gecc10q33109.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, 2009
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 1-6461
_____________________________
 
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
13-1500700
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut
 
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 ¨ 
Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer þ
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
 
At April 30, 2009, 3,985,404 shares of voting common stock, which constitute all of the outstanding common equity, with a par value of $14 per share were outstanding.
 
REGISTRANT MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION H(1)(a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-Q AND IS THEREFORE FILING THIS FORM 10-Q WITH THE REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT.
 

 

 

 
(1)

 

General Electric Capital Corporation
 
Part I – Financial Information
 
Page
       
Item 1.
Financial Statements
   
 
Condensed Statement of Current and Retained Earnings
 
3
 
Condensed Statement of Financial Position
 
4
 
Condensed Statement of Cash Flows
 
5
 
Notes to Condensed, Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
6
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
31
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
50
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
 
50
       
Part II – Other Information
   
       
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
 
51
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
 
51
Item 6.
Exhibits
 
52
Signatures
 
53

 
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: the severity and duration of current economic and financial conditions, including volatility in interest and exchange rates, commodity and equity prices and the value of financial assets; the impact of U.S. and foreign government programs to restore liquidity and stimulate national and global economies; the impact of conditions in the financial and credit markets on the availability and cost of our funding and on our ability to reduce our asset levels and commercial paper exposure as planned; the impact of conditions in the housing market and unemployment rates on the level of commercial and consumer credit defaults; 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 soundness of other financial institutions with which we do business; the level of demand and financial performance of the major industries we serve, including, without limitation, real estate and healthcare; the impact of regulation and regulatory, investigative and legal proceedings and legal compliance risks; strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions and our success in integrating acquired businesses; 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 Capital Corporation and consolidated affiliates
Condensed Statement of Current and Retained Earnings
(Unaudited)
 
Three months ended
March 31
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
             
Revenues
           
Revenues from services (Note 3)
$
13,336
 
$
16,756
 
Sales of goods
 
273
   
367
 
Total revenues
 
13,609
   
17,123
 
             
Costs and expenses
           
Interest
 
5,090
   
6,079
 
Operating and administrative
 
3,858
   
4,532
 
Cost of goods sold
 
224
   
317
 
Investment contracts, insurance losses and insurance annuity benefits
 
73
   
143
 
Provision for losses on financing receivables
 
2,322
   
1,333
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
2,173
   
2,121
 
Total costs and expenses
 
13,740
   
14,525
 
             
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
 
(131
)
 
2,598
 
Benefit (provision) for income taxes
 
1,155
   
(81
)
             
Earnings from continuing operations
 
1,024
   
2,517
 
Loss from discontinued operations, net of
           
taxes (Note 2)
 
(3
)
 
(46
)
Net earnings
 
1,021
   
2,471
 
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
50
   
36
 
Net earnings attributable to GECC
 
971
   
2,435
 
Dividends
 
   
(1,130
)
Retained earnings at beginning of period
 
45,472
   
40,513
 
Retained earnings at end of period
$
46,443
 
$
41,818
 
             
Amounts attributable to GECC
           
Earnings from continuing operations
$
974
 
$
2,481
 
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
 
(3
)
 
(46
)
Net earnings attributable to GECC
$
971
 
$
2,435
 
             


See accompanying notes.

 
(3)

 

General Electric Capital Corporation and consolidated affiliates
Condensed Statement of Financial Position
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
Assets
           
Cash and equivalents
$
43,984
 
$
36,430
 
Investment securities (Note 5)
 
20,584
   
19,318
 
Inventories
 
65
   
77
 
Financing receivables – net (Notes 6 and 7)
 
352,697
   
370,592
 
Other receivables
 
21,145
   
22,175
 
Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated amortization of $25,564
           
and $29,026
 
58,153
   
64,043
 
Goodwill (Note 8)
 
24,278
   
25,204
 
Other intangible assets – net (Note 8)
 
2,982
   
3,174
 
Other assets
 
87,154
   
84,201
 
Assets of businesses held for sale
 
   
10,556
 
Assets of discontinued operations (Note 2)
 
1,464
   
1,640
 
Total assets
$
612,506
 
$
637,410
 
             
Liabilities and equity
           
Short-term borrowings (Note 9)
$
170,884
 
$
188,601
 
Accounts payable
 
12,371
   
14,863
 
Long-term borrowings (Note 9)
 
318,293
   
321,755
 
Investment contracts, insurance liabilities and insurance annuity benefits
 
10,851
   
11,403
 
Other liabilities
 
22,811
   
30,629
 
Deferred income taxes
 
8,845
   
8,112
 
Liabilities of businesses held for sale
 
   
636
 
Liabilities of discontinued operations (Note 2)
 
737
   
799
 
Total liabilities
 
544,792
   
576,798
 
             
Capital stock
 
56
   
56
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income – net(a)
           
Investment securities
 
(2,053
)
 
(2,013
)
Currency translation adjustments
 
(4,361
)
 
(1,337
)
Cash flow hedges
 
(2,530
)
 
(3,253
)
Benefit plans
 
(359
)
 
(367
)
Additional paid-in capital
 
28,421
   
19,671
 
Retained earnings
 
46,443
   
45,472
 
Total GECC shareowner’s equity
 
65,617
   
58,229
 
Noncontrolling interests(b)
 
2,097
   
2,383
 
Total equity
 
67,714
   
60,612
 
Total liabilities and equity
$
612,506
 
$
637,410
 
             

(a)
The sum of accumulated other comprehensive income net was $(9,303) million and $(6,970) million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.
 
(b)
Included accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests of $170 million and $204 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.
 

See accompanying notes.
 

 

 
(4)

 

General Electric Capital Corporation and consolidated affiliates
Condensed Statement of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
 
Three months ended
March 31
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
             
Cash flows – operating activities
           
Net earnings attributable to GECC
$
971
 
$
2,435
 
Loss from discontinued operations
 
3
   
46
 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings attributable to GECC
           
to cash provided from operating activities
           
Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment
 
2,173
   
2,121
 
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable
 
(2,241
)
 
780
 
Provision for losses on financing receivables
 
2,322
   
1,333
 
All other operating activities
 
(7,909
)
 
(2,892
)
Cash from (used for) operating activities – continuing operations
 
(4,681
)
 
3,823
 
Cash from (used for) operating activities – discontinued operations
 
(28
)
 
348
 
Cash from (used for) operating activities
 
(4,709
)
 
4,171
 
             
Cash flows – investing activities
           
Additions to property, plant and equipment
 
(1,889
)
 
(2,914
)
Dispositions of property, plant and equipment
 
1,091
   
3,177
 
Increase in loans to customers
 
(50,012
)
 
(88,376
)
Principal collections from customers – loans
 
64,553
   
77,000
 
Investment in equipment for financing leases
 
(2,505
)
 
(6,291
)
Principal collections from customers – financing leases
 
4,332
   
4,581
 
Net change in credit card receivables
 
2,491
   
2,128
 
Payments for principal businesses purchased
 
(6,822
)
 
(12,652
)
Proceeds from principal business dispositions
 
8,846
   
4,305
 
All other investing activities
 
(1,457
)
 
(1,747
)
Cash from (used for) investing activities – continuing operations
 
18,628
   
(20,789
)
Cash from (used for) investing activities – discontinued operations
 
30
   
(339
)
Cash from (used for) investing activities
 
18,658
   
(21,128
)
             
Cash flows – financing activities
           
Net increase (decrease) in borrowings (maturities of 90 days or less)
 
(20,000
)
 
3,527
 
Newly issued debt
           
Short-term (91 to 365 days)
 
1,031
   
331
 
Long-term (longer than one year)
 
29,943
   
35,548
 
Non-recourse, leveraged lease
 
   
57
 
Repayments and other debt reductions
           
Short-term (91 to 365 days)
 
(23,491
)
 
(18,380
)
Long-term (longer than one year)
 
(1,771
)
 
(2,336
)
Non-recourse, leveraged lease
 
(395
)
 
(348
)
Dividends paid to shareowner
 
   
(1,130
)
Capital contribution and share issuance
 
8,750
   
 
All other financing activities
 
(460
)
 
633
 
Cash from (used for) financing activities – continuing operations
 
(6,393
)
 
17,902
 
Cash from (used for) financing activities – discontinued operations
 
   
 
Cash from (used for) financing activities
 
(6,393
)
 
17,902
 
             
Increase in cash and equivalents
 
7,556
   
945
 
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year
 
36,610
   
8,907
 
Cash and equivalents at March 31
 
44,166
   
9,852
 
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at March 31
 
182
   
309
 
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at March 31
$
43,984
 
$
9,543
 
             

See accompanying notes.
 


 
(5)

 

Notes to Condensed, Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Our financial statements are prepared in conformity with the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (2008 Form 10-K). See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2008 Form 10-K which discusses our consolidation and financial statement presentation. We have reclassified certain prior-period amounts to conform to the current-period’s presentation.
 
All of the outstanding common stock of General Electric Capital Corporation (GE Capital or GECC) is owned by General Electric Capital Services, Inc. (GECS), all of whose common stock is owned by General Electric Company (GE Company or GE). Our financial statements consolidate all of our affiliates – companies that we control and in which we hold a majority voting interest. We also consolidate the economic interests we hold in certain businesses within companies in which we hold a voting equity interest and are majority owned by our ultimate parent, but which we have agreed to actively manage and control. GECC includes Commercial Lending and Leasing (CLL), Consumer (formerly GE Money), Real Estate, Energy Financial Services and GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS). During the first quarter of 2009, we transferred Banque Artesia Nederland N.V. (Artesia) from CLL to Consumer. Details of total revenues and segment profit by operating segment can be found on page 33 of this report.
 
Unless otherwise indicated, information in these notes to condensed, consolidated financial statements relates to continuing operations.
 
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.
 
Accounting changes
 
Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 157, Fair Value Measurements, for all financial instruments and non-financial instruments accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis. Effective January 1, 2009, we adopted SFAS 157 for all non-financial instruments accounted for at fair value on a non-recurring basis. SFAS 157 establishes a new framework for measuring fair value and expands related disclosures. See Note 10.
 
On January 1, 2009, we adopted SFAS 141(R), Business Combinations. This standard significantly changes the accounting for business acquisitions both during the period of the acquisition and in subsequent periods. Among the more significant changes in the accounting for acquisitions are the following:
 
·  
Acquired in-process research and development (IPR&D) is accounted for as an asset, with the cost recognized as the research and development is realized or abandoned. IPR&D was previously expensed at the time of the acquisition.
 
·  
Contingent consideration is recorded at fair value as an element of purchase price with subsequent adjustments recognized in operations. Contingent consideration was previously accounted for as a subsequent adjustment of purchase price.
 
·  
Subsequent decreases in valuation allowances on acquired deferred tax assets are recognized in operations after the measurement period. Such changes were previously considered to be subsequent changes in consideration and were recorded as decreases in goodwill.
 
 
(6)

 
 
·   
Transaction costs are expensed. These costs were previously treated as costs of the acquisition.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 141(R)-1, Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies, which amends the accounting in SFAS 141(R) for assets and liabilities arising from contingencies in a business combination. The FSP is effective January 1, 2009, and requires pre-acquisition contingencies to be recognized at fair value, if fair value can be reasonably determined during the measurement period. If fair value cannot be reasonably determined, the FSP requires measurement based on the recognition and measurement criteria of SFAS 5, Accounting for Contingencies.
 
On January 1, 2009, we adopted SFAS 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51, which requires us to make certain changes to the presentation of our financial statements. This standard requires us to classify noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as “minority interest”) as part of consolidated net earnings ($50 million and $36 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively) and to include the accumulated amount of noncontrolling interests as part of shareowner’s equity ($2,097 million and $2,383 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively). The net earnings amounts we have previously reported are now presented as "Net earnings attributable to GECC". Similarly, in our presentation of shareowner’s equity, we distinguish between equity amounts attributable to GECC shareowner and amounts attributable to the noncontrolling interests – previously classified as minority interest outside of shareowner’s equity. In addition to these financial reporting changes, SFAS 160 provides for significant changes in accounting related to noncontrolling interests; specifically, increases and decreases in our controlling financial interests in consolidated subsidiaries will be reported in equity similar to treasury stock transactions. If a change in ownership of a consolidated subsidiary results in loss of control and deconsolidation, any retained ownership interests are remeasured with the gain or loss reported in net earnings.
 
2. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
 
Discontinued operations comprised GE Money Japan (our Japanese personal loan business, Lake, and our Japanese mortgage and card businesses, excluding our minority ownership in GE Nissen Credit Co., Ltd.), our U.S. mortgage business (WMC), GE Life and Genworth Financial, Inc. (Genworth). Associated results of operations, financial position and cash flows are separately reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
 
GE Money Japan
 
During the third quarter of 2007, we committed to a plan to sell 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 minority ownership in GE Nissen Credit Co., Ltd. As a result, we recognized an after-tax loss of $908 million in 2007 and an incremental loss in 2008 of $361 million. In connection with the transaction, GE Money Japan reduced the proceeds on the sale for estimated interest refund claims in excess of the statutory interest rate. Proceeds from the sale may be increased or decreased based on the actual claims experienced in accordance with terms specified in the agreement, and will not be adjusted unless claims exceed approximately $2,800 million. Estimated claims are not expected to exceed those levels and are based on our historical claims experience and the estimated future requests, taking into consideration the ability and likelihood of customers to make claims and other industry risk factors. However, uncertainties around the status of laws and regulations and lack of certain information related to the individual customers make it difficult to develop a meaningful estimate of the aggregate claims exposure. We review our estimated exposure quarterly, and make adjustments when required. To date, there have been no adjustments to sale proceeds for this matter. GE Money Japan revenues from discontinued operations were $1 million and $290 million in the first quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively. In total, GE Money Japan earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, were $4 million and $(37) million in the first quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 

 
(7)

 

WMC
 
During the fourth quarter of 2007, we completed the sale of our U.S. mortgage business. In connection with the transaction, WMC retained certain obligations related to loans sold prior to the disposal of the business, including WMC’s contractual obligations to repurchase previously sold loans as to which there was an early payment default or with respect to which certain contractual representations and warranties were not met. Reserves related to these obligations were $246 million at March 31, 2009, and $244 million at December 31, 2008. 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 our estimated losses on loans repurchased. Based on our historical experience, we estimate that a small percentage of the total loans we originated and sold will be tendered for repurchase, and of those tendered, only a limited amount will qualify as “validly tendered,” meaning the loans sold did not satisfy specified contractual obligations. The amount of our current reserve represents our best estimate of losses with respect to our repurchase obligations. However, actual losses could exceed our reserve amount if actual claim rates, valid tenders or losses we incur on repurchased loans are higher than historically observed. WMC revenues from discontinued operations were $(7) million and $5 million in the first quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively. In total, WMC’s losses from discontinued operations, net of taxes, were $6 million and $7 million in the first quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Summarized financial information for discontinued operations is shown below.
 
