Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expense during the period. The Company uses estimates and judgments in establishing the fair value of its mortgage securities, liabilities subject to compromise and accounting for income taxes, including the determination of the timing of the establishment or release of the valuation allowance related to the deferred tax asset balances and reserves for uncertain tax positions. While the consolidated financial statements and footnotes reflect the best estimates and judgments of management at the time, actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value.

Marketable Securities

Marketable Securities – Available-for-Sale. Marketable securities are stated at fair value in accordance with the relevant accounting guidance. The Company determines the fair value of its marketable securities based on pricing from our third party service provider and market prices from industry-standard independent data providers. Such market prices may be quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1 inputs) or pricing determined using inputs other than quoted prices that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2 inputs), such as yield curve, volatility factors, credit spreads, default rates, loss severity, current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments or debt, broker and dealer quotes, as well as other relevant economic measures. To the extent observable inputs are not available, as is the case with the Company's mortgage securities – available-for-sale, the Company estimates fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs). The methods and processes used to estimate the fair value of the Company's mortgage securities are discussed further below.

Mortgage securities – available-for-sale represent beneficial interests the Company retains in securitization transactions which consist of residual interests (the “residual securities”) in certain components of the cash flows of the underlying mortgage loans to the securitization trusts. As payments are received on the residual securities, the payments are applied to the cost basis of the related mortgage securities. Each period, the accretable yield for each mortgage security is evaluated and, to the extent there has been a change in the estimated cash flows, it is adjusted and applied prospectively. The accretable yield is recorded as interest income with a corresponding increase to the carrying basis of the mortgage security. The Company estimates the fair value of its residual securities retained based on the present value of future expected cash flows to be received. Management’s best estimate of key assumptions, including credit losses, prepayment speeds, market discount rates and forward yield curves commensurate with the risks involved, are used in estimating future cash flows.

All of the Company's available-for-sale securities are reported at their estimated fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. To the extent the cost basis of these securities exceeds the estimated fair value and the unrealized loss is considered to be other than temporary, an impairment charge is recognized and the amount recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss is reclassified to earnings as a realized loss. The Company uses the specific identification method in computing realized gains or losses.

Earnings per Share

Earnings Per Share (“EPS”). Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the entity. Diluted EPS is calculated assuming all options, nonvested shares and performance-based awards of the Company's common stock have been exercised, unless the exercise would be antidilutive.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes. The Company had a gross deferred tax asset of $295.9 million and $282.1 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In determining the amount of deferred tax assets to recognize in the financial statements, the Company evaluates the likelihood of realizing such benefits in future periods. The income tax guidance requires the recognition of a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Income tax guidance indicates the more likely than not threshold is a level of likelihood that is more than 50%.

Under the income tax guidance, companies are required to identify and consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, in determining whether it is more likely than not that all or some portion of its deferred tax assets will not be realized. Positive evidence includes, but is not limited to the following: cumulative earnings in recent years, earnings expected in future years, excess appreciated asset value over the tax basis and positive industry trends. Negative evidence includes, but is not limited to the following: cumulative losses in recent years, losses expected in future years, a history of operating losses or tax credit carryforwards expiring, and adverse industry trends.

The weight given to the potential effect of negative and positive evidence should be commensurate with the extent to which it can be objectively verified. The more negative evidence that exists, the more positive evidence is required to counter to support a conclusion that a valuation allowance is not needed for all or some of the deferred tax assets. Cumulative losses in recent years are significant negative evidence that is difficult to overcome when determining the need for a valuation allowance. Similarly, cumulative earnings in recent years represent significant positive objective evidence. If the weight of the positive evidence is sufficient to support a conclusion that it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will be realized, a valuation allowance should not be recorded.

The Company examines and weighs all available evidence (both positive and negative and both historical and forecasted) in the process of determining whether it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will be realized. The Company considers the relevance of historical and forecasted evidence when there has been a significant change in circumstances. Additionally, the Company evaluates the realization of its recorded deferred tax assets on an interim and annual basis. The Company does not record a full valuation allowance if the weight of the positive evidence exceeds the negative evidence and is sufficient to support a conclusion that it is more likely than not that its deferred tax asset will be realized.

If a valuation allowance is necessary, the Company considers all sources of taxable income in determining the amount of valuation allowance to be recorded. Sources of taxable income identified in the income tax guidance include the following: 1) taxable income in prior carryback year, 2) future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, 3) future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards, and 4) tax planning strategies.

The Company currently evaluates estimates of uncertainty in income taxes based upon a framework established in the income tax accounting guidance. The guidance prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement standard for the recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. In accordance with the guidance, the Company evaluates whether a tax position will more likely than not be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority. The Company measures the amount to recognize in its financial statements as the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The recognition and measurement of tax benefits is often judgmental, and determinations regarding the tax benefit can change as additional developments occur relative to the issue.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, which amended Going Concern (Topic 205) of the Accounting Standards Codification. This amendment provided guidance in generally accepted accounting principles about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related disclosures. The Company has adopted this standard as of January 1, 2016. See the Company's evaluation in Note 1.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, which amends ASC 230 to add or clarify guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. Key requirements of the ASU are as follows:

• Cash and cash-equivalent balances in the statement of cash flows should include those amounts that are deemed to be restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents.

• Under some circumstances, a reconciliation between the statement of financial position and the statement of cash flows must be disclosed.

• Changes in restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents that result from transfers between cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should not be presented as cash flow activities in the statement of cash flows.

• Information regarding the nature of restrictions on cash and cash equivalents must be disclosed.

This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods therein. The impact of this guidance will be determined based on the amounts of cash and restricted cash upon implementation, but is not expected to be material.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, which amends the guidance in ASC 230 on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The primary purpose of the ASU is to reduce the diversity in practice that has resulted from the lack of consistent principles on this topic. The ASU’s amendments add or clarify guidance on eight cash flow issues:

• Debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs.

• Settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing.

• Contingent consideration payments made after a business combination.

• Proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims.

• Proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, including bank-owned life insurance policies.

• Distributions received from equity method investees.

• Beneficial interests in securitization transactions.

• Separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle.

For the Company, the new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Management has not determined if this guidance will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 Leases, a new standard on accounting for leases. ASU 2016-02 introduces a lessee model that brings most leases on the balance sheet. The new standard also aligns many of the underlying principles of the new lessor model with those in ASC 606, the FASB’s new revenue recognition standard (e.g., those related to evaluating when profit can be recognized). Furthermore, this ASU addresses other concerns related to the current leases model. For example, this ASU eliminates the requirement in current GAAP for an entity to use bright-line tests in determining lease classification. The standard also requires lessors to increase the transparency of their exposure to changes in value of their residual assets and how they manage that exposure. The new model represents a wholesale change to lease accounting. As a result, entities will face significant implementation challenges during the transition period and beyond, such as those related to:

• Applying judgment and estimating.

• Managing the complexities of data collection, storage, and maintenance.

• Enhancing information technology systems to ensure their ability to perform the calculations necessary for compliance with reporting requirements.

• Refining internal controls and other business processes related to leases.

• Determining whether debt covenants are likely to be affected and, if so, working with lenders to avoid violations; and

• Addressing any income tax implications.

For the Company, the new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Management has not yet determined if this guidance will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which amends the guidance in GAAP on the classification and measurement of financial instruments. Although the ASU retains many current requirements, it significantly revises an entity’s accounting related to (1) the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and (2) the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. This ASU also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. For Novation, the new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Management has not yet determined if this guidance will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.