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Finance Assets
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Notes To Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Financing Receivables [Text Block]

17. Finance Assets

 

Finance Receivables

Finance receivables are comprised of sales-type lease receivables and unsecured revolving loan receivables. Sales-type leases are generally due in monthly, quarterly or semi-annual installments over periods ranging from three to five years. Loan receivables arise primarily from financing services offered to our customers for postage and related supplies. Loan receivables are generally due each month; however, customers may rollover outstanding balances. Finance receivables at December 31, 2011 and 2010 were as follows:

         
 December 31, 2011
 North America International Total
Sales-type lease receivables        
Gross finance receivables $ 1,727,653 $ 460,101 $ 2,187,754
Unguaranteed residual values   185,450   20,443   205,893
Unearned income   (348,286)   (102,618)   (450,904)
Allowance for credit losses   (28,661)   (12,039)   (40,700)
Net investment in sales-type lease receivables   1,536,156   365,887   1,902,043
         
Loan receivables        
Loan receivables  436,631   40,937   477,568
Allowance for credit losses   (20,272)   (2,458)   (22,730)
Net investment in loan receivables   416,359   38,479   454,838
Net investment in finance receivables $ 1,952,515 $ 404,366 $ 2,356,881
         
         
         
 December 31, 2010
 North America International Total
         
Sales-type lease receivables        
Gross finance receivables $ 1,940,833 $ 474,895 $ 2,415,728
Unguaranteed residual values   235,392   20,333   255,725
Unearned income   (415,891)   (107,592)   (523,483)
Allowance for credit losses   (27,792)   (13,318)   (41,110)
Net investment in sales-type lease receivables   1,732,542   374,318   2,106,860
         
Loan Receivables        
Loan receivables  453,362   34,193   487,555
Allowance for credit losses   (26,208)   (2,112)   (28,320)
Net investment in loan receivables   427,154   32,081   459,235
Net investment in finance receivables $ 2,159,696 $ 406,399 $ 2,566,095
         

 December 31, 2010
 U.S International Total
         
Sales-type lease receivables        
Gross finance receivables $#REF! $#REF! $#REF!
Unguaranteed residual values  #REF!  #REF!  #REF!
Unearned income  #REF!  #REF!  #REF!
Allowance for credit losses  #REF!  #REF!  #REF!
Net investment in sales-type lease receivables  #REF!  #REF!  #REF!
         
Loan receivables        
Loan receivable #REF!  #REF!  #REF!
Allowance for credit losses  #REF!  #REF!  #REF!
Net investment in loan receivables  #REF!  #REF!  #REF!
Net investment in finance receivables $#REF! $#REF! $#REF!

Maturities of gross finance receivables at December 31, 2011 were as follows:

 Sales-type Lease Receivables Loan Receivables
 North America International Total North America International Total
                  
2012$ 737,813 $ 118,938 $ 856,751 $ 436,631 $ 40,937 $ 477,568
2013  492,477   105,440   597,917   -   -   -
2014  299,965   92,832   392,797   -   -   -
2015  151,598   73,762   225,360   -   -   -
2016  44,487   60,666   105,153   -   -   -
Thereafter   1,313   8,463   9,776   -   -   -
Total$ 1,727,653 $ 460,101 $ 2,187,754 $ 436,631 $ 40,937 $ 477,568

Activity in the allowance for credit losses for finance receivables for each of the three years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:

 

 Allowance for Credit Losses
 Sales-type Lease Receivables Loan Receivables   
 North America International North America International Total
               
Balance January 1, 2009$ 31,182 $ 12,232 $ 25,759 $ 2,617 $ 71,790
Amounts charged to expense  19,067   8,674   32,007   2,007   61,755
Accounts written off  (19,244)   (7,829)   (31,927)   (2,387)   (61,387)
Balance December 31, 2009  31,005   13,077   25,839   2,237   72,158
Amounts charged to expense  13,211   6,719   20,046   2,024   42,000
Accounts written off  (16,424)   (6,478)   (19,677)   (2,149)   (44,728)
Balance December 31, 2010  27,792   13,318   26,208   2,112   69,430
Amounts charged to expense  13,726   5,087   7,631   1,610   28,054
Accounts written off  (12,857)   (6,366)   (13,567)   (1,264)   (34,054)
Balance December 31, 2011$ 28,661 $ 12,039 $ 20,272 $ 2,458 $ 63,430

We maintain a program for U.S. borrowers in our North America loan portfolio who are experiencing financial difficulties, but are able to make reduced payments over an extended period of time.  Upon acceptance into the program, the borrower's credit line is closed, interest accrual is suspended, the borrower's minimum required payment is reduced and the account is re-aged and classified as current.  There is generally no forgiveness of debt or reduction of balances owed.  The loans in the program are considered to be troubled debt restructurings because of the concessions granted to the borrower.  At December 31, 2011 and 2010, loans in this program had a balance of $7 million.   

