A-Mark Precious Metals Inc

Adjusted net income before provision for income taxes

In addition to our results determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we believe the non-GAAP measure of “adjusted net income before provision for income taxes” is useful in evaluating our operating performance. We use this financial measure to present our pre-tax earnings from core business operations. This measure does not have standardized definitions and is not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The items excluded from this financial measure may have a material impact on our financial results. Certain of those items are non-recurring, while others are non-cash in nature. Accordingly, this non-GAAP financial performance measure should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, the comparable measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Reconciliation

We calculate this non-GAAP financial performance measure by eliminating from net income before provision for income taxes the impact of items we do not consider indicative of our core operating performance. We eliminate the impact of the following items: (i) contingent consideration fair value adjustments, (ii) acquisition costs, (iii) amortization expenses related to intangible assets acquired, and (iv) depreciation expense.

See below for the reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial performance measure to its most closely comparable U.S. GAAP measure on our financial statements (in thousands):

Adjustments

Contingent consideration fair value adjustments. Upon our acquisition of LPM, we recognized a contingent consideration liability representing the amount we expect to pay in connection with the achievement of certain EBITDA targets. We remeasure this liability each reporting period, with the resulting changes recorded as other income and expense in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income. We exclude these fair value adjustments when we evaluate our core operating performance and to facilitate comparison of period-to-period operating performance. See Note 3 to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Acquisition costs. We incur expenses for professional services rendered in connection with business combinations, which are included as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income. Acquisition expenses are recorded in the periods in which the costs are incurred, and the services are received. We exclude acquisition expenses when we evaluate our core operating performance and to facilitate comparison of period-to-period operating performance.

Amortization of purchased intangibles. Amortization expense of purchased intangibles varies in amount and frequency and is significantly impacted by the timing and size of our acquisitions. Due to amortization expense being non-cash in nature, management finds it useful to exclude these charges from our operating expenses to assist in the review of a measure that more closely corresponds to cash operating income generated from our business. Amortization of purchased intangible assets will recur in future periods. For additional information about the amortization of our purchased intangibles. See Note 9 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Depreciation expense. Depreciation expense is calculated using a straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets, ranging from three years to twenty-five years. Due to depreciation expense being non-cash in nature, management finds it useful to exclude these charges from our operating expenses to assist in the review of a measure that more closely corresponds to cash operating income generated from our business. See Note 8 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization

In addition to the non-GAAP financial performance measure discussed in the section above, we use the non-GAAP liquidity measure “earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization” or "EBITDA" to evaluate our business operations before investing activities, interest, and income taxes. Management and external users of our condensed consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts and investors, may use EBITDA to compare business operations with other publicly traded companies.

Reconciliation

We calculate EBITDA by eliminating from net income the following five items: (i) interest income, (ii) interest expense, (iii) amortization expenses related to intangible assets acquired, (iv) depreciation expense, and (v) income tax expense.

Management believes the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is “net cash provided by or used in operating activities” presented in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. Below is the reconciliation of net cash provided by or used in operating activities to EBITDA (in thousands):