EQUITY INVESTMENTS
Eastman has a 50 percent interest in and serves as the operating partner in Primester, a joint venture which manufactures cellulose acetate at Eastman's Kingsport, Tennessee plant. This investment is accounted for under the equity method. Eastman's net investment in the joint venture at December 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $21 million and $23 million, respectively, which was comprised of the recognized portion of the venture's accumulated deficits, long-term amounts owed to Primester, and a long-term notes receivable from Primester to Eastman. Such amounts are included in other noncurrent assets.
Eastman owns 50 percent or less interest in other joint ventures which are accounted for under the equity method and included in other noncurrent assets. These include a 50 percent interest in a joint venture that has a manufacturing facility in Nanjing, China. The Nanjing facility produces Eastotac™ hydrocarbon tackifying resins for pressure-sensitive adhesives, caulks, and sealants. These also include a joint venture with a 50 percent interest for the manufacture of compounded cellulose diacetate ("CDA") in Shenzhen, China. CDA is a bio-derived material, which is used in various injection molded applications, including but not limited to ophthalmic frames, tool handles and other end use products. In third quarter 2013, the Company completed construction of a 30,000 metric ton acetate tow manufacturing facility in Hefei, China, in a joint venture with China National Tobacco Corporation in which the Company has 45 percent ownership. The Company began supplying 100 percent of the acetate flake raw material to the joint venture in third quarter 2013 from the Company's manufacturing facility in Kingsport. In 2012, the Company entered into an agreement to form a joint venture to build a 50,000 metric ton hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin plant in Nanjing, China. The venture will be equally owned by Eastman and Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Company Limited and is expected to be operational in late 2015. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company's investment in these joint ventures was approximately $70 million and $65 million, respectively.
