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EX-10.51 - EXHIBIT 10.51 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex10-51.htm
EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT 32.2 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex32-2.htm
EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex32-1.htm
EX-31.4 - EXHIBIT 31.4 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex31-4.htm
EX-31.3 - EXHIBIT 31.3 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex31-3.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex31-2.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex31-1.htm
EX-23.1 - EXHIBIT 23.1 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex23-1.htm
EX-21.1 - EXHIBIT 21.1 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex21-1.htm
EX-10.50 - EXHIBIT 10.50 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex10-50.htm
EX-10.20 - EXHIBIT 10.20 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex10-20.htm
EX-4.18 - EXHIBIT 4.18 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex4-18.htm
EX-4.15 - EXHIBIT 4.15 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex4-15.htm
EX-4.8 - EXHIBIT 4.8 - REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.ex4-8.htm

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
___________________________ 
FORM 10-K
þ     ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016
OR
¨    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _____ to _____
Commission File No. 001-35674
REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
20-8050955
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
Commission File No. 333-148153
REALOGY GROUP LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
20-4381990
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
175 Park Avenue
Madison, NJ 07940
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(973) 407-2000
(Registrants' telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Realogy Holdings Corp.
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
 
New York Stock Exchange
Realogy Group LLC
None
 
None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
___________________________ 
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  
Realogy Holdings Corp. Yes þ  No ¨  Realogy Group LLC Yes ¨  No þ
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  
Realogy Holdings Corp. Yes ¨  No þ Realogy Group LLC Yes þ  No ¨ 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  
Realogy Holdings Corp. Yes þ  No ¨ Realogy Group LLC Yes ¨  No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). 
Realogy Holdings Corp. Yes þ  No ¨ Realogy Group LLC Yes þ  No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filer pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. 
Realogy Holdings Corp. þ Realogy Group LLC þ
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, non-accelerated filer, or smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer
 
Accelerated filer
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
Smaller reporting company
 
 
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Realogy Holdings Corp.
þ
 
¨
 
¨
 
¨
Realogy Group LLC
¨
 
¨
 
þ
 
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  
Realogy Holdings Corp. Yes ¨  No þ Realogy Group LLC Yes ¨  No þ
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity of Realogy Holdings Corp. held by non-affiliates as of the close of business on June 30, 2016 was $4.2 billion. There were 139,617,861 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of Realogy Holdings Corp. outstanding as of February 21, 2017.
Realogy Group LLC meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction I(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this Form with the reduced disclosure format applicable to Realogy Group LLC.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Proxy Statement prepared for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 3, 2017 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




PART I
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
 
 
 
PART II
 
 
 
 
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
Item 7A.
Item 8.
Item 9.
Item 9A.
Item 9B.
 
 
 
PART III
 
 
 
 
Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
 
 
 
PART IV
 
 
 
 
Item 15.
Item 16.
 
 
 
 
 





FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report and our other public filings or other public statements that we make from time to time are based on various facts and derived utilizing numerous important assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning our future financial performance, business strategy, projected plans and objectives, as well as projections of macroeconomic and industry trends, which are inherently unreliable due to the multiple factors that impact economic trends, and any such variations may be material. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "projects," "estimates," "plans," and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," "may" and "could" are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. You should understand that the following important factors could affect our future results and cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements:
risks related to general business, economic, employment and political conditions and the U.S. residential real estate markets, either regionally or nationally, including but not limited to:
a lack of improvement or a decline in the number of homesales, stagnant or declining home prices and/or a deterioration in other economic factors that particularly impact the residential real estate market and the business segments in which we operate;
increasing mortgage rates and/or constraints on the availability of mortgage financing;
insufficient or excessive home inventory levels by market and price point;
a decrease in consumer confidence;
the impact of recessions, slow economic growth, disruptions in the U.S. government or banking system, disruptions in a major geoeconomic region, or equity or commodity markets and high levels of unemployment in the U.S. and abroad, which may impact all or a portion of the housing markets in which we and our franchisees operate;
legislative, tax or regulatory changes (including changes in regulatory interpretations or enforcement practices) that would adversely impact the residential real estate market, including changes relating to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act ("RESPA"), potential reforms of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and potential tax code reform;
a decrease in housing affordability;
high levels of foreclosure activity;
changing attitudes towards home ownership, particularly among potential first-time homebuyers who may delay, or decide not to, purchase a home, as well as the potential impact of decisions to rent versus purchase a home; and
the inability or unwillingness of current homeowners to purchase their next home due to various factors, including limited or negative equity in their current home, difficult mortgage underwriting standards, attractive rates on existing mortgages and the lack of available inventory in their market;
increased competition whether through traditional competitors or competitors with alternative business models, including companies employing technologies intended to disrupt the traditional brokerage model, as well as eliminating brokers or agents from, or minimizing the role they play in, the homesale transaction;
competition for more productive sales associates, sales associate teams, and manager talent may continue to impact the ability of our company owned brokerage business and our affiliated franchisees to attract and retain independent sales associates, either individually or as members of a team, without significantly impacting the commission split rates currently paid by our company owned brokerages and our affiliated franchisees;
our geographic and high-end market concentration, particularly with respect to our company owned brokerage operations;
our inability to enter into franchise agreements with new franchisees at current net effective royalty rates, or to realize royalty revenue growth from them;
our inability to renew existing franchise agreements at current net effective royalty rates or without increasing the amount and prevalence of non-standard incentives, or to maintain or enhance our value proposition to franchisees;


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the lack of revenue growth or declining profitability of our franchisees and company owned brokerage operations, including the impact of lower average broker commission rates;
disputes or issues with entities that license us their tradenames for use in our business that could impede our franchising of those brands;
actions by our franchisees that could harm our business or reputation, non-performance of our franchisees, controversies with our franchisees or actions against us by their independent sales associates or employees or third parties with which our franchisees have business relationships;
loss or attrition among our senior executives, other key employees or our inability to recruit top talent;
our inability to achieve or maintain cost savings and other benefits from our restructuring activities;
our inability to realize the benefits from acquisitions due to the loss of key personnel or productive agents of the acquired companies, as well as the possibility that expected benefits and synergies of the transactions may not be achieved in a timely manner or at all;
our failure or alleged failure to comply with laws, regulations and regulatory interpretations and any changes in laws and regulations or stricter interpretations of regulatory requirements, including but not limited to (1) state or federal employment laws or regulations that would require reclassification of independent contractor sales associates to employee status, (2) RESPA or state consumer protection or similar laws and (3) privacy or data security laws and regulations;
any adverse resolution of litigation, governmental or regulatory proceedings or arbitration awards as well as any adverse impact of decisions to voluntarily modify business arrangements or enter into settlement agreements to avoid the risk of protracted and costly litigation or other proceedings;
our inability to obtain new technologies and systems, to replace or introduce new technologies and systems as quickly as our competitors and in a cost-effective manner or to achieve the benefits anticipated from new technologies or systems;
the failure or significant disruption of our operations from various causes related to our critical information technologies and systems including cybersecurity threats to our data and customer, franchisee and independent sales associate data as well as reputational or financial risks associated with a loss of any such data;
risks related to our international operations, including compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar anti-corruption laws as well as risks relating to the master franchisor model that we deploy internationally;
risks associated with our substantial indebtedness and interest obligations and restrictions contained in our debt agreements, including risks relating to having to dedicate a significant portion of our cash flows from operations to service our debt;
risks relating to our ability to refinance or repay our indebtedness, incur additional indebtedness or return capital to stockholders;
changes in corporate relocation practices resulting in fewer employee relocations, reduced relocation benefits or the loss of one or more significant affinity clients;
an increase in the claims rate of our title underwriter and an increase in mortgage rates could adversely impact the revenue of our title and settlement services segment;
our inability to securitize certain assets of our relocation business, which would require us to find an alternative source of liquidity that may not be available, or if available, may not be on favorable terms;
risks that could materially adversely impact our equity investment in our mortgage origination joint venture, including increases in mortgage rates, the impact of joint venture operational or liquidity risks, the impact of a transition from our current joint venture to our new joint venture, regulatory changes, litigation, investigations and inquiries or any termination of the venture;
any remaining resolutions or outcomes with respect to contingent liabilities of our former parent, Cendant Corporation ("Cendant"), under the Separation and Distribution Agreement and the Tax Sharing Agreement (described elsewhere in this Annual Report and incorporated by reference as exhibits to this Annual Report), including any adverse impact on our future cash flows; and
new types of taxes or increases in state, local or federal taxes that could diminish profitability or liquidity.
Other factors not identified above, including those described under "Item 1A.—Risk Factors" and "Item 7.—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Annual Report, may also cause actual results to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are


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difficult to anticipate and are generally beyond our control. You should consider these factors in connection with any forward-looking statements that may be made by us and our businesses generally.
Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events unless we are required to do so by law. For any forward-looking statement contained in this Annual Report, our public filings or other public statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
TRADEMARKS AND SERVICE MARKS
We own or have rights to use the trademarks, service marks and trade names that we use in conjunction with the operation of our business. Some of the more important trademarks that we own or have rights to use that appear in this Annual Report include the CENTURY 21®, COLDWELL BANKER®, ERA®, CORCORAN®, COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL®, SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY®, BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS®, ZIPREALTY® and ZAPLABSSM marks, which are registered in the United States and/or registered or pending registration in other jurisdictions, as appropriate to the needs of our relevant business. Each trademark, trade name or service mark of any other company appearing in this Annual Report is owned by such company.
MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA AND FORECASTS
This Annual Report includes data, forecasts and information obtained from independent trade associations, industry publications and surveys and other information available to us. Some data is also based on our good faith estimates, which are derived from management’s knowledge of the industry and independent sources. As noted in this Annual Report, the National Association of Realtors ("NAR"), the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae") and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac") were the primary sources for third-party industry data and forecasts. While data provided by NAR and Fannie Mae are two indicators of the direction of the residential housing market, we believe that homesale statistics will continue to vary between us and NAR and Fannie Mae because:
they use survey data and estimates in their historical reports and forecasting models, which are subject to sampling error, whereas we use data based on actual reported results;
there are geographical differences and concentrations in the markets in which we operate versus the national market. For example, many of our company owned brokerage offices are geographically located where average homesale prices are generally higher than the national average and therefore NAR survey data will not correlate with NRT's results;
comparability is also impaired due to NAR’s utilization of seasonally adjusted annualized rates whereas we report actual period-over-period changes and their use of median price for their forecasts compared to our average price;
NAR historical data is subject to periodic review and revision and these revisions have been and could be material in the future; and 
NAR and Fannie Mae generally update their forecasts on a monthly basis and a subsequent forecast may change materially from a forecast that was previously issued.
While we believe that the industry data presented herein is derived from the most widely recognized sources for reporting U.S. residential housing market statistical data, we do not endorse or suggest reliance on this data alone.
Forecasts regarding rates of home ownership, median sales price, volume of homesales, and other metrics included in this Annual Report to describe the housing industry are inherently uncertain or speculative in nature and actual results for any period could materially differ. Industry publications, surveys and forecasts generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but such information may not be accurate or complete. We have not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources nor have we ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon therein. Statements as to our market position are based on market data currently available to us. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding industry data provided herein, our estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based upon various factors, including those discussed under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements." Similarly, we believe our internal research is reliable, even though such research has not been verified by any independent sources.


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PART I
Except as otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, the terms "we," "us," "our," "our company," "Realogy," "Realogy Holdings" and the "Company" refer to Realogy Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Realogy Intermediate Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Realogy Intermediate"), and Realogy Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Realogy Group"). Neither Realogy Holdings, the indirect parent of Realogy Group, nor Realogy Intermediate, the direct parent company of Realogy Group, conducts any operations other than with respect to its respective direct or indirect ownership of Realogy Group. As a result, the consolidated financial positions, results of operations and cash flows of Realogy Holdings, Realogy Intermediate and Realogy Group are the same.
Realogy Holdings is not a party to the Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility and certain references in this Annual Report to our consolidated indebtedness exclude Realogy Holdings with respect to indebtedness under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility. In addition, while Realogy Holdings is a guarantor of Realogy Group's obligations under its unsecured notes, Realogy Holdings is not subject to the restrictive covenants in the indentures governing such indebtedness.
As used in this Annual Report, the terms "3.375% Senior Notes," "4.50% Senior Notes," "5.25% Senior Notes" and "4.875% Senior Notes" refer to our 3.375% Senior Notes due 2016 (paid in full at maturity in 2016), our 4.50% Senior Notes due 2019, our 5.25% Senior Notes due 2021 and our 4.875% Senior Notes due 2023, respectively, and referred to collectively as "Unsecured Notes."
Item 1.    Business.
Our Company
We are the preeminent and most integrated provider of residential real estate services in the U.S. We are the world's largest franchisor of residential real estate brokerages with some of the most recognized brands in the real estate industry, the largest owner of U.S. residential real estate brokerage offices, one of the largest U.S. and a leading global provider of outsourced employee relocation services and a significant provider of title and settlement services.
Our revenue is derived on a fee-for-service basis, and given our breadth of complementary service offerings, we are able to generate fees from multiple aspects of a residential real estate transaction. Our operating platform is supported by our portfolio of industry leading franchise brokerage brands, including Century 21®, Coldwell Banker®, Coldwell Banker Commercial®, ERA®, Sotheby's International Realty® and Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate. We also own and operate Corcoran®, Citi HabitatsSM and ZipRealty® brands. Our multiple brands and operations allow us to derive revenue from many different segments of the residential real estate market, in many different geographies and at varying price points.
Segment Overview
We report our operations in four segments, each of which receives fees based upon services performed for our customers: Real Estate Franchise Services ("RFG"), Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services ("NRT"), Relocation Services ("Cartus®") and Title and Settlement Services ("TRG"). See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the financial statements, including the notes thereto, included elsewhere in this Annual Report, for further information on our reportable segments.
Real Estate Franchise Services. We are the largest franchisor of residential real estate brokerages in the world through our portfolio of well-known brokerage brands, including Century 21®, Coldwell Banker®, Coldwell Banker Commercial®, ERA®, Sotheby's International Realty® and Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate. At December 31, 2016, our real estate franchise systems (inclusive of our company owned brokerage operations) had approximately 14,100 offices worldwide in 112 countries and territories. This included approximately 6,000 brokerage offices in the U.S. and approximately 273,200 independent sales associates worldwide, including approximately 186,300 independent sales associates operating under our franchise and proprietary brands in the U.S. The average tenure among U.S. franchisees is approximately 21 years as of December 31, 2016. Our franchisees pay us fees for the right to operate under one of our trademarks and to enjoy the benefits of the systems and business enhancing tools provided by our real estate franchise operations. In addition to highly competitive brands that provide unique offerings to our franchisees, we support our franchisees with dedicated national marketing and servicing programs, technology including the Zap® technology platform described below, training and education to facilitate our franchisees in growing their business and increasing their revenue and profitability. We believe


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that one of our strengths is the strong relationships that we have with our franchisees, as evidenced by our 98% retention rate as of December 31, 2016. Our retention rate represents the annual franchisee gross commission income for the year ended December 31, 2015 generated by our franchisees that remain in our franchise systems as of December 31, 2016, measured against the annual gross commission income of all franchisees for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Our wholly-owned subsidiary, ZapLabs LLC (which changed its name from ZipRealty LLC in 2016) is the developer of our proprietary technology platform for the real estate brokerages and independent sales associates in our franchise system as well as their customers. During 2016, we rolled out ZapLabs' comprehensive, integrated Zap technology platform to approximately 1,110 franchisees, bringing the total enrolled to 1,500 at December 31, 2016 of our approximately 2,600 franchisees. Consistent with our previously disclosed plan, we anticipate rolling this product out to a majority of our remaining franchisees within the next twelve months. We believe the Zap technology platform will increase the value proposition to franchisees, independent sales associates and customers as well as improve the productivity of independent sales associates.
Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services. We own and operate the largest residential real estate brokerage business in the U.S. under the Coldwell Banker®, Corcoran®, Sotheby's International Realty®, ZipRealty® and Citi HabitatsSM brand names. We offer full-service residential brokerage services through approximately 790 company owned brokerage offices with approximately 47,500 independent sales associates in more than 50 of the 100 largest metropolitan areas of the U.S. NRT, as the broker for a home buyer or seller, derives revenues primarily from gross commission income received at the closing of real estate transactions. NRT also has relationships with developers, primarily in major cities, to provide marketing and brokerage services in new developments. To complement its residential brokerage services, NRT offers home ownership services that include comprehensive single-family residential property management in many of the nation's largest rental markets. In addition, we participate in the mortgage process through our 49.9% ownership of PHH Home Loans LLC ("PHH Home Loans"), our home mortgage venture with PHH. See Item 7. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" under the heading "Recent Developments" for information regarding the formation of our new mortgage origination joint venture.
Relocation Services. We are a leading global provider of outsourced employee relocation services. We are one of the largest providers of such services in the U.S. and also operate in key international relocation destinations. We offer a broad range of world-class employee relocation services designed to manage all aspects of an employee's move to facilitate a smooth transition in what otherwise may be a complex and difficult process for the employee and employer. Our relocation services business serves corporations, including 56% of the Fortune 50 companies. We also service affinity organizations such as insurance companies and credit unions that provide our services to their members. In 2016, we assisted in approximately 163,000 corporate and affinity relocations in nearly 150 countries for approximately 800 active clients. As of December 31, 2016, our top 25 relocation clients had an average tenure of approximately 20 years with us. Member brokers of the Cartus Broker Network, including certain franchisees and NRT, receive referrals from the relocation services, affinity services and from each other in exchange for a referral fee.
Title and Settlement Services. We assist with the closing of real estate transactions by providing full-service title and settlement (i.e., closing and escrow) services to customers, real estate companies, including our company owned real estate brokerage and relocation services businesses, as well as a targeted channel of large financial institution clients. In 2016, TRG was involved in the closing of approximately 204,000 transactions of which approximately 60,000 related to NRT. In addition to our own title and settlement services, we also coordinate a nationwide network of attorneys, title agents and notaries to service financial institution and relocation clients on a national basis. We also serve as an underwriter of title insurance policies in connection with residential and commercial real estate transactions.
* * *
Our headquarters is located at 175 Park Avenue, Madison, New Jersey 07940. Our general telephone number is (973) 407-2000. We were incorporated on December 14, 2006 in the State of Delaware. The Company files electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") required reports on Form 8-K, Form 10-Q and Form 10-K; proxy materials; ownership reports for insiders as required by Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; registration statements and other forms or reports as required. Certain of the Company's officers and directors also file statements of changes in beneficial ownership on Form 4 with the SEC. The public may read and copy any materials that the Company has filed with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 800-SEC-0330. Such materials may also be accessed electronically on the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov). We maintain an Internet website at http://www.realogy.com and make available free of charge on or through our website our annual report


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on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, Section 16 reports and any amendments to these reports in the Investor Relations section of our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Our website address is provided as an inactive textual reference. The contents of our website are not incorporated by reference herein or otherwise a part of this Annual Report.
Industry Trends
Industry definition.  We primarily operate in the U.S. residential real estate industry, which is approximately a $1.7 trillion industry based on 2016 transaction volume (i.e. average homesale price times number of new and existing homesale transactions) and derive substantially all of our revenues from serving the needs of buyers and sellers of existing homes rather than those of new homes. Residential real estate brokerage companies typically realize revenues in the form of a commission that is based on a percentage of the price of each home sold. As a result, the real estate industry generally benefits from rising home prices and increasing homesale transactions (and conversely is adversely impacted by falling prices and lower homesale transactions). We believe that existing homesale transactions and the services associated with these transactions, such as mortgage origination, title services and relocation services, represent one of the most attractive segment of the residential real estate industry for the following reasons:
the existing homesales segment represents a significantly larger addressable market than new homesales. Of the approximately 6.0 million homesales in the U.S. in 2016, NAR estimates that approximately 5.5 million were existing homesales, representing approximately 91% of the overall sales as measured in units;
existing homesales afford us the opportunity to represent either the buyer or the seller and in some cases both the buyer and the seller; and
we are able to generate revenues from ancillary services provided to our customers.
We also believe that the traditional broker-assisted business model compares favorably to alternative channels of the residential brokerage industry, such as discount brokers and "for sale by owner" for the following reasons:
a real estate transaction has certain characteristics that we believe are best suited for full-service brokerages, such as:
the average homesale transaction size is very high and generally is the largest transaction one does in a lifetime;
homesale transactions occur infrequently;
there is a compelling need for personal service as home preferences are unique to each buyer;
a high level of support is required given the complexity associated with the process;
there is a high variance in price, depending on neighborhood, floor plan, architecture, fixtures, and outdoor space; and
there is a need for specific marketing and technology services and support given the complexity of the transaction.
while substantially all homebuyers start their search for a home using the internet, according to NAR, 88% of homes were sold using an agent or broker in 2016 compared to 79% in 2001. We believe that the enhanced service and value offered by a traditional agent or broker is such that using a traditional agent or broker will continue to be the primary method of buying and selling a home in the long term.
Cyclical nature of industry.  The U.S. residential real estate industry is cyclical, but has historically shown strong growth over time. Based on information published by NAR, existing homesale units increased at a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 2.0% from 1972 through 2016, with 28 annual increases, versus 16 annual decreases. During that same period, median existing homesale prices increased at a CAGR of 4.9% (not adjusted for inflation) from 1972 through 2016, a period that included four economic recessions. According to NAR, the existing homesale transaction volume (median homesale price times existing homesale transactions) grew at a CAGR of 7.0% from 1972 through 2016.
Commencing in the second half of 2005 and continuing through 2011, the U.S. residential real estate industry was in a significant and lengthy downturn. Based upon data published by NAR from 2005 to 2011, the number of annual U.S. existing homesale transactions declined by 40% and the median existing homesale price declined by 24%.
Beginning in 2012, the U.S. residential real estate industry began its recovery with the first two years—2012 and 2013—showing double digit volume growth with single digit annual growth thereafter. Based upon data published by NAR from


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2011 to 2016, the number of annual U.S. existing homesale units and the median existing homesale price improved by 28% and 41%, respectively.
Long-term demographics.  We believe that long-term demand for housing and the growth of our industry is primarily driven by affordability, the economic health of the U.S. economy, demographic trends such as population growth, increases in the number of U.S. households, low interest rates, increases in renters that qualify as homebuyers and locally based factors. We believe that the residential real estate market will benefit over the long term from expected positive fundamentals, including the following factors:
based on U.S. Census data and NAR, from 1991 through 2016, the average number of existing homesale transactions as a percentage of U.S. households was approximately 4.4%, compared to an average of approximately 3.9% from 2007 through 2016. During the same period, the number of U.S. households grew from 94 million in 1991 to 126 million in 2016; and
according to the 2016 State of the Nation's Housing Report compiled by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, household growth is projected to average over 1.3 million annually over the coming decade. The millennial generation is poised to form millions of new households over the next decade.
Participation in Multiple Aspects of the Residential Real Estate Market
We participate in services associated with many aspects of the residential real estate market. Our four complementary businesses and mortgage joint venture work together, allowing us to generate revenue at various points in a residential real estate transaction, including the purchase or sale of homes, corporate relocation and affinity services, settlement and title services, and franchising of our brands. The businesses each benefit from our deep understanding of the industry, strong relationships with real estate brokers, sale associates and other real estate professionals and expertise across the transactional process. Unlike other industry participants who offer only one or two services, we can offer homeowners, our franchisees and our corporate and affinity clients ready access to numerous associated services that facilitate and simplify the home purchase and sale process. These services provide further revenue opportunities for our owned businesses and those of our franchisees. Specifically, our brokerage offices and those of our franchisees participate in purchases and sales of homes involving relocations of corporate transferees and affinity members using Cartus® relocation services and we offer customers (purchasers and sellers) of both our owned and franchised brokerage businesses convenient title and settlement services. These services produce incremental revenues for our businesses and franchisees. In addition, we participate in the mortgage process through our 49.9% ownership of PHH Home Loans. All four of our businesses and our mortgage joint venture can derive revenue from the same real estate transaction.


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Our Brands
Our brands are among the most well-known and established real estate brokerage brands in the real estate industry. Our real estate franchise brands are listed in the following chart, which includes information as of December 31, 2016 for both our franchised and company owned offices:
Franchise Brands (1)
c21logo1a01a03.jpg
 
cblogo1a01a03.jpg
 
newera16.jpg
 
sirlogoq4a01a03.jpg
 
bhglogo1a01a03.jpg
 
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Worldwide Offices (2)
7,300
 
3,000
 
2,300
 
850
 
300
 
180
Worldwide Brokers and Sales Associates (2)
110,800
 
88,400
 
37,900
 
20,300
 
10,900
 
2,100
U.S. Annual Sides
420,184
 
727,415
 
128,812
 
111,950
 
70,980
 
N/A
# of Countries with Owned or Franchised Operations
77
 
49
 
31
 
66
 
3
 
47
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Characteristics
World's largest residential real estate sales organization

Identified by consumers as the most recognized name in real estate

Significant international office footprint
 
Longest running national real estate brand in the U.S. (since 1906)

Known for innovative consumer services, marketing and technology
 
Driving value through innovation and collaboration

Highest percentage of international offices among international brands
 
Synonymous with luxury

Strong ties to auction house established in 1744

Rapid international growth
 
Growing real estate brand launched in July 2008

Unique relationship with a leading media company, including largest lifestyle magazine in the U.S.
 
A commercial real estate franchise organization

Serves a wide range of clients from corporations to small businesses to individual clients and investors
_______________
(1)
Does not include Corcoran®, ZipRealty® and Citi HabitatsSM.
(2)
Includes an aggregate of 8,100 offices and 86,900 related brokers and sales associates of non-US franchisees and franchisors, based upon information they reported to us.
Real Estate Franchise Services
Our primary objectives as the largest franchisor of residential real estate brokerages in the world are to sell new franchises, retain and expand existing franchises and most importantly, provide branding and support to our franchisees. At December 31, 2016, our real estate franchise systems had approximately 14,100 offices worldwide in 112 countries and territories in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australia, including approximately 6,000 brokerage offices in the U.S.
We derive substantially all of our real estate franchising revenues from royalties received under long-term franchise agreements with our domestic franchisees (typically ten years in duration) and NRT. These royalties are based on a percentage of the franchisees' sales commission earned from closed homesale sides (either the "buy" side and/or the "sell" side of a real estate transaction), which we refer to as gross commission income. Our franchisees pay us royalties, net of volume incentives achieved (other than NRT), for the right to operate under one of our trademarks and to utilize the benefits of the franchise systems. We provide our franchisees with systems and tools that are designed to help our franchisees serve their customers, attract new or retain existing independent sales associates, and support our franchisees with servicing programs, technology including the Zap® technology platform described under "Marketing and Technology," and education, as well as branding-related marketing which is funded through contributions by our franchisees and us (including NRT). We operate and maintain an Internet-based reporting system for our domestic franchisees which generally allows them to electronically transmit listing information and other relevant reporting data to our websites. We also own and operate websites for each of our brands for the benefit of our franchisees.


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RFG's domestic annual net royalty revenues from franchisees other than our company owned brokerages can be represented by multiplying (1) that year's total number of closed homesale sides in which those franchisees participated by (2) the average sale price of those homesales by (3) the average brokerage commission rate charged by these franchisees by (4) RFG's net effective royalty rate. The net effective royalty rate represents the average percentage of our franchisees' commission revenues paid to us as a royalty, net of volume incentives achieved and does not include the effect of non-standard incentives granted to franchisees. Non-standard incentives may be used as consideration for new or renewing franchisees, however, most of our franchisees do not receive these non-standard incentives. In addition, in contrast to royalties and volume incentives, they are not homesale transaction based. We have accordingly excluded the non-standard incentives from the calculation of the net effective royalty rate. The domestic royalty revenue from NRT is calculated by multiplying homesale sides by average sale price by average brokerage commission rate by 6% royalty rate. NRT does not receive volume incentives or non-standard incentives. In addition to domestic royalty revenue, RFG earns revenue from marketing fees, the preferred alliance program, international affiliates and upfront international fees. The following chart illustrates the key drivers for revenue earned by RFG:
driversrfgq4a01a03.jpg
We believe one of our strengths is the strong relationships that we have with our franchisees as evidenced by the retention rate of 98% as of December 31, 2016. Our retention rate represents the annual franchisee gross commission income for the year ended December 31, 2015 generated by our franchisees that remain in our franchise systems as of December 31, 2016, measured against the annual gross commission income of all franchisees for the year ended December 31, 2015. On average, our domestic franchisees' tenure with our brands was approximately 21 years as of December 31, 2016. During 2016, none of our franchisees (other than NRT) generated more than 1% of our real estate franchise business revenues.
The franchise agreements impose restrictions on the business and operations of the franchisees and require them to comply with the operating and identity standards set forth in each brand's policy and procedures manuals. A franchisee's failure to comply with these restrictions and standards could result in a termination of the franchise agreement. The franchisees generally are not permitted to terminate the franchise agreements prior to their expiration, and in those cases where termination rights do exist, they are very limited (e.g., if the franchisee retires, becomes disabled or dies). Generally, new domestic franchise agreements have a term of ten years and require the franchisees to pay us an initial franchise fee for the franchisee's principal office plus, upon the receipt of any commission income, a royalty fee in most cases equal to 6% of their commission income. Each of our franchise systems (other than Coldwell Banker Commercial®) offers a volume incentive program, whereby each franchisee is eligible to receive a refund of a portion of the royalties paid upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. The volume incentive is calculated for each eligible franchisee as a progressive percentage of each franchisee's annual gross revenue (paid timely) for each calendar year. Under the current form of the franchise agreements, the volume incentive varies for each franchise system, and generally ranges from zero to 3% of gross revenues. We provide a detailed table to each franchisee that describes the gross revenue thresholds required to achieve a volume incentive and the corresponding incentive amounts. We reserve the right to increase or decrease the percentage and/or dollar amounts in the table on an annual basis, subject to certain limitations. Our company owned brokerage offices do not participate in the volume incentive program.
Each franchise system requires all franchisees and company owned offices to make monthly contributions to marketing funds maintained by each brand. These contributions are used primarily for the development, implementation, production, placement and payment of national and regional advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations and/or other marketing-related activities, such as lead generation, all to promote and further the recognition of each brand and its independent franchisees. In addition to the contributions from franchisees and company owned offices, the Real Estate Franchise Services group is generally required to make contributions to one of the marketing funds and may make discretionary contributions (at its option) to any of the marketing funds.


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The 2014 acquisition of ZipRealty reflects the Company's ongoing commitment to enhancing the value proposition we provide to our franchisees, including technology-enabled solutions. During 2016, we continued the roll out of our ZapLabs' comprehensive, integrated Zap technology platform and at December 31, 2016 had approximately 1,500 of our approximately 2,600 franchisees using the platform. Consistent with our previously disclosed plan, we anticipate rolling this product out to a majority of our remaining franchisees over the next twelve months. ZapLabs has developed the Zap technology platform from a real estate brokerage perspective to enhance the real estate transaction experience for customers, independent sales associates and our franchisees. We believe the Zap technology platform will increase the value proposition to our franchisees, their independent sales associates and their customers by:
aiding in obtaining additional homesale transactions for our franchisees and their independent sales associates;
connecting those associates to a predictive customer relationship management (CRM) tool; and
informing them with valuable client insight to help those associates increase their productivity.
Under certain circumstances, we extend conversion notes (development advance notes were issued prior to 2009) to eligible franchisees for the purpose of providing an incentive to join the brand, to renew their franchise agreements, or to facilitate their growth opportunities. Growth opportunities include the expansion of franchisees' existing businesses by opening additional offices, through the consolidation of operations of other franchisees, as well as through the acquisition of independent sales associates and offices operated by independent brokerages. Many franchisees use the proceeds from the conversion notes to change stationery, signage and marketing materials, upgrade technology and websites, or to assist in acquiring companies or recruiting agents. The notes are not funded until appropriate credit checks and other due diligence matters are completed and the business is opened and operating under one of our brands. Upon satisfaction of certain revenue performance based thresholds, the notes are forgiven ratably over the term of the franchise agreement. If the revenue performance thresholds are not met, franchisees may be required to repay all or a portion of the outstanding notes.
In addition to offices owned and operated by our franchisees, we, through NRT, own and operate approximately 750 offices under the Coldwell Banker®, Coldwell Banker Commercial® and Sotheby's International Realty® brand names. NRT pays intercompany royalty fees and marketing fees to our Real Estate Franchise Services Segment in connection with its operation of these offices. These fees are recognized as income or expense by the applicable segment level and eliminated in the consolidation of our businesses.
In the U.S., we employ a direct franchising model whereby we contract with and provide services directly to independent owner-operators.  Elsewhere, for all brands other than Sotheby's International Realty, we generally employ a master franchise model, whereby we contract with a qualified third party to build a franchise network in the country or region in which franchising rights have been granted. In the case of Sotheby's International Realty, a direct franchising model is generally utilized. Under both the direct and the master franchise model, we typically enter into long-term franchise agreements (often 25 years in duration) and receive an initial area development fee and ongoing royalties.  Under the master franchise model, the ongoing royalties we receive are generally a percentage of the royalties received by the master franchisor from its franchisees with which it contracts. Under the direct franchise model, a royalty fee is paid to us on transactions conducted by our franchisees in the applicable country or region.
We also offer third-party service providers an opportunity to market their products to our franchisees and their independent sales associates and customers through our preferred alliance program. To participate in this program, service providers generally agree to provide preferred pricing to our franchisees and/or their customers or independent sales associates and to pay us a combination of an initial licensing or access fee, subsequent marketing fees and/or commissions based upon our franchisees' or independent sales associates' usage of the preferred alliance vendors.
We own the trademarks Century 21®, Coldwell Banker®, Coldwell Banker Commercial®, ERA® and related trademarks and logos, and such trademarks and logos are material to the businesses that are part of our real estate franchise segment. Our franchisees and our subsidiaries actively use these trademarks, and all of the material trademarks are registered (or have applications pending) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office as well as with corresponding trademark offices in major countries worldwide where these businesses have significant operations.
We have an exclusive license to own, operate and franchise the Sotheby's International Realty® brand to qualified residential real estate brokerage offices and individuals operating in eligible markets pursuant to a license agreement with SPTC Delaware LLC, a subsidiary of Sotheby's ("Sotheby's"). Such license agreement has a 100-year term, which consists of an initial 50-year term ending February 16, 2054 and a 50-year renewal option. We pay a licensing fee to Sotheby's for the use of the Sotheby's International Realty® name equal to 9.5% of the net royalties earned by our Real Estate Franchise


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Services Segment attributable to franchisees affiliated with the Sotheby's International Realty® brand, including our company owned offices.
In October 2007, we entered into a long-term license agreement to own, operate and franchise the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate brand from Meredith. The license agreement between Realogy and Meredith is for a 50-year term, with a renewal option for another 50 years at our option. We pay a licensing fee to Meridith for the use of the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate brand name equal to 9.0% of the net royalties earned by our Real Estate Franchise Services Segment, subject to a minimum annual licensing fee.
Each of our brands has a consumer website that offers real estate listings, contacts and services. Century21.com, coldwellbanker.com, coldwellbankercommercial.com, sothebysrealty.com, era.com and bhgrealestate.com are the official websites for the Century 21®, Coldwell Banker®, Coldwell Banker Commercial®, Sotheby's International Realty®, ERA® and Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate franchise systems, respectively. The contents of these websites are not incorporated by reference herein or otherwise a part of this Annual Report.
Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services
Through our subsidiary, NRT, we own and operate a full-service real estate brokerage business in more than 50 of the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. Our company owned real estate brokerage business operates under the Coldwell Banker® and Sotheby's International Realty® franchised brands as well as proprietary brands that we own, but do not currently franchise, such as Corcoran®, ZipRealty® and Citi HabitatsSM. As of December 31, 2016, we had approximately 790 company owned brokerage offices, approximately 5,200 employees and approximately 47,500 independent sales associates working with these company owned offices.
Our company owned real estate brokerage business derives revenue primarily from gross commission income received serving as the broker at the closing of real estate transactions. For the year ended December 31, 2016, our average homesale broker commission rate was 2.46% which represents the average commission rate earned on either the "buy" side or the "sell" side of a homesale transaction. Gross commission income is also earned on non-sale transactions such as home rentals. NRT, as a franchisee of RFG, pays a royalty fee of 6% per transaction to RFG from the commission earned on a real estate transaction. The following chart illustrates the key drivers for revenue earned by NRT:
drivernrtq4a01a03.jpg
In addition, as a full-service real estate brokerage company, we promote the complementary services of our relocation and title and settlement services businesses, as well as PHH Home Loans. We believe we provide integrated services that enhance the customer experience.
When we assist the seller in a real estate transaction, independent sales associates generally provide the seller with a full-service marketing program, which may include developing a direct marketing plan for the property, assisting the seller in pricing the property and preparing it for sale, listing it on multiple listing services, advertising the property (including on websites), showing the property to prospective buyers, assisting the seller in sale negotiations, and assisting the seller in preparing for closing the transaction. When we assist the buyer in a real estate transaction, independent sales associates generally help the buyer in locating specific properties that meet the buyer's personal and financial specifications, show properties to the buyer, assist the buyer in negotiating (where permissible) and preparing for closing the transaction.
At December 31, 2016, we operated approximately 90% of our offices under the Coldwell Banker® brand name, 5% of our offices under the Sotheby's International Realty® brand name and 5% of our offices under the Corcoran®, Citi HabitatsSM and ZipRealty® brand names combined. Our offices are geographically diverse with a strong presence in the east and west coast areas, where home prices are generally higher. We operate our Coldwell Banker® offices in numerous regions throughout the U.S., our Sotheby's International Realty® offices in several regions throughout the U.S, and Corcoran® offices in New York City, the Hamptons (New York), and Palm Beach, Florida.
We intend to grow our business both organically and through strategic acquisitions. To grow organically, we will focus on working with office managers to attract, retain and effectively coordinate with independent sales associates who can


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successfully engage and promote transactions from new and existing clients. To complement our residential brokerage services, NRT offers home ownership services that include comprehensive single-family residential property management in many of the nation's largest rental markets.
We are continuously evaluating acquisitions that will allow us to enter into new markets and to profitably expand our existing markets through "tuck-in" acquisitions. Following the completion of an acquisition, we tend to consolidate the newly acquired operations with our existing operations. By consolidating operations, we reduce or eliminate duplicative costs, such as advertising, rent and administrative support. By utilizing our existing infrastructure to coordinate with a broader network of independent sales associates and revenue base, we can enhance the profitability of our operations. We also seek to enhance the profitability of newly acquired operations by strategies that increase the productivity of the newly affiliated independent sales associates. We offer these independent sales associates supplemental tools and marketing information that are often unavailable at smaller firms, such as access to sophisticated information technology and ongoing technical support, increased brand advertising and brand marketing support, relocation referrals, and a wide offering of brokerage-related services.
Our real estate brokerage business has a contract with Cartus under which the brokerage business provides brokerage services to relocating employees of the clients of Cartus. When receiving a referral from Cartus, our brokerage business seeks to assist the relocating employee in completing a homesale or home purchase. Upon completion of a homesale or home purchase, our brokerage business receives a commission on the purchase or sale of the property and is obligated to pay Cartus a portion of such commission as a referral fee. We believe that these fees are comparable to the fees charged by other relocation companies.
PHH Home Loans, our home mortgage venture with PHH, a publicly traded company, has a 50-year term, subject to earlier termination. We own 49.9% of the home mortgage venture and PHH owns the remaining 50.1%. All mortgage loans originated by the venture are sold to PHH or other third-party investors after a hold period, and PHH Home Loans does not hold any mortgage loans for investment purposes or perform servicing functions for any loans it originates. Accordingly, we have no mortgage servicing rights asset risk. See Item 7. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" under the heading "Recent Developments" for information regarding the formation of our new mortgage origination joint venture.
Relocation Services
Through our subsidiary, Cartus, we are a leading global provider of outsourced employee relocation services. We primarily offer corporate clients employee relocation services, such as:
homesale assistance, including:
the valuation, inspection, purchasing and selling of a transferee's home;
the issuance of home equity advances to transferees permitting them to purchase a new home before selling their current home (these advances are generally guaranteed by the client);
certain home management services;
assistance in locating a new home; and
closing on the sale of the old home, generally at the instruction of the client;
expense processing, relocation policy counseling, relocation-related accounting, including international assignment compensation services, and other consulting services;
arranging household goods moving services, approximately 64,000 domestic and international shipments in 2016, and providing support for all aspects of moving a transferee's household goods, including the handling of insurance and claim assistance, invoice auditing and quality control;
coordinating visa and immigration support, intercultural and language training, and expatriation/repatriation counseling and destination services; and
group move management services providing coordination for moves involving a large number of transferees to or from a specific regional area over a short period of time.
The wide range of our services allows our Cartus clients to outsource their entire relocation programs to us.
In 2016, we assisted in approximately 163,000 corporate and affinity relocations in nearly 150 countries for approximately 800 active clients, including 56% of the Fortune 50 companies as well as affinity organizations. Cartus has


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operations in the U.S. and internationally in the United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, India, Brazil, Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Substantially all homesale service transactions for clients are classified as "no risk." Under "no risk" business, the client is responsible for reimbursement of all direct expenses associated with the homesale. Such expenses include, but are not limited to, appraisal, inspection and real estate brokerage commissions. The client also bears the risk of loss on the resale of the transferee's home. Clients are responsible for reimbursement of all other direct costs associated with the relocation including, but not limited to, costs to move household goods, mortgage origination points, temporary living and travel expenses. Generally, we fund the direct expenses associated with the homesale as well as those associated with the relocation on behalf of the client and the client then reimburses us for these costs plus interest charges on the advanced funds. This limits our exposure on "no risk" homesale services to the credit risk of our clients rather than to the potential fluctuations in the real estate market or to the creditworthiness of the individual transferring employee. Historically, due to the credit quality of our clients, we have had minimal losses with respect to these "no risk" homesale services.
The "at risk" business that we conduct is minimal. In "at risk" homesale service transactions, we acquire the home being sold by relocating employees, incur the cost for all direct expenses (acquisition, carrying and selling costs) associated with the homesale and bear any loss on the sale of the home.
Substantially all of our contracts with our relocation clients are terminable at any time at the option of the client and are non-exclusive. If a client terminates its contract, we will be compensated for all services performed up to the time of termination and reimbursed for all expenses incurred to the time of termination.
There are a number of different revenue streams associated with relocation services. We earn referral commissions primarily from real estate brokers and household goods moving companies that provide services to the transferee. Clients may also pay transactional fees for the services performed. We also earn net interest income which represents interest earned from clients on the funds we advance on behalf of the transferring employee net of costs associated with the securitization obligations used to finance these payments. Cartus measures operating performance based on initiations, which represent the total number of transferees and affinity members we serve, and referrals, which represent the number of referrals from which we earn revenue from real estate brokers.
About 15% of our relocation revenue in 2016 was derived from our affinity services, which provides real estate services, including home buying and selling assistance, as well as mortgage assistance to organizations such as insurance companies and credit unions that have established members who are buying or selling a home. Often these organizations offer our affinity services to their members at no cost and, where permitted, provide their members with a financial incentive for using these services. These member benefits and services help the organizations attract new members and retain current members.
We also manage the Cartus Broker Network, which is a network of real estate brokers consisting of our company owned brokerage operations, select franchisees and independent real estate brokers who have been approved to become members. Cartus requires experienced brokers and independent sales associates and obtains background checks on all members of the network. Member brokers of the Cartus Broker Network receive referrals from our relocation services, affinity business and each other in exchange for a referral fee. The Cartus Broker Network closed approximately 79,000 real estate transactions in 2016 related to relocation, affinity, and broker-to-broker activity.
The following chart illustrates the key drivers for revenue generated by Cartus:
drivercartusq4a01a03.jpg


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Title and Settlement Services
Our title and settlement services business, TRG, provides full-service title and settlement (i.e., closing and escrow) services to real estate companies and financial institutions. We act in the capacity of a title agent and sell title insurance to property buyers and mortgage lenders. We are licensed as a title agent in 42 states and Washington, D.C., and have physical locations in 25 states and Washington, D.C. We issue title insurance policies on behalf of large national underwriters as well as through our Dallas-based subsidiary, Title Resources Guaranty Company ("Title Resources"). Title Resources is a title insurance underwriter licensed in 29 states and Washington, D.C. We operate mostly in major metropolitan areas. As of December 31, 2016, we had approximately 439 offices, approximately 221 of which are co-located within one of our company owned brokerage offices.
Virtually all lenders require their borrowers to obtain title insurance policies at the time mortgage loans are made on real property. The terms and conditions upon which the real property will be insured are determined in accordance with the standard policies and procedures of the title underwriter. When our title agencies sell title insurance, the title search and examination function is performed by the agent. The title agent and underwriter split the premium. The amount of such premium "split" is determined by agreement between the agency and underwriter, or is promulgated by state law. We derive revenue through fees charged in real estate transactions for rendering the services described above, fees charged for escrow and closing services, and a percentage of the title premium on each title insurance policy sold. We have entered into underwriting agreements with various underwriters, which state the conditions under which we may issue a title insurance policy on their behalf. For policies issued through our agency operations, assuming no negligence on our part, we are not typically liable for losses under those policies; rather the title insurer is typically liable for such losses.
Our company owned brokerage operations are the principal source of our title and settlement services business for homesale transactions. Other sources of our title and settlement services homesale business include our real estate franchise business, Cartus and unaffiliated brokerage operations. For refinance transactions, we generate title and escrow revenues from PHH and other financial institutions throughout the mortgage lending industry. Many of our offices have subleased space from, and are co-located within, our company owned brokerage offices. The capture rate of our title and settlement services business from company owned brokerage operations was approximately 41% in 2016.
We coordinate a national network of escrow and closing agents (some of whom are our employees, while others are attorneys in private practice and independent title companies) to provide full-service title and settlement services to a broad-based group that includes lenders, home buyers and sellers, developers and independent real estate sales associates. Our role is generally that of an intermediary managing the completion of all the necessary documentation and services required to complete a real estate transaction.
Our title and settlement services business measures operating performance based on purchase and refinance closing units and the related title premiums and escrow fees earned on such closings. In addition, we measure net title premiums earned for title policies issued by our underwriting operation.
The following chart illustrates the key drivers for revenue generated by our title and settlement services business:
driverstrg2016.jpg
We intend to grow our title and settlement services business by attracting title and escrow sales associates in existing markets and by completing acquisitions to expand our geographic footprint or complement existing operations. We also intend to continue to increase our capture rate of title business from our NRT homesale sides. In addition, we expect to continue to grow and diversify our lender channel and our underwriting businesses by expanding and adding clients and increasing our agent base, respectively.


