10-K 1 usglobal20180630b_10k.htm FORM 10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

☒ Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 201 8

or

☐ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

for the transition period from _____ to _____

Commission File Number 0-13928

U.S. GLOBAL INVESTORS, INC.

Incorporated in the State of Texas

IRS Employer Identification No. 74-1598370

Principal Executive Offices:

7900 Callaghan Road

San Antonio, Texas 78229

Telephone Number: 210-308-1234

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Class A common stock

($0.025 par value per share)

Registered: NASDAQ Capital Market

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the Company (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulations S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company ☒
Emerging growth company ☐ |

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes ☐ No ☒

The aggregate market value of the 9,708,879 shares of nonvoting class A common stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant was $37,864,628, based on the last sale price quoted on NASDAQ as of December 31, 2017, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. Registrant’s only voting stock is its class C common stock, par value of $0.025 per share, for which there is no active market. The aggregate value of the 4,297 shares of the class C common stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant on December 31, 2017 (based on the last sale price of the class C common stock in a private transaction) was $1,074. For purposes of this disclosure only, the registrant has assumed that its directors, executive officers, and beneficial owners of 5 percent or more of the registrant’s common stock are affiliates of the registrant.

On August 24, 2018, there were 13,866,691 shares of Registrant’s class A nonvoting common stock issued and 13,075,749 shares of Registrant’s class A nonvoting common stock issued and outstanding, no shares of Registrant’s class B nonvoting common stock outstanding, and 2,068,857 shares of Registrant’s class C voting common stock issued and outstanding.

Documents incorporated by reference: None

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Part I of Annual Report on Form 10-K | 1
Item 1. Business | 1
Item 1A. Risk Factors | 6
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments | 10
Item 2. Properties | 10
Item 3. Legal Proceedings | 10
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures | 10
Part II of Annual Report on Form 10-K | 11
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | 11
Item 6. Selected Financial Data | 12
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 13
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 26
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | 28
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure | 56
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures | 56
Item 9B. Other Information | 56
Part III of Annual Report on Form 10-K | 57
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance | 57
Item 11. Executive Compensation | 60
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters | 66
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence | 67
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services | 68
Part IV of Annual Report on Form 10-K | 69
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules | 69
Signatures | 71
Exhibit 21 — Subsidiaries of the Company, Jurisdiction of Incorporation, and Percentage of Ownership |
Exhibit 23.1 — Consent of BDO USA, LLP |
Exhibit 31.1 — Rule 13a – 14(a) Certifications (under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) |
Exhibit 32.1 — Section 1350 Certifications (under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) |

Table of Contents

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 three business segments:

| 1. | Investment Management Services, through which the Company offers, to U.S. Global Investors Funds (“USGIF” or the “Fund(s)”), offshore clients, and exchange traded fund (“ETF”) clients, a range of investment management products and services to meet the needs of individual and institutional investors;

| 2. | Investment Management Services - Canada, through which the Company owns a 65 percent controlling interest in Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc. (“Galileo”), a privately held Toronto-based asset management firm which offers investment management products and services in Canada; and

| 3. | Corporate Investments, through which the Company invests for its own account in an effort to add growth and value to its cash position. Although the Company generates the majority of its revenues from its investment advisory segments, the Company holds a significant amount of its total assets in investments.

As part of its investment management businesses, 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. The Company also provided distribution services through December 2015 to USGIF.

Lines of Business

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. The Board of Trustees of USGIF will meet to consider the agreement renewal in September 2018. Management anticipates that the advisory agreement will be renewed.

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In addition to providing advisory services to USGIF, the Company provides advisory services to two ETFs. U.S. Global Jets ETF commenced operations in April 2015, and U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF commenced operations in June 2017.

The Company also provided advisory services to two offshore clients. The offshore clients liquidated during fiscal 2018.

Net assets under management on June 30, 2018, and June 30, 2017, are detailed in the following table.

Assets Under Management (“AUM”) |
Fund |  | Ticker |  | June 30, 2018 |  |  | June 30, 2017 |
(dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Global Investors Funds |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Natural Resources |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Global Resources |  | PSPFX/PIPFX |  | $ | 84,769 |  |  | $ | 90,690 |
World Precious Minerals |  | UNWPX/UNWIX |  |  | 98,063 |  |  |  | 130,382 |
Gold and Precious Metals |  | USERX |  |  | 91,507 |  |  |  | 98,530 |
Total Natural Resources |  |  | 274,339 |  |  |  | 319,602 |
International Equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Emerging Europe |  | EUROX |  |  | 38,706 |  |  |  | 45,654 |
China Region |  | USCOX |  |  | 21,592 |  |  |  | 20,812 |
Total International Equity |  |  | 60,298 |  |  |  | 66,466 |
Fixed Income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Government Securities Ultra-Short Bond |  | UGSDX |  |  | 47,997 |  |  |  | 52,555 |
Near-Term Tax Free |  | NEARX |  |  | 58,234 |  |  |  | 83,945 |
Total Fixed Income |  |  | 106,231 |  |  |  | 136,500 |
Domestic Equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Holmes Macro Trends |  | MEGAX |  |  | 39,453 |  |  |  | 40,190 |
All American Equity |  | GBTFX |  |  | 15,352 |  |  |  | 16,658 |
Total Domestic Equity |  |  | 54,805 |  |  |  | 56,848 |
Total U.S. Global Investors Funds |  |  | 495,673 |  |  |  | 579,416 |
ETF Clients |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Global Jets ETF |  | JETS |  |  | 92,542 |  |  |  | 114,929 |
U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF |  | GOAU |  |  | 12,083 |  |  |  | 2,376 |
Total ETF Clients |  |  | 104,625 |  |  |  | 117,305 |
Offshore Advisory Clients |  |  | - |  |  |  | 15,213 |
|  |  |  |  | 600,298 |  |  |  | 711,934 |
Total Canada AUM (see separate discussion) |  |  | 46,731 |  |  |  | 47,787 |
Total AUM |  | $ | 647,029 |  |  | $ | 759,721 |

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. Prior to December 10, 2015, it provided office space, facilities and certain business equipment as well as the services of executive and clerical personnel for administering the affairs of the Funds. U.S. Global and its affiliates compensated all personnel, officers, directors and interested trustees of the Funds if such persons were also employees of the Company or its affiliates. Effective December 10, 2015, the Company entered into an amended administrative services agreement with USGIF whereby the Company and a third party act as co-administrators to the Funds. The Company continues to assist with certain administrative tasks. Effective December 10, 2015, the annual rate changed from 0.10 percent to 0.05 percent for each investor class and from 0.08 percent to 0.04 percent for each institutional class, and the previous $7,000 annual per fund fee was eliminated. The administrative services agreement with USGIF is subject to renewal on an annual basis and is terminable upon 60-day notice. The Board of Trustees of USGIF will meet to consider the agreement renewal in September 2018. Management anticipates that the administrative services agreement will be renewed.

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Distribution Services. Prior to December 10, 2015, the Company provided distribution services to USGIF. In doing so, the Company had registered its wholly-owned subsidiary, U.S. Global Brokerage, Inc. (“USGB”), with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the SEC and appropriate state regulatory authorities as a limited-purpose broker-dealer for the purpose of distributing Fund shares. Effective December 10, 2015, USGB ceased to be the distributor for USGIF. The Company filed Form BDW, the Uniform Request Withdrawal From Broker-Dealer Registration, with FINRA, which was approved in February 2016. On July 27, 2018, USGB was dissolved.

Shareholder Services. Prior to December 10, 2015, in connection with obtaining and/or providing administrative services to the beneficial owners of USGIF through broker-dealers, banks, trust companies and similar institutions which provide such services, the Company received shareholder services fees at an annual rate of up to 0.20 percent of the value of shares held in accounts at the institutions, which helped to offset related platform costs. This agreement ceased on December 10, 2015.

Investment Management Services - Canada

Assets Under Management (“AUM”) |
(dollars in thousands) |  | Ticker |  |  | June 30, 2018 |  |  | June 30, 2017 |
Galileo Funds |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Galileo High Income Plus Fund |  | N/A 1 |  |  | $ | 35,647 |  |  | $ | 42,916 |
Galileo Growth and Income Fund |  | N/A 1 |  |  |  | 2,565 |  |  |  | 3,181 |
Galileo Partners Fund |  | N/A 1 |  |  |  | 1,823 |  |  |  | 39 |
Galileo Technology and Blockchain Fund |  | N/A 1 |  |  |  | 1,112 |  |  |  | - |
Total Galileo Funds |  |  |  |  |  | 41,147 |  |  |  | 46,136 |
U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF |  | GOGO 1 |  |  |  | 4,023 |  |  |  | - |
Other Advisory Clients |  |  |  |  |  | 1,561 |  |  |  | 1,651 |
Total Canada AUM |  |  |  |  | $ | 46,731 |  |  | $ | 47,787 |

1. | The funds managed by Galileo (“Galileo Funds”) are registered in Canada and are not available in the United States.

The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, U.S. Global Investors (Canada) Limited (“USCAN”), owns 65 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc., a privately held Toronto-based asset management firm, which represents controlling interest of Galileo. The non-controlling interest in this subsidiary is included in “non-controlling interest in subsidiaries” in the equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Frank Holmes, CEO, serves as a director of Galileo. Lisa Callicotte, CFO, also serves as a director of Galileo effective July 2018.

Galileo Equity Management Inc. was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on July 16, 1999. In May, 2007, its name changed to Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc. Galileo is registered as a portfolio manager and exempt market dealer with the Ontario Securities Commission (“OSC”), the Alberta Securities Commission, and the British Columbia Securities Commission. Additionally, the company is registered as an investment fund manager in Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Corporate Investments

Investment Activities. In addition to providing management and advisory services, the Company is actively engaged in trading 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.

Employees

As of June 30, 2018, U.S. Global and its wholly-owned subsidiaries employed 24 full-time employees and 1 part-time employee. The Company considers its relationship with its employees to be good.

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Competition

The mutual fund industry is highly competitive. According to the Investment Company Institute, at the end of 2017 there were approximately 9,400 domestically registered open-end investment companies and approximately 1,900 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 and emerging markets. 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 other clients effectively. Sales of Fund shares generate management and administrative services fees (which are based on the assets of the Funds). 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, and emerging markets, 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 and its subsidiaries 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.

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

Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc. (“Galileo”) is registered as a portfolio manager and investment fund manager with the Ontario Securities Commission (“OSC”). As a registered portfolio manager, the OSC imposes substantive regulation on virtually all aspects of Galileo's business and relationships with Galileo’s clients. Applicable legislation 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 Canadian funds for which Galileo acts as the investment fund manager are registered with the OSC pursuant to National Instrument 81-101/102/106. These National Policies impose additional obligations, including detailed operational requirements for both funds and their managers. The OSC is authorized to institute proceedings and impose sanctions for violations of the rules ranging from fines and censures to termination of a portfolio manager and investment fund manager’s registration. The failure of Galileo, or the Canadian funds which Galileo advises, to comply with the requirements of the OSC could have a material adverse effect on Galileo.

U.S. Global and Galileo manage 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 and National Instrument 23-102, as applicable. 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 businesses of the Company are to a very significant degree dependent on their associations and contractual relationships with USGIF. In the event the advisory or administrative agreements with USGIF are canceled or not renewed pursuant to the terms thereof, the Company would be substantially adversely affected. U.S. Global considers its relationships with the Funds 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 will choose to continue its relationship with the Company.

In addition, the Company is also dependent on its relationships with its exchange traded fund clients. Even though the Company views its relationship with its exchange traded fund clients as stable, the Company could be adversely affected if that relationship ended.

Galileo is also dependent on its relationships with its clients. Even though Galileo views its relationship with its clients as stable, the Company could be adversely affected if these relationships ended.

Available Information

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, soon after such material is filed or furnished. (The link to the Company’s SEC filings can be found at www.usfunds.com by clicking “About Us,” followed by “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 Officers 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. 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 www.sec.gov.

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The public may read and copy any materials filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

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.

The investment management business is intensely competitive.

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

● | Investment performance;

● | Investor perception of an investment team’s drive, focus, and alignment of interest with them;

● | Quality of service provided to, and duration of relationships with, clients and shareholders;

● | Business reputation; and

● | Level of fees charged for services.

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.

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.

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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.

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 the Funds 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.

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:

● | Decreases in assets under management;

● | Variations in quarterly and annual operating results;

● | Publication of research reports about the Company or the investment management industry;

● | Departures of key personnel;

● | Adverse market reactions to any indebtedness the Company may incur, acquisitions or disposals the Company may make, or securities the Company may issue in the future;

● | Changes in market valuations of similar companies;

● | Changes or proposed changes in laws or regulations, or differing interpretations thereof, affecting the business, or enforcement of these laws and regulations, or announcements relating to these matters;

● | Adverse publicity about the asset management industry, generally, or individual scandals, specifically; and

● | General market and economic conditions.

In addition, the Company has invested in a security in the cryptocurrency mining industry through its corporate investments and indirectly through investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting. 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.

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

The Company has invested in a security in the cryptocurrency mining industry through its corporate investments and indirectly through investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Cryptocurrency markets and related stocks have been, and are expected to continue to be, volatile. Cryptocurrency mining is considered an early stage high-risk industry, and the nature of mining is expected to evolve. There is potential for significant volatility in the valuation of the Company’s cryptocurrency-related investments.

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.

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

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to a variety of 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.

Furthermore, Galileo is subject to the rules and regulations of the OSC, and failure of the company or the funds it advises to comply with the requirements of the OSC could have a material adverse effect on the company.

Our b usiness i s s ubject t o s ubstantial r isk f rom l itigation, r egulatory i nvestigations a nd p otential s ecurities l aws l iability.

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.

Galileo is also subject to risks of litigation, regulatory investigations and/or arbitration. Galileo is exposed to liability under provincial laws and court decisions, as well as rules and regulations promulgated by the OSC.

Higher insurance premiums and related i nsurance c overage r isks 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.

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

During the past two decades, federal securities laws have been substantially augmented and made significantly more complex by the S-Ox Act and the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001. 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 new requirements, the Company has had to expend additional time and resources, including substantial efforts to conduct evaluations required to ensure compliance with the S-Ox Act.

The Company is subject to financial services laws, regulations, corporate governance requirements, administrative actions and policies. During 2009 and 2010, as many emergency government programs slowed or wound down, global regulatory and legislative focus generally moved to a second phase of broader reform and a restructuring of financial institution regulation. On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”), which fundamentally changed the U.S. financial regulatory landscape. The full scope of the regulatory changes imposed by the Dodd-Frank Act will only be determined once extensive rules and regulations have been proposed and become effective, which may result in significant changes in the manner in which the Company’s operations are regulated.

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.

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.

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 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. This lack of voting rights may adversely affect the market value of the publicly traded class A nonvoting common stock.

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 fail s to properly safeguard sensitive and conf idential 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.

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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.

Adverse changes in foreign currencies c ould negatively impact financial results.

Our subsidiary Galileo conducts its business in Canada. We translate Galileo’s foreign currency financial statements into U.S. dollars in the financial statement consolidation process. Adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates would lower the carrying value of Galileo’s assets and reduce its results in the consolidated U.S. financial statements. We also have certain corporate investments held in foreign currencies. Adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates would also lower the value of those 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 we receive.

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.

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. Galileo leases office space in Toronto, Canada.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

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

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

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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.

The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices of “GROW” from NASDAQ for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2018, and June 30, 2017. The quotations represent prices between dealers and do not include any retail markup, markdown, or commission.

|  | Sales Price |
|  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
|  | High ($) |  |  | Low ($) |  |  | High ($) |  |  | Low ($) |
First quarter (9/30) |  |  | 2.40 |  |  |  | 1.25 |  |  |  | 2.33 |  |  |  | 1.70 |
Second quarter (12/31) |  |  | 7.49 |  |  |  | 1.96 |  |  |  | 1.95 |  |  |  | 1.25 |
Third quarter (3/31) |  |  | 5.41 |  |  |  | 2.37 |  |  |  | 2.05 |  |  |  | 1.39 |
Fourth quarter (6/30) |  |  | 3.20 |  |  |  | 1.46 |  |  |  | 1.59 |  |  |  | 1.25 |

Holders

On August 24, 2018, there were approximately 143 holders of record of class A common stock, no holders of record of class B common stock, and 27 holders of record of class C common stock.

Dividends

The Company paid $0.0025 per share per month in fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2017. A monthly dividend of $0.0025 has been authorized from July 2018 through September 2018, and will be reviewed by the Board quarterly. 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.

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 $2.75 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, 2018. The repurchase program has been in place since December 2012, and the Board of Directors has annually renewed the repurchase program each calendar year.

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For the quarter ended June 30, 2018, the Company purchased a total of 1,000 class A shares using cash of $2,000. The Company may repurchase class A stock from employees; however, none were repurchased from employees during the quarter ended June 30, 2018. The Company did not repurchase any classes B or C common stock during the quarter ended June 30, 2018.

(dollars in thousands, except price data) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period |  |  | Total Number of Shares Purchased 1 |  |  | Total Amount Purchased |  |  | Average Price Paid Per Share 2 |  |  | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan 3 |  |  | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plan |
04-01-18 to 04-30-18 |  |  |  | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  | - |  |  | $ | 2,742 |
05-01-18 to 05-31-18 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 2,742 |
06-01-18 to 06-30-18 |  |  |  | 1,000 |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  | 1.68 |  |  |  | 1,000 |  |  |  | 2,740 |
Total |  |  |  | 1,000 |  |  | $ | 2 |  |  | $ | 1.68 |  |  |  | 1,000 |  |  |  |  |

1. | The Board of Directors of the Company approved on December 7, 2012, and renewed on December 12, 2013, December 10, 2014, December 9, 2015, December 6, 2016, and December 5, 2017, a repurchase of up to $2.75 million in each of calendar years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively, of its outstanding class A common stock from time to time on the open market in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations.

2. | The average price paid per share of stock repurchased under the stock repurchase program includes the commissions paid to brokers.

3. | The repurchase plan was approved on December 7, 2012, renewed on December 12, 2013, December 10, 2014, December 9, 2015, December 6, 2016, and December 5, 2017, and will continue through calendar year 201 8. The total dollar amount of shares that may be repurchased in 201 8 under the renewed program is $2.75 million.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Not applicable for smaller reporting companies.

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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. These markets are volatile and cyclical.

Spot gold finished the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, at $1,253.17, up just under 1 percent for the trailing 12 months. Prices averaged closer to $1,300, and on at least a half dozen occasions, gold traded above $1,350 but was not able to sustain those price levels given the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes. The inflation rate as measured by the consumer price index (“CPI”) rose to 2.9 percent in June 2018, compared to 1.6 percent from a year earlier. The Fed noted it was comfortable with letting inflation overshoot the 2 percent target in the near term. Oil prices climbed throughout fiscal year 2018, starting at just under $50 per barrel and steadily reaching $70. Copper and other base metals also ended the fiscal year higher but with more volatility.

The Company’s emerging markets products experienced mixed conditions. In general, for the China and Eastern European regions, markets were in rally mode for the first half of the fiscal year, but with the start of 2018 and President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum, markets turned lower. Eastern European markets held on to modest gains for fiscal year 2018. China, by contrast, saw a pullback. Throughout the fiscal year, President Trump often tweeted his negative view on Chinese trade and technology transfers and threatened to saddle all Chinese trade under tariff protection. The Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite fell 6.65 percent during fiscal year 2018.

In addition to its gold, natural resources and emerging markets funds, the Company has domestic equity and fixed income funds in the U.S. and, through a subsidiary, Canada. While these products do not drive the Company’s profitability as much as the more specialized products, they provide an opportunity to offer shareholders diversification and less volatility than the niche markets.

