Asset-Backed Financing

HDFS participates in asset-backed financing through both term asset-backed securitization transactions and through asset-backed commercial paper conduit facilities. HDFS treats these transactions as secured borrowing because either they are transferred to consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) or HDFS maintains effective control over the assets and does not meet the accounting sale requirements under ASC Topic 860, "Transfers and Servicing" (ASC Topic 860). In HDFS' asset-backed financing programs, HDFS transfers retail motorcycle finance receivables to special purpose entities (SPE), which are considered VIEs under U.S. GAAP. Each SPE then converts those assets into cash, through the issuance of debt.

HDFS is required to consolidate any VIE in which it is deemed to be the primary beneficiary through having power over the significant activities of the entity and having an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE which are potentially significant to the VIE. HDFS is considered to have the power over the significant activities of its term asset-backed securitization and asset-backed U.S. commercial paper conduit facility VIEs due to its role as servicer. Servicing fees are typically not considered potentially significant variable interests in a VIE. However, HDFS retains a residual interest in the VIEs in the form of a debt security, which gives HDFS the right to receive benefits that could be potentially significant to the VIE. Therefore, the Company is the primary beneficiary and consolidates all of these VIEs within its consolidated financial statements.

HDFS is not the primary beneficiary of the asset-backed Canadian commercial paper conduit facility VIE; therefore, HDFS does not consolidate this VIE. However, HDFS treats the conduit facility as a secured borrowing as it maintains effective control over the assets transferred to the VIE and therefore does not meet the requirements for sale accounting under ASC Topic 860. As such, the Company retains the transferred assets and the related debt within its Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Servicing fees paid by VIEs to HDFS are eliminated in consolidation and therefore are not recorded on a consolidated basis. HDFS is not required, and does not currently intend, to provide any additional financial support to its VIEs. Investors and creditors only have recourse to the assets held by the VIEs.

The following table shows the assets and liabilities related to the asset-backed financings that were included in the financial statements (in thousands):



	March 30, 2014
	Finance receivables		Allowance for credit losses			Restricted cash		Other assets		Total assets		Asset-backed debt
On-balance sheet assets and liabilities
Consolidated VIEs
Term asset-backed securitizations	$	1,221,855	$	(24,998	)	$	105,536	$	3,083	$	1,305,476	$	1,096,633
Asset-backed U.S. commercial paper conduit facility	—		—			—		304		304		—
Unconsolidated VIEs
Asset-backed Canadian commercial paper conduit facility	200,147		(3,257		)	12,347		238		209,475		164,704
Total On-balance sheet assets and liabilities	$	1,422,002	$	(28,255	)	$	117,883	$	3,625	$	1,515,255	$	1,261,337

	December 31, 2013
	Finance receivables		Allowance for credit losses			Restricted cash		Other assets		Total assets		Asset-backed debt
On-balance sheet assets and liabilities
Consolidated VIEs
Term asset-backed securitizations	$	1,569,118	$	(31,778	)	$	133,053	$	3,720	$	1,674,113	$	1,256,632
Asset-backed U.S. commercial paper conduit facility	—		—			—		429		429		—
Unconsolidated VIEs
Asset-backed Canadian commercial paper conduit facility	204,092		(3,361		)	11,754		589		213,074		174,241
Total On-balance sheet assets and liabilities	$	1,773,210	$	(35,139	)	$	144,807	$	4,738	$	1,887,616	$	1,430,873

	March 31, 2013
	Finance receivables		Allowance for credit losses			Restricted cash		Other assets		Total assets		Asset-backed debt
On-balance sheet assets and liabilities
Consolidated VIEs
Term asset-backed securitizations	$	1,871,419	$	(36,799	)	$	185,657	$	4,935	$	2,025,212	$	1,268,572
Asset-backed U.S. commercial paper conduit facility	—		—			—		294		294		—
Unconsolidated VIEs
Asset-backed Canadian commercial paper conduit facility	174,420		(2,923		)	11,368		167		183,032		154,596
Total On-balance sheet assets and liabilities	$	2,045,839	$	(39,722	)	$	197,025	$	5,396	$	2,208,538	$	1,423,168

