Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2020 | |
| Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Consolidation and Basis of Presentation |
Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all subsidiaries; inter-company accounts and
transactions have been eliminated. All trust entities in which the Company holds investments that are considered variable interest entities, or VIEs, for financial reporting purposes were reviewed for consolidation under the applicable consolidation guidance. Whenever the Company has both the power to direct the activities of a trust that most significantly impact the entities’ performance, and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entities that could be significant, the Company consolidates the trust. The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
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| Use of Estimates |
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make a number of significant estimates. These include estimates of fair value of certain assets and liabilities, amount and timing of credit losses, prepayment rates, the period of time during which the Company anticipates an increase in the fair values of real estate securities sufficient to recover unrealized losses in those securities, and other estimates that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of certain revenues and expenses during the reported period. It is likely that changes in these estimates (e.g., valuation changes due to supply and demand in the market, credit performance, prepayments, interest rates, or other reasons) will occur in the near term. The Company’s estimates are inherently subjective in nature and actual results could differ from its estimates and the differences may be material.
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| Variable Interest Entities |
Variable Interest Entities
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company formed a trust entity, or the MSR Issuer Trust, for the purpose of financing MSR through securitization. On June 27, 2019, the Company, through the MSR Issuer Trust, completed an MSR securitization transaction pursuant to which, through two of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, MSR is pledged to the MSR Issuer Trust and in return, the MSR Issuer Trust issued (a) an aggregate principal amount of $400.0 million in term notes to qualified institutional buyers and (b) a variable funding note, or VFN, with a maximum principal balance of $1.0 billion to one of the subsidiaries, in each case secured on a pari passu basis. The term notes bear interest at a rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.80% per annum. The term notes will mature on June 25, 2024 or, if extended pursuant to the terms of the related indenture supplement, June 25, 2026 (unless earlier redeemed in accordance with their terms).
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company formed a trust entity, or the Servicing Advance Receivables Issuer Trust, for the purpose of financing servicing advances through a revolving credit facility, pursuant to which the Servicing Advance Receivables Issuer Trust issued a VFN backed by servicing advances pledged to the financing counterparty. Both the MSR Issuer Trust and the Servicing Advance Receivables Issuer Trust are considered VIEs for financial reporting purposes and, thus, were reviewed for consolidation under the applicable consolidation guidance. As the Company has both the power to direct the activities of the trusts that most significantly impact the entities’ performance, and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entities that could be significant, the Company consolidates the trusts.
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| Available-for-Sale Securities, at Fair Value |
Available-for-Sale Securities, at Fair Value
The Company invests primarily in mortgage pass-through certificates, collateralized mortgage obligations and other residential mortgage-backed securities representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of mortgage loans issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or Freddie Mac, and the Government National Mortgage Association, or Ginnie Mae, or collectively, the government sponsored entities, or GSEs (collectively “Agency RMBS”). The Company also holds securities that are not issued by the GSEs, or non-Agency securities, and, from time to time, U.S. Treasuries.
The Company classifies its Agency RMBS and non-Agency securities, excluding inverse interest-only Agency securities which are classified as derivatives for purposes of U.S. GAAP, as available-for-sale, or AFS, investments. Although the Company generally intends to hold most of its investment securities until maturity, it may, from time to time, sell any of its investment securities as part of its overall management of its portfolio. Accordingly, the Company classifies all of its securities as AFS, including its interest-only strips, which represent the Company’s right to receive a specified portion of the contractual interest flows of specific Agency or non-Agency securities. All assets classified as AFS, excluding certain Agency interest-only mortgage-backed securities, are reported at estimated fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income, on an after-tax basis.
On July 1, 2015, the Company elected the fair value option for Agency interest-only securities acquired on or after such date. All Agency interest-only securities acquired on or after July 1, 2015 are carried at estimated fair value with changes in fair value recorded as a component of (loss) gain on investment securities in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
Fair value is determined under the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, or ASC 820. The Company determines the fair value of its RMBS that are issued or guaranteed as to principal and/or interest by a GSE, based upon prices obtained from third-party pricing vendors or broker quotes received using the bid price, which are both deemed indicative of market activity. In determining the fair value of its non-Agency securities, management judgment is used to arrive at fair value that considers prices obtained from third-party pricing vendors, broker quotes received and other applicable market data. If listed price data is not available or insufficient, then fair value is based upon internally developed models that are primarily based on observable market-based inputs but also include unobservable market data inputs. See Note 10 - Fair Value of these notes to the consolidated financial statements for details on fair value measurement.
