Fair Value

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

Fair Value Hierarchy

The Company uses valuation techniques that are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs are developed using market data such as publicly available information and reflect the assumptions market participants would use, while unobservable inputs are developed using the best information available about the assumptions market participants would use. Assets and liabilities are classified in the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement:

Level 1—Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2—Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability and market-corroborated inputs.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to observable inputs and lowest priority to unobservable inputs.

The following table presents the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:



	As of October 31, 2016								As of October 31, 2015
	Fair Value Measured Using								Fair Value Measured Using
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	In millions
Assets
Cash Equivalents and Investments:
Time deposits	$	—	$	4,085	$	—	$	4,085	$	—	$	2,473	$	—	$	2,473
Money market funds	6,549		—		—		6,549		4,592		—		—		4,592
Mutual funds	—		—		—		—		—		246		—		246
Equity securities in public companies	17		—		—		17		46		7		—		53
Foreign bonds	8		279		—		287		8		305		—		313
Other debt securities	—		—		35		35		—		—		40		40
Derivative Instruments:
Interest rate contracts	—		109		—		109		—		—		—		—
Foreign exchange contracts	—		660		—		660		—		816		—		816
Other derivatives	—		—		—		—		—		3		—		3
Total assets	$	6,574	$	5,133	$	35	$	11,742	$	4,646	$	3,850	$	40	$	8,536
Liabilities
Derivative Instruments:
Interest rate contracts	$	—	$	6	$	—	$	6	$	—	$	55	$	—	$	55
Foreign exchange contracts	—		220		—		220		—		137		—		137
Other derivatives	—		2		—		2		—		—		—		—
Total liabilities	$	—	$	228	$	—	$	228	$	—	$	192	$	—	$	192

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016, there were no material transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2015, the Company transferred $41 million of equity securities in public companies from Level 2 to Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy as a result of a change in the market activity of the underlying investment. The remaining transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy were not material.

During fiscal 2016, as a result of the MphasiS transaction, certain cash equivalents and investments and derivative instruments were divested. The financial instruments divested comprised of $74 million in time deposits, $332 million in mutual funds, $37 million in foreign bonds, and $9 million in foreign currency contracts previously included within Other current assets.

Valuation Techniques

Cash Equivalents and Investments: The Company holds time deposits, money market funds, mutual funds, other debt securities primarily consisting of corporate and foreign government notes and bonds, and common stock and equivalents. The Company values cash equivalents and equity investments using quoted market prices, alternative pricing sources, including net asset value, or models utilizing market observable inputs. The fair value of debt investments was based on quoted market prices or model-driven valuations using inputs primarily derived from or corroborated by observable market data, and, in certain instances, valuation models that utilize assumptions which cannot be corroborated with observable market data.

Derivative Instruments: The Company uses forward contracts, interest rate and total return swaps to hedge certain foreign currency and interest rate exposures. The Company uses industry standard valuation models to measure fair value. Where applicable, these models project future cash flows and discount the future amounts to present value using market-based observable inputs, including interest rate curves, the Company and counterparties' credit risk, foreign currency exchange rates, and forward and spot prices for currencies and interest rates. See Note 12, "Financial Instruments", for a further discussion of the Company's use of derivative instruments.

Other Fair Value Disclosures

Short- and Long-Term Debt: The Company estimates the fair value of its debt primarily using an expected present value technique, which is based on observable market inputs using interest rates currently available to companies of similar credit standing for similar terms and remaining maturities, and considering its own credit risk. The portion of the Company's debt that is hedged is reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as an amount equal to the debt's carrying amount and a fair value adjustment representing changes in the fair value of the hedged debt obligations arising from movements in benchmark interest rates. At October 31, 2016, the estimated fair value of the Company's short-term and long-term debt was $16.3 billion and the carrying value was $16.1 billion. As of October 31, 2015, the estimated fair value of the Company's short-term and long-term debt approximated its carrying value of $15.8 billion. If measured at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, short-term and long-term debt would be classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Other Financial Instruments: For the balance of the Company's financial instruments, primarily accounts receivable, accounts payable and financial liabilities included in other accrued liabilities, the carrying amounts approximate fair value due to their short maturities. If measured at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, these other financial instruments would be classified in Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Non-Marketable Equity Investments and Non-Financial Assets: The Company's non-marketable equity investments and non-financial assets, such as intangible assets, goodwill and property, plant and equipment, are recorded at fair value in the period an impairment charge is recognized. If measured at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, these would generally be classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. In fiscal 2015, the Company determined that it would exit certain data centers. The Company conducted an analysis of the respective asset groups to determine if the carrying value was greater than the fair value. As a result of this assessment, the Company recorded a $136 million impairment charge to Impairment of data center assets on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Earnings.