HSBC Finance Corporation Form

RNS Number : 0043S
HSBC Holdings PLC
11 May 2009
 




UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WashingtonD.C. 20549



FORM 10-Q




(Mark One)


X

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                to                   


Commission file number 1-8198



HSBC FINANCE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware

86-1052062

(State of Incorporation)

26525 North Riverwoods BoulevardMettawaIllinois

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

60045

 (Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)


(224) 544-2000

Registrant's telephone number, including area code



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No 


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes      No 


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):


Large accelerated filer   Accelerated filer   Non-accelerated filer  X  Smaller reporting company 

                             (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  No X


As of April 30, 2009, there were 63 shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding, all of which are owned by HSBC Investments (North America) Inc.


HSBC FINANCE CORPORATION


FORM 10-Q


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Part I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1.

Financial Statements



Consolidated Statement of Income

 


Consolidated Balance Sheet

 


Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity

 


Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

 


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 


Forward-Looking Statements

 


Executive Overview

 


Basis of Reporting

 


Receivables Review

 


Real Estate Owned

 


Results of Operations

 


Segment Results - IFRS Management Basis

 


Credit Quality

 


Liquidity and Capital Resources

 


Fair Value

 


Risk Management

 


Reconciliations to U.S. GAAP Financial Measures

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

Part II  

OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

Signature

 


HSBC Finance Corporation


Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1.  Financial Statements


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)


Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(in millions)

Finance and other interest income

$2,846

$4,109

Interest expense:



HSBC affiliates

297

255

Non-affiliates

870

1,518

Net interest income

1,679

2,336

Provision for credit losses

2,945

2,828

Net interest loss after provision for credit losses

(1,266)

(492)

Other revenues:



Insurance revenue

93

105

Investment income

7

25

Derivative income

38

4

Gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives

4,112

1,177

Fee income

228

458

Enhancement services revenue

135

184

Taxpayer financial services revenue

90

149

Gain on bulk receivable sales to HSBC affiliates

57

-

Gain on receivable sales to HSBC affiliates

128

55

Servicing and other fees from HSBC affiliates

193

131

Lower of cost or fair value adjustment on receivables held for sale

(170)

(7)

Other income

46

36

Total other revenues

4,957

2,317

Operating expenses:



Salaries and employee benefits

415

442

Sales incentives

5

20

Occupancy and equipment expenses

91

54

Other marketing expenses

50

128

Real estate owned expenses

105

126

Other servicing and administrative expenses

255

256

Support services from HSBC affiliates

279

269

Amortization of intangibles

42

55

Policyholders' benefits

55

52

Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges

667

-

Total operating expenses

1,964

1,402

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense

1,727

423

Income tax expense

855

185

Income from continuing operations

872

238

Discontinued operations (Note 2):



Income from discontinued operations before income tax expense

-

30

Income tax expense

-

13

Income from discontinued operations

-

17

Net income

$872

$255


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008


(in millions, except


share data)

Assets



Cash

$354

$255

Interest bearing deposits with banks

22

25

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

5,601

1,025

Securities available for sale

2,977

3,094

Receivables, net

92,291

98,021

Receivables held for sale

1,409

16,680

Intangible assets, net

866

922

Goodwill

1,641

2,294

Properties and equipment, net

178

201

Real estate owned

764

885

Derivative financial assets

-

8

Deferred income taxes, net

1,850

3,318

Other assets

3,197

4,057

Total assets

$111,150

$130,785

Liabilities



Debt:



Due to affiliates

$12,217

$13,543

Commercial paper

5,273

9,639

Long term debt (including $22.7 billion at March 31, 2009 and $28.3 billion at December 31, 

2008 carried at fair value)

75,159

90,024

Total debt

92,649

113,206

Insurance policy and claim reserves

964

965

Derivative related liabilities

163

461

Liability for post-retirement benefits

251

298

Other liabilities

2,456

2,418

Total liabilities

96,483

117,348

Shareholders' equity



Redeemable preferred stock, 1,501,100 shares authorized, Series B, $0.01 par value, 575,000 shares issued

575

575

Common shareholder's equity:



Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100 shares authorized, 63 shares issued at March 31, 2009 and 60 shares 

issued at December 31, 2008

-

-

Additional paid-in capital

21,592

21,485

Accumulated deficit

(6,382)

(7,245)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(1,118)

(1,378)

Total common shareholder's equity

14,092

12,862

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$111,150

$130,785


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)


Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(in millions)

Preferred stock



Balance at beginning and end of period

$575

$575

Common shareholder's equity



Additional paid-in capital



Balance at beginning of period

$21,485

$18,227

Capital contribution from parent company

1,155

1,600

Return of capital to parent company

(1,043)

-

Employee benefit plans, including transfers and other

(5)

(8)

Balance at end of period

$21,592

$19,819

Accumulated deficit



Balance at beginning of period

$(7,245)

$(4,423)

Net income

872

255

Dividend equivalents on HSBC's Restricted Share Plan

-

(2)

Dividends:



Preferred stock

(9)

(9)

Balance at end of period

$(6,382)

$(4,179)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss



Balance at beginning of period

$(1,378)

$(220)

Net change in unrealized gains (losses), net of tax, on:



Derivatives classified as cash flow hedges

270

(487)

Securities available for sale and interest-only strip receivables

(22)

(2)

FASB Statement No. 158 adjustment, net of tax

16

-

Foreign currency translation adjustments

(4)

(28)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

260

(517)

Balance at end of period

$(1,118)

$(737)

Total common shareholder's equity

$14,092

$14,903

Comprehensive income (loss)



Net income

$872

$255

Other comprehensive income (loss)

260

(517)

Comprehensive income (loss)

$1,132

$(262)


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)


Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(in millions)

Cash flows from operating activities



Net income

$872

$255

Income from discontinued operations

-

17

Income from continued operations

872

238

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:



Provision for credit losses

2,945

2,828

Gain on bulk sale of receivables to HSBC Bank USA, National Association ("HSBC Bank USA")

(57)

-

Gain on receivable sales to HSBC affiliates

(128)

(55)

Goodwill and other intangible impairment

667

-

Loss on sale of real estate owned, including lower of cost or market adjustments

84

100

Insurance policy and claim reserves

(2)

(12)

Depreciation and amortization

55

71

Mark-to-market on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives

(3,992)

(1,192)

Net change in other assets

2,338

(268)

Net change in other liabilities

(15)

(313)

Originations of loans held for sale

(8,791)

(5,613)

Sales and collections on loans held for sale

9,043

5,659

Foreign exchange and SFAS No. 133 movements on long term debt and net change in non-FVO related derivative assets and liabilities

(1,342)

2,457

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements

-

-

Other-than-temporary impairment on securities

20

-

LOCOM on receivables held for sale

170

7

Other, net

126

174

Cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations

1,993

4,081

Cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations

-

175

Net cash provided by operating activities

1,993

4,256

Cash flows from investing activities



Securities:



Purchased

(179)

(234)

Matured

124

172

Sold

10

74

Net change in short-term securities available for sale

106

(129)

Net change in securities purchased under agreements to resell

(4,576)

(866)

Net change in interest bearing deposits with banks

3

259

Receivables:

-


Net (originations) collections

2,568

1,746

Purchases and related premiums

(10)

(11)

Proceeds from sales of real estate owned

399

389

Cash received from bulk sales of receivables to HSBC Bank USA

8,821

-

Purchases of properties and equipment

(9)

(33)

Cash provided by investing activities - continuing operations

7,257

1,367

Cash provided by investing activities - discontinued operations

-

13

Net cash provided by investing activities

7,257

1,380


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements


Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(in millions)

Cash flows from financing activities



Debt:



Net change in short-term debt

(4,366)

(1,423)

Net change in due to affiliates

(1,051)

30

Long term debt issued

1,600

1,194

Long term debt retired

(5,155)

(7,062)

Insurance:



Policyholders' benefits paid

(21)

(22)

Cash received from policyholders

14

12

Capital contribution from parent

880

1,600

Return of capital to parent

(1,043)

-

Shareholder's dividends

(9)

(9)

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements

-

-

Cash used in financing activities - continuing operations

(9,151)

(5,680)

Cash used in financing activities - discontinued operations

-

(149)

Net cash used in financing activities

(9,151)

(5,829)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

-

(5)

Net change in cash

99

(198)

Cash at beginning of period(1)

255

783

Cash at end of period(1)

$354

$585

Supplemental Noncash Investing and Capital Activities



Transfer of receivables to real estate owned

$363

$617

Assumption of indebtedness by HSBC Bank USA related to the bulk receivable sale

$(6,077)

$-

Redemption of the junior subordinated notes underlying the mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of the Household Capital Trust VIII for common stock

$275

$-


(1)  Cash includes $171 million and $122 million for discontinued operations at January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2008.


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


1.  Organization and Basis of Presentation


HSBC Finance Corporation is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC North America Holdings Inc. ("HSBC North America"), which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc ("HSBC"). The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of HSBC Finance Corporation and its subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods have been made. HSBC Finance Corporation and its subsidiaries may also be referred to in this Form 10-Q as "we," "us" or "our." These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (the "2008 Form 10-K"). Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation.


The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis that we will continue as a going concern. Such assertion contemplates the significant losses recognized in recent years and the challenges we anticipate with respect to a sustainable return to profitability under prevailing and forecasted economic conditions. HSBC continues to be fully committed and has the capacity to continue to provide the necessary capital and liquidity to fund continuing operations.


The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Interim results should not be considered indicative of results in future periods.


During the first quarter of 2009, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, "Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133," and FASB Staff Position ("FSP") SFAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, "Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments." In addition, we early adopted FSP SFAS 115-2 and 124-2, "Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments," as well as FSP SFAS 157-4, "Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That are not Orderly," effective January 1, 2009. See Note 18, "New Accounting Pronouncements," for further details and related impact.


2.  Discontinued Operations


United Kingdom In May 2008, we sold all of the common stock of Household International Europe, the holding company for our United Kingdom operations ("U.K. Operations") to HSBC Overseas Holdings (UK) Limited ("HOHU"), a subsidiary of HSBC. The sales price was GBP 181 million (equivalent to approximately $359 million). At the time of the sale, the assets of the U.K. Operations consisted primarily of net receivables of $4.6 billion and the liabilities consisted primarily of amounts due to HSBC affiliates of $3.6 billion. As a result of this transaction, HOHU assumed the liabilities of our U.K. Operations outstanding at the time of the sale. Because the sale was between affiliates under common control, the book value of the investment in our U.K. Operations in excess of the consideration received at the time of sale which totaled $576 million was recorded as a decrease to common shareholder's equity. Of this amount, $196 million was reflected as a decrease to additional paid in capital and $380 million was reflected as a decrease to other comprehensive income (loss), primarily related to foreign currency translation adjustments. There was no tax benefit recorded as a result of this transaction. Our U.K. Operations were previously reported in the International Segment.


The following summarizes the operating results of our U.K. Operations for the periods presented:


 

Three Months 

Ended 

March 31,

Income (Expense)

2009

2008


(in millions)

Net interest income and other revenues, excluding insurance revenue

$-

$94

Insurance revenue

-

26

Provision for credit losses

-

(51)

Operating expenses

-

(74)

Loss before income tax (expense) benefit

-

(5)

Income tax (expense) benefit

-

1

Loss from discontinued operation

$-

$(4)


Canada On November 30, 2008, we sold the common stock of HSBC Financial Corporation Limited, the holding company for our Canadian business ("Canadian Operations") to HSBC Bank Canada. The sales price was approximately $279 million (based on the exchange rate on the date of sale). At the time of the sale, the assets of the Canadian Operations consisted primarily of net receivables of $3.1 billion, available-for-sale securities of $98 million and goodwill of $65 million. Liabilities at the time of the sale consisted primarily of long term debt of $3.1 billion. As a result of this transaction, HSBC Bank Canada assumed the liabilities of our Canadian Operations outstanding at the time of the sale. However, we continue to guarantee the long-term and medium-term notes issued by our Canadian business prior to the sale. Because the sale was between affiliates under common control, the book value of the investment in our Canadian Operations in excess of the consideration received at the time of sale which totaled $40 million was recorded as a decrease to common shareholder's equity. Of this amount, $46 million was reflected as a decrease to additional paid in capital and $6 million was reflected as an increase to other comprehensive income (loss), primarily related to foreign currency translation adjustments. There was no tax benefit recorded as a result of this transaction. Our Canadian Operations were previously reported in the International Segment.


The following summarizes the operating results of our Canadian Operations for the periods presented:


 

Three Months 

Ended 

March 31,

Income (Expense)

2009

2008


(in millions)

Net interest income and other revenues

$-

$141

Provision for credit losses

-

(49)

Operating expenses

-

(57)

Income before income tax expense

-

35

Income tax expense

-

(14)

Income from discontinued operation

$-

$21


3.  Receivable Portfolio Sales to HSBC Bank USA and Adoption of FFIEC Policies


General Motors and AFL-CIO Union Plus Credit Card Receivable Portfolios In January 2009 upon receipt of regulatory approval, we sold our General Motors MasterCard receivable portfolio ("GM Portfolio") and our AFL-CIO Union Plus MasterCard/Visa receivable portfolio ("UP Portfolio") with an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $6.3 billion and $6.1 billion, respectively, to HSBC Bank USA. At December 31, 2008, the GM and UP Portfolios were included in receivables held for sale with a lower of cost or fair value of $6.2 billion and $5.9 billion, respectively. The aggregate sales price for the GM and UP Portfolios was $12.2 billion which included the transfer of approximately $6.1 billion of indebtedness, resulting in net cash proceeds of $6.1 billion. As a result, in the first quarter of 2009 we recorded a gain of $130 million ($84 million after-tax) on the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios. This gain was partially offset by a loss of $(80) million ($(51) million after-tax) recorded on the termination of cash flow hedges associated with the $6.1 billion of indebtedness transferred to HSBC Bank USA as part of these transactions. The sales price was determined based on independent valuation opinions. We retained the customer account relationships and the right to originate new customer account relationships for both the GM and UP Portfolios. By agreement, we will sell additional volume for new and existing accounts on a daily basis to HSBC Bank USA at fair market value and we will continue to service the receivables sold to HSBC Bank USA for a fee.


Auto Finance Receivable Portfolio In January 2009 upon receipt of regulatory approval, we also sold certain auto finance receivables with an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $3.0 billion to HSBC Bank USA for an aggregate sales price of $2.8 billion. As a result, in the first quarter of 2009 we recorded a gain of $7 million ($4 million after-tax) on the sale of these auto finance receivables. The sales price was based on an independent valuation opinion. We will continue to service these auto finance receivables for HSBC Bank USA for a fee.


Upon receipt of regulatory approval for the sale of the auto finance receivables discussed above, we adopted charge-off and account management policies in accordance with the Uniform Retail Credit Classification and Account Management Policy issued by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council ("FFIEC Policies") for our entire auto finance receivable portfolio immediately prior to the sale. Under the revised policy, the principal balance of auto loans in excess of the estimated net realizable value will be charged-off no later than the end of the month in which the auto loan becomes 120 days contractually delinquent. Additionally, auto loans subject to a bankruptcy will be charged-off at the earlier of (i) the end of the month 60 days after notice of filing and 60 days contractually delinquent, or (ii) the end of the month during which the loan becomes 120 days contractually delinquent. The adoption of FFIEC charge-off policies for our auto finance portfolio increased our provision for credit losses and reduced our net income in the first quarter of 2009 as summarized below:



Total


(in millions)

Provision for credit losses:


Charge-offs to comply with FFIEC policies

$(87)

Release of credit loss reserves

51

Reduction to income from continuing operations before income tax expense

(36)

Tax benefit

13

Reduction to net income from continuing operations

$(23)


4.  Strategic Initiatives


As discussed in prior filings, we have been engaged in a continuing, comprehensive evaluation of the strategies and opportunities of our operations. In light of the unprecedented developments in the retail credit markets, particularly in the residential mortgage industry, this evaluation has resulted in decisions to lower the risk profile of our operations, to reduce our capital and liquidity requirements by reducing the size of our balance sheet and to rationalize and maximize the efficiency of our operations. As a result, a number of strategic actions have been undertaken since mid-2007 and continued into the first quarter of 2009 which are summarized below:


2009 Actions


Consumer Lending Business:  In late February 2009, we decided to discontinue new customer account originations for all products by our Consumer Lending business and close substantially all branch offices as soon as all commitments to customers were satisfied. We will continue to service and collect the existing receivable portfolio as it runs off, while continuing our efforts to reach out and assist mortgage customers utilizing appropriate modification and other account management programs, potentially including refinancing a loan with an existing customer in accordance with their financial needs, to maximize collection and home preservation. The following summarizes the restructuring liability relating to our Consumer Lending business recorded during the first quarter of 2009.


 

 

 

 

One-Time

Termination and

Other Employee

Benefits


Lease Termination

and Associated

Costs




Other




Total


(in millions)

Restructuring costs recorded during the period

$87

$54

$14

$155

Restructuring costs paid during the period

-

(4)

(1)

(5)

Restructure liability at March 31, 2009

$87

$50

$13

$150


We anticipate additional closure costs will be recorded during 2009, however such remaining costs are not expected to be material. In addition, during the first quarter of 2009, we incurred non-cash charges of approximately $29 million relating to the impairment of fixed assets and other capitalized costs and $3 million relating to stock based compensation and other benefits as well as $14 million in impairment charges related to intangible assets. See Note 9, "Intangible Assets," for additional information related to the intangible asset impairment. We also recorded a curtailment gain of $16 million for other post-retirement benefits related to this decision. Separately, our information technology services affiliate recorded approximately $28 million of costs relating to one-time termination benefits and asset write-downs, however we currently believe none of these costs will be billed to us. While our Consumer Lending business is currently operating in a run-off mode, we have not reported this business as a discontinued operation because of our continuing involvement.


2008 Actions


Card and Retail Services Business:  In the third quarter of 2008 we closed our servicing facilities located in JacksonvilleFlorida and White Marsh, Maryland (the "Servicing Facilities"). The servicing activities performed in the Servicing Facilities have been redeployed to other facilities in our Card and Retail Services businesses. The restructure liability relating to the closure of the Servicing Facilities was $4 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. No additional restructuring charges are anticipated to be incurred related to the closure of the Servicing Facilities. As a result of this decision, we have expensed a cumulative total of $10 million in restructuring costs through March 31, 2009.


Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2008, we decided to further reduce headcount in our Card and Retail Services business. The restructure liability relating to this reduction in force was $1 million and $5 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. We anticipate additional restructuring costs associated with this reduction in force will be recorded during 2009, however such costs are not expected to be material. As a result of this decision, we have expensed a cumulative total of $5 million in restructuring costs through March 31, 2009.


Auto Finance Business In March 2008, we decided to reduce the size of our Auto Finance business which is a part of our Consumer Segment and has historically purchased retail installment contracts from active dealer relationships throughout the U.S. as part of its business strategy. At that time, we decided to discontinue our dealer relationships in several select states, primarily in the Northeast, and discontinued certain other product offerings. As a result of these decisions, we recorded $3 million in severance costs during the first quarter of 2008 which were fully paid to employees during the second quarter of 2008.


In July 2008, we decided to discontinue new auto loan originations from our dealer and direct-to-consumer channels. We stated that we would continue to offer auto loans in our Consumer Lending branch offices through the autos-in-branches program until we established an alliance with a third party provider, at which time all auto originations would cease. We were unable to come to satisfactory terms with any lender and as a result, effective January 7, 2009 the autos-in-branches program was terminated. This resulted in the recording of additional one-time termination costs of $1 million during the first quarter of 2009. We will continue to service and collect the existing auto loan portfolio as it pays down. The restructure liability relating to this decision was $7 million and $10 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. In addition, we recorded a $2 million non-cash charge relating to impairment of fixed assets associated with our Auto Finance business during 2008. As a result of this decision, we have expensed a cumulative total of $32 million in restructuring costs through March 31, 2009. We anticipate additional restructuring costs will be recorded during 2009, however such remaining costs are not expected to be material. While our Auto Finance business is currently operating in a run-off mode, we have not reported this business as a discontinued operation because of our continuing involvement.


Solstice Capital Group, Inc. Operations:  In December 2008, we decided to cease operations of Solstice Capital Group, Inc. ("Solstice"), a subsidiary of our Consumer Lending business which originated real estate secured receivables for resale. As a result of this decision, we recorded $1 million of one-time termination and other employee benefits during the fourth quarter of 2008 which was paid to the affected employees during the first quarter of 2009. No additional restructuring charges are anticipated in future periods.


The following summarizes the changes in the restructure liability during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 relating to the actions implemented during 2008:


 

 

 

 

One-Time

Termination and

Other Employee

Benefits

Lease

Termination

and Associated

Costs




Total


(in millions)

Three months ended March 31, 2009:




Restructure liability at December 31, 2008

$10

$10

$20

Restructuring costs recorded during the first quarter of 2009

1

-

1

Restructuring costs paid during the first quarter of 2009

(8)

(1)

(9)

Restructure liability at March 31, 2009

$3

$9

$12

Three months ended March 31, 2008:




Restructure liability at December 31, 2007

$-

$-

$-

Restructuring costs recorded during the first quarter of 2008

3

-

3

Restructure liability at March 31, 2008

$3

$-

$3


2007 Actions


Beginning in mid-2007 we undertook a number of actions including the following: 


> Discontinued correspondent channel acquisitions of our Mortgage Services business;


> Ceased operations of Decision One Mortgage Company; 


> Reduced Consumer Lending branch network to approximately 1,000 branches at December 31, 2007; and


> Closed our loan underwriting, processing and collections center in CarmelIndiana.


The following summarizes the changes in the restructure liability during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 relating to the actions implemented during 2007:


 

 

 

 

One-Time

Termination and

Other Employee

Benefits


Lease Termination

and Associated

Costs




Total


(in millions)

Three months ended March 31, 2009:




Restructure liability at December 31, 2008

$1

$17

$18

Restructuring costs recorded during the first quarter of 2009

-

-

-

Adjustments to the restructure liability during the first quarter of 2009

-

-

-

Restructuring costs paid during the first quarter of 2009

(1)

(1)

(2)

Restructure liability at March 31, 2009

$-

$16

$16

Three months ended March 31, 2008:




Restructure liability at December 31, 2007

$17

$37

$54

Restructuring costs recorded during the first quarter of 2008

-

4

4

Adjustments to the restructure liability during the first quarter of 2008

(1)

-

(1)

Restructuring costs paid during the first quarter of 2008

(8)

(10)

(18)

Restructure liability at March 31, 2008

$8

$31

$39


Summary of Restructuring Activities The following table summarizes the net expense for all restructuring activities recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008:


 

 

 

 

One-Time

Termination and

Other Employee

Benefits(1)


Lease Termination

and Associated

Costs(2)




Other(3)




Fixed Assets(3)




Total


(in millions)

Three months ended March 31, 2009:






Auto Finance

$1

$-

$-

$-

$1

Consumer Lending closure

87

54

14

29

184


$88

$54

$14

$29

$185

Three months ended March 31, 2008:






Auto Finance

$3

$-

$-

$-

$3

Mortgage Services

-

4

-

-

4

Consumer Lending

(1)

-

-

-

(1)


$2

$4

$-

$-

$6



(1

One-time termination and other employee benefits are included as a component of Salaries and employee benefits in the consolidated statement of income.



(2) 

Lease termination and associated costs and fixed assets write-downs are included as a component of Occupancy and equipment expenses in the consolidated statement of income. 



(3) 

The other expenses are included as a component of Other servicing and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of income. 


5.  Securities


Securities consisted of the following available-for-sale investments: 


 

 

March 31, 2009


Amortized

Cost

Gross

Unrealized

Gains

Gross

Unrealized

Losses


Fair

Value


(in millions)

U.S. Treasury

$106

$1

$-

$107

U.S. government sponsored enterprises(1)

135

4

-

139

U.S. government agency issued or guaranteed

31

1

-

32

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

35

1

(1)

35

Asset-backed securities(2)

153

-

(35)

118

U.S. corporate debt securities(4)

1,703

19

(115)

1,607

Foreign debt securities

281

8

(3)

286

Equity securities(3)

46

1

-

47

Money market funds

574

-

-

574

Subtotal

3,064

35

(154)

2,945

Accrued investment income

32

-

-

32

Total securities available-for-sale

$3,096

$35

$(154)

$2,977


 

 

December 31, 2008


Amortized

Cost

Gross

Unrealized

Gains

Gross

Unrealized

Losses


Fair

Value


(in millions)

U.S. Treasury

$56

$1

$-

$57

U.S. government sponsored enterprises(1)

149

6

-

155

U.S. government agency issued or guaranteed

34

-

-

34

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

35

-

(1)

34

Asset-backed securities(2)

162

-

(34)

128

U.S. corporate debt securities(4)

1,702

22

(68)

1,656

Foreign debt securities

268

5

(4)

269

Equity securities(3)

64

1

(13)

52

Money market funds

679

-

-

679

Subtotal

3,149

35

(120)

3,064

Accrued investment income

30

-

-

30

Total securities available-for-sale

$3,179

$35

$(120)

$3,094



(1)

Includes primarily mortgage-backed securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.



(2)

The majority of our asset-backed securities are residential mortgage-backed securities at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008.



(3) 

At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, substantially all of our equity securities were perpetual preferred equity investments in the utilities and financial services sectors. 



(4) 

At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the majority of our U.S. corporate debt securities represent investments in the financial services, consumer products, healthcare and industrials sectors. 


A summary of gross unrealized losses and related fair values as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, classified as to the length of time the losses have existed follows: 


 

Less Than One Year

Greater Than One Year

 

 

March 31, 2009

Number

of

Securities

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

Aggregate

Fair Value of

Investments

Number

of

Securities

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

Aggregate

Fair Value of

Investments


(dollars are in millions)

U.S. government sponsored enterprises

5

$-

$13

6

$-

$5

U.S. government agency issued or guaranteed

-

-

-

1

-

2

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

3

(1)

10

-

-

-

Asset-backed securities

3

(7)

23

38

(28)

72

U.S. corporate debt securities

218

(36)

507

175

(79)

475

Foreign debt securities

14

(1)

30

6

(2)

27


 

Less Than One Year

Greater Than One Year

 

 

December 31, 2008

Number

of

Securities

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

Aggregate

Fair Value of

Investments

Number

of

Securities

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

Aggregate

Fair Value of

Investments


(dollars are in millions)

U.S. government sponsored enterprises

3

$-

$6

8

$-

$4

U.S. government agency issued or guaranteed

-

-

-

1

-

4

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

6

(1)

28

-

-

-

Asset-backed securities

30

(10)

90

15

(24)

19

U.S. corporate debt securities

331

(39)

755

83

(29)

255

Foreign debt securities

25

(3)

69

12

(1)

20

Equity securities

26

(6)

25

18

(7)

17


Gross unrealized losses increased during the first quarter of 2009 primarily due to the impact of higher interest rates. We have reviewed our securities for which there is an unrealized loss in accordance with our accounting policies for other-than-temporary impairment. Our recent decision to discontinue new customer account originations in our Consumer Lending business will adversely impact certain insurance subsidiaries that hold the perpetual preferred securities. Therefore, we believe it is more-likely-than-not that we will be required to sell the portfolio of perpetual preferred securities prior to recovery of amortized cost. As a result, we recorded $20 million of impairment losses during the first quarter of 2009 related to perpetual preferred securities. The entire unrealized loss was recorded in earnings as FSP SFAS No. 115-2 and 124-2, as discussed more fully below, does not apply to equity securities. We do not consider any other securities to be other-than-temporarily impaired because we expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the securities and we neither intend to nor expect to be required to sell the securities prior to recovery, even if that equates to holding securities until their individual maturities.


On-Going Assessment for Other-Than Temporary Impairment


On a quarterly basis, we perform an assessment to determine whether there have been any events or economic circumstances to indicate that a security with an unrealized loss has suffered other-than-temporary impairment, pursuant to FASB Staff Position No. 115-1 and 124-1, "The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments," ("FSP SFAS No. 115-1"). A debt security is considered impaired if the fair value is less than its amortized cost basis at the reporting date. If impaired, we must then assess whether the unrealized loss is other-than-temporary. Prior to the adoption of FASB Staff Position No. 115-2 and SFAS 124-2, "Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments," ("FSP SFAS No. 115-2"), unrealized losses on all securities that were determined to be other-than-temporary were recorded entirely to earnings while unrealized losses determined to be temporary were recorded net of tax in other comprehensive income. Under FSP SFAS No. 115-2, an unrealized loss, is generally deemed to be other-than-temporary and a credit loss is deemed to exist if the present value of the expected future cash flows is less than the amortized cost basis of the debt security. As a result of our early adoption of FSP SFAS No. 115-2, on January 1, 2009, the credit loss component of any other-than-temporary impairment write-down for debt securities is recorded in the consolidated statement of income while the remaining portion of the impairment loss is recognized net of tax in other comprehensive income provided we do not intend to sell the underlying debt security and it is more-likely-than-not that we would not have to sell the debt security prior to recovery.


For all debt securities, we do not have the intention to sell and believe we will not be required to sell the securities for contractual, regulatory or liquidity reasons as of the reporting date.


Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, U.S. Government agencies and government sponsored entities accounted for 9 percent of total available-for-sale securities as of March 31, 2009. We assess asset-backed securities issued by private issuers for credit losses on a quarterly basis. We consider the following factors in determining whether a credit loss exists and the period over which the debt security is expected to recover:


 The length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than the amortized cost basis. In general, a cash flow based recovery analysis is performed if the fair value of the debt security is below its amortized cost by more than 20 percent on a cumulative basis;


 The level of credit enhancement provided by the structure which includes, but is not limited to, credit subordination positions, excess spread, overcollateralization, protective triggers and financial guarantees provided by monoline wraps;


 Changes in the near term prospects of the issuer or underlying collateral of a security, such as changes in default rates, loss severities given default and significant changes in prepayment assumptions;


 The level of excess cash flows generated from the underlying collateral supporting the principal and interest payments of the debt securities; and


 Any adverse change to the credit conditions of the issuer or the security such as credit downgrades by the rating agencies.


At March 31, 2009, substantially all of our corporate debt securities are rated A- or better. However, without recovery in the near-term, spreads returning to levels that reflect underlying credit characteristics and liquidity returning to the markets, additional other-than-temporary impairments may occur in future periods.


Approximately 78 percent of our asset-backed securities, which totaled $118 million at March 31, 2009, are rated "AAA." At December 31, 2008, approximately 88 percent of the $128 million asset-backed securities were rated "AAA". There are no subprime assets supporting these securities.


Proceeds from the sale of available-for-sale investments totaled approximately $10 million and $82 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. We realized gross gains of $1 million during each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008. We realized gross losses of less than $1 million during each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008.


There are no restricted money market funds at March 31, 2009. Money market funds at December 31, 2008, included $144 million which were restricted for the sole purpose of paying down certain secured financings at the established payment date.


Contractual maturities of and yields on investments in debt securities for those with set maturities were as follows:


 

At March 31, 2009

 

 

 

Due

Within

1 Year

After 1

but Within

5 Years

After 5

but Within

10 Years


After

10 Years



Total


(dollars are in millions)

U.S. Treasury:






Amortized cost

$27

$78

$1

$-

$106

Fair value

27

79

1

-

107

Yield(1)

1.95%

1.67%

4.95%

-

1.77%

U.S. government sponsored enterprises:






Amortized cost

$2

$8

$56

$69

$135

Fair value

2

8

58

71

139

Yield(1)

2.67%

5.19%

4.62%

5.01%

4.82%

U.S. government agency issued or guaranteed:






Amortized cost

$-

$-

$-

$31

$31

Fair value

-

-

-

32

32

Yield(1)

-

-

-

4.70%

4.70%

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions:






Amortized cost

$-

$-

$6

$29

$35

Fair value

-

-

6

29

35

Yield(1)

-

-

4.24%

3.94%

4.00%

Asset-backed securities:






Amortized cost

$1

$15

$31

$106

$153

Fair value

1

15

31

71

118

Yield(1)

7.47%

5.44%

4.75%

3.84%

4.20%

U.S. corporate debt securities:






Amortized cost

$121

$862

$199

$521

$1,703

Fair value

120

837

185

465

1,607

Yield(1)

4.13%

4.96%

5.17%

5.54%

5.10%

Foreign debt securities:






Amortized cost

$34

$182

$40

$25

$281

Fair value

34

187

40

25

286

Yield(1)

5.33%

4.92%

5.16%

6.51%

5.15%


(1)  Computed by dividing annualized interest by the amortized cost of respective investment securities.


6.  Receivables


Receivables consisted of the following: 


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008


(in millions)

Real estate secured

$69,575

$71,666

Auto finance

6,620

7,621

Credit card

12,038

13,231

Private label(1)

-

65

Personal non-credit card

14,764

15,568

Commercial and other

61

93

Total receivables

103,058

108,244

HSBC acquisition purchase accounting fair value adjustments

(5)

(26)

Accrued finance charges

2,429

2,445

Credit loss reserve for receivables

(12,972)

(12,415)

Unearned credit insurance premiums and claims reserves

(219)

(227)

Total receivables, net

$92,291

$98,021



(1) On a continuing basis, private label receivables consist primarily of the liquidating retail sales contracts in our Consumer Lending business with a receivable balance of $37 million as of March 31, 2009. Beginning in the first quarter of 2009, we began reporting this liquidating portfolio prospectively within our personal non-credit card portfolio.


Secured financings of $8.8 billion at March 31, 2009 are secured by $14.8 billion of real estate secured, auto finance, credit card and personal non-credit card receivables. Secured financings of $15.0 billion at December 31, 2008 are secured by $21.4 billion of real estate secured, auto finance, credit card and personal non-credit card receivables.


HSBC acquisition purchase accounting fair value adjustments represent adjustments which have been "pushed down" to record our receivables at fair value on March 28, 2003, the date we were acquired by HSBC.


Purchased Receivable Portfolios:


In November 2006, we acquired $2.5 billion of real estate secured receivables from Champion Mortgage ("Champion") a division of KeyBank, N.A. These acquired receivables were subject to the requirements of Statement of Position 03-3, "Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer" ("SOP 03-3") to the extent there was evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination and for which it was probable, at acquisition, that all contractually required payments would not be collected and that the associated line of credit had been closed. The carrying amount of Champion real estate secured receivables subject to the requirements of SOP 03-3 was $59 million and $62 million at March 31, 2009 and at December 31, 2008, respectively, and is included in the real estate secured receivables in the table above. The outstanding contractual balance of these receivables was $75 million and $76 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Credit loss reserves of $11 million and $6 million as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, were established for the acquired Champion receivables subject to SOP 03-3 due to a decrease in the expected future cash flows since the acquisition. There were no reclassifications to accretable yield from non-accretable yield during the quarter ended March 31, 2009. There was a reclassification to accretable yield from non-accretable of $1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2008. This reclassification from non-accretable difference represents an increase to the estimated cash flows to be collected on the underlying Champion portfolio.


As part of our acquisition of Metris Companies Inc. ("Metris") on December 1, 2005, we acquired $5.3 billion of credit card receivables which were also subject to the requirements of SOP 03-3. The carrying amount of the credit card receivables acquired from Metris which were subject to SOP 03-3 was $44 million and $52 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, and is included in the credit card receivables in the table above. The outstanding contractual balance of these receivables was $63 million and $77 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, no credit loss reserve for the acquired Metris receivables subject to SOP 03-3 was established as there has been no decrease to the expected future cash flows since the acquisition. There was a reclassification to accretable yield from non-accretable of $8 million and $5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. This reclassification from non-accretable difference represents an increase to the estimated cash flows to be collected on the underlying Metris portfolio.


