v2.4.0.8
Investments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Investments

Note 6: Investments

September 30,December 31,
(in millions)20142013
Fair Value Method$ 588$ 4,345
Equity Method:
The Weather Channel 333 333
Hulu 188 187
Other 503 469
1,024 989
Cost Method:
AirTouch 1,564 1,553
Other 484 456
2,048 2,009
Total investments 3,660 7,343
Less: Current investments 531 3,573
Noncurrent investments$ 3,129$ 3,770
Investment Income (Loss), Net
Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
September 30September 30
(in millions)2014201320142013
Gains on sales and exchanges of investments, net$ 3$ 445$ 176$ 483
Investment impairment losses (6) (12) (30) (25)
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities underlying prepaid
forward sale agreements 15 345 (13) 1,197
Mark to market adjustments on derivative component of prepaid
forward sale agreements and indexed debt instruments (13) (348) 19 (1,189)
Interest and dividend income 29 28 85 84
Other, net (7) 6 17 (1)
Investment income (loss), net$ 21$ 464$ 254$ 549

Fair Value Method

As of September 30, 2014, the majority of our fair value method investments were equity securities held as collateral that were related to our obligations under prepaid forward sale agreements.

Prepaid Forward Sale Agreements
September 30,December 31,
(in millions)20142013
Assets:
Fair value equity securities held as collateral$ 444$ 3,959
Liabilities:
Obligations under prepaid forward sale agreements$ 117$ 811
Derivative component of prepaid forward sale agreements 277 2,800
Total liabilities$ 394$ 3,611

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we settled $3.2 billion of obligations under certain of our prepaid forward sale agreements by delivering equity securities. As of September 30, 2014, the carrying values of our remaining prepaid forward sale obligations approximated their fair values. The estimated fair values are based on Level 2 inputs that use pricing models whose inputs are derived primarily from or corroborated by observable market data through correlation or other means for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

Cost Method

AirTouch

We hold two series of preferred stock of AirTouch Communications, Inc. (“AirTouch”), a subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc., which are redeemable in April 2020. As of September 30, 2014, the estimated fair values of the AirTouch preferred stock and the associated liability related to the redeemable preferred shares issued by one of our consolidated subsidiaries were each $1.7 billion. The estimated fair values are based on Level 2 inputs that useusing pricing models whose inputs are derived primarily from or corroborated by observable market data through correlation or other means for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

NBCUniversal Media, LLC [Member]
 
Investments

Note 5: Investments

September 30,December 31,
(in millions)20142013
Fair Value Method$ 16$ 11
Equity Method:
The Weather Channel 333 333
Hulu 188 187
Other 347 332
868 852
Cost Method 28 21
Total investments 912 884
Less: Current investments 5 -
Noncurrent Investments$ 907$ 884