ge10q1q12.htm

 
 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 (Mark One)
 
þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012
 
OR
 
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from ____ to ____
 
Commission file number 001-00035
 
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 
New York
 
14-0689340
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, CT
 
06828-0001
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) (203) 373-2211
 
_______________________________________________
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer þ
Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨
Smaller reporting company ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No þ
 
There were 10,587,317,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.06 per share outstanding at March 31, 2012.

 
(1)

 
 
General Electric Company
 

 
   
Page
Part I - Financial Information
   
     
Item 1. Financial Statements
   
Condensed Statement of Earnings
   
Three months Ended March 31, 2012
 
3
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
 
4
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareowners' Equity
 
4
Condensed Statement of Financial Position
 
5
Condensed Statement of Cash Flows
 
6
Summary of Operating Segments
 
7
Notes to Condensed, Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
8
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
55
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
77
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
77
     
Part II - Other Information
   
     
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 2. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
 
77
78
Item 6. Exhibits
 
79
Signatures
 
80
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
This document contains “forward-looking statements” – that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” or “will.” Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, particular uncertainties that could cause our actual results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements include: current economic and financial conditions, including volatility in interest and exchange rates, commodity and equity prices and the value of financial assets; potential market disruptions or other impacts arising in the United States or Europe from developments in the European sovereign debt situation; the impact of conditions in the financial and credit markets on the availability and cost of General Electric Capital Corporation’s (GECC) funding and on our ability to reduce GECC’s asset levels as planned; the impact of conditions in the housing market and unemployment rates on the level of commercial and consumer credit defaults; changes in Japanese consumer behavior that may affect our estimates of liability for excess interest refund claims (Grey Zone); pending and threatened litigation against WMC, including increased activity by securitization trustees; our ability to maintain our current credit rating and the impact on our funding costs and competitive position if we do not do so; the adequacy of our cash flow and earnings and other conditions which may affect our ability to pay our quarterly dividend at the planned level; our plan to resume GECC dividends, which is subject to Federal Reserve review; the level of demand and financial performance of the major industries we serve, including, without limitation, air and rail transportation, energy generation, real estate and healthcare; the impact of regulation and regulatory, investigative and legal proceedings and legal compliance risks, including the impact of financial services regulation; strategic actions, including acquisitions, joint ventures and dispositions and our success in completing announced transactions and integrating acquired businesses; the impact of potential information technology or data security breaches; and numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business and competitive nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

 
 
(2)

 

Part I. Financial Information
 
 
Item 1. Financial Statements.
 
General Electric Company and consolidated affiliates
 
Condensed Statement of Earnings
 
 
Three months ended March 31 (Unaudited)
 
Consolidated
   
GE(a)
 
Financial Services (GECC)
(In millions, except share amounts)
2012 
 
2011 
   
2012 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2011 
                                     
Revenues and other income
                                   
Sales of goods
$
 17,315 
 
$
 14,489 
   
$
 17,357 
 
$
 14,489 
 
$
 30 
 
$
 42 
Sales of services
 
 6,212 
   
 7,502 
     
 6,330 
   
 7,613 
   
– 
   
– 
Other income
 
 557 
   
 3,625 
     
 600 
   
 3,665 
   
– 
   
– 
GECC earnings from continuing operations
 
– 
   
– 
     
 1,792 
   
 1,790 
   
– 
   
– 
GECC revenues from services
 
 11,098 
   
 12,713 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 11,412 
   
 12,994 
   Total revenues and other income
 
 35,182 
   
 38,329 
     
 26,079 
   
 27,557 
   
 11,442 
   
 13,036 
                                     
Costs and expenses
                                   
Cost of goods sold
 
 13,465 
   
 11,816 
     
 13,512 
   
 11,818 
   
 25 
   
 40 
Cost of services sold
 
 4,404 
   
 4,900 
     
 4,522 
   
 5,011 
   
– 
   
– 
Interest and other financial charges
 
 3,358 
   
 3,796 
     
 315 
   
 355 
   
 3,196 
   
 3,584 
Investment contracts, insurance losses and
                                   
   insurance annuity benefits
 
 737 
   
 736 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 771 
   
 769 
Provision for losses on financing receivables
 
 863 
   
 1,140 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 863 
   
 1,140 
Other costs and expenses
 
 8,429 
   
 8,507 
     
 4,003 
   
 3,399 
   
 4,596 
   
 5,253 
   Total costs and expenses
 
 31,256 
   
 30,895 
     
 22,352 
   
 20,583 
   
 9,451 
   
 10,786 
                                     
Earnings from continuing operations
                                   
   before income taxes
 
 3,926 
   
 7,434 
     
 3,727 
   
 6,974 
   
 1,991 
   
 2,250 
Benefit (provision) for income taxes
 
 (637)
   
 (3,942)
     
 (450)
   
 (3,513)
   
 (187)
   
 (429)
Earnings from continuing operations
 
 3,289 
   
 3,492 
     
 3,277 
   
 3,461 
   
 1,804 
   
 1,821 
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations,
                                   
   net of taxes
 
 (217)
   
 35 
     
 (217)
   
 35 
   
 (217)
   
 35 
Net earnings (loss)
 
 3,072 
   
 3,527 
     
 3,060 
   
 3,496 
   
 1,587 
   
 1,856 
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to
                                   
   noncontrolling interests
 
 38 
   
 94 
     
 26 
   
 63 
   
 12 
   
 31 
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company
 
 3,034 
   
 3,433 
     
 3,034 
   
 3,433 
   
 1,575 
   
 1,825 
Preferred stock dividends declared
 
– 
   
 (75)
     
– 
   
 (75)
   
– 
   
– 
Net earnings (loss) attributable to GE common
                                   
   shareowners
$
 3,034 
 
$
 3,358 
   
$
 3,034 
 
$
 3,358 
 
$
 1,575 
 
$
 1,825 
                                     
                                     
Amounts attributable to the Company
                                   
   Earnings from continuing operations
$
 3,251 
 
$
 3,398 
   
$
 3,251 
 
$
 3,398 
 
$
 1,792 
 
$
 1,790 
   Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations,
                                   
      net of taxes
 
 (217)
   
 35 
     
 (217)
   
 35 
   
 (217)
   
 35 
   Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company
$
 3,034 
 
$
 3,433 
   
$
 3,034 
 
$
 3,433 
 
$
 1,575 
 
$
 1,825 
                                     
Per-share amounts
                                   
   Earnings from continuing operations
                                   
      Diluted earnings per share
$
 0.31 
 
$
 0.31 
                         
      Basic earnings per share
$
 0.31 
 
$
 0.31 
                         
                                     
   Net earnings
                                   
      Diluted earnings per share
$
 0.29 
 
$
 0.31 
                         
      Basic earnings per share
$
 0.29 
 
$
 0.32 
                         
                                     
Dividends declared per common share
$
 0.17 
 
$
 0.14 
                         
                                     
                                     
(a)
Represents the adding together of all affiliated companies except General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC or financial services), which is presented on a one-line basis.
 
 
 
See Note 3 for other-than-temporary impairment amounts.
 
 
See accompanying notes. Separate information is shown for "GE" and "Financial Services (GECC)." Transactions between GE and GECC have been eliminated from the "Consolidated" columns.
 

 
 
 
(3)

 
 

General Electric Company and consolidated affiliates
                     
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
                 
                       
     
Three months ended March 31 (Unaudited)
(In millions)
             
2012 
   
2011 
                       
Net earnings
           
$
3,072 
 
$
3,527 
   Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
             
38 
   
94 
Net earnings attributable to GE
           
$
3,034 
 
$
3,433 
                       
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
                     
   Investment securities
           
$
337 
 
$
(189)
   Currency translation adjustments
             
332 
   
2,539 
   Cash flow hedges
             
124 
   
(74)
   Benefit plans
             
1,040 
   
593 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
             
1,833 
   
2,869 
   Less: Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
         
(8)
   
15 
Other comprehensive income attributable to GE
           
$
1,841 
 
$
2,854 
                       
Comprehensive income, net of tax
           
$
4,905 
 
$
6,396 
   Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
             
30 
   
109 
Comprehensive income attributable to GE
           
$
4,875 
 
$
6,287 
                       
                       

                       
                       
                       
General Electric Company and consolidated affiliates
             
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareowners' Equity
           
                       
     
Three months ended March 31 (Unaudited)
(In millions)
             
2012 
   
2011 
                   
Balance at January 1
           
$
116,438 
 
$
118,936 
Dividends and other transactions with shareowners
             
(1,446)
   
(1,688)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
             
1,841 
   
2,854 
Increases from net earnings attributable to the company
             
3,034 
   
3,433 
Balance at March 31
             
119,867 
   
123,535 
Noncontrolling interests
             
1,721 
   
2,254 
Total equity at March 31
           
$
121,588 
 
$
125,789 

 
 
(4)

 

General Electric Company and consolidated affiliates
Condensed Statement of Financial Position
 
Consolidated
   
GE(a)
 
Financial Services (GECC)
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
   
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(In millions, except share amounts)
2012 
 
2011 
   
2012 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2011 
 
(Unaudited)
       
(Unaudited)
     
(Unaudited)
   
Assets
                                   
Cash and equivalents
$
 83,650 
 
$
 84,501 
   
$
 7,979 
 
$
 8,382 
 
$
 76,165 
 
$
 76,702 
Investment securities
 
 47,829 
   
 47,374 
     
 18 
   
 18 
   
 47,814 
   
 47,359 
Current receivables
 
 19,040 
   
 19,531 
     
 11,397 
   
 11,807 
   
– 
   
– 
Inventories
 
 15,212 
   
 13,792 
     
 15,170 
   
 13,741 
   
 42 
   
 51 
Financing receivables – net
 
 272,694 
   
 279,918 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 281,383 
   
 288,847 
Other GECC receivables
 
 7,870 
   
 7,561 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 14,000 
   
 13,390 
Property, plant and equipment – net
 
 66,000 
   
 65,739 
     
 14,443 
   
 14,283 
   
 51,520 
   
 51,419 
Investment in GECC
 
– 
   
– 
     
 79,192 
   
 77,110 
   
– 
   
– 
Goodwill
 
 72,959 
   
 72,625 
     
 45,633 
   
 45,395 
   
 27,326 
   
 27,230 
Other intangible assets – net
 
 11,921 
   
 12,068 
     
 10,453 
   
 10,522 
   
 1,468 
   
 1,546 
All other assets
 
 108,563 
   
 111,701 
     
 37,163 
   
 36,675 
   
 71,672 
   
 75,612 
Assets of businesses held for sale
 
 640 
   
 711 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 640 
   
 711 
Assets of discontinued operations
 
 1,341 
   
 1,721 
     
 9 
   
 52 
   
 1,332 
   
 1,669 
Total assets(b)
$
 707,719 
 
$
 717,242 
   
$
 221,457 
 
$
 217,985 
 
$
 573,362 
 
$
 584,536 
                                     
Liabilities and equity
                                   
Short-term borrowings
$
 138,659 
 
$
 137,611 
   
$
 7,313 
 
$
 2,184 
 
$
 132,028 
 
$
 136,333 
Accounts payable, principally trade accounts
 
 17,031 
   
 16,400 
     
 14,140 
   
 14,209 
   
 8,150 
   
 7,239 
Progress collections and price adjustments accrued
 
 10,673 
   
 10,402 
     
 11,448 
   
 11,349 
   
– 
   
– 
Dividends payable
 
 1,799 
   
 1,797 
     
 1,799 
   
 1,797 
   
– 
   
– 
Other GE current liabilities
 
 15,030 
   
 14,796 
     
 15,030 
   
 14,796 
   
– 
   
– 
Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated
                                   
   securitization entities
 
 29,544 
   
 29,258 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 29,544 
   
 29,258 
Bank deposits
 
 41,106 
   
 43,115 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 41,106 
   
 43,115 
Long-term borrowings
 
 233,487 
   
 243,459 
     
 4,400 
   
 9,405 
   
 229,195 
   
 234,391 
Investment contracts, insurance liabilities
                                   
   and insurance annuity benefits
 
 29,641 
   
 29,774 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 30,227 
   
 30,198 
All other liabilities
 
 67,191 
   
 70,653 
     
 53,335 
   
 53,826 
   
 14,354 
   
 17,334 
Deferred income taxes
 
 281 
   
 (131)
     
 (6,987)
   
 (7,183)
   
 7,268 
   
 7,052 
Liabilities of businesses held for sale
 
 305 
   
 345 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 305 
   
 345 
Liabilities of discontinued operations
 
 1,384 
   
 1,629 
     
 158 
   
 158 
   
 1,226 
   
 1,471 
Total liabilities(b)
 
 586,131 
   
 599,108 
     
 100,636 
   
 100,541 
   
 493,403 
   
 506,736 
                                     
Common stock (10,587,317,000 and 10,573,017,000
                                   
   shares outstanding at March 31, 2012 and
                                   
   December 31, 2011, respectively)
 
 702 
   
 702 
     
 702 
   
 702 
   
– 
   
– 
Accumulated other comprehensive income – net(c)
                                   
   Investment securities
 
 305 
   
 (30)
     
 305 
   
 (30)
   
 298 
   
 (33)
   Currency translation adjustments
 
 476 
   
 133 
     
 476 
   
 133 
   
 (274)
   
 (399)
   Cash flow hedges
 
 (1,052)
   
 (1,176)
     
 (1,052)
   
 (1,176)
   
 (1,029)
   
 (1,101)
   Benefit plans
 
 (21,862)
   
 (22,901)
     
 (21,862)
   
 (22,901)
   
 (587)
   
 (563)
Other capital
 
 33,594 
   
 33,693 
     
 33,594 
   
 33,693 
   
 27,631 
   
 27,628 
Retained earnings
 
 139,019 
   
 137,786 
     
 139,019 
   
 137,786 
   
 53,153 
   
 51,578 
Less common stock held in treasury
 
 (31,315)
   
 (31,769)
     
 (31,315)
   
 (31,769)
   
– 
   
– 
                                     
Total GE shareowners’ equity
 
 119,867 
   
 116,438 
     
 119,867 
   
 116,438 
   
 79,192 
   
 77,110 
Noncontrolling interests(d)
 
 1,721 
   
 1,696 
     
 954 
   
 1,006 
   
 767 
   
 690 
Total equity
 
 121,588 
   
 118,134 
     
 120,821 
   
 117,444 
   
 79,959 
   
 77,800 
                                     
Total liabilities and equity
$
 707,719 
 
$
 717,242 
   
$
 221,457 
 
$
 217,985 
 
$
 573,362 
 
$
 584,536 
                                     
                                     
(a)
Represents the adding together of all affiliated companies except General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC or financial services), which is presented on a one-line basis.
 
(b)
Our consolidated assets at March 31, 2012 include total assets of $46,383 million of certain variable interest entities (VIEs) that can only be used to settle the liabilities of those VIEs. These assets include net financing receivables of $37,733 million and investment securities of $5,146 million. Our consolidated liabilities at March 31, 2012 include liabilities of certain VIEs for which the VIE creditors do not have recourse to GE. These liabilities include non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities (CSEs) of $28,844 million. See Note 18.
 
(c)
The sum of accumulated other comprehensive income - net was $(22,133) million and $(23,974) million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
 
(d)
Included accumulated other comprehensive income - net attributable to noncontrolling interests of $(160) million and $(168) million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
 
See accompanying notes. Separate information is shown for "GE" and "Financial Services (GECC)." Transactions between GE and GECC have been eliminated from the "Consolidated" columns.
 

 
 
(5)

 

General Electric Company and consolidated affiliates
Condensed Statement of Cash Flows
 
Three months ended March 31 (Unaudited)
 
Consolidated
   
GE(a)
 
Financial Services (GECC)
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
   
2012 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2011 
                                     
Cash flows – operating activities
                                   
Net earnings
$
 3,072 
 
$
 3,527 
   
$
 3,060 
 
$
 3,496 
 
$
 1,587 
 
$
 1,856 
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 38 
   
 94 
     
 26 
   
 63 
   
 12 
   
 31 
Net earnings attributable to the Company
 
 3,034 
   
 3,433 
     
 3,034 
   
 3,433 
   
 1,575 
   
 1,825 
(Earnings) loss from discontinued operations
 
 217 
   
 (35)
     
 217 
   
 (35)
   
 217 
   
 (35)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings attributable to the
                                   
   Company to cash provided from operating activities
                                   
      Depreciation and amortization of property,
                                   
         plant and equipment
 
 2,263 
   
 2,292 
     
 568 
   
 516 
   
 1,695 
   
 1,776 
      Earnings from continuing operations retained by GECC
 
– 
   
– 
     
 (1,792)
   
 (1,790)
   
– 
   
– 
      Deferred income taxes
 
 36 
   
 (1,400)
     
 (156)
   
 50 
   
 192 
   
 (1,450)
      Decrease (increase) in GE current receivables
 
 291 
   
 985 
     
 345 
   
 (106)
   
– 
   
– 
      Decrease (increase) in inventories
 
 (1,433)
   
 (1,288)
     
 (1,432)
   
 (1,276)
   
 9 
   
 3 
      Increase (decrease) in accounts payable
 
 854 
   
 1,230 
     
 499 
   
 668 
   
 572 
   
 1,290 
      Increase (decrease) in GE progress collections
 
 273 
   
 (1,002)
     
 101 
   
 (1,096)
   
– 
   
– 
      Provision for losses on GECC financing receivables
 
 863 
   
 1,140 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 863 
   
 1,140 
      All other operating activities
 
 131 
   
 2,124 
     
 675 
   
 1,320 
   
 (406)
   
 256 
Cash from (used for) operating activities – continuing
                                   
   operations
 
 6,529 
   
 7,479 
     
 2,059 
   
 1,684 
   
 4,717 
   
 4,805 
Cash from (used for) operating activities – discontinued
                                   
   operations
 
 (63)
   
 217 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 (63)
   
 217 
Cash from (used for) operating activities
 
 6,466 
   
 7,696 
     
 2,059 
   
 1,684 
   
 4,654 
   
 5,022 
                                     
Cash flows – investing activities
                                   
Additions to property, plant and equipment
 
 (3,295)
   
 (3,169)
     
 (1,002)
   
 (927)
   
 (2,337)
   
 (2,292)
Dispositions of property, plant and equipment
 
 1,825 
   
 1,773 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 1,825 
   
 1,773 
Net decrease (increase) in GECC financing receivables
 
 6,462 
   
 10,650 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 6,566 
   
 11,838 
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations
 
– 
   
 1,775 
     
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
 1,775 
Proceeds from principal business dispositions
 
 84 
   
 7,133 
     
– 
   
 5,755 
   
 84 
   
 1,378 
Payments for principal businesses purchased
 
 (190)
   
 (4,547)
     
 (190)
   
 (4,462)
   
– 
   
 (85)
All other investing activities
 
 371 
   
 3,834 
     
 232 
   
 (266)
   
 251 
   
 4,218 
Cash from (used for) investing activities – continuing
                                   
   operations
 
 5,257 
   
 17,449 
     
 (960)
   
 100 
   
 6,389 
   
 18,605 
Cash from (used for) investing activities – discontinued
                                   
   operations
 
 62 
   
 (164)
     
– 
   
– 
   
 62 
   
 (164)
Cash from (used for) investing activities
 
 5,319 
   
 17,285 
     
 (960)
   
 100 
   
 6,451 
   
 18,441 
                                     
Cash flows – financing activities
                                   
Net increase (decrease) in borrowings (maturities of
                                   
   90 days or less)
 
 (814)
   
 (979)
     
 166 
   
 731 
   
 (1,259)
   
 (2,062)
Net increase (decrease) in bank deposits
 
 (2,641)
   
 1,233 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 (2,641)
   
 1,233 
Newly issued debt (maturities longer than 90 days)
 
 17,070 
   
 15,513 
     
 74 
   
 110 
   
 16,767 
   
 15,508 
Repayments and other reductions (maturities longer
                                   
   than 90 days)
 
 (25,326)
   
 (31,610)
     
 (44)
   
 (19)
   
 (25,282)
   
 (31,591)
Net dispositions (purchases) of GE shares for treasury
 
 127 
   
 (394)
     
 127 
   
 (394)
   
– 
   
– 
Dividends paid to shareowners
 
 (1,799)
   
 (1,564)
     
 (1,799)
   
 (1,564)
   
– 
   
– 
Purchase of subsidiary shares from
                                   
   noncontrolling interest
 
– 
   
 (4,303)
     
– 
   
 (4,303)
   
– 
   
– 
All other financing activities
 
 (216)
   
 (425)
     
 (63)
   
 (119)
   
 (153)
   
 (306)
Cash from (used for) financing activities – continuing
                                   
   operations
 
 (13,599)
   
 (22,529)
     
 (1,539)
   
 (5,558)
   
 (12,568)
   
 (17,218)
Cash from (used for) financing activities – discontinued
                                   
   operations
 
– 
   
 (42)
     
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
 (42)
Cash from (used for) financing activities
 
 (13,599)
   
 (22,571)
     
 (1,539)
   
 (5,558)
   
 (12,568)
   
 (17,260)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash
                                   
   and equivalents
 
 962 
   
 828 
     
 37 
   
 24 
   
 925 
   
 804 
Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents
 
 (852)
   
 3,238 
     
 (403)
   
 (3,750)
   
 (538)
   
 7,007 
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year
 
 84,622 
   
 79,085 
     
 8,382 
   
 19,241 
   
 76,823 
   
 60,399 
Cash and equivalents at March 31
 
 83,770 
   
 82,323 
     
 7,979 
   
 15,491 
   
 76,285 
   
 67,406 
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations
                                   
   at March 31
 
 120 
   
 153 
     
– 
   
– 
   
 120 
   
 153 
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations
                                   
   at March 31
$
 83,650 
 
$
 82,170 
   
$
 7,979 
 
$
 15,491 
 
$
 76,165 
 
$
 67,253 
                                     
                                     
(a)
Represents the adding together of all affiliated companies except General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC or financial services), which is presented on a one-line basis.
 
See accompanying notes. Separate information is shown for "GE" and "Financial Services (GECC)." Transactions between GE and GECC have been eliminated from the "Consolidated" columns and are discussed in Note 19.
 

 
 
(6)

 

Summary of Operating Segments
General Electric Company and consolidated affiliates
 
 
Three months ended March 31
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
 
             
Revenues(a)
           
   Energy Infrastructure
$
 11,168 
 
$
 9,449 
 
   Aviation
 
 4,891 
   
 4,368 
 
   Healthcare
 
 4,300 
   
 4,090 
 
   Transportation
 
 1,270 
   
 903 
 
   Home & Business Solutions
 
 2,091 
   
 1,989 
 
   Total industrial segment revenues
 
 23,720 
   
 20,799 
 
   GE Capital
 
 11,442 
   
 13,036 
 
      Total segment revenues
 
 35,162 
   
 33,835 
 
Corporate items and eliminations(a)
 
 20 
   
 4,494 
 
Consolidated revenues and other income
$
 35,182 
 
$
 38,329 
 
             
Segment profit(a)
           
   Energy Infrastructure
$
 1,524 
 
$
 1,381 
 
   Aviation
 
 862 
   
 841 
 
   Healthcare
 
 585 
   
 531 
 
   Transportation
 
 232 
   
 157 
 
   Home & Business Solutions
 
 66 
   
 74 
 
   Total industrial segment profit
 
 3,269 
   
 2,984 
 
   GE Capital
 
 1,792 
   
 1,790 
 
      Total segment profit
 
 5,061 
   
 4,774 
 
Corporate items and eliminations(a)
 
 (1,045)
   
 2,492 
 
GE interest and other financial charges
 
 (315)
   
 (355)
 
GE provision for income taxes
 
 (450)
   
 (3,513)
 
Earnings from continuing operations attributable
           
  to the Company
 
 3,251 
   
 3,398 
 
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations,
           
  net of taxes, attributable to the Company
 
 (217)
   
 35 
 
Consolidated net earnings attributable to
           
   the Company
$
 3,034 
 
$
 3,433 
 
             
             
(a)  
Segment revenues includes both revenues and other income related to the segment. Segment profit excludes results reported as discontinued operations, earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests of consolidated subsidiaries and accounting changes. Segment profit excludes or includes interest and other financial charges and income taxes according to how a particular segment’s management is measured – excluded in determining segment profit, which we sometimes refer to as “operating profit,” for Energy Infrastructure, Aviation, Healthcare, Transportation and Home & Business Solutions; included in determining segment profit, which we sometimes refer to as “net earnings,” for GE Capital. Results of our run-off insurance operations previously reported in Corporate items and eliminations are now reported in GE Capital.
 
 
See accompanying notes.

 
 
(7)

 


 
Notes to Condensed, Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
The accompanying condensed, consolidated financial statements represent the consolidation of General Electric Company (the Company) and all companies that we directly or indirectly control, either through majority ownership or otherwise. See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 (2011 consolidated financial statements), which discusses our consolidation and financial statement presentation. As used in this report on Form 10-Q (Report), “GE” represents the adding together of all affiliated companies except General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC or financial services), which is presented on a one-line basis; GECC consists of General Electric Capital Corporation and all of its affiliates; and “Consolidated” represents the adding together of GE and GECC with the effects of transactions between the two eliminated. Unless otherwise indicated, we refer to the caption revenues and other income simply as “revenues” throughout Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

On February 22, 2012, we merged our wholly-owned subsidiary, General Electric Capital Services, Inc. (GECS), with and into GECS’ wholly-owned subsidiary, GECC.  The merger simplified our financial services’ corporate structure by consolidating financial services entities and assets within our organization and simplifying Securities and Exchange Commission and regulatory reporting. Upon completion of the merger, (i) all outstanding shares of GECC common stock were cancelled, (ii) all outstanding GECS common stock and all GECS preferred stock held by the Company were converted into an aggregate of 1,000 shares of GECC common stock, and (iii) all treasury shares of GECS and all outstanding preferred stock of GECS held by GECC were cancelled. As a result, GECC became the surviving corporation, assumed all of GECS’ rights and obligations and became wholly-owned directly by the Company.

Because we wholly-owned both GECS and GECC, the merger was accounted for as a transfer of assets between entities under common control. Transfers of net assets or exchanges of shares between entities under common control are accounted for at historical value, and as if the transfer occurred at the beginning of the period.

Our financial services segment, GE Capital, will continue to comprise the continuing operations of GECC, which now includes the run-off insurance operations previously held and managed in GECS. Unless otherwise indicated, references to GECC and the GE Capital segment in this Form 10-Q Report relate to the entities or segment as they exist subsequent to the February 22, 2012 merger. In addition, during the first quarter of 2012, we announced the planned disposition of the Consumer mortgage lending business in Ireland (Consumer Ireland). This disposition is reported as a discontinued operation, which requires retrospective restatement of prior periods to classify the assets, liabilities and results of operations as discontinued operations.

On January 28, 2011, we sold the assets of our NBC Universal (NBCU) business in exchange for cash and a 49% interest in a new entity, NBCUniversal LLC (see Note 2). Results of our formerly consolidated subsidiary, NBCU, and our current equity method investment in NBCUniversal LLC are reported in the Corporate items and eliminations line on the Summary of Operating Segments.