The following summarizes the accretable yield on Metris and Champion receivables at March 31, 2009 and 2008:


 

 

Three Months

Ended March 31,

 

2009

2008


(in millions)

Accretable yield at beginning of period

$(28)

$(36)

Accretable yield amortized to interest income during the period

7

9

Reclassification from non-accretable difference

(8)

(6)

Accretable yield at end of period

$(29)

$(33)


Collateralized funding transactions:


We maintain facilities with third parties which provide for the securitization or secured financing of receivables on both a revolving and non-revolving basis totaling $2.2 billion, all of which was utilized at March 31, 2009. At December 31, 2008, we had facilities which provided for securitization or secured financings on both a revolving and non-revolving basis of $8.2 billion, of which $5.8 billion was utilized. The amount available under these facilities will vary based on the timing and volume of secured financing transactions and our general liquidity plans.


Troubled Debt Restructurings:


The following table presents information about our TDR Loans: 


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008


(in millions)

TDR Loans:



Real estate secured:



 Mortgage Services

$2,719

$2,662

 Consumer Lending

1,691

1,674

Total real estate secured

4,410

4,336

Auto finance

220

191

Credit card

244

403

Personal non-credit card

718

590

Total TDR Loans

$5,592

$5,520


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008


(in millions)

Credit loss reserves for TDR Loans:



Real estate secured:



Mortgage Services

$456

$383

Consumer Lending

365

341

Total real estate secured

821

724

Auto finance

55

45

Credit card

56

80

Personal non-credit card

174

108

Total credit loss reserves for TDR Loans(1)

$1,106

$957



(1)  Included in credit loss reserves. 


 

Three Months 

Ended March 31,

 

2009

2008


(in millions)

Average balance of TDR Loans

$5,528

$3,617

Interest income recognized on TDR Loans

96

59


Concentrations of Credit Risk:


We have historically served non-conforming and non-prime consumers. Such customers are individuals who have limited credit histories, modest incomes, high debt-to-income ratios or have experienced credit problems caused by occasional delinquencies, prior charge-offs, bankruptcy or other credit related actions. The majority of our secured receivables and receivables held for sale have a high loan-to-value ratio. As discussed below, our receivable portfolio includes adjustable rate mortgage ("ARM") loans, interest-only loans and stated income loans. We do not have any option ARM loans.


Interest-only loans allow customers to pay the interest only portion of the monthly payment for a period of time which results in lower payments during the initial loan period. However, subsequent events affecting a customer's financial position could affect the ability of customers to repay the loan in the future when the principal payments are required. The outstanding balance of our interest-only loans was $1.9 billion (2 percent of receivables, including receivables held for sale) and $2.2 billion (2 percent of receivables, including receivables held for sale) at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. We no longer originate or acquire interest-only loans.


At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we had $12.7 billion and $13.4 billion, respectively, in ARM loans at our Consumer Lending and Mortgage Services businesses. The majority of our adjustable rate mortgages were acquired from correspondent lenders of our Mortgage Services business. In 2007, we discontinued correspondent channel acquisitions and eliminated the small volume of ARM originations in our Consumer Lending business. The table below shows ARM loans that will experience their first interest rate reset in 2009. ARM loans with reset dates after 2009 are not significant.


 

 

Outstanding Balance of

ARM Loans

First Interest Rate

Reset in 2009(1)


(in billions)

March 31, 2009

$12.7

$2.6

December 31, 2008

13.4

3.3



(1)  Based on original contractual reset date and the outstanding receivable levels at the end of each period.


Prior to 2007, we increased our portfolio of stated income loans within our Mortgage Services portfolio. Stated income loans are underwritten based on the loan applicant's representation of annual income which is not verified by receipt of supporting documentation and, accordingly, carry a higher risk of default if the customer has not accurately reported their income. The outstanding balance of stated income loans in our real estate secured portfolio was $5.0 billion and $5.2 billion at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. We no longer offer stated income loans.

7.  Credit Loss Reserves


An analysis of credit loss reserves was as follows: 


 

Three Months Ended 

March 31,

 

2009

2008


(in millions)

Credit loss reserves at beginning of period

$12,415

$10,413

Provision for credit losses

2,945

2,828

Charge-offs

(2,523)

(2,552)

Recoveries

135

187

Credit loss reserves at end of period

$12,972

$10,876


8.  Receivables Held for Sale


Receivables held for sale, which are carried at the lower of cost or fair value, consisted of the following:


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008


(in millions)

Real estate secured(1)

$49

$323

Auto finance

-

2,786

Credit card

1,360

13,571

Total receivables held for sale, net

$1,409

$16,680



(1)  Includes the following receivables which were originated with the intent to sell:


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008


(in millions)

Real estate secured receivables:



 Consumer Lending

$8

$53

 Mortgage Services

41

45

Total

$49

$98


The following table shows the activity in receivables held for sale during the first quarter of 2009:



Receivables

Held for Sale


(in millions)

Receivables held for sale - December 31, 2008

$16,680

Receivable sales

(14,850)

Additional lower of cost or fair value adjustment subsequent to transfer to receivables held for sale(1)

(170)

Transfer of receivables to held for investment

(214)

Net change in receivable balance

(37)

Receivables held for sale - March 31, 2009

$1,409



(1)  Includes $1 million with respect to real estate secured loans originated with the intent to sell.


In January 2009, we sold our GM and UP Portfolios as well as certain auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA. See Note 3, "Receivable Portfolio Sales to HSBC Bank USA and Adoption of FFIEC Policies," for details of these transactions.


In March 2009, we transferred real estate secured receivables previously classified as receivables held for sale to receivables held for investment as we now intend to hold these receivables for the foreseeable future, generally twelve months for real estate secured receivables. These receivables were transferred at their current fair market value of $214 million. The outstanding contractual balance of these receivables was $278 million at March 31, 2009.


As a result of the adverse economic conditions in the U.S., we have increased the valuation allowance associated with receivables held for sale subsequent to the initial transfer to receivables held for sale. The valuation allowance related to loans held for sale is presented in the following table:



(in millions)

Valuation allowance at December 31, 2008

$358

Increase in allowance for net reductions in market value

170

Decreases in valuation allowance for loans sold, charged-off or transferred to held for investment

(32)

Valuation allowance at March 31, 2009

$496


9.  Intangible Assets


Intangible assets consisted of the following: 


 

 

 



Gross

Cumulative

Impairment

Charges


Accumulated

Amortization


Carrying

Value


(in millions)

March 31, 2009





Purchased credit card relationships and related programs

$1,736

$-

$888

$848

Consumer loan related relationships

333

163

170

-

Technology, customer lists and other contracts

282

9

255

18

Total

$2,351

$172

$1,313

$866

December 31, 2008





Purchased credit card relationships and related programs

$1,736

$-

$855

$881

Consumer loan related relationships

333

158

170

5

Technology, customer lists and other contracts

282

-

246

36

Total

$2,351

$158

$1,271

$922


Estimated amortization expense associated with our intangible assets for each of the following years is as follows:


Year Ending December 31,

(in millions)

2009

$161

2010

141

2011

138

2012

135

2013

99

Thereafter

72


As a result of the decision to discontinue all new customer account originations for all receivable products in our Consumer Lending business in late February 2009, during the first quarter of 2009 we performed an interim impairment test for our technology, customer list and loan related relationship intangible assets. As a result of these tests, we concluded that the carrying value of the technology, customer list and loan related relationship intangible assets exceeded their fair value and we recorded an impairment charge of $14 million to reduce these assets to their current fair value.


10.  Goodwill


Changes in estimates of the tax basis in our assets and liabilities or other tax estimates recorded at the date of our acquisition by HSBC or our acquisition of Metris have historically been adjusted against goodwill pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." As a result of the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 (Revised), "Business Combinations," ("SFAS No. 141(R)"), in 2009, changes in such estimates are now recorded in earnings.


Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows: 


 

2009

2008


(in millions)

Balance at January 1,

$2,294

$2,635

Goodwill impairment related to our Insurance Services business

(260)

-

Goodwill impairment related to our Card and Retail Services business

(393)

-

Change in estimate of the tax basis of assets and liabilities

-

(2)

Balance at March 31,

$1,641

$2,633


As a result of the continuing deterioration of the economic conditions in the United States as well as the decision to discontinue all new customer account originations of all receivable products in our Consumer Lending business in late February 2009, during the first quarter of 2009 we performed an interim goodwill impairment test of our Card and Retail Services and Insurance Services businesses. For our Card and Retail Services business, a review of cost of capital requirements resulted in the use of a higher discount rate in our discounted cash flow model which, when combined with the changes in fair value of certain reporting unit assets and liabilities, resulted in a partial impairment of the goodwill allocated to our Card and Retail Services reporting unit. As a result, during the first quarter of 2009, we recorded an impairment charge of $393 million relating to this business. Our remaining goodwill balance of $1.6 billion relates solely to our Cards and Retail Services business. Goodwill impairment testing is highly sensitive to certain assumptions and estimates used. Because there is uncertainty inherent in these estimates, it is reasonably possible such estimates could change. In the event of further significant deterioration in the economic and credit conditions beyond the levels already reflected in our cash flow forecasts or changes in the strategy or performance of our Card and Retail Services business occur, additional impairment tests will again be required in 2009, likely on a quarterly basis.


For our Insurance Services business, the closure of our Consumer Lending loan originations has resulted in a substantial decrease in credit insurance policies sold which significantly impacted our cash flow forecasts for the Insurance Services reporting unit. Therefore, we recorded an impairment charge in the first quarter of 2009 of $260 million which represents all of the goodwill allocated to our Insurance Services business.


11.  Derivative Financial Instruments


Our business activities involve analysis, evaluation, acceptance and management of some degree of risk or combination of risks. Accordingly, we have comprehensive risk management policies to address potential financial risks, which include credit risk, liquidity risk, market risk, and operational risks. Our risk management policy is designed to identify and analyze these risks, to set appropriate limits and controls, and to monitor the risks and limits continually by means of reliable and up-to-date administrative and information systems. Our risk management policies are primarily carried out in accordance with practice and limits set by the HSBC Group Management Board. The HSBC Finance Corporation Asset Liability Committee ("ALCO") meets regularly to review risks and approve appropriate risk management strategies within the limits established by the HSBC Group Management Board. Additionally, our Audit Committee receives regular reports on our liquidity positions in relation to the established limits. In accordance with the policies and strategies established by ALCO, in the normal course of business, we enter into various transactions involving derivative financial instruments. These derivative financial instruments primarily are used to manage our market risk.


Objectives for Holding Derivative Financial Instruments Market risk (which includes interest rate and foreign currency exchange risks) is the possibility that a change in interest rates or foreign exchange rates will cause a financial instrument to decrease in value or become more costly to settle. Historically, customer demand for our receivable products shifts between fixed rate and floating rate products, based on market conditions and preferences. These shifts in loan products resulted in different funding strategies and produced different interest rate risk exposures. Additionally, the mix of receivables on our balance sheet and the corresponding market risk is changing as we manage the liquidation of several of our receivable portfolios. We maintain an overall risk management strategy that uses a variety of interest rate and currency derivative financial instruments to mitigate our exposure to fluctuations caused by changes in interest rates and currency exchange rates related to our debt liabilities. We manage our exposure to interest rate risk primarily through the use of interest rate swaps, but also use forwards, futures, options, and other risk management instruments. We manage our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk primarily through the use of currency swaps, options and forwards. We do not use leveraged derivative financial instruments.


Interest rate swaps are contractual agreements between two counterparties for the exchange of periodic interest payments generally based on a notional principal amount and agreed-upon fixed or floating rates. The majority of our interest rate swaps are used to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates by converting floating rate debt to fixed rate or by converting fixed rate debt to floating rate. We have also entered into currency swaps to convert both principal and interest payments on debt issued from one currency to the appropriate functional currency.


Forwards are agreements between two parties, committing one to sell and the other to buy a specific quantity of an instrument on some future date. The parties agree to buy or sell at a specified price in the future, and their profit or loss is determined by the difference between the arranged price and the level of the spot price when the contract is settled. We use foreign exchange rate forward contracts to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk related to our debt liabilities. Cash requirements for forward contracts include the receipt or payment of cash upon the sale or purchase of the instrument.


Purchased options grant the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, to either purchase or sell a financial instrument at a specified price within a specified period. The seller of the option has written a contract which creates an obligation to either sell or purchase the financial instrument at the agreed-upon price if, and when, the purchaser exercises the option. We use caps to limit the risk associated with an increase in rates and floors to limit the risk associated with a decrease in rates.


We do not manage credit risk or the changes in fair value due to the changes in credit risk by entering into derivative financial instruments such as credit derivatives or credit default swaps.


By utilizing derivative financial instruments, we are exposed to counterparty credit risk. Counterparty credit risk is our primary exposure on our interest rate swap portfolio. Counterparty credit risk is the risk that the counterparty to a transaction fails to perform according to the terms of the contract. We control the counterparty credit (or repayment) risk in derivative instruments through established credit approvals, risk control limits, collateral, and ongoing monitoring procedures. Our exposure to credit risk for futures is limited as these contracts are traded on organized exchanges. Each day, changes in futures contract values are settled in cash. In contrast, swap agreements and forward contracts have credit risk relating to the performance of the counterparty. We utilize an affiliate, HSBC Bank USA, as the primary provider of domestic derivative products. We have never suffered a loss due to counterparty failure.


At March 31, 2009, substantially all of our existing derivative contracts are with HSBC subsidiaries, making them our primary counterparty in derivative transactions. Most swap agreements require that payments be made to, or received from, the counterparty when the fair value of the agreement reaches a certain level. Generally, third-party swap counterparties provide collateral in the form of cash which is recorded in our balance sheet as derivative related assets or derivative related liabilities. At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we provided third party swap counterparties with $15 million and $26 million of collateral, respectively. When the fair value of our agreements with affiliate counterparties requires the posting of collateral, it is provided in either the form of cash and recorded on the balance sheet, consistent with third party arrangements, or in the form of securities which are not recorded on our balance sheet. At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the fair value of our agreements with affiliate counterparties required the affiliate to provide collateral of $1.7 billion and $2.9 billion, respectively, all of which was provided in cash. These amounts are offset against the fair value amount recognized for derivative instruments that have been offset under the same master netting arrangement in accordance with FASB Staff Position No. FIN 39-1, "Amendment of FASB Interpretation No. 39," ("FSP 39-1") and recorded in our balance sheet as a component of derivative related assets or liabilities. At March 31, 2009, we had derivative contracts with a notional value of approximately $73.9 billion, including $72.4 billion outstanding with HSBC Bank USA. At December 31, 2008, we had derivative contracts with a notional value of approximately $79.7 billion, including $77.9 billion outstanding with HSBC Bank USA. Derivative financial instruments are generally expressed in terms of notional principal or contract amounts which are much larger than the amounts potentially at risk for nonpayment by counterparties.


To manage our exposure to changes in interest rates, we enter into interest rate swap agreements and currency swaps which have been designated as fair value or cash flow hedges under SFAS No. 133. We currently utilize the long-haul method to assess effectiveness of all derivatives designated as hedges.


Fair Value Hedges Fair value hedges include interest rate swaps to convert our fixed rate debt to variable rate debt and currency swaps to convert debt issued from one currency into U.S. dollar variable debt. We currently utilize the long-haul method to assess effectiveness of all derivatives designated as hedges. As discussed more fully below, during 2007 we substantially reduced the amount of hedging relationships outstanding as a result of adopting SFAS No. 159. Hedge ineffectiveness associated with fair value hedges is recorded in other revenues as derivative income and was a gain of $16 million ($10 million after tax), and a loss of $(5) million ($(3) million after tax) for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. All of our fair value hedges were associated with debt during 2008 and the first quarter of 2009. We recorded fair value adjustments for unexpired fair value hedges which increased the carrying value of our debt $139 million and $124 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. The following table provides information related to the location of derivative fair values in the consolidated balance sheet for our fair value hedges.


 

Asset Derivatives(1)

Liability Derivatives(1)


Fair Value as of

Fair Val ue as of

 

 

 


Balance Sheet

Location

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008


Balance Sheet

Location

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008



(in millions)


(in millions)

Interest rate swaps

Derivative financial assets

$19

$19

Derivative related liabilities

$22

$18

Currency swaps

Derivative financial assets

171

238

Derivative related liabilities

-

-

Total fair value hedges


$190

$257


$22

$18



(1) The fair value disclosed does not include swap collateral that we either receive or deposit with our interest rate swap counterparties. Such swap collateral is recorded on our balance sheet at an amount which "approximates fair value" as discussed in FSP 39-1, and is netted on the balance sheet with the fair value amount recognized for derivative instruments.


The following table presents fair value hedging information, including the gain (loss) recorded on the derivative and where that gain (loss) is recorded in the consolidated statement of income as well as the offsetting gain (loss) on the hedged item that is recognized in current earnings.








Amount of Gain

(Loss)

Amount of Gain 

(Loss)



Location of

Gain (Loss)

Location of

Gain (Loss)

Recognized in 

Income

Recognized in 

Income



Recognized in

Recognized in

On the Derivative

On Hedged Items



Income on

Income on

Three Months Ended March 31,


Hedged Item

Derivative

Hedged Item

2009

2008

2009

2008





(in millions)

(in millions)

Interest rate swaps

Fixed rate borrowings

Derivative income

Derivative income

$(4)

$22

$11

$(24)

Currency swaps

Fixed rate borrowings

Derivative income

Derivative income

42

30

(33)

(33)

Total




$38

$52

$(22)

$(57)


Cash Flow Hedges Cash flow hedges include interest rate swaps to convert our variable rate debt to fixed rate debt and currency swaps to convert debt issued from one currency into pay fixed debt of the appropriate functional currency. Gains and (losses) on unexpired derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges (net of tax) are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and totaled a loss of $(1,474) million ($(937) million after tax) and $(1,873) million ($(1,193) million after tax) at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. We expect $(693) million ($(446) million after tax) of currently unrealized net losses will be reclassified to earnings within one year, however, these reclassed unrealized losses will be offset by decreased interest expense associated with the variable cash flows of the hedged items and will result in no significant net economic impact to our earnings. Hedge ineffectiveness associated with cash flow hedges recorded in other revenues as derivative income was a gain of $39 million ($25 million after tax) and a loss of $(2) million ($(1) million after tax) for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The following table provides information related to the location of derivative fair values in the consolidated balance sheet for our cash flow hedges.



Asset Derivatives(1)(2)

Liability Derivatives(1)



Fair Value as of


Fair Value as of



Balance Sheet

Location

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

Balance Sheet

Location

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008



(in millions)


(in millions)

Interest rate swaps

Derivative financial assets

$(836)

$(1,056)

Derivative related liabilities

$-

$-

Currency swaps

Derivative financial assets

479

1,164

Derivative related liabilities

-

-

Total cash flow hedges


$(357)

$108


$-

$-



(1) The fair value disclosed does not include swap collateral that we either receive or deposit with our interest rate swap   counterparties. Such swap collateral is recorded on our balance sheet at an amount which "approximates fair value" as discussed in FSP 39-1 and is netted on the balance sheet with the fair value amount recognized for derivative instruments.


(2) Although the fair value of our cash flow hedges shown in the table above are in a net liability position at March 31, 2009, they are reported on our balance sheet as derivative financial assets in accordance with FSP 39-1 as the net exposure with the counterparty is in an asset position.


The following table provides the gain or loss recorded on our cash flow hedging relationships.



Gain (Loss)

Recognized in

OCI

on Derivative

(Effective

Portion)

Location of Gain

(Loss) Reclassified

from Accumulated

OCI into Income

(Effective Portion)

Gain (Loss)

Reclassed

from

Accumulated

OCI into

Income 
(Effective

Portion)

Location of Gain

(Loss) Recognized

in Income on

the Derivative

(Ineffective

Portion)

Gain (Loss)

Recognized

in

Income on

Derivative

(Ineffective

Portion)


Three Months Ended March 31,


2009

2008


2009

2008


2009

2008


(in millions)


(in millions)


(in millions)

Interest rate swaps

$138

$(369)

Interest expense

$(3)

$(3)

Derivative income

$1

$(1)

Interest rate swaps

-

-

Gain on bulk receivable sale to HSBC affiliates

(80)

-


-

-

Currency swaps

181

(433)

Interest expense

(19)

(31)

Derivative income

38

(1)

Total

$319

$(802)


$(102)

$(34)


$39

$(2)


Non-Qualifying Hedging Activities We may use interest rate caps, exchange traded options, interest rate and currency swaps and foreign exchange forwards which are not designated as hedges under SFAS No. 133 because they do not qualify as effective hedges. These financial instruments are economic hedges but do not qualify for hedge accounting and are primarily used to minimize our exposure to changes in interest rates and currency exchange rates. Unrealized and realized gains (losses) on derivatives which were not designated as hedges are reported in other revenues as derivative income and totaled $(17) million ($(11) million after tax) and $11 million ($7 million after tax) for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The following table provides information related to the location and derivative fair values in the consolidated balance sheet for our non-qualifying hedges, none of which are designated as hedging instruments:



Asset Derivatives(1)(2)

Liability Derivatives(1)



Fair Value as of


Fair Value as of



Balance Sheet

Location

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

Balance Sheet

Location

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008



(in millions)


(in millions)

Interest rate contracts

Derivative financial assets

$(318)

$(324)

Derivative related liabilities

$-

$-

Currency contracts

Derivative financial assets

(39)

44

Derivative related liabilities

-

-

Total non-qualifying hedges


$(357)

$(280)


$-

$-



(1) 

The fair value disclosed does not include swap collateral that we either receive or deposit with our interest rate swap counterparties. Such swap collateral is recorded on our balance sheet at an amount which "approximates fair value" as discussed in FSP 39-1 and is netted on the balance sheet with the fair value amount recognized for derivative instruments. 



(2) 

Although the fair value of our non-qualifying hedges shown in the table above are in a net liability position, they are reported on our balance sheet as derivative financial assets in accordance with FSP 39-1 as the net exposure with the counterparty is in an asset position. 


The following table provides detail of the gain or loss recorded on our non-qualifying hedges: 





Location of Gain (Loss)

Recognized in Income

on Derivative

Amount of Gain

(Loss)

Recognized in

Income

On Derivative

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

2009

2008


   (in millions)

Interest rate contracts

Derivative income

$(16)

$11

Currency contracts

Derivative income

(1)

-

Total


$(17)

$11


In addition to the non-qualifying hedges described above, we have elected the fair value option for certain issuances of our fixed rate debt and have entered into interest rate and currency swaps related to debt carried at fair value. The interest rate and currency swaps associated with this debt are considered economic hedges and realized gains and losses are reported as "Gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives" within other revenues. The derivatives related to fair value option debt are included in the tables below. See Note 12, "Fair Value Option," for further discussion.


 

Asset Derivatives(1)

Liability Derivatives(1)

 


Fair Value as of


Fair Value as of

 

 

Balance Sheet

Location

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

Balance Sheet

Location

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008



(in millions)


(in millions)

Interest rate swaps

Derivative financial assets

$1,540

$1,746

Derivative related liabilities

$-

$-

Currency swaps

Derivative financial assets

521

574

Derivative related liabilities

-

-

Total non-qualifying hedges


$2,061

$2,320


$-

$-



(1) The fair value disclosed does not include swap collateral that we either receive or deposit with our interest rate swap counterparties. Such swap collateral is recorded on our balance sheet at an amount which "approximates fair value" as discussed in FSP 39-1 and is netted on the balance sheet with the fair value amount recognized for derivative instruments.


The following table provides the gain or loss recorded on the derivatives related to fair value option debt due to changes in interest rates:




Location of Gain (Loss)

Recognized in Income

Amount of Gain (Loss)

Recognized in  Income
On Derivative

Three Months Ended March 31,

on Derivative

2009

2008



(in millions)

Interest rate swaps

Gain (loss) on debt designated at fair

$(14)

$827


value and related derivatives



Currency swaps

Gain (loss) on debt designated at fair

154

76


value and related derivatives



Total


$140

$903


Notional Value of Derivative Contracts The following table summarizes the notional values of derivative contracts:


 

March 31, 2009

December 31, 2008


(in millions)

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:



Interest rate swaps

$23,092

$26,105

Currency swaps

18,148

18,648


41,240

44,753

Non-qualifying economic hedges:



Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:



Interest rate:



Swaps

4,400

3,610

Purchased caps

1,329

1,581

Foreign exchange:



Swaps

1,228

1,228

Forwards

-

2


6,957

6,421

Derivatives associated with debt carried at fair value:



Interest rate swaps

22,371

25,104

Currency swaps

3,379

3,379


25,750

28,483

Total

$73,947

$79,657


12.  Fair Value Option


We elected fair value option ("FVO") reporting for certain issuances of our fixed rate debt in order to align our accounting treatment with that of HSBC under IFRSs. To align our U.S. GAAP and IFRSs accounting treatment, we have adopted FVO reporting only for the fixed rate debt issuances which also qualify for FVO reporting under IFRSs.


Long term debt at March 31, 2009 of $75.2 billion includes $22.7 billion of fixed rate debt carried at fair value. At March 31, 2009, we have not elected FVO for $22.9 billion of fixed rate debt for the reasons discussed above. Fixed rate debt accounted for under FVO at March 31, 2009 has an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $28.1 billion which includes a foreign currency translation adjustment relating to our foreign denominated FVO debt which increased the debt balance by $217 million. Long term debt at December 31, 2008 of $90.0 billion includes $28.3 billion of fixed rate debt carried at fair value. At December 31, 2008, we have not elected FVO for $23.9 billion of fixed rate debt for the reasons discussed above. Fixed rate debt accounted for under FVO at December 31, 2008 has an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $29.8 billion which included a foreign currency translation adjustment relating to our foreign denominated FVO debt which increased the debt balance by $413 million.


We recorded a net gain of $3,972 million and $274 million from fair value changes on our fixed rate debt accounted for under FVO during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 which is included in "Gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives" as a component of other revenues in the consolidated statement of income. "Gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives" in the consolidated statement of income also includes the mark-to-market adjustment on the derivatives related to the debt designated at fair value as well as net realized gains or losses on these derivatives. The components of "Gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives" are as follows:


Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(in millions)

Mark-to-market on debt designated at fair value(1):



Interest rate component

$181

$(1,015)

Credit risk component

3,791

1,289

Total mark-to-market on debt designated at fair value

3,972

274

Mark-to-market on the related derivatives(1)

20

918

Net realized gains (losses) on the related derivatives

120

(15)

Total

$4,112

$1,177



(1) Mark-to-market on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives excludes market value changes due to fluctuations in   foreign currency exchange rates. Foreign currency translation gains (losses) recorded in derivative income associated with debt designated at fair value was a gain of $196 million and a loss of $(346) million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Offsetting gains (losses) recorded in derivative income associated with the related derivatives was a loss of $(196) million and a gain of $346 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.


The movement in the fair value reflected in Gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives includes the effect of credit spread changes and interest rate changes, including any ineffectiveness in the relationship between the related swaps and our debt. With respect to the credit component, as credit spreads widen accounting gains are booked and the reverse is true if credit spreads narrow. Differences arise between the movement in the fair value of our debt and the fair value of the related swap due to the different credit characteristics. The size and direction of the accounting consequences of such changes can be volatile from period to period but do not alter the cash flows intended as part of the documented interest rate management strategy.


The changes in the debt interest rate component and the derivative market value during the first quarter of 2009 reflect a steepening in the U.S. LIBOR curve. Since January 1, 2009, interest rates for instruments with terms of three years or less have decreased while interest rates for instruments with terms of greater than three years have increased. Also in 2009, market illiquidity has created changes in the value of the debt which does not have a corresponding impact on the value of the related derivative. In the first quarter of 2008, both short-term and long-term interest rates decreased resulting in a loss in the debt interest rate component and a gain in the derivative market value. Changes in the value of the interest rate component of the debt as compared to the related derivatives are also affected by the differences in cash flows and valuation methodologies for the debt and related derivatives. Cash flows on debt are discounted using a single discount rate from the bond yield curve while derivative cash flows are discounted using rates at multiple points along the LIBOR yield curve. The impacts of these differences vary as short-term and long-term interest rates change relative to each other. Furthermore, certain derivatives have been called by the counterparty resulting in certain FVO debt having no related derivatives.


Our credit spreads widened dramatically in the first quarter of 2009 subsequent to the announcement of the discontinuation of all new customer account originations in our Consumer Lending business and the closure of substantially all branch offices as well as credit rating downgrades in early March 2009. Changes in the credit risk component of the debt during the first quarter of 2008 were impacted by a general widening of new issue and secondary bond market credit spreads across all domestic bond market sectors as well as a general lack of liquidity in the secondary bond market during the period.


Net income volatility, whether based on changes in the interest rate or credit risk components of the mark-to-market on debt designated at fair value and the related derivatives, impacts the comparability of our reported results between periods. Accordingly, gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives for the three months ended March 31, 2009 should not be considered indicative of the results for any future periods.


13.  Income Taxes


Effective tax rates are analyzed as follows. 


Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(dollars are in millions)

Tax expense (benefit) at the U.S. Federal statutory income tax rate

$604

35.0%

$148

35.0%

Increase (decrease) in rate resulting from:





Goodwill impairment

224

13.0

-

-

Receivable portfolio affiliate sales

(47)

(2.7)

-

-

State and local taxes, net of Federal benefit

30

1.7

(24)

(5.7)

State rate change effect on net deferred taxes

32

1.9

64

15.1

Low income housing and other tax credits

(9)

(.5)

(13)

(3.1)

Leveraged lease accounting

15

.9

8

1.9

Other

6

.2

2

.5

Total income tax expense (benefit)

$855

49.5%

$185

43.7%


The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was significantly impacted by the non-tax deductible impairment of goodwill related to the Card and Retail Services and Insurance Services businesses. The percentage impact of reconciling items is larger in the three months ended March 31, 2008 as a result of the significantly lower level of pre-tax book profit in that period. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was also impacted by a change in estimate in the state tax rate for jurisdictions where we file combined unitary state tax returns with other HSBC affiliates.


We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences related to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and for tax credits and net operating losses. Our net deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities and valuation allowances, totaled $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 respectively. The current valuation allowance primarily relates to certain foreign tax credits, capital losses and state net operating loss carryforwards. The decrease in the net deferred tax asset at March 31, 2009 is due to the significant gain on debt carried at fair value which is deferred for tax purposes.


We evaluate our deferred tax assets for recoverability using a consistent approach which considers the relative impact of negative and positive evidence, including our historical financial performance, projections of future taxable income, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, tax planning strategies and any carryback availability. In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, we estimate future taxable income based on management approved business plans, future capital requirements and ongoing tax planning strategies, including capital support from HSBC necessary as part of such plans and strategies. This process involves significant management judgment about assumptions that are subject to change from period to period.


Based on our forecasts of future taxable income, which include assumptions about the depth and severity of further home price depreciation and the U.S. recession, including unemployment levels and their related impact on credit losses, we currently anticipate that our results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to allow us to realize substantially all of our deferred tax assets. Since the recent market conditions have created significant downward pressure and volatility on our near-term pre-tax book income, our analysis of the realizability of the deferred tax assets significantly discounts any future taxable income expected from continuing operations and relies to a greater extent on continued capital support from our parent, HSBC, including tax planning strategies implemented in relation to such support. HSBC has indicated they are fully committed and have the capacity to provide such support. In considering only the expected benefits of tax planning strategies, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset would be fully realized before the end of the applicable carryforward period. Absent the capital support from HSBC and implementation of the related tax planning strategies, we would be required to record a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.


We are included in HSBC North America's consolidated Federal income tax return and in various state income tax returns. We have entered into tax allocation agreements with HSBC North America and its subsidiary entities included in the consolidated return which govern the timing and the current amount of taxes to be paid or received by the various entities. The evaluation of the recoverability of the deferred tax assets is performed at the HSBC North America legal entity level and considers our activities and performance together with the tax planning strategies identified in reaching a conclusion on recoverability.


If future events differ from our current forecasts, a valuation allowance may need to be established which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and capital position. We will continue to update our assumptions and forecasts of future taxable income and assess the need for a valuation allowance, including the consideration of the prudence and feasibility of the various tax planning strategies, some of which rely on the level of capital support from HSBC.


14.  Pension and Other Post-retirement Benefits


The components of pension expense for the domestic defined benefit pension plan reflected in our consolidated statement of income are shown in the table below and reflect the portion of the pension expense of the combined HSBC North America pension plan which has been allocated to HSBC Finance Corporation:


Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(in millions)

Service cost - benefits earned during the period

$9

$15

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

17

18

Expected return on assets

(12)

(21)

Recognized losses

9

-

Pension expense

$23

$12


Pension expense increased during the first quarter of 2009 due to the amortization of a portion of the actuarial losses incurred by the plan as a result of the volatile capital markets that occurred in 2008.


Components of the net periodic benefit cost for our post-retirement benefits other than pensions are as follows:


Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(in millions)

Service cost - benefits earned during the period

$1

$1

Interest cost

3

4

Gain on curtailment

(16)

-

Recognized gains

(1)

(1)

Net periodic post-retirement benefit cost

$(13)

$4


During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we recorded a curtailment gain of $16 million as a result of the decision in late February 2009 to discontinue new customer account originations for all products by our Consumer Lending business and close substantially all branch offices.


15.  Related Party Transactions


In the normal course of business, we conduct transactions with HSBC and its subsidiaries. These transactions occur at prevailing market rates and terms and include funding arrangements, derivative execution, purchases and sales of receivables, servicing arrangements, information technology services, item and statement processing services, banking and other miscellaneous services. The following tables present related party balances and the income and (expense) generated by related party transactions for continuing operations:


 

March 31, 2009

December 31, 2008


(in millions)

Assets and (Liabilities):



Cash

$332

$237

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

4,601

1,025

Derivative related assets (liability), net

(156)

(461)

Affiliate preferred stock received in sale of U.K. credit card business(1)

214

219

Other assets

59

255

Due to affiliates

(12,217)

(13,543)

Other liabilities

(326)

(278)



(1)  Balance will fluctuate due to foreign currency exchange rate impact.


For the Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(in millions)

Income/(Expense):



Interest expense - HSBC affiliates

$(297)

$(255)

Interest income from HSBC affiliates

3

12

Net gain on bulk sale of receivables to HSBC Bank USA

57

-

HSBC affiliate income:



Gain on receivable sales to HSBC affiliates:



Daily sales of domestic private label receivable originations

17

35

Daily sales of credit card receivables

109

20

Sales of real estate secured receivables

2

-

Total gain on receivable sales to HSBC affiliates

128

55

Servicing and other fees from HSBC affiliates:



HSBC Bank USA, National Association ("HSBC Bank USA"):



Real estate secured servicing revenue

1

2

Private label and card receivable servicing and related fees

167

111

Auto finance receivable servicing and related fees

14

1

Other servicing, processing, origination and support revenues from HSBC Bank USA and other HSBC affiliates

9

13

HSBC Technology and Services (USA) Inc. ("HTSU")

2

4

Total servicing and other fees from HSBC affiliates

193

131

Taxpayer financial services loan origination and other fees

(10)

(12)

Support services from HSBC affiliates:



HTSU

(227)

(212)

HSBC Global Resourcing (UK) Ltd. 

