Altisource Asset Management Corp - Quarter Report: 2016 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016
OR
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR TRANSITION PERIOD FROM __________ TO __________
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 000-54809
Altisource Asset Management Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS | 66-0783125 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
36C Strand Street
Christiansted, United States Virgin Islands 00820
(Address of principal executive office)
(340) 692-1055
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer | o | Accelerated Filer | x | |
Non-Accelerated Filer | o | (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller Reporting Company | o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
As of October 28, 2016, 1,579,722 shares of our common stock were outstanding (excluding 1,023,717 shares held as treasury stock).
Explanatory Note
Effective January 1, 2016, Altisource Asset Management Corporation (the “Company”) adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810) – Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”) and performed an analysis of its relationship with Altisource Residential Corporation (“Residential”) pursuant to the amended guidance. The Company determined that the compensation it receives in return for its services to Residential is commensurate with the level of effort required to perform such services and the arrangement includes customary terms, conditions or amounts present in arrangements for similar services negotiated at arm’s length; therefore, Residential is no longer a variable interest entity under the amended guidance. As a result, effective January 1, 2016, the Company no longer consolidates the accounts of Residential. The Company has applied ASU 2015-02 using the modified retrospective approach, which has resulted in a cumulative-effect adjustment to the Company's equity on January 1, 2016. As a result, periods ending prior to the adoption were not impacted. The adoption effectively removed those balances previously disclosed that related to Residential from our consolidated financial statements and eliminated the amounts previously reported as noncontrolling interests in Residential as a consolidated affiliate. Subsequent to adoption, the Company's consolidated revenues consist primarily of management fees received from Residential under the related asset management agreement and interest and dividend income, and the Company's consolidated expenses consist primarily of salaries and employee benefits, share-based compensation, legal and professional fees and general and administrative expenses.
Due to the significance of Residential's consolidated financial statements to the Company's historical consolidated financial statements in periods prior to January 1, 2016, the Company's consolidated financial statements have limited comparability with the Company's consolidated financial statements in prior periods.
Altisource Asset Management Corporation
September 30, 2016
Table of Contents
i
References in this report to “we,” “our,” “us,” “AAMC” or the “Company” refer to Altisource Asset Management Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated. References in this report to “Residential” refer to Altisource Residential Corporation, unless otherwise indicated. References in this report to “ASPS” refer to Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated.
Special note on forward-looking statements
Our disclosure and analysis in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the “Securities Act,” and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act.” In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts” or “potential” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.
The forward-looking statements contained in this report reflect our current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause our actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Factors that may materially affect such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
• | our ability to implement our business strategy and the business strategy of Residential; |
• | our ability to retain Residential as a client; |
• | our ability to retain and maintain our strategic relationships; |
• | the ability of Residential to generate a return on invested capital in excess of applicable hurdle rates or cash available for distribution to its stockholders under our management; |
• | our ability to obtain additional asset management clients; |
• | our ability to effectively compete with our competitors; |
• | Residential's ability to complete future or pending transactions; |
• | the failure of ASPS to effectively perform its obligations under their agreements with us and Residential; |
• | the failure of Residential’s servicers to effectively perform their services to Residential; |
• | general economic and market conditions; and |
• | governmental regulations, taxes and policies. |
While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, they are not guarantees of future performance. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of their respective dates, and we assume no obligation to update them to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information or otherwise. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause our future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, please see the risk factors set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
ii
Part I
Item 1. Financial statements (unaudited)
Certain information contained herein is presented as of October 28, 2016, which we have concluded is the latest practicable date for financial information prior to the filing of this quarterly report.
1
Altisource Asset Management Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
September 30, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||
Assets: | |||||||
Real estate held for use: | |||||||
Land (from previously consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2015) | $ | — | $ | 56,346 | |||
Rental residential properties (net of accumulated depreciation of $7,127 as of December 31, 2015 - from previously consolidated VIE) | — | 224,040 | |||||
Real estate owned (from previously consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2015) | — | 455,483 | |||||
Total real estate held for use, net | — | 735,869 | |||||
Real estate assets held for sale (from previously consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2015) | — | 250,557 | |||||
Mortgage loans at fair value (from previously consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2015) | — | 960,534 | |||||
Mortgage loans held for sale (from previously consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2015) | — | 317,336 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents (including $116,702 from previously consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2015) | 41,893 | 184,544 | |||||
Restricted cash (from previously consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2015) | — | 20,566 | |||||
Available-for-sale securities | 17,707 | — | |||||
Accounts receivable, net (including $45,903 from previously consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2015) | — | 46,026 | |||||
Related party receivables | 4,926 | — | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets (including $1,126 from previously consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2015) | 1,415 | 3,169 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 65,941 | $ | 2,518,601 | |||
Liabilities: | |||||||
Repurchase and loan agreements (from previously consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2015) | $ | — | $ | 763,369 | |||
Other secured borrowings (from previously consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2015) | — | 502,599 | |||||
Accrued salaries and employee benefits | 3,131 | 4,006 | |||||
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities (including $32,448 from previously consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2015) | 2,544 | 34,716 | |||||
Total liabilities | 5,675 | 1,304,690 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6) | |||||||
Redeemable preferred stock: | |||||||
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 250,000 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015; redemption value $250,000 | 249,288 | 249,133 | |||||
Stockholders' (deficit) equity: | |||||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 authorized shares; 2,603,439 and 1,637,821 shares issued and outstanding, respectively, as of September 30, 2016 and 2,556,828 and 2,048,223 shares issued and outstanding, respectively, as of December 31, 2015 | 26 | 26 | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 28,285 | 23,419 | |||||
Retained earnings | 47,860 | 50,678 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (2,889 | ) | — | ||||
Treasury stock, at cost, 965,618 shares as of September 30, 2016 and 508,605 shares as of December 31, 2015 | (262,304 | ) | (254,984 | ) | |||
Total stockholders' deficit | (189,022 | ) | (180,861 | ) | |||
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated affiliate | — | 1,145,639 | |||||
Total (deficit) equity | (189,022 | ) | 964,778 | ||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 65,941 | $ | 2,518,601 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
2
Altisource Asset Management Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three months ended September 30, 2016 | Three months ended September 30, 2015 | Nine months ended September 30, 2016 | Nine months ended September 30, 2015 | ||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||
Management fees | $ | 4,208 | $ | — | $ | 12,838 | $ | — | |||||||
Conversion fees | 450 | — | 1,396 | — | |||||||||||
Expense reimbursements | 196 | — | 553 | — | |||||||||||
Rental revenues | — | 4,021 | — | 7,561 | |||||||||||
Change in unrealized gain on mortgage loans | — | 27,499 | — | 130,842 | |||||||||||
Net realized gain on mortgage loans | — | 12,874 | — | 47,528 | |||||||||||
Net realized gain on mortgage loans held for sale | — | 100 | — | 505 | |||||||||||
Net realized gain on real estate | — | 13,914 | — | 36,926 | |||||||||||
Interest and dividend income | 248 | 115 | 789 | 595 | |||||||||||
Total revenues | 5,102 | 58,523 | 15,576 | 223,957 | |||||||||||
Expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Salaries and employee benefits | 2,619 | 2,986 | 7,556 | 6,325 | |||||||||||
Share-based compensation | 2,432 | 1,429 | 7,188 | 4,461 | |||||||||||
Legal and professional fees | 420 | 2,333 | 1,503 | 10,024 | |||||||||||
Residential property operating expenses | — | 16,574 | — | 45,890 | |||||||||||
Real estate depreciation and amortization | — | 2,050 | — | 4,392 | |||||||||||
Selling costs and impairment | — | 10,705 | — | 34,235 | |||||||||||
Mortgage loan servicing costs | — | 13,477 | — | 47,989 | |||||||||||
Interest expense | — | 14,194 | — | 38,914 | |||||||||||
General and administrative | 561 | 2,187 | 1,653 | 5,655 | |||||||||||
Total expenses | 6,032 | 65,935 | 17,900 | 197,885 | |||||||||||
Other income: | |||||||||||||||
Other income | — | — | 55 | — | |||||||||||
Total other income | — | — | 55 | — | |||||||||||
(Loss) income before income taxes | (930 | ) | (7,412 | ) | (2,269 | ) | 26,072 | ||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 141 | (97 | ) | 1,003 | 240 | ||||||||||
Net (loss) income | (1,071 | ) | (7,315 | ) | (3,272 | ) | 25,832 | ||||||||
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated affiliate | — | 5,335 | — | (20,181 | ) | ||||||||||
Net (loss) income attributable to stockholders | $ | (1,071 | ) | $ | (1,980 | ) | $ | (3,272 | ) | $ | 5,651 | ||||
(Loss) earnings per share of common stock – basic: | |||||||||||||||
(Loss) earnings per basic share | $ | (0.67 | ) | $ | (0.92 | ) | $ | (1.89 | ) | $ | 2.49 | ||||
Weighted average common stock outstanding – basic | 1,676,651 | 2,208,658 | 1,813,929 | 2,210,448 | |||||||||||
(Loss) earnings per share of common stock – diluted: | |||||||||||||||
(Loss) earnings per diluted share | $ | (0.67 | ) | $ | (0.92 | ) | $ | (1.89 | ) | $ | 2.07 | ||||
Weighted average common stock outstanding – diluted | 1,676,651 | 2,208,658 | 1,813,929 | 2,733,747 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
3
Altisource Asset Management Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three months ended September 30, 2016 | Three months ended September 30, 2015 | Nine months ended September 30, 2016 | Nine months ended September 30, 2015 | ||||||||||||
Net (loss) income attributable to stockholders | $ | (1,071 | ) | $ | (1,980 | ) | $ | (3,272 | ) | $ | 5,651 | ||||
Other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities | 2,778 | — | (1,908 | ) | — | ||||||||||
Total other comprehensive income (loss) | 2,778 | — | (1,908 | ) | — | ||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 1,707 | $ | (1,980 | ) | $ | (5,180 | ) | $ | 5,651 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
4
Altisource Asset Management Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
(In thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Treasury Stock | Noncontrolling Interest in Previously Consolidated Affiliate | Total Deficit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2015 | 2,556,828 | $ | 26 | $ | 23,419 | $ | 50,678 | $ | — | $ | (254,984 | ) | $ | 1,145,639 | $ | 964,778 | ||||||||||||||
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2015-02 (Note 1) | — | — | (2,330 | ) | 609 | (981 | ) | — | (1,145,639 | ) | (1,148,341 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
January 1, 2016 | 2,556,828 | 26 | 21,089 | 51,287 | (981 | ) | (254,984 | ) | — | (183,563 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock, including option exercises | 46,611 | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Treasury shares repurchased | — | — | — | — | — | (7,320 | ) | — | (7,320 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization of preferred stock issuance costs | — | — | — | (155 | ) | — | — | — | (155 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation, net of tax | — | — | 7,188 | — | — | — | — | 7,188 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities | — | — | — | — | (1,908 | ) | — | — | (1,908 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | (3,272 | ) | — | — | — | (3,272 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2016 | 2,603,439 | $ | 26 | $ | 28,285 | $ | 47,860 | $ | (2,889 | ) | $ | (262,304 | ) | $ | — | $ | (189,022 | ) |
Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Treasury Stock | Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Affiliate | Total Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2014 | 2,452,101 | $ | 25 | $ | 14,152 | $ | 54,174 | $ | — | $ | (245,468 | ) | $ | 1,326,911 | $ | 1,149,794 | ||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock, including option exercises | 63,596 | — | 20 | — | — | — | — | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Treasury shares repurchased | — | — | — | — | — | (6,604 | ) | — | (6,604 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest | — | — | — | — | — | — | 103 | 103 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Distribution from noncontrolling interest | — | — | — | — | — | — | (98,123 | ) | (98,123 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase of noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries by affiliate | — | — | — | — | — | — | (19,983 | ) | (19,983 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries | — | — | 2,314 | — | — | — | (7,321 | ) | (5,007 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization of preferred stock issuance costs | — | — | — | (155 | ) | — | — | — | (155 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation, net of tax | — | — | 4,491 | — | — | — | 139 | 4,630 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | 5,651 | — | — | 20,181 | 25,832 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2015 | 2,515,697 | $ | 25 | $ | 20,977 | $ | 59,670 | $ | — | $ | (252,072 | ) | $ | 1,221,907 | $ | 1,050,507 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
5
Altisource Asset Management Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands) (Unaudited)
Nine months ended September 30, 2016 | Nine months ended September 30, 2015 | ||||||
Operating activities: | |||||||
Net (loss) income | $ | (3,272 | ) | $ | 25,832 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash used in operating activities: | |||||||
Change in unrealized gain on mortgage loans | — | (130,842 | ) | ||||
Net realized gain on mortgage loans | — | (47,528 | ) | ||||
Net realized gain on mortgage loans held for sale | — | (505 | ) | ||||
Net realized gain on real estate | — | (36,926 | ) | ||||
Real estate depreciation and amortization | — | 4,392 | |||||
Selling costs and impairment | — | 34,235 | |||||
Accretion of interest on re-performing mortgage loans | — | (581 | ) | ||||
Share-based compensation | 7,188 | 4,461 | |||||
Amortization of deferred financing costs | — | 4,271 | |||||
Loss on retirement of leasehold improvements | — | 212 | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts receivable | 123 | (998 | ) | ||||
Related party receivables | (4,926 | ) | — | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 617 | (355 | ) | ||||
Deferred leasing costs | — | (1,287 | ) | ||||
Accrued salaries and employee benefits | (875 | ) | 1,110 | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 276 | 13,961 | |||||
Related party payables | (2,180 | ) | — | ||||
Net cash used in operating activities | (3,049 | ) | (130,548 | ) | |||
Investing activities: | |||||||
Decrease in cash due to deconsolidation of Residential (Note 1) | (116,702 | ) | — | ||||
Purchases of securities | (15,588 | ) | — | ||||
Investment in real estate | — | (111,423 | ) | ||||
Investment in renovations | — | (15,936 | ) | ||||
Real estate tax advances | — | (18,438 | ) | ||||
Disposition of real estate | — | 119,368 | |||||
Mortgage loan resolutions and dispositions | — | 190,146 | |||||
Mortgage loan payments | — | 19,268 | |||||
Change in restricted cash | — | (12,229 | ) | ||||
Investment in subsidiary | — | (5,007 | ) | ||||
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | (132,290 | ) | 165,749 | ||||
Financing activities: | |||||||
Issuance of common stock, including stock option exercises | 33 | 584 | |||||
Repurchase of common stock | (7,320 | ) | (6,604 | ) | |||
Payment of tax withholdings on exercise of stock options | (25 | ) | (564 | ) | |||
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest | — | 103 | |||||
Distribution to noncontrolling interest | — | (67,506 | ) | ||||
Repurchase of noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries by affiliate | — | (19,983 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from repurchase and loan agreements | — | 285,967 | |||||
Repayments of repurchase and loan agreements | — | (371,489 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from issuance of other secured debt | — | 221,691 | |||||
Repayments of secured notes | — | (32,298 | ) | ||||
Payment of deferred financing costs | — | (9,250 | ) | ||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (7,312 | ) | 651 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
6
Altisource Asset Management Corporation Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued) (In thousands) (Unaudited) | |||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2016 | Nine months ended September 30, 2015 | ||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | (142,651 | ) | 35,852 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of the period | 184,544 | 116,782 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of the period | $ | 41,893 | $ | 152,634 | |||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information | |||||||
Cash paid for interest | $ | — | $ | 34,152 | |||
Transfer of mortgage loans to real estate owned, net | — | 359,378 | |||||
Transfer of mortgage loans at fair value to mortgage loans held for sale | — | 250,346 | |||||
Change in accrued capital expenditures | — | 164 | |||||
Changes in receivables from mortgage loan resolutions, payments and real estate tax advances, net | — | 2,550 | |||||
Changes in receivables from real estate owned dispositions | — | 1,949 | |||||
Decrease in noncontrolling interest due to deconsolidation (Note 1) | (1,145,639 | ) | — | ||||
Decrease in repurchase and loan agreements and other secured borrowings due to deconsolidation of Residential (Note 1) | (1,265,968 | ) | — | ||||
Decrease in real estate assets and mortgage loans due to deconsolidation of Residential (Note 1) | 2,264,296 | — |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
7
Altisource Asset Management Corporation
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2016
(Unaudited)
1. Organization and basis of presentation
We were incorporated in the United States Virgin Islands on March 15, 2012 (our “inception”). Subsequent to our separation from Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. (“ASPS”) on December 21, 2012, we immediately commenced operations. Our primary business is to provide asset management and certain corporate governance services to institutional investors. In October 2013, we applied for and were granted registration by the SEC as a registered investment adviser under section 203(c) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Our primary client currently is Altisource Residential Corporation (“Residential”), a public real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that is focused on acquiring and managing quality, affordable single-family rental properties for working class families throughout the United States. Substantially all of our standalone revenue since inception has been generated through our asset management agreement with Residential.
