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Significant Accounting Policies | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and in the opinion of management reflect all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The financial results of ETFS are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date, April 11, 2018 (See Note 3). Certain accounts in the consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2018 have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s consolidated financial statement presentation. The following table summarizes these reclassifications which had no effect on previously reported net income.
Operating Revenues: |  | Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 |
Advisory fees (previously reported) |  | $ | 58,756 |
Other ETP fees reclassified to Other income |  |  | (300 | )
Advisory fees (currently reported) |  | $ | 58,456 |
Other income (previously reported) |  | $ | 849 |
Other ETP fees reclassified from Advisory fees |  |  | 300 |
Interest income reclassified to Other Income/(Expenses) |  |  | (962 | )
Realized and unrealized losses reclassified to Other losses, net |  |  | 261 |
Other income (currently reported) |  | $ | 448 |
Total revenues (currently reported) |  | $ | 58,904 |
Other Income/(Expenses): |  |  |  |
Interest income reclassified from operating revenues |  | $ | 962 |
Other losses, net (previously reported) |  | $ | — |
Realized and unrealized losses reclassified from operating revenues |  |  | (261 | )
Other losses, net (currently reported) |  | $ | (261 | )
Consolidation The Company consolidates entities in which it has a controlling financial interest. The Company determines whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity (“VOE”) or a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The usual condition for a controlling financial interest in a VOE is ownership of a majority voting interest. If the Company has a majority voting interest in a VOE, the entity is consolidated. The Company has a controlling financial interest in a VIE when the Company has a variable interest that provides it with (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company reassesses its evaluation of whether an entity is a VIE when certain reconsideration events occur. Segment and Geographic Information The Company operates as an ETP sponsor and asset manager providing investment advisory services globally. These activities are reported in the Company’s U.S. Business and International Business reportable segments. The International Business reportable segment includes the results of the Company’s European operations and Canadian operations. The financial results of ETFS are included in the International Business reportable segment as of the acquisition date. Foreign Currency Translation Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar are translated based on the end of period exchange rates from local currency to U.S. dollars. Results of operations are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during the period. The impact of the foreign currency translation adjustment is included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income as a component of other comprehensive income. Use of Estimates The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet dates and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the periods presented. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Revenue Recognition The Company earns substantially all of its revenue in the form of advisory fees from its ETPs and recognizes this revenue over time, as the performance obligation is satisfied. ETP advisory fees are based on a percentage of the ETPs’ average daily net assets. Progress is measured using the practical expedient under the output method resulting in the recognition of revenue in the amount for which the Company has a right to invoice. Contractual Gold Payments Contractual gold payments are measured and paid monthly based upon the average daily spot price of gold (See Note 11). Marketing and Advertising Advertising costs, including media advertising and production costs, are expensed when incurred. Depreciation and Amortization Depreciation is provided for using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets as follows:
Equipment |  | 5 years |
Furniture and fixtures |  | 15 years |
Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of their respective leases or service lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter. Fixed assets are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Stock-Based Awards Accounting for stock-based compensation requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all equity awards based on estimated fair values. Stock-based compensation is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the award and is amortized over the relevant service period. Forfeitures are recognized when they occur. Third-Party Distribution Fees The Company pays a percentage of its advisory fee revenues based on incremental growth in AUM, subject to caps or minimums, to marketing agents to sell WisdomTree ETFs and for including WisdomTree ETFs on third-party customer platforms. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less at the time of purchase to be classified as cash equivalents. The Company maintains deposits with financial institutions in an amount that is in excess of federally insured limits. Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Accounts receivable are customer and other obligations due under normal trade terms. An allowance for doubtful accounts is not provided since, in the opinion of management, all accounts receivable recorded are deemed current and collectible. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company performs a review for the impairment of long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the assets are less than their carrying amounts or when other events occur which may indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Note Receivable Note receivable is accounted for on an amortized cost basis, net of original issue discount. Interest income is accrued over the term of the note using the effective interest method. The Company performs a review for the impairment of the note receivable on a quarterly basis and provides for an allowance for credit losses if all or a portion of the note is determined to be uncollectible. Securities Owned and Securities Sold, but not yet Purchased (at fair value) Securities owned and securities sold, but not yet purchased are securities classified as either trading or available-for-sale. These securities are recorded on their trade date and are measured at fair value. All equity securities are classified by the Company as trading. Debt securities are classified based primarily on the Company’s intent to hold or sell the security. Changes in the fair value of securities classified as trading are reported in other income in the period the change occurs. Unrealized gains and losses of securities classified as available-for-sale are included in other comprehensive income. Once sold, amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income and into earnings are determined using the specific identification method. Available-for-sale securities are assessed for impairment on a quarterly basis. Securities Held-to-Maturity The Company accounts for certain of its investments as held-to-maturity on a trade date basis, which are recorded at amortized cost. For held-to-maturity investments, the Company has the intent and ability to hold investments to maturity and it is not more-likely-than-not that the Company will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost bases, which may be maturity. On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews its portfolio of investments for impairment. If a decline in fair value is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the security is written down to its fair value through earnings. Investments, Carried at Cost The Company accounts for equity investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value as cost method investments under the measurement alternative prescribed within Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities , to the extent such investments are not subject to consolidation or the equity method. Under the measurement alternative, these financial instruments are carried at cost, less any impairment (assessed quarterly), plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. In addition, income is recognized when dividends are received only to the extent they are distributed from net accumulated earnings of the investee. Otherwise, such distributions are considered returns of investment and are recorded as a reduction of the cost of the investment. Goodwill Goodwill is the excess of the fair value of the purchase price over the fair values of the identifiable net assets at the acquisition date. The Company tests its goodwill for impairment at least annually and at the time of a triggering event requiring re-evaluation, if one were to occur, in accordance with ASU 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment . The Company early adopted the revised guidance for the impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. Under the revised guidance, goodwill is considered impaired when the estimated fair value of the reporting unit that was allocated the