Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

We currently operate in one reportable segment which represents our core business of offering Dealers financing programs and related products and services that enable them to sell vehicles to consumers, regardless of their credit history. The consolidated financial statements reflect the financial results of our one reportable operating segment.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of readily marketable securities with original maturities at the date of acquisition of three months or less. As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had $157.4 million and $6.0 million, respectively, in cash and cash equivalents that were not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents

Restricted cash and cash equivalents consist of cash pledged as collateral for secured financings and cash held in a trust for future vehicle service contract claims. As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had $231.3 million and $165.1 million, respectively, in restricted cash and cash equivalents that was not insured by the FDIC.

Loans Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses

Consumer Loan Assignment. For legal purposes, a Consumer Loan is considered to have been assigned to us after the following has occurred:


•	the consumer and Dealer have signed a Consumer Loan contract; and


•	we have received the executed Consumer Loan contract and supporting documentation in either physical or electronic form.

For accounting and financial reporting purposes, a Consumer Loan is considered to have been assigned to us after the following has occurred:


•	the Consumer Loan has been legally assigned to us; and


•	we have made a funding decision and generally have provided funding to the Dealer in the form of either an advance under the Portfolio Program or one-time purchase payment under the Purchase Program.

Portfolio Segments and Classes. We are considered to be a lender to our Dealers for Consumer Loans assigned under our Portfolio Program and a purchaser of Consumer Loans assigned under our Purchase Program. As a result, our Loan portfolio consists of two portfolio segments: Dealer Loans and Purchased Loans. Each portfolio segment is comprised of one class of Consumer Loan assignments, which is Consumer Loans originated by Dealers to finance purchases of vehicles and related ancillary products by consumers with impaired or limited credit histories.

Dealer Loans. Amounts advanced to Dealers for Consumer Loans assigned under the Portfolio Program are recorded as Dealer Loans and are aggregated by Dealer for purposes of recognizing revenue and evaluating impairment. We account for Dealer Loans based on forecasted cash flows instead of contractual cash flows as we do not expect to collect all of the contractually specified amounts due to the credit quality of the underlying Consumer Loans. The outstanding balance of each Dealer Loan included in Loans receivable is comprised of the following:


•	the aggregate amount of all cash advances paid;


•	finance charges;


•	Dealer Holdback payments;


•	accelerated Dealer Holdback payments; and


•	recoveries.

Less:


•	collections (net of certain collection costs); and


•	write-offs.

An allowance for credit losses is maintained at an amount that reduces the net asset value (Dealer Loan balance less the allowance) to the value of forecasted future cash flows discounted at the yield established at the time of assignment. This allowance calculation is completed for each individual Dealer. Future cash flows are comprised of estimated future collections on the Consumer Loans, less any estimated Dealer Holdback payments. We write off Dealer Loans once there are no forecasted future cash flows on any of the associated Consumer Loans, which generally occurs 120 months after the last Consumer Loan assignment.

Future collections on Dealer Loans are forecasted for each individual Dealer based on the historical performance of Consumer Loans with similar characteristics, adjusted for recent trends in payment patterns. Dealer Holdback is forecasted for each individual Dealer based on the expected future collections and current advance balance of each Dealer Loan. Cash flows from any individual Dealer Loan are often different than estimated cash flows at the time of assignment. If such difference is favorable, the difference is recognized prospectively into income over the remaining life of the Dealer Loan through a yield adjustment. If such difference is unfavorable, a provision for credit losses is recorded immediately as a current period expense and a corresponding allowance for credit losses is established. Because differences between estimated cash flows at the time of assignment and actual cash flows occur often, an allowance is required for a significant portion of our Dealer Loan portfolio. An allowance for credit losses does not necessarily indicate that a Dealer Loan is unprofitable, and seldom are cash flows from a Dealer Loan insufficient to repay the initial amounts advanced to the Dealer.

Purchased Loans. Amounts paid to Dealers for Consumer Loans assigned under the Purchase Program are recorded as Purchased Loans and are aggregated into pools based on the month of purchase for purposes of recognizing revenue and evaluating impairment. We account for Purchased Loans based on forecasted cash flows instead of contractual cash flows as we do not expect to collect all of the contractually specified amounts due to the credit quality of the assigned Consumer Loans. The outstanding balance of each Purchased Loan pool included in Loans receivable is comprised of the following:


•	the aggregate amount of all amounts paid during the month of purchase to purchase Consumer Loans from Dealers;


•	finance charges; and


•	recoveries.

