SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, including certain special purpose financing trusts (“Trusts”) utilized in securitization transactions and credit facilities which are considered variable interest entities (“VIE’s”). All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

The interim period consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, are condensed and do not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the United States of America. These interim period financial statements should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements that are included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2012.

The consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2012, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, are unaudited, and in management’s opinion include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for such interim periods. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions which affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the amount of revenue and costs and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences may be material. These estimates include, among other things, the determination of the allowance for loan losses on finance receivables, estimated recovery value on leased vehicles, goodwill, income taxes and the expected cash flows on the pre-acquisition consumer finance receivables.

Commercial Lending

Overview

In April 2012, we launched our commercial lending platform to further support our General Motors Company ("GM") dealer relationships. Our commercial lending offerings consist of:


•	Floorplan financing - loans to primarily GM-franchised dealers and their affiliates to finance the purchase of vehicle inventory, also known as wholesale or inventory financing.


•	Dealer loans - loans to dealers to finance improvements to dealership facilities, to provide working capital, and to purchase and/or finance dealership real estate.

In support of the underwriting and risk monitoring process with respect to these loans, each dealer is assigned a risk rating based on various factors, including, but not limited to, capital sufficiency, operating performance, financial outlook, and credit and payment history, if available. The risk rating may affect the pricing and guides the management of the account. We monitor the level of borrowing under each dealer's account daily. When a dealer's outstanding balance exceeds the availability on any given credit line with that dealer, we may reallocate balances across existing lines, temporarily suspend the granting of additional credit, increase the dealer's credit line, either temporarily or for an extended period of time, or take other actions following an evaluation and analysis of the dealer's financial condition and the cause of the excess or overline. Under the terms of the credit agreement with the dealer, we may demand payment of interest and principal on wholesale credit lines at any time.

Floorplan Financing

We support the financing of new and used vehicle inventory purchases by primarily GM-franchised dealers and their affiliates before sale or lease to the retail customer. These loans are included in finance receivables in our financial statements. Financing is provided through lines of credit extended to individual dealers. In general, each floorplan line is secured by all financed vehicles and by other dealership assets and typically the continuing personal guarantee of the dealership's ownership. Additionally, to minimize our risk, under certain circumstances, such as dealer default, manufacturers are bound by a repurchase obligation that requires them to repurchase the new vehicle inventory according to applicable manufacturer or State parameters. The amount we advance to dealers for new vehicles purchased through the manufacturer is equal to 100% of the wholesale invoice price of new vehicles, which includes destination and other miscellaneous charges, and a price rebate, known as a holdback, from the manufacturer to the dealer in varying amounts stated as a percentage of the invoice price. We advance the loan proceeds directly to the manufacturer. To support the dealers' used car inventory needs, we advance funds to the dealer or auction to purchase used vehicles for inventory based on the appropriate wholesale book value for the region in which the dealer is located. Unless we terminate the credit line or the dealer defaults, we generally require payment of the principal amount financed for a vehicle upon its sale or lease by the dealer to the retail customer. Upon the sale of the collateral, the dealer must repay the advance on the sold vehicle according to the repayment terms. Typically the dealer has two to ten business days to repay an advance on a sold vehicle, depending on the timing of the receipt of the sale proceeds. These repayment terms can vary based on the risk rating. We periodically inspect and verify that the financed vehicles are on the dealership lot and available for sale. The timing of the verifications varies, and no advance notice is given to the dealer. Among other things, verifications are intended to determine dealer compliance with the master loan agreement as to repayment terms and to determine the status of our collateral.

Floorplan lending is structured to yield interest at a floating rate indexed to the prime rate. The rate for a particular dealer is based on, among other things, the dealer's credit worthiness, the amount of the credit line, the risk rating and whether or not the dealer is in default. Interest on floorplan loans is generally payable monthly.

Dealer Loans

We make loans to dealers to finance improvements to dealership facilities, to provide working capital and to purchase and finance dealership real estate. These loans are included in finance receivables in our financial statements. These loans are typically secured by mortgages or deeds of trust on dealership land and buildings, a priority security interest in other dealership assets and typically the continuing personal guarantees from the owners of the dealerships and/or the real estate. Dealer loans are structured to yield interest at fixed or floating rates. Floating rate loans are generally indexed to the prime rate. Interest on dealer loans is generally payable monthly.

Charge-off Policy

Commercial receivables are individually evaluated and where collectability of the recorded balance is in doubt are written down to fair value of the collateral less costs to sell. Commercial receivables are charged-off at the earlier of when they are deemed uncollectible or reach 360 days past due.

Troubled Debt Restructurings

For evaluating whether a restructuring constitutes a troubled debt restructuring ("TDR") our policy for consumer loans is that both of the following must exist: (i) the restructuring constitutes a concession; and (ii) the debtor is experiencing financial difficulties. In accordance with our policies and guidelines, we, at times, offer payment deferrals to consumers. Each deferral allows the consumer to move up to two delinquent monthly payments to the end of the loan generally by paying a fee (approximately the interest portion of the payment deferred, except where state law provides for a lesser amount). A loan that is deferred two or more times would be considered significantly delayed and therefore meet the definition of a concession. A loan currently in payment default as the result of being delinquent would also represent a debtor experiencing financial difficulties. Therefore, considering these two factors, the second deferment granted by us on a loan would be considered a TDR and the loan impaired. Accounts in Chapter 13 bankruptcy which have an interest rate or principal adjustment as part of a confirmed bankruptcy plan would also be considered TDRs. The pre-acquisition portfolio is excluded from the TDR policy since expected future credit losses were recognized in the purchase accounting for that portfolio.

Commercial receivables subject to forbearance, moratoriums, extension agreements, or other actions intended to minimize economic loss and to avoid foreclosure or repossession of collateral are classified as TDRs. We do not grant concessions on the principal balance of dealer loans.

Related Party Transactions

We were acquired by GM on October 1, 2010. We offer loan and lease finance products through GM dealers to consumers purchasing new and certain used vehicles manufactured by GM. GM makes cash payments to us for offering incentivized rates and structures on these loan and lease finance products under a subvention program. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we had intercompany receivables from GM in the amount of $40.9 million and $37.4 million, respectively. These amounts represent $19.0 million and $37.4 million due at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, from GM under the subvention program and a $21.8 million receivable at September 30, 2012 related to commercial loans to dealers that are majority owned and consolidated by GM in connection with our commercial lending program.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, ASU ("2011-04"), Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs, was issued effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The adoption of 2011-04 gives fair value the same meaning between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs"), and improves consistency of disclosures relating to fair value. We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2012, and the adoption did not have an impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In June 2011, ASU ("2011-05"), Comprehensive Income: Presentation of Comprehensive Income, was issued effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. 2011-05 amends current guidance on reporting comprehensive income and eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of shareholders’ equity. Instead, comprehensive income must be reported in either a single continuous statement of comprehensive income which contains two sections, net income and other comprehensive income, or in two separate but consecutive statements. In December 2011, 2011-12 was issued deferring the effective date for implementation of 2011-05 related only to reclassification out of accumulated other comprehensive income until a later date to be determined after further consideration by the FASB. We adopted this 2011-12 effective January 1, 2012, and the adoption did not have an impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows as we already present a statement of comprehensive income.

In December 2011, ASU ("2011-11"), Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, was issued effective for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2013. 2011-11 amends the disclosure requirements on offsetting in ASC Topic 210 by requiring enhanced disclosures about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either (i) offset in accordance with existing guidance or (ii) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they are offset on the balance sheet. 2011-11 is effective for us starting January 1, 2013 and the adoption will not have an impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.