Form 10-KSB
Table of Contents

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington D.C. 20549

 


Form 10-KSB

 


ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006

Commission File Number 000-23554

 


INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   59-2921318
(State of incorporation)   (IRS Employer Identification No)

220 East Central Parkway, Suite 2060

Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701

(Address of principal executive offices)

(407) 741-5300

(Issuer’s telephone number)

 


Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

Common Stock, $.01 par value

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:

None

 


Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x.

Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨.

Check if no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-B is contained in this form, and no disclosure will be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-KSB or any amendment to this Form 10-KSB.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

State issuer’s revenues for its most recent fiscal year: $102,761,000

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the last sale price of such stock as of December 15, 2006: $154,784,561.

The issuer had 7,938,433 outstanding shares of common stock as of December 15, 2006.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Information required by Part III is incorporated by reference to portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by January 19, 2007.

 



Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

2006 FORM 10-KSB

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
PART I
Item 1.    Description of Business    1
Item 2.    Description of Property    18
Item 3.    Legal Proceedings    19
Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    19
PART II
Item 5.    Market for Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Small Business Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    19
Item 6.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation    21
Item 7.    Financial Statements    40
Item 8.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    40
Item 8A    Controls and Procedures    40
Item 8B    Other Information    40
PART III
Item 9.    Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant    40
Item 10.    Executive Compensation    41
Item 11.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management And Related Stockholder Matters    41
Item 12.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    41
Item 13.    Exhibits    41
Item 14.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services    44
   Signatures    45


Table of Contents

PART I

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-KSB contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, including adverse changes in economic, political and market conditions, losses from the Company’s market-making and trading activities arising from counterparty failures and changes in market conditions, the possible loss of key personnel, the impact of increasing competition, the impact of changes in government regulation, the possibility of liabilities arising from violations of federal and state securities laws and the impact of changes in technology in the securities, foreign exchange and commodities dealing and trading industries. Although the Company believes that its forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions regarding its business and future market conditions, there can be no assurances that the Company’s actual results will not differ materially from any results expressed or implied by the Company’s forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.

ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Overview

International Assets Holding Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) form a financial services group focused on select international markets. We commit our capital and expertise to market-making and trading of financial instruments, currencies and commodities, and to asset management. The Company’s activities are currently divided into five functional areas - international equities market-making, international debt capital markets, foreign exchange trading, commodities trading and asset management.

The Company was formed in October 1987 and during the 2006 fiscal year conducted operations through five wholly-owned operating subsidiaries: INTL Trading, Inc. (“INTL Trading”), a securities broker-dealer and member firm of the National Association of Securities Dealers (“NASD”), INTL Global Currencies Limited (“INTL Global Currencies”), INTL Commodities, Inc. (“INTL Commodities”), INTL Holding (U.K.) Limited (“INTL Holding (U.K.)”) and INTL Assets, Inc. (“INTL Assets”). During the 2006 fiscal year the Company conducted its asset management business through INTL Consilium LLC (“INTL Consilium”), in which the Company holds a 50.1% interest. The Company accounted for its interest in INTL Consilium under the equity method until August 31, 2006. Since that date, the Company has consolidated its interest in INTL Consilium.

 

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The Company provides execution to customers from offices in New York, London, Florida and Dubai in the following products:

 

    unlisted American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”) and common shares of more than 8,000 companies organized in over 20 countries

 

    more than 100 currencies

 

    debt securities of more than 500 sovereign and corporate issuers organized in over 30 countries

 

    physical commodities (base and precious metals) and related over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivative products

The Company provides these services to a diverse group of wholesale customers including major investment banks, commercial banks, brokers, institutional investors, corporations, charities and governmental organizations throughout the world.

The Company’s internet address is www.intlassets.com. The Company’s annual reports on Form 10-KSB, quarterly reports on Form 10-QSB, current reports on Form 8-K, statements of changes in beneficial ownership and press releases are available in the Investor Relations section of this website. The Company’s website also includes the Company’s Code of Ethics, which governs the Company’s directors, officers and employees, and other information regarding the Company’s corporate governance.

Business Strategy

The Company seeks to deploy its capital and expertise in financial markets that exhibit one or more of the following characteristics:

 

    niche markets that are not adequately covered by major brokerage firms and financial institutions because they are too labor-intensive or because the opportunity is not large enough

 

    markets that require specialized expertise

 

    markets that are primarily trading-oriented

 

    markets that primarily serve wholesale customers

 

    markets that have a significant international component

The Company currently operates in five business segments that fulfill the objectives of its business strategy – international equities market-making, international debt capital markets, foreign exchange trading, commodities trading and asset management. The Company continues to evaluate other market niches for expansion opportunities.

 

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Each of the Company’s businesses is highly volatile and can change due to a variety of factors which are both outside of management’s control and not readily predictable. To address this volatility, the Company has sought to diversify into a number of uncorrelated businesses.

As a financial intermediary in these niche businesses, the Company’s primary focus is to recruit experienced individuals who bring with them knowledge and relationships in these businesses and to ensure that costs are linked to revenues to limit the possibility of losses. Management evaluates the profitability of each area before and after direct trading and compensation costs and periodically reviews the net contribution made relative to committed capital resources.

Trading Revenues

In the Company’s business, purchases of individual securities, currencies, commodities or derivative instruments may be from single or multiple customers or counterparties. They may be covered by a matching sale to a customer or counterparty 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 of time (during which periods market values may fluctuate). Sales of individual securities, currencies, commodities or derivative instruments may also be to single or multiple customers or counterparties. They may be made from inventory, they may be covered by a simultaneous and matching purchase in the market or they may represent a short sale and be covered by a later purchase in the market.

While the Company is able to track the number and dollar amount of individual transactions with each customer, this information is not a reliable indicator of revenues because it is not necessarily proportional to revenues or profitability. Depending on the nature of the instrument traded, market conditions and timing of a transaction, revenues and profitability may differ widely from trade to trade and from customer to customer.

International Equities Market-Making

The Company is a leading U.S. market-maker in select foreign securities, including unlisted ADRs, foreign common shares and OTC domestic bulletin board stocks. The Company conducts these activities through INTL Trading, which provides execution services and liquidity to national broker-dealers, regional broker-dealers and institutional investors. The Company focuses on those international equities in which the Company can use its expertise and experience to provide customers with competitive execution and superior service. The Company also utilizes its proprietary technology, including internet technology, to achieve these goals.

The Company makes markets in approximately 400 ADRs and foreign ordinary shares traded in the OTC market, and in approximately 120 domestic bulletin board and Nasdaq stocks. In addition, the Company will, on request, make prices in more than 8,000 other ADRs and foreign common shares. As a market-maker, the Company provides trade execution services by offering to buy shares from, or sell shares to, broker-dealers and institutions. The Company displays the prices at which it is willing to buy and sell these securities and adjusts its prices in response to market

 

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conditions. When acting as principal, the Company commits its own capital and derives revenue from the difference between the prices at which the Company buys and sells shares. The Company also earns commissions by executing trades on an agency basis.

While the Company’s customers are other broker-dealers and institutions, the business tends to be driven by the needs of the private clients of those broker-dealers and institutions. The size of private client trades may be uneconomical for the in-house international equities trading desks of our customers to execute. The Company is able to provide execution of smaller trades at profitable margins.

International Debt Capital Markets

The Company trades actively in a wide variety of international debt instruments. The Company also invests in international debt instruments on a proprietary basis and structures and arranges international debt transactions.

The Company trades and invests in international bonds, including both investment grade and higher-yielding emerging market bonds. The Company generally focuses on smaller issues, such as emerging market sovereign, corporate and bank bonds that trade internationally on an OTC basis.

The Company provides competitive execution in these bonds to smaller institutions and private banks. The Company’s staff has substantial experience in this market, which allows the Company to offer customers superior execution capability. When acting as a principal, the Company commits its own capital to buy and sell bonds. The Company derives revenue from the difference between the purchase and sale prices. The Company also earns commissions by executing trades on an agency basis. The Company invests its own capital in select international bonds. The Company derives revenue from interest received and the difference between the purchase and sale prices.

The Company periodically identifies opportunities to arrange, structure, purchase or sell debt transactions on behalf of issuers. These transactions generally involve negotiable emerging market debt instruments that typically are related to specific commercial transactions, have limited liquidity and price discovery, an absence of standard documentation and an absence of established settlement procedures. The transactions may be evidenced by promissory notes, bills of exchange, loan agreements, accounts receivable and other types of debt instruments.

The Company may use its capital to purchase these instruments from emerging market debtors or their creditors. Due to the limited liquidity of these instruments, the Company may hold them for an indeterminate period of time before selling them. These instruments are typically sold to international banks and financial institutions. The Company derives revenue from interest received and the difference between the purchase and sale prices.

In other transactions, the Company may earn a fee for introducing borrowers and lenders or advising borrowers on capital raising transactions. The Company focuses on private debt placements for corporations and financial institutions based in Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

 

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Foreign Exchange Trading

The Company primarily trades select, illiquid currencies of developing countries. Covering over 100 currencies, the Company has an extensive global correspondent network that provides access to these currencies at competitive rates. The Company’s target customers are financial institutions, multi-national corporations, governmental and charitable organizations operating in and transferring funds to these developing countries. In addition, the Company executes trades based on the foreign currency flows inherent in the Company’s other international activities.

The Company primarily acts as a principal in buying and selling foreign currencies on a spot basis. The Company derives revenue from the difference between the purchase and sale prices.

The Company periodically holds foreign currency positions for longer periods to create liquidity for customers or to generate proprietary earnings.

Commodities Trading

The Company’s precious metals activities encompass gold, silver and platinum group metals. The Company has relationships with a number of small and medium-sized precious metals producers, refiners, recyclers and consumers, and provides them with a full range of precious metals trading and hedging capabilities.

The Company assists its precious metals customers in protecting the value of their future production by selling them put options on an OTC basis. The Company also provides customers with sophisticated option products, including combinations of buying and selling puts and calls. The Company mitigates its risk by effecting offsetting OTC options with market counterparties or through the purchase or sale of commodities futures traded through the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The Company expanded its commodities business significantly at the beginning of the 2006 fiscal year, when it commenced trading base metals for physical delivery. The principal base metal traded by the Company during 2006 was lead, which is sold to manufacturers, mainly of automotive and industrial batteries. The Company purchases lead for resale either in the form of finished lead or in the form of used automotive or industrial batteries which are then recycled to produce lead. The Company has established a new subsidiary in Mexico, which is expected to become operational in calendar 2007, to facilitate the purchase and sale of lead in that country.

The Company commits its own capital to buy and sell precious and base metals on a spot and forward basis. The Company derives revenue from the difference between the purchase and sale prices.

 

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The Company generally mitigates the price risk associated with base metals held in inventory through the use of derivatives. This price risk mitigation does not generally qualify for hedge accounting under generally accepted accounting principles (‘GAAP’). In such situations, unrealized gains in inventory are not recognized under GAAP, but unrealized gains and losses in related derivative positions are recognized under GAAP. As a result, the Company’s reported commodities trading earnings are subject to volatility. Lead prices have been volatile during the 2006 fiscal year. In particular, there were significant price increases in the second and fourth quarters (the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006 respectively). The value of lead inventory at September 30, 2006 was stated at cost of $15.3 million, compared with a market value of $21.3 million.

The Company also takes periodic proprietary positions by buying commodities or related options. The Company derives revenue from these proprietary activities through the difference between the purchase and sale prices or between premiums received and paid.

Asset Management

The Company’s asset management business is operated through INTL Consilium, a joint venture organized by the Company and an unaffiliated third party. The Company has a 50.1% interest in INTL Consilium. Until July 31, 2006 the Company accounted for its interest in INTL Consilium on the equity method. From August 1, 2006, when the Company made a subordinated loan of $1 million to INTL Consilium, it concluded that INTL Consilium should be treated as a variable interest entity and that its interest should be consolidated in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 46(R) (“FIN 46(R)”).

INTL Consilium is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company’s strategy is to build the asset management business by applying an absolute return philosophy to niche markets in which the Company has significant expertise and experience.

In July 2004 INTL Consilium launched the Emerging Market Absolute Return Fund, which had over $138 million in assets under management on September 30, 2006. In January 2006 INTL Consilium purchased the management contract of a convertible arbitrage fund and employed its managers, who are based in London. The fund has been renamed the INTL Consilium Convertible Arbitrage Fund. Assets under management at September 30, 2006 were $6.8 million. In November 2005 INTL Consilium was appointed by American Express Bank Asset Management Company as investment sub-adviser for one of the portfolios of American Express World Express Funds. Assets under management for American Express Bank were over $359 million at September 30, 2006. Total assets under management at September 30, 2006 amounted to $505 million.

The Company announced on October 31, 2006 that a new subsidiary, INTL Capital Limited (“INTL Capital”), domiciled in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, had been granted a license by the Dubai Financial Service Authority to operate as an authorized firm from the Dubai International Financial Centre. INTL Capital will manage the INTL Trade Finance Fund Limited, a Cayman Island company established to invest primarily in global trade finance-related assets.

 

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Competition

The international financial markets are highly competitive and rapidly evolving. In addition, these markets are dominated by firms with significant capital and personnel resources that are not currently available to the Company. The Company expects these competitive conditions to continue in the future. The Company’s strategy is to focus on smaller niche markets that may be less attractive to its larger competitors and that require specialized expertise. The Company believes that it can compete successfully with other financial intermediaries in these markets based on the Company’s expertise and quality of service.

The Company’s activities are impacted, and will continue to be impacted, by investor interest in the markets served by the Company. The instruments traded in these markets compete with a wide range of alternative investment instruments. The Company seeks to counterbalance changes in demand in specified markets by undertaking activities in multiple uncorrelated markets.

Technology has increased competitive pressures on intermediaries in financial markets by improving dissemination of information, making markets more transparent and facilitating the development of alternative execution mechanisms. In the debt trading markets, TRACE, the trade reporting system introduced by the National Association of Securities Dealers (“the NASD”), has had reduced spreads and profitability. In the equity markets, electronic communication networks (“ECNs”) compete with market-makers like the Company. ECNs provide a neutral forum in which third parties display and match their orders, but do not commit capital or provide liquidity to the marketplace. ECNs and similar alternative execution mechanisms provide the greatest benefit for markets in highly liquid securities. Similar execution mechanisms also exist in the foreign exchange market. The Company competes by focusing on niche markets for less liquid instruments and using its capital to enhance liquidity for customers.

Administration and Operations

The Company employs operations personnel to supervise and, for certain products, complete the clearing and settlement of transactions.

Prior to December 1, 2005, INTL Trading’s securities transactions were cleared through Pershing LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of New York. On December 1, 2005, INTL Trading began clearing through Broadcort, a division of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. This change has had a significantly beneficial impact on costs in the Company’s securities businesses. INTL Trading does not hold customer funds or directly clear or settle securities transactions.

In the foreign exchange and commodities trading businesses the Company records all transactions in a proprietary trading system and employs operations staff to settle all transactions.

 

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The Company’s administrative staff manages the Company’s internal financial controls, accounting functions, office services and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Governmental Regulation

The Company’s activities, particularly in the securities markets, are subject to significant governmental regulation. The regulatory environment in which the Company operates is subject to frequent change and these changes directly impact the Company’s business and operating results. The U.S.A. Patriot Act of 2001 and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 have placed additional regulatory burdens and compliance costs on the Company.

The securities industry in the United States is subject to extensive regulation under federal and state securities laws. The Company is required to comply with a wide range of requirements imposed by the SEC, state securities commissions and the NASD. These regulatory bodies are charged with safeguarding the integrity of the financial markets and with protecting the interests of investors in these markets.

In November 2005, the Company’s broker-dealer subsidiary, INTL Trading, received approval from the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom to open a branch office in London. INTL Trading’s activities are thus also subject to regulation in the United Kingdom.

Broker-dealers such as INTL Trading are subject to regulation covering all aspects of their activities, including trade practices, capital structure, record retention and the conduct of their officers, supervisors and registered employees. Failure to comply with any of these requirements could result in administrative or court proceedings, censure, fines, issuance of cease-and-desist orders, the suspension or disqualification of a broker-dealer, its officers, supervisors or registered representatives.

Foreign Operations

The Company operates in a number of foreign jurisdictions. These include the Company’s existing operations in the United Kingdom, together with the Company’s new operations in Dubai (commenced in October 2006) and in Mexico (where a subsidiary has been established but operations have not yet commenced).

Net Capital Requirements

The Company’s broker-dealer subsidiary, INTL Trading, is subject to the net capital requirements imposed by SEC Rule 15c3-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These requirements are intended to ensure the financial integrity and liquidity of broker-dealers. They establish both minimum levels of capital and liquid assets. The net capital requirements prohibit the payments of dividends, redemption of stock, the prepayment of subordinated indebtedness and the making of any unsecured advances or loans to any stockholder, employee or affiliate, if such payment would reduce the broker-dealer’s net capital below required levels.

 

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The net capital requirements restrict the ability of INTL Trading to make distributions to the Company. They also restrict the ability of INTL Trading to expand its business beyond a certain point without the introduction of additional capital.

During the 2006 fiscal year, INTL Trading maintained net capital which substantially exceeded the minimum levels required by SEC Rule 15c3-1.

Risks Affecting the Company

The Company faces a variety of risks that could adversely impact its financial condition and results of operations.

The risks faced by the Company include the following:

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, the Company had net income of $3.5 million, compared with a net income of $2.6 million in 2005 and a net loss of $(118,000) in the 2004.

The improvement of the Company’s operating results in the 2006 and 2005 fiscal years is due to a substantial increase in our revenues. This increase was in turn due to improved market conditions, better marketing of our services and the establishment of new areas of business. The Company’s management intends to seek to grow our revenues in the future by utilizing its capital resources to support the expansion of our market-making and trading activities.

