As at September 30, 2016, cash and cash equivalents increased to $238.7 million from $197.5 million as at December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of a reduction in inventories.
Trade receivables and other receivables were $174.7 million and $23.3 million, respectively, as at September 30, 2016, compared to $151.2 million and $14.7 million, respectively, as at December 31, 2015. The increase in trade receivables was primarily as a result of a reduction in inventories and other factors, which we expect to reverse as collections occur. Credit risk from trade receivables is substantially mitigated through credit insurance, bank guarantees, letters of credit and other risk mitigation measures.
Inventories decreased to $129.5 million as at September 30, 2016, from $245.3 million as at December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of the decision to rationalize certain product lines and geographies. $56.0 million of our inventories were contracted at fixed prices or hedged as at September 30, 2016.
Our assets held for sale, consisting of our discontinued operations, decreased to $nil as at September 30, 2016 from $136.2 million as at December 31, 2015. See “Discussion of Operations – Reclassifications” for further information.
Deposits, prepaid and other assets were $17.0 million as at September 30, 2016, compared to $21.4 million as at December 31, 2015.
We had short-term securities of $13.2 million as at September 30, 2016, compared to $0.2 million as at December 31, 2015. The increase was primarily as a result of government-issued securities held by our recently acquired western European bank at the date of acquisition.
Tax receivables, consisting primarily of refundable value-added taxes, were $16.9 million as at September 30, 2016, compared to $11.7 million as at December 31, 2015.
We had short-term financial assets relating to hedging derivatives of $5.0 million as at September 30, 2016, compared to $5.6 million as at December 31, 2015. We had current liabilities relating to hedging derivatives of $5.3 million as at September 30, 2016, compared to $3.6 million as at December 31, 2015. We had long-term liabilities relating to hedging derivatives of $0.9 million as at September 30, 2016, compared to $0.7 million as at December 31, 2015.
Account payables and accrued expenses were $111.3 million as at September 30, 2016, compared to $174.8 million as at December 31, 2015. The decrease was primarily due to repayments.
Our short-term bank borrowings increased to $151.8 million as at September 30, 2016, from $60.1 million as at December 31, 2015. The increase was primarily to finance the increase in trade receivables and the payments of account payables and accrued expenses. Total long-term debt increased to $282.2 million as at September 30, 2016, from $259.0 million as at December 31, 2015, primarily due to the reclassification of a bank debt in 2016, which was previously classified and included in liabilities relating to assets held for sale. See “Discussion of Operations – Reclassifications” for further information.
As at September 30, 2016, we had decommissioning obligations of $18.8 million relating to our hydrocarbon properties.
As at September 30, 2016, we had deferred income tax liabilities of $21.1 million, compared to $13.7 million as at December 31, 2015. The increase was primarily as a result of the reclassification of our mining interest as set forth above.
Short-Term Bank Loans and Facilities
As part of our operations, we establish, utilize and maintain various kinds of credit lines and facilities with banks and insurers. Most of these facilities are short-term. These facilities are used in our day-to-day structured solutions and merchant banking business. The amounts drawn under such facilities fluctuate with the kind and level of transactions being undertaken.
As at September 30, 2016, we had credit facilities aggregating $623.5 million comprised of: (i) unsecured revolving credit facilities aggregating $181.7 million from banks. The banks generally charge an interest rate of inter-bank rates plus an interest margin; (ii) revolving credit facilities aggregating $163.5 million from banks for structured solutions, a special trade financing. The margin is negotiable when the facility is used; (iii) a non-recourse specially structured factoring arrangement with a bank for up to a credit limit of $213.8 million for our merchant banking activities. We may factor our receivable accounts upon invoicing at the inter-bank rate plus a margin; (iv) foreign exchange credit facilities of $37.0 million with banks; and