| Organization and basis of presentation | Organization and basis of presentation We were incorporated in the United States Virgin Islands on March 15, 2012, which we refer to as “inception.” Subsequent to our separation from Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. ("Altisource") on December 21, 2012, we immediately commenced operations. In October 2013, we applied for and were granted registration by the SEC as a registered investment adviser under section 203(c) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Our primary business is to provide asset management and certain corporate governance services to Altisource Residential Corporation, which we refer to as “Residential.” Residential is a Maryland corporation that acquires and manages quality, affordable single-family rental properties throughout the United States. Residential is currently our primary source of revenue and will drive our results. On March 31, 2015, we entered into a new asset management agreement with Residential (the “New AMA”) with an effective date of April 1, 2015. Our previous asset management agreement with Residential (the “Original AMA”) had a different incentive fee structure, which we refer to as our “incentive management fees,” that gave us a share of Residential’s cash flow available for distribution to its stockholders as well as reimbursement for certain overhead and operating expenses. Although the New AMA provides for a new fee structure in which we are entitled to a base management fee, an incentive management fee and a conversion fee for loans and real estate owned (“REO”) properties that become rental properties during each quarter, our operating results are highly dependent on Residential's operating results. For additional details on the New AMA, please see “Note 7. Related Party Transactions.” We have concluded that Residential is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) because Residential’s equity holders lack the ability through voting rights to make decisions about Residential’s activities that have a significant effect on the success of Residential. We have also concluded that we are the primary beneficiary of Residential because under the Residential AMA we have the power to direct the activities of Residential that most significantly impact Residential’s economic performance including establishing Residential’s investment and business strategy. As a result, we consolidate Residential in our consolidated financial statements. For entities that are consolidated, but not 100% owned, a portion of the income or loss and corresponding equity is allocated to noncontrolling interests. Historically, amounts recognized as noncontrolling interest in our consolidated financial statements were equivalent to Residential's net income and equity because we had no ownership interest in Residential. In the third quarter of 2015, we acquired 324,465 , or approximately 0.58% , of Residential's outstanding shares. Subsequent to our acquisition of these shares, the noncontrolling interest in consolidated affiliate represents the remaining 99.42% ownership interest held by non-affiliated shareholders of Residential's common stock. Additionally, we provide management services to NewSource Reinsurance Company Ltd., which we refer to as “NewSource,” a title insurance and reinsurance company in Bermuda. In October 2013, we invested $2.0 million in 100% of the common stock of NewSource, and Residential invested $18.0 million in the non-voting preferred stock of NewSource. In September 2015, we contributed an additional $5.0 million to NewSource. In September 2015, Residential's taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”) repurchased the $15.0 million of ARLP 2014-1 Class M notes held by NewSource under a master repurchase agreement. These proceeds, along with existing cash balances, were used by NewSource to repurchase, at par value, the $18.0 million preferred stock held by Residential on September 14, 2015. In connection with the repurchase of its preferred stock, NewSource also paid to Residential the accrued but unpaid dividend on the preferred stock from January 1, 2015 through September 10, 2015, or $1.5 million . On December 2, 2013, NewSource became registered as a licensed reinsurer with the Bermuda Monetary Authority (“BMA”). Because we own 100% of voting common stock of NewSource and there are no substantive kick-out rights granted to other equity owners, we consolidate NewSource in our consolidated financial statements. NewSource commenced reinsurance activities during the second quarter of 2014. In December 2014, NewSource determined that the economics of the initial business did not warrant the continuation of its initial reinsurance quota share agreement with an unrelated third party. NewSource therefore transferred all of the risk of claims and future losses underwritten to an unrelated third party. Since Residential commenced operations, it has financed its business through a combination of equity offerings and repurchase agreements, warehouse lines and securitizations. Since inception, it has completed three public equity offerings with aggregate net proceeds of approximately $1.1 billion . Residential also entered into three separate repurchase agreements to finance its acquisition and ownership of residential mortgage loans and REO properties. The maximum aggregate funding available under these repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014 was $1.2 billion . On April 10, 2015, Residential also entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Nomura loan agreement”) with Nomura Corporate Funding Americas, LLC (“Nomura”). The purpose of the Nomura loan agreement is to finance Residential's beneficial ownership of REO properties. The maximum aggregate funding available to Residential under the repurchase agreements and the Nomura loan agreement as of September 30, 2015 was $1.3 billion , subject to certain sublimits, eligibility requirements and conditions precedent to each funding. As of September 30, 2015 , an aggregate of $929.5 million was outstanding under Residential's repurchase agreements and the Nomura loan agreement. All obligations of Residential’s subsidiaries under the repurchase agreements and the Nomura loan agreement are fully guaranteed by Residential. Each of Residential's repurchase agreements and the Nomura loan agreement is described below: • Credit Suisse (“CS”) is the lender on the repurchase agreement entered into on March 22, 2013 (the “CS repurchase agreement”) with an initial aggregate maximum borrowing capacity of $100.0 million . During 2014 the CS repurchase agreement was amended on several occasions, ultimately increasing the aggregate maximum borrowing capacity to $225.0 million on December 31, 2014 with a maturity date of April 20, 2015, subject to an additional one -year extension with the approval of the lender. On April 20, 2015, Residential entered into an amended and restated repurchase agreement with CS that increased the aggregate borrowing capacity from $225.0 million to $275.0 million , increased the REO sublimit under the facility and extended the maturity date to April 18, 2016. • Deutsche Bank (“DB”) is the lender on the repurchase agreement entered into on September 12, 2013 (the “DB repurchase agreement”). The DB repurchase agreement matures on March 11, 2016 and includes a provision that after March 2015, Residential is not eligible for additional funding under the facility, thereby reducing Residential's aggregate funding capacity under the DB repurchase agreement to $91.2 million , which was the amount outstanding under the facility on September 30, 2015 . • Wells Fargo (“Wells”) is the lender on the repurchase agreement entered into on September 23, 2013 (the “Wells repurchase agreement”) with an initial aggregate maximum borrowing capacity of $200.0 million . Throughout 2013 and 2014 the Wells repurchase agreement was amended several times increasing the aggregate maximum borrowing capacity to a high of $1.0 billion , and on December 31, 2014 was reduced to $750.0 million , subject to certain sublimits, to reflect the securitization of a significant portion of Residential's non-performing loans that previously had been financed under the Wells repurchase agreement. On February 20, 2015, Residential exercised its option to extend the termination date of this facility to March 23, 2016 without any additional funding than the $536.0 million that was outstanding at the time of the extension. On September 30, 2015, the Wells repurchase agreement was amended to extend the termination date of the facility to September 27, 2017, to re-increase the aggregate amount of available funding to $750.0 million and to further increase sublimits of REO properties that may collateralize the facility from 10% of the aggregate funding capacity to 40% of the aggregate funding capacity, or $300.0 million of the $750.0 million . • Nomura is the lender on the Nomura loan agreement entered into on April 10, 2015 with an initial aggregate maximum funding capacity of $100.0 million . On May 12, 2015, Residential amended the terms of the Nomura loan agreement to increase the aggregate maximum funding capacity to $200.0 million , subject to certain sublimits, eligibility requirements and conditions precedent to each funding. The Nomura loan agreement terminates on April 8, 2016. Since September 2014, Residential has also completed three securitization transactions, each of which is summarized below: • On September 25, 2014, Residential completed a securitization transaction in which ARLP Securitization Trust, Series 2014-1 (“ARLP 2014-1”) issued $150.0 million in Class A Notes (the “ARLP 2014-1 Class A Notes”) with a weighted coupon of approximately 3.47% and $32.0 million in Class M Notes (the “ARLP 2014-1 Class M Notes”) with a weighted coupon of 4.25% . The ARLP 2014-1 Class A Notes and the ARLP 2014-1 Class M Notes are secured solely by the non-performing mortgage loans and REO properties of ARLP 2014-1 and not by any of Residential's other assets. The assets of ARLP 2014-1 are the only source of repayment and interest on the ARLP 2014-1 Class A Notes and the ARLP 2014-1 Class M Notes. The ARLP 2014-1 Class A Notes and the ARLP 2014-1 Class M Notes mature on September 25, 2044, and Residential does not guarantee any of the obligations of ARLP 2014-1 under the terms of the indenture governing the notes or otherwise. As of September 30, 2015 , the book value of the underlying securitized assets held by ARLP 2014-1 was $203.1 million . • On November 25, 2014, Residential completed a securitization transaction in which ARLP Securitization Trust, Series 2014-2 ("ARLP 2014-2") issued $270.8 million in Class A Notes (the “ARLP 2014-2 Class A Notes”) with a weighted coupon of approximately 3.85% and $234.0 million in Class M Notes (the “ARLP 2014-2 Class M Notes”). Residential initially retained $95.8 million of the ARLP 2014-2 Class A Notes and all of the ARLP 2014-2 Class M Notes. On February 9, 2015, Residential sold $50.7 million of the retained ARLP 2014-2 Class A Notes to an unrelated third party. No interest will be paid on any ARLP 2014-2 Class M Notes while any ARLP 2014-2 Class A Notes remain outstanding. The ARLP 2014-2 Class A Notes and the ARLP 2014-2 Class M Notes are secured solely by the non-performing mortgage loans and REO properties of ARLP 2014-2 and not by any of Residential's other assets. The assets of ARLP 2014-2 are the only source of repayment and interest on the ARLP 2014-2 Class A Notes and the ARLP 2014-2 Class M Notes. The ARLP 2014-2 Class A Notes and the ARLP 2014-2 Class M Notes mature on January 26, 2054, and Residential does not guarantee any of the obligations of ARLP 2014-2 under the terms of the indenture governing the notes or otherwise. As of September 30, 2015 , the book value of the underlying securitized assets held by ARLP 2014-2 was $325.0 million . • On June 29, 2015, Residential completed a securitization transaction in which ARLP Securitization Trust, Series 2015-1 ("ARLP 2015-1") issued $205.0 million in Class A Notes (the “ARLP 2015-1 Class A Notes”) with a weighted coupon of approximately 4.01% and $60.0 million in Class M Notes (the “ARLP 2015-1 Class M Notes”). Residential retained $34.0 million of the ARLP 2015-1 Class A Notes and all of the ARLP 2015-1 Class M Notes. No interest will be paid on any ARLP 2015-1 Class M Notes while any ARLP 2015-1 Class A Notes remain outstanding. The ARLP 2015-1 Class A Notes and ARLP 2015-1 Class M Notes are secured solely by the non-performing mortgage loans and REO properties of ARLP 2015-1 and not by any of Residential's other assets. The assets of ARLP 2015-1 are the only source of repayment and interest on the ARLP 2015-1 Class A Notes and the ARLP 2015-1 Class M Notes. The ARLP 2015-1 Class A Notes and the ARLP 2015-1 Class M Notes mature on May 25, 2055, and Residential does not guarantee any of the obligations of ARLP 205-1 under the terms of the indenture governing the notes or otherwise. As of September 30, 2015 , the book value of the underlying securitized assets held by ARLP 2015-1 was $284.5 million . Residential retained all of the ARLP 2014-1 Class M Notes issued by ARLP 2014-1 in its taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”). On September 30, 2014, pursuant to a master repurchase agreement, the TRS sold $15.0 million of the ARLP 2014-1 Class M Notes to NewSource. On September 14, 2015, the TRS completed its repurchase of the ARLP 2014-1 Class M notes from NewSource at a 5.0% yield. For a more complete description of Residential's repurchase agreements, loan and security agreement and securitization transactions, please see “Note 5. Borrowings.” On March 18, 2014, we closed a private placement for the issuance and sale of 250,000 shares of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to Luxor Capital Group, LP, a New York based investment manager, and other institutional investors for proceeds of $250.0 million . In connection with the foregoing, the Company's Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program that authorizes us to repurchase up to $300.0 million of our common stock. We used substantially all of the proceeds from this transaction to repurchase shares of our common stock and for other corporate purposes. Basis of presentation and use of estimates The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States which we refer to as “U.S. GAAP.” All wholly owned subsidiaries are included and all intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. The unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying unaudited consolidated financial information, in our opinion, contain all adjustments that are of a normal recurring nature and necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods. The interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. We have omitted certain notes and other information from the interim consolidated financial statements presented in this Quarterly Report as permitted by SEC rules and regulations. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our 2014 annual report on Form 10-K. Residential properties Purchases of real estate properties are evaluated by Residential to determine whether they meet the definition of an asset acquisition or of a business combination under U.S. GAAP. For asset acquisitions, Residential capitalizes pre-acquisition costs to the extent such costs would have been capitalized had Residential owned the asset when the cost was incurred and capitalizes closing and other direct acquisition costs. Residential then allocates the total cost of the property, including the acquisition costs, between land, building and any identified intangible assets and liabilities (including in-place leases and above and below-market leases). For acquisitions that qualify as business combinations, Residential expenses the acquisition costs in the period in which the costs were incurred and allocates the cost of the property among land, building and any identified intangible assets and liabilities. Lease intangibles are recorded at the estimated fair value, which is the estimated costs that would have been incurred to lease the property