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Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The table below presents disclosures about the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in UAL's financial statements (in millions):
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Cash and cash equivalents
$
3,442

 
$
3,442

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,762

 
$
2,762

 
$

 
$

Short-term investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt
980

 

 
980

 

 
1,045

 

 
1,045

 

Asset-backed securities
610

 

 
610

 

 
690

 

 
690

 

U.S. government and agency notes
95

 

 
95

 

 
124

 

 
124

 

Certificates of deposit placed through an account registry service ("CDARS")
24

 

 
24

 

 
35

 

 
35

 

Other fixed-income securities
70

 

 
70

 

 
95

 

 
95

 

Other investments measured at net asset value ("NAV")

 

 

 

 
193

 

 

 

Restricted cash
106

 
106

 

 

 
106

 
106

 

 

Long-term investments:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
92

 
92

 

 

 
385

 
385

 

 

AVH Derivative Assets

 

 

 

 
24

 

 

 
24

Other assets
16

 

 

 
16

 

 

 

 


Available-for-sale investment maturities - The short-term investments shown in the table above are classified as available-for-sale, with the exception of investments measured at NAV. As of March 31, 2020, asset-backed securities have remaining maturities of less than one year to approximately 15 years, corporate debt securities have remaining maturities of three years or less and CDARS have maturities of less than one year. U.S. government and agency notes have maturities of approximately three years or less and other fixed-income securities have maturities of less than two years.
Restricted cash - Restricted cash primarily includes collateral for letters of credit and collateral associated with facility leases and other insurance-related obligations.
Equity securities - Equity securities represent United's investment in Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S.A. ("Azul"), consisting of a preferred equity stake of approximately 8% (approximately 2% of the total capital stock of Azul). The Company recorded $293 million of losses and $14 million in gains during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, for changes to the fair market value of its equity investment in Azul in Unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net in the Company's statements of consolidated operations. The carrying value of our investment in Azul was $92 million at March 31, 2020.
AVH Derivative Assets - As part of the BRW Loan Agreement and related agreements with Kingsland, United obtained AVH share call options, AVH share appreciation rights and an AVH share-based upside sharing agreement (collectively, the "AVH Derivative Assets"). The AVH Derivative Assets are recorded at fair value as Other assets on the Company's balance sheet and are included in the table above. The Company recorded $24 million in losses and $3 million in gains during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, in the fair value of the AVH Derivative Assets in Unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net in the Company's statements of consolidated operations.
Investments presented in the table above have the same fair value as their carrying value.
Other fair value information. The table below presents the carrying values and estimated fair values of financial instruments not presented in the tables above (in millions). Carrying amounts include any related discounts, premiums and issuance costs:
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
 
 
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
 
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Long-term debt
$
17,253

 
$
15,768

 
$

 
$
12,524

 
$
3,244

 
$
14,552

 
$
15,203

 
$

 
$
11,398

 
$
3,805


Fair value of the financial instruments included in the tables above was determined as follows:
Description
Fair Value Methodology
Cash and cash equivalents
The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these assets.
Short-term investments, other than Other investments measured at NAV,
Equity securities and
Restricted cash
Fair value is based on (a) the trading prices of the investment or similar instruments, (b) an income approach, which uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts into a single present amount based on current market expectations about those future amounts when observable trading prices are not available, or (c) broker quotes obtained by third-party valuation services.
Other investments measured at NAV
In accordance with the relevant accounting standards, certain investments that are measured at fair value using the NAV per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in the table above are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the statement of financial position. The investments measured using NAV are shares of mutual funds that invest in fixed-income instruments including bonds, debt securities, and other similar instruments issued by various U.S. and non-U.S. public- or private-sector entities.
AVH Derivative Assets
Fair values are calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation approach. Unobservable inputs include expected volatility, expected dividend yield and control and acquisition premiums.
Long-term debt
Fair values were based on either market prices or the discounted amount of future cash flows using our current incremental rate of borrowing for similar liabilities or assets.