Residential conducts substantially all of its activities through its wholly owned subsidiary Altisource Residential, L.P. (“ARLP”) and its subsidiaries. Initially, Residential acquired its rental properties primarily through the acquisition of sub-performing and non-performing mortgage loan portfolios; however, commencing in the second quarter of 2015, it refocused its acquisition strategy to opportunistically acquire single-family rental properties directly, both individually and in pools, in light of substantial increases in the acquisition price of NPL portfolios as an avenue to more quickly achieve scale in its rental portfolio.
Residential has property management contracts with two separate third-party service providers to provide to Residential, among other things, leasing and lease management, operations, maintenance, repair, property management and property disposition services in respect of its SFR and REO portfolios. Residential also has servicing agreements with two separate mortgage servicers for the remaining mortgage loans in its portfolio.
We initially provided services to Residential pursuant to a 15-year asset management agreement beginning December 21, 2012 (the “Original AMA”). On March 31, 2015, we entered into a new asset management agreement with Residential (the “New AMA”) under which we will continue to be the exclusive asset manager for Residential for an initial term of 15 years from April 1, 2015, with two potential five-year extensions. The Original AMA had a different incentive fee structure that gave us a share of Residential’s cash flow available for distribution to its stockholders as well as reimbursement for certain overhead and operating expenses. The New AMA provides for a new fee structure in which we are entitled to a base management fee, an incentive management fee and a conversion fee for loans and real estate owned (“REO”) properties that become rental properties during each quarter. Accordingly, our operating results continue to be highly dependent on Residential's operating results. See Note 7 for additional details of the New AMA.
Additionally, we provide management services to NewSource Reinsurance Company Ltd. (“NewSource”), a title insurance and reinsurance company in Bermuda. In October 2013, we invested $2.0 million in 100% of the common stock of NewSource, and in September 2015, we contributed an additional $5.0 million to NewSource. On December 2, 2013, NewSource became registered as a licensed reinsurer with the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”). NewSource commenced reinsurance activities during the second quarter of 2014. In December 2014, NewSource determined that the economics of the initial business did not warrant the continuation of its initial reinsurance quota share agreement with an unrelated third party. NewSource therefore transferred all of the risk of claims and future losses underwritten to an unrelated third party.
Basis of presentation and use of estimates
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
8
The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and accompanying unaudited consolidated financial information, in our opinion, contain all adjustments that are of a normal recurring nature and are necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods. The interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. We have omitted certain notes and other information from the interim consolidated financial statements presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and regulations. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our annual consolidated financial statements included within our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016.
Effective January 1, 2016, the accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AAMC and its consolidated subsidiaries, which are comprised of voting interest entities in which we are determined to have a controlling financial interest under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810, as amended by Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810) – Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”). Our voting interest entities consist entirely of our wholly owned subsidiaries. We also consider variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for consolidation where we are the primary beneficiary as described below. With the adoption of the ASU 2015-02 effective January 1, 2016, we no longer consolidate Residential as a VIE, and we currently do not have any other potential VIEs.
For legal entities evaluated for consolidation, we must determine whether the interests that we hold and fees paid to us qualify as a variable interest in the entity. This includes an evaluation of fees paid to us where we act as a decision maker or service provider to the entity being evaluated. Fees received by us are not variable interests if (i) the fees are compensation for services provided and are commensurate with the level of effort required to provide those services, (ii) the service arrangement includes only terms, conditions or amounts that are customarily present in arrangements for similar services negotiated at arm’s length and (iii) our other economic interests in the VIE held directly and indirectly through our related parties, as well as economic interests held by related parties under common control, where applicable, would not absorb more than an insignificant amount of the entity’s losses or receive more than an insignificant amount of the entity’s benefits.
For those entities in which we have a variable interest, we perform an analysis to first determine whether the entity is a VIE. This determination includes considering whether the entity’s equity investment at risk is sufficient, whether the voting rights of an investor are not proportional to its obligation to absorb the income or loss of the entity and substantially all of the entity's activities either involve or are conducted on behalf of that investor and its related parties and whether the entity’s at-risk equity holders have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest. A VIE must be consolidated by its primary beneficiary. Performance of such analysis requires the exercise of judgment.
The primary beneficiary of a VIE is generally defined as the party who has a controlling financial interest in the VIE. We are generally deemed to have a controlling financial interest in a VIE if we have (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. For purposes of evaluating (ii) above, fees paid to us are excluded if the fees are compensation for services provided commensurate with the level of effort required to be performed and the arrangement includes only customary terms, conditions or amounts present in arrangements for similar services negotiated at arm’s length. We also evaluate our economic interests in the VIE held directly by us and indirectly through our related parties, as well as economic interests held by related parties under common control, where applicable. The primary beneficiary evaluation is generally performed qualitatively on the basis of all facts and circumstances. However, quantitative information may also be considered in the analysis, as appropriate. These analyses require judgment. Changes in the economic interests (either by us, our related parties or third parties) or amendments to the governing documents of the VIE could affect an entity's status as a VIE or the determination of the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary evaluation is updated periodically.
For voting interest entities, we shall consolidate the entity if we have a controlling financial interest. We have a controlling financial interest in a voting interest entity if (i) for legal entities other than limited partnerships, we own a majority voting interest in the entity or, for limited partnerships and similar entities, we own a majority of the entity’s kick-out rights through voting limited partnership interests and (ii) non-controlling shareholders or partners do not hold substantive participating rights and no other conditions exist that would indicate that we do not control the entity.
Prior to our deconsolidation of Residential as described below, our consolidated financial statements also include those VIEs that were included within Residential's consolidated financial statements. Residential had three securitization trusts, ARLP Securitization Trust, Series 2014-1 (“ARLP 2014-1”), ARLP Securitization Trust, Series 2014-2 (“ARLP 2014-2”) and ARLP Securitization Trust, Series 2015-1 (“ARLP 2015-1”), which were classified as VIEs. Because Residential was the primary beneficiary, these entities were included in the consolidated financial statements of Residential but are no longer included in our
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consolidated financial statements since the deconsolidation effective January 1, 2016. See Note 5 for more information regarding these securitization trusts.
Deconsolidation of Residential
Effective January 1, 2016, we adopted the provisions of ASU 2015-02, and we performed an analysis of our relationship with Residential pursuant to the amended guidance. We determined that the compensation we receive in return for our services to Residential is commensurate with the level of effort required to perform such services and the arrangement includes customary terms, conditions or amounts present in arrangements for similar services negotiated at arm’s length; therefore, Residential is no longer a VIE under the amended guidance. As a result, effective January 1, 2016, we no longer consolidate the accounts of Residential. We have applied ASU 2015-02 using the modified retrospective approach, which has resulted in a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity on January 1, 2016. As a result, periods ending prior to the adoption were not impacted. The adoption effectively removed those balances previously disclosed that related to Residential from our consolidated financial statements and eliminated the amounts previously reported as noncontrolling interests in Residential as a consolidated affiliate. Subsequent to adoption, our consolidated revenues consist primarily of management fees received from Residential under the New AMA and interest and dividend income, and our consolidated expenses consist primarily of salaries and employee benefits, share-based compensation, legal and professional fees and general and administrative expenses.
As a result of our deconsolidation of Residential, we have also reclassified certain prior period amounts for consistency with the current period presentation, including reclassification of amounts from accounts payable and other accrued liabilities to accrued salaries and benefits within the consolidated balance sheet and from general and administrative expenses to salaries and benefits, share-based compensation and legal and professional fees within the consolidated statement of operations. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported results of operations.
Available-for-sale securities
The securities we hold consist solely of the common stock of Residential. These securities are classified as available for sale and are reported at fair value. We adjust our investment in Residential common stock to fair value based on unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets. Changes in the fair value are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as changes in unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities. Our ability to sell these securities, or the price ultimately realized for these securities, depends upon the demand in the market and potential restrictions on the timing at which we may be able to sell the Residential common stock when desired.
Deferred debt issuance costs
In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2015-03, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) - Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs are presented on the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability instead of being presented as an asset. Debt disclosures include the face amount of the debt liability and the effective interest rate. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) - Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements. ASU 2015-15 provides additional guidance to ASU 2015-03, which did not address presentation or subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs related to line of credit arrangements. ASU 2015-15 noted that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line of credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line of credit arrangement.
Residential's application of ASU 2015-03 represents a change in accounting principle and has been applied retrospectively, which resulted in i) a reclassification of the deferred debt issuance cost component of Residential's deferred leasing and financing costs to repurchase and loan agreements and other secured borrowings and ii) a reclassification of deferred leasing cost component of Residential's deferred leasing and financing costs to prepaid expenses and other assets in our consolidated balance sheets.
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The following table represents the effect of the reclassification of prior period balances as a result this adoption ($ in thousands):
December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||
As Previously Reported | Adjustments | Current Presentation | ||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||
Deferred leasing and financing costs (1) | $ | 7,886 | $ | (7,886 | ) | $ | — | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets (1) | 2,458 | 711 | 3,169 | |||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Repurchase agreements | 767,513 | (4,144 | ) | 763,369 | ||||||||
Other secured borrowings | 505,630 | (3,031 | ) | 502,599 |
____________
(1) | Upon adoption of ASU 2015-03, Residential reclassified its deferred leasing costs to prepaid expenses and other assets. |
Recently issued accounting standards
In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The amendments in ASU 2016-15 address eight specific cash flow issues and apply to all entities that are required to present a statement of cash flows under Topic 230. The amendments in ASU 2016-15 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption during an interim period. We do not expect the impact of adopting this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718). ASU 2016-09 makes several modifications to Topic 718 related to the accounting for forfeitures, employer tax withholding on share-based compensation and the financial statement presentation of excess tax benefits or deficiencies. ASU 2016-09 also clarifies the statement of cash flows presentation for certain components of share-based awards. This update standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, although early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on our consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 requires that lessees recognize assets and liabilities for leases with lease terms greater than twelve months in the statement of financial position and also requires improved disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim reporting periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on our consolidated financial statements.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10). ASU 2016-01 requires all equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income (other than those accounted for under equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee). The amendments also require an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. In addition, the amendments eliminate the requirement to disclose the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost for entities that are not public business entities and the requirement to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet for public business entities. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Upon our adoption of ASU 2016-01, we expect to retrospectively reclassify our other comprehensive income related to our available-for-sale equity securities into our consolidated statement of operations. This reclassification will not impact our previously reported total equity.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model requiring a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount reflecting the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective
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Date, which effectively delayed the adoption date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. ASU 2014-09 is therefore effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. We do not expect this amendment to have a significant effect on our consolidated financial statements.
2. Real estate assets, net
As of September 30, 2016, we had no real estate assets. The following describes Residential's real estate assets that were included in our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015. These real estate assets are no longer included in our consolidated financial statements effective from January 1, 2016.
