Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Investments

v3.8.0.1
Investments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 30, 2017
Investments [Abstract]  
Investments [Text Block]
Note 9: Investments
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE INVESTMENTS
 
 
December 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016

(In Millions)
 
Adjusted
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Adjusted
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
Corporate debt
 
$
2,294

 
$
4

 
$
(13
)
 
$
2,285

 
$
3,847

 
$
4

 
$
(14
)
 
$
3,837

Financial institution instruments
 
3,387

 
3

 
(9
)
 
3,381

 
6,098

 
5

 
(11
)
 
6,092

Government debt
 
961

 

 
(6
)
 
955

 
1,581

 

 
(8
)
 
1,573

Marketable equity securities
 
1,507

 
2,686

 
(1
)
 
4,192

 
2,818

 
3,363

 
(1
)
 
6,180

Total available-for-sale investments
 
$
8,149

 
$
2,693

 
$
(29
)
 
$
10,813

 
$
14,344

 
$
3,372

 
$
(34
)
 
$
17,682


Government debt includes instruments such as non-U.S. government bonds and U.S. agency securities. Financial institution instruments include instruments issued or managed by financial institutions in various forms, such as commercial paper, fixed- and floating-rate bonds, money market fund deposits, and time deposits. Substantially all time deposits were issued by institutions outside the U.S. as of December 30, 2017. Most time deposits were issued by institutions outside of the U.S. as of December 31, 2016.
During 2017, we sold available-for-sale investments for proceeds of $7.1 billion, ($4.1 billion in 2016 and $2.2 billion in 2015). The gross realized gains on sales of available-for-sale investments were $3.5 billion in 2017 ($538 million in 2016 and $133 million in 2015).
On April 28, 2017, Cloudera, Inc. (Cloudera) completed its initial public offering and we designated our previous equity and cost method investments in Cloudera as available-for-sale. During 2017, we determined we had an other-than-temporary decline in the fair value of our investment and recognized an impairment charge of $278 million. We recognized the impairment due to the duration and severity of the decline in the investment's fair value, which we determined was below cost based upon observable market prices after the initial public offering.
The fair values of available-for-sale debt investments, by contractual maturity, as of December 30, 2017 were as follows:
(In Millions)
 
Fair Value
Due in 1 year or less
 
$
2,573

Due in 1–2 years
 
1,776

Due in 2–5 years
 
1,866

Due after 5 years
 
71

Instruments not due at a single maturity date
 
335

Total
 
$
6,621


EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS
Equity method investments, classified within other long-term assets, at the end of each period were as follows:
 
 
December 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
(Dollars In Millions)
 
Carrying
Value
 
Ownership
Percentage
 
Carrying
Value
 
Ownership
Percentage
IM Flash Technologies, LLC
 
$
1,505

 
49
%
 
$
849

 
49
%
McAfee
 
153

 
49
%
 
n/a

 
n/a

Cloudera, Inc.
 
n/a

 
n/a

 
225

 
16
%
Other equity method investments
 
229

 
 
 
254

 
 
Total
 
$
1,887

 
 
 
$
1,328

 
 

IM Flash Technologies, LLC
Since the inception of IM Flash Technologies, LLC (IMFT) in 2006, Micron Technology, Inc. (Micron) and Intel have jointly developed NAND flash memory and 3D XPoint technology products. Intel also purchases jointly developed products directly from Micron under certain supply agreements.
The IMFT operating agreement continues through 2024 unless terminated earlier, and provides for certain buy-sell rights of the joint venture. Intel has the right to cause Micron to buy our interest in IMFT and, if exercised, Micron could elect to receive financing from us for one to two years. Commencing in January 2019, Micron has the right to call our interest in IMFT with the closing date to be effective within one year.
IMFT is a variable interest entity, and all costs of IMFT are passed on to Micron and Intel through sale of products or services in proportional share of ownership. Our portion of IMFT costs was approximately $415 million in 2017 (approximately $400 million in 2016 and $400 million in 2015). In the event that IMFT has excess cash, IMFT will make payments to Micron and Intel in the form of dividends.
IMFT depends on Micron and Intel for any additional cash. In addition to making capital contributions throughout the year, during the fourth quarter of 2017, we extended $650 million in member debt financing (MDF) to IMFT to fund the ramp of 3D XPoint technology. The MDF balance may be converted to a capital contribution at our request, or may be repaid upon availability of funds. Our known maximum exposure to loss approximated the carrying value of our investment balance (which included the $650 million of MDF as of December 30, 2017). Our potential future losses could be higher than the carrying amount of our investment, as Intel and Micron are liable for other future operating costs or obligations of IMFT and future cash calls. In addition, because we are currently committed to purchasing 49% of IMFT’s production output and production-related services, we may be required to purchase products at a cost in excess of realizable value.
We have determined that we do not have the characteristics of a consolidating investor in the variable interest entity, and therefore, we account for our interest in IMFT using the equity method of accounting.
McAfee
During the second quarter of 2017, we closed our divestiture of the ISecG business and retained a 49% interest in McAfee as partial consideration. Our investment is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and is classified within other long-term assets. During the third quarter of 2017, we received a $735 million dividend from McAfee. For further information related to the divestiture of the ISecG business, see "Note 10: Acquisitions and Divestitures."
NON-MARKETABLE COST METHOD INVESTMENTS
The carrying value of our non-marketable cost method investments was $2.6 billion as of December 30, 2017 ($3.1 billion as of December 31, 2016). In 2017, we recognized impairments of $548 million on non-marketable cost method investments ($178 million in 2016 and $164 million in 2015).
Beijing UniSpreadtrum Technology Ltd. (UniSpreadtrum)
During 2014, we entered into a series of agreements with Tsinghua Unigroup Ltd. (Tsinghua Unigroup), an operating subsidiary of Tsinghua Holdings Co. Ltd., to, among other things, jointly develop Intel architecture- and communications-based solutions for phones. During 2017, we reduced our expectation of the future operating performance for Beijing UniSpreadtrum Technology Ltd. (UniSpreadtrum) due to competitive pressures, which resulted in other-than-temporary impairment charges of $308 million. The carrying value of our investment was $658 million as of December 30, 2017 ($966 million as of December 31, 2016).
TRADING ASSETS
Net gains related to trading assets still held at the reporting date were $414 million in 2017 (net losses of $295 million in 2016 and $152 million in 2015). Net losses on the related derivatives were $422 million in 2017 (net gains of $300 million in 2016 and $137 million in 2015).