Ownership Interests in and Advances to Partner Companies

The following summarizes the carrying value of the Company’s ownership interests in and advances to partner companies.



	June 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
	(Unaudited - In thousands)
Equity Method:
Partner companies	$	118,513	$	154,219
Private equity funds	445		447
	118,958		154,666
Cost Method:
Other holdings	2,687		2,112
Private equity funds	1,334		1,550
	4,021		3,662
Advances to partner companies	25,050		25,142
	$	148,029	$	183,470

In March 2017, the Company sold its interest in partner company Nexxt, Inc., formerly Beyond.com, back to Nexxt, Inc. for $26.0 million. The Company received $15.5 million in cash and a three-year, $10.5 million note for the balance due, which accrues interest at a rate of 9.5% per annum. The receipt of the $15.5 million in cash resulted in a gain of $0.1 million which is included in Equity income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The $10.5 million note is fully reserved and has a carrying value of zero as of June 30, 2017. A gain will be recorded when the note is repaid. Interest is payable annually and interest income is recorded as earned throughout the year.

In the second quarter of 2017, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $3.6 million related to Spongecell, Inc. which is reflected in Equity income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. The impairment was based on the value at which the Company expects Spongecell to raise its next financing round. The adjusted carrying value of the Company's interest in Spongecell is $7.8 million at June 30, 2017.

In the first and second quarters of 2017, the Company recognized impairment charges of $2.7 million and $2.2 million, respectively, related to Pneuron, Inc. which is reflected in Equity income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. The impairments were due to a decline in revenue and an inability to date to attract third party investors or acquirers. The adjusted carrying value of the Company's interest in Pneuron is $0.0 million at June 30, 2017.

In April 2016, Putney, Inc. was acquired by Dechra Pharmaceuticals Plc. The Company received $58.6 million in cash proceeds in connection with the transaction. In April 2017, the Company received an additional $0.7 million in connection with the expiration of the final escrow period resulting in a gain of $0.7 million which is included in Equity income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017.

In July 2015, Quantia, Inc. was acquired by Physicians Interactive. The Company received $7.8 million in initial cash proceeds in connection with the transaction in July 2015 and $0.6 million in connection with the expiration of the initial escrow period in July 2016. In January 2017, the Company received an additional $0.6 million in connection with the expiration of the final escrow period resulting in a gain of $0.6 million which is included in Equity income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

In April 2016, the Company received $3.3 million associated with the achievement of the final performance milestone related to the December 2013 sale of ThingWorx, Inc. to PTC, Inc., resulting in a gain of $3.3 million which is included in Equity income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2016.