Note 1 — Organization, Business Environment, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Organization

Ocwen Financial Corporation (NYSE: OCN) (Ocwen, we, us and our) is a financial services holding company which, through its subsidiaries, originates and services loans. We are headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida with offices located throughout the United States (U.S.) and in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and with operations located in India and the Philippines. Ocwen is a Florida corporation organized in February 1988.

Ocwen owns all of the common stock of its primary operating subsidiary, Ocwen Mortgage Servicing, Inc. (OMS), and directly or indirectly owns all of the outstanding stock of its other primary operating subsidiaries: Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC (OLS), Ocwen Financial Solutions Private Limited (OFSPL), Homeward Residential, Inc. (Homeward) and Liberty Home Equity Solutions, Inc. (Liberty).

We perform servicing activities on behalf of other servicers (subservicing), the largest being New Residential Investment Corp. (NRZ), and investors (primary and master servicing), including the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (collectively, the GSEs), the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) and private-label securitizations (non-Agency). As a subservicer or primary servicer, we may be required to make certain property tax and insurance premium payments, default and property maintenance payments, as well as advances of principal and interest payments to mortgage loan investors before collecting them from borrowers. Most, but not all, of our subservicing agreements provide for us to be reimbursed for any such advances by the owner of the servicing rights. Advances made by us as primary servicer are recovered from the borrower or the mortgage loan investor. As master servicer, we collect mortgage payments from primary servicers and distribute the funds to investors in the mortgage-backed securities. To the extent 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, sell and securitize conventional (conforming to the underwriting standards of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac; collectively referred to as Agency loans) and government-insured (Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)) forward and reverse mortgages. The GSEs or Ginnie Mae guarantee these mortgage securitizations. We are an approved issuer of Home Equity Conversion Mortgage-Backed Securities (HMBS) that are guaranteed by Ginnie Mae. We originate Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM, or reverse mortgages) that are insured by the FHA.

We had a total of approximately 7,600 employees at December 31, 2017 of which approximately 5,000 were located in India and approximately 600 were based in the Philippines. Our operations in India and the Philippines primarily provide internal support services, principally to our loan servicing business and our corporate functions. Of our foreign-based employees, more than 80% were engaged in supporting our loan servicing operations as of December 31, 2017.

Business Environment

We are facing certain challenges and uncertainties that could have significant adverse effects on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. The ability of management to appropriately address these challenges and uncertainties in a timely manner is critical to our ability to successfully operate our business.

We have incurred a net loss in each of the last four fiscal years, which has significantly eroded stockholders’ equity and weakened our financial condition. In order to drive stronger financial performance, we have been exploring strategic approaches to streamline our business and leverage our competitive advantages by focusing our operations on mortgage servicing, on our retail forward lending channel, primarily through retail lending recapture, and on our reverse mortgage business. As part of this strategic assessment, we exited the forward lending correspondent and wholesale channels during 2017 and we plan to exit the independent used car dealer floor plan lending business conducted through our Automotive Capital Services, Inc. subsidiary by the end of the second quarter of 2018. While these changes may limit our generation of new assets in the near term, we believe that they will, over time, improve our returns and improve cash flow relative to current operations. In addition, we have significantly strengthened our cash position through the receipt of a lump-sum fee payment of $279.6 million from NRZ in January 2018 in connection with our new rights to mortgage servicing rights arrangements. See Note 8 — Rights to MSRs for further information.

Our business, operating results and financial condition have been significantly impacted in recent periods by regulatory actions against us and by significant litigation matters. Should the number or scope of regulatory or legal actions against us increase or expand or should we be unable to reach reasonable resolutions in existing regulatory and legal matters, our business, reputation, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected, even if we are successful in our ongoing efforts to drive stronger financial performance. See Note 22 — Regulatory Requirements and Note 24 — Contingencies for further information.

Regarding the current maturities of our borrowings, as of December 31, 2017, we have approximately $1.0 billion of debt outstanding under facilities coming due in the next 12 months. Portions of our match funded facilities and all of our mortgage loan warehouse facilities have 364-day terms consistent with market practice. We have historically renewed these facilities on or before their expiration in the ordinary course of financing our business. We expect to renew, replace or extend all such borrowings to the extent necessary to finance our business on or prior to their respective maturities consistent with our historical experience.

