U S GLOBAL INVESTORS INC - Annual Report: 2022 (Form 10-K)

Part I of Annual Report on Form 10-K

Item 1. Business

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, U.S. Global Investors, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “U.S. Global” or the “Company”) may make other written and oral communications from time to time that contain such statements. Forward-looking statements include statements as to industry trends, future expectations of the Company, and other matters that do not relate strictly to historical facts and are based on certain assumptions by management. These statements are often identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “should,” “estimate,” or “continue,” and similar expressions or variations. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of Company management based on information currently available to management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, among others, the risks described in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, and elsewhere in this report and other documents filed or furnished by U.S. Global from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). U.S. Global cautions readers to carefully consider such factors. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. Except to the extent required by applicable law, U.S. Global undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

U.S. Global, a Texas corporation organized in 1968, is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”). The Company, with principal operations located in San Antonio, Texas, manages two business segments:

As part of its investment management business, the Company provides: (1) investment advisory services and (2) administrative services to the mutual funds advised by the Company. The fees from these services, as well as investment income, are the primary sources of the Company’s revenue.

Business Segments

Business segments are discussed below.

Investment Management Services

Investment Advisory Services. The Company furnishes an investment program for each of the clients it manages and determines, subject to overall supervision by the applicable board of trustees of the clients, the clients’ investments pursuant to an advisory agreement. Consistent with the investment restrictions, objectives and policies of the particular client, the portfolio team for each client determines what investments should be purchased, sold, and held, and makes changes in the portfolio deemed necessary or appropriate. In the advisory agreement, the Company is charged with seeking the best overall terms in executing portfolio transactions and selecting brokers or dealers.

As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Investment Company Act”), the advisory agreement with USGIF is subject to annual renewal and is terminable upon 60-day notice. In September 2021, the Board of Trustees of USGIF approved for an annual period the continuance of the advisory agreement.

In addition to providing advisory services to USGIF, the Company provides advisory services to three U.S.-based ETFs: U.S. Global Jets ETF, U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF, and the U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF. The advisory agreement for the U.S. Global Jets ETF and the U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF has been renewed through September 2023. The advisory agreement for the U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF will continue in force for the initial period of two years from January 2022, and thereafter, the advisory agreement will be subject to renewal on an annual basis. The Company also serves as investment advisor to one European-based ETF, the U.S. Global Jets UCITS ETF. The advisory services agreement for the U.S. Global Jets UCITS ETF is not subject to renewal on an annual basis and is terminable upon 6-months' notice.

Net assets under management on June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2021, are detailed in the following table.

Administrative Services. The Company also manages, supervises and conducts certain other affairs of USGIF, subject to the control of the Funds’ Board of Trustees pursuant to an administrative services agreement. The administrative services agreement with USGIF is subject to renewal on an annual basis and is terminable upon 60-day notice. In September 2021, the Board of Trustees of USGIF approved for an annual period the continuance of the agreement.

Corporate Investments

Investment Activities. In addition to providing management and advisory services, the Company is actively engaged in investing for its own account. See segment information in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements at Note 15, Financial Information by Business Segment, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Additional Segment Information

See additional financial information about business segments in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data at Note 15, Financial Information by Business Segment, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Human Capital

As of June 30, 2022, U.S. Global and its wholly-owned subsidiaries employed 20 full-time employees and 2 part-time employees. The Company considers its relationship with its employees to be good. Our compensation program is designed to attract, retain and reward qualified individuals who possess the skills and motivation necessary to support our business objectives and assist in the achievement of goals. Key to our compensation program are performance-based cash and fund share bonuses and incentives for achieving professional certifications. In addition to base salary and bonus compensation, we also offer employees benefits such as life, disability, and health (medical, dental and vision) insurance, paid time off, a 401(k) plan that includes a match, discretionary profit-sharing, and assistance with savings programs. Long-term incentive awards include stock options.

Competition

The mutual fund industry is highly competitive. According to the Investment Company Institute, at the end of 2021 there were approximately 8,900 domestically registered open-end investment companies and approximately 2,700 exchange-traded funds of varying sizes and investment policies, whose shares are being offered to the public in the U.S. In addition to competition from other mutual fund managers and investment advisers, the Company and the mutual fund industry are in competition with various investment alternatives offered by insurance companies, banks, securities broker-dealers, and other financial institutions. Many of these institutions are able to engage in more liberal advertising than mutual funds and ETFs and may offer accounts at competitive interest rates, which may be insured by federally chartered corporations such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

A number of mutual fund groups are significantly larger than the funds managed by U.S. Global, offer a greater variety of investment objectives and have greater resources to promote the sale of investments therein. However, the Company believes it has the resources, products, and personnel to compete with these other mutual funds. In particular, the Company is known for its expertise in the gold mining and exploration, natural resources, emerging markets, and airlines. Competition for sales of fund shares is influenced by various factors, including investment objectives and performance, advertising and sales promotional efforts, distribution channels, and the types and quality of services offered to fund shareholders.

Success in the investment advisory business is substantially dependent on each fund’s investment performance, the quality of services provided to shareholders, and the Company’s efforts to market the Funds and ETFs effectively. Operating revenues from management and administrative services fees are based on the assets of the funds under management. Costs of distribution and compliance continue to put pressure on profit margins for the mutual fund industry.

Despite the Company’s expertise in gold mining and exploration, natural resources, emerging markets, and airlines, the Company faces the same obstacle many advisers face, namely uncovering undervalued investment opportunities as the markets face further uncertainty and increased volatility. In addition, the growing number of alternative investments, especially in specialized areas, has created pressure on the profit margins and increased competition for available investment opportunities.

Supervision and Regulation

The Company and the clients the Company manages and administers operate under certain laws, including federal and state securities laws, governing their organization, registration, operation, legal, financial, and tax status. Among the potential penalties for violation of the laws and regulations applicable to the Company are fines, imprisonment, injunctions, revocation of registration, and certain additional administrative sanctions. Any determination that the Company or its management has violated applicable laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on the business of the Company. Moreover, there is no assurance that changes to existing laws, regulations, or rulings promulgated by governmental entities having jurisdiction over the Company and its clients will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. The Company has no control over regulatory rulemaking or the consequences it may have on the mutual fund and investment advisory industry.

Regulatory pronouncements and oversight have significantly increased the burden of compliance infrastructure with respect to the mutual fund industry and the capital markets. This momentum of regulations has contributed significantly to the costs of managing and administering mutual funds.

U.S. Global is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC. As a registered investment adviser, it is subject to the requirements of the Advisers Act, and the SEC’s regulations thereunder, as well as to examination by the SEC’s staff. The Advisers Act imposes substantive regulation on virtually all aspects of the Company’s business and relationships with the Company’s clients. Applicable rules relate to, among other things, fiduciary duties to clients, transactions with clients, effective compliance programs, conflicts of interest, advertising, recordkeeping, reporting, and disclosure requirements. The Funds and the ETFs for which the Company acts as the investment adviser are registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act. The Investment Company Act imposes additional obligations, including detailed operational requirements for both funds and their advisers. Moreover, an investment adviser’s contract with a registered fund may be terminated by the fund on not more than 60 days’ notice and is subject to annual renewal by the fund’s board after an initial two-year term. Both the Advisers Act and the Investment Company Act regulate the “assignment” of advisory contracts by the investment adviser. The SEC is authorized to institute proceedings and impose sanctions for violations of the Investment Advisers Act and the Investment Company Act, ranging from fines and censures to termination of an investment adviser’s registration. The failure of the Company, or the Funds and ETFs which the Company advises, to comply with the requirements of the SEC could have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company is also subject to federal and state laws affecting corporate governance, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“S-Ox Act”), as well as rules adopted by the SEC.

U.S. Global is required to keep and maintain certain reports and records, which must be made available to the SEC upon request.

U.S. Global manages clients’ portfolios on a discretionary basis, with the authority to enter into security transactions, select broker-dealers to execute trades, and negotiate brokerage commissions. The Company may receive soft dollar credits from certain broker-dealers that are used to pay for research and related services or products, which therefore has the effect of reducing certain operating expenses. These soft dollar arrangements are intended to be within the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If the ability to use soft dollar arrangements were reduced or eliminated as a result of statutory amendments, new regulations or change in business practices, the Company’s operating expenses would increase.

Relationships with Clients

The business of the Company is to a significant degree dependent on its association and contractual relationships with USGIF and exchange traded fund clients. In the event the advisory or administrative agreements with USGIF or the advisory agreements with exchange traded fund clients are canceled or not renewed pursuant to the terms thereof, the Company would be substantially adversely affected. U.S. Global considers its relationships with its clients to be good, and management has no reason to believe that the management and service contracts will not be renewed in the future; however, there is no assurance that USGIF and/or the exchange traded fund clients will choose to continue their relationships with the Company.

Available Information

The Company’s Internet website address is www.usfunds.com. Information contained on the Company’s website is not part of this annual report on Form 10-K. The Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed with (or furnished to) the SEC are available through a link on the Company’s Internet website, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is filed or furnished. (The link to the Company’s SEC filings can be found at www.usfunds.com by clicking “Investor Relations.”) The Company routinely posts important information on its website.

The Company also posts its Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct, Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officer and the charters of the audit and compensation committees of its Board of Directors on the Company’s website in the “Policies and Procedures” section of "About Us." The Company’s SEC filings and governance documents are available in print to any stockholder that makes a written request to: Investor Relations, U.S. Global Investors, Inc., 7900 Callaghan Road, San Antonio, Texas 78229.

