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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________________________________________________________
FORM 10-K
_____________________________________________________________________
(Mark One)
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021
OR
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from
to
Commission file number 001-35151
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AG MORTGAGE INVESTMENT TRUST, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
charter)
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Maryland |
27-5254382 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
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245 Park Avenue, 26th Floor
New York, New York
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10167 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
(Zip Code) |
(212) 692-2000
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
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Title of each class: |
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Trading Symbols: |
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Name of each exchange on which registered: |
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share |
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MITT |
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New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
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8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock |
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MITT PrA |
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New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
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8.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock |
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MITT PrB |
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New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
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8.000% Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable
Preferred Stock |
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MITT PrC |
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New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
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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. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file
reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Act. Yes ☐ 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. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted
electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted
pursuant to Rule 405 and 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 such
files). Yes ☒ No
☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a
smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the
definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer,"
"smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large Accelerated filer |
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Accelerated filer |
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Non-Accelerated filer |
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Smaller reporting company |
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Emerging growth company |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the
registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period
for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange
Act.
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on
and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness
of its internal control over financial reporting under Section
404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the
registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit
report. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the
Act). Yes ☐ No
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The aggregate market value of the registrant’s voting common stock
held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2021 was
$196,777,677.
As of February 17, 2022, there were 23,915,293 shares of
common stock outstanding.
_____________________________________________________________________
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to
its 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, to be filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of
the registrant’s fiscal year, are incorporated by reference into
Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K where
indicated.
AG MORTGAGE INVESTMENT TRUST, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Forward-Looking Statements
We make forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), in this report that are subject to
substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These
forward-looking statements include information about possible or
assumed future results of our business, financial condition,
liquidity, returns, results of operations, plans, yields,
objectives, the composition of our portfolio, actions by
governmental entities, including the Federal Reserve, and the
potential effects of actual and proposed legislation on us, and our
views on certain macroeconomic trends, and the impact of the novel
coronavirus ("COVID-19"). When we use the words "believe,"
"expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend,"
"should," "may" or similar expressions, we intend to identify
forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are based upon information
presently available to our management and are inherently
subjective, uncertain and subject to change. There can be no
assurance that actual results will not differ materially from our
expectations. Some, but not all, of the factors that might cause
such a difference include, without limitation:
•the
uncertainty and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (including
the impact of any significant variants) and of responsive measures
implemented by various governmental authorities, businesses and
other third-parties, and the potential impact of COVID-19 on our
personnel;
•changes
in our business and investment strategy;
•our
ability to predict and control costs;
•changes
in interest rates and the fair value of our assets, including
negative changes resulting in margin calls relating to the
financing of our assets;
•changes
in the yield curve;
•changes
in prepayment rates on the loans we own or that underlie our
investment securities;
•regulatory
and structural changes in the residential loan market and its
impact on non-agency mortgage markets;
•increased
rates of default or delinquencies and/or decreased recovery rates
on our assets;
•our
ability to obtain and maintain financing arrangements on terms
favorable to us or at all;
•our
ability to enter into securitization transactions on the terms and
pace anticipated or at all;
•changes
in general economic conditions, in our industry and in the finance
and real estate markets, including the impact on the value of our
assets;
•conditions
in the market for Residential Investments and Agency
RMBS;
•legislative
and regulatory actions by the U.S. Congress, U.S. Department of the
Treasury, the Federal Reserve and other agencies and
instrumentalities in response to the economic effects of the
COVID-19 pandemic;
•the
forbearance program included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act");
•our
ability to make distributions to our stockholders in the
future;
•our
ability to maintain our qualification as a real estate investment
trust ("REIT") for federal tax purposes;
•our
ability to qualify for an exemption from registration under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company
Act"); and
•the
other factors described in this Annual Report, including those set
forth under the captions "Risk Factors," "Business," and
"Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations."
We caution investors not to rely unduly on any forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date made, and urge you to
carefully consider the risks noted above in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and any
subsequent filings. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to
time, and it is impossible for us to predict those events or how
they may affect us. Except as required by law, we are not obligated
to, and do not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise. All forward-looking statements that we make, or that
are attributable to us, are expressly qualified by this cautionary
notice.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Our company
AG Mortgage Investment Trust, Inc. (the "Company," "we," "us," and
"our") is a residential mortgage REIT with a focus on investing in
a diversified risk-adjusted portfolio of residential
mortgage-related assets in the U.S. mortgage market. Our objective
is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders
over the long-term, primarily through dividends and capital
appreciation.
During 2021, we determined to focus our investment activities
primarily on acquiring and securitizing newly-originated
residential mortgage loans within the growing non-agency segment of
the housing market. We obtain our assets through Arc Home, LLC
("Arc Home"), our residential mortgage loan originator in which we
own an approximate 44.6% interest, and through other third-party
origination partners. We finance our acquired loans through various
financing lines on a short-term basis and utilize Angelo, Gordon
& Co., L.P.'s proprietary securitization platform to secure
long-term, non-recourse, non-mark-to-market financing as market
conditions permit. Through our ownership in Arc Home, we also have
exposure to mortgage banking activities. Arc Home is a
multi-channel licensed mortgage originator and servicer primarily
engaged in the business of originating and selling residential
mortgage loans while retaining the mortgage servicing rights
associated with the loans that it originates.
Our investment portfolio (which excludes our ownership in Arc Home)
includes Residential Investments and Agency RMBS. Currently, our
Residential Investments primarily consist of Non-QM Loans and GSE
Non-Owner Occupied Loans. In addition to our Residential
Investments, we may also invest in other types of residential
mortgage loans and other mortgage related assets, which we
collectively refer to as our target assets. As of December 31,
2021, the Company's investment portfolio consisted of the
following:
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Asset Class |
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Description |
Non-QM Loans
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•Residential
mortgage loans that are not deemed "qualified mortgage," or "QM,"
loans under the rules of the Consumer Finance Protection
Bureau.
◦Non-QM
Loans are either held directly by us or held indirectly through our
investment in Mortgage Acquisition Trust I LLC
("MATT").
◦Non-QM
Loans held directly are included in the "Residential mortgage
loans, at fair value" or the "Securitized residential mortgage
loans, at fair value" line items on our consolidated balance
sheets.
◦Non-QM
Loans held indirectly through MATT are included in the "Investments
in debt and equity of affiliates" line item on our consolidated
balance sheets.
◦Certain
retained tranches from unconsolidated Non-QM Loan securitizations
are included in the "Real estate securities, at fair value" line
item on our consolidated balance sheets.
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GSE Non-Owner Occupied Loans
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•Residential
mortgage loans that are underwritten in accordance with U.S.
government-sponsored entity ("GSE") guidelines and are secured by
investment properties.
◦These
investments are included in the "Residential mortgage loans, at
fair value" line item on our consolidated balance
sheets.
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Re/Non-Performing Loans
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•Residential
mortgage loans collateralized by a first lien mortgaged
property.
◦Re/Non-Performing
Loans are primarily held through interests in certain consolidated
trusts. These investments are included in the "Securitized
residential mortgage loans, at fair value" line item on our
consolidated balance sheets.
◦Certain
retained tranches from unconsolidated Re/Non-Performing Loan
securitizations which we hold alongside other private funds under
the management of Angelo Gordon are included in the "Investments in
debt and equity of affiliates" line item on our consolidated
balance sheets.
|
Land Related Financing
|
|
•First
mortgage loans originated to third-party land developers and home
builders for purposes of the acquisition and horizontal development
of land.
◦These
loans are held through our unconsolidated affiliates and are
included in the "Investments in debt and equity of affiliates" line
item on our consolidated balance sheets.
|
Agency RMBS
|
|
•Agency
RMBS represent interests in pools of residential mortgage loans
guaranteed by a GSE such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or an agency
of the U.S. Government such as Ginnie Mae.
◦These
investments are included in the "Real estate securities, at fair
value" line item on our consolidated balance sheets.
|
Our primary sources of income are net interest income from our
investment portfolio, changes in the fair value of our investments,
and income from our investment in Arc Home. Net interest income
consists of the interest income we earn on investments less the
interest expense we incur on borrowed funds and any costs related
to hedging. Income from our investment in Arc Home is generated
through its mortgage banking activities which represents the
origination and subsequent sale of residential mortgage loans and
servicing income sourced from its portfolio of mortgage servicing
rights.
We were incorporated in Maryland on March 1, 2011 and commenced
operations in July 2011. We conduct our operations to qualify and
be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Accordingly, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal
income taxes on our taxable income that we distribute currently to
our stockholders as long as we maintain our intended qualification
as a REIT, with the exception of business conducted in our domestic
taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRS") which are subject to corporate
income tax. We also operate our business in a manner that permits
us to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment
Company Act.
Our Manager and Angelo Gordon
We are externally managed by AG REIT Management, LLC (our
"Manager"), a subsidiary of Angelo, Gordon & Co., L.P. ("Angelo
Gordon"), pursuant to a management agreement. Pursuant to the terms
of our management agreement, our Manager provides us with our
management team, including our officers, along with appropriate
support personnel. All of our officers are employees of Angelo
Gordon or its affiliates. We do not have any employees. Our Manager
is at all times subject to the supervision and oversight of our
Board of Directors and has only such functions and authority as our
Board of Directors delegates to it. Our Manager has delegated to
Angelo Gordon the overall responsibility with respect to our
Manager’s day-to-day duties and obligations arising under our
management agreement.
Through our relationship with our Manager, we benefit from the
expertise and relationships that Angelo Gordon has established
which provides us with resources to generate attractive
risk-adjusted returns for our stockholders. Our management has
significant experience in the mortgage industry and expertise in
structured credit investments. We are able to leverage our Manager,
along with our ownership interest in Arc Home, a vertically
integrated origination platform, to access investment opportunities
in the non-agency residential mortgage loan market. This strategic
advantage has enabled us to grow our investment portfolio and
remain active in the securitization markets, utilizing Angelo
Gordon's proprietary securitization platform to deliver non-agency
investments to a diverse mix of investors.
Our strategies
Our investment strategy
We rely on the experience of our Manager’s personnel to direct our
investments. Our Manager’s investment philosophy is based on a
rigorous and disciplined approach to credit analysis and is focused
on fundamental in-depth research. Our Manager makes investment
decisions based on a variety of factors, including expected
risk-adjusted returns, yields, relative value, credit fundamentals,
vintage of collateral, prepayment speeds, supply and demand trends,
general economic and market sector trends, the shape of the yield
curve, liquidity, availability of adequate financing, borrowing
costs, macroeconomic conditions, and maintaining our REIT
qualification and our exemption from registration under the
Investment Company Act.
In accordance with investment guidelines adopted by our Board of
Directors, our Manager evaluates specific investment opportunities
as well as our overall portfolio composition. Our Manager makes
day-to-day determinations as to the timing and allocations of our
investment portfolio. These decisions depend upon prevailing market
conditions and may change over time in response to opportunities
available in different interest rate, economic and credit
environments. As a result, we cannot predict the percentage of our
assets that will be invested in any one of our approved asset
classes at any given time. We may change our strategy and policies
without a vote of our stockholders.
Our financing and hedging strategy
We use leverage to increase potential returns to our stockholders
and to fund the acquisition of our investment portfolio. Our
financing strategy is designed to increase the size of our
investment portfolio by borrowing against the fair value of the
assets in our portfolio. When acquiring residential mortgage loans
and other assets, we finance our investments using repurchase
agreements or revolving facilities (collectively, "financing
arrangements"). Upon accumulating a targeted amount of residential
mortgage loans, we finance these assets utilizing long-term,
non-recourse, non-mark-to-market securitizations as market
conditions permit.
Repurchase agreements involve the sale and a simultaneous agreement
to repurchase the transferred assets or similar assets at a future
date and typically have a term 30 to 90 days. The amount borrowed
generally is equal to the fair value of the assets pledged less an
agreed-upon discount, referred to as a "haircut." The size of the
haircut reflects the perceived risk associated with the pledged
asset. Haircuts may change as our financing arrangements mature or
roll and are sensitive to governmental regulations. Interest rates
on borrowings are fixed based on prevailing rates corresponding to
the terms of the borrowings, and interest is paid at the
termination of the borrowing at which time we may enter into a new
borrowing arrangement at prevailing market rates with the same
counterparty or repay that counterparty and negotiate financing
with a different counterparty. We have also used revolving
facilities, which are typically longer term in nature than
repurchase agreements, to finance loans. Interest rates on these
facilities are based on prevailing rates corresponding to the terms
of the borrowings, and interest is paid on a monthly basis.
Repurchase agreements and revolving facilities are generally
mark-to-market with respect to margin calls and recourse to
us.
Our financing arrangements generally include customary
representations, warranties, and covenants, but may also contain
more restrictive supplemental terms and conditions. Although
specific to each financing arrangement, typical supplemental terms
include requirements of minimum equity and liquidity, leverage
ratios, and performance triggers. In addition, some of the
financing arrangements contain cross default features, whereby
default under an agreement with one lender simultaneously causes
default under agreements with other lenders. To the extent that we
fail to comply with the covenants contained in these financing
arrangements or are otherwise found to be in default under the
terms of such agreements, the counterparty has the right to
accelerate amounts due under the associated agreement. As of
December 31, 2021, we are in compliance with all of our financial
covenants.
Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT and our
Investment Company Act exemption, we may utilize derivative
instruments in an effort to hedge the interest rate risk associated
with the financing of our investment portfolio. Specifically, we
may seek to hedge our exposure to potential interest rate
mismatches between the interest we earn on our investments and our
borrowing costs caused by fluctuations in short-term interest
rates. We may utilize interest rate swaps, swaption agreements, and
other financial instruments such as short positions in
to-be-announced securities. In utilizing leverage and interest rate
derivatives, our objectives are to improve risk-adjusted returns
and, where possible, to lock in, on a long-term basis, a spread
between the yield on our assets and the costs of our financing and
hedging.
Risk management strategy
The primary components of our risk management strategy
are:
•Disciplined
adherence to risk-adjusted return.
Our Manager deploys capital when it believes that risk-adjusted
returns are attractive. In this analysis, our Manager considers the
initial net interest spread of the investment, the cost of hedging
and our ability to optimize returns over time through rebalancing
activities. Our Manager’s investment team has extensive experience
implementing this approach.
•Concurrent
evaluation of interest rate and credit risk.
Our Manager seeks to balance our portfolio with both credit
risk-intensive assets and interest rate risk-intensive assets. Both
of these primary risk types are evaluated against a common
risk-adjusted return framework.
•Active
hedging and rebalancing of portfolio.
Our Manager periodically evaluates our portfolio against
pre-established risk tolerances and will take corrective action
through asset sales, asset acquisitions, and dynamic hedging
activities to bring the portfolio back within these risk
tolerances. We believe this approach generates more attractive
long-term returns than an approach that either attempts to hedge
away a majority of the interest rate or credit risk in the
portfolio at the time of acquisition, on the one end of the risk
spectrum, or a highly speculative approach that does not attempt to
hedge any of the interest rate or credit risk in the portfolio, on
the other end of the risk spectrum.
•Strategic
approach to increased risk.
Our Manager’s investment strategy is to preserve our ability to
extend our risk-taking capacity during periods of changing market
fundamentals.
Investment policies
We comply with investment policies and procedures and investment
guidelines (our "Investment Policies") that are approved by our
Board of Directors and implemented by our Manager. Our Manager
reports on our investment portfolio at each regularly scheduled
meeting of our Board of Directors. Our independent directors do not
review or approve individual investment, leverage or hedging
decisions made by our Manager made in accordance with our
Investment Policies.
Our Investment Policies include the following guidelines, among
others:
•No
investment shall be made that would cause us to fail to qualify as
a REIT for federal income tax purposes;
•No
investment shall be made that would cause us to be regulated as an
investment company under the Investment Company Act;
and
•Our
investments will be in our target assets.
Our target assets include the types of assets described in this
Annual Report, under the heading "Our company" above, and our
subsequent periodic filings with the SEC. Our Investment Policies
may be changed by our Board of Directors without the approval of
our stockholders.
Allocation policy
Angelo Gordon has an investment allocation policy that governs the
allocations of investment opportunities among itself and its
clients, and this investment allocation policy also applies to our
Manager and us. Pursuant to this policy, Angelo Gordon and our
Manager allocate investment opportunities among its clients in a
manner which is fair and equitable over time and does not favor one
client or group of clients.
Investment opportunities in our target assets may be allocated
among us and Angelo Gordon funds and accounts that are eligible to
purchase such target assets. Angelo Gordon considers the following
factors, among others, when assigning investment opportunities
among us and its other clients:
•Capital
available for new investments;
•Existing
ownership and target position size;
•Investment
objective or strategies;
•Risk
or investment concentration parameters;
•Supply
or demand for an investment at a given price level;
•Cash
availability and liquidity requirements;
•Regulatory
restrictions;
•Minimum
investment size;
•Relative
size or "buying power;"
•Regulatory
and tax considerations, including the impact on our status under
the Investment Company Act and REIT status; and
•Such
other factors as may be relevant to a particular
transaction.
In addition, our Manager may be precluded from transacting in
particular investments in certain situations, including but not
limited to situations where Angelo Gordon or its affiliates may
have a prior contractual commitment with other accounts or clients
or as to which Angelo Gordon or any of its affiliates possesses
material, non-public information. Consistent with Angelo Gordon’s
fiduciary duty to all of its clients, it may give priority in the
allocation of investment opportunities to certain clients to the
extent necessary to meet regulatory requirements, client guidelines
and/or contractual obligations. Angelo Gordon or our Manager may
determine that an investment opportunity is appropriate for a
particular account, but not for another. In addition, Angelo Gordon
or its employees may invest in opportunities declined by our
Manager for us. The investment allocation policy may be amended by
Angelo Gordon at any time without our consent. As the investment
programs of the various entities and accounts managed by Angelo
Gordon change and develop over time, additional issues and
considerations may affect Angelo Gordon’s allocation policy and its
expectations with respect to the allocation of investment
opportunities. To the extent permitted by law, Angelo Gordon is
permitted to bunch or aggregate orders or to elect not to bunch or
aggregate orders for a particular client account with orders for
other accounts, notwithstanding that the effect of such bunching,
aggregation or lack thereof may operate to the disadvantage of some
clients.
Operating and regulatory structure
REIT qualification
We have elected to be treated as a REIT under Sections 856 through
859 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
Our qualification as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet on a
continuing basis, through actual investment and operating results,
various complex requirements under the Code relating to, among
other things, the sources of our gross income, the composition and
values of our assets, our distribution levels and the diversity of
ownership of our shares. We believe that we are organized in
conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as
a REIT under the Code, and that our manner of operation enables us
to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a
REIT.
We generally need to distribute at least 90% of our ordinary
taxable income each year (subject to certain adjustments) to our
stockholders in order to qualify as a REIT under the Code. Our
ability to make distributions to our stockholders depends, in part,
upon the performance of our investment portfolio.
As a REIT, we generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax
on our REIT taxable income that we distribute currently to our
stockholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year
and do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we will
be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates
and may be precluded from qualifying as a REIT for the subsequent
four taxable years following the year during which we lost our REIT
qualification. Accordingly, our failure to qualify as a REIT could
have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and our
ability to pay distributions, if any, to our stockholders. Even if
we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to some U.S.
federal, state and local taxes on our income or property. In
addition, any income earned by a domestic taxable REIT subsidiary,
or TRS, will be subject to corporate income taxation.
Investment Company Act exemption
We conduct our operations so that we are not considered an
investment company under Section 3(a)(1)(C) of the Investment
Company Act. Under Section 3(a)(1)(C) of the Investment Company
Act, a company is deemed to be an investment company if it is
engaged, or proposes to engage, in the business of investing,
reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or
proposes to acquire "investment securities" having a value
exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (exclusive of U.S.
government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis,
(the "40% test"). "Investment securities" do not include, among
other things, U.S. government securities and securities issued by
majority-owned subsidiaries that (i) are not investment companies
and (ii) are not relying on the exceptions from the definition of
investment company provided by Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the
Investment Company Act.
Conducting our operations so as not to be considered an investment
company under the Investment Company Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated under the Investment Company Act and SEC
staff interpretive guidance limits our ability to make certain
investments. For example, these restrictions limit our and our
subsidiaries’ ability to invest directly in Agency RMBS
mortgage-related securities that represent less than the entire
ownership in a pool of mortgage loans or debt and equity tranches
of Non-Agency RMBS (in each case to the extent such interest are
not retained interest in securitizations consisting of mortgage
loans that were owned by us and such securitizations were not
sponsored by us in order to obtain financing to acquire additional
mortgage loans), certain real estate companies and assets not
related to real estate.
Competition
Our net income depends, in large part, on our ability to acquire
assets at favorable spreads over our borrowing and hedging costs.
In acquiring our investments, we compete with other REITs,
specialty finance companies, mortgage bankers, insurance companies,
mutual funds, institutional investors, investment banking firms,
financial institutions, governmental bodies, hedge funds, and other
entities. In addition, numerous REITs and specialty finance
companies have similar asset acquisition objectives to ours. These
other REITs and specialty finance companies increase competition
for the available supply of our target assets suitable for
purchase. Many of our competitors are significantly larger than we
are, have access to greater capital and other resources and may
have other advantages over us. In addition, some of our competitors
may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments,
which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments
and establish more relationships than we can. Market conditions may
attract more competitors, which may increase the competition for
sources of financing. An increase in the competition for sources of
financing could adversely affect the availability and cost of
financing.
We have access to our Manager’s professionals and their industry
expertise, which we believe provides us with a competitive
advantage. These professionals help us assess investment risks and
determine appropriate pricing for certain potential investments.
These relationships enable us to compete more effectively for
attractive investment opportunities. Despite certain competitive
advantages, we may not be able to achieve our business goals or
expectations due to the competitive risks that we
face.
Human Capital Resources
We have no employees. All of our officers, and our dedicated or
partially dedicated personnel, are employees of Angelo Gordon or
its affiliates. We are highly dependent upon Angelo Gordon’s
employees and, in turn, Angelo Gordon’s ability to create a
respectful and inclusive firm culture to attract and retain the
necessary talent to provide services to our company and its
assets.
As of December 31, 2021, Angelo Gordon had over 600
employees.
Recruiting and Employee Retention
In order to attract, retain, and support talented employees, Angelo
Gordon strives to offer competitive compensation and benefits,
partner with diverse recruitment organizations, participate in
industry-oriented, Diversity and Inclusion focused initiatives (as
described further below), and provide employees with ample
opportunity to give back to the communities they work in and
around. Angelo Gordon also offers its full-time employees access to
robust health and wellness programs, including:
•Health
insurance, paid time off and leave programs
•401(k)
plan
•Physical
activity subsidy and access to wellness platforms
•Employee
assistance program
Diversity & Inclusion
Angelo Gordon promotes a diverse and inclusive culture where all
voices are welcomed and heard, embracing the individual
differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness,
innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent of its
employees. Angelo Gordon does not tolerate any conduct that
denigrates or shows hostility toward an individual because of a
characteristic protected by law, is personally offensive, impairs
morale or adversely impacts the work environment. Angelo Gordon
supports diverse recruitment, opportunity and retention through its
active partnerships with diverse recruitment organizations and
diversity and inclusion-focused initiatives,
including:
•Girls
Who Invest
•Seizing
Every Opportunity (SEO)
•Toigo
In addition, Angelo Gordon’s diversity focuses include practices
and policies on recruitment and selection, professional development
and training, promotions, and the ongoing development of a work
environment built on the premise of gender and diversity equity,
formally outlined in Angelo Gordon’s anti-discrimination and
anti-harassment policies. Angelo Gordon also fosters a more
inclusive culture through a variety of other diversity and
inclusion initiatives, including:
•corporate
training
•special
events
•community
outreach
•corporate
philanthropy
Further, our Board of Directors is committed to seeking highly
qualified individuals from minority groups (including gender and
ethnically/racially diverse groups) to include in the pool from
which board nominees are selected. As of the date of this report,
one-third of the members of our Board of Directors are
female.
Community Involvement and Philanthropy
Angelo Gordon has a long history of supporting its employees’
dedication of time, resources and passion in having a positive
impact on the communities in which they live and work. Angelo
Gordon’s philanthropy and community engagement is driven by the
diverse interests and perspectives of its employees. Recently,
Angelo Gordon launched a philanthropic platform, AG Gives, creating
a new path for employees to contribute to their communities through
volunteerism, charitable giving, and education.
Operational Impact/Corporate Governance
We are committed to good corporate governance practices that
strengthen alignment of interests with our
stockholders.
For example:
•2/3
of our Board members are independent and our Board establishes a
lead independent director.
•33%
of our Board members are female.
•We
are committed to Board refreshment (7 year average director
tenure).
•Shares
received as director compensation are subject to a lock-up for the
duration of such director's tenure.
•Established
common stock ownership minimums, with a policy prohibiting pledging
or hedging.
•We
do not have a classified board and we hold annual elections of
directors.
•Adopted
Corporate Governance Guidelines & Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics.
•Our
Board and each committee conduct self-assessments
annually.
•Our
Board committees are comprised solely of independent
directors.
•Regular
meetings of independent directors without management and with
independent auditors.
In addition, Angelo Gordon's commitment to strong corporate
governance includes embracing opportunities to reduce its
environmental impact.
Available information
Our principal executive offices are located at 245 Park Avenue,
26th Floor, New York, New York 10167. Our telephone number is
(212) 692-2000. Our website can be found at www.agmit.com. We
make available free of charge, through the SEC filings section of
our website, access to our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any
amendments to those reports, as are filed or furnished pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as our
proxy statements with respect to our annual meetings of
stockholders, as soon as reasonably practicable after we
electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Our Exchange Act
reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC are also available at
the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov
and can also be found on our website at www.agmit.com. The content
of any website referred to in this Form 10-K is not incorporated by
reference into this Form 10-K unless expressly noted.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial
condition or results of operations could be materially and
adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common
stock could decline, and stockholders may lose some or all of their
investment.
Readers should not consider any descriptions of these factors to be
a complete set of all potential risks that could affect
us.
Summary Risk Factors
Risks Related to our Company, Business, and Operations
•The
COVID-19 pandemic has had and may continue to have a material
adverse effect on our business.
•Our
ability to execute our new focused mission and grow our business
are dependent upon our Manager's ability to source, acquire and
finance a large volume of desirable non-agency loans and other
target assets on attractive terms.
•The
mortgage loans we acquire or that underlie our RMBS expose us to
significant credit risk that could negatively affect the value of
those investments.
•We
may engage in securitization transactions relating to residential
mortgage loans which exposes us to potentially material
risks.
•Our
Manager’s due diligence of potential investments may be
insufficient, which could lead to investment losses.
•Our
Manager’s investment models may be incorrect either due to
inaccurate models or incorrect third-party data, which could lead
to investment losses.
•We
operate in a highly competitive market.
•We
may experience periods of significant illiquidity for our assets,
which could adversely impact our business.
•Valuations
of our investments may at times be unavailable or
unreliable.
•Disruptive,
exogenous geopolitical or other macroeconomic events could lead to
declines in the fair value of our investments which could
materially and adversely affect our business.
