36 | bhge 2017 form 10-k liquidity and capital resources our objective in financing our business is to maintain sufficient liquidity , adequate financial resources and financial flexibility in order to fund the requirements of our business . at december 31 , 2017 , we had cash and equivalents of $ 7.0 billion compared to $ 981 million of cash and equivalents at december 31 , 2016 . cash and equivalents includes $ 997 million of cash held on behalf of ge at december 31 , 2017