Investment securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. The cost basis for realized gains and losses on sales of investment securities are determined on the first-in, first-out, or FIFO, method.
Interest income on securities is accrued based on the outstanding principal balance and their contractual terms. Premiums and discounts associated with Agency RMBS and non-Agency securities rated AA and higher at the time of purchase, are amortized and accreted, respectively, as an adjustment to interest income over the life of such securities using the contractual method under ASC 310-20, Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs, which is applied at the individual security level based upon each security’s effective interest rate. The Company calculates each security’s effective interest rate at the time of purchase by solving for the discount rate that equates the present value of that security's remaining contractual cash flows, assuming no principal prepayments, to its purchase price. When applying the contractual effective interest method, as principal prepayments occur, an amount of the unamortized premium or discount is recognized in interest income such that the contractual effective interest rate on the remaining security balance is unaffected.
Interest income on non-Agency securities that were purchased at a discount to par value and were rated below AA at the time of purchase and Agency and non-Agency interest-only securities that can be contractually prepaid or otherwise settled in such a way that the Company would not recover substantially all of its recorded investment is recognized based on the security’s effective interest rate using the prospective method under ASC 325-40, Investments - Other: Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets. At the time of acquisition, the security’s effective interest rate is calculated by solving for the single discount rate that equates the present value of the Company’s best estimate of the amount and timing of the cash flows expected to be collected from the security to its purchase price. On at least a quarterly basis, the Company reviews and, if appropriate, makes adjustments to its cash flow projections based on input and analysis received from external sources, internal models, and its judgment about interest rates, prepayment rates, the timing and amount of credit losses, and other factors. Changes in cash flows from those originally projected, or from those estimated at the last evaluation, may result in a prospective change in the effective interest rate and interest income recognized on such securities.
Actual maturities of the AFS securities are affected by the contractual lives of the associated mortgage collateral, periodic payments of principal, and prepayments of principal. Therefore actual maturities of AFS securities are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities. Stated contractual maturities are generally greater than ten years.
Following the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, on January 1, 2020 (refer to “Recently Issued and/or Adopted Accounting Standards” below for additional information about the standard and the Company’s adoption), the Company uses a discounted cash flow method to estimate and recognize an allowance for credit losses on both Agency and non-Agency AFS securities that are not accounted for under the fair value option. The estimated allowance for credit losses is equal to the difference between the prepayment adjusted contractual cash flows with no credit losses and the prepayment adjusted expected cash flows with credit losses, discounted at the effective interest rate on the AFS security that was in effect upon adoption of the standard. The contractual cash flows and expected cash flows are based on management’s best estimate and take into consideration current prepayment assumptions, lifetime expected losses based on past loss experience, current market conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future conditions. The allowance for credit losses on Agency AFS securities relates to prepayment assumption changes on interest-only Agency RMBS. The allowance for credit losses causes an increase in the AFS security amortized cost and recognizes an allowance for credit losses in the same amount, with the provision for credit losses recognized in earnings (within (loss) gain on investment securities) and the balance of the unrealized loss recognized in either other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax, or (loss) gain on investment securities, depending on the accounting treatment.
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| Mortgage Servicing Rights, at Fair Value |
Mortgage Servicing Rights, at Fair Value
The Company’s MSR represent the right to service mortgage loans. The Company and its subsidiaries do not originate or directly service mortgage loans, and instead contract with appropriately licensed subservicers to handle substantially all servicing functions in the name of the subservicer for the loans underlying the Company’s MSR. However, as an owner and manager of MSR, the Company may be obligated to fund advances of principal and interest payments due to third-party owners of the loans, but not yet received from the individual borrowers. These advances are reported as servicing advances within the other assets line item on the consolidated balance sheets.
MSR are reported at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets. Although MSR transactions are observable in the marketplace, the valuation includes unobservable market data inputs (prepayment speeds, delinquency levels, discount rates and cost to service). Changes in the fair value of MSR as well as servicing fee income and servicing expenses are reported on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
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| Cash and Cash Equivalents |
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash held in bank accounts and cash held in money market funds on an overnight basis.
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| Restricted Cash | Restricted Cash Restricted cash represents the Company’s cash held by counterparties as collateral against the Company’s securities, certain derivative instruments and/or repurchase agreements. Also included is the cash balance held pursuant to a letter of credit on the New York office lease. Cash held by counterparties as collateral, which resides in non-interest bearing accounts, is not available to the Company for general corporate purposes, but may be applied against amounts due to security, derivative or repurchase counterparties or returned to the Company when the collateral requirements are exceeded or, at the maturity of the derivative or repurchase agreement. |
| Accrued Interest Receivable |
Accrued Interest Receivable
Accrued interest receivable represents interest that is due and payable to the Company. Cash interest is generally received within 30 days of recording the receivable.
