6.	EQUITY INVESTMENTS: The carrying value of our equity investments in domestic and foreign companies was $868.0 million at October 3, 2015, ($872.5 million at December 31, 2014) 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 October 3, 2015, was $386.3 million ($412.9 million at December 31, 2014). Nucor’s 50% share of the total net assets of Duferdofin Nucor was $51.7 million at October 3, 2015, resulting in a basis difference of $334.6 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 ($270.6 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 associated with the fair value step-up was $2.2 million and $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and was $6.6 million and $8.0 million in the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, respectively.

As of October 3, 2015, Nucor had outstanding notes receivable of €35.0 million ($39.2 million) from Duferdofin Nucor (€35.0 million, or $42.5 million, as of December 31, 2014). The notes receivable bear interest at 1.14% and 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, 2019. As of October 3, 2015, and December 31, 2014, the note receivable was classified in other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Nucor has issued guarantees, the fair values of which are immaterial, for its ownership percentage (50%) of Duferdofin Nucor’s borrowings under Facility A of a Structured Trade Finance Facilities Agreement as well as the Standby Medium Long Term Loan Credit Facility, which mature on April 26, 2016, and April 22, 2016, respectively. The maximum amount Duferdofin Nucor can borrow under Facility A is €122.5 million ($137.2 million at October 3, 2015). As of October 3, 2015, there was €115.0 million ($128.8 million) outstanding under that facility (€107.0 million, or $129.9 million, at December 31, 2014). Subsequent to October 3, 2015, Facility A was amended to extend the maturity date to October 12, 2018. The guarantee under the Standby Medium Long Term Loan Credit Facility was issued in the second quarter of 2014, and, as of October 3, 2015, Duferdofin Nucor had the maximum borrowing amount of €60.0 million ($67.2 million) outstanding under the facility (€60.0 million, or $72.8 million, at December 31, 2014). Subsequent to October 3, 2015, Nucor and its joint-venture partner provided capital contributions to Duferdofin Nucor that were used to pay the outstanding balance of the Standby Medium Long Term Loan Credit Facility, which was also terminated. If Duferdofin Nucor fails to pay when due any amounts for which it is obligated under Facility A or the Standby Medium Long Term Loan Credit Facility, Nucor could be required to pay 50% of such amounts pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of its guarantees. Any indebtedness of Duferdofin Nucor to Nucor is effectively subordinated to the indebtedness of Duferdofin Nucor under both financing agreements. Nucor has not recorded any liability associated with these guarantees.

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 25 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 October 3, 2015, was $307.4 million ($301.5 million as of December 31, 2014).

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 programs. 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 was $136.6 million at October 3, 2015 ($138.6 million at December 31, 2014).

Recent declines in natural gas pricing have led to reduced natural gas drilling activity. Sustained or further reductions in natural gas production activity could lead to reduced utilization of the Hunter Ridge assets. We will continue to monitor for potential triggering events that could affect the carrying value of our investment in Hunter Ridge as a result of future market conditions and any changes in business strategy.

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 2014, 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 third quarter of 2015, and, therefore, it is reasonably possible that material deviation of future performance from the estimates used in our most recent valuation could result in impairment of our investment in Duferdofin Nucor. We will continue to monitor for potential triggering events that could affect the carrying value of our investment in Duferdofin Nucor as a result of future market conditions and any changes in business strategy.

It is possible that the future performance of Duferdofin Nucor could affect the recorded value of the note receivable the Company has with Duferdofin Nucor and any potential liability associated with the Company’s guarantees of the indebtedness of Duferdofin Nucor as discussed above.