Item 1. BUSINESS
Certain Defined Terms
In this Annual Report on Form 10-K we refer to New York Mortgage Trust, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, as “we,” “us,” “Company,” or “our,” unless we specifically state otherwise or the context indicates otherwise, and we refer to our wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiaries as “TRSs” and our wholly-owned qualified REIT subsidiaries as “QRSs.” In addition, the following defines certain of the commonly used terms in this report:
•“ABS” refers to debt and/or equity tranches of securitizations backed by various asset classes including, but not limited to, automobiles, aircraft, credit cards, equipment, franchises, recreational vehicles and student loans;
•“Agency ARMs” refers to Agency RMBS comprised of adjustable-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate RMBS;
•“Agency CMBS” refers to CMBS representing interests or obligations backed by pools of mortgage loans guaranteed by a government sponsored enterprise (“GSE”), such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”);
•“Agency fixed-rate RMBS” refers to Agency RMBS comprised of fixed-rate RMBS;
•“Agency RMBS” refers to RMBS representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of residential loans guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or an agency of the U.S. government, such as Ginnie Mae;
•"Agency securities" refers to Agency RMBS and/or Agency CMBS;
•“ARMs” refers to adjustable-rate residential loans;
•“business purpose loans” refers to short-term loans collateralized by residential properties made to investors who intend to rehabilitate and sell the residential property for a profit;
•“CDO” refers to collateralized debt obligation and includes debt that permanently finances the residential loans held in Consolidated SLST, multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series and the Company's residential loans held in securitization trusts and non-Agency RMBS re-securitization that we consolidate in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP;
•“CMBS” refers to commercial mortgage-backed securities comprised of commercial mortgage pass-through securities issued by a GSE, as well as PO, IO, or mezzanine securities that represent the right to a specific component of the cash flow from a pool of commercial mortgage loans;
•“Consolidated K-Series” refers to Freddie Mac-sponsored multi-family loan K-Series securitizations, of which we, or one of our “special purpose entities,” or “SPEs,” owned the first loss POs and certain IOs and certain senior or mezzanine securities that we consolidated in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP prior to disposition;
•“Consolidated SLST” refers to a Freddie Mac-sponsored residential loan securitization, comprised of seasoned re-performing and non-performing residential loans, of which we own or owned the first loss subordinated securities and certain IOs and senior securities that we consolidate in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP;
•“Consolidated VIEs” refers to VIEs where the Company is the primary beneficiary, as it has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and a right to receive benefits or absorb losses of the entity that could be potentially significant to the VIE and that we consolidate in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP;
•“excess mortgage servicing spread” refers to the difference between the contractual servicing fee with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae and the base servicing fee that is retained as compensation for servicing or subservicing the related mortgage loans pursuant to the applicable servicing contract;
•“GAAP” refers to generally accepted accounting principles within the United States;
•“IOs” refers collectively to interest only and inverse interest only mortgage-backed securities that represent the right to the interest component of the cash flow from a pool of mortgage loans;
•“MBS” refers to mortgage-backed securities;
•“multi-family CMBS” refers to CMBS backed by commercial mortgage loans on multi-family properties;
•“non-Agency RMBS” refers to RMBS that are not guaranteed by any agency of the U.S. Government or GSE;
•“non-QM loans” refers to residential loans that are not deemed “qualified mortgage,” or “QM,” loans under the rules of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau;
•“POs” refers to mortgage-backed securities that represent the right to the principal component of the cash flow from a pool of mortgage loans;
•“RMBS” refers to residential mortgage-backed securities backed by adjustable-rate, hybrid adjustable-rate, or fixed-rate residential loans;
•“second mortgages” refers to liens on residential properties that are subordinate to more senior mortgages or loans; and
•“Variable Interest Entity” or “VIE” refers to an entity in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties.
General
We are a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the business of acquiring, investing in, financing and managing primarily mortgage-related single-family and multi-family residential assets. Our objective is to deliver long-term stable distributions to our stockholders over changing economic conditions through a combination of net interest margin and capital gains from a diversified investment portfolio. Our investment portfolio includes credit sensitive single-family and multi-family assets.
We intend to focus on our core portfolio strengths of single-family and multi-family residential credit assets, which we believe will deliver better risk adjusted returns over time, with a current focus on assets that may benefit from active management in a prolonged low interest rate environment. Our targeted investments currently include (i) residential loans, second mortgages and business purpose loans, (ii) structured multi-family property investments such as preferred equity in, and mezzanine loans to, owners of multi-family properties, as well as joint venture equity investments in multi-family properties, (iii) non-Agency RMBS, (iv) Agency RMBS, (v) CMBS and (vi) certain other mortgage-, residential housing- and credit-related assets. Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT and the maintenance of our exclusion from registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), we also may opportunistically acquire and manage various other types of mortgage-, residential housing- and other credit-related assets that we believe will compensate us appropriately for the risks associated with them, including, without limitation, collateralized mortgage obligations, mortgage servicing rights, excess mortgage servicing spreads and securities issued by newly originated securitizations, including credit sensitive securities from these securitizations.
In recent years, we have sought to internalize and expand our investment management platform through the addition of multiple teams of investment professionals with expertise in our targeted assets. This includes the acquisition in 2016 of the external manager for our structured multi-family property investments and the addition of investment professionals in 2018 and 2019, which expanded our capabilities in self managing, sourcing and creating single-family credit assets. We believe that these steps have strengthened our ability to identify and secure attractive investment opportunities.
We have elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and have complied, and intend to continue to comply, with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), with respect thereto. Accordingly, we do not expect to be subject to federal income tax on our REIT taxable income that we currently distribute to our stockholders if certain asset, income, distribution and ownership tests and record keeping requirements are fulfilled. Even if we maintain our qualification as a REIT, we expect to be subject to some federal, state and local taxes on our income generated in our TRSs.
Impacts on Business from COVID-19
The novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic materially adversely impacted our business beginning in mid-march 2020, has contributed to significant volatility in global financial and credit markets and continues to adversely impact the U.S. and world economies. See “Executive Summary” and “Key Highlights - Year Ended December 31, 2020” in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for further information.
Our Investment Strategy
Our strategy is to construct a portfolio of mortgage-related single-family and multi-family residential assets that include elements of credit risk and interest rate risk. We have sought over the past 10 years, and intend to continue, to focus on expanding our portfolio of “single-family and multi-family credit” assets, which we believe will deliver more attractive risk-adjusted returns over time. We define credit assets as (i) residential loans, second mortgages, and business purpose loans, (ii) non-Agency RMBS, (iii) structured multi-family property investments and joint venture equity investments in multi-family properties and (iv) other mortgage-, residential housing- and credit-related assets that contain credit risk. In pursuing credit assets, we target assets that we believe will provide an attractive total rate of return, as compared to assets that strictly provide net interest margin. We also owned and managed a leveraged portfolio of Agency securities primarily comprised of Agency fixed-rate RMBS, Agency ARMs, and Agency CMBS prior to our disposition of this portfolio in March 2020 in response to the significant market disruption associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we have re-entered the Agency RMBS market and again manage a modest portfolio of Agency RMBS, in light of the current market and financing conditions, we presently are more inclined to pursue credit assets that benefit from active management and less inclined to allocate a significant percentage of our capital to a levered bond strategy associated with Agency securities. Finally, since our inception in 2003, we have benefitted from being able to flexibly move in and out of new niche investment opportunities as market conditions permit. As a result, we may pursue opportunistic acquisitions of other types of assets not described above that meet our investment criteria.
Prior to deploying capital to any of the assets we target or determining to dispose of any of our investments, our management team will consider, among other things, the availability of suitable investments, the amount and nature of anticipated cash flows from the asset, our ability to finance or borrow against the asset and the terms of such financing, the related capital requirements, the credit risk, prepayment risk, hedging risk, interest rate risk, fair value risk and/or liquidity risk related to the asset or the underlying collateral, the composition of our investment portfolio, REIT qualification, the maintenance of our exclusion from registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act and other regulatory requirements and future general market conditions. In periods where we have working capital in excess of our short-term liquidity needs, we may invest the excess in more liquid assets until such time as we are able to re-invest that capital in assets that meet our underwriting and return requirements. Consistent with our strategy to produce returns through a combination of net interest margin and capital gains, we will seek, from time to time, to sell certain assets within our portfolio when we believe the combination of realized gains on an asset and reinvestment potential for the related sale proceeds are consistent with our long-term return objectives. For example, starting in the second quarter of 2020 and continuing to the present, we sold certain non-Agency RMBS and mezzanine CMBS as we concluded that the potential return on reinvestment exceeded the potential non-levered return on these securities going forward.
Our investment strategy does not, subject to our investment guidelines, continued compliance with applicable REIT tax requirements and the maintenance of our exclusion from registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, limit the amount of our capital that may be invested in any of these investments or in any particular class or type of assets. Thus, our future investments may include asset types different from the targeted or other assets described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our investment and capital allocation decisions depend on prevailing market conditions, among other factors, and may change over time in response to opportunities available in different economic and capital market environments. As a result, we cannot predict the percentage of our capital that will be invested in any particular investment at any given time.
For more information regarding our portfolio as of December 31, 2020, see Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” below.
Investment Portfolio
Our portfolio is substantially comprised of investments in two asset categories: single-family and multi-family residential investments.
Single-Family Investments
We generally seek to acquire pools of single-family residential loans from select mortgage loan originators and secondary market institutions. We do not directly service the mortgage loans we acquire, and instead contract with fully licensed third-party subservicers to handle substantially all servicing functions. Set forth below is a description of the investments that substantially comprise our single-family investment portfolio.
Residential Loans. Our portfolio of residential loans consist of (i) seasoned re-performing, non-performing and other delinquent mortgage loans secured by first liens on one- to four-family properties, which were purchased at a discount to the aggregate principal amount outstanding, which we believe provides us with downside protection while we work to rehabilitate these loans to performing status, (ii) performing residential mortgage loans that consist of GSE-eligible mortgage loans, non-QM loans that predominantly meet our underwriting guidelines, loans originally underwritten to GSE or another program's guidelines but are either undeliverable to the GSE or ineligible for a program due to certain underwriting or compliance errors, and investor loans generally underwritten to our program guidelines, (iii) short-term business purpose loans collateralized by residential properties made to investors who intend to rehabilitate and sell the property for a profit and (iv) second mortgages that had combined loan-to-value ratios of 95% at origination and predominantly met our underwriting guidelines.
Investments in Non-Agency RMBS. Our non-Agency RMBS are collateralized by residential credit assets. The non-Agency RMBS in our investment portfolio may consist of the senior, mezzanine or subordinated tranches in the securitizations. The underlying collateral of these securitizations are predominantly residential credit assets, which may be exposed to various macroeconomic and asset-specific credit risks. These securities have varying levels of credit enhancement which provide some structural protection from losses within the portfolio. We undertake an in-depth assessment of the underlying collateral and securitization structure when investing in these assets, which may include modeling defaults, prepayments and loss across different scenarios. In light of market and financing conditions, starting in the second quarter of 2020 and continuing to the present, we have elected to monetize the price recovery in a selection of these assets and are less inclined to build a levered position in these securities at this time.
Investments in Agency RMBS. We historically have owned and managed a leveraged Agency RMBS portfolio comprised of Agency fixed-rate RMBS and Agency ARMs, the principal and interest of which are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae. The Agency fixed-rate RMBS have been primarily backed by 15-year and 30-year residential fixed-rate mortgage loans, while the Agency ARMs have primarily included interest reset periods up to 120 months. In managing our portfolio of Agency RMBS, we historically employ leverage through the use of repurchase agreements to generate risk-adjusted returns. In an effort to manage the Company’s portfolio through the significant disruption in the financial markets in March 2020 and to improve its liquidity, the Company liquidated its Agency RMBS portfolio. However, even prior to March 2020, the Company’s relative allocation to Agency Securities had declined in recent years as the opportunity in Agency RMBS became less compelling relative to other strategies of focus. As we have in the past, we may use Agency securities as an incubator to redeploy capital into credit assets. At this time, while we currently own Agency RMBS, we do not expect investment in Agency securities to comprise a significant part of our investment portfolio allocation.
Multi-Family Investments
We first began investing in multi-family credit assets in 2011. We seek to position our multi-family credit investment platform in the marketplace as a real estate investor focused on debt and equity transactions. We do not seek to be the sole owner or day-to-day manager of properties. Rather, we intend to participate at various levels within the capital structure of the properties, typically (i) as a “capital partner” by lending to or co-investing alongside a project-level sponsor that has already identified an attractive investment opportunity, or (ii) through a subordinated security of a multi-family loan securitization. Our multi-family property investments are not limited to any particular geographic area in the United States, although our preferred and joint venture equity and mezzanine loan investments tend to be concentrated primarily in the southern and southeastern United States as these regions currently tend to benefit from growing demand. In general terms, we expect that our multi-family credit investments will principally be in the form of preferred and joint venture equity investments in, and mezzanine loans to, owners of multi-family apartment properties, as well as multi-family CMBS.
With respect to our preferred and joint venture equity and mezzanine loan investments where we participate as a capital partner, we generally pursue multi-family properties with unique or compelling attributes that provide an opportunity for value creation and increased returns through the combination of better management or capital improvements that will lead to net cash flow growth and capital gains and which may benefit from the expertise of our asset management team. Generally, we target investments in multi-family properties that are or have been:
•located in a particularly dynamic submarket with strong prospects for rental growth;
•located in smaller markets that are underserved and more attractively priced;
•poorly managed by the previous owner, creating an opportunity for overall net income growth through better management practices;
•undercapitalized and may benefit from an investment in physical improvements; or
•highly stable and are suitably positioned to support high-yield preferred equity or mezzanine debt within their capital structure.
As a capital partner, we generally seek experienced property-level operators or real estate entrepreneurs who have the ability to identify and manage strong investment opportunities. We generally require our operating partners to maintain a material investment in every multi-family property in which we make a preferred or joint venture equity investment or provide mezzanine financing.
Preferred Equity. We currently own, and expect to originate in the future, preferred equity investments in entities that directly or indirectly own multi-family properties. Preferred equity is not secured, but holders have priority relative to the common equity on cash flow distributions and proceeds from capital events. In addition, as a preferred holder we may seek to enhance our position and protect our equity position with covenants that limit the entity’s activities and grant to the preferred holders the right to control the property upon default under relevant loan agreements or under the terms of our preferred equity investments. Occasionally, the first-mortgage loan on a property prohibits additional liens and a preferred equity structure provides an attractive financing alternative. With preferred equity investments, we may become a special limited partner or member in the ownership entity and may be entitled to take certain actions, or cause a liquidation, upon a default. Under the typical arrangement, the preferred equity investor receives a stated return, and the common equity investor receives all cash flow only after that return has been met. Our preferred equity investment may also have minimum profit hurdles or other mechanisms to protect and enhance returns in the event of early repayment. Preferred equity typically has loan-to-value ratios of 60% to 90% when combined with the first-mortgage loan amount. We expect our preferred equity investments will have mandatory redemption dates that will generally be coterminous with the maturity date for the first-mortgage loan on the property, and we expect to hold these investments until the mandatory redemption date.
Mezzanine Loans. We currently own, and anticipate making in the future, mezzanine loans that are senior to the operating partner’s equity in, and subordinate to a first-mortgage loan on, a multi-family property. These loans are secured by pledges of ownership interests, in whole or in part, in entities that directly or indirectly own the real property. In addition, we may require other collateral to secure mezzanine loans, including letters of credit, personal guarantees or collateral unrelated to the property.
We may structure our mezzanine loans so that we receive a fixed or variable interest rate on the loan. Our mezzanine loans may also have prepayment lockouts, prepayment penalties, minimum profit hurdles or other mechanisms to protect and enhance returns in the event of premature repayment. We expect these investments will typically have terms from three to ten years. Mezzanine loans typically have loan-to-value ratios between 70% and 90% when combined with the first-mortgage loan amount.
Joint Venture Equity. We have in the past made, and expect to make in the future, joint venture equity investments in entities that own multi-family properties. Joint venture equity is a direct common equity ownership interest in an entity that owns a property. In this type of investment, the return of capital to us is variable and is made on a pari passu basis between us and the other operating partners. Typically we provide between 75% and 90% of the total equity capital for the joint venture, with our operating partner providing the balance of the equity capital. We may also participate in these property investments as a general partner or co-general partner, which may provide us with the ability to earn a promote upon disposition of the asset.
Multi-Family CMBS. Our portfolio of multi-family CMBS has been comprised of (i) first loss PO securities issued by certain multi-family loan K-series securitizations sponsored by Freddie Mac and (ii) certain IOs and/or mezzanine securities issued by these securitizations, although currently we only own IO and mezzanine securities. Prior to March 2020, our investments in first loss POs were a significant contributor to our earnings. In response to the significant disruption in the financial markets in March 2020 associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, we sold our portfolio of first loss POs and have not re-entered the market for first loss POs since that time. However, should market and financing opportunities re-emerge making this asset class attractive again, we may again pursue these investments. Our investments in these privately placed first loss POs generally represented 7.5% of the overall securitization which typically initially totals approximately $1.0 billion in multi-family residential loans consisting of 45 to 100 individual properties diversified across a wide geographic footprint in the United States. Our first loss POs were typically backed by fixed-rate balloon non-recourse mortgage loans that provide for the payment of principal at maturity date, which is ten to fifteen years from the date the underlying mortgage loans are originated. Moreover, each first loss PO of multi-family CMBS in our portfolio was typically the most junior of securities issued by the securitization, meaning it would absorb all losses in the securitization prior to other more senior securities being exposed to loss. As a result, prior to the purchase of these securities, we typically complete a credit analysis and due diligence. In addition, as the owner of the first loss PO, the Company had the right to participate in the workout of any distressed property in the securitization. We believe this right provided the Company with an opportunity to mitigate or reduce any possible loss associated with the distressed property. The IOs that we own represent a strip off the entire securitization allowing the Company to receive cashflows over the life of the multi-family loans backing the securitization. These investments range from 10 to 17 basis points and the underlying notional amount approximates $1.0 billion each. We also invest in and own the mezzanine tranche of multi-family CMBS that sit below the more senior CMBS in terms of priority. Our investment in these mezzanine securities may involve the use of some form of leverage in order to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns on these securities, although we currently are not leveraging these securities. With respect to the multi-family CMBS owned by us, all of the loans that back the respective securitizations have been generally underwritten in accordance with Freddie Mac underwriting guidelines and standards; however, these securities are not guaranteed by Freddie Mac.
Investments in Agency CMBS. We have also invested in Agency CMBS, primarily comprised of senior securities issued by certain multi-family loan K-series securitizations sponsored and guaranteed by Freddie Mac. In an effort to manage the Company’s portfolio through the significant disruption in the financial markets in March 2020 and to improve its liquidity, the Company liquidated its Agency CMBS portfolio.
Other Investments
We may also acquire investments that are structured with terms that reflect a combination of the investment structures described above. We also may invest, from time to time, based on market conditions, in other multi-family investments, structured investments in other property categories, equity and debt securities issued by entities that invest in residential and commercial real estate or in other mortgage-, and real estate- and credit-related assets that enable us to qualify or maintain our qualification as a REIT or otherwise.
Our Financing Strategy
We strive to maintain and achieve a balanced and diverse funding mix to finance our assets and operations. To achieve this, we have in the past relied primarily on a combination of short-term and longer-term repurchase agreements and structured financings, including CDOs, long-term subordinated debt, and convertible notes. As a result of the severe market dislocations related to the COVID-19 pandemic and, more specifically, the unprecedented illiquidity in our repurchase agreement financing and MBS markets during March 2020, looking forward, we expect to place a greater emphasis on procuring longer-termed and/or more committed financing arrangements, such as securitizations, term financings and corporate debt securities that provide less or no exposure to fluctuations in the collateral repricing determinations of financing counterparties or rapid liquidity reductions in repurchase agreement financing markets. We still expect to utilize some level of repurchase agreement financing as we do currently, but expect repurchase agreement financing, particularly short-term agreements to represent a smaller percentage of our financing relative to historic levels and/or to utilize facilities where the terms provide for less liquidity and financing risk. While longer-termed financings may involve greater expense relative to repurchase agreement funding that exposes us to mark-to-market risks, we believe, over time, this weighting towards longer-termed financings may better allow us to manage our liquidity risk and reduce exposures to market events like those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic during March 2020. To this end, we have completed three non-recourse securitizations and two non-mark-to-market repurchase agreement financings with new and existing counterparties since the first quarter of 2020. We intend to continue in the near term to explore additional financing arrangements to further strengthen our balance sheet and position ourselves for future investment opportunities, including, without limitation, additional issuances of our equity and debt securities and longer-termed financing arrangements; however, no assurance can be given that we will be able to access any such financing or the size, timing or terms thereof.
The Company's policy for leverage is based on the type of asset, underlying collateral and overall market conditions, with the intent of obtaining more permanent, longer-term financing for our more illiquid assets. Currently, we target maximum leverage ratios for each eligible investment, 8 to 1 in the case of our more liquid Agency securities, and 2 to 1 in the case of our more illiquid assets, such as our non-Agency RMBS and mezzanine CMBS. Based on our current portfolio composition and market conditions, our target total debt leverage ratio is approximately 1 to 1.5 times. This target may be adjusted depending on the composition of our overall portfolio and market conditions.
As of December 31, 2020, our total debt leverage ratio, which represents our total debt divided by our total stockholders' equity, was approximately 0.3 to 1. Our total debt leverage ratio does not include debt associated with the CDOs or other non-recourse debt, for which we have no obligation. Our portfolio leverage ratio, which represents our outstanding repurchase agreements divided by our total stockholders' equity, was approximately 0.2 to 1 as of December 31, 2020. We monitor all at-risk or short-term borrowings to ensure that we have adequate liquidity to satisfy margin calls and liquidity covenant requirements.
With respect to our investments in credit assets that are not financed by short-term repurchase agreements, such as residential loans, we finance our investment in these assets through longer-term borrowings and working capital. Our financings may include longer-term structured debt financing, such as longer-term repurchase agreement financing with terms of up to 24 months and non-mark-to-market repurchase agreement financing and CDOs where the assets we intend to finance are contributed to an SPE and serve as collateral for the financing. We issue CDOs for the primary purpose of obtaining longer-term non-recourse financing on these assets.
Pursuant to the terms of any longer-term debt financings we utilize, our ability to access the cash flows generated by the assets serving as collateral for these borrowings may be significantly limited and we may be unable to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of or modify such assets until the financing has matured. As part of our longer-term master repurchase agreements that finance certain of our credit assets, such as residential loans, we have provided a guarantee with respect to certain terms of some of these longer-term borrowings incurred by certain of our subsidiaries and we may provide similar guarantees in connection with future financings.
The repurchase agreements we have historically used to fund the purchase of residential loans and investment securities typically have terms ranging from 30 days to 12 months and bear interest rates that are linked to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), a short-term market interest rate used to determine short term loan rates. We currently have no outstanding repurchase agreements that finance our investment securities. In most cases under repurchase agreements, the financial institution that serves as a counterparty will generally agree to provide us with financing based on the market value of the securities that we pledge as collateral, less a “haircut.” The market value of the collateral represents the price of such collateral obtained from generally recognized sources or most recent closing bid quotation from such source plus accrued income. Our repurchase agreements may require us to deposit additional collateral pursuant to a margin call if the market value of our pledged collateral declines as a result of market conditions or due to principal repayments on the mortgages underlying our pledged securities. Interest rates and haircuts will depend on the underlying collateral pledged. As noted above, we have recently entered into two repurchase agreements that are not subject to margin calls upon changes in market value of the pledged collateral.
For more information regarding our outstanding financing instruments at December 31, 2020, see Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” below.
Our Hedging Strategy
The Company enters into derivative instruments in connection with its risk management activities. These derivative instruments may include interest rate swaps, swaptions, interest rate caps, futures, options on futures and mortgage derivatives such as forward-settling purchases and sales of Agency RMBS where the underlying pools of mortgage loans are “To-Be-Announced,” or TBAs.
We may use interest rate swaps to hedge any variable cash flows associated with our borrowings. We typically pay a fixed rate and receive a floating rate based on one or three month LIBOR, on the notional amount of the interest rate swaps. The floating rate we receive under our swap agreements has the effect of offsetting the repricing characteristics and cash flows of our financing arrangements. In March 2020, in response to the turmoil in the financial markets, we terminated our interest rate swaps and currently do not have any hedges in place. We may use TBAs, swaptions, futures and options on futures to hedge market value risk for certain of our strategies. We have utilized TBAs as part of our Agency investment strategy to enhance the overall yield of the portfolio. In a TBA transaction, we would agree to purchase or sell, for future delivery, Agency RMBS with certain principal and interest terms and certain types of underlying collateral, but the particular Agency RMBS to be delivered is not identified until shortly before the TBA settlement date. The Company typically does not take delivery of TBAs, but rather settles with its trading counterparties on a net basis prior to the forward settlement date. Although TBAs are liquid and have quoted market prices and represent the most actively traded class of RMBS, the use of TBAs exposes us to increased market value risk.
In connection with our hedging strategy, we utilize a model-based risk analysis system to assist in projecting portfolio performances over a variety of different interest rates and market scenarios, such as shifts in interest rates, changes in prepayments and other factors impacting the valuations of our assets and liabilities. However, given the uncertainties related to prepayment rates, it is not possible to perfectly lock-in a spread between the earnings asset yield and the related cost of borrowings. Nonetheless, through active management and the use of evaluative stress scenarios, we believe that we can mitigate a significant amount of both value and earnings volatility.
Competition
Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to acquire assets at favorable spreads over our borrowing costs. When we invest in mortgage-backed securities, mortgage loans and other investment assets, we compete with other REITs, investment banking firms, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, mutual funds, hedge funds, pension funds, banks and other financial institutions and other entities that invest in the same types of assets.
Human Capital
As of December 31, 2020, we have 56 full-time employees and one part-time employee located in offices in New York, New York, Charlotte, North Carolina and Woodland Hills, California. Our employees are comprised of accountants, investment portfolio and finance professionals, asset management and servicing professionals, analysts, administrative staff and the corporate management team. We believe that our employees are our greatest asset and recognize that our achievements and growth as a business are made possible by the recruitment, hiring, training, development and retention of our dedicated employees. As part of our ongoing business, we evaluate and modify our internal processes to improve employee engagement, productivity and efficiency, which benefits our operations. Moreover, our employees are offered regular opportunities to participate in professional development programs and opportunities that may improve employee engagement, effectiveness and well-being.
We endeavor to maintain workplaces that are inclusive and free from discrimination or harassment on the basis of color, race, sex, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression or any other status protected by applicable law. We conduct annual training to prevent harassment and discrimination and monitor employee conduct in this regard. We also strive to have a workforce that reflects the diversity of qualified talent that is available in the markets in which our offices are located. As of December 31, 2020, women comprise 26% of our total workforce, while 35% of our employees self-identify as being ethnically diverse. In addition, 50% of our named executive officers are diverse based on gender or ethnicity and 43% of our Board of Directors is diverse based on gender, race or ethnicity. We also recognize the importance of experienced leadership. As of December 31, 2020, the average tenure for our team of executive officers was eleven years.
We are committed to maintaining a healthy environment for our employees and continually assess and strive to enhance employee satisfaction and engagement. Among our engagement efforts, we conduct regular company-wide meetings where we update our full workforce on recent accomplishments and key initiatives, we regularly participate in various employee engagement surveys, participate in community fundraising for illness awareness and we sponsor various team building activities.
We also strive to provide pay, benefits and services that help meet the varying needs of our employees. Our general total compensatory packages include market-competitive pay, performance-based annual bonus compensation paid frequently in a combination of cash and stock, time- and performance-based long-term incentive compensation for key employees, healthcare, paid time off, and family leave. In addition, we pride ourselves on understanding and offering our employees great flexibility to meet their personal and family needs and believe that by supporting, recognizing, developing and investing in our employees, we are able to attract and retain a highly qualified and talented workforce.
Fostering Company Culture and Providing Support to Employees During COVID-19 Pandemic. In accordance with local and state government guidance and social distancing recommendations, almost all of our employees have worked remotely since March 2020. To protect and foster our corporate culture during the COVID-19 pandemic, we regularly schedule virtual company-wide meetings and host virtual team building activities.
Governmental Regulation
Our operations are subject, in certain instances, to supervision and regulation by U.S. and other governmental authorities, and may be subject to various laws, rules and regulations and judicial and administrative decisions imposing various requirements and restrictions, which, among other things: (i) regulate lending activities; (ii) establish maximum interest rates, finance charges and other charges; (iii) require disclosures to customers; (iv) govern secured transactions; and (v) set refinancing, loan modification, servicing, collection, foreclosure, repossession, eviction and claims-handling procedures and other trade practices. 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. Although we do not originate or directly service residential loans, we must comply with various federal and state laws, rules and regulations as a result of owning MBS and residential loans, including, among others, rules promulgated under The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank Act”), and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Modernization Act of 1999. Finally, we intend to conduct our business so that neither we nor any of our subsidiaries are required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
In our judgment, existing statutes, rules and regulations have not had a material adverse effect on our business, although we do incur significant ongoing costs to comply with them. In recent years, legislators in the United States and in other countries have said that greater regulation of financial services firms is needed, particularly in areas such as risk management, leverage, and disclosure. Moreover, the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential and congressional elections could impact the regulatory environment for our business going forward. While we expect that additional new legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas will be adopted and existing legislation and regulations may change in the future, it is not possible at this time to forecast the exact nature of any future legislation, regulations, judicial decisions, orders or interpretations, nor their impact upon our future business, financial condition, or results of operations or prospects.
Corporate Offices
We were formed as a Maryland corporation in 2003. Our corporate headquarters are located at 90 Park Avenue, Floor 23, New York, New York, 10016 and our telephone number is (212) 792-0107. We also maintain offices in Charlotte, North Carolina and Woodland Hills, California.
Access to Our Periodic SEC Reports and Other Corporate Information
Our internet website address is www.nymtrust.com. We make available free of charge, through our internet website, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments thereto that we file or furnish pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our executive officers, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and to our other employees. We have also adopted a Code of Ethics for senior financial officers, including the principal financial officer. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K relating to amendments to or waivers from any provision of either of these Code of Ethics applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and other persons performing similar functions by posting such information on our website at www.nymtrust.com, “Corporate Governance”. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the charters of our Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are available on our website and are available in print to any stockholder upon request in writing to New York Mortgage Trust, Inc., c/o Secretary, 90 Park Avenue, Floor 23, New York, New York, 10016. Information on our website is neither part of, nor incorporated into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
When used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, in future filings with the SEC or in press releases or other written or oral communications issued or made by us, statements which are not historical in nature, including those containing words such as “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “continue,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “may” or similar expressions, are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions.
Forward-looking statements are based on estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions of management of the Company at the time of such statements and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Actual results and outcomes could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation:
• changes in our business and investment strategy;
• changes in interest rates and the fair market value of our assets, including negative changes resulting in margin calls relating to the financing of our assets;
• changes in credit spreads;
• changes in the long-term credit ratings of the U.S., Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae;
• general volatility of the markets in which we invest;
• changes in prepayment rates on the loans we own or that underlie our investment securities;
• increased rates of default or delinquency and/or decreased recovery rates on our assets;
• our ability to identify and acquire our targeted assets, including assets in our investment pipeline;
• changes in our relationships with our financing counterparties and our ability to borrow to finance our assets and the terms thereof;
• our ability to predict and control costs;
• changes in laws, regulations or policies affecting our business, including actions that may be taken to contain or address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;
• our ability to make distributions to our stockholders in the future;
• our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal tax purposes;
• our ability to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940;
• risks associated with investing in real estate assets, including changes in business conditions and the general economy, the availability of investment opportunities and the conditions in the market for Agency RMBS, non-Agency RMBS, ABS and CMBS securities, residential loans, structured multi-family investments and other mortgage-, residential housing- and credit-related assets, including changes resulting from the ongoing spread and economic effects of COVID-19; and
• the impact of COVID-19 on us, our operations and our personnel.
These and other risks, uncertainties and factors, including the risk factors described herein, as updated by those risks described in our subsequent filings with the SEC under the Exchange Act, could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements we make. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. New risks and uncertainties arise over time and it is not possible 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.
Item 1A.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
Summary of Risk Factors
Below is a summary of the principal factors that make an investment in our securities speculative or risky. This summary does not address all of the risks that we face. Additional discussion of the risks summarized in this risk factor summary, and other risks that we face, can be found below and should be carefully considered, together with other information in this Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC before making an investment decision regarding our securities.
COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Risks
•The market and economic disruptions caused by COVID-19 may continue to negatively impact our business.
•We have experienced and may experience in the future increased volatility in our GAAP results of operations as we have elected fair value option for majority of our investments
Risks Related to Our Business
•Declines in the market values of assets in our investment portfolio may adversely affect periodic reported results and credit availability.
•We may experience losses if we inaccurately estimate the loss-adjusted yields of our investments in credit sensitive assets.
•Interest rate increases may decrease the availability of certain of our targeted assets.
•Interest rate mismatches between the interest-earning assets held in our investment portfolio and the borrowings used to fund the purchases of those assets may reduce our net income or result in a loss during periods of changing interest rates.
•Changes in prepayment rates may adversely affect the performance of our assets.
•Our portfolio of assets may at times be concentrated in certain asset types or secured by properties concentrated in a limited number of real estate sectors or geographic areas, which increases our exposure to economic downturns and risks associated with the real estate and lending industries in general.
•Our investments include subordinated tranches of CMBS, RMBS and ABS, which are subordinate in right of payment to more senior securities and residential loans that have greater risk of loss than other investments.
•The failure of third-party service providers to perform a variety of services on which we rely may adversely impact our business and financial results.
•If we sell or transfer any whole loans to a third party, including a securitization entity, we may be required to repurchase such loans or indemnify such third party if we breach representations and warranties.
•Our preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments involve greater risks of loss than more senior loans secured by income-producing properties.
•Our investments in multi-family and other commercial properties are subject to the ability of the property owner to generate net income from operating the property as well as the risks of delinquency, default and foreclosure.
•Demand for multi-family properties generally impacts our revenues, and a decrease in such demand will likely have a greater adverse effect on our revenues than if we owned a more diversified portfolio.
•Our operating partners could subject us to liabilities in excess of those contemplated or prevent us from taking actions which are in the best interests of our stockholders.
•Our real estate and real estate-related assets are subject to risks particular to real property.
•Due diligence as a part of our acquisition or underwriting process may be limited, may not reveal all of the risks associated with such assets and may not reveal other weaknesses in such assets, which could lead to material losses.
•The use of models in connection with the valuation of our assets subjects us to potential risks in the event that such models are incorrect, misleading or based on incomplete information.
•Our investments in residential loans are difficult to value and are dependent upon the borrower’s ability to service or refinance their debt.
•Competition may prevent us from acquiring assets on favorable terms or at all.
•System failures and other operational disruptions in our information and communications systems and those of our third party service providers could significantly disrupt our business.
•Cyber-incidents could negatively impact our business by causing a disruption to our or our third party service providers’ operations, a compromise or corruption of our confidential information or damage to our business relationships or reputation.
Risks Related to Debt Financing and Our Use of Hedging Strategies
•Our access to financing sources may not be available on favorable terms or at all.
•We may incur increased borrowing costs related to repurchase agreements and that would adversely affect our profitability.
•The repurchase agreements that we use to finance our investments may require us to provide additional collateral, which could reduce our liquidity and harm our financial condition.
•We leverage our equity, which can exacerbate any losses we incur on our current and future investments and may reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
•If we are unable to leverage our equity to the extent we currently anticipate, the returns on certain of our assets could be diminished, which may limit or eliminate our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
•We directly or indirectly utilize non-recourse securitizations and recourse structured financings and such structures expose us to risks that could result in losses to us.
•If a counterparty to our repurchase transactions defaults on its obligation to resell the pledged assets back to us at the end of the transaction term or if we default on our obligations under the repurchase agreement, we may incur losses.
•Our use of repurchase agreements to borrow funds may give our lenders greater rights in the event that either we or a lender files for bankruptcy.
•Hedging against interest rate and market value changes as well as other risks may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Risks Associated With Adverse Developments in the Mortgage, Real Estate, Credit and Financial Markets Generally
•Difficult conditions in the mortgage and real estate markets, the financial markets and the economy generally may cause us to experience losses in the future.
•The downgrade, or perceived potential downgrade, of the credit ratings of the U.S. and the failure to resolve issues related to U.S. fiscal and debt policies may materially adversely affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
•Changes in laws and regulations affecting the relationship between Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae and the U.S. Government may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, and our ability to pay dividends to our stockholders.
•Uncertainty regarding the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) may adversely impact our borrowings and assets.
•We cannot predict the effect that government policies, laws and interventions adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or the impact that future changes in the U.S. political environment, governmental policy or regulation will have on our business and the markets in which we operate.
Risks Related To Our Organization, Our Structure and Other Risks
•We may change our investment, financing, or hedging strategies and asset allocation and operational and management policies without stockholder consent.
•Maintenance of our Investment Company Act exemption imposes limits on our operations.
•Mortgage loan modification programs and future legislative action may adversely affect the value of, and the returns on, our targeted assets.
•We could be subject to liability for potential violations of predatory lending laws, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
•Our business is subject to extensive regulation.
•Certain provisions of Maryland law and our charter and bylaws could hinder, delay or prevent a change in control which could have an adverse effect on the value of our securities.
•The stock ownership limit imposed by our charter may inhibit market activity in our common stock and may restrict our business combination opportunities.
Tax Risks
•Failure to qualify as a REIT would adversely affect our operations and ability to make distributions.
•REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our liquidity.
•Dividends payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates on dividend income from regular corporations.
•Complying with REIT requirements may cause us to forego or liquidate otherwise attractive investments and may limit our ability to hedge effectively.
•The failure of certain investments subject to a repurchase agreement to qualify as real estate assets would adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT.
•We could fail to continue to qualify as a REIT if the IRS successfully challenges our treatment of our mezzanine loans.
•We may incur a significant tax liability as a result of selling assets that might be subject to the prohibited transactions tax if sold directly by us.
•We may be subject to adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes that could reduce the market price of our common stock.
Set forth below are the risks that we believe are material to stockholders and prospective investors. You should carefully consider the following risk factors and the various other factors identified in or incorporated by reference into any other documents filed by us with the SEC in evaluating our company and our business. The risks discussed herein can materially adversely affect our business, liquidity, operating results, prospects, financial condition and ability to make distributions to our stockholders, and may cause the market price of our securities to decline. The risk factors described below are not the only risks that may affect us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or not presently deemed material by us, also may materially adversely affect our business, liquidity, operating results, prospects, financial condition and ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Risks
The market and economic disruptions caused by COVID-19 have negatively impacted our business and may continue to do so.