Real estate held for use
As of December 31, 2015, Residential had 4,933 REO properties held for use. Of these properties, 2,118 had been leased, 264 were being listed and ready for rent and 350 were in varying stages of renovation and unit turn status. With respect to the remaining 2,201 REO properties, we were in the process of determining whether these properties would meet Residential's rental profile.
Real estate held for sale
As of December 31, 2015, Residential classified 1,583 properties having an aggregate carrying value of $250.6 million as real estate held for sale. Management determined to divest of these properties because they did not meet Residential's rental property investment criteria.
3. Mortgage loans
As of September 30, 2016, we had no mortgage loans due to the deconsolidation of Residential. The following describes Residential's mortgage loans that were included in our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015 as well as certain related activity recognized in our consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.
The following table sets forth the fair value of Residential's mortgage loans at fair value, the related unpaid principal balance and market value of underlying properties by delinquency status as of December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):
Number of Loans | Carrying Value | Unpaid Principal Balance | Market Value of Underlying Properties | |||||||||||
December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||
Current | 730 | $ | 124,595 | $ | 165,645 | $ | 177,348 | |||||||
30 | 80 | 12,003 | 18,142 | 21,858 | ||||||||||
60 | 38 | 5,688 | 8,088 | 8,766 | ||||||||||
90 | 984 | 130,784 | 216,717 | 196,963 | ||||||||||
Foreclosure | 3,907 | 687,464 | 946,962 | 917,671 | ||||||||||
Mortgage loans at fair value | 5,739 | $ | 960,534 | $ | 1,355,554 | $ | 1,322,606 |
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The following table sets forth the carrying value of Residential's mortgage loans held for sale, the related unpaid principal balance and market value of underlying properties by delinquency status as of December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):
Number of Loans | Carrying Value | Unpaid Principal Balance | Market Value of Underlying Properties | |||||||||||
December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||
Current | 58 | $ | 10,864 | $ | 13,466 | $ | 17,776 | |||||||
30 | 26 | 7,616 | 10,013 | 12,200 | ||||||||||
60 | 6 | 668 | 775 | 1,063 | ||||||||||
90 | 328 | 73,164 | 101,121 | 103,395 | ||||||||||
Foreclosure | 879 | 225,024 | 314,991 | 330,573 | ||||||||||
Mortgage loans held for sale | 1,297 | $ | 317,336 | $ | 440,366 | $ | 465,007 |
Re-performing residential mortgage loans
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, Residential recognized no provision for loan loss and no adjustments to the amount of the accretable yield. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, Residential accreted $0.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively, into interest income with respect to these re-performing loans. As of December 31, 2015, these re-performing loans, having a UPB of $6.0 million and a carrying value of $4.0 million, were included in mortgage loans held for sale. Due to the deconsolidation of Residential, no re-performing residential mortgage loans were included in our consolidated financial statements effective from January 1, 2016.
The following table presents changes in the balance of the accretable yield for the periods indicated:
Accretable Yield | Three months ended September 30, 2015 | Nine months ended September 30, 2015 | ||||||
Balance at the beginning of the period | $ | 3,886 | $ | 7,640 | ||||
Payments and other reductions, net | — | (3,285 | ) | |||||
Accretion | (112 | ) | (581 | ) | ||||
Balance at the end of the period | $ | 3,774 | $ | 3,774 |
4. Fair value of financial instruments
The following table sets forth the fair value of financial assets by level within the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2016 ($ in thousands):
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||
Quoted Prices in Active Markets | Observable Inputs other than Level 1 Prices | Unobservable Inputs | |||||||||
September 30, 2016 | |||||||||||
Recurring basis (assets) | |||||||||||
Available-for-sale securities: Residential common stock | $ | 17,707 | $ | — | $ | — |
We did not transfer any assets from one level to another level during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 or during the year ended December 31, 2015.
The carrying values of our cash and cash equivalents, related party receivables, accrued salaries and employee benefits and accounts payable and other accrued liabilities are equal to or approximate fair value. The fair value of our available-for-sale securities is based on unadjusted quoted market prices from active markets.
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As of September 30, 2016, we held 1,624,465 shares of Residential's common stock, representing approximately 3.02% of Residential's then-outstanding common stock, which is included as available-for-sale securities in our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016. At December 31, 2015, we held 324,465 shares of Residential's common stock, representing approximately 0.58% of Residential's then-outstanding common stock. All of our shares of Residential's common stock were acquired in open market transactions. As of December 31, 2015, we eliminated our investment in Residential common stock upon consolidation (see Note 1).
The following table presents the amortized cost and fair value of our available-for-sale securities as of September 30, 2016 ($ in thousands):
Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Residential common stock | $ | 20,596 | $ | — | $ | 2,889 | $ | 17,707 | |||||||
Total available-for-sale securities | $ | 20,596 | $ | — | $ | 2,889 | $ | 17,707 |
We have recognized no other-than-temporary impairment related to our investment in Residential's common stock. Management believes that the declines in the fair value driven by temporary market fluctuations.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, we acquired 1,300,000 and 324,465 shares, respectively, of Residential's common stock in open market transactions at an average purchase price of $11.97 and $15.41 per share, respectively.
Due to the deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, we did not have any level 3 assets in our consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
The following describes Residential's financial assets and liabilities that were included in our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015 as well as certain related activity recognized in our consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.
The following table sets forth the fair value of Residential's financial assets and liabilities by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||
Quoted Prices in Active Markets | Observable Inputs other than Level 1 Prices | Unobservable Inputs | |||||||||
December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||
Recurring basis (assets) | |||||||||||
Mortgage loans at fair value | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 960,534 | |||||
Nonrecurring basis (assets) | |||||||||||
Real estate assets held for sale | — | — | 250,557 | ||||||||
Not recognized on consolidated balance sheets at fair value (assets) | |||||||||||
Mortgage loans held for sale | — | — | 317,336 | ||||||||
Not recognized on consolidated balance sheets at fair value (liabilities) | |||||||||||
Repurchase and loan agreements | — | 767,513 | — | ||||||||
Other secured borrowings | — | 502,268 | — |
Residential did not transfer any assets from one level to another level during the year ended December 31, 2015.
The carrying values of Residential's cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, related party receivables, accrued salaries and employee benefits, accounts payable and other accrued liabilities and related party payables were equal to or approximated fair value. The fair values of Residential's mortgage loans at fair value and non-performing mortgage loans held for sale were estimated using our proprietary pricing model. The fair value of Residential's real estate assets held for sale was estimated using BPOs, estimated sales prices from pending contracts and discounted cash flow models. The fair value of Residential's re-
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performing mortgage loans held for sale was estimated using the present value of the future estimated principal and interest payments of the loan, with the discount rate used in the present value calculation representing the estimated effective yield of the loan. The fair value of Residential's repurchase agreements was estimated using the income approach based on credit spreads available currently in the market for similar floating rate debt. The fair value of Residential's other secured borrowings was estimated using observable market data.
The following table sets forth the changes in Residential's level 3 assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 ($ in thousands):
Three months ended September 30, 2015 | Nine months ended September 30, 2015 | |||||||
Mortgage loans at fair value | ||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | 1,716,489 | $ | 1,959,044 | ||||
Change in unrealized gain on mortgage loans | 27,499 | 130,842 | ||||||
Net realized gain on mortgage loans | 12,874 | 47,528 | ||||||
Transfer of mortgage loans to mortgage loans held for sale | (250,346 | ) | (250,346 | ) | ||||
Mortgage loan resolutions, dispositions and payments | (57,882 | ) | (205,120 | ) | ||||
Real estate tax advances to borrowers | 6,611 | 18,002 | ||||||
Reclassification of realized gains on real estate sold from unrealized gains | 16,026 | 40,003 | ||||||
Transfer of mortgage loans to real estate owned, net | (90,696 | ) | (359,378 | ) | ||||
Ending balance | $ | 1,380,575 | $ | 1,380,575 | ||||
Change in unrealized gain on mortgage loans held at the end of the period | $ | 13,022 | $ | 93,874 |
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of Residential's mortgage loans are discount rates, forecasts of future home prices, alternate loan resolution probabilities, resolution timelines and the value of underlying properties. Significant changes in any of these inputs in isolation could result in a significant change to the fair value measurement. A decline in the discount rate in isolation would increase the fair value. A decrease in the housing pricing index in isolation would decrease the fair value. Individual loan characteristics such as location and value of underlying collateral affect the loan resolution probabilities and timelines. An increase in the loan resolution timeline in isolation would decrease the fair value. A decrease in the value of underlying properties in isolation would decrease the fair value. The following table sets forth quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used to measure the fair value of Residential's mortgage loans as of December 31, 2015:
Input | December 31, 2015 | |
Equity discount rate | 15.0% | |
Debt to asset ratio | 65.0% | |
Cost of funds | 3.5% over 1 month LIBOR | |
Annual change in home pricing index | 0.0% to 10.2% | |
Loan resolution probabilities — modification | 0% to 44.7% | |
Loan resolution probabilities — rental | 0% to 100.0% | |
Loan resolution probabilities — liquidation | 0% to 100.0% | |
Loan resolution timelines (in years) | 0.1 to 5.6 | |
Value of underlying properties | $3,000 - $4,500,000 |
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5. Borrowings
As of September 30, 2016, we had no outstanding debt due to the deconsolidation of Residential. The following describes Residential's repurchase and loan agreements and its other secured borrowings that were included in our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015.
Repurchase and loan agreements
The following table sets forth data with respect to Residential's repurchase and loan agreements as of December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):
Maximum Borrowing Capacity | Book Value of Collateral | Amount Outstanding | Amount of Available Funding | ||||||||||||
December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||
Repurchase agreement due April 18, 2016 | $ | 275,000 | $ | 335,184 | $ | 194,346 | $ | 80,654 | |||||||
Repurchase agreement due September 27, 2017 | 750,000 | 708,275 | 371,130 | 378,870 | |||||||||||
Repurchase agreement due March 11, 2016 | 54,944 | 130,863 | 54,944 | — | |||||||||||
Loan agreement due April 8, 2016 | 200,000 | 204,578 | 147,093 | 52,907 | |||||||||||
Less: deferred debt issuance costs | — | — | (4,144 | ) | — | ||||||||||
$ | 1,279,944 | $ | 1,378,900 | $ | 763,369 | $ | 512,431 |
Other secured debt
As of December 31, 2015, Residential's consolidated financial statements included three securitization trusts (ARLP 2015-1, ARLP 2014-2 and ARLP 2014-1), which were VIEs of which Residential was the primary beneficiary. Each trust was a Delaware statutory trust that was wholly owned by Residential's operating partnership with a federally chartered bank as its trustee.
As of December 31, 2015, the book value of the underlying securitized assets held by ARLP 2015-1 was $282.1 million, the book value of the underlying securitized assets held by ARLP 2014-2 was $322.5 million, and the book value of the underlying securitized assets held by ARLP 2014-1 was $202.3 million.
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The following table sets forth data with respect to these notes as of December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):
Interest Rate | Amount Outstanding | |||||
December 31, 2015 | ||||||
ARLP Securitization Trust, Series 2015-1 | ||||||
ARLP 2015-1 Class A Notes due May 25, 2055 (1) | 4.01 | % | $ | 203,429 | ||
ARLP 2015-1 Class M Notes due May 25, 2044 | — | % | 60,000 | |||
ARLP Securitization Trust, Series 2014-2 | ||||||
ARLP 2014-2 Class A Notes due January 26, 2054 (2) | 3.63 | % | 244,935 | |||
ARLP 2014-2 Class M Notes due January 26, 2054 | — | % | 234,010 | |||
ARLP Securitization Trust, Series 2014-1 | ||||||
ARLP 2014-1 Class A Notes due September 25, 2044 (3) | 3.47 | % | 136,404 | |||
ARLP 2014-1 Class M Notes due September 25, 2044 (4) | 4.25 | % | 32,000 | |||
Intercompany eliminations | ||||||
Elimination of ARLP 2015-1 Class A Notes due to ARNS, Inc. | (34,000 | ) | ||||
Elimination of ARLP 2015-1 Class M Notes due to ARLP | (60,000 | ) | ||||
Elimination of ARLP 2014-2 Class A Notes due to ARNS, Inc. | (45,138 | ) | ||||
Elimination of ARLP 2014-2 Class M Notes due to ARLP | (234,010 | ) | ||||
Elimination of ARLP 2014-1 Class M Notes due to ARNS, Inc. | (32,000 | ) | ||||
Less: deferred debt issuance costs | (3,031 | ) | ||||
$ | 502,599 |
_____________
(1) | The expected redemption date for the Class A Notes ranged from June 25, 2018 to June 25, 2019. |
(2) | The expected redemption date for the Class A Notes ranged from November 27, 2017 to November 27, 2018. |
(3) | The expected redemption date for the Class A Notes ranged from September 25, 2017 to September 25, 2018. |
(4) | The expected redemption date for the Class M Notes was September 25, 2018. |
6. Commitments and contingencies
Litigation, claims and assessments
From time to time, we may be involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. Set forth below is a summary of legal proceedings to which we are a party during 2016:
City of Cambridge Retirement System v. Altisource Asset Management Corp., et al. On January 16, 2015, a putative shareholder class action complaint was filed in the United States District Court of the Virgin Islands by a purported shareholder of AAMC under the caption City of Cambridge Retirement System v. Altisource Asset Management Corp., et al., 15-cv-00004. The action names as defendants AAMC, Mr. Erbey and certain officers of AAMC and alleges that the defendants violated federal securities laws by failing to disclose material information to AAMC shareholders concerning alleged conflicts of interest held by Mr. Erbey with respect to AAMC’s relationship and transactions with Residential, Altisource, Home Loan Servicing Solutions, Ltd., Southwest Business Corporation, NewSource Reinsurance Company and Ocwen, including allegations that the defendants failed to disclose (i) the nature of relationships between Mr. Erbey, AAMC and those entities; and (ii) that the transactions were the result of an allegedly unfair process from which Mr. Erbey failed to recuse himself. The action seeks, among other things, an award of monetary damages to the putative class in an unspecified amount and an award of attorney’s and other fees and expenses. AAMC and Mr. Erbey are the only defendants who have been served with the complaint.