Although the Company believes that it will be able to increase revenues in the future, the Company’s ability to achieve this goal as well as consistent profitability is subject to uncertainty due to the nature of its businesses and the markets in which it operates. In particular, the Company’s revenues and operating results may fluctuate significantly in the future because of the following factors:

 

    Volatility in the securities and commodities markets in which the Company operates;

 

    Changes in the volume of the Company’s market making and trading activities;

 

    Changes in the value of the Company’s securities positions and the Company’s ability to manage related risks;

 

    The Company’s ability to manage personnel, overhead and other expenses;

 

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    Changes in execution and clearing fees;

 

    The addition or loss of sales or trading professionals;

 

    Changes in requirements; and

 

    General economic and political conditions;

Although the Company is continuing its efforts to diversify the sources of our revenues, it is likely that its revenues and operating results will continue to fluctuate substantially in the future and such fluctuations could result in losses. These losses could have a material adverse affect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.

The manner in which the Company accounts for its lead business may increase the volatility of the Company’s reported earnings.

The Company’s net income is subject to volatility due the manner in which the Company reports its base metals business. Inventory for the base metals business is valued at the lower of cost or market value. The Company generally mitigates the price risk associated with base metals held in inventory through the use of derivatives. This price risk mitigation does not generally qualify for hedge accounting under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In such situations, any unrealized gains in inventory are not recognized under GAAP, but unrealized gains and losses in related derivative positions are recognized under GAAP. As a result, the Company’s reported earnings from this business are subject to greater volatility than the earnings from our other businesses.

The Company may be subject to substantial fluctuations in revenues due to changes in economic, political and market conditions.

The markets in financial instruments, currencies and commodities are, by their nature, generally volatile. They are directly affected by numerous national and international factors that are beyond the Company’s control, including:

 

    economic, political and market conditions

 

    the availability of short-term and long-term funding and capital

 

    the level and volatility of interest rates

 

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    legislative and regulatory changes

 

    currency values and inflation

Any one or more of these factors may contribute to reduced levels of activity in the markets generally, which could result in lower revenues from the Company’s market-making and trading activities. Any reduction in revenues or any loss resulting from these factors could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.

Specifically, the Company’s revenues may decrease due to a decline in market volumes, prices, the difference between purchase and selling prices or liquidity. Declines in the volume of securities, currencies or commodities transactions and in market liquidity generally result in lower revenues from market-making activities. Lower price levels of securities, currencies or commodities also may result in reduced trading activity and reduce the Company’s revenues from market-making transactions. Lower price levels also can result in losses from declines in the market value of securities, currencies or commodities held in inventory. Sudden sharp declines in market values of securities, currencies or commodities can result in:

 

    illiquid markets

 

    declines in inventory values

 

    the failure of buyers and sellers of securities, currencies and commodities to fulfill their settlement obligations

 

    increases in claims and litigation

Any decline in market volumes, prices, the difference between purchase and selling prices or liquidity could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.

The Company may incur unexpected losses from market-making and trading activities.

The Company conducts its market-making and trading activities predominantly as a principal, which subjects its capital to significant risks. These activities involve the purchase, sale or short sale for the Company’s own account of financial instruments, including equity and debt securities, commodities and foreign currencies. These activities are subject to a number of risks, including risks of price fluctuations and rapid changes in the liquidity of markets.

These risks may limit the Company’s ability either to resell financial securities, currencies or commodities it purchased or to repurchase securities, currencies or commodities it sold in these transactions. In addition, the Company may experience difficulty borrowing these assets to make delivery to purchasers to whom it sold short, or lenders from whom it has borrowed. From time to time, the Company has large position concentrations in securities of a single issuer or issuers in

 

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specific countries and markets, or in a particular currency or commodity. Such a concentration could result in higher trading losses than would occur if the Company’s positions and activities were less concentrated.

The success of the Company’s market-making activities primarily depends on:

 

    price volatility

 

    the Company’s ability to attract order flow

 

    the skill of the Company’s personnel

 

    the availability of capital

 

    general market conditions

To attract market-making and trading business, the Company must be competitive in:

 

    providing enhanced liquidity to the Company’s customers

 

    the efficiency of the Company’s order execution

 

    the sophistication of the Company’s trading technology

 

    the quality of the Company’s customer service

In the Company’s role as a market-maker and trader, the Company attempts to derive a profit from the difference between the prices at which it buys and sells securities, currencies or commodities. However, competitive forces often require the Company to:

 

    match the quotes of other market-makers

 

    hold varying amounts of securities in inventory

By having to maintain inventory positions, the Company is subjected to a high degree of risk. Although inventory risk management controls are in place, the Company may not be able to manage its inventory risk successfully. Accordingly, the Company may experience significant losses, which could materially adversely affect its business, financial condition and operating results.

 

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The Company’s substantial indebtedness could adversely affect its financial condition.

As of September 30, 2006, the Company’s total consolidated indebtedness to lenders was approximately $33.5 million, including $27.0 million in senior subordinated convertible notes issued on September 20, 2006. The Company’s indebtedness could have important consequences including:

 

    increasing the Company’s vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

 

    requiring that a portion of the Company’s cash flow from operations be used for the payment of interest on its debt, thereby reducing the ability to use the Company’s cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and general corporate requirements;

 

    limiting the Company’s ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and general corporate requirements;

 

    limiting the Company’s flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in its businesses and the securities industry;

 

    restricting the Company’s ability to pay dividends or make other payments; and

 

    placing the Company at a competitive disadvantage to its competitors that have less indebtedness.

The Company may be able to incur additional indebtedness in the future, including secured indebtedness. If new indebtedness is added to current indebtedness levels, the related risks that the Company now faces could intensify.

The Company may have difficulty managing its growth.

During the 2005 and 2006 fiscal years the Company experienced significant growth in its business. Operating revenues grew from $22.0 million in the 2004 fiscal year to $35 million in 2006. To support this growth, we added 27 new employees during the 2005 fiscal year and a net 12 employees in 2006. In addition, INTL Consilium, which has been consolidated with effect from August 1, 2006, employed ten people at September 30, 2006.

This growth has required and will continue to require the Company to increase its investment in management personnel, financial and management systems and controls, and facilities. In the absence of continued revenue growth, the costs associated with expected growth would cause operating margins to decline from current levels. In addition, the Company is and will continue to be highly dependent on the effective and reliable operation of communications and information systems.

The scope of procedures for assuring compliance with applicable rules and regulations has changed as the size and complexity of the Company’s business has increased. In response, the Company has implemented and continues to revise formal compliance procedures.

 

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The Company cannot ensure that it will be able to manage its growth successfully. An inability to do so could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.

The Company may incur unexpected losses due to counterparty failures and credit concentration risks associated with the Company’s clearing broker and custodians.

As a market-maker of OTC and listed securities, the majority of the Company’s securities transactions are conducted as principal with broker-dealer counterparties located in the United States. The Company clears its securities transactions through an unaffiliated clearing broker. Substantially all of the Company’s equity and debt securities are held by this clearing broker. The Company’s clearing broker has the right to charge the Company for losses that result from a counterparty’s failure to fulfill its contractual obligations.

The Company is responsible for self-clearing its foreign exchange and most of its commodities activities and in addition takes principal risk to counterparties in these activities. All of the Company’s receipts or deliveries of metals or other commodities and the settlement of exchange traded options are effected through clearing institutions or independent third parties. Any metals or other physical commodities positions are held by third party custodians.

The Company’s policy is to monitor the credit standing of the counterparties with which it conducts business. Nevertheless, one or more of these counterparties may default on their obligations. If any do, the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected.

In the Company’s equity, debt and commodities trading businesses the Company relies on the ability of its clearing broker to adequately discharge its obligations on a timely basis. The Company also depends on the solvency of its clearing broker and custodians. Any failure by the clearing broker to adequately discharge its obligations on a timely basis, or insolvency of the clearing broker or custodian, or any event adversely affecting the Company’s clearing broker or custodians, could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and operating results.

The Company depends on its ability to attract and retain key personnel.

From time to time, other companies in the financial services industry have experienced losses of sales and trading professionals. The level of competition to attract these professionals is intense. As a result, the Company may lose professionals due to increased competition or other factors in the future. The loss of a sales and trading professional, particularly a senior professional with broad industry expertise, could have a material adverse affect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.

 

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The Company is subject to intense competition.

The Company derives substantially all of its revenues from market-making and trading activities. The market for these services, particularly market-making services through electronic communications networks, is rapidly evolving and intensely competitive. The Company expects competition to continue and intensify in the future. The Company competes primarily with wholesale, national and regional broker-dealers and banks, as well as electronic communications networks. The Company competes primarily on the basis of its expertise and quality of service.

A number of the Company’s competitors may have significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than the Company has. Some of them may:

 

    offer alternative forms of financial intermediation as a result of technological changes and greater availability of information

 

    offer a wider range of services and products than the Company offers

 

    have greater name recognition

 

    have more extensive customer bases

These competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or evolving opportunities and customer requirements. They may also be able to undertake more extensive promotional activities and offer more attractive terms to customers. Recent advances in computing and communications technology are substantially changing the means by which market-making services are delivered, including more direct access on-line to a wide variety of services and information. This has created demand for more sophisticated levels of customer service. Providing these services may entail considerable cost without an offsetting increase in revenues. In addition, current and potential competitors have established or may establish cooperative relationships or may consolidate to enhance their services and products. New competitors or alliances among competitors may emerge and they may acquire significant market share.

As a result of the foregoing, the Company’s ability to compete effectively with current or future competitors is subject to significant uncertainty.

The Company is subject to extensive government regulation.

The securities industry is subject to extensive regulation under both federal and state laws. In addition, the SEC, the NASD, other self-regulatory organizations, commonly referred to as SROs, and state securities commissions require strict compliance with their respective rules and regulations. INTL Trading has established a branch in the United Kingdom that is subject to regulation by the United Kingdom Financial Services Authority. These regulatory bodies are responsible for safeguarding the integrity of the securities markets and protecting the interests of participants in those markets. As a securities broker/dealer, the Company is subject to regulation concerning certain aspects of its business, including:

 

    trade practices

 

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    capital structure

 

    record retention

 

    the conduct of the Company’s directors, officers and employees

Failure to comply with any of these laws, rules or regulations could result in adverse consequences. The Company and certain of its officers and employees have, in the past, been subject to claims arising from acts in contravention of these laws, rules and regulations. These claims have resulted in the payment of fines and settlements. The Company and its officers and other employees may, in the future, be subject to similar claims. An adverse ruling against the Company or its officers and other employees could result in the Company’s or its officers and other employees being required to pay a substantial fine or settlement and could result in suspension or expulsion. This could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.

The regulatory environment in which the Company operates is subject to change. New or revised legislation or regulations imposed by the SEC, other United States or foreign governmental regulatory authorities, SROs or the NASD could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results. Changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules by these governmental authorities, SROs and the NASD could also have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.

Additional regulation, changes in existing laws and rules, or changes in interpretations or enforcement of existing laws and rules often directly affect securities firms. The Company cannot predict what effect any such changes might have. The Company’s business, financial condition and operating results may be materially affected by both regulations that are directly applicable to the Company and regulations of general application. The Company’s level of trading and market-making activities can be affected not only by such legislation or regulations of general applicability, but also by industry-specific legislation or regulations.

The Company is subject to risks relating to potential liability for violations of securities laws.

Many aspects of the Company’s business involve substantial risks of liability. A market-maker is exposed to substantial liability under federal and state securities laws, other federal and state laws and court decisions, as well as rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and the NASD. The Company is also subject to the risks of litigation and claims that may be without merit. Since the Company would defend actively any such litigation, significant legal expenses could be incurred. An adverse resolution of any future lawsuits or claims against the Company could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and operating results.

 

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The Company is potentially subject to claims under environmental laws.

The Company’s base metals trading business, active since October 2005, is potentially subject to claims under certain federal, state and foreign environmental laws. To date no such claims have been made against the Company. This is not an indicator of what might happen in the future. The business involves the purchase and sale of base metals such as lead and other potentially hazardous materials. As part of this business, the Company engages third parties located both in the United States and other countries to acquire, store, transport or recycle used automotive and industrial batteries (“batteries”) on behalf of the Company. In the event that these third parties fail to comply with federal, state or foreign environmental laws in handling or disposing of these batteries and other hazardous substances used in or arising from the recycling of these batteries, the Company may be exposed to claims for the cost of remediation of any sites impacted by such improper handling and disposal, as well as other related costs. The Company seeks to mitigate this risk by dealing with third parties whom the Company believes to be in compliance with applicable laws and which have established reputations in the industry.

The Company is highly dependent upon its technology and communications systems.

The Company’s market-making and trading activities depend on the integrity and performance of the computer and communications systems supporting them. Extraordinary trading volumes or other events could cause the Company’s computer systems to operate at an unacceptably low speed or even fail. Any significant degradation or failure of the Company’s computer systems or any other systems in the trading process could cause customers to suffer delays in trading. These delays could cause substantial losses for customers and could subject the Company to claims from customers for losses. It is possible that the Company’s network protections may not work properly. The Company’s systems may also fail as a result of:

 

    a tornado, hurricane, fire or other natural disasters

 

    power or telecommunications failure

 

    acts of God

 

    computer hacking activities

 

    terrorism

 

    war

Any computer or communications system failure or decrease in computer systems performance that causes interruptions in the Company’s operations could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and operating results.

 

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The Company depends significantly on a limited group of customers.

Based on management’s assessment of the Company’s business, the Company believes that a small number of its customers account for a significant portion of the Company’s revenues in each of its businesses. The Company is unable to measure the level of this concentration because the Company’s dealing activities do not permit the Company to quantify revenues generated by each customer. The Company expects a significant portion of the future demand for each of its market-making and trading services to remain concentrated within a limited number of customers. None of these customers are obligated contractually to use the Company’s market-making or trading services. Accordingly, these customers may direct their trading activities to other market-makers or traders at any time. The loss of or a significant reduction in demand for the Company’s services from any of these customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.

Risk Management

The Company seeks to mitigate the market and credit risks arising from its financial trading activities through an active risk management program. The principal objective of this program is to limit trading risk to an acceptable level while maximizing the return generated on the risk assumed.

The Company has a defined risk policy which is administered by the Company’s risk committee, which reports to the Company’s audit committee. The Company has established specific exposure limits for inventory positions in every business, as well as specific issuer limits and counterparty limits. These limits are designed to ensure that in a situation of systemic financial distress and/or the failure of a counterparty and/or default of an issuer, the potential estimated loss will remain within acceptable levels. The audit committee reviews the performance of the risk committee on a quarterly basis to monitor compliance with the established risk policy.

Employees

At September 30, 2006, the Company had 89 employees, of which ten are employed by INTL Consilium, a variable interest entity consolidated for the first time during fiscal 2006. Nine of these employees had managerial responsibilities, 49 were traders and 31 had administrative and operational duties, in such areas as accounting, operations, compliance and technology.

ITEM 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY

The Company leases approximately 5,100 square feet of office space in Altamonte Springs, Florida. This lease commenced on February 1, 2002 and expires on July 31, 2009. The Company leases approximately 5,300 square feet of office space in New York, New York. This lease commenced on December 13, 2002, and expires on September 30, 2009. The Company leases approximately 3,900 square feet of office space in London. This lease commenced on November 24, 2005 and expires on December 20, 2012. The London office space is shared with the previous owners of the foreign exchange business under a shared cost apportionment arrangement. In October 2006 the Company leased approximately 1,600 square feet of office space in Miami, Florida. This lease commenced on October 12, 2006, and expires on June 19, 2008.

 

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In January 2005 INTL Consilium, the Company’s asset management joint venture that has been consolidated since August 1, 2006 and that previously had been accounted for on the equity method, leased approximately 1,269 square feet in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The lease commenced on January 5, 2005 and expires on December 7, 2007.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

The Company is not currently a party to any material legal proceedings. In light of the nature of the Company’s activities, it is possible that the Company may be involved in material litigation in the future, and such litigation could have a material adverse impact on the Company and its financial condition and results of operations.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

Not Applicable

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND SMALL BUSINESS ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

Principal Trading Market

The Company’s common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”), under the symbol “IAAC.” The Company’s stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market.

Sales Prices

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the range of high and low sales prices for the common stock as reported by NASDAQ. These prices do not include retail mark-ups, mark-downs, or commissions and represent prices between dealers and not necessarily actual transactions.

 

     High    Low

Fiscal Year 2005

     

First Quarter (Oct. 2004 – Dec. 2004)

   $ 8.20    $ 7.11

Second Quarter (Jan. 2005 – Mar. 2005)

     9.99      7.35

Third Quarter (Apr. 2005 – Jun. 2005)

     8.10      6.10

Fourth Quarter (Jul. 2005 – Sept. 2005)

     8.50      6.06

Fiscal Year 2006

     

First Quarter (Oct. 2005 – Dec. 2005)

   $ 9.34    $ 8.01

Second Quarter (Jan. 2006 – Mar. 2006)

     11.68      8.69

Third Quarter (Apr. 2006 – Jun. 2006)

     16.70      9.85

Fourth Quarter (Jul. 2006 – Sept. 2006)

     28.50      12.09

 

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Dividends

The Company has never declared any cash dividends on its common stock, and does not currently have any plans to pay dividends on its common stock. The payment of cash dividends in the future is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on the Company’s earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other relevant factors.