The “COVID-19” pandemic continues to disrupt the U.S. and global economies and has caused significant volatility, illiquidity and dislocations in the financial markets. The COVID-19 outbreak has led governments and other authorities around the world to impose measures intended to control its spread, including restrictions on freedom of movement and business operations such as travel bans, border closings, business closures, quarantines and shelter-in-place orders. Moreover, the COVID-19 outbreak and certain of the actions taken to reduce its spread have resulted in lost business revenue, rapid and significant increases in unemployment, changes in consumer behavior and significant volatility in liquidity markets and the fair value of many assets, including those in which we invest. The market and economic disruptions caused by COVID-19 materially adversely impacted our business and may do so again in the future.
During March and April 2020, markets for mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) and other credit-related assets experienced significant volatility, widening credit spreads and sharp declines in liquidity, which materially adversely impacted our investment portfolio. A significant portion of our investment securities portfolio and residential loan portfolio was previously pledged as collateral under daily mark-to-market repurchase agreements. Fluctuations in the value of our portfolio of MBS and whole loans, including as a result of changes in credit spreads, resulted in our being required to post additional collateral with our counterparties under these repurchase agreements. These fluctuations and requirements to post additional collateral were material. In an effort to mitigate the impact to our business from these developments and improve our liquidity, we sold a substantial portion of our MBS portfolio in 2020, for which we recorded significant realized losses.
In addition, as a result of the disruptions in the financial markets caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we recorded a significant amount of unrealized losses during 2020 due to declines in the fair value of many of our assets. In light of the economic environment related to the COVID-19 outbreak, the market for mortgage-related, residential housing-related and credit-related assets may continue to experience significant volatility, illiquidity and dislocations that may result in our recording additional realized and unrealized losses and/or experiencing additional margin calls or financial distress in the future, which may adversely affect our result of operations, financial condition, liquidity and ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
We expect the economic and market disruptions caused by COVID-19 will continue to adversely impact the financial condition of our operating partners and the borrowers of our loans and the loans that underlie our investment securities and limit our ability to grow our business.
We are subject to risks related to residential loans, commercial loans, preferred equity investments in and mezzanine loans to owners of multi-family properties and certain consumer loans that back our ABS. Over the near and long term, we expect that the economic and market disruptions caused by COVID-19 will continue to adversely impact the financial condition of our operating partners in which we have made an investment or to whom we have provided a mezzanine loan, and the borrowers of our residential loans and the loans that underlie our RMBS, CMBS and ABS investments. As a result, we anticipate that the number of operating partners and borrowers who become delinquent or default on their financial obligations may increase significantly, and we have already worked with certain of our operating partners and borrowers who have sought to defer the payment of principal and/or interest or other payments on certain of our loans and investments. When a residential loan is delinquent, or in default, forbearance or foreclosure, we may be required to advance payments for taxes and insurance associated with the underlying property to protect our interest in the loan collateral when we might otherwise use the cash to invest in our targeted assets or reduce our financings. Such increased levels of payment delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, forbearance arrangements or losses would adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders, and any such impact may be material. Moreover, a number of states have implemented temporary moratoriums on the ability of lenders to initiate foreclosures, which could further limit our ability to foreclose and recover against our collateral, or pursue recourse claims (should they exist) against a borrower or operating partner in the event of a default or failure to meet its financial obligations to us.
Delinquencies, defaults and requests for forbearance arrangements have risen as savings, incomes and revenues of borrowers, operating partners and other businesses were impacted by the slow-down in economic activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any future period of payment deferrals, forbearance, delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures or losses will likely adversely affect our net interest income from preferred equity investments, residential loans, mezzanine loans and our RMBS, CMBS and ABS investments, the fair value of these assets and our ability to originate and acquire our targeted assets, which would materially and adversely affect us. In addition, to the extent current conditions persist or worsen, we expect that real estate values may decline, which will likely reduce the fair value of our assets and may also reduce the level of new mortgage and other residential real estate-related investment opportunities available to us, which would adversely affect our ability to grow our business and fully execute our investment strategy, could decrease our earnings and liquidity, and may expose us to further margin calls.
Market disruptions caused by COVID-19 may make it more difficult for the loan servicers we rely on 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 loans and investing in CMBS, non-Agency RMBS and ABS, 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 CMBS, non-Agency RMBS and ABS 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. Over the near and long term, we expect that the economic and market disruptions caused by COVID-19 will adversely impact the financial condition of the borrowers of our residential loans and the loans that underlie our RMBS, CMBS and ABS investments. As a result, we anticipate that 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 are reinstated 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 loans and the loans that underlie our RMBS, CMBS and ABS or if any such servicer experiences financial distress.
We have experienced and may experience in the future increased volatility in our GAAP results of operations as we have elected fair value option for majority of our investments
We have elected the fair value option accounting model for majority of our investments. Changes in the fair value of assets, and a portion of the changes in the fair value of liabilities, accounted for using the fair value option are recorded in our consolidated statements of operations each period, which may result in volatility in our financial results.(For example, we experienced such volatility particularly during the first quarter of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19-related market dislocations). There can be no assurance that such volatility in periodic financial results will not occur during 2021 or in future periods.
Measures intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted our ability to operate our business.
In response to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the federal and state mandates implemented to control its spread, all of our employees are working remotely. If our employees are unable to work effectively as a result of COVID-19, including because of illness, quarantines, office closures, ineffective remote work arrangements or technology failures or limitations, our operations would be adversely impacted. Further, remote work arrangements may increase the risk of cyber-security incidents and cyber-attacks, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations, due to, among other things, the loss of investor or proprietary data, interruptions or delays in the operation of our business and damage to our reputation.
Risks Related to Our Business
Declines in the market values of assets in our investment portfolio may adversely affect periodic reported results and credit availability, which may reduce earnings and, in turn, cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
The market value of our investment portfolio may move inversely with changes in interest rates. We anticipate that increases in interest rates will generally tend to decrease our net income and the market value of our investment portfolio. A significant percentage of the securities within our investment portfolio are classified for accounting purposes as “available for sale.” Changes in the market values of investment securities available for sale where the Company elected the fair value option and residential loans at fair value will be reflected in earnings and changes in the market values of investment securities available for sale where the Company did not elect fair value option will be reflected in stockholders’ equity. As a result, a decline in market values of assets in our investment portfolio may reduce the book value of our assets. Moreover, if the decline in market value of an available for sale security is other than temporary, such decline will reduce earnings.
A decline in the market value of our interest-bearing assets may adversely affect us, particularly in instances where we have borrowed money based on the market value of those assets. If the market value of those assets declines, the lender may require us to post additional collateral to support the loan, which would reduce our liquidity and limit our ability to leverage our assets. In addition, if we are, or anticipate being, unable to post the additional collateral, we may have to sell the assets at a time when we might not otherwise choose to do so. In the event that we do not have sufficient liquidity to meet such requirements, lending institutions may accelerate indebtedness, increase interest rates and terminate or make more difficult our ability to borrow, any of which could result in a rapid deterioration of our financial condition and cash available for distribution to our stockholders. Moreover, if we liquidate the assets at prices lower than the amortized cost of such assets, we will incur losses.
The market values of our investments may also decline without any general change in interest rates for a number of reasons, such as increases in defaults, actual or perceived increases in voluntary prepayments for those investments that we have that are subject to prepayment risk, a reduction in the liquidity of the assets and markets generally and widening of credit spreads, adverse legislation or regulatory developments and adverse global, national, regional and local geopolitical conditions and developments including those relating to pandemics and other health crises and natural disasters, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. If the market values of our investments were to decline for any reason, the value of your investment could also decline.
Our efforts to manage credit risks may fail.
As of December 31, 2020, approximately 95.6% of our total investment portfolio was comprised of what we refer to as "credit assets." Despite our efforts to manage credit risk, there are many aspects of credit risk that we cannot control. Our credit policies and procedures may not be successful in limiting future delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures or losses, or they may not be cost effective. Our underwriting process and due diligence efforts may not be effective. Loan servicing companies may not cooperate with our loss mitigation efforts or those efforts may be ineffective. Service providers to securitizations, such as trustees, loan servicers, bond insurance providers, and custodians, as well as our operating partners and their property managers, may not perform in a manner that promotes our interests. Delay of foreclosures could delay resolution and increase ultimate loss severities, as a result.
The value of the properties collateralizing or underlying the loans, securities or interests we own may decline. The frequency of default and the loss severity on our assets upon default may be greater than we anticipate. Credit sensitive assets that are partially collateralized by non-real estate assets may have increased risks and severity of loss. If property securing or underlying loans or other investments becomes real estate owned as a result of foreclosure, we bear the risk of not being able to sell the property and recovering our investment and of being exposed to the risks attendant to the ownership of real property.
If our estimates of the loss-adjusted yields of our investments in credit sensitive assets prove inaccurate, we may experience losses.
We expect to value our investments in many credit sensitive assets based on loss-adjusted yields taking into account estimated future losses on the loans or other assets that we are investing in directly or that underlie securities owned by us, and the estimated impact of these losses on expected future cash flows. Our loss estimates may not prove accurate, as actual results may vary from our estimates. In the event that we underestimate the losses relative to the price we pay for a particular investment, we may experience material losses with respect to such investment.
An increase in interest rates may cause a decrease in the availability of certain of our targeted assets and could cause our interest expense to increase, which could materially adversely affect our ability to acquire targeted assets that satisfy our investment objectives, our earnings and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
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 targeted assets available to us, which could adversely affect our ability to acquire assets that satisfy our investment and business objectives. Rising interest rates may also cause our targeted assets that were issued or originated prior to an interest rate increase to provide yields that are below prevailing market interest rates. If rising interest rates cause us to be unable to acquire a sufficient volume of our targeted assets with a yield that is sufficiently above our borrowing cost, our ability to satisfy our investment objectives and to generate income and make distributions to our stockholders will be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, a portion of the RMBS and residential loans we invest in may be comprised of ARMs that are subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps. Periodic interest rate caps limit the amount an interest rate can increase during any given period. Lifetime interest rate caps limit the amount an interest rate can increase over the life of the security or loan. Our borrowings typically are not subject to similar restrictions. Accordingly, in a period of rapidly increasing interest rates, the interest rates paid on our borrowings could increase without limitation while interest rate caps could limit the interest rates on the Agency ARMs or residential loans comprised of ARMs in our portfolio. This problem is magnified for securities backed by, or residential loans comprised of ARMs and hybrid ARMs that are not fully indexed. Further, certain securities backed by, or residential mortgage loans comprised of ARMs and hybrid ARMs, may be subject to periodic payment caps that result in a portion of the interest being deferred and added to the principal outstanding. As a result, the payments we receive on Agency ARMs backed by, or residential mortgage loans comprised of ARMs and hybrid ARMs, may be lower than the related debt service costs. These factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Interest rate fluctuations will also cause variances in the yield curve, which may reduce our net income. The relationship between short-term and longer-term interest rates is often referred to as the “yield curve.” If short-term interest rates rise disproportionately relative to longer-term interest rates (a flattening of the yield curve), our borrowing costs may increase more rapidly than the interest income earned on our interest-earning assets. For example, because the Agency RMBS in our investment portfolio typically bear interest based on longer-term rates while our borrowings typically bear interest based on short-term rates, a flattening of the yield curve would tend to decrease our net income and the market value of these securities. Additionally, to the extent cash flows from investments that return scheduled and unscheduled principal are reinvested, the spread between the yields of the new investments and available borrowing rates may decline, which would likely decrease our net income. 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 significant operating losses.
Interest rate mismatches between the interest-earning assets held in our investment portfolio and the borrowings used to fund the purchases of those assets may reduce our net income or result in a loss during periods of changing interest rates.
A significant portion of the assets held in our investment portfolio have a fixed coupon rate, generally for a significant period, and in some cases, for the average maturity of the asset. At the same time, certain of our borrowings provide for a payment reset period of 30 days. In addition, the average maturity of our borrowings generally will be shorter than the average maturity of the assets currently in our portfolio and certain other targeted assets in which we seek to invest. Historically, we have used swap agreements as a means for attempting to fix the cost of certain of our liabilities over a period of time; however, these agreements will not be sufficient to match the cost of all our liabilities against all of our investments and we are presently not employing any hedging instruments. In the event we experience unexpectedly high or low prepayment rates on the assets in our portfolio, our strategy for matching our assets with our liabilities is more likely to be unsuccessful which may result in reduced earnings or losses and reduced cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
Prepayment rates can change, adversely affecting the performance of our assets.
The frequency at which prepayments (including both voluntary prepayments by the borrowers and liquidations due to defaults and foreclosures) occur on the residential loans we own and those that underlie our RMBS is difficult to predict and is affected by a variety of factors, including the prevailing level of interest rates as well as economic, demographic, tax, social, legal, legislative and other factors. Generally, borrowers tend to prepay their mortgages when prevailing mortgage rates fall below the interest rates on their mortgage loans.
In general, “premium” assets (assets whose market values exceed their principal or par amounts) are adversely affected by faster-than-anticipated prepayments because the above-market coupon that such premium securities carry will be earned for a shorter period of time. Generally, “discount” assets (assets whose principal or par amounts exceed their market values) are adversely affected by slower-than-anticipated prepayments. Because our securities portfolio is comprised of both discount assets and premium assets, our securities portfolio may be adversely affected by changes in prepayments in any interest rate environment. Although we estimate prepayment rates to determine the effective yield of our assets and valuations, these estimates are not precise and prepayment rates do not necessarily change in a predictable manner as a function of interest rate changes.
The adverse effects of prepayments may impact us in various ways. First, certain investments, such as IOs, may experience outright losses in an environment of faster actual or anticipated prepayments. Second, particular investments may under-perform relative to any hedges that we may have constructed for these assets, resulting in a loss to us. In particular, prepayments (at par) may limit the potential upside of many RMBS to their principal or par amounts, whereas their corresponding hedges often have the potential for unlimited loss. Furthermore, to the extent that faster prepayment rates are due to lower interest rates, the principal payments received from prepayments will tend to be reinvested in lower-yielding assets, which may reduce our income in the long run. Therefore, if actual prepayment rates differ from anticipated prepayment rates, our business, financial condition and results of operations and ability to make distributions to our stockholders could be materially adversely affected.
Some of the commercial real estate investments and loans we may originate or that underlie our CMBS may allow the borrower to make prepayments without incurring a prepayment penalty and some may include provisions allowing the borrower or operating partner to extend the term of the loan or instrument beyond the originally scheduled maturity. Because the decision to prepay or extend such a commercial loan or instrument is typically controlled by the borrower, we may not accurately anticipate the timing of these events, which could affect the earnings and cash flows we anticipate and could impact our ability to finance these assets.
Our portfolio of assets may at times be concentrated in certain asset types or secured by properties concentrated in a limited number of real estate sectors or geographic areas, which increases, with respect to those asset types, property types or geographic locations, our exposure to economic downturns and risks associated with the real estate and lending industries in general.
We are not required to observe any specific diversification criteria. As a result, our portfolio of assets may, at times, be concentrated in certain asset types that are subject to higher risk of delinquency, default or foreclosure, or secured by properties concentrated in a limited number of real estate sectors or geographic locations, which increases, with respect to those properties or geographic locations, our exposure to economic downturns and risks associated with the real estate and lending industries in general, thereby increasing the risk of loss and the magnitude of potential losses to us and our stockholders if one or more of these asset or property types perform poorly or the states or regions in which these properties are located are negatively impacted.
As of December 31, 2020, approximately 11.3% of our total investment portfolio represents direct or indirect investments in multi-family properties. Our direct and indirect investments in multifamily properties are subject to the ability of the property owner to generate net income from operating the property, which is impacted by numerous factors. See “˗Our direct and indirect investments in multi-family and other commercial properties are subject to the ability of the property owner to generate net income from operating the property as well as the risks of delinquency, default and foreclosure.” To the extent any of these factors materially adversely impact the multi-family property sector or the geographic regions in which we invest, the market values of our multi-family assets and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
Similarly, as of December 31, 2020, approximately 74.6% of our total investment portfolio is comprised of residential loans and non-Agency RMBS. Moreover, as of December 31, 2020, significant portions of the properties that secure our residential loans, including loans that secure Consolidated SLST, are concentrated in California, Florida, Texas and New York, among other states. To the extent that our portfolio is concentrated in any region, or by type of asset or real estate sector, downturns relating generally to such region, type of borrower, asset or sector may result in defaults on a number of our assets within a short time period, which may materially adversely affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Our investments include subordinated tranches of CMBS, RMBS and ABS, which are subordinate in right of payment to more senior securities and have greater risk of loss than other investments.
Our investments include subordinated tranches of CMBS, RMBS and ABS, which are subordinated classes of securities in a structure of securities collateralized by a pool of assets consisting primarily of multi-family or other commercial mortgage loans, residential mortgage loans and auto loans, respectively. Accordingly, the subordinated tranches of securities that we own and invest in, such as certain non-Agency RMBS and ABS, are the first or among the first to bear the loss upon a restructuring or liquidation of the underlying collateral and the last to receive payment of interest and principal. Additionally, estimated fair values of these subordinated interests tend to be more sensitive to changes in economic conditions and increases in defaults, delinquencies and losses than more senior securities. Moreover, subordinated interests generally are not actively traded and may not provide holders thereof with liquid investment, as was the case with certain asset classes in March 2020 during the market disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous factors may affect an issuing entity’s ability to repay or fulfill its payment obligations on its subordinated securities, including, without limitation, the failure to meet its business plan, a downturn in its industry, rising interest rates, negative economic conditions or risks particular to real property. As of December 31, 2020, our portfolio included approximately $465.2 million of subordinated non-Agency RMBS, including $184.0 million of first loss securities, and $43.2 million of first loss ABS. In the event any of these factors cause the securitization entities in which we own subordinated securities to experience losses, the market value of our assets, our business, financial condition and results of operations and ability to make distributions to our stockholders may be materially adversely affected.
Residential loans are subject to increased risks relative to Agency RMBS.
We acquire and manage residential loans, including performing, re-performing and non-performing loans and loans that may not meet or conform to the underwriting standards of any GSE. Residential loans are subject to increased risks of loss. Unlike Agency RMBS, the residential loans we invest in generally are not guaranteed by the federal government or any GSE. Additionally, by directly acquiring residential loans, we do not receive the structural credit enhancements that benefit senior securities of RMBS. A residential loan is directly exposed to losses resulting from default. 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. 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 costs or delays involved in the foreclosure or liquidation process may increase losses.
Many of the loans we own or seek to acquire have been purchased by us at a discount to par value. These residential loans sell at a discount because they may constitute riskier investments than those selling at or above par value. The residential loans we invest in may be distressed or purchased at a discount because a borrower may have defaulted thereupon, because the borrower is or has been in the past delinquent on paying all or a portion of his obligation under the loan, because the loan may otherwise contain credit quality that is considered to be poor, because of errors by the originator in the loan origination underwriting process or because the loan documentation fails to meet certain standards. In addition, non-performing or sub-performing loans may require a substantial amount of workout negotiations and/or restructuring, which may divert the attention of our management team from other activities and entail, among other things, a substantial reduction in the interest rate, capitalization of interest payments, and a substantial write-down of the principal of the loan. However, even if such restructuring were successfully accomplished, a risk exists that the borrower will not be able or willing to maintain the restructured payments or refinance the restructured mortgage upon maturity. Although we typically expect to receive less than the principal amount or face value of the residential loans that we purchase, the return that we in fact receive thereupon may be less than our investment in such loans due to the failure of the loans to perform or reperform. An economic downturn, such as the one caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, would exacerbate the risks of the recovery of the full value of the loan or the cost of our investment therein.
We also own and invest in second mortgages on residential properties, which are subject to a greater risk of loss than a traditional mortgage because our security interest in the property securing a second mortgage is subordinated to the interest of the first mortgage holder and the second mortgages have a higher combined loan-to-value ratio than do the first mortgages. If the borrower experiences difficulties in making senior lien payments or if the value of the property is equal to or less than the amount needed to repay the borrower's obligation to the first mortgage holder upon foreclosure, our investment in the second mortgage may not be repaid in full or at all.
Finally, residential loans are also subject to "special hazard" risk (property damage caused by hazards, such as earthquakes or environmental hazards, not covered by standard property insurance policies), and to bankruptcy risk (reduction in a borrower's mortgage debt by a bankruptcy court). In addition, claims may be asserted against us on account of our position as a mortgage holder or property owner, including assignee liability, responsibility for tax payments, environmental hazards and other liabilities. In some cases, these liabilities may be "recourse liabilities" or may otherwise lead to losses in excess of the purchase price of the related mortgage or property.
In connection with our operating and investment activity, we rely on third-party service providers to perform a variety of services, comply with applicable laws and regulations, and carry out contractual covenants and terms, the failure of which by any of these third-party service providers may adversely impact our business and financial results.
In connection with our business of acquiring and holding loans, engaging in securitization transactions, and investing in CMBS, non-Agency RMBS and ABS, 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 CMBS, non-Agency RMBS and ABS to, among other things, collect principal and interest payments on such loans and perform loss mitigation services, such as workouts, modifications, refinancings, foreclosures, short sales and sales of foreclosed property. Both default frequency and default severity of loans may depend upon the quality of the servicer. If a servicer is not vigilant in encouraging the borrowers to make their monthly payments, the borrowers may be far less likely to make these payments, which could result in a higher frequency of default. If a servicer takes longer to liquidate non-performing assets, loss severities may be higher than originally anticipated. Higher loss severity may also be caused by less competent dispositions of real estate owned properties. Finally, in the case of the CMBS, non-Agency RMBS and ABS in which we invest, we may have no or limited rights to prevent the servicer of the underlying loans from taking actions that are adverse to our interests.
Mortgage servicers and other service providers, such as our trustees, bond insurance providers, due diligence vendors, and document custodians, may fail to perform or otherwise not perform in a manner that promotes our interests. For example, any loan modification legislation or regulatory action currently in effect or enacted in the future may incentivize mortgage loan servicers to pursue such loan modifications and other actions that may not be in the best interests of the beneficial owners of the mortgage loans. As a result, we are subject to the risks associated with a third party’s failure to perform, including failure to perform due to reasons such as fraud, negligence, errors, miscalculations, or insolvency.
In the ordinary course of business, our loan servicers and other service providers are subject to numerous legal requirements and proceedings, federal, state or local governmental examinations, investigations or enforcement actions, which could adversely affect their reputation, business, liquidity, financial position and results of operations. Residential mortgage servicers, in particular, have experienced heightened regulatory scrutiny and enforcement actions, and our mortgage servicers could be adversely affected by the market’s perception that they could experience, or continue to experience, regulatory issues. Regardless of the merits of any such claim, proceeding or inquiry, defending any such claims, proceedings or inquiries may be time consuming and costly and may divert the mortgage servicer’s resources, time and attention from servicing our mortgage loans or related assets and performing as expected. In addition, it is possible that regulators or other governmental entities or parties impacted by the actions of our mortgage servicers could seek enforcement or legal actions against us, as the beneficial owner of the loans or other assets, and responding to such claims, and any related losses, could negatively impact our business. Moreover, if such actions or claims are levied against us, we could also suffer reputational damage and lenders and other counterparties could cease wanting to do business with us, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Any costs or delays involved in the completion of a foreclosure or liquidation of the underlying property of the residential loans we own may further reduce proceeds from the property and may increase our loss.
We may find it necessary or desirable from time to time to foreclose on some, if not many, of the residential mortgage loans we acquire, and the foreclosure process may be lengthy and expensive. Borrowers may resist mortgage foreclosure actions by asserting numerous claims, counterclaims and defenses against us including, without limitation, numerous lender liability claims and defenses, even when such assertions may have no basis in fact, in an effort to prolong the foreclosure action and force us into a modification of the loan or a favorable buy-out of the borrower’s position. In some states, foreclosure actions can sometimes take several years or more to litigate. At any time prior to or during the foreclosure proceedings, the borrower may file for bankruptcy, which would have the effect of staying the foreclosure actions and further delaying the foreclosure process. Foreclosure may create a negative public perception of the related mortgaged property, resulting in a decrease in its value. Even if we are successful in foreclosing on a mortgage loan, the liquidation proceeds upon sale of the underlying real estate may not be sufficient to recover our cost basis in the loan, resulting in a loss to us. Furthermore, any costs or delays involved in the completion of a foreclosure of the loan or a liquidation of the underlying property will further reduce the proceeds and thus increase the loss. Any such reductions could materially and adversely affect the value of the residential loans in which we invest and, therefore, could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
If we sell or transfer any residential loans to a third party, including a securitization entity, we may be required to repurchase such loans or indemnify such third party if we breach representations and warranties.
When we sell or transfer any residential loans to a third party, including a securitization entity, we generally are required to make customary representations and warranties about such loans to the third party. Our residential loan sale agreements and the terms of any securitizations into which we sell or transfer loans will generally require us to repurchase or substitute loans in the event we breach a representation or warranty given to the loan purchaser or securitization. In addition, we may be required to repurchase loans as a result of borrower fraud or in the event of early payment default on a loan. The remedies available to a purchaser of residential loans are generally broader than those available to us against an originating broker or correspondent. Repurchased loans could be worth less than the original price. Significant repurchase activity could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
In the future, we may acquire rights to excess servicing spreads that may expose us to significant risks.
In the future, we may acquire certain excess servicing spreads arising from certain mortgage servicing rights. The excess servicing spreads represent the difference between the contractual servicing fee with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae and a base servicing fee that is retained as compensation for servicing or subservicing the related mortgage loans pursuant to the applicable servicing contract.
Because the excess servicing spread is a component of the related mortgage servicing right, the risks of owning the excess servicing spread are similar to the risks of owning a mortgage servicing right, including, among other things, the illiquidity of mortgage servicing rights, significant and costly regulatory requirements, the failure of the servicer to effectively service the underlying loans and prepayment, interest and credit risks. We would record any excess servicing spread assets we acquired at fair value, which would be based on many of the same estimates and assumptions used to value mortgage servicing right assets, thereby creating the same potential for material differences between the recorded fair value of the excess servicing spread and the actual value that is ultimately realized. Also, the performance of any excess servicing spread assets we would acquire would be impacted by the same drivers as mortgage servicing right assets, namely interest rates, prepayment speeds and delinquency rates. Because of the inherent uncertainty in the estimates and assumptions and the potential for significant change in the impact of the drivers, there may be material uncertainty about the fair value of any excess servicing spreads we acquire, and this could ultimately have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments involve greater risks of loss than more senior loans secured by income-producing properties.
We own and originate mezzanine loans, which take the form of subordinated loans secured by second mortgages on the underlying property or loans secured by a pledge of the ownership interests of either the entity owning the property or a pledge of the ownership interests of the entity that owns the interest in the entity owning the property. We also own and make preferred equity investments in entities that own property. These types of assets involve a higher degree of risk than senior mortgage lending secured by income-producing real property, because the loan may become unsecured or our equity investment may be effectively extinguished as a result of foreclosure by the senior lender. In addition, mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments are often used to achieve a very high leverage on large commercial projects, resulting in less equity in the property and increasing the risk of loss of principal or investment. If a borrower defaults on our mezzanine loan or debt senior to our loan, or in the event of a borrower bankruptcy, our mezzanine loan or preferred equity investment will be satisfied only after the senior debt, in case of a mezzanine loan, or all senior and subordinated debt, in case of a preferred equity investment, is paid in full. Where senior debt exists, the presence of intercreditor arrangements, which in this case are arrangements between the lender of the senior loan and the mezzanine lender or preferred equity investor that stipulate the rights and obligations of the parties, may limit our ability to amend our loan documents, assign our loans, accept prepayments, exercise our remedies or control decisions made in bankruptcy proceedings relating to borrowers or preferred equity investors. As a result, we may not recover some or all of our investment, which could result in significant losses.
Our investments in multi-family and other commercial properties are subject to the ability of the property owner to generate net income from operating the property as well as the risks of delinquency, default and foreclosure.
Our investments in multi-family or other commercial properties are subject to risks of delinquency, default and foreclosure on the properties that underlie or back these investments, and risk of loss that may be greater than similar risks associated with loans made on the security of a single-family residential property. The ability of a borrower to repay a loan or obligation secured by, or an equity interest in an entity that owns, an income-producing property typically is dependent primarily upon the successful operation of such property. If the net operating income of the subject property is reduced, the borrower's ability to repay the loan, on a timely basis or at all, or our ability to receive adequate returns on our investment, may be impaired. Net operating income of an income-producing property can be adversely affected by, among other things:
•tenant mix;
•success of tenant businesses;
•the performance, actions and decisions of operating partners and the property managers they engage in the day-to-day management and maintenance of the property;
•property location, condition, and design;
•competition, including new construction of competitive properties;
•a surge in homeownership rates;
•changes in laws that increase operating expenses or limit rents that may be charged;
•changes in specific industry segments, including the labor, credit and securitization markets;
•declines in regional or local real estate values;
•declines in regional or local rental or occupancy rates;
•increases in interest rates, real estate tax rates, energy costs and other operating expenses;
•costs of remediation and liabilities associated with environmental conditions;
•the potential for uninsured or underinsured property losses;
•the risks particular to real property, including those described in “-Our real estate assets are subject to risks particular to real property.”
In the event of any default under a loan held directly by us, we will bear a risk of loss to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the collateral and the outstanding principal and accrued interest of the mortgage loan, and any such losses could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow from operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. Similarly, the CMBS, mezzanine loan and preferred and joint venture equity investments we own may be adversely affected by a default on any of the loans or other instruments that underlie those securities or that are secured by the related property. See “- Our investments include subordinated tranches of CMBS, RMBS and ABS, which are subordinate in right of payment to more senior securities and have greater risk of loss than other investments.”
In the event of the bankruptcy of a commercial mortgage loan borrower, the commercial 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 commercial 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 commercial mortgage loan can be an expensive and lengthy process, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
The revenues generated by our investments in multi-family properties are significantly influenced by demand for multi-family properties generally, and a decrease in such demand will likely have a greater adverse effect on our revenues than if we owned a more diversified portfolio.
A significant portion of our investment portfolio is comprised of direct or indirect investments in multi-family properties, and we expect that our portfolio going forward will continue to heavily focus on these assets. As a result, we are subject to risks inherent in investments concentrated in a single industry, and a decrease in the demand for multi-family apartment properties would likely have a greater adverse effect on our revenues and results of operations than if we made similar investments in additional property types. Resident demand at multi-family apartment properties may be adversely affected by, among other things, reduced household spending, reduced home prices, high unemployment, the rate of household formation or population growth in the markets in which we invest, changes in interest rates or the changes in supply of, or demand for, similar or competing multi-family apartment properties in an area. Reduced resident demand could cause downward pressure on occupancy and market rents at the properties in which we invest, which could cause a decrease in our revenue. In addition, decreased demand could also impair the ability of the owners of the properties that secure or underlie our investments to satisfy their substantial debt service obligations or make distributions or payments of principal or interest to us, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Actions of our operating partners could subject us to liabilities in excess of those contemplated or prevent us from taking actions which are in the best interests of our stockholders, which could result in lower investment returns to our stockholders.
We have entered into, and in the future may make mezzanine loans to or preferred or joint venture equity investments in owners of multi-family properties, who we consider to be our operating partners with respect to the acquisition, improvement or financing of the underlying properties, as the case may be. We may also make investments in properties through operating agreements, partnerships, co-tenancies or other co-ownership arrangements. Such investments may involve risks not otherwise present when acquiring real estate directly, including, for example:
•that our operating partners may share certain approval rights over major decisions;
•that our operating partners may at any time have economic or business interests or goals which are or which become inconsistent with our business interests or goals, including inconsistent goals relating to the sale of properties held in the joint venture or the timing of termination or liquidation of the joint venture;
•that we may enter into agreements that limit our ability to dispose of or refinance properties on a timely basis without financial penalty or at all;
•the possibility that our operating partner in a property might become insolvent or bankrupt;
•the possibility that we may incur liabilities as a result of an action taken by one of our operating partners;
•that one of our operating partners may be in a position to take action contrary to our instructions or requests or contrary to our policies or objectives, including our policy with respect to qualifying and maintaining our qualification as a REIT;
•disputes between us and our operating partners may result in litigation or arbitration that would increase our expenses and prevent our officers and directors from focusing their time and effort on our business, which may subject the properties owned by the applicable joint venture to additional risk;
•under certain joint venture arrangements, neither venture partner may have the power to control the venture, and an impasse could be reached which might have a negative influence on the joint venture; or
•that we will rely on our operating partners to provide us with accurate financial information regarding the performance of the properties underlying our preferred equity, mezzanine loan and joint venture investments on a timely basis to enable us to satisfy our annual, quarterly and periodic reporting obligations under the Exchange Act and our operating partners and the entities in which we invest may have inadequate internal controls or procedures that could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and other requirements under the federal securities laws.
Actions by one of our operating partners or one of the property managers of the multi-family properties in which we invest, which are generally out of our control, might subject us to liabilities in excess of those contemplated and thus reduce our investment returns. If we have a right of first refusal or buy/sell right to buy out an operating partner, we may be unable to finance such a buy-out if it becomes exercisable or we may be required to purchase such interest at a time when it would not otherwise be in our best interest to do so. If our interest is subject to a buy/sell right, we may not have sufficient cash, available borrowing capacity or other capital resources to allow us to elect to purchase the interest of our operating partner that is subject to the buy/sell right, in which case we may be forced to sell our interest as the result of the exercise of such right when we would otherwise prefer to keep our interest. Finally, we may not be able to sell our interest in a venture if we desire to exit the venture.
Our real estate and real estate-related assets are subject to risks particular to real property.
We own assets secured by real estate and to a lesser extent real estate assets, and may in the future acquire more of these assets, either through direct or indirect investments or upon a default of loans. Real estate assets are subject to various risks, including:
•acts of God, including earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters, which may result in uninsured losses;
•acts of war or terrorism, including the consequences of terrorist attacks, such as those that occurred on September 11, 2001, social unrest and civil disturbances;
•adverse changes in global, national, regional and local economic and market conditions, including those relating to pandemics and health crises, such as the recent outbreak of COVID-19;
•changes in governmental laws and regulations, fiscal policies, zoning ordinances and environmental legislation and the related costs of compliance with laws and regulations, fiscal policies and ordinances; and
•adverse developments or conditions resulting from or associated with climate change.
The occurrence of any of the foregoing or similar events may reduce our return from an affected property or asset and, consequently, materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
To the extent that due diligence is conducted as part of our acquisition or underwriting process, such due diligence may be limited, may not reveal all of the risks associated with such assets and may not reveal other weaknesses in such assets, which could lead to material losses.
As part of our acquisition or underwriting process for certain assets, including, without limitation, residential loans, direct and indirect multi-family property investments, CMBS, non-Agency RMBS, ABS or other mortgage-, residential housing- or other credit-related assets, we may conduct (either directly or using third parties) certain due diligence. Such due diligence may include (i) an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the asset’s or underlying asset's credit profile, (ii) a review of all or merely a subset of the documentation related to the asset or underlying asset, or (iii) other reviews that we may deem appropriate to conduct. There can be no assurance that we will conduct any specific level of due diligence, or that, among other things, the due diligence process will uncover all relevant facts, the materials provided to us or that we review will be accurate and complete or that any purchase will be successful, which could result in losses on these assets, which, in turn, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
The lack of liquidity in certain of our assets may adversely affect our business.
A portion of the assets we own or acquire may be subject to legal, contractual and other restrictions on resale or will otherwise be less liquid than publicly traded securities. For example, certain of our assets may be securitized and are held in a securitization trust and may not be sold or transferred until the note issued by the securitization trust matures or is repaid. Moreover, because many of our assets are subordinated to more senior securities or loans, any potential buyer of those assets may request to conduct due diligence on those assets, which may delay the sale or transfer of those assets. The illiquidity of certain of our assets may make it difficult for us to sell such assets on a timely basis or at all if the need or desire arises. In addition, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we have previously recorded our assets, as was the case in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant turmoil in our markets. As a result, our ability to vary our portfolio in response to changes in economic and other conditions may be relatively limited, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
The use of models in connection with the valuation of our assets subjects us to potential risks in the event that such models are incorrect, misleading or based on incomplete information.
As part of our risk management process, models may be used to evaluate, depending on the asset class, house price appreciation and depreciation by county or region, prepayment speeds and frequency, cost and timing of foreclosures, as well as other factors. Certain assumptions used as inputs to the models may be based on historical trends. These trends may not be indicative of future results. Furthermore, the assumptions underlying the models may prove to be inaccurate, causing the model output also to be incorrect. In the event models and data prove to be incorrect, misleading or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon expose us to potential risks. For example, by relying on incorrect models and data, we may buy certain assets at prices that are too high, sell certain assets at prices that are too low or miss favorable opportunities altogether, which could have a material adverse impact on our business and growth prospects.
Valuations of some of our assets are subject to inherent uncertainty, may be based on estimates, may fluctuate over short periods of time and may differ from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these assets existed.
While the determination of the fair value of our investment assets generally takes into consideration valuations provided by third-party dealers and pricing services, the final determination of exit price fair values for our investment assets is based on our judgment, and such valuations may differ from those provided by third-party dealers and pricing services. Valuations of certain assets may be difficult to obtain or may not be reliable (particularly as related to residential loans, as discussed below). In general, dealers and pricing services heavily disclaim their valuations as such valuations are not intended to be binding bid prices. Additionally, dealers may claim to furnish valuations only as an accommodation and without special compensation, and so they may disclaim any and all liability arising out of any inaccuracy or incompleteness in valuations. Depending on the complexity and illiquidity of an asset, valuations of the same asset can vary substantially from one dealer or pricing service to another. Our results of operations, financial condition and business could be materially adversely affected if our fair value determinations of these assets are materially higher than could actually be realized in the market.
Our investments in residential loans are difficult to value and are dependent upon the borrower’s ability to service or refinance their debt. The inability of the borrower to do so could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and results of operations.
The difficulty in valuation is particularly significant with respect to our less liquid investments such as our re-performing loans (or RPLs) and non-performing loans (or NPLs). RPLs are loans on which a borrower was previously delinquent but has resumed repaying. Our ability to sell RPLs for a profit depends on the borrower continuing to make payments. An RPL could become a NPL, which could reduce our earnings. Our investments in residential whole loans may require us to engage in workout negotiations, restructuring and/or the possibility of foreclosure. These processes may be lengthy and expensive. If loans become REO, we, through a designated servicer that we retain, will have to manage these properties and may not be able to sell them.
