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Summary of the Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of the Significant Accounting Policies Summary of the Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows have been included. Investment securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation.
The consolidated financial statements include the Company’s accounts, the accounts of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and variable interest entities, or VIEs, in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Company uses securitization trusts considered to be VIEs in its securitization and re-securitization transactions. VIEs are defined as entities in which equity investors (i) do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest, or (ii) do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. The entity that consolidates a VIE is known as its primary beneficiary and is generally the entity with (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance, and (ii) the right to receive benefits from the VIE or the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. For VIEs that do not have substantial on-going activities, the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance may be determined by an entity’s involvement with the design and structure of the VIE.
The trusts are structured as entities that receive principal and interest on the underlying collateral and distribute those payments to the security holders. The assets held by the securitization entities are restricted in that they can only be used to fulfill the obligations of the securitization entity. The Company’s risks associated with its involvement with these VIEs are limited to its risks and rights as a holder of the security it has retained.
Determining the primary beneficiary of a VIE requires judgment. The Company determined that for the securitizations it consolidates, its ownership provides the Company with the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. In addition, the Company has the power to direct the activities of the VIEs that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance, or power, such as rights to direct servicer activity or the Company was determined to have power in connection with its involvement with the structure and design of the VIE.
The Company’s interest in the assets held by these securitization vehicles, which are consolidated on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, is restricted by the structural provisions of these trusts, and a recovery of the Company’s investment in the vehicles will be limited by each entity’s distribution provisions. The liabilities of the securitization vehicles, which are also consolidated on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, are non-recourse to the Company, and can only be satisfied using proceeds from each securitization vehicle’s respective asset pool.
The assets of securitization entities are comprised of residential mortgage backed securities (or RMBS), or residential mortgage loans. See Notes 3, 4 and 8 for further discussion of the characteristics of the securities and loans in the Company’s portfolio.
(b) Statements of Financial Condition Presentation
The Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition include both the Company’s direct assets and liabilities and the assets and liabilities of consolidated securitization vehicles. Assets of each consolidated VIE can only be used to satisfy the obligations of that VIE, and the liabilities of consolidated VIEs are non-recourse to the Company. The Company is not obligated to provide, nor does it intend to provide, any financial support to these consolidated securitization vehicles. The notes to the consolidated financial statements describe the Company’s assets and liabilities including the assets and liabilities of consolidated securitization vehicles. See Note 8 for additional information related to the Company’s investments in consolidated securitization vehicles.
(c) Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to 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. Although the Company’s estimates contemplate current conditions and how it expects them to change in the future, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could be materially different than anticipated in those estimates, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations and its financial condition. Management has made significant estimates including in accounting for income recognition on Agency MBS, Non-Agency RMBS, IO MBS (Note 3) and residential mortgage loans (Note 4), valuation of Agency MBS and Non-Agency RMBS (Notes 3 and 5), residential mortgage loans (Note 4 and 5), securitized debt (Note 5 and 7) and derivative instruments (Notes 5 and 10). Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
(d) Significant Accounting Policies
There have been no significant changes to the Company's accounting policies included in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, other than the significant accounting policies discussed below.
Interest Income Recognition and Allowance for Credit Losses
Investments in Non-agency RMBS securities
The Company considers its investments in Non-Agency RMBS as beneficial interests. Beneficial interests give the Company the right to receive all or portions of specified cash flows received by a trust or other entity. Beneficial interests held by the Company are created in connection with securitization transactions such as those involving mortgage loan obligations. Beneficial interests are accounted for in accordance with guidance in ASC 325-40 as amended by the ASU 2016-13. Beneficial interests classified as available-for-sale (AFS) record changes in fair value in other comprehensive income (OCI). Beneficial interests for which the Company has elected the fair value option (FVO) record changes in fair value in earnings.
Interest income on the Company’s beneficial interests is recognized using the interest method based on management’s estimates of cash flows expected to be collected. The effective interest rate on these securities is based on management’s estimate for each security of the projected cash flows, which are estimated based on observation of current market information and include assumptions related to fluctuations in prepayment speeds and the timing and amount of credit losses. On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews and, if appropriate, adjusts its cash flow projections based on inputs and analyses received from external sources, internal models, and the Company’s judgments about prepayment rates, the timing and amount of credit losses, and other factors. Changes in the amount or timing of cash flows from those originally projected, or from those estimated at the last evaluation date, are considered to be either favorable changes or adverse changes.