 
Three months ended March 31
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
             
Operations
           
Total revenues
$
(6
)
$
295
 
             
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes
$
(11
)
$
(78
)
Income tax benefit
 
4
   
32
 
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
$
(7
)
$
(46
)

 
Disposal
           
Gain on disposal before income taxes
$
7
 
$
 
Income tax expense
 
(3
)
 
 
Gain on disposal, net of taxes
$
4
 
$
 
             
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
$
(3
)
$
(46
)

 
 
At
 
 
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
 
             
Assets
           
Cash and equivalents
$
182
 
$
180
 
Other assets
 
14
   
19
 
Other
 
1,268
   
1,441
 
Assets of discontinued operations
$
1,464
 
$
1,640
 

 
 
At
 
 
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
 
             
Liabilities
           
Liabilities of discontinued operations
$
737
 
$
799
 

 
Assets at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, were primarily comprised of a deferred tax asset for a loss carryforward, which expires in 2015, related to the sale of our GE Money Japan business.
 

 
(8)

 

3.  REVENUES FROM SERVICES
 
Revenues from services are summarized in the following table.
 
(In millions)
Three months ended March 31
 
 
2009
 
2008
 
             
Interest on loans
$
5,045
 
$
6,430
 
Equipment leased to others
 
3,473
   
3,795
 
Fees
 
1,159
   
1,332
 
Financing leases
 
901
   
1,149
 
Real estate investments
 
346
   
1,157
 
Associated companies
 
165
   
469
 
Investment income(a)
 
325
   
549
 
Net securitization gains
 
280
   
349
 
Other items(b)
 
1,642
   
1,526
 
Total
$
13,336
 
$
16,756
 
             

(a)
Included other-than-temporary impairments on investment securities of $141 million and $35 million in the first quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
(b)
Included a gain on the sale of a limited partnership interest in Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. (PTL) and a related gain on the remeasurement of the retained investment to fair value totaling $296 million in the first quarter of 2009. See Note 13.
 

 
4.  INCOME TAXES
 
During the first quarter of 2009, following the change in our external credit ratings, funding actions taken and review of our operations, liquidity and funding, we determined that undistributed prior-year earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries of GECC, on which we had previously provided deferred U.S. taxes, would be indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S. This change increased the amount of prior-year earnings indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S. by approximately $2 billion (to $52 billion), resulting in an income tax benefit of $700 million. Under applicable accounting rules, this tax benefit is recorded entirely in the first quarter tax provision and will not affect the tax provision for future quarters of 2009.
 
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
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
             
Unrecognized tax benefits
$
3,538
 
$
3,454
 
Portion that, if recognized, would reduce tax expense and
           
effective tax rate(a)
 
1,795
   
1,734
 
Accrued interest on unrecognized tax benefits
 
730
   
693
 
Accrued penalties on unrecognized tax benefits
 
65
   
65
 
Reasonably possible reduction to the balance of unrecognized
           
tax benefits in succeeding 12 months
 
0450
   
0350
 
Portion that, if recognized, would reduce tax expense
           
and effective tax rate(a)
 
0150
   
050
 
             

(a)
Some portion of such reduction might be reported as discontinued operations.
 

 

 
(9)

 

The IRS is currently auditing the GE consolidated income tax returns for 2003-2007, a substantial portion of which include our activities. In addition, certain other U.S. tax deficiency issues and refund claims for previous years remain unresolved. It is reasonably possible that the 2003-2005 U.S. audit cycle will be completed during the next 12 months, which could result in a decrease in our balance of unrecognized tax benefits. 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. The GECC provision for current tax expense includes its effect on the consolidated return. The effect of GECC on the consolidated liability is settled in cash as GE tax payments are due.
 
5. INVESTMENT SECURITIES
 
The vast majority of our investment securities are classified as available-for-sale and comprise mainly investment-grade debt securities supporting obligations to holders of guaranteed investment contracts.
 
(In millions)
Amortized
cost
 
Gross
unrealized
gains
 
Gross
unrealized
losses
 
Estimated
fair value
 
                         
March 31, 2009
                       
Debt
                       
U.S. corporate
$
5,779
 
$
20
 
$
(693
)
$
5,106
 
State and municipal
 
904
   
4
   
(269
)
 
639
 
Residential mortgage-backed(a)
 
3,789
   
16
   
(1,044
)
 
2,761
 
Commercial mortgage-backed
 
1,655
   
   
(604
)
 
1,051
 
Asset-backed
 
2,561
   
1
   
(513
)
 
2,049
 
Corporate – non-U.S.
 
705
   
7
   
(59
)
 
653
 
Government – non-U.S.
 
1,195
   
4
   
(18
)
 
1,181
 
U.S. government and federal agency
 
83
   
2
   
   
85
 
Retained interests(b)(c)
 
5,442
   
78
   
(100
)
 
5,420
 
Equity
                       
Available-for-sale
 
1,262
   
32
   
(79
)
 
1,215
 
Trading
 
424
   
   
   
424
 
Total
$
23,799
 
$
164
 
$
(3,379
)
$
20,584
 
                         
December 31, 2008
                       
Debt
                       
U.S. corporate
$
4,456
 
$
54
 
$
(637
)
$
3,873
 
State and municipal
 
915
   
5
   
(70
)
 
850
 
Residential mortgage-backed(a)
 
4,228
   
9
   
(976
)
 
3,261
 
Commercial mortgage-backed
 
1,664
   
   
(509
)
 
1,155
 
Asset-backed
 
2,630
   
   
(668
)
 
1,962
 
Corporate – non-U.S.
 
608
   
6
   
(23
)
 
591
 
Government – non-U.S.
 
936
   
2
   
(15
)
 
923
 
U.S. government and federal agency
 
26
   
3
   
   
29
 
Retained interests(b)
 
5,144
   
73
   
(136
)
 
5,081
 
Equity
                       
Available-for-sale
 
1,315
   
24
   
(134
)
 
1,205
 
Trading
 
388
   
   
   
388
 
Total
$
22,310
 
$
176
 
$
(3,168
)
$
19,318
 
                         

(a)
Substantially collateralized by U.S. mortgages.
 
(b)
Included $1,904 million and $1,752 million of retained interests at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, accounted for in accordance with SFAS 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments. See Note 13.
 
(c)
Amortized cost and estimated fair value included $3 million of trading securities at March 31, 2009.
 
     

 
(10)

 

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
 
(In millions)
Estimated
fair value
 
Gross
unrealized
losses
 
Estimated
fair value
 
Gross
unrealized
losses
 
                         
March 31, 2009
                       
Debt
                       
U.S. corporate
$
641
 
$
(111
)
$
1,399
 
$
(582
)
State and municipal
 
309
   
(182
)
 
207
   
(87
)
Residential mortgage-backed
 
260
   
(64
)
 
1,728
   
(980
)
Commercial mortgage-backed
 
94
   
(40
)
 
955
   
(564
)
Asset-backed
 
1,049
   
(147
)
 
968
   
(366
)
Corporate – non-U.S.
 
184
   
(32
)
 
237
   
(27
)
Government – non-U.S.
 
140
   
(1
)
 
259
   
(17
)
U.S. government and federal agency
 
   
   
   
 
Retained interests
 
1,496
   
(33
)
 
325
   
(67
)
Equity
 
125
   
(76
)
 
4
   
(3
)
Total
$
4,298
 
$
(686
)
$
6,082
 
$
(2,693
)
                         
December 31, 2008
                       
Debt
                       
U.S. corporate
$
1,152
 
$
(397
)
$
1,253
 
$
(240
)
State and municipal
 
302
   
(21
)
 
278
   
(49
)
Residential mortgage-backed
 
1,216
   
(64
)
 
1,534
   
(912
)
Commercial mortgage-backed
 
285
   
(85
)
 
870
   
(424
)
Asset-backed
 
903
   
(406
)
 
1,031
   
(262
)
Corporate – non-U.S.
 
60
   
(7
)
 
265
   
(16
)
Government – non-U.S.
 
   
   
275
   
(15
)
U.S. government and federal agency
 
   
   
   
 
Retained interests
 
1,246
   
(61
)
 
238
   
(75
)
Equity
 
200
   
(132
)
 
6
   
(2
)
Total
$
5,364
 
$
(1,173
)
$
5,750
 
$
(1,995
)

 
Of our residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we had approximately $1,195 million and $1,284 million, respectively, of exposure to residential subprime credit, primarily supporting our guaranteed investment contracts, a majority of which have received investment-grade credit ratings from the major rating agencies. Of the total residential subprime credit exposure at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, $1,027 million and $1,089 million, respectively, was insured by monoline insurers. Our subprime investment securities were collateralized primarily by pools of individual, direct mortgage loans, not other structured products such as collateralized debt obligations. Additionally, a majority of exposure to residential subprime credit related to investment securities with underlying loans originated in 2006 and 2005. At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we had approximately $784 million and $783 million, respectively, of exposure to commercial, regional and foreign banks, primarily relating to corporate debt securities, with associated unrealized losses of $142 million and $105 million, respectively.
 
We presently intend to hold our investment securities that are in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2009, at least until we can recover their respective amortized cost. In reaching the conclusion that these investments are not other-than-temporarily impaired, consideration was given to research by our internal and third-party asset managers. With respect to corporate bonds, we placed greater emphasis on the credit quality of the issuers. With respect to RMBS and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), we placed greater emphasis on our expectations with respect to cash flows from the underlying collateral and, with respect to RMBS, we considered the availability of credit enhancements, principally monoline insurance.
 

 
(11)

 

Supplemental information about gross realized gains and losses on available-for-sale investment securities follows.
 
 
Three months ended March 31
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
             
Gains
$
8
 
$
52
 
Losses, including impairments
 
(146
)
 
(38
)
Net
$
(138
)
$
14
 

 
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.
 
Proceeds from investment securities sales and early redemptions by the issuer totaled $1,965 million and $310 million in the first quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively, principally from the sales of short-term securities in our bank subsidiaries.
 
We recognized pre-tax gains on trading securities of $40 million and $220 million in the first quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively. Investments in retained interests increased by $87 million and decreased by $75 million during the first quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively, reflecting changes in fair value accounted for in accordance with SFAS 155.
 
6.  FINANCING RECEIVABLES
 
Financing receivables – net, consisted of the following.
 
 
At
 
 
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
 
             
Loans, net of deferred income
$
297,142
 
$
308,821
 
Investment in financing leases, net of deferred income
 
61,247
   
67,077
 
   
358,389
   
375,898
 
Less allowance for losses (Note 7)
 
(5,692
)
 
(5,306
 )
Financing receivables – net(a)
$
352,697
 
$
370,592
 
             

(a)
Included $5,538 million and $6,461 million related to consolidated, liquidating securitization entities at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively. In addition, financing receivables at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, included $2,877 million and $2,736 million, respectively, relating to loans that had been acquired and accounted for in accordance with SOP 03-3, Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer.
 

 

 
(12)

 

We adopted SFAS 141(R) on January 1, 2009. As a result of this adoption, 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 loan losses is not carried over at acquisition. This may result in lower reserve coverage ratios prospectively. Details of financing receivables – net follow.
 
 
At
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
             
CLL(a)
           
Americas
$
99,444
 
$
104,462
 
Europe
 
40,527
   
36,972
 
Asia
 
14,528
   
16,683
 
Other
 
764
   
786
 
   
155,263
   
158,903
 
Consumer(a)
           
Non-U.S. residential mortgages(b)
 
56,974
   
60,753
 
Non-U.S. installment and revolving credit
 
22,256
   
24,441
 
U.S. installment and revolving credit
 
25,286
   
27,645
 
Non-U.S. auto
 
15,343
   
18,168
 
Other
 
10,309
   
11,541
 
   
130,168
   
142,548
 
             
Real Estate
 
45,373
   
46,735
 
             
Energy Financial Services
 
8,324
   
8,355
 
             
GECAS(c)
 
15,398
   
15,326
 
             
Other(d)
 
3,863
   
4,031
 
   
358,389
   
375,898
 
Less allowance for losses
 
(5,692
)
 
(5,306
)
Total
$
352,697
 
$
370,592
 
             

(a)
During the first quarter of 2009, we transferred Artesia from CLL to Consumer. Prior-period amounts were reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.
 
(b)
At March 31, 2009, net of credit insurance, approximately 27% of this portfolio comprised loans with introductory, below market rates that are scheduled to adjust at future dates; with high loan-to-value ratios at inception; whose terms permitted interest-only payments; or whose terms resulted in negative amortization. At the origination date, loans with an adjustable rate were underwritten to the reset value.
 
(c)
Included loans and financing leases of $13,189 million and $13,078 million at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively, related to commercial aircraft at Aviation Financial Services.
 
(d)
Consisted of loans and financing leases related to certain consolidated, liquidating securitization entities.
 

 

 
(13)

 

Individually impaired loans are defined by GAAP 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. An analysis of impaired loans follows.
 
 
At
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
             
Loans requiring allowance for losses
$
4,138
 
$
2,712
 
Loans expected to be fully recoverable
 
1,682
   
871
 
Total impaired loans
$
5,820
 
$
3,583
 
             
Allowance for losses
$
908
 
$
635
 
Average investment during the period
 
4,665
   
2,064
 
Interest income earned while impaired(a)
 
17
   
27
 
             

(a)
Recognized principally on cash basis.

 
7.  ALLOWANCE FOR LOSSES ON FINANCING RECEIVABLES
 
(In millions)
Balance
January 1,
2009
 
Provision
charged to
operations
 
Currency
exchange
 
Other(a)
 
Gross
write-offs
 
Recoveries
 
Balance
March 31,
2009
                                           
CLL(b)
                                         
Americas
$
824
 
$
257
 
$
(2
)
$
(8
)
$
(189
)
$
16
 
$
898
 
Europe
 
288
   
106
   
(10
)
 
(1
)
 
(59
)
 
3
   
327
 
Asia
 
163
   
50
   
(18
)
 
7
   
(28
)
 
4
   
178
 
Other
 
2
   
   
   
2
   
   
   
4
 
                                           
Consumer(b)
                                         
Non-U.S. residential
                                         
mortgages
 
383
   
237
   
(41
)
 
4
   
(81
)
 
24
   
526
 
Non-U.S. installment
                                         
and revolving credit
 
1,051
   
433
   
(62
)
 
12
   
(493
)
 
97
   
1,038
 
U.S. installment and
                                         
revolving credit
 
1,700
   
905
   
   
(229
)
 
(695
)
 
37
   
1,718
 
Non-U.S. auto
 
222
   
128
   
(12
)
 
19
   
(160
)
 
52
   
249
 
Other
 
226
   
73
   
(11
)
 
(23
)
 
(77
)
 
11
   
199
 
                                           
Real Estate
 
301
   
110
   
(6
)
 
   
(9
)
 
   
396
 
                                           
Energy Financial
                                         
Services
 
58
   
10
   
   
(2
)
 
   
   
66
 
                                           
GECAS
 
60
   
   
   
1
   
   
   
61
 
                                           
Other
 
28
   
13
   
   
1
   
(10
)
 
   
32
 
Total
$
5,306
 
$
2,322
 
$
(162
)
$
(217
)
$
(1,801
)
$
244
 
$
5,692
 
                                           

(a)
Other primarily included the effects of securitization activity.
(b)
During the first quarter of 2009, we transferred Artesia from CLL to Consumer. Prior-period amounts were reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.

