Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments

Accounting standards establish a three tier fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair values as follows:


•	Level 1 — observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical assets in active markets;


•	Level 2 — inputs other than quoted prices for identical assets in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and


•	Level 3 — unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data which requires the use of valuation techniques and the development of assumptions.

The following methods and assumptions are used to estimate the fair values of the Company's financial instruments:

Money market funds and highly liquid debt securities are carried at cost and amortized cost, respectively, as an approximation of fair value. Based on market convention, the Company considers cost a practical and expedient measure of fair value.

Equity investments consist of domestic and international equity securities valued using the closing stock price on a national securities exchange. The Company reviews the listing of Level 1 equity securities in the portfolio and agrees the closing stock prices to a national securities exchange, and on a sample basis, independently verifies the observable inputs for Level 2 equity securities.

Fixed income investments consist of corporate and government bonds. Corporate and government bonds are valued by pricing vendors who estimate fair value using recently executed transactions and proprietary models based on observable inputs, such as interest rate spreads, yield curves and credit risk. The Company obtains a detailed understanding of the models, inputs, and assumptions used in developing prices provided by its vendors. This understanding includes discussions with valuation resources at the vendor. During these discussions, the Company uses a fair value measurement questionnaire, which is part of the Company's internal controls over financial reporting, to obtain the information necessary to assert the model, inputs and assumptions used to comply with U.S. GAAP, including disclosure requirements. The Company also obtains observable inputs from the pricing vendor and independently verifies the observable inputs, as well as assesses assumptions used for reasonableness based on relevant market conditions and internal Company guidelines. If an assumption is deemed unreasonable, based on the Company's guidelines, it is then reviewed by management and the fair value estimate provided by the vendor is adjusted, if deemed appropriate. These adjustments do not occur frequently and have historically not been material to the fair value estimates used in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Derivatives are carried at fair value, based upon industry standard valuation techniques that use, where possible, current market-based or independently sourced pricing inputs, such as interest rates, currency exchange rates, or implied volatilities.

Debt is carried at outstanding principal balance, less any unamortized discount or premium. Fair value is based on quoted market prices or estimates using discounted cash flow analyses based on current borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

The following tables present the categorization of the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (in millions):



			Fair Value Measurements Using
	Balance at June 30, 2015		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Money market funds and highly liquid debt securities (1)	$	1,895	$	1,895	$	—	$	—
Other investments:
Corporate bonds	1		—		—		1
Government bonds	6		—		6		—
Equity investments	10		6		4		—
Derivatives:
Interest rate contracts	—		—		—		—
Foreign exchange contracts	54		—		54		—
Liabilities:
Derivatives:
Foreign exchange contracts	57		—		57		—

______________________________________________

(1) Includes $1,895 million of money market funds that are classified as Fiduciary assets, Short-term investments or Cash and cash equivalents in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, depending on their nature and initial maturity.



			Fair Value Measurements Using
	Balance at December 31, 2014		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Money market funds and highly liquid debt securities (1)	$	1,850	$	1,850	$	—	$	—
Other investments:
Corporate bonds	1		—		—		1
Government bonds	6		—		6		—
Equity investments	11		6		5		—
Derivatives:
Interest rate contracts	—		—		—		—
Foreign exchange contracts	46		—		46		—
Liabilities:
Derivatives:
Foreign exchange contracts	58		—		58		—

______________________________________________

(1) Includes $1,850 million of money market funds that are classified as Fiduciary assets, Short-term investments or Cash and cash equivalents in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, depending on their nature and initial maturity.

There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between fair value hierarchy levels in either the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 or 2014. The Company recognized no realized or unrealized gains or losses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income during either the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 or 2014, related to assets and liabilities measured at fair value using unobservable inputs.

The fair value of Long-term debt is classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The following table discloses the Company's financial instruments where the carrying amounts and fair values differ (in millions):



	June 30, 2015				December 31, 2014
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Long-term debt	$	4,824	$	5,060	$	4,799	$	5,268

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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