Note 8.

Investments

The Company is a member of a joint venture, L B Pipe and Coupling Products, LLC (“LB Pipe JV”), in which it maintains a 45% ownership interest. The LB Pipe 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 LB Pipe 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 LB Pipe JV. Accordingly, the Company concluded that the equity method of accounting remains appropriate.

During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, each of the LB Pipe JV members received proportional distributions from the LB Pipe JV. The Company’s 45% ownership interest resulted in cash distributions of $90 and $630 as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. There were no changes to the members’ ownership interests as a result of the distribution.

The Company recorded equity in the (loss) income of the LB Pipe JV of approximately ($410), $1,286 and $1,316 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had a nonconsolidated equity method investment of $5,246 and $5,746, respectively, in the LB Pipe JV and other investments totaling $75 and $78 as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The Company’s exposure to loss results from its capital contributions, net of the Company’s share of the LB Pipe JV’s income or loss, and its net investment in the direct financing lease covering the facility used by the LB Pipe JV for its operations. The carrying amounts with the maximum exposure to loss of the Company at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, are as follows:



		2015		2014

LB Pipe JV equity method investment	$	5,246	$	5,746
Net investment in direct financing lease		995		1,117
	$	6,241	$	6,863

The Company is leasing five acres of land and two facilities to the LB Pipe JV through June 30, 2019, with a 5.5 year renewal period. The current monthly lease payments, including interest, approximate $17, with a balloon payment of approximately $488, which is required to be paid 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 following is a schedule of the direct financing minimum lease payments for the years 2016 and thereafter



		Minimum Lease Payments
2016	$	131
2017		140
2018		150
2019		574
	$	995

As a result of the November 23, 2015 acquisition of Tew Plus, the Company remeasured its 25% equity investment in Tew Plus resulting in other income of $580 for the period ended December 31, 2015. Refer to Note 20, “Other Income,” for additional information on the gain.