
Revenues for the year ended June 30, 2012 increased $793.5 million, or 11.4%, to $7.78 billion from $6.98 billion in 2011. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the average precious metals prices, which was partially offset by a decrease in ounces sold from 2012 as compared to 2011.
Gross Profit
Our gross profit for the year ended June 30, 2012 decreased $3.4 million to $26.4 million, or a gross profit margin of 0.34%, from $29.8 million, or a gross profit margin of 0.43% in 2011. The Company’s gross profit and profit margin percentage decreased as a result of the lower demand for silver in 2012 resulting in lower premiums paid by customers in excess of published market values. Additionally, the Company experienced a decrease in the total gold and silver ounces sold in 2012 as compared to 2011.
Selling, General and Administrative
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $2.2 million, or 16.4%, to $15.6 million in 2012 from $13.4 million in 2011. This is partially attributable to the recording of a $1.0 million reserve for a potential shortfall in our commodities accounts with M.F. Global, Inc. in 2012. This also is due to the opening of the Company’s Vienna, Austria office in 2012, which represented approximately $1.0 million in general and administrative expenses.
Interest Income
Interest income increased $3.3 million, or 37.0%, to $12.2 million for the year ended June 30, 2012 from $8.9 million in 2011. Interest Income results primarily from our financing of bullion products and secured bullion and numismatic lending. The increase was primarily due to the increase in commodity prices which increased the gross value of the financing and liquidity services we provide to our customers.
Interest Expense
Interest expense for the year ended June 30, 2012 increased $0.9 million or 27.8% to $4.2 million for the year ended June 30, 2012 from $3.3 million in 2011. This increase related primarily to our increased usage of our Trading Credit Facility. We believe the interest rates paid on borrowings under our Trading Credit Facility are consistent with current market interest rates for first lien demand loans secured by inventory and receivables.
Provision for Income Taxes
Our provision for income taxes was approximately $8.3 million and $9.1 million for the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Our effective tax rate was 44.1% and 41.8% for the year ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Our effective tax rate increased primarily due to an increase in state income tax positions for the year ended June 30, 2012. The Company's effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate due to permanent adjustments for nondeductible items, state taxes and foreign tax rate differentials.
Income per Common Share
For the year ended June 30, 2012, basic and diluted earnings per share were $105,740 in 2012, compared to $126,603 in 2012. Earnings per share is based on the Company’s weighted average basic and diluted shares outstanding, which totaled 100 shares in fiscal 2012 and 2011. The change in earnings per share was due to changes in our net income. Basic earnings per
share (on a pro-forma basis) were $1.29 in 2012 compared to $1.56 in pro-forma 2011, while diluted earnings per share decreased to $1.29 in 2012 from $1.55 in 2011. The change in both basic and diluted pro-forma earnings per share was primarily due to changes in our net income.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table presents our cash flow components for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, and for the years ended June 30, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Fiscal Year Ended June 30, |
| 2013 | | 2012 | | 2013 | | 2012 | | 2011 |
| (in thousands) |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | (11,354 | ) | | $ | (3,445 | ) | | $ | (1,206 | ) | | $ | 25,393 |
| | $ | (75,604 | ) |
Cash flows used in investing activities | (196 | ) | | (81 | ) | | (480 | ) | | (568 | ) | | (369 | ) |
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities | 6,602 |
| | (5,326 | ) | | 11,978 |
| | (22,929 | ) | | 80,643 |
|
Our principal capital requirements have been to fund (i) working capital, (ii) business development and (iii) capital expenditures. Our working capital requirements fluctuate with market conditions, specifically precious metals commodity prices and precious metal market volatility.
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013 and 2012
Operating activities used $11.4 million and $3.4 million in cash for the three ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively. Our use of cash from operating activities, for the three months ended September 30, 2013, reflects a decrease in cash flow in our inventories, accounts payable, payables to parent, accrued liabilities and liability on borrowed metals, partially offset by increases in cash flow in receivables. Our use of cash from operating activities, for the three months ended September 30, 2012, reflects decreases in cash flow in inventories, accounts receivable, accrued liabilities and payable to parent, offset by increases cash flows from accounts payable.
Our investing activities used $0.2 million and $0.1 million of cash for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively. These uses of cash in both years related entirely to the acquisition of equipment.
Our financing activities provided $6.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and used $5.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. We borrowed $4.7 million and $25.3 million under lines of credit for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively. We sold $6.9 million of precious metals in the three months ended September 30, 2013 under sale-repurchase arrangements accounted for as a financing arrangement as described below, and repurchased $15.6 million under sale-repurchase arrangements for the three months ended September 30, 2012. We also paid $5.0 million and $15.0 in dividends to SGI for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively.
Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2013, 2012 and 2011
Operating activities used $1.2 million in cash for the year ended June 30, 2013 and provided $25.4 million in cash for the year ended June 30, 2012, respectively. Our 2013 use of cash from operating activities reflect a decrease in cash flow in our inventories, accounts payable, payables to parent and liability on borrowed metals, partially offset by increases in cash flow in deferred income tax and receivables. Our 2012 cash provided by operating activities primarily reflects increases in cash flow in inventories, accounts payable, liability on borrowed metals, and payable to parent, offset by decreases in cash flows from accounts receivable.
Our investing activities used cash in the year ended June 30, 2013 of $0.5 million versus a use of cash of $0.6 million in the year ended June 30, 2012. These uses of cash in both years related entirely to the acquisition of property and equipment.
Our financing activities provided $12.0 million for the year ended June 30, 2013 and used $22.9 million for 2012. We borrowed $4.0 million under lines of credit for the year ended June 30, 2013 compared to repayments of $38.5 million in the year ended June 30, 2012. We sold $15.6 million of precious metals in the year ended June 30, 2012 under sale-repurchase arrangements accounted for as a financing arrangement as described below, and sold an additional $23.0 million under sale-repurchase arrangements for the year ended June 30, 2013. We also paid $15.0 million in dividends to SGI during 2013 that were declared in 2012.
The Company borrows metals from several of its suppliers under short-term arrangements which bear interest at a designated rate included in operating activities. Amounts under these agreements are due at maturity and require repayment either in the form of borrowed metals or cash. A-Mark's inventories included borrowed metals with market values totaling $20.1 million and $27.1 million at June 30, 2013 and at June 30, 2012, respectively. Certain of these repayment obligations are secured by letters of credit issued under the Trading Credit Facility which totaled $9.0 million and $7.0 million at June 30, 2013 and at June 30, 2012, respectively.
The Company has entered into an agreement with a third party for the sale of gold and silver at a fixed price to the third party. This agreement allows us to repurchase the precious metals at a 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 charges are classified in interest expense. These transactions do not qualify as sales and therefore have been accounted for as financing arrangements and reflected on our consolidated balance sheet under product financing obligations. The obligation is stated at the amount required to repurchase the outstanding inventory. Both the product financing obligation 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 precious metals sold. Such obligation totaled $38.6 million and $15.6 million as of June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012, respectively.
The Company has a Trading Credit Facility with a group of financial institutions which provides for lines of credit, including a sub-facility for letters of credit, up to the maximum of the credit facility. As of June 30, 2013, the maximum available amount to borrow under the Trading Credit Facility was $170.0 million. The Company routinely uses the Trading Credit Facility to purchase metals from its suppliers and for operating cash flow purposes. Amounts under the Trading Credit Facility bear interest based on one month LIBOR plus a margin. The LIBOR rate was approximately 0.19% and 0.24% as of June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012, respectively. Borrowings are due on demand and totaled $95.0 million and $91.0 million for lines of credit and $9.0 million and $7.0 million for letters of credit at June 30, 2013 and at June 30, 2012, respectively. Amounts borrowed under the Trading Credit Facility are secured by A-Mark’s receivables and inventories. We believe the interest rates paid on borrowings under our Trading Credit Facility are consistent with current market interest rates for first lien demand loans secured by inventory and receivables. The amounts available under the Trading Credit Facility are formula based and totaled $66.0 million and $65.0 million at June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012, respectively. A financial institution may cancel its participation in the Trading Credit Facility at any time by written notice to the Company.
The Trading Credit Facility has certain restrictive financial covenants which among other things require us to maintain a minimum tangible net worth, as defined, of $25.0 million. The Company’s tangible net worth at June 30, 2013 was $44.8 million. Our ability to pay dividends, if we were to elect to do so, could be limited as a result of the restrictions under the Trading Credit Facility.
