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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies
Included in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 is a summary of our significant accounting policies. Provided below is a summary of additional accounting policies that are significant to the company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
Business Combinations
We use the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations, under which the purchase price is allocated to the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the amount allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. Adjustments to the values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed that could be made during the measurement period, which could be up to one year after the acquisition date, are recorded in the period in which the adjustment is identified, with a corresponding offset to goodwill. Any adjustments made after the measurement period are recorded in the consolidated statements of income. Acquisition related costs are expensed as incurred.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Significant judgment is required to estimate the fair value of intangible assets and in assigning their estimated useful lives. Accordingly, we typically seek the assistance of independent third-party valuation specialists for significant intangible assets. The fair value estimates are based on available historical information and on future expectations and assumptions we deem reasonable. We generally use an income-based valuation method to estimate the fair value of intangible assets, which discounts expected future cash flows to present value using estimates and assumptions we deem reasonable.
Determining the estimated useful lives of intangible assets also requires judgment. Our assessment as to which intangible assets are deemed to have finite or indefinite lives is based on several factors including economic barriers of entry for the acquired business, retention trends, and our operating plans, among other factors.
Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis and reviewed for impairment if indicators are present. Additionally, useful lives are evaluated each reporting period to determine if revisions to the remaining periods of amortization are warranted. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. We have elected to make the first day of our fiscal fourth quarter the annual impairment assessment date for goodwill. We first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than the carrying value. If, based on that assessment, we believe it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than the carrying value, then a two-step goodwill impairment test is performed.
Loan Originations
Our wholly-owned subsidiary, 5 Arches, originates business purpose residential loans, including single-family rental and residential bridge loans. Single-family rental loans are classified as held-for-sale at fair value, as we have originated these loans with the intent to sell to third parties or transfer to securitization entities. Residential bridge loans are classified as held-for-investment at fair value, if we intend to hold these loans to maturity, or held-for-sale at fair value, if we intend to sell the loans to a third party.
Contingent Consideration
In relation to our acquisition of 5 Arches, we recorded contingent consideration liabilities that represent the estimated fair value (at the date of acquisition) of our obligation to make certain earn-out payments that are contingent on 5 Arches loan origination volumes exceeding certain specified thresholds.  These liabilities are carried at fair value and periodic changes in their estimated fair value are recorded through our income statement in Other income, net. The estimate of the fair value of contingent consideration requires significant judgment regarding assumptions about future operating results, discount rates, and probabilities of projected operating result scenarios.
Leases
Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, "Leases," in the first quarter of 2019, we recorded a lease liability and right-of-use asset on our consolidated balance sheets. The lease liability is equal to the present value of our remaining lease payments discounted at our incremental borrowing rate and the right-of-use asset is equal to the lease liability adjusted for our deferred rent liability at the adoption of this accounting standard. As lease payments are made, the lease liability is reduced to the present value of the remaining lease payments and the right-of-use asset is reduced by the difference between the lease expense (straight-lined over the lease term) and the theoretical interest expense amount (calculated using the incremental borrowing rate). See Note 16 for further discussion on leases.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Newly Adopted Accounting Standards Updates ("ASUs")
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, "Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income." This new guidance allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Act"). This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. However, we did not elect to reclassify any income tax effects of the Tax Act from AOCI to retained earnings as we did not have any tax effects related to the Tax Act remaining in AOCI at December 31, 2018. Our policy is to release any stranded income tax effects from AOCI to income tax expense on an investment-by-investment basis.
