5. FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS | The Company invests in direct debt and equity securities that are not traded on a public market. These securities are recorded at fair value as determined by the Company using the framework of Topic ASC 820. In addition, the Company has adopted written guidelines for determining the fair value of its investments for reporting in the accompanying financial statements. Under these guidelines, investment valuations are reviewed on a quarterly basis and investments without readily available market values are valued at fair value as determined by the Company. In the absence of readily ascertainable market values, the Company uses valuation techniques consistent with the market, income and cost approaches, as prescribed by Topic ASC 820, in order to estimate the fair value of investments. In all cases, the Company evaluates whether the valuation techniques used and the resultant fair value estimate is representative of what the most likely buyers of the company would also pay upon exit, and therefore, whether the value is deemed to be the price expected in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Under Topic ASC 820, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the "exit price") in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Topic ASC 820 permits the Company, as a practical expedient, to estimate the fair value of investments in other investment companies based on the net asset value (NAV) per share, or its equivalent, if the NAV of such investments is calculated in a manner consistent with the measurement principles of Topic ASC 946. As such the Company's estimate of fair value for its investments in other investment companies is generally based on the NAV provided to the Company by each Investee Fund, supported by the independently audited financial statements of the Investee Fund, when available. As of December 31, 2016 and October 31, 2016, the Company did not hold any investments valued using NAV. The transaction price is typically the Company's best estimate of fair value at inception of the investment. When evidence supports a change to the carrying value from the transaction price, adjustments are made to reflect expected exit values. Ongoing reviews by the Company are based on an assessment of significant assumptions related to each underlying investment including incorporating valuations that consider the evaluation of financing and sale transactions with third parties, the financial condition and operating results of the portfolio company, achievement of technical milestones, and expected cash flows. At December 31, 2016 and October 31, 2016, the Company held one Level 1 investment, Landmark Infrastructure Partners, LP. As part of the valuation process, management may take into account the following types of factors, if relevant, in determining the fair value of the Company's investments: the enterprise value of a portfolio company (the entire value of the portfolio company to a market participant, including the sum of the values of debt and equity securities used to capitalize the enterprise at a point in time), the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company's ability to make payments and its earnings and discounted cash flow, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, a comparison of the portfolio company's securities to any similar publicly traded securities, changes in the interest rate environment and the credit markets generally that may affect the price at which similar investments would trade in their principal markets and other relevant factors. The primary method for determining enterprise value uses a multiple analysis whereby appropriate multiples are applied to the portfolio company's net income before net interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation, and amortization. The enterprise analysis is performed to determine the value of equity investments and to determine if debt investments are credit impaired. If debt investments are credit impaired, the Company will use the enterprise value analysis or a liquidation basis analysis to determine fair value. For debt investments that are not determined to be credit impaired, the Company uses a market interest rate yield analysis to determine fair value. When an external event such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent equity sale occurs, management considers the pricing indicated by the external event to corroborate its valuation. Because there is not a readily available market value for most of the investments in its portfolio, the Company values substantially all of its portfolio investments at fair value as determined in good faith by management, as described throughout this note. 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 investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of the Company's investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a readily available market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values that the Company may ultimately realize. Further, such investments are generally subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise are less liquid than publicly traded securities. If the Company was required to liquidate a portfolio investment in a forced or liquidation sale, the Company could realize significantly less than the value at which the Company has recorded it. In addition, changes in the market environment and other events that may occur over the life of the investments may cause the gains or losses ultimately realized on these investments to be different than the unrealized gains or losses reflected in the valuations currently assigned. The following tables present information about the Company's assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2016 and October 31, 2016. The Company assesses the levels for the investments at each measurement date, and transfers between levels are recognized on the actual date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer in accordance with the Company's accounting policy regarding the recognitions of transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy. For the two months ended December 31, 2016 and the year ended October 31, 2016, there were no transfers in or out of Level 1, 2, and 3. Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis at December 31, 2016: Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs Balance at December 31, (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) 2016 Investments: Debt Securities $ - $ - $ 22,027,880 $ 22,027,880 Equity Securities - - 915,572 915,572 Investments in Partnership Interests - - 850,000 850,000 Investment in Publicly Traded Partnerships 487,726 - - 487,726 Total $ 487,726 $ - $ 23,793,452 $ 24,281,178 Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis at October 31, 2016: Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs Balance at October 31, (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) 2016 Investments: Debt Securities $ - $ - $ 20,472,223 $ 20,472,223 Equity Securities - - 856,069 856,069 Investments in Partnership Interests - - 850,000 850,000 Investment in Publicly Traded Partnerships 529,302 - - 529,302 Total $ 529,302 $ - $ 22,178,292 $ 22,707,594 Changes in Level 3 Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis: Debt Securities Equity Securities Investments in Partnership Interests Total Balance at October 31, 2015 $ 14,067,446 $ 301,084 $ 1,706,233 $ 16,074,763 Purchase of investments 8,545,224 - - 8,545,224 Proceeds from principal payments and sales of investments (2,062,126 ) - (860,916 ) (2,923,042 ) Net realized gains - - 173,116 173,116 Net unrealized gains/(losses) (201,695 ) 554,985 (168,433 ) 184,857 Accretion of loan origination fees 123,74 - - 123,374 Balance at October 31, 2016 $ 20,472,223 $ 856,069 $ 850,000 $ 22,178,292 Purchase of investments $ 1,590,810 $ - $ - $ 1,590,810 Proceeds from principal payments and sales of investments (150,200 ) - - (150,200 ) Net realized gains - - - - Net unrealized gains/(losses) 42,841 59,503 - 102,344 Accretion of loan origination fees 72,206 - - 72,206 Balance at December 31, 2016 $ 22,027,880 $ 915,572 $ 850,000 $ 23,793,452 Quantitative Information About Level 3 Fair Value Measurements: Below is a table summarizing the valuation techniques, the unobservable inputs used in the valuation, along with ranges used to determine the fair value of certain Level 3 investments held at December 31, 2016 and October 31, 2016. December 31, 2016 Type of Security Fair Value Valuation Technique Unobservable Input Range (Wtd Avg) Debt Securities $ 20,929,747 Yield Analysis Market Yield 6.0 - 12.7% (9.%) $ 1,098,133 Liquidation Basis Discount Rate 14.0 - 16.5% (14.9%) Equity Securities $ 915,572 Earnings Multiple Market Comparables 2.3 - 3.8(3.1) $ - Income Approach Capitalization Rate 14.8% Investments in Partnership Interests $ 850,000 Income Approach Capitalization Rate 7.0% October 31, 2016 Type of Security Fair Value Valuation Technique Unobservable Input Range (Wtd Avg) Debt Securities $ 19,401,401 Yield Analysis Market Yield 6.0 - 12.7% (9.1%) $ 1,070,822 Liquidation Basis Discount Rate 14.0 - 16.5% (14.8%) Equity Securities $ 856,069 Earnings Multiple Market Comparables 2.3 - 3.0(2.8) $ - Income Approach Capitalization Rate 14.8% Investments in Partnership Interests $ 850,000 Income Approach Capitalization Rate 7.0% The above tables are not intended to be all-inclusive but rather to provide information on significant unobservable inputs and valuation techniques used by the Company. The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of the Company's debt investments is market interest rates. The Company uses market interest rates for loans to determine if the effective yield on a loan is commensurate with the market yields for that type of loan. If a loan's effective yield is significantly less than the market yield for a similar loan with a similar credit profile, then the resulting fair value of the loan may be lower. |