net of any above or below-market lease concessions, and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining life of the related lease or, in the case of acquisitions of real estate pools, over the weighted average remaining life of the related pool of leases. Upon the acquisition of real estate through the completion of foreclosure, Residential records the assets at fair value as of the acquisition date as a component of real estate owned based on information obtained from a broker's price opinion(“BPO”), a full appraisal or the price given in a current contract of sale of the property. Fair value measurements for assets where there exists limited or no observable market data and, therefore, are based primarily upon management's or other third-party estimates, are often calculated based on the characteristics of the asset, the economic environment and other such factors. Based on professional judgment and knowledge of the particular situation, management determines the appropriate fair value to be utilized for such property. Residential engages third party vendors, including Altisource, to obtain and evaluate BPOs prepared by other third party brokers for its ultimate use. BPOs are subject to judgments of a particular broker formed by visiting a property, assessing general home values in an area, reviewing comparable listings and reviewing comparable completed sales. These judgments may vary among brokers and may fluctuate over time based on housing market activities and the influx of additional comparable listings and sales. Our results could be materially and adversely affected if the judgments used by a broker prove to be incorrect or inaccurate. Residential has established validation procedures to confirm the values it receives from third party vendors are consistent with its observations of market values. These validation procedures include establishing thresholds to identify changes in value that require further analysis. Residential’s current policies require that it updates the fair value estimate of each financed REO property at least every 180 days by obtaining a new BPO, which is subject to the review processes of its third party vendors. We generally perform further analysis for Residential when the value of the property per the new BPO varies from the old BPO by 25% , or $75,000 per property. If a newly obtained BPO varies from the old BPO by this established threshold, we perform additional procedures to ensure the BPO accurately reflects the current fair value of the property. These procedures include engaging additional third party vendors to compare the old BPOs to the new BPOs and to assist us in evaluating the appropriateness of comparable properties and property-specific characteristics used in Residential’s valuation process. As part of this evaluation, Residential’s third party vendors often discuss the differing BPOs with the providing brokers to ensure that proper comparable properties have been identified. These third party vendors also compare the BPOs to past appraisals, if any, of the property to ensure the BPOs are in line with those appraisals. Following the consideration and reconciliation of the BPOs, the third party provider may provide Residential with a new property value reflecting the analysis they performed or confirm the BPO value received by Residential, in which case Residential uses the new property value or the validated BPO, respectively, for its fair value estimate of the property. After an evaluation period, Residential may perform property renovations to those properties that meet its rental investment criteria in order to optimize its rental proceeds. In some instances, Residential may also perform renovations on REO properties that do not meet its rental investment criteria in order to optimize sale proceeds. Such expenditures are part of Residential's initial investment in a property and, therefore, are classified as investing activities in our consolidated statement of cash flows. Subsequently, residential rental properties, including any renovations that improve or extend the life of the asset, are accounted for at cost. REO properties that do not meet Residential's rental investment criteria and that are held for sale are accounted for at the lower of the carrying value or estimated fair value less cost to sell. The cost basis of residential rental properties is depreciated using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of three years to 27.5 years based on the nature of the components. Interest and other carrying costs incurred during the renovation period are capitalized until the property is ready for its intended use. Expenditures for ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Expenditures directly related to successful leasing efforts, such as lease commissions, are included in deferred leasing and financing costs, net and are stated at amortized cost. Such expenditures are part of Residential's operations and, therefore, are classified as operating activities in our consolidated statement of cash flows. Capitalized leasing costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term of the respective leases, which generally are from one year to two years . Residential properties are classified either as held for use or held for sale. Residential properties are classified as real estate assets held for sale when sale of the assets has been formally approved