We have reclassified certain prior-period amounts to conform to the current-period presentation. Unless otherwise indicated, information in these notes to the condensed, consolidated financial statements relates to continuing operations.

 
(8)

 
Accounting Changes
 
On January 1, 2012, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-05, an amendment to Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 220, Comprehensive Income. ASU 2011-05 introduces a new statement, the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, which begins with net earnings and adds or deducts other recognized changes in assets and liabilities that are not included in net earnings, but are reported directly to equity, under GAAP.  For example, unrealized changes in currency translation adjustments are included in the measure of comprehensive income but are excluded from net earnings. The amendments became effective for the first quarter 2012 financial statements.  The amendments affect only the display of those components of equity categorized as other comprehensive income and do not change existing recognition and measurement requirements that determine net earnings.

On January 1, 2012, we adopted FASB ASU 2011-04, an amendment to ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements. ASU 2011-04 clarifies or changes the application of existing fair value measurements, including: that the highest and best use valuation premise in a fair value measurement is relevant only when measuring the fair value of nonfinancial assets; that a reporting entity should measure the fair value of its own equity instrument from the perspective of a market participant that holds that instrument as an asset; to permit an entity to measure the fair value of certain financial instruments on a net basis rather than based on its gross exposure when the reporting entity manages its financial instruments on the basis of such net exposure; that in the absence of a Level 1 input, a reporting entity should apply premiums and discounts when market participants would do so when pricing the asset or liability consistent with the unit of account; and that premiums and discounts related to size as a characteristic of the reporting entity’s holding are not permitted in a fair value measurement. Adopting these amendments had no effect on the financial statements. For a description of how we estimate fair value and our process for reviewing fair value measurements classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy, see Note 1 in our 2011 consolidated financial statements.

See Note 1 in our 2011 consolidated financial statements for a summary of our significant accounting policies.

Interim Period Presentation
 
The condensed, consolidated financial statements and notes thereto are unaudited. These statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) that we considered necessary to present a fair statement of our results of operations, financial position and cash flows. The results reported in these condensed, consolidated financial statements should not be regarded as necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. It is suggested that these condensed, consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2011 consolidated financial statements. We label our quarterly information using a calendar convention, that is, first quarter is labeled as ending on March 31, second quarter as ending on June 30, and third quarter as ending on September 30. It is our longstanding practice to establish interim quarterly closing dates using a fiscal calendar, which requires our businesses to close their books on either a Saturday or Sunday, depending on the business. The effects of this practice are modest and only exist within a reporting year. The fiscal closing calendar from 1993 through 2013 is available on our website, www.ge.com/secreports.

 
 
(9)

 


 
2. ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF BUSINESSES HELD FOR SALE AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
 
Assets and Liabilities of Businesses Held for Sale
 
NBC Universal
 

On January 28, 2011, we transferred the assets of the NBCU business and Comcast transferred certain of its assets to a newly formed entity, NBCUniversal LLC (NBCU LLC). In connection with the transaction, we received $6,176 million in cash from Comcast (which included $49 million of transaction-related cost reimbursements) and a 49% interest in NBCU LLC. Comcast holds the remaining 51% interest in NBCU LLC.  Following the transaction, we deconsolidated NBCU and we account for our investment in NBCU LLC under the equity method.  In the first quarter of 2011, we recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of $3,557 million ($400 million after tax) and recorded income tax expense of $3,157 million, reflecting the low tax basis in our investment in the NBCU business and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities related to our 49% investment in NBCU LLC. As our investment in NBCU LLC is structured as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes, U.S. taxes are recorded separately from the equity investment.

With respect to our 49% interest in NBCU LLC, we hold redemption rights, which, if exercised, would require NBCU LLC or Comcast to purchase (either directly or indirectly by GE transferring common stock of our holding company that owns 49% of NBCU LLC) half of our ownership interest after three and a half years and the remaining half after seven years, subject to certain exceptions, conditions and limitations. Our interest in NBCU LLC also is subject to call provisions, which, if exercised, allow Comcast to purchase our interest (either directly or indirectly) at specified times subject to certain exceptions. The redemption prices for such transactions are determined based on a contractually specified formula.

See Note 2 in our 2011 consolidated financial statements for additional information related to the NBCU transaction.

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the carrying amount of our equity investment in NBCU LLC was $18,134 million and $17,955 million, respectively, reported in the “All other assets” caption in our Condensed Statement of Financial Position. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, deferred tax liabilities related to our NBCU LLC investment were $4,912 million and $4,880 million, respectively, and were reported in the “Deferred income taxes” caption in our Condensed Statement of Financial Position.

Other
 
In the second quarter of 2011, we committed to sell our GE Capital Consumer business banking operations in Latvia.

Summarized financial information for businesses held for sale is shown below.
 
 
(10)

 
 

 
 
At
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(In millions)
2012
 
2011
   
           
     
Assets
 
           
     
Cash and equivalents
$
134 
 
$
149 
Financing receivables – net
 
399 
   
412 
Property, plant and equipment – net
 
62 
   
81 
Goodwill
 
20 
   
20 
Other intangible assets – net
 
   
All other assets
 
   
Other
 
18 
   
34 
Assets of businesses held for sale
$
640 
 
$
711 
         
           
Liabilities
         
Short-term borrowings
$
249 
 
$
252 
Accounts payable
 
26 
   
21 
Long-term borrowings
 
   
All other liabilities
 
26 
   
64 
Liabilities of businesses held for sale
$
305 
 
$
345 


Discontinued Operations
 
Discontinued operations primarily comprised GE Money Japan (our Japanese personal loan business, Lake, and our Japanese mortgage and card businesses, excluding our investment in GE Nissen Credit Co., Ltd.), our U.S. mortgage business (WMC), our U.S. recreational vehicle and marine equipment financing business (Consumer RV Marine), Consumer Mexico, Consumer Singapore, our Consumer home lending operations in Australia and New Zealand (Australian Home Lending), and Consumer Ireland. Associated results of operations, financial position and cash flows are separately reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

Summarized financial information for discontinued operations is shown below.
 
 
Three months ended March 31
(In millions)
 
2012
   
2011 
           
Operations
         
Total revenues
$
(1)
 
$
207 
           
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
         
   before income taxes
$
(58)
 
$
– 
Benefit (provision) for income taxes
 
   
(4)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations,
         
   net of taxes
$
(52)
 
$
(4)
           
Disposal
         
Gain (loss) on disposal before income taxes
$
(194)
 
$
11 
Benefit (provision) for income taxes
 
29 
   
28 
Gain (loss) on disposal, net of taxes
$
(165)
 
$
39 
           
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations,
         
   net of taxes(a)
$
(217)
 
$
35 
           
           
(a)
The sum of GE industrial earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, and GECC earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, is reported as GE industrial earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, on the Condensed Statement of Earnings.
 

 
(11)

 

 
At
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
           
Assets
         
Cash and equivalents
$
120 
 
$
121 
Financing receivables – net
 
274 
   
521 
All other assets
 
   
Other
 
941 
   
1,073 
Assets of discontinued operations
$
1,341 
 
$
1,721 
           
Liabilities
         
Accounts payable, principally trade accounts
$
 
$
Deferred income taxes
 
210 
   
205 
All other liabilities
 
1,165 
   
1,417 
Liabilities of discontinued operations
$
1,384 
 
$
1,629 


Assets at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, primarily comprised cash, financing receivables and a deferred tax asset for a loss carryforward, which expires principally in 2017 and in part in 2019, related to the sale of our GE Money Japan business.

GE Money Japan
 
During the third quarter of 2007, we committed to a plan to sell our Japanese personal loan business, Lake, upon determining that, despite restructuring, Japanese regulatory limits for interest charges on unsecured personal loans did not permit us to earn an acceptable return. During the third quarter of 2008, we completed the sale of GE Money Japan, which included Lake, along with our Japanese mortgage and card businesses, excluding our investment in GE Nissen Credit Co., Ltd. In connection with the sale, we reduced the proceeds from the sale for estimated interest refund claims in excess of the statutory interest rate. Proceeds from the sale were to be increased or decreased based on the actual claims experienced in accordance with loss-sharing terms specified in the sale agreement, with all claims in excess of 258 billion Japanese yen (approximately $3,000 million) remaining our responsibility. The underlying portfolio to which this obligation relates is in runoff and interest rates were capped for all designated accounts by mid-2009. In the third quarter of 2010, we began making reimbursements under this arrangement.

Our overall claims experience developed unfavorably through 2010. We believe that the level of excess interest refund claims was impacted by the challenging global economic conditions, in addition to Japanese legislative and regulatory changes. In September 2010, a large independent personal loan company in Japan filed for bankruptcy, which precipitated a significant amount of publicity surrounding excess interest refund claims in the Japanese marketplace, along with substantial legal advertising. We observed an increase in claims during the latter part of 2010 and the first two months of 2011. Since February and through the end of 2011, we have experienced substantial declines in the rate of incoming claims, though the overall rate of reduction was slower than we expected.  During the first quarter of 2012, we recorded an increase to our reserve of $26 million to reflect an excess of first quarter claims activity over our previous estimate. We continue to monitor claims activities and our estimates of the pace of decline in incoming claims. At March 31, 2012, our reserve for reimbursement of claims in excess of the statutory interest rate was $496 million.

The amount of these reserves is based on analyses of recent and historical claims experience, pending and estimated future excess interest refund requests, the estimated percentage of customers who present valid requests, and our estimated payments related to those requests. Our estimated liability for excess interest refund claims at March 31, 2012 assumes the pace of incoming claims will continue to decelerate, average exposure per claim remains consistent with recent experience, and we continue to see the impact of our loss mitigation efforts. Estimating the pace of decline in incoming claims has a significant effect on the total amount of our liability. While the pace of income claims continues to decline, it is highly variable and difficult to predict. Holding all other assumptions constant, for example, a 20% adverse change in assumed incoming daily claim rate reduction would result in an increase to our reserves of approximately $110 million.

 
(12)

 
Uncertainties about the likelihood of consumers to present valid claims, the runoff status of the underlying book of business, the financial status of other personal lending companies in Japan, challenging economic conditions and the impact of laws and regulations make it difficult to develop a meaningful estimate of the aggregate possible claims exposure. Additionally, the Japanese government is currently considering the introduction of proposed legislation to develop a framework for collective legal action proceedings. Recent trends, including the effect of consumer activity, market activity regarding other personal loan companies, higher claims severity and potential Japanese legislative actions, may continue to have an adverse effect on claims development.

GE Money Japan losses from discontinued operations, net of taxes, were $27 million and $1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

WMC
 
During the fourth quarter of 2007, we completed the sale of WMC, our U.S. mortgage business. WMC substantially discontinued all new loan originations by the second quarter of 2007, and is not a loan servicer. In connection with the sale, WMC retained certain representation and warranty obligations related to loans sold to third parties prior to the disposal of the business and contractual obligations to repurchase previously sold loans as to which there was an early payment default. All claims received for early payment default have either been resolved or are no longer being pursued.

Pending repurchase claims based upon representations and warranties made in connection with loan sales were $562 million at March 31, 2012, $705 million at December 31, 2011 and $347 million at December 31, 2010. Pending claims represent those active repurchase claims that identify the specific loans tendered for repurchase and, for each loan, the alleged breach of a representation or warranty. The amounts reported reflect the original principal balances of the loans and do not give effect to pay downs, accrued interest or fees, or potential recoveries based upon the underlying collateral. Reserves related to contractual representations and warranties were $140 million and $143 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The amount of these reserves is based upon pending and estimated future loan repurchase requests, the estimated percentage of loans validly tendered for repurchase, and WMCs estimated losses on loans repurchased. A ten percent adverse change in these key assumptions would result in an increase in reserves of approximately $25 million. Historically, a small percentage of the total loans WMC originated and sold has been tendered for repurchase, and of those loans tendered, only a limited amount has qualified as validly tendered, meaning the loans sold did not satisfy contractual obligations. In the second half of 2011, a lawsuit was filed against WMC relating to representations and warranties on certain mortgages and in the second quarter of 2012 through May 3, 2012, we have received additional repurchase claims of $689 million. Uncertainties surrounding economic conditions, the ability and propensity of mortgage holders to present valid claims, governmental actions, pending and threatened litigation against WMC, including increased activity by securitization trustees, and other activity in the mortgage industry make it difficult to develop a meaningful estimate of aggregate possible claim exposure. Actual losses could exceed the reserve amount if actual claim rates, investigative or litigation activity, valid tenders or losses WMC incurs on repurchased loans are higher than have been historically observed with respect to WMC.

WMC revenues (loss) from discontinued operations were $(7) million and an insignificant amount in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In total, WMC’s losses from discontinued operations, net of taxes, were $9 million and $2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Other Financial Services
 
In the first quarter of 2012, we announced the planned disposition of Consumer Ireland and classified the business as discontinued operations.  Consumer Ireland revenues from discontinued operations were $4 million in both the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. Consumer Ireland loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes, were $188 million (including a $147 million loss on disposal) and $21 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 
(13)

 
In the second quarter of 2011, we entered into an agreement to sell our Australian Home Lending operations and classified it as discontinued operations.  As a result, we recognized an after-tax loss of $148 million in 2011.  We completed the sale in the third quarter of 2011 for proceeds of approximately $4,577 million.  Australian Home Lending revenues from discontinued operations were $1 million and $114 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Australian Home Lending earnings from discontinued operations, net of taxes, were $2 million and $37 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

In the first quarter of 2011, we entered into an agreement to sell our Consumer Singapore business for $692 million. The sale was completed in the second quarter of 2011 and resulted in the recognition of a gain on disposal, net of taxes, of $319 million. Consumer Singapore revenues from discontinued operations were an insignificant amount and $29 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Consumer Singapore earnings from discontinued operations, net of taxes, were an insignificant amount and $7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

In the fourth quarter of 2010, we entered into agreements to sell our Consumer RV Marine portfolio and Consumer Mexico business. The Consumer RV Marine and Consumer Mexico dispositions were completed during the first quarter and the second quarter of 2011, respectively, for proceeds of $2,365 million and $1,943 million, respectively. Consumer RV Marine revenues from discontinued operations were an insignificant amount and $5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Consumer RV Marine earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, were $(1) million and an insignificant amount in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Consumer Mexico revenues from discontinued operations were $1 million and $55 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Consumer Mexico earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, were $(2) million and $16 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

GE Industrial
 
GE industrial earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, were insignificant amounts in both the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. The sum of GE industrial earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, and GECC earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, is reported as GE industrial earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, on the Condensed Statement of Earnings.

Assets of GE industrial discontinued operations were $9 million and $52 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Liabilities of GE industrial discontinued operations were $158 million at both March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and primarily represent taxes payable and pension liabilities related to the sale of our Plastics business in 2007.

 
(14)

 

3. INVESTMENT SECURITIES
 
Substantially all of our investment securities are classified as available-for-sale. These comprise mainly investment grade debt securities supporting obligations to annuitants, policyholders and holders of guaranteed investment contracts (GICs) in our run-off insurance operations and Trinity, investment securities at our treasury operations and investments held in our Commercial Lending and Leasing (CLL) business collateralized by senior secured loans of high-quality, middle-market companies in a variety of industries. We do not have any securities classified as held to maturity.
 
 
At
 
March 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
     
Gross
 
Gross
         
Gross
 
Gross
   
 
Amortized
 
unrealized
 
unrealized
 
Estimated
 
Amortized
 
unrealized
 
unrealized
 
Estimated
(In millions)
cost
 
gains
 
losses
 
fair value
 
cost
 
gains
 
losses
 
fair value
                                               
GE
                                             
   Debt – U.S. corporate
$
 
$
– 
 
$
– 
 
$
 
$
– 
 
$
– 
 
$
– 
 
$
– 
   Equity – available-for-sale
 
17 
   
– 
   
– 
   
17 
   
18 
   
– 
   
– 
   
18 
   
18 
   
– 
   
– 
   
18 
   
18 
   
– 
   
– 
   
18 
GECC
                                             
Debt
                                             
      U.S. corporate
 
20,758 
   
3,236 
   
(279)
   
23,715 
   
20,748 
   
3,432 
   
(410)
   
23,770 
      State and municipal
 
3,179 
   
385 
   
(120)
   
3,444 
   
3,027 
   
350 
   
(143)
   
3,234 
      Residential mortgage-
                                             
         backed(a)
 
2,555 
   
175 
   
(220)
   
2,510 
   
2,711 
   
184 
   
(286)
   
2,609 
      Commercial mortgage-backed
 
2,989 
   
169 
   
(177)
   
2,981 
   
2,913 
   
162 
   
(247)
   
2,828 
      Asset-backed
 
5,376 
   
76 
   
(133)
   
5,319 
   
5,102 
   
32 
   
(164)
   
4,970 
      Corporate – non-U.S.
 
2,514 
   
142 
   
(136)
   
2,520 
   
2,414 
   
126 
   
(207)
   
2,333 
      Government – non-U.S.
 
2,171 
   
125 
   
(23)
   
2,273 
   
2,488 
   
129 
   
(86)
   
2,531 
      U.S. government and federal
                                             
         agency
 
4,073 
   
77 
   
(1)
   
4,149 
   
3,974 
   
84 
   
– 
   
4,058 
   Retained interests
 
28 
   
   
– 
   
34 
   
25 
   
10 
   
– 
   
35 
   Equity
                                             
      Available-for-sale
 
530 
   
105 
   
(16)
   
619 
   
713 
   
75 
   
(38)
   
750 
      Trading
 
250 
   
– 
   
– 
   
250 
   
241 
   
– 
   
– 
   
241 
   
44,423 
   
4,496 
   
(1,105)
   
47,814 
   
44,356 
   
4,584 
   
(1,581)
   
47,359 
Eliminations
 
(3)
   
– 
   
– 
   
(3)
   
(3)
   
– 
   
– 
   
(3)
Total
$
44,438 
 
$
4,496 
 
$
(1,105)
 
$
47,829 
 
$
44,371 
 
$
4,584 
 
$
(1,581)
 
$
47,374 
                                               
                                               
(a)
Substantially collateralized by U.S. mortgages. Of our total residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) portfolio at March 31, 2012, $1,607 million relates to securities issued by government-sponsored entities and $903 million relates to securities of private label issuers. Securities issued by private label issuers are collateralized primarily by pools of individual direct mortgage loans of financial institutions.
 


The fair value of investment securities increased to $47,829 million at March 31, 2012, from $47,374 million at December 31, 2011, primarily due to the impact of lower interest rates and additional purchases in our CLL business of investments collateralized by senior secured loans of high-quality, middle-market companies in a variety of industries.

 
(15)

 
The following tables present the estimated fair values and gross unrealized losses of our available-for-sale investment securities.
 
 
In loss position for
 
 
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or more
 
     
Gross
     
Gross
 
 
Estimated
 
unrealized
 
Estimated
 
unrealized
 
(In millions)
fair value
 
losses
(a)
fair value
 
losses
(a)
                         
March 31, 2012
                       
Debt
                       
   U.S. corporate
$
922 
 
$
(155)
 
$
732 
 
$
(124)
 
   State and municipal
 
136 
   
(2)
   
252 
   
(118)
 
   Residential mortgage-backed
 
68 
   
– 
   
804 
   
(220)
 
   Commercial mortgage-backed
 
165 
   
(11)
   
1,111 
   
(166)
 
   Asset-backed
 
70 
   
(2)
   
795 
   
(131)
 
   Corporate – non-U.S.
 
255 
   
(10)
   
621 
   
(126)
 
   Government – non-U.S.
 
508 
   
(2)
   
184 
   
(21)
 
   U.S. government and federal agency
 
231 
   
(1)
   
– 
   
– 
 
Retained interests
 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
 
Equity
 
87 
   
(15)
   
   
(1)
 
Total
$
2,447 
 
$
(198)
 
$
4,506 
 
$
(907)
 
                         
December 31, 2011
                       
Debt
                       
   U.S. corporate
$
1,435 
 
$
(241)
 
$
836 
 
$
(169)
 
   State and municipal
 
87 
   
(1)
   
307 
   
(142)
 
   Residential mortgage-backed
 
219 
   
(9)
   
825 
   
(277)
 
   Commercial mortgage-backed
 
244 
   
(23)
   
1,320 
   
(224)
 
   Asset-backed
 
100 
   
(7)
   
850 
   
(157)
 
   Corporate – non-U.S.
 
330 
   
(28)
   
607 
   
(179)
 
   Government – non-U.S.
 
906 
   
(5)
   
203 
   
(81)
 
   U.S. government and federal agency
 
502 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
 
Retained interests
 
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
 
Equity
 
440 
   
(38)
   
– 
   
– 
 
Total
$
4,263 
 
$
(352)
 
$
4,948 
 
$
(1,229)
 
                         
                         
(a)  
Includes gross unrealized losses at March 31, 2012 of $(195) million related to securities that had other-than-temporary impairments recognized in a prior period.
 

 
We regularly review investment securities for impairment using both qualitative and quantitative criteria. We presently do not intend to sell the vast majority of our debt securities and believe that it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell these securities that are in an unrealized loss position before recovery of our amortized cost. We believe that the unrealized loss associated with our equity securities will be recovered within the foreseeable future. The methodologies and significant inputs used to measure the amount of credit loss for our investment securities during the three months ended March 31, 2012 have not changed from those described in our 2011 consolidated financial statements. See Note 3 in our 2011 consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding these methodologies and inputs.
 
 
During the first quarter of 2012, we recorded pre-tax, other-than-temporary impairments of $32 million, which were recorded through earnings ($7 million relates to equity securities). At January 1, 2012, cumulative impairments recognized in earnings associated with debt securities still held were $726 million. During the first quarter, we recognized first-time impairments of $7 million and incremental charges on previously impaired securities of $5 million. These amounts included $136 million related to securities that were subsequently sold.

 
(16)

 
During the first quarter of 2011, we recorded pre-tax, other-than-temporary impairments of $71 million, of which $64 million was recorded through earnings ($5 million relates to equity securities) and $7 million was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI). At January 1, 2011, cumulative impairments recognized in earnings associated with debt securities still held were $500 million. During the first quarter of 2011, we recognized first-time impairments of $1 million and incremental charges on previously impaired securities of $58 million. These amounts included $23 million related to securities that were subsequently sold.

Contractual Maturities of GECC Investment in Available-for-Sale Debt Securities (Excluding Mortgage-
Backed and Asset-Backed Securities)
 
Amortized
 
Estimated
(In millions)
cost
 
fair value
           
Due in
         
   2012
$
 2,717 
 
$
 2,748 
   2013-2016
 
 7,832 
   
 7,925 
   2017-2021
 
 4,373 
   
 4,730 
   2022 and later
 
 17,766 
   
 20,691 
           


We expect actual maturities to differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations.

Supplemental information about gross realized gains and losses on available-for-sale investment securities follows.
 
 
Three months ended March 31
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
           
GE
         
Gains
$
– 
 
$
– 
Losses, including impairments
 
– 
   
– 
Net
 
– 
   
– 
           
GECC
         
Gains
 
 38 
   
 116 
Losses, including impairments
 
 (70)
 
$
 (71)
Net
 
 (32)
   
 45 
Total
$
 (32)
 
$
 45 


Although we generally do not have the intent to sell any specific securities at the end of the period, in the ordinary course of managing our investment securities portfolio, we may sell securities prior to their maturities for a variety of reasons, including diversification, credit quality, yield and liquidity requirements and the funding of claims and obligations to policyholders. In some of our bank subsidiaries, we maintain a certain level of purchases and sales volume principally of non-U.S. government debt securities. In these situations, fair value approximates carrying value for these securities.

Proceeds from investment securities sales and early redemptions by issuers totaled $3,762 million and $5,139 million in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively, principally from the sales of short-term securities in our bank subsidiaries and treasury operations.

We recognized pre-tax gains (losses) on trading securities of $(23) million and $3 million in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 
(17)

 

4. INVENTORIES
 
Inventories consisted of the following.
 
 
At
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
           
Raw materials and work in process
$
9,387 
 
$
8,735 
Finished goods
 
5,642 
   
5,022 
Unbilled shipments
 
640 
   
485 
   
15,669 
   
14,242 
Less revaluation to LIFO
 
(457)
   
(450)
Total
$
15,212 
 
$
13,792 


5. GECC FINANCING RECEIVABLES AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOSSES ON FINANCING RECEIVABLES
 
 
At
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(In millions)
2012
 
2011 
           
Loans, net of deferred income(a)
$
250,890 
 
$
256,895 
Investment in financing leases, net of deferred income
 
36,207 
   
38,142 
   
287,097 
   
295,037 
Less allowance for losses
 
(5,714)
   
(6,190)
Financing receivables – net(b)
$
281,383 
 
$
288,847 
           
           
(a)  
Deferred income was $2,192 million and $2,329 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
 
(b)  
Financing receivables at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 included $968 million and $1,062 million, respectively, relating to loans that had been acquired in a transfer but have been subject to credit deterioration since origination per ASC 310, Receivables.
 

 
(18)

 

The following tables provide additional information about our financing receivables and related activity in the allowance for losses for our Commercial, Real Estate and Consumer portfolios.

Financing Receivables – net
 
The following table displays our financing receivables balances.
 
 
At
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(In millions)
2012
 
2011 
           
Commercial
         
CLL
         
Americas
$
79,645 
 
$
80,505 
Europe
 
35,613 
   
36,899 
Asia
 
11,048 
   
11,635 
Other
 
382 
   
436 
Total CLL
 
126,688 
   
129,475 
           
Energy Financial Services
 
5,287 
   
5,912 
           
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS)
 
11,721 
   
11,901 
           
Other
 
681 
   
1,282 
Total Commercial financing receivables
 
144,377 
   
148,570 
           
Real Estate
         
Debt
 
23,518 
   
24,501 
Business Properties
 
8,013 
   
8,248 
Total Real Estate financing receivables
 
31,531 
   
32,749 
           
Consumer
         
Non-U.S. residential mortgages
 
35,257 
   
35,550 
Non-U.S. installment and revolving credit
 
18,963 
   
18,544 
U.S. installment and revolving credit
 
44,283 
   
46,689 
Non-U.S. auto
 
5,166 
   
5,691 
Other
 
7,520 
   
7,244 
Total Consumer financing receivables
 
111,189 
   
113,718 
           
Total financing receivables
 
287,097 
   
295,037 
           
Less allowance for losses
 
(5,714)
   
(6,190)
Total financing receivables – net
$
281,383 
 
$
288,847 
           
           

 
 
(19)

 

Allowance for Losses on Financing Receivables
 
The following tables provide a roll-forward of our allowance for losses on financing receivables.
 