Adverse changes in the timing or amount of cash flows on beneficial interests classified as AFS could result in the Company recording an increase in the allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit losses are calculated using a discounted cash flow (DCF) approach and is measured as the difference between the beneficial interest’s amortized cost and the estimate of cash flows expected to be collected discounted at the effective interest rate used to accrete the beneficial interest. The allowance for credit losses is recorded as a contra-asset and a reduction in earnings. The allowance for credit losses will be limited to the amount of the unrealized losses on the beneficial interest. Any allowance for credit losses in excess of the unrealized losses on the beneficial interests are accounted for as a prospective reduction of the effective interest rate. No allowance is recorded for beneficial interests in an unrealized gain position. Favorable changes in the DCF will result in a reduction in the allowance for credit losses, if any. Any reduction in allowance for credit losses is recorded in earnings. If the allowance for credit losses has been reduced to zero, the remaining favorable changes are reflected as a prospective increase to the effective interest rate.
Beneficial interests for which other than temporary impairment (OTTI) had been recognized prior to the effective date of ASU 2016-13 shall apply the guidance in the update on a prospective basis. In addition, the yield used to accrete the beneficial interest on beneficial interests with prior OTTI will remain unchanged as a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-13. Recoveries
of amounts previously written off relating to improvements in cash flows shall be recorded in income in the period received. Therefore, subsequent favorable changes in the DCF of the beneficial interests with prior OTTI will not be reflected as an adjustment to their yield used to accrete the discount. Subsequent adverse changes in the DCF will result in an increase to the allowance for credit losses, limited to the amount of the unrealized losses on the beneficial interest.
Credit losses recognized on BIs will be accreted on a monthly basis at the rate used to recognize interest income, the effective interest rate. The accretion will be recorded as a reduction to interest income in the statement of operations.
The Company presents separately all accrued interest on the statement of financial position. Interest is accrued on all BIs when due. Interest which is not received at the due date is written off when it becomes delinquent. As all interest not received when due is charged off against interest income, no allowance for accrued interest is required.
No allowances for credit losses are recognized on beneficial interests for which the Company has elected the fair value option. All favorable or adverse changes in management’s estimates of cash flows expected to be collected results in a prospective increase or decrease in the effective interest rate used to recognize interest income.
Investments in agency MBS securities
The Company invests in pass-through mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by Ginnie Mae (GNMA), Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FHLMC) (collectively “Agency Securities”).
Interest income for Agency Securities for which changes in fair value are recorded in OCI, including premiums and discounts associated with the acquisition of these securities, is recognized over the life of such securities using the interest method based on the contractual cash flows of the security. In applying the interest method, the Company considers estimates of future principal prepayments in the calculation of the effective yield. Differences that arise between previously anticipated prepayments and actual prepayments received, as well as changes in future prepayment assumptions, result in a recalculation of the effective yield on the security. This recalculation of the effective yield is updated on a monthly basis. Upon a recalculation of the effective yield, the investment in the security is adjusted to the amount that would have existed had the new effective yield been retrospectively applied since acquisition with a corresponding charge or credit to interest income. This adjustment is accounted for as a change in estimate with a cumulative effect adjustment on interest income as a result in the change in the yield. Prepayments are estimated using models generally accepted in the industry.
All securities carried at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in OCI need to be evaluated for expected losses, even if the risk of loss is considered remote. However, the Company is not required to measure expected credit losses on securities in which historical credit loss information adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts results in an expectation that incurring a credit loss is zero. Based on the current facts and circumstances, the Company believes its investments Agency Securities would qualify for zero expected credit losses. The factors considered in reaching this conclusion include the long history of zero credit losses, the explicit guarantee by the US government (although limited for FNMA and FHLMC securities) and yields that, while not risk-free, generally trade based on market views of prepayment and liquidity risk (not credit risk).
Interest income on Agency Securities for which changes in fair value are recorded in earnings is recognized using the interest method based on management’s estimates of cash flows expected to be collected. The effective interest rate on these securities is based on management’s estimate of the projected cash flows. Changes in the amount or timing of cash flows as a result of changes in expected prepayments from those originally projected, or from those estimated at the last evaluation date, are reflected prospectively as an adjustment to the effective interest rate used to recognize interest income. This recalculation of the effective interest rate is updated on a monthly basis.
Long Term Debt
Convertible Notes