The Company files reports electronically with the SEC via the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”), which may be accessed through the Internet. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, at http://www.sec.gov.

Investors and others should note that we announce material financial information to our investors using the website, SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. We also use social media to communicate with our customers and the public about our company. It is possible that the information we post on social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our company to review the information we post on social media channels listed below. This list may be updated from time to time.

https://www.facebook.com/USFunds

https://twitter.com/USFunds

https://twitter.com/USGlobalETFs

https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-global-investors

https://www.instagram.com/usglobal

https://pinterest.com/usfunds

https://www.youtube.com/c/usglobalinvestorssanantonio

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDkX1zvbWPyWc99esHOhwRQ

Information contained on our website or on social media channels is not deemed part of this report.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The Company faces a variety of significant and diverse risks, many of which are inherent in the business. Described below are certain risks that could materially affect the Company. Other risks and uncertainties that the Company does not presently consider to be material, or of which the Company is not presently aware, may become important factors that affect it in the future. The occurrence of any of the risks discussed below could materially and adversely affect the business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow.

Risk Factors Related to Our Industry

The investment management business is intensely competitive.

Competition in the investment management business is based on a variety of factors, including:

The Company competes with a large number of investment management firms, commercial banks, broker-dealers, insurance companies, and other financial institutions. Competitive risk is heightened by the fact that some competitors may invest according to different investment styles or in alternative asset classes which the markets may perceive as more attractive than the Company’s investment approach. If the Company is unable to compete effectively, revenues and earnings may be reduced, and the business could be materially affected.

Failure to comply with government regulations could result in fines, which could cause the Company’s earnings and stock price to decline.

The Company is subject to a variety of foreign and domestic federal securities laws and agencies, including, but not limited to, the Advisers Act, the Investment Company Act, the S-Ox Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, the SEC, FINRA, and NASDAQ. Moreover, financial reporting requirements and the processes, controls, and procedures that have been put in place to address them, are comprehensive and complex. While management has focused attention and resources on compliance policies and procedures, non-compliance with applicable laws or regulations could result in fines, sanctions or censures which could affect the Company’s reputation, and thus its revenues and earnings.

Our business is subject to substantial risk from litigation, regulatory investigations and potential securities laws liability.

Many aspects of U.S. Global’s business involve substantial risks of litigation, regulatory investigations and/or arbitration. The Company is exposed to 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 other regulatory bodies. U.S. Global, its subsidiaries, and/or officers could be named as parties in legal actions, regulatory investigations and proceedings. An adverse resolution of any lawsuit, legal or regulatory proceeding or claim against the Company could result in substantial costs or reputational harm to the Company and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations, which, in turn, may negatively affect the market price of the Company’s common stock and U.S. Global’s ability to pay dividends. In addition to these financial costs and risks, the defense of litigation or arbitration may divert resources and management’s attention from operations.

Increased regulatory and legislative actions and reforms could increase costs and negatively impact the Company’s profitability and future financial results.

The Company is subject to financial services laws, regulations, corporate governance requirements, administrative actions and policies. During the past two decades, federal securities laws have been substantially augmented and made significantly more complex by the S-Ox Act, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”). With new laws and changes in interpretations and enforcement of existing requirements, the associated time the Company must dedicate to, and related costs the Company must incur in, meeting the regulatory complexities of the business have increased. In order to comply with these requirements, the Company has had to expend additional time and resources. Future changes in financial institution regulation may increase the costs of compliance and the complexity of operations.

Further, adverse results of regulatory investigations of mutual fund, investment advisory, and financial services firms could tarnish the reputation of the financial services industry generally, and mutual funds and investment advisers more specifically, causing investors to avoid further fund investments or redeem their balances. Redemptions would decrease the Company’s assets under management, which would reduce its advisory revenues and net income.

Investment Company Act - Certain changes in control of the Company would automatically terminate our investment management agreements with our client, unless the funds' boards of directors and shareholders vote to continue the agreements.

Under the Investment Company Act, an investment management agreement with a fund must provide for its automatic termination in the event of its assignment. The funds' board and shareholders must vote to continue the agreement following its assignment, the cost of which ordinarily would be borne by the Company. Under the Advisers Act, a client's investment management agreement may not be assigned by the investment advisor without the client's consent. An advisor's ownership is considered to be assigned to another party when a controlling block of the advisor's ownership is transferred. In our case, an assignment would occur with a transfer or issuance of a controlling block of Class C shares. The Company cannot be certain that our clients will consent to assignments of our investment management agreements or approve new agreements with us if an assignment occurs. This restriction may discourage potential purchasers from acquiring a controlling interest in the Company. 

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

One person beneficially owns substantially all of our voting stock and controls the outcome of all matters requiring a vote of stockholders, which may influence the value of our publicly traded non-voting stock.

Frank Holmes, CEO, is the beneficial owner of over 99 percent of our class C voting convertible common stock, and is subject to the Investment Company Act as described above, and controls the outcome of all issues requiring a vote of stockholders. All of our publicly traded stock is nonvoting stock. Consequently, except to the extent provided by law, stockholders other than Frank Holmes have no vote with respect to the election of directors or any other matter requiring a vote of stockholders. Frank Holmes is able to determine the outcome of matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders for approval and will be able to cause or prevent a change in control of the Company. This lack of voting rights may adversely affect the market value of the publicly traded class A nonvoting common stock.

The market price and trading volume of the Company’s class A common stock may be volatile, which could result in rapid and substantial losses for the Company’s stockholders.

The market price of the Company’s class A common stock may be volatile, and the trading volume may fluctuate, causing significant price variations to occur. If the market price of the Company’s class A common stock declines significantly, stockholders may be unable to sell their shares at or above their purchase price. The Company cannot assure that the market price of its class A common stock will not fluctuate or decline significantly in the future. Some of the factors that could negatively affect the price of the Company’s class A common stock, or result in fluctuations in price or trading volume, include:

In addition, the Company has invested in convertible securities and warrants in the cryptocurrency mining industry through its corporate investments. Cryptocurrency markets and related stocks have been, and are expected to continue to be, volatile. This volatility may materially impact the Company’s financial statements and thus affect the Company’s common stock market price. In addition, the price of the Company’s common stock may fluctuate to the extent that shareholders invest in the Company’s common stock as a proxy for cryptocurrency. The investing public may be influenced by future anticipated appreciation or depreciation in value of cryptocurrencies or blockchain generally, factors over which the Company has little or no influence or control. The Company’s stock price may also be subject to volatility due to supply and demand factors associated with few or limited public company options for investment in the segment, which may change over time.

Macroeconomic declines, including inflation; negative political developments, including volatile market conditions due to investor concerns regarding inflation and potential hostilities between Russia and Ukraine; adverse market conditions; and catastrophic events may cause a decline in the Company’s revenue, an increase in the Company’s costs, negatively affect the Company’s operating results, adversely affect the Company’s cash flow, and could result in a decline in the Company’s stock price.

The market price of the Company’s class A common stock could decline due to the large number of shares of the Company’s class C common stock eligible for future sale upon conversion to class A shares.

The market price of the Company’s class A common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of class A common stock eligible for future sale upon the conversion of class C shares, or the perception that such sales could occur. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for the Company to raise additional capital by selling equity securities in the future, at a time and price the Company deems appropriate.

The Company intends to pay regular dividends to its stockholders, but the ability to do so is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors.

The Company intends to pay cash dividends on a monthly basis, but the Board of Directors, at its discretion, may decrease the level or frequency of dividends or discontinue payment of dividends entirely based on earnings, operations, capital requirements, general financial condition of the Company, and general business conditions.

Acquisitions involve inherent risks that could compromise the success of the combined business and dilute the holdings of current stockholders.

As part of our business strategy, we may pursue corporate development transactions, including the acquisition of asset management firms. These transactions involve assessing the value, strengths, weaknesses, liabilities and potential profitability of the transactions, and if our assessment is incorrect, the success of the combined business could be jeopardized. In addition, such transactions are subject to acquisition costs and expenses, are likely to divert the attention of management’s time, and can dilute the stockholders of the combined company if the acquisition is made for stock of the combined company.

Risks Related to Our Operations

Natural disasters, global pandemics and other unpredictable events could adversely affect our operations.

Natural disasters, outbreaks of epidemics, terrorist attacks, extreme weather events or other unpredictable events could adversely affect our revenues, expenses, and net income by:

The Company’s business operations are concentrated in San Antonio, Texas. The Company has developed various backup systems and contingency plans but cannot be assured that those preparations will be adequate in all circumstances that could arise, or that material interruptions and disruptions will not occur. The Company also relies to varying degrees on outside vendors for service delivery in addition to technology and disaster contingency support, and there is a risk that these vendors will not be able to perform in an adequate and timely manner. If the Company loses the availability of employees, or if it is unable to respond adequately to such an event in a timely manner, revenues, expenses, and net income could be negatively impacted.

Specifically, the effects of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) had an adverse effect on the global economy, the United States economy and the global financial markets. Should this reoccur and continue for an extended period, it may disrupt the Company’s operations and the Company’s clients’ operations, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. A recurrence of an outbreak of any kind of epidemic, communicable disease or virus or major public health issue could cause a slowdown in the levels of economic activity generally, which would adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and operations.

