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Variable Interest Entities Variable Interest Entity (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Variable Interest Entities
VIEs are entities that, by design, either (i) lack sufficient equity to permit the entity to finance its activities independently, or (ii) have equity holders that do not have the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact its economic performance, the obligation to absorb the entity’s losses, or the right to receive the entity’s residual returns. We consolidate a VIE when we are the primary beneficiary, which is the party that has both (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (ii) through its interests in the VIE, the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
Along with a VIE that we consolidate, we also hold a variable interest in another VIE that is not consolidated because we are not the primary beneficiary. We continually monitor both the consolidated and unconsolidated VIEs to determine if any events have occurred that could cause the primary beneficiary to change. See Note 14 for further discussion of VIEs.
We consolidate the activities of VIEs for which we are the primary beneficiary.