Congress passed a tax cut that President Trump signed into law in December 2017. Supporters anticipate faster economic growth under the policy. But with the Fed trying to normalize interest rates, stronger growth could present a challenge to its plans. While economic growth has been on track, the challenges presented by the talk of more tariffs may slow down some business decisions.

Mutual funds in general continued to see outflows compared to other investment alternatives, including ETFs. In April 2015, the Company launched its first ETF product, the U.S. Global Jets ETF (ticker JETS), which concentrates on the U.S. and international airline industry. The industry experienced some headwinds with rising fuel costs over the course of the year, but financial discipline was maintained.

The Company launched its second ETF offering in June 2017, the U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF (ticker GOAU). Galileo launched the Canadian version of this ETF on the Toronto Stock Exchange in September 2017 (Canadian ticker GOGO). These ETFs enable the Company to expand its expertise in precious metals in a different product structure.

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, our expense model somewhat expands and contracts with asset swings and performance.

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Business Segments

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

| 1. | Investment management services, through which the Company offers, to U.S. Global Investors Funds (“USGIF” or the “Fund(s)”), ETF and offshore clients, a range of investment management products and services to meet the needs of individual and institutional investors;

| 2. | Investment management services - Canada, through which the Company owns a 65 percent controlling interest in Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc. (“Galileo”), a privately held Toronto-based asset management firm which offers investment management products and services in Canada; and

| 3. | Corporate investments, through which the Company invests for its own account in an effort to add growth and value to its cash position. Although the Company generates the majority of its revenues from its investment advisory segments, the Company holds a significant amount of its total assets in investments.

Assets Under Management ("AUM") |
(dollars in thousands) |  | June 30, 2018 |  |  | June 30, 2017 |
Investment Management Services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
USGIF |  | $ | 495,673 |  |  | $ | 579,416 |
ETF Clients |  |  | 104,625 |  |  |  | 117,305 |
Offshore Advisory Clients |  |  | - |  |  |  | 15,213 |
Total AUM |  |  | 600,298 |  |  |  | 711,934 |
Investment Management Services - Canada |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Galileo Funds |  |  | 41,147 |  |  |  | 46,136 |
ETF Client |  |  | 4,023 |  |  |  | - |
Other Advisory Clients |  |  | 1,561 |  |  |  | 1,651 |
Total AUM |  |  | 46,731 |  |  |  | 47,787 |
Total AUM |  | $ | 647,029 |  |  | $ | 759,721 |

On June 30, 2018, total AUM as of period end was $647 million versus $760 million on June 30, 2017, a decrease of 14.8 percent. The decrease was primarily due to shareholder redemptions in USGIF, the Galileo Funds and other Canadian advisory clients and the liquidation of the offshore clients.

During fiscal year 2018, average AUM was $729 million versus $843 million in fiscal year 2017, a decrease of 13.5 percent. The decrease was primarily due to market depreciation and shareholder redemptions in the gold funds starting in fiscal year 2017 and continuing into fiscal year 2018 due to unfavorable market conditions in the gold and precious metals sectors. In addition, average AUM decreased due to shareholder redemptions in the fixed income funds, the offshore clients liquidating in fiscal 2018 and net shareholder redemptions in the Galileo funds. This was somewhat offset by an increase in ETF average AUM from $60 million to $117 million, or 95 percent, as new ETFs were launched in June 2017 and September 2017.

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

Investment Management Services

In fiscal year 2018, the Company generated a majority of its operating revenues from managing and servicing the Funds. The Company recorded advisory and administrative services fees from USGIF totaling approximately $4.1 million and $5.2 million in fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2017, 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.

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The Company also provides advisory services for two ETFs and receives monthly advisory fees based on the net asset values. The Company recorded advisory fees from the ETF clients totaling $701,000 and $357,000 in fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2017, respectively. Information on the 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 Company provided advisory services for two offshore clients and received monthly advisory fees based on the net asset values of the clients and performance fees, if any, based on the overall increase in net asset values. The Company recorded advisory fees from the offshore clients of $3,000 and $135,000 in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively. No performance fees from the offshore clients were recorded in fiscal years 2018 and 2017. Frank Holmes, CEO, served as a director of the two offshore clients. The offshore clients liquidated during fiscal 2018.

The following tables summarize the changes in assets under management for USGIF for fiscal years 2018 and 2017.

|  | 2018 |
(dollars in thousands) |  | Equity |  |  | Fixed Income |  |  | Total |
Beginning Balance |  | $ | 442,916 |  |  | $ | 136,500 |  |  | $ | 579,416 |
Market appreciation |  |  | 388 |  |  |  | 289 |  |  |  | 677 |
Dividends and distributions |  |  | (34,478 | ) |  |  | (1,270 | ) |  |  | (35,748 | )
Net shareholder redemptions |  |  | (19,384 | ) |  |  | (29,288 | ) |  |  | (48,672 | )
Ending Balance |  | $ | 389,442 |  |  | $ | 106,231 |  |  | $ | 495,673 |
Average investment management fee |  |  | 1.00 | % |  |  | 0.06 | % |  |  | 0.80 | %
Average net assets |  | $ | 434,649 |  |  | $ | 121,138 |  |  | $ | 555,787 |

|  | 2017 |
(dollars in thousands) |  | Equity |  |  | Fixed Income |  |  | Total |
Beginning Balance |  | $ | 525,778 |  |  | $ | 177,242 |  |  | $ | 703,020 |
Market depreciation |  |  | (32,633 | ) |  |  | (594 | ) |  |  | (33,227 | )
Dividends and distributions |  |  | (7,722 | ) |  |  | (1,577 | ) |  |  | (9,299 | )
Net shareholder redemptions |  |  | (42,507 | ) |  |  | (38,571 | ) |  |  | (81,078 | )
Ending Balance |  | $ | 442,916 |  |  | $ | 136,500 |  |  | $ | 579,416 |
Average investment management fee |  |  | 0.97 | % |  |  | 0.01 | % |  |  | 0.74 | %
Average net assets |  | $ | 504,524 |  |  | $ | 158,723 |  |  | $ | 663,247 |

As shown above, average assets under management for USGIF decreased in fiscal year 2018 compared to fiscal year 2017. Period-end assets also decreased.

The decrease in average assets under management in fiscal year 2018 and period-end assets was primarily due to shareholder redemptions in the natural resources, international equity and fixed income funds. A significant portion of the dividends and distributions shown above are reinvested and included in net shareholder purchases (redemptions).

The average annualized investment management fee rate (total advisory fees, excluding performance fees, as a percentage of average assets under management) was 80 basis points in fiscal year 2018 and 74 basis points in fiscal year 2017. The average investment management fee for equity funds in fiscal year 2018 and 2017 was 100 and 97 basis points, respectively. The average investment management fee for the fixed income funds in fiscal year 2018 and 2017 was 6 and 1 basis points, respectively. The low fee rate for the fixed income funds is due to voluntary fee waivers on these funds as discussed in Note 4, Investment Management and Other Fees, in the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Investment Management Services – Canada

The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, U.S. Global Investors (Canada) Limited (“USCAN”), owns 65 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of Galileo, a privately held Toronto-based asset management firm, which represented controlling interest of Galileo. The non-controlling interest in this subsidiary is included in “non-controlling interest in subsidiary” in the equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Frank Holmes, CEO, serves as a director of Galileo. Lisa Callicotte, CFO, also serves as a director of Galileo effective July 2018.

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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 market value, cost, and unrealized gain or loss on investments recorded at fair value as of June 30, 2018, and June 30, 2017.

Securities |  | Market Value |  |  | Cost |  |  | Unrealized Gain (Loss) |  |  | Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of tax |
(dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trading¹ |  | $ | 8,179 |  |  | $ | 8,365 |  |  | $ | (186 | ) |  |  | N/A |
Available-for-sale² |  |  | 7,086 |  |  |  | 3,948 |  |  |  | 3,138 |  |  | $ | 2,089 |
Total at June 30, 2018 |  | $ | 15,265 |  |  | $ | 12,313 |  |  | $ | 2,952 |  |  |  |  |
Trading¹ |  | $ | 9,720 |  |  | $ | 10,648 |  |  | $ | (928 | ) |  |  | N/A |
Available-for-sale² |  |  | 3,401 |  |  |  | 2,940 |  |  |  | 461 |  |  | $ | 461 |
Total at June 30, 2017 |  | $ | 13,121 |  |  | $ | 13,588 |  |  | $ | (467 | ) |  |  |  |

1. | Unrealized and realized gains and losses on trading securities are included in earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

2. | Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized.

The investments shown above include investments at fair value of $9.6 million and $11.1 million, as of June 30, 2018, and 2017, respectively, invested in USGIF and offshore funds the Company advised.

Investments in securities classified as trading are reflected as current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair market value. Unrealized gains and losses on trading securities are included in earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Investments in securities classified as available for sale, which may not be readily marketable but have readily determinable fair values, are reflected as non-current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized.

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

● | realized gains and losses on sales of securities;

● | unrealized gains and losses on trading securities;

● | realized foreign currency gains and losses;

● | other-than-temporary impairments on available-for-sale securities;

● | other-than-temporary impairments on held-at-cost securities; and

● | dividend and interest income.

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 years 2018 and 2017, the Company had total investment income of $1.5 million and $346,000, respectively. Due to market volatility, the Company expects that gains or losses will continue to fluctuate in the future.

A substantial portion of the available-for-sale securities recorded at fair value in the above table is an investment in HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (“HIVE”), which was valued at $5.6 million at June 30, 2018. 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 and Sweden. Frank Holmes, CEO, is the non-executive chairman of HIVE. Effective August 31, 2018, upon the retirement of HIVE’s CEO and until a new CEO is hired, Mr. Holmes became Interim Executive Chairman of HIVE. Cryptocurrency markets and related stocks have been, and are expected to continue to be, volatile. Cryptocurrency mining is considered an early stage high-risk industry, and the nature of mining is expected to evolve. There is potential for significant volatility in the market price of HIVE, which could materially impact the investment’s value included on the balance sheet and unrealized gain (loss).

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As discussed in Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company will adopt ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, effective July 1, 2018. Thereafter, changes in the fair value of investments formerly classified as available-for-sale will be reported through earnings rather than through other comprehensive income. The Company anticipates that this will cause investment income (loss), and thus the Company’s net income (loss), to be more volatile.

In addition to the investments above, as of June 30, 2018, and 2017, the Company owned other investments of approximately $2.2 million and $2.1 million, respectively, accounted for under the cost method of accounting. The Company also had invested in notes receivable of approximately $234,000 and $2.2 million at June 30, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

The Company also held an investment of approximately $283,000 as of June 30, 2018, accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This investment was in the Galileo Technology and Blockchain Fund, a Canadian unit trust investment fund managed by Galileo. During fiscal 2018, the Company was invested in another Galileo fund accounted for under the equity method of accounting that was redeemed prior to fiscal year end. Under the equity method, the Company’s proportional share of the fund’s net income or loss, which primarily consists of realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments offset by fund expenses, is recognized in the Company’s earnings. Income from these equity method investments for the year ended June 30, 2018, was $1.6 million. See further discussion on these equity method investments in Note 3, Investments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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, |
(dollars in thousands, except per share data) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Net Income (Loss) |  | $ | 689 |  |  | $ | (544 | )
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Non-Controlling Interest |  |  | 42 |  |  |  | (31 | )
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to U.S. Global Investors, Inc. |  | $ | 647 |  |  | $ | (513 | )
Weighted average number of outstanding shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  |  | 15,158,067 |  |  |  | 15,212,008 |
Effect of dilutive securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employee stock options |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Diluted |  |  | 15,158,067 |  |  |  | 15,212,008 |
Earnings Per Share Attributable to U.S. Global Investors, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  | $ | 0.04 |  |  | $ | (0.03 | )
Diluted |  | $ | 0.04 |  |  | $ | (0.03 | )

Year Ended June 30, 2018, Compared with Year Ended June 30, 2017

The Company posted net income attributable to U.S. Global Investors, Inc., as shown in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, of $647,000 ($0.04 per share) for the year ended June 30, 2018, compared with a net loss attributable to U.S. Global Investors, Inc. of $513,000 ($0.03 loss per share) for the year ended June 30, 2017, an increase in net income of approximately $1.2 million. The increase is primarily due to income from equity method investments, somewhat offset by a decrease in revenues, which was the result of a decrease in assets under management, and an increase in expenses as discussed further below.

Operating Revenues

Total consolidated operating revenues for the year ended June 30, 2018, decreased $502,000, or 7.4 percent, compared with the year ended June 30, 2017. This decrease was primarily attributable to the following:

| • | Advisory fees decreased by $466,000, or 7.2 percent, as the result of lower assets under management and higher performance fees paid. Advisory fees are comprised of two components: a base management fee and a performance fee.

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| o | Base management fees decreased $440,000. Base fees for USGIF and Galileo clients decreased primarily as a result of lower average assets under management, primarily due to shareholder redemptions. Base management fees for the offshore funds decreased due to these funds liquidating in the current year. These decreases were somewhat offset by an increase in ETF unitary management fees due to an increase in ETF average assets under management.

| o | Performance fee adjustments for USGIF paid out in the current year were $539,000 compared to $49,000 paid out in the prior year, reducing revenue by $490,000. The USGIF performance fee, which applies to the equity funds only, 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.

| o | Performance fees for Galileo clients received in the current year were $464,000 compared to none in the prior year, increasing revenue by $464,000. Galileo may receive performance fees from certain clients when market appreciation or realized net gains exceeds established benchmarks. The majority of the performance fees recorded in the period are annual performance fees calculated at calendar year-end.

| • | Administrative services fees decreased by $36,000, or 12.7 percent, primarily as a result of lower net assets under management upon which these fees are based in the current period.

Operating Expenses

Total consolidated operating expenses for the year ended June 30, 2018, increased by $913,000, or 12.0 percent, compared with the prior year. The change in operating expenses was primarily attributable to an increase in employee compensation and benefits expenses of $516,000, or 13.7 percent, primarily due to increased bonuses and group insurance costs, and an increase in general and administrative expenses of $372,000, or 10.6 percent, primarily due to increased ETF costs and increased costs by Galileo related to new fund startup costs.

Other Income

Total consolidated other income for the year ended June 30, 2018, increased $2.8 million, or 817.3 percent, compared with the year ended June 30, 2017. The increase was primarily due to investments made in fiscal 2018 in two Galileo funds that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting, the Company’s share of each fund’s net income or loss, which primarily consists of realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments offset by fund expenses, is recognized in the Company’s earnings. The Galileo funds’ investments are concentrated in cryptocurrency mining stocks. Cryptocurrency markets and related stocks have been, and are expected to continue to be, volatile. Cryptocurrency mining is considered an early stage high-risk industry, and the nature of mining is expected to evolve. There is potential for significant volatility in the valuation of the funds’ investments, and thus the funds’ net income or loss that is included in the Company’s earnings. Income from these equity method investments for the year ended June 30, 2018, was $1.6 million. See further discussion on these equity method investments in Note 3, Investments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Investment income for the year ended June 30, 2018, increased $1.2 million, or 334.7 percent, compared with the year ended June 30, 2017. This increase was primarily due to a positive change in unrealized gains/losses on trading securities of $727,000 and $483,000 less in impairment losses, somewhat offset by a decrease in net realized gains/losses on sales of securities of $98,000.

Provision for Income Taxes

Tax expense was $197,000 for the year ended June 30, 2018, compared to tax expense of $17,000 for the year ended June 30, 2017. Note that the Company currently has net operating loss carryovers in most jurisdictions, including the U.S. A valuation allowance has been recorded to fully reserve for net operating loss carryovers, other carryovers and certain book/tax differences in the balance sheet. The tax expense in the current year is primarily the result of tax-basis realized gain on the sale of an equity method investment held by U.S. Global Investors (Canada).

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“the Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2017. The Act reduces the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, requires companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred and creates new taxes on certain foreign sourced earnings. In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company revised its estimated annual effective rate to reflect a change in its federal statutory rate from 34 percent to 21 percent. The rate change was effective on January 1, 2018; therefore, the Company’s blended statutory tax rate for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, is approximately 28 percent. At June 30, 2018, the Company has not completed its accounting for all of the tax effects of enactment of the Act; and final transitional impacts of the Act may differ from the initial estimates.

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Operating Revenues and Other Income

(dollars in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |  |  | $ Change |  |  | % Change |
Investment advisory fees: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Natural resources funds |  | $ | 2,363 |  |  | $ | 3,728 |  |  | $ | (1,365 | ) |  |  | (36.6% | )
International equity funds |  |  | 964 |  |  |  | 702 |  |  |  | 262 |  |  |  | 37.3 | %
Domestic equity funds |  |  | 488 |  |  |  | 439 |  |  |  | 49 |  |  |  | 11.2 | %
Fixed income funds |  |  | 70 |  |  |  | 18 |  |  |  | 52 |  |  |  | 288.9 | %
Total investment advisory fees - USGIF |  |  | 3,885 |  |  |  | 4,887 |  |  |  | (1,002 | ) |  |  | (20.5% | )
Galileo advisory fees |  |  | 960 |  |  |  | 1,100 |  |  |  | (140 | ) |  |  | (12.7% | )
Galileo performance fees |  |  | 464 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 464 |  |  |  | N/A |
ETF advisory fees |  |  | 701 |  |  |  | 357 |  |  |  | 344 |  |  |  | 96.4 | %
Offshore advisory fees |  |  | 3 |  |  |  | 135 |  |  |  | (132 | ) |  |  | (97.8% | )
Total advisory fees |  |  | 6,013 |  |  |  | 6,479 |  |  |  | (466 | ) |  |  | (7.2% | )
Administrative services fees |  |  | 248 |  |  |  | 284 |  |  |  | (36 | ) |  |  | (12.7% | )
Total Operating Revenue |  | $ | 6,261 |  |  | $ | 6,763 |  |  | $ | (502 | ) |  |  | (7.4% | )
Other Income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment income |  | $ | 1,504 |  |  | $ | 346 |  |  | $ | 1,158 |  |  |  | 334.7 | %
Income from equity method investments |  |  | 1,624 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 1,624 |  |  |  | N/A |
Other income |  |  | 46 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 46 |  |  |  | N/A |
Total Other Income |  | $ | 3,174 |  |  | $ | 346 |  |  | $ | 2,828 |  |  |  | 817.3 | %

Advisory Fees. Advisory fees, the largest component of the Company’s operating revenues, are derived from four sources: USGIF advisory fees, Galileo advisory/performance fees, exchange-traded fund advisory fees and offshore advisory fees. In fiscal year 2018, these sources accounted for 64.6 percent, 23.7 percent, 11.7 percent and 0.0 percent, respectively, of the Company’s total advisory fees.

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, 2018 and 2017, the Company adjusted its base advisory fees downward by $539,000 and $49,000; respectively. USGIF advisory fees in total, including performance adjustments, decreased by approximately $1.0 million, or 20.5 percent, in fiscal year 2018 compared to fiscal year 2017, primarily as a result of the negative effect of performance adjustments and a decrease in average assets under management primarily driven by shareholder redemptions.

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

● | market appreciation or depreciation;

● | the addition of new fund shareholder accounts;

● | fund shareholder contributions of additional assets to existing accounts;

● | withdrawals of assets from and termination of fund shareholder accounts;

● | exchanges of assets between accounts or products with different fee structures; and

● | the amount of fees voluntarily reimbursed.

