XML 27 R33.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of INTL FCStone Inc. and all other entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Unless otherwise stated herein, all references to fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012, and fiscal 2011 refer to the Company’s fiscal years ended September 30.
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of INTL FCStone Inc. and all other entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Unless otherwise stated herein, all references to fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012, and fiscal 2011 refer to the Company’s fiscal years ended September 30.
Reclassifications [Text Block]
Reclassifications
Certain amounts previously reported have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The reclassifications were made to change the income statement presentation to provide the users of the financial statements additional information related to the operating results of the Company. These reclassifications include reclassifying transaction-based clearing expenses and introducing broker commissions separately from compensation and other expenses, and as components along with interest expense in arriving at net operating revenues. Additionally, travel and business development expenses were previously included in ‘other’ expense. The reclassifications had no effect on consolidated net income or consolidated assets and liabilities.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant of these estimates and assumptions relate to fair value measurements for financial instruments and investments, revenue recognition, the provision for potential losses from bad debts, valuation of inventories, valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, incomes taxes and contingencies. These estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions the Company may undertake in the future. The Company reviews all significant estimates affecting the financial statements on a recurring basis and records the effect of any necessary adjustments prior to their issuance. Although these and other estimates and assumptions are based on the best available information, actual results could be materially different from these estimates.
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]
Foreign Currency Translation
Assets and liabilities recorded in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange prevailing during the period. Gains or losses on translation of the financial statements of a non-United States (“U.S.”) operation, when the functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar, are recorded in other comprehensive income (“OCI”), net of tax, a component of stockholders’ equity. Foreign currency remeasurement gains or losses on transactions in nonfunctional currencies are included in ‘trading gains, net’ in the consolidated income statements.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers cash held at banks and all highly liquid investments, including certificates of deposit, which may be withdrawn at any time at the discretion of the Company without penalty, to be cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash, foreign currency, money market funds and certificates of deposit not deposited with or pledged to exchange-clearing organizations, broker-dealers, clearing organizations or counterparties. The money market funds are valued at period-end at the net asset value provided by the fund’s administrator, which approximates fair value. Certificates of deposit are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value. The Company has an investment policy, which limits the maximum amount placed in any one fund and with any one institution in order to reduce credit risk. The Company does not believe that it is exposed to significant risk on cash and cash equivalents.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Cash, Securities and Other Assets Segregated under Federal and other Regulations
Pursuant to requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act in the U.S. and similarly in the United Kingdom (“UK”), pursuant to the Markets in Financial Instruments Implementing Directive 2006/73/EC underpinning the Client Asset or ‘CASS’ rules in the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) handbook, funds deposited by customers relating to futures and options-on-futures contracts in regulated commodities must be carried in separate accounts which are designated as segregated customer accounts. The deposits in segregated customer accounts are not commingled with the funds of the Company. Under the FSA’s rules, certain categories of clients may choose to opt-out of segregation. As of September 30, 2013 and 2012, cash, securities and other assets segregated under federal and other regulations consisted of cash held at banks and money market funds of approximately $416.8 million and $284.7 million, respectively, U.S. government securities and federal agency obligations of approximately $19.5 million and $50.5 million, respectively, and commodities warehouse receipts of approximately $13.1 million and $22.3 million, respectively (see fair value measurements discussion in Note 4).
Repurchase and Resale Agreements Policy [Policy Text Block]
Securities purchased under agreements to resell
The Company has an overnight sweep reverse repurchase agreement program to allow the Company to enter into secured overnight investments (reverse repurchase agreements or reverse repos), which generally provides a higher investment yield than a regular operating account. The reverse repurchase agreements are recorded at amounts at which the securities were initially acquired. It is the policy of the Company to take possession of the securities purchased under agreements to resell. The Company receives U.S. Treasury securities as collateral for the overnight agreements. The securities received are recorded at no more than the lesser of the current fair value of the securities or the net amount to be realized by the Company upon resale of the securities. The maturity of the reverse repurchase agreements is typically one day, at which point the securities are sold and the proceeds are returned to the Company, plus any accrued interest. There were no agreements to resell securities as of September 30, 2013 and 2012.
