Note 13 - Commitments and Contingencies - Level 1 (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

We are routinely involved in a number of legal actions and proceedings, including reviews, audits and inquiries by various regulatory entities, as well as litigation and other disputes arising in the ordinary course of our business. These proceedings could result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, injunctions, restitutions or other relief that could require significant expenditures or have other effects on our business. Management believes, based on current knowledge and after consultation with counsel, that the outcome of such actions will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition. The outcome of litigation and other legal and regulatory matters and proceedings is inherently uncertain, and it is possible that one or more of the matters currently pending or threatened could have an adverse effect on our liquidity, financial condition or results of operations for any particular period. In accordance with applicable accounting standards and guidance, we establish accruals

only when we determine both that it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable. We accrue the amount that represents our best estimate of the probable loss; however, if we can only determine a range of estimated losses, we accrue an amount within the range that, in our judgment, reflects the most likely outcome, and if none of the estimates within the range is more likely, we accrue the minimum amount of the range.

In the course of our regular review of pending legal and regulatory matters, we determine whether it is reasonably possible that a potential loss may have a material impact on our liquidity, results of operations or financial condition. If we determine such a loss is reasonably possible, we disclose information relating to such potential loss, including an estimate or range of loss or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. On a quarterly basis, we review relevant information with respect to loss contingencies and update our accruals, disclosures and estimates of reasonably possible losses or range of losses based on such reviews. We are often unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss until developments in such matters have provided sufficient information to support an assessment of the range of possible loss, such as quantification of a damage demand from plaintiffs, discovery from other parties and investigation of factual allegations, rulings by the court on motions or appeals, analysis by experts, and the progress of settlement negotiations. In addition, we generally make no disclosures for loss contingencies that are determined to be remote. For matters for which we disclose an estimated loss, the disclosed estimate reflects the reasonably possible loss or range of loss in excess of the amount accrued, if any.

Loss estimates are inherently subjective, based on currently available information, and are subject to management’s judgment and various assumptions. Due to the inherently subjective nature of these estimates and the uncertainty and unpredictability surrounding the outcome of legal and other proceedings, actual results may differ materially from any amounts that have been accrued.

On December 22, 2016, Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC and Homeward Residential, Inc. (collectively, “Ocwen”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Radian Guaranty alleging breach of contract and bad faith claims and seeking monetary damages and declaratory relief (the “Litigation”). Ocwen has also initiated similar legal proceedings against several other mortgage insurers. On December 17, 2016, Ocwen separately filed a parallel arbitration petition against Radian Guaranty before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) asserting substantially the same allegations (the “Arbitration”). Ocwen’s filings together listed 9,420 mortgage insurance certificates issued under multiple insurance policies, including Pool Mortgage Insurance policies, as subject to the dispute. On June 5, 2017, Ocwen filed an amended complaint and an amended petition (collectively, the “Amended Filings”) with the court and the AAA, respectively, together listing 8,870 certificates as subject to the dispute. On April 11, 2018, the parties entered into a confidential agreement with respect to all certificates subject to the dispute. The confidential agreement resolved certain categories of claims involved in the dispute and, on April 12, 2018, the parties filed a stipulation of voluntary dismissal of the Litigation and the trial judge issued an order dismissing all claims and counterclaims in the Litigation. Radian Guaranty was not required to make any payment in connection with this confidential agreement. Pursuant to the confidential agreement, the parties: (i) dismissed the Litigation; (ii) narrowed the scope of the Arbitration to Ocwen’s breach of contract claims seeking payment of insurance benefits on approximately 2,500 certificates that Ocwen was previously pursuing through the Amended Filings; and (iii) agreed to resolve the Arbitration through an alternative dispute resolution process administered by the AAA (the “ADR Process”). Effective June 30, 2020, Radian Guaranty, PHH Mortgage Corporation, on behalf of itself, and as successor by merger to Ocwen (collectively, “PHH”), and Ocwen Financial Corporation entered into a Confidential Settlement Agreement and Release (the “Ocwen Settlement”) to fully resolve, among other things, all claims subject to the ADR Process. Implementation of the Ocwen Settlement, which was subject to the condition precedent that the GSEs consent to the settlement agreement, became effective on November 1, 2020 upon finalization of the consents. Pursuant to the Ocwen Settlement, among other things: (i) Radian made a cash settlement payment on November 6, 2020 and (ii) each party agreed to release the other with respect to all known or unknown claims with respect to the certificates subject to the ADR Process as well as with respect to all other certificates issued on loans serviced by PHH for which Radian decided claims prior to January 1, 2019. On November 13, 2020, the Arbitration and ADR Process was dismissed with prejudice.