Contractual Obligations, Contingent Liabilities, and Commitments
As of June 30, 2013, including our demand obligations under the Trading Credit Facility, we have known cash commitments over the next several years, as follows:
Lease Obligations
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Payment due by period | | | | | | |
Uin thousands) | Total | 1 year | 2 to 3 years | 3 to 4 years | 4 to 5 years | 5 years and thereafter |
Borrowings: | | | | | | |
Trading Credit Facility | $95,000 | $95,000 | $ | — |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
|
Lease obligations: | | | | | | |
Operating | 2,687 |
| 385 |
| 385 |
| 385 |
| 385 |
| 1,147 |
|
Total | $97,687 | $95,385 | $385 | $385 | $385 | $1,147 |
Our operating lease obligations represent payments under non-cancellable agreements for rental of office space and equipment.
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 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements and Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk. Our inventories consist of, and our trading activities involve, precious metals and precious metal products, whose prices are linked to the corresponding precious metals 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 purchase and sale 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 policy is to substantially hedge our underlying precious metal commodity inventory position, net of open purchase and sales commitments, which is subject to price risk. 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.
Due to the nature of our global hedging strategy, we are not using hedge accounting as defined under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. Gains or losses resulting from our futures and forward contracts are reported as unrealized gains or losses on commodity contracts with the related unrealized amounts due from or to counterparties reflected as a derivative asset or liability (see Notes 4, 10 and 11 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements). Gains or losses resulting from the termination of hedge contracts are reported as realized gains or losses on commodity contracts. Realized and unrealized net gains (losses) on derivative instruments in the consolidated statements of income for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were $17.6 million and $20.2 million, respectively. Realized and unrealized net gains (losses) on derivative instruments in the consolidated statements of income for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 were $66.6 million and $39.8 million, respectively.
The contract amounts of these forward and futures contracts and the open purchase and sale orders are not reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The difference between the market price of the underlying metal or contract and the trade amount is recorded at fair value. Our open purchase and sales 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. Futures and forwards contracts open at September 30, 2013 and June 30, 2013 were scheduled to settle within 30 days.
We are exposed to the risk of failure of the counterparties to our derivative contracts. We apply significant judgment when evaluating the fair value implications of this risk. We regularly review the creditworthiness of our major counterparties and monitor our exposure to concentrations. At September 30, 2013 and June 30, 2013, we believe our risk of counterparty default is mitigated as a result of such evaluation and the short-term duration of these arrangements.
The following table summarizes the results of our hedging activity at September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012:
|
| | | | | | |
(dollars in thousands) | September 30, 2013 | June 30, 2013 |
| | |
Trading inventory, net | $ | 175,367 |
| $ | 162,378 |
|
Less unhedgeable inventory: | | |
Premiums on metals positions | (4,824 | ) | (1,787 | ) |
| | |
Subtotal | 170,543 |
| 160,591 |
|
| | |
Commitments at market: | | |
Open inventory purchase commitments | 352,850 |
| 461,883 |
|
Open inventory sale commitments | (133,218 | ) | (272,044 | ) |
Margin sale commitments | (15,163 | ) | (13,651 | ) |
In-transit inventory no longer subject to market risk | (9,872 | ) | (24,221 | ) |
Unhedgeable premiums on open commitment positions | 2,459 |
| 2,107 |
|
Inventory borrowed from suppliers | (13,308 | ) | (20,117 | ) |
Product financing obligation | (45,456 | ) | (38,554 | ) |
Advances on industrial metals | (1,225 | ) | 33 |
|
| | |
Inventory subject to price risk | 307,610 |
| 256,027 |
|
| | |
Inventory subject to derivative financial instruments: | | |
Precious metals forward contracts at market values | 162,843 |
| 84,999 |
|
Precious metals futures contracts at market values | 147,022 |
| 171,272 |
|
| | |
Total market value of derivative financial instruments | 309,865 |
| 256,271 |
|
| | |
Net inventory subject to price risk, Company consolidated basis | (2,255 | ) | (244 | ) |
| | |
Effects of open related party transactions between the Company and affiliates: | | |
Net inventory subject to price risk, Company consolidated basis | (2,255 | ) | (244 | ) |
Open inventory purchase commitments with affiliates | 1,459 |
| (1,402 | ) |
Open inventory sale commitments with affiliates | (97 | ) | 1,282 |
|
| | |
Net inventory subject to price risk, the Company stand-alone basis | $ | (893 | ) | $ | (364 | ) |
The following table summarizes the results of our hedging activity at June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012: |
| | | | | | | |
| June 30, 2013 | | June 30, 2012 |
(dollars in thousands) | | | |
Trading inventory, net | $ | 162,378 |
| | $ | 143,464 |
|
Less unhedgeable inventory: | | | |
Premiums on metals positions | (1,787 | ) | | (1,824 | ) |
Hedgable Trading Inventory | 160,591 |
| | 141,640 |
|
| | | |
Commitments at market: | | | |
Open inventory purchase commitments | 461,883 |
| | 392,308 |
|
Open inventory sale commitments | (272,044 | ) | | (140,824 | ) |
Margin sale commitments | (13,651 | ) | | (39,716 | ) |
In-transit inventory no longer subject to market risk | (24,221 | ) | | (6,931 | ) |
Unhedgeable premiums on open commitment positions | 2,107 |
| | 458 |
|
Inventory borrowed from suppliers | (20,117 | ) | | (27,076 | ) |
Product financing obligation | (38,554 | ) | | (15,576 | ) |
Advances on industrial metals | 33 |
| | 757 |
|
Inventory subject to price risk | 256,027 |
| | 305,040 |
|
| | | |
Inventory subject to derivative financial instruments: | | | |
Precious metals forward contracts at market values | 84,999 |
| | 59,659 |
|
Precious metals futures contracts at market values | 171,272 |
| | 244,954 |
|
| | | |
Total market value of derivative financial instruments | 256,271 |
| | 304,613 |
|
| | | |
Net inventory subject to price risk, Company consolidated basis | (244 | ) | | 427 |
|
| | | |
Effects of open related party transactions between the Company and affiliates: | | | |
Net inventory subject to price risk, Company consolidated basis | (244 | ) | | 427 |
|
Open inventory purchase commitments with affiliates | (1,402 | ) | | 254 |
|
Open inventory sale commitments with affiliates | 1,282 |
| | (574 | ) |
| | | |
Net inventory subject to price risk, the Company stand-alone basis | $ | (364 | ) | | $ | 107 |
|
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 purchase and sales transactions with us. They also include collateral limits for different types of purchase and sale transactions that counter parties may engage in from time to time.
Capital Resources
We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, availability under the Trading Credit Facility, 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.
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 Notes 1 and 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, Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Form S-1. 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 ASC. We records the derivatives at the trade date with corresponding unrealized gains or losses which are reflected in the cost of precious metals sold 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 are recognized in the consolidated statements of income.
Inventories
Our 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 goods sold and are offset by hedging derivatives, with changes in fair value of the hedging derivatives also recorded in the income statement through cost of goods sold. The premium component of market value included in inventories totaled $4.8 million, $1.8 million and $1.8 million as of September 30, 2013, June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012, respectively.
Our 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 in the accompanying financial statements. The Company mitigates market risk of its physical inventories through commodity hedge transactions.
Our inventories include amounts for obligations under a 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 interest 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 as a component of cost of precious metals sold. Such obligation totaled $45.5 million, $38.6 million
and $15.6 million as of September 30, 2013, June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 the unrealized (losses)/gains resulting from the differences between market value and cost of physical inventories totaled $2.6 million and $11.8 million, respectively. For the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 the unrealized (losses)/gains resulting from the differences between market value and cost of physical inventories totaled $0.9 million and $(2.1) million.
We periodically loan 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 totaled $3.4 million, $2.6 million and $21.9 million at September 30, 2013, June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2012, respectively. Such inventory is removed at the time the customer elects to price and purchase the metals, and we record a corresponding sale and receivable. Substantially all inventory loaned under consignment arrangements is secured by letters of credit issued by major financial institutions for the benefit of the Company or under an all-risk insurance policy with the Company as the loss-payee.
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 2011-08, we performed a Step 0 assessment on our goodwill, totaling $4.9 million, and determined no impairment was necessary as of June 30, 2013.
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. Refer to Note 6 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for a further discussion of the methodology and inputs used to arrive at our determination of the goodwill and other purchased intangible assets associated with our purchase transaction and related impairment.
Income Taxes
As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we 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. When adjusting the amount of recognized tax benefits, we do not consider information that has become available after the balance sheet date, but do disclose the effects of new information whenever those effects would be material to our 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 income taxes payable. 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 8 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 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. We will continue to assess the need for a valuation allowance for our remaining deferred tax assets in the future
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This ASU requires an entity to present an unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss (NOL) carryforward, or similar tax loss or tax credit carryforward, rather than as a liability when (1) the uncertain tax position would reduce the NOL or other carryforward under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction and (2) the entity intends to use the deferred tax asset for that purpose. The ASU does not require new recurring disclosures. It is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013 and December 15, 2014, for public and nonpublic entities, respectively. Early adoption and retrospective application are permitted. The adoption of the accounting principles in this update is not anticipated to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.