 
 
(14)

 
 
 
(In millions)
Balance
January 1,
2008
 
Provision
charged to
operations
 
Currency
exchange
 
Other(a)
 
Gross
write-offs
 
Recoveries
 
Balance
March 31,
2008
                                           
CLL(b)
                                         
Americas
$
451
 
$
88
 
$
1
 
$
72
 
$
(53
)
$
13
 
$
572
 
Europe
 
230
   
38
   
13
   
(37
)
 
(35
)
 
6
   
215
 
Asia
 
226
   
19
   
15
   
42
   
(187
)
 
2
   
117
 
Other
 
3
   
   
1
   
(1
)
 
   
   
3
 
                                           
Consumer(b)
                                         
Non-U.S. residential
                                         
mortgages
 
246
   
31
   
10
   
1
   
(27
)
 
20
   
281
 
Non-U.S. installment
                                         
and revolving credit
 
1,371
   
429
   
78
   
(1
)
 
(617
)
 
200
   
1,460
 
U.S. installment and
                                         
revolving credit
 
985
   
585
   
   
(161
)
 
(505
)
 
61
   
965
 
Non-U.S. auto
 
324
   
73
   
7
   
(39
)
 
(150
)
 
77
   
292
 
Other
 
167
   
54
   
14
   
   
(69
)
 
17
   
183
 
                                           
Real Estate
 
168
   
(1
)
 
2
   
15
   
(4
)
 
   
180
 
                                           
Energy Financial
                                         
Services
 
19
   
1
   
   
2
   
   
   
22
 
                                           
GECAS
 
8
   
16
   
   
   
(1
)
 
   
23
 
                                           
Other
 
18
   
   
   
1
   
(5
)
 
   
14
 
Total
$
4,216
 
$
1,333
 
$
141
 
$
(106
)
$
(1,653
)
$
396
 
$
4,327
 
                                           

(a)
Other primarily included the effects of securitization activity, dispositions and acquisitions.
(b)
During the first quarter of 2009, we transferred Artesia from CLL to Consumer. Prior-period amounts were reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.

 
8.  GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
Goodwill and other intangible assets – net, consisted of the following.
 
 
At
 
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
 
             
Goodwill
$
24,278
 
$
25,204
 
Intangible assets subject to amortization
 
2,982
   
3,174
 
Total
$
27,260
 
$
28,378
 
             

 

 
(15)

 

Changes in goodwill balances follow.
 
 
2009
 
(In millions)
CLL
 
Consumer
 
Real
Estate
 
Energy
Financial
Services
 
GECAS
 
Total
 
                                     
Balance January 1
$
12,321
(a)
$
9,407
(a)
$
1,159
 
$
2,162
 
$
155
 
$
25,204
 
Acquisitions/acquisition accounting
                                   
adjustments
 
217
   
4
   
(7
)
 
(4
)
 
   
210
 
Dispositions, currency exchange
                                   
and other
 
(649
)
 
(416
)
 
(31
)
 
(39
)
 
(1
)
 
(1,136
)
Balance March 31
$
11,889
 
$
8,995
 
$
1,121
 
$
2,119
 
$
154
 
$
24,278
 
                                     

(a)
Reflected the transfer of Artesia during the first quarter of 2009, resulting in a related movement of beginning goodwill balance of $326 million.

 
The amount of goodwill related to new acquisitions recorded during the first quarter of 2009 was $125 million, all related to the acquisition of Interbanca S.p.A. (Interbanca) at CLL. During the first quarter of 2009, the goodwill balance increased by $85 million related to acquisition accounting adjustments to prior-year acquisitions. The most significant of these adjustments was an increase of $70 million associated with the 2008 acquisition of CitiCapital at CLL. Also during the first quarter of 2009, goodwill balances decreased $1,136 million, primarily as a result of the deconsolidation of PTL at CLL ($634 million) and the stronger U.S. dollar ($504 million).
 
We test goodwill for impairment annually and more frequently if circumstances warrant. Given the significant decline in GE’s stock price in the first quarter of 2009 and current market conditions in the financial services industry, we conducted an additional impairment analysis of the reporting units during the first quarter of 2009 using data as of December 31, 2008.
 
We determined fair values for each of the reporting units using an income approach. When available and as appropriate, we used comparative market multiples to corroborate discounted cash flow results. For purposes of the income approach, fair value was determined based on the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at an appropriate risk-adjusted rate. We use our internal forecasts to estimate future cash flows and include an estimate of long-term future growth rates based on our most recent views of the long-term outlook for each business. Actual results may differ from those assumed in our forecasts. We derive our discount rates by applying the capital asset pricing model (i.e., to estimate the cost of equity financing) and analyzing published rates for industries relevant to our reporting units. We used discount rates that are commensurate with the risks and uncertainty inherent in the financial markets generally and in our internally developed forecasts. Discount rates used in these reporting unit valuations ranged from 11.5% to 13.0%. Valuations using the market approach reflect prices and other relevant observable information generated by market transactions involving financial services businesses.
 
Compared to the market approach, the income approach more closely aligns the reporting unit valuation to a company’s or business’ specific business model, geographic markets and product offerings, as it is based on specific projections of the business. Required rates of return, along with uncertainty inherent in the forecasts of future cash flows are reflected in the selection of the discount rate. Equally important, under this approach, reasonably likely scenarios and associated sensitivities can be developed for alternative future states that may not be reflected in an observable market price. A market approach allows for comparison to actual market transactions and multiples. It can be somewhat more limited in its application because the population of potential comparables (or pure plays) is often limited to publicly-traded companies where the characteristics of the comparative business and ours can be significantly different, market data is usually not available for divisions within larger conglomerates or non-public subsidiaries that could otherwise qualify as comparable, and the specific circumstances surrounding a market transaction (e.g., synergies between the parties, terms and conditions of the transaction, etc.) may be different or irrelevant with respect to our business. It can also be difficult under the current market conditions to identify orderly transactions between market participants in similar financial services businesses. We assess the valuation methodology based upon the relevance and availability of data at the time of performing the valuation and weight the methodologies appropriately.
 
 
(16)

 
 
In performing the valuations, we updated cash flows to reflect management’s forecasts and adjusted discount rates to reflect the risks associated with the current market. Based on the results of our testing, the fair values of these reporting units exceeded their book values; therefore, the second step of the impairment test (in which fair value of each of the reporting units assets and liabilities are measured) was not required to be performed and no goodwill impairment was recognized. Estimating the fair value of reporting units involves the use of estimates and significant judgments that are based on a number of factors including actual operating results, future business plans, economic projections and market data. Actual results may differ from forecasted results. While no impairment was noted in our step one impairment tests, goodwill in our Real Estate reporting unit may be particularly sensitive to further deterioration in economic conditions. If current conditions persist longer or deteriorate further than expected, it is reasonably possible that the judgments and estimates described above could change in future periods.
 
Intangible assets subject to amortization
 
 
At
 
March 31, 2009
 
December 31, 2008
(In millions)
Gross
carrying
amount
 
Accumulated
amortization
 
Net
 
Gross
carrying
amount
 
Accumulated
amortization
 
Net
                                   
Customer-related
$
2,005
 
$
(894
)
$
1,111
 
$
1,790
 
$
(616
)
$
1,174
Patents, licenses and trademarks
 
563
   
(465
)
 
98
   
564
   
(460
)
 
104
Capitalized software
 
2,188
   
(1,523
)
 
665
   
2,148
   
(1,463
)
 
685
Lease valuations
 
1,716
   
(650
)
 
1,066
   
1,761
   
(594
)
 
1,167
All other
 
238
   
(196
)
 
42
   
233
   
(189
)
 
44
Total
$
6,710
 
$
(3,728
)
$
2,982
 
$
6,496
 
$
(3,322
)
$
3,174
                                   

 
Amortization expense related to intangible assets subject to amortization was $174 million and $195 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 

 
(17)

 

9.  BORROWINGS
 
Borrowings are summarized in the following table.
 
 
At
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
             
Short-term borrowings
           
             
Commercial paper
           
U.S.
           
Unsecured(a)
$
44,632
 
$
57,665
 
Asset-backed(b)
 
3,518
   
3,652
 
Non-U.S.
 
7,772
   
9,033
 
Current portion of long-term debt(a)(c)
 
79,017
   
69,680
 
Bank deposits(d)(e)
 
25,770
   
29,634
 
Bank borrowings(f)
 
2,462
   
10,028
 
GE Interest Plus notes(g)
 
5,049
   
5,633
 
Other
 
2,664
   
3,276
 
Total
 
170,884
   
188,601
 
             
Long-term borrowings
           
             
Senior notes
           
Unsecured(a)(h)
 
296,475
   
300,172
 
Asset-backed(i)
 
4,518
   
5,002
 
Subordinated notes(j)
 
2,440
   
2,567
 
Subordinated debentures(k)
 
7,056
   
7,315
 
Bank deposits(l)
 
7,804
   
6,699
 
Total
 
318,293
   
321,755
 
Total borrowings
$
489,177
 
$
510,356
 
             

(a)
GE Capital had issued and outstanding, $73,990 million ($36,965 million commercial paper and $37,025 million long-term borrowings) and $35,243 million ($21,823 million commercial paper and $13,420 million long-term borrowings) of senior, unsecured debt that was guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) under the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. GE Capital and GE are parties to an Eligible Entity Designation Agreement and GE Capital 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 GE Capital reimburse the FDIC for any amounts that the FDIC pays to holders of debt that is guaranteed by the FDIC.
(b)
Consists entirely of obligations of consolidated, liquidating securitization entities. See Note 6.
(c)
Included $283 million and $326 million of asset-backed senior notes, issued by consolidated, liquidating securitization entities at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively.
(d)
Included $12,352 million and $11,793 million of deposits in non-U.S. banks at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively.
(e)
Included certificates of deposits distributed by brokers of $13,418 million and $17,841 million at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively.
(f)
Term borrowings from banks with a remaining term to maturity of less than 12 months.
(g)
Entirely variable denomination floating rate demand notes.
(h)
Included borrowings from GECS affiliates of $1,008 million and $1,006 million at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively.
(i)
Included $1,422 million and $2,104 million of asset-backed senior notes, issued by consolidated, liquidating securitization entities at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively. See Note 6.
(j)
Included $450 million of subordinated notes guaranteed by GE at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008.
(k)
Subordinated debentures receive rating agency equity credit and were hedged at issuance to the U.S. dollar equivalent of $7,725 million.
(l)
Entirely certificates of deposits distributed by brokers with maturities greater than one year.

 
(18)

 

10.  FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
 
Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements, for all financial instruments and non-financial instruments accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis. Effective January 1, 2009, we adopted SFAS 157 for all non-financial instruments accounted for at fair value on a non-recurring basis. SFAS 157 establishes a new framework for measuring fair value and expands related disclosures. Broadly, the SFAS 157 framework requires fair value to be determined based on the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. SFAS 157 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy based upon observable and non-observable inputs.
 
The following describes the valuation methodologies we use to measure non-financial instruments accounted for at fair value on a non-recurring basis. For valuation methodologies relating to financial instruments and non-financial instruments accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis and financial instruments accounted for on a non-recurring basis, see Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2008 Form 10-K.
 
Investments in subsidiaries and formerly consolidated subsidiaries
 
Upon a change in control that results in consolidation or deconsolidation of a subsidiary, a fair value measurement may be required if we held a noncontrolling investment in the entity and obtain control or sell a controlling interest and retain a noncontrolling stake in the entity. Such investments are valued using a discounted cash flow model, comparative market multiples or a combination of both approaches as appropriate. In applying these methodologies, we rely on a number of factors, including actual operating results, future business plans, economic projections and market data.
 
Long-lived assets
 
Long-lived assets, including aircraft and real estate, may be measured at fair value if such assets are held for sale or when there is a determination that the asset is impaired. The determination of fair value is based on the best information available, including internal cash flow estimates discounted at an appropriate interest rate, quoted market prices when available, market prices for similar assets and independent appraisals, as appropriate. For real estate, cash flow estimates are based on current market estimates that reflect current and projected lease profiles and available industry information about expected trends in rental, occupancy and capitalization rates.
 
The following tables present our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Included in the tables are investment securities of $7,790 million and $8,190 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, supporting obligations to holders of guaranteed investment contracts. Such securities are mainly investment grade. Also included are retained interests in securitizations totaling $5,420 million and $5,081 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.
 

 
(19)

 


 
(In millions)
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
FIN 39 netting(a)
 
Net balance
 
March 31, 2009
                             
                               
Assets
                             
Investment securities
$
2,976
 
$
8,482
 
$
9,126
 
$
 
$
20,584
 
Derivatives(b)
 
   
15,601
   
580
   
(6,357
)
 
9,824
 
Other(c)
 
   
889
   
512
   
   
1,401
 
Total
$
2,976
 
$
24,972
 
$
10,218
 
$
(6,357
)
$
31,809
 
                               
Liabilities
                             
Derivatives
$
 
$
9,518
 
$
230
 
$
(6,524
)
$
3,224
 
Other
 
   
924
   
   
   
924
 
Total
$
 
$
10,442
 
$
230
 
$
(6,524
)
$
4,148
 

December 31, 2008
                             
                               
Assets
                             
Investment securities
$
1,602
 
$
8,086
 
$
9,630
 
$
 
$
19,318
 
Derivatives(b)
 
   
17,721
   
544
   
(7,054
)
 
11,211
 
Other(c)
 
   
288
   
551
   
   
839
 
Total
$
1,602
 
$
26,095
 
$
10,725
 
$
(7,054
)
$
31,368
 
                               
Liabilities
                             
Derivatives
$
2
 
$
10,810
 
$
162
 
$
(7,218
)
$
3,756
 
Other
 
   
323
   
   
   
323
 
Total
$
2
 
$
11,133
 
$
162
 
$
(7,218
)
$
4,079
 
                               

(a)
FASB Interpretation (FIN) 39, Offsetting of Amounts Related to Certain Contracts, permits the netting of derivative receivables and payables when a legally enforceable master netting agreement exists. Included fair value adjustments related to our own and counterparty credit risk.
(b)
The fair value of derivatives included an adjustment for non-performance risk. At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the cumulative adjustment was a gain of $167 million and $164 million, respectively.
(c)
Included private equity investments and loans designated under the fair value option.

 

 
(20)

 

The following tables present the changes in Level 3 instruments measured on a recurring basis for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008. The majority of our Level 3 balances consist of investment securities classified as available-for-sale with changes in fair value recorded in equity.
 
Changes in Level 3 instruments for the three months ended March 31, 2009
 
(In millions)
January 1,
2009
 
Net realized/
unrealized
gains (losses)
included in
earnings(a)
 
Net realized/
unrealized
gains (losses)
included in
accumulated
other comprehensive income
 
Purchases,
issuances
and
settlements
 
Transfers
in and/or
out of
Level 3(b)
 
March 31,
2009
   
Net change
in unrealized
gains (losses)
relating to
instruments
still held at March 31,
2009(c)
 
     
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
   
   
   
   
Investment securities   
$
9,630
 
$
283
 
$
(210
)
$
7
 
$
(584
)
$
9,126
   
$
110
 
Derivatives(d)(e)
 
401
   
25
   
(44
)
 
(7
)
 
23
   
398
     
(15
)
Other
 
551
   
(10
)
 
(18
)
 
(11
)
 
   
512
     
(19
)
Total
$
10,582
 
$
298
 
$
(272
)
$
(11
)
$
(561
)
$
10,036
   
$
76
 
                                             

(a)
Earnings effects are primarily included in the “Revenues from services” and “Interest” captions in the Condensed Statement of Current and Retained 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)
Earnings from Derivatives were more than offset by $30 million in losses from related derivatives included in Level 2 and $10 million in losses from qualifying fair value hedges.
(e)
Represented derivative assets net of derivative liabilities and included cash accruals of $48 million not reflected in the fair value hierarchy table.