 
Balance at
 
Provision
             
Balance at
 
January 1,
 
charged to
     
Gross
     
March 31,
(In millions)
2012 
 
operations
 
Other
(a)
write-offs
(b)
Recoveries
(b)
2012 
                                   
Commercial
                                 
CLL
                                 
Americas
$
889 
 
$
66 
 
$
(20)
 
$
(156)
 
$
23 
 
$
802 
Europe
 
400 
   
83 
   
   
(45)
   
19 
   
458 
Asia
 
157 
   
11 
   
(5)
   
(56)
   
   
112 
Other
 
   
– 
   
– 
   
(2)
   
– 
   
Total CLL
 
1,450 
   
160 
   
(24)
   
(259)
   
47 
   
1,374 
                                   
                                   
Energy Financial
                                 
    Services
 
26 
   
(1)
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
25 
                                   
GECAS
 
17 
   
(3)
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
14 
                                   
Other
 
37 
   
   
(19)
   
– 
   
– 
   
20 
Total Commercial
 
1,530 
   
158 
   
(43)
   
(259)
   
47 
   
1,433 
                                   
Real Estate
                                 
Debt
 
949 
   
28 
   
(12)
   
(154)
   
   
812 
Business Properties
 
140 
   
10 
   
– 
   
(34)
   
   
117 
Total Real Estate
 
1,089 
   
38 
   
(12)
   
(188)
   
   
929 
                                   
Consumer
                                 
Non-U.S. residential
                                 
   mortgages
 
546 
   
29 
   
   
(103)
   
18 
   
498 
Non-U.S. installment
                                 
   and revolving
                                 
   credit
 
717 
   
124 
   
28 
   
(273)
   
130 
   
726 
U.S. installment and
                                 
   revolving credit
 
2,008 
   
478 
   
– 
   
(772)
   
131 
   
1,845 
Non-U.S. auto
 
101 
   
10 
   
(6)
   
(41)
   
24 
   
88 
Other
 
199 
   
26 
   
16 
   
(66)
   
20 
   
195 
Total Consumer
 
3,571 
   
667 
   
46 
   
(1,255)
   
323 
   
3,352 
Total
$
6,190 
 
$
863 
 
$
(9)
 
$
(1,702)
 
$
372 
 
$
5,714 
                                   
                                   
(a)  
Other primarily included transfers to held for sale and the effects of currency exchange.
(b)  
Net write-offs (write-offs less recoveries) in certain portfolios may exceed the beginning allowance for losses as our revolving credit portfolios turn over more than once per year or, in all portfolios, can reflect losses that are incurred subsequent to the beginning of the fiscal year due to information becoming available during the current year, which may identify further deterioration on existing financing receivables.
 
 
(20)

 

   
Balance at
 
Provision
             
Balance at
   
January 1,
 
charged to
     
Gross
     
March 31,
(In millions)
 
2011
 
operations
 
Other(a)
 
write-offs(b)
 
Recoveries(b)
 
2011
                                     
Commercial
                                   
CLL
                                   
Americas
 
$
1,288 
 
$
139 
 
$
(1)
 
$
(194)
 
$
22 
 
$
1,254 
Europe
   
429 
   
30 
   
19 
   
(51)
   
16 
   
443 
Asia
   
222 
   
60 
   
   
(69)
   
11 
   
228 
Other
   
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
Total CLL
   
1,945 
   
229 
   
22 
   
(314)
   
49 
   
1,931 
                                     
                                     
Energy Financial
                                   
    Services
   
22 
   
19 
   
(1)
   
(4)
   
– 
   
36 
                                     
GECAS
   
20 
   
(8)
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
12 
                                     
Other
   
58 
   
   
   
(8)
   
– 
   
55 
Total Commercial
   
2,045 
   
244 
   
22 
   
(326)
   
49 
   
2,034 
                                     
Real Estate
                                   
Debt
   
1,292 
   
59 
   
   
(243)
   
   
1,118 
Business Properties
   
196 
   
26 
   
(1)
   
(42)
   
   
181 
Total Real Estate
   
1,488 
   
85 
   
   
(285)
   
   
1,299 
                                     
Consumer
                                   
Non-U.S. residential
                                   
   mortgages
   
689 
   
21 
   
21 
   
(54)
   
15 
   
692 
Non-U.S. installment
                                   
   and revolving credit
   
937 
   
153 
   
23 
   
(327)
   
144 
   
930 
U.S. installment and
                                   
   revolving credit
   
2,333 
   
585 
   
– 
   
(913)
   
136 
   
2,141 
Non-U.S. auto
   
168 
   
15 
   
   
(68)
   
32 
   
152 
Other
   
259 
   
37 
   
   
(86)
   
25 
   
239 
Total Consumer
   
4,386 
   
811 
   
53 
   
(1,448)
   
352 
   
4,154 
Total
 
$
7,919 
 
$
1,140 
 
$
81 
 
$
(2,059)
 
$
406 
 
$
7,487 
                                     
                                     
(a)  
Other primarily included the effects of currency exchange.
 
(b)  
Net write-offs (write-offs less recoveries) in certain portfolios may exceed the beginning allowance for losses as our revolving credit portfolios turn over more than once per year or, in all portfolios, can reflect losses that are incurred subsequent to the beginning of the fiscal year due to information becoming available during the current year, which may identify further deterioration on existing financing receivables.
 

See Note 17 for supplemental information about the credit quality of financing receivables and allowance for losses on financing receivables.

 
(21)

 

6. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
Property, plant and equipment – net, consisted of the following.
 
 
At
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
           
Original cost
$
 108,970 
 
$
 108,117 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
 
 (42,970)
   
 (42,378)
Property, plant and equipment – net
$
 66,000 
 
$
 65,739 


Consolidated depreciation and amortization related to property, plant and equipment was $2,263 million and $2,292 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.


7. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
Goodwill and other intangible assets – net, consisted of the following.
 
 
At
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
           
Goodwill
$
 72,959 
 
$
 72,625 
           
Other intangible assets
         
   Intangible assets subject to amortization
$
 11,716 
 
$
 11,863 
   Indefinite-lived intangible assets(a)
 
 205 
   
 205 
Total
$
 11,921 
 
$
 12,068 
           
           
(a)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets principally comprised in-process research and development, trademarks and tradenames.
 

Changes in goodwill balances follow.
 
           
Dispositions,
   
 
Balance at
     
currency
 
Balance at
 
January 1,
     
exchange
 
March 31,
(In millions)
2012 
 
Acquisitions
 
and other
 
2012 
                       
Energy Infrastructure
$
21,090 
 
$
– 
 
$
139 
 
$
21,229 
Aviation
 
5,996 
   
– 
   
(52)
   
5,944 
Healthcare
 
16,631 
   
– 
   
   
16,638 
Transportation
 
551 
   
138 
   
– 
   
689 
Home & Business Solutions
 
1,127 
   
– 
   
   
1,133 
GE Capital
 
27,230 
   
– 
   
96 
   
27,326 
Total
$
72,625 
 
$
138 
 
$
196 
 
$
72,959 


Goodwill balances increased $334 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012, primarily as a result of a weaker U.S. dollar ($257 million) and the Railcar Management Incorporated acquisition at Transportation ($138 million).

On March 27, 2012, we contributed a portion of our civil avionics systems business to a newly formed joint venture in exchange for 50% of this entity. This resulted in the deconsolidation of this business and the recording of the interest in the new avionics joint venture at fair value.  As a result, we recognized a pre-tax gain of $274 million ($152 million after-tax).

 
 
(22)

 


Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization
 
At
 
March 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
Gross
         
Gross
       
 
carrying
 
Accumulated
     
carrying
 
Accumulated
   
(In millions)
amount
 
amortization
 
Net
 
amount
 
amortization
 
Net
                                   
                                   
Customer-related
$
6,763 
 
$
(1,884)
 
$
4,879 
 
$
6,824 
 
$
(1,814)
 
$
5,010 
Patents, licenses and trademarks
 
6,040 
   
(2,378)
   
3,662 
   
6,047 
   
(2,312)
   
3,735 
Capitalized software
 
6,979 
   
(4,416)
   
2,563 
   
6,791 
   
(4,273)
   
2,518 
Lease valuations
 
1,470 
   
(971)
   
499 
   
1,470 
   
(944)
   
526 
Present value of future profits(a)
 
498 
   
(498)
   
– 
   
491 
   
(491)
   
– 
All other
 
534 
   
(421)
   
113 
   
503 
   
(429)
   
74 
Total
$
22,284 
 
$
(10,568)
 
$
11,716 
 
$
22,126 
 
$
(10,263)
 
$
11,863 
                                   
                                   
 (a)
Balances at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, reflect adjustments of $385 million and $391 million, respectively, to the present value of future profits in our run-off insurance operation to reflect the effects that would have been recognized had the related unrealized investment securities holding gains and losses actually been realized in accordance with ASC 320-10-S99-2.
 

Consolidated amortization related to intangible assets subject to amortization was $348 million and $413 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 
(23)

 

8. GECC BORROWINGS AND BANK DEPOSITS
 
GECC borrowings are summarized in the following table.
 
 
At
(In millions)
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
2012 
 
2011 
           
Short-term borrowings
         
Commercial paper
         
   U.S.
$
 32,301 
 
$
 33,591 
   Non-U.S.
 
 10,769 
   
 10,569 
Current portion of long-term borrowings(a)(b)(c)(e)
 
 79,313 
   
 82,650 
GE Interest Plus notes(d)
 
 8,722 
   
 8,474 
Other(c)
 
 923 
   
 1,049 
GECC short-term borrowings
$
 132,028 
 
$
 136,333 
           
Long-term borrowings
         
Senior unsecured notes(b)
$
 204,830 
 
$
 210,154 
Subordinated notes(e)
 
 4,795 
   
 4,862 
Subordinated debentures(f)
 
 7,235 
   
 7,215 
Other(c)(g)
 
 12,335 
   
 12,160 
GECC long-term borrowings
$
 229,195 
 
$
 234,391 
           
Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities(h)
$
 29,544 
 
$
 29,258 
           
Bank deposits(i)
$
 41,106 
 
$
 43,115 
           
Total borrowings and bank deposits
$
 431,873 
 
$
 443,097 
           
           
(a)
GECC had issued and outstanding $27,896 million and $35,040 million of senior, unsecured debt that was guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) under the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
 
(b)
Included in total long-term borrowings were $1,284 million and $1,845 million of obligations to holders of guaranteed investment contracts at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. These obligations include conditions under which certain GIC 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. On April 3, 2012, following the Moody’s downgrade of GECC’s long-term credit ratings to A1, $1,103 million of these GICs became redeemable by the holders.  On May 1, 2012, holders of $133 million in principal amount of GICs redeemed their holdings and GECC made related cash payments. As of May 2, 2012, the contractual redemption period for $788 million of GICs had not yet expired. Subsequent to this contractual redemption period, the remaining outstanding GICs will continue to be subject to the existing terms and maturities of their respective contracts.
 
(c)
Included $8,598 million and $8,538 million of funding secured by real estate, aircraft and other collateral at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, of which $3,408 million and $2,983 million is non-recourse to GECC at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
 
(d)
Entirely variable denomination floating-rate demand notes.
 
(e)
Included $417 million of subordinated notes guaranteed by GE at both March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, of which $117 million is included in current portion of long-term borrowings at both March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.
 
(f)
Subordinated debentures receive rating agency equity credit and were hedged at issuance to the U.S. dollar equivalent of $7,725 million.
 
(g)
Included $1,958 million and $1,955 million of covered bonds at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. If the short-term credit rating of GECC were reduced below A–1/P–1, GECC would be required to partially cash collateralize these bonds in an amount up to $725 million at March 31, 2012.
 
(h)
Included at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, were $9,502 million and $10,714 million of current portion of long-term borrowings, respectively, and $20,042 million and $18,544 million of long-term borrowings, respectively. See Note 18.
 
(i)
Included $16,682 million and $16,281 million of deposits in non-U.S. banks at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, and $16,596 million and $17,201 million of certificates of deposits with maturities greater than one year at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
 

 
(24)

 

9. POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
 
We sponsor a number of pension and retiree health and life insurance benefit plans. Principal pension plans include the GE Pension Plan and the GE Supplementary Pension Plan. Principal retiree benefit plans generally provide health and life insurance benefits to employees who retire under the GE Pension Plan with 10 or more years of service. Salaried employees who commence service on or after January 1, 2011 and any employee who commences service on or after January 1, 2012 will not be eligible to participate in the GE Pension Plan, but will participate in a defined contribution retirement plan. Other pension plans include the U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans with pension assets or obligations greater than $50 million. Smaller pension plans and other retiree benefit plans are not material individually or in the aggregate. The effect on operations of the pension plans follows.
 
 
Principal Pension Plans
 
Other Pension Plans
 
Three months ended March 31
 
Three months ended March 31
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2011 
                       
Service cost for benefits earned
$
348 
 
$
278 
 
$
85 
 
$
68 
Prior service cost amortization
 
70 
   
46 
   
   
Expected return on plan assets
 
(945)
   
(984)
   
(155)
   
(148)
Interest cost on benefit obligation
 
616 
   
663 
   
127 
   
126 
Net actuarial loss amortization
 
846 
   
572 
   
69 
   
34 
Pension plans cost
$
935 
 
$
575 
 
$
127 
 
$
84 


The effect on operations of principal retiree health and life insurance plans follows.
 
 
Principal Retiree Health
 
and Life Insurance Plans
 
Three months ended March 31
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
           
Service cost for benefits earned
$
 56 
 
$
 47 
Prior service cost amortization
 
 151 
   
 160 
Expected return on plan assets
 
 (19)
   
 (24)
Interest cost on benefit obligation
 
 129 
   
 151 
Net actuarial gain amortization
 
– 
   
 (29)
Retiree benefit plans cost
$
 317 
 
$
 305 

10. OTHER LIABILITIES
 
We are involved in numerous remediation actions to clean up hazardous wastes as required by federal and state laws. Liabilities for remediation costs exclude possible insurance recoveries and, when dates and amounts of such costs are not known, are not discounted. When there appears to be a range of possible costs with equal likelihood, liabilities are based on the low end of such range. It is reasonably possible that our environmental remediation exposure will exceed amounts accrued. However, due to uncertainties about the status of laws, regulations, technology and information related to individual sites, such amounts are not reasonably estimable.

 
(25)

 

11. INCOME TAXES
 
The balance of “unrecognized tax benefits,” the amount of related interest and penalties we have provided and what we believe to be the range of reasonably possible changes in the next 12 months were:
 
 
At
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
           
Unrecognized tax benefits
$
 5,229 
 
$
 5,230 
      Portion that, if recognized, would reduce tax expense and effective tax rate(a)
 
 3,957 
   
 3,938 
Accrued interest on unrecognized tax benefits
 
 1,023 
   
 1,033 
Accrued penalties on unrecognized tax benefits
 
 134 
   
 121 
Reasonably possible reduction to the balance of unrecognized tax benefits
         
   in succeeding 12 months
 
0-850
   
0-900
      Portion that, if recognized, would reduce tax expense and effective tax rate(a)
 
0-450
   
0-500
           
           
(a)
Some portion of such reduction may be reported as discontinued operations.
 


The IRS is currently auditing our consolidated income tax returns for 2008-2009. In addition, certain other U.S. tax deficiency issues and refund claims for previous years were unresolved. The IRS has disallowed the tax loss on our 2003 disposition of ERC Life Reinsurance Corporation. We expect to contest the disallowance of this loss. In January 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed the district court decision which allowed GE’s $62 million refund claim with the IRS regarding the taxation of the Castle Harbour aircraft leasing partnership from 1993-1998.  Because a liability had been provided for this matter, this decision has no effect on our results of operations for 2011 or 2012. It is reasonably possible that the unresolved items related to pre-2008 federal tax returns could be resolved during the next 12 months, which could result in a decrease in our balance of “unrecognized tax benefits” – that is, the aggregate tax effect of differences between tax return positions and the benefits recognized in our financial statements. We believe that there are no other jurisdictions in which the outcome of unresolved issues or claims is likely to be material to our results of operations, financial position or cash flows. We further believe that we have made adequate provision for all income tax uncertainties.

GE and GECC file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. This enables GE to use GECC tax deductions and credits to reduce the tax that otherwise would have been payable by GE. The GECC effective tax rate for each period reflects the benefit of these tax reductions in the consolidated return. GE makes cash payments to GECC for these tax reductions at the time GE’s tax payments are due. The effect of GECC on the amount of the consolidated tax liability from the formation of the NBCU joint venture will be settled in cash when GECC tax deductions and credits otherwise would have reduced the liability of the group absent the tax on formation.

 
(26)

 

12. SHAREOWNERS’ EQUITY
 
A summary of changes to noncontrolling interests follows.
 
 
 
Three months ended March 31
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
           
Beginning balance
$
1,696 
 
$
5,262 
Net earnings
 
38 
   
94 
Dividends
 
(7)
   
(10)
Repurchase of NBCU shares(a)
 
– 
   
(3,070)
Dispositions
 
– 
   
(23)
AOCI and other(b)
 
(6)
   
Ending balance
$
1,721 
 
$
2,254 
           
           
(a)  
In January 2011 and prior to the transaction with Comcast, we acquired 12.3% of NBCU’s outstanding shares from Vivendi S.A. See Note 15 in our 2011 consolidated financial statements for additional information related to this transaction.
 
(b)  
Changes to the individual components of AOCI attributable to noncontrolling interests were insignificant.
 




13. GECC REVENUES FROM SERVICES
 
GECC revenues from services are summarized in the following table.
 
 
Three months ended March 31
(In millions)
2012
 
2011 
           
Interest on loans
$
4,858 
 
$
5,140 
Equipment leased to others
 
2,747 
   
2,822 
Fees
 
1,160 
   
1,146 
Investment income(a)
 
667 
   
693 
Financing leases
 
534 
   
665 
Associated companies(b)
 
270 
   
1,082 
Premiums earned by insurance activities
 
445 
   
481 
Real estate investments
 
356 
   
402 
Other items
 
375 
   
563 
 
$
11,412 
 
$
12,994 
           
           
(a)
Included net other-than-temporary impairments on investment securities of $32 million and $64 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 
 (b)
During the first quarter of 2011, we sold an 18.6% equity interest in Garanti Bank and recorded a pre-tax gain of $690 million. As of March 31, 2012, we hold a 1% equity interest, which is classified as an available-for-sale security.
 

 
(27)

 

14. EARNINGS PER SHARE INFORMATION
 
GE’s authorized common stock consists of 13,200,000,000 shares having a par value of $0.06 each. Information related to the calculation of earnings per share follows.
 
 
Three months ended March 31
 
2012
 
2011 
(In millions; per-share amounts in dollars)
Diluted
 
Basic
 
Diluted
 
Basic
                       
Amounts attributable to the Company:
                     
Consolidated
                     
Earnings from continuing operations for
                     
   per-share calculation(a)
$
 3,247 
 
$
 3,247 
 
$
 3,392 
 
$
 3,391 
Preferred stock dividends declared
 
– 
   
– 
   
 (75)
   
 (75)
Earnings from continuing operations attributable
                     
   to common shareowners for per-share
                     
   calculation(a)
 
 3,247 
   
 3,247 
   
 3,317 
   
 3,316 
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
                     
   for per-share calculation(a)
 
 (217)
   
 (217)
   
 35 
   
 35 
Net earnings attributable to GE common
                     
   shareowners for per-share calculation(a)
$
 3,030 
 
$
 3,030 
 
$
 3,351 
 
$
 3,351 
                       
Average equivalent shares
                     
Shares of GE common stock outstanding
 
 10,581 
   
 10,581 
   
 10,611 
   
 10,611 
Employee compensation-related shares,
                     
   including stock options
 
 30 
   
– 
   
 30 
   
– 
Total average equivalent shares
 
 10,611 
   
 10,581 
   
 10,641 
   
 10,611 
                       
Per-share amounts
                     
Earnings from continuing operations
$
 0.31 
 
$
 0.31 
 
$
 0.31 
 
$
 0.31 
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
 
 (0.02)
   
 (0.02)
   
– 
   
– 
Net earnings
 
 0.29 
   
 0.29 
   
 0.31 
   
 0.32 
                       
                       
(a)
Included an insignificant amount of dividend equivalents in each of the periods presented.
 

For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, there were approximately 307 million and 293 million, respectively, of outstanding stock awards that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect was antidilutive.

Earnings-per-share amounts are computed independently for earnings from continuing operations, earnings (loss) from discontinued operations and net earnings. As a result, the sum of per-share amounts from continuing operations and discontinued operations may not equal the total per-share amounts for net earnings.


15. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
 
For a description of how we estimate fair value, see Note 1 in our 2011 consolidated financial statements.

The following tables present our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Included in the tables are investment securities primarily supporting obligations to annuitants and policyholders in our run-off insurance operations, supporting obligations to holders of GICs in Trinity (which ceased issuing new investment contracts beginning in the first quarter of 2010), investment securities held at our treasury operations and investments held in our CLL business collateralized by senior secured loans of high-quality, middle-market companies in a variety of industries. Such securities are mainly investment grade.
 
 
(28)

 
 
             
Netting
   
(In millions)
Level 1
(a)
Level 2
(a)
Level 3
 
adjustment
(b)
Net balance
                             
March 31, 2012
                           
Assets
                           
Investment securities
                           
   Debt
                           
      U.S. corporate
$
– 
 
$
 20,464 
 
$
 3,252 
 
$
– 
 
$
 23,716 
      State and municipal
 
– 
   
 3,365 
   
 79 
   
– 
   
 3,444 
      Residential mortgage-backed
 
– 
   
 2,403 
   
 107 
   
– 
   
 2,510 
      Commercial mortgage-backed
 
– 
   
 2,980 
   
 1 
   
– 
   
 2,981 
      Asset-backed(c)
 
– 
   
 915 
   
 4,404 
   
– 
   
 5,319 
      Corporate – non-U.S.
 
 74 
   
 1,197 
   
 1,249 
   
– 
   
 2,520 
      Government – non-U.S.
 
 1,111 
   
 1,110 
   
 52 
   
– 
   
 2,273 
      U.S. government and federal agency
 
– 
   
 3,889 
   
 260 
   
– 
   
 4,149 
   Retained interests
 
– 
   
– 
   
 34 
   
– 
   
 34 
   Equity
                           
      Available-for-sale
 
 601 
   
 17 
   
 15 
   
– 
   
 633 
      Trading
 
 250 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
 250 
Derivatives(d)
 
– 
   
 11,702 
   
 333 
   
 (6,160)
   
 5,875 
Other(e)
 
– 
   
– 
   
 816 
   
– 
   
 816 
Total
$
 2,036 
 
$
 48,042 
 
$
 10,602 
 
$
 (6,160)
 
$
 54,520 
                             
Liabilities
                           
Derivatives
$
– 
 
$
 3,894 
 
$
 16 
 
$
 (3,401)
 
$
 509 
Other(f)
 
– 
   
 981 
   
– 
   
– 
   
 981 
Total
$
– 
 
$
 4,875 
 
$
 16 
 
$
 (3,401)
 
$
 1,490 
                             
December 31, 2011
                           
Assets
                           
Investment securities
                           
   Debt
                           
      U.S. corporate
$
– 
 
$
 20,535 
 
$
 3,235 
 
$
– 
 
$
 23,770 
      State and municipal
 
– 
   
 3,157 
   
 77 
   
– 
   
 3,234 
      Residential mortgage-backed
 
– 
   
 2,568 
   
 41 
   
– 
   
 2,609 
      Commercial mortgage-backed
 
– 
   
 2,824 
   
 4 
   
– 
   
 2,828 
      Asset-backed(c)
 
– 
   
 930 
   
 4,040 
   
– 
   
 4,970 
      Corporate – non-U.S.
 
 71 
   
 1,058 
   
 1,204 
   
– 
   
 2,333 
      Government – non-U.S.
 
 1,003 
   
 1,444 
   
 84 
   
– 
   
 2,531 
       U.S. government and federal agency
 
– 
   
 3,805 
   
 253 
   
– 
   
 4,058 
   Retained interests
 
– 
   
– 
   
 35 
   
– 
   
 35 
   Equity
                           
      Available-for-sale
 
 730 
   
 18 
   
 17 
   
– 
   
 765 
      Trading
 
 241 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
 241 
Derivatives(d)
 
– 
   
 15,252 
   
 393 
   
 (5,604)
   
 10,041 
Other(e)
 
– 
   
– 
   
 817 
   
– 
   
 817 
Total
$
 2,045 
 
$
 51,591 
 
$
 10,200 
 
$
 (5,604)
 
$
 58,232 
                             
Liabilities
                           
Derivatives
$
– 
 
$
 5,010 
 
$
 27 
 
$
 (4,308)
 
$
 729 
Other(f)
 
– 
   
 863 
   
– 
   
– 
   
 863 
Total
$
– 
 
$
 5,873 
 
$
 27 
 
$
 (4,308)
 
$
 1,592 
                             
                             
(a)
There were no securities transferred between Level 1 and Level 2 during the three months ended March 31, 2012.
 
(b)
The netting of derivative receivables and payables is permitted when a legally enforceable master netting agreement exists and when collateral is posted to us.
 
(c)
Includes investments in our CLL business in asset-backed securities collateralized by senior secured loans of high-quality, middle-market companies in a variety of industries.
 
(d)
The fair value of derivatives included an adjustment for non-performance risk. The cumulative adjustment was a loss of $21 million and $13 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. See Note 16 for additional information on the composition of our derivative portfolio.
 
(e)
Included private equity investments and loans designated under the fair value option.
 
(f)
Primarily represented the liability associated with certain of our deferred incentive compensation plans.
 

 
(29)

 

The following tables present the changes in Level 3 instruments measured on a recurring basis for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The majority of our Level 3 balances consist of investment securities classified as available-for-sale with changes in fair value recorded in shareowners’ equity.

Changes in Level 3 Instruments for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
 
                                       
Net
 
(In millions)
                                       
change in
 
         
Net realized/
                             
unrealized
 
       
Net
 
unrealized
                                       
gains
 
     
realized/
 
gains (losses)
                             
(losses)
 
     
unrealized
 
included in
                             
relating to
 
 
Balance
 
gains
 
accumulated
                       
Balance
   
instruments
 
 
at
 
(losses)
 
other
             
Transfers
 
Transfers
 
at
   
still held at
 
 
January 1,
 
included
 
comprehensive
               
into
 
out of
 
March 31,
   
March 31,
 
 
2012 
 
in earnings
(a)
income
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Settlements
 
Level 3
(b)
Level 3
(b)
2012 
   
2012
(c)
                                                               
Investment securities   
                                                             
  Debt
                                                             
    U.S. corporate
$
3,235 
 
$
26 
 
$
38 
 
$
13 
 
$
(31)
 
$
(16)
 
$
– 
 
$
(13)
 
$
3,252 
   
$
– 
 
    State and municipal
 
77 
   
– 
   
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
79 
     
– 
 
    Residential
                                                             
       mortgage-backed
 
41 
   
(3)
   
   
– 
   
– 
   
(1)
   
68 
   
(1)
   
107 
     
– 
 
    Commercial
                                                             
       mortgage-backed
 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
(3)
   
     
– 
 
    Asset-backed
 
4,040 
   
(4)
   
42 
   
341 
   
(31)
   
– 
   
16 
   
– 
   
4,404 
     
– 
 
    Corporate – non-U.S.
 