We may work with our third-party servicers and seek to help a borrower to refinance an NPL or RPL to realize greater value from such loan. However, there may be impediments to executing a refinancing strategy for NPLs and RPLs. For example, many mortgage lenders have adjusted their loan programs and underwriting standards, which has reduced the availability of mortgage credit to prospective borrowers. This has resulted in reduced availability of financing alternatives for borrowers seeking to refinance their mortgage loans. In addition, the value of some borrowers’ homes may have declined below the amount of the mortgage loans on such homes resulting in higher loan-to-value ratios, which has left the borrowers with insufficient equity in their homes to permit them to refinance. To the extent prevailing mortgage interest rates rise from their current low levels, these risks would be exacerbated. The effect of the above would likely serve to make the refinancing of NPLs and RPLs potentially more difficult and less profitable for us.
Competition may prevent us from acquiring assets on favorable terms or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities. Our net income largely depends on our ability to acquire our targeted assets at favorable spreads over our borrowing costs. In acquiring our targeted assets, we compete with other REITs, investment banking firms, savings and loan associations, banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, private investors, lenders and other entities that purchase mortgage-related assets, many of which have greater financial resources than us. Additionally, many of our potential competitors are not subject to REIT tax compliance or required to maintain an exclusion from the Investment Company Act. As a result, we may not in the future be able to acquire sufficient quantities of our targeted assets at favorable spreads over our borrowing costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
We are highly dependent on information and communication systems and system failures and other operational disruptions could significantly disrupt our business, which may, in turn, materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Our business is highly dependent on communications and information systems. For example, we rely on our proprietary database to track and manage the residential loans in our portfolio. Any failure or interruption in the availability and functionality of our systems or those of our third party service providers and other operational disruptions could cause delays or other problems in our trading, investment, financing, hedging and other operating activities which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
The occurrence of cyber-incidents, or a deficiency in our cybersecurity or in those of any of our third party service providers, could negatively impact our business by causing a disruption to our operations, a compromise or corruption of our confidential information or damage to our business relationships or reputation, all of which could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
A cyber-incident is considered to be any adverse event that threatens the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of our information resources or the information resources of our third party service providers. More specifically, a cyber-incident is an intentional attack or an unintentional event that can include gaining unauthorized access to systems to disrupt operations, corrupt data, or steal confidential information. As our reliance on technology has increased, so have the risks posed to our systems and to the systems of our third party service providers. The primary risks that could directly result from the occurrence of a cyber-incident include operational interruption and private data exposure. Although we have implemented processes, procedures and controls to help mitigate these risks, there can be no assurance that these measures, together with our increased awareness of a risk of a cyber-incident, will be successful in averting a cyber-incident or attack that our business and results of operations will not be negatively impacted by such an incident.
Risks Related to Debt Financing and Our Use of Hedging Strategies
Our access to financing sources, which may not be available on favorable terms, or at all, may be limited, and this may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
We depend upon the availability of adequate capital and financing sources on acceptable terms to fund our operations, meet financial obligations, and finance asset acquisitions. However, the capital and credit markets have experienced unprecedented levels of volatility and disruption in recent years, including during the past year as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, that has generally negatively impacted the availability of credit from time-to-time. Continued volatility or disruption in the credit or finance markets or a downturn in the global economy could materially adversely affect one or more of our lenders and could cause one or more of our lenders to be unwilling or unable to provide us with financing, to increase the costs of that financing or make the terms less attractive, or to become insolvent.
Although we finance some of our assets with longer-term financing, we have also historically relied on access to short-term borrowings in the form of repurchase agreements to finance our investments. Because our repurchase agreements typically have terms of one year or less our 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 and have and may continue to impose more onerous conditions when rolling such financings. If we are not able to renew or roll our existing repurchase agreements or arrange for new financing on terms acceptable to us, or if we default on our financial covenants, are otherwise unable to access funds under our financing arrangements, or if we are required to post more collateral or face larger haircuts on our financings, 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. 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.
Issues related to financing are exacerbated in times of significant dislocation in the financial markets, such as those experienced during the height of the March 2020 market disruption. 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. 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. Moreover, 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 repurchase agreement financing. In general, this could potentially increase our financing costs and reduce our liquidity or require us to sell assets at an inopportune time or price.
Finally, securitizations have been limited in the recent past. A prolonged decline in securitization activity may limit borrowings under warehouse facilities and other credit facilities that are intended to be refinanced by such securitizations. Moreover, other forms of longer-term financing have historically been difficult for mortgage REITs to access or contain less favorable terms. Consequently, depending on market conditions at the relevant time, we may have to rely on additional equity issuances to meet our capital and financing needs, which may be dilutive to our stockholders, or we may have to rely on less efficient forms of debt financing that restrict our operations or consume a larger portion of our cash flow from operations, thereby reducing funds available for our operations, future business opportunities, cash distributions to our stockholders and other purposes. We cannot assure you that we will have access to such equity or debt capital on favorable terms (including, without limitation, cost and term) at the desired times, or at all, which may cause us to curtail our investment activities and/or dispose of assets, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
We may incur increased borrowing costs related to repurchase agreements and that would adversely affect our profitability.
Currently, a significant portion of our borrowings are collateralized borrowings in the form of repurchase agreements. If the interest rates on these agreements increase at a rate higher than the increase in rates payable on our investments, our profitability would be adversely affected.
Our borrowing costs under repurchase agreements generally correspond to short-term interest rates such as LIBOR or a short-term Treasury index, plus or minus a margin. The margins on these borrowings over or under short-term interest rates may vary depending upon a number of factors, including, without limitation:
•the movement of interest rates;
•the availability of financing in the market; and
•the value and liquidity of our mortgage-related assets.
If the interest rates, lending margins or collateral requirements under our short-term borrowings, including repurchase agreements, increase, or if lenders impose other onerous terms to obtain this type of financing, our results of operations will be adversely affected.
The repurchase agreements that we use to finance our investments may require us to provide additional collateral, which could reduce our liquidity and harm our financial condition.
We use repurchase agreements to finance a portion of our investments. In certain cases, these repurchase agreements allows the lender, to varying degrees, to revalue the collateral to values that the lender considers to reflect the market value. In these cases, a lender determines that the value of the collateral has decreased, it may initiate a margin call, in which case we may be required by the lending institution to provide additional collateral or pay down a portion of the funds advanced, but we may not have the funds available to do so. Typically, repurchase agreements grant the repurchase agreement counterparty the absolute 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 in its sole discretion 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 or to otherwise reduce the amount of leverage we use to finance our business, which could cause significant losses. In the event we do not have sufficient liquidity to meet such requirements, lending institutions can accelerate our indebtedness, increase our borrowing rates, liquidate our collateral at inopportune times or prices and terminate our ability to borrow. Significant margin calls could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, business, liquidity, and ability to make distributions to our stockholders, and could cause the value of our capital stock to decline. As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, late in the first quarter of 2020, we observed a mark-down of a portion of our assets by our repurchase agreement counterparties, resulting in us having to pay cash and securities to satisfy margin calls that were well beyond historical norms. Events of this type, were they to occur again in the future, could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity and could lead to significant losses. This could result in significant losses, a rapid deterioration of our financial condition and possibly require us to file for protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
We leverage our equity, which can exacerbate any losses we incur on our current and future investments and may reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
We leverage our equity through borrowings, generally through the use of repurchase agreements, longer-term structured debt, such as CDOs and other forms of secured debt, or corporate-level debt, such as convertible notes. We may, in the future, utilize other forms of borrowing. The amount of leverage we incur varies depending on the asset type, our ability to obtain borrowings, the cost of the debt and our lenders’ estimates of the value of our portfolio’s cash flow. The return on our investments and cash available for distribution to our stockholders may be reduced to the extent that changes in market conditions cause the cost of our financing to increase relative to the income that can be derived from the assets we hold in our investment portfolio. Further, the leverage on our equity may exacerbate any losses we incur.
Our debt service payments will reduce the net income available for distribution to our stockholders. We may not be able to meet our debt service obligations and, to the extent that we cannot, we risk the loss of some or all of our assets to sale to satisfy our debt obligations. Although we have established target leverage amounts for many of our assets, there is no established limitation, other than as may be required by our financing arrangements or our investment guidelines, on our leverage ratio or on the aggregate amount of our borrowings. As a result, we may still incur substantially more debt or take other actions which could have the effect of diminishing our ability to make payments on our indebtedness when due and further exacerbate our losses.
If we are unable to leverage our equity to the extent we currently anticipate, the returns on certain of our assets could be diminished, which may limit or eliminate our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
If we are limited in our ability to leverage our assets to the extent we currently anticipate, the returns on these assets may be harmed. We have historically used leverage to increase the size of our portfolio in order to enhance our returns. As discussed above, the capital and credit markets have experienced unprecedented levels of volatility and disruption in recent years, including during the past year as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, that has generally negatively impacted the availability and terms of financing from time-to-time. If we are unable to leverage our equity to the extent we currently anticipate, the returns on our portfolio could be diminished, which may limit or eliminate our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
We directly or indirectly utilize non-recourse securitizations and recourse structured financings and such structures expose us to risks that could result in losses to us.
We sometimes utilize non-recourse securitizations and recourse structured financings of our investments in residential loans or investment securities to the extent consistent with the maintenance of our REIT qualification and exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act in order to generate cash for funding new investments and/or to leverage existing assets. Some securitizations are treated as financing transactions for U.S. GAAP, while others are treated as sales. In a typical securitization, we convey assets to a special purpose vehicle (“SPE”), the issuer, which then issues one or more classes of notes secured by the assets pursuant to the terms of an indenture. In exchange for conveying assets to the SPE, we may receive the ownership certificate or residual interest in the securitization and we frequently retain a subordinated interest in the securitization as well. To the extent that we retain the most subordinated economic interests in the issuer, we would continue to be exposed to losses on the assets for as long as those retained interests remained outstanding and therefore able to absorb such losses. Furthermore, our retained interests in a securitization could be less liquid than the underlying assets themselves, and may be subject to U.S. Risk Retention Rules and similar European rules. There can be no assurance that we will be able to access the securitization markets in the future, or be able to do so at favorable rates, to finance the assets we accumulate as part of our investment strategy. The inability to consummate longer-term financing for the credit sensitive assets in our portfolio could require us to seek other forms of potentially less attractive financing or to liquidate assets at an inopportune time or price, which could adversely affect our performance and our ability to grow our business.
In addition, under the terms of the securitization or structured financing, we may have limited or no ability to sell, transfer or replace the assets transferred to the SPE, which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to sell the assets opportunistically or during periods when our liquidity is constrained or to refinance the assets. Under the terms of these financings, some of which have terms of up to forty years, we have in the past and may in the future agree to receive no cash flows from the assets transferred to the SPE until the debt issued by the SPE has matured or been repaid, which could reduce of liquidity and our cash available for distribution to our stockholders. As part of our financing strategy, we have in the past and may in the future guarantee certain terms or conditions of these financings, including the payment of principal and interest on the debt issued by the SPE, the cash flows for which are typically derived from the assets transferred to the entity. If a SPE defaults on its obligations and we have guaranteed the satisfaction of that obligation, we may be materially adversely affected.
In connection with our securitizations, we generally are required to prepare disclosure documentation for investors, including term sheets and offering memoranda, which contain information regarding the securitization generally, the securities being issued, and the assets being securitized. If our disclosure documentation for a securitization is alleged or found to contain material inaccuracies or omissions, we may be liable under federal securities laws, state securities laws or other applicable laws for damages to the investors in such securitization, we may be required to indemnify the underwriters of the securitization or other parties, or we may incur other expenses and costs in connection with disputing these allegations or settling claims. Such liabilities, expenses, and/or losses could be significant.
We will typically be required to make representations and warranties in connection with our securitizations regarding, among other things, certain characteristics of the assets being securitized. If any of the representations and warranties that we have made concerning the assets are alleged or found to be inaccurate, we may incur expenses disputing the allegations, and we may be obligated to repurchase certain assets, which may result in losses. Even if we previously obtained representations and warranties from loan originators or other parties from whom we originally acquired the assets, such representations and warranties may not align with those that we have made for the benefit of the securitization, or may otherwise not protect us from losses (e.g., because of a deterioration in the financial condition of the party that provided representations and warranties to us).
If a counterparty to our repurchase transactions defaults on its obligation to resell the pledged assets back to us at the end of the transaction term or if we default on our obligations under the repurchase agreement, we may incur losses.
When we engage in repurchase transactions, we generally sell RMBS, CMBS, residential loans or certain other assets to lenders (i.e., repurchase agreement counterparties) and receive cash from the lenders. The lenders are obligated to resell the same asset back to us at the end of the term of the transaction. Because the cash we receive from the lender when we initially sell the asset to the lender is less than the value of that asset (this difference is referred to as the “haircut”), if the lender defaults on its obligation to resell the same asset back to us we would incur a loss on the transaction equal to the amount of the haircut (assuming there was no change in the value of the asset), plus additional costs associated with asserting or enforcing our rights under the repurchase agreement. Certain of the assets that we pledge as collateral are currently subject to significant haircuts. Further, if we default on one of our obligations under a repurchase transaction, the lender can terminate the transaction and cease entering into any other repurchase transactions with us. Moreover, our repurchase agreements frequently contain cross-default provisions, so that if a default occurs under any one agreement, the lenders under our other agreements may also be entitled to declare a default, which could exacerbate our losses and cause a rapid deterioration of our financial condition. Any losses we incur on our repurchase transactions through our default or the default of our counterparty could adversely affect our earnings and thus our cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
Our use of repurchase agreements to borrow funds may give our lenders greater rights in the event that either we or a lender files for bankruptcy.
Our borrowings under repurchase agreements may qualify for special treatment under the bankruptcy code, giving our lenders the ability to avoid the automatic stay provisions of the bankruptcy code and to take possession of and liquidate our collateral under the repurchase agreements without delay in the event that we file for bankruptcy. Furthermore, the special treatment of repurchase agreements under the bankruptcy code may make it difficult for us to recover our pledged assets in the event that a lender files for bankruptcy. Thus, the use of repurchase agreements exposes our pledged assets to risk in the event of a bankruptcy filing by either a lender or us.
Negative impacts on our business caused by significant market disruptions may cause us to default on certain financial covenants contained in our financing arrangements.
The repurchase agreements that finance a portion of our investment portfolio, and financing arrangements we enter into in the future, may contain financial covenants. The negative impacts on our business caused by significant market disruptions, including those 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.
If we fail to meet or satisfy any of these covenants, we would be in default under these agreements, which could result in a cross-default or cross-acceleration under other financing arrangements, and the financing counterparties could elect to declare the repurchase price due and payable (or such amounts may automatically become due and payable), terminate their commitments, require the posting of additional collateral and enforce their respective interests against existing collateral. 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.
Hedging against interest rate and market value changes as well as other risks may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Subject to compliance with the requirements to qualify as a REIT, we may engage in certain hedging transactions to limit our exposure to changes in interest rates and therefore may expose ourselves to risks associated with such transactions. We may utilize instruments such as interest rate swaps, interest rate swaptions, Eurodollars and U.S. Treasury futures to seek to hedge the interest rate risk associated with our portfolio. Hedging against a decline in the values of our portfolio positions does not eliminate the possibility of fluctuations in the values of such positions or prevent losses if the values of such positions decline. Such hedging transactions may also limit the opportunity for gain if the values of the portfolio positions should increase. Moreover, at any point in time we may choose not to hedge all or a portion of these risks, and we generally will not hedge those risks that we believe are appropriate for us to take at such time, or that we believe would be impractical or prohibitively expensive to hedge.
Even if we do choose to hedge certain risks, for a variety of reasons we generally will not seek to establish a perfect correlation between our hedging instruments and the risks being hedged. Any such imperfect correlation may prevent us from achieving the intended hedge and expose us to risk of loss. Our hedging activity will vary in scope based on the composition of our portfolio, our market views, and changing market conditions, including the level and volatility of interest rates. When we do choose to hedge, hedging may fail to protect or could materially adversely affect us because, among other things:
•we may fail to correctly assess the degree of correlation between the performance of the instruments used in the hedging strategy and the performance of the assets in the portfolio being hedged;
•we may fail to recalculate, re-adjust and execute hedges in an efficient and timely manner;
•the hedging transactions may actually result in poorer overall performance for us than if we had not engaged in the hedging transactions;
•interest rate hedging can be expensive, particularly during periods of volatile interest rates;
•available hedges may not correspond directly with the risks for which protection is sought;
•the durations of the hedges may not match the durations of the related assets or liabilities being hedged;
•many hedges are structured as over-the-counter contracts with counterparties whose creditworthiness is not guaranteed, raising the possibility that the hedging counterparty may default on their payment obligations; and
•to the extent that the creditworthiness of a hedging counterparty deteriorates, it may be difficult or impossible to terminate or assign any hedging transactions with such counterparty.
The use of derivative instruments is also subject to an increasing number of laws and regulations, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 ("Dodd-Frank") and its implementing regulations. These laws and regulations are complex, compliance with them may be costly and time consuming, and our failure to comply with any of these laws and regulations could subject us to lawsuits or government actions and damage our reputation. For these and other reasons, our hedging activity may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Risks Associated With Adverse Developments in the Mortgage, Real Estate, Credit and Financial Markets Generally
Difficult conditions in the mortgage and real estate markets, the financial markets and the economy generally have caused and may cause us to experience losses in the future.
Our business is materially affected by conditions in the residential and commercial mortgage markets, the residential and commercial real estate markets, the financial markets and the economy generally. Furthermore, because a significant portion of our current assets and our targeted assets are credit sensitive, we believe the risks associated with our investments will be more acute during periods of economic slowdown, recession or market dislocations, especially if these periods are accompanied by declining real estate values and defaults. In prior years, concerns about the health of the global economy generally and the residential and commercial mortgage markets specifically, as well as inflation, energy costs, changes in monetary policy, perceived or actual changes in interest rates, European sovereign debt, U.S. budget debates, geopolitical issues, global pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the availability and cost of credit have contributed to increased volatility and uncertainty for the economy and financial markets. The residential and commercial mortgage markets were materially adversely affected by changes in the lending landscape during the financial market crisis of 2008 and again by the significant market disruption in March and April 2020 resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the severity of which, in each case, was largely unanticipated by the markets, and there can be no assurance that such adverse markets will not occur or, as it relates to COVID-19, continue in the future.
In addition, an economic slowdown or general disruption in the mortgage markets may result in decreased demand for residential and commercial property, which would likely further compress homeownership rates and place additional pressure on home price performance, while forcing commercial property owners to lower rents on properties with excess supply or experience higher vacancy rates. We believe there is a strong correlation between home price growth rates and mortgage loan delinquencies. Moreover, to the extent that a property owner has fewer tenants or receives lower rents, such property owners may generate less cash flow on their properties, which reduces the value of their property and increases significantly the likelihood that such property owners will default on their debt service obligations. If the borrowers of our mortgage loans, the loans underlying certain of our investment securities or the commercial properties that we finance or in which we invest, default or become delinquent on their obligations, we may incur material losses on those loans or investment securities. Any sustained period of increased payment delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures or losses could adversely affect both our net interest income and our ability to acquire our targeted assets in the future on favorable terms or at all. In addition, the deterioration of the mortgage markets, the residential or commercial real estate markets, the financial markets and the economy generally may result in a decline in the market value of our assets or cause us to experience losses related thereto, which may adversely affect our results of operations or book value, the availability and cost of credit and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
We cannot predict the effect that government policies, laws and interventions adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or the impact that future changes in the U.S. political environment, governmental policy or regulation will have on our business and the markets in which we operate.
The U.S. government has taken significant actions to support the economy and the continued functioning of the financial markets in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through multiple relief bills. More recently, in January 2021, the Biden administration introduced legislation to spend an additional $1.9 trillion dollars on COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve continues to purchase significant amounts of U.S. Treasuries, mortgage-backed securities, municipal bonds and other assets in an effort to support markets and the economy. There can be no assurance as to how, in the long term, these and other actions by the U.S. government will affect the efficiency, liquidity and stability of the financial and mortgage markets. There can be no assurance as to how, in the long term, these and other actions by the U.S. government will affect our business and the efficiency, liquidity and stability of financial and mortgage markets.
Moreover, uncertainty with respect to the actions discussed above combined with uncertainty surrounding legislation, regulation and government policy at the federal, state and local levels have introduced new and difficult-to-quantify macroeconomic and political risks with potentially far-reaching implications. There has been a corresponding meaningful increase in uncertainty with respect to interest rates, inflation, foreign exchange rates, trade volumes and trade, fiscal and monetary policy. The potential for changes in policy and regulation is heightened by the change in the U.S. administration. New legislative, regulatory or policy changes could significantly impact our business and the markets in which we operate. In addition, disagreements over the federal budget have led to the shutdown of the U.S. government for periods of time in the recent past and may recur in the future. To the extent changes in the political environment have a negative impact on our business or the financial and mortgage markets, our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to make distributions to our stockholders could be materially and adversely impacted.
The downgrade, or perceived potential downgrade, of the credit ratings of the U.S. and the failure to resolve issues related to U.S. fiscal and debt policies may materially adversely affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
In August 2011, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the U.S. from “AAA” to “AA+” due, in part, to concerns surrounding the burgeoning U.S. Government budget deficit. The impact of any further downgrades to the U.S. Government's sovereign credit rating or its perceived creditworthiness could adversely affect the U.S. and global financial markets and economic conditions and would likely impact the credit risk associated with assets in our portfolio, particularly Agency RMBS and Agency CMBS. A downgrade of the U.S. Government's credit rating or a default by the U.S. Government to satisfy its debt obligations likely would create broader financial turmoil and uncertainty, which would weigh heavily on the global banking system and these developments could cause interest rates and borrowing costs to rise and a reduction in the availability of credit, which may negatively impact the value of the assets in our portfolio, our net income, liquidity and our ability to finance our assets on favorable terms.
The federal conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and related efforts, along with any changes in laws and regulations affecting the relationship between Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae and the U.S. Government, may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, and our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders.
Payments on the Agency RMBS in which we may invest are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are GSEs, but their guarantees are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Ginnie Mae, which guarantees mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) backed by federally insured or guaranteed loans primarily consisting of loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (the “FHA”) or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”), is part of a U.S. Government agency and its guarantees are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.
In September 2008, in response to the deteriorating financial condition of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the U.S. Government placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into the conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (the “FHFA”), their federal regulator, and required these GSEs to reduce the amount of mortgage loans they own or for which they provide guarantees on Agency RMBS. 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 considerably limited relative to historical measurements or even eliminated. The substantial financial assistance provided by the U.S. Government to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, especially in the course of their being placed into conservatorship and thereafter, together with the substantial financial assistance provided by the U.S. Government to the mortgage-related operations of other GSEs and government agencies, such as the FHA, VA and Ginnie Mae, has stirred debate among many federal policymakers over the continued role of the U.S. Government in providing such financial support for the mortgage-related GSEs in particular, and for the mortgage and housing markets in general. To date, no definitive legislation has been enacted with respect to a possible unwinding of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or a material reduction in their roles in the U.S. mortgage market, and it is not possible at this time to predict the scope and nature of the actions that the U.S. Government will ultimately take with respect to these entities.
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae could each be dissolved, and the U.S. Government could determine to stop providing liquidity support of any kind to the mortgage market. If Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae were eliminated, or their structures were to change radically, or the U.S. Government significantly reduced its support for any or all of them which would drastically reduce the amount and type of MBS available for purchase, we may be unable or significantly limited in our ability to acquire MBS, which, in turn, could negatively impact our ability to maintain our exclusion from regulation as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Moreover, any changes to the nature of the guarantees provided by, or laws affecting, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae could materially adversely affect the credit quality of the guarantees, could increase the risk of loss on purchases of MBS issued by these GSEs and could have broad adverse market implications for the MBS they currently guarantee and the mortgage industry generally. Any action that affects the credit quality of the guarantees provided by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae could materially adversely affect the value of the MBS and other assets that we own or seek to acquire. In addition, any market uncertainty that arises from any such proposed changes, or the perception that such changes will come to fruition, could have a similar impact on us and the values of the MBS and other assets that we own.
Uncertainty regarding LIBOR may adversely impact our borrowings and assets.
In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that it would cease to compel banks to participate in setting LIBOR as a benchmark by the end of 2021 (the "LIBOR Transition Date"). It is unclear whether new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2021. The Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of large U.S. financial institutions convened by the U.S. Federal Reserve, has recommended the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as a more robust reference rate alternative to U.S. dollar LIBOR. SOFR is calculated based on overnight transactions under repurchase agreements, backed by Treasury securities. SOFR is observed and backward looking, which stands in contrast with LIBOR under the current methodology, which is an estimated forward-looking rate and relies, to some degree, on the expert judgment of submitting panel members. Given that SOFR is a secured rate backed by government securities, it will be a rate that does not take into account bank credit risk (as is the case with LIBOR). SOFR is therefore likely to be lower than LIBOR and is less likely to correlate with the funding costs of financial institutions. Whether or not SOFR attains market traction as a LIBOR replacement tool remains in question. On November 30, 2020, ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”), the administrator of LIBOR, with the support of the United States Federal Reserve and the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, announced plans to consult on ceasing publication of USD LIBOR on December 31, 2021 for only the one week and two month USD LIBOR tenors, and on June 30, 2023 for all other USD LIBOR tenors. While this announcement extends the transition period to June 2023, the United States Federal Reserve concurrently issued a statement advising banks to stop new USD LIBOR issuances by the end of 2021. In light of these recent announcements, the future of LIBOR at this time is uncertain and any changes in the methods by which LIBOR is determined or regulatory activity related to LIBOR’s phaseout could cause LIBOR to perform differently than in the past or cease to exist. Although regulators and IBA have made clear that the recent announcements should not be read to say that LIBOR has ceased or will cease, in the event LIBOR does cease to exist, the risks associated with the transition to an alternative reference rate will be accelerated and magnified. Our repurchase agreements, subordinated debt, mortgage debt, fixed-to-floating rate preferred stock, interest rate swaps, as well as certain of our floating rate assets, particularly residential loans, are linked to LIBOR. Before the LIBOR Transition Date, we may need to amend the debt and loan agreements that utilize LIBOR as a factor in determining the interest rate based on a new standard that is established, if any. However, these efforts may not be successful in mitigating the legal and financial risk from changing the reference rate in our legacy agreements. In addition, any resulting differences in interest rate standards among our assets and our financing arrangements may result in interest rate mismatches between our assets and the borrowings used to fund such assets. Furthermore, the transition away from LIBOR may adversely impact our ability to manage and hedge exposures to fluctuations in interest rates using derivative instruments. There is no guarantee that a transition from LIBOR to an alternative will not result in financial market disruptions, significant increases in benchmark rates, or borrowing costs to borrowers, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and the market price of our common stock.
Risks Related To Our Organization, Our Structure and Other Risks
We may change our investment, financing, or hedging strategies and asset allocation and operational and management policies without stockholder consent, which may result in the purchase of riskier assets, the use of greater leverage or commercially unsound actions, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
We may change our investment strategy, financing strategy, hedging strategy and asset allocation and operational and management policies at any time without the consent of our stockholders, which could result in our purchasing assets or entering into financing or hedging transactions in which we have no or limited experience with or that are different from, and possibly riskier than the assets, financing and hedging transactions described in this report. A change in our investment strategy, financing strategy or hedging strategy may increase our exposure to real estate values, interest rates, prepayment rates, credit risk and other factors and there can be no assurance that we will be able to effectively identify, manage, monitor or mitigate these risks. A change in our asset allocation or investment guidelines could result in us purchasing assets in classes different from those described in this report. Our Board of Directors determines our operational policies and may amend or revise our policies, including those with respect to our investments, such as our investment guidelines, growth, operations, indebtedness, capitalization and distributions or approve transactions that deviate from these policies without a vote of, or notice to, our stockholders. Changes in our investment strategy, financing strategy, hedging strategy and asset allocation and operational and management policies could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Moreover, while our Board of Directors or a duly designated committee thereof periodically reviews our investment guidelines and our investment portfolio, our directors do not approve every individual investment that we make, leaving management with day-to-day discretion over the portfolio composition within the investment guidelines. Within those guidelines, management has discretion to significantly change the composition of the portfolio. In addition, in conducting periodic reviews, the directors may rely primarily on information provided to them by our management. Moreover, because our management has great latitude within our investment guidelines in determining the types and amounts of assets in which to invest on our behalf, there can be no assurance that our management will not make or approve investments that result in returns that are substantially below expectations or result in losses, which would materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Maintenance of our Investment Company Act exemption imposes limits on our operations.
We have conducted and intend to continue to conduct our operations so as not to become regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We believe that there are a number of exclusions under the Investment Company Act that are applicable to us. To maintain the exclusion, the assets that we acquire are limited by the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Investment Company Act. On August 31, 2011, the SEC published a concept release entitled “Companies Engaged in the Business of Acquiring Mortgages and Mortgage Related Instruments” (Investment Company Act Rel. No. 29778). This release suggests that the SEC may modify the exclusion relied upon by companies similar to us that invest in mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities. If the SEC acts to narrow the availability of, or if we otherwise fail to qualify for, our exclusion, we could, among other things, be required either (a) to change the manner in which we conduct our operations to avoid being required to register as an investment company or (b) to register as an investment company, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and the market price of our common stock.
Mortgage loan modification programs and future legislative action may adversely affect the value of, and the returns on, our targeted assets.
The U.S. Congress and various state and local legislatures have considered in the past, and in the future may adopt, legislation, which, among other provisions, would permit limited assignee liability for certain violations in the mortgage loan origination process, and would allow judicial modification of loan principal in certain instances. We cannot predict whether or in what form the U.S. Congress or the various state and local legislatures may enact legislation affecting our business or whether any such legislation will require us to change our practices or make changes in our portfolio in the future. Any loan modification program or future legislative or regulatory action, including possible amendments to the bankruptcy laws, which results in the modification of outstanding residential mortgage loans or changes in the requirements necessary to qualify for refinancing mortgage loans with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae, may adversely affect the value of, and the returns on, our assets which, in turn, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
We could be subject to liability for potential violations of predatory lending laws, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Residential mortgage loan originators and servicers are required to comply with various federal, state and local laws and regulations, including anti-predatory lending laws and laws and regulations imposing certain restrictions on requirements on high cost loans. Failure of residential mortgage loan originators or servicers to comply with these laws, to the extent any of their residential mortgage loans become part of our investment portfolio, could subject us, as an assignee or purchaser of the related residential mortgage loans, to reputational harm, monetary penalties and the risk of the borrowers rescinding the affected residential mortgage loans. Lawsuits have been brought in various states making claims against assignees or purchasers of high cost loans for violations of state law. Named defendants in these cases have included numerous participants within the secondary mortgage market. If loans in our portfolio are found to have been originated in violation of predatory or abusive lending laws, we could incur losses that would materially adversely affect our business.
Our business is subject to extensive regulation.
Our business and many of the assets that we invest in, particularly residential loans and mortgage-related assets, are subject to extensive regulation by federal and state governmental authorities, self-regulatory organizations and the securities exchange on which our capital stock is listed for which we incur significant ongoing compliance costs. 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, including the Dodd-Frank Act and various predatory lending laws, are intended primarily to safeguard and protect consumers, rather than stockholders or creditors. We are unable to predict whether United States federal, state or local authorities, or other pertinent bodies, will enact legislation, laws, rules, regulations, handbooks, guidelines or similar provisions that will affect our business or require changes in our practices in the future, and any such changes could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
Certain provisions of Maryland law and our charter and bylaws could hinder, delay or prevent a change in control which could have an adverse effect on the value of our securities.
Certain provisions of Maryland law, our charter and our bylaws may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing transactions that involve an actual or threatened change in control. These provisions include the following, among others:
•our charter provides that, subject to the rights of one or more classes or series of preferred stock to elect one or more directors, a director may be removed with or without cause only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds of all votes entitled to be cast by our stockholders generally in the election of directors;
•under our charter, our Board of Directors has authority to issue preferred stock from time to time, in one or more series and to establish the terms, preferences and rights of any such series, all without the approval of our stockholders;
•the Maryland Business Combination Act; and
•the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act.
Although our Board of Directors has adopted a resolution exempting us from application of the Maryland Business Combination Act and our bylaws provide that we are not subject to the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act, our Board of Directors may elect to make the “business combination” statute and “control share” statute applicable to us at any time and may do so without stockholder approval.
The stock ownership limit imposed by our charter may inhibit market activity in our common stock and may restrict our business combination opportunities.
In order for us to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, not more than 50% in value of the issued and outstanding shares of our capital stock may be owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code to include certain entities) at any time during the last half of each taxable year (other than our first year as a REIT). This test is known as the “5/50 test.” Attribution rules in the Internal Revenue Code apply to determine if any individual or entity actually or constructively owns our capital stock for purposes of this requirement. Additionally, at least 100 persons must beneficially own our capital stock during at least 335 days of each taxable year (other than our first year as a REIT). To help ensure that we meet these tests, our charter restricts the acquisition and ownership of shares of our capital stock. Our charter, with certain exceptions, authorizes our directors to take such actions as are necessary and desirable to preserve our qualification as a REIT and provides that, unless exempted by our Board of Directors, no person may own more than 9.9% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of our capital stock or more than 9.9% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the aggregate of our outstanding shares of common stock. The ownership limits contained in our charter could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control of our company under circumstances that otherwise could provide our stockholders with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then current market price for our common stock or would otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.
Tax Risks
Failure to qualify as a REIT would adversely affect our operations and ability to make distributions.
We have operated and intend to continue to operate so to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Our continued qualification as a REIT will depend on our ability to meet various requirements concerning, among other things, the ownership of our outstanding stock, the nature of our assets, the sources of our income, and the amount of our distributions to our stockholders. In order to satisfy these requirements, we might have to forego investments we might otherwise make. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our investment performance. Moreover, while we intend to continue to operate so to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, there can be no assurance that we will so qualify in any taxable year.
If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year and we do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. We might be required to borrow funds or liquidate some investments in order to pay the applicable tax. Our payment of income tax would reduce our net earnings available for investment or distribution to stockholders. Furthermore, if we fail to qualify as a REIT and do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we would no longer be required to make distributions to stockholders. Unless our failure to qualify as a REIT were excused under the U.S. federal income tax laws, we generally would be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which we lost our REIT status.
REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our liquidity.
In order to qualify as a REIT, we generally are required each year to distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, excluding any net capital gain and without regard to the deduction for dividends paid. To the extent that we distribute at least 90%, but less than 100% of our REIT taxable income, we will be subject to corporate income tax on our undistributed REIT taxable income. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which certain distributions paid by us with respect to any calendar year are less than the sum of (i) 85% of our ordinary REIT income for that year, (ii) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for that year, and (iii) 100% of our undistributed REIT taxable income from prior years.
We have made and intend to continue to make distributions to our stockholders to comply with the 90% distribution requirement and to avoid corporate income tax and the nondeductible excise tax. However, differences in timing between the recognition of REIT taxable income and the actual receipt of cash could require us to sell assets or to borrow funds on a short-term basis to meet the 90% distribution requirement and to avoid corporate income tax and the nondeductible excise tax.
Certain of our assets may generate substantial mismatches between REIT taxable income and available cash. Such assets could include mortgage-backed securities we hold that have been issued at a discount and require the accrual of taxable income in advance of the receipt of cash. As a result, our taxable income may exceed our cash available for distribution and the requirement to distribute a substantial portion of our net taxable income could cause us to:
•sell assets in adverse market conditions;
•borrow on unfavorable terms; or
•distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future acquisitions, capital expenditures or repayment of debt in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements.
Further, our lenders could require us to enter into negative covenants, including restrictions on our ability to distribute funds or to employ leverage, which could inhibit our ability to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement.
We may satisfy the 90% distribution test with taxable distributions of our stock or debt securities. Revenue Procedure 2017-45 authorized elective cash/stock dividends to be made by publicly offered REITs (i.e., REITs that are required to file annual and periodic reports with the SEC under the Exchange Act). Pursuant to Revenue Procedure 2017-45, the IRS will treat the distribution of stock pursuant to an elective cash/stock dividend as a distribution of property under Section 301 of the Internal Revenue Code (i.e., a dividend), as long as at least 20% of the total dividend is available in cash and certain other parameters detailed in the Revenue Procedure are satisfied. Although we have no current intention of paying dividends in our own stock, if in the future we choose to pay dividends in our own stock, our stockholder may be required to pay tax in excess of the cash that they receive.
Dividends payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates on dividend income from regular corporations.
The maximum U.S. federal income tax rate for dividends payable to domestic stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates is 20%. Dividends payable by REITs, however, are generally not eligible for the reduced rates. Rather, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA”), ordinary REIT dividends constitute “qualified business income” and thus a 20% deduction is available to individual taxpayers with respect to such dividends, resulting in a 29.6% maximum U.S. federal income tax rate (plus the 3.8% surtax on net investment income, if applicable) for individual U.S. stockholders. Without further legislative action, the 20% deduction applicable to ordinary REIT dividends will expire on January 1, 2026. However, to qualify for this deduction, the stockholder receiving such dividends must hold the dividend-paying REIT stock for at least 46 days (taking into account certain special holding period rules) of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend, and cannot be under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. The more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate qualified dividends could cause investors who are taxed at individual rates to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could adversely affect the value of the shares of REITs, including our common stock.
Complying with REIT requirements may cause us to forego or liquidate otherwise attractive investments.
To qualify as a REIT, we must continually satisfy various tests regarding the sources of our income, the nature and diversification of our assets, the amounts we distribute to our stockholders and the ownership of our common stock. In order to meet these tests, we may be required to forego investments we might otherwise make. We may be required to make distributions to stockholders at disadvantageous times or when we do not have funds readily available for distribution, and may be unable to pursue investments that would be otherwise advantageous to us 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 investment performance.
Complying with REIT requirements may limit our ability to hedge effectively.
The REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code substantially limit our ability to hedge the RMBS in our investment portfolio. Any income that we generate from transactions intended to hedge our interest rate 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) and certain other requirements are satisfied (including proper identification of such instrument under applicable Treasury Regulations). Income from hedging transactions that do not meet these requirements is likely to constitute nonqualifying income for purposes of both the REIT 75% and 95% gross income tests. Our aggregate gross income from non-qualifying hedges, fees, and certain other non-qualifying sources cannot exceed 5% of our annual gross income. As a result, we might have to limit our use of advantageous hedging techniques or implement those hedges through a TRS. Any hedging income earned by a TRS would be subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax at regular corporate rates. This could increase the cost of our hedging activities or expose us to greater risks associated with changes in interest rates than we would otherwise want to bear.
The failure of certain investments subject to a repurchase agreement to qualify as real estate assets would adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT.
