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Commitments and Contingencies | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Note 22 – Commitments and Contingencies When we become aware of a matter involving uncertainty for which we may incur a loss, we assess the likelihood of any loss. If a loss contingency is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, we record an accrual for the loss. In such cases, there may be an exposure to potential loss in excess of the amount accrued. Where a loss is not probable but is reasonably possible or where a loss in excess of the amount accrued is reasonably possible, we disclose an estimate of the amount of the loss or range of possible losses for the claim if a reasonable estimate can be made, unless the amount of such reasonably possible loss is not material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. If a reasonable estimate of loss cannot be made, we do not accrue for any loss or disclose any estimate of exposure to potential loss. An assessment regarding the ultimate outcome of any such matter involves judgments about future events, actions and circumstances that are inherently uncertain. The actual outcome could differ materially. Where we have retained external legal counsel or other professional advisors, such advisors assist us in making such assessments. Litigation Contingencies In the ordinary course of business, we are routinely a defendant in, or a party or potential party to, many threatened and pending legal proceedings, including proceedings brought on behalf of various classes of claimants. These proceedings are generally based on alleged violations of federal, state and local laws and regulations governing our mortgage servicing and lending activities, including wrongful foreclosure and eviction actions, allegations of wrongdoing in connection with lender-placed insurance arrangements, claims relating to our pre-foreclosure property preservation activities and claims related to our payment and other processing operations. In some of these proceedings, claims for substantial monetary damages are asserted against us. In our opinion, the resolution of the vast majority of these proceedings will not have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of any threatened or pending legal proceedings, particularly where the claimants seek very large or indeterminate damages or where the matters present novel legal theories or involve a large number of parties, we generally cannot predict what the eventual outcome of such proceedings will be, what the timing of the ultimate resolution will be, or what the eventual loss, if any, will be. Where we determine that a loss contingency is probable in connection with a pending or threatened legal proceeding and the amount of our losses can be reasonably estimated, we record an accrual for the losses. Excluding expenses of internal or external legal counsel, we have accrued $19.1 million as of September 30, 2014 for losses relating to threatened and pending litigation pertaining to our mortgage servicing practices that we believe are probable and reasonably estimable based on current information regarding these matters. Where we determine that a loss is not probable but is reasonably possible or where a loss in excess of the amount accrued is reasonably possible, we disclose an estimate of the amount of the loss or range of possible losses for the claim if a reasonable estimate can be made, unless the amount of such reasonably possible loss is not material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. It is possible that we will incur losses relating to threatened and pending litigation pertaining to our mortgage servicing practices that materially exceed the amount accrued. We cannot currently estimate the amount, if any, of reasonably possible losses above amounts that have been recorded at September 30, 2014. Following our announcement on August 12, 2014 that we intended to restate our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and the quarter ended March 31, 2014, and amend our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, putative securities fraud class action lawsuits have been filed against Ocwen and certain of its officers and directors regarding such restatements and amendments. Ocwen and the other defendants intend to vigorously defend such lawsuits. Additional lawsuits may be filed and, at this time, Ocwen is unable to predict the outcome of these lawsuits, the possible loss or range of loss, if any, associated with the resolution of these lawsuits or any potential impact they may have on us or our operations. If our efforts to defend these lawsuits are not successful, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. In several recent court actions, mortgage loan sellers against whom repurchase claims have been asserted based on alleged breaches of representations and warranties are defending on various grounds including the expiration of statutes of limitation, lack of notice and opportunity to cure, and vitiation of the obligation to repurchase as a result of foreclosure or charge off of the loan. Ocwen has entered into tolling agreements with respect to its role as servicer for a very small number of securitizations and may enter into additional tolling agreements in the future. Other court actions have been filed recently against certain RMBS trustees alleging that the trustees breached their contractual and statutory duties by, among other things, failing to require the loan servicers to abide by the servicers’ obligations and by failing to declare that certain servicing events of default under the applicable contracts allegedly occurred. Ocwen is a party in certain of these actions, is the servicer for certain securitizations involved in other such actions, and is the servicer for other securitizations as to which actions have been threatened by certificate holders. We intend to vigorously defend