On May 12, 2015, the court entered an order granting the motion of Denver Employees Retirement Plan to be lead plaintiff. On May 15, 2015, the court entered a scheduling order requiring plaintiff to file an amended complaint on or before June 19, 2015, and setting a briefing schedule for any motion to dismiss. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint on June 19, 2015. On July 20, 2015, AAMC and Mr. Erbey filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. Briefing on the motion to dismiss was completed on September 3, 2015, and we are awaiting a decision from the court on the motion.
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We believe the amended complaint is without merit. At this time, we are not able to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, nor can we estimate the range of possible loss, if any.
Kanga v. Altisource Asset Management Corporation, et al. On March 12, 2015, a shareholder derivative action was filed in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, Division of St. Croix, by a purported shareholder of AAMC under the caption Nanzeen Kanga v. William Erbey, et al., SX-15-CV-105. The action names as defendants William C. Erbey and each of the current and former members of AAMC's Board of Directors and alleges that Mr. Erbey and AAMC’s directors breached fiduciary duties in connection with the disclosures that are the subject of the City of Cambridge Retirement System case described above and certain other matters involving the relationship of Residential and AAMC.
On May 15, 2015, the plaintiff and the defendants filed an agreed motion to stay the action until the earliest of any of the following events: (i) the City of Cambridge Retirement System action is dismissed with prejudice; (ii) any of the defendants in the City of Cambridge Retirement System action file an answer in that action; and (iii) defendants do not move to stay any later-filed derivative action purportedly brought on behalf of us arising from similar facts as the Kanga action and relating to the same time frame or such motion to stay is denied.
At this time, we are not able to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, nor can we estimate the range of possible loss, if any.
Sokolowski v. Erbey, et al. On December 24, 2014, a shareholder derivative action was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida by a purported shareholder of Ocwen. The action named the directors of Ocwen as defendants and alleged, among other things, various breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors of Ocwen.
On February 11, 2015, plaintiff filed an amended complaint naming the directors of Ocwen as defendants and also naming Residential, AAMC, Altisource and Home Loan Servicing Solutions, Ltd. as alleged aiders and abettors of the purported breaches of fiduciary duties. The amended complaint alleges that the directors of Ocwen breached their fiduciary duties by, among other things, allegedly failing to exercise oversight over Ocwen’s compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; failing to exercise oversight responsibilities with respect to the accounting and financial reporting processes of Ocwen; failing to prevent conflicts of interest and allegedly improper related party transactions; failing to adhere to Ocwen’s code of conduct and corporate governance guidelines; selling personal holdings of Ocwen stock on the basis of material adverse inside information; and disseminating allegedly false and misleading statements regarding Ocwen’s compliance with regulatory obligations and allegedly self-dealing transactions with related companies. Plaintiff claims that as a result of the alleged breaches of fiduciary duties, Ocwen has suffered damages, including settlements with regulatory agencies in excess of $2 billion, injury to its reputation and corporate goodwill and exposure to governmental investigations and securities and consumer class action lawsuits. In addition to the derivative claims, the plaintiff also alleges an individual claim that Ocwen’s 2014 proxy statement allegedly contained untrue statements of material fact and failed to disclose material information in violation of federal securities laws. The plaintiff seeks, among other things, an order requiring the defendants to repay to Ocwen unspecified amounts by which Ocwen has been damaged or will be damaged, an award of an unspecified amount of exemplary damages, changes to Ocwen's corporate governance and an award of attorneys’ and other fees and expenses.
On April 13, 2015, nominal defendant Ocwen and defendants Mr. Erbey and Mr. Faris filed a motion to stay the action.
On July 16, 2015, we filed a motion to dismiss all claims against us in the action, based upon, among other arguments, lack of personal jurisdiction and failure to state a claim. Co-defendant Residential filed a similar motion to dismiss the complaint as to all claims asserted against it.
On December 8, 2015, the court granted Residential's and our motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction with leave to amend the jurisdiction allegations no later than January 4, 2016.
On December 15, 2015, Hutt v. Erbey, et al., Case No. 15-cv-81709-WPD, was transferred to the Southern District of Florida from the Northern District of Georgia. That same day, a third related derivative action, Lowinger v. Erbey, et al., Case No. 15-cv-62628-WPD, was also filed in the Southern District of Florida. The court then requested that the parties file a response stating their positions as to whether the actions should be consolidated. On December 29, 2015, we filed a response stating that we took no position on the issue of consolidation, so long as our defenses were fully reserved should plaintiff Sokolowski seek to file an amended complaint. Neither plaintiff Sokolowski nor plaintiff Hutt opposed consolidation in their responses. On December 30, 2015, the court issued an order that, among other things, extended the deadline for plaintiff Sokolowski to file its amended complaint to cure the jurisdictional defects as to Residential and us until January 13, 2016. On January 8, 2016, the court issued an order consolidating the three related actions.
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On February 2, 2016, Plaintiffs Sokolowski and Lowinger filed competing motions for appointment of lead counsel in the consolidated action. These motions were fully briefed on February 5, 2016. Subsequently, on February 17, 2016, the court issued an order appointing Sokolowski’s counsel as lead counsel with Lowinger’s and Hutt’s counsel serving on the executive committee of the plaintiffs. It also ordered that a consolidated complaint in the matter shall be filed no later than March 8, 2016.
On March 8, 2016, the plaintiffs filed a consolidated certified shareholder derivative complaint (the “Consolidated Complaint”) in the action. On March 11, the Special Litigation Committee of Ocwen sought additional time beyond the March 31, 2016 originally anticipated completion date to analyze the Consolidated Complaint. On March 22, 2016, the parties filed a joint consent motion for entry of an order amending the briefing schedule regarding the Consolidated Complaint. On March 23, 2016, the court entered a scheduling order requiring defendants to file their motions to dismiss on or before May 13, 2016, plaintiffs to file a response to any such motion on or before June 17, 2016 and defendants to file any reply briefs on or before July 15, 2016.
On May 13, 2016, we filed a motion to dismiss the Sokolowski action as to us. Subsequently, plaintiffs sought and received an extension to file their opposition to the defendants' motions to dismiss to August 19, 2016 and a further extension to September 29, 2016.
On September 13, 2016, plaintiffs, Ocwen, Mr. Erbey, Mr. Faris, and Mr. Britti requested that the court transfer the case to Magistrate Judge Snow in order to assist with settlement negotiations. The court granted the request, and counsel for plaintiffs and Ocwen appeared before Magistrate Judge Snow on October 13, 2016 for a settlement conference. At the conference, plaintiffs and Ocwen reached an agreement in principle to resolve certain claims, which Ocwen has publicly disclosed it believes will be covered in full by its applicable insurance coverage. Based on our understanding of the settlement terms, we believe the settlement agreement will include our release from any and all liability in the matter. Plaintiffs filed a Settlement Term Sheet under seal on October 18, 2016. The Stipulation of Settlement is due on or before November 18, 2016. A Final Approval Hearing will be held on January 18, 2017.
We believe the complaint against us is without merit. At this time, until the settlement agreement is finalized and approved, we are not able to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, nor can we estimate the range of possible loss, if any.
Management does not believe that we have incurred an estimable, probable or material loss by reason of any of the above actions.
7. Related party transactions
New asset management agreement with Residential
On March 31, 2015, we entered into the New AMA with Residential. The New AMA, which became effective on April 1, 2015, provides for a new management fee structure, which replaces the incentive fee structure under the Original AMA as follows:
• | Base Management Fee. We are entitled to a quarterly Base Management Fee equal to 1.5% of the product of (i) Residential’s average invested capital (as defined in the New AMA) for the quarter multiplied by (ii) 0.25, while Residential has fewer than 2,500 single family rental properties actually rented (“Rental Properties”). The Base Management Fee percentage increases to 1.75% of invested capital while Residential has between 2,500 and 4,499 rental properties and increases to 2.0% of invested capital while Residential has 4,500 or more rental properties; |
• | Incentive Management Fee. We are entitled to a quarterly Incentive Management Fee equal to 20% of the amount by which Residential's return on invested capital (based on AFFO, defined as net income attributable to holders of common stock calculated in accordance with GAAP plus real estate depreciation expense minus recurring capital expenditures on all real estate assets owned by Residential) exceeds an annual hurdle return rate of between 7.0% and 8.25% (depending on the 10-year treasury rate). The Incentive Management Fee increases to 22.5% while Residential has between 2,500 and 4,499 Rental Properties and increases to 25% while Residential has 4,500 or more Rental Properties; and |
• | Conversion Fee. We are entitled to a quarterly Conversion Fee equal to 1.5% of the market value of the single-family homes leased by Residential for the first time during the quarter. |
Residential has the flexibility to pay up to 25% of the incentive management fee to us in shares of Residential common stock.
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Under the New AMA, we will continue to be the exclusive asset manager for Residential for an initial term of 15 years from April 1, 2015, with two potential five-year extensions, subject to Residential achieving an average annual return on invested capital of at least 7.0%. Under the New AMA, Residential will not be required to reimburse us for the allocable compensation and routine overhead expenses of our employees and staff, all of which will now be covered by the Base Management Fee described above. Only the compensation and benefits of the general counsel dedicated to Residential and certain other out-of-pocket expenses incurred on Residential's behalf are reimbursed by Residential.
Neither party is entitled to terminate the New AMA prior to the end of the initial term, or each renewal term, other than termination by (a) Residential and/or us “for cause” for certain events such as a material breach of the New AMA and failure to cure such breach, (b) Residential for certain other reasons such as Residential’s failure to achieve a return on invested capital of at least 7.0% for two consecutive fiscal years after the third anniversary of the New AMA and (c) Residential in connection with certain change of control events.
Summary of related party transactions
The following table presents our significant transactions with Residential, which is a related party ($ in thousands). Prior to our adoption of ASU 2015-02 on January 1, 2016, our transactions with Residential were eliminated upon consolidation.
Three months ended September 30, 2016 | Three months ended September 30, 2015 | Nine months ended September 30, 2016 | Nine months ended September 30, 2015 | ||||||||||||
Base management fees | $ | 4,208 | $ | 4,659 | $ | 12,838 | $ | 9,411 | |||||||
Conversion fees | 450 | 329 | 1,396 | 728 | |||||||||||
Management incentive fees (1) | — | — | — | 14,900 | |||||||||||
Expense reimbursements | 196 | — | 553 | 750 | |||||||||||
Professional fee sharing for negotiation of New AMA | — | — | — | 2,000 |
______________
(1) | Pursuant to the terms of the New AMA, the management incentive fees for the first quarter of 2015 were recalculated during the fourth quarter of 2015, and it was determined that $6.9 million was reimbursable by us to Residential. |
No Incentive Management Fee was due from Residential for the third quarter of 2016 because Residential's return on invested capital (as defined in the New AMA) for the six quarters covered by the New AMA was below the required hurdle rate. Under the New AMA, to the extent Residential has an aggregate shortfall in its return rate over the previous seven quarters, that aggregate return rate shortfall gets added to the normal quarterly 1.75% return hurdle for the next quarter before we are entitled to an Incentive Management Fee. As of September 30, 2016, Residential's aggregate return shortfall from the prior six quarters under the New AMA was approximately 36.66% of invested capital. Therefore, Residential must achieve a 38.41% return on invested capital in the fourth quarter of 2016 before any Incentive Management Fee will be due from Residential. In future quarters, return on invested capital must exceed the required hurdle for the current quarter plus any carried-forward cumulative additional hurdle shortfall from the prior seven quarters before any Incentive Management Fee will be due from Residential.
As of September 30, 2016, we held 1,624,465 shares of Residential's common stock, representing approximately 3.02% of Residential's then-outstanding common stock. At December 31, 2015, we held 324,465 shares of Residential's common stock, representing approximately 0.58% of Residential's then-outstanding common stock. All of our shares of Residential's common stock were acquired in open market transactions.
8. Share-based payments
During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we granted no share-based payments to members of management. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we granted 44,132 shares of market-based restricted stock to certain members of executive management under our 2012 Equity Incentive Plan with a weighted average grant date fair value per share of $181.02.
Our directors each received annual grants of restricted stock equal to $60 thousand based on the market value of our common stock at the time of the annual stockholders meeting. These shares of restricted stock vest and are issued after a one-year service period subject to each director attending at least 75% of the Board and committee meetings. No dividends are paid on the shares
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until the award is issued. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, we granted 10,200 and 1,122 shares of restricted stock, respectively, to our directors with a weighted average grant date fair value per share of $18.08 and $162.66, respectively.
We recorded $2.4 million and $7.2 million of compensation expense related to these grants for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and we recorded $1.4 million and $4.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had an aggregate $11.7 million and $18.7 million, respectively, of total unrecognized share-based compensation cost to be recognized over a weighted average remaining estimated term of 1.6 years and 2.9 years, respectively.
9. Income taxes
We are domiciled in the United States Virgin Islands (“USVI”) and under current USVI law are obligated to pay taxes in the United States Virgin Islands on income and/or capital gains. We applied for tax benefits from the USVI Economic Development Commission and received our certificate of benefits, effective as of February 1, 2013. Under the certificate of benefits, so long as we comply with the provisions thereunder, we will receive a 90% exemption on our USVI-sourced income taxes until 2043. NewSource is considered a controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”) to AAMC. Subpart F income generated by a CFC is taxed currently in the USVI and is not eligible for the reduced tax rate under the certificate of benefits.
As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we accrued no interest or penalties associated with any unrecognized tax benefits, nor did we recognize any interest expense or penalty during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. As of December 31, 2015, Residential accrued no interest or penalties associated with any unrecognized tax benefits, nor did Residential recognize any interest expense or penalty during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Residential recorded nominal state and local tax expense on income and property for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. Our subsidiaries and we remain subject to tax examination for the period from inception to December 31, 2015.