1,204 
   
(9)
   
60 
   
10 
   
– 
   
(26)
   
14 
   
(4)
   
1,249 
     
– 
 
    Government
                                                             
      – non-U.S.
 
84 
   
(34)
   
35 
   
52 
   
(71)
   
(14)
   
– 
   
– 
   
52 
     
– 
 
    U.S. government and
                                                             
     federal agency
 
253 
   
– 
   
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
260 
     
– 
 
  Retained interests
 
35 
   
– 
   
(4)
   
   
(1)
   
(1)
   
– 
   
– 
   
34 
     
– 
 
  Equity
                                                             
    Available-for-sale
 
17 
   
– 
   
(1)
   
– 
   
– 
   
(1)
   
– 
   
– 
   
15 
     
– 
 
Derivatives(d)(e)
 
369 
   
– 
   
   
(2)
   
– 
   
(2)
   
– 
   
(45)
   
321 
     
(3)
 
Other
 
817 
   
   
– 
   
   
(7)
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
816 
     
 
Total
$
10,176 
 
$
(19)
 
$
183 
 
$
420 
 
$
(141)
 
$
(61)
 
$
98 
 
$
(66)
 
$
10,590 
   
$
 
                                                               
                                                               

(a)
Earnings effects are primarily included in the “GECC revenues from services” and “Interest and other financial charges” captions in the Condensed Statement of Earnings.
 
(b)
Transfers in and out of Level 3 are considered to occur at the beginning of the period. Transfers out of Level 3 were a result of increased use of quotes from independent pricing vendors based on recent trading activity.
 
(c)
Represented the amount of unrealized gains or losses for the period included in earnings.
 
(d)
Represented derivative assets net of derivative liabilities and included cash accruals of $4 million not reflected in the fair value hierarchy table.
 
(e)
Gains (losses) included in net realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in earnings were offset by the earnings effects from the underlying items that were economically hedged. See Note 16.
 
 
(30)

 


Changes in Level 3 Instruments for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
 
         
Net
                           
Net
 
(In millions)
       
 realized/
                             
change in
 
         
unrealized
                             
unrealized
 
       
Net
 
gains
                                       
gains
 
     
realized/
   
(losses)
                             
(losses)
 
     
unrealized
 
included in
                             
relating to
 
 
Balance
 
gains
 
accumulated
                       
Balance
   
instruments
 
 
at
 
(losses)
 
other
               
Transfers
 
Transfers
 
at
   
still held at
 
 
January 1,
 
included
 
comprehensive
               
into
 
out of
 
March 31,
   
March 31,
 
 
2011 
 
in earnings
(a)
income
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Settlements
 
Level 3
(b)
Level 3
(b)
2011 
   
2011
(c)
                                                               
Investment securities   
                                                             
  Debt
                                                             
    U.S. corporate
$
3,199 
 
$
87 
 
$
(23)
 
$
45 
 
$
(114)
 
$
(74)
 
$
– 
 
$
– 
 
$
3,120 
   
$
– 
 
    State and municipal
 
225 
   
– 
   
(5)
   
   
– 
   
(3)
   
– 
   
(11)
   
210 
     
– 
 
    Residential
                                                             
        mortgage-backed
 
66 
   
– 
   
   
   
(4)
   
(1)
   
71 
   
(18)
   
118 
     
– 
 
    Commercial
                                                             
        mortgage-backed
 
49 
   
– 
   
– 
   
   
– 
   
– 
   
   
(48)
   
11 
     
– 
 
    Asset-backed
 
2,540 
   
   
74 
   
371 
   
(109)
   
(10)
   
   
(44)
   
2,826 
     
– 
 
    Corporate
                                                             
        – non-U.S.
 
1,486 
   
(27)
   
54 
   
12 
   
(28)
   
(29)
   
11 
   
– 
   
1,479 
     
– 
 
    Government
                                                             
        – non-U.S.
 
156 
   
– 
   
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
162 
     
– 
 
    U.S. government and
                                                             
       federal agency
 
210 
   
– 
   
(9)
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
201 
     
– 
 
  Retained interests
 
39 
   
(19)
   
34 
   
– 
   
(1)
   
(1)
   
– 
   
– 
   
52 
     
– 
 
  Equity
                                                             
    Available-for-sale
 
24 
   
– 
   
(1)
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
   
(3)
   
21 
     
– 
 
    Trading
 
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
     
– 
 
Derivatives(d)(e)
 
265 
   
28 
   
   
   
– 
   
(185)
   
150 
   
   
272 
     
33 
 
Other
 
906 
   
59 
   
16 
   
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
987 
     
57 
 
Total
$
9,165 
 
$
131 
 
$
153 
 
$
450 
 
$
(256)
 
$
(303)
 
$
237 
 
$
(118)
 
$
9,459 
   
$
90 
 
                                                               
                                                               
(a)  
Earnings effects are primarily included in the “GECC revenues from services” and “Interest and other financial charges” captions in the Condensed Statement of Earnings.
 
(b)  
Transfers in and out of Level 3 are considered to occur at the beginning of the period. Transfers out of Level 3 were a result of increased use of quotes from independent pricing vendors based on recent trading activity.
 
(c)  
Represented the amount of unrealized gains or losses for the period included in earnings.
 
(d)  
Represented derivative assets net of derivative liabilities and included cash accruals of $12 million not reflected in the fair value hierarchy table.
 
(e)  
Gains (losses) included in net realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in earnings were offset by the earnings effects from the underlying items that were economically hedged. See Note 16.
 
 
(31)

 
 

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements
 
The following table represents non-recurring fair value amounts (as measured at the time of the adjustment) for those assets remeasured to fair value on a non-recurring basis during the fiscal year and still held at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. These assets can include loans and long-lived assets that have been reduced to fair value when they are held for sale, impaired loans that have been reduced based on the fair value of the underlying collateral, cost and equity method investments and long-lived assets that are written down to fair value when they are impaired and the remeasurement of retained investments in formerly consolidated subsidiaries upon a change in control that results in deconsolidation of a subsidiary, if we sell a controlling interest and retain a noncontrolling stake in the entity. Assets that are written down to fair value when impaired and retained investments are not subsequently adjusted to fair value unless further impairment occurs.
 
 
Remeasured during
 
Remeasured during
 
the three months ended
 
the year ended
 
March 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
(In millions)
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
                       
Financing receivables and loans held for sale
$
196 
 
$
2,015 
 
$
158 
 
$
5,159 
Cost and equity method investments(a)
 
– 
   
73 
   
– 
   
403 
Long-lived assets, including real estate
 
127 
   
1,271 
   
1,343 
   
3,282 
Total
$
323 
 
$
3,359 
 
$
1,501 
 
$
8,844 
                       
                       
(a)
Includes the fair value of private equity and real estate funds included in Level 3 of $17 million and $123 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
 

The following table represents the fair value adjustments to assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and still held at March 31, 2012 and 2011.
 
 
Three months ended March 31
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
           
Financing receivables and loans held for sale
$
 (126)
 
$
 (363)
Cost and equity method investments(a)
 
 (21)
   
 (50)
Long-lived assets, including real estate(b)
 
 (152)
   
 (568)
Total
$
 (299)
 
$
 (981)
           
           
(a)
Includes fair value adjustments associated with private equity and real estate funds of $(3) million and $(5) million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 
(b)
Includes impairments related to real estate equity properties and investments recorded in other costs and expenses of $50 million and $436 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 

 
 
(32)

 


The following table presents information relating to the significant unobservable inputs of our Level 3 recurring measurements.

                   
   
Fair value at
         
Range
   
March 31,
 
Valuation
 
Unobservable
 
(weighted
(Dollars in millions)
 
2012 
 
technique
 
inputs
 
average)
                   
Recurring fair value measurements
                 
                   
Investment securities
                 
                   
   Debt
                 
                   
      U.S. corporate
 
$
1,539 
 
Income approach
 
Discount rate(a)
 
2.0%-20.9% (10.3%)
                   
      Asset-backed
   
4,358 
 
Income approach
 
Discount rate(a)
 
1.9%-18.0% (4.4%)
                   
      Corporate Non-U.S.
   
713 
 
Income approach
 
Discount rate(a)
 
2.3%-27.2% (9.9%)
                   
   Other financial assets
   
381 
 
Income approach
 
Weighted average
 
8.8%-11.5% (8.8%)
             
cost of capital
   
                   
Non-recurring fair value measurements
                 
                   
Financing receivables and loans held for sale
 
$
1,221 
 
Income approach
 
Capitalization rate(b)
 
6.7%-12.8% (8.2%)
                   
Cost and equity method investments
   
28 
 
Income approach
 
Capitalization rate(b)
 
8.6% (8.6%)
                   
Long-lived assets, including real estate
   
200 
 
Income approach
 
Capitalization rate(b)
 
4.8%-10.6% (6.2%)
                   
 
(a)  
Discount rates are determined based on inputs that market participants would use when pricing investments, including credit and liquidity risk. An increase in the discount rate would result in a decrease in the fair value.
 
(b)  
Represents the rate of return on net operating income which is considered acceptable for an investor and is used to determine a property’s capitalized value. An increase in the capitalization rate would result in a decrease in the fair value.
 

Other Level 3 recurring fair value measurements of $2,999 million and non-recurring measurements of $1,439 million are valued using non-binding broker quotes or other third-party sources. For a description of our process to evaluate third-party pricing servicers, see Note 1 in our 2011 consolidated financial statements. Other recurring fair value measurements of $596 million and non-recurring fair value measurements of $471 million were individually insignificant and utilize a number of different unobservable inputs not subject to meaningful aggregation.

 
 
(33)

 
 


16. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
The following table provides information about the assets and liabilities not carried at fair value in our Condensed Statement of Financial Position. Consistent with ASC 825, Financial Instruments, the table excludes finance leases and non-financial assets and liabilities. Substantially all of the assets discussed below are considered to be Level 3 in accordance with ASC 820. The vast majority of our liabilities’ fair value can be determined based on significant observable inputs and thus considered Level 2 in accordance with ASC 820. Few of the instruments are actively traded and their fair values must often be determined using financial models. Realization of the fair value of these instruments depends upon market forces beyond our control, including marketplace liquidity. For a description on how we estimate fair value, see Note 22 in our 2011 consolidated financial statements.
 
 
At
 
March 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
     
Assets (liabilities)
     
Assets (liabilities)
     
Carrying
         
Carrying
   
 
Notional
 
amount
 
Estimated
 
Notional
 
amount
 
Estimated
(In millions)
amount
 
(net)
 
fair value
 
amount
 
(net)
 
fair value
                                   
                                   
GE
                                 
Assets
                                 
   Investments and notes
                                 
       receivable
$
(a)
 
$
289 
 
$
289 
 
$
(a)
 
$
285 
 
$
285 
Liabilities
                                 
   Borrowings
 
(a)
   
(11,713)
   
(12,687)
   
(a)
   
(11,589)
   
(12,535)
GECC
                                 
Assets
                                 
   Loans
 
(a)
   
245,452 
   
246,781 
   
(a)
   
250,999 
   
251,433 
   Other commercial mortgages
 
(a)
   
1,438 
   
1,459 
   
(a)
   
1,494 
   
1,537 
   Loans held for sale
 
(a)
   
303 
   
303 
   
(a)
   
496 
   
497 
   Other financial instruments(c)
 
(a)
   
1,979 
   
2,499 
   
(a)
   
2,071 
   
2,534 
Liabilities
                                 
   Borrowings and bank
                                 
      deposits(b)(d)
 
(a)
   
(431,873)
   
(443,821)
   
(a)
   
(443,097)
   
(449,403)
   Investment contract benefits
 
(a)
   
(3,457)
   
(4,191)
   
(a)
   
(3,493)
   
(4,240)
   Guaranteed investment
                                 
      contracts
 
(a)
   
(4,135)
   
(4,167)
   
(a)
   
(4,226)
   
(4,266)
   Insurance – credit life(e)
 
2,121 
   
(102)
   
(89)
   
1,944 
   
(106)
   
(88)
                                   
                                   
(a)
These financial instruments do not have notional amounts.
 
(b)
See Note 8.
 
(c)
Principally cost method investments.
 
(d)
Fair values exclude interest rate and currency derivatives designated as hedges of borrowings. Had they been included, the fair value of borrowings at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 would have been reduced by $6,917 million and $9,051 million, respectively.
 
(e)
Net of reinsurance of $2,000 million at both March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.
 
 
(34)

 


Loan Commitments
         
 
Notional amount at
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(In millions)
2012
 
2011
         
Ordinary course of business lending commitments(a)
$
 3,010 
 
$
 3,756 
Unused revolving credit lines(b)
         
   Commercial(c)
 
 17,373 
   
 18,757 
   Consumer – principally credit cards
 
 253,629 
   
 257,646 
           
           
(a)
Excluded investment commitments of $2,179 million and $2,064 million as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
 
(b)
Excluded inventory financing arrangements, which may be withdrawn at our option, of $11,909 million and $12,354 million as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
 
(c)
Included commitments of $12,748 million and $14,057 million as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, associated with secured financing arrangements that could have increased to a maximum of $15,521 million and $17,344 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, based on asset volume under the arrangement.
 


Derivatives and hedging
 
As a matter of policy, we use derivatives for risk management purposes, and we do not use derivatives for speculative purposes. A key risk management objective for our financial services businesses is to mitigate interest rate and currency risk by seeking to ensure that the characteristics of the debt match the assets they are funding. If the form (fixed versus floating) and currency denomination of the debt we issue do not match the related assets, we typically execute derivatives to adjust the nature and tenor of funding to meet this objective. The determination of whether we enter into a derivative transaction or issue debt directly to achieve this objective depends on a number of factors, including market related factors that affect the type of debt we can issue.
 
 
The notional amounts of derivative contracts represent the basis upon which interest and other payments are calculated and are reported gross, except for offsetting foreign currency forward contracts that are executed in order to manage our currency risk of net investment in foreign subsidiaries. Of the outstanding notional amount of $337,000 million, approximately 89% or $300,000 million, is associated with reducing or eliminating the interest rate, currency or market risk between financial assets and liabilities in our financial services businesses. The remaining derivative activities primarily relate to hedging against adverse changes in currency exchange rates and commodity prices related to anticipated sales and purchases and contracts containing certain clauses which meet the accounting definition of a derivative. The instruments used in these activities are designated as hedges when practicable. When we are not able to apply hedge accounting, or when the derivative and the hedged item are both recorded in earnings concurrently, the derivatives are deemed economic hedges and hedge accounting is not applied. This most frequently occurs when we hedge a recognized foreign currency transaction (e.g., a receivable or payable) with a derivative. Since the effects of changes in exchange rates are reflected concurrently in earnings for both the derivative and the transaction, the economic hedge does not require hedge accounting.
 
 
 
(35)

 
The following table provides information about the fair value of our derivatives, by contract type, separating those accounted for as hedges and those that are not.
 
 
At
 
 March 31, 2012
 
 December 31, 2011
 
Fair value
 
Fair value
(In millions)
 
Assets
   
Liabilities
   
Assets
   
Liabilities
                       
Derivatives accounted for as hedges
                     
   Interest rate contracts
$
7,751 
   
1,130 
 
$
9,446 
 
$
1,049 
   Currency exchange contracts
 
1,411 
   
1,577 
   
3,750 
   
2,325 
   Other contracts
 
   
   
   
11 
   
9,163 
   
2,709 
   
13,197 
   
3,385 
                       
Derivatives not accounted for as hedges
                     
   Interest rate contracts
 
439 
   
190 
   
319 
   
241 
   Currency exchange contracts
 
1,967 
   
923 
   
1,748 
   
1,274 
   Other contracts
 
466 
   
88 
   
381 
   
137 
   
2,872 
   
1,201 
   
2,448 
   
1,652 
                       
Netting adjustments(a)
 
(2,975)
   
(2,954)
   
(3,294)
   
(3,281)
                       
Cash collateral(b)(c)
 
(3,185)
   
(447)
   
(2,310)
   
(1,027)
                       
Total
$
5,875 
 
$
509 
 
$
10,041 
 
$
729 
                       
                       
Derivatives are classified in the captions “All other assets” and “All other liabilities” in our financial statements.
 
(a)
The netting of derivative receivables and payables is permitted when a legally enforceable master netting agreement exists. Amounts included fair value adjustments related to our own and counterparty non-performance risk. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the cumulative adjustment for non-performance risk was a loss of $21 million and $13 million, respectively.
 
(b)
Excludes excess cash collateralization of $13 million and $579 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
 
(c)
Excludes securities pledged to us as collateral of $6,755 million and $10,574 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
 

Fair value hedges
 
We use interest rate and currency exchange derivatives to hedge the fair value effects of interest rate and currency exchange rate changes on local and non-functional currency denominated fixed-rate debt. For relationships designated as fair value hedges, changes in fair value of the derivatives are recorded in earnings within interest and other financial charges, along with offsetting adjustments to the carrying amount of the hedged debt. The following table provides information about the earnings effects of our fair value hedging relationships for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 
 
(36)

 
 
Three months ended March 31
 
2012
 
2011
(In millions)
Gain (loss)
 
Gain (loss)
 
Gain (loss)
 
Gain (loss)
 
on hedging
 
on hedged
 
on hedging
 
on hedged
 
derivatives
 
items
 
derivatives
 
items
                       
Interest rate contracts
$
(1,447)
 
$
1,350 
 
$
(1,731)
 
$
1,661 
Currency exchange contracts
 
(48)
   
40 
   
24 
   
(27)
                       
                       
Fair value hedges resulted in $(105) million and $(73) million of ineffectiveness in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In both the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, there were insignificant amounts excluded from the assessment of effectiveness. 

 
Cash flow hedges
 
We use interest rate, currency exchange and commodity derivatives to reduce the variability of expected future cash flows associated with variable rate borrowings and commercial purchase and sale transactions, including commodities. For derivatives that are designated in a cash flow hedging relationship, the effective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative is reported as a component of AOCI and reclassified into earnings contemporaneously and in the same caption with the earnings effects of the hedged transaction.
 
 
The following table provides information about the amounts recorded in AOCI, as well as the gain (loss) recorded in earnings, primarily in interest and other financial charges, when reclassified out of AOCI, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.
 
             
Gain (loss) reclassified
 
Gain (loss) recognized in AOCI
 
from AOCI into earnings
(In millions)
for the three months ended March 31
 
for the three months ended March 31
 
2012 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2011 
                       
Cash flow hedges
                     
Interest rate contracts
$
(27)
 
$
24 
 
$
(141)
 
$
(257)
Currency exchange contracts
 
135 
   
264 
   
14 
   
493 
Commodity contracts
 
   
– 
   
(1)
   
(4)
Total
$
117 
 
$
288 
 
$
(128)
 
$
232 
                       
                       

 
The total pre-tax amount in AOCI related to cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions was a $1,273 million loss at March 31, 2012. We expect to transfer $526 million to earnings as an expense in the next 12 months contemporaneously with the earnings effects of the related forecasted transactions. In both the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we recognized insignificant gains and losses, respectively, related to hedged forecasted transactions and firm commitments that did not occur by the end of the originally specified period. At March 31, 2012 and 2011, the maximum term of derivative instruments that hedge forecasted transactions was 21 years and 22 years, respectively.
 


For cash flow hedges, the amount of ineffectiveness in the hedging relationship and amount of the changes in fair value of the derivatives that are not included in the measurement of ineffectiveness are both reflected in earnings each reporting period. These amounts are primarily reported in GECC revenues from services and totaled $4 million and $28 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Net investment hedges in foreign operations
 
We use currency exchange derivatives to protect our net investments in global operations conducted in non-U.S. dollar currencies. For derivatives that are designated as hedges of net investment in a foreign operation, we assess effectiveness based on changes in spot currency exchange rates. Changes in spot rates on the derivative are recorded as a component of AOCI until such time as the foreign entity is substantially liquidated or sold. The change in fair value of the forward points, which reflects the interest rate differential between the two countries on the derivative, is excluded from the effectiveness assessment.

 
(37)

 
The following table provides information about the amounts recorded in AOCI for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, as well as the gain (loss) recorded in GECC revenues from services when reclassified out of AOCI.
 
 
Gain (loss) recognized in CTA
 
Gain (loss) reclassified from CTA
(In millions)
for the three months ended March 31
 
for the three months ended March 31
 
2012 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2011 
Net investment hedges
                     
Currency exchange contracts
$
(1,502)
 
$
(801)
 
$
(10)
 
$
(338)
                       


The amounts related to the change in the fair value of the forward points that are excluded from the measure of effectiveness were $(220) million and $(278) million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and are recorded in interest and other financial charges.

Free-standing derivatives
 
Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are not designated as hedges are recorded in earnings each period. As discussed above, these derivatives are typically entered into as economic hedges of changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, commodity prices and other risks. Gains or losses related to the derivative are typically recorded in GECC revenues from services or other income, based on our accounting policy. In general, the earnings effects of the item that represent the economic risk exposure are recorded in the same caption as the derivative. Losses for the three months ended March 31, 2012 on derivatives not designated as hedges were $(67) million composed of amounts related to interest rate contracts of $(62) million, currency exchange contracts of $(148) million, and other derivatives of $143 million. These losses were more than offset by the earnings effects from the underlying items that were economically hedged.  Gains for the three months ended March 31, 2011 on derivatives not designated as hedges were $134 million composed of amounts related to interest rate contracts of $24 million, currency exchange contracts of $24 million, and other derivatives of $86 million. These gains more than offset the earnings effects from the underlying items that were economically hedged.

Counterparty credit risk
 
Fair values of our derivatives can change significantly from period to period based on, among other factors, market movements and changes in our positions. We manage counterparty credit risk (the risk that counterparties will default and not make payments to us according to the terms of our agreements) on an individual counterparty basis. Where we have agreed to netting of derivative exposures with a counterparty, we net our exposures with that counterparty and apply the value of collateral posted to us to determine the exposure. We actively monitor these net exposures against defined limits and take appropriate actions in response, including requiring additional collateral.

As discussed above, we have provisions in certain of our master agreements that require counterparties to post collateral (typically, cash or U.S. Treasuries) when our receivable due from the counterparty, measured at current market value, exceeds a specified limit. At March 31, 2012, our exposure to counterparties, including interest due, net of collateral we hold, was $822 million. The fair value of such collateral was $9,970 million, of which $3,215 million was cash and $6,755 million was in the form of securities held by a custodian for our benefit. Under certain of these same agreements, we post collateral to our counterparties for our derivative obligations, the fair value of which was $477 million at March 31, 2012.

Additionally, our master agreements typically contain mutual downgrade provisions that provide the ability of each party to require termination if the long-term credit rating of the counterparty were to fall below A-/A3. In certain of these master agreements, each party also has the ability to require termination if the short-term rating of the counterparty were to fall below A-1/P-1. The net amount relating to our derivative liability subject to these provisions, after consideration of collateral posted by us and outstanding interest payments, was $563 million at March 31, 2012.

 
(38)

 
17. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CREDIT QUALITY OF FINANCING RECEIVABLES AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOSSES ON FINANCING RECEIVABLES
 
We provide further detailed information about the credit quality of our Commercial, Real Estate and Consumer financing receivables portfolios. For each portfolio, we describe the characteristics of the financing receivables and provide information about collateral, payment performance, credit quality indicators, and impairment. We manage these portfolios using delinquency and nonearning data as key performance indicators. The categories used within this section such as impaired loans, troubled debt restructuring (TDR) and nonaccrual financing receivables are defined by the authoritative guidance and we base our categorization on the related scope and definitions contained in the related standards. The categories of nonearning and delinquent are defined by us and are used in our process for managing our financing receivables. Definitions of these categories are provided in Note 1 in our 2011 consolidated financial statements.

COMMERCIAL

Financing Receivables and Allowance for Losses
 
The following table provides further information about general and specific reserves related to Commercial financing receivables.
 
 
(39)

 

 
Financing receivables
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
 
             
CLL
           
   Americas
$
79,645 
 
$
80,505 
 
   Europe
 
35,613 
   
36,899 
 
   Asia
 
11,048 
   
11,635 
 
   Other
 
382 
   
436 
 
Total CLL
 
126,688 
   
129,475 
 
             
Energy Financial Services
 
5,287 
   
5,912 
 
             
GECAS
 
11,721 
   
11,901 
 
             
Other
 
681 
   
1,282 
 
             
Total Commercial financing receivables, before allowance for losses
$
144,377 
 
$
148,570 
 
             
Non-impaired financing receivables
$
138,464 
 
$
142,908 
 
General reserves
 
694 
   
718 
 
             
Impaired loans
 
5,913 
   
5,662 
 
Specific reserves
 
739 
   
812 
 
             
             
Past Due Financing Receivables
 
The following table displays payment performance of Commercial financing receivables.
 
 
March 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
 
Over 30 days
 
Over 90 days
 
Over 30 days
 
Over 90 days
 
 
past due
 
past due
 
past due
 
past due
 
                 
CLL
               
   Americas
1.1 
%
0.7 
%
1.3 
%
0.8 
%
   Europe
4.4 
 
2.4 
 
3.8 
 
2.1 
 
   Asia
1.2 
 
0.6 
 
1.3 
 
1.0 
 
   Other
0.2 
 
– 
 
2.0 
 
0.1 
 
Total CLL
2.0 
 
1.2 
 
2.0 
 
1.2 
 
                 
Energy Financial Services
0.3 
 
0.3 
 
0.3 
 
0.3 
 
                 
GECAS
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
– 
 
                 
Other
6.4 
 
6.1 
 
3.7 
 
3.5 
 
                 
Total
1.8 
 
1.1 
 
1.8 
 
1.1 
 

 
(40)

 

Nonaccrual Financing Receivables
 
The following table provides further information about Commercial financing receivables that are classified as nonaccrual. Of our $4,939 million and $4,718 million of nonaccrual financing receivables at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, $1,539 million and $1,227 million, respectively, are currently paying in accordance with their contractual terms.
 
 
Nonaccrual financing
 
Nonearning financing
 
 
receivables
 
receivables
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March, 31,
 
December 31,
 
(Dollars in millions)
2012 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2011 
 
                         
CLL
                       
   Americas
$
2,473 
 
$
2,417 
 
$
1,664 
 
$
1,862 
 
   Europe
 
1,854 
   
1,599 
   
1,354 
   
1,167 
 
   Asia
 
415 
   
428 
   
245 
   
269 
 
   Other
 
64 
   
68 
   
   
11 
 
Total CLL
 
4,806 
   
4,512 
   
3,272 
   
3,309 
 
                         
Energy Financial Services
 
29 
   
22 
   
29 
   
22 
 
                         
GECAS
 
17 
   
69 
   
17 
   
55 
 
                         
Other
 
87 
   
115 
   
42 
   
65 
 
Total
$
4,939 
 
$
4,718 
 
$
3,360 
 
$
3,451 
 
                         
Allowance for losses percentage
 
29.0 
%
 
32.4 
%
 
42.6 
%
 
44.3 
%
                         
                         

 
(41)

 

Impaired Loans
 
The following table provides information about loans classified as impaired and specific reserves related to Commercial.
 