Holders

As of September 30, 2006, there were 117 shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock, according to the records maintained by the Company’s transfer agent. As of September 30, 2006, the Company estimates that there were approximately 3,985 beneficial owners of the Company’s common stock.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table presents information regarding the Company’s equity compensation plans at September 30, 2006:

 

Plan Category

   Number of shares
of common stock
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
   Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
   Number of shares
of common stock
remaining
available for future
issuance under
equity
compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected
in the first
column) (1)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

        

- Stock Option Plan

   985,931 shares    $ 4.47    575,568 shares
                

Total

   985,931 shares    $ 4.47    575,568 shares

(1) At the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders held on March 8, 2006, shareholders approved an amendment to the Company’s 2003 Stock Option Plan that increased the aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2003 Stock Option Plan by 500,000 shares, from 1,000,000 shares to 1,500,000 shares.

 

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ITEM 6. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATION

Results of Operations

The Company’s principal activities include market-making and trading in international financial instruments, currencies and commodities, and asset management. The markets in which the Company operates are highly competitive and volatile. The Company has little or no control over many of the factors which affect its operations. As a result, the Company’s earnings are subject to potentially wide fluctuations. The Company seeks to counteract many of these influences by focusing on niche, uncorrelated markets and, when possible, linking the Company’s expenses to revenues.

The following developments took place during the past fiscal year:

• In October 2005 the Company’s commodities trading business was significantly expanded by the addition of a base metals trading team whose initial focus has been on physical lead trading.

• In November 2005 the Company’s asset management joint venture, conducted in INTL Consilium, was appointed by American Express Bank Asset Management Company as investment sub-adviser for one of the portfolios of American Express World Express Funds. Assets under management for American Express Bank were over $359 million at September 30, 2006.

• In January 2006 INTL Consilium purchased the management contract of a convertible arbitrage fund and hired its managers, who are based in London. The fund has been renamed the INTL Consilium Convertible Arbitrage Fund.

• In September 2006 the Company issued $27 million of 7.625% subordinated convertible notes (‘the Notes’). The Notes mature in September 2011. They are convertible at any time at the option of the noteholder at an initial conversion price of $25.50 per share. The Notes contain customary anti-dilutive provisions. At the current conversion price, conversion would result in the issue of 1,058,824 shares of common stock. The Company may require conversion at any time after March 22, 2008 if the dollar volume-weighted average share price exceeds 150% (or $38.25 at the initial conversion price) for 20 out of any 30 consecutive trading days. Noteholders may redeem their Notes at par if the interest coverage ratio set forth in the Notes is less than 2.75 for the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2009. The Company may redeem the Notes at 110% of par on March 11, 2010.

 

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The following developments were announced subsequent to the end of the fiscal year:

• The Company has expanded its debt capital markets team and established an office in Miami, primarily aimed at originating corporate debt structuring and placement transactions in Latin America.

• The Company has established an asset management subsidiary, INTL Capital Limited, with offices in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. INTL Capital has been granted a license by the Dubai Financial Services Authority to operate as an authorized firm in the Dubai International Financial Centre. INTL Capital will manage the INTL Trade Finance Fund Limited, which will primarily invest in global trade finance-related assets.

• The Company has recruited a senior executive to establish an office in Singapore and spearhead its activities in Asia.

• The Company has recruited a senior executive and established a joint venture in Dubai to pursue commodities trading in the Middle East.

The Company believes that it has made significant further progress in its efforts to build a diversified financial services firm focusing on niche markets. The Company has successfully acquired or established businesses in key product areas and geographic locations. The Company’s activities are currently divided into international equities market-making, international debt capital markets, foreign exchange trading, commodities trading and asset management.

The Company reported the results of its commodities trading business as a separate segment for the first time in fiscal 2006. This followed the expansion of the commodities trading business through the recruitment of a base metals trading team in October 2005.

Inventory for the base metals business is valued at the lower of cost or market value. The Company generally mitigates the price risk associated with base metals held in inventory through the use of derivatives. This price risk mitigation does not generally qualify for hedge accounting under GAAP. In such situations, unrealized gains in inventory are not recognized under GAAP, but unrealized gains and losses in related derivative positions are recognized under GAAP. As a result, the Company’s reported commodities trading earnings may be subject to volatility.

At September 30, 2006 the base metals inventory was valued at cost of $15.3 million, compared with market value of $21.3 million, meaning that there was an unrealized fair value gain of $6 million in base metals inventory that was not recognized under GAAP.

All of the Company’s other businesses are accounted for on a fair value basis. A comparison of profit and loss by business segment is not a useful guide to the relative economic performance of each business because of the differing accounting treatments.

The total revenues as reported for fiscal 2006 are not comparable with the total revenues reported for fiscal 2005 because they combine gross revenues for the base metals business and net revenues for all other businesses. The Company’s management views ‘Operating revenues’, shown on the face of the Consolidated Statements of Operations and calculated by deducting cost of sales from total revenues, as a more meaningful number for comparison with prior periods.

 

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The Company believes that the continuing diversification of its business has reduced its vulnerability to cycles in individual product areas and that its strategy of linking expenses to revenues also helps to lessen the negative impact of adverse market conditions which occur periodically in international securities and financial markets.

Fiscal Year 2006 Compared to Fiscal Year 2005

The following table reflects the sources of the Company’s operating revenues as a percentage of the Company’s total operating revenues for fiscal year 2006 and fiscal year 2005.

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

  

Fiscal
Year
Operating

Revenues
2006

   Percentage
of Total
Operating
Revenues
2006
   

Fiscal
Year
Operating

Revenues
2005

  

Percentage
of Total
Operating

Revenues
2005

   

Percentage

Change in
Operating

Revenues
2005-2006

 

Equity market making

   $ 17,994    50 %   $ 12,052    46 %   49 %

Debt capital markets

     2,363    6 %     2,414    9 %   -2 %

Foreign exchange

     12,874    36 %     9,213    35 %   40 %

Commodities trading

     938    3 %     1,313    5 %   -29 %

Other

     1,708    5 %     1,148    5 %   49 %
                                

Total Operating Revenues

   $ 35,877    100 %   $ 26,140    100 %   37 %
                                

 

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The following table reflects the net contribution of the Company’s principal business activities for fiscal year 2006 and fiscal year 2005. Net contribution consist of revenues from each business activity, less direct clearing and clearing related charges and variable trader compensation.

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

  

Fiscal Year

Net
Contribution
2006

    Percentage of
Total Net
Contribution
2006
   

Fiscal Year

Net
Contribution
2005

   Percentage of
Total Net
Contribution
2005
    Percentage
Change in Net
Contributions
2005-2006
 

Equity market making

   $ 9,353     44 %   $ 5,450    36 %   72 %

Debt capital markets

     1,995     9 %     1,654    11 %   21 %

Foreign exchange

     9,879     46 %     7,082    47 %   39 %

Commodities

     (547 )   -3 %     953    6 %   -157 %

Other

     781     4 %     —      —       —    
                                 

Total Net Contribution

   $ 21,461     100 %   $ 15,139    100 %   42 %
                                 

The following table reflects the principal components of the Company’s non-interest expenses as a percentage of the Company’s total non-interest expenses in fiscal year 2006 and fiscal year 2005.

 

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

   Fiscal Year
2006
   Percentage
of Total
Expense
2006
    Fiscal Year
2005
   Percentage
of Total
Expense
2005
    Percentage
Change in
Expense
2005-2006
 

Compensation and benefits

   $ 16,652    58 %   $ 11,005    53 %   51 %

Clearing and related expenses

     7,679    27 %     6,534    31 %   18 %

Occupancy and equipment rental

     632    2 %     437    2 %   45 %

Professional fees

     832    3 %     558    3 %   49 %

Depreciation and amortization

     420    1 %     320    2 %   31 %

Business development

     1,108    4 %     765    4 %   45 %

Insurance

     224    1 %     179    1 %   25 %

Other expenses

     974    4 %     887    4 %   10 %
                                

Total Non-Interest Expenses

   $ 28,521    100 %   $ 20,685    100 %   38 %
                                

 

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The following table shows the Company’s earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and minority interest (‘EBITDA’), together with a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income (loss), for the fiscal years 2006 and 2005.

EBITDA, a financial measure that is not recognized by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (‘GAAP’), should not be construed as earnings before income taxes, net earnings or cash from operating activities as determined by GAAP. The Company defines EBITDA as net income before (i) interest income; (ii) interest expense; (iii) income taxes; (iv) depreciation and amortization; and (v) minority shareholder’s interest. Other companies may calculate EBITDA differently than the Company does.

EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as an alternative to net income or as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance or as an alternative to any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. The Company has included this non-GAAP financial measure because it believes that it permits investors to make a more meaningful comparison of performance between periods presented. In addition, the Company’s covenants contained in the loan agreements with certain of its lenders require certain debt to EBITDA ratios be maintained, thus EBITDA is used by management and the Company’s lenders in evaluating the Company’s performance.

 

(In thousands)

   Fiscal
Year
2006
    Fiscal
Year
2005
 

EBITDA

   $ 7,400     $ 5,139  

Interest income

     376       636  

Interest expense

     (2,095 )     (1,335 )

Depreciation and amortization

     (420 )     (320 )

Income tax

     (1,730 )     (1,484 )

Minority shareholders

     (71 )     (22 )
                

Net Income

   $ 3,460     $ 2,614  
                

 

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Net Income

The Company earned net income of $3,460,000 in 2006, or earnings of $0.41 cents per diluted share, compared to net income of $2,614,000 reported in 2005, which equates to earnings of $0.33 per diluted share.

Operating Revenues

The Company’s operating revenues increased 37% to $35,877,000 in 2006 from $26,140,000 in 2005.

International Equity Marketing-Making – Operating revenues increased 49% to $17,994,000 in 2006 from $12,052,000 in 2005. Volumes increased as a result of increasingly favorable market conditions. Activity from existing customers grew and the Company also won new customer business. The business performed strongly in the second, third and fourth quarters, with the second quarter being particularly strong. Equity market-making operating revenues include the trading profits earned by the Company before the related expense deduction for ADR conversion fees. These ADR fees are included in the statement of operations as clearing and related expenses. Equity market-making revenues increased from 46% of total operating revenues in 2005 to 50% of total operating revenues in 2006.

International Debt Capital Markets – Operating revenues declined 2% from $2,414,000 in 2005 to $2,363,000 in 2006. Debt capital markets operating revenues fell from 9% of total operating revenues in 2005 to 7% in 2006. Decreasing spreads and volumes have had a negative impact on secondary market customer trading. TRACE, the NASD’s bond trade tracking system, has introduced greater transparency into the markets and has contributed to the reduced spreads. Debt trading and related revenues fell from $1,947,000 in 2005 to $1,147,000 in 2006. The Company has positioned itself to originate and structure corporate debt transactions with the recruitment of experienced individuals in New York and Miami, where the Company has established a new office. Trade finance revenues increased from $467,000 in 2005 to $1,166,000 in 2006. Three of the four individuals leading this business have (in October 2006) established an office in Dubai where, through a newly-established company, INTL Capital Limited, they will manage the INTL Trade Finance Fund Limited, which will primarily invest in global trade finance-related assets.

Foreign Exchange Trading – Operating revenues in this segment increased 40% from $9,213,000 in 2005 to $12,874,000 in 2006. This was an unexpectedly strong result. The Company further expanded its customer base during the fiscal year and certain of the Company’s markets experienced unusually beneficial conditions, resulting in increased profitability. Foreign exchange operating revenues increased from 35% of total revenue in 2005 to 36% in 2006.

Commodities Trading – This is the first fiscal year in which this segment has been separately reported. In prior years it was reported together with foreign exchange trading. Operating revenues in this segment decreased 29% from $1,313,000 in 2005 to $938,000 in 2006.

 

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Precious metals operating revenues increased 45% from $1,313,000 in 2005 to $1,908,000 in 2006. The first three quarters of fiscal 2006, in particular, provided stronger performance than in the prior year, with the platinum group metals business that had begun in the second half of fiscal 2005 expanding and big rallies in gold and silver prices driving customer business. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 most markets experienced a period of consolidation, with price ranges narrowing and volatility decreasing.

The new base metals trading business commenced in October 2005 and focused almost entirely on lead trading. This consists of the trading of instruments on the London Metal Exchange (‘the LME’) for both speculative and hedging purposes, and the sale of lead to end-users, principally battery manufacturers. The business recorded an operating loss for the year, as reported under GAAP, of $970,000. However, the Company’s management believes that the economic performance of this business exceeded expectations. At September 30, 2006 the base metals inventory was valued at cost of $15.3 million, compared with fair market value of $21.3 million, meaning that there was an unrealized fair value gain of $6 million in base metals inventory that was not recognized under GAAP. The base metals inventory is held for delivery against forward sales to customers, generally under twelve-month contracts. The Company calculates fair market value on the basis of pricing agreed in these contracts, which is generally the average daily cash settlement price of lead on the LME in the month of delivery plus an agreed premium.

As disclosed above, inventory for the base metals business is valued under GAAP at the lower of cost or market value, while positions in all of the Company’s other businesses are accounted for on a fair value basis. A comparison of profit and loss by business, as reported under GAAP, is not a useful guide to the relative economic performance of each business because of the differing accounting treatments.

The Company generally mitigates the price risk associated with base metals held in inventory through the use of derivatives. This price risk mitigation does not generally qualify for hedge accounting under GAAP. In such situations, unrealized gains in inventory are not recognized under GAAP, but unrealized gains and losses in related derivative positions are recognized under GAAP. As a result, the Company’s reported commodities trading earnings are subject to volatility.

Alternative GAAP treatment is under consideration by the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (‘EITF’), which has recently deferred until March 2007 a consensus on Issue No. 06-12, Application of AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide, ‘Brokers and Dealers in Securities’, to Entities that Engage in Commodity Trading Activities. This issue deals with two questions: (a) how to determine whether an entity is included within the scope of the Brokers and Dealers in Securities Guide; and (b) whether entities within its scope should record physical commodities inventory at fair value.

Commodities operating revenues as reported under GAAP decreased from 5% of total operating revenues in 2005 to 3% in 2006.

 

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Net Contribution

The net contribution of all the Company’s business segments increased 42% from $15,139,000 for 2005 to $21,461,000 for 2006. Net contribution consists of revenues, less direct clearing and clearing related charges and variable trader compensation, as more fully described below. Net contribution is one of the key measures used by management to assess the performance of each segment and for decisions regarding the allocation of the Company’s resources.

International Equity Market-Making – For this business activity, net contribution is calculated as total revenues less clearing and clearing related charges paid to the Company’s clearing organization and to ADR conversion banks, and less variable trader compensation. Variable trader compensation represents compensation paid to the Company’s traders on the basis of a fixed percentage of revenues less clearing and related charges, ADR conversion costs, base salaries and a fixed overhead allocation.

The net contribution of the equity trading business increased from $5,450,000 in 2005 to $9,353,000 in 2006, an increase of 72%.

International Debt Capital Markets – For this business activity, net contribution is calculated as total revenues less clearing and clearing related charges paid to the Company’s clearing organization; and less variable trader compensation. Variable trader compensation represents compensation paid to the Company’s traders on the basis of a fixed percentage of revenues less clearing and related charges, base salaries and a fixed overhead allocation.

The net contribution of the debt trading business increased from $1,654,000 in 2005 to $1,995,000 in 2006, an increase of 21%.

Foreign exchange trading – For this business activity, net contribution is calculated as total revenues less bank charges and variable trader compensation. Variable trader compensation represents compensation paid to the Company’s traders on the basis of a fixed percentage of revenues, less bank charges, bank interest, base salaries and a fixed overhead allocation.

The net contribution of the foreign exchange trading segment increased from $7,082,000 in 2005 to $9,879,000 in 2006, an increase of 39%.

Commodities trading – For this business activity, net contribution is calculated as total operating revenues less bank charges and variable trader compensation. Variable trader compensation represents compensation paid to the Company’s traders on the basis of a fixed percentage of operating revenues, less bank charges, bank interest, base salaries and a fixed overhead allocation. For the purpose of calculating variable compensation to be paid to traders in the base metals business, operating revenues are determined on a mark-to-market basis and not on the basis of GAAP.

 

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The net contribution of the commodities trading segment decreased from a positive $953,000 in 2005 to a negative $547,000 in 2006, a decrease of 157%. As disclosed above, inventory for the base metals business is valued under GAAP at the lower of cost or market value, while positions in all of the Company’s other businesses are accounted for on a fair value basis. Unrealized mark-to-market gains in inventory at September 30, 2006 of $6 million are not recognized under GAAP, but unrealized gains and losses in related derivative positions are recognized under GAAP.

Equity in Income or Loss from INTL Consilium

The Company recognized income in the asset management joint venture, INTL Consilium, of $331,000 in 2006, compared with income of $217,000 in 2005. Assets under management grew from over $117 million at the end of fiscal 2005 to $505 million at the end of fiscal 2006. The $331,000 of income reported in fiscal 2006 is for the ten-month period to July 31, 2006, during which the Company accounted for its investment in INTL Consilium on the equity method. With effect from August 1, 2006 the Company has consolidated the accounts of INTL Consilium. From that date the revenues of INTL Consilium are reflected in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in ‘Other’ revenues.

INTL Consilium is investment adviser to the INTL Consilium Emerging Market Absolute Return Fund ($138 million under management at September 30, 2006), the INTL Consilium Convertible Arbitrage Fund ($7 million) and two American Express Bank Asset Management Company portfolios, consisting of a Global Emerging Market Absolute Return portfolio ($333 million) and a Local Currency Emerging Markets portfolio ($27 million).

Other Revenues

The ‘Other’ revenues of $2,013,000 and $1,072,000 shown in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for 2006 and 2005, respectively, include a variety of types of net revenue (or, in the case of dividends, net expense). The Company consolidated the accounts of INTL Consilium for the first time from August 1, 2006. ‘Other’ revenues in 2006 include $578,000 of management fees and $187,000 of performance fees in INTL Consilium. There are also $959,000 of commissions received in the base metals business which commenced in fiscal 2006. In 2005 there was $513,000 of commissions received in the debt capital markets business, not repeated in 2006. The Company recorded interest received of $376,000 in 2006, compared with $636,000 in 2005. Net dividend expense, reducing the amount of ‘Other’ revenues, was $88,000 in 2006 and $89,000 in 2005. Dividend income or expense is generated when the Company holds long or short equity positions over a dividend declaration date.