We have entered, and intend to continue to enter, into repurchase agreements under which we will nominally sell certain of our investments to a counterparty and simultaneously enter into an agreement to repurchase the sold investments. We believe that for U.S. federal income tax purposes these transactions will be treated as secured debt and we will be treated as the owner of the investments that are the subject of any such agreement notwithstanding that such agreement may transfer record ownership of such investments to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. It is possible, however, that the IRS could successfully assert that we do not own the investments during the term of the repurchase agreement, in which case our ability to continue to qualify as a REIT could be adversely affected.
We could fail to continue to qualify as a REIT if the IRS successfully challenges our treatment of our mezzanine loans.
We currently own, and in the future may originate or acquire, mezzanine loans, which are loans secured by equity interests in an entity that directly or indirectly owns real property, rather than by a direct mortgage of the real property. In Revenue Procedure 2003-65, the IRS established a safe harbor under which loans secured by a first priority security interest in ownership interests in a partnership or limited liability company owning real property will be treated as real estate assets for purposes of the REIT asset tests, and interest derived from those loans will be treated as qualifying income for both the 75% and 95% gross income tests, provided several requirements are satisfied. Although Revenue Procedure 2003-65 provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. Moreover, our mezzanine loans typically do not meet all of the requirements for reliance on the safe harbor. Consequently, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge our treatment of such loans as qualifying real estate assets, which could adversely affect our ability to continue to qualify as a REIT. We have invested, and will continue to invest, in mezzanine loans in a manner that will enable us to continue to satisfy the REIT gross income and asset tests.
We may incur a significant tax liability as a result of selling assets that might be subject to the prohibited transactions tax if sold directly by us.
A REIT’s net income from prohibited transactions is subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of assets held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. There is a risk that certain loans that we are treating as owned for U.S. federal income tax purposes and property received upon foreclosure of these loans will be treated as held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. Although we expect to avoid the prohibited transactions tax by contributing those assets to one of our TRSs and conducting the marketing and sale of those assets through that TRS, no assurance can be given that the IRS will respect the transaction by which those assets are contributed to our TRS. Even if those contribution transactions are respected, our TRS will be subject to U.S. federal, state and local corporate income tax and may incur a significant tax liability as a result of those sales.
We may be subject to adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes that could reduce the market price of our common stock.
At any time, the U.S. federal income tax laws or regulations governing REITs or the administrative interpretations of those laws or regulations may be amended. We cannot predict when or if any new U.S. federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation, or any amendment to any existing U.S. federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation, will be adopted, promulgated or become effective and any such law, regulation or interpretation may take effect retroactively. We and our stockholders could be adversely affected by any such change in, or any new, U.S. federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation.
The TCJA made significant changes to the U.S. federal income tax rules for taxation of individuals and corporations. In the case of individuals, the tax brackets were adjusted, the top federal income rate was reduced to 37%, special rules reduced taxation of certain income earned through pass-through entities and reduced the top effective rate applicable to ordinary dividends from REITs to 29.6% (through a 20% deduction for ordinary REIT dividends received) and various deductions were eliminated or limited, including a limitation on the deduction for state and local taxes to $10,000 per year. Most of the changes applicable to individuals are temporary and apply only to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026. The top corporate income tax rate was reduced to 21%. There were only minor changes to the REIT rules (other than the 20% deduction applicable to individuals for ordinary REIT dividends received). The TCJA made numerous other large and small changes to the tax rules that do not affect REITs directly but may affect our stockholders and may indirectly affect us. For example, the TCJA amended the rules for accrual of income so that income is taken into account no later than when it is taken into account on “applicable financial statements”, even if financial statements take such income into account before it would accrue under the original issue discount rules, market discount rules or other Code rules. Such rule may cause us to recognize income before receiving any corresponding receipt of cash. In addition, the TCJA reduced the limit for individuals' mortgage interest expense to interest on $750,000 of mortgages and does not permit deduction of interest on home equity loans (after grandfathering all existing mortgages). Such changes, and the reduction in deductions for state and local taxes (including property taxes), may adversely affect the residential mortgage markets in which we invest.
Prospective stockholders are urged to consult with their tax advisors with respect to the TCJA and any other regulatory or administrative developments and proposals and their potential effect on investment in our common stock.
General Risk Factors
We may incur losses as a result of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of a pandemic, terrorist attacks, extreme weather events or other natural disasters.
The occurrence of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of a pandemic, such as COVID-19, or other widespread health emergency (or concerns over the possibility of such an emergency), terrorist attacks, extreme terrestrial or solar weather events or other natural disasters, could create economic and financial disruptions, and could lead to materially adverse declines in the market values of our assets, illiquidity in our investment and financing markets and our ability to effectively conduct our business.
We face possible risks associated with the effects of climate change and severe weather.
We cannot predict the rate at which climate change will progress. However, the physical effects of climate change could have a material adverse effect on our operations, the properties that underlie our assets, the residential homes we acquire through foreclosure, or our business. To the extent that climate change impacts changes in weather patterns, properties in which we hold a direct or indirect interest could experience severe weather, including hurricanes, severe winter storms, and flooding due to increases in storm intensity and rising sea levels, among other effects. Over time, these conditions could result in decreased property values which in turn could negatively affect the value of the assets we hold. There can be no assurance that climate change and severe weather will not have a material adverse effect on our operations, the properties that underlie our assets, the residential homes we acquire through foreclosure, or our business.
We are dependent on certain key personnel.
We are a small company and are substantially dependent upon the efforts of our Chief Executive Officer, Steven R. Mumma, our President, Jason T. Serrano, and certain other key individuals employed by us. The sudden loss of Messrs. Mumma or Serrano or any key personnel of our Company could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk.
The investments we make in accordance with our investment strategy result in a higher degree of risk or loss of principal than many alternative investment options. Our investments may be highly speculative and aggressive, and therefore, an investment in our securities may not be suitable for someone with lower risk tolerance.
The market price and trading volume of our securities may be volatile.
The market price of our securities may be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations. In addition, the trading volume in our securities may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur. Some of the factors that could result in fluctuations in the price or trading volume of our securities include, among other things: actual or anticipated changes in our current or future financial performance or capitalization; actual or anticipated changes in our current or future dividend yield; and changes in market interest rates and general market and economic conditions. We cannot assure you that the market price of our securities will not fluctuate or decline significantly.
We have not established a minimum dividend payment level for our common stockholders and there are no assurances of our ability to pay dividends to common or preferred stockholders in the future.
We intend to pay quarterly dividends and to make distributions to our common stockholders in amounts such that all or substantially all of our taxable income in each year, subject to certain adjustments, is distributed. This, along with other factors, should enable us to qualify for the tax benefits accorded to a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. We have not established a minimum dividend payment level for our common stockholders and our ability to pay dividends may be harmed by the risk factors described herein. For example, due to the significant market disruption in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business, liquidity and markets, we temporarily suspended dividends on our common stock and preferred stock in March 2020. We subsequently announced in June 2020 that we were reinstating the payment of quarterly dividends on our common stock and preferred stock effective with the second quarter 2020 dividends. All distributions to our common stockholders and preferred stockholders will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our earnings, our financial condition, maintenance of our REIT status and such other factors as our Board of Directors may deem relevant from time to time. There are no assurances of our ability to pay dividends to our common or preferred stockholders in the future at the current rate or at all.
Future offerings of debt securities, which would rank senior to our common stock and preferred stock upon our liquidation, and future offerings of equity securities, which would dilute our existing stockholders and may be senior to our common stock for the purposes of dividend and liquidating distributions, may adversely affect the market price of our common stock and, in certain circumstances, our preferred stock.
We may seek to increase our capital resources by making offerings of debt or additional offerings of equity securities, including commercial paper, medium-term notes, senior or subordinated notes, convertible notes and classes of preferred stock or common stock. Upon liquidation, holders of our debt securities and lenders with respect to other borrowings will receive a distribution of our available assets prior to the holders of our preferred stock and common stock, with holders of our preferred stock having priority over holders of our common stock. Additional offerings of equity or other securities with an equity component, such as convertible notes, may dilute the holdings of our existing stockholders or reduce the market price of our equity securities or other securities with an equity component, or both. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, holders of our securities bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our securities and diluting their stock holdings in us.
Your interest in us may be diluted if we issue additional shares.
Current stockholders of our company do not have preemptive rights to any common stock issued by us in the future. Therefore, our common stockholders may experience dilution of their equity investment if we sell additional common stock in the future, sell securities that are convertible into common stock or issue shares of common stock or options exercisable for shares of common stock. In addition, we could sell securities at a price less than our then-current book value per share.
An increase in interest rates may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
One of the factors that investors may consider in deciding whether to buy or sell our securities is our dividend rate (or expected future dividend rates) as a percentage of our common stock price, relative to market interest rates. If market interest rates increase, prospective investors may demand a higher dividend rate on our shares or seek alternative investments paying higher dividends or interest. As a result, interest rate fluctuations and capital market conditions can affect the market price of our securities independent of the effects such conditions may have on our portfolio.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
Item 2.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
The Company does not own any materially important physical properties; however, it does have residential homes (or real estate owned) that it acquires, from time to time, through or in lieu of foreclosures on mortgage loans. As of December 31, 2020, our principal executive and administrative offices are located in leased space at 90 Park Avenue, Floor 23, New York, New York 10016. We also maintain offices in Charlotte, North Carolina and Woodland Hills, California.
Item 3.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are at times subject to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we do not believe that any of our current legal proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial condition or cash flows.
Item 4.
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol “NYMT”. As of December 31, 2020, we had 377,744,476 shares of common stock outstanding and there were approximately 75 holders of record of our common stock, which does not reflect the beneficial ownership of shares held in nominee name, which we are unable to estimate.
We intend to pay regular quarterly dividends to holders of shares of our common stock. Future distributions will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our earnings and financial condition, capital requirements, maintenance of our REIT qualification, restrictions on making distributions under Maryland law and such other factors as our Board of Directors deems relevant.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2020 with respect to compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance. The Company has no such plans that were not approved by security holders.
Performance Graph
The following line graph sets forth, for the period from December 31, 2015 through December 31, 2020, a comparison of the percentage change in the cumulative total stockholder return on the Company’s common stock compared to the cumulative total return of the Russell 2000 Index and the FTSE National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts Mortgage REIT (“FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REITs”) Index. The graph assumes (i) that the value of the investment in the Company’s common stock and each of the indices were $100 as of December 31, 2015 and (ii) the reinvestment of all dividends.
The foregoing graph shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Annual Report on Form 10-K into any filing under the Securities Act or under the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate this information by reference, and shall not otherwise by deemed "filed" with the SEC or deemed "soliciting material" under those acts.
Item 6.
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth our selected historical operating and financial data. The selected historical operating and balance sheet data for the years ended and as of December 31, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 have been derived from our historical financial statements. Prior year information has been conformed to current year financial statement presentation.
The information presented below is only a summary and does not provide all of the information contained in our historical consolidated financial statements, including the related notes. You should read the information below in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our historical consolidated financial statements, including the related notes (amounts in thousands, except per share data):
Selected Statement of Operations Data:
Selected Balance Sheet Data:
(1)The following table presents the components of residential loans, multi-family loans and collateralized debt obligations for each of the balance sheet dates presented. Our consolidated balance sheets include assets and liabilities of Consolidated VIEs, as the Company is the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. Assets and liabilities of the Company's Consolidated VIEs for each of the balance sheet dates presented are also included in the following table (dollar amounts in thousands):
Item 7.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
General
We are a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the business of acquiring, investing in, financing and managing primarily mortgage-related single-family and multi-family residential assets. Our objective is to deliver long-term stable distributions to our stockholders over changing economic conditions through a combination of net interest margin and capital gains from a diversified investment portfolio. Our investment portfolio includes credit sensitive single-family and multi-family assets.
Executive Summary
The global pandemic associated with COVID-19 and its related economic conditions have caused, and continue to cause, a significant disruption in the U.S. and world economies. To slow the spread of COVID-19, since mid-March, many countries, including in the U.S., implemented public heath responses that involved social distancing measures that substantially prohibited large gatherings, including at sporting events, religious services and schools, shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders or other measures designed to limit capacity or services on a number of businesses. Many businesses have moved to a remote working environment, temporarily suspended operations, laid off a significant percentage of their workforce and/or shut down completely. The economic fallout caused by the pandemic and certain of the actions taken to reduce its spread have been startling, resulting in lost business revenue, rapid and significant increases in unemployment, changes in consumer behavior and significant volatility in market liquidity and fair value of many assets. Many of these conditions, or some level thereof, are expected to continue over the near term and may prevail throughout 2021.
Although economic data and markets generally, including those in which we invest, showed signs of improvement beginning in the second quarter and continuing through the end of 2020, these markets and the economy continue to face significant challenges from the impact of the ongoing pandemic. The exact length and pace of the economic recovery are uncertain at this time.
The global pandemic associated with COVID-19 and related economic conditions caused financial and mortgage-related asset markets to come under extreme duress beginning in mid-March, resulting in credit spread widening, a sharp decrease in interest rates and unprecedented illiquidity in repurchase agreement financing and MBS markets. These events, in turn, resulted in falling prices of our assets and increased margin calls from our repurchase agreement counterparties in March, particularly with respect to our investment securities portfolio. In an effort to manage our portfolio through this unprecedented turmoil in the financial markets and improve liquidity, in March 2020, we paused funding of margin calls to our repurchase agreement financing counterparties, sold approximately $2.0 billion of assets, terminated interest rate swap positions with an aggregate notional value of $495.5 million and reduced our outstanding repurchase agreements decreasing our overall leverage to less than one times as of March 31, 2020.
Since the market disruption and through the date hereof, we have continued our deliberate and patient approach to enhancing liquidity and strengthening our balance sheet by completing two non-mark-to-market securitizations of residential loans, a non-mark-to-market re-securitization of non-Agency RMBS, two non-mark-to-market repurchase agreement financings for residential loans and opportunistically selling non-Agency RMBS, CMBS and residential loans in our portfolio. The proceeds from these transactions were used to further reduce our outstanding mark-to-market repurchase agreements and invest in new single-family and multi-family residential investments. As of December 31, 2020, we have reduced our portfolio leverage to 0.2 times and reduced our outstanding repurchase agreements that finance investment securities to zero.
Our targeted investments currently include (i) residential loans, second mortgages and business purpose loans, (ii) structured multi-family property investments such as preferred equity in, and mezzanine loans to, owners of multi-family properties, as well as joint venture equity investments in multi-family properties, (iii) non-Agency RMBS, (iv) Agency RMBS (v) CMBS and (vi) certain other mortgage-, residential housing- and credit-related assets. Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT and the maintenance of our exclusion from registration as an investment company, we also may opportunistically acquire and manage various other types of mortgage-, residential housing- and other credit-related assets that we believe will compensate us appropriately for the risks associated with them, including, without limitation, collateralized mortgage obligations, mortgage servicing rights, excess mortgage servicing spreads and securities issued by newly originated securitizations, including credit sensitive securities from these securitizations.
We intend to continue to focus on our core portfolio strengths of single-family and multi-family residential credit assets, which we believe will deliver better risk adjusted returns over time. In periods where we have working capital in excess of our short-term liquidity needs, we may invest the excess in more liquid assets until such time as we are able to re-invest that capital in credit assets that meet our underwriting and return requirements. Our investment and capital allocation decisions depend on prevailing market conditions, among other factors, and may change over time in response to opportunities available in different economic and capital market environments. We expect to maintain a defensive posture as it relates to new investments and focus on assets that may benefit from active management in a prolonged, low rate environment. We also expect to continue to selectively monetize gains from the price recovery experienced by our non-Agency RMBS and Freddie-K mezzanine securities.
We seek to achieve a balanced and diverse funding mix to finance our assets and operations, which has typically included a combination of short-term borrowings, such as repurchase agreements with terms typically of 30-90 days, longer-term repurchase agreement borrowings with terms between one year and 24 months and longer-term financings, such as securitizations and convertible notes, with terms longer than one year. As a result of the severe market dislocations related to the COVID-19 pandemic and, more specifically, the unprecedented illiquidity in our repurchase agreement financing and MBS markets during March 2020, looking forward, we expect to place a greater emphasis on procuring longer-termed and/or more committed financing arrangements, such as securitizations, term financings and corporate debt securities, that provide less or no exposure to fluctuations in the collateral repricing determinations of financing counterparties or rapid liquidity reductions in repurchase agreement financing markets. While longer-termed financings may involve greater expense relative to repurchase agreement funding, we believe, over time, this approach may better allow us to manage our liquidity risk and reduce exposures to market events like those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic during March 2020. We have completed five non-mark-to-market financings since June 2020, including two non-mark-to-market repurchase agreement financings with new and existing counterparties. We intend to continue in the near term to explore additional financing arrangements to further strengthen our balance sheet and position ourselves for future investment opportunities, including, without limitation, additional issuances of our equity and debt securities and longer-termed financing arrangements; however, no assurance can be given that we will be able to access any such financing or the size, timing or terms thereof.
We transitioned in March to a fully remote work force, ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees. Our prior investments in technology, business continuity planning and cyber-security protocols have enabled us to continue working with limited operational impact and we expect to continue our remote work arrangement for the foreseeable future.
Portfolio Update
In March 2020, as a direct result of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our markets, we executed an extensive portfolio reduction to improve our liquidity and risk management exposures, including approximately $1.9 billion in sales of investment securities. In the second quarter of 2020, we sought to further improve our liquidity position by reducing our outstanding repurchase agreements, engaging in opportunistic dispositions and maintaining a defensive posture as it related to new investments. During the second half of the year, we pursued new single-family and multi-family investments while we opportunistically sold certain investment securities. The following table presents the activity for our investment portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2020 (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Primarily includes principal repayments.
(2)Primarily includes net realized gains or losses, changes in net unrealized gains or losses (including reversals of previously recognized net unrealized gains or losses on sales), net amortization/accretion and transfers within investment categories.
(3)Agency RMBS issued by Consolidated SLST is included in footnote (6) below. Agency CMBS issued by the Consolidated K-Series as of December 31, 2019 is included in footnote (7) below.
(4)Includes transfer of Agency CMBS issued by the Consolidated K-Series as a result of the de-consolidation of the Consolidated K-Series and the subsequent sale of these Agency CMBS during the year.
(5)Includes IOs and mezzanine securities transferred from the Consolidated K-Series as a result of de-consolidation with total fair value of $97.6 million as of December 31, 2020.
(6)Consolidated SLST is presented on our consolidated balance sheets as residential loans, at fair value and collateralized debt obligations, at fair value. A reconciliation to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
(a)Included in other liabilities and other assets on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
(7)In the first quarter of 2020, the Company sold its investment in the senior securities issued by Consolidated SLST for sales proceeds of approximately $62.6 million.
(8)The Consolidated K-Series are presented on our consolidated balance sheets as multi-family loans, at fair value and collateralized debt obligations, at fair value. A reconciliation to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2019 follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
(9)Includes the following balances as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
Current Market Conditions and Commentary
The results of our business operations are affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, and primarily depend on, among other things, the level of our net interest income, the market value of our assets, which is driven by numerous factors including the supply and demand for mortgage, housing and credit assets in the marketplace, the ability of our operating partners and borrowers of our loans and those that underlie our investment securities to meet their payment obligations, the terms and availability of adequate financing and capital, general economic and real estate conditions (both on a national and local level), the impact of government actions in the real estate, mortgage, credit and financial markets, and the credit performance of our credit sensitive assets.
Financial and mortgage-related asset markets experienced improving conditions during the fourth quarter of 2020 with the U.S. economy continuing its recovery. U.S. stocks continued to show signs of recovery during the fourth quarter of 2020 following the sharp sell-off during the back half of the first quarter. Reflective of abundant liquidity, demand for yield and encouraging signs for growth in 2021, credit-sensitive asset pricing continued to improve during the fourth quarter. Overall, U.S. economic activity showed signs of advancement during the fourth quarter of 2020 buoyed by increases in corporate and residential fixed investment, offset in part by a reduction in consumer spending. While prospects for 2021 remain hopeful with expected gains on the job-front, pent-up consumer demand, elevated household savings and further government stimulus, uncertainty abounds with the discovery of new COVID-19 variants, concerns over vaccine efficacy and the timing for lifting of restrictions designed to mitigate the spread of the virus.
As was the case for credit-sensitive assets generally across markets, pricing for many of the assets in our investment portfolio during the fourth quarter continued to improve due to further credit spread tightening. Liquidity to MBS and mortgage financing markets was stable and favorably-priced during the fourth quarter, as evidenced by the Company completing a longer-term, securitization financing transaction during the quarter generating approximately $299.3 million of net proceeds to the Company. Due to the discovery here in the U.S. of new COVID-19 variants and uncertainty relating to the speed of vaccine distribution, stimulus negotiations and other policy matters, we expect markets to continue to experience volatility in 2021.
The market conditions discussed below significantly influence our investment strategy and results, many of which have been significantly impacted since mid-March by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic:
Select U.S. Financial and Economic Data. The 2020 fiscal year was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken in response to contain its spread in the United States and abroad and their impact on the global economy and markets generally. After experiencing a sharp sell-off during the first quarter with the S&P 500 down approximately 20%, U.S. stocks recovered throughout the remainder of 2020 with the S&P 500 posting a total return of 18.40% for the full year. The interest rate environment experienced volatility during 2020 with the Treasury curve steepening as the Federal Reserve held short-term interest rates near zero beginning in March. On December 31, 2020, the spread between the 2-Year U.S. Treasury yield and the 10-Year U.S. Treasury yield closed at 80 basis points, up 50 basis points from January 2, 2020.
The U.S. economy contracted in 2020 as compared to 2019 as a result of the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic consequences, with real gross domestic product (“GDP”) decreasing by 3.5% for full year 2020, versus growth of 2.2% for full year 2019. After the most severe contraction of the GDP since the Great Depression in the second quarter at -31.4%, the third and fourth quarter GDP growth of 33.4% and 4%, respectively, suggests that the U.S. economy continues to recover. According to the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s December 2020 meeting, Federal Reserve policymakers expect the GDP growth rate to improve in 2021 with a median projection for GDP growth at or slightly above 4.2%, while projecting a deceleration in GDP growth in 2022 and 2023.
After the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to contain it led to a loss of 20.7 million jobs from nonfarm payrolls and an unemployment rate of 14.7% in April, the U.S. labor market continued to show improvements throughout the second half of 2020. The U.S. Department of Labor attributed these improvements to the resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. unemployment rate rose from 3.5% at the end of December 2019 to 6.7% at the end of December 2020. Although initial weekly jobless claims remain elevated, there have been more encouraging signs in the labor market recently, with average hourly earnings for all employees of private nonfarm payrolls increasing by 3.7% during 2020.
Single-Family Homes and Residential Mortgage Market. The residential real estate market was a bright spot in an otherwise challenging economic environment in 2020. According to the National Association of Realtors (“NAR”), total existing-home sales, which includes single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased 0.7% from November 2020 to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.76 million in December 2020. In total, existing-home sales rose 22.2% year-over-year, up from 5.53 million in December 2019. In addition, NAR reported that the median existing-home price for all housing types in December 2020 was $309,800, up 12.9% from December 2019 ($274,500). In addition, according to data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, privately-owned housing starts for single-family homes averaged a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,237,000 and 1,002,000 for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020, respectively, as compared to an annual rate of 894,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019. Declining single-family housing fundamentals may adversely impact the overall credit profile of our existing portfolio of single-family residential credit investments. As of December 31, 2020, approximately 2% of borrowers in our residential loan portfolio remained in an active COVID-19 relief plan.
Multi-family Housing. According to data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, starts on multi-family homes containing five or more units averaged a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 339,000 and 382,000 for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to 390,000 for the full year 2019. Supply expansion remained solid in 2020, and vacancy concerns among multi-family industry participants eased during the second half of 2020. According to the Multifamily Vacancy Index (“MVI”), which is produced by the National Association of Home Builders and surveys the multi-family housing industry’s perception of vacancies, the MVI was at 44 for the third quarter of 2020, a decrease from the second quarter score of 62. The MVI was at 59 for the first quarter of 2020 and 40 for the fourth quarter of 2019. However, with record jobless claims filed during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the financial ability of households to meet their rental payment obligations is a present and ongoing concern. Data released by the National Multifamily Housing Council shows that 89.8% of professionally-managed apartment households made a full or partial December rent payment by December 20, 2020 in its survey of over 11.1 million professionally-managed apartment units across the country. This represents a 3.4-percentage point decrease in the share who paid rent through December 20, 2019 and compares to 90.3% that had paid by November 20, 2020. This data encompasses a wide variety of market-rate rental properties, which can vary by size, type and average rental price. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had one loan that is delinquent in making its distributions to us and one loan that is in a forbearance arrangement with us. These loans represent 3.6% of our total preferred equity and mezzanine loan investment portfolio. Although the multi-family housing sector held up relatively well during 2020, weakening multi-family housing fundamentals, may cause our operating partners to fail to meet their obligations to us and/or contribute to valuation declines for multi-family properties, and in turn, many of the structured multi-family investments that we own.
Credit Spreads. Credit spreads tightened from the second quarter onward as the economy experienced a resumption of activity from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tightening credit spreads generally increase the value of many of our credit sensitive assets, while widening credit spreads tend to have a negative impact on the value of many of our credit sensitive assets.
Financial markets. During 2020, the bond market experienced volatility with the closing yield of the 10-year U.S. Treasury Note dropping from 1.88% on January 2, 2020 to as low as 0.52% on August 4, 2020, and closing at 0.93% on December 31, 2020. Overall interest rate volatility tends to increase the costs of hedging and may place downward pressure on some of our strategies. During 2020, the Treasury curve steepened with the spread between the 2-Year U.S. Treasury yield and the 10-Year U.S. Treasury yield closing at 80 basis points on December 31, 2020, up 50 basis points from January 2, 2020. As of January 31, 2021, the spread between the 2-Year U.S. Treasury yield and the 10-Year U.S. Treasury yield was 100 basis points. This spread is important as it is indicative of opportunities for investing in levered assets. Increases in interest rates raises the costs of many of our liabilities, while overall interest rate volatility generally increases the costs of hedging.
Monetary and Fiscal Policy and Recent Regulatory Developments. The Federal Reserve has taken a number of actions to stabilize markets as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. To address funding disruptions resulting from the economic crisis and market dislocations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve has been conducting large scale overnight repo operations in the U.S. Treasury, Agency debt and Agency RMBS financing markets and substantially increased these operations. On March 15, 2020, the Federal Reserve announced a $700 billion asset purchase program to provide liquidity to the U.S. Treasury and Agency RMBS markets. Specifically, the Federal Reserve stated that it would purchase at least $500 billion of U.S. Treasuries and at least $200 billion of Agency RMBS. On January 21, 2021, the Federal Reserve announced it would continue to increase its holdings of U.S. Treasuries by at least $80 billion per month and of Agency MBS by at least $40 billion per month until “substantial further progress has been made toward the Committee’s maximum employment and price stability goals.” Additionally, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and to foster maximum employment and price stability, the Federal Reserve decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by a total of 150 basis points in March 2020 to a target range of 0% to .25%. The Federal Reserve indicated that in determining the size and timing of future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, it will assess “realized and expected economic conditions relative to its maximum employment objective and its symmetric 2 percent inflation objective.” Since lowering the target range for the federal funds rate in March 2020, the Federal Reserve continues to signal an intention to hold the target range at present levels with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stating in January 2021 that the time to raise the target range “is no time soon.”
According to the latest Monetary Policy Report submitted to Congress in June 2020 by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, trading conditions in U.S. Treasuries and MBS markets improved gradually since the March 2020 announcement of Federal Reserve policies and the functioning and liquidity of the MBS market have mostly returned to pre-February 2020 standards, though strains continue in less liquid parts of the market. However, bid-ask spreads for longer-maturity and off-the-run Treasuries remain wider than in mid-February 2020. An updated assessment of trading conditions in U.S. Treasuries and MBS markets is expected from the Federal Reserve in its next Monetary Policy Report due to Congress in February 2021.
To address the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the economy, the federal government enacted three relief spending bills in 2020 and is considering a fourth such bill that was introduced in January 2021. On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was signed into law to provide many forms of direct support to individuals and small businesses in order to stem the steep decline in economic activity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The over $2 trillion relief bill, among other things, provided for direct payments to each American making up to $75,000 a year, increased unemployment benefits for up to four months (on top of state benefits), funding to hospitals and health care providers, loans and investments to businesses, states and municipalities and grants to the airline industry. On April 24, 2020, President Trump signed a second funding bill into law that provided $484 billion of funding to individuals, small businesses, hospitals, health care providers and additional coronavirus testing efforts. On December 30, 2020, President Trump signed a third COVID-19 relief package into law. This relief package included $600 direct payments to Americans making up to $75,000 a year, enhanced unemployment benefits, rental assistance, loans to businesses, and funds for the purchase and distribution of vaccines, among other relief provisions. In January 2021, President Biden introduced a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. As proposed, President Biden’s relief package includes: direct payments of $1,400 to Americans; increased per-week unemployment benefits of $400 through September; an extension of the eviction and foreclosure moratorium until the end of September; and $590 billion in aid for local governments, schools, COVID-19 testing and a vaccination program. Democratic leaders in Congress have indicated a desire to pass President Biden’s proposed stimulus plan by mid-March when emergency unemployment benefits expire. However, ideological divisions and narrow Democratic majorities in Congress are likely to affect the content and timing of the passage of President Biden’s plan, if it is to pass.
In addition, in response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, governors of several states issued executive orders prohibiting evictions and foreclosures for specified periods of time, and many courts enacted emergency rules delaying hearings related to evictions or foreclosures. While some of these state protections have expired, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order to temporarily halt residential evictions under certain circumstances in an effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, which became effective on September 4, 2020 and has been extended by the Biden administration to March 31, 2021.
To address the severe dislocations experienced in the mortgage and fixed-income markets that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, since March 23, 2020, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) took steps to implement portions of the CARES Act and to support mortgage servicers. Under the CARES Act, borrowers experiencing hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible to receive forbearance of up to 12 months. The FHFA announced that the GSEs will offer such forbearance to qualifying multi-family borrowers through March 31, 2021. The GSEs will also offer such forbearance arrangements to single-family mortgages indefinitely until the GSEs provide further notice. In response to such forbearance arrangements and to assist servicers facing revenue losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the FHFA limited the advance payments required to be made to the GSEs. Specifically, servicers of Agency RMBS are only required to advance four months of missed payments on loans in forbearance.
The government continues to provide enhanced unemployment support as unemployment levels remain precarious. In February 2021, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated that the true level of unemployment in January 2021 was significantly higher than the 6.3% unemployment rate reported by the U.S. Department of Labor. Chair Powell said January’s unemployment rate was “close to 10 percent” when accounting for misclassified workers and those that have left the workforce altogether. With unemployment levels so uncertain, government support programs have aided the broader economy in recovering from the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act provided enhanced unemployment benefits and extended the length of time during which unemployment benefits could be collected. On December 27, 2020, Congress extended eligibility for certain enhanced unemployment programs until March 14, 2021. Without such continued unemployment support, we anticipate that the number of our operating partners and borrowers of our residential loans and those that underlie our investment securities that become delinquent or default on their financial obligations could increase significantly. Such increased levels could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
In 2017, policymakers announced that LIBOR will be replaced by 2021. The directive was spurred by the fact that banks are uncomfortable contributing to the LIBOR panel given the shortage of underlying transactions on which to base levels and the liability associated with submitting an unfounded level. LIBOR will be replaced with a new Secured Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”), a rate based on U.S. repo trading. The new benchmark rate will be based on overnight Treasury General Collateral repo rates. The rate-setting process will be managed and published by the Federal Reserve and the Treasury’s Office of Financial Research. On November 30, 2020, ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”), the administrator of LIBOR, with the support of the Federal Reserve and the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, announced plans to consult on ceasing publication of USD LIBOR on December 31, 2021 for only the one week and two month USD LIBOR tenors, and on June 30, 2023 for all other USD LIBOR tenors. While this announcement extends the transition period to June 2023, the Federal Reserve concurrently issued a statement advising banks to stop new USD LIBOR issuances by the end of 2021. In light of these recent announcements, the future of LIBOR at this time is uncertain and any changes in the methods by which LIBOR is determined or regulatory activity related to LIBOR’s phaseout could cause LIBOR to perform differently than in the past or cease to exist. We continue to monitor the emergence of this new rate carefully, as it will likely become the new benchmark for hedges and a range of interest rate investments.
The scope and nature of the actions the Federal Reserve and other governmental authorities will ultimately undertake are unknown and will continue to evolve. There can be no assurance as to how, in the long term, these and other actions, as well as the negative impacts from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, will affect the efficiency, liquidity and stability of the financial, credit and mortgage markets, and thus, our business. Greater uncertainty frequently leads to wider asset spreads or lower prices and higher hedging costs.
Full Year 2020 Summary
Earnings and Return Metrics
The following table presents key earnings and return metrics for the year ended December 31, 2020 (dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data):
(1)Economic return on book value is based on the periodic change in GAAP book value per common share plus dividends declared per common share during the period.
Developments
•During the first half of the first quarter of 2020, we issued 85.1 million shares of common stock collectively through two underwritten public offerings, resulting in total net proceeds of $511.9 million.
•Additionally, in the first quarter of 2020, we acquired single-family and multi-family residential credit assets totaling $531.2 million and Agency RMBS totaling $100.9 million.
•In the latter portion of the first quarter of 2020, we experienced unprecedented market conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, we took the following actions to manage our portfolio through the disruption and improved liquidity:
•Sold all of our first loss POs and certain mezzanine CMBS securities issued by the Consolidated K-Series for total sales proceeds of $555.2 million, recognized a net realized loss of $54.1 million and reversed previously recognized net unrealized gains of $168.5 million. As a result of the sales, we de-consolidated $17.4 billion in multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series and $16.6 billion in collateralized debt obligations issued by the Consolidated K-Series.
•Sold $1.4 billion of investment securities, including $993.0 million of Agency RMBS, $145.4 million of Agency CMBS, $130.9 million of non-Agency RMBS and $114.0 million of CMBS and recognized a net realized loss of $58.7 million.
•Sold residential loans for approximately $50.0 million in proceeds, recognized a realized loss of $16.2 million and reversed previously recognized unrealized gains of $4.5 million.
•Terminated interest rate swaps resulting in a net realized loss of $73.1 million, which was partially offset by the reversal of previously recognized unrealized losses of $29.0 million for a total net loss of $44.1 million.
•Reduced outstanding repurchase agreements for investment securities by $1.6 billion from previous year-end levels.
•Temporarily suspended payment of quarterly dividends on both our common and preferred stock.
•Throughout the remainder of the year, we entered into new financing transactions, repaid or restructured repurchase agreement financings, invested in our targeted assets, opportunistically sold assets and reinstated our quarterly dividend payments on both our common and preferred stock, including as follows:
•Completed a non-mark-to-market re-securitization backed by non-Agency RMBS generating net proceeds of approximately $109.0 million.
•Completed two securitizations of residential loans, resulting in approximately $540.4 million in net proceeds to us. Portions of the net proceeds were utilized to repay approximately $466.6 million on outstanding repurchase agreements related to residential loans.
•Repaid all outstanding repurchase agreements that financed investment securities.
•Obtained non-mark-to-market financing for residential loans through repurchase agreements with new and existing counterparties.
•Purchased $415.7 million in residential loans and $138.5 million in Agency RMBS and funded $50.0 million in multi-family preferred equity investments.
•Sold non-Agency RMBS for approximately $302.1 million in proceeds, CMBS for approximately $134.7 million in proceeds and residential loans for approximately $46.9 million in proceeds.
•Reinstated the payment of quarterly dividends on both our common and preferred stock and declared and paid preferred stock dividends in arrears for the first quarter of 2020.
Significant Estimates and Critical Accounting Policies
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, which requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are based, in part, on our judgment and assumptions regarding various economic conditions that we believe are reasonable based on facts and circumstances existing at the time of reporting. We believe that the estimates, judgments and assumptions utilized in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements are prudent and reasonable. Although our estimates contemplate conditions as of December 31, 2020 and how we expect them to change in the future, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could be different than anticipated in those estimates, which could materially affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities and accumulated other comprehensive income at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income, expenses and other comprehensive income during the periods presented. Moreover, the uncertainty over the ultimate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the global economy generally, and on our business in particular, makes any estimates and assumptions inherently less certain than they would be absent the current and potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Changes in the estimates and assumptions could have a material effect on these financial statements. Accounting policies and estimates related to specific components of our consolidated financial statements are disclosed in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. In accordance with SEC guidance, those material accounting policies and estimates that we believe are most critical to an investor’s understanding of our financial results and condition and which require complex management judgment are discussed below.
Revenue Recognition. Interest income on our investment securities available for sale is accrued based on the outstanding principal balance and their contractual terms. Purchase premiums or discounts associated with our Agency RMBS and Agency CMBS assessed as high credit quality at the time of purchase are amortized or accreted to interest income over the estimated life of these investment securities using the effective yield method. Adjustments to amortization are made for actual prepayment activity on our Agency RMBS.
Interest income on certain of our credit sensitive securities that were purchased at a premium or discount to par value, such as certain of our non-Agency RMBS, CMBS and ABS of less than high credit quality, is recognized based on the security’s effective yield. The effective yield on these securities is based on management’s estimate of the projected cash flows from each security, which incorporates assumptions related to fluctuations in interest rates, prepayment speeds and the timing and amount of credit losses. On at least a quarterly basis, management reviews and, if appropriate, adjusts its cash flow projections based on input and analysis received from external sources, internal models, and its judgment about interest rates, prepayment rates, the timing and amount of credit losses, and other factors. Changes in cash flows from those originally projected, or from those estimated at the last evaluation, may result in a prospective change in the yield (or interest income) recognized on these securities.
A portion of the purchase discount on the Company’s first loss PO multi-family CMBS was designated as non-accretable purchase discount or credit reserve, which estimated the Company’s risk of loss on the mortgages collateralizing such multi-family CMBS, and was not expected to be accreted into interest income. The amount designated as a credit reserve could be adjusted over time, based on the actual performance of the security, its underlying collateral, actual and projected cash flow from such collateral, economic conditions and other factors. If the performance of a security with a credit reserve was more favorable than forecasted, a portion of the amount designated as credit reserve could be accreted into interest income over time. Conversely, if the performance of a security with a credit reserve was less favorable than forecasted, the amount designated as credit reserve could be increased, or impairment charges and write-downs of such securities to a new cost basis could be required.
Interest income on our residential loans is accrued based on the outstanding principal balance and their contractual terms. Premiums and discounts associated with the purchase of residential loans are amortized or accreted into interest income over the life of the related loan using the effective interest method.
With respect to interest rate swaps that have not been designated as hedges, any net payments under, or fluctuations in the fair value of, such swaps will be recognized in current earnings.
