| Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies General Motors Financial Company, Inc., the wholly-owned captive finance subsidiary of General Motors Company (GM), is a global provider of automobile finance solutions. We have been operating in the automobile finance business in the U.S. since September 1992 and have been a wholly-owned subsidiary of GM since October 2010. We provide retail loan and lease financing across the credit spectrum to support vehicle sales. Additionally, we offer commercial lending products to dealers, including floorplan financing, which is lending to finance new and used vehicle inventory, and dealer loans, which are loans to finance improvements to dealership facilities, to provide working capital, or to purchase and/or finance dealership real estate. We also offer and finance vehicle-related service contracts and other products and services. Basis of Presentation The 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 transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. Except as otherwise specified, dollar amounts presented within tables are stated in millions. Certain columns and rows may not add due to rounding. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, as well as the amount of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and those differences may be material. Generally, the financial statements of entities that operate outside of the U.S. are measured using the local currency as the functional currency. All assets and liabilities of the foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates, and the results of operations and cash flows are determined using approximate weighted-average exchange rates for the period. Translation adjustments are related to the foreign subsidiaries using local currency as their functional currency and are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Foreign currency transaction gains or losses are recorded directly in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, regardless of whether such amounts are realized or unrealized. We may enter into foreign currency derivatives to mitigate our exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Cash Equivalents Cash equivalents are defined as short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Net Presentation of Cash Flows on Commercial Finance Receivables and Related Debt Our commercial finance receivables are primarily comprised of floorplan financing, which are loans to dealers to finance vehicle inventory, also known as wholesale or inventory financing. In our experience, floorplan financing, as well as other short-duration receivables, are typically repaid within three months of when the credit is extended. Furthermore, we typically have the unilateral ability to call the floorplan loans and receive payment within 60 days of the call. Therefore, the presentation of the cash flows related to floorplan and other short-duration finance receivables is reflected on the consolidated statements of cash flows as "Net change in floorplan and other short-duration receivables." We have debt agreements to finance our commercial lending activities. The terms of these financing agreements require that a borrowing base of eligible floorplan receivables, within certain concentration limits, must be maintained in sufficient amounts to support advances. When a dealer repays a floorplan receivable to us, either the amount advanced against such receivables must be repaid by us or the equivalent amount in new receivables must be added to the borrowing base. The term for repayment of advances under these agreements is when we receive repayment from the dealers, which is typically within three months of when the credit is extended. Therefore, the cash flows related to these debt agreements are reflected on the consolidated statements of cash flows as “Net change in debt (original maturities of three months or less).” Retail Finance Receivables and the Allowance for Loan Losses Our retail finance receivables portfolio consists of smaller-balance, homogeneous loans that are carried at amortized cost, net of allowance for loan losses. These loans are divided among pools based on common risk characteristics, such as internal credit score, origination period (vintage) and geography. An internal credit score, of which FICO is an input in North America, is created by using algorithms or statistical models contained in origination scorecards. The scorecards are used to evaluate a consumer’s ability to pay based on statistical modeling of his or her prior credit usage, structure of the loan and other information. The output of the scorecards rank-orders consumers from those who are least likely to default to those who are most likely to default. By further dividing the portfolio into pools based on internal credit scores, we are better able to distinguish expected credit performance for different credit risks. The allowance is aggregated for each of the pools. Provisions for loan losses are charged to operations in amounts sufficient to maintain the allowance for loan losses at levels considered adequate to cover expected credit losses on our retail finance receivables portfolio. We use static pool modeling techniques to determine the allowance for loan losses expected over the remaining life of the receivables, which is supplemented by management judgment. We assess the recent internal operating and external environments and may qualitatively adjust certain assumptions to result in an allowance that is reflective of losses that are expected to occur in the forecasted environment. Expected losses are estimated for groups of accounts aggregated by internal credit score and monthly vintage. Generally, the expected losses are projected based on historical loss experience over the last 10 years, more heavily weighted toward recent performance to result in an estimate that is more reflective of the current internal and external environments. We consider forecast economic conditions