Ocwen Financial Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2006 Net Income


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 26, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Ocwen Financial Corporation (NYSE:OCN) today reported net income of $17.0 million or $0.27 per share for the third quarter of 2006. This compares to $7.9 million or $0.13 per share for the third quarter of 2005. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net income was $192.6 million or $3.06 per share as compared to $13.2 million or $0.21 per share for the same period in 2005. Pre-tax income in the third quarter of 2006 was $26.4 million as compared to $10.2 million in the third quarter of 2005. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, pre-tax income was $65.2 million as compared to $18.3 million in the comparable period of 2005. Year to date results in 2006 include a tax benefit of $127.4 million, primarily reflecting the second quarter reversal of $145.2 million of the valuation allowance that had been established in prior years.

Chairman and CEO William C. Erbey stated "Our third quarter pre-tax results reflect progress in achieving our goals of growing revenues while containing operating costs. Our revenues grew by 13.7% as compared to the third quarter of last year and 13.3% year to date. At the same time, our operating expenses in 2006 grew by only 1.4% and less than 1% in the third quarter and year to date periods, respectively. Our pre-tax third quarter results were driven primarily by the continued strong performance of our Residential Servicing segment which contributed $23.9 million of pre-tax income to the quarter. Our Residential Origination Services segment also had a strong quarter, reporting $5.6 million of pre-tax income, reflecting improved results in a number of our services units. These gains were partially offset by small losses in our other two segments and expenses in Corporate.

"Our total assets increased by $58.6 million as compared to December 31, 2005. This increase reflects an increase of $149 million in our deferred tax assets resulting primarily from the reversal of our valuation allowance in the second quarter, as well as an increase of $98.1 million in our servicing advances, largely due to growth in our portfolio during the year. In addition, we reported increases of $141.8 million in cash and equivalents and $25.2 million in mortgage servicing rights, as new purchases exceeded amortization. Our other assets category includes an increase of $45.8 million representing our equity investment in Bankruptcy Management Solutions, Inc. These increases were partially offset by a decline of $411.8 million in our loans held for resale, primarily reflecting the securitization in the first quarter of this year of a large loan portfolio held for that purpose as of December 31, 2005. Our leverage has improved in the first half of the year as reflected by an equity to assets ratio of 28.1% as of September 30, 2006 as compared to 18.7% as of December 31, 2005.

"During the third quarter, we merged our Business Process Outsourcing segment with the Residential Origination Services segment, reflecting our focus on providing outsourcing services to the residential mortgage loan industry. This action will enable us to achieve cost reductions."



 Residential Servicing

                                Three months           Nine months
                            --------------------   -------------------
 For the periods ended
   September 30,              2006       2005       2006        2005
                             ------     ------     ------      ------
 Revenue                 $  87,455   $  71,074   $ 250,305   $ 207,980
 Operating expenses         56,150      57,557     170,453     179,598
 Other income
  (expense)                 (7,362)     (5,821)    (19,969)    (15,140)
                         ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
 Pre-tax income
  (loss)                 $  23,943   $   7,696   $  59,883   $  13,242
                         ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========


 -- As of September 30, 2006, we were the servicer of approximately 453 
    thousand loans with an unpaid principal balance (UPB) of $50.8 billion 
    as compared to approximately 369 thousand loans and $42.8 billion of 
    UPB at December 31, 2005.
 -- Revenue in the 2006 periods reflects increased servicing fees and 
    float income from a larger servicing portfolio and higher interest 
    rates.
 -- The decline in operating expenses in the 2006 periods reflects a 
    reduction in interest paid to investors related to loan pay-offs and 
    cost reductions reflecting process improvements and automation.  
    Partially offsetting these reductions were increases in amortization 
    expenses due to the increased servicing portfolio and a provision in 
    the second quarter of 2006 to increase litigation reserves related to 
    ongoing cases.


 Commercial Servicing

                                Three months            Nine months
                            --------------------   --------------------
 For the periods ended
   September 30,              2006        2005        2006       2005
                             ------      ------      ------     ------
 Revenue                  $  2,269    $  6,262    $  8,468    $ 15,260
 Operating expenses          2,629       3,885       8,263      12,282
 Other income (expense)        106        (314)         88        (559)
                          ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
 Pre-tax income (loss)    $   (254)   $  2,063    $    293    $  2,419
                          =========   =========   =========   =========


 -- Revenue and expense declines primarily reflect the sale of GSS Japan 
    and reduced revenue and expenses in GSS Taiwan reflecting reduced 
    activity at that location.


 Ocwen Recovery Group

                                Three months           Nine months
                            --------------------   -------------------
 For the periods ended
   September 30,              2006        2005        2006       2005
                             ------      ------      ------     ------
 Revenue                  $  1,740    $  2,712    $  5,797    $  9,799
 Operating expenses          2,163       3,484       6,725       9,938
 Other income (expense)         39         122         314         238
                          ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
 Pre-tax income (loss)    $   (384)   $   (650)   $   (614)   $     99
                          =========   =========   =========   =========


 -- The decline in revenue in the 2006 periods primarily reflects a 
    shift in revenue from proprietary assets to lower yielding third-
    party contracts.
 -- Operating expenses declined in 2006 as a result of process 
    improvements, technology enhancements and a greater utilization of 
    India resources. 


 Residential Origination Services

                                Three months            Nine months
                             -------------------   ---------------------
 For the periods ended
   September 30,              2006       2005        2006       2005
                             ------     ------      ------     ------
 Revenue                 $  20,061   $  17,423   $  54,507   $  48,003
 Operating expenses         21,349      17,838      64,331      47,209
 Other income (expense)      6,922         715      19,147       4,425
                         ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
 Pre-tax income (loss)   $   5,634   $     300   $   9,323   $   5,219
                         ========== ===========  ==========  ==========


 -- The improvement in third quarter and year to date 2006 results over 
    the same periods last year primarily reflects improved operating 
    results in our settlement services, property valuation and business 
    process outsourcing operations.
 -- Third quarter 2006 results also reflect increased earnings from our 
    U.K. subprime residual securities over the third quarter of 2005.


 Corporate Items and Other

                                Three months            Nine months
                            -------------------    --------------------
 For the periods ended
   September 30,              2006        2005        2006        2005
                             ------      ------      ------      ------
 Revenue                 $  (1,376)  $    (561)  $  (1,342)    $  (629)
 Operating expenses          2,837       1,184       7,084       5,659
 Other income (expense)      1,647       2,563       4,766       3,646
                         ---------   ---------   ----------    --------
 Pre-tax income (loss)   $  (2,566)  $     818   $  (3,660)    $(2,642)
                         ==========  ==========  ==========    ========


 -- The third quarter of 2005 includes a one time reversal of reserves 
    as well as gains on debt repurchases that did not occur in 2006.
 -- In the first six months of 2005, we retained greater interest expense 
    in Corporate, reflecting the high cash balances we were holding in 
    preparation for debanking, and also incurred expenses in Corporate 
    related to that initiative.

Ocwen Financial Corporation is a leading provider of servicing and origination processing solutions to the loan industry with headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida, offices in, Orlando, Florida, Downers Grove, Illinois and Atlanta, Georgia and global operations in Canada, Germany, India and Taiwan. We make our clients’ loans worth more by leveraging our superior processes, innovative technology and high-quality, cost-effective global human resources. Additional information is available at www.ocwen.com.

This news release 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, including, but not limited to the securitization market and our plans to securitize loans and expectations as to the impact of rising interest rates and cost-effective resources in India. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic and market conditions, prevailing interest or currency exchange rates, governmental regulations and policies, international political and economic uncertainty, availability of adequate and timely sources of liquidity, federal income tax rates, real estate market conditions and trends and the outcome of ongoing litigation as well as other risks detailed in OCN’s reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its periodic report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and June 30, 2006 and our Forms 8-K filed during 2006. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon. OCN undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements.