Less:


•	collections (net of certain collection costs); and


•	write-offs.

An allowance for credit losses is maintained at an amount that reduces the net asset value (Purchased Loan pool balance less the allowance) to the value of forecasted future cash flows discounted at the yield established at the time of assignment. This allowance calculation is completed for each individual monthly pool of Purchased Loans. Future cash flows are comprised of estimated future collections on the pool of Purchased Loans. We write off pools of Purchased Loans once there are no forecasted future cash flows on any of the Purchased Loans included in the pool, which generally occurs 120 months after the month of purchase.

Future collections on Purchased Loans are forecasted for each individual pool based on the historical performance of Consumer Loans with similar characteristics, adjusted for recent trends in payment patterns. Cash flows from any individual pool of Purchased Loans are often different than estimated cash flows at the time of assignment. If such difference is favorable, the difference is recognized prospectively into income over the remaining life of the pool of Purchased Loans through a yield adjustment. If such difference is unfavorable, a provision for credit losses is recorded immediately as a current period expense and a corresponding allowance for credit losses is established.

Credit Quality. Substantially all of the Consumer Loans assigned to us are made to individuals with impaired or limited credit histories or higher debt-to-income ratios than are permitted by traditional lenders. Consumer Loans made to these individuals generally entail a higher risk of delinquency, default and repossession and higher losses than loans made to consumers with better credit. Since most of our revenue and cash flows are generated from these Consumer Loans, our ability to accurately forecast Consumer Loan performance is critical to our business and financial results. At the time the Consumer Loan is submitted to us for assignment, we forecast future expected cash flows from the Consumer Loan. Based on these forecasts, an advance or one-time purchase payment is made to the related Dealer at a price designed to maximize economic profit, a non-GAAP financial measure that considers our return on capital, our cost of capital and the amount of capital invested.

We monitor and evaluate the credit quality of Consumer Loans on a monthly basis by comparing our current forecasted collection rates to our initial expectations. We use a statistical model that considers a number of credit quality indicators to estimate the expected collection rate for each Consumer Loan at the time of assignment. The credit quality indicators considered in our model include attributes contained in the consumer’s credit bureau report, data contained in the consumer’s credit application, the structure of the proposed transaction, vehicle information and other factors. We continue to evaluate the expected collection rate of each Consumer Loan subsequent to assignment primarily through the monitoring of consumer payment behavior. Our evaluation becomes more accurate as the Consumer Loans age, as we use actual performance data in our forecast. Since all known, significant credit quality indicators have already been factored into our forecasts and pricing, we are not able to use any specific credit quality indicators to predict or explain variances in actual performance from our initial expectations. Any variances in performance from our initial expectations are the result of Consumer Loans performing differently than historical Consumer Loans with similar characteristics. We periodically adjust our statistical pricing model for new trends that we identify through our evaluation of these forecasted collection rate variances.

When overall forecasted collection rates underperform our initial expectations, the decline in forecasted collections has a more adverse impact on the profitability of the Purchased Loans than on the profitability of the Dealer Loans. For Purchased Loans, the decline in forecasted collections is absorbed entirely by us. For Dealer Loans, the decline in the forecasted collections is substantially offset by a decline in forecasted payments of Dealer Holdback.

Methodology Changes. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, we did not make any methodology changes for Loans that had a material impact on our financial results.

Reinsurance

VSC Re Company (“VSC Re”), our wholly-owned subsidiary, is engaged in the business of reinsuring coverage under vehicle service contracts sold to consumers by Dealers on vehicles financed by us. VSC Re currently reinsures vehicle service contracts that are underwritten by one of our third party insurers. Vehicle service contract premiums, which represent the selling price of the vehicle service contract to the consumer, less fees and certain administrative costs, are contributed to a trust account controlled by VSC Re. These premiums are used to fund claims covered under the vehicle service contracts. VSC Re is a bankruptcy remote entity. As such, our exposure to fund claims is limited to the trust assets controlled by VSC Re and our net investment in VSC Re.

