Investments and other assets

Our investments and other assets consisted of the following as of March 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018 (in thousands):



	Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018

Cash value life insurance	$	51,592	$	50,452
Equity method investments	18,426		22,960
Cost method investments	24,790		24,497
Deferred debt issuance costs	8,679		9,350
Other long-term assets	36,399		36,206
Total	$	139,886	$	143,465

Cash value life insurance: We are the beneficiary of life insurance policies on the lives of certain employees/retirees, which are recorded at their cash surrender value as determined by the insurance carrier. These policies are utilized as a partial funding source for deferred compensation and other non-qualified employee retirement plans. Gains and losses on these investments are included in Other non-operating items, net within our Consolidated Statement of Income and were not material for all periods presented.

Equity method investments: We hold several strategic equity method investments. Our largest equity method investment is our ownership in CareerBuilder, of which we own approximately 17% (or approximately 10% on a fully-diluted basis), which has an investment balance of $12.9 million and $12.4 million as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Our ownership stake provides us with two seats on CareerBuilder’s board of directors and thus we concluded that we have significant influence over the entity.

In the first quarter of 2019, we sold our investment in Captivate, which had been accounted for as an equity method investment, for $16.2 million, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of $12.2 million (after-tax gain of $9.2 million). The gain has been recorded in the Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated investments, net line item of our Statement of Income and Statement of Cash Flows.

Cost method investments: Represent investments in non-public businesses that do not have readily determinable pricing, and for which we do not have control or do not exert significant influence. These investments are recorded at cost less impairments, if any, plus or minus changes in observable prices for those investments. There were no gains or losses associated with these investments during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.