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Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies  
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Note 2 — Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), for interim financial statements and the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the consolidated financial statements prepared under GAAP have been condensed or omitted. In our opinion, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows have been included and are of a normal and recurring nature. The operating results presented for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2019 Annual Report.

Principles of Consolidation

These consolidated financial statements include our financial statements and the financial statements of our wholly owned subsidiaries, partnerships and other joint ventures in which we own a controlling interest, including variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of which we are the primary beneficiary. Entities in which we have a significant influence are accounted for under the equity method. Our VIEs are described in Note 15. All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that could materially affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. During the first half of 2020, there has been a global outbreak of a novel coronavirus ("COVID-19"), which has forced many countries, including the United States, to declare national emergencies, to institute "stay-at-home" orders, to close financial markets and to restrict operations of non-essential businesses. Such actions are creating significant disruptions in global supply chains, and adversely impacting many industries. COVID-19 could have a continued and prolonged adverse impact on economic and market conditions and could trigger a period of global economic slowdown. The impact of COVID-19 on companies is evolving rapidly, and the extent and duration of the economic fallout from this pandemic, both globally and to our business, remain unclear, making any estimate or assumption as of June 30, 2020 inherently less certain than they would be absent the current and potential impacts of COVID-19. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassification

Certain amounts in the prior period financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the presentation of the current period financial statements. The net gain/loss from changes in fair value of derivative instruments previously recorded to other income, net is now recorded to (loss) gain on derivative instruments, net. These reclassifications had no effect on the previously reported net income.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Credit Losses

On January 1, 2020, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”), which utilizes a current expected credit loss methodology (“CECL”) for the recognition of credit losses for our structured loans and investments, held-to-maturity debt securities and our loss-sharing obligations related to the Fannie Mae DUS program, at the time the financial asset is originated or acquired. The allowance for credit losses is adjusted each period for changes in expected credit losses. This methodology replaces the multiple existing impairment methods in GAAP and generally requires that a loss be incurred before it is recognized. We adopted ASU 2016-13 using the modified retrospective method, therefore, the results for reporting periods prior to January 1, 2020 have been unadjusted and reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. In connection with the adoption of ASU 2016-13, we recorded a $28.6 million increase to accumulated deficit, which is net of a deferred tax asset of $3.6 million as of January 1, 2020.

The following table illustrates the impact of adopting ASU 2016-13 (in thousands):

January 1, 2020

    

As Reported

    

    

    

    

 

Under

 

As Reported

 

Impact of

 

ASU 2016-13

 

Pre-Adoption

 

Adoption

Assets:

 

  

 

  

 

  

Allowance for credit losses:

 

  

 

  

 

  

Structured loans and investments (1)

$

88,363

$

71,069

$

17,294

Held-to-maturity debt securities

 

501

501

Deferred tax assets

27,307

23,713

3,594

Liabilities:

 

  

 

  

 

  

Allowance for loss-sharing obligations

 

16,847

 

2,441

 

14,406

(1)See Note 3 for details by asset class.

Other Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

Description

    

Adoption Date

    

Effect on Financial Statements

In November 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2018-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities. This ASU amends the guidance for determining whether a decision-making fee is a variable interest and requires companies to consider indirect interests held through related parties under common control on a proportional basis rather than as the equivalent of a direct interest in its entirety (as currently required under GAAP).

First quarter of 2020

The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

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, which makes a number of changes meant to add, modify or remove certain disclosure requirements associated with changes between hierarchy associated with Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements. Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of the update.

First quarter of 2020

The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This ASU eliminates step two from the goodwill impairment test, which measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value with the carrying amount of goodwill.

First quarter of 2020

The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Description

    

Effective Date

    

Effect on Financial Statements

On March 12, 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)—Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions that reference LIBOR or other reference rates expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform.

This ASU is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022

We have not adopted any of the optional expedients or exceptions through June 30, 2020, but will continue to evaluate the possible adoption of any such expedients or exceptions during the effective period as circumstances evolve.