Interest Expense

The Company’s interest expense was $2,095,000 for 2006, compared to $1,335,000 in 2004. The main components of interest expense in 2006 were $1,531,000 paid to banks and lenders (compared to $460,000 in 2005) and $555,000 paid to the Company’s clearing

 

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organization for securities debit balances (compared to $796,000 in 2005). Of the $1,531,000 paid to banks and lenders in 2006, $57,000 was paid to holders of the Company’s Subordinated Convertible Notes issued in September 2006. Amortization of debt issuance costs of $9,000 was recorded as interest expense.

Total Non-Interest Expenses

The Company’s total non-interest expenses increased by approximately 38% to $28,521,000 in 2006, compared to $20,685,000 in 2005. In absolute terms this was an increase of approximately $7.8 million. Approximately $5.6 million of the increase, or 72%, related to compensation and benefit expenses, as a result of increased variable compensation and bonuses and increased employee numbers. Clearing and related expenses increased by $1.1 million as a result, mainly, of increased securities transaction volumes.

Compensation and Benefits

The Company’s compensation and benefit expense increased 51% from $11,005,000 in 2005 to $16,652,000 in 2006. Variable compensation to traders increased by $2.8 million, or by 74%, from $3.8 million to $6.6 million, as a result of increased revenues. As disclosed above, variable compensation to base metals traders is based on operating revenues that are calculated on a mark-to-market basis. These amounts were higher in 2006 than operating revenues reported under GAAP. Administrative and executive bonuses increased from $1 million to $2.4 million. Salaries and benefits increased from $6.2 million to $7.7 million, or by 23%. The number of employees in all the Company’s businesses, excluding INTL Consilium, showed an 18% net increase, from 67 at the end of 2005 to 79 at the end of 2006. Salaries and benefits for INTL Consilium are included in the Company’s 2006 Consolidated Statement of Operations from August 1, 2006, the date from which the accounts of INTL Consilium have been consolidated by the Company. INTL Consilium has ten employees.

Clearing and Related Expenses

Clearing and related expenses increased 18% from $6,534,000 for 2005 to $7,679,000 for 2006. These are mainly securities related. There was an 82% increase in the volume of securities transactions but a significantly lower average per-ticket charge in 2006 than in 2005, following the change of clearing organization in December 2005 to Broadcort, a division of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. Total ADR fees increased from approximately $2 million in 2005 to $2.7 million in 2006.

Occupancy and Equipment Rental

Occupancy and equipment rental expense increased 45% from $437,000 in 2005 to $632,000 in 2006. This increase is primarily due to the lease of larger office space in London at a higher rate, associated moving expenses, and the addition of two months of INTL Consilium rent as a consequence of consolidating its accounts with effect from August 1, 2006. The Company also had additional expense for equipment rental, primarily information services, required for the Company’s additional employees.

 

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Professional Fees

Professional fees principally consist of legal, taxation and accounting fees. These fees increased 49% from $558,000 in 2005 to $832,000 in 2006 due mainly to legal fees associated with the Company’s bid for Baltimore plc in the United Kingdom, and increased taxation and audit fees as a result of the increased scope of the Company’s business activities.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization increased 31% from $320,000 in 2005 to $420,000 in 2006. This is largely as a result of increased depreciation expense arising from new fixed assets in the Company’s London office.

Business Development Expense

Business development expense increased 45% from $765,000 in 2005 to $1,108,000 in 2006. This increase relates to expanded marketing efforts to further develop the Company’s new and existing activities and staff development costs.

Insurance Expense

Insurance expense increased 25% from $179,000 in 2005 to $224,000 in 2006. The increase was primarily due to increased fidelity bond coverage, increases in the cost of workers’ compensation insurance caused by higher staff levels and additional property insurance.

Other Operating Expenses

Other operating expenses increased 10% from $887,000 in 2005 to $974,000 in 2006. The increase was primarily related to expenses arising from the Company’s growth during the year.

Tax Expense

The Company recognized income tax expense of $1,730,000 in 2006 compared with $1,484,000 in 2005. Expressed as a percentage of pretax income, the average rate of income tax expense for 2006 was 33%, compared with 36% in 2005. The Company has approximately $2,136,00 of Federal net operating loss carryforwards. The net deferred tax liability as of September 30, 2006 was $1,535,000, compared to a net deferred tax asset of $82,000 as of September 30, 2005.

 

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Net Income

As a result of the factors described above, the Company reported a net income of $3,460,000 in 2006, which equates to earnings of $0.41 per diluted share, compared to a net income of $2,614,000 in 2005, earnings of $0.33 per diluted share.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

A substantial portion of the Company’s assets are liquid. The majority of the assets consist of inventories of financial instruments, which fluctuate depending on the level of customer business. At September 30, 2006, approximately 88% of the Company’s assets consisted of cash, cash equivalents, receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organization, customer receivables, marketable financial instruments and physical commodities inventory, at cost. All assets are financed by the Company’s equity capital, subordinated convertible notes, bank loans, short-term borrowings from financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, and other payables.

The Company’s ability to receive distributions from INTL Trading, the Company’s broker-dealer subsidiary, is restricted by regulations of the SEC and the NASD. The Company’s right to receive distributions from its subsidiaries is also subject to the rights of the subsidiaries’ creditors, including customers of INTL Trading.

INTL Trading is subject to the net capital requirements of the SEC and the NASD relating to liquidity and net capital levels. At September 30, 2006, INTL Trading had regulatory net capital of $5,998,000, which was $4,998,000 in excess of its minimum net capital requirement on that date. INTL Trading’s net capital at September 30, 2005 included two subordinated loans made by the Company to INTL Trading, in aggregate amount of $3,000,000, both of which were repaid during the fiscal year.

The Company’s assets and liabilities may vary significantly from period to period because of changes relating to customer needs and economic and market conditions. The Company’s total assets at September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005, were $199,913,000 and $147,019,000, respectively. The Company’s operating activities generate or utilize cash resulting from net income or loss earned during each period and fluctuations in its assets and liabilities. The most significant fluctuations arise from changes in the level of customer activity and changes in the inventory of financial instruments and commodities.

In addition to normal operating requirements, capital is required to satisfy financing and regulatory requirements. The Company’s overall capital needs are continually reviewed to ensure that its capital base can appropriately support the anticipated capital needs of its operating subsidiaries.

In September 2006 the Company completed a private placement of $27,000,000 of 7.625% subordinated convertible notes (‘the Notes’). The Notes mature in September 2011. They are convertible at any time at the option of the noteholder at an initial conversion price of $25.50 per share. The Notes contain customary anti-dilutive provisions. At the current conversion price, conversion would result in the issue of 1,058,824 new shares of common

 

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stock. The Company may require conversion at any time after March 22, 2008 if the dollar volume-weighted average share price exceeds 150% (or $38.25 at the initial conversion price) for 20 out of any 30 consecutive trading days. Noteholders may redeem their Notes at par if the interest coverage ratio set forth in the Notes is less than 2.75 for the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2009. The Company may redeem the Notes at 110% of par on March 11, 2010. As of the date of this filing, $2,000,000 in principal amount of the Notes, together with accrued interest, have been converted into a total of 79,562 shares of common stock of the Company.

In July 2004 the Company completed the acquisition of the foreign exchange business of Global Currencies Limited. The acquisition agreement required the Company to make certain earn-out payments to the sellers. Total earn-out payments relating to the 2006 fiscal year amounted to $1,836,000. One further payment of a maximum of $400,000 will become due on March 1, 2007, for the quarter ending December 31, 2006, together with an amount equal to 10% of revenues earned by INTL Global Currencies exceeding $5,000,000 for the six month period ending December 31, 2006. The earn-out payments will then cease. The remaining earn-out payments will be funded from working capital.

The Company has established the INTL Trade Finance Fund Limited, to be managed by its Dubai subsidiary, INTL Capital Limited. The Company expects to invest up to $10 million of initial capital in the INTL Trade Finance Fund Limited during fiscal 2007.

The Company has announced a joint venture in Dubai to pursue commodities trading opportunities, and the hiring of a senior executive to establish an office in Singapore and to explore business opportunities in the Far East. In addition, the Company is continuously evaluating opportunities to expand its business. Expansion of the Company’s activities will require funding and will have an effect on liquidity.

Apart from what has been disclosed above, there are no other known trends, events or uncertainties that have had or are likely to have a material impact on the liquidity of the Company.

Cash Flows

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents increased from $20,242,000 at September 30, 2005 to $38,029,000 at September 30, 2006.

The major sources of cash were:

 

    $25,401,000 net, from buyers of subordinated convertible notes

 

    $5,056,000 from net income of $3,460,000, adjusted upwards by $1,596,000 for non-cash items

 

    $5,559,000 from net decrease in the Company’s financial instruments position (financial instruments owned and financial instruments sold, not yet purchased)

 

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    $2,021,000 from the exercise of stock options and warrants

 

    $2,363,000 in net investment withdrawals from hedge funds managed by INTL Consilium

 

    $1,033,000 from net broker, dealer and clearing organization payables and receivables

 

    $296,000 distribution of earnings from INTL Consilium

 

    $421,000 in cash arising upon the consolidation of INTL Consilium

The major uses of cash were:

 

    $15,306,000 commodities inventory, at cost

 

    $6,313,000 decrease in amounts payable to lenders under loans and overdrafts

 

    $1,836,000 net payment related to the Global Currencies acquisition

 

    $586,000 purchases of fixed assets and leasehold improvements

 

    $237,000 net customer payables and receivables

Certain Critical Accounting Policies

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (see Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Consolidated Financial Statements). The Company believes that of its significant accounting policies, those described below may, in certain instances, involve a high degree of judgment and complexity. These critical accounting policies may require estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in the consolidated financial statements. Due to their nature, estimates involve judgment based upon available information. Actual results or amounts could differ from estimates and the difference could have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. Therefore, understanding these policies is important in understanding the reported results of operations and the financial position of the Company.

Valuation of Financial Instruments and Foreign Currencies. Substantially all financial instruments are reflected in the consolidated financial statements at fair value or amounts that approximate fair value. These financial instruments include: cash, cash equivalents, and financial instruments purchased under agreements to resell; deposits with clearing organizations; financial instruments owned; and financial instruments sold but not yet purchased. Unrealized gains and losses related to these financial instruments are reflected in net earnings. Where available, the Company uses prices from independent sources such as listed market prices, or broker or dealer price quotations. Fair values for certain derivative

 

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contracts are derived from pricing models that consider current market and contractual prices for the underlying financial instruments or commodities, as well as time value and yield curve or volatility factors underlying the positions. In some cases, even though the value of a security is derived from an independent market price or broker or dealer quote, certain assumptions may be required to determine the fair value. However, these assumptions may be incorrect and the actual value realized upon disposition could be different from the current carrying value. The value of foreign currencies, including foreign currencies sold, not yet purchased, are converted into its U.S. dollar equivalents at the foreign exchange rates in effect at the close of business at the end of the accounting period. For foreign currency transactions completed during each reporting period, the foreign exchange rate in effect at the time of the transaction is used.

The application of the valuation process for financial instruments and foreign currencies is critical because these items represent a significant portion of the Company’s total assets. The accuracy of the valuation process allows the Company to report accurate financial information. Valuations for substantially all of the financial instruments held by the Company are available from independent publishers of market information. The valuation process may involve estimates and judgments in the case of certain financial instruments with limited liquidity and over-the-counter derivatives. Given the wide availability of pricing information, the high degree of liquidity of the majority of the Company’s assets, and the relatively short periods for which they are typically held in inventory, there is insignificant sensitivity to changes in estimates and insignificant risk of changes in estimates having a material effect on the Company. The basis for estimating the valuation of any financial instruments has not undergone any change.

Revenue Recognition. The revenues of the Company are derived principally from realized and unrealized trading income in securities, foreign currencies and commodities purchased or sold for the Company’s account. Realized and unrealized trading income is recorded on a trade date basis. Securities owned and securities sold, not yet purchased and foreign currencies sold, not yet purchased, are stated at market value with related changes in unrealized appreciation or depreciation reflected in net dealer inventory and investment gains. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date.

The critical aspect of revenue recognition for the Company is recording all known transactions as of the trade date of each transaction for the financial period. The Company has developed systems for each of its businesses to capture all known transactions. Recording all known transactions involves reviewing trades that occur after the financial period that relate to the financial period. The accuracy of capturing this information is dependent upon the completeness and accuracy of the operations systems including personnel and the Company’s clearing firm.

Physical commodities inventory. Physical commodities inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market value, determined using the weighted average price method. The Company generally mitigates the price risk associated with physical commodities held in inventory through the use of derivatives. This price risk mitigation does not generally qualify for hedge

 

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accounting under GAAP. Any unrealized gains in physical commodities inventory are not recognized under GAAP, but unrealized gains and losses in related derivative positions are recognized under GAAP. As a result, the Company’s reported commodities trading earnings are subject to volatility.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company is party to certain financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business as a registered securities broker-dealer and from its market making and proprietary trading in the foreign exchange and commodities trading business. As part of these activities, the Company carries short positions – for example, it sells financial instruments that it does not own, borrows the financial instruments to make good delivery, and therefore is obliged to purchase such financial instruments at a future date in order to return the borrowed financial instruments. The Company has recorded these obligations in the consolidated financial statements at September 30, 2006 at fair value of the related financial instruments (totaling $110,147,000). These positions are held to offset the risk related to financial assets owned and reported on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets under ‘Financial instruments owned, at fair value’, ‘Physical commodities inventory, at cost’ and ‘Trust certificates, at valuation’. The Company will incur losses if the fair value of the financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, increases subsequent to September 30, 2006. The total of $110,147,000 includes a liability of $13,801,000 for options and futures contracts, based on their market value as of September 30, 2006.

Listed below is the market value of trading-related derivatives as of September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005. Assets represent net unrealized gains and liabilities represent net unrealized losses.

 

(In thousands)

  

September 30,
2006

Assets

   September 30,
2006
Liabilities
  

September 30,
2005

Assets

   September 30,
2005
Liabilities

Interest Rate Derivatives

   $ —      $ 15    $ 29    $ —  

Foreign Exchange Derivates

   $ 23    $ —      $ 17    $ —  

Commodity Price Derivatives

   $ 14,369    $ 13,786    $ 3,292    $ 3,182
                           

Total

   $ 14,392    $ 13,801    $ 3,338    $ 3,182
                           

Options and futures contracts held by the Company result from market-making and proprietary trading activities in the Company’s foreign exchange/commodities trading business

 

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segment. The Company assists its customers in its commodities business to protect the value of their future production (precious or base metals) by selling them put options on an OTC basis. The Company also provides its commodities customers with sophisticated option products, including combinations of buying and selling puts and calls. The Company mitigates its risk by effecting offsetting OTC options with market counterparties or through the purchase or sale of commodities futures traded through the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The risk mitigation of offsetting options is not within the documented hedging designation requirements of FAS 133.

These derivative contracts are traded along with cash transactions because of the integrated nature of the markets for such products. The Company manages the risks associated with derivatives on an aggregate basis along with the risks associated with its proprietary trading and market-making activities in cash instruments as part of its firm-wide risk management policies.

Effects of Inflation

Because the Company’s assets are, to a large extent, liquid in nature, they are not significantly affected by inflation. Increases in the Company’s expenses, such as compensation and benefits, clearing and related expenses, occupancy and equipment rental, due to inflation, may not be readily recoverable from increasing the prices of services offered by the Company. In addition, to the extent that inflation results in rising interest rates or has other adverse effects on the securities markets and on the value of the securities held in inventory, it may adversely affect the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The Company conducts its market-making and trading activities predominantly as a principal, which subjects its capital to significant risks. These risks include, but are not limited to, absolute and relative price movements, price volatility and changes in liquidity, over which the Company has virtually no control. The Company’s exposure to market risk varies in accordance with the volume of customer-driven market-making transactions, the size of the proprietary positions and the volatility of the financial instruments traded.

We seek to mitigate exposure to market risk by utilizing a variety of qualitative and quantitative techniques:

 

    diversification of business activities and instruments

 

    limitations on positions

 

    allocation of capital and limits based on estimated weighted risks

 

    daily monitoring of positions and mark-to-market profitability

 

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The Company utilizes derivative products in a trading capacity as a dealer, to satisfy customer needs and mitigate risk. The Company manages risks from both derivatives and non-derivative cash instruments on a consolidated basis. The risks of derivatives should not be viewed in isolation, but in aggregate with the Company’s other trading activities.

Management believes that the volatility of revenues is a key indicator of the effectiveness of its risk management techniques. The graph below summarizes volatility of daily revenue during fiscal year 2006. Because of systems integration issues this excludes the revenue produced by the base metals trading business that commenced in Q1 2006.

LOGO

 

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In the Company’s securities market-making and trading activities, the Company maintains inventories of equity and debt securities. In the Company’s commodities market-making and trading activities, the Company’s positions include physical inventories, forwards, futures and options. The Company’s commodity trading activities are managed as one consolidated book for each commodity encompassing both cash positions and derivative instruments. The Company monitors the aggregate position for each commodity in equivalent physical ounces. The table below illustrates, for fiscal 2006, the Company’s average, greatest long, greatest short and minimum day-end positions by business segment. Because of integration issues this information excludes amounts for the Company’s base metals trading activities.

