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OCWEN FINANCIAL CORP - Quarter Report: 2020 March (Form 10-Q)





UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q 
(Mark one)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from: ____________________ to ____________________
Commission File No. 1-13219
OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Florida
 
65-0039856
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1661 Worthington Road, Suite 100
West Palm Beach, Florida
 
33409
(Address of principal executive office)
 
(Zip Code)
(561) 682-8000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value
OCN
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit 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, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large accelerated filer
o
 
Accelerated filer
x
Non-accelerated filer
o
 
Smaller reporting company
o
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act) Yes o No x
Number of shares of common stock outstanding as of May 3, 2020: 129,683,377 shares






OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
PAGE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


1



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this report, including statements regarding our financial position, business strategy and other plans and objectives for our future operations, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements may be identified by a reference to a future period or by the use of forward-looking terminology. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “expect”, “believe”, “foresee”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “goal”, “strategy”, “plan” “target” and “project” or conditional verbs such as “will”, “may”, “should”, “could” or “would” or the negative of these terms, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Our business has been undergoing substantial change and as a result of the global Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic we are in the midst of a period of significant capital markets volatility and rapidly evolving mortgage lending and servicing ecosystem which has magnified such uncertainties. Readers should bear these factors in mind when considering forward-looking statements and should not place undue reliance on such statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by such statements. In the past, actual results have differed from those suggested by forward-looking statements and this may happen again. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the risks discussed or referenced under Item 1A, Risk Factors and the following:
uncertainty relating to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including with respect to the response of the U.S. government, state governments, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae and regulators;
the potential for ongoing COVID-19 related disruption in the financial markets and in commercial activity generally, increased unemployment, and other financial difficulties facing our borrowers;
the proportion of borrowers who enter into forbearance plans, the financial ability of borrowers to resume repayment and their timing for doing so;
impacts on our operations resulting from employee illness, social distancing measures and our shift to greater utilization of remote work arrangements;
the adequacy of our financial resources, including our sources of liquidity and ability to sell, fund and recover servicing advances, forward and reverse whole loans, and HECM and forward loan buyouts and put backs, as well as repay, renew and extend borrowings, borrow additional amounts as and when required, meet our MSR or other asset investment objectives and comply with our debt agreements, including the financial and other covenants contained in them;
increased servicing costs based on rising borrower delinquency levels or other factors;
reduced collection of servicing fees and ancillary income and delayed collection of servicing revenue a result of forbearance plans and moratoria on evictions and foreclosure proceedings;
the size and timing of a potential reverse split of our common stock, and the impact of such a split on our stock price, market capitalization, and the trading market for our common stock;
our ability to regain compliance with the continued listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange;
uncertainty related to our ability to execute on our cost re-engineering initiatives and take the other actions we believe are necessary for us to improve our financial performance;
uncertainty related to our ability to acquire mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) or other assets or businesses at adequate risk-adjusted returns, including our ability to allocate adequate capital for such investments, negotiate and execute purchase documentation and satisfy closing conditions so as to consummate such acquisitions;
uncertainty related to our ability to grow our lending business and increase our lending volumes in a competitive market and uncertain interest rate environment;
uncertainty related to our long-term relationship and remaining agreements with New Residential Investment Corp. (NRZ), our largest servicing client;
our ability to execute an orderly and timely transfer of responsibilities in connection with the termination by NRZ of our legacy PHH Mortgage Corporation (PMC) subservicing agreement;
the reactions of regulators, lenders and other contractual counterparties, rating agencies, stockholders and other stakeholders to the announcement of the termination of the PMC subservicing agreement;
uncertainty related to claims, litigation, cease and desist orders and investigations brought by government agencies and private parties regarding our servicing, foreclosure, modification, origination and other practices, including uncertainty related to past, present or future investigations, litigation, cease and desist orders and settlements with state regulators, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), State Attorneys General, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Justice or the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and actions brought under the False Claims Act regarding incentive and other payments made by governmental entities;

2



adverse effects on our business as a result of regulatory investigations, litigation, cease and desist orders or settlements;
reactions to the announcement of such investigations, litigation, cease and desist orders or settlements by key counterparties, including lenders, the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae);
our ability to comply with the terms of our settlements with regulatory agencies and the costs of doing so;
increased regulatory scrutiny and media attention;
any adverse developments in existing legal proceedings or the initiation of new legal proceedings;
our ability to effectively manage our regulatory and contractual compliance obligations;
our ability to interpret correctly and comply with liquidity, net worth and other financial and other requirements of regulators, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae, as well as those set forth in our debt and other agreements;
our ability to comply with our servicing agreements, including our ability to comply with our agreements with, and the requirements of, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae and maintain our seller/servicer and other statuses with them;
our servicer and credit ratings as well as other actions from various rating agencies, including the impact of prior or future downgrades of our servicer and credit ratings;
failure of our information technology or other security systems or breach of our privacy protections, including any failure to protect customers’ data;
uncertainty related to the ability of our technology vendors to adequately maintain and support our systems, including our servicing systems, loan originations and financial reporting systems;
our ability to identify and address any issues arising in connection with the transfer of loans to the Black Knight Financial Services, Inc. (Black Knight) LoanSphere MSP® servicing system (Black Knight MSP) without incurring significant cost or disruption to our operations;
the loss of the services of our senior managers and key employees;
uncertainty related to the actions of loan owners and guarantors, including mortgage-backed securities investors, Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (collectively, the GSEs), Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) and trustees regarding loan put-backs, penalties and legal actions;
uncertainty related to the GSEs substantially curtailing or ceasing to purchase our conforming loan originations or the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) of the HUD or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ceasing to provide insurance;
uncertainty related to our ability to continue to collect certain expedited payment or convenience fees and potential liability for charging such fees;
uncertainty related to our reserves, valuations, provisions and anticipated realization of assets;
uncertainty related to the ability of third-party obligors and financing sources to fund servicing advances on a timely basis on loans serviced by us;
the characteristics of our servicing portfolio, including prepayment speeds along with delinquency and advance rates;
our ability to successfully modify delinquent loans, manage foreclosures and sell foreclosed properties;
uncertainty related to the processes for judicial and non-judicial foreclosure proceedings, including potential additional costs or delays or moratoria in the future or claims pertaining to past practices;
our ability to adequately manage and maintain real estate owned (REO) properties and vacant properties collateralizing loans that we service;
uncertainty related to legislation, regulations, regulatory agency actions, regulatory examinations, government programs and policies, industry initiatives and evolving best servicing practices;
our ability to realize anticipated future gains from future draws on existing loans in our reverse mortgage portfolio;
our ability to effectively manage our exposure to interest rate changes and foreign exchange fluctuations;
our ability to effectively transform our operations in response to changing business needs, including our ability to do so without unanticipated adverse tax consequences;
uncertainty related to the political or economic stability of the United States and of the foreign countries in which we have operations; and
our ability to maintain positive relationships with our large shareholders and obtain their support for management proposals requiring shareholder approval.
Further information on the risks specific to our business is detailed within this report and our other reports and filings with the SEC including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K since such date. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made and we disclaim any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.



3

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Assets
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
263,555

 
$
428,339

Restricted cash (amounts related to variable interest entities (VIEs) of $13,881 and $20,434)
53,177

 
64,001

Mortgage servicing rights (MSRs), at fair value
1,050,228

 
1,486,395

Advances, net (amounts related to VIEs of $751,020 and $801,990)
1,024,807

 
1,056,523

Loans held for sale ($203,592 and $208,752 carried at fair value)
246,015

 
275,269

Loans held for investment, at fair value (amounts related to VIEs of $22,561 and $23,342)
6,591,382

 
6,292,938

Receivables, net
235,305

 
201,220

Premises and equipment, net
37,430

 
38,274

Other assets ($17,711 and $8,524 carried at fair value) (amounts related to VIEs of $2,290 and $4,078)
484,125

 
563,240

Total assets
$
9,986,024

 
$
10,406,199


 
 
 
Liabilities and Equity
 

 
 

Liabilities
 

 
 

Home Equity Conversion Mortgage-Backed Securities (HMBS) related borrowings, at fair value
$
6,323,091

 
$
6,063,435

Advance match funded liabilities (related to VIEs)
625,951

 
679,109

Other financing liabilities, at fair value (amounts related to VIEs of $21,365 and $22,002)
623,049

 
972,595

Other secured borrowings, net (amounts related to VIEs $200,006 and $240,893)
797,615

 
1,025,791

Senior notes, net
311,290

 
311,085

Other liabilities ($2,589 and $100 carried at fair value) (amounts related to VIEs of $88 and $144)
875,171

 
942,173

Total liabilities
9,556,167

 
9,994,188


 
 
 
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 20 and 21)


 



 
 
 
Stockholders’ Equity
 

 
 

Common stock, $.01 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 129,582,259 and 134,862,232 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 respectively
1,296

 
1,349

Additional paid-in capital
553,066

 
556,798

Accumulated deficit
(116,993
)
 
(138,542
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes
(7,512
)
 
(7,594
)
Total stockholders’ equity
429,857

 
412,011

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
9,986,024

 
$
10,406,199



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements

4


OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2020
 
2019
Revenue
 
 
 
Servicing and subservicing fees
$
211,483

 
$
256,616

Reverse mortgage revenue, net
22,797

 
32,123

Gain on loans held for sale, net
13,331

 
8,982

Other revenue, net
6,231

 
6,167

Total revenue
253,842

 
303,888


 
 
 
MSR valuation adjustments, net
(174,120
)
 
(108,998
)
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
60,728

 
94,696

Servicing and origination
20,256

 
28,698

Professional services
25,637

 
3,441

Technology and communications
15,193

 
24,435

Occupancy and equipment
11,969

 
16,589

Other expenses
3,431

 
3,248

Total operating expenses
137,214

 
171,107


 
 
 
Other income (expense)
 
 
 
Interest income
5,395

 
4,558

Interest expense
(29,982
)
 
(26,489
)
Pledged MSR liability expense
(6,594
)
 
(43,956
)
Other, net
1,328

 
1,020

Total other expense, net
(29,853
)
 
(64,867
)

 
 
 
Loss before income taxes
(87,345
)
 
(41,084
)
Income tax (benefit) expense
(61,856
)
 
3,410

Net loss
$
(25,489
)
 
$
(44,494
)

 
 
 
Loss per share attributable to Ocwen stockholders
 
 
 
Basic and Diluted
$
(0.19
)
 
$
(0.33
)

 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
 
 
 
Basic and Diluted
134,858,837

 
133,918,986


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements

5


OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Dollars in thousands)

 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2020
 
2019
Net loss
$
(25,489
)
 
$
(44,494
)
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes:
 

 
 

Reclassification adjustment for losses on cash flow hedges included in net income
36

 
34

Change in unfunded pension plan obligation liability
46

 
337

Other

 
6

Comprehensive loss
$
(25,407
)
 
$
(44,117
)




The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements

6



OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2020 AND 2019
(Dollars in thousands)

 
Common Stock
 
Additional Paid-in
Capital
 
(Accumulated Deficit) Retained Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Income Taxes
 
Total
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2019
134,862,232

 
$
1,349

 
$
556,798

 
$
(138,542
)
 
$
(7,594
)
 
$
412,011

Net loss

 

 

 
(25,489
)
 

 
(25,489
)
Cumulative effect of adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-13

 

 

 
47,038

 

 
47,038

Repurchase of common stock
(5,662,257
)
 
(57
)
 
(4,548
)
 

 

 
(4,605
)
Equity-based compensation and other
382,284

 
4

 
816

 

 

 
820

Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes

 

 

 

 
82

 
82

Balance at March 31, 2020
129,582,259

 
$
1,296

 
$
553,066

 
$
(116,993
)
 
$
(7,512
)
 
$
429,857

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2018
133,912,425

 
$
1,339

 
$
554,056

 
$
3,567

 
$
(4,257
)
 
$
554,705

Net loss

 

 

 
(44,494
)
 

 
(44,494
)
Cumulative effect of adoption of FASB ASU No. 2016-02

 

 

 
16

 

 
16

Equity-based compensation and other
33,630

 

 
990

 

 

 
990

Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes

 

 

 

 
377

 
377

Balance at March 31, 2019
133,946,055

 
$
1,339

 
$
555,046

 
$
(40,911
)
 
$
(3,880
)
 
$
511,594




The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements

7


OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)

 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2020
 
2019
Cash flows from operating activities
 

 
 

Net loss
$
(25,489
)
 
$
(44,494
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

MSR valuation adjustments, net
174,120

 
108,998

Gain on sale of MSRs, net
(286
)
 
(369
)
Provision for bad debts
4,879

 
9,170

Depreciation
3,997

 
8,551

Amortization of debt issuance costs
1,733

 
700

Equity-based compensation expense
746

 
857

Gain on valuation of financing liability
(30,697
)
 
(26,237
)
Net gain on valuation of mortgage loans held for investment and HMBS-related borrowings
(17,910
)
 
(23,487
)
Gain on loans held for sale, net
(13,331
)
 
(11,112
)
Origination and purchase of loans held for sale
(831,474
)
 
(304,182
)
Proceeds from sale and collections of loans held for sale
843,178

 
305,322

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 

 
 

Decrease in advances, net
29,428

 
91,114

Decrease in receivables and other assets, net
13,642

 
23,627

Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
18,033

 
(36,755
)
Other, net
408

 
(1,039
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
170,977

 
100,664


 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities
 

 
 

Origination of loans held for investment
(294,932
)
 
(209,264
)
Principal payments received on loans held for investment
175,095

 
104,630

Purchase of MSRs
(29,828
)
 
(48,641
)
Proceeds from sale of MSRs

 
868

Proceeds from sale of advances
105

 
1,070

Additions to premises and equipment
(1,072
)
 
(531
)
Proceeds from sale of real estate
2,814

 
1,682

Other, net
491

 
(1,157
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(147,327
)
 
(151,343
)

 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities
 

 
 

Repayment of advance match funded liabilities, net
(53,158
)
 
(128,900
)
Proceeds from mortgage loan warehouse facilities and other secured borrowings
1,330,667

 
616,891

Repayment of mortgage loan warehouse facilities and other secured borrowings
(1,478,616
)
 
(727,711
)
Proceeds from issuance of additional senior secured term loan (SSTL)

 
119,100

Repayment of SSTL borrowings
(126,066
)
 
(6,358
)
Payment of debt issuance costs related to SSTL
(7,267
)
 
(1,284
)
Proceeds from sale of MSRs accounted for as a financing

 
577

Proceeds from sale of Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM, or reverse mortgages) accounted for as a financing (HMBS-related borrowings)
312,249

 
210,563

Repayment of HMBS-related borrowings
(172,429
)
 
(102,389
)
Repurchase of common stock
(4,605
)
 

Other, net
(33
)
 
(253
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(199,258
)
 
(19,764
)

 
 
 
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(175,608
)
 
(70,443
)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year
492,340

 
397,010

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
316,732

 
$
326,567

 
 
 
 
Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Derecognition of MSRs and financing liabilities:
 
 
 
MSRs
$
(263,344
)
 
$

Financing liability - MSRs pledged (Rights to MSRs)
(263,344
)
 

Recognition of future draw commitments for HECM loans at fair value upon adoption of FASB ASU No. 2016-13
$
47,038

 

Recognition of gross right-of-use asset and lease liability:
 
 
 
Right-of-use asset
2,695

 
66,231

Lease liability
2,695

 
66,247

Transfers of loans held for sale to real estate owned (REO)
768

 
1,791

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the unaudited consolidated balance sheets that sums to the total of the same such amounts reported in the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows:
 
March 31, 2020
 
March 31, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents
$
263,555

 
$
263,188

Restricted cash and equivalents:
 
 
 
Debt service accounts
15,868

 
22,087

Other restricted cash
37,309

 
41,292

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported in the statements of cash flows
$
316,732

 
$
326,567



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements

8



OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2020
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data and unless otherwise indicated)
 
Note 1 - Organization, Business Environment and Basis of Presentation
Organization
Ocwen Financial Corporation (NYSE: OCN) (Ocwen, we, us and our) is a non-bank mortgage servicer and originator providing solutions through its primary operating subsidiaries, PHH Mortgage Corporation (PMC) and Liberty Home Equity Solutions, Inc. (Liberty). We are headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida with offices in the United States (U.S.) and the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and operations in India and the Philippines. Ocwen is a Florida corporation organized in February 1988.
Ocwen directly or indirectly owns all of the outstanding common stock of its operating subsidiaries, including PMC since its acquisition on October 4, 2018, Liberty, Ocwen Financial Solutions Private Limited (OFSPL) and Ocwen USVI Services, LLC (OVIS). On March 13, 2020, as part of Ocwen's legal entity restructuring, Liberty and PMC entered into an amended asset purchase agreement pursuant to which Liberty transferred substantially all of its assets, liabilities, contracts and employees to PMC effective March 15, 2020. We continue to originate and service reverse mortgage loans under the brand name Liberty Reverse Mortgage.
We perform servicing activities related to our own MSR portfolio (primary) and on behalf of other servicers (subservicing), the largest being New Residential Investment Corp. (NRZ), and investors (primary and master servicing), including the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (collectively, the GSEs), the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) and private-label securitizations (PLS, or non-Agency). As a subservicer or primary servicer, we may be required to make advances for certain property tax and insurance premium payments, default and property maintenance payments and principal and interest payments on behalf of delinquent borrowers to mortgage loan investors before recovering them from borrowers. Most, but not all, of our subservicing agreements provide for us to be reimbursed for any such advances by the owner of the servicing rights. Advances made by us as primary servicer are generally recovered from the borrower or the mortgage loan investor. As master servicer, we collect mortgage payments from primary servicers and distribute the funds to investors in the mortgage-backed securities. To the extent the primary servicer does not advance the scheduled principal and interest, as master servicer we are responsible for advancing the shortfall, subject to certain limitations.
We originate, sell and securitize conventional (conforming to the underwriting standards of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac; collectively referred to as Agency loans) and government-insured (Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)) forward mortgages, generally servicing retained. The GSEs or Ginnie Mae guarantee these mortgage securitizations. We originate HECM loans, or reverse mortgages, that are mostly insured by the FHA and are an approved issuer of HMBS that are guaranteed by Ginnie Mae. In addition to our originated MSRs, we acquire MSRs through multiple channels, including flow purchase agreements, the GSE Cash Window program and bulk MSR purchases.
We had a total of approximately 5,400 employees at March 31, 2020 of which approximately 3,400 were located in India and approximately 500 were based in the Philippines. Our operations in India and the Philippines primarily provide internal support services, principally to our loan servicing business and our corporate functions. Of our foreign-based employees, nearly 80% were engaged in supporting our loan servicing operations as of March 31, 2020.
Business Environment
We are facing certain challenges and uncertainties that could have significant adverse effects on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, and these challenges and uncertainties have been amplified by the emergence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Losses have significantly eroded stockholders’ equity and weakened our financial condition. Our near-term priority is to return to sustainable profitability in the shortest timeframe possible within an appropriate risk and compliance environment. If we execute on our key business initiatives, we believe we will drive stronger financial performance. The ability of management to appropriately address these challenges and uncertainties in a timely manner is critical to our ability to operate our business successfully.
First, we must expand our lending business and acquisitions of MSRs that are prudent and well-executed with appropriate financial return targets to replenish and grow our servicing portfolio, and within the constraints of our liquidity. Our efforts to grow and diversify our sources of servicing volumes also mitigate our client concentration risk. We have exposure to client concentration and retention risk as a result of our relationship with NRZ, which accounted for 55% of the UPB in our servicing

9



portfolio as of March 31, 2020. Currently, subject to proper notice (generally 180 days’ notice), the payment of termination and loan deboarding fees and certain other provisions, NRZ has rights to terminate these agreements for convenience. Because of the large percentage of our servicing business that is represented by agreements with NRZ, if NRZ exercised all or a significant portion of these termination rights, we might need to right-size or restructure certain aspects of our servicing business as well as the related corporate support functions. On February 20, 2020, we received a notice of termination from NRZ with respect to the subservicing agreement between NRZ and PMC, which accounted for 19% of our servicing portfolio UPB at March 31, 2020.
Second, we must re-engineer our cost structure to go beyond eliminating redundant costs through the integration process and establish continuous cost improvement as a core strength. Our continuous cost improvement efforts are focused on leveraging our single servicing platform and technology, optimizing strategic sourcing and off-shore utilization, lean process design, automation and other technology-enabled productivity enhancements. Our initiatives are targeted at delivering superior accuracy, cost, speed and customer satisfaction. We believe these steps are necessary to simplify our operations and drive stronger financial performance.
Third, we must manage our balance sheet to ensure adequate liquidity, finance our ongoing business needs and provide a solid platform for executing on our other key business initiatives. Regarding the current maturities of our borrowings, as of March 31, 2020 we had approximately $789.0 million of debt outstanding under facilities coming due in the next 12 months. Portions of our match funded advance facilities and all of our mortgage loan warehouse facilities have 364-day terms consistent with market practice. We have historically renewed these facilities on or before their expiration in the ordinary course of financing our business. We have assessed the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our financial projections and projected liquidity. We have an agreement in place to upsize and extend through June 2021 our OMART and OFAF advance financing facilities. The OMART VFN capacity will increase from $200.0 million to $500.0 million to accommodate forecasted advancing requirements and the amortization of $185.0 million in term notes in August 2020. The OFAF facility will increase to a total capacity of $70.0 million. In addition, we have executed an agreement to extend our MSR repurchase agreement and warehouse facilities with Barclays. We expect to renew, replace or extend our borrowings to the extent necessary to finance our business on or prior to their respective maturities consistent with our historical experience.
Our debt agreements contain various qualitative and quantitative events of default provisions that include, among other things, noncompliance with covenants, breach of representations, or the occurrence of a material adverse change. If a lender were to allege an event of default and we are unable to avoid, remedy or secure a waiver of such alleged default, we could be subject to adverse actions by our lenders that could have a material adverse impact on us. In addition, PMC and Liberty are parties to seller/servicer agreements and/or subject to guidelines and regulations (collectively, seller/servicer obligations) with one or more of the GSEs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FHA, VA and Ginnie Mae. To the extent these requirements are not met or waived, the applicable agency may, at its option, utilize a variety of remedies including requirements to provide certain information or take actions at the direction of the applicable agency, requirements to deposit funds as security for our obligations, sanctions, suspension or even termination of approved seller/servicer status, which would prohibit future originations or securitizations of forward or reverse mortgage loans or servicing for the applicable agency. Any of these actions could have a material adverse impact on us. See Note 11 – Borrowings, Note 19 – Regulatory Requirements and Note 21 – Contingencies for further information.
Finally, we must fulfill our regulatory commitments and resolve our remaining legal and regulatory matters on satisfactory terms. See Note 19 – Regulatory Requirements and Note 21 – Contingencies for further information.
In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) categorized COVID-19 as a pandemic and the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a national emergency in the U.S. The COVID-19 pandemic is adversely affecting economic conditions, including an increase in unemployment, and is creating significant uncertainty about the duration and magnitude of the downturn in the economy. We expect delinquencies and forbearance loans to rise in the near term. Delinquent loans and forbearance loans reduce our servicing fee revenue and are more costly to service. In addition, as servicer, we are required to advance unpaid principal and interest to investors for delinquent and forbearance loans and to make certain advances for unpaid taxes and insurance and other costs to the extent that we determine that such amounts are recoverable. An increase in loans in forbearance or an increase in delinquencies would increase our servicing advances and may increase the related interest expense. Such an increase could also adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund servicing advances or finance our business. We are currently negotiating extensions and increases to advance facility commitments with our lenders. There is no assurance that our lenders will agree to extend, renew or increase our financing facilities. We have experienced in the first quarter of 2020, and may continue to experience losses in the valuation of our MSRs, loans or other instruments. Further, our operations may be

10



impacted by reduced employee availability due to illness, voluntary or government mandated social distancing and travel restrictions, as well as our shift to greater utilization of remote work arrangements. These factors may also reduce the capacity of vendors, government agencies, and other third parties on whom we are dependent to conduct our operations. We cannot estimate the duration or the impact of the outbreak on our company due to the recent and rapid developments and varied regulatory and agency responses at this time. Accordingly, the business disruption triggered by COVID-19 could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
Our ability to execute on our key business initiatives is not certain and is dependent on the successful execution of several complex actions, including our ability to grow our origination business and acquire MSRs with appropriate financial return targets, our ability to acquire, maintain and grow profitable client relationships, our ability to maintain relationships with the GSEs, Ginnie Mae, FHFA, lenders and regulators, our ability to implement further organizational redesign and cost reduction, as well as the absence of significant unforeseen costs, including regulatory or legal costs, that could negatively impact our return to sustainable profitability, and our ability to extend, renew or replace our debt agreements in the ordinary course of business. Our ability to execute on our key initiatives has been hindered by the recent COVID-19 environment and the impact on our organization depends on the duration of the lockdown and the magnitude of the economic downturn. There can be no assurances that the desired strategic and financial benefits of these actions will be realized.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the instructions of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to Form 10-Q and SEC Regulation S-X, Article 10, Rule 10-01 for interim financial statements. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for complete financial statements. In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation. The results of operations and other data for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the year ending December 31, 2020. The unaudited consolidated financial statements presented herein should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Use of Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires that management make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those that relate to fair value measurements, income taxes, the provision for losses that may arise from litigation proceedings, and our going concern evaluation. In developing estimates and assumptions, management uses all available information; however, actual results could materially differ from those estimates and assumptions.
We considered the impact of COVID-19 on the assumptions and estimates used in the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as described in the relevant notes.
Reclassifications
Certain amounts in the unaudited consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2019 and the unaudited consolidated statement of operations and consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2019 have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The reclassifications had no impact on total assets or total liabilities in our unaudited consolidated balance sheets, no impact on net income (loss) or total revenue in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations and no impact on operating, investing and financing cash flows in our unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows.

11



We now present Reverse mortgage revenue, net as a separate revenue line item on the face of the unaudited consolidated statements of operations to provide a further breakdown of Other revenue, net and provide greater transparency on the performance associated with our portfolio of HECM loans, net of the HMBS-related borrowings that are both measured at fair value, as follows:
Reclassification within the Statement of Operations - Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
 
Revenue
 
 
From
Gain on loans held for sale, net
$
8,613

 
From
Other revenue, net
24,263

 
From
Servicing and subservicing fees
(753
)
 
To
Reverse mortgage revenue, net (New line item)
32,123

 
Total revenue

In addition to the above reclassifications, we have made the following presentation changes:
In the unaudited consolidated statements of operations, we now separately present MSR valuation adjustments, net from Total expenses, renamed “Operating expenses”. The purpose of this reclassification is to separately present fair value changes from operating expenses and provide additional insights on the nature of our performance.
Within Other income (expense), net on the unaudited consolidated statements of operations, we now present the expense related to the pledged MSR liability recorded at fair value separately from Interest expense. The purpose of this reclassification is to improve transparency between the interest expense associated with interest-bearing liabilities recorded on an accrual basis and expenses that are attributable to the pledged MSR liability recorded at fair value. The pledged MSR liability is the obligation to deliver to NRZ all contractual cash flows associated with the underlying MSR that did not meet the requirements for sale accounting treatment. The Pledged MSR liability expense reflects net servicing fee remittance and fair value changes.
Within the Total assets section of our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2019, we reclassified Match funded advances to Advances to present all servicing-related advances as a single line item.
Within the Cash flows from operating activities section, we reclassified Amortization of debt issuance costs of $0.7 million from Other, net to a new separate line item.
Within the Cash flows from investing activities section, we reclassified Proceeds from sale of real estate of $1.7 million from Other, net to a new separate line.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13 and ASU 2019-04)
This ASU requires the measurement and recording of expected lifetime credit losses on loans and other financial instruments measured at amortized cost and replaces the existing incurred loss model for credit losses. The new guidance requires an organization to measure all current expected credit losses (CECL) for financial assets held and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This standard requires enhanced disclosures related to the significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an organization’s portfolio. Additionally, the new guidance amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration.
We adopted this standard on January 1, 2020 by applying the guidance at the adoption date with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. We used the modified retrospective method for all financial assets in scope of the standard. Our statements of operations for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2020 are presented under the new guidance, while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. As permitted by this standard, we made an irrevocable fair value election for certain financial instruments within the scope of the standard. We elected the fair value option for future draw commitments for HECM loans purchased or originated before January 1, 2019. For the HECM loan future draw commitments, we recorded a $47.0 million cumulative-effect transition gain adjustment (before income taxes) to retained earnings as of January 1, 2020 to recognize the fair value as of that date. We did not record any significant net tax effect related to this adjustment as the increase in the deferred tax liability was offset by a corresponding decrease to the valuation allowance. The transition adjustment related to financial instruments for which we are not electing the fair value option did not result in any significant adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. Our measurement of lifetime expected credit losses is based on relevant qualitative and quantitative information about past events, including historical loss experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect collectability.

12



Fair Value Measurement: Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (ASU 2018-13)
This ASU modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements in FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. The main provisions in this ASU include removal of the following disclosure requirements: 1) the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, 2) the policy for timing of transfers between levels and 3) the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. This standard adds disclosure requirements to report the changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period, and for certain unobservable inputs an entity may disclose other quantitative information in lieu of the weighted average if the entity determines that other quantitative information would be a more reasonable and rational method to reflect the distribution of unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements.
Our adoption of this standard on January 1, 2020 did not have a material impact on our unaudited consolidated financial statements.
Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software: Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (ASU 2018-15)
This ASU aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal use software license). The accounting for the service element of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract is not affected by the amendments in this ASU. The amendments in this ASU require an entity (customer) in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract to follow the guidance to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contract and which costs to expense. The amendments in this ASU require the entity (customer) to expense the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract over the term of the hosting arrangement. The amendments in this ASU also require the entity to present the expense related to the capitalized implementation costs in the same line item in the statement of operations as the fees associated with the hosting element (service) of the arrangement and classify payments for capitalized implementation costs in the statement of cash flows in the same manner as payments made for fees associated with the hosting element.
Upon adoption of this standard on January 1, 2020, we elected to apply the amendments in this ASU prospectively to all implementation costs incurred subsequent to that date. Our adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our unaudited consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Standards Issued but Not Yet Adopted
Income Taxes: Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (ASU 2019-12)
On December 18, 2019, the FASB issued this ASU to ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, as part as part of its overall simplification initiative to reduce costs and complexity of applying accounting standards while maintaining or improving the usefulness of the information provided to users of financial statements. Amendments include the removal of certain exceptions to the general principles of ASC 740 in such areas as intraperiod tax allocation, year to date losses in interim periods and deferred tax liabilities related to outside basis differences. Amendments also include simplification in other areas such as interim recognition of enactment of tax laws or rate changes and accounting for a franchise tax (or similar tax) that is partially based on income.
This standard will be effective for us on January 1, 2021. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period, with any adjustments reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. If an entity chooses to early adopt, it must adopt all changes as a result of the ASU. We are currently evaluating the effect of this standard.
Note 2 - Cost Re-Engineering Plan
In February 2019, we announced our intention to execute cost re-engineering opportunities in order to drive stronger financial performance and, in the longer term, simplify our operations. Our cost re-engineering plan extended beyond eliminating redundant costs through the integration process and addressed organizational, process and control redesign and automation, human capital planning, off-shore utilization, strategic sourcing and facilities rationalization. Costs for this plan included severance, retention and other incentive awards, facilities-related costs and other costs to execute the reorganization. While we continue to pursue additional cost re-engineering initiatives, this $65.0 million cost re-engineering plan announced in February 2019 was completed by December 31, 2019. Our remaining liability at March 31, 2020 is $5.9 million and is included in Other accrued expenses, a component of Other liabilities.

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The following table provides a summary of plan costs incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2019:
 
Employee-related
 
Other
 
Total
Total costs incurred
$
19,163

 
$
2,973

 
$
22,136

The above expenses were all incurred within the Corporate Items and Other segment. Employee-related costs are reported in Compensation and benefits expense in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations. Other costs are primarily reported in Professional services expense and Other expenses.
Note 3 – Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities
We securitize, sell and service forward and reverse residential mortgage loans and regularly transfer financial assets in connection with asset-backed financing arrangements. We have aggregated these securitizations and asset-backed financing arrangements using special purpose entities (SPEs) or VIEs into three groups: (1) securitizations of residential mortgage loans, (2) financings of advances and (3) MSR financings. Financing transactions that do not use SPEs or VIEs are disclosed in Note 11 – Borrowings.
We have determined that the SPEs created in connection with our match funded advance financing facilities are VIEs for which we are the primary beneficiary.
From time to time, we may acquire beneficial interests issued in connection with mortgage-backed securitizations where we may also be the master and/or primary servicer. These beneficial interests consist of subordinate and residual interests acquired from third-parties in market transactions. We consolidate the VIE when we conclude we are the primary beneficiary.
Securitizations of Residential Mortgage Loans
Transfers of Forward Loans
We sell or securitize forward loans that we originate or purchase from third parties, generally in the form of mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the GSEs or Ginnie Mae. Securitization typically occurs within 30 days of loan closing or purchase. We act only as a fiduciary and do not have a variable interest in the securitization trusts. As a result, we account for these transactions as sales upon transfer.
The following table presents a summary of cash flows received from and paid to securitization trusts related to transfers of loans accounted for as sales that were outstanding:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2020
 
2019
Proceeds received from securitizations
$
820,001

 
$
242,960

Servicing fees collected (1)
12,252

 
15,918

Purchases of previously transferred assets, net of claims reimbursed
(2,607
)
 
(904
)
 
$
829,646

 
$
257,974

(1)
We receive servicing fees based upon the securitized loan balances and certain ancillary fees, all of which are reported in Servicing and subservicing fees in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations.
In connection with these transfers, we retained MSRs of $6.6 million and $0.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We securitize forward and reverse residential mortgage loans involving the GSEs and loans insured by the FHA or VA through Ginnie Mae.
Certain obligations arise from the agreements associated with our transfers of loans. Under these agreements, we may be obligated to repurchase the loans, or otherwise indemnify or reimburse the investor or insurer for losses incurred due to material breach of contractual representations and warranties.

14



The following table presents the carrying amounts of our assets that relate to our continuing involvement with forward loans that we have transferred with servicing rights retained as well as an estimate of our maximum exposure to loss including the UPB of the transferred loans:
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Carrying value of assets
 
 
 
MSRs, at fair value
$
83,582

 
$
109,581

Advances
127,114

 
141,829

UPB of loans transferred
15,831,062

 
14,490,984

Maximum exposure to loss
$
16,041,758

 
$
14,742,394

At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 7.2% and 7.7%, respectively, of the transferred residential loans that we service were 60 days or more past due.
Transfers of Reverse Mortgages
We pool HECM loans into HMBS that we sell into the secondary market with servicing rights retained or we sell the loans to third parties with servicing rights released. We have determined that loan transfers in the HMBS program do not meet the definition of a participating interest because of the servicing requirements in the product that require the issuer/servicer to absorb some level of interest rate risk, cash flow timing risk and incidental credit risk. As a result, the transfers of the HECM loans do not qualify for sale accounting, and therefore, we account for these transfers as financings. Under this accounting treatment, the HECM loans are classified as Loans held for investment, at fair value, on our unaudited consolidated balance sheets. Holders of participating interests in the HMBS have no recourse against the assets of Ocwen, except with respect to standard representations and warranties and our contractual obligation to service the HECM loans and the HMBS. The changes in fair value of the HECM loans and HMBS-related borrowings are included in Reverse mortgage revenue, net in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations.
Financings of Advances
Match funded advances, i.e., advances that are pledged as collateral to our advance facilities, result from our transfers of residential loan servicing advances to SPEs in exchange for cash. We consolidate these SPEs because we have determined that Ocwen is the primary beneficiary of the SPEs. These SPEs issue debt supported by collections on the transferred advances, and we refer to this debt as Advance match funded liabilities.
We make transfers to these SPEs in accordance with the terms of our advance financing facility agreements. Debt service accounts require us to remit collections on pledged advances to the trustee within two days of receipt. Collected funds that are not applied to reduce the related Advance match funded debt until the payment dates specified in the indenture are classified as debt service accounts within Restricted cash in our unaudited consolidated balance sheets. The balances also include amounts that have been set aside from the proceeds of our match funded advance facilities to provide for possible shortfalls in the funds available to pay certain expenses and interest, as well as amounts set aside as required by our warehouse facilities as security for our obligations under the related agreements. The funds are held in interest earning accounts and those amounts related to match funded advance facilities are held in the name of the SPE created in connection with the facility.
We classify the transferred advances on our unaudited consolidated balance sheets as a component of Advances, net and the related liabilities as Advance match funded liabilities. The SPEs use collections of the pledged advances to repay principal and interest and to pay the expenses of the SPE. Holders of the debt issued by these entities have recourse only to the assets of the SPE for satisfaction of the debt. The assets and liabilities of the advance financing SPEs are comprised solely of Advances, Restricted cash (Debt service accounts), Advance match funded liabilities and amounts due to affiliates. Amounts due to affiliates are eliminated in consolidation in our unaudited consolidated balance sheets.
MSR Financings
On July 1, 2019, we entered into a $300.0 million financing facility with a third-party secured by certain Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac MSRs (Agency MSRs). Two trusts were established in connection with this facility. On July 1, 2019 we entered into an MSR Excess Spread Participation Agreement under which we created a 100% participation interest in the portfolio excess servicing fees, pursuant to which the holder of the participation interest is entitled to receive certain funds collected on the related portfolio of mortgage loans (other than ancillary income and advance reimbursement amounts) with respect to such Portfolio Excess Servicing Fees. This participation interest has been contributed to the trusts.
In connection with this facility, we entered into repurchase agreements with a third-party pursuant to which we sold trust certificates of the trusts representing certain indirect economic interests in the Agency MSRs and agreed to repurchase such certificates at a future date at the repurchase price set forth in the repurchase agreements. Our obligations under the facility are

15



secured by a lien on the related Agency MSRs. In addition, Ocwen guarantees the obligations under the facility. This facility will terminate in June 2020 unless the parties mutually agree to renew or extend.
We determined that the trusts are VIEs for which we are the primary beneficiary. Therefore, we have included the trusts in our consolidated financial statements effective July 1, 2019. We have the power to direct the activities of the VIEs that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance given that we are the servicer of the Agency MSRs that result in cash flows to the trusts. In addition, we have designed the trusts at inception to facilitate the third-party funding facility under which we have the obligation to absorb the losses of the VIEs that could be potentially significant to the VIEs.
The table below presents the carrying value and classification of the assets and liabilities of the Agency MSR financing facility:
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
MSRs pledged (MSRs, at fair value)
$
173,313

 
$
245,533

Unamortized debt issuance costs (Other assets)
473

 
946

Debt service account (Restricted cash)
102

 
100

Outstanding borrowings (Other secured borrowings, net)
114,290

 
147,706

On November 26, 2019, we issued $100.0 million Ocwen Excess Spread-Collateralized Notes, Series 2019-PLS1 Class A (PLS Notes) secured by certain of PMC’s private label MSRs (PLS MSRs). PMC PLS ESR Issuer LLC (PLS Issuer) was established in this connection as a wholly owned subsidiary of PMC. PMC entered into an MSR Excess Spread Participation Agreement with PLS Issuer. PMC created a participation interest in the excess servicing fees, related float and REO fees pursuant to which the holder of the participation interest will be entitled to receive such Excess Servicing Fees, related float and REO fees. PMC holds the MSRs and services the loans which create the related excess cash flows pledged under the MSR Excess Spread Participation Agreement. PLS Issuer’s obligations under the facility are secured by a lien on the related PLS MSRs. PMC sold a participation certificate representing certain economic interests in the PLS MSRs and in order to secure its obligations under the participation certificate, it granted a security interest to PLS Issuer in the PLS MSRs. The PLS Issuer assigned the security interest in the PLS MSRs to the collateral agent for the noteholders. Ocwen guarantees the obligations of PLS Issuer under the facility.
We determined that PLS Issuer is a VIE for which we are the primary beneficiary. Therefore, we have included PLS Issuer in our consolidated financial statements effective November 26, 2019. We have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance given that we are the servicer of the MSRs that result in cash flows to PLS Issuer. In addition, PMC has designed PLS Issuer at inception to facilitate the funding for general corporate purposes. Separately, in return for the participation interests, PMC received the proceeds from issuance of the PLS Notes. PMC is the sole member of PLS Issuer, thus PMC has the obligation to absorb the losses of the VIE that could be potentially significant to the VIE.
The table below presents the carrying value and classification of the assets and liabilities of the PLS Notes facility:
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
MSRs pledged (MSRs, at fair value)
$
141,610

 
$
146,215

Debt service account (Restricted cash)
2,941

 
3,002

Outstanding borrowings (Other secured borrowings, net)
86,911

 
94,395

Unamortized debt issuance costs (Other secured borrowings, net)
(1,196
)
 
(1,207
)
Mortgage-Backed Securitizations
The table below presents the carrying value and classification of the assets and liabilities of two consolidated mortgage-backed securitization trusts included in our unaudited consolidated balance sheets as a result of residual securities we acquired which were issued by the trusts.
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Loans held for investment, at fair value - Restricted for securitization investors
$
22,561

 
$
23,342

Financing liability - Owed to securitization investors, at fair value
21,365

 
22,002


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We have concluded we are the primary beneficiary of certain residential mortgage-backed securitizations as a result of beneficial interests consisting of residual securities, which expose us to the expected losses and residual returns of the trust, and our role as master servicer, where we have the ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact the performance of the trust.
Upon consolidation of the securitization trusts, we elected to apply the measurement alternative to ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement for collateralized financing entities. The measurement alternative requires a reporting entity to use the more observable of the fair value of the financial assets or the financial liabilities to measure both the financial assets and the financial liabilities of the entity. We determined that the fair value of the loans held by the trusts is more observable than the fair value of the debt certificates issued by the trusts. Through the application of the measurement alternative, the fair value of the financial liabilities of the trusts are measured as the difference between the fair value of the financial assets and the fair value of our investment in the residual securities of the trusts.
Holders of the debt issued by the two securitization trust entities have recourse only to the assets of the SPE for satisfaction of the debt and have no recourse against the assets of Ocwen. Similarly, the general creditors of Ocwen have no claim on the assets of the trusts. Our exposure to loss as a result of our continuing involvement is limited to the carrying values of our investments in the residual securities of the trusts, our MSRs and related advances. 
Note 4 – Fair Value
Fair value is estimated based on a hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques into three broad levels whereby the highest priority is given to Level 1 inputs and the lowest to Level 3 inputs.
Level 1:
Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity can access at the measurement date.
Level 2:
Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3:
Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.
We classify assets in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The carrying amounts and the estimated fair values of our financial instruments and certain of our nonfinancial assets measured at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis or disclosed, but not measured, at fair value are as follows:
 
 
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
 
Level
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
Financial assets
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loans held for sale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for sale, at fair value (a) (f)
3, 2
 
$
203,592

 
$
203,592

 
$
208,752

 
$
208,752

Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value (b)
3
 
42,423

 
42,423

 
66,517

 
66,517

Total Loans held for sale
 
 
$
246,015

 
$
246,015

 
$
275,269

 
$
275,269

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for investment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for investment - Reverse mortgages (a)
3
 
$
6,568,821

 
$
6,568,821

 
$
6,269,596

 
$
6,269,596

Loans held for investment - Restricted for securitization investors (a)
3
 
22,561

 
22,561

 
23,342

 
23,342

Total loans held for investment
 
 
$
6,591,382

 
$
6,591,382

 
$
6,292,938

 
$
6,292,938

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

17



 
 
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
 
Level
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
Advances, net (c)
3
 
$
1,024,807

 
$
1,024,807

 
$
1,056,523

 
$
1,056,523

Receivables, net (c)
3
 
235,305

 
235,305

 
201,220

 
201,220

Mortgage-backed securities (a)
3
 
1,670

 
1,670

 
2,075

 
2,075

Corporate bonds (a)
2
 
211

 
211

 
441

 
441

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial liabilities:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Advance match funded liabilities (c)
3
 
$
625,951

 
$
631,247

 
$
679,109

 
$
679,507

Financing liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HMBS-related borrowings (a)
3
 
$
6,323,091

 
$
6,323,091

 
$
6,063,435

 
$
6,063,435

Financing liability - MSRs pledged (Rights to MSRs) (a) (e)
3
 
601,684

 
601,684

 
950,593

 
950,593

Financing liability - Owed to securitization investors (a)
3
 
21,365

 
21,365

 
22,002

 
22,002

Total Financing liabilities
 
 
$
6,946,140

 
$
6,946,140

 
$
7,036,030

 
$
7,036,030

Other secured borrowings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior secured term loan (c) (d)
2
 
$
191,810

 
$
177,546

 
$
322,758

 
$
324,643

Other (c)
3
 
605,805

 
580,569

 
703,033

 
686,146

Total Other secured borrowings
 
 
$
797,615

 
$
758,115

 
$
1,025,791

 
$
1,010,789

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior notes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior unsecured notes (c) (d)
2
 
$
21,125

 
$
14,902

 
$
21,046

 
$
13,821

Senior secured notes (c) (d)
2
 
290,165

 
238,379

 
290,039

 
256,201

Total Senior notes
 
 
$
311,290

 
$
253,281

 
$
311,085

 
$
270,022

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instrument assets (liabilities)
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate lock commitments (a) (f)
3, 2
 
$
10,478

 
$
10,478

 
$
4,878

 
$
4,878

Forward trades - Loans held for sale (a)
1
 
(235
)
 
(235
)
 
(92
)
 
(92
)
TBA / Forward mortgage-backed securities (MBS) trades and futures - MSR hedging (a)
1
 
2,999

 
2,999

 
1,121

 
1,121

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MSRs (a) (e)
3
 
$
1,050,228

 
$
1,050,228

 
$
1,486,395

 
$
1,486,395

(a)
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
(b)
Measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.
(c)
Disclosed, but not measured, at fair value. 
(d)
The carrying values are net of unamortized debt issuance costs and discount. See Note 11 – Borrowings for additional information.
(e)
A rollforward of the beginning and ending balances of MSRs and Financing liability - MSRs pledged that we measure at fair value on a recurring basis is provided in Note 7 – Mortgage Servicing and Note 8 — Rights to MSRs, respectively.
(f)
Level 3 at March 31, 2020 and Level 2 at December 31, 2019.



