Onity Group - 10-Q quarterly report FY2011 Q3

Ocwen Financial Corporation (NYSE: OCN) (Ocwen or OCN), through its subsidiaries, is a leading provider of residential and commercial mortgage loan servicing, special servicing and asset management services. Ocwen is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with offices in West Palm Beach, Florida, Orlando, Florida, the District of Columbia and support operations in India and Uruguay. Ocwen is a Florida corporation organized in February 1988. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC (OLS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ocwen, is a licensed mortgage servicer in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and two U.S. territories.

At September 30, 2011, Ocwen owned all of the outstanding stock of its primary subsidiaries: OLS, Ocwen Financial Solutions, Private Limited (OFSPL) and Investors Mortgage Insurance Holding Company. OCN also holds a 49% equity interest in Correspondent One S.A. (Correspondent One), an entity formed with Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. (Altisource) in March 2011, a 25% interest in Ocwen Structured Investments, LLC (OSI) and an approximate 25% interest in Ocwen Nonperforming Loans, LLC (ONL) and Ocwen REO, LLC (OREO).

On September 1, 2011, Ocwen completed its acquisition (the Litton Acquisition) of (i) all the outstanding partnership interests of Litton Loan Servicing LP (Litton), a subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Goldman Sachs) and a provider of servicing and subservicing of primarily non-prime residential mortgage loans and (ii) certain interest-only servicing securities (the Litton IO Strips) previously owned by Goldman Sachs & Co., also a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs (collectively referred to as Litton Loan Servicing Business). See Note 3 for additional information regarding the Litton Acquisition.

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the instructions of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to Form 10-Q and SEC Regulation S-X, Article 10, Rule 10-01 for interim financial statements. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for complete financial statements. In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation. The results of operations and other data for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the entire year ending December 31, 2011. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements presented herein should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires that we make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly significant relate to our fair value measurements, the provision for potential estimates that may arise from litigation proceedings, the amortization of mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) and the valuation of goodwill and deferred tax assets.

Our financial statements include the accounts of Ocwen and its majority-owned subsidiaries. We apply the equity method of accounting to investments when the entity is not a variable interest entity (VIE), and we are able to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the policies and procedures of the entity but own 50% or less of the voting securities. We account for our investments in OSI, ONL, OREO and Correspondent One using the equity method. We have eliminated intercompany accounts and transactions in consolidation.

We evaluate each special purpose entity (SPE) for classification as a VIE. When an SPE meets the definition of a VIE and we determine that Ocwen is the primary beneficiary, we include the SPE in our consolidated financial statements.

We have determined that the SPEs created in connection with the match funded financing facilities discussed below are VIEs of which we are the primary beneficiary. We have also determined that we are the primary beneficiary for certain residential mortgage loan securitization trusts. The accounts of these SPEs are included in our consolidated financial statements.

Ocwen or its subsidiaries have been a transferor in connection with a number of securitizations or asset-backed financing arrangements. We have continuing involvement with the financial assets of eight of the securitizations and three of the asset-backed financing arrangements. We also hold residual interests in and are the servicer for three securitizations where we were not a transferor.

We have aggregated these securitizations and asset-backed financing arrangements into two groups: (1) securitizations of residential mortgage loans and (2) financings of advances on loans serviced for others.

Securitizations of Residential Mortgage Loans. In prior years, we securitized residential mortgage loans using certain trusts. These transactions were accounted for as sales even though we continued to be involved with the trusts, typically by acting as the servicer or sub-servicer for the loans held by the trust and by retaining a beneficial ownership interest in the trust. The beneficial interests we held consisted of both subordinate and residual securities that were either retained at the time of the securitization or subsequently acquired.

For four of these trusts, we have determined that our involvement represents a variable interest and that we are the primary beneficiary. We have included these four trusts in our consolidated financial statements. Our involvement with each of the remaining trusts does not represent a variable interest, and therefore, we exclude them from our consolidated financial statements.

