Investments

6 Months Ended

May 31, 2014

Investments

Investments

5. Investments

Centaur Media plc

Griffin’s investment in the common stock of Centaur Media plc (“Centaur Media”) is accounted for as an available-for-sale security under FASB ASC 320-10, “Investments — Debt and Equity Securities.”  Accordingly, changes in the fair value of Centaur Media, reflecting both changes in the stock price and changes in the foreign currency exchange rate, are included, net of income taxes, in accumulated other comprehensive income (see Note 9).

As of November 30, 2013, Griffin held 2,452,462 shares of Centaur Media common stock.  In the 2014 six month period, Griffin sold 500,000 shares of its Centaur Media common stock for total cash proceeds of $566, after transaction costs.  The sale of Centaur Media common stock resulted in a pretax gain of $318 in the 2014 six month period.  Griffin utilized the average cost method to determine its gain on the sale of Centaur stock.  As of May 31, 2014, Griffin held 1,952,462 shares of Centaur Media common stock.

The cost, unrealized gain and fair value of Griffin’s investment in Centaur Media are as follows:

	May 31, 2014		November 30, 2013
Fair value	$	2,142	$	2,208
Cost	1,014		1,274
Unrealized gain	$	1,128	$	934

Shemin Nurseries Holding Corp.

As of December 1, 2012, Griffin held an approximate 14% equity interest in Shemin Nurseries Holding Corp. (“SNHC”), which operated a landscape nursery distribution business through its subsidiary.  Griffin accounted for its investment in SNHC under the cost method of accounting for investments.  As a result of cash distributions from SNHC in years prior to fiscal 2013 which were treated as returns of investment, Griffin did not have any remaining book value in its investment in SNHC as of December 1, 2012.  On January 18, 2013, Griffin completed the sale of its investment in SNHC for total cash proceeds of $3,418, resulting in a pretax gain of $3,397.