 
With no specific allowance
 
With a specific allowance
 
Recorded
 
Unpaid
 
Average
 
Recorded
 
Unpaid
     
Average
 
investment
 
principal
 
investment in
 
investment
 
principal
 
Associated
 
investment
(In millions)
in loans
 
balance
 
loans
 
in loans
 
balance
 
allowance
 
in loans
                                         
March 31, 2012
                                       
                                         
CLL
                                       
   Americas
$
2,566 
 
$
2,636 
 
$
2,352 
 
$
1,127 
 
$
1,162 
 
$
362 
 
$
1,247 
   Europe
 
981 
   
986 
   
958 
   
858 
   
862 
   
297 
   
794 
   Asia
 
63 
   
61 
   
74 
   
134 
   
133 
   
52 
   
145 
   Other
 
62 
   
69 
   
58 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
Total CLL
 
3,672 
   
3,752 
   
3,442 
   
2,119 
   
2,157 
   
711 
   
2,191 
Energy Financial Services
 
   
   
   
18 
   
18 
   
10 
   
18 
GECAS
 
14 
   
14 
   
21 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
Other
 
18 
   
18 
   
40 
   
69 
   
69 
   
18 
   
72 
Total
$
3,707 
 
$
3,787 
 
$
3,506 
 
$
2,206 
 
$
2,244 
 
$
739 
 
$
2,281 
                                         
December 31, 2011
                                       
                                         
CLL
                                       
   Americas
$
2,136 
 
$
2,219 
 
$
2,128 
 
$
1,367 
 
$
1,415 
 
$
425 
 
$
1,468 
   Europe
 
936 
   
1,060 
   
1,001 
   
730 
   
717 
   
263 
   
602 
   Asia
 
85 
   
83 
   
94 
   
156 
   
128 
   
84 
   
214 
   Other
 
54 
   
58 
   
13 
   
11 
   
11 
   
   
Total CLL
 
3,211 
   
3,420 
   
3,236 
   
2,264 
   
2,271 
   
774 
   
2,289 
Energy Financial Services
 
   
   
20 
   
18 
   
18 
   
   
87 
GECAS
 
28 
   
28 
   
59 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
11 
Other
 
62 
   
63 
   
67 
   
75 
   
75 
   
29 
   
97 
Total
$
3,305 
 
$
3,515 
 
$
3,382 
 
$
2,357 
 
$
2,364 
 
$
812 
 
$
2,484 
                                         
                                         
We recognized $57 million, $193 million and $42 million of interest income, including $23 million, $59 million and $10 million on a cash basis, for the three months ended March 31, 2012, the year ended December 31, 2011 and the three months ended March 31, 2011, respectively, principally in our CLL Americas business. The total average investment in impaired loans for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011 was $5,787 million and $5,866 million, respectively.

 
(42)

 
Impaired loans classified as TDRs in our CLL business were $3,985 million and $3,642 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, and were primarily attributable to CLL Americas ($3,017 million and $2,746 million, respectively).  For the three months ended March 31, 2012, we modified $794 million of loans classified as TDRs, primarily in CLL Americas ($592 million) and CLL EMEA ($104 million).  Changes to these loans primarily included debt to equity exchange, extensions, interest only payment periods and forbearance or other actions, which are in addition to, or sometimes in lieu of, fees and rate increases. Of our $2,384 million of modifications classified as TDRs in the last twelve months, $108 million have subsequently experienced a payment default in the last three months.
 
Credit Quality Indicators
 
Substantially all of our Commercial financing receivables portfolio is secured lending and we assess the overall quality of the portfolio based on the potential risk of loss measure. The metric incorporates both the borrower’s credit quality along with any related collateral protection.

Our internal risk ratings process is an important source of information in determining our allowance for losses and represents a comprehensive, statistically validated approach to evaluate risk in our financing receivables portfolios. In deriving our internal risk ratings, we stratify our Commercial portfolios into twenty-one categories of default risk and/or six categories of loss given default to group into three categories: A, B and C. Our process starts by developing an internal risk rating for our borrowers, which are based upon our proprietary models using data derived from borrower financial statements, agency ratings, payment history information, equity prices and other commercial borrower characteristics. We then evaluate the potential risk of loss for the specific lending transaction in the event of borrower default, which takes into account such factors as applicable collateral value, historical loss and recovery rates for similar transactions, and our collection capabilities. Our internal risk ratings process and the models we use are subject to regular monitoring and validation controls. The frequency of rating updates is set by our credit risk policy, which requires annual Audit Committee approval. The models are updated on a regular basis and statistically validated annually, or more frequently as circumstances warrant.

The table below summarizes our Commercial financing receivables by risk category. As described above, financing receivables are assigned one of twenty-one risk ratings based on our process and then these are grouped by similar characteristics into three categories in the table below. Category A is characterized by either high credit quality borrowers or transactions with significant collateral coverage which substantially reduces or eliminates the risk of loss in the event of borrower default. Category B is characterized by borrowers with weaker credit quality than those in Category A, or transactions with moderately strong collateral coverage which minimizes but may not fully mitigate the risk of loss in the event of default. Category C is characterized by borrowers with higher levels of default risk relative to our overall portfolio or transactions where collateral coverage may not fully mitigate a loss in the event of default.

 
(43)

 
 
 
Secured
(In millions)
A
 
B
 
C
 
Total
                       
March 31, 2012
                     
                       
CLL
                     
   Americas
$
73,845 
 
$
1,967 
 
$
3,833 
 
$
79,645 
   Europe
 
32,060 
   
1,182 
   
1,228 
   
34,470 
   Asia
 
10,196 
   
108 
   
572 
   
10,876 
   Other
 
295 
   
– 
   
87 
   
382 
Total CLL
 
116,396 
   
3,257 
   
5,720 
   
125,373 
                       
Energy Financial Services
 
5,010 
   
69 
   
82 
   
5,161 
                       
GECAS
 
11,226 
   
447 
   
48 
   
11,721 
                       
Other
 
681 
   
– 
   
– 
   
681 
Total
$
133,313 
 
$
3,773 
 
$
5,850 
 
$
142,936 
                       
December 31, 2011
                     
                       
CLL
                     
   Americas
$
73,103 
 
$
2,816 
 
$
4,586 
 
$
80,505 
   Europe
 
33,481 
   
1,080 
   
1,002 
   
35,563 
   Asia
 
10,644 
   
116 
   
685 
   
11,445 
   Other
 
345 
   
– 
   
91 
   
436 
Total CLL
 
117,573 
   
4,012 
   
6,364 
   
127,949 
                       
Energy Financial Services
 
5,727 
   
24 
   
18 
   
5,769 
                       
GECAS
 
10,881 
   
970 
   
50 
   
11,901 
                       
Other
 
1,282 
   
– 
   
– 
   
1,282 
Total
$
135,463 
 
$
5,006 
 
$
6,432 
 
$
146,901 
                       


For our secured financing receivables portfolio, our collateral position and ability to work out problem accounts mitigates our losses. Our asset managers have deep industry expertise that enables us to identify the optimum approach to default situations. We price risk premiums for weaker credits at origination, closely monitor changes in creditworthiness through our risk ratings and watch list process, and are engaged early with deteriorating credits to minimize economic loss. Secured financing receivables within risk Category C are predominantly in our CLL businesses and are primarily composed of senior term lending facilities and factoring programs secured by various asset types including inventory, accounts receivable, cash, equipment and related business facilities as well as franchise finance activities secured by underlying equipment.

Loans within Category C are reviewed and monitored regularly, and classified as impaired when it is probable that they will not pay in accordance with contractual terms. Our internal risk rating process identifies credits warranting closer monitoring; and as such, these loans are not necessarily classified as nonearning or impaired.

Substantially all of our unsecured Commercial financing receivables portfolio is attributable to our Interbanca S.p.A. and GE Sanyo Credit acquisitions in Europe and Asia, respectively. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, these financing receivables included $308 million and $325 million rated A, $697 million and $748 million rated B, and $436 million and $596 million rated C, respectively.

 
(44)

 
REAL ESTATE
 

 
Financing Receivables and Allowance for Losses
 
The following table provides further information about general and specific reserves related to Real Estate financing receivables.
 
 
Financing receivables
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
 
             
Debt
$
23,518 
 
$
24,501 
 
Business Properties
 
8,013 
   
8,248 
 
             
Total Real Estate financing receivables, before allowance for losses
$
31,531 
 
$
32,749 
 
             
Non-impaired financing receivables
$
23,292 
 
$
24,002 
 
General reserves
 
255 
   
267 
 
             
Impaired loans
 
8,239 
   
8,747 
 
Specific reserves
 
674 
   
822 
 


Past Due Financing Receivables
 
The following table displays payment performance of Real Estate financing receivables.
 
 
March 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
 
Over 30 days
 
Over 90 days
 
Over 30 days
 
Over 90 days
 
 
past due
 
past due
 
past due
 
past due
 
                         
Debt
 
2.8 
%
 
2.3 
%
 
2.4 
%
 
2.3 
%
Business Properties
 
3.7 
   
3.0 
   
3.9 
   
3.0 
 
Total
 
3.1 
   
2.5 
   
2.8 
   
2.5 
 


Nonaccrual Financing Receivables
 
The following table provides further information about Real Estate financing receivables that are classified as nonaccrual. Of our $6,551 million and $6,949 million of nonaccrual financing receivables at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, $5,575 million and $6,061 million, respectively, are currently paying in accordance with their contractual terms.
 
 
Nonaccrual financing
 
Nonearning financing
 
 
receivables
 
receivables
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
(Dollars in millions)
2012 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2011 
 
                         
Debt
$
6,010 
 
$
6,351 
 
$
522 
 
$
541 
 
Business Properties
 
541 
   
598 
   
239 
   
249 
 
Total
$
6,551 
 
$
6,949 
 
$
761 
 
$
790 
 
                         
Allowance for losses percentage
 
14.2 
%
 
15.7 
%
 
122.1 
%
 
137.8 
%

 
(45)

 

Impaired Loans
 
The following table provides information about loans classified as impaired and specific reserves related to Real Estate.
 
 
With no specific allowance
 
With a specific allowance
 
Recorded
 
Unpaid
 
Average
 
Recorded
 
Unpaid
     
Average
 
investment
 
principal
 
investment
 
investment
 
principal
 
Associated
 
investment
(In millions)
in loans
 
balance
 
in loans
 
in loans
 
balance
 
allowance
 
in loans
                                         
March 31, 2012
                                       
                                         
Debt
$
3,752 
 
$
3,803 
 
$
3,655 
 
$
3,914 
 
$
3,993 
 
$
585 
 
$
4,237 
Business Properties
 
201 
   
201 
   
217 
   
372 
   
372 
   
89 
   
385 
Total
$
3,953 
 
$
4,004 
 
$
3,872 
 
$
4,286 
 
$
4,365 
 
$
674 
 
$
4,622 
                                         
December 31, 2011
                                       
                                         
Debt
$
3,558 
 
$
3,614 
 
$
3,568 
 
$
4,560 
 
$
4,652 
 
$
717 
 
$
5,435 
Business Properties
 
232 
   
232 
   
215 
   
397 
   
397 
   
105 
   
460 
Total
$
3,790 
 
$
3,846 
 
$
3,783 
 
$
4,957 
 
$
5,049 
 
$
822 
 
$
5,895 
                                         
                                         

We recognized $90 million, $399 million and $105 million of interest income, including $68 million, $339 million and $105 million on a cash basis, for the three months ended March 31, 2012, the year ended December 31, 2011 and the three months ended March 31, 2011, respectively, principally in our Real Estate-Debt portfolio. The total average investment in impaired loans for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011 was $8,494 million and $9,678 million, respectively.

Real Estate TDRs decreased from $7,006 million at December 31, 2011 to $6,606 million at March 31, 2012, primarily driven by resolution of TDRs through paydowns, restructurings and foreclosures, partially offset by extensions of loans scheduled to mature during 2012, some of which were classified as TDRs upon modification. We deem loan modifications to be TDRs when we have granted a concession to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty and we do not receive adequate compensation in the form of an effective interest rate that is at current market rates of interest given the risk characteristics of the loan or other consideration that compensates us for the value of the concession. The limited liquidity and higher return requirements in the real estate market for loans with higher loan-to-value (LTV) ratios has typically resulted in the conclusion that the modified terms are not at current market rates of interest, even if the modified loans are expected to be fully recoverable.  For the three months ended March 31, 2012, we modified $1,067 million of loans classified as TDRs, substantially all in our Debt portfolio. Changes to these loans primarily included maturity extensions, principal payment acceleration, changes to collateral or covenant terms and cash sweeps, which are in addition to, or sometimes in lieu of, fees and rate increases. Of our $3,107 million of modifications classified as TDRs in the last twelve months, $183 million have subsequently experienced a payment default in the last three months.
 
Credit Quality Indicators
 
Due to the primarily non-recourse nature of our Debt portfolio, loan-to-value ratios provide the best indicators of the credit quality of the portfolio. By contrast, the credit quality of the Business Properties portfolio is primarily influenced by the strength of the borrower’s general credit quality, which is reflected in our internal risk rating process, consistent with the process we use for our Commercial portfolio.
 
 
(46)

 

 
Loan-to-value ratio
 
March 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
   
Less than
   
80% to
   
Greater than
   
Less than
   
80% to
   
Greater than
(In millions)
80%
 
95%
 
95%
 
80%
 
95%
 
95%
                                   
Debt
$
14,041 
 
$
4,578 
 
$
4,899 
 
$
14,454 
 
$
4,593 
 
$
5,454 
                                   

                                   
 
Internal Risk Rating
 
March 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
(In millions)
A
 
B
 
C
 
A
 
B
 
C
                                   
Business
                                 
   Properties
$
7,489 
 
$
102 
 
$
422 
 
$
7,628 
 
$
110 
 
$
510 


Within Real Estate-Debt, these financing receivables are primarily concentrated in our North American and European Lending platforms and are secured by various property types. A substantial majority of the Real Estate-Debt financing receivables with loan-to-value ratios greater than 95% are paying in accordance with contractual terms. Substantially all of these loans and substantially all of the Real Estate-Business Properties financing receivables included in Category C are impaired loans which are subject to the specific reserve evaluation process described in Note 1 in our 2011 consolidated financial statements. The ultimate recoverability of impaired loans is driven by collection strategies that do not necessarily depend on the sale of the underlying collateral and include full or partial repayments through third-party refinancing and restructurings.

CONSUMER
 
At March 31, 2012, our U.S. consumer financing receivables included private-label credit card and sales financing for approximately 51 million customers across the U.S. with no metropolitan area accounting for more than 6% of the portfolio. Of the total U.S. consumer financing receivables, approximately 64% relate to credit card loans, which are often subject to profit and loss sharing arrangements with the retailer (which are recorded in revenues), and the remaining 36% are sales finance receivables, which provide financing to customers in areas such as electronics, recreation, medical and home improvement.

Financing Receivables and Allowance for Losses
 
The following table provides further information about general and specific reserves related to Consumer financing receivables.
 
 
Financing receivables
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
 
             
Non-U.S. residential mortgages
$
35,257 
 
$
35,550 
 
Non-U.S. installment and revolving credit
 
18,963 
   
18,544 
 
U.S. installment and revolving credit
 
44,283 
   
46,689 
 
Non-U.S. auto
 
5,166 
   
5,691 
 
Other
 
7,520 
   
7,244 
 
Total Consumer financing receivables, before allowance for losses
$
111,189 
 
$
113,718 
 
             
Non-impaired financing receivables
$
108,172 
 
$
110,825 
 
General reserves
 
2,692 
   
2,891 
 
             
Impaired loans
 
3,017 
   
2,893 
 
Specific reserves
 
660 
   
680 
 

 
(47)

 

Past Due Financing Receivables
 
The following table displays payment performance of Consumer financing receivables.
 
 
March 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
 
Over 30 days
 
Over 90 days
 
Over 30 days
 
Over 90 days
 
 
past due
 
past due(a)
 
past due
 
past due(a)
 
                         
Non-U.S. residential mortgages
 
12.0 
%
 
8.0 
%
 
12.3 
%
 
7.9 
%
Non-U.S. installment and revolving credit
 
4.3 
   
1.2 
   
4.1 
   
1.2 
 
U.S. installment and revolving credit
 
4.4 
   
2.0 
   
5.0 
   
2.2 
 
Non-U.S. auto
 
3.2 
   
0.5 
   
3.1 
   
0.5 
 
Other
 
3.3 
   
1.9 
   
3.5 
   
2.0 
 
Total
 
6.7 
   
3.7 
   
6.9 
   
3.7 
 
                         
                         
 
(a)  
Included $28 million and $45 million of loans at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, which are over 90 days past due and accruing interest, mainly representing accretion on loans acquired at a discount.
 


Nonaccrual Financing Receivables
 
The following table provides further information about Consumer financing receivables that are classified as nonaccrual.
 
 
Nonaccrual financing
 
Nonearning financing
 
 
receivables
 
receivables
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
(Dollars in millions)
2012
 
2011 
 
2012
 
2011 
 
                         
Non-U.S. residential mortgages
$
2,975 
 
$
2,995 
 
$
2,863 
 
$
2,870 
 
Non-U.S. installment and revolving credit
 
253 
   
321 
   
253 
   
263 
 
U.S. installment and revolving credit
 
876 
   
990 
   
876 
   
990 
 
Non-U.S. auto
 
30 
   
43 
   
30 
   
43 
 
Other
 
477 
   
487 
   
381 
   
419 
 
Total
$
4,611 
 
$
4,836 
 
$
4,403 
 
$
4,585 
 
                         
Allowance for losses percentage
 
72.7 
%
 
73.8 
%
 
76.1 
%
 
77.9 
%

 
(48)

 

Impaired Loans
 
The vast majority of our Consumer nonaccrual financing receivables are smaller balance homogeneous loans evaluated collectively, by portfolio, for impairment and therefore are outside the scope of the disclosure requirement for impaired loans. Accordingly, impaired loans in our Consumer business represent restructured smaller balance homogeneous loans meeting the definition of a TDR, and are therefore subject to the disclosure requirement for impaired loans, and commercial loans in our Consumer–Other portfolio. The recorded investment of these impaired loans totaled $3,017 million (with an unpaid principal balance of $2,984 million) and comprised $109 million with no specific allowance, primarily all in our Consumer–Other portfolio, and $2,908 million with a specific allowance of $660 million at March 31, 2012. The impaired loans with a specific allowance included $314 million with a specific allowance of $100 million in our Consumer–Other portfolio and $2,594 million with a specific allowance of $560 million across the remaining Consumer business and had an unpaid principal balance and average investment of $2,882 million and $2,866 million, respectively, at March 31, 2012. We recognized $43 million, $141 million and $32 million of interest income, including $4 million, $15 million and $1 million on a cash basis, for the three months ended March 31, 2012, the year ended December 31, 2011 and the three months ended March 31, 2011, respectively, principally in our Consumer–U.S. installment and revolving credit portfolios. The total average investment in impaired loans for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011 was $2,955 million and $2,623 million, respectively.

Impaired loans classified as TDRs in our Consumer business were $2,888 million and $2,723 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.  We utilize certain loan modification programs for borrowers experiencing financial difficulties in our Consumer loan portfolio. These loan modification programs primarily include interest rate reductions and payment deferrals in excess of three months, which were not part of the terms of the original contract, and are primarily concentrated in our non-U.S. residential mortgage and U.S. credit card portfolios.  For the three months ended March 31, 2012, we modified $503 million of consumer loans for borrowers experiencing financial difficulties, which are classified as TDRs, and included $346 million of non-U.S. consumer loans, primarily residential mortgages, credit cards and personal loans and $157 million of U.S. consumer loans, primarily credit cards. We expect borrowers whose loans have been modified under these programs to continue to be able to meet their contractual obligations upon the conclusion of the modification. Of our $2,073 million of modifications classified as TDRs in the last twelve months, $168 million have subsequently experienced a payment default in the last three months, primarily in our installment and revolving credit portfolios.

Credit Quality Indicators
 
Our Consumer financing receivables portfolio comprises both secured and unsecured lending. Secured financing receivables comprise residential loans and lending to small and medium-sized enterprises predominantly secured by auto and equipment, inventory finance, and cash flow loans. Unsecured financing receivables include private-label credit card financing. A substantial majority of these cards are not for general use and are limited to the products and services sold by the retailer. The private label portfolio is diverse with no metropolitan area accounting for more than 5% of the related portfolio.

 
(49)

 
Non-U.S. residential mortgages
 
For our secured non-U.S. residential mortgage book, we assess the overall credit quality of the portfolio through loan-to-value ratios (the ratio of the outstanding debt on a property to the value of that property at origination). In the event of default and repossession of the underlying collateral, we have the ability to remarket and sell the properties to eliminate or mitigate the potential risk of loss. The table below provides additional information about our non-U.S. residential mortgages based on loan-to-value ratios.
 
                                   
 
Loan-to-value ratio
 
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
80% or
 
Greater than
 
Greater than
 
80% or
 
Greater than
 
Greater than
(In millions)
less
 
80% to 90%
 
90%
 
less
 
80% to 90%
 
90%
                                   
Non-U.S.
                                 
   residential
                                 
   mortgages
$
19,670 
 
$
6,061 
 
$
9,526 
 
$
19,834 
 
$
6,087 
 
$
9,629 


The majority of these financing receivables are in our U.K. and France portfolios and have re-indexed loan-to-value ratios of 84% and 56%, respectively. We have third-party mortgage insurance for approximately 69% of the balance of Consumer non-U.S. residential mortgage loans with loan-to-value ratios greater than 90% at March 31, 2012. Such loans were primarily originated in the U.K., Poland and France.

Installment and Revolving Credit
 
For our unsecured lending products, including the non-U.S. and U.S. installment and revolving credit and non-U.S. auto portfolios, we assess overall credit quality using internal and external credit scores. Our internal credit scores imply a probability of default which we consistently translate into three approximate credit bureau equivalent credit score categories, including (a) 681 or higher, which are considered the strongest credits; (b) 615 to 680, considered moderate credit risk; and (c) 614 or less, which are considered weaker credits.
 
 
Internal ratings translated to approximate credit bureau equivalent score
 
March 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
681 or
 
615 to
 
614 or
 
681 or
 
615 to
 
614 or
(In millions)
higher
 
680 
 
less
 
higher
 
680 
 
less
                                   
Non-U.S.
                                 
   installment and
                                 
   revolving credit
$
10,391 
 
$
4,765 
 
$
3,807 
 
$
9,913 
 
$
4,838 
 
$
3,793 
U.S. installment
                                 
   and revolving
                                 
   credit
 
26,917 
   
9,220 
   
8,146 
   
28,918 
   
9,398 
   
8,373 
Non-U.S. auto
 
3,705 
   
903 
   
558 
   
3,927 
   
1,092 
   
672 

 
(50)

 

Of those financing receivable accounts with credit bureau equivalent scores of 614 or less at March 31, 2012, 96% relate to installment and revolving credit accounts. These smaller balance accounts have an average outstanding balance less than one thousand U.S. dollars and are primarily concentrated in our retail card and sales finance receivables in the U.S. (which are often subject to profit and loss sharing arrangements), and closed-end loans outside the U.S., which minimizes the potential for loss in the event of default. For lower credit scores, we adequately price for the incremental risk at origination and monitor credit migration through our risk ratings process. We continuously adjust our credit line underwriting management and collection strategies based on customer behavior and risk profile changes.

Consumer – Other
 
Secured lending in Consumer – Other comprises loans to small and medium-sized enterprises predominantly secured by auto and equipment, inventory finance, and cash flow loans. We develop our internal risk ratings for this portfolio in a manner consistent with the process used to develop our Commercial credit quality indicators, described above. We use the borrower’s credit quality and underlying collateral strength to determine the potential risk of loss from these activities.

At March 31, 2012, Consumer – Other financing receivables of $6,170 million, $429 million and $921 million were rated A, B, and C, respectively. At December 31, 2011, Consumer – Other financing receivables of $5,580 million, $757 million and $907 million were rated A, B, and C, respectively.


18. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
 
We securitize financial assets and arrange other forms of asset-backed financing in the ordinary course of business. The securitization transactions we engage in are similar to those used by many financial institutions. These securitization transactions serve as alternative funding sources for a variety of diversified lending and securities transactions. Historically, we have used both GE-supported and third-party VIEs to execute off-balance sheet securitization transactions funded in the commercial paper and term markets. The largest group of VIEs that we are involved with are former Qualified Special Purpose Entities (QSPEs), which under guidance in effect through December 31, 2009 were excluded from the scope of consolidation standards based on their characteristics. 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 2012 or 2011.

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 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.


 
 
(51)

 

Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
 
We consolidate VIEs because we have the power to direct the activities that significantly affect the VIEs 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 are funded by the issuance of GICs. These entities were consolidated in 2003 and ceased issuing new investment contracts beginning in the first quarter of 2010. Since 2004, GECC has fully guaranteed repayment of these entities’ GIC obligations. These obligations include conditions under which certain GIC 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.  To the extent that amounts due were to exceed the ultimate value of proceeds realized from Trinity assets, GECC would be required to provide such excess amount. Following the April 3, 2012 Moody’s downgrade of GECC’s long-term credit ratings to A1, substantially all of these GICs became redeemable by the holders. On May 1, 2012, holders of $1,989 million of GICs redeemed their holdings and GECC made related cash payments. The remaining outstanding GICs will continue to be subject to the existing terms and maturities of their respective contracts.

·  
Consolidated Securitization Entities (CSEs) comprise primarily our previously unconsolidated QSPEs that were consolidated on January 1, 2010 in connection with our adoption of ASU 2009-16 & 17. These entities were created to facilitate securitization of financial assets and other forms of asset-backed financing which serve as an alternative funding source by providing access to the commercial paper and term markets. The securitization transactions executed with these entities are similar to those used by many financial institutions and substantially 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 GE. The creditors of these entities have no claim on other assets of GE.

·  
Other remaining assets and liabilities of consolidated VIEs relate primarily to four categories of entities: (1) enterprises we acquired that had previously created asset-backed financing entities to fund commercial, middle-market and equipment loans; we are the collateral manager for these entities; (2) joint ventures that lease light industrial equipment; (3) other entities that are involved in power generating and leasing activities; and (4) insurance entities that, among other lines of business, provide property and casualty and workers’ compensation coverage for GE.

 
(52)

 
The table below summarizes the assets and liabilities of consolidated VIEs described above.
 