In July 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2012-02, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment. This ASU allows an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test for indefinite-lived intangible assets. An organization that elects to perform a qualitative assessment no longer is required to perform the quantitative impairment test for an indefinite-lived intangible asset unless it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired. The ASU, which applies to all entities, is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this guidance in the third quarter of fiscal year 2012, as allowed by the early adoption provisions within the guidance. The adoption of the accounting principles in this update did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.
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.
BUSINESS
Our Company
A-Mark 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—
| |
• | distributes gold and silver coins and bars from sovereign and private mints; |
| |
• | provides financing for the purchase of bullion and numismatics; |
| |
• | offers secure storage for bullion; and |
| |
• | offers complementary products such as consignment and customized finance, liquidity programs such as 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, banks and other financial institutions, commodity brokerage houses, industrial users of precious metals, investors and collectors. We serve customers on six continents, with over 15% of our customers being outside the United States. See “Concentration of Customers” under Note 2 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
A-Mark believes its businesses largely functions 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 customer demand, volumes and margins.
History
A-Mark was founded in 1965 as a small numismatics firm, which subsequently grew to include wholesale bullion trading and precious metals financing. SGI, then known as Greg Manning Auctions, Inc., acquired a controlling 80% interest in the Company in 2005. The remaining 20% of the Company was acquired by Afinsa Bienes Tangibles, S.A., at the time SGI’s controlling shareholder. In 2012, SGI acquired from Afinsa its interest in the Company, as a result of which the Company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of SGI.
Over the years, A-Mark has been steadily expanding its products and services. In 1986, A‑Mark became an authorized purchaser for gold and silver coins struck by the United States mint. Similar arrangements with other sovereign mints followed, so that by the early 1990s, the Company had distribution relationships with all major sovereign mints offering bullion coins and bars internationally. In 2005, the Company launched its Collateral Finance Corporation (CFC) subsidiary for the purpose of making secured wholesale and retail loans collateralized by rare and semi-numismatic coins and bullion.
The Company opened an overseas office in Vienna, Austria in 2009, for the purpose of marketing its good and services in the emerging Eastern 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 solution for their precious metals and precious metal products. In 2013, the Company began development of an electronic trading platform, which will allow its institutional and other large customers to execute transactions with the Company in precious metals and precious metal products through an automated interface. The platform is expected to be operational by mid-2014.
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. The Company seeks to continue its expansion by building on its strengths and what it perceives to be its competitive advantages. These include—
| |
• | vertically integrated operations that span trading, distribution, storage, financing and other consignment products and services; |
| |
• | an extensive and varied customer base that includes banks and other financial institutions, coin dealers, jewelers, collectors, private investors, investment advisors, manufacturers, refiners, sovereign mints and mines; |
| |
• | 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 up to 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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• | in-house trading and logistics support, with existing capacity for growth; |
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• | experienced traders who effectively manage the Company’s exposure to commodity price risk; and |
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• | a strong management team, with over 100 years of collective industry experience. |
The Company sells gold, silver, platinum and palladium products to a wide array of customers, including financial institutions, bullion retailers, industrial manufacturers, and sovereign mints. 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 grades primarily in the form of coins and bars.
Currently, orders are taken telephonically, but the Company is developing an electronic trading platform that will be available to both buyers and sellers of precious metals. 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 take physical delivery of the precious metal. Product is shipped upon receipt of payment, except where the purchase is financed under credit arrangements between the Company and the customer. We have relationships with precious metal depositories around the world, to facilitate shipment of product from our inventory to our customers, in many cases for next day delivery. Product may either be dropped shipped to the customer’s location or delivered to a depository or other storage facility designated by the customer.
The Company 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. Substantially all inventories loaned under consignment arrangements are secured by letters of credit issued by major financial institutions for the benefit of the Company or under an all-risk insurance policy with the Company as the loss-payee.
Our coin & bar customers buy and sell over 200 different products, including gold and silver coins from around the world, 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 coin & bar 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 coin & bar customers range in size from large financial institutions to small local dealers.
We are an authorized distributor (or, in the case of the US 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.
We offer our industrial and coin & bar customers support services including Trading, Finance, CFC and TDS. All of these transactions are made in support of our industrial and coin & bar customers. While Trading, Finance, CFC and TDS account for only a small portion of our revenues, we believe that they are important components of our competitive strategy of providing a full line of bullion and coin services to our customers.
Trading services hedge the commodity risk on the Company’s inventory and protect the Company from price fluctuations in situations where settlement of a transaction is delayed or deferred. The Company 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, the Company believes that its business largely functions independently of the price movements in the underlying commodity. Through its hedging activities, the Company 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. The Company also offers precious metals price quotes in a number of foreign currencies.
Finance 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.
Our Collateral Finance Corporation (CFC) subsidiary is a California licensed finance lender that makes commercial loans secured by precious metals. CFC’s customers include coin and metal dealers, investors and collectors. CFC is 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, in most cases, 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. Loans are for terms of between three and 12 months, 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.
Our Transcontinental Depository Services (TDS) 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 Unites 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.
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 mines and refiners and from commodities brokers and dealers, privately and in transactions on established commodity exchanges. Inventory is “marked to market” daily for accounting and financial compliance 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
The Company maintains back office support at its offices in Santa Monica, California for processing and documenting its trading and sales activity and arranging for physical delivery and storage of product. We believe that our existing back office capacity will allow us to scale up our business activities without any appreciable increase in investment for operational support. We store our inventories of bullion with third party depositories in major financial centers around the world.
Using a third party software developer, we have created a proprietary trading program, referred to as the Metals Trading System or MTS. Through MTS we are able to input, process, track and document our trading activity, including complex hedging and similar transactions.
We are in the process of developing an electronic trading platform for receiving and processing customer orders, with the objective of improving transactional ease and efficiency for both us and our customers. When the platform becomes operational by mid-2014, we expect it will make processing small orders more economical and allow us to better allocate our resources to providing personalized service to our larger customers.
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.
Our top three customers represented 20.9%, 11.3% and 1.6%, respectively, of trading revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2013, and 5.9%, 0.8% and 32.5%, respectively, of trading revenues for the three months September 30, 2012. Our top three customers represented 11.4%, 11.2% and 10.7%, respectively, of trading revenues for the year ended June 30, 2013, 5.6%, 23.1% and 16.8%, respectively, of trading revenues for the year ended June 30, 2012, and 23.8%, 8.2%, and 10.5%, for the year ended June 30, 2011. See “Concentration of Customers” under Note 2 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
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 jewelry manufacturers, industrial consumers, refiners, minting facilities, banks, brokerage houses and private investors. We face different competitors in each area. In most cases, however, our competitors include precious metals trading firms and banks. It is not uncommon for a customer and/or a supplier in one market segment to be a competitor in another. Competition is based on price, market volatility and supply.
Trading Seasonality
While the 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, 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 September 30, 2013 we had 31 employees, most of whom were full-time employees. None of our employees are unionized. We believe that we have an excellent working relationship with our employees and we have never experienced an interruption of business as a result of labor disputes.
Facilities
We lease approximately 4,400 square feet of office space in Santa Monica, California under a lease expiring in April, 2017 which houses our corporate headquarters, our North American trading desk and related activities, and our back office functions. We also lease approximately 2,100 square feet of office space in Vienna, Austria under a lease expiring in September, 2016 which houses our European trading desk and related activities.
We believe that our facilities are well maintained and are sufficient to meet our current and projected needs.
Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of our business, we and our subsidiaries are parties to various legal proceedings. We do not believe that any such ordinary course litigation will have a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operation.
Our Relationship with SGI
Until the distribution date, we will continue to be a wholly-owned subsidiary of SGI. After the spinoff, we will operate as a publicly traded company independent from SGI.
Before the distribution date, we will enter into a separation and distribution agreement and other agreements with SGI to effect the distribution and provide a framework for our relationship with SGI after the distribution. These agreements govern the relationship between SGI and us subsequent to the completion of the spinoff and provide for the principal steps to be taken in
connection with the spinoff and other matters. For a detailed description of these agreements, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Agreements with SGI” in this Prospectus.
Corporate Information
A-Mark was founded in 1965 as a New York corporation. On January 30, 2014, the Company was reincorporated in Delaware.