Commodity and Other Repurchase Agreements
In the normal course of operations the Company accepts notes receivable under sale/repurchase agreements with customers whereby the customers sell certain commodity inventory or other investments and agree to repurchase the commodity inventory or investment at a future date at either a fixed or floating rate. These transactions are short-term in nature, and in accordance with the guidance contained in the Transfers and Servicing Topic of the ASC, are treated as secured borrowings rather than commodity inventory and purchases and sales in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Additionally, the Company participates in transactions involving commodities or other investments sold under repurchase agreements (“repos”). In accordance with the guidance contained in the Transfers and Servicing Topic of the ASC, these transactions are treated as secured borrowings that are recorded as a liability in the consolidated balance sheets. Commodities or investments sold under repurchase agreements are reflected at the amount of cash received in connection with the transactions. The Company may be required to provide additional collateral based on the fair value of the underlying asset.
Due to and from Broker-Dealers and Clearing Organizations Disclosure [Text Block]
Deposits and Receivables from Exchange-Clearing Organizations, Broker-dealers, Clearing Organizations and Counterparties, and Payables to Broker-dealers, Clearing Organizations and Counterparties
As required by the regulations of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and the Markets in Financial Instruments Implementing Directive 2006/73/EC underpinning the CASS rules in the FSA handbook, customer funds received to margin, guarantee, and/or secure commodity futures transactions are segregated and accounted for separately from the general assets of the Company. Under the FSA’s rules, certain categories of clients may choose to opt-out of segregation. Deposits with exchange-clearing organizations, broker-dealers and counterparties pertain primarily to deposits made to satisfy margin requirements on customer and proprietary open futures and options-on-futures positions and to satisfy the requirements set by clearing exchanges for clearing membership. The Company also pledges margin deposit with various counterparties for OTC derivative contracts, and these deposits are also included in deposits and receivables from broker-dealers and counterparties. Deposits with and receivables from exchange-clearing organizations and broker-dealers and counterparties are reported gross, except where a right of offset exists. As of September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company had cash and cash equivalents on deposit with or pledged to exchange-clearing organizations, broker-dealers and counterparties of $1.0 billion and $0.4 billion, respectively.
These balances also include securities pledged by the Company on behalf of customers and customer-owned securities that are pledged. It is the Company’s practice to include customer owned securities on its consolidated balance sheets, as the rights to those securities have been transferred to the Company under the terms of the futures trading agreement. Securities pledged include U.S. Treasury bills and instruments backed by U.S. government sponsored entities and government-sponsored enterprise backed mortgage-backed securities (“mortgage-backed securities”). The securities that are not customer-owned are adjusted to fair value with associated changes in unrealized gains or losses recorded in OCI, net of tax, until realized, a component of stockholders’ equity. For customer owned securities, the change in fair value is offset against the payable to customers with no impact recognized on the consolidated income statements.
The securities, primarily U.S. Government obligations and mortgage-backed securities, held by FCStone LLC (“FCStone”), a subsidiary of INTL, as collateral or as margin have been deposited with exchange-clearing organizations, broker-dealers or other counterparties. The fair value of these securities was approximately $0.6 billion and $1.3 billion as of September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Management has considered guidance required by the Transfers and Servicing Topic of the ASC as it relates to securities pledged by customers to margin their accounts. Based on a review of the agreements with the customer, management believes a legal basis exists to support that the transferor surrenders control over those assets if all of the following three conditions are met: (a) the transferred assets have been isolated from the transferor—put presumptively beyond the reach of the transferor and its creditors, even in bankruptcy or other receivership, (b) each transferee has the right to pledge or exchange the assets (or beneficial interests) it received, and no condition both constrains the transferee (or holder) from taking advantage of its right to pledge or exchange and provides more than a trivial benefit to the transferor and (c) the transferor does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through either (1) an agreement that both entitles and obligates the transferor to repurchase or redeem them before their maturity or (2) the ability to unilaterally cause the holder to return specific assets, other than through a cleanup call. Under this guidance, the Company reflects the customer collateral assets and corresponding liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2013 and 2012.
In addition to margin, deposits with exchange-clearing organizations include guaranty deposits. The guaranty deposits are held by the clearing organization for use in potential default situations by one or more members of the clearing organization. The guaranty deposits may be applied to the Company’s obligations to the clearing organization, or to the clearing organization’s obligations to other clearing members or third parties.
