ORGANIZATION	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION	NOTE 1—ORGANIZATION Company Overview Tree.com, Inc. ("Tree.com" or the "Company") is the parent of LendingTree, LLC, which owns several brands and businesses that provide information, tools, advice, products and services for critical transactions in consumers' lives. Our family of brands includes: LendingTree®, GetSmart®, DegreeTree®, LendingTreeAutos, DoneRight®, ServiceTree® and InsuranceTree®. Together, these brands serve as an ally for consumers who are looking to comparison-shop for loans, education programs, home services providers and other services from multiple businesses and professionals that will compete for their business. Spin-Off On August 20, 2008, Tree.com was spun off from its parent company, IAC/InterActiveCorp ("IAC") into a separate publicly traded company. In connection with the spin-off, Tree.com was incorporated as a Delaware corporation in April 2008. Segment Reporting Effective December 31, 2012, we expanded our reportable segments from one to two, consisting of mortgage and non-mortgage. The change was made as the convergence of economic similarities associated with our mortgage and non-mortgage operating segments was no longer expected. This decision was made in connection with the update of our annual budget and forecast, which occurs in the fourth quarter each year. The non-mortgage reportable segment consists of our auto, education and home services operating segments, which are not yet mature businesses, and have been aggregated. Prior period results have been reclassified to conform with the change in reportable segments. Business Combinations: Contingent Consideration In 2010, we purchased certain assets of a company for an aggregate purchase price of $0.8 million in cash and contingent consideration. The contingent consideration amount is based on a percentage of estimated cumulative earnings over a period of thirty-six months from the date of acquisition. The minimum payout under the arrangement is zero and the maximum payout is unlimited. In 2011, there was a reduction of $0.4 million in the amount of contingent consideration recognized since the date of acquisition, which is reflected as a reduction of general and administrative expense. The purchase was part of our strategic initiative to diversify our revenue streams outside of the mortgage and real estate industries. In 2009, we purchased certain assets of four separate companies, for an aggregate purchase price of $5.7 million in cash and $1.0 million in contingent consideration. The contingent consideration amount related to one of the purchases is based on a percentage of estimated cumulative earnings over a period of thirty-six months from the date of acquisition. The minimum payout under the arrangement is zero and the maximum payout is unlimited. In 2011, there was a reduction of $0.3 million in the amount of contingent consideration recognized since the date of acquisition, which is reflected as a reduction of general and administrative expense. All four transactions were part of our strategic initiative to diversify our revenue streams outside of the mortgage and real estate industries. Discontinued Operations The businesses of RealEstate.com and RealEstate.com, REALTORS® (which together represent the former Real Estate segment) and LendingTree Loans are presented as discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for all periods presented. The notes accompanying these consolidated financial statements reflect our continuing operations and, unless otherwise noted, exclude information related to the discontinued operations. Real Estate On March 10, 2011, management made the decision and finalized a plan to close all of the field offices of the proprietary full-service real estate brokerage business known as RealEstate.com, REALTORS®. We exited all markets in which we previously operated by March 31, 2011. In September 2011, we sold the remaining assets of RealEstate.com, which consisted primarily of internet domain names and trademarks, for $8.3 million and recognized a gain on sale of $7.8 million. LendingTree Loans On May 12, 2011, we entered into an asset purchase agreement with Discover, as amended on February 7, 2012, for the sale of substantially all of the operating assets of our LendingTree Loans business. We completed the sale on June 6, 2012. The asset purchase agreement as amended provided for a purchase price of approximately $55.9 million in cash for the assets, subject to certain conditions. Of this total purchase price, $8.0 million was paid prior to the closing, $37.9 million was paid upon the closing and $10.0 million is due on the first anniversary of the closing (June 6, 2013), subject to certain conditions. Discover generally did not assume liabilities of the LendingTree Loans business that arose before the closing date, except for certain liabilities directly related to assets Discover acquired. Of the initial purchase price payment, $17.1 million is being held in escrow pending resolution of certain actual and/or contingent liabilities that remain with us following the sale. The escrowed amount is recorded as restricted cash at December 31, 2012. Separate from the asset purchase agreement, we agreed to provide certain marketing-related services to Discover in connection with its mortgage origination business for approximately seventeen months following the closing, or such earlier point as the agreed-upon services are satisfactorily completed. Discover has been a network lender on our mortgage exchange since closing of the transaction. Business Combinations On March 15, 2011, our wholly-owned subsidiary, HLC, completed its acquisition of certain assets of First Residential Mortgage Network, Inc., dba SurePoint Lending, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement dated November 15, 2010. SurePoint, a LendingTree network lender for eleven years, was a full-service residential mortgage provider licensed in 45 states and employed over 500 people, including more than 300 licensed loan officers. HLC purchased certain specified assets and assumed certain liabilities of SurePoint related to its business of originating, refinancing, processing, underwriting, funding and closing residential mortgage loans; providing title and escrow services; and providing other mortgage-related services. The acquired assets also included the equity interests of Real Estate Title Services, LLC. HLC paid $8.0 million in cash upon the closing of the transaction, subject to certain adjustments as described in the asset purchase agreement, and $0.2 million in cash for contingent consideration subsequent to the close. HLC used available cash to fund the acquisition. This asset purchase was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to the acquired assets and liabilities based on their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. The purchase price was allocated as $5.6 million to goodwill, $0.7 million to intangible assets with useful lives of three months to five years, and $1.7 million to equipment and other assets. The pro forma effect of this purchase was not material to our results of operations. Out of Period Adjustment The Company's results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2012 include a net reduction to net income attributable to common shareholders of approximately $0.2 million that should have been recorded as an increase to net loss attributable to common shareholders between 2008 and 2011 related to the following: leases in restructuring, additional interest on preferred stock of a wholly-owned subsidiary, stock compensation expense and litigation expense. Because the amounts are not material to our previously issued consolidated financial statements and the cumulative amount is not material to the results of operations for the full year 2012, we recorded the cumulative effect of correcting these items during the fourth quarter of 2012.