Our principal executive offices are located at 429 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 230, Santa Monica, CA 90401, tel. (310) 587-1477. Our website address is www.amark.com.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES
BDO USA, LLP was previously the independent registered public accounting firm for A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. On October 8, 2012, BDO USA, LLP was dismissed and on October 11, 2012 KPMG LLP was engaged as the independent registered public accounting firm for A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. The decision to change accountants was approved by the audit committee of the SGI board of directors.
During the two fiscal years ended June 30, 2012, and the subsequent interim period through October 11, 2012, there were no: (1) disagreements with BDO USA, LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference in connection with their opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement, or (2), reportable events. The audit reports of BDO USA, LLP on the consolidated financial statements of A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries as of and for the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.
The dismissal of BDO USA, LLP as the independent public accounting firm for A-Mark coincided with BDO USA, LLP's dismissal as the independent public accounting firm for SGI.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
Commodity Price Risk
We are subject to commodity price risk through our principal business, the purchase and sale of precious metals in the form of gold, silver platinum and palladium. We enter in to a combination of futures and forward transactions to substantially hedge our net exposure to changes in the underlying commodity prices. Consistent with the use of these contracts to neutralize the effect of commodity price fluctuations, such unrealized losses or gains are offset by corresponding gains or losses, respectively, in the remeasurement of the underlying transactions being hedged. When taken together, these forward and futures contracts and the offsetting underlying commitments do not create material market risk. As of September 30, 2013 we had $307.6 million in commodity price risk related entirely to our inventories and related commitments and $309.9 million in corresponding forwards and futures contracts. As of June 30, 2013 we had $256.0 million in commodity price risk related entirely to our inventories and related commitments and $256.2 million in corresponding forwards and futures contracts. As of June 30, 2012 we had $305.0 million in commodity price risk related entirely to our inventories and related commitments and $304.6 million in corresponding forwards and futures contracts.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We are subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk relating to the sale of precious metals priced in foreign currencies. We use foreign currency forward contracts to hedge the price risk associated with firmly committed denominated receipts related to our ongoing business. Foreign currency forward contracts are sensitive to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Consistent with the use of these contracts to neutralize the effect of exchange rate fluctuations, such unrealized losses or gains are offset by corresponding gains or losses, respectively, in the remeasurement of the underlying transactions being hedged. When taken together, these forward currency contracts and the offsetting underlying commitments do not create material market risk. As of September 30, 2013 we had $1.5 million in foreign currency denominated transactions and $0.6 million in foreign currency forward contracts. As of June 30, 2013 we had $0.1 million in foreign currency denominated
transactions and $0.3 million in foreign currency forward contracts. As of June 30, 2012 we had $9.1 million in foreign currency denominated transactions and $6.9 million in foreign currency forward contracts.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest under our Trading Credit Facility is based on short term (primarily LIBOR) based interest rates. An increase in LIBOR rates would increase our underlying interest expense. Such increases would likely be substantially offset by an increase in the rates charged for our finance products and services. Market risk is further mitigated due to the highly liquid nature of our inventories which allow us to significantly reduce our borrowings in a short period of time. As a result, an increase in interest rates does not create material market risk.
MANAGEMENT
Directors and Executive Officers following the Distribution
The following table sets forth information regarding the individuals who are currently expected to serve as our executive officers and directors following the distribution and their anticipated titles following the distribution. All of our executive officers are currently employees of SGI or its subsidiaries. After the distribution, none of our executive officers and directors will be employees of SGI. However, Mr. Roberts will remain a director and officer of SGI, Ms. Meltzer will remain an officer and become a director of SGI and both will continue to provide services to SGI as more fully described below under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Agreements with SGI”). We have also described the specific credentials, experience and other qualifications of those individuals who are expected to serve as our directors following the spinoff.
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Name Gregory N. Roberts | Age 51 | Position with A-Mark Chief Executive Officer and Director |
David W. G. Madge | 53 | President |
Thor G. Gjerdrum | 46 | Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer |
Gianluca Marzola | 46 | Chief Accounting Officer |
Carol Meltzer | 55 | Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Jeffrey D. Benjamin | 52 | Chairman of the Board |
Joel R. Anderson | 70 | Director |
Ellis Landau | 70 | Director |
William Montgomery | 53 | Director |
John U. Moorhead | 61 | Director |
Jess M. Ravich | 56 | Director |
GREGORY N. ROBERTS: Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mr. Roberts has been Chief Executive Officer and a Director of A-Mark since July 2005. Mr. Roberts has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of SGI since March 2008. Mr. Roberts previously served as the President of SGI’s North American coin division, which included A-Mark. He is also a lifetime member of the American Numismatic Association. Through his day-to-day involvement in all aspects of the Company’s operations, Mr. Roberts provides a vital link between junior and senior management personnel and the general oversight and policy-setting responsibilities of the Board. Mr. Roberts has substantial
management and business experience in the area of collectibles and trading and has been a trader since the age of 12. Mr. Roberts has been a director of SGI since 2000.
Mr. Roberts brings to the Board expertise in numismatics and trading, extensive knowledge of the precious metals industry and, in his role as Chief Executive Officer, in-depth knowledge of the Company and its business.
DAVID W. G. MADGE: President
Mr. Madge has been President of A-Mark since September 2011. Prior to that, Mr. Madge held various positions with the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM), a Commercial Crown Corporation of the Government of Canada, since 1995, most recently serving as Executive Director of the Bullion and Refinery Business Services, which included the refinery plant operations. Mr. Madge previously served as Director of Bullion & Refinery Services for RCM, where he was responsible for global sales and marketing activities. Mr. Madge received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1983 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987, each from the University of Waterloo (Ontario, Canada.)
THOR G. GJERDRUM: Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Gjerdrum has served as A-Mark’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since July 1, 2013 and as our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President from 2002 to May 2008 and from May 2010 to June 30, 2013. Mr. Gjerdrum was Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of SGI from June 2008 to April 2010. Previously, Mr. Gjerdrum held a variety of positions with two publicly traded telecommunications companies, the last of which was as Vice President of Finance, and worked in public accounting. Mr. Gjerdrum received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Santa Clara University.
GIANLUCA MARZOLA: Chief Accounting Officer
Mr. Marzola has served as A-Mark’s Chief Accounting Officer since July 1, 2013. Mr. Marzola joined A-Mark on September 2002 and held various accounting positions of increasing responsibility. He served as Controller from July 2008 to June 2013. Mr. Marzola received a B.S. in business/accounting from Universita’di Bologna, Italy.
CAROL MELTZER: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Ms. Meltzer will become our General Counsel, Secretary and Executive Vice President on the date of distribution. She served as General Counsel, Secretary and Executive Vice President of SGI and its predecessor companies since 2006, and served in a variety of legal capacities for the company since 1996. Ms. Meltzer previously practiced law at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP and Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP. Ms. Meltzer received B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
JEFFREY D. BENJAMIN: Chairman of the Board
Mr. Benjamin will join our board of directors on the date of the distribution. Mr. Benjamin has been a Senior Advisor to Cyrus Capital Partners, L.P. since 2008, where he assists with distressed investments. Mr. Benjamin also serves as a consultant to Apollo Management, L.P., a private investment fund, and from September 2002 to June 2008, Mr. Benjamin served as a senior advisor to Apollo Management, where he was responsible for a variety of investments in private equity, high yield and distressed securities. Mr. Benjamin has served as non-Executive Chairman of the Board of SGI since 2012 and as a director of SGI since 2009. He is also a member of the boards of directors of Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Exco Resources, Inc. and Chemtura Corporation. Mr. Benjamin is a trustee of the American Numismatic Society and has had a long-standing personal interest in coin collecting. Mr. Benjamin holds an MBA from the Sloan School of Management at M.I.T. and a BA from Tufts University.
With his financial and business background, service as a public company director and personal involvement in numismatics, Mr. Benjamin is expected to contribute to the Board in matters of corporate finance, governance, business development and industry strategy.
JOEL R. ANDERSON: Director
Mr. Anderson will join our board of directors on the date of distribution. Mr. Anderson is the Chairman and Director of Anderson Media Corporation, the country’s largest distributor and merchandiser of pre-recorded music and a major distributor of books, and is also the chairman and a director of various affiliated companies, including TNT Fireworks, the country’s largest importer and distributor of consumer fireworks; Anderson Press, a major publisher of children’s books and associated children’s
product; and Whitman Publishing Company, the leading publisher of books and related products for coin collections. Mr. Anderson has served as chairman and in other positions with Anderson Media Corporation for more than five years. He is a principal of Stack's LLC, SGI’s joint venture partner in Stack’s Bowers Galleries, a rare coin and currency auction house. Mr. Anderson has been a director of SGI since October 1, 2012. Mr. Anderson has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Numismatic Society since 2006 and serves on its nominating and governance committee. He is also a lifetime member of the American Numismatic Association. Mr. Anderson, who studied at the University of North Alabama, has been a member of the Board of SGI since October 1, 2012.
