The Company makes certain disclosures as detailed below with regard to financial instruments, including derivatives. These disclosures include, among other matters, the nature and terms of derivative transactions, information about significant concentrations of credit risk and the fair value of financial assets and liabilities.

As the functional currency of Tower is the USD and part of Tower's expenses are denominated in NIS, Tower enters from time to time into exchange rate agreements to protect against the volatility of future cash flows caused by changes in foreign exchange rates on NIS denominated expenses.

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016 the fair value amounts of such exchange rate agreements were approximately $24 in an asset position presented in short-term assets and $294 in a liability position presented in short-term liabilities with face value of $18,000 and $96,000, respectively. Changes in the fair values of such derivatives are presented in cost of revenues in the statements of operations.

As the functional currency of TPSCo is the JPY and part of TPSCo revenues are denominated in USD, TPSCo enters from time to time into exchange rate agreements to protect against the volatility of future cash flows caused by changes in foreign exchange rates on USD denominated amounts. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the fair value amounts of such exchange rate agreements were $169 and $682, respectively, in a liability position presented in short-term liabilities with face value of $48,000 and $36,000, respectively. Changes in the fair value of such derivatives are presented in the statements of operations.

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, bank deposits, marketable securities, derivative, trade receivables and government and other receivables. The Company's cash, deposits, marketable securities and derivative are maintained with large and reputable banks and investment banks, the composition and maturities of investments are regularly monitored by the Company. Generally, these securities may be redeemed upon demand and bear minimal risk.

The Company generally does not require collateral for insurance of receivables; however, in certain circumstances, the Company obtains credit insurance or may require advance payments. An allowance for doubtful accounts is determined with respect to those amounts which their collection determined to be doubtful. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers.

The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments, excluding debentures do not materially differ from their respective carrying amounts as of December 31, 2017 and 2016. The fair values of Tower and Jazz’s debentures, based on quoted market prices or other valuation as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, were approximately $345,000 and $245,000, respectively, compared to carrying amounts of approximately $182,000 and $163,000, for the above dates, respectively.

The Company entered into cash flow hedging transactions to mitigate the foreign exchange rate differences on the principle and interest using a cross currency swap to mitigate the risk arising from Series G Debentures denomination in NIS.

As of December 31, 2017 the fair value of the swap was $16,455 in an asset position, of which $1,550 presented in short-term liabilities and $18,005 presented in long-term assets. As of December 31, 2016 the fair value of the swap was $67 in a liability position, presented in short-term liabilities. As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the effective portion of $2,758 and $202, respectively, were recorded in OCI, of which a loss of approximately $1,500 is expected to be reclassified into earnings during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the effect of the hedge on the Company’s results of operations was $11,654 income and $915 expense, respectively, and was recognized as financing expense to offset the effect of the rate difference related to Series G Debentures.

In general, and where applicable, the Company uses quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities to determine fair value. This pricing methodology applies to the Company’s Level 1 assets and liabilities. If quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities are not available to determine fair value, the Company uses quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities or inputs other than the quoted prices that are observable, either directly or indirectly. This pricing methodology applies to the Company’s Level 2 and Level 3 assets and liabilities.

Assets held for sale - securities classified as available for sale are reported at fair value on a recurring basis. These securities are classified as Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy where quoted market prices from reputable third-party brokers are available in an active market. If quoted market prices are not available, the Company obtains fair value measurements from an independent pricing service. These securities are reported using Level 2 inputs and the fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, U.S. government and agency yield curves, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information, and the security’s terms and conditions, among other factors. Changes in fair value of securities available for sale are recorded in other comprehensive income, net of income tax effect.

	December 31, 2017			Quoted prices in active market for identical liability (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)			Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Cross currency swap- asset position	$	16,455		$	--	$	16,455		$	--
Marketable securities held for sale		113,168			113,168		--			--
Foreign exchange forward and cylinders - liability position		(169	)		--		(169	)		--
Foreign exchange forward and cylinders - asset position		24			--		24			--
	$	129,478		$	113,168	$	16,310		$	--

	December 31, 2016		Quoted prices in active market for identical liability (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Cross currency swap- liability position	$	67	$	--	$	67	$	--
Foreign exchange forward and cylinders - liability position		976				976		--
	$	1,043	$	--	$	1,043	$	--

	Tower’s Israeli Banks Loans (including current maturities)			Others
As of January 1, 2016 - at fair value	$	74,955		$	--
principal repayment		(82,855	)		--
Total changes in fair value recognized in earnings		7,900			--
As of December 31, 2016 - at fair value	$	--		$	--

Short-term and long-term investments include marketable securities in the amount of $113,874 (including accrued interest) and long-term bank deposit in the amount of $12,500 as of December 31, 2017; Short-term and long-term investments include short-term bank deposits in the amount of $34,093 and long-term bank deposit in the amount of $12,500 as of December 31, 2016.

	Amortized cost		Gross unrealized gains		Gross unrealized losses			Estimated fair value
Corporate bonds	$	98,998	$	25	$	(683	)	$	98,340
Non- U.S government bonds		2,730		--		(19	)		2,711
Municipal bonds		11,950		15		(96	)		11,869
Certificate of deposits		248		--		--			248
	$	113,926	$	40	$	(798	)	$	113,168

	December 31, 2017
	Investment with continuous unrealized losses for less than 12 months					Investments with continuous unrealized losses for 12 months or greater				Total Investments with continuous unrealized losses
	Fair value		Unrealized losses			Fair value		Unrealized losses		Fair value		Unrealized losses
Corporate debentures	$	89,133	$	(683	)	$	--	$	--	$	89,133	$	(683	)
Non- U.S government bonds		2,711		(19	)		--		--		2,711		(19	)
Municipal bonds		8,837		(96	)		--		--		8,837		(96	)
Total	$	100,681	$	(798	)	$	--	$	--	$	100,681	$	(798	)