The COVID-19 pandemic and the actions taken by
local, state and federal governments have and are expected to continue to adversely affect the national economy and the macroeconomic environment which could adversely affect our current operations and our ability to continue to grow.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and continues to have, a significant impact on the national
economy and the communities in which we operate. While the pandemics effect on the macroeconomic environment has yet to be fully determined and could continue for months or years, we expect that the pandemic and governmental programs created
as a response to the pandemic, will affect the core aspects of our business and the business of our clients, including the origination of mortgages, our servicing operations, our liquidity and our team members. Such effects, if they continue for a
prolonged period, may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. These effects may be exacerbated should there be another wave of infections or if the pandemic otherwise intensifies.
Moreover, the FHFA establishes certain liquidity requirements for agency and Ginnie Mae loan servicers that are generally tied to the unpaid
principal balance of loans serviced by such loan servicer for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, FHA and VA. To the extent that the percentage of seriously delinquent loans (SDQ), i.e., loans that are 90 days or more delinquent,
exceeds defined thresholds, the liquidity requirements for loan servicers could increase materially. Exceeding such SDQ thresholds would result in substantially higher liquidity requirements, which could materially impact our results of operations
and financial condition.
In addition, our business could be disrupted if we are unable to operate due to changing governmental
restrictions such as travel bans and quarantines placed on our team members, other measures that ensure the protection of our team members health, measures aimed at maintaining our information technology infrastructure, or if an outbreak
occurs in our headquarters that prevents us from operating.
As a result of
the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the major purchasers in the bulk MSR secondary market experienced liquidity constraints; consequently, the liquidity of the bulk MSR market has been, and may continue
to be, adversely affected. This market disruption may adversely affect our ability to sell MSRs and the pricing that we are able to achieve, which in turn could adversely affect our liquidity and reduce our margins. If we are unable to access
sources of capital or liquidity as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial markets, our ability to maintain or grow our business could be limited.
We may not be able to detect or prevent cyberattacks and other data and security breaches, which could adversely affect our business and subject us to
liability to third parties.
We are dependent on information technology networks and systems, particularly for our loan origination
systems and other technology-driven platforms, designed to provide best-in-class service and experience for clients and to ensure adherence to regulatory
compliance, operational governance, training and security. In the ordinary course of our business, we receive, process, retain and transmit proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data, including the public and non-public personal information of our team members, clients and loan applicants. Despite devoting significant time and resources to ensure the integrity of our information technology systems, we have
not always been able to, and may not be able to in the future, anticipate or implement effective preventive measures against all security breaches or unauthorized access of our information technology systems or the information technology systems of
third-party vendors that receive, process, retain and transmit electronic information on our behalf.
Cybersecurity risks for lenders have
significantly increased in recent years, in part, because of the proliferation of new technologies, the use of the internet and telecommunications technologies to conduct financial transactions, and the increased sophistication and activities of
computer hackers, organized crime, terrorists, and other external parties, including foreign state actors. We, our clients, borrowers and loan applicants, regulators and other third parties have been subject to, and are likely to continue to be the
target of, cyberattacks and other security breaches. Security breaches, cyberattacks such as computer viruses, malicious or
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