18



The following tables present a rollforward of the beginning and ending balances of Level 3 assets and liabilities that we measure at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
Loans Held for Investment - Reverse Mortgages
 
HMBS-Related Borrowings
 
Loans Held for Inv. - Restricted for Securitiza-
tion Investors
 
Financing Liability - Owed to Securit -
ization Investors
 
Loans Held for Sale - Fair Value
 
Mortgage-Backed Securities
 
IRLCs
Three months ended March 31, 2020
Beginning balance
$
6,269,596

 
$
(6,063,434
)
 
$
23,342

 
$
(22,002
)
 
$

 
$
2,075

 
$

Cumulative effect of fair value election
47,038

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Purchases, issuances, sales and settlements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Purchases

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuances
294,932

 
(312,249
)
 

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

Settlements
(175,095
)
 
172,429

 
(781
)
 
637

 

 

 

Transfers (to) from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for sale, at fair value
(578
)
 

 

 

 

 

 

Other assets
(265
)
 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables, net
(129
)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
165,903

 
(139,820
)
 
(781
)
 
637

 

 

 

Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in fair value
133,322

 
(119,837
)
 

 

 

 
(405
)
 

Calls and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
133,322

 
(119,837
)
 

 

 

 
(405
)
 

Transfers in and / or out of Level 3

 

 

 

 
25,582

 

 
10,478

Ending balance
$
6,568,821

 
$
(6,323,091
)
 
$
22,561

 
$
(21,365
)
 
$
25,582

 
$
1,670

 
$
10,478


19



 
Loans Held for Investment - Reverse Mortgages
 
HMBS-Related Borrowings
 
Loans Held for Inv. - Restricted for Securitiza-
tion Investors
 
Financing Liability - Owed to Securit -
ization Investors
 
Mortgage-Backed Securities
 
Derivatives - Interest Rate Caps
Three months ended March 31, 2019
Beginning balance
$
5,472,199

 
$
(5,380,448
)
 
$
26,520

 
$
(24,815
)
 
$
1,502

 
$
678

Purchases, issuances, sales and settlements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases

 

 

 

 

 

Issuances
209,264

 
(210,563
)
 

 

 

 

Sales

 

 

 

 

 

Settlements
(104,630
)
 
102,389

 
(283
)
 
253

 

 

Transfers (to) from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for sale, at fair value
(396
)
 

 

 

 

 

Other assets
(119
)
 

 

 

 

 

Receivables, net
(68
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
104,051

 
(108,174
)
 
(283
)
 
253

 

 

Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in fair value
150,667

 
(126,066
)
 

 

 
284

 
(402
)
Calls and other

 

 

 

 

 

 
150,667

 
(126,066
)
 

 

 
284

 
(402
)
Transfers in and / or out of Level 3

 

 

 

 

 

Ending balance
$
5,726,917

 
$
(5,614,688
)
 
$
26,237

 
$
(24,562
)
 
$
1,786

 
$
276

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The methodologies that we use and key assumptions that we make to estimate the fair value of financial instruments and other assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis and those disclosed, but not carried, at fair value are described below.
Loans Held for Sale
Residential forward and reverse mortgage loans that we intend to sell are carried at fair value as a result of a fair value election. Such loans are subject to changes in fair value due to fluctuations in interest rates from the closing date through the date of the sale of the loan into the secondary market. These loans are generally classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy because the primary component of the price is obtained from observable values of mortgage forwards for loans of similar terms and characteristics. We have the ability to access this market, and it is the market into which conventional and government-insured mortgage loans are typically sold.
We purchase certain loans from Ginnie Mae guaranteed securitizations in connection with loan modifications, strategic early buyouts (EBO) and loan resolution activity as part of our contractual obligations as the servicer of the loans. On January 1, 2020, we elected to classify any repurchased loans after January 1, 2020 as loans held for sale at fair value. Modified and EBO loans purchased before January 1, 2020 are classified as loans held for sale at the lower of cost or fair value. We expect to redeliver (sell) the loans into new Ginnie Mae guaranteed securitizations (in the case of modified loans) or sell the loans to a private investor (in the case of EBO loans). The fair value of these loans was estimated using published forward Ginnie Mae prices or existing sale contracts at December 31, 2019. At March 31, 2020, as a result of the volatility of capital markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic, loans with a fair value of $25.6 million required the use of significant unobservable inputs, including the assumptions of the embedded MSR, margin and yield, and was classified as Level 3.

20



Loans repurchased in connection with loan resolution activities are classified as receivables. Because these loans are insured or guaranteed by the FHA or VA, the fair value of these loans represents the net recovery value taking into consideration the insured or guaranteed claim.
When we enter into an agreement to sell a loan or pool of loans to an investor at a set price, we value the loan or loans at the commitment price, unless facts and circumstances exist that could impact deal economics, at which point we use judgment to determine appropriate adjustments to recorded fair value, if any. We determine the fair value of loans for which we have no agreement to sell on the expected future cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk of the estimated cash flows.
Loans Held for Investment
Loans Held for Investment - Reverse Mortgages
We measure these loans at fair value based on the expected future cash flows discounted over the expected life of the loans at a rate commensurate with the risk of the estimated cash flows, including all future draw commitments for HECM loans. On January 1, 2019, we made an irrevocable fair value election on all future draw commitments for HECM loans that were purchased or originated on or after January 1, 2019. In connection with our adoption of ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020, we made an irrevocable fair value election on all future draw commitments for HECM loans that were purchased or originated before January 1, 2019. Significant assumptions include expected future draws and prepayment and delinquency rates and cumulative loss curves. The discount rate assumption for these assets is primarily based on an assessment of current market yields on newly originated reverse mortgage loans, expected duration of the asset and current market interest rates.
Significant valuation assumptions
March 31,
2020
 
December 31,
2019
Life in years
 
 
 
Range
1.2 to 8.4

 
2.4 to 7.8

Weighted average
6.5

 
6.0

Conditional repayment rate
 
 
 
Range
8.0% to 24.3%

 
7.8% to 28.3%

Weighted average
13.2
%
 
14.6
%
Discount rate
2.0
%
 
2.8
%
Significant increases or decreases in any of these assumptions in isolation could result in a significantly lower or higher fair value, respectively. The effects of changes in the assumptions used to value the loans held for investment, excluding future draw commitments, are largely offset by the effects of changes in the assumptions used to value the HMBS-related borrowings that are associated with these loans.
Loans Held for Investment – Restricted for securitization investors
We have elected to measure loans held by consolidated mortgage-backed securitization trusts at fair value. The loans are secured by first liens on single family residential properties. Fair value is based on proprietary cash flow modeling processes from a third-party broker/dealer and a third-party valuation expert. Significant assumptions used in the valuation include projected monthly payments, projected prepayments and defaults, property liquidation values and discount rates.
MSRs
We determine the fair value of MSRs primarily using discounted cash flow methodologies. The significant components of the estimated future cash inflows for MSRs include servicing fees, late fees, float earnings and other ancillary fees. Significant cash outflows include the cost of servicing, the cost of financing servicing advances and compensating interest payments.
We engage third-party valuation experts who generally utilize: (a) transactions involving instruments with similar collateral and risk profiles, adjusted as necessary based on specific characteristics of the asset or liability being valued; and/or (b) industry-standard modeling, such as a discounted cash flow model and prepayment model, in arriving at their estimate of fair value. The prices provided by the valuation experts reflect their observations and assumptions related to market activity, incorporating available industry survey results and client feedback, and including risk premiums and liquidity adjustments. While the models and related assumptions used by the valuation experts are proprietary to them, we understand the methodologies and assumptions used to develop the prices based on our ongoing due diligence, which includes regular discussions with the valuation experts. We believe that the procedures executed by the valuation experts, supported by our verification and analytical procedures, provide reasonable assurance that the prices used in our unaudited consolidated financial statements comply with the accounting guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures and reflect the assumptions that a market participant would use.

21



We evaluate the reasonableness of our third-party experts’ assumptions using historical experience adjusted for prevailing market conditions. Assumptions used in the valuation of MSRs include:
Mortgage prepayment speeds
Delinquency rates
Cost of servicing
Interest rate used for computing float earnings
Discount rate
Compensating interest expense
Interest rate used for computing the cost of financing servicing advances
Collection rate of other ancillary fees
Curtailment on advances
 
 
MSRs are carried at fair value and classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy. The fair value is determined using the mid-point of the range of prices provided by third-party valuation experts, without adjustment, except in the event we have a potential or completed sale, including transactions where we have executed letters of intent, in which case the fair value of the MSRs is recorded at the estimated sale price. Fair value reflects actual Ocwen sale prices for orderly transactions where available in lieu of independent third-party valuations. Our valuation process includes discussions of bid pricing with the third-party valuation experts and are contemplated along with other market-based transactions in their model validation.
A change in the valuation inputs or assumptions might result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. Changes in market interest rates predominantly impact the fair value for Agency MSRs via prepayment speeds by altering the borrower refinance incentive and the non-Agency MSRs due to the impact on advance costs. Other key assumptions used in the valuation of these MSRs include delinquency rates and discount rates.
Significant valuation assumptions
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Agency
 
Non-Agency
 
Agency
 
Non-Agency
Weighted average prepayment speed
17.5
%
 
12.2
%
 
11.7
%
 
12.2
%
Weighted average delinquency rate
4.8
%
 
25.7
%
 
3.2
%
 
27.3
%
Advance financing cost
5-year swap

 
5-yr swap plus 2.00%

 
5-year swap

 
5-yr swap plus 2.00%

Interest rate for computing float earnings
5-year swap

 
5-yr swap minus 0.50%

 
5-year swap

 
5-yr swap minus 0.50%

Weighted average discount rate
9.4
%
 
11.3
%
 
9.3
%
 
11.3
%
Weighted average cost to service (in dollars)
$
93

 
$
278

 
$
85

 
$
277

As a result of the market volatility and uncertainties due to the COVID-19 outbreak, management exercised significant judgment in determining and updating the key assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the MSR based on the known or knowable information as of March 31, 2020.
Because the mortgages underlying these MSRs permit the borrowers to prepay the loans, the value of the MSRs generally tends to diminish in periods of declining interest rates, an improving housing market or expanded product availability (as prepayments increase) and increase in periods of rising interest rates, a deteriorating housing market or reduced product availability (as prepayments decrease). The following table summarizes the estimated change in the value of the MSRs as of March 31, 2020 given hypothetical shifts in lifetime prepayments and yield assumptions:
Adverse change in fair value
10%
 
20%
Weighted average prepayment speeds
$
(52,979
)
 
$
(100,320
)
Weighted average discount rate
(14,339
)
 
(27,843
)
The sensitivity analysis measures the potential impact on fair values based on hypothetical changes, which in the case of our portfolio at March 31, 2020 are increased prepayment speeds and an increase in the yield assumption.
Advances
We value advances at their net realizable value, which generally approximates fair value. Servicing advances have no stated maturity and do not bear interest. Principal and interest advances are generally realized within a relatively short period of time. The timing of recovery of taxes, insurance and other corporate advances depends on the underlying loan attributes, performance, and in many cases, foreclosure or liquidation timeline. The fair value adjustment to servicing advances associated with the estimated time to recover such advances is separately measured and reported as a component of the fair value of the

22



associated MSR, consistent with actual market transactions. Refer to MSRs above for a description of the valuation methodology and assumptions related to the cost of financing servicing advances and discount rate, among other factors.
Receivables
The carrying value of receivables generally approximates fair value because of the relatively short period of time between their origination and realization.
Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS)
Our subordinate and residual securities are not actively traded, and therefore, we estimate the fair value of these securities using a process based upon the use of an independent third-party valuation expert. Where possible, we consider observable trading activity in the valuation of our securities. Key inputs include expected prepayment rates, delinquency and cumulative loss curves and discount rates commensurate with the risks. Where possible, we use observable inputs in the valuation of our securities. However, the subordinate and residual securities in which we have invested trade infrequently and therefore have few or no observable inputs and little price transparency. Additionally, during periods of market dislocation, the observability of inputs is further reduced. We classify subordinate and residual securities as trading securities and account for them at fair value on a recurring basis. Changes in the fair value of our investment in subordinate and residual securities are recognized in Other, net in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations.
Advance Match Funded Liabilities
For advance match funded liabilities that bear interest at a rate that is adjusted regularly based on a market index, the carrying value approximates fair value. For advance match funded liabilities that bear interest at a fixed rate, we determine fair value by discounting the future principal and interest repayments at a market rate commensurate with the risk of the estimated cash flows. We assume the notes are refinanced at the end of their revolving periods, consistent with how we manage our advance facilities.
Financing Liabilities
HMBS-Related Borrowings
We have elected to measure these borrowings at fair value. These borrowings are not actively traded, and therefore, quoted market prices are not available. We determine fair value by discounting the projected recovery of principal, interest and advances over the estimated life of the borrowing at a market rate commensurate with the risk of the estimated cash flows. Significant assumptions include prepayments, discount rate and borrower mortality rates. The discount rate assumption for these liabilities is based on an assessment of current market yields for newly issued HMBS, expected duration and current market interest rates.
Significant valuation assumptions
March 31,
2020
 
December 31,
2019
Life in years
 
 
 
Range
1.2 to 8.4

 
2.4 to 7.8

Weighted average
6.5

 
6

Conditional repayment rate
 
 
 
Range
8.0% to 24.3%

 
7.8% to 28.3%

Weighted average
13.2
%
 
14.6
%
Discount rate
1.8
%
 
2.7
%
Significant increases or decreases in any of these assumptions in isolation would have resulted in a significantly higher or lower fair value.
MSRs Pledged (Rights to MSRs)
We have elected to measure and record these borrowings at fair value. We recognize the proceeds received in connection with Rights to MSRs transactions as a secured borrowing that we account for at fair value. We determine the fair value of the pledged MSR liability following a similar approach as for the associated pledged MSRs. Fair value for the portion of the borrowing attributable to the MSRs underlying the Rights to MSRs is determined using the mid-point of the range of prices provided by third-party valuation experts. Fair value for the portion of the borrowing attributable to any lump sum payments received in connection with the transfer of MSRs underlying such Rights to MSRs to the extent such transfer is accounted for as a financing is determined by discounting the relevant future cash flows that were altered through such transfer using assumptions consistent with the mid-point of the range of prices provided by third-party valuation experts for the related MSR.

23



Significant valuation assumptions
March 31,
2020
 
December 31,
2019
Weighted average prepayment speed
12.3
%
 
11.9
%
Weighted average delinquency rate
27.7
%
 
20.3
%
Advance financing cost
5-year swap plus 0% to 2.00%

 
5-year swap plus 0% to 2.00%

Interest rate for computing float earnings
5-year swap minus 0% to 0.50%

 
5-year swap minus 0% to 0.50%

Weighted average discount rate
11.4
%
 
10.7
%
Weighted average cost to service (in dollars)
$
292

 
$
223

Significant increases or decreases in these assumptions in isolation would have resulted in a significantly higher or lower fair value.
Financing Liability – Owed to Securitization Investors
Consists of securitization debt certificates due to third parties that represent beneficial ownership interests in mortgage-backed securitization trusts that we include in our consolidated financial statements. We determine fair value using the measurement alternative to ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement as disclosed in Note 3 – Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities. In accordance with the measurement alternative, the fair value of the consolidated securitization debt certificates is measured as the fair value of the loans held by the trust less the fair value of the beneficial interests held by us in the form of residual securities.
Other Secured Borrowings
The carrying value of secured borrowings that bear interest at a rate that is adjusted regularly based on a market index approximates fair value. For other secured borrowings that bear interest at a fixed rate, we determine fair value by discounting the future principal and interest repayments at a market rate commensurate with the risk of the estimated cash flows. For the SSTL, we base the fair value on valuation data obtained from a pricing service.
Secured Notes
In 2014, we issued Ocwen Asset Servicing Income Series (OASIS), Series 2014-1 Notes secured by Ocwen-owned MSRs relating to Freddie Mac mortgages. In 2019, we issued Ocwen Excess Spread-Collateralized Notes, Series 2019-PLS1 notes secured by certain of PMC’s private label MSRs. We determine the fair value of these notes based on bid prices provided by third parties involved in the issuance and placement of the notes.
Senior Notes
We base the fair value on quoted prices in a market with limited trading activity, or on valuation data obtained from a pricing service in the absence of trading data.
Derivative Financial Instruments
Interest rate lock commitments (IRLCs) represent an agreement to purchase loans from a third-party originator or an agreement to extend credit to a mortgage applicant (locked pipeline), whereby the interest rate is set prior to funding. As of December 31, 2019, IRLCs were classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy as the primary component of the price was obtained from observable values of mortgage forwards for loans of similar terms and characteristics. Fair value amounts of IRLCs are adjusted for expected “fallout” (locked pipeline loans not expected to close) using models that consider cumulative historical fallout rates and other factors. As of March 31, 2020, IRLCs were transferred to Level 3 assets as historical fallout rates required significant unobservable adjustments to account for the COVID-19 uncertainties.
We entered into forward MBS trades to provide an economic hedge against changes in the fair value of residential forward and reverse mortgage loans held for sale that we carry at fair value until August 2019 and, beginning in September 2019, to hedge of our net MSR portfolio. TBAs and interest rate swap futures are actively traded in the market and we obtain unadjusted market quotes for these derivatives; thus, they are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.
In addition, we may use interest rate caps to minimize future interest rate exposure on variable rate debt issued on servicing advance financing facilities from increases in one-month or three-month Eurodollar rate (1ML or 3ML, respectively) interest rates. The fair value for interest rate caps is based on counterparty market prices and adjusted for counterparty credit risk.

24



Note 5 – Loans Held for Sale
Loans Held for Sale - Fair Value
Three Months Ended March 31,
2020
 
2019
Beginning balance
$
208,752

 
$
176,525

Originations and purchases (2)
831,474

 
219,867

Proceeds from sales
(805,202
)
 
(235,895
)
Principal collections
(6,833
)
 
(5,516
)
Transfers from (to):
 
 
 
Loans held for investment, at fair value
578

 
396

Receivables, net
(31,302
)
 
(581
)
REO (Other assets)
(768
)
 
(696
)
Gain on sale of loans
6,418

 
8,191

Decrease in fair value of loans
(1,642
)
 
(228
)
Other
2,117

 
(8,923
)
Ending balance (1) (2) (3)
$
203,592

 
$
153,140

(1)
At March 31, 2020 and 2019, the balances include $(9.4) million and $(7.8) million, respectively, of fair value adjustments.
(2)
We elected the fair value option for all newly repurchased loans after December 31, 2019, consistent with our fair value election of originated loans.
(3)
At March 31, 2020 and 2019, the balances include $25.6 million and nil, respectively, of loans that we repurchased from Ginnie Mae guaranteed securitizations pursuant to Ginnie Mae servicing guidelines. We may repurchase loans that have been modified, to facilitate loss reduction strategies, or as otherwise obligated as a Ginnie Mae servicer. Repurchased loans may be modified or otherwise remediated through loss mitigation activities, may be sold to a third party, or are reclassified to Receivables.
Loans Held for Sale - Lower of Cost or Fair Value
Three Months Ended March 31,
2020
 
2019
Beginning balance
$
66,517

 
$
66,097

Purchases (1)

 
84,315

Proceeds from sales
(30,492
)
 
(62,135
)
Principal collections
(651
)
 
(1,776
)
Transfers from (to):
 
 
 
Receivables, net
266

 
(27,411
)
REO (Other assets)

 
(1,095
)
Gain on sale of loans
1,842

 
551

Decrease in valuation allowance
(138
)
 
706

Other
5,079

 
10,295

Ending balance (1)
$
42,423

 
$
69,547

(1)
At March 31, 2020 and 2019, the balances include $29.3 million and $42.7 million, respectively, of loans that we repurchased from Ginnie Mae guaranteed securitizations pursuant to Ginnie Mae servicing guidelines. Loans repurchased after December 31, 2019 are classified as Loans Held for Sale - Fair Value since we elected the fair value option, consistent with our fair value election for originated or purchased loans.
Valuation Allowance - Loans Held for Sale at Lower of Cost or Fair Value
Three Months Ended March 31,
2020
 
2019
Beginning balance
$
6,643

 
$
11,569

Provision
570

 
642

Transfer from Liability for indemnification obligations (Other liabilities)
25

 
67

Sales of loans
(457
)
 
(1,415
)
Ending balance
$
6,781

 
$
10,863


25




Gain on Loans Held for Sale, Net
Three Months Ended March 31,
2020
 
2019
Gain on sales of loans, net
 
 
 
MSRs retained on transfers of forward mortgage loans
$
6,561

 
$
828

Gain on sale of repurchased Ginnie Mae loans
1,842

 
538

Gain on sale of forward mortgage loans
6,418

 
10,444

 
14,821

 
11,810

Change in fair value of IRLCs
5,714

 
(341
)
Change in fair value of loans held for sale
159

 
(142
)
Loss on economic hedge instruments
(7,192
)
 
(2,270
)
Other
(171
)
 
(75
)
 
$
13,331

 
$
8,982

Note 6 – Advances
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Principal and interest
$
426,308

 
$
414,846

Taxes and insurance
383,829

 
422,383

Foreclosures, bankruptcy, REO and other
222,043

 
229,219

 
1,032,180

 
1,066,448

Allowance for losses
(7,373
)
 
(9,925
)
Advances, net
$
1,024,807

 
$
1,056,523

The following table summarizes the activity in net advances:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2020
 
2019
Beginning balance
$
1,056,523

 
$
1,186,676

New advances
243,545

 
105,995

Sales of advances
(228
)
 
(707
)
Collections of advances and other
(277,585
)
 
(198,008
)
Net decrease in allowance for losses (1)
2,552

 
124

Ending balance
$
1,024,807

 
$
1,094,080

(1)
As disclosed in Note 1, there was no significant adjustment as of January 1, 2020 as a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-13. Servicing advances are generally expected to be fully reimbursed under the terms of the servicing agreements. The estimate for the allowance for losses is based on relevant qualitative and quantitative information about past events, including historical collection and loss experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect collectability. The allowance for losses includes an estimate for claimable (with investors) but nonrecoverable expenses, for example due to servicer error, such as lack of reasonable documentation as to the type and amount of advances.
Allowance for Losses
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2020
 
2019
Beginning balance
$
9,925

 
$
23,259

Provision (reversal)
(761
)
 
1,762

Net charge-offs and other
(1,791
)
 
(1,886
)
Ending balance (1)
$
7,373

 
$
23,135


26



(1)
$18.0 million allowance related to sold advances was reclassified in the third quarter of 2019 and presented as Other liabilities (Liability for indemnification obligations).
Note 7 – Mortgage Servicing

During each period, we remeasure our MSR at fair value, which contemplates the receipt or nonreceipt of the servicing income for that period. The servicing income, including expectations of future servicing cash flows, are inputs for the measurement of the MSR fair value. The net result on the statement of operations is that we record the contractual cash received in each period as revenue within Servicing and subservicing fees, offset by the remeasurement of the MSR fair value within MSR valuation adjustments, net.
MSRs – Fair Value Measurement Method
Three Months Ended March 31,
2020
 
2019
 
Agency
 
Non-Agency
 
Total
 
Agency
 
Non-Agency
 
Total
Beginning balance
$
714,006

 
$
772,389

 
$
1,486,395

 
$
865,587

 
$
591,562

 
$
1,457,149

Sales and other transfers

 
(56
)
 
(56
)
 
(435
)
 
(132
)
 
(567
)
Additions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recognized on the sale of residential mortgage loans
5,930

 

 
5,930

 
1,407

 

 
1,407

Purchase of MSRs
31,490

 

 
31,490

 
54,513

 

 
54,513

Servicing transfers and adjustments (1)
(263,630
)
 
(893
)
 
(264,523
)
 

 
(3,313
)
 
(3,313
)
Changes in fair value (2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in valuation inputs or other assumptions
(166,532
)
 
10,392

 
(156,140
)
 
(64,117
)
 
(156
)
 
(64,273
)
Realization of expected future cash flows and other changes
(27,037
)
 
(25,831
)
 
(52,868
)
 
(31,263
)
 
(13,462
)
 
(44,725
)
Ending balance
$
294,227

 
$
756,001

 
$
1,050,228

 
$
825,692

 
$
574,499

 
$
1,400,191

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Servicing transfers and adjustments include a $263.7 million derecognition of MSRs/Rights to MSRs effective with the February 20, 2020 termination of the subservicing agreement between NRZ and PMC. See Note 8 — Rights to MSRs for further information.
(2)
Changes in fair value are recognized in MSR valuation adjustments, net in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations.
Portfolio of Assets Serviced
The following table presents the composition of our primary servicing and subservicing portfolios as measured by UPB. The UPB amounts in the table below are not included on our unaudited consolidated balance sheets, with the exception of the Reverse mortgage loans.
 
UPB at
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
 
March 31, 2019
Servicing
$
70,718,538

 
$
70,428,208

 
$
69,616,987

Reverse mortgage loan servicing (1)
6,432,003

 
6,229,724

 
5,671,103

Subservicing
17,676,677

 
17,120,905

 
49,805,407

NRZ (2) (3)
113,934,122

 
118,587,594

 
125,987,243

 
$
208,761,340

 
$
212,366,431

 
$
251,080,740

(1)
Reverse mortgage loans are reported on our unaudited consolidated balance sheets and are classified as loans held for investment. No separate MSRs are recognized in our unaudited consolidated balance sheets.
(2)
UPB of loans for which the Rights to MSRs have been sold to NRZ, including $55.6 billion for which third-party consents have been received and the MSRs have been transferred to NRZ (the MSRs remain on balance sheet as the transactions do not achieve sale accounting treatment).

27


(3)
Includes $40.0 billion of servicing UPB at March 31, 2020 pursuant to the subservicing agreement between NRZ and PMC for which we received a notice of termination from NRZ on February 20, 2020. While the MSRs and the Rights to MSRs associated with these loans are derecognized from our consolidated balance sheet, we continue to service these loans until deboarding. See Note 8 — Rights to MSRs.
We acquired MSRs on portfolios with a UPB of $2.9 billion and $4.9 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We sold MSRs on portfolios with a UPB of $17.6 million and $99.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
A significant portion of the servicing agreements for our non-Agency servicing portfolio contain provisions where we could be terminated as servicer without compensation upon the failure of the serviced loans to meet certain portfolio delinquency or cumulative loss thresholds. To date, terminations as servicer as a result of a breach of any of these provisions have been minimal.
At March 31, 2020, the S&P Global Ratings, Inc.’s (S&P’s) servicer ratings outlook for PMC is stable. On March 24, 2020, Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch) placed all U.S Residential Mortgage Backed Securities (RMBS) servicer ratings on Outlook Negative, resulting from a rapidly evolving economic and operating environment due to the sudden impact of the COVID-19 virus. Downgrades in servicer ratings could adversely affect our ability to service loans, sell or finance servicing advances and could impair our ability to consummate future servicing transactions or adversely affect our dealings with lenders, other contractual counterparties, and regulators, including our ability to maintain our status as an approved servicer by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The servicer rating requirements of Fannie Mae do not necessarily require or imply immediate action, as Fannie Mae has discretion with respect to whether we are in compliance with their requirements and what actions it deems appropriate under the circumstances in the event that we fall below their desired servicer ratings.
Certain of our servicing agreements require that we maintain specified servicer ratings from rating agencies such as Moody’s and S&P. As a result of our current servicer ratings, termination rights have been triggered in some non-Agency servicing agreements. To date, terminations as servicer as a result of a breach of any of these provisions have been minimal.
Servicing Revenue
Three Months Ended March 31,
2020
 
2019
Loan servicing and subservicing fees
 
 
 
Servicing
$
55,408

 
$
53,345

Subservicing
5,190

 
6,207

NRZ
119,669

 
155,847

 
180,267

 
215,399

Late charges
14,639

 
15,439

Custodial accounts (float earnings)
6,141

 
11,934

Loan collection fees
4,256

 
4,349

Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) fees (1)
408

 
1,777

Other, net
5,772

 
7,881

 
$
211,483

 
$
256,779

(1)
The HAMP expired on December 31, 2016. Borrowers who had requested assistance or to whom an offer of assistance had been extended as of that date had until September 30, 2017 to finalize their modification. We continue to earn HAMP success fees for HAMP modifications that remain less than 90 days delinquent at the first-, second- and third-year anniversary of the start of the trial modification.
Float balances (balances in custodial accounts, which represent collections of principal and interest that we receive from borrowers) are held in escrow by unaffiliated banks and are excluded from our unaudited consolidated balance sheets. Float balances amounted to $1.9 billion, $1.7 billion and $1.8 billion at March 31, 2020, December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, respectively.
Note 8 — Rights to MSRs
Ocwen and PMC have entered into agreements to sell MSRs or Rights to MSRs and the related servicing advances to NRZ, and in all cases have been retained by NRZ as subservicer. In the case of Ocwen Rights to MSRs transactions, while the majority of the risks and rewards of ownership were transferred in 2012 and 2013, legal title was retained by Ocwen, causing the Rights to MSRs transactions to be accounted for as secured financings. In the case of the PMC transactions, and for those

28



Ocwen MSRs where consents were subsequently received and legal title was transferred to NRZ, due to the length of the non-cancellable term of the subservicing agreements, the transactions do not qualify as a sale and are accounted for as secured financings. As a result, we continue to recognize the MSRs and related financing liability on our consolidated balance sheets, as well as the full amount of servicing revenue and changes in the fair value of the MSRs and related financing liability in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations. Changes in fair value of the Rights to MSRs are recognized in MSR valuation adjustments, net in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations. Changes in fair value of the MSR related financing liability are reported in Pledged MSR liability expense.
The following tables present selected assets and liabilities recorded on our unaudited consolidated balance sheets as well as the impacts to our unaudited consolidated statements of operations in connection with our NRZ agreements.
Balance Sheets
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
MSRs, at fair value (1)
$
591,705

 
$
915,148

 
 
 
 
Due from NRZ (Receivables)
 
 
 
Sales and transfers of MSRs (2)
$
22,631

 
$
24,167

Subservicing fees and reimbursable expenses
1,601

 
9,197

 
$
24,232

 
$
33,364

 
 
 
 
Due to NRZ (Other liabilities)
$
98,555

 
$
63,596

 
 
 
 
Financing liability - MSRs pledged, at fair value
 
 
 
Original Rights to MSRs Agreements
$
591,705

 
$
603,046

2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements (3)
9,979

 
35,445

PMC MSR Agreements (1)

 
312,102

 
$
601,684

 
$
950,593

(1)
On February 20, 2020, we received a notice of termination from NRZ with respect to the PMC MSR Agreements. While the MSRs and the Rights to MSRs associated with these loans are derecognized from our balance sheet at March 31, 2020, we continue to service these loans until deboarding, and account for them as a subservicing relationship.
(2)
Balance represents the holdback of proceeds from PMC MSR sales and transfers to address indemnification claims and mortgage loan document deficiencies. These sales were executed by PMC prior to the acquisition date.
(3)
$10.0 million of income is expected to be recognized for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 as a reduction in the financing liability based on the remaining term of the original agreements.

29



 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2020
 
2019
Statements of Operations
 
 
 
Servicing fees collected on behalf of NRZ (1)
$
119,669

 
$
155,847

Less: Subservicing fee retained by Ocwen (1)
29,331

 
37,407

Net servicing fees remitted to NRZ
90,338

 
118,440

 
 
 
 
Less: Reduction (increase) in financing liability
 
 
 
Changes in fair value:
 
 
 
Original Rights to MSRs Agreements
(9,120
)
 
121

2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements
(903
)
 
(6,980
)
PMC MSR Agreements (1)
40,720

 
33,096

 
30,697

 
26,237

Runoff and settlement:
 
 
 
Original Rights to MSRs Agreements
17,793

 
9,035

2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements
25,142

 
23,320

PMC MSR Agreements (1)
7,492

 
17,774

 
50,427

 
50,129

 
 
 
 
Other
2,620

 
(1,882
)
 
 
 
 
Pledged MSR liability expense
$
6,594

 
$
43,956

(1)
On February 20, 2020, we received a notice of termination from NRZ with respect to the PMC MSR Agreements. As the MSRs and the Rights to MSRs associated with these loans were derecognized from our consolidated balance sheet on February 20, 2020, we did not report the associated servicing fees collected on behalf of, and remitted to NRZ, or the change in fair value, runoff and settlement of the financing liability subsequent to February 20, 2020.

30



Financing Liability - MSRs Pledged
Original Rights to MSRs Agreements
 
2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements
 
PMC MSR Agreements
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2019
$
603,046

 
$
35,445

 
$
312,102

 
$
950,593

Additions

 

 

 

Receipt of lump-sum cash payments

 

 

 

Sales

 

 
(226
)
 
(226
)
Changes in fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 

Original Rights to MSRs Agreements
9,120

 

 

 
9,120

2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements

 
903

 

 
903

PMC MSR Agreements

 

 
(40,720
)
 
(40,720
)
Runoff and settlement:
 
 
 
 
 
 

Original Rights to MSRs Agreements
(17,793
)
 

 

 
(17,793
)
2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements

 
(25,142
)
 

 
(25,142
)
PMC MSR Agreements

 

 
(7,492
)
 
(7,492
)
Derecognition of Pledged MSR financing liability due to termination of PMC MSR Agreements

 

 
(263,664
)
 
(263,664
)
Calls (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 

Original Rights to MSRs Agreements
(2,668
)
 

 

 
(2,668
)
2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements

 
(1,227
)
 

 
(1,227
)
Balance at March 31, 2020
$
591,705

 
$
9,979

 
$

 
$
601,684

Financing Liability - MSRs Pledged
Original Rights to MSRs Agreements
 
2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements
 
PMC MSR Agreements
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2018
$
436,511

 
$
138,854

 
$
457,491

 
$
1,032,856

Purchases

 

 
577

 
577

Changes in fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Original Rights to MSRs Agreements
(121
)
 

 

 
(121
)
2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements

 
6,980

 

 
6,980

PHH MSR Agreements

 

 
(33,096
)
 
(33,096
)
Runoff and settlement:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Original Rights to MSRs Agreements
(9,035
)
 

 

 
(9,035
)
2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements

 
(23,320
)
 

 
(23,320
)
PHH MSR Agreements

 

 
(17,774
)
 
(17,774
)
Calls (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Original Rights to MSRs Agreements
(3,269
)
 

 

 
(3,269
)
2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements

 
(2,582
)
 

 
(2,582
)
Balance at March 31, 2019
$
424,086

 
$
119,932

 
$
407,198

 
$
951,216

(1)
Represents the carrying value of MSRs in connection with call rights exercised by NRZ, for MSRs transferred to NRZ under the 2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements, or by Ocwen at NRZ’s direction, for MSRs underlying the Original Rights to MSRs Agreements. Ocwen derecognizes the MSRs and the related financing liability upon collapse of the securitization.
Ocwen Transactions
Prior to the transfer of legal title under the Master Servicing Rights Purchase Agreement dated as of October 1, 2012, as amended, and certain Sale Supplements, as amended (collectively, the Original Rights to MSRs Agreements), Ocwen agreed to service the mortgage loans underlying the MSRs on the economic terms set forth in the Original Rights to MSRs Agreements.

31



After the transfer of legal title as contemplated under the Original Rights to MSRs Agreements, Ocwen was to service the mortgage loans underlying the MSRs as subservicer on substantially the same economic terms.
On July 23, 2017 and January 18, 2018, we entered into a series of agreements with NRZ that collectively modify, supplement and supersede the arrangements among the parties as set forth in the Original Rights to MSRs Agreements. The July 23, 2017 agreements, as amended, include a Master Agreement, a Transfer Agreement and the Subservicing Agreement between Ocwen and New Residential Mortgage LLC (NRM), a subsidiary of NRZ, relating to non-agency loans (the NRM Subservicing Agreement) (collectively, the 2017 Agreements) pursuant to which the parties agreed, among other things, to undertake certain actions to facilitate the transfer from Ocwen to NRZ of Ocwen’s legal title to the remaining MSRs that were subject to the Original Rights to MSRs Agreements and under which Ocwen would subservice mortgage loans underlying the MSRs for an initial term ending July 2022 (the Initial Term).
On January 18, 2018, the parties entered into new agreements (including a Servicing Addendum) regarding the Rights to MSRs related to MSRs that remained subject to the Original Rights to MSRs Agreements as of January 1, 2018 and amended the Transfer Agreement (collectively, New RMSR Agreements) to accelerate the implementation of certain parts of our arrangements in order to achieve the intent of the 2017 Agreements sooner. Under the new agreements, following receipt of the required consents and transfer of the MSRs, Ocwen subservices the mortgage loans underlying the transferred MSRs pursuant to the 2017 Agreements and the August 2018 subservicing agreement with NewRez LLC dba Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing (Shellpoint) described below.
Ocwen received lump-sum cash payments of $54.6 million and $279.6 million in September 2017 and January 2018 in accordance with the terms of the 2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements, respectively. These upfront payments generally represent the net present value of the difference between the future revenue stream Ocwen would have received under the Original Rights to MSRs Agreements and the future revenue stream Ocwen expects to receive under the 2017 Agreements and the New RMSR Agreements. We recognized the cash received as a financing liability that we are accounting for at fair value through the remaining term of the original agreements (April 2020). Changes in fair value are recognized in Pledged MSR liability expense in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations.
On August 17, 2018, Ocwen and NRZ entered into certain amendments (i) to the New RMSR Agreements to include Shellpoint, a subsidiary of NRZ, as a party to which legal title to the MSRs could be transferred after related consents are received, (ii) to add a Subservicing Agreement between Ocwen and Shellpoint relating to non-agency loans (the Shellpoint Subservicing Agreement), (iii) to add an Agency Subservicing Agreement between Ocwen and NRM relating to agency loans (the Agency Subservicing Agreement), and (iv) to conform the New RMSR Agreements and the NRM Subservicing Agreement to certain of the terms of the Shellpoint Subservicing Agreement and the Agency Subservicing Agreement.
At any time during the Initial Term, NRZ may terminate the Subservicing Agreements and Servicing Addendum for convenience, subject to Ocwen’s right to receive a termination fee and 180 days’ notice. The termination fee is calculated as specified in the Subservicing Agreements and Servicing Addendum, and is a discounted percentage of the expected revenues that would be owed to Ocwen over the remaining contract term based on certain portfolio run-off assumptions.
Following the Initial Term, NRZ may extend the term of the Subservicing Agreements and Servicing Addendum for additional three-month periods by providing proper notice. Following the Initial Term, the Subservicing Agreements and Servicing Addendum can be cancelled by Ocwen on an annual basis. NRZ and Ocwen have the ability to terminate the Subservicing Agreements and Servicing Addendum for cause if certain specified conditions occur. The terminations must be terminations in whole (i.e., cover all the loans under the relevant Subservicing Agreement or Servicing Addendum) and not in part, except for limited circumstances specified in the agreements. In addition, if NRZ terminates any of the NRM or Shellpoint Subservicing Agreements or the Servicing Addendum for cause, the other agreements will also terminate automatically.
Under the terms of the Subservicing Agreements and Servicing Addendum, in addition to a base servicing fee, Ocwen receives certain ancillary fees, primarily late fees, loan modification fees and Speedpay® fees. We may also receive certain incentive fees or pay penalties tied to various contractual performance metrics. NRZ receives all float earnings and deferred servicing fees related to delinquent borrower payments, as well as being entitled to receive certain REO related income including REO referral commissions.
As of March 31, 2020, the UPB of MSRs subject to the Servicing Agreements and the New RMSR Agreements is $73.6 billion, including $17.9 billion for which title has not transferred to NRZ. We and NRZ are currently discussing various alternative arrangements for the servicing of these MSRs. As the third-party consents required for title to the MSRs to transfer were not obtained by May 31, 2019, the New RMSR Agreements set forth a process under which NRZ’s $17.9 billion Rights to MSRs may (i) be acquired by Ocwen at a price determined in accordance with the terms of the New RMSR Agreements, at the option of Ocwen, or (ii) be sold, together with Ocwen’s title to those MSRs, to a third party in accordance with the terms of the New RMSR Agreements, subject to an additional Ocwen option to acquire at a price based on the winning third-party bid rather than selling to the third party. If the Rights to MSRs are not transferred pursuant to these alternatives, then the Rights to MSRs will remain subject to the New RMSR Agreements.