over a reasonable and supportable forecast period. We determine the expected remaining life of the finance receivables to be a reasonable and supportable forecast horizon, primarily due to the relatively short weighted average life of retail finance receivables. We determined the economic factors that have the largest impact on expected losses include unemployment rates, interest rate spreads, disposable personal income and growth rates in gross domestic products. We use forecasts for our chosen factors provided by a leading economic research firm. We compare the forecasts to consensus forecasts to assess for reasonableness and may use one or more forecast scenarios provided by the research firm. We believe these factors are relevant in estimating expected losses and also consider an evaluation of overall portfolio credit quality based on indicators such as changes in our credit evaluation, underwriting and collection management policies, changes in the legal and regulatory environment, general economic conditions and business trends and uncertainties in forecasting and modeling techniques used in estimating our allowance. We update our retail loss forecast models and portfolio indicators on a quarterly basis to incorporate information reflective of the current and forecast economic environments. Assumptions regarding credit losses are reviewed periodically and may be impacted by actual performance of finance receivables and changes in any of the factors discussed above. Should the credit loss assumptions increase, there would be an increase in the amount of allowance for loan losses required, which would decrease the net carrying value of finance receivables and increase the amount of provision for loan losses. Commercial Finance Receivables and the Allowance for Loan Losses Our commercial lending offerings consist of financing products for dealers and other businesses. Dealer products include floorplan financing, as well as dealer loans, which are loans to finance improvements to dealership facilities, to provide working capital, or to purchase and/or finance dealership real estate. Other business products we provide include financing for commercial vehicle upfitters and advances to certain GM subsidiaries. Commercial finance receivables are carried at amortized cost, net of allowance for loan losses and any amounts held under our dealer cash management program. Provisions for loan losses are charged to operations in amounts sufficient to maintain the allowance for loan losses at levels considered adequate to cover expected credit losses in the commercial finance receivables portfolio. We establish the allowance for loan losses based on historical loss experience, as well as forecasted auto industry conditions, which is the economic indicator that we believe has the largest impact on expected losses. The dealer finance receivables are aggregated into loan-risk pools, which are determined based on our internally developed risk rating system. Dealers' financial and operating metrics are regularly scored and further evaluated to derive a risk rating. Based on dealer risk ratings, we establish probability of default and loss given default, and also determine if any specific dealer loan requires additional reserves. Charge-off Policy Retail finance receivables are generally charged off in the month in which the account becomes 120 days contractually delinquent if we have not yet recorded a repossession charge-off. Commercial finance receivables are individually evaluated and, where collectability of the recorded balance is in doubt, are written down to the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell. Commercial finance receivables are charged off at the earlier of when they are deemed uncollectible or reach 360 days past due. Loan Modifications Under certain circumstances, we may agree to modify the terms of an existing loan with a borrower for various reasons, including financial difficulties. For those borrowers experiencing financial difficulties, we may provide interest rate reductions, principal forgiveness, payment deferments, term extensions or a combination thereof. A loan that is deferred greater than six months in the preceding twelve months would be considered to be other-than-insignificantly delayed. In such circumstances, we must determine whether the modification should be accounted for as an extinguishment of the original loan and a creation of a new loan, or the continuation of the original loan with modifications. The effect of these modifications is already included in the allowance for credit losses because our estimated allowance represents currently expected credit losses. A change to the allowance for credit losses is generally not recorded upon modification. Leased Vehicles As lessor, we have investments in leased vehicles recorded as operating leases. Leased vehicles consist of automobiles leased to retail 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 maturity date. 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 proceeds we receive on the disposition of the vehicle are lower than the residual value estimated at lease inception. We estimate the expected residual value based on third-party data that considers various data points and assumptions, including, but not limited to, 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. Variable Interest Entities – Securitizations and Credit Facilities We finance a significant portion of our loan and lease origination volume through the use of our credit facilities and execution of securitization transactions, which both utilize SPEs. In our credit facilities, we transfer finance receivables and lease-related assets to SPEs. These subsidiaries, in turn, issue notes to the agents, collateralized by such assets and cash. The agents provide funding under the notes to the subsidiaries pursuant to an advance formula, and the subsidiaries forward the funds to us in consideration for the transfer of the assets. In our securitizations, we