Note 10: 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

HP 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 HP's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

	As of October 31, 2014								As of October 31, 2013
	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	$	—	$	2,865	$	—	$	2,865	$	—	$	2,221	$	—	$	2,221
Money market funds		9,857		—		—		9,857		6,819		—		—		6,819
Mutual funds		—		244		—		244		—		313		—		313
Marketable equity securities		14		5		—		19		10		5		—		15
Foreign bonds		9		367		—		376		9		387		—		396
Other debt securities		—		1		46		47		—		2		47		49
Derivatives:
Interest rate contracts		—		105		—		105		—		156		—		156
Foreign exchange contracts		—		862		6		868		—		284		3		287
Other derivatives		—		7		—		7		—		9		—		9

Total assets	$	9,880	$	4,456	$	52	$	14,388	$	6,838	$	3,377	$	50	$	10,265


Liabilities
Derivatives:
Interest rate contracts	$	—	$	55	$	—	$	55	$	—	$	107	$	—	$	107
Foreign exchange contracts		—		348		2		350		—		547		2		549

Total liabilities	$	—	$	403	$	2	$	405	$	—	$	654	$	2	$	656

For the year ended October 31, 2014, there were no transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy.

Valuation Techniques

Cash Equivalents and Investments: HP 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. HP values cash equivalents and equity investments using quoted market prices, alternative pricing sources, including NAV, 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: HP uses forward contracts, interest rate and total return swaps and option contracts to hedge certain foreign currency and interest rate exposures. HP 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, HP and counterparty credit risk, foreign exchange rates, and forward and spot prices for currencies and interest rates. See Note 11 for a further discussion of HP's use of derivative instruments.

Other Fair Value Disclosures

Short- and Long-Term Debt: HP 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 HP'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. The estimated fair value of HP's short- and long-term debt was $19.9 billion at October 31, 2014, compared to its carrying amount of $19.5 billion at that date. The estimated fair value of HP's short- and long-term debt was $22.7 billion at October 31, 2013, compared to its carrying amount of $22.6 billion at that date. If measured at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, short- and long-term debt would be classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Other Financial Instruments: For the balance of HP'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: HP'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 2012, HP recognized a goodwill and intangible asset impairment charge of $8.8 billion associated with the Autonomy reporting unit, a goodwill impairment charge of $8.0 billion associated with the ES reporting unit, and an intangible asset impairment charge of $1.2 billion associated with the Compaq trade name. The fair value of these reporting units was classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy due to the significance of unobservable inputs developed using company-specific information. HP used the income approach to measure the fair value of the ES and Autonomy reporting units. Under the income approach, HP calculated the fair value of a reporting unit based on the present value of the estimated future cash flows. Cash flow projections were based on management's estimates of revenue growth rates and operating margins, taking into consideration industry and market conditions. The discount rate used was based on the weighted-average cost of capital adjusted for the relevant risk associated with business-specific characteristics and the uncertainty related to the business's ability to execute on the projected cash flows. The discount rate also reflected adjustments required when comparing the sum of the fair values of HP's reporting units to HP's market capitalization as discussed in Note 9. The unobservable inputs used to estimate the fair value these reporting units included projected revenue growth rates, profitability and the risk factor added to the discount rate.

The inputs used to estimate the fair value of the intangible assets of Autonomy and the "Compaq" trade name were largely unobservable, and, accordingly, these measurements were classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the intangible assets for Autonomy were estimated using an income approach, which is based on management's cash flow projections of revenue growth rates and operating margins, taking into consideration industry and market conditions. HP estimated the fair value of the "Compaq" trade name by calculating the present value of the royalties saved that would have been paid to a third party had HP not owned the trade name. The discount rates used in the fair value calculations for the Autonomy intangibles and the "Compaq" trade name were based on a weighted average cost of capital adjusted for the relevant risk associated with those assets. The unobservable inputs used in these valuations include projected revenue growth rates, operating margins, royalty rates and the risk factor added to the discount rate. The discount rates ranged from 11% to 16%. Projected revenue growth rates ranged from (61)% to 13%. The (61)% rate reflected the significant decline in expected future revenues for Compaq-branded products from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2014 due to the change in branding strategy discussed in Note 9.