 
(21)

 

Changes in Level 3 instruments for the three months ended March 31, 2008
 
(In millions)
January 1,
2008
 
Net realized/
unrealized
gains (losses)
included in
earnings(a)
 
Net realized/
unrealized
gains (losses)
included in
accumulated
other comprehensive income
 
Purchases,
issuances
and
settlements
 
Transfers
in and/or
out of
Level 3(b)
 
March 31,
2008
   
Net change
in unrealized
gains (losses)
relating to
instruments
still held at March 31,
2008(c)
 
     
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
   
   
   
   
Investment securities   
$
8,329
 
$
154
 
$
(102
)
$
513
 
$
 
$
8,894
   
$
(37
)
Derivatives(d)(e)
 
200
   
275
   
57
   
(43
)
 
   
489
     
260
 
Other
 
689
   
(18
)
 
33
   
10
   
   
714
     
(18
)
Total
$
9,218
 
$
411
 
$
(12
)
$
480
 
$
 
$
10,097
   
$
205
 
                                             

(a)
Earnings effects are primarily included in the “Revenues from services” and “Interest” captions in the Condensed Statement of Current and Retained Earnings.
(b)
Transfers in and out of Level 3 are considered to occur at the beginning of the period. No transfers occurred during the first quarter of 2008.
(c)
Represented the amount of unrealized gains or losses for the period included in earnings.
(d)
Earnings from Derivatives were more than offset by $141 million in losses from related derivatives included in Level 2 and $148 million in losses from qualifying fair value hedges.
(e)
Represented derivative assets net of derivative liabilities and includes cash accruals of $11 million not reflected in the fair value hierarchy table.

 
Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements
 
Certain assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These assets are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances. Included in this category are certain loans that are written down to fair value when they are held for sale or when they are written down to the fair value of their underlying collateral when deemed impaired, cost and equity method investments that are written down to fair value when their declines are determined to be other-than-temporary, long-lived assets that are written down to fair value when they are held for sale or determined to be impaired, the remeasurement of retained investments in former consolidated subsidiaries, and the remeasurement of previous equity interests upon acquisition of a controlling interest. At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, these assets totaled $240 million and $48 million, identified as Level 2, and $10,460 million and $3,100 million, identified as Level 3, respectively.
 
The following table represents the fair value adjustments to assets still held at March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008.
 
 
Three months ended March 31
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
             
             
Financing receivables and loans held for sale
$
(324
)
$
(155
)
Cost and equity method investments
 
(224
)
 
(66
)
Long-lived assets(a)
 
(128
)
 
(26
)
Retained investments in formerly consolidated subsidiaries(a)
 
226
   
 
Total
$
(450
)
$
(247
)
             

(a)
SFAS 157 was adopted for non-financial assets valued on a non-recurring basis as of January 1, 2009.

 

 
(22)

 

11. DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING
 
On January 1, 2009, we adopted SFAS 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133. The standard supplements the required disclosures provided under SFAS 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended, with additional qualitative and quantitative information. Accordingly, the disclosures that follow should be read in the context of our existing disclosure in Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2008 Form 10-K.
 
We use derivatives for risk management purposes. As a matter of policy, 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 ensuring 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 execute derivatives to adjust the nature and tenor of debt funding to meet this objective. The determination of whether a derivative is necessary to achieve this objective depends on customer needs for specific types of financing and market factors affecting the type of debt we can issue.
 
Of the outstanding notional amount of $340,000 million, approximately 99%, or $338,000 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 derivatives activity primarily relates to hedging against adverse changes in currency exchange rates and commodity prices related to anticipated sales and purchases. These activities are designated as hedges in accordance with SFAS 133, when practicable. When it is not possible to apply hedge accounting, or when the derivative and the hedged item are both recorded in earnings currently, the derivatives are accounted for as economic hedges where 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 currently in earnings for both the derivative and the underlying, the economic hedge does not require hedge accounting.
 
The following table provides information about the fair value of our derivatives, by contract type, separating those accounted for as hedges under SFAS 133 and those that are not.
 
 
At March 31, 2009
 
 
Fair value
 
(In millions)
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
             
Derivatives accounted for as hedges under SFAS 133
           
Interest rate contracts
$
7,789
 
$
4,622
 
Currency exchange contracts
 
5,295
   
3,103
 
Other contracts
 
71
   
 
   
13,155
   
7,725
 
             
Derivatives not accounted for as hedges under SFAS 133
           
Interest rate contracts
 
1,129
   
1,168
 
Currency exchange contracts
 
1,660
   
739
 
Other contracts
 
237
   
116
 
   
3,026
   
2,023
 
FIN 39 netting adjustment(a)
 
(6,357
)
 
(6,524
)
             
Total
$
9,824
 
$
3,224
 
             

Derivatives are classified in the captions “Other assets” and “Other liabilities” in our financial statements.

(a)
FIN 39 permits the netting of derivative receivables and payables when a legally enforceable master netting agreement exists. Amounts included fair value adjustments related to our own and counterparty credit risk. At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the cumulative adjustment for non-performance risk was a gain of $167 million and $164 million, respectively.

 

 
(23)

 

Earnings effects of derivatives on the Statement of Current and Retained Earnings
 
For relationships designated as fair value hedges, which relate entirely to hedges of debt, changes in fair value of the derivatives are recorded in earnings along with offsetting adjustments to the carrying amount of the hedged debt. Through March 31, 2009, such adjustments increased the carrying amount of debt outstanding by $7,181 million. The following table provides information about the earnings effects of our fair value hedging relationships for the three months ended March 31, 2009.
 
     
Three months ended
March 31, 2009
 
(In millions)
Financial statement caption
 
Gain (loss)
on hedging
derivatives
 
Gain (loss)
on hedged
items
 
                 
Interest rate contracts
Interest
 
$
(937
)
$
986
 
Currency exchange contracts
Interest
   
(967
)
 
949
 
                 

Fair value hedges resulted in $31 million of ineffectiveness of which $(27) million reflects amounts excluded from the assessment of effectiveness.

 
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 in the cash flow hedges subaccount of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) and reclassified into earnings contemporaneously with the earnings effects of the hedged transaction. Earnings effects of the derivative and the hedged item are reported in the same caption in the Statement of Current and Retained Earnings. Hedge ineffectiveness and components of changes in fair value of the derivative that are excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in earnings each reporting period.
 
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 in the currency translation adjustments subaccount 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, are excluded from the effectiveness assessment and are recorded currently in earnings.
 

 
(24)

 

The following tables provide additional information about the financial statement effects related to our cash flow hedges and net investment hedges for the three months ended March 31, 2009.
 
(In millions)
Gain (loss)
recognized
in OCI
 
Financial statement caption
 
Gain (loss)
reclassified
from
AOCI into
earnings
 
     
     
 
   
   
   
Cash flow hedges
               
Interest rate contracts
$
141
 
Interest
 
$
(487
)
Currency exchange contracts
 
569
 
Interest
   
(1
)
       
Revenues from services
   
(269
)
Commodity contracts
 
1
           
                 
Total
$
711
     
$
(757
)
                 

 
Gain (loss)
recognized
in CTA
     
Gain (loss)
reclassified
from CTA
 
                 
Net investment hedges
               
Currency exchange contracts
$
2,326
 
Revenues from services
 
$
(39
)
                 

Of the total pre-tax amount recorded in AOCI, $4,247 million related to cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions of which we expect to transfer $1,922 million to earnings as an expense in the next 12 months contemporaneously with the earnings effects of the related forecasted transactions. In the first quarter of 2009, we recognized insignificant gains and losses related to hedged forecasted transactions and firm commitments that did not occur by the end of the originally specified period. At March 31, 2009, the maximum term of derivative instruments that hedge forecasted transactions was 27 years and related to hedges of anticipated interest payments associated with external debt.

 
For cash flow hedges, the amount of ineffectiveness in the hedging relationship and amount of the changes in fair value of the derivative that are not included in the measurement of ineffectiveness are both reflected in earnings each reporting period. These amounts totaled $(7) million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, and primarily appear in Revenues from services. Ineffectiveness from net investment hedges was $(390) million, which primarily relates to changes in value of the forward points that under our hedge accounting designations are excluded from the assessment of effectiveness and recorded directly into earnings. These amounts appear in the “Interest” caption in the Statement of Current and Retained Earnings.
 
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 entered into as economic hedges of changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, commodity prices and other market risks. Gains or losses related to the derivative are recorded in predefined captions in the Statement of Current and Retained Earnings, typically “Revenues from services”, based on our accounting policy. In general, the earnings effects of the item that represents the economic risk exposure is recorded in the same caption as the derivative. Losses for the first quarter of 2009 on derivatives not designated as hedges, without considering the offsetting earnings effects from the item representing the economic risk exposure, were $(13) million, related to interest rate contracts of $148 million, currency exchange contracts of $(206) million and equity, credit and commodity derivatives of $45 million.
 

 

 
(25)

 

Counterparty credit risk
 
To lower our exposure to credit risk, our standard master agreements typically contain mutual downgrade provisions that provide the ability of each party to require assignment or 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 assignment or termination if the short-term rating of the counterparty were to fall below A-1/P-1. The net derivative liability subject to these provisions was approximately $1,810 million at March 31, 2009. In addition to these provisions, we also have collateral arrangements that provide us with the right to hold collateral (cash or U.S. Treasury or other highly-rated securities) when the current market value of derivative contracts exceeds a specified limit. We also have a limited number of such collateral agreements under which we must post collateral. Under these agreements and in the normal course of business, the fair value of collateral posted by counterparties at March 31, 2009 was approximately $8,250 million, of which $131 million was held in cash and $8,119 million represented pledged securities. The fair value of collateral posted by us was approximately $1,021 million, of which $34 million was cash and $987 million represented securities repledged.
 
More information regarding our counterparty credit risk and master agreements can be found in Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2008 Form 10-K.
 
Guarantees of derivatives
 
We do not sell credit default swaps; however, as part of our risk management services, we provide certain performance guarantees to third-party financial institutions related to plain vanilla interest rate swaps on behalf of some customers related to variable rate loans we have extended to them. The fair value of such guarantees was $30 million at March 31, 2009. The aggregate fair value of customer derivative contracts in a liability position at March 31, 2009, was $363 million before consideration of any offsetting effect of collateral. At March 31, 2009, collateral value was sufficient to cover the loan amount and the fair value of the customer’s derivative, in the event we had been called upon to perform under the derivative. Given our strict underwriting criteria, we believe the likelihood that we will be required to perform under these guarantees is remote.
 
12.  SHAREOWNER’S EQUITY
 
A summary of increases (decreases) in GECC shareowner’s equity that did not result directly from transactions with the shareowner, net of income taxes, follows.
 
 
Three months ended March 31
 
(In millions)
 
2009
   
2008
 
             
Net earnings attributable to GECC
$
971
 
$
2,435
 
Investment securities – net
 
(40
)
 
(501
)
Currency translation adjustments – net
 
(3,024
)
 
1,109
 
Cash flow hedges – net
 
723
   
(1,678
)
Benefit plans – net
 
8
   
13
 
Total
$
(1,362
)
$
1,378
 

 
Changes to noncontrolling interests during the first quarter of 2009 resulted from net earnings ($50 million), dividends ($(27) million), the effects of deconsolidating PTL ($(331) million), accumulated other comprehensive income ($(34) million) and other ($56 million). Changes to the individual components of accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests were insignificant.
 
During the first quarter of 2009, GE made a $9,500 million capital contribution to GECS, of which GECS subsequently contributed $8,250 million to us. In addition, we issued one share of common stock (par value $14) to GECS for $500 million.
 

 
(26)

 

13.  OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
 
We securitize financial assets and arrange other forms of asset-backed financing in the ordinary course of business to improve shareowner returns. The securitization transactions we engage in are similar to those used by many financial institutions. Beyond improving returns, these securitization transactions serve as funding sources for a variety of diversified lending and securities transactions. Historically, we have used both GE-supported and third-party Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) to execute off-balance sheet securitization transactions funded in the commercial paper and term markets. The largest single category of VIEs that we are involved with are Qualifying Special Purpose Entities (QSPEs), which meet specific characteristics defined in U.S. GAAP that exclude them from the scope of consolidation standards.
 
Investors in these entities only have recourse to the assets owned by the entity and not to our general credit, unless noted below. We did not provide non-contractual support to any consolidated VIE, unconsolidated VIE or QSPE in the three months ended March 31, 2009. We do not have implicit support arrangements with any VIE or QSPE.
 
Variable Interest Entities
 
When evaluating whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE and must therefore consolidate the entity, we perform a qualitative analysis that considers the design of the VIE, the nature of our involvement and the variable interests held by other parties. If that evaluation is inconclusive as to which party absorbs a majority of the entity’s expected losses or residual returns, a quantitative analysis is performed to determine who is the primary beneficiary.
 
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
 
For additional information about our consolidated VIEs, see Note 21 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2008 Form 10-K. Consolidated VIEs at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 follow:
 
 
At
 
 
March 31, 2009
 
December 31, 2008
 
(In millions)
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
                         
Consolidated, liquidating securitization entities(a)
$
3,813
 
$
3,665
 
$
4,000
 
$
3,868
 
Trinity(b)
 
8,348
   
10,747
   
9,192
   
11,623
 
Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. (PTL)(c)
 
   
   
7,444
   
1,339
 
Other(d)
 
3,523
   
2,394
   
4,503
   
3,329
 
 
$
15,684
 
$
16,806
 
$
25,139
 
$
20,159
 
                         

(a)
If the short-term credit rating of GE Capital or these entities were reduced below A–1/P–1, we could be required to provide substitute liquidity for those entities or provide funds to retire the outstanding commercial paper. The maximum net amount that we could be required to provide in the event of such a downgrade is determined by contract, and totaled $3,420 million at March 31, 2009. The borrowings of these entities are reflected in our Statement of Financial Position.
(b)
If the long-term credit rating of GE Capital were to fall below AA-/Aa3 or its short-term credit rating were to fall below A-1+/P-1, GE Capital could be required to provide approximately $3,224 million to such entities as of March 31, 2009, pursuant to letters of credit issued by GE Capital. To the extent that the entities’ liabilities exceed the ultimate value of the proceeds from the sale of their assets and the amount drawn under the letters of credit, GE Capital could be required to provide such excess amount. The borrowings of these entities are reflected in our Statement of Financial Position.
(c)
In the first quarter of 2009, we sold a 1% limited partnership interest in PTL, a previously consolidated VIE, to Penske Truck Leasing Corporation, the general partner of PTL, whose majority shareowner is a member of GE’s Board of Directors.The disposition of the shares, coupled with our resulting minority position on the PTL advisory committee and related changes in our contractual rights, resulted in the deconsolidation of PTL. We recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of $296 million, including a gain on the remeasurement of our retained investment of $189 million. The measurement of the fair value of our retained investment in PTL was based on a methodology that incorporated both discounted cash flow information and market data. In applying this methodology, we utilized different sources of information, including actual operating results, future business plans, economic projections and market observable pricing multiples of similar businesses. The resulting fair value reflected our position as a noncontrolling shareowner at the conclusion of the transaction.
(d)
The remaining assets and liabilities of VIEs that are included in our consolidated financial statements were acquired in transactions subsequent to adoption of FIN 46(R) on January 1, 2004. Assets of these entities consist of amortizing securitizations of financial assets originated by acquirees in Australia and Japan, and real estate partnerships. There are no recourse arrangements between GE and these entities.

