Basis of Presentation and Consolidation and Recently Issued Accounting Standards

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation and Recently Issued Accounting Standards [Abstract]

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation and Recently Issued Accounting Standards

INTL FCStone Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively “INTL” or “the Company”) form a financial services group focused on domestic and select international markets. The Company’s services include comprehensive risk management advisory services for commercial customers; execution of listed futures and options on futures contracts on all major commodity exchanges; structured over-the-counter ("OTC") products in a wide range of commodities; physical trading and hedging of precious and base metals and select other commodities; trading of more than 130 foreign currencies; market-making in international equities; debt origination and asset management. During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, the Company changed its name from International Assets Holding Corporation to INTL FCStone Inc., following approval of the name change by the Company's stockholders.

The Company provides these services to a diverse group of approximately 10,000 customers located throughout the world, including producers, processors and end-users of nearly all widely-traded physical commodities to manage their risks and enhance margins; to commercial counterparties who are end-users of the firm’s products and services; to governmental and non-governmental organizations; and to commercial banks, brokers, institutional investors and major investment banks.

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations. The Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements for the interim periods presented have been reflected as required by Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X.

Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. It is suggested that these interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 filed with the SEC.

These condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of INTL FCStone Inc. and its subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. 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 has a majority interest in the Blackthorn Multi-Advisor Fund, LP (the “Blackthorn Fund”). The Blackthorn Fund is a commodity investment pool, which allocates most of its assets to third-party commodity trading advisors and other investment managers. The Blackthorn Fund engages in speculative trading of a wide variety of commodity futures and options on futures contracts, securities and other financial instruments. In addition to the majority interest that was acquired, a subsidiary of the Company is also the general partner of the Blackthorn Fund. Under the provisions of the Consolidations Topic of the ASC, the Company is required to consolidate the Blackthorn Fund as a variable interest entity since it is the general partner and owns a majority interest. The creditors of the Blackthorn Fund have no recourse to the general assets of the Company.

The Blackthorn Fund had net assets of $3.6 million as of June 30, 2011. The net assets of the Blackthorn fund consisted of cash and cash equivalents of $0.9 million, deposits and receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations and counterparties of $2.8 million, investments in managed funds of $1.2 million and $1.3 million in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities at June 30, 2011. Accordingly, the noncontrolling interest shown in the condensed consolidated balance sheets includes the noncontrolling interest of the Blackthorn Fund of $1.3 million as of June 30, 2011. See Note 6 for discussion of fair value of the financial assets and liabilities.

Our fiscal year end is September 30, and our fiscal quarters end on December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30. Unless otherwise stated, all dates refer to our fiscal years and fiscal interim periods.

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. The most significant of these estimates and assumptions relate to fair value measurements for financial instruments and investments and the provision for potential losses from bad debts. Provisions for estimated bad debts are recorded on a specific identification basis. Although these and other estimates and assumptions are based on the best available information, actual results could be materially different from these estimates.

Reclassifications

During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, the Company reclassified give-up fee revenue within the condensed consolidated income statement to the financial statement line caption 'commission and clearing fees', from 'consulting and management fees'. Reclassifications in the amount of $0.6 million and $1.2 million have been made to the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2010, respectively, to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported total or net revenues.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In June 2009, new guidance was issued on transfers and servicing of financial assets to eliminate the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity, change the requirements for off balance sheet accounting for financial assets including limiting the circumstances where off balance sheet treatment for a portion of a financial asset is allowable, and require additional disclosures. The guidance was effective at the beginning of the Company’s 2011 fiscal year. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2009, new guidance was issued to revise the approach to determine when a variable interest entity ("VIE") should be consolidated. The new consolidation model for VIEs considers whether the Company has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs economic performance and shares in the significant risks and rewards of the entity. The guidance on VIEs requires companies to continually reassess VIEs to determine if consolidation is appropriate and provide additional disclosures. The guidance was effective for the beginning of the Company’s 2011 fiscal year. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, new guidance was issued to require new disclosures and clarify existing disclosure requirements about fair value measurements as set forth in the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic in the ASC. The guidance requires that a reporting entity should disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers; and in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs, a reporting entity should present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements. In addition, the guidance clarifies that for purposes of reporting fair value measurement for each class of assets and liabilities, a reporting entity needs to use judgment in determining the appropriate classes of assets and liabilities; and a reporting entity should provide disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. This guidance was effective for the Company as of the quarter ended March 31, 2010 except for the detailed level 3 roll forward disclosure, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s disclosures in its consolidated financial statements.