ourselves in lawsuits to which we have been named a party. Should Ocwen be made a party to other similar actions or should Ocwen be asked to indemnify any parties to such actions, we may need to defend allegations that we failed to service loans in accordance with applicable agreements and that such failures prejudiced the rights of repurchase claimants against loan sellers or otherwise diminished the value of the trust collateral. We believe that any such allegations would be without merit and, if necessary, would vigorously defend against them. At this time, we are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these lawsuits, the possible loss or range of loss, if any, associated with the resolution of these lawsuits or any potential impact they may have on us or our operations. If, however, we were required to compensate claimants for losses related to the alleged loan servicing breaches, then our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. Regulatory Contingencies We are subject to a number of pending federal and state regulatory investigations, examinations, inquiries, requests for information and other actions, including those discussed below. In December 2012, we entered into a Consent Order with the New York Department of Financial Services (NY DFS) in which we agreed to the appointment of a Monitor to oversee our compliance with an Agreement on Servicing Practices. The Monitor began its work in 2013, and we continue to cooperate with the Monitor. We devote substantial resources to regulatory compliance, and we incur, and expect to continue to incur, significant ongoing costs with respect to compliance in connection with the Agreement on Servicing Practices and the work of the Monitor. In early February 2014, the NY DFS requested that Ocwen put an indefinite hold on an acquisition from Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. of MSRs and related servicing advances relating to a portfolio of approximately 184,000 loans with a UPB of approximately $39.0 billion. The NY DFS expressed an interest in evaluating further our ability to manage additional servicing. We have agreed to place the transaction on indefinite hold. The NY DFS has also inquired about certain other aspects of our business, including certain aspects of our business dealings with Altisource, HLSS, AAMC and Residential, the interests of our directors and executive officers in these companies, an online auction business owned by Altisource, the role of Altisource in certain lender-placed insurance arrangements, the provisions contained in releases we use in connection with litigation settlements and certain erroneously dated borrower correspondence that we sent. We are cooperating with the NY DFS on these matters. As noted above, an assessment regarding the ultimate outcome of these matters involves judgments about future events, actions and circumstances that are inherently uncertain. If we determine that a loss contingency is probable and the amount of our losses can be reasonably estimated, we record an accrual for the losses. We accrued $100.0 million as of September 30, 2014 for losses that we believe are probable and reasonably estimable based on current information regarding these matters, although we have not reached any agreement with the NY DFS on any of the outstanding matters and cannot predict whether or when we may reach such a resolution. It is possible that we could incur losses that materially exceed this amount. We cannot currently estimate the amount, if any, of reasonably possible losses above amounts that have been recorded at September 30, 2014. Actions taken by the NY DFS, if any, regarding these matters could have a material impact on our business, reputation, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. On December 19, 2013, we reached an agreement, which was subject to court approval, involving the CFPB and various state attorneys general and other state agencies that regulate the mortgage servicing industry (Regulators). In February 2014, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia entered a Consent Order memorializing the settlement (the Ocwen National Mortgage Settlement). The settlement has four key elements:
• | A commitment by Ocwen to service loans in accordance with specified servicing guidelines and to be subject to oversight by an independent national monitor for three years. Ocwen was previously subject to substantially the same guidelines and oversight with respect to the portion of its servicing portfolio acquired from ResCap in early 2013, and those loans will also be subject to these provisions.
• | A payment of $127.3 million, which includes a fixed amount for administrative expenses, to a consumer relief fund to be disbursed by an independent administrator to eligible borrowers. In May 2014, Ocwen satisfied this obligation with regard to the consumer relief fund. Pursuant to indemnification and loss sharing provisions of applicable acquisition documents, the former owners of certain servicing portfolios previously acquired by Ocwen are responsible for approximately $60.4 million of that sum, of which $49.0 million has already been paid to Ocwen.
• | A commitment by Ocwen to continue its principal forgiveness modification programs to delinquent and underwater borrowers, including underwater borrowers at imminent risk of default, in an aggregate amount of at least $2.0 billion over three years. These and all of Ocwen’s other loan modifications are designed to be sustainable for homeowners while providing a net present value for loan investors that is superior to that of foreclosure. Principal forgiveness as part of a loan modification is determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the applicable servicing agreement. Principal forgiveness does not involve an expense to Ocwen other than the operating expense incurred in arranging the modification, which is part of Ocwen’s role as loan servicer.
