Note 7. Financial Services Arrangements

In 1996, one of Polaris’ wholly-owned subsidiaries entered into a partnership agreement with a subsidiary of Transamerica Distribution Finance (“TDF”) to form Polaris Acceptance. In 2004, TDF was merged with a subsidiary of General Electric Company and, as a result of that merger, TDF’s name was changed to GECDF. Polaris’ subsidiary has a 50 percent equity interest in Polaris Acceptance. In November 2006, Polaris Acceptance sold a majority of its receivable portfolio to the securitization facility arranged by General Electric Capital Corporation, a GECDF affiliate (“Securitization Facility”), and the partnership agreement was amended to provide that Polaris Acceptance would continue to sell portions of its receivable portfolio to a Securitization Facility from time to time on an ongoing basis. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the outstanding balance of receivables sold by Polaris Acceptance to the Securitization Facility (the “Securitized Receivables”) amounted to approximately $477,604,000 and $323,790,000, respectively. The sale of receivables from Polaris Acceptance to the Securitization Facility is accounted for in Polaris Acceptance’s financial statements as a “true-sale” under ASC Topic 860. Polaris Acceptance is not responsible for any continuing servicing costs or obligations with respect to the Securitized Receivables. Polaris has not guaranteed the outstanding indebtedness of Polaris Acceptance or the Securitized Receivables. Polaris’ subsidiary and GECDF have an income sharing arrangement related to income generated from the Securitization Facility. The remaining portion of the receivable portfolio is recorded on Polaris Acceptance’s books. The two partners of Polaris Acceptance share equally an equity cash investment equal to 15 percent of the sum of the portfolio balance in Polaris Acceptance plus Securitized Receivables. Polaris’ total investment in Polaris Acceptance at December 31, 2011and 2010, was $42,251,000 and $37,169,000, respectively. The Polaris Acceptance partnership agreement provides for periodic options for renewal, purchase, or termination by either party. Substantially all of Polaris’ United States sales are financed through Polaris Acceptance and the Securitization Facility whereby Polaris receives payment within a few days of shipment of the product. The net amount financed for dealers under this arrangement at December 31, 2011, including both the portfolio balance in Polaris Acceptance and the Securitized Receivables, was $568,392,000. Polaris has agreed to repurchase products repossessed by Polaris Acceptance up to an annual maximum of 15 percent of the average month-end balances outstanding during the prior calendar year. For calendar year 2011, the potential 15 percent aggregate repurchase obligation was approximately $91,693,000. Polaris’ financial exposure under this arrangement is limited to the difference between the amounts unpaid by the dealer with respect to the repossessed product plus costs of repossession and the amount received on the resale of the repossessed product. No material losses have been incurred under this agreement during the periods presented. Polaris’ trade receivables from Polaris Acceptance were $1,618,000 and $29,000 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Polaris’ exposure to losses with respect to the Polaris Acceptance Portfolio and the Securitized Receivables is limited to its equity in its wholly-owned subsidiary that is a partner in Polaris Acceptance.

Polaris’ total investment in Polaris Acceptance at December 31, 2011 of $42,251,000 is accounted for under the equity method, and is recorded as Investments in finance affiliate in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The partnership agreement provides that all income and losses of the Polaris Acceptance and the Securitized Receivables are shared 50 percent by Polaris’ wholly-owned subsidiary and 50 percent by GECDF. Polaris’ allocable share of the income of Polaris Acceptance and the Securitized Facility has been included as a component of Income from financial services in the accompanying statements of income.

Summarized financial information for Polaris Acceptance reflecting the effects of the Securitization Facility is presented as follows (in thousands):


	For the Year Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
Revenues	$	13,018	$	12,459	$	12,559
Interest and operating expenses		4,131		3,311		4,517

Net income	$	8,887	$	9,148	$	8,042


	As of December 31,
	2011			2010
Finance receivables, net	$	90,788		$	174,040
Other assets		73			67

Total Assets	$	90,861		$	174,107

Notes payable/(receivable)	$	(2,435	)	$	92,863
Other liabilities		8,794			6,980
Partners’ capital		84,502			74,264

Total Liabilities and Partners’ Capital	$	90,861		$	174,107

In August 2005, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polaris entered into a multi-year contract with HSBC Bank Nevada, National Association (“HSBC”), formerly known as Household Bank (SB), N.A., under which HSBC is continuing to manage the Polaris private label credit card program under the StarCard label to provide financing for Polaris products. During 2010, Polaris and HSBC extended the term of the agreement on similar terms to October 2013. During 2011 it was announced that HSBC’s U.S. Credit Card and Retail Services business would be acquired by Capital One, subject to regulatory approval. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2012. Polaris’ income generated from the HSBC agreement has been included as a component of Income from financial services in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

In April 2006, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polaris entered into a multi-year contract with GE Money Bank (“GE Bank”) under which GE Bank makes available closed-end installment consumer and commercial credit to customers of Polaris dealers for both Polaris and non-Polaris products. In November 2010, the Company extended its installment credit agreement to March 2016 under which GE Bank will provide exclusive installment credit lending for Victory motorcycles. Polaris’ income generated from the GE Bank agreement has been included as a component of Income from financial services in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

In January 2009, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polaris entered into a multi-year contract with Sheffield Financial (“Sheffield”) pursuant to which Sheffield agreed to make available closed-end installment consumer and commercial credit to customers of Polaris dealers for Polaris products. In October 2010, Polaris extended its installment credit agreement to February 2016 under which Sheffield will provide exclusive installment credit lending for ORV and Snowmobiles. Polaris’ income generated from the Sheffield agreement has been included as a component of Income from financial services in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Polaris also provides extended service contracts to consumers and certain insurance contracts to dealers and consumers through various third-party suppliers. Polaris does not retain any warranty, insurance or financial risk in any of these arrangements. Polaris’ service fee income generated from these arrangements has been included as a component of Income from financial services in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Income from financial services as included in the consolidated statements of income is comprised of the following (in thousands):


	For the Year Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
Equity in earnings of Polaris Acceptance	$	4,444	$	4,574	$	4,021
Income from Securitization Facility		7,686		8,027		9,559
Income from HSBC, GE Bank and Sheffield retail credit agreements		9,056		2,422		1,090
Income from other financial services activities		2,906		1,833		2,401

Total income from financial services	$	24,092	$	16,856	$	17,071