For the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the four consolidated trusts generated income from continuing operations before income taxes of $697 and $1,312, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, these trusts generated income from continuing operations before income taxes of $664 and $1,646, respectively. See Note 7 and Note 12 for additional information regarding Loans – restricted for securitization investors and Secured borrowings – owed to securitization investors.

The following table presents a summary of the involvement of Ocwen with unconsolidated securitization trusts and summary financial information for the trusts where we are the transferor and hold beneficial interests. Although we are the servicer for these trusts, the residual interests that we hold in these entities have no value and no potential return of significant cash flows. As a result, we are not exposed to loss from these holdings. Further, since our valuation of the residual interest is based on anticipated cash flows, we are unlikely to receive any future benefits from our residual interests in these trusts.

 

With regard to both the consolidated and the unconsolidated securitization trusts, we have no obligation to provide financial support to the trusts and have provided no such support. The creditors of the trusts can look only to the assets of the trusts themselves for satisfaction of the debt and have no recourse against the assets of Ocwen. Similarly, the general creditors of Ocwen have no claim on the assets of the trusts. Our exposure to loss as a result of our continuing involvement is limited to the carrying values of our investments in the residual and subordinate securities of the trusts, our MSRs that are related to the trusts and our advances to the trusts. We consider the probability of loss arising from our advances to be remote because of their position ahead of most of the other liabilities of the trusts. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, our investment in the securities of the trusts was $2,508 and $2,691, respectively, all of which is eliminated in consolidation. See Note 5 and Note 8 for additional information regarding Advances and Mortgage servicing rights.

Financings of Advances on Loans Serviced for Others. Match funded advances on loans serviced for others result from our transfers of residential loan servicing advances to SPEs in exchange for cash. These SPEs issue debt supported by collections on the transferred advances. We made these transfers under the terms of three advance facility agreements. We classify the transferred advances on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as Match funded advances and the related liabilities as Match funded liabilities. Collections on the advances pledged to the SPEs are used to repay principal and interest and to pay the expenses of the entity. Holders of the debt issued by these entities can look only to the assets of the entities themselves for satisfaction of the debt and have no recourse against OCN. However, OLS has guaranteed the payment of the obligations under the securitization documents of one of the entities, Ocwen Servicer Advance Funding (Wachovia), LLC (OSAFW). The maximum amount payable under the guarantee is limited to 10% of the notes outstanding at the end of the facility’s revolving period on July 1, 2013. As of September 30, 2011, OSAFW had $194,534 of notes outstanding.

The following table summarizes the assets and liabilities of the SPEs formed in connection with our match funded advance facilities, at the dates indicated:

See Note 6 and Note 11 for additional information regarding Match funded advances and Match funded liabilities.

Within the operating activities section of the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we made the following reclassifications to conform to the 2011 presentation:

Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-02 (ASC 310, Receivables): A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring Is a Troubled Debt Restructuring. The amendments in this ASU clarify the guidance on a creditor’s evaluation of whether it has granted a concession and whether a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties. This additional guidance will assist creditors in determining whether a restructuring or modification of a receivable meets the criteria to be considered a troubled debt restructuring. If the restructuring is considered a troubled debt restructuring, creditors are required to make certain disclosures in their financial statements. In addition, the calculation of the allowance for credit losses for that receivable follows the impairment guidance specific to impaired receivables. Our adoption of this standard on July 1, 2011 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2011-03 (ASC 860, Transfers and Servicing): Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements. ASC 860 prescribes when an entity may or may not recognize a sale upon the transfer of financial assets subject to repurchase agreements. That determination is based, in part, on whether the entity has maintained effective control over the transferred financial assets. Repurchase agreements are accounted for as secured financings if the transferee has not surrendered control over the transferred assets. The amendments in this ASU remove from the assessment of effective control the criterion relating to the transferor’s ability to repurchase or redeem financial assets on substantially the agreed terms, even in the event of default by the transferee. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) concluded that this criterion is not a determining factor of effective control. Consequently, the amendments in this update also eliminate the requirement to demonstrate that the transferor possesses adequate collateral to fund substantially all the cost of purchasing replacement financial assets.

