Fair value measurement

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

To estimate the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities, we use valuation approaches within a hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy is divided into three levels based on the source of inputs as follows:


Level 1	—	Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access
Level 2	—	Valuations for which all significant inputs are observable either directly or indirectly—other than Level 1 inputs
Level 3	—	Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement

The availability of observable inputs can vary among different types of financial assets and liabilities. To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. In certain cases, the inputs used for measuring fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for financial statement disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is categorized is based on the lowest level of input used that is significant to the overall fair value measurement.

The fair values of each major class of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows (in millions):


	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)

Fair value measurement as of September 30, 2021, using:							Total
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities:
U.S. Treasury notes	$	51	$	—	$	—	$	51
U.S. Treasury bills	3,900		—		—		3,900









Money market mutual funds	8,323		—		—		8,323
Other short-term interest-bearing securities	—		1		—		1
Equity securities	608		—		257		865
Derivatives:
Foreign currency contracts	—		127		—		127
Cross-currency swap contracts	—		119		—		119
Interest rate swap contracts	—		29		—		29

Total assets	$	12,882	$	276	$	257	$	13,415

Liabilities:
Derivatives:
Foreign currency contracts	$	—	$	54	$	—	$	54
Cross-currency swap contracts	—		360		—		360
Interest rate swap contracts	—		105		—		105
Contingent consideration obligations	—		—		35		35
Total liabilities	$	—	$	519	$	35	$	554


	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)

Fair value measurement as of December 31, 2020, using:							Total
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities:
U.S. Treasury notes	$	130	$	—	$	—	$	130
U.S. Treasury bills	4,948		—		—		4,948









Money market mutual funds	4,765		—		—		4,765
Other short-term interest-bearing securities	—		2		—		2
Equity securities	477		—		—		477
Derivatives:
Foreign currency contracts	—		28		—		28
Cross-currency swap contracts	—		255		—		255
Interest rate swap contracts	—		66		—		66
Total assets	$	10,320	$	351	$	—	$	10,671

Liabilities:
Derivatives:
Foreign currency contracts	$	—	$	237	$	—	$	237
Cross-currency swap contracts	—		318		—		318
Interest rate swap contracts	—		15		—		15
Contingent consideration obligations	—		—		33		33
Total liabilities	$	—	$	570	$	33	$	603

Interest-bearing and equity securities

The fair values of our U.S. Treasury securities, money market mutual funds and equity investments in publicly traded securities are based on quoted market prices in active markets, with no valuation adjustment. The fair value of equity securities without readily determinable fair values are initially valued at the transaction price and subsequently valued based upon a combination of entity-specific financial information and publicly available market information for similar companies that have actively traded equity securities.

Derivatives

All of our foreign currency forward derivative contracts have maturities of three years or less, and all are with counterparties that have minimum credit ratings of A– or equivalent by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (S&P), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) or Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch). We estimate the fair values of these contracts by taking into consideration valuations obtained from a third-party valuation service that uses an income-based industry-standard valuation model for which all significant inputs are observable either directly or indirectly. These inputs include foreign currency exchange rates, LIBOR, swap rates and obligor credit default swap rates. In addition, inputs for our foreign currency option contracts include implied volatility measures. These inputs, when applicable, are at commonly quoted intervals. See Note 13, Derivative instruments.

Our cross-currency swap contracts are with counterparties that have minimum credit ratings of A– or equivalent by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch. We estimate the fair values of these contracts by taking into consideration valuations obtained from a third-party valuation service that uses an income-based industry-standard valuation model for which all significant inputs are observable either directly or indirectly. These inputs include foreign currency exchange rates, LIBOR, swap rates, obligor credit default swap rates and cross-currency-basis swap spreads. See Note 13, Derivative instruments.

Our interest rate swap contracts are with counterparties that have minimum credit ratings of A– or equivalent by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch. We estimate the fair values of these contracts by using an income-based industry-standard valuation model for which all significant inputs are observable either directly or indirectly. These inputs include LIBOR, swap rates and obligor credit default swap rates. See Note 13, Derivative instruments.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, there were no material remeasurements to the fair values of assets and liabilities that are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

Summary of the fair values of other financial instruments

Cash equivalents

The fair values of cash equivalents approximate their carrying values due to the short-term nature of such financial instruments.

Borrowings

We estimated the fair values of our borrowings by using Level 2 inputs. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the aggregate fair values of our borrowings were $42.2 billion and $39.4 billion, respectively, and the carrying values were $37.6 billion and $33.0 billion, respectively.

- 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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