 

 
(27)

 

Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities
 
Our involvement with unconsolidated VIEs consists of the following activities: assisting in the formation and financing of an entity, providing recourse and/or liquidity support, servicing the assets and receiving variable fees for services provided. The classification in our financial statements of our variable interests in these entities depends on the nature of the entity. As described below, our retained interests in securitization-related VIEs and QSPEs is reported in financing receivables or investment securities depending on its legal form. Variable interests in partnerships and corporate entities would be classified as either equity method or cost method investments.
 
In the ordinary course of business, we make investments in entities in which we are not the primary beneficiary, but may hold a variable interest such as limited partner equity interests or mezzanine debt investment. These investments are classified in two captions in our financial statements: “Other assets” for investments accounted for under the equity method, and “Financing receivables” for debt financing provided to these entities.
 
Investments in unconsolidated VIEs at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 follow:
 
 
At
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
             
Other assets(a)
$
8,257
 
$
1,897
 
Financing receivables
 
642
   
974
 
Total investment
 
8,899
   
2,871
 
Contractual obligations to fund new investments
 
1,460
   
1,159
 
Maximum exposure to loss
$
10,359
 
$
4,030
 
             

(a)
At March 31, 2009, our remaining investment in PTL of $6,108 million comprised a 49.9% partnership interest of $935 million and loans and advances of $5,173 million.

 
Other than those entities described above, we also hold passive investments in RMBS, CMBS and asset-backed securities issued by entities that may be either VIEs or QSPEs. Such investments were, by design, investment grade at issuance and held by a diverse group of investors. As we have no formal involvement in such entities beyond our investment, we believe that the likelihood is remote that we would be required to consolidate them. Further information about such investments is provided in Note 5.
 
Securitization Activities
 
We transfer assets to QSPEs in the ordinary course of business as part of our ongoing securitization activities. In our securitization transactions, we transfer assets to a QSPE and receive a combination of cash and retained interests in the assets transferred. The QSPE sells beneficial interests in the assets transferred to third-party investors, to fund the purchase of the assets.
 
The financing receivables in our QSPEs have similar risks and characteristics to our on-book financing receivables and were underwritten to the same standard. Accordingly, the performance of these assets has been similar to our on-book financing receivables; however, the blended performance of the pools of receivables in our QSPEs reflects the eligibility screening requirements that we apply to determine which receivables are selected for sale. Therefore, the blended performance can differ from the on-book performance.
 
When we securitize financing receivables we retain interests in the transferred receivables in two forms: a seller’s interest in the assets of the QSPE, which we classify as financing receivables, and subordinated interests in the assets of the QSPE, which we classify as investment securities.
 

 
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Financing receivables transferred to securitization entities that remained outstanding and our retained interests in those financing receivables at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 follow.
 
(In millions)
Equipment
(a)
Commercial
real estate
 
Credit
card
receivables
 
Other
assets
 
Total
assets
 
                               
March 31, 2009
                             
Asset amount outstanding
$
13,365
 
$
7,758
 
$
23,049
 
$
2,234
 
$
46,406
 
Included within the amount above are
                             
retained interests of:
                             
Financing receivables(b)
 
   
   
2,364
   
   
2,364
 
Investment securities
 
139
   
14
   
5,179
   
46
   
5,378
 
                               
December 31, 2008
                             
Asset amount outstanding
$
13,298
 
$
7,970
 
$
26,046
 
$
2,782
 
$
50,096
 
Included within the amount above are
                             
retained interests of:
                             
Financing receivables(b)
 
   
   
3,802
   
   
3,802
 
Investment securities
 
148
   
16
   
4,806
   
61
   
5,031
 
                               

(a)
Included inventory floorplan receivables.
(b)
Uncertificated seller’s interests.

 
Retained Interests in Securitization Transactions
 
When we transfer financing receivables, we determine the fair value of retained interests received as part of the securitization transaction in accordance with SFAS 157. Further information about how fair value is determined is presented in Note 10. Retained interests in securitized receivables that are classified as investment securities are reported at fair value in each reporting period. These assets decrease as cash is received on the underlying financing receivables. Retained interests classified as financing receivables are accounted for in a similar manner to our on-book financing receivables.
 

 
(29)

 

Key assumptions used in measuring the fair value of retained interests classified as investment securities and the sensitivity of the current fair value to changes in those assumptions related to all outstanding retained interests at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 follow.
 
 (In millions)
Equipment
 
Commercial
real estate
 
Credit card
receivables
 
Other
assets
     
                               
March 31, 2009
                             
Discount rate(a)
 
14.0
%
 
58.9
%
 
13.9
%
 
8.7
%
     
Effect of
                             
10% adverse change
$
(4
)
$
(1
)
$
(56
)
$
       
20% adverse change
 
(7
)
 
(2
)
 
(110
)
 
       
                               
Prepayment rate(a)(b)
 
9.5
%
 
1.6
%
 
9.2
%
 
40.7
%
     
Effect of
                             
10% adverse change
$
 
$
 
$
(82
)
$
       
20% adverse change
 
(1
)
 
   
(157
)
 
       
                               
Estimate of credit losses(a)
 
0.5
%
 
5.4
%
 
13.9
%
 
0.2
%
     
Effect of
                             
10% adverse change
$
 
$
 
$
(189
)
$
       
20% adverse change
 
(1
)
 
   
(371
)
 
       
                               
Remaining weighted average
                             
asset lives (in months)
 
19
   
81
   
10
   
2
       
Net credit losses for the quarter
$
5
 
$
 
$
446
 
$
       
Delinquencies
 
54
   
   
1,326
   
       
                               
December 31, 2008
                             
Discount rate(a)
 
16.7
%
 
54.2
%
 
15.1
%
 
13.4
%
     
Effect of
                             
10% adverse change
$
(6
)
$
(1
)
$
(53
)
$
       
20% adverse change
 
(12
)
 
(2
)
 
(105
)
 
(1
)
     
                               
Prepayment rate(a)(b)
 
10.0
%
 
1.5
%
 
9.6
%
 
43.8
%
     
Effect of
                             
10% adverse change
$
(1
)
$
 
$
(60
)
$
       
20% adverse change
 
(1
)
 
   
(118
)
 
(1
)
     
                               
Estimate of credit losses(a)
 
0.4
%
 
4.9
%
 
16.2
%
 
0.1
%
     
Effect of
                             
10% adverse change
$
(1
)
$
 
$
(223
)
$
       
20% adverse change
 
(3
)
 
   
(440
)
 
       
                               
Remaining weighted average
                             
asset lives (in months)
 
20
   
70
   
10
   
3
       
Net credit losses for the year
$
4
 
$
 
$
1,512
 
$
       
Delinquencies
 
27
   
   
1,833
   
8
       
                               

(a)
Based on weighted averages.
(b)
Represented a payment rate on credit card receivables, inventory financing receivables (included within equipment) and trade receivables (included within other assets).

 

 
(30)

 

Activity related to retained interests classified as investment securities in our consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 follows.
 
 
Three months ended
March 31
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
             
Cash flows on transfers
           
             
Proceeds from new transfers
$
 
$
1,323
 
Proceeds from collections reinvested in revolving period transfers
 
11,227
   
14,700
 
Cash flows on retained interests recorded as investment securities
 
879
   
849
 
             
Effect on Revenues from services
           
Net gain on sale
$
280
 
$
349
 
Change in fair value on SFAS 155 retained interests
 
87
   
(75
)
Other-than-temporary impairments
 
(8
)
 
(1
)

 
Derivative activities
 
Our QSPEs use derivatives to eliminate interest rate risk between the assets and liabilities. At inception of the transaction, the QSPE will enter into derivative contracts to receive a floating rate of interest and pay a fixed rate with terms that effectively match those of the financial assets held. In some cases, we are the counterparty to such derivative contracts, in which case a second derivative is executed with a third party to substantially eliminate the exposure created by the first derivative. At March 31, 2009, the fair value of such derivative contracts was $189 million, ($205 million at December 31, 2008). We have no other derivatives arrangements with QSPEs or other VIEs.
 
Servicing activities
 
The amount of our servicing assets and liabilities was insignificant at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008. We received servicing fees from QSPEs of $155 million and $164 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008.
 
At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, accounts payables included $4,069 million and $4,446 million, respectively, representing obligations to QSPEs for collections received in our capacity as servicer from obligors of QSPEs.
 
Included in other receivables at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, were $2,564 million and $2,346 million, respectively, relating to amounts owed by QSPEs to GE, principally for the purchase of financial assets.
 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
A. Results of Operations
 
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 to this Form 10-Q Report.
 
Unless otherwise indicated, we refer to captions such as revenues and earnings from continuing operations attributable to GECC 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.
 
 
(31)

 
 
Overview
 
Revenues for the first quarter of 2009 were $13.6 billion, a $3.5 billion (21%) decrease from the first quarter of 2008. Revenues for the first quarters of 2009 and 2008 included $0.7 billion and $0.2 billion of revenue from acquisitions, respectively, and in 2009 were reduced by $0.7 billion as a result of dispositions. Revenues for the quarter also decreased $3.4 billion compared with the first quarter of 2008 as a result of organic revenue declines and the stronger U.S. dollar. Organic revenue growth excludes the effects of acquisitions, business dispositions (other than dispositions of businesses acquired for investment) and currency exchange rates. Earnings were $1.0 billion, down 61% from $2.5 billion in the first quarter of 2008.
 
Overall, acquisitions contributed $0.7 billion and $1.1 billion to total revenues in the first quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively. Our earnings in both the first quarter of 2009 and 2008 included approximately $0.1 billion, from acquired businesses. 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 $0.1 billion in the first quarter of 2009 compared with higher revenues of $0.4 billion in the first quarter of 2008. The effect of dispositions on earnings was an increase of $0.3 billion in both the first quarter of 2009 and 2008.
 
The most significant acquisitions affecting results in the first quarter of 2009 were CitiCapital and Interbanca S.p.A. at Commercial Lending and Leasing (CLL) and Bank BPH at Consumer (formerly GE Money).
 
The provision for income taxes was a benefit of $1.2 billion for the first quarter of 2009 (effective tax rate of 881.7%), compared with $0.1 billion expense for the first quarter of 2008 (effective tax rate of 3.1%). The first quarter 2009 tax benefit when compared to the pre-tax loss results in a positive rate for the quarter. The tax rate increased primarily because of a reduction of income in higher-taxed jurisdictions. This had the effect of increasing the relative impact of tax benefits from lower-taxed global operations. In addition, there were increased benefits from lower taxed-global operations including management’s decision (discussed below) in the first quarter to indefinitely reinvest prior year earnings outside the U.S., partially offset by increased expense to adjust the first quarter tax rate to the expected full year rate.
 
During the first quarter of 2009, following the change in our external credit ratings, funding actions taken and our continued review of our operations, liquidity and funding, we determined that undistributed prior-year earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries of General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC), on which we had previously provided deferred U.S. taxes, would now be indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S. This change increased the amount of prior-year earnings indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S. by approximately $2 billion (to $52 billion), resulting in an income tax benefit of $0.7 billion. Under applicable accounting rules, this tax benefit is recorded entirely in the first quarter tax provision and will not affect the tax provision for future quarters of 2009.
 
Segment Operations
 
Operating segments comprise our five businesses focused on the broad markets they serve: CLL, Consumer, Real Estate, Energy Financial Services and GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS). The Chairman allocates resources to, and assesses the performance of, these five businesses. We also provide a one-line reconciliation to GECC-only results, the most significant component of these reconciliations is the exclusion of the results of businesses which are not subsidiaries of GECC but instead are direct subsidiaries of General Electric Capital Services (GECS). In addition to providing information on GECS segments in their entirety, we have also provided supplemental information for the geographic regions within the CLL segment for greater clarity.
 
GECC corporate items and eliminations include the effects of eliminating transactions between operating segments; results of our run-off insurance operations remaining in continuing operations attributable to GECC; underabsorbed corporate overhead; certain non-allocated amounts determined by the Chairman; and a variety of sundry items. GECC corporate items and eliminations is not an operating segment. Rather, it is added to operating segment totals to reconcile to consolidated totals on the financial statements.
 

 
(32)

 

Segment profit is determined based on internal performance measures used by the Chairman to assess the performance of each business in a given period. In connection with that assessment, the Chairman may exclude matters such as charges for restructuring; rationalization and other similar expenses; in-process research and development and certain other acquisition-related charges and balances; 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 profit always excludes the effects of principal pension plans, results reported as discontinued operations, earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests and accounting changes. Segment profit, which we sometimes refer to as “net earnings”, includes interest and income taxes.
 
We have reclassified certain prior-period amounts to conform to the current period’s presentation.
 
Summary of Operating Segments
 
 
Three months ended
March 31
(Unaudited)
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
Revenues
           
CLL(a)
$
5,578
 
$
6,606
 
Consumer(a)
 
4,747
   
6,440
 
Real Estate
 
975
   
1,883
 
Energy Financial Services
 
644
   
770
 
GECAS
 
1,144
   
1,270
 
Total segment revenues
 
13,088
   
16,969
 
GECC corporate items and eliminations
 
623
   
308
 
Total revenues
 
13,711
   
17,277
 
Less portion of revenues not included in GECC
 
(102
)
 
(154
)
Total revenues in GECC
$
13,609
 
$
17,123
 
             
Segment profit
           
CLL(a)
$
222
 
$
688
 
Consumer(a)
 
727
   
991
 
Real Estate
 
(173
)
 
476
 
Energy Financial Services
 
75
   
133
 
GECAS
 
268
   
391
 
Total segment profit
 
1,119
   
2,679
 
GECC corporate items and eliminations(b)(c)
 
(108
)
 
(175
)
Less portion of segment profit not included in GECC
 
(37
)
 
(23
)
Earnings from continuing operations attributable to GECC
 
974
   
2,481
 
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes, attributable to GECC
 
(3
)
 
(46
)
Total net earnings attributable to GECC
$
971
 
$
2,435
 
             

(a)
During the first quarter of 2009, we transferred Banque Artesia Nederland N.V. (Artesia) from CLL to Consumer. Prior-period amounts were reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.
 
(b)
Included restructuring and other charges of $0.1 billion in both the first three months of 2009 and 2008, primarily related to CLL and Consumer.
 
