Investments and Other Noncurrent Assets [Text Block] | NOTE 2. INVESTMENTS As of March 31, 2018, the Company held investments with a fair value of approximately $20.1 million and a cost basis of approximately $12.4 million. The fair value of these investments is approximately 59.2 percent of the Company’s total assets. In addition, the Company held other investments of $2.2 million accounted for under the cost method of accounting and investments of approximately $1.2 million accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Investments in securities classified as trading are reflected as current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses on trading securities are included in earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Investments in securities classified as available-for-sale, which may not be readily marketable but have readily determinable fair values, are reflected as non-current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized. Other investments consist of equity investments in entities over which the Company is unable to exercise significant influence and which do not have readily determinable fair values. These investments are accounted for under the cost method of accounting and evaluated periodically for impairment. The Company considers many factors in determining impairment, including the severity and duration of the decline in value below cost, the Company’s interest and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient for an anticipated recovery in value, and the financial condition and specific events related to the issuer. When an impairment of a security is determined to be other than temporary, the impairment is recognized as a loss in the Company’s earnings. Investments classified as equity method consist of investments in companies in which the Company is able to exercise significant influence but not control. Under the equity method of accounting, the investment is initially recorded at cost, then the Company’s proportional share of investee’s underlying net income or loss is recorded as a component of “other income” with a corresponding increase or decrease to the carrying value of the investment. Distributions received from the investee reduce the Company’s carrying value of the investment. These investments are evaluated for impairment if events or circumstances arise that indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. The Company records security transactions on trade date. Realized gains (losses) from security transactions are calculated on the first-in/first-out cost basis, unless otherwise identifiable, and are recorded in earnings on the date of sale. The following details the components of the Company’s investments recorded at fair value as of March 31, 2018, and June 30, 2017. March 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands) Cost Gains (Losses) Fair Value Trading securities 1 Mutual funds - Fixed income $ 6,785 $ 18 $ (30 ) $ 6,773 Mutual funds - Domestic equity 535 - (161 ) 374 Other 45 - (45 ) - Offshore fund - - - - Total trading securities 7,365 18 (236 ) 7,147 Available-for-sale securities 2 Common stock - Domestic - - - - Common stock - International 2,554 7,361 (76 ) 9,839 Corporate debt 3 1,086 625 - 1,711 Mutual funds - Fixed income 1,000 - (14 ) 986 Mutual funds - Domestic equity 394 21 - 415 Other - - - - Total available-for-sale securities 4 5,034 8,007 (90 ) 12,951 Total securities at fair value $ 12,399 $ 8,025 $ (326 ) $ 20,098 June 30, 2017 (dollars in thousands) Cost Gains (Losses) Fair Value Trading securities 1 Mutual funds - Fixed income $ 8,884 $ 50 $ (7 ) $ 8,927 Mutual funds - Domestic equity 535 - (157 ) 378 Other 45 - (45 ) - Offshore fund 1,184 - (769 ) 415 Total trading securities 10,648 50 (978 ) 9,720 Available-for-sale securities 2 Common stock - Domestic 109 4 - 113 Common stock - International 191 12 - 203 Corporate debt 3 1,042 427 - 1,469 Mutual funds - Fixed income 1,148 1 (5 ) 1,144 Mutual funds - Domestic equity 394 12 - 406 Other 56 10 - 66 Total available-for-sale securities 4 2,940 466 (5 ) 3,401 Total securities at fair value $ 13,588 $ 516 $ (983 ) $ 13,121 1 Unrealized and realized gains and losses on trading securities are included in earnings in the statement of operations. 2 Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and recorded in other comprehensive income as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized. 3 Corporate debt has stated maturity in 2024, but issuer has issued notice that it intends to redeem early, as discussed below and in Note 12, Subsequent Events. 