32



In addition, as noted above, during the Initial Term, NRZ has the right to terminate the $17.9 billion New RMSR Agreements for convenience, in whole but not in part, subject to payment of a termination fee and 180 days’ notice. If NRZ exercises this termination right, NRZ has the option of seeking (i) the transfer of the MSRs through a sale to a third party of its Rights to MSRs (together with a transfer of Ocwen’s title to those MSRs) or (ii) a substitute RMSR arrangement that substantially replicates the Rights to MSRs structure (a Substitute RMSR Arrangement) under which we would transfer title to the MSRs to a successor servicer and NRZ would continue to own the economic rights and obligations related to the MSRs. In the case of option (i), we have a purchase option as specified in the New RMSR Agreements. If NRZ is not able to sell the Rights to MSRs or establish a Substitute RMSR Arrangement with another servicer, NRZ has the right to revoke its termination notice and re-instate the Servicing Addendum or to establish a subservicing arrangement whereby the MSRs remaining subject to the New RMSR Agreements would be transferred to up to three subservicers who would subservice under Ocwen’s oversight. If such a subservicing arrangement were established, Ocwen would receive an oversight fee and reimbursement of expenses. We may also agree on alternative arrangements that are not contemplated under our existing agreements or that are variations of those contemplated under our existing agreements.
PMC Transactions
On December 28, 2016, PMC entered into an agreement to sell substantially all of its MSRs, and the related servicing advances, to NRM (the 2016 PMC Sale Agreement). In connection with this agreement, on December 28, 2016, PMC also entered into a subservicing agreement with NRZ which was subsequently amended and restated as of March 29, 2019 (together with the 2016 PMC Sale Agreement, the PMC MSR Agreements). The PMC subservicing agreement has an initial term of three years from the initial transaction date of June 16, 2017, subject to certain transfer and termination provisions.
The PMC subservicing agreement generates revenue based on a schedule of fees per loan per month that includes revenue adjustments for delinquent loans to cover the incremental cost associated with servicing such loans. As of March 31, 2020, Ocwen serviced 269,403 loans (with a UPB of $33.8 billion) under this arrangement, excluding loans added by NRZ in 2019, and recorded servicing fee revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2020 of $3.9 million. In addition to the $33.8 billion in UPB of loans in the PMC subservicing agreement for which the MSR sale transaction did not achieve sale accounting treatment, PMC is also subservicing loans with approximately $6.2 billion in UPB at March 31, 2020 that NRZ added to the PMC subservicing agreement after NRZ acquired the MSRs from an unrelated party during 2019. Consistent with a subservicing relationship, no MSR or pledged MSR liability is recorded on our consolidated balance sheets for the $6.2 billion loan UPB.
Subject to the payment of the applicable deboarding fee and proper notice, NRZ has the right to terminate an amount not to exceed 25% of the underlying mortgage loans (not including loans added by NRZ in 2019) being subserviced during the period from June 2019 through the end of the initial term in June 2020. The PMC subservicing agreement automatically renews for successive one-year terms unless either party provides notice of renewal in accordance with the PMC subservicing agreement, which is 180 days’ notice in the case of NRZ and nine months’ notice in the case of PMC. NRZ and PMC each also has the right to terminate the PMC subservicing agreement after the initial term without cause subject to 180 days’ notice in the case of NRZ and nine months’ notice in the case of PMC and, if NRZ elects to terminate, NRZ’s payment of deboarding fees. NRZ and PMC each has the ability to terminate the subservicing agreement for cause if certain specified conditions occur.
On February 20, 2020, we received a notice of termination from NRZ with respect to the PMC MSR Agreements, which accounted for $40.0 billion loan UPB. The notice states that the effective date of termination is June 19, 2020 with respect to 25% of the Initial Mortgage Loans under the agreement and August 18, 2020 for the remainder of the loans under the agreement. The loans that were added by NRZ under the PMC subservicing agreement in 2019 and amounted to approximately $6.6 billion in UPB are subject to the termination with the stated effective date of August 18, 2020. In connection with the termination, we are entitled to loan deboarding fees from NRZ. This termination is for convenience and not for cause. As the sale accounting criteria were met upon the notice of termination, the MSRs and the Rights to MSRs associated with the $40.0 billion loan UPB were derecognized from our balance sheet on February 20, 2020 without any gain or loss on derecognition. We continue to service these loans until deboarding, and account for them as a subservicing relationship. Accordingly, we recognized subservicing fees associated with the subservicing agreement subsequent to February 20, 2020 and did not report any servicing fees collected on behalf of, and remitted to NRZ, any change in fair value, runoff and settlement in financing liability thereafter.

33



Note 9 – Receivables
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Servicing-related receivables:
 
 
 
Government-insured loan claims
$
120,410

 
$
122,557

Due from NRZ:
 
 
 
Sales and transfers of MSRs
22,631

 
24,167

Subservicing fees and reimbursable expenses
1,601

 
9,197

Reimbursable expenses
9,325

 
13,052

Due from custodial accounts
11,306

 
27,175

Other
3,665

 
4,970

 
168,938

 
201,118

Income taxes receivable (1)
102,566

 
37,888

Other receivables
23,064

 
20,086

 
294,568

 
259,092

Allowance for losses
(59,263
)
 
(57,872
)
 
$
235,305

 
$
201,220

(1)
See Note 16 – Income Taxes
At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the allowance for losses related to receivables of our Servicing business. Allowance for losses related to defaulted FHA- or VA-insured loans repurchased from Ginnie Mae guaranteed securitizations and not subsequently sold to third-party investors (government-insured loan claims) was $58.1 million and $56.9 million at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The government-insured loan claims are guaranteed by the U.S. government.
Allowance for Losses - Government-Insured Loan Claims
Three Months Ended March 31,
2020
 
2019
Beginning balance (1)
$
56,868

 
$
52,497

Provision
5,072

 
7,247

Charge-offs and other, net
(3,837
)
 
(8,464
)
Ending balance
$
58,103

 
$
51,280

(1)
The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not result in any significant change to the allowance for losses related to receivables as of January 1, 2020.

34



Note 10 – Other Assets
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Contingent loan repurchase asset
$
393,395

 
$
492,900

Prepaid expenses
35,514

 
21,996

Prepaid representation, warranty and indemnification claims - Agency MSR sale
15,173

 
15,173

Derivatives, at fair value
15,830

 
6,007

REO
7,907

 
8,556

Prepaid lender fees, net
6,464

 
8,647

Security deposits
2,150

 
2,163

Mortgage backed securities, at fair value
1,670

 
2,075

Deferred tax asset, net
1,647

 
2,169

Interest-earning time deposits
371

 
390

Other
4,004

 
3,164

 
$
484,125

 
$
563,240

Note 11 – Borrowings
Advance Match Funded Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Borrowing Type
 
Maturity (1)
 
Amorti- zation Date (1)
 
Available Borrowing Capacity (2)
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate (3)
 
Balance
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate (3)
 
Balance
Advance Financing Facilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advance Receivables Backed Notes - Series 2015-VF5 (4)
 
Dec. 2050
 
Dec. 2020
 
$
59,021

 
3.05
%
 
$
140,979

 
3.36
%
 
$
190,555

Advance Receivables Backed Notes, Series 2019-T1 (5)
 
Aug. 2050
 
Aug. 2020
 

 
2.62

 
185,000

 
2.62

 
185,000

Advance Receivables Backed Notes, Series 2019-T2 (5)
 
Aug. 2051
 
Aug. 2021
 

 
2.53

 
285,000

 
2.53

 
285,000

Total Ocwen Master Advance Receivables Trust (OMART)
 
 
 
 
 
59,021

 
2.68

 
610,979

 
2.79

 
660,555

Ocwen Freddie Advance Funding (OFAF) - Advance Receivables Backed Notes, Series 2015-VF1 (6)
 
Jun. 2050
 
Jun. 2020
 
45,028

 
3.26

 
14,972

 
3.53

 
18,554

 
 
 
 
 
 
$
104,049

 
2.69
%
 
$
625,951

 
2.81
%
 
$
679,109

(1)
The amortization date of our facilities is the date on which the revolving period ends under each advance facility note and repayment of the outstanding balance must begin if the note is not renewed or extended. The maturity date is the date on which all outstanding balances must be repaid. In all of our advance facilities, there are multiple notes outstanding. For each note, after the amortization date, all collections that represent the repayment of advances pledged to the facility must be applied ratably to each outstanding amortizing note to reduce the balance and as such the collection of advances allocated to the amortizing note may not be used to fund new advances.
(2)
Borrowing capacity under the OMART and OFAF facilities is available to us provided that we have sufficient eligible collateral to pledge. At March 31, 2020, none of the available borrowing capacity of our advance financing notes could be used based on the amount of eligible collateral.
(3)
1ML was 0.99% and 1.76% at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
(4)
The total borrowing capacity of the Series 2015-VF5 variable notes is $200.0 million, with interest computed based on the lender’s cost of funds plus a margin. At March 31, 2020, the weighted average interest margin was 136 bps.
(5)
On August 14, 2019, we issued two fixed-rate term notes of $185.0 million (Series 2019 T-1) and $285.0 million (Series 2019-T2) with amortization dates of August 17, 2020 and August 16, 2021, respectively, for a total combined borrowing capacity of $470.0 million. The weighted average rate of the notes is 2.57% with rates on the individual classes of notes ranging from 2.42% to 4.44%.
(6)
The borrowing capacity of this facility is $60.0 million with interest computed based on the lender’s cost of funds plus a margin. At March 31, 2020, the weighted average interest margin was 157 bps.

35



Pursuant to the 2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements, NRZ is obligated to fund new servicing advances with respect to the MSRs underlying the Rights to MSRs. As of March 31, 2020, we were the servicer of Rights to MSRs sold to NRZ pertaining to $17.9 billion in UPB, which excludes those Rights to MSRs where legal title has transferred to NRZ. NRZ’s associated outstanding servicing advances were approximately $668.5 million and $704.2 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. We are dependent upon NRZ for funding the servicing advance obligations for Rights to MSRs where we are the servicer. As the servicer, we are contractually required under our servicing agreements to make certain servicing advances even if NRZ does not perform its contractual obligations to fund those advances. NRZ currently uses advance financing facilities in order to fund a substantial portion of the servicing advances that they are contractually obligated to purchase pursuant to our agreements with them. If NRZ were unable to meet its advance funding obligations, we would remain obligated to meet any future advance financing obligations with respect to the loans underlying these Rights to MSRs for which legal title has not transferred, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition, results of operations and servicing business. See Note 8 — Rights to MSRs for additional information.
In addition, although we are not an obligor or guarantor under NRZ’s advance financing facilities, we are a party to certain of the facility documents as the servicer of the underlying loans on which advances are being financed. As the servicer, we make certain representations, warranties and covenants, including representations and warranties in connection with advances subsequently sold to, or reimbursed by, NRZ.
Financing Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding Balance
Borrowing Type
 
Collateral
 
Interest Rate
 
Maturity
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
HMBS-Related Borrowings, at fair value (1)
 
Loans held for investment
 
1ML + 260 bps
 
(1)
 
$
6,323,091

 
$
6,063,435

Other Financing Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MSRs pledged (Rights to MSRs), at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Original Rights to MSRs Agreements
 
MSRs
 
(2)
 
(2)
 
591,705

 
603,046

2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements
 
MSRs
 
(3)
 
(3)
 
9,979

 
35,445

PMC MSR Agreements
 
MSRs
 
(4)
 
(4)
 

 
312,102

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
601,684

 
950,593

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financing liability - Owed to securitization investors, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
IndyMac Mortgage Loan Trust (INDX 2004-AR11) (5)
 
Loans held for investment
 
(5)
 
(5)
 
9,544

 
9,794

Residential Asset Securitization Trust 2003-A11 (RAST 2003-A11) (5)
 
Loans held for investment
 
(5)
 
(5)
 
11,821

 
12,208

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21,365

 
22,002

Total Other Financing Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
623,049

 
972,595

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
6,946,140

 
$
7,036,030

(1)
Represents amounts due to the holders of beneficial interests in Ginnie Mae guaranteed HMBS which did not qualify for sale accounting treatment of HECM loans. Under this accounting treatment, the HECM loans securitized with Ginnie Mae remain on our consolidated balance sheet and the proceeds from the sale are recognized as a secured liability. The beneficial interests have no maturity dates, and the borrowings mature as the related loans are repaid. We elected to record the HMBS-related borrowings at fair value consistent with the related HECM loans. Changes in fair value are reported within Reverse mortgage revenue, net.
(2)
This pledged MSR liability is recognized due to the accounting treatment of MSR sale transactions with NRZ which did not qualify as sales for accounting purposes. Under this accounting treatment, the MSRs transferred to NRZ remain on the consolidated balance sheet and the proceeds from the sale are recognized as a secured liability. This financing liability has no contractual maturity or repayment schedule. We elected to record the liability at fair value consistent with the related MSRs. The balance of the liability is adjusted each reporting period to its fair value based on the present value of the estimated future cash flows underlying the related MSRs. Changes in fair value are reported within Pledged MSR liability expense, and are offset by corresponding changes in fair value of the MSR pledged to NRZ within MSR valuation adjustments, net.
(3)
This financing liability arose in connection with lump sum payments of $54.6 million received upon transfer of legal title of the MSRs related to the Rights to MSRs transactions to NRZ in September 2017. In connection with the execution of the New RMSR Agreements in January 2018, we received a lump sum payment of $279.6 million as compensation for foregoing certain payments under the Original Rights to MSRs Agreements. We recognized the cash received as a financing liability that we are accounting for at fair value through the

36



remaining term of the original agreements (April 2020). The balance of the liability is adjusted each reporting period to its fair value based on the present value of the estimated future cash flows, with changes in fair value recognized in Pledged MSR liability expense in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations.
(4)
Represented a liability for sales of MSRs to NRZ which did not qualify for sale accounting treatment and were accounted for as a secured borrowing which we assumed in connection with the acquisition of PHH. Under this accounting treatment, the MSRs transferred to NRZ remained on the consolidated balance sheet and the proceeds from the sale were recognized as a secured liability. We elected to record the liability at fair value consistent with the related MSRs. As disclosed in Note 8 — Rights to MSRs, the liability was derecognized upon termination of the agreement by NRZ on February 20, 2020.
(5)
Consists of securitization debt certificates due to third parties that represent beneficial interests in trusts that we include in our unaudited consolidated financial statements, as more fully described in Note 3 – Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities. The holders of these certificates have no recourse against the assets of Ocwen. The certificates in the INDX 2004-AR11 Trust pay interest based on variable rates which are generally based on weighted average net mortgage rates and which range between 3.38% and 3.85% at March 31, 2020. The certificates in the RAST 2003-A11 Trust pay interest based on fixed rates ranging between 4.25% and 5.75% and a variable rate based on 1ML plus 0.45%. The maturity of the certificates occurs upon maturity of the loans held by the trust. The remaining loans in the INDX 2004-AR11 Trust and RAST 2003-A11 Trust have maturity dates extending through November 2034 and October 2033, respectively.

Other Secured Borrowings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding Balance
Borrowing Type
 
Collateral
 
Interest Rate
 
Termination / Maturity
 
Available Borrowing Capacity (1)
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
SSTL (2)
 
(2)
 
1-Month Euro-dollar rate + 600 bps with a Eurodollar floor of 100 bps (2)
 
May 2022
 
$

 
$
200,000

 
$
326,066


37



Other Secured Borrowings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding Balance
Borrowing Type
 
Collateral
 
Interest Rate
 
Termination / Maturity
 
Available Borrowing Capacity (1)
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Mortgage loan warehouse facilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Master repurchase agreement (3)
 
Loans held for sale (LHFS)
 
1ML + 195 - 300 bps
 
Sep. 2020
 

 
110,607

 
91,573

Mortgage warehouse agreement (4)
 
LHFS (reverse mortgages)
 
Greater of 1ML + 250 bps or 350 bps; Libor Floor 0%
 
Aug. 2020
 

 

 
72,443

Master repurchase agreement (5)
 
LHFS (forward and reverse mortgages)
 
1ML + 225 bps forward; 1ML + 275 bps reverse
 
Dec. 2020
 
119,637

 
80,363

 
139,227

Master repurchase agreement (6)
 
LHFS (reverse mortgages)
 
Prime + 0.0% (4.0% floor)
 
Jan. 2020
 

 

 
898

Master repurchase agreement (7)
 
N/A
 
1ML + 170 bps; Libor Floor 35 bps
 
N/A
 

 

 

Participation agreement (8)
 
LHFS
 
N/A
 
May 2020
 

 
29,102

 
17,304

Mortgage warehouse agreement (9)
 
LHFS
 
1ML + 350 bps; Libor Floor 175 bps
 
Dec. 2020
 
36,583

 
13,417

 
10,780

Mortgage warehouse agreement (10)
 
LHFS (reverse mortgages)
 
1ML + 250 bps; 1ML floor of 350 bps
 
Aug. 2020
 

 
55,633

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
156,220

 
289,122

 
332,225

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency MSR financing facility (11)
 
MSRs
 
1ML + 300bps
 
Jun. 2020
 
185,710

 
114,290

 
147,706

Ginnie Mae MSR financing facility (12)
 
MSRs
 
1ML + 395 bps
 
Nov. 2021
 

 
61,082

 
72,320

Ocwen Excess Spread-Collateralized Notes, Series 2019-PLS1 (13)
 
MSRs
 
5.07%
 
Nov. 2024
 

 
86,911

 
94,395

Secured Notes, Ocwen Asset Servicing Income Series, Series 2014-1 (14)
 
MSRs
 
(14)
 
Feb. 2028
 

 
55,596

 
57,594

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
185,710

 
317,879

 
372,015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
341,930

 
807,001

 
1,030,306

Unamortized debt issuance costs - SSTL and PLS Notes
 
 
 
(8,808
)
 
(3,381
)
Discount - SSTL
 
 
 
(578
)
 
(1,134
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
$
797,615

 
$
1,025,791

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average interest rate
 
4.09
%
 
4.74
%
(1)
Available borrowing capacity for our mortgage loan warehouse facilities does not consider the amount of the facility that the lender has extended on an uncommitted basis. Of the borrowing capacity extended on a committed basis, none of the available borrowing capacity could be used at March 31, 2020 based on the amount of eligible collateral that could be pledged.
(2)
On January 27, 2020, we entered into a Joinder and Second Amendment Agreement (the Amendment) which amends the Amended and Restated SSTL Facility Agreement dated as of December 5, 2016, as amended by a Joinder and Amendment Agreement dated as of March 18, 2019. The Amendment provided for a net prepayment of $126.1 million of the outstanding balance at December 31, 2019

38



such that the facility has a maximum outstanding balance of $200.0 million. The Amendment also (i) extended the maturity of the remaining outstanding loans under the SSTL to May 15, 2022, (ii) provides that the loans under the SSTL bear interest at the one-month Eurodollar Rate or the Base Rate (as defined in the SSTL), at our option, plus a margin of 6.00% per annum for Eurodollar Rate loans or 5.00% per annum for Base Rate loans (increasing to a margin of 6.50% per annum for Eurodollar Rate loans or 5.50% per annum for Base Rate loans on January 27, 2021), (iii) provides for a prepayment premium of 2.00% until January 27, 2022 and (iv) requires quarterly principal payments of $5.0 million.
(3)
The maximum borrowing under this agreement is $175.0 million, of which $100.0 million is available on a committed basis and the remainder is available at the discretion of the lender.
(4)
Under this participation agreement, the lender provides financing for $1.0 million on a committed basis. The participation agreement allows the lender to acquire a 100% beneficial interest in the underlying mortgage loans. The transaction does not qualify for sale accounting treatment and is accounted for as a secured borrowing. On March 12, 2020, we voluntarily reduced the maximum borrowing capacity from $100.0 million to $1.0 million in connection with Liberty’s transfer of substantially all of its assets, liabilities, contracts and employees to PMC effective March 15, 2020.
(5)
The maximum borrowing under this agreement is $250.0 million, of which $200.0 million is available on a committed basis and the remainder is available on an uncommitted basis. The agreement allows the lender to acquire a 100% beneficial interest in the underlying mortgage loans. The transaction does not qualify for sale accounting treatment and is accounted for as a secured borrowing.
(6)
Under this agreement, the lender provides financing for up to $50.0 million on an uncommitted basis. This facility expired on January 22, 2020 and was not renewed.
(7)
This agreement was originally entered into by PHH and subsequently assumed by Ocwen in connection with its acquisition of PHH. The lender provides financing for up to $200.0 million at the discretion of the lender. The agreement has no stated maturity date.
(8)
Under this master participation agreement, the lender will provide $300.0 million of borrowing capacity to PMC on an uncommitted basis. The participation agreement allows the lender to acquire a 100% beneficial interest in the underlying mortgage loans. The transaction does not qualify for sale accounting treatment and is accounted for as a secured borrowing. The lender earns the stated interest rate of the underlying mortgage loans while the loans are financed under the participation agreement. On March 26, 2020, we renewed this facility through May 3, 2020, and subsequently extended for an additional 30 days until June 3, 2020 for $150.0 million.
(9)
Under this agreement, the lender provides financing for up to $50.0 million on a committed basis. The lender earns the stated interest rate of 1ML plus a margin of 350 bps.
(10)
On March 12, 2020, PMC entered into a mortgage loan warehouse agreement to fund reverse mortgage loan draws by borrowers subsequent to origination. Under this agreement, the lender provides financing for up to $100.0 million on an uncommitted basis and the lender earns the stated interest rate of 1ML plus a margin of 250 bps.
(11)
Financing facility entered into by PMC that is secured by certain Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac MSRs. In connection with this facility, PMC entered into repurchase agreements pursuant to which PMC sold trust certificates representing certain indirect economic interests in the MSRs and agreed to repurchase such trust certificates at a future date at the repurchase price set forth in the repurchase agreements. PMC’s obligations under this facility are secured by a lien on the related MSRs. Ocwen guarantees the obligations of PMC under this facility. The maximum amount which we may borrow pursuant to the repurchase agreements is $300.0 million on a committed basis. The lender earns the stated interest rate of 1ML plus a margin of 300 bps. See Note 3 – Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities for additional information. We are subject to daily margining requirements under the terms of our MSR financing facilities. Declines in fair value of our MSRs due to declines in market interest rates, assumption updates or other factors require that we provide additional collateral to our lenders under these facilities.
(12)
Financing facility entered into by PMC that is secured by certain Ginnie Mae MSRs. In connection with the facility, PMC entered into a repurchase agreement pursuant to which PMC has sold a participation certificate representing certain economic interests in the Ginnie Mae MSRs and has agreed to repurchase such participation certificate at a future date at the repurchase price set forth in the repurchase agreement. PMC’s obligations under the facility are secured by a lien on the related Ginnie Mae MSRs. Ocwen guarantees the obligations of PMC under the facility. The maximum amount which we may borrow pursuant to the facility is $100.0 million on an uncommitted basis. The lender earns the stated interest rate of 1ML plus a margin of 395 bps. See (11) above regarding daily margining requirements.
(13)
PMC issued the PLS Notes secured by certain of PMC’s MSRs (PLS MSRs) pursuant to a credit agreement. PLS Issuer’s obligations under the facility are secured by a lien on the related PLS MSRs. Ocwen guarantees the obligations of PLS Issuer under the facility. The Class A PLS Notes issued pursuant to the credit agreement have an initial principal amount of $100.0 million and amortize in accordance with a pre-determined schedule subject to modification under certain events. The notes have a stated coupon rate of 5.07%. See Note 3 – Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities for additional information. See (11) above regarding daily margining requirements.
(14)
OASIS noteholders are entitled to receive a monthly payment equal to the sum of: (a) 21 basis points of the UPB of the reference pool of Freddie Mac mortgages; (b) any termination payment amounts; (c) any excess refinance amounts; and (d) the note redemption amounts, each as defined in the indenture supplement for the notes. Monthly amortization of the liability is estimated using the proportion of monthly projected service fees on the underlying MSRs as a percentage of lifetime projected fees, adjusted for the term of the notes.

39



Senior Notes
Interest Rate
 
Maturity
Outstanding Balance
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Senior unsecured notes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
PHH (1)
6.375%
 
Aug. 2021
$
21,543

 
$
21,543

 
 
 
 
21,543

 
21,543

Senior secured notes
8.375%
 
Nov. 2022
291,509

 
291,509

 
 
 
 
313,052

 
313,052

Unamortized debt issuance costs
 
 
 
(1,344
)
 
(1,470
)
Fair value adjustments (1)
 
 
 
(418
)
 
(497
)
 
 
 
 
$
311,290

 
$
311,085

(1)
These notes were originally issued by PHH and subsequently assumed by Ocwen in connection with its acquisition of PHH. We recorded the notes at their respective fair values on the date of acquisition, and we are amortizing the resulting fair value purchase accounting adjustments over the remaining term of the notes. We have the option to redeem the notes due in August 2021, in whole or in part, on or after January 1, 2019 at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest.
At any time, we may redeem all or a part of the 8.375% Senior secured notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice at a specified redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. We may redeem all or a part of these notes at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) specified in the Indenture. The redemption prices during the twelve-month periods beginning on November 15th of each year are as follows:
Year
 
Redemption Price
2019
 
104.188%
2020
 
102.094%
2021 and thereafter
 
100.000%
Upon a change of control (as defined in the Indenture), we are required to make an offer to the holders of the 8.375% Senior secured notes to repurchase all or a portion of each holder’s notes at a purchase price equal to 101.0% of the principal amount of the notes purchased plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.
Credit Ratings
Credit ratings are intended to be an indicator of the creditworthiness of a company’s debt obligation. At March 31, 2020, the S&P issuer credit rating for Ocwen was “B-”. On July 3, 2019, S&P assigned a B- issuer credit rating with Negative outlook to PMC. On April 13, 2020, S&P placed Ocwen’s ratings outlook on CreditWatch with negative implications due to the uncertain economic impact of COVID-19 on liquidity. It is possible that additional actions by credit rating agencies could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity and funding position, including materially changing the terms on which we may be able to borrow money.
Covenants
Under the terms of our debt agreements, we are subject to various qualitative and quantitative covenants. Collectively, these covenants include:
Financial covenants;
Covenants to operate in material compliance with applicable laws;
Restrictions on our ability to engage in various activities, including but not limited to incurring additional forms of debt, paying dividends or making distributions on or purchasing equity interests of Ocwen, repurchasing or redeeming capital stock or junior capital, repurchasing or redeeming subordinated debt prior to maturity, issuing preferred stock, selling or transferring assets or making loans or investments or acquisitions or other restricted payments, entering into mergers or consolidations or sales of all or substantially all of the assets of Ocwen and its subsidiaries, creating liens on assets to secure debt of any guarantor, entering into transactions with affiliates;
Monitoring and reporting of various specified transactions or events, including specific reporting on defined events affecting collateral underlying certain debt agreements; and
Requirements to provide audited financial statements within specified timeframes, including requirements that Ocwen’s financial statements and the related audit report be unqualified as to going concern.

40



Many of the restrictive covenants arising from the indenture for the Senior Secured Notes will be suspended if the Senior Secured Notes achieve an investment-grade rating from both Moody’s and S&P and if no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing.
Financial covenants in certain of our debt agreements require that we maintain, among other things:
a 40% loan to collateral value ratio (i.e., the ratio of total outstanding loans under the SSTL to certain collateral and other assets as defined under the SSTL), as of the last date of any fiscal quarter; and
specified levels of tangible net worth and liquidity at the consolidated Ocwen level.
Certain new financial covenants were added as part of the amendment and extension of our SSTL which closed on January 27, 2020. These include i) maintain a minimum unencumbered asset coverage ratio (i.e., the ratio of unrestricted cash and certain first priority perfected collateral to total outstanding loans under the SSTL) as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of 200% increasing to 225% after December 31, 2020 and ii) maintain minimum unrestricted cash of $125.0 million as of the last day of each fiscal quarter.
As of March 31, 2020, the most restrictive consolidated tangible net worth requirements contained in our debt agreements were for a minimum of $200.0 million in consolidated tangible net worth, as defined, under certain of our advance match funded debt, MSR financing facilities and mortgage warehouse agreements. The most restrictive liquidity requirements were for a minimum of $100.0 million in consolidated liquidity, as defined, under certain of our advance match funded debt and mortgage warehouse agreements.
As a result of the covenants to which we are subject, we may be limited in the manner in which we conduct our business and may be limited in our ability to engage in favorable business and investment activities or raise certain types of capital to finance future operations or satisfy future liquidity needs. In addition, breaches or events that may result in a default under our debt agreements include, among other things, nonpayment of principal or interest, noncompliance with our covenants, breach of representations, the occurrence of a material adverse change, insolvency, bankruptcy, certain material judgments and changes of control.
Covenants and default provisions of this type are commonly found in debt agreements such as ours. Certain of these covenants and default provisions are open to subjective interpretation and, if our interpretation was contested by a lender, a court may ultimately be required to determine compliance or lack thereof. In addition, our debt agreements generally include cross default provisions such that a default under one agreement could trigger defaults under other agreements. If we fail to comply with our debt agreements and are unable to avoid, remedy or secure a waiver of any resulting default, we may be subject to adverse action by our lenders, including termination of further funding, acceleration of outstanding obligations, enforcement of liens against the assets securing or otherwise supporting our obligations and other legal remedies. Our lenders can waive their contractual rights in the event of a default.
We believe we were in compliance with all of the qualitative and quantitative covenants in our debt agreements as of the date of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

41



Collateral
Our assets held as collateral related to secured borrowings, committed under sale or other contractual obligations and which may be subject to secured liens under the SSTL and Senior Secured Notes are as follows at March 31, 2020:
 
 
 
Collateral for Secured Borrowings
 
 
 
 
 
Total Assets
 
Advance Match Funded Liabilities
 
Financing Liabilities
 
Mortgage Loan Warehouse / MSR Facilities
 
Sales and Other Commitments (1)
 
Other (2)
Cash
$
263,555

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
263,555

Restricted cash
53,177

 
10,838

 

 
5,031

 
37,308

 

MSRs (3)
1,050,228

 

 
591,705

 
459,027

 

 
513

Advances, net
1,024,807

 
751,020

 

 

 

 
273,787

Loans held for sale
246,015

 

 

 
205,080

 

 
40,935

Loans held for investment
6,591,382

 

 
6,461,371

 
97,273

 

 
32,738

Receivables, net
235,305

 

 

 
32,560

 

 
202,745

Premises and equipment, net
37,430

 

 

 

 

 
37,430

Other assets
484,125

 

 

 
5,204

 
410,718

 
68,203

Total assets
$
9,986,024

 
$
761,858

 
$
7,053,076

 
$
804,175

 
$
448,026

 
$
919,906

(1)
Sales and Other Commitments include MSRs and related advances committed under sale agreements, Restricted cash and deposits held as collateral to support certain contractual obligations, and Contingent loan repurchase assets related to the Ginnie Mae EBO program for which a corresponding liability is recognized in Other liabilities.
(2)
The borrowings under the SSTL are secured by a first priority security interest in substantially all of the assets of Ocwen, PHH, PMC and the other guarantors thereunder, excluding among other things, 35% of the voting capital stock of foreign subsidiaries, securitization assets and equity interests of securitization entities, assets securing permitted funding indebtedness and non-recourse indebtedness, REO assets, as well as other customary carve-outs (collectively, the Collateral). The Collateral is subject to certain permitted liens set forth under the SSTL and related security agreement. The Senior Secured Notes are guaranteed by Ocwen and the other guarantors that guarantee the SSTL, and the borrowings under the Senior Secured Notes are secured by a second priority security interest in the Collateral. Assets securing borrowings under the SSTL and Senior Secured Notes may include amounts presented in Other as well as certain assets presented in Collateral for Secured Borrowings and Sales and Other Commitments, subject to permitted liens as defined in the applicable debt documents. The amounts presented here may differ in their calculation and are not intended to represent amounts that may be used in connection with covenants under the applicable debt documents.
(3)
MSRs pledged as collateral for secured borrowings includes MSRs pledged to NRZ in connection with the Rights to MSRs transactions which are accounted for as secured financings and MSRs securing the financing facilities. Certain MSR cohorts with a negative fair value of $1.0 million that would be presented as Other are excluded from the eligible collateral of the facilities and are comprised of $23.3 million of negative fair value related to RMBS and $22.1 million of positive fair value related to private EBO and PLS MSRs.

42



Note 12 – Other Liabilities
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Contingent loan repurchase liability
$
393,395

 
$
492,900

Due to NRZ - Advance collections and servicing fees
98,555

 
63,596

Servicing-related obligations
96,994

 
88,167

Liability for indemnification obligations
48,608

 
52,785

Other accrued expenses
48,452

 
67,241

Lease liability
42,863

 
44,488

Accrued legal fees and settlements
33,305

 
30,663

Checks held for escheat
32,706

 
31,959

Liability for uncertain tax positions
16,527

 
17,197

Accrued interest payable
12,561

 
5,964

Liability for unfunded pension obligation
13,074

 
13,383

Liability for mortgage insurance contingency
6,820

 
6,820

Liability for unfunded India gratuity plan
5,160

 
5,331

Derivatives, at fair value
2,589

 
100

Deferred revenue
774

 
488

Other
22,788

 
21,091

 
$
875,171

 
$
942,173

Note 13 – Equity
On February 3, 2020, Ocwen’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for an aggregate amount of up to $5.0 million of Ocwen’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we completed the repurchase of 5,662,257 shares of common stock in the open market under this program at prevailing market prices for a total purchase price of $4.5 million for an average price paid per share of $0.79. In addition, Ocwen paid $0.1 million in commissions. The repurchased shares were formally retired as of March 31, 2020. Unless we amend the share repurchase program or repurchase the remaining $0.5 million by an earlier date, the share repurchase program will expire on February 3, 2021. No assurances can be given as to the amount of shares, if any, that we may repurchase in any given period.
On April 8, 2020, Ocwen was notified by the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) that the average per share trading price of its common stock was below the NYSE’s continued listing standard rule relating to minimum average share price. The NYSE generally requires that a company’s common stock trade at a minimum average closing price of $1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. Companies have six months from receipt of the notice to regain compliance with the NYSE’s price condition. Receipt of the NYSE notification does not conflict with nor cause an event of default under any of Ocwen’s debt agreements. Pursuant to the NYSE’s rules, during the cure period, Ocwen’s common stock will continue to be listed and trade on the NYSE. On April 21, 2020, the NYSE announced that, due to market-wide declines brought about by the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, it would toll until July 1, 2020 the running of cure periods for companies not in compliance with the minimum share price standard. As a result, the remainder of Ocwen’s cure period will be tolled until July 1, 2020 and Ocwen must regain compliance with the NYSE’s share price standard by December 17, 2020. The likelihood and nature of any further NYSE relief remain uncertain at this time.
On April 15, 2020, the Board of Directors of Ocwen (the Board) approved including a proposal in Ocwen’s proxy statement relating to its Annual Meeting of Shareholders, currently scheduled for May 27, 2020, that would seek advisory approval of an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to effect a reverse split of all outstanding shares of our common stock at a ratio of any amount between, and including, one-for-five and one-for-25, and reduce the number of authorized shares of our common stock by the same proportion as the ratio of the reverse stock split. The Board intends to take into account the results of the advisory vote as well as changing market conditions and other developments in order to make a determination with respect to the best course of action to pursue in order to regain compliance with the NYSE’s minimum share price requirement.

43



Note 14 – Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities
The following table summarizes derivative activity, including the derivatives used in each of our identified hedging programs. The notional amount of our contracts does not represent our exposure to credit loss. None of the derivatives were designated as a hedge for accounting purposes as of, or during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
 
IRLCs
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
MSR Hedging
 
IRLCs and Loans Held for Sale
 
Borrowings
 
TBA / Forward MBS Trades and Futures (1)
 
Forward Trades
 
Interest Rate Caps
Notional balance at March 31, 2020
$
382,773

 
$
740,000

 
$
100,000

 
$
10,833

Notional balance at December 31, 2019
232,566

 
1,200,000

 
60,000

 
27,083

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maturity
April 2020 - June 2020
 
 May 2020 - June 2020
 
April 2020 - May 2020
 
May 2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value of derivative assets (liabilities) at:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

March 31, 2020
$
10,478

 
$
2,999

 
$
(235
)
 
$

December 31, 2019
4,878

 
1,121

 
(92
)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gains (losses) on derivatives during the three months ended:
Gain on loans held for sale, net
 
MSR valuation adjustments, net
 
Gain on loans held for sale, net
 
Other, net
March 31, 2020
$
5,714

 
$
35,291

 
$
(7,192
)
 
$

March 31, 2019
(341
)
 
$

 
(2,270
)
 
(402
)
(1)
The March 31, 2020 balances include $500.0 million notional balance and $0.8 million fair value, of interest rate swap futures (nil at December 31, 2019). The related gain on these interest rate futures for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $0.8 million.
We report derivatives at fair value in Other assets or in Other liabilities on our unaudited consolidated balance sheets. Derivative instruments are generally entered into as economic hedges against changes in the fair value of a recognized asset or liability and are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. We report the changes in fair value of such derivative instruments in the same line item in the unaudited consolidated statement of operations as the changes in fair value of the related asset or liability. For all other derivative instruments not designated as a hedging instrument, we report changes in fair value in Other, net.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
Our operations in India and the Philippines expose us to foreign currency exchange rate risk to the extent that our foreign exchange positions remain unhedged. We have not entered into any forward exchange contracts during the reported periods to hedge against the effect of changes in the value of the India Rupee or Philippine Peso. Foreign currency remeasurement exchange (losses) gains were $(0.9) million and $0.2 million, during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and are reported in Other, net in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations.
Interest Rate Risk
MSR Hedging
MSRs are carried at fair value with changes in fair value being recorded in earnings in the period in which the changes occur. The fair value of MSRs is subject to changes in market interest rates and prepayment speeds, among other factors. Beginning in September 2019, management implemented a hedging strategy to partially offset the changes in fair value of our net MSR portfolio to interest rate changes. We define our net MSR portfolio exposure as follows:
our more interest rate-sensitive Agency MSR portfolio,
less the Agency MSRs subject to our agreements with NRZ (See Note 8 — Rights to MSRs),
less the asset value for securitized HECM loans, net of the corresponding HMBS-related borrowings, and
less the net value of our held for sale loan portfolio and interest rate lock commitments (pipeline).

