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NOTE 1 DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE 1

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Organization

Ocwen Financial Corporation (NYSE: OCN) (Ocwen, OCN, “we”, or “us”) is a financial services holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the servicing and origination of mortgage loans. Ocwen is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with offices throughout the United States and in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) with support operations in India and Uruguay. Ocwen is a Florida corporation organized in February 1988. Ocwen owned all of the common stock of one of its primary operating subsidiaries, Ocwen Mortgage Servicing, Inc. (OMS), and directly or indirectly owned all of the outstanding stock of its other primary operating subsidiaries: Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC (OLS), Ocwen Financial Solutions Private Limited, Homeward Residential, Inc. (Homeward) and Liberty Home Equity Solutions, Inc. (Liberty) (formerly known as Genworth Financial Home Equity Access, Inc.).

We are licensed to service mortgage loans and to originate mortgage loans in all jurisdictions in which we operate.

We purchase existing mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) from market participants and generate new servicing rights through our origination activities. We perform primary and master servicer activities on behalf of investors and other servicers, including the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) (collectively, the GSEs). We service prime and non-prime mortgages including mortgages included in private label mortgage-backed securities. As primary servicer, we may make certain payments of property taxes and insurance premiums, default and property maintenance payments, as well as advances of principal and interest payments before collecting them from borrowers. As master servicer, we collect mortgage payments from primary servicers and distribute the funds to investors in the mortgage-backed securities. To the extent that the primary servicer does not advance the scheduled principal and interest, as master servicer we are responsible for advancing the shortfall subject to certain limitations.

We originate, purchase, sell and securitize prime forward and reverse mortgages. These loans are insured or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or conform to the underwriting standards of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The GSEs guarantee these securitizations.

We are actively engaged in identifying and completing asset and other acquisitions in connection with our growth strategy. This could involve the acquisition of domestic and international servicing and/or origination platforms or related assets. See Note 4 – Business Acquisitions for additional information.

On June 13, 2013, OLS entered into a mortgage servicing rights purchase and sale agreement (Purchase Agreement) with OneWest Bank, FSB, a federal savings bank (the Seller), pursuant to which OLS agreed to purchase MSRs and related servicing advance receivables (the OneWest MSR Transaction). No operations, entities or other assets were acquired in the transaction. Contemporaneously with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, Ocwen executed a guarantee pursuant to which it agreed to guarantee the obligations and performance of OLS under the Purchase Agreement. As part of the OneWest MSR Transaction, each of the Seller and OLS have agreed to indemnification provisions for the benefit of the other party.

The OneWest MSR Transaction is closing in stages, and we expect that the majority of loans will be boarded onto our primary servicing platform by December 31, 2013. The GSE loans were boarded during August and September, and we expect to board the majority of the private label securities in November. Each closing is subject to, among other things, receipt of certain investor and third party consents and customary closing conditions. In the event that all of the closings have not been completed by January 31, 2014, the unsettled component of the transaction would be subject to termination in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement.

On various dates beginning on April 1, 2013 and continuing through August 31, 2013, the date on which our purchase obligation terminated, we completed the acquisition of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac MSRs and related advances from Ally Bank (Ally MSR Transaction), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ally Financial Inc. (Ally), the indirect parent of Residential Capital, LLC (ResCap). Prior to the closing, we subserviced the related MSRs on behalf of Ally Bank. We assumed certain origination representation and warranty obligations in connection with the Ally MSR Transaction. No operations, entities or other assets were acquired in the transaction.

On April 1, 2013, we completed the acquisition of Liberty (the Liberty Acquisition) through a stock purchase agreement. Liberty is engaged in the origination, purchase, sale and securitization of reverse mortgage loans, both retail and wholesale.

On February 15, 2013, we completed the acquisition of certain assets and operations of ResCap in connection with the asset sale by ResCap and certain of its subsidiaries pursuant to a plan under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (the ResCap Acquisition). We purchased MSRs related to private label, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae residential forward mortgage loans and certain master and subservicing agreements. The ResCap Acquisition included advances and elements of the servicing platform related to the acquired MSRs. Under the terms of the ResCap Acquisition, we are obligated to acquire certain servicing rights and subservicing agreements that were not settled as part of the initial closing on February 15, 2013 as a result of objections raised in connection with the sale. We completed subsequent settlements as objections were resolved on July 1 and September 1, 2013. We expect to have additional settlements through December 31, 2013 in connection with the ResCap Acquisition.

On December 27, 2012, we completed the merger by and among Ocwen, O&H Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ocwen, Homeward Residential Holdings, Inc. (Homeward Holding) and WL Ross & Co. LLC, a Delaware limited liability company as shareholder representative. Pursuant to the merger, O&H Acquisition Corp. merged with and into Homeward Holding with Homeward Holding continuing as the surviving corporation and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ocwen (the Homeward Acquisition). Homeward primarily engages in the origination, purchase, sale and securitization of prime loans and the servicing of residential forward mortgage loans.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited 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 consolidated 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, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the year ending December 31, 2013. The unaudited 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, 2012.

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 differ materially from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly significant in the near or medium term relate to fair value measurements, the provision for potential losses that may arise from litigation proceedings, representation and warranty and other indemnification obligations, the amortization of MSRs and the valuation of goodwill and deferred tax assets.

Principles of Consolidation

Our financial statements include the accounts of Ocwen, its majority-owned subsidiaries and any variable interest entity (VIE) where we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary. We apply the equity method of accounting to investments when the entity is not a 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 have eliminated intercompany accounts and transactions in consolidation.

