Note 1 - Business and Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	Note 1—Business and Basis of Presentation Business Asta Funding, Inc., together with its wholly owned significant operating subsidiaries Palisades Collection LLC, Palisades Acquisition XVI, LLC (“Palisades XVI”), VATIV Recovery Solutions LLC (“VATIV”), ASFI Pegasus Holdings, LLC (“APH”), Fund Pegasus, LLC (“Fund Pegasus”), GAR Disability Advocates, LLC (“GAR Disability Advocates”), CBC Settlement Funding, LLC (“CBC”), Simia Capital, LLC (“Simia”) and other subsidiaries, not all wholly owned (the “Company,” “we” or “us”), is engaged in several business segments in the financial services industry including structured settlements through our wholly owned subsidiary CBC, funding of personal injury claims, through our 80% owned subsidiary Pegasus Funding, LLC (“Pegasus”), social security and disability advocates through our wholly owned subsidiary GAR Disability Advocates and the business of purchasing, managing for its own account and servicing distressed consumer receivables, including charged off receivables, and semi-performing receivables. Consumer receivables The Company started out in the consumer receivables business in 1994. Recently, our effort has been in the international areas (mainly South America), as we have curtailed our active purchasing of consumer receivables in the United States. We define consumer receivables as primary charged-off, semi-performing and distressed depending on their collectability. We acquire these consumer receivables at substantial discounts to their face values, based on the characteristics of the underlying accounts of each portfolio. Personal injury claims Pegasus conducts its business solely in the United States. Pegasus obtains its business from external brokers and internal sales professionals soliciting individuals with personal injury claims. Business is also obtained from the Pegasus website and through attorneys. The newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary, Simia, also engages in the personal injury claims business. Structured settlements CBC purchases structured settlement and annuity policies through privately negotiated direct consumer purchases and brokered transactions across the United States. CBC funds the purchases primarily from cash, and its securitized debt, issued through its Blue Bell Receivables (“BBR”) subsidiaries. Social security benefit advocacy GAR Disability Advocates provides its disability advocacy services throughout the United States. It relies upon search engine optimization (“SEO”) to bring awareness to its intended market. Basis of Presentation The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016, the consolidated statements of operations for the three month periods ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income for the three month periods ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity as of and for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the three month periods ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, are unaudited. The September 30, 2016 financial information included in this report was derived from our audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10 -K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly our financial position at December 31, 2016, the results of operations for the three month periods ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and cash flows for the three month periods ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 have been made. The results of operations for the three month periods ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for any other interim period or the full fiscal year. Palisades XVI is a variable interest entity (“VIE”). Asta Funding, Inc. is considered the primary beneficiary because it has the power to direct the significant activities of the VIE via its ownership and service contract. Palisades XVI holds the Great Seneca portfolio, a $300 million portfolio purchased in March 2007 (the “Portfolio Purchase”), which, as of December 31, 2016, had a value of $2.9 million. Blue Bell Receivables I, LLC (“BBR I”), Blue Bell Receivables II, LLC (“BBR II”), Blue Bell Receivables III, LLC (“BBR III”), Blue Bell Receivables IV, LLC (“BBR IV”) and Blue Bell Receivables V, LLC (“BBR V”) and Blue Bell Receivables VI, LLC (BBR VI”), collectively the “Blue Bell Entities”, are VIEs. CBC is considered the primary beneficiary because it has the power to direct the significant activities of the VIEs via its ownership and service contract. It also has the rights to receive benefits from the collections that exceed the payments to the note holders. The Blue Bell Entities hold structured settlements of $91.5 million and the non-recourse notes payable of $56.3 million as of December 31, 2016. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Rule 10 - 01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and therefore do not include all information and note disclosures required under generally accepted accounting principles. The Company suggests that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10 -K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates including management’s estimates of future cash flows and the resulting rates of return. Concentration of Credit Risk – Cash The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity date of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash balances are maintained at various depository institutions and are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). The Company had cash balances with 8 banks at December 31, 2016 that exceeded the balance insured by the FDIC by approximately $10.9 million. The Company does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk due to concentration of cash. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the FASB issued an update to ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, that will supersede virtually all existing revenue guidance. Under this update, an entity is required to recognize revenue upon transfer of promised goods or services to customers, in an amount that reflects the entitled consideration received in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from the customer contracts. This update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Based on the Company’s evaluation, the Company does not believe this new standard will impact the accounting for its revenues. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016 - 01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825 - 10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The main objective in developing this update is enhancing the reporting model for financial instruments to provide users of financial statements with more decision-useful information. The amendments in this update address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The effective date for this update is for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016 - 02 Leases (Topic 842) to amend lease accounting requirements and requires entities to generally recognize on the balance sheet operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets. The new standard will require significant additional disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows from leases. The standard update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those years and early adoption is permitted. The standard is to be applied using a modified retrospective approach and includes a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this update on its consolidated financial statements and expects that most of its operating leases will be subject to the accounting standard update and will recognize as operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets upon adoption. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016 - 09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share Based Payment Accounting, to simplify and improve areas of generally accepted accounting principles for which cost and complexity can be reduced while maintaining or improving the usefulness of the information provided to users of financial statements. The effective date for this update is for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its consolidated financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 - 13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The ASU requires an organization to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Additionally, the ASU amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. For the Company, this update will be effective for interim periods and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Upon adoption, the Company will accelerate the recording of its credit losses in its 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. This ASU will make eight targeted changes to how cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The new standard will require adoption on a retrospective basis unless it is impracticable to apply, in which case the Company would be required to apply the amendments prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. The Company is in the process of evaluating the provisions of the ASU, but does not expect it to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows.