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

                                Three months             Nine months
                            -------------------     -------------------
 For the periods ended
   September 30,              2006        2005        2006        2005
                            -------      ------      ------      ------

 Revenue
    Servicing and sub-
      servicing fees     $  85,580   $  75,776   $ 248,437   $ 219,807
    Process management
      fees                  21,601      18,701      59,750      53,107
    Other revenues           2,968       2,433       9,548       7,499
                         ----------  ----------  ---------   ----------
         Total revenue     110,149      96,910     317,735     280,413
                         ----------  ----------  ---------   ----------

 Operating expenses
    Compensation and
       benefits             21,331      23,722      69,038      72,449
    Amortization of
      servicing rights      27,082      22,975      81,034      73,020
    Servicing and
      origination           13,303      15,703      39,207      44,884
    Technology and
      communications         6,498       7,589      19,171      22,850
    Professional services    6,984       4,692      22,383      15,425
    Occupancy and
      equipment              4,785       4,517      14,584      13,330
    Other operating
      expenses               5,145       4,750      11,439      12,728
                           --------    --------    --------    -------- 
         Total operating
           expenses         85,128      83,948     256,856     254,686
                           --------    --------    --------    --------

 Other income (expense)
    Interest income         12,466       3,864      36,877      16,960
    Interest expense       (11,558)     (8,340)    (38,874)    (25,852)
    Gain (loss) on
      trading securities     2,156        (742)      3,483      (3,409)
    Gain (loss) on loans
      held for resale,
      net                      (85)        ---     ( 1,306)        ---
    Gain on debt
      Repurchases              ---         897          25         897
    Other, net              (1,627)      1,586       4,141       4,014
                            -------     -------     -------     -------
         Other income
          (expense), net     1,352      (2,735)      4,346      (7,390)
                            -------     -------     -------     -------
 Income before income
   taxes                    26,373      10,227      65,225      18,337
 Income tax expense
     (benefit)               9,403       2,282    (127,364)      5,097
                           --------     -------   ---------     -------
    Net income            $ 16,970     $ 7,945   $ 192,589    $ 13,240
                          =========    ========  ==========   =========


 Earnings per share
    Basic               $     0.27     $  0.13   $    3.06    $   0.21
    Diluted             $     0.25     $  0.12   $    2.71    $   0.21
 
Weighted average
   common shares
   outstanding
    Basic               62,505,740  62,975,006  62,855,616  62,843,375
    Diluted (1)         71,689,432  77,397,469  71,798,615  63,843,041

 (1) For purposes of computing diluted earnings per share, the 2006
     Periods and the third quarter of 2005 reflect the assumed
     conversion of our 3.25% Convertible Notes into 7,962,205 and
     13,599,019 shares of common stock, respectively. Conversion of
     the Convertible Notes has not been assumed for the nine months
     ended September 30, 2005 because the effect would be
     anti-dilutive.


               OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                (Dollars in thousands, except share data)

                                   September 30,     December 31,
                                       2006              2005
                                   -------------    --------------
 Assets
    Cash                          $    192,232    $    269,611
    Trading securities, at
      fair value
         Investment grade              220,833           1,685
         Subordinates and
           residuals                    46,904          30,277
    Loans held for resale              212,895         624,671
    Advances                           304,374         219,716
    Match funded advances              390,575         377,105
    Mortgage servicing rights          173,911         148,663
    Receivables                         60,043          68,266
    Deferred tax assets, net           169,258          20,270
    Premises and equipment, net         36,347          40,108
    Other assets                       105,401          53,801
                                   ------------    ------------
         Total assets              $ 1,912,773     $ 1,854,173
                                   ============    ============

 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    Liabilities
     Match funded liabilities      $   356,179     $   339,292
     Servicer liabilities              419,732         298,892
     Lines of credit and
       other secured
       borrowings                      367,635         626,448
     Debt securities                   150,329         154,329
     Other liabilities                  79,805          85,952
                                   ------------    ------------
          Total liabilities          1,373,680       1,504,913
                                   ------------    ------------

    Minority interest in
      subsidiary                         1,905           1,853

    Stockholders' Equity
     Common stock, $.01 par
       value; 200,000,000
       shares authorized;
       62,691,167 and
       63,133,471 shares issued
       and outstanding at
       September 30, 2006 and
       December 31, 2005,
       respectively                        627             631
     Additional paid-in
       capital                         180,019         184,262
     Retained earnings                 355,787         163,198
     Accumulated other
       comprehensive income
       (loss), net of taxes                755            (684)
                                   ------------     -----------
     Total stockholders'
       equity                          537,188         347,407
                                   ------------     -----------
          Total liabilities
           and stockholders'
           equity                  $ 1,912,773     $ 1,854,173
                                   ============    ============


            

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