Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Securitizations And Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

Variable Interest Entity Disclosure

Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities

Overview

We securitize, transfer, and service consumer and commercial automotive loans, and operating leases. We often securitize these loans and notes secured by operating leases (collectively referred to as financial assets) using special purpose entities (SPEs). SPEs are often VIEs and may or may not be included on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Securitizations

In executing a securitization, we typically sell pools of financial assets to a wholly owned, bankruptcy-remote SPE, which then transfers the financial assets to a separate, transaction-specific SPE for cash, and typically, other retained interests. The SPE is funded through the issuance of beneficial interests, which could take the form of notes or residual interests and can be sold to investors or retained by us. We typically hold retained beneficial interests in our securitizations including, but not limited to, retained notes, certificated residual interests, as well as certain noncertificated interests retained from the sale of automotive finance receivables. If sold, the beneficial interests only entitle the investors to specified cash flows generated from the underlying securitized assets. If retained, the interests provide credit enhancement to the SPE as they may absorb credit losses or other cash shortfalls and may represent a form of significant continuing economic interests. In addition to providing a source of liquidity and cost-efficient funding, securitizing these financial assets also reduces our credit exposure to the borrowers beyond any economic interest we may retain.

The SPEs are limited to specific activities by their respective legal documents, but are generally allowed to acquire the financial assets, to issue beneficial interests to investors to fund the acquisition of the financial assets, and to enter into interest rate hedges to mitigate certain risks related to the financial assets or beneficial interests of the entity. A servicer, who is generally us, is appointed pursuant to the underlying legal documents to service the assets the SPE holds and the beneficial interests it issues. Servicing functions include, but are not limited to, general collections activity on current and noncurrent accounts, loss mitigation efforts including repossession and sale of collateral, as well as preparing and furnishing statements summarizing the asset and beneficial interest performance. These servicing responsibilities constitute continued involvement in the transferred financial assets.

Cash flows from the securitized financial assets represent the sole source for payment of distributions on the beneficial interests issued by the SPE and for payments to the parties that perform services for the SPE, such as the servicer or the trustee.

We generally hold certain conditional repurchase options specific to securitizations that allow us to repurchase assets from the securitization entity. The majority of the securitizations provide us, as servicer, with a call option that allows us to repurchase the remaining transferred financial assets or redeem outstanding beneficial interests at our discretion once the asset pool reaches a predefined level, which represents the point where servicing becomes administratively burdensome (a clean-up call option). The repurchase price is typically the discounted securitization balance of the assets plus accrued interest when applicable. We generally have discretion regarding when or if we will exercise these options, but we would do so only when it is in our best interest.

Other than our customary representation, warranty, and covenant provisions, these securitizations are nonrecourse to us, thereby transferring the risk of future credit losses to the extent the beneficial interests in the SPEs are held by third parties. Representation, warranty, and certain covenant provisions generally require us to repurchase assets or indemnify the investor or other party for incurred losses to the extent it is determined that the assets were ineligible or were otherwise defective at the time of sale, or otherwise not in compliance with the ongoing covenant obligations. We did not provide any non-contractual financial support to any of these entities during 2019, 2018, or 2017.

Variable Interest Entities

The VIEs included on the Consolidated Balance Sheet represent separate entities where we are deemed to be the primary beneficiary, primarily due to our servicing activities and our beneficial interests in the VIE that could be potentially significant. We determine whether we have a potentially significant beneficial interest in the VIE based on the consideration of both qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the nature, size, and form of our involvement in the VIE. The third-party investors in the obligations of consolidated VIEs have legal recourse only to the assets of the VIEs and do not have such recourse to us, except for the customary representation, warranty, and covenant provisions. In addition, the cash flows from the assets are restricted only to pay such liabilities. Thus, our economic exposure to loss from outstanding third-party financing related to consolidated VIEs is limited to the carrying value of the consolidated VIE assets. Generally, all assets of consolidated VIEs are restricted for the beneficial interest holders. For additional information regarding our significant accounting policies for consolidated VIEs, refer to the Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities section of Note 1.