Note

1—Business

and Basis of Presentation

Business

Asta Funding, Inc., together with its wholly owned significant operating subsidiaries Palisades Collection LLC, Palisades Acquisition XVI, LLC (“Palisades XVI”), VATIV Recovery Solutions LLC (“VATIV”), ASFI Pegasus Holdings, LLC (“APH”), Fund Pegasus, LLC (“Fund Pegasus”), GAR Disability Advocates, LLC (“GAR Disability Advocates”), CBC Settlement Funding, LLC (“CBC”), Simia Capital, LLC (“Simia”) and other subsidiaries, not all wholly owned (the “Company,” “we” or “us”), is engaged in several business segments in the financial services industry including structured settlements through our wholly owned subsidiary CBC, funding of personal injury claims, through our

80%

owned subsidiary Pegasus Funding, LLC (“Pegasus”), social security and disability advocates through our wholly owned subsidiary GAR Disability Advocates and the business of purchasing, managing for its own account and servicing distressed consumer receivables, including charged off receivables, and semi-performing receivables.

Consumer receivables

The Company started out in the consumer receivables business in

1994.

Recently, our effort has been in the international areas (mainly South America), as we have curtailed our active purchasing of consumer receivables in the United States. We define consumer receivables as primary charged-off, semi-performing and distressed depending on their collectability. We acquire these consumer receivables at substantial discounts to their face values, based on the characteristics of the underlying accounts of each portfolio.

Personal injury claims

Pegasus conducts its business solely in the United States. Pegasus obtains its business from external brokers and internal sales professionals soliciting individuals with personal injury claims. Business is also obtained from the Pegasus website and through attorneys. The newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary, Simia, also engages in the personal injury claims business.

Structured settlements

CBC purchases structured settlement and annuity policies through privately negotiated direct consumer purchases and brokered transactions across the United States. CBC funds the purchases primarily from cash, and its securitized debt, issued through its Blue Bell Receivables (“BBR”) subsidiaries.

Social security benefit advocacy

GAR Disability Advocates provides its disability advocacy services throughout the United States. It relies upon search engine optimization (“SEO”) to bring awareness to its intended market.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated balance sheet as of

December

31,

2016,

the consolidated statements of operations for the

three

month periods ended

December

31,

2016

and

2015,

the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income for the

three

month periods ended

December

31,

2016

and

2015,

the consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity as of and for the

three

months ended

December

31,

2016

and

2015,

and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the

three

month periods ended

December

31,

2016

and

2015,

are unaudited. The

September

30,

2016

financial information included in this report was derived from our audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form

-K for the fiscal year ended

September

30,

2016.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly our financial position at

December

31,

2016,

the results of operations for the

three

month periods ended

December

31,

2016

and

2015

and cash flows for the

three

month periods ended

December

31,

2016

and

2015

have been made. The results of operations for the

three

month periods ended

December

31,

2016

and

2015

are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for any other interim period or the full fiscal year.