Mr. Anderson’s extensive business experience combined with his personal interest and expertise in numismatics is expected to provide the Board with insight and guidance in matters of business planning and growth strategy.
ELLIS LANDAU: Director
Mr. Landau will join our board of directors on the date of the distribution. Mr. Landau is President, Treasurer and Director of ALST Casino Holdco, LLC, the holding company of Aliante Gaming, LLC, which owns and operates Aliante Station Casino + Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2006, Mr. Landau retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD), a position he held since he joined the company in 1990. Mr. Landau previously worked for Ramada Inc., later known as Aztar Corporation, where he served as Vice President and Treasurer, as well as U-Haul International in Phoenix and the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Mr. Landau has been a director of SGI since October 1, 2012. From 2007 to 2011, Mr. Landau was a member of the Board of Directors of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:PNK), a leading gaming company, where he served as chairman of the audit committee and as a member of its nominating and governance committee and its compliance committee. Mr. Landau received his Bachelor of Arts in economics from Brandeis University and his M.B.A. in finance from Columbia University Business School.
Mr. Landau brings to the Board substantial finance, accounting and corporate governance experience, and is expected to serve as the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
WILLIAM MONTGOMERY: Director
Mr. Montgomery will join our board of directors on the date of the distribution. Mr. Montgomery is a private investor with a focus on equities and real estate. He was Executive Vice President in charge of principal investments for Libra Securities from 1999-2000. Previously, he was a Managing Director at Salomon Brothers Inc., where he was a member of the fixed income arbitrage group with responsibility for proprietary investments in high yield securities, a distressed debt trader and a member of the investment banking group. Mr. Montgomery has been a director of SGI since December 2012. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the Columbia University School of Law.
Mr. Montgomery brings to the Board expertise in investments, finance and capital markets, which the Company believes is particularly important as it seeks to establish a market presence following the distribution.
JOHN U. (“JAY”) MOORHEAD: Director
Mr. Moorhead will join our board of directors on the date of distribution. He has been a managing director of Ewing Bemiss & Co., an investment banking firm, since 2009. Prior to joining Ewing Bemiss, Mr. Moorhead was a managing director at Westwood Capital from 2005 until 2009 and MillRock Partners from 2003 until 2005, boutique investment banking firms serving private middle market and public growth companies. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Moorhead was a corporate finance partner at C.E. Unterberg, Towbin. Mr. Moorhead has been a director of SGI since June 2007. Mr. Moorhead received his B.A. degree from the University of Vermont, and attended the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
Mr. Moorhead brings to the Board expertise in corporate finance and valuable perspectives on public company growth and global competition. Mr. Moorhead also has experience in the area of executive compensation, and is expected to serve as Chairman of our Compensation Committee.
JESS M. RAVICH: Director
Mr. Ravich will join our board of directors on the date of the distribution. Mr. Ravich is group managing director and head of alternative products for The TCW Group, Inc., an international asset-management firm, which he joined in 2012. Prior to joining The TCW Group, Mr. Ravich served as managing director and head of capital markets of Houlihan, Lokey, Howard & Zukin, Inc., an international investment bank. From 1991 through November 2009, Mr. Ravich founded and served as chief executive officer of Libra Securities LLC, an investment banking firm serving the middle market. Prior to founding Libra, Mr.
Ravich was an executive vice president of the fixed income department at Jefferies & Company, a Los Angeles-based brokerage firm, and a senior vice president at Drexel Burnham Lambert, where he was also a member of the executive committee of the high yield group. Mr. Ravich joined the Board of Directors of SGI in 2009. He also serves on the Board of Directors of The Cherokee Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHKE). Mr. Ravich is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.
With his extensive background in investment banking and the financial markets, Mr. Ravich is expected to provide Board leadership in matters of strategic development and business initiatives, including potential growth through acquisitions.
Board Structure
Our board of directors currently consists of two directors, Mr. Roberts and Ms. Meltzer. On the distribution date, our board of directors will expand to seven directors and consist of the individuals designated above as directors. Ms. Meltzer has provided us with her resignation contingent upon and effective as of the distribution.
At the time of the distribution, all our directors will qualify as independent directors under the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market, other than Mr. Roberts. All of our directors will stand for election at each annual meeting of our shareholders. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Committees of the Board
We expect that, immediately following the distribution, the standing committees of our board of directors will consist of an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee.
Audit Committee
The duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee will be set forth in a written charter, which will be effective as of the distribution date and available on our website, and will include the following:
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• | to oversee the quality and integrity of our financial statements and our accounting and financial reporting processes; |
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• | to prepare the audit committee report required by the SEC in our annual proxy statements; |
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• | to review and discuss with management and the independent registered public accounting firm our annual and quarterly financial statements; |
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• | to review and discuss with management our earnings press releases; |
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• | to appoint, compensate and oversee our independent registered public accounting firm, and pre-approve all auditing services and non- audit services to be provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm; |
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• | to review the qualifications, performance and independence of our independent registered public accounting firm; and |
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• | to establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. |
Each of the members of the Audit Committee will be an independent director, as defined under the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market, will meet the criteria for independence under Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and will otherwise satisfy the conditions of The NASDAQ Stock Market rules for audit committee membership, including the financial literacy requirements. In addition, we expect that one member of the Audit Committee will qualify as an audit committee financial expert, in compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and The NASDAQ Stock Market.
Compensation Committee
The duties and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee will be set forth in a written charter, which will be effective as of the distribution date and available on our website, and will include the following:
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• | to determine, or recommend for determination by our board of directors, the compensation of our chief executive officer and other executive officers; |
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• | to establish, review and consider employee compensation policies and procedures; |
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• | to review and approve, or recommend to our board of directors for approval, any employment contracts or similar arrangement between the company and any executive officer of the company; |
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• | to review and discuss with management the Company’s compensation policies and practices and management’s assessment of whether any risks arising from such policies and practices are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company; |
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• | to review, monitor, and make recommendations concerning incentive compensation plans, including the use of stock options and other equity-based plans; and |
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• | to appoint, compensate and oversee any compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor retained by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion; |
Each of the members of the Compensation Committee will be an independent director, as defined under the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market, and will otherwise satisfy the conditions of the NASDAQ Stock Market rules for compensation committee membership.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The duties and responsibilities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will be set forth in a written charter, which will be effective as of the distribution date and available on our website, and will include the following:
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• | to recommend to our board of directors proposed nominees for election to the board of directors by the shareholders at annual meetings, including an annual review as to the renominations of incumbents and proposed nominees for election by the board of directors to fill vacancies that occur between shareholder meetings; |
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• | to make recommendations to the board of directors regarding corporate governance matters and practices; and |
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• | to recommend members for each committee of the board of directors. |
Each of the members of the Compensation Committee will be an independent director, as defined under the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Following the distribution, no member of our compensation committee will serve as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our board of directors or compensation committee.
Code of Ethics
Our board of directors has adopted a code of ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other senior officers effective as of the distribution, in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the NASDAQ Market. Our code of ethics will be available on our website.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our board of directors has adopted a set of corporate governance guidelines that sets forth our policies and procedures relating to corporate governance effective as of the distribution. Our corporate governance guidelines will be available on our website.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
After the distribution, the policy of the board of directors will be to compensate non-executive directors with cash-based compensation. Director compensation will be reviewed by the board of directors annually and from time to time to ensure that compensation levels are fair and appropriate. In the future, the board of directors may consider granting equity awards as an element of non-executive director compensation. All directors will be entitled to reimbursement by the Company for reasonable travel to and from meetings of the board of directors, and reasonable food and lodging expenses incurred in connection therewith.
After the distribution, non-executive directors will be compensated annually according to our initial Director Compensation Policy, as follows:
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(1) | Cash retainer -- $60,000 |
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(2) | Cash retainer for service as Chairman of Audit Committee or Chairman of Compensation Committee -- $10,000 |
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(3) | Cash retainer for service as Chairman of Nominating and Governance Committee -- $5,000 |
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(4) | Cash retainer for service as member (other than Chairman) of Audit Committee or Compensation Committee -- $5,000 |
No meeting fees will be paid under the initial Director Compensation Policy. Service as a member of a committee other than the Audit Committee or Compensation Committee will not result in additional compensation.
The Director Compensation Policy assumes service for a full year; directors who serve for less than the full year will be entitled to receive a pro-rated portion of the applicable payment. Each “year”, for purposes of the Director Compensation Policy, begins on the date of our annual meeting of stockholders.