Fair Value. The Company has established and documented processes for determining fair values. Fair value is based upon quoted market prices, where available. If listed prices or quotes are not available, then fair value is based upon internally developed models that primarily use inputs that are market-based or independently sourced market parameters, including interest rate yield curves. The Company’s residential loans, multi-family loans, investment securities available for sale, equity investments, Consolidated SLST CDOs and Consolidated K-Series CDOs are considered to be the most significant of its fair value estimates.
The Company’s valuation methodologies are described in “Note 14 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments” included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Fair Value Option - The fair value option provides an election that allows companies to irrevocably elect fair value for financial assets and liabilities on an instrument-by-instrument basis at initial recognition. Changes in fair value for assets and liabilities for which the election is made will be recognized in earnings as they occur. The Company has elected the fair value option for the Company’s residential loans, preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments that are accounted for as loans, certain of its investment securities, available for sale and preferred equity investments that are accounted for under the equity method.
Variable Interest Entities - A VIE is an entity that lacks one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity. A VIE is defined as an entity in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. The Company consolidates a VIE when it is the primary beneficiary of such VIE. As primary beneficiary, the Company has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and a right to receive benefits or absorb losses of the entity that could be potentially significant to the VIE. The Company is required to reconsider its evaluation of whether to consolidate a VIE each reporting period, based upon changes in the facts and circumstances pertaining to the VIE.
Loan Consolidation Reporting Requirement for Certain Multi-Family K-Series Securitizations and Residential Loan Securitizations - As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, we owned 100% of the first loss subordinated securities of Consolidated SLST. Consolidated SLST represents a Freddie Mac-sponsored residential mortgage loan securitization, of which we own or owned the first loss subordinated securities and certain IOs and senior securities. We determined that Consolidated SLST was a VIE and that we are the primary beneficiary of Consolidated SLST. As a result, we are required to consolidate Consolidated SLST’s underlying residential loans including their liabilities, income and expenses in our consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2019, we owned 100% of the first loss POs of the Consolidated K-Series. The Consolidated K-Series represents certain Freddie Mac-sponsored multi-family loan K-Series securitizations of which we, or one of our special purpose entities, or SPEs, owned the first loss POs, certain IOs and certain senior or mezzanine securities. We determined that the Consolidated K-Series were VIEs and that we were the primary beneficiary of the Consolidated K-Series. As a result, we were required to consolidate the Consolidated K-Series’ underlying multi-family loans including their liabilities, income and expenses in our consolidated financial statements. In March 2020, we sold our entire portfolio of first loss POs within the Consolidated K-Series, which resulted in the de-consolidation of the underlying multi-family loans and their liabilities. We have elected the fair value option on the assets and liabilities held within both Consolidated SLST and the Consolidated K-Series, which requires that changes in valuations in the assets and liabilities of Consolidated SLST and the Consolidated K-Series be reflected in our consolidated statement of operations.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
A discussion of recent accounting pronouncements and the possible effects on our financial statements is included in “Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Capital Allocation
The following provides an overview of the allocation of our total equity as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We fund our investing and operating activities with a combination of cash flow from operations, proceeds from common and preferred equity and debt securities offerings, including convertible notes, short-term and longer-term repurchase agreements, CDOs and trust preferred debentures. A detailed discussion of our liquidity and capital resources is provided in “Liquidity and Capital Resources” elsewhere in this section.
The following tables set forth our allocated capital by investment category at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands).
At December 31, 2020:
(1)Agency RMBS with a fair value of $139.4 million are included in Single-Family.
(2)Represents the Company's preferred equity investment in a consolidated VIE.
(3)Restricted cash is included in the Company’s accompanying consolidated balance sheets in other assets.
(4)Represents total outstanding repurchase agreement financing, subordinated debentures and Convertible Notes divided by the Company’s total stockholders’ equity. Does not include Consolidated SLST CDOs amounting to $1.1 billion, residential loan securitizations amounting to $554.1 million and non-Agency RMBS re-securitization amounting to $15.3 million as they are non-recourse debt for which the Company has no obligation.
(5)Represents outstanding repurchase agreement financing divided by the Company’s total stockholders’ equity.
At December 31, 2019:
(1)Agency RMBS with a fair value of $922.9 million are included in Single-Family.
(2)Agency CMBS with a fair value of $51.0 million are included in Multi-Family.
(3)Includes real estate under development in the amount of $14.5 million, other loan investments in the amount of $2.4 million and deferred interest related to residential loans held in Consolidated SLST of $0.7 million, all of which are included in the Company’s accompanying consolidated balance sheets in other assets.
(4)Includes derivative liabilities of $29.0 million netted against a $44.8 million variation margin.
(5)Restricted cash is included in the Company’s accompanying consolidated balance sheets in other assets.
(6)Represents total outstanding repurchase agreement financing, subordinated debentures and Convertible Notes divided by the Company’s total stockholders’ equity. Does not include Consolidated K-Series CDOs amounting to $16.7 billion, Consolidated SLST CDOs amounting to $1.1 billion and other collateralized debt obligations amounting to $40.4 million that are consolidated in the Company's financial statements as they are non-recourse debt for which the Company has no obligation.
(7)Represents outstanding repurchase agreement financing divided by the Company’s total stockholders’ equity.
Analysis of Changes in Book Value
The following table analyzes the changes in book value of our common stock for the year ended December 31, 2020 (amounts in thousands, except per share):
(1)Outstanding shares used to calculate book value per common share for the year ended December 31, 2020 are 377,744,476.
(2)On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments and elected to apply the fair value option provided by ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief to our residential loans, net, preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments that are accounted for as loans and preferred equity investments that are accounted for under the equity method, resulting in a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning book value of our common stock and book value per common share.
(3)Includes amortization of stock based compensation.
(4)The decrease relates to unrealized losses in our investment securities due to reductions in pricing.
The following table analyzes the changes in book value of our common stock for the year ended December 31, 2019 (amounts in thousands, except per share):
(1)Outstanding shares used to calculate book value per common share for the year ended December 31, 2019 are 291,371,039.
(2)Includes amortization of stock based compensation.
(3)The increase relates to unrealized gains in our investment securities due to improved pricing.
Results of Operations
The following discussion provides information regarding our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, including a comparison of year-over-year results and related commentary.
Comparison of the Year Ended December 31, 2020 to the Year Ended December 31, 2019
A number of the following tables contain a “change” column that indicates the amount by which results from the year ended December 31, 2020 are greater or less than the results from the respective period in 2019. Unless otherwise specified, references in this section to increases or decreases in 2020 refer to the change in results for the year ended December 31, 2020 when compared to the year ended December 31, 2019.
Beginning in mid-March and continuing into the second quarter, the global pandemic associated with COVID-19 and related economic conditions caused financial and mortgage-related asset markets to experience significant volatility. The significant dislocation in the financial markets in March and part of April caused, among other things, credit spread widening, a sharp decrease in interest rates, higher unemployment levels and unprecedented illiquidity in repurchase agreement financing and MBS markets, which in turn materially negatively impacted liquidity and pricing of our assets. Although we took a number of steps in March 2020 in response to these unprecedented market conditions as discussed above in “-Executive Summary” and “-Full Year 2020 Summary”, the COVID-19 pandemic and related disruptions in the real estate, mortgage and financial markets materially negatively affected our business in the first quarter of 2020. Market conditions improved and volatility subsided to an extent in the latter part of the second quarter and into the third and fourth quarters as parts of the global and U.S. economy "re-opened", leading to partial pricing recovery for a number of assets in our portfolio and improved results in each of the final three quarters of 2020. That said, we expect volatility and markets to continue to fluctuate and that these conditions may continue to negatively affect our business due to the uncertain duration and ongoing impact of the pandemic. The factors described above and throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K (particularly as related to the COVID-19 pandemic) have driven the majority of our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020, and may impact our results of operations in future periods. Thus, our results of operations should be read and viewed, in large part, in the context of the unprecedented conditions experienced in March 2020 and subsequent thereto.
The following table presents the main components of our net (loss) income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data):
Net Interest Income
Our results of operations for our investment portfolio during a given period typically reflect, in large part, the net interest income earned on our investment portfolio of RMBS, CMBS, ABS, residential loans and preferred equity investments and mezzanine loans, where the risks and payment characteristics are equivalent to and accounted for as loans (collectively, our “Interest Earning Assets”). The net interest spread is impacted by factors such as our cost of financing, the interest rate that our investments bear and our interest rate hedging strategies. Furthermore, the amount of premium or discount paid on purchased portfolio investments and the prepayment rates on portfolio investments will impact the net interest spread as such factors will be amortized over the expected term of such investments.
The decrease in net interest income in 2020 was primarily driven by a decrease in average Interest Earning Assets due to asset sales largely in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, we sold our entire portfolio of higher yielding first loss POs within the Consolidated K-Series in March 2020. This decrease was partially offset by the acquisition of higher-yielding business purpose loans and investment securities and residential loans throughout 2020 and a decrease in financing costs related to both single-family and multi-family assets.
Portfolio Net Interest Margin
The following tables set forth certain information about our portfolio by investment category and their related interest income, interest expense, average yield on interest earning assets, average portfolio financing cost and portfolio net interest margin for our average interest earning assets (by investment category) for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, 2020
Year Ended December 31, 2019
(1)The Company, through its ownership of certain securities purchased in the fourth quarter of 2019, has determined it is the primary beneficiary of Consolidated SLST and has consolidated Consolidated SLST into the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Interest income amounts represent interest income earned by securities that are actually owned by the Company. A reconciliation of net interest income generated by our single-family portfolio to our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, is set forth below (dollar amounts in thousands):
(2)Prior to the sale of first loss POs in March 2020, the Company had determined it was the primary beneficiary of the Consolidated K-Series and had consolidated the Consolidated K-Series into the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Interest income amounts represent interest income earned by securities that were owned by the Company. A reconciliation of net interest income generated by our multi-family portfolio to our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, is set forth below (dollar amounts in thousands):
(3)Average Interest Earning Assets for the periods indicated exclude all Consolidated SLST assets and all Consolidated K-Series assets other than, in each case, those securities actually owned and deposits held by the Company.
(4)Includes interest income earned on cash accounts held by the Company.
(5)Average Interest Earning Assets is calculated based on daily average amortized cost for the respective periods.
(6)Average Yield on Interest Earning Assets is calculated by dividing our interest income relating to our interest earning assets by our Average Interest Earning Assets for the respective periods.
(7)Average Portfolio Financing Cost is calculated by dividing our interest expense relating to our interest earning assets by our average interest bearing liabilities, excluding our subordinated debentures and convertible notes, for the respective periods. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, interest expense generated by our subordinated debentures and convertible notes is set forth below (dollar amounts in thousands):
(8)Portfolio Net Interest Margin is the difference between our Average Yield on Interest Earning Assets and our Average Portfolio Financing Cost, excluding the weighted average cost of subordinated debentures and convertible notes.
Non-interest (Loss) Income
Realized (Losses) Gains, Net
The Company sold approximately $2.5 billion of assets during the year ended December 31, 2020, the majority of which was in response to the disruption of the financial markets caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the first quarter. The following table presents the components of realized (losses) gains, net recognized for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized net realized losses of $61.5 million on the sale of Agency RMBS, Agency CMBS, non-Agency RMBS and CMBS and realized losses of $73.1 million on the termination of interest rate swaps. The Company also recognized net realized losses on residential loans in 2020, primarily as a result of the sale of performing and re-performing loans. The Company sold residential loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $119.8 million that resulted in net realized losses of $18.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2020, a majority of which was incurred in the first quarter of 2020.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recognized $21.8 million of net realized gains primarily on sales of certain Freddie Mac-sponsored multi-family loan K-Series first loss POs and IOs and CMBS. The Company also recognized net realized gains on residential loans during the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily as a result of sale activity and loan prepayments.
Realized Loss on De-consolidation of Consolidated K-Series
In March 2020, the Company sold its entire portfolio of first loss POs and certain mezzanine securities issued by the Consolidated K-Series. These sales, for total proceeds of approximately $555.2 million, resulted in the de-consolidation of each Consolidated K-Series as of the sale date of each first loss PO and a realized net loss on de-consolidation of Consolidated K-Series of $54.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The sales also resulted in the de-consolidation of $17.4 billion in multifamily loans held in the Consolidated K-Series and $16.6 billion in Consolidated K-Series CDOs.
Unrealized (Losses) Gains, Net
The disruptions of the financial markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused credit spread widening, a sharp decrease in interest rates and unprecedented illiquidity in repurchase agreement financing and MBS markets during the first quarter of 2020. These conditions put significant downward pressure on the fair value of our assets and resulted in unrealized losses for the first quarter. Pricing for our investment portfolio during the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2020 rebounded with credit spreads tightening on a majority of our assets, which resulted in a partial reversal of unrealized losses recognized in the first quarter of 2020. The following table presents the components of unrealized (losses) gains, net recognized for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized $160.2 million in net unrealized losses. Included in unrealized losses on both investment securities and related hedges and the Consolidated K-Series are $135.3 million of net unrealized gain reversals primarily due to sales and interest rate swap terminations recognized during the year ended December 31, 2020. The majority of this activity occurred in the first quarter of 2020 when the Company recognized $168.5 million of net unrealized gain reversals due to the sale of first loss POs issued by the Consolidated K-Series and $29.0 million of net unrealized loss reversals due to interest rate swap terminations.
Income from Equity Investments
The following table presents the components of income from equity investments for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Includes income earned from preferred equity ownership interests in entities that invest in multi-family properties accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
The increase is primarily due to an increase in income from preferred equity investments accounted for as equity due to additional investments made since December 31, 2019 as well as an increase in the income generated by the Company's investment in entities that invest in residential properties and loans resulting from realized gains on sale and unrealized gains recognized by these entities. The increase in income from equity investments in 2020 was partially offset by a decrease in income from joint venture equity investments in multi-family properties due to the redemption of these investments.
Impairment of Goodwill
In March 2020, the Company sold its entire portfolio of first loss POs issued by the Consolidated K-Series, certain senior and mezzanine securities issued by the Consolidated K-Series, Agency CMBS and CMBS that were held by its multi-family investment reporting unit. As a result of the sales, the Company re-evaluated its goodwill balance associated with the multi-family investment reporting unit for impairment. This analysis yielded an impairment of the entire goodwill balance of $25.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Other Income
The following table presents the components of other income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Includes premiums resulting from early redemptions of preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments accounted for as loans.
(2)Net losses in Consolidated VIEs exclude income or loss from the Consolidated K-Series and Consolidated SLST and are offset by allocations of losses or increased by allocations of income to non-controlling interests in the respective Consolidated VIEs, resulting in net losses to the Company of $2.2 million and $1.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The decrease in other income in 2020 is primarily due to a decrease of $2.7 million in income related to the redemptions of preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments as a result of fewer redemptions in 2020.
Expenses
The following tables present the components of general, administrative and operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
The increase in general and administrative expenses in 2020 is primarily due to an increase in stock-based compensation expense and an increase in employee headcount as part of the expansion of our investment platforms. Professional fees also increased in 2020 as a result of additional legal expenses incurred in March 2020 in connection with the disruptions in the financial markets.
The decrease in operating expenses related to portfolio investments in 2020 can be attributed primarily to a reduction in investing activities during the year as compared to the prior year.
Comprehensive (Loss) Income
The main components of comprehensive (loss) income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are detailed in the following table (dollar amounts in thousands):
The changes in other comprehensive income ("OCI") in 2020 can be attributed primarily to a decrease in the fair value of our investment securities, where fair value option was not elected, as a result of significant spread widening during the first quarter of 2020 due to the market turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These losses were partially offset by fair value increases during the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020 as well as the reversal of previously recognized net unrealized losses reported in OCI that were reclassified to net realized loss as a result of the sale of certain investment securities in 2020, mostly occurring in the first quarter.
Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company’s newly purchased investment securities are presented at fair value as a result of a fair value election made at the time of acquisition pursuant to ASC 825, Financial Instruments (“ASC 825”). The fair value option was elected for these investment securities to provide stockholders and others who rely on our financial statements with a more complete and accurate understanding of our economic performance. Changes in the market values of investment securities where the Company elected the fair value option are reflected in earnings instead of in OCI.
Comparison of the Year Ended December 31, 2019 to the Year Ended December 31, 2018
A number of the following tables contain a “change” column that indicates the amount by which results from the year ended December 31, 2019 are greater or less than the results from the respective period in 2018. Unless otherwise specified, references in this section to increases or decreases in 2019 refer to the change in results for the year ended December 31, 2019 when compared to the year ended December 31, 2018.
The following table presents the main components of our net income for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data):
Net Interest Income
The increase in net interest income in 2019 was primarily driven by increases in average Interest Earning Assets in our single-family and multi-family portfolios resulting from purchase activity since December 31, 2018. These increases were partially offset by decreases in net interest income in our Agency securities due to (1) reductions in average interest earnings assets caused primarily by paydowns, (2) increased prepayment rates compared to the corresponding period in 2018 and (3) the impact of our exit from our Agency IO portfolio in 2018.
Portfolio Net Interest Margin
The following tables set forth certain information about our portfolio by investment category and their related interest income, interest expense, average yield on interest earning assets, average portfolio financing cost and portfolio net interest margin for our average interest earning assets (by investment category) for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, 2019
Year Ended December 31, 2018
(1)The Company, through its ownership of certain securities purchased in the year ended December 31, 2019, has determined it is the primary beneficiary of Consolidated SLST and has consolidated Consolidated SLST into the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Interest income amounts represent interest income earned by securities that are actually owned by the Company. A reconciliation of net interest income generated by our single-family portfolio to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 is set forth below (dollar amounts in thousands):
(2)The Company, through its ownership of certain securities, had determined it was the primary beneficiary of the Consolidated K-Series and had consolidated the Consolidated K-Series into the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Interest income amounts represent interest income earned by securities that were owned by the Company. A reconciliation of net interest income generated by our multi-family portfolio to our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, is set forth below (dollar amounts in thousands):
(3)Average Interest Earning Assets for the periods indicated exclude all Consolidated SLST assets (for the year ended December 31, 2019) and all Consolidated K-Series assets other than, in each case, those securities actually owned and deposits held by the Company.
(4)Includes interest income earned on cash accounts held by the Company.
(5)Average Interest Earning Assets was calculated based on daily average amortized cost for the respective periods.
(6)Average Yield on Interest Earning Assets was calculated by dividing our interest income relating to our interest earning assets by our Average Interest Earning Assets for the respective periods.
(7)Average Portfolio Financing Cost was calculated by dividing our interest expense relating to our interest earning assets by our average interest bearing liabilities, excluding our subordinated debentures and convertible notes, for the respective periods. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, interest expense generated by our subordinated debentures and convertible notes is set forth below (dollar amounts in thousands):
(8)Portfolio Net Interest Margin is the difference between our Average Yield on Interest Earning Assets and our Average Portfolio Financing Cost, excluding the weighted average cost of subordinated debentures and convertible notes.
Non-interest Income
Realized Gains (Losses), Net
The following table presents the components of realized gains (losses), net recognized for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
Realized gains on residential loans increased in 2019 due to increased sale and payoff activity in 2019. Realized gains on investment securities and related hedges increased in 2019 due to the sales of certain Freddie Mac-sponsored multi-family loan K-Series first loss POs and IOs resulting in realized gains of $16.8 million and other CMBS and non-Agency RMBS resulting in realized gains of $5.0 million. Also in 2018, the Company liquidated its Agency IO portfolio resulting in a $12.4 million realized loss.
Unrealized Gains, Net
The following table presents the components of unrealized gains, net recognized for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
The increase in unrealized gains on residential loans in 2019 was primarily due to an increase in loans accounted for at fair value and credit spread tightening.
Unrealized gains on Consolidated K-Series decreased during 2019 due to deceleration in the tightening of credit spreads as compared to the previous period as well as lower unrealized gains on certain Consolidated K-Series investments that were nearing maturity. This decrease was partially offset by unrealized gains on additional Consolidated K-Series investments purchased in 2019.
Unrealized losses on investment securities and related hedges increased in 2019 due to unrealized losses recognized on our interest rate swaps in 2019 and reversals of unrealized losses upon liquidation of the Agency IO portfolio in 2018. The unrealized losses on our interest rate swaps were offset by unrealized gains on our investment securities portfolio (where fair value option was not elected) recorded in OCI.
Income from Equity Investments
The following table presents the components of income from equity investments for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Includes income earned from preferred equity ownership interests in entities that invest in multi-family properties accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
The increase in income from equity investments in 2019 was primarily due to a $7.1 million increase in income from preferred equity investments accounted for as equity due to additional investments made in 2019. The increase was also due to a $3.5 million increase in income recognized on the Company’s equity investments in entities that invest in residential properties and loans, primarily due to an investment added in 2019. Income from joint venture equity investments in multi-family properties increased by $2.5 million in 2019 as a result of increased realized and unrealized gains related to those investments.
Other Income
The following table presents the components of other income for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Includes premiums resulting from early redemptions of preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments accounted for as loans.
(2)Net (loss) income in Consolidated VIEs excludes income or loss from the Consolidated K-Series and Consolidated SLST and are offset by allocations of losses or increased by allocations of income to non-controlling interests in the respective Consolidated VIEs, resulting in a net loss to the Company of $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and net income to the Company of $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The decrease in other income in 2019 is primarily attributable to a decrease of $7.6 million in net income in Consolidated VIEs resulting from sales of real estate held for sale in Consolidated VIEs and realized losses and impairment recognized on real estate under development held in Consolidated VIEs. The decrease in other income was also due to a decrease of $2.6 million in redemption premiums collected from preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments in 2019.
Expenses
The following tables present the components of general, administrative and operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
The increase in general and administrative expenses in 2019 was primarily due to an increase in employee headcount as part of the expansion of our investment platforms. This change was partially offset by a decrease in base management and incentive fees (included in "Other" category above) in 2019 due to the termination of our last management agreement and the end of transition services related to that agreement in the second quarter of 2019.
The increase in operating expenses related to portfolio investments in 2019 is primarily due to overall growth in the portfolio resulting from the expansion of our investment platforms. Operating expenses in Consolidated VIEs decreased in 2019 as a result of the de-consolidation of the VIEs after the sales of the real estate held by these entities.
Comprehensive Income
The main components of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are detailed in the following table (dollar amounts in thousands):
The changes in OCI in 2019 can be attributed primarily to an increase in the fair value of our investment securities where fair value option was not elected due to the expansion of our investment portfolio and general spread tightening. The changes were partially offset by the reclassification of unrealized gains reported in OCI to net income in relation to the sale of certain multi-family CMBS in 2019.
Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company’s newly purchased investment securities are presented at fair value as a result of a fair value election made at the time of acquisition pursuant to ASC 825. The fair value option was elected for these investment securities to provide stockholders and others who rely on our financial statements with a more complete and accurate understanding of our economic performance. Changes in the market values of investment securities where the Company elected the fair value option are reflected in earnings instead of in OCI.
Balance Sheet Analysis
As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $4.7 billion of total assets. Included in this amount is approximately $1.3 billion of assets held in Consolidated SLST, which we consolidate in accordance with GAAP. As of December 31, 2019, we had approximately $23.5 billion of total assets, $1.3 billion of which represented Consolidated SLST assets that we consolidate in accordance with GAAP and $17.9 billion of which represented assets comprising the Consolidated K-Series that we consolidated in accordance with GAAP. The Company sold its first loss POs and certain mezzanine securities issued by the Consolidated K-Series in March 2020 resulting in the de-consolidation of $17.4 billion in multi-family loans. For a reconciliation of our actual interests in the Consolidated K-Series and Consolidated SLST to our financial statements, see “Capital Allocation” and “Comparative Portfolio Net Interest Margin” above.
Residential Loans
Acquired Residential Loans
As of December 31, 2020, all of the Company’s acquired residential loans, including performing, re-performing, and non-performing residential loans and business purpose loans, are presented at fair value on its consolidated balance sheets. Subsequent changes in fair value are reported in current period earnings and presented in unrealized gains (losses), net on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
The following table details our acquired residential loans by strategy at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)As of December 31, 2019, the Company had 5,696 residential loans within our re-performing residential loan strategy with aggregate unpaid principal of $964.8 million and an aggregate carrying value of $940.1 million accounted for at fair value. The Company also had 2,017 residential loans with aggregate unpaid principal of $167.0 million and an aggregate carrying value of $158.7 million accounted for under ASC 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality as of December 31, 2019.
(2)As of December 31, 2019, the Company had 2,534 residential loans within our performing loan strategy with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $500.1 million and an aggregate carrying value of $489.6 million accounted for at fair value. The Company also had 166 residential loans held in securitization trusts with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $47.2 million and an aggregate carrying value of $44.0 million accounted for at amortized cost, net as of December 31, 2019.
Characteristics of Our Acquired Residential Loans:
(1)For second mortgages, the Company calculates the combined loan to value. For business purpose loans, the Company calculates as the ratio of the maximum unpaid principal balance of the loan, including unfunded commitments, to the estimated “after repaired” value of the collateral securing the related loan.
Consolidated SLST
The Company owns first loss subordinated securities and certain IOs issued by a Freddie Mac-sponsored residential loan securitization. In accordance with GAAP, the Company has consolidated the underlying seasoned re-performing and non-performing residential loans of the securitization and the CDOs issued to permanently finance these residential loans, representing Consolidated SLST.
We do not have any claims to the assets or obligations for the liabilities of Consolidated SLST (other than those securities owned by the Company). Our investment in Consolidated SLST as of December 31, 2020 was limited to the RMBS comprised of first loss subordinated securities and IOs issued by the securitization with an aggregate net carrying value of $212.1 million. In March 2020, we sold our entire investment in the senior securities issued by Consolidated SLST. As of December 31, 2019, our investment in Consolidated SLST was limited to the RMBS comprised of first loss subordinated securities, IOs and senior securities with an aggregate carrying value of $276.8 million. For more information on investment securities held by the Company within Consolidated SLST, refer to "Investment Securities" section below.
The following table details the loan characteristics of the underlying residential loans that back our first loss subordinated securities issued by Consolidated SLST as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands, except as noted):
Residential Loans Financing
Repurchase Agreements
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had repurchase agreements with three third-party financial institutions to fund the purchase of residential loans. The following table presents detailed information about these repurchase agreements and associated assets pledged as collateral at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Costs related to the repurchase agreements which include commitment, underwriting, legal, accounting and other fees are reflected as deferred charges. Such costs are presented as a deduction from the corresponding debt liability on the Company’s accompanying consolidated balance sheets and are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense using the effective interest method, or straight line-method, if the result is not materially different.
(2)Includes residential loans, at fair value of $575.4 million and $881.2 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and residential loans, net of $80.6 million at December 31, 2019.
(3)The Company expects to roll outstanding amounts under these repurchase agreements into new repurchase agreements or other financings, or to repay outstanding amounts, prior to or at maturity.
The following table details the quarterly average balance, ending balance and maximum balance at any month-end during each quarter in 2020, 2019 and 2018 for our repurchase agreements secured by residential loans (dollar amounts in thousands):
Collateralized Debt Obligations
Included in our portfolio are residential loans that are pledged as collateral for CDOs issued by the Company or by Consolidated SLST. The Company had a net investment in Consolidated SLST and other residential loan securitizations of $213.7 million and $159.7 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2020.
The following table summarizes Consolidated SLST CDOs and CDOs issued by the Company's residential loan securitizations as of December 31, 2020 (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Weighted average interest rate is calculated using the outstanding face amount and stated interest rate of notes issued by the securitization and not owned by the Company.
(2)The actual maturity of the Company's CDOs are primarily determined by the rate of principal prepayments on the assets of the issuing entity. The CDOs are also subject to redemption prior to the stated maturity according to the terms of the respective governing documents. As a result, the actual maturity of the CDOs may occur earlier than the stated maturity.
(3)The Company has elected the fair value option for CDOs issued by Consolidated SLST.
Consolidated K-Series
In March 2020, in response to the market turmoil related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company elected to sell its entire portfolio of first loss POs and certain mezzanine securities issued by the Consolidated K-Series. The Consolidated K-Series were comprised of multi-family mortgage loans held in, and related debt issued by, Freddie Mac-sponsored multi-family loan K-Series securitizations of which we, or one of our SPEs, owned the first loss POs and, in certain cases, IOs and/or senior or mezzanine securities issued by these securitizations. We determined that the securitizations comprising the Consolidated K-Series were VIEs and that we were the primary beneficiary of these securitizations. Accordingly, we were required to consolidate the Consolidated K-Series’ underlying multi-family loans and related debt, income and expense in our consolidated financial statements. The sales of the first loss POs and certain mezzanine securities issued by the Consolidated K-Series, for total proceeds of approximately $555.2 million, resulted in the de-consolidation of $17.4 billion in multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series and $16.6 billion in CDOs issued by the Consolidated K-Series. Also in March 2020, the Company transferred its remaining IOs and mezzanine and senior securities owned in the Consolidated K-Series with a fair value of approximately $237.3 million to investment securities available for sale.
As of December 31, 2019, we owned 100% of the first loss POs of the Consolidated K-Series. We did not have any claims to the assets (other than those securities owned by the Company) or obligations for the liabilities of the Consolidated K-Series. Our investment in the Consolidated K-Series was limited to the multi-family CMBS comprised of first loss POs, and, in certain cases, IOs, senior or mezzanine securities, issued by these K-Series securitizations with an aggregate net carrying value of $1.1 billion as of December 31, 2019. For more information on investment securities held by the Company within the Consolidated K-Series, refer to "Investment Securities" section below.
Multi-family CMBS - Consolidated K-Series Loan Characteristics:
The following table details the loan characteristics of the underlying multi-family mortgage loans that backed our multi-family CMBS first loss POs as of December 31, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands, except as noted):
Multi-Family Preferred Equity and Mezzanine Loan Investments
The Company invests in preferred equity in, and mezzanine loans to, entities that have multi-family real estate assets (referred to in this section as “Preferred Equity and Mezzanine Loans”). A preferred equity investment is an equity investment in the entity that owns the underlying property and mezzanine loans are secured by a pledge of the borrower’s equity ownership in the property. We evaluate our Preferred Equity and Mezzanine Loans for accounting treatment as loans versus equity investments. Preferred Equity and Mezzanine Loans for which the characteristics, facts and circumstances indicate that loan accounting treatment is appropriate are included in multi-family loans on our consolidated balance sheets. Preferred Equity and Mezzanine Loans where the risks and payment characteristics are equivalent to an equity investment are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are included in equity investments on our consolidated balance sheets.
As of December 31, 2020, one preferred equity investment was greater than 90 days delinquent. In addition, the Company's preferred equity investment in CL Gainesville Associates, LLC ("Campus Lodge") was in forbearance and was subject to a voluntary changeover, where the Company gained the power to direct its activities, resulting in the consolidation of Campus Lodge in our financial statements under GAAP. These investments collectively represent 3.6% of the total fair value of our Preferred Equity and Mezzanine Loans. During the year ended December 31, 2019, there were no impairments with respect to our Preferred Equity and Mezzanine Loans.
The following tables summarize our Preferred Equity and Mezzanine Loans as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments in the amounts of $163.6 million and $180.0 million are included in multi-family loans on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Preferred equity investments in the amounts of $182.8 million and $106.1 million are included in equity investments on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
(2)The difference between the fair value and investment amount as of December 31, 2020 consists of any unamortized premium or discount, deferred fees or deferred expenses, and any unrealized gain or loss. The difference between the carrying amount and the investment amount as of December 31, 2019 consists of any unamortized premium or discount, deferred fees or deferred expenses.
(3)Based upon investment amount and contractual interest or preferred return rate.
(4)Represents the Company's preferred equity investment in Campus Lodge, a Consolidated VIE that owns a multi-family apartment community. A reconciliation of our preferred equity investment in Campus Lodge to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020 is shown below (dollar amounts in thousands):
(a)Included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
(b)Included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Preferred Equity and Mezzanine Loans Characteristics:
Investment Securities
At December 31, 2020, our investment securities portfolio included Agency RMBS, non-Agency RMBS, CMBS and ABS, which are classified as investment securities available for sale. Our securities investments also include first loss subordinated securities and certain IOs issued by Consolidated SLST. At December 31, 2020, we had no investment securities in a single issuer or entity that had an aggregate book value in excess of 5% of our total assets. The decrease in the carrying value of our investment securities as of December 31, 2020 as compared to December 31, 2019 is due to our $2.4 billion in asset sales related, in part, to our response to the significant disruption in the financial markets caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunistic dispositions, including $1.1 billion of Agency securities (including Agency RMBS issued by Consolidated SLST), $555.2 million of first loss POs and certain mezzanine securities issued by the Consolidated K-Series, $433.1 million of non-Agency RMBS and $248.7 million of CMBS. The decrease in carrying value was also due to a decline in the fair value of a number of our investment securities since December 31, 2019 as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
The following tables summarize our investment securities portfolio as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Our weighted average coupon was calculated by dividing our annualized coupon income by our weighted average current par value for the respective periods.
(2)Our weighted average yield was calculated by dividing our annualized interest income by our weighted average amortized cost for the respective periods.
(1)Our weighted average coupon was calculated by dividing our annualized coupon income by our weighted average current par value for the respective periods.
(2)Our weighted average yield was calculated by dividing our annualized interest income by our weighted average amortized cost for the respective periods.
Investment Securities Financing
Repurchase Agreements
In March 2020, in reaction to the market turmoil related to the COVID-19 pandemic, our repurchase agreement providers dramatically changed their risk tolerances, including reducing or eliminating availability to add or roll maturing repurchase agreements, increasing haircuts and reducing security valuations. In turn, this led to significant disruptions in our financing markets, negatively impacting the Company as well as the entire mortgage REIT industry. In response, the Company completely eliminated its securities repurchase agreement exposure in 2020. The Company will continue to evaluate the securities repurchase agreement market before increasing its exposure in the future.
The Company has historically financed its investment securities primarily through repurchase agreements with third-party financial institutions. These repurchase agreements are short-term financings that bear interest rates typically based on a spread to LIBOR and are secured by the investment securities which they finance. Upon entering into a financing transaction, our counterparties negotiate a “haircut”, which is the difference expressed in percentage terms between the fair value of the collateral and the amount the counterparty will advance to us. The size of the haircut represents the counterparty’s perceived risk associated with holding the investment securities as collateral. The haircut provides counterparties with a cushion for daily market value movements that reduce the need for margin calls or margins to be returned as normal daily changes in investment security market values occur.
The following table details the quarterly average balance, ending balance and maximum balance at any month-end during each quarter in 2020, 2019 and 2018 for our repurchase agreements secured by investment securities (dollar amounts in thousands):
Non-Agency RMBS Re-Securitization
In June 2020, the Company completed a re-securitization of certain non-Agency RMBS primarily for the purpose of obtaining non-recourse, longer-term financing on a portion of its non-Agency RMBS portfolio. The Company received net cash proceeds of approximately $109.0 million after deducting expenses associated with the re-securitization transaction. The Company had a net investment in the re-securitization of $94.3 million as of December 31, 2020.
The following table summarizes the non-Agency RMBS re-securitization as of December 31, 2020 (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Classified as a collateralized debt obligation in the liability section of the Company's accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The re-securitization is non-recourse debt for which the Company has no obligation.
(2)Represents the pass-through rate through the payment date in December 2021. Pass-through rate increases to one-month LIBOR plus 7.75% for payment dates in or after January 2022.
Equity Investments in Multi-Family and Residential Entities
Multi-Family Joint Venture Equity Investments
The Company's joint venture equity investment in an entity that owned a multi-family real estate asset was redeemed during the year ended December 31, 2020. We received variable distributions from this investment on a pari passu basis based upon property performance and recorded our position at fair value. The following table summarizes our multi-family joint venture equity investment as of December 31, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands):
Equity Investments in Entities That Invest in Residential Properties and Loans
The Company has ownership interests in entities that invest in residential properties and loans. We may receive variable distributions from these investments based upon underlying asset performance and record our positions at fair value. The following table summarizes our ownership interests in entities that invest in residential properties and loans as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
Derivative Assets and Liabilities
The Company enters into derivative instruments in connection with its risk management activities. These derivative instruments may include interest rate swaps, swaptions, futures, options on futures and mortgage derivatives such as forward-settling purchases and sales of Agency RMBS where the underlying pools of mortgage loans are “To-Be-Announced,” or TBAs.
Our derivative instruments were comprised of interest rate swaps that we used to hedge variable cash flows associated with our variable rate borrowings. We typically paid a fixed rate and received a floating rate based on one- or three- month LIBOR, on the notional amount of the interest rate swaps. The floating rate we received under our swap agreements had the effect of offsetting the repricing characteristics and cash flows of our financing arrangements. Derivative financial instruments may contain credit risk to the extent that the institutional counterparties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreements. All of the Company’s interest rate swaps were cleared through CME Group Inc. (“CME Clearing”) which is the parent company of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. CME Clearing serves as the counterparty to every cleared transaction, becoming the buyer to each seller and the seller to each buyer, limiting the credit risk by guaranteeing the financial performance of both parties and netting down exposures.
In March 2020, in response to the turmoil in the financial markets, we terminated our interest rate swaps, recognizing a realized loss of $73.1 million which was partially offset by a reversal of $29.0 million in unrealized losses, resulting in a total net loss of $44.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. We did not recognize any realized gains or losses during the year ended December 31, 2019.
We recognized unrealized losses of $30.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Unrealized gains and losses include the change in market value, period over period, generally as a result of changes in interest rates and reversals of previously recognized unrealized gains or losses upon termination.
Debt
The Company’s debt as of December 31, 2020 included Convertible Notes and subordinated debentures.
Convertible Notes
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had $138.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.25% Senior Convertible Notes (the "Convertible Notes") outstanding, due on January 15, 2022. The Convertible Notes were issued at a discount with a total cost to the Company of approximately 8.24%.
Subordinated Debentures
As of December 31, 2020, certain of our wholly-owned subsidiaries had trust preferred securities outstanding of $45.0 million with a weighted average interest rate of 4.07% which are due in 2035. The securities are fully guaranteed by us with respect to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation, redemption or repayment. These securities are classified as subordinated debentures in the liability section of our consolidated balance sheets.
Balance Sheet Analysis - Company’s Stockholders’ Equity
The Company’s stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2020 was $2.3 billion and included $1.0 million of accumulated OCI. The accumulated OCI at December 31, 2020 consisted primarily of $2.0 million in net unrealized gains related to our CMBS partially offset by $1.0 million in net unrealized losses related to our non-Agency RMBS. The Company's stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2019 was $2.2 billion and included $25.1 million of accumulated OCI. The accumulated OCI at December 31, 2019 consisted primarily of $12.6 million in net unrealized gains related to our CMBS and $12.5 million in net unrealized gains related to our non-Agency RMBS.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
General
Liquidity is a measure of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including ongoing commitments to repay borrowings, fund and maintain investments, comply with margin requirements, fund our operations, pay dividends to our stockholders and other general business needs. Generally, our investments and assets generate liquidity on an ongoing basis through principal and interest payments, prepayments, net earnings retained prior to payment of dividends and distributions from equity investments. In addition, we may generate liquidity through the sale of assets from our investment portfolio.
