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Fair Value of Financial Investments and Liabilities
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value of Financial Investments and Liabilities  
Fair Value of Financial Investments and Liabilities

E.                         The Company has maintained investments in available-for-sale securities and a number of private equity funds, principally as part of its tax planning strategies, as any gains enhance the utilization of any current and future tax capital losses.  Financial investments included in other assets were as follows, in millions:

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity method investments

 

$

68

 

$

70

 

Total equity method investments

 

68

 

70

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auction rate securities

 

22

 

22

 

Total recurring investments

 

22

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private equity funds

 

17

 

18

 

Other investments

 

3

 

3

 

Total non-recurring investments

 

20

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

110

 

$

113

 

 

Equity Method Investments.  Investments in private equity fund partnerships, joint ventures and less than majority-owned subsidiaries in which we have significant influence are accounted for under the equity method.  Our consolidated statements of operations include the Company’s proportionate share of the net income or (loss) of our equity method investees.  When we record our proportionate share of net income (loss), it increases (decreases) our equity income in our consolidated statement of operations and our carrying value of that investment on our consolidated balance sheet.

 

Recurring Fair Value Measurements.  The fair value of the auction rate securities held by the Company have been estimated, on a recurring basis, using a discounted cash flow model (Level 3 input).  The significant inputs in the discounted cash flow model used to value the auction rate securities include:  expected maturity of auction rate securities, discount rate used to determine the present value of expected cash flows and the assumptions for credit defaults, since the auction rate securities are backed by credit default swap agreements.

 

The Company’s investments in auction rate securities included cost basis of $19 million and pre-tax unrealized gains of $3 million and had a recorded basis of $22 million at both March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

 

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements.  During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company did not measure any financial investments at fair value on a non-recurring basis, as there was no other-than-temporary decline in the estimated value of private equity funds.

 

The Company did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 financial assets in the three months ended March 31, 2014 or 2013.

 

Realized Gains (Losses) and Impairment Charges.  Income (loss) from financial investments, net, included in other, net, within other income (expense), net, was as follows, in millions:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized gains from private equity funds

 

$

1

 

$

3

 

Equity investments (loss) income, net

 

(2

)

7

 

Total income from financial investments

 

$

(1

)

$

10

 

 

Fair Value of Debt.  The fair value of the Company’s short-term and long-term fixed-rate debt instruments is based principally upon modeled market prices for the same or similar issues or the current rates available to the Company for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.  The aggregate estimated market value of short-term and long-term debt at March 31, 2014 was approximately $3.8 billion, compared with the aggregate carrying value of $3.4 billion.  The aggregate estimated market value of short-term and long-term debt at December 31, 2013 was approximately $3.7 billion, compared with the aggregate carrying value of $3.4 billion.