(3) Investments

In 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. to participate in a joint venture formed as a Dublin-based Irish limited company — Willis Mitsui & Company Engine Support Limited (“WMES”) for the purpose of acquiring and leasing jet engines. Each partner holds a fifty percent interest in the joint venture and the Company uses the equity method in recording investment activity. WMES owned a lease portfolio of 32 engines with a net book value of $230.3 million as of December 31, 2017.

In 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with China Aviation Supplies Import & Export Corporation (“CASC”) to participate in a joint venture named CASC Willis Engine Lease Company Limited (“CASC Willis”), a joint venture based in Shanghai, China. Each partner holds a fifty percent interest in the joint venture. The Company made a $15.0 million initial capital contribution, representing the fifty percent, up-front funding contribution to the new joint venture. CASC Willis acquires and leases jet engines to Chinese airlines and concentrates on the demand for leased commercial aircraft engines and aviation assets in the People’s Republic of China. During 2016, CASC was reorganized, with portions of its partnership interest in CASC Willis being transferred to three Chinese airlines and another government-owned entity. The 2016 CASC reorganization resulted in no voting structure change to the joint venture. CASC Willis owned a lease portfolio of 4 engines with a net book value of $58.8 million as of December 31, 2017.


Years Ending December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands)	WMES		CASC Willis		Total
Investment in joint ventures as of December 31, 2014	$	26,672	$	14,918	$	41,590
Investment		630		—		630
Earnings (losses) from joint ventures		1,274		(99)		1,175
Distribution		(1,304)		—		(1,304)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment		—		(796)		(796)
Investment in joint ventures as of December 31, 2015	$	27,272	$	14,023	$	41,295
Investment		5,545		—		5,545
Earnings (losses) from joint ventures		2,032		(219)		1,813
Deferred gain on engines sale		(1,212)		—		(1,212)
Distribution		(1,167)		—		(1,167)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment		—		(868)		(868)
Investment in joint ventures as of December 31, 2016	$	32,470	$	12,936	$	45,406
Investment		—		—		—
Earnings from joint ventures		5,867		1,291		7,158
Deferred gain on engine sale		(443)		(496)		(939)
Distribution		(1,880)		—		(1,880)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment		—		896		896
Investment in joint ventures as of December 31, 2017	$	36,014	$	14,627	$	50,641

“Other revenue” on the Consolidated Statements of Income includes management fees earned of $2.4 million, $2.1 million and $1.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the servicing of engines for the WMES lease portfolio. During 2015, WMES consigned an engine for part out and sale to Willis Aero. The value of the engine is $0.1 million as of December 31, 2017.

Summarized financial information for 100% of WMES is presented in the following table:


	Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(in thousands)
Revenue	$	40,211	$	35,463	$	26,909
Expenses		28,754		31,669		24,574
WMES net income	$	11,457	$	3,794	$	2,335

			December 31,
			2017		2016
			(in thousands)
Total assets			$	246,309	$	293,299
Total liabilities				165,228		219,881
Total WMES net equity			$	81,081	$	73,418