The loss of key personnel could negatively affect the Company’s financial performance.

The success of the Company depends on key personnel, including the portfolio managers, analysts, and executive officers. Competition for qualified, motivated, and skilled personnel in the asset management industry remains significant. Moreover, in order to retain certain key personnel, the Company may be required to increase compensation to such individuals, resulting in additional expense. The loss of key personnel or the Company’s failure to attract replacement personnel could negatively affect its financial performance.

The Company could be subject to losses if it fails to properly safeguard sensitive and confidential information.

As part of the Company’s normal operations, it maintains and transmits certain confidential information about the Company and its clients as well as proprietary information relating to its business operations. These systems could be victimized by unauthorized users or corrupted by computer viruses or other malicious software code, or authorized persons could inadvertently or intentionally release confidential or proprietary information. Such a breach could subject the Company to liability for a failure to safeguard client data, result in the termination of relationships with our existing customers, require significant capital and operating expenditures to investigate and remediate the breach and subject the Company to regulatory action.

We rely upon certain critical information systems for the operation of our business, and the failure of any critical information system, including a cyber-security breach, may result in harm to our business.

We are heavily dependent on technology infrastructure and rely upon certain critical information systems for the effective operation of our business. These information systems include data network and telecommunications, internet access and our websites, and various computer hardware equipment and software applications. These information systems are subject to damage or interruption from a number of potential sources including natural disasters, software viruses or other malware, power failures, cyber-attacks and other events to the extent that these information systems are under our control. We have implemented measures, such as virus protection software, intrusion detection systems and emergency recovery processes to address the outlined risks. However, security measures for information systems cannot be guaranteed to be failsafe. Any compromise of our data security or our inability to use or access these information systems at critical points in time could unfavorably impact the timely and efficient operation of our business and subject us to additional costs and liabilities, which could adversely affect our results of operations. Finally, federal legislation relating to cyber-security threats could impose additional requirements on our operations.

Higher insurance premiums and related insurance coverage risks could increase costs and reduce profitability.

While U.S. Global carries insurance in amounts and under terms that it believes are appropriate, the Company cannot assure that its insurance will cover most liabilities and losses to which it may be exposed, or that our insurance policies will continue to be available at acceptable terms and fees. U.S. Global is subject to regulatory and governmental inquiries and civil litigation. An adverse outcome of any such proceeding could involve substantial financial penalties. From time to time, various claims against us arise in the ordinary course of business, including employment-related claims. There has been increased incidence of litigation and regulatory investigations in the financial services industry in recent years, including customer claims and class action suits alleging substantial monetary damages. Certain insurance coverage may not be available or may be prohibitively expensive in future periods. As U.S. Global’s insurance policies come up for renewal, the Company may need to assume higher deductibles or co-insurance liabilities, or pay higher premiums, which would increase the Company’s expenses and reduce net income.

Risks Related to Assets Under Management

Poor investment performance could lead to a decline in revenues.

Success in the investment management industry is largely dependent on investment performance relative to market conditions and the performance of competing products. Good relative performance generally attracts additional assets under management, resulting in additional revenues. Conversely, poor performance generally results in decreased sales and increased redemptions with a corresponding decrease in revenues. Therefore, poor investment performance relative to the portfolio benchmarks and to competitors could impair the Company’s revenues and growth. The equity funds within USGIF have a performance fee whereby the base advisory fee is adjusted upwards or downwards by 0.25 percent if there is a performance difference of 5 percent or more between a Fund’s performance and that of its designated benchmark index over the prior rolling 12 months.

The Company’s clients can terminate their agreements with the Company on short notice, which may lead to unexpected declines in revenue and profitability.

The Company’s investment advisory agreements are generally terminable on short notice and subject to annual renewal. If the Company’s investment advisory agreements are terminated, which may occur in a short time frame, the Company may experience a decline in revenues and profitability.

The Company derives a substantial portion of revenue from one fund under management.

A substantial amount of assets under management is concentrated in the U.S. Global Jets ETF (86 percent and 82 percent of average net assets for fiscal years 2022 and 2021, respectively). Consequently, the Company’s revenues followed a similar pattern of concentration (82 percent and 76 percent of total operating revenues for fiscal years 2022 and 2021, respectively). As a result, our operating results are particularly dependent upon the performance of one fund and our ability to maintain and grow assets under management in that fund. If this fund were to experience a significant decrease in market value or redemptions, our assets under management would be reduced, adversely affecting our revenues.

Difficult market conditions can adversely affect the Company by reducing the market value of the assets we manage or causing shareholders to make significant redemptions.

Changes in economic or market conditions may adversely affect the profitability, performance of and demand for the Company’s investment products and services. Under the Company’s advisory fee arrangements, the fees received are primarily based on the market value of assets under management. Accordingly, a decline in the price of securities held in funds under management would be expected to cause revenues and net income to decline, which would result in lower advisory fees, or cause increased shareholder redemptions in favor of investments they perceive as offering greater opportunity or lower risk, which redemptions would also result in lower advisory fees. The ability of the Company to compete and grow is dependent on the relative attractiveness of the types of investment products the Company offers and its investment performance and strategies under prevailing market conditions.

Market-specific risks may negatively impact the Company’s earnings.

The Company manages certain funds in the emerging market and natural resources sectors, which are highly cyclical. The investments in the funds are subject to significant loss due to political, economic and diplomatic developments, currency fluctuations, social instability, and changes in governmental policies, including trading policies, regulatory requirements, tariffs and other barriers. Foreign trading markets, particularly in some emerging market countries, are often smaller, less liquid, less regulated and significantly more volatile than the U.S. and other established markets.

Government relationship risks may negatively impact the Company’s earnings.

The Company manages a fund with significant investments in China-based issuers. While companies in China may be subject to limitations on their business relationships under Chinese law, these laws may not be consistent with certain political and security concerns of the U.S. As a result, Chinese companies may have material direct or indirect business relationships with governments that are considered state sponsors of terrorism by the U.S. government, or governments that otherwise have policies in conflict with the U.S. government (an “Adverse Government”). If a fund under management invests in companies that have or develop a material business relationship with an Adverse Government, the fund will be subject to the risk that these companies’ reputation and price in the market will be adversely or negatively impacted.

Risks Related to Our Corporate Investments

Investment income and assets may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in the Company’s corporate investments.

The Company currently has a substantial portion of its assets in corporate investments. These investments are subject to investment market risk, and investment income could be adversely affected by the realization of losses upon disposition of investments or the recognition of significant unrealized losses or impairments. Due to the Company’s investments in debt securities carried at fair value, interest rate fluctuations represent a market risk factor affecting the Company’s consolidated financial position. Debt securities may fluctuate in value due to changes in interest rates. Typically, investments subject to interest rate risk will decrease in value when interest rates rise and increase in value when interest rates decline. Fluctuations in investment income are expected to continue in the future.

The Company has exposure to the cryptocurrency markets through its investments.

The Company has invested in convertible securities and warrants in the cryptocurrency mining industry through its corporate investments. Cryptocurrency markets and related stocks have been, and are expected to continue to be, volatile. There is potential for significant volatility in the valuation of the Company’s cryptocurrency-related investments.

Adverse changes in foreign currencies could negatively impact financial results.

We have cash and certain corporate investments held in foreign currencies. Adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates would also lower the value of those assets. Certain assets under management also have exposure to foreign currency fluctuations in various markets, which could impact their valuation and thus the revenue we receive.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable for smaller reporting companies.

Item 2. Properties

The Company presently owns and occupies an office building as its headquarters in San Antonio, Texas. The office building is approximately 46,000 square feet on approximately 2.5 acres of land.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

There are no material legal proceedings in which the Company is involved.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Part II of Annual Report on Form 10-K

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

U.S. Global Investors, Inc. (“U.S. Global” or the “Company”) has three classes of common equity: class A, class B, and class C common stock, par value $0.025 per share.

The Company’s class A common stock is traded over-the-counter and is quoted daily under NASDAQ’s Capital Markets. Trades are reported under the symbol “GROW.”

There is no established public trading market for the Company’s class B and class C common stock.

The Company’s class A and class B common stock have no voting privileges.

Holders

On August 19, 2022, there were approximately 181 holders of record of class A common stock, no holders of record of class B common stock, and 20 holders of record of class C common stock.

Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans

Information relating to equity compensation plans under which our stock is authorized for issuance is set forth in Item 12 of Part III of this Form 10-K under the heading “Equity Compensation Plan Information.”

Purchases of equity securities by the issuer

The Company has a share repurchase program, approved by the Board of Directors, authorizing the Company to annually purchase up to $5.0 million of its outstanding common shares, as market and business conditions warrant, on the open market in compliance with Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 through December 31, 2022. The repurchase program has been in place since December 2012, and the Board of Directors has annually renewed the repurchase program each calendar year.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2022, the Company purchased a total of 45,696 class A shares using cash of $219,000. The Company may repurchase class A stock from employees; however, none were repurchased from employees during the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The Company did not repurchase any classes B or C common stock during the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Dividends

The Board of Directors has authorized a monthly dividend of $0.0075 per share from July 2022 through September 2022. The total amount of cash dividends to be paid to class A and class C shareholders from July 2022 to September 2022 will be approximately $337,000, which is included as dividends payable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2022. Payment of cash dividends is within the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and is dependent on earnings, operations, capital requirements, general financial condition of the Company, and general business conditions.

