Investments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Investments [Abstract]

Investment Balances

The following table details our investment balances at December 31, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2017		2016
Joint ventures	$	499,756	$	429,794
Nonmarketable securities	3,655		169
Marketable equity securities	30,653		27,570
Total	$	534,064	$	457,533

Ownership Positions in Significant Unconsolidated Investments

Our ownership positions in significant unconsolidated investments are shown below:

		December 31,
		2017		2016		2015
*	Windfield Holdings Pty. Ltd. - a joint venture with Sichuan Tianqi Lithium Industries, Inc., that mines lithium ore and produces lithium concentrate	49	%	49	%	49	%
*	Nippon Aluminum Alkyls - a joint venture with Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. that produces aluminum alkyls	50	%	50	%	50	%
*	Magnifin Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & Co. KG - a joint venture with Radex Heraklith Industriebeteiligung AG that produces specialty magnesium hydroxide products(a)	—	%	—	%	50	%
*	Nippon Ketjen Company Limited - a joint venture with Sumitomo Metal Mining Company Limited that produces refinery catalysts	50	%	50	%	50	%
*	Eurecat S.A. - a joint venture with Axens Group for refinery catalysts regeneration services	50	%	50	%	50	%
*	Fábrica Carioca de Catalisadores S.A. - a joint venture with Petrobras Quimica S.A. - PETROQUISA that produces catalysts and includes catalysts research and product development activities	50	%	50	%	50	%

(a) On February 1, 2016, we sold our investment in Magnifin as part of the sale of the minerals-based flame retardants and specialty chemicals business. Refer to Note 3, “Divestitures,” for additional information.

Summary of Assets, Liabilities and Results of Operations for Significant Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

The following summary lists our assets, liabilities and results of operations for our significant unconsolidated joint ventures presented herein (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2017		2016
Summary of Balance Sheet Information:
Current assets	$	503,043	$	383,203
Noncurrent assets	1,041,519		913,643
Total assets	$	1,544,562	$	1,296,846
Current liabilities	$	133,670	$	138,474
Noncurrent liabilities	405,662		319,801
Total liabilities	$	539,332	$	458,275

	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Summary of Statements of Income Information:
Net sales	$	687,561	$	590,980	$	560,376
Gross profit	$	353,577	$	267,241	$	253,569
Income before income taxes	$	267,805	$	189,016	$	157,501
Net income	$	184,777	$	126,872	$	111,491