Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Fair Value

v3.10.0.1
Fair Value
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
FAIR VALUE
FAIR VALUE
As of December 31, 2017, the Company's investments in Lightfoot and Joliet were its only remaining private company other equity securities. These other equity securities were also the only assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Certain private equity investments were sold or disposed of by the end of 2018. Refer to the "Lightfoot" and "Joliet" sections below for additional details.
The following tables set forth the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, by input level within the fair value hierarchy, as of December 31, 2017:
 
December 31, 2017
 
Total
 
Fair Value
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other equity securities
$
2,958,315

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,958,315

Total Assets
$
2,958,315

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,958,315

The changes for all Level 3 securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, are as follows:
Level 3 Rollforward
For the Year Ended 2018
 
Fair Value Beginning Balance
 
Acquisitions
 
Disposals
 
Total Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in Net Income
 
Return of Capital Adjustments Impacting Cost Basis of Securities
 
Fair Value Ending Balance
 
Changes in Unrealized Gains Included In Net Income, Relating to Securities Still Held (1)
Other equity securities
 
$
2,958,315

 
$

 
$
(449,067
)
 
$
(1,845,309
)
 
$
(663,939
)
 
$

 
$

Total
 
$
2,958,315

 
$

 
$
(449,067
)
 
$
(1,845,309
)
 
$
(663,939
)
 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Year Ended 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other equity securities
 
$
9,287,209

 
$
1,161,034

 
$
(8,752,201
)
 
$
1,531,827

 
$
(269,554
)
 
$
2,958,315

 
$
295,161

Total
 
$
9,287,209

 
$
1,161,034

 
$
(8,752,201
)
 
$
1,531,827

 
$
(269,554
)
 
$
2,958,315

 
$
295,161

(1) Located in Net realized and unrealized gain on other equity securities in the Consolidated Statements of Income

The Company utilizes the beginning of reporting period method for determining transfers between levels. There were no transfers between levels 1, 2 or 3 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
Valuation Techniques and Unobservable Inputs
The Company's other equity securities, which represent securities issued by private companies, were classified as Level 3 assets and the Company elected to report at fair value under the fair value option. Significant judgment was required in selecting the assumptions used to determine the fair values of these investments.
Lightfoot
The Company's Lightfoot investment consisted of a 6.6 percent and 1.5 percent equity interest in Lightfoot LP and Lightfoot GP, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, Lightfoot's only material asset consisted of its remaining investment in Gulf LNG, a 1.5 billion cubic feet per day ("bcf/d") receiving, storage and regasification terminal in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
On December 21, 2017, Zenith closed its acquisition of Arc Logistics. Under the terms of the agreement, Lightfoot LP received $14.50 per common unit of Arc Logistics. Lightfoot LP additionally received $36.2 million for the sale of 5.52 percent of its interest in Gulf LNG to Zenith (the "Unconditional Interest"). In addition, Zenith was to purchase the remaining 4.16 percent of Lightfoot's Gulf LNG interest (the "Conditional Interest") for an additional $27.3 million upon a successful outcome (as defined) of the Gulf LNG arbitration with Eni USA, as discussed further below. Lightfoot GP received $94.5 million for 100 percent of the membership interests in Arc Logistics GP. Under the terms of the merger, at closing, Lightfoot LP and Lightfoot GP used a portion of their sale proceeds to purchase an approximate 13.5 percent interest in Joliet.
Subsequent to closing of the transaction, the Company received $7.6 million in cash proceeds related to its pro rata portion of the sale proceeds of Lightfoot, including proceeds related to Arc Logistics common units, the Unconditional Interest in Gulf LNG and membership interests in Arc Logistics GP. Amounts received are net of approximately $1.2 million related to the Company's required reinvestment in Joliet.
On March 1, 2016, an affiliate of Gulf LNG received a Notice of Disagreement and Disputed Statements and a Notice of Arbitration from Eni USA, one of the two companies that had entered into a terminal use agreement for capacity of the liquefied natural gas facility owned by Gulf LNG and its subsidiaries. On June 29, 2018, the arbitration panel delivered its award, and the panel's ruling calls for the termination of the agreement and Eni USA's payment of compensation to Gulf LNG. On September 25, 2018, Gulf LNG filed a lawsuit against Eni USA in the Delaware Court of Chancery to enforce the award. Further, on September 28, 2018, Gulf LNG filed a lawsuit against Eni S.p.A. in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in New York County to enforce a guarantee agreement entered by Eni S.p.A. in connection with the terminal use agreement.
During the third quarter of 2018, the fair value of the Lightfoot investment was reduced to zero due to additional market information. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company received a distribution representing a return of capital totaling approximately $667 thousand due to the disposition of the remaining asset interest. The Company recognized a realized loss of $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The loss is recorded in net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on other equity securities in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Joliet
As of December 31, 2017, the Company owned a 0.6 percent interest in Joliet, which was acquired in conjunction with the terms of Zenith's acquisition of Arc Logistics discussed above.
On December 21, 2018, the Company sold its interest in Joliet, along with the Portland Terminal Facility, to Zenith Terminals for approximately $446 thousand. The sale resulted in a realized loss on other equity securities of approximately $715 thousand included in net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on other equity securities in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The fair value of the Company's private company investments at December 31, 2017 was approximately $3.0 million, which was determined using recent transaction data and expected proceeds, discounted using a risk-free rate through the expected receipt date. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Company's investment may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of the Company's investment may differ from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investment and may differ materially from the values that the Company may ultimately realize.
The following section describes the valuation methodologies used by the Company for estimating fair value for financial instruments not recorded at fair value, but fair value is included for disclosure purposes only, as required under disclosure guidance related to the fair value of financial instruments.
Cash and Cash Equivalents — The carrying value of cash, amounts due from banks, federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements approximates fair value.
Financing Notes Receivable — The financing notes receivable are valued on a non-recurring basis. The financing notes receivable are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Financing Notes with carrying values that are not expected to be recovered through future cash flows are written-down to their estimated net realizable value. Estimates of realizable value are determined based on unobservable inputs, including estimates of future cash flow generation and value of collateral underlying the notes.
Secured Credit Facilities — The fair value of the Company's long-term variable-rate and fixed-rate debt under its secured credit facilities approximates carrying value.
Unsecured Convertible Senior Notes — The fair value of the unsecured convertible senior notes is estimated using quoted market prices.
Carrying and Fair Value Amounts
 
Level within Fair Value Hierarchy
 
December 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
Carrying Amount (1)
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Amount (1)
 
Fair Value
Financial Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
Level 1
 
$
69,287,177

 
$
69,287,177

 
$
15,787,069

 
$
15,787,069

Financing notes receivable (Note 5)
Level 3
 
1,300,000

 
1,300,000

 
1,500,000

 
1,500,000

Financial Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secured credit facilities
Level 2
 
$
37,261,109

 
$
37,261,109

 
$
40,745,354

 
$
40,745,354

Unsecured convertible senior notes
Level 1
 
112,777,271

 
119,378,982

 
112,032,083

 
139,101,660

(1) The carrying value of debt balances are presented net of unamortized original issuance discount and debt issuance costs.