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Competition
Real Estate Brokerage Industry. The residential real estate brokerage industry is highly competitive with low barriers to entry for new participants. Recruitment and retention of independent sales associates and independent sales associate teams are critical to the business and financial results of a brokerage—whether or not they are affiliated with a franchisor. Most of a brokerage's real estate listings are sourced through the sphere of influence of their independent sales associates, notwithstanding the growing influence of internet-generated leads. Competition for independent sales associates in our industry is high and has intensified particularly with respect to more productive independent sales associates.  Competition for independent sales associates is generally subject to numerous factors, including remuneration (such as sales commission percentage and other financial incentives paid to independent sales associates), other expenses charged to independent sales associates, leads or business opportunities generated for the independent sales associate from the brokerage, independent sales associates' perception of the value of the broker's brand affiliation, marketing and advertising efforts by the brokerage, the office manager, staff and fellow independent sales associates with whom they collaborate daily and technology, continuing professional education, and other services provided by the brokerage. See "Item 7.—Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Drivers" for a discussion of the various compensation models being utilized by real estate brokerages to compensate their independent sales associates.
According to NAR, approximately 41% of individual brokers and independent sales associates are affiliated with a franchisor. Competition among the national real estate brokerage brand franchisors to grow their franchise systems is intense. We believe that competition for the sale of franchises in the real estate brokerage industry is based principally upon the perceived value that the franchisor provides to enhance the franchisee's ability to grow its business and improve the recruitment, retention and productivity of its independent sales associates. The value provided by a franchisor encompasses many different aspects including the quality of the brand, tools, technology, marketing and other services, such as the availability of financing, provided to the franchisees, and the fees the franchisees must pay. Our largest national competitors in this industry include, but are not limited to, three large franchisors: Keller Williams Realty, Inc.; HSF Affiliates LLC (a joint venture controlled by HomeServices of America that operates Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Prudential Real Estate and Real Living Real Estate); and RE/MAX International, Inc.
Our Company owned brokerages compete with national independent real estate brokerages, franchisees of national and regional real estate franchisors -- including our own brands and the other national franchisors described in the preceding paragraph -- regional independent real estate brokerages and discount and limited service brokerages. We and others within the industry also encounter competition from companies employing technologies intended to disrupt the traditional brokerage model including the elimination of brokers or agents from the transaction.
The ability of our real estate brokerage franchisees and our company owned brokerage businesses to successfully compete is important to our prospects for growth. Their ability to compete may be affected by the performance of independent sales associates, the location of offices and target markets, the services provided to independent sales associates, the fees charged to independent sales associates, the number and nature of competing offices in the vicinity, affiliation with a recognized brand name, community reputation, technology and other factors. A franchisee's success may also be affected by national, regional and local economic conditions.
We estimate that our U.S. market share of all existing homesale transaction volume was approximately 15.7% in 2016, a decline of approximately 1.0% since 2014 and that our U.S. market share for all existing homesale transactions was approximately 13.5% in 2016, a decline of approximately 0.4% since 2014. We measure our market share transaction volume by the ratio of (a) the existing homesale transaction volume in which we and our franchisees participate to (b) NAR's existing homesale transaction volume—calculated by doubling the number of existing homesale transactions reported by NAR to account for both the buy and sell sides of a transaction multiplied by average sales price. Transaction market share is calculated similarly but without including average sales price in either the numerator or denominator.
Relocation Business. Competition in our relocation business is based on capabilities, price and quality. We compete primarily with global and regional outsourced relocation services providers. The larger outsourced relocation services providers that we compete with include Brookfield Global Relocation Services, SIRVA, Inc. and Weichert Relocation Resources, Inc. As the relocation business continues to become more global in nature with greater emphasis on relocation of employees throughout the world, we expect to face greater competition from firms that provide global services.
Title and Settlement Business. The title and settlement business is highly competitive and fragmented. The number and size of competing companies vary in the different areas in which we conduct business. We compete with other title insurers, title agents and vendor management companies. The title and settlement business competes with a large, fragmented group of smaller underwriters and agencies. In addition, we compete with the various brands of national


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competitors including Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, First American Title Insurance Company, Stewart Title Guaranty Company and Old Republic Title Company.
Marketing and Technology
Real Estate Franchise Operations. Each of our franchise brands operates a marketing fund that is funded by our franchisees and us. The primary focus of each marketing fund is to build and maintain brand awareness, which is accomplished through a variety of media, including increased use of Internet advertising. Our Internet presence, for the most part, features our entire listing inventory on our brand websites in our regional and national markets, plus community profiles, home buying and selling advice, relocation tips and mortgage financing information. Each brand manages a comprehensive system of marketing tools, systems and sales information and data that can be accessed through free-standing brand intranet sites to assist independent sales associates in becoming the best marketer of their listings. In addition to the Sotheby's International Realty® brand, a leading luxury brand, our franchisees and our company owned brokerages also participate in luxury marketing programs, such as Century 21 Fine Homes & Estates®, Coldwell Banker Previews International®, ERA® International Collection and Better Homes and Gardens® real estate Distinctive Collection.
According to NAR, among buyers who used the Internet during their home search, 89% of buyers found photos and 85% found detailed information about properties for sale very useful. Advertising is primarily used by the brands to drive consumers to their respective websites. Significant focus is placed on developing websites for each brand to create value to the real estate consumer. Each brand website focuses on streamlined, easy search processes for listing inventory and rich descriptive details and multiple photos to market the real estate listing. Additionally, each brand website serves as a national distribution point for independent sales associates to market themselves to consumers to enhance the customer experience. We also place significant emphasis on distributing our real estate listings with third-party websites to expand a homebuyer's access to such listings, at times enhancing the presentation of the listings on third-party websites to make the listings more attractive to consumers. Consumers seeking more detailed information about a particular listing on a third-party website are able to click through to a brand website or a company owned brokerage website or telephone the franchisee or company owned brokerage directly.
In order to improve our response times to buyers and sellers seeking real estate services, we developed LeadRouter™, our proprietary patented lead management system. We believe LeadRouter provides a competitive advantage by improving the speed at which a brokerage can begin working with a customer. The system converts text to voice and transfers the lead to our agents within a matter of seconds, providing our agents with the ability to quickly respond to the needs of a potential home buyer or seller. Additionally, LeadRouter provides the broker with an accountability tool to manage their associates and evaluate productivity.
The 2014 acquisition of ZipRealty reflects the Company's ongoing commitment to enhancing the value proposition we provide to our franchisees, including technology-enabled solutions. During 2016, we continued the roll out of our ZapLabs' comprehensive, integrated Zap technology platform and at December 31, 2016 had approximately 1,500 of our approximately 2,600 franchisees using the platform. Consistent with our previously disclosed plan, we anticipate rolling this product out to a majority of our remaining franchisees over the next twelve months. We believe the Zap technology platform will increase the value proposition to our franchisees, their independent sales associates and their customers by:
aiding in obtaining additional homesale transactions for our franchisees and their independent sales associates;
connecting those associates to a predictive customer relationship management (CRM) tool; and
informing them with valuable client insight to help those associates increase their productivity.
ZapLabs has developed the Zap technology platform from a real estate brokerage perspective to enhance the real estate transaction experience for customers, independent sales associates and our franchisees.
Company Owned Brokerage Operations. Our company owned brokerages sponsor a wide array of marketing programs, materials and opportunities to complement the sales work of our affiliated independent sales associates and increase brand awareness. The effectiveness and quality of marketing programs play a significant role in attracting and retaining independent sales associates.
NRT's sponsored marketing programs and initiatives primarily focus on attracting potential new home buyers and sellers to NRT's affiliated independent sales associates. These programs and initiatives also complement the awareness of our brands by increasing the local recognition of our agents and local brokerages.


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Much of our marketing efforts are geared toward showcasing the inventory of our real estate listings and the affiliated independent sales associates who are the selling agents of these listings. In addition to prominently placing the listing property and related selling agent information on numerous real estate websites, we promote the selling agents and their properties on social media sites and offer tools and systems intended to enhance the home buying and home selling experiences of our customers. We also offer the independent sales associates broad-based advertising, mailings and other campaigns to generate leads, interest and recognition.
The Internet has become the primary advertising channel in our industry and we have sought to become a leader among full-service residential real estate brokerage firms in the use and application of marketing technology. We place our property listings on hundreds of real estate websites and we operate a variety of our own websites.
NRT also utilizes both proprietary and third-party technology to offer independent sales associates tools that may enhance their productivity and increase their understanding of their local markets and the impact of their marketing efforts. Some of these tools include the HomeBase Transaction Management and InTouch CRM systems, as well as MarketQuest and e-Marketing reporting tools.
Education
Each real estate brand provides continuing education materials to its franchisees to assist them in ongoing business operations. Each brand's engagement program contains different materials and delivery methods. The marketing materials include a detailed description of the services offered by our franchise systems (which will be available to the independent sales associate). Live instructors at conventions and orientation seminars deliver some engagement modules while other modules can be viewed by brokers anywhere in the world through virtual classrooms over the Internet. Most of the programs and materials are then made available in electronic form to franchisees over the respective system's private intranet site. Many of the materials are customizable to allow franchisees to achieve a personalized look and feel and make modifications to certain content as appropriate for their business and marketplace.
Employees
At December 31, 2016, we had approximately 11,800 employees, including approximately 830 employees outside of the U.S. None of our employees are represented by a union. We believe that our employee relations are good.
Government Regulation
Franchise Regulation. In the U.S., the sale of franchises is regulated by various state laws, as well as by the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC"). The FTC requires that franchisors make extensive disclosure to prospective franchisees but does not require registration. A number of states require registration and/or disclosure in connection with franchise offers and sales. In addition, several states have "franchise relationship laws" or "business opportunity laws" that limit the ability of the franchisor to terminate franchise agreements or to withhold consent to the renewal or transfer of these agreements. The states with relationship or other statutes governing the termination of franchises include Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also have statutes governing termination of franchises. Some franchise relationship statutes require a mandated notice period for termination and some require a notice and cure period. In addition, some require that the franchisor demonstrate good cause for termination. These statutes do not have a substantial effect on our operations because our franchise agreements generally comport with the statutory requirements for cause for termination, and they provide notice and cure periods for most defaults. When the franchisee is granted a statutory period longer than permitted under the franchise agreement, we extend our notice and/or cure periods to match the statutory requirements. In some states, case law requires a franchisor to renew a franchise agreement unless a franchisee has given cause for non-renewal. Failure to comply with these laws could result in civil liability to the affected franchisees. While our franchising operations have not been materially adversely affected by such existing regulation, we cannot predict the effect of any future federal or state legislation or regulation. Internationally, many countries have similar laws affecting franchising.
Real Estate Regulation. RESPA and state real estate brokerage laws restrict payments which real estate brokers, title agencies, mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers and other settlement service providers may receive or pay in connection with the sales of residences and referral of settlement services (e.g., mortgages, homeowners insurance and title insurance). Such laws may to some extent impose limitations on preferred alliance and other arrangements involving our real estate franchise, real estate brokerage, settlement services and relocation businesses or the business of our mortgage origination joint venture. In addition, with respect to our company owned real estate brokerage, relocation and title and settlement services businesses


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as well as our mortgage origination joint venture, RESPA and similar state laws require timely disclosure of certain relationships or financial interests with providers of real estate settlement services.
RESPA and related regulations do, however, contain a number of provisions that allow for payments or fee splits between providers, including fee splits between brokers and agents and market-based fees for the provision of actual goods or services.  In addition, RESPA allows for referrals to affiliated entities, including joint ventures, when specific requirements have been met.  We rely on these provisions in conducting our business activities and believe our arrangements comply with RESPA.  RESPA compliance, however, has become a greater challenge in recent years for most industry participants offering settlement services, including mortgage companies, title companies and brokerages, because of changes in the regulatory environment and expansive interpretation of RESPA or similar state statutes by certain courts.
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act ("Dodd-Frank"), administration of RESPA has been moved from the Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the "CFPB"). The CFPB has taken a much stricter approach toward interpretation of RESPA and related regulations than HUD and has significantly increased the use of enforcement proceedings.  In the face of this changing regulatory landscape, various industry participants, while disagreeing with the CFPB’s narrow interpretation of RESPA, have nevertheless decided to modify or terminate long-standing business arrangements to avoid the risk of protracted and costly litigation defending such arrangements. Beyond the CFPB enforcement practices, the new practices have triggered private RESPA litigation, including an action filed against us, our joint venture and PHH that is described in Note 14, "Commitments and Contingencies—Litigation", to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report, and narrower interpretations of state statutes similar to RESPA and enforcement proceedings of those statutes by state regulatory authorities.
Our company owned real estate brokerage business is also subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations that contain general standards for and limitations on the conduct of real estate brokers and sales associates, including those relating to the licensing of brokers and sales associates, fiduciary and agency duties, administration of trust funds, collection of commissions, restrictions on information sharing with affiliates, fair housing standards and advertising and consumer disclosures. Under state law, our company owned real estate brokers have certain duties to supervise and are responsible for the conduct of their brokerage businesses. Although real estate sales associates historically have been classified as independent contractors, newer rules and interpretations of state and federal employment laws and regulations, including those governing employee classification and wage and hour regulations, may impact industry practices and our company owned brokerage operations. Real estate licensing laws generally permit brokers to engage sales associates as independent contractors but require that the broker supervise their activities.
Regulation of Title Insurance and Settlement Services. Many states license and regulate title agencies/settlement service providers or certain employees and underwriters through their Departments of Insurance or other regulatory body. In many states, title insurance rates are either promulgated by the state or are required to be filed with each state by the agent or underwriter, and some states promulgate the split of title insurance premiums between the agent and underwriter. States sometimes unilaterally lower the insurance rates relative to loss experience and other relevant factors. States also require title agencies and title underwriters to meet certain minimum financial requirements for net worth and working capital. In addition, the insurance laws and regulations of Texas, the jurisdiction in which our title insurance underwriter subsidiary, TRGC, is domiciled, generally provide that no person may acquire control, directly or indirectly, of a Texas domiciled insurer, unless the person has provided required information to, and the acquisition is approved or not disapproved by, the Texas Department of Insurance. Generally, any person acquiring beneficial ownership of 10% or more of our voting securities would be presumed to have acquired indirect control of our title insurance underwriter subsidiary unless the Texas Department of Insurance, upon application, determines otherwise. Our insurance underwriter is also subject to a holding company act in its state of domicile, which regulates, among other matters, investment policies and the ability to pay dividends.
Certain states in which we operate have "controlled business" statutes which impose limitations on affiliations between providers of title and settlement services, on the one hand, and real estate brokers, mortgage lenders and other real estate service providers, on the other hand. We are aware of the states imposing such limits and monitor the others to ensure that if they implement such a limit that we will be prepared to comply with any such rule. "Controlled business" typically is defined as sources controlled by, or which control, directly or indirectly, the title insurer or agent. Pursuant to legislation enacted in the State of New York in late 2014 requiring the licensing of title agents, the New York Department of Insurance has issued regulations that provide that title agents with affiliated businesses may not accept referrals from affiliated sources unless they also have significant and multiple sources of non-affiliated business. We are not aware of any other recent or pending controlled business legislation. A company's failure to comply with such statutes could result in the non-renewal of


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the Company's license to provide title and settlement services. We provide our services not only to our affiliates but also to third-party businesses in the geographic areas in which we operate. Accordingly, we manage our business in a manner to comply with any applicable "controlled business" statutes by ensuring that we generate sufficient business from sources we do not control. We have never been cited for failing to comply with a "controlled business" statute.
Dodd-Frank Act. Dodd-Frank endows the CFPB with rule making, examination and enforcement authority involving consumer financial products and services, including mortgage finance.  The CFPB has issued a myriad of proposed and final rules which could materially and adversely affect the mortgage and housing industries.  Dodd-Frank establishes new standards and practices for mortgage originators, including determining a prospective borrower's ability to repay its mortgage and restricting the fees that mortgage originators may collect.
Item 1A.    Risk Factors.
You should carefully consider each of the following risk factors and all of the other information set forth in this Annual Report. The risk factors generally have been separated into three groups: (1) risks relating to our business; (2) risks relating to our indebtedness; and (3) risks relating to an investment in our common stock. Based on the information currently known to us, we believe that the following information identifies the most significant risk factors affecting our Company and our common stock. However, the risks and uncertainties are not limited to those set forth in the risk factors described below. In addition, past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods.
Risks Related to Our Business
The residential real estate market is cyclical and we are negatively impacted by downturns in this market.
The residential real estate market tends to be cyclical and typically is affected by changes in general economic conditions which are beyond our control. Commencing in the second half of 2005 and continuing through 2011, the U.S. residential real estate industry was in a significant and lengthy downturn. Beginning in 2012, the U.S. residential real estate industry began its current recovery. We cannot predict the duration or continued strength of the housing recovery. If the residential real estate market or the economy as a whole does not continue to improve or worsens, our business, financial condition and liquidity may be materially adversely affected, including our ability to access capital and grow our business.
Any of the following could halt or limit a recovery in the housing market and have a material adverse effect on our business by causing a lack of sustained growth or a decline in the number of homesales and/or prices which in turn, could adversely affect our revenues and profitability:
high levels of unemployment and the continued slow recovery of wages;
a period of slow economic growth or recessionary conditions;
increasing mortgage rates and down payment requirements and/or constraints on the availability of mortgage financing;
weak credit markets;
insufficient or excessive regional home inventory levels;
a low level of consumer confidence in the economy and/or the residential real estate market due to macroeconomic events domestically or internationally;
instability of financial institutions;
legislative or regulatory changes (including changes in regulatory interpretations or regulatory practices) that would adversely impact the residential real estate market as well as federal and/or state income tax changes and other tax reform affecting real estate and/or real estate transactions;
renewed high levels of foreclosure activity including but not limited to the release of homes already held for sale by financial institutions;
adverse changes in local or regional economic conditions;
the inability or unwillingness of homeowners to enter into homesale transactions due to first-time homebuyer concerns about investing in a home and move-up buyers having limited or negative equity in their existing homes;
a decrease in the affordability of homes including the impact of rising mortgage rates, home price appreciation and wage stagnation and/or wage increases that do not keep pace with inflation;


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decreasing home ownership rates, declining demand for real estate and changing social attitudes toward home ownership; and/or
natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes and other events that disrupt local or regional real estate markets.
Increased competition due to new entrants and changing practices of existing competitors has put, and could continue to put, downward pressure on brokerage commissions, which could negatively impact our revenues and profitability. In addition, if sales associates are paid a higher proportion of the commissions earned on a homesale transaction, the operating margins of our company owned residential brokerages or our franchisees could be adversely affected. Similarly, we could be negatively affected if the net effective royalty rate for our real estate franchise segment receives from our franchisees falls.
Adverse developments in general business and economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and our results of operations.
Our business and operations and those of our franchisees are sensitive to general business and economic conditions in the U.S. and worldwide. These conditions include short-term and long-term interest rates, inflation, fluctuations in debt and equity capital markets, levels of unemployment, consumer confidence and the general condition of the U.S. and the world economy.
The residential real estate market also depends upon the strength of financial institutions, which are sensitive to changes in the general macroeconomic environment. Lack of available credit or lack of confidence in the financial sector could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
A host of factors beyond our control could cause fluctuations in these conditions, including the political environment, disruptions in a major geoeconomic region, or equity or commodity markets and acts or threats of war or terrorism which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and our results of operations.
Tightened mortgage underwriting standards could continue to reduce homebuyers' ability to access the credit markets on reasonable terms.
During the past several years, many lenders have significantly tightened their underwriting standards and many alternative mortgage products have become less available in the marketplace. More stringent mortgage underwriting standards could adversely affect the ability and willingness of prospective buyers to finance home purchases or to sell their existing homes, which would adversely affect our operating results.
Monetary policies of the federal government and its agencies may have a material impact on our operations.
Our business is significantly affected by the monetary policies of the federal government and its agencies. We are particularly affected by the policies of the Federal Reserve Board, which regulates the supply of money and credit in the U.S. The Federal Reserve Board's policies impact the real estate market through their effect on interest rates as well as the cost of our interest-bearing liabilities.
We could be negatively impacted by any rising interest rate environment. As mortgage rates rise, the number of homesale transactions may decrease as potential home sellers choose to stay with their lower mortgage rate rather than sell their home and pay a higher mortgage rate with the purchase of another home, and potential home buyers choose to rent rather than pay higher mortgage rates. An increase in mortgage rates would also be expected to reduce the number of homesale refinancing transactions, which could materially adversely impact our earnings from our mortgage origination joint venture as well as the revenue stream of our title and settlement services segment. Changes in the Federal Reserve Board's policies, the interest rate environment and mortgage market are beyond our control, are difficult to predict and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our company owned brokerage operations are subject to geographic and high-end real estate market risks, which could adversely affect our revenues and profitability.
Our subsidiary, NRT, owns real estate brokerage offices located in and around large metropolitan areas in the U.S. Local and regional economic conditions in these locations could differ materially from prevailing conditions in other parts of the country. NRT realizes 57% of its revenues in California, Florida and the New York metropolitan area. For the year ended December 31, 2016, NRT realized approximately 26% of its revenues from California, 22% from the New York metropolitan area and 9% from Florida. A downturn in residential real estate demand or economic conditions that is concentrated in these regions could result in a decline in NRT's total gross commission income and profitability


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disproportionate to the downturn experienced throughout the U.S. and could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, given the significant geographic overlap of our title and settlement services business with our company owned brokerage offices, such regional declines affecting our company owned brokerage operations could have a disproportionate adverse effect on our title and settlement services business as well. A downturn in residential real estate demand or economic conditions in these states could result in a decline in our overall revenues and have a material adverse effect on us.
NRT has a significant concentration of transactions at the higher end of the U.S. real estate market. A shift in NRT's mix of property transactions from the high range to lower and middle range homes would adversely affect the average price of NRT's closed homesales. Such a shift, absent an increase in transactions, would have an adverse effect on our operating results. In addition, NRT continues to face heightened competition because of its prominent position in the higher end housing markets.
Our financial results are affected by the operating results of our franchisees.
Our real estate franchise services segment receives revenue in the form of royalties, which are based on a percentage of gross commission income earned by our franchisees. Accordingly, the financial results of our real estate franchise services segment are dependent upon the operational and financial success of our franchisees. If industry trends or economic conditions are not sustained or do not continue to improve or if our franchisees become less competitive, our franchisees' financial results may worsen and our royalty revenues may decline. In addition, we may have to increase our bad debt and note reserves. We may also have to terminate franchisees due to non-payment.
If franchisees fail to renew their franchise agreements, or if we decide to restructure franchise agreements in order to induce franchisees to renew these agreements, then our royalty revenues may decrease, and profitability may be lower than in the past due to reduced net royalty rates and higher non-standard incentives.
Most of our franchisees are entitled to volume incentives calculated for each franchisee as a progressive percentage of each franchisee's annual gross revenue subject to royalty payments for each calendar year. To the extent the royalties from our larger franchisees increase as a percentage of our total real estate franchise segment's revenues, our operating margin for RFG could be adversely impacted.
Our franchisees and their independent sales associates could take actions that could harm our business.
Our franchisees are independent business operators and we do not exercise control over their day-to-day operations. Our franchisees may not successfully operate a real estate brokerage business in a manner consistent with industry standards, or may not affiliate with effective independent sales associates or employees. If our franchisees or their independent sales associates were to provide diminished quality of service to customers, our image and reputation may suffer materially and adversely affect our results of operations. Improper actions involving our franchisees, including regarding their relationships with independent sales associates, clients and employees, may also lead to direct claims against us based on theories of vicarious liability, negligence, joint operations and joint employer liability which, if determined adversely, could increase costs, negatively impact the business prospects of our franchisees and subject us to incremental liability for their actions.
Additionally, franchisees and their independent sales associates may engage or be accused of engaging in unlawful or tortious acts, such as violating the anti-discrimination requirements of the Fair Housing Act. Such acts or the accusation of such acts could harm our brands' image, reputation and goodwill.
Franchisees, as independent business operators, may from time to time disagree with us and our strategies regarding the business or our interpretation of our respective rights and obligations under the franchise agreement. This may lead to disputes with our franchisees and we expect such disputes to occur from time to time in the future as we continue to offer franchises. To the extent we have such disputes, the attention of our management and our franchisees will be diverted, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.


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Competition in the residential real estate and relocation business is intense and may adversely affect our financial performance.
We generally face intense competition in the residential real estate services business.
As a real estate brokerage franchisor, our products are our brand names and the support services we provide to our franchisees and our ability to grow our franchisor business is also dependent on the operational and financial success of our franchisees.
Upon the expiration of a franchise agreement, a franchisee may choose to franchise with one of our competitors or operate as an independent broker. Competitors may offer franchisees whose franchise agreements are expiring or prospective franchisees products and services similar to us at rates that are lower than we charge.
We face the risk that currently unaffiliated brokers may not enter into franchise agreements with us because they believe they can compete effectively in the market without the need to license a brand of a franchisor and receive services offered by a franchisor. Additionally, unaffiliated brokers may decide not to enter into a franchise relationship with us as they may believe that their business will be more attractive to a prospective purchaser without the existence of a franchise relationship.
Regional and local franchisors as well as franchisors offering different franchise models or services provide additional competitive pressure in certain areas. To remain competitive in the sale of franchises and to retain our existing franchisees, we may have to reduce the fees we charge our franchisees or increase the amount of non-standard incentives we issue to be competitive with fees charged by competitors, which may accelerate if market conditions deteriorate.
Our ability to succeed as a franchisor is largely dependent on the efforts and abilities of our franchisees to attract and retain independent sales associates, which is subject to numerous factors, including the sales commissions they receive and their perception of brand value. If our franchisees fail to attract and retain successful independent sales associates or they fail to replace departing successful independent sales associates with similarly productive independent sales associates, our franchisees' gross commission income may decrease, resulting in a reduction in royalty fees paid to us.
Listing aggregators and other web-based real estate service providers may also begin to compete for part of our franchisor service revenue through referral or other fees and could disintermediate our relationships with our franchisees and our franchisees' relationships with their independent sales associates and buyers and sellers of homes.
Our company owned brokerage business, like that of our franchisees, generally faces intense competition. We compete with national and regional independent real estate brokerages and franchisors, franchisees of our brands and other real estate franchisors and discount and limited service brokerages. Real estate brokers typically compete for sales and marketing business primarily on the basis of services offered, reputation, utilization of technology, personal contacts and brokerage commission.
Competition is particularly severe in the densely populated metropolitan areas in which we operate.
In addition, the real estate brokerage industry has minimal barriers to entry for new participants, including participants pursuing non-traditional methods of marketing real estate, such as Internet-based brokerage or brokers who discount their commissions. Discount brokers have had varying degrees of success and, while they were negatively impacted by the prolonged downturn in the residential housing market, they may adjust their model and increase their market presence in the future. Listing aggregators and other web-based real estate service providers may also begin to compete for our company owned brokerage business by establishing relationships with independent sales associates and/or buyers and sellers of homes.
Our average homesale commission rate per side in our Company Owned Real Estate Services segment has declined from 2.62% in 2002 to 2.46% for the year ended December 31, 2016. As with our real estate franchise business, a decrease in the average brokerage commission rate may adversely affect our revenues.
We also compete for the services of qualified licensed independent sales associates. Some of the firms competing for sales associates use different models of compensating agents, which may be appealing to certain agents and hinder our ability to attract and retain those agents. The ability of our company owned brokerage offices to retain independent sales associates is generally subject to numerous factors, including the sales commissions they receive and their perception of brand value. Competition for sales associates could reduce the commission amounts


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retained by our Company after giving effect to the split with independent sales associates and possibly increase the amounts that we spend on marketing.
In our relocation services business, we compete primarily with global and regional outsourced relocation service providers. As the relocation business continues to become more global in nature with greater emphasis on relocation of employees throughout the world, we expect to face greater competition from firms that provide services on a global basis.
The title and settlement services business is highly competitive and fragmented. The number and size of competing companies vary in the different areas in which we conduct business. We compete with other title insurers, title agents and vendor management companies. The title and settlement services business competes with a large, fragmented group of smaller underwriters and agencies as well as national competitors.
We may not successfully develop Zap® product enhancements and may not complete the roll-out to our Company owned brokerages and increase the technology adoption by independent sales associates and customers in the franchise system which could adversely affect our results of operations. 
We may incur unforeseen expenses in the development of enhancements to the Zap platform. In addition, we may be unable to attract and retain employees involved in developing the technology due to the low levels of unemployment in the areas around the ZapLabs offices. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that independent sales associates in our franchise system, including those affiliated with our Company owned brokerages, or customers will use the Zap platform or related products. Our inability to increase adoption of the platform by independent sales associates and customers and related associate productivity could adversely affect our results of operations.
Actions by the independent sales associates engaged by our company owned brokerages could materially and adversely affect our reputation and subject us to liability.
Our company owned brokerage operations rely on the performance of independent sales associates. If the independent sales associates were to provide lower quality services to our customers, our image and reputation could be materially adversely affected.  In addition, we could also be subject to litigation and regulatory claims arising out of their performance of brokerage services, which if adversely determined, could materially and adversely affect us.
Clients of our relocation business may terminate their contracts with us at any time.
Substantially all of our contracts with our relocation clients are terminable at any time at the option of the client and are non-exclusive. If a client terminates its contract, we will only be compensated for services performed up to the time of termination and reimbursed for expenses incurred up to the time of termination. If a significant number of our relocation clients terminate their contracts with us or we lose one or more significant affinity clients, our results of operations would be materially adversely affected. Our business could also be materially adversely affected if there is a material reduction in the volume of business we receive from these customers.
We are reliant on third-party vendors to perform services on our behalf.
Aspects of our business, such as our relocation segment, are performed on our behalf by third-party vendors.  In many instances these suppliers are in direct contact with our customers in order to deliver services on our behalf.  If our third-party suppliers were to provide diminished services to our customers or face cybersecurity breaches of their information technology systems, our image and reputation could be materially adversely affected.  In addition, we could also be subject to litigation and regulatory claims arising out of the performance of our third-party suppliers based on theories of vicarious liability, negligence or failure to comply with laws and regulations including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
We may be unable to achieve or maintain cost savings and other benefits from our restructuring activities.
We continue to engage in business optimization initiatives that focus on maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the cost structure of each of the Company's business units.  The action is designed to improve client service levels across each of the business units while enhancing the Company's profitability and incremental margins. We may not be able to achieve these improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations. We also may incur greater costs than currently anticipated to achieve these savings and we may not be able to maintain these cost savings and other benefits in the future.


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We may not realize anticipated benefits from acquisitions.
Integrating acquired companies involves complex operational and personnel related challenges, including:
the possible defection of a significant number of employees and independent sales associates;
the disruption of our respective ongoing businesses;
possible inconsistencies in policies and procedures, as well as business and IT controls;
the failure to maintain important business relationships and contracts;
unanticipated costs of terminating or relocating facilities and operations;
unanticipated expenses related to the integration;
increased amortization of intangibles; and
potential unknown liabilities associated with acquired businesses.
A prolonged diversion of management's attention and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with the integration of any business acquisition could prevent us from realizing the anticipated cost savings and revenue growth from our acquisitions.
We may not have the ability to complete future acquisitions.
At varying times, we have pursued an active acquisition strategy as a means of strengthening our geographic footprint, and expanding our scope of operations. We have also focused on integrating acquisitions into our operations to achieve economies of scale. The success of our future acquisition strategy will continue to depend upon our ability to fund such acquisitions given our total outstanding indebtedness, find suitable acquisition candidates on favorable terms and for target companies to find our acquisition proposals more favorable than those made by other competitors.
Loss or attrition among our senior executives or other key employees and our inability to develop our existing workforce and to recruit top talent could adversely affect our financial performance.
Our success is largely dependent on the efforts and abilities of our executive officers and other key employees, our ability to develop the skills and talent of our workforce and our ability to recruit and retain top talent. Our ability to retain our executive officers and key employees, particularly those with significant experience in the residential real estate market, is generally subject to numerous factors, including the compensation and benefits we pay. If we were to lose several of our executive officers or key employees in a relatively short period of time and were unable to promptly fill their positions with comparably qualified individuals, our business may be adversely affected.
We are subject to certain risks related to litigation filed by or against us, and adverse results may harm our business and financial condition.
We cannot predict with certainty the cost of defense, the cost of prosecution, insurance coverage or the ultimate outcome of litigation and other proceedings filed by or against us, including remedies or damage awards, and adverse results in such litigation and other proceedings, including treble damages and penalties.  Adverse outcomes may harm our business and financial condition.  Such litigation and other proceedings may include, but are not limited to:
actions relating to claims alleging violations of RESPA (see Strader litigation described in Note 14, "Commitments and Contingencies—Litigation", to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report) or state consumer fraud statutes, intellectual property, copyrights, commercial arrangements, franchising arrangements, negligence and fiduciary duty claims arising from franchising arrangements or company owned brokerage operations;
employment law claims, including claims challenging the classification of sales associates as independent contractors as well as wage and hour and joint employer claims;
cybersecurity incidents, theft and data breach claims;
actions against our title company for defalcations on closing payments or alleging it knew or should have known others were committing mortgage fraud;
brokerage disputes like the failure to disclose hidden defects in the property as well as other brokerage claims associated with listing information and property history;


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vicarious or joint liability based upon the conduct of individuals or entities traditionally outside of our control, including franchisees and independent sales associates;
antitrust and anti-competition claims;
general fraud claims; and
compliance with wage and hour regulations. 
In addition, class action lawsuits can often be particularly vexatious litigation given the breadth of claims, the large potential damages claimed and the significant costs of defense.  The risks of litigation become magnified and the costs of settlement increase in class actions in which the courts grant partial or full certification of a large class.  In the case of intellectual property litigation and proceedings, adverse outcomes could include the cancellation, invalidation or other loss of material intellectual property rights used in our business and injunctions prohibiting our use of business processes or technology that is subject to third-party patents or other third-party intellectual property rights.  In addition, we may be required to enter into licensing agreements (if available on acceptable terms or at all) and pay royalties.  Insurance coverage may be unavailable for certain types of claims and even where available, insurance carriers may dispute coverage for various reasons, including the cost of defense, and such insurance may not be sufficient to cover the losses we incur.
Adverse decisions in litigation against companies unrelated to us could impact our business practices and those of our franchisees in a manner that adversely impacts our financial condition and results of operations.
Litigation, claims and regulatory proceedings against other participants in the residential real estate industry may impact the Company when the rulings in those cases cover practices common to the broader industry.  Examples may include claims associated with RESPA compliance, broker fiduciary duties, and sales agent classification. Similarly, the Company may be impacted by litigation and other claims against companies in other industries.  Rulings on matters such as the enforcement of arbitration agreements and worker classification may adversely affect the Company and other residential real estate industry participants as a result of the classification of sales associates as independent contractors, irrespective of the fact that the parties subject to the rulings are in a different industry.  There is active worker classification litigation in numerous jurisdictions, including Massachusetts, California, New Jersey and New York, against a variety of industries where the plaintiffs seek to reclassify independent contractors as employees or to challenge the use of federal and state minimum wage and overtime exemptions. To the extent plaintiffs are successful in these types of litigation matters, and we or our franchisees cannot distinguish our or their practices (or our industry’s practices), we and our franchisees could face significant liability and could be required to modify certain business relationships, either of which could materially and adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Our relationship with our employees is subject to an array of different employment, tax reporting and regulatory obligations and any significant failure to comply with these obligations could materially and adversely affect our business.
These obligations relate to federal and state tax codes, federal and state wage and hour laws, state unemployment, workers’ compensation and disability tax laws, right to organize and anti-discrimination and workplace safety laws.  Each state has unique wage and hour laws, which have been the subject of increasing litigation nationwide.  In addition, federal agencies and each state have its own rules and tests for classification of independent contractors as well as to determine whether employees meet exemptions from minimum wages and overtime laws.  These tests consider many factors that also vary from state to state.  The tests have evolved based on state case law decisions, regulations and legislative changes, and frequently involve factual analysis. In addition, states have laws and regulations concerning the licensing of real estate agents. While these laws and regulations may have separate provisions related to the classification of sales associates as independent contractors, there can be no assurance that courts will follow the tests in these real estate specific laws and regulations when they differ from those in labor statutes and regulations. When companies are found to have misclassified workers as independent contractors instead of employees, courts can impose significant penalties and damages.
The legal relationship between residential real estate brokers and licensed sales associates throughout the industry historically has been that of independent contractor.  Although we believe our classification practices are proper and consistent with the legal framework for such classification, our company owned brokerage operations could face substantial litigation or disputes in direct claims or regulatory procedures, including the risk of court or regulatory determinations that certain groups of real estate agents should be reclassified as employees and entitled to unpaid minimum wage, overtime, benefits, expense reimbursement and other employment obligations.  Significant reclassification determinations in the absence of available exemptions from minimum wage or overtime laws, including damages and penalties for prior periods, could be disruptive to our business, constrain our operations in certain jurisdictions and have a material adverse effect on the


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operational and financial performance of the Company.  In addition, real estate agent reclassification could have a material adverse effect on the operational and financial performance of our franchisees and our competitors.
We are reliant upon information technology to operate our business and maintain our competitiveness.
Our business, including our ability to attract employees and independent sales associates, increasingly depends upon the use of sophisticated information technologies and systems, including technology and systems (cloud solutions, mobile and otherwise) utilized for communications, marketing, productivity tools, lead generation, records of transactions, business records (employment, accounting, tax, etc.), procurement, call center operations and administrative systems. The operation of these technologies and systems is dependent upon third-party technologies, systems and services, for which there are no assurances of continued or uninterrupted availability and support by the applicable third-party vendors on commercially reasonable terms. We also cannot assure that we will be able to continue to effectively operate and maintain our information technologies and systems. In addition, our information technologies and systems are expected to require refinements and enhancements on an ongoing basis, and we expect that advanced new technologies and systems will continue to be introduced. We may not be able to obtain such new technologies and systems, or to replace or introduce new technologies and systems as quickly as our competitors or in a cost-effective manner. Also, we may not achieve the benefits anticipated or required from any new technology or system, and we may not be able to devote financial resources to new technologies and systems in the future.
Cybersecurity incidents could disrupt business operations, result in the loss of critical and confidential information, and adversely impact our reputation and results of operations.
Global cybersecurity threats and incidents can range from uncoordinated individual attempts to gain unauthorized access to information technology systems to sophisticated and targeted measures known as advanced persistent threats, directed at the Company and/or its third-party service providers. In the ordinary course of our business, we and our third-party service providers collect and store sensitive data, including our proprietary business information and intellectual property, and that of our clients and personally identifiable information of our customers. Additionally, we increasingly rely on third-party data processing and storage providers, including cloud solution providers. The secure processing, maintenance and transmission of this information are critical to our operations and with respect to information collected and stored by our third-party service providers, we are reliant upon their security procedures. While we and our third-party service providers have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, these types of threats and incidents, none of them to date have been material to the Company. Although we employ measures to prevent, detect, address and mitigate these threats (including access controls, data encryption, penetration testing, vulnerability assessments and maintenance of backup and protective systems), and conduct diligence on the security measures employed by key third-party service providers, cybersecurity incidents, depending on their nature and scope, could potentially result in the misappropriation, destruction, corruption or unavailability of critical data and confidential or proprietary information (our own or that of third parties, including personally identifiable information) and the disruption of business operations. Our corporate errors and omissions and cybersecurity breach insurance may be insufficient to compensate us for losses that may occur. The potential consequences of a material cybersecurity incident include regulatory violations, reputational damage, litigation with third parties, diminution in the value of the services we provide to our customers, and increased cybersecurity protection and remediation costs, which in turn could adversely affect our competitiveness and results of operations.
The weakening or unavailability of our intellectual property rights could adversely impact our business.
Our trademarks, trade names, domain names and other intellectual property rights are fundamental to our brands and our franchising business. The steps we take to obtain, maintain and protect our intellectual property rights may not be adequate and, in particular, we may not own all necessary registrations for our intellectual property. Applications we have filed to register our intellectual property may not be approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities. Our intellectual property rights may not be successfully asserted in the future or may be invalidated, circumvented or challenged. We may be unable to prevent third parties from using our intellectual property rights without our authorization or independently developing technology that is similar to ours. Also, third parties may own rights in similar trademarks. Any unauthorized use of our intellectual property by third parties could reduce our competitive advantages or otherwise harm our business and brands. If we had to litigate to protect these rights, any proceedings could be costly, and we may not prevail. Our intellectual property rights, including our trademarks, may fail to provide us with significant competitive advantages in the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions that do not have or do not enforce strong intellectual property rights.
We cannot be certain that our intellectual property does not and will not infringe issued intellectual property rights of others. We may be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of our business, including claims of alleged infringement of the patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights of third parties. Any such claims,


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whether or not meritorious, could result in costly litigation. Depending on the success of these proceedings, we may be required to enter into licensing or consent agreements (if available on acceptable terms or at all), or to pay damages or cease using certain service marks or trademarks.
We franchise our brands to franchisees. While we try to ensure that the quality of our brands is maintained by all of our franchisees, we cannot assure that these franchisees will not take actions that hurt the value of our intellectual property or our reputation.
Our license agreement with Sotheby's for the use of the Sotheby's International Realty® brand is terminable by Sotheby's prior to the end of the license term if certain conditions occur, including but not limited to the following: (1) we attempt to assign any of our rights under the license agreement in any manner not permitted under the license agreement, (2) we become bankrupt or insolvent, (3) a court issues a non-appealable, final judgment that we have committed certain breaches of the license agreement and we fail to cure such breaches within 60 days of the issuance of such judgment, or (4) we discontinue the use of all of the trademarks licensed under the license agreement for a period of twelve consecutive months.
Our license agreement with Meredith Corporation ("Meredith") for the use of the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate brand is terminable by Meredith prior to the end of the license term if certain conditions occur, including but not limited to the following: (1) we attempt to assign any of our rights under the license agreement in any manner not permitted under the license agreement, (2) we become bankrupt or insolvent, or (3) a trial court issues a final judgment that we are in material breach of the license agreement or any representation or warranty we made was false or materially misleading when made.
We do not own two of our brands and must manage cooperative relationships with both owners.
The Sotheby's International Realty® and Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate brands are owned by the companies that founded these brands. We are the exclusive party licensed to run brokerage services in residential real estate under those brands, whether through our franchisees or our company owned operations. Our future operations and performance with respect to these brands requires the continued cooperation from the owners of those brands and successful protection of those brands. In particular, Sotheby's has the right to approve our international Sotheby's International Realty® franchisees and the material terms of our international franchise agreements governing our relationships with our Sotheby's International Realty® franchisees located outside the U.S., which approval cannot be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If Sotheby's unreasonably withholds or delays its approval for new international franchisees, our relationship with Sotheby's could be disrupted. Any significant disruption of the relationships with the owners of these brands could impede our franchising of those brands and have a material adverse effect on our operations and performance. In addition, any significant difficulties in the business of the brand owners could negatively reflect on the brand and the brand value.
We do not control our mortgage joint venture and our partner, as the managing partner of that venture, may make decisions that are contrary to our best interests.
Under our Operating Agreement governing our existing mortgage origination joint venture, we own a 49.9% equity interest but do not have control of the operations of the joint venture. Rather, our joint venture partner, PHH, is the managing partner of the venture and may make decisions with respect to the operation of the venture, which may harm the joint venture or be contrary to our best interests and may adversely affect our results of operations or equity interest in the joint venture.
The earnings and dividends we receive from our current mortgage origination joint venture may be materially adversely affected by developments in the mortgage industry as well as operational, regulatory or liquidity risks to the joint venture or PHH.
Our current mortgage origination joint venture may continue to be materially adversely impacted by changes affecting the mortgage industry, including but not limited to regulatory changes, increases in mortgage interest rates and decreases in operating margins. Earnings and dividends from the venture also could be materially adversely affected by the impact and outcome of litigation and investigations affecting the joint venture or our partner as well as operational or liquidity risks to the joint venture or our partner.