Significant Accounting Policies

See Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data in our 2019 Annual Report for a description of our significant accounting policies. Upon the adoption of ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020, we adjusted certain significant accounting policies, as follows:

Allowance for Credit Losses. We estimate allowances for credit losses on our structured loans and investments (including unfunded loan commitments), loss-sharing obligations related to the Fannie Mae DUS program and our held-to-maturity debt securities under CECL. This method is based on expected credit losses for the life of the investment as of each balance sheet date. Our estimation of credit losses utilizes information obtained from internal and external sources relating to past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. We have licensed a third party model to assist with the measurement of expected credit losses, which utilizes incurred losses inherent in the portfolio. The loss factors are determined through the generation of probability of defaults (PD) and loss given defaults (LGD) for similar loans with similar credit. These results require a significant amount of judgment applied in selecting inputs and analyzing the results produced by the models to determine the allowance for credit losses. Changes in such estimates can significantly affect our expected credit losses.

Our method for calculating the estimate of expected credit loss takes into account historical experience and current conditions for similar loans and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future. The reasonable and supportable forecast period is determined based on our assessment of the most likely scenario of assumptions and plausible outcomes for the US economy, level of historical loss forecast estimates, material changes in growth and credit strategy and other factors that may affect our loss experience. We regularly evaluate the reasonable and supportable forecast period to determine if a change is needed.

Beyond our reasonable and supportable forecast period, we generally revert to historical loss information over the remaining loan/asset period, taken from a period that most accurately reflects the expectation of conditions expected to exist during the period of reversion. We may make adjustments to historical loss information for differences in risk that may not reflect the characteristics of our current portfolio, including but not limited to, loan-to-value and debt service coverage ratios, among other relevant factors. The method of reversion selected represents the best estimate of the collectability of the investments and is reevaluated each reporting period. We generally expect to use an average historical loss for reversion, utilizing an immediate or straight line method for the remaining life of the investments.

We also perform a qualitative assessment beyond model estimates, and apply qualitative adjustments as necessary. Our qualitative analysis includes a review of data that may directly impact our estimates including internal and external information about the loan or property including current market conditions, asset specific conditions, property operations or borrower/sponsor details (i.e. refinance, sale, bankruptcy) which allows us to more accurately and reasonably determine the amount of the expected loss for these investments. We also evaluate the contractual life of our assets to determine if changes are needed for contractual extension options, renewals, modifications and prepayments.

To the extent possible, we estimate our allowance for credit losses using a pooling approach for homogeneous assets with similar risk characteristics with the goal of enhancing the precision of their estimate. If particular assets no longer display risk characteristics that are similar to those of the pool, we may decide to revise our pools or perform an individual assessment of expected credit losses. If it is determined that a foreclosure is probable, or we expect repayment through the operation or sale of the collateral and the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty, we calculate expected credit losses based on the fair value of the collateral as of the reporting date.

During the loan review process, if we determine that it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due for both principal and interest according to the contractual terms of a loan, we consider that loan impaired. We evaluate the capitalization and market discount rates, as well as the borrower's operating income and cash flows, in estimating the value of the underlying collateral when determining if a loan is impaired. We may also obtain a third party appraisal, which may value the collateral through an "as-is" or "stabilized value" methodology. Such appraisals may be used as an additional source of valuation information only and no adjustments are made to appraisals. If upon completion of the valuation, the fair value of the underlying collateral securing the impaired loan is less than the net carrying value of the loan, we record a specific allowance for credit losses with a corresponding charge to the provision for credit losses, and remove the impaired loan from the CECL analysis described above.

If the loan modification constitutes a concession whereas we do not receive ample consideration in return for the modification, and the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties and cannot repay the loan under the current terms, then the modification is considered by us to be a troubled debt restructuring. We record interest on modified loans on an accrual basis to the extent the modified loan is contractually current. The allowance for credit losses on a troubled debt restructuring is measured using the same method as all other loans held for investment.

Charge-offs to the allowance for credit losses occur when losses are confirmed through the receipt of cash or other consideration from the completion of a sale; when a modification or restructuring takes place in which we grant a concession to a borrower or agree to a discount in full or partial satisfaction of the loan; when we take ownership and control of the underlying collateral in full satisfaction of the loan; when loans are reclassified as other investments; or when significant collection efforts have ceased and it is highly likely that a loss has been realized.

Loss on restructured loans is recorded when we have granted a concession to the borrower in the form of principal forgiveness related to the payoff or the substitution or addition of a new debtor for the original borrower or when we incur costs on behalf of the borrower related to the modification, payoff or the substitution or addition of a new debtor for the original borrower. When a loan is restructured, we record our investment at net realizable value, taking into account the cost of all concessions at the date of restructuring. In addition, a gain or loss may be recorded upon the sale of a loan to a third party in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the loan was sold.