6.	EQUITY INVESTMENTS: The carrying value of our equity investments in domestic and foreign companies was $944.9 million at April 5, 2014 ($936.0 million at December 31, 2013) and is recorded in other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

DUFERDOFIN NUCOR

Nucor owns a 50% economic and voting interest in Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. (Duferdofin Nucor), an Italian steel manufacturer, and accounts for the investment (on a one-month lag basis) under the equity method, as control and risk of loss are shared equally between the members.

Nucor’s investment in Duferdofin Nucor at April 5, 2014 was $463.6 million ($465.4 million at December 31, 2013). Nucor’s 50% share of the total net assets of Duferdofin Nucor was $55.0 million at April 5, 2014, resulting in a basis difference of $408.6 million due to the step-up to fair value of certain assets and liabilities attributable to Duferdofin Nucor as well as the identification of goodwill ($331.0 million) and finite-lived intangible assets. This basis difference, excluding the portion attributable to goodwill, is being amortized based on the remaining estimated useful lives of the various underlying net assets, as appropriate. Amortization expense and other purchase accounting adjustments associated with the fair value step-up were $2.7 million and $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively.

As of April 5, 2014, Nucor had outstanding notes receivable of €35.0 million ($48.0 million) from Duferdofin Nucor (€35.0 million, or $48.2 million, at December 31, 2013). The notes receivable bear interest at 1.539% and will reset annually on September 30 to the twelve-month Euro Interbank Offered Rate (Euribor) plus 1% per year. The principal amounts are due on January 31, 2016. Accordingly, the notes receivable were classified in other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of April 5, 2014.

Nucor has issued a guarantee for its ownership percentage (50%) of Duferdofin Nucor’s borrowings under Facility A of a Structured Trade Finance Facilities Agreement that matures on April 26, 2016. The maximum amount that Duferdofin Nucor can borrow under Facility A is €122.5 million, and as of April 5, 2014, Duferdofin Nucor had €119.5 million ($163.8 million) outstanding under that facility (€112.0 million, or $154.4 million, at December 31, 2013). If Duferdofin Nucor fails to pay when due any amounts for which it is obligated under Facility A, Nucor could be required to pay 50% of such amounts pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of its guarantee. Any indebtedness of Duferdofin Nucor to Nucor is effectively subordinated to the indebtedness of Duferdofin Nucor under the Structured Trade Finance Facilities Agreement. Nucor has not recorded any liability associated with the guarantee.

NUMIT

Nucor has a 50% economic and voting interest in NuMit LLC (NuMit). NuMit owns 100% of the equity interest in Steel Technologies LLC, an operator of 24 sheet processing facilities located throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Nucor accounts for the investment in NuMit (on a one-month lag basis) under the equity method as control and risk of loss are shared equally between the members.

Nucor’s investment in NuMit at April 5, 2014 was $326.9 million ($318.4 million as of December 31, 2013). Nucor also has recorded a $40.0 million note receivable from Steel Technologies LLC that bears interest at 1.13% as of April 5, 2014 and resets quarterly to the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 90 basis points. The principal amount is due on October 21, 2014. In addition, Nucor has extended a line of credit to Steel Technologies. In the first quarter of 2014 the line of credit was amended to extend the maturity date to April 1, 2015 and decrease the line of credit from $100.0 million to $60.0 million (of which $14.0 million was outstanding at April 5, 2014 and bears interest at 1.36%). As of April 5, 2014, both the note receivable and the amounts outstanding on the line of credit are classified in other current assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

HUNTER RIDGE

Nucor has a 50% economic and voting interest in Hunter Ridge Energy Services LLC (Hunter Ridge). Hunter Ridge provides services for the gathering, separation and compression of energy products including natural gas produced by Nucor’s working interest drilling program. Nucor accounts for the investment (on a one-month lag basis) under the equity method, as control and risk of loss are shared equally between the members. Nucor’s investment in Hunter Ridge at April 5, 2014 was $135.4 million ($134.5 million at December 31, 2013).

ALL EQUITY INVESTMENTS

Nucor reviews its equity investments for impairment if and when circumstances indicate that a decline in value below their carrying amounts may have occurred. In the fourth quarter of 2013, Nucor assessed its equity investment in Duferdofin Nucor for impairment due to the protracted challenging steel market conditions in Europe. After completing its assessment, the Company determined that the estimated fair value exceeded its carrying amount and that there was no need for impairment. The assumptions that most significantly affect the fair value determination include projected revenues and the discount rate. Steel market conditions in Europe have continued to be challenging through the first quarter of 2014, and, therefore, it is reasonably possible that material deviation of future performance from the estimates used in our most recent valuation could result in further impairment of our investment in Duferdofin Nucor. Nucor recorded a $30.0 million impairment charge against its investment in Duferdofin Nucor in the second quarter of 2012.