 

The allowance for credit losses for these modified loans is determined by the difference between cash flows expected to be received from the borrower discounted at the original effective rate and the carrying value of the loan.  The allowance for credit losses related to such loans was $2 million and $1 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and is included in the balance of the allowance for credit losses of North American loans in the table above.  Management believes that the allowance for credit losses is adequate for these loans and all other loans in the portfolio.  Write-offs of loans in the program were $1 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

The aging of gross finance receivables at December 31, 2011 and 2010 was as follows:

 Sales-type Lease Receivables Loan Receivables   
 North America International North America International Total
December 31, 2011              
< 31 days past due$ 1,641,706 $ 434,811 $ 414,434 $ 38,841 $ 2,529,792
> 30 days and < 61 days   41,018   10,152   12,399   1,066   64,635
> 60 days and < 91 days   24,309   5,666   4,362   425   34,762
> 90 days and < 121 days   4,912   3,207   2,328   186   10,633
> 120 days  15,708   6,265   3,108   419   25,500
TOTAL$ 1,727,653 $ 460,101 $ 436,631 $ 40,937 $ 2,665,322
Past due amounts > 90 days              
Still accruing interest$ 4,912 $ 3,207 $ - $ - $ 8,119
Not accruing interest  15,708   6,265   5,436   605   28,014
TOTAL$ 20,620 $ 9,472 $ 5,436 $ 605 $ 36,133
               
December 31, 2010              
< 31 days past due$ 1,831,655 $ 447,459 $ 430,042 $ 32,389 $ 2,741,545
> 30 days and < 61 days   45,234   10,018   12,081   1,149   68,482
> 60 days and < 91 days   29,380   4,743   4,711   325   39,159
> 90 days and < 121 days   8,654   3,985   2,712   192   15,543
> 120 days  25,910   8,690   3,816   138   38,554
TOTAL$ 1,940,833 $ 474,895 $ 453,362 $ 34,193 $ 2,903,283
Past due amounts > 90 days              
Still accruing interest$ 8,654 $ 3,985 $ - $ - $ 12,639
Not accruing interest  25,910   8,690   6,528   330   41,458
TOTAL$ 34,564 $ 12,675 $ 6,528 $ 330 $ 54,097

Credit Quality

We use credit scores as one of many data elements in making the decision to grant credit at inception, setting credit lines at inception, managing credit lines through the life of the customer, and to assist in collections strategy.

 

We use a third party to score the majority of the North American portfolio on a quarterly basis using a commercial credit score. Accounts may not receive a score because of data issues related to SIC information, customer identification mismatches between the various data sources and other reasons. We do not currently score the portfolios outside of North America because the cost to do so is prohibitive, it is a fragmented process and there is no single credit score model that covers all countries. However, credit policies are similar to those in North America.

The table below shows the North American portfolio at December 31, 2011 and 2010 by relative risk class (low, medium and high) based on the relative scores of the accounts within each class. A fourth class is shown for accounts that are not scored. The degree of risk, as defined by the third party, refers to the relative risk that an account in the next 12 month period may become delinquent. Absence of a score is not indicative of the credit quality of the account.

 

  • Low risk accounts are companies with very good credit risk
  • Medium risk accounts are companies with average to good credit risk
  • High risk accounts are companies with poor credit risk, are delinquent or are at risk of becoming delinquent

 

Although the relative score of accounts within each class is used as a factor for determining the establishment of a customer credit limit, it is not indicative of our actual history of losses due to the business essential nature of our products and services.

 

The aging schedule included above, showing approximately 1.4% of the portfolio as greater than 90 days past due, and the roll-forward schedule of the allowance for credit losses, showing the actual history of losses for the three most recent years ended December 31, 2011 are more representative of the potential loss performance of our portfolio than relative risk based on scores, as defined by the third party.

 

Pitney Bowes Bank

At December 31, 2011, PBB had assets of $738 million and liabilities of $680 million. The bank's assets consist of finance receivables, short and long-term investments and cash. PBB's key product offering, Purchase Power, is a revolving credit solution, which enables customers to finance their postage costs when they refill their meter. PBB earns revenue through transaction fees, finance charges on outstanding balances, and other fees for services. The bank's liabilities consist primarily of PBB's deposit solution, Reserve Account, which provides value to large-volume mailers who prefer to prepay postage and earn interest on their deposits. PBB is regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions.

 

Leveraged Leases

Our investment in leveraged lease assets consists of the following:

 December 31,   
 2011 2010   
Rental receivables $ 810,306 $ 1,802,107   
Unguaranteed residual values   13,784   14,141   
Principal and interest on non-recourse loans   (606,708)   (1,373,651)   
Unearned income   (79,111)   (191,591)   
Investment in leveraged leases   138,271   251,006   
Less: deferred taxes related to leveraged leases   (101,255)   (192,128)   
Net investment in leveraged leases $ 37,016 $ 58,878   
         
The following is a summary of the components of income from leveraged leases:   
         
 December 31,
 2011 2010 2009
Pre-tax leveraged lease income $ 6,090 $ 8,334 $ 918
Income tax effect   (381)   (863)   6,676
Income from leveraged leases $ 5,709 $ 7,471 $ 7,594

During the year, we completed a sale of non-U.S. leveraged lease assets for cash. The investment in that leveraged lease on the date of sale was $109 million and an after-tax gain of $27 million was recognized. The effects of the sale are not included in the table above.

 

There was no impact on income from leveraged leases in 2011 due to changes in statutory tax rates. Income from leveraged leases was positively impacted by $2 million and $3 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively, due to changes in statutory tax rates.