Description Of Business, Basis Of Presentation, And Changes In Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Description Of Business, Basis Of Presentation, And Changes In Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Description Of Business, Basis Of Presentation, And Changes In Significant Accounting Policies

1. Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Changes in Significant Accounting Policies

Ally Financial Inc. (formerly GMAC Inc. and referred to herein as Ally, we, our, or us) is a leading, independent, globally diversified, financial services firm. Founded in 1919, we are a leading automotive financial services company with over 90 years experience providing a broad array of financial products and services to automotive dealers and their customers. We are also one of the largest residential mortgage companies in the United States. We became a bank holding company on December 24, 2008, under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. Our banking subsidiary, Ally Bank, is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Ally Financial Inc. and a leading franchise in the growing direct (online and telephonic) banking market.

Our accounting and reporting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Additionally, where applicable, the policies conform to the accounting and reporting guidelines prescribed by bank regulatory authorities. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and that affect income and expenses during the reporting period. In developing the estimates and assumptions, management uses all available evidence; however, actual results could differ because of uncertainties associated with estimating the amounts, timing, and likelihood of possible outcomes.

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements at September 30, 2011, and for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011, and 2010, are unaudited but reflect all adjustments that are, in management's opinion, necessary for the fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. These unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements (and the related notes) included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed on February 25, 2011, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Residential Capital, LLC

Residential Capital, LLC (ResCap), one of our mortgage subsidiaries, was negatively impacted by the events and conditions in the mortgage banking industry and the broader economy beginning in 2007. The market deterioration led to fewer sources of, and significantly reduced levels of, liquidity available to finance ResCap's operations. ResCap is highly leveraged relative to its cash flow and previously recognized credit and valuation losses resulting in a significant deterioration in capital. ResCap may also be negatively impacted by exposure to representation and warranty obligations, adverse outcomes with respect to current or future litigation, fines, penalties, or settlements related to our mortgage-related activities and additional expenses to address regulatory requirements. ResCap is required to maintain consolidated tangible net worth, as defined, of $250 million at the end of each month, under the terms of certain of its credit facilities. For this purpose, consolidated tangible net worth is defined as ResCap's consolidated equity excluding intangible assets. ResCap's consolidated tangible net worth, as defined, was $331 million at September 30, 2011, and ResCap remained in compliance with all of its consolidated tangible net worth covenants. There continues to be a risk that ResCap may not be able to meet its debt service obligations, may default on its financial debt covenants due to insufficient capital, and/or may be in a negative liquidity position in future periods.

ResCap seeks to manage its liquidity and capital positions and explores initiatives to address its debt covenant compliance and liquidity needs including debt maturing in the next twelve months and other risks and uncertainties. ResCap's initiatives could include, but are not limited to, the following: continuing to work with key credit providers to optimize all available liquidity options; possible further reductions in assets and other restructuring activities; focusing production on conforming and government-insured residential mortgage loans; and continued exploration of opportunities for funding and capital support from Ally and its affiliates. The outcomes of most of these initiatives are to a great extent outside of ResCap's control resulting in increased uncertainty as to their successful execution.

During 2009 and 2010, we performed a strategic review of our mortgage business. As a result of this, we effectively exited the European mortgage market through the sale of our U.K. and continental Europe operations. We also completed the sale of certain higher-risk legacy mortgage assets and settled representation and warranty claims with certain counterparties. The ongoing focus of our Mortgage Origination and Servicing operations will be predominately the origination and sale of conforming and government-insured residential mortgages and mortgage servicing.

In the future, Ally and ResCap may take additional actions with respect to ResCap as each party deems appropriate. These actions may include Ally providing or declining to provide additional liquidity and capital support for ResCap; refinancing or restructuring some or all of ResCap's existing debt; the purchase or sale of ResCap debt securities in the public or private markets for cash or other consideration; entering into derivative or other hedging or similar transactions with respect to ResCap or its debt securities; Ally purchasing assets from ResCap; or undertaking corporate transactions such as a tender offer or exchange offer for some or all of ResCap's outstanding debt securities, asset sales, or other business reorganization or similar action with respect to all or part of ResCap and/or its affiliates. In this context, Ally and ResCap each typically consider a number of factors to the extent applicable and appropriate including, without limitation, its financial condition, results of operations, and prospects; ResCap's ability to obtain third-party financing; tax considerations; the current and anticipated future trading price levels of ResCap's debt instruments; conditions in the mortgage banking industry and general economic conditions; other investment and business opportunities available to Ally and/or ResCap; and any nonpublic information that ResCap may possess or that Ally receives from ResCap.

ResCap remains heavily dependent on Ally and its affiliates for funding and capital support, and there can be no assurance that Ally or its affiliates will continue such actions or that Ally will choose to execute any further strategic transactions with respect to ResCap or that any transactions undertaken will be successful.

Although our continued actions through various funding and capital initiatives demonstrate support for ResCap, there can be no assurances for future capital support. Consequently, there remains substantial doubt about ResCap's ability to continue as a going concern. Should we no longer continue to support the capital or liquidity needs of ResCap or should ResCap be unable to successfully execute other initiatives, it would have a material adverse effect on ResCap's business, results of operations, and financial position.