44



We determine and monitor daily a hedge coverage based on the duration and interest rate sensitivity measures of our net MSR portfolio exposure, considering market and liquidity conditions. At March 31, 2020, our hedging strategy provides for a partial coverage of our net MSR portfolio exposure.
We use forward trades of MBS or Agency TBAs with different banking counterparties and exchange-traded interest rate swap futures as hedging instruments. These derivative instruments are not designated as accounting hedges. TBAs, or To-Be-Announced securities are actively traded, forward contracts to purchase or sell Agency MBS on a specific future date. Interest rate swap futures are exchange-traded and centrally cleared. We report changes in fair value of these derivative instruments in MSR valuation adjustments, net in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations.
The TBAs and interest rate swap futures are subject to margin requirements. Ocwen may be required to post or may be entitled to receive cash collateral with its counterparties, based on daily value changes of the instruments. Changes in market factors, including interest rates, and our credit rating could require us to post additional cash collateral and could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and liquidity.
Interest Rate Lock Commitments
A loan commitment binds us (subject to the loan approval process) to fund the loan at the specified rate, regardless of whether interest rates have changed between the commitment date and the loan funding date. As such, outstanding IRLCs are subject to interest rate risk and related price risk during the period from the date of the commitment through the loan funding date or expiration date. The borrower is not obligated to obtain the loan; thus, we are subject to fallout risk related to IRLCs, which is realized if approved borrowers choose not to close on the loans within the terms of the IRLCs. Our interest rate exposure on these derivative loan commitments had previously been economically hedged with freestanding derivatives such as forward contracts. Beginning in September 2019, this exposure is not individually hedged, but rather used as an offset to our MSR exposure and managed as part of our MSR hedging strategy described above.
Loans Held for Sale, at Fair Value
Mortgage loans held for sale that we carry at fair value are subject to interest rate and price risk from the loan funding date until the date the loan is sold into the secondary market. Generally, the fair value of a loan will decline in value when interest rates increase and will rise in value when interest rates decrease. To mitigate this risk, we had previously entered into forward MBS trades to provide an economic hedge against those changes in fair value on mortgage loans held for sale. Forward MBS trades were primarily used to fix the forward sales price that would be realized upon the sale of mortgage loans into the secondary market. Beginning in September 2019, this exposure is not individually hedged, but rather used as an offset to our MSR exposure and managed as part of our MSR hedging strategy described above.
Advance Match Funded Liabilities
When required by our advance financing arrangements, we purchase interest rate caps to minimize future interest rate exposure from increases in the interest on our variable rate debt as a result of increases in the index, such as 1ML, which is used in determining the interest rate on the debt. We currently do not hedge our fixed-rate debt.
Note 15 – Interest Expense
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2020
 
2019
Senior notes
$
6,661

 
$
8,512

Advance match funded liabilities
5,665

 
7,652

Other secured borrowings
15,292

 
8,947

Other
2,364

 
1,378

 
$
29,982

 
$
26,489

Note 16 – Income Taxes
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law. The CARES Act includes several significant business tax provisions that, among other things, temporarily repealed the taxable income limitation for certain net operating losses (NOL) and allows businesses to carry back NOLs arising in 2018, 2019, and 2020 tax years to the five prior tax years, accelerate refunds of previously generated corporate Alternative Minimum Tax

45



(AMT) credits, and adjusts the business interest expense limitation under section 163(j) from 30% to 50% of Adjusted Taxable Income (ATI) for 2019 and 2020 tax years.
Based on information available at this time, we estimate that modifications to the tax rules for the carryback of NOLs and business interest expense limitations will result in U.S. and USVI federal net tax refunds of approximately $62.9 million and $1.9 million, respectively, and as such we have recognized an income tax benefit of $64.8 million in our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
The income tax benefit recognized represents the release of valuation allowances against certain NOL and Section 163(j) deferred tax assets that are now more likely than not to be realizable as a result of certain provisions of the CARES Act as well as permanent income tax benefit related to the carryback of NOLs created in a tax year that was subject to a U.S. federal tax at a 21% rate to a tax year subject to tax at a 35% rate.
The determination of the refund potential associated with the NOL carryback provision of the CARES Act is subject to change as we continue to wait upon further guidance from the IRS and analyze additional information necessary to finalize the calculations and maximize the long-term value to Ocwen. As we await further guidance and continue to analyze our options, our determination of the impact of the CARES Act on our 2020 financial statements is preliminary at this time.
We recognized income tax expense, exclusive of the impact of the CARES Act, of $2.9 million due to the mix of earnings among different tax jurisdictions with different statutory tax rates. Under our transfer pricing agreements, our operations in India and Philippines are compensated on a cost-plus basis for the services they provide, such that even when we have a consolidated pre-tax loss from continuing operations these foreign operations have taxable income, which is subject to statutory tax rates in these jurisdictions that are significantly higher than the U.S. statutory rate of 21%.
Note 17 – Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share
Basic earnings or loss per share excludes common stock equivalents and is calculated by dividing net income or loss attributable to Ocwen common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. We calculate diluted earnings or loss per share by dividing net income or loss attributable to Ocwen by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding including the potential dilutive common shares related to outstanding stock options and restricted stock awards. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, we have excluded the effect of all stock options and common stock awards from the computation of diluted loss per share because of the anti-dilutive effect of our reported net loss.
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2020
 
2019
Basic and Diluted loss per share
 
 
 
Net loss
$
(25,489
)
 
$
(44,494
)
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares of common stock — Basic and Diluted
134,858,837

 
133,918,986

 
 
 
 
Basic and Diluted loss per share
$
(0.19
)
 
$
(0.33
)
 
 
 
 
Stock options and common stock awards excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share
 
 
 
Anti-dilutive (1)
3,737,824

 
3,226,255

Market-based (2)
1,880,954

 
381,877

 
(1)
Includes stock options that are anti-dilutive because their exercise price was greater than the average market price of Ocwen’s stock, and stock awards that are anti-dilutive based on the application of the treasury stock method.
(2)
Shares that are issuable upon the achievement of certain market-based performance criteria related to Ocwen’s stock price.
Note 18 – Business Segment Reporting
Our business segments reflect the internal reporting that we use to evaluate operating performance of services and to assess the allocation of our resources. A brief description of our current business segments is as follows:

46



Servicing. This segment is primarily comprised of our core residential mortgage servicing business and currently accounts for most of our total revenues. We provide residential and commercial mortgage loan servicing, special servicing and asset management services. We earn fees for providing these services to owners of the mortgage loans and foreclosed real estate. In most cases, we provide these services either because we purchased the MSRs from the owner of the mortgage, retained the MSRs on the sale or securitization of residential mortgage loans or because we entered into a subservicing or special servicing agreement with the entity that owns the MSR. Our residential servicing portfolio includes conventional, government-insured and non-Agency loans. Non-Agency loans include subprime loans, which represent residential loans that generally did not qualify under GSE guidelines or have subsequently become delinquent.
Originations. The Originations segment (previously labeled as Lending) purchases and originates conventional and government-insured residential forward and reverse mortgage loans. The loans are typically sold shortly after origination into a liquid market on a servicing retained (securitization) or servicing released (sale to a third party) basis. We originate forward mortgage loans directly with customers (recapture channel) as well as through correspondent lending arrangements since the second quarter of 2019. We originate reverse mortgage loans in all three channels, through our correspondent lending arrangements, broker relationships (wholesale) and retail channels. In addition to our originated MSRs, we acquire MSRs through multiple channels, including flow purchase agreements, the GSE Cash Window program and bulk MSR purchases. The pricing and acquisition decisions are made relative to other originated MSR channels. Accordingly, as part of our internal management reporting we renamed the Lending segment as Originations effective in the first quarter 2020, without any other changes to our operating and reporting segments.
Corporate Items and Other. Corporate Items and Other includes revenues and expenses of corporate support services, CR Limited (CRL), our wholly-owned captive reinsurance subsidiary, discontinued operations and inactive entities, business activities that are individually insignificant, revenues and expenses that are not directly related to other reportable segments, interest income on short-term investments of cash and interest expense on corporate debt. Corporate Items and Other also includes severance, retention, facility-related and other expenses incurred in 2019 related to cost our re-engineering plan. Our cash balances are included in Corporate Items and Other. CRL provides re-insurance related to coverage on foreclosed real estate properties owned or serviced by us.
We allocate a portion of interest income to each business segment, including interest earned on cash balances. We also allocate certain expenses incurred by corporate support services that are not directly attributable to a segment to each business segment. Beginning in 2020, we updated our methodology to allocate overhead costs incurred by corporate support services to the Servicing and Originations segments which now incorporates the utilization of various measurements primarily based on time studies, personnel volumes and service consumption levels. In 2019, corporate support services costs were primarily allocated based on relative segment size. Support services costs not allocated to the Servicing and Originations segments are retained in the Corporate Items and Other segment along with certain other costs including certain litigation and settlement related expenses or recoveries, costs related to our re-engineering plan, and other costs related to operating as a public company.
Interest expense on direct asset-backed financings are recorded in the respective Servicing and Originations segments, while interest expense on the SSTL and Senior Notes is recorded in Corporate Items and Other and is not allocated.
Financial information for our segments is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
Results of Operations 
Servicing
 
Originations
 
Corporate Items and Other
 
Business Segments Consolidated
Revenue
$
213,555

 
$
37,647

 
$
2,640

 
$
253,842

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MSR valuation adjustments, net
(174,436
)
 
316

 

 
(174,120
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses (1) (2)
80,473

 
26,958

 
29,783

 
137,214

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other (expense) income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
1,886

 
2,266

 
1,243

 
5,395

Interest expense
(13,667
)
 
(2,861
)
 
(13,454
)
 
(29,982
)
Pledged MSR liability expense
(6,623
)
 

 
29

 
(6,594
)
Other
3,662

 
(29
)
 
(2,305
)
 
1,328

Other expense, net
(14,742
)
 
(624
)
 
(14,487
)
 
(29,853
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) income before income taxes
$
(56,096
)
 
$
10,381

 
$
(41,630
)
 
$
(87,345
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

47



 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
Results of Operations 
Servicing
 
Originations
 
Corporate Items and Other
 
Business Segments Consolidated
Revenue
$
259,274

 
$
41,091

 
$
3,523

 
$
303,888

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MSR valuation adjustments, net
(108,914
)
 
(84
)
 

 
(108,998
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses (1) (2)
156,984

 
21,247

 
(7,124
)
 
171,107

 


 


 


 


Other (expense) income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
2,294

 
1,549

 
715

 
4,558

Interest expense
(10,742
)
 
(1,668
)
 
(14,079
)
 
(26,489
)
Pledged MSR liability expense
(43,956
)
 

 

 
(43,956
)
Other
1,525

 
219

 
(724
)
 
1,020

Other (expense) income, net
(50,879
)
 
100

 
(14,088
)
 
(64,867
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) income before income taxes
$
(57,503
)
 
$
19,860

 
$
(3,441
)
 
$
(41,084
)
(1)
Compensation and benefits expense in the Corporate Items and Other segment for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 includes $0.2 million and $18.5 million, respectively, of severance expense attributable to PHH integration-related headcount reductions of primarily U.S.-based employees in 2019, as well as our overall efforts to reduce costs.
(2)
Included in the Corporate Items and Other segment for the three months ended March 31, 2019, we recorded in Professional services expense a recovery from a service provider of $30.7 million of amounts previously recognized as expense.
Total Assets
Servicing
 
Originations
 
Corporate Items and Other
 
Business Segments Consolidated
March 31, 2020
$
2,787,250

 
$
6,739,576

 
$
459,198

 
$
9,986,024

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2019
$
3,378,515

 
$
6,459,367

 
$
568,317

 
$
10,406,199

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2019
$
3,221,779

 
$
5,848,830

 
$
466,601

 
$
9,537,210

Depreciation and Amortization Expense
Servicing
 
Originations
 
Corporate Items and Other
 
Business Segments Consolidated
Three months ended March 31, 2020
Depreciation expense
$
215

 
$
37

 
$
3,745

 
$
3,997

Amortization of debt discount

 

 
929

 
929

Amortization of debt issuance costs
112

 

 
1,621

 
1,733

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended March 31, 2019
Depreciation expense
$
806

 
$
36

 
$
7,709

 
$
8,551

Amortization of debt discount

 

 
351

 
351

Amortization of debt issuance costs

 

 
700

 
700

Note 19 – Regulatory Requirements
Our business is subject to extensive regulation by federal, state and local governmental authorities, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), HUD, the SEC and various state agencies that license and conduct examinations of our servicing and lending activities. In addition, we operate under a number of regulatory settlements that subject us to ongoing reporting and other obligations. From time to time, we also receive requests (including requests in the form of subpoenas and civil investigative demands) from federal, state and local agencies for records, documents and information relating to our servicing and lending activities. The GSEs (and their conservator, the Federal Housing Finance Authority (FHFA)), Ginnie

48



Mae, the United States Treasury Department, various investors, non-Agency securitization trustees and others also subject us to periodic reviews and audits.
In the current regulatory environment, we have faced and expect to continue to face heightened regulatory and public scrutiny as an organization as well as stricter and more comprehensive regulation of the entire mortgage sector. In addition, the rules and regulations applicable to mortgage servicers and lenders, including relevant agency and investor requirements, are changing rapidly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to work diligently to assess and understand the implications of the evolving regulatory environment in which we operate and to meet its requirements. We devote substantial resources to regulatory compliance, while, at the same time, striving to meet the needs and expectations of our customers, clients and other stakeholders. Our failure to comply with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and licensing requirements could lead to (i) administrative fines and penalties and litigation, (ii) loss of our licenses and approvals to engage in our servicing and lending businesses, (iii) governmental investigations and enforcement actions, (iv) civil and criminal liability, including class action lawsuits and actions to recover incentive and other payments made by governmental entities, (v) breaches of covenants and representations under our servicing, debt or other agreements, (vi) damage to our reputation, (vii) inability to raise capital or otherwise fund our operations and (viii) inability to execute on our business strategy. In addition to amounts paid to resolve regulatory matters, we have in the past incurred, and may in the future incur, costs to comply with the terms of such resolutions, including staffing costs, legal costs and, in certain cases the costs of audits, reviews and third-party firms to monitor our compliance with such resolutions.
We must comply with a large number of federal, state and local consumer protection and other laws and regulations, including, among others, the CARES Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the Homeowners Protection Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, as well as individual state licensing and foreclosure laws, individual state and local laws relating to registration of vacant or foreclosed properties, and federal and local bankruptcy rules. These laws and regulations apply to many facets of our business, including loan origination, default servicing and collections, use of credit reports, safeguarding of non-public personally identifiable information about our customers, foreclosure and claims handling, investment of, and interest payments on, escrow balances and escrow payment features and fees assessed on borrowers, and they mandate certain disclosures and notices to borrowers. These requirements can and do change as laws and regulations are enacted, promulgated, amended, interpreted and enforced, including through CFPB interpretive bulletins and other regulatory pronouncements, and the requirements applicable to our business have been changing especially rapidly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the actions of legislative bodies and regulatory agencies relating to a particular matter or business practice may or may not be coordinated or consistent. As a result, ensuring ongoing compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements can be challenging. Over the past decade, the general trend among federal, state and local legislative bodies and regulatory agencies as well as state attorneys general has been toward increasing laws, regulations, investigative proceedings and enforcement actions with regard to residential real estate lenders and servicers. New regulatory and legislative measures, or changes in enforcement practices, including those related to the technology we use, could, either individually or in the aggregate, require significant changes to our business practices, impose additional costs on us, limit our product offerings, limit our ability to efficiently pursue business opportunities, negatively impact asset values or reduce our revenues. Accordingly, they could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
As further described below and in Note 21 – Contingencies, in recent years Ocwen has entered into a number of significant settlements with federal and state regulators and state attorneys general that have imposed additional requirements on our business. For example, we made various commitments relating to the process of transferring loans off the REALServicing® servicing system and onto the Black Knight Financial Services, Inc. (Black Knight) LoanSphere MSP® servicing system (Black Knight MSP), we have engaged a third-party auditor to perform an analysis with respect to our compliance with certain federal and state laws relating to the escrow of mortgage loan payments, we have revised various aspects of our complaint handling processes and we have extensive review and reporting obligations to various regulatory bodies with respect to various matters, including our financial condition. We devote significant management time and resources to compliance with these additional requirements. These requirements are generally unique to Ocwen and, while certain of our competitors may have entered into regulatory-related settlements of their own, our competitors are generally not subject to either the same specific or the same breadth of additional requirements to which we are subject.
Ocwen has various subsidiaries that are licensed to originate and/or service forward and reverse mortgage loans in those jurisdictions in which they operate, and which require licensing. Our licensed entities are required to renew their licenses, typically on an annual basis, and to do so they must satisfy the license renewal requirements of each jurisdiction, which generally include financial requirements such as providing audited financial statements and satisfying minimum net worth requirements and non-financial requirements such as satisfactory completion of examinations relating to the licensee’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Failure to satisfy any of the requirements to which our licensed entities are subject could result in a variety of regulatory actions ranging from a fine, a directive requiring a certain step to be taken, entry

49



into a consent order, a suspension or, ultimately, a revocation of a license, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our business, reputation, results of operations and financial condition. The minimum net worth requirements to which our licensed entities are subject are unique to each state and type of license. We believe our licensed entities were in compliance with all of their minimum net worth requirements at March 31, 2020.
PMC and Liberty are also subject to seller/servicer obligations under agreements with one or more of the GSEs, HUD, FHA, VA and Ginnie Mae. These seller/servicer obligations contain financial requirements, including capital requirements related to tangible net worth, as defined by the applicable agency, an obligation to provide audited consolidated financial statements within 90 days of the applicable entity’s fiscal year end as well as extensive requirements regarding servicing, selling and other matters. To the extent that these requirements are not met or waived, the applicable agency may, at its option, utilize a variety of remedies including requirements to provide certain information or take actions at the direction of the applicable agency, requirements to deposit funds as security for our obligations, sanctions, suspension or even termination of approved seller/servicer status, which would prohibit future originations or securitizations of forward or reverse mortgage loans or servicing for the applicable agency. Any of these actions could have a material adverse impact on us. To date, none of these counterparties has communicated any material sanction, suspension or prohibition in connection with our seller/servicer obligations. We believe we were in compliance with applicable net worth requirements at March 31, 2020. Our non-Agency servicing agreements also contain requirements regarding servicing practices and other matters, and a failure to comply with these requirements could have a material adverse impact on our business.
The most restrictive of the various net worth requirements for licensing and seller/servicer obligations referenced above is based on the UPB of assets serviced by PMC. Under the applicable formula, the required minimum net worth was $222.1 million at March 31, 2020. PMC’s net worth was $339.0 million at March 31, 2020.
In addition, a number of foreign laws and regulations apply to our operations outside of the U.S., including laws and regulations that govern licensing, privacy, employment, safety, taxes and insurance and laws and regulations that govern the creation, continuation and the winding up of companies as well as the relationships between shareholders, our corporate entities, the public and the government in these countries. Non-compliance with these laws and regulations could result in adverse actions against us, including (i) restrictions on our operations in these countries, (ii) fines, penalties or sanctions or (iii) reputational damage.
New York Department of Financial Services. In March 2017, we entered into a consent order with the NY DFS (the 2017 NY Consent Order) that provided for the termination of the engagement of a monitor appointed pursuant to an earlier 2014 consent order and for us to address certain concerns raised by the NY DFS that primarily relate to our servicing operations, as well as for us to comply with certain reporting and other obligations. In addition, in connection with the NY DFS’ approval in September 2018 of our acquisition of PHH, we agreed to satisfy certain post-closing requirements, including reporting obligations and record retention and other requirements relating to the transfer of loans collateralized by New York property (New York loans) onto Black Knight MSP and certain requirements with respect to the evaluation and supervision of management of both Ocwen and PMC. In addition, we were prohibited from boarding any additional loans onto the REALServicing system and we were required to transfer all New York loans off the REALServicing system by April 30, 2020. The conditional approval also modified a preexisting restriction on our ability to acquire MSRs such that the restriction applies only to New York loans and, with respect to New York loans, provides that Ocwen may not increase its aggregate portfolio of New York loans serviced or subserviced by Ocwen by more than 2% per year (based on the unpaid principal balance of loans serviced at the prior calendar year-end). This restriction will remain in place until the NY DFS determines that all loans serviced on the REALServicing system have been successfully migrated to Black Knight MSP and that Ocwen has developed a satisfactory infrastructure to board sizable portfolios of MSRs. We have transferred all loans onto Black Knight MSP and no longer service any loans on the REALServicing system.
We continue to work with the NY DFS to address matters they continue to raise with us as well as to fulfill our commitments under the 2017 NY Consent Order and PHH acquisition conditional approval. To the extent that we fail to address adequately any concerns raised by the NY DFS or fail to fulfill our commitments to the NY DFS, the NY DFS could take regulatory action against us, including imposing fines or penalties or otherwise further restricting our business activities. Any such actions could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
California Department of Business Oversight. In January 2015, Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC (OLS) entered into a consent order (the 2015 CA Consent Order) with the CA DBO relating to our alleged failure to produce certain information and documents during a routine licensing examination. In February 2017, we entered into another consent order with the CA DBO (the 2017 CA Consent Order) that terminated the 2015 CA Consent Order and resolved open matters between us and the CA DBO. We believe that we have completed those obligations of the 2017 CA Consent Order that have already come due, and we have so notified the CA DBO. We have certain remaining reporting and other obligations under the 2017 CA Consent Order. Pursuant to the 2017 CA Consent Order, the CA DBO has engaged a third-party administrator who, at the expense of the CA DBO, has commenced work to confirm that Ocwen has completed certain commitments under the 2017 CA Consent Order. Still outstanding, however, is confirmation of our completion of $198.0 million in debt forgiveness for California borrowers by

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June 30, 2019. We believe that we fulfilled this requirement during the first quarter of 2019. However, our completion of this requirement is subject to testing by the CA DBO’s third-party administrator who must confirm, among other things, that modified loans have remained current for specified time periods. If we are unable to satisfy this requirement or obtain an extension, the 2017 CA Consent Order obligates us to pay the remaining amount to the CA DBO in cash. Our debt forgiveness activities take place as we modify loans - our loan modifications are designed to be sustainable for homeowners while providing a net present value for mortgage loan investors that is superior to that of foreclosure. Debt forgiveness as part of a loan modification is determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the applicable servicing agreement. Debt forgiveness does not involve an expense to Ocwen other than the operating expense incurred in arranging the modification, which is part of Ocwen’s role as loan servicer. If the CA DBO were to allege that we failed to comply with our obligations under the 2017 CA Consent Order or that we otherwise were in breach of applicable laws, regulations or licensing requirements, the CA DBO could also take regulatory actions against us, including imposing fines or penalties or otherwise restricting our business activities. Any such actions could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
Note 20 — Commitments
Servicer Advance Obligations
In the normal course of business as servicer or master servicer, we are required to advance loan principal and interest payments (P&I), property taxes and insurance premiums (T&I) on behalf of the borrower to the investor of the loan, if delinquent or under a forbearance plan. We also advance legal fees, inspection, maintenance, and preservation costs (Corporate advances) on properties that are in default or have been foreclosed. Our obligations to make these advances are governed by servicing agreements or guides, depending on investors or guarantor.
For PLS loans, generally, we may stop advancing for P&I once deemed non-recoverable from the net proceeds of the property, although we are generally obligated to continue T&I and Corporate advances until the loan is brought current or until completion of a foreclosure, in which case, we generally recover our advances from the net proceeds of the property or the pool level proceeds, i.e., generally after the completion of the foreclosure.
For Ginnie Mae loans, we are required to make advances for the life of the loan without regard to whether we will be able to recover those payments from cure, liquidation proceeds, insurance proceeds, or late payments. We may stop advancing P&I by purchasing loans out of the pool when they are more than 90 days delinquent. To the extent there are excess funds in the custodial accounts, we are permitted to net for our P&I remittance. We are also required to advance both T&I and Corporate advances until cure or liquidation.
For GSE loans, we are required to advance P&I until the borrower is 120 days delinquent, and can submit reimbursement claims for certain T&I and Corporate advances after incurring the expense. T&I and Corporate advancing on GSE loans continues until the property is sold.
As subservicer, we are required to make P&I, T&I and Corporate advances on behalf of servicers following the servicing agreements or guides. Servicers are generally required to reimburse us within 30 days of our advancing under the terms of the subservicing agreements.
NRZ is obligated to fund new servicing advances with respect to the MSRs underlying the Rights to MSRs (RMSR), pursuant to the 2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements. NRZ has the responsibility to fund advances for loans where they own the MSR, i.e., are the servicer of record. We are dependent upon NRZ for funding the servicing advance obligations for Rights to MSRs where we are the servicer. As the servicer, we are contractually required under our servicing agreements to make certain servicing advances even if NRZ does not perform its contractual obligations to fund those advances. NRZ currently uses advance financing facilities in order to fund a substantial portion of the servicing advances that they are contractually obligated to purchase pursuant to our agreements with them. See Note 8 — Rights to MSRs and Note 11 – Borrowings for additional information. As of March 31, 2020, the UPB of loans serviced on behalf of NRZ comprised the following:
Ocwen servicer of record (MSR title retained by Ocwen) - Ocwen MSR (1)
$
17,910,643

NRZ servicer of record (MSR title transferred to NRZ) - Ocwen MSR (1)
89,811,915

Ocwen subservicer
6,211,564

Total NRZ UPB at March 31, 2020
$
113,934,122

(1)
The MSR sale transactions did not achieve sale accounting treatment.

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COVID-19 Update
On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was signed into law. The CARES Act allows borrowers with federally backed mortgage loans who are affected by COVID-19 to request temporary loan forbearance. Servicers must provide such forbearance for up to 180 days if requested by the borrower. Borrowers may request additional forbearance period of up to 180 days for FHA and VA guaranteed loans. Although PLS loans are not explicitly covered under the CARES Act, these loans are subject to various requirements and expectations from state Governors, regulators, and Attorneys General to assist borrowers enduring financial hardship due to COVID-19 with forbearance and other requirements. Ocwen provides payment relief to such borrowers in accordance with these requirements and expectations, as well as our servicing agreements. For example, we intend to grant eligible borrowers an initial three months of forbearance and related protection, including suspension of late fees, as well as suspension of foreclosure and eviction activity.
For eligible PLS loans that were not significantly delinquent at the time forbearance was applied to the account, Ocwen intends to administer each three-month forbearance period through a series of one-month forbearance plans each of which advances the due date upon completion and move the resulting missed payment to or near the loan’s maturity as a non-interest bearing balance. As such, Ocwen does not expect to be out of pocket cash for P&I and T&I advances for any more than one month for each of these eligible loans with forbearance protection.
For Ginnie Mae loans, advance requirements until cure or liquidation are mitigated by the ability to use excess funds in custodial accounts to cover principal and interest advances, though the remaining advances are covered by corporate cash. For loans in forbearance, we will advance P&I while the forbearance plan is active. Reimbursement of such P&I advance is expected after the forbearance period ends, through loan resolution, cure or liquidation.
For GSE loans, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced on April 21, 2020 that the 120-day P&I servicer advance obligation limit for delinquent loans will apply to loans in forbearance. Accordingly, once a servicer has advanced four months of missed payments on a loan, it will have no further obligation to advance scheduled payments as the loan will be moved into an “Actual/Actual” remittance status. Reimbursement of such P&I advance is expected after the forbearance period ends, through loan resolution, cure or liquidation. Mortgage loans with COVID-19 payment forbearance will be treated as they would in the event of a natural disaster event and will remain in the MBS pools. GSE servicers are required to make T&I and Corporate advances until the property is sold but can submit reimbursement claims for certain T&I and Corporate advances after incurring the expense.
Due to the adverse economic conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect the number of forbearance plans to continue to increase in the near term, consistent with the industry trend, and to continue to correlate with unemployment claims. An increase in loans in forbearance would increase our servicing advance obligations. The below table shows the requests for forbearance plans and the estimated obligation to advance monthly P&I:
COVID-19 impacted borrowers and monthly P&I advance estimate
As of March 31, 2020
 
As of April 30, 2020
Number of Forbearance Plans (3)
 
Estimated Monthly P&I Advance Obligation
($ million)
 
Number of Forbearance Plans (3)
 
Estimated Monthly P&I Advance Obligation
($ million)
GSE loans
1,400

 
$
1.8

 
6,200

 
$
7.9

Ginnie Mae loans
400

 
0.5

 
8,400

 
7.9

PLS loans
3,700

 
5.8

 
16,000

 
24.4

Servicer
5,500

 
$
8.1

 
30,600

 
$
40.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSE loans
2,300

 
$
2.6

 
9,400

 
$
10.5

PLS loans
14,500

 
14.0

 
63,200

 
62.4

NRZ’s responsibility (1)
16,800

 
$
16.6

 
72,600

 
$
72.9

Subservicer (2)
3,900

 
$
4.5

 
6,500

 
$
8.9

No advance requirements
1,300

 

 
4,900

 

Total
27,500

 
$
29.2

 
114,600

 
$
122.0

(1)
Ocwen is obligated to advance under the terms of the 2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements, and NRZ is obligated to reimburse Ocwen daily for PLS and weekly for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae servicing advances. See above, Note 8 — Rights to MSRs and Note 11 – Borrowings for additional information, and below description of NRZ Relationship.

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(2)
Ocwen is obligated to advance under the terms of subservicing agreements, and subservicing clients (servicers) are generally obligated to reimburse Ocwen within one day to 30 days for P&I advances.
(3)
Numbers have been rounded.
Unfunded Lending Commitments
We have originated floating-rate reverse mortgage loans under which the borrowers have additional borrowing capacity of $1.6 billion at March 31, 2020. This additional borrowing capacity is available on a scheduled or unscheduled payment basis. We also had short-term commitments to lend $357.2 million and $25.6 million in connection with our forward and reverse mortgage loan IRLCs, respectively, outstanding at March 31, 2020. We finance originated and purchased forward and reverse mortgage loans with repurchase and participation agreements, commonly referred to as warehouse lines.
HMBS Issuer Obligations
As an HMBS issuer, we assume certain obligations related to each security issued. The most significant obligation is the requirement to purchase loans out of the Ginnie Mae securitization pools once the outstanding principal balance of the related HECM is equal to or greater than 98% of the maximum claim amount (MCA repurchases). Active repurchased loans are assigned to HUD and payment is received from HUD, typically within 60 days of repurchase. HUD reimburses us for the outstanding principal balance on the loan up to the maximum claim amount. We bear the risk of exposure if the amount of the outstanding principal balance on a loan exceeds the maximum claim amount. Inactive repurchased loans (the borrower is deceased, no longer occupies the property or is delinquent on tax and insurance payments) are generally liquidated through foreclosure and subsequent sale of REO, with a claim filed with HUD for recoverable remaining principal and advance balances. The recovery timeline for inactive repurchased loans depends on various factors, including foreclosure status at the time of repurchase, state-level foreclosure timelines, and the post-foreclosure REO liquidation timeline.
The timing and amount of our obligation with respect to MCA repurchases is uncertain as repurchase is dependent largely on circumstances outside of our control including the amount and timing of future draws and the status of the loan. MCA repurchases are expected to continue to increase due to the increased flow of HECMs and REO that are reaching 98% of their maximum claim amount. Activity with regard to HMBS repurchases, including MCA repurchases, follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
 
Active
 
Inactive
 
Total
 
Number
 
Amount
 
Number
 
Amount
 
Number
 
Amount
Beginning balance
62

 
$
10,546

 
258

 
$
25,147

 
320

 
$
35,693

Additions (1)
47

 
10,337

 
73

 
9,519

 
120

 
19,856

Recoveries, net (2)
(3
)
 
(5,413
)
 
(1
)
 
(3,184
)
 
(4
)
 
(8,597
)
Transfers
(2
)
 
(553
)
 
2

 
553

 

 

Changes in value

 
43

 

 
(992
)
 

 
(949
)
Ending balance
104

 
$
14,960

 
332

 
$
31,043

 
436

 
$
46,003

(1)
Total repurchases during the three months ended March 31, 2020 includes 89 loans totaling $18.1 million related to MCA repurchases.
(2)
Includes amounts received upon assignment of loan to HUD, loan payoff, REO liquidation and claim proceeds less any amounts charged off as unrecoverable.
Active loan repurchases are classified as Receivables as reimbursement from HUD is generally received within 60 days and are initially recorded at fair value. Inactive loan repurchases are classified as Loans held for sale and recorded at fair value. Loans are reclassified to REO in Other assets or Receivables as the loans move through the resolution process and permissible claims are submitted to HUD for reimbursement. Receivables are valued at net realizable value. REO is valued at the estimated value of the underlying property less cost to sell.
NRZ Relationship
Our Servicing segment has exposure to concentration risk and client retention risk. As of March 31, 2020, our servicing portfolio included significant client relationships with NRZ which represented 55% and 60% of our servicing portfolio UPB and loan count, respectively. The NRZ servicing portfolio accounts for approximately 72% of all delinquent loans that Ocwen services. The current terms of our agreements with NRZ extend through July 2022 (legacy Ocwen agreements). On February 20, 2020, we received a notice of termination from NRZ with respect to the subservicing agreement between NRZ and PMC, which accounted for 19% of our servicing portfolio UPB at March 31, 2020. Currently, subject to proper notice (generally 180 days’ notice), the payment of termination fees and certain other provisions, NRZ has rights to terminate the legacy Ocwen agreements for convenience. Because of the large percentage of our servicing business that is represented by agreements with

53



NRZ, if NRZ exercised all or a significant portion of these termination rights, we might need to right-size or restructure certain aspects of our servicing business as well as the related corporate support functions.
We currently account for the MSR sale agreements with NRZ as secured financings as the transactions did not achieve sale accounting treatment, except for the PMC agreement since February 2020. Accordingly, our balance sheet reflects a $591.7 million MSR asset pledged to NRZ out of a total $1.1 billion MSRs at fair value at March 31, 2020, and a corresponding $591.7 million pledged MSR liability at fair value within Other financing liabilities. Similarly, our unaudited consolidated statement of operations reflects $90.3 million net servicing fee collected on behalf of, and remitted to, NRZ out of a total $211.5 million Servicing and subservicing fees for the three months ended March 31, 2020, and a corresponding $90.3 million expense reported within Pledged MSR liability expense. The net servicing fees collected on behalf of, and remitted to, NRZ did not affect our net earnings. In addition, we recognize amortization income related to lump sum payments we received from NRZ in 2017 and 2018, through April 2020, with an outstanding unamortized balance of $10.0 million at March 31, 2020. The reporting of MSRs and revenue gross versus net in our financial statements is required until sale accounting criteria are met, upon the earliest of the terms of the agreements or any termination notice.
The NRZ agreements affect our net earnings through the recognition of subservicing fees we retain, which amounted to $29.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, and ancillary income. If NRZ were to exercise its termination rights, our net earnings would be affected by the loss of such subservicing revenue and a decrease in direct operating expenses for servicing the NRZ portfolio.
Selected assets and liabilities recorded on our consolidated balance sheets as well as the impacts to our unaudited consolidated statements of operations in connection with our NRZ agreements are disclosed in Note 8 — Rights to MSRs.
NRZ is obligated to fund new servicing advances with respect to the MSRs underlying the Rights to MSRs, pursuant to the 2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements. We are dependent upon NRZ for funding the servicing advance obligations for Rights to MSRs where we are the servicer. As part of our risk management practices, we closely monitor the counterparty exposure arising from the funding obligations of our servicer clients, including NRZ, to ensure timely advance remittance in accordance with contractual requirements. Refer to the Servicer Advance Obligations above.
Note 21 – Contingencies
When we become aware of a matter involving uncertainty for which we may incur a loss, we assess the likelihood of any loss. If a loss contingency is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, we record an accrual for the loss. In such cases, there may be an exposure to potential loss in excess of the amount accrued. Where a loss is not probable but is reasonably possible or where a loss in excess of the amount accrued is reasonably possible, we disclose an estimate of the amount of the loss or range of possible losses for the claim if a reasonable estimate can be made, unless the amount of such reasonably possible loss is not material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. If a reasonable estimate of loss cannot be made, we do not accrue for any loss or disclose any estimate of exposure to potential loss even if the potential loss could be material and adverse to our business, reputation, financial condition and results of operations. An assessment regarding the ultimate outcome of any such matter involves judgments about future events, actions and circumstances that are inherently uncertain. The actual outcome could differ materially. Where we have retained external legal counsel or other professional advisers, such advisers assist us in making such assessments.
Litigation
In the ordinary course of business, we are a defendant in, or a party or potential party to, many threatened and pending legal proceedings, including proceedings brought by regulatory agencies (discussed further under “Regulatory” below), those brought on behalf of various classes of claimants, and those brought derivatively on behalf of Ocwen against certain current or former officers and directors or others. In addition, we may be a party or potential party to threatened or pending legal proceedings brought by commercial counterparties, including claims by parties to whom we have sold MSRs or other assets, parties on whose behalf we service mortgage loans, and parties who provide ancillary services including property preservation and other post-foreclosure related services.
The majority of these proceedings are based on alleged violations of federal, state and local laws and regulations governing our mortgage servicing and lending activities, including, among others, the Dodd-Frank Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the FDCPA, the RESPA, the TILA, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the Homeowners Protection Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, the TCPA, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, as well as individual state licensing and foreclosure laws and federal and local bankruptcy rules. Such proceedings include wrongful foreclosure and eviction actions, allegations of wrongdoing in connection with lender-placed insurance and mortgage reinsurance arrangements, claims relating to our property preservation activities, claims related to REO management, claims relating to our written and telephonic communications with our borrowers such as claims under the TCPA, claims related to our payment, escrow and other processing operations, claims relating to fees imposed on borrowers relating to payment processing, payment

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facilitation or payment convenience, claims related to ancillary products marketed and sold to borrowers, and claims regarding certifications of our legal compliance related to our participation in certain government programs. In some of these proceedings, claims for substantial monetary damages are asserted against us. For example, we are currently a defendant in various matters alleging that (1) certain fees imposed on borrowers relating to payment processing, payment facilitation or payment convenience violate the FDCPA and similar state laws, (2) certain fees we assess on borrowers are marked up improperly in violation of applicable state and federal law, (3) we breached fiduciary duties we purportedly owe to benefit plans due to the discretion we exercise in servicing certain securitized mortgage loans and (4) certain legacy mortgage reinsurance arrangements violated RESPA. In the future, we are likely to become subject to other private legal proceedings alleging failures to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including putative class actions, in the ordinary course of our business.
In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of any threatened or pending legal proceedings, particularly where the claimants seek very large or indeterminate damages, including punitive damages, or where the matters present novel legal theories or involve a large number of parties, we generally cannot predict what the eventual outcome of such proceedings will be, what the timing of the ultimate resolution will be, or what the eventual loss, if any, will be. Any material adverse resolution could materially and adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
Where we determine that a loss contingency is probable in connection with a pending or threatened legal proceeding and the amount of our loss can be reasonably estimated, we record an accrual for the loss. We have accrued for losses relating to threatened and pending litigation that we believe are probable and reasonably estimable based on current information regarding these matters. Where we determine that a loss is not probable but is reasonably possible or where a loss in excess of the amount accrued is reasonably possible, we disclose an estimate of the amount of the loss or range of possible losses for the claim if a reasonable estimate can be made, unless the amount of such reasonably possible loss is not material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. It is possible that we will incur losses relating to threatened and pending litigation that materially exceed the amount accrued. Our accrual for probable and estimable legal and regulatory matters, including accrued legal fees, was $33.3 million at March 31, 2020. We cannot currently estimate the amount, if any, of reasonably possible losses above amounts that have been recorded at March 31, 2020.
In 2014, plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Ocwen in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, alleging that Ocwen violated the FDCPA by charging borrowers a convenience fee for making certain loan payments. See McWhorter et al. v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC (N.D. Ala.). The plaintiffs sought statutory damages under the FDCPA, compensatory damages and injunctive relief. We subsequently entered into an agreement in principle to resolve this matter, and in August 2019, the court granted final approval of the class settlement. While we believe we had sound legal and factual defenses, we agreed to this settlement in order to avoid the uncertain outcome of litigation and the additional expense and demands on the time of our senior management that such litigation would involve. Our accrual with respect to this matter is included in the $33.3 million legal and regulatory accrual referenced above. We are also subject to individual lawsuits relating to our FDCPA compliance and putative state law class actions based on state laws similar to the FDCPA. At this time, we cannot estimate the amount, if any, of reasonably possible loss related to these matters.
Ocwen has been named in putative class actions and individual actions related to its compliance with the TCPA. Generally, plaintiffs in these actions allege that Ocwen knowingly and willfully violated the TCPA by using an automated telephone dialing system to call individuals’ cell phones without their consent. In July 2017, Ocwen entered into an agreement in principle to resolve two such putative class actions, which have been consolidated in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. See Snyder v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC (N.D. Ill.); Beecroft v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC (N.D. Ill.). In October 2017, the court preliminarily approved the settlement and, thereafter, we paid a settlement amount into an escrow account held by the settlement administrator. However, in September 2018, the Court denied the motion for final approval. In November 2018, the parties engaged in mediation to address the issues raised by the Court in its denial order. The parties thereafter reached agreement on a revised settlement. In June 2019, the court entered an order approving the settlement, which provided for the establishment of a settlement fund to be distributed to class members that submit claims for settlement benefits pursuant to a claims administration process. While Ocwen believes that it has sound legal and factual defenses, Ocwen agreed to the settlement in order to avoid the uncertain outcome of litigation and the additional expense and demands on the time of its senior management that such litigation would involve.
Ocwen is also involved in a related TCPA class action that involves claims against trustees of RMBS trusts based on vicarious liability for Ocwen’s alleged non-compliance with the TCPA. The trustees have sought indemnification from Ocwen based on the vicarious liability claims. Additional lawsuits have been and may be filed against us in relation to our TCPA compliance. Our accrual with respect to TCPA matters is included in the $33.3 million legal and regulatory accrual referenced above. At this time, Ocwen is unable to predict the outcome of existing lawsuits or any additional lawsuits that may be filed, the possible loss or range of loss, if any, above the amount accrued or the potential impact such lawsuits may have on us or our operations. Ocwen intends to vigorously defend against these lawsuits. If our efforts to defend these lawsuits are not successful, our business, reputation, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

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From time to time we are also subject to indemnification claims from contractual parties on whose behalf we service or subservice loans. We are currently involved in a dispute with a former subservicing client relating to alleged violations of our contractual agreements, including that we did not properly submit mortgage insurance and other claims for reimbursement. We are presently engaged in a dispute resolution process relating to these claims. Ocwen is currently unable to predict the outcome of this dispute or estimate the size of any loss which could result from a potential resolution reached through mediation, following litigation or otherwise.
Over the past several years, lawsuits have been filed by RMBS trust investors alleging that the trustees and master servicers breached their contractual and statutory duties by (i) failing to require loan servicers to abide by their contractual obligations; (ii) failing to declare that certain alleged servicing events of default under the applicable contracts occurred; and (iii) failing to demand that loan sellers repurchase allegedly defective loans, among other things. Ocwen has received several letters from trustees and master servicers purporting to put Ocwen on notice that the trustees and master servicers may ultimately seek indemnification from Ocwen in connection with the litigations. Ocwen has not yet been impleaded into any of these cases, but it has produced and continues to produce documents to the parties in response to third-party subpoenas.
Ocwen has, however, been impleaded as a third-party defendant into five consolidated loan repurchase cases first filed against Nomura Credit & Capital, Inc. in 2012 and 2013. Ocwen is vigorously defending itself in those cases against allegations by the mortgage loan seller-defendant that Ocwen failed to inform its contractual counterparties that it had discovered defective loans in the course of servicing them and had otherwise failed to service the loans in accordance with accepted standards. Ocwen is unable at this time to predict the ultimate outcome of these matters, the possible loss or range of loss, if any, associated with the resolution of these matters or any potential impact they may have on us or our operations. If, however, we were required to compensate claimants for losses related to the alleged loan servicing breaches, then our business, reputation, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could be adversely affected.
In addition, several RMBS trustees have received notices of default alleging material failures by servicers to comply with applicable servicing agreements. Although Ocwen has not yet been sued by an RMBS trustee in response to a notice of default, there is a risk that Ocwen could be replaced as servicer as a result of said notices, that the trustees could take legal action on behalf of the trust certificateholders, or, under certain circumstances, that the RMBS investors who issue notices of default could seek to press their allegations against Ocwen, independent of the trustees. We are unable at this time to predict what, if any, actions any trustee will take in response to a notice of default, nor can we predict at this time the potential loss or range of loss, if any, associated with the resolution of any notices of default or the potential impact on our operations. If Ocwen were to be terminated as servicer, or other related legal actions were pursued against Ocwen, it could have an adverse effect on Ocwen’s business, reputation, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
Regulatory
We are subject to a number of ongoing federal and state regulatory examinations, consent orders, inquiries, subpoenas, civil investigative demands, requests for information and other actions. Where we determine that a loss contingency is probable in connection with a regulatory matter and the amount of our loss can be reasonably estimated, we record an accrual for the loss. Where we determine that a loss is not probable but is reasonably possible or where a loss in excess of the amount accrued is reasonably possible, we disclose an estimate of the amount of the loss or range of possible losses for the claim if a reasonable estimate can be made, unless the amount of such reasonably possible loss is not material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. It is possible that we will incur losses relating to regulatory matters that materially exceed any accrued amount. Predicting the outcome of any regulatory matter is inherently difficult and we generally cannot predict the eventual outcome of any regulatory matter or the eventual loss, if any, associated with the outcome.
To the extent that an examination, audit or other regulatory engagement results in an alleged failure by us to comply with applicable laws, regulations or licensing requirements, or if allegations are made that we have failed to comply with applicable laws, regulations or licensing requirements or the commitments we have made in connection with our regulatory settlements (whether such allegations are made through administrative actions such as cease and desist orders, through legal proceedings or otherwise) or if other regulatory actions of a similar or different nature are taken in the future against us, this could lead to (i) administrative fines and penalties and litigation, (ii) loss of our licenses and approvals to engage in our servicing and lending businesses, (iii) governmental investigations and enforcement actions, (iv) civil and criminal liability, including class action lawsuits and actions to recover incentive and other payments made by governmental entities, (v) breaches of covenants and representations under our servicing, debt or other agreements, (vi) damage to our reputation, (vii) inability to raise capital or otherwise fund our operations and (viii) inability to execute on our business strategy. Any of these occurrences could increase our operating expenses and reduce our revenues, hamper our ability to grow or otherwise materially and adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.

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CFPB
In April 2017, the CFPB filed a lawsuit in the federal district court for the Southern District of Florida against Ocwen, Ocwen Mortgage Servicing, Inc. (OMS) and OLS alleging violations of federal consumer financial laws relating to our servicing business dating back to 2014. The CFPB’s claims include allegations regarding (1) the adequacy of Ocwen’s servicing system and integrity of Ocwen’s mortgage servicing data, (2) Ocwen’s foreclosure practices and (3) various purported servicer errors with respect to borrower escrow accounts, hazard insurance policies, timely cancellation of private mortgage insurance, handling of customer complaints, and marketing of optional products. The CFPB alleges violations of laws prohibiting unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices, as well as violations of other laws or regulations. The CFPB does not claim specific monetary damages, although it does seek consumer relief, disgorgement of allegedly improper gains, and civil money penalties. We believe we have factual and legal defenses to the CFPB’s allegations and are vigorously defending ourselves. In September 2019, the court issued a ruling on our motion to dismiss, granting it in part and denying it in part. The court granted our motion dismissing the entire complaint without prejudice because the court found that the CFPB engaged in impermissible “shotgun pleading,” holding that the CFPB must amend its complaint to specifically allege and distinguish the facts between all claims. The CFPB filed an amended complaint in October 2019, and we filed our answer and affirmative defenses on November 1, 2019.
Prior to the initiation of legal proceedings, we had been engaged with the CFPB in efforts to resolve the matter and recorded $12.5 million as of December 31, 2016 as a result of these discussions. We are taking all reasonable and prudent actions to resolve the CFPB matter, along with the Florida matter discussed below, in the shortest time frame possible that would result in an acceptable financial outcome for our stakeholders. In this regard, we have increased our legal and regulatory accrual related to the CFPB and Florida matters by $4.4 million in the first quarter of 2020. Our accrual with respect to this matter is included in the $33.3 million legal and regulatory accrual referenced above. Trial in the CFPB matter is currently scheduled for October 2020; trial in the Florida matter has not yet been scheduled. The outcome of the matters raised by the CFPB, whether through negotiated settlements, court rulings or otherwise, could potentially involve monetary fines or penalties or additional restrictions on our business and could have a material adverse impact on our business, reputation, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
State Licensing, State Attorneys General and Other Matters
Our licensed entities are required to renew their licenses, typically on an annual basis, and to do so they must satisfy the license renewal requirements of each jurisdiction, which generally include financial requirements such as providing audited financial statements or satisfying minimum net worth requirements and non-financial requirements such as satisfactorily completing examinations as to the licensee’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Failure to satisfy any of the requirements to which our licensed entities are subject could result in a variety of regulatory actions ranging from a fine, a directive requiring a certain step to be taken, entry into a consent order, a suspension or ultimately a revocation of a license, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we receive information requests and other inquiries, both formal and informal in nature, from our state financial regulators as part of their general regulatory oversight of our servicing and lending businesses. We also regularly engage with state attorneys general and the CFPB and, on occasion, we engage with other federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and various inspectors general on various matters, including responding to information requests and other inquiries. Many of our regulatory engagements arise from a complaint that the entity is investigating, although some are formal investigations or proceedings. The GSEs (and their conservator, FHFA), HUD, FHA, VA, Ginnie Mae, the United States Treasury Department, and others also subject us to periodic reviews and audits. We have in the past resolved, and may in the future resolve, matters via consent orders, payments of monetary amounts and other agreements in order to settle issues identified in connection with examinations or other oversight activities, and such resolutions could have material and adverse effects on our business, reputation, operations, results of operations and financial condition.
In April 2017 and shortly thereafter, mortgage and banking regulatory agencies from 29 states and the District of Columbia took regulatory actions against OLS and certain other Ocwen companies that alleged deficiencies in our compliance with laws and regulations relating to our servicing and lending activities. An additional state regulator brought legal action together with that state’s attorney general, as described below. In general, the regulatory actions took the form of orders styled as “cease and desist orders,” and we use that term to refer to all of the orders for ease of reference; for ease of reference we also include the District of Columbia as a state when we reference states below. All of the cease and desist orders were applicable to OLS, but additional Ocwen entities were named in some orders, including Ocwen Financial Corporation, OMS, Homeward, Liberty, OFSPL and Ocwen Business Solutions, Inc. (OBS).
We entered into agreements with all 29 states plus the District of Columbia to resolve these regulatory actions. These agreements generally contained the following key terms (the Multi-State Common Settlement Terms):
Ocwen would not acquire any new residential MSRs until April 30, 2018.

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Ocwen would develop a plan of action and milestones regarding its transition from the REALServicing servicing system to an alternate servicing system and, with certain exceptions, would not board any new loans onto the REALServicing system.
In the event that Ocwen chose to merge with or acquire an unaffiliated company or its assets in order to effectuate a transfer of loans from the REALServicing system, Ocwen was required to comply with regulatory notice and waiting period requirements.
Ocwen would engage a third-party auditor to perform an analysis with respect to our compliance with certain federal and state laws relating to escrow by testing approximately 9,000 loan files relating to residential real property in various states, and Ocwen would develop corrective action plans for any errors identified by the third-party auditor.
Ocwen would develop and submit for review a plan to enhance our consumer complaint handling processes.
Ocwen would provide financial condition reporting on a confidential basis as part of each state’s supervisory framework through September 2020.
In addition to the terms described above, Ocwen entered into settlements with certain states on different or additional terms, which include making additional communications with and for borrowers, certain restrictions, certain review, reporting and remediation obligations, and the following additional terms:
Ocwen agreed with the Connecticut Department of Banking to pay certain amounts only in the event we fail to comply with certain requirements under our agreement with Connecticut.
In its agreement with the Maryland Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation, Ocwen agreed to complete an independent management assessment and enterprise risk assessment and to a prohibition, with certain de minimis exceptions, on repurchases of our stock until December 7, 2018. Ocwen also agreed to make certain payments to Maryland, to provide remediation to certain borrowers in the form of cash payments or credits and to pay certain amounts only in the event we fail to comply with certain requirements under our agreement with Maryland.
Ocwen agreed with the Massachusetts Division of Banks to pay $1.0 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mortgage Education Trust. Ocwen and the Massachusetts regulatory agency also agreed on a schedule pursuant to which we would regain eligibility to acquire residential MSRs on Massachusetts loans (including loans originated by Ocwen) as we met certain thresholds in our transition to a new servicing system. Pursuant to this agreement, all restrictions on Massachusetts MSR acquisitions would be lifted when Ocwen completed the second phase of a three-phase data integrity audit. Having now completed the first and second phases of this audit, Ocwen is no longer bound by any restriction on the volume of MSR acquisitions in Massachusetts.
Ocwen agreed with the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance until April 30, 2019, to limit its growth through acquisition from correspondent relationships to no more than ten percent per year for Nebraska loans (based on the total number of loans held at the prior calendar year-end).
Accordingly, we have now resolved all of the administrative actions (but not all of the legal actions, which are described below) taken by state regulators in April 2017 and shortly thereafter.
We have taken substantial steps toward fulfilling our commitments under the agreements described above, including completing the transfer of loans to Black Knight MSP, completing pre-transfer and post-transfer data integrity audits as described above, developing and implementing certain enhancements to our consumer complaint process, engaging a third-party auditor who has issued its final report with respect to the escrow review and ongoing reporting and information sharing.
Concurrent with the issuance of the cease and desist orders and the filing of the CFPB lawsuit discussed above, two state attorneys general took actions against us relating to our servicing practices. The Florida Attorney General, together with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, filed a lawsuit in the federal district court for the Southern District of Florida against Ocwen, OMS and OLS alleging violations of federal and state consumer financial laws relating to our servicing business. These claims are similar to the claims made by the CFPB. The Florida lawsuit seeks injunctive and equitable relief, costs, and civil money penalties in excess of $10,000 per confirmed violation of the applicable statute. In September 2019, the court issued its ruling on our motion to dismiss, granting it in part and denying it in part. The court granted our motion dismissing the entire complaint without prejudice because the court found that the plaintiffs engaged in impermissible “shotgun pleading,” holding that the plaintiffs must amend their complaint to specifically allege and distinguish the facts between all claims. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in November 2019. We filed a partial motion to dismiss the amended complaint in December 2019. On April 22, 2020, the court granted our motion and dismissed Count V of the amended complaint with prejudice holding the plaintiff failed to plead an actionable claim under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. We believe we have factual and legal defenses to the remaining allegations raised in this lawsuit and are vigorously defending ourselves. The outcome of this lawsuit, whether through a negotiated settlement, court rulings or otherwise, could potentially involve monetary fines or penalties or additional restrictions on our business and could be materially adverse to our business, reputation, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. Our accrual with respect to this matter is included in the $33.3 million litigation and regulatory matters accrual referenced above. We cannot currently estimate the amount, if any, of reasonably possible loss above the amount currently accrued.

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Our accrual with respect to the administrative and legal actions initiated in April 2017 is included in the $33.3 million litigation and regulatory matters accrual referenced above. We have also incurred, and will continue to incur costs to comply with the terms of the settlements we have entered into, including the costs of conducting an escrow review, Maryland organizational assessments and Massachusetts data integrity audits, and costs relating to the transition to Black Knight MSP. With respect to the escrow review, the third-party auditor has issued its final report, which will require some additional remediation measures in connection with which we will incur costs that we expect will be immaterial to our overall financial condition. In addition, it is possible that legal or other actions could be taken against us with respect to such errors, which could result in additional costs or other adverse impacts. If we fail to comply with the terms of our settlements, additional legal or other actions could be taken against us. Such actions could have a materially adverse impact on our business, reputation, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
Certain of the state regulators’ cease and desist orders referenced a confidential supervisory memorandum of understanding (MOU) that we entered into with the Multistate Mortgage Committee (MMC) and six states relating to a servicing examination from 2013 to 2015. Among other things, the MOU prohibited us from repurchasing stock during the development of a going forward plan and, thereafter, except as permitted by the plan. We submitted a plan in 2016 that contained no stock repurchase restrictions and, therefore, we do not believe we are currently restricted from repurchasing stock. We requested confirmation from the signatories of the MOU that they agree with this interpretation, and received affirmative responses from the MMC and five states, and a response declining to take a legal position from the remaining state.
On occasion, we engage with agencies of the federal government on various matters. For example, OLS received a letter from the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, notifying OLS that the Department of Justice had initiated a general investigation into OLS’s policies and procedures to determine whether violations of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act by OLS might exist. The Department of Justice has informed us that it has decided not to take enforcement action related to this matter at this time and has, consequently, closed its investigation. In addition, Ocwen was named as a defendant in a HUD administrative complaint filed by a non-profit organization alleging discrimination in the manner in which the company maintains REO properties in minority communities. In February 2018, this matter was administratively closed, and similar claims were filed in federal court. We believe these claims are without merit and intend to vigorously defend ourselves.
In May 2016, Ocwen received a subpoena from the Office of Inspector General of HUD requesting the production of documentation related to HECM loans originated by Liberty. We understand that other lenders in the industry have received similar subpoenas. In April 2017, Ocwen received a subpoena from the Office of Inspector General of HUD requesting the production of documentation related to lender-placed insurance arrangements with a mortgage insurer and the amounts paid for such insurance. We understand that other servicers in the industry have received similar subpoenas. In May 2017, Ocwen received a subpoena from the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program requesting documents and information related to Ocwen’s participation from 2009 to the present in the Treasury Department’s Making Home Affordable Program and its HAMP. We have been providing documents and information in response to these subpoenas. In April 2019, PMC received a subpoena from the VA Office of the Inspector General requesting the production of documentation related to the origination and underwriting of loans guaranteed by the Veterans Benefits Administration. We understand that other servicers in the industry have received similar subpoenas.
Loan Put-Back and Related Contingencies
Our contracts with purchasers of originated loans contain provisions that require indemnification or repurchase of the related loans under certain circumstances. While the language in the purchase contracts varies, they generally contain provisions that require us to indemnify purchasers of related loans or repurchase such loans if:
representations and warranties concerning loan quality, contents of the loan file or loan underwriting circumstances are inaccurate;
adequate mortgage insurance is not secured within a certain period after closing;
a mortgage insurance provider denies coverage; or
there is a failure to comply, at the individual loan level or otherwise, with regulatory requirements.
We received origination representations and warranties from our network of approved originators in connection with loans we purchased through our correspondent lending channel. To the extent that we have recourse against a third-party originator, we may recover part or all of any loss we incur.
We believe that, as a result of historical actions by investors, many purchasers of residential mortgage loans are particularly aware of the conditions under which originators must indemnify or repurchase loans and under which such purchasers would benefit from enforcing any indemnification rights and repurchase remedies they may have.
In our lending business, we have exposure to indemnification risks and repurchase requests. In our servicing business, claims alleging that we did not comply with our servicing obligations may require us to repurchase mortgage loans, make whole or otherwise indemnify investors or other parties. If home values were to decrease, our realized losses from loan repurchases and indemnifications may increase as well. As a result, our liability for repurchases may increase beyond our

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current expectations. If we are required to indemnify or repurchase loans that we originate and sell, or where we have assumed this risk on loans that we service, as discussed above, in either case resulting in losses that exceed our related liability, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We have exposure to origination representation, warranty and indemnification obligations relating to our lending, sales and securitization activities. We initially recognize these obligations at fair value. Thereafter, the estimation of the liability considers probable future obligations based on industry data of loans of similar type segregated by year of origination, to the extent applicable, and estimated loss severity based on current loss rates for similar loans, our historical rescission rates and the current pipeline of unresolved demands. Our historical loss severity considers the historical loss experience that we incur upon loan sale or collateral liquidation as well as current market conditions. We have exposure to servicing representation, warranty and indemnification obligations relating to our servicing practices. We record an accrual for a loss contingency if the loss contingency is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. We monitor the adequacy of the overall liability and make adjustments, as necessary, after consideration of our historical losses and other qualitative factors including ongoing dialogue and experience with our counterparties.
At March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, we had outstanding representation and warranty repurchase demands of $44.7 million UPB (277 loans) and $46.3 million UPB (273 loans), respectively. We review each demand and monitor through resolution, primarily through rescission, loan repurchase or make-whole payment.
The following table presents the changes in our liability for representation and warranty obligations and similar indemnification obligations:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2020
 
2019
Beginning balance (1)
$
50,838

 
$
49,267

Provision (reversal) for representation and warranty obligations
(768
)
 
(2,155
)
New production reserves
170

 
75

Charge-offs and other (2)
(3,161
)
 
(573
)
Ending balance (1)
$
47,079

 
$
46,614

(1)
The liability for representation and warranty obligations and compensatory fees for foreclosures is reported in Other liabilities (a component of Liability for indemnification obligations) on our unaudited consolidated balance sheets.
(2)
Includes principal and interest losses realized in connection with repurchased loans, make-whole, indemnification and fee payments and settlements net of recoveries, if any.
We believe that it is reasonably possible that losses beyond amounts currently recorded for potential representation and warranty obligations and other claims described above could occur, and such losses could have an adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. However, based on currently available information, we are unable to estimate a range of reasonably possible losses above amounts that have been recorded at March 31, 2020.
Other
Ocwen, on its own behalf and on behalf of various mortgage loan investors, is engaged in a variety of activities to seek payments from mortgage insurers for unpaid claims, including claims where the mortgage insurers paid less than the full claim amount. Ocwen believes that many of the actions by mortgage insurers were in violation of the applicable insurance policies and insurance law. In some cases, Ocwen has entered into tolling agreements, initiated arbitration or litigation, engaged in settlement discussions, or taken other similar actions. To date, Ocwen has settled with four mortgage insurers, and expects the ultimate outcome to result in recovery of additional unpaid claims, although we cannot quantify the likely amount at this time.
We may, from time to time, have affirmative indemnification and other claims against parties from whom we acquired MSRs or other assets. Although we pursue these claims, we cannot currently estimate the amount, if any, of further recoveries. Similarly, from time to time, indemnification and other claims are made against us by parties to whom we sold MSRs or other assets or by parties on whose behalf we service mortgage loans. We cannot currently estimate the amount, if any, of reasonably possible loss above amounts recorded.

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Note 22 – Subsequent Events
COVID-19 Update
In March 2020, the WHO categorized COVID-19 as a pandemic and the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a national emergency in the U.S. The COVID-19 pandemic is adversely affecting economic conditions, including an increase in unemployment, and is creating significant uncertainty about the duration and magnitude of the downturn in the economy.
On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was signed into law. The CARES Act allows borrowers with federally backed mortgage loans who are affected by COVID-19 to request temporary loan forbearance for up to 180 days. Borrowers may request additional forbearance period of up to 180 days for FHA and VA guaranteed loans. Although PLS loans are not explicitly covered under the CARES Act, these loans are subject to various requirements and expectations from state Governors, regulators, and Attorneys General to assist borrowers enduring financial hardship due to COVID-19 with forbearance and other requirements. Ocwen provides payment relief to such borrowers in accordance with these requirements and expectations, as well as our servicing agreements. For example, we intend to grant eligible borrowers an initial three months of forbearance and related protection, including suspension of late fees, as well as suspension of foreclosure and eviction activity.
Due to the adverse economic conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of loans under a forbearance plan offered by Ocwen to borrowers has significantly increased since March 31, 2020, and is expected to continue to increase in the near term and to continue to correlate with unemployment claims, consistent with the industry trend. The number of forbearance loans we service increased from approximately 27,500 at March 31, 2020 to 114,600 at April 30, 2020, or from 2.0% to 8.5% of our total serviced portfolio. An increase in loans in forbearance directly increases our servicing advance obligations. Refer to Note 20, Servicing Advance Obligations. Any material increase in forbearance and delinquencies could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts and unless otherwise indicated)
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, as well as other portions of this Form 10-Q, may contain certain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “intend,” “consider,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict” or “continue” or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Our business has been undergoing substantial change, which has magnified such risks and uncertainties. You should bear these factors in mind when considering forward-looking statements and should not place undue reliance on such statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by such statements. In the past, actual results have differed from those suggested by forward-looking statements, and this may happen again. You should consider all uncertainties and risks discussed or referenced in this report, including those under “Forward-Looking Statements” and Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors, as well as those discussed in our other reports and filings with the SEC, including those in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and any subsequent SEC filings.
OVERVIEW
General
We are a financial services company that services and originates mortgage loans. The majority of our revenues are generated from our residential mortgage servicing business. At March 31, 2020, our residential mortgage servicing portfolio consisted of 1,396,316 loans with a total UPB of $208.8 billion. We service all mortgage loan classes, including conventional, government-insured and non-Agency loans. Our originations business supports the growth of our servicing volume. We originate and purchase conventional and government-insured forward and reverse mortgage loans that we sell or securitize on a servicing retained basis.

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We selectively sourced our MSR originations and acquisitions and our subservicing through diversified channels, as detailed below:
Amounts in billions
UPB
 
Quarter Ended March 31, 2020
 
Quarter Ended December 31, 2019
Mortgage servicing originations
 
 
 
Recapture MSR (1)
$
0.20

 
$
0.17

Correspondent MSR (1)
0.51

 
0.40

Flow purchases MSR
0.82

 
0.24

GSE Cash Window MSR
0.52

 
0.55

Reverse mortgage servicing (2)
0.23

 
0.26

Total servicing originations
2.28

 
1.62

Bulk MSR purchases
1.54

 
2.74

Total servicing additions
3.82

 
4.36

Subservicing additions (3)
3.14

 
3.79

Total servicing and subservicing UPB additions (2)
$
6.96

 
$
8.15

(1)
Represents the UPB of loans that have been originated or purchased during the respective periods and for which we recognize a new MSR on our consolidated balance sheets upon sale or securitization.
(2)
Reverse mortgage loans are securitized on a servicing retained basis. The loans are recognized on our consolidated balance sheets under GAAP without any separate recognition of MSRs.
(3)
Excludes the volume UPB associated with short-term interim subservicing for some clients as a support to their originate-to-sell business, where loans are boarded and de-boarded within the same quarter.
In our Originations business, we originate or purchase, and sell or securitize forward and reverse mortgage loans that are mostly conventional and government-insured. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we originated or purchased forward and reverse mortgage loans with a UPB of $710.2 million and $226.0 million, respectively.
COVID-19 Pandemic Update
In March 2020, the WHO categorized COVID-19 as a pandemic and the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a national emergency in the U.S. The efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic are adversely affecting economic conditions, including an increase in unemployment, and are creating significant uncertainties about the duration and magnitude of the economic downturn.
Ocwen took decisive actions to address the COVID-19 global pandemic. These actions include a prohibition on international travel, non-essential domestic travel, and in-person meetings, as well as increased sanitary protocols in its facilities. Ocwen is following CDC, WHO and local guidelines and its business continuity and crisis management teams and executive leadership are meeting virtually on a daily basis. Ocwen is currently operating through a remote workforce model for approximately 92% of its global workforce. Approximately 2% of its U.S. workforce is working out of its facilities to support activities that cannot be performed remotely. For those jobs that cannot be performed remotely, social distancing and facilities hygiene recommendations are being followed, as well as added disinfection cleaning of facilities that continue to be occupied by its workforce. We believe our ability to maximize deployment of a remote work model offers the best protection for employees and the communities in which they live and provides the best assurance of our continued ability to serve borrowers and investors. We did not incur any significant costs associated with the transition to our remote work model during the three months ended March 31, 2020, except for the investment in laptops and related equipment for our workforce that we capitalized as equipment. We have not changed our operations, financial reporting process, systems, and controls.
The disruption created by the measures being taken to drive social distancing may give rise to industry-wide elevated delinquency levels. Ocwen is an experienced special servicer with proven capability to assist borrowers who are facing financial difficulties and generate positive outcomes for mortgage loan investors. We believe we have the necessary operating processes, practices and systems to track large servicer advance balances at a detailed level and drive strong advance recoveries within elevated delinquency portfolios. We believe the current environment may create opportunities to assist borrowers who are facing financial difficulties in retaining their homes while improving cash flow for mortgage loan investors.

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COVID-19 Pandemic Update - Servicing
On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was signed into law. The CARES Act allows borrowers with federally backed mortgage loans who are affected by COVID-19 to request temporary loan forbearance. Servicers must provide such forbearance for up to 180 days if requested by the borrower. Borrowers may request additional forbearance period of up to 180 days for FHA and VA guaranteed loans. During any period of forbearance granted pursuant to the CARES Act, servicers must also provide related protection, including, but not limited to, suspension of late fees, as well as foreclosure and eviction activity. The CARES Act further restricts servicers from pursuing certain foreclosure and eviction activity on all occupied, federally backed mortgage loans until at least May 17, 2020, regardless of whether the borrower has requested assistance.
Although PLS loans are not explicitly covered under the CARES Act, these loans are subject to various requirements and expectations from state Governors, regulators, and Attorneys General to assist borrowers enduring financial hardship due to COVID-19 with forbearance, moratoria on foreclosure sales and evictions and other requirements, some of which apply regardless of whether the borrower has requested assistance. Ocwen provides payment relief to such borrowers in accordance with these requirements and expectations, as well as our servicing agreements. For example, we intend to grant eligible borrowers an initial three months of forbearance and related protection, including suspension of late fees, as well as suspension of foreclosure and eviction activity.
Generally, borrowers will be required to repay their suspended or reduced mortgage payments after the forbearance period ends unless an alternate loss mitigation solution is reached, which we anticipate will include extensions of forbearance, repayment plans, payment deferrals, and loan modifications, depending on the borrower’s situation, account status, and applicable investor guidelines. Before the completion of each period of forbearance, Ocwen will attempt to contact the borrowers to assess their ability to resume making payments and discuss other options which may be available if their hardship persists.
We expect loan forbearance to rise significantly in the near term, in response to the increase in unemployment claims. The unemployment rate increased from 5.1%, for the week ending March 28th, to 15.5% for the week ending April 25th, an increase of 10.4 percentage points in four weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. We also expect that the recession that is expected by most economic forecasts will result in many of those in forbearance not returning to their jobs and so becoming delinquent at the end of the forbearance period. Given the unprecedented nature of this event, it is difficult to predict the severity and timing of this likely increase in delinquencies and forbearance.
An increase in loans in forbearance or an increase in delinquencies may temporarily reduce our servicing revenue or may delay the timing of revenue recognition. We receive and record servicing fees as income each period. Per the servicing guides, we do not collect any servicing fees on delinquent loans for the GSE and Ginnie Mae MSR loan population. In addition, we may not recognize any servicing fee during the forbearance periods. Conditions will also affect ancillary income timing and may reduce such income. While higher delinquencies tend to increase the assessment of some ancillary income, such as late fees, we will not be assessing late fees on loans in forbearance. The deferral of servicing fee collections due to forbearance is not expected to significantly impact our total cumulative revenue over the life of the loan but will reduce near term revenue and cash flow. The delay in servicing fee collection is expected to be partially offset by lower runoff in our MSR portfolio, as the deferred servicing fees generally remain projected as future cash flows.
An increase in loans in forbearance, an increase in delinquencies, further declines in market or mortgage rates and other assumptions changes would further decrease the fair value of our MSR portfolio. We reported a $174.1 million loss in MSR valuation adjustments, net in the first quarter of 2020, mostly driven by $52.7 million portfolio runoff and a $156.7 million loss due to the decline in interest rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic (117 basis-point decline in the 10-year treasury swap rate), partially offset by $35.3 million favorable fair value gain from our MSR hedging strategy. The $65.5 million additional loss as compared to the first quarter of 2019 is primarily due to the impact of the additional decline in market interest rates.
An increase in loans in forbearance or an increase in delinquencies would increase our cost to service and operating expenses. Loans in default typically require more intensive effort to bring them current or manage the foreclosure process. As forbearance periods end, additional efforts may be required to establish repayment plans, loan modifications, extensions of forbearance, payment deferrals, or other loss mitigation solutions. We follow regulatory and investor requirements, including the temporary moratoria on evictions and foreclosure sales and monitor daily our inventory and its trend due to the COVID-19 environment.
An increase in loans in forbearance or an increase in delinquencies would increase our servicing advances and may increase the related interest expense. Additional fair value losses may be recorded on our MSRs as the projected funding cost of existing and future expected servicing advances is a component of the fair value of MSRs. We do not expect any significant changes to our advances’ allowance for losses, including under the new FASB’s current expected credit loss model (CECL), as advances are generally expected to be fully reimbursed.

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For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, Ocwen provided approximately 27,500 COVID-19 related forbearance plans to its customers. NRZ has the responsibility to advance on approximately 16,800, or 61%, Ocwen has the responsibility to advance on approximately 9,400, or 34%, and no advances are required on approximately 1,300, or 5%, of the loans subject to these forbearance plans. Of the loans subject to these plans for which we are responsible for making advances, our subservicing clients are obligated to reimburse Ocwen within 30 days of Ocwen making an advance on approximately 3,900 of these loans. Ocwen has sole responsibility to advance on approximately 5,500 of these loans. Of this amount, 67% are PLS and 20% are Freddie Mac, where in both cases Ocwen has its own servicing advance financing lines.
For eligible PLS loans that were not significantly delinquent at the time forbearance was applied to the account, Ocwen intends to administer each three-month forbearance period through a series of one-month forbearance plans each of which advances the due date upon completion and move the resulting missed payment to or near the loan’s maturity as a non-interest bearing balance. As such, Ocwen does not expect to be out of pocket cash for P&I and T&I advances for any more than one month for each of these eligible loans with forbearance protection. We have a PLS servicing advance financing line that provides financing at weighted average advance rates of 92% of eligible principal and interest advances. As of March 31, 2020, Ocwen had $59.0 million in remaining committed financing capacity under our PLS servicing advance financing line.
For Ginnie Mae loans, advance requirements are mitigated by the ability to use excess funds in custodial accounts to cover principal and interest advances, though the remaining advances are covered by corporate cash. Ginnie Mae has announced it intends to provide financing to servicers to fund servicer advances through its Pass-Through Assistance Program (PTAP). We are not acting at this time to establish a private Ginnie Mae advance funding facility or planning to access the Ginnie Mae PTAP. We will continue to assess our Ginnie Mae requirements and options going forward and may establish financing later this year.
For Freddie Mac loans, Ocwen has a servicing advance financing line that provides financing at a 98% advance rate of eligible P&I advances, and an overall weighted average advance rate of 80.5% of all eligible advances. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had $45.0 million in remaining committed financing capacity under this servicing advance financing line.
For Fannie Mae loans, advances are currently funded through corporate cash. On April 21, 2020, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that the 120-day P&I servicer advance obligation limit for delinquent loans will apply to loans in forbearance. Accordingly, once a servicer has advanced four months of missed payments on a loan, it will have no further obligation to advance scheduled payments, as the loan will be moved into an “Actual/Actual” remittance status. Reimbursement of such P&I advance is expected after the forbearance period ends, through loan resolution, cure or liquidation. Mortgage loans with COVID-19 payment forbearance will be treated as they would in the event of a natural disaster event and will remain in the MBS pools. GSE servicers are required to make T&I and Corporate advances until the property is sold but can submit reimbursement claims for certain T&I and Corporate advances after incurring the expense. To the extent necessary, Ocwen intends to apply for financing through the Federal Reserve Emergency Funding Programs when such programs are made available to the industry. Ocwen’s ability to utilize these programs will be subject to eligibility requirements applicable to Ocwen and the collateral being financed. The eligibility criteria and the timing of financing availability is not yet known.
As of April 30, 2020, we provided approximately 114,600 COVID-19 related forbearance plans to our customers, or an additional 87,100 forbearance plans since March 31, 2020. The loans under forbearance represented 8.5% and 2.0% of our servicing volume as of April 30, 2020 and March 31, 2020, respectively. Due to the adverse economic conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect the number of forbearance plans to continue to increase in the near term, consistent with the industry trend, and to continue to correlate with unemployment claims. An increase in loans in forbearance would increase our servicing advance obligations. The below table shows the requests for forbearance plans and the estimated obligation to advance monthly P&I as of March 31, 2020 and April 30, 2020:

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COVID-19 impacted borrowers and monthly P&I advance estimate
As of March 31, 2020
 
As of April 30, 2020
Number of Forbearance Plans (3)
 
Estimated Monthly P&I Advance Obligation
($ million)
 
Number of Forbearance Plans (3)
 
Estimated Monthly P&I Advance Obligation
($ million)
GSE loans
1,400

 
$
1.8

 
6,200

 
$
7.9

Ginnie Mae loans
400

 
0.5

 
8,400

 
7.9

PLS loans
3,700

 
5.8

 
16,000

 
24.4

Servicer
5,500

 
$
8.1

 
30,600

 
$
40.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSE loans
2,300

 
$
2.6

 
9,400

 
$
10.5

PLS loans
14,500

 
14.0

 
63,200

 
62.4

NRZ’s responsibility (1)
16,800

 
$
16.6

 
72,600

 
$
72.9

Subservicer (2)
3,900

 
$
4.5

 
6,500

 
$
8.9

No advance requirements
1,300

 

 
4,900

 

Total
27,500

 
$
29.2

 
114,600

 
$
122.0

(1)
Ocwen is obligated to advance under the terms of the 2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements, and NRZ is obligated to reimburse Ocwen daily for PLS and weekly for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae servicing advances. See Note 8 — Rights to MSRs and Note 11 – Borrowings for additional information.
(2)
Ocwen is obligated to advance under the terms of subservicing agreements, and subservicing clients (servicers) are generally obligated to reimburse Ocwen within one day to 30 days for P&I advances.
(3)
Numbers have been rounded.
COVID-19 Pandemic Update - Originations
Recent declines in interest rates and the continued execution of our originations strategy have led to an increase in mortgage refinancing activity in our portfolio retention channel. We continue to increase staffing levels to maximize our recapture potential. Lock volume for the first quarter of 2020 was approximately $870 million and funded volume was approximately $196 million.
Ocwen continues to approach MSR purchases with discipline as it has seen increased volatility in primary and secondary margins as well as the average 30-year mortgage rate. We are bidding conservatively, especially on higher coupon loans, while mortgage spreads are high, and the market is going through price discovery. First quarter 2020 correspondent lock volume was approximately $618 million and funded volume originated through correspondent and all other flow channels was approximately $1.9 billion. In the current environment, there are several factors that could impact Ocwen’s volume and industry-wide volume levels in all channels, including COVID-19 related impacts to the lending ecosystem (e.g., appraiser unwillingness to enter homes; borrower unwillingness to allow appraisers into homes; title agent office closings; and delays in obtaining, and uncertainty relating to the validity of, verifications of borrower employment), volatility of market interest rates, primary and secondary spread volatility, industry capacity constraints, and uncertainty regarding the future value of newly originated MSRs in light of the current wide spread between the 10-year treasury rate and the 30-year conventional fixed rate mortgage rate.
In this environment, our current capital allocation priorities are maintaining liquidity to support its operations and funding its flow origination channels. We continue to monitor our liquidity and calibrate our originations activity based on our evolving assessment of the business environment and our liquidity and financial condition. See Liquidity and Capital Resources for additional COVID-19 update.
Business Initiatives
We have established a set of key business initiatives to achieve our objective of returning to profitability in the shortest timeframe possible within an appropriate risk and compliance environment. These include:
Managing the size of our servicing portfolio through expanding our lending business to grow sustainable channels of MSR replenishment;
Re-engineering our cost structure;
Effectively managing our balance sheet to fund our ongoing business needs and growth; and,
Fulfilling our regulatory commitments and resolving remaining legacy matters.

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First, we must expand our Originations business and targeted MSR acquisitions that have appropriate financial return targets to replenish and grow our servicing portfolio, and within the constraints of our liquidity. We expect to continue to focus on acquiring Agency and government-insured MSR portfolios that meet or exceed our minimum targeted investment returns. We also executed on our plans to re-enter the forward lending correspondent channel in the second quarter of 2019 and we continue to pursue a number of other MSR acquisition options, including driving improved recapture rates within our existing servicing portfolio. In addition to our organic growth initiatives in our Originations business, we have been actively engaged in evaluating opportunities to acquire complimentary lending platforms with proven capabilities to generate significant volume through mortgage lending cycles and provide a sustainable MSR source. Our efforts to grow and diversify our sources of servicing volumes also mitigate our client concentration risk. We have exposure to client concentration and retention risk as a result of our relationship with NRZ, which accounted for 55% of the UPB in our servicing portfolio as of March 31, 2020.
Second, we must re-engineer our cost structure to go beyond eliminating redundant costs through the integration process and establish continuous operational efficiencies and cost improvement as a core strength. Our continuous cost improvement efforts are focused on leveraging our single servicing platform and technology, optimizing strategic sourcing and off-shore utilization, lean process design, automation and other technology-enabled productivity enhancements. Our initiatives are targeted at delivering superior accuracy, cost, speed and customer satisfaction. We believe these steps are necessary in order to simplify our operations and drive stronger financial performance.
Third, we must manage our balance sheet to ensure adequate liquidity, finance our ongoing business needs and provide a solid platform for executing on our other key business initiatives. Regarding the current maturities of our borrowings, as of March 31, 2020 we had approximately $789.0 million of debt outstanding under facilities coming due in the next 12 months. In January 2020, we extended the maturity of our SSTL from December 2020 to May 2022 and we reduced the outstanding balance from $326.1 million to $200.0 million. Portions of our match funded advance facilities and all of our mortgage loan warehouse facilities have 364-day terms consistent with market practice. We have historically renewed these facilities on or before their expiration in the ordinary course of financing our business. We have assessed the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our financial projections and projected liquidity. We have an agreement in place to upsize and extend through June 2021 our OMART and OFAF advance financing facilities. The OMART VFN capacity will increase from $200.0 million to $500.0 million to accommodate forecasted advancing requirements and the amortization of $185.0 million in term notes in August 2020. The OFAF facility will increase to a total capacity of $70.0 million. In addition, we have executed an agreement to extend our MSR repurchase agreement and warehouse facilities with Barclays. We expect to renew, replace or extend our borrowings to the extent necessary to finance our business on or prior to their respective maturities consistent with our historical experience.
Finally, we must fulfill our regulatory commitments and resolve our remaining legal and regulatory matters on satisfactory terms. Our business, operating results and financial condition have been significantly impacted in recent periods by regulatory actions against us and by significant litigation matters. Should the number or scope of regulatory or legal actions against us increase or expand or should we be unable to reach reasonable resolutions in existing regulatory and legal matters, our business, reputation, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected, even if we are successful in our ongoing efforts to drive stronger financial performance. Our ability to execute on these key business initiatives is not certain and is dependent on the successful execution of several complex actions, including our ability to grow our lending business and acquire MSRs with appropriate financial return targets, our ability to acquire, maintain and grow profitable client relationships, our ability to maintain relationships with the GSEs, Ginnie Mae, FHFA, lenders and regulators, our ability to implement further organizational redesign and cost reduction, as well as the absence of significant unforeseen costs, including regulatory or legal costs, that could negatively impact our return to sustainable profitability, and our ability to extend, renew or replace our debt agreements in the ordinary course of business. Our ability to execute on our key initiatives has been hindered by the recent COVID-19 environment and the impact on our organization depends on the duration of the lockdown and the magnitude of the economic downturn. There can be no assurances that the desired strategic and financial benefits of these actions will be realized.
In recent periods, Ocwen has incurred significant losses as a result of declines in the fair value of our MSRs. Further interest rate decreases, prepayment speed increases or changes to other fair value inputs or assumptions could result in further fair value declines and hamper our ability to return to profitability. Starting in September 2019, we have implemented a hedging strategy to partially offset the changes in fair value of our net MSR portfolio. See Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - MSR Hedging Strategy for further information.
During 2019, we completed an assessment of the cost-to-service and the profitability of the NRZ servicing portfolio. Based on this analysis, in the fourth quarter of 2019, we estimate that operating expenses, including direct servicing expenses and overhead allocation, exceeded the net revenue retained for the NRZ servicing portfolio by approximately $10.0 million. As with all estimates, this estimate required the exercise of judgment, including with respect to overhead allocations, and it excludes the benefits of the lump-sum payment amortization. The estimated loss for these subservicing agreements is partially

66



driven by the declining revenue as the loan portfolio amortizes down without a corresponding reduction to our servicing cost per loan over time. As performing loans in the NRZ servicing portfolio have run-off, delinquencies have remained high, resulting in a relatively elevated average cost per loan. Because the NRZ portfolio contains a high percentage of delinquent accounts, it has an inherently high level of potential operational and compliance risk and requires a disproportionately high level of operating staff, oversight support infrastructure and overhead which drives the elevated average cost per loan. We actively pursue cost re-engineering initiatives to continue to reduce our cost-to-service and corporate overhead, as well as pursue actions to grow our non-NRZ servicing portfolio.
On February 20, 2020, we received a notice of termination from NRZ with respect to the legacy PMC subservicing agreement. This termination is for convenience (and not for cause). The notice states that the effective date of termination is June 19, 2020 for 25% of the loans under the agreement (not including loans constituting approximately $6.6 billion in UPB that were added by NRZ under the agreement in 2019) and August 18, 2020 for the remainder of the loans under the agreement. The actual servicing transfer date(s) will be determined through discussions with NRZ and other stakeholders such as GSEs. We currently expect the deboarding of these loans in the third and fourth quarters of 2020. In connection with the termination, we estimate that we will receive loan deboarding fees of approximately $6.0 million from NRZ. The portfolio subject to termination accounted for $40.0 billion in UPB, or 19% of our total serviced UPB as of March 31, 2020. Under this agreement, in the fourth quarter of 2019, we estimated that operating expenses, including direct expenses and overhead allocation, exceeded the net revenue retained for this portion of the NRZ servicing portfolio by approximately $3.0 million. At this stage, we do not anticipate significant operational impacts on our servicing business as a result of this termination. The terminated servicing is comprised of Agency loans with relatively low delinquencies that do not pose a high level of operating and compliance risk or require substantial direct and oversight staffing relative to our non-Agency servicing. Nonetheless, we intend to right-size and reduce expenses in our servicing business and the related corporate support functions to the extent possible to align with our smaller portfolio. It is possible that the loan deboarding and other transition activities that we will undertake as a result of the termination may not occur in an orderly or timely manner, which could be disruptive and could result in us incurring additional costs or even in disagreements with NRZ relating to our respective rights and obligations.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition
The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

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The following discussion addresses each component of our statement of operations, and further detail related to our servicing, originations and corporate segments is provided in the discussion by segment.
Results of Operations Summary
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
% Change
2020
 
2019
 
Revenue
 
 
 
 
 
Servicing and subservicing fees
$
211,483

 
$
256,616

 
(18
)%
Reverse mortgage revenue, net
22,797

 
32,123

 
(29
)
Gain on loans held for sale, net
13,331

 
8,982

 
48

Other revenue, net
6,231

 
6,167

 
1

Total revenue
253,842

 
303,888

 
(16
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
MSR valuation adjustments, net
(174,120
)
 
(108,998
)
 
60

 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
60,728

 
94,696

 
(36
)
Servicing and origination
20,256

 
28,698

 
(29
)
Professional services
25,637

 
3,441

 
645

Technology and communications
15,193

 
24,435

 
(38
)
Occupancy and equipment
11,969

 
16,589

 
(28
)
Other expenses
3,431

 
3,248

 
6

Total operating expenses
137,214

 
171,107

 
(20
)
 


 


 


Other income (expense)
 

 
 

 
 
Interest income
5,395

 
4,558

 
18

Interest expense
(29,982
)
 
(26,489
)
 
13

Pledged MSR liability expense, net
(6,594
)
 
(43,956
)
 
(85
)
Other, net
1,328

 
1,020

 
30

Total other expense, net
(29,853
)
 
(64,867
)
 
(54
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss before income taxes
(87,345
)
 
(41,084
)
 
(46
)
Income tax (benefit) expense
(61,856
)
 
3,410

 
n/m

Net loss
$
(25,489
)
 
$
(44,494
)
 
(189
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment income (loss) before income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
Servicing
$
(56,096
)
 
$
(57,503
)
 
(2
)%
Originations
10,381

 
19,860

 
(48
)
Corporate Items and Other
(41,630
)
 
(3,441
)
 
n/m

 
$
(87,345
)
 
$
(41,084
)
 
113
 %
n/m: not meaningful
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 versus 2019
We reported a net loss of $25.5 million in the first quarter of 2020 driven in large part by two partially offsetting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic environment. First, the fair value of our MSRs and related MSR financing liability at fair value decreased by $125.1 million in the first quarter of 2020 due to the unprecedented decline in market interest rates, offset in part by $35.3 million gains of our hedging derivatives. Second, we recognized a $61.9 million income tax benefit in the first quarter of 2020 as the CARES Act allows the carryback of tax net operating losses (NOL) and the associated refund of taxes that we paid in prior years. While many factors impacted our results, as discussed below, the $46.3 million increase in our pre-tax net loss for the first quarter of 2020, as compared to the first quarter of 2019 is also largely explained by the $30.7 million recovery in the first quarter of 2019 of prior professional fees from a service provider.

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Total revenue was $253.8 million in the first quarter of 2020, $50.0 million or 16% lower than the first quarter of 2019, mostly due to declines in servicing fee revenue and reverse mortgage revenue. Servicing and subservicing fee revenue decreased $45.1 million, or 18%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to a lower serviced UPB. Reverse mortgage revenue, net decreased $9.3 million, or 29%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019 largely due to the decline in fair value of our reverse mortgage portfolio due to the COVID-19 unfavorable market conditions. See Segment Results of Operations for additional information.
We reported a $174.1 million loss in MSR valuation adjustments, net in the first quarter of 2020, mostly driven by $52.7 million portfolio runoff and a $156.7 million loss due to the decline in interest rates, partially offset by $35.3 million favorable fair value gain from our MSR hedging strategy. The $65.1 million additional loss as compared to the first quarter of 2019 is primarily due to the impact of the decrease in market interest rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. See Segment Results of Operations - Servicing for additional information.
Total operating expenses decreased $33.9 million, or 20%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019 and the decrease is the result of multiple, offsetting variances, as discussed below.
Compensation and benefits expense declined $34.0 million, or 36%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to a 24% decline in average headcount and the recognition in the first quarter of 2019 of $19.2 million of severance and retention costs incurred in connection with our 2019 cost re-engineering plan.
Servicing and origination expense decreased $8.4 million, or 29%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to a $10.0 million decrease in servicing expenses largely as a result of a reduction in government-insured claim loss provisions and a general decline in servicer-related expenses that was primarily driven by a reduction in our servicing portfolio. See Segment Results of Operations - Servicing for additional information.
Professional services expense increased $22.2 million, or 645%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to the $30.7 million recovery in 2019 of amounts previously recognized as expense from a service provider offset in part by a $6.6 million decline in legal fees largely due to a declines in legal expenses relating to the PHH integration, legal entity reorganization and litigation, partially offset by a $4.4 million increase to our accrual related to the CFPB and Florida matters in the first quarter of 2020.
Technology and communication expense declined $9.2 million, or 38%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019 primarily because we no longer license the REALServicing servicing system from Altisource following our transition to Black Knight MSP in June 2019, a $2.9 million reduction in depreciation expense that is largely the result of a decline in capitalized technology investments, our closure of U.S. facilities in 2019 and the effects of our other cost reduction efforts, which include bringing technology services in-house, and synergy benefits resulting from our PHH integration efforts.
Occupancy and equipment expense decreased $4.6 million, or 28%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019 primarily due to the results of our cost reduction efforts, which include consolidating vendors and closing and consolidating certain facilities, and the effect of the decline in the size of the servicing portfolio on various expenses, particularly mailing services.
Interest expense increased $3.5 million, or 13%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily because of $4.7 million interest on the new MSR financing facilities entered into during the third and fourth quarters of 2019, partially offset by a $2.0 million decrease in interest on advance match funded liabilities, consistent with the decline in servicing advances.
Pledged MSR liability expense decreased $37.4 million, or 85%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, largely due to a $7.9 million higher 2017/18 lump sum amortization gain and $28.1 million lower net servicing fee remittance to NRZ. These changes were mostly due to a lower UPB serviced and the termination of the PMC servicing agreement by NRZ on February 20, 2020. See Segment Results of Operations - Servicing for additional information.
Although we incurred a pre-tax loss for the three months ended March 31, 2020 of $87.3 million, we recorded an income tax benefit of $61.9 million primarily due to $64.8 million of estimated income tax benefit to be recognized under the CARES Act as a result of modification of the tax rules to allow the carryback of NOLs arising in 2018, 2019 and 2020 tax years to the five prior tax years and the increase to the business interest expense limitation under IRC Section 163(j). We recognized income tax expense, exclusive of the impact of the CARES Act, of $2.9 million due to the mix of earnings among different tax jurisdictions with different statutory tax rates. Our overall effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were 71% and (8)%, respectively. Under our transfer pricing agreements, our operations in India and Philippines are compensated on a cost-plus basis for the services they provide, such that even when we have a consolidated pre-tax loss from continuing operations these foreign operations have taxable income, which is subject to statutory tax rates in these jurisdictions that are significantly higher than the U.S. statutory rate of 21%. The $65.3 million change in income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared with the same period in 2019, was primarily due to recognition of the estimated impact of the CARES Act. See Note 16 – Income Taxes for additional information.


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Financial Condition Summary 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
 
$ Change
 
% Change
Cash
$
263,555

 
$
428,339

 
$
(164,784
)
 
(38
)%
Restricted cash
53,177

 
64,001

 
(10,824
)
 
(17
)
MSRs, at fair value
1,050,228

 
1,486,395

 
(436,167
)
 
(29
)
Advances, net
1,024,807

 
1,056,523

 
(31,716
)
 
(3
)
Loans held for sale
246,015

 
275,269

 
(29,254
)
 
(11
)
Loans held for investment, at fair value
6,591,382

 
6,292,938

 
298,444

 
5

Receivables
235,305

 
201,220

 
34,085

 
17

Other assets
521,555

 
601,514

 
(79,959
)
 
(13
)
Total assets
$
9,986,024

 
$
10,406,199

 
(420,175
)
 
(4
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Assets by Segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Servicing
$
2,787,250

 
$
3,378,515

 
$
(591,265
)
 
(18
)%
Originations
6,739,576

 
6,459,367

 
280,209

 
4

Corporate Items and Other
459,198

 
568,317

 
(109,119
)
 
(19
)
 
$
9,986,024

 
$
10,406,199

 
$
(420,175
)
 
(4
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HMBS-related borrowings, at fair value
$
6,323,091

 
$
6,063,435

 
259,656

 
4
 %
Advance match funded liabilities
625,951

 
679,109

 
(53,158
)
 
(8
)
Other financing liabilities, at fair value
623,049

 
972,595

 
(349,546
)
 
(36
)
SSTL and other secured borrowings, net
797,615

 
1,025,791

 
(228,176
)
 
(22
)
Senior notes, net
311,290

 
311,085

 
205

 

Other liabilities
875,171

 
942,173

 
(67,002
)
 
(7
)
Total liabilities
9,556,167

 
9,994,188

 
(438,021
)
 
(4
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total stockholders’ equity
429,857

 
412,011

 
17,846

 
4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and equity
$
9,986,024

 
$
10,406,199

 
(420,175
)
 
(4
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Liabilities by Segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Servicing
$
2,323,103

 
$
2,862,063

 
$
(538,960
)
 
(19
)%
Originations
6,582,507

 
6,347,159

 
235,348

 
4

Corporate Items and Other
650,557

 
784,966

 
(134,409
)
 
(17
)
 
$
9,556,167

 
$
9,994,188

 
$
(438,021
)
 
(4
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The $420.2 million decrease in our balance sheet for the three months ended March 31, 2020 is principally attributable to the $263.7 million derecognition of MSRs and the related financing liability effective with February 20, 2020 termination of the subservicing agreement between NRZ and PMC, $126.1 million of cash used to prepay a portion of the outstanding SSTL balance on January 27, 2020 and the $99.5 million decrease in the Ginnie Mae contingent loan repurchase asset and corresponding liability, offset by continued growth of our reverse mortgage business with an additional $298.4 million loans held for investment and $259.7 million HMBS-related borrowings. Total equity increased $17.8 million due to a $47.0 million adjustment to stockholders’ equity on January 1, 2020 as a result of our election to measure future reverse mortgage draw commitments at fair value in conjunction with the application of the new credit loss accounting standard, offset by our net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and our repurchase of 5.7 million shares of our common stock.

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SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Our activities are organized into two reportable business segments that reflect our primary lines of business - Servicing and Originations - as well as a Corporate Items and Other segment.

SERVICING
We earn contractual monthly servicing fees pursuant to servicing agreements, which are typically payable as a percentage of UPB, as well as ancillary fees, including late fees, modification incentive fees, REO referral commissions, float earnings and Speedpay fees. We also earn fees under both subservicing and special servicing arrangements with banks and other institutions that own the MSRs. Subservicing and special servicing fees are earned either as a percentage of UPB or on a per-loan basis. Per loan fees typically vary based on delinquency status. As of March 31, 2020, we serviced 1.4 million loans with an aggregate UPB of $208.8 billion. The average UPB of loans serviced during the first quarter of 2020 decreased by 18% or $44.8 billion compared to the first quarter of 2019, mostly due to portfolio runoff and servicing transfers.
NRZ is our largest servicing client, accounting for 55% and 60% of the UPB and loans in our servicing portfolio as of March 31, 2020, respectively. NRZ servicing fees retained by Ocwen represented approximately 24% and 27% of the total servicing and subservicing fees earned by Ocwen, net of servicing fees remitted to NRZ, for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (excluding ancillary income). Consistent with a subservicing relationship, NRZ is responsible for funding the advances we service for NRZ.
In 2017 and early 2018, we renegotiated the Ocwen agreements with NRZ to more closely align with a typical subservicing arrangement whereby we receive a base servicing fee and certain ancillary fees, primarily late fees, loan modification fees and Speedpay fees. We may also receive certain incentive fees or pay penalties tied to various contractual performance metrics. We received upfront cash payments in 2018 and 2017 of $279.6 million and $54.6 million, respectively, from NRZ in connection with the resulting 2017 and New RMSR Agreements. These upfront payments generally represented the net present value of the difference between the future revenue stream Ocwen would have received under the original agreements and the future revenue Ocwen will receive under the renegotiated agreements. These upfront payments received from NRZ were deferred and are recorded within Other income (expense), Pledged MSR liability expense, as they amortize through the remaining term of the original agreements. As of March 31, 2020, the remaining unamortized payment amounted to $10.0 million.
During 2019, we completed an assessment of the cost-to-service and the profitability of the NRZ servicing portfolio. Based on this analysis, in the fourth quarter of 2019, we estimated that operating expenses, including direct servicing expenses and overhead allocation, exceeded the net revenue retained for the NRZ servicing portfolio by approximately $10.0 million. As with all estimates, this estimate required the exercise of judgment, including with respect to overhead allocations, and it excluded the benefits of the lump-sum payment amortization. The estimated loss for these subservicing agreements is partially driven by the declining revenue as the loan portfolio amortizes down without a corresponding reduction to our servicing cost over time. As performing loans in the NRZ servicing portfolio have run-off, delinquencies have remained high, resulting in a relatively elevated average cost per loan. Because the NRZ portfolio contains a high percentage of delinquent accounts, it has an inherently high level of potential operational and compliance risk and requires a disproportionally high level of operating staff, oversight support infrastructure and overhead which drives the elevated average cost per loan. We pursue cost re-engineering initiatives to continue to reduce our cost-to-service and our corporate overhead, as well as pursue actions to grow our non-NRZ servicing portfolio to offset the losses on the NRZ sub servicing.

71



The following table presents subservicing fees retained by Ocwen under the NRZ agreements and the amortization gain (including fair value change) of the lump-sum payments received in connection with the 2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2020
 
2019
Retained subservicing fees on NRZ agreements
$
29,331

 
$
37,407

Amortization gain of the lump-sum cash payments received (including fair value change) recorded as a reduction of Pledged MSR liability expense
24,239

 
16,340

Total retained subservicing fees and amortization gain of lump-sum payments (including fair value change)
$
53,570

 
$
53,747

 
 
 
 
Average NRZ UPB
$
118,092,691

 
$
128,340,739

Average annualized retained subservicing fees as a % of NRZ UPB
0.10
%
 
0.12
%
Our MSR portfolio is carried at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in MSR valuation adjustments, net. The value of our MSRs is typically correlated to changes in interest rates; as interest rates decrease, the value of the servicing portfolio typically decreases as a result of higher anticipated prepayment speeds. The sensitivity of MSR fair value to interest rates is typically higher for higher credit quality loans. Valuation is also impacted by loan delinquency rates whereby as delinquency rates rise, the value of the servicing portfolio declines.
For those MSR sale transactions with NRZ that do not achieve sale accounting treatment, we present gross the pledged MSR as an asset and the corresponding liability amount pledged MSR liability on our balance sheet. Similarly, we present the total servicing fees and the fair value changes related to the MSR sale transactions with NRZ within Servicing and subservicing fees, net and MSR valuation adjustment, net. Net servicing fee remittance to NRZ and the fair value changes of the pledged MSR liability are separately presented within Pledged MSR liability expense and are offset by the two corresponding amounts presented in other statement of operations line items. We record both our pledged MSRs with NRZ and the associated MSR liability at fair value, the changes in fair value of the pledged MSR liability were offset by the changes in fair value of the associated MSRs pledged, presented in MSR valuation adjustments, net. Although fair value changes are separately presented in our statement of operations, we are not exposed to any fair value changes of the MSR related to NRZ.
On February 20, 2020, we received a notice of termination from NRZ with respect to the PMC MSR Agreements, which accounted for $40.0 billion loan UPB. The notice states that the effective date of termination is June 19, 2020 with respect to 25% of the Initial Mortgage Loans under the agreement and August 18, 2020 for the remainder of the loans under the agreement. The loans that were added by NRZ under the PMC subservicing agreement in 2019 and amounted to approximately $6.6 billion in UPB are subject to the termination with the stated effective date of August 18, 2020. In connection with the termination, we are entitled to loan deboarding fees from NRZ. This termination is for convenience and not for cause. As the sale accounting criteria were met upon the notice of termination, the MSRs and the Rights to MSRs associated with the $40.0 billion loan UPB were derecognized from our balance sheet on February 20, 2020 without any gain or loss on derecognition. We continue to service these loans until deboarding, and account for them as a subservicing relationship. Accordingly, we recognized subservicing fees associated with the subservicing agreement subsequent to February 20, 2020 and did not report any servicing fees collected on behalf of, and remitted to NRZ, any change in fair value, runoff and settlement in financing liability thereafter.
Third-Party Servicer Ratings
Like other servicers, we are the subject of mortgage servicer ratings or rankings (collectively, ratings) issued and revised from time to time by rating agencies including Moody’s, S&P and Fitch. Favorable ratings from these agencies are important to the conduct of our loan servicing and lending businesses.

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The following table summarizes our key servicer ratings:
 
PHH Mortgage Corporation
 
Moody’s
 
S&P
 
Fitch
Residential Prime Servicer
SQ3
 
Average
 
RPS3
Residential Subprime Servicer
SQ3
 
Average
 
RPS3
Residential Special Servicer
SQ3
 
Average
 
RSS3
Residential Second/Subordinate Lien Servicer
SQ3
 
Average
 
RPS3
Residential Home Equity Servicer
 
 
RPS3
Residential Alt-A Servicer
 
 
RPS3
Master Servicer
SQ3
 
Average
 
RMS3
Ratings Outlook
N/A
 
Stable
 
Negative
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date of last action
August 29, 2019
 
December 27, 2019
 
March 24, 2020
In addition to servicer ratings, each of the agencies will from time to time assign an outlook (or a ratings watch such as Moody’s review status) to the rating status of a mortgage servicer. A negative outlook is generally used to indicate that a rating “may be lowered,” while a positive outlook is generally used to indicate a rating “may be raised.” On March 24, 2020, Fitch placed all U.S RMBS servicer ratings on Negative outlook resulting from a rapidly evolving economic and operating environment due to the sudden impact of the COVID-19 virus.
Downgrades in servicer ratings could adversely affect our ability to service loans, sell or finance servicing advances and could impair our ability to consummate future servicing transactions or adversely affect our dealings with lenders, other contractual counterparties, and regulators, including our ability to maintain our status as an approved servicer by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The servicer rating requirements of Fannie Mae do not necessarily require or imply immediate action, as Fannie Mae has discretion with respect to whether we are in compliance with their requirements and what actions it deems appropriate under the circumstances if we fall below their desired servicer ratings.

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The following table presents selected results of operations of our Servicing segment. The amounts presented are before the elimination of balances and transactions with our other segments:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
Revenue
 
 
 
 
 
Servicing and subservicing fees
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
$
210,827

 
$
255,211

 
(17
)%
Commercial
727

 
1,227

 
(41
)
 
211,554

 
256,438

 
(18
)
Gain on loans held for sale, net
842

 
1,216

 
(31
)
Other revenue, net
1,159

 
1,620

 
(28
)
Total revenue
213,555

 
259,274

 
(18
)
 
 
 
 
 
 

MSR valuation adjustments, net
(174,436
)
 
(108,914
)
 
60

 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
26,786

 
40,403

 
(34
)
Servicing and origination
14,934

 
24,887

 
(40
)
Occupancy and equipment
9,030

 
12,607

 
(28
)
Professional services
5,071

 
11,423

 
(56
)
Technology and communications
7,255

 
9,500

 
(24
)
Corporate overhead allocations
17,793

 
57,594

 
(69
)
Other expenses
(396
)
 
570

 
(169
)
Total operating expenses
80,473

 
156,984

 
(49
)
 
 
 
 
 


Other income (expense)
 
 
 
 
 

Interest income
1,886

 
2,294

 
(18
)
Interest expense
(13,667
)
 
(10,742
)
 
27

Pledged MSR liability expense
(6,623
)
 
(43,956
)
 
(85
)
Other, net
3,662

 
1,525

 
140

Total other expense, net
(14,742
)
 
(50,879
)
 
(71
)
 
 
 
 
 


Loss before income taxes
$
(56,096
)
 
$
(57,503
)
 
(2
)%
n/m: not meaningful
 
 
 
 
 

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The following tables provide selected operating statistics:
At March 31,
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
Residential Assets Serviced
 
 
 
 
 
Unpaid principal balance (UPB) in billions:
 
 
 
 
 
Performing loans (2)
$
196.1

 
$
239.4

 
(18
)%
Non-performing loans
10.6

 
9.8

 
8

Non-performing real estate
2.1

 
1.9

 
11

Total (1)
208.8

 
251.1

 
(17
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Conventional loans (3)
$
92.8

 
$
124.5

 
(25
)%
Government-insured loans
31.6

 
28.1

 
12

Non-Agency loans
84.4

 
98.5

 
(14
)
Total
$
208.8

 
$
251.1

 
(17
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percent of total UPB:
 
 
 
 
 
Servicing portfolio
37
%
 
30
%
 
23
 %
Subservicing portfolio (4)
8

 
20

 
(60
)
NRZ (5)
55

 
50

 
10

Non-performing residential assets serviced
6

 
5

 
20

 
 
 
 
 
 
Number:
 
 
 
 
 
Performing loans (2)
1,326,642

 
1,475,824

 
(10
)%
Non-performing loans
55,905

 
49,199

 
14

Non-performing real estate
13,769

 
9,328

 
48

Total
1,396,316

 
1,534,351

 
(9
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Conventional loans (3)
593,213

 
664,937

 
(11
)%
Government-insured loans
193,670

 
183,757

 
5

Non-Agency loans
609,433

 
685,657

 
(11
)
Total
1,396,316

 
1,534,351

 
(9
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percent of total number:
 
 
 
 
 
Servicing portfolio
34
%
 
31
%
 
10
 %
Subservicing portfolio (4)
6

 
9

 
(33
)
NRZ (5)
60

 
60

 

Non-performing residential assets serviced
5

 
4

 
25













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Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
Residential Assets Serviced
 
 
 
 
 
Average UPB:
 
 
 
 
 
Servicing portfolio
$
74.0

 
$
73.3

 
1
 %
Subservicing portfolio
16.8

 
52.0

 
(68
)
NRZ (5)
118.1

 
128.3

 
(8
)
Total
$
208.9

 
$
253.6

 
(18
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepayment speed (average CPR)
15
%
 
12
%
 
25
 %
% Voluntary
93

 
88

 
6

% Involuntary
7

 
12

 
(42
)
% CPR due to principal modification

 
1

 
(100
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average number:
 
 
 
 


Servicing portfolio
451,832

 
462,438

 
(2
)%
Subservicing portfolio
73,500

 
148,794

 
(51
)
NRZ (5)
874,778

 
937,414

 
(7
)
 
1,400,110

 
1,548,646

 
(10
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Servicing and Subservicing Fees
 
 
 
 
 
Loan servicing and subservicing fees:
 
 
 
 
 
Servicing
$
55,080

 
$
52,515

 
5
 %
Subservicing
5,190

 
6,207

 
(16
)
NRZ
119,669

 
155,847

 
(23
)
 
179,939

 
214,569

 
(16
)
Late charges
14,598

 
15,338

 
(5
)
Custodial accounts (float earnings)
6,131

 
11,909

 
(49
)
Loan collection fees
4,252

 
4,262

 

HAMP fees
408

 
1,777

 
(77
)
Other
5,499

 
7,356

 
(25
)
 
$
210,827

 
$
255,211

 
(17
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of Completed Modifications
 
 
 
 
 
Non-HAMP
8,325

 
8,032

 
4

HAMP

 
253

 
(100
)%
Total
8,325

 
8,285

 
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
n/m: not meaningful
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Includes 35,170 and 33,242 reverse mortgage loans, recorded on our balance sheet and classified as loans held for investment, with a UPB of $6.4 billion and $5.7 billion at March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
(2)
Performing loans include those loans that are less than 90 days past due and those loans for which borrowers are making scheduled payments under loan modification, forbearance or bankruptcy plans. We consider all other loans to be non-performing.
(3)
Conventional loans include 107,352 and 107,954 prime loans with a UPB of $19.6 billion and $18.3 billion at March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, which we service or subservice. Prime loans are generally good credit quality loans that meet GSE underwriting standards.
(4)
Decline in subservicing is due to the termination of a subservicing client relationship consisting of 33,626 loans with a UPB of $21.4 billion effective May 31, 2019 when the loans were released. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, total servicing fee revenue for this client was $1.0 million.
(5)
Loans serviced or subserviced pursuant to our agreements with NRZ.

76




 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Dollars in millions
Principal and Interest
 
Taxes and Insurance
 
Foreclosures, bankruptcy, REO and other
 
Total
 
Principal and Interest
 
Taxes and Insurance
 
Foreclosures, bankruptcy, REO and other
 
Total
Advances by investor type
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Conventional
$
4

 
$
16

 
$
27

 
$
47

 
$
4

 
$
20

 
$
27

 
$
51

Government-insured
1

 
37

 
29

 
67

 

 
47

 
26

 
73

Non-Agency
421

 
329

 
161

 
911

 
410

 
354

 
168

 
932

Total, net
$
426

 
$
382

 
$
217

 
$
1,025

 
$
414

 
$
421

 
$
221

 
$
1,056


 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Advances by MSR ownership
Advances ($ millions)
UPB
($ billions) (3)
 
Advances ($ millions)
UPB
($ billions) (3)
Servicer
$
923

$
68.0

 
$
976

$
67.6

Master Servicer (1)

1.8

 

1.8

Subservicer
49

17.8

 
38

17.3

NRZ (2)
53

113.9

 
42

118.6

Total, net
$
1,025

$
201.5

 
$
1,056

$
205.3

(1)
Excludes relationships where we are both master servicer and servicer (included in Servicer).
(2)
Pursuant to the 2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements, NRZ is obligated to fund new servicing advances with respect to the MSRs underlying the Rights to MSRs. We are dependent upon NRZ for funding the servicing advance obligations for Rights to MSRs where we are the servicer. As the servicer, we are contractually required under our servicing agreements to make certain servicing advances even if NRZ does not perform its contractual obligations to fund those advances. NRZ currently uses advance financing facilities in order to fund a substantial portion of the servicing advances that they are contractually obligated to purchase pursuant to our agreements with them.
(3)
Excludes reverse mortgage loans reported on our unaudited consolidated balance sheets and classified as loans held for investment. No separate MSRs are recognized in our unaudited consolidated balance sheets.


77



 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
Financing Costs
 
 
 
 
 
Average balance of advances
$
1,035,669

 
$
1,147,164

 
(10
)%
Average borrowings
 
 
 
 
 
Advance match funded liabilities
674,441

 
717,652

 
(6
)
Other secured borrowings
427,228

 
93,201

 
358

Interest expense on borrowings
 
 
 
 
 
Advance match funded liabilities
5,665

 
7,652

 
(26
)
Other secured borrowings
5,637

 
1,715

 
229

Effective average interest rate
 
 
 
 
 
Advance match funded liabilities
3.36
%
 
4.27
%
 
(21
)
Other secured borrowings
5.28

 
7.36

 
(28
)
Facility costs included in interest expense
$
2,193

 
$
1,283

 
71

Average 1ML
0.92
%
 
2.49
%
 
(63
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average Employment
 
 
 
 
 
India and other
3,018

 
3,675

 
(18
)%
U.S.
752

 
1,517

 
(50
)%
Total
3,770

 
5,192

 
(27
)%

The following table provides information regarding the changes in our portfolio of residential assets serviced or subserviced:
 
Amount of UPB (in billions)
 
Count
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Portfolio at January 1
$
212.4

 
$
256.0

 
1,419,943

 
1,562,238

Additions (1) (2)
6.9

 
4.7

 
28,781

 
16,419

Sales
(0.1
)
 
(0.1
)
 
(720
)
 
(723
)
Servicing transfers (2)
(2.2
)
 
(0.4
)
 
(8,527
)
 
(3,092
)
Runoff
(8.2
)
 
(9.1
)
 
(43,161
)
 
(40,491
)
Portfolio at March 31
$
208.8

 
$
251.1

 
1,396,316

 
1,534,351

(1)
Additions in the first quarter of 2020 include purchased MSRs on portfolios consisting of 12,584 loans with a UPB of $2.4 million that have not yet transferred to the Black Knight MSP servicing system. These loans are scheduled to transfer onto Black Knight MSP in the second quarter of 2020. Because we have legal title to the MSRs, the UPB and count of the loans are included in our reported servicing portfolio. The seller continues to subservice the loans on an interim basis between the transaction closing date and the servicing transfer date.
(2)
Excludes the volume UPB associated with short-term interim subservicing for some clients as a support to their originate-to-sell business, where loans are boarded and deboarded within the same quarter. To conform to the current period presentation, 2,011 short-term interim subservicing loans with a UPB of $716.8 million previously reported as additions and servicing transfers for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 are not reflected in the table above.
The key drivers of our servicing segment operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the same period of 2019, are portfolio runoff and the effects of cost improvements achieved in aligning our servicing operations more appropriately to the size of our servicing portfolio. Until the Black Knight MSP conversion was completed in June 2019, we were maintaining the infrastructure and related costs of two servicing platforms, including certain corporate functions.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 versus 2019
Servicing and subservicing fee revenue declined by $44.9 million, or 18%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019 due to portfolio runoff and the termination of the PMC agreement by NRZ on February 20, 2020, offset in part by additional fees earned on MSRs acquired since March 31, 2019. The average UPB of our portfolio declined 18% as compared to the first

78



quarter of 2019. The total number of loan modifications was essentially unchanged as compared to the first quarter of 2019. Float income declined by $5.8 million, or 49%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019 mainly due to the combined effect of lower custodial account balances and lower interest rates. Revenue recognized in connection with loan modifications, including servicing fees, late charges and HAMP fees, declined 8% to $10.6 million for the first quarter of 2020 as compared to $11.6 million in the first quarter of 2019. The termination of the PMC servicing agreement by NRZ both reduced the amount of servicing fee collected on behalf of NRZ that is reported as Servicing and subservicing fees and the amount of servicing fee remitted to NRZ that is reported as Pledged MSR liability expense, without any impact on the net servicing fee retained, that is reported as subservicing fee after February 20, 2020. Ocwen will not perform any subservicing of the loans subject to termination and will not earn any subservicing fee after loan deboarding, which is expected in the third and fourth quarter of 2020.
We reported a $174.4 million loss in MSR valuation adjustments, net in the first quarter of 2020. This decline in MSR fair value is driven by $53.0 million portfolio runoff, a $156.7 million loss due to the decline in interest rates and assumptions, partially offset by a $35.3 million favorable fair value gain from our MSR hedging strategy. The fair value loss reported in MSR valuation adjustments, net, increased $65.5 million, or 60%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to the interest rate impact, with a 117 basis-point decline in the 10-year swap rate in the first quarter of 2020, as compared to the 30 basis-point decline in the first quarter of 2019.
The $174.4 million loss reported in MSR valuation adjustments, net is partially offset by a $56.9 million gain reported in our statement of operations relating to the pledged MSR liability. MSRs have been sold under different agreements that did not qualify for sale accounting treatment and, therefore are reported as MSR assets together with an associated liability for the MSR failed-sale secured borrowing at fair value. Because both pledged MSRs and the associated MSR liability are measured at fair value, changes in fair value offset each other, although they are separately presented in our statement of operations, as MSR valuation adjustments, net and Pledged MSR liability expense, respectively. The following table summarizes the fair value change impact on our statement of operations of our total MSRs and the MSRs liability associated with the NRZ failed-sale accounting treatment during the first quarter of 2020:
In millions
Total Change in Fair Value
 
Runoff
 
Rate and Assumption Change
 
MSR Hedging
MSR valuation adjustments, net (1)
$
(174.1
)
 
$
(52.7
)
 
$
(156.7
)
 
$
35.3

Pledged MSR liability expense - Fair value changes (2)
56.9

 
25.3

 
31.6

 

Total
$
(117.2
)
 
$
(27.4
)
 
$
(125.1
)
 
$
35.3

(1)
Includes $0.3 million gain recognized in the Originations segment.
(2)
Includes changes in fair value, including runoff and settlement, of the NRZ related MSR liability under the Original Rights to MSRs Agreements and PMC MSR Agreements. See Note 8 — Rights to MSRs for further information.
As described in the table above, Ocwen’s MSR portfolio, net of the pledged MSR liability, incurred a fair value loss due to interest rates of $125.1 million in the first quarter of 2020, that was partially offset by a $35.3 million fair value gain due to our MSR hedging strategy.
Operating expenses decreased $76.5 million, or 49%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, mostly due to our integration and cost reduction initiatives that favorably and equally impacted our direct cost to service and our corporate overhead cost allocation, as discussed below.
Compensation and benefits expense declined $13.6 million, or 34%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, due to our efforts to re-engineer our cost structure and align headcount in our servicing operations with the size of our servicing portfolio. Our average total servicing headcount decreased 27% compared to the first quarter of 2019. The decline in compensation and benefits is also due to the change in the composition of our headcount with relatively more offshore, and less U.S. resources. Offshore headcount, whose average compensation cost is relatively lower, increased from 71% to 80% of total headcount, compared to the first quarter of 2019.
Servicing and origination expense declined $10.0 million, or 40%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to a $2.5 million reduction in government-insured claim loss provisions on reinstated or modified loans in line with a decline in the volume of claims, a $2.5 million decrease in provisions for non-recoverable servicing advances and receivables and a general decline in other servicer-related expenses that was primarily driven by a 10% reduction in the average number of loans in our servicing portfolio. Government-insured claim loss provisions are generally offset by changes in the fair value of the corresponding MSRs, which are recorded in MSR valuation adjustments, net.

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Occupancy and equipment expense decreased $3.6 million, or 28%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, largely because of the effect of the decline in the size of the servicing portfolio on various expenses, particularly mailing services.
Professional services expense declined $6.4 million, or 56%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to a $5.6 million decline in legal fees largely due to declines in legal expenses relating to the PHH integration and litigation and a decline in fees incurred in connection with the conversion of NRZ’s Rights to MSRs to fully-owned MSRs.
Technology and communication expense declined $2.2 million, or 24%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily because we no longer license the REALServicing servicing system from Altisource following our transition to Black Knight MSP in June 2019.
Corporate overhead allocations declined $39.8 million, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to lower legal fees, technology expenses and compensation and benefits. Refer to the Corporate Items and Other segment discussion.
Interest expense increased by $2.9 million, or 27%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily because of the new MSR financing facilities entered into during the third and fourth quarters of 2019, partially offset by a reduction in interest expense relating to servicing advances.
Pledged MSR liability expense decreased $37.3 million, as compared to first quarter of 2019, largely due to a $7.9 million higher 2017/18 lump sum amortization gain and $28.1 million lower net servicing fee remittance to NRZ. These changes were mostly due to a lower UPB serviced and the termination of the PMC servicing agreement by NRZ on February 20, 2020. Pledged MSR liability expense relates to the MSR sale agreements with NRZ that do not achieve sale accounting and are presented on a gross basis in our financial statements. The $6.6 million expense in the first quarter of 2020 primarily includes a $90.3 million net servicing fee remittance to NRZ partially offset by a $24.2 million amortization gain related to the lump-sum cash payments received from NRZ in connection with the 2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements in 2017 and 2018, and a $56.9 million fair value gain on the pledged MSR liability. See Note 8 — Rights to MSRs to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
Change
Amounts in millions
2020
 
2019
 
2020 vs 2019
Net servicing fee remittance to NRZ (a)
$
90.3

 
$
118.4

 
$
(28.1
)
2017/2018 lump sum amortization (gain)
(24.2
)
 
(16.3
)
 
(7.9
)
Pledged MSR liability fair value (gain) loss (b)
(56.9
)
 
(60.0
)
 
3.1

Other
(2.6
)
 
1.8

 
(4.4
)
Pledged MSR liability expense
$
6.6

 
$
43.9

 
$
(37.3
)
(a)
Offset by corresponding amount recorded in Servicing and subservicing fee - See table below.
(b)
Offset by corresponding amount recorded in MSR valuation adjustments, net - See table below.
The table below reflects the condensed statement of operations together with the included amounts related to the NRZ pledged MSRs that offset each other (nil impact on net income/loss). Net servicing fee remittance and pledged MSR fair value changes are presented on a gross basis and are offset by corresponding amounts presented in other statement of operations line items. In addition, because we record both our pledged MSRs and the associated pledged MSR liability at fair value, the changes in fair value of the pledged MSR liability were offset by the changes in fair value of the MSRs pledged, presented in MSR valuation adjustments, net. Accordingly, only the $24.2 million lump sum amortization gain and the $2.6 million in “Other” affect our net earnings.

80



 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2020
 
2019
Dollars in millions
Statement of Operations
 
NRZ Pledged MSR-related Amounts (a)
 
Statement of Operations
 
NRZ Pledged MSR-related Amounts (a)
Total revenue
$
253.8

 
$
90.3

 
$
303.9

 
$
118.4

MSR valuation adjustments, net
(174.1
)
 
(56.9
)
 
(109.0
)
 
(60.0
)
Total operating expenses
137.2

 

 
171.1

 

Total other expense, net
(29.9
)
 
(33.4
)
 
(64.9
)
 
(58.4
)
Loss before income taxes
$
(87.4
)
 
$

 
$
(41.1
)
 
$

(a)
Amounts included in the specific statement of operations line items.

ORIGINATIONS
We originate and purchase conventional and government-insured forward mortgage loans through our forward lending operations. Our forward lending efforts are principally focused on targeting existing Ocwen customers by offering them competitive mortgage refinance opportunities (i.e., portfolio recapture), where permitted by the governing servicing and pooling agreement. In doing so, we generate revenues for our forward lending business and protect the servicing portfolio by retaining these customers. In addition, we re-entered the forward lending correspondent channel in the second quarter of 2019 to drive higher servicing portfolio replenishment. On March 15, 2020, as part of Ocwen's legal entity restructuring, Liberty transferred substantially all of its assets, liabilities, contracts and employees to PMC. We continue to originate and service reverse mortgage loans under the brand name Liberty Reverse Mortgage.
A portion of our servicing portfolio is susceptible to refinance activity during periods of declining interest rates. Our lending activity partially mitigates this risk. Origination volume and related gains are a natural economic hedge, to a certain degree, to the impact of declining MSR values as interest rates decline.
Under the terms of our agreements with NRZ, to the extent we refinanced a loan underlying the MSRs subject to these agreements, we were obligated to transfer such recaptured MSR to NRZ under the terms of a separate subservicing agreement. Effective June 1, 2019, we no longer perform any portfolio recapture on behalf of NRZ.
We originate and purchase reverse mortgages through our reverse lending operations under the guidelines of the HECM reverse mortgage insurance program of HUD. Loans originated under this program are generally guaranteed by the FHA, which provides investors with protection against risk of borrower default. In the second half of 2019, we started originating proprietary reverse mortgage loans that are not FHA-guarantee eligible and are sold servicing-released to third parties. We retain the servicing rights to reverse HECM loans securitized through the Ginnie Mae HMBS program. We have originated HECM loans under which the borrowers have additional borrowing capacity of $1.6 billion at March 31, 2020. These draws are funded by the servicer and can be subsequently securitized or sold (Future Value). We do not incur any substantive underwriting, marketing or compensation costs in connection with any future draws, although we must maintain sufficient capital resources and available borrowing capacity to ensure that we are able to fund these future draws. For loans purchased or originated after December 31, 2018, we previously elected to fair value future draw commitments. We elected to recognize non-cancellable future draw commitments at fair value for loans purchased or originated before January 1, 2019 in conjunction with the adoption of the new credit loss accounting standard, and recognized a one-time adjustment of $47.0 million to stockholders’ equity on January 1, 2020. Accordingly, as of January 1, 2020, the non-cancellable future draw commitments related to all reverse loans are reported at fair value. See Note 1 - Organization, Business Environment and Basis of Presentation to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
For the three months ended March 31, 2020, our Lending business originated or purchased forward and reverse mortgage loans with a UPB of $710.2 million and $226.0 million, respectively. Loans are originated or acquired through three primary channels: correspondent lender relationships, broker relationships (wholesale) and directly with mortgage customers (recapture for forward loans and retail for reverse loans). Loan margins vary by channel, with correspondent typically being the lowest margin and retail the highest.
After origination, we package and sell the loans in the secondary mortgage market, through GSE and Ginnie Mae securitizations on a servicing retained basis and through whole loan transactions on a servicing released basis. Origination revenues mostly include interest income earned for the period the loans are held by us, gain on sale revenue, which represents the difference between the origination value and the sale value of the loan including its MSR value, and fee income earned at

81



origination. As the securitizations of reverse mortgage loans do not achieve sale accounting treatment, reverse mortgage revenues include the fair value changes of the loan from lock date net of the fair value changes of the MBS-related borrowings.
We provide customary origination representations and warranties to investors in connection with our loan sales and securitization activities. We receive customary origination representations and warranties from our network of approved correspondent lenders. We recognize the fair value of the liability for our representations and warranties at the time of sale. In the event we cannot remedy a breach of a representation or warranty, we may be required to repurchase the loan or provide an indemnification payment to the mortgage loan investor. To the extent that we have recourse against a third-party originator, we may recover part or all of any loss we incur. We actively monitor our counterparty risk associated with our network of correspondent lenders-sellers.
As an HMBS issuer, we assume certain obligations related to each security issued. In addition to our obligation to fund tails, the most significant obligation is the requirement to purchase loans out of the Ginnie Mae securitization pools once the outstanding principal balance of the related HECM is equal to or greater than 98% of the maximum claim amount (MCA repurchases). Active repurchased loans are assigned to HUD and payment is received from HUD, typically within 60 days of repurchase. HUD reimburses us for the outstanding principal balance on the loan up to the maximum claim amount. We bear the risk of exposure if the amount of the outstanding principal balance on a loan exceeds the maximum claim amount. Inactive repurchased loans (the borrower is deceased, no longer occupies the property or is delinquent on tax and insurance payments) are generally liquidated through foreclosure and subsequent sale of real estate owned. State specific foreclosure and REO liquidation timelines have a significant impact on the timing and amount of our recovery. If we are unable to sell the property underlying an inactive reverse loan for an acceptable price within the timeframe established by HUD, we are required to make an appraisal-based claim to HUD. In such cases, HUD reimburses us for the loan balance, eligible expenses and interest, less the appraised value of the underlying property. Thereafter, all the risks and costs associated with maintaining and liquidating the property remains with us. We may incur additional losses on REO properties as they progress through the claims and liquidation processes. The significance of future losses associated with appraisal-based claims is dependent upon the volume of inactive loans, condition of foreclosed properties and the general real estate market.
We are actively pursuing actions to manage the size of our servicing portfolio through growing our lending channels and MSR acquisitions, including MSR flow purchases, GSE Cash Window and bulk acquisitions, based on our capital availability that are prudent and well-executed with appropriate financial return targets. We closed MSR acquisitions with $2.9 billion UPB during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

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The following table presents the results of operations of our Originations segment. The amounts presented are before the elimination of balances and transactions with our other segments:
Periods ended March 31,
Three Months
 
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
Revenue
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain on loans held for sale, net
$
12,489

 
$
7,757

 
61
 %
 
Reverse mortgage revenue, net
22,797

 
32,123

 
(29
)
 
Other revenue, net
2,361

 
1,211

 
95

 
Total revenue
37,647

 
41,091

 
(8
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MSR valuation adjustments, net
316

 
(84
)
 
(476
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
12,917

 
12,442

 
4

 
Servicing and origination
4,706

 
3,861

 
22

 
Occupancy and equipment
1,458

 
1,855

 
(21
)
 
Technology and communications
720

 
681

 
6

 
Professional services
1,114

 
345

 
223

 
Corporate overhead allocations
4,424

 
1,684

 
163

 
Other expenses
1,619

 
379

 
327

 
Total operating expenses
26,958

 
21,247

 
27

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other income (expense)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
2,266

 
1,549

 
46

 
Interest expense
(2,861
)
 
(1,668
)
 
72

 
Other, net
(29
)
 
219

 
(113
)
 
Total other income (expense), net
(624
)
 
100

 
(724
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
$
10,381

 
$
19,860

 
(48
)%
 
n/m: not meaningful
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The following table provides selected operating statistics for our Originations segment:
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
UPB in millions
2020
 
2019
% Change
 
December 31, 2019
% Change
Short-term loan funding commitments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Forward loans
$
357,221

 
$
97,625

266
 %
 
$
204,021

75
 %
Reverse loans
25,552

 
20,145

27

 
28,545

(10
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Future Value (1)

 
64,076

(100
)%
 
47,038

(100
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Future draw commitment (UPB) (2)
1,574.6

 
1,487.6

6
 %
 
1,502.2

5

Periods ended March 31,
Three Months
 
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
UPB in millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan Production by Channel
 
 
 
 
 
 
Forward loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
Correspondent
$
514.3

 
$

 
n/m

 
Recapture
195.9

 
211.2

 
(7
)
 
 
$
710.2

 
$
211.2

 
236
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
% HARP production
%
 
2
%
 
(100
)%
 
% Purchase production
26

 
1

 
n/m

 
% Refinance production
74

 
99

 
(25
)
 
 

 

 

 
Reverse loans (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Correspondent
$
116.2

 
$
88.6

 
31
 %
 
Wholesale
79.0

 
42.3

 
87

 
Retail
30.8

 
10.4

 
196

 
 
$
226.0

 
$
141.3

 
60
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average Employment
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
421

 
500

 
(16
)%
 
India and other
94

 
131

 
(28
)
 
Total
515

 
631

 
(18
)%
 
(1)
Future Value represented the net present value of estimated future cash flows from customer draws of the reverse mortgage loans and projected performance assumptions based on historical experience and industry benchmarks discounted at 12% related to HECM loans originated prior to January 1, 2019. Prior to our adoption of the new credit loss accounting standard on January 1, 2020, we have recognized this Future Value over time as future draws were securitized or sold. Upon the adoption of the accounting standard and our irrevocable fair value election of tails, $47.0 million Future Value has been recognized through stockholders’ equity on January 1, 2020.
(2)
Includes all future draw commitments.
(3)
New loan production excludes reverse mortgage loan draws by borrowers disbursed subsequent to origination of $78.6 million and $72.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Our Originations segment results for the first quarter of 2020, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, were primarily driven by current market conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our re-entry into the forward lending correspondent channel in the second quarter of 2019 and an increase in our reverse lending production. The decline in the retail production of forward mortgage loans was mostly driven by the end of the recapture program on behalf of NRZ effective June 1, 2019 and the impact of the closure in 2019 of a U.S. facility with origination personnel.