Galileo provides advisory services for clients in Canada and receives advisory fees based on the net asset values of the clients. Galileo recorded advisory fees from these clients totaling $960,000 and $1.1 million for the years ended June 30, 2018, and 2017, respectively. In addition, Galileo may receive performance fees from certain clients when market appreciation or realized net gains exceeds established benchmarks. Performance fees for Galileo clients received in the current year were $464,000 compared to none in the prior year. The majority of the performance fees recorded in the period are annual performance fees calculated at calendar year-end.

The Company also serves as investment advisor to two exchange-traded fund clients. U.S. Global Jets ETF commenced operations in April 2015, and U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF commenced operations in June 2017. 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. The Company recorded advisory fees from the ETF clients of $701,000 and $357,000 in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively.

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The Company provided advisory services for two offshore clients and received monthly advisory fees based on the net asset values of the clients and performance fees, if any, based on the overall increase in net asset values. The Company recorded advisory fees from the offshore clients of $3,000 and $135,000 in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively. No performance fees from the offshore clients were recorded in fiscal years 2018 or 2017. Frank Holmes, CEO, served as a director of the two offshore clients. The offshore clients liquidated during fiscal 2018.

Administrative Services Fees. The Funds pay the Company compensation based on average daily net assets for administrative services provided by the Company to the Funds. The Company recorded administrative services fees of $248,000 and $284,000 in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively. Administrative services fees decreased by $36,000 in fiscal year 2018 due to lower average net assets under management upon which these fees are based.

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

● | realized gains and losses on sales of securities;

● | unrealized gains and losses on trading securities;

● | realized foreign currency gains and losses;

● | other-than-temporary impairments on available-for-sale securities;

● | other-than-temporary impairments on held-at-cost securities; and

● | dividend and interest income.

This source of revenue is dependent on market fluctuations and does not remain at a consistent level. Timing of transactions and the Company’s ability to participate in investment opportunities largely affect this source of revenue.

Investment income increased $1.2 million in fiscal 2018 primarily due to a positive change in unrealized gains/losses on trading securities of $727,000 and $483,000 less in impairment losses, somewhat offset by a decrease in net realized gains/losses on sales of securities of $98,000. There were no impairment losses during fiscal year 2018. In fiscal year 2017, other-than temporary declines in value on available-for-sale securities of approximately $411,000 and other-than-temporary declines in value on securities held at cost of approximately $72,000 were included in investment income.

Income from Equity Method Investments. Income from equity method investments was $1.6 million in fiscal year 2018 compared to none in the prior year. The increase was due to investments made in fiscal 2018 in two Galileo funds that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting, the Company’s share of each fund’s net income or loss, which primarily consists of realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments offset by fund expenses, is recognized in the Company’s earnings. The Galileo funds’ investments are concentrated in cryptocurrency mining stocks. Cryptocurrency markets and related stocks have been, and are expected to continue to be, volatile. Cryptocurrency mining is considered an early stage high-risk industry, and the nature of mining is expected to evolve. The Company redeemed its investment in one of the funds prior to June 30, 2018. There is potential for significant volatility in the valuation of the remaining fund’s investments, and thus the fund’s net income or loss that is included in the Company’s earnings. See further discussion on these equity method investments in Note 3, Investments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Operating Expenses

(dollars in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |  |  | $ Change |  |  | % Change |
Employee compensation and benefits |  | $ | 4,270 |  |  | $ | 3,754 |  |  | $ | 516 |  |  |  | 13.7 | %
General and administrative |  |  | 3,866 |  |  |  | 3,494 |  |  |  | 372 |  |  |  | 10.6 | %
Advertising |  |  | 172 |  |  |  | 135 |  |  |  | 37 |  |  |  | 27.4 | %
Depreciation and amortization |  |  | 241 |  |  |  | 253 |  |  |  | (12 | ) |  |  | (4.7% | )
Total |  | $ | 8,549 |  |  | $ | 7,636 |  |  | $ | 913 |  |  |  | 12.0 | %

Employee Compensation and Benefits. Employee compensation and benefits increased $516,000, or 13.7 percent, in fiscal year 2018 as a result of increased bonuses, primarily related to realized gains on corporate investments, and group insurance costs.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses increased $372,000, or 10.6 percent, in fiscal year 2018 due to due to increased ETF costs and increased costs by Galileo related to new fund startup costs.

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Income Taxes

The Company and its non-Canadian subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. USCAN and Galileo file separate tax returns 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 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted on December 22, 2017. The Act reduces the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, requires companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred and creates new taxes on certain foreign sourced earnings. In the second quarter, the Company revised its estimated annual effective rate to reflect a change in its U.S. federal statutory rate from 34 percent to 21 percent. The rate change is effective on January 1, 2018; therefore, the Company’s blended U.S. statutory tax rate for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, is approximately 28 percent.

At June 30, 2018, the Company has not completed its accounting for the tax effects of enactment of the Act; however, in certain cases, the Company has made a reasonable estimate of the effects on existing deferred tax balances and the one-time transition tax. The Securities and Exchange Commission has issued guidance that allows for a measurement period of up to one year after the enactment date of the Act to finalize the recording of the related tax impacts. The final transitional impacts of the Act may differ from the initial estimates.

A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax amount will not be realized. A valuation allowance to fully reserve for the net operating loss carryforward, other carryovers and certain book/tax differences in the balance sheet is included in deferred taxes in the amount of $1.7 million at June 30, 2018, and $3.3 million at June 30, 2017. In assessing the valuation allowance, the Company considered, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of recent losses, forecast of future profitability, and the duration of statutory carry back and carry forward periods.

Prior to the enactment of Act, the Company had not recorded U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. The earnings of the foreign subsidiaries were considered to be indefinitely reinvested, and as a result, no deferred tax liability was previously recorded. The Company has reevaluated its historic indefinite reinvestment assertion as a result of the enactment of the Act and determined that historical or future undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries are no longer considered to be indefinitely reinvested. As a result, for the period ended June 30, 2018, the Company recorded a deferred tax expense and liability related to foreign withholding taxes in the amount of approximately $57,000 for those undistributed earnings which are no longer considered indefinitely invested.

The Act also established new tax provisions that become effective in future periods, including but not limited to eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax, creating the base erosion anti-abuse tax (“BEAT”), establishing new limitations on deductible interest expense and certain executive compensation, creating a new provision designed to tax global intangible low-tax income (“GILTI”) and generally eliminating U.S. Federal income taxes on dividends from foreign subsidiaries.

Under the new GILTI tax rules, an accounting policy election must be made to either treat taxes due on future GILTI inclusions in U.S. taxable income as a current period expense when incurred or reflect as a component of deferred taxes. This provision is effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2018, which for the Company would be the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2018 (fiscal 2019). The Company’s analysis of the new GILTI rules and its impacts is currently incomplete. Accordingly, the Company has not yet made a policy election regarding the treatment of the GILTI tax.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company does not have any off balance sheet arrangements.

Contractual Obligations

A summary of contractual obligations of the Company as of June 30, 2018, is as follows:

|  | Payments due by period |
Contractual Obligations |  | Total |  |  | Less than 1 year |  |  | 1-3 years |  |  | 4-5 years |  |  | More than 5 years |
(dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease obligations |  | $ | 621 |  |  | $ | 223 |  |  | $ | 199 |  |  | $ | 199 |  |  | $ | - |
Contractual obligations |  |  | 226 |  |  |  | 226 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Total |  | $ | 847 |  |  | $ | 449 |  |  | $ | 199 |  |  | $ | 199 |  |  | $ | - |

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Operating leases consist of office equipment leased from several vendors and office facilities in Canada. The lease for the office facilities in Canada, included in the table above, is through June 2023. Contractual obligations consist of agreements for services used in daily operations. Other contractual obligations not included in this table 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 $0.0025 per share from July 2018 through September 2018, at which time the Board of Directors will consider continuation of the dividend. 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. The total amount of cash dividends to be paid to class A and class C shareholders from July 2018 to September 2018 will be approximately $113,000, which is included as dividends payable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2018.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At June 30, 2018, the Company had net working capital (current assets minus current liabilities) of approximately $15.3 million and a current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) of 9.7 to 1. With approximately $6.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and $15.3 million in securities recorded at fair value, which together comprise approximately 75 percent of total assets, the Company has adequate liquidity to meet its current obligations. Total shareholders’ equity attributable to U.S. Global Investors, Inc. was approximately $25.5 million. Approximately $1.6 million in cash in Galileo is included in the amounts above.

As of June 30, 2018, the Company has no borrowings or long-term liabilities except for deferred taxes. The Company’s primary commitment going forward is for operating expenses. The Company also has access to a $1 million credit facility, which can be utilized for working capital purposes. As of June 30, 2018, 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 expire in September 2018. The Board of Trustees of USGIF will meet to consider the agreement renewals in September 2018. Management anticipates that these agreements will be renewed. The investment advisory contract between the Company and U.S. Global Jets ETF expires in April 2019. The investment advisory contract between the Company and U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF is in its initial two-year term and will not expire until June 2019. Galileo’s investment management agreement with Canadian registered mutual funds may be terminated each September 30 and for other investment funds each May 1 with a 180-day prior notice of unitholders’ resolution. Galileo’s advisory agreements with other advisory clients can be terminated upon 30-day written notice.

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 and management or the Board may discontinue as deemed necessary. The stock repurchase plan is approved through December 31, 2018, but may be suspended or discontinued at any time. Cash and marketable securities of approximately $21.6 million are available to fund current activities.

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

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.

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Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: U.S. Global Investors (Bermuda) Limited (“USBERM”), U.S. Global Brokerage, Inc. (“USGB”), U.S. Global Investors (Canada) Limited (“USCAN”) and U.S. Global Indices, LLC. On July 27, 2018, USGB was dissolved.

The Company, through USCAN, owns 65 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of Galileo and represented controlling interest of Galileo. Galileo is consolidated with USCAN and the non-controlling interest in this subsidiary is included in “non-controlling interest in subsidiary” in the equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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 lack 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 and, until November 2017, one of the offshore funds. 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 Investment Management and Other Fees to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K 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 does not consolidate these VIEs because it is not the primary beneficiary.

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.

The Company holds a variable interest in a fund advised by Galileo, and during fiscal 2018 held a variable interest in another fund advised by Galileo, but these funds do not qualify as VIEs. Since the funds are not VIEs, the Company evaluated if it should consolidate the funds 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 the funds and, therefore, does not consolidate the funds. However, during fiscal 2018, the Company’s ownership ranged between approximately 23 and 30 percent of one fund until the investment was redeemed in full and between 20 and 25 percent of the other fund, and is considered to have the ability to exercise significant influence. Thus, the investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Investments. The Company classifies its investments based on intent at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation as of each reporting period date. 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.

Trading Securities. Securities that are purchased and held principally for the purpose of selling in the near term are classified as trading securities and reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on these securities are included in earnings.

Held-to-Maturity Securities. Debt securities that are purchased with the intent and ability to hold until maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and measured at amortized cost.

Available-for-sale Securities. Securities that are neither trading securities nor held-to-maturity securities and for which the Company does not have significant influence are classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses on these available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings, reported net of tax as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, and recorded in earnings when realized.

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The Company evaluates its available-for-sale investments for other-than-temporary decline in value on a periodic basis. This may exist when the fair value of an investment security has been below the current value for an extended period of time. When a security in the Company’s investment portfolio has an unrealized loss in fair value that is deemed to be other than temporary, the Company reduces the book value of such security to its current fair value, recognizing the credit related decline as a realized loss in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and a revised GAAP cost basis for the security is established. For available-for-sale securities with declines in value deemed other than temporary, the unrealized loss recorded net of tax in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is realized as a charge to net income.

As discussed in Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company will adopt ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2016-01”), effective July 1, 2018. Thereafter, changes in the fair value of investments formerly classified as available-for-sale will be reported through earnings rather than through other comprehensive income.

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. These equity investments are accounted for under the cost method of accounting and evaluated for impairment. The Company considers many factors in determining impairment, including the severity and duration of the decline in value below cost, the Company’s interest and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient for an anticipated recovery in value, and the financial condition and specific events related to the issuer.

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.

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.

Non-Controlling Interests. The Company reports “non-controlling interest in subsidiary” as equity, separate from parent’s equity, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In addition, the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations includes “net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest.”

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.

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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. Variations in the actual outcome of these future tax consequences could materially impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements. See information regarding accounting pronouncements that have been issued but not yet adopted by the Company in Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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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.

Investment Management and Administrative Services Fees

Revenues are generally based upon a percentage of the market value 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, 2018 and 2017, the Company realized a decrease in its USGIF base advisory fee of $539,000 and $49,000, respectively, due to these performance adjustments.

Galileo may receive performance fees from certain clients when market appreciation or realized net gains exceeds established benchmarks. Galileo recorded performance fees of $464,000 from these clients for the year ended June 30, 2018. The majority of the performance fees recorded in the current period are annual performance fees calculated at calendar year-end. Galileo recorded no performance fees for fiscal year 2017.

Corporate Investments

The Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets include assets whose fair value is subject to market risk. Due to the Company’s investments in securities recorded at fair value, price fluctuations represent a market risk factor affecting the Company’s consolidated financial position. The carrying values of investments subject to 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 market value.

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.

The table below summarizes the Company’s equity price risks as of June 30, 2018, and shows the effects of a hypothetical 25 percent increase and a 25 percent decrease in market prices.

(dollars in thousands) |  | Fair Value at June 30, 2018 |  | Hypothetical Percentage Change |  | Estimated Fair Value After Hypothetical Price Change |  |  | Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders’ Equity, Net of Tax |
Trading securities ¹ |  | $ | 8,179 |  | 25% increase |  | $ | 10,224 |  |  | $ | 2,045 |
|  |  |  |  | 25% decrease |  | $ | 6,134 |  |  | $ | (2,045 | )
Available-for-sale securities ² |  | $ | 7,086 |  | 25% increase |  | $ | 8,858 |  |  | $ | 1,278 |
|  |  |  |  | 25% decrease |  | $ | 5,314 |  |  | $ | (1,278 | )

1. | Unrealized and realized gains and losses on trading securities are included in earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

2. | Unrealized holding gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) as a component of shareholders’ equity until realized.

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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 equity markets and the concentration of the Company’s investment portfolio.

A substantial portion of the available-for-sale securities recorded at fair value in the above table is an investment in HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (“HIVE”), which was valued at $5.6 million at June 30, 2018. 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 and Sweden. Cryptocurrency markets and related stocks have been, and are expected to continue to be, volatile. Cryptocurrency mining is considered an early stage high-risk industry, and the nature of mining is expected to evolve. There is potential for significant volatility in the market price of HIVE, which could materially impact the investment’s value included on the balance sheet and unrealized gain (loss).

As discussed in Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company will adopt ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, effective July 1, 2018. Thereafter, changes in the fair value of investments formerly classified as available-for-sale will be reported through earnings rather than through other comprehensive income. The Company anticipates that this will cause investment income (loss), and thus the Company’s net income (loss), to be more volatile.

In addition to the Company’s investments in securities recorded at fair value discussed above, the Company also has an equity method investment in Galileo Technology and Blockchain Fund in the amount of $283,000 at June 30, 2018. As discussed further in Note 3, Investments, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Galileo Technology and Blockchain Fund, a Canadian unit trust investment fund managed by Galileo, has investments in the cryptocurrency mining industry. As noted above, exposure to cryptocurrency industry may result in volatility in the valuation of this fund. Under the equity method, the Company’s proportional share of the fund’s net income or loss, which primarily consists of realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments offset by fund expenses, is recognized in the Company’s earnings. The potential significant volatility the valuation of the fund’s investments could cause the fund’s net income or loss to vary significantly from period to period, which in turn would be reflected in the Company’s earnings.

F oreign currenc y risk

The Company’s subsidiary Galileo conducts its business in Canada. We translate Galileo’s foreign currency financial statements into U.S. dollars in the financial statement consolidation process. Adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates would lower the carrying value of Galileo’s assets and reduce its results in the consolidated U.S. financial statements. For the year ended June 30, 2018, Galileo represented 22.7 percent of net operating revenues, 10.9 percent of income before taxes, and 6.3 percent of total assets (see Note 15, Financial Information by Business Segment, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K). Certain corporate investments are held in foreign currencies. Adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates would also lower the value of those 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.

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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. (the “Company”) and subsidiaries as of June 30, 2018 and 2017, the related Consolidated Statements of Operations, Comprehensive Income (Loss), Shareholders’ Equity, and Cash Flows for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2018, 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, 2018 and 2017, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2018, 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 6, 2018

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U.S. GLOBAL INVESTORS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Assets |  | June 30, 2018 |  |  | June 30, 2017 |
(dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 6,364 |  |  | $ | 3,958 |
Restricted cash |  |  | 1,000 |  |  |  | 1,000 |
Investment securities - trading, at fair value |  |  | 8,179 |  |  |  | 9,720 |
Accounts and other receivables |  |  | 1,216 |  |  |  | 520 |
Note receivable |  |  | 35 |  |  |  | 1,952 |
Prepaid expenses |  |  | 328 |  |  |  | 315 |
Total Current Assets |  |  | 17,122 |  |  |  | 17,465 |
Net Property and Equipment |  |  | 1,970 |  |  |  | 2,212 |
Other Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment securities - available-for-sale, at fair value |  |  | 7,086 |  |  |  | 3,401 |
Other investments |  |  | 2,207 |  |  |  | 2,130 |
Equity method investments |  |  | 283 |  |  |  | - |
Note receivable, long term |  |  | 199 |  |  |  | 234 |
Other assets, long term |  |  | 65 |  |  |  | 78 |
Total Other Assets |  |  | 9,840 |  |  |  | 5,843 |
Total Assets |  | $ | 28,932 |  |  | $ | 25,520 |
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts payable |  | $ | 198 |  |  | $ | 118 |
Accrued compensation and related costs |  |  | 645 |  |  |  | 390 |
Dividends payable |  |  | 113 |  |  |  | 114 |
Other accrued expenses |  |  | 817 |  |  |  | 544 |
Total Current Liabilities |  |  | 1,773 |  |  |  | 1,166 |
Long-Term Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred tax liability |  |  | 1,099 |  |  |  | - |
Total Long-Term Liabilities |  |  | 1,099 |  |  |  | - |
Total Liabilities |  |  | 2,872 |  |  |  | 1,166 |
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 17) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shareholders’ Equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock (class A) - $0.025 par value; nonvoting; authorized, 28,000,000 shares; issued, 13,866,691 shares and 13,866,601 shares at June 30, 2018, and June 30, 2017, respectively |  |  | 347 |  |  |  | 347 |
Common stock (class B) - $0.025 par value; nonvoting; authorized, 4,500,000 shares; no shares issued |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Convertible common stock (class C) - $0.025 par value; voting; authorized, 3,500,000 shares; issued, 2,068,857 shares and 2,068,947 shares at June 30, 2018, and June 30, 2017, respectively |  |  | 52 |  |  |  | 52 |
Additional paid-in-capital |  |  | 15,650 |  |  |  | 15,646 |
Treasury stock, class A shares at cost; 790,445 and 751,303 shares at June 30, 2018, and June 30, 2017, respectively |  |  | (1,878 | ) |  |  | (1,760 | )
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax |  |  | 1,858 |  |  |  | 264 |
Retained earnings |  |  | 9,513 |  |  |  | 9,321 |
Total U.S. Global Investors Inc. Shareholders’ Equity |  |  | 25,542 |  |  |  | 23,870 |
Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiary |  |  | 518 |  |  |  | 484 |
Total Shareholders’ Equity |  |  | 26,060 |  |  |  | 24,354 |
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity |  | $ | 28,932 |  |  | $ | 25,520 |