 

Fiscal Year 2006 (amounts in $000’s)

   Average     Greatest
Long
   Greatest
Short
    Minimum
Exposure

Equity aggregate of long and short

   $ 5,920     $ 8,883      n/a     $ 2,489

Equity net of long and short

   $ 149     $ 3,490    $ (3,378 )   $ 2

Debt aggregate of long and short

   $ 5,324     $ 8,978      n/a     $ 1,274

Debt net of long and short

   $ 4,035     $ 7,868      n/a     $ 706

Foreign currency aggregate of long and short

   $ 4,915     $ 12,928      n/a     $ 2,418

Foreign currency net of long and short

   $ 2,364     $ 5,297    $ (6,789 )   $ 43

Gold

   $ (41 )   $ 907    $ (1,540 )   $ 1

Silver

   $ (7 )   $ 447    $ (1,962 )   $ 0

Platinum group metals

   $ 16     $ 915    $ (1,123 )   $ 1

 

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ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are set forth on pages F-1 through F-39.

ITEM 8. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 8A CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

In connection with the filing of this Form 10-KSB, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2006. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2006.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006.

It should be noted that a control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. As a result, there can be no assurance that a control system will succeed in preventing all possible instances of error and fraud. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and the conclusions of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer are made at the “reasonable assurance” level.

ITEM 8B OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

PART III

ITEM 9. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Information with respect to this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

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ITEM 10. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information with respect to this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 11. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

Information with respect to this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Information with respect to this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13. EXHIBITS

 

3.1    Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by reference from Form 10-QSB, as filed with the SEC on May 17, 2004).
3.2    By-laws (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (No. 33-70334-A), filed with the SEC on February 2, 1994).
10.1    International Assets Holding Corporation Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (No. 33-70334-A), filed with the SEC on February 2, 1994).
10.2    Amendment dated December 28, 1995, to International Assets Holding Corporation Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference from the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-10727), filed with the SEC on August 23, 1996).
10.3    Amendment dated October 28, 1998, to International Assets Holding Corporation Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference from Company’s Proxy Statement on Form 14A, filed with the SEC on January 15, 1999).
10.4    Amendment dated June 9, 2000, to International Assets Holding Corporation Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Proxy Statement on Form 14A, filed with the SEC on January 12, 2001).

 

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10.5    Employment Agreement, entered into as of October 1, 2002, between the Company and Diego J. Veitia (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Form 10-KSB, as filed with the SEC on December 30, 2002).
10.6    Consulting Agreement, entered into as of September 1, 2002, between the Company and Veitia and Associates, Inc. (incorporated by reference from Form 10-KSB, as filed with the SEC on December 30, 2002).
10.7    Employment Agreement, dated October 22, 2002, by and between the Company, and Sean O’Connor (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on October 24, 2002).
10.8    Employment Agreement, dated October 22, 2002, by and between the Company, and Scott Branch (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on October 24, 2002).
10.9    Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 22, 2002, by and between the Company, and Sean O’Connor (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on October 24, 2002).
10.10    First Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 6, 2002, by and between the Company, and Sean O’Connor (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on December 10, 2002).
10.11    Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 22, 2002, by and between the Company, and Scott Branch (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on October 24, 2002).
10.12    First Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 6, 2002, by and between the Company, and Scott Branch (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on December 10, 2002).
10.13    Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 22, 2002, by and between the Company, and John Radziwill (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on October 24, 2002).
10.14    First Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 6, 2002, by and between the Company, and John Radziwill (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on December 10, 2002).
10.15    Clearing Agreement, effective November 23, 2005, by and between the Company and Broadcort, a division of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on December 6, 2005).

 

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10.16    International Assets Holding Corporation 2003 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on January 14, 2003).
10.17    Amendment to International Assets Holding Corporation 2003 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Proxy Statement on Form 14A, filed with the SEC on February 11, 2004).
10.18    Amendment to International Assets Holding Corporation 2003 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Proxy Statement on Form 14A, filed with the SEC on January 23, 2006).
10.20    Acquisition Agreement dated as of June 25, 2004, by and among International Assets Holding Corporation, Global Currencies Limited, and the shareholders of Global Currencies (Holdings) Limited (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 1, 2004).
10.21    Employment Agreement, dated October 11, 2004, by and between the Company and Jonathan C. Hinz (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on October 14, 2004).
10.22    Employment Agreement, effective December 1, 2004, by and between the Company and Brian T. Sephton (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on November 24, 2004).
10.23    Operating Agreement dated May 7, 2004, by and between the Company and Consilium Investment Capital, Inc. (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on May 10, 2004).
10.24    Lease agreement dated November 24, 2005, by and between the Company and Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc for the lease of office premises in London (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on December 1, 2005).
10.26    International Assets Holding Corporation form of Senior Subordinated Convertible Note (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on September 15, 2006).
10.27    International Assets Holding Corporation form of Securities Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on September 15, 2006).
10.28    International Assets Holding Corporation form of Lock Up Agreement (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on September 15, 2006).
10.29    International Assets Holding Corporation form of Registration Rights Agreement (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on September 15, 2006).

 

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14.1    International Assets Holding Corporation Code of Ethics (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Form 10-KSB filed with the SEC for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
21*    List of the Company’s subsidiaries.
23.1*    Consent of Rothstein, Kass & Company, P.C. to the incorporation by reference on Form S-8.
23.2*    Consent of Rothstein, Kass & Company, P.C. to the incorporation by reference on Form S-3.
31.1*    Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a).
31.2*    Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a).
32.1*    Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*    Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

* Filed as part of this report.

Schedules and Exhibits Excluded

All schedules and exhibits not included are not applicable, not required or would contain information which is included in Consolidated Financial Statements, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, or the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Information with respect to this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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SIGNATURES

In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Sean M. O’Connor

  Sean M. O’Connor,
  Chief Executive Officer

Dated: December 20, 2006

In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Diego J. Veitia

Diego J. Veitia

   Director and Chairman of the Board   December 20, 2006

/s/ Sean M. O’Connor

   Director and Chief Executive Officer   December 20, 2006
Sean M. O’Connor     

/s/ Scott J. Branch

   Director and President   December 20, 2006
Scott J. Branch     

/s/ Robert A. Miller

   Director   December 20, 2006
Robert A. Miller     

/s/ John Radziwill

   Director   December 20, 2006
John Radziwill     

/s/ Justin R. Wheeler

   Director   December 20, 2006
Justin R. Wheeler     

/s/ John M. Fowler

   Director   December 20, 2006
John M. Fowler     

/s/ Brian T. Sephton

Brian T. Sephton

   Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer   December 20, 2006

 

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Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Stockholders of

International Assets Holding Corporation

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of International Assets Holding Corporation and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended September 30, 2006. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2006 and 2005, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the each of the years in the two-year period ended September 30, 2006, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Rothstein, Kass & Company, P.C.

Roseland, New Jersey

November 29, 2006

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except par value)

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

     2006    2005  
Assets      

Cash

   $ 26,470    $ 6,615  

Cash and cash equivalents deposited with brokers, dealers and clearing organization

     11,559      13,627  

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organization

     8,124      3,610  

Receivable from customers

     26,884      15,648  

Financial instruments owned, at fair value

     84,620      71,376  

Physical commodities inventory, at cost

     15,306   

Trust certificates, at fair value

     12,764      24,539  

Prepaid income taxes

     3,252   

Investment in asset management joint venture

        677  

Investment in INTL Consilium managed funds, at fair value

     1,246      3,270  

Deferred income tax asset, net

        82  

Fixed assets and leasehold improvements at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization

     711      564  

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization

     279      233  

Goodwill

     6,328      6,054  

Debt issuance costs, net

     1,599   

Other assets

     771      724  
               

Total assets

   $ 199,913    $ 147,019  
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      

Liabilities:

     

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

   $ 1,464    $ 608  

Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

     110,147      92,016  

Payable to lenders under loans and overdrafts

     6,534      12,847  

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organization

     9,919      4,372  

Payable to customers

     2,812      3,206  

Accrued compensation and benefits

     4,203      2,059  

Income taxes payable

     842      1,153  

Deferred income taxes, net

     1,535   

Deferred acquisition consideration payable

     791      2,353  

Other liabilities

     433      333  
               
     138,680      118,947  

Convertible subordinated notes payable, due September 20, 2011, net of $141 debt discount

     26,859   
               

Total liabilities

     165,539      118,947  
               

Minority owners interest in consolidated entity

     431      —    
               

Stockholders’ equity:

     

Preferred stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 5,000,000 shares; no shares issued or outstanding

     —        —    

Common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 12,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 7,839,721 shares at September 30, 2006 and 7,425,936 shares at September 30, 2005

     78      74  

Additional paid-in capital

     30,457      28,050  

Retained earnings (deficit)

     3,408      (52 )
               

Total stockholders’ equity

     33,943      28,072  
               

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 199,913    $ 147,019  
               

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     2006    2005

Revenues:

     

Sales of physical commodities

   $ 66,141    $ —  

Net dealer inventory and investment gains

     34,276      24,851

Equity in income from asset management joint venture

     331      217

Other

     2,013      1,072
             

Total revenues

     102,761      26,140

Cost of sales of physical commodities

     66,884   
             

Operating revenues

     35,877      26,140

Interest expense

     2,095      1,335
             

Net revenues

     33,782      24,805

Non-interest expenses:

     

Compensation and benefits

     16,652      11,005

Clearing and related expenses

     7,679      6,534

Occupancy and equipment rental

     632      437

Professional fees

     832      558

Depreciation and amortization

     420      320

Business development

     1,108      765

Insurance

     224      179

Other

     974      887
             

Total non-interest expenses

     28,521      20,685
             

Income before income tax expense and minority interest

     5,261      4,120

Income tax expense

     1,730      1,484
             

Income before minority interest

     3,531      2,636

Minority interest in income of consolidated entity

     71      22
             

Net income

   $ 3,460    $ 2,614
             

Earnings per share:

     

Basic

   $ 0.45    $ 0.36
             

Diluted

   $ 0.41    $ 0.33
             

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

     

Basic

     7,637      7,303
             

Diluted

     8,388      8,024
             

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

Years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

(In thousands)

 

               Additional           Treasury     Total  
     Preferred    Common    paid-in    

Retained

    stock,     stockholders’  
     stock    stock    capital    

earnings

    at cost     equity  

Balances at October 1, 2004

     —        71      27,168       (2,666 )     —         24,573  

Exercise of stock options

        3      727           730  

Acquisition of common shares as payment for stock option exercises

               (37 )     (37 )

Retirement of common shares as payment for stock option exercises

           (37 )       37       —    

Income tax benefit from stock option exercises and dispositions

           192           192  

Net income

             2,614         2,614  
                                              

Balances at September 30, 2005

   $ —      $ 74    $ 28,050     $ (52 )   $ —       $ 28,072  
                                              

Exercise of stock options and warrants

        4      2,017           2,021  

Amortization of stock option expense for consultants

           29           29  

Income tax benefit from stock option exercises and dispositions

           361           361  

Net income

             3,460         3,460  
                                              

Balances at September 30, 2006

   $ —      $ 78    $ 30,457     $ 3,408     $ —       $ 33,943  
                                              

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

(In thousands)

 

     2006     2005  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 3,460     $ 2,614  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation, amortization and loss on disposals

     420       321  

Deferred income taxes

     1,617       281  

Equity in income from asset management joint venture

     (331 )     (218 )

Minority interest

     71    

Amortization of stock option expense for consultants

     29    

Unrealized investment gain from INTL Consilium managed funds

     (210 )     (250 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organization

     (4,514 )     4,090  

Receivable from customers

     174       (3,271 )

Financial instruments owned, at fair value

     (13,244 )     (52,571 )

Physical commodities inventory, at cost

     (15,306 )  

Prepaid income taxes

     (2,841 )  

Other assets

     229       (62 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     772       (298 )

Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

     18,803       55,147  

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organization

     5,547       (7,730 )

Payable to customers

     (411 )     (1,459 )

Accrued compensation and benefits

     2,107       (43 )

Income taxes payable

     (311 )     1,120  

Other liabilities

     (41 )     259  
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (3,980 )     (2,070 )
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Distribution of earnings from asset management joint venture

     296    

Cash on consolidation of INTL Consilium

     421    

Payments related to acquisition of INTL Global Currencies

     (1,836 )     (1,562 )

Investment in INTL Consilium managed fund

     (1,005 )  

Investment withdrawals from INTL Consilium managed fund

     3,368    

Purchase of fixed assets, leasehold improvements and intangible assets

     (586 )     (303 )
                

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     658       (1,865 )
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Issuance of convertible subordinated notes payable, net

     25,401    

Payable to lenders under loans and overdrafts

     (6,313 )     2,400  

Exercise of stock options

     2,021       693  
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     21,109       3,093  
                

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     17,787       (842 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     20,242       21,084  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 38,029     $ 20,242  
                

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

    

Cash paid for interest

   $ 2,020     $ 1,315  
                

Income taxes paid

   $ 3,234     $ 139  
                

 

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INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

(In thousands)

 

     2006     2005

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing activities:

    

Assumption of trust certificates, at cost, with related financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at market value and receivable from customers

   $ —       $ 24,539
              

Partial release of trust certificates, at cost, with related financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at market value and receivable from customers

   $ 1,441     $ —  
              

Additional goodwill in connection with acquisition of INTL Global Currencies

   $ 275     $ 3,628
              

Estimated beginning fair value of assets and (liabilities) in consolidation of INTL Consilium, LLC (unaudited):

    

Assets acquired

   $ 1,160     $ —  

Liabilities assumed

     (138 )     —  

Minority owners interest

     (310 )     —  
              

Total net assets acquired

   $ 712     $ —  
              

Supplemental disclosure of noncash financing activities:

    

Retirement of 4,992 common shares held in treasury

   $ —       $ 37
              

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

  (a) Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of International Assets Holding Corporation, its subsidiaries and a variable interest entity of which it is the primary beneficiary (‘the Company’). The Company’s subsidiaries are INTL Trading, Inc. (‘INTL Trading’), INTL Assets, Inc. (‘INTL Assets’), INTL Holding (U.K.) Limited (‘INTL Holding (U.K.)’), INTL Global Currencies Limited (‘INTL Global Currencies’), INTL Commodities, Inc. (‘INTL Commodities’), INTL Capital Limited (‘INTL Capital’) and IAHC (Bermuda) Ltd. The accounts of INTL Consilium, LLC (‘INTL Consilium’), which has been treated as a variable interest entity and in which International Assets Holding Corporation has been the primary beneficiary since August 1, 2006, are also included in the consolidated financial statements.

All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

INTL Trading is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. INTL Trading clears its securities transactions through the Broadcort division of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. (‘Broadcort’) on a fully disclosed basis.

INTL Assets holds most of the U.S. physical assets of the Company.

INTL Holding (U.K.) is a U.K. holding company that owns 100% of INTL Global Currencies. INTL Global Currencies operates a foreign exchange trading business. Both INTL Holding (U.K.) and INTL Global Currencies are designated as U.S. dollar denominated companies under the laws of the United Kingdom. Accordingly, the functional currency for these companies is the U.S. dollar.

International Assets Holding Corporation engages in foreign exchange trading, trade finance and structured financial transactions.

INTL Commodities was formed in September 2005 to own and operate the Company’s commodities trading business. International Assets Holding Corporation transferred this business to INTL Commodities during the first half of fiscal 2006.

INTL Capital is a Dubai limited company formed in September 2006 as an asset management firm to invest in global trade finance-related assets.

The Company owns a 50.1% limited liability company interest in INTL Consilium, an investment advisory firm that focuses on the emerging market asset class. INTL Consilium was accounted for using the equity method of accounting until July 31, 2006 (see notes 1(n) and 4 for more information). The Company has consolidated INTL Consilium as of August 1, 2006 based on the consolidation requirements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (‘FASB’) Interpretation No. 46(R) (‘FIN 46(R)’)(see note 3 for further information).

 

  (b) Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

  (c) Cash and Cash Equivalents

“Cash and cash equivalents” consist of cash and cash deposits with brokers, dealers and the Company’s clearing organization. All cash and cash equivalents deposited with brokers, dealers and clearing organization support the Company’s trading activities, and are subject to contractual restrictions. Cash deposits with clearing organization consist of cash, foreign currency and money market funds stated at cost, which approximates fair value. The money market funds earn interest at varying rates on a daily basis. For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company is subject to concentration of credit risk because a substantial portion of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents (approximately $7,811,000 as of September 30, 2006) are maintained at the Company’s clearing organization.

 

  (d) Foreign Currency

The value of a foreign currency is converted into its U.S. dollar equivalent at the foreign exchange rate in effect at the close of business as of September 30, 2006 and 2005. For foreign currency transactions completed during the fiscal year, the Company utilizes the foreign exchange rate in effect at the time of the transaction.

 

  (e) Financial Instruments and Investments

“Financial instruments owned, at fair value” and “Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value” consist of financial instruments carried at fair value or amounts that approximate fair value, with related unrealized gains or losses recognized in the Company’s results of operations. 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.

Cash trading instruments – Fair values of cash trading instruments are generally obtained from quoted market prices in active markets, broker or dealer price quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of transparency. The types of instruments valued in this manner include common stock, American Depositary Receipts, sovereign government, provincial and corporate debt obligations and physical commodities. The value of a foreign security is determined in the functional currency of the principal exchange on which the security is traded, which value is then converted into its U.S. dollar equivalent at the foreign exchange rate in effect following the close of such exchange. Certain cash trading instruments trade infrequently and, therefore, have little price transparency. Such instruments may include commercial paper and similar debt instruments. The Company values these instruments by reference to the interest rate spread sought on the same or equivalent instruments by other brokers or dealers active in those markets. Cash trading instruments owned are marked to bid prices and instruments sold but not yet purchased are marked to offer prices.

Derivative contracts – Derivative contracts consist of exchange-traded and over-the-counter (‘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.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

Investments –The Company has made an investment in a hedge fund sponsored by INTL Consilium. This investment is valued at fiscal year-end at the net asset value provided by the fund’s administrator as of the date of valuation.