Our debt agreements contain various qualitative and quantitative events of default provisions that include, among other things, noncompliance with covenants, breach of representations, or the occurrence of a material adverse change. If a lender were to allege an event of default and we are unable to avoid, remedy or secure a waiver, we could be subject to adverse actions by our lenders that could have a material adverse impact on us. In addition, OLS, Homeward and Liberty are parties to seller/servicer agreements and/or subject to guidelines and regulations (collectively, seller/servicer obligations) with one or more of the GSEs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FHA, VA and Ginnie Mae. To the extent these requirements are not met or waived, the applicable agency may, at its option, utilize a variety of remedies including requirements to provide certain information or take actions at the direction of the applicable agency, requirements to deposit funds as security for our obligations, sanctions, suspension or even termination of approved seller/servicer status, which would prohibit future originations or securitizations of forward or reverse mortgage loans or servicing for the applicable agency. Any of these actions could have a material adverse impact on us. See Note 12 — Borrowings, Note 22 — Regulatory Requirements and Note 24 — Contingencies for further information.

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP).

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Ocwen, its majority-owned subsidiaries and any variable interest entity (VIE) for which 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.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of each of our foreign subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. Re-measurement adjustments of foreign-denominated amounts to U.S. dollars are included in Other, net in our consolidated statements of operations.

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 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 consolidated statements of cash flows, rather than being classified as an operating activity.

Certain amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for 2016 and 2015 have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation as follows:


•	Within the operating activities section, we reclassified Amortization of debt discount to Other, net and Gain on trading securities from Other, net to a new line.


•	Within the financing activities section of the consolidated statements of cash flows, 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 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.

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.

Significant Accounting Policies

Cash

Cash includes both interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing demand deposits with financial institutions that have original maturities of 90 days or less.

Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSRs)

MSRs are assets representing our right to service portfolios of mortgage loans. We retain MSRs on originated loans when they are sold in the secondary market. The UPB of the loans underlying the MSRs is not included on our balance sheet. For servicing retained in connection with the securitization of reverse mortgage loans accounted for as secured financings, we do not recognize an MSR.

All newly acquired or retained MSRs are initially measured at fair value. We recognize a servicing liability for portfolio contracts that are not expected to compensate us adequately for performing the servicing. For this purpose, we define contracts as Agency, government-insured or non-Agency (commonly referred to as non-prime, subprime or private-label loans) based on their general comparability with regard to servicing guidelines, underwriting standards and borrower risk characteristics. We identify classes of servicing assets and servicing liabilities based on the availability of market inputs used in determining their fair value and our methods for managing their risks. Servicing assets are not recognized for subservicing arrangements entered into with the entity that owns the MSRs.

Subsequent to acquisition, we account for servicing assets and servicing liabilities using the amortization method or the fair value measurement method. Any fair value election is irrevocable. Once a fair value election is made for a particular class of MSRs, that election applies to all subsequently acquired or originated servicing assets and liabilities with characteristics consistent with the class. At the start of any fiscal year, a company may elect to transfer servicing assets and servicing liabilities from a class measured using the amortization method to a class measured at fair value. Furthermore, if a new class is created, and no servicing assets or servicing liabilities that would belong to that class have previously been recognized, electing to subsequently measure that new class at fair value is permitted at the date those servicing assets or servicing liabilities are initially recognized.

For servicing assets or liabilities that we account for using the amortization method, we amortize the balances in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing income (if servicing revenues exceed servicing costs) or net servicing loss (if servicing costs exceed servicing revenues). Estimated net servicing income is primarily driven by the estimated future cash flows of the underlying mortgage loan portfolio, which, absent new purchases, declines over time from prepayments and scheduled loan amortization. We adjust MSR amortization prospectively in response to changes in estimated projections of future cash flows. We stratify servicing assets or liabilities based upon one or more of the predominant risk characteristics of the underlying portfolios and assess servicing assets or liabilities for impairment or increased obligation by determining the difference, if any, between the carrying amount and estimated fair value at each reporting date. We recognize any impairment, or increased obligation, through a valuation allowance which is adjusted to reflect subsequent changes in the measurement of impairment and reported in earnings in the period in which the changes occur. We do not recognize fair value in excess of the carrying amount of servicing assets for any stratum.