     
Consolidated Securitization Entities
       
     
Credit
     
Real
 
Trade
       
(In millions)
Trinity
 
Cards
(a)
Equipment
(a)
Estate
 
Receivables
 
Other
(b)
Total
                                         
March 31, 2012
                                       
Assets(c)
                                       
Financing
                                       
   receivables, net
$
– 
 
$
 19,801 
 
$
 11,325 
 
$
 3,183 
 
$
 1,354 
 
$
 2,828 
 
$
 38,491 
Investment securities
 
 4,100 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
 1,046 
   
 5,146 
Other assets
 
 326 
   
 21 
   
 363 
   
 211 
   
– 
   
 4,050 
   
 4,971 
Total
$
 4,426 
 
$
 19,822 
 
$
 11,688 
 
$
 3,394 
 
$
 1,354 
 
$
 7,924 
 
$
 48,608 
                                         
Liabilities(c)
                                       
Borrowings
$
– 
 
$
– 
 
$
 3 
 
$
 26 
 
$
– 
 
$
 1,387 
 
$
 1,416 
Non-recourse
                                       
   borrowings
 
– 
   
 14,044 
   
 9,063 
   
 3,299 
   
 1,582 
   
 856 
   
 28,844 
Other liabilities
 
 4,333 
   
 83 
   
– 
   
 3 
   
 11 
   
 1,273 
   
 5,703 
Total
$
 4,333 
 
$
 14,127 
 
$
 9,066 
 
$
 3,328 
 
$
 1,593 
 
$
 3,516 
 
$
 35,963 
                                         
December 31, 2011
                                       
Assets(c)
                                       
Financing
                                       
   receivables, net
$
– 
 
$
 19,229 
 
$
 10,523 
 
$
 3,521 
 
$
 1,614 
 
$
 2,973 
 
$
 37,860 
Investment securities
 
 4,289 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
– 
   
 1,031 
   
 5,320 
Other assets
 
 389 
   
 17 
   
 283 
   
 210 
   
– 
   
 2,636 
   
 3,535 
Total
$
 4,678 
 
$
 19,246 
 
$
 10,806 
 
$
 3,731 
 
$
 1,614 
 
$
 6,640 
 
$
 46,715 
                                         
Liabilities(c)
                                       
Borrowings
$
– 
 
$
– 
 
$
 2 
 
$
 25 
 
$
– 
 
$
 821 
 
$
 848 
Non-recourse
                                       
   borrowings
 
– 
   
 14,184 
   
 8,166 
   
 3,659 
   
 1,769 
   
 980 
   
 28,758 
Other liabilities
 
 4,456 
   
 37 
   
– 
   
 19 
   
 23 
   
 1,071 
   
 5,606 
Total
$
 4,456 
 
$
 14,221 
 
$
 8,168 
 
$
 3,703 
 
$
 1,792 
 
$
 2,872 
 
$
 35,212 
                                         
                                         
(a)
We provide servicing to the CSEs and are contractually permitted to commingle cash collected from customers on financing receivables sold to 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. We are also owed amounts from the CSEs related to purchased financial assets which have yet to be funded or available excess cash flows due to GE.  At March 31, 2012, the amounts owed to the CSEs and receivable from the CSEs were $6,226 million and $4,523 million, respectively.
 
(b)
Includes $1,333 million in other assets and $594 million of borrowings at March 31, 2012 due to the consolidation of an entity involved in power generating activities. This entity was previously subject to a leveraged lease and we consolidated this entity in March 2012 following the execution of an agreement that gave us the power to direct activities of this entity.
 
(c)
Asset amounts exclude intercompany receivables for cash collected on behalf of the entities by GE 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.
 

 
Total revenues from our consolidated VIEs were $1,587 million and $1,651 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Related expenses consisted primarily of provisions for losses of $200 million and $362 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and interest and other financial charges of $133 million and $156 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. These amounts do not include intercompany revenues and costs, principally fees and interest between GE 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.

 
(53)

 
The largest unconsolidated VIE with which we are involved is Penske Truck Leasing (PTL), a joint venture and limited partnership formed in 1988 between Penske Truck Leasing Corporation (PTLC) and GE. PTLC is the sole general partner of PTL and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Penske Corporation. PTL is engaged in truck leasing and support services, including full-service leasing, dedicated logistics support and contract maintenance programs, as well as rental operations serving commercial and consumer customers. At March 31, 2012, our investment of $7,276 million primarily comprised a 49.9% partnership interest of $822 million and loans and advances of $6,418 million. GECC continues to provide loans under long-term revolving credit and letter of credit facilities to PTL.

Other significant exposures to unconsolidated VIEs at March 31, 2012 include an investment in asset-backed securities issued by a senior secured loan fund ($4,368 million); investments in real estate entities ($2,452 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 ($1,748 million). The vast majority of our other unconsolidated entities consist of passive investments in various asset-backed financing entities.

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: “All other assets” for investments accounted for under the equity method, and “Financing receivables – net” for debt financing provided to these entities. Our investments in unconsolidated VIEs at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 follow.
 
 
At
 
 March 31, 2012
 
 December 31, 2011
(In millions)
 
PTL
   
All other
   
Total
   
PTL
 
All other
 
Total
                                   
                                   
Other assets and investment
                                 
   securities
$
7,276 
 
$
7,325 
 
$
14,601 
 
$
7,038 
 
$
6,954 
 
$
13,992 
Financing receivables – net
 
– 
   
2,470 
   
2,470 
   
– 
   
2,507 
   
2,507 
Total investments
 
7,276 
   
9,795 
   
17,071 
   
7,038 
   
9,461 
   
16,499 
Contractual obligations to fund
                                 
   investments or guarantees
 
600 
   
2,144 
   
2,744 
   
600 
   
2,253 
   
2,853 
Revolving lines of credit
 
1,080 
   
74 
   
1,154 
   
1,356 
   
92 
   
1,448 
Total
$
8,956 
 
$
12,013 
 
$
20,969 
 
$
8,994 
 
$
11,806 
 
$
20,800 


In addition to the entities included in the table above, we also hold passive investments in RMBS, commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and asset-backed securities (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.


19. INTERCOMPANY TRANSACTIONS
 
Transactions between related companies are made on an arms-length basis, are eliminated and consist primarily of GE customer receivables sold to GECC; GECC services for trade receivables management and material procurement; buildings and equipment (including automobiles) leased between GE and GECC; information technology (IT) and other services sold to GECC by GE; aircraft engines manufactured by GE that are installed on aircraft purchased by GECC from third-party producers for lease to others; and various investments, loans and allocations of GE corporate overhead costs.

 
(54)

 
These intercompany transactions are reported in the GE and GECC columns of our financial statements, but are eliminated in deriving our consolidated financial statements. Effects of these eliminations on our consolidated cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities include the following. Net decrease (increase) in GE customer receivables sold to GECC of $(48) million and $959 million have been eliminated from consolidated cash from operating and investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Eliminations of intercompany borrowings (includes GE investment in GECC short-term borrowings) of $508 million and $247 million have been eliminated from financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Other reclassifications and eliminations of $(199) million and $31 million have been eliminated from consolidated cash from operating activities and $(220) million and $(297) million have been eliminated from consolidated cash from investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
A. Results of Operations
 
General Electric Company’s consolidated financial statements represent the combination of the industrial manufacturing and product services businesses of General Electric Company (GE) and the financial services businesses of General Electric Corporation (GECC or financial services).

In the accompanying analysis of financial information, we sometimes use information derived from consolidated financial information but not presented in our financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Certain of these data are considered “non-GAAP financial measures” under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules. For such measures, we have provided supplemental explanations and reconciliations in Exhibit 99(a) to this Form 10-Q Report.

Unless otherwise indicated, we refer to captions such as revenues and other income and earnings from continuing operations attributable to the Company simply as “revenues” and “earnings” throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis. Similarly, discussion of other matters in our condensed, consolidated financial statements relates to continuing operations unless otherwise indicated.

Overview
 
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to the Company decreased 4% to $3.251 billion in the first quarter of 2012 compared with $3.398 billion in the first quarter of 2011. Earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations were $0.31 in both the first quarter of 2012 and 2011. Operating earnings (non-GAAP measure), which excludes non-operating pension costs, increased 1% to $3.587 billion in the first quarter of 2012 compared with $3.561 billion in the first quarter of 2011. Operating earnings per share (non-GAAP measure) increased 3% to $0.34 in the first quarter of 2012 compared with $0.33 in the first quarter of 2011. Operating EPS excluding one-time items (non-GAAP measure) increased 17% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the first quarter of 2011.

Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, was $(0.2) billion in the first quarter of 2012 compared with an insignificant amount in the first quarter of 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, we recorded a loss of $0.2 billion related to the discontinued operations of our Consumer Ireland business. For additional information related to discontinued operations, see Note 2 to the condensed, consolidated financial statements.

Net earnings attributable to GE common shareowners decreased 10% to $3.034 billion and EPS decreased 6% to $0.29 in the first quarter of 2012 compared with $3.358 billion and $0.31, respectively, in the first quarter of 2011.

 
(55)

 
Revenues of $35.2 billion in the first quarter of 2012 decreased 8% compared with the first quarter of 2011, reflecting the net effects of acquisitions and dispositions and the stronger U.S. dollar, partially offset by organic revenue growth. Revenues excluding the impact of NBCU were 4% higher compared with the first quarter of 2011. Industrial sales increased 7% to $23.7 billion, primarily reflecting an increase in organic revenue. Sales of product services (including sales of spare parts and related services) of $10.5 billion in the first quarter of 2012 increased 11% compared with the first quarter of 2011. Financial services revenues decreased 12% over the comparable period of last year to $11.4 billion as a result of the absence of the 2011 gain on sale of a substantial portion of our Garanti Bank equity investment (2011 Garanti gain) and organic revenue declines, primarily due to lower GE Capital Ending Net Investment (ENI). Other income decreased to $0.6 billion in the first quarter of 2012 from $3.6 billion in the same period of 2011 mainly attributable to the sale of NBCU in the first quarter of 2011.

Overall, acquisitions contributed $1.4 billion and $0.6 billion to consolidated revenues in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively. Our consolidated earnings in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011 included $0.1 billion and an insignificant amount from acquired businesses, respectively. We integrate acquisitions as quickly as possible. Only revenues and earnings from the date we complete the acquisition through the end of the fourth following quarter are attributed to such businesses. Dispositions also affected our operations through lower revenues of $4.6 billion and $0.1 billion in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively. The effects of dispositions on earnings were a decrease of $0.2 billion and an increase of $0.2 billion in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The most significant acquisitions affecting results for the first quarter of 2012 were the 2011 acquisitions of Dresser Inc., Converteam, the Well Support division of John Wood Group PLC and Wellstream PLC at Energy Infrastructure.

Segment Operations
 
Segment profit is determined based on internal performance measures used by the Chief Executive Officer to assess the performance of each business in a given period. In connection with that assessment, the Chief Executive Officer may exclude matters such as charges for restructuring; rationalization and other similar expenses; acquisition costs and other related charges; technology and product development costs; certain gains and losses from acquisitions or dispositions; and litigation settlements or other charges, responsibility for which preceded the current management team.

Segment revenues include both revenues and other income related to the segment. Segment profit excludes results reported as discontinued operations, earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests of consolidated subsidiaries and accounting changes. Segment profit excludes or includes interest and other financial charges and income taxes according to how a particular segment’s management is measured – excluded in determining segment profit, which we sometimes refer to as “operating profit,” for Energy Infrastructure, Aviation, Healthcare, Transportation and Home & Business Solutions; included in determining segment profit, which we sometimes refer to as “net earnings,” for GE Capital.

On February 22, 2012, we merged our wholly-owned subsidiary, GECS, with and into GECS’ wholly-owned subsidiary, GECC.  Our financial services segment, GE Capital, will continue to comprise the continuing operations of GECC, which now includes the run-off insurance operations previously held and managed in GECS. Unless otherwise indicated, references to GECC and the GE Capital segment in this Form 10-Q Report relate to the entities or segment as they exist subsequent to the February 22, 2012 merger.

Results of our formerly consolidated subsidiary, NBCU, and our current equity method investment in NBCUniversal LLC (NBCU LLC) are reported in the Corporate items and eliminations line on the Summary of Operating Segments.

We have reclassified certain prior-period amounts to conform to the current-period presentation. In addition to providing information on segments in their entirety, we have also provided supplemental information for certain operations within the segments. Refer to the Summary of Operating Segments in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for a reconciliation of the total reportable segments’ profit to the consolidated net earnings attributable to the Company.
 
 
(56)

 
Energy Infrastructure
 
Three months ended March 31
(In millions)
2012
 
2011 
           
Revenues
$
11,168 
 
$
9,449 
           
Segment profit
$
1,524 
 
$
1,381 
           
Revenues
         
   Energy
$
8,042 
 
$
7,107 
   Oil & Gas
 
3,416 
   
2,558 
           
Segment profit
         
   Energy
$
1,182 
 
$
1,115 
   Oil & Gas
 
400 
   
306 
           


Energy Infrastructure revenues increased 18% or $1.7 billion (including $0.9 billion from acquisitions) in the first quarter of 2012 as higher volume ($1.9 billion) was partially offset by the effects of the stronger U.S. dollar ($0.1 billion).  Higher volume, driven by acquisitions and increased equipment and service sales, and the effects of the stronger U.S. dollar were at both Energy and Oil & Gas.

Segment profit increased 10%, or $0.1 billion as increased volume ($0.3 billion) was partially offset by decreased prices.  Higher volume and lower prices were at both Energy and Oil & Gas.

Aviation revenues of $4.9 billion in the first quarter of 2012 increased $0.5 billion, or 12%, due primarily to higher volume ($0.4 billion) and higher prices ($0.1 billion). The higher revenue was driven by increased equipment sales ($0.4 billion) and services ($0.1 billion). The increase in equipment sales was primarily due to higher commercial engine shipments.

Segment profit of $0.9 billion in the first quarter of 2012 increased 2%, due primarily to higher prices ($0.1 billion) and higher volume ($0.1 billion), partially offset by lower productivity ($0.1 billion), including higher research and development spending, and higher inflation ($0.1 billion).

Healthcare revenues of $4.3 billion in the first quarter of 2012 increased $0.2 billion, or 5%, due to higher volume ($0.3 billion), partially offset by lower prices ($0.1 billion). Higher volume was due to increased equipment sales ($0.2 billion) and services, driven by growth in both the U.S. and international markets, with the strongest growth in emerging markets.

Segment profit of $0.6 billion in the first quarter of 2012 increased $0.1 billion, or 10%, reflecting increased productivity ($0.1 billion) and higher volume, partially offset by lower prices ($0.1 billion) and higher labor inflation.

Transportation revenues of $1.3 billion in the first quarter of 2012 increased $0.4 billion, or 41%, primarily due to higher volume ($0.3 billion) related to increased equipment sales ($0.3 billion) and services. The increase in equipment revenue was primarily driven by an increase in locomotive sales and growth in our global mining equipment business.

Segment profit of $0.2 billion in the first quarter of 2012 increased $0.1 billion, or 48%, as a result of increased volume ($0.1 billion), reflecting an increase in equipment sales.

Home & Business Solutions revenues of $2.1 billion in the first quarter of 2012 increased 5% compared with the first quarter of 2011, reflecting increases at Appliances and Lighting partially offset by lower revenues at Intelligent Platforms. Overall, revenues increased primarily as a result of increased prices, principally at our Appliances and Lighting businesses.

 
(57)

 
Segment profit decreased 11% in the first quarter of 2012 as the effects of inflation ($0.1 billion) and decreased productivity ($0.1 billion) were partially offset by increased prices ($0.1 billion).

GE Capital
 
Three months ended March 31
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
           
Revenues
$
 11,442 
 
$
 13,036 
           
Segment profit
$
 1,792 
 
$
 1,790 


GE Capital
 
At
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
   
March 31,
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
 
2011 
                 
Total assets
$
 573,362 
 
$
 584,536 
 
$
 597,673 


 
Three months ended March 31
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
           
Revenues
         
   Commercial Lending and Leasing (CLL)
$
4,442 
 
$
4,608 
   Consumer
 
3,877 
   
4,823 
   Real Estate
 
836 
   
907 
   Energy Financial Services
 
239 
   
345 
   GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS)
 
1,331 
   
1,325 
           
Segment profit
         
   CLL
$
685 
 
$
554 
   Consumer
 
829 
   
1,241 
   Real Estate
 
56 
   
(358)
   Energy Financial Services
 
71 
   
112 
   GECAS
 
318 
   
306 


 
At
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
 
2011 
                 
Assets
               
   CLL
$
189,993 
 
$
193,869 
 
$
197,467 
   Consumer
 
135,926 
   
138,534 
   
141,853 
   Real Estate
 
59,204 
   
60,873 
   
70,934 
   Energy Financial Services
 
19,303 
   
18,357 
   
18,821 
   GECAS
 
48,720 
   
48,821 
   
48,560 


GE Capital revenues decreased 12% and net earnings were flat in the first quarter of 2012. Revenues were reduced by $0.2 billion as a result of dispositions. Revenues also decreased as a result of the absence of the 2011 gain on sale of a substantial portion of our Garanti Bank equity investment (2011 Garanti gain) and organic revenue declines, primarily due to lower ENI. Net earnings were flat in the first quarter of 2012 as a result of lower impairments and lower provisions for losses on financing receivables, reflecting improved portfolio quality, partially offset by the absence of the 2011 Garanti gain and operations. Excluding the first quarter 2011 Garanti gain and operations, GE Capital earnings increased 27%.

Additional information about certain GE Capital businesses follows.

 
(58)

 
CLL revenues decreased 4% and net earnings increased 24% in the first quarter of 2012. Revenues were reduced by $0.1 billion as a result of dispositions. Revenues also decreased as a result of organic revenue declines ($0.1 billion), primarily due to lower ENI. Net earnings increased in the first quarter of 2012, reflecting core increases ($0.1 billion) and lower provisions for losses on financing receivables.

Consumer revenues decreased 20% and net earnings decreased 33% in the first quarter of 2012. Revenues were reduced by $0.1 billion as a result of dispositions. Revenues also decreased as a result of the absence of the 2011 Garanti gain ($0.7 billion) and organic revenue declines ($0.2 billion), primarily due to lower ENI. The decrease in net earnings resulted from the absence of the 2011 Garanti gain ($0.3 billion), lower Garanti results ($0.1 billion) and dispositions ($0.1 billion), partially offset by lower provisions for losses on financing receivables ($0.1 billion).

Real Estate revenues decreased 8% and net earnings were favorable in the first quarter of 2012. Revenues decreased as a result of organic revenue declines ($0.1 billion), primarily due to lower ENI, partially offset by increases in net gains on property sales. Real Estate net earnings increased as a result of lower impairments ($0.3 billion) and core increases ($0.1 billion). Depreciation expense on real estate equity investments totaled $0.2 billion in both the first quarters of 2012 and 2011.

Energy Financial Services revenues decreased 31% and net earnings decreased 37% in the first quarter of 2012. Revenues decreased as a result of lower gains ($0.1 billion) and organic revenue declines.

GECAS revenues were flat and net earnings increased 4% in the first quarter of 2012. Revenues for the quarter were flat reflecting organic revenue growth, substantially offset by lower gains. The increase in net earnings resulted primarily from core increases, partially offset by lower gains.

Corporate Items and Eliminations
 
Three months ended March 31
(In millions)
 
2012
   
2011 
           
Revenues
         
NBCU/NBCU LLC
$
187 
 
$
4,800 
Gains on disposed businesses
 
274 
   
– 
Eliminations and other
 
(441)
   
(306)
Total
$
20 
 
$
4,494 
           
Operating Profit (Cost)
         
Gains on disposed businesses
$
274 
 
$
– 
NBCU/NBCU LLC
 
187 
   
3,648 
Principal retirement plans(a)
 
(771)
   
(430)
Underabsorbed corporate overhead and other costs
 
(735)
   
(726)
Total
$
(1,045)
 
$
2,492 
           


(a)  
Included non-operating (non-GAAP) pension income (cost) of $(0.5) billion and $(0.3) billion in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively, which includes interest costs, expected return on plan assets and non-cash amortization of actuarial gains and losses. See Exhibit 99(a) of this Form 10-Q Report.


Corporate items and eliminations revenues in the first quarter of 2012 decreased $4.5 billion as $4.6 billion of lower NBCU/NBCU LLC related revenues, primarily due to the non-repeat of the pre-tax gain on the NBCU transaction and the deconsolidation of NBCU in 2011, were partially offset by $0.3 billion of higher gains on other disposed businesses.  Corporate items and eliminations costs increased $3.5 billion as $3.5 billion of lower NBCU/NBCU LLC related earnings, primarily from the non-repeat of the 2011 gain related to the NBCU transaction, $0.3 billion of higher costs of our principal retirement plans and $0.1 billion of higher research and development spending and global corporate costs were partially offset by $0.3 billion of a gain on formation of an aviation joint venture and $0.2 billion lower restructuring and other charges.

 
(59)

 
Certain amounts included in Corporate items and eliminations cost are not allocated to GE operating segments because they are excluded from the measurement of their operating performance for internal purposes. For the first quarter of 2012, these included $0.3 billion of gain related to a joint venture formation at Aviation, $0.1 billion of costs at Energy Infrastructure, primarily acquisition-related costs and technology and product development costs and $0.1 billion of costs at both Healthcare and Aviation, primarily technology and product development costs.

In the first quarter of 2012, underabsorbed corporate overhead and other costs were flat compared with first quarter of 2011, as increased costs at our global research centers and global corporate costs were offset by lower restructuring and other charges (including acquisition-related costs).

Income Taxes
 
The consolidated provision for income taxes was an expense of $0.6 billion in the first quarter of 2012 (an effective tax rate of 16.2%), compared with $3.9 billion for the same period of 2011 (an effective tax rate of 53.0%). Our consolidated income tax rate decreased from the first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012, primarily because of the lack of a comparable item to the first quarter 2011 gain on NBCU and the absence of the 2011 high-taxed disposition of GECC’s investment in Garanti, which contributed to increased benefits from low-taxed global operations at GECC.

Approximately 33 percentage points of the 37 percentage point decrease in the consolidated effective tax rate from the first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012 was due to the first quarter of 2011 disposition of NBCU. In connection with the transaction, we recognized income tax expense of $3.2 billion on a pretax gain of $3.7 billion, reflecting the low tax basis in our investment in the NBCU business, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities related to our 49% investment in NBCU LLC. As our investment in NBCU LLC is structured as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes, U.S. taxes are recorded separately from the equity investment.

Our effective income tax rate, excluding the NBCU disposition, is lower than the U.S. statutory rate primarily because of benefits from lower-taxed global operations, including the use of global funding structures. There is a benefit from global operations as non-U.S. income is subject to local country tax rates that are significantly below the 35% U.S. statutory rate. These non-U.S. earnings have been indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S. and are not subject to current U.S. income tax. The rate of tax on our indefinitely reinvested non-U.S. earnings is below the 35% U.S. statutory rate because we have significant business operations subject to tax in countries where the tax on that income is lower than the U.S. statutory rate and because GECC funds the majority of its non-U.S. operations through foreign companies that are subject to low foreign taxes.

We expect our ability to benefit from non-U.S. income taxed at less than the U.S. rate to continue subject to changes of U.S. or foreign law, including the expiration on December 31, 2011 of the U.S. tax law provision deferring tax on active financial services income, as discussed in Note 14 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 (2011 consolidated financial statements). If this provision is not extended, our tax rate will increase significantly after 2012. In addition, since this benefit depends on management’s intention to indefinitely reinvest amounts outside the U.S., our tax provision will increase to the extent we no longer indefinitely reinvest foreign earnings.

Discontinued Operations
 
Three months ended March 31,
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
           
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations,
         
   net of taxes
$
(217)
 
$
35 

 
(60)

 

Discontinued operations primarily comprised GE Money Japan (our Japanese personal loan business, Lake, and our Japanese mortgage and card businesses, excluding our investment in GE Nissen Credit Co., Ltd.), our U.S. mortgage business (WMC), our U.S. recreational vehicle and marine equipment financing business (Consumer RV Marine), Consumer Mexico, Consumer Singapore, our Consumer home lending operations in Australia and New Zealand (Australian Home Lending) and our Consumer mortgage lending business in Ireland (Consumer Ireland). Results of these businesses are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes, for the first quarter of 2012, primarily reflected a loss related to the sale of Consumer Ireland.

For additional information related to discontinued operations, see Note 2 to the condensed, consolidated financial statements.

B. Statement of Financial Position
 
Overview of Financial Position
 
Major changes in our financial position for the three months ended March 31, 2012 resulted from the following:

·  
At GECC, repayments exceeded new issuances of total borrowings by $9.8 billion and collections on financing receivables exceeded originations by $6.6 billion at GECC;

·  
The U.S. dollar was weaker for most major currencies at March 31, 2012 than at December 31, 2011, increasing the translated levels of our non-U.S. dollar assets and liabilities.
 
Consolidated assets were $707.7 billion at March 31, 2012, a decrease of $9.5 billion from December 31, 2011. GE assets increased $3.5 billion, and financial services assets decreased $11.2 billion.

GE assets were $221.5 billion at March 31, 2012, a $3.5 billion increase from December 31, 2011 and reflect an increase in our investment in GECC of $2.1 billion, mainly related to GECC earnings, and an increase in inventories of $1.4 billion.

Financial Services assets were $573.4 billion at March 31, 2012, an $11.2 billion decrease from December 31, 2011, and reflect a reduction of net financing receivables of $7.5 billion, primarily through collections exceeding originations ($6.6 billion), which includes sales, and a decrease in derivative assets ($4.2 billion).

Consolidated liabilities were $586.1 billion at March 31, 2012, a $13.0 billion decrease from December 31, 2011. GE liabilities increased $0.1 billion and financial services liabilities decreased $13.3 billion.

GE liabilities were $100.6 billion at March 31, 2012, a $0.1 billion increase from December 31, 2011. The ratio of borrowings to total capital invested for GE at March 31, 2012 was 8.8% compared with 9.0% at December 31, 2011 and 7.7% at March 31, 2011.

Financial Services liabilities decreased $13.3 billion from December 31, 2011 to $493.4 billion at March 31, 2012, and reflect a $9.8 billion net reduction in borrowings, primarily in long-term borrowings and commercial paper, consistent with our overall reduction in assets and lower deposits of $2.6 billion at our banks.

Cash Flows
 
Consolidated cash and equivalents were $83.7 billion at March 31, 2012, a decrease of $0.9 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2012. Cash and equivalents totaled $82.2 billion at March 31, 2011, an increase of $3.2 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2011.

 
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We evaluate our cash flow performance by reviewing our industrial (non-financial services) businesses and financial services businesses separately. Cash from operating activities (CFOA) is the principal source of cash generation for our industrial businesses. The industrial businesses also have liquidity available via the public capital markets. Our financial services businesses use a variety of financial resources to meet our capital needs. Cash for financial services businesses is primarily provided from the issuance of term debt and commercial paper in the public and private markets, time deposits, as well as financing receivables, collections, sales and securitizations.

GE Cash Flow
 
GE cash and equivalents were $8.0 billion at March 31, 2012, compared with $15.5 billion at March 31, 2011. GE CFOA totaled $2.1 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared with $1.7 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2011. With respect to GE CFOA, we believe that it is useful to supplement our GE Condensed Statement of Cash Flows and to examine in a broader context the business activities that provide and require cash.