The nature, purpose, and activities of nonconsolidated SPEs are similar to those of our consolidated SPEs with the primary difference being the nature and extent of our continuing involvement. For nonconsolidated SPEs, the transferred financial assets are removed from our balance sheet provided the conditions for sale accounting are met. The financial assets obtained from the securitization are primarily reported as cash or retained interests (if applicable). Liabilities incurred as part of these securitizations, are recorded at fair value at the time of sale and are reported as accrued expenses and other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Upon the sale of the loans, we recognize a gain or loss on sale for the difference between the assets recognized, the assets derecognized, and the liabilities recognized as part of the transaction. With respect to our ongoing right to service the assets we sell, the servicing fee we receive represents adequate compensation, and consequently, we do not recognize a servicing asset or liability.

There were no sales of financial assets into nonconsolidated VIEs for the year ended December 31, 2019. There was a pretax gain of $1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, and a pretax gain of $2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, from sales of financial assets into nonconsolidated VIEs. For additional information regarding the company’s significant accounting policies for nonconsolidated VIEs, refer to the Variable Interest Entities and Securitizations section of Note 1.

We provide long-term guarantee contracts to investors in certain nonconsolidated affordable housing entities and have extended a line of credit to provide liquidity. Since we do not have control over the entities or the power to make decisions, we do not consolidate the entities and our involvement is limited to the guarantee and the line of credit.

We are involved with various other nonconsolidated equity investments, including affordable housing entities and venture capital funds and loan funds. We do not consolidate these entities and our involvement is limited to our outstanding investment, additional capital committed to these funds plus any previously recognized low-income housing tax credits that are subject to recapture.

The following table presents our involvement in consolidated and nonconsolidated VIEs in which we hold variable interests. For additional detail related to the assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities refer to the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

December 31, ($ in millions)	Carrying value of total assets			Carrying value of total liabilities			Assets sold to nonconsolidated VIEs (a)		Maximum exposure to loss in nonconsolidated VIEs
2019
On-balance sheet variable interest entities
Consumer automotive	$	20,376	(b)	$	6,070	(c)
Commercial automotive	8,009			3,049
Off-balance-sheet variable interest entities
Consumer automotive (d)	23		(e)	—			$	417	$	440	(f)
Commercial other	1,079		(g)	378		(h)	—		1,397		(i)
Total	$	29,487		$	9,497		$	417	$	1,837
2018
On-balance sheet variable interest entities
Consumer automotive	$	16,255	(b)	$	6,573	(c)
Commercial automotive	11,089			3,946
Off-balance-sheet variable interest entities
Consumer automotive	45		(e)	—			$	1,235	$	1,280	(f)
Commercial other	806		(g)	326		(h)	—		1,054		(i)
Total	$	28,195		$	10,845		$	1,235	$	2,334

(a) Asset values represent the current unpaid principal balance of outstanding consumer finance receivables and loans within the VIEs.

(b) Includes $9.0 billion and $8.4 billion of assets that were not encumbered by VIE beneficial interests held by third parties at December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively. Ally or consolidated affiliates hold the interests in these assets.

(c) Includes $21 million and $25 million of liabilities that were not obligations to third-party beneficial interest holders at December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively.

(d) During the year ended December 31, 2019, we indicated our intent to exercise clean-up call option related to a nonconsolidated securitization-related VIE. The option enables us to repurchase the remaining transferred financial assets at our discretion once the asset pool declines to a predefined level and redeem the related outstanding debt. As a result of this event, we became the primary beneficiary of the VIE, which included $48 million of consumer automotive loans and $45 million of related debt, and the VIE was consolidated on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The related amounts were removed from assets sold to nonconsolidated VIEs and maximum exposure to loss in nonconsolidated VIEs.

(e) Represents retained notes and certificated residual interests, of which $21 million and $43 million were classified as held-to-maturity securities at December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively, and $2 million were classified as other assets at both December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018. These assets represent our five percent interest in the credit risk of the assets underlying asset-backed securitizations.

(f) Maximum exposure to loss represents the current unpaid principal balance of outstanding loans, retained notes, certificated residual interests, as well as certain noncertificated interests retained from the sale of automotive finance receivables. This measure is based on the very unlikely event that all of our sold loans have defects that would trigger a representation, warranty, and covenant provision and the underlying collateral supporting the loans becomes worthless. This required disclosure is not an indication of our expected loss.

(g) Amounts are classified as other assets.

(h) Amounts are classified as accrued expenses and other liabilities.

(i) For certain nonconsolidated affordable housing entities, maximum exposure to loss represents the yield we guaranteed investors through long-term guarantee contracts. The amount disclosed is based on the unlikely event that the yield delivered to investors in the form of low-income tax housing credits is recaptured. For nonconsolidated equity investments, maximum exposure to loss represents our outstanding investment, additional committed capital, and low-income housing tax credits subject to recapture. The amount disclosed is based on the unlikely event that our committed capital is funded, our investments become worthless, and the tax credits previously delivered to us are recaptured. This required disclosure is not an indication of our expected loss.