The Company maintains customer omnibus and proprietary accounts with other counterparties, and the equity balances in those accounts along with any margin cash or securities deposited with the carrying broker are included in deposits and receivables from broker-dealers and counterparties.
Receivables from and payables to exchange-clearing organizations are also comprised of amounts due from or due to exchange-clearing organizations for daily variation settlements on open futures and options-on-futures positions. The variation settlements due from or due to exchange-clearing organizations are paid in cash on the following business day.
Deposits and receivables with exchange-clearing organizations also includes the unrealized gains and losses associated with the customers’ options-on-futures contracts. See discussion in the Financial Instruments and Derivatives section below for additional information on the treatment of derivative contracts. For customer owned derivative contracts, the fair value is offset against the payable to customers with no impact recognized on the consolidated income statements.
Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Receivable from and Payable to Customers
Receivable from customers, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, include the total of net deficits in individual exchange-traded and OTC trading accounts carried by the Company. Customer deficits arise from realized and unrealized trading losses on futures, options-on-futures, swaps and forwards and amounts due on cash and margin transactions. Customer deficit accounts are reported gross of customer accounts that contain net credit or positive balances, except where a right of offset exists. Net deficits in individual exchange-traded and OTC trading accounts include both secured and unsecured deficit balances due from customers as of the balance sheet date. Secured deficit amounts are backed by U.S. Treasury bills and notes and commodity warehouse receipts. These U.S Treasury bills and notes and commodity warehouse receipts are not netted against the secured deficit amounts, as the conditions for right of setoff have not been met.
Payable to customers represent the total of customer accounts with credit or positive balances. Customer accounts are used primarily in connection with commodity transactions and include gains and losses on open commodity trades as well as securities and other deposits made as required by the Company or the exchange-clearing organizations or counterparties. Customer accounts with credit or positive balances are reported gross of customer deficit accounts, except where a right of offset exists.
For regulatory purposes, certain customers, which would include persons who are affiliated with the Company or are principals, such as an officer or director, and any person who is materially involved in the management of the Company, are identified as noncustomers. A noncustomer account may not be carried as a customer account due to an affiliation with the Company. In a liquidation event, amounts owed to noncustomers are paid in the same priority as amounts owed to general creditors of the Company. These accounts are also referred to as proprietary accounts. The amounts related to noncustomer accounts are included in ‘payable to customers’ on the consolidated balance sheets.
The future collectability of the receivable from customers can be impacted by the Company’s collection efforts, the financial stability of its customers, and the general economic climate in which it operates. The Company evaluates accounts that it believes may become uncollectible on a specific identification basis, through reviewing daily margin deficit reports, the historical daily aging of the receivables, and by monitoring the financial strength of its customers. The Company may unilaterally close customer trading positions in certain circumstances. In addition, to evaluate customer margining and collateral requirements, customer positions are stress tested regularly and monitored for excessive concentration levels relative to the overall market size.
The Company generally charges off an outstanding receivable balance when all economically sensible means of recovery have been exhausted. That determination considers information such as the occurrence of significant changes in the customer’s financial position such that the customer can no longer pay the obligation, or that the proceeds from collateral will not be sufficient to pay the balance.
Finance, Loans and Leases Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Notes Receivable
The Company originates short-term notes receivable from customers with the outstanding balances being insured 90% to 98% by a third party, including accrued interest. The Company may sell the insured portion of the notes through non-recourse participation agreements with other third parties. See discussion of notes receivable related to commodity repurchase agreements below.
Accrual of commodity financing income on any note is discontinued when, in the opinion of management, there is reasonable doubt as to the timely collectability of interest or principal. Nonaccrual notes are returned to an accrual status when, in the opinion of management, the financial position of the borrower indicates there is no longer any reasonable doubt as to the timely payment of principal and interest. The Company records a charge against earnings for notes receivable losses when management believes that collectability of the principal is unlikely.