No equity awards will be authorized as regular annual non-executive director compensation under the initial Director Compensation Policy. The Chairman of the Board will receive no additional cash compensation under this Policy. In connection with the distribution, an option to purchase 500,000 shares of SGI common stock, originally granted to Jeffrey D. Benjamin, SGI’s Chairman of the Board, on October 25, 2012, will be replaced and adjusted to become an option to purchase an as yet undetermined number of shares of A-Mark common stock, which option will have the same aggregate exercise price and aggregate intrinsic value as the SGI option at the time of the distribution. See “Treatment of Equity-Based Compensation as a Result of the Spinoff.” The replacement option to purchase shares of A-Mark, which will be an obligation of A-Mark from and after the distribution, will be vested as to 20% of the underlying shares immediately, with the option vesting as to the remaining 80% of the shares in four equal annual installments based on service as a director of A-Mark, and will expire on October 25, 2022, subject to accelerated vesting and earlier expiration in specified circumstances.
Our directors serving in fiscal 2013 received no compensation for such service, apart from payments in their capacity as employees of SGI or A-Mark.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Our Named Executive Officers
For fiscal 2013, the following individuals served as our named executive officers (“NEOs”):
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• | Our Chief Executive Officer, Gregory N. Roberts, who also served as a Director of A-Mark and as Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director of SGI; |
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• | Our President, David W.G. Madge; |
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• | Our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (effective July 1, 2013), Thor Gjerdrum. Mr. Gjerdrum served as our Chief Financial Officer until the end of fiscal 2013. |
Mr. Roberts was employed directly by SGI and paid his compensation by SGI during fiscal 2013. Such fiscal 2013 compensation was paid to him for service to A-Mark and its subsidiaries and for services to SGI and its other subsidiaries. A-Mark paid SGI $897,240 to reimburse SGI for compensation paid to Mr. Roberts. After the distribution, Mr. Roberts will continue to serve separately as an executive officer and director of SGI, in addition to his duties with A-Mark. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Agreements with SGI—Secondment Agreement.” The compensation to Mr. Madge and Mr. Gjerdrum, other than compensation relating to equity awards, was paid directly by A-Mark and its subsidiaries solely for their services to A-Mark and its subsidiaries.
Immediately after the distribution, Carol Meltzer will become our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, and will be designated as an executive officer for securities law reporting purposes. Ms. Meltzer also served as a member of our board of directors in fiscal 2013. However, because Ms. Meltzer was not an executive officer of A-Mark as of the end of the most recent fiscal year, she is not an NEO for fiscal 2013. After the distribution, it is expected that Ms. Meltzer will continue to serve separately as an executive officer of SGI and will serve on its board of directors, in addition to her duties with A-Mark. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Agreements with SGI—Secondment Agreement.”
Effective July 1, 2013, Gianluca Marzola became our Chief Accounting Officer, which position constitutes our principal financial officer within the meaning of SEC regulations.
Overview of Compensation Objectives and Philosophy
Prior to the distribution, we have been a wholly-owned subsidiary of SGI. Our approach to executive compensation has been focused on providing total cash compensation commensurate with the levels necessary to attract and retain senior-level executives within our industry, as well as providing equity-based compensation to provide additional incentive that is both long-term and aligned with the interests of shareholders and to promote retention of the executive and long-term service.
We have chosen to formalize many of the terms of employment of our NEOs by entering into employment agreements with them. This practice has helped us to attract and retain key executives and employees. In our financial services industry, there is a high degree of competition for talented executives and employees, with job changes being more frequent than in many other industries. Hiring often involves substantial negotiations regarding employment terms, which generally must be reflected in an employment agreement. Employment agreements offer us several advantages, particularly by fixing employment terms for specified time periods and thereby limiting renegotiations and also by including provisions for the protection of our businesses.
During fiscal 2013 and currently, Mr. Robert’s service was and is governed by an employment agreement with SGI, Mr. Madge’s service was and is governed by an employment agreement with A-Mark, and Mr. Gjerdrum’s service was and is governed by an employment agreement with A-Mark and our wholly owned subsidiary CFC (to which SGI was and is a party). In connection with the distribution, we expect to amend the employment agreements to reflect the separation of A-Mark from SGI.
As a subsidiary of SGI, A-Mark historically has not had some of the more formal compensation practices and policies employed by publicly traded companies subject to the executive compensation disclosure rules of the SEC and subject to the limitations on tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). We have not had, and currently do not have, a separate compensation committee to administer our executive compensation arrangements. However, we intend to establish a compensation committee concurrently with the distribution that will be responsible for setting policies for executive compensation and administering all cash-based and equity-based plans and programs for our senior management.
Compensation Determination Process
Our CEO’s compensation has been paid by SGI, and therefore has been determined by the SGI compensation committee and SGI board of directors. Our CEO, in consultation with the SGI compensation committee and SGI board of directors, has negotiated the terms of the employment agreements with our other NEOs and made decisions regarding the compensation of other officers. In making these decisions, the decisions-makers have generally relied on their judgment regarding the appropriate structure and level of compensation, taking into account factors including the performance and business outlook of SGI and A-Mark and their subsidiaries (including our short- and long-term strategies and current economic and market conditions), evaluations of an executive’s skill set and leadership qualities, career accomplishments, recent performance, current compensation arrangements, competitive levels of compensation based on available and relevant information and long-term potential to enhance our value.
Our main objective in establishing compensation arrangements has been and will be to set criteria that are consistent with our business strategies. Generally, in evaluating performance, we have and will continue to review the following criteria:
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• | Strategic goals and objectives, such as profitability; |
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• | Individual management objectives that relate to our strategies; and |
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• | Achievement of specific operational goals of the executive officers. |
Our executive compensation programs and policies have and will continue to depend on the position and responsibility of each executive officer. Generally, we have intended that the compensation of our NEOs be at levels commensurate with each executive’s position and scope of responsibilities. Our decision-makers took into consideration various factors as noted above (none of which was individually weighted) in determining our NEOs’ compensation packages, but no pre-set methodology or decision-making process was followed in making such decisions. In this regard, we have not historically used specific peer groups or formal benchmarking in determining the structure and levels of compensation for our NEOs.
Following the distribution, the compensation committee of our board of directors will administer our executive compensation plans and programs and make all determinations with respect to the compensation of our NEOs.
Components of our Executive Compensation Program
The key components of our NEO compensation program are:
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• | Annual performance-based bonuses, and in some cases discretionary bonuses; |
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• | Long-term equity incentives, primarily in the form of options and RSUs; |
We did not and do not currently have formal policies relating to the allocation of total compensation among the various elements of compensation. However, the more senior the position an executive holds, the more influence he has over our financial performance.
Base Salary
We set base salaries to reflect each NEO’s performance and experience, the executive’s expected future contributions to A-Mark (or SGI in the case of the CEO), the responsibilities, impact and importance of the position to our performance, and internal pay equity, and with a view to the competitiveness of the NEO’s compensation opportunity in the marketplace. Generally, we have negotiated with NEOs or prospective NEOs and reached an agreement regarding salary levels for the years covered by the term of his employment agreement. The factors taken into account in setting salary do not receive a specific weighting in our compensation decision-making process.
For fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2014, our NEOs’ annual base salaries were or are as follows: |
| | |
| Base Salary | |
Named Executive Officer | Fiscal 2013 | Fiscal 2014 |
Gregory N. Roberts | $525,000 | $525,000 |
David W.G. Madge | 425,000 | 425,000 |
Thor Gjerdrum | 358,000 | 384,000 |
Annual Performance Bonus and Discretionary Bonuses
Under the employment agreement of each of our NEOs, the NEO has the opportunity to earn a performance bonus based on achievement of a pre-specified level of pre-tax profit of SGI, A-Mark or CFC. Such performance bonuses are intended to provide performance-based cash compensation that rewards our NEOs for their contribution to our financial performance. We view pre-tax profit as a key financial metric for purposes of our business planning, which does not distort the incentives to management or promote undue risk and which substantially reflects the quality of the execution of our business plan by our management team. The pay-out levels corresponding to pre-set levels of pre-tax profit were set at levels determined in the judgment of decision-makers taking into account anticipated levels of pre-tax profits, the decision-makers’ judgment as to competitive arrangements in the industry and competitive levels of cash compensation and their judgment as to a fair allocation of profits between management and shareholders and other stakeholders.
For fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2014, the performance metric specified for each NEO relates to the company that is primarily obligated under the employment agreement. Thus, in the case of Mr. Roberts, the required performance is pre-tax profit of SGI, while for Mr. Madge the required performance is pre-tax profit of A-Mark and for Mr. Gjerdrum the required performance is based partly on the performance of A-Mark and partly on the pre-tax profit of CFC. For all three NEOs, pre-tax profits is defined as the relevant company's net income (as determined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or GAAP) for the given fiscal year, adjusted to eliminate the positive or negative effects of income taxes (in accordance with GAAP) and, in the case of Mr. Roberts and Mr. Gjerdrum, adjusted to eliminate the positive or negative effects of foreign currency exchange and, in the case of Mr. Roberts, adjusted to eliminate certain expenses incurred in connection with specified litigation affecting SGI.