•We
may be adversely affected by risks affecting borrowers or the asset
or property types in which our investments may be concentrated at
any given time, as well as from climate change or other unfavorable
changes in the related geographic regions.
•Cybersecurity
risks may cause a disruption to our operations, a compromise or
corruption of our confidential information, and/or damage to our
business relationships, all of which could negatively impact our
business.
•The
failure of servicers to effectively service the mortgage loans in
our portfolio and the MSRs in Arc Home's portfolio may materially
and adversely affect us, and market disruptions caused by COVID-19
may make it more difficult for the loan servicers to perform a
variety of services for us, which may adversely impact our business
and financial results.
•Increases
in interest rates could adversely affect the value of our
investments and cause our interest expense to increase, which could
negatively affect our profitability and our ability to make
distributions.
•Arc
Home is highly dependent upon programs administered by the GSEs,
and changes in the GSEs’ servicing or origination guidelines or
overall operations could have a material adverse effect on Arc
Home’s business.
•An
economic slowdown or a deterioration of the housing market could
increase both interest expense on servicing advances and operating
expenses and could cause a reduction in income from, and the value
of, Arc Home’s servicing portfolio.
•Our
business is subject to extensive regulation.
Risks Related to our Investments
•Our
investments in non-agency residential mortgage loans, including
Non-QM Loans in particular, subject us to legal, regulatory and
other risks.
•We
invest in GSE Non-Owner Occupied Loans, which exposes us to an
increased risk of loss.
•Changes
in prepayment rates may adversely affect the return on our
investments.
•Prepayment
rates are difficult to predict, and market conditions may disrupt
the historical correlation between interest rate changes and
prepayment trends.
•Our
investment in lower rated Non-Agency RMBS resulting from the
securitization of our assets or otherwise, exposes us to the first
loss on the mortgage assets held by the securitization vehicle.
Additionally, the principal and interest payments on Non-Agency
RMBS are not guaranteed by any entity, including any government
entity or GSE, and therefore are subject to increased risks,
including credit risk.
Risks Related to U.S. Government Programs
•The
federal conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and related
efforts, along with any changes in laws and regulations affecting
the relationship between these agencies and the U.S. government,
may adversely affect our business.
•We
are subject to the risk that agencies of and entities sponsored by
the U.S. government may not be able to fully satisfy their
guarantees of Agency RMBS or that these guarantee obligations may
be repudiated, which may adversely affect the value of our
investment portfolio and our ability to sell or finance these
securities.
•Mortgage
loan modification and refinancing programs may adversely affect the
value of, and our returns on, mortgage-backed securities and
residential mortgage loans.
Risks Related to Financing Activities
•Our
business strategy involves the use of leverage, and we may become
overleveraged or not achieve what we believe is optimal leverage,
which may materially adversely affect our liquidity, results of
operations or financial condition.
•The
securitization process expose us to risks, which could result in
losses to us.
•Our
financing arrangements contain restrictive operating
covenants.
•If
a counterparty to our repurchase transaction defaults on its
obligation to resell or return the underlying security back to us
at the end of the transaction term, we may lose money on such
financing arrangement.
•Our
rights under our repurchase agreements may be subject to the
effects of the bankruptcy laws in the event of the bankruptcy or
insolvency of us or our lenders under the financing arrangements,
which may allow our lenders to repudiate our financing
arrangements.
•Pursuant
to the terms of borrowings under our financing arrangements, we are
subject to margin calls that could result in defaults or force us
to sell assets under adverse market conditions or through
foreclosure.
•Changes
in the method pursuant to which LIBOR is determined, or a
discontinuation of LIBOR, may adversely affect the value of the
financial obligations to be held or issued by us that are linked to
LIBOR.
Risks Related to our Management and our Relationships with our
Manager and its Affiliates
•We
are dependent upon our Manager, its affiliates and their key
personnel and may not find a suitable replacement if the management
agreement with our Manager is terminated or such key personnel are
no longer available to us, which would materially and adversely
affect us.
•The
management agreement was not negotiated on an arm’s length basis
and the terms, including the fees payable to our Manager, may not
be as favorable to us as if the agreement was negotiated with
unaffiliated third-parties.
•Our
governance and operational structure could result in conflicts of
interest.
•We
may enter into transactions to purchase or sell investments with
entities or accounts managed by our Manager or its
affiliates.
•Our
Board of Directors has approved very broad investment policies for
our Manager, may change such policies without stockholder consent,
and does not review or approve each investment or financing
decision made by our Manager.
•Our
Manager's fee structure may not create proper incentives or may
induce our Manager and its affiliates to make riskier or more
speculative investments, which increase the risk of our
portfolio.
•Our
Manager will not be liable to us for any acts or omissions
performed in accordance with the Management Agreement, including
with respect to the performance of our investments.
•Termination
of our management agreement would be costly and, in certain cases,
not permitted.
•Our
Manager may terminate our management agreement, which could
materially adversely affect our business.
•We
have engaged Red Creek Asset Management LLC, an affiliate of our
Manager (the "Asset Manager"), to manage certain of our residential
mortgage loans. The terms of the asset management agreement with
the Asset Manager may not be as favorable to us as if the agreement
was negotiated with unaffiliated third-parties.
Risks Related to Taxation
•Our
failure to qualify as a REIT would result in higher taxes and
reduced cash available for distribution to our
stockholders.
•Complying
with the REIT requirements can be difficult and may cause us to be
forced to liquidate assets or to forego otherwise attractive
opportunities.
•The
REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability
to execute our business strategies.
•Even
if we qualify as a REIT, we may face tax liabilities that reduce
our cash flow.
•The
failure of assets subject to repurchase agreements to be treated as
owned by us for U.S. federal income tax purposes could adversely
affect our ability to qualify as a REIT.
•Our
ownership of and relationship with our TRSs will be limited, and a
failure to comply with the limits would jeopardize our REIT status
and may result in the application of a 100% excise
tax.
•Uncertainty
exists with respect to the treatment of TBAs for purposes of the
REIT asset and income tests.
•New
legislation or administrative or judicial action, in each instance
potentially with retroactive effect, could make it more difficult
or impossible for us to qualify as a REIT.
•Complying
with the REIT requirements may limit our ability to hedge
effectively.
•Certain
financing activities may subject us to U.S. federal income tax and
could have negative tax consequences for our
stockholders.
•The
tax on prohibited transactions will limit our ability to engage in
transactions, including certain methods of securitizing mortgage
loans, that would be treated as sales for U.S. federal income tax
purposes.
•The
share ownership limits applicable to us that are imposed by the
Code for REITs and our charter may restrict our business
combination opportunities.
•There
may be tax consequences to any modifications to our borrowings, our
hedging transactions and other contracts to replace references to
LIBOR.
Risks Related to our Organization and Strategy
•Loss
of our exemption from regulation under the Investment Company Act
would negatively affect the value of shares of our common stock and
our ability to distribute cash to our stockholders.
•If
we were required to register with the CFTC as a Commodity Pool
Operator, it could materially adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
•Certain
provisions of Maryland law could inhibit a change in our
control.
•Our
rights and the rights of our stockholders to take action against
our directors and officers are limited, which could limit your
recourse in the event of actions taken not in your best
interest.
•Our
bylaws designate the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland as
the sole and exclusive forum for certain actions and proceedings
that may be initiated by our stockholders.
Other Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
•Investing
in our common stock may involve a high degree of risk. Investors in
our common stock may experience losses, volatility, and poor
liquidity, and we may reduce our dividends in a variety of
circumstances.
•Future
sales of our common stock by us or by our officers and directors
may have adverse consequences for investors.
•We
have not established a minimum distribution payment level and
cannot assure you of our ability to pay distributions in the
future.
•The
market price of our common stock has been and may continue to be
volatile and holders of our common stock could lose all or a
significant portion of their investment due to drops in the market
prices of our common stock.
Risks Related to our Company, Business, and Operations
The COVID-19 pandemic has had and may continue to have a material
adverse effect on our business.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant disruptions to
the U.S. and global economies and has contributed to volatility and
negative pressure in financial markets. The outbreak has led
governments and other authorities around the world to impose
measures intended to control its spread. The impact of the
pandemic, including the emergence of new variants of the virus, and
measures to prevent its spread have negatively impacted us and
could further negatively impact our business.
In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted, and may continue
to impact, our financing strategy and liquidity. We finance many of
the mortgage loans and real estate related securities we acquire
with borrowings under repurchase facilities and other financing
arrangements and, as market conditions permit, refinance these
assets through securitization transactions. During the first and
second quarters of 2020 with the onset of the pandemic, we
experienced significant declines in the value of our assets
financed through repurchase facilities and other financing
arrangements as well as adverse developments with respect to the
cost and terms of such financing, and received margin calls,
default notices and deficiency letters from certain of our
financing counterparties well in excess of historical norms. We
were able to resolve these deficiencies and related matters with
lenders during 2020, but at significant expense and the size of our
investment portfolio and market capitalization
decreased
substantially as a result of satisfying margin calls and defaults.
If as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or another pandemic in the
future, the financing markets were to experience another period of
extreme volatility and illiquidity, we may be forced to sell our
mortgage loans, real estate related securities and other assets
that secure our repurchase and other financing arrangements on less
favorable terms to us than might otherwise be available in a
regularly functioning market and such actions could result in
deficiency judgments and other claims against us. These conditions
would have a materially negative effect on our results of
operations, and, in turn, cash available for distribution to our
stockholders and on the value of our assets.
The COVID-19 pandemic also adversely impacted U.S. unemployment
rates, and may do so again in the future. If the COVID-19 pandemic,
or any future pandemic, leads to a prolonged economic downturn with
sustained high unemployment rates, the financial condition of the
mortgage loans and mortgage loan borrowers underlying the
residential securities and loans that we own may deteriorate and,
as a result, borrowers on our loans may experience difficulties
meeting their obligations, seek forbearance arrangements, become
delinquent or default on their loans, which would have an adverse
impact on our income, the value of our assets and our financing
arrangements. Moreover, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted
a number of states to implement temporary moratoriums on the
ability of lenders to initiate foreclosures, which, when effective,
could further limit our ability to foreclose and recover against
our collateral, or pursue recourse claims (should they exist)
against a borrower in the event of a default or failure to meet its
financial obligations to us. Furthermore, any such economic
slowdown may materially decrease or limit the volume of mortgages
we acquire or originate, which could have an adverse impact on our
ability to grow.
In response to these conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic,
the U.S. government has implemented unprecedented financial support
and relief measures to support the economy and the continued
functioning of the financial markets. However, the success of such
measures cannot be predicted, and we can offer no assurance that
these programs, or any new programs that may be implemented in the
future, will be effective, sufficient or otherwise have a positive
impact on our business. Moreover, certain actions taken by U.S. or
other governmental authorities, including the Federal Reserve, that
are intended to ameliorate the macroeconomic effects of COVID-19
may harm our business, including foreclosure
moratoriums.
The rapid development and fluidity of the circumstances resulting
from the COVID-19 pandemic, or any future pandemic, makes it
extremely difficult to predict its ultimate impact. Moreover, the
risk factors discussed below in this section "Risk Factors" are
likely to also be impacted directly or indirectly by the ongoing
impact of the pandemic. Nevertheless, the pandemic and the current
financial, economic and capital markets environment, and future
developments in these and other areas present material uncertainty
and risk with respect to our performance, financial condition,
results of operations and cash flows.
Our ability to execute our new focused mission and grow our
business are dependent upon our Manager's ability to source,
acquire and finance a large volume of desirable non-agency loans
and other target assets on attractive terms.
During 2021, we adopted a new mission to focus our investment
strategy primarily on acquiring and securitizing newly-originated
residential non-agency mortgage loans. Our ability to successfully
execute this new strategy, grow our business, and achieve
attractive risk-adjusted returns for our stockholders are dependent
upon our Manager's ability to source, acquire and finance on our
behalf a large volume of desirable non-agency loans and other
target assets on attractive terms, and our Manager may be unable to
do so for many reasons. We derive a portion of our non-agency loans
through Arc Home. Arc Home is heavily dependent on its ability to
fund its non-agency loans through warehouse facilities, which are
generally short-term in nature. If Arc Home is unable to renew or
obtain new facilities, it would adversely impact its ability to
grow its non-agency loan production and its overall business. In
addition, Arc Home has no obligation to sell non-agency loans and
other target assets to us and our Manager may be unable to locate
other originators that are able or willing to originate non-agency
loans and other target assets that meet our standards on favorable
terms or at all. General economic factors, such as recession,
declining home values, unemployment and high interest rates, may
limit the supply of available non-agency loans and other target
assets. Moreover, competition for non-agency loans and other target
assets or changes in GSE regulations may drive down supply or drive
up prices, making it uneconomical to purchase such loans or other
target assets. For instance, in acquiring non-agency loans and
other target assets from unaffiliated parties, we will compete with
a broad spectrum of institutional investors, many of which have
greater financial resources than us. Increased competition for, or
a reduction in the available supply of, qualifying investments
could result in higher prices for (and thus lower yields on) such
investments, which could narrow the yield spread over borrowing
costs. Competition may also reduce the number of investment
opportunities available to us and may adversely affect the terms
upon which investments can be made. We may incur due diligence or
other costs on investments which may not be successful or may not
be completed at all. As a result, we may incur additional costs to
acquire a sufficient volume of non-agency loans and other target
assets or be unable to acquire such loans and other target assets
at reasonable prices or at all. There can be no assurance that
attractive investments will be available for us or that available
investments will meet our strategies. If we cannot source, acquire
and finance an adequate volume of desirable non-agency loans and
other target assets on attractive terms or at all, we may be
materially and adversely affected.
Further, the success of our investment strategy is highly dependent
upon our ability to finance our target assets through non-recourse,
non-mark-to-market securitization transactions. Market conditions
for securitizations have, and may continue to be, challenging.
Prior to executing a securitization transaction, we typically
acquire assets with warehouse financing subject to margin calls
which typically are associated with a higher level of risk than
other non-recourse, non-mark-to-market financing. In executing
securitization transactions, we rely on third-party service
providers, including custodians, rating agencies, servicers, and
due diligence firms, to support the completion of such transactions
in a timely and efficient manner. These third-party service
providers may not have sufficient resources to dedicate the
appropriate time and attention needed for securitization
transactions conducted by us and our competitors. Resources,
including sufficient personnel resources, of third-party service
providers may be negatively impacted by a variety of factors,
including the COVID-19 pandemic. To the extent that third-party
service providers on which we rely are not able to dedicate
sufficient resources to provide the necessary services to us, we
may be delayed in completing, or unable to complete, securitization
transactions on the pace anticipated in our business plan and our
operating results may be materially and adversely
impacted.
The mortgage loans we acquire or that underlie our RMBS expose us
to significant credit risk that could negatively affect the value
of those investments.
As of December 31, 2021, our residential loan portfolio and Agency
RMBS were our sole asset classes, and we expect to continue to seek
investment opportunities primarily focused on residential whole
loans. We are exposed to significant credit risk primarily through
direct investments in residential real estate mortgage loans and
the ownership of RMBS. Investors in residential mortgage assets
assume the risk that the related borrowers may default on their
obligations to make full and timely payments of principal and
interest, as well as the risk discussed below.
No U.S. Government Guarantee or Structural Credit
Enhancement.
We acquire residential mortgage loans primarily within the
non-agency segment of the housing market, and also own
re/non-performing loans (the borrower is or at one time was
severely delinquent), all of which are subject to significant risk
of loss. Unlike Agency RMBS, residential mortgage loans generally
are not guaranteed by the U.S. government or any
government-sponsored enterprise such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Additionally, by directly acquiring residential mortgage loans, we
do not receive the structural credit enhancements that benefit
senior tranches of RMBS. A residential mortgage loan is directly
exposed to losses resulting from a default by the borrower.
Therefore, the value of the underlying property, the
creditworthiness and financial position of the borrower, and the
priority and enforceability of the lien will significantly impact
the value of such mortgage loan. In the event of a foreclosure, we
may assume direct ownership of the underlying real estate. The
liquidation proceeds upon sale of such real estate may not be
sufficient to recover our cost basis in the loan, and any cost or
delay involved in the foreclosure or liquidation process may
increase losses. The value of residential mortgage loans is also
subject to property damage caused by hazards, such as earthquakes
or environmental hazards, not covered by standard property
insurance policies and to a reduction in a borrower's mortgage debt
by a bankruptcy court. In addition, claims may be assessed against
us because of our position as a mortgage holder or property owner,
including assignee liability, environmental hazards, tax and other
liabilities. In some cases, these claims may lead to losses
exceeding the purchase price of the related mortgage or
property.
Enhanced Non-QM Loan Risks.
A significant portion of our residential loan portfolio is Non-QM
Loans. Non-QM Loans are generally loans to finance (or refinance)
one- to four-family residential properties that are not considered
to meet the definition of a "Qualified Mortgage" in accordance with
guidelines adopted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or
CFPB, and may be considered to be lower credit quality. The
ownership of Non-QM Loans will also subject us to legal, regulatory
and other risks, including those arising under federal consumer
protection laws and regulations designed to regulate residential
mortgage loan underwriting and originators’ lending processes,
standards, and disclosures to borrowers. Failure of residential
mortgage loan originators or servicers to comply with the
ability-to-repay laws and regulations could subject us, as an
assignee or purchaser of these loans (or as an investor in
securities backed by these loans), to monetary penalties assessed
by the CFPB and by mortgagors, including by recoupment or setoff of
finance charges and fees collected, and could result in rescission
of the affected residential mortgage loans. See the Risk Factor
captioned “— Risks Related to our Investments — Our investments in
non-agency residential mortgage loans, including Non-QM Loans in
particular, subject us to legal, regulatory and other risks” in
this Annual Report for more details.
Greater General Credit Risks.
In addition, credit losses on residential mortgage loans can occur
for many reasons (many of which are beyond our control), including:
fraud; poor underwriting; poor servicing practices; weak economic
conditions; increases in payments required to be made by borrowers;
declines in the value of homes; earthquakes, the effects of climate
change (including flooding, drought, wildfire and severe weather),
and other natural disaster events; uninsured property loss;
borrower over-leveraging; costs of remediation of environmental
conditions, such as indoor mold; changes in zoning or building
codes and the related costs of compliance; acts of war or
terrorism; pandemics; changes in legal protections for borrowers
and other changes in law or regulation; and personal events
affecting borrowers, such as reduction in income and job
loss.
All of the risks discussed above could negatively impact the value
of our investments and have a material adverse effect on our
business. These risks may be more pronounced during times of market
volatility and negative economic conditions, such as those being
experienced in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.
We may engage in securitization transactions relating to
residential mortgage loans which exposes us to potentially material
risks.
A significant part of our business and growth strategy is to engage
in securitization transactions to finance newly-acquired
residential mortgage loans.
Engaging in securitization transactions and other similar
transactions generally requires us to accumulate loans or other
assets prior to securitization. If demand for investing in
securitization transactions weakens, we may be unable to complete
the securitization of loans accumulated for that purpose, and we
may finance such assets on repurchase facilities or other similar
financing arrangements for a prolonged period of time, which would
reduce our target returns and continue to subject us to the risk
associated with mark-to-market recourse financing for such
investments.
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and related laws and
regulations relating to credit risk retention for securitizations
(the "Risk Retention Rules"), when we sponsor a residential
mortgage loan securitization, we are required to retain at least 5%
of the fair value of the mortgage-backed securities issued in the
securitization. We can retain either an “eligible vertical
interest” (which consists of at least 5% of each class of
securities issued in the securitization), an “eligible horizontal
residual interest” (which is the most subordinate class of
securities with a fair market value of at least 5% of the aggregate
credit risk) or a combination of both totaling 5% (the "Required
Credit Risk"). We are required to hold the Required Credit Risk
until the later of (i) the fifth anniversary of the securitization
closing date and (ii) the date on which the aggregate unpaid
principal balance of the mortgage loans in such securitization has
been reduced to 25% of the aggregate unpaid principal balance of
the mortgage loans as of the securitization closing date, but no
longer than the seventh anniversary of the closing date (such date,
the "Sunset Date"). In addition, before the Sunset Date, we may not
engage in any hedging transactions if payments on the hedge
instrument are materially related to the Required Credit Risk and
the hedge position would limit our financial exposure to the
Required Credit Risk. Also, we may not pledge our interest in any
Required Credit Risk as collateral for any financing unless such
financing is full recourse to us. If we pledge our interest in
Required Credit Risk as collateral on financing that is full
recourse to us and the lender takes possession of the underlying
collateral, we may not be in compliance with the Risk Retention
Rules and it is uncertain as to what the consequences may be. Our
Required Credit Risk could subject us to the first losses on our
securitizations and is illiquid, which may make it more difficult
to meet our liquidity needs, which may materially and adversely
affect our business and financing condition. Thus, the Risk
Retention Rules materially limit our ability to sell and hedge a
portion of our RMBS that we acquire through our securitizations and
subjects us to the credit risk related to the retained RMBS that we
otherwise may have sold.
Additional risks include:
Risks relating to repurchase agreements.
Our inability to securitize these loans would require us to secure
financing in the form of repurchase agreements. Repurchase
agreements may be shorter term in nature as compared to the
financing term achieved by way of securitization and will subject
us to the risk of margin calls and the risk that we may not be able
to refinance these repurchase agreements when they mature. These
risks may have an adverse impact on our business and our liquidity.
See the Risk Factor captioned “— Risks Related to Financing
Activities — Pursuant to the terms of borrowings under our
financing arrangements, we are subject to margin calls that could
result in defaults or force us to sell assets under adverse market
conditions or through foreclosure.” in this Annual Report for more
details.
Risks relating to underwriting and due diligence.
Prior to acquiring loans or other assets for securitizations, we
may undertake underwriting and due diligence efforts with respect
to various aspects of the loan or asset. When underwriting or
conducting due diligence, we rely on resources and data available
to us, which may be limited, and we rely on investigations by
third-parties. We may also only conduct due diligence on a sample
of a pool of loans or assets we are acquiring and assume that the
sample is representative of the entire pool. Our underwriting and
due diligence efforts may not reveal matters that could lead to
losses.
Risks relating to marketing and disclosure
documentation.
When engaging in securitization transactions, we may prepare
marketing and disclosure documentation. If our marketing and
disclosure documentation are alleged or found to contain
inaccuracies or omissions, we may be liable under federal and state
securities laws (or under other laws) for damages to third-party
investors or otherwise incur litigation costs. Additionally, we may
retain various third-party service providers when we engage in
securitization transactions, including underwriters or initial
purchasers, trustees, administrative and paying agents, and
custodians, among others. We may contractually agree to indemnify
these service providers against various third-party claims and
associated losses they may suffer in connection with the provision
of services to us and/or the securitization trust.
Our Manager’s due diligence of potential investments may be
insufficient, which could lead to investment losses.
Our Manager values our target assets based on loss-adjusted yields,
taking into account estimated future defaults on the mortgage loans
and other investments, and the estimated impact of those defaults
on expected future cash flows. These default estimates are based in
part on our Manager’s assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of
the originators, borrowers, and the underlying property values, as
well as other factors. Our Manager’s default estimates may not
prove accurate, which could lead to investment losses (particularly
as related to investments with significant credit risk, as
discussed above). This risk may be more pronounced during times of
market volatility and negative economic conditions, such as those
experienced in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our Manager’s investment models may be incorrect either due to
inaccurate models or incorrect third-party data, which could lead
to investment losses.
Given the complexity of certain of our investments and strategies,
our Manager must rely heavily on analytical models (both
proprietary models developed by our Manager and those supplied by
third-parties) as well as models and data supplied by
third-parties. When this information or analysis proves to be
incorrect, any decisions made in reliance thereon expose us to
potential risks. For example, by relying on this potentially faulty
information or analysis, our Manager may be induced to buy certain
investments at prices that are too high, to sell certain other
investments at prices that are too low or to miss favorable
opportunities altogether. Similarly, any hedging may prove to be
unsuccessful.
Some of the analytical models used by our Manager, such as mortgage
prepayment models, mortgage default models, and models providing
risk sensitivities (e.g., duration) rely on predictive assumptions
which could prove to be incorrect. In addition, the predictive
models used by our Manager may differ substantially from those
models used by other market participants, with the result that
valuations based on these predictive models may be substantially
higher or lower for certain investments than actual market prices.
Furthermore, since predictive models are usually constructed based
on historical data supplied by third-parties, the success of
relying on such models may depend heavily on the accuracy and
reliability of the supplied historical data and the ability of
these historical models accurately to reflect future
periods.
Many of the models we use include LIBOR as an input. The expected
transition away from LIBOR may require changes to models and may
change the underlying economic relationships being modeled. We may
incorrectly value LIBOR-based instruments because our models do not
currently properly account for LIBOR cessation. See the Risk Factor
captioned “ — Risks Related to Financing Activities — The
elimination of LIBOR may affect our financial results.” in this
Annual Report for more details.
All valuation models rely on correct market data inputs. If
incorrect market data is entered into even a well-founded valuation
model, the resulting valuations will be incorrect. Third-party data
may be more prone to inaccuracies in light of the unprecedented
conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic because the catalyst
for these conditions (i.e., a global pandemic) is an event
unparalleled in modern history and therefore is unpredictable.
However, even if the input of market data is correct, "model
prices" often differ substantially from prices that could be
achieved in a market transaction, especially for securities that
are illiquid and have complex characteristics or embedded
structural leverage, such as derivative securities.
These risks may lead to investment losses (particularly as related
to investments with significant credit risk, as discussed
above).
We operate in a highly competitive market.
Our profitability depends, in large part, on our ability to acquire
our target assets at favorable prices. Although we expect to
acquire a portion of our loans from our mortgage originator, Arc
Home, in which we own a 43% interest, Arc Home has no obligation to
sell non-agency residential mortgage loans and other target assets
to us. In addition, non-agency residential mortgage loans
originated by Arc Home are generally allocated among us and other
affiliated funds with substantially similar investment strategies
to us. To the extent that Arc Home's volume production decreases or
our allocation of such loans by our Manager decreases, we may
experience difficulties in obtaining the volume of loans needed to
grow our business and execute our investment strategy. We also
acquire non-agency residential mortgage loans and other target
assets from unaffiliated third parties, including through the
secondary market when market conditions and asset prices are
conducive to making attractive purchases. In acquiring non-agency
residential mortgage loans and other target assets from
unaffiliated third parties, we compete with other mortgage REITs,
specialty finance companies, savings and loan associations, banks,
mortgage bankers, insurance companies, mutual funds, institutional
investors, investment banking firms, financial institutions,
governmental bodies and other entities. Additionally, we may also
compete with the U.S. Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury to the
extent
they purchase assets meeting our objectives pursuant to various
purchase programs. Many of our competitors are significantly larger
than us, have greater access to capital and other resources and may
have other advantages over us. Our competitors may include other
entities managed by affiliates of our Manager. See "— Risks Related
to our Management and our Relationships with our Manager and its
Affiliates — Our governance and operational structure could result
in conflicts of interest." for further information.
In addition to existing companies, other companies may be organized
in the future for similar purposes, including companies focused on
purchasing mortgage assets. A proliferation of such companies may
increase the competition for equity capital and thereby adversely
affect the market price of our common stock. In addition, some of
our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk
assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of
assets and establish more relationships than us.
