Credit Quality of Long-Term Receivables

A long-term or financing receivable represents a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed and determinable dates, including trade receivable balances with maturity dates greater than one year. Our long-term and financing receivables primarily represent balances related to the aerospace businesses such as long-term trade accounts receivable, leases, and notes receivable. We also have other long-term receivables in our commercial businesses; however, both the individual and aggregate amounts are not significant.

Long-term trade accounts receivable represent amounts arising from the sale of goods and services with a contractual maturity date of greater than one year and are recognized as “Other assets” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Notes and leases receivable represent notes and lease receivables other than receivables related to operating leases, and are recognized as “Customer financing assets” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The following table summarizes the balance by class of aerospace long-term receivables as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:



(Dollars in millions)	March 31, 2013		December 31, 2012
Long-term trade accounts receivable	$	623	$	593
Notes and leases receivable	539		584
Total long-term receivables	$	1,162	$	1,177

Economic conditions and air travel influence the operating environment for most airlines, and the financial performance of our aerospace businesses is directly tied to the economic conditions of the commercial aerospace and defense industries. Additionally, the value of the collateral is also closely tied to commercial airline performance and may be subject to exposure of reduced valuation as a result of market declines. We determine a receivable is impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect amounts due according to the contractual terms of the receivable agreement. Factors considered in assessing collectability and risk include, but are not limited to, examination of credit quality indicators and other evaluation measures, underlying value of any collateral or security interests, significant past due balances, historical losses, and existing economic conditions.

Long-term receivables can be considered delinquent if payment has not been received in accordance with the underlying agreement. If determined delinquent, long-term trade accounts receivable and notes and leases receivable balances accruing interest may be placed on non-accrual status. We record potential losses related to long-term receivables when identified. The reserve for credit losses on these receivables relates to specifically identified receivables that are evaluated individually for impairment. For notes and leases receivable, we determine a specific reserve for exposure based on the difference between the carrying value of the receivable and the estimated fair value of the related collateral in connection with the evaluation of credit risk and collectability. For long-term trade accounts receivable, we evaluate credit risk and collectability individually to determine if an allowance is necessary. Uncollectible long-term receivables are written-off when collection of the indebtedness has been pursued for a reasonable period of time without collection; the customer is no longer in operation; or judgment has been levied, but the underlying assets are not adequate to satisfy the indebtedness. At both March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we did not have any significant balances that are considered to be delinquent, on non-accrual status, past due 90 days or more, or considered to be impaired.

The following table provides the balance of aerospace industry long-term receivables and summarizes the associated changes in the reserve for estimated credit losses and exposure for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively:



(Dollars in millions)	2013			2012
Beginning balance of the reserve for credit losses and exposure as of January 1	$	60		$	70
Provision	—			—
Charge-offs	(13		)	—
Recoveries	(3		)	—
Other	—			(4		)
Ending balance of the reserve for credit losses and exposure: individually evaluated for impairment as of March 31	$	44		$	66
Ending balance of long-term receivables: individually evaluated for impairment as of March 31	$	1,162		$	548

We determine credit ratings for each customer in the portfolio based upon public information and information obtained directly from our customers. We conduct a review of customer credit ratings, published historical credit default rates for different rating categories, and multiple third party aircraft value publications as a basis to validate the reasonableness of the allowance for losses on these balances quarterly or when events and circumstances warrant. The credit ratings listed below range from “A” which indicates an extremely strong capacity to meet financial obligations and the receivable is either collateralized or uncollateralized, to “D” which indicates that payment is in default and the receivable is uncollateralized. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from estimates or that consideration of these factors in the future will not result in an increase or decrease to the allowance for credit losses on long-term receivables.

The following table summarizes the credit risk profile by creditworthiness category for aerospace long-term receivable balances at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:



	March 31, 2013				December 31, 2012
(Dollars in millions)	Long-term trade accounts receivable		Notes and leases receivable		Long-term trade accounts receivable		Notes and leases receivable
A - (low risk, collateralized/uncollateralized)	$	599	$	26	$	569	$	26
B - (moderate risk, collateralized/uncollateralized)	21		418		21		458
C - (high risk, collateralized/uncollateralized)	3		95		3		100
D - (in default, uncollateralized)	—		—		—		—
Total	$	623	$	539	$	593	$	584