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Investments Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax) |  | $ 59,637 | $ 27,978 |  | $ 35,742
Dividends received from unconsolidated investments |  | 43,759 | 59,912 |  | 40,688
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures exceeded the amount of underlying equity in net assets |  | (6,800) | 11,500 |  |
Excess amount paid for joint ventures remaining to be amortized |  | 600 | 800 |  |
Return of capital from unconsolidated investment |  | 0 | 98,000 |  | 0
Marketable equity securities |  | 27,570 | 24,257 |  |
Long-term advances to joint ventures | [1] | 31,776 | 31,780 |  |
Joint ventures |  | 429,794 | 411,119 | [2] |
Significant Unconsolidated Joint Venture |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Investment in significant unconsolidated joint ventures |  | 404,600 | 402,600 |  |
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax) |  | 56,800 | 25,400 |  | 34,700
Undistributed earnings from equity method investees |  | 99,400 | 105,900 |  |
Dividends received from unconsolidated investments |  | $ 42,100 | $ 58,100 |  | $ 39,600
Windfield Holdings |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  | 49.00% | 49.00% |  | 0.00%
Return of capital from unconsolidated investment |  |  | $ 98,000 |  |
Saudi Organometallic Chemicals Company |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Interest rate margin over LIBOR |  | 1.275% |  |  |
Joint ventures |  | $ 7,500 |  |  |
Benefit Protection Trust |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Marketable equity securities |  | 22,000 | 21,600 |  |
Other Assets | Saudi Organometallic Chemicals Company |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term advances to joint ventures |  | $ 30,000 | 30,000 |  |
Windfield Holdings |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  | 49.00% |  |  |
Carrying value of unconsolidated investment |  | $ 288,600 |  |  |
Other Variable Interest Entities Excluding Windfield Holdings |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Carrying value of unconsolidated investment |  | $ 8,800 | 7,800 |  |
Jordan Bromine Company Limited |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  | 103,400 |  |
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments | Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  | $ 27,100 |  |
[1] | See Note 10, “Investments.”
[2] | Balance at December 31, 2015 excludes our investment in Magnifin Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & Co. KG (“Magnifin”) and two investments included in the sale of the Chemetall Surface Treatment business, which are included in Assets held for sale. Refer to Note 3, “Divestitures,” for additional information.

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