Premiums from the reinsurance of vehicle service contracts are recognized over the life of the policy in proportion to expected costs of servicing those contracts. Expected costs are determined based on our historical claims experience. Claims are expensed through a provision for claims in the period the claim was incurred. Capitalized acquisition costs are comprised of premium taxes and are amortized as general and administrative expense over the life of the contracts in proportion to premiums earned. A summary of reinsurance activity is as follows:



(In millions)	For the Three Months Ended June 30,				For the Six Months Ended June 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Net assumed written premiums	$	9.0	$	10.6	$	20.9	$	26.1
Net premiums earned	10.9		12.6		21.7		24.7
Provision for claims	7.0		9.2		13.8		17.8
Amortization of capitalized acquisition costs	0.3		0.2		0.5		0.5

We have consolidated the trust within our financial statements based on our determination of the following:


•	We have a variable interest in the trust. We have a residual interest in the assets of the trust, which is variable in nature, given that it increases or decreases based upon the actual loss experience of the related service contracts. In addition, VSC Re is required to absorb any losses in excess of the trust's assets.


•	The trust is a variable interest entity. The trust has insufficient equity at risk as no parties to the trust were required to contribute assets that provide them with any ownership interest.

•

We are the primary beneficiary of the trust. We control the amount of premium written and placed in the trust through Consumer Loan assignments under our Programs, which is the activity that most significantly impacts the economic performance of the trust. We have the right to receive benefits from the trust that could potentially be significant. In addition, VSC Re has the obligation to absorb losses of the trust that could potentially be significant.

The trust assets and related reinsurance liabilities are as follows:



(In millions)		As of
	Balance Sheet location	June 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
Trust assets	Restricted cash and cash equivalents	$	0.7	$	0.8
Trust assets	Restricted securities available for sale	46.6		48.3
Unearned premium	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	34.4		35.2
Claims reserve (1)	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1.2		1.2


(1)	The claims reserve is estimated based on historical claims experience.

New Accounting Updates

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-13, which includes an impairment model (known as the current expected credit loss (CECL) model) that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under the new guidance, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of expected credit losses. ASU No. 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods, beginning after January 1, 2020. Early application is permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods, beginning after January 1, 2019. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-13 is expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, which simplifies the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and the classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods, beginning after January 1, 2017. Early application is permitted, but we have not yet adopted ASU No. 2016-09. We are currently assessing the impact the adoption of ASU No. 2016-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Leases. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and related lease liability for leases classified as operating leases at the commencement date that have lease terms of more than 12 months. This ASU retains the classification distinction between finance leases and operating leases. ASU No. 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early application is permitted, but we have not yet adopted ASU No. 2016-02. We are currently assessing the impact the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Disclosures about Short-Duration Contracts. In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-09, which amends Topic 944 (Financial Services - Insurance) and enhances disclosures for short-duration insurance contracts. ASU No. 2015-09 is intended to increase transparency regarding significant estimates made in measuring liabilities for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. It does not otherwise change the accounting for short-duration insurance contracts. ASU No. 2015-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted, but we have not yet adopted ASU No. 2015-09. While the adoption of ASU No. 2015-09 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements, we expect that it will expand our disclosures related to the reinsurance of vehicle service contracts.

Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05 which provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The guidance will not change the customer's accounting for service contracts. ASU No. 2015-05 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods, beginning after December 15, 2015 with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-05 on January 1, 2016 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, which amends Topic 835 (Interest) and requires the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability instead of a deferred charge. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, which amends Subtopic 835-30 (Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements) and states that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. ASU Nos. 2015-03 and 2015-15 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods, beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-03, as amended by ASU No. 2015-15, on January 1, 2016 resulted in a reclassification of deferred debt issuance costs as of December 31, 2015, from other assets ($16.8 million) to secured financing ($8.5 million) and senior notes ($8.3 million), in our consolidated balance sheets.

Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, which amends Topic 810 (Consolidation) and requires an entity to evaluate whether it should consolidate certain legal entities. ASU No. 2015-02 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods, beginning after December 15, 2015 with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-02 on January 1, 2016 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09 which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements Topic 605 (Revenue Recognition) and most industry-specific guidance. ASU No. 2014-09 is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU No. 2014-09 also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 to defer the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 by one year to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. ASU No. 2015-14 also permits early adoption of ASU No. 2014-09, but not before the original effective date, which was for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. We have not yet determined the effect that ASU No. 2014-09, as amended by ASU No. 2015-14, will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for cash and cash equivalents, including the policy for determining which items are treated as cash equivalents. Other information that may be disclosed includes (1) the nature of any restrictions on the entity's use of its cash and cash equivalents, (2) whether the entity's cash and cash equivalents are insured or expose the entity to credit risk, (3) the classification of any negative balance accounts (overdrafts), and (4) the carrying basis of cash equivalents (for example, at cost) and whether the carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates fair value.

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