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities." This new guidance amends previous guidance to better align an entity's risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Additionally, in October 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-16, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes," which permits the use of the OIS rate based on SOFR as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under Topic 815. The amendments in this update are required to be adopted concurrently with the amendments in ASU 2017-12. We adopted this guidance, as required, in the first quarter of 2019, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-11, "Earnings Per Share (Topic 260); Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480); Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): (Part I) Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features, (Part II) Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception." This new guidance changes the classification analysis of certain equity-linked financial instruments (or embedded conversion options) with down round features. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We adopted this guidance, as required, in the first quarter of 2019, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-08, "Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20)." This new guidance shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities purchased at a premium by requiring the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We adopted this guidance, as required, in the first quarter of 2019, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases." This new guidance requires lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. This new guidance retains a dual lease accounting model, which requires leases to be classified as either operating or capital leases for lessees, for purposes of income statement recognition. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, "Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases," which provides more specific guidance on certain aspects of Topic 842. Additionally, in July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, "Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements." This new ASU introduces an additional transition method which allows entities to apply the new standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. In March 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-01, "Leases (Topic 842): Codification Improvements," which is intended to clarify Codification guidance. We adopted this guidance, as required, in the first quarter of 2019, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. We elected the package of practical expedients under the transition guidance within this standard, which allowed us to carry forward the classifications of each of our existing leases as operating leases. In connection with the adoption of this guidance, at March 31, 2019, our lease liability was $13 million, which represented the present value of our remaining lease payments discounted at our incremental borrowing rate and was recorded in Accrued expenses and other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. At March 31, 2019, our right-of-use asset was $12 million, which was equal to the lease liability adjusted for our deferred rent liability at adoption and was recorded in Other assets on our consolidated balance sheets. We will continue to record lease expense on a straight-line basis and have included required lease disclosures within Note 16.
Other Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement." This new guidance amends previous guidance by removing and modifying certain existing fair value disclosure requirements, while adding other new disclosure requirements. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted and entities may elect to early adopt the removal or modification of disclosures immediately and delay adoption of the new disclosure requirements until their effective date. We plan to adopt this new guidance by the required date and do not anticipate that this update will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-09, "Codification Improvements." This new guidance is intended to clarify, correct, and make minor improvements to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The transition and effective dates are based on the facts and circumstances of each amendment, with some amendments becoming effective upon issuance of this ASU and others becoming effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We plan to adopt this new guidance by the required date and do not anticipate that this update will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses." This new guidance provides a new impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses to determine the allowance for credit losses. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-19, "Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses," which clarifies the scope of the amendments in ASU 2016-13. We currently have only a small balance of loans receivable that are not carried at fair value and would be subject to this new guidance for allowance for credit losses. Separately, we account for our available-for-sale securities under the other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") model for debt securities. This new guidance requires that credit impairments on our available-for-sale securities be recorded in earnings using an allowance for credit losses, with the allowance limited to the amount by which the security's fair value is less than its amortized cost basis. Subsequent reversals in credit loss estimates are recognized in income. We plan to adopt this new guidance by the required date and do not anticipate that these updates will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements as nearly all of our financial instruments are carried at fair value and changes in fair values of these instruments are recorded on our consolidated statements of income in the period in which the valuation change occurs. We will continue evaluating these new standards and caution that any changes in our business or additional amendments to these standards could change our initial assessment.
Balance Sheet Netting
Certain of our derivatives and short-term debt are subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements. Under GAAP, in certain circumstances we may elect to present certain financial assets, liabilities and related collateral subject to master netting arrangements in a net position on our consolidated balance sheets. However, we do not report any of these financial assets or liabilities on a net basis, and instead present them on a gross basis on our consolidated balance sheets.
The table below presents financial assets and liabilities that are subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements categorized by financial instrument, together with corresponding financial instruments and corresponding collateral received or pledged at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Table 3.1 – Offsetting of Financial Assets, Liabilities, and Collateral
 