Management assesses the available evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to utilize existing deferred tax assets. Based on this assessment as of September 30, 2016, we recorded a valuation allowance for the deferred tax assets that we believe are more likely than not to not be realized. This valuation allowance resulted in the recognition of $0.9 million of income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. If, in future periods, we determine that positive evidence exists that these deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized, the related valuation allowance would be reversed to the extent that the deferred tax asset is more likely than not to be realized.
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10. Earnings per share
The following table sets forth the components of diluted earnings (loss) per share (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
Three months ended September 30, 2016 | Three months ended September 30, 2015 | Nine months ended September 30, 2016 | Nine months ended September 30, 2015 | ||||||||||||
Numerator | |||||||||||||||
Net (loss) income attributable to stockholders | $ | (1,071 | ) | $ | (1,980 | ) | $ | (3,272 | ) | 5,651 | |||||
Amortization of preferred stock issuance costs | (51 | ) | (52 | ) | (155 | ) | (155 | ) | |||||||
Numerator for basic EPS – (loss) income available to common stockholders | (1,122 | ) | (2,032 | ) | (3,427 | ) | 5,496 | ||||||||
Add back amortization of preferred stock issuance costs | — | — | — | 155 | |||||||||||
Numerator for diluted EPS – (loss) income available to common stockholders after assumed conversions | $ | (1,122 | ) | $ | (2,032 | ) | $ | (3,427 | ) | $ | 5,651 | ||||
Denominator | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average common stock outstanding – basic | 1,676,651 | 2,208,658 | 1,813,929 | 2,210,448 | |||||||||||
Stock options using treasury method | — | — | — | 229,383 | |||||||||||
Restricted stock | — | — | — | 93,916 | |||||||||||
Preferred stock, if converted | — | — | — | 200,000 | |||||||||||
Weighted average common stock outstanding – diluted | 1,676,651 | 2,208,658 | 1,813,929 | 2,733,747 | |||||||||||
(Loss) earnings per basic common share | $ | (0.67 | ) | $ | (0.92 | ) | $ | (1.89 | ) | $ | 2.49 | ||||
(Loss) earnings per diluted common share | $ | (0.67 | ) | $ | (0.92 | ) | $ | (1.89 | ) | $ | 2.07 |
We excluded the items presented below from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as they were antidilutive for the periods indicated:
Three months ended September 30, 2016 | Three months ended September 30, 2015 | Nine months ended September 30, 2016 | Nine months ended September 30, 2015 | ||||||||||||
Numerator ($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Amortization of preferred stock issuance costs | $ | 51 | $ | 52 | $ | 155 | $ | — | |||||||
Denominator (in weighted-average shares) | |||||||||||||||
Stock options | 164,836 | 222,310 | 167,385 | — | |||||||||||
Restricted stock | 31,711 | 15,730 | 41,001 | 25,026 | |||||||||||
Preferred stock, if converted | 200,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 | — |
11. Segment information
Our primary business is to provide asset management and certain corporate governance services to institutional investors. Because substantially all of our revenue is derived from the services we provide to Residential under the New AMA, we operate as a single segment focused on providing asset management and corporate governance services.
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12. Subsequent events
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events through the issuance of these consolidated interim financial statements and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
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Item 2. Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations
Our Company
We operate in a single segment focused on providing asset management and certain corporate governance services to institutional investors. We were incorporated in the United States Virgin Islands on March 15, 2012. In October 2013, we applied for and were granted registration by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as a registered investment adviser under section 203(c) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Our primary client currently is Altisource Residential Corporation (“Residential”), a publicly-traded real estate investment trust (“REIT”) focused on acquiring and managing quality, affordable single-family rental (“SFR”) properties for working class families throughout the United States. Residential is currently our primary source of revenue and will drive our results.
We initially provided services to Residential pursuant to a 15-year asset management agreement beginning December 21, 2012 (the “Original AMA”). On March 31, 2015, we entered into a new asset management agreement with Residential (the “New AMA”) under which we will continue to be the exclusive asset manager for Residential for an initial term of 15 years from April 1, 2015, with two potential five-year extensions. The Original AMA had a different incentive fee structure that gave us a share of Residential’s cash flow available for distribution to its stockholders as well as reimbursement for certain overhead and operating expenses. Although the New AMA provides for a new fee structure in which we are entitled to a base management fee, an incentive management fee and a conversion fee for loans and real estate owned (“REO”) properties that become rental properties for the first time during each quarter, our operating results are highly dependent on Residential's operating results. See the “Asset Management Agreement with Residential” section for additional details of the New AMA.
Prior to January 1, 2016, we had concluded that Residential was a variable interest entity (“VIE”) that we consolidated in our consolidated financial statement. Effective January 1, 2016, we adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810) – Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”), and we determined that Residential is no longer a VIE under the amended guidance. As a result, effective January 1, 2016, we no longer consolidate the accounts of Residential. Due to the significance of Residential's accounts to the Company's historical consolidated financial statements, the comparability of the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 have limited comparability with periods ending on or before December 31, 2015.
Additionally, we provide management services to NewSource. On December 2, 2013, NewSource became registered as a licensed reinsurer with the BMA. We consolidate NewSource in our consolidated financial statements.
Management Overview
During 2016, we have focused on executing Residential’s strategy of directly acquiring SFR properties as it transitions to a 100% SFR REIT, and we continue to successfully execute its strategy. On September 30, 2016, we facilitated Residential’s completion of a transformative acquisition of 4,262 high-yielding SFR properties (the “HOME SFR Transaction”) for an aggregate purchase price of $652.3 million in two separate seller financed transactions. The properties were acquired from investment funds sponsored by Amherst Holdings, LLC (“Amherst”). The HOME SFR Acquisition brings Residential’s total rental portfolio to 8,541 properties at September 30, 2016 and enhances its presence in new and existing strategic target markets, including Florida, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. Following completion of the HOME SFR Transaction, Residential has now exceeded 4,500 rented properties which, commencing in the fourth quarter of 2016, drives an increase in the Base Management Fee to 2% of Residential’s invested capital and an increase in the Incentive Management Fee percentage to 25% of the amount by which Residential exceeds its then-required return on invested capital threshold.
In connection with the HOME SFR Transaction, we facilitated Residential’s seller financing, through its subsidiary that acquired the properties (“HOME Borrower”), of approximately $489.3 million, representing 75% of the aggregate purchase price for the HOME SFR Transaction. This loan (the “MSR Loan”) was made pursuant to a loan agreement between MSR Lender, LLC with an ultimate maturity date of up to November 30, 2021 and a floating interest rate of one-month LIBOR plus a fixed spread. We believe that the terms of the MSR Loan were attractive to Residential in comparison to the financing terms otherwise available to it and will satisfy Residential’s financing requirements for the 4,262 SFR properties acquired for the foreseeable future.
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In connection with the MSR Loan, we facilitated Residential’s retention of the current property manager for the portfolio, Main Street Renewal LLC (“MSR”), to provide Residential property management services, including leasing and lease management, operations, maintenance, repair, property management and property disposition services to us with respect to the properties acquired in the HOME SFR Transaction (the “HOME SFR Portfolio”). This new property management relationship diversifies Residential’s property management infrastructure already in place with Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. (“ASPS”). We believe that the property management agreements with MSR and ASPS are, and will be, key drivers of efficiency and cost management in our model for Residential and will provide it with scalable, established, geographically dispersed property management infrastructures to support Residential’s portfolios of SFR properties. Importantly, Residential’s external property management structure allows it to achieve scale in its SFR portfolio without incurring the substantial costs of developing its own nationwide property management infrastructure, which we believe will allow Residential to meet its return objectives and give us the potential to earn Incentive Management Fees.
In addition to the HOME SFR Transaction, during the third quarter of 2016, we continued our efforts to manage Residential’s sale of certain mortgage loans to take advantage of attractive market pricing. Under our guidance, Residential has successfully completed the sale of 1,974 NPLs during the nine months ended September 30, 2016, and we expect Residential will agree to the sale of two additional portfolios of mortgage loans in the fourth quarter of 2016, which are targeted to close in the first quarter of 2017. In addition, we have continued to make significant progress on Residential’s sale of non-rental REO properties with 604 of such properties sold during the third quarter to bring the total REO properties sold to 2,200 during 2016. We expect that mortgage loan and non-rental REO property sales will allow Residential to recycle capital to purchase pools of stabilized rental homes at attractive yields, to repurchase its common stock or to utilize the proceeds for such other purposes as it may determine under our management.
We believe the foregoing developments are highly important to Residential's strategy of building long-term stockholder value through the creation of a large portfolio of single-family rental homes that we target operating for Residential at a best-in-class yield. To the extent Residential is successful in implementing this strategy under our management, the fees we earn under the New AMA should be positively impacted.
Asset Management Agreement with Residential
Pursuant to the New AMA, we design and implement Residential's business strategy, administer its business activities and day-to-day operations and provide corporate governance services, subject to oversight by Residential's Board of Directors. We are responsible for, among other duties: (1) performing and administering all of Residential's day-to-day operations; (2) defining investment criteria in Residential's investment policy in cooperation with its Board of Directors; (3) sourcing, analyzing and executing asset acquisitions, including the related financing activities; (4) analyzing and executing sales of properties and residential mortgage loans; (5) overseeing ASPS’ renovation, leasing and property management of Residential's single-family rental properties; (6) overseeing the servicing of Residential's residential mortgage loan portfolios; (7) performing asset management duties and (8) performing corporate governance and other management functions, including financial, accounting and tax management services.
We provide Residential with a management team and appropriate support personnel who have substantial experience in the management of residential mortgage loans and residential rental properties. Our management also has significant corporate governance experience that enables us to manage Residential's business and organizational structure efficiently. We have agreed not to provide the same or substantially similar services without the prior written consent of Residential's board of directors to any business or entity competing against Residential in (a) the acquisition or sale of portfolios of REO properties; (b) the carrying on of a single-family rental business; (c) the acquisition or sale of single-family rental properties, non-performing and re-performing mortgage loans or other similar assets; (d) the purchase of portfolios of sub-performing or non-performing residential mortgage loans or (e) any other activity in which Residential engages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may engage in any other business or render similar or different services to any businesses engaged in lending or insurance activities or any other activity other than those described above. Further, at any time following Residential's determination and announcement that it will no longer engage in any of the above-described competitive activities, we would be entitled to provide advisory or other services to businesses or entities in such competitive activities without Residential's prior consent.
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On March 31, 2015, we entered into the New AMA with Residential. The New AMA, which became effective on April 1, 2015, provides for a new management fee structure, which replaces the incentive fee structure under the Original AMA, as follows:
• | Base Management Fee. We are entitled to a quarterly Base Management Fee equal to 1.5% of the product of (i) Residential's average invested capital (as defined in the New AMA) for the quarter multiplied by (ii) 0.25, while it has fewer than 2,500 single-family rental properties actually rented (“Rental Properties”). The Base Management Fee percentage increases to 1.75% of invested capital while Residential has between 2,500 and 4,499 Rental Properties and increases to 2.0% of invested capital while it has 4,500 or more Rental Properties; |
• | Incentive Management Fee. We are entitled to a quarterly Incentive Management Fee equal to 20% of the amount by which Residential's return on invested capital (based on AFFO, defined as net income attributable to holders of common stock calculated in accordance with GAAP plus real estate depreciation expense minus recurring capital expenditures on all real estate assets owned by Residential) exceeds an annual hurdle return rate of between 7.0% and 8.25% (depending on the 10-year treasury rate). The Incentive Management Fee increases to 22.5% while Residential has between 2,500 and 4,499 Rental Properties and increases to 25% while it has 4,500 or more Rental Properties; and |
• | Conversion Fee. We are entitled to a quarterly Conversion Fee equal to 1.5% of the market value of assets converted into leased single-family homes by Residential for the first time during the quarter. |
To the extent Residential has an aggregate shortfall in its return rate over the previous seven quarters, that aggregate return rate shortfall gets added to the normal quarterly 1.75% return hurdle for the next quarter before we are entitled to an Incentive Management Fee.
Residential has the flexibility to pay up to 25% of the Incentive Management Fee to us in shares of its common stock. Under the New AMA, Residential will not be required to reimburse us for the allocable compensation and routine overhead expenses of our employees and staff, all of which will now be covered by the Base Management Fee described above. Only the compensation and benefits of the general counsel dedicated to Residential and certain other out-of-pocket expenses incurred on Residential's behalf are reimbursed by Residential.
Under the New AMA, we continue to be the exclusive asset manager for Residential for an initial term of 15 years from April 1, 2015, with two potential five -year extensions, subject to Residential achieving an average annual return on invested capital of at least 7.0% during the then-current term. The Original AMA had a 15 year term, but provided Residential with significant termination rights, including the ability to terminate the agreement if Residential’s board determined, in its sole discretion, that our performance was unsatisfactory or our compensation was unreasonable. However, under the New AMA, Residential’s termination rights are significantly limited. Under the New AMA, neither party is entitled to terminate the New AMA prior to the end of the initial term, or each renewal term, other than termination by (a) us and/or Residential “for cause” for certain events such as a material breach of the New AMA and failure to cure such breach, (b) Residential for certain other reasons such as its failure to achieve a return on invested capital of at least 7.0% for two consecutive fiscal years after the third anniversary of the New AMA or (c) Residential in connection with certain change of control events.
No Incentive Management Fee was due from Residential for the third quarter of 2016 because Residential's return on invested capital (as defined in the New AMA) for the six quarters covered by the New AMA was below the required hurdle rate. Under the New AMA, to the extent Residential has an aggregate shortfall in its return rate over the previous seven quarters, that aggregate return rate shortfall gets added to the normal quarterly 1.75% return hurdle for the next quarter before we are entitled to an Incentive Management Fee. As of September 30, 2016, Residential's aggregate return shortfall from the prior six quarters under the New AMA was approximately 36.66% of invested capital. Therefore, Residential must achieve a 38.41% return on invested capital in the fourth quarter of 2016 before any Incentive Management Fee will be due from Residential. In future quarters, return on invested capital must exceed the required hurdle for the current quarter plus any carried-forward cumulative additional hurdle shortfall from the prior seven quarters before any Incentive Management Fee will be due from Residential.