As discussed throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the COVID-19 pandemic-driven disruptions in the real estate, mortgage and financial markets have negatively affected and may negatively affect our liquidity in the future. In March 2020, we observed a mark-down of a portion of our assets by the counterparties to our repurchase agreements, resulting in us having to pay cash or additional securities to counterparties to satisfy margin calls that were well beyond historical norms. To conserve capital, protect assets and to pause the escalating negative impacts caused by the market dislocation and allow the markets for many of our assets to stabilize, on March 23, 2020, we notified our repurchase agreement counterparties that we did not expect to fund the existing and anticipated future margin calls under our repurchase agreements and commenced discussions with our counterparties with regard to entering into forbearance agreements.
In response to these conditions, we have focused on improving liquidity and long-term capital preservation by taking the actions described below. Starting March 23, 2020 and through the period ended June 30, 2020, we sold a total of $2.1 billion in assets, including the sale of 100% of our Agency securities portfolio held at that time, all of our first loss multi-family POs and a portion of our non-Agency RMBS, CMBS and residential loan portfolios for proceeds of $1.1 billion, $555.2 million, $168.8 million, $138.1 million and $93.8 million, respectively. By April 7, 2020, we were again current with our repurchase payment obligations and no longer in a position to need forbearance agreements from our repurchase agreement counterparties. During the third and fourth quarters of 2020, we selectively disposed of non-Agency RMBS and CMBS for total proceeds of $375.0 million. Moreover, during the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020, we completed three securitization transactions generating net proceeds to us of $649.4 million. We used the proceeds from these sales and securitization transactions to pay down our repurchase agreement financing, reducing our portfolio leverage to 0.2 times as of December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2020, we had $293.2 million of cash and cash equivalents, $827.7 million of unencumbered securities (including the securities we own in Consolidated SLST), $515.5 million of unencumbered residential loans and $346.4 million of unencumbered preferred equity investments in and mezzanine loans to owners of multi-family properties.
Both of our residential and multi-family asset management teams have been active in responding to the government assistance programs instituted in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic providing relief to residential and multi-family loan borrowers. We have endeavored to work with any of our borrowers or operating partners that require relief because of the pandemic. As of December 31, 2020, approximately 2% of our residential loan portfolio had an active COVID-19 assistance plan. We have a long history of dealing with distressed borrowers and currently do not expect these levels of forbearance to have a material impact on our liquidity. In our multi-family portfolio, one loan is delinquent in making its distributions to us and one loan is in a forbearance arrangement with us. These loans represent 3.6% of our total preferred equity and mezzanine loan investment portfolio. Although we did not see a significant increase in forbearance and delinquency rates in our portfolio during the year ended December 31, 2020, we would expect delinquencies, defaults and requests for forbearance arrangements to rise should savings, incomes and revenues of borrowers, operating partners and other businesses become further constrained from the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot assure you that any increase in or prolonged period of payment deferrals, forbearance, delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures or losses will not adversely affect our net interest income, the fair value of our assets or our liquidity.
We historically have endeavored to fund our investments and operations through a balanced and diverse funding mix, including proceeds from the issuance of common and preferred equity and debt securities, short-term and longer-term repurchase agreements and CDOs. The type and terms of financing used by us depends on the asset being financed and the financing available at the time of the financing. As discussed above, as a result of the severe market dislocations related to the COVID-19 pandemic and, more specifically, the unprecedented illiquidity in our repurchase agreement financing and MBS markets, we have recently placed and expect in the future to place a greater emphasis on procuring longer-termed and/or more committed financing arrangements, such as securitizations and other term financings, that provide less or no exposure to fluctuations in the collateral repricing determinations of financing counterparties or rapid liquidity reductions in repurchase agreement financing markets. To this end, we have completed five non-mark-to-market financings since June 2020, including two non-mark-to-market repurchase agreement financings with new and existing counterparties.
Based on current market conditions, our current investment portfolio, new investment initiatives, leverage ratio and available and future possible financing arrangements, we believe our existing cash balances, funds available under our various financing arrangements and cash flows from operations will meet our liquidity requirements for at least the next 12 months. We have explored and will continue in the near term to explore additional financing arrangements to further strengthen our balance sheet and position ourselves for future investment opportunities, including, without limitation, additional issuances of our equity and debt securities and longer-termed financing arrangements; however, no assurance can be given that we will be able to access any such financing, or the size, timing or terms thereof.
Cash Flows and Liquidity for the Year Ended December 31, 2020
During the year ended December 31, 2020, net cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash increased by $182.9 million.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
We generated net cash flows from operating activities of $110.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. Our cash flow provided by operating activities differs from our net income due to these primary factors: (i) differences between (a) accretion, amortization and recognition of income and losses recorded with respect to our investments and (b) the cash received therefrom and (ii) unrealized gains and losses on our investments and derivatives.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
During the year ended December 31, 2020, our net cash flows provided by investing activities were $2.1 billion, primarily as a result of sales of Agency RMBS and Agency CMBS, including securities issued by Consolidated SLST and the Consolidated K-Series, sales of non-Agency RMBS and CMBS, sales of first loss POs and certain mezzanine securities issued by the Consolidated K-Series and sales of residential loans compounded by principal repayments and refinancing of residential loans and principal paydowns or repayments of investment securities and equity, preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments. These sales and repayments were partially offset by purchases of residential loans, RMBS, CMBS, and funding of preferred equity investments during the period, reflecting our continued focus on single-family residential and multi-family investment strategies.
Although we generally intend to hold our assets as long-term investments, we may sell certain of these assets in order to manage our interest rate risk and liquidity needs, to meet other operating objectives or to adapt to market conditions, as was the case in March 2020. We cannot predict the timing and impact of future sales of assets, if any.
Because a portion of our assets are financed through repurchase agreements or CDOs, a portion of the proceeds from any sales of or principal repayments on our assets may be used to repay balances under these financing sources. Accordingly, all or a significant portion of cash flows from principal repayments received on multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series, principal repayments received from residential loans and proceeds from sales or principal paydowns received from investment securities available for sale were used to repay CDOs issued by the respective Consolidated VIEs or repurchase agreements (included as cash used in financing activities).
As presented in the “Supplemental Disclosure - Non-Cash Investment Activities” subsection of our consolidated statements of cash flows, during the year ended December 31, 2020, we de-consolidated certain multi-family securitization trusts which represent significant non-cash transactions that were not included in cash flows provided by investing activities.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
During the year ended December 31, 2020, our cash flows used in financing activities were $2.0 billion. The main uses of cash flows with respect to financing activities were primarily payments made on repurchase agreements partially offset by net proceeds from various issuances of our common stock and CDOs.
Liquidity - Financing Arrangements
As of December 31, 2020, we had no amounts outstanding under short-term repurchase agreements on our investment securities. These repurchase agreements are typically secured by certain of our investment securities and bear interest rates that have historically moved in close relationship to LIBOR. Any financings under these repurchase agreements are based on the fair value of the assets that serve as collateral under these agreements. Interest rate changes and increased prepayment activity can have a negative impact on the valuation of these securities, reducing the amount we can borrow under these agreements. Moreover, our repurchase agreements allow the counterparties to determine a new market value of the collateral to reflect current market conditions and because these lines of financing are not committed, the counterparty can effectively call the loan at any time. Market value of the collateral represents the price of such collateral obtained from generally recognized sources or the most recent closing bid quotation from such source plus accrued income. If a counterparty determines that the value of the collateral has decreased, the counterparty may initiate a margin call and require us to either post additional collateral to cover such decrease or repay a portion of the outstanding amount financed in cash, on minimal notice, and repurchase may be accelerated upon an event of default under the repurchase agreements. Moreover, in the event an existing counterparty elected to not renew the outstanding balance at its maturity into a new repurchase agreement, we would be required to repay the outstanding balance with cash or proceeds received from a new counterparty or to surrender the securities that serve as collateral for the outstanding balance, or any combination thereof. If we were unable to secure financing from a new counterparty and had to surrender the collateral, we would expect to incur a loss. In addition, in the event one of our repurchase agreement counterparties defaults on its obligation to “re-sell” or return to us the assets that are securing the financing at the end of the term of the repurchase agreement, we would incur a loss on the transaction equal to the amount of “haircut” associated with the short-term repurchase agreement, which we sometimes refer to as the “amount at risk.”
At December 31, 2020, we had longer-term repurchase agreements with terms of up to two years with three third-party financial institutions that are secured by certain of our residential loans and that function similar to our short-term repurchase agreements. The financings under two of these repurchase agreements are subject to margin calls to the extent the market value of the residential loans falls below specified levels and repurchase may be accelerated upon an event of default under the repurchase agreements. In the third and fourth quarters of 2020, we entered into or amended agreements with new and existing counterparties that are secured by certain of our residential loans and are not subject to margin calls in the event the market value of the collateral declines. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Balance Sheet Analysis-Residential Loans Financing-Repurchase Agreements" for further information. During the terms of the repurchase agreements secured by residential loans, proceeds from the residential loans will be applied to pay any price differential, if applicable, and to reduce the aggregate repurchase price of the collateral. The repurchase agreements secured by residential loans contain various covenants, including among other things, the maintenance of certain amounts of liquidity and total stockholders' equity. As of December 31, 2020, we had an aggregate amount at risk under our residential loan repurchase agreements of approximately $168.2 million, which represents the difference between the carrying value of the loans pledged and the outstanding balance of our repurchase agreements. Significant margin calls have had, and could in the future have, a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, business, liquidity and ability to make distributions to our stockholders. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources - General” above.
At December 31, 2020, the Company had $138.0 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes outstanding. The Convertible Notes were issued at 96% of the principal amount, bear interest at a rate equal to 6.25% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, and are expected to mature on January 15, 2022, unless earlier converted or repurchased. The Company does not have the right to redeem the Convertible Notes prior to maturity and no sinking fund is provided for the Convertible Notes. Holders of the Convertible Notes are permitted to convert their Convertible Notes into shares of the Company’s common stock at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding January 15, 2022. The conversion rate for the Convertible Notes, which is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, initially equals 142.7144 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $7.01 per share of the Company’s common stock, based on a $1,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes.
At December 31, 2020, we also had other longer-term debt, including Consolidated SLST CDOs outstanding of $1.1 billion (which represent obligations of Consolidated SLST) and other CDOs outstanding of $569.3 million. These CDOs are collateralized by residential loans and non-Agency RMBS.
As of December 31, 2020, our total leverage ratio, which represents our total outstanding repurchase agreement financing, subordinated debentures and Convertible Notes divided by our total stockholders' equity, was approximately 0.3 to 1. Our overall leverage ratio does not include debt associated with CDOs or other non-recourse debt to the Company. As of December 31, 2020, our leverage ratio on our shorter-term financings, which represents our outstanding repurchase agreement financing divided by our total stockholders’ equity, was approximately 0.2 to 1. We monitor all at risk or short-term financings to enable us to respond to market disruptions as they arise.
Liquidity - Hedging and Other Factors
Certain of our hedging instruments may also impact our liquidity. We may use interest rate swaps, swaptions, TBAs or other futures contracts to hedge interest rate and market value risk associated with our investments in Agency RMBS.
With respect to interest rate swaps, futures contracts and TBAs, initial margin deposits, which can be comprised of either cash or securities, will be made upon entering into these contracts. During the period these contracts are open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized gains or losses by marking to market on a daily basis to reflect the market value of these contracts at the end of each day’s trading. We may be required to satisfy variable margin payments periodically, depending upon whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. In addition, because delivery of TBAs extend beyond the typical settlement dates for most non-derivative investments, these transactions are more prone to market fluctuations between the trade date and the ultimate settlement date, and thereby are more vulnerable to increasing amounts at risk with the applicable counterparties. In March 2020, in response to the turmoil in the financial markets, we terminated our interest rate swaps and currently do not have any hedges in place.
For additional information regarding the Company’s derivative instruments and hedging activities for the periods covered by this report, including the fair values and notional amounts of these instruments and realized and unrealized gains and losses relating to these instruments, please see Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements included in this report. Also, please see Item 7A.
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
This section should be read in conjunction with “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequent periodic reports filed with the SEC.
We seek to manage risks that we believe will impact our business including interest rates, liquidity, prepayments, credit quality and market value. Many of these risks have become particularly heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic and market conditions. When managing these risks we consider the impact on our assets, liabilities and derivative positions. While we do not seek to avoid risk completely, we believe the risk can be quantified from historical experience. We seek to actively manage that risk, to generate risk-adjusted total returns that we believe compensate us appropriately for those risks and to maintain capital levels consistent with the risks we take.
The following analysis includes forward-looking statements that assume that certain market conditions occur. Actual results may differ materially from these projections due to changes in our portfolio assets and borrowings mix and due to developments in the domestic and global financial, mortgage and real estate markets. Developments in the financial markets include the likelihood of changing interest rates and the relationship of various interest rates and their impact on our portfolio yield, cost of funds and cash flows. The analytical methods that we use to assess and mitigate these market risks should not be considered projections of future events or operating performance.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rates are sensitive to many factors, including governmental, monetary or tax policies, domestic and international economic conditions, and political or regulatory matters beyond our control. Changes in interest rates affect the value of the assets we manage and hold in our investment portfolio and the variable-rate borrowings we use to finance our portfolio. Changes in interest rates also affect the interest rate swaps and caps, TBAs and other securities or instruments we may use to hedge our portfolio. As a result, our net interest income is particularly affected by changes in interest rates.
For example, we hold RMBS and loans, some of which may have fixed rates or interest rates that adjust on various dates that are not synchronized to the adjustment dates on our repurchase agreements. In general, the re-pricing of our repurchase agreements occurs more quickly than the re-pricing of our variable-interest rate assets. Thus, it is likely that our floating rate financing, such as our repurchase agreements, may react to interest rates before our RMBS or loans because the weighted average next re-pricing dates on the related financing may have shorter time periods than that of the RMBS or loan. Moreover, changes in interest rates can directly impact prepayment speeds, thereby affecting our net return on RMBS. During a declining interest rate environment, the prepayment of RMBS may accelerate (as borrowers may opt to refinance at a lower interest rate) causing the amount of liabilities that have been extended by the use of interest rate swaps to increase relative to the amount of RMBS, possibly resulting in a decline in our net return on RMBS, as replacement RMBS may have a lower yield than those being prepaid. Conversely, during an increasing interest rate environment, RMBS may prepay more slowly than expected, requiring us to finance a higher amount of RMBS than originally forecast and at a time when interest rates may be higher, resulting in a decline in our net return on RMBS. Accordingly, each of these scenarios can negatively impact our net interest income.
We seek to manage interest rate risk in our portfolio by utilizing interest rate swaps, swaptions, interest rate caps, futures, options on futures and U.S. Treasury securities with the goal of optimizing the earnings potential while seeking to maintain long term stable portfolio values. Given current market volatility and historically low interest rates, we do not currently have any hedges in place to mitigate the risk of rising interest rates.
We utilize a model-based risk analysis system to assist in projecting portfolio performances over a scenario of different interest rates. The model incorporates shifts in interest rates, changes in prepayments and other factors impacting the valuations of our financial securities and derivative hedging instruments.
Based on the results of the model, the instantaneous changes in interest rates specified below would have had the following effect on our net interest income for the next 12 months based on our assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2020 (dollar amounts in thousands):
Interest rate changes may also impact our net book value as our assets and related hedge derivatives, if any are marked-to-market each quarter. Generally, as interest rates increase, the value of our mortgage assets decreases, and conversely, as interest rates decrease, the value of such investments will increase. In general, we expect that, over time, decreases in the value of our portfolio attributable to interest rate changes will be offset, to the degree we are hedged, by increases in the value of our interest rate swaps or other financial instruments used for hedging purposes, and vice versa. However, the relationship between spreads on our assets and spreads on our hedging instruments may vary from time to time, resulting in a net aggregate book value increase or decline.
The interest rates for certain of our investments and a majority of our financing transactions are either explicitly or indirectly based on LIBOR. On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit LIBOR rates after 2021. At this time, it is not possible to predict the effect of such change, including the establishment of potential alternative reference rates, on the economy or markets we are active in either currently or in the future, or on any of our assets or liabilities whose interest rates are based on LIBOR. We are in the process of evaluating the potential impact of a discontinuation of LIBOR after 2021 on our portfolio, as well as the related accounting impact. However, we expect that throughout 2021, we will work closely with the entities that are involved in calculating the interest rates for our RMBS, our loan servicers for our floating rate loans, and with the various counterparties to our financing transactions in order to determine what changes, if any, are required to be made to existing agreements for these transactions.
Our net interest income, the fair value of our assets and our financing activities could be negatively affected by volatility in interest rates caused by uncertainties stemming from COVID-19. A prolonged period of extremely volatile and unstable market conditions would likely increase our funding costs and negatively affect market risk mitigation strategies. Higher income volatility from changes in interest rates could cause a loss of future net interest income and a decrease in current fair market values of our assets. Fluctuations in interest rates will impact both the level of income and expense recorded on most of our assets and liabilities and the market value of all or substantially all of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our net income, operating results, or financial condition.
Liquidity Risk
Liquidity is a measure of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including ongoing commitments to repay borrowings, fund and maintain investments, pay dividends to our stockholders and other general business needs. The primary liquidity risk we face arises from financing long-maturity assets with shorter-term financings. We recognize the need to have funds available to operate our business. We manage and forecast our liquidity needs and sources daily to ensure that we have adequate liquidity at all times. We plan to meet liquidity through normal operations with the goal of avoiding unplanned sales of assets or emergency borrowing of funds.
We are subject to “margin call” risk under nearly all of our repurchase agreements. In the event the value of our assets pledged as collateral suddenly decreases, margin calls relating to our repurchase agreements could increase, causing an adverse change in our liquidity position. Additionally, if one or more of our repurchase agreement counterparties chooses not to provide ongoing funding, we may be unable to replace the financing through other lenders on favorable terms or at all.
As discussed throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, in March 2020, we observed unprecedented illiquidity in repurchase agreement financing and MBS markets which resulted in our receiving margin calls under our repurchase agreements that were well beyond historical norms. We took a number of decisive actions in response to these conditions, including the sale of assets and termination of our interest rate swaps. Because of this, we intend to place a greater emphasis on procuring longer-termed and/or more committed financing arrangements, such as securitizations and other term financings, which may involve greater expense relative to repurchase agreement funding. We provide no assurance that we will be able in the future to access sources of capital that are attractive to us, that we will be able to roll over or replace our repurchase agreements or other financing instruments as they mature from time to time in the future or that we otherwise will not need to resort to unplanned sales of assets to provide liquidity in the future. See Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources" and the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information about our liquidity and capital resource management.
Derivative financial instruments are also subject to “margin call” risk. For example, under the interest rate swaps we have utilized, typically we would pay a fixed rate to the counterparties while they would pay us a floating rate. If interest rates drop below the fixed rate we pay on an interest rate swap, we may be required to post cash margin. Given current market volatility and historically low interest rates, we do not currently have any interest rate swaps in place.
Prepayment Risk
When borrowers repay the principal on their residential loans before maturity or faster than their scheduled amortization, the effect is to shorten the period over which interest is earned, and therefore, reduce the yield for residential mortgage assets purchased at a premium to their then current balance. Conversely, residential mortgage assets purchased for less than their then current balance, such as many of our residential loans, exhibit higher yields due to faster prepayments. Furthermore, actual prepayment speeds may differ from our modeled prepayment speed projections impacting the effectiveness of any hedges we may have in place to mitigate financing and/or fair value risk. Generally, when market interest rates decline, borrowers have a tendency to refinance their mortgages, thereby increasing prepayments.
Our modeled prepayments will help determine the amount of hedging we use to off-set changes in interest rates. If actual prepayment rates are higher than modeled, the yield will be less than modeled in cases where we paid a premium for the particular residential mortgage asset. Conversely, when we have paid a premium, if actual prepayment rates experienced are slower than modeled, we would amortize the premium over a longer time period, resulting in a higher yield to maturity.
In an environment of increasing prepayment speeds, the timing difference between the actual cash receipt of principal paydowns and the announcement of the principal paydowns may result in additional margin requirements from our repurchase agreement counterparties.
We mitigate prepayment risk by constantly evaluating our residential mortgage assets relative to prepayment speeds observed for assets with similar structures, quantities and characteristics. Furthermore, we stress-test the portfolio as to prepayment speeds and interest rate risk in order to further develop or make modifications to our hedge balances. Historically, we have not hedged 100% of our liability costs due to prepayment risk. Given the combination of low interest rates, government stimulus, high unemployment and other disruptions related to COVID-19, it has become more difficult to predict prepayment levels for the securities in our portfolio.
Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk that we will not fully collect the principal we have invested in our credit sensitive assets, including residential loans, non-Agency RMBS, ABS, multi-family CMBS, preferred equity and mezzanine loan and joint venture equity investments, due to borrower defaults or defaults by our operating partners in their payment obligations to us. In selecting the credit sensitive assets in our portfolio, we seek to identify and invest in assets with characteristics that we believe offset or limit our exposure to defaults.
We seek to manage credit risk through our pre-acquisition or pre-funding due diligence process, and by factoring projected credit losses into the purchase price we pay or loan terms we negotiate for all of our credit sensitive assets. In general, we evaluate relative valuation, supply and demand trends, prepayment rates, delinquency and default rates, vintage of collateral and macroeconomic factors as part of this process. Nevertheless, these procedures provide no assurance that we will not experience unanticipated credit losses which would materially affect our operating results.
Concern surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and certain of the actions taken to reduce its spread has caused and may continue to cause business shutdowns, limitations on commercial activity and financial transactions, labor shortages, supply chain interruptions, increased unemployment and multi-family property vacancy and lease default rates, reduced profitability and ability for property owners to make loan, mortgage and other payments, and overall economic and financial market instability, all of which may cause an increase in the credit risk of our credit sensitive assets. Although we did not see a significant increase in forbearance and delinquency rates in our portfolio during the year ended December 31, 2020, we expect delinquencies, defaults and requests for forbearance arrangements to rise as savings, incomes and revenues of borrowers, operating partners and other businesses become increasingly constrained from the resulting slow-down in economic activity and/or the reduction or elimination of current unemployment benefits or other policies intended to help keep borrowers and renters in their residences. Any future period of payment deferrals, forbearance, delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures or losses will likely adversely affect our net interest income from preferred equity investments, residential loans, mezzanine loans and our RMBS, CMBS and ABS investments, the fair value of these assets, our ability to liquidate the collateral that may underlie these investments and obtain additional financing and the future profitability of our investments. Further, in the event of delinquencies, defaults and foreclosure, regulatory changes and policies designed to protect borrowers and renters may slow or prevent us from taking remediation actions. See Item 1A, "Risk Factors" and Item 7,“Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and for more information on how COVID-19 may impact the credit quality of our credit sensitive assets and the credit quality of the underlying borrowers or operating partners.
With respect to our residential loans, we purchased the majority of these mortgage loans at a discount to par reflecting their distressed state or perceived higher risk of default. In connection with our loan acquisitions, we or a third-party due diligence firm perform an independent review of the mortgage file to assess the state of mortgage loan files, the servicing of the mortgage loan, compliance with existing guidelines, as well as our ability to enforce the contractual rights in the mortgage. We also obtain certain representations and warranties from each seller with respect to the mortgage loans, as well as the enforceability of the lien on the mortgaged property. A seller who breaches these representations and warranties may be obligated to repurchase the loan from us. In addition, as part of our process, we focus on selecting a servicer with the appropriate expertise to mitigate losses and maximize our overall return on these residential loans. This involves, among other things, performing due diligence on the servicer prior to their engagement, assigning the appropriate servicer on each loan based on certain characteristics and monitoring each servicer's performance on an ongoing basis.
We are exposed to credit risk in our investments in CMBS, non-Agency RMBS and ABS. These investments typically consist of either the senior, mezzanine or subordinate tranches in securitizations. The underlying collateral of these securitizations may be exposed to various macroeconomic and asset-specific credit risks. These securities have varying levels of credit enhancement which provide some structural protection from losses within the portfolio. We undertake an in-depth assessment of the underlying collateral and securitization structure when investing in these assets, which may include modeling defaults, prepayments and loss across different scenarios. In addition, we are exposed to credit risk in our preferred equity, mezzanine loan and equity investments in owners of residential and multi-family properties. The performance and value of these investments depend upon the applicable operating partner’s or borrower’s ability to effectively operate the multi-family and residential properties, that serve as the underlying collateral, to produce cash flows adequate to pay distributions, interest or principal due to us. The Company monitors the performance and credit quality of the underlying assets that serve as collateral for its investments. In connection with these types of investments by us in multi-family properties, the procedures for ongoing monitoring include financial statement analysis and regularly scheduled site inspections of portfolio properties to assess property physical condition, performance of on-site staff and competitive activity in the sub-market. We also formulate annual budgets and performance goals alongside our operating partners for use in measuring the ongoing investment performance and credit quality of our investments. Additionally, the Company's preferred equity and equity investments typically provide us with various rights and remedies to protect our investment.
Fair Value Risk
Changes in interest rates, market liquidity, credit quality and other factors also expose us to market value (fair value) fluctuation on our assets, liabilities and hedges. For certain of our credit sensitive assets, fair values may only be derived or estimated for these investments using various valuation techniques, such as computing the present value of estimated future cash flows using discount rates commensurate with the risks involved. However, the determination of estimated future cash flows is inherently subjective and imprecise. Moreover, the uncertainty over the ultimate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the global economy generally, and on our business in particular, makes any estimates and assumptions inherently less certain than they would be absent the current and potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The uncertainties stemming from the pandemic created unprecedented illiquidity and volatility in the financial markets. As a result, our market value (fair value) risk has significantly increased. Minor changes in assumptions or estimation methodologies can have a material effect on these derived or estimated fair values. Our fair value estimates and assumptions are indicative of the interest rate and business environments as of December 31, 2020 and do not take into consideration the effects of subsequent changes.
The following describes the methods and assumptions we use in estimating fair values of our financial instruments:
Fair value estimates are made as of a specific point in time based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. These techniques involve uncertainties and are significantly affected by the assumptions used and the judgments made regarding risk characteristics of various financial instruments, discount rates, estimate of future cash flows, future expected loss experience and other factors.
Changes in assumptions could significantly affect these estimates and the resulting fair values. Derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, could not be realized in an immediate sale of the instrument. Also, because of differences in methodologies and assumptions used to estimate fair values, the fair values used by us should not be compared to those of other companies.
The table below presents the sensitivity of the fair value and net duration changes of our portfolio as of December 31, 2020, using a discounted cash flow simulation model assuming an instantaneous interest rate shift. Application of this method results in an estimation of the fair market value change of our assets, liabilities and hedging instruments per 100 basis point shift in interest rates.
The use of hedging instruments has historically been a critical part of our interest rate risk management strategies. This analysis also takes into consideration the value of options embedded in our mortgage assets including constraints on the re-pricing of the interest rate of assets resulting from periodic and lifetime cap features, as well as prepayment options. Assets and liabilities that are not interest rate-sensitive such as cash, payment receivables, prepaid expenses, payables and accrued expenses are excluded.
Changes in assumptions including, but not limited to, volatility, mortgage and financing spreads, prepayment behavior, credit conditions, defaults, as well as the timing and level of interest rate changes will affect the results of the model. Therefore, actual results are likely to vary from modeled results.
It should be noted that the model is used as a tool to identify potential risk in a changing interest rate environment but does not include any changes in portfolio composition, financing strategies, market spreads or changes in overall market liquidity.
Although market value sensitivity analysis is widely accepted in identifying interest rate risk, it does not take into consideration changes that may occur such as, but not limited to, changes in investment and financing strategies, changes in market spreads and changes in business volumes. Accordingly, we make extensive use of an earnings simulation model to further analyze our level of interest rate risk.
Capital Market Risk
We are exposed to risks related to the equity capital markets, and our related ability to raise capital through the issuance of our common stock, preferred stock or other equity instruments. We are also exposed to risks related to the debt capital markets, and our related ability to finance our business through credit facilities or other debt instruments. As a REIT, we are required to distribute a significant portion of our taxable income annually, which constrains our ability to accumulate operating cash flow and therefore may require us to utilize debt or equity capital to finance our business. We seek to mitigate these risks by monitoring the debt and equity capital markets to inform our decisions on the amount, timing, and terms of capital we raise. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in volatility that has been extreme at times in a variety of global markets, including the U.S. financial, mortgage and real estate markets. In reaction to these tumultuous market conditions, various banks and other financing participants restricted or limited lending activity and requested margin posting or repayments where applicable. Although these conditions have subsided somewhat during the year ended December 31, 2020, we expect these conditions to remain volatile and uncertain at varying levels for the near future and this may adversely affect our ability to access capital to fund our operations, meet our obligations and make distributions to our stockholders.
Item 8.
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Our financial statements and the related notes, together with the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm thereon, as required by this Item 8, are set forth beginning on page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act of is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2020. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2020.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and Board of Directors regarding the reliability, preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) (the “COSO framework”). Based on our evaluation under the COSO framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020 has been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears in Item 15(a) of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is incorporated by reference herein.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls. Our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by this item is included in our Proxy Statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (the “2021 Proxy Statement”) and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this item is included in the 2021 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12.
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Except as set forth below, the information required by this item is included in the 2021 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information presented under the heading “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities - Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans” in Item 5 of Part II of this Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13.
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this item is included in the 2021 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14.
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this item is included in the 2021 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) Financial Statements.
See the accompanying Index to Financial Statement Schedule on Page.
(b)Exhibits.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibits: The exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are listed below. Management contracts or compensatory plans are filed as Exhibits 10.1 through 10.17.
*Filed herewith.
**Furnished herewith. Such certification shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
*** Submitted electronically herewith. Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020 and 2019; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
NEW YORK MORTGAGE TRUST, INC.
Date:February 26, 2021By: /s/ Steven R. Mumma
Steven R. Mumma
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date:February 26, 2021By: /s/ Kristine R. Nario-Eng
Kristine R. Nario-Eng
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
NEW YORK MORTGAGE TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AND
REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
For Inclusion in Form 10-K
Filed with
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
December 31, 2020
NEW YORK MORTGAGE TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors and Stockholders
New York Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Opinion on the financial statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. (a Maryland corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedule included under Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”), and our report dated February 26, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion.
Basis for opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical audit matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relate.
Fair value measurements of Residential Loans
As described further in Notes 2 and 3 to the financial statements, the Company holds residential loans, including performing, re-performing and non-performing residential loans and business purpose loans (“Residential Loans”), which are recorded at fair value, using a fair value option election on a recurring basis. The Company determines the fair value measurement after considering valuations obtained from a third party that specializes in providing valuations of residential loans. We identified the fair value measurement of Residential Loans as a critical audit matter.
The principal considerations for our determination that the fair value measurement of Residential Loans was a critical audit matter are that the assets are priced using unobservable inputs as they trade infrequently. As such, the fair value measurement requires management to make complex judgments in order to identify and select the appropriate model and significant assumptions, which may include forecast prepayment rates, default rates, discount rates and rates for loss upon default, collateral values and collateral disposal costs. In addition, the fair value measurements of Residential Loans are highly sensitive to changes in the significant assumptions and underlying market conditions and are material to the financial statements. As a result, obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence related to the fair value measurement required significant auditor subjectivity.
Our audit procedures related to the fair value measurement of Residential Loans included the following, among others. We tested the design and operating effectiveness of relevant controls performed by management relating to the fair value measurement of Residential Loans. We also involved a valuation specialist to independently determine the fair value measurement of the Residential Loans and compared them to management’s fair value measurement for reasonableness and tested the accuracy of the inputs used by management in the fair value measurement.
Fair value measurements of certain interest only and first loss subordinated securities issued by a Freddie Mac-sponsored residential loan securitization entity (“Consolidated SLST”) holding residential loans
As described further in Notes 2 and 3 to the financial statements, the Company owns investment securities, including interest only and first loss subordinated securities which are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Some of these investment securities result in the consolidation of the underlying securitization entity as required by Accounting Standards Codification 810, Consolidation. The Company has elected to account for the consolidated securitization entity as Collateralized Finance Entity (“CFE”) and has elected to measure the financial assets of its CFE using the fair value of the financial liabilities issued by that entity, which management has determined to be more observable. The interest only and first loss subordinated securities issued by Consolidated SLST, are priced individually by the Company utilizing market comparable pricing and discounted cash flow analysis valuation techniques. We identified the fair value measurement of these interest only and first loss subordinated securities in Consolidated SLST (“SLST Investments”) as a critical audit matter.
The principal considerations for our determination that the fair value measurement of the SLST Investments is a critical audit matter are that there is limited observable market data available for these SLST Investments as they trade infrequently. As such, the fair value measurement requires management to make complex judgments in order to identify and select the significant assumptions, which may include the discount rate, prepayment rate, default rate and loss severity. In addition, the fair value measurements of the SLST Investments are highly sensitive to changes in the significant assumptions and underlying market conditions and are material to the financial statements. As a result, obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence related to the fair value measurement required significant auditor subjectivity.
Our audit procedures related to the fair value measurement of SLST Investments included the following, among others. We tested the design and operating effectiveness of relevant controls performed by management relating to the fair value measurement of the SLST Investments. We also involved a valuation specialist to independently determine the fair value measurement of the SLST Investments and compared them to management’s fair value measurement for reasonableness.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2009.
New York, New York
February 26, 2021
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors and Stockholders
New York Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Opinion on internal control over financial reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. (a Maryland corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by COSO.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, and our report dated February 26, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and limitations of internal control over financial reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
New York, New York
February 26, 2021
NEW YORK MORTGAGE TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share data)
(1)Our consolidated balance sheets include assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) as the Company is the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, assets of consolidated VIEs totaled $2,150,984 and $19,270,384, respectively, and the liabilities of consolidated VIEs totaled $1,667,306 and $17,878,314, respectively. See Note 7 for further discussion.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
NEW YORK MORTGAGE TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
NEW YORK MORTGAGE TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
NEW YORK MORTGAGE TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
NEW YORK MORTGAGE TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2020
1.Organization
New York Mortgage Trust, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries (“NYMT,” “we,” “our,” or the “Company”), is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, in the business of acquiring, investing in, financing and managing primarily mortgage-related single-family and multi-family residential assets. Our objective is to deliver long-term stable distributions to our stockholders over changing economic conditions through a combination of net interest margin and capital gains from a diversified investment portfolio. Our investment portfolio includes credit sensitive single-family and multi-family assets.
The Company conducts its business through the parent company, New York Mortgage Trust, Inc., and several subsidiaries, including taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”), qualified REIT subsidiaries (“QRSs”) and special purpose subsidiaries established for securitization purposes. The Company consolidates all of its subsidiaries under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
The Company is organized and conducts its operations to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, the Company will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on that portion of its income that is distributed to stockholders if it distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders by the due date of its federal income tax return and complies with various other requirements.
COVID-19 Impact
The novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic materially adversely impacted our business beginning in mid-march 2020, has contributed to significant volatility in global financial and credit markets and continues to adversely impact the U.S. and world economies. The major disruptions caused by COVID-19 significantly slowed many commercial activities in the U.S., resulting in a rapid rise in unemployment claims, reduced business revenues and sharp reductions in liquidity and the fair value of many assets, including those in which the Company invests. Although market conditions for our business have improved in quarters subsequent to March 2020, the pandemic continues to negatively weigh on markets and world economies. The ultimate duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and response thereto remains uncertain.
2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Definitions - The following defines certain of the commonly used terms in these financial statements:
“RMBS” refers to residential mortgage-backed securities backed by adjustable-rate, hybrid adjustable-rate, or fixed-rate residential loans;
“Agency RMBS” refers to RMBS representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of residential loans guaranteed by a government sponsored enterprise (“GSE”), such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), or an agency of the U.S. government, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”);
“non-Agency RMBS” refers to RMBS that are not guaranteed by any agency of the U.S. Government or GSE;
“IOs” refers collectively to interest only and inverse interest only mortgage-backed securities that represent the right to the interest component of the cash flow from a pool of mortgage loans;
“POs” refers to mortgage-backed securities that represent the right to the principal component of the cash flow from a pool of mortgage loans;
“ARMs” refers to adjustable-rate residential loans;
“Agency ARMs” refers to Agency RMBS comprised of adjustable-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate RMBS;
“Agency fixed-rate RMBS” refers to Agency RMBS comprised of fixed-rate RMBS;
“ABS” refers to debt and/or equity tranches of securitizations backed by various asset classes including, but not limited to, automobiles, aircraft, credit cards, equipment, franchises, recreational vehicles and student loans;
“CMBS” refers to commercial mortgage-backed securities comprised of commercial mortgage pass-through securities issued by a GSE, as well as PO, IO or mezzanine securities that represent the right to a specific component of the cash flow from a pool of commercial mortgage loans;
“Agency CMBS” refers to CMBS representing interests or obligations backed by pools of mortgage loans guaranteed by a GSE, such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac;
“multi-family CMBS” refers to CMBS backed by commercial mortgage loans on multi-family properties;
“CDO” refers to collateralized debt obligation and includes debt that permanently finances the residential loans held in Consolidated SLST, multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series and the Company's residential loans held in securitization trusts and non-Agency RMBS re-securitization that we consolidate in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP;
“second mortgages” refers to liens on residential properties that are subordinate to more senior mortgages or loans;
“business purpose loans” refers to short-term loans collateralized by residential properties made to investors who intend to rehabilitate and sell the residential property for a profit; and
“Consolidated SLST” refers to a Freddie Mac-sponsored residential loan securitization, comprised of seasoned re-performing and non-performing residential loans, of which we own or owned the first loss subordinated securities and certain IOs and senior securities that we consolidate in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
Basis of Presentation - The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management has made significant estimates in several areas, including fair valuation of its residential loans, multi-family loans, certain equity investments and Consolidated SLST CDOs. Although the Company’s estimates contemplate current conditions and how it expects those conditions to change in the future, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could be different than anticipated in those estimates, which could materially impact the Company’s results of operations and its financial condition.