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| Due from/to Counterparties, net |
Due from/to Counterparties, net
Due from counterparties includes cash held by counterparties for payment of principal and interest as well as cash held by counterparties as collateral against certain of the Company’s derivatives and/or repurchase agreements but represents excess capacity and deemed unrestricted and a receivable from the counterparty as of the balance sheet date. Due from counterparties also includes cash receivable from counterparties for sales of MSR pending final transfer and settlement. Due to counterparties includes cash payable by the Company upon settlement of trade positions as well as cash deposited to and held by the Company as collateral against certain of the Company’s derivatives and/or repurchase agreements but represents a payable to the counterparty as of the balance sheet date. Due to counterparties also includes purchase price holdbacks on MSR acquisitions for early prepayment or default provisions, collateral exceptions and other contractual terms.
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| Derivative Financial Instruments, at Fair Value |
Derivative Financial Instruments, at Fair Value
In accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, as amended and interpreted, or ASC 815, all derivative financial instruments, whether designated for hedging relationships or not, are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets as assets or liabilities and carried at fair value.
At the inception of a derivative contract, the Company determines whether the instrument will be part of a qualifying hedge accounting relationship or whether the Company will account for the contract as a trading instrument. Due to the volatility of the credit markets and difficulty in effectively matching pricing or cash flows, the Company has elected to treat all current derivative contracts as trading instruments. Changes in fair value as well as the accrual and settlement of interest associated with derivatives accounted for as trading instruments are reported in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income as (loss) gain on interest rate swap, cap and swaption agreements or gain (loss) on other derivative instruments depending on the type of derivative instrument.
The Company enters into interest rate derivative contracts for a variety of reasons, including minimizing fluctuations in earnings or market values on certain assets or liabilities that may be caused by changes in interest rates. The Company may, at times, enter into various forward contracts including short securities, Agency to-be-announced securities, or TBAs, options, futures, swaps, and caps. Due to the nature of these instruments, they may be in a receivable/asset position or a payable/liability position at the end of an accounting period. Amounts payable to and receivable from the same party under contracts may be offset as long as the following conditions are met: (a) each of the two parties owes the other determinable amounts; (b) the reporting party has the right to offset the amount owed with the amount owed by the other party; (c) the reporting party intends to offset; and (d) the right of offset is enforceable by law. If the aforementioned conditions are not met, amounts payable to and receivable from are presented by the Company on a gross basis in its consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s centrally cleared interest rate swaps require that the Company posts an “initial margin” amount determined by the clearing exchange, which is generally intended to be set at a level sufficient to protect the exchange from the interest rate swap’s maximum estimated single-day price movement. The Company also exchanges “variation margin” based upon daily changes in fair value, as measured by the exchange. The exchange of variation margin is considered a settlement of the interest rate swap, as opposed to pledged collateral. Accordingly, the Company accounts for the receipt or payment of variation margin on interest rate swaps as a direct reduction to the carrying value of the interest rate swap asset or liability. Variation margin pledged or received is netted on a counterparty basis and classified within restricted cash, due from counterparties, or due to counterparties on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
The Company has provided specific disclosure regarding the location and amounts of derivative instruments in the consolidated financial statements and how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for. See Note 7 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities of these notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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| Reverse Repurchase Agreements | Reverse Repurchase AgreementsThe Company may borrow U.S. Treasury securities through reverse repurchase transactions under its master repurchase agreements to cover short sales. The Company accounts for these reverse repurchase agreements as securities borrowing transactions and records them at their contractual amounts, as specified in the respective agreements. |
| Repurchase Agreements | Repurchase Agreements The Company may finance certain of its investment securities and MSR through the use of repurchase agreements. These repurchase agreements are generally short-term debt, which expire within one year. At times, certain of the Company’s repurchase agreements may have contractual terms of greater than one year, and, thus, would be considered long-term debt. Borrowings under repurchase agreements generally bear interest rates of a specified margin over one-month LIBOR and are generally uncommitted. The repurchase agreements are treated as collateralized financing transactions and are carried at their contractual amounts, as specified in the respective agreements. |
| Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines Advances and Stock Holdings |
Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines Advances and Stock Holdings
Through February 19, 2021, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, TH Insurance Holdings Company LLC, or TH Insurance, was a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, or the FHLB. As a member of the FHLB, TH Insurance had access to a variety of products and services offered by the FHLB, including secured advances.