Item 6. [Reserved]

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This discussion reviews and analyzes the consolidated results of operations of U.S. Global Investors, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “U.S. Global” or the “Company”) for the past two fiscal years and other factors that may affect future financial performance. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Recent Trends in Financial Markets

The Company’s operating revenues are highly correlated to the level of assets under management (“AUM”) and fees associated with various investment products. While AUM is directly impacted by changes in the financial markets, it is also impacted by cash inflows or outflows due to shareholder activity. Performance fees on certain equity fund products may also impact revenues, either positively or negatively. Various products may have different fees, so changes in our product mix may also affect revenues. For example, international equity products will generally have a higher fee than fixed income products, so changes in assets in those products will have a larger impact on revenues.

While products are offered for a wide variety of markets, the Company has traditionally focused on gold mining and exploration, natural resources, and emerging markets. More recently the airline industry has become more significant to our revenue. All these markets are volatile and subject to capital cycles.

The world economy has largely moved on from the current circulating COVID-19 variant except for China, where they have large city-wide lockdowns to try to halt the spread of virus, which have kept world supply chains tight to uncertain. With Russia invading Ukraine, this compounded the supply chain issues with most of the world, barring prominent China and India holdouts, having stopped trading for Russian commodities. However, Europe is still heavily dependent on Russian natural gas which is being used as leverage against Europe for helping Ukraine defend itself. The confluence of these factors has led to the highest inflation in the U.S. in forty years. Energy markets were tight with oil and natural gas futures up 58.6 percent and 81.7 percent, respectively, over the past fiscal year. Thus, energy and utilities stocks were the best performing sectors in the S&P 500 over the trailing twelve months ending June 30, 2022. However, 6 of the 11 sectors which make up the S&P 500 posted double digit losses, with the S&P 500 down 10.6 percent on a total return basis. While not a bear market on a year-over-year measure, the S&P 500 was down nearly 20.0 percent over the last six months ended June 30, 2022.

With inflation becoming a significant problem, the Federal Reserve began embarking on a path of interest rate hikes that accelerated as the fiscal year ended. Fear that the U.S. was already in a recession due to high energy prices and escalating borrowing costs were confirmed after the end of the fiscal year with two consecutive negative GDP quarters. Performance has been affected with airlines down 31.3 percent and luxury goods off 23.7 percent for the fiscal year. Although airline travel has improved significantly with COVID-19 related travel restrictions being lifted, the industry’s earnings are impacted by the significant spike in jet fuel prices.

With interest rates climbing in the U.S. and the turmoil in Europe, investors largely flocked to the U.S. dollar, pushing it up 10.3 percent for the year ended June 30, 2022. However, gold also held up, marking a 2.1 percent gain for the same period while silver, platinum, and palladium fell in price by 22.4 percent, 16.6 percent, and 30.3 percent, respectively. Industrial metal prices also fell with copper off 13.1 percent for the year ended June 30, 2022.

The Company’s emerging markets products also declined in value with war in Ukraine and China’s decision to have large city-wide lockdowns to contain virus transmission. Eastern European markets fell 46.3 percent during the year ended June 30, 2022, with the collapse of the Russian stock market and its collateral damage on its neighbors. Trade tensions still exist between the U.S. and China despite the change in presidential power, and President Biden has been slow to relax many of the trade barriers erected against China. Chinese markets are off 29.5 percent for the fiscal year.

Mutual funds in general continued to see outflows compared to other investment alternatives, including ETFs. The Company has three ETF products listed on the New York Stock Exchange: the U.S. Global Jets ETF (ticker JETS), which concentrates on the U.S. and international airline industry, the U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF (ticker GOAU), which invests in companies engaged in the production of precious metals either through active (mining or production) or passive (owning royalties or production streams) means, and U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF (ticker SEA), which concentrates on the global sea shipping and air freight industries. The Company has one European-based ETF product listed on various exchanges in Europe, the U.S. Global Jets UCITS ETF (ticker JETS), which concentrates on the U.S. and international airline industry.

Assets in the Jets ETF were $2.5 billion and $3.6 billion at June 30, 2022, and 2021, respectively. The Jets ETF invests in airline-related stocks, including global airline carriers, airport operators and aircraft manufacturers.

The spread of the global COVID-19 outbreak and actions taken in response have affected the global and domestic economies and financial markets. Market declines affect the Company’s assets under management, and thus its revenues and also the valuation of the Company’s corporate investments. The Company cannot determine the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s business. Should this macro-economic risk reemerge and continue for an extended period, there could be an adverse material financial impact to the Company’s business and investments, including a material reduction in its results of operations.

COVID-19-related circumstances (e.g., remote work arrangements) have not adversely affected the Company’s ability to maintain operations, including financial reporting systems, internal controls over financial reporting, and disclosure controls and procedures.

To manage expenses, the Company maintains a flexible structure for one of its largest costs, compensation expense, by setting relatively low base salaries with bonuses that are tied to fund and Company performance. Thus, the Company’s expense model somewhat expands and contracts with asset swings and performance.

Business Segments

The Company, with principal operations located in San Antonio, Texas, manages two business segments:

On June 30, 2022, total AUM as of period end was $2.9 billion compared to $4.2 billion on June 30, 2021, a decrease of  $1.3 billion, or 31.2 percent. The decrease was primarily due to market depreciation in the ETFs, primarily the U.S. Global Jets ETF (“Jets ETF”), in the month of June 2022.

During fiscal year 2022, average AUM was $3.9 billion compared to $3.4 billion in fiscal year 2021, an increase of 17.7 percent. The increase was primarily due to inflows into the Jets ETF during fiscal 2021, resulting in an increase in average assets throughout the year, while average assets in fiscal 2022 were relatively steady until June 2022. The Jets ETF invests in airline-related stocks, including global airline carriers, airport operators and aircraft manufacturers.

The following is a brief discussion of the Company’s two business segments.

Investment Management Services

The Company generates operating revenues from managing and servicing the Funds. The Company recorded advisory and administrative services fees from USGIF totaling approximately $3.8 million and $4.5 million in fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, respectively. These revenues are largely dependent on the total value and composition of assets under its management. Fluctuations in the markets and investor sentiment directly impact the Funds’ asset levels, thereby affecting income and results of operations. Detailed information regarding the Funds managed by the Company within USGIF can be found on the Company’s website, www.usfunds.com, including the prospectus and performance information for each fund. The mutual fund shareholders in USGIF are not required to give advance notice prior to redemption of shares in the Funds, and the USGIF funds do not currently charge a redemption fee.

Investment base advisory fees from USGIF are calculated as a percentage of average net assets, ranging from 0.375 percent to 1.25 percent, and are paid monthly. The base advisory fee on the equity funds within USGIF is adjusted upward or downward based on performance. For the years ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, the Company adjusted its base advisory fees upward by $20,000 and $482,000, respectively. USGIF advisory fees in total, including performance adjustments, decreased by approximately $755,000, or 17.5 percent, in fiscal year 2022 compared to fiscal year 2021, primarily as a result of a decrease in average assets under management driven by market depreciation in the equity funds and a decrease in received performance fees.

Mutual fund investment advisory fees are also affected by changes in assets under management, which include:

The following tables summarize the changes in assets under management for USGIF for fiscal years 2022 and 2021.

The average annualized investment management fee rate (total advisory fees, excluding performance fees, as a percentage of average assets under management) was 78 basis points in fiscal year 2022 and 77 basis points in fiscal year 2021. The average investment management fee for equity funds in both fiscal years 2022 and 2021 was 93 basis points. The average investment management fee for the fixed income funds was nil for both fiscal years 2022 and 2021, respectively. The low fee rate for the fixed income funds is due to voluntary fee waivers on these funds as discussed in Note 3, Investment Management and Other Fees, in the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company serves as investment advisor to three U.S.-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs): U.S. Global Jets ETF (ticker JETS), U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF (ticker GOAU), and U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF (ticker SEA). The Company receives a unitary management fee of 0.60 percent of average net assets and has agreed to bear all expenses of the ETFs, except the U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF. The Company has agreed to contractually limit the expenses of the U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF through April 2023. The Company also serves as investment advisor to one European-based ETF, the U.S. Global Jets UCITS ETF. The Company receives a unitary management fee of 0.65 percent of average net assets and has agreed to bear all expenses of the ETF. The Company recorded advisory fees from the ETF clients totaling $21.0 million and $17.1 million in fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2021, respectively. Average assets in the ETFs increased in fiscal year 2022, primarily in the Jets ETF. Information on the U.S.-based ETFs can be found at www.usglobaletfs.com, including the prospectus, performance and holdings. The ETFs’ authorized participants are not required to give advance notice prior to redemption of shares in the ETFs, and the ETFs do not charge a redemption fee. The U.S. Global Jets UCITS ETF is not available to U.S. investors.

Corporate Investments

Management believes it can more effectively manage the Company’s cash position by maintaining certain types of investments utilized in cash management and continues to believe that such activities are in the best interest of the Company.

The following summarizes the cost, unrealized gain or loss, and fair value of investments carried at fair value as of June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2021.

The investments shown above include investments at fair value of $12.8 million and $7.3 million, as of June 30, 2022, and 2021, respectively, invested in USGIF funds the Company advised.

