Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

We did not elect the fair value measurement option for any of our financial assets or liabilities. The fair values of certain financial instruments and the hierarchy level we used to estimate the fair values are shown below; see Note 11: "Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" for the fair value information of our derivatives and Note 15: "Employee Benefit Plans" for fair value information of our pension assets:



	December 31, 2018
			Hierarchy Level
	Carrying Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(in millions)
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	87	$	—	$	87	$	—
Restricted cash equivalents	18		—		18		—
Liabilities:
Long-term debt⁽¹⁾	7,040		3,809		—		3,039



	December 31, 2017
			Hierarchy Level
	Carrying Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(in millions)
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	284	$	—	$	284	$	—
Restricted cash equivalents	12		—		12		—
Liabilities:
Long-term debt⁽¹⁾	6,348		2,575		—		3,954

____________


⁽¹⁾	The carrying values include unamortized deferred financing costs and discount. The carrying values and fair values exclude capital lease obligations and other debt.

The fair values of financial instruments not included in these tables are estimated to be equal to their carrying values as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. Our estimates of the fair values were determined using available market information and appropriate valuation methods. Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and develop the estimated fair values.

Cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents primarily consisted of short-term interest-bearing money market funds with maturities of less than 90 days and time deposits. The estimated fair values were based on available market pricing information of similar financial instruments.

The estimated fair values of our Level 1 long-term debt were based on prices in active debt markets. The estimated fair values of our Level 3 long-term debt were based on indicative quotes received for similar issuances.

- 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