(44)

(42)

Other HSBC affiliates

(8)

(15)

Total support services from HSBC affiliates

(279)

(269)

Stock based compensation expense with HSBC

(15)

(23)

Insurance commission paid to HSBC Bank Canada

(5)

(2)


Transactions with HSBC Bank USA:


 In January 2009, we sold our GM and UP Portfolios to HSBC Bank USA with an outstanding principal balance of $12.4 billion at the time of sale and recorded a gain on the bulk sale of these receivables of $130 million. This gain was partially offset by a loss of $80 million recorded on the termination of cash flow hedges associated with the $6.1 billion of indebtedness transferred to HSBC Bank USA as part of these transactions. We retained the customer account relationships and by agreement will sell on a daily basis all new credit card receivable originations for the GM and UP Portfolios to HSBC Bank USA. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we sold $4.2 billion of new GM and UP receivable originations to HSBC Bank USA. We continue to service the sold GM and UP Portfolios and receive servicing and related fee income from HSBC Bank USA. At March 31, 2009, we were servicing $11.9 billion of GM and UP credit card receivables for HSBC Bank USA. The servicing and related fee income received from HSBC Bank USA as well as the gains recorded on the daily sales of new GM and UP credit card receivable originations are reflected in the table above.


 In January 2009, we also sold certain auto finance receivables with an outstanding principal balance of $3.0 billion to HSBC Bank USA at the time of sale and recorded a gain on the bulk sale of these receivables of $7 million. We continue to service these auto finance receivables for HSBC Bank USA for a fee which is reflected in the table above. At March 31, 2009, we were servicing $2.6 billion of auto finance receivables for HSBC Bank USA.


 In the second quarter of 2008, our Consumer Lending business launched a new program with HSBC Bank USA to sell real estate secured receivables to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac"). Our Consumer Lending business originated the loans in accordance with Freddie Mac's underwriting criteria. The loans were then sold to HSBC Bank USA, generally within 30 days. HSBC Bank USA repackaged the loans and sold them to Freddie Mac under their existing Freddie Mac program. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we sold $51 million of real estate secured loans to HSBC Bank USA for a gain on sale of $2 million. This program was discontinued in late February 2009 as a result of our decision to discontinue new customer account originations in our Consumer Lending business.


  In July 2004 we purchased the account relationships associated with $970 million of credit card receivables from HSBC Bank USA and in December 2004, we sold HSBC Bank USA our domestic private label receivable portfolio (excluding retail sales contracts at our Consumer Lending business). We continue to service the sold domestic private label and credit card receivables and receive servicing and related fee income from HSBC Bank USA. We retained the customer account relationships and by agreement sell on a daily basis substantially all new private label receivable originations and new originations on these credit card receivables to HSBC Bank USA. The servicing and related fee income received from HSBC Bank USA as well as the gains recorded on the sale of domestic private label and credit card receivables are reflected in the table above. Related to the private label receivables and for the account relationships purchased from HSBC Bank USA, the following table summarizes the receivables we are servicing at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 and the receivables sold during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008:


 

 

Private Label

Receivables

Credit Card

Receivables


(in billions)

Receivables serviced for HSBC Bank USA:



 March 31, 2009

$16.3

$1.9

 December 31, 2008

18.0

2.0

Receivables sold to HSBC Bank USA during the three months ended:



March 31, 2009

3.6

1.0

March 31, 2008

4.5

1.1


 As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we were servicing $2.0 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively, of real estate secured receivables for HSBC Bank USA. The fee revenue associated with these receivables of $1 million and $2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, is recorded in Servicing and other fees from HSBC affiliates in the consolidated statement of income.


 HSBC Bank USA services a portfolio of real estate secured receivables for us with an outstanding principal balance of $1.8 billion and $2.0 billion at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Fees paid relating to the servicing of this portfolio totaled $2 million and $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and are reported in Support services from HSBC affiliates.


 HSBC Bank USA and HSBC Trust Company (Delaware), N.A. ("HTCD") are the originating lenders for loans initiated by our Taxpayer Financial Services business for clients of various third party tax preparers. We purchase the loans originated by HSBC Bank USA and HTCD daily for a fee. Origination fees paid for these loans totaled $10 million and $12 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. These origination fees are included as an offset to taxpayer financial services revenue and are reflected as Taxpayer financial services loan origination and other fees in the above table.


 Under multiple service level agreements, we also provide various services to HSBC Bank USA, including real estate and credit card servicing and processing activities, auto finance loan servicing and other operational and administrative support. Fees received for these services are reported as Servicing and other fees from HSBC affiliates.


 We have extended revolving lines of credit to subsidiaries of HSBC Bank USA for an aggregate total of $1.0 billion. No balances were outstanding under any of these lines of credit at either March 31, 2009 or December 31, 2008.


 HSBC Bank USA extended a secured $1.5 billion uncommitted credit facility to us in December 2008. This is a 364 day credit facility and there were no balances outstanding at March 31, 2009 or December 31, 2008.


 HSBC Bank USA extended a $1.0 billion committed credit facility to HSBC Bank Nevada ("HOBN"), a subsidiary of HSBC Finance Corporation, in December 2008. This is a 364 day credit facility and there were no balances outstanding at March 31, 2009 or December 31, 2008.


Transactions with HSBC Holdings plc:


 At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, a commercial paper back-stop credit facility of $2.5 billion from HSBC supported our domestic issuances of commercial paper. No balances were outstanding under this credit facility at March 31, 2009 or December 31, 2008. The annual commitment fee requirement to support availability of this line is included as a component of Interest expense - HSBC affiliates in the consolidated statement of income.


 In late February 2009, we effectively converted $275 million of mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of the Household Capital Trust VIII which had been issued during 2003 to common stock by redeeming the junior subordinated notes underlying the preferred securities and then issuing common stock to HINO. Interest expense recorded on the underlying junior subordinated notes totaled $3 million and $4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008. This interest expense is included in Interest expense - HSBC affiliates in the consolidated statement of income.


 Employees of HSBC Finance Corporation participate in one or more stock compensation plans sponsored by HSBC. These expenses are recorded in Salary and employee benefits and are reflected in the above table as Stock based compensation expense with HSBC. As of March 31, 2009, our share of future compensation cost related to grants which have not yet fully vested is approximately $69 million. This amount is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years.


Transactions with HTSU:


 We had extended a revolving line of credit to HTSU which was terminated in May 2008 and replaced by a line of credit from another affiliate. The balance outstanding under this line of credit was $.6 billion at December 31, 2007 and was included in other assets. Interest income associated with this line of credit was recorded in interest income and reflected as Interest income from HSBC affiliates in the table above.


 Technology and some centralized operational services and beginning in January 2009, human resources, corporate affairs and other shared services in North America are centralized within HTSU. Technology related assets and software purchased subsequent to January 1, 2004 are generally purchased and owned by HTSU. HTSU also provides certain item processing and statement processing activities which are included in Support services from HSBC affiliates. We also receive revenue from HTSU for rent on certain office space, which has been recorded as a reduction of occupancy and equipment expenses, and for certain administrative costs, which has been recorded as a component of servicing and other fees from HSBC affiliates. Rental revenue from HTSU recorded as a reduction of occupancy and equipment expense was $11 million and $12 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.


 During the fourth quarter of 2008, we sold miscellaneous assets to HTSU for a purchase price equal to the book value of these assets of $41 million.


Transactions with other HSBC affiliates:


 The notional value of derivative contracts outstanding with HSBC subsidiaries totaled $72.4 billion and $77.9 billion at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. When the fair value of our agreements with affiliate counterparties requires the posting of collateral, it is provided in either the form of cash and recorded on the balance sheet or in the form of securities which are not recorded on our balance sheet. The fair value of our agreements with affiliate counterparties required the affiliate to provide collateral of $1.7 billion and $2.9 billion at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, all of which was received in cash. These amounts are offset against the fair value amount recognized for derivative instruments that have been offset under the same master netting arrangement in accordance with FASB Staff Position No. FIN 39-1, "Amendment of FASB Interpretation No. 39," ("FSP 39-1").


 Due to affiliates includes amounts owed to subsidiaries of HSBC as a result of direct debt issuances (other than preferred stock).


 In September 2008, we borrowed $1.0 billion from an existing uncommitted credit facility with HSBC Bank plc ("HBEU"). The borrowing was for 60 days and matured in November 2008. We renewed this borrowing for an additional 95 days. The borrowing matured in February 2009 and we chose not to renew it at that time.


 In October 2008, we borrowed $1.2 billion from an uncommitted money market facility with a subsidiary of HSBC Asia Pacific ("HBAP"). The borrowing was for six months, matured in April 2009 and we chose not to renew it at that time.


 We purchase from HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. ("HSI") securities under an agreement to resell. Interest income recognized on these securities totaled $2 million and $6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and is reflected as Interest income from HSBC affiliates in the table above.


 We use HSBC Global Resourcing (UK) Ltd., an HSBC affiliate located outside of the United States, to provide various support services to our operations including among other areas, customer service, systems, collection and accounting functions. The expenses related to these services of $44 million and $42 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively are included as a component of Support services from HSBC affiliates in the table above.


 Support services from HSBC affiliates also includes banking services and other miscellaneous services provided by other subsidiaries of HSBC, including HSBC Bank USA.


 Through August 2008, our Canadian business originated and serviced auto loans for an HSBC affiliate in Canada. Fees received for these services are included in other income (expense) and are reflected in Servicing and other fees from other HSBC affiliates in the above table.


 We utilize HSBC Markets (USA) Inc., an affiliated HSBC entity, to lead manage the underwriting of a majority of our debt issuances. There were no fees paid to the affiliate for such services during the three months ended March 31, 2009 or 2008. For debt not accounted for under the fair value option, fees paid for such services are amortized over the life of the related debt.


 Domestic employees of HSBC Finance Corporation participate in a defined benefit pension plan and other post-retirement benefit plans sponsored by HSBC North America. See Note 14, "Pension and Other Post-retirement Benefits," for additional information on this pension plan.


 As previously discussed in Note 2, "Discontinued Operations," in May 2008 we sold all of the common stock of the holding company of our U.K. Operations to HOHU for GBP 181 million (equivalent to approximately $359 million). The results of operations for our U.K. Operations have been reclassified as Income from discontinued operations for all periods presented.


 As previously discussed in Note 2, "Discontinued Operations," in November 2008 we sold all of the common stock of the holding company of our Canadian Operations to HSBC Bank Canada for approximately $279 million (based on the exchange rate on the date of sale). While HSBC Bank Canada assumed the liabilities of our Canadian Operations as a result of this transaction, we continue to guarantee the long-term and medium-term notes issued by our Canadian business prior to the sale for a fee. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we recorded $1 million for providing this guarantee. As of March 31, 2009, the outstanding balance of the guaranteed notes was $2.8 billion and the latest scheduled maturity of the notes is May 2012. The sale agreement with HSBC Bank Canada allows us to continue to distribute various insurance products through the branch network for a fee. Fees paid to HSBC Bank Canada for distributing insurance products through this network during the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $5 million and are included in Insurance Commission paid to HSBC Bank CanadaThe results of operations for our Canadian Operations have been reclassified as Income from discontinued operations for all periods presented.


16.  Business Segments


We have two reportable segments: Card and Retail Services and Consumer. Our segments are managed separately and are characterized by different middle-market consumer lending products, origination processes, and locations. Our segment results are reported on a continuing operations basis.


Our Card and Retail Services segment includes our MasterCard, Visa, private label and other credit card operations. The Card and Retail Services segment offers these products throughout the United States primarily via strategic affinity and co-branding relationships, merchant relationships and direct mail. Products are also offered and customers serviced through the Internet.


Our Consumer segment consists of our run-off Consumer Lending, Mortgage Services and Auto Finance businesses. The Consumer segment provided real estate secured, auto finance and personal non-credit card loans. Loans were offered with both revolving and closed-end terms and with fixed or variable interest rates. Loans were originated through branch locations and direct mail. Products were also offered and customers serviced through the Internet. Prior to the first quarter of 2007, we acquired loans through correspondent channels and prior to September 2007 we originated loans through mortgage brokers.


The All Other caption includes our Insurance, Taxpayer Financial Services and Commercial businesses, each of which falls below the quantitative threshold tests under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" ("SFAS No. 131"), for determining reportable segments, as well as our corporate and treasury activities. Certain fair value adjustments related to purchase accounting resulting from our acquisition by HSBC and related amortization have been allocated to Corporate, which is included in the "All Other" caption within our segment disclosure.


Beginning in the first quarter of 2009, we began allocating the majority of the costs of our corporate and treasury activities to our reportable segments which had previously not been considered in determining segment profit (loss). These allocated costs are now reported as intersegment revenues in the "All Other" caption and operating expenses for our reportable segments. There have been no other changes in the basis of segmentation or measurement of segment profit (loss) as compared with the presentation in our 2008 Form 10-K.


We report results to our parent, HSBC, in accordance with its reporting basis, IFRSs. Our segment results are presented on an IFRS Management Basis (a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure) as operating results are monitored and reviewed, trends are evaluated and decisions about allocating resources such as employees are made almost exclusively on an IFRS Management Basis. IFRS Management Basis results are IFRSs results which assume that the GM and UP credit card, auto finance, private label and real estate secured receivables transferred to HSBC Bank USA have not been sold and remain on our balance sheet. IFRS Management Basis also assumes that the purchase accounting fair value adjustments relating to our acquisition by HSBC have been "pushed down" to HSBC Finance Corporation. Operations are monitored and trends are evaluated on an IFRS Management Basis because the receivable sales to HSBC Bank USA were conducted primarily to fund prime customer loans within HSBC and such receivables continue to be managed and serviced by us without regard to ownership. However, we continue to monitor capital adequacy, establish dividend policy and report to regulatory agencies on a U.S. GAAP basis.


Reconciliation of our IFRS Management Basis segment results to the U.S. GAAP consolidated totals are as follows:


  

 

 

 


Card and

Retail

Services





Consumer




All

Other



Adjustments/

Reconciling

Items

IFRS

Management

Basis

Consolidated

Totals



Management

Basis

Adjustments(3)




IFRS

Adjustments(4)



IFRS

Reclass-

ifications(5)



U.S. GAAP

Consolidated

Totals


(In millions)

Three months ended March 31, 2009










Net interest income

$1,340

$1,035

$256

$-

$2,631

$(724)

$(204)

$(24)

$1,679

Other operating income (Total other revenues)

660

(39)

4,030

(7)(1)

4,644

103

35

175

4,957

Loan impairment charges (Provision for credit losses)

1,511

2,435

-

-

3,946

(839)

(162)

-

2,945

Operating expenses (Total costs and expenses)

488

557

1,677

(7)

2,715

3

(905)

151

1,964

Profit (loss) before tax

1

(1,996)

2,609

-

614

215

898

-

1,727

Net income (loss)

(7)

(1,320)

1,043

-

(284)

186

970

-

872

Customer loans (Receivables)

42,867

95,651

1,076

-

139,594

(33,686)

(441)

(2,409)

103,058

Assets

40,701

88,548

17,432

(3)(2)

146,678

(32,225)

(3,137)

(166)

111,150

Intersegment revenues

2

34

(29)

(7)(1)

-

-

-

-

-

Three months ended March 31, 2008










Net interest income

$1,302

$1,563

$(92)

$-

$2,773

$(363)

$(49)

$(25)

$2,336

Other operating income (Total other revenues)

844

(25)

1,309

(6)(1)

2,122

(37)

43

189

2,317

Loan impairment charges (Provision for credit losses)

1,024

2,158

5

-

3,187

(369)

15

(5)

2,828

Operating expenses (Total costs and expenses)

580

465

156

(7)

1,194

12

27

169

1,402

Profit (loss) before tax

542

(1,085)

1,056

1

514

(43)

(48)

-

423

Net income (loss)

348

(694)

653

1

308

(30)

(40)

-

238

Customer loans (Receivables)

46,892

114,020

1,633

-

162,545

(20,317)

165

(1,500)

140,893

Assets

45,566

109,635

22,501

-(2)

177,702

(19,384)

(7,461)

(268)

150,589

Intersegment revenues

5

44

(43)

(6)(1)

-

-

-

-

-



(1) 

Eliminates intersegment revenues. 



(2) 

Eliminates investments in subsidiaries and intercompany borrowings. 



(3) 

Management Basis Adjustments represent the GM and UP credit card Portfolios and the auto finance, private label and real estate secured receivables transferred to HSBC Bank USA



(4) 

IFRS Adjustments consist of the accounting differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRSs which have been described more fully below. 



(5) 

Represents differences in balance sheet and income statement presentation between IFRSs and U.S. GAAP. 


Further discussion of the differences between IFRSs and U.S. GAAP are presented in Item 2, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Form 10-Q under the caption "Basis of Reporting." A summary of the significant differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRSs as they impact our results are presented below: 


Net interest income


Effective interest rate - The calculation of effective interest rates under IFRS 39 requires an estimate of "all fees and points paid or recovered between parties to the contract" that are an integral part of the effective interest rate be included. U.S. GAAP generally prohibits recognition of interest income to the extent the net interest in the loan would increase to an amount greater than the amount at which the borrower could settle the obligation. Under U.S. GAAP, prepayment penalties are generally recognized as received. U.S. GAAP also includes interest income on loans held for resale which is included in other revenues for IFRSs.


Deferred loan origination costs and fees - Loan origination cost deferrals under IFRSs are more stringent and result in lower costs being deferred than permitted under U.S. GAAP. In addition, all deferred loan origination fees, costs and loan premiums must be recognized based on the expected life of the receivables under IFRSs as part of the effective interest calculation while under U.S. GAAP they may be recognized on either a contractual or expected life basis.


Derivative interest expense - Under IFRSs, net interest income includes the interest element for derivatives which correspond to debt designated at fair value. For U.S. GAAP, this is included in Gain (loss) on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives which is a component of other revenues. Additionally, under IFRSs, insurance investment income is included in net interest income instead of as a component of other revenues under U.S. GAAP.


Other operating income (Total other revenues)


Policyholder benefits - Other revenues under IFRSs includes policyholder benefits expense which is classified as other expense under U.S. GAAP.


Loans held for sale - IFRSs requires loans designated as held for resale at the time of origination to be treated as trading assets and recorded at their fair market value. Under U.S. GAAP, loans designated as held for resale are reflected as loans and recorded at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. Under IFRSs, the income and expenses related to receivables held for sale are reported in other operating income. Under U.S. GAAP, the income and expenses related to receivables held for sale are reported similarly to loans held for investment.


For receivables transferred to held for sale subsequent to origination, there are no accounting requirements under IFRSs for loans that management intends to sell. Accordingly, for IFRSs purposes such loans continue to be accounted for in accordance with IAS 39 with any gain or loss recorded at the time of sale. U.S. GAAP requires loans that management intends to sell to be transferred to a held for sale category at the lower of cost or fair value. Under U.S. GAAP, the component of the lower of cost or fair value adjustment related to credit risk is recorded in the statement of income as provision for credit losses while the component related to interest rates and liquidity factors is reported in the statement of income in other revenues.


Other-than-temporary impairments - As a result of the guidance issued by the SEC in October 2008, under U.S. GAAP we are allowed to evaluate perpetual preferred securities for potential impairment similar to a debt security provided there has been no evidence of deterioration in the credit of the issuer and record the unrealized losses as a component of other comprehensive income. There are no similar provisions under IFRSs.


Effective January 1, 2009 under U.S. GAAP, the credit loss component of an other-than-temporary impairment of a debt security is recognized in earnings while the remaining portion of the impairment loss is recognized in other comprehensive income provided a company concludes it neither intends to sell the security nor concludes that it is more-likely-than-not that it will have to sell the security prior to recovery. Under IFRSs, there is no bifurcation of other-than-temporary impairment and the entire decline in value is recognized in earnings.


Loan impairment charges (Provision for credit losses)


IFRSs requires a discounted cash flow methodology for estimating impairment on pools of homogeneous customer loans which requires the incorporation of the time value of money relating to recovery estimates. Also under IFRSs, future recoveries on charged-off loans are accrued for on a discounted basis and a recovery asset is recorded. Subsequent recoveries are recorded to earnings under U.S. GAAP, but are adjusted against the recovery asset under IFRSs. Interest is recorded based on collectibility under IFRSs.


As discussed above, under U.S. GAAP the credit risk component of the lower of cost or fair value adjustment related to the transfer of receivables to held for sale is recorded in the statement of income as provision for credit losses. There is no similar requirement under IFRSs.


Operating expenses


Goodwill impairment under IFRSs is higher than that under U.S. GAAP due to higher levels of goodwill established under IFRSs as well as differences in how impairment is measuredHowever, operating expenses are lower under IFRSs as policyholder benefits expenses are reported as an offset to other revenues as discussed above. There are other less significant differences between IFRSs and U.S. GAAP relating to pension expense and changes in tax estimates.


Assets


Customer loans (Receivables) - On an IFRSs basis loans designated as held for sale at the time of origination and accrued interest are classified in other assets. However, the accounting requirements governing when receivables previously held for investment are transferred to a held for sale category are more stringent under IFRS than under U.S. GAAP. Unearned insurance premiums are reported as a reduction to receivables on a U.S. GAAP basis but are reported as insurance reserves for IFRSs.


Securities - Under IFRSs, securities include HSBC shares held for stock plans at fair value. These shares are recorded at fair value through other comprehensive income. If it is determined these shares have become impaired, the fair value loss is recognized in profit and loss and any fair value loss recorded in other comprehensive income is reversed.


Other - In addition to the differences in customer loan balances as discussed above, securities under IFRSs includes HSBC Group shares held for stock plans at fair value. Additionally, there are higher derivative related assets under IFRSs compared to U.S. GAAP due to more stringent netting requirements under U.S. GAAP.


17.  Fair Value Measurements


SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements," provides a framework for measuring fair value and focuses on an exit price in the principal (or alternatively, the most advantageous) market accessible in an orderly transaction between willing market participants. SFAS No. 157 establishes a three-tiered fair value hierarchy with Level 1 representing quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs are inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability.


Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis The following table presents information about our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized to determine such fair value.


 

 

 

 

Assets

(Liabilities)

Measured at

Fair Value

Quoted Prices in

Active Markets for

Identical Assets

(Level 1)


Significant Other

Observable Inputs

(Level 2)


Significant

Unobservable Inputs

(Level 3)


(in millions)

March 31, 2009:





Derivative related assets(1)

$1,536

$-

$1,536

$-

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

5,601

5,601

-

-

Available for sale securities:





U.S. Treasury

107

107

-

-

U.S. government sponsored enterprises

139

22

115

2

U.S. government agency issued or guaranteed

32

-

32

-

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

35

-

35

-

Asset-backed securities

118

-

88

30

U.S. corporate debt securities

1,607

-

1,575

32

Foreign debt securities

286

15

265

6

Equity securities

47

-

5

42

Money market funds

574

574

-

-

Accrued interest

32

1

30

1

Total available-for-sale securities

2,977

719

2,145

113

Real estate owned(2)

888

-

888

-

Repossessed vehicles(2)

47

-

47

-

Long term debt carried at fair value

(22,703)

-

(22,703)

-

Derivative related liabilities

(22)

-

(22)

-

December 31, 2008:





Derivative related assets(1)

$2,406

$-

$2,406

$-

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

1,025

1,025

-

-

Available for sale securities:





U.S. Treasury

57

57

-

-

U.S. government sponsored enterprises

155

25

130

-

U.S. government agency issued or guaranteed

34

-

34

-

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

34

-

34

-

Asset-backed securities

128

-

90

38

U.S. corporate debt securities

1,656

-

1,572

84

Foreign debt securities

269

22

247

-

Equity securities

52

-

1

51

Money market funds

679

679

-

-

Accrued interest

30

-

28

2

Total available-for-sale securities

3,094

783

2,136

175

Real estate owned(2)

1,035

-

1,035

-

Repossessed vehicles(2)

56

-

56

-

Long term debt carried at fair value

(28,338)

-

(28,338)

-

Derivative related liabilities

(18)

-

(18)

-



(1) 

The fair value disclosed does not include swap collateral which was a net liability of $1.7 billion and $2.9 billion at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, and that we either received or deposited with our interest rate swap counterparties. Such swap collateral is recorded on our balance sheet at an amount which "approximates fair value" as discussed in FASB Staff Position No. FIN 39-1, "Amendment of FASB Interpretation No. 39" and is netted on the balance sheet with the fair value amount recognized for derivative instruments. 



(2) 

The fair value disclosed is unadjusted for transaction costs as required by SFAS No. 157. The amounts recorded in the consolidated balance sheet are recorded net of transaction costs as required by FASB Statement No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." 


The table below reconciles the beginning and ending balances for assets recorded at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the three months ended March 31, 2009. There were no assets recorded using Level 3 inputs during the three months ended March 31, 2008. 



(in millions)

Beginning balance at January 1, 2009

$175

Transfers out of Level 3, net

(55)

Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements (net)

4

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):


Included in income from continuing operations

(8)

Included in other comprehensive income

(2)

Net change in accrued interest

(1)

Ending balance at March 31, 2009

$113

The amount of total gains or losses for the period included in income attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at March 31, 2009

$(8)


Assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 which have been classified as using Level 3 measurements include our entire portfolio of perpetual preferred equity securities as well as certain domestic corporate debt securities and mortgage-backed securities. Securities are classified as using Level 3 measurements when one or both of the following conditions are met:


   A mortgage-backed security is downgraded below a AAA credit rating; or


   An individual security fails the quarterly pricing comparison test with a variance greater than 5 percent.


During the three months ended March 31, 2009, transfers out of Level 3 classifications, net, represents changes in the mix of individual securities that meet one or both of the above conditions. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we transferred $91 million of individual corporate debt securities and mortgage-backed securities from Level 3 to Level 2 as they no longer met one or both of the conditions described above, which was partially offset by the transfer of $36 million from Level 2 to Level 3 of individual corporate debt securities and mortgage-backed securities which met one or both of the conditions described above during the quarter.


Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis The following table presents information about our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized to determine such fair value.




Total Gains



(Losses) for the


Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements as

Three Months Ended


of March 31, 2009

March 31,


Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

2009


(in millions)

Real estate secured

$-

$-

$41

$41

$(2)

Credit cards

-

-

1,360

1,360

(167)

Total receivables held for sale at fair value(1)

$-

$-

$1,401

$1,401

$(169)

Goodwill(2)

$-

$-

$1,641

$1,641

$(653)

Intangible assets(2)

$-

$-

$20

$20

$(14)




Total Gains



(Losses) for the


Non-Recurring Fair Value

Three Months Ended


Measurements as of March 31, 2008

March 31,


Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

2008


(in millions)

Real estate secured receivables

$-

$65

$-

$65

$(9)



(1) 

Excludes $8 million and $10 million of receivables held for sale at March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008 for which the fair value exceeds carrying value. 



(2) 

In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142, goodwill with a carrying amount of $260 million allocated to our Insurance Services business and $2,034 million allocated to our Card and Retail Services businesses was written down to its implied fair value of $0 million and $1,641 million, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2009. Additionally, technology, customer lists and customer loan related relationship intangible assets totaling $34 million were written down to their implied fair value of $20 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009. No write down of goodwill or intangible assets occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2008. 


Fair Value of Financial Instruments In accordance with SFAS No. 107, "Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments," as amended, ("SFAS No. 107") on a quarterly basis we report the fair value of all financial instruments in our consolidated balance sheet, including those financial instruments carried at cost. The fair value estimates, methods and assumptions set forth below for our financial instruments are made solely to comply with the requirements of SFAS No. 107 and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in this quarterly report. The following table summarizes the carrying values and estimated fair value of our financial instruments at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008. 


 

March 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

 

 

Carrying

Value

Estimated

Fair Value

Carrying

Value

Estimated

Fair Value


(in millions)

Financial assets:





Cash

$354

$354

$255

$255

Interest bearing deposits with banks

22

22

25

25

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

5,601

5,601

1,025

1,025

Securities

2,977

2,977

3,094

3,094

Consumer receivables:





Mortgage Services:





First lien

17,488

10,823

18,512

11,527

Second lien

2,978

903

3,238

981

Total Mortgage Services

20,466

11,726

21,750

12,508

Consumer Lending:





First lien

36,681

24,133

37,986

25,085

Second lien

4,761

1,538

4,824

1,570

Total Consumer Lending real estate secured receivables

41,442

25,671

42,810

26,655

Non-real estate secured receivables

12,306

6,015

13,187

6,386

Total Consumer Lending

53,748

31,686

55,997

33,041

Credit card

9,844

9,011

11,130

9,968

Auto Finance

5,979

5,107

6,872

5,900

Total consumer receivables

90,037

57,530

95,749

61,417

Receivables held for sale

1,409

1,409

16,680

16,812

Due from affiliates

59

59

255

255

Derivative financial assets

-

-

8

8

Financial liabilities:





Commercial paper, bank and other borrowings

5,273

5,273

9,639

9,639

Due to affiliates

12,217

9,796

13,543

12,054

Long term debt carried at fair value

22,703

22,703

28,338

28,338

Long term debt not carried at fair value

52,456

41,632

61,686

54,147

Insurance policy and claim reserves

964

996

965

1,089

Derivative financial liabilities

163

163

461

461


Receivable values presented in the table above were determined using the framework for measuring fair value as prescribed by SFAS No. 157, which is based on our best estimate of the amount within a range of value we believe would be received in a sale as of the balance sheet date (i.e. exit price). The unprecedented developments in the mortgage lending industry and the current economic conditions have resulted in a significant reduction in the secondary market demand for assets not guaranteed by the Federal government or a governmental agency. The estimated fair values at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 for our receivables reflect this marketplace turmoil which typically assume a significantly higher charge-off level than what we, as the servicer of these receivables, believe will ultimately be the case, and reflects a significant pricing discount resulting from the lack of liquidity available to most buyers of whole loan assets. This creates a value that is substantially lower than would otherwise be reported under more normal marketplace conditions.


Valuation Techniques The following summarizes the valuation methodology used to determine the estimated fair values for financial instruments reflected in the tables above.


Cash:  Carrying value approximates fair value due to cash's liquid nature.


Interest bearing deposits with banks:  Carrying value approximates fair value due to the asset's liquid nature.


Securities purchased under agreements to resell:  The fair value of securities purchased under agreements to resell approximates carrying value due to the short-term maturity of the agreements.


Securities: Fair value for our available-for-sale securities is generally determined by a third party valuation source. The pricing services generally source fair value measurements from quoted market prices and if not available, the security is valued based on quotes from similar securities using broker quotes and other information obtained from dealers and market participants. For securities which do not trade in active markets, such as fixed income securities, the pricing services generally utilize various pricing applications, including models, to measure fair value. The pricing applications are based on market convention and use inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means. The following summarizes the valuation methodology used for our major security types:


 U.S. Treasury, U.S. government agency issued or guaranteed and Obligations of U.S. States and political subdivisions - As these securities transact in an active market, the pricing services source fair value measurements from quoted prices for the identical security or quoted prices for similar securities with adjustments as necessary made using observable inputs which are market corroborated.


 U.S. government sponsored enterprises - For certain government sponsored mortgage-backed securities which transact in an active market, the pricing services source fair value measurements from quoted prices for the identical security or quoted prices for similar securities with adjustments as necessary made using observable inputs which are market corroborated. For government sponsored mortgage-backed securities which do not transact in an active market, fair value is determined using discounted cash flow models and inputs related to interest rates, prepayment speeds, loss curves and market discount rates that would be required by investors in the current market given the specific characteristics and inherent credit risk of the underlying collateral.


 Asset-backed securities - Fair value is determined using discounted cash flow models and inputs related to interest rates, prepayment speeds, loss curves and market discount rates that would be required by investors in the current market given the specific characteristics and inherent credit risk of the underlying collateral.


 U.S. corporate and foreign debt securities - For non-callable corporate securities, a credit spread scale is created for each issuer. These spreads are then added to the equivalent maturity U.S. Treasury yield to determine current pricing. Credit spreads are obtained from the new issue market, secondary trading levels and dealer quotes. For securities with early redemption features, an option adjusted spread ("OAS") model is incorporated to adjust the spreads determined above. Additionally, the pricing services will survey the broker/dealer community to obtain relevant trade data including benchmark quotes and updated spreads.


 Equity securities - In general, the pricing service calculates an appropriate spread over a comparable US Treasury security for each issue. These spreads represent the additional yield required to account for risk including credit, refunding and liquidity. The inputs are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.


 Money market funds - Carrying value approximates fair value due to the asset's liquid nature.


We perform periodic validations of the fair values sourced from the independent pricing services. Such validation principally includes sourcing security prices from other independent pricing services or broker quotes. The validation process provides us with information as to whether the volume and level of activity for a security has significantly decreased and assists in identifying transactions that are not orderly. Depending on the results of the validation, additional information may be gathered from other market participants to support the fair value measurements. A determination will be made as to whether adjustments to the observable inputs are necessary as a result of investigations and inquiries about the reasonableness of the inputs used and the methodologies employed by the independent pricing services.


Receivables: The estimated fair value of our receivables was determined by developing an estimated range of value from a mix of various sources as appropriate for the respective pool of assets. These sources included, inter alia, value estimates from an HSBC affiliate which reflect current estimated rating agency credit tranching levels with the associated benchmark credit spreads, forward looking discounted cash flow models using assumptions we believe are consistent with those which would be used by market participants in valuing such receivables, trading input from market participants which includes observed primary and secondary trades, and general discussions held directly with potential investors.


Model inputs relate to interest rates, prepayment speeds, loss curves and market discount rates reflecting management's estimate of the rate that would be required by investors in the current market given the specific characteristics and inherent credit risk of the receivables. Some of these inputs are influenced by home price changes and unemployment rates. To the extent available, such inputs are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation and other means. We perform periodic validations of our valuation methodologies and assumptions based on the results of actual sales of such receivables. In addition, from time to time, we will engage a third party valuation specialist to measure the fair value of a pool of receivables. Portfolio risk management personnel provide further validation through discussions with third party brokers and other market participants. Since an active market for these receivables does not exist, the fair value measurement process uses unobservable significant inputs which are specific to the performance characteristics of the various receivable portfolios.


Real estate owned: Fair value is determined based on third party appraisals obtained at the time we take title to the property and, if less than the carrying value of the loan, the carrying value of the loan is adjusted to the fair value. After three months on the market, the carrying value is further reduced, if necessary, to reflect observable local market data, including local area sales data.


Repossessed vehicles: Fair value is determined based on current Black Book values, which represent current observable prices in the wholesale auto auction market.


Due from affiliates: Carrying value approximates fair value because the interest rates on these receivables adjust with changing market interest rates.


Commercial paper and short-term borrowings: The fair value of these instruments approximates existing carrying value because interest rates on these instruments adjust with changes in market interest rates due to their short-term maturity or repricing characteristics.


Due to affiliates: The estimated fair value of our fixed rate and floating rate debt due to affiliates was determined using discounted future expected cash flows at current interest rates and credit spreads offered for similar types of debt instruments.


