Note 6 - Investment

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Investments Schedule [Abstract]

Investment [Text Block]

Note 6. Investment

Korea Line Corporation

Since 2007 the Company has had a chartering agreement with Korea Line Corporation (“KLC”). KLC experienced financial troubles beginning in 2011 and failed to meet its contractual obligations to the Company. Since 2011, KLC and the Company had modified the terms of its charter agreement a number of times; however, KLC continued to experience financial difficulties. In the first quarter of 2013, a comprehensive termination agreement between the Company and KLC became effective, as the settlement effectively terminated the charters with KLC. The Company received a cash payment of $10.3 million; released $3.5 million of bunker liabilities to KLC; released an aggregate $3.6 million balance related to KLC deferred revenue; released a $10.1 million balance related to the KLC unamortized fair value of charters below and above contract value; received KLC shares valued at $5.9 million; and received a note receivable valued at $2.7 million. The total aggregate consideration related to the KLC termination agreement was $36.1 million of which the Company recorded revenue associated with the termination of $32.8 million, related to amounts previously owed but not recognized, and a termination gain of $3.3 million.

On May 9, 2013 the 538,751 additional KLC common shares were issued to the Company and were released from the Korean Securities Depository on November 11, 2013. These shares replaced the note receivable recorded pursuant to the January 3, 2013, termination agreement. The fair market value of the shares upon issuance was in excess of the fair value of the receivable. As a result, we recorded an incremental gain of $25.6 million in the second quarter of 2013. Subsequent to June 30, 2013, the Company received payment on the remaining note receivable.

As of December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2014, the Company’s sole remaining interest in KLC is an investment in capital stock.

The KLC investment is designated as Available For Sale (“AFS”) and is reported at its fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”). The fair value of KLC shares are determined from the market price as quoted on the Korean Stock Exchange and by converting the South-Korean Won (”KRW”) extended value into USD with the exchange rate applicable on date of conversion. The Company reviews the investment in KLC for impairment on quarterly basis.

As of March 31, 2013, September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013, the change in the fair value of our KLC investment was considered as other-than-temporary, and therefore the Company recorded non-cash impairment losses of $3.0 million, $7.3 million and $8.2 million, respectively, in other expenses in the first, third and fourth quarters of 2013, respectively.

The fair value of the KLC investments subsequent to September 30, 2014, has been recovered and increased in value. During the nine month period, the KLC shares were volatile and at times valued above and below the Company's book value. Therefore, the Company concluded that as of March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014, the change in the fair value of the KLC investment is “temporary,” and the Company recorded an unrealized loss of $2.1 million as of March 31, 2014, an unrealized gain of $1.4 million as of June 30, 2014 and an unrealized gain of $0.3 million as of September 30, 2014 in shareholders’ equity as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. No impairment charges were recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

The following table represents KLC capital stock which is recorded at fair value:

	No of KLC Shares	Cost Basis- Adjusted	Fair Value	Unrealized Gain / (Loss) re ported in OCI	Other-than- Temporary Loss reported in Earnings- YTD	Gain / (Loss) On Sale of KLC Stock-YTD
Balance at December 31, 2012	38,674	$963,119	$197,509	$(765,609)	-	-
KLC Stock issued	585,983	33,959,454	33,959,454	-	-	-
KLC Stock sold	(58,128)	(2,690,768)	(2,690,768)	-	-	-
Other-than-Temporary Loss Adjustments	-	(18,414,366)	(17,648,756)	765,609	(18,414,366)	(417,966)
Balance at December 31, 2013	566,529	$13,817,439	$13,817,439	-	$(18,414,366)	$(417,966)
Fair Value Adjustments, net	-	-	(442,288)	$(442,288)	-	-
Balance at September 30, 2014	566,529	$13,817,439	$13,375,151	$(442,288)	-	-