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We may not be able to commence our new mortgage origination joint venture in a timely manner or at all and may not realize the expected benefits from the new venture.
We and Guaranteed Rate, Inc., one of the largest independent retail mortgage companies in the United States, have agreed to form a new joint venture, Guaranteed Rate Affinity LLC ("Guaranteed Rate Affinity"), which is expected to begin doing business in June 2017. Commencement of operations is subject to the closing of an asset purchase agreement under which Guaranteed Rate Affinity will acquire certain assets of the mortgage operations of PHH Home Loans LLC, the existing joint venture between Realogy and PHH Mortgage Corporation, including its four regional mortgage origination and processing centers and employees across the United States. There can be no assurance that the asset purchase agreement will be consummated or that Guaranteed Rate Affinity will commence operations in a timely manner or at all.
The new mortgage origination joint venture is structured in a manner similar to the existing joint venture and will be subject to many of the same risks. In addition, we may not realize the expected benefits (including anticipated earnings and dividends) from the new venture.
We may experience significant claims relating to our operations, and losses resulting from fraud, defalcation or misconduct.
We issue title insurance policies which provide coverage for real property to mortgage lenders and buyers of real property. When acting as a title agent issuing a policy on behalf of an underwriter, our insurance risk is typically limited to the first five thousand dollars for claims on any one policy, though our insurance risk is not limited if we are negligent. Our title underwriter typically underwrites title insurance policies of up to $1.5 million. For policies in excess of $1.5 million, we typically obtain a reinsurance policy from a national underwriter to reinsure the excess amount. To date, our title underwriter has experienced claims losses that are significantly below the industry average; however, our claims experience could increase in the future, which could negatively impact the profitability of that business. We may also be subject to legal claims or additional claims losses arising from the handling of escrow transactions and closings by our owned title agencies or our underwriter's independent title agents. We carry errors and omissions insurance for errors made by our company owned brokerage business during the real estate settlement process as well as errors by us related to real estate services. Our franchise agreements also require our franchisees to name us as an additional insured on their errors and omissions and general liability insurance policies. The occurrence of a significant claim in excess of our insurance coverage (including any coverage under franchisee insurance policies) in any given period could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations during the period. In addition, insurance carriers may dispute coverage for various reasons and there can be no assurance that all claims will be covered by insurance.
Fraud, defalcation and misconduct by employees are also risks inherent in our business, particularly given our high transactional volumes in our company owned brokerage, title and settlement services and our relocation businesses. We may also from time to time be subject to liability claims based upon the fraud or misconduct of our franchisees. To the extent that any loss or theft of funds substantially exceeds our insurance coverage, our business could be materially adversely affected.
In addition, we rely on the collection and use of personal information from customers to conduct our business. We disclose our information collection and dissemination practices in a published privacy statement on our websites, which we may modify from time to time. We may be subject to legal claims, government action and damage to our reputation if we act or are perceived to be acting inconsistently with the terms of our privacy statement, customer expectations or state, national and international regulations. The occurrence of a significant claim in excess of our insurance coverage in any given period could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations during the period. In the event we or the vendors with which we contract to provide services on behalf of our customers were to suffer a breach of personal information, our customers, such as our Cartus corporate or affinity clients, franchisees, independent sales associates and lender channel clients, could terminate their business with us. Further, we may be subject to claims to the extent individual employees or independent contractors breach or fail to adhere to Company policies and practices and such actions jeopardize any personal information. In addition, concern among potential home buyers or sellers about our privacy practices could result in regulatory investigation, especially in the European Union as related to its Data Privacy Directive or the General Data Protection Regulation once it becomes effective. Additionally, concern among potential home buyers or sellers could keep them from using our services or require us to incur significant expense to alter our business practices or educate them about how we use personal information.


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We could be subject to significant losses if banks do not honor our escrow and trust deposits.
Our company owned brokerage business and our title and settlement services business act as escrow agents for numerous customers. As an escrow agent, we receive money from customers to hold until certain conditions are satisfied. Upon the satisfaction of those conditions, we release the money to the appropriate party. We deposit this money with various banks and while these deposits are not assets of the Company (and therefore excluded from our consolidated balance sheet), we remain contingently liable for the disposition of these deposits. The banks may hold a significant amount of these deposits in excess of the federal deposit insurance limit. If any of our depository banks were to become unable to honor any portion of our deposits, customers could seek to hold us responsible for such amounts and, if the customers prevailed in their claims, we could be subject to significant losses. These escrow and trust deposits totaled $415 million at December 31, 2016.
Title insurance regulations limit the ability of our insurance underwriter to pay cash dividends to us.
Our title insurance underwriter is subject to regulations that limit its ability to pay dividends or make loans or advances to us, principally to protect policy holders. Generally, these regulations limit the total amount of dividends and distributions to a certain percentage of the insurance subsidiary's surplus, or 100% of statutory operating income for the previous calendar year. These restrictions could limit our ability to receive dividends from our insurance underwriter, and utilize the cash to fund on-going operations.
We may be unable to continue to securitize certain of our relocation assets, which may adversely impact our liquidity.
At December 31, 2016, $205 million of securitization obligations were outstanding through special purpose entities monetizing certain assets of our relocation services business under two lending facilities. We have provided a performance guaranty which guarantees the obligations of our Cartus subsidiary and its subsidiaries, as originator and servicer under the Apple Ridge securitization program. The securitization markets have experienced, and may again experience, significant disruptions which may have the effect of increasing our cost of funding or reducing our access to these markets in the future.
In addition, the Apple Ridge securitization facility contains terms which if triggered may result in a termination or limitation of new or existing funding under the facility and/or may result in a requirement that all collections on the assets be used to pay down the amounts outstanding under such facility. The triggering events include but are not limited to: (1) those tied to the age and quality of the underlying assets; (2) a change of control; (3) a breach of our senior secured leverage ratio covenant under our Senior Secured Credit Facility if uncured; and (4) the acceleration of indebtedness under our Senior Secured Credit Facility, unsecured notes or other material indebtedness. The occurrence of a trigger event under the Apple Ridge securitization facility could restrict our ability to access new or existing funding under this facility or result in termination of the facility. If securitization financing is not available to us for any reason, we could be required to borrow under the Revolving Credit Facility, which would adversely impact our liquidity, or we may be required to find additional sources of funding which may be on less favorable terms or may not be available at all.
Several of our businesses are highly regulated and any failure to comply with such regulations or any changes in such regulations could adversely affect our business.
The sale of franchises is regulated by various state laws as well as by the FTC. The FTC requires that franchisors make extensive disclosure to prospective franchisees but does not require registration. A number of states require registration and/or disclosure in connection with franchise offers and sales. In addition, several states have "franchise relationship laws" or "business opportunity laws" that limit the ability of franchisors to terminate franchise agreements or to withhold consent to the renewal or transfer of these agreements.
Our company owned real estate brokerage business must comply with the requirements governing the licensing and conduct of real estate brokerage and brokerage-related businesses in the jurisdictions in which we do business. These laws and regulations contain general standards for and limitations on the conduct of real estate brokers and sales associates, including those relating to licensing of brokers and sales associates, fiduciary and agency duties, administration of trust funds, collection of commissions, advertising and consumer disclosures. Under state law, our real estate brokers have certain duties and are responsible for the conduct of their brokerage business.
Our company owned real estate brokerage business, our relocation business, our mortgage origination joint venture, our title and settlement service business and the businesses of our franchisees (excluding commercial brokerage transactions) must comply with the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act ("RESPA"). RESPA and comparable state statutes prohibit providing or receiving payments, or other things of value, for the referral of business to settlement service providers


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in connection with the closing of real estate transactions involving federally-backed mortgages.  RESPA and related regulations do, however, contain a number of provisions that allow for payments or fee splits between providers, including fee splits between brokers and agents, fees splits between brokers, and market-based fees for the provision of actual goods or services.  In addition, RESPA allows for referrals to affiliated entities, including joint ventures, when specific requirements have been met.  We rely on these provisions in conducting our business activities and believe our arrangements comply with RESPA.  RESPA, however, has become a greater challenge in recent years for most industry participants offering settlement services, including mortgage companies, title companies and brokerages, because of changes in the regulatory environment and expansive interpretation of RESPA or similar state statutes by certain courts. With the passage of Dodd-Frank in 2010, primary responsibility for enforcement of RESPA has shifted to the CFPB.  The CFPB has taken a much stricter approach toward interpretation of RESPA and related regulations than the prior regulatory authority (the Department of Housing and Urban Development) and has become significantly more active in the use of enforcement proceedings.  In the face of this changing regulatory landscape, various industry participants, while disagreeing with the CFPB’s narrow interpretation of RESPA, have nevertheless decided to modify or terminate long-standing business arrangements to avoid the risk of protracted and costly litigation defending such arrangements.  RESPA also has been invoked by plaintiffs in private litigation for various purposes, including an action filed against us, our joint venture and PHH that is described in Note 14, "Commitments and Contingencies—Litigation"to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report, and narrower interpretations of state statutes similar to RESPA and enforcement proceedings of those statutes by state regulatory authorities.
Our title insurance business also is subject to regulation by insurance and other regulatory authorities in each state in which we provide title insurance. State regulations may impede or impose burdensome conditions on our ability to take actions that we may want to take to enhance our operating results.
We are also, to a lesser extent, subject to various other rules and regulations such as "controlled business" statutes, which impose limitations on affiliations between providers of title and settlement services, on the one hand, and real estate brokers, mortgage lenders and other real estate providers, on the other hand, or similar laws or regulations that would limit or restrict transactions among affiliates in a manner that would limit or restrict collaboration among our businesses.
In all of our business units there is a risk that we could be adversely affected by current laws, regulations or interpretations or that more restrictive laws, regulations or interpretations could increase responsibilities and duties to customers and franchisees and other parties, the adoption of which could make compliance more difficult or expensive. There is also a risk that a change in current laws could adversely affect our business. In addition, any adverse changes in regulatory interpretations, rules and laws that would place additional limitations or restrictions on affiliated transactions could have the effect of limiting or restricting collaboration among our business units. We cannot assure you that future changes in legislation, regulations or interpretations will not adversely affect our business operations.
Regulatory authorities also have relatively broad discretion to grant, renew and revoke licenses and approvals and to implement regulations. Accordingly, such regulatory authorities could prevent or temporarily suspend us from carrying on some or all of our activities or otherwise penalize us if our financial condition or our practices were found not to comply with the then current regulatory or licensing requirements or any interpretation of such requirements by the regulatory authority. Our failure to comply with any of these requirements or interpretations could limit our ability to renew current franchisees or sign new franchisees or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Our international business activities, and in particular our relocation business, must comply with applicable laws and regulations, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and U.K. Bribery Act that impose sanctions on improper payments.
Our failure to comply with any of the foregoing laws and regulations may subject us to fines, penalties, injunctions and/ or potential criminal violations. Any changes to these laws or regulations or any new laws or regulations may make it more difficult for us to operate our business and may have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Potential reform of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae or a reduction in U.S. government support for the housing market could have a material impact on our operations.
Numerous pieces of legislation seeking various types of changes for government sponsored entities or GSEs have been introduced in Congress to reform the U.S. housing finance market including, among other things, changes designed to reduce government support for housing finance and the winding down of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae over a period of years. Legislation, if enacted, or additional regulation which curtails Freddie Mac and/or Fannie Mae's activities and/or results in the wind down of these entities could increase mortgage costs and could result in more stringent underwriting


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guidelines imposed by lenders or cause other disruptions in the mortgage industry, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the housing market in general and our operations in particular.
Changes in accounting standards, subjective assumptions and estimates used by management related to complex accounting matters could have an adverse effect on results of operations.
Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and related accounting pronouncements, implementation guidance and interpretations with regard to a wide range of matters, such as revenue recognition, lease accounting, stock-based compensation, asset impairments, valuation reserves, income taxes and fair value accounting, are highly complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments made by management. Changes in these rules or their interpretations or changes in underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments made by management could significantly change our reported results.
Our international operations are subject to risks not generally experienced by our U.S. operations.
Our relocation services business operates worldwide, and to a lesser extent, our real estate franchise services segment has international franchisees and master franchisees. For the year ended December 31, 2016, revenues from these operations represented approximately 2% of our total revenues. Our international operations are subject to risks not generally experienced by our U.S. operations. The risks involved in our international operations and relationships that could result in losses against which we are not insured and therefore affect our profitability include:
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
exposure to local economic conditions and local laws and regulations, including those relating to our employees;
potential adverse changes in the political stability of foreign countries or in their diplomatic relations with the U.S.;
restrictions on the withdrawal of foreign investment and earnings;
government policies against businesses owned by foreigners;
onerous employment laws;
diminished ability to legally enforce our contractual rights and use of our trademarks in foreign countries;
difficulties in registering, protecting or preserving trade names and trademarks in foreign countries;
difficulties in complying with franchise disclosure and registration requirements in foreign countries;
restrictions on the ability to obtain or retain licenses required for operations;
withholding and other taxes on third party cross-border transactions as well as remittances and other payments by subsidiaries;
changes in foreign taxation structures;
compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act or similar laws of other countries; and
regional and country specific data protection and privacy laws.
We may incur substantial and unexpected liabilities arising out of our pension plan.
We have a defined benefit pension plan for which participation was frozen as of July 1, 1997; however, the plan is subject to minimum funding requirements. Although the Company to date has met its minimum funding requirements, the pension plan represents a liability on our balance sheet and will continue to require cash contributions from us, which may increase beyond our expectations in future years based on changing market conditions. In addition, changes in interest rates, mortality rates, health care costs, early retirement rates, investment returns and the market value of plan assets can affect the funded status of our pension plan and cause volatility in the future funding requirements of the plan.
Our ability to use our net operating losses ("NOLs") and other tax attributes may be limited.
Our ability to utilize NOLs and other tax attributes could be limited by the "ownership change" we underwent within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), as a result of the sale of our common stock in our initial public offering and the related transactions. An ownership change is generally defined as a greater than 50 percentage point increase in equity ownership by 5% stockholders in any three-year period. Pursuant to rules under Section 382 of the Code and a published Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") notice, a company's "net unrealized built-in gain" within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code may reduce the limitation on such company's ability to utilize NOLs resulting from an ownership change. Although there can be no assurance in this regard, we believe that the limitation on our ability to utilize our NOLs resulting from our ownership change should be significantly reduced as a result


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of our net unrealized built-in gain. Even assuming we are able to use our unrealized built-in gain, the cash tax benefit from our NOLs is dependent upon our ability to generate sufficient taxable income. Although we believe that we will be able to generate sufficient taxable income to fully utilize our NOLs, we may be unable to earn enough taxable income prior to the expiration of our NOLs.
We are responsible for certain of Cendant's contingent and other corporate liabilities.
Although we have resolved various Cendant contingent and other corporate liabilities and have established reserves for most of the remaining unresolved claims of which we have knowledge, adverse outcomes from the unresolved Cendant liabilities for which Realogy Group has assumed partial liability under the Separation and Distribution Agreement could be material with respect to our earnings or cash flows in any given reporting period.
Risks Related to Our Indebtedness
Our significant indebtedness and interest obligations could prevent us from meeting our obligations under our debt instruments and could adversely affect our ability to fund our operations, react to changes in the economy or our industry, or incur additional borrowings under our existing facilities.
We are significantly encumbered by our debt obligations. As of December 31, 2016, our total debt, excluding our securitization obligations, was $3,507 million (without giving effect to outstanding letters of credit). Our liquidity position has been, and is expected to continue to be, negatively impacted by the substantial interest expense on our debt obligations.
Our leverage could have important consequences, including the following:
it causes a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to be dedicated to the payment of interest and required amortization on our indebtedness and not be available for other purposes, including our operations, capital expenditures, share repurchases, dividends and future business opportunities or principal repayment;
it could cause us to be unable to comply with the senior secured leverage ratio covenant under our Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility;
it could cause us to be unable to meet our debt service requirements under our Senior Secured Credit Facility, the Term Loan A Facility or the indentures governing the Unsecured Notes or meet our other financial obligations;
it may limit our ability to incur additional borrowings under our existing facilities or securitizations, to obtain additional debt or equity financing for working capital, capital expenditures, business development, debt service requirements, acquisitions or general corporate or other purposes, or to refinance our indebtedness;
it exposes us to the risk of increased interest rates because a portion of our borrowings, including borrowings under our Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility, are at variable rates of interest;
it may limit our ability to adjust to changing market conditions and place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt;
it may cause a downgrade of our debt and long-term corporate ratings;
it may limit our ability to repurchase shares;
it may limit our ability to attract acquisition candidates or to complete future acquisitions;
it may cause us to be more vulnerable to periods of negative or slow growth in the general economy or in our business, or may cause us to be unable to carry out capital spending that is important to our growth; and
it may limit our ability to attract and retain key personnel.
An event of default under our Senior Secured Credit Facility, the Term Loan A Facility or the indentures governing our other material indebtedness would adversely affect our operations and our ability to satisfy obligations under our indebtedness.
The Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility contain restrictive covenants, including a requirement that we maintain a specified senior secured leverage ratio, which is defined as the ratio of our total senior secured debt (net of unrestricted cash and permitted investments) to trailing four quarter Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA. If we are unable to comply with the senior secured leverage ratio covenant or other restrictive covenants and we fail to remedy or avoid a default as permitted under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility, there would be an "event of default" under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility.


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Other events of default include, without limitation, nonpayment of principal or interest, material misrepresentations, insolvency, bankruptcy, certain material judgments, change of control, and cross-events of default on material indebtedness as well as failure to obtain an unqualified audit opinion by 90 days after the end of any fiscal year. Upon the occurrence of any event of default under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility, the lenders:
will not be required to lend any additional amounts to us;
could elect to declare all borrowings outstanding, together with accrued and unpaid interest and fees, to be immediately due and payable;
could require us to apply all of our available cash to repay these borrowings; or
could prevent us from making payments on the Unsecured Notes, any of which could result in an event of default under the indentures governing the Unsecured Notes or our Apple Ridge Funding LLC securitization program.
If we were unable to repay the amounts outstanding under our Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility, the lenders and holders of such debt under our Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility could proceed against the collateral granted to secure the Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility. We have pledged a significant portion of our assets as collateral to secure such indebtedness. If the lenders under our Senior Secured Credit Facility or Term Loan A Facility accelerate the repayment of borrowings, we may not have sufficient assets to repay the Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility and our other indebtedness or borrow sufficient funds to refinance such indebtedness. In the future, we may need to seek new financing or explore the possibility of amending the terms of our Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility, and we may not be able to do so on commercially reasonable terms or terms that are acceptable to us, if at all.
In addition, if an event of default is continuing under our Senior Secured Credit Facility, Term Loan A Facility, the indentures governing the Unsecured Notes or our other material indebtedness, such event could cause a termination of our ability to obtain future advances under, and amortization of, our Apple Ridge Funding LLC securitization program.
Variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly.
At December 31, 2016, $2,058 million of our borrowings under our Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility was at variable rates of interest thereby exposing us to interest rate risk. If interest rates increase from their current historically low rates, our debt service obligations on the variable rate indebtedness would increase even if the amount borrowed remained the same, and our net income would decrease. Although we have entered into interest rate swaps involving the exchange of floating for fixed rate interest payments to reduce interest rate volatility for a portion of our variable rate borrowings, such interest rate swaps do not eliminate interest rate volatility for all of our variable rate indebtedness at December 31, 2016.
Restrictive covenants under our Senior Secured Credit Facility, Term Loan A Facility, Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility and indentures may limit the manner in which we operate.
Our Senior Secured Credit Facility, Term Loan A Facility, Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility and the indentures governing the Unsecured Notes contain, and any future indebtedness we may incur may contain, various negative covenants that restrict our ability to, among other things:
incur or guarantee additional indebtedness, or issue disqualified stock or preferred stock;
pay dividends or make distributions to our stockholders;
repurchase or redeem capital stock;
make investments or acquisitions;
incur restrictions on the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or to make other payments to us;
enter into transactions with affiliates;
create liens;
merge or consolidate with other companies or transfer all or substantially all of our assets;
transfer or sell assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries; and
prepay, redeem or repurchase certain indebtedness.


33


As a result of these covenants, we are limited in the manner in which we conduct our business and we may be unable to engage in favorable business activities, repurchase shares of our common stock or finance future operations or capital needs.
Risks Related to an Investment in Our Common Stock
The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly.
The market price for our common stock could fluctuate significantly for various reasons, many of which are outside our control, including those described above and the following:
our operating and financial performance and prospects;
future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, including but not limited to shares we may issue from time to time as consideration for future acquisitions or investments;
housing and mortgage finance markets;
the incurrence of additional indebtedness or other adverse changes relating to our debt;
our quarterly or annual earnings or those of other companies in our industry;
future announcements concerning our business or our competitors' businesses;
the public's reaction to our press releases, other public announcements and filings with the SEC;
changes in earnings estimates or recommendations by sell-side securities analysts who track our common stock or ratings changes or commentary by rating agencies on our debt;
the timing and amount of share repurchases, if any;
market and industry perception of our success, or lack thereof, in pursuing our growth strategy;
strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions or restructurings;
actual or potential changes in laws, regulations and regulatory interpretations;
changes in demographics relating to housing such as household formation;
changing consumer attitudes concerning home ownership;
changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations or principles;
arrival and departure of key personnel;
adverse resolution of new or pending litigation, arbitration or regulatory proceedings against us; and
changes in general market, economic and political conditions in the United States and global economies or financial markets, including those resulting from natural disasters, terrorist attacks, acts of war and responses to such events.
These broad market and industry factors may materially reduce the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance. In addition, price volatility may be greater if the public float and trading volume of our common stock is low.
If any of the foregoing occurs, it could cause our stock price to fall and may expose us to litigation, including class action lawsuits that, even if unsuccessful, could be costly to defend and a distraction to management.
Texas insurance laws and regulations may delay or impede purchases of our common stock.
The insurance laws and regulations of Texas, the jurisdiction in which our title insurance underwriter subsidiary is domiciled, generally provide that no person may acquire control, directly or indirectly, of a Texas domiciled insurer, unless the person has provided required information to, and the acquisition is approved or not disapproved by, the Texas Department of Insurance. Generally, any person acquiring beneficial ownership of 10% or more of our voting securities would be presumed to have acquired indirect control of our title insurance underwriter subsidiary unless the Texas Department of Insurance, upon application, determines otherwise. Certain purchasers of our common stock could be subject to approvals from the Texas Department of Insurance which could significantly delay or otherwise impede their ability to complete such purchase.


34


We cannot provide assurance that we will continue to pay dividends or purchase shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase program.
There can be no assurance that we will have sufficient cash or surplus under Delaware law to be able to continue to pay dividends or purchase shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase program. Certain of our debt instruments contain covenants that restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us and repurchase shares of our common stock. We are permitted under the terms of our debt instrument to incur additional indebtedness, which may restrict or prevent us from paying dividends on our common stock. Agreements governing any future indebtedness, in addition to those governing our current indebtedness, may not permit us to pay dividends on our common stock or repurchase shares of our common stock. Because Realogy Holdings is a holding company and has no direct operations, we will only be able to pay dividends or repurchase shares of our common stock from our available cash on hand and any funds we receive from our subsidiaries. Our title insurance underwriter is subject to regulations that limit its ability to pay dividends or make loans or advances to us, principally to protect policyholders. Under Delaware law, dividends may be payable only out of surplus, which is our assets minus our liabilities and our capital or, if we have no surplus, out of our net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. As a result, we may not pay dividends according to our policy or at all if, among other things, we do not have sufficient cash to pay the intended dividends, our financial performance does not achieve expected results or the terms of our indebtedness prohibit it.
Our Board may also suspend the payment of dividends or our stock repurchase program if the Board deems such action to be in our best interests or those of our stockholders. If we do not pay dividends, the price of our common stock must appreciate in order to realize a gain on an investment in Realogy. This appreciation may not occur and our stock may in fact depreciate in value.
Delaware law and our organizational documents may impede or discourage a takeover, which could deprive our investors of the opportunity to receive a premium for their shares.
We are a Delaware corporation, and the anti-takeover provisions of Delaware law impose various impediments to the ability of a third party to acquire control of us, even if a change of control would be beneficial to our existing stockholders. In addition, provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may make it more difficult for, or prevent a third party from, acquiring control of us without the approval of our Board of Directors. Among other things, these provisions:
do not permit cumulative voting in the election of directors, which would otherwise allow less than a majority of stockholders to elect director candidates;
delegate the sole power to a majority of the Board of Directors to fix the number of directors;
provide the power to our Board of Directors to fill any vacancy on our Board of Directors, whether such vacancy occurs as a result of an increase in the number of directors or otherwise;
authorize the issuance of "blank check" preferred stock without any need for action by stockholders;
eliminate the ability of stockholders to call special meetings of stockholders;
prohibit stockholders from acting by written consent; and
establish advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our Board of Directors or for proposing matters that can be acted on by stockholders at stockholder meetings.
The foregoing factors could impede a merger, takeover or other business combination or discourage a potential investor from making a tender offer for our common stock which, under certain circumstances, could reduce the market value of our common stock and our investors' ability to realize any potential change-in-control premium.
We may issue shares of preferred stock in the future, which could make it difficult for another company to acquire us or could otherwise adversely affect holders of our common stock, which could depress the price of our common stock.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue one or more series of preferred stock. Our Board of Directors will have the authority to determine the preferences, limitations and relative rights of shares of preferred stock and to fix the number of shares constituting any series and the designation of such series, without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our preferred stock could be issued with voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to the rights of our common stock. The potential issuance of preferred stock may delay or prevent a change in control of us, discouraging bids for our common stock at a premium to the market price, and materially and adversely affect the market price and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock.


35


Our business could be negatively impacted as a result of actions by activist stockholders or others.
Stockholder activism at public companies has been rising and we may be subject to actions or requests—either formal or informal—from activist stockholders or others. Responding to such actions could be costly and time-consuming, may not align with our business strategies and could divert the attention of our Board of Directors and senior management from the pursuit of our business strategies. Perceived uncertainties as to our future direction as a result of stockholder activism may lead to the perception of a change in the direction of the business or other instability and may make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel, independent sales associates and business partners and may affect our relationships with vendors, customers and other third parties. In addition, actions of activist stockholders may cause significant fluctuations of our stock price based on temporary or speculative market perceptions or other factors that do not necessarily reflect the underlying fundamentals and prospects of our business.
Item 2.    Properties.
Corporate headquarters. Our corporate headquarters is located at 175 Park Avenue in Madison, New Jersey with a lease term expiring in December 2029 and consists of approximately 270,000 square feet of space.
Real estate franchise services. Our real estate franchise business conducts its main operations at our leased office at 175 Park Avenue in Madison, New Jersey.
Company owned real estate brokerage services. As of December 31, 2016, our company owned real estate brokerage segment leased approximately 4.9 million square feet of domestic office space under approximately 1,035 leases. Its corporate headquarters and one regional headquarters facility are located in leased offices at 175 Park Avenue, Madison, New Jersey. As of December 31, 2016, NRT leased 7 facilities serving as regional headquarters, 37 facilities serving as local administration, training facilities or storage, and approximately 790 brokerage sales offices under 991 leases. These offices are generally located in shopping centers and small office parks, typically with lease terms of one to five years. Included in the 4.9 million square feet is approximately 123,000 square feet of vacant and/or subleased space, principally relating to brokerage sales office consolidations.
Relocation services. Our relocation business has its main corporate operations in a leased building in Danbury, Connecticut with a lease term expiring in November 2030. There are leased offices in the U.S., located in Lisle, Illinois; Irving, Texas; Omaha, Nebraska; Folsom and San Diego, California; St. Louis Park, Minnesota; and Bellevue, Washington. International offices include leased facilities in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Brazil, Germany, France, Switzerland, Canada and the Netherlands.
Title and settlement services. Our title and settlement services business conducts its main operations at a leased facility in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, pursuant to a lease expiring in December 2021.  As of December 31, 2016, this business also has leased regional and branch offices in 25 states and Washington, D.C.
We believe that all of our properties and facilities are well maintained.
Item 3.    Legal Proceedings.
See Note 14, "Commitments and Contingencies—Litigation", to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for additional information on the Company's legal proceedings, including a description of the Strader, et al. and Hall v. PHH Corporation, et al. litigation.
The Company believes that it has adequately accrued for legal matters as appropriate. The Company records litigation accruals for legal matters which are both probable and estimable.
Litigation and other disputes are inherently unpredictable and subject to substantial uncertainties and unfavorable resolutions could occur. In addition, class action lawsuits or regulatory proceedings challenging practices that have broad impact can be costly to defend and, depending on the class size and claims, could be costly to settle. As such, the Company could incur judgments or enter into settlements of claims with liability that are materially in excess of amounts accrued and these settlements could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows in any particular period.
Litigation and claims against other participants in the residential real estate industry may impact the Company when the rulings in those cases cover practices common to the broader industry.  Examples may include claims associated with RESPA compliance, broker fiduciary duties, and sales agent classification. One such case is PHH Corp. vs. Consumer


36


Financial Protection Bureau, No. 15-1177. On October 11, 2016, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a decision in that case addressing the constitutionality of the CFPB's structure as a single-Director independent agency where the CFPB Director can only be removed by the President of the U.S. for "cause" as well as various important RESPA issues, including that: (1) Section 8(c)(2) of RESPA (which permits “bona fide” payments for goods and services actually performed), remains a viable exception under RESPA and does not constitute a payment for a referral in violation of RESPA where the amount paid does not exceed the reasonable market value of the goods or services; (2) new CFPB interpretations of RESPA cannot be enforced on a retroactive basis where there is reliance on prior regulatory interpretations; and (3) the CFPB is bound by the three-year statute of limitations for government enforcement of RESPA. On February 16, 2017, the full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to hear an appeal of the October 11, 2016 decision and vacated that decision pending the appeal.
The Company also may be impacted by litigation and other claims against companies in other industries. Rulings on matters such as the enforcement of arbitration agreements and worker classification may adversely affect the Company and other residential real estate industry participants as a result of the classification of sales associates as independent contractors, irrespective of the fact that the parties subject to the rulings are in a different industry.  There is active worker classification litigation in numerous jurisdictions, including Massachusetts, California, New Jersey and New York, against a variety of industries where the plaintiffs seek to reclassify independent contractors as employees or to challenge the use of federal and state minimum wage and overtime exemptions. To the extent the defendants are unsuccessful in these types of litigation matters, and we or our franchisees cannot distinguish our or their practices (or our industry’s practices), we and our franchisees could face significant liability and could be required to modify certain business relationships, either of which could materially and adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. There also are changing employment-related regulatory interpretations at both the federal and state levels that could create risks around historic practices and that could require changes in business practices, both for us and our franchisees.
Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures.
None.


37


PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Price of Common Stock
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "RLGY". As of February 21, 2017, the number of stockholders of record was 23. The following table sets forth the quarterly high and low sales prices per share of RLGY common stock as reported by the NYSE, for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016:
 
2015
 
2016
 
High
 
Low
 
High
 
Low
First Quarter
$
49.32

 
$
42.23

 
$
36.46

 
$
27.98

Second Quarter
$
49.69

 
$
44.80

 
$
37.33

 
$
27.43

Third Quarter
$
49.75

 
$
36.97

 
$
31.48

 
$
25.39

Fourth Quarter
$
43.51

 
$
35.96

 
$
27.30

 
$
21.43

Dividend Policy
In August 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend policy of $0.09 per share and paid cash dividends in August and December 2016, returning a total of $26 million to stockholders in cash dividends.
Pursuant to the Company’s policy, the dividends payable in cash are treated as a reduction of additional paid-in capital since the Company is currently in a retained deficit position.
The declaration and payment of any future dividend will be subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, contractual restrictions, including restrictive covenants contained in the Company’s credit agreements, and the indentures governing the Company’s outstanding debt securities, capital requirements and other factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant. Because Realogy Holdings is a holding company and has no direct operations, we will only be able to pay dividends from our available cash on hand and any funds we receive from our subsidiaries. Our title insurance underwriter is subject to regulations that limit its ability to pay dividends or make loans or advances to us, principally to protect policyholders. Under Delaware law, dividends may be payable only out of surplus, which is our net assets minus our liabilities and our capital or, if we have no surplus, out of our net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. As a result, we may not pay dividends according to our policy or at all if, among other things, we do not have sufficient cash to pay the intended dividends, if our financial performance does not achieve expected results or the terms of our indebtedness prohibit it.
Share Repurchase Program
In February 2016, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $275 million of the Company’s common stock. On February 23, 2017, our Board authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $300 million of the Company's common stock, which is in addition to the $61 million remaining authorization at that date under the initial share repurchase program. As with the initial program, repurchases under the new program may be made at management's discretion from time to time on the open market, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans or through privately negotiated transactions. The size and timing of these repurchases will depend on price, market and economic conditions, legal and contractual requirements and other factors. Similarly, the new repurchase program has no time limit and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. All of the repurchased common stock has been retired. The following table sets forth information relating to repurchase of shares of our common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2016:
Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
 
Average Price Paid per Share
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of a Publicly Announced Program
 
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Program
November 1-30, 2016
 
952,182

 
$24.19
 
952,182

 
$
118,371,267

December 1-31, 2016 *
 
1,620,364

 
$25.90
 
1,620,364

 
$
76,403,839

_______________
(*)
Includes 153,738 of shares purchased for which the trade date occurred in late December 2016 while settlement occurred in January 2017.


38


During the period January 1, 2017 through February 23, 2017, we repurchased an additional 0.6 million shares at a weighted average market price of $26.23. As of February 23, 2017, we currently have $61 million of remaining availability under our February 2016 program. The amount and timing of specific repurchases are subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. Repurchases may be conducted in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.
Stock Performance Graph
The stock performance graph set forth below is not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any of our prior or future filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The following graph compares Realogy's cumulative total shareholder return with the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 index and the S&P Home Builders Select Industry Index or XHB Index. We have included the XHB Index because it provides a diversified group of holdings representing home building, building products, home furnishings and home appliances, which we believe correlate with the housing industry as a whole.  A portion of our 2015 and 2016 long-term incentive compensation awards are also tied to the relative performance of our total stockholder return to that index over the three-year period ending December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The cumulative total shareholder return for the index as well as the XHB Index includes the reinvestment of dividends. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in the Company's common shares, the index and the peer group was $100 on October 11, 2012 and updates the value through December 31, 2016.
a2016realogy_chart.jpg
Cumulative Total Return
 
October 11, 2012
 
December 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2013
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2016
Realogy Holdings Corp.
$
100.00

 
$
122.69

 
$
144.65

 
$
130.09

 
$
107.22

 
$
75.77

SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB) index
$
100.00

 
$
107.42

 
$
117.51

 
$
130.94

 
$
142.13

 
$
129.64

S&P 500
$
100.00

 
$
100.07

 
$
132.48

 
$
150.62

 
$
152.70

 
$
170.96



39


Item 6.    Selected Financial Data.
The following table presents our selected historical consolidated financial data and operating statistics. The consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein. The statement of operations data for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 have been derived from our consolidated financial statements not included elsewhere herein.
Neither Realogy Holdings, the indirect parent of Realogy Group, nor Realogy Intermediate, the direct parent company of Realogy Group, conducts any operations other than with respect to its respective direct or indirect ownership of Realogy Group. As a result, the consolidated financial positions and results of operations of Realogy Holdings, Realogy Intermediate and Realogy Group are the same.
The selected historical consolidated financial data and operating statistics presented below should be read in conjunction with our annual consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere herein. Our annual consolidated financial information may not be indicative of our future performance.
 
As of or for the Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
(In millions, except per share data and operating statistics)
Statement of Operations Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenue
$
5,810

 
$
5,706

 
$
5,328

 
$
5,289

 
$
4,672

Total expenses
5,461

 
5,424

 
5,103

 
5,114

 
5,235

Income (loss) before income taxes, equity in earnings and noncontrolling interests
349

 
282

 
225

 
175

 
(563
)
Income tax expense (benefit) (a)
144

 
110

 
87

 
(242
)
 
39

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities
(12
)
 
(16
)
 
(9
)
 
(26
)
 
(62
)
Net income (loss)
217

 
188

 
147

 
443

 
(540
)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
(5
)
 
(3
)
Net income (loss) attributable to Realogy Holdings and Realogy Group
$
213

 
$
184

 
$
143

 
$
438

 
$
(543
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Realogy Holdings:
 
 
Basic earnings (loss) per share
$
1.47

 
$
1.26

 
$
0.98

 
$
3.01

 
$
(14.41
)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
$
1.46

 
$
1.24

 
$
0.97

 
$
2.99

 
$
(14.41
)
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares used in:
 
 
Basic
144.5

 
146.5

 
146.0

 
145.4

 
37.7

Diluted
145.8

 
148.1

 
147.2

 
146.6

 
37.7

Balance Sheet Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
274

 
$
415

 
$
313

 
$
236

 
$
376

Securitization assets (b)
238

 
281

 
286

 
268

 
299

Total assets
7,421

 
7,531

 
7,304

 
7,092

 
7,350

Securitization obligations
205

 
247

 
269

 
252

 
261

Long-term debt, including short-term portion
3,507

 
3,702

 
3,855

 
3,857

 
4,325

Equity
2,469

 
2,422

 
2,183

 
2,013

 
1,519

    


40


 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Operating Statistics:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real Estate Franchise Services (c) (d)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Closed homesale sides (e)
1,135,344

 
1,101,333

 
1,065,339

 
1,083,424

 
988,624

Average homesale price (f)
$
272,206

 
$
263,894

 
$
250,214

 
$
233,011

 
$
213,575

Average homesale brokerage commission rate (g)
2.50
%
 
2.51
%
 
2.52
%
 
2.54
%
 
2.54
%
Net effective royalty rate (h)
4.46
%
 
4.48
%
 
4.49
%
 
4.49
%
 
4.63
%
Royalty per side (i)
$
317

 
$
309

 
$
296

 
$
276

 
$
262

Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services (d) (j)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Closed homesale sides (e)
335,699

 
336,744

 
308,332

 
316,640

 
289,409

Average homesale price (f)
$
489,504

 
$
489,673

 
$
500,589

 
$
471,144

 
$
444,638

Average homesale brokerage commission rate (g)
2.46
%
 
2.46
%
 
2.47
%
 
2.50
%
 
2.49
%
Gross commission income per side (k)
$
12,752

 
$
12,730

 
$
13,072

 
$
12,459

 
$
11,826

Relocation Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Initiations (l)
163,063

 
167,749

 
171,210

 
165,705

 
158,162

Referrals (m)
87,277

 
99,531

 
96,755

 
91,373

 
79,327

Title and Settlement Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchasing title and closing units (n)
152,997

 
130,541

 
113,074

 
115,572

 
105,156

Refinance title and closing units (o)
50,919

 
38,544

 
27,529

 
76,196

 
89,220

Average fee per closing unit (p)
$
1,875

 
$
1,861

 
$
1,780

 
$
1,504

 
$
1,362

_______________
 
 
(a)
For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $242 million which was primarily due to a $341 million release of the domestic deferred tax valuation allowance, partially offset by income taxes for 2013 income.
(b)
Represents the portion of relocation receivables and advances and other related assets that collateralize our securitization obligations. Refer to Note 8, "Short and Long-Term Debt" in the consolidated financial statements for further information.
(c)
These amounts include only those relating to third-party franchisees and do not include amounts relating to the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services segment.
(d)
In April 2015, the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services segment acquired Coldwell Banker United, a large franchisee of the Real Estate Franchise Services segment. As a result of the acquisition, the drivers of the acquired entity shifted from the Real Estate Franchise Services segment to the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services segment. Closed homesale sides for the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage segment included 16,746 sides related to the acquisition of Coldwell Banker United in 2015.
(e)
A closed homesale side represents either the "buy" side or the "sell" side of a homesale transaction.
(f)
Represents the average selling price of closed homesale transactions.
(g)
Represents the average commission rate earned on either the "buy" side or "sell" side of a homesale transaction.
(h)
Represents the average percentage of our franchisees’ commission income (excluding NRT) paid to the Real Estate Franchise Services segment as a royalty, net of volume incentives achieved. The net effective royalty rate does not include the effect of non-standard incentives granted to certain franchisees. Royalty fees are charged to all franchisees pursuant to the terms of the relevant franchise agreements and are included in each of the real estate brands' franchise disclosure documents. Non-standard incentives may be used as consideration for new or renewing franchisees. Most of our franchisees do not receive these non-standard incentives and in contrast to royalties and volume incentives, they are not homesale transaction based. We have accordingly excluded the non-standard incentives from the calculation of the net effective royalty rate. Had these non-standard incentives been included, the net effective royalty rate would be lower by approximately 23, 21, 18, 16 and 16 basis points for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
(i)
Represents net domestic royalties earned from our franchisees (excluding NRT) divided by the total number of our franchisees’ closed homesale sides.
(j)
Our real estate brokerage business has a significant concentration of offices and transactions in geographic regions where home prices are at the higher end of the U.S. real estate market, particularly the east and west coasts. The real estate franchise business has franchised offices that are more widely dispersed across the United States than our real estate brokerage operations. Accordingly, operating results and homesale statistics may differ between our brokerage and franchise businesses based upon geographic presence and the corresponding homesale activity in each geographic region.