Long term debt: Fair value was primarily determined by a third party valuation source. The pricing services source fair value from quoted market prices and, if not available, expected cash flows are discounted using the appropriate interest rate for the applicable duration of the instrument adjusted for our own credit risk (spread). The credit spreads applied to these instruments were derived from the spreads recognized in the secondary market for similar debt as of the measurement date. Where available, relevant trade data is also considered as part of our validation process.


Insurance policy and claim reserves: The fair value of insurance reserves for periodic payment annuities was estimated by discounting future expected cash flows at estimated market interest rates.


Derivative related assets and liabilities: Derivative values are defined as the amount we would receive or pay to extinguish the contract using a market participant as of the reporting date. The values are determined by management using a pricing system maintained by HSBC Bank USA. In determining these values, HSBC Bank USA uses quoted market prices, when available, principally for exchange-traded options. For non-exchange traded contracts, such as interest rate swaps, fair value is determined using discounted cash flow modeling techniques. Valuation models calculate the present value of expected future cash flows based on models that utilize independently-sourced market parameters, including interest rate yield curves, option volatilities, and currency rates. Valuations may be adjusted in order to ensure that those values represent appropriate estimates of fair value. These adjustments, which are applied consistently over time, are generally required to reflect factors such as market liquidity and counterparty credit risk that can affect prices in arms-length transactions with unrelated third parties. Finally, other transaction specific factors such as the variety of valuation models available, the range of unobservable model inputs and other model assumptions can affect estimates of fair value. Imprecision in estimating these factors can impact the amount of revenue or loss recorded for a particular position.


Counterparty credit risk is considered in determining the fair value of a financial asset. SFAS No. 157 specifies that the fair value of a liability should reflect the entity's non-performance risk and accordingly, the effect of our own credit risk (spread) has been factored into the determination of the fair value of our financial liabilities, including derivative instruments. In estimating the credit risk adjustment to the derivative assets and liabilities, we take into account the impact of netting and/or collateral arrangements that are designed to mitigate counterparty credit risk.


18.  New Accounting Pronouncements


In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 (Revised), "Business Combinations" ("SFAS No. 141(R)"). SFAS No. 141(R) requires an acquirer to recognize all the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at fair value as of the date of acquisition. SFAS No. 141(R) also changes the recognition and measurement criteria for certain assets and liabilities including those arising from contingencies, contingent consideration, and bargain purchases. In addition, it requires the expensing of acquisition related structuring and transaction costs. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective for business combinations with an effective date in 2009.


In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements" ("SFAS No. 160"). SFAS No. 160 amends ARB 51 and requires entities to report noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries as equity in the consolidated financial statements and to account for the transactions with noncontrolling interest owners as equity transactions provided the parent retains controlling interests in the subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 requires disclosure of the amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest on the face of the consolidated statement of income. SFAS No. 160 also requires expanded disclosures that identify and distinguish between parent and noncontrolling interests. SFAS No. 160 is effective from fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 160 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.


In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position SFAS No. 140-3, "Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets and Repurchase Financing Transactions" ("FSP SFAS No. 140-3"). Under FSP SFAS No. 140-3, the initial transfer of a financial asset and a repurchase financing involving the same asset that is entered into contemporaneously with, or in contemplation of the initial transfer, is presumptively to be linked and are considered part of the same arrangement under SFAS No. 140. The initial transfer and subsequent financing transaction will be considered separate transactions under SFAS No. 140 if certain conditions are met. FSP SFAS No. 140-3 is effective for new transactions entered into in fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of FSP SFAS No. 140-3 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.


In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, "Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133" ("SFAS No. 161"). SFAS No. 161 requires enhanced disclosures about an entity's derivative and hedging activities and improves transparency in financial reporting. SFAS No. 161 requires entities to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments; (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations; and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedge items affect an entity's financial position, financial performance and cash flows. It is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 with early adoption encouraged. SFAS No. 161 encourages, but does not require, comparative disclosures for earlier periods at initial adoption. We adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 161 effective January 1, 2009. See Note 11, "Derivative Financial Instruments," in these consolidated financial statements.


In May 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 163, "Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60" ("SFAS No. 163"). SFAS No. 163 applies to financial guarantee insurance (and reinsurance) contracts issued by enterprises that are included within the scope of paragraph 6 of Statement 60 and that are not accounted for as derivative instruments. It clarifies how Statement 60 applies to financial guarantee insurance contracts, including the recognition and measurement of premium revenue and claim liabilities. This statement requires expanded disclosures about financial guarantee insurance contracts. SFAS No. 163 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and all interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of SFAS No. 163 did not have any material impact on our financial position or our results of operations.


In December 2008, the Financial Accounting Standard Board issued FSP FAS 132(R)-1, "Employers' Disclosures about Post-retirement Benefit Plan Assets" ("FSP FAS No. 132(R)-1"). FSP FAS No. 132(R)-1 applies to an employer that is subject to the disclosure requirements of Statement 132(R). It requires entities to provide disclosures about employer's defined benefit plans and other post-retirement plans that would help users of the financial statements to understand how investment allocation decisions are made, the major categories of plan assets, the inputs and the valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets, the effect of fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) on changes in plan assets for the period and significant concentrations of risk within plan assets. FSP FAS No. 132(R)-1 is applicable for the first fiscal year ending after December 15, 2009.


In April 2009, the Financial Accounting Standard Board issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 141(R)-1, "Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies' ("FSP FAS No. 141(R)-1"). FSP FAS No. 141(R)-1 amends and clarifies FASB Statement No. 141(R), "Business Combinations," to address initial and subsequent accounting and measurement, and disclosure of assets and liabilities arising from contingencies in a business combination. It requires all contingent assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination that would be within a scope of SFAS 5, if not acquired or assumed in a business combination, to be recognized at fair value at the acquisition date. If the acquisition date measurement cannot be determined, the asset or a liability is to be recognized if certain conditions are met. It also amended the subsequent measurement requirement from SFAS 141 (R) and provided flexibility in developing a basis for subsequent measurement. This FSP is applicable for the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.


In April 2009, the Financial Accounting Standard Board amended FASB Statement No. 107, "Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments," and APB Opinion No. 28, "Interim Financial Reporting," by issuing FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, "Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments" ("FSP FAS No. 107-1 and APB 28-1"). FSP FAS No. 107-1 and APB 28-1 require entities to disclose fair value of financial instruments for all the interim reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009 with earlier application permitted. We have adopted the disclosure requirements of this FSP effective January 1, 2009. See Note 17, "Fair Value Measurements," in these consolidated financial statements.


The Financial Accounting Standard Board issued a FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 157-4, "Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That are not Orderly," in April 2009 ("FSP FAS No. 157-4") to provide additional guidance for estimating fair value in accordance with FASB Statement No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" ("SFAS No. 157"). FSP FAS No. 157-4 provides additional guidance in determining fair value when the volume and level of activity for the asset and liability have significantly decreased and also on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. It also amends SFAS No. 157 to require enhanced disclosures about the inputs and valuation techniques for measuring fair value along with changes in the valuation methodologies and related inputs and to present further disclosures for debt and equity securities. This FSP is effective for the reporting period ending after June 15, 2009 with earlier adoption permitted. We have adopted this FSP effective January 1, 2009. See Note 17, "Fair Value Measurements," in these consolidated financial statements for the expanded disclosure.


In April 2009, the Financial Accounting Standard Board issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 115-2 and 124-2, "Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments," ("FSP FAS No. 115-2 and 124-2") to amend the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities. Under this guidance, if we do not have the intention to sell and it is more-likely-than-not we will not be required to sell the debt security, FSP FAS No. 115-2 and 124-2 requires segregating the difference between fair value and amortized cost into credit loss and other losses with only the credit loss recognized in earnings with other losses recorded to other comprehensive income. Where our intent is to sell the debt security or where it is more-likely-than-not that we will be required to sell the debt security, the entire difference between the fair value and the amortized cost basis is recognized in earnings. FSP FAS No. 115-2 and 124-2 also requires disclosure of the reasons for recognizing a portion of impairment in other comprehensive income and the methodology and significant inputs used to calculate the credit loss component. FSP FAS No. 115-2 and 124-2 is effective for all the reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009 with earlier adoption permitted. We have adopted FSP FAS No. 115-2 and 124-2 effective January 1, 2009. The adoption of FSP FAS No. 115-2 and 124-2 did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations. See Note 5, "Securities," in these consolidated financial statements for the expanded disclosure.


19Subsequent Event


On May 7, 2009, the jury in the class action Jaffe v. Household International Inc., et. al returned a verdict partially in favor of the plaintiffs with respect to Household International and three former officers for certain of the claims arising out of alleged false and misleading statements made in connection with certain activities of Household International, Inc. between July 30, 1999 and October 11, 2002. The jury found 17 of 40 alleged misstatements actionable and that the first actionable statement occurred on March 23, 2001. This effectively excludes claims for purchases made prior to that date. We intend to file a motion requesting that the Court set aside the jury's verdict and enter a verdict in favor of all defendants on all claims. Concurrent with this motion, a second phase of the case will proceed to determine the actual damages due to the plaintiff class. Given the complexity associated with this phase of the case, it is impossible at this time to determine whether any damages will eventually be awarded, or the amount of any such award. There are also several other motions pending that would dispose of the case prior to a determination of actual damages. Despite the verdict at the District Court level, we continue to believe that neither Household nor its former officers committed any wrongdoing and that we will either prevail on our outstanding motions or that the Seventh Circuit will reverse the trial Court verdict upon appeal. As such, it is not probable that a loss has been incurred as of March 31, 2009 and, therefore, no loss accrual resulting from this verdict has been established.



Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations


Forward-Looking Statements


Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, notes and tables included elsewhere in this report and with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (the "2008 Form 10-K"). MD&A may contain certain statements that may be forward-looking in nature within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, we may make or approve certain statements in future filings with the SEC, in press releases, or oral or written presentations by representatives of HSBC Finance Corporation that are not statements of historical fact and may also constitute forward-looking statements. Words such as "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", "intend", "believe", "expect", "estimate", "target", "plan", "anticipate", "goal" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but should not be considered as the only means through which these statements may be made. These matters or statements will relate to our future financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, performance or business developments and will involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from that which was expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on our current views and assumptions and speak only as of the date they are made. HSBC Finance Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent circumstances or events.


Executive Overview


HSBC Finance Corporation is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc ("HSBC"). HSBC Finance Corporation may also be referred to in MD&A as "we", "us", or "our".


Current Environment


During the first quarter of 2009, economic conditions continued to deteriorate as a result of continued declines in the housing market, tight credit conditions and slow economic growth. The on-going financial market disruptions continue to impact credit spreads and liquidity. U.S. unemployment rates increased to 8.5 percent in March 2009, an increase of 130 basis points during the quarter. Unemployment rates in 18 states are greater than the U.S. national average and 17 states are reporting unemployment rates at or above 9 percent. Additionally, personal bankruptcy filings in the U.S. have continued to increase during the quarter. Concerns about the future of the U.S. economy, including the length and depth of the current economic recession, consumer confidence, volatility in energy prices, adverse developments in the credit markets and mixed corporate earnings continue to negatively impact the U.S. economy and the capital markets. Government initiatives in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 intended to strengthen market stability and enhance market liquidity, appear to be having an impact on the debt markets in 2009.


During the first quarter of 2009, mortgage lending industry trends continued to deteriorate, including:


 Rising unemployment rates are giving rise to higher delinquencies for all loan products;


 Loan originations from 2005 to 2008 in the mortgage lending industry continue to perform worse than originations from prior periods;


 Real estate markets in a large portion of the United States continue to be affected by stagnation or decline in property values;


 Increases in the period of time properties remain unsold in most markets;


 Increased loss severities on homes that are foreclosed and remarketed due to the increasing inventory of homes for sale and the declining property values in certain markets;


 Lower secondary market demand for subprime loans resulting in reduced liquidity for subprime mortgages; and


 Continued tightening of lending standards by mortgage lenders which impacts a borrower's ability to refinance existing mortgage loans.


These mortgage lending industry trends as well as the economic conditions described above, including rising levels of unemployment, impact both credit performance and run-off rates which has reduced the ability of many consumers to make payments on or to refinance their loans and has resulted in rising delinquency and charge-off rates in real estate secured and credit card loan portfolios across the industry, including our own. Recovery of the housing market, as well as unemployment rates, is not expected to begin to occur until at least 2010.


Business Focus


As discussed in prior filings, we have been engaged in a continuing, comprehensive evaluation of the strategies and opportunities for our operations. In light of the unprecedented developments in the retail credit markets, particularly in the residential mortgage industry and the continued deterioration of U.S. economic conditions, we are focused on the things we can control and, beginning in mid-2007 and continuing through 2008, we made strategic decisions designed to lower the risk profile and reduce the capital and liquidity requirements of our operations by reducing the size of the balance sheet while maximizing efficiencies. This evaluation continued during the first quarter of 2009, focusing primarily on the strategies and opportunities of our Consumer Lending business.


The unprecedented deterioration in the housing markets over the last two years, including declining property values and lower secondary market demand for subprime mortgages has reduced the ability of many of our real estate loan customers to make payments or refinance their loans. In many cases, there is no equity in their homes or if there is, few institutions are willing to finance its withdrawal. As a result, loan originations have fallen dramatically both at HSBC Finance Corporation and across the industry and we believe it likely will take years, particularly in certain markets, before property values return to the levels seen prior to the decline. As such, we have concluded that a recovery in the subprime mortgage lending industry relating to home equity withdrawal and mortgage debt consolidation loan products is uncertain and cannot be expected to stabilize for a number of years, if at all.


As a result, on February 27, 2009, the Board of Directors of HSBC Finance Corporation authorized the discontinuation of all new customer account originations for all products by our Consumer Lending business. We continue to service and collect the existing receivable portfolio as it runs off, while continuing our efforts to reach out and assist mortgage customers utilizing appropriate modification and other account management programs, potentially including refinancing a loan with an existing customer in accordance with their financial needs, to maximize collection and home preservation. All of our branch offices have ceased taking new loan applications and substantially all branch offices were closed by April 30, 2009. As a result of this decision, during the three months ended March 31, 2009, we recorded closure costs of $155 million, predominately related to one-time termination and other employee benefit costs. We anticipate additional costs will be recorded during 2009, however, such remaining costs are not expected to be material. In addition, during the first quarter of 2009, we incurred non-cash charges of approximately $29 million relating to the impairment of fixed assets and other capitalized costs and $3 million relating to stock based compensation and other benefits as well as $14 million in impairment charges related to intangible assets. We also recorded a curtailment gain of $16 million for other post-retirement benefits related to this decision.


As a result of this decision, when coupled with the decisions made from mid-2007 and through 2008, our lending products currently include MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover credit card receivables as well as private label receivables. A portion of new credit card and all new private label receivables are sold on a daily basis to HSBC Bank USA. We also offer specialty insurance products in the United States and Canada as well as tax refund anticipation loans and other related products in the United States. However, the closure of our Consumer Lending loan origination operations has and will continue to significantly decrease the credit insurance policies sold by our Insurance Services business.


In January 2009, we sold our General Motors MasterCard receivable portfolio ("GM Portfolio") and our AFL-CIO Union Plus MasterCard/Visa receivable portfolio ("UP Portfolio) with an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $12.4 billion to HSBC Bank USA, National Association ("HSBC Bank USA") at fair market value in order to maximize the efficient use of liquidity at each entity. As a result, in the first quarter of 2009 we recorded a gain of $130 million on the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios. This gain was partially offset by a loss of $(80) million recorded on the termination of cash flow hedges associated with $6.1 billion of indebtedness transferred to HSBC Bank USA as part of these transactions. We retained the customer account relationships and the right to originate new customer account relationships for both the GM and UP Portfolios. By agreement, we will sell additional volume for new and existing accounts on a daily basis to HSBC Bank USA at fair market value and we will continue to service the receivables sold to HSBC Bank USA for a fee. We have no obligation to fund customer redemption obligations relating to the GM Card Program beyond what we have fully accrued. Additionally, in January 2009, we sold $3.0 billion of non-delinquent auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA at fair market value and recorded a gain of $7 million during the first quarter of 2009. We continue to service the GM and UP Portfolios as well as the auto finance receivables for a fee. We continue to evaluate our operations as we seek to optimize our risk profile as well as our liquidity, capital and funding requirements and review opportunities in the subprime lending industry as the credit markets stabilize. This could result in further strategic actions that may include changes to our legal structure, additional asset sales and further alterations or refinement of product offerings, as we work to reposition our businesses for long-term success. We also continue to evaluate our relationship with HSBC Bank USA to identify additional ways to leverage liquidity and identify funding opportunities.


Performance, Developments and Trends


Net income from continuing operations was $872 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to $238 million in the prior year quarter. Our results for the first quarter of 2009 and 2008 significantly benefited from the change in the credit risk component of our fair value optioned debt which increased our net income from continuing operations by $2.4 billion (after-tax) during the three months ended March 31, 2009 as compared to $823 million (after-tax) in the prior year quarter. Our results for the first quarter of 2009 were also significantly impacted by goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges of $657 million (after-tax) related to our Card and Retail Services and Insurance Services businesses as well as the recording of closure costs of $111 million (after-tax) related to our decision to discontinue all new customer account originations in our Consumer Lending business and close substantially all branch offices. Excluding the impact of these items, during the three months ended March 31, 2009, we incurred a net loss from continuing operations of $(801) million as compared to $(585) million in the prior year quarter, largely due to lower net interest income due to lower receivable levels and a deterioration in credit quality, lower other revenues and higher provisions for credit losses, partially offset by lower operating expenses. Should economic conditions continue to deteriorate in line with our current forecasts, we would expect to continue to generate losses over the next two years and likely longer.


The increase in provision for credit losses during the first quarter of 2009 primarily reflects higher loss estimates in our Consumer Lending business, partially offset by lower provisions for credit losses in our Mortgage Services business as well as in our credit card and auto finance receivable portfolios. Excluding the impact of the GM and UP Portfolios transferred to HSBC Bank USA, our provision for credit losses increased $294 million during the quarter. Higher loss estimates in our Consumer Lending business reflect the following:


 Higher overall levels of charge-off and contractual delinquency, including increases in the percentages of loans that continue into later stages of delinquency rather than returning to a current status ("roll rates") due to the continued deterioration of the U.S. economy and rising unemployment, with delinquency increasing most significantly in the first-lien portion of our Consumer Lending real estate secured portfolios;


 Portfolio seasoning; 


 Lower real estate secured receivable prepayments due, in part, to the inability of customers to refinance;


 Increases in loss severities for real estate secured receivables due to continued deterioration of real estate values in certain markets; and


 Higher delinquency levels in all delinquency buckets, including early stage delinquency, in our real estate secured and personal non-credit card receivable portfolios.


Our Mortgage Services business recorded lower provisions for credit losses in the first quarter of 2009 as the portfolio has become more fully seasoned and continues to run-off. Additionally, there has been a shift in the mix of delinquency and charge-off levels toward first lien loans which generally have lower loss severities than second lien loans. Lower provisions for credit losses in our credit card receivable portfolio reflect significantly lower receivable levels, largely due to the sale of $12.4 billion of credit card receivables in January 2009 as discussed more fully below. Provision for credit losses for our auto finance portfolio decreased primarily due to lower receivable levels reflecting the decision to discontinue all auto finance originations in the third quarter of 2008 as well as the sale of $3.0 billion of auto finance receivables in January 2009. Lower provision for credit losses in our auto finance portfolio were partially offset by the adoption of the Uniform Retail Credit Classification and Account Management Policy issued by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council ("FFIEC Policies") for our entire auto finance portfolio in January 2009 immediately prior to the sale of $3.0 billion of auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA. The adoption of FFIEC charge-off policies resulted in an increase in the provision for credit losses of $36 million during the first quarter of 2009. Decreases in the provision for credit losses in our Mortgage Services, credit card and auto finance portfolios were partially offset by the impact of continued deterioration in the U.S. economy including higher unemployment rates, higher loss severities on real estate secured and auto finance receivables and lower recovery rates on defaulted unsecured receivables as well as higher levels of personal bankruptcy filings in our credit card portfolio as compared to the year-ago quarter.

During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we recorded provision in excess of net charge-offs of $557 million compared to $463 million during the prior year quarter. Consequently, our credit loss reserve levels increased during the first quarter of 2009. Reserve levels for real estate secured receivables at our Mortgage Services and Consumer Lending businesses as well as for our credit card receivables can be further analyzed as follows:


 

Real Estate Secured Receivables

Credit Card 

 

Consumer Lending

Mortgage Services

Receivables

 

2009

2008

2009

2008

2009

2008


(in millions)

Credit loss reserves at January 1,

$3,392

$1,386

$3,726

$3,573

$2,258

$2,646

Provision for credit losses

860

478

678

939

569

690

Charge-offs

(398)

(261)

(593)

(722)

(557)

(841)

Recoveries

5

2

8

16

55

105

Credit loss reserves at March 31,

$3,859

$1,605

$3,819

$3,806

$2,325

$2,600


The decrease in net interest income in the first quarter of 2009 was due to lower average receivables, lower origination volumes, lower levels of performing receivables and lower overall yields on our receivable and non-insurance investment portfolios, partially offset by lower interest expense. Overall yields decreased due to increased levels of loan modifications, the impact of deterioration in credit quality including growth in non-performing assets, lower amortization of net deferred fees due to lower loan prepayments and lower loan origination volumes as well as decreases in rates on variable rate products which reflect market rate movements. Overall yields were also negatively impacted by a shift in receivable mix to higher levels of real estate secured receivables as a result of the sale of the $12.4 billion of credit card receivables and $3.0 billion of auto finance receivables in January 2009 as credit card and auto finance receivables generally have higher yields than real estate secured receivables. The lower yields on our non-insurance investment portfolio reflects lower rates on overnight investments. Lower interest expense was due to lower average rates for floating rate borrowings on lower average borrowings. Our net interest margin decreased to 5.87 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to 6.31 percent in the prior year quarter due to the lower overall yields on our receivable portfolio discussed above, partially offset by lower funding costs due to lower average interest rates for short-term borrowings which reflect actions taken by the Federal Reserve Bank which decreased Federal Fund Rates by 200 basis points since March 31, 2008.


Gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives, which is a component of other revenues, increased during the first quarter of 2009 primarily due to a significant widening of credit spreads since December 31, 2008. Changes in the credit component of fair value optioned debt increased other revenues by $3.8 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to $1.3 billion in the prior year quarter. Excluding the gain on fair value optioned debt and related derivatives, other revenues decreased primarily due to the following:


 Lower fee income and enhancement services revenues on our credit card receivable portfolio due to lower receivable levels;


 Lower taxpayer financial services revenue due to discontinuing all partner relationships except for H&R Block as well as a shift in mix to lower revenue products; and


 Increased lower of cost or fair market value adjustments for receivables held for sale during the first quarter of 2009;


 Partially offset by a gain of $57 million on the bulk sale of the credit card and auto finance receivables as discussed above, and higher servicing fees and gains on daily sales of receivables to HSBC Bank USA due to higher volumes as a result of the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios as discussed above.


Total operating expenses in the first quarter of 2009 were negatively impacted by the following:


 Restructuring charges of $155 million related to the decision to discontinue all new customer account originations for our Consumer Lending business and additional non-cash charges of $29 million relating to the impairment of fixed assets and other capitalized costs and $3 million relating to stock based compensation and other benefits as well as intangible asset impairment charges as discussed below. These costs were partially offset by a curtailment gain of $16 million for other post-retirement benefits.


 Goodwill impairment charges of $653 million related to our Card and Retail Services and Insurance Services businesses.


 Impairment charges of $14 million relating to technology, customer lists and loan related relationships resulting from the discontinuation of originations for our Consumer Lending business.


Excluding these items from the current quarter, total operating expenses decreased $276 million, or 20 percent, during the first quarter of 2009 due to lower salary expense, lower marketing expenses, lower sales incentives and the impact of entity-wide initiatives to reduce costs, partially offset by higher collection costs.


Our efficiency ratio from continuing operations was 29.01 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to 29.34 percent in the prior year quarter. Our efficiency ratio during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 was significantly impacted by the change in the credit risk component of our fair value optioned debt and, in the first quarter of 2009, the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges and Consumer Lending closure costs, as discussed above. Excluding these items from the periods presented, our efficiency ratio improved 295 basis points during the first quarter of 2009 as a result of lower salary expense, marketing expense and sales incentives as well as the impact of entity-wide initiatives to reduce cost which resulted in operating expenses decreasing more rapidly than net interest income and fee income.


Our return on average common shareholder's equity ("ROE") was 26.54 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to 7.32 percent in the prior year quarter. Our return on average owned assets ("ROA") was 2.96 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to .61 percent in the prior year quarter. ROE and ROA were significantly impacted in the current and prior year quarters by the change in the credit risk component of our fair value optioned debt and in the current quarter by the goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges and the closure costs related to our Consumer Lending business. Excluding these items, ROE decreased 594 basis points and ROA decreased 121 basis points as compared to prior year quarter. The decrease was a result of the lower net interest income, including lower overall yields on our receivable portfolios due to changes in mix, and lower other revenues as well as higher provisions for credit losses.


The financial information set forth below summarizes selected financial highlights for continuing operations of HSBC Finance Corporation as of March 31, 2009 and 2008 and for the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008.


 

Three Months Ended 

March 31,

 

2009

2008


(dollars are in millions)

Income from continuing operations

$872

$238

Return on average owned assets ("ROA")

2.96%

.61%

Return on average common shareholder's equity ("ROE")

26.54

7.32

Net interest margin

5.87

6.31

Consumer net charge-off ratio, annualized

9.02

6.59

Efficiency ratio(1)

29.01

29.34


As of March 31,

2009

2008

Receivables

$103,058

$140,893

Two-month-and-over contractual delinquency ratio

14.58%

8.24%



(1) 

Ratio of total costs and expenses less policyholders' benefits to net interest income and other revenues less policyholders' benefits. 


Receivables were $103.1 billion at March 31, 2009, $108.2 billion at December 31, 2008 and $140.9 billion at March 31, 2008. The decrease is a result of our decision to reduce the size of our balance sheet and lower our risk profile as previously discussed. We have made significant changes to our product offerings and implemented other risk mitigation efforts since mid-2007 which have resulted in lower originations throughout 2008 and continuing into 2009, including the recent decision in late February 2009 to discontinue new customer account originations of all products in our Consumer Lending business. Additionally, lower receivable balances at March 31, 2009 reflect sales of $1.2 billion of real estate secured receivables and the transfer of $12.4 billion of credit card receivables and $3.0 billion of auto finance receivables to receivables held for sale since March 31, 2008. Decreases in real estate secured receivable balances at March 31, 2009 have been partially offset by a decline in loan prepayments resulting from fewer refinancing opportunities for our customers due to the previously discussed trends impacting the mortgage lending industry. See "Receivables Review" for a more detailed discussion of the decreases in receivable balances. 


Receivables held for sale were $1.4 billion at March 31, 2009 and $16.7 billion at December 31, 2008. The decrease reflects the sale of $15.4 billion of credit card and auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA as well as the transfer of $214 million of real estate secured receivables held for sale to receivables held for investment at fair value.


Our two-months-and-over contractual delinquency ratio increased compared to both the prior year quarter and prior quarter as a result of continuing weakness in the housing and mortgage industry, rising unemployment rates, including continued weakness in the U.S. economy, lower receivable levels as discussed above and as it relates to credit card receivables, a shift in mix to non-prime receivables due to the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios as discussed above. Dollars of delinquency, however, decreased $404 million in the first quarter of 2009. With the exception of real estate secured receivables in our Consumer Lending business, all products reported lower dollars of delinquency due to lower receivable levels and seasonal improvements in our collection activities during the first quarter as some customers use their tax refunds to make payments. Decreases in dollars of delinquency in our credit card portfolio also reflect the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios which had $461 million and $362 million of contractual delinquency at December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, respectively. Dollars of delinquency in our auto finance receivable portfolio were lower in part due to the adoption of FFIEC charge-off policies during the first quarter of 2009 which accelerated charge-off in the current quarter and will result in receivables charging-off earlier going forward. Lower dollars of contractual delinquency levels were partially offset by the continuing deterioration of marketplace and broader economic conditions, including significantly higher levels of unemployment and portfolio seasoning. Dollars of delinquency in our Consumer Lending's real estate secured receivables increased $627 million since December 31, 2008 primarily for first lien real estate secured receivables. As compared to the prior year quarter, dollars of delinquency for real estate secured receivables were negatively impacted by delays in processing foreclosures due to backlogs in foreclosure proceedings by local governments and actions of certain states that have lengthened the foreclosure process. See "Credit Quality-Delinquency" for a more detailed discussion of the increase in delinquency.


Net charge-offs as a percentage of average consumer receivables for the quarter increased compared to both the prior year quarter and prior quarter due to higher dollars of charge-offs in our real estate secured, auto finance and personal non-credit card receivable portfolios and lower average consumer receivables. The decrease in average consumer receivables reflects changes in product offerings, lower origination volumes and the sale of real estate secured, credit card and auto finance receivables as discussed above. The higher charge-offs were driven by the higher delinquency levels that are migrating to charge-off including a higher percentage of loans which progress to later stages of delinquency ("higher roll rates"), the impact of the marketplace and broader economic conditions, higher levels of bankruptcy filings, higher loss severities for real estate secured receivables and the acceleration of auto finance charge-offs resulting from the adoption of FFIEC charge-off policies during the first quarter of 2009. Net charge-off dollars and percentages of credit card receivables declined compared to the prior quarter as the factors discussed above, including lower recovery rates on defaulted receivables were more than offset by lower receivable levels due largely to the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios as discussed above and seasonal improvements in our collection activities during the first quarter as some customers use their tax refunds to make payments. Additionally, for our credit card receivables, lower net charge-off dollars in the first quarter of 2009 reflect the impact of the sale of $107 million of credit card receivables in December 2008, all of which were greater than 150 days contractually delinquent at the time of sale. We believe the higher charge-offs for all other products have been partially offset by increases in the volume of receivable re-ages and modifications as well as seasonal improvements in our collection activities during the first quarter as some customers use their tax refunds to make payments. See "Credit Quality- Net Charge-offs of Consumer Receivables" for a more detailed discussion of net charge-offs as a percentage of average consumer receivables.


Funding and Capital During the first quarter of 2009, HSBC Investments (North America) Inc. ("HINO") made two capital contributions to us totaling $880 million. Each capital contribution was in exchange for one share of common stock. Additionally, in late February 2009 we effectively converted $275 million of mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of the Household Capital Trust VIII, which were included as a component of due to affiliates, to common stock by redeeming the junior subordinated notes underlying the preferred securities and then issuing common stock to HINO. These transactions serve to support ongoing operations and to maintain capital at levels we believe are prudent in the current market conditions. These capital contributions occurred subsequent to the dividend of $1.0 billion paid to HINO in January 2009 relating to the capital associated with the receivables sold to HSBC Bank USA. Until we return to profitability, we are dependent upon the continued capital support of HSBC to continue our business operations and maintain selected capital ratios.


As discussed previously, in February 2009 we decided to discontinue new customer account originations for all products offered by our Consumer Lending business and close substantially all branch offices as soon as all commitments to customers were satisfied. This action resulted in two of the three primary credit rating agencies electing to lower the ratings on our senior debt, commercial paper and Series B preferred stock. Prior to our February 2009 decision, these agencies had designated HSBC Finance Corporation as a "core" business within the HSBC Group. Following this decision, these agencies felt that we had diminished strategic importance to the overall HSBC Group, resulting in the lower ratings as described above. HSBC remains fully committed to providing the capital support, and has the capacity to provide such support, to ensure our remaining business operations continue and selected capital ratios are maintained. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" in this MD&A for a schedule showing our credit ratings as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008.


On October 3, 2008, the United States Congress enacted the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (the "EESA") with the stated purpose of providing stability to and preventing disruption in the economy and financial system and protecting taxpayers. Pursuant to or in conjunction with the EESA, in 2008 and continuing into 2009 the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the federal banking and thrift regulatory agencies have announced a series of initiatives intended to strengthen market stability, improve the strength of financial institutions and enhance market liquidity. As of March 31, 2009, the only program under the EESA in which we are participating is the Commercial Paper Funding Facility ("CPFF") which provides a liquidity backstop to U.S. issuers of commercial paper. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" in this MD&A for a further discussion of our participation in the CPFF. We will continue to evaluate additional initiatives to enhance liquidity and provide other market support as the details of the various programs become available.


Basis of Reporting


Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"). Unless noted, the discussion of our financial condition and results of operations included in MD&A are presented on a continuing operations basis of reporting. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation.


In addition to the U.S. GAAP financial results reported in our consolidated financial statements, MD&A includes reference to the following information which is presented on a non-U.S. GAAP basis:


Equity Ratios Tangible shareholders' equity plus owned loss reserves to tangible managed assets ("TETMA + Owned Reserves") and tangible common equity to tangible managed assets are non-U.S. GAAP financial measures that are used by HSBC Finance Corporation management and certain rating agencies to evaluate capital adequacy. These ratios exclude the equity impact of SFAS No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities," the equity impact of SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," SFAS No. 158, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Post-retirement Plans - an amendment of FASB statement Nos. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)," and the impact of SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities- including an amendment of FASB statement No. 115," including the subsequent changes in fair value recognized in earnings associated with debt for which we elected the fair value option. Preferred securities issued by certain non-consolidated trusts are also considered equity in the TETMA + Owned Reserves calculations because of their long-term subordinated nature and our ability to defer dividends. Managed assets include owned assets plus any loans which we may have sold and service with limited recourse. These ratios may differ from similarly named measures presented by other companies. The most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure is the common and preferred equity to owned assets ratio. For a quantitative reconciliation of these non-U.S. GAAP financial measures to our common and preferred equity to owned assets ratio, see "Reconciliations to U.S. GAAP Financial Measures."


International Financial Reporting Standards Because HSBC reports results in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs") and IFRSs results are used in measuring and rewarding performance of employees, our management also separately monitors net income under IFRSs (a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure). All purchase accounting fair value adjustments relating to our acquisition by HSBC have been "pushed down" to HSBC Finance Corporation for both U.S. GAAP and IFRSs consistent with our IFRS Management Basis presentation. The following table reconciles our net income on a U.S. GAAP basis to net income on an IFRSs basis:


 

Three Months 

Ended March 31,


2009

2008


(in millions)

Net income - U.S. GAAP basis

$872

$255

Adjustments, net of tax:



Derivatives and hedge accounting (including fair value adjustments)

8

(8)

Intangible assets

12

21

Loan origination

15

12

Loan impairment

9

14

Loans held for sale

3

(1)

Interest recognition

2

(17)

Other-than-temporary impairments on available-for-sale securities

9

-

Securities

(75)

-

Goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges

(956)

-

Other

3

25

Net income - IFRSs basis

$(98)

$301


A summary of the significant differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRSs as they impact our results are presented below:


Derivatives and hedge accounting (including fair value adjustments) - The historical use of the "shortcut" and "long haul" hedge accounting methods for U.S. GAAP resulted in different cumulative adjustments to the hedged item for both fair value and cash flow hedges. These differences are recognized in earnings over the remaining term of the hedged items. All of the hedged relationships which previously qualified under the shortcut method provisions of SFAS No. 133 have been redesignated and are now either hedges under the long-haul method of hedge accounting or included in the fair value option election.


