XML 54 R24.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

Investments and Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

INVESTMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair Value Information. Accounting standards require us to use valuation techniques to measure fair value that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. These inputs are described in Note 7 of this report. The table below presents disclosures about the fair value of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Company's financial statements as of December 31 (in millions):


	2021								2020
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Cash and cash equivalents	$	18,283	$	18,283	$	—	$	—	$	11,269	$	11,269	$	—	$	—
Restricted cash - current (Note 1)	37		37		—		—		255		255		—		—
Restricted cash - non-current (Note 1)	213		213		—		—		218		218		—		—
Short-term investments:
Corporate debt	95		—		95		—		330		—		330		—
Asset-backed securities	26		—		26		—		51		—		51		—
U.S. government and agency notes	2		—		2		—		33		—		33		—
Long-term investments:
Equity securities	229		229		—		—		241		205		—		36

Investments presented in the table above have the same fair value as their carrying value.

Short-term investments — The short-term investments ("STIs") shown in the table above are classified as available-for-sale. The STIs had maturities of less than two years as of December 31, 2021.

Equity securities — Represents equity and equity-linked securities (such as vested warrants) that make up United's

investments in Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S.A., Clear Secure, Inc. and Archer Aviation Inc. ("Archer"). The Company received equity securities in exchange for assisting Archer in the development of battery-powered, short haul aircraft. The Company will account for equity securities it receives from Archer as a deferred credit that will either be recognized into income or as a reduction to the cost of the aircraft received in future periods.

Other fair value information - The table below presents the carrying values and estimated fair values of financial instruments not presented in the tables above as of December 31 (in millions). Carrying amounts include any related discounts, premiums and issuance costs:


	2021										2020
	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	$	33,363	$	34,550	$	—	$	29,088	$	5,462	$	26,747	$	27,441	$	—	$	21,985	$	5,456

Fair value of the financial instruments included in the tables above was determined as follows:


Description			Fair Value Methodology
Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash (current and non-current)			The carrying amounts of these assets approximate fair value.
Short-term investments and Equity securities			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.
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.

Investments in Regional Carriers. United holds investments in several regional carriers that fly or used to fly for the

Company as United Express under its CPAs. The combined carrying value of the investments was approximately $171 million as of December 31, 2021. United accounts for each investment using the equity method. Each investment and United's ownership stake are listed below.

•Champlain Enterprises, LLC ("Champlain"). United owns a 40% minority ownership stake in Champlain. Champlain

does business as CommutAir. CommutAir currently operates 75 regional aircraft under a CPA that has a term through 2026.

•Republic Airways Holdings Inc. ("Republic Holdings"). United holds a 19% minority interest in Republic Holdings.

Republic Holdings is the parent company of Republic Airways Inc. ("Republic"). Republic currently operates 66

regional aircraft under CPAs that have terms through 2036.

•ManaAir, LLC ("ManaAir"). United holds a 49.9% minority ownership stake in ManaAir. ManaAir is the parent

company of ExpressJet Airlines LLC ("ExpressJet"). The Company terminated its CPA with ExpressJet. ExpressJet

flew its last commercial flight on behalf of United, on September 30, 2020.

Other Investments. United holds other equity investments in companies with emerging technologies and sustainable solutions, such as Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc., Boom, Alder Fuels LLC, Heart Aerospace Incorporated and ZeroAvia, Inc., which do not have readily determinable fair values. We account for these investments at cost less impairment, adjusted for observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. As of December 31, 2021, the carrying value of these investments was $84 million.

AVG Investment. In consideration for the Company's agreement to convert its portion of the debtor-in-possession term loan under the terms of that certain Equity Conversion and Commitment Agreement dated September 1, 2020 (as amended from time to time) as part of the AVH Reorganization Proceedings, in December 2021 the Company received warrants to purchase equity in the reorganized AVG for a de minimus amount. The Company subsequently exercised the warrants in full and on December 29, 2021 received common stock representing 16.4% of AVG's outstanding equity, the carrying value of which was $164 million as of December 31, 2021. We account for this investment at cost less impairment, adjusted for observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer.

- 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.

+ References + Details