Individual advances from the FHLB have short-term or long-term maturities. Advances with less than five-year terms generally bear interest rates of a spread over one- or three-month LIBOR and advances with 20-year terms generally bear interest rates of or one- or three-month MOVR, or the FHLB member option variable-rate. FHLB advances are treated as secured financing transactions and are carried at their contractual amounts.
As a condition to membership in the FHLB, the Company was required to purchase and hold a certain amount of FHLB stock, which was based, in part, upon the outstanding principal balance of advances from the FHLB. FHLB stock is considered a nonmarketable, long-term investment, is carried at cost and is subject to recoverability testing under applicable accounting standards. This stock can only be redeemed or sold at its par value, and only to the FHLB. Accordingly, when evaluating FHLB stock for impairment, the Company considered the ultimate recoverability of the par value rather than recognizing temporary declines in value. At its discretion, the FHLB may declare dividends on its stock.
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| Revolving Credit Facilities |
Revolving Credit Facilities
To finance MSR assets and related servicing advance obligations, the Company enters into revolving credit facilities collateralized by the value of the MSR and/or servicing advances pledged. Borrowings under these revolving credit facilities that expire within one year are considered short-term debt. As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s revolving credit facilities that had contractual terms of greater than one year were considered long-term debt. The Company’s revolving credit facilities generally bear interest rates of a specified margin over one-month LIBOR. Borrowings under revolving credit facilities are treated as collateralized financing transactions and are carried at contractual amounts, as specified in the respective agreements.
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| Term Notes Payable |
Term Notes Payable
Term notes payable related to the Company’s consolidated securitization are recorded at outstanding principal balance, net of any unamortized deferred debt issuance costs, on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
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| Convertible Senior Notes |
Convertible Senior Notes
Convertible senior notes include unsecured convertible debt that are carried at their unpaid principal balance, net of any unamortized deferred issuance costs, on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Interest on the notes is payable semiannually until such time the notes mature or are converted into shares of the Company’s common stock.
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| Accrued Interest Payable | Accrued Interest Payable Accrued interest payable represents interest that is due and payable to third parties. Interest is generally paid within 30 days to three months of recording the payable, based upon the Company’s remittance requirements. |
| Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities and Income Taxes |
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities
Income recognition for U.S. GAAP and tax differ in certain respects. These differences often reflect differing accounting treatments for tax and U.S. GAAP, such as accounting for discount and premium amortization, credit losses, asset impairments, recognition of certain operating expenses and certain valuation estimates. Some of these differences are temporary in nature and create timing mismatches between when taxable income is earned and the tax is paid versus when the earnings (losses) for U.S. GAAP purposes, or GAAP net (loss) income, are recognized and the tax provision is recorded. Some of these differences are permanent since certain income (or expense) may be recorded for tax purposes but not for U.S. GAAP purposes (or vice-versa). One such significant permanent difference is the Company’s ability as a REIT to deduct dividends paid to stockholders as an expense for tax purposes, but not for U.S. GAAP purposes.
As a result of these temporary differences, the Company’s TRSs may recognize taxable income in periods prior or subsequent to when it recognizes income for U.S. GAAP purposes. When this occurs, the TRSs pay or defer the tax liability and establish deferred tax assets or deferred tax liabilities, respectively, for U.S. GAAP purposes.
Deferred tax assets generally represent items that may be used as a tax deduction in a tax return in future years for which the Company has already recognized the tax benefit for U.S. GAAP purposes. Deferred tax liabilities generally represent tax expense for which payment has been deferred or expense has already been taken as a deduction on the Company’s tax return but has not yet been recognized as an expense for U.S. GAAP purposes. The Company’s deferred tax assets and/or liabilities are generated solely by differences in GAAP net (loss) income and taxable income (loss) at our taxable subsidiaries. U.S. GAAP and tax differences in the REIT may create additional deferred tax assets and/or liabilities to the extent the Company does not distribute all of its taxable income.
Income Taxes
The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code and the corresponding provisions of state law. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must distribute at least 90% of its annual REIT taxable income to stockholders (not including taxable income retained in its taxable subsidiaries) within the time frame set forth in the tax Code and the Company must also meet certain other requirements. In addition, because certain activities, if performed by the Company, may cause the Company to earn income which is not qualifying for the REIT gross income tests, the Company has formed TRSs, as defined in the Code, to engage in such activities. These TRSs’ activities are subject to income taxes as well as any REIT taxable income not distributed to stockholders.
