INVESTMENTS

3 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2018

Investments Schedule [Abstract]

Investment [Text Block]

Note 12. Investments

The following table summarizes the Company’s equity method investment at April 30, 2018 and January 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):

Entity	Ownership Percentage			Carrying Amount April 30, 2018		Carrying Amount January 31, 2018
Big River		10.3	%	$	35,246	$	34,549

Undistributed earnings of the Company’s equity method investee totaled approximately $15.2 million and $14.5 million at April 30, 2018 and January 31, 2018, respectively. The Company did not receive dividends from its equity method investee in the first quarter of fiscal years 2018 or 2017.

Summarized financial information for the Company’s equity method investee is presented in the following table for the periods presented (amounts in thousands):

	Three Months Ended April 30,
	2018		2017
Net sales and revenue	$	191,943	$	192,500
Gross profit	$	13,691	$	8,181
Income from continuing operations	$	6,765	$	7,206
Net income	$	6,765	$	7,206

Big River has debt agreements that limit amounts Big River can pay in the form of dividends or advances to owners. The restricted net assets of Big River at April 30, 2018 and January 31, 2018 are approximately $214.1 million and $202.6 million, respectively.