We also may have different operating constraints from those of our
competitors including, among others, (1) tax-driven constraints
such as those arising from our qualifying and maintaining our
qualification as a REIT, (2) restraints imposed on us as a result
of maintaining our exclusion from the definition of an "investment
company" or other exemptions under the Investment Company Act and
(3) restraints and additional costs arising from our status as a
public company. Furthermore, competition for our target assets may
lead to the price of such assets increasing, which may further
limit our ability to generate desired returns. We cannot assure you
that the competitive pressures we face will not have a material
adverse effect on us.
We may experience periods of significant illiquidity for our
assets, which could adversely impact our
business.
Future market developments or disruptions, including adverse
developments in financial and capital markets, could reduce the
liquidity in the markets of the assets that we own. For example,
upon the onset of the volatility created by the COVID-19 pandemic,
we were unable to liquidate efficiently certain assets to raise
capital, and residential whole loans present more acute liquidity
risks as they are generally more cumbersome to sell (unlike RMBS,
which normally trade in an active market). Such decreased liquidity
can cause us to sell our assets at a price lower than we would
normally sell them or cause us to hold our assets longer than we
would normally hold them. In addition, price volatility normally
associated with periods of illiquidity could cause our lenders to
require us to pledge additional assets as collateral. If we are
unable to obtain sufficient short-term financing or our assets are
insufficient to meet the collateral requirements, then we may be
compelled to liquidate particular assets at an inopportune time and
at distressed sale prices. These conditions could adversely impact
our business.
Valuations of our investments may at times be unavailable or
unreliable.
The values of some of our investments may not be readily
determinable. We measure the fair value of these investments in
accordance with guidance set forth in Financial Accounting
Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC
820-10, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures." Ultimate
realization of the value of an asset depends to a great extent on
economic and other conditions that are beyond our control. Further,
fair value is only an estimate based on our Manager's good faith
judgment of the price at which an investment can be sold between
willing buyers and sellers. If we were to liquidate a particular
asset, the realized value may be more than or less than the fair
value that we ascribe to that asset.
Our Manager’s determination of the fair value of our investments
often depends on inputs provided by third-party dealers and pricing
services. Valuations of certain of our investments are often
difficult to obtain or are unreliable. In general, dealers and
pricing services heavily disclaim their valuations. Depending on
the complexity and illiquidity of a security, valuations of the
same security can vary substantially from one dealer or pricing
service to another. Wide disparities in asset valuations may be
more pronounced during periods when market participants are engaged
in distressed sales, as was experienced in the early stage of the
market volatility related to COVID-19. Therefore, our results of
operations for a given period could be adversely affected if our
determinations regarding the fair value of these investments are
materially higher than the values that we ultimately realize upon
their disposal.
Disruptive, exogenous geopolitical or other macroeconomic events
could lead to declines in the fair value of our investments which
could materially and adversely affect our business.
During 2020, we experienced a significant amount of realized and
unrealized losses on our assets as a result of the volatile
conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly disruptive
exogenous events may occur in the future. The subsequent
disposition or sale of such impacted assets could further affect
our future losses or gains, as they are based on the difference
between the sale price received and adjusted amortized cost of such
assets at the time of sale. These risks may be more pronounced for
investments with significant credit risk, as discussed above. If we
experience a decline in the fair value of our investments, it could
materially and adversely affect our business, results of
operations, financial condition and ability to make distributions
to our stockholders.
We may be adversely affected by risks affecting borrowers or the
asset or property types in which our investments may be
concentrated at any given time, as well as from climate change or
other unfavorable changes in the related geographic
regions.
Our assets are not subject to any geographic, diversification or
concentration limitations except that we concentrate in residential
mortgage-related investments. Accordingly, our investment portfolio
may be concentrated by geography, asset type (as is the case
currently, as residential whole loans are by far our most
concentrated asset type), property type and/or borrower, increasing
the risk of loss to us if the particular concentration in our
portfolio is subject to greater risks or suffers adverse
developments. In addition, adverse economic conditions in the areas
where the properties securing or otherwise underlying our
investments are located (including business layoffs or downsizing,
industry slowdowns, changing demographics and other factors) and
local real estate conditions (such as oversupply or reduced demand)
may have an adverse effect on the value of our investments.
Moreover, a geographic concentration of our investments in an area
which has been or may become adversely impacted by climate change
(including flooding, drought, wildfire, tornados, and other severe
weather) may negatively impact the performance of those
investments. For example, as of December 31, 2021, 35% of the total
fair value of our residential mortgage loan portfolio was secured
by properties located in California, which are particularly
susceptible to natural disasters such as fires, earthquakes and
mudslides. In addition, as of December 31, 2021, 11% of the total
fair value of our residential mortgage loan portfolio, was secured
by properties located in Florida, which are particularly
susceptible to natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods. A
material decline in the demand for and value of real estate in
these areas may materially and adversely affect us. Lack of
diversification can further increase the correlation of
non-performance and foreclosure risks among our
investments.
Cybersecurity risks may cause a disruption to our operations, a
compromise or corruption of our confidential information, and/or
damage to our business relationships, all of which could negatively
impact our business.
Our business is highly dependent on the communications and
information systems of our Manager, its affiliates and third-party
service providers. A cyber incident is considered to be any adverse
event that threatens the confidentiality, integrity or availability
of our information resources. These incidents could involve gaining
unauthorized access to our information systems for purposes of
misappropriating assets, stealing proprietary and confidential
information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption.
System breaches in particular are evolving. Computer malware,
viruses, computer hacking, phishing attacks, ransomware, and other
electronic security breaches have become more frequent and more
sophisticated. The result of these incidents may include disrupted
operations, delays or other problems in our securities trading
activities, misstated or unreliable financial data, liability for
stolen assets or information, increased cybersecurity protection
and insurance costs, litigation and damage to our investor
relationships and reputation, any or all of which could have a
material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows
and negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our
ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
As our reliance on technology has increased, so have the risks
posed to our information systems, including those provided by the
Manager and third-party service providers (including, without
limitation, affiliates and third parties with which we and our
Manager do business, such as Arc Home and other mortgage
originators, due diligence firms, pricing vendors and servicers, or
that facilitate our business activities, including clearing agents
or other financial intermediaries we use to facilitate our
securitization transactions). If such parties' respective systems
experience failure, interruption, cyber-attacks, or security
breaches, we may in turn face risks of operational failure,
termination or capacity constraints. The acquisition of mortgage
loans entails us, the Manager and third-party service providers
coming into possession of borrower non-public personal information,
and we may be liable for losses suffered by individuals whose
personal information is stolen as a result of a breach of the
security of the systems on which we, our Manager or third-party
service providers of ours store this information, or as a result of
other mismanagement of such information, and any such liability
could be material. Even if we are not liable for such losses, any
breach of these systems could expose us to material costs in
notifying affected individuals or other parties and providing
credit monitoring services, as well as to regulatory fines or
penalties. Our Manager, its affiliates and third-party service
providers have experienced and are and will continue to be from
time to time the target of attempted cyber attacks, breaches and
other security threats. We rely on our Manager to continuously
monitor and develop our information technology networks and
infrastructure to prevent, detect, address and mitigate the risk of
unauthorized access, misuse, computer viruses and other events that
could have a security impact. There is no guarantee that these
efforts, or similar efforts by affiliates of our Manager and
third-party service providers, will be successful. Even with all
reasonable security efforts, not every breach can be prevented or
even detected. Further, in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19
pandemic, the majority of our Manager's personnel worked remotely
at least a few days a week and may in the future return to working
remotely, which may increase the risk of cyber-security incidents
and cyber-attacks.
The failure of servicers to effectively service the mortgage loans
in our portfolio and the MSRs in Arc Home's portfolio may
materially and adversely affect us, and market disruptions caused
by COVID-19 may make it more difficult for the loan servicers to
perform a variety of services for us, which may adversely impact
our business and financial results.
In connection with our business of acquiring and holding
residential mortgage loans and investing in RMBS, we rely on
third-party service providers, principally loan servicers, to
perform a variety of services, comply with applicable laws and
regulations, and carry out contractual covenants and terms. For
example, we rely on the mortgage servicers who service the mortgage
loans we purchase as well as the loans underlying our RMBS to,
among other things, collect principal and interest payments on such
loans and perform loss mitigation services, such as forbearance,
workouts, modifications, foreclosures, short sales and sales of
foreclosed property.
Servicer quality.
Servicer quality is of prime importance in the performance of
residential mortgage loans, RMBS and MSRs. Both default frequency
and default severity of loans may depend upon the quality of the
servicer. Servicers may not be vigilant in encouraging borrowers to
make their monthly payments, may take longer to liquidate
non-performing assets, or less competent in the foreclosure process
and disposing REO properties. The foreclosure process can be
lengthy and expensive, and the delays and costs involved in
completing a foreclosure, and then subsequently liquidating the REO
property through sale, may materially increase any related loss. In
the case of pools of securitized loans, servicers may be required
to advance interest on delinquent loans to the extent the servicer
deems those advances recoverable. In the event the servicer does
not advance interest on delinquent loans, interest may not be able
to be paid even on more senior securities. Servicers may also
advance more interest than is in fact recoverable once a defaulted
loan is disposed, and the loss to the trust may be greater than the
outstanding principal balance of that loan. Additionally, servicers
can perform loan modifications, which could potentially impact the
value of our securities. The laws and regulations governing
mortgage servicing are continually evolving and regulators have
identified mortgage loan servicing as a current enforcement
priority. The failure of servicers to comply with these laws and
regulations or to effectively service the mortgage loans underlying
the RMBS in our portfolio, any mortgage loans we own or any MSRs
Arc Home owns could negatively impact the value of our investments
and our performance.
Servicer default.
The servicer has a fiduciary obligation to act in the best interest
of the securitization trust, but significant latitude exists with
respect to its servicing activities. The servicer also has a
contractual obligation to obey all laws and regulations (including
federal, state, and local laws and regulations) and to act in
accordance with applicable servicing standards; however, as we do
not control these servicers, we cannot be sure that they are acting
in accordance with their contractual and legal obligations or
applicable law. The servicer's failure to comply with these
obligations could expose us to regulatory scrutiny and litigation
risk. If a third-party servicer fails to perform its duties under
the securitization documents or its contractual duties to us, this
may result in a material increase in delinquencies or losses on the
RMBS or mortgage loans we own or the MSRs Arc Home owns or in a
fine or adverse finding from a regulatory authority if the
ownership of loans is tied to the servicing of those loans. Any
such servicing failures and resulting delinquencies or losses may
impact the value of the RMBS, mortgage loans or MSRs, and we may
incur losses on our investment. If a third-party servicer fails to
perform its contractual duties to us, this may result in fines or
adverse action from a regulatory authority if the ownership of
loans is tied to the servicing of those loans.
Transfer of Servicing.
Servicing transfers may occur for various reasons, including
because servicers often go out of business. This transfer takes
time, and loans may become delinquent because of confusion or lack
of attention, which could cause us to incur losses that may
materially and adversely affect us. In addition, when servicing is
transferred, servicing fees may increase, which may have an adverse
effect on the RMBS held by us or the MSRs held by Arc
Home.
COVID-19 effect on servicing activities.
The economic and market disruptions caused by COVID-19 have
adversely impacted and may continue to adversely impact the
financial condition of the borrowers of our residential mortgage
loans and the loans that underlie our RMBS investments. If the
current conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic worsen, the number of
borrowers who request a payment deferral or forbearance arrangement
or become delinquent or default on their financial obligations may
increase significantly, and such increase may place greater stress
on the servicers’ finances and human capital, which may make it
more difficult for these servicers to successfully service these
loans. In addition, many loan servicing activities are not
permitted to be done through a remote work setting. To the extent
that shelter-in-place orders and remote work arrangements for
non-essential businesses continue in the future, loan servicers may
be materially adversely impacted. As a result, we could be
materially and adversely affected if a mortgage servicer is unable
to adequately or successfully service our residential mortgage
loans and the loans that underlie our RMBS or if any such servicer
experiences financial distress.
COVID-19 effect on servicer liquidity.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic disruption it has
caused may result in liquidity pressures on servicers and other
third-party vendors that we rely upon. For instance, as a result of
an increase in mortgagors requesting relief in the form of
forbearance plans and/or other loss mitigation, servicers and other
parties responsible in capital markets securitization transactions
for funding advances with respect to delinquent mortgagor
payments
of principal and interest may begin to experience financial
difficulties if mortgagors do not make monthly payments as a result
of the COVID-19 pandemic. The negative impact on the business and
operations of such servicers or other parties responsible for
funding such advances could be significant. Sources of liquidity
typically available to servicers and other relevant parties for the
purpose of funding advances of monthly mortgage payments,
especially entities that are not depository institutions, may not
be sufficient to meet the increased need that could result from
significantly higher delinquency and/or forbearance rates. The
extent of such liquidity pressures in the future is not known at
this time and is subject to continual change.
Increases in interest rates could adversely affect the value of our
investments and cause our interest expense to increase, which could
negatively affect our profitability and our ability to make
distributions.
Our investment portfolio is primarily comprised of residential
mortgage loans and RMBS. An investment in such assets will
generally decline in value if interest rates increase, particularly
long-term interest rates. Declines in market value may ultimately
reduce earnings or result in losses to us, which may negatively
affect cash available for distribution to our
stockholders.
The relationship between short-term and longer-term interest rates
is often referred to as the "yield curve." Interest rates are
highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary
and tax policies, domestic and international economic and political
considerations and other factors beyond our control. In a normal
yield curve environment, short-term interest rates are lower than
longer-term interest rates. If short-term interest rates rise
disproportionately relative to longer-term interest rates (a
flattening of the yield curve), our borrowing costs will generally
increase more rapidly than the interest income earned on our
assets.
Because our investments will generally bear interest based on
longer-term rates than our borrowings, a flattening of the yield
curve would tend to decrease our net interest margin, net income,
and book value. It is also possible that short-term interest rates
may exceed longer-term interest rates (a yield curve inversion), in
which event our borrowing costs may exceed our interest income and
we could incur operating losses. Additionally, to the extent cash
flows from investments that return scheduled and unscheduled
principal are reinvested, the spread between the yields on the new
investments and available borrowing rates may decline, which would
likely decrease our net income.
A significant risk associated with our target assets is the risk
that both long-term and short-term interest rates will increase
significantly. If long-term rates increase significantly, the
market value of these investments will decline, and the duration
and weighted average life of the investments will increase due to
the slowing of the prepayment rate. At the same time, an increase
in short-term interest rates will increase the amount of interest
owed on the financing arrangements we enter into to finance the
purchase of our investments.
Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT and our
exclusion from regulation as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act, we expect to utilize various derivative
instruments and other hedging instruments to mitigate interest rate
risk, but there can be no assurances that our hedges will be
successful, or that we will be able to enter into or maintain such
hedges. As a result, interest rate fluctuations can cause
significant losses, reductions in income, and could materially and
adversely affect us.
In addition, rising interest rates generally reduce the demand for
mortgage loans due to the higher cost of borrowing. A reduction in
the volume of mortgage loans originated may affect the volume of
target assets available to us, which could adversely affect our
ability to acquire assets that satisfy our investment objectives.
If rising interest rates cause us to be unable to acquire a
sufficient volume of our target assets with a yield that is above
our borrowing cost, it could materially and adversely affect
us.
Arc Home is highly dependent upon programs administered by the
GSEs, and changes in the GSEs’ servicing or origination guidelines
or overall operations could have a material adverse effect on Arc
Home’s business.
Arc Home sells a majority of its mortgage loans to Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac remain in conservatorship,
and a path forward to emerge from conservatorship is unclear. Their
roles could be reduced, modified or eliminated, and the nature of
their guarantees could be limited or eliminated relative to
historical measurements. Any discontinuation of, or significant
reduction in, the role or operation of these agencies, or any
significant adverse change in the
level of activity of these agencies in the primary or secondary
mortgage markets could materially and adversely affect Arc Home’s
business, which in turn would have a negative impact on our
results.
Arc Home is subject to extensive licensing requirements and
regulation, which could materially and adversely affect
us.
Arc Home's lending and servicing business activities is subject to
extensive regulation by federal, state and local governmental and
regulatory authorities, including the CFPB, the Federal Trade
Commission, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the SEC and various state
agencies that license, audit, investigate and conduct examinations
of its mortgage servicing, origination, and other activities. In
the current regulatory environment, the policies, laws, rules and
regulations applicable to Arc Home's mortgage origination and
servicing businesses have been rapidly evolving. Federal, state or
local governmental authorities may continue to enact laws, rules or
regulations that will result in changes in Arc Homes’ business
practices and may materially increase the costs of compliance. We
are unable to predict whether any such changes will adversely
affect Arc Home's business and, in turn, our financial
results.
In addition, over the years, regulators have vigilantly enforced
the regulation of mortgage lenders and have penalized or, in some
cases, even suspended non-compliant mortgage lenders' ability to
originate loans in their jurisdictions for their failure to comply
with regulatory requirements. We expect to acquire a portion of our
target newly originated non-agency loans from Arc Home. If Arc Home
is unable to originate loans in one or more jurisdictions as a
result of regulatory issues or otherwise, it may result in fewer
investment opportunities for us or in opportunities that are less
geographically diversified. Further, any such regulatory issues for
Arc Home could result in damage to our or our Manager's reputation
in the market and impact Arc Home's ability to continue to source a
desired volume of non-agency loan originations. If Arc Home is
unable to originate the volume of loans anticipated, we may also be
unable to identify other sources of non-agency loans for
acquisition to satisfy our strategy and we may need to alter such
strategy to seek other investments. Further, if any of the
foregoing events were to occur, the value of our investment in Arc
Home may also be adversely impacted.
An economic slowdown or a deterioration of the housing market could
increase both interest expense on servicing advances and operating
expenses and could cause a reduction in income from, and the value
of, Arc Home’s servicing portfolio.
During any period in which a borrower is not making payments, under
most of its servicing agreements Arc Home is required to advance
its own funds to meet contractual principal and interest remittance
requirements for investors, pay property taxes and insurance
premiums and process foreclosures. Arc Home also advances funds to
maintain, repair and market real estate properties on behalf of
investors. Most of its advances have the highest standing and are
"top of the waterfall" so that Arc Home is entitled to repayment
from respective loan or REO liquidations proceeds before most other
claims on these proceeds, and in the majority of cases, advances in
excess of respective loan or REO liquidation proceeds may be
recovered from pool level proceeds. Arc Home generally finances a
large portion of its servicing advance obligations and an increase
in such obligations could increase its interest expense. In
addition, if Arc Home's servicing advance obligations exceed its
financing capacity for such obligations or such financing otherwise
becomes unavailable, Arc Home may need to use cash on hand or take
additional actions, including selling assets and reducing its
originations to generate liquidity to support its servicer advance
obligations.
Higher delinquencies also increase Arc Home’s cost to service loans
as loans in default require more intensive effort to bring them
current or manage the foreclosure process. An increase in
delinquencies may delay the timing of revenue recognition because
Arc Home recognizes servicing fees as earned, which is generally
upon collection of payments from borrowers or proceeds from REO
liquidations. An increase in delinquencies also generally leads to
lower balances in custodial and escrow accounts (float balances)
and lower net earnings on custodial and escrow accounts (float
earnings). Additionally, an increase in delinquencies in its GSE
servicing portfolio will result in lower revenue because Arc Home
collects servicing fees from GSEs only on performing
loans.
Foreclosures are involuntary prepayments resulting in a reduction
in unpaid principal balance. This may result in higher amortization
expense and declines in the value of Arc Home’s MSRs.
Adverse economic conditions could also negatively impact Arc Home's
lending businesses. For example, during the economic crisis that
began in 2007, total U.S. residential mortgage originations volume
decreased substantially. Moreover, declining home prices and
increasing loan-to-value ratios may preclude many potential
borrowers from refinancing their existing loans. Further, an
increase in prevailing interest rates could decrease originations
volume.
The risks associated with an economic slowdown or a deterioration
of the housing or lending markets are more pronounced due to the
conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Any of the foregoing could adversely affect Arc Home’s business,
which in turn would have a negative impact on our
results.
Our business is subject to extensive regulation.
Our business is subject to extensive regulation by federal and
state governmental authorities, self-regulatory organizations, and
securities exchanges. We are required to comply with numerous
federal and state laws. The laws, rules and regulations comprising
this regulatory framework change frequently, as can the
interpretation and enforcement of existing laws, rules, and
regulations. We may receive requests from federal and state
agencies for records, documents, and information regarding our
policies, procedures, and practices regarding our business
activities. We may incur significant ongoing costs to comply with
these government regulations.
These requirements can and do change as statutes and regulations
are enacted, promulgated, amended, and interpreted, and the recent
trends among federal and state lawmakers and regulators have been
toward increasing laws, regulations, and investigative proceedings
concerning the mortgage industry generally. Although we believe
that we have structured our operations and investments to comply
with existing legal and regulatory requirements and
interpretations, changes in regulatory and legal requirements,
including changes in their interpretation and enforcement by
lawmakers and regulators, could materially and adversely affect our
business and our financial condition, liquidity, and results of
operations.
Risks Related to our Investments
Our investments in non-agency residential mortgage loans, including
Non-QM Loans in particular, subject us to legal, regulatory and
other risks.
We believe our primary risks related to non-agency residential
assets, including Non-QM Loans in particular, are credit-related
risks (see “Risks Related to our Company, Business, and Operations”
above). In addition, the ownership of non-agency residential
mortgage loans (currently our primary targeted asset class) will
subject us to legal, regulatory and other risks, including those
arising under federal consumer protection laws and regulations
designed to regulate residential mortgage loan underwriting and
originators’ lending processes, standards, and disclosures to
borrowers. The laws, rules and regulations comprising this
regulatory framework change frequently, as can the interpretation
and enforcement of existing laws, rules and regulations. Some of
the laws, rules and regulations to which we are subject are
intended primarily to safeguard and protect consumers, rather than
stockholders or creditors. From time to time, we may receive
requests from federal and state agencies for records, documents and
information regarding our policies, procedures and practices
regarding our business activities. We incur significant ongoing
costs to comply with these government regulations. These rules
generally focus on consumer protection and include, among others,
rules promulgated under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Truth in Lending
Act of 1968 (“Truth-in-Lending Act”), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley
Financial Modernization Act of 1999 (“Gramm-Leach-Bliley”). The
Dodd-Frank Act grants enforcement authority and broad discretionary
regulatory authority to the CFPB to prohibit or condition terms,
acts or practices relating to mortgage loans that the CFPB finds
abusive, unfair, deceptive or predatory, as well as to take other
actions that the CFPB finds are necessary or proper to ensure
responsible affordable mortgage credit remains available to
consumers.
These laws and regulations include the "ability-to-repay" rules
("ATR Rules") under the Truth-in-Lending Act and "qualified
mortgage" regulations. The ATR Rules specify the characteristics of
a "qualified mortgage"
and two levels of presumption of compliance with the ATR Rules: a
safe harbor and a rebuttable presumption for higher priced loans.
The "safe harbor" under the ATR Rules applies to a covered
transaction that meets the definition of "qualified mortgage" and
is not a "higher-priced covered transaction." For any covered
transaction that meets the definition of a "qualified mortgage" and
is not a "higher-priced covered transaction," the creditor or
assignee will be deemed to have complied with the ability-to-repay
requirement and, accordingly, will be conclusively presumed to have
made a good faith and reasonable determination of the consumer’s
ability to repay. Creditors or assignees will have the benefit of a
rebuttable presumption of compliance with the applicable ATR Rules
if they have complied with the qualified mortgage characteristics
of the ATR Rules other than the residential mortgage loan being
higher-priced in excess of certain thresholds. On December 10,
2020, the CFPB issued a final rule that adopts a set of
“bright-line” loan pricing thresholds to replace the previous
General Qualified Mortgage 43% debt-to-income threshold calculated
in accordance with "Appendix Q" and removes Appendix Q (the
"General QM Final Rule"). The effective date of the General QM
Final Rule is March 1, 2021, but the mandatory compliance date
originally established as July 1, 2021 was delayed to October 1,
2022. On December 10, 2020, the CFPB also issued a final rule that
creates a new category of a qualified mortgage, referred to as a
"Seasoned QM" (the "Seasoned QM Final Rule"). A loan is eligible to
become a Seasoned QM if it is a first-lien, fixed rate loan that
meets certain performance requirements over a seasoning period of
36 months, is held in portfolio until the end of the seasoning
period by the originating creditor or first purchaser, complies
with general restrictions on product features and points and fees,
and meets certain underwriting requirements. The effective date for
the Seasoned QM Final Rule was March 1,
2021. At this time, however, it is unclear what impact these final
rules will have on the mortgage market and the “ability-to-repay”
rules.
Non-QM Loans are among the loan products we acquire. The safe
harbor and presumptions outlined above with respect to compliance
with the ATR Rules are not available to Non-QM loans. Because the
final rules are largely untested in court, they remain subject to
interpretive uncertainties. Failure of residential mortgage loan
originators or servicers to comply with these laws and regulations
could subject us, as an assignee or purchaser of these loans (or as
an investor in securities backed by these loans), to monetary
penalties assessed by the CFPB through its administrative
enforcement authority and by mortgagors through a private right of
action against lenders or as a defense to foreclosure, including by
recoupment or setoff of finance charges and fees collected, and
could result in rescission of the affected residential mortgage
loans, which could adversely impact our business and financial
results. Such risks may be higher in connection with the
acquisition of Non-QM Loans. Borrowers under Non-QM Loans may be
more likely than borrowers under qualified loans to challenge the
analysis conducted under the ATR Rules by lenders. Even if a
borrower does not succeed in the challenge, additional costs may be
incurred in connection with challenging and defending such claims,
which may be more costly in judicial foreclosure jurisdictions than
in non-judicial foreclosure jurisdictions, and there may be more of
a likelihood such claims are made since the borrower is already
exposed to the judicial system to process the
foreclosure.
The laws, rules and regulations to which we are subject can and do
change as statutes and regulations are enacted, promulgated,
amended, and interpreted. As a result, we are unable to fully
predict at this time how these, or other laws or regulations that
may be adopted in the future, will affect our business and the
results of operations and financial condition. Recent trends among
federal and state lawmakers and regulators have been toward
increasing laws, regulations, and investigative procedures
concerning the mortgage industry generally, which is likely to
continue increasing the economic and compliance costs for
participants in the mortgage origination and securitization
industries, including us.
We invest in GSE Non-Owner Occupied Loans, which expose us to an
increased risk of loss.
We invest in GSE Non-Owner Occupied Loans, which are residential
mortgage loans that are underwritten in accordance with GSE
guidelines and are secured by investment properties. The repayment
of such a loan by the property owner (i.e., the borrower) often
depends primarily on its tenant's continuing ability to pay rent to
the property owner. If the property owner is unable to find or
retain a tenant for the rental property, the property owner would
cease to have a continuous rental income stream with respect to the
property and, as a result, the property owner's ability to repay
the loan on a timely basis or at all could be adversely affected.
In addition, the physical condition of non-owner-occupied
properties can be below that of owner-occupied properties due to
lax property maintenance standards, which can have a negative
impact on the value of the collateral properties. Moreover, loans
on non-owner-occupied residential properties generally involve
larger principal amounts and a greater degree of risk than
owner-occupied residential mortgage loans, resulting in a higher
likelihood that we will be subject to losses on such investment
property loans.
Changes in prepayment rates may adversely affect the return on our
investments.
When borrowers prepay mortgage loans that we own or are underlying
the securities we own at rates faster or slower than anticipated,
it exposes us to prepayment or extension risk, respectively.
Prepayment rates are impacted by a variety of factors, including
prevailing mortgage rates, loan age and size, loan-to-value ratios,
housing price trends, general economic conditions and other factors
not in our control.
To the extent that actual prepayment speeds differ from our
expectations, our operating results could be adversely affected,
and we could be forced to sell assets to maintain adequate
liquidity, which could cause us to incur realized losses. In
addition, should significant prepayments occur, there is no
certainty that we will be able to identify acceptable new
investments, which could reduce our invested capital or result in
us investing in less favorable investments.
In periods of declining interest rates, prepayments on investments
generally increase and the proceeds of prepayments received during
these periods may generally be reinvested by us in comparable
assets at reduced yields. In addition, the market value of
investments subject to prepayment may, because of the risk of
prepayment, benefit less than other fixed-income securities from
declining interest rates. Conversely, in periods of rising interest
rates, prepayments on investments, where contractually permitted,
generally decrease, in which case we would not have the prepayment
proceeds available to invest in comparable assets at higher yields
and our cost to finance such assets would likely increase. Under
certain interest rate and prepayment scenarios, we may fail to
recoup fully our cost of certain investments.
Prepayment rates are difficult to predict, and market conditions
may disrupt the historical correlation between interest rate
changes and prepayment trends.
Our success depends, in part, on our ability predict prepayment
behavior under a variety of economic conditions and particularly
the relationship between changing interest rates and the rate of
prepayments. As part of our overall portfolio risk management, we
analyze interest rate changes and prepayment trends separately and
collectively to assess their effects on our investment portfolio.
To a large extent our analysis is based on models that are
dependent on a number of assumptions and inputs. Many of the
assumptions we use are based upon historical trends with respect to
the relationship between interest rates and prepayments under
normal market conditions. There is risk that our assumptions prove
to be incorrect. Dislocations in the residential mortgage market
and other developments may disrupt the relationship between the way
that prepayment trends have historically responded to interest rate
changes. Prepayment rates are also impacted by other factors beyond
interest rates, such as when borrowers sell their property and use
the proceeds to prepay their mortgage, or when borrowers default on
their mortgages and the mortgages are prepaid from the proceeds of
a foreclosure sale of the property.
The impact of each of these factors on prepayment rates is
difficult to predict and may negatively impact our ability to
assess the market value of our investment portfolio, implement
hedging strategies and/or implement techniques to reduce our
prepayment rate volatility, which could adversely affect our
financial condition and results of operations.
Any credit ratings assigned to our investments will be subject to
ongoing evaluations and revisions and we cannot assure you that
those ratings will not be downgraded.
Some of our investments, including the bonds that may be issued in
our future securitization transactions for which we would be
required to retain a portion of the credit risk, may be rated by
rating agencies. Any credit ratings on our investments are subject
to ongoing evaluation by credit rating agencies, and we cannot
assure you that any such ratings would not be changed or withdrawn
by a rating agency in the future if, in its judgment, circumstances
warrant. If rating agencies assign a lower-than-expected rating or
reduce or withdraw, or indicate that they may reduce or withdraw,
their ratings of our investments in the future, the value and
liquidity of our investments could significantly decline, which
would adversely affect the value of our portfolio and could result
in losses upon disposition or the failure of borrowers to satisfy
their debt service obligations to us.
Our investment in lower rated Non-Agency RMBS resulting from the
securitization of our assets or otherwise, exposes us to the first
loss on the mortgage assets held by the securitization vehicle.
Additionally, the principal and interest payments on Non-Agency
RMBS are not guaranteed by any entity, including any government
entity or GSE, and therefore are subject to increased risks,
including credit risk.
Our investments include Non-Agency RMBS which are backed by non-QM
and other residential mortgage loans that are not issued or
guaranteed by a GSE or the U.S. government. Within a securitization
of residential mortgage loans, various securities are created, each
of which has varying degrees of credit risk. We anticipate that our
investments in Non-Agency RMBS will be concentrated in lower-rated
and unrated securities in which we are exposed to the first loss on
the residential mortgage loans held by the securitization vehicle,
which will subject to us to the most concentrated credit risk
associated with the underlying residential mortgage
loans.
Additionally, the principal and interest on Non-Agency RMBS, unlike
those on Agency RMBS, are not guaranteed by GSEs such as Fannie Mae
and Freddie Mac or, in the case of Ginnie Mae, the U.S. government.
Non-Agency RMBS are subject to many of the risks of the underlying
mortgage loans. A residential mortgage loan is typically secured by
a single-family residential property and is subject to risks of
delinquency and foreclosure and risk of loss. The ability of a
borrower to repay a loan secured by a residential property is
dependent upon the income or assets of the borrower. A number of
factors, including, but not limited to, a general economic
downturn, unemployment, acts of God, terrorism, social unrest and
civil disturbances, may impair the borrower's ability to repay its
mortgage loan. In periods following home price declines, "strategic
defaults" (decisions by borrowers to default on their mortgage
loans despite having the ability to pay) also may become more
prevalent. In the event of defaults under residential mortgage
loans backing any of our Non-Agency RMBS, we will bear a risk of
loss of principal to the extent of any deficiency between the value
of the collateral and the principal and accrued interest of the
residential mortgage loan.
Moreover, in the event of the bankruptcy of a residential mortgage
loan borrower, the residential mortgage loan to such borrower will
be deemed to be secured only to the extent of the value of the
underlying collateral at the time of bankruptcy (as determined by
the bankruptcy court), and the lien securing the residential
mortgage loan will be subject to the avoidance powers of the
bankruptcy trustee or debtor-in-possession to the extent the lien
is unenforceable under state law. Foreclosure of a residential
mortgage loan can be an expensive and lengthy process which could
have a substantial negative effect on our anticipated return on the
foreclosed residential mortgage loan. If borrowers default on the
residential mortgage loans backing
our Non-Agency RMBS and we are unable to recover any resulting loss
through the foreclosure process, we could be materially and
adversely affected.
Risks Related to U.S. Government Programs
The federal conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and
related efforts, along with any changes in laws and regulations
affecting the relationship between these agencies and the U.S.
government, may adversely affect our business.
The payments we receive on the Agency RMBS in which we invest
depend upon a steady stream of payments on the mortgages underlying
the securities and are guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. In
2008 Congress and the U.S. Treasury undertook a series of actions
to stabilize financial markets, generally, and Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac, in particular. On September 7, 2008, in response to
the deterioration in the financial condition of Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac, the FHFA placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into
conservatorship, which is a statutory process pursuant to which the
FHFA operates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as conservator in an
effort to stabilize the entities. The appointment of the FHFA as
conservator of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac allows the FHFA to
control the actions of the two GSEs.
Shortly after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed in federal
conservatorship, the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, noted that the
guarantee structure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac required
examination and that changes in the structures of the entities were
necessary to reduce risk to the financial system. The future roles
of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could be significantly reduced and
the nature of their guarantees could be eliminated or considerably
limited relative to historical measurements. Any changes to the
nature of the guarantees provided by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
could redefine what constitutes Agency RMBS and could have broad
adverse market implications as well as negatively impact our
liquidity, financing rates, net income, and book
value.
The problems faced by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that resulted in
their being placed into federal conservatorship have stirred debate
among some federal policy makers regarding the continued role of
the U.S. government in providing liquidity for the residential
mortgage market. The gradual recovery of the housing market has
made Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac profitable again and increased the
uncertainty about their futures. If federal policy makers decide
that the U.S. government’s role in providing liquidity for the
residential mortgage market should be reduced or eliminated, each
of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could be dissolved and the U.S.
government could decide to stop providing liquidity support of any
kind to the mortgage market. If Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac were
eliminated, or their structures were to change radically, the
amount and type of Agency RMBS available for investment would
drastically reduce, affecting our ability to acquire Agency
RMBS.
Our income could be negatively affected in a number of ways
depending on the manner in which related events unfold. For
example, the continued backing of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by the
U.S. Treasury and any additional credit support it may provide in
the future to the GSEs (as defined below) could have the effect of
lowering the interest rate we receive from Agency RMBS, thereby
tightening the spread between the interest we earn on our Agency
RMBS portfolio and our cost of financing that portfolio. A
reduction in the supply of Agency RMBS could also increase the
prices of Agency RMBS we seek to acquire thereby reducing the
spread between the interest we earn on our portfolio of targeted
assets and our cost of financing that portfolio.
Any new law affecting these GSEs may exacerbate market uncertainty
and have the effect of reducing the actual or perceived credit
quality of securities issued or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie
Mac. It is also possible that such laws could adversely impact the
market for such securities and the spreads at which they trade. All
of the foregoing could materially adversely affect the pricing,
supply, liquidity and value of our target assets and otherwise
materially adversely affect our business, operations and financial
condition.
It remains uncertain whether, and if so on what timeline, the Biden
administration will address the conservatorships of the GSEs and
any comprehensive housing reform. Moreover, personnel changes at
the applicable regulatory agencies may alter the nature and scope
of oversight affecting the mortgage finance industry generally
(particularly with respect to the future role of Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac).
We are subject to the risk that agencies of and entities sponsored
by the U.S. government may not be able to fully satisfy their
guarantees of Agency RMBS or that these guarantee obligations may
be repudiated, which may adversely affect the value of our
investment portfolio and our ability to sell or finance these
securities.
The interest and principal payments we receive on the Agency RMBS
in which we invest are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or
Ginnie Mae. Unlike the Ginnie Mae certificates in which we may
invest, the principal and interest on securities
issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not guaranteed by the U.S.
government. All the Agency RMBS in which we invest depend on a
steady stream of payments on the mortgages underlying the
securities.
As conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Federal Housing
Finance Agency ("FHFA") may disaffirm or repudiate (subject to
certain limitations for qualified financial contracts) contracts
that Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae entered into prior to the FHFA’s
appointment as conservator if it determines, in its sole
discretion, that performance of the contract is burdensome and that
disaffirmation or repudiation of the contract promotes the orderly
administration of its affairs. The Housing and Economic Recovery
Act of 2008, or HERA, requires the FHFA to exercise its right to
disaffirm or repudiate most contracts within a reasonable period of
time after its appointment as conservator. Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac have disclosed that the FHFA has disaffirmed certain consulting
and other contracts that these entities entered into prior to the
FHFA’s appointment as conservator. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have
also disclosed that the FHFA has advised that it does not intend to
repudiate any guarantee obligation relating to Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac’s mortgage-related securities, because the FHFA views
repudiation as incompatible with the goals of the conservatorship.
In addition, HERA provides that mortgage loans and mortgage-related
assets that have been transferred to a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae
securitization trust must be held for the beneficial owners of the
related mortgage-related securities and cannot be used to satisfy
the general creditors of Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae.
If the guarantee obligations of Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae were
repudiated by the FHFA, payments of principal and/or interest to
holders of Agency RMBS issued by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae would be
reduced in the event of any borrowers’ late payments or failure to
pay or a servicer’s failure to remit borrower payments to the
trust. In that case, trust administration and servicing fees could
be paid from mortgage payments prior to distributions to holders of
Agency RMBS. Any actual direct compensatory damages owed due to the
repudiation of Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae’s guarantee obligations
may not be sufficient to offset any shortfalls experienced by
holders of Agency RMBS. The FHFA also has the right to transfer or
sell any asset or liability of Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, including
its guarantee obligation, without any approval, assignment or
consent. If the FHFA were to transfer Freddie Mac's or Fannie Mae’s
guarantee obligations to another party, holders of Agency RMBS
would have to rely on that party for satisfaction of the guarantee
obligation and would be exposed to the credit risk of that party.
If the new party does not guarantee these Agency RMBS, we are
subject to credit loss on the Agency RMBS which could negatively
affect liquidity, net income and book value.
Mortgage loan modification and refinancing programs may adversely
affect the value of, and our returns on, mortgage-backed securities
and residential mortgage loans.
The U.S. government, through the Federal Reserve, the Federal
Housing Administration ("FHA"), the FHFA and the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"), has implemented a number of federal
programs designed to assist homeowners, including the Home
Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP, which provides homeowners
with assistance in avoiding residential mortgage loan foreclosures,
and the Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP, which allows
borrowers who are current on their mortgage payments to refinance
and reduce their monthly mortgage payments at loan-to-value ratios
up to 125% without new mortgage insurance. Similar modification
programs are also offered by several large non-GSE financial
institutions.
HAMP, HARP and other loss mitigation programs may involve, among
other things, the modification of mortgage loans to reduce the
principal amount of the loans (through forbearance and/or
forgiveness) and/or the rate of interest payable on the loans, or
to extend the payment terms of the loans. Non-Agency RMBS and
residential mortgage loan yields and cash flows could particularly
be negatively impacted by a significant number of loan
modifications with respect to a given security or residential
mortgage loan pool, including, but not limited to, those related to
principal forgiveness and coupon reduction. These loan
modification, loss mitigation and refinance programs may adversely
affect the value of, and the returns on, mortgage-backed securities
and residential mortgage loans that we own or may
purchase.
In addition, the CARES Act includes programs related to mortgage
loan forbearance and loan modification to qualifying borrowers who
have difficulty making their loan payments, and the FHA and FHFA
have implemented a number of federal programs designed to assist
homeowners, including foreclosure moratoriums. It is anticipated
that as a result of financial difficulties due to the COVID-19
pandemic, borrowers will continue to request forbearance or other
relief with respect to their mortgage payments. Further, across the
country, moratoriums are in place in certain states to stop
evictions and foreclosures in an effort to lessen the financial
burden created by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is anticipated that
other forbearance programs, foreclosure moratoriums or other
programs or mandates will be imposed or extended, including those
that will impact mortgage related assets. These forbearance and
foreclosure moratorium programs may adversely affect the value of,
and the returns on, mortgage-backed securities and residential
mortgage loans that we own or may purchase.
Risks Related to Financing Activities
Our business strategy involves the use of leverage, and we may
become overleveraged or not achieve what we believe is optimal
leverage, which may materially adversely affect our liquidity,
results of operations or financial condition.
We use leverage as a strategy to increase the return on our assets.
Pursuant to our leverage strategy, we borrow against a substantial
portion of the market value of our mortgage investments and use the
borrowed funds to finance our investment portfolio and the
acquisition of additional investment assets.
The risks associated with leverage are more acute during periods of
economic slowdown or recession, which the U.S. economy experienced
in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. We may not be able to
achieve our desired leverage ratio for a number of reasons,
including if:
•our
lenders require that we pledge additional collateral to cover our
borrowings;
•our
lenders do not make financing arrangements available to us at
acceptable rates;
•certain
of our lenders exit the repurchase market; or
•we
determine that the leverage would expose us to excessive
risk.
In addition, the use of leverage exposes us to other significant
risks, including:
Change of collateral valuation.
The amount of financing that we receive under our repurchase
agreements will be directly related to our counterparties’
valuation of our assets that collateralize the outstanding
financing. Typically, repurchase agreements grant the repurchase
agreement counterparty the right to reevaluate the fair market
value of the assets that cover the amount financed under the
repurchase agreement at any time. If a repurchase agreement
counterparty determines that the value of the assets subject to the
repurchase agreement financing has decreased, it has the right to
initiate a margin call. These valuations may be different than the
values that we ascribe to these assets and may be influenced by
recent asset sales at distressed levels by forced sellers. A margin
call requires us to transfer additional assets to a repurchase
agreement counterparty without any advance of funds from the
counterparty for such transfer or to repay a portion of the
outstanding repurchase agreement financing. We would also be
required to post additional collateral if haircuts increase under a
repurchase agreement. In these situations, we could be forced to
sell assets at significantly depressed prices to meet such margin
calls and to maintain adequate liquidity, which could cause
significant losses.
Significant margin calls could have a material adverse effect on
our business. For example, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak,
late in the first quarter of 2020, we observed a mark-down of a
substantial portion of our assets by our repurchase agreement
counterparties, resulting in us having to pay cash or additional
securities to satisfy margin calls that were well beyond historical
norms. This eventually resulted in us seeking temporary forbearance
from our counterparties, which resulted in significant
losses.
Financing terms.
Our ability to fund our purchases of target assets may be impacted
by our ability to secure financing arrangements on acceptable terms
and renew or roll these financing arrangements. The terms we
receive on such financings are influenced by the demand for similar
funding by our competitors, including other REITs, specialty
finance companies and other financial entities. Many of our
competitors are significantly larger than us, have greater
financial resources and significantly larger balance sheets than we
do. Any sizable interest rate shock or disruption in secondary
mortgage markets resulting in the failure of one or more of our
largest competitors may have a materially adverse effect on our
ability to access or maintain short-term financing for our target
assets. If we are not able to renew or roll our existing repurchase
agreements or arrange for new financing on terms acceptable to us,
we may have to dispose of assets at significantly depressed prices
and at inopportune times, which could cause significant losses, and
may also force us to curtail our asset acquisition
activities.
Adverse change in financing counterparties.
We depend upon a limited number of financing counterparties to fund
our investments. The aggregate number of our financing
counterparties was five as of December 31, 2021. The limited number
of financing counterparties may reduce our ability to obtain
financing on favorable terms and increases our counterparty credit
risk. In addition, our ability to fund our operations, meet
financial obligations and finance asset acquisitions may be
impacted by an inability to secure and maintain our repurchase
agreements with our counterparties. Because repurchase agreements
are short-term commitments of capital, repurchase agreement
counterparties may respond to market conditions in a manner that
makes it more difficult for us to renew or replace on a continuous
basis our maturing short-term financings. Such counterparties have
and may continue to impose more onerous conditions when rolling
such financings. If major lenders stop financing our target assets,
the value of our target assets could be negatively impacted, thus
reducing net stockholders’ equity, or book value. If we are faced
with a larger haircut in order to roll a financing with a
particular counterparty, or in order to move a financing from one
counterparty to another, then we would need to make up the
difference between the two haircuts in the form of
cash,
which could similarly require us to dispose of assets at
significantly depressed prices and at inopportune times, which
could cause significant losses.
COVID-19 effects.
Issues related to financing are exacerbated in times of significant
dislocation in the financial markets, such as those experienced in
connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. It is possible that our
financing counterparties will become unwilling or unable to provide
us with financing, and we could be forced to sell our assets at an
inopportune time when prices are depressed or markets are illiquid,
which could cause significant losses. Many mortgage REITs,
including us, experienced this during the initial stages of the
COVID-19 pandemic and related market dislocations. In addition, if
the regulatory capital requirements imposed on our financing
counterparties change, they may be required to significantly
increase the cost of the financing that they provide to us, or to
increase the amounts of collateral they require as a condition to
providing us with financing. Our financing counterparties also have
revised, and may continue to revise, their eligibility requirements
for the types of assets that they are willing to finance or the
terms of such financings, including increased haircuts and
requiring additional cash collateral, based on, among other
factors, the regulatory environment and their management of actual
and perceived risk, particularly with respect to assignee
liability.
The securitization process expose us to risks, which could result
in losses to us.
We use securitization financing for certain of our residential
whole loan investments. In such structures, our financing sources
typically have only a claim against the assets included in a
securitization rather than a general claim against us as an entity.
Prior to any such financing, we generally seek to finance our
investments with relatively short-term repurchase agreements until
a sufficient portfolio of assets is accumulated. As a result, we
are subject to the risk that we would not be able to acquire,
during the period that any short-term repurchase agreements are
available, sufficient eligible assets or securities to maximize the
efficiency of a securitization.
We also bear the risk that we would not be able to obtain new
short-term repurchase agreements or would not be able to renew
short-term repurchase agreements after they expire should we need
more time to seek and acquire sufficient eligible assets or
securities for a securitization. In addition, conditions in the
capital markets may make the issuance of any such securitization
less attractive to us even when we do have sufficient eligible
assets or securities. While we would generally intend to retain a
portion of the interests issued under such securitizations and,
therefore, still have exposure to any investments included in such
securitizations, our inability to enter into such securitizations
may increase our overall exposure to risks associated with direct
ownership of such investments, including the risk of default. If we
are unable to obtain and renew short-term repurchase agreements or
to consummate securitizations to finance the selected investments
on a long-term basis, we may be required to seek other forms of
potentially less attractive financing or to liquidate assets at an
inopportune time or price. These financing arrangements require us
to make certain representations and warranties regarding the assets
that collateralize the borrowings. Although we perform due
diligence on the assets that we acquire, certain representations
and warranties that we make in respect of such assets may
ultimately be determined to be inaccurate. Such representations and
warranties may include, but are not limited to, issues such as the
validity of the lien; the absence of delinquent taxes or other
liens; the loans' compliance with all local, state and federal laws
and the delivery of all documents required to perfect title to the
lien. In the event of a breach of a representation or warranty, we
may be required to repurchase affected loans, make indemnification
payments to certain indemnified parties or address any claims
associated with such breach. Further, we may have limited or no
recourse against the seller from whom we purchased the loans. Such
recourse may be limited due to a variety of factors, including the
absence of a representation or warranty from the seller
corresponding to the representation provided by us or the
contractual expiration thereof. A breach of a representation or
warranty could adversely affect our results of operations and
liquidity and give rise to material litigation.
Certain of our financing arrangements are rated by one or more
rating agencies, and we may sponsor financing facilities in the
future that are rated by credit agencies. The related agency or
rating agencies may suspend rating notes at any time. Rating agency
delays may result in our inability to obtain timely ratings on new
notes, which could adversely impact the availability of borrowings
or the interest rates, advance rates or other financing terms and
adversely affect our results of operations and liquidity. Further,
if we are unable to secure ratings from other agencies, limited
investor demand for unrated notes could result in further adverse
changes to our liquidity and profitability.
Our financing arrangements contain restrictive operating
covenants.
As of December 31, 2021, we, either directly or through our equity
method investments in affiliates, have outstanding master
repurchase agreements or loan agreements with multiple
counterparties. These agreements generally include customary
representations, warranties and covenants, but may also contain
more restrictive supplemental terms and conditions. Although
specific to each agreement, typical supplemental terms include
requirements of minimum equity, leverage ratios, performance
triggers or other financial ratios. The negative impacts on our
business caused by COVID-19 have and may make it more
difficult to meet or satisfy these covenants, and we cannot assure
you that we will remain in compliance with these covenants in the
future. Future lenders may impose similar or more onerous
restrictions.
If we fail to meet or satisfy any covenant, supplemental term or
representation and warranty, an event of default could be declared
under these agreements and our lenders could elect to declare all
amounts outstanding under the agreements to be immediately due and
payable (or such amounts may automatically become due and payable),
terminate their commitments, require the posting of additional
collateral, enforce their respective interests against existing
collateral pledged under such agreements and restrict our ability
to make additional borrowings. Certain financing agreements may
contain cross-default and cross-acceleration provisions, so that if
a default occurs under any one agreement, the lenders under our
other agreements could also declare a default. A default also could
significantly limit our financing alternatives, which could cause
us to curtail our investment activities or dispose of assets when
we otherwise would not choose to do so. As a result, a default on
any of our financing agreements could materially and adversely
affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and
ability to make distributions to our stockholders. Further, this
could also make it difficult for us to satisfy the qualification
requirements necessary to maintain our status as a REIT for U.S.
federal income tax purposes.
If a counterparty to a repurchase agreement defaults on its
obligation to resell or return the underlying loan or security back
to us at the end of the transaction term, we may lose money on such
financing arrangement.
When we engage in financing arrangements, we generally sell loans
or securities to lenders (i.e.,
repurchase agreement counterparties) and receive cash from the
lenders. The lenders are obligated to resell or return the same
loans or securities back to us at the end of the term of the
transaction. Because the cash we receive from lenders when we
initially sell or deliver the assets to the lender is less than the
value of those assets (this difference is the haircut), if the
lender defaults on its obligation to resell or return the same
assets back to us (whether due to insolvency of the lender or
otherwise) we may incur a loss on the transaction equal to the
amount of the haircut (assuming there was no change in the value of
the securities). On December 31, 2021, we had greater than 5%
stockholders' equity at risk on a GAAP basis and non-GAAP basis
with three repurchase agreement counterparties: Credit Suisse AG,
Cayman Islands Branch, BofA Securities, Inc., and Barclays Capital
Inc.
Our rights under our repurchase agreements may be subject to the
effects of the bankruptcy laws in the event of the bankruptcy or
insolvency of us or our lenders under the financing arrangements,
which may allow our lenders to repudiate our financing
arrangements.
In the event of our insolvency or bankruptcy, certain repurchase
agreements may qualify for special treatment under the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code, the effect of which, among other things, would be
to allow the lender under the applicable repurchase agreements to
avoid the automatic stay provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and
to foreclose on the pledged collateral without delay, impacting our
legal title and the right to proceeds. In the event of the
insolvency or bankruptcy of a lender during the term of a
repurchase agreement, the lender may be permitted, under applicable
insolvency laws, to repudiate the contract, and our claim against
the lender for damages may be treated simply as that of an
unsecured creditor. In addition, if the lender is a broker or
dealer subject to the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970,
or an insured depository institution subject to the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act, our ability to exercise our rights to recover our
securities under a repurchase agreement or to be compensated for
any damages resulting from the lender’s insolvency may be further
limited by those statutes. These claims would be subject to
significant delay and, if and when received, may be substantially
less than the damages we actually incur.
Pursuant to the terms of borrowings under our financing
arrangements, we are subject to margin calls that could result in
defaults or force us to sell assets under adverse market conditions
or through foreclosure.
We enter into financing arrangements to finance the acquisition of
our target assets. Pursuant to the terms of borrowings under our
financing arrangements, a decline in the value of the collateral
may result in our lenders initiating margin calls. A margin call
requires us to pledge additional collateral to re-establish the
ratio of the value of the collateral to the amount of the
borrowing. The specific collateral value to borrowing ratio that
would trigger a margin call is not set in the master repurchase
agreements or loan agreements and is not determined until we engage
in a repurchase transaction or borrowing arrangement under these
agreements. Our fixed-rate collateral are generally more
susceptible to margin calls as periods of increased interest rates
tend to affect more negatively the market value of fixed-rate
securities. In addition, some collateral may be more illiquid than
other instruments in which we invest, which could cause them to be
more susceptible to margin calls in a volatile market environment.
Moreover, collateral that prepays more quickly increases the
frequency and magnitude of potential margin calls as there is a
significant time lag between when the prepayment is reported (which
reduces the market value of the security) and when the principal
payment is actually received. If we are unable to satisfy margin
calls, our lenders may foreclose on our collateral. The threat of
or occurrence of a margin call could force us to sell, either
directly or through a foreclosure, our collateral under adverse
market conditions. Because of the leverage we expect to have, we
may incur substantial losses upon the
threat or occurrence of a margin call. The risks associated with
leverage are more acute during periods of economic slowdown or
recession, which the U.S. economy has experienced in connection
with the conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Reserve’s actions and statements regarding monetary
policy and the management of its balance sheet can affect the fixed
income and mortgage finance markets in ways that could adversely
affect our future business and financial results and the value of,
and returns on, real estate-related investments and other assets we
own or may acquire.
Actions taken by the Federal Reserve to set or adjust monetary
policy or to manage the overall size and composition of its balance
sheet, and statements it makes regarding the foregoing, may affect
the expectations and outlooks of market participants in ways that
disrupt our business and adversely affect the value of, and returns
on, our portfolio of real-estate related investments and the
pipeline of mortgage loans we own or may originate or
acquire.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the Federal Reserve
lowered the target federal funds rate from a range of 2.25-2.5% to
its current target level of 0-0.25%. In addition, the Federal
Reserve initiated a $1.25 trillion program to purchase agency
mortgage-backed securities (MBS) to provide support to mortgage and
housing markets and to foster improved conditions in financial
markets more generally in response to the impact of the pandemic.
The statements and the actions of the Federal Reserve significantly
impacted many market participants’ expectations and outlooks
regarding the expected yields these market participants would
require to invest in agency MBS as well as non-agency MBS such as
the residential MBS that we acquire and own.
During the second half of 2021, the United States economy began to
experience inflation in consumer prices at their highest levels in
the last 40 years. The rapid acceleration of inflation led to an
abrupt shift in the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance as
they no longer consider these price pressures to be “transitory”.
The market currently expects the Federal Reserve to raise the
target federal funds rate several times over the coming 12-24
months. In addition, there is wide speculation about the method and
timing of the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet curtailment with some
believing that the Federal Reserve may engage in outright asset
sales. These conditions have resulted in a significant rise in
short term benchmark interest rates and a significant flattening of
the yield curve.
To the extent benchmark interest rates rise or the yield curve
flattens further as a result of the Federal Reserve’s policy
actions or statements, one of the immediate potential impacts on
our business would be a reduction in the overall value of the pool
of mortgage loans that we own and the overall value of the pipeline
of mortgage loans that we have identified for origination or
purchase. Rising benchmark interest rates also generally have a
negative impact on the overall cost of short- and long-term
borrowings we use to finance our acquisitions and holdings of
mortgage loans, including as a result of the requirement to post
additional margin (or collateral) to lenders to offset any
associated decline in value of the mortgage loans we finance with
short-term borrowings subject to market value-based margin calls.
Several of the short-term borrowing facilities we use to finance
our acquisitions and holdings of mortgage loans are uncommitted and
all such short-term facilities have a limited term, which could
result in these types of borrowings not being available in the
future to fund our acquisitions and holdings and could result in
our being required to sell holdings of mortgage loans and incur
losses. In addition, any inability to fund originations or
acquisitions of mortgage loans could damage our reputation as a
reliable counterparty in the mortgage finance markets.
To the extent benchmark interest rates rise or the yield curve
flattens further as a result of the Federal Reserve’s policy
actions or statements, it would also likely impact the volume of
residential mortgage loans available for purchase in the
marketplace and our ability to compete to acquire residential
mortgage loans as part of our residential mortgage banking
activities. These impacts could result from, among other things, a
lower overall volume of mortgage refinance activity by mortgage
borrowers and an increased level of competition from large
commercial banks that may operate with a lower cost of capital than
we do, including as a result of Federal Reserve monetary policies
that impact banks more favorably than us and other non-bank
institutions. These and other impacts of developments of the type
described above may have a negative impact on our business and
results of operations and we cannot accurately predict the full
extent of these impacts or for how long they may
persist.
Changes in the method pursuant to which LIBOR is determined, or a
discontinuation of LIBOR, may adversely affect the value of the
financial obligations to be held or issued by us that are linked to
LIBOR.
The interest rates on our repurchase agreements, as well as
adjustable-rate mortgage loans in our securitizations, are
generally based on LIBOR, which is subject to recent national,
international, and other regulatory guidance and proposals for
reform or discontinuation. On December 31, 2021, GBP, CHF, EUR and
JPY LIBOR, as well as 1-week and 2-month tenors of USD LIBOR were
discontinued. The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which
regulates LIBOR, has noted in a March 5, 2021 announcement that
June 30, 2023 is the cessation date for the other five tenors
(overnight, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-
month). These reforms or discontinuation events may cause such
benchmarks to perform differently than in the past or have other
consequences which cannot be predicted.
Currently, it is not possible to predict the effect of any such
changes, any establishment of alternative reference rates or any
other reforms to LIBOR that may be implemented in the U.K. or
elsewhere. Uncertainty as to the nature of such potential changes,
alternative reference rates or other reforms may adversely affect
the rates on our repurchase facilities, securitizations or
residential loans held for longer-term investment. If LIBOR is
discontinued or is no longer quoted, the applicable base rate used
to calculate interest on our repurchase agreements will be
determined using alternative methods. In the U.S., the Alternative
Reference Rates Committee, the working group tasked with assisting
in the industry wide transition away from LIBOR, has supported the
FCA’s announcement of USD LIBOR cessation and has recommended the
market adopt the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"). To
accelerate the transition away from LIBOR, the Federal Reserve
Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency issued joint supervisory guidance to
cease entering into new contracts referencing USD LIBOR after
December 31, 2021 (note there are limited exceptions related to
derivative product use). The Federal Reserve Bank of New York began
publishing SOFR rates in April 2018. The market transition away
from LIBOR and towards SOFR is expected to be gradual and
complicated. There are significant differences between LIBOR and
SOFR, such as LIBOR being an unsecured lending rate and SOFR a
secured lending rate, another is SOFR is an overnight rate and
LIBOR reflects term rates at different maturities. While a term
rate is now being published for SOFR, there are restrictions on its
use and continued uncertainty on market adoption of this rate.
These and other differences create the potential for basis risk
between the two rates. The impact of any basis risk difference
between LIBOR and SOFR may negatively affect our net interest
margin. Any of these alternative methods may result in interest
rates that are higher than if the LIBOR Rate was available in its
current form, which would increase our borrowering costs, and could
have a material adverse effect on our net interest margin. In
addition, the manner and timing of the shift is currently unknown.
Market participants are still considering how various types of
financial instruments and securitization vehicles should react to a
discontinuation of LIBOR. It is possible that not all of our assets
and liabilities will transition away from LIBOR at the same time,
and it is possible that not all of our assets and liabilities will
transition to the same alternative reference rate, in each case
increasing the difficulty of hedging. We and other market
participants have less experience understanding and modeling
SOFR-based assets and liabilities than LIBOR-based assets and
liabilities, increasing the difficulty of investing, hedging, and
risk management. The process of transition involves operational
risks. It is also possible that no transition will occur for many
financial instruments.
Although certain of our LIBOR based obligations provide for
alternative methods of calculating the interest rate payable on
certain of our obligations if LIBOR is not reported, which include
requesting certain rates from major reference banks in London or
New York, or alternatively using LIBOR for the immediately
preceding interest period or using the initial interest rate, as
applicable, uncertainty as to the extent and manner of future
changes may result. In addition, there continues to be uncertainty
regarding possible federal legislative solutions for tough legacy
contracts in the U.S., which may impact alternative methods of
calculating the interest rate payable on certain obligations if
LIBOR is not reported.
Holders of our fixed-to-floating preferred shares should refer to
the relevant prospectus to understand the USD-LIBOR cessation
provisions applicable to that class. We do not currently intend to
amend any of our fixed-to-floating preferred shares to change the
existing USD-LIBOR cessation fallbacks. Our fixed-to-floating
preferred shares become callable at the same time they begin to pay
a USD-LIBOR-based rate. Should we choose to call our
fixed-to-floating preferred shares in order to avoid a dispute over
the results of the USD-LIBOR fallbacks, we may be forced to raise
additional funds at an unfavorable time.
Risks Related to our Management and our Relationship with our
Manager and its Affiliates
We are dependent upon our Manager, its affiliates and their key
personnel and may not find a suitable replacement if the management
agreement with our Manager is terminated or such key personnel are
no longer available to us, which would materially and adversely
affect us.
In accordance with our management agreement, we are externally
managed and advised by our Manager, and all of our officers are
employees of Angelo Gordon or its affiliates. We have no separate
facilities, and we have no employees. Pursuant to our management
agreement, our Manager is obligated to supply us with our senior
management team, and the members of that team may have conflicts in
allocating their time and services between us and other entities or
accounts managed by our Manager and its affiliates, now or in the
future, including other Angelo Gordon funds. Substantially all of
our investment, financing and risk management decisions are made by
our Manager and not by us, and our Manager also has significant
discretion as to the implementation of our operating policies and
strategies.
Furthermore, our Manager has the sole discretion to hire and fire
employees, and our Board of Directors and stockholders have no
authority over the individual employees of our Manager or Angelo
Gordon, although our Board of Directors does have
direct
authority over our officers who are supplied by our Manager.
Accordingly, we are completely reliant upon, and our success
depends exclusively on, our Manager’s personnel, services,
resources, facilities, relationships and contacts. No assurance can
be given that our Manager will act in our best interests with
respect to the allocation of personnel, services and resources to
our business.
In addition, the management agreement does not require our Manager
to dedicate specific personnel to us or to require personnel
servicing our business to allocate a specific amount of time to us.
The failure of any of our Manager’s key personnel to service our
business with the requisite time and dedication, or the departure
of such personnel from our Manager, or the failure of our Manager
to attract and retain key personnel, would materially and adversely
affect our ability to execute our business plan.
Further, when there are turbulent conditions in the real estate
industry, distress in the credit markets or other times when we
will need focused support and assistance from our Manager, the
attention of our Manager’s personnel and executive officers and the
resources of Angelo Gordon will also be required by the other funds
and accounts managed by our Manager and its affiliates, placing our
Manager’s resources in high demand. In such situations, we may not
receive the level of support and assistance that we may receive if
we were internally managed or if our Manager and its affiliates did
not act as a manager for other entities. If the management
agreement is terminated and a suitable replacement for our Manager
is not secured in a timely manner or at all, we would likely be
unable to execute our business plan, which would materially and
adversely affect us.
The management agreement was not negotiated on an arm’s length
basis and the terms, including the fees payable to our Manager, may
not be as favorable to us as if the agreement was negotiated with
unaffiliated third-parties.
All of our officers and our non-independent directors are employees
of Angelo Gordon or its affiliates. The management agreement was
negotiated between related parties, and we did not have the benefit
of arm’s length negotiations of the type normally conducted with an
unaffiliated third-party and the terms, including the fees payable
to our Manager, may not be as favorable to us. We may choose not to
enforce, or to enforce less vigorously, our rights under the
management agreement because of our desire to maintain our ongoing
relationship with our Manager.
Our governance and operational structure could result in conflicts
of interest.
Our Manager is managed by Angelo Gordon, whose interests may not
always be aligned with ours or our Manager’s. The employees of
Angelo Gordon that devote time to managing our business may have
conflicting interests between us and Angelo Gordon when managing
our business. Angelo Gordon may decide to sell or transfer an
equity interest in the Manager, which could increase the potential
conflicts.
There are conflicts of interest inherent in our relationship with
our Manager insofar as our Manager and its affiliates invest in
real estate and other securities and loans, and whose investment
objectives overlap with our investment objectives. Certain
investments appropriate for us may also be appropriate for one or
more of these other investment vehicles. Certain employees of our
Manager and its affiliates who are our officers also may serve as
officers and/or directors of these other entities. We may compete
with entities affiliated with our Manager for certain target
assets. From time to time, affiliates of our Manager focus on
investments in assets with a similar profile as our target assets
that we may seek to acquire. These affiliates may have meaningful
purchasing capacity. To the extent such other investment vehicles
acquire or divest of the same target assets as us, the scope of
opportunities otherwise available to us may be adversely affected
and/or reduced.
We have broad investment guidelines, and we have co-invested and
may co-invest with Angelo Gordon funds in a variety of investments.
We also may invest in securities that are senior or junior to
securities owned by funds managed by our Manager or its affiliates.
There can be no assurance that any procedural protection will be
sufficient to assure that these transactions will be made on terms
that will be at least as favorable to us as those that would have
been obtained in an arm’s length transaction.
We are subject to Angelo Gordon’s investment allocation policy,
which specifically addresses some of the conflicts relating to our
investment opportunities. However, there is no assurance that this
policy will be adequate to address all of the conflicts that may
arise, or address such conflicts in a manner that results in the
allocation of a particular investment opportunity to us or is
otherwise favorable to us.
Our Manager and Angelo Gordon and their respective employees also
may have ongoing relationships with the obligors of investments or
the clients’ counterparties and they or their clients may own
equity or other securities or obligations issued by such parties.
In addition, Angelo Gordon, either for its own accounts or for the
accounts of other clients, may hold securities or obligations that
are senior to, or have interests different from or adverse to, the
securities or obligations that are acquired for us. Employees of
our Manager and its affiliates may also invest in other entities
managed by other Angelo Gordon entities which
are eligible to purchase target assets. See Part I, Item 1
"Business - Investment Policies" for additional information related
to target assets. Angelo Gordon or our Manager and their respective
employees may make investment decisions for us that may be
different from those undertaken for their personal accounts or on
behalf of other clients (including the timing and nature of the
action taken). Angelo Gordon and its affiliates may at certain
times simultaneously seek to purchase or sell the same or similar
investments for clients or for themselves. Likewise, our Manager
may on our behalf purchase or sell an investment in which another
Angelo Gordon client or affiliate is already invested or has
co-invested. Such transactions may differ across Angelo Gordon
clients or affiliates. These instances may result in conflicts of
interest, which may adversely affect our operations.
Some of our officers may hold executive or management positions
with other entities managed by affiliates of our Manager, and some
of our officers and directors may own equity interests or limited
partnership interests in such entities. The owners of the Manager
or its affiliates may be entitled to receive profit from the
management fee we pay to our Manager either in the form of
distributions by our Manager or increased value of their ownership
interests (whether direct or indirect) in the Manager. Such
ownership may create, or may create the appearance of, conflicts of
interest when these directors and officers are faced with decisions
that could have different implications for such entities than they
do for us.
We may enter into transactions to purchase or sell investments with
entities or accounts managed by our Manager or its
affiliates.
Our Manager may make, or may be required to make, investment
decisions on our behalf where our trading counterparty is an entity
affiliated with or an account managed by our Manager or its
affiliates, including Arc Home. Although we have adopted an
Affiliated Transactions Policy, which specifically addresses the
requirements of these types of trades, there is no assurance that
this policy will ensure the most favorable outcome for us or will
be adequate to address all of the conflicts that may arise. There
is no assurance that the terms of such transactions would be as
favorable to us as transacting in the open market with unaffiliated
third-parties. As the investment programs of the various entities
and accounts managed by our Manager and its affiliates change over
time, additional issues and considerations may affect our
Affiliated Transactions Policy and our Manager’s expectations with
respect to such transactions, which could adversely affect our
operations.
Our Board of Directors has approved very broad investment policies
for our Manager, may change such policies without stockholder
consent, and does not review or approve each investment or
financing decision made by our Manager.
Our Board of Directors determines our operational policies and may
amend or revise such policies, including our policies with respect
to our REIT qualification, acquisitions, dispositions, operations,
indebtedness and distributions, or approve transactions that
deviate from these policies, without a vote of, or notice to, our
stockholders. Operational policy changes could adversely affect the
market value of our common stock and our ability to make
distributions to our stockholders, such as reduction in the size of
our GAAP investment portfolio. For example, 2020 was marked by
unprecedented conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a
result of and in response to these conditions, the size and
composition of our investment portfolio was significantly reduced
during 2020.
We may also change our investment strategies and policies and
target asset classes at any time without the consent of our
stockholders, which could result in our making investments that are
different in type from, and possibly riskier than, our current
assets or the investments contemplated in this report.
For example, in 2021, we repositioned our investment strategy to
focus primarily on opportunities within the non-agency residential
mortgage market. A change in our investment strategies and policies
and target asset classes may increase our exposure to interest rate
risk, default risk and real estate market fluctuations, which could
adversely affect the market value of our common stock and our
ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Our Manager is authorized to follow very broad investment policies
and, therefore, has great latitude in determining the types of
assets that are proper investments for us, the financing related to
such assets, the allocations among asset classes and individual
investment decisions. In the future, our Manager may make
investments with lower rates of return than those anticipated under
current market conditions or may make investments with greater
risks to achieve those anticipated returns. Our Board of Directors
periodically reviews our investment policies and our investment
portfolio but does not review or approve each proposed investment
by our Manager or the financing related thereto. In addition, in
conducting periodic reviews, our Board of Directors relies
primarily on information provided to it by our Manager.
Furthermore, our Manager may use complex strategies and
transactions that may be costly, difficult or impossible to unwind
by the time they are reviewed by our Board of
Directors.
Our Manager's fee structure may not create proper incentives or may
induce our Manager and its affiliates to make riskier or more
speculative investments, which increase the risk of our
portfolio.
We pay our Manager base management fees on a quarterly basis
regardless of the performance of our portfolio. Our Manager's
entitlement to base management fees, which are based on our
"Stockholders' Equity" (as defined under "— Contractual obligations
— The Management Agreement" in Part II, Item 7), might reduce its
incentive to devote its time and effort to seeking loans or other
investments that provide attractive risk-adjusted returns for our
stockholders and instead may incentivize our Manager to advance
strategies that increase our Stockholders’ Equity, which could, in
turn, adversely affect our ability to make distributions to our
stockholders and the market price of our common stock. There may be
circumstances where increasing our Stockholders’ Equity will not
optimize the returns for our stockholders, and consequently, we
will be required to pay our Manager base management fees in a
particular period despite experiencing a net loss or a decline in
the value of our portfolio during that period. The compensation
payable to our Manager will increase as a result of any future
issuances of our equity securities, even if the issuances are
dilutive to existing stockholders.
In addition, beginning with the 2023 calendar year, our Manager has
the ability to earn an incentive fee that is based, in large part,
upon our achievement of targeted levels of adjusted net income, as
calculated in accordance with the management agreement. In
evaluating asset acquisition and other management strategies, the
opportunity to earn an incentive fee based on adjusted net income
may lead our Manager to place undue emphasis on the maximization of
adjusted net income at the expense of other criteria, such as
preservation of capital, maintaining liquidity, and/or management
of credit risk or market risk, in order to achieve a higher
incentive fee. Assets with higher yield potential are generally
riskier or more speculative. This could result in increased risk to
our portfolio.
In addition, the incentive fee is computed and paid annually
generally on adjusted net income that includes unrealized gains
driven by mark-to-market increases on investments. If the value of
such investments decline prior to a realization event, it is
possible that the unrealized gains previously included in the
calculation of the incentive fee will not be realized. Our Manager
is not under any obligation to reimburse us for any part of the
incentive fee previously received as a result of unrealized gains
that are ultimately not realized.
Our Manager will not be liable to us for any acts or omissions
performed in accordance with the management agreement, including
with respect to the performance of our investments.
Pursuant to our management agreement, our Manager will not assume
any responsibility other than to render the services called for
thereunder in good faith and will not be responsible for any action
of our Board of Directors in following or declining to follow its
advice or recommendations. Our Manager maintains a contractual as
opposed to a fiduciary relationship with us. Our Manager, its
members, managers, officers and employees will not be liable to us
or any of our subsidiaries, to our Board of Directors, or our or
any subsidiary’s stockholders or partners for any act or omission
by our Manager, its members, managers, officers or employees,
except by reason of acts constituting bad faith, willful
misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of our Manager’s
duties under our management agreement. We shall, to the full extent
lawful, reimburse, indemnify and hold our Manager, its members,
managers, officers and employees and each other person, if any,
controlling our Manager harmless of and from any and all expenses,
losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims of any
nature whatsoever (including attorneys’ fees) in respect of or
arising from any act or omission of an indemnified party made in
good faith in the performance of our Manager’s duties under our
management agreement and not constituting such indemnified party’s
bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of our Manager’s duties under our management
agreement.
Termination of our management agreement would be costly and, in
certain cases, not permitted.
It is difficult and costly to terminate the management agreement we
have entered into with our Manager without cause. Our independent
directors review our Manager’s performance and the management fees
annually. The management agreement renews automatically each year
for an additional one-year period, subject to certain termination
rights. As of December 31, 2021, our management agreement has not
been terminated. The management agreement provides that it may be
terminated annually by us without cause upon the affirmative vote
of at least two-thirds of our independent directors or by a vote of
the holders of at least two-thirds of our outstanding common stock,
in each case based upon (i) our Manager’s unsatisfactory
performance that is materially detrimental to us or (ii) our
determination that the management fees payable to our Manager are
not fair, subject to our Manager’s right to prevent termination
based on unfair fees by accepting a reduction of management fees
agreed to by at least two-thirds of our independent directors. Our
Manager must be provided 180-days’ prior notice of any such
termination. We may not terminate or elect not to renew the
management agreement, even in the event of our Manager’s poor
performance, without having to pay substantial termination fees.
Upon any such termination without cause, the management agreement
provides that we will pay our Manager a termination fee equal to
three times the average annual base management fee earned by our
Manager during the 24-month period prior to termination, calculated
as of the end of the most recently
completed fiscal quarter. While under certain circumstances the
obligation to make such a payment might not be enforceable, this
provision may increase the cost to us of terminating the management
agreement and adversely affect our ability to terminate the
management agreement without cause.
Our Manager may terminate our management agreement, which could
materially adversely affect our business.
Our Manager may terminate the management agreement if we become
required to register as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act with termination deemed to occur immediately before
such event, in which case we would not be required to pay a
termination fee to our Manager. Our Manager may decline to renew
the management agreement by providing us with 180 days’ written
notice, in which case we would not be required to pay a termination
fee to our Manager. Our Manager may also terminate the management
agreement upon at least 60 days’ prior written notice if we default
in the performance of any material term of the management agreement
and the default continues for a period of 30 days after written
notice to us, whereupon we would be required to pay to our Manager
the termination fee described above. If the management agreement is
terminated and no suitable replacement is found to manage us, we
may not be able to execute our business plan.
Depository institutions that finance our investments may require
that AG REIT Management, LLC remain as our Manager under the
management agreement and that certain key personnel of our Manager
continue to service our business. If AG REIT Management, LLC ceases
to be our Manager or one or more of our Manager’s key personnel are
no longer servicing our business, it may constitute an event of
default, and the depository institution providing the arrangement
may have acceleration rights with respect to outstanding borrowings
and termination rights with respect to our ability to finance our
future investments with that institution. If we are unable to
obtain financing for our accelerated borrowings and for our future
investments under such circumstances, we may be required to curtail
our asset acquisitions and/or dispose of assets at an inopportune
time.
We have engaged Red Creek Asset Management LLC, an affiliate of our
Manager (the "Asset Manager"), to manage certain of our residential
mortgage loans. The terms of the asset management agreement with
the Asset Manager may not be as favorable to us as if the agreement
was negotiated with unaffiliated third-parties.
In connection with our investments in Non-QM Loans, GSE Non-Owner
Occupied Loans, residential mortgage loans, and Re/Non-Performing
Loans, we engage asset managers to provide advisory, consultation,
asset management and other services to help our third-party
servicers formulate and implement strategic plans to manage,
collect and dispose of loans in a manner that is reasonably
expected to maximize the amount of proceeds from each loan. We
engaged the Asset Manager, an affiliate of the Manager and direct
subsidiary of Angelo Gordon, as the asset manager for certain of
our non-agency loans, agency loans, residential mortgage loans and
Re/Non-Performing Loans. We pay separate arm’s-length asset
management fees as assessed and confirmed by a third-party
valuation firm for (i) Non-QM Loans, (ii) non-performing loans and
(iii) re-performing loans, in each case, to the Asset Manager. The
asset management agreement was negotiated between related parties,
and we did not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiations as we
normally would with unaffiliated third-parties. As such, the terms
may not be as favorable to us as they otherwise might have
been.
Risks Related to Taxation
Our failure to qualify as a REIT would result in higher taxes and
reduced cash available for distribution to our
stockholders.
We operate in a manner that is intended to qualify us as a REIT for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the U.S. federal income
tax laws governing REITs are complex, and interpretations of such
laws are limited. Maintaining our qualification as a REIT requires
us to meet various tests regarding the nature of our assets and our
income, the ownership of our outstanding stock, and the amount of
our distributions on an ongoing basis.
Our ability to satisfy the asset tests depends upon the
characterization and fair values of our assets, some of which are
not susceptible to a precise determination and for which we will
not obtain independent appraisals. Our compliance with the annual
REIT income and quarterly asset requirements also depends upon our
ability to successfully manage the composition of our income and
assets on an ongoing basis. Although we intend to operate so that
we will maintain our qualification as a REIT, no assurance can be
given that we will so qualify for any particular year.
We also own an interest in an entity that has elected to be taxed
as a REIT under the U.S. federal income tax laws, or a "Subsidiary
REIT." The Subsidiary REIT is subject to the same REIT requirements
that are applicable to us. If the Subsidiary REIT were to fail to
qualify as a REIT, then (i) that Subsidiary REIT would become
subject to regular U.S. federal, state and local corporate income
tax, (ii) our interest in such Subsidiary REIT would cease to be a
qualifying asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests, and (iii) it
is possible that we would fail certain of the REIT asset tests, in
which event we also would fail to
qualify as a REIT unless we could avail ourselves of certain relief
provisions. While we believe that the Subsidiary REIT has qualified
as a REIT under the Code, we have joined the Subsidiary REIT in
filing a "protective" TRS election under Section 856(l) of the
Code. We cannot assure you that such "protective" TRS election
would be effective to avoid adverse consequences to us. Moreover,
even if the "protective" election were to be effective, we cannot
assure you that we would not fail to satisfy the requirement that
not more than 20% of the value of our total assets may be
represented by the securities of one or more taxable REIT
subsidiaries ("TRS").
If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any calendar year, we would be
required to pay U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income at
regular corporate rates, and dividends paid to our stockholders
would not be deductible by us in computing our taxable income.
Further, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, we might need to borrow
money or sell assets in order to pay any resulting tax. Our payment
of income tax would decrease the amount of our income available for
distribution to our stockholders. Furthermore, if we fail to
maintain our qualification as a REIT, we no longer would be
required to distribute substantially all of our REIT taxable income
to our stockholders. Unless our failure to qualify as a REIT was
subject to relief under U.S. federal income tax laws, we could not
re-elect to qualify as a REIT for four taxable years following the
year in which we failed to qualify.
Complying with the REIT requirements can be difficult and may cause
us to be forced to liquidate assets or to forego otherwise
attractive opportunities.
To qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we must
continually satisfy tests concerning, among other things, the
sources of our income, the nature and diversification of our
assets, the amounts we distribute to our stockholders and the
ownership of our shares. If we are compelled to liquidate our
investments to repay obligations to our lenders, we may be unable
to comply with these requirements, ultimately jeopardizing our
qualification as a REIT, or we may be subject to a 100% tax on any
resultant gain if we sell assets that are treated as dealer
property or inventory. We may be required to make distributions to
our stockholders at disadvantageous times or when we do not have
funds readily available for distribution, and may be unable to
pursue otherwise attractive investments in order to satisfy the
source-of-income or asset-diversification requirements for
qualifying as a REIT. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements
may hinder our ability to operate solely on the basis of maximizing
profits.
The REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our
ability to execute our business strategies.
We generally must distribute annually at least 90% of our net
taxable income, excluding any net capital gain, in order for
corporate income tax not to apply to earnings that we distribute.
To the extent that we satisfy this distribution requirement, but
distribute less than 100% of our taxable income, we will be subject
to U.S. federal corporate income tax, and may be subject to state
and local income tax on our undistributed taxable income. In
addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax if
the actual amount that we pay out to our stockholders in a calendar
year is less than a minimum amount specified under U.S. federal
income tax laws. We intend to make distributions to our
stockholders to comply with the requirements of the Code and to
avoid paying corporate income tax. However, differences in timing
between the recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of
cash could require us to sell assets or borrow funds on a
short-term or long-term basis to meet the distribution requirements
of the Code.
We may find it difficult or impossible to meet distribution
requirements in certain circumstances. Due to the nature of the
assets in which we invest, we may be required to recognize taxable
income from those assets in advance of our receipt of cash flow on
or proceeds from disposition of such assets. For example, we may be
required to accrue interest and discount income on mortgage loans,
mortgage-backed securities, and other types of debt securities or
interests in debt securities before we receive any payment of
interest or principal on such assets. We may also acquire
distressed debt investments that may be subsequently modified by
agreement with the borrower. If the amendments to the outstanding
debt are "significant modifications" under the applicable Treasury
regulations, the modified debt may be considered to have been
reissued to us at a gain in a debt-for-debt exchange with the
borrower, with gain recognized by us to the extent that the
principal amount of the modified debt exceeds our cost of
purchasing it prior to modification. Finally, we may be required
under the terms of indebtedness that we incur to use cash received
from interest payments to make principal payments on that
indebtedness, with the effect of recognizing income but not having
a corresponding amount of cash available for distribution to our
stockholders.
As a result, to the extent such income is not recognized within a
domestic TRS, the requirement to distribute a substantial portion
of our net taxable income could cause us to: (i) sell assets in
adverse market conditions, (ii) borrow on unfavorable terms, (iii)
distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future
acquisitions, capital expenditures or repayment of debt or (iv)
make a taxable distribution of our shares as part of a distribution
in which stockholders may elect to receive shares or (subject to a
limit measured as a percentage of the total distribution) cash, in
order to comply with REIT requirements. Moreover, if our only
feasible alternative were to make a taxable distribution of our
shares to comply with the REIT
distribution requirements for any taxable year and the value of our
shares was not sufficient at such time to make a distribution to
our stockholders in an amount at least equal to the minimum amount
required to comply with such REIT distribution requirements, we
would generally fail to qualify as a REIT for such taxable year and
would be precluded from being taxed as a REIT for the four taxable
years following the year during which we ceased to qualify as a
REIT.
Even if we qualify as a REIT, we may face tax liabilities that
reduce our cash flow.
Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to
certain U.S. federal, state and local taxes on our income and
assets, including taxes on any undistributed income, tax on income
from certain activities conducted as a result of a foreclosure, and
state or local income, property and transfer taxes, such as
mortgage recording taxes. In addition, in order to meet the REIT
qualification requirements, or to avert the imposition of a 100%
tax that applies to certain gains derived by a REIT from dealer
property or inventory, we may hold certain assets through, and
derive a significant portion of our taxable income and gains in,
TRSs. Such subsidiaries are subject to corporate level income tax
at regular rates. Any of these taxes would decrease cash available
for distribution to our stockholders.
The failure of assets subject to repurchase agreements to be
treated as owned by us for U.S. federal income tax purposes could
adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT.
We have entered and may in the future enter into repurchase
agreements that are structured as sale and repurchase agreements
pursuant to which we nominally sell certain of our assets to a
counterparty and simultaneously enter into an agreement to
repurchase these assets at a later date in exchange for a purchase
price. Economically, these agreements are financings which are
secured by the assets sold pursuant thereto. We believe that we are
treated for REIT asset and income test purposes as the owner of the
assets that are the subject of any such sale and repurchase
agreement notwithstanding that such agreements may transfer record
ownership of the assets to the counterparty during the term of the
agreement. It is possible, however, that the IRS could assert that
we did not own the assets during the term of the sale and
repurchase agreement, in which case we could fail to qualify as a
REIT.
Our ownership of and relationship with our TRSs will be limited,
and a failure to comply with the limits would jeopardize our REIT
status and may result in the application of a 100% excise
tax.
A REIT may own up to 100% of the stock of one or more TRSs. A TRS
may earn income that would not be qualifying income if earned
directly by the parent REIT. Both the subsidiary and the REIT must
jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a TRS. A corporation
(other than a REIT) of which a TRS directly or indirectly owns more
than 35% of the voting power or value of the stock will
automatically be treated as a TRS. Overall, no more than 20% of the
value of a REIT's total assets may consist of stock or securities
of one or more TRSs. A domestic TRS will pay federal, state and
local income tax at regular corporate rates on any income that it
earns. In addition, the TRS rules limit the deductibility of
interest paid or accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT to assure that
the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation,
and in certain circumstances, the ability of our TRSs to deduct net
business interest expenses generally may be limited. The rules also
impose a 100% excise tax on certain transactions between a TRS and
its parent REIT that are not conducted on an arm's-length
basis.
Uncertainty exists with respect to the treatment of TBAs for
purposes of the REIT asset and income tests.
We have purchased and sold and may in the future purchase and sell
Agency RMBS through TBAs and have recognized and may in the future
recognize income or gains from the disposition of those TBAs,
through dollar roll transactions or otherwise. While there is no
direct authority with respect to the qualification of TBAs as real
estate assets or U.S. Government securities for purposes of the
REIT 75% asset test or the qualification of income or gains from
dispositions of TBAs as gains from the sale of real property or
other qualifying income for purposes of the REIT 75% gross income
test, we treat our TBAs under which we contract to purchase a
to-be-announced Agency RMBS ("long TBAs") as qualifying assets for
purposes of the REIT 75% asset test, and we treat income and gains
from our long TBAs as qualifying income for purposes of the REIT
75% gross income test, based on a legal opinion of counsel
substantially to the effect that (i) for purposes of the REIT asset
tests, our ownership of a long TBA should be treated as ownership
of real estate assets, and (ii) for purposes of the REIT 75% gross
income test, any gain recognized by us in connection with the
settlement of our long TBAs should be treated as gain from the sale
or disposition of an interest in mortgages on real property.
Opinions of counsel are not binding on the IRS, and no assurance
can be given that the IRS will not successfully challenge the
conclusions set forth in such opinions. In addition, it must be
emphasized that the opinion of counsel is based on various
assumptions relating to our TBAs and is conditioned upon fact-based
representations and covenants made by our Manager regarding our
TBAs. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert that
such assets or income are not qualifying assets or income. If the
IRS were to successfully challenge the opinion of counsel, we could
be subject to a penalty tax or we could fail to remain qualified as
a REIT if a sufficient portion of our assets consists of TBAs or a
sufficient portion of our income consists of income or gains from
the disposition of TBAs.
New legislation or administrative or judicial action, in each
instance potentially with retroactive effect, could make it more
difficult or impossible for us to qualify as a REIT.
The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of REITs may be
modified, possibly with retroactive effect, by legislative,
judicial or administrative action at any time, which could affect
the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in our
stock. The U.S. federal tax rules that affect REITs are under
review constantly by persons involved in the legislative process,
the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department, which results in
statutory changes as well as frequent revisions to Treasury
regulations and interpretations. In addition, several proposals
have been made that would make substantial changes to the federal
income tax laws generally. We cannot predict whether any of these
proposed changes will become law. Revisions in U.S. federal tax
laws and interpretations thereof could cause us to change our
investments, commitments and strategies, which could also affect
the tax considerations of an investment in our stock.
Complying with the REIT requirements may limit our ability to hedge
effectively.
The REIT provisions of the Code may limit our ability to hedge our
assets and operations. Under current law, any income that we
generate from transactions intended to hedge our interest rate,
inflation or currency risks will be excluded from gross income for
purposes of the REIT 75% and 95% gross income tests if (i) the
instrument hedges risk of interest rate or currency fluctuations on
indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to carry or acquire real
estate assets, (ii) the instrument hedges risk of currency
fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would
be qualifying income under the REIT 75% or 95% gross income tests,
or (iii) the instrument was entered into to "offset" certain
instruments described in clauses (i) or (ii) of this sentence and
certain other requirements are satisfied and such instrument is
properly identified under applicable Treasury Regulations. Income
from hedging transactions that do not meet these requirements may
constitute nonqualifying income for purposes of both the REIT 75%
and 95% gross income tests. As a result of these rules, we may have
to limit our use of hedging techniques that might otherwise be
advantageous to us and could result in greater risks associated
with interest rate fluctuations or other changes than we would
otherwise be able to mitigate.
Certain financing activities may subject us to U.S. federal income
tax and could have negative tax consequences for our
stockholders.
We may enter into securitization transactions and other financing
transactions that could result in us, or a portion of our assets,
being treated as a taxable mortgage pool for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. If we enter into such a transaction in the future, we
could be taxable at the highest corporate income tax rate on a
portion of the income arising from a taxable mortgage pool,
referred to as "excess inclusion income," that is allocable to the
percentage of our shares held in record name by disqualified
organizations (generally tax-exempt entities that are exempt from
the tax on unrelated business taxable income, such as state pension
plans and charitable remainder trusts and government entities). In
that case, we could reduce distributions to such stockholders by
the amount of tax paid by us that is attributable to such
stockholder's ownership.
If we were to realize excess inclusion income, IRS guidance
indicates that the excess inclusion income would be allocated among
our stockholders in proportion to the dividends paid. Excess
inclusion income cannot be offset by losses of a stockholder. If
the stockholder is a tax-exempt entity and not a disqualified
organization, then this income would be fully taxable as unrelated
business taxable income under Section 512 of the Code. If the
stockholder is a foreign person, it would be subject to U.S.
federal income tax at the maximum tax rate and withholding will be
required on this income without reduction or exemption pursuant to
any otherwise applicable income tax treaty.
The tax on prohibited transactions will limit our ability to engage
in transactions, including certain methods of securitizing mortgage
loans, that would be treated as sales for U.S. federal income tax
purposes.
A REIT’s net income from prohibited transactions is subject to a
100% tax with no offset for losses. In general, prohibited
transactions are sales or other dispositions of property, other
than foreclosure property, but including mortgage loans, held
primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.
We might be subject to this tax if we dispose of or securitize
loans in a manner that was treated as a sale of the loans, if we
frequently buy and sell securities or open and close TBA contracts
in a manner that is treated as dealer activity with respect to such
securities or contracts for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Therefore, in order to avoid the prohibited transactions tax, we
may choose to engage in certain sales of loans through a TRS and
not at the REIT level, and may limit the structures we utilize for
our securitization transactions, even though the sales or
structures might otherwise be beneficial to us.
The share ownership limits applicable to us that are imposed by the
Code for REITs, and our charter may restrict our business
combination opportunities.
In order for us to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the
Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding shares may be
owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as
defined in the Code to include certain entities) at any time during
the last half of each taxable year after our first taxable year.
Our charter, with certain exceptions, authorizes our Board of
Directors to take the actions that are necessary or appropriate to
preserve our qualification as a REIT. Under our charter, no person
may own, directly or indirectly, (i) more than 9.8% in value or in
number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our outstanding
common stock or (ii) more than 9.8% in value or in number of
shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our outstanding capital
stock. However, our Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion,
grant an exemption to the share ownership limits (prospectively or
retrospectively), subject to certain conditions and the receipt by
our board of certain representations and undertakings. The share
ownership limit is based upon direct or indirect ownership by
"persons," which is defined to include entities and certain groups
of stockholders. Our share ownership limits might delay or prevent
a transaction or a change in our control that might involve a
premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best
interests of our stockholders.
The constructive ownership rules contained in our charter are
complex and may cause the outstanding shares owned by a group of
related individuals or entities to be deemed to be constructively
owned by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of
less than these percentages of the outstanding shares by an
individual or entity could cause that individual or entity to own
constructively in excess of these percentages of the outstanding
shares and thus violate the share ownership limits. Any attempt to
own or transfer our common stock or preferred shares in excess of
the share ownership limits without the consent of our Board of
Directors or in a manner that would cause us to be "closely held"
under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the
shares are held during the last half of a taxable year) will result
in the shares being deemed to be transferred to a director for a
charitable trust or, if the transfer to the charitable trust is not
automatically effective to prevent a violation of the share
ownership limits or the restrictions on ownership and transfer of
our shares, any such transfer of our shares will be void
ab initio.
Further, any transfer of our shares that would result in our shares
being held by fewer than 100 persons will be void
ab initio.
There may be tax consequences to any modifications to our
borrowings, our hedging transactions and other contracts to replace
references to LIBOR.
The publication of LIBOR rates may be discontinued by 2023. We are
parties to loan agreements with LIBOR-based interest rates and
derivatives with LIBOR-based terms used for hedging. We may have to
renegotiate such LIBOR-based instruments to replace references to
LIBOR. Under current law, certain modifications of terms of
LIBOR-based instruments may have tax consequences, including deemed
taxable exchanges of the pre-modification instrument for the
modified instrument. On January 4, 2022 the US Internal Revenue
Service and Department of Treasury published the final regulations
(“Final Regulations”) providing guidance on the tax consequences of
the discontinuation of LIBOR and certain other interbank offered
rates (“IBORs”). The Final Regulations allow for the treatment of
certain modifications to be deemed non-taxable events.
We intend to migrate to a post-LIBOR environment without
recognizing taxable income from deemed taxable exchanges in excess
of our economic income or suffering other adverse tax consequences,
but there can be no assurance that we succeed in such
efforts.
Risks Related to our Organization and Structure
Loss of our exemption from regulation under the Investment Company
Act would impose significant limits on our operations, which would
negatively affect the value of shares of our common stock and our
ability to distribute cash to our stockholders.
We conduct our operations so neither we nor any of our subsidiaries
are required to register as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act. Under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment
Company Act, a company is an investment company if it is, or holds
itself out as being, engaged primarily, or proposes to engage
primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in
securities. Under Section 3(a)(1)(C) of the Investment Company Act,
a company is deemed to be an investment company if it is engaged,
or proposes to engage, in the business of investing, reinvesting,
owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or proposes to
acquire "investment securities" having a value exceeding 40% of the
value of its total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities
and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis (the "40% test").
"Investment securities" do not include, among other things, U.S.
government securities, and securities issued by majority-owned
subsidiaries that (i) are not investment companies and (ii) are not
relying on the exceptions from the definition of investment company
provided by Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company
Act (the so called "private investment company" exemptions). We
believe that we are not an investment company as defined in Section
3(a)(1)(A) or 3(a)(1)(C).
The operations of many of our wholly-owned or majority-owned
subsidiaries are generally conducted so that they are exempted from
investment company status in reliance upon Section 3(c)(5)(C) of
the Investment Company Act. Our interests in those subsidiaries do
not constitute "investment securities" for purposes of Section
3(a)(1)(C). Section 3(c)(5)(C) exempts from the definition of
"investment company" entities “primarily engaged in the business of
purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and
interests in real estate.” The staff of the SEC generally requires
an entity relying on Section 3(c)(5)(C) to invest at least 55% of
its portfolio in "qualifying assets" (the “55% test”) and at least
another 25% in additional qualifying assets or in "real
estate-related" assets (the “80% test”) (with no more than 20%
comprised of miscellaneous assets). To the extent that our direct
subsidiaries qualify only for either Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7)
exemptions from the Investment Company Act, we limit our holdings
in those kinds of entities so that, together with other investment
securities, we satisfy the 40% test. Although we continuously
monitor our and our subsidiaries’ portfolios on an ongoing basis to
determine compliance with that test, there can be no assurance that
we will be able to maintain the exemptions from registration for us
and each of our subsidiaries.
The method we use to classify our and our subsidiaries’ assets for
purposes of the Investment Company Act is based in large measure
upon no-action positions taken by the SEC staff. These no-action
positions were issued in accordance with factual situations that
may be substantially different from the factual situations we may
face, and a number of these no-action positions were issued decades
ago. No assurance can be given that the SEC or its staff will
concur with our classification of our or our subsidiaries’ assets.
In August 2011, the SEC solicited public comment on a wide range of
issues relating to Section 3(c)(5)(C), including the nature of the
assets that qualify for purposes of the exemption and leverage used
by mortgage-related vehicles. There can be no assurance that the
laws and regulations governing the Investment Company Act status of
companies primarily owning real estate-related assets, including
more specific or different guidance regarding these exemptions from
the SEC, will not change in a manner that adversely affects our
operations. To the extent of such additional guidance regarding
Section 3(c)(5)(C) or any of the other matters bearing upon the
definition of investment company and the exceptions to that
definition, we may be required to adjust our investment strategy
accordingly.
Qualification for exemption from the definition of an investment
company under the Investment Company Act limits our ability to make
certain investments. For example, these restrictions limit our and
our subsidiaries’ ability to invest directly in mortgage-related
securities that represent less than the entire ownership in a pool
of mortgage loans, debt and equity tranches of securitizations,
certain real estate companies or assets not related to real estate.
If we fail to qualify for these exemptions, or the SEC determines
that companies that invest in RMBS are no longer able to rely on
these exemptions, we could be required to restructure our
activities in a manner that, or at a time when, we would not
otherwise choose to do so, or we may be required to register as an
investment company under the Investment Company Act. Either of
these outcomes could negatively affect the value of shares of our
stock and our ability to make distributions to our
stockholders.
If we were required to register with the CFTC as a Commodity Pool
Operator, it could materially adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading
Commission, or the CFTC, was given jurisdiction over the regulation
of swaps. Under rules implemented by the CFTC, companies that
utilize swaps as part of their business model, including many
mortgage REITs, may be deemed to fall within the statutory
definition of Commodity Pool Operator, or CPO, and, absent relief
from the CFTC’s Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight,
may be required to register with the CFTC as a CPO. As a result of
numerous requests for no-action relief from CPO registration, in
December 2012 the CFTC issued no-action relief entitled "No-Action
Relief from the Commodity Pool Operator Registration Requirement
for Commodity Pool Operators of Certain Pooled Investment Vehicles
Organized as Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts," which permits
a CPO to receive relief from registration requirements by filing a
claim stating that the CPO meets the criteria specified in the
no-action letter. We submitted a claim for relief within the
required time period and believe we meet the criteria for such
relief. There can be no assurance, however, that the CFTC will not
modify or withdraw the no-action letter in the future or that we
will be able to continue to satisfy the criteria specified in the
no-action letter in order to qualify for relief from CPO
registration. If we were required to register as a CPO in the
future or change our business model to ensure that we can continue
to satisfy the requirements of the no-action relief, it could
materially and adversely affect our financial condition, our
results of operations and our ability to operate our
business.
Certain provisions of Maryland law could inhibit a change in our
control.
Certain provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or the
MGCL, may have the effect of inhibiting a third-party from making a
proposal to acquire us or of impeding a change in our control under
circumstances that otherwise could provide the holders of our
common stock with the opportunity to realize a premium over the
then prevailing market price of such shares.
•We
are subject to the "business combination" provisions of the MGCL
that, subject to limitations, prohibit certain business
combinations between us and an "interested stockholder" (defined
generally as any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the
voting power of our then outstanding voting shares or an affiliate
or associate of ours who, at any time within the two-year period
prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or
more of the voting power of our then outstanding voting shares) or
an affiliate thereof for five years after the most recent date on
which the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder and,
thereafter, imposes special stockholder voting requirements to
approve these combinations unless the consideration being received
by common stockholders satisfies certain conditions. Pursuant to
the statute, our Board of Directors has, by resolution, exempted
business combinations between us and any other person, provided
that the business combination is first approved by our Board of
Directors. This resolution, however, may be altered or repealed in
whole or in part at any time. The "control share" provisions of the
MGCL provide that a holder of "control shares" of a Maryland
corporation (defined as shares which, when aggregated with all
other shares controlled by the stockholder, entitle the stockholder
to exercise one of three increasing ranges of voting power in the
election of directors) acquired in a "control share acquisition"
(defined as the acquisition of "control shares," subject to certain
exceptions) has no voting rights with respect to those shares
except to the extent approved by our stockholders by the
affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all the votes entitled
to be cast on the matter, excluding votes entitled to be cast by
the acquirer of control shares, and by our officers and our
directors who are also our employees. Our bylaws contain a
provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any
and all acquisitions by any person of our shares. There can be no
assurance that this provision will not be amended or eliminated in
the future.
•The
"unsolicited takeover" provisions of the MGCL permit our Board of
Directors, without stockholder approval and regardless of what is
currently provided in our charter or bylaws, to implement certain
takeover defenses, such as a classified board, some of which we do
not yet have.
Our rights and the rights of our stockholders to take action
against our directors and officers are limited, which could limit
your recourse in the event of actions taken not in your best
interest.
Our charter limits the liability of our present and former
directors and officers to us and to our stockholders for money
damages to the maximum extent permitted under Maryland law. Under
current Maryland law, our present and former directors and officers
will not have any liability to us or our stockholders for money
damages other than liability resulting from:
•actual
receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or
services; or
•active
and deliberate dishonesty by the director or officer that was
established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of
action.
Our charter authorizes us, and our bylaws require us, to indemnify,
and advance expenses to, each present and former director or
officer, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, in the
defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened
to be made, a party by reason of his or her service to us. As a
result, we and our stockholders may have more limited rights
against our present and former directors and officers than might
otherwise exist absent the current provisions in our charter and
bylaws or that might exist with other companies.
Other Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
Investing in our common stock may involve a high degree of risk.
Investors in our common stock may experience losses, volatility,
and poor liquidity, and we may reduce our dividends in a variety of
circumstances.
An investment in our common stock may involve a high degree of
risk, particularly when compared to other types of investments.
Risks related to the economy, the financial markets, our industry,
our investing activity, our other business activities, our
financial results, the amount of dividends we pay, the manner in
which we conduct our business, and the way we have structured our
operations could result in a reduction in, or the elimination of,
the value of our common stock. The level of risk associated with an
investment in our common stock may not be suitable for the risk
tolerance of many investors. Investors may experience volatile
returns and material losses. In addition, the trading volume of our
common stock (i.e., its liquidity) may be insufficient to allow
investors to sell their common stock when they want to or at a
price they consider reasonable. Further, limited liquidity in the
trading market for our common stock could adversely impact our
ability to raise capital through future equity offerings that we
may pursue in order to continue to grow our business.
Our earnings, cash flows, book value, and dividends can be volatile
and difficult to predict. Investors in our common stock should not
rely on our estimates, projections, or predictions, or on
management’s beliefs about future events. In particular, the
sustainability of our earnings and our cash flows will depend on
numerous factors, including our level of business and investment
activity, our access to debt and equity financing, the returns we
earn, the amount and timing of credit losses,
prepayments, the expense of running our business, and other
factors, including the risk factors described herein. As a
consequence, although we seek to pay a regular common stock
dividend that is sustainable, we may reduce our regular dividend
rate, or stop paying dividends, in the future for a variety of
reasons. We may not provide public warnings of dividend reductions
prior to their occurrence. Changes to the amount of dividends we
pay may result in a reduction in the value of our common
stock.
Future sales of our common stock by us or by our officers and
directors may have adverse consequences for investors.
We may issue additional shares of common stock, or securities
convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of common stock, in
public offerings or private placements, and holders of our
outstanding convertible notes or exchangeable securities may
convert those securities into shares of common stock. In addition,
we may issue additional shares of common stock to participants in
any direct stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan we may
establish and to our directors, officers, and employees of our
Manager under any employee stock purchase plan we may establish,
our equity incentive plan, or other similar plans, including upon
the exercise of, or in respect of, distributions on equity awards
previously granted thereunder. We are not required to offer any
such shares to existing shareholders on a preemptive basis.
Therefore, it may not be possible for existing shareholders to
participate in future share issuances, which may dilute existing
shareholders’ interests in us. In addition, if market participants
buy shares of common stock, or securities convertible into, or
exchangeable for, shares of common stock, in issuances by us in the
future, it may reduce or eliminate any purchases of our common
stock they might otherwise make in the open market, which in turn
could have the effect of reducing the volume of shares of our
common stock traded in the marketplace, which could have the effect
of reducing the market price and liquidity of our common
stock.
As of February 22, 2022, our directors, executive officers and our
Manager beneficially owned, in the aggregate, approximately 5.6% of
our common stock (including approximately 4% held by our directors
and executive officers). Sales of shares of our common stock by our
directors and officers are generally required to be publicly
reported and are tracked by many market participants as a factor in
making their own investment decisions. As a result, future sales by
these individuals or our Manager could negatively affect the market
price of our common stock.
We have not established a minimum distribution payment level and we
cannot assure you of our ability to pay distributions in the
future.
We are generally required to distribute to our stockholders at
least 90% of our REIT taxable income (excluding net capital gain
and without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) each year
for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, which requirement we
have historically satisfied through quarterly distributions of all
or substantially all of our REIT taxable income in such year,
subject to certain adjustments.
In the year ended December 31, 2021, we declared $14.6 million of
cash dividends on our common stock, representing aggregate
dividends of $0.81 per share. However, as a result of the impact of
the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, during 2020, we suspended
dividends to stockholders beginning in the first quarter 2020 and
resumed dividends to stockholders in the fourth quarter 2020. As a
result, for 2020, cash dividends declared on our common stock were
$1.2 million, representing aggregate dividends of $0.09 per
share.
Our ability to continue to pay quarterly dividends in the future
may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including the
risk factors described in this report. Further, we may consider
paying future dividends, if at all, in shares of common stock,
cash, or a combination of shares of common stock and cash. Any
decision regarding the composition of such dividends would be made
following an analysis and review of our liquidity, including our
cash balances and cash flows, at the time of payment of the
dividend. For example, we may determine to distribute shares of
common stock in lieu of cash, or in combination with cash, in
respect of our dividend obligations, which, among other things,
could result in dilution to existing stockholders.
Under IRS guidance, “publicly offered” REITs (i.e., REITs required
to file annual and periodic reports with the SEC under the Exchange
Act) are also permitted to make elective cash/stock dividends
(i.e., dividends paid in a mixture of stock and cash), with a
minimum percentage of the total distribution being paid in cash, to
satisfy their REIT distribution requirements. Taxable stockholders
receiving such distributions will be required to include the full
amount of the distribution as ordinary income to the extent of our
current and accumulated earnings and profits for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. As a result, common stockholders may be
required to pay income taxes with respect to such dividends in
excess of cash received. If a U.S. stockholder sells the common
stock that it receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the
sale proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with
respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of our
common stock at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to
certain non-U.S. stockholders, we or the applicable withholding
agent may be required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to such
dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such
dividend that is payable in
common stock. In addition, if a significant number of our
stockholders determine to sell shares of our common stock in order
to pay taxes owed on dividends, it may put downward pressure on the
trading price of our common stock.
The market price of our common stock has been and may continue to
be volatile and holders of our common stock could lose all or a
significant portion of their investment due to drops in the market
price of our common stock.
The market price of our common stock has been and may continue to
be volatile. Our stockholders may not be able to resell their
common stock at or above the implied price at which they acquired
such common stock or otherwise due to fluctuations in the market
price of our common stock, including changes in market price caused
by factors unrelated to our operating performance or prospects.
Additionally, volatility and other factors may induce stockholder
activism, which has been increasing in publicly traded companies in
recent years, and could materially disrupt our business, operations
and ability to make distributions to our stockholders. Specific
factors that may have a significant effect on the market price of
our common stock include, among others, the following:
•Our
actual or anticipated financial condition, performance, and
prospects and those of our competitors.
•The
market for similar securities issued by other REITs and other
competitors of ours.
•Changes
in the manner that investors and securities analysts who provide
research to the marketplace on us analyze the value of our common
stock.
•Changes
in recommendations or in estimated financial results published by
securities analysts who provide research to the marketplace on us,
our competitors, or our industry.
•General
economic and financial market conditions, including, among other
things, actual and projected interest rates, prepayments, and
credit performance and the markets for the types of assets we hold
or invest in.
•Changes
in our dividend policy.
•Proposals
to significantly change the manner in which financial markets,
financial institutions, and related industries, or financial
products are regulated under applicable law, or the enactment of
such proposals into law or regulation.
•Reactions
to public announcements by us.
•Sales
of common stock by us, our Manager, members of our management team
or significant stockholders.
•Other
events or circumstances which undermine confidence in the financial
markets or otherwise have a broad impact on financial markets, such
as the sudden instability or collapse of large financial
institutions or other significant corporations (whether due to
fraud or other factors), terrorist attacks, natural or man-made
disasters, the outbreak of pandemic or epidemic disease, or
threatened or actual armed conflicts.
Furthermore, these fluctuations do not always relate directly to
the financial performance of the companies for which stock prices
may be affected. As a result of these and other factors, investors
who own our common stock could experience a decrease in the value
of their investment, including decreases unrelated to our financial
results or prospects.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
As of December 31, 2021, we did not own any real estate or
other physical property materially important to our operations. Our
principal executive offices are located at 245 Park Avenue, 26th
Floor, New York, New York 10167. Our telephone number is (212)
692-2000.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are at times subject to various legal proceedings and claims
arising in the ordinary course of our business. In addition, in the
ordinary course of business, we can be and are involved in
governmental and regulatory examinations, information gathering
requests, investigations and proceedings. As of the date of this
report, we are not party to any litigation or legal proceedings, or
to our knowledge, any threatened litigation or legal proceedings,
which we believe, individually or in the aggregate, would have a
material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial
condition.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY
SECURITIES
Market and dividend information
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)
under the symbol "MITT." As of February 17, 2022, there were
23,915,293 shares of common stock outstanding and approximately 37
registered holders of our common stock. The 37 holders of record
include Cede & Co., which holds shares as nominee for The
Depository Trust Company, which itself holds shares on behalf of
the beneficial owners of our common stock. Such information was
obtained through our registrar and transfer agent, based on the
results of a broker search.
The following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, the high
and low sale price of our common stock as reported on the NYSE and
the dividends declared per share of our common stock. All per share
amounts below have been adjusted to reflect the one-for-three
reverse stock split effected July 22, 2021.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales Prices |
2021 |
High |
|
Low |
First Quarter |
$ |
14.88 |
|
|
$ |
8.31 |
|
Second Quarter |
14.85 |
|
|
10.61 |
|
Third Quarter |
13.05 |
|
|
9.81 |
|
Fourth Quarter |
13.49 |
|
|
9.94 |
|
|
|
|
|
2020 |
High |
|
Low |
First Quarter |
$ |
50.10 |
|
|
$ |
6.00 |
|
Second Quarter |
23.67 |
|
|
4.38 |
|
Third Quarter |
11.09 |
|
|
7.56 |
|
Fourth Quarter |
10.98 |
|
|
7.54 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Declaration Date |
|
Record Date |
|
Payment Date |
|
Dividend Per Share |
3/22/2021 |
|
4/1/2021 |
|
4/30/2021 |
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
6/15/2021 |
|
6/30/2021 |
|
7/30/2021 |
|
0.21 |
|
9/15/2021 |
|
9/30/2021 |
|
10/29/2021 |
|
0.21 |
|
12/15/2021 |
|
12/31/2021 |
|
1/31/2022 |
|
0.21 |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.81 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Declaration Date |
|
Record Date |
|
Payment Date |
|
Dividend Per Share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/22/2020 |
|
12/31/2020 |
|
1/29/2021 |
|
$ |
0.09 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Although we intend to continue to declare quarterly dividends, no
assurances can be made as to the amount of any future dividend. We
have not established a minimum dividend payment level and our
ability to pay dividends may be adversely affected for the reasons
described under the caption "Risk Factors," among others. The
declaration of any future dividends by us is within the discretion
of our Board of Directors and will be dependent upon, among other
things, our earnings, our financial condition, Maryland law, and
our capital requirements, as well as any other factor deemed
relevant by our Board of Directors. Two principal factors in
determining the amounts of dividends are (i) the requirement of the
Code that a real estate investment trust distribute to shareholders
at least 90% of its real estate investment trust taxable income and
(ii) the amount of our available cash.
Repurchase Program
On November 3, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a
stock repurchase program ("Repurchase Program") to repurchase up to
$25.0 million of the Company's outstanding common stock. Such
authorization does not have an expiration date. As part of the
Repurchase Program, shares may be purchased in open market
transactions, including through block purchases, through privately
negotiated transactions, or pursuant to any trading plan that may
be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act. The
following table presents information related to our purchases of
our common stock during the year ended December 31,
2021:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Period (1) |
|
Total Number of Shares Purchased |
|
Weighted Average Price Paid per Share (2) |
|
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced
Program (3) |
|
Maximum Approximate Dollar Value that May Yet Be Purchased Under
the Program (4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
August 1, 2021 to August 31, 2021 |
|
150,870 |
|
|
$ |
10.72 |
|
|
398,006 |
|
$ |
12,980,553 |
|
September 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021 |
|
107,885 |
|
|
11.39 |
|
|
505,891 |
|
11,751,409 |
|
October 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021 |
|
61,104 |
|
|
11.59 |
|
|
566,995 |
|
11,043,506 |
|
Total |
|
319,859 |
|
|
$ |
11.11 |
|
|
566,995 |
|
|
$ |
11,043,506 |
|
(1)Based
on trade date. The Repurchase Program was announced on November 4,
2015 and does not have an expiration date.
(2)Includes
brokerage commissions and clearing fees.
(3)Amounts
have been adjusted to reflect the one-for-three reverse stock split
effected July 22, 2021.
(4)The
maximum dollar amount authorized was
$25.0 million.
ITEM 6. RESERVED
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion contains forward-looking statements and
should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial
statements and the accompanying notes to our consolidated financial
statements, which are included in this report.
Our company
We are a residential mortgage REIT with a focus on investing in a
diversified risk-adjusted portfolio of residential mortgage-related
assets in the U.S. mortgage market. Our objective is to provide
attractive risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders over the
long-term, primarily through dividends and capital
appreciation.
Our investment activities primarily include acquiring and
securitizing newly-originated residential mortgage loans within the
growing non-agency segment of the housing market. We obtain our
assets through Arc Home, our residential mortgage loan originator
in which we own an approximate 44.6% interest, and through other
third-party origination partners. We finance our acquired loans
through various financing lines on a short-term basis and utilize
Angelo Gordon’s proprietary securitization platform to secure
long-term, non-recourse, non-mark-to-market financing as market
conditions permit. Through our ownership in Arc Home, we also have
exposure to mortgage banking activities. Arc Home is a
multi-channel licensed mortgage originator and servicer primarily
engaged in the business of originating and selling residential
mortgage loans while retaining the mortgage servicing rights
associated with the loans that it originates.
Our investment portfolio (which excludes our ownership in Arc Home)
includes Residential Investments and Agency RMBS. Currently, our
Residential Investments primarily consist of Non-QM Loans and GSE
Non-Owner Occupied Loans. We may also invest in other types of
residential mortgage loans and other mortgage related
assets.
We were incorporated in Maryland on March 1, 2011 and commenced
operations in July 2011. We conduct our operations to qualify and
be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We also
operate our business in a manner that permits us to maintain our
exemption from registration under the Investment Company
Act.
We are externally managed by our Manager, an affiliate of Angelo
Gordon, pursuant to a management agreement. Our Manager has
delegated to Angelo Gordon the overall responsibility of its
day-to-day duties and obligations arising under the management
agreement. Angelo Gordon is a leading privately-held alternative
investment firm focusing on credit and real estate
strategies.
Executive summary
During the year ended 2021, we focused on executing our mission to
become a pure-play residential mortgage REIT by simplifying our
portfolio through exiting all of our commercial investments,
growing our portfolio of newly-originated non-agency loans, and
increasing our pace of securitization activity in order to obtain
long-term, non-recourse financing without mark-to-market margin
calls. During 2021, we significantly increased the size of our
investment portfolio and also completed five Non-QM securitizations
through Angelo Gordon's proprietary securitization platform.
Further, we focused on strengthening our capital base by entering
into various financing facilities and raising capital in order to
provide for continued growth and execution of our business
strategy. Subsequent to year end, we continued to grow our
portfolio of newly-originated non-agency loans and completed two
additional securitizations. See below for detail on these
activities during 2021 and subsequent to year end.
Investment Activity
•Purchased
$2.5 billion of Non-QM Loans and GSE Non-Owner Occupied Loans,
$833.4 million of which were purchased from Arc Home;
•Participated
in two rated securitizations alongside other Angelo Gordon funds in
which Non-QM Loans with a fair value of $397.3 million were
securitized. Certain senior tranches in the securitization were
sold to third parties with us and private funds under the
management of Angelo Gordon retaining the subordinate
tranches;
◦$171.4
million were securitized through our unconsolidated ownership
interest in MATT, in which we have an approximate 44.6%
interest;
◦$225.9
million were securitized alongside one private fund under the
management of Angelo Gordon and we contributed approximately 41% of
the underlying loans;
•Sold
Non-Agency RMBS for gross proceeds of $44.6 million;
•Exited
remaining commercial investments;
◦Received
gross proceeds of
$148.4 million
from the full repayment or sales of our Commercial Loans, inclusive
of receiving all accrued or deferred interest outstanding;
and
◦Sold
our remaining CMBS portfolio for gross proceeds of $67.7
million.
Financing Activity
•Executed
three rated securitizations in which Non-QM Loans with a fair value
of $880.9 million were securitized, converting financing from
recourse financing with mark-to-market margin calls to non-recourse
financing without mark-to-market margin calls;
•Entered
into certain financing arrangements with a maximum uncommitted
borrowing capacity of $2.3 billion to finance non-agency mortgage
loans, of which approximately $1.0 billion of the maximum
uncommitted borrowing capacity remains available as of December 31,
2021; and
•Repaid
$10 million secured note and accrued interest to our Manager upon
maturity on March 31, 2021.
Capital Activity
•Completed
a public offering issuing 8.1 million shares of common stock for
net proceeds of approximately $80.0 million after deducting
estimated offering expenses;
•Utilized
ATM program to issue 1.0 million shares of common stock, raising
net proceeds of approximately $13.1 million;
•Repurchased
0.3 million shares of common stock for $3.6 million;
•Entered
into two privately negotiated exchange offers with existing holders
of our preferred stock, issuing 1.4 million shares of common stock
in exchange for 0.7 million shares of preferred stock;
and
•Implemented
a reverse stock split primarily to decrease volatility in trading
for our common stock. The reverse stock split was effective
following the close of business on July 22, 2021 (the "Effective
Time"). At the Effective Time, every three issued and outstanding
shares of our common stock was converted into one share of common
stock. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the
reverse stock split. Instead, each stockholder holding fractional
shares was entitled to receive, in lieu of such fractional shares,
cash in an amount determined based on the closing price of our
common stock on the date of the Effective Time.
Subsequent Event Activity
•Purchased
$519.0 million of non-agency mortgage loans, inclusive Non-QM
Loans, GSE Non-Owner Occupied Loans, and other qualifying mortgage
loans. $233.0 million of these non-agency mortgage loans were
purchased from Arc Home;
•Participated
in our first rated securitization of GSE Non-Owner Occupied Loans,
in which loans with a fair value of $474.9 million were
securitized;
•Participated
in a rated securitization in which Non-QM Loans with a fair value
of $301.7 million were securitized; and
•Announced
that on February 18, 2022 our Board of Directors declared first
quarter 2022 preferred stock dividends on our Series A Preferred
Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, and Series C Preferred Stock in
the amount of $0.51563, $0.50 and $0.50 per share, respectively.
The dividends will be paid on March 17, 2022 to holders of record
on February 28, 2022.
Presentation of investment, financing and hedging
activities
In the "Investment activities," "Financing activities," "Hedging
activities" and "Liquidity and capital resources" sections of this
Part II, Item 7, we present information on our investment portfolio
and the related financing arrangements inclusive of unconsolidated
ownership interests in affiliates that are accounted for under GAAP
using the equity method. Our investment portfolio excludes our
investment in Arc Home.
Our investment portfolio and the related financing arrangements are
presented along with a reconciliation to GAAP. This presentation of
our investment portfolio is consistent with how our management team
evaluates the business, and we believe this presentation, when
considered with the GAAP presentation, provides supplemental
information useful for investors in evaluating our investment
portfolio and financial condition. See Note 2 to the "Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements" for a discussion of investments
in debt and equity of affiliates. See below for further terms used
when describing our investment portfolio.
•Our
"Investment portfolio"
includes Agency RMBS and our credit portfolio.
•Our
"Credit portfolio"
or
"credit investments"
refer to our residential investments, inclusive of loans and credit
securities.
◦"Loans"
refer to our Non-QM Loans and Re/Non-Performing Loans, exclusive of
retained tranches from unconsolidated securitizations, GSE
Non-Owner Occupied Loans, and Land Related Financing.
◦"Credit
securities"
refer to the retained tranches from unconsolidated securitizations
of Non-QM Loans and Re/Non-Performing Loans.
•"Real
estate securities"
refers to our Agency RMBS and our credit securities.
•Our
"GAAP Investment portfolio"
includes Agency RMBS and our GAAP Credit portfolio.
•Our
"GAAP Credit portfolio"
refers to our credit portfolio exclusive of all investments held
within affiliated entities.
For a reconciliation of our Investment portfolio to our GAAP
Investment portfolio, see the GAAP Investment Portfolio
Reconciliation Table below.
Special Note Regarding COVID-19 Pandemic
In March 2020, the global pandemic associated with COVID-19 and the
related economic conditions caused financial and mortgage-related
asset markets to come under extreme duress, resulting in credit
spread widening, a sharp decrease in interest rates and
unprecedented illiquidity in repurchase agreement financing and MBS
markets. The illiquidity was exacerbated by inadequate demand for
MBS among primary dealers due to balance sheet constraints. Refer
to the "Financing activities–Forbearance and Reinstatement
Agreements" section below for further details related to the impact
these economic conditions had on us.
Although market conditions improved during 2021, the COVID-19
pandemic is ongoing with new variants emerging despite growing
vaccination rates. As a result, the full impact of COVID-19
(including the impact of any significant variants) on the mortgage
REIT industry, credit markets, and, consequently, on our financial
condition and results of operations for future periods remains
uncertain. Future developments with respect to the COVID-19
pandemic, including among others, the emergence of new variants,
the effectiveness and durability of current vaccines and government
stimulus measures, could materially and adversely affect our
business, operations, operating results, financial condition,
liquidity, or capital levels.
Market Conditions
During 2021, the financial markets generally continued their
recovery from the unprecedented dislocation caused by the COVID-19
pandemic and the resulting economic shutdown across much of the
U.S. economy. In addition, mortgage and housing fundamentals
continued to be favorable throughout the year. Delinquency and
forbearance rates continued to decline and home prices reached
another record high, rising 19.1% year-over-year. Limited
availability of homes against fundamentally strong housing demand
has been a driving factor for persistent home price appreciation.
Other fundamentals continued to be favorable due to strong labor
conditions and residual support from federal stimulus and payment
accommodations, whose positive effects should persist into 2022.
Some near-term headwinds could be created by the term-driven
expiration of mortgage payment forbearance, resumption of
foreclosure activity and sunset of other relief programs. However,
we believe these risks should be offset by strong demand for labor,
rising collateral prices and persistently tight new mortgage
underwriting, the latter of which remains near 2014 levels,
according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Non-Agency Loans and Securitizations:
Non-QM securitization issuance topped $10 billion in a record
quarter for the sector driven by strong origination volume as well
as older vintages exiting their respective non-call windows Annual
issuance also hit a record at approximately $25 billion, which was
in line with the market’s expectations for 2020 prior to the
COVID-19 pandemic disruption. Despite the amount of supply in the
market during the fourth quarter, execution was orderly with
spreads slightly widening. The prospect of raising rates did bring
about concerns on extension risk among buyers of the most senior
bonds, causing issuers to transition from pro-rata capital
structures to sequential capital structures. Non-QM loan volumes
remained elevated, with some originators doubling their monthly
production over the course of 2021. During the third quarter, an
increased amount of agency-eligible mortgage loans backed by
investment properties and second homes were being issued into the
Private Label Securities ("PLS") market as originators looked for
liquidity away from the GSE’s as a result of amendments made to the
Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement between Treasury and the GSEs
earlier in the year. However these volumes declined during the
fourth quarter as originators returned to delivering most, if not
all, of their production back to the GSEs due to the September 14,
2020 suspension of certain amendments made to the Preferred Stock
Purchase Agreement.
Agency RMBS:
Despite the Federal Reserve’s commencement of tapering its monthly
bond purchases during the fourth quarter, spreads on Agency RMBS
modestly tightened. Valuations continued to be supported by bank
demand, moderating supply, and strong carry due to persistent
specialness of TBA dollar roll income. Payups on specified pools
have also held steady as holders of TBA rotate into specified pools
in anticipation of a shrinking Federal Reserve presence and
subsequent weakening of TBA dollar roll income. Post year-end
however, spreads have begun to widen in response to the Federal
Reserve communicating its desire to begin winding down their
balance sheet earlier than the market had anticipated.
Non-Agency RMBS:
Spreads for securitized residential debt sectors were mixed during
the fourth quarter. Most Credit Risk Transfer tranches generally
widened 10-20 basis points while other new-issue senior tranches
widened 10-15 basis points. Legacy mortgages were mostly unchanged
during the quarter. Many of the same themes that have supported the
sector persisted during the quarter, including favorable collateral
fundamentals, record high home prices, demand for yield, and
continued employment gains. Issuance of new RMBS rose approximately
14% to $55 billion in the fourth quarter, and for the full year
2021, RMBS issuance totaled $200 billion, surpassing the post-Great
Financial Crisis peak of $137 billion in 2019, though some of this
year’s issuance was delayed from 2020. The rise was mostly due to
issuance of Jumbo 2.0 and Agency-eligible securities, which
collectively comprised over half of the annual growth. Non-QM,
Single-Family Rental, and Non-Performing Loans also saw meaningful
annual increases in 2021.
In light of various market uncertainties, in particular the
pervasive uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic for the U.S. and
global economy, there can be no assurance that the trends and
conditions described above will not change in a manner materially
adverse to the mortgage REIT industry and/or our
Company.
Results of Operations for the Fiscal Year 2021 and
2020
Our operating results can be affected by a number of factors and
primarily depend on the size and composition of our investment
portfolio, the level of our net interest income, the fair value of
our assets and the supply of, and demand for, our investments in
residential mortgages in the marketplace, among other things, which
can be impacted by unanticipated credit events, such as defaults,
liquidations or delinquencies, experienced by borrowers whose
mortgage loans are included in our investment portfolio and other
unanticipated events in our markets. Our primary source of net
income or loss available to common stockholders is our net interest
income, less our cost of hedging, which represents the difference
between the interest earned on our investment portfolio and the
costs of financing and economic hedges in place on our investment
portfolio, as well as any income or losses from our equity
investments in affiliates.
Year Ended December 31, 2021 compared to the Year Ended
December 31, 2020
The table below presents certain information from our consolidated
statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2021
and 2020 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended |
|
Increase/(Decrease) |
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
Statement of Operations Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
Net Interest Income |
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income |
$ |
70,662 |
|
|
$ |
74,525 |
|
|
$ |
(3,863) |
|
Interest expense |
27,250 |
|
|
36,945 |
|
|
(9,695) |
|
Total Net Interest Income |
43,412 |
|
|
37,580 |
|
|
5,832 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Income/(Loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
Net interest component of interest rate swaps |
(4,862) |
|
|
731 |
|
|
(5,593) |
|
Net realized gain/(loss) |
1,698 |
|
|
(256,522) |
|
|
258,220 |
|
Net unrealized gain/(loss) |
62,699 |
|
|
(169,813) |
|
|
232,512 |
|
Other income/(loss), net |
37 |
|
|
1,534 |
|
|
(1,497) |
|
Total Other Income/(Loss) |
59,572 |
|
|
(424,070) |
|
|
483,642 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
Management fee to affiliate |
6,814 |
|
|
7,181 |
|
|
(367) |
|
Other operating expenses |
13,357 |
|
|
15,911 |
|
|
(2,554) |
|
Transaction related expenses |
7,328 |
|
|
(1,235) |
|
|
8,563 |
|
Restructuring related expenses |
— |
|
|
10,200 |
|
|
(10,200) |
|
Excise tax |
— |
|
|
(815) |
|
|
815 |
|
Servicing fees |
3,188 |
|
|
2,224 |
|
|
964 |
|
Total Expenses |
30,687 |
|
|
33,466 |
|
|
(2,779) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income/(loss) before equity in earnings/(loss) from
affiliates |
72,297 |
|
|
(419,956) |
|
|
492,253 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity in earnings/(loss) from affiliates |
31,889 |
|
|
(1,629) |
|
|
33,518 |
|
Net Income/(Loss) from Continuing Operations |
104,186 |
|
|
(421,585) |
|
|
525,771 |
|
Net Income/(Loss) from Discontinued Operations |
— |
|
|
666 |
|
|
(666) |
|
Net Income/(Loss) |
104,186 |
|
|
(420,919) |
|
|
525,105 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on Exchange Offers, net |
472 |
|
10,574 |
|
|
(10,102) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends on preferred stock |
(18,785) |
|
|
(20,549) |
|
|
1,764 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income/(Loss) Available to Common Stockholders |
$ |
85,873 |
|
|
$ |
(430,894) |
|
|
$ |
516,767 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
Interest income is calculated using the effective interest method
for our GAAP investment portfolio and calculated based on the
actual coupon rate.
Interest income decreased from December 31, 2020 to
December 31, 2021 primarily due to the decrease in the
weighted average yield of our GAAP investment portfolio which
decreased by 1.00% from 4.61% for the year ended December 31,
2020 to 3.61% for the year ended December 31, 2021. This was
offset by a $0.4 billion increase in the weighted average cost of
our GAAP investment portfolio from $1.6 billion for the year ended
December 31, 2020 to $2.0 billion for the year ended
December 31, 2021.
Interest expense
Interest expense is calculated based on the actual financing rate
and the outstanding financing balance of our GAAP investment
portfolio.
Interest expense decreased from December 31, 2020 to
December 31, 2021 primarily due to a decrease in the weighted
average financing rate on our GAAP investment portfolio, inclusive
of securitized debt, which decreased by 1.20% from 2.79% for the
year ended December 31, 2020 to 1.59% for the year ended
December 31, 2021. This was offset by an increase in the
weighted average financing balance on our GAAP investment
portfolio, inclusive of securitized debt, during the period which
increased by $0.4 billion from $1.3 billion for the year ended
December 31, 2020 to $1.7 billion for the year ended
December 31, 2021.
Net interest component of interest rate swaps
Net interest component of interest rate swaps represents the net
interest income received or expense paid on our interest rate
swaps.
We recognized losses on the net interest component of interest rate
swaps for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared with gains
for the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to the
difference in terms on the outstanding interest rate swaps during
the periods. We also exited our entire interest rate swap portfolio
in the first quarter of 2020 and began growing our interest rate
swap portfolio in the fourth quarter of 2020 and throughout 2021 in
connection with the growth of our GAAP investment portfolio. As of
the December 31, 2021, we held an interest rate swap portfolio
with a notional value of $888.5 million, a weighted average
receive-variable rate of 0.15%, and a weighted average pay-fix rate
of 0.85%.
Net realized gain/(loss)
The following table presents a summary of Net realized gain/(loss)
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended |
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
December 31, 2020 |
Sales of Residential mortgage loans and loans transferred to or
sold from Other assets |
$ |
6,374 |
|
|
$ |
(56,815) |
|
Sales/Seizures of real estate securities (1) |
(6,088) |
|
|
(130,567) |
|
|
|
|
|
Sales of Commercial loans |
(2,518) |
|
|
(6,470) |
|
Settlement of derivatives and other instruments |
3,930 |
|
|
(62,670) |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Net realized gain/(loss) |
$ |
1,698 |
|
|
$ |
(256,522) |
|
(1)Certain
realized losses on real estate securities during
the year ended December 31, 2020
were a result of financing counterparty seizures. There were no
financing counterparty seizures during the year ended
December 31, 2021.
Net unrealized gain/(loss)
The following table presents a summary of Net unrealized
gain/(loss) for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended |
|
|
December 31, 2021
|
|
December 31, 2020
|
Residential mortgage loans |
|
$ |
25,018 |
|
|
$ |
(5,851) |
|
Real estate securities |
|
(2,648) |
|
|
(136,773) |
|
Commercial loans |
|
16,148 |
|
|
(16,842) |
|
Excess mortgage servicing rights |
|
1,515 |
|
|
457 |
|
Derivatives |
|
19,137 |
|
|
(9,864) |
|
Securitized debt |
|
3,529 |
|
|
(940) |
|
Total Net unrealized gain/(loss) |
|
$ |
62,699 |
|
|
$ |
(169,813) |
|
Management fee to affiliate
Our management fee is based upon a percentage of our Stockholders’
Equity. See the "Contractual obligations" section of this Part II,
Item 7 for further detail on the calculation of our management fee
and for the definition of Stockholders’ Equity. Management fees
decreased from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021
primarily due to a decrease in our Stockholders’ Equity as
calculated pursuant to our Management Agreement.
Other operating expenses
Other operating expenses is primarily comprised of professional
fees, directors’ and officers’ ("D&O") insurance, directors’
fees, and certain non-investment related and investment related
expenses reimbursable to the Manager. We are required to reimburse
our Manager or its affiliates for operating expenses incurred by
our Manager or its affiliates on our behalf, including certain
compensation expenses and other expenses relating to legal,
accounting, due diligence, and other services. Refer to the
"Contractual obligations" section below for more detail on certain
expenses reimbursable to the Manager. The following table presents
a summary of Other operating expenses broken out between
non-investment related expenses and investment related expenses for
the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended |
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
|
Non-Investment Related Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Affiliate reimbursement - Operating expenses (1) |
|
$ |
4,322 |
|
|
$ |
6,320 |
|
|
|
Professional Fees |
|
2,409 |
|
|
2,472 |
|
|
|
D&O insurance |
|
1,465 |
|
|
1,063 |
|
|
|
Directors' compensation |
|
672 |
|
|
680 |
|
|
|
Equity based compensation to affiliate |
|
— |
|
|
163 |
|
|
|
Other |
|
877 |
|
|
711 |
|
|
|
Total Corporate Expenses |
|
9,745 |
|
|
11,409 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Related Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Affiliate expense reimbursement - Deal related expenses |
|
1,157 |
|
|
1,116 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential mortgage loan related expenses |
|
2,218 |
|
|
3,064 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
237 |
|
|
322 |
|
|
|
Total Investment Expenses |
|
3,612 |
|
|
4,502 |
|
|
|
Total Other operating expenses |
|
$ |
13,357 |
|
|
$ |
15,911 |
|
|
|
(1)For
the year ended December 31, 2021, the Manager agreed to waive its
right to receive expense reimbursements of
$0.8 million.
Transaction related expenses
Transaction related expenses are expenses associated with
securitizing residential mortgage loans as well as certain other
transaction and performance related fees associated with assets we
invest in. These fees increased from the year ended
December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021 primarily as a
result of the various securitizations of Non-QM Loans transacted in
2021. Additionally, in the period ended March 31, 2020, the Company
reversed previously accrued deal related performance fees due to a
decline in the price of the related assets and the seizure of such
assets by financing counterparties.
Restructuring related expenses
Restructuring related expenses relate to legal and consulting fees
primarily incurred in connection with executing the Forbearance
Agreement and subsequent Reinstatement Agreement during 2020. Refer
to the "Financing activities" section below for more information
regarding the Forbearance Agreement and the Reinstatement
Agreement.
Excise tax
Excise tax represents a four percent tax on the required amount of
any ordinary income and net capital gains not distributed during
the year. The expense is calculated in accordance with applicable
tax regulations.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we reversed
previously accrued excise taxes primarily as a result of losses
associated with COVID-19. We did not record any excise taxes for
the year ended December 31, 2021.
Servicing fees
We incur servicing fee expenses in connection with the servicing of
our Residential mortgage loans. The weighted average cost of our
GAAP Residential mortgage loan portfolio increased by
$0.6 billion from $0.6 billion for the year ended
December 31, 2020 to $1.2 billion for the year ended
December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily the result of
purchases of Non-QM
Loans and GSE Non-Owner Occupied Loans in 2021. As a result,
servicing fees increased from the year ended December 31, 2020
to the year ended December 31, 2021.
Equity in earnings/(loss) from affiliates
Equity in earnings/(loss) from affiliates represents our share of
earnings and profits of investments held within affiliated
entities. Substantially all of these investments are comprised of
real estate securities, loans, and our investment in AG Arc which
holds our investment in Arc Home. The below table reconciles the
net income/(loss) to the "Equity in earnings/(loss) from
affiliates" line item on our consolidated statements of operations
(in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended |
|
|
December 31, 2021
|
|
December 31, 2020
|
Non-QM Loans (1) |
|
$ |
12,594 |
|
|
$ |
(26,511) |
|
AG Arc (2) |
|
3,681 |
|
|
23,260 |
|
Land Related Financing |
|
2,455 |
|
|
2,620 |
|
Other (3) |
|
13,159 |
|
|
(998) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity in earnings/(loss) from affiliates
|
|
$ |
31,889 |
|
|
$ |
(1,629) |
|
(1)The
earnings within MATT for the year ended December 31, 2021 were
primarily the result of mark-to-market gains on its Non-QM Loan
portfolio and net interest income, offset by expenses. The losses
generated within MATT for the year ended December 31, 2020
were primarily the result of mark-to-market losses on its Non-QM
Loan portfolio and related financing, offset by net interest
income.
(2)The
earnings/(loss) at AG Arc during the year ended December 31,
2021 were primarily the result of $5.4 million of net income
related to Arc Home's lending and servicing operations, offset by
$(2.3) million related to changes in the fair value of the MSR
portfolio held by Arc Home. Earnings/(loss) recognized by AG Arc do
not include our portion of gains recorded by Arc Home in connection
with the sale of residential mortgage loans to us. For the year
ended December 31, 2021, we eliminated $5.3 million of
intra-entity profits recognized by Arc Home and also decreased the
cost basis of the underlying loans we purchased by the same
amount.
(3)The
earnings for the year ended December 31, 2021 were primarily
the result of accelerated accretion as a result of paydowns on
certain Re/Non-Performing Loans held at discounts.
Gain on Exchange Offers, net
We completed two privately negotiated exchange offers during the
year ended December 31, 2021. As a result of the exchange
offers, we exchanged 153,325 shares of our 8.25% Series A
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred Stock"),
437,087 shares of our 8.00% Series B Cumulative Redeemable
Preferred Stock ("Series B Preferred Stock"), and 154,383 shares of
our 8.000% Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable
Preferred Stock ("Series C Preferred Stock") (collectively,
"preferred stock") for a total of 1,367,264 shares of common stock.
We recognized a gain of $0.5 million in connection with the
offers.
We completed a public exchange offer and two privately negotiated
exchange offers during the year ended December 31, 2020. As a
result of the exchange offers, we exchanged a total of 253,482
shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, 435,272 shares of our
Series B Preferred Stock, and 716,822 shares of our Series C
Preferred Stock for a total of 1,698,645 shares of common stock and
cash consideration of $8.0 million. We recognized a gain of $10.6
million in connection with the exchange offers.
Book value and Adjusted book value per share
On July 12, 2021, we announced a one-for-three reverse stock split
of our outstanding shares of common stock. The reverse stock split
was effected following the close of business on July 22, 2021. All
per share amounts and common shares outstanding for all periods
presented have been adjusted on a retroactive basis to reflect the
one-for-three reverse stock split.
Per share amounts for book value are calculated using all
outstanding common shares in accordance with GAAP, including all
vested shares issued to our Manager and our independent directors
under our equity incentive plans as of quarter-end. As of
December 31, 2021, the net proceeds on our preferred stock
were $220.5 million. As of December 31, 2021, the
liquidation preference for our issued and outstanding preferred
stock was $228.0 million.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, our book value per common
share calculated using stockholders’ equity less net proceeds on
our preferred stock as the numerator was $14.64 and $12.40,
respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, our adjusted
book value per common share calculated using stockholders’ equity
less the liquidation preference of our preferred stock as the
numerator was $14.32 and $11.81, respectively.
Net interest margin and leverage ratio
Net interest margin and leverage ratio are metrics that management
believes should be considered when evaluating the performance of
our investment portfolio.
GAAP net interest margin and non-GAAP net interest margin, a
non-GAAP financial measure, are calculated by subtracting the
weighted average cost of funds from the weighted average yield for
our GAAP investment portfolio and our investment portfolio,
respectively, both of which exclude cash held by us. The weighted
average yield on our investment portfolio represents an effective
interest rate, which utilizes all estimates of future cash flows
and adjusts for actual prepayment and cash flow activity as of
quarter-end. The calculation of weighted average yield is weighted
on fair value at quarter-end. The weighted average cost of funds is
the sum of the weighted average funding costs on total financing
arrangements outstanding at quarter-end, including all non-recourse
financing arrangements, and our weighted average hedging cost,
which is the weighted average of the net pay rate on our interest
rate swaps. GAAP and non-GAAP cost of funds are weighted by the
outstanding financing arrangements on our GAAP investment portfolio
and our investment portfolio, respectively, and the fair value of
securitized debt at quarter-end.
Our leverage ratio is determined by our portfolio mix as well as
many additional factors, including the liquidity of our portfolio,
the availability and price of our financing, the available capacity
to finance our assets, and anticipated regulatory developments. See
the "Financing activities" section below for more detail on our
leverage ratio.
The table below sets forth the net interest margin and leverage
ratio on our investment portfolio as of December 31, 2021 and
2020 and a reconciliation to the net interest margin and leverage
ratio on our GAAP investment portfolio:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average |
|
GAAP Investment
Portfolio |
|
Investments in Debt and Equity of Affiliates |
|
Investment Portfolio |
Yield |
|
3.72 |
% |
|
9.21 |
% |
|
3.84 |
% |
Cost of Funds (a) |
|
2.06 |
% |
|
3.41 |
% |
|
2.08 |
% |
Net Interest Margin |
|
1.66 |
% |
|
5.80 |
% |
|
1.76 |
% |
Leverage Ratio (b) |
|
4.9x |
|
(c) |
|
2.4x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average |
|
GAAP Investment
Portfolio |
|
Investments in Debt and Equity of Affiliates |
|
Investment Portfolio |
Yield |
|
3.73 |
% |
|
7.78 |
% |
|
4.36 |
% |
Cost of Funds (a) |
|
1.82 |
% |
|
4.87 |
% |
|
2.09 |
% |
Net Interest Margin |
|
1.91 |
% |
|
2.91 |
% |
|
2.27 |
% |
Leverage Ratio (b) |
|
2.4x |
|
(c) |
|
1.5x |
(a)Includes
cost of non-recourse financing arrangements.
(b)The
leverage ratio on our GAAP Investment Portfolio represents GAAP
leverage. The leverage ratio on our investment portfolio represents
Economic Leverage as defined below in the "Financing Activities"
section.
(c)Refer
to the "Financing activities" section below for an aggregate
breakout of leverage.
Core Earnings
One of our objectives is to generate net income from net interest
margin on the portfolio, and management uses Core Earnings, as one
of several metrics, to help measure our performance against this
objective. Management believes that this non-GAAP measure, when
considered with our GAAP financial statements, provides
supplemental information useful for investors to help evaluate our
financial performance. However, management also believes that our
definition of Core Earnings has important limitations as it does
not include certain earnings or losses our management team
considers in evaluating our financial performance. Our presentation
of Core Earnings may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures
of other companies, who may use different calculations. This
non-GAAP measure should not be considered a substitute for, or
superior to, Net Income/(loss) available to common stockholders or
Net income/(loss) per diluted common share calculated in accordance
with GAAP. Our GAAP financial results and the reconciliations from
these results should be carefully evaluated.
We define Core Earnings, a non-GAAP financial measure, as Net
Income/(loss) available to common stockholders excluding (i) (a)
unrealized gains/(losses) on real estate securities, loans,
derivatives and other investments, inclusive of our investment
in
AG Arc, and (b) net realized gains/(losses) on the sale or
termination of such instruments, (ii) any transaction related
expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition or disposition
of our investments, (iii) accrued deal-related performance fees
payable to Arc Home and third party operators to the extent the
primary component of the accrual relates to items that are excluded
from Core Earnings, such as unrealized and realized gains/(losses),
(iv) realized and unrealized changes in the fair value of Arc
Home's net mortgage servicing rights and the derivatives intended
to offset changes in the fair value of those net mortgage servicing
rights, (v) deferred taxes recognized at our taxable REIT
subsidiaries, if any, (vi) any foreign currency gain/(loss)
relating to monetary assets and liabilities, (vii) income from
discontinued operations, and (viii) any gains/(losses) associated
with exchange transactions on our common and preferred stock. Items
(i) through (viii) above include any amount related to those items
held in affiliated entities. Management considers the transaction
related expenses referenced in (ii) above to be similar to realized
losses incurred at the acquisition or disposition of an asset and
does not view them as being part of its core operations. Management
views the exclusion described in (iv) above to be consistent with
how it calculates Core Earnings on the remainder of its portfolio.
Management excludes all deferred taxes because it believes deferred
taxes are not representative of current operations. Core Earnings
include the net interest income and other income earned on our
investments on a yield adjusted basis, including TBA dollar roll
income/(loss) or any other investment activity that may earn or pay
net interest or its economic equivalent.
A reconciliation of "Net Income/(loss) available to common
stockholders" to Core Earnings for the years ended
December 31, 2021 and 2020 is set forth below (in thousands,
except per share data):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended |
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
December 31, 2020 |
Net Income/(loss) available to common stockholders |
$ |
85,873 |
|
|
$ |
(430,894) |
|
Add (Deduct): |
|
|
|
Net realized (gain)/loss |
(1,698) |
|
|
256,522 |
|
Net unrealized (gain)/loss |
(62,699) |
|
|
169,813 |
|
Transaction related expenses and deal related performance fees
(1) |
8,558 |
|
|
(613) |
|
Equity in (earnings)/loss from affiliates |
(31,889) |
|
|
1,629 |
|
Net interest income and expenses from equity method investments
(2)(3) |
23,807 |
|
|
38,025 |
|
Net (income)/loss from discontinued operations |
— |
|
|
(666) |
|
Other (income)/loss, net |
(14) |
|
|
(1,528) |
|
(Gains) from Exchange Offers, net |
(472) |
|
|
(10,574) |
|
Dollar roll income/(loss) |
(3,377) |
|
|
322 |
|
Core Earnings |
$ |
18,089 |
|
|
$ |
22,036 |
|
|
|
|
|
Core Earnings, per Diluted Share (4) |
$ |
1.11 |
|
|
$ |
1.88 |
|
(1)For
the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, total transaction
related expenses and deal related performance fees included $7.3
million and $(1.2 million), respectively, recorded within the
"Transaction related expenses" line item and $1.2 million and $0.6
million, respectively, recorded within the "Interest expense" line
item, which relates to the amortization of deferred financing
costs.
(2)For
the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, $2.5 million or
$0.15 per share and $(3.9 million) or $(0.33) per share,
respectively, of realized and unrealized changes in the fair value
of Arc Home's net mortgage servicing rights and corresponding
derivatives were excluded from Core Earnings per diluted
share.
(3)Core
income or loss recognized by AG Arc does not include our portion of
gains recorded by Arc Home in connection with the sale of
residential mortgage loans to us. For the year ended
December 31, 2021, we eliminated $5.3 million of intra-entity
profits recognized by Arc Home and also decreased the cost basis of
the underlying loans we purchased by the same amount. We did not
eliminate any intra-entity profits for the year ended
December 31, 2020. Refer to Note 2 to the "Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements" for more information on this
accounting policy.
(4)All
per share amounts for all periods presented have been adjusted to
reflect the one-for-three reverse stock split.
Investment activities
We aim to allocate capital to investment opportunities with
attractive risk/return profiles in our target asset classes. Our
investment activities primarily include acquiring and securitizing
newly-originated residential mortgage loans. We finance our
acquired loans through various financing lines on a short-term
basis and securitize the loans to obtain long-term, non-recourse,
non-mark-to-market financing as market conditions permit. We are
also currently investing in 30 Year Fixed Rate Agency RMBS to
utilize excess liquidity. Our investment and capital allocation
decisions depend on prevailing market conditions and compliance
with Investment Company Act and REIT tests, among other factors,
and may change over time in response to opportunities available in
different economic and capital market environments. As a result, in
reacting to market conditions and
taking into account a variety of other factors, including
liquidity, duration, and interest rate expectations, the mix of our
assets changes over time as we opportunistically deploy capital. We
actively evaluate our investments based on factors including, among
others, the characteristics of the underlying collateral,
geography, expected return, expected future prepayment trends,
supply of and demand for our investments, costs of financing, costs
of hedging, expected future interest rate volatility, and the
overall shape of the U.S. Treasury and interest rate swap yield
curves.
We allocate our equity by investment type using the fair value of
our investment portfolio, less any associated leverage, inclusive
of any long TBA position (at cost). We allocate all non-investment
portfolio related assets and liabilities to our investment
portfolio based on the characteristics of such assets and
liabilities in order to sum to stockholders' equity per the
consolidated balance sheets. Our equity allocation method is a
non-GAAP methodology and may not be comparable to the similarly
titled measure or concepts of other companies, who may use
different calculations and allocation methodologies.
The following table presents a summary of the allocated equity of
our investment portfolio as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 ($
in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allocated Equity |
|
Percent of Equity |
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
December 31, 2020 |
Residential Investments |
|
$ |
459,058 |
|
|
$ |
229,183 |
|
|
80.5 |
% |
|
56.0 |
% |
Commercial Investments |
|
— |
|
|
99,668 |
|
|
— |
% |
|
24.3 |
% |
Agency RMBS |
|
111,322 |
|
|
80,854 |
|
|
19.5 |
% |
|
19.7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
570,380 |
|
|
$ |
409,705 |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
100.0 |
% |
The following table presents a summary of our investment portfolio
as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and a reconciliation to our
GAAP Investment Portfolio ($ in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair Value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent of Investment Portfolio Fair Value |
|
Leverage Ratio (a) |
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
December 31, 2020 |
Residential Investments |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,725,889 |
|
|
$ |
691,478 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
84.6 |
% |
|
49.5 |
% |
|
2.1x |
|
0.2x |
Commercial Investments |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
182,296 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
% |
|
13.1 |
% |
|
— |
|
|
0.9x |
Agency RMBS |
|
|
|
|
495,713 |
|
|
521,843 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15.4 |
% |
|
37.4 |
% |
|
3.7x |
|
6.1x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total: Investment Portfolio |
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,221,602 |
|
|
$ |
1,395,617 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
100.0 |
% |
|
2.4x |
|
1.5x |
Investments in Debt and Equity of Affiliates (b) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
72,026 |
|
|
$ |
217,964 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
(c) |
|
(c) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total: GAAP Investment Portfolio |
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,149,576 |
|
|
$ |
1,177,653 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
4.9x |
|
2.4x |
(a)The
leverage ratio on our investment portfolio represents Economic
Leverage as defined below in the "Financing Activities" section and
is calculated by dividing each investment type's total recourse
financing arrangements by its allocated equity (described in the
chart below). Cash posted as collateral has been allocated pro-rata
by each respective asset class's Economic Leverage amount. The
Economic Leverage Ratio excludes any fully non-recourse financing
arrangements and includes any net receivables or payables on TBAs.
The leverage ratio on our GAAP Investment Portfolio represents GAAP
leverage.
(b)Certain
Re/Non-Performing Loans held in securitized form are presented net
of non-recourse securitized debt.
(c)Refer
to the "Financing activities" section below for an aggregate
breakout of leverage.
The following table presents a reconciliation of our Investment
Portfolio to our GAAP Investment Portfolio as of December 31,
2021 and 2020 ($ in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2021
|
|
December 31, 2020
|
Instrument |
|
Current Face |
|
Amortized Cost |
|
Unrealized Mark-to-Market |
|
Fair Value (1) |
|
Weighted Average
Coupon (2) |
|
Weighted
Average Yield |
|
Weighted Average
Life (Years) (3) |
|
Fair Value (1) |
Credit Investments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential Investments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-QM Loans (4) |
|
$ |
1,780,012 |
|
|
$ |
1,846,162 |
|
|
$ |
12,636 |
|
|
$ |
1,858,798 |
|
|
4.91 |
% |
|
3.85 |
% |
|
4.78 |
|
$ |
— |
|
GSE Non-Owner Occupied Loans
|
|
429,424 |
|
|
439,463 |
|
|
1,374 |
|
|
440,837 |
|
|
3.64 |
% |
|
3.19 |
% |
|
6.84 |
|
— |
|
MATT Non-QM Loans (5) |
|
488,364 |
|
|
46,795 |
|
|
(958) |
|
|
45,837 |
|
|
0.91 |
% |
|
4.04 |
% |
|
0.77 |
|
153,200 |
|
Re/Non-Performing Loans |
|
428,472 |
|
|
345,650 |
|
|
14,481 |
|
|
360,131 |
|
|
3.55 |
% |
|
6.82 |
% |
|
6.57 |
|
478,565 |
|
Land Related Financing |
|
16,891 |
|
|
16,891 |
|
|
— |
|
|
16,891 |
|
|
14.50 |
% |
|
14.50 |
% |
|
0.46 |
|
22,824 |
|
Interest Only (6) |
|
160,154 |
|
|
3,507 |
|
|
(112) |
|
|
3,395 |
|
|
0.38 |
% |
|
10.12 |
% |
|
1.81 |
|
320 |
|
Non-Agency RMBS |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
% |
|
— |
% |
|
— |
|
|
36,569 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Residential Investments |
|
3,303,317 |
|
|
2,698,468 |
|
|
27,421 |
|
|
2,725,889 |
|
|
4.12 |
% |
|
4.21 |
% |
|
4.52 |
|
691,478 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Commercial Investments |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
% |
|
— |
% |
|
— |
|
|
182,296 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Credit Investments |
|
3,303,317 |
|
|
2,698,468 |
|
|
27,421 |
|
|
2,725,889 |
|
|
4.12 |
% |
|
4.21 |
% |
|
4.52 |
|
873,774 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agency RMBS: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30 Year Fixed Rate |
|
490,435 |
|
|
502,362 |
|
|
(6,649) |
|
|
495,713 |
|
|
2.18 |
% |
|
1.78 |
% |
|
7.46 |
|
518,352 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Excess MSR |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
% |
|
— |
|
|
3,491 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Agency RMBS |
|
490,435 |
|
|
502,362 |
|
|
(6,649) |
|
|
495,713 |
|
|
2.18 |
% |
|
1.78 |
% |
|
7.46 |
|
521,843 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total: Investment Portfolio |
|
$ |
3,793,752 |
|
|
$ |
3,200,830 |
|
|
$ |
20,772 |
|
|
$ |
3,221,602 |
|
|
3.85 |
% |
|
3.84 |
% |
|
4.90 |
|
$ |
1,395,617 |
|
Investments in Debt and Equity of Affiliates |
|
$ |
548,580 |
|
|
$ |
72,720 |
|
|
$ |
(694) |
|
|
$ |
72,026 |
|
|
1.72 |
% |
|
9.21 |
% |
|
0.86 |
|
$ |
217,964 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total: GAAP Investment Portfolio |
|
$ |
3,245,172 |
|
|
$ |
3,128,110 |
|
|
$ |
21,466 |
|
|
$ |
3,149,576 |
|
|
4.04 |
% |
|
3.72 |
% |
|
5.59 |
|
$ |
1,177,653 |
|
(1)Refer
to Note 10 to the "Notes of the Consolidated Financial Statements"
for more detail on what is included in our "Investments in debt and
equity of affiliates" line item on our consolidated balance sheets.
Our assets held through Investments in debt and equity of
affiliates are included in the "MATT Non-QM Loans,"
"Re/Non-Performing Loans," "Land Related Financing," and "Excess
MSR" line items above.
(2)Equity
residuals with a zero coupon rate are excluded from this
calculation.
(3)Weighted
average life is based on projected life. Typically, actual
maturities are shorter than stated contractual maturities.
Maturities are affected by the contractual lives of the underlying
mortgages, periodic payments of principal, and prepayments of
principal.
(4)Prior
to 2021, we acquired Non-QM Loans through our equity method
investment in MATT. This line item represents direct purchases of
Non-QM Loans, which began in Q1 2021, and retained tranches of
certain Non-QM securitizations.
(5)As
of December 31, 2021, this line item primarily includes
retained tranches from past securitizations.
(6)As
of December 31, 2021, this line item includes Non-QM
interest-only bonds.
Credit Investments
The following table presents the fair value of the securities and
loans in our credit portfolio and a reconciliation to our GAAP
credit portfolio (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair Value |
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
December 31, 2020
|
Residential loans (1) |
|
$ |
2,663,992 |
|
|
$ |
563,263 |
|
Commercial real estate loans |
|
— |
|
|
125,508 |
|
Total loans |
|
2,663,992 |
|
|
688,771 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Agency RMBS (2) |
|
61,897 |
|
|
128,215 |
CMBS (3) |
|
— |
|
|
56,788 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Credit securities |
|
61,897 |
|
|
185,003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Credit Investments |
|
$ |
2,725,889 |
|
|
$ |
873,774 |
|
Less: Investments in Debt and Equity of Affiliates |
|
$ |
72,026 |
|
|
$ |
217,547 |
|
Total GAAP Credit Portfolio |
|
$ |
2,653,863 |
|
|
$ |
656,227 |
|
(1)Includes
Non-QM Loans, GSE Non-Owner Occupied Loans, Re/Non-Performing
Loans, and Land Related Financing not held in securitized
form.
(2)Includes
Non-QM Loans and Re/Non-Performing Loans held in securitized form,
as well as Prime, Alt-A/Subprime, Credit Risk Transfer, Non-U.S
RMBS, and Interest-Only Securities.
(3)Includes
Conduit, Single-Asset/Single-Borrower, Freddie Mac K-Series, and
Interest-Only investments.
Residential loans
The following table presents information regarding credit quality
for certain categories within our Residential loan portfolio ($ in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2021
|
|
December 31, 2020 |
|
|
Unpaid Principal Balance |
|
|
|
Weighted Average (1)(2) |
|
Aging by Unpaid Principal Balance (1)(2) |
|
|
|
|
Fair Value |
|
Original LTV Ratio |
|
Current FICO (3) |
|
Current |
|
30-59 Days |
|
60-89 Days |
|
90+ Days |
|
Fair Value |
Non-QM Loans |
|
$ |
1,765,118 |
|
|
$ |
1,844,198 |
|
|
68.19 |
% |
|
742 |
|
|
$ |
1,735,644 |
|
|
$ |
15,596 |
|
|
$ |
2,666 |
|
|
$ |
11,212 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
GSE Non-Owner Occupied Loans |
|
429,424 |
|
|
440,837 |
|
|
65.44 |
% |
|
754 |
|
|
425,594 |
|
|
3,830 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
MATT Non-QM Loans |
|
11,250 |
|
|
11,839 |
|
|
58.13 |
% |
|
677 |
|
|
6,558 |
|
|
575 |
|
|
— |
|
|
4,117 |
|
|
100,264 |
|
Re/Non-Performing Loans |
|
384,659 |
|
|
350,227 |
|
|
79.20 |
% |
|
639 |
|
|
256,096 |
|
|
35,974 |
|
|
12,324 |
|
|
73,736 |
|
|
440,175 |
|
Land Related Financing |
|
16,891 |
|
|
16,891 |
|
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
22,824 |
|
Total Residential loans |
|
$ |
2,607,342 |
|
|
$ |
2,663,992 |
|
|
69.71 |
% |
|
723 |
|
|
$ |
2,423,892 |
|
|
$ |
55,975 |
|
|
$ |
14,990 |
|
|
$ |
89,065 |
|
|
$ |
563,263 |
|
Less: Investments in Debt and Equity of Affiliates |
|
28,349 |
|
|
28,886 |
|
|
58.42 |
% |
|
677 |
|
|
6,560 |
|
|
575 |
|
|
— |
|
|
4,322 |
|
|
127,822 |
|
Total GAAP Residential Loans |
|
$ |
2,578,993 |
|
|
$ |
2,635,106 |
|
|
69.76 |
% |
|
723 |
|
|
$ |
2,417,332 |
|
|
$ |
55,400 |
|
|
$ |
14,990 |
|
|
$ |
84,743 |
|
|
$ |
435,441 |
|
(1)Weighted
average and aging data excludes residual positions where we
consolidate a securitization and the positions are recorded on our
balance sheet as Re/Non-Performing Loans. There may be limited data
available regarding the underlying collateral of the residual
positions.
(2)Weighted
average and aging data excludes Land Related
Financing.
(3)Weighted
average current FICO excludes borrowers where FICO scores were not
available.
See Note 3 to the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" for
a breakout of geographic concentration of credit risk within loans
we include in the "Residential mortgage loans, at fair value" and
"Securitized residential mortgage loans, at fair value" line items
on our consolidated balance sheets.
Credit securities
The following table presents the fair value of our credit
securities portfolio by credit rating as of December 31, 2021
and 2020 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Credit Rating - Credit Securities (1)(2) |
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
December 31, 2020 |
AAA |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
630 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BB |
|
— |
|
|
|