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INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURE
12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2011
INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURE  
INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURE

 

3   INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURE

On August 12, 2009, the company and TCFIF, a subsidiary of TCF National Bank, established Red Iron, a joint venture in the form of a Delaware limited liability company that provides inventory financing, including floor plan and open account receivable financing, to distributors and dealers of the company's products in the U.S. and to select distributors of the company's products in Canada. The initial term of Red Iron will continue until October 31, 2014, subject to unlimited automatic two-year extensions thereafter. Either the company or TCFIF may elect not to extend the initial term or any subsequent term by giving one-year notice to the other party of its intention not to extend the term. Additionally, in connection with the joint venture, the company and an affiliate of TCFIF entered into an arrangement to provide inventory financing to dealers of the company's products in Canada. In connection with the establishment of Red Iron, the company terminated its agreement with a third party financing company that previously provided floor plan financing to dealers of the company's products in the U.S. and Canada. During the first quarter of fiscal 2010, Red Iron began financing open account receivables, as well as floor plan receivables previously financed by such third party financing company. Red Iron also began financing floor plan receivables during the company's fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

   The company owns 45 percent of Red Iron and TCFIF owns 55 percent of Red Iron. The company accounts for its investment in Red Iron under the equity method of accounting. Each of the company and TCFIF contributed a specified amount of the estimated cash required to enable Red Iron to purchase the company's inventory financing receivables and to provide financial support for Red Iron's inventory financing programs. Red Iron borrows the remaining requisite estimated cash utilizing a $450,000 secured revolving credit facility established under a credit agreement between Red Iron and TCFIF. The company's total investment in Red Iron as of October 31, 2011 and 2010 was $11,640 and $9,693, respectively. The company has not guaranteed the outstanding indebtedness of Red Iron. The company has agreed to repurchase products repossessed by Red Iron and the TCFIF Canadian affiliate, up to a maximum aggregate amount of $7,500 in a calendar year. In addition, the company has provided recourse to Red Iron for certain outstanding receivables, which amounted to a maximum amount of $190 and $731 as of October 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

   On October 29, 2010, the company and Red Iron amended their repurchase agreement under which Red Iron provides financing for certain dealers and distributors. Instead of transactions under the agreements being characterized as a sale of receivables from the company to Red Iron, the transactions are structured as an advance in the form of a payment by Red Iron to the company on behalf of a distributor or dealer with respect to invoices financed by Red Iron, which extinguishes the obligation of the dealer or distributor to make payment to the company under the terms of the invoice. Under separate agreements between Red Iron and the dealers and distributors, Red Iron provides loans to the dealers and distributors for the advances paid by Red Iron to the company. The net amount of new receivables financed for dealers and distributors under this arrangement during fiscal 2011 was $1,111,778. In fiscal 2010, prior to this amended repurchase agreement, the company sold receivables to Red Iron and derecognized receivables from its books upon receipt of cash from Red Iron for receivables sold. Red Iron purchased $804,083 of receivables from the company during fiscal 2010.

   Summarized financial information for Red Iron is presented as follows:

   

For the twelve months ended October 31

    2011     2010     2009  
   

Revenue

  $ 17,116   $ 12,056   $ 393  

Net income (loss)

    11,070     5,552     (613 )
   

 

   

As of October 31

    2011     2010  
   

Finance receivables, net

  $ 232,600   $ 185,741  

Other assets

    6,960     4,991  

Total liabilities

    213,693     169,193