NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (VIEs)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

NONCONTROLLING INTREST AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (VIEs)

NONCONTROLLING INTEREST AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (“VIEs”)

VIEs & Consolidation

The Company consolidates those entities in which it has a direct or indirect controlling financial interest based on either the variable interest model (the “VIE model”) or the voting interest model (the “VOE model”).

VIEs are entities that, by design, either (i) lack sufficient equity to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, or (ii) have equity investors that do not have the ability to make significant decisions relating to the entity’s operations through voting rights, or do not have the obligation to absorb the expected losses, or do not have the right to receive the residual returns of the entity.

The primary beneficiary of a VIE is required to consolidate the assets and liabilities of the VIE. The primary beneficiary is the party that has both (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE through its interest in the VIE.

To assess whether the Company has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, the Company considers all the facts and circumstances, including its role in establishing the VIE and its ongoing rights and responsibilities. This assessment includes identifying the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and identifying which party, if any, has power over those activities. In general, the parties that make the most significant decisions affecting the VIE (typically management and representation on the board of directors as well as control of the overall strategic direction of the entity) and have the right to unilaterally remove those decision-makers are deemed to have the power to direct the activities of a VIE.

To assess whether the Company has the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE, the Company considers all of its economic interests, which primarily include the obligation to absorb losses or fund expenditures or losses (if needed), that are deemed to be variable interests in the VIE. This assessment requires the Company to apply judgment in determining whether these interests, in the aggregate, are considered potentially significant to the VIE. Factors considered in assessing the significance include: the design of the VIE, including its capitalization structure; subordination of interests; payment priority; relative share of interests held across various classes within the VIE’s capital structure; and the reasons why the interests are held by the Company.

At the VIE’s inception, the Company determines whether it is the primary beneficiary and if the VIE should be consolidated based on the facts and circumstances. The Company then performs on-going reassessments of the VIE based on reconsideration events and reevaluates whether a change to the consolidation conclusion is required each reporting period. If the Company is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary in a VIE, the Company accounts for the investment or other variable interests in a VIE in accordance with the applicable GAAP.

Entities that do not qualify as a VIE are assessed for consolidation under the VOE model. Under the VOE model, the Company consolidates the entity if it determines that it, directly or indirectly, has greater than 50% of the voting shares and that other equity holders do not have substantive voting, participating or liquidation rights. The Company has no entities consolidated under the VOE model.

At each reporting period, the Company reassesses whether it remains the primary beneficiary for VIEs consolidated under the VIE model.

Wabash Parts LLC

During the second quarter of 2022, the Company unified and expanded its parts and distribution capabilities by executing an agreement with a partner to create a new legal entity (Wabash Parts LLC, “WP”) to operate a parts and services distribution platform. The Company holds 50% ownership in WP while its partner holds the remaining 50%. Initial capital contributions were insignificant. WP has no debt or other financial obligations other than typical operating expenses and costs. Creditors of WP do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company. The operating agreement requires excess cash distributions, as defined in the agreement, no later than 30 days after the end of the second and fourth quarters of each year in proportion to the respective ownership interests.

The operating agreement provides the Company’s partner with a put right that would require the Company to purchase its partner’s interest in WP. Upon receiving notice that the Company’s partner has exercised the put right, a valuation will occur as stipulated within the operating agreement. Such put right has not been exercised by the Company’s partner and is therefore not mandatorily redeemable as of the current period end date, however the existence of the put right that is beyond the Company’s control requires the noncontrolling interest to be presented in the temporary equity section of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Because the entity does not have sufficient equity at risk to permit it to carry on its activities without additional financial support, the Company concluded that WP is a VIE. The Company has the power to direct the activities of WP through majority representation on the Board of Directors as well as control related to the management and overall strategic direction of the entity. In addition, the Company has the obligation to absorb the benefits and losses of WP that could potentially be significant to the entity. The Company also has a requirement to provide funding to the entity if needed. Given the facts and circumstances specific to WP, the Company concluded that it is the primary beneficiary and, as such, is required to consolidate the entity. WP’s results of operations are included in the Parts & Services operating and reportable segment. Through June 30, 2022, the Company did not provide financial or other support to this VIE that it was not contractually obligated to provide. As of June 30, 2022, the Company does not have any obligations to provide financial support to WP.

The following table presents the assets and liabilities of the WP VIE consolidated on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (in thousands):

	June 30, 2022		December 31, 2021
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	664	$	—
Accounts receivable, net	1,312		—
Inventories, net	253		—
Prepaid expenses and other	—		—
Total current assets	2,229		—
Property, plant, and equipment, net	—		—
Other assets	147		—
Total assets	$	2,376	$	—
Liabilities
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	2,003	$	—
Other accrued liabilities	—		—
Total current liabilities	2,003		—
Other non-current liabilities	—		—
Total liabilities	$	2,003	$	—

The following table is a rollforward of activities in the Company’s noncontrolling interest (in thousands):

	Six Months Ended June 30, 2022		Six Months Ended June 30, 2021
Balance at beginning of period	$	—	$	—
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	187		—
Other comprehensive income (loss)	—		—
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interest	—		—
Balance at end of period	$	187	$	—