Organization, Business Environment and Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

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 adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation. The results of operations and other data for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the year ending December 31, 2017. The unaudited consolidated financial statements presented herein should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Use of Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires that management 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. Such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those that relate to fair value measurements, the amortization of mortgage servicing rights, income taxes, the provision for potential losses that may arise from litigation proceedings, representation and warranty and other indemnification obligations, and our going concern evaluation. In developing estimates and assumptions, management uses all available information; however, actual results could materially differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Reclassifications

As a result of our adoption on January 1, 2017 of FASB Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation: Improvements to Accounting for Employee Share-Based Payments, excess tax benefits have been classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity in our unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows, rather than being separated from other income tax cash flows and classified as a financing activity. Additionally, cash paid by Ocwen when directly withholding shares for tax-withholding purposes has been classified as a financing activity in our unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows, rather than being classified as an operating activity.

Certain amounts in the unaudited consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation as follows:


•	Within the operating activities section, we reclassified Net gain on valuation of mortgage loans held for investment and HMBS-related borrowings from Other to a new separate line item. In addition, we reclassified amounts related to reverse mortgages from Gain on loans held for sale, net to Other.


•	Within the financing activities section, we reclassified Proceeds from exercise of stock options to Other. In addition, we reclassified Repayments of HMBS-related borrowings from Repayments of mortgage loan warehouse facilities and other secured borrowings to a new separate line item.

These reclassifications had no impact on our consolidated cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities.

Certain amounts in the unaudited consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016 have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation as follows:


•	Within the total assets section, we reclassified Deferred tax assets, net to Other assets.


•	Within the total liabilities section, we reclassified HMBS-related borrowings from Financing liabilities to a new separate line item.

Recently Adopted And Issued Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standard

Compensation - Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Shared-Based Payment Accounting (ASU 2016-09)

In addition to the reclassification matters discussed above, ASU 2016-09 requires excess tax benefits associated with employee share-based payments to be recognized through the income statement, regardless of whether the benefit reduces income taxes payable in the current period. Prior to our adoption of this standard, excess tax benefits were recognized in additional paid-in capital and were not recognized until the deduction reduced income taxes payable. Additionally, concurrent with our adoption of ASU 2016-09, we made an accounting policy election to account for forfeitures when they occur, rather than estimating the number of awards that are expected to vest, as we had done prior to our adoption of this standard. Amendments requiring recognition of excess tax benefits in the income statement were adopted prospectively. Amendments related to the timing of when excess tax benefits are recognized and forfeitures were adopted using a modified retrospective transition method by means of cumulative-effect adjustments to equity as of January 1, 2017.

For the timing of the recognition of excess tax benefits, the cumulative-effect adjustment was to recognize an increase in retained earnings of $5.0 million and a deferred tax asset for the same amount. However, because we have determined that our U.S. and USVI deferred tax assets are not considered to be more likely than not realizable, we established an offsetting full valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset through a reduction in retained earnings.

For the change in accounting for forfeitures, we recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment through a reduction of $0.3 million in retained earnings and an increase in additional paid-in capital for the same amount. We also recognized the tax effect of this adjustment through an increase in retained earnings of $0.1 million and a deferred tax asset for the same amount. However, we also fully reserved the resulting deferred tax asset as an offsetting reduction in retained earnings.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09)

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard. Under this standard, an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. An entity should recognize revenue through the following five-step process:

Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer.

Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract.

Step 3: Determine the transaction price.

Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.

Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

ASU 2014-09 will be effective for us on January 1, 2018. An entity should apply the amendments in this ASU either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized at the date of initial application. The guidance in this standard does not apply to financial instruments and other contractual rights or obligations within the scope of ASC 860, Transfers and Servicing. We do not anticipate that our adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business (ASU 2017-01)

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01 to clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. This standard will be effective for us on January 1, 2018. We do not anticipate that our adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Receivables: Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (ASU 2017-08)

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-08 to amend the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. This standard shortens the amortization period for the premium to the earliest call date, rather than generally amortizing the premium as an adjustment of yield over the contractual life of the instrument, as required by current GAAP. This standard will be effective for us on January 1, 2019. We do not anticipate that our adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Compensation: Stock Compensation (ASU 2017-09)

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09 to provide clarity and reduce both diversity in practice as well as cost and complexity when applying the modification accounting guidance in FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation -- Stock Compensation, to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. This standard will be effective for us on January 1, 2018. We do not anticipate that our adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities (ASU 2017-12)

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12 to improve the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better

portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements, and to make certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of the hedge accounting guidance in current GAAP. This standard will be effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early application permitted in any interim period. We are currently evaluating the effect of adopting this standard.