Intangible assets - Intangible assets under IFRSs are significantly lower than those under U.S. GAAP as the newly created intangibles associated with our acquisition by HSBC were reflected in goodwill for IFRSs. As a result, amortization of intangible assets is lower under IFRSs.


Deferred loan origination costs and fees - Under IFRSs, loan origination cost deferrals are more stringent and result in lower costs being deferred than permitted under U.S. GAAP. In addition, all deferred loan origination fees, costs and loan premiums must be recognized based on the expected life of the receivables under IFRSs as part of the effective interest calculation while under U.S. GAAP they may be recognized on either a contractual or expected life basis. As a result, in years with higher levels of receivable originations, net income is higher under U.S. GAAP as more expenses are deferred. In years with lower levels of receivable originations, net income is lower under U.S. GAAP as the higher costs deferred in prior periods are amortized into income without the benefit of similar levels of cost deferrals for current period originations.


Loan impairment provisioning - IFRSs requires a discounted cash flow methodology for estimating impairment on pools of homogeneous customer loans which requires the incorporation of the time value of money relating to recovery estimates. Also under IFRSs, future recoveries on charged-off loans are accrued for on a discounted basis and a recovery asset is recorded. Subsequent recoveries are recorded to earnings under U.S. GAAP, but are adjusted against the recovery asset under IFRSs. Interest is recorded based on collectibility under IFRSs.


Loans held for sale - IFRSs requires loans designated as held for sale at the time of origination to be treated as trading assets and recorded at their fair market value. Under U.S. GAAP, loans designated as held for sale are reflected as loans and recorded at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. Under U.S. GAAP, the income and expenses related to receivables held for sale are reported similarly to loans held for investment. Under IFRSs, the income and expenses related to receivables held for sale are reported in other operating income.


For receivables transferred to held for sale subsequent to origination, IFRSs requires these receivables to be reported separately on the balance sheet but does not change the recognition and measurement criteria. Accordingly for IFRSs purposes, such loans continue to be accounted for in accordance with IAS 39 with any gain or loss recorded at the time of sale. U.S. GAAP requires loans that management intends to sell to be transferred to a held for sale category at the lower of cost or fair value.


Interest recognition - The calculation of effective interest rates under IAS 39 requires an estimate of "all fees and points paid or recovered between parties to the contract" that are an integral part of the effective interest rate be included. U.S. GAAP generally prohibits recognition of interest income to the extent the net interest in the loan would increase to an amount greater than the amount at which the borrower could settle the obligation. Also under U.S. GAAP, prepayment penalties are generally recognized as received.


Securities - Under IFRSs, securities include HSBC shares held for stock plans at fair value. These shares are recorded at fair value through other comprehensive income. If it is determined these shares have become impaired, the fair value loss is recognized in profit and loss and any fair value loss recorded in other comprehensive income is reversed.


Other-than-temporary impairment on available-for-sale securities - As a result of the guidance issued by the SEC in October 2008, under U.S. GAAP we are allowed to evaluate perpetual preferred securities for potential impairment similar to a debt security provided there has been no evidence of deterioration in the credit of the issuer and record the unrealized losses as a component of other comprehensive income. There are no similar provisions under IFRSs and all impairments are reported in other operating income.


Effective January 1, 2009 under U.S. GAAP, the credit loss component of an other-than-temporary impairment of a debt security is recognized in earnings while the remaining portion of the impairment loss is recognized in other comprehensive income provided a company concludes it neither intends to sell the security nor concludes that it is more-likely-than-not that it will have to sell the security prior to recovery. Under IFRSs, there is no bifurcation of other-than-temporary impairment and the entire decline in value is recognized in earnings.


Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges - Goodwill levels established as a result of our acquisition by HSBC were higher under IFRSs than U.S. GAAP as the HSBC purchase accounting adjustments reflected higher levels of intangibles under U.S. GAAP. Consequently, the amount of goodwill allocated to our Card and Retail Services and Insurance Services businesses and written off during the first quarter of 2009 is greater under IFRSs. In addition, U.S. GAAP requires a two-step impairment test which requires an analysis of the reporting units' implied fair value of goodwill to be determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination. Additionally, the intangible assets allocated to our Consumer Lending business and written off during the first quarter of 2009 were higher under U.S. GAAP. There are also differences in the valuation of assets and liabilities under IFRSs and U.S. GAAP resulting from the Metris acquisition in December 2005.


Other - There are other differences between IFRSs and U.S. GAAP including pension expense, changes in tax estimates, securitized receivables, purchase accounting and other miscellaneous items as well as a curtailment gain related to post-retirement benefits during the first quarter of 2009.


IFRS Management Basis Reporting As previously discussed, corporate goals and individual goals of executives are currently calculated in accordance with IFRSs under which HSBC prepares its consolidated financial statements. As a result, operating results are being monitored and reviewed, trends are being evaluated and decisions about allocating resources, such as employees, are being made almost exclusively on an IFRS Management Basis. IFRS Management Basis results are IFRSs results which assume that the GM and UP Portfolios and the auto finance, private label and real estate secured receivables transferred to HSBC Bank USA have not been sold and remain on our balance sheet. Additionally, IFRS Management Basis assumes that all purchase accounting fair value adjustments relating to our acquisition by HSBC have been "pushed down" to HSBC Finance Corporation. Operations are monitored and trends are evaluated on an IFRS Management Basis because the receivable sales to HSBC Bank USA were conducted primarily to appropriately fund prime customer loans within HSBC and such receivables continue to be managed and serviced by us without regard to ownership. Accordingly, our segment reporting is on an IFRS Management Basis. However, we continue to monitor capital adequacy, establish dividend policy and report to regulatory agencies on an U.S. GAAP basis. A summary of the significant differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRSs as they impact our results are summarized in Note 16, "Business Segments," in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.


Quantitative Reconciliations of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures to U.S. GAAP Financial Measures For quantitative reconciliations of non-U.S. GAAP financial measures presented herein to the equivalent GAAP basis financial measures, see "Reconciliations to U.S. GAAP Financial Measures."


Receivables Review


The following table summarizes receivables and receivables held for sale at March 31, 2009 and increases (decreases) over prior periods:




Increases (Decreases) From



December 31,

March 31,


March 31,

2008

2008


2009

$

%

$

%


(dollars are in millions)

Receivables:






Real estate secured(1)

$69,575

$(2,091)

(2.9)%

$(12,272)

(15.0)%

Auto finance

6,620

(1,001)

(13.1)

(6,137)

(48.1)

Credit card

12,038

(1,193)

(9.0)

(16,617)

(58.0)

Private label(2)

-

(65)

(100.0)

(120)

(100.0)

Personal non-credit card(2)

14,764

(804)

(5.2)

(2,624)

(15.1)

Commercial and other

61

(32)

(34.4)

(65)

(51.6)

Total receivables

$103,058

$(5,186)

(4.8)%

$(37,835)

(26.9)%

Receivables held for sale:






Real estate secured

$49

$(274)

(84.8)%

$(26)

(34.7)%

Auto finance

-

(2,786)

(100.0)

-

-

Credit card

1,360

(12,211)

(90.0)

1,360

100.0

Total receivables held for sale

$1,409

$(15,271)

(91.6)%

$1,334

100+%

Total receivables and receivables held for sale:






Real estate secured

$69,624

$(2,365)

(3.3)%

$(12,298)

(15.0)%

Auto finance

6,620

(3,787)

(36.4)

(6,137)

(48.1)

Credit card

13,398

(13,404)

(50.0)

(15,257)

(53.2)

Private label(2)

-

(65)

(100.0)

(120)

(100.0)

Personal non-credit card(2)

14,764

(804)

(5.2)

(2,624)

(15.1)

Commercial and other

61

(32)

(34.4)

(65)

(51.6)

Total receivables and receivables held for sale

$104,467

$(20,457)

(16.4)%

$(36,501)

(25.9)%



(1) 

Real estate secured receivables are comprised of the following: 




Increases (Decreases) From



December 31,

March 31,


March 31,

2008

2008


2009

$

%

$

%


(dollars are in millions)

Mortgage Services

$24,264

$(1,190)

(4.7)%

$(7,388)

(23.3)%

Consumer Lending

45,301

(901)

(2.0)

(4,882)

(9.7)

All other

10

-

-

(2)

(16.7)

Total real estate secured

$69,575

$(2,091)

(2.9)%

$(12,272)

(15.0)%


(2) 

On a continuing basis, private label receivables consist primarily of the liquidating retail sales contracts in our Consumer Lending business with a receivable balance of $37 million as of March 31, 2009. Beginning in the first quarter of 2009, we began reporting this liquidating portfolio prospectively within our personal non-credit card portfolio. 


Real estate secured receivables can be further analyzed as follows: 




Increases (Decreases) From



December 31,

March 31,


March 31,

2008

2008


2009

$

%

$

%


(dollars are in millions)

Real estate secured:






Closed-end:






First lien

$59,573

$(1,677)

(2.7)%

$(9,164)

(13.3)%

Second lien

7,604

(276)

(3.5)

(2,356)

(23.7)

Revolving:






First lien

232

(7)

(2.9)

(171)

(42.4)

Second lien

2,166

(131)

(5.7)

(581)

(21.2)

Total real estate secured(1)

$69,575

$(2,091)

(2.9)%

$(12,272)

(15.0)%



(1) 

Excludes receivables held for sale. Real estate secured receivables held for sale included $49 million, $323 million and $75 million primarily of closed-end, first lien receivables at March 31, 2009, December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, respectively. During the first quarter of 2009, $214 million of Consumer Lending real estate secured receivables held for sale were reclassified to held for investment. 


The following table summarizes various real estate secured receivables information (excluding receivables held for sale) for our Mortgage Services and Consumer Lending businesses: 


 

March 31, 2009

December 31, 2008

March 31, 2008

 

 

Mortgage

Services

Consumer

Lending

Mortgage

Services

Consumer

Lending

Mortgage

Services

Consumer

Lending


(In millions)

Fixed rate

$13,885(1)

$43,016(2)

$14,340(1)

$43,882(2)

$17,482(1)

$47,357(2)

Adjustable rate

10,379

2,285

11,114

2,320

14,235

2,836

Total

$24,264

$45,301

$25,454

$46,202

$31,717

$50,193

First lien

$20,255

$39,556

$21,198

$40,297

$25,719

$43,496

Second lien

4,009

5,745

4,256

5,905

5,998

6,697

Total

$24,264

$45,301

$25,454

$46,202

$31,717

$50,193

Adjustable rate

$8,863

$2,285

$9,319

$2,320

$11,044

$2,836

Interest only

1,516

-

1,795

-

3,191

-

Total adjustable rate

$10,379

$2,285

$11,114

$2,320

$14,235

$2,836

Total stated income

$4,964

$-

$5,237

$-

$7,223

$-



(1) 

Includes fixed rate interest-only loans of $331 million, $337 million and $390 million at March 31, 2009, December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, respectively. 



(2) 

Includes fixed rate interest-only loans of $43 million, $44 million and $48 million at March 31, 2009, December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, respectively. 


Receivable decreases since March 31, 2008 Real estate secured receivables decreased from the year-ago period. Lower receivable balances in our Mortgage Services business reflect the continuing liquidation of the portfolio. The decrease also includes portfolio sales of real estate secured receivables with an outstanding principal balance of approximately $640 million from our Mortgage Services business since March 31, 2008. The lower real estate secured receivable levels in our Consumer Lending business resulted from the actions taken since mid-2007 to reduce risk going forward as well as the decision in late February 2009 to discontinue all new originations for all loan products in our Consumer Lending operations. The balance of this portfolio will continue to decline going forward as the receivable balances liquidate. The decrease in the Consumer Lending real estate secured receivable portfolio also reflects portfolio sales of receivables with an outstanding principal balance of approximately $600 million since March 31, 2008. The decreases in real estate secured receivables were partially offset in both our Mortgage Services and Consumer Lending businesses by a decline in loan prepayments due to fewer refinancing opportunities for our customers due to the previously discussed trends impacting the mortgage lending industry. 


Auto finance receivables decreased as a result of our decision to discontinue auto loan originations in July 2008 as well as the transfer of $3.0 billion of non-delinquent auto finance receivables to receivables held for sale during the third quarter of 2008 which were subsequently sold to HSBC Bank USA. The balance of the auto finance portfolio will continue to decline going forward as the receivable balances liquidate. Credit card receivables decreased due to the transfer of the GM and UP Portfolios to receivables held for sale during the second and fourth quarters of 2008, respectively, which were subsequently sold to HSBC Bank USA as well as numerous actions taken to slow receivable growth throughout 2008 and into 2009, including tightening initial credit line sales authorization criteria, closing inactive accounts, decreasing credit lines, tightening underwriting criteria, tightening cash access and reducing marketing expenditures. Personal non-credit card receivables decreased as a result of the actions taken throughout 2008 to reduce risk as well as the decision in late February 2009 to cease all new customer account originations for all products in our Consumer Lending business.


Receivable decreases since December 31, 2008 Real estate secured receivables have decreased since December 31, 2008. Our Mortgage Services real estate secured portfolio and our auto finance receivable portfolio have continued to liquidate during the first quarter of 2009. Lower real estate secured receivables in our Consumer Lending business and personal non-credit card receivables reflect changes in our product offerings throughout 2008 as well as the decision to discontinue new originations for all loan products in late February 2009, as discussed above. These decreases in the real estate secured portfolio were partially offset by a decline in loan prepayments which has continued during the first quarter of 2009. Decreases in our credit card receivables were due to the changes in product offerings throughout 2008 as well as normal seasonal run-off in the first quarter.


Receivables Held for Sale The decrease in receivables held for sale during the three months ended March 31, 2009 reflects the sale of $15.4 billion of credit card and auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA in January 2009 as discussed above. Additionally, during the current quarter we transferred $214 million of real estate secured receivables held for sale in our Consumer Lending business to receivables held for investment as we intend to hold these receivables for the foreseeable future.


Real Estate Owned


We obtain real estate by taking possession of the collateral pledged as security for real estate secured receivables ("REO"). REO properties are made available for sale in an orderly fashion with the proceeds used to reduce or repay the outstanding receivable balance. The following table provides quarterly information regarding our REO properties:


 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Mar. 31,

2009

Dec. 31,

2008

Sept. 30,

2008

June 30,

2008

Mar. 31,

2008

Number of REO properties at end of period

8,643

9,350

10,887

10,596

9,955

Number of properties added to REO inventory in the period

4,143

3,313

5,416

5,606

5,197

Average loss on sale of REO properties(1)

16.9%

13.3%

11.0%

11.0%

16.0%

Average total loss on foreclosed properties(2)

52.0%

46.8%

42.2%

40.0%

39.5%

Average time to sell REO properties (in days)

201

180

174

171

181



(1) 

Average loss on sale of REO properties is calculated as cash proceeds after deducting selling costs and commissions, minus the book value of the property when it was moved to real estate owned, divided by the book value of the property when it was moved to real estate owned. 



(2) 

Average total loss on foreclosed properties includes both the loss on sale and the write-down upon classification as real estate owned, expressed as a percentage of the book value of the property prior to its transfer to real estate owned. 


The number of REO properties at March 31, 2009 decreased as compared to December 31, 2008 due to unusually high sales volumes during the month of March 2009 as well as the impact of our one-month suspension of foreclosure proceedings of owner occupied homes in December 2008, delays in processing foreclosures due to backlogs in foreclosure proceedings by local governments and actions of certain states that have lengthened the foreclosure process. The average loss on sale of REO properties has continued to increase in the first quarter of 2009 due to continuing declines in house prices. 


Results of Operations


Unless noted otherwise, the following discusses amounts reported in our consolidated statement of income for continuing operations.


Net interest income The following table summarizes net interest income: 


 

 

 

Three Months

Ended March 31,

2009

Three Months

Ended March 31,

2008


Increase

(Decrease)

 

$

%(1)

$

%(1)

Amount

%


(dollars are in millions)

Finance and other interest income

$2,846

9.95%

$4,109

11.10%

$(1,263)

(30.7)%

Interest expense

1,167

4.08

1,773

4.79

(606)

(34.2)

Net interest income

$1,679

5.87%

$2,336

6.31%

$(657)

(28.1)%



(1) 

% Columns: comparison to average owned interest-earning assets. 


The decrease in net interest income during the first quarter of 2009 was due to lower average receivables, lower origination volumes, lower levels of performing receivables and lower overall yields on our receivable and non-insurance investment portfolios, partially offset by lower interest expense. With the exception of credit card receivables, yields on our receivable portfolio decreased for all products due to increased levels of loan modifications, the impact of deterioration in credit quality, including growth in non-performing assets, lower amortization of net deferred fees due to lower loan prepayments and lower loan origination volumes as well as decreases in rates on variable rate products which reflect market rate movements. Overall receivable yields were also negatively impacted by a shift in mix to higher levels of real estate secured receivables as a result of the sale of $12.4 billion and $3.0 billion of credit card and auto finance receivables, respectively, in January 2009 as credit card and auto finance receivables generally have higher yields than real estate secured receivables. However, as it relates to our credit card portfolio, the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios has created a significant shift in mix to higher levels of non-prime receivables which carry higher rates resulting in higher overall yields for our credit card portfolio during the first quarter of 2009. The lower yields on our non-insurance investment portfolio reflects lower rates on overnight investments. The lower interest expense was due to lower average rates for floating rate borrowings on lower average borrowings. The lower average rates for floating rate borrowings reflect actions taken by the Federal Reserve Bank which decreased short-term interest rates by 200 basis points since March 31, 2008. 


Net interest margin was 5.87 percent during the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to 6.31 percent in the year-ago period. Net interest margin decreased during the first quarter of 2009 due to lower overall yields on our receivable portfolio as discussed above, partially offset by lower funding costs. The following table shows the impact of these items on net interest margin:


 

2009

2008

Net interest margin - March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively

6.31%

6.25%

Impact to net interest margin resulting from:



Receivable yields:



Receivable pricing

(.22)

.08

Receivable mix

(.10)

.26

Impact of non-performing assets

(.59)

(.46)

Non-insurance investment income

(.23)

(.05)

Cost of funds

.70

.23

Net interest margin - March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively

5.87%

6.31%


The varying maturities and repricing frequencies of both our assets and liabilities expose us to interest rate risk. When the various risks inherent in both the asset and the debt do not meet our desired risk profile, we use derivative financial instruments to manage these risks to acceptable interest rate risk levels. See "Risk Management" for additional information regarding interest rate risk and derivative financial instruments.


Provision for credit losses The following table summarizes provision for credit losses:


 

 





Increase

(Decrease)

 

2009

2008

Amount

%


(dollars are in millions)

Three months ended March 31,

$2,945

$2,828

$117

4.14%


Our provision for credit losses increased $117 million during the first quarter of 2009 due to higher credit loss estimates in our Consumer Lending business, partially offset by lower provisions for credit losses for our Mortgage Services business as well as in our credit card and auto finance receivable portfolios. Excluding the impact of the GM and UP Portfolios transferred to HSBC Bank USA, our provision for credit losses increased $294 million during the current quarter. Credit loss estimates in our Consumer Lending business increased primarily in our first lien, real estate secured receivable portfolio driven by an accelerated deterioration of portions of that portfolio which began in the second half of 2007. Charge-off and delinquency continued to increase, including higher roll rates due to the marketplace deterioration as previously discussed. Lower receivable prepayments, portfolio seasoning and higher loss severities due to continued deterioration in real estate values also resulted in a higher real estate secured credit loss provision, as did rising unemployment rates in an increasing number of markets and continued deterioration in the U.S. economy. The magnitude of the higher delinquency trends increased significantly in the second half of 2008 and continued into the first quarter of 2009, particularly in the first-lien portions of Consumer Lending's 2006 and 2007 real estate secured receivable originations and to a lesser extent the real estate secured originations in the first half of 2008 due to the current economic conditions, including higher early stage delinquency levels. As a result, dollars of two-months-and-over contractual delinquency in our Consumer Lending real estate secured receivable portfolio at March 31, 2009 were $6.2 billion, an increase of 150 percent, compared to $2.5 billion at March 31, 2008. Credit loss estimates for Consumer Lending's personal non-credit card portfolio also increased during the first quarter of 2009 due to higher levels of charge-off resulting from deterioration in the 2006 and 2007 vintages which was more pronounced in certain geographic regions and continued deterioration in the U.S. economy.


Provision for credit losses decreased in our credit card and auto finance receivable portfolios as well as in our Mortgage Services business due to the following:


 Provision for credit losses in our credit card receivable portfolio decreased primarily as a result of the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios as discussed above. Excluding the credit loss provision recorded for these portfolios in the first quarter of 2008, the provision for credit losses in our credit card receivable portfolio increased $55 million during the current quarter due to the continued deterioration in the U.S. economy and housing markets, particularly in states which previously had experienced the greatest home price appreciation, portfolio seasoning, higher levels of personal bankruptcy filings and lower recovery rates on defaulted receivables. These higher credit loss estimates were largely attributable to deterioration in the credit performance of non-prime customers who are also homeowners which typically carry higher balances. Higher credit loss estimates were partially offset by lower receivable levels reflecting actions taken throughout 2008 and into 2009 to slow receivable growth as discussed above.


 Provision for credit losses in our auto finance receivable portfolio was lower during the first quarter of 2009 due to the discontinuation of auto finance originations as well as the sale of $3.0 billion of auto finance receivables in January 2009, partially offset by the adoption of FFIEC charge-off policies which increased our provision for credit losses by $36 million during the quarter. Decreases in credit loss estimates for our auto finance receivable portfolio were partially offset by the continued deterioration in the U.S. economy, including significantly higher unemployment rates and higher loss severities driven by lower prices on repossessed vehicles as compared to the year-ago period.


 Provision for credit losses in our Mortgage Services business decreased as compared to the year-ago period as the portfolio became more fully seasoned and continues to run-off, resulting in lower charge-off levels. Additionally, as compared to the year-ago quarter there has been a shift in the mix of charge-offs to first lien loans which generally have lower loss severities than second lien loans. However, loss severities have continued to increase due to declines in real estate values. Rising unemployment rates in an increasing number of markets and continued deterioration in the U.S. economy were also significant factors partially offsetting the lower credit loss estimates.


Net charge-off dollars totaled $2.4 billion during both the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008. Excluding $87 million of charge-offs related to the adoption of FFIEC charge-off policies for our auto finance receivable portfolio recorded during the current quarter as discussed above, net charge-offs were lower during the three months ended March 31, 2009 as compared to the year-ago period. The decrease reflects lower net charge-offs in our credit card receivable portfolio largely as a result of the sale of $12.4 billion of credit card receivables in early January 2009 which had net charge-offs totaling $184 million during the first quarter of 2008 as well as lower net charge-offs in our Mortgage Services business due to a shift in mix to higher levels of charge-offs of first lien loans which generally have lower loss severities than second lien loans. These decreases were partially offset by higher net charge-offs in our Consumer Lending real estate secured receivable portfolios for the reasons discussed above which were partially offset by delays in foreclosure activities. We continue to experience delays in processing foreclosures due to the effect of our voluntary one-month suspension in December 2008, backlogs in foreclosure proceedings by local governments and actions of certain states that have lengthened the foreclosure process. Net charge-off dollars for all products were negatively impacted by the deteriorating U.S. economy, including significantly higher unemployment rates. For further discussion see "Credit Quality" in this Form 10-Q.


We anticipate higher levels of delinquency and charge-off in all of our portfolios during the remainder of 2009. However, the magnitude of these negative trends in 2009 will largely be dependent on the length and depth of the U.S. economic recession, and particularly, unemployment rates. If unemployment rates rise significantly during the remainder of 2009, we anticipate corresponding increases in delinquency and charge-offs which will result in higher loss provision.


Other revenues The following table summarizes other revenues: 


 

 

 

Increase (Decrease)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008

Amount

%


(dollars are in millions)

Insurance revenue

$93

$105

$(12)

(11.4)%

Investment income

7

25

(18)

(72.0)

Derivative income

38

4

34

100+

Gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives

4,112

1,177

2,935

100+

Fee income

228

458

(230)

(50.2)

Enhancement services revenue

135

184

(49)

(26.6)

Taxpayer financial services revenue

90

149

(59)

(39.6)

Gain on bulk sale of receivables to HSBC Bank USA

57

-

57

100.0

Gain on receivable sales to HSBC affiliates

128

55

73

100+

Servicing and other fees from HSBC affiliates

193

131

62

47.3

Lower of cost or fair value adjustment on receivables held for sale

(170)

(7)

(163)

(100+)

Other income (expense)

46

36

10

27.8

Total other revenues

$4,957

$2,317

$2,640

100+%


Insurance revenue decreased during the first quarter of 2009 as a result of lower credit related premiums due to reduced loan originations generated in the Consumer Lending business due to reductions in product offerings and tightening of underwriting criteria throughout 2008. As a result of the decision in late February 2009 to discontinue all new customer account originations in our Consumer Lending business, we will no longer issue credit insurance policies in this business segment. The decreases in insurance revenue were partially offset by growth in the simplified issue term life insurance product that was introduced in 2007.


Investment income, which includes income on securities available for sale in our insurance business and realized gains and losses from the sale of securities, decreased in first quarter of 2009 due to lower interest income as well as the recording of higher other-than-temporary impairment charges in the current quarter. Other-than-temporary impairment charges totaled $20 million and $6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.


Derivative income (expense) includes realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivatives which do not qualify as effective hedges under SFAS No. 133 as well as the ineffectiveness on derivatives which are qualifying hedges. Derivative income (expense) is summarized in the table below:


Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(in millions)

Net realized gains (losses)

$(20)

$-

Mark-to-market on derivatives which do not qualify as effective hedges

3

11

Ineffectiveness

55

(7)

Total

$38

$4


As previously discussed, the deterioration in marketplace and economic conditions has resulted in our Consumer Lending and Mortgage Services real estate secured receivables remaining on the balance sheet longer due to lower prepayment rates and higher delinquency levels. To offset the increase in duration of these receivables and the corresponding increase in interest rate risk as measured by the present value of a basis point ("PVBP") we had $4.4 billion of pay fixed, receive variable rate interest rate swaps during the current quarter. While these hedge positions lowered our overall interest rate risk, they did not qualify as effective hedges under SFAS No. 133. The results of these non-qualifying hedges in the first quarter of 2009 negatively impacted net realized losses and mark- to-market on derivatives which do not qualify as effective hedges. The increase in ineffectiveness is primarily driven by changes in the market value of our cross currency cash flow hedges due to the decline in foreign interest rates in the first quarter of 2009.


Designation of swaps as effective hedges reduces the volatility that would otherwise result from mark-to-market accounting. All derivatives are economic hedges of the underlying debt instruments regardless of the accounting treatment.


Net income volatility, whether based on changes in interest rates for swaps which do not qualify for hedge accounting or ineffectiveness recorded on our qualifying hedges under the long haul method of accounting, impacts the comparability of our reported results between periods. Accordingly, derivative income for the three months ended March 31, 2009 should not be considered indicative of the results for any future periods.


Gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives reflects fair value changes on our fixed rate debt accounted for under FVO as well as the fair value changes and realized gains (losses) on the related derivatives associated with debt designated at fair value. These components are summarized in the table below:


Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(in millions)

Mark-to-market on debt designated at fair value:



Interest rate component

$181

$(1,015)

Credit risk component

3,791

1,289

Total mark-to-market on debt designated at fair value

3,972

274

Mark-to-market on the related derivatives

20

918

Net realized gains (losses) on the related derivatives

120

(15)

Total

$4,112

$1,177


The change in the fair value of the debt and the change in value of the related derivatives reflect the following:


 Interest rate curve - In the first quarter of 2009, the U.S. LIBOR curve steepened as interest rates with three year terms or less decreased while interest rates for terms greater than three years increased. This resulted in reduced changes in the interest rate component on debt designated at fair value and the related derivatives. Also in 2009, market illiquidity has created changes in the value of the debt which does not have a corresponding impact on the value of the related derivative. In the first quarter of 2008, falling long term U.S. interest rates resulted in a significant loss on debt designated at fair value. The value of receive fixed/pay variable swaps increased in response to the falling long term U.S. rates. Changes in the value of the interest rate component of the debt as compared to the related derivative are also affected by the differences in cash flows and valuation methodologies for the debt and related derivative. Cash flows on debt are discounted using a single discount rate from the bond yield curve while derivative cash flows are discounted using rates at multiple points along the LIBOR yield curve. The impacts of these differences vary as short-term and long-term interest rates change relative to each other. Furthermore, certain derivatives have been called by the counterparty resulting in certain FVO debt having no related derivative. Income from net realized gains increased due to reduced short term U.S. interest rates.


 Credit - Our credit spreads widened dramatically during the first quarter of 2009 subsequent to the announcement of the discontinuation of all new customer account originations in our Consumer Lending business and closure of substantially all Consumer Lending branch offices as well as the credit rating downgrades in early March 2009. Changes in the credit risk component of the debt during the first quarter of 2008 were impacted by a general widening of new issue and secondary bond market credit spreads across all domestic bond market sectors as well as a general lack of liquidity in the secondary bond market during the period. The fair value benefit from the change of our credit spreads is a result of having historically raised debt at credit spreads which are not available under today's market conditions.


Net income volatility, whether based on changes in either the interest rate or credit risk components of the mark-to market on debt designated at fair value and the related derivatives, impacts the comparability of our reported results between periods. As discussed above, the significant widening of our credit spreads in March 2009, which resulted in a significant increase in gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives, was in response to the announcement related to our Consumer Lending business and downgrades by rating agencies. Our credit spreads may not remain at these levels for the remainder of 2009 which could result in a reversal of a significant portion of the gain on debt designated at fair value during the remainder of 2009. As of April 30, 2009, approximately $3.0 billion of the $3.8 billion recorded during the first quarter of 2009 has reversed. Accordingly, gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives for the three months ended March 31, 2009 should not be considered indicative of the results for any future periods.


Fee income, which includes revenues from fee-based products such as credit cards, decreased in the first quarter of 2009 primarily as a result of the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios as previously discussed as well as changes in our credit card fee practices implemented during the second quarter of 2008, higher fee charge-offs due to increased loan defaults and lower late, overlimit and interchange fees due to lower volumes.


Enhancement services revenue, which consists of ancillary credit card revenue from products such as Account Secure Plus (debt protection) and Identity Protection Plan, was lower in the first quarter of 2009 primarily as a result of the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios as previously discussed as well as the impact of lower new origination volumes.


Taxpayer financial services ("TFS") revenue decreased in the three months ended March 31, 2009 as H&R Block was the only third-party preparer during the 2009 tax season with whom we have an on-going relationship and a shift in mix to lower revenue products.


Gain on bulk sale of receivables to HSBC Bank USA reflects the gain on sale of the GM and UP Portfolios, with an outstanding receivable balance of $12.4 billion, at the time of sale, and $3.0 billion of auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA in January 2009. This gain was partially offset by a loss recorded on the termination of cash flow swaps associated with $6.1 billion of indebtedness transferred to HSBC Bank USA as part of these transactions.


Gain on receivable sales to HSBC affiliates consists primarily of daily sales of private label receivable originations and certain credit card account originations to HSBC Bank USA. The increase in the first quarter of 2009 reflects the higher sales volumes as a result of the sales of new receivable originations in the GM and UP Portfolios beginning in January 2009, partially offset by lower premiums on our private label receivables reflecting the deteriorating credit environment.


Servicing and other fees from HSBC affiliates represents revenue received under service level agreements under which we service credit card and private label receivables as well as real estate secured and auto finance receivables for HSBC affiliates. The increases primarily relate to higher levels of receivables being serviced on behalf of HSBC Bank USA as a result of the sales of the GM and UP Portfolios, with an outstanding receivable balance of $12.4 billion, at the time of sale, and $3.0 billion of auto finance receivables in January 2009 which we continue to service.


Lower of cost or fair value adjustment on receivables held for sale reflects the higher levels of receivables held for sale during the first quarter of 2009 and the impact of current market conditions on pricing.


Other income increased in the three months ended March 31, 2009 due to a gain on a miscellaneous commercial asset sale. Additionally, the prior year quarter included a gain of $11 million related to the sale of a portion of our Visa Class B shares as well as higher securitization related revenue as in February 2008 we repaid the remaining securitized credit card receivable trust.


Operating expenses


The following table summarizes total costs and expenses: 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase

(Decrease)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008

Amount

%


(dollars are in millions)

Salaries and employee benefits

$415

$442

$(27)

(6.1)%

Sales incentives

5

20

(15)

(75.0)

Occupancy and equipment expenses

91

54

37

68.5

Other marketing expenses

50

128

(78)

(60.9)

Real estate owned expenses

105

126

(21)

(16.7)

Other servicing and administrative expenses

255

256

(1)

(.4)

Support services from HSBC affiliates

279

269

10

3.7

Amortization of intangibles

42

55

(13)

(23.6)

Policyholders' benefits

55

52

3

5.8

Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges

667

-

667

100.0

Total costs and expenses

$1,964

$1,402

$562

40.1%


Salaries and employee benefits included severance costs of $88 million and $3 million relating to accelerated stock based compensation and other benefits during the three months ended March 31, 2009, partially offset by a $16 million curtailment gain related to post-retirement benefit, primarily related to the decision in late February 2009 to discontinue all new customer account originations in our Consumer Lending business and close substantially all of the Consumer Lending branch offices. Excluding these severance costs from the current period, salaries and employee benefits decreased $102 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 reflecting the reduced scope of our business operations, including the change in headcount from the strategic decisions implemented throughout 2008, the impact of entity-wide initiatives to reduce costs as well as lower salary costs derived from an increase in customer service, systems, collections and accounting services provided by an HSBC affiliate located outside the U.S. Decreases in salaries and employee benefits were partially offset by higher salary expense resulting from increased collection capacity.


Sales incentives decreased in the first quarter of 2009 due to lower origination volumes in our Consumer Lending business resulting from the changes in product offerings and the tightening of underwriting criteria throughout 2008, the economic and market conditions described above and the decision in late February 2009 to discontinue all new customer account originations in our Consumer Lending business.


Occupancy and equipment expenses included lease termination and associated costs of $54 million and write-offs of fixed asset and other capitalized costs of $29 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 related to the decision in late February 2009 to close substantially all of the Consumer Lending branch offices. Excluding the impact of these items, occupancy and equipment expenses was lower in the first quarter of 2009 due to lower depreciation and utilities expenses as a result of the reduction of the scope of our business operations since March 2008.


Other marketing expenses include payments for advertising, direct mail programs and other marketing expenditures. The decrease in marketing expense during the first quarter of 2009 reflects the decision to continue to reduce credit card, co-branded credit card and personal non-credit card receivable marketing expenses in an effort to reduce risk and slow receivable growth in these portfolios as well as the decision in late February 2009 to cease originations of personal non-credit card receivables.


Real estate owned expenses decreased in the first quarter of 2009 as a result of lower levels of real estate owned due to a delay in foreclosure proceedings as certain states and municipalities have implemented new rules which lengthen the foreclosure process, partially offset by higher average loss on sale of REO properties.


Other servicing and administrative expenses increased slightly during the three months ended March 31, 2009 primarily as a result of lower deferred origination costs due to lower origination volumes, higher third party collection costs as well as the write-off of miscellaneous assets related to the decision in late February 2009 to close substantially all of the Consumer Lending branch offices. These increases were partially offset by the impact of entity wide initiatives to reduce costs as well as lower expense resulting from the reduction of the scope of our business operations since March 2008.