For servicing assets or liabilities that we account for using the fair value measurement method (fair value election), we measure the balances at fair value at each reporting date and report changes in fair value in earnings in the period in which the changes occur.

We earn fees for servicing and subservicing mortgage loans. We collect servicing and subservicing fees, generally expressed as a percent of UPB, from the borrowers’ payments. We also include late fees, prepayment penalties, float earnings and other ancillary fees in servicing and subservicing revenue. We recognize servicing and subservicing fees as revenue when the fees are earned, which is generally when the borrowers’ payments are collected or when loans are modified or liquidated through the sale of the underlying real estate collateral or otherwise.

Advances and Match Funded Advances

During any period in which a borrower does not make payments, servicing and subservicing agreements may require that we advance our own funds to meet contractual principal and interest remittance requirements for the investors, to pay property taxes and insurance premiums and to process foreclosures. We also advance funds to maintain, repair and market foreclosed real estate properties on behalf of investors. These advances are made pursuant to the terms of each servicing and subservicing contract. Each servicing and subservicing contract is associated with specific loans, identified as a pool.

When we make an advance on a loan under each servicing or subservicing contract, we are entitled to recover that advance either from the borrower, for reinstated and performing loans, or from guarantors (GSEs), insurers (FHA/VA) and investors, for modified and liquidated loans. Most of our servicing and subservicing contracts provide that the advances made under the respective agreement have priority over all other cash payments from the proceeds of the loan, and in the majority of cases, the proceeds of the pool of loans that are the subject of that servicing or subservicing contract. As a result, we are entitled to repayment from loan proceeds before any interest or principal is paid on the bonds, and in the majority of cases, advances in excess of loan proceeds may be recovered from pool level proceeds.

We establish an allowance for losses through a charge to earnings to the extent that we believe advances are uncollectible under the provisions of each servicing contract taking into consideration our historical collection rates, length of delinquency and the amount of the advance. However, we are generally only obligated to advance funds to the extent that we believe the advances are recoverable from expected proceeds from the loan. We assess collectability using proprietary cash flow projection models that incorporate a number of different factors, depending on the characteristics of the mortgage loan or pool, including, for example, estimated time to a foreclosure sale, estimated costs of foreclosure action, estimated future property tax payments and the estimated value of the underlying property net of estimated carrying costs, commissions and closing costs.

Loans Held for Sale

Loans held for sale include forward and reverse mortgage loans that we do not intend to hold until maturity. We report loans held for sale at either fair value or the lower of cost or fair value computed on an aggregate basis. We account for any excess of cost over fair value as a valuation allowance and include changes in the valuation allowance in Other, net, in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the change occurs. For loans that we elected to measure at fair value on a recurring basis, we report changes in fair value in Gain on loans held for sale, net in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the changes occur. These loans are expected to be sold into the secondary market to the GSEs or into Ginnie Mae guaranteed securitizations.

We report any gain or loss on the transfer of loans held for sale in Gain on loans held for sale, net in the consolidated statements of operations along with the changes in fair value of the loans and the gain or loss on any related derivatives. We include all changes in loans held for sale and related derivative balances in operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

We accrue interest income as earned. We place loans on non-accrual status after any portion of principal or interest has been delinquent for more than 89 days, or earlier if management determines the borrower is unable to continue performance. When we place a loan on non-accrual status, we reverse the interest that we have accrued but not yet received. We return loans to accrual status only when we reinstate the loan and there is no significant uncertainty as to collectability.

Loans Held for Investment

Newly originated reverse residential mortgage loans that are insured by the FHA and pooled into Ginnie Mae guaranteed securities that we sell into the secondary market with servicing rights retained are classified as loans held for investment. We have elected to measure these loans at fair value. Loan transfers in these Ginnie Mae securitizations do not meet the definition of a participating interest and as a result, the transfers of the reverse mortgages do not qualify for sale accounting. Therefore, we account for these transfers as financings, with the reverse mortgages classified as Loans held for investment, at fair value, on our consolidated balance sheets, with no gain or loss recognized on the transfer.

Upfront costs and fees related to loans held for investment, including broker fees, are recognized in earnings as incurred and are not capitalized. However, we capitalize premiums on loans purchased via the correspondent channel, because they represent part of the purchase price.