The performance bonus for Mr. Roberts specified for fiscal 2013 and for fiscal 2014 was and is as follows:
If SGI pre-tax profits are at least $5 million, then the annual incentive would equal:
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• | 12% of pre-tax profits up to $8 million of pre-tax profits; plus |
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• | 15% of pre-tax profits in excess of $8 million, up to $10 million of pre-tax profits; plus |
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• | 18% of pre-tax profits in excess of $10 million of pre-tax profits. |
If pre-tax profits are less than $5 million, the SGI compensation committee retains discretion to determine whether to pay any performance bonus and the amount thereof, up to a maximum for this discretionary amount of $600,000. For fiscal 2014, under the employment agreement, the retained discretion to grant a bonus when pre-tax profits is less than $5 million may be exercised only if pre-tax profits are positive, and the SGI compensation committee retains discretion to reduce the amount of the performance bonus payable under the above formula to an amount not less than $3 million.
After the spinoff, Mr. Roberts will be employed directly by A-Mark and will not be employed by SGI. However, Mr. Roberts will continue to perform services for SGI under a Secondment Agreement under which SGI will pay A-Mark for the services of Mr. Roberts and another person then employed by A-Mark. Mr. Roberts will have entered into an employment agreement with A-Mark that will be effective at the time of the spinoff. Under that employment agreement and the Secondment Agreement, the terms of the performance bonus will remain substantially the same as described above, but with pre-tax profits determined by the A-Mark compensation committee by combining the pre-tax profits for a given fiscal year achieved by A-Mark with those achieved by SGI. For this purpose, expenses incurred in implementing the spinoff will be eliminated from the calculation of pre-tax profits of the two companies.
The performance bonus for Mr. Madge specified for fiscal 2013 and for fiscal 2014 was and is as follows:
If A-Mark has positive pre-tax profits, then the annual incentive would equal:
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• | A discretionary amount with respect to pre-tax profits up to $18 million; plus |
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• | 1.0% of pre-tax profits in excess of $18 million, up to $25 million of pre-tax profits; plus |
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• | 3.0% of pre-tax profits in excess of $25 million, up to $30 million of pre-tax profits; plus |
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• | 5.0% of pre-tax profits in excess of $30 million, up to $35 million of pre-tax profits; plus |
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• | 6.0% of pre-tax profits in excess of $35 million of pre-tax profits. |
The SGI compensation committee could award discretionary bonus amounts in excess of the amounts determined under the above formula.
The performance bonus for Mr. Gjerdrum specified for fiscal 2013 was as follows:
If A-Mark or CFC had positive pre-tax profits, then the annual incentive would equal:
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• | 0.5% of A-Mark pre-tax profits up to $10 million of pre-tax profits; plus |
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• | 2.75% of A-Mark pre-tax profits in excess of $10 million of pre-tax profits; plus |
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• | 15% of CFC pre-tax profits. |
The SGI compensation committee together with other decision makers could award discretionary bonus amounts in excess of the amounts determined under the above formula.
The performance bonus for Mr. Gjerdrum specified for fiscal 2014 is as follows:
The terms of Mr. Gjerdrum’s employment agreement are currently being reviewed in light of the proposed spinoff and Mr. Gjerdrum’s expanded role going forward.
For fiscal 2013, the performance bonuses earned by our NEOs under the applicable pre-set performance formula were as follows:
|
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Named Executive Officer | Earned Annual Incentive Fiscal 2013 |
Gregory N. Roberts | 837,240 |
David W.G. Madge | 188,488 |
Thor Gjerdrum | 640,000 |
These payments corresponded to the level of per-tax profits achieved, without additional discretionary bonus payments.
The SGI compensation committee has awarded discretionary bonuses to the NEOs in past years in recognition of good performance in areas not fully reflected in pre-tax profits. Such discretionary bonuses may be awarded in the future by A-Mark and its subsidiaries. The committee paid a discretionary bonus to Mr. Roberts in fiscal 2013 in connection with his signing an extension of his employment agreement and a year-end discretionary bonus of $60,000. See “Other Significant Employment Agreement Terms and Related Information,” below.
After the spinoff, the compensation obligations under employment agreements will be obligations of A-Mark. The A-Mark compensation committee will perform the functions previously performed by the SGI compensation committee.
Long-Term Equity Incentives
We have used equity-based compensation (relating to SGI common stock) to provide additional incentives that are both long-term and aligned with the interests of shareholders, and to promote retention of the executive and long-term service. Generally, we have granted such awards in connection with the entry into a new or extended multi-year employment agreement. Thus, in recent years, equity incentives have not been part of annual compensation. In this regard, the amount or value of equity incentives has not been determined under a precise compensation formula or based on benchmarking such awards against practices at comparable companies. The A-Mark compensation committee may consider using long-term equity awards as a component of total direct compensation following the distribution.
In fiscal 2013, SGI and A-Mark, respectively, negotiated with Mr. Roberts and Mr. Gjerdrum multi-year extensions of their employment agreements. In connection with such renewals, Mr. Roberts received a grant of 300,000 SGI stock options, and Mr. Gjerdrum received a grant of 60,000 RSUs settleable by delivery of SGI common stock. The terms and fair values of these awards, and related information, is presented below in the table captioned “Grants of Plan-Based Awards – Fiscal 2103.” The options granted to Mr. Roberts carry exercise prices that represent a substantial premium above the grant date fair market value of the underlying shares. In view of the requirement for the SGI stock price to climb substantially in order for such options to be “in-the-money,” the SGI compensation committee did not impose a vesting requirement on the options. In the case of the RSUs granted to Mr. Gjerdrum, the award will vest on June 30, 2015, a vesting period of two years and four months (subject to accelerated vesting in specified circumstances). Mr. Gjerdrum’s employment agreement requires SGI to grant 20,000 stock options to him if SGI elects to extend the agreement for one year from its current expiration date of June 30, 2015.
Compensation of Other Executive Officers
Mr. Marzola became an executive officer of A-Mark on July 1, 2013, and we intend to appoint Ms. Meltzer as an executive officer after the distribution. These executives do not have employment agreements. Their compensation has been determined by our CEO (in consultation with the SGI compensation committee in the case of Ms. Meltzer). For fiscal 2014, Mr. Marzola and Ms. Meltzer will be paid a base salary of $158,459 and $200,000, respectively, and each will be eligible for a discretionary bonus to be determined at year-end. These executives participate in employee benefit plans of A-Mark or SGI.
Payments and Benefits Upon Termination of Service
The employment agreements entered into with our NEOs by SGI, A-Mark and CFC provide for certain payments and benefits in the event of termination of the NEO due to death, total disability, by the employer not for cause or by the NEO for “Good Reason.” The specific terms applicable to such terminations under the employment agreements, and an illustration of the level of benefits that would have been payable if the NEO had terminated employment on the last day of fiscal 2013, is presented below under the caption “Estimated Potential Termination and Change in Control Payments and Benefits.” In addition, the RSUs granted to Mr. Gjerdrum provide for accelerated vesting in the event of certain terminations of his employment (excluding termination by us for cause or voluntary termination by the NEO without Good Reason). The employment agreements and equity award agreements held by our NEOs do not contain material enhancements to severance or benefits based on a change in control.
The SGI compensation committee approved such termination payments and benefits based on the view that the level of such payments and benefits is reasonable (and perhaps conservative) in comparison to common practices in public companies that are comparable to SGI, and as significant provisions sought by executives when negotiating employment agreements. Such provisions can provide benefits to the employer, in that they provide our executives a window of time to locate a new position in the marketplace should their employment with us terminate. In addition, we believe that it is important to provide our NEOs with a sense of stability, both in the middle of transactions that may create uncertainty regarding their future employment and following termination as they seek future employment. We believe that severance protections allow management to focus their attention and energy on the business transaction at hand without undue distractions regarding, for example, the impacts on future employment as a result of a transaction.
Other Significant Employment Agreement Terms and Related Information
We may pay signing bonuses to our executives when determined to be necessary or appropriate to attract and retain executive talent. Accordingly, in fiscal 2013, in connection with the entry by Mr. Roberts into an amended employment agreement for an additional term of three years, SGI paid a signing bonus of $275,000 to Mr. Roberts. Similarly, under his employment agreement, Mr. Madge received a signing bonus of $450,000 in fiscal 2012, and he will earn a “completion bonus” of $450,000 if he continues in service to A-Mark through June 30, 2015.