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

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U.S. GLOBAL INVESTORS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

|  | Year Ended June 30, |
(dollars in thousands, except per share data) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Operating Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Advisory fees |  | $ | 6,013 |  |  | $ | 6,479 |
Administrative services fees |  |  | 248 |  |  |  | 284 |
|  |  | 6,261 |  |  |  | 6,763 |
Operating Expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employee compensation and benefits |  |  | 4,270 |  |  |  | 3,754 |
General and administrative |  |  | 3,866 |  |  |  | 3,494 |
Advertising |  |  | 172 |  |  |  | 135 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  | 241 |  |  |  | 253 |
|  |  | 8,549 |  |  |  | 7,636 |
Operating Loss |  |  | (2,288 | ) |  |  | (873 | )
Other Income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment income |  |  | 1,504 |  |  |  | 346 |
Income from equity method investments |  |  | 1,624 |  |  |  | - |
Other income |  |  | 46 |  |  |  | - |
|  |  | 3,174 |  |  |  | 346 |
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes |  |  | 886 |  |  |  | (527 | )
Provision for Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax expense |  |  | 197 |  |  |  | 17 |
Net Income (Loss) |  |  | 689 |  |  |  | (544 | )
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Non-Controlling Interest |  |  | 42 |  |  |  | (31 | )
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to U.S. Global Investors, Inc. |  | $ | 647 |  |  | $ | (513 | )
Earnings Per Share Attributable to U.S. Global Investors, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  | $ | 0.04 |  |  | $ | (0.03 | )
Diluted |  | $ | 0.04 |  |  | $ | (0.03 | )
Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding |  |  | 15,158,067 |  |  |  | 15,212,008 |
Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding |  |  | 15,158,067 |  |  |  | 15,212,008 |

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

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U.S. GLOBAL INVESTORS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

|  | Year Ended June 30, |
(dollars in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to U.S. Global Investors, Inc. |  | $ | 647 |  |  | $ | (513 | )
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities arising during period |  |  | 2,297 |  |  |  | 36 |
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains/losses included in net income |  |  | (669 | ) |  |  | 380 |
Net change from available-for-sale investments, net of tax |  |  | 1,628 |  |  |  | 416 |
Foreign currency translation adjustment |  |  | (57 | ) |  |  | (6 | )
Reclassification of foreign currency losses on redemption of equity method investment to net income |  |  | 15 |  |  |  | - |
Other Comprehensive Income |  |  | 1,586 |  |  |  | 410 |
Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  | 2,233 |  |  |  | (103 | )
Less: Comprehensive Loss Attributable to Non-Controlling Interest |  |  | (8 | ) |  |  | (3 | )
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to U.S. Global Investors, Inc. |  | $ | 2,241 |  |  | $ | (100 | )

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

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U.S. GLOBAL INVESTORS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(dollars in thousands) |  | Common Stock (class A) |  |  | Common Stock (class C) |  |  | Additional Paid-in Capital |  |  | Treasury Stock |  |  | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  | Retained Earnings |  |  | Non-Controlling Interest |  |  | Total |
Balance at June 30, 2016 (13,866,421 shares of class A; 2,069,127 shares of class C) |  | $ | 347 |  |  | $ | 52 |  |  | $ | 15,651 |  |  | $ | (1,663 | ) |  | $ | (149 | ) |  | $ | 10,290 |  |  | $ | 518 |  |  | $ | 25,046 |
Purchases of 69,636 shares of Common Stock (class A) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (114 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (114 | )
Issuance of stock under ESPP of 3,433 shares of Common Stock (class A) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (2 | ) |  |  | 8 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 6 |
Conversion of 180 shares of class C common stock for class A common stock |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Dividends declared |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (456 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (456 | )
Stock bonuses |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (3 | ) |  |  | 9 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 6 |
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 413 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (3 | ) |  |  | 410 |
Net loss |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (513 | ) |  |  | (31 | ) |  |  | (544 | )
Balance at June 30, 2017 (13,866,601 shares of class A; 2,068,947 shares of class C) |  |  | 347 |  |  |  | 52 |  |  |  | 15,646 |  |  |  | (1,760 | ) |  |  | 264 |  |  |  | 9,321 |  |  |  | 484 |  |  |  | 24,354 |
Purchases of 48,947 shares of Common Stock (class A) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (141 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (141 | )
Issuance of stock under ESPP of 2,605 shares of Common Stock (class A) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 6 |
Conversion of 90 shares of class C common stock for class A common stock |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Dividends declared |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (455 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (455 | )
Stock bonuses |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  | 17 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 19 |
Stock-based compensation expense |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 2 |
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 1,594 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (8 | ) |  |  | 1,586 |
Net income |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 647 |  |  |  | 42 |  |  |  | 689 |
Balance at June 30, 2018 (13,866,691 shares of class A; 2,068,857 shares of class C) |  | $ | 347 |  |  | $ | 52 |  |  | $ | 15,650 |  |  | $ | (1,878 | ) |  | $ | 1,858 |  |  | $ | 9,513 |  |  | $ | 518 |  |  | $ | 26,060 |

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

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U.S. GLOBAL INVESTORS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

|  | Year Ended June 30, |
(dollars in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) |  | $ | 689 |  |  | $ | (544 | )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  | 241 |  |  |  | 253 |
Net recognized loss on securities |  |  | 67 |  |  |  | 448 |
Accretion of discount on debt investment |  |  | (50 | ) |  |  | - |
Investment basis adjustment |  |  | (118 | ) |  |  | - |
Net income from equity method investment |  |  | (1,624 | ) |  |  | - |
Foreign currency transaction loss |  |  | 15 |  |  |  | - |
Provision for deferred taxes |  |  | 50 |  |  |  | - |
Stock bonuses |  |  | 19 |  |  |  | 6 |
Stock-based compensation expense |  |  | 2 |  |  |  | - |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable and notes receivable |  |  | (751 | ) |  |  | 292 |
Prepaid expenses |  |  | (1 | ) |  |  | (15 | )
Trading securities |  |  | 805 |  |  |  | 385 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |  |  | 622 |  |  |  | (135 | )
Total adjustments |  |  | (723 | ) |  |  | 1,234 |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |  |  | (34 | ) |  |  | 690 |
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of available-for-sale securities |  |  | (2,420 | ) |  |  | (529 | )
Purchase of equity method investment |  |  | (902 | ) |  |  | - |
Purchase of other investments |  |  | - |  |  |  | (776 | )
Proceeds on sale of available-for-sale securities |  |  | 2,130 |  |  |  | 649 |
Proceeds on sale of equity method investment |  |  | 2,208 |  |  |  | - |
Proceeds from note receivable |  |  | 2,000 |  |  |  | - |
Return of capital on investments |  |  | 42 |  |  |  | 498 |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |  |  | 3,058 |  |  |  | (158 | )
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock |  |  | 6 |  |  |  | 6 |
Repurchases of common stock |  |  | (141 | ) |  |  | (114 | )
Dividends paid |  |  | (455 | ) |  |  | (456 | )
Net cash used in financing activities |  |  | (590 | ) |  |  | (564 | )
Effects of foreign currency translation |  |  | (28 | ) |  |  | (3 | )
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |  |  | 2,406 |  |  |  | (35 | )
Beginning cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |  |  | 4,958 |  |  |  | 4,993 |
Ending cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |  | $ | 7,364 |  |  | $ | 4,958 |
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid for income taxes |  | $ | 9 |  |  | $ | 21 |
Reinvestment of capital distribution from equity method investment |  | $ | 32 |  |  | $ | - |

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

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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”) and formerly provided advisory services to offshore clients. The Company holds a controlling interest in Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc. (“Galileo”), a privately held Toronto-based asset management firm.

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.

U.S. Global formed U.S. Global Brokerage, Inc. (“USGB”) to provide distribution services to USGIF. USGB ceased operations in December 2015. On July 27, 2018, USGB was dissolved.

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

The Company, through USCAN, owns 65 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of Galileo, which represents controlling interest of Galileo. Galileo is consolidated with USCAN and the non-controlling interest in this subsidiary is included in “non-controlling interest in subsidiary” in the equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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 and, until November 2017, one of the offshore funds. 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 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 $9.6 million at June 30, 2018, and $11.3 million at June 30, 2017.

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.

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The Company holds a variable interest in a fund advised by Galileo, and during fiscal 2018 held a variable interest in another fund advised by Galileo, but these funds do not qualify as VIEs. Since the funds are not VIEs, the Company evaluated if it should consolidate the funds 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 the funds and, therefore, does not consolidate the funds. However, during fiscal 2018, the Company’s ownership ranged between approximately 23 and 30 percent of one fund until the investment was redeemed in full and between 20 and 25 percent of the other fund, and is considered to have the ability to exercise significant influence. Thus, the investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. See further information about these investments in Note 3.

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

Business Combinations. Business combinations are accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Results of operations of an acquired business are included from the date of acquisition. Management estimates the fair value of the acquired assets, including identifiable intangible assets, assumed liabilities, and non-controlling interest in the acquiree based on their estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition. Any excess acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred over fair value of the acquired net assets, if any, is recorded as “goodwill” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Any excess fair value of the acquired net assets over the acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred is recorded as a gain on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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 the credit facility that is not available for general corporate use.

A reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported from the consolidated balance sheets to the statements of cash flows is shown below:

|  | June 30, |
(dollars in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 6,364 |  |  | $ | 3,958 |
Restricted cash |  |  | 1,000 |  |  |  | 1,000 |
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |  | $ | 7,364 |  |  | $ | 4,958 |

Investments. The Company classifies its investments based on intent at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation as of each reporting period date. 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.

Trading Securities. Securities that are purchased and held principally for the purpose of selling in the near term are classified as trading securities and reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on these securities are included in Investment income (loss).

Held-to-Maturity Securities. Debt securities that are purchased with the intent and ability to hold until maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and measured at amortized cost. The Company currently has no investments in held-to-maturity securities.

Available-for-sale Securities. Securities that are neither trading securities nor held-to-maturity securities and for which the Company does not have significant influence are classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on these available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings, reported net of tax as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, and recorded in earnings when realized.

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The Company evaluates its available-for-sale investments for other-than-temporary decline in value on a periodic basis. This may exist when the fair value of an investment security has been below the current value for an extended period of time. When a security in the Company’s investment portfolio has an unrealized loss in fair value that is deemed to be other than temporary, the Company reduces the book value of such security to its current fair value, recognizing the credit related decline as a realized loss in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and a revised GAAP cost basis for the security is established. For available-for-sale securities with declines in value deemed other than temporary, the unrealized loss recorded net of tax in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is realized as a charge to net income.

As discussed further in the Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Developments of this note, the Company will adopt ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, effective July 1, 2018. Thereafter, changes in the fair value of investments formerly classified as available-for-sale will be reported through earnings rather than through other comprehensive income.

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. These equity investments are accounted for under the cost method of accounting and evaluated for impairment. The Company considers many factors in determining impairment, including the severity and duration of the decline in value below cost, the Company’s interest and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient for an anticipated recovery in value, and the financial condition and specific events related to the issuer.

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. Receivables also include advisory fees owed to Galileo by the funds and clients it manages. The Company also invests 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, 2018, or 2017.

Property and Equipment. Fixed assets are recorded at cost. Except for Galileo, 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. Galileo fixed assets, consisting of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements, are depreciated over 2 to 5 years.

Leases. The Company and its subsidiaries lease equipment and office space under various leasing arrangements. Leases may be classified as either capital leases or operating leases, as appropriate. Current lease agreements are classified as operating leases and most contain renewal options. Rent expense under non-cancelable operating leases with scheduled rent increases or rent incentives is accounted for on a straight-line basis over the lease term..

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.

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Intangible Asset. Management periodically evaluates the remaining useful lives and carrying values of intangible assets to determine whether events and circumstances indicate that a change in the useful life or impairment in value may have occurred. Indicators of impairment monitored by management include a decline in the level of managed assets, changes to contractual provisions underlying the intangible assets and reductions in underlying operating cash flows. Should there be an indication of a change in the useful life or impairment in value of the finite-lived intangible asset, the Company compares the carrying value of the asset and its related useful life to the projected discounted cash flows expected to be generated from the underlying managed assets over its remaining useful life to determine whether impairment has occurred. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds the discounted cash flows, the asset is written down to its fair value determined using discounted cash flows.

Non-Controlling Interests. The Company reports “non-controlling interest in subsidiary” as equity, separate from parent’s equity, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In addition, the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations includes “net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest.”

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 and Galileo file separate tax returns 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, 2018, the Company did not have any accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The tax years from 2014 through 2017 remain open to examination by the U.S. Federal tax jurisdictions to which the Company is subject. The tax years from 2011 through 2017 remain open to examination by the non-U.S. Federal tax jurisdictions to which the Company is subject.

Revenue Recognition. The Company earns substantially all of its revenues from advisory and administrative fees that are calculated as a percentage of assets under management and are recorded as revenue as services are performed. Offshore advisory client contracts provided for monthly management fees, in addition to performance fees. The advisory contract for the equity funds within USGIF provides for a performance fee on the base advisory fee that are calculated and recorded monthly. Galileo may receive performance fees from certain clients when market appreciation or realized net gains exceeds established benchmarks.

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. Net advertising expenditures were $172,000 and $135,000 during fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively.

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.

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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.

Earnings Per Share. The Company computes and presents earnings per share attributable to U.S. Global Investors, Inc. in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to U.S. Global Investors, Inc. 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) (“AOCI”), net of tax is reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and includes the unrealized gains and losses on securities classified as available-for-sale and foreign currency translation adjustments.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Developments

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted During the Period

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 includes provisions intended to simplify various aspects related to how share-based payments are accounted for and disclosed. ASU 2016-09 is effective for public business entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company adopted this guidance on July 1, 2017, without a material impact to the consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (“ASU 2016-18”). Under ASU 2016-18, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents will be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance will be applied retrospectively, and early adoption is permitted. The Company early adopted this guidance in its June 30, 2018, financial statements and has included restricted cash in its consolidated statements of cash flows for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2018, and June 30, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). Early adoption is permitted, but the Company did not implement the new standard before the required effective date. Additional ASUs have been issued to clarify certain aspects of ASU 2014-09. ASU 2016-08, Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) amends ASU 2014-09 to clarify that an entity should evaluate whether it is the principal or the agent for each specified good or service promised in a contract with a customer. ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, clarifies the guidance related to identifying performance obligations and the licensing guidance in ASU 2014-09. ASU 2016-12, Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, and ASU 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements in Topic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, provide additional clarification to a number of topics addressed in ASU No. 2014-09. These ASUs are effective in conjunction with the adoption of ASU 2014-09. The Company has completed a detailed review of the terms and conditions of our current contracts, including performance based fees. Based on this analysis, the Company does not expect the adoption of the new guidance to have any effect on the timing of the recognition of revenue. If there were to be any impact, which is not expected, the Company has determined that it would use the modified retrospective transition method. As part of the review, current business process and internal controls were also analyzed, and no new procedures are required be implemented to successfully adopt the standard The Company has also been reviewing and preparing for the enhanced disclosure requirements of the standard, which will have an effect on the disclosures in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes effective with our fiscal 2019 first quarter Form 10-Q.

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In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2016-01”). ASU 2016-01 amends the guidance on the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities. It also amends certain presentation and disclosure requirements. Under the amended guidance, all equity investments in unconsolidated entities (other than those accounted for using the equity method of accounting) will generally be measured at fair value through earnings. There will no longer be an available-for-sale classification (changes in fair value reported in other comprehensive income) for equity securities with readily determinable fair values. ASU 2016-01 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. To adopt the amendments, entities will be required to make a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the guidance is effective. The Company adopted this guidance effective July 1, 2018, and reclassified $3.1 million in unrealized net gain out of Accumulated Comprehensive Income and into Retained Earnings. Effective July 1, 2018, changes in the fair value of these investments formerly classified as available-for-sale will be reported through earnings rather than through other comprehensive income. The Company anticipates that this will cause investment income (loss), and thus the Company’s net income (loss), to be more volatile.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 introduces a lessee model that brings most leases on the balance sheet by recording a lease asset and a lease liability. The new guidance will be effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted. The Company’s current leases are primarily for equipment and for office space for the Canadian subsidiary. The Company does not expect that adoption will have a material impact on its consolidated statements of operations because its leases are currently classified as operating leases, which under the guidance will continue to be recognized as expense on a straight-line basis. The adoption, however, will result in a gross up in total assets and total liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. See Note 9 for more information on the Company’s minimum lease payments as of June 30, 2018.

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”). 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 is effective for public business entities that are SEC filers for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those years. 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 August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15 may change how an entity classifies certain cash receipts and cash payments on its statement of cash flows to reduce existing diversity in practice. The guidance will generally be applied retrospectively and is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. The Company will adopt the standard in fiscal 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of this standard but does not currently expect the adoption to have a material impact on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2018-02”). ASU 2018-02 allows entities the option to reclassify tax effects resulting from recording the effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“the Act”) enacted in December 2017 from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. The guidance is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. An entity that adopts the guidance in an annual or interim period after the period of enactment will be able to choose whether to apply the amendments retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the Act is recognized or to apply the amendments in the period of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-03, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2018-03”). ASU 2018-03 clarifies certain aspects of the guidance issued in ASU 2016-01 and is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2018. The Company will implement ASU 2018-03 concurrently with the adoption of ASU 2016-01 effective the beginning of its fiscal year 2019.

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Other Recent Accounting Developments

In December 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) which expresses the Commission’s views regarding application of FASB’s ASC Topic 740 “Income Taxes” in the reporting period that includes December 22, 2017. The Commission indicated that The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was enacted on December 22, 2017, affects companies’ reporting because of the Act’s changes that impact U.S. corporate tax rates, business-related exclusions, and deductions and credits. ASC Topic 740 provides accounting and disclosure guidance on accounting for income taxes under U.S. GAAP. This guidance addresses the recognition of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in an entity’s financial statements or tax returns. ASC Topic 740 also addresses the accounting for income taxes upon a change in tax laws or tax rates. The income tax accounting effect of a change in tax laws or tax rates includes, for example, adjusting (or re-measuring) deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, as well as evaluating whether a valuation allowance is needed for deferred tax assets. The Commission issued SAB 118 to address situations where the accounting under ASC Topic 740 is incomplete for certain income tax effects of the Act upon issuance of an entity’s financial statements for the reporting period in which the Act was enacted. A company’s financial statements that include the reporting period in which the Act was enacted must first reflect the income tax effects of the Act in which the accounting under ASC Topic 740 is complete. These completed amounts would not be provisional amounts. The company would then also report provisional amounts for those specific income tax effects of the Act for which the accounting under ASC Topic 740 will be incomplete but a reasonable estimate can be determined. For any specific income tax effects of the Act for which a reasonable estimate cannot be determined, the company would not report provisional amounts and would continue to apply ASC Topic 740 based on the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately prior to the Act being enacted. For those income tax effects for which the company was not able to determine a reasonable estimate (such that no related provisional amount was reported for the reporting period in which the Act was enacted), the company would report provisional amounts in the first reporting period in which a reasonable estimate can be determined. U.S. Global has revalued its deferred tax assets and liabilities as of the date of enactment and has considered the provisions of SAB 118 related to provisional amounts. See further discussion in Note 12.

NOTE 3. INVESTMENTS

As of June 30, 2018, the Company held investments with a fair value of $15.3 million and a cost basis of $12.3 million. The market value of these investments is approximately 52.8 percent of the Company’s total assets. In addition, the Company held other investments of $2.2 million accounted for under the cost method of accounting and investments of approximately $283,000 accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Investments in securities classified as trading are reflected as current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on trading securities are included in earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Investments in securities classified as available-for-sale, which may not be readily marketable but have readily determinable fair values, are reflected as non-current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized.