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Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 versus 2019
Total revenue decreased $3.4 million, or 8%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to a $9.3 million decline in Reverse mortgage revenue, net, partially offset by a $4.7 million increase in our gain on loans held for sale, net.
The $9.3 million decrease in Reverse mortgage revenue, net in the first quarter of 2020 as compared to the first quarter of 2019 is primarily due to the COVID-19 market conditions adversely impacting the portfolio fair value as of March 31, 2020. Lower interest rates generally result in favorable net fair value impacts on our HECM reverse mortgage loans and the related HMBS-related borrowings. However, in March 2020, a significant margin compression due to the COVID-19 market conditions more than offset the favorable impact of lower interest rates. The net fair value decline due to pricing conditions also more than offset the favorable impact of our volume growth. We increased our reverse lending volume by $84.7 million, or 60%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, and generated $2.3 million higher cash realized gain on securitization. We continued to execute on our growth strategy and increased volumes in all channels, including purchases with former customers and increased wallet share with existing customers. Our volume growth exceeds the increase in industry endorsements for the comparable period. According to the HUD HECM Endorsement Summary Report, industry endorsements, or the number of new HECM loans insured by the FHA, increased from 8,224 to 10,218, or 24%, when comparing the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.
Gain on loans held for sale, net increased $4.7 million, or 61%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, mostly due to the $499.0 million, or 236% increase in total forward loan production, partially offset by a lower average gain on sale margin. The volume increase is predominantly due to the $514.3 million production of the first quarter of 2020 from our correspondent channel that we re-started in the second quarter of 2019. Our pipeline, or lock commitments, significantly increased in the first quarter of 2020 mostly due to refinance opportunities in the market driven by the mortgage rate decrease. The volume increase resulted in a $6.6 million capitalization of originated MSRs (retained on transfers of forward mortgage loans) in the first quarter of 2020 as compared to a $0.8 million capitalization in the first quarter of 2019, despite a decline in the MSR capitalization prices in these periods. The lower average gain on sale margin is mainly due to the increased relative weight of our lower-margin correspondent production.
Operating expenses increased $5.7 million, or 27%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to a $2.7 million increase in corporate overhead allocations and increases in our direct expenses. Certain expenses are variable, and as a result, as origination volume increased so did the related expenses. Examples include commissions, recorded in Compensation and benefits expense, and advertising expense, recorded in Other expenses. Total average headcount decreased 18% as compared to the first quarter of 2019, reflecting reductions in staffing levels as part of our PHH integration and cost re-engineering initiative. Compensation expense as compared to the first quarter of 2019 increased by $0.5 million, or 4%, due to higher commissions on higher origination volume and due to an increase in average higher-cost U.S. headcount to 82% of the total from 79% for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The $2.7 million increase in corporate overhead allocations is mostly attributed to the increase in our origination volume and the increase of the relative weight of our average headcount to the consolidated organization, despite a net reduction in our headcount, as compared to the first quarter of 2019. The increase in corporate overhead allocations due to the allocation drivers is partially offset by the effects of our cost re-engineering plan.
Interest income consists primarily of interest earned on newly-originated and purchased loans prior to sale to investors. Interest expense is incurred to finance the mortgage loans. We finance originated and purchased forward and reverse mortgage loans with repurchase and participation agreements, commonly referred to as warehouse lines. The increases in interest income and interest expense as compared to the first quarter of 2019 is primarily the result of the increase in loan production.
CORPORATE ITEMS AND OTHER
Corporate Items and Other includes revenues and expenses of corporate support services, our reinsurance business CRL, discontinued operations and inactive entities, and our other business activities that are currently individually insignificant, revenues and expenses that are not directly related to other reportable segments, interest income on short-term investments of cash, gain on repurchases of debt, interest expense on corporate debt and foreign currency exchange gains or losses. Interest expense on direct asset-backed financings are recorded in the respective Servicing and Originations segments, while interest expense on the SSTL and the Senior Notes is recorded in Corporate Items and Other and is not allocated. Our cash balances are included in Corporate Items and Other.
Corporate support services include finance, facilities, human resources, internal audit, legal, risk and compliance and technology functions. Corporate support services costs, specifically compensation and benefits and professional services expense, have been, and continue to be, significantly impacted by regulatory actions against us and by significant litigation matters. As part of our need to return to sustainable profitability as soon as possible, we seek to reduce our corporate support services expenses while complying with our legal and regulatory obligations. We anticipate that our ability to return to sustainable profitability will be significantly impacted by the degree to which we can reduce these costs going forward.

85



Corporate Items and Other also includes severance, retention, facility-related and other expenses incurred in 2019 related to our re-engineering plan and have not been allocated to other segments.
CRL, our wholly-owned captive reinsurance subsidiary, provides re-insurance related to coverage on REO properties owned or serviced by us. CRL assumes a quota share of REO insurance coverage written by a third-party insurer under a blanket policy issued to PMC (formerly OLS). The underlying REO policy provides coverage for direct physical loss on commercial and residential properties, subject to certain limitations. Under the terms of the reinsurance agreement, CRL assumes a 40% share of all related losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred by the third-party insurer. The reinsurance agreement excludes properties located in the State of New York and has an expiration date of December 31, 2020, although it may be terminated by either party at any time with thirty days’ advance written notice.
Certain expenses incurred by corporate support services that are not directly attributable to a segment are allocated to the Servicing and Originations segments. Beginning in 2020, we updated our methodology to allocate overhead costs incurred by corporate support services to the Servicing and Originations segments which now incorporates the utilization of various measurements primarily based on time studies, personnel volumes and service consumption levels. In 2019, corporate support services costs were primarily allocated based on relative segment size. Support services costs not allocated to the Servicing and Originations segments are retained in the Corporate Items and Other segment along with certain other costs including certain litigation and settlement related expenses or recoveries, costs related to our re-engineering plan, and other costs related to operating as a public company.
The following table presents selected results of operations of Corporate Items and Other. The amounts presented are before the elimination of balances and transactions with our other segments:
Periods ended March 31,
Three Months
 
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
% Change
 
Revenue
 
 
 
 


 
Premiums (CRL)
$
2,628

 
$
3,411

 
(23
)%
 
Other revenue
12

 
112

 
(89
)
 
Total revenue
2,640

 
3,523

 
(25
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 


 
Compensation and benefits
21,025

 
41,851

 
(50
)
 
Professional services
19,452

 
(8,327
)
 
(334
)
 
Technology and communications
7,218

 
14,254

 
(49
)
 
Occupancy and equipment
1,481

 
2,127

 
(30
)
 
Servicing and origination
616

 
(50
)
 
n/m

 
Other expenses
2,208

 
2,299

 
(4
)
 
Total operating expenses before corporate overhead allocations
52,000

 
52,154

 

 
Corporate overhead allocations
 
 
 
 


 
Servicing segment
(17,793
)
 
(57,594
)
 
(69
)
 
Originations segment
(4,424
)
 
(1,684
)
 
163

 
Total operating expenses
29,783

 
(7,124
)
 
(518
)
 
 


 


 
 
 
Other income (expense), net
 
 
 
 


 
Interest income
1,243

 
715

 
74

 
Interest expense
(13,454
)
 
(14,079
)
 
(4
)
 
Other, net
(2,276
)
 
(724
)
 
214

 
Total other expense, net
(14,487
)
 
(14,088
)
 
3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss before income taxes
$
(41,630
)
 
$
(3,441
)
 
n/m

 
n/m: not meaningful
 
 
 
 
 
 

86



Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 versus 2019
CRL premium revenue declined $0.8 million, or 23%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to a 25% decline in the number of covered REO properties in our servicing portfolio.
Total operating expenses before corporate overhead allocations decreased $0.2 million as compared to the first quarter of 2019 and the decrease is the result of multiple, offsetting variances, as discussed below.
Compensation and benefits expense declined $20.8 million, or 50%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to $19.2 million severance and retention expenses recognized in the first quarter of 2019 in connection with our PHH integration and cost re-engineering plan. In addition, the expense declined in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the first quarter of 2019 due to a decline in average corporate headcount of 14%.
Professional services expense increased $27.8 million, or 334%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to the $30.7 million recovery in 2019 of amounts previously recognized as expense from a service provider offset in part by a $1.0 million decline in legal fees. The decline in legal fees is largely due to a $5.4 million decline in legal expenses relating to the PHH integration, legal entity reorganization and litigation, partially offset by a $4.4 million increase to our accrual related to the CFPB and Florida matters in the first quarter of 2020.
Technology and communications expense decreased $7.0 million, or 49%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019 primarily due to a $2.3 million decrease in depreciation expense that is largely the result of a decline in capitalized technology investments and the closure of U.S. facilities in 2019, as well as the effects of a decline in average headcount and our other cost reduction efforts which included bringing technology services in-house, and synergy benefits resulting from our PHH integration efforts.
Other, net increased $1.6 million, or 214%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to a $1.0 million increase in foreign currency losses related to our operations in India.
Total expenses, after corporate overhead allocation, increased by $36.9 million, or 518%, as compared to the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to the $30.7 million recovery in 2019 of amounts previously recognized as expense from a service provider, which was not allocated, and the $4.4 million increase to our accrual related to the CFPB and Florida matters in the first quarter of 2020.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Overview
At March 31, 2020, our unrestricted cash position was $263.6 million compared to $428.3 million at December 31, 2019, comprised of $302.2 million available cash and $126.1 million available cash we internally earmarked for the repayment of our SSTL. On January 27, 2020, we prepaid $126.1 million of the outstanding SSTL balance and executed certain amendments to the SSTL agreement to extend the maturity date to May 15, 2022, reduce the contractual quarterly principal payment from $6.4 million to $5.0 million and modify the interest rate. See Note 11 – Borrowings for additional information.
At March 31, 2020, we had maximum borrowing capacity under our advance facilities of $730.0 million. The available borrowing capacity under our advance financing facilities increased by $53.2 million from $50.9 million at December 31, 2019 to $104.0 million at March 31, 2020. The $53.2 million decline in outstanding borrowings drove the increase in available capacity. At March 31, 2020, we had fully funded the amounts that could be funded under the available borrowing capacity based on the amount of eligible collateral that had been pledged to our advance financing facilities.
At March 31, 2020, we had maximum borrowing capacity under our mortgage warehouse facilities and MSR financing facilities of $1.5 billion. Of the borrowing capacity extended on a committed basis, $341.9 million was available at March 31, 2020, with $156.2 million under our mortgage warehouse funding facilities and $185.7 million under our MSR financing facilities, which, in each case, we may utilize to the extent we have sufficient eligible collateral to borrow against and otherwise satisfy the applicable conditions to funding. At March 31, 2020, no additional amounts could be borrowed under the available borrowing capacity based on the amount of eligible collateral that could be pledged. Uncommitted amounts ($669.6 million available at March 31, 2020) can be advanced solely at the discretion of the lender, and there can be no assurance that any uncommitted amounts will be available to us at any particular time. At March 31, 2020, none could be borrowed under the uncommitted borrowing capacity based on the amount of eligible collateral that could be pledged, assuming our lenders were willing to do so.
We typically invest cash in excess of our immediate operating needs in deposit accounts and other liquid assets. A portion of our cash balances are held in our non-U.S. subsidiaries. Should we wish to utilize this cash in the U.S. we would have to repatriate the cash held by our non-U.S. subsidiaries, in compliance with applicable laws and, potentially with tax consequences.

87



We closely monitor our liquidity position and ongoing funding requirements, and we regularly monitor and project cash flows over various time horizons as a way to anticipate and mitigate liquidity risk.
In assessing our liquidity outlook, our primary focus is on available cash on hand, unused available funding and the following six forecast measures:
Financial projections for ongoing net income, excluding the impact of non-cash items, and working capital needs including loan repurchases;
Requirements for amortizing and maturing liabilities compared to sources of cash;
The projected change in advances compared to the projected borrowing capacity to fund such advances under our facilities, including capacity for monthly peak needs;
Projected funding requirements for acquisitions of MSRs and other investment opportunities;
Potential payments or recoveries related to legal and regulatory matters, insurance, taxes and MSR transactions; and
Funding capacity for whole loans and tail draws under our reverse mortgage commitments subject to warehouse eligibility requirements.
COVID-19 Update and Outlook
The COVID-19 environment created unprecedented changes in the economy, volatility in the capital markets, and uncertainties in the mortgage industry. In this context, forecasting our liquidity and financial condition is particularly challenging.
Three critical factors have the most effect on our liquidity management in the current COVID-19 environment: our decrease in revenue collections over the next twelve months, our increased advancing requirements as servicer during each investor remittance period over the next twelve months, and the uncertainties of daily margin calls on our collateralized debt facilities and derivative instruments. In addition, the uncertainties associated with COVID-19 may impact our ability to access new or increase financing facilities.
First, the higher delinquencies, the surge in loans under forbearance plans, and the moratorium on evictions and foreclosure will reduce our cash inflows as we will not collect, or collect less servicing fees or ancillary income, such as late fees, during the forbearance period from borrowers facing financial hardship. In accordance with agency and regulatory requirements, we are offering all eligible borrowers affected by COVID-19, regardless of whether they are explicitly covered by the CARES Act, 90-day forbearance plans, which suspends their obligation to pay monthly installments during the term of the forbearance plan. We also anticipate either extending forbearance or reviewing borrowers for other loss mitigation options, such as repayment plans, payments deferrals, or modifications if their financial hardship persists.
Second, as servicer, we are required to advance to investors the loan P&I installments not collected from borrowers for those delinquent loans, including those on forbearance. In the normal course of business as servicer or master servicer, we are required to advance P&I on behalf of the borrower to the investor of the loan, if delinquent or under a forbearance plan. We also advance T&I and Corporate advances on properties that are in default or have been foreclosed. Our obligations to make these advances are governed by servicing agreements or guides, depending on investors or guarantor:
For PLS loans, generally, we may stop advancing for P&I if the P&I advance to be made is deemed non-recoverable from the net proceeds of the property, although we are generally obligated to continue T&I and Corporate advances until the loan is brought current or until completion of a foreclosure, in which case, we generally recover our advances from the net proceeds of the property or the pool level proceeds, i.e., generally after liquidation or resolution. We also expect delays in our recoveries due to the moratorium on eviction and foreclosures.
For Ginnie Mae loans, we are required to make advances for the life of the loan without regard to whether we will be able to recover those payments from liquidation proceeds, insurance proceeds, or late payments. We may stop advancing P&I by purchasing loans out of the pool when they are more than 90 days delinquent.
For GSE loans, we are required to advance P&I until the borrower is 120 days delinquent, and can submit reimbursement claims for certain T&I and Corporate advances after incurring the expense. T&I and Corporate advancing on GSE loans continues until the loan is resolved or the property is sold. On April 21, 2020, the FHFA announced that the 120-day P&I servicer advance obligation limit also applies to loans in forbearance.
As subservicer, we are required to make T&I and Corporate advances on behalf of servicers following the servicing agreements or guides. We are also required to make P&I advances under the terms of certain subservicing agreements. Servicers are generally required to reimburse us within 30 days of our advancing under the terms of the subservicing agreements.
NRZ is obligated to fund new servicing advances with respect to the MSRs underlying the Rights to MSRs (RMSR), pursuant to the 2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements. We are dependent upon NRZ for funding the servicing advance obligations for Rights to MSRs where we are the servicer. As the servicer, we are contractually required under our servicing agreements to make certain servicing advances even if NRZ does not perform its contractual obligations to fund those advances. NRZ currently uses advance financing facilities in order to fund a substantial portion of the

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servicing advances that they are contractually obligated to purchase pursuant to our agreements with them. As part of our risk management practices, we closely monitor the counterparty exposure arising from the funding obligations of our servicer clients, including NRZ, to ensure timely advance remittance in accordance with contractual requirements. If NRZ were unable to meet its advance financing obligations, we would remain obligated to meet any future advance financing obligations with respect to the loans underlying these Rights to MSRs for which legal title has not transferred, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition and servicing operations. Refer to Note 20 — Commitments , Servicer Advance Obligations for additional information.
We serviced $202.3 billion in UPB of forward residential mortgages, as of March 31, 2020. Under our agreements with NRZ, currently, NRZ reimburses Ocwen daily for PLS and GSE servicing advances on $113.9 billion in UPB as of March 31, 2020. Other subservicing clients have the responsibility to reimburse Ocwen for advances within one week to 30 days after advances have been made on $17.7 billion in UPB as of March 31, 2020. Ocwen has sole advancing responsibility for loans with a $70.7 billion UPB, which is 39% PLS, 24% Freddie Mac, 19% Ginnie Mae and 18% Fannie Mae as of March 31, 2020.
Third, we are generally subject to daily margining requirements under the terms of our MSR financing facilities and daily cash calls for our TBAs and interest rate swap futures. Declines in fair value of our MSRs due to declines in market interest rates, assumption updates or other factors require that we provide additional collateral to our lenders under MSR financing facilities. We have reduced the overall exposure with our MSR macro-hedge strategy, however, the hedge strategy only provides partial coverage estimated at 43% at March 31, 2020. That is, the changes in fair value of our MSRs due to interest rates are partially offset by the changes in fair value of our derivative instruments and natural hedges (e.g., pipeline). Declines in fair value of our derivative instruments require that we provide additional collateral to the clearing counterparties. While our hedge strategy is intended to be cash neutral, the volatility in the current market environment may subject to large cash outflows that may not be predicted.
We are evaluating the potential impact of COVID-19 under various scenarios. For example, we are evaluating the potential impact of COVID-19 related borrower job losses and reductions in income, as well as other related impacts as we assess the timing and magnitude of potential increases in servicer advance levels and servicing costs based on increased borrower delinquency levels, among other factors that could affect our liquidity and financial condition assessments. We monitor the level of delinquencies, forbearance plans, their expected resolution, and the inventory of foreclosures on hold, on a daily basis. We frequently update the forecast of our advance funding requirements over the next few months based on the most recent loan portfolio delinquency and forbearance information and most recent agency or regulatory guidance affecting borrower payments and our advancing obligations. We have updated our revenue forecast and our overall plan to project our ability to meet our obligations and support our going concern assessment as of the date of issuing our financial statements for the three-month period ended March 31, 2020.
We are communicating proactively with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, and our lenders, including with respect to the potential impact of borrower assistance programs on our business. We are working with mortgage industry trade associations who are working with government officials to inform them of the impact of borrower relief programs on the funding and liquidity needs of the housing finance industry (and in particular, non-bank servicers such as Ocwen) and to assist them in designing appropriate solutions to navigate the challenges of the current environment.
We are focused on ensuring that we have sufficient liquidity sources to operate through the pandemic as well as after. As such, we are currently working with our lenders to amend and extend our debt facilities. We have an agreement in place to upsize and extend through June 2021 our OMART and OFAF advance financing facilities. The OMART VFN capacity will increase from $200.0 million to $500.0 million to accommodate forecasted advancing requirements and the amortization of $185.0 million in term notes in August 2020. The OFAF facility will increase to a total capacity of $70.0 million. In addition, we have executed an agreement to extend our MSR repurchase agreement and warehouse facilities with Barclays. We are evaluating the appropriateness and ability of adding GNMA advances to existing lines or pursuing a government provided alternative in the event other financing alternatives are not available at commercially reasonable terms.
Regarding the current maturities of our borrowings, as of March 31, 2020, we have approximately $789.0 million of debt outstanding that would either come due, begin amortizing or require partial repayment in the next 12 months. This amount is comprised of $20.0 million in contractual repayments of our SSTL, $289.1 million of borrowings under forward and reverse mortgage warehouse facilities, $341.0 million of variable funding and term notes under advance financing facilities that will enter their respective amortization periods, $114.3 million outstanding under our Agency MSR financing facility which will terminate in June 2020 unless renewed or extended and $24.6 million of scheduled principal amortization on the PLS Notes secured by PLS MSRs.
We are actively engaged with our lenders and as a result, have successfully completed the following with respect to our current and anticipated financing needs:
On January 22, 2020, we did not renew and let terminate a $50.0 million uncommitted warehouse facility used to fund reverse mortgage loan draws.

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On January 27, 2020, we executed an amendment to the SSTL agreement which reduced the maximum borrowing capacity to $200.0 million, extended the maturity date to May 15, 2022, reduced the contractual quarterly principal payment from $6.4 million to $5.0 million and modified the interest rate.
On March 12, 2020, we entered into a mortgage loan warehouse agreement to fund reverse mortgage loan draws by borrowers subsequent to origination. Under this agreement, the lender provides financing for up to $100.0 million to PMC on an uncommitted basis. Concurrently, we reduced the maximum borrowing capacity of another reverse mortgage loan warehouse agreement from $100.0 million to $1.0 million in connection with Liberty’s transfer of substantially all of its assets, liabilities, contracts and employees to PMC effective March 15, 2020.
On March 26, 2020, we renewed mortgage loan warehouse agreement with a maximum borrowing capacity of $300.0 million through May 3, 2020, and subsequently extended for an additional 30 days to June 3, 2020 for $150.0 million.
We have considered the impact of financial projections on our liquidity analysis and have evaluated the appropriateness of the key assumptions in our forecast such as revenues, expenses, our assessment of the likely impact of open regulatory and litigation matters, recurring and nonrecurring costs, levels of investment and availability of funding sources. As part of this analysis, we have also assessed the cash requirements to operate our business and service our financial obligations coming due. We have assessed the range of potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our financial projections and projected liquidity under different scenarios. We have an agreement in place to upsize and extend through June 2021 our OMART and OFAF advance financing facilities. The OMART VFN capacity will increase from $200.0 million to $500.0 million to accommodate forecasted advancing requirements and the amortization of $185.0 million in term notes in August 2020. The OFAF facility will increase to a total capacity of $70.0 million. In addition, we have executed an agreement to extend our MSR repurchase agreement and warehouse facilities with Barclays. We expect to renew, replace or extend our borrowings to the extent necessary to finance our business on or prior to their respective maturities consistent with our historical experience.
As described above, our liquidity forecast requires management to use judgment and estimates and includes factors that may be beyond our control. Our forecast is highly dependent on the duration and magnitude of the downturn. Estimates of the COVID-19 impact by economists and mortgage industry experts vary considerably. Additionally, our business has been undergoing substantial change, which has magnified the uncertainties that are inherent in the forecasting process. Our actual results could differ materially from our estimates. If we were to default under any of our debt agreements, it could become very difficult for us to renew, replace or extend some or all of our debt agreements. Challenges to our liquidity position could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition and could cause us to take actions that would be outside the normal course of our operations to generate additional liquidity.
Use of Funds
Our primary uses of funds in normal course include:
Payment of operating costs and corporate expenses;
Payments for advances in excess of collections;
Investing in our servicing and lending businesses, including MSR and other asset acquisitions;
Originated and repurchased loans, including scheduled and unscheduled equity draws on reverse mortgage loans;
Payment of margin calls under our MSR financing facilities and derivative instruments;
Repayments of borrowings, including under our MSR financing, advance financing and warehouse facilities, and payment of interest expense; and
Net negative working capital and other general corporate cash outflows.
Under the terms of our SSTL facility agreement, subject to certain exceptions, we are required to prepay the SSTL with certain percentage amounts of excess cash flow as defined and 100% of the net cash proceeds from certain permitted asset sales, subject to our ability to reinvest such proceeds in our business within 270 days of receipt.
Sources of Funds
Our primary sources of funds for near-term liquidity in normal course include:
Collections of servicing fees and ancillary revenues;
Collections of advances in excess of new advances;
Proceeds from match funded advance financing facilities;
Proceeds from other borrowings, including warehouse facilities and MSR financing facilities;
Proceeds from sales and securitizations of originated loans and repurchased loans; and
Net positive working capital from changes in other assets and liabilities.
Servicing advances are an important component of our business and represent amounts that we, as servicer, are required to advance to, or on behalf of, our servicing clients if we do not receive such amounts from borrowers. Our use of advance financing facilities is integral to our servicing advance financing strategy. Revolving variable funding notes issued by our

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advance financing facilities to financial institutions typically a have revolving period of 12 months. Term notes are generally issued to institutional investors with one-, two- or three-year revolving periods.
We use mortgage loan repurchase and participation facilities (commonly called warehouse lines) to fund newly-originated loans on a short-term basis until they are sold to secondary market investors, including GSEs or other third-party investors, and to fund repurchases of certain Ginnie Mae forward loans, HECM loans, second-lien loans and other types of loans. Warehouse facilities are structured as repurchase or participation agreements under which ownership of the loans is temporarily transferred to the lender. These facilities contain eligibility criteria that include aging and concentration limits by loan type among other provisions. Currently, our master repurchase and participation agreements generally have maximum terms of 364-days. The funds are typically repaid using the proceeds from the sale of the loans to the secondary market investors, usually within 30 days.
We also rely on the secondary mortgage market as a source of consistent liquidity to support our lending operations. Substantially all of the mortgage loans that we originate or purchase are sold or securitized in the secondary mortgage market in the form of residential mortgage backed securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and, in the case of mortgage backed securities guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, are mortgage loans insured or guaranteed by the FHA or VA.
We regularly evaluate financing structure options that we believe will most effectively provide the necessary capacity to support out investment plans, address upcoming debt maturities and accommodate our business needs. Our financing structure actions are targeted at optimizing access to debt financing, improving our cost of funds, enhancing financial flexibility, bolstering liquidity and reducing funding risk while maintaining leverage within our risk tolerances. Historical losses have significantly eroded our stockholders’ equity and weakened our financial condition. To the extent we are not successful in achieving our objective of returning to profitability, funding continuing losses will limit our opportunities to grow our business through capital investment.
Collateral
Our assets held as collateral related to secured borrowings, committed under sale or other contractual obligations and which may be subject to a secured lien under the SSTL are as follows at March 31, 2020:
 
 
 
Collateral for Secured Borrowings
 
 
 
 
Assets
Total
 
Advance Match Funded Liabilities
 
Financing Liabilities
 
Mortgage Loan Warehouse/MSR Facilities
 
Sales and Other Commitments
 
Other
Cash
$
263,555

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
263,555

Restricted cash
53,177

 
10,838

 

 
5,031

 
37,308

 

MSRs (1)
1,050,228

 

 
591,705

 
459,027

 

 
513

Advances, net
1,024,807

 
751,020

 

 

 

 
273,787

Loans held for sale
246,015

 

 

 
205,080

 

 
40,935

Loans held for investment
6,591,382

 

 
6,461,371

 
97,273

 

 
32,738

Receivables, net
235,305

 

 

 
32,560

 

 
202,745

Premises and equipment, net
37,430

 

 

 

 

 
37,430

Other assets
484,125

 

 

 
5,204

 
410,718

 
68,203

Total Assets
$
9,986,024

 
$
761,858

 
$
7,053,076

 
$
804,175

 
$
448,026

 
$
919,906

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HMBS - related borrowings
$
6,323,091

 
$

 
$
6,323,091

 

 
$

 
$

Other financing liabilities
623,049

 

 
613,070

 

 

 
9,979

Advance match funded liabilities
625,951

 
625,951

 

 

 

 

Other secured borrowings, net
797,615

 

 

 
607,001

 

 
190,614

Senior notes, net
311,290

 

 

 

 

 
311,290

Other liabilities
875,171

 

 

 

 
410,718

 
464,453

Total Liabilities
$
9,556,167

 
$
625,951

 
$
6,936,161

 
$
607,001

 
$
410,718

 
$
976,336

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Equity
$
429,857

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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(1)
Certain MSR cohorts with a net negative fair value of $1.2 million that would be presented as Other are excluded from the eligible collateral of the facilities and are comprised of $23.3 million of negative fair value related to RMBS and $22.1 million of positive fair value related to private EBO and PLS MSRs.
See Note 11 – Borrowings for information on assets held as collateral related to secured borrowings, committed under sale or other contractual obligations and which may be subject to a secured lien under the SSTL.
Covenants
Our debt agreements contain various qualitative and quantitative covenants including financial covenants, covenants to operate in material compliance with applicable laws and regulations, monitoring and reporting obligations and restrictions on our ability to engage in various activities, including but not limited to incurring additional debt, paying dividends, repurchasing or redeeming capital stock, transferring assets or making loans, investments or acquisitions. Because of the covenants to which we are subject, we may be limited in the manner in which we conduct our business and may be limited in our ability to engage in favorable business activities or raise additional capital to finance future operations or satisfy future liquidity needs. In addition, breaches or events that may result in a default under our debt agreements include, among other things, nonpayment of principal or interest, noncompliance with our covenants, breach of representations, the occurrence of a material adverse change, insolvency, bankruptcy, certain material judgments and litigation and changes of control.
Covenants and default provisions of this type are commonly found in debt agreements such as ours. Certain of these covenants and default provisions are open to subjective interpretation and, if our interpretation were contested by a lender, a court may ultimately be required to determine compliance or lack thereof. In addition, our debt agreements generally include cross default provisions such that a default under one agreement could trigger defaults under other agreements. If we fail to comply with our debt agreements and are unable to avoid, remedy or secure a waiver of any resulting default, we may be subject to adverse action by our lenders, including termination of further funding, acceleration of outstanding obligations, enforcement of liens against the assets securing or otherwise supporting our obligations, and other legal remedies, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. We believe that we are in compliance with the qualitative and quantitative covenants in our debt agreements as of the date this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is filed with the SEC. Given the current market conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are no assurances we will be able to maintain compliance with our covenants.
Credit Ratings
Credit ratings are intended to be an indicator of the creditworthiness of a company’s debt obligations. Lower ratings generally result in higher borrowing costs and reduced access to capital markets. The following table summarizes the current ratings and outlook for PMC by the respective nationally recognized rating agencies. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.
Rating Agency
 
Long-term Corporate Rating
 
Review Status / Outlook
 
Date of last action
Moody’s
 
Caa1
 
Negative
 
September 11, 2019
S&P
 
B –
 
CreditWatch with negative implications
 
April 13, 2020
On April 13, 2020 S&P placed the ratings outlook of Ocwen on CreditWatch with negative implications due to the uncertain economic impact of COVID-19 on liquidity. It is possible that additional actions by credit rating agencies could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity and funding position, including materially changing the terms on which we may be able to borrow money.
Cash Flows
Our operating cash flow is primarily impacted by operating results, changes in our servicing advance balances, the level of mortgage loan production and the timing of sales and securitizations of mortgage loans. In addition, margin calls required under our MSR financing facilities or derivative instruments create volatility in our operating cash flows. We classify proceeds from the sale of servicing advances, including advances sold in connection with the sale of MSRs, as investing activity. We classify changes in HECM loans held for investment as investing activity and changes in the related HMBS borrowings as financing activity.
Our NRZ agreements have a significant impact on our consolidated statements of cash flows. Because the lump-sum payments we received in connection with our 2017 Agreements and New RMSR Agreements are recorded as secured financings, additions to, and reductions in, the balance of those secured financings are recognized as financing activity in our consolidated statements of cash flows. Excluding the impact of changes to the secured financings attributed to changes in fair value, changes in the balance of these secured financings are reflected in cash flows from operating activities despite having no

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impact on our consolidated cash balance. Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 includes $25.1 million and $23.3 million, respectively, of such cash flows and they were offset by corresponding amounts in net cash used in financing activities in the same periods.
Cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020
Our operating activities provided $171.0 million of cash including $121.1 million net collections of servicing and ancillary income, $29.4 million of net collections of servicing advances, and net cash received on loans held for sale of $11.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Our investing activities used $147.3 million of cash. The primary uses of cash in our investing activities include net cash outflows in connection with our HECM reverse mortgages of $119.8 million. Cash outflows also include $29.8 million to purchase MSRs. 
Our financing activities used $199.3 million of cash. Cash outflows include repayments of $126.1 million on the SSTL, $53.2 million of net repayments on advance match funded liabilities, a $97.2 million decrease in borrowings under our mortgage warehouse and MSR financing facilities, and $50.4 million of net payments on the financing liabilities related to MSRs pledged. In addition, we also paid $7.3 million of debt issuance costs related to our SSTL facility amendment and repurchased 5.7 million shares of our common stock for $4.6 million. Cash inflows include $312.2 million received in connection with our reverse mortgage securitizations, which are accounted for as secured financings, less repayments on the related financing liability of $172.4 million.
Cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2019
Our operating activities provided $100.7 million of cash largely due to $91.1 million of net collections of servicing advances. Net cash received on loans held for sale during the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $1.1 million.
Our investing activities used $151.3 million of cash. The primary uses of cash in our investing activities include net cash outflows in connection with our HECM reverse mortgages of $104.6 million. Cash outflows also include $48.6 million to purchase MSRs.
Our financing activities used $19.8 million of cash. Cash outflows include $128.9 million of net repayments on advance match funded liabilities as a result of advance recoveries and $50.1 million of net payments on the financing liabilities related to MSRs pledged. In addition, we reduced borrowings under our mortgage loan warehouse facilities by $57.7 million. Cash inflows include $210.6 million received in connection with our reverse mortgage securitizations, which are accounted for as secured financings, less repayments on the related financing liability of $102.4 million. We increased borrowings under the SSTL through the issuance of an additional term loan of $120.0 million (before a discount of $0.9 million), less the $6.4 million first quarter repayment.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
Contractual Obligations
We have certain contractual obligations which require us to make future cash payments. At March 31, 2020, such contractual obligations were primarily comprised of secured and unsecured borrowings, interest payments, leases and commitments to originate or purchase loans, including equity draws on reverse mortgages. There were no material changes to the table of specified contractual obligations contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K during the three months ended March 31, 2020, other than changes related to our secured borrowings.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we executed an amendment to the SSTL agreement which reduced the maximum borrowing capacity to $200.0 million, extended the maturity date to May 15, 2022, reduced the contractual quarterly principal payment from $6.4 million to $5.0 million and modified the interest rate. See Note 11 – Borrowings to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and “Liquidity and Capital Resources - Outlook” for additional information.
In addition to the contractual obligations described above, our obligations to make future cash payments include our commitments related to off-balance-sheet and other arrangements, which are excluded from the table of specified contractual obligations contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, including but not limited to servicing advance obligations, margin calls associated with our asset-backed financing facilities and margin calls associated with our derivative instruments. See Note 20 — Commitments to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Our forecasting with respect to our ability to satisfy our contractual obligations, including but not limited to our servicing advance obligations, requires management to use judgment and estimates and includes factors that may be beyond our control. Additionally, our business has been undergoing substantial change and the current conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant volatility in the financial markets and uncertainties in the duration and magnitude of the economic downturn, as well as uncertainties related to the government and other programs to assist mortgage borrowers, which have magnified the uncertainties that are inherent in the forecasting process. Our actual results could differ materially from our estimates, and if this were to occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
In the normal course of business, we engage in transactions with a variety of financial institutions and other companies that are not reflected on our balance sheet. We are subject to potential financial loss if the counterparties to our off-balance sheet transactions are unable to complete an agreed upon transaction. We manage counterparty credit risk by entering into financial instrument transactions through national exchanges, primary dealers or approved counterparties and through the use of mutual margining agreements whenever possible to limit potential exposure. We regularly evaluate the financial position and creditworthiness of our counterparties. Our off-balance sheet arrangements include mortgage loan repurchase and indemnification obligations, unconsolidated SPEs (a type of VIE) and notional amounts of our derivatives.
Mortgage Loan Repurchase and Indemnification Liabilities. We have exposure to representation, warranty and indemnification obligations in our capacity as a loan originator and servicer. We recognize the fair value of representation and warranty obligations in connection with originations upon sale of the loan or upon completion of an acquisition. Thereafter, the estimation of the liability considers probable future obligations based on industry data of loans of similar type segregated by year of origination and estimated loss severity based on current loss rates for similar loans. Our historical loss severity considers the historical loss experience that we incur upon sale or liquidation of a repurchased loan as well as current market

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conditions. See Note 3 – Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities, Note 12 – Other Liabilities and Note 21 – Contingencies to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Unfunded Lending Commitments. We have originated floating-rate reverse mortgage loans under which the borrowers have additional borrowing capacity of $1.6 billion at March 31, 2020. This additional borrowing capacity is available on a scheduled or unscheduled payment basis. See Note 20 — Commitments to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
HMBS Issuer Obligations. As an HMBS issuer, we assume certain obligations related to each security issued. The most significant obligation is the requirement to purchase loans out of the Ginnie Mae securitization pools once the outstanding principal balance of the related HECM is equal to or greater than 98% of the maximum claim amount (MCA repurchases). Active repurchased loans are assigned to HUD and payment is received from HUD, typically within 60 days of repurchase. HUD reimburses us for the outstanding principal balance on the loan up to the maximum claim amount. We bear the risk of exposure if the amount of the outstanding principal balance on a loan exceeds the maximum claim amount. Inactive repurchased loans (the borrower is deceased, no longer occupies the property or is delinquent on tax and insurance payments) are generally liquidated through foreclosure and subsequent sale of REO, with a claim filed with HUD for recoverable remaining principal and advance balances. See Note 20 — Commitments to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Involvement with VIEs. We use SPEs and VIEs for a variety of purposes but principally in the financing of our servicing advances, in the securitization of mortgage loans and in the financing of our MSRs. We include VIEs in our consolidated financial statements if we determine we are the primary beneficiary. See Note 3 – Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
We generally use match funded securitization facilities to finance our servicing advances. The SPEs to which the receivables for servicing advances are transferred in the securitization transaction are included in our consolidated financial statements either because we have the majority equity interest in the SPE or because we are the primary beneficiary where the SPE is a VIE. Holders of the debt issued by the SPEs have recourse only to the assets of the SPEs for satisfaction of the debt.
Derivatives. We record all derivatives at fair value on our consolidated balance sheets. We use these derivatives primarily to manage our interest rate risk. The notional amounts of our derivative contracts do not reflect our exposure to credit loss. Generally, our derivative instruments require daily margin calls. See Note 14 – Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
Our ability to measure and report our financial position and operating results is influenced by the need to estimate the impact or outcome of future events based on information available at the date of the financial statements. An accounting estimate is considered critical if it requires that management make assumptions about matters that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made. If actual results differ from our judgments and assumptions, then it may have an adverse impact on the results of operations and cash flows. We have processes in place to monitor these judgments and assumptions, and management is required to review critical accounting policies and estimates with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Our significant accounting policies and critical accounting estimates are disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates.”
Fair Value Measurements
We use fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain instruments in our statement of operations and to determine fair value disclosures. Refer to Note 4 – Fair Value to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for the fair value hierarchy, descriptions of valuation methodologies used to measure significant assets and liabilities at fair value and details of the valuation models, key inputs to those models, and significant assumptions utilized. We follow the fair value hierarchy to prioritize the inputs utilized to measure fair value. We review and modify, as necessary, our fair value hierarchy classifications on a quarterly basis. As such, there may be reclassifications between hierarchy levels.

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The following table summarizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis and the amounts measured using Level 3 inputs:
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Loans held for sale
$
246,015

 
$
275,269

Loans held for investment - Reverse mortgages
6,568,821

 
6,269,596

Loans held for investment - Restricted for securitization investors
22,561

 
23,342

MSRs
1,050,228

 
1,486,395

Derivative assets
14,741

 
6,007

Mortgage-backed securities
1,670

 
2,075

Corporate bonds
211

 
441

Assets at fair value
$
7,904,247

 
$
8,063,125

As a percentage of total assets
79
%
 
77
%
Financing liabilities
 
 
 
HMBS-related borrowings
6,323,091

 
6,063,435

Financing liability - MSRs pledged
601,684

 
950,593

Financing liability - Owed to securitization investors
21,365

 
22,002

 
6,946,140

 
7,036,030

Derivative liabilities
1,499

 
100

Liabilities at fair value
$
6,947,639

 
$
7,036,130

As a percentage of total liabilities
73
%
 
70
%
Assets at fair value using Level 3 inputs
$
7,721,763

 
$
7,847,925

As a percentage of assets at fair value
98
%
 
97
%
Liabilities at fair value using Level 3 inputs
$
6,946,140

 
$
7,036,030

As a percentage of liabilities at fair value
100
%
 
100
%
Assets at fair value using Level 3 inputs decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2020 primarily due to the derecognition of the MSR related to the PMC servicing agreement terminated by NRZ and a decline in the fair value of MSRs, offset in part by reverse mortgage originations. Liabilities at fair value using Level 3 inputs remained mostly flat due to the increase of reverse mortgage securitizations, which we account for as secured financings, partially offset by the derecognition of the pledged MSR financing liability related to PMC servicing agreement terminated by NRZ, which we accounted for as secured financings. Our net economic exposure to Loans held for investment - Reverse mortgages and the related Financing liabilities (HMBS-related borrowings) is limited to the residual value we retain. Changes in inputs used to value the loans held for investment are largely offset by changes in the value of the related secured financing. In addition, we have no net fair value exposure to the MSR pledged to NRZ and the related pledged MSR financing liability, both reported at fair value.
We have various internal controls in place to ensure the appropriateness of fair value measurements. Significant fair value measures are subject to analysis and management review and approval. Additionally, we utilize a number of operational controls to ensure the results are reasonable, including comparison, or “back testing,” of model results against actual performance and monitoring the market for recent trades, including our own price discovery in connection with potential and completed sales, and other market information that can be used to benchmark inputs or outputs. Considerable judgment is used in forming conclusions about Level 3 inputs such as interest rate movements, prepayment speeds, delinquencies, credit losses and discount rates. Changes to these inputs could have a significant effect on fair value measurements.
Valuation of MSRs
MSRs are assets that represent the right to service a portfolio of mortgage loans. We originate MSRs from our lending activities and obtain MSRs through asset acquisitions or business combinations. For initial measurement, acquired and originated MSRs are initially measured at fair value. Subsequent to acquisition or origination, we elect to account for MSRs using either the amortization method or the fair value measurement method. Effective January 1, 2018, we elected fair value accounting for our MSRs previously accounted for using the amortization method, which included Agency MSRs and government-insured MSRs. Effective with this election, our entire portfolio of MSRs is accounted for using the fair value measurement method. This irrevocable election applies to all subsequently acquired or originated servicing assets and liabilities that have characteristics consistent with each of these classes.