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Metrics Affecting our Consolidated Results
Subsequent to January 1, 2016
Subsequent to our deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, our operating results are affected by various factors and market conditions, including the following:
Revenues
Our revenues primarily consist of (i) quarterly fees due to us under the New AMA, including a Base Management Fee, an Incentive Management Fee and a Conversion Fee as described above; (ii) reimbursements of out-of-pocket expenses in our management of Residential's business and (iii) dividends we receive on our common stock of Residential. The Base Management Fee is derived as a percentage of Residential’s average invested capital, and the Conversion Fee is based on the number and value of mortgage loans and/or REO properties that Residential converts to rental properties for the first time in each period. The Incentive Management Fee is directly dependent upon Residential's financial performance being in excess of a 7.0%-8.25% minimum return on invested capital and will vary with Residential's financial performance. Expense reimbursements we receive from Residential relate primarily to travel and other out-of-pocket expenses solely related to our management of Residential's business and the base salary, bonus, benefits and stock compensation, if any, solely of the general counsel dedicated to Residential. All other salary, bonus, benefits and stock compensation of AAMC’s employees (other than Residential share-based compensation issued to them by Residential) are the responsibility of AAMC and are not reimbursed by Residential. Dividends on Residential's common stock will vary with Residential's financial performance, taxable income, liquidity needs and other factors deemed relevant by Residential's board of directors. In addition, we recognize changes in the fair value of our holdings of Residential common stock as other comprehensive income or loss, which will be directly dependent upon fluctuations in the market price of Residential's common stock.
Expenses
Our expenses consist primarily of salaries and employee benefits, share-based compensation, legal and professional fees and general and administrative expenses. Salaries and employee benefits includes the base salaries, incentive bonuses, medical coverage, retirement benefits, relocation and other benefits provided to our employees for their services. Share-based compensation is a non-cash expense related to the restricted stock issued pursuant to authorized share-based compensation plans. Legal and professional fees include services provided by third-party attorneys, accountants and other service providers of a professional nature. General and administrative expenses include costs related to the general operation and overall administration of our business.
Prior to January 1, 2016
Prior to our deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, our operating results were heavily dependent upon Residential’s operating results. Although our results continue to be heavily dependent on Residential’s operating results, our reported consolidated results of operations for periods prior to January 1, 2016 consolidated the financial results of Residential, which were a significant component of our consolidated results. As a result of our deconsolidation of Residential, the results of operations in periods commencing on or after January 1, 2016 have limited comparability to periods prior to January 1, 2016. Residential’s results are affected by various factors, some of which are beyond our control, and the Residential financial data that is no longer a part of our financial statements includes the following:
Residential's Revenues
Residential’s revenues primarily consisted of the following:
i. | Rental revenues. Minimum contractual rents from leases were recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases in residential rental revenues. Therefore, actual amounts billed in accordance with the lease during any given period may have been higher or lower than the amount of rental revenue recognized for the period. |
ii. | Net realized gain on mortgage loans. Residential recorded net realized gains, including the reclassification of previously accumulated net unrealized gains, upon the liquidation of a loan, which may have consisted of short sale, third party sale of the underlying property, refinancing or full debt pay-off of the loan. |
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iii. | Change in unrealized gains from the conversion of loans to REO. Upon conversion of loans to REO, Residential marked the properties to the then-most recent market value. The difference between the carrying value of the asset at the time of conversion and the then-most recent market value, based on BPOs, was recorded in Residential's statement of operations as change in unrealized gain on mortgage loans. |
iv. | Change in unrealized gains from the change in fair value of loans. After Residential's sub-performing and non-performing mortgage loans were acquired, the fair value of each loan was adjusted in each subsequent reporting period as the loan proceeded to a particular resolution (i.e., modification or conversion to real estate owned). As a loan approached resolution, the resolution timeline for that loan decreased and costs embedded in the discounted cash flow model for loan servicing, foreclosure costs and property insurance were incurred and removed from future expenses. The shorter resolution timelines and reduced future expenses each increased the fair value of the loan. The increase in the value of the loan was recognized in change in unrealized gain on mortgage loans in Residential's statements of operations. |
v. | Net realized gain on real estate. REO properties that did not meet Residential's investment criteria were sold out of its taxable REIT subsidiary. The realized gain or loss recognized in financial statements reflects the net amount of realized and unrealized gains on sold REOs from the time of acquisition to sale completion. |
Residential's Expenses
Residential's expenses primarily consisted of residential property operating expenses, depreciation and amortization, selling costs and impairment, mortgage loan servicing, interest expense, general and administrative expenses, expense reimbursements as well as fees to us from Residential under the applicable asset management agreement. Residential property operating expenses were expenses associated with Residential's ownership and operation of rental properties, including expenses such as property management fees, expenses towards repairs, utility expenses on vacant properties, turnover costs, property taxes, insurance and HOA dues. Depreciation and amortization was a non-cash expense associated with the ownership of real estate, which was depreciated on a straight-line basis over a fixed life. Selling costs and impairment represented Residential's estimated and actual costs to sell a property or mortgage loan and an amount that represented the carrying amount over the estimated fair value less costs to sell. Mortgage loan servicing costs were primarily for servicing fees, foreclosure fees and advances of residential property insurance. Interest expense consisted of the costs to borrow money in connection with Residential's debt financing of its portfolios. General and administrative expenses consisted of the costs related to the general operation and overall administration of Residential's business. Under the Original AMA, expense reimbursement consisted primarily of our employee salaries in direct correlation to the services they provide on Residential’s behalf and other personnel costs and corporate overhead. Under the New AMA, there are no general expense or salary reimbursements except for the compensation and benefits of the general counsel dedicated to Residential and certain other out-of-pocket expenses incurred on Residential's behalf. The fees from Residential consisted of compensation due from Residential under the applicable asset management agreement. Under the Original AMA, fees due from Residential were based on the amount of cash available for distribution to its stockholders for each period. Under the New AMA, the management fees we receive from Residential are based on a combination of a percentage of Residential's invested capital, a conversion fee for assets that convert to single-family rentals during each period and Residential's return on invested capital. The percentage payment on each of these metrics will vary based on Residential's number of leased properties. The fees due from Residential under the respective asset management agreements were eliminated in consolidation but increased our net income by reducing the amount of net income attributable to noncontrolling interest.
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Summary Management Reporting Information
Prior to our deconsolidation of Residential, we evaluated the operations of AAMC on a stand-alone basis in addition to evaluating our consolidated financial performance, which included the results of Residential and NewSource under U.S. GAAP. In evaluating our operating performance and managing our business under the Original AMA, we considered the incentive management fees and, if any, reimbursement of expenses paid to us by Residential as well as our stand-alone operating expenses. We maintained our internal management reporting on this basis. The following table presents our consolidating balance sheet and statement of operations, which are reconciled to U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the entries necessary to consolidate AAMC's subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, elimination of investment in subsidiaries, elimination of intercompany receivables and payables, elimination of fees paid under the asset management agreement and reimbursed expenses, are reflected in the Consolidating Entries column.
Upon our adoption of ASU 2015-02, we are no longer required to consolidate the results of Residential. Therefore, we do not present the table for the current period.
The following tables include non-GAAP performance measures that we believe are useful to assist investors in gaining an understanding of the trends and operating results for our business on a stand-alone basis. This information should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, our financial results determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
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Altisource Asset Management Corporation
Consolidating Statement of Operations
Three months ended September 30, 2015
(In thousands)
Residential (GAAP) | NewSource Stand-alone (Non-GAAP) | AAMC Stand-alone (Non-GAAP) | Consolidating Entries | AAMC Consolidated (GAAP) | |||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||
Base management fees | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,869 | $ | (4,869 | ) | $ | — | ||||||||
Conversion fees | — | — | 329 | (329 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Expense reimbursements | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Rental revenues | 4,021 | — | — | — | 4,021 | ||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized gain on mortgage loans | 27,499 | — | — | — | 27,499 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gain on mortgage loans | 12,874 | — | — | — | 12,874 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gain on mortgage loans held for sale | 100 | — | — | — | 100 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gain on real estate | 13,914 | — | — | — | 13,914 | ||||||||||||||
Interest income | 115 | 242 | — | (242 | ) | 115 | |||||||||||||
Total revenues | 58,523 | 242 | 5,198 | (5,440 | ) | 58,523 | |||||||||||||
Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||
Salaries and employee benefits | — | — | 2,986 | — | 2,986 | ||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation | 45 | — | 1,384 | — | 1,429 | ||||||||||||||
Legal and professional fees | 1,390 | 40 | 903 | — | 2,333 | ||||||||||||||
Residential property operating expenses | 16,574 | — | — | — | 16,574 | ||||||||||||||
Real estate depreciation and amortization | 2,050 | — | — | — | 2,050 | ||||||||||||||
Selling costs and impairment | 10,705 | — | — | — | 10,705 | ||||||||||||||
Mortgage loan servicing costs | 13,477 | — | — | — | 13,477 | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | 14,436 | — | — | (242 | ) | 14,194 | |||||||||||||
General and administrative | 1,712 | — | 475 | — | 2,187 | ||||||||||||||
Related party general and administrative | 4,988 | 210 | — | (5,198 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Total expenses | 65,377 | 250 | 5,748 | (5,440 | ) | 65,935 | |||||||||||||
Other income | 1,518 | — | 178 | (1,696 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Loss before income taxes | (5,336 | ) | (8 | ) | (372 | ) | (1,696 | ) | (7,412 | ) | |||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 27 | — | (124 | ) | — | (97 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net loss | (5,363 | ) | (8 | ) | (248 | ) | (1,696 | ) | (7,315 | ) | |||||||||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated affiliate | — | — | — | 5,335 | 5,335 | ||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to stockholders | $ | (5,363 | ) | $ | (8 | ) | $ | (248 | ) | $ | 3,639 | $ | (1,980 | ) |
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Altisource Asset Management Corporation
Consolidating Statement of Operations
Nine months ended September 30, 2015
(In thousands)
Residential (GAAP) | NewSource Stand-alone (Non-GAAP) | AAMC Stand-alone (Non-GAAP) | Consolidating Entries | AAMC Consolidated (GAAP) | |||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||
Base management fees | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 10,041 | $ | (10,041 | ) | $ | — | ||||||||
Incentive management fees | — | — | 14,900 | (14,900 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Conversion fees | — | — | 728 | (728 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Expense reimbursements | — | — | 750 | (750 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Rental revenues | 7,561 | — | — | — | 7,561 | ||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized gain on mortgage loans | 130,842 | — | — | — | 130,842 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gain on mortgage loans | 47,528 | — | — | — | 47,528 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gain on mortgage loans held for sale | 505 | — | — | — | 505 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gain on real estate | 36,926 | — | — | — | 36,926 | ||||||||||||||
Interest income | 595 | 563 | — | (563 | ) | 595 | |||||||||||||
Total revenues | 223,957 | 563 | 26,419 | (26,982 | ) | 223,957 | |||||||||||||
Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||
Salaries and employee benefits | — | — | 6,325 | — | 6,325 | ||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation | 139 | — | 4,322 | — | 4,461 | ||||||||||||||
Legal and professional fees | 5,502 | 158 | 4,364 | — | 10,024 | ||||||||||||||
Residential property operating expenses | 45,890 | — | — | — | 45,890 | ||||||||||||||
Real estate depreciation and amortization | 4,392 | — | — | — | 4,392 | ||||||||||||||
Selling costs and impairment | 34,235 | — | — | — | 34,235 | ||||||||||||||
Mortgage loan servicing costs | 47,989 | — | — | — | 47,989 | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | 39,477 | — | — | (563 | ) | 38,914 | |||||||||||||
General and administrative | 3,856 | — | 1,799 | — | 5,655 | ||||||||||||||
Related party general and administrative | 25,789 | 630 | 2,000 | (28,419 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Total expenses | 207,269 | 788 | 18,810 | (28,982 | ) | 197,885 | |||||||||||||
Other income | 3,518 | — | 178 | (3,696 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes | 20,206 | (225 | ) | 7,787 | (1,696 | ) | 26,072 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 53 | — | 187 | — | 240 | ||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | 20,153 | (225 | ) | 7,600 | (1,696 | ) | 25,832 | ||||||||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated affiliate | — | — | — | (20,181 | ) | (20,181 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders | $ | 20,153 | $ | (225 | ) | $ | 7,600 | $ | (21,877 | ) | $ | 5,651 |
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Altisource Asset Management Corporation
Consolidating Balance Sheet
December 31, 2015
(In thousands)
Residential (GAAP) | NewSource stand-alone (Non-GAAP) | AAMC Stand-alone (Non-GAAP) | Consolidating Entries | AAMC Consolidated (GAAP) | |||||||||||||||
Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||
Real estate held for use: | |||||||||||||||||||
Land | $ | 56,346 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 56,346 | |||||||||
Rental residential properties, net | 224,040 | — | — | — | 224,040 | ||||||||||||||
Real estate owned | 455,483 | — | — | — | 455,483 | ||||||||||||||
Total real estate held for use, net | 735,869 | — | — | — | 735,869 | ||||||||||||||
Real estate assets held for sale | 250,557 | — | — | — | 250,557 | ||||||||||||||
Mortgage loans at fair value | 960,534 | — | — | — | 960,534 | ||||||||||||||
Mortgage loans held for sale | 317,336 | — | — | — | 317,336 | ||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 116,702 | 4,583 | 63,259 | — | 184,544 | ||||||||||||||
Restricted cash | 20,566 | — | — | — | 20,566 | ||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable, net | 45,903 | — | 123 | — | 46,026 | ||||||||||||||
Related party receivables | 2,180 | — | — | (2,180 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Investment in affiliate | — | — | 12,007 | (12,007 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 1,126 | 5 | 2,028 | 10 | 3,169 | ||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 2,450,773 | $ | 4,588 | $ | 77,417 | $ | (14,177 | ) | $ | 2,518,601 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase agreement | $ | 763,369 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 763,369 | |||||||||
Other secured borrowings | 502,599 | — | — | — | 502,599 | ||||||||||||||
Accrued salaries and employee benefits | — | — | 4,006 | — | 4,006 | ||||||||||||||
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities | 32,448 | 1,546 | 722 | — | 34,716 | ||||||||||||||
Related party payables | — | — | 2,180 | (2,180 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 1,298,416 | 1,546 | 6,908 | (2,180 | ) | 1,304,690 | |||||||||||||
Commitments and contingencies | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Redeemable preferred stock | — | — | 249,133 | — | 249,133 | ||||||||||||||
Stockholders' equity (deficit): | |||||||||||||||||||
Common stock | 556 | — | 26 | (556 | ) | 26 | |||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 1,202,418 | 7,000 | 21,089 | (1,207,088 | ) | 23,419 | |||||||||||||
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings | (50,617 | ) | (3,958 | ) | 55,245 | 50,008 | 50,678 | ||||||||||||
Treasury stock | — | — | (254,984 | ) | — | (254,984 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total stockholders' equity (deficit) | 1,152,357 | 3,042 | (178,624 | ) | (1,157,636 | ) | (180,861 | ) | |||||||||||
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated affiliate | — | — | — | 1,145,639 | 1,145,639 | ||||||||||||||
Total equity (deficit) | 1,152,357 | 3,042 | (178,624 | ) | (11,997 | ) | 964,778 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 2,450,773 | $ | 4,588 | $ | 77,417 | $ | (14,177 | ) | $ | 2,518,601 |
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Results of Operations
The following sets forth discussion of our results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. Because the results of Residential were consolidated into our financial statements for all periods prior to January 1, 2016, the results of operations for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2016 are not comparable to the results of periods prior to January 1, 2016. As such, the disclosures set forth below do not compare the results of operations attributable to Residential to those of AAMC, including its wholly owned subsidiaries, from period to period.
