On January 1, 2017, Mehan, Incorporated purchased 15,000 shares of Cook Company for $150,000 giving Mehan a 15% ownership of Cook. The fair value of the 15% investment has to be indicated (or calculated) from the transaction when , on January 1, 2018, Mehan purchased an additional 25,000 shares (25%) of Cook for $300,000. This last purchase gave Mehan the ability to apply significant influence over Cook. The book value of Cook on January 1, 2017 was $1,000,000. The book value of Cook on January 1, 2018, was $1,100,000. Any excess of cost over book value for this second transaction is assigned to a database and amortized over four years. Cook reports net income and dividends as follows. These amounts are assumed to have occurred evenly throughout the years:

NI DIV 2017 200,000 50,000 2018 225,000 50,000 2019 250,000 60,000

On April 1, 2019, just after its first dividend receipt, Mehan sells 10,000 shares of its investment.

What was the balance in the investment account at April 1, 2019 just before the sale of shares?

Select one:

A.

$447,500.

B.

$558,000

C.

$555,000.

D.

$624,375.

E.

$468,750.