41


(k)
Represents gross commission income divided by closed homesale sides. Gross commission income includes commissions earned in homesale transactions and certain other activities, primarily leasing and property management transactions.
(l)
Represents the total number of transferees and affinity members served by the relocation services business.
(m)
Represents the number of referrals from which we earned revenue from real estate brokers.
(n)
Represents the number of title and closing units processed as a result of home purchases. The amounts presented include 18,930 and 13,304 purchase units as a result of the acquisitions for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
(o)
Represents the number of title and closing units processed as a result of homeowners refinancing their home loans. The amounts presented include 4,469 and 3,403 refinance units as a result of the acquisitions for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
(p)
Represents the average fee we earn on purchase title and refinancing title units.
In presenting the financial data above in conformity with general accepted accounting principles, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. See "Item 7.—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies" for a detailed discussion of the accounting policies that we believe require subjective and complex judgments that could potentially affect reported results.
Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes thereto included elsewhere herein. Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts in tables are in millions. This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contain forward-looking statements. See "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A.—Risk Factors" for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Debt Transactions
In January 2017, the Company completed two debt transactions which increased the borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility from $815 million to $1.05 billion and refinanced the existing Term Loan B to reduce the interest rate by 75 basis points from LIBOR plus 3.00% (with a floor of 0.75%) to LIBOR plus 2.25% (with a floor of 0.75%) and from ABR plus 2.00% to ABR plus 1.25% (with an ABR floor of 1.75%). Based upon our current debt projections for 2017, we expect our cash interest to be approximately $165 million for 2017.
Return of Capital to Stockholders
In February 2016, the Board authorized a share repurchase program of up to $275 million to enable us to return capital to stockholders while maintaining the flexibility to invest in the growth of our company through acquisitions or other strategic relationships, market expansion and innovative technologies. During 2016, we repurchased 7.1 million of our outstanding shares—including 2.6 million shares purchased during the fourth quarter—for an aggregate of $199 million purchased at a weighted average market price of $27.96 per share pursuant to this share repurchase program. From January 1, 2017 to February 23, 2017, we repurchased an additional 0.6 million shares under the plan at a weighted average market price of $26.23 per share, reducing the remaining plan balance to $61 million. The Company had approximately 140 million shares of common stock outstanding as of February 21, 2017.
On February 23, 2017, the Board authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $300 million of the Company's common stock, which is in addition to the remaining authorization under the initial share repurchase program authorized in February 2016. As with the initial program, repurchases under the new program may be made at management's discretion from time to time on the open market, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans or through privately negotiated transactions. The size and timing of these repurchases will depend on price, market and economic conditions, legal and contractual requirements and other factors. Similarly, the new repurchase program has no time limit and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.
During 2016, we also initiated a quarterly cash dividend of $0.09 per share in August 2016 and paid cash dividends in August and December 2016, returning an additional $26 million to stockholders. On February 23, 2017, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.09 per share of the Company's common stock to be paid on March 23, 2017 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 9, 2017.


42


New Mortgage Origination Joint Venture
On February 15, 2017, Realogy announced that it and Guaranteed Rate, Inc. (“Guaranteed Rate”) have agreed to form a new joint venture, Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC ("Guaranteed Rate Affinity"), which is expected to begin doing business in June 2017. Commencement of operations is subject to the closing of an asset purchase agreement under which Guaranteed Rate Affinity will acquire certain assets of the mortgage operations of PHH Home Loans, the existing joint venture between Realogy and PHH Mortgage Corporation, including its four regional centers and employees across the United States, but not its mortgage assets.
Guaranteed Rate Affinity will originate and market its mortgage lending services to Realogy’s real estate brokerage and relocation subsidiaries as well as other real estate brokerage and relocation companies across the country. Guaranteed Rate will own a controlling 50.1% stake of Guaranteed Rate Affinity and Realogy will own 49.9%. Guaranteed Rate will have responsibility for the oversight of the officers and senior employees of the Company who are designated to manage the Company.
The asset purchase agreement is subject to approval by PHH Corporation’s shareholders and other closing conditions and the movement of employees from the old joint venture to the new joint venture is expected to be completed in a series of phases. The initial phase is expected to occur in June 2017 and the final phase is expected to occur during the fourth quarter of 2017. Once these transactions are complete together with the monetization of Realogy's stake in the old joint venture, the Company expects to realize approximately $30 million of net cash. There can be no assurance that the asset purchase agreement will be consummated, that Guaranteed Rate Affinity will commence operations in a timely manner or at all or that the Company will receive the cash it expects from the wind down of the old joint venture and the establishment of the new joint venture.
NRT Initiatives
While NRT has historically compensated its independent sales associates using a traditional model, utilizing elements of other models depending upon the geographic market, we are placing an even greater focus on the quality of our services and the use of financial incentives to strengthen our recruiting and retention of independent sales associates and teams. These actions include a more aggressive strategy to recruit and retain top performing sales associates with the overall goal of sustaining or growing market share in various markets, improving NRT's overall profitability. In addition, there will be an enhanced focus on the value proposition offered to independent sales associate teams. Results of these recruiting efforts are not expected to be realized for at least 9 to 12 months as the benefits from recruiting new independent sales associates relate mainly to new listings, not pending listings. We expect near-term moderate pressure on costs and margin from these initiatives.
Business Optimization Initiative
During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company began a business optimization initiative that focuses on maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the cost structure of each of the Company's business units.  The action is designed to improve client service levels across each of the business units while enhancing the Company's profitability and incremental margins. The plan focuses on several key areas of opportunity which include process improvement efficiencies, office footprint optimization, leveraging technology and media spend, centralized procurement, outsourcing administrative services and organizational design. In the second quarter of 2016, the Company expanded the scope of restructuring activities in order to realign the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services back office administration and support functions across the country. As a result of this realignment, the activities undertaken in connection with the restructuring plan are expected to be largely completed by mid-2017. Total expected restructuring costs of approximately $65 million are currently anticipated to be incurred for this initiative.


43


The following table reflects the total amount of restructuring costs expected to be incurred for the business optimization initiative by reportable segment:
 
Total amount expected to be incurred
 
Amount incurred to date
 
Total amount remaining to be incurred
RFG
$
5

 
$
4

 
$
1

NRT
40

 
27

 
13

Cartus
5

 
5

 

TRG
1

 
1

 

Corporate and Other
14

 
12

 
2

Total
$
65

 
$
49

 
$
16

Cost savings related to the restructuring initiatives are estimated to be approximately $69 million on an annual run rate basis of which $33 million was realized in 2016 and another $29 million is expected to be realized in 2017. The estimated cost savings is expected to be realized on an annual run rate basis by each reportable segment as follows: $7 million at RFG, $45 million at NRT, $9 million at Cartus, $4 million at TRG and $4 million at Corporate.
CURRENT INDUSTRY TRENDS
During 2016, according to the National Association of Realtors ("NAR"), homesale transaction volume increased 8% due to an increase in the number of homesale transactions, as well as average homesale price growth. RFG and NRT homesale transaction volume on a combined basis increased 4% for the year ended December 31, 2016. At NRT specifically, we have seen the slowing of activity at the high end of the market, the cumulative impact of market share attrition, and inventory issues in the mid and lower priced homes in the major markets in which NRT operates. In 2016, NRT average homesale price and number of homesale transactions remained flat. At NRT, sales volume at the $2.5 million and higher homesale price points decreased from 19% of total volume in 2015 to 17% in 2016.
Recruitment and retention of independent sales associates and independent sales associate teams are critical to the business and financial results of a brokerage, including our company owned brokerages and those operated by our affiliated franchisees. Most of a brokerage's real estate listings are sourced through the sphere of influence of their independent sales associates, notwithstanding the growing influence of internet-generated leads. Competition for independent sales associates in our industry is high, has intensified particularly with respect to more productive independent sales associates and has resulted in a decline of our market share at NRT, as well as at RFG to a lesser extent.  Competition for independent sales associates is generally subject to numerous factors, including remuneration (such as sales commission percentage and other financial incentives paid to independent sales associates), other expenses charged to independent sales associates, leads or business opportunities generated for the independent sales associate from the brokerage, independent sales associates' perception of the value of the broker's brand affiliation, marketing and advertising efforts by the brokerage, the office manager, staff and fellow independent sales associates with whom they collaborate daily and technology, continuing professional education, and other services provided by the brokerage. We believe that the influence of independent sales associates and independent sales associate teams has increased during the housing recovery and, together with the increasing competition from other brokerages, has negatively impacted the recruitment and retention of independent sales associates and put pressure on commission rate splits. See "Recent Developments" above for the Company's incremental actions that are being undertaken to address the competition for independent sales associates.
As reported by NAR, the housing affordability index has continued to be at historically favorable levels. An index above 100 signifies that a family earning the median income has sufficient income to purchase a median-priced home, assuming a 20 percent down payment and ability to qualify for a mortgage. The composite housing affordability index was 165 for 2016 and 166 for 2015. The housing affordability index remains significantly higher than the average of 127 for the period from 1970 through 2016.
Mortgage rates increased approximately 75 basis points from September 30, 2016 to December 31, 2016, but continue to be at low levels by historical standards. While this increase adversely impacts housing affordability, we believe that rising wages, improving consumer confidence and a continuation of low inventory levels for the mainstream housing market will result in continued favorable demand conditions and existing homesale volume growth. According to Freddie Mac, mortgage rates on commitments for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate first mortgages averaged 4.2% at December, 2016, 3.7% and 3.9% for 2016 and 2015, respectively. To the extent that mortgage rates increase further, consumers continue to have financing alternatives such as adjustable rate mortgages or shorter term mortgages which can be utilized to obtain a lower mortgage rate than a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.


44


Partially offsetting the positive impact of low mortgage rates are low housing inventory levels. According to NAR, the inventory of existing homes for sale in the U.S. was 1.7 million and 1.8 million at the end of December 2016 and December 2015, respectively. The December 2016 inventory represents a national average supply of 3.6 months at the current homesales pace which is below the 6.1 month 25-year average. Additional factors offsetting the positive impact of low mortgage rate include the ongoing rise in home prices, conservative mortgage underwriting standards and certain homeowners having limited or negative equity in homes. Mortgage credit conditions tightened significantly during the recent housing downturn, with banks limiting credit availability to more creditworthy borrowers and requiring larger down payments, stricter appraisal standards, and more extensive mortgage documentation. Although mortgage credit conditions appear to be easing, mortgages remain less available to some borrowers and it frequently takes longer to close a homesale transaction due to current mortgage and underwriting requirements.
Beginning on October 3, 2015, CFPB's new three-day advance closing disclosure rule, known as TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure ("TRID"), became effective for new loan applications and was a significant change for the industry. The new regulations caused closing delays throughout the industry, including at Realogy for both its company-owned and franchised operations. The National Association of Realtors Economists’ Outlook report published on October 12, 2016 reported that the additional time from contract-to-close for U.S. homesales reached the peak at 5.7 days in December 2015 and has eased to 3.4 days in September 2016.
RESPA has become a greater challenge in recent years for most industry participants offering settlement services, including mortgage companies, title companies and brokerages, because of changes in the regulatory environment. With the passage of Dodd-Frank in 2010, primary responsibility for enforcement of RESPA has shifted to the CFPB.  The CFPB has taken a much stricter approach toward interpretation of RESPA and related regulations than the prior regulatory authority (the Department of Housing and Urban Development) and has significantly increased the use of enforcement proceedings.  In the face of this changing regulatory landscape, various industry participants, while disagreeing with the CFPB’s narrow interpretation of RESPA, have nevertheless decided to modify or terminate long-standing business arrangements to avoid the risk of protracted and costly litigation defending such arrangements.  While we have made, and may continue to make, changes to our RESPA-related business practices, we do not expect these changes to have a material impact on our operations.
Existing Homesales
For the year ended December 31, 2016, NAR existing homesale transactions increased to 5.5 million homes or up 4% compared to 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, RFG and NRT homesale transactions on a combined basis increased 2% compared to 2015. Our homesale transactions were impacted by a slowing of activity in the high-end markets served by NRT, the cumulative impact of market share attrition and inventory issues in the mid and lower priced homes in many of the markets served by NRT. The annual and quarterly year-over-year trends in homesale transactions are as follows:
Number of Existing Homesales
2014 vs. 2013
 
2015 vs. 2014
 
2016 vs. 2015
 
Industry
 
 
 
 
 
 
NAR (a)
(3
)%
 
6
%
 
4
 %
 
Fannie Mae (b)
(3
)%
 
6
%
 
4
 %
 
Realogy
 
 
 
 
 
 
RFG and NRT Combined
(2
)%
 
5
%
 
2
 %
 
RFG
(2
)%
 
3
%
(c)
3
 %
 
NRT
(3
)%
 
9
%
(c)
 %
 
 
2016 vs. 2015
 
Number of Existing Homesales
First Quarter
 
Second Quarter
 
Third Quarter
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Industry
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NAR (a)
6
%
 
4
 %
 
1
 %
 
6
%
 
Fannie Mae (b)
5
%
 
4
 %
 
 %
 
7
%
 
Realogy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RFG and NRT Combined
4
%
 
3
 %
 
 %
 
3
%
 
RFG
3
%
(c)
4
 %
 
1
 %
 
4
%
 
NRT
7
%
(c)
(1
)%
 
(4
)%
 
%
 


45


_______________ 
(a)
Historical existing homesale data is as of the most recent NAR press release, which is subject to sampling error.
(b)  
Existing homesale data, on a seasonally adjusted basis, is as of the most recent Fannie Mae press release.
(c)
In April 2015, NRT acquired Coldwell Banker United, a large franchisee of RFG, and as a result the drivers of Coldwell Banker United shifted from RFG to NRT. In addition, NRT homesale sides include transactions from the acquisition of ZipRealty in August 2014. The year-over-year change in homesale sides, excluding the impact of these acquisitions, would have been as follows:    
 
Full Year
2015 vs. 2014
 
First Quarter
2016 vs. 2015
RFG
5
%
 
4
%
NRT
2
%
 
1
%
Since the acquisition of Coldwell Banker United occurred during the beginning of the second quarter of 2015, it did not impact the comparability of homesale transactions during the second, third and fourth quarters of 2016 compared to the same periods of 2015.
As of their most recent releases, NAR is forecasting existing homesales to increase 2% in 2017 and another 4% in 2018 while Fannie Mae is forecasting an increase in existing homesale transactions of 2% in 2017 and another 2% in 2018.
Existing Homesale Price
In 2016, NAR existing homesale average price increased 4% compared to the same period in 2015, while average homesale price increased 2% on a combined basis for RFG and NRT. The combined average homesale price increase was due to a modest shift in homesale transaction activity from higher-price homes to lower and mid-priced homes across RFG and NRT. Homes at the low to mid-price points are also experiencing continued constrained inventory levels. The annual and quarterly year-over-year trends in the price of homes are as follows:
Price of Existing Homes
2014 vs. 2013
 
2015 vs. 2014
 
2016 vs. 2015
 
Industry
 
 
 
 
 
 
NAR (a)
4
%
 
4
 %
 
4
 %
 
Fannie Mae (b)
6
%
 
6
 %
 
5
 %
 
Realogy
 
 
 
 
 
 
RFG and NRT Combined
7
%
 
3
 %
 
2
 %
 
RFG
7
%
 
5
 %
(c)
3
 %
 
NRT
6
%
 
(2
)%
(c)
 %
 
 
2016 vs. 2015
 
Price of Existing Homes
First Quarter
 
Second Quarter
 
Third Quarter
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Industry
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NAR (a)
4
 %
 
3
 %
 
4
%
 
4
%
 
Fannie Mae (b)
6
 %
 
5
 %
 
6
%
 
6
%
 
Realogy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RFG and NRT Combined
2
 %
 
1
 %
 
2
%
 
3
%
 
RFG
3
 %
(c)
3
 %
 
3
%
 
4
%
 
NRT
(2
)%
(c)
(2
)%
 
1
%
 
2
%
 
_______________ 
(a)
Historical homesale price data is for existing homesale average price and is as of the most recent NAR press release.
(b)  
Existing homesale price data is for median price and is as of the most recent Fannie Mae press release.
(c)
In April 2015, NRT acquired Coldwell Banker United, a large franchisee of RFG, and as a result the drivers of Coldwell Banker United shifted from RFG to NRT. In addition, NRT homesale price includes transactions from the acquisition of ZipRealty in August 2014. The acquisition of Coldwell Banker United did not have a significant impact on the average homesale price for RFG. The year-over-year change in average homesale price for NRT, excluding the impact of these acquisitions, would have been as follows:
 
Full Year
2015 vs. 2014
 
First Quarter
2016 vs. 2015
NRT
1
%
 
1
%
Since the acquisition of Coldwell Banker United occurred at the beginning of the second quarter of 2015, it did not impact the comparability of average homesale price during the second, third and fourth quarters of 2016 compared to the same periods of 2015.


46


As of their most recent releases, NAR is forecasting an increase in median existing homesale price of 4% in 2017 and another 3% in 2018 while Fannie Mae is forecasting a 6% increase in 2017 and another 4% increase in 2018.
* * *
We believe that long-term demand for housing and the growth of our industry are primarily driven by the affordability of housing, the economic health of the U.S. economy, demographic trends such as population growth, the increase in household formation, mortgage rate levels and mortgage availability, certain tax benefits, job growth, the inherent attributes of homeownership versus renting and the influence of local housing dynamics of supply versus demand. At this time, most of these factors are generally trending favorably. Factors that may negatively affect continued growth in the housing recovery include:
higher mortgage rates due to increases in long-term interest rates as well as reduced availability of mortgage financing;
insufficient inventory levels leading to lower unit sales;
changing attitudes towards home ownership, particularly among potential first-time homebuyers who may delay, or decide not to, purchase homes;
the impact of limited or negative equity of current homeowners, as well as the lack of available inventory may limit their proclivity to purchase an alternative home;
reduced affordability of homes;
unsustainable economic recovery in the U.S. or a weak recovery resulting in only modest economic growth;
a decline in home ownership levels in the U.S.;
geopolitical and economic instability; and
legislative or regulatory reform, including but not limited to reform that adversely impacts the financing of the U.S. housing market or amends the Internal Revenue Code in a manner that negatively impacts home ownership such as reform that reduces the amount that certain taxpayers would be allowed to deduct for home mortgage interest.
Many of the trends impacting our businesses that derive revenue from homesales also impact Cartus, which is a global provider of outsourced employee relocation services. In addition to general residential housing trends, key drivers of Cartus are global corporate spending on relocation services, which has not returned to levels that existed prior to the most recent recession and changes in employment relocation trends. Cartus is subject to a competitive pricing environment and lower average revenue per relocation as a result of a shift in the mix of services and number of services being delivered per move. These factors have and may continue to put pressure on the growth and profitability of this segment.
KEY DRIVERS OF OUR BUSINESSES
Within RFG and NRT, we measure operating performance using the following key operating statistics: (i) closed homesale sides, which represents either the "buy" side or the "sell" side of a homesale transaction, (ii) average homesale price, which represents the average selling price of closed homesale transactions, and (iii) average homesale broker commission rate, which represents the average commission rate earned on either the "buy" side or "sell" side of a homesale transaction. For RFG, we also use net effective royalty rate, which represents the average percentage of our franchisees’ commission revenues payable to RFG, net of volume incentives achieved.
From 2007 through December 2013, the average homesale broker commission rate remained fairly stable; however, over the last several years we experienced a modest decline in the average broker commission rate. We expect that over the long term the average brokerage commission rates could modestly decline as a result of increases in average homesale prices and, to a lesser extent, competitors providing fewer services for a reduced fee. This is particularly relevant in periods when there is constrained housing inventory. A continuing housing recovery should result in an increase in our revenues, although such increases could be offset by modestly declining brokerage commission rates and competitive pressures.
In general, most of our third-party franchisees are entitled to volume incentives which are calculated for each franchisee as a progressive percentage of each franchisee's annual gross income.  These incentives decrease during times of declining homesale transaction volumes and increase during market recoveries when there is a corresponding increase in homesale transaction volume. We expect that over the long term, the net effective royalty rate will modestly decline as a result of increases in homesale transaction volume, consolidation of our franchisees and market pressures. In addition, several of our


47


larger franchisees have a flat royalty rate, which will modestly reduce the Company's net effective royalty rate if their homesale transaction volume increases.
Royalty fees are charged to all franchisees pursuant to the terms of the relevant franchise agreements and are included in each of the real estate brands' franchise disclosure documents. Non-standard incentives may be used as consideration for new or renewing franchisees. Most of our franchisees do not receive these non-standard incentives and, in contrast to royalties and volume incentives, they are not homesale transaction based. We have accordingly excluded the non-standard incentives from the calculation of the net effective royalty rate. Had these non-standard incentives been included, the net effective royalty rate would be lower by approximately 23, 21 and 18 basis points for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. We expect that the trend of increasing non-standard incentives by 3 to 4 basis points a year will continue in the future in order to attract and retain certain large franchisees.
NRT has a significant concentration of real estate brokerage offices and transactions in geographic regions where home prices are at the higher end of the U.S. real estate market, particularly the east and west coasts, while RFG has franchised offices that are more widely dispersed across the United States. Accordingly, operating results and homesale statistics may differ between NRT and RFG based upon geographic presence and the corresponding homesale activity in each geographic region. In addition, the share of commissions earned by sales associates directly impacts the margin earned by NRT. Such share of commissions earned by sales associates varies by region and commission schedules are generally progressive to incentivize sales associates to achieve higher levels of production. We expect that they will continue to be subject to upward pressure because of the increased bargaining power of independent sales associates as well as more aggressive recruitment activities taken by our competitors.
As described above under "Current Industry Trends," competition for independent sales associates in our industry has intensified and we expect this competition will continue particularly with respect to more productive independent sales associates which has impacted NRT's market share and results of operations, as well as RFG to a lesser extent.  Currently, there are several different compensation models being utilized by real estate brokerages to compensate their independent sales associates. The most common models are as follows: (1) a graduated commission plan, sometimes referred to as the "traditional model" where the independent sales associate receives a percentage of the brokerage commission that increases as the independent sales associate increases his or her volume of homesale transactions and the brokerage frequently provides independent sales associates with a broad set of support offerings and promotion of properties, (2) a desk rental or 100% plan, where the independent sales associate is entitled to all or nearly all of the broker commission and pays the broker on both a monthly and transaction basis for office space, tools, technology and support while also being responsible for the promotion of properties and other items, (3) a capped model, which generally blends aspects of the first two models described herein, and (4) a fixed transaction fee model where the sales associate is entitled to all of the broker commission and pays a fixed fee per homesale transaction and often receives very limited support from the brokerage. Most brokerages focus primarily on one compensation model though some may offer one or more of these models to their sales associates. Increasingly, independent sales associates have affiliated with brokerages that offer fewer services to the independent sales associates, allowing the independent sales associate to retain a greater percentage of the commission. However, there are long-term trade-offs in the level of support independent sales associates receive in areas such as marketing, technology and professional education.
While NRT has historically compensated its independent sales associates using a traditional model, utilizing elements of other models depending upon the geographic market, we are placing an even greater focus on the quality of our services and use of financial incentives to strengthen our recruiting and retention of independent sales associates and teams. These actions include a more aggressive strategy to recruit and retain top performing sales associates with the overall goal of sustaining or growing market share in various markets, improving NRT's overall profitability. In addition, there will be an enhanced focus on the value proposition offered to independent sales associate teams. Results of these recruiting efforts are not expected to be realized for at least 9 to 12 months as the benefits from recruiting new independent sales associates relate mainly to new listings, not pending listings. We expect near-term moderate pressure on costs and margin from these initiatives.
Within Cartus, we measure operating performance using the following key operating statistics: (i) initiations, which represent the total number of new transferees and the total number of real estate closings for affinity members and (ii) referrals, which represent the number of referrals from which we earn revenue from real estate brokers.
In TRG, operating performance is evaluated using the following key metrics: (i) purchase title and closing units, which represent the number of title and closing units we process as a result of home purchases, (ii) refinance title and closing units, which represent the number of title and closing units we process as a result of homeowners refinancing their home loans,


48


and (iii) average fee per closing unit, which represents the average fee we earn on purchase title and refinancing title sides. An increase or decrease in homesale transactions will impact the financial results of TRG; however, the financial results are not significantly impacted by a change in homesale price. In addition, although the average mortgage rate continued to decline in 2015 and 2016 and refinancing transactions increased as a result, we believe that an increase in mortgage rates in the future will most likely have a negative impact on refinancing title and closing units.
A decline in the number of homesale transactions and decline in homesale prices could adversely affect our results of operations by: (i) reducing the royalties we receive from our franchisees, (ii) reducing the commissions our company owned brokerage operations earn, (iii) reducing the demand for our title and settlement services, (iv) reducing the referral fees we earn in our relocation services business, and (v) increasing the risk of franchisee default due to lower homesale volume. Our results could also be negatively affected by a decline in commission rates charged by brokers or greater commission payments to sales associates.
The following table presents our drivers for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. See "Results of Operations" below for a discussion as to how these drivers affected our business for the periods presented.
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
% Change
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
% Change
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
RFG (a) (b)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Closed homesale sides
1,135,344

 
1,101,333

 
3
%
 
1,101,333

 
1,065,339

 
3
%
Average homesale price
$
272,206

 
$
263,894

 
3
%
 
$
263,894

 
$
250,214

 
5
%
Average homesale broker commission rate
2.50
%
 
2.51
%
 
(1) bps

 
2.51
%
 
2.52
%
 
(1) bps

Net effective royalty rate
4.46
%
 
4.48
%
 
(2) bps

 
4.48
%
 
4.49
%
 
(1) bps

Royalty per side
$
317

 
$
309

 
3
%
 
$
309

 
$
296

 
4
%
NRT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Closed homesale sides (c)
335,699

 
336,744

 
%
 
336,744

 
308,332

 
9
%
Average homesale price (d)
$
489,504

 
$
489,673

 
%
 
$
489,673

 
$
500,589

 
(2
%)
Average homesale broker commission rate
2.46
%
 
2.46
%
 

 
2.46
%
 
2.47
%
 
(1) bps

Gross commission income per side
$
12,752

 
$
12,730

 
%
 
$
12,730

 
$
13,072

 
(3
%)
Cartus
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Initiations
163,063

 
167,749

 
(3
%)
 
167,749

 
171,210

 
(2
%)
Referrals
87,277

 
99,531

 
(12
%)
 
99,531

 
96,755

 
3
%
TRG
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase title and closing units (e)
152,997

 
130,541

 
17
%
 
130,541

 
113,074

 
15
%
Refinance title and closing units (f)
50,919

 
38,544

 
32
%
 
38,544

 
27,529

 
40
%
Average fee per closing unit
$
1,875

 
$
1,861

 
1
%
 
$
1,861

 
$
1,780

 
5
%
_______________
(a)
Includes all franchisees except for NRT.
(b)
In April 2015, NRT acquired Coldwell Banker United, a large franchisee of RFG. As a result of the acquisition, the drivers of Coldwell Banker United shifted from RFG to NRT. Closed homesale sides for RFG, excluding the impact of the acquisition, would have increased 5% for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 2014. The acquisition did not have a significant impact on the change in average homesale price for RFG.
(c)
Closed homesale sides for NRT, excluding the impact of larger acquisitions with an individual purchase price greater than $20 million, would have increased 2% for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 2014.
(d)
Average homesale price for NRT, excluding the impact of larger acquisitions with an individual purchase price greater than $20 million, would have increased 1% for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 2014.
(e)
The amounts presented include 18,930 and 13,304 purchase units as a result of the acquisitions for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
(f)
The amounts presented include 4,469 and 3,403 refinance units as a result of the acquisitions for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.


49


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Discussed below are our consolidated results of operations and the results of operations for each of our reportable segments. The reportable segments presented below represent our operating segments for which separate financial information is available and which is utilized on a regular basis by our chief operating decision maker to assess performance and to allocate resources. In identifying our reportable segments, we also consider the nature of services provided by our operating segments. Management evaluates the operating results of each of our reportable segments based upon revenue and EBITDA. EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, interest (income) expense, net (other than relocation services interest for securitization assets and securitization obligations) and income taxes, each of which is presented on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Our presentation of EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.
Year Ended December 31, 2016 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2015
Our consolidated results were comprised of the following:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
Net revenues
$
5,810

 
$
5,706

 
$
104

Total expenses (1)
5,461

 
5,424

 
37

Income before income taxes, equity in earnings and noncontrolling interests
349

 
282

 
67

Income tax expense
144

 
110

 
34

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities
(12
)
 
(16
)
 
4

Net income
217

 
188

 
29

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(4
)
 
(4
)
 

Net income attributable to Realogy Holdings and Realogy Group
$
213

 
$
184

 
$
29

_______________
(1)
Total expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 includes $39 million of restructuring costs, partially offset by a net benefit of $2 million for former parent legacy items. Total expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 includes $48 million related to the loss on the early extinguishment of debt and $10 million of restructuring costs, partially offset by a net benefit of $15 million for former parent legacy items.
Net revenues increased $104 million or 2% for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared with the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to an increase in revenue at TRG as a result of acquisitions, as well as an increase in revenue at RFG driven by higher average homesale price and number of homesale transactions.
Total expenses increased $37 million due to:
a $68 million increase in operating and general and administrative expenses primarily driven by:
$40 million of additional employee-related costs associated with acquisitions;
a $39 million increase in variable operating costs at TRG related to higher volume primarily as a result of acquisitions; and
a $3 million increase in employee-related costs primarily driven by $16 million of salary, benefits and other increases, partially offset by a decrease of $13 million due to lower incentive accruals;
partially offset by:
the absence in 2016 of $6 million related to certain transaction costs associated with the acquisition of Coldwell Banker United and the settlement of a legal matter in 2015;
a $29 million increase in restructuring charges related to the Company's business optimization initiative due to $39 million being incurred in 2016 compared to $10 million in 2015;
a $15 million increase in marketing expenses mainly due to higher advertising costs at NRT and TRG primarily related to acquisitions;
a $14 million increase in commission expenses paid to independent real estate sales associates at NRT; and
a $13 million decrease in the net benefit of former parent legacy items as a result of the reduction of a tax liability in 2015.


50


These increases in total expenses were partially offset by:
a $57 million decrease in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. Before the mark-to-market adjustments for our interest rate swaps, interest expense decreased $43 million to $168 million in 2016 from $211 million in 2015 as a result of a reduction in total outstanding indebtedness and a lower weighted average interest rate. Mark-to-market adjustments for our interest rate swaps resulted in losses of $6 million in 2016 compared to losses of $20 million in 2015; and
the absence in 2016 of a $48 million loss on the early extinguishment of debt related to transactions in 2015.
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities declined $4 million primarily due to a $6 million decrease in earnings from PHH Home Loans.
During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company began a business optimization initiative that focuses on maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the cost structure of each of the Company's business units.  The action is designed to improve client service levels across each of the business units while enhancing the Company's profitability and incremental margins. The plan focuses on several key areas of opportunity which include process improvement efficiencies, office footprint optimization, leveraging technology and media spend, centralized procurement, outsourcing administrative services and organizational design. Total expected restructuring costs of approximately $65 million are currently anticipated to be incurred through the end of 2017.  The Company incurred restructuring charges of $10 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 and $39 million in 2016 which consisted of personnel-related costs, facility-related costs and other restructuring-related costs. Cost savings related to the restructuring initiatives are estimated to be approximately $69 million on an annual run rate basis and are anticipated to offset some or all of our inflation-related annual cost increases. See Note 11, "Restructuring Costs", in the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
The Company's provision for income taxes was $144 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to $110 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Our effective tax rate was 40% and 37% for the year ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The effective tax rate was positively impacted in 2016, by a reduction in valuation allowance related to our foreign tax credits, offset by an increase in our deferred tax liabilities, primarily driven by stock-based compensation shortfalls and changes to U.S. tax legislation and was positively impacted in 2015, primarily by a reduction in our deferred tax liabilities, driven by changes to state tax legislation.
Following is a more detailed discussion of the results of each of our reportable segments for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:
 
Revenues (a)
 
% Change
 
EBITDA (b)
 
% Change
 
Margin
 
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
RFG
$
781

 
$
755

 
3
 %
 
$
516

 
$
495

 
4
 %
 
66
%
 
66
%
 

NRT
4,344

 
4,344

 

 
137

 
199

 
(31
)
 
3

 
5

 
(2
)
Cartus
405

 
415

 
(2
)
 
96

 
105

 
(9
)
 
24

 
25

 
(1
)
TRG
573

 
487

 
18

 
62

 
48

 
29

 
11

 
10

 
1

Corporate and Other
(293
)
 
(295
)
 
*

 
(78
)
 
(121
)
 
*

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Company
$
5,810

 
$
5,706

 
2
 %
 
$
733

 
$
726

 
1
 %
 
13
%
 
13
%
 

Less: Depreciation and amortization
 
202

 
201

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense, net
 
174

 
231

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax expense
 
144

 
110

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Realogy Holdings and Realogy Group
 
$
213

 
$
184

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
_______________

 
*
not meaningful
(a)
Includes the elimination of transactions between segments, which consists of intercompany royalties and marketing fees paid by NRT of $293 million and $295 million during the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
(b)
EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2016 includes $39 million of restructuring costs, partially offset by a net benefit of $2 million for former parent legacy items. EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2015 includes $48 million related to the loss on early extinguishment of debt and $10 million of restructuring costs, partially offset by a net benefit of $15 million for former parent legacy items.


51


EBITDA before restructuring charges was $772 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to $736 million the year ended December 31, 2015. EBITDA before restructuring charges by reportable segment for the year ended December 31, 2016 was as follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
EBITDA
 
Restructuring Charges
 
EBITDA Before Restructuring
 
EBITDA Before Restructuring (a)
 
%
Change
RFG
$
516

 
$
4

 
$
520

 
$
495

 
5
 %
NRT
137

 
22

 
159

 
204

 
(22
)%
Cartus
96

 
4

 
100

 
106

 
(6
)%
TRG
62

 
1

 
63

 
48

 
31
 %
Corporate and Other
(78
)
 
8

 
(70
)
 
(117
)
 
*

Total Company
$
733

 
$
39

 
$
772

 
$
736

 
5
 %
_______________
*
not meaningful
(a)
Excludes $10 million of restructuring charges incurred in 2015 as follows: $5 million at NRT, $1 million at Cartus and $4 million at Corporate and Other.
As described in the aforementioned table, EBITDA margin for "Total Company" expressed as a percentage of revenues remained flat at 13% for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. On a segment basis, RFG's margin remained flat at 66%; however, it increased 1 percentage point to 67% excluding restructuring charges. NRT's margin declined to 3% from 5% primarily due to a decrease in revenue; however, it decreased 1 percentage point to 4% excluding restructuring charges. Cartus' margin decreased 1 percentage point to 24% from 25%; however, excluding restructuring charges, Cartus' margin decreased 1 percentage point to 25% from 26% as a result of a decrease in non-affinity referral revenue due to lower broker-to-broker volume. TRG's margin increased 1 percentage point to 11% from 10% due to an increase in resale and refinance volume.
The following table reflects RFG and NRT results on a combined basis for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and show that even with the agent and market challenges faced by NRT during 2016, the EBITDA margin for the combined segments has decreased by 1 percentage point from 15% to 14%:
 
Revenues (a)
 
%
Change
 
EBITDA Before Restructuring (b)
 
%
Change
 
Margin
 
Change
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
RFG and NRT Combined
$
4,832

 
$
4,804

 
1
%
 
$
679

 
$
699

 
(3
)%
 
14
%
 
15
%
 
(1
)
_______________
(a)
Excludes transactions between segments, which consists of intercompany royalties and marketing fees paid by NRT to RFG of $293 million and $295 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
(b)
EBITDA for the combined RFG and NRT segments excludes $26 million and $5 million of restructuring charges for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Corporate and Other EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2016 improved by $43 million to negative $78 million primarily due to:
the absence of $48 million for the loss on early extinguishment of debt incurred in 2015;
the absence of $6 million of certain transaction costs associated with the acquisition of Coldwell Banker United and the settlement of a legal matter in 2015; and
a $4 million decrease in employee-related costs;
partially offset by:
a $13 million decrease in the net benefit for former parent legacy items as a result of a tax liability reduction in 2015; and
a $4 million increase in restructuring charges related to the Company's business optimization plan.


52


Real Estate Franchise Services (RFG)
Revenues increased $26 million to $781 million and EBITDA increased $21 million to $516 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared with the same period in 2015.
The increase in revenue was primarily driven by a $19 million increase in third-party domestic franchisee royalty revenue due to a 3% increase in both the average homesale price and in the number of homesale transactions. The increase in revenue was also due to a $6 million increase in other revenue primarily related to marketing-related activities and the timing of brand conferences, and a $3 million increase in international revenues. The increase in revenue was partially offset by a $3 million increase in non-standard incentives amortization during the year ended December 31, 2016 compared with the same period in 2015.
Intercompany royalties received from NRT were $282 million and $284 million during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and are eliminated in consolidation. See "Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services" for a discussion of the drivers related to intercompany royalties paid to RFG.
The $21 million increase in EBITDA was principally due to the $26 million increase in revenues discussed above, partially offset by $4 million of restructuring costs related to the Company's business optimization plan.
Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services (NRT)
Revenues remained flat at $4,344 million and EBITDA declined $62 million to $137 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared with the same period in 2015.
Revenues remained flat as a result of a $109 million decrease primarily due to lower commission income earned on homesale transactions by our existing brokerage operations, offset by a $109 million increase in revenue primarily due to commission income earned from acquisitions. Revenues were negatively impacted by the slowing of activity in the high-end markets served by NRT, the cumulative impact of market share attrition, and inventory issues in the mid and lower priced homes in many of the markets served by NRT.
EBITDA decreased $62 million primarily due to:
$22 million in restructuring costs related to the Company's business optimization plan in 2016 compared to $5 million in 2015;
a $17 million increase in employee-related costs attributable to acquisitions;
a $14 million increase in commission expenses paid to independent sales associates from $2,931 million in 2015 to $2,945 million in 2016. The increase in commission expense is due to a $65 million increase related to acquisitions, partially offset by a decrease of $51 million by our existing brokerage operations;
a $6 million increase in occupancy costs related to acquisitions;
a $6 million decrease in equity earnings related to our investment in PHH Home Loans; and
a $4 million increase in marketing expenses primarily related to acquisitions.
These decreases were partially offset by:
a $2 million decrease in royalties paid to RFG from $284 million in 2015 to $282 million in 2016.
Relocation Services (Cartus)
Revenues decreased $10 million to $405 million and EBITDA decreased $9 million to $96 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared with the same period in 2015.
Revenues decreased $10 million as a result of a $17 million decrease in non-affinity referral revenue due to lower broker-to-broker referrals, the absence of a large group move which occurred in 2015 and lower relocation referral volume in 2016 compared to 2015, partially offset by higher average fees. The decrease was partially offset by a $7 million increase in affinity referrals due to higher transaction volume and average fees.
EBITDA decreased $9 million as a result of the $10 million decrease in revenues discussed above as well as $4 million in restructuring costs related to the Company's business optimization plan. These decreases were partially offset by a $5 million net positive impact from foreign currency exchange rates.


53


Title and Settlement Services (TRG)
Revenues increased $86 million to $573 million and EBITDA increased $14 million to $62 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared with the same period in 2015.
The increase in revenues was due to a $46 million increase in resale revenue driven by a 17% increase in resale title and closing units of which acquisitions contributed 14 percentage points, as well as a $15 million increase in refinancing revenue driven by a 32% increase in refinancing title and closing units of which acquisitions contributed 11 percentage points. Underwriter and other revenue increased $18 million and $8 million, respectively, due to the volume increases discussed above.
EBITDA increased $14 million as a result of the $86 million increase in revenues discussed above, partially offset by an increase of $39 million in variable operating costs and a $32 million increase in employee-related costs primarily related to acquisitions.
Year Ended December 31, 2015 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2014
Our consolidated results were comprised of the following:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Net revenues
$
5,706

 
$
5,328

 
$
378

Total expenses (1)
5,424

 
5,103

 
321

Income before income taxes, equity in earnings and noncontrolling interests
282

 
225

 
57

Income tax expense (benefit)
110

 
87

 
23

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities
(16
)
 
(9
)
 
(7
)
Net income
188

 
147

 
41

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(4
)
 
(4
)
 

Net income attributable to Realogy Holdings and Realogy Group
$
184

 
$
143

 
$
41

_______________
(1)
Total expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 includes $48 million related to the loss on the early extinguishment of debt and $10 million of restructuring costs, partially offset by a net benefit of $15 million for former parent legacy items. Total expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 includes $47 million related to the loss on the early extinguishment of debt and $10 million of transaction and integration costs related to the ZipRealty acquisition, partially offset by a net benefit of $10 million for former parent legacy items and the reversal of prior year restructuring reserves of $1 million.
Net revenues increased $378 million (7%) for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared with the year ended December 31, 2014, principally due to increases in revenue at NRT and RFG primarily driven by an increase in homesale transaction volume, as well as an increase in revenue at TRG driven by an increase in resale and refinance volume.
Total expenses increased $321 million primarily due to:
a $176 million increase in commission and other sales associate-related costs due to the increase in homesale transaction volume at NRT and its related revenue increase of $266 million;
a $152 million increase in operating and general and administrative expenses driven by:
a $63 million increase in employee-related costs of which $52 million represents the change in incentive accruals due to the achievement of higher incentive levels, merit increases and increased stock-based compensation expense as a result of the estimated achievement of certain performance goals;
$38 million of additional employee-related costs associated with acquisitions completed during and after the third quarter of 2014; and
a $50 million increase in variable operating costs at TRG as a result of acquisitions completed in 2015 and increases in volume;
partially offset by,
the absence in 2015 of $10 million of transaction and integration costs related to the ZipRealty acquisition;
a $12 million increase in marketing expenses due to higher advertising spending primarily related to acquisitions at NRT; and


54


an $11 million increase in restructuring charges due to $10 million of restructuring costs related to the business optimization initiative in 2015 compared to a $1 million reversal of prior year restructuring reserves in 2014;
partially offset by,
a $36 million decrease in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily due to a reduction in total outstanding indebtedness and a lower weighted average interest rate, as well as the impact of mark-to-market adjustments for our interest rate swaps which resulted in losses of $20 million in 2015 compared to losses of $32 million in the same period of 2014.
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities improved $7 million primarily due to an increase in earnings from PHH Home Loans.
During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company implemented a business optimization initiative that focuses on maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the cost structure of each of the Company's business units.  The action is designed to improve client service levels across each of the business units while enhancing the Company's profitability and incremental margins. The plan focuses on several key areas of opportunity which include process improvement efficiencies, office footprint optimization, leveraging technology and media spend, centralized procurement and organizational design.  We incurred $10 million of restructuring charges during 2015 which consisted of personnel-related costs, facility-related costs and other restructuring-related costs. See Note 11, "Restructuring Costs", in the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
The provision for income taxes was $110 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $87 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Our effective tax rate was 37% for both years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. The effective tax rate was positively impacted in 2015, primarily by a reduction in our deferred tax liabilities, driven by changes to state tax legislation and was positively impacted in 2014, primarily by a reduction to the valuation allowance.
Following is a more detailed discussion of the results of each of our reportable segments for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014:
 
Revenues (a)
 
% Change
 
EBITDA (b)
 
% Change
 
Margin
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
RFG
$
755

 
$
716

 
5
 %
 
$
495

 
$
463

 
7
%
 
66
%
 
65
%
 
1
NRT
4,344

 
4,078

 
7

 
199

 
193

 
3

 
5

 
5

 
Cartus
415

 
419

 
(1
)
 
105

 
102

 
3

 
25

 
24

 
1
TRG
487

 
398

 
22

 
48

 
36

 
33

 
10

 
9

 
1
Corporate and Other
(295
)
 
(283
)
 
*

 
(121
)
 
(107
)
 
*

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Company
$
5,706

 
$
5,328

 
7
 %
 
$
726

 
$
687

 
6
%
 
13
%
 
13
%
 
Less: Depreciation and amortization
 
201

 
190

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense, net
 
231

 
267

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax expense
 
110

 
87

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Realogy Holdings and Realogy Group
 
$
184

 
$
143

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
_______________

 
*
not meaningful
(a)
Includes the elimination of transactions between segments, which consists of intercompany royalties and marketing fees paid by NRT of $295 million and $283 million during the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
(b)
EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2015 includes $48 million related to the loss on early extinguishment of debt and $10 million of restructuring costs, partially offset by a net benefit of $15 million for former parent legacy items. EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2014 includes $47 million related to the loss on early extinguishment of debt and $10 million of transaction and integration costs related to the ZipRealty acquisition, partially offset by a net benefit of $10 million for former parent legacy items and the reversal of prior year restructuring reserves of $1 million.
As described in the aforementioned table, EBITDA margin for "Total Company" expressed as a percentage of revenues remained flat at 13%.
On a segment basis, RFG's margin increased 1 percentage point to 66% from 65% due to an increase in franchisee royalty revenue driven by an increase in homesale transactions and higher price. NRT's margin remained flat at 5%. Cartus'


55


margin increased 1 percentage point to 25% from 24% primarily due to the net positive impact from foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by higher employee costs. TRG's margin increased 1 percentage point to 10% from 9% due to an increase in resale and refinance volume.
Corporate and Other EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2015 decreased by $14 million to negative $121 million (which includes $48 million related to the loss on early extinguishment of debt in 2015 compared to $47 million in 2014). The decrease in Corporate and Other EBITDA was primarily due to:
a $16 million increase in employee-related costs of which $8 million relates to greater performance incentive accruals in 2015 compared to 2014, as well as an increase in ZipRealty employee costs;
a $6 million increase in costs related to the settlement of a legal matter, certain transaction costs related to acquisitions and professional fees during the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 2014; and
a $4 million increase in restructuring costs related to the Company's business optimization plan which was implemented during the fourth quarter of 2015;
partially offset by,
a $5 million increase in the net benefit of former parent legacy items as a result of a tax liability adjustment during the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014; and
the absence in 2015 of $10 million of transaction and integration costs incurred for the ZipRealty acquisition.
Real Estate Franchise Services (RFG)
Revenues increased $39 million to $755 million and EBITDA increased $32 million to $495 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared with the same period in 2014.
The increase in revenue was primarily driven by a $23 million increase in third-party domestic franchisee royalty revenue due to a 5% increase in the average homesale price and a 3% increase in the number of homesale transactions, as well as a $15 million increase in royalties received from NRT and a $9 million increase in other revenue primarily related to other marketing-related activities. The increases in revenue were partially offset by a $4 million decrease in international revenues. Brand marketing revenue and expense both decreased $3 million primarily due to the timing of advertising spending during the year ended December 31, 2015 compared with the same period in 2014.
The intercompany royalties received from NRT of $284 million and $269 million during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, are eliminated in consolidation. See "Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services" for a discussion of the drivers related to intercompany royalties paid to RFG.
The $32 million increase in EBITDA was principally due to the $39 million increase in revenues and $3 million decrease in brand marketing expense discussed above, partially offset by an $11 million increase in employee-related costs, which include higher incentive performance accruals and staffing costs related to the rollout of the Zap® platform to our franchisees.
Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services (NRT)
Revenues increased $266 million to $4,344 million and EBITDA improved $6 million to $199 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared with the same period in 2014.
Revenue increased $67 million primarily due to an increase in commission income earned on homesale transactions and $199 million due to acquisitions completed during and after the third quarter of 2014. The revenue increase was driven by a 9% increase in the number of homesale transactions partially offset by a 2% decrease in the average price of homes. The 9% increase in homesale transactions was due to two factors: (i) 7% from the acquisition of ZipRealty and Coldwell Banker United and (ii) 2% from higher activity in most of the geographic regions we serve. The 2% decrease in the average price of homes was diluted as a result of these recently acquired brokerage operations which operate in markets with lower average sales prices. The average sales price, excluding these acquisitions, would have increased 1% for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared with the same period in 2014 as a result of robust volume in the high-end markets in 2014 compared to 2015.
NRT was impacted in the fourth quarter of 2015 by transaction closing delays due to TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure ("TRID") requirements that were effective in early October. We believe that the requirements resulted in


56


delaying the closing of certain housing transactions and moved approximately $45 million of revenue and $9 million of EBITDA out of the fourth quarter of 2015 and into 2016.
EBITDA increased $6 million primarily due to the increase in revenue discussed above and a $6 million increase in equity earnings related to our investment in PHH Home Loans, partially offset by:
a $176 million increase in commission expenses paid to independent real estate sales associates from $2,755 million in 2014 to $2,931 million, as a result of the increase in revenues in 2015. The increase includes $132 million attributable to acquisitions completed during and after the third quarter of 2014;
a $47 million increase in employee-related costs, of which $23 million was attributable to acquisitions completed during and after the third quarter of 2014 and $12 million for incremental incentive compensation accruals;
a $15 million increase from $269 million in 2014 to $284 million in 2015 in royalties paid to RFG, of which $12 million relates to acquisitions completed during and after the third quarter of 2014;
a $13 million increase in occupancy costs, of which $11 million relates to acquisitions completed during and after the third quarter of 2014;
a $12 million increase in marketing expenses, of which $8 million relates to acquisitions completed during and after the third quarter of 2014; and
a $5 million increase in restructuring costs related to the Company's business optimization plan which was implemented during the fourth quarter of 2015.
Relocation Services (Cartus)
Revenues decreased $4 million to $415 million and EBITDA increased $3 million to $105 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared with the same period in 2014.
Revenues decreased $4 million as a result of a $4 million decrease in international revenue primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange rates, a $3 million decrease in at-risk revenue due to lower transaction volume and a $1 million decrease in other relocation revenue, partially offset by a $4 million increase in referral revenue primarily due to higher volume and average fees.
EBITDA increased $3 million which was driven by a $10 million net positive impact from foreign currency exchange rates and a decrease in certain other expenses, partially offset by the decrease in revenues discussed above and a $5 million increase in employee-related costs excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates.
Title and Settlement Services (TRG)
Revenues increased $89 million to $487 million and EBITDA increased $12 million to $48 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared with the same period in 2014.
The increase in revenues was driven by a $45 million increase in resale title and closing revenue as a result of a 15% increase in resale title and closing units, a $34 million increase in underwriter revenue and a $9 million increase in refinancing revenue due to a 40% increase in refinance title and closing units. Acquisitions completed in 2015 contributed $36 million to the revenue increases discussed above and accounted for 11% of the increase in resale title and closing units and 12% of the increase in refinance and closing units.
EBITDA increased $12 million as a result of the $89 million increase in revenues discussed above, partially offset by an increase of $50 million in variable operating costs due to the increase in volume discussed above and an increase of $27 million in employee-related costs, primarily related to acquisitions.