• | Ocwen and the former owners of certain of the acquired servicing portfolios received from the Regulators comprehensive releases, subject to certain exceptions, from liability with respect to residential mortgage servicing, modification and foreclosure practices.
On April 28, 2014, we received a letter from the staff of the New York Regional Office of the SEC (the Staff) informing us that it was conducting an investigation relating to Ocwen and making a request for voluntary production of documents and information relating to the April 22, 2014 surrender of certain options to purchase our common stock by Mr. Erbey, our Executive Chairman, including the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan and the related option grant and surrender documents. On June 12, 2014, we received a subpoena from the SEC requesting production of various documents relating to our business dealings with Altisource, HLSS, AAMC and Residential and the interests of our directors and executive officers in these companies. Following the above-described announcement on August 12, 2014 that we intended to amend our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, received an additional subpoena in relation to such amendments. We are cooperating with the Staff on these matters. One or more of the foregoing regulatory actions or our failure to comply with the commitments we have made with respect to such regulatory actions or other regulatory actions in the future against us of a similar or different nature could cause us to incur fines, penalties, settlement costs, damages, legal fees or other charges in material amounts or could impose additional requirements or restrictions on our activities. Any of these occurrences could increase our operating expenses and reduce our revenues, hamper our ability to grow or otherwise materially and adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition and results of operations. In addition to these matters, Ocwen receives periodic inquires, both formal and informal in nature, from various federal and state agencies, including those made as part of regulatory oversight of our mortgage servicing, origination and collection activities. Such ongoing inquiries, including those into servicer foreclosure processes, could result in additional actions by state or federal governmental bodies, regulators or the courts with respect to our mortgage servicing, origination and collection activities and could result in an extension of foreclosure timelines, which may be applicable generally to the servicing industry or to us in particular. In addition, one of our match funded advance facilities contains provisions that limit the eligibility of advances to be financed based on the length of time that advances are outstanding, which, if such provisions applied, could adversely affect liquidity by reducing our average effective advance rate. Increases in the amount of advances and the length of time to recover advances, fines or increases in operating expenses, and decreases in the advance rate and availability of financing for advances could result in increased borrowings, reduced cash and higher interest expense which could negatively impact our liquidity and profitability. Loan Repurchase Obligations and Other Contingencies We have exposure to representation, warranty and indemnification obligations because of our lending, sales and securitization activities and our acquisitions to the extent we assume one or more of these obligations and in connection with our servicing practices. In connection with our lending, sales and securitization activities, our exposure primarily relates to representations and warranties concerning the proper origination and insurance of the loans. In connection with our servicing practices, claims may be made against us by contractual counterparties, such as trustees, master servicers and insurers, or by other third parties. At September 30, 2014 and 2013, we had provided or assumed representation and warranty obligations in connection with $83.4 billion and $89.4 billion of UPB, respectively, covering both forward and reverse mortgage loans. At September 30, 2014, we had outstanding representation and warranty repurchase demands of $108.2 million UPB (578 loans). At September 30, 2013, the outstanding UPB of representation and warranty repurchase demands was $113.0 million (534 loans). We review each demand and monitor through resolution, primarily through rescission, loan repurchase or make-whole payment. The following table presents the changes in our liability for representation and warranty obligations, compensatory fees for foreclosures that may ultimately exceed investor timelines and related indemnification obligations for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
| 2014 |  | 2013
Beginning balance | $ | 192,716 |  |  | $ | 38,140 |
Provision for representation and warranty obligations | 5,076 |  |  | 18,116 |
New production reserves | 820 |  |  | 1,055 |
Obligations assumed in connection with MSR and servicing business acquisitions | — |  |  | 189,742 |
Charge-offs and other (1) | (54,776 | ) |  | (40,979 | )
Ending balance | $ | 143,836 |  |  | $ | 206,074 |
(1) | Includes principal and interest losses realized in connection with repurchased loans, make-whole, indemnification and fee payments and settlements net of recoveries, if any.
We believe that it is reasonably possible that losses beyond amounts currently recorded for potential representation and warranty obligations and other claims described above could occur, and such losses could have an adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. However, based on currently available information, we are unable to estimate a range of reasonably possible losses above amounts that have been recorded at September 30, 2014.

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