FAIR VALUE OF OTHER SECURITIES | FAIR VALUE OF OTHER SECURITIES The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The following tables provide the fair value measurements of applicable Company assets and liabilities by level within the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2015 , and December 31, 2014 . These assets and liabilities are measured on a recurring basis. September 30, 2015 September 30, 2015 Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Other equity securities $ 8,658,068 $ — $ — $ 8,658,068 Total Assets $ 8,658,068 $ — $ — $ 8,658,068 December 31, 2014 December 31, 2014 Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets: Other equity securities $ 9,572,181 $ — $ — $ 9,572,181 Total Assets $ 9,572,181 $ — $ — $ 9,572,181 The changes for all Level 3 securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 , are as follows: Level 3 Rollforward For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 Fair Value Beginning Balance Acquisitions Disposals Total Realized and Unrealized Gains Included in Net Income Return of Capital Adjustments Impacting Cost Basis of Securities Fair Value Ending Balance Changes in Unrealized Gains, Included In Net Income, Relating to Securities Still Held (1) Other equity securities $ 9,217,181 $ — $ — $ (842,438 ) $ 283,325 $ 8,658,068 $ (842,438 ) Warrant investment 355,000 — — (355,000 ) — — (355,000 ) Total $ 9,572,181 $ — $ — $ (1,197,438 ) $ 283,325 $ 8,658,068 $ (1,197,438 ) For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Other equity securities $ 23,304,321 $ — $ — $ 2,990,376 $ (873,820 ) $ 25,420,877 $ 2,990,376 Warrant Investment 122,500 385,500 508,000 385,000 Total $ 23,304,321 $ — $ — $ 2,990,376 $ (873,820 ) $ 25,420,877 $ 2,990,376 (1) Located in Net realized and unrealized gain on other equity securities in the Consolidated Statements of Income The Company utilizes the beginning of reporting period method for determining transfers between levels. There were no transfers between levels 1, 2 or 3 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 , and September 30, 2014 . In accordance with ASC 820, the Company fair values their derivative financial instruments. Please refer to Note 17 , Interest Rate Hedge Swaps, for more information. Additionally, the company had a non-recurring fair value measurement related to the acquisition of an asset retirement obligation, see Note 16, Asset Retirement Obligation, for more information. In connection with the October 2014 sale of the company's shares in VantaCore, a portion of the proceeds were placed in escrow and a receivable was recorded. Changes in the fair value of the escrow receivable are recorded as a net realized or unrealized gain or loss on other equity securities included within the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 , approximately $0 and $282 thousand , were included as an unrealized gain, respectively. Valuation Techniques and Unobservable Inputs The Company’s other equity securities, which represent securities issued by private companies, are classified as Level 3 assets. Significant judgment is required in selecting the assumptions used to determine the fair values of these investments. See Note 2 , Significant Accounting Policies, for additional discussion. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 , the Company’s Warrant Investment was valued using a binomial option pricing model. The key assumptions used in the binomial model are the fair value of equity of the underlying business; the Warrant's strike price; the expected volatility of equity; the time to the Warrant's expiry; the risk-free rate, and the expected dividend yields. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of the Warrant Investment, which does not have a readily available market, the assumptions used the binomial model to value the Company’s Warrant Investment were based on Level 2 and Level 3 inputs. These inputs, including the expected volatility and the fair value of equity of the underlying business, may vary significantly from period-to-period, and accordingly, the fair value as of September 30, 2015 may differ materially from the amount that the Company may ultimately realize. The Company’s Warrant Investment was valued at $0 at September 30, 2015 due to the current reduction in Black Bison’s business activity that also resulted in the Provision for Loan Loss with respect to the Black Bison Loans discussed in further detail in Note 6. At September 30, 2014 , the Company’s investments in private companies were valued using one or a combination of the following valuation techniques: (i) analysis of valuations for publicly traded companies in a similar line of business (“public company analysis”), (ii) analysis of valuations for comparable M&A transactions (“M&A analysis”) and (iii) discounted cash flow analysis. The public company analysis utilizes valuation multiples for publicly traded companies in a similar line of business as the portfolio company to estimate the fair value of such investment. Typically, the Company’s analysis focuses on the ratio of enterprise value to earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) which is commonly referred to as an EV/EBITDA multiple. The Company selects a range of multiples given the trading multiples of similar publicly traded companies and applies such multiples to the portfolio company’s EBITDA to estimate the portfolio company’s trailing, proforma, projected or average (as appropriate) EBITDA to estimate the portfolio company’s enterprise value and equity value. The Company also selects a range of trading market yields of similar public companies and applies such yields to the portfolio company’s estimated distributable cash flow. When calculating these values, the Company applies a discount, when applicable, to the portfolio company’s estimated equity value for the size of the company and the lack of liquidity in the portfolio company’s securities. The M&A analysis utilizes valuation multiples for historical M&A transactions for companies or assets in a similar line of business as the portfolio company to estimate the fair value of such investment. Typically, the Company’s analysis focuses on EV/EBITDA multiples. The Company selects a range of multiples based on EV/EBITDA multiples for similar M&A transactions or similar companies and applies such ranges to the portfolio company’s analytical EBITDA to estimate the portfolio company’s enterprise value. The discounted cash flow ("DCF") analysis is used to estimate the equity value for the portfolio company based on estimated DCF of such portfolio company. Such cash flows include an estimate of terminal value for the portfolio company. A present value of these cash flows is determined by using estimated discount rates (based on the Company’s estimate