Other investments consist of equity investments in entities over which the Company is unable to exercise significant influence and which do not have readily determinable fair values. These equity investments are accounted for under the cost method of accounting and evaluated for impairment.

The Company considers many factors in determining impairment, including the severity and duration of the decline in value below cost, the Company’s interest and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient for an anticipated recovery in value, and the financial condition and specific events related to the issuer. When an impairment of a security is determined to be other-than-temporary, the impairment is recognized as a loss in earnings.

Cost basis may also be adjusted for amortization of premium or accretion of discount on debt securities held or to recharacterize distributions from investments in partnerships.

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The following details the components of the Company’s investments recorded at fair value as of June 30, 2018, and 2017:

|  | June 30, 2018 |
(dollars in thousands) |  | Cost |  |  | Unrealized Gains |  |  | Unrealized (Losses) |  |  | Fair Value |
Trading securities1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mutual funds - Fixed income |  | $ | 7,785 |  |  | $ | 22 |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 7,807 |
Mutual funds - Domestic equity |  |  | 535 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (163 | ) |  |  | 372 |
Other |  |  | 45 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (45 | ) |  |  | - |
Offshore fund |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Total trading securities |  |  | 8,365 |  |  |  | 22 |  |  |  | (208 | ) |  |  | 8,179 |
Available-for-sale securities2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock - Domestic |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Common stock - International |  |  | 2,554 |  |  |  | 3,213 |  |  |  | (94 | ) |  |  | 5,673 |
Corporate debt |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Mutual funds - Fixed income |  |  | 1,000 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (9 | ) |  |  | 991 |
Mutual funds - Domestic equity |  |  | 394 |  |  |  | 28 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 422 |
Other |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Total available-for-sale securities3 |  |  | 3,948 |  |  |  | 3,241 |  |  |  | (103 | ) |  |  | 7,086 |
Total securities at fair value |  | $ | 12,313 |  |  | $ | 3,263 |  |  | $ | (311 | ) |  | $ | 15,265 |

|  | June 30, 2017 |
(dollars in thousands) |  | Cost |  |  | Unrealized Gains |  |  | Unrealized (Losses) |  |  | Fair Value |
Trading securities1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mutual funds - Fixed income |  | $ | 8,884 |  |  | $ | 50 |  |  | $ | (7 | ) |  | $ | 8,927 |
Mutual funds - Domestic equity |  |  | 535 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (157 | ) |  |  | 378 |
Other |  |  | 45 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (45 | ) |  |  | - |
Offshore fund |  |  | 1,184 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (769 | ) |  |  | 415 |
Total trading securities |  |  | 10,648 |  |  |  | 50 |  |  |  | (978 | ) |  |  | 9,720 |
Available-for-sale securities2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock - Domestic |  |  | 109 |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 113 |
Common stock - International |  |  | 191 |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 203 |
Corporate debt |  |  | 1,042 |  |  |  | 427 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 1,469 |
Mutual funds - Fixed income |  |  | 1,148 |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  | (5 | ) |  |  | 1,144 |
Mutual funds - Domestic equity |  |  | 394 |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 406 |
Other |  |  | 56 |  |  |  | 10 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 66 |
Total available-for-sale securities3 |  |  | 2,940 |  |  |  | 466 |  |  |  | (5 | ) |  |  | 3,401 |
Total securities at fair value |  | $ | 13,588 |  |  | $ | 516 |  |  | $ | (983 | ) |  | $ | 13,121 |

1 | Unrealized and realized gains and losses on trading securities are included in earnings in the statement of operations.

2 | Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized.

3 | Net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities gross and net of tax as of June 30, 201 8, are $3,138 and $2,089, respectively, and as of June 30, 201 7, are $461 and $461, respectively.

At June 30, 2017, the Company had an available-for-sale investment in corporate debt securities with a par value of approximately $1.7 million which was valued at approximately $1.5 million. The securities were scheduled to mature in 2024. The issuer of the corporate debt redeemed these debt securities early at par value in May 2018. The Company recorded a realized gain in fiscal 2018 related to the early redemption of approximately $638,000.

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The following summarizes investment income (loss) reflected in earnings for the periods presented.

(dollars in thousands) |  | Year Ended June 30, |
Investment Income |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities |  | $ | 669 |  |  | $ | 31 |
Realized losses on sales of trading securities |  |  | (736 | ) |  |  | - |
Unrealized gains on trading securities |  |  | 742 |  |  |  | 15 |
Realized foreign currency losses |  |  | (59 | ) |  |  | (37 | )
Other-than-temporary declines in available-for-sale securities |  |  | - |  |  |  | (411 | )
Other-than-temporary declines in securities held at cost |  |  | - |  |  |  | (72 | )
Dividend and interest income |  |  | 888 |  |  |  | 820 |
Total Investment Income |  | $ | 1,504 |  |  | $ | 346 |

Proceeds from the sales of available-for-sale investments were approximately $2.1 million and $649,000, for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2018, and June 30, 2017, respectively. Gross gains on sales of available-for-sale investments were $675,000 and $34,000 for fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively. Gross losses on sales of available-for-sale investments were $6,000 and $3,000 for fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively. The amounts for fiscal 2018 include the proceeds and realized gain from the early redemption of debt securities discussed above. Realized gains and losses on the sale of available-for-sale investments are reclassified from other comprehensive income into investment income.

There were no impairment losses during fiscal year 2018. In fiscal year 2017, other-than temporary declines in value on available-for-sale securities of approximately $411,000 were included in investment income. The impairment losses resulted from fair values of certain equity securities being lower than book value. For the year ending June 30, 2017, there were four securities with a combined cost basis of $627,000 that were written down to a combined fair value of $216,000. Also included in investment income for fiscal 2017 was approximately $72,000 in other-than-temporary declines in value on securities held at cost. The impairment loss resulted from the estimated values of certain securities being lower than cost. In fiscal 2017, one security held at cost with a cost basis of $72,000 was written down to zero. In making these determinations, the Company considered the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than the cost basis, financial condition and prospects of the issuers, and the Company's ability to hold the investment until recovery.

Unrealized Losses

The following tables show the gross unrealized losses and fair values of available-for-sale investment securities with unrealized losses aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position. The Company reviewed the gross unrealized losses shown as of June 30, 2018, and determined that the losses were not other-than-temporary based on consideration of the nature of the investment and the cause, severity and duration of the loss.

|  | June 30, 2018 |
|  | Less Than 12 Months |  |  | 12 Months or Greater |  |  | Total |
|  |  |  |  |  | Gross |  |  |  |  |  |  | Gross |  |  |  |  |  |  | Gross |
(dollars in thousands) |  | Fair Value |  |  | Unrealized Losses |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | Unrealized Losses |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | Unrealized Losses |
Available-for-sale securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock - Domestic |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |
Common stock - International |  |  | 39 |  |  |  | (94 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 39 |  |  |  | (94 | )
Corporate debt |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Mutual funds - Fixed income |  |  | 991 |  |  |  | (9 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 991 |  |  |  | (9 | )
Mutual funds - Domestic equity |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Other |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Total available-for-sale securities |  | $ | 1,030 |  |  | $ | (103 | ) |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 1,030 |  |  | $ | (103 | )

|  | June 30, 2017 |
|  | Less Than 12 Months |  |  | 12 Months or Greater |  |  | Total |
|  |  |  |  |  | Gross |  |  |  |  |  |  | Gross |  |  |  |  |  |  | Gross |
(dollars in thousands) |  | Fair Value |  |  | Unrealized Losses |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | Unrealized Losses |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | Unrealized Losses |
Available-for-sale securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock - Domestic |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |
Common stock - International |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Corporate debt |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Mutual funds - Fixed income |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 95 |  |  |  | (5 | ) |  |  | 95 |  |  |  | (5 | )
Mutual funds - Domestic equity |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Other |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Total available-for-sale securities |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 95 |  |  | $ | (5 | ) |  | $ | 95 |  |  | $ | (5 | )

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Fair Value Hierarchy

ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures, defines fair value 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. ASC 820 establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value and requires companies to disclose the fair value of their financial instruments according to a fair value hierarchy (i.e., Levels 1, 2, and 3 inputs, as defined below). The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs.

Financial instruments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following categories:

Level 1 – Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the reporting date. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, value of these products does not entail a significant degree of judgment.

Level 2 – Valuations based on quoted prices in markets for which not all significant inputs are observable, directly or indirectly. Corporate debt securities valued in accordance with the evaluated price supplied by an independent service are categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Other securities categorized as Level 2 included securities valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask quotation and securities valued with an adjustment to the quoted price due to restrictions.

Level 3 – Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

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

For actively traded securities, the Company values investments using the closing price of the securities on the exchange or market on which the securities principally trade. If the security is not traded on the last business day of the quarter, it is generally valued at the mean between the last bid and ask quotation. The fair value of a security that has a restriction is based on the quoted price for an otherwise identical unrestricted instrument that trades in a public market, adjusted for the estimated effect of the restriction. Mutual funds, which include open- and closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, and offshore funds are valued at net asset value or closing price, as applicable. Certain corporate debt securities not traded on an exchange are valued by an independent pricing service using an evaluated quote based on such factors as institutional-size trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality maturity, coupon rate, type of issuance and individual trading characteristics and other market data. As part of its independent price verification process, the Company periodically reviews the fair value provided by the pricing service using information such as transactions in these investments, broker quotes, market transactions in comparable investments, general market conditions and the issuer’s financial condition. Certain debt securities may be valued based on review of similarly structured issuances in similar jurisdictions, when possible, or based on other traded debt securities issued by the issuer. The Company also takes into consideration numerous other factors that could affect valuation such as overall market conditions, liquidity of the security and bond structure. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at their fair value as determined by the portfolio management team. The portfolio management team includes representatives from the investment and accounting departments. The portfolio management team meets periodically to consider a number of factors in determining a security’s fair value, including the security’s trading volume, market values of similar class issuances, investment personnel’s judgment regarding the market experience of the issuer, financial status of the issuer, the issuer’s management, and back testing, as appropriate. The fair values may differ from what may have been used had a broader market for these securities existed. The portfolio management team reviews inputs and assumptions and reports material items to the Board of Directors.

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The following presents fair value measurements, as of each balance sheet date, for the major categories of U.S. Global’s investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

|  | June 30, 2018 |
|  | Quoted Prices |  |  | Significant Other Inputs |  |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs |  |  |  |  |
(dollars in thousands) |  | (Level 1) |  |  | (Level 2) |  |  | (Level 3) |  |  | Total |
Trading securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mutual funds - Fixed income |  | $ | 7,807 |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 7,807 |
Mutual funds - Domestic equity |  |  | 372 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 372 |
Other |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Offshore fund investment measured at net asset value1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | - |
Total trading securities |  |  | 8,179 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 8,179 |
Available-for-sale securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock - Domestic |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Common stock - International |  |  | 5,673 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 5,673 |
Corporate debt |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Mutual funds - Fixed income |  |  | 991 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 991 |
Mutual funds - Domestic equity |  |  | 422 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 422 |
Other |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Total available-for-sale securities |  |  | 7,086 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 7,086 |
Total securities at fair value |  | $ | 15,265 |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 15,265 |

|  | June 30, 2017 |
|  | Quoted Prices |  |  | Significant Other Inputs |  |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs |  |  |  |  |
(dollars in thousands) |  | (Level 1) |  |  | (Level 2) |  |  | (Level 3) |  |  | Total |
Trading securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mutual funds - Fixed income |  | $ | 8,927 |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 8,927 |
Mutual funds - Domestic equity |  |  | 378 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 378 |
Other |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Offshore fund investment measured at net asset value1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 415 |
Total trading securities |  |  | 9,305 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 9,720 |
Available-for-sale securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock - Domestic |  |  | 113 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 113 |
Common stock - International |  |  | 203 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 203 |
Corporate debt |  |  | 1,469 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 1,469 |
Mutual funds - Fixed income |  |  | 1,144 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 1,144 |
Mutual funds - Domestic equity |  |  | 406 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 406 |
Other |  |  | 66 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 66 |
Total available-for-sale securities |  |  | 3,401 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 3,401 |
Total securities at fair value |  | $ | 12,706 |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 13,121 |

1 | In accordance with Subtopic 820-10, certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical ex p edient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As of June 30, 2018, and June 30, 2017, 100 percent of the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value are derived from Level 1 inputs. The Company recognizes transfers between levels at the end of each quarter.

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During the quarter ended September 30, 2017, the Company invested in 10 million common shares of HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (“HIVE”), a company that is headquartered and traded in Canada with cryptocurrency mining facilities in Iceland and Sweden, at a cost of $2.4 million. The shares are subject to Canadian securities regulations. The investment, classified as available-for-sale, was valued at approximately $5.6 million at June 30, 2018, based on the quoted market price and is classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Cryptocurrency markets and related stocks have been, and are expected to continue to be, volatile. Cryptocurrency mining is considered an early stage high-risk industry, and the nature of mining is expected to evolve. There is potential for significant volatility in the market price of HIVE, which could materially impact the investment’s value included on the balance sheet and unrealized gain (loss) recognized in investment income. Two unit trust investment funds managed by Galileo, described below under Investments Classified as Equity Method, also hold common shares of HIVE. The Company had both a direct ownership of HIVE and a combined direct and indirect ownership of HIVE of approximately 3.2 percent as of June 30, 2018. Frank Holmes is the non-executive chairman of HIVE and held shares and options at June 30, 2018. Effective August 31, 2018, upon the retirement of HIVE’s CEO and until a new CEO is hired, Mr. Holmes became Interim Executive Chairman of HIVE.

The Company had an investment in an affiliated offshore fund, classified as trading, which invested in companies in the energy and natural resources sectors. The fair value of this investment was estimated based on the net asset value per share at $415,000 as of June 30, 2017. This offshore fund liquidated during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018.

Investments Classified as Equity Method

During the quarter ended September 30, 2017, the Company, through USCAN, invested approximately $500,000 in the Galileo Partners Fund, a Canadian unit trust investment fund managed by Galileo. The investment was subsequently redeemed in full during fiscal 2018, and the Company no longer has an investment in the Galileo Partners Fund as of June 30, 2018. During the period of ownership, the Company’s ownership ranged between 23 and 30 percent, and the Company was considered to have the ability to exercise significant influence. Thus, the investment was accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, the Company’s proportional share of the fund’s net income or loss, which primarily consists of realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments offset by fund expenses, is recognized in the Company’s earnings. Included in other income for the year ended June 30, 2018, is $1.7 million of equity method income of Galileo Partners Fund. Frank Holmes also directly held an investment in the fund as of June 30, 2018.

Summarized income statement information on the Galileo Partners Fund for the period of the Company’s investment is as follows:

Galileo Partners Fund |  |  |  |
Summary Financial Information |  |  |  |
For the Period from August 31, 2017 (investment) to June 30, 2018 |
(dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |
Realized gains on sales of investments |  | $ | 6,254 |
Decrease in unrealized gains on investments |  |  | (28 | )
Fund fees and expenses, including performance fees |  |  | (1,677 | )
Net income of fund |  | $ | 4,549 |

During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company, through USCAN, invested approximately $401,000 in the Galileo Technology and Blockchain Fund, a Canadian unit trust investment fund managed by Galileo. This fund has a concentration in technology and blockchain companies, which may result in volatility in the fund’s valuation. The Company owns approximately 25 percent of Galileo Technology and Blockchain Fund as of June 30, 2018, and the company is considered to have the ability to exercise significant influence. Thus, the investment is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Included in other income for the year ended June 30, 2018, is $99,000 of equity method loss for Galileo Technology and Blockchain Fund. The Company’s investment in the fund was valued at approximately $283,000 at June 30, 2018. Frank Holmes also directly held an investment in the fund as of June 30, 2018.

NOTE 4. INVE STMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER FEES

The Company generates a majority of all of its operating revenues from managing and servicing USGIF. The Company serves as investment adviser to USGIF and receives a fee based on a specified percentage of net assets under management. The Company recorded base advisory fees from USGIF totaling $4.4 million and $4.9 million, respectively, for the years ended June 30, 2018, and 2017.

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The advisory agreement for the equity funds within USGIF provides for a base advisory fee that 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. For the years ended June 30, 2018, and 2017, the Company realized a decrease in its base advisory fee of $539,000 and $49,000, respectively, due to these performance adjustments.

The Company has agreed to contractually limit the expenses of the Near-Term Tax Free Fund through April 2019. The Company has voluntarily waived or reduced its fees and/or agreed to pay expenses on the remaining USGIF funds. These caps will continue on a voluntary basis at the Company’s discretion. The aggregate fees waived and expenses borne by the Company for USGIF were $637,000 and $1.0 million for the years ended June 30, 2018, and 2017, respectively. USGIF revenue included on the Consolidated Statements of Operations is net of fee waivers. Management cannot predict the impact of future waivers due to the number of variables and the range of potential outcomes.

The Company receives administrative service fees from USGIF based on the average daily net assets at an annual rate of 0.05 percent per investor class and 0.04 percent per institutional class of each fund. The Company recorded administrative services fees of $248,000 and $284,000 in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively.

As of June 30, 2018, the Company had $419,000 in receivables from fund clients, of which $321,000 was from USGIF. As of June 30, 2017, the Company had $396,000 in receivables from fund clients, of which $287,000 was from USGIF.

The Company also serves as investment advisor to two exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The U.S. Global Jets ETF (ticker JETS) commenced operations in April 2015, and U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF (ticker GOAU) commenced operations in June 2017. 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. The Company recorded ETF advisory fees totaling $701,000 and $357,000 in fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The Company provided advisory services to offshore clients and received a monthly advisory fee based on the net asset values of the clients and performance fees based on the overall increase in net asset values, if any. The Company recorded advisory fees from these clients totaling $3,000 and $135,000 for the years ended June 30, 2018, and 2017, respectively. The Company recorded no performance fees from these clients for fiscal years 2018 and 2017. The offshore clients liquidated during fiscal year 2018.

Galileo provides advisory services for clients in Canada and receives advisory fees based on the net asset values of the clients. Galileo recorded advisory fees from these clients totaling $960,000 and $1.1 million for the years ended June 30, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Galileo may also receive performance fees from certain clients when market appreciation or realized net gains exceeds established benchmarks. Galileo recorded performance fees of $464,000 from these clients for the year ended June 30, 2018. The majority of the performance fees recorded in the current fiscal year are annual performance fees calculated at calendar year-end. Galileo recorded no performance fees for fiscal year 2017. Galileo may, at its discretion, waive and absorb some of its clients’ operating expenses. The amount of expenses waived and absorbed was $88,000 and $53,000 for the years ended June 30, 2018, and 2017, respectively. On September 29, 2017, Galileo launched its first ETF, U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF (Canadian ticker GOGO), on the Toronto Stock Exchange. GOGO is the Canadian version of GOAU. Galileo also started accepting purchases in its Partners Fund, a unit trust investment fund, in June 2017 and launched its Technology and Blockchain Fund, also a unit trust investment fund, in November 2017.

NOTE 5. NOTE S RECEIVABLE

As of June 30, 2018, the Company held a note receivable with a principal amount of $234,000, of which $35,000 is included in current assets and $199,000 is classified as long term. The note is with an unrelated third party, has an annual interest rate of 15 percent and matures in 2021. This note was amended in November 2016. Upon amendment, the maturity date was extended from 2017 to 2021, unpaid interest was added to the principal, and provisions for penalty interest were added for failure to make scheduled interest or principal payments or failure to provide timely financial statements. Principal repayments on the note are scheduled to start in February 2019. The Company considered the credit quality of the other party and determined that no allowance for credit loss is necessary.