and is expected to occur in the next twelve months. We record residential properties held for sale at the lower of the carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs to sell. The impairment loss, if any, is the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value less costs to sell. Preferred stock During the first quarter of 2014, we issued $250.0 million of convertible preferred stock. All of the outstanding shares of preferred stock are redeemable by us in March 2020, the sixth anniversary of the date of issuance, and every five years thereafter. On these same redemption dates, each holder of preferred stock may cause us to redeem all the shares of preferred stock held by such holder at a redemption price equal to $1,000 per share. Accordingly, we classify these shares as mezzanine equity, outside of permanent stockholders' equity. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will not be entitled to receive dividends with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock are convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $1,250 per share, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments. Upon a change of control or upon a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive an amount in cash per Series A Preferred Stock equal to the greater of: (i) $1,000 plus the aggregate amount of cash dividends paid on the number of shares of Common Stock into which such share of Series A Preferred Stock was convertible on each ex-dividend date for such dividends; and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock into which the Series A Preferred Stock is then convertible multiplied by the then current market price of the Common Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock confers no voting rights to holders, except with respect to matters that materially and adversely affect the voting powers, rights or preferences of the Series A Preferred Stock or as otherwise required by applicable law. With respect to the distribution of assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the Series A Preferred Stock ranks senior to our common stock and on parity with all other classes of preferred stock that may be issued by us in the future. Treasury stock We account for repurchased common stock under the cost method and include such treasury stock as a component of total shareholders’ equity. We have repurchased shares of our common stock (i) under our Board approval to repurchase up to $300.0 million in shares of our common stock and (ii) upon our withholding of shares of our common stock to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of our restricted stock. We have an aggregate of $53.6 million remaining for repurchases under our Board-approved repurchase plan. Recently issued accounting standards In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) - Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs are presented on the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability instead of being presented as an asset. Debt disclosures will include the face amount of the debt liability and the effective interest rate. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) - Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements. ASU 2015-15 provides additional guidance to ASU 2015-03, which did not address presentation or subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs related to line of credit arrangements. ASU 2015-15 noted that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line of credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line of credit arrangement. These standards require retrospective application and represent a change in accounting principle. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the impact of adopting these standards to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810) – Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. ASU 2015-02 makes targeted amendments to the current consolidation guidance that change the analysis a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. This guidance addresses concerns that current accounting might require a reporting entity to consolidate another legal entity in situations in which the reporting entity’s contractual rights do not give it the ability to act primarily on its own behalf, the reporting entity does not hold a majority of the legal entity’s voting rights, or the reporting entity is not exposed to a majority of the legal entity’s economic benefits or obligations. The standard is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early application is permitted. We are evaluating the impact of ASU 2015-02 on our consolidated financial statements, which could result in the deconsolidation of Residential's financial information in our consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model requiring a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount reflecting the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 may be applied using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach. In August 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which effectively delayed the adoption date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. ASU 2014-09 is therefore effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. We do not expect this amendment to have a significant effect on our consolidated financial statements. |