57


FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Financial Condition
 
December 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
Change
Total assets
$
7,421

 
$
7,531

 
$
(110
)
Total liabilities
4,952

 
5,109

 
(157
)
Total equity
2,469

 
2,422

 
47

For the year ended December 31, 2016, total assets decreased $110 million primarily due to a $141 million decrease in cash and cash equivalents, a $77 million net decrease in franchise agreements and other intangible assets due to amortization and a $35 million decrease in relocation receivables due to lower volume, partially offset by a $72 million increase in goodwill and a $10 million increase in indefinite life intangible assets from acquisitions at NRT and TRG, a $22 million increase in other current assets primarily due to prepaid expenses and other receivables, a $15 million increase in other non-current assets primarily due to sales incentives and investments and a $13 million increase in property and equipment.
Total liabilities decreased $157 million primarily due to a $195 million decrease in corporate debt as a result of refinancing transactions, debt redemptions and debt amortization payments completed during 2016, a $42 million decrease in securitization obligations driven by lower relocation volume, a $27 million decrease in other non-current liabilities primarily due to settlements of interest rate swaps, net of mark-to-market changes and a $13 million decrease in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. These decreases were partially offset by a $122 million increase in deferred tax liabilities.
Total equity increased $47 million primarily due to net income of $213 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, partially offset by a $168 million decrease in additional paid in capital. The decrease in additional paid in capital is primarily due to the Company's repurchase of $195 million of common stock and $26 million of dividend payments, partially offset by stock-based compensation of $51 million.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary liquidity needs have been to service our debt and finance our working capital and capital expenditures, which we have historically satisfied with cash flows from operations and funds available under our revolving credit facilities and securitization facilities. Given the significant reduction in our indebtedness and annual interest expense that resulted from our October 2012 initial public offering and related transactions, as well as our indebtedness repayments and refinancings, we generated positive cash flows from operations for the past four years. After giving effect to the debt refinancing transactions completed from 2013 through 2016, our outstanding indebtedness, excluding securitizations, has been reduced by approximately $818 million since the beginning of 2013. In January 2017, the Company increased the borrowing capacity under its Revolving Credit Facility from $815 million to $1.05 billion and refinanced its existing Term Loan B to reduce the interest rate from LIBOR plus 3.00% to LIBOR plus 2.25%.
We intend to use future cash flow primarily to acquire stock under our share repurchase program, pay dividends, fund acquisitions, enter into strategic relationships and reduce indebtedness. In February 2016, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $275 million. Repurchases may be made at management's discretion from time to time through open market transactions, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans or privately negotiated transactions. The size and timing of these repurchases will depend on price, market and economic conditions, legal and contractual requirements and other factors. During 2016, we repurchased 7.1 million of our outstanding shares—including 2.6 million purchased during the fourth quarter—for an aggregate of $199 million of shares purchased throughout 2016 at a weighted average market price of $27.96 per share pursuant to this share repurchase program. From January 1, 2017 to February 23, 2017, we repurchased an additional 0.6 million shares under the plan at a weighted average market price of $26.23 per share, reducing the plan balance to $61 million.
In February 2017, our Board authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $300 million, which is in addition to the remaining authorization under the February 2016 share repurchase program. As with the initial program, repurchases under the new program may be made at management's discretion from time to time on the open market, Rule 10b5-1 trading plans or through privately negotiated transactions. The size and timing of these repurchases will depend on price, market and economic conditions, legal and contractual requirements and other factors. Similarly, the new repurchase program has no time limit and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.


58


We also initiated a quarterly cash dividend of $0.09 per share in August 2016 and paid cash dividends in August and December 2016, returning an additional $26 million to stockholders. The declaration and payment of any future dividend will be subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, contractual restrictions (including restrictive covenants contained in the Company’s credit agreement, and the indenture governing the Company’s outstanding debt securities), capital requirements and other factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant.
We may also from time to time seek to repurchase our outstanding notes through tender offers, open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors.
We are currently experiencing a recovery in the residential real estate market; however, if the residential real estate market or the economy as a whole does not continue to improve or worsens, our business, financial condition and liquidity may be materially adversely affected, including our ability to access capital and grow our business.
Historically, operating results and revenues for all of our businesses have been strongest in the second and third quarters of the calendar year. A significant portion of the expenses we incur in our real estate brokerage operations are related to marketing activities and commissions and therefore are variable. However, many of our other expenses, such as interest payments, facilities costs and certain personnel-related costs, are fixed and cannot be reduced during a seasonal slowdown. Consequently, our debt balances are generally at their highest levels at or around the end of the first quarter of every year.
Our liquidity position has significantly improved but continues to be impacted by our remaining interest expense and would be adversely impacted by: (i) a halt in the recovery of the residential real estate market, (ii) a significant increase in LIBOR or ABR, or (iii) our inability to access our relocation securitization programs.
We will continue to evaluate potential refinancing and financing transactions. There can be no assurance as to which, if any, of these alternatives we may pursue as the choice of any alternative will depend upon numerous factors such as market conditions, our financial performance and the limitations applicable to such transactions under our existing financing agreements and the consents we may need to obtain under the relevant documents. There can be no assurance that financing will be available to us on acceptable terms or at all.
Cash Flows
Year ended December 31, 2016 vs. Year ended December 31, 2015
At December 31, 2016, we had $274 million of cash and cash equivalents, a decrease of $141 million compared to the balance of $415 million at December 31, 2015. The following table summarizes our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
Cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
$
587

 
$
550

 
$
37

Investing activities
(190
)
 
(209
)
 
19

Financing activities
(535
)
 
(237
)
 
(298
)
Effects of change in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
(3
)
 
(2
)
 
(1
)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
$
(141
)
 
$
102

 
$
(243
)
For the year ended December 31, 2016, $37 million of incremental cash was provided by operating activities compared to the same period in 2015. The change was principally due to $55 million of additional cash provided by operating results and $31 million more cash provided by the net change in relocation and trade receivables. These increases were offset by $43 million more cash used for accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities and $7 million more cash used for other operating activities.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, we used $19 million less cash for investing activities compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to $32 million less cash used for acquisition related payments, partially offset by $9 million more cash used in other investing activities.


59


For the year ended December 31, 2016, $535 million of cash was used in financing activities compared to $237 million of cash used during the same period in 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, $535 million of cash was used for:
the repayment of $758 million to reduce the Term Loan B facility;
the repayment of $500 million to retire 3.375% Senior Notes at maturity;
$195 million for the repurchase of our common stock;
$41 million of quarterly amortization payments on the term loan facilities;
$40 million net decrease in securitization borrowings;
$34 million of other financing payments partially related to capital leases and interest rate swaps;
$26 million for payments of contingent consideration;
$26 million of dividend payments;
$16 million of debt issuance costs; and
$6 million of tax payments related to net share settlement for stock-based compensation;
partially offset by,
$750 million of proceeds from the issuance of $250 million of 5.25% Senior Notes and $500 million of 4.875% Senior Notes; and
$355 million proceeds from issuance of the Term Loan A-1 facility.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, $237 million of cash was used for:
the redemption of all of the outstanding $593 million of First Lien Notes and $196 million of First and a Half Lien Notes;
$24 million of other financing payments partially related to interest rate swaps and capital leases;
$21 million net decrease in securitization borrowings;
$19 million of quarterly amortization payments on the Term Loan B Facility;
payment of $10 million of debt transaction costs related to the Revolving Credit Facility amendment and issuance of the new Term Loan A Facility;
$8 million for payments of contingent consideration; and
$6 million of tax payments related to net share settlement for stock-based compensation;
partially offset by,
$435 million of proceeds from the issuance of the Term Loan A Facility; and
$200 million of incremental borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility.
Year ended December 31, 2015 vs. Year ended December 31, 2014
At December 31, 2015, we had $415 million of cash and cash equivalents, an increase of $102 million compared to the balance of $313 million at December 31, 2014. The following table summarizes our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
$
550

 
$
429

 
$
121

Investing activities
(209
)
 
(298
)
 
89

Financing activities
(237
)
 
(52
)
 
(185
)
Effects of change in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
(2
)
 
(2
)
 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents
$
102

 
$
77

 
$
25

For the year ended December 31, 2015, $121 million of incremental cash was provided by operating activities compared to the same period in 2014. The change was principally due to $42 million of additional cash provided by operating results, $81 million less cash used for accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities primarily due to higher incentive accruals in 2015 and $15 million more cash provided due to a net decrease in relocation and trade receivables, partially offset by $20 million of cash used due to an increase in other assets.


60


For the year ended December 31, 2015, we used $89 million less cash for investing activities compared to the same period in 2014. The change was primarily due to $88 million less cash used for acquisition related payments in 2015 compared to 2014.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, $237 million of cash was used in financing activities. Our $237 million use of cash was comprised of:
the redemption of all of the outstanding $593 million of First Lien Notes and $196 million of First and a Half Lien Notes;
$24 million of other financing payments partially related to interest rate swaps and capital leases;
$21 million net decrease in securitization borrowings;
quarterly amortization payments of the Term Loan B Facility totaling $19 million;
payment of $10 million of debt transaction costs related to the Revolving Credit Facility amendment and issuance of the new Term Loan A Facility;
$8 million for payments of contingent consideration; and
$6 million of tax payments related to net share settlement for stock-based compensation;
partially offset by,
$435 million of proceeds from the issuance of the Term Loan A Facility; and
$200 million of incremental borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, $52 million of cash was used for the repurchase of $729 million of First and a Half Lien Notes, $44 million of debt transaction costs primarily related to the issuance of the 4.50% Senior Notes, including a portion of premiums, and the 5.25% Senior Notes, $19 million of repayments of the Term Loan B Facility, $23 million of other financing related payments, $6 million of tax payments related to net share settlement for stock-based compensation and $4 million payment for contingent consideration, partially offset by net cash provided by financing activities as a result of $750 million proceeds from issuances of the 4.50% Senior Notes and 5.25% Senior Notes and a $17 million increase in net securitization obligations borrowings.
Financial Obligations
Indebtedness Table
As of December 31, 2016, the Company’s borrowing arrangements were as follows:
 
Interest
Rate
 
Expiration
Date
 
Principal Amount
 
Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs
 
Net Amount
Senior Secured Credit Facility:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility (1)
(2)
 
October 2020
 
$
200

 
$ *

 
$
200

Term Loan B
(3)
 
July 2022
 
1,094

 
25

 
1,069

Term Loan A Facility:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Term Loan A
(4)
 
October 2020
 
413

 
2

 
411

Term Loan A-1
(5)
 
July 2021
 
351

 
4

 
347

Senior Notes
4.50
%
 
April 2019
 
450

 
11

 
439

Senior Notes
5.25
%
 
December 2021
 
550

 
5

 
545

Senior Notes
4.875
%
 
June 2023
 
500

 
4

 
496

Securitization obligations: (6)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        Apple Ridge Funding LLC (7)
June 2017
 
192

 
*

 
192

        Cartus Financing Limited (8)
August 2017
 
13

 
*

 
13

Total (9)
$
3,763

 
$
51

 
$
3,712

_______________
*
The debt issuance costs related to our Revolving Credit Facility and securitization obligations are classified as a deferred financing asset within other assets.
(1)
As of December 31, 2016, the Company had $815 million of borrowing capacity under its Revolving Credit Facility leaving $615 million of available capacity. The revolving credit facility expires in October 2020, but is classified on the balance sheet as current due to the revolving nature of the facility. See Note 20, "Subsequent Events" for a description of the January 2017 increase of the


61


borrowing capacity under its Revolving Credit Facility. On February 21, 2017, the Company had $200 million outstanding borrowings on the Revolving Credit Facility, leaving $850 million of available capacity.
(2)
Interest rates with respect to revolving loans under the Senior Secured Credit Facility at December 31, 2016 are based on, at the Company's option, (a) adjusted LIBOR plus an additional margin or (b) ABR plus an additional margin, in each case subject to adjustment based on the then current senior secured leverage ratio. Based on the previous quarter senior secured leverage ratio, the LIBOR margin was 2.00% and the ABR margin was 1.00% for the three months ended December 31, 2016.
(3)
The Term Loan B provides for quarterly amortization payments totaling 1% per annum of the original principal amount. The interest rate with respect to term loans under the Term Loan B is based on, at the Company’s option, (a) adjusted LIBOR plus 3.00% (with a LIBOR floor of 0.75%) or (b) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.’s prime rate ("ABR") plus 2.00% (with an ABR floor of 1.75%). See Note 20, "Subsequent Events" for a description of the January 2017 refinancing of the Term Loan B.
(4)
The Term Loan A provides for quarterly amortization payments, which commenced March 31, 2016, totaling per annum 5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10.0% and 12.5% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan A in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. The interest rates with respect to term loans under the Term Loan A are based on, at the Company's option, (a) adjusted LIBOR plus an additional margin or (b) ABR plus an additional margin, in each case subject to adjustment based on the then current senior secured leverage ratio. Based on the previous quarter senior secured leverage ratio, the LIBOR margin was 2.00% and the ABR margin was 1.00% for the three months ended December 31, 2016.
(5)
The Term Loan A-1 provides for quarterly amortization payments, which commenced on September 30, 2016, totaling per annum 2.5%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10.0% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan A-1, with the last amortization payment made on June 30, 2021. The interest rates with respect to term loans under the Term Loan A-1 are based on, at the Company's option, (a) adjusted LIBOR plus an additional margin or (b) ABR plus an additional margin, in each case subject to adjustment based on the then current senior secured leverage ratio. Based on the previous quarter senior secured leverage ratio, the LIBOR margin was 2.00% and the ABR margin was 1.00% for the three months ended December 31, 2016.
(6)
Available capacity is subject to maintaining sufficient relocation related assets to collateralize these securitization obligations.
(7)
As of December 31, 2016, the Company had $325 million of borrowing capacity under the Apple Ridge Funding LLC securitization program leaving $133 million of available capacity.
(8)
Consists of a £10 million revolving loan facility and a £5 million working capital facility. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had $19 million of borrowing capacity under the Cartus Financing Limited securitization program leaving $6 million of available capacity.
(9)
Not included in this table, the Company had $127 million of outstanding letters of credit at December 31, 2016 under the Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility with a weighted average rate of 2.93%. At December 31, 2016 the capacity of the facility was $131 million.
Debt Transactions Subsequent to December 31, 2016
In January 2017, the Company completed two debt transactions which increased the borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility from $815 million to $1.05 billion and refinanced the existing Term Loan B to reduce the interest rate by 75 basis points from LIBOR plus 3.00% (with a floor of 0.75%) to LIBOR plus 2.25% (with a floor of 0.75%) and from ABR plus 2.00% to ABR plus 1.25% (with an ABR floor of 1.75%). Based upon our current debt projections for 2017, we expect our cash interest to be approximately $165 million for 2017.
See Note 8, "Short and Long-Term Debt", in the consolidated financial statements for additional information on the Company's indebtedness and Note 20, "Subsequent Events" for a detailed description of the January 2017 Refinancing of the Revolving Credit Facility.
Covenants under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, Term Loan A Facility and Indentures
The Senior Secured Credit Facility, Term Loan A Facility, the Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility and the indentures governing the Unsecured Notes contain various covenants that limit (subject to certain exceptions) Realogy Group’s ability to, among other things:
incur or guarantee additional debt or issue disqualified stock or preferred stock;
pay dividends or make distributions to Realogy Group’s stockholders, including Realogy Holdings;
repurchase or redeem capital stock;
make loans, investments or acquisitions;
incur restrictions on the ability of certain of Realogy Group's subsidiaries to pay dividends or to make other payments to Realogy Group;
enter into transactions with affiliates;
create liens;


62


merge or consolidate with other companies or transfer all or substantially all of Realogy Group's and its material subsidiaries' assets;
transfer or sell assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries; and
prepay, redeem or repurchase subordinated indebtedness.
As a result of the covenants to which we remain subject, we are limited in the manner in which we conduct our business and we may be unable to engage in favorable business activities or finance future operations or capital needs. In addition, the Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility require us to maintain a senior secured leverage ratio.
The senior secured leverage ratio, not to exceed 4.75 to 1.00, is tested quarterly. In this Annual Report, the Company refers to the term "Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA" to mean EBITDA as so defined for purposes of determining compliance with the senior secured leverage covenant. The senior secured leverage ratio measured at any applicable quarter end is Realogy Group's total senior secured net debt divided by the trailing twelve month Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA. Total senior secured net debt does not include unsecured indebtedness, including the Unsecured Notes, as well as the securitization obligations.
See Note 8, "Short and Long-Term Debt—Senior Secured Credit Facility" and "Short and Long-Term Debt—Term Loan A Facility" in the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The SEC has adopted rules to regulate the use in filings with the SEC and in public disclosures of "non-GAAP financial measures," such as EBITDA, Operating EBITDA and Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA and the ratios related thereto. These measures are derived on the basis of methodologies other than in accordance with GAAP.
EBITDA is defined by us as net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net (other than relocation services interest for securitization assets and securitization obligations) and income taxes and is our primary non-GAAP measure.
Operating EBITDA is defined by us as EBITDA before restructuring, early extinguishment of debt and legacy items and is used as a supplementary financial measure. Operating EBITDA calculated for a twelve-month period is presented because the Company believes these items do not directly affect the operating results of the Company and accordingly should be excluded in comparing operating results. Operating EBITDA does not include pro-forma adjustments for business optimization initiatives and acquisitions or non-cash adjustments such as stock-based compensation expense, used to calculate Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA in the Senior Secured Credit Facility and the Term Loan A Facility senior secured leverage ratio.
Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA calculated for a twelve-month period is presented to demonstrate our compliance with the senior secured leverage ratio covenant in the Senior Secured Credit Facility and the Term Loan A Facility. Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA calculated for a twelve-month period corresponds to the definition of "EBITDA," calculated on a "pro forma basis," used in the Senior Secured Credit Facility and the Term Loan A Facility to calculate the senior secured leverage ratio. Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA includes adjustments to EBITDA for restructuring costs, former parent legacy cost (benefit) items, net, loss on the early extinguishment of debt, non-cash charges and incremental securitization interest costs, as well as pro forma cost savings for restructuring initiatives, the pro forma effect of business optimization initiatives and the pro forma effect of acquisitions and new franchisees, in each case calculated as of the beginning of the twelve-month period.
We present EBITDA, Operating EBITDA and Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA because we believe EBITDA, Operating EBITDA and Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA are useful as supplemental measures in evaluating the performance of our operating businesses and provide greater transparency into our results of operations. Our management, including our chief operating decision maker, uses EBITDA as a factor in evaluating the performance of our business. EBITDA, Operating EBITDA and Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or other statement of operations data prepared in accordance with GAAP.
We believe EBITDA facilitates company-to-company operating performance comparisons by backing out potential differences caused by variations in capital structures (affecting net interest expense), taxation, the age and book depreciation of facilities (affecting relative depreciation expense) and the amortization of intangibles, which may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to operating performance. We further believe that EBITDA is frequently used by securities


63


analysts, investors and other interested parties in their evaluation of companies, many of which present an EBITDA measure when reporting their results.
EBITDA, Operating EBITDA and Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider EBITDA, Operating EBITDA or Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA either in isolation or as substitutes for analyzing our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:
these measures do not reflect changes in, or cash required for, our working capital needs;
these measures do not reflect our interest expense (except for interest related to our securitization obligations), or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;
these measures do not reflect our income tax expense or the cash requirements to pay our taxes;
these measures do not reflect historical cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often require replacement in the future, and these measures do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and
other companies may calculate these measures differently so they may not be comparable.
In addition to the limitations described above, Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA includes pro forma cost savings, the pro forma effect of business optimization initiatives and the pro forma full year effect of acquisitions and new franchisees. These adjustments may not reflect the actual cost savings or pro forma effect recognized in future periods.
A reconciliation of net income attributable to Realogy Group to EBITDA, Operating EBITDA and Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2016 are set forth in the following table:
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016
Net income attributable to Realogy Group
$
213

Income tax expense
144

Income before income taxes
357

Interest expense, net
174

Depreciation and amortization
202

EBITDA
733

EBITDA adjustments:
 
Restructuring costs
39

Former parent legacy benefit, net
(2
)
Operating EBITDA
770

Bank covenant adjustments:
 
Pro forma effect of business optimization initiatives (a)
27

Non-cash charges (b)
46

Pro forma effect of acquisitions and new franchisees (c)
18

Incremental securitization interest costs (d)
3

Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA
$
864

Total senior secured net debt (e)
$
1,870

Senior secured leverage ratio
2.16x

_______________
(a)
Represents the twelve-month pro forma effect of business optimization initiatives.
(b)
Represents the elimination of non-cash expenses, including $57 million of stock-based compensation expense, $1 million of other items less $9 million for the change in the allowance for doubtful accounts and notes reserves and $3 million of foreign exchange benefits for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.
(c)
Represents the estimated impact of acquisitions and franchise sales activity, net of brokerages that exited our franchise system as if these changes had occurred on January 1, 2016. Franchisee sales activity is comprised of new franchise agreements as well as growth through acquisitions and independent sales associate recruitment by existing franchisees with our assistance. We have made a number of assumptions in calculating such estimates and there can be no assurance that we would have generated the projected levels of EBITDA had we owned the acquired entities or entered into the franchise contracts as of January 1, 2016.
(d)
Incremental borrowing costs incurred as a result of the securitization facilities refinancing for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.


64


(e)
Represents total borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and borrowings secured by a first priority lien on our assets of $2,058 million plus $27 million of capital lease obligations less $215 million of readily available cash as of December 31, 2016. Pursuant to the terms of our Senior Secured Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility, total senior secured net debt does not include our securitization obligations or unsecured indebtedness, including the Unsecured Notes.
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our future contractual obligations as of December 31, 2016:
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
Thereafter
 
Total
Revolving Credit Facility (a)
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
200

 
$

 
$

 
$
200

Term Loan B (b)
11

 
11

 
11

 
11

 
11

 
1,039

 
1,094

Term Loan A (c)
22

 
33

 
44

 
314

 

 

 
413

Term Loan A-1 (d)
9

 
13

 
22

 
31

 
276

 

 
351

4.50% Senior Notes

 

 
450

 

 

 

 
450

5.25% Senior Notes

 

 

 

 
550

 

 
550

4.875% Senior Notes

 

 

 

 

 
500

 
500

Interest payments on long-term debt (e)
167

 
158

 
137

 
117

 
94

 
59

 
732

Securitized obligations (f)
205

 

 

 

 

 

 
205

Operating leases (g)
161

 
130

 
104

 
79

 
125

 
124

 
723

Capital leases (including imputed interest)
13

 
9

 
4

 
2

 

 
1

 
29

Purchase commitments (h)
74

 
26

 
13

 
11

 
9

 
240

 
373

Total (i)(j)(k)
$
662

 
$
380

 
$
785

 
$
765

 
$
1,065

 
$
1,963

 
$
5,620

_______________
(a)
The Revolving Credit Facility expires in October 2020; however outstanding borrowings under this facility are classified on the balance sheet as current due to the revolving nature of the facility.
(b)
The Company’s Term Loan B has quarterly amortization payments totaling 1% per annum of the $1,100 million original principal amount of the Term Loan B issued under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with the balance payable in July 2022.
(c)
The Company’s Term Loan A has quarterly amortization payments, which commenced March 31, 2016, totaling per annum 5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10.0% and 12.5% of the $435 million original principal amount of the Term Loan A in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively, with the balance payable in October 2020.
(d)
The Company’s Term Loan A-1 has quarterly amortization payments, which commenced September 30, 2016, totaling per annum 2.5%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10.0% of the $355 million original principal amount of the Term Loan A-1, with the last amortization payment made on June 30, 2021.
(e)
Interest payments are based on applicable interest rates in effect at December 31, 2016 and include the impact of derivative instruments designed to fix the interest rate of a portion of the Company's variable rate debt.
(f)
The Apple Ridge securitization facility expires in June 2017 and the Cartus Financing Limited agreements expire in August 2017. These obligations are classified as current on the balance sheet due to the current classification of the underlying assets that collateralize the obligations.
(g)
The operating lease amounts included in the above table do not include variable costs such as maintenance, insurance and real estate taxes.
(h)
Purchase commitments include a minimum licensing fee that the Company is required to pay to Sotheby’s from 2009 through 2054. The annual minimum licensing fee is approximately $2 million. Purchase commitments also include a minimum licensing fee to be paid to Meredith from 2009 through 2058 for the licensing of the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand. The annual minimum fee is $4 million in 2016 and will generally remain the same thereafter.
(i)
In April 2007, the Company established a standby irrevocable letter of credit for the benefit of Avis Budget Group Inc. in accordance with the Separation and Distribution Agreement. At December 31, 2016, the letter of credit was at $53 million. This letter of credit is not included in the contractual obligations table above.
(j)
The contractual obligations table does not include other non-current liabilities such as pension liabilities of $36 million and unrecognized tax benefits of $78 million as the Company is not able to estimate the year in which these liabilities could be paid.
(k)
The contractual obligations table does not include non-standard incentives offered to certain franchisees which are paid at certain points during the franchise agreement period provided the franchisee maintains a certain level of annual gross commission income and the franchisee is in compliance with the terms of the franchise agreement at the time of payment. If current annual gross commission income levels are maintained by our franchisees, we would pay a total of $7 million over the next two years.


65


Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles is based on the selection and application of accounting policies that require us to make significant estimates and assumptions about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain. Several of the estimates and assumptions we are required to make relate to matters that are inherently uncertain as they pertain to future events. We consider the accounting policies discussed below to be critical to the understanding of our financial statements and involve subjective and complex judgments that could potentially affect reported results. Actual results could differ from our estimates and assumptions and any such differences could be material to our consolidated financial statements.
Allowance for doubtful accounts
We estimate the allowance necessary to provide for uncollectible accounts receivable. The estimate is based on historical experience, combined with a review of current developments, and includes specific accounts for which future payment is unlikely. The process by which we calculate the allowance begins in the individual business units where specific problem accounts are identified and reserved and an additional reserve is generally recorded driven by the age profile of the receivables. Our allowance for doubtful accounts was $13 million and $20 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Impairment of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets
Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition costs over the fair value of the net tangible assets and identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination. Indefinite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of trademarks acquired in business combinations. Goodwill and indefinite-lived assets are not amortized, but are subject to impairment testing. The aggregate carrying values of our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets were $3,690 million and $766 million, respectively, at December 31, 2016 and are subject to impairment testing annually as of October 1, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable. This testing compares carrying values to fair values and, when appropriate, the carrying value is reduced to fair value. In testing goodwill, the fair value of our reporting units is estimated using a discounted cash flow approach utilizing long-term cash flow forecasts and our annual operating plans adjusted for terminal value assumptions.
We determine the fair value of our reporting units utilizing our best estimate of future revenues, operating expenses, cash flows, market and general economic conditions as well as assumptions that we believe marketplace participants would utilize including discount rates, cost of capital, trademark royalty rates, and long-term growth rates. The trademark royalty rate was determined by reviewing similar trademark agreements with third parties. Although we believe our assumptions are reasonable, actual results may vary significantly. These impairment tests involve the use of accounting estimates and assumptions, changes in which could materially impact our financial condition or operating performance if actual results differ from such estimates and assumptions. To address this uncertainty we perform sensitivity analysis on key estimates and assumptions.
Based upon the impairment analysis performed in the fourth quarter of 2016, there was no impairment of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets for 2016. However, significant negative industry or economic trends, disruptions to our business, unexpected significant changes or planned changes in use of the assets, divestitures and market capitalization declines may have a negative effect on the fair values. Management evaluated the effect of lowering the estimated fair value for each of the reporting units by 10% and determined that no impairment of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets would have been recognized under this evaluation.
Common stock valuation
On occasion, we grant stock-based awards to certain senior management, employees and directors. These awards are measured based on the fair value on the grant date. The fair value of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance share units without a market condition is equal to the closing sale price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. The fair value of options is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the fair value of performance share units with market conditions is estimated on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo Simulation method. Expense for stock-based awards is recognized over the service period based on the vesting requirements, or when requisite performance metrics or milestones are achieved. Determining the fair value of stock-based awards at the grant date requires considerable judgment, including estimating expected volatility, expected term and risk-free rate.


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Our expected volatility is based on the average volatility rates of the Company and similar actively traded companies since we only have trading history as a public company since October 2012. The expected term is calculated based on the simplified method and is estimated to be 6.25 years for time vesting stock options. The risk-free rate is derived from the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant using the estimated grant holding period. If factors change and we employ different assumptions, the fair value of future awards and resulting stock-based compensation expense may differ significantly from what we have estimated historically.
Income taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Our provision for income taxes is based on domestic and international statutory income tax rates in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions as well as deferred tax asset and liability balances, including the estimation of valuation allowances and the evaluation of tax positions.
Net deferred tax assets and liabilities are primarily comprised of temporary differences, net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards that are available to reduce taxable income in future periods. The determination of the amount of valuation allowance to be provided on deferred tax assets involves estimates regarding (1) the timing and amount of the reversal of taxable temporary differences, (2) expected future taxable income, and (3) the impact of tax planning strategies.
Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions and in evaluating tax positions. We establish additional reserves for income taxes when, despite the belief that tax positions are fully supportable, there remain certain positions that do not meet the minimum recognition threshold. The approach for evaluating certain and uncertain tax positions is defined by the authoritative guidance and this guidance determines when a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority. In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are examined by various federal, state and foreign tax authorities. We regularly assess the potential outcomes of these examinations and any future examinations for the current or prior years in determining the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. We continually assess the likelihood and amount of potential adjustments and adjust the income tax provision, the current tax liability and deferred taxes in the period in which the facts that give rise to a revision become known.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements.
Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks.
We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates primarily through our senior secured debt. At December 31, 2016, our primary interest rate exposure was to interest rate fluctuations, specifically LIBOR, due to its impact on our variable rate borrowings of our Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan B under the Senior Secured Credit Agreement and the Term Loan A Facility. Given that our borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Agreement and Term Loan A Facility are generally based upon LIBOR, this rate will be the Company's primary market risk exposure for the foreseeable future. We do not have significant exposure to foreign currency risk nor do we expect to have significant exposure to foreign currency risk in the foreseeable future.
We assess our market risk based on changes in interest rates utilizing a sensitivity analysis. The sensitivity analysis measures the potential impact on earnings, fair values and cash flows based on a hypothetical change (increase and decrease) in interest rates. We exclude the fair values of relocation receivables and advances and securitization borrowings from our sensitivity analysis because we believe the interest rate risk on these assets and liabilities is mitigated as the rate we earn on relocation receivables and advances and the rate we incur on our securitization borrowings are based on similar variable indices.
At December 31, 2016, we had variable interest rate long-term debt from our outstanding term loans and revolver of $2,058 million, which excludes $205 million of securitization obligations.  The weighted average interest rate on the outstanding term loans and revolver at December 31, 2016 was 3.30%. The interest rate with respect to the Term Loan B is based on adjusted LIBOR plus 3.00% (with a LIBOR floor of 0.75%). The interest rate with respect to term loans under the Term Loan A Facility is based on adjusted LIBOR plus an additional margin subject to adjustment based on the current


67


senior secured leverage ratio. Based on the December 31, 2016 senior secured leverage ratio, the LIBOR margin was 2.00%. At December 31, 2016 the one-month LIBOR rate was 0.77%; therefore, we have estimated that a 0.25% increase in LIBOR would have a $5 million impact on our annual interest expense.
We have entered into interest rate swaps with a notional value of $1,475 million to manage a portion of our exposure to changes in interest rates associated with our variable rate borrowings. Our interest rate swaps are as follows:
Notional Value (in millions)
Commencement Date
Expiration Date
$225
July 2012
February 2018
$200
January 2013
February 2018
$600
August 2015
August 2020
$450
November 2017
November 2022
The swaps help protect our outstanding variable rate borrowings from future interest rate volatility. The fixed interest rates on the swaps range from 2.07% to 2.89%. The Company had a liability for the fair value of the interest rate swaps of $33 million and $47 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The fair value of these interest rate swaps is subject to movements in LIBOR and will fluctuate in future periods.  We have estimated that a 0.25% increase in the LIBOR yield curve would increase the fair value of our interest rate swaps by $11 million and would decrease interest expense. While these results may be used as a benchmark, they should not be viewed as a forecast of future results.
Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
See "Index to Financial Statements" on page F-1.
Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
Not applicable.
Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures.
Controls and Procedures for Realogy Holdings Corp.
(a)
Realogy Holdings Corp. ("Realogy Holdings") maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such information is accumulated and communicated to its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Realogy Holdings' management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, recognizes that any set of controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.
(b)
As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Realogy Holdings has carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that Realogy Holdings' disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the "reasonable assurance" level.
(c)
There has not been any change in Realogy Holdings' internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting for Realogy Holdings Corp.
Realogy Holdings' management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Realogy Holdings' internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Realogy Holdings' internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:


68


(i)
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of Realogy Holdings' assets;
(ii)
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of Realogy Holdings' management and directors; and
(iii)
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of Realogy Holdings' assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of Realogy Holdings' internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in its 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on this assessment, management determined that Realogy Holdings maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016.
Auditor Report on the Effectiveness of Realogy Holdings Corp.’s Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements included in this Annual Report, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of Realogy Holdings' internal control over financial reporting, which is included within their audit opinion on page F-2.
* * *
Controls and Procedures for Realogy Group LLC
(a)
Realogy Group LLC ("Realogy Group") maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such information is accumulated and communicated to its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Realogy Group's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, recognizes that any set of controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.
(b)
As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Realogy Group has carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that Realogy Group's disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the "reasonable assurance" level.
(c)
There has not been any change in Realogy Group's internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting for Realogy Group LLC
Realogy Group’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Realogy Group’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Realogy Group’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
(i)
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of Realogy Group’s assets;


69


(ii)
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of Realogy Group’s management and directors; and
(iii)
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of Realogy Group’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of Realogy Group’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in its 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on this assessment, management determined that Realogy Group maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016.
Auditor Report on the Effectiveness of Realogy Group LLC's Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements included in this Annual Report, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of Realogy Group's internal control over financial reporting, which is included within their audit opinion on page F-3.
Item 9B.    Other Information.
On February 23, 2017, Alexander E. Perriello III, a named executive officer of the Company, notified the Company that he is retiring from his position as Chief Executive Officer of Realogy Franchise Group, effective March 31, 2017, and also entered into a letter agreement with the Company to provide services thereafter for up to one year in a non-officer, part-time employee role as Chairman Emeritus of Realogy Franchise Group at an annualized salary of $100,000.  A copy of the letter agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.19 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Pursuant to the Company’s succession plan, effective April 1, 2017, John W. Peyton, the President and Chief Operating Officer of Realogy Franchise Group, will succeed Mr. Perriello, as Chief Executive Officer and President of Realogy Franchise Group, and will become an executive officer of the Company.  Mr. Peyton joined the Company in October 2016.  Previously, he served as a senior executive with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., for 17 years, most recently as its Chief Marketing Officer. He also led the Company’s Global Initiatives team, where he directed the implementation of key strategic company priorities around the world, including supply chain and revenue management initiatives. From 2003 to 2008, Peyton served as Chief Operating Officer of Starwood’s North America Hotel Division.



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PART III
Item 10.    Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Identification of Directors
The information required by this item is included in the Proxy Statement under the caption "Election of Directors" and is incorporated by reference to this report.
Identification of Executive Officers
The following provides information regarding individuals who served as executive officers of Realogy Group and Realogy Holdings at December 31, 2016. The age of each individual indicated below is as of February 21, 2017.
Richard A. Smith, age 63, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since November 13, 2007, as Chairman of the Board since March 2012, and as a director since our separation from Cendant in July 2006. Prior to November 13, 2007, he served as our Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and President. Mr. Smith was Senior Executive Vice President of Cendant from September 1998 until our separation from Cendant in July 2006 and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cendant’s Real Estate Services Division from December 1997 until our separation from Cendant in July 2006. Mr. Smith was President of the Real Estate Division of HFS from October 1996 to December 1997 and Executive Vice President of Operations for HFS from February 1992 to October 1996. Under the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Smith serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Realogy during his employment term.
Anthony E. Hull, 58, has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since our separation from Cendant in July 2006. From December 14, 2007 to February 3, 2008, Mr. Hull performed the functions of our Chief Accounting Officer. Mr. Hull was Executive Vice President, Finance of Cendant from October 2003 until our separation from Cendant in July 2006. From January 1996 to September 2003, Mr. Hull served as Chief Financial Officer for DreamWorks, a diversified entertainment company. From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Hull worked in various capacities for Paramount Communications, a diversified entertainment and publishing company. From 1984 to 1990, Mr. Hull worked in investment banking at Morgan Stanley.
Marilyn J. Wasser, 61, has served as our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since May 10, 2007. From May 2005 until May 2007, Ms. Wasser was Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Telcordia Technologies, a provider of telecommunications software and services. From 1983 until 2005, Ms. Wasser served in several positions of increasing responsibility with AT&T Corporation and AT&T Wireless Services, ultimately serving as Executive Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of AT&T Wireless Services from September 2002 to February 2005 and immediately prior thereto, from 1995 until 2002, as EVP Law, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer of AT&T.
Sunita Holzer, 55, has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer ("CHRO") since March 2015. Prior to Realogy, Ms. Holzer served as Executive Vice President and CHRO for Computer Sciences Corporation from 2012 to 2014, where she had oversight of global human resources for 80,000 employees across 60 countries. Ms. Holzer also was Executive Vice President and CHRO at Chubb Insurance from 2003 to 2012. Prior to her tenure at Chubb Insurance, Ms. Holzer held executive HR roles at GE Capital, American Express and American International Group.
Kevin J. Kelleher, 63, has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cartus (formerly known as Cendant Mobility Services Corporation) since 1997.  From 1993 to 1997, he served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cendant Mobility’s destination services unit.
Alexander E. Perriello, III, 69, has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Realogy Franchise Group (formerly known as Cendant Real Estate Franchise Group) since April 2004. From 1997 through 2004, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation.
Bruce Zipf, 60, has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of NRT LLC since March 2005 and as President and Chief Operating Officer from February 2004 to March 2005. From January 2003 to February 2004, Mr. Zipf served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of NRT and from 1998 through December 2002 he served as NRT’s Senior Vice President for most of NRT’s Eastern Operations. From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Zipf served as President and Chief Operating Officer for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage—New York.