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Physical Commodities Inventory
Physical commodities inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market (“LCM”), using the weighted-average price and first-in first-out costing method. Cost includes finished commodity or raw material and processing costs related to the purchase and processing of inventories.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the improvement or the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. Certain costs of software developed or obtained for internal use are capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of the software. Expenditures for maintenance, repairs, and minor replacements are charged against earnings, as incurred. Expenditures that increase the value or productive capacity of assets are capitalized. When property and equipment are retired, sold, or otherwise disposed of, the asset’s carrying amount and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in earnings.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets
Goodwill is the cost of acquired companies in excess of the fair value of identifiable net assets at acquisition date. In accordance with the Intangibles – Goodwill and Other Topic of the ASC, goodwill is tested for impairment on an annual basis at the fiscal year-end, and between annual tests if indicators of potential impairment exist, using a fair-value-based approach. No impairment of goodwill has been identified during any of the periods presented.
Identifiable intangible assets subject to amortization are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated period of benefit, ranging from two to twenty years. Identifiable intangible assets are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances suggest that an asset’s or asset group’s carrying value may not be fully recoverable in accordance with the Intangibles – Goodwill and Other Topic of the ASC. Residual value is presumed to be zero. Identifiable intangible assets not subject to amortization are reviewed at each reporting period to reevaluate if the intangible asset’s useful life remains indefinite. Additionally, intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested annually for impairment at the fiscal year-end, and between annual tests if indicators of potential impairment exist, using a fair-value-based approach. See Note 10 for discussion of impairments of intangible assets that have been identified during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Financial Instruments and Derivatives
Financial instruments owned and sold, not yet purchased, at fair value consist of financial instruments carried at fair value or amounts that approximate fair value, with related unrealized changes in gains or losses recognized in earnings, except for securities classified as available-for-sale. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale.
The Company accounts for its securities pledged on behalf of customers and proprietary securities in accordance with the Investments - Debt and Equity Securities Topic in the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, the Company determines the appropriate classification of its investments as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity at the time of purchase and reevaluates the designation as of each reporting period.
The Company has classified certain U.S. government obligations, corporate debt securities and exchange firm common stock not pledged for clearing purposes as available-for-sale, which are carried at fair value based on observable or quoted market prices and associated unrealized gains or losses are recorded as a component of OCI, net of tax, until realized, unless an unrealized loss is determined to be other than temporary, in which case such loss is charged to earnings. The Company classifies those securities as available-for-sale because it would consider selling them prior to maturity to meet liquidity needs or as part of the Company’s risk management program.
The Company computes the cost of its securities on a specific identification basis. Such cost includes the direct costs to acquire securities, adjusted for the amortization of any discount or premium. The amortized cost of securities is computed under the effective-interest method and is included in interest income. Realized gains and losses, declines in value judged to be other than temporary and interest on available-for-sale securities are included in earnings.
Investment in managed funds, at fair value represents investments in funds managed by the Company’s fund managers. The investments are valued at period-end at the net asset value provided by the fund’s administrator.
Commodities warehouse receipts are valued at the cash price, or the nearby futures prices in the absence of a cash price, for the commodity based on published market quotes. For commodities warehouse receipts, the change in fair value is offset against the payable to customers with no impact on the consolidated income statements.
The Company utilizes derivative instruments to manage exposures to foreign currency, commodity price and interest rate risks for the Company and its customers. The Company’s objectives for holding derivatives include reducing, eliminating, and efficiently managing the economic impact of these exposures as effectively as possible. Derivative instruments are recognized as either assets or liabilities and are measured at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative and the resulting designation. For a derivative instrument designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the derivative’s gain or loss is initially recorded in OCI, net of tax, and is subsequently recognized in earnings when the hedged exposure affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss is recognized in earnings. Gains and losses from changes in fair values of derivatives that are not designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes are recognized in earnings.
The Company’s derivative contracts consist of exchange-traded and OTC derivatives. Fair values of exchange-traded derivatives are generally determined from quoted market prices. OTC derivatives are valued using valuation models. The valuation models used to derive the fair values of OTC derivatives require inputs including contractual terms, market prices, yield curves and measurements of volatility. The Company uses similar models to value similar instruments. Where possible, the Company verifies the values produced by pricing models by comparing them to market transactions. Inputs may involve judgment where market prices are not readily available. The Company does not elect hedge accounting under the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the ASC in accounting for derivatives used as economic hedges on its commodities.