Convertible notes include unsecured convertible debt that are carried at their unpaid principal balance net of any unamortized deferred issuance costs. Interest on the notes is payable semiannually until such time the notes mature or are converted or exchanged into shares. Any debt discounts or premiums are reported as an adjustment to the carrying amount of the debt liability and amortized into interest expense using the effective interest method. If converted by a holder, the holder of the notes would receive shares of our common stock. Deferred debt issuance costs are expenses associated with the issuance of long-term debt. These expenses typically include underwriting, legal, accounting, and other fees. Deferred debt issuance costs are included in the carrying value of the related long-term debt issued and are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense using the effective interest method, based upon the actual and estimated repayment schedules of the related long-term debt issued.

When the conversion of debt occurs in accordance with debt terms, the unpaid principal balance of the convertible debt is recorded as additional paid in capital and the outstanding debt is considered repaid. Any unamortized issuance costs and unpaid accrued interest related to the converted notes are also credited to the additional paid in capital.

Income Taxes

The Company does not have any material unrecognized tax positions that would affect its financial statements or require disclosure. No accruals for penalties and interest were necessary as of June 30, 2020 or December 31, 2019.

Fair Value Disclosure

A complete discussion of the methodology utilized by the Company to estimate the fair value of its financial instruments is included in Note 5 to these consolidated financial statements.

(e) Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Financial Instruments - Credit Losses - (Topic 326)
On January 1, 2020 the Company adopted accounting standards update (or ASU) No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This update replaced the previous model for recognizing credit losses from an incurred credit loss model to a current expected credit loss (or CECL) model for financial instruments measured at amortized cost and required the Company to record an allowance for credit losses on available-for-sale (or AFS) debt securities for all expected (rather than incurred) credit losses of the asset rather than reduce the carrying amount, as the Company did under the OTTI model. This update also revised the accounting model for purchased credit-impaired debt securities. The changes in the allowance for credit losses created in accordance with this update have been recorded in earnings. Expected credit losses are limited to the amount of the unrealized loss on the debt securities impacted by the update.
The update did not have any impact on financial instruments which were carried at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in earnings. As all Loans held for investment are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in earnings, the update had no impact on the carrying value or revenue recognition of Loans held for investment.
On January 1, 2020, the effective date of the update, the Company was required to record a cumulative-effect adjustment related to financial instruments under the scope of this update to the statement of financial position. As all financial instruments impacted by the update, including all purchased credit impaired debt securities, were in an unrealized gain position as of the effective date, there was no impact on the financial statements at the transition date and no cumulative-effect adjustment was required.
In addition, the update superseded subtopic 310-30, Receivables - Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality. As of January 1, 2020, the Company accounted all investments previously classified as AFS and under subtopic 310-30, using the subtopic 326-30 Financial Instruments - Credit Losses; Available-for-Sale Debt Securities and subtopic 325-40, Investments -Other-Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets.
Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-4, Reference Rate Reform: Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments in this update provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments in this update apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference London Inter Bank Offering Rate (or LIBOR) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The amendments in this update are effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. An entity may elect to apply the amendments for contract modifications by Topic or Industry Subtopic as of any date from the beginning of an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, or prospectively from a date within an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, up to the date that the financial statements are available to be issued. The Company has not yet adopted this guidance and is currently evaluating what impact this update will have on the consolidated financial statements.