NOTE 16. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

We use variable interest entities primarily to securitize financial assets and arrange other forms of asset-backed financing in the ordinary course of business. Except as noted below, investors in these entities only have recourse to the assets owned by the entity and not to our general credit. We do not have implicit support arrangements with any VIE. We did not provide non-contractual support for previously transferred financing receivables to any VIE in 2014 or 2013.

In evaluating whether we have the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance, we consider the purpose for which the VIE was created, the importance of each of the activities in which it is engaged and our decision-making role, if any, in those activities that significantly determine the entity’s economic performance as compared to other economic interest holders. This evaluation requires consideration of all facts and circumstances relevant to decision-making that affects the entity’s future performance and the exercise of professional judgment in deciding which decision-making rights are most important.

In determining whether we have the right to receive benefits or the obligation to absorb losses that could potentially be significant to the VIE, we evaluate all of our economic interests in the entity, regardless of form (debt, equity, management and servicing fees, and other contractual arrangements). This evaluation considers all relevant factors of the entity’s design, including: the entity’s capital structure, contractual rights to earnings (losses), subordination of our interests relative to those of other investors, contingent payments, as well as other contractual arrangements that have the potential to be economically significant. The evaluation of each of these factors in reaching a conclusion about the potential significance of our economic interests is a matter that requires the exercise of professional judgment.

Consolidated Variable Interest Entities

We consolidate VIEs because we have the power to direct the activities that significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance, typically because of our role as either servicer or manager for the VIE. Our consolidated VIEs fall into three main groups, which are further described below:

• Trinity comprises two consolidated entities that hold investment securities, the majority of which are investment grade, and were funded by the issuance of GICs. The GICs include conditions under which certain holders could require immediate repayment of their investment should the long-term credit ratings of GECC fall below AA-/Aa3 or the short-term credit ratings fall below A-1+/P-1. The outstanding GICs are subject to their scheduled maturities and individual terms, which may include provisions permitting redemption upon a downgrade of one or more of GECC’s ratings, among other things, and are reported in investment contracts, insurance liabilities and insurance annuity benefits.
• Consolidated Securitization Entities (CSEs) were created to facilitate securitization of financial assets and other forms of asset-backed financing that serve as an alternative funding source by providing access to variable funding notes and term markets. The securitization transactions executed with these entities are similar to those used by many financial institutions and all are non-recourse. We provide servicing for substantially all of the assets in these entities.

The financing receivables in these entities have similar risks and characteristics to our other financing receivables and were underwritten to the same standard. Accordingly, the performance of these assets has been similar to our other financing receivables; however, the blended performance of the pools of receivables in these entities reflects the eligibility criteria that we apply to determine which receivables are selected for transfer. Contractually the cash flows from these financing receivables must first be used to pay third-party debt holders as well as other expenses of the entity. Excess cash flows are available to GECC. The creditors of these entities have no claim on other assets of GECC.

• Other remaining assets and liabilities of consolidated VIEs relate primarily to three categories of entities: (1) joint ventures that lease equipment with $1,598 million of assets and $686 million of liabilities; (2) other entities that are involved in power generating and leasing activities with $667 million of assets and no liabilities; and (3) insurance entities that, among other lines of business, provide property and casualty and workers’ compensation coverage for GE with $1,162 million of assets and $541 million of liabilities.

• Excluded intercompany advances from GECC to Trinity, which were eliminated in consolidation of $1,565 million and $1,837 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
• We provide servicing to the CSEs and are contractually permitted to commingle cash collected from customers on financing receivables sold to CSE investors with our own cash prior to payment to a CSE, provided our short-term credit rating does not fall below A-1/P-1. These CSEs also owe us amounts for purchased financial assets and scheduled interest and principal payments. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the amounts of commingled cash owed to the CSEs were $2,809 million and $6,314 million, respectively, and the amounts owed to us by CSEs were $2,913 million and $5,540 million, respectively.
• Asset amounts exclude intercompany receivables for cash collected on behalf of the entities by GECC as servicer, which are eliminated in consolidation. Such receivables provide the cash to repay the entities’ liabilities. If these intercompany receivables were included in the table above, assets would be higher. In addition, other assets, borrowings and other liabilities exclude intercompany balances that are eliminated in consolidation.
• Included $686 million of receivables originated by Appliances. We require third party debt holder consent to sell these assets. The receivables will be included in assets of businesses held for sale when the consent is received.

Revenues from services from our consolidated VIEs were $6,952 million, $6,776 million and $6,638 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Related expenses consisted primarily of provisions for losses of $1,186 million, $1,247 million and $1,171 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and interest of $353 million, $353 million and $541 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These amounts do not include intercompany revenues and costs, principally fees and interest between GECC and the VIEs, which are eliminated in consolidation.

Investments in Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities

Our involvement with unconsolidated VIEs consists of the following activities: assisting in the formation and financing of the entity; providing recourse and/or liquidity support; servicing the assets; and receiving variable fees for services provided. We are not required to consolidate these entities because the nature of our involvement with the activities of the VIEs does not give us power over decisions that significantly affect their economic performance.

Our largest exposure to any single unconsolidated VIE at December 31, 2014 is a $8,612 million investment in asset-backed securities issued by the Senior Secured Loan Program (“SSLP”), a fund that invests in high-quality senior secured debt of various middle-market companies. Other significant unconsolidated VIEs include investments in real estate entities ($1,564 million), which generally consist of passive limited partnership investments in tax-advantaged, multi-family real estate and investments in various European real estate entities; and exposures to joint ventures that purchase factored receivables ($2,166 million).

The classification of our variable interests in these entities in our financial statements is based on the nature of the entity and the type of investment we hold. Variable interests in partnerships and corporate entities are classified as either equity method or cost method investments. In the ordinary course of business, we also make investments in entities in which we are not the primary beneficiary but may hold a variable interest such as limited partner interests or mezzanine debt investments. These investments are classified in two captions in our financial statements: “Other assets” for investments accounted for under the equity method, and “Financing receivables – net” for debt financing provided to these entities.

In addition to the entities included in the table above, we also hold passive investments in RMBS, CMBS and ABS issued by VIEs. Such investments were, by design, investment-grade at issuance and held by a diverse group of investors. Further information about such investments is provided in Note 3.