for weighted average cost of capital for such portfolio company). Under all of these valuation techniques, the Company estimated operating results of its portfolio companies (including EBITDA). These estimates utilize unobservable inputs such as historical operating results, which may be unaudited, and projected operating results, which were based on expected operating assumptions for such portfolio company. The Company also consulted with management of the portfolio companies to develop these financial projections. These estimates were sensitive to changes in assumptions specific to such portfolio company as well as general assumptions for the industry. Other unobservable inputs utilized in the valuation techniques outlined above include: possible discounts for lack of marketability, selection of publicly-traded companies, selection of similar M&A transactions, selected ranges for valuation multiples, selected range of yields and expected required rates of return and weighted average cost of capital. The various inputs were weighted as appropriate, and other factors may have been weighted into the valuation, including recent capital transactions of the Company. Changes in EBITDA multiples, or discount rates may change the fair value of the Company’s portfolio investments. Generally, a decrease in EBITDA multiples or DCF multiples, or an increase in discount rates, when applicable, may result in a decrease in the fair value of the Company’s portfolio investments. As of September 30, 2015 , the Company’s investment in Lightfoot Capital Partners, LP and Lightfoot Capital Partners GP LLC, collectively, ("Lightfoot") is its only remaining significant private company investment. Lightfoot in turn owns a combination of public and private investments. Therefore, Lightfoot was valued using a combination of the following valuation techniques: (i) public share price of private companies' investments discounted for a lack of marketability, with the discount estimated at 13.7 percent to 17.6 percent and 14.1 percent to 18.1 percent as of September 30, 2015 and 2014 , respectfully, and (ii) discounted cash flow analysis using an estimated discount rate of 13.0 percent to 15.0 percent and 12.0 percent to 14.0 percent as of September 30, 2015 and 2014 , respectfully. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Company’s investment may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of the Company’s investment may differ from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investment and may differ materially from the values that the Company may ultimately realize. As of both September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014 , the Company held a 6.7 percent equity interest in Lightfoot. As of September 30, 2014 , the Company held an 11.1 percent equity interest in VantaCore. Certain condensed combined financial information of the unconsolidated affiliate, Lightfoot, is presented in the following tables (in thousands). September 30, 2015 December 31, 2014 Assets Current assets $ 29,313 $ 25,783 Noncurrent assets 695,903 382,957 Total Assets $ 725,216 $ 408,740 Liabilities Current liabilities $ 22,509 $ 14,318 Noncurrent liabilities 244,040 113,810 Total Liabilities $ 266,549 $ 128,128 Partner's equity 458,667 280,612 Total liabilities and partner's equity $ 725,216 $ 408,740 For the Three Months Ended For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 September 30, 2014 September 30, 2015 September 30, 2014 Revenues $ 24,084 $ 13,690 $ 56,751 $ 41,631 Operating expenses 21,526 14,179 54,194 41,855 Other income (expenses) 2,683 3,934 9,837 11,601 Net income $ 5,241 $ 3,445 12,394 $ 11,377 EBITDA $ 14,897 $ 7,670 $ 32,642 $ 23,857 For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company’s Warrant Investment was valued using the Black-Scholes model. The Black-Scholes model incorporates the fair value of the business, the time value of money, the option's strike price, volatility of business and the time to the option's expiry. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of Warrant investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Company’s warrant investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of the Company’s warrant investments may differ from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values that the Company may ultimately realize. The following section describes the valuation methodologies used by the Company for estimating fair value for financial instruments not recorded at fair value, but fair value is included for disclosure purposes only, as required under disclosure guidance related to the fair value of financial instruments. Cash and Cash Equivalents — The carrying value of cash, amounts due from banks, federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements approximates fair value. Escrow Receivable — The escrow receivable due to the Company as of September 30, 2015 , which relates to the sale of VantaCore, is anticipated to be released upon satisfaction of certain post-closing obligations and the expiration of certain time periods ( 50 percent to be released 12 months after the October 1, 2014 closing date (i.e. October 1, 2015), and the other 50 percent released 18 months after close (i.e. April 1, 2016)). The fair value of the escrow receivable is reflected net of a discount for the potential that the full amount due to the Company would not be realized. Financing Notes Receivable — The financing notes receivable are valued on a non-recurring basis. The financing notes receivable are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Financing Notes with carrying values that are not expected to be recovered through future cash flows are written-down to their estimated net realizable value. Long-term Debt — The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is calculated, for disclosure purposes, by discounting future cash flows by a rate equal to the expected market rate for an equivalent transaction. Line of Credit — The carrying value of the line of credit approximates the fair value due to its short-term nature. Carrying and Fair Value Amounts Level within fair value hierarchy September 30, 2015 December 31, 2014 Carrying Amount Fair Value Carrying Amount Fair Value Financial Assets: Cash and cash equivalents Level 1 $ 16,862,808 $ 16,862,808 $ 7,578,164 $ 7,578,164 Escrow receivable Level 2 $ 2,720,373 $ 2,720,373 $ 2,438,500 $ 2,438,500 Financing notes receivable (Note 6) Level 2 $ 13,235,876 $ 13,235,876 $ 20,687,962 $ 20,687,962 Hedged Derivative Asset (Note 17) Level 2 $ — $ — $ 351,807 $ 351,807 Financial Liabilities: Long-term debt Level 2 $ 219,968,918 $ 219,968,918 $ 67,060,000 $ 67,060,000 Line of credit Level 2 $ — $ — $ 32,141,277 $ 32,141,277 Hedged Derivative Liability (Note 17) Level 2 $ 193,259 $ 193,259 $ — $ — |