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Asset Securitizations
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Asset Securitizations [Abstract]  
Asset Securitizations

6. Asset Securitizations

 

The Company periodically securitizes Card Member receivables and loans arising from its card business through the transfer of those assets to securitization trusts. The trusts then issue securities to third-party investors, collateralized by the transferred assets. For information on the Company's asset securitizations and related accounting policies, refer to Note 7 on page 80 of the Annual Report.

 

The following table provides information on the restricted cash held by the American Express Issuance Trust II (the Charge Trust) and the American Express Credit Account Master Trust (the Lending Trust) as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, included in other assets on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(Millions) 2014 2013
Charge Trust $1 $2
Lending Trust  67  56
Total  $68 $58

These amounts relate to collections of Card Member receivables and loans to be used by the trusts to fund future expenses and obligations, including interest paid on investor securities, credit losses and upcoming debt maturities.

 

American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (TRS), which is a consolidated subsidiary of the Company, is the primary beneficiary of both the trusts. Excluding its consolidated subsidiaries, TRS owns approximately $0.9 billion of subordinated securities issued by the Lending Trust as of June 30, 2014.

 

Under the respective terms of the Charge Trust and the Lending Trust agreements, the occurrence of certain triggering events associated with the performance of the assets of each trust could result in payment of trust expenses, establishment of reserve funds, or in a worst-case scenario, early amortization of investor securities. During the six months ended June 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013, no such triggering events occurred.