Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The fair values of financial instruments, including those not recognized on the statement of financial position at fair value, carried at September 30, 2017 and 2016 are classified in accordance with the fair value hierarchy in the following table:



					Basis of Fair Value Measurement
(Millions of dollars)	Total				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	2017		2016		2017		2016		2017		2016		2017		2016
Assets
Institutional money market investments	$	2,026	$	224	$	2,026	$	224	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Interest rate swaps	7		23		—		—		7		23		—		—
Forward exchange contracts	8		3		—		—		8		3		—		—
Total Assets	$	2,042	$	249	$	2,026	$	224	$	15	$	25	$	—	$	—
Liabilities
Interest rate swaps	$	—	$	18	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	18	$	—	$	—
Forward exchange contracts	7		13		—		—		7		13		—		—
Contingent consideration liabilities	13		54		—		—		—		—		13		54
Total Liabilities	$	20	$	86	$	—	$	—	$	7	$	31	$	13	$	54

The Company’s institutional money market accounts permit daily redemption and the fair values of these investments are based upon the quoted prices in active markets provided by the holding financial institutions. The Company’s remaining cash equivalents were $12.153 billion and $1.317 billion at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Short-term investments are held to their maturities and are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. The cash equivalents consist of liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less and the short-term investments consist of instruments with maturities greater than three months and less than one year.

The Company measures the fair value of forward exchange contracts and interest rate swaps based upon the present value of expected future cash flows using market-based observable inputs including credit risk, interest rate yield curves, foreign currency spot prices and forward prices.

Long-term debt is recorded at amortized cost. The fair value of long-term debt is measured based upon quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, which are considered Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of long-term debt was $19.2 billion and $11.3 billion at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The fair value of the current portion of long-term debt was $206 million and $798 million at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The contingent consideration liabilities were recognized as part of the consideration transferred by the Company for certain acquisitions. The fair values of the contingent consideration liabilities were estimated using probability-weighted discounted cash flow models that were based upon the probabilities assigned with regard to achievement of the contingent events. The estimated fair values of the contingent consideration liabilities are remeasured each reporting period based upon increases or decreases in the probability of the contingent payments. The decrease to the total contingent consideration liability in fiscal year 2017 is primarily attributable to a $40 million payment of a contingent consideration liability recorded in connection with a previously closed acquisition.

The Company’s policy is to recognize any transfers into fair value measurement hierarchy levels and transfers out of levels at the beginning of each reporting period. There were no transfers in and out of Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 measurements for the years ending September 30, 2017 and 2016.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

In fiscal year 2016, the Company recorded a charge of $214 million to impair capitalized internal-use software assets held for sale as a result of the Company's transition of certain elements of its information technology infrastructure to an outsourced model. Impairment charges recorded in 2015 of $72 million primarily related to information technology assets held for sale as a result of these same transition efforts. Also in fiscal year 2016, the Company recorded losses of $81 million on the held for sale assets of certain non-core businesses. The amounts recognized in 2016 and 2015 were recorded to Acquisitions and other restructurings to adjust the carrying amount of assets held for sale to an estimate of the assets' fair values, less the estimated costs to sell these assets. The fair values of the assets adjusted in 2016 and 2015 were estimated, based upon a market participant's perspective, using a market approach and Level 2 inputs, including quoted prices for similar assets.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company maintains cash deposits in excess of government-provided insurance limits. Such cash deposits are exposed to loss in the event of nonperformance by financial institutions. Substantially all of the Company’s trade receivables are due from public and private entities involved in the healthcare industry. Due to the large size and diversity of the Company’s customer base, concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited. The Company does not normally require collateral. The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by financial institutions with which it conducts business. However, this loss is limited to the amounts, if any, by which the obligations of the counterparty to the financial instrument contract exceed the obligations of the Company. The Company also minimizes exposure to credit risk by dealing with a diversified group of major financial institutions.

The Company continually evaluates its accounts receivables for potential collection risks particularly those resulting from sales to government-owned or government-supported healthcare facilities in certain countries as payment may be dependent upon the financial stability and creditworthiness of those countries’ national economies. The Company continually evaluates all governmental receivables for potential collection risks associated with the availability of government funding and reimbursement practices. The Company believes the current reserves related to all governmental receivables are adequate and that this concentration of credit risk will not have a material adverse impact on its financial position or liquidity.