Investment income (loss) from the Company’s investments includes:

Investment income can be volatile and may vary depending on market fluctuations, the Company’s ability to participate in investment opportunities, and timing of transactions. A significant portion of the unrealized gains and losses is concentrated in a small number of issuers. For fiscal year 2022, the Company had a total investment loss of $4.0 million, compared to $28.3 million investment income in fiscal year 2021. Due to market volatility, the Company expects that gains or losses will continue to fluctuate in the future.

A significant portion of the securities recorded at fair value in the above table is in investments in HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (“HIVE”), which were warrants and convertible debentures valued at $14.1 million at June 30, 2022, and $25.1 million at June 30, 2021. The investments in HIVE are discussed in more detail in Note 3, Investments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. HIVE is a company that is headquartered in Canada with cryptocurrency mining facilities in Iceland, Sweden, and Canada. Frank Holmes, CEO, is the executive chairman of HIVE. Effective August 31, 2018, Mr. Holmes was named Interim CEO of HIVE. 

Cryptocurrency markets and related stocks have been, and are expected to continue to be, volatile, and may be influenced by a wide variety of factors, including speculative activity. Cryptocurrency mining companies face a variety of risks, including, but not limited to, environmental concerns, regulatory factors, and heightened risks of cybersecurity attacks for which there may be no source of recovery. There has been significant volatility in the market price of HIVE, which has materially impacted the investment’s value included on the balance sheet, unrealized gain (loss) recognized in investment income (loss), and unrealized gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss).

In addition to the investments above, as of June 30, 2022, and 2021, the Company owned other investments of approximately $4.0 million and $3.5 million, respectively, classified as securities without readily determinable fair values.

Consolidated Results of Operations

The following is a discussion of the consolidated results of operations of the Company and a detailed discussion of the Company’s revenues and expenses.

Year Ended June 30, 2022, Compared with Year Ended June 30, 2021

The Company posted net income, as shown in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, of $5.5 million ($ 0.37 per share) for the year ended June 30, 2022, compared with net income of $32.0 million ($ 2.12 per share) for the year ended June 30, 2021, a decrease of approximately $26.5 million. The change is primarily due to lower realized gains and unrealized investment losses in the current year compared to higher realized gains and unrealized investment gains in the prior year, as discussed further below.

Operating Revenues

Total consolidated operating revenues for the year ended June 30, 2022, increased $3.1 million, or 14.1 percent, compared with the year ended June 30, 2021. This increase was primarily attributable to the following:

Advisory Fees. Advisory fees, the largest component of the Company’s operating revenues, are derived from two sources: exchange-traded fund advisory fees and USGIF advisory fees. In fiscal year 2022, these sources accounted for 84.8 percent and 14.4 percent, respectively, of the Company’s operating revenues.

Investment base advisory fees from USGIF are calculated as a percentage of average net assets, ranging from 0.375 percent to 1.25 percent, and are paid monthly. The base advisory fee on the equity funds within USGIF is adjusted upward or downward based on performance. For the years ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, the Company adjusted its base advisory fees upward by $20,000 and $482,000, respectively. USGIF advisory fees in total, including performance adjustments, decreased by approximately $755,000, or 17.5 percent, in fiscal year 2022 compared to fiscal year 2021, primarily as a result of a decrease in average assets under management driven by market depreciation in the equity funds and a decrease in performance fees received.

Mutual fund investment advisory fees are also affected by changes in assets under management, which include:

The Company serves as investment advisor to three U.S.-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs): U.S. Global Jets ETF (ticker JETS), U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF (ticker GOAU), and U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF (ticker SEA). The Company receives a unitary management fee of 0.60 percent of average net assets of the ETFs, and has agreed to bear all expenses of the ETFs, except the U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF. The Company has agreed to contractually limit the expenses of the U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF through April 2023. The Company also serves as investment advisor to one European-based ETF, the U.S. Global Jets UCITS ETF. The Company receives a unitary management fee of 0.65 percent of average net assets and has agreed to bear all expenses of the ETF. The Company recorded advisory fees from the ETF clients of $21.0 million and $17.1 million in fiscal years 2022 and 2021, respectively, due to an increase in assets as discussed above.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses increased $112,000, or 0.8 percent, compared with the previous fiscal year. This increase was primarily attributable to increases in general and administrative expenses, offset by lower employee compensation, as described below.

Employee Compensation and Benefits. Employee compensation and benefits decreased $1.3 million, or 17.8 percent, in fiscal year 2022, primarily as a result of lower bonuses related to lower realized investment gains than in the previous fiscal year.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses increased $1.2 million, or 21.2 percent, in fiscal year 2022, primarily due to increased fund expenses and higher consulting and professional fees.

Other Income (Loss)

Total consolidated other loss for the year ended June 30, 2022, was $4.0 million, compared to $29.3 million in income for the year ended June 30, 2021, a change of $33.3 million, or 113.7 percent. The change was primarily due to the following components and factors:

Provision for Income Taxes

A tax expense of $1.6 million was recorded for the year ended June 30, 2022, compared to a tax expense of $5.5 million for the year ended June 30, 2021. The tax expense in the current year was primarily the result of operating income, offset by a decrease in valuation of certain investments, which resulted in a deferred tax asset. The tax expense in the prior period was primarily the result of operating income, realized gain on sale of securities, and unrealized gains on securities.

The Company and its non-Canadian subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. U.S. Global Investors (Canada) Limited (“USCAN”) files a separate tax return in Canada. Provisions for income taxes include deferred taxes for temporary differences in the bases of assets and liabilities for financial and tax purposes resulting from the use of the liability method of accounting for income taxes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At June 30, 2022, the Company had net working capital (current assets minus current liabilities) of approximately $33.9 million and a current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) of 9.2 to 1. With approximately $22.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and $13.8 million in securities carried at fair value, excluding convertible securities, which together comprise approximately 59.5 percent of total assets, the Company has adequate liquidity to meet its current obligations. Total shareholders’ equity was approximately $56.5 million.

The increase in cash, and accordingly, net working capital, was primarily due to net cash provided by operating activities of $10.5 million, proceeds on sales of equity investments of $2.9 million, and proceeds from principal paydowns of $3.0 million, somewhat offset by $6.7 million of corporate investment purchases. Consolidated shareholders’ equity at June 30, 2022, was $56.5 million, an increase of $2.2 million, or 4.0 percent since June 30, 2021. The increase was primarily due to net income of $5.5 million for the year ended June 30, 2022, somewhat offset by decrease in other comprehensive income (loss) of $2.3 million, and dividends declared of $1.4 million.

The Company also has access to a $1 million credit facility, which can be utilized for working capital purposes. The credit agreement requires the Company to maintain certain covenants; the Company has been in compliance with these covenants during the current fiscal year. The credit agreement will expire on May 31, 2023, and the Company intends to renew annually. The credit facility is collateralized by approximately $1 million, included in restricted cash on the balance sheet, held in deposit in a money market account at the financial institution that provided the credit facility. As of June 30, 2022, this credit facility remained unutilized by the Company.

Investment advisory contracts pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and related affiliated contracts in the U.S., by law, may not exceed one year in length and, therefore, must be renewed at least annually after an initial two-year term. The investment advisory and related contracts between the Company and USGIF have been renewed through September 2022. The advisory agreement for the U.S. Global Jets ETF and the U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF has been renewed through September 2023. The advisory agreement for the U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF will continue in force for the initial period of two years from January 2022, and thereafter, the advisory agreement will be subject to renewal on an annual basis.

The primary cash requirements are for operating activities. The Company also uses cash to purchase investments, pay dividends and repurchase Company stock. The cash outlays for investments and dividend payments are discretionary. The stock repurchase plan is approved through December 31, 2022, but may be suspended or discontinued as deemed necessary. Cash and securities recorded at fair value, excluding convertible securities, of approximately $36.1 million are available to fund current activities.

Contractual obligations primarily consist of agreements for services used in daily operations and for marketing and distribution. Other contractual obligations consist of agreements to waive or reduce fees and/or pay expenses on certain funds. Future obligations under these agreements are dependent upon future levels of fund assets.

The Board of Directors has authorized a monthly dividend of $0.0075 per share from July 2022 through September 2022. The total amount of cash dividends to be paid to class A and class C shareholders from July 2022 to September 2022 will be approximately $337,000, which is included as dividends payable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2022. Payment of cash dividends is within the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and is dependent on earnings, operations, capital requirements, general financial condition of the Company, and general business conditions.

Management believes current cash reserves, investments, and financing available will be sufficient to meet foreseeable cash needs for operating activities.

The spread of the global COVID-19 had an adverse effect on global and domestic economies and financial markets, which may reoccur and continue for an undetermined period. Market declines affect the Company’s assets under management, and thus its revenues and also the valuation of the Company’s corporate investments. This may adversely affect the Company’s balance sheet and results of operations.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based on the Company’s financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and expenses. Management reviews these estimates on an ongoing basis. Estimates are based on experience and on various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. While significant accounting policies are described in more detail in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company believes the accounting policies that require management to make assumptions and estimates involving significant judgment are those relating to valuation of investments, income taxes, and valuation of stock-based compensation.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. The financial instruments of the Company are reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at market or fair values or at carrying amounts that approximate fair values. The Company believes that the estimates related to fair values of financial instruments are critical accounting estimates because the assumptions used could significantly impact the unrealized gains or losses recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Stock-Based Compensation. Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award, and the cost is recognized as expense ratably over the award’s vesting period. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur.