4 Net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities gross and net of tax as of March 31, 2018, are $7,917 and $6,430, respectively, and as of June 30, 2017, are $461 and $461, respectively. On March 31, 2018, the Company had $8.5 million at fair value invested in USGIF. These investments were included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the table above as “trading securities” and “available-for-sale securities.” The Company had an available-for-sale investment in corporate debt securities valued at approximately $1.7 million as of March 31, 2018, based on a quoted price on the reporting date, and scheduled to mature in 2024. Subsequent to March 31, 2018, the issuer of the corporate debt issued notice that it intends to redeem these debt securities early at par value in May 2018. See further discussion in Note 12, Subsequent Events. Investment income can be volatile and varies depending on market fluctuations, the Company’s ability to participate in investment opportunities, and timing of transactions. The Company expects that gains and losses will continue to fluctuate in the future. Investment income (loss) from the Company’s investments includes: • realized gains and losses on sales of securities; • unrealized gains and losses on trading securities; • realized foreign currency gains and losses; • other-than-temporary impairments on available-for-sale securities; • other-than-temporary impairments on held-at-cost securities; and • dividend and interest income. The following summarizes investment income (loss) reflected in earnings for the periods discussed: Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended (dollars in thousands) March 31, March 31, Investment Income 2018 2017 2018 2017 Realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities $ 31 $ 31 $ - $ - Realized losses on sales of trading securities (736 ) - - - Unrealized gains (losses) on trading securities 710 16 (36 ) 42 Realized foreign currency gains (losses) (15 ) (25 ) 4 (20 ) Other-than-temporary declines in available-for-sale securities - (16 ) - - Dividend and interest income 737 657 307 139 Total Investment Income $ 727 $ 663 $ 275 $ 161 Proceeds from the sales of available-for-sale investments were approximately $401,000 and $649,000, for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, and March 31, 2017, respectively. There were no sales of available-for-sale investments for the three months ended March 31, 2018, or March 31, 2017, respectively. Gross gains on the sale of available-for-sale investments were $37,000 and $34,000 for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, and March 31, 2017, respectively. Gross losses on the sale of available-for-sale investments were $6,000 and $3,000, for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, and March 31, 2017, respectively. Realized gains and losses on the sale of available-for-sale investments are reclassified from other comprehensive income into investment income. There were no impairment losses for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018, or the three months ended March 31, 2017. Included in investment income were other-than temporary declines in value on available-for-sale securities of approximately $16,000 for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. During the nine months ended March 31, 2017, impairment losses resulted from fair values of securities being lower than book value, and two securities with a combined cost basis of $98,000 were written down to a combined fair value of $82,000. In making these determinations, the Company considered the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost basis, financial condition and prospects of the issuers and the Company’s ability to hold the investment until recovery. Unrealized Losses The following tables show the gross unrealized losses and fair values of available-for-sale investment securities with unrealized losses aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position. March March 31, 2018 Less Than 12 Months 12 Months or Greater Total Gross Unrealized Gross Unrealized Gross Unrealized (dollars in thousands) Fair Value Losses Fair Value Losses Fair Value Losses Available-for-sale securities Common stock - Domestic $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Common stock - International 58 (76 ) - - 58 (76 ) Corporate debt - - - - - - Mutual funds - Fixed income 986 (14 ) - - 986 (14 ) Mutual funds - Domestic equity - - - - - - Other - - - - - - Total available-for-sale securities $ 1,044 $ (90 ) $ - $ - $ 1,044 $ (90 ) June 30, 2017 Less Than 12 Months 12 Months or Greater Total Gross Unrealized Gross Unrealized Gross Unrealized (dollars in thousands) Fair Value Losses Fair Value Losses Fair Value Losses Available-for-sale securities Common stock - Domestic $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Common stock - International - - - - - - Corporate debt - - - - - - Mutual funds - Fixed income - - 95 (5 ) 95 (5 ) Mutual funds - Domestic equity - - - - - - Other - - - - - - Total available-for-sale securities $ - $ - $ 95 $ (5 ) $ 95 $ (5 ) Fair Value Hierarchy ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures Financial instruments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following categories: Level 1 – Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the reporting date. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, value of these products does not entail a significant degree of judgment. Level 2 – Valuations based on quoted prices in markets for which not all significant inputs are observable, directly or indirectly. Corporate debt securities valued in accordance with the evaluated price supplied by an independent service are categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Other securities categorized as Level 2 include securities valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask quotation and securities valued with an adjustment to the quoted price due to restrictions. Level 3 – Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the financial instrument. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with the investing in those securities. Because of the inherent uncertainties of valuation, the values reflected may materially differ from the values received upon actual sale of those investments. For actively traded securities, the Company values investments using the closing price of the securities on the exchange or market on which the securities principally trade. If the security is not traded on the last business day of the quarter, it is generally valued at the mean between the last bid and ask quotation. The fair value of a security that has a restriction is based on the quoted price for an otherwise identical unrestricted instrument that trades in a public market, adjusted for the estimated effect of the restriction. Mutual funds, which include open- and closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, and offshore funds, are valued at net asset value or closing price, as applicable. Certain corporate debt securities not traded on an exchange may be valued by an independent pricing service using an evaluated quote based on such factors as institutional-size trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality maturity, coupon rate, type of issuance and individual trading characteristics and other market data. As part of its independent price verification process, the Company periodically reviews the fair value provided by the pricing service using information such as transactions in these investments, broker quotes, market transactions in comparable investments, general market conditions and the issuer’s financial condition. Certain debt securities may be valued based on review of similarly structured issuances in similar jurisdictions, when possible, or based on other traded debt securities issued by the issuer. The Company also takes into consideration numerous other factors that could affect valuation such as overall market conditions, liquidity of the security and bond structure. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at their fair value as determined by the portfolio management team. The portfolio management team includes representatives from the investment, accounting and legal/compliance departments. The portfolio management team meets periodically to consider a number of factors in determining a security’s fair value, including the security’s trading volume, market values of similar class issuances, investment personnel’s judgment regarding the market experience of the issuer, financial status of the issuer, the issuer’s management, and back testing, as appropriate. The fair values may differ from what may have been used had a broader market for these securities existed. The portfolio management team reviews inputs and assumptions and reports material items to the board of directors. The following presents fair value measurements, as of March 31, 2018, and June 30, 2017, for the major categories of U.S. Global’s investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis: March 31, 2018 Quoted Prices Significant Other Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs (dollars in thousands) (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Total Trading securities Mutual funds - Fixed income $ 6,773 $ - $ - $ 6,773 Mutual funds - Domestic equity 374 - - 374 Other - - - - Offshore fund investment measured at net asset value 1 - - - - Total trading securities 7,147 - - 7,147 Available-for-sale securities Common stock - Domestic - - - - Common stock - International 9,839 - - 9,839 Corporate debt 1,711 - - 1,711 Mutual funds - Fixed income 986 - - 986 Mutual funds - Domestic equity 415 - - 415 Other - - - - Total available-for-sale securities 12,951 - - 12,951 Total securities at fair value $ 20,098 $ - $ - $ 20,098 June 30, 2017 Quoted Prices Significant Other Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs (dollars in thousands) (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Total Trading securities Mutual funds - Fixed income $ 8,927 $ - $ - $ 8,927 Mutual funds - Domestic equity 378 - - 378 Other - - - - Offshore fund investment measured at net asset value 1 - - - 415 Total trading securities 9,305 - - 9,720 Available-for-sale securities Common stock - Domestic 113 - - 113 Common stock - International 203 - - 203 Corporate debt 1,469 - - 1,469 Mutual funds - Fixed income 1,144 - - 1,144 Mutual funds - Domestic equity 406 - - 406 Other 66 - - 66 Total available-for-sale securities 3,401 - - 3,401 Total securities at fair value $ 12,706 $ - $ - $ 13,121 1 In accordance with Subtopic 820-10, certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of March 31, 2018, and June 30, 2017, 100 percent of the Company’s financial assets were classified in the fair value hierarchy as Level 1. The Company recognizes transfers between levels at the end of each quarter. During the quarter ended September 30, 2017, the Company invested in 10 million common shares of HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (“HIVE”), a company that is headquartered and traded in Canada with