The Company assesses its tax positions for all open tax years and determines whether the Company has any material unrecognized liabilities in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, or ASC 740. The Company records these liabilities to the extent the Company deems them more likely than not to be incurred. The Company classifies interest and penalties on material uncertain tax positions as interest expense and operating expense, respectively, in its consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
Tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or TCJA, which was signed into law on December 22, 2017 significantly revised the U.S. corporate income tax by, among other things, lowering the federal income tax rate applicable to corporations from 35% to 21% and repealing the corporate alternative minimum tax. In addition, the deduction of net interest expense is limited for all businesses; provided that certain businesses, including real estate businesses, may elect not to be subject to such limitations and instead to depreciate their real property related assets over longer depreciable lives. This limitation could adversely affect our TRSs.
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| Expenses |
Expenses
Expenses on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income typically consist of management fees, servicing expenses generally related to the subservicing of MSR, compensation and benefits and other operating expenses. Prior to the termination of the Management Agreement on August 14, 2020, management fees were payable to PRCM Advisers under the agreement. The management fee was calculated based on the Company’s stockholders’ equity with certain adjustments outlined in the management agreement (see Note 22 - Related Party Transactions for further detail). Also prior to the termination of the Management Agreement, included in compensation and benefits and other operating expenses were direct and allocated costs incurred by PRCM Advisers on the Company’s behalf and reimbursed by the Company. Included in these reimbursed costs was (i) the Company’s allocable share of the compensation paid by PRCM Advisers to its personnel serving as the Company’s principal financial officer and general counsel and personnel employed by PRCM Advisers as in-house legal, tax, accounting, consulting, auditing, administrative, information technology, valuation, computer programming and development and back-office resources to the Company, (ii) any amounts for personnel of PRCM Advisers’ affiliates arising under a shared facilities and services agreement, and (iii) certain costs allocated to the Company by PRCM Advisers for data services and technology. Subsequent to the transition to self-management, the Company no longer pays a management fee to, or reimburses the expenses of, PRCM Advisers. Expenses for which the Company previously reimbursed PRCM Advisers are now borne directly by the Company. The Company is also now responsible for the cash compensation and employee benefits of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and investment professionals, which were previously the responsibility of PRCM Advisers. Prior to the termination of the Management Agreement, the Company was only responsible for the equity compensation paid to such individuals.
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| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Current period net unrealized gains and losses on AFS securities, excluding Agency interest-only securities, are reported as components of accumulated other comprehensive income on the consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity and in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. Net unrealized gains and losses on securities held by our taxable subsidiaries that are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income are adjusted for the effects of taxation and may create deferred tax assets or liabilities.
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| Earnings Per Share | Earnings Per ShareBasic and diluted (loss) earnings per share are computed by dividing net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares outstanding during the period. For both basic and diluted per share calculations, potential common shares represents issued and unvested shares of restricted stock, which have full rights to the common stock dividend declarations of the Company. If the assumed conversion of convertible notes into common shares is dilutive, diluted (loss) earnings per share is adjusted by adding back the periodic interest expense (net of any tax effects) associated with dilutive convertible notes to net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders and adding the shares issued in an assumed conversion to the diluted weighted average share count. |
| Equity Incentive Plan |
Equity Incentive Plan
The Company’s Second Restated 2009 Equity Incentive Plan, or the Plan, provides incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified directors, officers, personnel and other parties who may provide significant services to the Company. The Plan is administered by the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors. The Plan permits the granting of restricted shares of common stock, phantom shares, dividend equivalent rights and other equity-based awards. See Note 18 - Equity Incentive Plan for further details regarding the Plan.
The cost of equity-based compensation awarded to employees providing significant services to the Company is measured on and fixed at the grant date, based on the price of the Company’s stock as of period end and amortized over the vesting term. Amortization of restricted stock (non-cash equity compensation expense) is included within compensation and benefits on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
Prior to the early adoption of ASU No. 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, on July 1, 2018 (applied by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to cumulative earnings as of January 1, 2018, which did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or financial statement disclosures), the cost of equity-based compensation awarded to employees providing significant services to the Company was measured at fair value at each reporting date based on the price of the Company’s stock as of period end and amortized over the vesting term.