We record the proceeds from the transfer of assets as secured borrowings (HMBS-related borrowings) in Financing liabilities and recognize no gain or loss on the transfer. We measure the HECM loans and HMBS-related borrowings at fair value on a recurring basis. The changes in fair value of the HECM loans and HMBS-related borrowings are included in Other revenues in our consolidated statements of operations. Included in net fair value gains on the HECM loans and related HMBS borrowings are the interest income that we expect to be collected on the HECM loans and the interest expense that we expect to be paid on the HMBS-related borrowings. We report originations and collections of HECM loans in investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. We report net fair value gains on HECM loans and the related HMBS borrowings as an adjustment to the net cash provided by or used in operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Proceeds from securitizations of HECM loans and payments on HMBS-related borrowings are included in financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

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 or the right to receive certain servicing fees relating to 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 performance of the VIE 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 report 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 a sale has occurred for accounting purposes. In order to recognize 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 the transfer does not meet any of these three criteria, the transaction is accounted for consistent with a secured financing. In certain situations, we may have continuing involvement in transferred loans through our retained servicing. Transactions involving retained servicing would still be eligible for sale accounting, as we have ceded effective control of these loans to the purchaser. 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 connection with the Ginnie Mae early buyout program, our agreements provide either that: (a) we have the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase previously transferred mortgage loans under certain conditions, including the mortgage loans becoming eligible for pooling under a program sponsored by Ginnie Mae; or (b) we have the obligation to repurchase previously transferred mortgage loans that have been subject to a successful trial modification before any permanent modification is made. Once these conditions are met, we have effectively regained control over the mortgage loan(s), and under GAAP, must re-recognize the loans on our consolidated balance sheets and establish a corresponding repurchase liability. With respect to those loans that we have the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase under the applicable agreement, this requirement applies regardless of whether we have any intention to repurchase the loan. We re-recognize the loans in Other assets and a corresponding liability in Other 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.

Premises and Equipment

We report premises and equipment at cost and, except for land, depreciate them over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis as follows:



Computer software	2 – 3 years
Computer hardware	3 years
Buildings	40 years
Leasehold improvements	Term of the lease not to exceed useful life
Furniture and fixtures	5 years
Office equipment	5 years

Litigation

We monitor our legal matters, including advice from external legal counsel, and periodically perform assessments of these matters for potential loss accrual and disclosure. We establish a liability for settlements, judgments on appeal and filed and/or threatened claims for which we believe that it is probable that a loss has been or will be incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. We recognize legal costs associated with loss contingencies as they are incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

We measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. For equity awards with a service condition, we recognize the cost as compensation expense ratably over the vesting period. For equity awards with a market condition, we recognize the cost as compensation expense ratably over the expected life of the option that is derived from an options pricing model. When equity awards with a market condition meet their vesting requirements, any unrecognized compensation at the vesting date is recognized ratably over the vesting period. For equity awards with both a market condition and a service condition for vesting, we recognize cost as compensation expense over the requisite service period for each tranche of the award using the graded-vesting method.

Income Taxes

We file consolidated U.S. federal income tax returns. We allocate consolidated income tax among all subsidiaries included in the consolidated return as if each subsidiary filed a separate return or, in certain cases, a consolidated return.

We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. Additionally, we adjust deferred taxes to reflect estimated tax rate changes. We conduct periodic evaluations to determine whether it is more likely than not that some or all of our deferred tax assets will not be realized. Among the factors considered in this evaluation are estimates of future earnings, the future reversal of temporary differences and the impact of tax planning strategies that we can implement if warranted. We provide a valuation allowance for any portion of our deferred tax assets that, more likely than not, will not be realized. We recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the consolidated financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. We recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in Income tax expense.