The Company believes that the estimates related to stock-based compensation expense are critical accounting estimates because the assumptions used could significantly impact the timing and amount of stock-based compensation expense recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Income Taxes. The Company’s annual effective income tax rate is based on the mix of income and losses in its U.S. and non-U.S. entities which are part of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, statutory tax rates, and tax-planning opportunities available to the Company in the various jurisdictions in which it operates. Significant judgment is required in evaluating the Company’s tax positions.

Tax law requires certain items to be included in the tax return at different times from when these items are reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. As a result, the effective tax rate reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements is different from the tax rate reported on the Company’s consolidated tax return. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses that are not deductible in the tax return, and some differences reverse over time, such as depreciation expense. These timing differences create deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and 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 on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment dates.

The Company assesses uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. Judgment is used to identify, recognize, and measure the amounts to be recorded in the financial statements related to tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. A liability is recognized to represent the potential future obligation to the taxing authority for the benefit taken in the tax return. These liabilities are adjusted, including any impact of the related interest and penalties, in light of changing facts and circumstances such as the progress of a tax audit. A number of years may elapse before a particular matter for which a reserve has been established is audited and finally resolved. The number of years with open tax audits varies depending on the tax jurisdiction.

The Company assesses whether a valuation allowance should be established against its deferred income tax assets based on consideration of available evidence, both positive and negative, using a more likely than not standard. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of recent losses, forecast of future profitability, the duration of statutory carry back and carry forward periods, the Company’s experience with tax attributes expiring unused, and tax planning alternatives.

Assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements or tax returns requires judgment. The Company believes that income taxes include critical accounting estimates because variations in the actual outcome of these future tax consequences could materially impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market Risk Disclosures

The following information, together with information included in other parts of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, describes the key aspects of certain financial instruments that have market risk to the Company.

COVID-19 had an adverse effect on global and domestic financial markets, which may reoccur and continue for an undetermined period. This may adversely affect assets under management and thus the Company’s revenues and operating results. Market declines also affect the valuation of the Company’s corporate investments, which also adversely affects the Company’s balance sheet and results of operations.

Macroeconomic declines, including inflation; negative political developments, including volatile market conditions due to investor concerns regarding inflation and potential hostilities between Russia and Ukraine; adverse market conditions; and catastrophic events may cause a decline in the Company’s revenue, an increase in the Company’s costs, negatively affect the Company’s operating results, adversely affect the Company’s cash flow, and could result in a decline in the Company’s stock price.

Investment Management and Administrative Services Fees

Revenues are generally based upon a percentage of assets under management in accordance with contractual agreements. Accordingly, fluctuations in the financial markets have a direct effect on the Company’s operating results. A significant portion of assets under management in equity funds have exposure to international markets and/or natural resource sectors, which may experience volatility. In addition, fluctuations in interest rates may affect the value of assets under management in fixed income funds.

Performance Fees

USGIF advisory fees are comprised of two components: a base management fee and a performance fee. The performance fee is a fulcrum fee that is adjusted upwards or downwards by 0.25 percent when there is a performance difference of 5 percent or more between a fund’s performance and that of its designated benchmark index over the prior rolling 12 months.

As a result, the Company’s revenues are subject to volatility beyond market-based fluctuations discussed in the investment management and administrative fees section above. For the years ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, the Company realized an increase in its USGIF base advisory fee of $20,000 and $482,000, respectively, due to these performance adjustments.

Corporate Investments

The Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets include substantial amounts of assets whose fair values are subject to market risk. The market risks are primarily associated with equity prices and foreign currency exchange rates. The fair values of corporate investments with exposure to the cryptocurrency industry are subject to considerable volatility.

The Company’s investment activities are reviewed and monitored by Company compliance personnel, and various reports are provided to certain investment advisory clients. Written procedures are in place to manage compliance with the code of ethics and other policies affecting the Company’s investment practices.

Equity Price Risk

Due to the Company’s investments in securities carried at fair value, equity price fluctuations represent a market risk factor affecting the Company’s consolidated financial position. The carrying values of investments subject to equity price risks are based on quoted market prices or, if not actively traded, management’s estimate of fair value as of the balance sheet date. Market prices fluctuate, and the amount realized in the subsequent sale of an investment may differ significantly from the reported fair value.

The following table summarizes the Company’s equity price risks in securities carried at fair value as of June 30, 2022, and shows the effects of a hypothetical 25 percent increase and a 25 percent decrease in market prices.

The selected hypothetical changes do not reflect what could be considered best- or worst-case scenarios. Results could be significantly different due to both the nature of markets and the concentration of the Company’s investment portfolio.

COVID-19 had an effect on volatility in global and domestic financial markets, which may reoccur and continue for an undetermined period. This may not only adversely affect the Company’s assets under management but also the valuation of the Company’s corporate investments.

A significant portion of the equity securities recorded at fair value in the above table subject to equity price risk are investments in common share purchase warrants of HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (“HIVE”), which were valued at $2.6 million at June 30, 2022. Also, the embedded derivatives shown in the above table, which were valued at $3,000 at June 30, 2022, are related to HIVE convertible debentures. HIVE is discussed in more detail in Note 3, Investments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. HIVE is a company that is headquartered and traded in Canada with cryptocurrency mining facilities in Iceland, Sweden and Canada. Cryptocurrency markets and related stocks have been, and are expected to continue to be, volatile. There is potential for significant volatility in the market price of HIVE, which could materially impact the investment’s value included on the balance sheet and unrealized gain (loss) recognized in investment income.

Interest Rate Risk

Due to the Company’s investments in debt securities carried at fair value, interest rate fluctuations represent a market risk factor affecting the Company’s consolidated financial position. Debt securities may fluctuate in value due to changes in interest rates. Typically, investments subject to interest rate risk will decrease in value when interest rates rise and increase in value when interest rates decline. Fluctuations in interest rates could materially impact the Company’s investments in debt securities carried at fair value included on the balance sheet and gains (losses) recognized in investment income.

Foreign Currency Risk

A portion of cash and certain corporate investments are held in foreign currencies. Adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates would lower the value of those cash accounts and corporate investments. Certain assets under management also have exposure to foreign currency fluctuations in various markets, which could impact their valuation and thus the revenue received by the Company.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Shareholders and Board of Directors

U.S. Global Investors, Inc.

San Antonio, Texas

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets of U.S. Global Investors, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of June 30, 2022, and 2021, the related Consolidated Statements of Operations, Comprehensive Income, Shareholders’ Equity, and Cash Flows for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “Consolidated Financial Statements”). In our opinion, the Consolidated Financial Statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and subsidiaries at June 30, 2022, and 2021, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These Consolidated Financial Statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting 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.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the Consolidated Financial Statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the Consolidated Financial Statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2004.

Dallas, Texas

September 1, 2022

U.S. GLOBAL INVESTORS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

U.S. GLOBAL INVESTORS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

U.S. GLOBAL INVESTORS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

U.S. GLOBAL INVESTORS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

U.S. GLOBAL INVESTORS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION

U.S. Global Investors, Inc. (the “Company” or “U.S. Global”) serves as investment adviser to U.S. Global Investors Funds (“USGIF” or the “Fund(s)”), a Delaware statutory trust that is a no-load, open-end investment company offering shares in numerous mutual funds to the investing public. The Company also provides administrative services to USGIF. For these services, the Company receives fees from USGIF. The Company also provides advisory services to SEC registered exchange traded funds (“ETFs”).

The Company has the following subsidiaries utilized primarily for corporate investment purposes: U.S. Global Investors (Bermuda) Limited (“USBERM”), incorporated in Bermuda, and U.S. Global Investors (Canada) Limited (“USCAN”). The Company created U.S. Global Indices, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, of which the Company is the sole member, to provide indexing services to exchange-traded funds managed by the Company.

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: USBERM, USCAN and U.S. Global Indices, LLC.

There are two primary consolidation models in U.S. GAAP, the variable interest entity (“VIE”) and voting interest entity models. The Company’s evaluation for consolidation includes whether entities in which it has an interest or from which it receives fees are VIEs and whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of any VIEs identified in its analysis. A VIE is an entity in which either (a) the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its own activities without additional financial support or (b) the group of holders of the equity investment at risk lacks certain characteristics of a controlling financial interest. The primary beneficiary is the entity that has the obligation to absorb a majority of the expected losses or the right to receive the majority of the residual returns and consolidates the VIE on the basis of having a controlling financial interest.

The Company holds variable interests in, but is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary of, certain funds it advises, specifically, certain funds in USGIF. The Company’s interests in these VIEs consist of the Company’s direct ownership therein and any fees earned but uncollected. In the ordinary course of business, the Company may choose to waive certain fees or assume operating expenses of the funds it advises for competitive, regulatory or contractual reasons (see Note 4 for information regarding fee waivers). The Company has not provided financial support to any of these entities outside the ordinary course of business. The Company’s risk of loss with respect to these VIEs is limited to the carrying value of its investments in, and fees receivable from, the entities. The Company is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary because it does not have the obligation to absorb a majority of the expected losses or the right to receive the majority of the residual returns. The Company does not consolidate these VIEs because it is not the primary beneficiary. The Company’s total exposure to unconsolidated VIEs, consisting of the carrying value of investment securities and receivables for fees, was $12.8 million at June 30, 2022, and $7.3 million at June 30, 2021.