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The determination of the fair value of MSRs requires management judgment due to the number of assumptions that underlie the valuation. We determine the fair value of MSRs primarily using discounted cash flow methodologies. The significant components of the estimated future cash inflows for MSRs include servicing fees, late fees, float earnings and other ancillary fees. Significant cash outflows include the cost of servicing, the cost of financing servicing advances and compensating interest payments.
We engage third-party valuation experts who generally utilize: (a) transactions involving instruments with similar collateral and risk profiles, adjusted as necessary based on specific characteristics of the asset or liability being valued; and/or (b) industry-standard modeling, such as a discounted cash flow model and a prepayment model, in arriving at their estimate of fair value. The prices provided by the valuation experts reflect their observations and assumptions related to market activity, incorporating available industry survey results and client feedback, and including risk premiums and liquidity adjustments. While the models and related assumptions used by the valuation experts are proprietary to them, we understand the methodologies and assumptions used to develop the prices based on our ongoing due diligence, which includes regular discussions with the valuation experts. We believe that the procedures executed by the valuation experts, supported by our verification and analytical procedures, provide reasonable assurance that the prices used in our consolidated financial statements comply with the accounting guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures and reflect the assumptions that a market participant would use.
We evaluate the reasonableness of our third-party experts’ assumptions using historical experience adjusted for prevailing market conditions. The following table provides the range of key assumptions and weighted average (expressed as a percentage of UPB) by class projected for the five-year period beginning March 31, 2020:
 
Conventional
 
Government-Insured
 
Non-Agency
Prepayment speed
 
 
 
 
 
Range
13.7% to 25.3%
 
13.2% to 25.8%
 
9.1% to 13.7%
Weighted average
20.1%
 
19.8%
 
11.9%
Delinquency
 
 
 
 
 
Range
1.3% to 3.1%
 
7.1% to 17.8%
 
24.1% to 28.4%
Weighted average
1.8%
 
10.3%
 
27.2%
Cost to service
 
 
 
 
 
Range
$66 to $72
 
$84 to $139
 
$241 to $276
Weighted average
$67
 
$98
 
$269
Discount rate
9.0%
 
10.2%
 
11.3%
Changes in these assumptions are generally expected to affect our results of operations as follows:
Increases in prepayment speeds generally reduce the value of our MSRs as the underlying loans prepay faster which causes accelerated MSR portfolio runoff, higher compensating interest payments and lower overall servicing fees, partially offset by a lower overall cost of servicing, increased float earnings on higher float balances and lower interest expense on lower servicing advance balances.
Increases in delinquencies generally reduce the value of our MSRs as the cost of servicing increases during the delinquency period, and the amounts of servicing advances and related interest expense also increase.
Increases in the discount rate reduce the value of our MSRs due to the lower overall net present value of the net cash flows.
Increases in interest rate assumptions will increase interest expense for financing servicing advances although this effect is partially offset because rate increases will also increase the amount of float earnings that we recognize.
As a result of the market volatility and uncertainties due to the COVID-19 outbreak, management exercised significant judgment in determining and updating the key assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the MSR based on the known or knowable information as of March 31, 2020. While discount rates remain vastly unchanged at March 31, 2020 compared with December 31, 2019, the spread to the risk-free rate significantly increased, as a result of a significant decline in the different interest rate benchmarks, reflective of the heightened uncertainties in the market conditions.
Allowance for Losses on Servicing Advances and Receivables
Advances are generally fully reimbursed. However, servicing advances may include claimable (with investors) but non-recoverable expenses, for example due to servicer error, such as lack of reasonable documentation as to the type and amount of advances. We record an allowance for losses on servicing advances as a charge to earnings to the extent we believe that a portion of advances are uncollectible under the provisions of each servicing contract taking into consideration, among other

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factors, our historical collection rates, probability of default, cure or modification, length of delinquency and the amount of the advance. We continually assess collectability using proprietary cash flow projection models that incorporated a number of different factors, depending on the characteristics of the mortgage loan or pool, including, for example, the probable loan liquidation path, estimated time to a foreclosure sale, estimated costs of foreclosure action, estimated future property tax payments and the estimated value of the underlying property net of estimated carrying costs, commissions and closing costs. At March 31, 2020, the allowance for losses on servicing advances was $7.4 million, which represents 0.7% of advances.
We record an allowance for losses on receivables in our Servicing business related to defaulted FHA or VA insured loans repurchased from Ginnie Mae guaranteed securitizations (government-insured loan claims). This allowance represents management’s estimate of incurred losses and is maintained at a level that management considers adequate based upon continuing assessments of collectability, current trends, and historical loss experience. At March 31, 2020, the allowance for losses on receivables related to government-insured claims was $58.1 million, which represents 48% of the total balance of government-insured claims receivables.
We adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, as amended, on January 1, 2020. The ASU requires the measurement and recording of expected lifetime credit losses on loans and other financial instruments measured at amortized cost and replaces the existing incurred loss model for credit losses. The new guidance requires an organization to measure all current expected credit losses (CECL) for financial assets held and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This standard requires enhanced disclosures related to the significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an organization’s portfolio. Additionally, the new guidance amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration.
We applied the guidance at the adoption date with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings on January 1, 2020. As permitted by this standard, we made an irrevocable fair value election for certain financial instruments within the scope of the standard. The transition adjustment related to financial instruments for which we are not electing the fair value option did not result in any significant adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. Our measurement of lifetime expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect collectability.
Determining an allowance for losses involves degrees of judgment and assumptions that, given similar information at any given point, may result in a different but reasonable estimate.
Income Taxes
We record a tax provision for the anticipated tax consequences of the reported results of operations. We compute the provision for income taxes using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and for operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using the currently enacted tax rates in each jurisdiction that applies to taxable income in effect for the years in which those tax assets are expected to be realized or settled. We record a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is believed more likely than not to be realized.
We conduct periodic evaluations of positive and negative evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset can be realized in future periods. In these evaluations, we gave more significant weight to objective evidence, such as our actual financial condition and historical results of operations, as compared to subjective evidence, such as projections of future taxable income or losses.
For the three-year periods ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the USVI filing jurisdiction was in a material cumulative loss position. The U.S. jurisdiction was also in a three-year cumulative loss position as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. We recognize that cumulative losses in recent years is an objective form of negative evidence in assessing the need for a valuation allowance and that such negative evidence is difficult to overcome. Other factors considered in these evaluations are estimates of future taxable income, future reversals of temporary differences, tax character and the impact of tax planning strategies that may be implemented, if warranted.
As a result of these evaluations, we recognized a full valuation allowance of $199.5 million and $46.3 million on our U.S. deferred tax assets at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and a full valuation allowance of $0.4 million and $21.3 million on our USVI deferred tax assets at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The U.S. and USVI jurisdictional deferred tax assets are not considered to be more likely than not realizable based on all available positive and negative evidence. We intend to continue maintaining a full valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets in both the U.S. and USVI until there is sufficient evidence to support the reversal of all or some portion of these allowances. Release of the valuation allowance would result in the recognition of certain deferred tax assets and a decrease to income tax expense for the period in

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which the release is recorded. However, the exact timing and amount of the valuation allowance release are subject to change based on the profitability that we achieve.
We recognize tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
NOL carryforwards may be subject to annual limitations under Internal Revenue Code Section 382 (Section 382) (or comparable provisions of foreign or state law) in the event that certain changes in ownership were to occur. In addition, tax credit carryforwards may be subject to annual limitations under Internal Revenue Code Section 383 (Section 383). We periodically evaluate our NOL and tax credit carryforwards and whether certain changes in ownership have occurred as measured under Section 382 that would limit our ability to utilize a portion of our NOL and tax credit carryforwards. If it is determined that an ownership change(s) has occurred, there may be annual limitations on the use of these NOL and tax credit carryforwards under Sections 382 and 383 (or comparable provisions of foreign or state law).
We have evaluated whether we experienced an ownership change under these provisions, and determined that an ownership change did occur in January 2015 and in December 2017 in the U.S. jurisdiction, which also results in an ownership change under Section 382 in the USVI jurisdiction. In addition, a Section 382 ownership change occurred at PHH when Ocwen acquired the stock of PHH in October 2018. PHH was a loss corporation as defined under Section 382 at the date of the acquisition. PHH also had an existing Section 382 ownership change on March 31, 2018. For certain states, an additional Section 382 ownership change occurred on August 9, 2017. These Section 382 ownership changes may limit our ability to fully utilize NOLs, tax credit carryforwards, deductions and/or certain built-in losses that existed as of each respective ownership change date in the various jurisdictions
Due to the Section 382 and 383 limitations and the maximum carryforward period for our NOLs and tax credits, we will be unable to fully recognize certain deferred tax assets. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2018, we had reduced our gross deferred tax asset related to our U.S. federal and USVI NOLs by $160.9 million, our foreign tax credit deferred tax asset by $29.5 million and corresponding valuation allowance by $55.7 million. The realization of all or a portion of our deferred income tax assets (including NOLs and tax credits) is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the statutory carryforward periods. In addition, the limitation on the utilization of our NOL and tax credit carryforwards could result in Ocwen incurring a current tax liability in future tax years. Our inability to utilize our pre-ownership change NOL carryforwards, Section 163(j) disallowed interest carryforwards, any future recognized built-in losses or deductions, and tax credit carryforwards could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Finally, any future changes in our ownership or sale of our stock could further limit the use of our NOLs and tax credits in the future.
As part of our Section 382 evaluation and consistent with the rules provided within Section 382, Ocwen relies strictly on the existence or absence, as well as the information contained in certain publicly available documents (e.g., Schedule 13D, Schedule 13G or other documents filed with the SEC) to identify shareholders that own a 5-percent or greater interest in Ocwen stock throughout the period tested. Further, Ocwen relies on such public filings to identify dates in which such 5-percent shareholders acquired, disposed, or otherwise transacted in Ocwen common stock. As the requirement for filing such notices of ownership from the SEC is to report beneficial ownership, as opposed to actual economic ownership of the stock of Ocwen, certain SEC filings may not represent ownership in Ocwen stock that should be considered in determining whether Ocwen experienced an ownership change under the Section 382 rules. Notwithstanding the preceding sentences (regarding Ocwen’ s ability to rely on the existence and absence of information in publicly filed Schedules 13D and 13G), the rules prescribed in Section 382 and the regulations thereunder provide that Ocwen may (but is not required to) seek additional clarification from shareholders filing such Schedules 13D and 13G if there are questions or uncertainty regarding the true economic ownership of shares reported in such filing (whether due to ambiguity in the filing, an overly complex ownership structure, the type of instruments owned and reported in the filings, etc.) (often referred to “actual knowledge” questionnaires). Such information can be sought on a filer by filer basis (i.e., there is no requirement that if actual knowledge is sought with respect to one shareholder, actual knowledge must be sought with respect to all shareholders that filed schedules 13D or 13G). While the seeking of actual knowledge can be beneficial in some instances it may be detrimental in others. Once such actual knowledge is received, Section 382 requires the inclusion of such actual knowledge, even if such inclusion is detrimental to the conclusion reached.
Ocwen has performed its analysis of the rules under Section 382 and, based on all currently available information, identified it experienced an ownership change for Section 382 purposes in January 2015 and December 2017. Prior to 2018, Ocwen was aware of shareholder activity in 2015 and 2017 that may have caused a Section 382 ownership change(s), but determined that additional information could potentially be obtained from certain shareholders that would indicate a Section 382 ownership change had not occurred. In completing this analysis, Ocwen identified several shareholders that filed a schedule 13G during the period disclosing a greater than 5-percent interest in Ocwen stock where beneficial versus economic ownership of the stock was unclear, and Ocwen therefore requested further details. As of the date of this Form 10-Q, Ocwen

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has not received all requested responses from selected shareholders, and will continue to consider such shareholders as economic owners of Ocwen’s stock until actual knowledge is otherwise received.
Ocwen is continuing to monitor the ownership in its stock to evaluate information that will become available later in 2019 and that may result in a different outcome for Section 382 purposes and our future cash tax obligations. As part of this monitoring, Ocwen periodically evaluates whether it is appropriate and beneficial to retroactively seek actual knowledge on certain previously identified and included 5-percent shareholders, whereby, depending on the responses received, Ocwen may conclude that either the January 2015 or December 2017 Section 382 ownership changes may have instead occurred on a different date, or did not occur at all. As such, our analysis regarding the amount of tax attributes that may be available to offset taxable income in the future without restrictions imposed by Section 382 may continue to evolve.
Indemnification Obligations
We have exposure to representation, warranty and indemnification obligations because of our lending, sales and securitization activities, our acquisitions to the extent we assume one or more of these obligations, and in connection with our servicing practices. We initially recognize these obligations at fair value. Thereafter, the estimation of the liability considers probable future obligations based on industry data of loans of similar type segregated by year of origination, to the extent applicable, and estimated loss severity based on current loss rates for similar loans, our historical rescission rates and the current pipeline of unresolved demands. Our historical loss severity considers the historical loss experience that we incur upon sale or liquidation of a repurchased loan as well as current market conditions. We monitor the adequacy of the overall liability and make adjustments, as necessary, after consideration of other qualitative factors including ongoing dialogue and experience with our counterparties. As of March 31, 2020, we have recorded a liability for representation and warranty obligations, and similar indemnification obligations of $47.1 million. See Note 21 – Contingencies for additional information.
Litigation
We monitor our litigation matters, including advice from external legal counsel, and regularly perform assessments of these matters for potential loss accrual and disclosure. We establish liabilities for settlements, judgments on appeal and filed and/or threatened claims for which we believe it is probable that a loss has been or will be incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated.
Going Concern
In accordance with ASC 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern, we evaluate whether there are conditions that are known or reasonably knowable that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that our financial statements are issued. We perform a detailed review and analysis of relevant quantitative and qualitative information from across our organization in connection with this evaluation. To support this effort, senior management from key business units reviews and assesses the following information:
our current financial condition, including liquidity sources at the date that the financial statements are issued (e.g., available liquid funds and available access to credit, including covenant compliance);
our conditional and unconditional obligations due or anticipated within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (regardless of whether those obligations are recognized in our financial statements);
funds necessary to maintain operations considering our current financial condition, obligations and other expected cash flows within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (i.e., financial forecasting); and
other conditions and events, when considered in conjunction with the above items, that may adversely affect our ability to meet obligations within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (e.g., negative financial trends, indications of possible financial difficulties, internal matters such as a need to significantly revise operations and external matters such as adverse regulatory or legal proceedings, adverse counterparty actions or rating agency decisions, and our client concentration).
Our evaluation of whether it is probable that we will be unable to meet our obligations as they become due within one year after the date that our financial statements are issued involves a degree of judgment, including about matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain.
If such conditions exist, management evaluates its plans that when implemented would mitigate the condition(s) and alleviate the substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Such plans are considered only if information available as of the date that the financial statements are issued indicates both of the following are true:
it is probable management’s plans will be implemented within the evaluation period; and
it is probable management’s plans, when implemented individually or in the aggregate, will mitigate the condition(s) that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern in the evaluation period.
Our evaluation of whether it is probable that management’s plans will be effectively implemented within the evaluation period is based on the feasibility of implementation of management’s plans in light of our specific facts and circumstances.

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Our evaluation of whether it is probable that our plans, individually or in the aggregate, will be implemented in the evaluation period involves a degree of judgment, including about matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain.
In March 2020, the WHO categorized COVID-19 as a pandemic and the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a national emergency in the U.S. The COVID-19 pandemic is adversely affecting economic conditions, including an increase in unemployment, and is creating significant uncertainty about the duration and magnitude of the downturn in the economy.
Based on our evaluation, we have determined that there are no conditions that are known or reasonably knowable that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that our Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are issued.
RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
We adopted the new current expected credit loss guidance (ASU 2016-13, as amended) on January 1, 2020 by applying the guidance at the adoption date with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The transition adjustment resulted in an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings of $47.0 million and we increased our loans held for investment by $47.0 million, representing the recognition of the fair value of certain non-cancellable draw commitments (tails) associated with our reverse mortgage loans. See Note 1 – Organization, Business Environment and Basis of Presentation to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Our adoption of the standards listed below on January 1, 2020 did not have a material impact on our unaudited consolidated financial statements:
Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software: Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (ASU 2018-15)
Fair Value Measurement: Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (ASU 2018-13)
See Note 1 - Organization, Business Environment and Basis of Presentation to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for information related to recently issued accounting pronouncements and the expected impact on our consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK (Dollars in thousands unless otherwise indicated)
Interest Rates
Our principal market risk exposure is the impact of interest rate changes on our mortgage-related assets and commitments, including MSRs, loans held for sale, loans held for investment and IRLCs. In addition, changes in interest rates could materially and adversely affect our volume of mortgage loan originations or result in MSR fair value changes. We also have exposure to the effects of changes in interest rates on our floating-rate borrowings, including advance financing facilities.
Interest rate risk is a function of (i) the timing of re-pricing and (ii) the dollar amount of assets and liabilities that re-price at various times. We are exposed to interest rate risk to the extent that our interest rate-sensitive liabilities mature or re-price at different speeds, or on different bases, than interest-earning assets.
Our management-level Market Risk Committee establishes and maintains policies that govern our hedging program, including such factors as market volatility, duration and interest rate sensitivity measures, targeted hedge ratios, the hedge instruments that we are permitted to use in our hedging activities and the counterparties with whom we are permitted to enter into hedging transactions and our liquidity risk profile. See Note 14 – Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our use of derivatives.
Our market risk exposure may also be affected by the phase-out of LIBOR, expected to occur by the end of 2021. Many of our debt facilities incorporate LIBOR. These facilities either mature prior to the end of 2021 or have terms in place that provide for an alternative to LIBOR upon its phase-out. As we renew or replace these debt facilities, we will need to work with our counterparties to incorporate alternative benchmarks. There is presently substantial uncertainty relating to the process and timeline for developing LIBOR alternatives, how widely any given alternative will be adopted by parties in the financial markets, and the extent to which alternative benchmarks may be subject to volatility or present risks and challenges that LIBOR does not. Consequently, it is difficult to predict what effect, if any, the phase-out of LIBOR and the use of alternative benchmarks may have on our business or on the overall financial markets. If LIBOR alternatives re-allocate risk among parties in a way that is disadvantageous to market participants such as Ocwen, or if uncertainty relating to the LIBOR phase-out disrupts financial markets, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and liquidity.

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MSR Hedging Strategy
MSRs are carried at fair value with changes in fair value being recorded in earnings in the period in which the changes occur. The fair value of MSRs is subject to changes in market interest rates and prepayment speeds. Beginning in September 2019, management implemented a hedging strategy to partially offset the changes in fair value of our net MSR portfolio attributable to interest rate changes. As a general matter, the impact of interest rates on the fair value of our MSR portfolio is naturally offset by other exposures, including our loan pipeline and our economic MSR value embedded in our reverse mortgage loan portfolio. Our hedging strategy is targeted at mitigating the residual exposure, which we refer to as our net MSR portfolio exposure. We define our net MSR portfolio exposure as follows:
our more interest rate-sensitive Agency MSR portfolio,
less the Agency MSRs subject to our agreements with NRZ (See Note 8 — Rights to MSRs),
less the unsecuritized reverse mortgage loans and tails classified as held-for-investment,
less the asset value for securitized HECM loans, net of the corresponding HMBS-related liability, and
less the net value of our held for sale loan portfolio and lock commitments (pipeline).
We determine and monitor daily the hedge coverage based on the duration and interest rate sensitivity measures of our net MSR portfolio exposure, considering market and liquidity conditions. During the first quarter of 2020, our hedging strategy provided for a partial coverage of our net MSR portfolio exposure of approximately 43%. The changes in fair value of our hedging instruments may not fully offset the changes in fair value of our net MSR portfolio exposure attributable to interest rate changes due to the partial hedge coverage and other factors.
The following table illustrates the composition of our net MSR portfolio exposure at March 31, 2020 with the associated interest rate sensitivity for a hypothetical, instantaneous decrease in interest rate of 25 basis points assuming a parallel shift in interest rate yield curves (refer to the description below under Sensitivity Analysis). The amounts based on market risk sensitive measures are hypothetical and presented for illustrative purposes only. Changes in fair value cannot be extrapolated because the relationship to the change in fair value may not be linear.
Dollars in millions
Fair value at March 31, 2020
 
Hypothetical change in fair value due to 25 bps rate decrease
Agency MSR - interest rate sensitive (1)
$
294.2

 
$
(24.5
)
 
 
 
 
Asset value of securitized HECM loans, net of HMBS-related borrowing
$
245.7

 
3.7

Loans held for investment - Unsecuritized HECM loans and tails
125.5

 
0.3

Loans held for sale
203.6

 
2.7

Pipeline IRLCs
10.5

 
(0.4
)
Natural hedges (sum of the above)

 
6.3

Hypothetical 30% offset by hedging instruments (2)

 
5.5

Total hedge position (3) (4)
 
 
$
11.8

 
 
 
 
Hypothetical residual exposure to changes in interest rates

 
$
(12.7
)
(1)
As a result of the termination of the PMC MSR Agreement, the MSRs and the related MSR financing liability related to Agency MSR were derecognized from our balance sheet on February 20, 2020.
(2)
Hypothetical 30% offset is calculated in the above table as a percentage of the net MSR exposure, that is, the Agency MSR less natural hedges, i.e., pipeline and economic MSR of reverse mortgage loans.
(3)
Total hedge position is defined as the sum of the fair value changes of hedging derivatives and the fair value changes of natural hedges due to interest rate risks, i.e., pipeline and economic MSR of reverse mortgage loans.
(4)
We define our hedge coverage ratio as the total hedge position (derivatives and natural hedges) as a percentage of the Agency MSR exposure, or 48% in the above table.
We use forward trades of MBS or Agency TBAs with different banking counterparties and exchange-traded interest rate swap futures as hedging instruments. These derivative instruments are not designated as accounting hedges. TBAs, or To-Be-Announced securities are actively traded, forward contracts to purchase or sell Agency MBS on a specific future date. We report changes in fair value of these derivative instruments in MSR valuation adjustments, net in our consolidated statements of operations.
The TBAs and Interest rate swap futures are subject to margin requirements. Ocwen may be required to post or may be entitled to receive cash collateral with its counterparties, based on daily value changes of the instruments. Changes in market

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factors, including interest rates, and our credit rating could require us to post additional cash collateral and could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and liquidity.
MSRs and MSR Financing Liabilities
Our entire portfolio of MSRs is accounted for using the fair value measurement method. MSRs are subject to interest rate risk as the mortgage loans underlying the MSRs permit borrowers to prepay their loans. The fair value of MSRs generally decreases in periods where interest rates are declining, as prepayments increase, and generally increases in periods where interest rates are increasing, as prepayments decrease.
While the majority of our non-Agency MSRs have been sold to NRZ, these transactions did not qualify as sales and are accounted for as secured financings. We have elected fair value accounting for these MSR financing liabilities. Through these transactions, the majority of the risks and rewards of ownership of the MSRs transferred to NRZ, including interest rate risk. Changes in the fair value of the MSRs sold to NRZ are offset by a corresponding change in the fair value of the MSR financing liabilities, which are recognized as a component of interest expense in our consolidated statements of operations.
Loans Held for Sale, Loans Held for Investment and IRLCs
In our Originations business, newly-originated forward mortgage loans held for sale and newly originated reverse mortgage loans held for investment that we have elected to carry at fair value and IRLCs are subject to the effects of changes in mortgage interest rates from the date of the commitment through the sale of the loan into the secondary market. IRLCs represent an agreement to purchase loans from a third-party originator or an agreement to extend credit to a mortgage loan applicant, whereby the interest rate on the loan is set prior to funding. We are exposed to interest rate risk and related price risk during the period from the date of the lock commitment through (i) the lock commitment cancellation or expiration date or (ii) through the date of sale of the resulting loan into the secondary mortgage market. Loan commitments for forward loans range from 5 to 90 days, but the majority of our commitments are for 60 days. Our holding period for forward mortgage loans from funding to sale is typically less than 30 days. Loan commitments for reverse mortgage loans range from 10 to 30 days. The majority of our reverse loans are variable-rate loan commitments. This interest rate exposure had historically been economically hedged with freestanding derivatives, including forward sales of agency TBAs and forward mortgage-backed securities (Forward MBS). Beginning in September 2019, this exposure is not individually hedged, but rather used as an offset to our MSR exposure and managed as part of our MSR hedging strategy described above.
We elected fair value accounting for newly repurchased loans from securitization trusts or investors after January 1, 2020. We may repurchase loans that have been modified, to facilitate loss reduction strategies, or as otherwise obligated as a Ginnie Mae servicer.
Loans Held for Investment and HMBS-related Borrowings
We elected fair value accounting for the entire reverse mortgage HECM loans, which are held for investment, together with the HMBS-related borrowings. We also elected fair value accounting for non-cancellable draw commitments (tails) of our HECM loans. The fair value of our HECM loan portfolio decreases as market interest rates rise and increases as market rates fall. As our HECM loan portfolio is predominantly comprised of ARMs, higher interest rates cause the loan balance to accrue and reach a 98% maximum claim amount liquidation event more quickly, with lower interest rates extending the timeline to liquidation.
The fair value of our HECM loan portfolio net of the fair value of the HMBS-related borrowings comprise the fair value of reverse mortgage loans and tails that are unsecuritized at the balance sheet date (reverse pipeline) and the fair value of securitized HECM loans net of the corresponding HMBS-related borrowings that represent the reverse mortgage economic MSR (HMSR) for risk management purposes. Both reverse assets (reverse pipeline and HMSR) act as a partial hedge for our forward MSR value sensitivity. Due to this characteristic, beginning in September 2019, this exposure is used as an offset to our MSR exposure and managed as part of our MSR hedging strategy described above.
Advance Match Funded Liabilities
We monitor the effect of increases in interest rates on the interest paid on our variable-rate advance financing debt. Earnings on cash and float balances are a partial offset to our exposure to changes in interest expense. We purchase interest rate caps as economic hedges (not designated as a hedge for accounting purposes) when required by our advance financing arrangements.

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Interest Rate-Sensitive Financial Instruments
The tables below present the notional amounts of our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates and the related fair value of these instruments at the dates indicated. We use certain assumptions to estimate the fair value of these instruments. See Note 4 – Fair Value to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding fair value of financial instruments.
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
 
Balance
 
Fair Value (1)
 
Balance
 
Fair Value (1)
Rate-Sensitive Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-earning cash
$
262,143

 
$
262,143

 
$
433,224

 
$
433,224

Loans held for sale, at fair value
203,592

 
203,592

 
208,752

 
208,752

Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value (2)
42,423

 
42,423

 
66,517

 
66,517

Loans held for investment, at fair value
6,568,821

 
6,568,821

 
6,269,596

 
6,269,596

Debt service accounts and time deposits
16,239

 
16,239

 
23,666

 
23,666

Total rate-sensitive assets
$
7,093,218

 
$
7,093,218

 
$
7,001,755

 
$
7,001,755

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rate-Sensitive Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advance match funded liabilities
$
625,951

 
$
631,247

 
$
679,109

 
$
679,507

HMBS-related borrowings, at fair value
6,323,091

 
6,323,091

 
6,063,435

 
6,063,435

SSTL and other secured borrowings (3) (4)
807,001

 
758,115

 
1,030,306

 
1,010,789

Senior notes (4)
313,052

 
253,281

 
313,052

 
270,022

Total rate-sensitive liabilities
$
8,069,095

 
$
7,965,734

 
$
8,085,902

 
$
8,023,753

 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
 
Notional
Balance
 
Fair
Value
 
Notional
Balance
 
Fair
Value
Rate-Sensitive Derivative Financial Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative assets (liabilities):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate caps
$
10,833

 
$

 
$
27,083

 
$

IRLCs
382,773

 
10,478

 
232,566

 
4,878

Forward trades
100,000

 
(235
)
 
60,000

 
(92
)
Interest rate swap futures
500,000

 
822

 

 

TBA / Forward MBS trades
240,000

 
2,177

 
1,200,000

 
1,121

Derivatives, net


 
$
13,242

 


 
$
5,907

(1)
See Note 4 – Fair Value to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional fair value information on financial instruments.
(2)
Net of valuation allowances and including non-performing loans.
(3)
Excludes financing liabilities that result from sales of assets that do not qualify as sales for accounting purposes and, therefore, are accounted for as secured financings, which have no contractual maturity and are amortized over the life of the related assets.
(4)
Balances are exclusive of any related discount or unamortized debt issuance costs.

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Sensitivity Analysis
Fair Value MSRs, Loans Held for Sale, Loans Held for Investment and Related Derivatives
The following table summarizes the estimated change in the fair value of our MSRs, HECM loans held for investment and loans held for sale that we have elected to carry at fair value as well as any related derivatives at March 31, 2020, given hypothetical instantaneous parallel shifts in the yield curve. We used March 31, 2020 market rates to perform the sensitivity analysis. The estimates are based on the interest rate risk sensitive portfolios described in the preceding paragraphs and assume instantaneous, parallel shifts in interest rate yield curves. These sensitivities are hypothetical and presented for illustrative purposes only. Changes in fair value based on variations in assumptions generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship to the change in fair value may not be linear.
 
Change in Fair Value
Dollars in millions
Down 25 bps
 
Up 25 bps
Asset value of securitized HECM loans, net of HMBS-related borrowing
$
3.7

 
$
(3.7
)
Loans held for investment - Unsecuritized HECM loans and tails
0.3

 
(0.3
)
Loans held for sale
2.7

 
(3.2
)
TBA / Forward MBS trades / Interest rate swap futures
15.1

 
(15.0
)
Total
21.8

 
(22.2
)
 
 
 
 
MSRs (1)
(24.1
)
 
27.1

MSRs, embedded in pipeline
(0.4
)
 
0.4

Total MSRs (2)
(24.5
)
 
27.5

 
 
 
 
Total, net
$
(2.7
)
 
$
5.3

 
(1)
Primarily reflects the impact of market interest rate changes on projected prepayments on the Agency MSR portfolio and on advance funding costs on the non-Agency MSR portfolio carried at fair value. Fair value adjustments to our MSRs are offset, in part, by fair value adjustments related to the NRZ financing liabilities, which are recorded in Pledged MSR liability expense.
(2)
Forward mortgage loans only.
Borrowings
The majority of the debt used to finance much of our operations is exposed to interest rate fluctuations. We may purchase interest rate swaps and interest rate caps to minimize future interest rate exposure from increases in interest rates, or when required by the financing agreements.
Based on March 31, 2020 balances, if interest rates were to increase by 1% on our variable-rate debt and interest earning cash and float balances, we estimate a net positive impact of approximately $11.8 million resulting from an increase of $22.0 million in annual interest income and an increase of $10.2 million in annual interest expense.
Home Prices
Inactive reverse mortgage loans for which the maximum claim amount has not been met are generally foreclosed upon on behalf of Ginnie Mae with the REO remaining in the related HMBS until liquidation. Inactive MCA repurchased loans are generally foreclosed upon and liquidated by the HMBS issuer. Although active and inactive reverse mortgage loans are insured by FHA, we may incur expenses and losses in the process of repurchasing and liquidating these loans that are not reimbursable by FHA in accordance with program guidelines. In addition, in certain circumstances, we may be subject to real estate price risk to the extent we are unable to liquidate REO within the FHA program guidelines. As our reverse mortgage portfolio seasons, and the volume of MCA repurchases increases, our exposure to this risk will increase.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Our management, under the supervision of and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), as of March 31, 2020.
Based on such evaluation, management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2020 were (1) designed and functioning effectively to ensure that material information relating to Ocwen, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to our principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report was being prepared and (2) operating effectively in that they provided reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by Ocwen in the reports that it files or submits under the

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Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer or principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
See Note 19 – Regulatory Requirements and Note 21 – Contingencies to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. That information is incorporated into this item by reference.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock involves significant risk. We describe the most significant risks that management believes affect or could affect us under Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Understanding these risks is important to understanding any statement in such Annual Report and in our subsequent SEC filings (including this Form 10-Q) and to evaluating an investment in our common stock. You should carefully read and consider the risks and uncertainties described therein together with all the other information included or incorporated by reference in such Annual Report and in our subsequent SEC filings before you make any decision regarding an investment in our common stock. You should also consider the information set forth under “Forward-Looking Statements.” If any of the risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the value of our common stock could significantly decline, and you could lose some or all of your investment.
In addition to the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, you should consider the following:
The COVID-19 pandemic and related efforts to mitigate the pandemic have impacted our business, and the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken to contain its spread ultimately impact our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and are difficult to predict.
In March 2020, the WHO categorized COVID-19 as a pandemic and the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a national emergency in the U.S. The COVID-19 pandemic is adversely affecting economic conditions, including an increase in unemployment, and is creating significant uncertainty about the duration and magnitude of the downturn in the economy. In response, on March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was signed into law, allowing borrowers affected by COVID-19 to request temporary loan forbearance for federally backed mortgage loans. In addition, multiple forbearance programs, moratoria of foreclosure and eviction and other requirements to assist borrowers enduring financial hardship due to COVID-19 are being issued by states, agencies and regulators. These measures could stay in place for an extended period of time. If we are unable to comply with, or face allegations that we are in breach of, applicable laws, regulations or other requirements, we may face regulatory action, including fines, penalties, and restrictions on our business. In addition, we could face litigation and reputational damage.
Notwithstanding the relief provided by the CARES Act, we expect delinquencies and forbearance loans to rise in the near term. Delinquent loans and forbearance loans reduce our servicing fee revenue and are more costly to service. An increase in loans in forbearance, an increase in delinquencies, further declines in market or mortgage rates and other assumptions changes would also further decrease the fair value of our MSR portfolio. We reported a $174.1 million loss in MSR valuation adjustments, net in the first quarter of 2020, mostly driven by a $156.7 million loss due to the decline in interest rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic (117 basis-point decline in the 10-year treasury swap rate). In addition, as servicer, we are required to advance unpaid principal and interest to investors and to make advances for unpaid taxes and insurance and other costs to the extent that we determine that such amounts are recoverable. An increase in loans in forbearance or an increase in delinquencies would increase our servicing advances and may increase the related interest expense. Such an increase could also adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund servicing advances or finance our business. We are currently negotiating extensions and increases to advance facility commitments with our lenders.
Depending on the severity and longevity of the COVID-19 pandemic, the related efforts taken to reduce its spread, and the possibility of a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, we could recognize a significant adverse impact to our liquidity position. As of March 31, 2020 we had approximately $789.0 million of debt outstanding under facilities coming due in the next 12 months. Portions of our match funded advance facilities and all of our mortgage loan warehouse facilities have 364-day terms consistent with market practice. We have historically renewed these facilities on or before their expiration in the ordinary

105



course of financing our business. As a result of COVID-19, we may be required to raise additional capital to finance our advance obligations as a servicer and to support our operations during this economic downturn. There is no guarantee that debt financings will be available in the future, or that such financing will be available on terms consistent with our historical agreements or expectations. Further, on April 13, 2020, S&P placed the ratings outlook of Ocwen on CreditWatch with negative implications due to the uncertain economic impact of COVID-19 on liquidity. If our credit ratings are downgraded, or general market conditions were to ascribe higher risk to our rating levels, our industry, or us, our access to capital and the cost of any debt financing will be further negatively impacted. In addition, the terms of future debt agreements could include more restrictive covenants, or require incremental collateral, which may further restrict our business operations or be unavailable due to our covenant restrictions then in effect. See Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources--COVID-19 Update and Outlook.
We have also experienced in the first quarter of 2020, and may continue to experience, losses in the valuation of our MSRs, loans or other instruments. Further, our operations may be impacted by reduced employee availability due to illness, voluntary or government mandated social distancing and travel restrictions, as well as our transition to secured remote work arrangements for approximately 92% of our employees. Remote working arrangements could impact employees’ productivity, and brings increased risks from potentially less secure and less private work environments. In addition, increased reliance on remote connections and conferencing technology may increase stress on the systems and processes we rely on to conduct our business, including the programs in place to prevent, detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents.
These factors may remain prevalent for a significant period of time and may continue to adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition even after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided. As noted in Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, our ability to execute on our key initiatives has been hindered by the recent COVID-19 environment. These factors may also reduce the capacity of vendors, government agencies, and other third parties on whom we are dependent to conduct our operations. In addition, if a resurgence of the COVID-19 virus occurs after the initial outbreak subsides, these factors will be exacerbated.
As this situation is ongoing and the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain at this time, it is difficult to forecast the eventual long-term impacts on our future operating results or financial condition. We expect the COVID-19 pandemic will negatively impact our financial results, including having a larger impact on our results of operations for the second quarter and remainder of this year than has been reflected in our first quarter results for 2020. The extent to which the coronavirus pandemic and measures taken to contain its spread ultimately impact our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and are difficult to predict.
Legal and Regulatory Risks
The business in which we engage is complex and heavily regulated, and the rules and regulations to which we are subject have been changing and increasing rapidly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If we fail to operate our business in compliance with both existing and future regulations, our business, reputation, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Our business is subject to extensive regulation by federal, state and local governmental authorities, including the CFPB, HUD, the SEC and various state agencies that license and conduct examinations of our servicing and lending activities. In addition, we must comply with the requirements of the GSEs (and their conservator, the FHFA), Ginnie Mae, and the United States Treasury Department. These regulations and requirements have been changing rapidly as these entities have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was signed into law, allowing borrowers affected by COVID-19 to request temporary loan forbearance for federally backed mortgage loans. Multiple forbearance programs, moratoria of foreclosure and eviction and other requirements to assist borrowers enduring financial hardship due to COVID-19 are being issued by states, agencies and regulators. These requirements vary across jurisdiction, may conflict in some circumstances, and can be complex to interpret and implement. If we are unable to comply with, or face allegations that we are in breach of, applicable laws, regulations or other requirements, we may face regulatory action, including fines, penalties, and restrictions on our business. In addition, we could face litigation and reputational damage. Any of these risks could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Financial Performance, Financing Our Business, Liquidity and Net Worth and the Economy
Because we remain obligated to continue making servicing advances for delinquent loans and loans which are the subject of forbearance plans, in the event of a surge in delinquencies and loans entering forbearance, our advance obligations could exceed our available liquidity sources, which would adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
The CARES Act enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic allows borrowers affected by COVID-19 to request temporary loan forbearance for federally-backed mortgage loans. In addition, multiple states, agencies and regulators have issued forbearance programs, moratoria of foreclosure and/or eviction and other requirements to assist borrowers enduring financial hardship. In accordance with agency and regulatory requirements, we are offering all eligible borrowers affected by

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COVID-19, regardless of whether they are explicitly covered by the CARES Act, a 90-day forbearance plan, which suspends the obligation to pay monthly installments during the term of the forbearance plan. Borrowers will not be required to repay their suspended mortgage payments until after the forbearance period ends and we will not charge late fees or proceed with foreclosure activity during the term of the forbearance period. At the conclusion of the initial 90-day forbearance period, depending on the borrower’s individual situation and applicable regulatory and investor guidelines, we anticipate either extending forbearance or reviewing borrowers for other loss mitigation options, such as repayment plans, payment deferrals, or modifications if their financial hardship persists. The elevated delinquency rate, the surge in loans under forbearance plans, and the moratorium on evictions and foreclosure will reduce our cash inflows as we will not collect, or collect less, servicing fees or ancillary income, such as late fees, from borrowers facing financial hardship.
As servicer, we are required to advance to investors the principal and interest installments not collected from borrowers for those delinquent loans, including those on forbearance. In the normal course of business as servicer or master servicer, we are required to advance P&I and T&I on behalf of the borrower to the investor of the loan, if delinquent or under a forbearance plan. We also advance Corporate advances on properties that are in default or have been foreclosed. Our obligations to make these advances are governed by servicing agreements or guides, depending on the investors or guarantor, and vary with respect to the type of advances we are required to make, the circumstances under which we may stop advancing, and the method and timeframe for recovering amounts owed to us. See Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources, and Note 20 — Commitments.
We believe, based on current estimates, that we can continue to meet our servicing advance needs by utilizing our existing servicing advance financing facilities and other liquidity sources. However, due to the considerable uncertainty in the current environment relating to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including with respect to the response of the U.S. government, state governments, the GSEs, Ginnie Mae and regulators, and the potential for ongoing disruption in the financial markets and in commercial activity generally, forecasting our liquidity and financial condition is particularly challenging and we cannot assure you that our liquidity resources will continue to be sufficient to meet our servicing advance obligations. If we become unable to comply with our servicing obligations, or if our contractual counterparties dispute our interpretation of our servicing obligations, it could cause us to actually or allegedly default under our servicing agreements, which could potentially cause cross-defaults under our debt financing agreements, and have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.
Operational Risks and Other Risks Related to our Business
Our shift to remote work arrangements may increase our risks of cybersecurity breaches or system failures, which may interrupt or delay our ability to provide services to our customers, expose our business and our customers to harm and otherwise adversely affect our operations.
Ocwen is currently operating through a secured remote workforce model for approximately 92% of our global workforce, which we believe offers the best protection for our employees and the communities in which they live and provides the best assurance of our continued ability to serve borrowers and investors. However, the shift to “work from home” arrangements brings increased risks from potentially less secure and less private work environments. In addition, increased reliance on remote connections and conferencing technology may increase stress on the systems and processes we rely on to conduct our business, including the programs in place to prevent, detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents. Disruptions and failures of our systems or those of our vendors may interrupt or delay our ability to provide services to our customers, expose us to remedial costs and reputational damage, and otherwise adversely affect our operations. If any of the foregoing were to occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
Risks Relating to Ownership of our Common Stock
If we are unable to regain compliance with NYSE continued listing standards, our common stock could be delisted, which could have significant adverse effects on our operations, liquidity, and the trading market for our common stock.
As previously disclosed, we were notified on April 8, 2020 by the NYSE that we were non-compliant with the NYSE’s continued listing standards because the average closing price of our common stock over the 30 trading-day period ending April 7, 2020 was less than $1.00. If we are not able to regain compliance with the NYSE’s share price standards, which generally require that on the last trading day of any calendar month during a six month cure period, our common stock has a closing share price of at least $1.00 and an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month, we will be delisted from the NYSE. On April 21, 2020, the NYSE announced that, due to market-wide declines brought about by the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, it would toll until July 1, 2020 the running of cure periods for companies not in compliance with the minimum share price standard. As a result, the remainder of Ocwen’s cure period will be tolled until July 1, 2020 and we must regain compliance with the NYSE’s share price standard by December 17, 2020. The likelihood and nature of any further NYSE relief remain uncertain at this time. If we are unable to achieve an increase in our stock price and our common stock is subsequently delisted, we would experience

107



significant negative impacts, including but not limited to, impairment of our ability to obtain debt or equity financing to support our operations, and our shareholders could experience significant negative impacts, including but not limited to, decreased trading volume and liquidity of our common stock.
If we implement a reverse split of our common stock, it may not result in the benefits we anticipate, and could adversely affect our market capitalization and the liquidity of our common stock.
Our Board of Directors is considering implementing a reverse stock split in a ratio of between one-for-five and one-for-25 and is seeking advisory approval of such a reverse split at our Annual Meeting of shareholders planned for May 27, 2020. If the Board implements such a reverse split, it could potentially increase our stock price and help us regain compliance with NYSE listing standards, but such an outcome is by no means guaranteed. The market price of our common stock is based on a number of factors which may be unrelated to the number of shares outstanding. These factors may include our performance, general economic and market conditions and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. The market price per share may not rise in inverse proportion to the reduction in the number of shares outstanding before the reverse stock split, and any increase in share price may not be maintained. Accordingly, the total market capitalization of our common stock after implementing a reverse stock split may be lower than the total market capitalization before the reverse stock split. Further, there can be no assurance that implementing a reverse stock split would result in a per-share market price that will attract institutional investors or investment funds or that such share price will satisfy the investing guidelines of institutional investors or investment funds. In addition, the reduced number of shares issued and outstanding after implementation of a reverse stock split could adversely affect the liquidity of our common stock by reducing the number of shares available for trading.
ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliates
On February 3, 2020, Ocwen’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for an aggregate amount of up to $5.0 million of Ocwen’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock. Repurchases may be made in open market transactions at prevailing market prices. The timing and execution of any related share repurchases is subject to market conditions, among other factors. Unless we amend the share repurchase program or repurchase the full $5.0 million amount by an earlier date, the share repurchase program will continue through February 3, 2021. No assurances can be given as to the amount of shares, if any, that we may repurchase in any given period.
Information regarding repurchases of our common stock during the first quarter of 2020 is as follows:
Period
Total number of shares purchased
 
Average price paid per share (1)
 
Total number of shares purchased as part of a publicly announced repurchase program
 
Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the repurchase program
January 1 - January 31

 
$

 

 
$
5.0
 million
February 1 - February 29

 
$

 

 
$
5.0
 million
March 1 - March 31
5,662,257

 
$
0.7933

 
5,662,257

 
$
0.5
 million
Total
5,662,257

 
$
0.7933

 
5,662,257

 
 
(1)
Price paid per share does not reflect payment of commissions totaling $0.1 million.
ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.1
 
The Company agrees to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request a copy of each instrument with respect to the issuance of long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, the authorized principal amount of which does not exceed 10% of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


108



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document (filed herewith)
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (filed herewith)
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (filed herewith)
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (filed herewith)
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (filed herewith)
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (filed herewith)






*
Management contract or compensatory plan or agreement.
Certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any referenced schedules will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon request.
(1)
Incorporated by reference to the similarly described exhibit to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 filed on August 3, 2017.
(2)
Incorporated by reference to the similarly described exhibit to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on February 25, 2019.
(3)
Incorporated by reference to the similarly described exhibit to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on January 27, 2020.





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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.
 
Ocwen Financial Corporation
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ June C. Campbell
 
 
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(On behalf of the Registrant and as its principal financial officer)
Date: May 8, 2020
 
 



110