 

The guidance in this ASU is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The guidance should be applied prospectively to transactions or modifications of existing transactions that occur on or after the effective date. We do not expect our adoption of the provisions in this ASU to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2011-04 (ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. The amendments in this ASU explain how to measure fair value. They do not require additional fair value measurements and are not intended to establish valuation standards or affect valuation practices outside of financial reporting. The amendments clarify FASB’s intent about the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements and prescribe certain additional disclosures about fair value measurements, including: for fair value measurements within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, disclosing the valuation process used and the sensitivity of fair value measurement to changes in unobservable inputs; and for items not carried at fair value but for which fair value must be disclosed, categorization by level of the fair value hierarchy. The provisions of this ASU are effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011, with early adoption prohibited. We do not anticipate that the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2011-05 (ASC 220, Comprehensive Income): Presentation of Comprehensive Income, Current U.S. GAAP allows reporting entities three alternatives for presenting other comprehensive income and its components in financial statements. One of those presentation options is to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. This ASU eliminates that option. This ASU also requires consecutive presentation of the statement of net income and other comprehensive income and requires an entity to present reclassification adjustments from other comprehensive income to net income on the face of the financial statements. The provisions of this ASU are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Our adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2011-08 (ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. With this ASU, the FASB has taken action to reduce the cost and complexity of the annual goodwill impairment test by providing reporting entities with the option of performing a “qualitative” assessment of impairment to determine if any further quantitative testing for impairment may be necessary. An entity can choose to apply the qualitative assessment to all, some or none of its reporting units. The ASU is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011; however, an entity can early adopt the revised standard even if its annual impairment test date is before September 15, 2011, the date that the ASU was issued. We intend to early adopt the revised standard during the fourth quarter of 2011. We do not anticipate that the adoption of the standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

As disclosed in Note 1, Ocwen completed its acquisition of the Litton Loan Servicing Business on September 1, 2011. The transaction was completed in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement (the Agreement) between Ocwen and Goldman Sachs dated June 5, 2011.

Ocwen completed the acquisition in order to expand its Servicing segment. The Litton Acquisition resulted in the acquisition by Ocwen of a servicing portfolio of approximately 245,000 primarily non-prime residential mortgage loans with approximately $38.6 billion in unpaid principal balance (UPB) and the servicing platform of Litton Loan Servicing Business based in Houston, Texas and McDonough, Georgia.

The base purchase price for the Litton Acquisition was $247,154, which was paid in cash by Ocwen at closing. In addition, Ocwen repaid at closing Litton’s $2,423,123 outstanding debt on an existing servicing advance financing facility that was provided by an affiliate of the Goldman Sachs and entered into a new advance financing facility under which it borrowed $2,126,742 from Goldman Sachs. On September 1, 2011, Ocwen and certain of its subsidiaries also entered into a $575,000 senior secured term loan facility agreement to fund the base purchase price and the amount by which the repayment of Litton’s advance financing facility debt exceeded the proceeds from the new advance financing facility. Borrowings under the senior secured term loan facility are net of an original issue discount of $11,500, which is being amortized over the life of the loan. See Note 11 and Note 13 for additional details of the new advance financing facility and the senior secured term loan.

The purchase price was based in part on estimated closing-date measurements specified in the Agreement and may be further adjusted as these estimated closing-date measurements are finalized.

The actual base purchase price is subject to additional post-closing adjustments for a period of 60 days as a result of certain adjustments specified in the Agreement such as for changes in Litton’s estimated closing date net worth, servicing portfolio UPB and advance balances, among others.

The transaction has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting which requires, among other things, that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their fair values as of the acquisition date. The following table summarizes the preliminary estimate of the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as part of the Litton Acquisition:

 

Consistent with our fair value policy for MSRs as disclosed in Note 4, we estimated the fair value of the MSRs by calculating the present value of expected future cash flows utilizing assumptions that we believe are used by market participants. The Litton IO Strips that Ocwen acquired and holds are entitled to a portion of the servicing revenues from the securitization trusts to which they relate. However, Ocwen has relinquished the rights to these revenues to the holder of the MSRs. As a result, the MSRs include the right to all the servicing revenues from those securitization trusts, and we have estimated the fair values of the related MSRs on that basis.