NOTE 1—ORGANIZATION

Company Overview

Tree.com, Inc. ("Tree.com" or the "Company") is the parent of LendingTree, LLC, which owns several brands and businesses that provide information, tools, advice, products and services for critical transactions in consumers' lives. Our family of brands includes: LendingTree®, GetSmart®, DegreeTree®, LendingTreeAutos, DoneRight®, ServiceTree® and InsuranceTree®. Together, these brands serve as an ally for consumers who are looking to comparison-shop for loans, education programs, home services providers and other services from multiple businesses and professionals that will compete for their business.

Spin-Off

On August 20, 2008, Tree.com was spun off from its parent company, IAC/InterActiveCorp ("IAC") into a separate publicly traded company. In connection with the spin-off, Tree.com was incorporated as a Delaware corporation in April 2008.

Segment Reporting

Effective December 31, 2012, we expanded our reportable segments from one to two, consisting of mortgage and non-mortgage. The change was made as the convergence of economic similarities associated with our mortgage and non-mortgage operating segments was no longer expected. This decision was made in connection with the update of our annual budget and forecast, which occurs in the fourth quarter each year. The non-mortgage reportable segment consists of our auto, education and home services operating segments, which are not yet mature businesses, and have been aggregated. Prior period results have been reclassified to conform with the change in reportable segments.

Business Combinations: Contingent Consideration

In 2010, we purchased certain assets of a company for an aggregate purchase price of $0.8 million in cash and contingent consideration. The contingent consideration amount is based on a percentage of estimated cumulative earnings over a period of thirty-six months from the date of acquisition. The minimum payout under the arrangement is zero and the maximum payout is unlimited. In 2011, there was a reduction of $0.4 million in the amount of contingent consideration recognized since the date of acquisition, which is reflected as a reduction of general and administrative expense. The purchase was part of our strategic initiative to diversify our revenue streams outside of the mortgage and real estate industries.