(c)
Included $0.1 billion during the first three months of 2009, of net earnings compared with an insignificant amount of losses during the first three months of 2008, related to our treasury operations.
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 

 

 
(33)

 

CLL
 
 
Three months ended
March 31
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
             
Revenues
$
5,578
 
$
6,606
 
Less portion of CLL not included in GECC
 
(95
)
 
(160
)
Total revenues in GECC
$
5,483
 
$
6,446
 
             
Segment profit
$
222
 
$
688
 
Less portion of CLL not included in GECC
 
(35
)
 
(27
)
Total segment profit in GECC
$
187
 
$
661
 

 
 
At
 
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
March 31,
2008
 
December 31,
2008
 
                   
Total assets
$
222,878
 
$
243,928
 
$
228,176
 
Less portion of CLL not included in GECC
 
(2,292
)
 
(2,850
)
 
(2,015
)
Total assets in GECC
$
220,586
 
$
241,078
 
$
226,161
 

 
 
Three months ended
March 31
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
             
Revenues
           
Americas
$
2,282
 
$
2,981
 
Europe
 
1,141
   
1,417
 
Asia
 
504
   
617
 
Other
 
1,651
   
1,591
 
             
Segment profit
           
Americas
$
(13
)
$
572
 
Europe
 
64
   
192
 
Asia
 
10
   
45
 
Other
 
161
   
(121
)

 
 
At
 
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
March 31,
2008
 
December 31,
2008
 
                   
Total assets
                 
Americas
$
130,614
 
$
137,670
 
$
135,253
 
Europe
 
52,711
   
59,473
   
49,734
 
Asia
 
20,456
   
25,347
   
23,127
 
Other
 
19,097
   
21,438
   
20,062
 

 
CLL revenues decreased 16% and net earnings decreased 68% compared with the first quarter of 2008. Revenues for the first quarters of 2009 and 2008 included $0.5 billion and $0.1 billion from acquisitions, respectively. Revenues for the first quarter of 2009 also included $0.3 billion related to the partial sale of a limited partnership interest in Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. (PTL) and remeasurement of our retained investment. Revenues for the quarter decreased $1.7 billion compared with the first quarter of 2008 as a result of organic revenue declines ($1.4 billion) and the stronger U.S. dollar ($0.3 billion). Net earnings decreased by $0.5 billion in the first quarter of 2009, resulting from core declines related to the weakened economic environment ($0.8 billion), which included an increase of $0.2 billion in the provision for losses on financing receivables, and lower investment income of $0.1 billion, partially offset by acquisitions ($0.1 billion). Net earnings included the effects of higher mark-to-market losses and other-than-temporary impairments ($0.2 billion) and the absence of the 2008 Genpact gain ($0.3 billion), partially offset by a gain related to the partial sale of a limited partnership interest in PTL ($0.3 billion) and remeasurement of our retained investment.
 

 
(34)

 

Consumer
 
 
Three months ended
March 31
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
             
Revenues
$
4,747
 
$
6,440
 
Less portion of Consumer
           
not included in GECC
 
   
 
Total revenues in GECC
$
4,747
 
$
6,440
 
             
Segment profit
$
727
 
$
991
 
Less portion of Consumer
           
not included in GECC
 
(1
)
 
(2
)
Total segment profit in GECC
$
726
 
$
989
 

 
 
At
 
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
March 31,
2008
 
December 31,
2008
 
                   
Total assets
$
164,617
 
$
221,184
 
$
187,927
 
Less portion of Consumer
                 
not included in GECC
 
(166
)
 
100
   
(167
)
Total assets in GECC
$
164,451
 
$
221,284
 
$
187,760
 

 
Consumer revenues decreased 26% and net earnings decreased 27% compared with the first quarter of 2008. Revenues for the first quarter of 2009 included $0.1 billion from acquisitions and were reduced by $0.5 billion as a result of dispositions, and the lack of a current-year counterpart to the 2008 gain on sale of our Corporate Payment Services (CPS) business ($0.4 billion). Revenues for the quarter also decreased $1.0 billion compared with the first quarter of 2008 as a result of the stronger U.S. dollar ($0.7 billion) and organic revenue declines ($0.3 billion). The decrease in net earnings resulted primarily from core declines ($0.2 billion) and the lack of a current-year counterpart to the 2008 gain on sale of our CPS business ($0.2 billion). The decreases were partially offset by higher securitization income ($0.1 billion). Core declines primarily resulted from lower results in the U.S., reflecting the effects of higher delinquencies ($0.6 billion), partially offset by growth in lower-taxed earnings from global operations ($0.4 billion). The first quarter of 2009 benefit from lower-taxed earnings from global operations included $0.5 billion from the decision to indefinitely reinvest prior-year earnings outside the U.S.
 

 
(35)

 

Real Estate
 
 
Three months ended
March 31
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
             
Revenues
$
975
 
$
1,883
 
Less portion of Real Estate not included in GECC
 
(6
)
 
7
 
Total revenues in GECC
$
969
 
$
1,890
 
             
Segment profit
$
(173
)
$
476
 
Less portion of Real Estate not included in GECC
 
(1
)
 
7
 
Total segment profit in GECC
$
(174
)
$
483
 

 
 
At
 
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
March 31,
2008
 
December 31,
2008
 
                   
Total assets
$
81,858
 
$
86,605
 
$
85,266
 
Less portion of Real Estate not included in GECC
 
(281
)
 
(386
)
 
(357
)
Total assets in GECC
$
81,577
 
$
86,219
 
$
84,909
 

 
Real Estate revenues decreased 48% and net earnings decreased 136% compared with the first quarter of 2008. Revenues for the quarter decreased $0.9 billion compared with the first quarter of 2008 as a result of organic revenue declines ($0.8 billion), primarily as a result of a decrease in sales of properties, and the stronger U.S. dollar ($0.1 billion). Real Estate net earnings decreased $0.6 billion compared with the first quarter of 2008, primarily from a decrease in gains on sales of properties as compared to the prior period ($0.5 billion) and a decline in real estate lending net earnings ($0.1 billion). Depreciation expense on real estate properties totaled $0.2 billion in both the first quarter of 2009 and 2008.
 
In the normal course of our business operations, we sell certain real estate equity investments when it is economically advantageous for us to do so. However, as real estate values are affected by certain forces beyond our control (e.g. market fundamentals and demographic conditions), it is difficult to predict with certainty the level of future sales or sale prices.
 

 
(36)

 

Energy Financial Services
 
 
Three months ended
March 31
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
             
Revenues
$
644
 
$
770
 
Less portion of Energy Financial Services
           
not included in GECC
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Total revenues in GECC
$
643
 
$
769
 
             
Segment profit
$
75
 
$
133
 
Less portion of Energy Financial Services
           
not included in GECC
 
   
 
Total segment profit in GECC
$
75
 
$
133
 

 
 
At
 
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
March 31,
2008
 
December 31,
2008
 
                   
Total assets
$
22,596
 
$
20,837
 
$
22,079
 
Less portion of Energy Financial Services
                 
not included in GECC
 
(70
)
 
(53
)
 
(54
)
Total assets in GECC
$
22,526
 
$
20,784
 
$
22,025
 

 
Energy Financial Services revenues decreased 16% and net earnings decreased 44% compared with the first quarter of 2008. Revenues for the first quarter of 2009 included $0.1 billion of gains from dispositions.  Revenues for the quarter also decreased $0.2 billion compared with the first quarter of 2008 as a result of organic declines ($0.2 billion), primarily as a result of the effects of lower energy commodity prices and a decrease in gains on sales of assets. The decrease in net earnings resulted primarily from core declines, including a decrease in gains on sales of assets as compared to the prior period and the effects of lower energy commodity prices.
 
 
GECAS
 
 
Three months ended
March 31
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
             
Revenues
$
1,144
 
$
1,270
 
Less portion of GECAS not included in GECC
 
   
 
Total revenues in GECC
$
1,144
 
$
1,270
 
             
Segment profit
$
268
 
$
391
 
Less portion of GECAS not included in GECC
 
   
(1
)
Total segment profit in GECC
$
268
 
$
390
 

 
 
At
 
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
March 31,
2008
 
December 31,
2008
 
                   
Total assets
$
50,301
 
$
47,484
 
$
49,455
 
Less portion of GECAS not included in GECC
 
(198
)
 
(221
)
 
(198
)
Total assets in GECC
$
50,103
 
$
47,263
 
$
49,257
 

 
GECAS revenues and net earnings decreased 10% and 31%, respectively, compared with the first quarter of 2008. The decrease in revenues resulted primarily from organic revenue declines ($0.1 billion) due to lower asset sales. The decrease in net earnings resulted primarily from core declines due to lower asset sales.
 

 
(37)

 

Discontinued Operations
 
 
Three months ended
March 31
 
(In millions)
2009
 
2008
 
             
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
$
(3
)
$
(46
)

 
Discontinued operations comprised GE Money Japan (our Japanese personal loan business, Lake, and our Japanese mortgage and card businesses, excluding our minority ownership in GE Nissen Credit Co., Ltd.), our U.S. mortgage business (WMC), GE Life, and Genworth Financial, Inc. Results of these businesses are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
 
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 in the first quarter of 2009 resulted from the following:
 
·  
We completed the exchange of our Consumer businesses in Austria and Finland, the credit card and auto businesses in the U.K., and the credit card business in Ireland for a 100% ownership interest in Interbanca S.p.A., an Italian corporate bank;
 
·  
In order to improve tangible capital and reduce leverage, General Electric Company (GE), our ultimate parent, contributed $9.5 billion to GECS, of which $8.8 billion was subsequently contributed to us;
 
·  
The U.S. dollar was stronger at March 31, 2009, than at December 31, 2008, decreasing the translated levels of our non-U.S. dollar assets and liabilities;
 
·  
We deconsolidated PTL following our partial sale during the first quarter of 2009; and
 
·  
Collections on financing receivables exceeded originations.
 
Cash Flows
 
GECC cash and equivalents aggregated $44.0 billion at March 31, 2009, compared with $9.5 billion at March 31, 2008. GECC cash used for operating activities totaled $4.7 billion for the first three months of 2009, compared with cash from operating activities of $3.8 billion for the first three months of 2008. This decrease was primarily due to an overall decline in net earnings, decreases in cash collateral received from counterparties on derivative contracts and declines in volume resulting in a reduction of accounts payables.
 
Consistent with our plan to reduce GECC asset levels, cash from investing activities was $18.6 billion during the first three months of 2009. $18.9 billion resulted from a reduction in financing receivables, primarily from collections exceeding originations, and $8.8 billion resulted from proceeds from business dispositions, including the consumer businesses in Austria and Finland, the credit card and auto businesses in the U.K., the credit card business in Ireland and a portion of our Australian residential mortgage business. These sources were partially offset by cash used for the acquisition of Interbanca S.p.A.
 
GECC cash used for financing activities in the first quarter of 2009, related primarily to a $14.3 billion reduction in commercial paper outstanding, repayments on borrowings exceeding new issuances ($0.4 billion), offset by a capital contribution and share issuance totaling $8.8 billion.
 

 
(38)

 

Fair Value Measurements
 
Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 157, Fair Value Measurements, for all financial instruments and non-financial instruments accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis. Effective January 1, 2009, we adopted SFAS 157 for all non-financial instruments accounted for at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations. During the first quarter of 2009, there were no significant changes in our methodology for measuring fair value of financial instruments as compared to prior quarters. Additional information about our application of SFAS 157 is provided in Note 10 to the condensed, consolidated financial statements.
 
At March 31, 2009, the aggregate amount of investments that are measured at fair value through earnings totaled $7.0 billion and consisted primarily of retained interests in securitizations, equity investments, as well as various assets held for sale in the ordinary course of business, such as credit card receivables.
 
C. Financial Services Portfolio Quality
 
Investment securities comprise mainly investment-grade debt securities supporting obligations to holders of guaranteed investment contracts (GICs). Investment securities totaled $20.6 billion at March 31, 2009, compared with $19.3 billion at December 31, 2008. Of the amount at March 31, 2009, we held debt securities with an estimated fair value of $13.5 billion, which included residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) with estimated fair values of $2.8 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively. Unrealized losses on debt securities were $3.2 billion and $2.9 billion at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively. This amount included unrealized losses on RMBS and CMBS of $1.0 billion and $0.6 billion at March 31, 2009, as compared with $1.0 billion and $0.5 billion at December 31, 2008, respectively. Unrealized losses increased as a result of continuing market deterioration, and we believe primarily represent adjustments for liquidity on investment-grade securities.
 
Of the $2.8 billion of RMBS, our exposure to subprime credit was approximately $1.2 billion, and those securities are primarily held to support obligations to holders of GICs. A majority of these securities have received investment-grade credit ratings from the major rating agencies. We purchased no such securities in the first quarters of 2009 and 2008. These investment securities are collateralized primarily by pools of individual direct mortgage loans, and do not include structured products such as collateralized debt obligations. Additionally, a majority of exposure to residential subprime credit related to investment securities backed by mortgage loans originated in 2006 and 2005.
 
We regularly review investment securities for impairment using both quantitative and qualitative criteria. Quantitative criteria include the length of time and magnitude of the amount that each security is in an unrealized loss position and, for securities with fixed maturities, whether the issuer is in compliance with terms and covenants of the security. Qualitative criteria include the financial health of and specific prospects for the issuer, as well as our intent and ability to hold the security to maturity or until forecasted recovery. In addition, our evaluation at March 31, 2009 considered the continuing market deterioration that resulted in the lack of liquidity and the historic levels of price volatility and credit spreads. With respect to corporate bonds, we placed greater emphasis on the credit quality of the issuers. With respect to RMBS and CMBS, we placed greater emphasis on our expectations with respect to cash flows from the underlying collateral and, with respect to RMBS, we considered the availability of credit enhancements, principally monoline insurance. Our other-than-temporary impairment reviews involve our finance, risk and asset management functions as well as the portfolio management and research capabilities of our internal and third-party asset managers. FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments, modifies the requirements for recognizing and measuring other-than-temporary impairment for securities. As discussed in the New Accounting Standards section of this Item, we will adopt this FSP in the second quarter of 2009.
 
 
(39)

 
 
Monoline insurers (Monolines) provide credit enhancement for certain of our investment 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. At March 31, 2009, our investment securities insured by Monolines totaled $2.4 billion, including $1.0 billion of our $1.2 billion investment in subprime RMBS. Although several of the Monolines have been downgraded by the rating agencies, a majority of the $2.4 billion is insured by Monolines rated as investment-grade by at least one of the major rating agencies. The Monoline industry continues to experience financial stress from increasing delinquencies and defaults on the individual loans underlying insured securities. In evaluating whether a security with Monoline credit enhancement is other-than-temporarily impaired, we first evaluate whether there has been an adverse change in estimated cash flows as determined in accordance with EITF Issue 99-20, Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased Beneficial Interests and Beneficial Interests That Continue to Be Held by a Transferor in Securitized Financial Assets. If there has been an adverse change in estimated cash flows, we then evaluate the overall credit worthiness of the Monoline using an analysis that is similar to the approach we use for corporate bonds. This includes an evaluation of the following factors: 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. At March 31, 2009, the unrealized loss associated with securities subject to Monoline credit enhancement was $0.6 billion, of which $0.3 billion relates to expected credit losses and the remaining $0.3 billion relates to other market factors.
 
Other-than-temporary impairment losses totaled $0.1 billion and an insignificant amount in the first quarter of 2009 and 2008, respectively. In the first quarter of 2009, we recognized other-than-temporary impairments, primarily relating to equity securities, RMBS, retained interests in our securitization arrangements and corporate debt securities across a broad range of industries. Investments in retained interests in securitization arrangements also increased by $0.1 billion during the first quarter of 2009, reflecting increases in fair value accounted for in accordance with SFAS 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments, that became effective at the beginning of 2007.
 
Our qualitative review attempts to identify issuers’ securities that are “at-risk” of impairment, that is, with a possibility of other-than-temporary impairment recognition in the following 12 months. Of securities with unrealized losses at March 31, 2009, $0.8 billion of unrealized loss was at risk of being charged to earnings assuming no further changes in price, and before considering the effect of the future adoption of FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2. This amount primarily related to investments in RMBS and CMBS securities, equity securities, and corporate debt securities across a broad range of industries. In addition, we had approximately $0.8 billion of exposure to commercial, regional and foreign banks, primarily relating to corporate debt securities, with associated unrealized losses of $0.1 billion. Continued uncertainty in the capital markets may cause increased levels of other-than-temporary impairments.
 
