14. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Related parties include entities which the Company controls or has the ability to significantly influence, and entities which are under common control with the Company. Related parties also include persons who are affiliated with related entities or the Company who are in a position to influence corporate decisions (such as owners, executives, board members and their families). In the normal course of business, we enter into transactions with our related parties. Below is a list of related parties with whom we have had significant transactions during the presented periods:

Our related party transactions include (i) sales and purchases of precious metals, (ii) financing activities, (iii) repurchase arrangements, and (iv) hedging transactions. Below is a summary of our related party transactions. The amounts presented for each period were based on each entity’s related party status for that period.

Balances with Related Parties

Receivables and Payables, Net

Long-term Investments

As of March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2022, the aggregate carrying balance of the equity method investments was $80.8 million and $70.6 million respectively. (See Note 10.)

Long-term Other Assets

As of March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2022, the fair value of the option to purchase an additional 27.6% ownership interest in Silver Gold Bull, Inc. was $5.3 million and $5.3 million, respectively. This option was acquired in June 2022, in conjunction with the Company’s acquisition of an additional 40% ownership interest in Silver Gold Bull, Inc., and is exercisable between December 2023 and September 2024. (See Note 10.)

Notes Payable

On April 1, 2021, CCP entered into a loan agreement ("CCP Note") with CFC, which provides CFC with up to $4.0 million to fund commercial loans secured by graded sports cards and sports memorabilia to its borrowers. All loans to be funded using the proceeds from the CCP Note are subject to CCP’s prior written approval. The term of the CCP Note expires on April 1, 2024 and may be extended by mutual agreement. As of March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2022 the outstanding principal balance of the CCP Note was $1.8 million and $0.0 million.

Activity with Related Parties

Sales and Purchases

Interest Income

Selling, General, and Administrative

During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company incurred selling general, and administrative expense related to its subleasing agreement with Stack's Bower Galleries that totaled $12,000 and $0, respectively.

During the nine months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company incurred selling, general, and administrative expense related to its subleasing agreement with Stack's Bower Galleries that that totaled $22,000 and $0, respectively.

Interest Expense

During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company incurred interest expense related to its note with CCP that totaled $9,000 and $0, respectively. During the nine months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company incurred interest expense related to its note with CCP that totaled $32,000 and $0, respectively.

Equity Method Investments — Earnings and Dividends Received

During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company's proportional share of our equity method investee's earnings were net losses of $0.1 million and net income of $1.6 million, respectively. During the nine months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company's proportional share of our equity method investee's net income totaled $7.3 million and $4.3 million, respectively.

During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company received no dividend payments from our equity method investees. During the nine months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company received dividend payments that totaled, in the aggregate, $0.6 million and $0.0 million, respectively, from our equity method investees.

Other Income

During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company earned royalty income related to one of CFC's secured lending agreements and information technology consulting services income from Stack's Bower Galleries that totaled $0.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively, and $2.0 million and $1.4 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.