Palisades XVI is a variable interest entity (“VIE”). Asta Funding, Inc. is considered the primary beneficiary because it has the power to direct the significant activities of the VIE via its ownership and service contract. Palisades XVI holds the Great Seneca portfolio, a

$300

million portfolio purchased in

March

2007

(the “Portfolio Purchase”), which, as of

December

31,

2016,

had a value of

$2.9

million.

Blue Bell Receivables I, LLC (“BBR I”), Blue Bell Receivables II, LLC (“BBR II”), Blue Bell Receivables III, LLC (“BBR III”), Blue Bell Receivables IV, LLC (“BBR IV”) and Blue Bell Receivables V, LLC (“BBR V”) and Blue Bell Receivables VI, LLC (BBR VI”),

collectively the “Blue Bell Entities”, are VIEs. CBC is considered the primary beneficiary because it has the power to direct the significant activities of the VIEs via its ownership and service contract. It also has the rights to receive benefits from the collections that exceed the payments to the note holders. The Blue Bell Entities hold structured settlements of

$91.5

million and the non-recourse notes payable of

$56.3

million as of

December

31,

2016.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Rule

of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and therefore do not include all information and note disclosures required under generally accepted accounting principles. The Company suggests that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form

-K for the fiscal year ended

September

30,

2016

filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates including management’s estimates of future cash flows and the resulting rates of return.

Concentration of Credit Risk – Cash

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity date of

three

months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Cash balances are maintained at various depository institutions and are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). The Company had cash balances with

banks at

December

31,

2016

that exceeded the balance insured by the FDIC by approximately

$10.9

million. The Company does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk due to concentration of cash.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

May

2014,

the FASB issued an update to ASC

606,

Revenue from Contracts with Customers, that will supersede virtually all existing revenue guidance. Under this update, an entity is required to recognize revenue upon transfer of promised goods or services to customers, in an amount that reflects the entitled consideration received in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from the customer contracts. This update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after

December

15,

2017

including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after

December

15,

2016,

including interim periods within that reporting period.

Based on the Company’s evaluation, the Company does not believe this new standard will impact the accounting for its revenues.

January

2016,

the FASB issued ASU No.

2016

01,

Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic

825

10):

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The main objective in developing this update is enhancing the reporting model for financial instruments to provide users of financial statements with more decision-useful information. The amendments in this update address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The effective date for this update is for annual reporting periods beginning after

December

15,

2017,

including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its consolidated financial statements.

February

2016,

the FASB issued ASU No.

2016

Leases (Topic

842)

to amend lease accounting requirements and requires entities to generally recognize on the balance sheet operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets. The new standard will require significant additional disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows from leases. The standard update is effective for fiscal years beginning after

December

15,

2018

and interim periods within those years and early adoption is permitted. The standard is to be applied using a modified retrospective approach and includes a number of optional practical expedients that entities

may

elect to apply. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this update on its consolidated financial statements and expects that most of its operating leases will be subject to the accounting standard update and will recognize as operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets upon adoption.

March

2016,

the FASB issued ASU No.

2016

09,

Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic

718):

Improvements to Employee Share Based Payment Accounting, to simplify and improve areas of generally accepted accounting principles for which cost and complexity can be reduced while maintaining or improving the usefulness of the information provided to users of financial statements. The effective date for this update is for annual reporting periods beginning after

December

15,

2016,

including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its consolidated financial statements.

June

2016,

the FASB issued ASU

2016

13,

Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic

326):

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The ASU requires an organization to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Additionally, the ASU amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. For the Company, this update will be effective for interim periods and annual periods beginning after

December

15,

2019.

Upon adoption, the Company will accelerate the recording of its credit losses in its financial statements.

August

2016,

the FASB issued ASU

2016

15,

Statement of Cash Flows (Topic

230):

Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This ASU will make

eight

targeted changes to how cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after

December

15,

2017.

Early adoption is permitted. The new standard will require adoption on a retrospective basis unless it is impracticable to apply, in which case the Company would be required to apply the amendments prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. The Company is in the process of evaluating the provisions of the ASU, but does not expect it to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows.