The growing popularity of the company’s websites and apps has earned the company record profits during the fourth quarter, with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $170 million, according to a statement on Wednesday.

The agreement would generate $250 million in proceeds, which the nonbank mortgage company plans to use to pay down and refinance existing debt, while also investing in its servicing and origination businesses.

But the company sees reasons to be optimistic about the second half of the year, CEO and Chairman Michael Nierenberg said during its fourth quarter earnings call

Even as the company posted record numbers, it could have originated more loans if it had not stopped buying FHA and jumbo mortgages from brokers.

Pretax operating margins came in much narrower than what is projected for the three stand-alone underwriters.

The company also reported a large fourth-quarter loss that reflected a significant increase in its loan-loss provision.

For a surprising number of companies pursuing an IPO is a mistake, Endurance Advisory Partners CEO Stephen Curry says.

The auto finance company, which had stumbled in forays into the credit card business, is now seeing rapid growth in mortgage and unsecured consumer lending.

Despite that decline, the company notched its second-best quarterly earnings ever over that period.

The investments, part of a post-merger effort to wring out more profits, include new commercial and mortgage lending platforms.