 

  (f) Revenue Recognition

The revenues of the Company are derived from realized and unrealized trading income in securities, derivative instruments, commodities and foreign currencies purchased or sold for the Company’s account. Realized and unrealized trading income (net dealer inventory and investment gains) are recorded on a trade date basis. Commissions and related clearing expenses are recorded on a trade-date basis as securities transactions occur. Securities owned and securities sold, not yet purchased are stated at fair value with related changes in unrealized appreciation or depreciation reflected in net dealer inventory and investment gains. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date.

 

  (g) Revenues Reported on Gross Basis

In accordance with the guidelines provided in Emerging Issues Task Force (‘EITF’) Issue No. 99-19, the Company has determined that revenues of the Company’s base metals trading business, which commenced in October 2005, should be reported on a gross basis, with the corresponding cost of sales shown separately. This matter is discussed further in note 24, under the sub-heading ‘Commodities Trading’.

 

  (h) Physical commodities inventory

Physical commodities inventory is valued in accordance with ARB 43 at the lower of cost or fair market value, determined using the weighted average price method.

 

  (i) Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation of fixed assets is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the term of the lease or the estimated period of benefit to be received from the assets, which range from three to seven years.

 

  (j) Income Taxes

The Company files consolidated Federal income tax returns. The Company files consolidated state income tax returns in those states in which the Company meets the consolidation requirements and files separately in those states in which consolidation is not applicable.

The Company complies with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (‘SFAS’) No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, which requires an asset and liability approach to financial reporting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. 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. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount that, in the opinion of management, is more likely than not to be realized.

 

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INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

  (k) Stock-Based Employee Compensation

In October 1995, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, which generally permits entities to recognize as expense over the vesting period the fair value of all stock-based awards calculated on the date of grant. Alternatively, SFAS No. 123 allows entities to continue to apply the provisions of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, which provides that compensation expense is recorded on the date of grant only if the current market price of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price and provides for pro forma disclosures as if the fair-value-based method defined in SFAS No. 123 had been applied. The Company has elected to continue to apply the provisions of APB Opinion No. 25 and provide the pro forma disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123.

If the Company had determined compensation cost based on the fair value at the grant date for its stock options under SFAS No. 123, the Company’s net income and earnings per share would be as reflected in the pro forma amounts indicated below:

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

       2006     2005  

Net income

  As reported    $ 3,460     $ 2,614  

Pro forma option compensation expense

  Pro forma    $ (537 )   $ (462 )
                  

Net income

  Pro forma    $ 2,923     $ 2,152  
                  

Basic earnings per share

  As reported    $ 0.45     $ 0.36  
  Pro forma    $ 0.38     $ 0.29  

Diluted earnings per share

  As reported    $ 0.41     $ 0.33  
  Pro forma    $ 0.35     $ 0.27  

 

  (l) Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share have been computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.

The Company has complied with SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share, which requires the use of the if-converted method when convertible securities are present (see note 2).

Options to purchase 10,000 shares and 101,250 shares of common stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, because the exercise prices of these options exceeded the average market price of the common stock for the period (anti-dilutive).

Convertible subordinated notes payable which are convertible into 1,058,824 common shares were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the weighted period September 21, 2006 through September 30, 2006 because their incremental inclusion was antidilutive.

 

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INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

   2006    2005

Diluted earnings per share

     

Numerator:

     

Net income

   $ 3,460    $ 2,614

Denominator:

     

Weighted average number of:

     

Common shares outstanding

     7,637      7,303

Dilutive potential common shares outstanding

     751      721
             
     8,388      8,024
             

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.41    $ 0.33
             

 

  (m) Effects of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (‘SFAS No. 123(R)’). This statement requires the recognition of the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award in its financial statements. It also requires the cost to be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award (usually the vesting period). SFAS No. 123(R) replaces SFAS No. 123 and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, and its related interpretations. Small-business issuers (such as the Company) must apply SFAS No. 123(R) for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2005. In the Company’s case, this will be the fiscal year commencing on October 1, 2006.

The Company currently uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to measure the fair value of stock options granted to employees. While SFAS No. 123(R) permits entities to continue to use such a model, it also permits the use of a ‘lattice’ model. The Company expects to use a lattice model upon adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) to measure the fair value of stock options.

The adoption of this statement will have the effect of reducing net income and income per share as compared to what would be reported under the current requirements. These future amounts cannot be precisely estimated because they depend on, among other things, the number of options issued in the future and, accordingly, the Company believes that the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) may have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, in the form of additional compensation expense. The pro forma numbers disclosed in paragraph 1(k) above provide an indication of the past effect on earnings per share of share-based payment, though based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

In June 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes . This interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. This interpretation also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 simplifies and codifies related guidance within GAAP, but does not require any new fair value measurements. The guidance in SFAS No. 157 applies to derivatives and other financial instruments measured at estimated fair value under SFAS No. 133 and related pronouncements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management does not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 157 to have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

  (n) Investment in Joint Venture

The investment in the Company’s asset management joint venture, INTL Consilium, was accounted for under the equity method of accounting until July 31, 2006. Under this method, the Company’s investment in INTL Consilium was recorded at cost and adjusted by the Company’s share of the contributions, distributions and undistributed earnings or losses of the joint venture. On August 1, 2006 the Company received a repayment of the portion of capital that had entitled the Company to a three-year liquidation preference and advanced a $1,000,000 subordinated loan to INTL Consilium. Following the guidelines set out in FIN 46(R), INTL Consilium has been treated as a variable interest entity of which the Company is the primary beneficiary. INTL Consilium is accordingly required to be consolidated from August 1, 2006 onward.

 

  (o) Variable Interest Entities

The Company consolidates variable interest entities in which it is the primary beneficiary, in accordance with the guidelines set out in FIN 46 (R). For further information see note 3 below.

 

  (p) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over fair value of assets of the business acquired. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, on July 9, 2004 with the acquisition of INTL Global Currencies. Pursuant to SFAS No. 142, goodwill acquired in a purchased business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life is not amortized, but instead tested for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142.

Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives of three years. Residual value is presumed to be zero, subject to certain exceptions. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets, whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

 

  (q) Reclassification

Certain amounts in the 2005 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2006 presentation.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(2) Issuance of Convertible Subordinated Notes and Related Debt Issuance Costs

On September 20, 2006 the Company issued $27.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s senior subordinated convertible notes due 2011 (‘the Notes’). The Company expects to use the proceeds from the sale of the Notes to repay debt and for general corporate purposes. The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company.

The Notes bear interest at the rate of 7.625% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears commencing on October 1, 2006.

The Notes are convertible by the holders at any time following their issuance into shares of common stock of the Company, at an initial conversion price of $25.50 per share. The conversion price is subject to certain adjustments set forth in the Notes.

The maturity date of the Notes is the fifth anniversary of the issuance of the Notes.

The Company may, at its option, redeem the Notes for cash on March 11, 2010, at a redemption price equal to 110% of the Conversion Amount (the principal amount of the Notes, together with accrued interest and any late charges), subject to certain conditions set forth in the Notes.

If the ratio of the Company’s consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as defined in the Notes, to the Company’s consolidated cash interest expense (the “Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio”) is less than 2.75 for the 12 month period ending on December 31, 2009, the holders of the Notes will have the option to require the Company to redeem all or any portion of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the Conversion Amount to be redeemed.

If, at any time after March 22, 2008, the dollar-volume weighted average price of the common stock exceeds, for any twenty out of thirty consecutive trading days, 150% of the conversion price of the Notes, the Company will have the right to require the holders of the Notes to convert all or any portion of the Notes into shares of Common Stock at the then-applicable conversion price.

Commencing with the fiscal quarter ending on September 30, 2007, in the event that the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio for the 12 months preceding the end of any fiscal quarter is less than 2.0, the interest rate on the Notes will be increased by 2.0% to 9.625% per annum, effective as of the first day of the following fiscal quarter.

Debt issuance costs of $1,608,000 were incurred in connection with the issuance of the Notes. The total debt issuance costs will be amortized over the life of the Notes (through September 20, 2011) and charged to interest expense. Total interest amortization expense for the debt issuance costs for 2006 is $9,000.

The Company has entered into a separate Registration Rights Agreement with the holders of the Notes, under which the Company was required to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (‘the SEC’) a Registration Statement on Form S-3 within a specified period of time. The Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on October 24, 2006. The Company is now required, under the Registration Rights Agreement, to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, failing which it could become liable to pay holders of the Notes liquidated damages of 1% of the value of the Notes upon a failure to maintain effectiveness of the Registration Statement, plus a further 1% for every 30 days that it remains ineffective thereafter, up to an aggregate maximum of 10% of the value of the Notes.

The Company has analyzed the Notes in accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, EITF Issue No. 00-19, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock and EITF Issue No. 05-2, The Meaning of “Conventional Convertible Debt Instrument” in Issue No. 00-19 to determine whether the

 

F-13


Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

hybrid contract that is represented by the Notes has an embedded derivative that should be separately accounted for. The Company’s conclusion is that the conversion feature embedded in the Notes may be classified as equity and is therefore excluded from the scope of SFAS No. 133 and does not need to be accounted for separately from its host contract.

The Company has further analyzed the Notes in accordance with EITF Issue No. 05-4, The Effect of a Liquidated Damages Clause on a Freestanding Financial Instrument subject to EITF Issue No. 00-19, ‘Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock’. This addresses instances in which financial instruments, such as convertible notes, are issued with a related registration rights agreement that contains a liquidated damages clause. A registration rights agreement signed by the Company in September 2006 required the Company to use its best efforts to file a registration statement for the resale of the shares of stock underlying the Notes, to have the registration statement declared effective within a specified period, and to maintain its effectiveness by meeting all SEC filing and other requirements; failing which the Company would be liable to pay certain specified damages to the investors.

The Company’s conclusion is that the liquidated damages clause in the registration rights agreement should be valued separately from the Notes, as a liability, in accordance with the View C expressed in EITF Issue No. 05-4. This has given rise to the recording of a liability of $141,000 and a corresponding discount to the value of the Notes, of which $1,000 was amortized and charged to interest expense for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006.

 

(3) Variable Interest Entities

FIN 46(R), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities: an Interpretation of ARB No. 51, expands upon the consolidation guidance contained in ARB No. 51, which views a majority voting interest as the primary criterion in determining whether one entity has a controlling financial interest in another entity. FIN 46(R) provides for consolidation of certain entities in which the reporting entity does not have a controlling financial interest as defined in ARB No. 51. If an analysis in terms of FIN 46(R) determines that one entity is the primary beneficiary of the variable interests in another entity (the variable interest entity, or ‘VIE’), the primary beneficiary is required to consolidate the variable interest entity.

On May 11, 2004, the Company entered into an agreement with Consilium Investment Capital, Inc. (‘CIC’) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida to form INTL Consilium. INTL Consilium is an investment management firm which primarily provides investment advice with respect to emerging market securities. In June 2004 the Company made a capital contribution of $500,000 and CIC contributed $100,000 to INTL Consilium. The Company’s total capital contribution was allocated as $100,000 share capital and $400,000 excess capital. The excess capital contribution was made by the Company in recognition of the asset management skills and relationships contributed by CIC. The excess capital contribution had a liquidation preference of three years. The Company received 50.1% of the shares of INTL Consilium and was permitted to appoint two of the four directors, the remaining two directors being the principals of CIC. No individual director has a deciding vote in the event of a deadlock. The two principals of CIC actively manage the business. On August 1, 2006 the $400,000 excess capital contribution was repaid by INTL Consilium to the Company and the Company made a subordinated loan to INTL Consilium of $1,000,000, bearing interest at 5.36%.

An analysis in terms of FIN 46(R) in 2004 determined that INTL Consilium was not initially a variable interest entity. The Company accordingly accounted for its interest in INTL Consilium on the equity method until July 31, 2006. The Company determined that the repayment of excess capital, the termination of the related liquidation preference and the advance of a subordinated loan to INTL

 

F-14


Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

Consilium combined to make INTL Consilium a variable interest entity and the Company its primary beneficiary. With effect from August 1, 2006 the Company has consolidated INTL Consilium as a variable interest entity.

The Company accounted for one VIE during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 (‘2005 VIE’). The Company consolidated the 2005 VIE, which involved an investment in a hedge fund (through an offshore feeder fund) managed by INTL Consilium, for the quarters ended December 31, 2004, March 31, 2005 and June 30, 2005. In the quarter ended September 30, 2005 the Company withdrew its investment from the offshore feeder fund and placed the investment in a second, larger, domestic (U.S.) feeder fund managed by INTL Consilium. At September 30, 2005 the Company had an interest of approximately 3% in, and was not the primary beneficiary of, this domestic feeder fund. Accordingly, there was no basis for consolidation of the domestic feeder fund and there was no minority owners’ interest recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2005. The amount of minority owners’ interest in the income of consolidated entity shown in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the 2005 fiscal year relates to the period during which the Company consolidated the results of the 2005 VIE.

 

(4) Investment in INTL Consilium

As discussed in note 3, the Company accounted for its investment in INTL Consilium under the equity method prior to August 1, 2006. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 the Company has recorded income of $331,000 and $217,000, respectively, for its 50.1% share of INTL Consilium’s income and loss for the two periods. The $331,000 of income for 2006 is based on the ten month period from October 1, 2005 through July 31, 2006. Below are the unaudited condensed statement of operations and condensed balance sheet of INTL Consilium for the year ending September 30, 2005.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

INTL Consilium, LLC

Condensed Statement of Operations

For the year ended September 30, 2005

(Unaudited)

 

(In thousands)

 

   2005

Revenues:

  

Management and investment advisory fees

   $ 1,521

Interest income

     4

Other

     27
      

Total revenues

     1,552
      

Non-interest expenses:

  

Compensation and benefits

     771

Occupancy and equipment rental

     46

Professional fees

     87

Depreciation

     11

Business development

     75

Insurance

     53

Other

     72
      

Total non-interest expenses

     1,115
      

Net income

   $ 437
      

 

F-16


Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

INTL Consilium, LLC

Condensed Balance Sheet

September 30, 2005

(Unaudited)

 

(In thousands)

 

   2005
Assets   

Cash

   $ 214

Management and investment advisory fees receivable

     574

Investment in INTL Consilium sponsored fund

     297

Property and equipment, net

     27

Other assets

     34
      

Total assets

   $ 1,146
      
Liabilities and Members’ Equity   

Liabilities

  

Accounts payable

   $ 35

Accrued compensation and benefits

     158
      

Total liabilities

     193

Members’ equity:

     953
      

Total liabilities and members’ equity

   $ 1,146
      

 

(5) Investment in INTL Consilium Managed Fund

As of September 30, 2006 and 2005 the Company had investments valued at $1,246,000 and $3,270,000 in two hedge funds managed by INTL Consilium. The Company owns a 50.1% interest in INTL Consilium.

 

F-17


Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(6) Goodwill

The Company acquired the foreign exchange business of INTL Global Currencies in 2004. The purchase price paid by the Company for the acquisition exceeded the net asset value received by $2,489,000. Of this amount, $350,000 was allocated to intangible assets and the balance of $2,138,000 was treated as goodwill. The Company has accrued additional goodwill of $4,190,000 under the earn-out provisions of the purchase agreement. As of September 30, 2006, the Company had paid $3,399,000 of the additional goodwill. The balance of the additional goodwill accrual of $791,000 is reported as deferred acquisition consideration payable in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The goodwill related to the INTL Global Currencies acquisition is as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

   September 30,
2006
    September 30,
2005
 

Cash premium paid to sellers

   $ 1,000     $ 1,000  

Cash paid for net assets received

     3,577       3,577  

Negotiation differences for fixed assets and stamp duty

     (50 )     (50 )

Legal and accounting fees

     66       66  

Value of 150,000 common shares at $9.81 per share

     1,472       1,472  
                

Total payments of cash and shares

     6,065       6,065  

Less: Fair value of net assets received

     3,577       3,577  

Less: Intangible assets identified by independent valuation

     350       350  
                

Initial goodwill

     2,138       2,138  

Additional goodwill under earnout based on foreign exchange revenues

     4,190       3,916  
                

Total goodwill

   $ 6,328     $ 6,054  
                

The additional goodwill is calculated for each period as each earn-out payment is earned and an adjustment is recorded to goodwill. The first five earn-out installments totaling $3,162,000 have been paid. The sixth earn-out installment of $400,000 was paid November 29, 2006. One additional minimum payment of $391,000 each is due on or by March 1, 2007, with the maximum amount due being $400,000. Furthermore, the Company was required to pay $237,000 on August 29, 2006, being 10% of revenues exceeding $10,000,000 for the twelve month period ended June 30, 2006. The Company will be required to make an additional payment equal to 10% of any revenues exceeding $5,000,000 for the six month period ending December 31, 2006.

 

F-18


Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(7) Intangible assets

Intangible assets at September 30, 2006 and 2005 were constituted as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

   September 30,
2006
   September 30,
2005

Noncompete agreement

   $ 150    150

Trade name

     100    100

Customer base

     100    100

Other costs

     17   

Asset management contract

     153   

Web site development costs

     20   
           

Total intangible assets

     540    350

Less: Amortization of intangible assets

     261    117
           

Intangible assets, net

   $ 279    233
           

 

(8) Related Party Transactions

One of the Company’s principal shareholders has made an investment, valued at approximately $100,000,000 as of September 30, 2006, in a hedge fund managed by INTL Consilium. An executive of this shareholder is a director of the Company.

Two executive officers of the Company have individually made investments, either directly or indirectly, collectively valued at approximately $595,000, in a hedge fund managed by INTL Consilium.