Term Asset-Backed Securitization VIEs

The Company transfers U.S. retail motorcycle finance receivables to SPEs which in turn issue secured notes to investors, with various maturities and interest rates, secured by future collections of the purchased U.S. retail motorcycle finance receivables. Each term asset-backed securitization SPE is a separate legal entity and the U.S. retail motorcycle finance receivables included in the term asset-backed securitizations are only available for payment of the secured debt and other obligations arising from the term asset-backed securitization transaction and are not available to pay other obligations or claims of the Company’s creditors until the associated secured debt and other obligations are satisfied. Restricted cash balances held by the SPEs are used only to support the securitizations. There are no amortization schedules for the secured notes; however, the debt is reduced monthly as available collections on the related U.S. retail motorcycle finance receivables are applied to outstanding principal. The secured notes’ contractual lives have various maturities ranging from 2014 to 2020.

During 2012, the Company issued $89.5 million of secured notes through the sale of notes that had been previously retained as part of certain 2009 and 2011 term asset-backed securitization transactions. These notes were sold at a premium. The unaccreted premium associated with the issuance of these secured notes was $0.4 million and $1.0 million at March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013, respectively.

There were no term asset-backed securitization transactions during the three months ended March 30, 2014 or March 31, 2013.

Asset-Backed U.S. Commercial Paper Conduit Facility VIE

In September 2013, the Company amended and restated its third-party bank sponsored asset-backed commercial paper conduit facility (U.S. Conduit) which provides for a total aggregate commitment of $600.0 million based on, among other things, the amount of eligible U.S. retail motorcycle loans held by a SPE as collateral. Under the facility, HDFS may transfer U.S. retail motorcycle finance receivables to a SPE, which in turn may issue debt to third-party bank-sponsored asset-backed commercial paper conduits.

The assets of the SPE are restricted as collateral for the payment of the debt or other obligations arising in the transaction and are not available to pay other obligations or claims of the Company’s creditors. The terms for this debt provide for interest on the outstanding principal based on prevailing commercial paper rates, or LIBOR plus a specified margin to the extent the advance is not funded by a conduit lender through the issuance of commercial paper. The U.S. Conduit also provides for an unused commitment fee based on the unused portion of the total aggregate commitment of $600.0 million. There is no amortization schedule; however, the debt is reduced monthly as available collections on the related finance receivables are applied to outstanding principal. Upon expiration of the U.S. Conduit, any outstanding principal will continue to be reduced monthly through available collections. Unless earlier terminated or extended by mutual agreement of HDFS and the lenders, the U.S. Conduit has an expiration date of September 12, 2014.

The SPE had no borrowings outstanding under the U.S. Conduit at March 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 or March 31, 2013; therefore, U.S. Conduit assets are restricted as collateral for the payment of fees associated with the unused portion of the total aggregate commitment.

Asset-Backed Canadian Commercial Paper Conduit Facility

In June 2013, HDFS amended its agreement with a Canadian bank-sponsored asset-backed commercial paper conduit facility (Canadian Conduit). The amended agreement has terms that are similar to those of the original agreement, entered into in August 2012, and is for the same amount. Under the agreement, the Canadian Conduit is contractually committed, at HDFS' option, to purchase from HDFS eligible Canadian retail motorcycle finance receivables for proceeds up to C$200.0 million. The terms for this debt provide for interest on the outstanding principal based on prevailing market interest rates plus a specified margin. The Canadian Conduit also provides for a program fee and an unused commitment fee based on the unused portion of the total aggregate commitment of C$200.0 million. There is no amortization schedule; however, the debt is reduced monthly as available collections on the related finance receivables are applied to outstanding principal. Upon expiration of the Canadian Conduit, any outstanding principal will continue to be reduced monthly through available collections. Unless earlier terminated or extended by mutual agreement of HDFS and the lenders, the Canadian Conduit expires on June 30, 2014. The contractual maturity of the debt is approximately 5 years.

As HDFS participates in and does not consolidate the Canadian bank-sponsored, multi-seller conduit VIE, the maximum exposure to loss associated with this VIE, which would only be incurred in the unlikely event that all the finance receivables and underlying collateral have no residual value, was $44.8 million at March 30, 2014. The maximum exposure is not an indication of the Company's expected loss exposure.

During the first quarter of 2014, HDFS transferred $15.7 million of Canadian retail motorcycle finance receivables to the Canadian Conduit for proceeds of $13.8 million. HDFS did not transfer any Canadian retail motorcycle finance receivables during the first quarter of 2013.