Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies

Included in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 is a summary of our significant accounting policies. Provided below is a summary of additional accounting policies that are significant to the company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Available-for-Sale Securities

Upon adoption of ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses" in the first quarter of 2020, we modified our policy for recording impairments on available-for-sale securities. This new guidance requires that credit impairments on our available-for-sale securities be recorded in earnings using an allowance for credit losses, with the allowance limited to the amount by which the security's fair value is less than its amortized cost basis. The allowance for credit losses is calculated using a discounted cash flow 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. 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 discounted cash flows 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. If we intend to sell or it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before it recovers in value, the entire impairment amount will be recognized in earnings with a corresponding adjustment to the security's amortized cost basis.

Goodwill

Pursuant to our adoption of ASU 2017-04, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment" in the first quarter of 2020, we modified our goodwill impairment testing policy. We first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If, based on that assessment, we believe it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, we measure the fair value of reporting unit and record a goodwill impairment charge for the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of the goodwill. Any such impairment charges would be recorded through Other expenses on our consolidated statements of income (loss).

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards Updates ("ASUs")

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement." This new guidance amends previous guidance by removing and modifying certain existing fair value disclosure requirements, while adding other new disclosure requirements. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. We adopted this new guidance, as required, in the first quarter of 2020, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements but impacted certain of our fair value footnote disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment." This new guidance simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. We adopted this new guidance, as required, in the first quarter of 2020, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses." This new guidance provides a new impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses to determine the allowance for credit losses. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-19, "Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses," which clarifies the scope of the amendments in ASU 2016-13. In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, "Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments," which is intended to clarify this guidance. In May 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-05, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief," which provides an option to irrevocably elect the fair value option for certain financial assets previously measured at amortized cost. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-11, "Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses," which is intended to clarify Codification guidance. In February 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-02, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) and Leases (Topic 842) - Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 119 and Update to SEC Section on Effective Date Related to Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (SEC Update)," and in March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-03, "Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments." These updates amend certain sections of the guidance. We currently have only a small balance of loans receivable that are not carried at fair value and would be subject to this new guidance for allowance for credit losses. Separately, we accounted for our available-for-sale securities under the other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") model for debt securities prior to the issuance of this new guidance. This new guidance requires that credit impairments on our available-for-sale securities be recorded in earnings using an allowance for credit losses, with the allowance limited to the amount by which the security's fair value is less than its amortized cost basis. Subsequent reversals in credit loss estimates are recognized in income. We adopted this guidance, as required, in the first quarter of 2020, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Other Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, "Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting." This new guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. This new guidance is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard would have on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, "Investments - Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815)." This new guidance clarifies the interaction of the accounting for equity securities, equity method investments, and certain forward contracts and purchased options. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. We plan to adopt this new guidance by the required date and do not anticipate that this update will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes." This new guidance simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and by clarifying and amending existing guidance. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. We plan to adopt this new guidance by the required date and do not anticipate that this update will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Balance Sheet Netting

Certain of our derivatives and short-term debt are subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements. Under GAAP, in certain circumstances we may elect to present certain financial assets, liabilities and related collateral subject to master netting arrangements in a net position on our consolidated balance sheets. However, we do not report any of these financial assets or liabilities on a net basis, and instead present them on a gross basis on our consolidated balance sheets.

The table below presents financial assets and liabilities that are subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements categorized by financial instrument, together with corresponding financial instruments and corresponding collateral received or pledged at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Table 3.1 – Offsetting of Financial Assets, Liabilities, and Collateral



	Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets (Liabilities)			Gross Amounts Offset in Consolidated Balance Sheet		Net Amounts of Assets (Liabilities) Presented in Consolidated Balance Sheet			Gross Amounts Not Offset in Consolidated Balance Sheet ⁽¹⁾						Net Amount
March 31, 2020 (In Thousands)	Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets (Liabilities)			Gross Amounts Offset in Consolidated Balance Sheet					Financial Instruments			Cash Collateral (Received) Pledged			Net Amount
Assets ⁽²⁾
TBAs	$	90,717		$	—	$	90,717		$	(89,433	)	$	(1,283	)	$	1
Total Assets	$	90,717		$	—	$	90,717		$	(89,433	)	$	(1,283	)	$	1