Support services from HSBC affiliates includes technology and some centralized operational services and beginning in January 2009, human resources, corporate affairs and other shared services charged to us by HTSU which were previously recorded in salaries and employee benefits. Support services from HSBC affiliates also includes services charged to us by an HSBC affiliate located outside of the United States which provides operational support to our businesses, including among other areas, customer service, systems, collection and accounting functions. Support services from HSBC affiliates decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2009 as a result of reductions in support services due to reducing the scope of our business operations, partially offset by an increase in the use of services provided by an HSBC affiliate located outside of the United States.


Amortization of intangibles decreased in the first quarter of 2009 due to lower amortization for technology and customer lists due to the write off of a portion of these intangibles as a result of the decision in late February 2009 to discontinue all new customer account originations for all products in our Consumer Lending business. Additionally, lower amortization of intangibles reflects amortization on retail sales merchant agreements which became fully amortized during the first quarter of 2008.


Policyholders' benefits increased during the three months ended March 31, 2009 primarily due to higher unemployment claims and claims incurred on the simplified issue term life product, partially offset by lower life and disability claims on credit insurance policies.


Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges during the first quarter of 2009 includes a goodwill impairment charge of $653 million related to our Card and Retail Services and Insurance Services businesses. See Note 10, "Goodwill," in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the goodwill impairment. Additionally during the first quarter of 2009, we recorded impairment charges of $14 million for intangible assets associated with our Consumer Lending business as a result of our decision to discontinue new customer account originations for all products. See Note 4, "Strategic Initiatives," and Note 9, "Intangible Assets," in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the impairment.


Efficiency ratio The following table summarizes our owned basis efficiency ratio: 


 

2009

2008

Three months ended March 31

29.01%

29.34%


Our efficiency ratio during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 was significantly impacted by the change in the credit risk component of our fair value optioned debt and, in the first quarter of 2009, the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges and Consumer Lending closure costs, as discussed above. Excluding these items from the periods presented, our efficiency ratio improved 295 basis points during the first quarter of 2009 as a result of lower salary expense, marketing expense and sales incentives as well as the impact of entity-wide initiatives to reduce cost which resulted in operating expenses decreasing more rapidly than net interest income and fee income.


Segment Results - IFRS Management Basis


We have two reportable segments: Card and Retail Services and Consumer. Our segments are managed separately and are characterized by different middle-market consumer lending products, origination processes and locations. Our segment results are reported on a continuing operations basis.


Our Card and Retail Services segment includes our MasterCard, Visa, private label and other credit card operations. The Card and Retail Services segment offers these products throughout the United States primarily via strategic affinity and co-branding relationships, merchant relationships and direct mail. Products are also offered and customers serviced through the Internet.


Our Consumer segment consists of our run-off Consumer Lending, Mortgage Services and Auto Finance businesses. The Consumer segment provided real estate secured, auto finance and personal non-credit card loans. Loans were offered with both revolving and closed-end terms and with fixed or variable interest rates. Loans were originated through branch locations and direct mail. Products were also offered and customers serviced through the Internet. Prior to the first quarter of 2007, we acquired loans through correspondent channels and prior to September 2007 we originated loans sourced through mortgage brokers.


The "All Other" caption includes our Insurance, Taxpayer Financial Services and Commercial businesses, each of which falls below the quantitative threshold tests under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" ("SFAS No. 131"), for determining reportable segments, as well as our corporate and treasury activities. Certain fair value adjustments related to purchase accounting resulting from our acquisition by HSBC and related amortization have been allocated to Corporate, which is included in the "All Other" caption within our segment disclosure.


Beginning in the first quarter of 2009, we began allocating a majority of the costs of our corporate and treasury activities to our reportable segments which had previously not been considered in determining segment profit (loss). These allocated costs are now reported as intersegment revenues in the "All Other" caption and operating expenses for our reportable segments. There have been no other changes in the basis of segmentation or measurement of segment profit (loss) as compared with the presentation in our 2008 Form 10-K.


We report results to our parent, HSBC, in accordance with its reporting basis, IFRSs. Our segment results are presented on an IFRS Management Basis (a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure) as operating results are monitored and reviewed, trends are evaluated and decisions about allocating resources such as employees are made almost exclusively on an IFRS Management Basis. IFRS Management Basis results are IFRSs results which assume that the GM and UP credit card Portfolios and the auto finance, private label, real estate secured receivables transferred to HSBC Bank USA have not been sold and remain on our balance sheet. IFRS Management Basis also assumes that the purchase accounting fair value adjustments relating to our acquisition by HSBC have been "pushed down" to HSBC Finance Corporation. Operations are monitored and trends are evaluated on an IFRS Management Basis because the receivable sales to HSBC Bank USA were conducted primarily to fund prime customer loans within HSBC and such receivables continue to be managed and serviced by us without regard to ownership. However, we continue to monitor capital adequacy, establish dividend policy and report to regulatory agencies on a U.S. GAAP basis. A summary of the significant differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRSs as they impact our results are summarized in Note 16, "Business Segments," in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.


Card and Retail Services Segment The following table summarizes the IFRS Management Basis results for our Card and Retail Services segment:


 

 





Increase

(Decrease)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008

Amount

%


(dollars are in millions)

Net income (loss)

$(7)

$348

$(355)

(100+)%

Net interest income

1,340

1,302

38

2.9

Other operating income

660

844

(184)

(21.8)

Loan impairment charges

1,511

1,024

487

47.6

Operating expenses

488

580

(92)

(15.9)

Profit (loss) before tax

1

542

(541)

(99.8)

Intersegment revenues

2

5

(3)

(60.0)

Customer loans

42,867

46,892

(4,025)

(8.6)

Assets

40,701

45,566

(4,865)

(10.7)

Net interest margin, annualized

12.04%

10.81%

-

-

Return on average assets

(.07)

2.96

-

-


Our Card and Retail Services segment reported a net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009 as compared to net income for the prior year quarter. The net loss was due to higher loan impairment charges and lower other operating income, partially offset by higher net interest income and lower operating expenses. Loan impairment charges were higher due to higher delinquency and charge-off levels as a result of portfolio seasoning, increased levels of personal bankruptcy filings, continued deterioration in the U.S. economy including rising unemployment rates and lower recovery rates on defaulted loans. The significant increase in unemployment rates since March 31, 2008 has resulted in accelerated deterioration in our delinquency levels, including higher roll rates. During the first quarter of 2009, we increased credit loss reserves to $4.6 billion as loan impairment charges were $203 million greater than net charge-offs. During the first quarter of 2008, we increased credit loss reserves to $3.4 billion as loan impairment charges were $55 million greater than net charge-offs.


Net interest income increased due to lower interest expense, partially offset by higher interest charge-off due to the impact of credit deterioration. The increase in net interest margin reflects lower cost of funds, partially offset by the lower overall yields. The decrease in other operating income was primarily due to lower cash advance, interchange fees, late fees and enhancement services revenue due to lower volumes and changes in customer behavior. Operating expenses reflect lower marketing expenses in our effort to slow receivable growth in our credit card receivable portfolio as well as lower salary expenses, partially offset by higher third party collection expenses.


The decrease in ROA during the first quarter of 2009 was primarily due to the increase in loan impairment charges as discussed above, partially offset by lower average assets.


On December 18, 2008, the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of Thrift Supervision and the National Credit Union Administration jointly issued a final rule ("UDAP") that will be effective July 1, 2010 and will among other things, place restrictions on applying interest rate increases on new and existing balances, require changes to deferred interest plans, prescribe the manner in which payments may be allocated to amounts due and penalty rates may be charged on past due balances, and limit certain fees. We are already compliant with some of its provisions. We anticipate that this rule, once implemented, is likely to have a material adverse financial impact on our Card and Retail Services business. Legislation has been approved by Congressional committees that would accelerate the effective date of the Federal Reserve rules described above and would impose additional requirements. It is unclear at this time whether any legislation will be adopted by Congress, and, if adopted, what the content of such legislation will be.


Customer loans for our Card and Retail Services segment can be analyzed as follows:




Increases (Decreases) From



December 31,

March 31,


March 31,

2008

2008


2009

$

%

$

%


(dollars are in millions)

Credit card

$26,333

$(2,313)

(8.1)%

$(3,115)

(10.6)%

Private label

16,402

(1,539)

(8.6)

(866)

(5.0)

Other

132

(11)

(7.7)

(44)

(25.0)

Total loans

$42,867

$(3,863)

(8.3)%

$(4,025)

(8.6)%


Compared to March 31, 2008, customer loans decreased 9 percent due to the actions taken throughout 2008 to slow receivable growth, including tightening initial credit line sales authorization criteria, closing inactive accounts, decreasing credit lines, tightening underwriting criteria, tightening cash access and reducing marketing expenditures. In addition, we have stopped new account originations for certain segments of our portfolio which have been most severely impacted by the current housing and economic conditions. As economic conditions improve, we will evaluate whether to continue new account originations in certain of these segments. Lower private label receivable levels reflect the termination of unprofitable retail partners.


Customer loans decreased 8 percent to $42.9 billion at March 31, 2009 compared to $46.7 billion at December 31, 2008, primarily due to the changes in product offerings as discussed above and normal seasonal run-off in the first quarter of 2009.


The following is additional key performance data related to our Card and Retail Services portfolios. The information is based on IFRS Management Basis results.


Our Cards and Retail Services portfolios consist of three key segments. The non-prime portfolios are primarily originated through direct mail channels (the "Non-prime Portfolio"). The prime portfolio consists of General Motors, Union Privilege and Retail Services receivables (the "Prime Portfolio"). These receivables are primarily considered prime at origination, however the credit profile of some customers will subsequently change due to changes in customer circumstances. The other portfolio is comprised of several liquidating portfolios and alternative marketing programs such as third party turndown programs (the "Other Portfolio"). The Other Portfolio includes certain adjustments not allocated to either the Non-prime or Prime Portfolios. The Other Portfolio contains both prime and non-prime receivables.


The following table includes key financial metrics for our Card and Retail Services business:



Quarter Ended

Change between



Mar. 31, 2009


Mar. 31,

Dec. 31,

Sept. 30,

June 30,

Mar. 31,

and


2009

2008

2008

2008

2008

Mar. 31, 2008


(dollars are in millions)

Receivables:







 Non-prime

$11,164

$12,247

$12,651

$12,878

$13,044

(14.4)%

 Prime

28,805

31,344

30,778

30,886

30,855

(6.6)

 Other

2,898

3,139

3,077

3,014

2,993

(3.2)

 Total

$42,867

$46,730

$46,506

$46,778

$46,892

(8.6)%

Net Interest Margin:







 Non-prime

20.36%

17.96%

17.49%

17.05%

17.10%

19.1%

 Prime

9.10

7.75

7.70

7.67

7.92

14.9

 Other

8.71

11.49

12.67

15.94

13.11

(33.6)

 Total

12.04%

10.76%

10.72%

10.80%

10.81%

11.4%

Net Charge-off Ratio:







 Non-prime

18.40%

16.36%

14.06%

14.54%

13.30%

38.3%

 Prime

8.44

6.86

6.20

6.15

5.52

52.9

 Other

16.15

13.05

12.12

12.13

10.45

54.5

 Total

11.59%

9.84%

8.75%

8.87%

8.01%

44.7%


While we have seen deterioration in performance across the Cards and Retail Services segment as compared to the prior year quarter, the Non-prime Portfolio performance has been deteriorating at a lesser degree through this stage of the economic cycle.


As previously discussed, customer loans have decreased by 9 percent as compared to the prior year quarter. The decrease in the Prime Portfolio has been less through a combination of the need to maintain approval rates due to merchant obligations and absolute levels of charge offs.


Net interest margin for both the Non-prime and Prime Portfolios remains strong, primarily due to lower cost of funds, lower promotional balances and incremental pricing actions.


Net charge-offs in the Non-prime Portfolio have deteriorated at a lower rate than our Prime Portfolio primarily due to the smaller credit lines and lower home ownership concentration relative to the Prime Portfolio. We continue to see a similar relationship in delinquencies.


The trends discussed above are at a point in time. Given the volatile economic conditions, there can be no certainty such trends will continue in the future.


Consumer Segment The following table summarizes the IFRS Management Basis results for our Consumer segment:


 



Increase (Decrease)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008

Amount

%


(dollars are in millions)

Net loss

$(1,320)

$(694)

$(626)

(90.2)%

Net interest income

1,035

1,563

(528)

(33.8)

Other operating income

(39)

(25)

(14)

(56.0)

Loan impairment charges

2,435

2,158

277

12.8

Operating expenses

557

465

92

19.8

Profit (loss) before tax

(1,996)

(1,085)

(911)

(84.0)

Intersegment revenues

34

44

(10)

(22.7)

Customer loans

95,651

114,020

(18,369)

(16.1)

Assets

88,548

109,635

(21,087)

(19.2)

Net interest margin, annualized

4.22%

5.40%

-

-

Return on average assets

(5.78)

(2.48)

-

-


Our Consumer segment reported a higher net loss during the three months ended March 31, 2009 as compared to the prior year quarter due to lower net interest income, higher loan impairment charges, lower other operating income and higher operating expenses.


Loan impairment charges for the Consumer segment increased during the first quarter of 2009 reflecting higher credit loss estimates due to the following:


 Higher overall levels of charge-off and contractual delinquency including higher roll rates due to the continued weakening of the U.S. economy and rising unemployment, with delinquency increasing most significantly in the first-lien portion of our Consumer Lending real estate secured receivable portfolios;


 Continued deterioration in real estate values which has resulted in increases in loss severities for real estate secured receivables;


 Portfolio seasoning; 


 Lower real estate secured receivable prepayments; and


 Higher delinquency levels in all delinquency buckets, including early stage delinquency, for real estate secured and personal non-credit card receivables in our Consumer Lending business.


During the first quarter of 2009, credit loss reserves increased as loan impairment charges were $414 million greater than net charge-offs. During the first quarter of 2008, credit loss reserves increased as loan impairment charges were $507 million greater than net charge-offs.


The decrease in net interest income was due to lower average customer loans, lower origination volumes, lower levels of performing receivables and lower overall yields partially offset by lower interest expense. Overall yields decreased due to increased levels of loan modifications, the impact of deterioration in credit quality, including growth in non-performing assets and lower amortization of net deferred fees due to lower loan prepayments and lower origination volumes. The decrease in net interest margin was primarily a result of lower overall yields and higher cost of funds as the impact of wider credit spreads offset decreases in short term interest rates during the period. Other operating income decreased primarily due to lower late fees and credit insurance commissions, partially offset by lower losses on sales of REO properties. Operating expenses for the three months of 2009 included $159 million of costs, net of a curtailment gain of $34 million related to other post-retirement benefits, related to the decision to discontinue new originations for all products in our Consumer Lending business and close substantially all Consumer Lending branch offices. Excluding these closure costs, operating expenses decreased during the first quarter of 2009 due to the reductions in the scope of our business operations as well as other cost containment measures, and lower REO expenses.


The decrease in the ROA ratio during the three months ended March 31, 2009 was primarily due to the increase in loan impairment charges and decrease in net interest income as discussed above, partially offset by lower average assets.


Customer loans for our Consumer segment can be analyzed as follows: 




Increases (Decreases) From



December 31,

March 31,


March 31,

2008

2008


2009

$

%

$

%


(dollars are in millions)

Real estate secured(1)

$71,312

$(2,507)

(3.4)%

$(12,478)

(14.9)%

Auto finance

9,521

(1,182)

(11.0)

(3,255)

(25.5)

Private label

-

(51)

(100.0)

(106)

(100.0)

Personal non-credit card

14,818

(785)

(5.0)

(2,530)

(14.6)

Total customer loans

$95,651

$(4,525)

(4.5)%

$(18,369)

(16.1)%

____________


(1) 

Real estate secured receivables are comprised of the following: 




Increases (Decreases) From



December 31,

March 31,


March 31,

2008

2008


2009

$

%

$

%


(dollars are in millions)

Mortgage Services

$26,258

$(1,369)

(5.0)%

$(7,651)

(22.6)%

Consumer Lending

45,054

(1,138)

(2.5)

(4,827)

(9.7)

Total real estate secured

$71,312

$(2,507)

(3.4)%

$(12,478)

(14.9)%


Customer loans decreased 16 percent to $95.7 billion at March 31, 2009 as compared to $114.0 billion at March 31, 2008. Real estate secured receivables decreased from the year-ago period. Lower receivable balances in our Mortgage Services business reflect the continuing liquidation of the portfolio. The lower real estate secured receivable levels in our Consumer Lending business resulted from the actions taken throughout 2008 to reduce risk going forward as well as the decision in late February 2009 to discontinue all new originations for all loan products in our Consumer Lending operations. The decrease in real estate secured receivables was partially offset by a continued decline in loan prepayments due to fewer refinancing opportunities for our customers due to the trends impacting the mortgage lending industry. Our auto finance portfolio decreased due to decisions made in 2008 to reduce and ultimately discontinue new auto loan originations. Personal non-credit card receivables decreased as a result of the actions taken throughout 2008 to reduce risk and limit growth going forward. Additionally as previously discussed, originations of personal non-credit card receivables have been terminated as a result of the decision in late February 2009 to discontinue originations of all products in our Consumer Lending business.


Customer loans decreased 5 percent at March 31, 2009 as compared to $100.2 billion at December 31, 2008. Real estate secured receivables have decreased since December 31, 2008. As discussed above, our Mortgage Services real estate secured portfolio has continued to liquidate during the first quarter of 2009. Lower real estate secured and personal non-credit card receivables in our Consumer Lending business reflect the changes in product offerings and tightening of underwriting criteria throughout 2008 and, to a lesser extent, the decision to discontinue new originations for all loan products in late February 2009, as discussed above. These decreases in the real estate secured portfolio were partially offset by a decline in loan prepayments which has continued during the first quarter of 2009. Decreases in our auto finance portfolio reflect the decision to terminate new auto loan originations as discussed above.


See "Receivables Review" for a more detail discussion of the decreases in our receivable portfolios.


Credit Quality


Credit Loss Reserves


We maintain credit loss reserves to cover probable losses of principal, interest and fees, including late, overlimit and annual fees. Credit loss reserves are based on a range of estimates and are intended to be adequate but not excessive. We estimate probable losses for consumer receivables using a roll rate migration analysis that estimates the likelihood that a loan will progress through the various stages of delinquency, or buckets, and ultimately charge-off based upon recent historical performance experience of other loans in our portfolio. This analysis considers delinquency status, loss experience and severity and takes into account whether loans are in bankruptcy, have been re-aged or rewritten, or are subject to forbearance, an external debt management plan, hardship, modification, extension or deferment. Our credit loss reserves take into consideration the loss severity expected based on the underlying collateral, if any, for the loan in the event of default. Delinquency status may be affected by customer account management policies and practices, such as the re-age of accounts, forbearance agreements, extended payment plans, modification arrangements, external debt management programs and deferments. When customer account management policies or changes thereto, shift loans from a "higher" delinquency bucket to a "lower" delinquency bucket, this will be reflected in our roll rate statistics. To the extent that re-aged or modified accounts have a greater propensity to roll to higher delinquency buckets, this will be captured in the roll rates. Since the loss reserve is computed based on the composite of all of these calculations, this increase in roll rate will be applied to receivables in all respective delinquency buckets, which will increase the overall reserve level. In addition, loss reserves on consumer receivables are maintained to reflect our judgment of portfolio risk factors that may not be fully reflected in the statistical roll rate calculation or when historical trends are not reflective of current inherent losses in the portfolio. Risk factors considered in establishing loss reserves on consumer receivables include product mix, unemployment rates, bankruptcy trends, geographic concentrations, loan product features such as adjustable rate loans, economic conditions, such as national and local trends in housing markets and interest rates, portfolio seasoning, account management policies and practices, current levels of charge-offs and delinquencies, changes in laws and regulations and other items which can affect consumer payment patterns on outstanding receivables, such as natural disasters and global pandemics.


While our credit loss reserves are available to absorb losses in the entire portfolio, we specifically consider the credit quality and other risk factors for each of our products. We recognize the different inherent loss characteristics in each of our products as well as customer account management policies and practices and risk management/collection practices. Charge-off policies are also considered when establishing loss reserve requirements to ensure the appropriate reserves exist for products with longer charge-off periods. We also consider key ratios such as reserves to nonperforming loans, reserves as a percentage of net charge-offs, reserves as a percentage of two-months-and-over contractual delinquency and months coverage ratios in developing our loss reserve estimate. Loss reserve estimates are reviewed periodically and adjustments are reported in earnings when they become known. As these estimates are influenced by factors outside of our control such as consumer payment patterns and economic conditions, there is uncertainty inherent in these estimates, making it reasonably possible that they could change.


The following table sets forth credit loss reserves for the periods indicated: 


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

March 31,

2008


(dollars are in millions)

Credit loss reserves

$12,972

$12,415

$10,876

Reserves as a percent of:




 Receivables

12.59

11.47%

7.72%

 Net charge-offs(1)

135.8(2)

130.7(2)

115.0

 Nonperforming loans

108.4(2)

108.2(2)

117.2(2)

____________


(1) 

Net charge-offs for the quarter, annualized, as a percentage of average consumer receivables for the quarter. 



(2) 

Ratio excludes nonperforming receivables and charge-offs associated with receivable portfolios which are considered held for sale as these receivables are carried at the lower of cost or fair value with no corresponding credit loss reserves. 


Credit loss reserves at March 31, 2009 increased as compared to December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008 as we recorded loss provision in excess of net charge-offs of $557 million during the quarter. The increase was primarily a result of the following: 


 Higher late stage delinquency since December 31, 2008 and higher delinquency in all delinquency buckets since the year-ago quarter which has resulted in higher credit loss estimates for our real estate secured receivable portfolios;


 Higher roll rates for real estate secured and credit card receivables;


 Continued deterioration of the U.S. economy and housing markets;


 Significantly higher unemployment rates; 


 Higher levels of personal bankruptcy filings for our credit card receivable portfolio;


 Portfolio seasoning; and 


 As it relates to the prior year quarter, delays in processing foreclosures for real estate secured receivables due to backlogs in foreclosure proceedings by local governments and actions of certain states that have lengthened the foreclosure process.


At March 31, 2009 and going forward, credit loss estimates for our credit card receivable portfolio relate primarily to non-prime credit card receivables due to the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios to HSBC Bank USA in January 2009. Our non-prime credit card receivable portfolio is structured for customers with lower credit scores. The products have lower credit lines and are priced for higher risk.


The credit quality of the non-prime portfolio has deteriorated at a lower rate relative to our GM and UP Portfolios which were sold to HSBC Bank USA in January 2009. The continued deterioration of the housing markets in the U.S. has affected the credit performance of our entire credit card portfolio, particularly in states which previously had experienced the greatest home price appreciation. Our non-prime credit card receivable portfolio concentration in these states is approximately proportional to the U.S. population, but a substantial majority of our non-prime customers are renters which are contributing to a lower rate of credit deterioration. Furthermore, our lower credit scoring customers within our non-prime portfolio, which have an even lower home ownership rate, have shown the least deterioration through this stage of the economic cycle. In addition, through March 31, 2009 unemployment has resulted in less credit deterioration in the non-prime portfolios as compared to prime portfolios. However, there can be no certainty that these trends will continue.


As previously discussed, we initiated actions beginning in the fourth quarter of 2007 which continued through the first quarter of 2009 to generally reduce our risk, by closing inactive accounts, decreasing credit lines, tightening underwriting and deliberate lowering of marketing investment. In addition, we have stopped new account originations for certain segments of our portfolio which have been most severely impacted by the current housing and economic conditions. As economic conditions improve, we will evaluate whether to continue new account originations in certain of these segments. These actions have resulted in an on-going decline in our non-prime credit card receivables.

In establishing reserve levels, given the current housing market trends in the U.S., we anticipate that losses in our real estate secured receivable portfolios will be incurred with greater frequency and severity than historically experienced. There is currently little secondary market liquidity for subprime mortgages. As a result, lenders have significantly tightened underwriting standards, substantially limiting the availability of alternative and subprime mortgages. As fewer financing options currently exist in the marketplace for home buyers, properties in certain markets are remaining on the market for longer periods of time which contributes to home price depreciation. For some of our customers, the ability to refinance and access equity in their homes is no longer an option as home prices remain stagnant in many markets and have depreciated in others. The current housing market trends are exacerbated by the current economic recession, including rising levels of unemployment. As a result, the impact of these industry trends on our portfolio has worsened, resulting in higher charge-off and credit loss estimates in all of our receivable portfolios. It is generally believed that recovery of the housing market, as well as unemployment rates, is not expected to begin to occur until at least 2010. We have considered these factors in establishing our credit loss reserve levels.


Reserves as a percentage of receivables at March 31, 2009 were higher than at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2008 due to the impact of additional reserve requirements as discussed above and lower receivable levels. Reserves as a percentage of net charge-offs were higher at March 31, 2009 as compared to March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2008 as the increase in reserve levels outpaced charge-offs as the growing late stage delinquency in our Consumer Lending real estate secured receivable portfolio will migrate to charge-off in future periods. Reserves as a percentage of nonperforming loans (excluding nonperforming loans held for sale) was slightly higher at March 31, 2009 as compared to the prior quarter as the increase in reserves outpaced the increase in nonperforming loans. The rate of increase in nonperforming loans slowed as compared to the prior quarter due to the impact of seasonal improvements in collections during the first quarter of the year. Reserves as a percentage of nonperforming loans (excluding nonperforming loans held for sale) was lower as compared to the prior year quarter as the majority of the increase in nonperforming loans was from the first lien real estate secured receivable portfolios in our Consumer Lending and Mortgage Services businesses which typically carry lower reserve requirements than second lien real estate secured and unsecured receivables.


Delinquency


The following table summarizes dollars of two-months-and-over contractual delinquency and two-months-and-over contractual delinquency as a percent of consumer receivables and receivables held for sale ("delinquency ratio"):


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

March 31,

2008


(dollars are in millions)

Dollars of Contractual Delinquency:




Continuing operations:




Real estate secured(1)

$10,658

$10,197

$6,899

Auto finance(2)

245

537

366

Credit card(2)

1,503

1,908

1,692

Private label(3)

-

16

23

Personal non-credit card

2,816

2,968

2,632

Total consumer - continuing operations(2)

15,222

15,626

11,612

Discontinued Operations

-

-

579

Total consumer

$15,222

$15,626

$12,191

Delinquency Ratio:




Continuing operations:




Real estate secured(1)

15.31%

14.17%

8.42%

Auto finance(2)

3.70

5.16

2.87

Credit card(2)

11.22

7.12

5.90

Private label(3)

-

24.71

19.39

Personal non-credit card

19.07

19.06

15.14

Total consumer - continuing operations(2)

14.58

12.52

8.24

Discontinued Operations

-

-

5.88

Total consumer

14.58%

12.52%

8.09%

____________


(1) 

Real estate secured two-months-and-over contractual delinquency and as a percentage of consumer receivables and receivables held for sale for our Mortgage Services and Consumer Lending businesses are comprised of the following: 


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

March 31,

2008


(dollars are in millions)

Dollars of Contractual Delinquency:




Mortgage Services:




 First lien

$3,747

$3,838

$3,392

 Second lien

707

782

1,020

Total Mortgage Services

$4,454

$4,620

$4,412

Consumer Lending:




 First lien

$5,323

$4,724

$1,954

 Second lien

881

853

530

Total Consumer Lending

$6,204

$5,577

$2,484

Delinquency Ratio:




Mortgage Services:




 First lien

18.46%

18.07%

13.19%

 Second lien

17.64

18.37

17.01

Total Mortgage Services

18.33%

18.11%

13.90%

Consumer Lending::




 First lien

13.45%

11.64

4.49%

 Second lien

15.33

14.45

7.91

Total Consumer Lending

13.69%

12.00%

4.95%


(2) 

The trend in dollars of contractual delinquency and the delinquency ratio for our credit card and auto finance portfolios as of March 31, 2009 was significantly impacted as a result of the sale of our GM and UP Portfolios as well as the sale of certain non-delinquent auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA in January 2009. The following table presents on a proforma basis, the delinquency dollars and delinquency ratios for the credit card and auto finance portfolios and for total consumer-continuing operations excluding these receivables from all periods presented: 


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

March 31,

2008


(dollars are in millions)

Dollars of contractual delinquency excluding the sold credit card and auto finance receivables from all periods:




Auto finance

$245

$537

$366

Credit card

1,503

1,447

1,330

Total consumer - continuing operations

15,222

15,165

11,250

Delinquency ratio excluding the sold credit card and auto finance receivables from all periods:




Auto finance

3.70%

7.25%

3.75%

Credit card

11.22

10.12

8.42

Total consumer - continuing operations

14.58

13.87

9.00


(3) 

On a continuing operations basis, private label receivables consisted primarily of the retail sales contracts in our Consumer Lending business which are liquidating. In the first quarter of 2009, we began reporting this liquidating portfolio on a prospective basis within our personal non-credit card portfolio. 


Total delinquency for continuing operations increased 206 basis points compared to the prior quarter primarily due to lower receivable levels for all products as a result of lower origination volumes due to changes in our product offerings, including the discontinuation of auto finance originations and the ceasing of all Consumer Lending originations, as well as the sale of $15.4 billion of credit card and auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA in January 2009 as previously discussed. Decreases in real estate secured receivable levels were partially offset by a decline in loan prepayments. 


Although the delinquency ratio has increased, dollars of contractual delinquency for continuing operations decreased $404 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 as compared to December 31, 2008. With the exception of real estate secured receivables in our Consumer Lending business, all products reported lower dollars of contractual delinquency. As discussed above, the trend in dollars of contractual delinquency and delinquency ratios for our credit card receivable portfolio was significantly impacted by the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios to HSBC Bank USA in January 2009. Excluding the delinquency impact of the GM and UP Portfolio in the prior periods, dollars of contractual delinquency for credit card receivables increased due to deterioration in credit performance as a result of the continued deterioration in the U.S. economy and housing markets, including rising unemployment rates, and higher levels of personal bankruptcy filings, particularly relating to the credit performance of non-prime customers who are also homeowners, which typically carry higher balances. These increases were partially offset by seasonal improvements in collection activities during the first quarter as some customers use their tax refunds to make payments as well as by the impact of lower receivable levels. Lower auto finance and personal non-credit card delinquencies reflect the continued run-off of these receivable portfolios and seasonal improvements in our collection activities during the quarter as discussed above. Additionally, decreases in dollars of delinquency in our auto finance portfolio reflect the adoption of FFIEC charge-off policies during the first quarter of 2009 as discussed above, which resulted in an acceleration of auto finance charge-offs of $87 million during the first quarter which otherwise would have charged-off in future periods. Dollars of contractual delinquency increased for our real estate secured receivables reflecting continued weakening in the housing and mortgage industry, particularly in the first-lien portion of Consumer Lending's 2006 and 2007 real estate secured receivable originations and to a lesser extent real estate secured receivable originations in the first half of 2008 due to current economic conditions.


While overall dollars of contractual delinquency decreased, contractual delinquency for all receivable products was negatively impacted by the following:


 Continued deterioration in the U.S. economy; 


 Significantly higher unemployment rates during the quarter; and


 Portfolio seasoning. 


Compared to March 31, 2008, our delinquency ratio from continuing operations increased 634 basis points at March 31, 2009 as all receivable products reported higher delinquency ratios for the reasons discussed above. Also contributing to the increase in our real estate secured receivables delinquency ratios and dollars were continuing delays in processing foreclosures due to backlogs in foreclosure proceedings by local governments and actions of certain states that have lengthened the foreclosure process. As a result, contractually delinquent receivables which would have normally proceeded to foreclosure and reported as real estate owned continue to be reported as contractually delinquent receivables.


Net Charge-offs of Consumer Receivables


The following table summarizes net charge-off of consumer receivables for the quarter, annualized, as a percent of average consumer receivables ("net charge-off ratio"). During a quarter that receivables are transferred to receivables held for sale, those receivables continue to be included in the average consumer receivable balances prior to such transfer and any charge-offs related to those receivables prior to such transfer remain in our net charge-off totals. However, for periods following the transfer to the held for sale classification, the receivables are no longer included in average consumer receivable balance as such loans are carried at the lower of cost or fair value and there are no longer any charge-offs reported associated with these receivables.


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

March 31,

2008


(dollars are in millions)

Net Charge-off dollars:




Continuing operations:




Real estate secured(1)

$979

$951

$966

Auto finance(2)

247

213

159

Credit card(2)

499

619

733

Private label(3)

-

5

9

Personal non-credit card

663

572

498

Total consumer - continuing operations(2)

2,388

2,360

2,365

Discontinued Operations

-

29

101

Total consumer

$2,388

$2,389

$2,466

Net Charge-off ratio:




Continuing operations:




Real estate secured(1)

5.54%

5.22%

4.64%

Auto finance(2)

13.88

10.48

4.94

Credit card(2)

15.48

17.02

9.91

Private label(3)

-

29.76

27.36

Personal non-credit card

17.37

14.49

11.23

Total consumer - continuing operations(2)

9.02

8.47

6.59

Discontinued Operations

-

5.03

4.02

Total consumer

9.02%

8.40%

6.42%

Real estate secured net charge-offs and REO expense as a percent of average real estate secured receivables

6.14%

5.64%

5.25%

____________


(1) 

Real estate secured net charge-off dollars, annualized, as a percentage of average consumer receivables for our Mortgage Services and Consumer Lending businesses are comprised of the following: 


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

March 31,

2008


(dollars are in millions)

Net Charge-off dollars:




Mortgage Services:




 First lien

$392

$301

$280

 Second lien

193

333

426

Total Mortgage Services

$585

$634

$706

Consumer Lending:




 First lien

$185

$134

$124

 Second lien

209

183

136

Total Consumer Lending

$394

$317

$260

Delinquency Ratio:




Mortgage Services:




 First lien

7.56%

5.58%

4.24%

 Second lien

18.83

29.01

26.90

Total Mortgage Services

9.42%

9.67%

8.62%

Consumer Lending::




 First lien

1.85%

1.32

1.14%

 Second lien

14.45

12.15

7.95

Total Consumer Lending

3.44%

2.72%

2.06%


(2) 

The trend in net charge-off dollars and the net charge-off ratio for our credit card and auto finance portfolios as of March 31, 2009 was significantly impacted as a result of the sale of our GM and UP Portfolios as well as the sale of certain auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA in January 2009. The following table presents on a proforma basis, the net charge-off dollars and net charge-off ratios for the credit card and auto finance portfolios and for total consumer-continuing operations excluding these receivables from all periods presented: 


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

March 31,

2008


(dollars are in millions)

Net charge-off dollars excluding the sold credit card and auto finance receivables from all periods:




Auto finance

$247

$213

$159

Credit card

499

583

549

Total consumer - continuing operations

2,388

2,324

2,181

Net charge-off ratio excluding the sold credit card and auto finance receivables from all periods:




Auto finance

13.88%

10.48%

6.44%

Credit card

15.48

16.03

13.29

Total consumer - continuing operations

9.02

8.57

6.53


(3) 

On a continuing operations basis, private label receivables consisted primarily of the retail sales contracts in our Consumer Lending business which are liquidating. In the first quarter of 2009, we began reporting this liquidating portfolio on a prospective basis within our personal non-credit card portfolio 

Our net charge-off ratio for continuing operations increased 55 basis points compared to the prior quarter primarily due to higher dollars of charge-offs in our real estate secured, auto finance and personal non-credit card receivable portfolios and lower average consumer receivables. The decrease in average consumer receivables reflects changes in product offerings, lower origination volumes and the sale of real estate secured, credit card and auto finance receivables as previously discussed, partially offset by a decline in loan prepayments for our real estate secured receivables. 