On-balance Sheet Variable Interest Entities

The assets of consolidated VIEs that can be used only to settle obligations of the consolidated VIEs and the liabilities of those entities for which creditors or beneficial interest holders do not have recourse to our general credit were as follows.

December 31, ($ in millions)	2019			2018
Assets
Finance receivables and loans, net
Consumer	$	10,791		$	7,282
Commercial	7,919			10,804
Allowance for loan losses	(153		)	(114		)
Total finance receivables and loans, net	18,557			17,972
Investment in operating leases, net	—			164
Other assets	787			767
Total assets	$	19,344		$	18,903
Liabilities
Long-term debt	$	9,087		$	10,482
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	11			12
Total liabilities	$	9,098		$	10,494

Cash Flows with Off-Balance-Sheet Securitization Entities

The following table summarizes cash flows received and paid related to SPEs and asset-backed financings where the transfer is accounted for as a sale and we have a continuing involvement with the transferred consumer automotive assets (for example, servicing) that were outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017. Additionally, this table contains information regarding cash flows received from and paid to nonconsolidated SPEs that existed during each period.

Year ended December 31, ($ in millions)	Consumer automotive			Consumer mortgage
2019
Cash flows received on retained interests in securitization entities	$	23		$	—
Servicing fees	10			—
Cash disbursements for repurchases during the period	(2		)	—
2018
Cash proceeds from transfers completed during the period	$	24		$	—
Cash flows received on retained interests in securitization entities	20			—
Servicing fees	18			—
Cash disbursements for repurchases during the period	(4		)	—
Representation and warranty recoveries	—			2
2017
Cash proceeds from transfers completed during the period	$	1,187		$	—
Cash disbursements for repurchases during the period (a)	(491		)	—
Servicing fees	31			—
Cash flows received on retained interests in securitization entities	21			—
Other cash flows	4			—

(a) During the second quarter of 2017, we elected to not renew a consumer automotive credit conduit facility and also purchased the related consumer automotive loans and settled associated retained interests.

Delinquencies and Net Credit Losses

The following tables present quantitative information about delinquencies and net credit losses for off-balance-sheet securitizations and whole-loan sales where we have continuing involvement.

	Total amount				Amount 60 days or more past due
December 31, ($ in millions)	2019		2018		2019		2018
Off-balance-sheet securitization entities
Consumer automotive	$	417	$	1,235	$	6	$	13
Whole-loan sales (a)
Consumer automotive	207		634		2		3
Total	$	624	$	1,869	$	8	$	16

(a) Whole-loan sales are not part of a securitization transaction, but represent consumer automotive pools of loans sold to third-party investors.

	Net credit losses
Year ended December 31, ($ in millions)	2019		2018
Off-balance-sheet securitization entities
Consumer automotive	$	6	$	10
Whole-loan sales (a)
Consumer automotive	1		2
Total	$	7	$	12

(a) Whole-loan sales are not part of a securitization transaction, but represent consumer automotive pools of loans sold to third-party investors.

Affordable Housing Investments

We have investments in various limited partnerships that sponsor affordable housing projects, which meet the definition of a VIE. The purpose of these investments is to achieve a satisfactory return on capital through the receipt of low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) and to assist us in achieving goals associated with the CRA. Our affordable housing investments are accounted for using the proportional amortization method of accounting, which recognizes the amortized cost of the investment as a component of income tax expense.

The following table summarizes information about our affordable housing investments.

Year ended December 31, ($ in millions)	2019		2018		2017
Affordable housing tax credits and other tax benefits (a)	$	86	$	61	$	43
Tax credit amortization expense recognized as a component of income tax expense	72		51		44

(a) There were no impairment losses recognized during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, resulting from the forfeiture or ineligibility of tax credits or other circumstances.

Our investment in qualified affordable housing projects was $830 million and $649 million at December 31, 2019, and 2018, respectively, and is included within other assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Additionally, unfunded commitments to provide additional capital to investees in qualified affordable housing projects were $372 million and $319 million at December 31, 2019, and 2018, respectively, and are included within accrued expenses and other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Substantially all of the unfunded commitments at December 31, 2019, are expected to be paid out within the next five years.