Ally has extensive financing and hedging arrangements with ResCap that could be at risk of nonpayment if ResCap were to file for bankruptcy. At September 30, 2011, we had $1.9 billion in secured financing arrangements with ResCap of which $1.2 billion in loans was utilized. At September 30, 2011, the hedging arrangements were fully collateralized. Amounts outstanding under the secured financing and hedging arrangements fluctuate. If ResCap were to file for bankruptcy, ResCap's repayments of its financing facilities, including those with us, could be slower. In addition, we could be an unsecured creditor of ResCap to the extent that the proceeds from the sale of our collateral are insufficient to repay ResCap's obligations to us. It is possible that other ResCap creditors would seek to recharacterize our loans to ResCap as equity contributions or to seek equitable subordination of our claims so that the claims of other creditors would have priority over our claims. In addition, should ResCap file for bankruptcy, our $331 million investment related to ResCap's equity position would likely be reduced to zero. If a ResCap bankruptcy were to occur and a substantial amount of our credit exposure is not repaid to us, it could have an adverse impact on our near-term net income and capital position, but we do not believe it would have a materially adverse impact on Ally's consolidated financial position over the longer term.

Relationship and Transactions with General Motors Company

General Motors Company (GM), GM dealers, and GM-related employees compose a significant portion of our customer base, and our Global Automotive Services operations are highly dependent on GM production and sales volume. As a result, a significant adverse change in GM's business, including significant adverse changes in GM's liquidity position and access to the capital markets, the production or sale of GM vehicles, the quality or resale value of GM vehicles, the use of GM marketing incentives, GM's relationships with its key suppliers, GM's relationship with the United Auto Workers and other labor unions, and other factors impacting GM or its employees could have a significant adverse effect on our profitability and financial condition.

GM is no longer considered a related party for purposes of applicable disclosure within the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, as it beneficially owns less than 10% of the voting interests in Ally and does not control or have the ability to significantly influence the management and policies of Ally. In addition, the Federal Reserve has determined that GM is no longer considered an "affiliate" of Ally Bank for purposes of Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, which impose limitations on transactions between banks and their affiliates.

Refer to Note 26 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a summary of related party transactions with GM during 2010.

Significant Accounting Policies

Earnings per Common Share

We compute earnings (loss) per common share by dividing net income (loss) (after deducting dividends on preferred stock) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. We compute diluted earnings (loss) per common share by dividing net income (loss) (after deducting dividends on preferred stock) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus the dilution resulting from the conversion of convertible preferred stock, if applicable.

Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K regarding additional significant accounting policies.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Receivables — A Creditor's Determination of Whether a Restructuring Is a Troubled Debt Restructuring (ASU 2011-02)

As of July 1, 2011, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-02, which amends Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 310, Receivables. ASU 2011-02 clarifies which loan modifications constitute a troubled debt restructuring (TDR). It is intended to assist creditors in determining whether a modification of the terms of a receivable meets the criteria to be considered a troubled debt restructuring, both for purposes of recording an impairment loss and for disclosure of troubled debt restructurings. The ASU must be applied retrospectively to modifications made subsequent to the beginning of the annual period of adoption, which for us is January 1, 2011.

Effective September 30, 2011, ASU 2011-02 also required us to disclose the total amount of receivables and the allowance for credit losses related to those receivables that are newly considered impaired for which impairment was previously measured under ASC 450-20, Contingencies — Loss Contingencies. Refer to Note 8 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding TDRs.

The adoption did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Receivables — Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses (ASU 2010-20)

Beginning with the three months ended September 30, 2011 and in conjunction with the requirements of ASU 2011-02, ASU 2010-20 required us to expand disclosures related to TDRs. Beginning with the three months ended March 31, 2011, ASU 2010-20 required us to disclose a rollforward of the allowance for loan losses, additional activity-based disclosures for both financing receivables, and the allowance for each reporting period. Refer to Note 8 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding TDRs. We early adopted the rollforward requirement during the December 31, 2010, reporting period. Since the guidance relates only to disclosures, adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Revenue Recognition — Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements (ASU 2009-13)

As of January 1, 2011, we adopted ASU 2009-13, which amends ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. The guidance significantly changed the accounting for revenue recognition in arrangements with multiple deliverables and eliminated the residual method, which allocated the discount of a multiple deliverable arrangement among the delivered items. The guidance requires entities to allocate the total consideration to all deliverables at inception using the relative selling price and to allocate any discount in the arrangement proportionally to each deliverable based on each deliverable's selling price. The adoption did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Financial Services — Insurance — Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts (ASU 2010-26)

In October 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-26, which amends ASC 944, Financial Services — Insurance. The amendments in this ASU specify which costs incurred in the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts should be capitalized. All other acquisition-related costs should be expensed as incurred. If the initial application of the amendments in this ASU results in the capitalization of acquisition costs that had not been previously capitalized, an entity may elect not to capitalize those types of costs. The ASU will be effective for us on January 1, 2012 and will be applied prospectively. Both retrospective application and early adoption are permitted. We do not expect the adoption to have a material impact to our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Fair Value Measurement — Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) (ASU 2011-04)

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, which amends ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements. The amendments in this ASU clarify how to measure fair value. It is intended to improve the comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP and IFRS. The ASU will be effective for us on January 1, 2012, and must be applied prospectively. Early adoption is not permitted. We do not expect the adoption to have a material impact to our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Comprehensive Income — Presentation of Comprehensive Income (ASU 2011-05)

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, which amends ASC 220, Comprehensive Income. The amendments will increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income and facilitate convergence between GAAP and IFRS. This ASU will require that nonowner changes in stockholders' equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The ASU will be effective for us on January 1, 2012. Early adoption is permitted. Since the guidance relates only to disclosures, the adoption will have no impact to our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.