Merck & Co., Inc., reports a December 31, 2016, balance of $715 million in "Investments in affiliates accounted for using the equity method" ("Investments in affiliates"). Provide the entries for the following events for fiscal year 2017:

a. Merck's share of income from its affiliates was $42 million.

b. Merck received dividends and distributions from its affiliates of $2 million during fiscal year 2017.

c. After these events, what should be the balance in Merck's investments in affiliates account at December 31, 2017? The actual balance was $767 million. What might explain any differences between these two values?