In 2009, we purchased certain assets of four separate companies, for an aggregate purchase price of $5.7 million in cash and $1.0 million in contingent consideration. The contingent consideration amount related to one of the purchases is based on a percentage of estimated cumulative earnings over a period of thirty-six months from the date of acquisition. The minimum payout under the arrangement is zero and the maximum payout is unlimited. In 2011, there was a reduction of $0.3 million in the amount of contingent consideration recognized since the date of acquisition, which is reflected as a reduction of general and administrative expense. All four transactions were part of our strategic initiative to diversify our revenue streams outside of the mortgage and real estate industries.

Discontinued Operations

The businesses of RealEstate.com and RealEstate.com, REALTORS® (which together represent the former Real Estate segment) and LendingTree Loans are presented as discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for all periods presented. The notes accompanying these consolidated financial statements reflect our continuing operations and, unless otherwise noted, exclude information related to the discontinued operations.

Real Estate

On March 10, 2011, management made the decision and finalized a plan to close all of the field offices of the proprietary full-service real estate brokerage business known as RealEstate.com, REALTORS®. We exited all markets in which we previously operated by March 31, 2011. In September 2011, we sold the remaining assets of RealEstate.com, which consisted primarily of internet domain names and trademarks, for $8.3 million and recognized a gain on sale of $7.8 million.

LendingTree Loans

On May 12, 2011, we entered into an asset purchase agreement with Discover, as amended on February 7, 2012, for the sale of substantially all of the operating assets of our LendingTree Loans business. We completed the sale on June 6, 2012.

The asset purchase agreement as amended provided for a purchase price of approximately $55.9 million in cash for the assets, subject to certain conditions. Of this total purchase price, $8.0 million was paid prior to the closing, $37.9 million was paid upon the closing and $10.0 million is due on the first anniversary of the closing (June 6, 2013), subject to certain conditions.

Discover generally did not assume liabilities of the LendingTree Loans business that arose before the closing date, except for certain liabilities directly related to assets Discover acquired. Of the initial purchase price payment, $17.1 million is being held in escrow pending resolution of certain actual and/or contingent liabilities that remain with us following the sale. The escrowed amount is recorded as restricted cash at December 31, 2012.

Separate from the asset purchase agreement, we agreed to provide certain marketing-related services to Discover in connection with its mortgage origination business for approximately seventeen months following the closing, or such earlier point as the agreed-upon services are satisfactorily completed. Discover has been a network lender on our mortgage exchange since closing of the transaction.

Business Combinations

On March 15, 2011, our wholly-owned subsidiary, HLC, completed its acquisition of certain assets of First Residential Mortgage Network, Inc., dba SurePoint Lending, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement dated November 15, 2010. SurePoint, a LendingTree network lender for eleven years, was a full-service residential mortgage provider licensed in 45 states and employed over 500 people, including more than 300 licensed loan officers. HLC purchased certain specified assets and assumed certain liabilities of SurePoint related to its business of originating, refinancing, processing, underwriting, funding and closing residential mortgage loans; providing title and escrow services; and providing other mortgage-related services. The acquired assets also included the equity interests of Real Estate Title Services, LLC. HLC paid $8.0 million in cash upon the closing of the transaction, subject to certain adjustments as described in the asset purchase agreement, and $0.2 million in cash for contingent consideration subsequent to the close. HLC used available cash to fund the acquisition.

This asset purchase was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to the acquired assets and liabilities based on their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. The purchase price was allocated as $5.6 million to goodwill, $0.7 million to intangible assets with useful lives of three months to five years, and $1.7 million to equipment and other assets. The pro forma effect of this purchase was not material to our results of operations.

Out of Period Adjustment

The Company's results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2012 include a net reduction to net income attributable to common shareholders of approximately $0.2 million that should have been recorded as an increase to net loss attributable to common shareholders between 2008 and 2011 related to the following: leases in restructuring, additional interest on preferred stock of a wholly-owned subsidiary, stock compensation expense and litigation expense. Because the amounts are not material to our previously issued consolidated financial statements and the cumulative amount is not material to the results of operations for the full year 2012, we recorded the cumulative effect of correcting these items during the fourth quarter of 2012.