7. INVESTMENTS

The Company is a member of a joint venture, LB Pipe & Coupling Products, LLC (JV), in which it maintains a 45% ownership interest. The JV manufactures, markets, and sells various precision coupling products for the energy, utility, and construction markets and is scheduled to terminate on June 30, 2019.

Under applicable guidance for variable interest entities in ASC 810, “Consolidation,” the Company determined that the JV is a variable interest entity. The Company concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity, as the Company does not have a controlling financial interest and does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the JV. Accordingly, the Company concluded that the equity method of accounting remains appropriate.

As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had a nonconsolidated equity method investment of $5,204 and $5,090, respectively.

The Company recorded equity in the income of the JV of approximately $204 and $176 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. During the periods ending March 31, 2014 and 2013 the Company received cash distributions of $90 and $378, respectively. There were no changes to the Company’s 45% ownership interest as a result of the proportional distribution.

The Company’s exposure to loss results from its capital contributions, net of the Company’s share of the JV’s income or loss, and its net investment in the direct financing lease covering the facility used by the JV for its operations. The carrying amounts with the maximum exposure to loss of the Company at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, are as follows:



		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013

Equity method investment	$	5,204	$	5,090
Net investment in direct financing lease		1,197		1,224
	$	6,401	$	6,314

The Company is leasing five acres of land and two facilities to the JV over a period of 9.5 years, with a 5.5 year renewal period. In November 2012, the Company executed the first amendment to its lease with the JV. The amendment included the addition of a second facility built by the Company that is now leased to the JV. As a result of the amendment, monthly rent over the term of the lease increased by approximately $7. The current monthly lease payments approximate $17, with a balloon payment of approximately $488, which is required to be paid either at the termination of the lease, allocated over the renewal period, or during the initial term of the lease. This lease qualifies as a direct financing lease under the applicable guidance in ASC 840-30, “Leases.” The Company maintained a net investment in this direct financing lease of approximately $1,197 and $1,224 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

The following is a schedule of the direct financing minimum lease payments for the remainder of 2014 and the years 2015 and thereafter:



		Minimum Lease Payments
2014	$	87
2015		122
2016		131
2017		140
2018		150
2019 and thereafter		567
	$	1,197