cryptocurrency mining facilities in Iceland and Sweden, at a cost of $2.4 million. The original restriction on resale on the shares until January 2018 was extended to mid-March 2018 to facilitate additional share offerings by HIVE. Although the shares are no longer restricted for resale as of March 31, 2018, they continue to be subject to Canadian securities regulations. The investment, classified as available-for-sale, was valued at approximately $9.8 million at March 31, 2018, based on the quoted market price and is classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Cryptocurrency markets and related stocks have been, and are expected to continue to be, volatile. Cryptocurrency mining is considered an early stage high-risk industry, and the nature of mining is expected to evolve. There is potential for significant volatility in the market price of HIVE, which could materially impact the investment’s value included on the balance sheet and unrealized gain (loss) recognized in comprehensive income. Two unit trust investment funds managed by Galileo, described below under Investments Classified as Equity Method, The Company had an investment in an affiliated offshore fund, classified as trading, which invested in companies in the energy and natural resources sectors. The fair value of this investment was estimated based on the net asset value per share at $415,000 as of June 30, 2017. This offshore fund liquidated during the current fiscal year, with partial liquidation proceeds received in the quarter ended September 30, 2017, and final proceeds received during the quarter ended December 31, 2017. Investments Classified as Equity Method During the quarter ended September 30, 2017, the Company, through USCAN, invested approximately $500,000 in the Galileo Partners Fund, a Canadian unit trust investment fund managed by Galileo. This fund’s primary investment is in HIVE, the same company described above that the Company has also invested in directly; the fund held approximately 5.0 million common shares of HIVE as of March 31, 2018. This concentration may result in volatility in the valuation of the Galileo Partners Fund. From acquisition through January 31, 2018, the Company owned approximately 30 percent of Galileo Partners Fund. Since redeeming a portion of its investment on January 31, 2018, the Company’s ownership has ranged between approximately 23 percent and 26 percent. The Company owns approximately 26 percent at March 31, 2018. The Company is considered to have the ability to exercise significant influence. Thus, the investment is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, the Company’s proportional share of the fund’s net income or loss, which primarily consists of realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments offset by fund expenses, is recognized in the Company’s earnings. Included in other income (loss) for the three and nine months ending March 31, 2018, is ($840,000) and $1.9 million, respectively, of equity method income (loss) of Galileo Partners Fund. Effective January 31, 2018, a portion of the investment in the fund was redeemed (sold) for proceeds of approximately $1.5 million. As the Company had recorded its proportional shares of the fund’s net income under the equity method of accounting, the proceeds reduced the carrying value of the investment. The Company’s investment in the fund was valued at approximately $936,000 at March 31, 2018. Frank Holmes also directly held an investment in the fund as of March 31, 2018. Summarized income statement information on the Galileo Partners Fund since the Company’s investment is as follows: Galileo Partners Fund Summary Financial Information For the Period from August 31, 2017 (investment) to March 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands) Realized gains on sales of investments $ 4,467 Unrealized gains on investments 2,441 Fund fees and expenses, including performance fees (1,762 ) Net income of fund $ 5,146 Company's share of income from equity method investment $ 1,891 During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company, through USCAN, invested approximately $325,000 in the Galileo Technology and Blockchain Fund, a Canadian unit trust investment fund managed by Galileo. One of this fund’s investments, but not its primary investment, is in HIVE, the same company described above that the Company has also invested in directly; the fund held approximately 95,000 common shares and warrants of HIVE as of March 31, 2018. This concentration in technology and blockchain companies may result in volatility in the valuation of the Galileo Technology and Blockchain Fund. The Company owns approximately 20 percent of Galileo Technology and Blockchain Fund, and the company is considered to have the ability to exercise significant influence. Thus, the investment is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Included in other income (loss) for the three and nine months ending March 31, 2018, is ($87,000) and ($87,000), respectively, of equity method income of Galileo Technology and Blockchain Fund. The Company’s investment in the fund was valued at approximately $224,000 at March 31, 2018. Frank Holmes also directly held an investment in the fund as of March 31, 2018. |