We eliminate all intercompany amounts in our consolidated financial statements, which included elimination of management fees paid or owed to us by Residential for periods prior to January 1, 2016. However, the effect of such amounts received from Residential is still recognized in net income attributable to our stockholders through the adjustment for earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest for such prior periods.
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Versus Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
We did not recognize any rental revenues, change in unrealized gain on mortgage loans, net realized gain on mortgage loans, net realized gain on mortgage loans held for sale, net realized gain on real estate, residential property operating expenses, real estate depreciation and amortization, selling costs and impairment, mortgage loan servicing costs or interest expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. All amounts recorded in our consolidated financial statements for these captions in 2015 are attributable to Residential. In addition, the net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated affiliate is no longer applicable for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2016.
Management Fees and Expense Reimbursements
We received total management fees from Residential under the New AMA of $4.7 million and $14.2 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to $5.0 million and $25.1 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The reduction in management fees received from Residential was primarily due to the change in fee structure upon entering into the New AMA and decreases in Residential's average invested capital upon which the management fee is calculated.
Our management fees received for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 consisted of $4.2 million and $12.8 million of Base Management Fees, respectively, and $0.5 million and $1.4 million of Conversion Fees, respectively. We did not receive any Incentive Management Fees under the New AMA during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Our management fees received from Residential during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 consisted of $4.7 million and $9.4 million of Base Management Fees, respectively, and $0.3 million and $0.7 million of Conversion Fees, respectively, under the New AMA. In addition, our management fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 included $14.9 million of management incentive fees under the Original AMA for the first quarter of 2015. Pursuant to the terms of the New AMA, the management incentive fees for the first quarter of 2015 were recalculated during the fourth quarter of 2015, and it was determined that $6.9 million was reimbursable by us to Residential.
Following Residential’s completion of the HOME SFR Transaction described above in “Management Overview,” Residential has now exceeded 4,500 rented properties which, commencing in the fourth quarter of 2016, drives an increase in the Base Management Fee to 2% of Residential’s invested capital and an increase in the Incentive Management Fee percentage to 25% of the amount by which Residential exceeds its then-required return on invested capital threshold.
We recognized expense reimbursements of $0.2 million and $0.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, related to travel and other out-of-pocket costs in managing Residential's business and the employment costs of related to the general counsel dedicated to Residential. We received expense reimbursements of $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 related to expenses reimbursable to us under the Original AMA during the first quarter of 2015.
Prior to January 1, 2016, we eliminated all management fees and expense reimbursements from Residential in our consolidated statement of operations.
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Rental Revenues
Due to our deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, we did not recognize any rental revenues during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Residential's rental revenues from its residential rental properties were $4.0 million and $7.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.
Changes in Unrealized Gain on Mortgage Loans
Due to our deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, we did not recognize any change in unrealized gain on mortgage loans during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Residential's change in unrealized gains on mortgage loans were $27.5 million and $130.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, which was driven by $17.0 million and $68.4 million, respectively, of unrealized gains upon conversion of mortgage loans to REO; $33.9 million and $126.6 million, respectively, of unrealized gains from the net increase in the fair value of loans; and $23.4 million and $64.2 million, respectively, of reclassifications from unrealized gains on mortgage loans to realized gains on real estate and mortgage loans.
Net Realized Gain on Mortgage Loans
Due to our deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, we did not recognize any net realized gain on mortgage loans during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Residential's net realized gains on mortgage loans was $12.9 million and $47.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. Residential disposed of 145 and 565 mortgage loans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, primarily from short sales, foreclosure sales and sale of re-performing loans.
Net Realized Gain on Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
Due to our deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, we did not recognize any net realized gain on mortgage loans held for sale during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Residential recognized $0.1 million and $0.5 million of net realized gains on mortgage loans held for sale during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, due to its resolutions of one and seven re-performing loans during the same periods, respectively.
Net Realized Gain on Real Estate
Due to our deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, we did not recognize any net realized gain on real estate during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Residential's net realized gains on real estate were $13.9 million and $36.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, during which Residential disposed of 357 and 932 residential properties, respectively.
Interest and Dividend Income
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, we recognized $0.2 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of dividends from Residential common stock. We recognized no dividends on our Residential common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. We also recognized a nominal amount of interest income on bank balances during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized $0.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively, of interest income payable from Residential to NewSource on notes issued by Residential's securitization trust, which was eliminated on consolidation. In addition, Residential accreted $0.1 million and $0.6 million of interest income on its re-performing loans acquired in June 2014 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.
Salaries and Employee Benefits
Salaries and employee benefits was $2.6 million and $3.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. This decrease in salaries and benefits is primarily due to a one-time bonus catch up accrual that was made in the third quarter of 2015 that did not occur in 2016 as well as lower salaries and benefits due to the departure of certain employees during the three months ended September 30, 2016.
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Salaries and employee benefits was $7.6 million and $6.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The increase in salaries and benefits is primarily due to increases in our employee headcount.
Share-based Compensation
Share-based compensation, excluding amounts attributable to Residential during 2015, was $2.4 million and $7.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to $1.4 million and $4.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The increase in share-based compensation was primarily due to awards being granted throughout the nine months of 2015, partially offset by a decrease in the fair value of non-employee awards. In addition, share-based compensation of $45 thousand and $139 thousand was attributable to Residential for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.
Legal and Professional Fees
Legal and professional fees, excluding amounts attributable to Residential during 2015, were $0.4 million and $1.5 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to $0.9 million and $4.5 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. This decrease is primarily due to a significant reduction in litigation expenses from those incurred during the first nine months of 2015 related to ongoing motion practice in a litigation matter.
In addition to the above, legal and professional fees of $1.4 million and $5.5 million were attributable to Residential for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, which includes legal and professional fees associated with the negotiation of the New AMA during the first quarter of 2015. Pursuant to a cost-sharing agreement, we reimbursed $2.0 million of such fees to Residential, which we recorded in related party general and administrative expenses. Residential recorded $2.0 million of corresponding other income. Both the $2.0 million expense recorded by us and the $2.0 million other income recorded by Residential were eliminated on consolidation as of September 30, 2015.
Residential Property Operating Expenses
Due to our deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, we did not recognize any residential property operating expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Residential incurred $16.6 million and $45.9 million of residential property operating expenses during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, related to its 6,270 REO properties at September 30, 2015.
Real Estate Depreciation and Amortization
Due to our deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, we did not recognize any real estate depreciation and amortization during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Residential incurred $2.1 million and $4.4 million of real estate depreciation and amortization during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.
Selling Costs and Impairment
Due to our deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, we did not recognize any selling costs and impairment during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Residential's selling costs of REO held for sale were $5.9 million and $19.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. Residential also recognized $1.2 million in mortgage loan selling costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. Lastly, Residential recognized $3.6 million and $13.4 million of REO valuation impairment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.
Mortgage Loan Servicing Costs
Due to our deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, we did not recognize any mortgage loan servicing costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Residential incurred $13.5 million and $48.0 million of mortgage loan servicing costs primarily for servicing fees, foreclosure fees and advances of residential property insurance for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.
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Interest Expense
Due to our deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, we did not recognize any interest expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Residential incurred $14.2 million and $38.9 million of interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, related to borrowings under its repurchase and loan facilities (including amortization of deferred financing costs).
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses, excluding amounts attributable to Residential for 2015, were $0.6 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. This increase was primarily due to occupancy costs of an office location opened in January 2016.
General and administrative expenses, excluding amounts attributable to Residential for 2015, were $1.7 million and $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. This decrease was primarily due to the write-off of leasehold improvements during the second quarter of 2015.
In addition, general and administrative expenses of $1.7 million and $3.9 million were attributable to Residential for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2016, we had cash and cash equivalents of $41.9 million compared to $67.8 million as of December 31, 2015, excluding cash attributable to Residential. We believe this cash is sufficient to fund our operations since we are generating asset management fees under the New AMA and dividend income related to dividends declared and paid on the 1,624,465 shares of Residential common stock we own and our only ongoing cash expenditures are lease obligations, salaries and employee benefits, legal and professional fees and general and administrative expenses, which are covered by the Base Management Fees we receive under the New AMA.
Following Residential’s completion of the HOME SFR Transaction described above in “Management Overview,” Residential has now exceeded 4,500 rented properties which, commencing in the fourth quarter of 2016, drives an increase in the Base Management Fee to 2% of Residential’s invested capital and an increase in the Incentive Management Fee percentage to 25% of the amount by which Residential exceeds its then-required return on invested capital threshold.
Treasury shares
At September 30, 2016, a total of $256.4 million in shares of our common stock have been repurchased under the authorization by our Board of Directors to repurchase up to $300.0 million in shares of our common stock. Repurchased shares are held as treasury stock and are available for general corporate purposes. We have an aggregate of $43.6 million remaining for repurchases under our Board-approved repurchase plan.
Cash Flows
We report and analyze our cash flows based on operating activities, investing activities and financing activities. Because we no longer consolidated Residential into our consolidated financial statements as of January 1, 2016, the cash flows reported for the periods presented below are not comparable. The following table sets forth the actual cash flows for the periods indicated ($ in thousands):
Nine months ended September 30, 2016 | Nine months ended September 30, 2015 | ||||||
Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (3,049 | ) | $ | (130,548 | ) | |
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (1) | (132,290 | ) | 165,749 | ||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (7,312 | ) | 651 | ||||
Total cash flows | $ | (142,651 | ) | $ | 35,852 |
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(1) | Upon deconsolidation of Residential effective January 1, 2016, we recognized a reduction in cash of $116.7 million, which represented the cash attributable to Residential within our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015. |
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Net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 consisted primarily of net loss and changes in operating assets and liabilities, partially offset by share-based compensation. Net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 by Residential and us consisted primarily of net income and changes in operating assets and liabilities offset by the change in unrealized gains on Residential's mortgage loans and realized gains on mortgage loans and real estate.
Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 consisted primarily of our purchases of the common stock of Residential and a reduction of reported cash due to the deconsolidation of Residential. Net cash provided by investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 consisted primarily of Residential's proceeds from the disposition of loans and real estate net of investments in real estate, partially offset by Residential's investment in real estate and renovations.
Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 consisted primarily repurchases of our common stock. Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 consisted primarily of Residential's net proceeds from other secured borrowings, partially offset by Residential's net repayments of repurchase and loan agreements, payment of dividends and repurchases of its common stock.
Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements as of September 30, 2016, and neither we nor Residential had any off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2015.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Item 1 - Financial statements (unaudited) - “Note 1. Organization and basis of presentation - Recently issued accounting standards.”
Critical Accounting Judgments
Accounting standards require information in financial statements about the risks and uncertainties inherent in significant estimates, and the application of generally accepted accounting principles involves the exercise of varying degrees of judgment. Certain amounts included in or affecting our financial statements and related disclosures must be estimated, which requires us to make certain assumptions with respect to values or conditions that cannot be known with certainty at the time our consolidated financial statements are prepared. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts we report for our assets and liabilities and our revenues and expenses during the reporting period and our disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our consolidated financial statements. Actual results may differ significantly from our estimates and any effects on our business, financial position or results of operations resulting from revisions to these estimates are recorded in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.
For additional details on our critical accounting judgments, please see “Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Judgments” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 as filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016.
Deconsolidation of Residential
Effective January 1, 2016, we adopted the provisions of ASU 2015-02, and we performed an analysis of our relationship with Residential pursuant to the amended guidance. We determined that the compensation we receive in return for our services to Residential is commensurate with the level of effort required to perform such services and the arrangement includes customary terms, conditions or amounts present in arrangements for similar services negotiated at arm’s length; therefore, Residential is no longer a VIE under the amended guidance. As a result, effective January 1, 2016, we no longer consolidate the accounts of Residential. We have applied ASU 2015-02 using the modified retrospective approach, which resulted in a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity on January 1, 2016. As a result, periods ending prior to the adoption were not impacted. The adoption effectively removed those balances previously disclosed that related to Residential from our consolidated financial statements and eliminated the amounts previously reported as noncontrolling interests in Residential as a consolidated affiliate. Subsequent to adoption, our consolidated revenues consist primarily of management fees received from Residential under the New AMA and interest and dividend income, and our consolidated expenses consist primarily of salaries and employee benefits, share-based compensation, legal and professional fees and general and administrative expenses.