The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting emergency measures have led (and may continue to lead) to significant disruptions in the global supply chain, global capital markets, the economy of the U.S. and the economies of other countries impacted by COVID-19. The rapid development and fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact of COVID-19 on economic and market conditions. The Company believes the estimates and assumptions underlying our consolidated financial statements are reasonable and supportable based on the information available as of December 31, 2020; however, uncertainty over the ultimate impact COVID-19 will have on the global economy generally, and our business in particular, makes any estimates and assumptions as of December 31, 2020 inherently less certain than they would be absent the current and potential impacts of COVID-19. Accordingly, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could be different than anticipated in those estimates, which could materially impact the Company’s results of operations and its financial condition.
Reclassifications - Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified on the accompanying consolidated financial statements to conform to current period presentation.
Principles of Consolidation and Variable Interest Entities - The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of all its subsidiaries which are majority-owned, controlled by the Company or a variable interest entity (“VIE”) where the Company is the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
A VIE is an entity that lacks one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity. A VIE is defined as an entity in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. The Company consolidates a VIE when it is the primary beneficiary of such VIE, herein referred to as a “Consolidated VIE”. As primary beneficiary, the Company has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and a right to receive benefits or absorb losses of the entity that could be potentially significant to the VIE. The Company is required to reconsider its evaluation of whether to consolidate a VIE each reporting period, based upon changes in the facts and circumstances pertaining to the VIE.
On November 12, 2020, the Company determined that it became the primary beneficiary of CL Gainesville Associates, LLC ("Campus Lodge"), a VIE that owns a multi-family apartment community and in which the Company holds a preferred equity investment. Accordingly, on this date, the Company consolidated Campus Lodge into its consolidated financial statements in accordance with ASC 810, Consolidation ("ASC 810") (see Note 7).
As of December 31, 2019, the Company, or one of its “special purpose entities” (“SPEs”), owned the first loss POs, certain IOs, and certain senior and mezzanine securities issued by certain Freddie Mac-sponsored multi-family loan K-Series securitizations that we consolidated in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP (the “Consolidated K-Series”). Based on a number of factors, management determined that the Company was the primary beneficiary of each VIE within the Consolidated K-Series and met the criteria for consolidation and, accordingly, consolidated these securitizations, including their assets, liabilities, income and expenses in the Company's financial statements. In response to market conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the Company's intention to improve its liquidity, in March 2020, the Company sold its entire portfolio of first loss POs issued by the Consolidated K-Series which resulted in the de-consolidation of each Consolidated K-Series as of the sale date of each first loss PO (see Note 4).
Goodwill - Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of consideration transferred in a business combination over the fair values of identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and non-controlling interests, if any, in an acquired entity, net of fair value of any previously held interest in the acquired entity. In May 2016, the Company acquired the outstanding membership interests in RiverBanc LLC (“RiverBanc”), RB Multifamily Investors LLC and RB Development Holding Company, LLC (“RBDHC”) that were not previously owned by the Company. These transactions were accounted for by applying the acquisition method for business acquisitions under ASC 805, Business Combinations ("ASC 805"). Goodwill in the amount of $25.2 million as of December 31, 2019 related to these transactions and the inclusion of these entities in the Company’s multifamily investment reporting unit.
Goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if the Company believes indicators of impairment exist, by initially performing a qualitative screen and, if necessary, then comparing fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value (in an amount not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit) is recognized.
The Company’s annual evaluation of goodwill as of October 1, 2019 indicated no impairment. However, financial, credit and mortgage-related asset markets experienced significant volatility as a result of the spread of COVID-19, which in turn put significant pressure on the mortgage REIT industry, including financing operations, mortgage asset pricing and liquidity demands. In response to these conditions and the Company's intention to improve its liquidity, in March 2020, the Company sold, among other things, its entire portfolio of first loss POs issued by the Consolidated K-Series, certain senior and mezzanine securities issued by the Consolidated K-Series, Agency CMBS and CMBS that were held by its multi-family investment reporting unit. As a result of the sales, the Company re-evaluated its goodwill balance associated with the multi-family investment reporting unit for impairment. The Company considered qualitative indicators such as macroeconomic conditions, disruptions in equity and credit markets, REIT-specific market considerations, and changes in the net assets in the multi-family investment reporting unit to determine that a quantitative assessment of the fair value of the reporting unit was necessary. The Company performed its quantitative analysis by updating its discounted cash flow projection for the multi-family investment reporting unit for the reduced investment portfolio. This analysis yielded an impairment of the entire goodwill balance reported as a $25.2 million impairment of goodwill on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Residential Loans - The Company’s acquired residential loans, including performing, re-performing and non-performing first-lien residential loans, second mortgages and business purpose loans are presented at fair value as of December 31, 2020 on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Changes in fair value are recorded in current period earnings in unrealized gains (losses), net on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company has elected the fair value option for residential loans either at the time of acquisition pursuant to ASC 825, Financial Instruments (“ASC 825”) or following the adoption of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2019-05, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief (“ASU 2019-05”), effective January 1, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, residential loans on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets includes those residential loans previously accounted for under ASC 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality ("ASC 310-30"), and the Company's residential loans held in securitization trusts, both previously carried at amortized cost, net.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, residential loans included seasoned re-performing and non-performing residential loans held in a Freddie Mac-sponsored residential loan securitization, of which we own or have owned the first loss subordinated securities and certain IOs and senior securities issued by this securitization, and that we consolidate in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP (“Consolidated SLST”). Based on a number of factors, management determined that the Company was the primary beneficiary of Consolidated SLST and met the criteria for consolidation and, accordingly, has consolidated the securitization, including its assets, liabilities, income and expenses in our financial statements. The Company has elected the fair value option on each of the assets and liabilities held within Consolidated SLST, which requires that changes in valuations be reflected on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. In accordance with ASC 810, the Company measures both the financial assets and financial liabilities of a qualifying consolidated collateralized financing entity (“CFE”) using the fair value of either the CFE’s financial assets or financial liabilities, whichever is more observable. As the related securitization trust is considered a qualifying CFE, the Company determines the fair value of the residential loans held in Consolidated SLST based on the fair value of its residential collateralized debt obligations and the Company's investment in the securitization (eliminated in consolidation in accordance with GAAP), as the fair value of these instruments is more observable.
Interest income is accrued and recognized as revenue when earned according to the terms of the residential loans and when, in the opinion of management, it is collectible. Residential loans are considered past due when they are 30 days past their contractual due date, and are placed on nonaccrual status when delinquent for more than 90 days or when, in management's opinion, the interest is not collectible in the normal course of business. Interest accrued but not yet collected at the time loans are placed on nonaccrual status is reversed and subsequently recognized only to the extent it is received in cash or until it qualifies for return to accrual status. Loans are restored to accrual status only when contractually current or the collection of future payments is reasonably assured.
Premiums and discounts associated with the purchase of residential loans are amortized or accreted into interest income over the life of the related loan using the effective interest method. Any premium amortization or discount accretion is reflected as a component of interest income on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Prior to January 1, 2020, certain of the residential loans acquired by the Company at a discount, with evidence of credit deterioration since their origination and where it was probable that the Company would not collect all contractually required principal payments, were accounted for under ASC 310-30. Management evaluated whether there was evidence of credit quality deterioration as of the acquisition date using indicators such as past due or modified status, risk ratings, recent borrower credit scores and recent loan-to-value percentages. Loans considered credit impaired were recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition, with no allowance for loan losses. Subsequent to acquisition, the recorded amount for these loans reflected the original investment, plus accretion income, less principal and interest cash flows received. As of December 31, 2019, these residential loans are presented on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at carrying value, which reflects the recorded amount reduced by any allowance for loan losses established subsequent to acquisition.
Under ASC 310-30, the acquired credit impaired loans may be accounted for individually or aggregated and accounted for as a pool of loans if the loans being aggregated have common risk characteristics. A pool is accounted for as a single asset with a single composite interest rate and an expectation of aggregate cash flows. Once a pool is assembled, it is treated as if it was one loan for purposes of applying the accounting guidance. For each pool established, or on an individual loan basis for loans not aggregated into pools, the Company estimates at the time of acquisition and periodically, the principal and interest expected to be collected. The difference between the cash flows expected to be collected and the carrying amount of the loans is referred to as the “accretable yield.” This amount is accreted as interest income over the life of the loans using a level yield methodology. Interest income recorded each period relates to the accretable yield recognized at the pool level or on an individual loan basis, and not to contractual interest payments received at the loan level. The difference between contractually required principal and interest payments and the cash flows expected to be collected, referred to as the “nonaccretable difference,” includes estimates of both the impact of prepayments and expected credit losses over the life of the individual loan, or the pool (for loans grouped into a pool).
Under ASC 310-30, management monitors actual cash collections against its expectations, and revised cash flow expectations are prepared as necessary. A decrease in expected cash flows in subsequent periods may indicate that the loan pool or individual loan, as applicable, is impaired, thus requiring the establishment of an allowance for loan losses by a charge to the provision for loan losses. An increase in expected cash flows in subsequent periods initially reduces any previously established allowance for loan losses by the increase in the present value of cash flows expected to be collected, and results in a recalculation of the amount of accretable yield for the loan pool. The adjustment of accretable yield due to an increase in expected cash flows is accounted for prospectively as a change in estimate. The additional cash flows expected to be collected are reclassified from the nonaccretable difference to the accretable yield, and the amount of periodic accretion is adjusted accordingly over the remaining life of the loans in the pool or individual loan, as applicable. The impacts of (i) prepayments, (ii) changes in variable interest rates, and (iii) any other changes in the timing of expected cash flows are recognized prospectively as adjustments to interest income.
Disposal of a residential loan accounted for under ASC 310-30, which may include a loan sale, receipt of payment in full from the borrower or foreclosure, results in removal of the loan from the loan pool at its allocated carrying amount. In the event of a sale of the loan and receipt of payment (in full or partial) from the borrower, a gain or loss on sale is recognized and reported based on the difference between the sales proceeds or payment from the borrower and the allocated carrying amount of the acquired residential loan. In the case of a foreclosure, an individual loan is removed from the pool and a loss on sale is recognized if the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell. A gain is not recognized if the fair value of collateral less costs to sell exceeds the carrying value.
The Company uses the specific allocation method for the removal of loans as the estimated cash flows and related carrying amount for each individual loan are known. In these cases, the remaining accretable yield is unaffected and any material change in remaining effective yield caused by the removal of the loan from the pool is addressed by the re-assessment of the estimate of cash flows for the pool prospectively.
Residential loans accounted for under ASC 310-30 subject to modification are not removed from the pool even if those loans would otherwise be considered troubled debt restructurings because the pool, and not the individual loan, represents the unit of account.
For individual loans not accounted for in pools that are sold or satisfied by payment in full, a gain or loss on sale is recognized and reported based on the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the acquired residential loan. In the case of a foreclosure, a loss is recognized if the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the underlying collateral less costs to sell. A gain is not recognized if the fair value of underlying collateral less costs to sell exceeds the carrying value.
Prior to January 1, 2020, the Company also accounted for certain residential loans held in securitization trusts at amortized cost, net. These loans are comprised of certain ARMs transferred to Consolidated VIEs that have been securitized into sequentially rated classes of beneficial interests and are included in residential loans on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company accounted for these securitization trusts as financings which are consolidated into the Company’s financial statements. As of December 31, 2019, these loans were carried at their unpaid principal balances, net of unamortized premium or discount, unamortized loan origination costs and allowance for loan losses.
The Company established an allowance for loan losses based on management’s judgment and estimate of expected credit losses inherent in our portfolio of residential loans held in securitization trusts, net. Estimation involved the consideration of various credit-related factors, including but not limited to, macro-economic conditions, current housing market conditions, loan-to-value ratios, delinquency status, historical credit loss severity rates, purchased mortgage insurance, the borrower’s current economic condition and other factors deemed to warrant consideration. Additionally, management looked at the balance of any delinquent loan and compared that to the current value of the collateralizing property. Management utilized various home valuation methodologies including appraisals, broker pricing opinions, internet-based property data services to review comparable properties in the same area or consult with a broker in the property’s area.
Multi-Family Loans - As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, multi-family loans included preferred equity investments in, and mezzanine loans to, entities that have multi-family real estate assets. As of December 31, 2019, multi-family loans also included those multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series, of which we, or one of our SPEs, owned the first loss POs and certain IOs and certain senior or mezzanine securities issued by those securitizations, and that we consolidated in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
A preferred equity investment is an equity investment in the entity that owns the underlying property. Preferred equity is not secured by the underlying property, but holders have priority relative to common equity holders on cash flow distributions and proceeds from capital events. In addition, preferred equity holders may be able to enhance their position and protect their equity position with covenants that limit the entity’s activities and grant the holder the exclusive right to control the property after an event of default.
Mezzanine loans are secured by a pledge of the borrower’s equity ownership in the property. Unlike a mortgage, this loan does not represent a lien on the property. Therefore, it is always junior and subordinate to any first lien as well as second liens, if applicable, on the property. These loans are senior to any preferred equity or common equity interests in the entity that owns the property.
The Company has evaluated its preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments for accounting treatment as loans versus equity investments utilizing the guidance provided by the Acquisition, Development and Construction Arrangements Subsection of ASC 310, Receivables. Effective January 1, 2020, preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments, for which the characteristics, facts and circumstances indicate that loan accounting treatment is appropriate, are stated at fair value. The Company elected the fair value option for its preferred equity investments in and mezzanine loan investments because the Company determined that such presentation represents the underlying economics of the respective investment. Changes in fair value are recorded in current period earnings in unrealized gains (losses), net on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Interest income is accrued and recognized as revenue when earned according to the terms of the loans and when, in the opinion of management, it is collectible. The accrual of interest on loans is discontinued when, in management’s opinion, the interest is not collectible in the normal course of business, but in all cases when payment becomes greater than 90 days delinquent. Loans return to accrual status when principal and interest become current and are anticipated to be fully collectible. The Company accretes or amortizes any discounts or premiums and deferred fees and expenses over the life of the related asset utilizing the effective interest method or straight line-method, if the result is not materially different.
As of December 31, 2019, preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments, for which the characteristics, facts and circumstances indicate that loan accounting treatment is appropriate, were stated at unpaid principal balance, adjusted for any unamortized premium or discount and deferred fees or expenses, net of valuation allowances. Management evaluated the collectability of both interest and principal of each of these loans, if circumstances warranted, to determine whether they were impaired. A loan is impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the existing contractual terms. When a loan is impaired, the amount of the loss accrual is calculated by comparing the carrying amount of the investment to the estimated fair value of the loan or, as a practical expedient, to the value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.
Preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments where the risks and payment characteristics are equivalent to an equity investment are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. See “Equity Investments.”
As of December 31, 2019, multi-family loans included those loans held in the Consolidated K-Series. The Company has elected the fair value option on each of the assets and liabilities held within the Consolidated K-Series, which requires that changes in valuations be reflected on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. In accordance with ASC 810, the Company measures both the financial assets and financial liabilities of a qualifying consolidated CFE using the fair value of either the CFE’s financial assets or financial liabilities, whichever is more observable. As the Consolidated K-Series are considered qualifying CFEs, the Company determines the fair value of multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series based on the fair value of the multi-family collateralized debt obligations issued by the Consolidated K-Series and the Company's investments in these securitizations (eliminated in consolidation in accordance with GAAP), as the fair value of these instruments is more observable.
Interest income is accrued and recognized as revenue when earned according to the terms of the multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series and when, in the opinion of management, it is collectible. The accrual of interest on these loans is discontinued when, in management’s opinion, the interest is not collectible in the normal course of business.
Investment Securities Available for Sale - The Company’s investment securities, where the fair value option has not been elected and which are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported in Other Comprehensive Income (“OCI”), include non-Agency RMBS and CMBS (collectively, "CECL Securities"). Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company made a fair value election at the time of acquisition of newly purchased investment securities pursuant to ASC 825. The fair value option was elected for these investment securities to provide stockholders and others who rely on our financial statements with a more complete and accurate understanding of our economic performance. Changes in fair value of investment securities subject to the fair value election are recorded in current period earnings in unrealized gains (losses), net on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
The Company generally intends to hold its investment securities until maturity; however, from time to time, it may sell any of its securities as part of the overall management of its business. As a result, our investment securities are classified as available for sale securities. Realized gains and losses recorded on the sale of investment securities available for sale are based on the specific identification method and included in realized gains (losses), net on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Interest income on our investment securities available for sale is accrued based on the outstanding principal balance and their contractual terms. Purchase premiums or discounts associated with Agency RMBS and Agency CMBS assessed as high credit quality at the time of purchase are amortized or accreted to interest income over the estimated life of these investment securities using the effective yield method. Adjustments to amortization are made for actual prepayment activity on our Agency RMBS.
Interest income on certain of our credit sensitive securities that were purchased at a premium or discount to par value, such as certain of our non-Agency RMBS, CMBS and ABS that are of less than high credit quality, is recognized based on the security’s effective yield. The effective yield on these securities is based on management’s estimate of the projected cash flows from each security, which incorporates assumptions related to fluctuations in interest rates, prepayment speeds and the timing and amount of credit losses. On at least a quarterly basis, management reviews and, if appropriate, adjusts its cash flow projections based on input and analysis received from external sources, internal models, and its judgment about interest rates, prepayment rates, the timing and amount of credit losses, and other factors. Changes in cash flows from those originally projected, or from those estimated at the last evaluation, may result in a prospective change in the yield (or interest income) recognized on these securities.
The Company accounts for investment securities that are of high credit quality (generally those rated AA or better by a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization, or NRSRO) at the date of acquisition in accordance with ASC 320-10, Investments - Debt and Equity Securities (“ASC 320-10”). The Company accounts for investment securities that are not of high credit quality (i.e., those whose risk of loss is more than remote) or securities that can be contractually prepaid such that we would not recover our initial investment at the date of acquisition in accordance with ASC 325-40, Investments - Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets (“ASC 325-40”). The Company considers credit ratings, the underlying credit risk and other market factors in determining whether the investment securities are of high credit quality; however, securities rated lower than AA or an equivalent rating are not considered of high credit quality and are accounted for in accordance with ASC 325-40. If ratings are inconsistent among NRSROs, the Company uses the lower rating in determining whether the securities are of high credit quality.
When the fair value of a CECL security is less than its amortized cost as of the reporting balance sheet date, the security is considered impaired. If the Company intends to sell an impaired security, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the impaired security before its anticipated recovery, the Company recognizes a loss through earnings equal to the difference between the investment’s amortized cost and its fair value and reduces the amortized cost basis to the fair value as of the balance sheet date. If the Company does not expect to sell an impaired security, it performs an analysis to determine if a portion of the impairment is a result of credit losses. The portion of the impairment related to credit losses (limited by the difference between the fair value and amortized cost basis) is recognized through earnings and a corresponding allowance for credit losses is established against the amortized cost basis. The remainder of the impairment is recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and does not impact earnings. Subsequent changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded through earnings with reversals limited to the previously recorded allowance for credit losses. The determination of whether a credit loss exists, and if so, the amount considered to be a credit loss is subjective, as such determinations are based on both observable and subjective information available at the time of assessment as well as the Company's estimates of the future performance and cash flow projections. As a result, the timing and amount of credit losses constitute material estimates that are susceptible to significant change.
In determining if a credit loss evaluation is required for securities that are impaired, the Company compares the present value of the remaining cash flows expected to be collected at the prior reporting date or purchase date, whichever is most recent, against the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected at the current financial reporting date. The Company considers information available about the past and expected future performance of underlying collateral, including timing of expected future cash flows, prepayment rates, default rates, loss severities and delinquency rates.
Equity Investments - Non-controlling, unconsolidated ownership interests in an entity may be accounted for using the equity method or the cost method. In circumstances where the Company has a non-controlling interest but either owns a significant interest or is able to exert influence over the affairs of the enterprise, the Company utilizes the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting, the initial investment is increased each period for additional capital contributions and a proportionate share of the entity’s earnings or preferred return and decreased for cash distributions and a proportionate share of the entity’s losses.
Effective January 1, 2020, the Company has elected the fair value option for all equity investments. The Company elected the fair value option for its equity investments in entities that own interests (directly or indirectly) in commercial or residential real estate assets or loans because the Company determined that such presentation represents the underlying economics of the respective investment. The Company records the change in fair value of its investment in income from equity investments on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations (see Note 6). Prior to January 1, 2020, management periodically reviewed its investments for impairment based on projected cash flows from the entity over the holding period. When any impairment was identified, the investments were written down to recoverable amounts.
Operating Real Estate Held in Consolidated Variable Interest Entity, Net - The Company records its initial investments in income-producing real estate at fair value at the acquisition date in accordance with ASC 805. The purchase price of acquired properties is apportioned to the tangible and identified intangible assets and liabilities acquired at their respective estimated fair values. In making estimates of fair values for purposes of allocating purchase price, the Company utilizes a number of sources, including independent appraisals that may be obtained in connection with the acquisition or financing of the respective real estate, its own analysis of recently-acquired and existing comparable properties, property financial results, and other market data. The Company also considers information obtained about the real estate as a result of its due diligence, including marketing and leasing activities, in estimating the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired. The Company considers the value of acquired in-place leases and utilizes an amortization period that is the average remaining term of the acquired leases.
Real Estate - Depreciation - The Company depreciates on a straight-line basis the building component of its real estate over a 30-year estimated useful life, building and improvements over a 10-year to 30-year estimated useful life, and furniture, fixtures and equipment over a 5-year estimated useful life, all of which are judgmental determinations. Betterments and certain costs directly related to the improvement of real estate are capitalized. Expenditures for ordinary maintenance and repairs are expensed to operations as incurred.
Real Estate Sales - The Company accounts for its real estate sales in accordance with ASC 360-20, Property, Plant and Equipment - Real Estate Sales. When real estate is sold, the nature of the entire real estate component being sold is considered in relation to the entire transaction to determine whether the substance of the transaction is the sale of real estate. Profit is recognized on the date of the real estate sale provided that a) a sale is consummated, b) the buyer’s initial and continuing investments are adequate to demonstrate commitment to pay for the property, c) the seller’s receivable is not subject to future subordination, and d) the seller has transferred to the buyer the usual risks and rewards of ownership and does not have a substantial continuing involvement with the sold property. Sales value is calculated based on the stated sales price plus any other proceeds that are additions to the sales price subtracting any discount needed to reduce a receivable to its present value and any services the seller commits to perform without compensation.
Real Estate Under Development - The Company’s expenditures which directly relate to the acquisition, development, construction and improvement of properties are capitalized at cost. During the development period, which culminates once a property is substantially complete and ready for intended use, operating and carrying costs such as interest expense, real estate taxes, insurance and other direct costs are capitalized. Advertising and general administrative costs that do not relate to the development of a property are expensed as incurred. Real estate under development owned by Kiawah River View Investors ("KRVI"), a Consolidated VIE (see Note 7), as of December 31, 2019 of $14.5 million is included in other assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. KRVI had no real estate under development as of December 31, 2020.
Real Estate - Impairment - The Company periodically evaluates its real estate assets for indicators of impairment. The judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on factors such as operational performance, market conditions and legal and environmental concerns, as well as the Company’s ability and intent to hold each asset. Future events could occur which would cause the Company to conclude that impairment indicators exist and an impairment is warranted. If impairment indicators exist for long-lived assets to be held and used, and the expected future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, then the Company will record an impairment loss for the difference between the fair value of the asset and its carrying amount. If the asset is to be disposed of, then an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the estimated fair value of the asset, net of selling costs, and its carrying amount.
The Company evaluated the home pricing and lot values of the real estate under development that was owned by KRVI, on a quarterly basis. Based on evaluations during the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company determined that the real estate under development in KRVI was not fully recoverable and recognized a $1.8 million impairment loss which is included in other income on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. For the year ended December 31, 2020, $0.9 million of this impairment loss is included in net income attributable to non-controlling interest in consolidated variable interest entities on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, resulting in a net loss to the Company of $0.9 million. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recognized a $1.9 million impairment loss which is included in other income on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. For the year ended December 31, 2019, $1.0 million of this impairment loss is included in net loss attributable to non-controlling interest in consolidated variable interest entities on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, resulting in a net loss to the Company of $0.9 million. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recognized a $2.8 million impairment loss which is included in other income on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. For the year ended December 31, 2018, $1.4 million of this impairment loss is included in net income attributable to non-controlling interest in consolidated variable interest entities on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, resulting in a net loss to the Company of $1.4 million. Fair value was determined based on the sales comparison approach which derives a value indication by comparing the subject property to similar properties that have been recently sold and assumes a purchaser will not pay more for a particular property than a similar substitute property. KRVI sold its remaining real estate under development in the year ended December 31, 2020.
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks and overnight deposits. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents in highly rated financial institutions, and at times these balances exceed insurable amounts.
Intangible Assets - Intangible assets consisting of acquired trade name, acquired technology, employment/non-compete agreements, and acquired in-place leases with useful lives ranging from 6 months to 10 years are included in other assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective estimated useful lives and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The useful lives of intangible assets are evaluated on an annual basis to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining useful life. See "Operating Real Estate Held in Consolidated Variable Interest Entity, Net" for further discussion of acquired in-place lease intangible assets.
Other Assets - Other assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 include restricted cash held by third parties, including cash held by the Company's securitization trusts, of $11.3 million and $2.8 million, respectively. Other assets also include collections receivable from loan servicers, recoverable advances and interest receivable on residential loans totaling $63.6 million and $56.3 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Also included in other assets are operating lease right of use assets of $10.1 million and $9.3 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (with corresponding operating lease liabilities of $10.6 million and $9.8 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets).
Repurchase Agreements - As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company financed a portion of its residential loans through repurchase agreements that expire within 8 to 23 months (see Note 10). Amounts outstanding under the repurchase agreements generally bear interest rates of a specified margin over one-month LIBOR or an interest rate floor, as applicable per the terms of the agreements. The repurchase agreements are treated as collateralized financing transactions and are carried at their contractual amounts, as specified in the respective agreements. Costs related to the establishment of the repurchase agreements which include underwriting, legal, accounting and other fees are reflected as deferred charges. Such costs are presented as a deduction from the corresponding debt liability on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the deferred charges are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense using the effective interest method, or straight line-method, if the result is not materially different.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company financed the majority of its investment securities available for sale using repurchase agreements. Under a repurchase agreement, an asset is sold to a counterparty to be repurchased at a future date at a predetermined price, which represents the original sales price plus interest. The repurchase agreements are treated as collateralized financing transactions and are carried at their contractual amounts, as specified in the respective agreements. Amounts outstanding under repurchase agreements generally bear interest rates of a specified margin over LIBOR.
Collateralized Debt Obligations - The Company records collateralized debt obligations used to permanently finance the residential loans held in Consolidated SLST, multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series and the Company's residential loans held in securitization trusts and non-Agency RMBS re-securitization as debt on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. For financial reporting purposes, the loans and investment securities held as collateral for these obligations are recorded as assets of the Company.
Convertible Notes - On January 23, 2017, the Company issued its 6.25% Senior Convertible Notes due 2022 (the “Convertible Notes”) to finance the acquisition of targeted assets and for general working capital purposes. The Company evaluated the conversion features of the Convertible Notes for embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”) and determined that the conversion features should not be bifurcated from the notes.
Derivative Financial Instruments - In accordance with ASC 815, the Company records derivative financial instruments on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as assets or liabilities at fair value. Changes in fair value are accounted for depending on the use of the derivative instruments and whether they qualify for hedge accounting treatment.
The Company has used interest rate swaps to hedge the variable cash flows associated with our variable rate borrowings. At the inception of an interest rate swap agreement, the Company determines whether the instrument will be part of a qualifying hedge accounting relationship or whether the Company will account for the contract as a trading instrument. The Company has elected to treat all interest rate swaps held at December 31, 2019 as trading instruments due to volatility and difficulty in effectively matching cash flows. We typically pay a fixed rate and receive a floating rate, based on one or three month LIBOR, on the notional amount of the interest rate swaps. The floating rate we receive under our swap agreements has the effect of offsetting the repricing characteristics and cash flows of our financing arrangements. Changes in fair value for interest rate swaps designated as trading instruments are reported on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations as unrealized gains (losses), net.
All of the Company’s interest rate swaps outstanding as of December 31, 2019 were cleared through a central clearing house. The Company exchanges variation margin for swaps based upon daily changes in fair value. As a result of amendments to rules governing certain central clearing activities, the exchange of variation margin is treated as a legal settlement of the exposure under the swap contract. Previously such payments were treated as cash collateral pledged against the exposure under the swap contract. Accordingly, the Company accounted for the receipt or payment of variation margin as a direct reduction to or increase in the carrying value of the interest rate swap asset or liability on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Manager Compensation - From 2012 to May 2019, we were a party to an investment management agreement with Headlands Asset Management LLC (“Headlands”) pursuant to which Headlands provided investment management services with respect to our investments in certain residential loans. The investment management agreement provided for the payment to our investment manager of a management fee, incentive fee and reimbursement of certain operating expenses, which were accrued and expensed during the period for which they are earned or incurred. The Headlands agreement was terminated effective May 3, 2019.
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - The Company’s comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to the Company’s common stockholders includes net income, the change in fair value of its available for sale securities purchased prior to October 2019, adjusted by realized net gains/(losses) reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) for available for sale securities, reduced by dividends declared on the Company’s preferred stock and increased/decreased for net loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest in consolidated variable interest entities. See “Investment Securities Available for Sale” for discussion of the reporting of the change in fair value of available for sale securities purchased after September 2019.
Employee Benefits Plans - The Company sponsors a defined contribution plan (the “Plan”) for all eligible domestic employees. The Plan qualifies as a deferred salary arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”). The Company made no contributions to the Plan for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Stock Based Compensation - The Company has awarded restricted stock and other equity-based awards to eligible employees and officers as part of their compensation. Compensation expense for equity-based awards and stock issued for services are recognized over the vesting period of such awards and services based upon the fair value of the award at the grant date.
During the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company granted Performance Share Units (“PSUs”) to the Company's executive officers and certain other employees. The awards were issued pursuant to and are consistent with the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2017 Plan”). The PSUs are subject to performance-based vesting under the 2017 Plan pursuant to a form of PSU award agreement (the “PSU Agreement”). Vesting of the PSUs will occur after a three-year period based on the Company’s relative total stockholders' return (“TSR”) percentile ranking as compared to an identified performance peer group. The feature in this award constitutes a “market condition” which impacts the amount of compensation expense recognized for these awards. The grant date fair values of PSUs were determined through Monte-Carlo simulation analysis. The PSUs awarded during the year ended December 31, 2020 also include dividend equivalent rights (“DERs”) which entitle the holders of vested PSUs to receive payments in an amount equal to any dividends paid by the Company in respect of the share of the Company's common stock underlying the vested PSU to which such DER relates.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company granted Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) to the Company's executive officers and certain other employees. The awards were issued pursuant to and are consistent with the terms and conditions of the 2017 Plan and are subject to a service condition, vesting ratably over a three-year period. Upon vesting, each RSU represents the right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock. The RSUs include DERs which entitle the holders of vested RSUs to receive payments in an amount equal to any dividends paid by the Company in respect of the share of the Company's common stock underlying the vested RSU to which such DER relates.
Income Taxes - The Company operates in such a manner so as to qualify as a REIT under the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Requirements for qualification as a REIT include various restrictions on ownership of the Company’s stock, requirements concerning distribution of taxable income and certain restrictions on the nature of assets and sources of income. A REIT must distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders, of which 85% plus any undistributed amounts from the prior year must be distributed within the taxable year in order to avoid the imposition of an excise tax. Distribution of the remaining balance may extend until timely filing of the Company’s tax return in the subsequent taxable year. Qualifying distributions of taxable income are deductible by a REIT in computing taxable income.
Certain activities of the Company are conducted through TRSs and therefore are subject to federal and various state and local income taxes. Accordingly, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), provides guidance for how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented, and disclosed in the financial statements. ASC 740 requires the evaluation of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Company’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. In situations involving uncertain tax positions related to income tax matters, we do not recognize benefits unless it is more likely than not that they will be sustained. ASC 740 was applied to all open taxable years as of the effective date. Management’s determinations regarding ASC 740 may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date based on factors including, but not limited to, an ongoing analysis of tax laws, regulations and interpretations thereof. The Company will recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense in our consolidated statements of operations.
Earnings Per Share - Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income attributable to the Company’s common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the Company.
Segment Reporting - ASC 280, Segment Reporting, is the authoritative guidance for the way public entities report information about operating segments in their annual financial statements. We are a REIT focused on the business of acquiring, investing in, financing and managing primarily mortgage-related single-family and multi-family residential assets and currently operate in only one reportable segment.
Adoption of Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326)
On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”) which requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts (“CECL”). In adopting ASU 2016-13, the Company elected to apply the fair value option in accordance with ASU 2019-05 to the Company’s residential loans, net and preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments that are accounted for as loans and preferred equity investments that are accounted for under the equity method. In adopting ASU 2016-13 and ASU 2019-05, the Company applied a modified retrospective basis by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit. Adjustments resulting from this one-time election to record the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of these assets have been reflected in our consolidated balance sheets as of January 1, 2020. Subsequent changes in fair value for these assets are recorded in unrealized gains (losses), net or income from equity investments on our consolidated statements of operations, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for the prior period. As a result of the implementation of ASU 2019-05, we recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment of $12.3 million as an increase to stockholders’ equity as of January 1, 2020.
The following table presents the classification and balances at December 31, 2019, the transition adjustments, and the balances at January 1, 2020 for those balance sheet line items impacted by the implementation of ASU 2019-05 (dollar amounts in thousands):
The Company also assessed the impact of ASU 2016-13 on the Company’s investment securities available for sale where the fair value option has not been elected and determined that the adoption of the standard did not have a material effect on our financial statements as of January 1, 2020.
Adoption of Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820)
On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. These amendments added, modified, or removed disclosure requirements regarding the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, narrative descriptions of measurement uncertainty, and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements.
Summary of Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting ("ASU 2020-04"). ASU 2020-04 provides optional expedients and exceptions to GAAP requirements for modifications to debt agreements, leases, derivatives and other contracts, related to the expected market transition from LIBOR, and certain other floating rate benchmark indices, or collectively, IBORs, to alternative reference rates. ASU 2020-04 generally considers contract modifications related to reference rate reform to be an event that does not require contract remeasurement at the modification date nor a reassessment of a previous accounting determination. In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope ("ASU 2021-01"). ASU 2021-01 clarifies that certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the "discounting transition" (i.e., changes in the interest rates used for margining, discounting, or contract price alignment for derivative instruments that are being implemented as part of the market-wide transition to new reference rates). The guidance in ASU 2020-04 is optional and may be elected over time, through December 31, 2022, as reference rate reform activities occur. Once ASU 2020-04 is elected, the guidance must be applied prospectively for all eligible contract modifications. The amendments in ASU 2021-01 are effective immediately and may be applied on a full retrospective basis as of any date from the beginning of an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020 or on a prospective basis for eligible contract modifications through December 31, 2022. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2021-01 and may apply elections, as applicable, as the expected market transition from IBORs to alternative reference rates continues to develop.
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity's Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity's Own Equity ("ASU 2020-06"). ASU 2020-06 simplifies an issuer's accounting for convertible instruments, enhances disclosure requirements for convertible instruments and modifies how particular convertible instruments and certain instruments that may be settled in cash or shares impact the diluted earnings per share computation. Entities may adopt the guidance through either a modified retrospective method of transition or a fully retrospective method of transition. The amendments are effective for public entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company does not anticipate that the implementation of ASU 2020-06 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
3.Residential Loans
The Company’s acquired residential loans, including performing, re-performing and non-performing residential loans, and business purpose loans, are presented at fair value on its consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 as a result of a fair value election made at the time of acquisition or as of January 1, 2020 (see Note 2). Subsequent changes in fair value are reported in current period earnings and presented in unrealized gains (losses), net on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
Certain of the residential loans acquired by the Company prior to January 1, 2020 were accounted for under ASC 310-30 as of December 31, 2019. Additionally, certain of the residential loans held in securitization trusts as of December 31, 2019 were carried at their unpaid principal balances, net of unamortized premium or discount, unamortized loan origination costs and allowance for loan losses as of December 31, 2019.
The following table presents the carrying value of the Company's residential loans as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Includes residential loans accounted for under ASC 310-30 with a carrying value of $158.7 million as of December 31, 2019.
Residential Loans, at Fair Value
The following table presents the Company’s residential loans, at fair value, which consist of residential loans held by the Company, Consolidated SLST and other securitization trusts, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Certain of the Company's residential loans, at fair value are pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 (see Note 10).
(2)In 2019, the Company invested in first loss subordinated securities and certain IOs and senior securities issued by a Freddie Mac-sponsored residential loan securitization. In accordance with GAAP, the Company has consolidated the underlying seasoned re-performing and non-performing residential loans held in the securitization and the Consolidated SLST CDOs issued to permanently finance these residential loans, representing Consolidated SLST. Consolidated SLST CDOs are included in collateralized debt obligations on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
(3)On January 1, 2020, the Company made a fair value election for certain residential loans held in securitization trusts that were carried at amortized cost, net as of December 31, 2019. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company transferred residential loans to two securitization trusts for the purpose of obtaining non-recourse, longer-term financing on these residential loans (see Note 7). The Company's residential loans held in securitization trusts are pledged as collateral for CDOs issued by the Company. These CDOs are accounted for as financings and included in collateralized debt obligations on the Company's consolidated balance sheets (see Note 11).
The following table presents the unrealized gains (losses), net attributable to residential loans, at fair value for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)The fair value of residential loans held in Consolidated SLST is determined in accordance with the practical expedient in ASC 810 (see Note 14). See Consolidated SLST below for unrealized gains (losses), net recognized by the Company on its investment in Consolidated SLST.
The Company also recognized $18.1 million of net realized losses on the sale of residential loans, at fair value for the year ended December 31, 2020. The Company recognized $2.9 million and $4.2 million of net realized gains on the sale of residential loans, at fair value during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The geographic concentrations of credit risk exceeding 5% of the unpaid principal balance of residential loans, at fair value as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are as follows:
The following table presents the fair value and aggregate unpaid principal balance of the Company’s residential loans and residential loans held in securitization trusts in non-accrual status as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
Residential loans held in Consolidated SLST with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $236.7 million and $50.7 million were 90 days or more delinquent as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Consolidated SLST
The Company has elected the fair value option on the assets and liabilities held within Consolidated SLST, which requires that changes in valuations in the assets and liabilities of Consolidated SLST be reflected in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company does not have any claims to the assets or obligations for the liabilities of Consolidated SLST (other than those securities owned by the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively). The net fair value of our investment in Consolidated SLST, which represents the difference between the carrying values of residential loans held in Consolidated SLST less the carrying value of Consolidated SLST CDOs, approximates the fair value of our underlying securities and amounted to $212.1 million and $276.8 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (see Notes 7 and 14).