goodwill is less than its carrying value. If the estimated fair value of such reporting unit is less than its carrying value, goodwill impairment is recognized based on that difference, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. A reporting unit is an operating segment or a component of an operating segment provided that the component constitutes a business for which discrete financial information is available and management regularly reviews the operating results of that component. For impairment testing purposes, goodwill has been allocated to the Company’s U.S. Business reporting unit which is assessed annually for impairment on April 30 th . In addition, goodwill arising from the ETFS Acquisition (See Note 3) has been allocated to the European Business reporting unit, included within the International Business reportable segment and is assessed annually for impairment on November 30 th . When performing its goodwill impairment test, the Company considers a qualitative assessment, when appropriate, and the income approach, market approach and its market capitalization when determining the fair value of its reporting units. Intangible Assets Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment at least annually and are also reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired if their estimated fair values are less than their carrying values. Finite-lived intangible assets, if any, are amortized over their estimated useful life, which is the period over which the assets are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to the future cash flows of the Company. These intangible assets are tested for impairment at the time of a triggering event, if one were to occur. Finite-lived intangible assets may be impaired when the estimated undiscounted future cash flows generated from the assets are less than their carrying amounts. The Company may rely on a qualitative assessment when performing its intangible asset impairment test. Otherwise, the impairment evaluation is performed at the lowest level of reasonably identifiable cash flows independent of other assets. The annual impairment testing date for all of the Company’s intangible assets is November 30 th . Leases Effective January 1, 2019, the Company accounts for its lease obligations in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”) , which requires the recognition of both (i) a lease liability equal to the present value of the remaining lease payments and (ii) an offsetting right-of-use asset (See Note 14). The remaining lease payments are discounted using the rate implicit in the lease, if known, or otherwise the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. After lease commencement, right-of-use assets are assessed for impairment and otherwise are amortized over the remaining lease term on a straight-line basis. These recognition requirements are not applied to short-term leases which are those with a lease term of 12 months or less. Instead, lease payments associated with short-term leases are recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. ASC 842 also provides a practical expedient which allows for consideration in a contract to be accounted for as a single lease component rather than allocated between lease and non-lease components. The Company has elected to apply this practical expedient to all lease contracts, where applicable. Upon adoption of ASC 842 on January 1, 2019, the Company applied the transitional practical expedients to its outstanding leases and therefore the Company did not reassess (i) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases; (ii) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases and; (iii) initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company also elected to apply the new lease requirements at the effective date, rather than the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. Deferred Consideration – Gold Payments Deferred consideration represents the present value of an obligation to pay gold to a third party into perpetuity and is measured using forward-looking gold prices and a selected discount rate (See Note 11). Changes in the fair value of this obligation are reported as gain/(loss) on revaluation of deferred consideration – gold payments on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Long-Term Debt Long-term debt is carried at amortized cost, net of debt issuance costs. Interest expense is recognized using the effective interest method and includes amortization of debt issuance costs over the life of the debt. Earnings per Share Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Net income available to common stockholders represents net income of the Company reduced by an allocation of earnings to participating securities. The preferred stock issued in connection with the ETFS Acquisition (see Note 13) and unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and are included in the computation of EPS pursuant to the two-class method. Share-based payment awards that do not contain such rights are not deemed participating securities and are included in diluted shares outstanding (if dilutive) under the treasury stock method. Diluted EPS reflects the reduction in earnings per share assuming dilutive options or other dilutive contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. Diluted EPS is calculated under the treasury stock and if-converted method and the two-class method. The calculation that results in the most dilutive EPS amount for the common stock is reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method, which requires the determination of deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the differences between the financial and tax bases of assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Tax positions are evaluated utilizing a two-step process. The Company first determines whether any of its tax positions are more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination, based solely on the technical merits of the position. Once it is determined that a position meets this recognition threshold, the position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company records interest expense and penalties related to tax expenses as income tax expense. Non-income based taxes are recorded as part of other liabilities and other expenses. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) – Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13). The main objective of the standard is to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. In issuing this standard, the FASB is responding to criticism that today’s guidance delays recognition of credit losses. The standard will replace today’s “incurred loss” approach with an “expected loss” model. The new model, referred to as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model, will apply to: (1) financial assets subject to credit losses and measured at amortized cost, and (2) certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. The standard is applicable to loans, accounts receivable, trade receivables, and other financial assets measured at amortized cost, loan commitments and certain other off-balance sheet credit exposures, debt securities (including those held-to-maturity) and other financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income, and beneficial interests in securitized financial assets. The CECL model does not apply to available-for-sale debt securities. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, entities will measure credit losses in a manner similar to what they do today, except that the credit losses will be recognized as allowances rather than reductions in the amortized cost of the securities. Accordingly, the new methodology will be utilized when assessing the Company’s financial instruments for impairment. As a result, entities will recognize improvements to estimated credit losses immediately in earnings rather than as interest income over time, as they do today. The ASU also simplifies the accounting model for purchased credit-impaired debt securities and loans. ASU 2016-13 also expands the disclosure requirements regarding an entity’s assumptions, models, and methods for estimating the allowance for loan and lease losses. ASU 2016-13 is effective for years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years under a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted for the periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and plans to adopt this standard on January 1, 2020. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) – Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (ASU 2018-13), which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements, including removing the requirement to disclose (1) the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, (2) the policy for timing of transfers between levels and (3) the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 also added new disclosures including the requirement to disclose (a) the changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and (b) the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 is effective for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. This standard will only impact the disclosures pertaining to fair value measurements. The Company plans to adopt this standard on January 1, 2020.

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