A VIE is an entity that either (i) has insufficient equity to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or (ii) has equity investors who lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the party with both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb the losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

To assess whether we have the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance, we consider all the facts and circumstances including our role in establishing the VIE and our ongoing rights and responsibilities. This assessment includes identifying the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and identifying which party, if any, has power over those activities. In general, the party that makes the most significant decisions affecting the VIE is determined to have the power to direct the activities of the VIE. To assess whether we have the obligation to absorb the losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE, we consider all of our economic interests, including debt and equity interests, servicing rights and fee arrangements, and any other variable interests in the VIE. If we determine that we are the party with the power to make the most significant decisions affecting the VIE, and we have an obligation to absorb the losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE, then we consolidate the VIE.

We perform ongoing reassessments, usually quarterly, of whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE. The reassessment process considers whether we have acquired or divested the power to direct the most significant activities of the VIE through changes in governing documents or other circumstances. We also reconsider whether entities previously determined not to be VIEs have become VIEs, based on new events, and therefore could be subject to the VIE consolidation framework.

We use one or more special purpose entities that are considered Variable Interest Entities to issue asset-backed securities to third party bank-sponsored asset-backed securitization vehicles and to investors in securitization transactions. The securities issued by these VIEs are backed by the cash flows related to retail finance receivables and beneficial interests in investments in operating leases (“Securitized Assets”). We hold variable interests in the VIEs that could potentially be significant to the VIEs. We determined that we are the primary beneficiary of the securitization trusts because (i) our servicing responsibilities for the Securitized Assets give us the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the performance of the VIEs, and (ii) our variable interests in the VIEs give us the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive residual returns that could potentially be significant.

The following tables show the assets and liabilities related to our VIE securitization transactions that were included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets:

	March 31, 2019
			VIE Assets						VIE Liabilities
			Gross		Net
	Restricted Cash		Securitized Assets		Securitized Assets		Other Assets		Debt		Other Liabilities
Retail finance receivables	$	630	$	11,318	$	11,075	$	6	$	9,202	$	10
Investments in operating leases		355		7,532		5,307		186		3,199		2
Total	$	985	$	18,850	$	16,382	$	192	$	12,401	$	12

	March 31, 2018
			VIE Assets						VIE Liabilities
			Gross		Net
	Restricted Cash		Securitized Assets		Securitized Assets		Other Assets		Debt		Other Liabilities
Retail finance receivables	$	729	$	12,130	$	11,927	$	7	$	9,958	$	7
Investments in operating leases		297		7,869		5,706		118		3,680		3
Total	$	1,026	$	19,999	$	17,633	$	125	$	13,638	$	10

Restricted Cash, including cash equivalents, shown in the previous table represents collections from the underlying Gross Securitized Assets shown in the table above and certain reserve deposits held by TMCC for the VIEs and is included as part of Restricted cash and cash equivalents on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Gross Securitized Assets represent finance receivables and beneficial interests in investments in operating leases securitized for the asset-backed securities issued. Net Securitized Assets shown in the table above are presented net of deferred fees and costs, deferred income, accumulated depreciation and the allowance for credit losses. Other Assets represent used vehicles held-for-sale that were repossessed by or returned to TMCC for the benefit of the VIEs. The related debt of these consolidated VIEs is presented net of $1,486 million and $1,520 million of securities retained by TMCC at March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Other Liabilities represents accrued interest on the debt of the consolidated VIEs.

The assets of the VIEs and the restricted cash and cash equivalents held by TMCC serve as the sole source of repayment for the asset-backed securities issued by these entities. Investors in the notes issued by the VIEs do not have recourse to us or our other assets, with the exception of customary representation and warranty repurchase provisions and indemnities.

As the primary beneficiary of these entities, we are exposed to credit, residual value, interest rate, and prepayment risk from the Securitized Assets in the VIEs. However, our exposure to these risks did not change as a result of the transfer of the assets to the VIEs. We may also be exposed to interest rate risk arising from the secured notes issued by the VIEs.

In addition, we entered into interest rate swaps with certain special purpose entities that issue variable rate debt. Under the terms of these swaps, the special purpose entities are obligated to pay TMCC a fixed rate of interest on certain payment dates in exchange for receiving a floating rate of interest on notional amounts equal to the outstanding balance of the secured debt. This arrangement enables the special purpose entities to mitigate the interest rate risk inherent in issuing variable rate debt that is secured by fixed rate Securitized Assets.

The transfers of the Securitized Assets to the special purpose entities in our securitizations are considered to be sales for legal purposes. However, the Securitized Assets and the related debt remain on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We recognize financing revenue on the Securitized Assets and interest expense on the secured debt issued by the special purpose entities. We also maintain an allowance for credit losses on the Securitized Assets to cover estimated probable credit losses using a methodology consistent with that used for our non-securitized asset portfolio. The interest rate swaps between TMCC and the special purpose entities are considered intercompany transactions and therefore are eliminated in our consolidated financial statements.

We provide lending to Toyota and Lexus dealers through the Toyota Dealer Investment Group’s Dealer Capital Program (“TDIG Program”) operated by our affiliate, TMNA, which has an equity interest in these dealerships. Dealers participating in this program have been determined to be VIEs. We do not consolidate the dealerships in this program as we are not the primary beneficiary and any exposure to loss is limited to the amount of the credit facility. Amounts due from these dealers under the TDIG Program that are classified as Finance receivables, net in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2019 and 2018 and revenues earned from these dealers during fiscal 2019, 2018 and 2017 were not significant.

We also have other lending relationships which have been determined to be VIEs, but these relationships are not consolidated as we are not the primary beneficiary. Amounts due and revenues earned under these relationships as of March 31, 2019 and 2018 were not significant.