The valuation of premises and equipment was based on the in-use valuation premise, where the fair value of an asset is based on the highest and best use of the asset that would provide maximum value to market participants principally through its use with other assets as a group. This valuation presumes the continued operation of the Litton Loan Servicing Business platform as installed or otherwise configured for use.

Advances are non-interest bearing receivables that are expected to have a short average collections period and were, therefore, valued at their face amount, consistent with Ocwen’s fair value policy for servicing advances. Other assets and liabilities that are expected to have a short life were also valued at the face value of the specific assets and liabilities purchased, including receivables, prepaid expenses, accounts payable and accrued expenses.

Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the net assets recognized and represents the expected revenue and cost synergies of the combined business. The goodwill portion of the purchase price allocation shown in the table above pertains to the Servicing segment and is subject to adjustment as the fair value of certain other components of the purchase price are adjusted. All components of the purchase price allocation are considered preliminary. We anticipate finalizing the purchase price allocations by December 31, 2011. Potential changes in advances, premises and equipment and goodwill could be significant. If certain of the acquired premises and equipment are not used in the future, they may be written down to their estimated liquidation value. Ocwen is considering subleasing office space acquired as part of the Litton Acquisition. Further changes to the opening balance of advances will result in a cash exchange between Ocwen and Goldman Sachs and, as such, should not result in any change to goodwill.

The acquisition of Litton is treated as an asset acquisition for U.S. tax purposes. We expect the opening tax basis for the acquired assets and liabilities to be the fair value as shown in the table above. We expect the MSRs and goodwill to be treated as intangible assets acquired in connection with the purchase of a trade or business and as such, amortized over 15 years for tax purposes.

 

As part of the Litton Acquisition, Goldman Sachs and Ocwen have agreed to indemnification provisions for the benefit of the other party. Additionally, Goldman Sachs has agreed to retain certain contingent liabilities for fines and penalties that could potentially be imposed by certain government authorities relating to Litton’s pre-closing foreclosure and servicing practices. Further, Goldman Sachs and Ocwen have agreed to share certain losses arising out of third-party claims in connection with Litton’s pre-closing performance under its servicing agreements. Goldman Sachs has agreed to be liable for (i) 80% of any such losses until the amount paid by Goldman Sachs is equal to 80% of the Goldman Shared Loss Cap and (ii) thereafter, 20% of any such losses until the amount paid by Goldman Sachs is equal to the Goldman Shared Loss Cap. Ocwen has agreed to be liable for (i) 20% of any such losses until the amount paid by Ocwen is equal to 20% of the Goldman Shared Loss Cap, (ii) thereafter, 80% of any such losses until the amount paid by Ocwen is equal to the Goldman Shared Loss Cap and (iii) thereafter, 100% of any such losses in excess of the Goldman Shared Loss Cap. The “Goldman Shared Loss Cap” is currently approximately $123,577 or 50% of the adjusted purchase price of the Litton Acquisition, but which may be further adjusted after final reconciliations of the purchase price are made.

In connection with the Litton Acquisition, Ocwen, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Litton and the New York State Banking Department have entered into an agreement (the NY Agreement) that sets forth certain loan servicing practices and operational requirements. No fines, penalties or other payments were assessed against Ocwen or Litton under the terms of the NY Agreement. We do not believe that our commitments under the NY Agreement will have a material impact on our financial statements.

The following table presents the revenue and earnings of the Litton Loan Servicing Business that is included in our Consolidated Statement of Operations from the acquisition date of September 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011:

The following table presents supplemental pro forma information as if the Litton Acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2010. Pro forma adjustments include:

The pro forma consolidated results are not indicative of what Ocwen’s consolidated net earnings would have been had Ocwen completed the Litton Acquisition on January 1, 2010 because of differences in servicing practices and cost structure between Ocwen and Litton. In addition, the pro forma consolidated results do not purport to project the future results of Ocwen combined nor do they reflect the expected realization of any cost savings associated with the Litton Acquisition.