Liabilities⁽²⁾
TBAs	$	(110,648	)	$	—	$	(110,648	)	$	89,433		$	19,308		$	(1,907	)
Loan warehouse debt	(1,035,817		)	—		(1,035,817		)	1,034,622			—			(1,195		)
Security repurchase agreements	(485,147		)	—		(485,147		)	482,528			1,574			(1,045		)
Total Liabilities	$	(1,631,612	)	$	—	$	(1,631,612	)	$	1,606,583		$	20,882		$	(4,147	)



	Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets (Liabilities)			Gross Amounts Offset in Consolidated Balance Sheet		Net Amounts of Assets (Liabilities) Presented in Consolidated Balance Sheet			Gross Amounts Not Offset in Consolidated Balance Sheet ⁽¹⁾						Net Amount
December 31, 2019 (In Thousands)	Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets (Liabilities)			Gross Amounts Offset in Consolidated Balance Sheet					Financial Instruments			Cash Collateral (Received) Pledged			Net Amount
Assets ⁽²⁾
Interest rate agreements	$	19,020		$	—	$	19,020		$	(14,178	)	$	(915	)	$	3,927
TBAs	5,755			—		5,755			(5,755		)	—			—
Futures	137			—		137			—			—			137
Total Assets	$	24,912		$	—	$	24,912		$	(19,933	)	$	(915	)	$	4,064

Liabilities⁽²⁾
Interest rate agreements	$	(148,765	)	$	—	$	(148,765	)	$	14,178		$	134,587		$	—
TBAs	(13,359		)	—		(13,359		)	5,755			6,673			(931		)
Loan warehouse debt	(432,126		)	—		(432,126		)	432,126			—			—
Security repurchase agreements	(1,096,578		)	—		(1,096,578		)	1,096,578			—			—
Total Liabilities	$	(1,690,828	)	$	—	$	(1,690,828	)	$	1,548,637		$	141,260		$	(931	)

(1)

Amounts presented in these columns are limited in total to the net amount of assets or liabilities presented in the prior column by instrument. In certain cases, there is excess cash collateral or financial assets we have pledged to a counterparty (which may, in certain circumstances, be a clearinghouse) that exceed the financial liabilities subject to a master netting arrangement or similar agreement. Additionally, in certain cases, counterparties may have pledged excess cash collateral to us that exceeds our corresponding financial assets. In each case, any of these excess amounts are excluded from the table although they are separately reported in our consolidated balance sheets as assets or liabilities, respectively.


(2)	Interest rate agreements and TBAs are components of derivatives instruments on our consolidated balance sheets. Loan warehouse debt, which is secured by residential mortgage loans, and security repurchase agreements are components of Short-term debt on our consolidated balance sheets.

For each category of financial instrument set forth in the table above, the assets and liabilities resulting from individual transactions within that category between us and a counterparty are subject to a master netting arrangement or similar agreement with that counterparty that provides for individual transactions to be aggregated and treated as a single transaction. For certain categories of these instruments, some of our transactions are cleared and settled through one or more clearinghouses that are substituted as our counterparty. References herein to master netting arrangements or similar agreements include the arrangements and agreements governing the clearing and settlement of these transactions through the clearinghouses. In the event of the termination and close-out of any of those transactions, the corresponding master netting agreement or similar agreement provides for settlement on a net basis. Any such settlement would include the proceeds of the liquidation of any corresponding collateral, subject to certain limitations on termination, settlement, and liquidation of collateral that may apply in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of a party. Such limitations should not inhibit the eventual practical realization of the principal benefits of those transactions or the corresponding master netting arrangement or similar agreement and any corresponding collateral.