On August 31, 2018, Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Mr. Cooper (“Nationstar”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Radian Guaranty (the “Complaint”) alleging breach of contract, bad faith, equitable indemnification, unjust enrichment, and conversion claims and seeking monetary damages and declaratory relief. Exhibit 1 to the Complaint lists 3,014 mortgage insurance certificates issued under multiple insurance policies as subject to disputes involving insurance coverage decisions (the “Coverage Disputed Loans”). Exhibit 2 to the Complaint further lists 2,231 mortgage insurance certificates issued under multiple insurance policies as subject to disputes involving premium refund requests. In December 2018, Radian Guaranty filed a motion to dismiss the Complaint. In March 2019, the trial judge issued an order granting in part, and denying in part, our motion to dismiss, and dismissed Nationstar’s unjust enrichment and conversion claims. In May 2019, Radian Guaranty filed an answer to the Complaint, with affirmative defenses and counterclaims. On September 23, 2019, the trial judge entered as an order a joint stipulation submitted by Nationstar and Radian Guaranty that narrowed the scope of the dispute involving Coverage Disputed Loans to claims relating to 1,704 mortgage insurance certificates. Effective June 26, 2020, Radian Guaranty and Nationstar entered into a Confidential Settlement Agreement and Release (the “Nationstar Settlement”) to fully resolve, among other things, all claims and counterclaims in this litigation. Pursuant to the Nationstar Settlement, among other things: (i) Radian agreed to make a cash settlement payment following the implementation of the Nationstar Settlement and (ii) each party agreed to release the other with respect to all known or unknown claims with respect to the certificates subject to this litigation as well as with respect to all other certificates issued under certain policies on loans serviced by Nationstar for

which Radian decided claims prior to January 1, 2019. Implementation of the Nationstar Settlement remains subject to the condition precedent that the GSEs consent to the settlement agreement. On July 9, 2020, the trial judge granted the parties’ joint motion requesting to stay this litigation pending receipt of required consents. On January 5, 2021, counsel for Radian and Nationstar submitted a joint status report to the trial judge reporting that the parties anticipate receiving the GSE consents, and that the case will be dismissed in the near future.

As previously disclosed, based on developments in the Ocwen and Nationstar legal proceedings discussed above, the Company’s IBNR reserve was increased in 2019 to reflect our best estimate as of that time of our probable loss in connection with these legal proceedings. The settlement agreements are materially consistent with these estimates, and as a result, the implementation of the Ocwen Settlement, which became effective as of November 1, 2020, and the execution and expected implementation of the Nationstar Settlement, do not have a material impact on our mortgage insurance reserves for these legal proceedings. A failure to receive the required consents of the GSEs to the Nationstar Settlement could restart the applicable legal proceeding, the outcome of which could have an adverse effect on our future results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

We also are periodically subject to reviews and audits, as well as inquiries, information-gathering requests and investigations. In connection with these matters, from time to time we receive requests and subpoenas seeking information and documents related to aspects of our business.

Our Master Policies establish the timeline within which any suit or action arising from any right of an insured under the policy generally must be commenced. In general, any suit or action arising from any right of an insured under the policy must be commenced within two years after such right first arose for primary insurance and within three years for certain other policies, including certain Pool Mortgage Insurance policies. Although we believe that our Loss Mitigation Activities are justified under our policies, from time to time we face challenges from certain lender and servicer customers regarding our Loss Mitigation Activities. These challenges could result in additional arbitration or judicial proceedings and we may need to reassume the risk on, and increase loss reserves for, the associated policies or pay additional claims.

The legal and regulatory matters and proceedings discussed above could result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, injunctions, restitutions or other relief that could require significant expenditures or have other effects on our business.

Lease Liability

Our lease liability represents the present value of future lease payments over the lease term. Our leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate. Therefore, we must estimate our incremental borrowing rate, on a collateralized basis, to discount the lease payments based on information available at lease commencement. Our leases expire periodically through August 2032, and contain provisions for scheduled periodic rent increases. We estimate the incremental borrowing rate based on the yields of Radian Group corporate bonds, as adjusted to reflect a collateralized borrowing rate, resulting in discount rates ranging from 4.22% to 7.08%. While the majority of our lease population expires within one year of one of the Radian Group corporate bonds, our more significant leases do not. For those leases, we adjust the corporate bond rate for both U.S. Department of the Treasury rate yields and a corporate spread adjustment determined from recent market data.

The following tables provide additional information related to our leases, including: (i) the components of our total lease cost; (ii) the cash flows arising from our lease transactions; (iii) supplemental balance sheet information; (iv) the weighted-average remaining lease term; (v) the weighted-average discount rate used for our leases; and (vi) the remaining maturities of our lease liabilities, as of and for the periods indicated.

	Year Ended December 31,
($ in thousands)	2020		2019
Operating lease cost	$	8,798	$	9,332
Short-term lease cost	13		140
Total lease cost	$	8,811	$	9,472
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	(9,595)	$	(10,615)

	December 31,
($ in thousands)	2020			2019
Operating leases:
Operating lease right-of-use assets (1)	$	32,985		$	37,866
Operating lease liabilities (2)	53,399			59,452
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases (in years)	9.3 years			10.2 years
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases	6.72		%	6.80		%
Remaining maturities of lease liabilities for future years is as follows:
2021	$	8,330
2022	10,040
2023	10,170
2024	9,904
2025	7,976
2026 and thereafter	39,870
Total lease payments	86,290
Less: Imputed interest	(32,891)
Present value of lease liabilities (2)	$	53,399

(1)Classified in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. See Note 9.

(2)Classified in other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets.

Pursuant to the previous lease accounting standard, rent expense for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $9.7 million. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, there were no future minimum receipts expected from sublease rental payments.

Other

We provide contract underwriting to our mortgage insurance customers. Generally, under our current contract underwriting program the remedy we offer is limited indemnification. In 2020, payments for losses related to contract underwriting remedies were de minimis. In 2020, our provision for contract underwriting expenses was also de minimis. We monitor this risk and negotiate our underwriting fee structure and recourse agreements on a client-by-client basis. We also routinely audit the performance of our contract underwriters.