The Company provides clearing and execution of exchange-traded futures and options-on-futures for middle-market intermediaries, end-users, producers of commodities and the institutional and professional trader market segments. The Company has a subsidiary that is a registered futures commission merchant (“FCM”), clearing on various exchanges. The primary sources of revenues for the Company’s FCM are commissions and clearing fees derived from executing and clearing orders for commodity futures contracts and options-on-futures on behalf of its customers.
The Company also brokers foreign exchange forwards, options and cash, or spot, transactions between customers and external counterparties. A portion of the contracts are arranged on an offsetting basis, limiting the Company’s risk to performance of the two offsetting parties. The offsetting nature of the contracts eliminates the effects of market fluctuations on the Company’s operating results. Due to the Company’s role as a principal participating in both sides of these contracts, the amounts are presented gross on the consolidated balance sheets at their respective fair values, net of offsetting assets and liabilities.
In addition, the Company engages in speculative trading and holds proprietary positions in futures, options, swaps and forward derivatives, including corn, wheat, soybeans, sugar and foreign currency contracts. Since some of the derivatives held or sold by the Company are for speculative trading purposes, these derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments and accordingly, the changes in fair value during the period are recorded in the consolidated income statements as a component of ‘trading gains, net’ (see Note 5).
The Company also holds proprietary positions in its foreign exchange line of business. On a limited basis, the Company’s foreign exchange trade desk will accept a customer transaction and will offset that transaction with a similar but not identical position with a counterparty. These unmatched transactions are intended to be short-term in nature and are often conducted to facilitate the most effective transaction for the Company’s customer. These spot and forward contracts are accounted for as free-standing derivatives and reported in the consolidated balance sheets at their fair values. The Company does not seek hedge accounting treatment for these derivatives, and accordingly, the changes in fair value during the period are recorded in the consolidated income statements in ‘trading gains, net’ (see Note 5). In applying the guidance in the Balance Sheet-Offsetting Topic of the ASC, the Company’s accounting policy is such that open contracts with the same customer are netted at the account level, in accordance with netting arrangements in place with each party, as applicable and rights to reclaim cash collateral or obligations to return cash collateral are netted against fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments with the same customer in accordance with the master netting arrangements in place with each customer.
The Company may lease commodities to or from customers or counterparties, or advance commodities to customers on an unpriced basis, receiving payment when they become priced. These are valued at fair value utilizing the fair value option based on guidance in the Financial Instruments Topic of the ASC. As permitted by the fair value option election, the entire instrument is recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets as a component of ‘financial instruments owned and sold, not yet purchased’. Due to the short term nature of the instruments, the balance of the agreements is not materially different than the recorded fair value. The corresponding change in fair value of the instrument is recognized in the consolidated income statements as a component of ‘trading gains, net’ for the fiscal years ended 2013, 2012 and 2011. The Company does elect to value all of their commodities lease agreements at fair value using the fair value option. See fair value measurements in Note 4.
Exchange Memberships, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Exchange Memberships and Stock
The Company is required to hold certain exchange membership seats and exchange firm common stock and pledge them for clearing purposes, in order to provide the Company the right to process trades directly with the various exchanges. Exchange memberships include seats on the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”), the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”), the Commodity Exchange, Inc. (“COMEX”) Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, Mercado de Valores de Buenos Aires S.A. (“MERVAL”), the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) Growth and Emerging Markets, InterContinental Exchange, Inc. (“ICE”) Futures US, ICE Europe Ltd and London Metal Exchange (“LME”). Exchange firm common stock include shares of CME Group, Inc., ICE and LME. In December 2012, the CME completed its acquisition of the Board of Trade of Kansas City, Missouri, Inc. (“KCBT”). The Company received proceeds of $1.5 million and recognized a gain of $0.9 million before taxes, in connection with its class A shares of the KCBT held as of September 30, 2012, during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013.
Exchange memberships and firm common stocks pledged for clearing purposes are recorded at cost, in accordance with U.S. GAAP and CFTC regulations and are included in ‘other assets’ on the consolidated balance sheets. Equity investments in exchange firm common stock not pledged for clearing purposes are classified as available-for-sale and recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded as a component of OCI, net of tax, until realized. Equity investments in exchange firm common stock not pledged for clearing purposes are included in ‘financial instruments owned’ on the consolidated balance sheets.
