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VIE
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Variable Interest Entities

8. Variable Interest Entities

The Bancorp, in the normal course of business, engages in a variety of activities that involve VIEs, which are legal entities that lack sufficient equity to finance their activities, or the equity investors of the entities as a group lack any of the characteristics of a controlling interest. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is generally the enterprise that has both the power to direct the activities most significant to the economic performance of the VIE and the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. For certain investment funds, the primary beneficiary is the enterprise that will absorb a majority of the fund's expected losses or receive a majority of the fund's expected residual returns. The Bancorp evaluates its interest in certain entities to determine if these entities meet the definition of a VIE and whether the Bancorp is the primary beneficiary and should consolidate the entity based on the variable interests it held both at inception and when there is a change in circumstances that requires a reconsideration. If the Bancorp is determined to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE, it must account for the VIE as a consolidated subsidiary. If the Bancorp is determined not to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE but holds a variable interest in the entity, such variable interests are accounted for under the equity method of accounting or other accounting standards as appropriate.

 

Consolidated VIEs

The following table provides a summary of the classifications of consolidated VIE assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interests included in the Bancorp’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of:
     
   CDC
March 31, 2013 ($ in millions) Investments
Assets:   
 Commercial mortgage loans$ 50 
 ALLL (13) 
 Other assets  1 
Total assets 38 
     
Noncontrolling interests  38 

     
   CDC
December 31, 2012 ($ in millions) Investments
Assets:   
 Commercial mortgage loans$ 50 
 ALLL (5) 
 Other assets  3 
Total assets 48 
     
Noncontrolling interests  48 
     

CDC Investments

CDC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bancorp, was created to invest in projects to create affordable housing, revitalize business and residential areas, and preserve historic landmarks. CDC generally co-invests with other unrelated companies and/or individuals and typically makes investments in a separate legal entity that owns the property under development. The entities are usually formed as limited partnerships and LLCs, and CDC typically invests as a limited partner/investor member in the form of equity contributions. The economic performance of the VIEs is driven by the performance of their underlying investment projects as well as the VIEs' ability to operate in compliance with the rules and regulations necessary for the qualification of tax credits generated by equity investments. Typically, the general partner or managing member will be the party that has the right to make decisions that will most significantly impact the economic performance of the entity. The Bancorp serves as the managing member of certain LLCs invested in business revitalization projects. The Bancorp has provided an indemnification guarantee to the investor member of these LLCs related to the qualification of tax credits generated by the investor member's investment. Accordingly, the Bancorp concluded that it is the primary beneficiary and, therefore, has consolidated these VIEs. As a result, the investor members' interests in these VIEs are presented as noncontrolling interests in the Bancorp's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. This presentation includes reporting separately the equity attributable to the noncontrolling interests in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity and reporting separately the comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interests in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and the net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The Bancorp's maximum exposure related to these indemnifications at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $19 million and $18 million, respectively, which is based on an amount required to meet the investor member's defined target rate of return.

 

Non-consolidated VIEs

The following tables provide a summary of assets and liabilities carried on the Bancorp’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets related to non-consolidated VIEs for which the Bancorp holds an interest, but is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE, as well as the Bancorp’s maximum exposure to losses associated with its interests in the entities:
        
  Total Total Maximum
As of March 31, 2013 ($ in millions) AssetsLiabilitiesExposure
CDC investments$1,389 399 1,389 
Private equity investments 191  - 305 
Loans provided to VIEs  1,671  -  3,141 
Automobile loan securitizations  6  -  6 
Restructured loans  2  - 2 

        
  Total Total Maximum
As of December 31, 2012 ($ in millions) AssetsLiabilitiesExposure
CDC investments$1,442 394 1,442 
Private equity investments 189  - 310 
Loans provided to VIEs 1,622  - 2,465 
Restructured loans  2  - 2 
        

CDC Investments

As noted previously, CDC typically invests in VIEs as a limited partner or investor member in the form of equity contributions. The Bancorp has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs because it lacks the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the underlying project or the VIEs' ability to operate in compliance with the rules and regulations necessary for the qualification of tax credits generated by equity investments. This power is held by the general partners/managing members who exercise full and exclusive control of the operations of the VIEs. Accordingly, the Bancorp accounts for these investments under the equity method of accounting.

 

The Bancorp's funding requirements are limited to its invested capital and any additional unfunded commitments for future equity contributions. The Bancorp's maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the VIEs is limited to the carrying amounts of the investments, including the unfunded commitments. The carrying amounts of these investments, which are included in other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the liabilities related to the unfunded commitments, which are included in other liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, are included in the previous tables for all periods presented. The Bancorp has no other liquidity arrangements or obligations to purchase assets of the VIEs that would expose the Bancorp to a loss. In certain arrangements, the general partner/managing member of the VIE has guaranteed a level of projected tax credits to be received by the limited partners/investor members, thereby minimizing a portion of the Bancorp's risk.