The carrying amount of assets and liabilities recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets related to the Company's interests in these non-consolidated VIEs were as follows:

Since the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the above funds it advises, the Company evaluated if it should consolidate under the voting interest entity model. Under the voting interest model, for legal entities other than partnerships, the usual condition for control is ownership, directly or indirectly, of more than 50 percent of the outstanding voting shares over an entity. The Company does not have control of any of the above funds it advises; therefore, the Company does not consolidate any of these funds.

During the years ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, the Company held a variable interest in a fund organized as a limited partnership, but this entity did not qualify as a VIE. Since it was not a VIE, the Company evaluated if it should consolidate it under the voting interest entity model. Under the voting interest model, for legal entities other than partnerships, the usual condition for control is ownership, directly or indirectly, of more than 50 percent of the outstanding voting shares over an entity. The Company did not have control of the entity and, therefore, did not consolidate it. However, the Company was considered to have the ability to exercise significant influence. Thus, the investment was accounted for under the equity method of accounting. During the year ended June 30, 2022, this entity was dissolved. See further information about this investment in Note 3.

All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain amounts have been reclassified for comparative purposes.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Restricted Cash. Restricted cash represents cash invested in a money market account as collateral for credit facilities that is not available for general corporate use.

Investments. The Company records security transactions on trade date. Realized gains (losses) from security transactions are calculated on the first-in/first-out cost basis, unless otherwise identifiable, and are recorded in earnings on the date of sale.

Investments in Equity Securities. Equity securities are generally carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets with changes in the fair value recorded through earnings within investment income (loss).

Investments in Debt Securities. The Company classifies debt investments as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity based on the Company’s intent to sell the security or, its intent and ability to hold the debt security to maturity. Available-for-sale debt securities are carried at fair value, and changes in unrealized gains and losses are reported net of tax in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), except for declines in fair value determined to be other than temporary, which are reported in earnings. Upon the disposition of an available-for-sale security, the Company reclassifies the gain or loss on the security from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to investment income (loss). Held-to-maturity debt securities are purchased with the intent and ability to hold until maturity and are carried at amortized cost.

Embedded derivatives. The Company does not use derivatives for trading, speculation, or hedging exposures. Certain financial instruments the Company invests in contain both a derivative and a non-derivative component. In such cases, the derivative component is termed an embedded derivative, with the non-derivative component representing the host contract. If the economic characteristics and risks of embedded derivative are not closely related to those of the host contract, and the changes in the fair value of the host contact itself is not recorded through earnings within investment income (loss), the embedded derivative is bifurcated and carried at fair value, with changes in the fair value recorded through earnings within investment income (loss) on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The host contract will continue to be accounted for in accordance with the appropriate accounting standard. The embedded derivative and the related host contract represent one legal contract and are combined on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and tables within Note 3 Investments, unless otherwise indicated.

Other Investments. Other investments consist of equity investments in entities over which the Company is unable to exercise significant influence and which do not have readily determinable fair values. The Company has elected to value these investments using the measurement alternative, under which such securities are measured at cost, less impairment, if any. If the Company identifies observable price changes for identical or similar securities of the same issuer, the equity security is measured at fair value as of the date the observable transaction occurred, with such changes recorded in investment income (loss).

Equity Method Investments. Investments classified as equity method consist of investments in companies in which the Company is able to exercise significant influence but not control. Under the equity method of accounting, the investment is initially recorded at cost, then the Company’s proportional share of investee’s underlying net income or loss is recorded as a component of “other income” with a corresponding increase or decrease to the carrying value of the investment. Distributions received from the investee reduce the Company’s carrying value of the investment. These investments are evaluated for impairment if events or circumstances arise that indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. No impairment was recognized for the Company’s equity method investment during the years presented.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. The financial instruments of the Company are reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at market or fair values or at carrying amounts that approximate fair values.

Receivables. Receivables other than notes receivable consist primarily of advisory and other fees owed to the Company by clients. The Company also may invest in notes receivable. Notes receivable are recorded in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and accrued interest is recorded when earned. Unearned fees are shown as a deduction from the related notes receivable and are amortized to interest income using the effective interest method. The Company reviews the need for an allowance for credit losses for notes and other receivables based on various factors including payment history, historical bad debt experience, existing economic conditions, aging and specific accounts identified as high risk. Uncollectible receivables, if any, are charged against the allowance when all reasonable efforts to collect the amounts due have been exhausted. The Company had no allowance for credit losses as of June 30, 2022, or 2021.

Property and Equipment. Fixed assets are recorded at cost. Depreciation for fixed assets is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of each asset as follows: furniture and equipment are depreciated over 3 to 10 years, and the building and related improvements are depreciated over 14 to 40 years.

Leases. The Company leases equipment under various leasing arrangements. Leases may be classified as either financing leases or operating leases, as appropriate. The Company determines if a contract is a lease or contains a lease at inception. The Company accounts for lease and nonlease components as a single component for its leases. The Company elected the short-term lease exception for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less. Consequently, such leases are not recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s lease terms include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain they will be exercised or not, respectively.

Fixed lease payments are included in right of use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities within other assets and liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate. Fixed lease payments made over the lease term are recorded as lease expense on a straight-line basis. Variable lease payments based on usage, changes in an index or market rate are expensed as incurred.

For new leases, the discount rates are based on the entire noncancelable lease term.

The Company is the lessor of certain areas of its owned office building under operating leases. The Company determines if a contract is a lease or contains a lease at inception. The Company elected not to separate lease and related non-lease components and account for the combined component as an operating lease.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. The Company reviews property and equipment and other long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate the net book values of the assets may not be recoverable. Impairment is indicated when the assets’ net book value is less than fair value of the asset. If this occurs, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and net book value. Factors that indicate potential impairment include: a significant decrease in the market value of the asset or a significant change in the asset’s physical condition or use. No impairments of long-lived assets were recorded during the years included in these financial statements.

Treasury Stock. Treasury stock purchases are accounted for under the cost method. The subsequent issuances of these shares are accounted for based on their weighted-average cost basis.

Stock-Based Compensation. Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award, and the cost is recognized as expense ratably over the award’s vesting period. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur.

Income Taxes. The Company and its non-Canadian subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. USCAN files a separate tax return in Canada. Provisions for income taxes include deferred taxes for temporary differences in the bases of assets and liabilities for financial and tax purposes, resulting from the use of the liability method of accounting for income taxes. The liability method requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance in cases where it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of June 30, 2022, the Company did not have any accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The tax years from 2018 through 2021 remain open to examination by the U.S. Federal tax jurisdictions to which the Company is subject. The tax years from 2015 through 2021 remain open to examination by the non-U.S. Federal tax jurisdictions to which the Company is subject.

The Company has elected to treat the global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) tax as a period expense. The Company also elected to use the tax law ordering approach when assessing the realization of net operating losses related to GILTI.

Revenue Recognition. The Company’s operating revenue is earned from investment advisory and administrative services provided to clients. Each distinct service promised in the agreements is considered a performance obligation and is the basis for determining when revenue is recognized. The fees are allocated to each distinct performance obligation and revenue is recognized when, or as, promises are satisfied. The consideration for services is generally variable and included in net revenues when it is improbable that a significant reversal could occur in the future. The timing of when clients are billed and related payment received varies in accordance with agreed-upon contractual terms. For current agreements, billing occurs after the Company has recognized revenue which results in accounts receivable and revenue.

Investment Advisory Fees. The investment advisory agreements have a single performance obligation, since the promised services are not separately identifiable from other promises in the agreements and, therefore, are not distinct. Investment advisory fees are comprised of two components, a base fee and a performance fee, if applicable. Base investment advisory fees are recognized as the services are performed over time and are based upon agreed-upon percentages of average assets under management (“AAUM”), depending on contractual terms. These fees are received in cash after the end of each monthly period within 30 days. Investment advisory fees are affected by changes in assets under management, including market appreciation or depreciation, foreign exchange translation, and net inflows or outflows. Investment advisory fees are reported net of fee waivers.

Performance Fees. USGI receives investment advisory performance fees from certain funds. Performance fees for the equity funds within USGIF are a fulcrum fee that is a 0.25 percent adjustment upwards or downwards of the base investment advisory fees when there is a 5 percent difference between a fund’s performance and that of its benchmark index over the prior rolling 12 months. Performance fees are recorded when it is determined that they are no longer probable of significant reversal. These fees are received in cash or paid in cash after the end of each monthly period within 30 days. Performance fees are affected by changes in fund performance, benchmark index performance, and assets under management.

Administrative Services Fees. The administrative services agreement has a single performance obligation, since the promised services are not separately identifiable from other promises in the agreement and, therefore, are not distinct. Administrative services fees are recognized as the services are performed over time and are based upon agreed-upon percentages of AAUM. These fees are received in cash after the end of each monthly period within 30 days. Administrative services fees are affected by changes in assets under management, including market appreciation or depreciation, foreign exchange translation, and net inflows or outflows. Administrative services fees are reported net of fee waivers.

Fee Waivers. For certain clients, the Company has agreed to contractually limit the expenses or voluntarily waived or reduced its fees and/or agreed to pay expenses for funds. These fee waivers are deemed to be a reduction of the transaction price and are reported as a reduction of investment advisory fees and/or administrative services fees. These fees are paid in cash after the end of each monthly period within 30 days.