 
Three months ended March 31
(In billions)
2012 
 
2011 
           
Operating cash collections(a)
$
24.2 
 
$
20.3 
Operating cash payments
 
(22.1)
   
(18.6)
GE cash from operating activities (GE CFOA)(a)
$
2.1 
 
$
1.7 
           
           
(a)  
GE sells customer receivables to GECC in part to fund the growth of our industrial businesses. These transactions can result in cash generation or cash use. During any given period, GE receives cash from the sale of receivables to GECC. It also foregoes collection of cash on receivables sold. The incremental amount of cash received from sale of receivables in excess of the cash GE would have otherwise collected had those receivables not been sold, represents the cash generated or used in the period relating to this activity. The incremental cash generated in GE CFOA from selling these receivables to GECC decreased GE CFOA by $0.4 billion in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and decreased GE CFOA by $0.6 billion in the three months ended March 31, 2011. See Note 19 to the condensed, consolidated financial statements for additional information about the elimination of intercompany transactions between GE and GECC.


The most significant source of cash in GE CFOA is customer-related activities, the largest of which is collecting cash following a product or services sale. GE operating cash collections increased by $3.9 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2012. This increase is consistent with the comparable changes in sales, GE current receivables and progress collections.

The most significant operating use of cash is to pay our suppliers, employees, tax authorities and others for a wide range of material and services. GE operating cash payments increased by $3.5 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2012, consistent with the increase in total costs and expenses.

GE CFOA increased $0.4 billion compared with the three months ended March 31, 2011, primarily reflecting an overall increase in the level of progress collections, partially offset by increased inventory purchases and decreased income tax liabilities.

GECC Cash Flow
 
GECC cash and equivalents were $76.2 billion at March 31, 2012, compared with $67.3 billion at March 31, 2011. GECC cash from operating activities totaled $4.7 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared with cash from operating activities of $4.8 billion for the same period of 2011.

Consistent with our plan to reduce GECC asset levels, cash from investing activities was $6.4 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2012, resulting from a $6.6 billion reduction in financing receivables due to collections exceeding originations, partially offset by net purchases of equipment leased to others (ELTO).

GECC cash used for financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 of $12.6 billion related primarily to a $9.8 billion reduction in total borrowings, consisting primarily of reductions in long-term borrowings and commercial paper and $2.6 billion of lower deposits at our banks.

 
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Intercompany Eliminations
 
Effects of transactions between related companies are made on an arms-length basis, are eliminated and consist primarily of GE customer receivables sold to GECC; GECC services for trade receivables management and material procurement; buildings and equipment (including automobiles) leased between GE and GECC; information technology (IT) and other services sold to GECC by GE; aircraft engines manufactured by GE that are installed on aircraft purchased by GECC from third-party producers for lease to others; and various investments, loans and allocations of GE corporate overhead costs. See Note 19 to the condensed, consolidated financial statements for further information related to intercompany eliminations.

Fair Value Measurements
 
See Note 1 in our 2011 consolidated financial statements for disclosures related to our methodology for fair value measurements. Additional information about fair value measurements is provided in Note 15 to the condensed, consolidated financial statements.

At March 31, 2012, the aggregate amount of investments that are measured at fair value through earnings totaled $5.2 billion and consisted primarily of various assets held for sale in the ordinary course of business, as well as equity investments.

C. Financial Services Portfolio Quality
 
Investment securities comprise mainly investment grade debt securities supporting obligations to annuitants, policyholders and holders of guaranteed investment contracts (GICs) in our run-off insurance operations and Trinity, investment securities at our treasury operations and investments held in our CLL business collateralized by senior secured loans of high-quality, middle-market companies in a variety of industries. The fair value of investment securities increased to $47.8 billion at March 31, 2012 from $47.4 billion at December 31, 2011, primarily due to the impact of lower interest rates and additional purchases in our CLL business. Of the amount at March 31, 2012, we held debt securities with an estimated fair value of $46.9 billion, which included corporate debt securities, asset-backed securities (ABS), residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) with estimated fair values of $26.2 billion, $5.3 billion, $2.5 billion and $3.0 billion, respectively. Net unrealized gains on debt securities were $3.3 billion and $3.0 billion at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. This amount included unrealized losses on corporate debt securities, ABS, RMBS and CMBS of $0.4 billion, $0.1 billion, $0.2 billion and $0.2 billion, respectively, at March 31, 2012, as compared with $0.6 billion, $0.2 billion, $0.3 billion and $0.2 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2011.

We regularly review investment securities for impairment using both qualitative and quantitative criteria. We presently do not intend to sell the vast majority of our debt securities and believe that it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell these securities that are in an unrealized loss position before recovery of our amortized cost. We believe that the unrealized loss associated with our equity securities will be recovered within the foreseeable future.

Our RMBS portfolio is collateralized primarily by pools of individual, direct mortgage loans (a majority of which were originated in 2006 and 2005), not other structured products such as collateralized debt obligations. Substantially all of our RMBS are in a senior position in the capital structure of the deals and more than 75% are agency bonds or insured by Monoline insurers (on which we continue to place reliance). Of our total RMBS portfolio at both March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, approximately $0.6 billion relates to residential subprime credit, primarily supporting our guaranteed investment contracts. A majority of exposure to residential subprime credit related to investment securities backed by mortgage loans originated in 2006 and 2005. Substantially all of the subprime RMBS were investment grade at the time of purchase and approximately 70% have been subsequently downgraded to below investment grade.

Our CMBS portfolio is collateralized by both diversified pools of mortgages that were originated for securitization (conduit CMBS) and pools of large loans backed by high quality properties (large loan CMBS), a majority of which were originated in 2007 and 2006. The vast majority of the securities in our CMBS portfolio have investment grade credit ratings and the vast majority of the securities are in a senior position in the capital structure.

 
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Our ABS portfolio is collateralized by senior secured loans of high-quality, middle-market companies in a variety of industries, as well as a variety of diversified pools of assets such as student loans and credit cards. The vast majority of our ABS are in a senior position in the capital structure of the deals. In addition, substantially all of the securities that are below investment grade are in an unrealized gain position.

If there has been an adverse change in cash flows for RMBS, management considers credit enhancements such as Monoline insurance (which are features of a specific security). In evaluating the overall creditworthiness of the Monoline insurer (Monoline), we use an analysis that is similar to the approach we use for corporate bonds, including an evaluation of the sufficiency of the Monoline’s cash reserves and capital, ratings activity, whether the Monoline is in default or default appears imminent, and the potential for intervention by an insurance or other regulator.

Monolines provide credit enhancement for certain of our investment securities, primarily RMBS and municipal securities. The credit enhancement is a feature of each specific security that guarantees the payment of all contractual cash flows, and is not purchased separately by GE. The Monoline industry continues to experience financial stress from increasing delinquencies and defaults on the individual loans underlying insured securities. We continue to rely on Monolines with adequate capital and claims paying resources. We have reduced our reliance on Monolines that do not have adequate capital or have experienced regulator intervention. At March 31, 2012, our investment securities insured by Monolines on which we continue to place reliance were $1.5 billion, including $0.3 billion of our $0.6 billion investment in subprime RMBS. At March 31, 2012, the unrealized loss associated with securities subject to Monoline credit enhancement, for which there is an expected credit loss, was $0.2 billion.

Total pre-tax, other-than-temporary impairment losses during the first quarter of 2012 were an insignificant amount, which was recognized in earnings and primarily relates to credit losses on non-U.S. corporate securities and other-than-temporary losses on equity securities.

Total pre-tax, other-than-temporary impairment losses during the first quarter of 2011 were $0.1 billion, of which $0.1 billion was recognized in earnings and primarily relates to credit losses on RMBS, non-U.S. government securities, non-U.S. corporate securities and other-than-temporary losses on equity securities.

Our qualitative review attempts to identify issuers’ securities that are “at-risk” of other-than-temporary impairment, that is, for securities that we do not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell before recovery of our amortized cost, whether there is a possibility of credit loss that would result in an other-than-temporary impairment recognition in the following 12 months. Securities we have identified as “at-risk” primarily relate to investments in RMBS and non-U.S. corporate debt securities across a broad range of industries. The amount of associated unrealized loss on these securities at March 31, 2012, is $0.4 billion. Unrealized losses are not indicative of the amount of credit loss that would be recognized as credit losses are determined based on adverse changes in expected cash flows rather than fair value.  For further information relating to how credit losses are calculated, see Note 3 in our 2011 consolidated financial statements. Uncertainty in the capital markets may cause increased levels of other-than-temporary impairments.

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, unrealized losses on investment securities totaled $1.1 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively, including $0.9 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, aged 12 months or longer. Of the amount aged 12 months or longer at March 31, 2012, more than 65% are debt securities that were considered to be investment grade by the major rating agencies. In addition, of the amount aged 12 months or longer, $0.5 billion and $0.3 billion related to structured securities (mortgage-backed and asset-backed) and corporate debt securities, respectively. With respect to our investment securities that are in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2012, the majority relate to debt securities held to support obligations to holders of GICs. We presently do not intend to sell the vast majority of our debt securities and believe that it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell these securities that are in an unrealized loss position before recovery of our amortized cost. For additional information, see Note 3 to the condensed, consolidated financial statements.

Financing receivables is our largest category of assets and represents one of our primary sources of revenues. Our portfolio of financing receivables is diverse and not directly comparable to major U.S. banks. A discussion of the quality of certain elements of the financing receivables portfolio follows.

 
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Our consumer portfolio is largely non-U.S. and primarily comprises mortgage, sales finance, auto and personal loans in various European and Asian countries. Our U.S. consumer financing receivables comprise 16% of our total portfolio. Of those, approximately 64% relate primarily to credit cards, which are often subject to profit and loss sharing arrangements with the retailer (the results of which are reflected in revenues), and have a smaller average balance and lower loss severity as compared to bank cards. The remaining 36% are sales finance receivables, which provide electronics, recreation, medical and home improvement financing to customers. In 2007, we exited the U.S. mortgage business and we have no U.S. auto or student loans.

Our commercial portfolio primarily comprises senior, secured positions with comparatively low loss history. The secured receivables in this portfolio are collateralized by a variety of asset classes, which for our CLL business primarily include: industrial-related facilities and equipment, vehicles, corporate aircraft, and equipment used in many industries, including the construction, manufacturing, transportation, media, communications, entertainment, and healthcare industries. The portfolios in our Real Estate, GECAS and Energy Financial Services businesses are collateralized by commercial real estate, commercial aircraft and operating assets in the global energy and water industries, respectively. We are in a secured position for substantially all of our commercial portfolio.

Losses on financing receivables are recognized when they are incurred, which requires us to make our best estimate of probable losses inherent in the portfolio. The method for calculating the best estimate of losses depends on the size, type and risk characteristics of the related financing receivable. Such an estimate requires consideration of historical loss experience, adjusted for current conditions, and judgments about the probable effects of relevant observable data, including present economic conditions such as delinquency rates, financial health of specific customers and market sectors, collateral values (including housing price indices as applicable), and the present and expected future levels of interest rates. The underlying assumptions, estimates and assessments we use to provide for losses are updated periodically to reflect our view of current conditions. Changes in such estimates can significantly affect the allowance and provision for losses. It is possible to experience credit losses that are different from our current estimates.

Our risk management process includes standards and policies for reviewing major risk exposures and concentrations, and evaluates relevant data either for individual loans or financing leases, or on a portfolio basis, as appropriate.

Loans acquired in a business acquisition are recorded at fair value, which incorporates our estimate at the acquisition date of the credit losses over the remaining life of the portfolio. As a result, the allowance for losses is not carried over at acquisition. This may have the effect of causing lower reserve coverage ratios for those portfolios.

For purposes of the discussion that follows, “delinquent” receivables are those that are 30 days or more past due based on their contractual terms; and “nonearning” receivables are those that are 90 days or more past due (or for which collection is otherwise doubtful). Nonearning receivables exclude loans purchased at a discount (unless they have deteriorated post acquisition). Under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 310, Receivables, these loans are initially recorded at fair value and accrete interest income over the estimated life of the loan based on reasonably estimable cash flows even if the underlying loans are contractually delinquent at acquisition. In addition, nonearning receivables exclude loans that are paying on a cash accounting basis but classified as nonaccrual and impaired. “Nonaccrual” financing receivables include all nonearning receivables and are those on which we have stopped accruing interest. We stop accruing interest at the earlier of the time at which collection of an account becomes doubtful or the account becomes 90 days past due. Recently restructured financing receivables are not considered delinquent when payments are brought current according to the restructured terms, but may remain classified as nonaccrual until there has been a period of satisfactory payment performance by the borrower and future payments are reasonably assured of collection.

Further information on the determination of the allowance for losses on financing receivables and the credit quality and categorization of our financing receivables is provided in Notes 5 and 17.
 
 
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Financing receivables at
 
Nonearning receivables at
 
Allowance for losses at
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(In millions)
2012 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2011 
 
2012 
 
2011 
                                   
Commercial
                                 
CLL
                                 
Americas
$
79,645 
 
$
80,505 
 
$
1,664 
 
$
1,862 
 
$
802 
 
$
889 
Europe
 
35,613 
   
36,899 
   
1,354 
   
1,167 
   
458 
   
400 
Asia
 
11,048 
   
11,635 
   
245 
   
269 
   
112 
   
157 
Other
 
382 
   
436 
   
   
11 
   
   
Total CLL
 
126,688 
   
129,475 
   
3,272 
   
3,309 
   
1,374 
   
1,450 
                                   
Energy
                                 
  Financial
                                 
     Services
 
5,287 
   
5,912 
   
29 
   
22 
   
25 
   
26 
                                   
GECAS
 
11,721 
   
11,901 
   
17 
   
55 
   
14 
   
17 
                                   
Other
 
681 
   
1,282 
   
42 
   
65 
   
20 
   
37 
Total
                                 
  Commercial
 
144,377 
   
148,570 
   
3,360 
   
3,451 
   
1,433 
   
1,530 
                                   
Real Estate
                                 
Debt(a)
 
23,518 
   
24,501 
   
522 
   
541 
   
812 
   
949 
Business
                                 
  Properties(b)
 
8,013 
   
8,248 
   
239 
   
249 
   
117 
   
140 
Total Real Estate
 
31,531 
   
32,749 
   
761 
   
790 
   
929 
   
1,089 
                                   
Consumer
                                 
Non-U.S.
                                 
  residential
                                 
    mortgages(c)
 
35,257 
   
35,550 
   
2,863 
   
2,870 
   
498 
   
546 
Non-U.S.
                                 
    installment
                                 
      and revolving
                                 
        credit
 
18,963 
   
18,544 
   
253 
   
263 
   
726 
   
717 
U.S. installment
                                 
  and revolving
                                 
    credit
 
44,283 
   
46,689 
   
876 
   
990 
   
1,845 
   
2,008 
Non-U.S. auto
 
5,166 
   
5,691 
   
30 
   
43 
   
88 
   
101 
Other
 
7,520 
   
7,244 
   
381 
   
419 
   
195 
   
199 
Total Consumer
 
111,189 
   
113,718 
   
4,403 
   
4,585 
   
3,352 
   
3,571 
Total
$
287,097 
 
$
295,037 
 
$
8,524 
 
$
8,826 
 
$
5,714 
 
$
6,190 
                                   
                                   

(a)  
Financing receivables included $0.1 billion of construction loans at both March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.
 
(b)  
Our Business Properties portfolio is underwritten primarily by the credit quality of the borrower and secured by tenant and owner-occupied commercial properties.
 
(c)  
At March 31, 2012, net of credit insurance, approximately 25% of our secured Consumer non-U.S. residential mortgage portfolio comprised loans with introductory, below market rates that are scheduled to adjust at future dates; with high loan-to-value ratios at inception (greater than 90%); whose terms permitted interest-only payments; or whose terms resulted in negative amortization. At origination, we underwrite loans with an adjustable rate to the reset value. Of these loans, 82% are in our U.K. and France portfolios, which comprise mainly loans with interest-only payments, high loan-to-value ratios at inception and introductory below market rates, have a delinquency rate of 15%, have a loan-to-value ratio at origination of 76% and have re-indexed loan-to-value ratios of 84% and 56%, respectively. At March 31, 2012, 7% (based on dollar values) of these loans in our U.K. and France portfolios have been restructured.
 
 
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The portfolio of financing receivables, before allowance for losses, was $287.1 billion at March 31, 2012, and $295.0 billion at December 31, 2011. Financing receivables, before allowance for losses, decreased $7.9 billion from December 31, 2011, primarily as a result of collections exceeding originations ($6.6 billion) (which includes sales) and write-offs ($1.7 billion), partially offset by the weaker U.S. dollar ($1.8 billion) and acquisitions ($0.1 billion).

Related nonearning receivables totaled $8.5 billion (3.0% of outstanding receivables) at March 31, 2012, compared with $8.8 billion (3.0% of outstanding receivables) at December 31, 2011. Nonearning receivables decreased from December 31, 2011, primarily due to improved performance in Commercial and improved economic conditions in the U.S. and collections in Consumer.

The allowance for losses at March 31, 2012 totaled $5.7 billion compared with $6.2 billion at December 31, 2011, representing our best estimate of probable losses inherent in the portfolio. Allowance for losses decreased $0.5 billion from December 31, 2011, primarily because provisions were lower than write-offs, net of recoveries, by $0.5 billion, which is attributable to a reduction in the overall financing receivables balance and an improvement in the overall credit environment. The allowance for losses as a percent of total financing receivables decreased from 2.1% at December 31, 2011 to 2.0% at March 31, 2012 primarily due to a decrease in the allowance for losses as discussed above, partially offset by a decline in the overall financing receivables balance as collections exceeded originations. Further information surrounding the allowance for losses related to each of our portfolios is detailed below.

 
 
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The following table provides information surrounding selected ratios related to nonearning financing receivables and the allowance for losses.
 

 
Nonearning financing receivables
   
Allowance for losses
   
Allowance for losses
 
 
as a percent of
   
as a percent of
   
as a percent of
 
 
financing receivables at
   
nonearning financing receivables at
   
total financing receivables at
 
 
March 31,
   
December 31,
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
 
2012 
   
2011 
   
2012 
   
2011 
   
2012 
   
2011 
 
Commercial
                                 
CLL
                                 
Americas
2.1 
%
 
2.3 
%
 
48.2 
%
 
47.7 
%
 
1.0 
%
 
1.1 
%
Europe
3.8 
   
3.2 
   
33.8 
   
34.3 
   
1.3 
   
1.1 
 
Asia
2.2 
   
2.3 
   
45.7 
   
58.4 
   
1.0 
   
1.3 
 
Other
2.4 
   
2.5 
   
22.2 
   
36.4 
   
0.5 
   
0.9 
 
Total CLL
2.6 
   
2.6 
   
42.0 
   
43.8 
   
1.1 
   
1.1 
 
                                   
Energy Financial Services
0.5 
   
0.4 
   
86.2 
   
118.2 
   
0.5 
   
0.4 
 
                                   
GECAS
0.1 
   
0.5 
   
82.4 
   
30.9 
   
0.1 
   
0.1 
 
                                   
Other
6.2 
   
5.1 
   
47.6 
   
56.9 
   
2.9 
   
2.9 
 
                                   
Total Commercial
2.3 
   
2.3 
   
42.6 
   
44.3 
   
1.0 
   
1.0 
 
                                   
Real Estate
                                 
Debt
2.2 
   
2.2 
   
155.6 
   
175.4 
   
3.5 
   
3.9 
 
Business Properties
3.0 
   
3.0 
   
49.0 
   
56.2 
   
1.5 
   
1.7 
 
                                   
Total Real Estate
2.4 
   
2.4 
   
122.1 
   
137.8 
   
2.9 
   
3.3 
 
                                   
Consumer
                                 
Non-U.S.
                                 
  residential mortgages
8.1 
   
8.1 
   
17.4 
   
19.0 
   
1.4 
   
1.5 
 
Non-U.S.
                                 
  installment and
                                 
    revolving credit
1.3 
   
1.4 
   
287.0 
   
272.6 
   
3.8 
   
3.9 
 
U.S. installment
                                 
 and revolving credit
2.0 
   
2.1 
   
210.6 
   
202.8 
   
4.2 
   
4.3 
 
Non-U.S. auto
0.6 
   
0.8 
   
293.3 
   
234.9 
   
1.7 
   
1.8 
 
Other
5.1 
   
5.8 
   
51.2 
   
47.5 
   
2.6 
   
2.7 
 
                                   
Total Consumer
4.0 
   
4.0 
   
76.1 
   
77.9 
   
3.0 
   
3.1 
 
                                   
Total
3.0 
   
3.0 
   
67.0 
   
70.1 
   
2.0 
   
2.1 
 
                                   

Included below is a discussion of financing receivables, allowance for losses, nonearning receivables and related metrics for each of our significant portfolios.

CLL − Americas. Nonearning receivables of $1.7 billion represented 19.5% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2012. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables increased slightly from 47.7% at December 31, 2011, to 48.2% at March 31, 2012, reflecting an overall decrease in nonearning receivables. The ratio of nonearning receivables as a percent of financing receivables decreased from 2.3% at December 31, 2011, to 2.1% at March 31, 2012, primarily due to reduced nonearning exposures in our media, industrial and consumer-facing portfolios. Collateral supporting these nonearning financing receivables primarily includes assets in the restaurant and hospitality, trucking and industrial equipment industries and corporate aircraft, and for our leveraged finance business, equity of the underlying businesses.

 
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CLL – Europe. Nonearning receivables of $1.4 billion represented 15.9% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2012. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables decreased from 34.3% at December 31, 2011, to 33.8% at March 31, 2012.  The decrease reflected an increase in nonearning receivables in our  asset-backed lending portfolio, and equipment finance portfolio requiring a relatively lower reserve level based on the strength of the underlying collateral values.  This was partially offset by increases in nonearning receivables and the allowance for losses in our Interbanca S.p.A. portfolio. The majority of nonearning receivables are attributable to the Interbanca S.p.A. portfolio, which was acquired in 2009. The loans acquired with Interbanca S.p.A. were recorded at fair value, which incorporates an estimate at the acquisition date of credit losses over their remaining life. Accordingly, these loans generally have a lower ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables compared to the remaining portfolio. Excluding the nonearning loans attributable to the 2009 acquisition of Interbanca S.p.A., the ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables decreased from 55.9% at December 31, 2011, to 51.5% at March 31, 2012, primarily due to an increase in nonearning receivables in our asset-backed lending and equipment portfolios. The ratio of nonearning receivables as a percent of financing receivables increased from 3.2% at December 31, 2011, to 3.8% at March 31, 2012, for the reasons described above. Collateral supporting these secured nonearning financing receivables are primarily equity of the underlying businesses for our Interbanca S.p.A. business and equipment for our equipment finance portfolio.

CLL – Asia. Nonearning receivables of $0.2 billion represented 2.9% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2012. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables decreased from 58.4% at December 31, 2011, to 45.7% at March 31, 2012, primarily due to a decline in reserves as a result of write-offs in Japan, partially offset by collections and write-offs of nonearning receivables in our asset-based financing businesses in Japan. The ratio of nonearning receivables as a percent of financing receivables decreased from 2.3% at December 31, 2011, to 2.2% at March 31, 2012, primarily due to the decline in nonearning receivables related to our asset-based financing businesses in Japan, partially offset by a lower financing receivables balance. Collateral supporting these nonearning financing receivables is primarily commercial real estate, manufacturing equipment, corporate aircraft, and assets in the auto industry.

Real Estate – Debt. Nonearning receivables of $0.5 billion represented 6.1% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2012. The decrease in nonearning receivables from December 31, 2011, was driven primarily by the resolution of North American multi-family nonearning loans, as well as European retail and mixed use loans, through payoffs and foreclosures, partially offset by new U.S. hotel delinquencies. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of total financing receivables decreased from 3.9% at December 31, 2011 to 3.5% at March 31, 2012, driven primarily by write-offs related to settlements and payoffs from impaired loan borrowers and improvement in collateral values. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables decreased from 175.4% to 155.6% reflecting write-offs and resolution of nonearning loans as mentioned above.

The Real Estate financing receivables portfolio is collateralized by income-producing or owner-occupied commercial properties across a variety of asset classes and markets. At March 31, 2012, total Real Estate financing receivables of $31.5 billion were primarily collateralized by owner-occupied properties ($8.0 billion), office buildings ($6.7 billion), apartment buildings ($4.3 billion) and hotel properties ($3.6 billion). In the first quarter of 2012, commercial real estate markets showed signs of improved stability and liquidity in certain markets; however, the pace of improvement varies significantly by asset class and market and the long term outlook remains uncertain. We have and continue to maintain an intense focus on operations and risk management. Loan loss reserves related to our Real Estate–Debt financing receivables are particularly sensitive to declines in underlying property values. Assuming global property values decline an incremental 1% or 5%, and that decline occurs evenly across geographies and asset classes, we estimate incremental loan loss reserves would be required of less than $0.1 billion and approximately $0.2 billion, respectively. Estimating the impact of global property values on loss performance across our portfolio depends on a number of factors, including macroeconomic conditions, property level operating performance, local market dynamics and individual borrower behavior. As a result, any sensitivity analyses or attempts to forecast potential losses carry a high degree of imprecision and are subject to change. At March 31, 2012, we had 118 foreclosed commercial real estate properties totaling $0.7 billion.

 
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Consumer − Non-U.S. residential mortgages. Nonearning receivables of $2.9 billion represented 33.6% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2012. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables decreased from 19.0% at December 31, 2011 to 17.4% at March 31, 2012. In the first three months of 2012, our allowance for losses decreased primarily as a result of write-offs in our Hungary and U.K. portfolios while nonearning receivables remained relatively flat. Our non-U.S. mortgage portfolio has a loan-to-value ratio of approximately 75% at origination and the vast majority are first lien positions. Our U.K. and France portfolios, which comprise a majority of our total mortgage portfolio, have reindexed loan-to-value ratios of 84% and 56%, respectively. About 4% of these loans are without mortgage insurance and have a reindexed loan-to-value ratio equal to or greater than 100%. Loan-to-value information is updated on a quarterly basis for a majority of our loans and considers economic factors such as the housing price index. At March 31, 2012, we had in repossession stock 488 houses in the U.K., which had a value of approximately $0.1 billion. The ratio of nonearning receivables as a percent of financing receivables remained constant at 8.1% at March 31, 2012.

Consumer − Non-U.S. installment and revolving credit. Nonearning receivables of $0.3 billion represented 3.0% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2012. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables increased from 272.6% at December 31, 2011 to 287.0% at March 31, 2012, reflecting higher delinquencies, and lower nonearnings due to collections and write-offs primarily in Australia and New Zealand.

Consumer − U.S. installment and revolving credit. Nonearning receivables of $0.9 billion represented 10.3% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2012. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables increased from 202.8% at December 31, 2011, to 210.6% at March 31, 2012 as a result of lower entry rates and improved collections resulting in reductions in our nonearning receivables balance. The ratio of nonearning receivables as a percentage of financing receivables decreased from 2.1% at December 31, 2011 to 2.0% at March 31, 2012 primarily due to lower delinquencies reflecting an improvement in the overall credit environment.