transfer finance receivables and lease-related assets to SPEs structured as securitization trusts (Trusts), which issue one or more classes of asset-backed securities. The asset-backed securities are, in turn, sold to investors. Our continuing involvement with the credit facilities and Trusts consists of servicing assets held by the SPEs and holding residual interests in the SPEs. These transactions are structured without recourse. The SPEs are considered VIEs under GAAP and are consolidated because we have: (i) power over the significant activities of the entities and (ii) an obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive benefits from the VIEs that could be significant to the VIEs. Accordingly, we are the primary beneficiary of the VIEs and the finance receivables, lease-related assets, borrowings under our credit facilities and, following a securitization, the related securitization notes payable remain on the consolidated balance sheets. Refer to Note 3 , Note 7 and Note 8 for further information. We are not required, and do not currently intend, to provide any additional financial support to SPEs. While these subsidiaries are included in our consolidated financial statements, these subsidiaries are separate legal entities and the finance receivables, lease-related assets and cash held by these subsidiaries are legally owned by them and are not available to our creditors or creditors of our other subsidiaries. We recognize finance charge, lease vehicle and fee income on the securitized assets and interest expense on the secured debt issued in securitization transactions and record a provision for loan losses to recognize loan losses expected over the remaining life of the securitized assets. Cash pledged to support securitization transactions is deposited in a restricted account and recorded on our consolidated balance sheets as restricted cash, which is invested in highly liquid securities with original maturities of 90 days or less. Property and Equipment Property and equipment is carried at amortized cost. Depreciation is generally recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which ranges from 1 to 30 years. The basis of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts at the time of disposition and any resulting gain or loss is included in operating expenses. Maintenance, repairs and minor replacements are charged to operations as incurred; major replacements and improvements are capitalized. Goodwill Goodwill is not amortized but rather tested for impairment annually on October 1 or when events occur or circumstances change that trigger a review. The impairment test entails an assessment of qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that an impairment exists. If it is more likely than not that an impairment exists, then a quantitative impairment test is performed. Impairment exists when the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. Derivative Financial Instruments We recognize all of our derivative financial instruments as either assets or liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets at fair value. We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative trading purposes. Derivative financial instruments are generally expressed in notional principal or contract amounts that are much larger than the amounts potentially at risk for nonpayment by counterparties. Therefore, in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties, our credit exposure is limited to the uncollected interest and the market value related to the instruments that have become favorable to us, to the extent that market values are not collateralized. We maintain a policy of requiring that all derivative instruments be governed by an International Swaps and Derivatives Association Master Agreement. We enter into derivative instruments and establish risk limits with counterparties that we believe are creditworthy and generally settle on a net basis. In addition, management performs a quarterly assessment of our counterparty credit risk, including a review of credit ratings, credit default swap rates and potential nonperformance of the counterparty. Interest Rate Swap Agreements We utilize interest rate swap agreements to convert certain floating rate exposures to fixed rate or certain fixed-rate exposures to floating rate in order to manage our interest rate exposure. Cash flows from derivatives used to manage interest rate risk are classified as operating activities. We designate certain pay-fixed, receive-floating interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges of variable rate debt. The risk being hedged is the risk of variability in interest payments attributable to changes in interest rates. If the hedge relationship is deemed to be highly effective, we record the changes in the fair value of the hedge in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). We designate certain receive-fixed, pay-floating interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of fixed-rate debt. The risk being hedged is the risk of changes in the fair value of the hedged debt attributable to changes in the benchmark interest rate. If the hedge relationship is deemed to be highly effective, we record the changes in the fair value of the hedged debt related to the risk being hedged in interest expense. The change in fair value of the related hedge is also recorded in interest expense. Interest Rate Cap and Floor Agreements We may purchase interest rate cap and floor agreements to limit floating rate exposures in our credit facilities. As part of our interest rate risk management strategy and when economically feasible, we may simultaneously sell a corresponding interest rate cap or floor agreement in order to offset the premium paid to purchase the interest rate cap or floor agreement and thus retain the interest rate risk. Because the interest rate cap and floor agreements entered into by us or our SPEs do not qualify for hedge accounting, changes in the fair value of