Note 4—Fair Value Measurements and Investments

Fair Value Measurements

The Company measures certain assets and liabilities at fair value. See Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis



	Fair Value Measurements at September 30 Using Inputs Considered as
	Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
	2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014
	(in millions)
Assets
Cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Money market funds	$	3,051	$	2,277
U.S. government-sponsored debt securities					$	280	$	—
Commercial paper					—		37
Investment securities, trading:
Equity securities	66		69
Investment securities, available-for-sale:
U.S. government-sponsored debt securities					2,615		2,162
U.S. Treasury securities	2,656		2,176
Equity securities	4		58
Corporate debt securities					533		522
Auction rate securities									$	7	$	7
Prepaid and other current assets:
Foreign exchange derivative instruments					76		40
Total	$	5,777	$	4,580	$	3,504	$	2,761	$	7	$	7
Liabilities
Accrued liabilities:
Visa Europe put option									$	255	$	145
Foreign exchange derivative instruments					$	13	$	6
Total	$	—	$	—	$	13	$	6	$	255	$	145

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 assets during fiscal 2015.

Level 1 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Money market funds, publicly-traded equity securities and U.S. Treasury securities are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy, as fair value is based on quoted prices in active markets.

Level 2 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value of U.S. government-sponsored debt securities and corporate debt securities, as provided by third-party pricing vendors, is based on quoted prices in active markets for similar, not identical, assets. The pricing data obtained from outside sources is reviewed internally for reasonableness, compared against benchmark quotes from independent pricing sources, then confirmed or revised accordingly. Commercial paper and foreign exchange derivative instruments are valued using inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. There were no substantive changes to the valuation techniques and related inputs used to measure fair value during fiscal 2015.

Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Auction rate securities are classified as Level 3 due to a lack of trading in active markets and a lack of observable inputs in measuring fair value. There were no substantive changes to the valuation techniques and related inputs used to measure fair value during fiscal 2015.

Visa Europe put option agreement. On November 2, 2015, the Company and Visa Europe amended the Visa Europe put option. At September 30, 2015, the fair value of the put option liability was based on the unamended terms. The fair value of the unamended put option was $255 million at September 30, 2015 and $145 million at September 30, 2014. Changes in fair value are recorded as non-cash, non-operating expense in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. See Note 2—Visa Europe. The liability is classified within Level 3 as the assumed probability that Visa Europe will elect to exercise its option in its unamended form, and the estimated P/E differential are among several unobservable inputs used to value the unamended put option.

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis

Non-marketable equity investments and investments accounted for under the equity method. These investments are classified as Level 3 due to the absence of quoted market prices, the inherent lack of liquidity, and the fact that inputs used to measure fair value are unobservable and require management's judgment. When certain events or circumstances indicate that impairment may exist, the Company revalues the investments using various assumptions, including the financial metrics and ratios of comparable public companies. The Company recognized a $15 million other-than-temporary impairment loss related to these investments during fiscal 2013. There were no significant impairment charges incurred during fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014. At September 30, 2015 and 2014, these investments totaled $45 million and $35 million, respectively. These assets are classified in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 5—Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets.

Non-financial assets and liabilities. Long-lived assets such as goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, finite-lived intangible assets, and property, equipment and technology are considered non-financial assets. The Company does not have any non-financial liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Finite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of customer relationships, trade names, and reseller relationships, all of which were obtained through acquisitions. See Note 7—Intangible Assets and Goodwill.

If the Company were required to perform a quantitative assessment for impairment testing of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, the fair values would generally be estimated using an income approach. As the assumptions employed to measure these assets on a non-recurring basis are based on management's judgment using internal and external data, these fair value determinations are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Company completed its annual impairment review of its indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill as of February 1, 2015, and concluded that there was no impairment. No recent events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment existed at September 30, 2015. See Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

Other Financial Instruments not Measured at Fair Value

The following financial instruments are not measured at fair value on the Company's consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2015, but require disclosure of their fair values: time deposits recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets, settlement receivable and payable, and customer collateral. The estimated fair value of such instruments at September 30, 2015, approximates their carrying value due to their generally short maturities. If measured at fair value in the financial statements, these financial instruments would be classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Investments

Trading Investment Securities

Trading investment securities include mutual fund equity security investments related to various employee compensation and benefit plans. Trading activity in these investments is at the direction of the Company's employees. These investments are held in trust and are not available for the Company's operational or liquidity needs. Interest and dividend income and changes in fair value are recorded in non-operating income, and offset in personnel expense on the consolidated statements of operations. As of September 30, 2015 and 2014, trading investment securities totaled $66 million and $69 million, respectively.

Available-for-sale Investment Securities

The amortized cost, unrealized gains and losses and fair value of available-for-sale investment securities are as follows:



	September 30, 2015									September 30, 2014
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized				Fair Value			Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized				Fair Value
	Amortized Cost		Gains		Losses		Fair Value			Amortized Cost		Gains		Losses		Fair Value
	(in millions)
U.S. government-sponsored debt securities	$	2,612	$	3	$	—	$	2,615		$	2,160	$	2	$	—	$	2,162
U.S. Treasury securities	2,652		4		—		2,656			2,174		2		—		2,176
Equity securities	4		—		—		4			15		43		—		58
Corporate debt securities	533		—		—		533			521		1		—		522
Auction rate securities	7		—		—		7			7		—		—		7
Total	$	5,808	$	7	$	—	$	5,815		$	4,877	$	48	$	—	$	4,925
Less: current portion of available-for-sale investment securities							(2,431		)							(1,910		)
Long-term available-for-sale investment securities							$	3,384								$	3,015

The available-for-sale investment securities primarily include U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. government-sponsored debt securities and corporate debt securities. The Company recognized $5 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses on available-for-sale equity securities during fiscal 2015. Available-for-sale debt securities are presented below in accordance with their stated maturities. The majority of these investments, $3.4 billion, are classified as non-current, as they have stated maturities of more than one year from the balance sheet date. However, these investments are generally available to meet short-term liquidity needs.



	Amortized Cost		Fair Value
	(in millions)
September 30, 2015:
Due within one year	$	2,424	$	2,427
Due after 1 year through 5 years	3,373		3,377
Due after 5 years through 10 years	—		—
Due after 10 years	7		7
Total	$	5,804	$	5,811

Investment Income

Investment income is recorded as non-operating income in the Company's consolidated statements of operations and consisted of the following:



	For the Years Ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2013
	(in millions)
Interest and dividend income on cash and investments	$	31		$	25		$	27
Gain on other investments	3			8			5
Investment securities, trading:
Unrealized (losses) gains, net	(6		)	(2		)	4
Realized gains, net	2			6			2
Investment securities, available-for-sale:
Realized gains (losses), net	21			1			(1		)
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments	(5		)	(3		)	(15		)
Investment income	$	46		$	35		$	22