Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Basis of Presentation The condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our consolidated subsidiaries, including certain special purpose entities (SPEs) utilized in secured financing transactions, which are considered variable interest entities (VIEs). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, are condensed and do not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the U.S. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements that are included in our Annual Report on Form 10–K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 6, 2019 (2018 Form 10–K). Except as otherwise specified, dollar amounts presented within tables are stated in millions.

The condensed consolidated financial statements at September 30, 2019, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, are unaudited and, in management’s opinion, include all adjustments, which consist of normal recurring adjustments and transactions or events discretely impacting the interim periods, considered necessary by management to fairly state our results of operations. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2018 was derived from audited annual financial statements.

Segment Information

Segment Information We are the wholly-owned captive finance subsidiary of General Motors Company (GM). We offer substantially similar products and services throughout many different regions, subject to local regulations and market conditions. We evaluate our business in two operating segments: North America (the North America Segment) and International (the International Segment). Our North America Segment includes operations in the U.S. and Canada. Our International Segment includes operations in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, as well as our equity investments in joint ventures in China.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted ASU 2016-02, "Leases" (ASU 2016-02) using the optional transition method, resulting in the recognition of right of use assets of $129 million, included in other assets, and lease obligations of $144 million, included in other liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheet related to our existing operating leases at January 1, 2019. We elected to apply the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance in the new standard, which allowed us to carry forward our historical lease classification. The accounting for finance leases and leases where we are lessor remained substantially unchanged. The application of ASU 2016-02 had no impact on our condensed consolidated statement of income or condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

The following table summarizes our minimum commitments under noncancelable operating leases having initial terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2018:



	Years Ending December 31,
	2019		2020		2021		2022		2023		Thereafter		Total
Minimum commitments	$	27	$	26	$	25	$	23	$	19	$	47	$	167

Refer to Note 9 for information on our operating leases at September 30, 2019.

As lessor, we have investments in leased vehicles recorded as operating leases. Leased vehicles consist of automobiles leased to customers and are carried at amortized cost less unearned manufacturer subvention payments, which are received up front. Depreciation expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease agreement to the estimated residual value. Manufacturer subvention is earned on a straight-line basis as a reduction to depreciation expense.

Generally, the lessee may purchase the leased vehicle at the maturity of the lease by paying the purchase price stated in the lease agreement, which equals the contract residual value determined at origination of the lease, plus any fees and all other amounts owed under the lease. If the lessee decides not to purchase the leased vehicle, the lessee must return it to a dealer by the lease's scheduled lease maturity date. Extensions may be granted to the lessee for up to six months. If the lessee extends the maturity date on their lease agreement, the lessee is responsible for additional monthly payments until the leased vehicle is returned or purchased. Since the lessee is not obligated to purchase the vehicle at the end of the contract, we are exposed to a risk of loss to the extent the customer returns the vehicle prior to or at the end of the lease term and the value of the vehicle is lower than the residual value estimated at inception of the lease.

We estimate the expected residual value based on third-party data which considers various data points and assumptions including recent auction values, the expected future volume of returning leased vehicles, used vehicle prices, manufacturer incentive programs and fuel prices. Changes in the expected residual value result in increased or decreased depreciation of the leased asset over the remaining term of the lease. Upon disposition, a gain or loss is recorded for any difference between the carrying amount of the lease and the proceeds from the disposition of the asset, including any insurance proceeds. Under the accounting for impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, vehicles on operating leases are evaluated by asset group for impairment. We aggregate leased vehicles into asset groups based on make, year and model. When asset group indicators of impairment exist and aggregate future cash flows from the operating lease, including the expected realizable fair value of the leased assets at the end of the lease, are less than the carrying amount of the lease asset group, an immediate impairment write-down is recognized if the difference is deemed not recoverable.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments" (ASU 2016-13), which requires entities to use a new impairment model based on current expected credit losses (CECL) rather than incurred losses. We plan to adopt ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020 on a modified retrospective basis.

Estimated credit losses under CECL will consider relevant information about past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectibility of the reported amount, resulting in recognition of lifetime expected credit losses upon loan origination. We are currently validating and refining our risk forecasting models, assumption review processes, corporate governance controls and accounting and financial reporting for our implementation of ASU 2016-13. Upon adoption, we expect to record an adjustment that will increase our allowance for credit losses between $700 million and $900 million, with an after-tax reduction to retained earnings between $500 million and $700 million. The amount of the adjustment is heavily dependent on the volume, credit mix and seasoning of our loan portfolio.