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Variable Interest Entities (Notes)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]  
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

VIEs of Which We are Not the Primary Beneficiary

Certain of our joint ventures are VIEs, in which the power to direct economically significant activities is shared with the joint venture partner. Our investments in these joint ventures are accounted for as equity method investments. Our maximum exposure to any potential losses associated with these joint ventures is limited to our investment, including loans, and was $274 million and $307 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

VIEs of Which We are the Primary Beneficiary

Securitization Entities Through Ford Credit, we securitize, transfer, and service financial assets associated with consumer finance receivables, operating leases, and wholesale loans. Our securitization transactions typically involve the legal transfer of financial assets to bankruptcy remote special purpose entities (“SPEs”). The third-party investors in these securitization entities have legal recourse only to the assets securing the debt and do not have recourse to us, except for the customary representation and warranty provisions. In addition, the cash flows generated by the assets are restricted only to pay such liabilities. We generally retain economic interests in the asset-backed securitization transactions, which are retained in the form of senior or subordinated interests, cash reserve accounts, residual interests, and servicing rights. For accounting purposes, we are precluded from recording the transfers of assets in securitization transactions as sales.

In most cases, the bankruptcy remote SPEs meet the definition of VIEs for which we have determined we have both the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entity that could be significant, and would therefore also be consolidated. We account for all securitization transactions as if they were secured financing and therefore the assets, liabilities and related activity of these transactions are consolidated in our financial results and are included in amounts presented on the face of our consolidated balance sheet (see Note 4 for additional information).