 

Private Equity Investments

The Bancorp invests as a limited partner in private equity funds which provide the Bancorp an opportunity to obtain higher rates of return on invested capital, while also creating cross-selling opportunities for the Bancorp's commercial products. Each of the limited partnerships has an unrelated third-party general partner responsible for appointing the fund manager. The Bancorp has not been appointed fund manager for any of these private equity funds. The funds finance primarily all of their activities from the partners' capital contributions and investment returns. Under the VIE consolidation guidance still applicable to the funds, the Bancorp has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of the funds because it does not absorb a majority of the funds' expected losses or receive a majority of the funds' expected residual returns. Therefore, the Bancorp accounts for its investments in these limited partnerships under the equity method of accounting.

 

The Bancorp is exposed to losses arising from negative performance of the underlying investments in the private equity funds. As a limited partner, the Bancorp's maximum exposure to loss is limited to the carrying amounts of the investments plus unfunded commitments. The carrying amounts of these investments, which are included in other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, are included in the previous tables. Also, as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the unfunded commitment amounts to the funds were $114 million and $121 million, respectively. The Bancorp made capital contributions of $3 million and $11 million, respectively, to private equity funds during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

Loans Provided to VIEs

The Bancorp has provided funding to certain unconsolidated VIEs sponsored by third parties. These VIEs are generally established to finance certain consumer and small business loans originated by third parties. The entities are primarily funded through the issuance of a loan from the Bancorp or a syndication through which the Bancorp is involved. The sponsor/administrator of the entities is responsible for servicing the underlying assets in the VIEs. Because the sponsor/administrator, not the Bancorp, holds the servicing responsibilities, which include the establishment and employment of default mitigation policies and procedures, the Bancorp does not hold the power to direct the activities most significant to the economic performance of the entity and, therefore, is not the primary beneficiary.

 

The principal risk to which these entities are exposed is credit risk related to the underlying assets. The Bancorp's maximum exposure to loss is equal to the carrying amounts of the loans and unfunded commitments to the VIEs. The Bancorp's outstanding loans to these VIEs, included in commercial loans in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, are included in the previous tables for all periods presented. Also, as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Bancorp's unfunded commitments to these entities were $1.5 billion and $843 million, respectively. The loans and unfunded commitments to these VIEs are included in the Bancorp's overall analysis of the ALLL and reserve for unfunded commitments, respectively. The Bancorp does not provide any implicit or explicit liquidity guarantees or principal value guarantees to these VIEs.

 

Automobile Loan Securitization

In March of 2013, the Bancorp recognized an immaterial loss on the securitization and sale of certain automobile loans with a carrying amount of approximately $509 million. The securitization and the resulting sale of all underlying securities qualified for sale accounting. The Bancorp has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of the trust because it has neither the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE nor the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Bancorp is not required and does not currently intend to provide any additional financial support to the trust. Investors and creditors only have recourse to the assets held by the trust. The interest the Bancorp holds in the VIE relates to servicing rights which are included in the Bancorp's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The maximum exposure to loss is equal to the carrying value of the servicing asset.

 

Restructured Loans

As part of loan restructuring efforts, the Bancorp received equity capital from certain borrowers to facilitate the restructuring of the borrower's debt. These borrowers meet the definition of a VIE because the Bancorp was involved in their refinancing and because their equity capital is insufficient to fund ongoing operations. These restructurings were intended to provide the VIEs with serviceable debt levels while providing the Bancorp an opportunity to maximize the recovery of the loans. The VIEs finance their operations from earned income, capital contributions, and through restructured debt agreements. Assets of the VIEs are used to settle their specific obligations, including loan payments due to the Bancorp. The Bancorp continues to maintain its relationship with these VIEs as a lender and minority shareholder, however, it is not involved in management decisions and does not have sufficient voting rights to control the membership of the respective boards. Therefore, the Bancorp accounts for its equity investments in these VIEs under the equity method or cost method based on its percentage of ownership and ability to exercise significant influence.

 

The Bancorp's maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with these VIEs is limited to the equity investments, the principal and accrued interest on the outstanding loans, and any unfunded commitments. Due to the VIEs' short-term cash deficit projections at the restructuring dates, the Bancorp determined that the initial fair value of its equity investments in these VIEs was zero. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Bancorp's carrying value of these equity investments was immaterial to the Bancorp's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Additionally, the Bancorp had outstanding loans to these VIEs, included in commercial loans in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, which are included in the above tables for all periods presented. The Bancorp had no unfunded loan commitments to these VIEs as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012. The loans and unfunded commitments to these VIEs are included in the Bancorp's overall analysis of the ALLL and reserve for unfunded commitments, respectively. The Bancorp does not provide any implicit or explicit liquidity guarantees or principal value guarantees to these VIEs.