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The Company had also entered into a promissory note with a principal amount of $2 million with an unrelated third party in June 2016 with a one-year maturity. As allowed by the agreement, in June 2017, the initial maturity was extended one-year to June 2018, and the Company received a $50,000 extension fee and all interest to date. The fee was amortized to interest income using the interest method over the remaining term of the note. The note bore interest at 12 percent, with 10 percent payable monthly and 2 percent payable at maturity. This promissory note was paid off in May 2018, prior to its scheduled maturity in June 2018. Proceeds were received for the principal and all accrued interest, and no gain or loss was realized.

NOTE 6. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment are composed of the following:

|  | June 30, |
(dollars in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Building and land |  | $ | 4,597 |  |  | $ | 4,597 |
Furniture, equipment, and other |  |  | 1,625 |  |  |  | 1,729 |
|  |  | 6,222 |  |  |  | 6,326 |
Accumulated depreciation |  |  | (4,252 | ) |  |  | (4,114 | )
Net property and equipment |  | $ | 1,970 |  |  | $ | 2,212 |

Depreciation expense totaled $241,000 and $253,000 in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively.

NOTE 7. OTHER ACCRUED EXPENSES

Other accrued expenses consist of the following:

|  | June 30, |
(dollars in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Professional fees |  | $ | 219 |  |  | $ | 229 |
Vendors payable |  |  | 420 |  |  |  | 257 |
Taxes payable |  |  | 178 |  |  |  | 58 |
Other accrued expenses |  | $ | 817 |  |  | $ | 544 |

NOTE 8. BORROWINGS

As of June 30, 2018, the Company has no borrowings or long-term liabilities except for deferred taxes.

The Company has access to a $1 million credit facility 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 fiscal year. The credit agreement will expire on May 31, 2019, and the Company intends to renew annually. The credit facility is collateralized by $1 million at June 30, 2018, shown as 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, 2018, the credit facility remains unutilized by the Company.

NOTE 9. LEASE COMMITMENTS

The Company has operating leases for office equipment that expire between fiscal years 2019 and 2020 and for office facilities in Canada that expire in 2023. Lease expense totaled $336,000 and $292,000 in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively. Minimum non-cancelable lease payments required under operating leases for future periods are as follows:

(dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |
Fiscal Year |  | Amount |
2019 |  | $ | 223 |
2020 |  |  | 101 |
2021 |  |  | 98 |
2022 |  |  | 99 |
2023 |  |  | 100 |
Total |  | $ | 621 |

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NOTE 1 0. BENEFIT PLANS

The Company offers a savings and investment plan qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code covering substantially all employees. In connection with this 401(k) plan, participants can voluntarily contribute a portion of their compensation, up to certain limitations, to this plan, and the Company will match 100 percent of participants’ contributions up to the first 3 percent of compensation and 50 percent of the next 2 percent of compensation. The Company recorded expenses for contributions to the 401(k) plan of $90,000 and $86,000 for fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The 401(k) plan allows for a discretionary profit sharing contribution by the Company, as authorized by the Board of Directors. No profit sharing contributions were made in fiscal years 2018 or 2017.

The Company offers employees, including its executive officers, an opportunity to participate in savings programs using mutual funds managed by the Company. Employees may contribute to an IRA, and the Company matches these contributions on a limited basis. A similar savings plan utilizing Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (“UGMA”) accounts is offered to employees to save for their minor relatives. The Company match, reflected in base salary expense, aggregated in all programs to $20,000 and $22,000 in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The Company has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan whereby eligible employees can purchase treasury shares at market price. During fiscal years 2018 and 2017, employees purchased 2,605 and 3,433, respectively, shares of treasury stock from the Company.

NOTE 1 1. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The Company has three classes of common equity: class A, class B, and class C common stock. The Company’s class A common stock is traded over-the-counter and is quoted daily under NASDAQ’s Capital Markets under the symbol “GROW.” There is no established public trading market for the Company’s class B and class C common stock. There are no shares of class B stock issued as of June 30, 2018, or 2017.

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

Dividends

Dividends of $0.0025 per share per month totaling $393,000 and $394,000 were paid to holders of class A common stock in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively. Dividends of $62,000 and $62,000 were paid to holders of class C common stock in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The monthly dividend of $0.0025 is authorized through September 2018 and will be considered for continuation at that time by the Board. 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. On a per share basis, the holders of the class C common stock and the nonvoting class A common stock participate equally in dividends as declared by the Company’s Board of Directors.

Share Repurchase Plan

The Company has a share repurchase program, approved by the Board of Directors, authorizing the Company to annually purchase up to $2.75 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, 2018. The repurchase program has been in place since December 2012, and the Board of Directors has annually renewed the repurchase program each calendar year. The acquired shares may be used for corporate purposes, including shares issued to employees in the Company’s stock-based compensation programs. As of June 30, 2018, approximately $2.74 million remains available for repurchase under this authorization.

During fiscal years 2018 and 2017, the Company repurchased 48,947 and 69,636, respectively, of its class A shares on the open market using cash of $141,000 and $114,000, respectively. To date, the Company has repurchased a total of 540,235 class A shares under the repurchase program using cash of $1.3 million.

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Other Activity

The Company did not grant any shares of class A common stock to employees during fiscal year 2018 or 2017. Grants vest immediately after issuance.

The Company granted 7,200 and 3,600 shares of class A common stock at a weighted average fair value of $2.62 and $1.66 to its non-employee directors in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively. Grants vest immediately after issuance.

Issuances of treasury stock for grants or bonuses are accounted for using the weighted-average cost basis of the shares issued. During fiscal year 2018, shares were issued, as described above, with a weighted-average cost basis less than current fair value, which resulted in a combined increase to additional paid-in capital of approximately $2,000 for fiscal year 2018. During fiscal year 2017, shares were issued with a weighted-average cost basis greater than current fair value, which resulted in a combined negative adjustment to additional paid-in capital of approximately $5,000 for fiscal year 2017.

Shareholders of class C shares are allowed to convert to class A. During fiscal years 2018 and 2017, 90 and 180 shares, respectively, were converted from class C to class A. Conversions are one class A share for one class C share and are recorded at par value. There are no restrictions or requirements to convert.

Stock-based compensation

In November 1989, the Board of Directors adopted the 1989 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (“1989 Plan”), amended in December 1991, which provides for the granting of options to purchase 1,600,000 shares of the Company’s class A common stock to directors, officers and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. Options issued under the 1989 Plan vest six months from the grant date or 20 percent on the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth anniversaries of the grant date. Options issued under the 1989 Plan expire ten years after issuance. No options were granted in fiscal years 2018 or 2017. As of June 30, 2018, there were no options outstanding under the 1989 Plan.

In April 1997, the Board of Directors adopted the 1997 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (“1997 Plan”), which provides for the granting of stock appreciation rights (SARs) and/or options to purchase 400,000 shares of the Company’s class A common stock to directors, officers, and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. Options issued under the 1997 Plan expire ten years after issuance. In fiscal year 2018, 2,000 options were granted with a fair value, net of tax, of approximately $4,000. The options granted in fiscal year 2018 will vest over six months through September 2018. No options were granted in fiscal year 2017. As of June 30, 2018, there were 4,000 options outstanding under the 1997 Plan.

The estimated fair value of options granted is amortized to expense over the options’ vesting period. The fair value of these options is estimated at the date of the grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model.

Stock option transactions under the various employee stock option plans for the past two fiscal years are summarized below:

(dollars in thousands, except price data) |  | Options |  |  | Weighted Average Exercise Price |  |  | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years |  |  | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (net of tax) |
Outstanding June 30, 2016 |  |  | 2,000 |  |  | $ | 12.31 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Granted |  |  | - |  |  |  | n/a |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exercised |  |  | - |  |  |  | n/a |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Forfeited |  |  | - |  |  |  | n/a |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding June 30, 2017 |  |  | 2,000 |  |  | $ | 12.31 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Granted |  |  | 2,000 |  |  | $ | 2.74 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exercised |  |  | - |  |  |  | n/a |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Forfeited |  |  | - |  |  |  | n/a |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding June 30, 2018 |  |  | 4,000 |  |  | $ | 7.53 |  |  |  | 5.49 |  |  | $ | - |

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Class A common stock options outstanding and exercisable under the employee stock option plans at June 30, 2018, were as follows:

| Options Outstanding |  |  | Options Exercisable |
| Date of Option Grant |  | Number Outstanding |  |  | Remaining Life in Years |  |  | Weighted Average Exercise Price ($) |  |  | Number Exercisable |  |  | Weighted Average Option Price ($) |
1997 Plan Class A | 10/07/09 |  |  | 2,000 |  |  |  | 1.27 |  |  | $ | 12.31 |  |  |  | 2,000 |  |  | $ | 12.31 |
| 03/21/18 |  |  | 2,000 |  |  |  | 9.72 |  |  | $ | 2.74 |  |  |  | - |  |  | $ | 2.74 |
|  |  |  | 4,000 |  |  |  | 5.49 |  |  | $ | 7.53 |  |  |  | 2,000 |  |  | $ | 12.31 |

NOTE 1 2. INCOME TAXES

The Company and its non-Canadian subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. USCAN and Galileo file separate tax returns 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 U.S. statutory rate for the consolidated U.S. federal income tax return was approximately 34 percent for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017. The current applicable Canadian statutory rate for the Canadian subsidiaries is approximately 26.5 percent.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“the Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2017. The Act reduces the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, requires companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred and creates new taxes on certain foreign sourced earnings. In the second quarter, the Company revised its estimated annual effective rate to reflect a change in its U.S. federal statutory rate from 34 percent to 21 percent. See further discussion in the Provisional amounts section below. The rate change is effective on January 1, 2018; therefore, the Company’s blended U.S. statutory tax rate for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, is approximately 28 percent.

At June 30, 2018, the Company has not completed its accounting for the tax effects of enactment of the Act; however, in certain cases, as described below, the Company has made a reasonable estimate of the effects on existing deferred tax balances and the one-time transition tax. The Securities and Exchange Commission has issued guidance that allows for a measurement period of up to one year after the enactment date of the Act to finalize the recording of the related tax impacts. The final transitional impacts of the Act may differ from the initial estimates.

Prior to the enactment of Act, the Company had not recorded U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. The earnings of the foreign subsidiaries were considered to be indefinitely reinvested, and as a result, no deferred tax liability was previously recorded. The Company has reevaluated its historic indefinite reinvestment assertion as a result of the enactment of the Act and determined that historical or future undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries are no longer considered to be indefinitely reinvested. As a result, for the period ended June 30, 2018, the Company recorded a deferred tax expense and liability related to foreign withholding taxes in the amount of approximately $57,000 for those undistributed earnings which are no longer considered indefinitely invested.

The Act also established new tax provisions that become effective in future periods, including but not limited to eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax, creating the base erosion anti-abuse tax (“BEAT”), establishing new limitations on deductible interest expense and certain executive compensation, creating a new provision designed to tax global intangible low-tax income (“GILTI”) and generally eliminating U.S. Federal income taxes on dividends from foreign subsidiaries.

Under the new GILTI tax rules, an accounting policy election must be made to either treat taxes due on future GILTI inclusions in U.S. taxable income as a current period expense when incurred or reflect as a component of deferred taxes. This provision is effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2018, which for the Company would be the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2018 (fiscal 2019). The Company’s analysis of the new GILTI rules and its impacts is currently incomplete. Accordingly, the Company has not yet made a policy election regarding the treatment of the GILTI tax.

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Provisional amounts

Deferred tax assets and liabilities: Certain domestic-related deferred tax assets and liabilities were remeasured in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 based on the rates at which they are expected to reverse in the future, which is generally 21 percent. The remeasurement at the lower tax rate on domestic-related deferred tax assets and liabilities resulted in a deferred tax benefit of approximately $1.4 million. However, the Company is still analyzing certain aspects of the Act and refining the calculations, which could potentially affect the measurement of these balances or potentially give rise to new deferred tax amounts. As a valuation allowance is recorded for the full amount of these net deferred tax assets, the remeasurement of the net deferred tax assets was offset by a corresponding remeasurement of the valuation allowance.

Foreign tax effects: The one-time transition tax is based on total post-1986 earnings and profits (“E&P”) that were previously deferred from U.S. income taxes. The Company recorded a provisional amount for the one-time transition tax for foreign subsidiaries of $17,000. The Company has not yet completed its calculation of the total post-1986 E&P for these foreign subsidiaries. Further, the transition tax is based in part on the amount of those earnings held in cash and other specified assets. This amount may change when the calculations are finalized.

Carryovers

For U.S. federal income tax purposes at June 30, 2018, the Company has U.S. federal net operating loss carryovers of $4.7 million with $2.0 million and $2.7 million expiring in fiscal years 2035 and 2036, respectively. The Company has capital loss carryovers of $1.1 million with $750,000 and $348,000 expiring in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, respectively. The Company has charitable contribution carryovers totaling approximately $69,000 with $34,000; $19,000; $5,000; and $11,000 expiring in fiscal years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023, respectively. For Canadian income tax purposes, Galileo has net operating loss carryovers of $338,000 with $102,000; $44,000; $121,000; and $71,000 expiring in fiscal years 2027, 2030, 2036 and 2037, respectively. If certain changes in the Company's ownership should occur, there could be an annual limitation on the amount of net operating loss carryovers that could be utilized.

Additional Disclosures

A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax amount will not be realized. At June 30, 2018, and 2017, a valuation allowance of $1.7 million and $3.3 million, respectively, was included to fully reserve for net operating loss carryovers, other carryovers and certain book/tax differences in the balance sheet.

The Company's components of income (loss) before tax by jurisdiction are as follows:

|  | Year ended June 30, |
(dollars in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
United States |  | $ | (645 | ) |  | $ | (188 | )
Canada |  |  | 1,531 |  |  |  | (339 | )
Total |  | $ | 886 |  |  | $ | (527 | )

The reconciliation of income tax computed at U.S. federal statutory rates to income tax expense is as follows:

|  | Year ended June 30, |
(dollars in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | % of Pretax |  |  | 2017 |  |  | % of Pretax |
Tax expense (benefit) at statutory rate |  | $ | 244 |  |  |  | 27.6 | % |  | $ | (179 | ) |  |  | 34.0 | %
Valuation allowance |  |  | (1,498 | ) |  |  | (169.2 | )% |  |  | 144 |  |  |  | (27.3 | )%
Income from controlled foreign corporation |  |  | 377 |  |  |  | 42.6 | % |  |  | 33 |  |  |  | (6.3 | )%
Tax on deemed repatriation |  |  | 17 |  |  |  | 1.9 | % |  |  | - |  |  |  | 0.0 | %
Rate changes |  |  | 1,217 |  |  |  | 137.5 | % |  |  | - |  |  |  | 0.0 | %
Canadian withholding tax |  |  | 63 |  |  |  | 7.1 | % |  |  | - |  |  |  | 0.0 | %
Non-taxable investment income |  |  | (270 | ) |  |  | (30.7 | )% |  |  | (15 | ) |  |  | 2.9 | %
Nondeductible meals and entertainment |  |  | 27 |  |  |  | 3.1 | % |  |  | 20 |  |  |  | (3.8 | )%
Other |  |  | 20 |  |  |  | 2.3 | % |  |  | 14 |  |  |  | (2.7 | )%
Total tax expense |  | $ | 197 |  |  |  | 22.2 | % |  | $ | 17 |  |  |  | (3.2 | )%

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Components of total tax expense (benefit) are as follows:

|  | Year ended June 30, |
(dollars in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Current tax expense - U.S. Federal |  | $ | 5 |  |  | $ | 6 |
Current tax expense - Non-U.S. |  |  | 142 |  |  |  | 11 |
Deferred tax expense - U.S. Federal |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Deferred tax expense - Non-U.S. |  |  | 50 |  |  |  | - |
Total tax expense |  | $ | 197 |  |  | $ | 17 |

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Components of the Company’s deferred assets and liabilities are as follows:

|  | June 30, |
(dollars in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Book/tax differences in the balance sheet |  |  |  |  |
Trading securities |  | $ | 39 |  |  | $ | 316 |
Prepaid expenses |  |  | (45 | ) |  |  | (92 | )
Accumulated depreciation |  |  | 162 |  |  |  | 166 |
Available-for-sale securities |  |  | (1,097 | ) |  |  | 228 |
Other investments |  |  | 45 |  |  |  | 355 |
Equity method investments |  |  | 13 |  |  |  | - |
Accrued expenses |  |  | 146 |  |  |  | 126 |
Product start-up costs |  |  | 60 |  |  |  | 117 |
Stock-based compensation expense |  |  | 4 |  |  |  | 6 |
Other |  |  | (73 | ) |  |  | - |
Tax Carryovers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net operating loss carryover |  |  | 1,069 |  |  |  | 1,690 |
Cumulative eligible capital carryover |  |  | - |  |  |  | 67 |
Charitable contributions carryover |  |  | 14 |  |  |  | 50 |
Capital loss carryover |  |  | 231 |  |  |  | 255 |
Valuation Allowance |  |  | (1,667 | ) |  |  | (3,284 | )
Net deferred tax liability |  | $ | (1,099 | ) |  | $ | - |

NOTE 1 3. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation for basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS):

|  | Year Ended June 30, |
(dollars in thousands, except per share data) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Net Income (Loss) |  | $ | 689 |  |  | $ | (544 | )
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Non-Controlling Interest |  |  | 42 |  |  |  | (31 | )
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to U.S. Global Investors, Inc. |  | $ | 647 |  |  | $ | (513 | )
Weighted average number of outstanding shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  |  | 15,158,067 |  |  |  | 15,212,008 |
Effect of dilutive securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employee stock options |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Diluted |  |  | 15,158,067 |  |  |  | 15,212,008 |
Earnings Per Share Attributable to U.S. Global Investors, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  | $ | 0.04 |  |  | $ | (0.03 | )
Diluted |  | $ | 0.04 |  |  | $ | (0.03 | )

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The diluted EPS calculation excludes the effect of stock options when their exercise prices exceed the average market price for the period. For the years ended June 30, 2018, and 2017, employee stock options for 4,000 and 2,000 shares were excluded from diluted EPS.

During fiscal years 2018 and 2017, the Company repurchased class A shares on the open market. Repurchased shares are classified as treasury shares and are deducted from outstanding shares in the earnings per share calculation.

NOTE 1 4. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The following table presents changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component:

(dollars in thousands) |  | Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investments 1 |  |  | Foreign currency translation adjustment |  |  | Total |
Balance at June 30, 2016 |  | $ | 45 |  |  | $ | (194 | ) |  | $ | (149 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |  |  | 36 |  |  |  | (3 | ) |  |  | 33 |
Tax effect |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Amount reclassified from AOCI |  |  | 380 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 380 |
Tax effect |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for 2017 |  |  | 416 |  |  |  | (3 | ) |  |  | 413 |
Balance at June 30, 2017 |  |  | 461 |  |  |  | (197 | ) |  |  | 264 |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |  |  | 3,346 |  |  |  | (49 | ) |  |  | 3,297 |
Tax effect |  |  | (1,049 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (1,049 | )
Amount reclassified from AOCI |  |  | (669 | ) |  |  | 15 |  |  |  | (654 | )
Tax effect |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for 2018 |  |  | 1,628 |  |  |  | (34 | ) |  |  | 1,594 |
Balance at June 30, 2018 |  | $ | 2,089 |  |  | $ | (231 | ) |  | $ | 1,858 |

1. | Amounts reclassified from unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investments, net of tax, were recorded in investment income (loss) on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

NOTE 1 5. FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

The Company manages the following business segments:

| 1. | Investment management services, by which the Company offers, to USGIF, offshore clients, and ETF clients, a range of investment management products and services to meet the needs of individual and institutional investors;

| 2. | Investment management services - Canada, through which the Company owns a 65 percent controlling interest in Galileo, a privately held Toronto-based asset management firm which offers investment management products and services in Canada; and

| 3. | Corporate investments, through which the Company invests for its own account in an effort to add growth and value to its cash position. Although the Company generates the majority of its revenues from its investment advisory segments, the Company holds a significant amount of its total assets in investments.