The employment agreements provide that the NEOs will be entitled to receive medical insurance, group health, disability insurance and other benefits made generally available to employees, with some of the agreements providing assurance that the level of health benefits will not be diminished during the term of the agreement. The employment agreements also provide for indemnification to the NEOs for liabilities arising out of the NEO’s employment. Mr. Roberts’ employment agreement also provides a motor vehicle allowance of $750 per month. The employment agreements obligate the NEOs not to solicit employees to terminate employment with us or to become employees of another entity for one year following a termination for cause.
Tax Considerations
Section 162(m) of the Code generally precludes a publicly held company from claiming a tax deduction for certain compensation in excess of $1.0 million per year paid to its chief executive officer or any of its three other most highly paid executive officers (other than the chief financial officer). Qualifying performance-based compensation is not subject to the limit on deductions if specified requirements are met. In addition, the tax regulations provide limited exceptions for compensation arrangements that were entered into before a company was publicly held and during a specified period thereafter. We generally intend to structure the performance- based portion of our executive compensation in a way that will preserve tax deductibility, when that can be done in a way consistent with our other compensation objectives. However, to remain competitive with other employers, the board of directors or compensation committee may, in its judgment, authorize compensation that is not fully tax deductible by us when it believes that such arrangements are appropriate to attract and retain executive talent.
Recovery of Certain Awards
Under the employment agreements, performance bonuses are subject to recoupment (sometimes referred to as a “clawback”) by us under any general policy we may adopt. We do not currently have a formal policy for recovery of performance bonuses paid on the basis of financial results that are subsequently restated. We intend to implement a formal policy whereby, in the event of such a restatement, we would expect to recover affected bonuses and incentive compensation. In addition, following the distribution, we intend to implement a formal policy for the recovery of incentive-based compensation paid to current and former executives, in compliance with regulations pursuant to the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, following the enactment of such regulations.
Summary Compensation Table
The table below sets forth the compensation of the Company's NEOs for fiscal 2013.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name and Principal Position | Year | | Salary ($) | | Bonus (1)($) | | Stock Awards (2) ($) | | Option Awards (3) ($) | | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation (4) ($) | | All Other Compensation (5) ($) | | | Total ($) |
(a) | (b) | | (c) | | (d) | | (e) | | (f) | | (g) | | (h) | | | (i) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gregory Roberts | 2013 | | $ | 525,000 |
| | $ | 335,500 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 535,683 |
| | $ | 837,240 |
| | $ | 37,244 |
| | | $ | 2,270,667 |
|
Chief Executive Officer | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
and Director (6) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
David W. G. Madge, President | 2013 | | $ | 425,000 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 188,488 |
| | $ | 32,157 |
| | | $ | 645,645 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Thor Gjerdrum | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; President of CFC (7) | 2013 | | $ | 358,000 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 136,200 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 640,000 |
| | $ | 22,795 |
| | | $ | 1,156,995 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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(1) | For Mr. Roberts, the bonus shown in this column consisted of $275,000 awarded upon his signing of a renewal of his employment agreement with SGI, a discretionary year-end bonus of $60,000 and a $500 holiday bonus paid by SGI to each of its employees. |
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(2) | The stock-based compensation amount reported in the “Stock Awards” column represents the aggregate grant-date fair value of an award granted by SGI and computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC Topic 718”). SGI granted such award in the form of restricted stock units or RSUs settleable by issuance of shares of SGI common stock. Fair value of a stock award denominated in shares at the grant date is the number of such shares or units times the closing price of a share on the date of grant (no adjustment has been made for the effect of estimated forfeitures based on service-based vesting conditions). |
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(3) | The stock-based compensation amounts reported in the “Option Awards” column represent the aggregate grant-date fair value of the options granted by SGI and computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 (but with no adjustment for the effect of estimated forfeitures based on service-based vesting conditions). Such awards were options to purchase SGI common stock. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are discussed in Note 16 to SGI’s consolidated audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, contained in SGI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on October 15, 2013. SGI granted to Mr. Roberts options to purchase 300,000 shares of SGI common stock on February 15, 2013, exercisable at the following exercise prices: 100,000 options exercisable at $2.50 per SGI share; 100,000 options exercisable at $3.00 per SGI share; and 100,000 options exercisable at $3.50 per SGI share. The options were vested upon grant, and have a stated term of ten years, subject to accelerated vesting and early expiration of the term in specified circumstances. |
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(4) | Each of the named executive officers was granted an award opportunity for fiscal 2013 which constitutes a non-equity incentive compensation plan award. Bonus and equity incentive plan compensation for the named executive officers, including the definition of “pre-tax profits” for purposes of Mr. Roberts’ annual incentive award, are described in greater detail above in “Executive Compensation - Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” |
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(5) | Amounts in this column, for fiscal 2013, are as follows: |
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• | Mr. Roberts received $9,000 as a car allowance, $6,728 as a 401(k) matching contribution, and $21,516 as a cash payment in lieu of vacation time. |
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• | Mr. Madge received $7,571 as a 401(k) matching contribution, $5,015 as reimbursement for the costs of certain benefits and $19,571 as a cash payment in lieu of vacation time. |
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• | Mr. Gjerdrum received $5,163 as a 401(k) matching contribution, $8,458 as reimbursement for the costs of certain benefits and $9,174 as a cash payment in lieu of vacation time. |
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(6) | Mr. Roberts was employed directly by SGI and paid his compensation by SGI during fiscal 2013. Such fiscal 2013 compensation was paid to him for service to A-Mark and its subsidiaries and for services to SGI and its other subsidiaries. A-Mark paid SGI $1.015 million to reimburse SGI for compensation paid to Mr. Roberts. |
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(7) | Mr. Gjerdrum served as our Chief Financial Officer in fiscal 2013. |
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS -- FISCAL 2013
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| | Estimated Future Payouts Under Fiscal 2013 Non-Equity Incentive Plans | | | | |
Name | Grant Date | Threshold (1) | Target (2) | Maximum (1) | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (3) | All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (4) | Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/share) | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards |
Gregory N. Roberts | (1) | N/A | $ | 875,000 |
| N/A | - |
| - |
| - |
| — |
|
| February 15, 2013 | - | - |
| - | - |
| 100,000 |
| $ | 2.50 |
| $ | 181,807 |
|
| February 15, 2013 | | | | | 100,000 |
| 3.00 |
| $ | 178,439 |
|
| February 15, 2013 | - | - |
| - | - |
| 100,000 |
| 3.50 |
| $ | 175,437 |
|
David W.G. Madge | (1) | N/A | $ | 215,000 |
| N/A | - |
| - |
| - |
| — |
|
Thor Gjerdrum | (1) | N/A | $ | 465,000 |
| N/A | - |
| - |
| - |
| — |
|
| March 1, 2013 | - | - |
| - | 60,000 |
| - |
| - |
| 136,200 |
|
| | | | | | | | |
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(1) | Our fiscal 2013 non-equity incentive awards were governed by the terms of each executive’s employment agreement. In each case such agreements were in effect prior to the beginning of the fiscal year, so the effective date of the awards was July 1, 2012. These awards do not have thresholds (or minimum amounts) or maximum amounts payable for pre-specified levels of performance. Therefore, the threshold level is shown as “N/A” because the annual incentive award becomes potentially payable for any positive amount of pre-tax profit, and the maximum level is shown as “N/A” because there is no upper limit on the potential annual incentive award payout. |
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(2) | Our fiscal 2013 non-equity incentive awards specified that a payout would be based on the actual amount of applicable fiscal 2013 pre-tax profit (as defined) for specified business units. Accordingly, a target amount of the award was not quantifiable at the time the award was granted. In accordance with SEC Instructions to Item 402(d)(2)(iii) to Regulation S-K, in order to provide a representative estimated amount of annual incentive considered potentially payable at the time the award was granted, target levels shown represent the amounts that would have been payable for fiscal 2013 assuming the applicable pre-tax profits were the same as achieved in fiscal 2012. |
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(3) | Restricted stock units are awards denominated in and settleable by delivery of shares of SGI common stock. Such awards were granted under the SGI 2012 Stock Award and Incentive Plan. |
| |
(4) | Stock option awards are exercisable for shares of SGI common stock. Such awards were granted under the SGI 2012 Stock Award and Incentive Plan. |
|
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Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End - Fiscal 2013 |
Options Awards (1) | | Stock Awards (2) |
Name | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | | Option Exercise Price ($) | | Option Expiration Date | | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (1) ($) |
(a) | | (b) | | (c) | | (e) | | (f) | | (g) | | (h) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gregory N. Roberts | | 22,500 |
| | — |
| | 14.22 |
| | 3/31/2014 |
| | | | |
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