Dividends and Interest. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date, and interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Any discount between the cost and the principal amount of debt investments is amortized to interest income using the effective interest method. Both dividends and interest income are included in investment income.

Advertising Costs. The Company expenses advertising costs as they are incurred. The Company is reimbursed for certain advertising expenses related to USGIF from the distributor for USGIF.

Foreign Exchange. The balance sheets of certain foreign subsidiaries of the Company and certain foreign-denominated investment products are translated at the current exchange rate as of the end of the accounting period and the related income or loss is translated at the average exchange rate in effect during the period. Net exchange gains and losses resulting from balance sheet translations of foreign subsidiaries are excluded from income and are recorded in “accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Net exchange gains and losses resulting from income or loss translations are included in income and are recorded in “investment income (loss)” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Investment transactions denominated in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using the exchange rate on the date of the transaction and any related gain or loss is included in “investment income (loss)” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

COVID-19 adversely affected the global financial markets, and in the future it or other epidemics, pandemics or outbreaks may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the future impact, given the uncertainty over the duration and severity of the economic impact.

Earnings Per Share. The Company computes and presents earnings per share in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution of EPS that could occur if options to issue common stock were exercised. The Company has two classes of common stock with outstanding shares. Both classes share equally in dividend and liquidation preferences.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss). Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, is reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and includes any unrealized gains and losses on debt securities classified as available-for-sale and foreign currency translation adjustments.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Developments

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, and has subsequently issued several amendments (collectively, “ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 adds to U.S. GAAP an impairment model (known as the current expected credit loss model) that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under the new guidance, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of expected credit losses. ASU 2016-13 will be effective for smaller reporting companies, including U.S. Global, for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. Earlier application is permitted only for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”). ASU 2019-12 enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance. The amendments in ASU 2019-12 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods therein. Early adoption of the standard is permitted. The standard became effective for the Company on July 1, 2021. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions (“ASU 2022-03”). The FASB issued ASU 2022-03 (1) to clarify the guidance in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, when measuring the fair value of an equity security subject to contractual restrictions that prohibit the sale of an equity security, (2) to amend a related illustrative example, and (3) to introduce new disclosure requirements for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions that are measured at fair value in accordance with Topic 820. ASU 2022-03 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 3. INVESTMENTS

As of June 30, 2022, the Company held investments carried at fair value on a recurring basis of $27.9 million and a cost basis of $28.5 million. The fair value of these investments is approximately 45.9 percent of the Company’s total assets at June 30, 2022. In addition, the Company held other investments of approximately $4.0 million, and held-to-maturity debt investments of $1.0 million.

The cost basis of investments is adjusted for amortization of premium or accretion of discount on debt securities held or the recharacterization of distributions from investments in partnerships, if applicable.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

A significant portion of the Company’s investments carried at fair value on a recurring basis is investments in USGIF, which were $12.8 million and $7.3 million as of June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2021, respectively, and investments in HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (“HIVE”), which were warrants and convertible debentures valued at $14.1 million at June 30, 2022, and $25.1 million at June 30, 2021, respectively. For these investments, the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk the Company could incur is the fair value of the financial instruments.

Fair Value Hierarchy

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques described below maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value.

The inputs used for measuring financial instruments at fair value are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

Level 1 – Inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets exchanged in active markets.

Level 2 – Inputs include directly or indirectly observable inputs (other than Level 1 inputs) such as quoted prices for similar assets exchanged in active or inactive markets; quoted prices for identical assets exchanged in inactive markets; other inputs that may be considered in fair value determinations of the assets, such as interest rates and yield curves; and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3 – Inputs include unobservable inputs used in the measurement of assets. The Company is required to use its own assumptions regarding unobservable inputs because there is little, if any, market activity in the assets and it may be unable to corroborate the related observable inputs. Unobservable inputs require management to make certain projections and assumptions about the information that would be used by market participants in valuing assets.

The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the financial instrument. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with the investing in those securities. Because of the inherent uncertainties of valuation, the values reflected may materially differ from the values received upon actual sale of those investments.

The Company has established a Proprietary Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) to administer and oversee the Company’s valuation policies and procedures, which are approved by the Board of Directors, and to perform a periodic review of valuations provided by independent pricing services.

For actively traded securities, the Company values investments using the closing price of the securities on the exchange or market on which the securities principally trade. If the security is not traded on the last business day of the quarter, it is generally valued at the mean between the last bid and ask quotation. The fair value of a security that has a restriction greater than one year is based on the quoted price for an otherwise identical unrestricted instrument that trades in a public market, adjusted for the estimated effect of the restriction. Mutual funds, which include open- and closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds, are valued at net asset value or closing price, as applicable.

For common share purchase warrants not traded on an exchange, the estimated fair value is determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. This sophisticated model utilizes a number of assumptions in arriving at its results, including the estimated life, the risk-free interest rate, and historical volatility of the underlying common stock. The Company may change the assumption of the risk-free interest rate and utilize the yield curve for instruments with similar characteristics, such as credit ratings and jurisdiction, or change the expected volatility. The effects of changing any of the assumptions or factors employed by the Black-Scholes model may result in a significantly different valuation.

Certain convertible debt securities not traded on an exchange are valued by an independent pricing service using a binomial lattice model based on factors such as yield, quality, maturity, coupon rate, type of issuance, individual trading characteristics of the underlying common shares and other market data. The model utilizes a number of assumptions in arriving at its results. The effects of changing any of the assumptions or factors utilized in the binomial lattice model, including expected volatility, credit adjusted discount rates, and discounts for lack of marketability, may result in a significantly different valuation for the securities.

For other securities included in the fair value hierarchy with unobservable inputs, the Committee considers a number of factors in determining a security’s fair value, including the security’s trading volume, market values of similar class issuances, investment personnel’s judgment regarding the market experience of the issuer, financial status of the issuer, the issuer’s management, and back testing, as appropriate. The fair values may differ from what may have been used had a broader market for these securities existed. The Committee reviews inputs and assumptions and reports material items to the Board of Directors. Securities which do not have readily determinable fair values are also periodically reviewed by the Committee.

The following summarizes the major categories of investments with fair values adjusted on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2021, and other investments with fair values adjusted on a nonrecurring basis, with fair values shown according to the fair value hierarchy.

1. Other investments include equity securities without readily determinable fair values that were adjusted as a result of the measurement alternative on dates other than June 30, 2022, or June 30, 2021, respectively. These securities are classified as level 3 due to the infrequency of the observable price changes and/or restrictions on the shares.

The securities classified as Level 3 and carried at fair value on a recurring basis in the preceding tables are investments in HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (“HIVE”), which were warrants and convertible debentures valued at $14.1 million at June 30, 2022, and $25.1 million at June 30, 2021. The Company utilizes an independent third-party to estimate the fair values of the investments in HIVE.

The following table is a reconciliation of investments recorded at fair value for which unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value during the year ended June 30, 2022:

During the fiscal year ended  June 30, 2021, the Company purchased convertible securities of HIVE, a company that is headquartered in Canada with cryptocurrency mining facilities in Iceland, Sweden, and Canada, for $15.0 million. The convertible securities are comprised of 8.0% interest-bearing unsecured convertible debentures, payable in quarterly installments with a final maturity in January 2026, and 5 million common share purchase warrants in the capital of HIVE. Under the original terms, the principal amount of each debenture was convertible into common shares in the capital of HIVE at a conversion rate of $2.34. Each whole warrant, expiring in January 2024, entitled the Company to acquire one common share at a price of $3.00 (Canadian). Under the current terms, which reflect a reverse stock split, the principal amount of each debenture is convertible into common shares in the capital of HIVE at a conversion rate of $11.70. The remaining principal amount is $10.6 million as of June 30, 2022. Each five whole warrants, expiring in January 2024, entitles the Company to acquire one common share at a price of $15.00 (Canadian). Cryptocurrency markets and related securities have been, and are expected to continue to be, volatile. There has been significant volatility in the market price of HIVE, which has materially impacted the value of the investments included on the balance sheet, unrealized gain recognized in investment income (loss), and unrealized gain recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). The investments did not represent ownership in HIVE as of June 30, 2022. The securities are subject to Canadian securities regulations. Frank Holmes serves on the board as executive chairman of HIVE and held shares and options at June 30, 2022. Effective August 31, 2018, Mr. Holmes was named Interim CEO and Interim Executive Chairman of HIVE. Effective December 22, 2020, Mr. Holmes became the Executive Chairman of HIVE.

The Company recorded the warrants at the estimated fair value of $5.9 million on purchase date. The debentures were recorded at the estimated fair value of $16.0 million on purchase date, and an unrealized gain of $6.9 million was recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), which will be realized in investment income (loss) ratably using the effective interest method until maturity, conversion, or other disposition. During the fiscal years ended  June 30, 2022, and 2021, $2.2 million and $1.2 million, respectively, was reclassified from other comprehensive income and realized in investment income (loss). The fair value of the warrants and debentures was $2.6 million and $11.4 million, respectively, at June 30, 2022, and $8.0 million and $17.0 million, respectively, at  June 30, 2021.

The Company currently considers the related fair value measurements to contain Level 3 inputs. The following is quantitative information as of June 30, 2022, with respect to the securities measured and carried at fair value on a recurring basis with the use of significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):