In December 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 118, which provides guidance on accounting for the income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Act) signed into law by the President of the United States on December 22, 2017. SAB 118 provides a measurement period that should not extend beyond one year from the Tax Act enactment date for companies to complete the accounting under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 740, Income Taxes. In accordance with SAB 118, a company must reflect the income tax effects of those aspects of the Tax Act for which the accounting under ASC 740 is complete. To the extent that a company's accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act is incomplete but it is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial statements and should continue to apply ASC 740 on the basis of the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately before the enactment of the Tax Act. We adopted the guidance of SAB 118 as of December 31, 2017. See Note 18 — Income Taxes for additional information on the Tax Act and the impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

We calculate basic earnings per share based upon the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year. We calculate diluted earnings per share based upon the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding and all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the year. The computation of diluted earnings per share includes the estimated impact of the exercise of the outstanding options to purchase common stock using the treasury stock method.

Going Concern

In accordance with FASB ASC 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern, we evaluate whether there are conditions that are known or reasonably knowable, such as those discussed in the “Business Environment” section, that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that our financial statements are issued.

Our financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.

The assessment of our ability to meet our future obligations is inherently judgmental, subjective and susceptible to change. Our assessment considers information including, but not limited to, our financial condition, liquidity sources, obligations coming due within one year after the financial statements are issued, funds necessary to maintain current operations and any negative financial trends or other indicators of possible financial difficulty, including adverse regulatory or legal proceedings or rating agency decisions and management’s plans to address these matters.

We considered both qualitative and quantitative factors as part of our assessment that were known or reasonably knowable at December 31, 2017, and concluded that when considering management’s plans to mitigate, conditions and events considered in the aggregate do not indicate that it is probable that Ocwen will be unable to meet its obligations during the evaluation period.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09)

This ASU clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue and creates a common revenue standard. Under this ASU, an entity will 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 will 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.

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, among other ASC topics. As a result, our adoption of this standard on a modified retrospective basis on January 1, 2018 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (ASU 2016-01)

This ASU provides users with more useful information regarding the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments and also improves the accounting model to better meet the requirements of today’s complex economic environment. Most changes in this ASU require the same information, but some changes will revise the geography of that information on the financial statements. Our adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures: Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting (ASU 2016-07)

This ASU requires an equity method investor add the cost of acquiring an additional interest in an investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment qualifies for equity method accounting, rather than adjusting the investment retroactively. This standard also requires that an entity that has an available-for-sale equity security that qualifies for the equity method of accounting recognize through earnings the unrealized holding gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income at the date the investment qualifies for use of the equity method. Our adoption of this standard on January 1, 2017 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

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

This ASU 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. 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. 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 accounting for 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 a 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.

Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (ASU 2016-15)

This ASU clarifies how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under FASB ASC Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows (ASC 230). Our adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (ASU 2016-16)

This ASU requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory when the transfer occurs. Previously, recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity transfer was prohibited until the asset had been sold to an outside party. We adopted this standard on a modified retrospective basis on January 1, 2018 by recording a cumulative-effect reduction of $5.6 million to retained earnings.

Consolidation: Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control (ASU 2016-17)

This ASU amends the consolidation guidance on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a VIE should treat indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. A reporting entity has an indirect interest in a VIE if it has a direct interest in a related party that, in turn, has a direct interest in the VIE. Our adoption of this standard on January 1, 2017 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash (ASU 2016-18)

This ASU clarifies how changes in restricted cash are classified and presented in the statement of cash flows under ASC 230. This standard requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Our adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

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

This ASU clarifies 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. Our adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Compensation: Stock Compensation (ASU 2017-09)

This ASU reduces 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. Our adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Issued but Not Yet Adopted

Leases (ASU 2016-02)

This ASU will require a lessee to recognize assets and liabilities for leases with lease terms of more than 12 months, regardless of whether the lease is classified as a finance or operating lease. Additional disclosures of the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases will be required. This standard will be effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early application permitted. We do not anticipate that our adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13)

This ASU will require timelier recording of credit losses on loans and other financial instruments. This standard aligns the accounting with the economics of lending by requiring banks and other lending institutions to immediately record the full amount of credit losses that are expected in their loan portfolios. The new guidance requires an organization to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This standard requires enhanced disclosures related to the significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an organization’s portfolio. Additionally, the new guidance amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. This standard will be effective for us on January 1, 2020, with early application permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect of adopting this standard.

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

This ASU amends 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. 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.

Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income: Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (ASU 2018-02)

This ASU provides entities with an option to reclassify stranded tax effects within accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (or portion thereof) is recorded. 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.