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The following schedule details total revenues and income by business segment; certain amounts have been reclassified for comparative purposes:

(dollars in thousands) |  | Investment Management Services |  |  | Investment Management Services - Canada |  |  | Corporate Investments |  |  | Consolidated |
Year ended June 30, 2018 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net operating revenues |  | $ | 4,837 |  |  | $ | 1,424 |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 6,261 |
Investment income |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 21 |  |  | $ | 1,483 |  |  | $ | 1,504 |
Income from equity method investments |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 1,624 |  |  | $ | 1,624 |
Other income |  | $ | 31 |  |  | $ | 15 |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 46 |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | $ | (1,941 | ) |  | $ | 97 |  |  | $ | 2,730 |  |  | $ | 886 |
Depreciation and amortization |  | $ | 229 |  |  | $ | 12 |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 241 |
Capital expenditures |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |
Gross identifiable assets at June 30, 2018 |  | $ | 7,878 |  |  | $ | 1,812 |  |  | $ | 19,242 |  |  | $ | 28,932 |
Deferred tax asset |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | - |
Consolidated total assets at June 30, 2018 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 28,932 |
Year ended June 30, 2017 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net operating revenues |  | $ | 5,663 |  |  | $ | 1,100 |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 6,763 |
Investment income |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 3 |  |  | $ | 343 |  |  | $ | 346 |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | $ | (763 | ) |  | $ | (89 | ) |  | $ | 325 |  |  | $ | (527 | )
Depreciation and amortization |  | $ | 238 |  |  | $ | 15 |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | 253 |
Capital expenditures |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |  |  | $ | - |

Net operating revenues from investment management services include revenues from USGIF of $4.1 million and $5.2 million in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively. Net operating revenues from investment management services also include operating revenues from ETF clients of $701,000 and $357,000 in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Net operating revenues from investment management services in Canada includes revenues from Galileo funds of $1.4 million and $866,000 in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively, and from other significant advisory clients of $220,000 in fiscal year 2017.

NOTE 1 6. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

On June 30, 2018, and 2017, the Company had $9.6 million and $11.1 million, respectively, at fair value invested in USGIF and offshore funds the Company advised. These amounts were included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as “trading securities” and “available-for-sale securities” in fiscal years 2018 and 2017. The Company recorded $131,000 and $110,000 in income from dividends and capital gain distributions and $10,000 and $15,000 in net recognized gains (losses) on its investments in the Funds and offshore clients for fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively. The offshore clients liquidated during fiscal 2018.

In addition, the Company had $283,000 at June 30, 2018, invested in a fund advised by Galileo accounted for under the equity method of accounting. During fiscal 2018, the Company was also invested in another fund advised by Galileo accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This investment was no longer held at June 30, 2018. The Company recorded income from equity method investments of $1.6 million in fiscal 2018. See further discussion of these investments in Note 3.

The Company earned advisory and administrative services fees, as applicable, from the various funds for which it and its subsidiaries act as investment adviser, as disclosed in Note 4. Receivables include amounts due from the funds for those fees and out-of-pocket expenses, net of amounts payable to the funds for expense reimbursements. As of June 30, 2018, and 2017, the Company had $419,000 and $396,000, respectively, of receivables from mutual funds included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets within “receivables.”

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As discussed in Note 3, the Company holds an investment in HIVE valued at $5.6 million as of June 30, 2018. Frank Holmes, a director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is the non-executive chairman of HIVE, for which he received director fees from HIVE during fiscal 2018. Mr. Holmes held shares and options of HIVE at June 30, 2018. Effective August 31, 2018, upon the retirement of HIVE’s CEO and until a new CEO is hired, Mr. Holmes became Interim Executive Chairman of HIVE.

Mr. Holmes was a director of each offshore fund until the liquidation of the offshore funds in fiscal year 2018. The Company had a corporate investment, classified as trading, in one of the offshore funds valued at $415,000 at June 30, 2017. Mr. Holmes is a director of Meridian Fund Managers Ltd., which served as the manager of the offshore funds.

Mr. Holmes is also a director of a private company in which the Company holds common stock and warrants classified as other investments and valued at $1.5 million at June 30, 2018, and 2017, and in which he holds nontransferable stock options. The Company received $126,000 and $105,000 in dividend income from its investments in this company in fiscal years 2018 and 2017, respectively.

NOTE 1 7. CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS

The Company continuously reviews all investor, employee, and vendor complaints and pending or threatened litigation. The likelihood that a loss contingency exists is evaluated through consultation with legal counsel, and a loss contingency is recorded if probable and reasonably estimable.

During the normal course of business, the Company may be subject to claims, legal proceedings, and other contingencies. These matters are subject to various uncertainties, and it is possible that some of these matters may be resolved unfavorably. The Company establishes accruals for matters for which the outcome is probable and can be reasonably estimated. Management believes that any liability in excess of these accruals upon the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

The Board of Directors has authorized a monthly dividend of $0.0025 per share from July 2018 through September 2018, at which time it will be considered for continuation by the Board of Directors. 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. The total amount of cash dividends to be paid to class A and class C shareholders from July 2018 to September 2018 will be approximately $113,000.

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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

There were no changes in or disagreements with accountants on accounting and financial disclosure during the two most recent fiscal years.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. An evaluation was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2018. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2018, to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is: (1) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms; and (2) accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined by Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Because of inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2018. In making this assessment, the Company’s management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on the Company’s assessment, management believes that, as of June 30, 2018, the Company’s management has maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) during the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2018, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Inherent Limitation of the Effectiveness of Internal Control. A control system, no matter how well conceived, implemented and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the internal control system are met. Because of such inherent limitations, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within a company or any division of a company have been detected.

Item 9B. Other Information

In light of Frank Holmes’ ownership of 99.79 percent of the class C voting shares, the Company is eligible to rely on the exemption from certain of the NASDAQ corporate governance listing requirements relating to the independence of the Board of Directors and certain committees that is afforded to controlled companies. Under NASDAQ rules, a controlled company is a company of which more than 50 percent of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, a group or another company.

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Part III of Annual Report on Form 10-K

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The directors and executive officers of U.S. Global Investors, Inc. (“U.S. Global” or the “Company”) are as follows:

Name | Age | Position
Frank E. Holmes | 63 | Director of the Company and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since October 1989, and Chief Investment Officer since June 1999. Since October 1989, Mr. Holmes has served and continues to serve in various positions with the Company, its subsidiaries, and the investment companies it sponsors. Mr. Holmes has served on the board of Thunderbird Entertainment, Inc. from June 2014 to present. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. since August 2017. Mr. Holmes has served as Director of Meridian Fund Managers Ltd. since November 2003. Mr. Holmes served as Trustee of U.S. Global Investors Funds from August 1989 to December 2015; Director of Meridian Global Gold & Resources Fund Ltd. from December 2003 to November 2017; Director of Meridian Global Energy & Resources Fund Ltd. from April 2006 to November 2017; and Director of Meridian Global Dividend Income Fund from April 2011 to March 2014.
Jerold H. Rubinstein | 80 | Chairman of the Board of Directors since February 2006 and Director of the Company since October 1989. Mr. Rubinstein has served as Director of Salton Sea Industries from June 2016 to present. Mr. Rubinstein served as Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of CKE Restaurants from June 2006 to July 2010 and April 2011 to December 2017. He also served as Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Greenwood Hall, Inc. from November 2016 to June 2017; Director, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Stratus Media Group, Inc. from April 2011 to July 2014; Director, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board for ProElite, Inc. from June 2012 to July 2014; Director, Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Audit Committee of RestorGenex Corporation during the period April 2011 to July 2014; and Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of SpendSmart Payments Co. from October 2013 to April 2016.
Roy D. Terracina | 72 | Director of the Company since December 1994 and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors since May 1997. Mr. Terracina is the owner of Sunshine Ventures, Inc., a company formed to hold investments, since January 1994. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Our Lady of the Lake University since September 2006.
Thomas F. Lydon, Jr. | 58 | Director of the Company since June 1997. Mr. Lydon has served as Chairman of the Board and President of Global Trends Investments since April 1996; Trustee of Guggenheim Investments since February 2012; and Director of Harvest Volatility Edge Trust since December 2017.
Susan B. McGee | 59 | President of the Company from February 1998 to May 2018, General Counsel from March 1997 to May 2018, and Chief Compliance Officer from January 2016 to May 2018.
Lisa C. Callicotte | 45 | Chief Financial Officer of the Company since July 12, 2013. Controller of the Company from July 2009 until July 2013. Since July 2009, Ms. Callicotte has served and continues to serve in various positions with the Company and its subsidiaries.

None of the directors or executive officers of the Company has a family relationship with any of the other directors or executive officers.

The members of the Board of Directors are elected for one-year terms or until their successors are elected and qualified. The Board of Directors appoints the executive officers of the Company.

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Director Independence. The Company’s Board of Directors is currently composed of four members. The Board of Directors has determined that three of the four members meet the definition of an independent director set forth in NASDAQ Rule 5605(a)(2), with the exception being Frank Holmes, who is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Company. In assessing the independence of directors, the Board of Directors considered the business relationships between the Company and its directors or their affiliated businesses, including businesses owned and operated by family members, other than ordinary investment relationships. Furthermore, the Board of Directors has determined that none of the members of the two standing committees of the Board of Directors in existence during the 2018 fiscal year has any material relationship with the Company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company) and that each such member is “independent” within the meaning of the independence standards applicable to each such committee.

The Board of Directors held four meetings over the past fiscal year. Each incumbent director attended at least 75 percent of the board meetings during the last fiscal year. Directors are encouraged to attend the annual meeting of shareholders. One of the four directors attended the 2017 annual meeting. The standing committees of the Board of Directors currently consist of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee. The membership and responsibilities of those committees are described below:

Independent Directors | Audit Committee | Compensation Committee
Roy D. Terracina | Chairman | Member
Thomas F. Lydon, Jr. | Member | Chairman
Jerold H. Rubinstein | Member | Member

Audit Committee. The Company has a separately designated Audit Committee, established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the Company; the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence; the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent auditors; complaints relating to the Company’s accounting, internal accounting controls and audit matters; and the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of the Company’s financial statements. The Board of Directors has determined that Director Roy Terracina qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 401(e) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act. Mr. Terracina’s pertinent experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills include: a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in finance, financial experience as a treasurer of a publicly traded company, managerial experience attained as the owner of a company responsible as a major supplier of baked and packaged goods primarily through the Department of Defense, the knowledge and experience he has attained from service on other boards and the knowledge and experience he has attained from his service on U.S. Global’s Board of Directors. The Audit Committee met four times during the past fiscal year. Each incumbent committee member attended at least 75 percent of the committee meetings during the last fiscal year.

Report of the Audit Committee. Management is responsible for U.S. Global’s internal controls and financial reporting process. BDO USA, LLP, U.S. Global’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, is responsible for performing an independent audit of U.S. Global’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and to issue its report thereon. The Audit Committee monitors and oversees these processes. The Audit Committee approves the selection and appointment of U.S. Global’s independent registered public accounting firm and recommends the ratification of such selection and appointment to U.S. Global’s Board of Directors.

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed U.S. Global’s audited financial statements with management and BDO USA, LLP. The committee has discussed with BDO USA, LLP the matters required to be discussed by the PCAOB auditing standards which relates to the conduct of our audit, including our auditors’ judgment about the quality of the accounting principles applied in our fiscal year 2018 audited consolidated financial statements. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from BDO USA, LLP required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the committee concerning independence and has discussed with BDO USA, LLP that firm’s independence.

Based on the foregoing review and discussions and such other matters the Audit Committee considered relevant and appropriate, the committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements of U.S. Global be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2018.

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Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee assists the Board of Directors in carrying out its responsibilities with respect to employee qualified benefit plans and employee programs, executive compensation programs, stock option plans and director compensation programs. The Compensation Committee has broad responsibility for assuring that the Company’s executive officers, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, are effectively compensated in terms of salaries, supplemental compensation and benefits that are internally equitable and externally competitive. Additional responsibilities include the review and approval of corporate goals and objectives relevant to the Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee reviews all components of compensation, including salaries, cash incentive plans, long-term incentive plans and various employee benefit matters. The Compensation Committee met two times during the past fiscal year. Each incumbent committee member attended at least 75 percent of the committee meetings during the last fiscal year.

Nomination of Directors. Although the Company does not have a standing nominating committee, the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines effectively provide guidance on selection and nomination process whenever a vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors. Due to the longevity of service of the current Board of Directors, those Directors have not participated in consideration of director nominees.

The Company believes generally that its Board of Directors as a whole should encompass a range of talent and expertise enabling it to provide sound guidance with respect to the Company’s operations and interests. Whenever a vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors, the board members are responsible for identifying one or more candidates to fill that vacancy, investigating each candidate and evaluating their suitability for service on the board. The following attributes or qualifications will be considered by the Board of Directors in evaluating a person’s candidacy:

● | Management and leadership experience;

● | Skilled and diverse background; and

● | Integrity and professionalism.

The board members are authorized to use any methods it deems appropriate for identifying candidates for board membership. In addition, candidates recommended by the Company’s stockholders are considered in the same manner as other candidates.

The Company’s policy is to have at least a majority of directors qualify as “independent” under the NASDAQ Listing Rules and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available at the Company’s website at www.usfunds.com.

Director Interaction with Stockholders. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide the process by which stockholders and other interested parties may contact the non-management members of the Board. These guidelines are contained on the Company’s website under “About Us,” followed by “Investor Relations.”

Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers that applies to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer. This code charges these individuals with responsibilities regarding honest and ethical conduct, the preparation and quality of the disclosures in documents and reports the Company files with the SEC, and compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

Compliance with Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act

Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act requires directors and officers of the Company and persons who own more than 10 percent of the Company’s class A common stock to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of the stock. Directors, officers and more than 10 percent shareholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

Based solely on the Company’s review of the copies of such reports received by the Company and on written representations by the Company’s officers and directors regarding their compliance with the applicable reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, the Company believes that, with respect to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, its officers and directors, and all of the persons known to it to own more than 10 percent of its common stock, filed all required reports on a timely basis.

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Item 11. Executive Compensation

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Overview

The following section provides a discussion and analysis of the basis for the compensation awarded to the CEO, the CFO, and our other most highly compensated executive officer of the Company (“Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”), as well as our directors in fiscal year 2018. We provide investment advisory and other services to our clients. Our long-term success depends on our ability to provide superior investment returns and outstanding client service. As such, one of our greatest assets is the collective skill, experience and efforts of our employees. To achieve success, we must be able to attract, retain and motivate professionals within all levels of our Company who are committed to our core values.

We place great significance on our values of performance, teamwork, initiative, responsiveness, focused work ethic, and intellectual curiosity. We believe that adherence to these core values will contribute to the long-term success of the Company and our shareholders.

We compete for talent with a large number of investment management and financial services companies, many of which have significantly larger market capitalization than we do. Our relatively small size within the industry, geographic location, and lean executive management team provide unique challenges.

Setting Executive Compensation

The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors is responsible for reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the CEO, Frank Holmes; evaluating the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives; and determining and approving the CEO’s compensation level based on this evaluation. In addition, the committee is responsible for reviewing and approving compensation recommended by Mr. Holmes for our other executive officers. The Board of Directors appointed Messrs. Lydon, Terracina, and Rubinstein as members of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Lydon serves as the chairman of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has a charter that is available for review on our website at www.usfunds.com by clicking “About Us,” followed by “Investor Relations,” then “Policies and Procedures.”

The individuals listed below are the CEO and CFO, plus our other most highly compensated NEO in fiscal year 2018.

Name |  | Title
Frank E. Holmes |  | Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer
Lisa C. Callicotte |  | Chief Financial Officer
Susan B. McGee |  | President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

In establishing total annual compensation for Mr. Holmes, the Compensation Committee considers a number of factors. For assistance in determining the appropriate factors to consider, the Compensation Committee consulted in 2005 with Moss Adams LLP, an executive compensation consulting firm. Importantly, the Compensation Committee considers the various functions Mr. Holmes assumes, including the dual role of CEO and Chief Investment Officer (“CIO”). In addition, the Compensation Committee considers various measures of company performance, including profitability and total shareholder return. The Compensation Committee also reviews Mr. Holmes’ performance in managing our corporate investments, in overseeing the management of our client portfolios and the results of our operational earnings.

In addition to his base salary, Mr. Holmes receives a bonus based on operational earnings, which are substantially derived from assets under management, based on a percentage of operational earnings, and capped at a predetermined dollar amount, as computed for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP (before consideration of this fee).

Mr. Holmes also receives a bonus when our investment team meets their performance goals. The bonus is based on calculated fund performance bonuses of the investment team and is in recognition of Mr. Holmes’ creation and oversight of the investment processes and strategy.

In addition, Mr. Holmes receives a percentage of offshore fund management and performance fees in recognition of attracting and managing offshore client accounts and a percentage of realized gains on investments, offset by realized losses and other-than-temporary write-downs, in recognition of his expertise in managing the investments of the company.

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The committee has delegated to Mr. Holmes the responsibility for reviewing the performance of, and recommending the compensation levels for, our other NEOs. The committee does not use rigid formulas with respect to the compensation of NEOs. Mr. Holmes makes a recommendation based on the achievement of qualitative goals that apply to all employees, quantitative goals that apply to an executive officer’s specific job responsibilities and other accomplishments, such as expansion in functional responsibility. In forming his recommendations, Mr. Holmes also considers the responsibilities and workload of the executive officer; the explicit and tacit knowledge required to perform these responsibilities, including any professional designations; the profitability of the company; and the cost of living in San Antonio, Texas.

Objectives

Our executive compensation programs are designed to:

● | attract and retain key executives,

● | align executive performance with our long-term interests and those of our shareholders, and

● | link executive pay with performance.

Elements of Executive Compensation

The committee reviews and approves all components of executive officer compensation. The principal elements of executive compensation, other than Mr. Holmes, are:

● | base salary,

● | performance-based cash and stock bonuses,

● | long-term incentive awards, and

● | other compensation and benefits.

Base Salary

Base salaries for NEOs are reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee. Generally, the salaries of NEOs are occasionally adjusted to recognize expansion of an individual’s role, outstanding and sustained performance, or to bring the officer’s pay into alignment with the market. We did not use any benchmarking studies in fiscal year 2018 to obtain market information. In addition, the Compensation Committee did not consider the equity ownership of the Company by Mr. Holmes when setting his compensation. Nor did the committee aim for a specific relationship between Mr. Holmes and the other executive officers. Base salaries paid to NEOs during the fiscal year are shown in the Summary Compensation Table.

Performance-Based Cash Bonuses

Executive officers, except Mr. Holmes, participate in a team performance pay program based on each employee’s annual salary to recognize monthly completion of departmental goals. Additionally, key executive officers are compensated based on individual performance pay arrangements. Discretionary cash bonuses are awarded from time to time for such things as completion of critical projects or outstanding performance.

Mr. Holmes considered a matrix of factors in reviewing the performance of, and compensation for, the CFO, Ms. Lisa Callicotte. Mr. Holmes considered such things as responsibilities, productivity, results of the Company’s actual versus targeted goals, hours of work, profitability of the Company, timely and accurate financial regulatory filings, unqualified audit results and the cost of living in San Antonio. Occasionally, Ms. Callicotte receives discretionary bonuses for the completion of projects.

