Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Note 19—Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts and fair values of our financial instruments were as follows (in millions):


	December 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
	amount		value		amount		value
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,052	$	3,052	$	2,339	$	2,339
Restricted cash balances and investments		510		511		467		474
Long-term debt, including current maturities		8,464		8,218		8,490		6,291

We estimated the fair value of each class of financial instruments, for which estimating fair value is practicable, by applying the following methods and assumptions:

Cash and cash equivalents—The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents represents the historical cost, plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value because of the short maturities of those instruments. We measured the estimated fair value of our cash equivalents using significant other observable inputs, representative of a Level 2 fair value measurement, including the net asset values of the investments. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the aggregate carrying amount of our cash equivalents was $2.6 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively.

Restricted cash balances and investments—The carrying amount of the cash investments pledged for debt service of the Eksportfinans Loans represents the amortized cost of our investment. We measured the estimated fair value of such restricted cash investments using significant other observable inputs, representative of a Level 2 fair value measurement, including the terms and credit spreads of the instruments. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the aggregate carrying amount of the cash investments pledged for debt service of the Eksportfinans Loans was $123 million and $216 million, respectively. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the estimated fair value of such restricted cash investments was $124 million and $223 million, respectively.

The carrying amount of the cash balances that are subject to restrictions due to collateral requirements, legislation, regulation or court order approximates fair value due to the short term nature of the instruments in which the restricted cash balances are held. At December 31, 2016, the aggregate carrying amount of such restricted cash balances was $387 million, including $352 million and $35 million recorded in current assets and other long‑term assets, respectively. At December 31, 2015, the aggregate carrying amount of such restricted cash balances was $251 million, including $244 million and $7 million recorded in current assets and other current assets, respectively.

Debt—We measured the estimated fair value of our debt, all of which was fixed‑rate debt, using significant other observable inputs, representative of a Level 2 fair value measurement, including the terms and credit spreads for the instruments.

- 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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