Higher dollars of net charge-offs in our real estate secured, auto finance and personal non-credit card were substantially offset by lower dollars of net charge-off in our credit card portfolio. Net charge-offs for all products were negatively impacted by the following:


 Continued deterioration in the U.S. economy and housing markets;


 Significantly higher unemployment rates; and 


 Portfolio seasoning. 


However, these continuing negative trends were partially offset for all products by seasonal improvements in our collection activities during the quarter as some customers use their tax refunds to make payments.


Charge-off dollars and ratios increased in our real estate secured receivable portfolio reflecting continued weakening in the housing and mortgage industry, including decreases in home values in certain markets and seasoning in our Consumer Lending real estate secured receivable portfolio. The increase in the real estate secured receivable net charge-off ratio was partially offset by lower charge-offs of second lien loans which generally have higher loss severities than first lien loans, as well as increases in the volume of receivable re-ages and modifications.


As discussed above, the trend in charge-off dollars and ratios for our credit card receivable portfolio was significantly impacted by the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios to HSBC Bank USA in January 2009. Excluding the GM and UP Portfolios from all periods, net charge-offs remained lower during the quarter as a result of seasonal trends in collections as well as the impact of the sale of $107 million of credit card receivables in December 2008, all of which were greater than 150 days contractually delinquent at the time of the sale. These receivables, which were charged-off during the fourth quarter of 2008 immediately prior to the sale, would otherwise have migrated to charge-off during the first quarter of 2009. These decreases in dollars of net-charge-offs for our credit card receivable portfolio were partially offset by the economic conditions described above as well as lower recovery rates on credit card receivables.


Higher net charge-offs in our auto finance receivable portfolio reflects the adoption of FFIEC charge-off policies which resulted in an acceleration of auto finance charge-offs of $87 million during the quarter. Excluding the impact of the adoption of FFIEC charge-off policies, dollars of net charge-offs for our auto finance portfolio decreased primarily due to seasonal improvements in collection activities described above, portfolio run-off and improvements in loss severities resulting from improved pricing for used vehicles during the quarter, partially offset by the economic conditions described above. Charge-off dollars and ratios in our personal non-credit card receivable portfolio reflect a deterioration in the 2006 and 2007 vintages which was more pronounced in certain geographic regions.


Our net charge-off ratio for continuing operations increased 243 basis points compared to the prior year quarter primarily due to higher charge-offs in our real estate secured portfolios, as discussed above. The net charge-off ratio in our credit card, auto finance and personal non-credit card portfolios increased as well due to continued weakening in the U.S. economy, higher levels of bankruptcy filings, continued home price deprecation in certain markets and for our auto finance portfolio, increases in severities from the year-ago period. For our credit card portfolio, the impact was highest for non-prime customers who are also homeowners and typically carry higher balances.


Nonperforming Assets


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

March 31,

2008


(dollars are in millions)

Continuing operations:




Nonaccrual receivables(1)

$11,018

$10,641

$8,043

Nonaccrual receivables held for sale

29

33

24

Accruing consumer receivables 90 or more days delinquent(2)

947

829

1,237

Accruing consumer receivables 90 or more days delinquent held for sale(2)

179

504

-

Total nonperforming receivables

12,173

12,007

9,304

Real estate owned

764

885

1,064

Total nonperforming assets - continuing operations

12,937

12,892

10,368

Discontinued operations

-

-

494

Total nonperforming assets

$12,937

$12,892

$10,862

Credit loss reserves as a percent of nonperforming receivables - continuing operations(3)

108.4%

108.2%

117.2%

____________


(1) 

Nonaccrual receivables are comprised of the following: 


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

March 31,

2008


(in millions)

Real estate secured:




Closed-end:




 First lien

$7,132

$6,419

$4,193

 Second lien

934

931

921

Revolving:




 First lien

4

8

20

 Second lien

323

314

316

Total real estate secured

8,393

7,672

5,450

Auto finance

245

537

366

Private label

-

12

20

Personal non-credit card

2,380

2,420

2,207

Total nonaccrual receivables

$11,018

$10,641

$8,043


(2) 

Consistent with industry practice, accruing consumer receivables 90 or more days delinquent includes credit card receivables. 



(3) 

Ratio excludes nonperforming receivables associated with receivable portfolios which are considered held for sale as these receivables are carried at the lower of cost or fair value with no corresponding credit loss reserves. 


Compared to both December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, the increase in total nonperforming receivables from continuing operations including nonperforming receivables held for sale, is largely due to higher levels of real estate secured nonaccrual receivables at our Consumer Lending business, partially offset by lower levels of accruing consumer receivables 90 or more days delinquent primarily resulting from the sale of the GM and UP Portfolios in January 2009. Total nonperforming real estate secured receivables and real estate owned at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 have been impacted by the delay of foreclosure activities as previously discussed. Real estate secured nonaccrual loans included stated income loans at our Mortgage Services business of $1.2 billion, $1.3 billion and $1.4 billion at March 31, 2009, December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, respectively. 


As discussed more fully below, we have numerous account management policies and practices to assist our customers in accordance with their individual needs, including either temporarily or permanently modifying loan terms. Loans which have been granted a permanent modification, a twelve-month or longer modification, or two or more consecutive six-month modifications are considered troubled debt restructurings for purposes of determining loss reserve estimates under SFAS No. 114, "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan" ("TDR Loans").


The following table summarizes TDR Loans which are shown as nonperforming assets for continuing operations in the table above:


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

March 31,

2008


(in millions)

Real estate secured

$805

$787

$175

Auto finance

10

18

14

Credit card

6

11

13

Personal non-credit card

144

61

41

Total

$965

$877

$243


For additional information related to our troubled debt restructurings, see Note 6, "Receivables," to our accompanying consolidated financial statements.


Customer Account Management Policies and Practices


Our policies and practices for the collection of consumer receivables, including our customer account management policies and practices, permit us to modify the terms of loans, either temporarily or permanently, and/or to reset the contractual delinquency status of an account to current, based on indicia or criteria which, in our judgment, evidence continued payment probability. Such policies and practices vary by product and are designed to manage customer relationships, maximize collection opportunities and avoid foreclosure or repossession if economically expedient. If a re-aged account subsequently experiences payment defaults, it will again become contractually delinquent.


As a result of the marketplace conditions previously described, in the fourth quarter of 2006 we began performing extensive reviews of our account management policies and practices and, in the first quarter of 2008, conducted a further strategic review of our receivable collection efforts. As more fully discussed below, these reviews have resulted in changes in our strategies for contacting customers as well as expanding existing modification programs to enable us to assist more customers in accordance with their needs.


Beginning late in the first quarter of 2008, we expanded our customer contact strategies in an effort to reach more customers. We have increased collection staffing particularly during the morning and evening hours when our customers are more likely to be available. We continue to work with advocacy groups in select markets to assist in encouraging our customers with financial needs to contact us. We have also implemented new training programs to ensure that our customer service representatives are focused on helping the customer through difficulties, are knowledgeable about the re-aging and modification programs available and are able to advise each customer of the best solutions for their individual circumstance. In the past, the majority of our customers were best served by re-aging their loan either with or without a modification of the loan terms. In the current marketplace, we have determined that our customers may be better served by a modification of the loan terms, which may or may not also include a re-aging of the account. As a result, during 2008 and during the first quarter of 2009, we have assisted more customers through the use of account modification than in prior years.


The following describes the primary programs we currently utilize to provide assistance to our customers with the goal to keep more customers in their homes, while maximizing future cash flows.


 Proactive ARM Reset Modification Program: As part of our risk mitigation efforts relating to the affected components of the Mortgage Services portfolio, in October 2006 we established a program specifically designed to meet the needs of select customers with ARMs nearing their first interest rate and payment reset that we expect will be the most impacted by a rate adjustment. We proactively contact these customers and, through a variety of means, we assess their ability to make the adjusted payment with a focus on the customer's debt service capability. As appropriate and in accordance with defined policies, we modify the loans, allowing time for the customer to seek alternative financing or improve their individual situation. Through the first quarter of 2008, these loan modifications primarily involved a twelve-month temporary interest rate relief by either maintaining the current interest rate for the entire twelve-month period or resetting the interest rate for the twelve-month period to a rate lower than originally required at the first reset date. At the end of the modification period, the interest rate on the loan will reset in accordance with the original loan terms unless the borrower qualifies for and is granted a new modification.


We anticipate approximately $126 million of ARM loans modified under this program since October 2006 will reach a reset date during the remainder of 2009. Prior to a loan reaching that reset date, we will re-evaluate the loan to determine if an extension of the modification term is warranted. If the loan is less than 30-days delinquent and has not received assistance under any other risk mitigation program, typically the modification may be extended for an additional twelve-month period provided the customer demonstrates an ongoing need for assistance. Loans modified as part of this specific risk mitigation effort are not considered to have been re-aged as these loans were not contractually delinquent at the time of the modification. However, if the loan had been re-aged in the past for other reasons or qualified for a re-age subsequent to the modification, it is included in the re-aging statistics table ("Re-age Table") below.


We modified approximately 160 loans for the first time under the Proactive ARM Reset Modification Program during the first quarter of 2009 with an outstanding receivable balance of $26 million at the time of the modification. Since the inception of the Proactive ARM Reset Modification program in October 2006, we have modified approximately 13,100 loans with an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $2.1 billion at the time of the modification. The following provides information about the post-modification performance of loans granted modifications under this program since October 2006:


 

 

Status as of March 31, 2009


Number

of Loans

Outstanding Receivable

Balance at Time of

Modification

Current or less than 30-days delinquent

55%

54%

30- to 59-days delinquent

6

6

60-days or more delinquent

10

11

Paid-in-full

14

13

Charged-off, transferred to real estate owned or sold

15

16


100%

100%


Of the loans modified under this program since October 2006 which remain outstanding at March 31, 2009, approximately 5,200 loans have subsequently qualified for assistance under other risk mitigation programs. Approximately 3,200 loans have reached the end of the modification period but did not qualify for other risk modification programs. Approximately 2,500 of those loans have had the interest rate reset in accordance with the original contractual terms.


 Foreclosure Avoidance/Account Modification Programs:  Since the fourth quarter of 2006, we have significantly increased our use of modifications in response to what we expect will be a longer term need of assistance by our customers due to the weak housing market and U.S. economy. In these instances, at our Mortgage Services business we are actively using account modifications to modify the rate and/or payment on a number of qualifying delinquent loans and re-age certain of these accounts upon receipt of two or more modified payments and other criteria being met. This account management practice is designed to assist borrowers who may have purchased a home with an expectation of continued real estate appreciation or whose income has subsequently declined. We also expanded the use of a Foreclosure Avoidance Program for delinquent Consumer Lending customers designed to provide relief to qualifying homeowners through loan modification and/or re-aging.


Based on the economic environment and expected slow recovery of housing values, during 2008 we developed additional analytical review tools leveraging off best practices in our Mortgage Services business to assist us in identifying customers who are willing to pay, but are expected to have longer term disruptions in their ability to pay. Using these analytical review tools, we have expanded our foreclosure avoidance/account modification programs to assist customers who did not qualify for assistance under prior program requirements or who required greater assistance than available under the programs. The expanded program includes certain documentation requirements as well as receipt of two qualifying payments before the account may be re-aged. For Consumer Lending customers, prior to July 2008, receipt of one qualifying payment was required for a modified account before the account would be re-aged. During the first quarter of 2008, we began to offer this expanded program to customers who had contacted us and requested payment relief as well as for customers who had not qualified for assistance under one of the existing programs. For selected customer segments, this expanded program lowers the interest rate on fixed rate loans and for ARM loans the expanded program modifies the loan to a lower interest rate than scheduled at the first interest rate reset date. The eligibility requirements for this expanded program allow more customers to qualify for payment relief and in certain cases can result in a lower interest rate than allowed under other existing programs. Under this expanded program, we have also implemented longer term modifications, providing assistance for generally either two years or five years for such customers across the Consumer Lending and Mortgage Services businesses. In the second quarter of 2008, we established a pre-approved payment relief program for customers who may not yet have requested payment relief. In February 2009, we temporarily suspended this proactive relief program as we attempt to better understand and evaluate the U.S. Treasury sponsored debt relief programs. As a result of the current marketplace conditions and our outlook for a slow return to more normal marketplace conditions, we have increased the use of longer term modifications as we believe they provide the most benefit to our customers and stakeholders as the economy recovers. A loan modified under these programs is only included in the Re-age Table if the delinquency status of the loan was reset as a part of the modification or was re-aged in the past for other reasons. Not all loans modified under these programs have the delinquency status reset and, therefore, are not considered to have been re-aged.


The following table summarizes loans modified under the Foreclosure Avoidance/Account Modification programs during the first quarter of 2009, some of which may have also been re-aged:


 

 

 


Number of

Accounts Modified

Outstanding Receivable

Balance at Time of

Modification

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2009

Consumer

Lending

Mortgage

Services

Consumer

Lending

Mortgage

Services


(accounts are in thousands)

(dollars are in millions)

Foreclosure Avoidance/Account Modification Programs(1)(2)

18.6(3)

18.2

$2,592(3)

$2,490

____________


(1) 

Includes all loans modified under these programs during the first quarter of 2009 regardless of whether the loan was also re-aged. 



(2) 

If qualification criteria are met, customer modification may occur on more than one occasion for the same account. For purposes of the table above, an account is only included in modification totals once in an annual period and not for each separate modification. 



(3) 

Excludes modifications related to the Consumer Lending purchased receivable portfolios which had a total outstanding principal balance of $1.7 billion at March 31, 2009. 


We also support a variety of national and local efforts in homeownership preservation and foreclosure avoidance. 


As a result of the expansion of our modification and re-age programs in response to the marketplace conditions previously described, modification and re-age volumes since January 2007 for real estate secured receivables have significantly increased and we anticipate this trend of higher modification and re-age volumes will continue in the foreseeable future. Since January 2007, we have cumulatively modified and/or re-aged approximately 256,300 real estate secured loans with an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $31.3 billion at the time of modification and/or re-age under the programs described above. These totals include approximately 26,600 real estate secured loans with an outstanding principal balance of $4.3 billion that received two or more modifications since January 2007. The following provides information about the post-modification performance of all real estate secured loans granted a modification and/or re-age since January 2007:


 

 

 


Number

of Loans

Outstanding Receivable

Balance at Time of

Modification

Current or less than 30-days delinquent

55%

54%

30- to 59-days delinquent

9

10

60-days or more delinquent

21

24

Paid-in-full

5

4

Charged-off

6

3

Transferred to real estate owned or sold

4

5


100%

100%


The following table shows the number of real estate secured accounts as well as the outstanding receivable balance of these accounts as of the period indicated for loans that were either re-aged only, modified only or modified and re-aged:


 

 


Number of Accounts

Outstanding Receivable

Balance(4)

 

 

Consumer

Lending(5)

Mortgage

Services

Consumer

Lending(5)

Mortgage

Services


(accounts are in thousands)

(dollars are in millions)

March 31, 2009:





Loans re-aged only

80.4

42.5

$7,192

$4,189

Loans modified only(2)

15.0

11.3

2,041

1,565

Loans modified and re-aged

54.2

45.5

7,288

6,511

Total loans modified and/or re-aged(3)

149.6

99.3

$16,521

$12,265

December 31, 2008:





Loans re-aged only

78.7

46.4

$6,955

$4,697

Loans modified only(2)

12.3

13.8

1,685

2,031

Loans modified and re-aged

43.8

33.8

5,876

4,906

Total loans modified and/or re-aged

134.8

94.0

$14,516

$11,634

March 31, 2008:





Loans re-aged only

82.5

50.0

$7,431

$5,303

Loans modified only(2)

1.5

11.2

159

1,786

Loans modified and re-aged

18.4

15.8

2,121

2,337

Total loans modified and/or re-aged

102.4

77.0

$9,711

$9,426

____________


(1) 

Loans which have been granted a permanent modification, a twelve-month or longer modification, or two or more consecutive six-month modifications are considered troubled debt restructurings for purposes of determining loss reserve estimates under SFAS No. 114, "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan." For additional information related to our troubled debt restructurings, see Note 7, "Receivables," to our accompanying consolidated financial statements. 



(2) 

Includes loans that have been modified under the Proactive ARM Modification program described above. 



(3) 

The following table provides information at March 31, 2009 regarding the delinquency status of loans granted modifications of loan terms and/or re-ages of the account: 


 

 


Number of Accounts

Outstanding Receivable

Balance

 

 

Consumer

Lending

Mortgage

Services

Consumer

Lending

Mortgage

Services

Current or less than 30-days delinquent

67%

67%

62%

64%

30- to 59-days delinquent

11

9

12

9

60-days or more delinquent

22

24

26

27


100%

100%

100%

100%


(4) 

The outstanding receivable balance included in this table reflects the principal amount outstanding on the loan excluding any basis adjustments to the loan such as unearned income, unamortized deferred fees and costs on originated loans, purchase accounting fair value adjustments and premiums or discounts on purchased loans. 



(5) 

Excludes modifications related to the Consumer Lending purchased receivable portfolios which had a total outstanding principal balance of $1.7 billion, $1.8 billion and $2.6 billion at March 31, 2009, December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, respectively. 


Although we have shifted our customer assistance programs to include more loan modifications, we continue to monitor and track information related to accounts that have been re-aged. Currently, approximately 78 percent of all re-aged receivables are secured products, which in general have less loss severity exposure because of the underlying collateral. Credit loss reserves take into account whether loans have been re-aged, rewritten or are subject to forbearance, an external debt management plan, modification, extension or deferment. Our credit loss reserves also take into consideration the loss severity expected based on the underlying collateral, if any, for the loan. 


As previously reported, in prior periods we used certain assumptions and estimates to compile our re-aging statistics. The systemic counters used to compile the information presented below exclude from the reported statistics loans that have been reported as contractually delinquent but have been reset to a current status because we have determined that the loans should not have been considered delinquent (e.g., payment application processing errors). When comparing re-aging statistics from different periods, the fact that our re-age policies and practices will change over time, that exceptions are made to those policies and practices, and that our data capture methodologies have been enhanced, should be taken into account.


Re-age Table(1)


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

March 31,

2008


(dollars are in millions)

Never re-aged

67.9%

75.2%

82.0%

Re-aged:




Re-aged in the last 6 months

13.6

9.7

7.6

Re-aged in the last 7-12 months

9.6

7.9

5.2

Previously re-aged beyond 12 months

8.9

7.2

5.2

Total ever re-aged(2)

32.1

24.8

18.0

Total

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

Total Re-aged by Product(1)(3)




Real estate secured(2)

$26,143

$23,350

$18,151

Auto finance

2,387

2,450

2,180

Credit card

529

785

794

Private label

-

16

26

Personal non-credit card

4,446

4,408

4,256

Total

$33,505

$31,009

$25,407

(As a percent of receivables and receivables held for sale)




Real estate secured

37.5%

32.4

22.2%

Auto finance

36.1

23.5

17.1

Credit card

3.9

2.9

2.8

Private label

-

24.2

21.9

Personal non-credit card

30.1

28.3

24.5

Total(2)

32.1%

24.8

18.0%

____________


(1) 

Excludes commercial and other. 



(2) 

The Mortgage Services and Consumer Lending businesses real estate secured re-ages are as shown in the following table: 


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

March 31,

2008


(in millions)

Mortgage Services

$11,144

$10,016

$8,219

Consumer Lending

14,999

13,334

9,932

Total real estate secured

$26,143

$23,350

$18,151


(3) 

The outstanding receivable balance included in the Re-age Table reflects the principal amount outstanding on the loan net of unearned income, unamortized deferred fees and costs on originated loans, purchase accounting fair value adjustments and premiums or discounts on purchased loans. 


The increase in re-aged loans during the first quarter of 2009 was primarily attributable to higher contractual delinquency due to deteriorating credit quality in our Mortgage Services and Consumer Lending businesses as we continue to work with our customers who, in our judgment, evidence continued payment probability as well as changes to our collection strategies as described above. As we expect economic conditions, particularly unemployment, to worsen in 2009, we anticipate re-aged loans will continue to increase. At March 31, 2009, December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, $8.2 billion (25 percent of total re-aged loans in the Re-age Table), $8.0 billion (26 percent of total re-aged loans in the Re-age Table) and $4.7 billion (18 percent of total re-aged loans in the Re-age Table), respectively, of re-aged accounts have subsequently experienced payment defaults and are included in our two-months-and-over contractual delinquency at the period indicated. 


In addition to our modification and re-aging policies and practices, we employ other customer account management techniques in respect of delinquent accounts that are similarly designed to manage customer relationships, maximize collection opportunities and avoid foreclosure or repossession if commercially sensible and reasonably possible. These additional customer account management techniques include, at our discretion, actions such as extended payment arrangements, approved external debt management plans, forbearance, loan rewrites and/or deferment pending a change in circumstances. We typically use these customer account management techniques with individual borrowers in transitional situations, usually involving borrower hardship circumstances or temporary setbacks that are expected to affect the borrower's ability to pay the contractually specified amount for some period of time. For example, under a forbearance agreement, we may agree not to take certain collection or credit agency reporting actions with respect to missed payments, often in return for the borrower's agreement to pay us an additional amount with future required payments. In some cases, these additional customer account management techniques may involve us agreeing to lower the contractual payment amount and/or reduce the periodic interest rate.


When we use a customer account management technique, we may treat the account as being contractually current and will not reflect it as a delinquent account in our delinquency statistics. However, if the account subsequently experiences payment defaults, it will again become contractually delinquent. Reserves are maintained specifically for re-aged accounts. We generally consider loan rewrites to involve an extension of a new loan, and such new loans are not reflected in our delinquency or re-aging statistics. Our account management actions vary by product and are under continual review and assessment to determine that they meet the goals outlined above.


The amount of receivables subject to forbearance, non-real estate secured receivable modification, rewrites or other customer account management techniques for which we have reset delinquency and that is not included in the re-aged or delinquency statistics was approximately $153 million or .2 percent of receivables and receivables held for sale at March 31, 2009 and $141 million or .1 percent at December 31, 2008.


Geographic Concentrations The following table reflects the percentage of consumer receivables and receivables held for sale in states which individually account for 5 percent or greater of our portfolio as of March 31, 2009 as well as the unemployment rate for these states as of March 31, 2009.



Percentage of Portfolio Receivables

Percent of

Unemployment


Credit

Real Estate


Total

Rates as of


Cards

Secured

Other

Receivables

March 31, 2009(1)

California

12%

11%

9%

11%

11.2%

Florida

8

7

6

7

9.7

New York

7

6

6

6

7.8

Ohio

4

5

5

5

9.7

Pennsylvania

4

6

6

5

7.8

____________


(1) 

The U.S. national unemployment rate as of March 31, 2009 was 8.5 percent. 


Liquidity and Capital Resources


HSBC Related Funding Debt due to affiliates and other HSBC related funding are summarized in the following table:




March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008


(in billions)

Debt issued to HSBC subsidiaries:



Term debt

$12.2

$13.2

Preferred securities issued by Household Capital Trust VIII to HSBC

-

.3

Total debt outstanding to HSBC subsidiaries

12.2

13.5

Debt outstanding to HSBC clients:



Euro commercial paper

.3

.4

Term debt

.4

.5

Total debt outstanding to HSBC clients

.7

.9

Cash received on bulk and subsequent sales of credit card receivables to HSBC Bank USA, net (cumulative)

11.5

-

Cash received on bulk sales of auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA, net (cumulative)

2.9

-

Cash received on bulk and subsequent sales of private label credit card receivables to HSBC Bank USA, net (cumulative)

17.3

19.3

Real estate secured receivable activity with HSBC Bank USA:



Cash received on sales (cumulative)

3.7

3.7

Direct purchases from correspondents (cumulative)

4.2

4.2

Reductions in real estate secured receivables sold to HSBC Bank USA

(5.9)

(5.8)

Total real estate secured receivable activity with HSBC Bank USA

2.0

2.1

Cash received from sale of U.K. Operations to HOHU

.4

.4

Cash received from sale of Canadian Operations to HSBC Bank Canada

.3

.3

Cash received from sale of U.K. credit card business to HBEU

2.7

2.7

Capital contribution by HSBC Investments (North America) Inc. (cumulative)

7.1

5.9

Total HSBC related funding

$57.1

$45.1


At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, funding from HSBC, including debt issuances to HSBC subsidiaries and clients, represented 13 percent and 12 percent of our total debt and preferred stock funding, respectively.


Cash proceeds received from the sale of our Canadian Operations to HSBC Bank Canada, the sale of our U.K. Operations to HOHU, the sale of our European Operations to an HBEU affiliate and the sale of our U.K. credit card business to HBEU were used to pay down short-term domestic borrowings, including outstanding commercial paper balances, and draws on bank lines from HBEU. Proceeds received from the bulk sale and subsequent daily sales of private label and credit card receivables to HSBC Bank USA of $28.8 billion and the proceeds from the bulk sale of certain auto finance receivables of $2.8 billion were used to pay down short-term domestic borrowings, including outstanding commercial paper balances, and during the first quarter of 2009, to pay down maturing long-term debt. Proceeds from each of these transactions were also used to fund ongoing operations.


At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we had a commercial paper back stop credit facility of $2.5 billion from HSBC supporting domestic issuances. No balances were outstanding under these domestic lines at either March 31, 2009 or December 31, 2008. At December 31, 2008, we had $1.0 billion and $1.2 billion in outstanding short-term debt drawn under previously uncommitted money market facilities from HBEU and a subsidiary of HSBC Asia Pacific ("HBAP"), respectively. The HBEU borrowing matured in February 2009 and we chose not to renew it at that time. The HBAP borrowing matured in April 2009 and we chose not to renew it at that time. We also have a $1.5 billion uncommitted credit facility and a $1.0 billion committed credit facility from HSBC Bank USA. At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, there were no balances outstanding under either of these lines.


We had derivative contracts with a notional value of $72.4 billion, or approximately 98 percent of total derivative contracts, outstanding with HSBC affiliates at March 31, 2009 and $77.9 billion, or approximately 98 percent at December 31, 2008.


Interest bearing deposits with banks and other short-term investments Interest bearing deposits with banks totaled $22 million and $25 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Securities purchased under agreements to resell totaled $5.6 billion and $1.0 billion at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. The increase in the amount of securities purchased under agreements to resell is due to the generation of additional liquidity as a result of the receivable portfolio sales to HSBC Bank USA.


Commercial paper, bank and other borrowings totaled $5.3 billion and $9.6 billion at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Included in this total was outstanding Euro commercial paper sold to customers of HSBC of $.3 billion and $.4 billion at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Commercial paper balances were higher at December 31, 2008 as a result of higher short term funding requirements until the completion of the sale of the credit card and auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA in January 2009 as discussed above. Euro commercial paper balances were lower at March 31, 2009 because domestic commercial paper rates provided a significant pricing advantage when compared to European pricing levels. Our funding strategies are structured such that committed bank credit facilities exceed 100 percent of outstanding commercial paper.


On October 7, 2008, the Federal Reserve Board announced the Commercial Paper Funding Facility to provide a liquidity backstop to U.S. issuers of commercial paper. Under the CPFF, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York will finance the purchase of highly-rated, U.S. dollar-denominated, unsecured and asset-backed three-month commercial paper from eligible issuers through its primary dealers. The program will terminate on October 30, 2009 unless extended by the Federal Reserve Board. On October 28, 2008, we became eligible to participate in the program in an amount of up to $12.0 billion. At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we had $2 billion and $520 million, respectively, outstanding under this program.


We had committed back-up lines of credit totaling $9.8 billion at March 31, 2009, of which $2.5 billion was with HSBC affiliates, to support our issuance of commercial paper. During April 2009, $3.8 billion in third party lines matured. We are currently in the process of renewing a portion of these recently matured facilities. Additional amounts will mature each year for the next two years. Based on current market conditions, we do not anticipate renewing all of these back-up lines as they mature. Given the overall reduction in our balance sheet, we expect the lower level of back-up lines will support a commercial paper issuance program that is consistent with our reduced funding requirements.


At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we had conduit credit facilities with commercial banks under which we may issue securities backed with up to $2.2 billion and $8.2 billion of receivables, respectively. Of the amounts available under these facilities, $2.2 billion and $5.8 billion were utilized at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. The decrease in availability of these facilities in the first quarter of 2009 reflects the transfer of conduit credit facilities totaling $4.1 billion to HSBC Bank USA in conjunction with their purchase of the GM and UP Portfolios as previously discussed as well as the expiration of conduit credit facilities totaling $1.9 billion. The facilities are renewable at the banks' option. The amount available under the facilities will vary based on the timing and volume of collateralized funding transactions. Additionally, we anticipate additional facilities will expire during the remainder of 2009 which will not be renewed. Our 2009 funding plan incorporates the anticipated reductions in these facilities.


Long-term debt decreased to $75.2 billion at March 31, 2009 from $90.0 billion at December 31, 2008 as we have reduced the size of our balance sheet due to the sale of $15.4 billion of receivables to HSBC Bank USA, lower origination volumes and receivable run-off during the first quarter of 2009. We have been focused on achieving the most effective cost of funding for HSBC's assets across North America. The following table summarizes issuances and retirements of long term debt during the first quarter of 2009 and 2008:


Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(in millions)

Long-term debt issued

$1,600

$1,194

Long-term debt retired(1)

(5,155)

(7,062)

Net long term debt retired

$(3,555)

$(5,868)

____________


(1) 

Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2009, long term debt of $6.1 billion was assumed by HSBC Bank USA in connection with their purchase of the GM and UP Portfolios, as discussed previously. 


Issuances of long term debt during the first quarter of 2009 included $1.6 billion of securities backed by personal non-credit card receivables. For accounting purposes, these transactions were structured as secured financings. 


Common Equity During the first quarter of 2009, HINO made two capital contributions to us totaling $880 million. Additionally, in late February 2009 we effectively converted $275 million of mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of the Household Capital Trust VIII, which were included as a component of due to affiliates, to common stock by redeeming the junior subordinated notes underlying the preferred securities and then issuing common stock to HINO. These transactions serve to support ongoing operations and to maintain capital at levels we believe are prudent in the current market conditions. These capital contributions occurred subsequent to the dividend of $1.0 billion paid to HINO in January 2009 relating to the capital associated with the receivables sold to HSBC Bank USA. Until we return to profitability, we are dependent upon the continued capital support of HSBC to continue our business operations and maintain selected capital ratios. HSBC has provided significant capital in support of our operations in the last two years and has indicated that they are fully committed and have the capacity to continue that support.


Selected capital ratios In managing capital, we develop targets for tangible shareholders' equity plus owned loss reserves to tangible managed assets ("TETMA + Owned Reserves") and tangible common equity to tangible managed assets. These ratio targets are based on discussions with HSBC and rating agencies, risks inherent in the portfolio and the projected operating environment and related risks. These ratios also exclude the equity impact of SFAS No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities," the equity impact of SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," SFAS No. 158, "Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and other Post-retirement Plans - as amendment of FASB Statement Nos. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)," and the impact of SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Liabilities," including the subsequent changes in fair value recognized in earnings associated with debt for which we elected the fair value option and the related derivatives. Preferred securities issued by certain non-consolidated trusts are also considered equity in the TETMA + Owned Reserves calculations because of their long-term subordinated nature and our ability to defer dividends. Managed assets include owned assets plus any loans which we may have sold and service with limited recourse. Our targets may change from time to time to accommodate changes in the operating environment or other considerations such as those listed above.


Selected capital ratios are summarized in the following table: 


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

TETMA + Owned Reserves(1)

20.37%

17.86%

Tangible common equity to tangible managed assets(1)

6.99

6.68

Common and preferred equity to owned assets

13.20

10.27

____________


(1) 

TETMA + Owned Reserves and tangible common equity to tangible managed assets represent non-U.S. GAAP financial ratios that are used by HSBC Finance Corporation management and applicable rating agencies to evaluate capital adequacy and may differ from similarly named measures presented by other companies. See "Basis of Reporting" for additional discussion on the use of non-U.S. GAAP financial measures and "Reconciliations to U.S. GAAP Financial Measures" for quantitative reconciliations to the equivalent U.S. GAAP basis financial measure. 


As previously discussed, subsequent to the announcement of our discontinuation of all new customer account originations in our Consumer Lending business and the closure of substantially all Consumer Lending branch offices two of the three primary credit rating agencies elected to lower the ratings on our senior debt, commercial paper and Series B preferred stock. The following summarizes our credit ratings at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008: 


 

 

 

Standard &

Poor's

Corporation

Moody's

Investors

Service



Fitch, Inc.

As of March 31, 2009:




HSBC Finance Corporation




 Senior debt

A

A3

AA-

 Commercial paper

A-1

P-1

F-1+

 Series B preferred stock

BBB

Baa2

A+

As of December 31, 2008:




HSBC Finance Corporation




 Senior debt

AA-

Aa3

AA-

 Commercial paper

A-1+

P-1

F-1+

 Series B preferred stock

A-2

A2

A+


Secured financings Secured financings (collateralized funding transactions which do not receive sale treatment under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities, a Replacement of FASB Statement No. 125," ("SFAS No. 140")) of consumer receivables have been a source of funding and liquidity for us. Collateralized funding transactions have been used to limit our reliance on the unsecured debt markets and can be a more cost-effective source of alternative funds. Secured financings are summarized in the following table:


Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(in millions)

Auto finance

$-

$200

Credit card

-

500

Personal non-credit card

1,600

-

Total

$1,600

$700


Secured financings of $8.8 billion at March 31, 2009 were secured by $14.8 billion of real estate secured, auto finance, credit card and personal non-credit card receivables. Secured financings of $15.0 billion at December 31, 2008 were secured by $21.4 billion of real estate secured, auto finance, credit card and personal non-credit card receivables. Secured financings, including conduit credit facilities, represented 10 percent of the funding associated with our managed funding portfolio at March 31, 2009 and 13 percent at December 31, 2008.


The following table shows by product type the receivables which secure our secured financings:


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008


(in billions)

Real estate secured

$7.4

$7.6

Auto finance

2.2

3.4

Credit card

2.1

10.2

Personal non-credit card

3.1

.2

Total

$14.8

$21.4


Commitments We enter into commitments to meet the financing needs of our customers. In most cases, we have the ability to reduce or eliminate these open lines of credit. As a result, the amounts below do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008

March 31,

2008


(in billions)

Private label and credit cards(1)

$116

$123

$157

Other consumer lines of credit

1

1

8

Open lines of credit(2)

$117

$124

$165

____________


(1) 

These totals include open lines of credit related to private label credit cards and the GM and UP Portfolios which we sell all new receivable originations to HSBC Bank USA on a daily basis. 



(2) 

Includes an estimate for acceptance of credit offers mailed to potential customers prior to March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. 


In January 2009, we extended a line of credit to H&R Block for up to $2.5 billion to fund the purchase of a participation interest in refund anticipation loans. At March 31, 2009, no balances were outstanding under this line and the line was closed in April 2009. 


2009 Funding Strategy Our current range of estimates for funding needs and sources for 2009 are summarized in the table that follows.