 

F-19


Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(9) Financial Instruments Owned and Financial Instruments Sold, Not Yet Purchased, at Fair Value

Financial instruments owned and financial instruments sold, not yet purchased at September 30, 2006 and 2005 consisted of trading and investment securities at fair values as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

   Owned    Sold, not yet
purchased

September 30, 2006:

     

Common stock and American Depository Receipts

   $ 3,660    $ 5,523

Exchangeable foreign ordinary equities and American Depository Receipts

     46,597      46,747

Corporate and municipal bonds

     6,133   

Foreign government obligations

     1,368   

Negotiable instruments (promissory notes)

     12,445   

U.S. Treasury Bonds under total return swap transactions

     23,886   

Options and futures

     14,392      13,801

Commodities

        19,414

U.S. Government obligations

        776

Other investments

     25   
             
   $ 84,620    $ 110,147
             

 

(In thousands)

 

   Owned    Sold, not yet
purchased

September 30, 2005:

     

Common stock and American Depository Receipts

   $ 2,638    $ 4,155

Exchangeable foreign ordinary equities and American Depository Receipts

     28,707      28,919

Corporate and municipal bonds

     3,873      255

Foreign government obligations

     1,183      2,479

Negotiable instruments (promissory notes)

     7,777   

U.S. Treasury Bonds under total return swap transactions

     24,558   

Options and futures

     3,338      3,182

Commodities

     23,823      28,451

U.S. Government obligations

        17

Other investments

     37   
             
   $ 71,376    $ 92,016
             

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(10) Physical Commodities Inventory

Physical commodities inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market value, determined using the weighted average price method. The value of the Company’s inventory at September 30, 2006 was $15,306,000 at cost, which was lower than fair market value.

 

(11) Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk and Concentrations of Credit Risk

The Company is party to certain financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business as a registered securities broker-dealer and from its market making and proprietary trading in the foreign exchange and commodities trading business. The Company has sold financial instruments that it does not currently own and will therefore be obliged to purchase such financial instruments at a future date. The Company has recorded these obligations in the consolidated financial statements at September 30, 2006 at fair values of the related financial instruments (totaling $110,147,000). The Company will incur losses if the market value of the financial instruments increases subsequent to September 30, 2006. The total of $110,147,000 includes $13,801,000 for options and futures contracts, which represent a liability to the Company based on their fair values as of September 30, 2006.

Listed below is the fair value of trading-related derivatives as of September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005. Assets represent net unrealized gains and liabilities represent net unrealized losses.

 

(In thousands)

 

  

September 30,
2006

Assets

   September 30,
2006
Liabilities
  

September 30,
2005

Assets

   September 30,
2005
Liabilities

Interest Rate Derivatives

   $ —      $ 15    $ 29    $ —  

Foreign Exchange Derivates

     23         17   

Commodity Price Derivatives

     14,369      13,786      3,292      3,182
                           

Total

   $ 14,392    $ 13,801    $ 3,338    $ 3,182
                           

Options and futures contracts held by the Company result from its customers’ market-making and proprietary trading activities in the commodities trading and foreign exchange business segments. The Company assists its commodities customers in protecting the value of their future production (precious or base metals) by selling them put options on an OTC basis. The Company also provides its commodities customers with sophisticated option products, including combinations of buying and selling puts and calls. The Company mitigates its risk by effecting offsetting OTC options with market counterparties or through the purchase or sale of commodities futures traded through the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The risk mitigation of offsetting options is not within the documented hedging designation requirements of SFAS No. 133.

These derivative contracts are traded along with cash transactions because of the integrated nature of the markets for such products. The Company manages the risks associated with derivatives on an aggregate basis along with the risks associated with its proprietary trading and market-making activities in cash instruments as part of its firm-wide risk management policies.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

In the normal course of business, the Company purchases and sells financial instruments and foreign currencies as either principal or agent on behalf of its customers. If either the customer or counterparty fails to perform, the Company may be required to discharge the obligations of the nonperforming party. In such circumstances, the Company may sustain a loss if the market value of the financial instrument or foreign currency is different from the contract value of the transaction.

The majority of the Company’s transactions and, consequently, the concentration of its credit exposure is with customers, broker-dealers and other financial institutions. These activities primarily involve collateralized and uncollateralized arrangements and may result in credit exposure in the event that the counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Company’s exposure to credit risk can be directly impacted by volatile financial markets, which may impair the ability of counterparties to satisfy their contractual obligations. The Company seeks to control its credit risk through a variety of reporting and control procedures, including establishing credit limits based upon a review of the counterparties’ financial condition and credit ratings. The Company monitors collateral levels on a daily basis for compliance with regulatory and internal guidelines and requests changes in collateral levels as appropriate.

 

(12) Trust Certificates and Total Return Swap

During the quarter ended December 31, 2004, the Company entered into a series of financial transactions (the ‘Transactions’) with an unaffiliated financial institution in Latin America for a transaction fee. These Transactions involved three distinct and simultaneous steps:

 

  a) the acquisition by the Company of beneficial interests (‘Trust Interests’) in certain trusts (the ‘Trusts’) in exchange for the assumption of a liability to deliver securities, at a transaction value of $29,740,000. This step did not require any prior purchase or delivery of securities by the Company. The Trusts were previously established by the financial institution to hold a variety of real estate assets;

 

  b) the entry into a repurchase agreement under the terms of which the Company notionally repurchased these undelivered securities for cash, at a price of $29,740,000;

 

  c) the entry into a total return swap (‘TRS’) agreement.

 

  i) Under the TRS agreement the Company received, on a notional basis, the cash amount of $29,740,000 as collateral for the potential liability of the financial institution to the Company.

 

  ii) Receivables or payables arising from the TRS should leave the Company unaffected by any changes in the values of the Trust Interests or securities deliverable.

 

  iii) When the Transactions terminate in November 2007, the Company intends to sell the Trust Interests at their then prevailing market values. As part of the Transactions, the gain or loss arising from the change in market value of the Trust Interests will be passed to the financial institution.

 

  iv) The Company has obtained legal advice on the Transactions and believes that the TRS agreement has been structured in such a way as to fully offset any changes in the value of the Trust Interests against its liability to deliver certain securities to the financial institution.

The initial transaction value was $29,740,000. The Company has since sold Trust Interests for $6,642,000, the price at which they were acquired, and released a proportionate share of the securities referred to in b) above from the repurchase arrangement. The Company has obtained a valuation of the real estate assets underlying the trust certificates. This valuation has resulted in a valuation adjustment of $10,334,000 with an equal and offsetting receivable from customer recorded for $10,334,000. Accordingly, the trust certificates are carried by the Company at $12,764,000 ($29,740,000 less $6,642,000 less $10,334,000).

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

Under FIN 39 the nominal payment and receipt of an equal amount of cash as described in b) and c) i) above have a net effect of zero on the Company’s cash position, represent transactions with a single counterparty and may therefore be offset. Under FIN 39 the asset of securities receivable under the repurchase agreement in b) may be offset against the collateral liability of the Company in c) ii), since they involve an asset and liability position with a single counterparty.

The net result is that the Company initially reported the effects of a) above as an increase in assets represented by the Trust Interests, and the assumption of a liability to deliver securities. Over time, as the values of the Trust Interests and securities deliverable change, the Company records equal and offsetting changes in the values of the TRS receivables or payables. Although the Transactions will temporarily increase the Company’s assets and liabilities until termination, the Company expects that the only impact of the transactions on the Company’s net cash flow will be the Company’s receipt of fee revenue.

The total fees received and to be received on the Transactions, as well as the associated variable compensation payable, are spread on a straight-line basis over the terms of the Transactions. Non-refundable fees received but not yet recognized as revenue, amounting to $84,000, appear as a liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as at September 30, 2006 under ‘Other liabilities’. Non-recoverable costs incurred in connection with the Transactions but not yet recognized as expenses, amounting to $25,000, appear as an asset under ‘Other assets’ at the same date.

 

(13) Other revenues

Other revenue is comprised of the following for the years ending September 30, 2006 and 2005:

 

(In thousands)

 

   2006     2005  

Wholesale commission revenue

   $ 620     $ 732  

Amounts paid to wholesale third party

     —         (219 )
                

Commission revenue, net

     620     $ 513  
                

Dividend income

     721     $ 383  

Dividend expense

     (809 )     (472 )
                

Dividend expense, net

     (88 )   $ (89 )
                

Asset management fees

     766       —    

Interest income

     376       636  

Other

     339       12  
                

Total other revenues

   $ 2,013       1,072  
                

 

F-23


Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(14) Receivable From and Payable to Brokers, Dealers and Clearing Organization

Amounts receivable from and payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organization at September 30, 2006 and 2005 consisted of the following:

 

(In thousands)

 

   Receivable    Payable

September 30, 2006:

     

Open securities transactions with clearing organization, net

   $ 4,790    $ —  

Securities clearing fees and related charges payable with clearing organization, net

        165

Open securities transactions with prime broker, net 762

     2,026   

Open commodities transactions

     1,386      2,168

Open foreign currency transactions

     1,186      5,560
             
   $ 8,124    $ 9,919
             

September 30, 2005:

     

Open securities transactions with clearing organization, net

   $ 1,700    $ 865

Securities clearing fees and related charges payable with clearing organization, net

        124

Open commodities transactions

     829      24

Open foreign currency transactions

     1,081      3,359
             
   $ 3,610    $ 4,372
             

Receivables and payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organization result from open trading activities between the Company and other financial institutions including banks, securities broker-dealers, market-makers and counter-parties. Receivables and payables to certain organizations are reported net, when a right of setoff exists with the broker, dealer or clearing organization.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(15) Receivable From and Payable to Customers

Amounts receivable from and payable to customers at September 30, 2006 and 2005 consisted of the following:

 

(In thousands)

 

   Receivable    Payable

September 30, 2006:

     

Open transactions- foreign currency trading

   $ 10,661    $ 543

Margin deposits held - commodities trading

        2,227

Pledge and option premiums receivable - commodities trading

     4,525   

Money management fees

     524      42

Open transactions - other debt structures

     11,174   
             
   $ 26,884    $ 2,812
             

September 30, 2005:

     

Open transactions- foreign currency trading

   $ 10,397    $ 1,998

Margin deposits held - commodities trading

        1,208

Pledge and option premiums receivable - commodities trading

     5,168   

Open transactions - other debt structures

     83   
             
   $ 15,648    $ 3,206
             

Receivables and payables to customers result from open trading activities between the Company and its customers. Receivables and payables to certain customer organizations are reported net, when a right of setoff exists with the customer.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(16) Payable to Banks under Loans and Overdrafts

At September 30, 2006, the Company had six lines of credit with five commercial banks totaling $70,000,000. Four of the credit facilities are secured by certain assets. Total interest expense related to the Company’s credit facilities was approximately $1,371,000 for the year ended September 30, 2006. The interest rate terms for the facilities range from 2.25% to 2.75% over the London Interbank Offered Rates (‘LIBOR’) (approximately 5.3% at September 30, 2006).

At September 30, 2006 the Company had the following credit facilities:

 

Maximum
Amount
   Borrowing at
September 30,
2006
   Letters of Credit
Issued under
facility
  

Security

  

Maturity

$ 10,000    $ 2,534    $      Certain foreign exchange assets    March 31, 2007
  12,000          Unsecured    March 31, 2008
  10,000          Certain commodities assets    On demand
  18,000         4,800    Certain commodities assets    On demand
  10,000      4,000       Certain trade finance assets    On demand
  10,000         8,347    Certain commodities assets    March 27, 2007
                       
$ 70,000    $ 6,534    $ 13,147      
                       

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

At September 30, 2006 and 2005, the U.S. dollar equivalent of the components of the net borrowings under the credit facilities were as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

  

September 30,
2006

U.S. dollar
equivalent

  

September 30,
2005

U.S. dollar
equivalent

Payable to Banks: banks:

     

Lines of credit

     

Australian Dollar

   $ —      $ 10

Danish Krone

        135

Euro

     2,373      1,175

Japanese Yen

     5   

South African Rand

     35      314

Swedish Krona

     63   

Swiss Franc

     42      442

Thailand Baht

     16   

United States Dollar

     4,000      7,771
             

Total payable under lines of credit

     6,534      9,847

Overdrafts and borrowings

     

United States Dollar

        3,000
             

Total payable to banks under loans and overdrafts

   $ 6,534    $ 12,847
             

 

(17) Capital and Cash Reserve Requirements

INTL Trading is a member of the NASD and is subject to the SEC Uniform Net Capital Rule 15c3-1. This rule requires the maintenance of minimum net capital in an amount equal to the greater of $100,000, 6-2/3% of aggregate indebtedness, or $2,500 for each security in which a market is made with a bid price over $5 and $1,000 for each security in which a market is made with a bid price of $5 or less with a ceiling of $1,000,000, and requires that the ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital not exceed 15 to 1. Equity capital may not be withdrawn if the resulting net capital ratio would exceed 10 to 1. At September 30, 2006, INTL Trading’s net capital was approximately $5,998,000, which was approximately $4,998,000 in excess of its minimum requirement of $1,000,000. Its ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital was .31 to 1.

INTL Trading is exempt from SEC Rule 15c3-3 pursuant to the exemptive provision under subparagraph (k)(2)(ii) and, therefore, is not required to maintain a “Special Reserve Bank Account for the Exclusive Benefit of Customers”.

 

(18) Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

The Company is obligated under various noncancelable operating leases for the rental of office facilities, service obligations and certain office equipment, and accounts for these lease obligations on a straight line basis. The expense associated with operating leases amounted to $1,130,000 and $891,000 for the years

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The expenses associated with the operating leases and service obligations are reported in the statements of operations in occupancy and equipment rental, clearing and related and other expenses.

Future aggregate minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases as of September 30, 2006 are approximately as follows:

 

Year ending September 30, (In thousands)

    

2007

   $ 1,337

2008

     983

2009

     500

2010

     190

2011

     187

Thereafter

     221
      
   $ 3,418
      

In August 2005, the Company executed a clearing agreement with Broadcort. In December 2005, the Company began clearing its securities under this agreement. The agreement includes a $100,000 deposit and an initial term of three years. Thereafter there will be automatic one year renewal terms, unless the Company or Broadcort gives 90 days’ notice of its intention not to renew either at the end of the initial term or any succeeding one year renewal period. In the event the Company does not use this 90 day notice provision and terminates the agreement effective before the conclusion of the initial three year term or any automatic extension period, the Company will immediately owe the greater of 1) the sum of all continuing minimum payments ($25,000 per month) through the end of the initial term or extension period or 2) the total value of the clearing deposit at the time of termination.

The Company has entered into individual employment agreements with its Chief Executive Officer and President which currently expire on October 21, 2007. In the event of termination of the agreements by the Company other than for cause, or resignation by the executive as a result of a breach by the Company, each agreement provides for payments to the relevant officer in an amount equal to 100% of his total compensation for the longer of the remaining term of the agreement or six months.

The Company has entered into individual employment agreements with its Group Controller and Chief Financial Officer that each have an indefinite term. In the event of termination of either agreement by the Company other than for cause, or resignation by the officer as a result of a breach by the Company, each agreement provides for payments equal to 100% of total compensation for 120 days following date of termination.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(19) Income Taxes

Income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 consisted of:

 

(In thousands)

 

   Current     Deferred    Total

2006:

       

United States

   $ (1,060 )   $ 1,191    $ 131

United Kingdom

     1,543          1,543

State and local

     (370 )     426      56
                     
   $ 113     $ 1,617    $ 1,730
                     

2005:

       

United States

   $ 282     $ 207    $ 489

United Kingdom

     806          806

State and local

     115       74      189
                     
   $ 1,203     $ 281    $ 1,484
                     

A reconciliation of the expected U.S. Federal tax expense, computed at the rate of 34% of income before taxes, to the actual tax expense for the years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, is as follows:

 

     2006     2005  

(In thousands)

 

   Amount     % of
pretax
income
    Amount     % of
pretax
income
 

Computed “expected” tax expense

   $ 1,789     34.0 %   $ 1,400     34.0 %

Increase (decrease) in income tax expense resulting from:

        

State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit

     30     0.6 %     121     2.9 %

Meals and entertainment expenses not deductible for tax purposes

     35     0.7 %     25     0.6 %

Memberships

     —           2     0.1 %

Foreign income

     (124 )   (2.4 )%     (65 )   (1.6 )%

Other, net

     —       0.0 %     1     0.0 %
                            
   $ 1,730     32.9 %   $ 1,484     36.0 %
                            

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

Deferred income taxes as of September 30, 2006 and 2005 reflect the impact of “temporary differences” between amounts of assets and liabilities for financial statement purposes and such amounts as measured by tax laws. The temporary differences give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are summarized below as of September 30, 2006 and 2005:

 

(In thousands)

 

   2005     2005  

Gross deferred tax liabilities:

    

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

   $ (2 )   $ (46 )

Joint venture investment tax basis timing differences

     (303 )  

Unrealized gain on OTC derivatives

     (2,256 )  

Deferred expenses related to total return swap

     (10 )     (20 )
                

Total gross deferred tax liabilities

     (2,571 )     (66 )
                

Gross deferred tax assets:

    

Securities valuation allowance

     19       23  

Nonqualified stock option expense

     12    

Deferred revenue for total return swap

     35       69  

Expense of warrant value

     15       15  

Rent amortization

     36       28  

Federal and State net operating loss carryforwards 918

     13    

Contributions carryover

     1    
                

Total gross deferred tax asset

     1,036       148  

Valuation allowance

    
                

Total net deferred tax assets

     1,036       148  
                

Net deferred tax (liability)/asset

   $ (1,535 )   $ 82  
                

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that a portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income or the reversal of deferred tax liabilities during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. As of September 30, 2006, based upon the projections for future taxable income, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences and net operating loss carryforward, net of the recorded valuation allowance.