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| Recently Issued and/or Adopted Accounting Standards |
Recently Issued and/or Adopted Accounting Standards
Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which changed the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments. Allowances for credit losses on AFS debt securities are recognized, rather than direct reductions in the amortized cost of the investments, regardless of whether the impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary. The new model also requires the estimation of lifetime expected credit losses and corresponding recognition of allowance for losses on trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans, and other instruments held at amortized cost. The ASU requires certain recurring disclosures.
The Company uses a discounted cash flow method to estimate and recognize an allowance for credit losses on AFS securities. The estimated allowance for credit losses is equal to the difference between the prepayment adjusted contractual cash flows with no credit losses and the prepayment adjusted expected cash flows with credit losses, discounted at the effective interest rate on the AFS security that was in effect upon adoption of the standard. The contractual cash flows and expected cash flows are based on management’s best estimate and take into consideration current prepayment assumptions, lifetime expected losses based on past loss experience, current market conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future conditions. The allowance for credit losses causes an increase in the AFS security amortized cost and recognizes an allowance for credit losses in the same amount. The allowance for credit losses recognized in connection with adopting the guidance in Topic 326 on January 1, 2020 was equal to the present value of the credit reserve in place on December 31, 2019. As a result, no cumulative effect adjustment to opening cumulative earnings was required.
The adoption of this ASU impacts the Company’s accounting for the purchase of certain beneficial interests with purchased credit deterioration or when there is a “significant” difference between contractual cash flows and expected cash flows. For these securities, the Company records an allowance for credit losses with an increase in amortized cost above the purchase price of the same amount. Subsequent adverse or favorable changes in expected cash flows are recognized immediately in earnings as a provision for or reduction in credit losses, respectively. Adverse changes are reflected as an increase to the allowance for credit losses and favorable changes are reflected as a decrease to the allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is limited to the difference between the beneficial interest’s fair value and its amortized cost, and any remaining adverse changes in these circumstances are reflected as a prospective adjustment to accretable yield. If the allowance for credit losses has been reduced to zero, the remaining favorable changes are reflected as a prospective adjustment to accretable yield. The Company does not adjust the effective interest rate in subsequent periods for prepayment assumption changes or variable-rate changes. Any changes in the allowance for credit losses due to the time-value-of-money are accounted for in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income as provision for credit losses rather than a reduction to interest income.
The standard applies to Agency and non-Agency securities that are accounted for as beneficial interests under ASC 325-40, Investments-Other: Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets, and ASC 310-30, Receivables: Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality, or ASC 310-30. Only beneficial interests that were previously accounted for as purchased credit impaired under ASC 310-30 were accounted for as purchased credit deteriorated under Topic 326 on the transition date.
Upon adoption of this ASU, the Company established an allowance for credit losses on AFS securities accounted for as purchased credit-impaired assets under ASC 310-30 in an unrealized loss position and with no other-than-temporary impairments, or OTTI, recognized in periods prior to transition. The effective interest rates on these debt securities remained unchanged. On January 1, 2020, the $30.7 billion net amortized cost basis of AFS securities was inclusive of a $244.9 million allowance for credit loss.
The Company used a prospective transition approach for debt securities for which OTTI had been recognized prior to January 1, 2020. As a result, the amortized cost basis remained the same before and after the effective date. The effective interest rate on these debt securities also remained unchanged. Amounts previously recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income as of January 1, 2020 relating to improvements in cash flows expected to be collected are accreted into income over the remaining life of the asset. Recoveries of amounts previously written off relating to improvements in cash flows after January 1, 2020 are recorded in earnings when received.
Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, which provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions on accounting for contract modifications and hedging relationships in anticipation of the replacement of LIBOR with another reference rate. The guidance also provides a one-time election to sell held-to-maturity debt securities or to transfer such securities to the available-for-sale or trading category. The ASU was effective effective immediately for all entities and expires after December 31, 2022. The Company has determined this ASU will not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.
Issuer’s Accounting for Debt and Equity Instruments
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06 to simplify an issuer’s accounting for convertible instruments and its application of the derivatives scope exception for contracts in its own equity. Under the new guidance, only conversion features associated with a convertible debt instrument issued at a substantial premium and those that are considered embedded derivatives in accordance with derivatives guidance will be accounted for separate from the convertible instrument. Additionally, for contracts in an entity’s own equity, the new guidance eliminates some of the requirements for equity classification. The guidance also addresses how convertible instruments are accounted for in the diluted earnings per share calculation and requires enhanced disclosures about the terms of convertible instruments and contracts in an entity’s own equity. The ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning on or after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The Company has determined this ASU will not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.
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