Receivables From Customers, Net and Notes Receivable, Net (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Receivables from customers and notes receivable, net [Abstract]

Financing Receivables [Text Block]

Receivables From Customers, Net and Notes Receivable, Net

The allowance for doubtful accounts related to receivables from customers was $10.8 million as of March 31, 2017 and $9.5 million as of September 30, 2016. The allowance for doubtful accounts related to notes receivable was $0.0 million and $0.2 million as of March 31, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded bad debt expense of $1.3 million, primarily related to LME Metals customer deficits in the Company’s Commercial Hedging segment. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded bad debt expense of $2.6 million, including provision increases for bad debts primarily related to $1.3 million of customer receivables in the Physical Ag & Energy component of the Physical Commodities segment, $1.1 million of customer deficits in the Commercial Hedging segment and $0.2 million related to short-term notes receivable origination in the Securities segment.

During the six months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded bad debt expense of $3.8 million, primarily related to LME Metals customer deficits in the Company’s Commercial Hedging segment. During the six months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded bad debt expense of $4.6 million, primarily related to $1.5 million of customer receivables in the Physical Ag & Energy component of the Physical Commodities segment, $2.7 million of customer deficits in the Commercial Hedging segment and $0.3 million related to short-term notes receivable origination in the Securities segment.

The Company originates short-term notes receivable from customers with the outstanding balances typically being insured 90% to 98% by a third party, including accrued interest, subject to applicable deductible amounts. The total balance outstanding under insured notes receivable was $2.1 million and $5.0 million as of March 31, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively. The Company has sold $2.1 million and $4.6 million of the insured portion of the notes through non-recourse participation agreements with other third parties as of March 31, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively. The Company completed its exit of the majority of this activity during fiscal 2016. The Company believes the run-off of the remaining activity will have a minimal impact on the Company.

See discussion of notes receivable related to commodity repurchase agreements in Note 10.