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Investments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 29, 2019
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments Investments
Investments in Joint Ventures
As of December 29, 2019 and December 30, 2018, the value of our investments in joint ventures was zero. As of December 31, 2017, our investment in joint ventures totaled $1.7 million and consisted of a 40% equity ownership interest in Madison Paper Industries (“Madison”), a partnership that previously operated a supercalendered paper mill in Maine. In the fourth quarter of 2017, we sold our 49% equity interest in Donohue Malbaie Inc. (“Malbaie”), a Canadian newsprint company, for $20 million Canadian dollars ($15.6 million USD).
These investments are accounted for under the equity method, and are recorded in Miscellaneous assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our proportionate shares of the operating results of our investments are recorded in Gain from joint ventures in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In 2019, we had no gain/(loss) from joint ventures.
In 2018, we had a gain from joint ventures of $10.8 million. The gain was primarily due to a distribution received from the pending liquidation of Madison, offset, in part, by our share of operating expenses of the partnership.
In 2017, we had a gain from joint ventures of $18.6 million. The gain was primarily due to the sale of assets of the paper mill previously operated by Madison, partially offset by our proportionate share of the loss recognized by Madison resulting from Madison’s settlement of pension obligations, as well as the sale of our investment in Malbaie.
Madison
The Company and UPM-Kymmene Corporation (“UPM”), a Finnish paper manufacturing company, are partners through subsidiary companies in Madison. The Company’s 40% ownership of Madison is through an 80%-owned consolidated subsidiary that owns 50% of Madison. UPM owns 60% of Madison, including a 10% interest through a 20% noncontrolling interest in the consolidated subsidiary of the Company. In 2016, the paper mill closed and the Company’s joint venture in Madison is currently being liquidated.
In 2017, we recognized a gain of $20.8 million, primarily related to the sale of the remaining assets (which consisted of primarily hydro power assets), partially offset by the loss related to our proportionate share of Madison’s settlement of certain pension obligations. In 2018, we recorded a gain of $11.3 million due to a distribution received from the pending liquidation of Madison.
The following table presents summarized unaudited balance sheet information for Madison, which follows a calendar year:
(In thousands)
 
December 31, 2019

 
December 31, 2018

Current assets
 
$
15,337

 
$
18,374

Total assets
 
15,337

 
18,374

Current liabilities
 
570

 
3,336

Total liabilities
 
570

 
3,336

Total equity
 
$
14,767

 
$
15,038


The following table presents summarized unaudited income statement information for Madison, which follows a calendar year:
 
 
For the Twelve Months Ended
(In thousands)
 
December 31, 2019

 
December 31, 2018

 
December 31, 2017

Income/(Expenses):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales(1)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(13,396
)
General and administrative (expense)/income and other(2)
 
(318
)
 
(1,280
)
 
55,058

Total operating (expense)/income
 
(318
)
 
(1,280
)
 
41,662

Other income
 
46

 
122

 
18

Net (loss)/income
 
$
(272
)
 
$
(1,158
)
 
$
41,680


(1) Primarily represents Madison’s settlement of its pension obligations in 2017.
(2) Primarily represents gains/(losses) from the sale of assets and closure of Madison in 2017.
During 2018, we received a $12.5 million cash distribution in connection with the pending liquidation of Madison. We received no distributions from Madison in 2019 or 2017.
Malbaie
We had a 49% equity interest in Malbaie, which we sold during the fourth quarter of 2017 for $20 million Canadian dollars ($15.6 million USD). We recognized a loss of $6.4 million before tax as a result of the sale. The other 51% equity interest was owned by Resolute FP Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Resolute Forest Products Inc. (“Resolute”), a Delaware corporation. Resolute is a large global manufacturer of paper, market pulp and wood products.
Other than from the sale of our equity interest in 2017, we received no distributions from Malbaie in 2019, 2018 or 2017.
Other
We purchased newsprint from Malbaie, and previously purchased supercalendered paper from Madison, at competitive prices. These purchases totaled approximately $11 million in 2017.
Non-Marketable Equity Securities
Our non-marketable equity securities are investments in privately held companies/funds without readily determinable market values. Realized gains and losses on non-marketable securities sold or impaired are recognized in Interest expense and other, net.

As of December 29, 2019, and December 30, 2018, non-marketable equity securities included in Miscellaneous assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets had a carrying value of $13.4 million and $13.7 million, respectively. We did not have any material fair value adjustments in 2019, 2018 and 2017.