The cost basis for exchange memberships and firm common stock pledged for clearing purposes was $10.4 million and $10.5 million as of September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The fair value of exchange memberships and firm common stock pledged for clearing purposes was $8.5 million and $8.9 million as of September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The fair value of exchange firm common stock is determined by quoted market prices, and the fair value of exchange memberships is determined by recent sale transactions. The Company monitors the fair value of exchange membership seats and firm common stock on a quarterly basis, and does not consider any current unrealized losses on individual exchange memberships to be anything other than a temporary impairment.
Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]
Business Combinations
Acquisitions during fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 are accounted for as business combinations in accordance with the provisions of the Business Combinations Topic of the ASC. Under this accounting guidance most of the assets and liabilities acquired and assumed are measured at fair value as of the acquisition date. Certain contingent liabilities acquired require remeasurement at fair value in each subsequent reporting period. Noncontrolling interests are initially measured at fair value and classified as a separate component of equity. Acquisition related costs, such as fees for attorneys, accountants, and investment bankers, are expensed as incurred and are not capitalized as part of the purchase price. For all acquisitions, regardless of the consummation date, deferred tax assets, valuation allowances, and uncertain tax position adjustments occurring after the measurement period are recorded as a component of income, rather than adjusted through goodwill.
Determining the fair value of certain assets and liabilities acquired is subjective in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. Estimating the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired requires significant judgment.
Contingent Consideration
The Company estimates and records the acquisition date estimated fair value of contingent consideration as part of purchase price consideration for acquisitions. Additionally, each reporting period, the Company estimates changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, and any change in fair value is recognized in the consolidated income statement. An increase in the earn-out expected to be paid will result in a charge to operations in the period that the anticipated fair value of contingent consideration increases, while a decrease in the earn-out expected to be paid will result in a credit to operations in the period that the anticipated fair value of contingent consideration decreases. The estimate of the fair value of contingent consideration requires subjective assumptions to be made of future operating results, discount rates, and probabilities assigned to various potential operating result scenarios. Future revisions to these assumptions could materially change the estimate of the fair value of contingent consideration and, therefore, materially affect the Company’s future financial results.
Stockholders' Equity, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Additional Paid-In Capital
The Company’s additional paid-in capital (“APIC”) consists of stockholder contributions that are in excess of par value of common stock. Included in APIC are amounts related to the exercise of stock options, share-based compensation and shares held in escrow.
In September 2010, the Company acquired certain assets of Provident Group (“Provident”). The purchase price for the assets and services of the sellers was $5.0 million. Subsequent to closing, the individual sellers placed the entire purchase price into an escrow account and the funds were used to purchase outstanding shares of the Company on the open market. There were 214,325 shares purchased and placed into escrow as a result of this agreement. The entire purchase price was recorded as a reduction in additional paid in capital as shares held in escrow for business combinations. The shares held in escrow for business combinations will be released to the individual sellers, over a five year period from the date of closing based on net profits, in accordance with the provisions of the acquisition agreement. However, if the terms of the agreement are not met, the remaining shares will be forfeited and the remaining shares and balance in the shares held in escrow for business combinations will be recorded as treasury stock. In accordance with the acquisition agreement, 6,799 and 3,255 shares were earned and subsequently released to the sellers during the years ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Revenue Recognition
Sales of physical commodities revenue are recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company reports its physical commodities revenues on a gross basis, with the corresponding cost of sales shown separately, in accordance with the guidelines provided in the Revenue Recognition Topic of the ASC.
Trading gains, net include brokerage fees and margins generated from OTC derivative trades executed with customers and other counterparties and are recognized when trades are executed. Trading gains, net also include activities where the Company acts as principal in the purchase and sale of individual securities, currencies, commodities or derivative instruments with customers. These transactions may be offset simultaneously with another customer or counterparty, offset with similar but not identical positions on an exchange, made from inventory, or may be aggregated with other purchases to provide liquidity intraday, for a number of days, or in some cases, particularly the base metals business, even longer periods (during which fair value may fluctuate). In addition, trading gains, net includes activities from the Company’s operations of a proprietary foreign exchange desk which arbitrages the futures and cash markets (see additional discussion in the Financial Instruments and Derivatives policy note for revenue recognition on proprietary trading activities). Net dealer inventory and investment gains are recognized on a trade-date basis and include realized gains or losses and changes in unrealized gains or losses on investments at fair value. Dividend income and dividend expense, on short equity positions, are recognized net, in ‘trading gain, net’ on the ex-dividend date.