In reviewing the performance of and compensation for the President, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer Susan McGee, Mr. Holmes considered a matrix of factors including responsibilities, productivity, hours of work, profitability of the Company, timely and accurate regulatory filings, completion of regulatory examinations, and the cost of living in San Antonio. In addition to her base salary, Ms. McGee was paid a monthly bonus based on retail assets in recognition of her strategic guidance of the marketing personnel. Ms. McGee received a monthly bonus when certain financial metrics are met. Occasionally, Ms. McGee received discretionary bonuses for special projects such as completion of regulatory exams or managing significant new business relationships.

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Long-Term Incentive Awards

Long-term incentive awards include stock options and restricted shares. We have utilized option grants to induce qualified individuals to join us, thereby providing the individual with an opportunity to benefit if we have significant growth. Similarly, options have been utilized to reward existing employees, including NEOs, for long and faithful service and to encourage them to stay with us. The Compensation Committee administers the stock option plans. Although the Company has no written policy for allocating between cash and equity, or current and long-term compensation for the CEO and other NEOs, the weighting has generally been in the range of less than 5 percent long-term compensation in the form of options or stock awards, with the remaining compensation in cash.

Stock Option Plans

In November 1989, the Board of Directors adopted the 1989 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (“1989 Plan”) which provides for the granting of options to purchase shares of our class A common stock to directors, officers, and employees. On December 6, 1991, shareholders approved and amended the 1989 Plan to provide provisions to cause the plan and future grants under the plan to qualify under 1934 Act Rule 16b-3. The 1989 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee consisting of three outside members of the Board of Directors. The maximum number of shares of class A common stock initially approved for issuance under the 1989 Plan is 1,600,000 shares. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, no stock options were granted under this plan. As of June 30, 2018, under this amended plan, 1,733,400 options had been granted, 883,000 options had been exercised, 850,400 options had expired, no options remained outstanding and 717,000 options are available for grant.

In April 1997, the Board of Directors adopted the 1997 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (“1997 Plan”), which shareholders approved on April 25, 1997. It provides for the granting of stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) and/or options to purchase shares of our class A common stock to directors, officers and employees. The 1997 Plan expressly requires that all grants under the plan qualify under 1934 Act Rule 16b-3. The 1997 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee consisting of three outside members of the Board of Directors. The maximum number of shares of class A common stock initially approved for issuance under the 1997 Plan is 400,000 shares. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, 2,000 stock options were granted to Ms. Callicotte. As of June 30, 2018, 583,300 options had been granted; 257,000 shares had been exercised; 322,300 options had expired; 4,000 options remained outstanding; and 139,000 options are available for grant.

2010 Stock Incentive Plan

In October 2010, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the class C shareholders voted to adopt the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan. The 2010 Stock Incentive Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Company by providing eligible persons in the Company’s service with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest, or otherwise increase their proprietary interest, in the Company to align such persons’ interests with those of the Company’s shareholders and as an incentive for them to remain in such service. During fiscal year 2018, no stock bonuses were awarded to NEOs.

Assessment of Risk

By design, the Company’s compensation program for all employees, including executive officers, does not incentivize excessive risk-taking. The Company’s base salary component of compensation does not encourage risk-taking because it is a fixed amount. Generally, incentive awards have the following risk-limiting characteristics:

● | Awards are made based on a review of a variety of indicators of performance, thus diversifying the risk associated with any single indicator of performance;

● | All participants, including executive officers, in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan are subject to stock ownership and holding guidelines.

O ther Compensation and Benefits

Health, Welfare and Retirement Benefits

Health, welfare, and retirement benefits are designed to provide a safety net of protection for employees in the event of illness, disability, or death, and to provide employees an opportunity to accumulate retirement savings.

We offer a range of health and welfare benefits to substantially all employees, including the NEOs. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, short-term disability, long-term disability, group life and accidental death insurance, and tuition reimbursement.

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401(k) Plan

We offer a 401(k) plan covering substantially all employees, including NEOs. Participants may contribute a portion of their base salary and cash incentive compensation, up to a limit imposed by the Internal Revenue Code, which is $18,500 in calendar year 2018. An additional “catch-up” pretax contribution of up to $6,000 is allowed for employees over 50. We automatically match 100 percent of the first 3 percent of participating employees’ contributions and 50 percent of the next 2 percent of participating employees’ contributions. We contribute to participants’ accounts at the same time that the employee’s pay deferral is made. Employees are immediately vested in both their 401(k) salary deferral contribution and the matched contributions. Participants in our 401(k) plan may contribute to Roth and/or traditional 401(k) accounts.

Profit Sharing

The 401(k) plan allows for us to make a discretionary profit sharing contribution, as authorized by the Board of Directors. Factors that are considered by the Board of Directors include earnings, cash flows, capital requirements and the general financial condition of the Company. No specific performance thresholds or goals are required by the board to authorize a profit sharing contribution. No profit sharing contributions were made in fiscal years 2018 or 2017.

Savings Plans

We also have a program pursuant to which we offer employees an opportunity to participate in savings programs using mutual funds managed by us. Employee contributions to an Individual Retirement Account are matched to a maximum of $100 per month for certain management-level employees, including NEOs, and a maximum of $30 for all other employees. A similar savings plan utilizing UGMA accounts is offered to all employees to save for minor relatives and is matched at a maximum of $15 per month per child.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

We also have a program whereby eligible employees can purchase treasury shares, at market price. During fiscal years 2018 and 2017, employees purchased 2,605 and 3,433 shares of treasury stock from us, respectively. The purchase price used is the closing stock price on the last business day of each month. All participants, including executive officers, in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan are subject to stock ownership and holding guidelines. We do not restrict the ability of our employees or directors to hedge their position in our shares. In addition, neither the board nor NEOs are required to own or purchase a certain number of shares.

The Summary Compensation Table includes the matched contributions to the plans described above for each NEO.

Perquisites and Other Benefits

We provide certain perquisites that the committee believes are reasonable and consistent with our overall compensation program to a limited number of officers. The perquisites consist of such things as memberships for business entertainment purposes and policies for long-term disability and life insurance. The Summary Compensation Table shows the value of perquisites provided to NEOs in fiscal year 2018 in the “All Other Compensation” column.

Employment Agreements, Termination and Change-in Control Arrangements

We do not have any employment agreements, termination agreements, or change-in control agreements with any of our executive officers.

Compliance with Section 162(m)

As amended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in December 2017, Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally disallows a tax deduction to public corporations for compensation greater than $1 million paid during any fiscal year to our CEO, CFO and our three other most highly compensated executive officers. The Compensation Committee plans to review this matter as appropriate and take action as may be necessary to preserve the deductibility of compensation payments to the extent reasonably practical and consistent with our objectives.

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Compensation of Named Executive Officers

The following table sets forth for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, the compensation reportable for the NEOs, as determined by SEC rules. Columns were omitted if they were not applicable.

Summary Compensation Table |
Name and Principal |  | Year |  | Salary |  |  | Bonus |  |  | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation |  |  | All Other Compensation |  |  | Total |
Position |  |  |  | ($) |  |  | ($) |  |  | ($) 1 |  |  | ($) |  |  | ($) |
(dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Frank E. Holmes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Chief Executive Officer |  | 2017 |  |  | 422 |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  | 94 |  |  |  | 101 |  |  |  | 621 |
Chief Investment Officer |  | 2018 |  |  | 422 |  |  |  | 88 |  |  |  | 187 |  |  |  | 90 2 |  |  |  | 787 |
Lisa C. Callicotte |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Chief Financial Officer |  | 2017 |  |  | 135 |  |  |  | 32 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  | 179 |
|  | 2018 |  |  | 135 |  |  |  | 51 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 12 3 |  |  |  | 198 |
Susan B. McGee 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
President / General Counsel / |  | 2017 |  |  | 258 |  |  |  | 34 |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |  | 38 |  |  |  | 338 |
Chief Compliance Officer |  | 2018 |  |  | 246 |  |  |  | 65 |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  | 77 4 |  |  |  | 393 |

1. | Amounts consist of cash incentive compensation awards earned for services. The amounts were paid pursuant to the senior executive bonus programs.

2. | Represents amounts paid by us on behalf of Mr. Holmes as follows: (i) $5 5 in insurance, (ii) $1 2 in matched contributions, (iii) $10 in memberships, and (iv) $13 in miscellaneous items.

3. | Represents amounts paid by us on behalf of Ms. Callicotte as follows: (i) $10 in matched contributions, and (ii) $2 in miscellaneous items.

4. | Represents amounts paid by us on behalf of Ms. McGee as follows: (i) $35 in accrued paid time off payout, (i i) $1 0 in insurance, (i i i) $1 4 in matched contributions, (i v) $3 in memberships, and (v) $1 5 in miscellaneous items.

5. | Ms. McGee separated her employment effective May 31, 2018.

No stock awards were granted to the named executive officers in fiscal year 2018.

Outstanding equity awards as of June 30, 2018, for the named executive officers are detailed in the table below. Columns were omitted if they were not applicable.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End |
|  | Option Awards |
Name |  | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options - Exercisable |  |  | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options - Unexercisable |  |  | Option Exercise Price ($) |  |  | Option Expiration Date |
(dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Frank E. Holmes |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | n/a |  |  | n/a |
Lisa C. Callicotte |  |  | 2,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 12.31 |  |  | 10/07/19 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,000 |  |  | $ | 2.74 |  |  | 03/21/28 |
Susan B. McGee |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | n/a |  |  | n/a |

The Pension Benefits, Nonqualified Deferred Compensation, and Option Exercises and Stock Vested Tables were omitted because they were not applicable.

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Compensation of Directors

The compensation of directors is subject to a minimum of $6,000 in any quarter paid in arrears. We may grant non-employee directors options under our 1989 and 1997 Stock Option Plans. Directors are reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses incurred in attending the meetings held by the Board of Directors. Mr. Rubinstein serves as the Chairman of the Board. The Company grants each director 100 shares of stock per month. Director compensation for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, is detailed in the table below. Columns that were not applicable were omitted.

Director Compensation |
Name |  | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash 1 |  |  | Stock Awards 2 |  |  | Total |
(dollars in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Jerold H. Rubinstein |  | $ | 124 |  |  | $ | 6 |  |  | $ | 130 |
Roy D. Terracina |  | $ | 64 |  |  | $ | 6 |  |  | $ | 70 |
Thomas F. Lydon, Jr. |  | $ | 74 |  |  | $ | 6 |  |  | $ | 80 |

1. | T he difference in fees earned was primarily due to Mr. Rubinstein receiving an additional amount per month for add ed responsibilities as chairman.

2. | Amounts shown represent expense recognized in the consolidated financial statements for stock awards granted to non-employee directors in fiscal year 201 8.

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Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

Class C Common Stock (Voting Stock)

On August 24, 2018, there were 2,068,857 shares of the Company’s class C common stock outstanding. The following table sets forth, as of such date, information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s class C common stock by each person known by the Company to own 5 percent or more of the outstanding shares of class C common stock.

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |  | Class C Common Shares Beneficially Owned |  |  | Percent of Class (%) |
Frank Holmes |  |  | 2,064,560 |  |  |  | 99.79 | %
7900 Callaghan Road |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
San Antonio, TX 78229 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

Class A Common Stock (Nonvoting Stock)

On August 24, 2018, there were 13,075,749 shares of the Company’s class A common stock issued and outstanding. The following table sets forth, as of such date, information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s class A common stock by each person known by the Company to own 5 percent or more of the outstanding shares of class A common stock.

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |  | Class A Common Shares Beneficially Owned |  |  | Percent of Class (%) |
Royce & Associates, LP – New York, NY 1 |  |  | 1,143,905 |  |  |  | 8.75 | %

1. | Information is from Schedule 13 F-HR as of June 30, 201 8, filed with the SEC on August 9, 201 8.

Security Ownership of Management

The following table sets forth, as of August 24, 2018, information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s class A and class C common stock by each director and named executive officer and by all directors and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated in the notes below, each person owns directly the number of shares indicated in the table and has sole voting power and investment power with respect to all such shares.

|  | Class C Common Stock |  |  | Class A Common Stock |
Beneficial Owner |  | Number of Shares |  |  | % |  |  | Number of Shares |  |  | % |
Frank E. Holmes, CEO, Director |  |  | 2,064,560 |  |  |  | 99.79 | % |  |  | 499,471 |  |  |  | 3.82 | %
Lisa C. Callicotte, CFO |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 17,026 |  |  |  | 0.13 | %
Jerold H. Rubinstein, Director |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 5,600 |  |  |  | 0.04 | %
Roy D. Terracina, Director |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 60,400 |  |  |  | 0.46 | %
Thomas F. Lydon, Jr., Director |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 14,100 |  |  |  | 0.11 | %
All directors and executive officers as a group (five persons) |  |  | 2,064,560 |  |  |  | 99.79 | % |  |  | 596,597 |  |  |  | 4.56 | %

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

|  | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |  |  | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights |  |  | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) |
Plan Category |  | (a) |  |  | (b) |  |  | (c ) |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |  |  | N/A |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  | N/A |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
1989 Stock Option Plan 1 |  |  | ----- |  |  |  | ----- |  |  |  | 717,000 |
1997 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan 2 |  |  | 4,000 |  |  | $ | 7.53 |  |  |  | 139,000 |
Employee Stock Purchase Plan 3 |  |  | N/A |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  | 119,408 |
2010 Stock Incentive Plan 4 |  |  | N/A |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  | 64,600 |
Total |  |  | 4,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,040,008 |

1. | Stock options under this plan may be granted to directors, officers, and employees of the Company from authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.

2. | Stock options under this plan may be granted to directors, executives, and key salaried employees of the Company from authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. The term of the option periods must be less than ten years.

3. | The Company has adopted a stock purchase plan to provide eligible employees of the Company an opportunity to purchase common stock of the Company. There are authorized shares of treasury stock reserved for issuance under the plan for which a registration statement has not been filed.

4. | The Company has adopted a stock incentive plan to provide eligible persons in the Company’s service an opportunity to acquire common stock of the Company. There are authorized shares of treasury stock reserved for issuance under the plan for which a registration statement has not been filed.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

U.S. Global is invested in several of the mutual funds it manages. See Note 16, Related Party Transactions, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which incorporates the information of the relationships and related transaction for this Item 13. Refer to Item 10 for information regarding director independence.

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Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

The following table represents fees for professional audit services for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2018, and 2017, respectively, rendered by BDO USA, LLP.

|  | Fiscal year ended June 30, |
(dollars in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Audit fees 1 |  | $ | 229 |  |  | $ | 220 |
Audit-related fees 2 |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Tax fees 3 |  |  | 67 |  |  |  | 25 |
Total fees |  | $ | 296 |  |  | $ | 245 |

1. | Audit fees consist of fees for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and review of the financial statements included in the Company’s Form 10-Q and for services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

2. | Audit-related fees consist primarily of fees for assurance and related services by the accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements.

3. | Tax fees include the preparation of federal tax returns as well as tax planning and consultation on new tax legislation, regulations, rulings, and developments.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies

The Audit Committee has established pre-approval policies pursuant to which all audit and auditor-provided non-audit engagement fees and terms must be approved. Pre-approval is generally provided and is detailed as to the particular service or category of services. The Audit Committee is also responsible for considering, to the extent applicable, whether the independent auditors’ provision of other non-audit services to the Company is compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent auditors.

All services provided by BDO USA, LLP in the fiscal years ended June 30, 2018, and 2017 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

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Part IV of Annual Report on Form 10-K

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:

1. Financial Statements

See Item 8 of Part II of this report.

2. Financial Statement Schedules

None.

3. Exhibits

3.1 |  | Fourth Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation of Company, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly report ended March 31, 2007 (EDGAR Accession Number 000095134-07-010817)
3.2 |  | Amended and Restated By-Laws of Company, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.02 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 8, 2006, (EDGAR Accession Number 0000754811-06-000076)
10.1 |  | Advisory Agreement with U.S. Global Investors Funds, dated October 1, 2008, incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment 100 filed October 1, 2008 (EDGAR Accession No. 0000950134-08-017422)
10.2 |  | Distribution Agreement dated December 10, 2015, by and between U.S. Global Investors Funds and Foreside Fund Services, LLC, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, filed February 12, 2016 (EDGAR Accession No. 0001185185-16-003686)
10.3 |  | Novation to the Distribution Agreement dated December 10, 2015, by and between U.S. Global Investors Funds and Foreside Fund Services, LLC, incorporated by reference to U.S. Global Investors Funds, Post-Effective Amendment No. 127, filed April 28, 2017 (EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-17-005412)
10.4 |  | Distribution Services Agreement dated December 10, 2015, by and between U.S. Global Investors, Inc. and Foreside Fund Services, LLC, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, filed February 12, 2016 (EDGAR Accession No. 0001185185-16-003686)
10.5 |  | Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement dated December 9, 2015, by and between U.S. Global Investors Funds and U.S. Global Investors, Inc., incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, filed February 12, 2016 (EDGAR Accession No. 0001185185-16-003686)
10.6 |  | Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 adopted December 9, 2015 by the Board of Trustees of U.S. Global Investors Funds, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, filed February 12, 2016 (EDGAR Accession No. 0001185185-16-003686)
10.7 |  | United Services Advisors, Inc. 1989 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(a) of the Company’s Registration Statement No. 33-3012, Post-Effective Amendment No. 2, filed on Form S-8 with the Commission on April 23, 1997 (EDGAR Accession No. 0000754811-97-000004)
10.8 |  | U.S. Global Investors, Inc. 1997 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 of the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-25699 filed on Form S-8 with the Commission on April 23, 1997 (EDGAR Accession No. 0000754811-97-000003)

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10.9 |  | 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended June 30, 2011, filed on September 6, 2011 (EDGAR Accession No. 0000950123-11-082564)
14.01 |  | Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers, adopted December 15, 2003, and amended February 17, 2016, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, filed on May 12, 2016 (EDGAR Accession No. 0001185185-16-004512)
14.02 |  | Code of Ethics, incorporated by reference to ETF Series Solutions Post-Effective Amendment 332 filed April 26, 2018 (EDGAR Accession No. 0000894189-18-002476)
21 |  | List of Subsidiaries of the Company, included herein.
23.1 |  | BDO USA, LLP consent of independent registered public accounting firm for Form 10-K for U.S. Global Investors, Inc., included herein.
31.1 |  | Rule 13a-14(a) Certifications (under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), included herein.
32.1 |  | Section 1350 Certifications (under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), included herein.
101.INS |  | INS XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH |  | SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL |  | CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF |  | DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB |  | LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document.
101.PRE |  | PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 of 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

| U.S. Global Investors, Inc.
| By: /s/ Frank E. Holmes
| Frank E. Holmes
Date: September 6, 2018 | Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature |  | Capacity in which signed |  | Date
/s/ Frank E. Holmes |  |  |  |
Frank E. Holmes |  | Chief Executive Officer Chief Investment Officer Director |  | September 6, 2018
/s/ Thomas F. Lydon, Jr. |  |  |  |
Thomas F. Lydon, Jr. |  | Director |  | September 6, 2018
/s/ Jerold H. Rubinstein |  |  |  |
Jerold H. Rubinstein |  | Chairman, Board of Directors |  | September 6, 2018
/s/ Roy D. Terracina |  |  |  |
Roy D. Terracina |  | Director |  | September 6, 2018
/s/ Lisa C. Callicotte |  |  |  | September 6, 2018
Lisa C. Callicotte |  | Chief Financial Officer |  |

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