Reclassification

Within the revenue section of the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, we reclassified Process management fees of $8.9 million and $27.6 million to Other revenues. In addition, certain other insignificant amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Cash Flows for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on our consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations.

Significant Accounting Policies

Transfers of Financial Assets

We securitize, sell and service forward and reverse residential mortgage loans. Securitization transactions typically involve the use of VIEs and are accounted for either as sales or as secured financings. We typically retain economic interests in the securitized assets in the form of servicing rights and obligations. In order to efficiently finance our assets and operations and create liquidity, we may sell servicing advances, MSRs and the right to receive servicing fees, excluding ancillary income, relating to certain of our MSRs (Rights to MSRs).

In order to determine whether or not a VIE is required to be consolidated, we consider our ongoing involvement with the VIE. In circumstances where we have both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be significant, we would conclude that we would consolidate the entity, which precludes us from recording an accounting sale in connection with the transfer of the financial assets. In the case of a consolidated VIE, we continue to record the underlying residential mortgage loans or servicing advances, and we record the securitized debt on our consolidated balance sheet.

In the case of transfers where either one or both of the power or economic criteria above are not met, we evaluate whether we achieve a sale for accounting purposes. In order to achieve a sale, the transferred assets must be legally isolated, not be constrained by restrictions from further transfer, and be deemed to be beyond our control. If we fail any of these three criteria, the accounting is consistent with a secured financing as described in the preceding paragraph. Subsequent to the determination that a transaction does not meet the accounting sale criteria, we may determine that we meet the criteria. In the event we subsequently meet the accounting sale criteria, we derecognize the transferred assets and related liabilities.

In the case of transfers of MSRs and Rights to MSRs where we retain the right to subservice, we defer the related gain or loss and amortize the balance over the life of the subservicing agreement.

Gains or losses on off-balance sheet securitizations take into consideration any retained interests, including servicing rights and representation and warranty obligations, both of which are initially recorded at fair value at the date of sale in Gain on loans held for sale, net, in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-11, (Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 210, Balance Sheet): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities and ASU 2013-01: Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. This ASU contains new disclosure requirements regarding the nature of an entity’s rights of offset and related arrangements associated with financial and derivative instruments. ASU 2013-01 clarified the scope of transactions that are subject to ASU 2011-11. The new disclosures also provide information about gross and net exposures. Retrospective application is required for all comparative periods presented. Our adoption of these standards on January 1, 2013 did not have a material impact on our unaudited consolidated financial statements, as the requirements relate to disclosures only.

ASU 2013-02 (ASC 220, Comprehensive Income): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (which amends ASC 220, Comprehensive Income). ASC 2013-02 contains new requirements related to the presentation and disclosure of items that are reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The ASU is required to be applied prospectively. Adoption of this standard on January 1, 2013 did not have a material impact on our unaudited consolidated financial statements, as the requirements relate to disclosures only.

ASU 2013-04 (ASC 405, Liabilities): Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation Is Fixed at the Reporting Date, a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF). On February 28, 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-04. The ASU requires an entity to measure obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this guidance is fixed at the reporting date, as the sum of the following:

The amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors, and

Any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors.

Required disclosures include a description of the joint-and-several arrangement and the total outstanding amount of the obligation for all joint parties. The ASU permits entities to aggregate disclosures (as opposed to providing separate disclosures for each joint-and-several obligation). The ASU is effective for all prior periods in fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2013 (and interim reporting periods within those years). The ASU should be applied retrospectively to obligations with joint-and-several liabilities existing at the beginning of an entity’s fiscal year of adoption. Entities that elect to use hindsight in measuring their obligations during the comparative periods must disclose that fact. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect of adopting this standard effective January 1, 2014, but we do not anticipate that our adoption will have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

ASU 2013-05 (ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters): Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity, a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. On March 4, 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, which requires that the entire amount of a cumulative translation adjustment (CTA) related to an entity’s investment in a foreign entity should be released when there has been a:

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sale of a subsidiary or group of net assets within a foreign entity and the sale represents the substantially complete liquidation of the investment in the foreign entity,

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loss of a controlling financial interest in an investment in a foreign entity (i.e., the foreign entity is deconsolidated), or

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step acquisition for a foreign entity (i.e., when an entity has changed from applying the equity method for an investment in a foreign entity to consolidating the foreign entity).

The ASU does not change the requirement to release a pro rata portion of the CTA of the foreign entity into earnings for a partial sale of an equity method investment in a foreign entity. The ASU is effective for fiscal years (and interim periods within those fiscal years) beginning on or after December 15, 2013. The ASU should be applied prospectively from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. We are currently evaluating the effect of adopting this standard effective January 1, 2014, but we do not anticipate that our adoption will have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

ASU 2013-10 (ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging): Inclusion of the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate (or Overnight Index Swap Rate) as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). On July 17, 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-10, which permits the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate to be used as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under ASC 815, in addition to interest rates on direct Treasury obligations of the U.S. government (UST) and the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The ASU also removes the restriction on using different benchmark rates for similar hedges. The ASU is effective prospectively for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships entered into on or after July 17, 2013. Because we terminated our remaining interest rate swap agreements on May 31, 2013, our adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

ASU 2013-11 (ASC 740, Income Taxes): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). On July 18, 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, which clarifies that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion thereof, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The assessment of whether a deferred tax asset is available is based on the unrecognized tax benefit and deferred tax asset that exist at the reporting date and should be made presuming disallowance of the tax position at the reporting date.

The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. Early adoption is permitted. The ASU should be applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. Retrospective application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect of adopting this standard effective January 1, 2014, but we do not anticipate that our adoption will have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.