 

Actual

January 1

through

March 31,

2009

Estimated

April 1

through

December 31,

2009



Estimated

Full Year

2009


(in billions)

Funding needs:








Net asset growth/(attrition)

$(2)

$(8)

-

(4)


$(10)

-

(6)

Commercial paper maturities

10

0

-

1


10

-

11

Term debt maturities

3

13

-

16


16

-

19

Secured financings, including conduit facility maturities

6(2)

4

-

7


10

-

13

Other

(1)

(2)

-

4


(3)

-

3

Total funding needs

$16

$7

-

24


$23

-

40

Funding sources:









Commercial paper issuances(1)

$0

$4

-

8


$4

-

8

Term debt issuances

0

0

-

3


0

-

3

Asset transfers and loan sales

15(2)

0

-

3


15

-

18

Secured financings, including conduit facility renewals

0

0

-

2


0

-

2

HSBC and HSBC subsidiaries, including capital infusions

1

3

-

8


4

-

9

Total funding sources

$16

$7

-

24


$23

-

40

____________


(1) 

For the period January 1 through March 31, 2009, domestic and Euro commercial paper outstandings were $5 billion offset by $5 billion in short-term liquid investments. 



(2) 

Includes proceeds of $15.0 billion from the sale of credit card and auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA, which included the transfer of approximately $6.1 billion of indebtedness. 


As previously discussed, we have experienced deterioration in the performance of all of our receivable portfolios as a result of the current mortgage lending industry trends and economic conditions. As a result, since mid-2007 and through the first quarter of 2009 we have taken numerous actions which, when combined with normal portfolio attrition, have and will continue to result in a reduction in our aggregate portfolio. 


For the remainder of 2009, portfolio attrition will again provide a key source of liquidity. The combination of attrition, proceeds received from the recently completed 2009 sale of credit card and certain auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA, cash generated from operations and planned capital infusions from HSBC will generate the liquidity necessary to meet our maturing debt obligations. These sources of liquidity may be supplemented with HSBC affiliate funding and opportunistic sales of selected receivable portfolios to meet our 2009 funding requirements.


We previously reported that we were evaluating potential participation in the FDIC's Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program ("TLGP"). However, for the reasons discussed above, we have decided not to pursue an application for participation in the TLGP program.


Commercial paper outstanding for the remainder of 2009 is expected to be lower than 2008 balances. The majority of outstanding commercial paper is expected to be directly placed, domestic commercial paper. Euro commercial paper will continue to be marketed predominately to HSBC clients.


Fair Value


On January 1, 2007, we adopted SFAS 157, "Fair Value "Measurements" and SFAS 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities", ("SFAS No. 159"). Net income volatility arising from changes in either interest rate or credit components of the mark-to-market on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives affects the comparability of reported results between periods. Accordingly, gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives for the three months ended March 31, 2009 should not be considered indicative of the results for any future period.


Control Over Valuation Process and Procedures


A control framework has been established which is designed to ensure that fair values are either determined or validated by a function independent of the risk-taker. To that end, the ultimate responsibility for the determination of fair values rests with Treasury finance. Treasury finance establishes policies and procedures to ensure appropriate valuations. Fair values for debt securities and long-term debt for which we have elected fair value option are determined by a third-party valuation source (pricing service) by reference to external quotations on the identical or similar instruments. An independent price validation process is also utilized. For price validation purposes, we obtain quotations from at least one other independent pricing source for each financial instrument, where possible. We consider the following factors in determining fair values:


 similarities between the asset or the liability under consideration and the asset or liability for which quotation is received;


 whether the security is traded in an active or inactive market; 


 consistency among different pricing sources; 


 the valuation approach and the methodologies used by the independent pricing sources in determining fair value;


 the elapsed time between the date to which the market data relates and the measurement date; and


 the manner in which the fair value information is sourced.


Greater weight is given to quotations of instruments with recent market transactions, pricing quotes from dealers who stand ready to transact, quotations provided by market-makers who originally underwrote such instruments, and market consensus pricing based on inputs from a large number of participants. Any significant discrepancies among the external quotations are reviewed by management and adjustments to fair values are recorded where appropriate.


Fair values for derivatives are determined by management using valuation techniques, valuation models and inputs that are developed, reviewed, validated and approved by the Derivative Model Review Group (DMRG) of an affiliate, HSBC Bank USA. These valuation models utilize discounted cash flows or an option pricing model adjusted for counterparty credit risk and market liquidity. The models used apply appropriate control processes and procedures to ensure that the derived inputs are used to value only those instruments that share similar risk to the relevant benchmark indexes and therefore demonstrate a similar response to market factors. In addition, a validation process is followed which includes participation in peer group consensus pricing surveys, to ensure that valuation inputs incorporate market participants' risk expectations and risk premium.


We have various controls over our valuation process and procedures for receivables held for sale. As these fair values are generally determined using modeling techniques, the controls may include independent development or validation of the logic within the valuation models, the inputs to those models, and adjustments required to outside valuation models. The inputs and adjustments to valuation models are reviewed with management and reconciled to inputs and assumptions used in other internal valuation processes.


Fair Value Hierarchy


SFAS No. 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy structure that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to determine the fair value of an asset or liability. SFAS No. 157 distinguishes between inputs that are based on observed market data and unobservable inputs that reflect market participants' assumptions. It emphasizes the use of valuation methodologies that maximize market inputs. For financial instruments carried at fair value, the best evidence of fair value is a quoted price in an actively traded market (Level 1). Where the market for a financial instrument is not active, valuation techniques are used. The majority of valuation techniques use market inputs that are either observable or indirectly derived from and corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the financial instrument (Level 2). Because Level 1 and Level 2 instruments are determined by observable inputs, less judgment is applied in determining their fair values. In the absence of observable market inputs, the financial instrument is valued based on valuation techniques that feature one or more significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The determination of the level of fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement of an asset or a liability is classified often requires judgment. We consider the following factors in developing the fair value hierarchy:


 whether the asset or liability is transacted in an active market with a quoted market price that is readily available;


 the size of transactions occurring in an active market; 


 the level of bid-ask spreads; 


 a lack of pricing transparency due to, among other things, the complexity of the product structure and market liquidity;


 whether only a few transactions are observed over a significant period of time;


 whether the pricing quotations vary substantially among independent pricing services;


 whether the inputs to the valuation techniques can be derived from or corroborated with market data; and


 whether significant adjustments are made to the observed pricing information or model output to determine the fair value.


Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that the reporting entity has the ability to access for the identical assets or liabilities. A financial instrument is classified as a Level 1 measurement if it is listed on an exchange or is an instrument actively traded in the over-the-counter (OTC) market where transactions occur with sufficient frequency and volume. We regard financial instruments such as equity securities and derivative contracts listed on the primary exchanges of a country to be actively traded. Non-exchange-traded instruments classified as Level 1 assets include securities issued by the U.S. Treasury.


Level 2 inputs are inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly but do not qualify as Level 1 inputs. We generally classify derivative contracts, corporate debt including asset-backed securities as well as our own debt issuance for which we have elected fair value option which are not traded in active markets, as Level 2 measurements. Currently, substantially all such items qualify as Level 2 measurements. These valuations are typically obtained from a third party valuation source which, in the case of derivatives, includes valuations provided by an affiliate, HSBC Bank USA.


Level 3 inputs are unobservable estimates that management expects market participants would use to determine the fair value of the asset or liability. That is, Level 3 inputs incorporate market participants' assumptions about risk and the risk premium required by market participants in order to bear that risk. We develop Level 3 inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances. As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, our Level 3 instruments recorded at fair value on a recurring basis include $113 million and $175 million, respectively, of domestic corporate debt, mortgage-backed and perpetual preferred securities. As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, our Level 3 instruments recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis included the following:


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008


(in millions)

Receivables held for sale

$1,401

$10,763

Card and Retail Services goodwill

1,641

2,034

Intangibles(1)

20

-

____________


(1) 

Represents certain technology and customer list intangible assets. 

Transfers Into (Out of) Level 3 Measurements


Assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 which have been classified as using Level 3 measurements include our entire portfolio of perpetual preferred equity securities as well as certain domestic corporate debt securities and mortgage-backed securities. Securities are classified as using Level 3 measurements when one or both of the following conditions are met:


 A mortgage-backed security is downgraded below a AAA credit rating; or


 An individual security fails the quarterly pricing comparison test with a variance greater than 5 percent.


During the three months ended March 31, 2009, transfers out of Level 3 classifications, net, represents changes in the mix of individual securities that meet one or both of the above conditions. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we transferred $91 million of individual corporate debt securities and mortgage-backed securities from Level 3 to Level 2 as they no longer met one or both of the conditions described above, which was partially offset by the transfer of $36 million from Level 2 to Level 3 of individual corporate debt securities and mortgage-backed securities which met one or both of the conditions described above during the quarter. As a result, we reported a total of $113 million and $175 million of available-for-sale securities, or approximately 4 percent and 6 percent of our securities portfolio as Level 3 at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, total Level 3 assets as a percentage of total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis was 1 percent and 2 percent, respectively.


Valuation Techniques for Major Assets and Liabilities Carried at Fair Value


Securities: Fair value for our available-for-sale securities is generally determined by a third party valuation source. The pricing services generally source fair value measurements from quoted market prices and if not available, the security is valued based on quotes from similar securities using broker quotes and other information obtained from dealers and market participants. For securities which do not trade in active markets, such as fixed income securities, the pricing services generally utilize various pricing applications, including models, to measure fair value. The pricing applications are based on market convention and use inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means. The following summarizes the valuation methodology used for our major security types:


 U.S. Treasury, U.S. government agency issued or guaranteed and Obligations of U.S. States and political subdivisions - As these securities transact in an active market, the pricing services source fair value measurements from quoted prices for the identical security or quoted prices for similar securities with adjustments as necessary made using observable inputs which are market corroborated.


 U.S. government sponsored enterprises - For certain government sponsored mortgage-backed securities which transact in an active market, the pricing services source fair value measurements from quoted prices for the identical security or quoted prices for similar securities with adjustments as necessary made using observable inputs which are market corroborated. For government sponsored mortgage-backed securities which do not transact in an active market, fair value is determined using discounted cash flow models and inputs related to interest rates, prepayment speeds, loss curves and market discount rates that would be required by investors in the current market given the specific characteristics and inherent credit risk of the underlying collateral.


 Asset-backed securities - Fair value is determined using discounted cash flow models and inputs related to interest rates, prepayment speeds, loss curves and market discount rates that would be required by investors in the current market given the specific characteristics and inherent credit risk of the underlying collateral.


 U.S. corporate and foreign debt securities - For non-callable corporate securities, a credit spread scale is created for each issuer. These spreads are then added to the equivalent maturity U.S. Treasury yield to determine current pricing. Credit spreads are obtained from the new issue market, secondary trading levels and dealer quotes. For securities with early redemption features, an option adjusted spread ("OAS") model is incorporated to adjust the spreads determined above. Additionally, the pricing services will survey the broker/dealer community to obtain relevant trade data including benchmark quotes and updated spreads.


 Equity securities - In general, for these perpetual preferred securities fair value is calculated using an appropriate spread over a comparable US Treasury security for each issue. These spreads represent the additional yield required to account for risk including credit, refunding and liquidity. The inputs are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.


 Money market funds - Carrying value approximates fair value due to the asset's liquid nature.


We perform periodic validations of the fair values sourced from the independent pricing services. Such validation principally includes sourcing security prices from other independent pricing services or broker quotes. The validation process provides us with information as to whether the volume and level of activity for a security has significantly decreased and assists in identifying transactions that are not orderly. Depending on the results of the validation, additional information may be gathered from other market participants to support the fair value measurements. A determination will be made as to whether adjustments to the observable inputs are necessary as a result of investigations and inquiries about the reasonableness of the inputs used and the methodologies employed by the independent pricing services.


Debt securities, including mortgage-backed securities and other asset-backed securities represented approximately 79 percent and 76 percent of our total investment securities portfolio at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.


Derivatives Derivative values are defined as the amount we would receive or pay to extinguish the contract using a market participant as of the reporting date. The values are determined by Treasury finance using a pricing system maintained by HSBC Bank USA. In determining these values, HSBC Bank USA uses quoted market prices, when available, principally for exchange-traded options. For non-exchange traded contracts, such as interest rate swaps, fair value is determined using discounted cash flow modeling techniques. Valuation models calculate the present value of expected future cash flows based on models that utilize independently-sourced market parameters, including interest rate yield curves, option volatilities, and currency rates. Valuations may be adjusted in order to ensure that those values represent appropriate estimates of fair value. These adjustments, which are applied consistently over time, are generally required to reflect factors such as market liquidity and counterparty credit risk that can affect prices in arms-length transactions with unrelated third parties. Finally, other transaction specific factors such as the variety of valuation models available, the range of unobservable model inputs and other model assumptions can affect estimates of fair value. Imprecision in estimating these factors can impact the amount of revenue or loss recorded for a particular position.


Counterparty credit risk is considered in determining the fair value of a financial asset. SFAS No. 157 specifies that the fair value of a liability should reflect the entity's non-performance risk and accordingly, the effect of our own credit risk (spread) has been factored into the determination of the fair value of our financial liabilities, including derivative instruments. In estimating the credit risk adjustment to the derivative assets and liabilities, we take into account the impact of netting and/or collateral arrangements that are designed to mitigate counterparty credit risk.


Long-Term Debt Carried at Fair Value Fair value was primarily determined by a third party valuation source. The pricing services source fair value from quoted market prices and, if not available, expected cash flows are discounted using the appropriate interest rate for the applicable duration of the instrument adjusted for our own credit risk (spread). The credit spreads applied to these instruments were derived from the spreads recognized in the secondary market for similar debt as of the measurement date. Where available, relevant trade data is also considered as part of our validation process.


Receivables Held for Sale Receivables held for sale are carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. Accordingly, fair value for such receivables must be estimated to determine any required write down to fair value when the amortized cost of the receivables exceeds their current fair value. Where available, quoted market prices are used to estimate the fair value of these receivables. Where market quotes are not available, fair value is estimated using observable market prices of similar instruments, including bonds, credit derivatives, and receivables with similar characteristics. Where quoted market prices and observable market parameters are not available, the fair value of receivables held for sale is based on contractual cash flows adjusted for management's estimates of prepayments, defaults, and recoveries, discounted at management's estimate of the rate that would be required by investors in the current market given the specific characteristics and inherent credit risk of the receivables. Continued lack of liquidity in credit markets has resulted in a significant decrease in the availability of observable market data, which has, in turn, resulted in an increased level of management judgment required to estimate fair value for receivables held for sale. In certain cases, an independent third party is utilized to substantiate management's estimate of fair value.


We review and update our fair value hierarchy classifications quarterly. Changes from one quarter to the next related to the observability of inputs to a fair value measurement may result in a reclassification between hierarchy levels. Imprecision in estimating unobservable market inputs can impact the amount of revenue, loss or changes in common shareholder's equity recorded for a particular financial instrument. Furthermore, while we believe our valuation methods are appropriate, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date.


See Note 17, "Fair Value Measurements" in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further details including the classification hierarchy associated with assets and liabilities measured at fair value.


Risk Management


In the first quarter of 2009 significant steps were undertaken to further strengthen our risk management organization, including the appointment of a Chief Risk Officer and the creation of a distinct, cross-disciplinary risk organization, representing a shift from a business unit driven approach to an independent and integrated risk function.


Credit Risk Day-to-day management of credit risk is administered by Chief Credit Officers for each business who report to the Chief Risk Officer. The Chief Risk Officer reports to our Chief Executive Officer and to the Group Managing Director and Chief Risk Officer of HSBC. Although our product offerings have been significantly reduced as a result of our decision to discontinue all new customer account originations in our Consumer Lending business, there have been no other significant changes in our approach to credit risk management since December 31, 2008.


Currently the majority of our existing derivative contracts are with HSBC subsidiaries, making them our primary counterparty in derivative transactions. Most swap agreements, both with unaffiliated and affiliated third parties, require that payments be made to, or received from, the counterparty when the fair value of the agreement reaches a certain level. Generally, third-party swap counterparties provide collateral in the form of cash which is recorded in our balance sheet as derivative related assets or derivative related liabilities. We provided third party swap counterparties with collateral totaling $15 million and $26 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. The fair value of our agreements with affiliate counterparties required the affiliate to provide cash collateral of $1.7 billion and $2.9 billion at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. These amounts are offset against the fair value amount recognized for derivative instruments that have been offset under the same master netting arrangement in accordance with FASB Staff Position No. FIN 39-1, "Amendment of FASB Interpretation No. 39," ("FSP 39-1").


Liquidity Risk Our liquidity is critical to our ability to operate our businesses. A compromise to our liquidity could therefore have a negative effect on our financial results. During 2007 and 2008 and continuing into the first quarter of 2009, the capital markets have been severely disrupted, highly risk averse and reactionary. Institutional fixed income investors for the most part remain reluctant to commit significant levels of liquidity to the financial sector of the market unless the corresponding debt issuance is in conjunction with a government guarantee program. Traditional providers of credit to the subprime market have either continued to reduce their exposure to this asset class or have markedly tightening the credit standards necessary to receive financing for subprime assets. This has reduced the availability of third party liquidity while increasing the cost of this liquidity.


Other conditions that could negatively affect our liquidity include unforeseen cash or capital requirements, a continued strengthening of the U.S. dollar, an inability to sell assets and an inability to obtain expected funding from HSBC, its subsidiaries and clients.


Lastly, maintaining our credit ratings is an important part of maintaining our overall liquidity profile. A credit ratings downgrade could potentially increase borrowing costs, and depending on its severity, substantially limit access to capital markets, require cash payments or collateral posting and permit termination of certain contracts material to us.


Following our decision in late February 2009 to discontinue new customer account originations for all products offered by our Consumer Lending business and to close substantially all branch offices, two of the three primary credit rating agencies elected to lower the ratings on our senior debt, commercial paper and Series B preferred stock. While we continue to access short term funding through the commercial paper market at very competitive rates, we have identified several accounts that have placed a hold on any additional purchases of commercial paper. We do not anticipate this will have a significant impact on our ability to meet our projected short term funding needs at competitive rates.


The rating actions discussed above have also resulted in a widening of the credit spreads quoted on our senior debt trading in the secondary market and a reduction in the number of potential institutional investors willing to purchase this debt. Should our 2009 funding plans change and we elect to issue new senior debt, we would experience both a significant reduction in the amount of new debt that could be issued and an increase in the corresponding interest rate given current market conditions.


There have been no significant changes in our approach to liquidity risk since December 31, 2008.


Market Risk HSBC has certain limits and benchmarks that serve as additional guidelines in determining the appropriate levels of interest rate risk. One such limit is expressed in terms of the Present Value of a Basis Point, which reflects the change in value of the balance sheet for a one basis point movement in all interest rates. Our absolute PVBP limit was $2.35 million at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 which includes the risk associated with hedging instruments. Thus, for a one basis point change in interest rates, the policy dictates that the value of the balance sheet for March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 shall not increase or decrease by more than $2.35 million. At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 we had an absolute PVBP position of $1.468 million and $2.396 million, respectively, reflecting the impact of a one basis point increase in interest rates. Although the PVBP was above the limits as of December 31, 2008, our ALCO elected not to take immediate action as the sale of the credit card and auto finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA which occurred in January 2009 brought this risk measure back within established limits. The following table shows the components of absolute PVBP at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 broken down by currency risk:


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008


(in millions)

USD

$1.279

$2.175

JPY

.189

.221

Absolute PVBP risk

$1.468

$2.396


We also monitor the impact that an immediate hypothetical increase or decrease in interest rates of 25 basis points applied at the beginning of each quarter over a 12 month period would have on our net interest income assuming for 2009 and 2008 a declining balance sheet and the current interest rate risk profile. Our 2008 estimated impact assumed the sale of the GM Portfolio, UP Portfolio and Auto Finance receivables to HSBC Bank USA in early January 2009 and the discontinuation of all new customer account originations for all products by our Consumer Lending business all occurred prior to December 31, 2008. The following table summarizes such estimated impact:


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008


(in millions)

Decrease in net interest income following a hypothetical 25 basis points rise in interest rates applied at the beginning of each quarter over the next 12 months

$93

$77

Increase in net interest income following a hypothetical 25 basis points fall in interest rates applied at the beginning of each quarter over the next 12 months

93

87


In the March 2009 and December 2008 calculations, looking forward through 2009, and where applicable into 2010, a greater number of real estate secured receivables are expected to remain on the books due to fewer refinancing options available to subprime customers. As a result, net interest income has increased in the declining rate scenario and decreased for the rising rate scenario. However, we anticipate higher levels of delinquency and loan impairment charges as these remain on the books longer. These estimates include the impact of debt and the corresponding derivative instruments accounted for using the fair value option under SFAS No. 159. These estimates also assume we would not take any corrective actions in response to interest rate movements and, therefore, exceed what most likely would occur if rates were to change by the amount indicated.


A principal consideration supporting this analysis is the projected prepayment of loan balances for a given economic scenario. Individual loan underwriting standards in combination with housing valuations and macroeconomic factors related to available mortgage credit are the key assumptions driving these prepayment projections. While we have utilized a number of sources to refine these projections, we cannot currently project prepayment rates with a high degree of certainty in all economic environments given recent, significant changes in both subprime mortgage underwriting standards and property valuations across the country.


Operational Risk There has been no significant change in our approach to operational risk management since December 31, 2008.


Compliance Risk There has been no significant change in our approach to compliance risk management since December 31, 2008.


Reputational Risk There has been no significant change in our approach to reputational risk management since December 31, 2008.


HSBC FINANCE CORPORATION


RECONCILIATIONS TO U.S. GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES


 

 

March 31,

2009

December 31,

2008


(dollars are in millions)

Tangible common equity:



Common shareholder's equity

$14,092

$12,862

Exclude:



Fair value option adjustment

(5,099)

(2,494)

Unrealized (gains) losses on cash flow hedging instruments

1,046

1,316

FASB Statement No. 158 adjustments

(20)

(4)

Unrealized gains on investments and interest-only strip receivables

77

55

Intangible assets

(866)

(922)

Goodwill

(1,641)

(2,294)

Tangible common equity

$7,589

$8,519

Tangible shareholder's(s') equity:



Tangible common equity

$7,589

$8,519

Preferred stock

575

575

Mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of Household Capital Trusts

1,000

1,275

Tangible shareholder's(s') equity

$9,164

$10,369

Tangible shareholder's(s') equity plus owned loss reserves:



Tangible shareholder's(s') equity

$9,164

$10,369

Credit loss reserves

12,972

12,415

Tangible shareholder's(s') equity plus owned loss reserves

$22,136

$22,784

Tangible assets:



Total assets

$111,150

$130,785

Exclude:



Intangible assets

(866)

(922)

Goodwill

(1,641)

(2,294)

Derivative financial assets

-

(8)

Tangible assets

$108,643

$127,561

Equity ratios:



Common and preferred equity to owned assets

13.20%

10.27%

Tangible common equity to tangible managed assets

6.99

6.68

Tangible shareholder's(s') equity to tangible managed assets

8.43

8.13

Tangible shareholder's(s') equity plus owned loss reserves to tangible managed assets

20.37

17.86


Item 4. Controls and Procedures


We maintain a system of internal and disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by HSBC Finance Corporation in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act"), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis. Our Board of Directors, operating through its audit committee, which is composed entirely of independent outside directors, provides oversight to our financial reporting process.


We conducted an evaluation, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report so as to alert them in a timely fashion to material information required to be disclosed in reports we file under the Exchange Act.


There has been no significant change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2009 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1. Legal Proceedings


General


We are party to various legal proceedings resulting from ordinary business activities relating to our current and/or former operations. Certain of these actions are or purport to be class actions seeking damages in very large amounts. These actions assert violations of laws and/or unfair treatment of consumers. Due to the uncertainties in litigation and other factors, we cannot be certain that we will ultimately prevail in each instance. We believe that our defenses to these actions have merit and any adverse decision should not materially affect our consolidated financial condition. However, losses may be material to our results of operations for any particular future period depending on our income level for that period.


Consumer Litigation


During the past several years, the press has widely reported certain industry related concerns, including rising delinquencies, the tightening of credit and more recently, increasing litigation. Some of the litigation instituted against lenders is being brought in the form of purported class actions by individuals or by state or federal regulators or state attorneys general. Like other companies in this industry, we are involved in litigation regarding our practices. The cases generally allege inadequate disclosure or misrepresentation during the loan origination process. In some suits, other parties are also named as defendants. Unspecified compensatory and punitive damages are sought. The judicial climate in many states is such that the outcome of these cases is unpredictable. Although we believe we have substantive legal defenses to these claims and are prepared to defend each case vigorously, a number of such cases have been settled or otherwise resolved for amounts that in the aggregate are not material to our operations. Insurance carriers have been notified as appropriate.


Loan Discrimination Litigation


Since July of 2007, HSBC Finance Corporation and/or one or more of its subsidiaries has been named as a defendant in five class actions filed in the federal courts in the Northern District of Illinois, the Central District of California and the District of Massachusetts: Zamudio v. HSBC North America Holdings and HSBC Finance Corporation d/b/a Beneficial, (N.D. Ill. 07CV5413), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ("NAACP") v. Ameriquest Mortgage Company, et al. including HSBC Finance Corporation (C.D. Ca., No. SACV07-0794AG), Toruno v. HSBC Finance Corporation and Decision One Mortgage Company, LLC (C.D. Ca., No. CV07-05998JSL), Suyapa Allen v. Decision One Mortgage Company, LLC, HSBC Finance Corporation, et al. (D. Mass., C.A. 07-11669) and Doiron, et al. v. HSBC Mortgage Services Inc., et al., (E.D. Ca., 2:08-CV-00605-FCD). Each suit alleges that the named entities racially discriminated against their customers by using loan pricing policies and procedures that have resulted in a disparate impact against minority customers. Violations of various federal statutes, including the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, are claimed. The Zamudio case was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff on July 7, 2008 and may not be reinitiated. In the NAACP case, the Court granted HSBC Finance Corporation's motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction on January 9, 2009. At this time, we are unable to quantify the potential impact from the remaining actions, if any.

City of Cleveland Litigation


On January 10, 2008, a suit captioned, City of Cleveland v. Deutsche Bank Trust Company, et al. (No. 1:08-CV-00139), was filed in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court against numerous financial services entities. HSBC Finance Corporation is a defendant. The City of Cleveland ("City") seeks damages it allegedly incurred as a result of defendants' creation of a public nuisance in the City through their respective involvement as lenders and/or securitizers of sub-prime mortgages on properties located in Cleveland. On January 16, 2008, the case was removed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. On August 22, 2008, the City filed a new complaint, City of Cleveland v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, NA et al, in the Court of Common Pleas, Cuyahoga County Ohio (No. CV 08 668608), in which it made virtually identical allegations as in the Federal Court complaint, alleges violations of the Ohio Corrupt Practices Act and named additional defendants. The two courts have now approved the parties' agreements regarding the defendants in these two actions. HSBC Finance Corporation has been dismissed with prejudice from the Federal Court action. Subsidiaries of HSBC Finance Corporation, namely Household Realty Corporation and HSBC Mortgage Services Inc. are defendants in the State Court action. All the defendants filed motions to sever in the State Court action.


Card Services Litigation


Since June 2005, HSBC Finance Corporation, HSBC North America, and HSBC, as well as other banks and Visa Inc. and Master Card Incorporated, were named as defendants in four class actions filed in Connecticut and the Eastern District of New York; Photos Etc. Corp. et al. v. Visa U.S.A., Inc., et al. (D. Conn. No. 3:05-CV-01007 (WWE)): National Association of Convenience Stores, et al. v. Visa U.S.A., Inc., et al. (E.D.N.Y. No. 05-CV 4520 (JG)); Jethro Holdings, Inc., et al. v. Visa U.S.A., Inc. et al. (E.D.N.Y. No. 05-CV-4521 (JG)); and American Booksellers Ass'n v. Visa U.S.A., Inc. et al. (E.D.N.Y. No. 05-CV-5391 (JG)). Numerous other complaints containing similar allegations (in which no HSBC entity is named) were filed across the country against Visa Inc., MasterCard Incorporated and other banks. These actions principally allege that the imposition of a no-surcharge rule by the associations and/or the establishment of the interchange fee charged for credit card transactions causes the merchant discount fee paid by retailers to be set at supracompetitive levels in violation of the Federal antitrust laws. These suits have been consolidated and transferred to the Eastern District of New York. The consolidated case is: In re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1720, E.D.N.Y. A consolidated, amended complaint was filed by the plaintiffs on April 24, 2006 and a second consolidated amended complaint was filed on January 29, 2009. The parties are engaged in discovery and motion practice. At this time, we are unable to quantify the potential impact from this action, if any.


Securities Litigation


In August 2002, we restated previously reported consolidated financial statements related to certain MasterCard and Visa co-branding and affinity credit card relationships and a third party marketing agreement, which were entered into between 1992 and 1999. All were part of our Card Services operations. As a result of the restatement and other corporate events, including, e.g., the 2002 settlement with 46 states and the District of Columbia relating to real estate lending practices, Household International and certain former officers were named as defendants in a class action lawsuit, Jaffe v. Household International, Inc., et al., No. 02 C 5893 (N.D. Ill., filed August 19, 2002).  


The complaint, as narrowed by Court rulings, asserted claims under § 10 and § 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, on behalf of all persons who acquired and disposed of Household International common stock between July 30, 1999 and October 11, 2002. The claims alleged that the defendants knowingly or recklessly made false and misleading statements of material facts relating to Household's Consumer Lending operations, including collections, sales and lending practices, some of which ultimately led to the 2002 state settlement agreement, and facts relating to accounting practices evidenced by the restatement. The plaintiffs claim that these statements were made in conjunction with the purchase or sale of securities, that they justifiably relied on one or more of those statements, that the false statement(s) caused the plaintiffs' damages, and that some or all of the defendants should be liable for those damages.


A jury trial began on March 30, 2009 and closing arguments concluded on April 30, 2009. The jury deliberated over the course of four days before rendering a verdict on May 7 partially in favor of the plaintiffs with respect to Household International and three former officers. The jury found 17 of 40 alleged misstatements actionable and that the first actionable statement occurred on March 23, 2001. This effectively excludes claims for purchases made prior to that date. We intend to file a motion requesting that the Court set aside the jury's verdict and enter a verdict in favor of all defendants on all claims. Pleadings supporting that motion must be filed with the Court by July 6, 2009.  


Concurrent with the motion to set aside the jury verdict, a second phase of the case will proceed to determine the actual damages due to the plaintiff class. Although the jury determined that the loss per common share attributable to the alleged misstatements varied by day and ranged from -$4.60 (no loss) to $23.94, how this stage of the case will proceed has not been determined by the Court. Matters to be determined include, but are not limited to, whether there will be discovery to determine if shareholders actually relied upon statements found to be misleading, the process for determining which shareholders purchased on or after March 23, 2001 and sold during the relevant period (the sale window potentially extending up to 90 days after October 11, 2002), as well as other procedural matters and eligibility criteria. The plaintiffs and defendants must file proposals on how to conduct this damages phase by May 28, 2009. Given the complexity associated with this phase of the case, it is impossible at this time to determine whether any damages will eventually be awarded, or the amount of any such award.  


There are also several motions pending that would dispose of the case prior to a determination of actual damages, including defendants' motion for summary judgment as filed in May 2008 and motions to direct a verdict made at the close of both the plaintiffs' and defendants' cases. When any final judgment is entered by the District Court at the conclusion of the damages phase of the case, the parties have 30 days in which to appeal the verdict to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.  

   

Despite the verdict at the District Court level, we continue to believe that neither Household nor its former officers engaged in any wrongdoing and that we will either prevail on our outstanding motions or that the Seventh Circuit will reverse the trial Court verdict upon appeal.


Item 6. Exhibits


Exhibits included in this Report: 


12

Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

31

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

99.1

Debt and Preferred Stock Securities Ratings


Signature


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


Date: May 11, 2009


HSBC FINANCE CORPORATION

(Registrant)


/s/  Iain J. Mackay                                                     

Iain J. Mackay

Senior Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer


Exhibit Index


12

Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

31

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

99.1

Debt and Preferred Stock Securities Ratings

EXHIBIT 12


HSBC FINANCE CORPORATION

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND TO

COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS


Three Months Ended March 31,

2009

2008


(dollars are


in millions)

Income from continuing operations

$872

$238

Income tax benefit

855

185

Income before income tax benefit

1,727

423

Fixed charges:



Interest expense

1,167

1,773

Interest portion of rentals(1)

22

10

Total fixed charges

1,189

1,783

Total earnings from continuing operations as defined

$2,916

$2,206

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

2.45

1.24

Preferred stock dividends(2)

14

14

Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends

2.42

1.23

____________


(1) 

Represents one-third of rentals, which approximates the portion representing interest. 



(2) 

Preferred stock dividends are grossed up to their pretax equivalents. 

EXHIBIT 31


CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


Certification of Chief Executive Officer


I, Niall S.K. Booker, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Finance Corporation, certify that:


1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of HSBC Finance Corporation;


2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;


3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;


4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a - 15(f) and 15d - 15(f)) for the registrant and we have:


a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;


b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;


c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and


d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and


5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):


a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and


b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


Date: May 11, 2009


/s/  NIALL S.K. BOOKER                      

Niall S.K. Booker

Chief Executive Officer


Certification of Chief Financial Officer


I, Iain J. Mackay, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of HSBC Finance Corporation, certify that:


1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of HSBC Finance Corporation;


2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;


3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;


4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a - 15(f) and 15d - 15(f)) for the registrant and we have:


a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;


b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;


c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and


d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and


5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):


a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and


b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


Date: May 11, 2009


/s/  IAIN J. MACKAY                           

Iain J. Mackay

Senior Executive Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT 32


CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


The certification set forth below is being submitted in connection with the HSBC Finance Corporation (the "Company") Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2009 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report") for the purpose of complying with Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.


I, Niall S.K. Booker, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify that:


1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and


2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of HSBC Finance Corporation.


May 11, 2009


/s/  NIALL S.K. BOOKER                    

Niall S.K. Booker

Chief Executive Officer


Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


The certification set forth below is being submitted in connection with the HSBC Finance Corporation (the "Company") Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2009 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report") for the purpose of complying with Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.


I, Iain J. Mackay, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify that:


1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and


2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of HSBC Finance Corporation.


May 11, 2009


/s/  IAIN J. MACKAY                            

Iain J. Mackay

Senior Executive Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer


This certification accompanies each Report pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by HSBC Finance Corporation for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


Signed originals of these written statements required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 have been provided to HSBC Finance Corporation and will be retained by HSBC Finance Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.


EXHIBIT 99.1


HSBC FINANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

DEBT AND PREFERRED STOCK SECURITIES RATINGS


 

 

 

Standard &

Poor's

Corporation

Moody's

Investors

Service



Fitch, Inc.

As of March 31, 2009:




HSBC Finance Corporation




 Senior debt

A

A3

AA-

 Commercial paper

A-1

P-1

F-1+

 Series B preferred stock

BBB

Baa2

A+

As of December 31, 2008:




HSBC Finance Corporation




 Senior debt

AA-

Aa3

AA-

 Commercial paper

A-1+

P-1

F-1+

 Series B preferred stock

A-2

A2

A+




This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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