interest rate cap and floor agreements purchased by the SPEs and interest rate cap and floor agreements sold by us are recorded in interest expense. Foreign Currency Swap Agreements Our policy is to minimize exposure to changes in currency exchange rates. To meet funding objectives, we borrow in a variety of currencies. We face exposure to currency exchange rates when the currency of our earning assets differs from the currency of the debt funding those assets. When possible, we fund earning assets with debt in the same currency, minimizing exposure to exchange rate movements. When a different currency is used, we may use foreign currency swaps to convert our debt obligations to the local currency of the earning assets being financed. We designate certain pay-fixed, receive-fixed cross-currency swaps as cash flow hedges of foreign currency-denominated debt. The risk being hedged is the variability in the cash flows for the payments of both principal and interest attributable to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. If the hedge relationship is deemed to be highly effective, we record the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the swap in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). When the hedged cash flows affect earnings via principal remeasurement or accrual of interest expense, we reclassify these amounts to operating expenses or interest expense. Any ineffective portion of a cash flow hedge is recorded to interest expense immediately. We designate certain pay-float, receive-float cross-currency swaps as fair value hedges of foreign currency-denominated debt. The risk being hedged is the foreign exchange risk associated with the remeasurement of the foreign currency-denominated debt. We assess effectiveness of these hedge relationships based on changes in fair value attributable only to changes in spot exchange rates. If the hedge relationship is deemed to be highly effective, we record changes in the fair value of the swap attributable to changes in spot exchange rates to operating expenses and changes in the fair value of the swap attributable to components excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), and reclassify interest accrual components to interest expense. Fair Value Financial instruments are considered Level 1 when quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. Financial instruments are considered Level 2 when inputs other than quoted prices are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active. Financial instruments are considered Level 3 when their values are determined using price models, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques and at least one significant model assumption or input is unobservable. Level 3 financial instruments also include those for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. Income Taxes We account for income taxes on a separate return basis using an asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. A valuation allowance is recognized if it is more likely than not that some portion of or the entire deferred tax asset will not be realized. We record uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two-step process whereby: (i) we determine whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position; and (ii) for those tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition, we recognize the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. We record interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions in income tax provision. Our investment tax credits related to leased electric vehicles (EVs) are accounted for using the deferral method and are recognized as an offset to leased vehicle depreciation expense. The benefit is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the vehicle’s operating lease agreement. Revenue Recognition Finance charge income earned on finance receivables is recognized using the effective interest method. Fees and commissions received (including manufacturer subvention) and direct costs of originating loans are generally deferred and amortized over the term of the related finance receivables using the effective interest method and are removed from the consolidated balance sheets when the related finance receivables are fully charged off or paid in full. Accrual of finance charge income on retail finance receivables is generally suspended on accounts that are more than 60 days delinquent, accounts in bankruptcy and accounts in repossession. Payments received on nonaccrual loans are first applied to any fees due, then to any interest due and then any remaining amounts are applied to principal. Interest accrual generally resumes once an account has received payments bringing the delinquency status to less than 60 days past due. Accrual of finance charge income on commercial finance receivables is generally suspended on accounts that are more than 90 days delinquent, upon receipt of a bankruptcy notice from a borrower, or where reasonable doubt exists about the full collectability of contractually agreed upon principal and interest. Payments received on nonaccrual loans are first applied to principal. Interest accrual resumes once an account has received payments bringing the account fully current and collection of contractual principal and interest is reasonably assured (including amounts previously charged off). Rental income earned on leased vehicles, which includes lease origination fees, net of lease origination costs, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease agreement. Gains or losses realized upon disposition of off-lease vehicles, including any payments received from lessees upon lease termination, are included in leased vehicle expenses. Parent Company Stock-Based Compensation We measure and record compensation expense for parent company stock-based compensation awards based on the award's estimated fair value. We record compensation expense over the applicable vesting period of an award. Refer to Note 12 |