The total amount of undistributed earnings of INTL Global Currencies, the Company’s foreign subsidiary, for income tax purposes, was approximately $5,376,000 at September 30, 2006. It is the Company’s intention to reinvest undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiary in the foreign jurisdiction, resulting in the indefinite postponement of the remittance of those earnings. Accordingly, no provision has been made for foreign withholding taxes or United States income taxes which may become payable if undistributed earnings of the foreign subsidiary were paid as dividends to the Company. For the same reason, it is not practicable to calculate the unrecognized deferred tax liability on those earnings.

At September 30, 2006, the Company had a net operating loss carryforward for Federal income tax purposes of $2,136,000.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(20) Employee Benefit Plan

Effective January 1, 2003, the Company implemented a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees IRA (‘SIMPLE IRA’). All employees are eligible to participate in the SIMPLE IRA upon the later of (a) the plan’s effective date (January 1, 2003) or (b) the employee’s date of hire. Eligible employees may elect to contribute up to a maximum of $10,000 ($12,500 if over age 50) for 2006. The Company is required to provide an employer match of the employee’s elective deferral on a dollar-for-dollar basis not to exceed the lesser of 3% of the employee’s compensation or $10,000 for 2006 ($12,500 if over age 50). Each employee is 100% vested in both the employee and employer contributions at all times. For the years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, the employer match was $171,000 and $180,000, respectively.

Effective February 1, 2005, the Company offered its U.S.-based employees the opportunity to participate in a Flexible Spending Account (an ‘FSA’). An FSA is a pre-tax benefit allowable under IRS Code section 125. It allows eligible employees to set aside a specific pretax dollar amount for unreimbursed medical, dental, and dependent care expenses. While the Company makes no contributions into these accounts, it does bear the cost of administration.

 

(21) Stock Options and Warrants

The International Assets Holding Corporation 2003 Stock Option Plan (‘the 2003 Plan’) was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on December 19, 2002 and approved by the Company’s stockholders on February 28, 2003. The 2003 Plan expires on December 19, 2012. The International Assets Holding Corporation Stock Option Plan (‘the 1993 Plan’) was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and approved by the Company’s stockholders on January 23, 1993 and expired on January 23, 2003. However, there are still outstanding options that were granted under the 1993 Plan. The 2003 Plan permits the granting of stock options to employees, directors and consultants of the Company. Stock options granted under either Plan may be ‘incentive stock options’ meeting the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or nonqualified stock options, which do not meet the requirements of Section 422. As of September 30, 2006, a total of 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock had been authorized for issuance pursuant to options granted under the 2003 Plan. The Company was authorized to issue up to 1,339,300 shares of the Company’s common stock at the time that the 1993 Plan expired on January 23, 2003. At September 30, 2006 the total number of options outstanding was 985,930. The total options outstanding include 407,180 options outstanding under the 1993 Plan and 578,750 options outstanding under the 2003 Plan.

The Plans (meaning the 2003 and 1993 Plans) are administered by the Company’s Board of Directors or a committee thereof. The Plans give broad powers to the Board of Directors to administer and interpret the Plans, including the authority to select the individuals to be granted options and to prescribe the particular form and conditions of each option. All options are granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market value or, in certain cases, not less than 110% of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. Awards may be granted pursuant to the 2003 Plan through December 19, 2012, unless the Board of Directors at its sole discretion elects to terminate the 2003 Plan earlier. The Company is not authorized to grant additional options under the 1993 Plan because it expired on January 23, 2003.

At September 30, 2006, there were 575,568 additional shares available for grant under the 2003 Plan.

Using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, the per share weighted average fair values of stock options granted during 2006 and 2005, where the exercise price equals the market price of the stock on the grant date, were $4.13 and $4.13, respectively. The per share weighted average fair value of stock options granted during 2006 and 2005, where the exercise price was greater than the market price on the grant date, was $5.04 and $4.37, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

The following weighted average assumptions were used:

 

     2006     2005  

Exercise price equal to the market price on grant date:

    

Expected risk-free interest rate

   4.35 %   3.29 %

Expected life

   2.0 Years     3.26 Years  

Expected volatility

   83.9 %   87.7 %

Exercise price greater than the market price on grant date:

    

Expected risk free interest rate

   4.37 %   3.27 %

Expected life

   3.5 Years     3.5 Years  

Expected volatility

   84.4 %   88.4 %

Stock option activity during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was as follows:

 

     Number of
shares
    Weighted
average
exercise price

Outstanding at September 30, 2004

   1,282,006     $ 2.37
            

Granted

   149,550       7.64

Exercised

   (361,852 )     2.02

Forfeited

   (61,188 )     3.51
            

Outstanding at September 30, 2005

   1,008,516     $ 3.21
            

Granted

   198,800       10.36

Exercised

   (213,786 )     3.84

Forfeited

   —         —  

Expired

   (7,600 )     9.43
            

Outstanding at September 30, 2006

   985,930     $ 4.47
            

At September 30, 2006 the range of exercise prices was between $0.90 and $23.58 and the weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding options was 4.9 years.

At September 30, 2006 and 2005, the numbers of options exercisable were 738,126 and 620,232, respectively, and the weighted average exercise prices of those options were $2.88 and $2.42, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

As of September 30, 2006, options outstanding, including their grant date, exercise price and expiration date, were as follows:

 

Options
outstanding
  

Grant date

   Exercise
price
  

Expiration date

   Exercisable
11,990    July 20, 1998    $ 2.40    July 20, 2008    A
11,990    January 6, 1999    $ 1.25    January 6, 2009    A
5,450    December 9, 1999    $ 7.17    December 9, 2009    B
3,750    March 10, 2000    $ 11.63    March 10, 2010    A
40,000    March 9, 2001    $ 3.13    March 9, 2011    D
15,000    October 5, 2001    $ 0.90    October 5, 2011    C
13,000    April 11, 2002    $ 1.40    April 11, 2012    D
285,000    December 6, 2002    $ 2.50    December 6, 2012    C
21,000    December 6, 2002    $ 1.30    December 6, 2012    D
265,000    March 7, 2003    $ 2.50    March 7, 2013    C
31,200    November 14, 2003    $ 4.75    November 14, 2007    D
10,000    May 11, 2004    $ 6.51    May 11, 2008    D
42,550    November 18, 2004    $ 7.45    November 18, 2008    E
43,800    November 18, 2004    $ 8.57    November 18, 2008    F
6,200    November 18, 2004    $ 8.57    November 18, 2008    G
20,000    December 1, 2004    $ 7.35    December 1, 2008    E
20,000    June 8, 2005    $ 6.23    June 8, 2009    E
58,000    December 2, 2005    $ 8.80    December 2, 2009    E
65,000    December 2, 2005    $ 10.12    December 2, 2009    E
7,000    May 8, 2006    $ 11.81    May 8, 2010    E
10,000    September 1, 2006    $ 23.58    September 1, 2010    E
             
985,930            
             

(A) Exercisable at 20% per year beginning one year from the date of grant.
(B) Exercisable at 20% per year beginning three years from the date of grant.
(C) Exercisable at 33.3% after year one, 33.3% after year two and 33.4% after year three. These options are 100% exercisable upon a change in control of the Company.
(D) Exercisable at 33.3% after year one, 33.3% after year two and 33.4% after year three.
(E) Exercisable at 33% after year one, 33% after year two and 34% after year three.
(F) Exercisable as to 16,500 options after November 18, 2005, 16,500 options after November 18, 2006 and 10,800 options after November 18, 2007.
(G) Exercisable as to 6,200 options after November 18, 2007.

As of September 30, 2006 and 2005, options covering 738,126 and 620,232 shares respectively, were exercisable. During the year ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, options covering 213,786 and 361,852 shares were exercised with a weighted average exercise price of $3.84 and $2.02, respectively.

The Company did not recognize any compensation expense in connection with the grant of stock options covering 198,800 shares during the year ended September 30, 2006 (this number includes stock options that were exercised during the year and that remain outstanding at the end of the year), because the exercise price on the date of grant for each option was equal to or greater than the fair market value of the

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

common stock on the date of grant. During the year ended September 30, 2006, the Company recognized an additional $29,000 of non-cash expense related to the grant of 20,000 nonqualified stock options made on December 2, 2005 to two consultants of the Company in accordance with EITF Issue No. 96-18 and EITF Issue No. 00-18. The total expense of $29,000 was determined by utilizing an amortization period equal to the vesting period for the options and calculating the options’ value based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

Warrants

In 2004, the Company issued warrants covering 200,000 shares of common stock to the placement agent for the Company’s offering of $12,000,000 in convertible subordinated notes. The warrants were exercisable by the holder at any time prior to June 30, 2007. The Company, at its option, had the right to require the warrant-holder to exercise all or any of the warrants in the event that all of the following conditions had been fulfilled: (i) the closing price of the Company’s common stock had exceeded $9.00 per share for a period of twenty (20) consecutive trading days; (ii) the Company had filed a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to register the resale of the shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants; and (iii) such registration statement had been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The warrants were exercisable at an exercise price equal to $6.00, subject to customary adjustment provisions. The conversion rights of the warrants were approved by the shareholders on March 26, 2004.

In the event, the warrants were exercised at the request of the Company in May 2006 at a price of $6.00. As of September 30, 2006, there were no warrants outstanding.

 

(22) Preferred Stock

The Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of its preferred stock at a par value of $.01 per share. As of September 30, 2006 and 2005, no preferred shares were outstanding and the Board of Directors had not yet determined the specific rights and privileges of these shares.

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(23) Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

The Company has set forth below certain unaudited financial data for the eight quarters in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2005 and 2006:

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

   Quarter
Ended
Dec. 31,
2004
   Quarter
Ended
Mar. 31,
2005
   Quarter
Ended
Jun. 30,
2005
   Quarter
Ended
Sep. 30,
2005
 

Operating revenues

   6,086    6,157    6,282    7,615  

Interest expense

   177    296    314    548  

Net revenues

   5,909    5,861    5,968    7,067  

Total non-interest expenses

   4,915    5,279    5,070    5,421  

Income (loss) before income taxes and minority interest

   994    582    898    1,646  

Income tax expense

   375    197    298    614  

Income before minority interest

   619    385    600    1,032  

Net income

   612    379    576    1,047  

Net income per share - basic

   0.09    0.05    0.08    0.14  

Net income per share - diluted

   0.08    0.05    0.07    0.13  

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

   Quarter
Ended
Dec. 31,
2005
   Quarter
Ended
Mar. 31,
2006
   Quarter
Ended
Jun. 30,
2006
   Quarter
Ended
Sep. 30,
2006
 

Operating revenues

   8,331    9,021    14,111    4,414  

Interest expense

   529    477    621    468  

Net revenues

   7,802    8,544    13,490    3,946  

Total non-interest expenses

   6,120    6,858    8,247    7,296  

Income (loss) before income taxes and minority interest

   1,682    1,686    5,243    (3,350 )

Income tax expense

   637    596    1,956    (1,459 )

Income before minority interest

   1,045    1,090    3,287    (1,891 )

Net income (loss)

   1,045    1,090    3,287    (1,962 )

Net income (loss) per share - basic

   0.14    0.14    0.43    (0.25 )

Net income (loss) per share - diluted

   0.13    0.13    0.39    (0.25 )

 

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Table of Contents

INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

(24) Segment Analysis

International Assets Holding Corporation and its subsidiaries form a financial services group focused on select international securities, foreign currency and commodities markets. The Company’s activities are currently divided into five functional areas: international equities market-making, international debt capital markets, foreign exchange trading, commodities trading and asset management. The Company’s asset management activities will not be separately reported until certain asset and revenue levels are achieved.

The majority of the trading and market-making activities are undertaken as principal in order to provide institutional customers with efficient execution and liquidity in these markets. Periodically the Company takes proprietary positions in these markets.

International Equities Market-Making

Through INTL Trading, the Company acts as a wholesale market maker in select foreign securities including unlisted ADRs and foreign ordinary shares. INTL Trading provides execution and liquidity to national broker-dealers, regional broker-dealers and institutional investors.

International Debt Capital Markets

The Company actively trades a wide variety of international debt instruments including both investment grade and higher yielding emerging market bonds with particular focus on smaller emerging market sovereign, corporate and bank bonds that trade worldwide on an over-the-counter basis. The Company also arranges international debt transactions for issuers located primarily in emerging markets. These transactions include bond issues, syndicated loans, asset securitizations as well as forms of other negotiable debt instruments. The revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities relating to the Trust Certificate and Total Return Swap discussed in note 12 are included in this segment.

Foreign Exchange Trading

The Company trades select illiquid currencies of developing countries. The Company’s target customers are financial institutions, multi-national corporations, governmental and charitable organizations operating in these developing countries. In addition, the Company executes trades based on the foreign currency flows inherent in the Company’s existing international securities activities. The Company primarily acts as a principal in buying and selling foreign currencies on a spot basis. The Company derives revenue from the difference between the purchase and sale prices.

Commodities Trading

The Company provides a full range of trading and hedging capabilities to select producers, consumers, recyclers and investors in precious metals and certain base metals. Acting as a principal, the Company commits its own capital to buy and sell the metals on a spot and forward basis.

In accordance with the guidelines provided in EITF Issue No. 99-19, the Company has determined that revenues from the Company’s base metals trading business should be reported on a gross basis because these commodities are physically delivered and not readily convertible to cash. All the Company’s other businesses, including the precious metals trading business, also falling within the ‘Commodities Trading’ segment, report their revenues on a net basis. Inventory for the base metals business is valued at the lower of cost or market value. The Company generally mitigates the price risk associated with base metals held in inventory through the use of derivatives. This price risk mitigation does not generally qualify for hedge accounting under GAAP. In such situations, unrealized gains in inventory are not recognized under GAAP, but unrealized gains and losses in related derivative positions are recognized under GAAP. As a result, the Company’s reported commodities trading earnings are subject to volatility.

 

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INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

Other:

All other transactions that do not relate to the operating segments above are classified as ‘Other’. Certain cash accounts and balances were maintained to support the administration of all of the operating segments. These multi-segment assets were allocated to ‘Other’. Revenue reported for ‘Other’ includes interest income but not interest expense; the gain or loss on the Company’s asset management joint venture, which is accounted for by the equity method; and asset management fees in INTL Consilium, which has been accounted for as a variable interest entity and consolidated effective August 1, 2006.

The total revenues as reported for the year ended September 30, 2006, are not comparable with the total revenues reported for 2005 because they combine gross revenues for the physical base metals business and net revenues for all other businesses. In order to achieve comparability, and to reflect the way that the Company’s management views the results, the tables below also reflect the segmental contribution to ‘Operating revenues’, which is shown on the face of the Consolidated Statements of Operations and which is calculated by deducting physical commodities cost of sales from total revenues.

Segment data includes the profitability measure of net contribution by segment. Net contribution is one of the key measures used by management to assess the performance of each segment and for decisions regarding the allocation of the Company’s resources. Net contribution is calculated as revenue less direct cost of sales, clearing and clearing related charges and variable trader compensation. Variable trader compensation represents a fixed percentage of an amount equal to revenues produced less clearing and related charges, base salaries and an overhead allocation.

Inter-segment revenues, charges, receivables and payables are eliminated between segments, excepting revenues and costs related to foreign currency transactions done at arm’s length by the foreign exchange trading business for the equity and debt trading business. The foreign exchange trading business competes for this business as it does for any other business. If its rates are not competitive the equity and debt trading businesses buy or sell their foreign currency through other market counter-parties. The profit or loss made by the foreign exchange trading business on these transactions is not quantifiable.

 

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INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

Information concerning operations in these segments of business is approximately shown in accordance with SFAS No. 131 as follows:

 

     2006     2005
     (In thousands)

Revenues:

    

International equities market-making

   $ 17,994     $ 12,052

International debt capital markets

     2,363       2,414

Foreign exchange trading

     12,874       9,213

Commodities trading

     67,821       1,313

Other

     1,709       1,148
              

Total

   $ 102,761     $ 26,140
              

Operating revenues:

    

International equities market-making

   $ 17,994     $ 12,052

International debt capital markets

     2,363       2,414

Foreign exchange trading

     12,874       9,213

Commodities trading

     938       1,313

Other

     1,708       1,148
              

Total

   $ 35,877     $ 26,140
              

Net contribution:

    

(Revenues less costs of sales, clearing and related expenses and variable trader bonus compensation):

    

International equities market-making

   $ 9,353     $ 5,450

International debt capital markets

     1,995       1,654

Foreign exchange trading

     9,879       7,082

Commodities trading

     (547 )     953

Other

     781       —  
              

Total

   $ 21,461     $ 15,139
              

 

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INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

     2006    2005
     (In thousands)

Total assets:

     

International equities market-making

   $ 61,558    $ 40,116

International debt capital markets

     46,100      41,905

Foreign exchange trading

     29,219      22,170

Commodities trading

     41,792      34,881

Other

     21,244      7,947
             

Total

   $ 199,913    $ 147,019
             

Reconciliation of net contribution to income before income taxes and minority interest:

     

Net contribution allocated to segments

   $ 21,461    $ 15,139

Fixed costs not allocated to operating segments

     16,200      11,019
             

Income before income tax expense and minority interest

   $ 5,261    $ 4,120
             

 

(25) Subsequent Events

$2 million of the Company’s senior subordinated convertible notes (‘the Notes’), plus accrued interest to the date of conversion, were converted in December 2006 into an aggregate of 79,562 shares of the Company’s common stock. For further information on the Notes, see note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.   

Description

21    List of the Company’s subsidiaries.
23.1    Consent of Rothstein, Kass & Company, P.C. to the incorporation by reference on Form S-8.
23.2    Consent of Rothstein, Kass & Company, P.C. to the incorporation by reference on Form S-3.
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a).
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a).
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.