Nonaccrual Financing Receivables
 
The following table provides details related to our nonaccrual and nonearning financing receivables. Nonaccrual financing receivables include all nonearning receivables and are those on which we have stopped accruing interest. We stop accruing interest at the earlier of the time at which collection becomes doubtful or the account becomes 90 days past due. Substantially all of the differences between nonearning and nonaccrual financing receivables relate to loans which are classified as nonaccrual financing receivables but are paying on a cash accounting basis, and therefore excluded from nonearning receivables. Of our $16.1 billion nonaccrual loans at March 31, 2012, $7.3 billion are currently paying in accordance with their contractual terms.
 

             
Nonaccrual
 
Nonearning
             
financing
 
financing
(In millions)
           
receivables
 
receivables
                       
March 31, 2012
                     
                       
Commercial
                     
CLL
           
$
4,806 
 
$
3,272 
Energy Financial Services
             
29 
   
29 
GECAS
             
17 
   
17 
Other
             
87 
   
42 
Total Commercial
             
4,939 
   
3,360 
                       
Real Estate
             
6,551 
   
761 
                       
Consumer
             
4,611 
   
4,403 
Total
           
$
16,101 
 
$
8,524 
                       

 
(70)

 
Impaired Loans
 
“Impaired” loans in the table below are defined as larger balance or restructured loans for which it is probable that the lender will be unable to collect all amounts due according to original contractual terms of the loan agreement. The vast majority of our Consumer and a portion of our CLL nonaccrual receivables are excluded from this definition, as they represent smaller balance homogeneous loans that we evaluate collectively by portfolio for impairment.

Impaired loans include nonearning receivables on larger balance or restructured loans, loans that are currently paying interest under the cash basis (but are excluded from the nonearning category), and loans paying currently but which have been previously restructured.

Specific reserves are recorded for individually impaired loans to the extent we have determined that it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to original contractual terms of the loan agreement. Certain loans classified as impaired may not require a reserve because we believe that we will ultimately collect the unpaid balance (through collection or collateral repossession).
 
Further information pertaining to loans classified as impaired and specific reserves is included in the table below.
 

(In millions)
           
At
             
March 31,
 
December 31,
             
2012 
 
2011 
Loans requiring allowance for losses
                     
   Commercial(a)
           
$
2,206 
 
$
2,357 
   Real Estate
             
4,286 
   
4,957 
   Consumer
             
2,908 
   
2,824 
Total loans requiring allowance for losses
             
9,400 
   
10,138 
                       
Loans expected to be fully recoverable
                     
   Commercial(a)
             
3,707 
   
3,305 
   Real Estate
             
3,953 
   
3,790 
   Consumer
             
109 
   
69 
Total loans expected to be fully recoverable
             
7,769 
   
7,164 
Total impaired loans
           
$
17,169 
 
$
17,302 
                       
Allowance for losses (specific reserves)
                     
   Commercial(a)
           
$
739 
 
$
812 
   Real Estate
             
674 
   
822 
   Consumer
             
660 
   
680 
Total allowance for losses (specific reserves)
           
$
2,073 
 
$
2,314 
                       
Average investment during the period
           
$
17,236 
 
$
18,167 
Interest income earned while impaired(b)
             
190 
   
733 
                       
                       

(a)
Includes CLL, Energy Financial Services, GECAS and Other.
 
(b)
Recognized principally on a cash basis.
 
 
We regularly review our Real Estate loans for impairment using both quantitative and qualitative factors, such as debt service coverage and loan-to-value ratios. We classify Real Estate loans as impaired when the most recent valuation reflects a projected loan-to-value ratio at maturity in excess of 100%, even if the loan is currently paying in accordance with contractual terms.

Of our $8.2 billion impaired loans at Real Estate at March 31, 2012, $7.3 billion are currently paying in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan and are typically loans where the borrower has adequate debt service coverage to meet contractual interest obligations. Impaired loans at CLL primarily represent senior secured lending positions.

Our impaired loan balance at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, classified by the method used to measure impairment was as follows.
 
 
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At
             
March 31,
 
December 31,
(In millions)
           
2012 
 
2011 
                       
Method used to measure impairment
                     
Discounted cash flow
           
$
8,771 
 
$
8,858 
Collateral value
             
8,398 
   
8,444 
Total
           
$
17,169 
 
$
17,302 

See Note 1 in our 2011 consolidated financial statements for further information on our valuation processes.

Our loss mitigation strategy is intended to minimize economic loss and, at times, can result in rate reductions, principal forgiveness, extensions, forbearance or other actions, which may cause the related loan to be classified as a TDR, and also as impaired. Changes to Real Estate’s loans primarily include maturity extensions, principal payment acceleration, changes to collateral terms and cash sweeps, which are in addition to, or sometimes in lieu of, fees and rate increases. The determination of whether these changes to the terms and conditions of our commercial loans meet the TDR criteria includes our consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances. At March 31, 2012, TDRs included in impaired loans were $13.5 billion, primarily relating to Real Estate ($6.6 billion), CLL ($4.0 billion) and Consumer ($2.9 billion).

Real Estate TDRs decreased from $7.0 billion at December 31, 2011 to $6.6 billion at March 31, 2012, primarily driven by resolution of TDRs through paydowns, restructuring and foreclosures, partially offset by extensions of loans scheduled to mature during 2012, some of which were classified as TDRs upon modification. For borrowers with demonstrated operating capabilities, we work to restructure loans when the cash flow and projected value of the underlying collateral support repayment over the modified term. We deem loan modifications to be TDRs when we have granted a concession to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty and we do not receive adequate compensation in the form of an effective interest rate that is at current market rates of interest given the risk characteristics of the loan or other consideration that compensates us for the value of the concession. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, we modified $1.1 billion of loans classified as TDRs substantially all in our Debt portfolio. Changes to these loans primarily included maturity extensions, principal payment acceleration, changes to collateral or covenant terms and cash sweeps, which are in addition to, or sometimes in lieu of, fees and rate increases. The limited liquidity and higher return requirements in the real estate market for loans with higher loan-to-value (LTV) ratios has typically resulted in the conclusion that the modified terms are not at current market rates of interest, even if the modified loans are expected to be fully recoverable. We received the same or additional compensation in the form of rate increases and fees for the majority of these TDRs. Of our $3.1 billion of modifications classified as TDRs in the last twelve months, $0.2 billion have subsequently experienced a payment default in the last three months.

The substantial majority of the Real Estate TDRs have reserves determined based upon collateral value. Our specific reserves on Real Estate TDRs were $0.5 billion at March 31, 2012 and $0.6 billion at December 31, 2011, and were 7.3% and 8.4%, respectively, of Real Estate TDRs. In many situations these loans did not require a specific reserve as collateral value adequately covered our recorded investment in the loan. While these modified loans had adequate collateral coverage, we were still required to complete our TDR classification evaluation on each of the modifications without regard to collateral adequacy.

 
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We utilize certain short-term (three months or less) loan modification programs for borrowers experiencing temporary financial difficulties in our Consumer loan portfolio. These loan modification programs are primarily concentrated in our non-U.S. residential mortgage and non-U.S. installment and revolving portfolios. We sold our U.S. residential mortgage business in 2007 and as such, do not participate in the U.S. government-sponsored mortgage modification programs. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, we provided short-term modifications of approximately $0.2 billion of consumer loans for borrowers experiencing financial difficulties, substantially all in our non-U.S. residential mortgage, credit card and personal loan portfolios, which are not classified as TDRs. For these modified loans, we provided insignificant interest rate reductions and payment deferrals, which were not part of the terms of the original contract. We expect borrowers whose loans have been modified under these short-term programs to continue to be able to meet their contractual obligations upon the conclusion of the short-term modification. In addition, we have modified $0.5 billion of Consumer loans for the three months ended March 31, 2012, which are classified as TDRs. Further information on Consumer impaired loans is provided in Note 17 to the condensed, consolidated financial statements.

Delinquencies
 
For additional information on delinquency rates at each of our major portfolios, see Note 17 to the condensed, consolidated financial statements.

GECC Selected European Exposures
 
At March 31, 2012, we had $91 billion in net financing receivables to consumer and commercial customers in Europe. The GECC financing receivables portfolio in Europe is well diversified across European geographies and customers. Approximately 87% of the portfolio is secured by collateral and represents approximately 500,000 commercial customers. Several European countries, including Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Hungary (“focus countries”), have been subject to credit deterioration due to weaknesses in their economic and fiscal situations. The carrying value of GECC funded exposures in these focus countries and in the rest of Europe comprised the following at March 31, 2012.

                                     
Rest of
 
Total
March 31, 2012 (In millions)
Spain
 
Portugal
 
Ireland
 
Italy
 
Greece
 
Hungary
 
Europe
 
Europe
                                               
Financing receivables,
                                             
    before allowance
                                             
    for losses on
                                             
    financing receivables
$
2,263 
 
$
576 
 
$
421 
 
$
7,209 
 
$
73 
 
$
3,136 
 
$
79,024 
 
$
92,702 
                                               
Allowance for losses on
                                             
    financing receivables
 
(83)
   
(23)
   
(19)
   
(266)
   
– 
   
(114)
   
(1,428)
   
(1,933)
                                               
Financing receivables,
                                             
    net of allowance
                                             
    for losses on
 
2,180 
   
553 
   
402 
   
6,943 
   
73 
   
3,022 
   
77,596 
   
90,769 
    financing receivables(a)(b)
                                             
                                               
Investments(c)(d)
 
   
– 
   
13 
   
631 
   
– 
   
167 
   
2,230 
   
3,043 
                                               
Cost and equity method
                                             
    investments(e)
 
865 
   
27 
   
341 
   
70 
   
32 
   
   
728 
   
2,068 
                                               
Derivatives,
                                             
    net of collateral(c)(f)
 
43 
   
– 
   
– 
   
78 
   
– 
   
– 
   
110 
   
231 
                                               
Total funded exposures(g)(h)
$
3,090 
 
$
580 
 
$
756 
 
$
7,722 
 
$
105 
 
$
3,194 
 
$
80,664 
 
$
96,111 
                                               
Unfunded commitments
$
37 
 
$
 
$
26 
 
$
301 
 
$
 
$
603 
 
$
7,825 
 
$
8,797 
                                               
                                               

(a)  
Financing receivable amounts are classified based on the location or nature of the related obligor.
 
(b)  
Substantially all relates to non-sovereign obligors. Includes residential mortgage loans of approximately $34.6 billion before consideration of purchased credit protection. We have third-party mortgage insurance for approximately 29% of these residential mortgage loans, substantially all of which were originated in the U.K., Poland and France.
 
 
(73)

 
(c)  
Investments and derivatives are classified based on the location of the parent of the obligor or issuer.
 
(d)  
Includes $1.0 billion related to financial institutions, $0.3 billion related to non-financial institutions and $1.7 billion related to sovereign issuers. Sovereign issuances totaled $0.1 billion and $0.1 billion related to Italy and Hungary, respectively. We held no investments issued by sovereign entities in the other focus countries.
 
(e)  
Substantially all is non-sovereign.
 
(f)  
Net of cash collateral; entire amount is non-sovereign.
 
(g)  
Excludes $23.4 billion of cash on short-term placement with highly rated global financial institutions based in Europe, sovereign central banks and agencies or supra national entities, of which $1.2 billion is in focus countries, and $20.0 billion of cash and equivalents placed with highly rated European financial institutions on a short-term basis, secured by U.S. Treasury securities ($10.9 billion) and sovereign bonds of non-focus countries ($9.1 billion), where the value of our collateral exceeds the amount of our cash exposure.
 
(h)  
Excludes ELTO ($11.7 billion) and real estate held for investment ($7.3 billion), of which $2.4 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, are held in focus countries. These assets are held under long-term investment and operating strategies, and our ELTO strategies contemplate an ability to redeploy assets under lease should default by the lessee occur. The values of these assets could be subject to decline or impairment in the current environment.
 

We manage counterparty exposure, including credit risk, on an individual counterparty basis. We place defined risk limits around each obligor and review our risk exposure on the basis of both the primary and parent obligor, as well as the issuer of securities held as collateral. These limits are adjusted on an ongoing basis based on our continuing assessment of the credit risk of the obligor or issuer. In setting our counterparty risk limits, we focus on high quality credits and diversification through spread of risk in an effort to actively manage our overall exposure. We actively monitor each exposure against these limits and take appropriate action when we believe that risk limits have been exceeded or there are excess risk concentrations. Our collateral position and ability to work out problem accounts has historically mitigated our actual loss experience. Delinquency experience has been relatively stable in our European commercial and consumer platforms in the aggregate, and we actively monitor and take action to reduce exposures where appropriate. Uncertainties surrounding European markets could have an impact on the judgments and estimates used in determining the carrying value of these assets.

All other assets comprise mainly real estate equity properties and investments, equity and cost method investments, derivative instruments and assets held for sale, and totaled $71.7 billion at March 31, 2012, a decrease of $3.9 billion, primarily related to decreases in the fair value of derivative instruments ($4.2 billion) and the sale of certain held-for-sale real estate and aircraft ($0.8 billion), partially offset by the consolidation of an entity involved in power generating activities ($1.3 billion). During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we recognized an insignificant amount of other-than-temporary impairments of cost and equity method investments, excluding those related to real estate.

Included in other assets are Real Estate equity investments of $23.6 billion and $23.9 billion at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Our portfolio is diversified, both geographically and by asset type. We review the estimated values of our commercial real estate investments at least annually, or more frequently as conditions warrant. Based on the most recent valuation estimates available, the carrying value of our Real Estate investments exceeded their estimated value by about $2.6 billion. Commercial real estate valuations in 2011 and the first quarter of 2012 showed signs of improved stability and liquidity in certain markets, primarily in the U.S.; however, the pace of improvement varies significantly by asset class and market.  Accordingly, there continues to be risk and uncertainty surrounding commercial real estate values. Declines in estimated value of real estate below carrying amount result in impairment losses when the aggregate undiscounted cash flow estimates used in the estimated value measurement are below the carrying amount. As such, estimated losses in the portfolio will not necessarily result in recognized impairment losses. During the first quarter of 2012, Real Estate recognized pre-tax impairments of less than $0.1 billion in its real estate held for investment, which were primarily driven by declining cash flow projections for properties in Japan. Real Estate investments with undiscounted cash flows in excess of carrying value of 0% to 5% at March 31, 2012 had a carrying value of $0.6 billion and an associated estimated unrealized loss of approximately $0.1 billion. Continued deterioration in economic conditions or prolonged market illiquidity may result in further impairments being recognized.

Liquidity and Borrowings
 
We maintain a strong focus on liquidity. At both GE and GECC we manage our liquidity to help ensure access to sufficient funding to meet our business needs and financial obligations throughout business cycles.

 
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Our liquidity and borrowing plans for GE and GECC are established within the context of our annual financial and strategic planning processes. At GE, our liquidity and funding plans take into account the liquidity necessary to fund our operating commitments, which include primarily purchase obligations for inventory and equipment, payroll and general expenses (including pension funding). We also take into account our capital allocation and growth objectives, including paying dividends, repurchasing shares, investing in research and development and acquiring industrial businesses. At GE, we rely primarily on cash generated through our operating activities and also have historically maintained a commercial paper program that we regularly use to fund operations in the U.S., principally within fiscal quarters.

GECC’s liquidity position is targeted to meet our obligations under both normal and stressed conditions.  GECC establishes a funding plan annually that is based on the projected asset size and cash needs of the Company, which over the past few years, has included our strategy to reduce our ending net investment in GE Capital. GECC relies on a diversified source of funding, including the unsecured term debt markets, the global commercial paper markets, deposits, secured funding, retail funding products, bank borrowings and securitizations to fund its balance sheet, in addition to cash generated through collection of principal, interest and other payments on our existing portfolio of loans and leases to fund its operating and interest expense costs.

Our 2012 GECC funding plan anticipates repayment of principal on outstanding short-term borrowings, including the current portion of its long-term debt ($82.7 billion at December 31, 2011, which includes $2.7 billion of alternative and other funding), through issuance of long-term debt and reissuance of commercial paper, cash on hand, collections of financing receivables exceeding originations, dispositions, asset sales, and deposits and other alternative sources of funding. Long-term maturities were $20 billion in the first quarter of 2012. Interest on borrowings is primarily repaid through interest earned on existing financing receivables. During the first quarter of 2012, GECC earned interest income on financing receivables of $5.4 billion, which more than offset interest expense of $3.2 billion.

We maintain a detailed liquidity policy for GECC which includes a requirement to maintain a contingency funding plan. The liquidity policy defines GECC’s liquidity risk tolerance under different stress scenarios based on its liquidity sources and also establishes procedures to escalate potential issues. We actively monitor GECC’s access to funding markets and its liquidity profile through tracking external indicators and testing various stress scenarios. The contingency funding plan provides a framework for handling market disruptions and establishes escalation procedures in the event that such events or circumstances arise.

GECC is a savings and loan holding company under U.S. law and became subject to Federal Reserve Board (FRB) supervision on July 21, 2011, the one-year anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  The FRB has recently finalized a regulation that requires certain organizations it supervises to submit annual capital plans for review, including institutions’ plans to make capital distributions, such as dividend payments. The applicability and timing of this proposed regulation to GECC is not yet determined; however, the FRB has indicated that it expects to extend these requirements to large savings and loan holding companies through separate rulemaking or by order. While the aforementioned regulations are not final, GECC’s capital allocation planning is still subject to FRB review, which could affect the timing of the GE Capital dividend to the parent.

Actions taken to strengthen and maintain our liquidity are described in the following section.

Liquidity Sources
 
We maintain liquidity sources that consist of cash and equivalents and a portfolio of high-quality, liquid investments (Liquidity Portfolio) and committed unused credit lines.

We have consolidated cash and equivalents of $83.7 billion at March 31, 2012, which is available to meet our needs.  Of this, approximately $8 billion is held at GE and approximately $76 billion is held at GECC.

 
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Most of GE’s cash and equivalents are held outside the U.S. and are available to fund operations and other growth of non-U.S. subsidiaries; they are also available to fund our needs in the U.S. on a short-term basis without being subject to U.S. tax.  Less than $1 billion of GE cash and equivalents is held in countries with currency controls that may restrict the transfer of funds to the U.S. or limit our ability to transfer funds to the U.S. without incurring substantial costs.  These funds are available to fund operations and growth in these countries and we do not currently anticipate a need to transfer these funds to the U.S.

At GECC, about $9 billion of cash and equivalents are in regulated banks and insurance entities and are subject to regulatory restrictions.

Under current tax laws, should we determine to repatriate cash and equivalents held outside the U.S., we may be subject to additional U.S. income taxes and foreign withholding taxes.

In addition to our $83.7 billion of cash and equivalents, we have a centrally-managed portfolio of high-quality, liquid investments with a fair value of $3.6 billion at March 31, 2012. The Liquidity Portfolio is used to manage liquidity and meet the operating needs of GECC under both normal and stress scenarios. The investments consist of unencumbered U.S. government securities, U.S. agency securities, securities guaranteed by the government, supranational securities, and a select group of non-U.S. government securities. We believe that we can readily obtain cash for these securities, even in stressed market conditions.

We have committed, unused credit lines totaling $51.6 billion that have been extended to us by 57 financial institutions at March 31, 2012. These lines include $34.5 billion of revolving credit agreements under which we can borrow funds for periods exceeding one year. Additionally, $17.1 billion are 364-day lines that contain a term-out feature that allows us to extend borrowings for one year from the date of expiration of the lending agreement.

At March 31, 2012, our aggregate cash and equivalents and committed credit lines were more than twice GECC’s commercial paper borrowings balance.

Funding Plan
 
We have reduced our GE Capital ending net investment, excluding cash and equivalents, from $513 billion at January 1, 2009 to $436 billion at March 31, 2012.

In 2012, we completed issuances of $12.1 billion of senior unsecured debt with maturities up to 22 years (and subsequent to March 31, 2012, an additional $4.1 billion).  Average commercial paper borrowings for GECC and GE during the first quarter were $43.5 billion and $15.5 billion, respectively, and the maximum amount of commercial paper borrowings outstanding for GECC and GE during the first quarter was $46.3 billion and $18.0 billion, respectively. GECC commercial paper maturities are funded principally through new issuances and at GE are substantially repaid by quarter-end using overseas cash which is available for use in the U.S. on a short-term basis without being subject to U.S. tax.

Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP), the FDIC guaranteed certain senior, unsecured debt issued by GECC on or before October 31, 2009 for which we paid $2.3 billion of fees to the FDIC for our participation. Our TLGP-guaranteed debt has remaining maturities of $28 billion in 2012. We anticipate funding these and our other long-term debt maturities through a combination of existing cash, new debt issuances, collections exceeding originations, dispositions, asset sales, deposits and other alternative sources of funding. GECC and GE are parties to an Eligible Entity Designation Agreement and GECC is subject to the terms of a Master Agreement, each entered into with the FDIC. The terms of these agreements include, among other things, a requirement that GE and GECC reimburse the FDIC for any amounts that the FDIC pays to holders of GECC debt that is guaranteed by the FDIC.

We securitize financial assets as an alternative source of funding. During 2012, we completed $4.1 billion of non-recourse issuances and had maturities of $3.8 billion. At March 31, 2012, consolidated non-recourse borrowings were $29.5 billion.
 
 
 
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We have deposit-taking capability at 12 banks outside of the U.S. and two banks in the U.S. – GE Capital Retail Bank (formerly GE Money Bank), a Federal Savings Bank (FSB), and GE Capital Financial Inc., an industrial bank (IB). The FSB and IB currently issue certificates of deposit (CDs) in maturity terms from three months to ten years.

Total alternative funding at March 31, 2012 was $64 billion, composed mainly of $41 billion bank deposits, $9 billion of funding secured by real estate, aircraft and other collateral and $9 billion GE Interest Plus notes. The comparable amount at December 31, 2011 was $66 billion.

Credit Ratings
 
On April 3, 2012, Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) announced that it had downgraded the senior unsecured debt rating of GE by one notch from Aa2 to Aa3 and the senior unsecured debt rating of GECC by two notches from Aa2 to A1. The ratings downgrade does not affect GE’s and GECC’s short-term funding ratings of P-1, which were affirmed by Moody’s.  Moody’s ratings outlook for GE and GECC is stable.  We do not anticipate any material operational, funding or liquidity impacts from this ratings downgrade.
 
As further disclosed in our 2011 consolidated financial statements, GECC has fully guaranteed repayment of $4.1 billion of guaranteed investment contract (GIC) obligations of Trinity.  As a result of Moody’s downgrade, substantially all of these GICs became redeemable by the holders. In addition, another consolidated entity also had issued GICs where proceeds are loaned to GECC and $1.1 billion of these GICs became redeemable by the holders. On May 1, 2012, holders of $2.1 billion in principal amount of GICs redeemed their holdings and GECC made related cash payments. These redemptions were fully considered in our previously discussed liquidity plan. As of May 2, 2012, the contractual redemption period for $0.8 billion of GICs had not yet expired. Subsequent to this contractual redemption period, the remaining outstanding GICs will continue to be subject to the existing terms and maturities of their respective contracts.

Additionally, there were other contracts affected by the downgrade with provisions requiring us to provide additional funding, post collateral and make other payments.  The total cash and collateral impact of these contracts was less than $0.6 billion.

Income Maintenance Agreement
 
As set forth in Exhibit 99(b) hereto, GECC’s ratio of earnings to fixed charges was 1.60:1 during the three months ended March 31, 2012 due to higher pre-tax earnings at GECC, which were primarily driven by lower losses and delinquencies. For additional information, see the Income Maintenance Agreement section in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our 2011 consolidated financial statements.


Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
 
There have been no significant changes to our market risk since December 31, 2011. For a discussion of our exposure to market risk, refer to Part II, Item 7A. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.


Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
 
Under the direction of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting and concluded that (i) our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2012, and (ii) no change in internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2012, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, such internal control over financial reporting.

 
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Part II. Other Information
 
Item 1.  Legal Proceedings.
 
The following information supplements and amends our discussion set forth under Part I, Item 3 “Legal Proceedings” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

In February and March 2012, two shareholder derivative actions were filed in New York Supreme Court naming as defendants GE, a number of GE officers (including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer) and our directors.  The complaints seek unspecified damages and principally allege breaches of fiduciary duty and other causes of action related to 2009 earnings forecasts for GE Capital, changes in the GE dividend and GE’s credit rating in 2009 and GE’s 2008 commercial paper program.

Item 2. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers.
 
               
Approximate
               
dollar value
           
Total number
 
of shares that
           
of shares
 
may yet be
           
purchased
 
purchased
           
as part of
 
under our
   
Total number
 
Average
 
our share
 
share
   
of shares
 
price paid
 
repurchase
 
repurchase
Period(a)
 
purchased
(a)(b)
per share
 
program
(a)(c)
program
(Shares in thousands)
                       
                         
2012 
                       
January
   
1,159 
 
$
18.70
   
807 
     
February
   
955 
 
$
19.11
   
712 
     
March
   
1,220 
 
$
19.68
   
846 
     
Total
   
3,334 
 
$
19.18
   
2,365 
$
7.9
billion
                         
                         
(a)
Information is presented on a fiscal calendar basis, consistent with our quarterly financial reporting.
 
(b)
This category includes 969 thousand shares repurchased from our various benefit plans, primarily the GE Savings and Security Program (the S&SP). Through the S&SP, a defined contribution plan with Internal Revenue Service Code 401(k) features, we repurchase shares resulting from changes in investment options by plan participants.
 
(c)
This balance represents the number of shares that were repurchased through the 2007 GE Share Repurchase Program (the Program) under which we are authorized to repurchase up to $15 billion of our common stock through 2013. The Program is flexible and shares are acquired with a combination of borrowings and free cash flow from the public markets and other sources, including GE Stock Direct, a stock purchase plan that is available to the public.
 

 

 
On March 29, 2012, we issued 272,376 shares of common stock from treasury (par value $0.06 per share) with a value of $5.5 million to the General Electric Company Pension Trust in a private exchange for a put right with respect to shares of the Company’s common stock.  The value of the shares was based on the closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on March 28, 2012. The shares of common stock were issued in accordance with the exemption from registration provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 

 
 
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Item 6. Exhibits.
 
Exhibit 11 
Computation of Per Share Earnings*.
Exhibit 12
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
Exhibit 31(a)
Certification Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended.
Exhibit 31(b)
Certification Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended.
Exhibit 32
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
Exhibit 99(a)
Financial Measures That Supplement Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
Exhibit 99(b)
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 12 to General Electric Capital Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2012 (Commission file number 001-06461)).
Exhibit 101
The following materials from General Electric Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language); (i) Condensed Statement of Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareowners’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, (iv) Condensed Statement of Financial Position at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, (v) Condensed Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, and (vi) Notes to Condensed, Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
*
Data required by Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 260, Earnings Per Share, is provided in Note 14 to the Condensed, Consolidated Financial Statements in this Report.


 
 
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Signatures
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 

 
   
General Electric Company
(Registrant)
 
May 4, 2012
 
/s/ Jamie S. Miller
 
Date
 
Jamie S. Miller
Vice President and Controller
Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Accounting Officer