71


Donald J. Casey, 55, has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of TRG (formerly known as Cendant Settlement Services Group) since April 2002. From 1995 until April 2002, he served as Senior Vice President, Brands of PHH Mortgage. From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Casey served as Vice President, Government Operations of Cendant Mortgage. From 1989 to 1993, Mr. Casey served as a secondary marketing analyst for PHH Mortgage Services (prior to its acquisition by Cendant).
Timothy B. Gustavson, 48, has served as our Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller since March 2015. From 2008 until March 2015, Mr. Gustavson served as Realogy’s Assistant Corporate Controller and Vice President of Finance. Mr. Gustavson joined Realogy in 2006 as Vice President of External Reporting and prior to Realogy, Mr. Gustavson spent 16 years in public accounting with the KPMG audit practice. Mr. Gustavson is a certified public accountant.
Stephen Fraser, 54, has served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer since April 2014. From June 2013 to March 2014, Mr. Fraser was Global Head of IT Service and Information Management for IKEA, where he was responsible for leading IT service delivery and all global applications, supporting 147,000 employees in 42 countries. From April 2005 to December 2012, Mr. Fraser was Vice President, Head of Group (corporate) IT at A.P. Moller-Maersk Group responsible for the company's corporate IT strategic direction and governance, information risk management, information security and Group-wide cost efficiency initiatives for a company with 108,000 employees, working in 130 countries. From March 1998 to March 2005, Mr. Fraser was Global Vice President, IT for Canadian Pacific Ltd. (C.P. Ships Subsidiary).
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
The information required by this item is included in the Proxy Statement under the caption "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance" and is incorporated by reference to this report.
Code of Ethics
The information required by this item is included in the Proxy Statement under the caption "Code of Business Conduct and Ethics" and is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report.
Corporate Governance
The information required by this item is included in the Proxy Statement under the caption "Governance of the Company" and is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report.
Item 11.    Executive Compensation.
The information required by this item is included in the Proxy Statement under the captions "Governance of the Company—Compensation of Directors," "Governance of the Company—Committees of the Board" and "Executive Compensation" and is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report.
Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table provides information about shares of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, that may vest pursuant to awards of restricted stock units, performance stock units or that may be issued under deferred stock units under all of our existing equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2016.
Plan Category
 
Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise or Vesting of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights
 
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
 
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders
 
7,558,981
(1)
$31.73
(2)
8,238,178
(3)
Equity compensation plan not approved by stockholders
 
None
 
Not Applicable
 
Not Applicable
 
_______________
(1)
Consists of 3,346,206 outstanding options, 1,592,783 restricted stock units, 195,356 performance restricted stock units and 2,424,636 performance stock units issuable under the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan and the Amended and Restated 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The amount set forth in the table assumes maximum payout under the unvested performance share unit awards.


72


The number of shares, if any, to be issued pursuant to unvested performance stock unit awards will be determined based upon the extent to which the performance goals are achieved.
(2)
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding stock options under the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan and the Current Plan. The weighted average remaining term of outstanding options is 6 years. The other outstanding awards do not have exercise prices and are accordingly excluded from this column.
(3)
Consists of shares available for future grant under the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan and the Amended and Restated 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Does not include 145,589 deferred stock units outstanding.
See Note 12, "Stock-Based Compensation", in the consolidated financial statements for additional information on the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan and the Amended and Restated 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
The remaining information required by this item is included in the Proxy Statement under the caption "Governance of the Company—Ownership of Our Common Stock" and is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report.
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required by this item is included in the Proxy Statement under the captions "Governance of the Company" and "Executive Compensation—Related Party Transactions" and is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report.
Item 14.    Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The information required by this item is included in the Proxy Statement under the captions "Disclosure About Fees" and "Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services" under the section entitled "Ratification of the Appointment of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" and is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report.


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PART IV
Item 15.     Exhibits, Financial Statements and Schedules.
(A)(1) and (2) Financial Statements
The consolidated financial statements of the registrants listed in the "Index to Financial Statements" on page F-1 together with the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent auditors, are filed as part of this Annual Report.
(A)(3) Exhibits 
See Index to Exhibits.
The agreements included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to this Annual Report contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties were made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and (i) were not intended to be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate; (ii) may have been qualified in such agreement by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement; (iii) may apply contract standards of "materiality" that are different from "materiality" under the applicable securities laws; and (iv) were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement. We acknowledge that, notwithstanding the inclusion of the foregoing cautionary statements, we are responsible for considering whether additional specific disclosures of material information regarding material contractual provisions are required to make the statements in this Annual Report not misleading.
(A)(4) Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules
Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.
Item 16.     Form 10-K Summary.
None.


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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on February 24, 2017.
REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.
and
REALOGY GROUP LLC
(Registrants)
                        


By:
/S/ RICHARD A. SMITH    
Name:
Richard A. Smith
Title:
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer
and President

POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Richard A. Smith, Anthony E. Hull and Marilyn J. Wasser, and each of them severally, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact with power of substitution and resubstitution to sign in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to do any and all things and execute any and all instruments that such attorney may deem necessary or advisable under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any rules, regulations and requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with this Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments hereto, as fully and for all intents and purposes as he or she might do or could do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, and his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


75


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated below on behalf of each of the Registrants.
Name
 
Title
 
Date
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ RICHARD A. SMITH
 
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer
and President
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
February 24, 2017
Richard A. Smith
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ ANTHONY E. HULL
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
February 24, 2017
Anthony E. Hull
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ TIMOTHY B. GUSTAVSON
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 
February 24, 2017
Timothy B. Gustavson
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ RAUL ALVAREZ
 
Director of Realogy Holdings Corp. and
Manager of Realogy Group LLC
 
February 24, 2017
Raul Alvarez
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ FIONA P. DIAS
 
Director of Realogy Holdings Corp. and
Manager of Realogy Group LLC
 
February 24, 2017
Fiona P. Dias
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ MATTHEW J. ESPE
 
Director of Realogy Holdings Corp. and
Manager of Realogy Group LLC
 
February 24, 2017
Matthew J, Espe
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ V. ANN HAILEY
 
Director of Realogy Holdings Corp. and
Manager of Realogy Group LLC
 
February 24, 2017
V. Ann Hailey
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ CHRIS TERRILL
 
Director of Realogy Holdings Corp. and
Manager of Realogy Group LLC
 
February 24, 2017
Chris Terrill
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ DUNCAN L. NIEDERAUER
 
Director of Realogy Holdings Corp. and
Manager of Realogy Group LLC
 
February 24, 2017
Duncan L. Niederauer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ SHERRY M. SMITH
 
Director of Realogy Holdings Corp. and
Manager of Realogy Group LLC
 
February 24, 2017
Sherry M. Smith
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ MICHAEL J. WILLIAMS
 
Director of Realogy Holdings Corp. and
Manager of Realogy Group LLC
 
February 24, 2017
Michael J. Williams
 
 
 
 


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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS




F-1


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Realogy Holdings Corp.
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and equity present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Realogy Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries ("the Company") at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15 (A)(4) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedule, and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Florham Park, New Jersey
February 24, 2017


F-2


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholder of Realogy Group LLC
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and equity present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Realogy Group LLC and its subsidiaries ("the Company") at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15 (A)(4) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedule, and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Florham Park, New Jersey
February 24, 2017




F-3


REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP. AND REALOGY GROUP LLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions, except per share data)
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Gross commission income
$
4,277

 
$
4,288

 
$
4,028

Service revenue
955

 
882

 
802

Franchise fees
372

 
353

 
333

Other
206

 
183

 
165

Net revenues
5,810

 
5,706

 
5,328

Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
Commission and other agent-related costs
2,945

 
2,931

 
2,755

Operating
1,542

 
1,458

 
1,350

Marketing
241

 
226

 
214

General and administrative
321

 
337

 
293

Former parent legacy benefit, net
(2
)
 
(15
)
 
(10
)
Restructuring costs, net
39

 
10

 
(1
)
Depreciation and amortization
202

 
201

 
190

Interest expense, net
174

 
231

 
267

Loss on the early extinguishment of debt

 
48

 
47

Other income, net
(1
)
 
(3
)
 
(2
)
Total expenses
5,461

 
5,424

 
5,103

Income before income taxes, equity in earnings and noncontrolling interests
349

 
282

 
225

Income tax expense
144

 
110

 
87

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities
(12
)
 
(16
)
 
(9
)
Net income
217

 
188

 
147

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Net income attributable to Realogy Holdings and Realogy Group
$
213

 
$
184

 
$
143

 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share attributable to Realogy Holdings:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share
$
1.47

 
$
1.26

 
$
0.98

Diluted earnings per share
$
1.46

 
$
1.24

 
$
0.97

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares of Realogy Holdings outstanding:
Basic
144.5

 
146.5

 
146.0

Diluted
145.8

 
148.1

 
147.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash dividends declared per share (beginning in August 2016)
$
0.18

 
$

 
$



See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-4


REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP. AND REALOGY GROUP LLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In millions)
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Net income
$
217

 
$
188

 
$
147

Currency translation adjustment
(5
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Defined Benefit Plans:
 
 
 
 
 
Actuarial gain (loss) for the plans
(3
)
 
1

 
(24
)
Less: amortization of actuarial loss to periodic pension cost
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
(1
)
Defined benefit plans
(2
)
 
3

 
(23
)
Other comprehensive loss, before tax
(7
)
 
(1
)
 
(27
)
Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive loss amounts
(3
)
 

 
(11
)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
(4
)
 
(1
)
 
(16
)
Comprehensive income
213

 
187

 
131

Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Comprehensive income attributable to Realogy Holdings and Realogy Group
$
209

 
$
183

 
$
127



See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-5


REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP. AND REALOGY GROUP LLC
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except share data)
 
December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
274

 
$
415

Trade receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $13 and $20)
152

 
141

Relocation receivables
244

 
279

Other current assets
148

 
126

Total current assets
818

 
961

Property and equipment, net
267

 
254

Goodwill
3,690

 
3,618

Trademarks
748

 
745

Franchise agreements, net
1,361

 
1,428

Other intangibles, net
313

 
316

Other non-current assets
224

 
209

Total assets
$
7,421

 
$
7,531

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
140

 
$
139

Securitization obligations
205

 
247

Due to former parent
28

 
31

Current portion of long-term debt
242

 
740

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
435

 
448

Total current liabilities
1,050

 
1,605

Long-term debt
3,265

 
2,962

Deferred income taxes
389

 
267

Other non-current liabilities
248

 
275

Total liabilities
4,952

 
5,109

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 13 and 14)

 

Equity:
 
 
 
Realogy Holdings preferred stock: $.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015

 

Realogy Holdings common stock: $.01 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized, 140,227,692 shares outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 146,746,537 shares outstanding at December 31, 2015
1

 
1

Additional paid-in capital
5,565

 
5,733

Accumulated deficit
(3,062
)
 
(3,280
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(40
)
 
(36
)
Total stockholders' equity
2,464

 
2,418

Noncontrolling interests
5

 
4

Total equity
2,469

 
2,422

Total liabilities and equity
$
7,421

 
$
7,531



See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-6


REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP. AND REALOGY GROUP LLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Operating Activities
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
217

 
$
188

 
$
147

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
202

 
201

 
190

Deferred income taxes
124

 
96

 
77

Amortization of deferred financing costs and discount
16

 
18

 
17

Non-cash portion of the loss on the early extinguishment of debt

 
9

 
24

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities
(12
)
 
(16
)
 
(9
)
Stock-based compensation
57

 
57

 
42

Mark-to-market adjustments on derivatives
4

 
18

 
29

Other adjustments to net income
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
(1
)
Net change in assets and liabilities, excluding the impact of acquisitions and dispositions:
Trade receivables
(10
)
 
(27
)
 
4

Relocation receivables
31

 
17

 
(29
)
Other assets
(22
)
 
(25
)
 
(5
)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
(15
)
 
28

 
(53
)
Due to former parent
(2
)
 
(20
)
 
(11
)
Dividends received from unconsolidated entities
11

 
13

 
5

Other, net
(10
)
 
(3
)
 
2

Net cash provided by operating activities
587

 
550

 
429

Investing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment additions
(87
)
 
(84
)
 
(71
)
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(95
)
 
(127
)
 
(215
)
Change in restricted cash
1

 
2

 
4

Other, net
(9
)
 

 
(16
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(190
)
 
(209
)
 
(298
)
Financing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in revolving credit facilities

 
200

 

Repayment of amended Term Loan B Facility
(758
)
 

 

Proceeds from issuance of Term Loan A Facility

 
435

 

Proceeds from issuance of Term Loan A-1 Facility
355

 

 

Amortization payments on term loan facilities
(41
)
 
(19
)
 
(19
)
Redemption of First Lien Notes

 
(593
)
 

Repurchases of First and a Half Lien Notes

 
(196
)
 
(729
)
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes
750

 

 
750

Redemption of Senior Notes
(500
)
 

 

Net change in securitization obligations
(40
)
 
(21
)
 
17

Debt transaction costs
(16
)
 
(10
)
 
(44
)
Repurchase of common stock
(195
)
 

 

Dividends paid on common stock
(26
)
 

 

Proceeds from exercise of stock options
2

 
5

 
6

Taxes paid related to net share settlement for stock-based compensation
(6
)
 
(6
)
 
(6
)
Payments of contingent consideration related to acquisitions
(26
)
 
(8
)
 
(4
)
Other, net
(34
)
 
(24
)
 
(23
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(535
)
 
(237
)
 
(52
)
Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
(3
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(141
)
 
102

 
77

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
415

 
313

 
236

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
274

 
$
415

 
$
313

 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
 
 
 
 
 
Interest payments (including securitization interest of $6 for each period presented)
$
181

 
$
244

 
$
249

Income tax payments, net
24

 
17

 
10


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-7


REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(In millions)
 
 
Realogy Holdings Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
Accumulated
Deficit
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Non-
controlling
Interests
 
Total
Equity
 
 
 
 
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
Balance at January 1, 2014
146.1

 
$
1

 
$
5,635

 
$
(3,607
)
 
$
(19
)
 
$
3

 
$
2,013

 
Net income

 

 

 
143

 

 
4

 
147

 
Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 
(16
)
 

 
(16
)
 
Exercise of stock options
0.3

 

 
6

 

 

 

 
6

 
Stock-based compensation

 

 
42

 

 

 

 
42

 
Issuance of shares for vesting of restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures
0.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Shares withheld for taxes on equity awards
(0.1
)
 

 
(6
)
 

 

 

 
(6
)
 
Dividends

 

 

 

 

 
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 
1

 
1

 
Balance at December 31, 2014
146.4

 
$
1

 
$
5,677

 
$
(3,464
)
 
$
(35
)
 
$
4

 
$
2,183

 
Net income

 

 

 
184

 

 
4

 
188

 
Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
 
Exercise of stock options
0.2

 

 
5

 

 

 

 
5

 
Stock-based compensation

 

 
57

 

 

 

 
57

 
Issuance of shares for vesting of restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures
0.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Shares withheld for taxes on equity awards
(0.1
)
 

 
(6
)
 

 

 

 
(6
)
 
Dividends

 

 

 

 

 
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
Balance at December 31, 2015
146.7

 
$
1

 
$
5,733

 
$
(3,280
)
 
$
(36
)
 
$
4

 
$
2,422

 
Cumulative effect of adoption of FASB ASC 718 - Stock Compensation

 

 

 
5

 

 

 
5

 
Net income

 

 

 
213

 

 
4

 
217

 
Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 
(4
)
 

 
(4
)
 
Repurchase of common stock
(6.9
)
 

 
(195
)
 

 

 

 
(195
)
 
Exercise of stock options
0.1

 

 
2

 

 

 

 
2

 
Stock-based compensation

 

 
57

 

 

 

 
57

 
Issuance of shares for vesting of restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures
0.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Shares withheld for taxes on equity awards
(0.2
)
 

 
(6
)
 

 

 

 
(6
)
 
Dividends

 

 
(26
)
 

 

 
(3
)
 
(29
)
 
Balance at December 31, 2016
140.2

 
$
1

 
$
5,565

 
$
(3,062
)
 
$
(40
)
 
$
5

 
$
2,469


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-8


REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP. AND REALOGY GROUP LLC
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unless otherwise noted, all amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)
1.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Realogy Holdings Corp. ("Realogy Holdings", "Realogy" or the "Company") is a holding company for its consolidated subsidiaries including Realogy Intermediate Holdings LLC ("Realogy Intermediate") and Realogy Group LLC ("Realogy Group") and its consolidated subsidiaries. Realogy, through its subsidiaries, is a global provider of residential real estate services. Neither Realogy Holdings, the indirect parent of Realogy Group, nor Realogy Intermediate, the direct parent company of Realogy Group, conducts any operations other than with respect to its respective direct or indirect ownership of Realogy Group. As a result, the consolidated financial positions, results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows of Realogy Holdings, Realogy Intermediate and Realogy Group are the same.
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the financial statements of Realogy Holdings and Realogy Group. Realogy Holdings' only asset is its investment in the common stock of Realogy Intermediate, and Realogy Intermediate's only asset is its investment in Realogy Group. Realogy Holdings' only obligations are its guarantees of certain borrowings and certain franchise obligations of Realogy Group. All expenses incurred by Realogy Holdings and Realogy Intermediate are for the benefit of Realogy Group and have been reflected in Realogy Group’s consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Business Description
The Company reports its operations in the following four business segments:
Real Estate Franchise Services (known as Realogy Franchise Group or RFG)—franchises the Century 21®, Coldwell Banker®, Coldwell Banker Commercial®, ERA®, Sotheby's International Realty® and Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate brand names. As of December 31, 2016, our franchise systems had approximately 14,100 franchised and company owned offices and approximately 273,200 independent sales associates operating under our franchise and proprietary brands in the U.S. and 111 other countries and territories around the world, which included approximately 790 of our company owned and operated brokerage offices with approximately 47,500 independent sales associates.
Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services (known as NRT)—operates a full-service real estate brokerage business principally under the Coldwell Banker®, Corcoran®, Sotheby's International Realty®, Citi HabitatsSM and ZipRealty® brand names in more than 50 of the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. This segment also includes the Company's share of earnings for our PHH Home Loans venture.
Relocation Services (known as Cartus®)—primarily offers clients employee relocation services such as homesale assistance, providing home equity advances to transferees (generally guaranteed by the client), home finding and other destination services, expense processing, relocation policy counseling and consulting services, arranging household goods moving services, coordinating visa and immigration support, intercultural and language training and group move management services. In addition, we provide home buying and selling assistance to members of affinity clients.
Title and Settlement Services (known as Title Resource Group or TRG)—provides full-service title and settlement services to real estate companies, affinity groups, corporations and financial institutions with many of these services provided in connection with the Company's real estate brokerage and relocation services business.
2.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
USE OF ESTIMATES
In presenting the consolidated financial statements, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and related disclosures. Estimates, by their nature, are based on judgment and available information. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially from those estimates.


F-9


REVENUE RECOGNITION
Real Estate Franchise Services
The Company franchises its real estate brands to real estate brokerage businesses that are independently owned and operated. Franchise revenue principally consists of royalty and marketing fees from the Company’s franchisees. The royalty received is primarily based on a percentage of the franchisee’s gross commission income. Royalty fees are accrued as the underlying franchisee revenue is earned (upon close of the homesale transaction). Annual volume incentives given to certain franchisees on royalty fees are recorded as a reduction to revenue and are accrued for in relative proportion to the recognition of the underlying gross franchise revenue. Non-standard incentives are recorded as a reduction to revenue ratably over the related performance period or from the date of issuance through the remaining life of the related franchise agreement. Franchise revenue also includes initial franchise fees and initial area development fees, which are generally non-refundable and recognized by the Company as revenue when all material services or conditions relating to the sale have been substantially performed. The Company also earns marketing fees from its franchisees and utilizes such fees to fund marketing campaigns on behalf of its franchisees. As such, marketing revenue is earned as these funds are spent.
Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services
As an owner-operator of real estate brokerages, the Company assists home buyers and sellers in listing, marketing, selling and finding homes. Real estate commissions earned by the Company’s real estate brokerage business are recorded as revenue on a gross basis upon the closing of a real estate transaction (i.e., purchase or sale of a home), which are referred to as gross commission income. The commissions the Company pays to real estate agents are recognized concurrently with associated revenues and presented as the commission and other agent-related costs line item on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Relocation Services
The Company provides relocation services to corporate and government clients for the transfer of their employees. Such services include the purchasing and/or selling of a transferee’s home, providing home equity advances to transferees (generally guaranteed by the client), expense processing, arranging household goods moving services, home finding and other related services. The Company earns revenues from fees charged to clients for the performance and/or facilitation of these services and recognizes such revenue as services are provided, except for limited instances in which the Company assumes the risk of loss on the sale of a transferring employee’s home ("at risk"). In the majority of relocation transactions, the gain or loss on the sale of a transferee’s home is generally borne by the client. However, there are limited instances in which the Company assumes the risk of loss.
The Company also earns referral commission revenue from real estate brokers, which is recognized at the time the underlying property closes, and revenues from other third-party service providers where the Company earns a referral commission, which is recognized at the time of completion of services. Additionally, the Company generally earns interest income on the funds it advances on behalf of the transferring employee, which is recorded within other revenue (as is the corresponding interest expense on the securitization obligations) in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Title and Settlement Services
The Company provides title and closing services, which include title search procedures for title insurance policies, homesale escrow and other closing services. Title revenues, which are recorded net of amounts remitted to third-party insurance underwriters, and title and closing service fees are recorded at the time a homesale transaction or refinancing closes. The Company also owns an underwriter of title insurance. For independent title agents, the underwriter recognizes policy premium revenue on a gross basis (before deduction of agent commission) upon notice of policy issuance from the agent. For affiliated title agents, the underwriter recognizes the incremental policy premium revenue upon the effective date of the title policy as the agent commission revenue is already recognized by the affiliated title agent.
CONSOLIDATION
The Company consolidates any VIE for which it is the primary beneficiary with a controlling financial interest. Also, the Company consolidates an entity not deemed a VIE if its ownership, direct or indirect, exceeds 50% of the outstanding voting shares of an entity and/or it has the ability to control the financial or operating policies through its voting rights, board representation or other similar rights. For entities where the Company does not have a controlling interest (financial or operating), the investments in such entities are accounted for using the equity or cost method, as appropriate. The


F-10


Company applies the equity method of accounting when it has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of an investee. The Company uses the cost method for all other investments.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The Company considers highly liquid investments with remaining maturities not exceeding three months at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
RESTRICTED CASH
Restricted cash primarily relates to amounts specifically designated as collateral for the repayment of outstanding borrowings under the Company’s securitization facilities. Such amounts approximated $7 million and $8 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively and are primarily included within other current assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS
The Company estimates the allowance necessary to provide for uncollectible accounts receivable. The estimate is based on historical experience, combined with a review of current developments and includes specific accounts for which payment has become unlikely. The process by which the Company calculates the allowance begins in the individual business units where specific problem accounts are identified and reserved primarily based upon the age profile of the receivables and specific payment issues.
ADVERTISING EXPENSES
Advertising costs are generally expensed in the period incurred. Advertising expenses, recorded within the marketing expense line item on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations, were approximately $198 million, $194 million and $188 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS
Debt issuance costs include costs incurred in connection with obtaining debt and extending existing debt. These financing costs are presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability, consistent with the presentation of a debt discount. The debt issuance costs are to be amortized, via the effective interest method and the amortization period is the life of the related debt.
INCOME TAXES
The Company’s provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated based upon the temporary differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using currently enacted tax rates. These differences are based upon estimated differences between the book and tax basis of the assets and liabilities for the Company. Certain tax assets and liabilities of the Company may be adjusted in connection with the finalization of income tax audits.
The Company’s deferred tax assets are recorded net of a valuation allowance when, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the recorded deferred tax balances will not be realized in future periods. Decreases to the valuation allowance are recorded as reductions to the Company’s provision for income taxes and increases to the valuation allowance result in additional provision for income taxes.
In the third quarter of 2016, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update—Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which required all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled on a prospective basis. Furthermore, the guidance required that income taxes paid by the Company related to the net share settlement for stock-based compensation be presented as a financing activity on the statement of cash flows and required retrospective application.
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Company records derivatives and hedging activities on the balance sheet at their respective fair values. The Company uses foreign currency forward contracts largely to manage its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates associated with its foreign currency denominated receivables and payables.  The Company primarily manages its foreign currency exposure to the British Pound, Euro, Swiss Franc and Canadian Dollar. The Company has not elected to


F-11


utilize hedge accounting for these forward contracts; therefore, any change in fair value is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. However, the fluctuations in the value of these forward contracts generally offset the impact of changes in the value of the underlying risk that they are intended to economically hedge.
The Company also enters into interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to changes in interest rates associated with its variable rate borrowings. The Company has interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional value of $1,475 million to offset the variability in cash flows resulting from the term loan facilities as follows:
Notional Value (in millions)
Commencement Date
Expiration Date
$225
July 2012
February 2018
$200
January 2013
February 2018
$600
August 2015
August 2020
$450
November 2017
November 2022
The swaps help to protect our outstanding variable rate borrowings from future interest rate volatility. The Company has not elected to utilize hedge accounting for these interest rate swaps; therefore, any change in fair value is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
INVESTMENTS
At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had various equity method investments aggregating $66 million and $65 million, respectively, which are recorded within other non-current assets on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Included in such investments is a 49.9% non-controlling interest in PHH Home Loans, a mortgage origination venture formed in 2005 created for the purpose of originating and selling mortgage loans primarily sourced through the Company’s real estate brokerage and relocation businesses. PHH Corporation ("PHH") owns the remaining percentage. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to its investment in PHH Home Loans is limited to its equity investment of $59 million at December 31, 2016.
In connection with the joint venture, the Company recorded equity earnings related to its investment in PHH Home Loans of $8 million, $14 million and $8 million for the years ended December 31, 20162015 and 2014, respectively. The Company received cash dividends from PHH Home Loans of $7 million, $10 million and $3 million during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment (including leasehold improvements) are initially recorded at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation, recorded as a component of depreciation and amortization on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, is computed utilizing the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Amortization of leasehold improvements, also recorded as a component of depreciation and amortization, is computed utilizing the straight-line method over the estimated benefit period of the related assets or the lease term, if shorter. Useful lives are 30 years for buildings, up to 20 years for leasehold improvements, and from 3 to 7 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment.
The Company capitalizes the costs of software developed for internal use which commences during the development phase of the project. The Company amortizes software developed or obtained for internal use on a straight-line basis, generally from 1 to 5 years, when such software is ready for use. The net carrying value of software developed or obtained for internal use was $83 million and $79 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
IMPAIRMENT OF GOODWILL, INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND OTHER LONG-LIVED ASSETS
Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition costs over the fair value of the net tangible assets and identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination. Indefinite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of trademarks acquired in business combinations. Goodwill and indefinite-lived assets are not amortized, but are subject to impairment testing. The aggregate carrying values of our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets were $3,690 million and $766 million, respectively, at December 31, 2016 and are subject to impairment testing annually as of October 1, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable. This testing compares carrying values to fair values and, when appropriate, the carrying value is reduced to fair value. In testing goodwill, the fair value of our reporting units is estimated utilizing a discounted cash flow approach utilizing long-term cash flow forecasts and our annual operating plans adjusted for terminal value assumptions.


F-12


We determine the fair value of our reporting units utilizing our best estimate of future revenues, operating expenses, cash flows, market and general economic conditions as well as assumptions that we believe marketplace participants would utilize including discount rates, cost of capital, trademark royalty rates and long-term growth rates. The trademark royalty rate was determined by reviewing similar trademark agreements with third parties. Although we believe our assumptions are reasonable, actual results may vary significantly. These impairment tests involve the use of accounting estimates and assumptions, changes in which could materially impact our financial condition or operating performance if actual results differ from such estimates and assumptions. To address this uncertainty we perform sensitivity analysis on key estimates and assumptions.
Based upon the impairment analysis performed in the fourth quarter of 2016, 2015 and 2014, there was no impairment of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets for these years. Management evaluated the effect of lowering the estimated fair value for each of the reporting units by 10% and determined that no impairment of goodwill would have been recognized under this evaluation for 2016, 2015 or 2014.
The Company evaluates the recoverability of its other long-lived assets, including amortizable intangible assets, if circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred. This analysis is performed by comparing the respective carrying values of the assets to the current and expected future cash flows, on an undiscounted basis, to be generated from such assets. Property and equipment is evaluated separately within each business unit. If such analysis indicates that the carrying value of these assets is not recoverable, then the carrying value of such assets is reduced to fair value through a charge to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. There were no impairments relating to other long-lived assets, including amortizable intangible assets, during 2016, 2015 or 2014.
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Significant non-cash transactions in 2016, 2015 and 2014 included $14 million, $17 million and $8 million, respectively, in capital lease additions, which resulted in non-cash accruals to fixed assets and other long-term liabilities.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company grants stock-based awards to certain senior management, employees and directors including non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance share units.
The fair value of non-qualified stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model on the grant date and is recognized as expense over the service period based on the vesting requirements. The fair value of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance share units without a market condition is measured based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on the grant date and is recognized as expense over the service period of the award, or when requisite performance metrics or milestones are probable of being achieved. The fair value of awards with a market condition are estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation method and expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award. Determining the fair value of stock-based awards at the grant date requires considerable judgment, including estimating expected volatility and expected term, risk-free rate.
RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") — Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, amending guidance related to employee share-based payment accounting. The Company elected to early adopt this ASU in the third quarter of 2016 using a modified retrospective approach, effective as if adopted the first day of the fiscal year, January 1, 2016. Adoption of the new guidance resulted in the following:
The new ASU requires all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled and will be applied on a prospective basis. Any excess tax benefits that were not previously recognized because the related tax deduction had not reduced current taxes payable are to be recorded on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period in which the new guidance is adopted. The Company recorded a cumulative increase of $5 million to its January 1, 2016 accumulated deficit balance with a corresponding decrease in deferred tax liabilities related to the prior years' unrecognized excess tax benefits.
Furthermore, the guidance requires that income taxes paid by the Company related to the net share settlement for stock-based compensation be presented as a financing activity on the statement of cash flows and requires retrospective application. The Company applied this cash flow presentation change which resulted in the


F-13


reclassification of $6 million of taxes paid related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards from operating activities to financing activities for both the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
In addition, the Company elected to account for forfeitures on share-based payment awards in compensation cost as they occur as opposed to estimating forfeitures. The cumulative impact for the forfeiture change was immaterial and was recorded as a decrease to the January 1, 2016 accumulated deficit balance. The current year impact for the change was immaterial and was recognized in the third quarter of 2016.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
The Company considers the applicability and impact of all Accounting Standards Updates. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.
In August 2016, the FASB issued a new standard on classification of cash receipts and payments on the statement of cash flows intending to reduce diversity in practice on how certain transactions are classified. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and will require a retrospective application at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the year of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued its new standard on leases which requires virtually all leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. Lessees will recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases (other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease). The liability will be equal to the present value of lease payments. The asset will be based on the liability, subject to adjustment, such as for initial direct costs. For income statement purposes, the FASB retained a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance leases. Operating leases will result in straight-line expense, similar to current operating leases, while finance leases will result in a front-loaded expense pattern, similar to current capital leases. Classification will be based on criteria that are largely similar to those applied in current lease accounting, but without explicit bright lines. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The new leasing standard requires modified retrospective transition, which requires application of the new guidance at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the year of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the standard on its information systems and consolidated financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued a standard on revenue recognition that will impact most companies to some extent. The objective of the revenue standard is to provide a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers to improve comparability within industries, across industries, and across capital markets. The revenue standard contains principles that an entity will apply to determine the measurement of revenue and the timing of revenue recognition. The new standard permits for two alternative implementation methods, the use of either (1) full retrospective application to each prior reporting period presented or (2) modified retrospective application in which the cumulative effect of initially applying the revenue standard is recognized as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the implementation methods and plans to adopt the new standard in the first quarter of 2018. After a thorough review of the Company's revenue streams, the Company does not expect the new standard to have a material impact on financial results as the majority of the Company's revenue is recognized at the completion of a homesale transaction which will not be impacted by the new revenue recognition guidance.
3.
ACQUISITIONS
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations were recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of the respective acquisition dates based upon their estimated fair values at such dates. The results of operations of businesses acquired by the Company have been included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations since their respective dates of acquisition.
In connection with the Company’s acquisition of real estate brokerage operations, the Company obtains contractual pendings and listings intangible assets, which represent the estimated fair value of homesale transactions that are pending closing or homes listed for sale by the acquired brokerage operations. Pendings and listings intangible assets are amortized over the estimated closing period of the underlying contracts and homes listed for sale, which in most cases is approximately five months.


F-14


2016 Acquisitions
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company acquired eleven real estate brokerage and property management operations through its wholly owned subsidiary, NRT, for aggregate cash consideration of $74 million and established $9 million of contingent consideration. These acquisitions resulted in goodwill of $52 million, customer relationships of $20 million, pendings and listings of $6 million, other intangibles of $3 million, other assets of $5 million and other liabilities of $3 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company acquired one title and settlement operation through its wholly owned subsidiary, TRG, for cash consideration of $24 million and established $10 million of contingent consideration. This acquisition resulted in goodwill of $20 million, title plant of $7 million, pendings of $5 million, trademarks of $3 million, other intangibles of $2 million, other assets of $6 million and other liabilities of $9 million.
None of the 2016 acquisitions were significant to the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows individually or in the aggregate.
2015 Acquisitions
During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company acquired thirteen real estate brokerage related operations through its wholly owned subsidiary, NRT, including a large franchisee of the Real Estate Franchise segment, for aggregate cash consideration of $96 million and established $13 million of liabilities related to contingent consideration and other acquisition related liabilities. These acquisitions resulted in goodwill of $94 million, pendings and listings of $10 million, other intangibles of $1 million, other assets of $7 million and other liabilities of $3 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company acquired three title and settlement operations through its wholly owned subsidiary, TRG, for cash consideration of $34 million and established $37 million of liabilities related to contingent consideration. These acquisitions resulted in goodwill of $47 million, trademarks of $9 million, pendings and listings of $8 million, other intangibles of $5 million, title plant shares of $1 million and other assets of $1 million.
None of the 2015 acquisitions were significant to the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows individually or in the aggregate.
2014 Acquisitions
In August 2014, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of common stock of ZipRealty, Inc., (“ZipRealty”) for a cash purchase price of $167 million. The Company acquired ZipRealty's residential brokerage operations with 23 offices across the United States and its integrated real estate technology platform. The estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed resulted in goodwill of $92 million, software and fixed assets of $18 million, deferred tax assets of $46 million, customer relationships intangibles of $1 million, pendings and listings of $3 million, other intangibles of $7 million, other assets of $6 million and other liabilities of $6 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2014, in addition to the ZipRealty acquisition discussed above, NRT acquired sixteen real estate brokerage and property management operations for cash consideration of $44 million and established $19 million of liabilities related to contingent consideration. These acquisitions resulted in goodwill of $45 million, trademarks of $4 million, pendings and listings of $4 million, other intangibles of $8 million, other assets of $3 million and other liabilities of $1 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company acquired three title and settlement operations through its wholly owned subsidiary, TRG, for cash consideration of $6 million. These acquisitions resulted in goodwill of $5 million and pendings and listings of $1 million.
None of the 2014 acquisitions were significant to the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows individually or in the aggregate.


F-15


4.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill by segment and changes in the carrying amount are as follows:
 
Real Estate
Franchise
Services
 
Company
Owned
Brokerage
Services
 
Relocation
Services
 
Title and
Settlement
Services
 
Total
Company
Balance at January 1, 2014
$
2,241

 
$
661

 
$
360

 
$
73

 
$
3,335

Goodwill acquired
51

 
86

 

 
5

 
142

Balance at December 31, 2014
2,292

 
747

 
360

 
78

 
3,477

Goodwill acquired

 
94

 

 
47

 
141

Balance at December 31, 2015
2,292

 
841

 
360

 
125

 
3,618

Goodwill acquired

 
52

 

 
20

 
72

Balance at December 31, 2016
$
2,292

 
$
893

 
$
360

 
$
145

 
$
3,690

Goodwill and accumulated impairment summary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross goodwill
$
3,315

 
$
1,051

 
$
641

 
$
469

 
$
5,476

Accumulated impairment losses (a)
(1,023
)
 
(158
)
 
(281
)
 
(324
)
 
(1,786
)
Balance at December 31, 2016
$
2,292

 
$
893

 
$
360

 
$
145

 
$
3,690

_______________
(a)
During the fourth quarter of 2008 and 2007 the Company recorded impairment charges, which reduced goodwill by $1,279 million and $507 million, respectively. No goodwill or unamortized intangible asset impairments have been recorded since 2008.
Intangible assets are as follows:
 
As of December 31, 2016
 
As of December 31, 2015
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net
Carrying
Amount
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net
Carrying
Amount
Amortizable—Franchise agreements (a)
$
2,019

 
$
658

 
$
1,361

 
$
2,019

 
$
591

 
$
1,428

Unamortizable—Trademarks (b)
$
748

 
 
 
$
748

 
$
745

 
 
 
$
745

Other Intangibles
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortizable—License agreements (c)
$
45

 
$
9

 
$
36

 
$
45

 
$
8

 
$
37

Amortizable—Customer relationships (d)
550

 
312

 
238

 
530

 
284

 
246

Unamortizable—Title plant shares (e)
18

 
 
 
18

 
11

 
 
 
11

Amortizable—Pendings and listings (f)
6

 
5

 
1

 
3

 
1

 
2

Amortizable—Other (g) 
33

 
13

 
20

 
31

 
11

 
20

Total Other Intangibles
$
652

 
$
339

 
$
313

 
$
620

 
$
304

 
$
316

_______________
(a)
Generally amortized over a period of 30 years.
(b)
Primarily relates to the Century 21®, Coldwell Banker®, ERA®, Corcoran®, Coldwell Banker Commercial® and Cartus tradenames, which are expected to generate future cash flows for an indefinite period of time.
(c)
Relates to the Sotheby’s International Realty® and Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate agreements which are being amortized over 50 years (the contractual term of the license agreements).
(d)
Relates to the customer relationships at the Relocation Services segment, the Title and Settlement Services segment, the Real Estate Franchise Services segment and our Company Owned Real Estate Services segment. These relationships are being amortized over a period of 2 to 20 years.
(e)
Ownership in a title plant is required to transact title insurance in certain states. The Company expects to generate future cash flows for an indefinite period of time.
(f)
Generally amortized over a period of 5 months.
(g)
Consists of covenants not to compete which are amortized over their contract lives and other intangibles which are generally amortized over periods ranging from 5 to 10 years.


F-16


Intangible asset amortization expense is as follows:
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Franchise agreements
$
67

 
$
67

 
$
67

License agreements
1

 
1

 
1

Customer relationships
28

 
28

 
37

Pendings and listings
12

 
16

 
8

Other
5

 
5

 
3

Total
$
113

 
$
117

 
$
116

Based on the Company’s amortizable intangible assets as of December 31, 2016, the Company expects related amortization expense to be approximately $99 million, $97 million, $96 million, $94 million, $92 million and $1,178 million in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and thereafter, respectively.
5.
FRANCHISING AND MARKETING ACTIVITIES
Franchise fee revenue includes domestic initial franchise fees and international area development fees of $8 million, $8 million, and $9 million for the years ended December 31, 20162015 and 2014, respectively. In addition, franchise fee revenue is net of annual volume incentives provided to real estate franchisees of $56 million, $51 million and $50 million for the years ended December 31, 20162015 and 2014, respectively. The Company’s real estate franchisees may receive volume incentives on their royalty payments. Such annual incentives are based upon the amount of the franchisees commission income earned and paid to the Company during the calendar year. Each brand has several different annual incentive schedules currently in effect.
The Company’s wholly owned real estate brokerage services segment, NRT, pays royalties to the Company’s franchise business; however, such amounts are eliminated in consolidation. NRT paid royalties to the Real Estate Franchise Services segment of $282 million, $284 million and $269 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Marketing fees are generally paid by the Company’s real estate franchisees and are generally calculated based on a specified percentage of gross closed commissions earned on real estate transactions, and may be subject to certain minimum and maximum payments. NRT paid marketing fees to the Real Estate Franchise Services segment of $11 million, $11 million and $14 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. As provided for in the franchise agreements and generally at the Company’s discretion, all of these fees are to be expended for marketing purposes.
The number of franchised and company owned offices in operation are as follows:
 
(Unaudited)
As of December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Franchised:
 
 
 
 
 
Century 21®
7,330

 
6,897

 
6,902

ERA®
2,347

 
2,355

 
2,304

Coldwell Banker®
2,289

 
2,258

 
2,396

Coldwell Banker Commercial®
180

 
163

 
167

Sotheby’s International Realty®
836

 
794

 
717

Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate
332

 
304

 
283

Total Franchised
13,314

 
12,771

 
12,769

Company Owned:
 
 
 
 
 
ERA®

 

 

Coldwell Banker®
708

 
708

 
651

Sotheby’s International Realty®
41

 
41

 
39

Corcoran®/Other
40

 
38

 
37

Total Company Owned
789

 
787

 
727



F-17


The number of franchised and company owned offices (in the aggregate) changed as follows:
 
(Unaudited)
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Franchised:
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
12,771

 
12,769

 
13,032

Additions
847

 
445

 
311

Terminations
(304
)
 
(443
)
 
(574
)
Ending balance
13,314

 
12,771

 
12,769

Company Owned:
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
787

 
727

 
706

Additions
38

 
74

 
38

Closures
(36
)
 
(14
)
 
(17
)
Ending balance
789

 
787

 
727

 As of December 31, 2016, there were an insignificant number of franchise agreements that were executed for which offices are not yet operating. Additionally, as of December 31, 2016, there were an insignificant number of franchise agreements pending termination.
In order to assist franchisees in converting to one of the Company’s brands, expand their operations or as an incentive to renew their franchise agreement, the Company may at its discretion, provide non-standard incentives, primarily in the form of conversion notes (prior to 2009, the Company issued development advance notes). Provided the franchisee meets certain minimum annual revenue thresholds during the term of the notes and is in compliance with the terms of the franchise agreement, the amount of the note is forgiven annually in equal ratable amounts over the life of the franchise agreement. Otherwise, related principal is due and payable to the Company. The amount of such franchisee conversion notes and development advance notes were $123 million, net of less than $1 million of reserves, and $115 million, net of $1 million of reserves, at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These notes are principally classified within other non-current assets in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company recorded a charge in the statement of operations related to the forgiveness and impairment of these notes of $19 million, $17 million and $15 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
6.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property and equipment, net consisted of:
 
December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
$
254

 
$
242

Capitalized software
351

 
310

Building and leasehold improvements
235

 
213

Land
3

 
3

Gross property and equipment
843

 
768

Less: accumulated depreciation
(576
)
 
(514
)
Property and equipment, net
$
267

 
$
254

The Company recorded depreciation expense related to property and equipment of $89 million, $84 million and $74 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.


F-18


7.
ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of:
 
December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Accrued payroll and related employee costs
$
138

 
$
140

Accrued volume incentives
40

 
34

Accrued commissions
31

 
29

Restructuring accruals
14

 
9

Deferred income
69

 
73

Accrued interest
13

 
13

Contingent consideration for acquisitions
24

 
27

Other
106

 
123

Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities
$
435

 
$
448

8.
SHORT AND LONG-TERM DEBT
Total indebtedness is as follows:
 
December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Senior Secured Credit Facility:
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
$
200

 
$
200

Term Loan B
1,069

 
1,839

Term Loan A Facility:
 
 
 
Term Loan A
411

 
433

Term Loan A-1
347

 

3.375% Senior Notes

 
499

4.50% Senior Notes
439

 
434

5.25% Senior Notes
545

 
297

4.875% Senior Notes
496

 

Total Short-Term & Long-Term Debt
$
3,507

 
$
3,702

Securitization obligations:
 
 
 
Apple Ridge Funding LLC
$
192

 
$
238

Cartus Financing Limited
13

 
9

Total securitization obligations
$
205

 
$
247

Indebtedness Table
As of December 31, 2016, the Company’s borrowing arrangements were as follows:
 
Interest
Rate
 
Expiration
Date
 
Principal Amount
 
Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs
 
Net Amount
Senior Secured Credit Facility:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility (1)
(2)
 
October 2020
 
$
200

 
$ *

 
$
200

Term Loan B
(3)
 
July 2022
 
1,094

 
25

 
1,069

Term Loan A Facility:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Term Loan A
(4)
 
October 2020
 
413

 
2

 
411

Term Loan A-1
(5)
 
July 2021
 
351

 
4

 
347

Senior Notes
4.50%
 
April 2019
 
450

 
11

 
439

Senior Notes
5.25%
 
December 2021
 
550

 
5

 
545

Senior Notes
4.875%
 
June 2023
 
500

 
4

 
496

Securitization obligations: (6)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        Apple Ridge Funding LLC (7)
June 2017
 
192

 
*

 
192

        Cartus Financing Limited (8)
August 2017
 
13

 
*

 
13

Total (9)
$
3,763

 
$
51

 
$
3,712

_______________
 
*
The debt issuance costs related to our Revolving Credit Facility and securitization obligations are classified as a deferred financing asset within other assets.
(1)
As of December 31, 2016, the Company had $815 million of borrowing capacity under its Revolving Credit Facility, leaving $615 million of available capacity. The revolving credit facility expires in October 2020, but is classified on the balance sheet as current due to the revolving nature of the facility. See Note 20, "Subsequent Events" for a description of the January 2017 increase of the borrowing capacity under its Revolving Credit Facility. On February 21, 2017, the Company had $200 million outstanding borrowings on the Revolving Credit Facility, leaving $850 million of available capacity.
(2)
Interest rates with respect to revolving loans under the Senior Secured Credit Facility at December 31, 2016 are based on, at the Company's option, (a) adjusted LIBOR plus an additional margin or (b) ABR plus an additional margin, in each case subject to adjustment based on the then current senior secured leverage ratio. Based on the previous quarter senior secured leverage ratio, the LIBOR margin was 2.00% and the ABR margin was 1.00% for the three months ended December 31, 2016.
(3)
The Term Loan B provides for quarterly amortization payments totaling 1% per annum of the original principal amount. The interest rate with respect to term loans under the Term Loan B is based on, at the Company’s option, (a) adjusted LIBOR plus 3.00% (with a LIBOR floor of 0.75%) or (b) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.’s prime rate ("ABR") plus 2.00% (with an ABR floor of 1.75%). See Note 20, "Subsequent Events" for a description of the January 2017 refinancing of the Term Loan B.