At March 31, 2009, unrealized losses on investment securities totaled $3.4 billion, including $2.7 billion aged 12 months or longer, compared with unrealized losses of $3.2 billion, including $2.0 billion aged 12 months or longer, at December 31, 2008. Of the amount aged 12 months or longer at March 31, 2009, more than 70% of our debt securities were considered to be investment-grade by the major rating agencies. In addition, of the amount aged 12 months or longer, $2.0 billion and $0.6 billion related to structured securities (mortgage-backed, asset-backed and securitization retained interests) and corporate debt securities, respectively. With respect to our investment securities that are in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2009, the vast majority relate to securities held to support obligations to holders of GICs. We intend to hold them at least until such time as their individual fair values exceed their amortized cost and we have the ability to hold all such debt securities until their maturities. The fair values used to determine these unrealized gains and losses are those defined by relevant accounting standards and are not a forecast of future gains or losses. For additional information, see Note 5 to the condensed, consolidated financial statements.
 
Financing receivables is our largest category of assets and represents one of our primary sources of revenues. A discussion of the quality of certain elements of the financing receivables portfolio follows. For purposes of that discussion, “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 has otherwise become doubtful). Nonearning receivables exclude loans purchased at a discount (unless they have deteriorated post acquisition) under SOP 03-3, Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer, 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 which are paying currently under a cash accounting basis, but classified as impaired under SFAS 114, Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan.
 
 
(40)

 
 
Our portfolio of financing receivables is diverse and not directly comparable to major U.S. banks. Historically, we have had less consumer exposure, which over time has had higher loss rates than commercial exposure. Our consumer exposure 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 7% of our total portfolio. Of those, approximately 43% 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 GECC revenues), and have a smaller average balance and lower loss severity as compared to bank cards. The remaining 57% 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, including industrial-related facilities and equipment; commercial and residential real estate; vehicles, aircraft, and equipment used in many industries, including the construction, manufacturing, transportation, telecommunications and healthcare industries. In addition, approximately 2% of this portfolio is unsecured corporate debt.
 
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. Such 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, and the present and expected future levels of interest rates. 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. We adopted SFAS 141(R) on January 1, 2009. As a result of this adoption, 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 loan losses is not carried over at acquisition. This may result in lower reserve coverage ratios prospectively.
 

 
(41)

 


 
 
Financing receivables at
 
Nonearning receivables at
 
Allowance for losses at
 
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
 
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
 
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
 
                                     
CLL(a)
                                   
Americas
$
99,444
 
$
104,462
 
$
2,665
 
$
1,944
 
$
898
 
$
824
 
Europe
 
40,527
   
36,972
   
437
   
345
   
327
   
288
 
Asia
 
14,528
   
16,683
   
389
   
306
   
178
   
163
 
Other
 
764
   
786
   
11
   
2
   
4
   
2
 
                                     
Consumer(a)
                                   
Non-U.S. residential
                                   
mortgages
 
56,974
   
60,753
   
3,874
   
3,321
   
526
   
383
 
Non-U.S. installment
                                   
and revolving credit
 
22,256
   
24,441
   
445
   
413
   
1,038
   
1,051
 
U.S. installment and
                                   
revolving credit
 
25,286
   
27,645
   
833
   
758
   
1,718
   
1,700
 
Non-U.S. auto
 
15,343
   
18,168
   
95
   
83
   
249
   
222
 
Other
 
10,309
   
11,541
   
212
   
175
   
199
   
226
 
                                     
Real Estate(b)
 
45,373
   
46,735
   
554
   
194
   
396
   
301
 
                                     
Energy Financial
                                   
Services
 
8,324
   
8,355
   
241
   
241
   
66
   
58
 
                                     
GECAS
 
15,398
   
15,326
   
191
   
146
   
61
   
60
 
                                     
Other
 
3,863
   
4,031
   
61
   
38
   
32
   
28
 
Total
$
358,389
 
$
375,898
 
$
10,008
 
$
7,966
 
$
5,692
 
$
5,306
 
                                     

(a)
During the first quarter of 2009, we transferred Artesia from CLL to Consumer. Prior-period amounts were reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.
 
(b)
Financing receivables included $645 million and $731 million of construction loans at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.
 

 

 
(42)

 


 
Nonearning receivables as
a percent of financing receivables
 
Allowance for losses  as a percent of nonearning receivables
 
Allowance for losses  as a percent of total financing receivables
 
 
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
 
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
 
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
 
                                     
CLL(a)
                                   
Americas
 
2.7
%
 
1.9
%
 
33.7
%
 
42.4
%
 
0.9
%
 
0.8
%
Europe
 
1.1
   
0.9
   
74.8
   
83.5
   
0.8
   
0.8
 
Asia
 
2.7
   
1.8
   
45.8
   
53.3
   
1.2
   
1.0
 
Other
 
1.4
   
0.3
   
36.4
   
100.0
   
0.5
   
0.3
 
                                     
Consumer(a)
                                   
Non-U.S. residential
                                   
mortgages
 
6.8
   
5.5
   
13.6
   
11.5
   
0.9
   
0.6
 
Non-U.S. installment
                                   
and revolving credit
 
2.0
   
1.7
   
233.3
   
254.5
   
4.7
   
4.3
 
U.S. installment and
                                   
revolving credit
 
3.3
   
2.7
   
206.2
   
224.3
   
6.8
   
6.1
 
Non-U.S. auto
 
0.6
   
0.5
   
262.1
   
267.5
   
1.6
   
1.2
 
Other
 
2.1
   
1.5
   
93.9
   
129.1
   
1.9
   
2.0
 
                                     
Real Estate
 
1.2
   
0.4
   
71.5
   
155.2
   
0.9
   
0.6
 
                                     
Energy Financial
                                   
Services
 
2.9
   
2.9
   
27.4
   
24.1
   
0.8
   
0.7
 
                                     
GECAS
 
1.2
   
1.0
   
31.9
   
41.1
   
0.4
   
0.4
 
                                     
Other
 
1.6
   
0.9
   
52.5
   
73.7
   
0.8
   
0.7
 
                                     
Total
 
2.8
   
2.1
   
56.9
   
66.6
   
1.6
   
1.4
 
                                     

(a)
During the first quarter of 2009, we transferred Artesia from CLL to Consumer. Prior-period amounts were reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.
 

 
The majority of the allowance for losses of $5.7 billion at March 31, 2009, and $5.3 billion at December 31, 2008, is determined based upon a formulaic approach. A portion of the allowance for losses is related to specific reserves on loans that have been determined to be individually impaired under SFAS 114. Under SFAS 114, individually impaired loans 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. These specific reserves amount to $0.9 billion and $0.6 billion at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Further information pertaining to specific reserves is included in the table below.
 
Further information on the determination of the allowance for losses on financing receivables is provided in the Critical Accounting Estimates section in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
 

 
(43)

 


 
 
At
(In millions)
March 31,
2009
 
December 31,
2008
             
Loans requiring allowance for losses
$
4,138
 
$
2,712
 
Loans expected to be fully recoverable
 
1,682
   
871
 
Total impaired loans
$
5,820
 
$
3,583
 
             
Allowance for losses
$
908
 
$
635
 
Average investment during the period
 
4,665
   
2,064
 
Interest income earned while impaired(a)
 
17
   
27
 
             

(a)
Recognized principally on cash basis.

 
The portfolio of financing receivables, before allowance for losses, was $358.4 billion at March 31, 2009, and $375.9 billion at December 31, 2008. Financing receivables, before allowance for losses, decreased $17.5 billion from December 31, 2008, primarily as a result of core declines ($10.6 billion), the stronger U.S. dollar ($9.7 billion) and commercial and equipment securitization and sales ($4.8 billion), partially offset by acquisitions ($8.4 billion).
 
Related nonearning receivables totaled $10.0 billion (2.8% of outstanding receivables) at March 31, 2009, compared with $8.0 billion (2.1% of outstanding receivables) at December 31, 2008. Related nonearning receivables increased from December 31, 2008, primarily in connection with the challenging global economic environment, increased deterioration in the real estate markets and rising unemployment.
 
The allowance for losses at March 31, 2009, totaled $5.7 billion compared with $5.3 billion at December 31, 2008, representing our best estimate of probable losses inherent in the portfolio and reflecting the then current credit and economic environment. Allowance for losses increased $0.4 billion from December 31, 2008, primarily due to increasing delinquencies and nonearning receivables, reflecting the continued weakened economic and credit environment.
 
CLL Americas. Nonearning receivables of $2.7 billion represented 26.6% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2009. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables declined from 42.4% at December 31, 2008, to 33.7% at March 31, 2009, primarily from an increase in secured exposures requiring relatively lower specific reserve levels, based upon the strength of the underlying collateral values. The ratio of nonearning receivables as a percentage of financing receivables increased from 1.9% at December 31, 2008, to 2.7% at March 31, 2009, primarily from an increase in nonearning receivables in our inventory finance, franchise finance, and retail/publishing lending portfolios; and secured lending in media and communications, auto and transportation, and consumer manufacturing companies. Our corporate aircraft platform is also experiencing increased delinquencies and nonearning receivables and more remarketing pressure, as a result of lower demand, causing declining asset values.
 
CLL – Europe. Nonearning receivables of $0.4 billion represented 4.4% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2009. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables declined from 83.5% at December 31, 2008, to 74.8% at March 31, 2009, primarily from an increase in secured exposures requiring relatively lower specific reserve levels, based upon the strength of the underlying collateral values. The ratio of nonearning receivables as a percentage of financing receivables increased from 0.9% at December 31, 2008, to 1.1% at March 31, 2009, primarily from an increase in nonearning receivables in secured lending in the automotive industry, partially offset by the effect of the increase in financing receivables from the acquisition of Interbanca S.p.A. in the first quarter of 2009.
 
 
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CLL – Asia. Nonearning receivables of $0.4 billion represented 3.9% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2009. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables declined from 53.3% at December 31, 2008, to 45.8% at March 31, 2009, primarily due to an increase in nonearning receivables in secured exposures, which did not require significant specific reserves, based upon the strength of the underlying collateral values. The ratio of nonearning receivables as a percentage of financing receivables increased from 1.8% at December 31, 2008, to 2.7% at March 31, 2009, primarily from an increase in nonearning receivables at our secured financing businesses such as corporate air, distribution finance and our corporate asset-based lending platforms in Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and a lower financing receivables balance.
 
Consumer non-U.S. residential mortgages. Nonearning receivables of $3.9 billion represented 38.7% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2009. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables increased from 11.5% at December 31, 2008, to 13.6% at March 31, 2009. In the first quarter of 2009, our nonearning receivables increased primarily as a result of continued decline in the U.K. housing market and our allowance increased accordingly. Our non-U.S. mortgage portfolio has a loan-to-value of approximately 75% at origination and the vast majority are first lien positions. In addition, we carry mortgage insurance on most of our first mortgage loans originated at a loan-to-value above 80%. At March 31, 2009, we had foreclosed on approximately 1,100 houses in the U.K. which had a value of $0.1 billion.
 
Consumer non-U.S. installment and revolving credit. Nonearning receivables of $0.4 billion represented 4.4% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2009. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables declined from 254.5% at December 31, 2008, to 233.3% at March 31, 2009, reflecting the effects of loan repayments and reduced originations.
 
Consumer U.S. installment and revolving credit. Nonearning receivables of $0.8 billion represented 8.3% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2009. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables declined from 224.3% at December 31, 2008, to 206.2% at March 31, 2009, as increases in the allowance due to the effects of the continued deterioration in our U.S. portfolio in connection with rising unemployment were more than offset by the effects of loan repayments and reduced originations.
 
Real Estate.  Nonearning receivables of $0.6 billion represented 5.5% of total nonearning receivables at March 31, 2009. The ratio of allowance for losses as a percent of nonearning receivables declined from 155.2% at December 31, 2008, to 71.5% at March 31, 2009, primarily due to an increase in nonearning assets which required lower levels of specific reserves based on the strength of the underlying collateral values. The ratio of nonearning receivables as a percentage of financing receivables increased from 0.4% at December 31, 2008, to 1.2% at March 31, 2009, driven by a $1.4 billion decrease in the overall balance of financing receivables and an increase in nonearning receivables primarily attributable to continued economic deterioration in the U.S. and U.K. markets. Allowance for losses as a percentage of financing receivables increased from 0.6% at December 31, 2008, to 0.9% at March 31, 2009, driven by an increase in specific provisions.
 
Delinquency rates on managed equipment financing loans and leases and managed consumer financing receivables follow.
 
 
Delinquency rates at
 
March 31,
2009(a)
 
December 31,
2008
 
March 31,
2008
 
                   
Equipment Financing
 
2.84
%
 
2.17
%
 
1.36
%
Consumer
 
8.20
   
7.43
   
5.66
 
U.S.
 
7.12
   
7.14
   
5.75
 
Non-U.S.
 
8.72
   
7.57
   
5.62
 
                   

(a)
Subject to update.

 

 
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Delinquency rates on equipment financing loans and leases increased from December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, to March 31, 2009, as a result of the continuing weakness in the global economic and credit environment. In addition, delinquency rates on equipment financing loans and leases increased nine basis points from March 31, 2008 to March 31, 2009, as a result of the inclusion of the CitiCapital and Sanyo acquisitions. The current financial market turmoil and tight credit conditions may continue to lead to a higher level of commercial delinquencies and provisions for financing receivables and could adversely affect results of operations at CLL.
 
Delinquency rates on consumer financing receivables increased from December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, to March 31, 2009, primarily because of rising unemployment, a challenging economic environment and lower volume. In response, we continued to tighten underwriting standards globally, increased focus on collection effectiveness and will continue the process of regularly reviewing and adjusting reserve levels. We expect the global environment, along with U.S. unemployment levels, to continue to deteriorate in 2009, which may result in higher provisions for loan losses and could adversely affect results of operations at Consumer. At March 31, 2009, roughly 44% of our U.S.-managed portfolio, which consisted of credit cards, installment and revolving loans, was receivable from subprime borrowers. We had no U.S. subprime residential mortgage loans at March 31, 2009. See Notes 6 and 7 to the condensed, consolidated financial statements.
 
Other assets comprise mainly real estate investments, equity and cost method investments, derivative instruments and assets held for sale. Other assets totaled $87.2 billion at March 31, 2009, including a $6.1 billion equity method investment in PTL following our partial sale during the first quarter of 2009, compared with $84.2 billion at December 31, 2008. During the first quarter of 2009, we recognized other-than-temporary impairments of cost and equity method investments of $0.2 billion. Of the amount at March 31, 2009, we had cost method investments totaling $2.4 billion. The fair value of and unrealized loss on cost method investments in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than 12 months at March 31, 2009, were $0.7 billion and $0.2 billion, respectively. The fair value of and unrealized loss on cost method investments in a continuous unrealized loss position for 12 months or more at March 31, 2009, were $0.1 billion and an insignificant amount, respectively.
 
D. Liquidity and Borrowings
 
We manage our liquidity to help ensure access to sufficient funding at acceptable costs to meet our business needs and financial obligations throughout business cycles. Our obligations include principal payments on outstanding borrowings, interest on borrowings, purchase obligations and equipment and general obligations such as collateral deposits held, payroll and general accruals. We rely on cash generated through our operating activities as well as unsecured and secured funding sources, including commercial paper, term debt, bank deposits, bank borrowings, securitization and other retail funding products.
 