 
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets (Liabilities)
 
Gross Amounts Offset in Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Net Amounts of Assets (Liabilities) Presented in Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in Consolidated
Balance Sheet
(1)
 
Net Amount
March 31, 2019
(In Thousands)
 
 
 
 
Financial Instruments
 
Cash Collateral (Received) Pledged
 
Assets (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate agreements
 
$
11,490

 
$

 
$
11,490

 
$
(11,490
)
 
$

 
$

TBAs
 
5,826

 

 
5,826

 
(5,755
)
 

 
71

Total Assets
 
$
17,316

 
$

 
$
17,316

 
$
(17,245
)
 
$

 
$
71

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate agreements
 
$
(100,561
)
 
$

 
$
(100,561
)
 
$
11,490

 
$
89,071

 
$

TBAs
 
(9,609
)
 

 
(9,609
)
 
5,755

 
2,166

 
(1,688
)
Loan warehouse debt
 
(526,341
)
 

 
(526,341
)
 
526,341

 

 

Security repurchase agreements
 
(1,081,079
)
 

 
(1,081,079
)
 
1,081,079

 

 

Total Liabilities
 
$
(1,717,590
)
 
$

 
$
(1,717,590
)
 
$
1,624,665

 
$
91,237

 
$
(1,688
)
 
 
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets (Liabilities)
 
Gross Amounts Offset in Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Net Amounts of Assets (Liabilities) Presented in Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in Consolidated
Balance Sheet
(1)
 
Net Amount
December 31, 2018
(In Thousands)
 
 
 
 
Financial Instruments
 
Cash Collateral (Received) Pledged
 
Assets (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate agreements
 
$
28,211

 
$

 
$
28,211

 
$
(28,211
)
 
$

 
$

TBAs
 
4,665

 

 
4,665

 
(3,391
)
 
(835
)
 
439

Total Assets
 
$
32,876

 
$

 
$
32,876

 
$
(31,602
)
 
$
(835
)
 
$
439

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate agreements
 
$
(70,908
)
 
$

 
$
(70,908
)
 
$
28,211

 
$
42,697

 
$

TBAs
 
(13,215
)
 

 
(13,215
)
 
3,391

 
5,620

 
(4,204
)
Loan warehouse debt
 
(860,650
)
 

 
(860,650
)
 
860,650

 

 

Security repurchase agreements
 
(988,890
)
 

 
(988,890
)
 
988,890

 

 

Total Liabilities
 
$
(1,933,663
)
 
$

 
$
(1,933,663
)
 
$
1,881,142

 
$
48,317

 
$
(4,204
)
(1)
Amounts presented in these columns are limited in total to the net amount of assets or liabilities presented in the prior column by instrument. In certain cases, there is excess cash collateral or financial assets we have pledged to a counterparty (which may, in certain circumstances, be a clearinghouse) that exceed the financial liabilities subject to a master netting arrangement or similar agreement. Additionally, in certain cases, counterparties may have pledged excess cash collateral to us that exceeds our corresponding financial assets. In each case, any of these excess amounts are excluded from the table although they are separately reported in our consolidated balance sheets as assets or liabilities, respectively.
(2)
Interest rate agreements and TBAs are components of derivatives instruments on our consolidated balance sheets. Loan warehouse debt, which is secured by residential mortgage loans, and security repurchase agreements are components of Short-term debt on our consolidated balance sheets.
For each category of financial instrument set forth in the table above, the assets and liabilities resulting from individual transactions within that category between us and a counterparty are subject to a master netting arrangement or similar agreement with that counterparty that provides for individual transactions to be aggregated and treated as a single transaction. For certain categories of these instruments, some of our transactions are cleared and settled through one or more clearinghouses that are substituted as our counterparty. References herein to master netting arrangements or similar agreements include the arrangements and agreements governing the clearing and settlement of these transactions through the clearinghouses. In the event of the termination and close-out of any of those transactions, the corresponding master netting agreement or similar agreement provides for settlement on a net basis. Any such settlement would include the proceeds of the liquidation of any corresponding collateral, subject to certain limitations on termination, settlement, and liquidation of collateral that may apply in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of a party. Such limitations should not inhibit the eventual practical realization of the principal benefits of those transactions or the corresponding master netting arrangement or similar agreement and any corresponding collateral.