Accounts Receivable Securitization Programs

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Transfers and Servicing [Abstract]

Accounts Receivable Securitization Programs

Accounts Receivable Securitization Programs

U.S. Accounts Receivable Securitization Program

We and a group of our U.S. operating subsidiaries maintain an accounts receivable securitization program under which they sell eligible U.S. accounts receivable to an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary that was formed for the sole purpose of entering into this program. The wholly-owned subsidiary in turn may sell an undivided fractional ownership interest in these receivables with two banks and issuers of commercial paper administered by these banks. The wholly-owned subsidiary retains the receivables it purchases from the operating subsidiaries. Any transfers of fractional ownership interests of receivables under the U.S. receivables securitization program to the two banks and issuers of commercial paper administered by these banks are considered secured borrowings with pledge of collateral and will be classified as short-term borrowings on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. These banks do not have any recourse against the general credit of the Company. The net trade receivables that served as collateral for these borrowings are reclassified from trade receivables, net to prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As of March 31, 2020, the maximum purchase limit for receivable interests was $50.0 million, subject to the availability limits described below.

The amounts available from time to time under this program may be less than $50.0 million due to a number of factors, including but not limited to our credit ratings, trade receivable balances, the creditworthiness of our customers and our receivables collection experience. As of March 31, 2020, the amount available under the program was $49.1 million. Although we do not believe restrictions under this program presently materially restrict our operations, if an additional event occurs that triggers one of these restrictive provisions, we could experience a further decline in the amounts available to us under the program or termination of the program.

The program expires annually in the fourth quarter and is renewable.  

European Accounts Receivable Securitization Program

We and a group of our European subsidiaries maintain an accounts receivable securitization program with a special purpose vehicle, or SPV, two banks and issuers of commercial paper administered by these banks. The European program is structured to be a securitization of certain trade receivables that are originated by certain of our European subsidiaries. The SPV borrows funds from the banks to fund its acquisition of the receivables and provides the banks with a first priority perfected security interest in the accounts receivable. We do not have an equity interest in the SPV. We concluded the SPV is a variable interest entity because its total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the SPV to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from the bank via loans or via the collections from accounts receivable already purchased. Additionally, we are considered the primary beneficiary of the SPV since we control the activities of the SPV and are exposed to the risk of uncollectable receivables held by the SPV. Therefore, the SPV is consolidated in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Any activity between the participating subsidiaries and the SPV is eliminated in consolidation. Loans from the banks to the SPV will be classified as short-term borrowings on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The net trade receivables that served as collateral for these borrowings are reclassified from trade receivables, net to prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As of March 31, 2020, the maximum purchase limit for receivable interests was €80.0 million ($88.4 million equivalent at March 31, 2020), subject to availability limits. The terms and provisions of this program are similar to our U.S. program discussed above. As of March 31, 2020, the amount available under this program before utilization was €68.4 million ($75.5 million equivalent as of March 31, 2020).

This program expires annually in August and is renewable.

Utilization of Our Accounts Receivable Securitization Programs

As of March 31, 2020, there were no amounts borrowed under our U.S. program and €67.2 million ($74.3 million equivalent at March 31, 2020) borrowed under our European program. As of December 31, 2019, there were no amounts borrowed under our U.S. or European programs. We continue to service the trade receivables supporting the programs, and the banks are permitted to re-pledge this collateral. The total interest paid for these programs was $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Under limited circumstances, the banks and the issuers of commercial paper can end purchases of receivables interests before the above expiration dates. A failure to comply with debt leverage or various other ratios related to our receivables collection experience could result in termination of the receivables programs. We were in compliance with these ratios at March 31, 2020.

Accounts Receivable Factoring Agreements

The Company has entered into factoring agreements and customers' supply chain financing arrangements, to sell certain receivables to unrelated third-party financial institutions. These programs are entered into in the normal course of business. We account for these transactions in accordance with ASC 860, "Transfers and Servicing" ("ASC 860"). ASC 860 allows for the ownership transfer of accounts receivable to qualify for sale treatment when the appropriate criteria is met, which permits the Company to exclude the balances sold under the program from Accounts receivable, net on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Receivables are considered sold when (i) they are transferred beyond the reach of the Company and its creditors, (ii) the purchaser has the right to pledge or exchange the receivables, and (iii) the Company has no continuing involvement in the transferred receivables. In addition, the Company provides no other forms of continued financial support to the purchaser of the receivables once the receivables are sold.

Gross amounts factored under this program for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were $113.8 million and $72.9 million, respectively. The fees associated with transfer of receivables for all programs were approximately $0.6 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.