Note 7. Debt and Borrowing Arrangements

Short-Term Borrowings:

Our short-term borrowings and related weighted-average interest rates consisted of:


	As of March 31, 2017				As of December 31, 2016
	Amount		Weighted-		Amount		Weighted-
	Outstanding		Average Rate		Outstanding		Average Rate
	(in millions)				(in millions)

Commercial paper	$	3,835		1.1%	$	2,371		1.0%
Bank loans		415		10.7%		160		10.6%

Total short-term borrowings	$	4,250			$	2,531

As of March 31, 2017, the commercial paper issued and outstanding had between 3 and 88 days remaining to maturity. Commercial paper borrowings increased in the first quarter of 2017 primarily as a result of issuances to finance the payment of long-term debt maturities, dividend payments and share repurchases during the quarter. Bank loans include borrowings on primarily uncommitted credit lines maintained by some of our international subsidiaries to meet short-term working capital needs.

Borrowing Arrangements:

On March 1, 2017, to supplement our commercial paper program, we entered into a $1.5 billion revolving credit agreement for a 364-day senior unsecured credit facility that is scheduled to expire on February 28, 2018. The agreement includes the same terms and conditions as our existing $4.5 billion multi-year credit facility discussed below. As of March 31, 2017, no amounts were drawn on the facility.

We also maintain a $4.5 billion multi-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility for general corporate purposes, including working capital needs, and to support our commercial paper program. On October 14, 2016, the revolving credit agreement, which was scheduled to expire on October 11, 2018, was extended through October 11, 2021. The revolving credit agreement includes a covenant that we maintain a minimum shareholders’ equity of at least $24.6 billion, excluding accumulated other comprehensive earnings/(losses) and the cumulative effects of any changes in accounting principles. At March 31, 2017, we complied with this covenant as our shareholders’ equity, as defined by the covenant, was $36.2 billion. The revolving credit facility agreement also contains customary representations, covenants and events of default. There are no credit rating triggers, provisions or other financial covenants that could require us to post collateral as security. As of March 31, 2017, no amounts were drawn on the facility.

Some of our international subsidiaries maintain primarily uncommitted credit lines to meet short-term working capital needs. Collectively, these credit lines amounted to $1.9 billion at March 31, 2017 and $1.8 billion at December 31, 2016. Borrowings on these lines amounted to $415 million at March 31, 2017 and $160 million at December 31, 2016.

Long-Term Debt:

On April 12, 2017, we discharged $488 million of our 6.500% U.S. dollar-denominated debt. We paid $504 million, representing principal as well as past and future interest accruals from February 2017 through the August 2017 maturity date.

On March 30, 2017, fr.175 million of our 0.000% Swiss franc-denominated notes matured. The notes and accrued interest to date were paid with net proceeds from the fr.350 million Swiss franc-denominated notes issued on March 13, 2017.

On March 13, 2017, we launched an offering of fr.350 million of Swiss franc-denominated notes, or $349 million in U.S. dollars as of March 31, 2017, consisting of:

•

fr.225 million (or $224 million) of 0.050% fixed rate notes that mature on March 30, 2020

•

fr.125 million (or $125 million) of 0.617% fixed rate notes that mature on September 30, 2024

On March 30, 2017, we received net proceeds of fr.349 million (or $349 million) that were used for general corporate purposes.

On January 26, 2017, €750 million of our 1.125% euro-denominated notes matured. The notes and accrued interest to date were paid with the issuance of commercial paper and cash on hand.

Our weighted-average interest rate on our total debt was 2.2% as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, down from 3.7% as of December 31, 2015.

Fair Value of Our Debt:

The fair value of our short-term borrowings at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 reflects current market interest rates and approximates the amounts we have recorded on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of our long-term debt was determined using quoted prices in active markets (Level 1 valuation data) for the publicly traded debt obligations. At March 31, 2017, the aggregate fair value of our total debt was $19,038 million and its carrying value was $18,374 million. At December 31, 2016, the aggregate fair value of our total debt was $17,882 million and its carrying value was $17,199 million.

Interest and Other Expense, net:

Interest and other expense, net within our results of continuing operations consisted of:


	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017		2016
	(in millions)

Interest expense, debt	$	103	$	136
Loss related to interest rate swaps		–		97
Other expense, net		16		11

Interest and other expense, net	$	119	$	244

See Note 8, Financial Instruments, for information on the loss related to U.S. dollar interest rate swaps no longer designated as accounting cash flow hedges during the first quarter of 2016.