Variable Interest Entities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

NOTE 12. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

We use variable interest entities primarily to securitize financial assets and arrange other forms of asset-backed financing in the ordinary course of business. Investors in these entities only have recourse to the assets owned by the entity and not to our general credit. We do not have implicit support arrangements with any VIE. We did not provide non-contractual support for previously transferred financing receivables to any VIE in 2015 or 2014.

Consolidated Variable Interest Entities

We consolidate VIEs because we have the power to direct the activities that significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance, typically because of our role as either servicer or manager for the VIE. Our consolidated VIEs fall into two main groups, which are further described below:

Consolidated Securitization Entities (CSEs) were created to facilitate securitization of financial assets and other forms of asset-backed financing that serve as an alternative funding source by providing access to variable funding notes and term markets. The securitization transactions executed with these entities are similar to those used by many financial institutions and all are non-recourse. We provide servicing for substantially all of the assets in these entities.

The financing receivables in these entities have similar risks and characteristics to our other financing receivables and were underwritten to the same standard. Accordingly, the performance of these assets has been similar to our other financing receivables; however, the blended performance of the pools of receivables in these entities reflects the eligibility criteria that we apply to determine which receivables are selected for transfer. Contractually the cash flows from these financing receivables must first be used to pay third-party debt holders as well as other expenses of the entity. Excess cash flows are available to GECC. The creditors of these entities have no claim on other assets of GECC.

Other remaining assets and liabilities of consolidated VIEs relate primarily to three categories of entities: (1) joint ventures that lease equipment with $466 million of assets and $466 million of liabilities; (2) other entities that are involved in power generating and leasing activities with $331 million of assets and $187 million of liabilities; and (3) insurance entities that, among other lines of business, provide property and casualty and workers’ compensation coverage for GE with $1,126 million of assets and $564 million of liabilities.

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF CONSOLIDATED VIEs

				Consolidated Securitization Entities(b)

				Credit		Trade
(In millions)	Trinity		(a)	cards		receivables			Other		Total

September 30, 2015
Assets(c)
Financing receivables, net	$	-		$	24,036	$	3,134	(d)	$	531	$	27,701
Investment securities		401			-		-			1,011		1,412
Other assets		45			144		2			1,084		1,275
Total	$	446		$	24,180	$	3,136		$	2,626	$	30,388

Liabilities(c)
Borrowings	$	-		$	-	$	-		$	986	$	986
Non-recourse borrowings		-			13,640		2,516			69		16,225
Other liabilities		193			20		28			1,126		1,367
Total	$	193		$	13,660	$	2,544		$	2,181	$	18,578

December 31, 2014
Assets(c)
Financing receivables, net	$	-		$	25,645	$	3,028	(d)	$	1,030	$	29,703
Investment securities		2,369			-		-			1,005		3,374
Other assets		17			1,059		2			1,397		2,475
Total	$	2,386		$	26,704	$	3,030		$	3,432	$	35,552

Liabilities(c)
Borrowings	$	-		$	-	$	-		$	513	$	513
Non-recourse borrowings		-			14,967		2,692			436		18,095
Other liabilities		1,022			332		26			1,129		2,509
Total	$	1,022		$	15,299	$	2,718		$	2,078	$	21,117

(a) Excluded intercompany advances from GECC to Trinity, which were eliminated in consolidation of $15 million and $1,565 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

(b) We provide servicing to the CSEs and are contractually permitted to commingle cash collected from customers on financing receivables sold to CSE investors with our own cash prior to payment to a CSE, provided our short-term credit rating does not fall below A-1/P-1. These CSEs also owe us amounts for purchased financial assets and scheduled interest and principal payments. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the amounts of commingled cash owed to the CSEs were $939 million and $1,091 million, respectively, and the amounts owed to us by CSEs were $170 million and $391 million, respectively.

(c) Asset amounts exclude intercompany receivables for cash collected on behalf of the entities by GECC as servicer, which are eliminated in consolidation. Such receivables provide the cash to repay the entities’ liabilities. If these intercompany receivables were included in the table above, assets would be higher. In addition, other assets, borrowings and other liabilities exclude intercompany balances that are eliminated in consolidation.

(d) Included $724 million and $686 million of receivables at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, originated by GE Appliances. We require third party debt holder consent to sell these assets. The receivables will be included in assets of businesses held for sale when the consent is received.

Revenues from services from our consolidated VIEs were $1,410 million and $1,593 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $4,313 million and $4,350 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Related expenses consisted primarily of provisions for losses of $189 million and $244 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $714 million and $791 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and interest of $75 million and $69 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $208 million and $195 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. These amounts do not include intercompany revenues and costs, principally fees and interest between GECC and the VIEs, which are eliminated in consolidation.

Investments in Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities

Our involvement with unconsolidated VIEs consists of the following activities: assisting in the formation and financing of the entity; providing recourse and/or liquidity support; servicing the assets; and receiving variable fees for services provided. We are not required to consolidate these entities because the nature of our involvement with the activities of the VIEs does not give us power over decisions that significantly affect their economic performance.

The classification of our variable interests in these entities in our financial statements is based on the nature of the entity and the characteristics of the investment we hold.

INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED VIEs

(In millions)	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014


Other assets and investment securities	$	601	$	632
Financing receivables – net		10		120
Total investments		611		752

Contractual obligations to fund investments, guarantees or revolving lines of credit		85		27
Total	$	696	$	779

In addition to the entities included in the table above, we also hold passive investments in RMBS, CMBS and asset-backed securities issued by VIEs. Such investments were, by design, investment-grade at issuance and held by a diverse group of investors. Further information about such investments is provided in Note 3.