NOTE 20. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (VIE)

A VIE is an entity that has one of three characteristics: (1) it is controlled by someone other than its shareowners or partners, (2) its shareowners or partners are not economically exposed to the entity’s earnings (for example, they are protected against losses), or (3) it was thinly capitalized when it was formed.

In the normal course of our business we become involved with VIEs either because we help create them or we invest in them. Our VIEs either provide goods and services to customers or provide financing to third parties for the purchase of GE goods and services. If we control the VIE, we consolidate it and provide disclosures below. However, if the VIE is a business and use of its assets is not limited to settling its liabilities, ongoing disclosures are not required.

CONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

Our most significant consolidated VIEs are four joint ventures that were formed in conjunction with acquisitions. The newest of these, BHGE LLC was formed as part of the Baker Hughes transaction. BHGE LLC owns the operating assets of GE Oil & Gas and Baker Hughes. BHGE LLC is a VIE as we hold an economic interest of approximately 62.5% in the partnership, but we hold no voting or participating rights through our direct economic ownership. The assets and liabilities of BHGE VIEs are not included in the information below. BHGE LLC is a SEC Registrant with separate filing requirements with the SEC and its separate financial information can be obtained from www.sec.gov.

The remaining three joint ventures were formed as part of the Alstom acquisition.These joint ventures include grid technology, renewable energy, and global nuclear and French steam power and have combined assets, liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interest as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 of $16,344 million, $11,463 million and $3,065 million and $14,460 million, $9,922 million and $2,709 million, respectively. These joint ventures are considered VIEs because the equity held by Alstom does not participate fully in the earnings of the ventures due to the contractual features allowing Alstom to sell their interests back to GE (see Note 14 for further information). We consolidate these ventures because we control all their significant activities. These joint ventures are in all other respects regular businesses and are therefore exempt from ongoing disclosure requirements for VIEs provided below.

The table below provides information about VIEs that are subject to ongoing disclosure requirements. Substantially all of these entities were created to help our customers finance the purchase of GE goods and services or to purchase GE current and customer notes receivable originating from sales of goods and services. These entities have no features that could expose us to losses that would significantly exceed the difference between the consolidated assets and liabilities.



ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF CONSOLIDATED VIEs

			GE Capital
			Customer
(In millions)	GE		Notes receivables(a)		Other		Total

December 31, 2017
Assets
Financing receivables, net	$	—	$	—	$	792	$	792
Current receivables	59		570		—		630
Investment securities	—		—		918		918
Other assets	586		1,182		1,920		3,688
Total	$	646	$	1,752	$	3,630	$	6,028

Liabilities
Borrowings	$	39	$	—	$	1,027	$	1,066
Non-recourse borrowings	—		669		16		685
Other liabilities	345		1,021		1,525		2,891
Total	$	384	$	1,690	$	2,568	$	4,642

December 31, 2016
Assets
Financing receivables, net	$	—	$	—	$	1,035	$	1,035
Current receivables	57		670		—		727
Investment securities	—		—		982		982
Other assets	492		1,122		1,747		3,361
Total	$	549	$	1,792	$	3,764	$	6,105

Liabilities
Borrowings	$	1	$	—	$	818	$	819
Non-recourse borrowings	—		401		16		417
Other liabilities	457		1,378		1,482		3,317
Total	$	458	$	1,779	$	2,316	$	4,553


(a)	Two funding entities were established to purchase customer notes receivable from GE, one of which is partially funded by third-party debt.

Total revenues from our consolidated VIEs were $1,057 million, $1,141 million and $1,638 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Related expenses consisted primarily of cost of goods and services of $338 million, $692 million and $1,232 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Where we provide servicing for third-party investors, we are contractually permitted to commingle cash collected from customers on financing receivables sold to third-party investors with our own cash prior to payment to third-party investors, provided our short-term credit rating does not fall below A-1/P1. These third-party investors also owe us amounts for purchased financial assets and scheduled interest and principal payments. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the amounts of commingled cash owed to the third-party investors were $119 million and $20 million, respectively.

UNCONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

We become involved with unconsolidated VIEs primarily through assisting in the formation and financing of the entity. We do not consolidate these entities because we do not have power over decisions that significantly affect their economic performance. Our investments in unconsolidated VIEs, at December 31, 2017 and 2016 were $5,833 million and $5,953 million, respectively. Obligations to make additional investments in these entities are not significant.