Sources for payment of our obligations are determined through our annual financial and strategic planning processes. GECS 2009 funding plan anticipates repayment of principal on outstanding short-term borrowings ($194 billion at December 31, 2008) through commercial paper issuances; incremental deposit funding and alternative sources of funding, in addition to deposits already on hand; long-term debt issuances; collections of financing receivables exceeding originations; and cash on hand.
 
Interest on borrowings is funded using interest earned on existing financing receivables.  During the first quarter of 2009, GECS earned interest income on financing receivables of $6 billion, which more than offset interest expense of $5 billion. Purchase obligations and other general obligations are funded through collection of principal on our existing portfolio of loans and leases, cash on hand and operating cash flow.
 
The global credit markets have recently experienced unprecedented volatility, which has affected both the availability and cost of our funding sources. Throughout this period of volatility, we have been able to continue to meet our funding needs at acceptable costs and we continue to access the commercial paper markets without interruption.
 

 
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Recent Liquidity Actions
 
GE, our ultimate parent, GECS and GECC have taken a number of initiatives to strengthen their liquidity. Specifically:
 
·  
In February 2009, GE announced the reduction of its quarterly stock dividend by 68% from $0.31 per share to $0.10 per share, effective in the third quarter of 2009, which will save the company approximately $4 billion during the remainder of 2009 and approximately $9 billion annually thereafter;
 
·  
In September 2008, GECS reduced its dividend to GE from 40% to 10% of GECS earnings and GE suspended its stock repurchase program. Effective January 2009, GECS fully suspended its dividend to GE;
 
·  
GECS completed its funding related to its long-term funding target of $45 billion for 2009;
 
·  
In October 2008, GE raised $15 billion in cash through common and preferred stock offerings and contributed $15 billion to GECS, including $9.5 billion in the first quarter of 2009 (of which $8.8 billion was further contributed to GE Capital through capital contribution and share issuance), in order to improve tangible capital and reduce leverage. We do not anticipate additional contributions in 2009;
 
·  
GECS reduced its commercial paper borrowings to $58 billion at March 31, 2009;
 
·  
GECS targeted to further reduce its commercial paper borrowings to $50 billion by the end of 2009 and to maintain committed credit lines equal to GECS commercial paper borrowings going forward;
 
·  
GECS registered to use the Federal Reserve’s Commercial Paper Funding Facility (CPFF) for up to $83 billion, which is available through October 31, 2009;
 
·  
We registered to use the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP) for approximately $126 billion;
 
·  
GECS is managing collections versus originations to help support liquidity needs and are estimating $25 billion of excess collections in 2009; and
 
·  
We have evaluated and are prepared, depending on market conditions and terms, to securitize assets for which investors can use the Federal Reserve’s Term Asset-Backed Securities Lending Facility (TALF).
 
Cash and Equivalents
 
GE’s cash and equivalents were $46.8 billion at March 31, 2009. GE anticipates that it will continue to generate cash from operating activities in the future, which is available to help meet our liquidity needs. We also generate substantial cash from the principal collections of loans and rentals from leased assets, which historically has been invested in asset growth.
 
We have committed, unused credit lines totaling $58.3 billion that had been extended to us by 60 financial institutions at March 31, 2009. These lines include $37.4 billion of revolving credit agreements under which we can borrow funds for periods exceeding one year. Additionally, $19.6 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.
 

 
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Funding Plan
 
Our 2009 funding plan anticipates approximately $45 billion of senior, unsecured long-term debt issuance. In the first quarter of 2009, we completed issuances of $23.6 billion of long-term debt under the TLGP. GE Capital has elected to participate in this program, under which the FDIC guarantees certain senior, unsecured debt issued before October 31, 2009 (with a maturity of greater than 30 days that matures on or prior to December 31, 2012). GE Capital pays annualized fees associated with this program that range from 60 to 160 basis points of the principal amount of each issuance and vary according to the issuance date and maturity. We also issued $5.2 billion in non-guaranteed senior, unsecured debt with maturities of up to 30 years. These issuances, along with the $13.4 billion of pre-funding done in December 2008, brought our aggregate issuances to $42 billion as of March 31, 2009. We subsequently completed our anticipated 2009 long-term funding plan. In 2009, we also intend to start pre-funding our 2010 long-term funding target of $35 to $40 billion using the TLGP and non-guaranteed debt issuances.
 
During the fourth quarter of 2008, GECS issued commercial paper into the CPFF. The last tranche of this commercial paper matured in February 2009. Although we do not anticipate further utilization of the CPFF, it remains available until October 31, 2009.
 
GECS incurred $1.3 billion of fees for our participation in the TLGP and CPFF programs through March 31, 2009. These fees are amortized over the terms of the related borrowings.
 
We maintain securitization capability in most of the asset classes we have traditionally securitized. However, in 2008 and 2009 these capabilities have been, and continue to be, more limited than in 2007. We have continued to execute new securitizations using bank commercial paper conduits. Securitization proceeds were $11.2 billion during the first quarter of 2009, compared to $16.0 billion in the first quarter of 2008. We have evaluated and are prepared, depending on market conditions and terms, to securitize assets such as credit card receivables, floorplan receivables and equipment loans, for which investors can use the TALF.
 
We have deposit-taking capability at nine banks outside of the U.S. and two banks in the U.S. – GE Money Bank, Inc., a Federal Savings Bank (FSB), and GE Capital Financial Inc., an industrial bank (IB). The FSB and IB currently issue certificates of deposit (CDs) distributed by brokers in maturity terms from three months to ten years. Bank deposits, which are a large component of our alternative funding, were $34 billion at March 31, 2009, including CDs of $21 billion. Total alternative funding decreased from $54 billion to $43 billion during the first quarter as we reduced our reliance on short-term bank borrowings. We expect deposits to grow and constitute a greater percentage of our total funding as we grow assets at these banks.
 
During the first quarter of 2009, GE Capital extended $68.5 billion of credit to customers. Of this amount, $16.3 billion was extended to U.S. customers, including 3 million new accounts, and $4.1 billion of credit (including unfunded commitments of $1.4 billion) to U.S. companies, with an average transaction size of $0.3 million.
 
After the expiration of the TLGP, GE Capital’s commercial paper (with maturities greater than 30 days) and long-term debt issuances will no longer be guaranteed by the FDIC. The effect on our liquidity when the TLGP expires will depend on a number of factors, including our funding needs and market conditions at that time. If the current disruption in the credit markets continues after the expiration of the TLGP, our ability to issue unsecured long-term debt may be affected. In the event we cannot sufficiently access our normal sources of funding as a result of the ongoing credit market turmoil, we have a number of alternative sources of liquidity available, including:
 
·  
Controlling new originations in GE Capital to reduce capital and funding requirements;
 
·  
Using part of our available cash balance;
 
·  
Pursuing alternative funding sources, including time deposits and asset-backed fundings;
 
·  
Maintaining availability of our bank credit lines equal to commercial paper outstanding; and
 
 
 
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·  
Obtaining additional capital from GE, including from funds retained as a result of the reduction in GE’s dividend announced in February 2009 or future dividend reductions.
 
We believe that our existing funds combined with our alternative sources of liquidity provide us with adequate liquidity to manage through the current credit cycle.
 
Credit Ratings
 
The major debt rating agencies routinely evaluate GE's and our debt. This evaluation is based on a number of factors, which include financial strength as well as transparency with rating agencies and timeliness of financial reporting. On March 12, 2009, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) downgraded GE and GE Capital’s long-term rating by one notch from “AAA” to “AA+” and, at the same time, revised the outlook from negative to stable. Under S&P’s definitions, an obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong. An obligation rated “AA” differs from an obligation rated “AAA” only to a small degree in that the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong. An S&P rating outlook assesses the potential direction of a long-term credit rating over the intermediate term. In determining a rating outlook, consideration is given to any changes in the economic and/or fundamental business conditions. Stable means that a rating is not likely to change in the next six months to two years.
 
On March 23, 2009, Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) downgraded GE and GE Capital’s long-term rating by two notches from “Aaa” to “Aa2” with a stable outlook and removed GE and GE Capital from review for possible downgrade. Under Moody’s definitions, obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk. Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
 
The short-term ratings of “A-1+/P-1” were affirmed by both rating agencies at the same time with respect to GE, GE Capital Services and GE Capital Corporation.
 
We do not believe that the downgrades by S&P and Moody’s have had, or will have, a material impact on our cost of funding or liquidity.
 
Income Maintenance Agreement
 
If GE Capital’s ratio of earnings to fixed charges deteriorates below 1.10:1 for any fiscal year, GE has agreed to contribute capital to GE Capital sufficient to bring the ratio to at least 1.10:1 for that year in accordance with the agreement.
 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
 
As set forth in Exhibit 12 hereto, GE Capital’s ratio of earnings to fixed charges declined to 0.97:1 in the first quarter of 2009 due to lower pre-tax earnings at GE Capital which were primarily driven by higher provisions for losses on financing receivables in connection with the challenging economic environment. GE made a $9.5 billion capital contribution to GECS in the first quarter of 2009 (of which $8.8 billion was further contributed to GE Capital through capital contribution and share issuance) to improve tangible capital and reduce leverage and GE does not anticipate additional contributions in 2009.
 
Variable Interest Entities and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement
 
In the first quarter of 2009, we further reduced our investment in PTL by selling a 1% limited partnership interest in PTL, a previously consolidated variable interest entity, to Penske Truck Leasing Corporation, the general partner of PTL, whose majority shareowner is a member of GE’s Board of Directors.
 
 
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The disposition of the shares, coupled with our resulting minority position on the PTL advisory committee and related changes in our contractual rights, resulted in the deconsolidation of PTL. We recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of $296 million, including a gain on the remeasurement of our retained investment of $189 million. The measurement of the fair value of our retained investment in PTL was based on a methodology that incorporated both discounted cash flow information and market data. In applying this methodology, we utilized different sources of information, including actual operating results, future business plans, economic projections and market observable pricing multiples of similar businesses. The resulting fair value reflected our position as a noncontrolling shareowner at the conclusion of the transaction. As of March 31, 2009, our remaining equity investment in PTL was 49.9% and is accounted for under the equity method.
 
E. New Accounting Standards
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments. The FSP modifies the existing model for recognition and measurement of impairment for debt securities. We will adopt the FSP in the second quarter of 2009. The two principal changes to the impairment model for securities are as follows:
 
·  
Recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment charge is required if any of these conditions are met: (1) we do not expect to recover the entire cost basis of the security, (2) we intend to sell the security or (3) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before we recover its cost basis.
 
·  
If the first condition above is met, but we do not intend to sell and are not likely to be required to sell the security, we would be required to record the difference between the security’s cost basis and its recoverable amount in earnings and the difference between the security’s recoverable amount and fair value in other comprehensive income. If either the second or third criteria are met, then we would be required to recognize the entire difference between the security’s cost basis  and its fair value in earnings.
 
We expect that the effect of the new standard on earnings and financial position will be modest; however, the effect will be dependent upon conditions and circumstances at the time of adoption.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-4, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly. We do not expect that the FSP will have a significant effect on our fair value measurement upon adoption.
 
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
 
There have been no significant changes to our market risk since December 31, 2008. 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, 2008.
 
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, 2009, and (ii) no change in internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2009, 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.
 
In March and April 2009, individual shareholders filed purported class actions under the federal securities laws in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York naming as defendants GE (our ultimate parent), a number of GE officers (including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer) and its directors. The complaints seek unspecified damages. The complaints principally allege that GE falsely stated that it would maintain its quarterly $0.31 per share dividend, while allegedly concealing that GE did not have sufficient cash on hand and cash flow to achieve that goal. One of the complaints also alleges that GE made misrepresentations concerning projected earnings and losses for GE Capital in 2009. GE expects to move to consolidate these cases and intends to defend itself vigorously against these allegations.
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
 
The risk factor set forth below updates the corresponding risk factor in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. In addition to the risk factor below, you should carefully consider the other risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, which could materially affect our business, financial position and results of operations.
 
The unprecedented conditions in the financial and credit markets may affect the availability and cost of GE Capital’s funding.
 
The financial and credit markets have been experiencing unprecedented levels of volatility and disruption, putting downward pressure on financial and other asset prices generally and on the credit availability for certain issuers. The U.S. Government and the Federal Reserve Bank have created a number of programs to help stabilize credit markets and financial institutions and restore liquidity. Many non-U.S. governments have also created or announced similar measures for institutions in their respective countries. These programs have improved conditions in the credit and financial markets, but there can be no assurance that these programs, individually or collectively, will continue to have beneficial effects on the markets overall, or will resolve the credit or liquidity issues of companies that participate in the programs.
 
A large portion of GE Capital’s borrowings have been issued in the commercial paper and term debt markets. GE Capital has continued to issue commercial paper and, as planned, has reduced its outstanding commercial paper balance to $58 billion at March 31, 2009. Since November 2008, GE Capital has also issued term debt, mainly debt guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP), which is scheduled to expire in October 2009, and, to a lesser extent, on a non-guaranteed basis. Although the commercial paper and term debt markets have remained available to GE Capital to fund its operations and debt maturities, there can be no assurance that such markets will continue to be available or, if available, that the cost of such funding will not substantially increase. Factors that may cause an increase in our funding costs include: a decreased reliance on short-term funding, such as commercial paper, in favor of longer-term funding arrangements; market conditions and debt spreads for our debt after expiration of the TLGP; refinancing of funding that we have obtained under the TGLP at market rates at the time such funding matures; decreased capacity and increased competition among debt issuers; and our credit ratings in effect at the time of refinancing. If GE Capital’s cost of funding were to increase, it may adversely affect its competitive position and result in lower lending margins, earnings and cash flows as well as lower returns on its shareowner’s equity and invested capital. If current levels of market disruption and volatility continue or worsen, or if we cannot further reduce GE Capital’s asset levels as planned in 2009, we would seek to repay commercial paper and term debt as it becomes due or to meet our other liquidity needs by using the Federal Reserve’s Commercial Paper Funding Facility (CPFF) and the TLGP, drawing upon contractually committed lending agreements primarily provided by global banks and/or seeking other sources of funding. There can be no assurance that the CPFF, which is scheduled to expire in October 2009, and the TLGP will be extended beyond their scheduled expiration, or that, under extreme market conditions, contractually committed lending agreements and other funding sources would be available or sufficient. While GE currently does not anticipate any equity offerings, other sources of funding that involve the issuance of additional equity securities would be dilutive to GE’s existing shareowners.
 
 
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Our 2009 funding plan anticipates approximately $45 billion of senior, unsecured long-term debt issuance. As of March 31, 2009, we had funded $42 billion and subsequently completed our 2009 long-term funding target. We have also announced that during 2009 we intend to use the TLGP to start pre-funding our 2010 long-term funding target of $35 to $40 billion. As of March 31, 2009, we had $74 billion of debt outstanding under the TLGP and have a maximum capacity under the program of approximately $126 billion.
 
Item 6. Exhibits.
 
 
Exhibit 12
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.*
 
Exhibit 31(a)
Certification Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended.*
 
Exhibit 31(b)
Certification Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 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
Financial Measures That Supplement Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.*
   
* Filed electronically herewith.

 

 
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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 Capital Corporation
(Registrant)
 
 
 
May 1, 2009
 
/s/Michael A. Neal
 
Date
 
Michael A. Neal
Chief Executive Officer
 
     

 

 

 
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