F-19


(4)
The Term Loan A provides for quarterly amortization payments, which commenced March 31, 2016, totaling per annum 5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10.0% and 12.5% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan A in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. The interest rates with respect to term loans under the Term Loan A are based on, at the Company's option, (a) adjusted LIBOR plus an additional margin or (b) ABR plus an additional margin, in each case subject to adjustment based on the then current senior secured leverage ratio. Based on the previous quarter senior secured leverage ratio, the LIBOR margin was 2.00% and the ABR margin was 1.00% for the three months ended December 31, 2016.
(5)
The Term Loan A-1 provides for quarterly amortization payments, which commenced on September 30, 2016, totaling per annum 2.5%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10.0% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan A-1, with the last amortization payment made on June 30, 2021. The interest rates with respect to term loans under the Term Loan A-1 are based on, at the Company's option, (a) adjusted LIBOR plus an additional margin or (b) ABR plus an additional margin, in each case subject to adjustment based on the then current senior secured leverage ratio. Based on the previous quarter senior secured leverage ratio, the LIBOR margin was 2.00% and the ABR margin was 1.00% for the three months ended December 31, 2016.
(6)
Available capacity is subject to maintaining sufficient relocation related assets to collateralize these securitization obligations.
(7)
As of December 31, 2016, the Company had $325 million of borrowing capacity under the Apple Ridge Funding LLC securitization program leaving $133 million of available capacity.
(8)
Consists of a £10 million revolving loan facility and a £5 million working capital facility. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had $19 million of borrowing capacity under the Cartus Financing Limited securitization program leaving $6 million of available capacity.
(9)
Not included in this table, the Company had $127 million of outstanding letters of credit at December 31, 2016 under the Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility with a weighted average rate of 2.93%. At December 31, 2016 the capacity of the facility was $131 million.
Maturities Table
As of December 31, 2016, the combined aggregate amount of maturities for long-term borrowings, excluding securitization obligations, for each of the next five years is as follows:
Year
 
Amount
2017 (a)
 
$
242

2018
 
57

2019
 
527

2020
 
356

2021
 
837

_______________

 
(a)
The current portion of long-term debt consists of four quarters of 2017 amortization payments totaling $22 million, $9 million and $11 million for the Term Loan A, Term Loan A-1 and Term Loan B facilities, respectively, as well as $200 million of revolver borrowings under the revolving credit facility which expires in October 2020, but are classified on the balance sheet as current due to the revolving nature of the facility.
Senior Secured Credit Facility
In July 2016, the Company entered into a third amendment to the senior secured credit agreement (the "Amended and Restated Credit Agreement"). The third amendment replaced the existing $1,858 million Term Loan B due March 2020 with a new $1,100 million Term Loan B due July 20, 2022. In addition, the Company entered into a First Amendment to the Term Loan A Agreement under which the Company borrowed a new tranche of term loans under its Term Loan A Facility ("Term Loan A-1") in the amount of $355 million with a maturity date in July 2021 (see "Term Loan A Facility" section below for more information on the issuance of the Term Loan A-1).
In October 2015, Realogy Group entered into a second amendment to the senior secured credit agreement. The second amendment provided for a five-year, $815 million revolving credit facility and included a $125 million letter of credit sub-facility. In the second quarter of 2016, the Company moved outstanding letters of credit to the Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility and terminated the synthetic letter of credit facility. See the "Other Debt Facilities" section below for more information. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provides for:
(a) 
a Term Loan B issued in the aggregate principal amount of $1,100 million with a maturity date of July 2022. The Term Loan B has quarterly amortization payments totaling 1% per annum of the initial aggregate principal amount. The interest rate with respect to term loans under the Term Loan B is based on, at Realogy Group's option, adjusted LIBOR plus 3.00% (with a LIBOR floor of 0.75%) or ABR plus 2.00% (with an ABR floor of 1.75%); and


F-20


(b)
an $815 million Revolving Credit Facility with a maturity date of October 23, 2020, which includes (i) a $125 million letter of credit subfacility and (ii) a swingline loan subfacility. The interest rate with respect to revolving loans under the Revolving Credit Facility is based on, at Realogy Group's option, adjusted LIBOR or ABR plus an additional margin subject to the following adjustments based on the Company’s then current senior secured leverage ratio:
Senior Secured Leverage Ratio
 
Applicable LIBOR Margin
 
Applicable ABR Margin
Greater than 3.50 to 1.00
 
2.50%
 
1.50%
Less than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00 but greater than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00
 
2.25%
 
1.25%
Less than 2.50 to 1.00
 
2.00%
 
1.00%
The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement permits the Company to obtain up to $500 million of additional credit facilities from lenders reasonably satisfactory to the administrative agent and us, without the consent of the existing lenders under the new senior secured credit facility, plus an unlimited amount if Realogy Group's senior secured leverage ratio is less than 3.50 to 1.00 on a pro forma basis. Subject to certain restrictions, the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement also permits us to issue senior secured or unsecured notes in lieu of any incremental facility.
The obligations under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are secured to the extent legally permissible by substantially all of the assets of Realogy Group, Realogy Intermediate and all of their domestic subsidiaries, other than certain excluded subsidiaries.
Realogy Group’s Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains financial, affirmative and negative covenants and requires Realogy Group to maintain a senior secured leverage ratio, not to exceed 4.75 to 1.00, and pursuant to the second amendment discussed above, the leverage ratio is tested quarterly, commencing with the period ended September 30, 2015, regardless of the amount of borrowings outstanding and letters of credit issued under the revolver at the testing date. In this report, the Company refers to the term "Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA" to mean EBITDA as so defined for purposes of determining compliance with the senior secured leverage covenant. The senior secured leverage ratio measured at any applicable quarter end is Realogy Group's total senior secured net debt divided by the trailing twelve month Adjusted (Covenant) EBITDA. Total senior secured net debt does not include unsecured indebtedness, including the Unsecured Notes as well as the securitization obligations. At December 31, 2016, Realogy Group’s senior secured leverage ratio was 2.16 to 1.00.
See Note 20, "Subsequent Events" for a description of the January 2017 debt transactions which resulted in an increase of the borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility from $815 million to $1.050 billion and the refinancing of the existing Term Loan B to reduce the interest rate from LIBOR plus 3.00% to LIBOR plus 2.25% (with a floor of 0.75%).
Term Loan A Facility
In October 2015, Realogy Group entered into the Term Loan A senior secured credit agreement. The Term Loan A Agreement provides for a five-year, $435 million loan issued at par with a maturity date of October 23, 2020 (the “Term Loan A”) and has terms substantially similar to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Term Loan A provides for quarterly amortization payments, which commenced March 31, 2016, totaling the amount per annum equal to the following percentages of the original principal amount of the Term Loan A: 5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10.0% and 12.5% for amortizations payable in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, with the balance payable upon the final maturity date. The interest rates with respect to term loans under the Term Loan A are based on, at our option, adjusted LIBOR or ABR plus an additional margin subject to the following adjustments based on the Company’s then current senior secured leverage ratio:
Senior Secured Leverage Ratio
 
Applicable LIBOR Margin
 
Applicable ABR Margin
Greater than 3.50 to 1.00
 
2.50%
 
1.50%
Less than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00 but greater than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00
 
2.25%
 
1.25%
Less than 2.50 to 1.00
 
2.00%
 
1.00%
In July 2016, Realogy Group entered into a first amendment to the Term Loan A senior secured credit agreement. Under the amendment, the Company issued the Term Loan A-1 in the amount of $355 million with a maturity date in July


F-21


2021 under its existing Term Loan A Facility and on terms substantially similar to its existing Term Loan A. The Term Loan A-1 provides for quarterly amortization payments totaling 2.5%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10.0% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan A-1, which commenced September 30, 2016 continuing through June 30, 2021. The interest rates with respect to term loans under the Term Loan A-1 are based on, at our option, adjusted LIBOR or ABR plus an additional margin subject to the following adjustments based on the Company’s then current senior secured leverage ratio:
Senior Secured Leverage Ratio
 
Applicable LIBOR Margin
 
Applicable ABR Margin
Greater than 3.50 to 1.00
 
2.50%
 
1.50%
Less than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00 but greater than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00
 
2.25%
 
1.25%
Less than 2.50 to 1.00 but greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00
 
2.00%
 
1.00%
Less than 2.00 to 1.00
 
1.75%
 
0.75%
Consistent with the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the Term Loan A Facility permits the Company to obtain up to $500 million of additional credit facilities from lenders reasonably satisfactory to the administrative agent and the company, without the consent of the existing lenders under the Term Loan A, plus an unlimited amount if the Company's senior secured leverage ratio is less than 3.50 to 1.00 on a pro forma basis. Subject to certain restrictions, the Term Loan A Facility also permits us to issue senior secured or unsecured notes in lieu of any incremental facility.
Unsecured Notes
The 4.50% Senior Notes, 5.25% Senior Notes and 4.875% Senior Notes (each as defined below, collectively the "Unsecured Notes") are unsecured senior obligations of Realogy Group that mature on April 15, 2019, December 1, 2021 and June 1, 2023, respectively. Interest on the Unsecured Notes is payable each year semiannually on April 15 and October 15 for the 4.50% Senior Notes and June 1 and December 1 for both the 5.25% Senior Notes and 4.875% Senior Notes.
In March 2016, the Company issued 5.25% Senior Notes due 2021 of $250 million (the "Additional 5.25% Senior Notes") under the same indenture as the $300 million of Realogy Group’s 5.25% Senior Notes due 2021 issued on November 21, 2014 (the "Existing 5.25% Senior Notes") (collectively the "5.25% Senior Notes"). The Additional 5.25% Senior Notes mature on December 1, 2021 and interest on the notes is due on June 1 and December 1 of each year with the first interest payment date of June 1, 2016. The Additional 5.25% Senior Notes have identical terms, other than the issue date, the issue price and the first interest payment date, and constitute part of the same series as the Existing 5.25% Senior Notes.
In the second quarter of 2016, the Company used $400 million of revolver borrowings and a portion of cash on hand to retire the $500 million of 3.375% Senior Notes at maturity. The Company also issued $500 million of 4.875% Senior Notes (the "4.875% Senior Notes") due 2023 and used the proceeds to temporarily reduce revolver borrowings. The 4.875% Senior Notes mature on June 1, 2023 and interest on the 4.875% Notes is due on June 1 and December 1 of each year with the first interest payment date of December 1, 2016.
The Unsecured Notes are guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by each domestic subsidiary of Realogy Group that is a guarantor under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and Realogy Group's outstanding debt securities, and are guaranteed by Realogy Holdings on an unsecured senior subordinated basis.
Other Debt Facilities
The Company has an Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility to provide for the issuance of letters of credit required for general corporate purposes by the Company. At December 31, 2016, the capacity of the facility was $131 million. The facility's expiration dates are as follows:
Capacity (in millions)
Expiration Date
$65
September 2018
$66
December 2019
The fixed pricing to the Company is based on a spread above the credit default swap rate for senior unsecured debt obligations of the Company over the applicable letter of credit period. Realogy Group's obligations under the Unsecured


F-22


Letter of Credit Facility are guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by each domestic subsidiary of Realogy Group that is a guarantor under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and Realogy Group's outstanding debt securities. As of December 31, 2016, $127 million of the Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility is being utilized.
Securitization Obligations
Realogy Group has secured obligations through Apple Ridge Funding LLC under a securitization program. In June 2016, Realogy Group extended the program until June 2017. The program has a capacity of $325 million. At December 31, 2016, Realogy Group has $192 million of outstanding borrowings under the facility.
Realogy Group, through a special purpose entity known as Cartus Financing Limited, has agreements providing for a £10 million revolving loan facility and a £5 million working capital facility, which in October 2016, Realogy Group extended the expiration of the facilities to August 2017. There are $13 million of outstanding borrowings on the facilities at December 31, 2016. These Cartus Financing Limited facilities are secured by the relocation assets of a U.K. government contract in this special purpose entity and are therefore classified as permitted securitization financings as defined in Realogy Group’s Senior Secured Credit Facility and the indentures governing the Unsecured Notes.
The Apple Ridge entities and the Cartus Financing Limited entity are consolidated special purpose entities that are utilized to securitize relocation receivables and related assets. These assets are generated from advancing funds on behalf of clients of Realogy Group’s relocation business in order to facilitate the relocation of their employees. Assets of these special purpose entities are not available to pay Realogy Group’s general obligations. Under the Apple Ridge program, provided no termination or amortization event has occurred, any new receivables generated under the designated relocation management agreements are sold into the securitization program and as new eligible relocation management agreements are entered into, the new agreements are designated to the program. The Apple Ridge program has restrictive covenants and trigger events, including performance triggers linked to the age and quality of the underlying assets, foreign obligor limits, multicurrency limits, financial reporting requirements, restrictions on mergers and change of control, any uncured breach of Realogy Group’s senior secured leverage ratio under Realogy Group’s Senior Secured Credit Facility, and cross-defaults to Realogy Group’s material indebtedness. The occurrence of a trigger event under the Apple Ridge securitization facility could restrict our ability to access new or existing funding under this facility or result in termination of the facility, either of which would adversely affect the operation of our relocation business.
Certain of the funds that Realogy Group receives from relocation receivables and related assets must be utilized to repay securitization obligations. These obligations were collateralized by $238 million and $281 million of underlying relocation receivables and other related relocation assets at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Substantially all relocation related assets are realized in less than twelve months from the transaction date. Accordingly, all of Realogy Group’s securitization obligations are classified as current in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Interest incurred in connection with borrowings under these facilities amounted to $6 million for both years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. This interest is recorded within net revenues in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations as related borrowings are utilized to fund Realogy Group's relocation business where interest is generally earned on such assets. These securitization obligations represent floating rate debt for which the average weighted interest rate was 2.6% and 2.1% for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Loss on the Early Extinguishment of Debt and Write-Off of Deferred Financing Costs
As a result of refinancing transactions, note repurchases and note redemptions, the Company recorded a loss on the early extinguishment of debt of $48 million during the year ended December 31, 2015.
As a result of refinancing transactions, note repurchases and note redemptions, the Company recorded a loss on the early extinguishment of debt of $47 million and wrote off deferred financing costs of $3 million to interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2014.
9.
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN
The Company’s defined benefit pension plan was closed to new entrants as of July 1, 1997 and existing participants do not accrue any additional benefits. The net periodic pension cost for 2016 was $1 million and is comprised of interest cost of approximately $6 million and the amortization of the actuarial net loss of $2 million partially offset by a benefit of $7 million for the expected return on assets. The net periodic pension cost for 2015 was less than $1 million and is comprised of interest cost of approximately $6 million and the amortization of the actuarial net loss of $2 million offset by a benefit of $8 million for the expected return on assets.
At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the accumulated benefit obligation of this plan was $147 million and $149 million, respectively, and the fair value of the plan assets were $104 million and $106 million, respectively, resulting in an unfunded accumulated benefit obligation of $43 million in both years, which is recorded in Other non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Estimated future benefit payments as of December 31, 2016 are as follows:
Year
 
Amount
2017
 
$
9

2018
 
9

2019
 
10

2020
 
10

2021
 
10

2022 through 2026
 
49

The minimum funding required during 2017 is estimated to be $6 million.
The following table presents the fair values of plan assets by category as of December 31, 2016:
Asset Category
 
Quoted Price in Active Market for Identical Assets
(Level I)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level II)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level III)
 
Total
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1

 
$

 
$

 
$
1

Equity securities
 

 
74

 

 
74

Fixed income securities
 

 
29

 

 
29

Total
 
$
1

 
$
103

 
$

 
$
104

The following table presents the fair values of plan assets by category as of December 31, 2015:
Asset Category
 
Quoted Price in Active Market for Identical Assets
(Level I)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level II)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level III)
 
Total
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
2

 
$

 
$

 
$
2

Equity securities
 

 
74

 

 
74

Fixed income securities
 

 
30

 

 
30

Total
 
$
2

 
$
104

 
$

 
$
106



F-23


OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
The Company also maintains post-retirement health and welfare plans for certain subsidiaries and a non-qualified pension plan for certain individuals. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the related projected benefit obligation for these plans accrued on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets (primarily within other non-current liabilities) was $6 million and $7 million, respectively.
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION SAVINGS PLAN
The Company sponsors a defined contribution savings plan that provides certain of its eligible employees an opportunity to accumulate funds for retirement and has a Company match for a portion of the contributions made by participating employees. The Company’s cost for contributions to this plan was $15 million, $14 million and $12 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
10.
INCOME TAXES
The components of pretax income for domestic and foreign operations consisted of the following:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Domestic
$
351

 
$
290

 
$
230

Foreign
10

 
8

 
4

Pretax income
$
361

 
$
298

 
$
234

The components of income tax expense consisted of the following:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Current:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
$
10

 
$
8

 
$
5

State
8

 
3

 
1

Foreign
2

 
3

 
4

Total current
20

 
14

 
10

Deferred:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
107

 
91

 
76

State
16

 
4

 
1

Foreign
1

 
1

 

Total deferred
124

 
96

 
77

Income tax expense
$
144

 
$
110

 
$
87

A reconciliation of the Company’s effective income tax rate at the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% to the actual expense was as follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Federal statutory rate
35
%
 
35
 %
 
35
 %
State and local income taxes, net of federal tax benefits
4

 
2

 
5

Permanent differences
1

 
1

 
2

Net change in valuation allowance

 
1

 
(3
)
Other

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Effective tax rate
40
%
 
37
%
 
37
%


F-24


Deferred income taxes result from temporary differences between the amount of assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting and tax purposes. The components of the deferred income tax assets and liabilities, as of December 31, are as follows:
 
2016
 
2015
Deferred income tax assets:
 
 
 
Net operating loss carryforwards
$
503

 
$
654

Tax credit carryforwards
41

 
28

Accrued liabilities
131

 
123

Minimum pension obligation
23

 
23

Provision for doubtful accounts
16

 
18

Liability for unrecognized tax benefits
3

 
6

Interest rate swaps
8

 
11

Other

 
1

Total deferred tax assets
725

 
864

Less: valuation allowance
(10
)
 
(11
)
Total deferred income tax assets after valuation allowance
715

 
853

Deferred income tax liabilities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
1,099

 
1,105

Change in tax return accounting methods

 
9

Prepaid expenses
1

 
2

Undistributed foreign earnings
2

 
2

Basis difference in investment in joint ventures
2

 
1

Total deferred tax liabilities
1,104

 
1,119

Net deferred income tax liabilities
$
(389
)
 
$
(266
)
Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are netted by tax jurisdiction. The Net deferred income tax liability of $389 million as of December 31, 2016 is included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets with the entire $389 million in deferred income taxes (non-current liabilities). The Net deferred income tax liability of $266 million as of December 31, 2015 is included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets with $267 million in deferred income taxes (non-current liabilities) and $1 million in other non-current assets.
As of December 31, 2016, the Company had gross federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $1,253 million which is net of loss carryforwards which were limited due to the October 2012 ownership change. The federal net operating loss carryforwards expire between 2022 and 2033 and the state net operating loss carryforwards expire between 2017 and 2033.
Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
The Company utilizes the FASB guidance for accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, which prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company reflects changes in its liability for unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of December 31, 2016, the Company’s gross liability for unrecognized tax benefits was $78 million, of which $70 million would affect the Company’s effective tax rate, if recognized.
The Company files U.S., state and foreign income tax returns in jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations.  Tax returns for the 2006 through 2016 tax years remain subject to examination by federal and certain state tax authorities.  In significant foreign jurisdictions, tax returns for the 2008 through 2016 tax years generally remain subject to examination by their respective tax authorities.  The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that the total amount of its unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by $3 million in certain taxing jurisdictions where the statute of limitations is set to expire within the next 12 months.
The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and operating expenses, respectively. The Company recognized a reduction of interest expense of $4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, a reduction of interest expense of $1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 and no change to interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2014.


F-25


The rollforward of unrecognized tax benefits are summarized in the table below:
Unrecognized tax benefits—January 1, 2014
113

Gross increases—tax positions in prior periods
1

Gross decreases—tax positions in prior periods
(8
)
Gross increases—tax positions in current period
3

Settlements
(1
)
Reduction due to lapse of statute of limitations
(2
)
Unrecognized tax benefits—December 31, 2014
106

Gross decreases—tax positions in prior periods
(4
)
Gross increases—tax positions in current period
1

Settlements
(23
)
Reduction due to lapse of statute of limitations
(2
)
Unrecognized tax benefits—December 31, 2015
78

Gross increases—tax positions in prior periods
3

Reduction due to lapse of statute of limitations
(3
)
Unrecognized tax benefits—December 31, 2016
$
78

The Company is subject to income taxes in the United States and several foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining the worldwide provision for income taxes and recording related assets and liabilities. In the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. The Company is regularly under audit by tax authorities whereby the outcome of the audits is uncertain. The Company believes there is appropriate support for positions taken on its tax returns. The liabilities that have been recorded represent the best estimates of the probable loss on certain positions and are adequate for all open years based on an assessment of many factors including past experience and interpretations of tax law applied to the facts of each matter. However, the outcomes of tax audits are inherently uncertain.
Tax Sharing Agreement
Under the Tax Sharing Agreement with Cendant, Wyndham Worldwide and Travelport, the Company is generally responsible for 62.5% of payments made to settle claims with respect to tax periods ending on or prior to December 31, 2006 that relate to income taxes imposed on Cendant and certain of its subsidiaries, the operations (or former operations) of which were determined by Cendant not to relate specifically to the respective businesses of Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide, Avis Budget or Travelport. With respect to any remaining residual legacy Cendant tax liabilities, the Company and its former parent believe there is appropriate support for the positions taken on Cendant’s tax returns. However, tax audits and any related litigation, including disputes or litigation on the allocation of tax liabilities between parties under the Tax Sharing Agreement, could result in outcomes for the Company that are different from those reflected in the Company’s historical financial statements.
11.
RESTRUCTURING COSTS
The restructuring charges for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $39 million and $10 million, respectively. The components of the restructuring charges for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Personnel-related costs (1)
$
22

 
$
3

 
$

Facility-related costs (2)
10

 
3

 
(1
)
Accelerated depreciation related to asset disposals
1

 

 

Other restructuring costs (3)
6

 
4

 

Total restructuring charges
$
39

 
$
10

 
$
(1
)
_______________
(1)
Personnel-related costs consist of severance costs provided to employees who have been terminated and duplicate payroll costs during transition.


F-26


(2)
Facility-related costs consist of costs associated with planned facility closures such as contract termination costs, lease payments that will continue to be incurred under the contract for its remaining term without economic benefit to the Company and other facility and employee relocation related costs.
(3)
Other restructuring costs consist of costs related to professional fees, consulting fees and other costs associated with restructuring activities which are primarily included in the Corporate and Other business segment.
Business Optimization Initiative
During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company began a business optimization initiative that focuses on maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the cost structure of each of the Company's business units.  The action is designed to improve client service levels across each of the business units while enhancing the Company's profitability and incremental margins. The plan focuses on several key areas of opportunity which include process improvement efficiencies, office footprint optimization, leveraging technology and media spend, centralized procurement, outsourcing administrative services and organizational design. In the second quarter of 2016, the Company expanded the scope of restructuring activities in order to realign the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services back office administration and support functions across the country. As a result of this realignment, the expected costs of activities undertaken in connection with the restructuring plan are expected to be largely incurred by mid 2017.
The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending restructuring reserve balances for the Business Optimization Initiative:
 
Personnel-related costs
 
Facility-related costs
 
Accelerated depreciation related to asset disposals
 
Other restructuring costs
 
Total
Balance at October 1, 2015
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

Restructuring charges
3

 
3

 

 
4

 
10

Costs paid or otherwise settled

 

 

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Balance at December 31, 2015
$
3

 
$
3

 
$

 
$
3

 
$
9

Restructuring charges
22

 
10

 
1

 
6

 
39

Costs paid or otherwise settled
(16
)
 
(6
)
 
(1
)
 
(9
)
 
(32
)
Balance at December 31, 2016
$
9

 
$
7

 
$

 
$

 
$
16

The following table shows the total restructuring costs expected to be incurred by type of cost for the Business Optimization Initiative:
 
Total amount expected to be incurred
 
Amount incurred to date
 
Total amount remaining to be incurred
Personnel-related costs
$
35

 
$
25

 
$
10

Facility-related costs
17

 
13

 
4

Accelerated depreciation related to asset disposals
2

 
1

 
1

Other restructuring costs
11

 
10

 
1

Total
$
65

 
$
49

 
$
16

The following table shows the total restructuring costs expected to be incurred by reportable segment for the Business Optimization Initiative:
 
Total amount expected to be incurred
 
Amount incurred to date
 
Total amount remaining to be incurred
Real Estate Franchise Services
$
5

 
$
4

 
$
1

Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services
40

 
27

 
13

Relocation Services
5

 
5

 

Title and Settlement Services
1

 
1

 

Corporate and Other
14

 
12

 
2

Total
$
65

 
$
49

 
$
16



F-27


12.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company has stock-based compensation plans (the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan) under which incentive equity awards such as non-qualified stock options, rights to purchase shares of common stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units ("RSUs"), performance restricted stock units and performance share units ("PSUs") may be issued to employees, consultants and directors of Realogy. The Company's stockholders approved the Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 4, 2016 (the "Amended and Restated 2012 LTIP"). The Amended and Restated 2012 LTIP increases the number of shares authorized for issuance under that plan by 9.8 million shares. The total number of shares authorized for issuance under the plans is 19.4 million shares.
Awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2012 LTIP utilizing the additional 9.8 million share reserve, except options and stock appreciation rights, must be counted against the foregoing share limit on a 2.22 share to one basis for each share actually granted in connection with such award. As of December 31, 2016, the total number of shares available for future grants under the Amended and Restated 2012 LTIP was approximately 8 million shares. The Company does not expect to issue any additional awards under the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.
Time vested options granted under the plans generally vest ratably over a four-year period and have a ten-year contractual term. Restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance share units granted under the plans generally vest over a three-year period. In February 2014, the Company adopted a retirement provision for equity grants which provides for continued vesting of awards once an employee has attained the age of 65 years, or 55 years of age or older plus at least ten years of tenure with the Company provided they have been employed or provided services to the Company for one year following the date of grant or start of the performance period.
Awards granted in 2015 included a mix of PSUs, restricted stock units (performance restricted stock units for the CEO and direct reports) and options. The 2015 PSUs are incentives that reward grantees based upon the Company's financial performance over a three-year performance period ending December 31, 2017. There are two PSU awards: one is based upon the total stockholder return of Realogy's common stock relative to the total stockholder return of the SPDR S&P Homebuilders Index ("XHB") (the "RTSR award"), and the other is based upon the achievement of cumulative free cash flow goals. The number of shares that may be issued under the PSU is variable and based upon the extent to which the performance goals are achieved over the performance period (with a range of payout from 0% to 175% of target for the RTSR award and 0% to 200% of target for the achievement of cumulative free cash flow award). The shares earned will be distributed in early 2018.
Consistent with the 2015 long-term incentive equity awards, the 2016 awards include a mix of PSUs, RSUs (performance restricted stock units for the CEO and direct reports) and options. The 2016 PSUs are incentives that reward grantees based upon the Company's financial performance over a three-year performance period ending December 31, 2018. There are two PSU awards: one is based upon the total stockholder return of Realogy's common stock relative to the total stockholder return of the SPDR S&P Homebuilders Index ("XHB") (the "RTSR award"), and the other is based upon the achievement of cumulative free cash flow goals. The number of shares that may be issued under the PSU is variable and based upon the extent to which the performance goals are achieved over the performance period (with a range of payout from 0% to 175% of target for the RTSR award and 0% to 200% of target for the achievement of cumulative free cash flow award). The shares earned will be distributed in early 2019. The RSUs vest over three years, with 33.33% vesting on each anniversary of the grant date. Time-vesting of the 2016 performance RSUs for the CEO and direct reports is subject to achievement of a minimum EBITDA performance goal for 2016. The stock options have a maximum term of ten years and vest over four years, with 25% vesting on each anniversary date of the grant date. The options have an exercise price equal to the closing sale price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant.
The options, RSUs and the PSUs based upon RTSR included in the 2016 long-term incentive plan were granted in February 2016. The performance RSUs and the PSUs based upon achievement of cumulative free cash flow aggregating 0.4 million shares subject to those awards at target were also awarded in February 2016, but the grant was subject to approval of the Amended and Restated 2012 LTIP. The stockholders approved the Amended and Restated 2012 LTIP at the May 4, 2016 Annual Meeting and we have accordingly treated May 4, 2016 as the grant date for these awards and are expensing those awards from that date over the balance of the vesting or performance period.
In August 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend policy on its common stock. The Board declared a cash dividend of $0.09 per share of the Company’s common stock per quarter. When payment of cash dividends occurs, the Company issues dividend equivalent units ("DEUs") to eligible holders of outstanding RSUs and PSUs. The number of DEUs granted for each RSU or PSU is calculated by dividing the amount of


F-28


the cash dividend on the number of shares covered by the RSU or PSU at the time of the related dividend record date by the closing price of the Company's stock on the related dividend payment date. The DEUs are subject to the same vesting requirements, settlement provisions, and other terms and conditions as the original award to which they relate. The issuance of DEUs have an immaterial impact on the Company's stock-based compensation activity.
The fair value of RSUs and PSUs without a market condition is equal to the closing sale price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. The fair value of the RTSR PSU award was estimated on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo Simulation method utilizing the following assumptions. Expected volatility was based on historical volatilities of the Company and select comparable companies.
 
2016 RTSR PSU
Weighted average grant date fair value
$
27.99

Weighted average expected volatility
28.1
%
Weighted average volatility of XHB
19.4
%
Weighted average correlation coefficient
0.58

Weighted average risk-free interest rate
0.9
%
Weighted average dividend yield

A summary of RSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2016 is presented below (number of shares in millions):
 
Restricted Stock Units
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2016
1.0

 
$
46.36

Granted
1.0

 
32.29

Vested (a)
(0.5
)
 
45.84

Forfeited
(0.1
)
 
37.61

Unvested at December 31, 2016
1.4

 
$
37.53

_______________
(a)
The total fair value of RSUs which vested during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $23 million.
A summary of PSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2016 is presented below (number of shares in millions):
 
Performance Share Units
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2016
0.9

 
$
44.97

Granted (a)
0.6

 
31.89

Vested (b)
(0.4
)
 
44.27

Forfeited (c)
(0.1
)
 
46.69

Unvested at December 31, 2016
1.0

 
$
36.71

_______________
(a)
The PSU amounts granted in the table are shown at the target amount of the award.
(b)
The total fair value of PSUs which vested during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $15 million.
(c)
Includes the difference between PSU's granted at target and amounts earned.
The fair value of the options was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Expected volatility was based on historical volatilities of the Company and select comparable companies. The expected term of the options granted represents the period of time that options are expected to be outstanding and is based on the simplified method. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant, which corresponds to the expected term of the options.
 
2016 Options
 
2015 Options
 
2014 Options
Weighted average grant date fair value
$
10.81

 
$
17.66

 
$
18.35

Weighted average expected volatility
31.7
%
 
36.1
%
 
41.5
%
Weighted average expected term (years)
6.25

 
6.25

 
6.25

Weighted average risk-free interest rate
1.3
%
 
1.6
%
 
1.4
%
Weighted average dividend yield
0.1
%
 

 



F-29


A summary of stock option unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2016 is presented below (number of shares in millions):
 
Options
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 1, 2016
3.2

 
$
31.42

Granted
0.3

 
32.33

Exercised (a) (b)
(0.1
)
 
19.86

Forfeited/Expired
(0.1
)
 
36.76

Outstanding at December 31, 2016 (c)
3.3

 
$
31.73

_______________
(a)
The intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $1 million.
(b)
Cash received from options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $2 million.
(c)
Options outstanding at December 31, 2016 have an intrinsic value of $7 million and have a weighted average remaining contractual life of 6 years.
The following table summarizes information regarding exercisable stock options as of December 31, 2016:
Range of Exercise Prices
 
Options Vested (a)
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
$15.00 to $50.00
 
2.63

 
$
26.48

 
$
6.7

$50.00 and above
 
0.09

 
$
140.86

 
$

_______________
(a)
Exercisable stock options as of December 31, 2016 have a weighted average remaining contractual life of 5.4 years.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
As of December 31, 2016, based on current performance achievement expectations, there was $32 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to incentive equity awards under the plans which will be recorded in future periods as compensation expense over a remaining weighted average period of approximately 1.2 years. The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense related to the incentive equity awards of $57 million, $57 million and $41 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
13.    TRANSACTIONS WITH FORMER PARENT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Transfer of Cendant Corporate Liabilities and Issuance of Guarantees to Cendant and Affiliates
Realogy Group (then Realogy Corporation) separated from Cendant on July 31, 2006 (the "Separation"), pursuant to a plan by Cendant (now known as Avis Budget Group, Inc.) to separate into four independent companies—one for each of Cendant's business units—real estate services (Realogy), travel distribution services ("Travelport"), hospitality services, including timeshare resorts ("Wyndham Worldwide"), and vehicle rental ("Avis Budget Group"). Realogy Group has certain guarantee commitments with Cendant (pursuant to the assumption of certain liabilities and the obligation to indemnify Cendant, Wyndham Worldwide and Travelport for such liabilities). These guarantee arrangements primarily relate to certain contingent litigation liabilities, contingent tax liabilities, and other corporate liabilities, of which Realogy Group assumed and is generally responsible for 62.5%. Upon separation from Cendant, the liabilities assumed by Realogy Group were comprised of certain Cendant corporate liabilities which were recorded on the historical books of Cendant as well as additional liabilities which were established for guarantees issued at the date of Separation related to certain unresolved contingent matters that could arise during the guarantee period. Regarding the guarantees, if any of the companies responsible for all or a portion of such liabilities were to default in its payment of costs or expenses related to any such liability, Realogy Group would be responsible for a portion of the defaulting party or parties’ obligation. To the extent such recorded liabilities are in excess or are not adequate to cover the ultimate payment amounts, such excess or deficiency will be reflected in the results of operations in future periods.
The due to former parent balance was $28 million and $31 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The due to former parent balance was comprised of the Company’s portion of the following: (i) Cendant’s remaining state and foreign contingent tax liabilities, (ii) accrued interest on contingent tax liabilities, (iii) potential liabilities related to Cendant’s terminated or divested businesses, and (iv) potential liabilities related to the residual portion of accruals for Cendant operations.


F-30


14.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation
The Company is involved in claims, legal proceedings, alternative dispute resolution and governmental inquiries related to alleged contract disputes, business practices, intellectual property and other commercial, employment, regulatory and tax matters. Examples of such matters include but are not limited to allegations:
that the Company is vicariously liable for the acts of franchisees under theories of actual or apparent agency;
by former franchisees that franchise agreements were breached including improper terminations;
that residential real estate sales associates engaged by NRT—under certain state or federal laws—are potentially employees instead of independent contractors, and they or regulators therefore may bring claims against NRT for breach of contract, wage and hour classification claims, wrongful discharge, unemployment and workers' compensation and could obtain benefits, back wages, overtime, indemnification, penalties related to classification practices and expense reimbursement available to employees;
concerning claims for alleged RESPA or state real estate law violations including, but not limited to, claims challenging the validity of sales associates indemnification and administrative fees;
concerning claims generally against the company owned brokerage operations for negligence, misrepresentation or breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the performance of real estate brokerage or other professional services as well as other brokerage claims associated with listing information and property history;
     concerning claims generally against the title company contending that, as the escrow company, the company knew or should have known that a transaction was fraudulent or concerning other title defects or settlement errors; and
concerning information security and cyber-crime.
Real Estate Business Litigation
Strader, et al. and Hall v. PHH Corporation, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California). This is a purported class action brought by four California residents against 15 defendants, including Realogy and certain of its subsidiaries, PHH Corporation and PHH Home Loans, LLC (a joint venture between Realogy and PHH), alleging violations of Section 8(a) of RESPA.  Plaintiffs seek to represent two subclasses comprised of all persons in the United States who, since January 31, 2005, (1) obtained a RESPA-covered mortgage loan from either (a) PHH Home Loans, LLC or one of its subsidiaries, or (b) one of the mortgage services managed by PHH Corporation for other lenders, and (2) paid a fee for title insurance or settlement services to TRG or one of its subsidiaries.  Plaintiffs allege, among other things, that PHH Home Loans, LLC operates in violation of RESPA and that the other defendants violate RESPA by referring business to one another under agreements or arrangements.  Plaintiffs seek treble damages and an award of attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements.  On February 5, 2016, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the case claiming that not only do the claims lack merit, but they are time-barred under RESPA's one-year statute of limitations. On April 5, 2016, the court granted defendants' motion to dismiss with leave for the plaintiffs to amend their complaint. Plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint on April 21, 2016, and a third amended complaint on May 12, 2016.  Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the third amended complaint. The Court denied the motion on October 6, 2016, without prejudice to defendants’ ability to move for summary judgment after discovery. The parties are proceeding with discovery.
The case raises significant claims and rests in part on certain interpretations of RESPA by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB"), which are the subject of pending industry litigation in various jurisdictions.  As with all class action litigation, the case is inherently complex and subject to many uncertainties.  We believe that we and the joint venture have complied with RESPA, the regulations promulgated thereunder and existing regulatory guidance. There can be no assurance, however, that if the action continues and a large class is subsequently certified, the plaintiffs will not seek a substantial damage award, penalties and other remedies. The Company will vigorously defend this action.
The Company is involved in certain other claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of our business. Such litigation, regulatory actions and other proceedings may include, but are not limited to, actions relating to intellectual property, commercial arrangements, franchising arrangements, actions against our title company alleging it knew or should have known that others were committing mortgage fraud, standard brokerage disputes like the failure to disclose accurate square footage or hidden defects in the property such as mold, vicarious liability based upon conduct of individuals or entities outside of our control, including franchisees and independent sales associates, antitrust and anti-competition claims, general fraud claims, employment law claims, including claims challenging the classification of our sales associates as independent contractors, wage and hour classification claims and claims alleging violations of RESPA or state consumer


F-31


fraud statutes. While the results of such claims and legal actions cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not believe based on information currently available to us that the final outcome of current proceedings against the Company will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Cendant Corporate Litigation
Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement dated as of July 27, 2006 among Cendant, Realogy Group, Wyndham Worldwide and Travelport, each of Realogy Group, Wyndham Worldwide and Travelport have assumed certain contingent and other corporate liabilities (and related costs and expenses), which are primarily related to each of their respective businesses. In addition, Realogy Group has assumed 62.5% and Wyndham Worldwide has assumed 37.5% of certain contingent and other corporate liabilities (and related costs and expenses) of Cendant or its subsidiaries, which are not primarily related to any of the respective businesses of Realogy Group, Wyndham Worldwide, Travelport and/or Cendant’s vehicle rental operations, in each case incurred or allegedly incurred on or prior to the date of the separation of Travelport from Cendant.
* * *
The Company believes that it has adequately accrued for legal matters as appropriate. The Company records litigation accruals for legal matters which are both probable and estimable.
Litigation and other disputes are inherently unpredictable and subject to substantial uncertainties and unfavorable resolutions could occur. In addition, class action lawsuits can be costly to defend and, depending on the class size and claims, could be costly to settle. As such, the Company could incur judgments or enter into settlements of claims with liability that are materially in excess of amounts accrued and these settlements could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows in any particular period.
Tax Matters
The Company is subject to income taxes in the United States and several foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining the worldwide provision for income taxes and recording related assets and liabilities. In the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. The Company is regularly under audit by tax authorities whereby the outcome of the audits is uncertain. The Company believes there is appropriate support for positions taken on its tax returns. The liabilities that have been recorded represent the best estimates of the probable loss on certain positions and are adequate for all open years based on an assessment of many factors including past experience and interpretations of tax law applied to the facts of each matter. However, the outcomes of tax audits are inherently uncertain.
Under the Tax Sharing Agreement with Cendant, Wyndham Worldwide and Travelport, the Company is generally responsible for 62.5% of payments made to settle claims with respect to tax periods ending on or prior to December 31, 2006 that relate to income taxes imposed on Cendant and certain of its subsidiaries, the operations (or former operations) of which were determined by Cendant not to relate specifically to the respective businesses of Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide, Avis Budget or Travelport.
With respect to any remaining legacy Cendant tax liabilities, the Company and its former parent believe there is appropriate support for the positions taken on Cendant’s tax returns. However, tax audits and any related litigation, including disputes or litigation on the allocation of tax liabilities between parties under the Tax Sharing Agreement, could result in outcomes for the Company that are different from those reflected in the Company’s historical financial statements.
Contingent Liability Letter of Credit
In April 2007, the Company established a standby irrevocable letter of credit for the benefit of Avis Budget Group in accordance with the Separation and Distribution Agreement. The synthetic letter of credit was utilized to support the Company’s payment obligations with respect to its share of Cendant contingent and other corporate liabilities. The stated amount of the standby irrevocable letter of credit is subject to periodic adjustment to reflect the then current estimate of Cendant contingent and other liabilities. The letter of credit was $53 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015. The standby irrevocable letter of credit will be terminated if (i) the Company’s senior unsecured credit rating is raised to BB by Standard and Poor’s or Ba2 by Moody’s or (ii) the aggregate value of the former parent contingent liabilities falls below $30 million.


F-32


Escrow and Trust Deposits
As a service to its customers, the Company administers escrow and trust deposits which represent undisbursed amounts received for the settlement of real estate transactions. Deposits at FDIC-insured institutions are insured up to $250 thousand. These escrow and trust deposits totaled $415 million and $308 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These escrow and trust deposits are not assets of the Company and, therefore, are excluded from the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. However, the Company remains contingently liable for the disposition of these deposits.
Leases
The Company is committed to making rental payments under noncancelable operating leases covering various facilities and equipment. Future minimum lease payments required under noncancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2016 are as follows:
Year
 
Amount
2017
 
$
161

2018
 
130

2019
 
104

2020
 
79

2021
 
125

Thereafter
 
124

Total
 
$
723

Capital lease obligations were $27 million, net of $2 million of imputed interest, at December 31, 2016 and $26 million, net of $2 million of imputed interest, at December 31, 2015.
The Company incurred rent expense of $186 million, $179 million and $166 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Purchase Commitments and Minimum Licensing Fees
In the normal course of business, the Company makes various commitments to purchase goods or services from specific suppliers, including those related to capital expenditures. The purchase commitments made by the Company as of December 31, 2016 are approximately $113 million.
The Company is required to pay a minimum licensing fee to Sotheby’s which began in 2009 and continues through 2054. The annual minimum licensing fee is approximately $2 million per year. The Company is also required to pay a minimum licensing fee to Meredith Corporation for the licensing of the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand. The annual minimum licensing fee began in 2009 at $0.5 million and increased to $4 million in 2014, where it will generally remain through 2058.
Future minimum payments for these purchase commitments and minimum licensing fees as of December 31, 2016 are as follows:
Year
 
Amount
2017
 
$
74

2018
 
26

2019
 
13

2020
 
11

2021
 
9

Thereafter
 
240

Total
 
$
373

Standard Guarantees/Indemnifications
In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into numerous agreements that contain standard guarantees and indemnities whereby the Company indemnifies another party for breaches of representations and warranties. In addition, many of these parties are also indemnified against any third-party claim resulting from the transaction that is contemplated in the underlying agreement. Such guarantees or indemnifications are granted under various agreements, including those


F-33


governing: (i) purchases, sales or outsourcing of assets or businesses, (ii) leases and sales of real estate, (iii) licensing of trademarks, (iv) use of derivatives, and (v) issuances of debt securities. The guarantees or indemnifications issued are for the benefit of the: (i) buyers in sale agreements and sellers in purchase agreements, (ii) landlords in lease contracts, (iii) franchisees in licensing agreements, (iv) financial institutions in derivative contracts, and (v) underwriters in issuances of securities. While some of these guarantees extend only for the duration of the underlying agreement, many survive the expiration of the term of the agreement or extend into perpetuity (unless subject to a legal statute of limitations). There are no specific limitations on the maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company could be required to make under these guarantees, nor is the Company able to develop an estimate of the maximum potential amount of future payments to be made under these guarantees as the triggering events are not subject to predictability. With respect to certain of the aforementioned guarantees, such as indemnifications of landlords against third-party claims for the use of real estate property leased by the Company, the Company maintains insurance coverage that mitigates any potential payments to be made.
Other Guarantees/Indemnifications
In the normal course of business, the Company coordinates numerous events for its franchisees and thus reserves a number of venues with certain minimum guarantees, such as room rentals at hotels local to the conference center. However, such room rentals are paid by each individual franchisee. If the franchisees do not meet the minimum guarantees, the Company is obligated to fulfill the minimum guaranteed fees. The maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company would be required to make under such guarantees is approximately $8 million. The Company would only be required to pay this maximum amount if none of the franchisees conducted their planned events at the reserved venues. Historically, the Company has not been required to make material payments under these guarantees.
Insurance and Self-Insurance
The Consolidated Balance Sheets include approximately $31 million for both December 31, 2016 and 2015, of liabilities relating to: (i) self-insured risks for errors and omissions and other legal matters incurred in the ordinary course of business within the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services segment, (ii) vacant dwellings and household goods in transit and storage within the Relocation Services segment, and (iii) premium and claim reserves for the Company’s title underwriting business. The Company may also be subject to legal claims arising from the handling of escrow transactions and closings. The Company’s subsidiary, NRT, carries errors and omissions insurance for errors made during the real estate settlement process of $15 million in the aggregate, subject to a deductible of $1 million per occurrence. In addition, the Company carries an additional errors and omissions insurance policy for Realogy Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries for errors made for real estate related services up to $35 million in the aggregate, subject to a deductible of $2.5 million per occurrence. This policy also provides excess coverage to NRT creating an aggregate limit of $50 million, subject to the NRT deductible of $1 million per occurrence.
The Company issues title insurance policies which provide coverage for real property mortgage lenders and buyers of real property. When acting as a title agent issuing a policy on behalf of an underwriter, assuming no negligence on our part, the Company is not liable for losses under those policies but rather the title insurer is typically liable for such losses. The title underwriter which the Company acquired in January 2006 typically underwrites title insurance policies of up to $1.5 million. For policies in excess of $1.5 million, the Company typically obtains a reinsurance policy from a national underwriter to reinsure the excess amount.
Fraud, defalcation and misconduct by employees are also risks inherent in the business. The Company is the custodian of cash deposited by customers with specific instructions as to its disbursement from escrow, trust and account servicing files. The Company maintains Fidelity insurance covering the loss or theft of funds of up to $30 million per occurrence, subject to a deductible of $750 thousand per occurrence.
The Company also maintains self-insurance arrangements relating to health and welfare, workers’ compensation, auto and general liability in addition to other benefits provided to the Company’s employees. The accruals for these self-insurance arrangements totaled approximately $21 million and $19 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.


F-34


15.
EQUITY
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The components of accumulated other comprehensive losses are as follows:
 
Currency Translation Adjustments (1)
 
Minimum Pension Liability Adjustment
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (2)
Balance at January 1, 2014
$
2

 
$
(21
)
 
$
(19
)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications
(4
)
 
(24
)
 
(28
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

 
1

(3)
1

Income tax benefit
2

 
9

 
11

Current period change
(2
)
 
(14
)
 
(16
)
Balance at December 31, 2014

 
(35
)
 
(35
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
(4
)
 
1

 
(3
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

 
2

(3)
2

Income tax (expense) benefit
1

 
(1
)
 

Current period change
(3
)
 
2

 
(1
)
Balance at December 31, 2015
(3
)
 
(33
)
 
(36
)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications
(5
)
 
(3
)
 
(8
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

 
1

(3)
1

Income tax benefit
2

 
1

 
3

Current period change
(3
)
 
(1
)
 
(4
)
Balance at December 31, 2016
$
(6
)
 
$
(34
)
 
$
(40
)
_______________
(1)
Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries having non-U.S. dollar functional currencies are translated at exchange rates at the balance sheet dates and equity accounts are translated at historical spot rates. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates during the periods presented. The gains or losses resulting from translating foreign currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(2)
As of December 31, 2016, the Company does not have any after-tax components of accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests.
(3)
These amounts represent the amortization of actuarial loss to periodic pension cost and were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to the general and administrative expenses line on the statement of operations.
Dividend Policy
In August 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend policy of $0.09 per share and paid cash dividends in August and December 2016, returning $26 million to stockholders.
Pursuant to the Company’s policy, the dividends payable in cash are treated as a reduction of additional paid-in capital since the Company is currently in an accumulated deficit position.
The declaration and payment of any future dividend will be subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, contractual restrictions, including restrictive covenants contained in the Company’s credit agreements, and the indentures governing the Company’s outstanding debt securities, capital requirements and other factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant.


F-35


Realogy Group Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 20162015 and 2014
Total equity for Realogy Group equals that of Realogy Holdings, but the components, common stock and additional paid-in capital are different. The table below presents information regarding the balances and changes in common stock and additional paid-in capital of Realogy Group for each of the three years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.
 
Realogy Group Stockholder’s Equity
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
Accumulated
Deficit
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
Non-
controlling
Interests
 
Total
Equity
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Balance at January 1, 2014

 
$

 
$
5,636

 
$
(3,607
)
 
$
(19
)
 
$
3

 
$
2,013

Net income

 

 

 
143

 

 
4

 
147

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 
(16
)
 

 
(16
)
Contributions from Realogy Holdings

 

 
6

 

 

 

 
6

Stock-based compensation

 

 
36

 

 

 

 
36

Dividends

 

 

 

 

 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 
1

 
1

Balance at December 31, 2014

 
$

 
$
5,678

 
$
(3,464
)
 
$
(35
)
 
$
4

 
$
2,183

Net income

 

 

 
184

 

 
4

 
188

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
Contributions from Realogy Holdings

 

 
5

 

 

 

 
5

Stock-based compensation

 

 
51

 

 

 

 
51

Dividends

 

 

 

 

 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Balance at December 31, 2015

 
$

 
$
5,734

 
$
(3,280
)
 
$
(36
)
 
$
4

 
$
2,422

Cumulative effect of adoption of FASB ASC 718 - Stock Compensation

 

 

 
5

 

 

 
5

Net income

 

 

 
213

 

 
4

 
217

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 
(4
)
 

 
(4
)
Repurchase of Common Stock

 

 
(195
)
 

 

 

 
(195
)
Contributions from Realogy Holdings

 

 
2

 

 

 

 
2

Stock-based compensation

 

 
51

 

 

 

 
51

Dividends

 

 
(26
)
 

 

 
(3
)
 
(29
)
Balance at December 31, 2016

 
$

 
$
5,566

 
$
(3,062
)
 
$
(40
)
 
$
5

 
$
2,469

16.     EARNINGS PER SHARE
Earnings per share attributable to Realogy Holdings
Basic earnings per share is computed based on net income attributable to Realogy Holdings stockholders divided by the basic weighted-average shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive earnings per share is computed consistently with the basic computation while giving effect to all dilutive potential common shares and common share equivalents that were outstanding during the period. Realogy Holdings uses the treasury stock method to reflect the potential dilutive effect of unvested stock awards and unexercised options. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
(in millions, except per share data)
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Net income attributable to Realogy Holdings shareholders
 
$
213

 
$
184

 
$
143

Basic weighted average shares
 
144.5

 
146.5

 
146.0

Stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance share units (a)
 
1.3

 
1.6

 
1.2

Weighted average diluted shares
 
145.8

 
148.1

 
147.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings Per Share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
1.47

 
$
1.26

 
$
0.98

Diluted
 
$
1.46

 
$
1.24

 
$
0.97



F-36


_______________
(a)
Excludes 4.5 million, 3.5 million and 3.3 million shares of common stock issuable for incentive equity awards for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, which includes performance share units based on the achievement of target amounts that are anti-dilutive to the diluted earnings per share computation.
In February 2016, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $275 million of the Company’s common stock. From the date of authorization through December 31, 2016, the Company on a settlement date basis repurchased and retired 6.9 million shares of common stock for $195 million at a weighted average market price of $28.01 per share. The purchase of shares under this plan reduces the weighted-average number of shares outstanding in the basic earnings per share calculation.
17.    RISK MANAGEMENT AND FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
RISK
MANAGEMENT
The following is a description of the Company’s risk management policies.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates primarily through senior secured debt. At December 31, 2016, the Company's primary interest rate exposure was to interest rate fluctuations, specifically LIBOR, due to its impact on variable rate borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan B under the Senior Secured Credit Agreement and Term Loan A Facility. Given that borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Agreement and Term Loan A Facility are generally based upon LIBOR, this rate will be the Company's primary market risk exposure for the foreseeable future. At December 31, 2016, the Company had variable interest rate long-term debt, which was based on LIBOR from the outstanding term loans and revolver of $2,058 million, excluding $205 million of securitization obligations.
The Company has interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional value of $1,475 million to manage a portion of the Company's exposure to changes in interest rate associated with variable rate borrowings. The fixed interest rates on the swaps range from 2.07% to 2.89%. Although we have entered into these interest rate swaps, involving the exchange of floating for fixed rate interest payments, such interest rate swaps do not eliminate interest rate volatility for all of our variable rate indebtedness at December 31, 2016. In addition, the fair value of the interest rate swaps is also subject to movements in LIBOR and will fluctuate in future periods.  The Company has recognized a liability of $33 million for the fair value of the interest rate swaps at December 31, 2016.  Therefore, an increase in the LIBOR yield curve could increase the fair value of the interest rate swaps and decrease interest expense.
In the normal course of business, the Company borrows funds under its securitization facilities and utilizes such funds to generate assets on which it generally earns interest income. The Company does not believe it is exposed to significant interest rate risk in connection with these activities as the rate it incurs on such borrowings and the rate it earns on such assets are generally based on similar variable indices, thereby providing a natural hedge.
Credit Risk and Exposure
The Company is exposed to counterparty credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to various agreements and sales transactions. The Company manages such risk by evaluating the financial position and creditworthiness of such counterparties and by requiring collateral in instances in which financing is provided. The Company mitigates counterparty credit risk associated with its derivative contracts by monitoring the amounts at risk with each counterparty to such contracts, periodically evaluating counterparty creditworthiness and financial position, and where possible, dispersing its risk among multiple counterparties.
As of December 31, 2016, there were no significant concentrations of credit risk with any individual counterparty or a group of counterparties. The Company actively monitors the credit risk associated with the Company’s receivables.
Market Risk Exposure
The Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services segment, NRT, owns real estate brokerage offices located in and around large metropolitan areas in the U.S. NRT has more offices and realizes more of its revenues in California, Florida and the New York metropolitan area than any other regions of the country. For the year ended December 31, 2016, NRT generated approximately 26% of its revenues from California, 22% from the New York metropolitan area and 9% from


F-37


Florida. For the year ended December 31, 2015, NRT generated approximately 27% of its revenues from California, 23% from the New York metropolitan area and 10% from Florida. For the year ended December 31, 2014, NRT generated approximately 28% of its revenues from California, 24% from the New York metropolitan area and 10% from Florida.
Derivative Instruments
The Company records derivatives and hedging activities on the balance sheet at their respective fair values. The Company uses foreign currency forward contracts largely to manage its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates associated with its foreign currency denominated receivables and payables.  The Company primarily manages its foreign currency exposure to the British Pound, Euro, Swiss Franc and Canadian Dollar. The Company has not elected to utilize hedge accounting for these forward contracts; therefore, any change in fair value is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. However, the fluctuations in the value of these forward contracts generally offset the impact of changes in the value of the underlying risk that they are intended to economically hedge. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding foreign currency forward contracts with a fair value of $2 million and a notional value of $29 million. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had outstanding foreign currency forward contracts with a fair value of less than $1 million and a notional value of $33 million.
The Company also enters into interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to changes in interest rates associated with its variable rate borrowings. The Company has interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional value of $1,475 million to offset the variability in cash flows resulting from the term loan facilities as follows:
Notional Value (in millions)
Commencement Date
Expiration Date
$225
July 2012
February 2018
$200
January 2013
February 2018
$600
August 2015
August 2020
$450
November 2017
November 2022
The swaps help to protect our outstanding variable rate borrowings from future interest rate volatility. The Company has not elected to utilize hedge accounting for these interest rate swaps; therefore, any change in fair value is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The fair value of derivative instruments was as follows:
Liability Derivatives
 
Fair Value
Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
December 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Interest rate swap contracts
 
Other non-current liabilities
 
$
33

 
$
47

The effect of derivative instruments on earnings is as follows:
Derivative Instruments Not
Designated as Hedging Instruments
 
Location of (Gain) or Loss Recognized for Derivative Instruments
 
(Gain) or Loss Recognized on Derivatives
Year Ended December 31,
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Interest rate swap contracts
 
Interest expense
 
$
6

 
$
20

 
$
32

Foreign exchange contracts
 
Operating expense
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
(3
)
Fair Value Measurements
The following tables present the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value.
Level Input:
 
Input Definitions:
Level I
 
Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date.
 
 
Level II
 
Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level I that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data at the measurement date.
 
 
Level III
 
Unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.


F-38


The availability of observable inputs can vary from asset to asset and is affected by a wide variety of factors including, for example, the type of asset, whether the asset is new and not yet established in the marketplace, and other characteristics particular to the transaction. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level III. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy.  In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
The fair value of financial instruments is generally determined by reference to quoted market values. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques, as appropriate. The fair value of interest rate swaps is determined based upon a discounted cash flow approach.
The Company measures financial instruments at fair value on a recurring basis and recognizes transfers within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the fiscal quarter in which the change in circumstances that caused the transfer occurred. There have been no transfers between Level I, II or III assets or liabilities during the year ended December 31, 2016
The following table summarizes fair value measurements by level at December 31, 2016 for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
Level I
 
Level II
 
Level III
 
Total
Interest rate swaps (included in other non-current liabilities)
$

 
$
33

 
$

 
$
33

Deferred compensation plan assets (included in other non-current assets)
3

 

 

 
3

Contingent consideration for acquisitions (included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and non-current liabilities)

 

 
50

 
50

The following table summarizes fair value measurements by level at December 31, 2015 for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
Level I
 
Level II
 
Level III
 
Total
Interest rate swaps (included in other non-current liabilities)
$

 
$
47

 
$

 
$
47

Deferred compensation plan assets (included in other non-current assets)
3

 

 

 
3

Contingent consideration for acquisitions (included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and non-current liabilities)

 

 
59

 
59

The fair value of the Company’s contingent consideration for acquisitions is measured using a probability weighted-average discount rate to estimate future cash flows based upon the likelihood of achieving future operating results for individual acquisitions.  These assumptions are deemed to be unobservable inputs and as such the Company’s contingent consideration is classified within Level III of the valuation hierarchy. The Company reassesses the fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities on a quarterly basis.
The following table presents changes in Level III financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
 
Level III
Fair value of contingent consideration at December 31, 2015
 
$
59

Additions: contingent consideration related to acquisitions completed during the period
 
19

Reductions: payments of contingent consideration (reflected in the financing section of the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows)
 
(26
)
Changes in fair value (reflected in the Consolidated Statement of Operations)
 
(2
)
Fair value of contingent consideration at December 31, 2016
 
$
50



F-39


The following table summarizes the principal amount of the Company’s indebtedness compared to the estimated fair value, primarily determined by quoted market values, at:
 
December 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
Principal Amount
 
Estimated
Fair Value (a)
 
Principal Amount
 
Estimated
Fair Value (a)
Senior Secured Credit Facility:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
$
200

 
$
200

 
$
200

 
$
200

Term Loan B
1,094

 
1,100

 
1,867

 
1,849

Term Loan A Facility:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Term Loan A
413

 
414

 
435

 
426

Term Loan A-1
351

 
351

 

 

3.375% Senior Notes

 

 
500

 
500

4.50% Senior Notes
450

 
461

 
450

 
464

5.25% Senior Notes
550

 
562

 
300

 
308

4.875% Senior Notes
500

 
483

 

 

Securitization obligations
205

 
205

 
247

 
247

_______________
(a)
The fair value of the Company's indebtedness is categorized as Level I.
18.
SEGMENT INFORMATION
The reportable segments presented below represent the Company’s operating segments for which separate financial information is available and which is utilized on a regular basis by its chief operating decision maker to assess performance and to allocate resources. In identifying its reportable segments, the Company also considers the nature of services provided by its operating segments. Management evaluates the operating results of each of its reportable segments based upon revenue and EBITDA, which is defined as net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, interest (income) expense, net (other than Relocation Services interest for relocation receivables and securitization obligations) and income taxes, each of which is presented in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company’s presentation of EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.
 
Revenues (a) (b)
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Real Estate Franchise Services
$
781

 
$
755

 
$
716

Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services
4,344

 
4,344

 
4,078

Relocation Services
405

 
415

 
419

Title and Settlement Services
573

 
487

 
398

Corporate and Other (c)
(293
)
 
(295
)
 
(283
)
Total Company
$
5,810

 
$
5,706

 
$
5,328

_______________
(a)
Transactions between segments are eliminated in consolidation. Revenues for the Real Estate Franchise Services segment include intercompany royalties and marketing fees paid by the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services segment of $293 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, $295 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 and $283 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Such amounts are eliminated through the Corporate and Other line.
(b)
Revenues for the Relocation Services segment include intercompany referral commissions paid by the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services segment of $43 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, $49 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 and $42 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Such amounts are recorded as contra-revenues by the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services segment. There are no other material intersegment transactions.
(c)
Includes the elimination of transactions between segments.


F-40


 
EBITDA
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016 (a)
 
2015 (b)
 
2014 (c)
Real Estate Franchise Services
$
516

 
$
495

 
$
463

Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services
137

 
199

 
193

Relocation Services
96

 
105

 
102

Title and Settlement Services
62

 
48

 
36

Corporate and Other (d)
(78
)
 
(121
)
 
(107
)
Total Company
$
733

 
$
726

 
$
687

______________
(a)
Includes $39 million of restructuring charges as follows: $4 million in the Real Estate Franchise Services segment, $22 million in the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services segment, $4 million in the Relocation Services segment, $1 million in Title and Settlement Services segment and $8 million in Corporate and Other, partially offset by a net benefit of $2 million of former parent legacy items for the year ended December 31, 2016.
(b)
Includes $48 million related to the loss on the early extinguishment of debt and restructuring charges of $10 million as follows: $5 million in the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services segment, $1 million in the Relocation Services segment and $4 million in Corporate and Other, partially offset by a net benefit of $15 million of former parent legacy items for the year ended December 31, 2015.
(c)
Includes $47 million related to the loss on the early extinguishment of debt, $10 million of transaction and integration costs related to the ZipRealty acquisition and $2 million related to the Phantom Value Plan, partially offset by a net benefit of $10 million of former parent legacy items and the reversal of a prior year restructuring reserve of $1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
(d)
Includes the elimination of transactions between segments.
Provided below is a reconciliation of EBITDA to Net income attributable to Realogy Holdings and Realogy Group:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Net income attributable to Realogy Holdings and Realogy Group
$
213

 
$
184

 
$
143

Add: Depreciation and amortization
202

 
201

 
190

Interest expense, net
174

 
231

 
267

Income tax expense
144

 
110

 
87

EBITDA
$
733

 
$
726

 
$
687

Depreciation and Amortization
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Real Estate Franchise Services
$
77

 
$
77

 
$
75

Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services
49

 
46

 
42

Relocation Services
31

 
33

 
43

Title and Settlement Services
23

 
25

 
15

Corporate and Other
22

 
20

 
15

Total Company
$
202

 
$
201

 
$
190

Segment Assets
 
As of December 31
 
2016
 
2015
Real Estate Franchise Services
$
4,477

 
$
4,534

Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services
1,249

 
1,140

Relocation Services
1,081

 
1,126

Title and Settlement Services
416

 
382

Corporate and Other
198

 
349

Total Company
$
7,421

 
$
7,531



F-41


Capital Expenditures    
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Real Estate Franchise Services
$
8

 
$
8

 
$
10

Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services
44

 
41

 
33

Relocation Services
12

 
14

 
9

Title and Settlement Services
9

 
8

 
8

Corporate and Other
14

 
13

 
11

Total Company
$
87

 
$
84

 
$
71

The geographic segment information provided below is classified based on the geographic location of the Company’s subsidiaries.
 
United
States
 
All Other
Countries
 
Total
On or for the year ended December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
$
5,683

 
$
127

 
$
5,810

Total assets
7,347

 
74

 
7,421

Net property and equipment
265

 
2

 
267

On or for the year ended December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
$
5,579

 
$
127

 
$
5,706

Total assets
7,450

 
81

 
7,531

Net property and equipment
252

 
2

 
254

On or for the year ended December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
$
5,201

 
$
127

 
$
5,328

Total assets
7,219

 
85

 
7,304

Net property and equipment
232

 
1

 
233

19.
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
Provided below is selected unaudited quarterly financial data for 2016 and 2015.
 
2016
 
First
 
Second
 
Third
 
Fourth
Net revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real Estate Franchise Services
$
157

 
$
221

 
$
215

 
$
188

Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services
841

 
1,268

 
1,231

 
1,004

Relocation Services
83

 
109

 
116

 
97

Title and Settlement Services
111

 
149

 
164

 
149

Corporate and Other (a)
(58
)
 
(85
)
 
(82
)
 
(68
)
Total Company
$
1,134

 
$
1,662

 
$
1,644

 
$
1,370

Income (loss) before income taxes, equity in earnings and noncontrolling interests (b)
 
 
 
 
Real Estate Franchise Services
$
73

 
$
130

 
$
133

 
$
102

Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services
(32
)
 
63

 
55

 
(8
)
Relocation Services
(1
)
 
22

 
34

 
16

Title and Settlement Services
(5
)
 
21

 
17

 
6

Corporate and Other
(101
)
 
(83
)
 
(63
)
 
(30
)
Total Company
$
(66
)
 
$
153

 
$
176

 
$
86

Net income (loss) attributable to Realogy Holdings and Realogy Group
$
(42
)
 
$
92

 
$
106

 
$
57

Income (loss) per share attributable to Realogy Holdings (c):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic income (loss) per share
$
(0.29
)
 
$
0.63

 
$
0.74

 
$
0.40

Diluted income (loss) per share
$
(0.29
)
 
$
0.63

 
$
0.73

 
$
0.40



F-42


_______________
 
 
(a)
Represents the elimination of transactions primarily between the Real Estate Franchise Services segment and the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services segment.
(b)
The quarterly results include the following:
former parent legacy cost of $1 million in the first quarter and former parent legacy benefit of $3 million in the fourth quarter; and
restructuring charges of $9 million, $12 million, $9 million and $9 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively.
(c)
Basic and diluted EPS amounts in each quarter are computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during that quarter, while basic and diluted EPS for the full year is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year. Therefore, the sum of the four quarters’ basic or diluted EPS may not equal the full year basic or diluted EPS (see Note 16 "Earnings Per Share" for further information).
 
2015
 
First
 
Second
 
Third
 
Fourth
Net revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real Estate Franchise Services
$
151

 
$
213

 
$
214

 
$
177

Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services
796

 
1,289

 
1,267

 
992

Relocation Services
85

 
108

 
124

 
98

Title and Settlement Services
87

 
128

 
147

 
125

Corporate and Other (a)
(57
)
 
(87
)
 
(84
)
 
(67
)
Total Company
$
1,062

 
$
1,651

 
$
1,668

 
$
1,325

Income (loss) before income taxes, equity in earnings and noncontrolling interests (b)
 
 
Real Estate Franchise Services
$
67

 
$
127

 
$
133

 
$
92

Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services
(28
)
 
75

 
82

 
8

Relocation Services
(1
)
 
22

 
39

 
16

Title and Settlement Services
(7
)
 
16

 
9

 
5

Corporate and Other
(89
)
 
(83
)
 
(81
)
 
(120
)
Total Company
$
(58
)
 
$
157

 
$
182

 
$
1

Net income (loss) attributable to Realogy Holdings and Realogy Group
$
(32
)
 
$
97

 
$
110

 
$
9

Income (loss) per share attributable to Realogy Holdings (c):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic income (loss) per share
$
(0.22
)
 
$
0.66

 
$
0.75

 
$
0.06

Diluted income (loss) per share
$
(0.22
)
 
$
0.66

 
$
0.74

 
$
0.06

_______________
 
 
(a)
Represents the elimination of transactions primarily between the Real Estate Franchise Services segment and the Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services segment.
(b)
The quarterly results include the following:
a loss on the early extinguishment of debt of $48 million in the fourth quarter;
former parent legacy benefit of $1 million and $14 million in the second and third quarters, respectively; and
restructuring charges of $10 million in the fourth quarter.
(c)
Basic and diluted EPS amounts in each quarter are computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during that quarter, while basic and diluted EPS for the full year is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year. Therefore, the sum of the four quarters’ basic or diluted EPS may not equal the full year basic or diluted EPS.
20.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
In January 2017, the Company completed two debt transactions which increased the borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility from $815 million to $1.050 billion and refinanced the existing Term Loan B to reduce the interest rate by 75 basis points from LIBOR plus 3.00% (with a floor of 0.75%) to LIBOR plus 2.25% (with a floor of 0.75%).
On February 15, 2017, Realogy announced that it and Guaranteed Rate, Inc. (“Guaranteed Rate”) have agreed to form a new joint venture, Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC ("Guaranteed Rate Affinity"), which is expected to begin doing business in June 2017. Commencement of operations is subject to the closing of an asset purchase agreement under which Guaranteed Rate Affinity will acquire certain assets of the mortgage operations of PHH Home Loans, the existing joint venture between Realogy and PHH Mortgage Corporation, including its four regional centers and employees across the United States, but not its mortgage assets.
Guaranteed Rate Affinity will originate and market its mortgage lending services to Realogy’s real estate brokerage and relocation subsidiaries as well as other real estate brokerage and relocation companies across the country. Guaranteed Rate will own a controlling 50.1% stake of Guaranteed Rate Affinity and Realogy will own 49.9%. Guaranteed Rate will have responsibility for the oversight of the officers and senior employees of the Company who are designated to manage the Company.
The asset purchase agreement is subject to approval by PHH Corporation’s shareholders and other closing conditions and the movement of employees from the old joint venture to the new joint venture is expected to be completed in a series of phases. The initial phase is expected to occur in June 2017 and the final phase is expected to occur during the fourth quarter of 2017. Once these transactions are complete together with the monetization of Realogy's stake in the old joint venture, the Company expects to realize approximately $30 million of net cash.
On February 23, 2017, the Board authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $300 million of the Company's common stock, which is in addition to the remaining authorization under the initial share repurchase program authorized in February 2016. As with the initial program, repurchases under the new program may be made at management's discretion from time to time on the open market, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans or through privately negotiated transactions. The size and timing of these repurchases will depend on price, market and economic conditions, legal and contractual requirements and other factors. Similarly, the new repurchase program has no time limit and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.


F-43


EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
    Description    
2.1
Separation and Distribution Agreement by and among Cendant Corporation, Realogy Group LLC (f/k/a Realogy Corporation), Wyndham Worldwide Corporation and Travelport Inc. dated as of July 27, 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Realogy Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 31, 2006).
2.2
Letter Agreement dated August 23, 2006 relating to the Separation and Distribution Agreement by and among Realogy Group LLC (f/k/a Realogy Corporation), Cendant Corporation, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation and Travelport Inc. dated as of July 27, 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Realogy Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 23, 2006).
3.1
Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Realogy Holdings Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 5, 2014).
3.2
Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Realogy Holdings Corp., as amended by the Board of Directors, effective November 4, 2014 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 10, 2014).
3.3
Certificate of Conversion of Realogy Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2012).
3.4
Certificate of Formation of Realogy Group LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2012).
3.5
Limited Liability Company Agreement of Realogy Group LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2012).
4.1
Indenture, dated as of April 2, 2014, among Realogy Group LLC, as Issuer, Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., as Co-Issuer, Realogy Holdings Corp., the Note Guarantors (as defined therein), and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, governing the 4.500% Senior Notes due 2019 (the "4.500% Senior Note Indenture") (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrants' Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2014).
4.2
Supplemental Indenture No. 1 dated as of August 12, 2014 to the 4.500% Senior Note Indenture (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to Registrants' Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2014).
4.3
Supplemental Indenture No. 2 dated as of August 15, 2014 to the 4.500% Senior Note Indenture (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to Registrants' Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2014).
4.4
Supplemental Indenture No. 3 dated as of November 10, 2014 to the 4.500% Senior Note Indenture (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.24 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014).
4.5
Supplemental Indenture No. 4 dated as of January 2, 2015 to the 4.500% Senior Note Indenture (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.25 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014).
4.6
Supplemental Indenture No. 5 dated as of October 15, 2015 to the 4.500% Senior Note Indenture (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015).
4.7
Supplemental Indenture No. 6 dated as of February 9, 2016 to the 4.500% Senior Note Indenture (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.15 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015).
4.8*
Supplemental Indenture No. 7 dated as of October 31, 2016 to the 4.500% Senior Note Indenture.        
4.9
Form of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2019 (included in the 4.500% Senior Note Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.1 filed to the Registrants' Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2014).


G-1



Exhibit
    Description    

4.10
Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2014, among Realogy Group LLC, as Issuer, Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., as Co-Issuer, Realogy Holdings Corp., the Note Guarantors (as defined therein), and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, governing the 5.250% Senior Notes due 2021 (the "5.250% Senior Note Indenture") (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.27 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014).
4.11
Supplemental Indenture No. 1 dated as of January 2, 2015 to the 5.250% Senior Note Indenture (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.28 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014).
4.12
Supplemental Indenture No. 2 dated as of October 15, 2015 to the 5.250% Senior Note Indenture (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.19 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015).
4.13
Supplemental Indenture No. 3 dated as of February 9, 2016 to the 5.250% Senior Note Indenture (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.20 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015).
4.14
Supplemental Indenture No. 4 dated as of March 1, 2016 to the 5.250% Senior Note Indenture (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 1, 2016).
4.15*        Supplemental Indenture No. 5 dated as of October 31, 2016 to the 5.250% Senior Note Indenture.
4.16
Form of 5.250% Senior Notes due 2021 (included in the 5.250% Senior Note Indenture (included in the 5.250% Senior Note Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.27 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014).
4.17
Indenture, dated as of June 1, 2016, among Realogy Group LLC, as Issuer, Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., as Co-Issuer, Realogy Holdings Corp., the Note Guarantors (as defined therein), and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, governing the 4.875% Senior Notes due 2023 (the "4.875% Senior Note Indenture") (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 3, 2016).
4.18*
Supplemental Indenture No. 1 dated as of October 31, 2016 to the 4.875% Senior Note Indenture.
4.19
Form of 4.875% Senior Notes due 2023 (included in the 5.250% Senior Note Indenture (included in the 4.875% Senior Note Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 3, 2016).
10.1
Tax Sharing Agreement by and among Realogy Group LLC (f/k/a Realogy Corporation), Cendant Corporation, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation and Travelport Inc. dated as of July 28, 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Realogy Group LLC's (f/k/a Realogy Corporation’s) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2009).
10.2
Amendment executed July 8, 2008 and effective as of July 26, 2006 to the Tax Sharing Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.1 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Realogy Group LLC's (f/k/a Realogy Corporation’s) Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2008).
10.3
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2013, among Realogy Intermediate Holdings LLC, Realogy Group LLC, the lenders party thereto from time to time, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders, and the other financial institutions parties thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Registrants' Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2013).
10.4
First Amendment, dated as of March 10, 2014, to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2013, among Realogy Intermediate Holdings LLC, Realogy Group LLC, the lenders from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other agents parties thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 10, 2014).
10.5
Second Amendment, dated as of October 23, 2015, to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2013, as amended, among Realogy Intermediate Holdings LLC, Realogy Group LLC, the several lenders parties thereto from time to time, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders, and the other agents parties thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 28, 2015).


G-2



Exhibit
    Description    

10.6
Third Amendment, dated as of July 20, 2016, to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2013, as amended, among Realogy Intermediate Holdings LLC, Realogy Group LLC, the several lenders parties thereto from time to time, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders, and the other agents parties thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2016).
10.7
Fourth Amendment, dated as of January 23, 2017, to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2013, as amended, among Realogy Intermediate Holdings LLC, Realogy Group LLC, the several lenders parties thereto from time to time, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders, and the other agents parties thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 23, 2017).
10.8
Incremental Assumption Agreement, dated as of January 23, 2017, among Realogy Intermediate Holdings LLC, Realogy Group LLC, the financial institutions party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 23, 2017).
10.9
Amended and Restated Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2013, among Realogy Intermediate Holdings LLC, Realogy Group LLC, the subsidiary loan parties thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative and collateral agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 8, 2013).
10.10
Term Loan A Agreement, dated as of October 23, 2015, among Realogy Intermediate Holdings LLC, Realogy Group LLC, the lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 28, 2015).
10.11
First Amendment, dated as of July 20, 2016, to the Term Loan A Agreement, dated as of October 23, 2015, among Realogy Intermediate Holdings LLC, Realogy Group LLC, the lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 28, 2015).
10.12
Term Loan A Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, dated as of October 23, 2015, among Realogy Intermediate Holdings LLC, Realogy Group LLC, the subsidiary loan parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative and collateral agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 28, 2015).
10.13
Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2012, among Realogy Group LLC (f/k/a Realogy Corporation), the other Grantors (as defined therein) from time to time party hereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as collateral agent for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (as defined therein) and as Authorized Representative for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties, The Bank of New York, Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as the collateral agent and Authorized Representative for the Initial Additional First Lien Priority Note Secured Parties (as defined therein)(Incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.13 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011).
10.14
Joinder No. 1 dated as of October 23, 2015 to the First Lien Priority Intercreditor Agreement dated as of February 2, 2012, with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and the other parties thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 28, 2015).
10.15**
Employment Agreement, dated as of April 10, 2007, between Realogy Corporation and Richard A. Smith (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Realogy Corporation’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010).
10.16**
Amendment to Employment Agreement dated September 10, 2012, between Realogy Group LLC (f/k/a Realogy Corporation) and Richard A Smith (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 14, 2012).


G-3



Exhibit
    Description    

10.17**
Amendment to Employment Agreement dated November 1, 2013, between Realogy Group LLC (f/k/a Realogy Corporation) and Richard A Smith (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrants' Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2013).
10.18**
Severance Agreement dated February 23, 2016, between Realogy Holdings Corp. and Anthony E. Hull(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015).
10.19**
Severance Agreement dated February 23, 2016, between Realogy Holdings Corp. and Alexander E. Perriello(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015).
10.20* **
Letter Agreement dated February 23, 2017 between Realogy Holdings Corp. and Alexander E. Perriello
10.21**
Severance Agreement dated February 23, 2016, between Realogy Holdings Corp. and Bruce G. Zipf (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015).
10.22**
Severance Agreement dated February 23, 2016, between Realogy Holdings Corp. and Donald J. Casey (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015).
10.23**
Realogy Holdings Corp. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Registrants' Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2012).
10.24**
Form of Option Agreement under 2007 Stock Incentive Plan between Realogy Holdings Corp. and the Optionee party thereto governing time-vested options (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Realogy Group LLC's (f/k/a Realogy Corporation’s) Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2010).
10.25**
Amended and Restated Realogy Group LLC Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 9, 2013).
10.26**
Amendment No. 1 dated November 4, 2014 to Realogy Group LLC Amended and Restated Realogy Group LLC Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014).
10.27**
Amendment No. 2 dated December 11, 2014 to Realogy Group LLC Amended and Restated Realogy Group LLC Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.27 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014).
10.28**
Realogy Holdings Corp. Director Deferred Compensation Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrants' Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2013).
10.29**
Amendment No. 1 dated November 4, 2014 to Realogy Holdings Corp. Director Deferred Compensation Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.29 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014).
10.30**
Amendment No. 2 dated December 11, 2014 to Realogy Holdings Corp. Director Deferred Compensation Plan(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.30 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014).
10.31
Trademark License Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2004, among SPTC Delaware LLC (as assignee of SPTC, Inc.), Sotheby’s (as successor to Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc.), Cendant Corporation and Monticello Licensee Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Realogy Group LLC's (f/k/a Realogy Corporation's) Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 001-32852)).
10.32
Amendment No. 1 to Trademark License Agreement, dated May 2, 2005, by and among SPTC Delaware LLC (as assignee of SPTC, Inc.), Sotheby’s (as successor to Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc.), Cendant Corporation and Sotheby’s International Realty Licensee Corporation (f/k/a Monticello Licensee Corporation) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12(a) to Realogy Group LLC's (f/k/a Realogy Corporation's) Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 001-32852)).


G-4



Exhibit
    Description    

10.33
Amendment No. 2 to Trademark License Agreement, dated May 2, 2005, by and among SPTC Delaware LLC (as assignee of SPTC, Inc.), Sotheby’s (as successor to Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc.), Cendant Corporation and Sotheby’s International Realty Licensee Corporation (f/k/a Monticello Licensee Corporation) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12(b) to Realogy Group LLC's (f/k/a Realogy Corporation's) Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 001-32852)).
10.34
Consent of SPTC Delaware LLC, Sotheby’s (as successor to Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc.) and Sotheby’s International Realty License Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12(c) to Amendment No. 5 to Realogy Group LLC's (f/k/a Realogy Corporation's) Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 001-32852)).
10.35
Joinder Agreement dated as of January 1, 2005, between SPTC Delaware LLC, Sotheby’s (as successor to Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc.), and Cendant Corporation and Sotheby’s International Realty Licensee Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to Realogy Group LLC's (f/k/a Realogy Corporation's) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2009).
10.36
Amendment No. 3 to Trademark License Agreement dated January 14, 2011, by and among SPTC Delaware LLC (as assignee of SPTC, Inc.) and Sotheby’s, as successor by merger to Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc., on the one hand, and Realogy Group LLC (f/k/a Realogy Corporation) , as successor to Cendant Corporation, and Sotheby’s International Realty Licensee (f/k/a Monticello Licensee Corporation) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.49 to Realogy Group LLC's (f/k/a Realogy Corporation's) Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010).
10.37
Lease Agreement dated November 23, 2011, between 175 Park Avenue, LLC and Realogy Operations LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.57 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011).
10.38
First Amendment to Lease dated April 29, 2013, between 175 Park Avenue, LLC and Realogy Operations LLC amending Lease dated November 23, 2011 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Registrants' Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2013).
10.39
Guaranty dated November 23, 2011, by Realogy Group LLC (f/k/a Realogy Corporation) to 175 Park Avenue, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.58 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011).
10.40
Note Purchase Agreement (Secured Variable Funding Notes, Series 2011-1) dated as of December 14, 2011, among Apple Ridge Funding LLC, Cartus Corporation, the commercial paper conduit purchasers party thereto, the financial institutions party thereto, the managing agents party thereto, and committed purchases and managing agents party thereto and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, as administrative and lead arranger (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.60 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011).
10.41
Amendment dated June 13, 2014 to the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 14, 2011, by and among Apple Ridge Funding LLC, Cartus Corporation, Realogy Group LLC, the managing agents, committed purchasers and conduit purchasers named therein, and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, as administrative agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrants' Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2014).
10.42
Amendment dated November 10, 2014 to the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 14, 2011, by and among Apple Ridge Funding LLC, Cartus Corporation, Realogy Group LLC, the managing agents, committed purchasers and conduit purchasers named therein, and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, as administrative agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.49 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014).
10.43
Amendment to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2016, among Apple Ridge Funding LLC, Cartus Corporation, Realogy Group LLC, the Managing Agents, Committed Purchasers and Conduit Purchasers, and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, as Administrative Agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 3, 2016).


G-5



Exhibit
    Description    

10.44
Series 2011-1 Indenture Supplement, dated as of December 16, 2011, between Apple Ridge Funding LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as indenture trustee, paying agent, authentication agent, transfer agent and registrar, which modifies the Master Indenture, dated as of April 25, 2000, among Apple Ridge Funding LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as indenture trustee, paying agent, authentication agent, transfer agent and registrar (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.61 to Registrants' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011).
10.45
Eighth Omnibus Amendment, dated as of September 11, 2013, among Cartus Corporation, Cartus Financial Corporation, Apple Ridge Services Corporation, Apple Ridge Funding LLC, Realogy Group LLC, U.S. Bank National Association, the managing agents party to the Note Purchase Agreement dated December 14, 2011 and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 13, 2013).
10.46
Ninth Omnibus Amendment, dated as of June 11, 2015, among Cartus Corporation, Cartus Financial Corporation, Apple Ridge Services Corporation, Apple Ridge Funding LLC, Realogy Group LLC, U.S. Bank National Association, the managing agents party to the Note Purchase Agreement dated December 14, 2011 and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrants' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 12, 2015).
10.47**
Form of Option Agreement for Independent Directors under 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.51 to Realogy Group LLC's (f/k/a Realogy Corporation’s) Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007).
10.48
Agreement dated July 15, 2010, between Realogy Group LLC (f/k/a Realogy Corporation) and Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Realogy Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 20, 2010).
10.49**
Amended and Restated Realogy Holdings Corp. 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Realogy Holdings Corp.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 5, 2016).
10.50* **
Form of Stock Option Agreement under Amended and Restated 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
10.51* **
Form of Director Restricted Stock Unit Notice of Grant and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Amended and Restated Realogy Holdings Corp. 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
10.52**
Form of NEO Notice of Grant and Performance Share Unit Agreement under Amended and Restated Realogy Holdings Corp. 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrants' Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2016).
10.53**
Form of NEO Performance Restricted Stock Unit Notice of Grant and Performance Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under Amended and Restated Realogy Holdings Corp. 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrants' Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2016).
10.54
Form of Indemnification Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.79 to Realogy Holdings Corp.'s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-181988).
21.1*
Subsidiaries of Realogy Holdings Corp. and Realogy Group LLC.
23.1*
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
24.1*
Power of Attorney of Directors and Officers of the registrants (included on signature pages to this Form 10-K).
31.1*
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Realogy Holdings Corp. pursuant to Rules 13(a)-14(a) and 15(d)-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.2*
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Realogy Holdings Corp. pursuant to Rules 13(a)-14(a) and 15(d)-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.3*
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Realogy Group LLC pursuant to Rules 13(a)-14(a) and 15(d)-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


G-6



Exhibit
    Description    

31.4*
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Realogy Group LLC pursuant to Rules 13(a)-14(a) and 15(d)-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.1*
Certification for Realogy Holdings Corp. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*
Certification for Realogy Group LLC pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS ^
XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH ^
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL^
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF ^
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB ^
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE ^
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
_______________
*
Filed herewith.
**
Compensatory plan or arrangement.
^
Furnished electronically with this report.



G-7


REALOGY HOLDINGS CORP. AND REALOGY GROUP LLC
SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016, 2015 AND 2014
(in millions)
 
 
 
Additions
 
 
 
 
Description
Balance at
Beginning of
Period
 
Charged to
Costs and
Expenses
 
Charged to
Other
Accounts
 
Deductions
 
Balance at
End of
Period
Allowance for doubtful accounts (a)
Year ended December 31, 2016
$
20

 
$
2

 
$

 
$
(9
)
 
$
13

Year ended December 31, 2015
27

 
6

 

 
(13
)
 
20

Year ended December 31, 2014
36

 
4

 

 
(13
)
 
27

 


 


 


 


 


Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
Year ended December 31, 2016
$
11

 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
10

Year ended December 31, 2015
10

 
1

 

 

 
11

Year ended December 31, 2014
16

 

 

 
(6
)
 
10

_______________
(a)
The deduction column represents uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries from Trade Receivables in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.