Commissions on futures contracts are recognized on a half-turn basis in two equal parts. The first half is recognized when the contract is opened and the second half is recognized when the transaction is closed. Commissions on options-on-futures contracts are generally recognized on a half-turn basis, except that full commissions are recognized on options expected to expire without being exercised or offset. Commissions and fees are charged at various rates based on the type of account, the products traded, and the method of trade. Clearing and transaction fees are charged to customers on a per exchange contract basis based on the trade date. Such fees are for clearing customers’ exchange trades and include fees charged to the Company by the various futures exchanges. See discussion of transaction-based clearing expenses below.
Consulting and management fees include risk management consulting fees which are billed and recognized as revenue on a monthly basis when risk management services are provided. Such agreements are generally for one year periods, but are cancelable by either party upon providing thirty days written notice to the other party and the amounts are not variable based on customer trading activities. Asset management fees are recognized as they are earned based on fees due at each period-end date. These include performance fees based on the amount that is due under the formula for exceeding performance targets as of the period-end date. Fee income for structuring and arrangement of debt transactions and management and investment advisory income is recorded when the services related to the underlying transactions are provided and success fees are recorded when complete, as determined under the terms of the assignment or engagement.
Interest income, generated primarily from investments and customer inventory financing, is recognized on an accrual basis. Interest from investments is generated from securities purchased using customer funds deposited with the Company to satisfy margin requirements, net of interest returned to customers, and from securities acquired through internally-generated company funds. Interest also includes unrealized gains and losses on securities owned and those deposited with other parties.
Revenue generally is recognized net of any taxes collected from customers and subsequently remitted to governmental authorities.
Cost of Sales, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Cost of Revenue
Cost of sales of physical commodities include finished commodity or raw material and processing costs along with operating costs relating to the receipt, storage and delivery of the physical commodities.
Compensation Related Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation and benefits consists primarily of salaries, incentive compensation, commissions, related payroll taxes and employee benefits. The Company classifies employees as either traders / risk management consultants, operational or administrative personnel, which includes the executive officers. The most significant component of the Company’s compensation expense is the employment of the traders / risk management consultants, who are paid commissions based on the revenues that their customer portfolios generate. The Company accrues commission expense on a trade date basis.
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]
Share-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for share-based compensation in accordance with the guidance of the Compensation-Stock Compensation Topic of the ASC. The cost of employee services received in exchange for a share-based award is generally measured based on the grant-date fair value of the award. Share-based employee awards that require future service are amortized over the relevant service period. Expected forfeitures are included in determining share-based employee compensation expense. In the first quarter of 2006, the Company adopted the guidance under the Compensation-Stock Compensation Topic of the ASC using the modified prospective method. For option awards granted subsequent to the adoption, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for the entire award. The expense of unvested option awards granted prior to the adoption are recognized on a straight-line basis, over the balance of the vesting period.
Floor Brokerage, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Transaction-Based Clearing Expenses
Clearing fees and related expenses include primarily variable expenses for clearing and settlement services, including fees the Company pays to executing brokers, exchanges, clearing organizations and banks. These fees are based on transaction volume, and recorded as expense on the trade date. Clearing fees are passed on to customers and are presented gross in the consolidated statements of income under the Revenue Recognition Topic of the ASC, as the Company acts as a principal for these transactions.
Commissions Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Introducing Broker Commissions
Introducing broker commissions include commissions paid to non-employee third parties that have introduced customers to the Company. Introducing brokers are individuals or organizations that maintain relationships with customers and accept futures and options orders from those customers. The Company directly provides all account, transaction and margining services to introducing brokers, including accepting money, securities and property from the customers. The commissions are determined and settled monthly.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Income Taxes
Income tax expense includes U.S. federal, state and local and foreign income taxes. Certain items of income and expense are not reported in tax returns and financial statements in the same year. The tax effect of such temporary differences is reported as deferred income taxes. Tax provisions are computed in accordance with the Income Taxes Topic of the ASC.
Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income consists of net income and other gains and losses affecting stockholders’ equity that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net income. Other comprehensive income (loss) includes net actuarial losses from defined benefit pension plans, unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, gains and losses on foreign currency translations, and changes in the fair value of interest rate swap agreements, to the extent they are, or previously were, effective as cash flow hedges.
Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Noncontrolling Interest and Variable Interest Entities
In accordance with the Consolidation Topic of the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) the Company consolidates any variable interest entities for which it is the primary beneficiary, as defined. The Company applies the equity method of accounting when the Company does not have a controlling interest in an entity, but exerts significant influence over the entity.
The Company had a majority interest in and was the general partner of the Blackthorn Multi-Advisor Fund, LP (the “Blackthorn Fund”), whose assets, liabilities, income and expenses were included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. During fiscal 2012, the Company redeemed its remaining investment in Blackthorn Fund effective December 31, 2011. As a result of the final redemption, the Company no longer retains any ownership interests in the Blackthorn Fund, has transferred its rights as general partner and deconsolidated its interest in the Blackthorn Fund as of December 31, 2011. The aggregate of the redemption and remaining noncontrolling interest less the carrying amount of the net assets of the Blackthorn Fund resulted in a nominal gain and was recorded as a component of ‘trading gains, net’ in the consolidated income statement for the year ended September 30, 2012, as a result of the deconsolidation.
Preferred Stock [Text Block]
Preferred Stock
The Company is authorized to issue one million shares of preferred stock, par value of $0.01 per share, in one or more classes or series to be established by the Company’s board of directors. As of September 30, 2013 and 2012, no preferred shares were outstanding and the Company’s board of directors had not yet established any class or series of shares.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income. This guidance eliminates the option to report comprehensive income and its components in the consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity. Under this guidance, an entity can elect to present items of net income and comprehensive income in one continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, statements. In addition, the guidance requires entities to show the effects of items reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income on the face of the financial statements. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 and interim and annual periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted, but full retrospective application is required. This guidance was effective for the Company’s fiscal year 2013. The adoption of this guidance resulted in a change in the presentation of comprehensive income in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In December 2011, the FASB issued new guidance on the disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities. While the FASB retained the existing offsetting models under U.S. GAAP, the new standard requires disclosures to allow investors to better compare and understand significant quantitative differences in financial statements prepared under U.S. GAAP. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. Retrospective application is required. This guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2013. The Company expects to adopt this guidance starting with the first quarter of fiscal year 2014. The adoption of this guidance is expected to change some of the Company’s disclosures in the notes to its consolidated financial statements.
In July 2012, the FASB issued final guidance on indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment testing. Under the guidance, entities testing indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment have the option of first performing a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If a company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of such an asset exceeds its carrying amount, it would not need to calculate the fair value of the asset in that year. However, if a company concludes otherwise, it must calculate the fair value of the asset, compare that value with its carrying amount and record an impairment charge, if any. The guidance does not revise the requirement to test indefinite-lived intangible assets annually for impairment. In addition, the guidance does not amend the requirement to test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment between annual tests if events or circumstances warrant, however, it does revise the examples of events and circumstances that an entity should consider. The guidance 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 and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In February 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income requiring new disclosures regarding reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). ASU No. 2013-02 requires disclosure of amounts reclassified out of AOCI by component. In addition, the entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of AOCI by the respective line items of net income. The Company expects to adopt this guidance starting with the first quarter of fiscal year 2014. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-05, Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity, which addresses the accounting for the cumulative translation adjustment when a parent either sells part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business within a foreign entity. For public entities, the ASU is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods, within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. Early adoption is permitted. The Company expects to adopt this guidance starting with the first quarter of fiscal year 2015. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This ASU provides that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion thereof, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except to the extent that a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date to settle any additional income taxes that would result from disallowance of a tax position, or the tax law does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, then the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a liability. For public entities, the ASU is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company expects to adopt this guidance starting with the first quarter of fiscal year 2015. The adoption of ASU 2013-11 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.