 

Through September 30, 2011, we have incurred approximately $1,100 of fees for professional services related to the Litton Acquisition which are included in Operating expenses.

The carrying amounts and the estimated fair values of our financial instruments are as follows at the dates indicated:

 

Fair value is estimated based on a hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques into three broad levels whereby the highest priority is given to Level 1 inputs and the lowest to Level 3 inputs.

The three broad categories are:

Where available, we utilize quoted market prices or observable inputs rather than unobservable inputs to determine fair value. We classify assets in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The following table presents assets and liabilities measured at fair value categorized by input level within the fair value hierarchy:

The following tables present a reconciliation of the changes in fair value of our Level 3 assets that we measure at fair value on a recurring basis for the periods indicated:

Advances, representing payments made on behalf of borrowers or on foreclosed properties, consisted of the following at the dates indicated:

Servicing advances of $75,489 were pledged as collateral under the term reimbursement advance borrowing as of December 31, 2010. See Note 13 for additional information regarding the fee reimbursement advance facility.

Match funded advances on residential loans we service for others, as more fully described in Note 1—Principles of Consolidation-Financings of Advances on Loans Serviced for Others, are comprised of the following at the dates indicated:

Loans – restricted for securitization investors are held by four securitization trusts that we include in our consolidated financial statements, as more fully described in Note 1—Securitizations of Residential Mortgage Loans. Loans – restricted for securitization investors consisted of the following at:

At September 30, 2011, the trusts held 1,447 loans that are secured by first or second liens on one- to four-family residential properties. These loans have a weighted average coupon rate of 9.19% and a weighted average remaining life of 130 months.

Servicing Assets. The following table summarizes the activity in the carrying value of residential servicing assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2011:

The following table presents the composition of our servicing and subservicing portfolios by type of property serviced as measured by UPB. The servicing portfolio represents purchased MSRs while subservicing generally represents all other MSRs.

 

MSRs are an intangible asset representing the right to service a portfolio of mortgage loans. We generally obtain MSRs by purchasing them from the owners of the mortgage loans. Residential assets serviced consist principally of mortgage loans, primarily subprime, but also include foreclosed real estate. Commercial assets serviced consist of foreclosed real estate. Assets serviced for others are not included on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Custodial accounts, which hold funds representing collections of principal and interest we receive from borrowers, are held in escrow by an unaffiliated bank and excluded from our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Custodial accounts amounted to approximately $540,500 and $320,300 at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

Valuation Allowance for Impairment. During 2008, we established a valuation allowance for impairment of $3,624 on the high-loan-to-value stratum of our MSRs as the estimated fair value was less than the carrying value. Changes in the valuation allowance for impairment are reflected in Servicing and origination expenses in our Consolidated Statement of Operations. Net of the current valuation allowance of $1,996, the carrying value of this stratum was $741 at September 30, 2011. For all other strata, the fair value was above the carrying value at September 30, 2011.

The estimated fair value of residential MSRs at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 was $335,013 and $237,407, respectively. The more significant assumptions used in the September 30, 2011 valuation include prepayment speeds ranging from 11.8% to 24.2% (depending on loan type) and 90+ non-performing delinquency rates ranging from 18.5% to 32.1% (depending on loan type). Other assumptions include an interest rate of 1-month LIBOR plus 4% for computing the cost of financing advances, an interest rate of 1-month LIBOR for computing float earnings and a discount rate of 20%.

Servicing Liabilities. Servicing liabilities are included in Other liabilities. See Note 14 for additional information.

Receivables consisted of the following at the dates indicated:

Receivable balances are evaluated individually. The change in the allowance for credit losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and the balance of the related receivables at those dates were as follows (the disclosure requirements for the allowance for credit losses under ASC 310, Receivables, do not apply to mortgage banking activities, including the long-term servicing of loans, such as the activities of our Servicing segment):

Other assets consisted of the following at the dates indicated:

Match funded liabilities, as more fully described in Note 1—Principles of Consolidation – Match Funded Advances on Loans Serviced for Others, are comprised of the following at: