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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
CNH in the ordinary course of business is exposed to numerous legal risks, including, without limitation, dealer and supplier litigation, intellectual property right disputes, product liability, asbestos, personal injury, emissions and/or fuel economy regulatory, competition law and other regulatory investigations and environmental claims. We are party to various unresolved investigations, claims and actions that our incidental to our business. The most significant of these matters are described below.
The outcome of any current or future proceedings, claims, or investigations cannot be predicted with certainty. Adverse decisions in one or more of these proceedings, claims or investigations could require the Company to pay substantial damages or fines or undertake service actions, recall campaigns or other costly actions. It is therefore possible that legal judgments could give rise to expenses that are not covered, or not fully covered, by insurance and could affect CNH’s financial position and results. When it is probable that such a loss has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated, such amounts are provided for in the Company's income statement and the related accrual is recorded in “Other liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets.
Although the ultimate outcome of legal matters pending against CNH and its subsidiaries cannot be predicted, the Company believes the reasonable possible range of losses for these unresolved legal matters in addition to the amounts accrued would not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
Environmental
Pursuant to the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”), which imposes strict and, under certain circumstances, joint and several liability for remediation and liability for natural resource damages, and other federal and state laws that impose similar liabilities, CNH has received inquiries for information or notices of its potential liability regarding 66 non-owned U.S. sites at which regulated materials allegedly generated by CNH were released or disposed (“Waste
Sites”). Of the Waste Sites, 16 are on the National Priority List (“NPL”) promulgated pursuant to CERCLA. For 60 of the Waste Sites, the monetary amount or extent of the Company’s liability has either been resolved; it has not been named as a potentially responsible party (“PRP”), or its liability is likely de minimis.
Because estimates of remediation costs are subject to revision as more information becomes available about the extent and cost of remediation and because settlement agreements can be reopened under certain circumstances, the Company’s potential liability for remediation costs associated with the 66 Waste Sites could change. Moreover, because liability under CERCLA and similar laws can be joint and several, CNH could be required to pay amounts in excess of its pro rata share of remediation costs. However, when appropriate, the financial strength of other PRPs has been considered in the determination of the Company’s potential liability. CNH believes that the costs associated with the Waste Sites will not have a material effect on the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations.
The Company is conducting environmental investigatory or remedial activities at certain properties that are currently or were formerly owned and/or operated or that are being decommissioned. The Company believes that the outcome of these activities will not have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position, or results of operations.
The actual costs for environmental matters could differ materially from those costs currently anticipated due to the nature of historical handling and disposal of hazardous substances typical of manufacturing and related operations, the discovery of currently unknown conditions, and as a result of more aggressive enforcement by regulatory authorities and changes in existing laws and regulations. As in the past, CNH plans to continue funding its costs of environmental compliance from operating cash flows.
Investigation, analysis and remediation of environmental sites is a time-consuming activity. The Company expects such costs to be incurred and claims to be resolved over an extended period of time that could exceed 30 years for some sites. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, environmental reserves of approximately $21 million and $20 million, respectively, were established to address these specific estimated potential liabilities. Such reserves are undiscounted and do not include anticipated recoveries, if any, from insurance companies. After considering these reserves, management is of the opinion that the outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Other Litigation and Investigation
Follow-up on Damages Claims: In 2011 Iveco S.p.A. ("Iveco"), a subsidiary of Iveco Group N.V., and its competitors in the European Union were subject to an investigation by the European Commission (the “Commission”) into certain business practices in the European Union (in the period 1997-2011) in relation to Medium & Heavy trucks. On July 19, 2016, the Commission announced a settlement with Iveco ("the Decision"). Following the Decision, the Company, Iveco and Iveco Magirus AG ("IMAG") have been named as defendants in proceedings across Europe. Following the Demerger, CNH cannot be excluded from current and future follow on proceedings originating from the Decision because under EU competition law a company cannot use corporate reorganizations to avoid liability for private damage claims. At this time, CNH is unable to predict the outcome of these proceedings or reasonably estimate any potential losses. In the event one or more of these judicial proceedings would result in a decision against CNH ordering it to compensate such claimants as a result of the conduct that was the subject matter of the Decision, then CNH, as a result of various intercompany arrangements, will ultimately have recourse against Iveco and IMAG for the reimbursement of the damages effectively paid to such claimants. However, if Iveco or IMAG do not comply with their obligations with respect to any such decisions or fail to fulfill their obligations to CNH, then CNH could experience financial losses. The Company believes that the risk of either Iveco or IMAG or Iveco Group defaulting on potential payment obligations arising from such follow-up on damage claims is remote and, at this time, is unable to reasonably estimate any potential losses.
FPT Emissions Investigation: On July 22, 2020, a number of the Company's (pre-Demerger) offices in Europe were visited by investigators in the context of a request for assistance by the public prosecutors of Frankfurt am Main, Germany and Turin, Italy in relation to alleged noncompliance of two engine models produced by FPT Industrial S.p.A. ("FPT Industrial"), which is a wholly-controlled subsidiary of Iveco Group N.V.. The Italian criminal investigation was dismissed in 2023. As a result of FPT Industrial's full cooperation and ongoing discussions with the investigative authorities, the German criminal investigation was concluded in December 2023. FPT is defending individual civil claims alleging emissions' non-compliance in Germany and Austria. While the Company had no role in the design and sale of such engine models and vehicles, the Company is unable to predict the likelihood of these outcomes or reasonably estimate any potential losses. The Company believes that the risk of either FPT Industrial or Iveco Group N.V. defaulting on potential payment obligations arising from such proceedings is remote.
SEC Subpoenas: The Company has been responding to subpoenas issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission requesting information and documents relating to our revenue recognition and sales practices. The Company is cooperating with the SEC’s inquiry and continues to provide responsive documents and information. The Company is unable to predict with certainty what action, if any, might be taken in the future by the SEC or any other governmental authority as a result of these requests.
Commitments
CNH has entered into operating lease contracts for the right to use industrial buildings and equipment and other assets.
Refer to Note 8: Leases for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable lease contracts.
At December 31, 2024, Financial Services has various agreements to extend credit for the following financing arrangements:
(in millions of dollars)
Total
Credit Limit
Utilized
Not
Utilized
Wholesale and dealer financing$8,985 $5,411 $3,574 
Revolving charge accounts$2,706 $240 $2,466 
Guarantees
CNH provided guarantees on the debt or commitments of third parties and performance guarantees in the interest of non-consolidated affiliates as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 totaling $54 million and $37 million, respectively.