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As a result of our deconsolidation of Residential, we have also reclassified certain prior period amounts for consistency with the current period presentation, including accrued salaries and benefits within the consolidated balance sheet and salaries and benefits, share-based compensation and legal and professional fees within the consolidated statement of operations. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported results of operations.
Item 3. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk
Market risk includes risks that arise from changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity prices and other market changes that affect market sensitive instruments. The primary market risk that we are currently exposed to is market risk related to our investment in Residential's common stock.
Investment Risk Relating to Residential's Common Stock
We have purchased an aggregate of 1,624,465 shares of Residential common stock in open market transactions, and we may purchase additional shares of Residential common stock from time to time. If additional purchases are commenced, any such purchases of Residential common stock by us may be discontinued at any time, or we may commence sales of such common stock. To the extent we have purchased, or continue to acquire, Residential common stock, we will be exposed to risks and uncertainties with respect to our ownership of such shares, including downward pressure on Residential’s stock price, a reduction or increase of dividends declared and paid on the Residential stock and/or an inability to dispose of such shares at a time when we otherwise may desire or need to do so. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in mitigating such risks.
In addition, under the terms of the New AMA, Residential has the flexibility to pay up to 25% of our Incentive Management Fees in shares of Residential common stock. Should Residential make this election, we would further be exposed to the above-described market risk on the shares we receive.
Item 4. Controls and procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company's filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based upon that evaluation, management has determined that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2016 solely as a result of a material weakness related to the operation of our financial statement review procedures.
As described in Part I, Item 4 of our Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-Q/A filed on August 16, 2016 that amended our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 filed on August 8, 2016, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting relating to the operation of our review procedures related to our consolidated financial statements and footnotes, which resulted in an error in the disclosure of loss per share of common stock for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.
As described in Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, we identified a material weakness in the design of our internal control over financial reporting that related to the review of assumptions used to determine the fair value of Residential's mortgage loans. As a result of the deconsolidation of Residential from our consolidated financial statements effective January 1, 2016, our balance sheet and results of operations are no longer affected by the valuation of Residential’s mortgage loans, and the mortgage loan portfolio is no longer included in our consolidated financial statements. Therefore, the facts that gave rise to the material weakness are no longer applicable to us.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
In an effort to remediate the material weakness related to the operation of our financial statement review procedures with respect to our second quarter 2016 Form 10-Q, we have enhanced our internal control over financial reporting to include additional review procedures, both manual and automated, to ensure we accurately calculate and report financial information.
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Although we anticipate that these additional internal control procedures will have a material positive effect on our internal control framework, our evaluation of the effectiveness of such control procedures is ongoing, and we are continuing to work to ensure these procedures are effective in remediating this material weakness. We believe this material weakness will be remediated in connection with our year-end reviews and determination of the effectiveness of our internal control framework.
Except as described above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Limitations on Controls
Our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives as specified above. Management does not expect, however, that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and fraud. Any control system, no matter how well designed and operated, is based upon certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that its objectives will be met. Further, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.
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Part II
Item 1. Legal proceedings
From time to time, we may be involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. Set forth below is a summary of legal proceedings to which we are a party during 2016:
City of Cambridge Retirement System v. Altisource Asset Management Corp., et al. On January 16, 2015, a putative shareholder class action complaint was filed in the United States District Court of the Virgin Islands by a purported shareholder of AAMC under the caption City of Cambridge Retirement System v. Altisource Asset Management Corp., et al., 15-cv-00004. The action names as defendants AAMC, Mr. Erbey and certain officers of AAMC and alleges that the defendants violated federal securities laws by failing to disclose material information to AAMC shareholders concerning alleged conflicts of interest held by Mr. Erbey with respect to AAMC’s relationship and transactions with Residential, Altisource, Home Loan Servicing Solutions, Ltd., Southwest Business Corporation, NewSource Reinsurance Company and Ocwen, including allegations that the defendants failed to disclose (i) the nature of relationships between Mr. Erbey, AAMC and those entities; and (ii) that the transactions were the result of an allegedly unfair process from which Mr. Erbey failed to recuse himself. The action seeks, among other things, an award of monetary damages to the putative class in an unspecified amount and an award of attorney’s and other fees and expenses. AAMC and Mr. Erbey are the only defendants who have been served with the complaint.
On May 12, 2015, the court entered an order granting the motion of Denver Employees Retirement Plan to be lead plaintiff. On May 15, 2015, the court entered a scheduling order requiring plaintiff to file an amended complaint on or before June 19, 2015, and setting a briefing schedule for any motion to dismiss. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint on June 19, 2015. On July 20, 2015, AAMC and Mr. Erbey filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. Briefing on the motion to dismiss was completed on September 3, 2015, and we are awaiting a decision from the court on the motion.
We believe the amended complaint is without merit. At this time, we are not able to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, nor can we estimate the range of possible loss, if any.
Kanga v. Altisource Asset Management Corporation, et al. On March 12, 2015, a shareholder derivative action was filed in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, Division of St. Croix, by a purported shareholder of AAMC under the caption Nanzeen Kanga v. William Erbey, et al., SX-15-CV-105. The action names as defendants William C. Erbey and each of the current and former members of AAMC's Board of Directors and alleges that Mr. Erbey and AAMC’s directors breached fiduciary duties in connection with the disclosures that are the subject of the City of Cambridge Retirement System case described above and certain other matters involving the relationship of Residential and AAMC.
On May 15, 2015, the plaintiff and the defendants filed an agreed motion to stay the action until the earliest of any of the following events: (i) the City of Cambridge Retirement System action is dismissed with prejudice; (ii) any of the defendants in the City of Cambridge Retirement System action file an answer in that action; and (iii) defendants do not move to stay any later-filed derivative action purportedly brought on behalf of us arising from similar facts as the Kanga action and relating to the same time frame or such motion to stay is denied.
At this time, we are not able to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, nor can we estimate the range of possible loss, if any.
Sokolowski v. Erbey, et al. On December 24, 2014, a shareholder derivative action was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida by a purported shareholder of Ocwen. The action named the directors of Ocwen as defendants and alleged, among other things, various breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors of Ocwen.
On February 11, 2015, plaintiff filed an amended complaint naming the directors of Ocwen as defendants and also naming Residential, AAMC, Altisource and Home Loan Servicing Solutions, Ltd. as alleged aiders and abettors of the purported breaches of fiduciary duties. The amended complaint alleges that the directors of Ocwen breached their fiduciary duties by, among other things, allegedly failing to exercise oversight over Ocwen’s compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; failing to exercise oversight responsibilities with respect to the accounting and financial reporting processes of Ocwen; failing to prevent conflicts of interest and allegedly improper related party transactions; failing to adhere to Ocwen’s code of conduct and corporate governance guidelines; selling personal holdings of Ocwen stock on the basis of material adverse inside information; and disseminating allegedly false and misleading statements regarding Ocwen’s compliance with regulatory obligations and allegedly self-dealing transactions with related companies. Plaintiff claims that as a result of the alleged breaches of fiduciary duties, Ocwen has suffered damages, including settlements with regulatory agencies in excess of $2
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billion, injury to its reputation and corporate goodwill and exposure to governmental investigations and securities and consumer class action lawsuits. In addition to the derivative claims, the plaintiff also alleges an individual claim that Ocwen’s 2014 proxy statement allegedly contained untrue statements of material fact and failed to disclose material information in violation of federal securities laws. The plaintiff seeks, among other things, an order requiring the defendants to repay to Ocwen unspecified amounts by which Ocwen has been damaged or will be damaged, an award of an unspecified amount of exemplary damages, changes to Ocwen's corporate governance and an award of attorneys’ and other fees and expenses.
On April 13, 2015, nominal defendant Ocwen and defendants Mr. Erbey and Mr. Faris filed a motion to stay the action.
On July 16, 2015, we filed a motion to dismiss all claims against us in the action, based upon, among other arguments, lack of personal jurisdiction and failure to state a claim. Co-defendant Residential filed a similar motion to dismiss the complaint as to all claims asserted against it.
On December 8, 2015, the court granted Residential's and our motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction with leave to amend the jurisdiction allegations no later than January 4, 2016.
On December 15, 2015, Hutt v. Erbey, et al., Case No. 15-cv-81709-WPD, was transferred to the Southern District of Florida from the Northern District of Georgia. That same day, a third related derivative action, Lowinger v. Erbey, et al., Case No. 15-cv-62628-WPD, was also filed in the Southern District of Florida. The court then requested that the parties file a response stating their positions as to whether the actions should be consolidated. On December 29, 2015, we filed a response stating that we took no position on the issue of consolidation, so long as our defenses were fully reserved should plaintiff Sokolowski seek to file an amended complaint. Neither plaintiff Sokolowski nor plaintiff Hutt opposed consolidation in their responses. On December 30, 2015, the court issued an order that, among other things, extended the deadline for plaintiff Sokolowski to file its amended complaint to cure the jurisdictional defects as to Residential and us until January 13, 2016. On January 8, 2016, the court issued an order consolidating the three related actions.
On February 2, 2016, Plaintiffs Sokolowski and Lowinger filed competing motions for appointment of lead counsel in the consolidated action. These motions were fully briefed on February 5, 2016. Subsequently, on February 17, 2016, the court issued an order appointing Sokolowski’s counsel as lead counsel with Lowinger’s and Hutt’s counsel serving on the executive committee of the plaintiffs. It also ordered that a consolidated complaint in the matter shall be filed no later than March 8, 2016.
On March 8, 2016, the plaintiffs filed a consolidated certified shareholder derivative complaint (the “Consolidated Complaint”) in the action. On March 11, the Special Litigation Committee of Ocwen sought additional time beyond the March 31, 2016 originally anticipated completion date to analyze the Consolidated Complaint. On March 22, 2016, the parties filed a joint consent motion for entry of an order amending the briefing schedule regarding the Consolidated Complaint. On March 23, 2016, the court entered a scheduling order requiring defendants to file their motions to dismiss on or before May 13, 2016, plaintiffs to file a response to any such motion on or before June 17, 2016 and defendants to file any reply briefs on or before July 15, 2016.
On May 13, 2016, we filed a motion to dismiss the Sokolowski action as to us. Subsequently, plaintiffs sought and received an extension to file their opposition to the defendants' motions to dismiss to August 19, 2016 and a further extension to September 29, 2016.
On September 13, 2016, plaintiffs, Ocwen, Mr. Erbey, Mr. Faris, and Mr. Britti requested that the court transfer the case to Magistrate Judge Snow in order to assist with settlement negotiations. The court granted the request, and counsel for plaintiffs and Ocwen appeared before Magistrate Judge Snow on October 13, 2016 for a settlement conference. At the conference, plaintiffs and Ocwen reached an agreement in principle to resolve certain claims, which Ocwen has publicly disclosed it believes will be covered in full by its applicable insurance coverage. Based on our understanding of the settlement terms, we believe the settlement agreement will include our release from any and all liability in the matter. Plaintiffs filed a Settlement Term Sheet under seal on October 18, 2016. The Stipulation of Settlement is due on or before November 18, 2016. A Final Approval Hearing will be held on January 18, 2017.
We believe the complaint against us is without merit. At this time, until the settlement agreement is finalized and approved, we are not able to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, nor can we estimate the range of possible loss, if any.
Management does not believe that we have incurred an estimable, probable or material loss by reason of any of the above actions.
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Item 1A. Risk factors
There have been no material changes in our risk factors since December 31, 2015. For information regarding our risk factors, you should carefully consider the risk factors discussed in “Item 1A. Risk factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed on February 29, 2016.
Item 2. Unregistered sales of equity securities and use of proceeds
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase plan of up to $300.0 million of common stock. During the third quarter of 2016, we repurchased an aggregate of 49,895 shares for an aggregate purchase price of $0.7 million. As of September 30, 2016, we have remaining approximately $43.6 million authorized by our Board of Directors for share repurchases. Repurchased shares will be held as treasury stock and will be available for general corporate purposes.
Below is a summary of our stock repurchases for the quarter ending September 30, 2016 (dollars in thousands, except price paid per share):
(a) Total Number of Shares Purchased | (b) Average Price Paid per Share | (c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | (d) Maximum Dollar Value of Shares that may yet be Purchased Under Plans or Programs (1) | |||||||||||
July 2016 | — | $ | — | 901,202 | $ | 44,367 | ||||||||
August 2016 | 4,151 | 12.93 | 905,353 | 44,313 | ||||||||||
September 2016 | 45,744 | 14.61 | 951,097 | 43,645 | ||||||||||
Quarter ended September 30, 2016 | 49,895 | 14.47 | 951,097 | 43,645 |
__________
(1) | Since Board approval of repurchases is based on dollar amount, we cannot estimate the number of shares remaining to be purchased. |
Item 4. Mine safety disclosures
Not applicable.
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Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibits
Exhibit Number | Description | |
2.1 | Separation Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2012, between Altisource Asset Management Corporation and Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 28, 2012). | |
3.1 | Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Altisource Asset Management Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the Commission on December 5, 2012). | |
3.2 | First Amended and Restated Bylaws of Altisource Asset Management Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the Commission on December 5, 2012). | |
3.3 | Certificate of Designations establishing the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 19, 2014). | |
10.1* | Separation Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2016, between the Company and Kenneth D. Najour. | |
31.1* | Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act | |
31.2* | Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act | |
32.1* | Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act | |
32.2* | Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act | |
101.INS* | XBRL Instance Document | |
101.SCH* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | |
101.CAL* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | |
101.DEF* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | |
101.LAB* | XBRL Extension Labels Linkbase | |
101.PRE* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
__________
* Filed herewith.
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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Altisource Asset Management Corporation | ||||
Date: | November 7, 2016 | By: | /s/ | Robin N. Lowe |
Robin N. Lowe | ||||
Chief Financial Officer |
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