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company purchased approximately $40.0 million in additional senior securities issued by Consolidated SLST and subsequently sold its entire investment in the senior securities issued by Consolidated SLST for sales proceeds of approximately $62.6 million at a realized loss of approximately $2.4 million, which is included in realized gains (losses), net on the Company's consolidated statements of operations.
The condensed consolidated balance sheets of Consolidated SLST at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Included in other assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
The condensed consolidated statements of operations of Consolidated SLST for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Presented in unrealized gains (losses), net on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Includes $33.5 million and $0.3 million of unrealized gains on residential loans held in Consolidated SLST for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $65.6 million and $0.4 million of unrealized losses on Consolidated SLST CDOs for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Residential Loans, Net
As of December 31, 2019, the carrying value of the Company’s residential loans, net accounted for under ASC 310-30 amounted to approximately $158.7 million. Certain of the residential loans, net were pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements as of December 31, 2019 (see Note 10).
The following table details activity in accretable yield for the residential loans, net for the year ended December 31, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Accretable yield is the excess of the residential loans’ cash flows expected to be collected over the purchase price. The cash flows expected to be collected represented the Company’s estimate of the amount and timing of undiscounted principal and interest cash flows. Additions included reclassification to accretable yield from nonaccretable yield. Disposals included residential loan dispositions, which include refinancing, sale and foreclosure of the underlying collateral and resulting removal of the residential loans from the accretable yield, and reclassifications from accretable to nonaccretable yield. The reclassifications between accretable and nonaccretable yield and the accretion of interest income were based on various estimates regarding loan performance and the value of the underlying real estate securing the loans. As the Company continued to update its estimates regarding the loans and the underlying collateral, the accretable yield was subject to change. Therefore, the amount of accretable income recorded for the year ended December 31, 2019 was not necessarily indicative of future results.
The geographic concentrations of credit risk exceeding 5% of the unpaid principal balance of our residential loans, net as of December 31, 2019 were as follows:
Residential Loans Held in Securitization Trusts, Net
Residential loans held in securitization trusts, net were comprised of ARM loans transferred to Consolidated VIEs that issued CDOs. Residential loans held in securitization trusts, net consisted of the following as of December 31, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands):
Allowance for Loan Losses - The following table presents the activity in the Company’s allowance for loan losses on residential loans held in securitization trusts, net for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
Prior to January 1, 2020, the Company evaluated the adequacy of its allowance for loan losses on a recurring basis. The Company’s allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2019 was $3.5 million, representing 743 basis points of the outstanding principal balance of residential loans held in securitization trusts. As part of the Company’s allowance for loan loss adequacy analysis, management assessed an overall level of allowances while also assessing credit losses inherent in each non-performing residential loan held in securitization trusts. These estimates involved the consideration of various credit-related factors, including but not limited to, current housing market conditions, current loan to value ratios, delinquency status, the borrower’s current economic and credit status and other relevant factors.
As of December 31, 2019, we had 18 delinquent loans with an aggregate principal amount outstanding of approximately $10.2 million categorized as residential loans held in securitization trusts, net, of which $6.7 million, or 66%, were under some form of temporary modified payment plan. The table below shows delinquencies in our portfolio of residential loans held in securitization trusts, net, including real estate owned (REO) through foreclosure, as of December 31, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands):
December 31, 2019
The geographic concentrations of credit risk exceeding 5% of the total loan balances in our residential loans held in securitization trusts, net as of December 31, 2019 were as follows:
4.Multi-family Loans
The Company's multi-family loans consist of its preferred equity in, and mezzanine loans to, entities that have multi-family real estate assets and multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series. The following table presents the carrying value of the Company's multi-family loans as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
Preferred Equity and Mezzanine Loan Investments
As of January 1, 2020, the Company has elected to account for its preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments using the fair value option (see Note 2). Accordingly, balances presented below as of December 31, 2020 are stated at fair value and changes in fair value are presented in unrealized gains (losses), net on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments consist of the following as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)As of December 31, 2019, preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments were reported at amortized cost less impairment, if any.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized $1.5 million in net unrealized losses on preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments.
The table below presents the fair value and aggregate unpaid principal balance of the Company's preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments in non-accrual status as of December 31, 2020 (dollar amounts in thousands):
There were no delinquent preferred equity or mezzanine loan investments as of December 31, 2019.
The geographic concentrations of credit risk exceeding 5% of the total preferred equity and mezzanine loan investment amounts as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are as follows:
Consolidated K-Series
In March 2020, the Company sold its first loss POs and certain mezzanine securities issued by certain Freddie Mac-sponsored multi-family loan K-Series securitizations that we consolidated in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP and which we refer to as the Consolidated K-Series. These sales, for total proceeds of approximately $555.2 million, resulted in the de-consolidation of each Consolidated K-Series as of the sale date of each first loss PO, a corresponding realized net loss of $54.1 million and reversal of previously recognized net unrealized gains of $168.5 million. The sales also resulted in the de-consolidation of $17.4 billion in multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series and $16.6 billion in Consolidated K-Series CDOs. Also in March 2020, the Company transferred its remaining IOs and mezzanine and senior securities owned in the Consolidated K-Series with a fair value of approximately $237.3 million to investment securities available for sale.
The Company elected the fair value option on the assets and liabilities held within the Consolidated K-Series, which required that changes in valuations in the assets and liabilities of the Consolidated K-Series be reflected in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. Our investment in the Consolidated K-Series was limited to the multi-family CMBS that we owned with an aggregate net carrying value of $1.1 billion at December 31, 2019 (see Note 7).
The condensed consolidated balance sheets of the Consolidated K-Series at December 31, 2019 is as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Included in other assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
(2)Included in other liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
The multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series had unpaid aggregate principal balances of approximately $16.8 billion at December 31, 2019. See Note 11 for information related to the collateralized debt obligations issued by the Consolidated K-Series.
The Company did not have any claims to the assets or obligations for the liabilities of the Consolidated K-Series (other than those securities represented by the first loss POs, IOs and certain senior and mezzanine securities owned by the Company). We elected the fair value option for the Consolidated K-Series. The net fair value of our investment in the Consolidated K-Series, which represented the difference between the carrying values of multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series less the carrying value of Consolidated K-Series CDOs, approximates the fair value of our underlying securities (see Note 14).
The condensed consolidated statements of operations of the Consolidated K-Series for the years ended December 31, 2020 (prior to the sale of first loss POs and de-consolidation of the Consolidated K-Series), 2019, and 2018, respectively, are as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
The geographic concentrations of credit risk exceeding 5% of the total loan balances related to multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series as of December 31, 2019 were as follows:
5.Investment Securities Available For Sale, at Fair Value
The Company accounts for certain of its investment securities available for sale using the fair value election pursuant to ASC 825 where changes in fair value are recorded in unrealized gains (losses), net on the Company's consolidated statements of operations. The Company also has investment securities available for sale where the fair value option has not been elected, or CECL Securities. CECL Securities are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) on the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The Company's investment securities available for sale consisted of the following as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Includes non-Agency RMBS held in a securitization trust with a total fair value of $37.6 million as of December 31, 2020 (see Note 7).
(2)Includes IOs and mezzanine securities transferred from the Consolidated K-Series as a result of de-consolidation during the year ended December 31, 2020, with a total fair value of $97.6 million as of December 31, 2020.
(3)For the Company's Agency ARMs with stated reset period, the weighted average reset period was 26 months as of December 31, 2019.
(4)Includes non-Agency RMBS held in a securitization trust with a total fair value of $71.5 million as of December 31, 2020 (see Note 7).
Accrued interest receivable for investment securities available for sale in the amount of $2.4 million and $5.9 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, is included in other assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
Realized Gain or Loss Activity
The following tables summarize our investment securities sold during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Includes Agency RMBS securities issued by Consolidated SLST (see Note 3).
(2)Includes Agency CMBS securities transferred from the Consolidated K-Series (see Note 4).
(3)Includes the sale of non-Agency RMBS held in a securitization trust for total proceeds of $67.6 million and a net realized gain of $0.2 million.
Weighted Average Life
Actual maturities of our investment securities available for sale are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities (with contractual maturities up to 39 years), as they are affected by periodic payments and prepayments of principal on the underlying mortgages. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, based on management’s estimates, the weighted average life of the Company’s investment securities available for sale portfolio was approximately 5.6 years and 5.0 years, respectively.
The following table sets forth the weighted average lives of our investment securities available for sale as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
Unrealized Losses in Other Comprehensive Income
As of January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13 to account for its investments in CECL Securities (see Note 2). The Company evaluated its CECL Securities that were in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2020 and determined that no allowance for credit losses was necessary. Accordingly, the Company did not recognize credit losses through earnings for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The following tables present the Company’s CECL securities in an unrealized loss position with no credit losses reported, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2020 (dollar amounts in thousands):
At December 31, 2020, the Company did not intend to sell any of its investment securities available for sale that were in an unrealized loss position, and it was “more likely than not” that the Company would not be required to sell these securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be at their maturity.
Gross unrealized losses in other comprehensive income on the Company’s non-Agency RMBS were $5.4 million at December 31, 2020. Credit risk associated with non-Agency RMBS and CMBS is regularly assessed as new information regarding the underlying collateral becomes available and based on updated estimates of cash flows generated by the underlying collateral. In performing its assessment, the Company considers past and expected future performance of the underlying collateral, including timing of expected future cash flows, prepayment rates, default rates, loss severities, delinquency rates, current levels of subordination, volatility of the security's fair value, temporary declines in liquidity for the asset class and interest rate changes since purchase. Based upon the most recent evaluation, the Company does not believe that the unrealized losses are credit related but are rather a reflection of current market yields and/or marketplace bid-ask spreads.
The following table presents the Company's investment securities available for sale in an unrealized loss position reported through other comprehensive income, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities were in a continuous unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands):
Other than Temporary Impairment
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company did not recognize other-than-temporary impairment through earnings.
6.Equity Investments
The Company's preferred equity ownership interests in entities that invest in multi-family properties where the risks and payment characteristics are equivalent to an equity investment are included in equity investments and accounted for under the equity method. As of January 1, 2020, the Company has elected to account for these investments using the fair value option (see Note 2). Accordingly, balances presented below as of December 31, 2020 are stated at fair value. The Company’s preferred equity ownership interests accounted for under the equity method consist of the following as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
The following table presents income from preferred equity ownership interests accounted for under the equity method using the fair value option for the year ended December 31, 2020 and income from preferred equity ownership interests accounted for under the equity method for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands). Income from these investments, which includes $0.3 million of net unrealized gains during the year ended December 31, 2020 is presented in income from equity investments in the Company's accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
The Company's equity ownership interests in entities that invest in multi-family properties and residential properties and loans that are included in equity investments and are accounted for under the equity method using the fair value option as of both December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, consist of the following (dollar amounts in thousands):
Income from equity ownership interests in entities that invest in multi-family properties and residential properties and loans that are accounted for under the equity method using the fair value option is presented in income from equity investments in the Company's accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The following table presents income from these investments for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Includes net unrealized losses of $9.7 million and a realized gain of $8.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, net unrealized gains of $0.3 million and a realized gain of $10.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and net unrealized gains of $4.0 million and a realized gain of $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
(2)The Company's equity investment was redeemed during the year ended December 31, 2020.
(3)The Company's equity investment was redeemed during the year ended December 31, 2019.
(4)The Company's equity investment was redeemed during the year ended December 31, 2018.
Summary combined financial information for the Company’s equity investments as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively, is shown below (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)The Company records income (loss) from equity investments under either the equity method of accounting or the fair value option. Accordingly, the combined net (loss) income shown above is not indicative of the income recognized by the Company from equity investments.
7.Use of Special Purpose Entities (SPE) and Variable Interest Entities (VIE)
The Company uses SPEs to facilitate transactions that involve securitizing financial assets or re-securitizing previously securitized financial assets. The objective of such transactions may include obtaining non-recourse financing, obtaining liquidity or refinancing the underlying securitized financial assets on improved terms. Securitization involves transferring assets to an SPE to convert all or a portion of those assets into cash before they would have been realized in the normal course of business through the SPE’s issuance of debt or equity instruments. Investors in an SPE usually have recourse only to the assets in the SPE and depending on the overall structure of the transaction, may benefit from various forms of credit enhancement, such as over-collateralization in the form of excess assets in the SPE, priority with respect to receipt of cash flows relative to holders of other debt or equity instruments issued by the SPE, or a line of credit or other form of liquidity agreement that is designed with the objective of ensuring that investors receive principal and/or interest cash flow on the investment in accordance with the terms of their investment agreement.
The Company has entered into financing transactions, including residential loan securitizations and re-securitizations, which required the Company to analyze and determine whether the SPEs that were created to facilitate the transactions are VIEs in accordance with ASC 810 and if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary requiring consolidation.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company completed two securitizations of certain residential loans for which the Company received aggregate net proceeds of approximately $540.4 million after deducting expenses associated with the securitization transactions. The Company engaged in these transactions for the purpose of obtaining non-recourse, longer-term financing on a portion of its residential loan portfolio. The residential loans serving as collateral for the financings are comprised of performing, re-performing and non-performing loans which are included in residential loans, at fair value on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Also during the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company completed a re-securitization of certain non-Agency RMBS for which the Company received net cash proceeds of approximately $109.0 million after deducting expenses associated with the re-securitization transaction. The Company engaged in the re-securitization transaction primarily for the purpose of obtaining non-recourse, longer-term financing on a portion of its non-Agency RMBS portfolio and continues to classify the non-Agency RMBS collateral in the re-securitization as available for sale securities as the purpose is not to trade these securities.
The Company also completed three residential loan securitizations in 2005 accounted for as permanent financings and included in the Company’s accompanying consolidated financial statements.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company evaluated its residential loan securitizations and re-securitization of non-agency RMBS and concluded that the entities created to facilitate the financing transactions are VIEs and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of these VIEs (each a "Financing VIE" and collectively, the "Financing VIEs"). Accordingly, the Company consolidated the Financing VIEs as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
The Company invests in subordinated securities that represent the first loss position of the Freddie Mac-sponsored residential loan securitization from which they were issued, and certain IOs and senior securities issued from the securitization. The Company has evaluated its investments in this securitization trust to determine whether it is a VIE and if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary requiring consolidation. The Company has determined that the Freddie Mac-sponsored residential loan securitization trust, which we refer to as Consolidated SLST, is a VIE as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE within Consolidated SLST. Accordingly, the Company has consolidated its assets, liabilities, income and expenses, in the accompanying consolidated financial statements (see Notes 2 and 3). The Company’s investments that are included in Consolidated SLST were not included as collateral to any Financing VIE as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company invested in multi-family CMBS consisting of POs that represent the first loss position of the Freddie Mac-sponsored multi-family K-series securitizations from which they were issued, and certain IOs and certain senior and mezzanine CMBS securities issued from those securitizations. The Company evaluated these CMBS investments in Freddie Mac-sponsored K-Series securitization trusts to determine whether they were VIEs and if so, whether the Company was the primary beneficiary requiring consolidation. The Company determined that the Freddie Mac-sponsored multi-family K-Series securitization trusts were VIEs as of December 31, 2019, which we refer to as the Consolidated K-Series. The Company also determined that it was the primary beneficiary of each VIE within the Consolidated K-Series and, accordingly, consolidated its assets, liabilities, income and expenses in the accompanying consolidated financial statements (see Notes 2 and 4). In March 2020, the Company sold its first loss POs and certain mezzanine securities issued by the Consolidated K-Series which resulted in the de-consolidation of each Consolidated K-Series as of the sale date of each first loss PO.
In analyzing whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of the Financing VIEs, Consolidated SLST and the Consolidated K-Series, the Company considered its involvement in each of the VIEs, including the design and purpose of each VIE, and whether its involvement reflected a controlling financial interest that resulted in the Company being deemed the primary beneficiary of the VIEs. In determining whether the Company would be considered the primary beneficiary, the following factors were assessed:
•whether the Company has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE; and
•whether the Company has a right to receive benefits or absorb losses of the entity that could be potentially significant to the VIE.
On November 12, 2020 (the "Changeover Date"), the Company reconsidered its evaluation of its variable interest in Campus Lodge, a VIE that owns a multi-family apartment community and in which the Company holds a preferred equity investment. The Company determined that it gained the power to direct the activities, and became primary beneficiary, of Campus Lodge on the Changeover Date. Prior to the Changeover Date, the Company accounted for Campus Lodge as a preferred equity investment included in multi-family loans. The Company does not have any claims to the assets or obligations for the liabilities of Campus Lodge.
On the Changeover Date, the Company consolidated Campus Lodge into its consolidated financial statements. The estimated Changeover Date fair value of the consideration transferred totaled $8.7 million, which consisted of the estimated fair value of the Company's preferred equity investment in Campus Lodge. The Company determined the estimated fair value of its preferred equity investment in Campus Lodge using assumptions for the underlying contractual cash flows and a discount rate.
The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets and liabilities of Campus Lodge at the Changeover Date (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
(2)Included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
(3)Represents third party ownership of membership interests in Campus Lodge. The fair value of the non-controlling interests in Campus Lodge, a private company, was estimated using the net asset value of the underlying multi-family apartment community.
The Company owns 100% of RBDHC. RBDHC owns 50% of KRVI, a limited liability company that owns developed land and residential homes under development in Kiawah Island, SC, for which RiverBanc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, is the manager. The Company has evaluated KRVI to determine if it is a VIE and if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary requiring consolidation. The Company has determined that KRVI is a VIE for which RBDHC is the primary beneficiary as the Company, collectively through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, RiverBanc and RBDHC, has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of KRVI and has a right to receive benefits or absorb losses of KRVI that could be potentially significant to KRVI. Accordingly, the Company consolidated KRVI in its consolidated financial statements with a non-controlling interest for the third-party ownership of KRVI membership interests. KRVI sold its remaining real estate under development during the year ended December 31, 2020. Real estate under development in KRVI as of December 31, 2019 of $14.5 million is included in other assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
The following table presents a summary of the assets, liabilities and non-controlling interests of the Company’s residential loan securitizations, non-Agency RMBS re-securitization, Consolidated SLST and other Consolidated VIEs of as of December 31, 2020 (dollar amounts in thousands). Intercompany balances have been eliminated for purposes of this presentation:
(1)Included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
(2)Included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
(3)Represents third party ownership of membership interests in other Consolidated VIEs.
(4)The net investment amount is the maximum amount of the Company's investment that is at risk to loss and represents the difference between total assets and total liabilities held by VIEs, less non-controlling interest, if any.
The following table presents a summary of the assets, liabilities and non-controlling interests of the Company's residential loan securitizations, the Consolidated K-Series, Consolidated SLST and KRVI as of December 31, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands). Intercompany balances have been eliminated for purposes of this presentation:
(1)The net investment amount is the maximum amount of the Company's investment that is at risk to loss and represents the difference between total assets and total liabilities held by VIEs, less non-controlling interest, if any.
(2)Represents third party ownership of membership interests in KRVI.
Unconsolidated VIEs
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company evaluated its investment securities available for sale, preferred equity, mezzanine loan and other equity investments to determine whether they are VIEs and should be consolidated by the Company. Based on a number of factors, the Company determined that, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, it does not have a controlling financial interest and is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. The following tables present the classification and carrying value of unconsolidated VIEs as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
8.Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
The Company enters into derivative instruments in connection with its risk management activities. These derivative instruments may include interest rate swaps, swaptions, futures and options on futures. The Company may also purchase or sell “To-Be-Announced,” or TBAs, purchase options on U.S. Treasury futures or invest in other types of mortgage derivative securities. The Company's derivative instruments were comprised of interest rate swaps, which were designated as trading instruments and were terminated during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
The following table presents the fair value of derivative instruments and their location in our consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)All of the Company’s interest rate swaps were cleared through a central clearing house. The Company exchanged variation margin for swaps based upon daily changes in fair value. As a result of amendments to rules governing certain central clearing activities, the exchange of variation margin is treated as a legal settlement of the exposure under the swap contract. Previously, such payments were treated as cash collateral pledged against the exposure under the swap contract. Accordingly, the Company accounted for the receipt or payment of variation margin as a direct reduction to or increase of the carrying value of the interest rate swap asset or liability on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Includes $29.0 million of derivative liabilities netted against a variation margin of $44.8 million at December 31, 2019.
The tables below summarize the activity of derivative instruments not designated as hedges for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
The following table presents the components of realized gains (losses), net and unrealized gains (losses), net related to our derivative instruments that were not designated as hedging instruments, which are included in non-interest income (loss) in our consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, there were no derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments.
Outstanding Derivatives
The Company had no outstanding derivatives as of December 31, 2020. The following table presents information about our interest rate swaps whereby we receive floating rate payments in exchange for fixed rate payments as of December 31, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands):
The use of derivatives exposes the Company to counterparty credit risks in the event of a default by a counterparty. If a counterparty defaults under the applicable derivative agreement, the Company may be unable to collect payments to which it is entitled under its derivative agreements and may have difficulty collecting the assets it pledged as collateral against such derivatives. All of the Company’s interest rate swaps were cleared through CME Group Inc. (“CME Clearing”) which is the parent company of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. CME Clearing serves as the counterparty to every cleared transaction, becoming the buyer to each seller and the seller to each buyer, limiting the credit risk by guaranteeing the financial performance of both parties and netting down exposures.
9.Operating Real Estate Held in Consolidated VIE, Net
On November 12, 2020, the Company determined that it became the primary beneficiary of Campus Lodge, a variable interest entity that owns a multi-family apartment community and in which the Company holds a preferred equity investment. Accordingly, on this date, the Company consolidated Campus Lodge into its consolidated financial statements (see Note 7).
The following is a summary of the real estate investments in Campus Lodge as of December 31, 2020 (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Depreciation expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 totaled $0.2 million and is included in operating expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
(2)Included in other assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
The estimated depreciation expense related to operating real estate held in Consolidated VIE is as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
10.Repurchase Agreements
The following table presents the carrying value of the Company's repurchase agreements as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
Investment Securities
The Company has entered into repurchase agreements with financial institutions to finance its investment securities portfolio (including investment securities available for sale and securities owned in Consolidated SLST and the Consolidated K-Series). These repurchase agreements provide short-term financing that bear interest rates typically based on a spread to LIBOR and are secured by the investment securities which they finance and additional collateral pledged, if any. During March 2020, in connection with the significant market disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the repurchase agreement counterparties for our investment securities increased haircuts, required additional collateral or determined not to roll our financing. As a result, we liquidated our investment securities at a disadvantageous time, which resulted in losses. As of December 31, 2020, we currently have no amounts outstanding under repurchase agreements to finance investment securities. At December 31, 2019, the Company had financing arrangements with fourteen counterparties and had no exposure where the amount at risk was in excess of 5% of the Company's stockholders' equity.
The following table presents detailed information about the amounts outstanding under the Company’s repurchase agreements secured by investment securities and associated assets pledged as collateral at December 31, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Collateral pledged includes Agency RMBS securities with a fair value amounting to $26.2 million included in Consolidated SLST as of December 31, 2019.
(2)Collateral pledged includes Agency CMBS securities with a fair value amounting to $88.4 million included in the Consolidated K-Series as of December 31, 2019.
(3)Collateral pledged includes first loss subordinated RMBS securities with a fair value amounting to $214.8 million included in Consolidated SLST as of December 31, 2019.
(4)Collateral pledged includes first loss POs, IOs and mezzanine CMBS securities with a fair value amounting to $848.2 million included in the Consolidated K-Series as of December 31, 2019.
As of December 31, 2019, the average days to maturity for repurchase agreements secured by investment securities was 73 days and the weighted average interest rate was 2.72%. The Company’s accrued interest payable on outstanding repurchase agreements secured by investment securities at December 31, 2019 amounted to $8.8 million and is included in other liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
The following table presents contractual maturity information about the Company’s outstanding repurchase agreements secured by investment securities at December 31, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands):
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had $118.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and $535.8 million in unencumbered investment securities available to be posted as margin to meet additional haircuts or market valuation requirements related to repurchase agreements. These amounts collectively represented 27.8% of our outstanding repurchase agreements secured by investment securities. The following table presents information about the Company’s unencumbered investment securities at December 31, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands):
Residential Loans
The Company has repurchase agreements with three financial institutions to fund the purchase of residential loans. The following table presents detailed information about the Company’s financings under these repurchase agreements and associated residential loans pledged as collateral at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Costs related to the repurchase agreements which include commitment, underwriting, legal, accounting and other fees are reflected as deferred charges. Such costs are presented as a deduction from the corresponding debt liability on the Company’s accompanying consolidated balance sheets and are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense using the effective interest method, or straight line-method, if the result is not materially different.
(2)Includes residential loans, at fair value of $575.4 million and $881.2 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and residential loans, net of $80.6 million at December 31, 2019.
(3)The Company expects to roll outstanding amounts under these repurchase agreements into new repurchase agreements or other financings, or to repay outstanding amounts, prior to or at maturity.
During the terms of the repurchase agreements, proceeds from the residential loans will be applied to pay any price differential and to reduce the aggregate repurchase price of the collateral. The financings under the repurchase agreements with two of the counterparties are subject to margin calls to the extent the market value of the residential loans falls below specified levels and repurchase may be accelerated upon an event of default under the repurchase agreements.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company was not in compliance with the market capitalization covenants in its repurchase agreements with two counterparties. In March 2020, the Company executed an amended repurchase agreement with one counterparty to modify the terms of financial covenants. The Company also agreed to a reservation of rights with the other counterparty during the three months ended March 31, 2020 in which the counterparty elected not to declare an event of default in accordance with the terms of the repurchase agreement for non-compliance with a financial covenant. The Company subsequently executed an amended repurchase agreement with this counterparty in April to modify the terms of financial covenants. As of December 31, 2020, the Company's repurchase agreements contain various covenants, including among other things, the maintenance of certain amounts of liquidity and total stockholders' equity. The Company was in compliance with such covenants as of December 31, 2020 and through the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
11.Collateralized Debt Obligations
The Company's collateralized debt obligations, or CDOs, are accounted for as financings and are non-recourse debt to the Company. See Note 7 for further discussion regarding the collateral pledged for the Company's CDOs as well as the Company's net investments in the related securitizations.
The following tables present a summary of the Company's CDOs as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Weighted average interest rate is calculated using the outstanding face amount and stated interest rate of notes issued by the securitization and not owned by the Company.
(2)Weighted average rate of notes issued is calculated using the outstanding face amount and stated interest rate of all notes issued by the securitizations, including those owned by the Company.
(3)The actual maturity of the Company's CDOs are primarily determined by the rate of principal prepayments on the assets of the issuing entity. The CDOs are also subject to redemption prior to the stated maturity according to the terms of the respective governing documents. As a result, the actual maturity of the CDOs may occur earlier than the stated maturity.
(4)The Company has elected the fair value option for CDOs issued by Consolidated SLST (see Note 14).
(5)Represents the pass-through rate through the payment date in December 2021. Pass-through rate increases to one-month LIBOR plus 7.75% for payment dates in or after January 2022.
(1)Weighted average interest rate is calculated using the outstanding face amount and stated interest rate of notes issued by the securitization and not owned by the Company.
(2)Weighted average rate of notes issued is calculated using the outstanding face amount and stated interest rate of all notes issued by the securitizations, including those owned by the Company.
(3)The actual maturity of the Company's CDOs are primarily determined by the rate of principal prepayments on the assets of the issuing entity. The CDOs are also subject to redemption prior to the stated maturity according to the terms of the respective governing documents. As a result, the actual maturity the CDOs may occur earlier than the stated maturity.
(4)The Company has elected the fair value option for CDOs issued by the Consolidated K-Series and Consolidated SLST (see Note 14).
The Company's collateralized debt obligations as of December 31, 2020 had stated maturities as follows:
12. Debt
Convertible Notes
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had $138.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.25% Senior Convertible Notes due 2022 outstanding. Costs related to the issuance of the Convertible Notes which include underwriting, legal, accounting and other fees, are reflected as deferred charges. The underwriter’s discount and deferred charges, net of amortization, are presented as a deduction from the corresponding debt liability on the Company’s accompanying consolidated balance sheets in the amount of $2.7 million and $5.0 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The underwriter’s discount and deferred charges are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense using the effective interest method, resulting in a total cost to the Company of approximately 8.24%.
The Convertible Notes were issued at 96% of the principal amount, bear interest at a rate equal to 6.25% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, and are expected to mature on January 15, 2022, unless earlier converted or repurchased. The Company does not have the right to redeem the Convertible Notes prior to maturity and no sinking fund is provided for the Convertible Notes. Holders of the Convertible Notes are permitted to convert their Convertible Notes into shares of the Company’s common stock at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding January 15, 2022. The conversion rate for the Convertible Notes, which is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, initially equals 142.7144 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $7.01 per share of the Company’s common stock, based on a $1,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company that rank senior in right of payment to the Company’s subordinated debentures and any of its other indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Convertible Notes.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, none of the Convertible Notes were converted. As of February 26, 2021, the Company has not been notified, and is not aware, of any event of default under the indenture for the Convertible Notes.
Subordinated Debentures
Subordinated debentures are trust preferred securities that are fully guaranteed by the Company with respect to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation, redemption or repayment. The following table summarizes the key details of the Company’s subordinated debentures as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands):
As of February 26, 2021, the Company has not been notified, and is not aware, of any event of default under the indenture for the subordinated debentures.
Mortgage Payable in Consolidated VIE
On November 12, 2020, the Company determined that it became the primary beneficiary of Campus Lodge, a VIE that owns a multi-family apartment community and in which the Company holds a preferred equity investment. Accordingly, on this date, the Company consolidated Campus Lodge into its consolidated financial statements (see Note 7). Campus Lodge's real estate investment is subject to a mortgage payable which is included in other liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and for which the Company has no obligation as of December 31, 2020. The following table presents detailed information for this mortgage payable in consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2020 (dollar amounts in thousands):
Debt Maturities
As of December 31, 2020, maturities for debt on the Company's consolidated balance sheet are as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
13. Commitments and Contingencies
Impact of COVID-19
As further discussed in Notes 1 and 2, the full extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy generally, and the Company's business in particular, is uncertain. As of December 31, 2020, no contingencies have been recorded on our consolidated balance sheets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, as the global pandemic and its economic implications continue, it may have long-term impacts on the Company's operations, financial condition, liquidity or cash flows.
Outstanding Litigation
The Company is at times subject to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. As of December 31, 2020, the Company does not believe that any of its current legal proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations, financial condition or cash flows.
Leases
As of December 31, 2020, the Company has entered into multi-year lease agreements for office space accounted for as non-cancelable operating leases. Total property lease expense on these leases for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 amounted to $1.6 million, $1.2 million, and $0.4 million, respectively. The leases are secured by cash deposits in the amount of $0.7 million.
As of December 31, 2020, obligations under non-cancelable operating leases are as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
14. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company has established and documented processes for determining fair values. Fair value is based upon quoted market prices, where available. If listed prices or quotes are not available, then fair value is based upon internally developed models that primarily use inputs that are market-based or independently-sourced market parameters, including interest rate yield curves.
A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels of valuation hierarchy are defined as follows:
Level 1 - inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 - inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
Level 3 - inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
The following describes the valuation methodologies used for the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.
a.Residential Loans Held in Consolidated SLST and Multi-Family Loans Held in the Consolidated K-Series -Residential loans held in Consolidated SLST and multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series are carried at fair value and classified as Level 3 fair values. In accordance with the practical expedient in ASC 810, the Company determines the fair value of residential loans held in Consolidated SLST and multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series based on the fair value of the CDOs issued by these securitizations and its investment in these securitizations (eliminated in consolidation in accordance with GAAP), as the fair value of these instruments is more observable.
The investment securities that we own in these securitizations are generally illiquid and trade infrequently, as such they are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair valuation of these investment securities is determined based on an internal valuation model that considers expected cash flows from the underlying loans and yields required by market participants. The significant unobservable inputs used in the measurement of these investments are projected losses within the pool of loans and a discount rate. The discount rate used in determining fair value incorporates default rate, loss severity, prepayment rate and current market interest rates. Significant increases or decreases in these inputs would result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement.
b.Residential Loans and Residential Loans Held in Securitization Trusts - The Company’s acquired residential loans are recorded at fair value and classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value for residential loans is determined using valuations obtained from a third party that specializes in providing valuations of residential loans. The valuation approach depends on whether the residential loan is considered performing, re-performing or non-performing at the date the valuation is performed.
For performing and re-performing loans, estimates of fair value are derived using a discounted cash flow model, where estimates of cash flows are determined from scheduled payments for each loan, adjusted using forecast prepayment rates, default rates and rates for loss upon default. For non-performing loans, asset liquidation cash flows are derived based on the estimated time to liquidate the loan, expected liquidation costs and home price appreciation. Estimated cash flows for both performing and non-performing loans are discounted at yields considered appropriate to arrive at a reasonable exit price for the asset. Indications of loan value such as actual trades, bids, offers and generic market color may be used in determining the appropriate discount yield.
c.Preferred Equity and Mezzanine Loan Investments - Fair value for preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments is determined by both market comparable pricing and discounted cash flows. The discounted cash flows are based on the underlying contractual cash flows and estimated changes in market yields. The fair value also reflects consideration of changes in credit risk since the origination or time of initial investment. This fair value measurement is generally based on unobservable inputs and, as such, is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
d.Investment Securities Available for Sale - The Company determines the fair value of the investment securities available for sale in our portfolio by considering several observable market data points, including prices obtained from third-party pricing services or dealers who make markets in similar financial instruments, as well as dialogue with market participants. Third-party pricing services typically incorporate commonly used market pricing methods, trading activity observed in the marketplace and other data inputs. The methodology considers the characteristics of the particular security and its underlying collateral, which are observable inputs. These inputs include, but are not limited to, historical performance, coupon, periodic and life caps, collateral type, rate reset period, seasoning, prepayment speeds and credit enhancement levels. The Company’s investment securities available for sale are valued based upon readily observable market parameters and are classified as Level 2 fair values.
e.Equity Investments - Fair value for equity investments is determined (i) by the valuation process for preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments as described in c. above or (ii) using the net asset value ("NAV") of the equity investment entity as a practical expedient. These fair value measurements are generally based on unobservable inputs and, as such, are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
f.Derivative Instruments - The Company’s derivative instruments as of December 31, 2019 were classified as Level 2 fair values and were measured using valuations reported by the clearing house, CME Clearing, through which these instruments were cleared. The derivatives are presented net of variation margin payments pledged or received.
g.Collateralized Debt Obligations - CDOs issued by Consolidated SLST and the Consolidated K-Series are classified as Level 3 fair values for which fair value is determined by considering several market data points, including prices obtained from third-party pricing services or dealers who make markets in similar financial instruments. The third-party pricing service or dealers incorporate common market pricing methods, including a spread measurement to the Treasury curve or interest rate swap curve as well as underlying characteristics of the particular security. They will also consider contractual cash payments and yields expected by market participants.
Refer to a. above for a description of the fair valuation of CDOs issued by Consolidated SLST and the Consolidated K-Series that are eliminated in consolidation.
Management reviews all prices used in determining fair value to ensure they represent current market conditions. This review includes surveying similar market transactions and comparisons to pricing models as well as offerings of like securities by dealers. Any changes to the valuation methodology are reviewed by management to ensure the changes are appropriate. As markets and products develop and the pricing for certain products becomes more transparent, the Company continues to refine its valuation methodologies. The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Company believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions, to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date. The Company uses inputs that are current as of each reporting date, which may include periods of market dislocation, during which time price transparency may be reduced. This condition could cause the Company’s financial instruments to be reclassified from Level 2 to Level 3 in future periods.
The following table presents the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1) All of the Company’s interest rate swaps were cleared through a central clearing house. The Company exchanged variation margin for swaps based upon daily changes in fair value. Includes derivative liabilities of $29.0 million netted against a variation margin of $44.8 million at December 31, 2019.
The following tables detail changes in valuation for the Level 3 assets for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
Level 3 Assets:
(1)As of January 1, 2020, the Company has elected to account for all residential loans, residential loans held in securitization trusts, equity investments and preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments using the fair value option (see Note 2).
(2)Transfers out of Level 3 assets include the transfer of residential loans to real estate owned and the consolidation of Campus Lodge into the Company's consolidated financial statements (see Note 7).
(3)During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company sold first loss PO securities included in the Consolidated K-Series and, as a result, de-consolidated the multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series and transferred its remaining securities owned in the Consolidated K-Series to investment securities available for sale (see Notes 2 and 4).
(4)During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company completed two securitizations of certain performing, re-performing and non-performing residential loans (see Note 7).
(1)Transfers out of Level 3 assets include the transfer of residential loans to real estate owned.
(2)During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company purchased first loss PO securities and certain IOs and senior or mezzanine CMBS securities issued from securitizations that it determined to consolidate and included in the Consolidated K-Series. Also during the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company purchased first loss subordinated securities, IOs and senior RMBS securities issued from a securitization that it determined to consolidate as Consolidated SLST. As a result, the Company consolidated assets of the respective securitizations (see Notes 2, 3 and 4).
(1)Transfers out of Level 3 assets include the transfer of residential loans to real estate owned.
(2)During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company purchased first loss PO securities and certain IOs and mezzanine CMBS securities issued from securitizations that it determined to consolidate and included in the Consolidated K-Series. As a result, the Company consolidated assets of these securitizations (see Notes 2 and 4).
The following tables detail changes in valuation for the Level 3 liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
Level 3 Liabilities:
(1)During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company sold first loss PO securities included in the Consolidated K-Series, and, as a result, de-consolidated the Consolidated K-Series CDOs (see Notes 2 and 4). Also includes the Company's net sales of senior securities issued by Consolidated SLST for the year ended December 31, 2020 (see Note 3).
(1)During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company purchased first loss PO securities and certain IOs and senior or mezzanine CMBS securities issued from securitizations that it determined to consolidate and included in the Consolidated K-Series. Also during the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company purchased first loss subordinated securities, IOs and senior RMBS securities issued from a securitization that it determined to consolidate as Consolidated SLST. As a result, the Company consolidated liabilities of the respective securitizations (see Notes 2, 3 and 4).
(1)During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company purchased first loss PO securities and certain IOs and mezzanine CMBS securities issued from securitizations that it determined to consolidate and included in the Consolidated K-Series. As a result, the Company consolidated liabilities of these securitizations (see Notes 2 and 4).
The following table discloses quantitative information regarding the significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of our Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value (dollar amounts in thousands, except input values):
(1)Weighted average amounts are calculated based on the weighted average fair value of the assets.
(2)Equity investments does not include equity ownership interests in entities that invest in residential properties and loans. The fair value of these investments is determined using the net asset value ("NAV") as a practical expedient.
(3)In accordance with the practical expedient in ASC 810, the Company determines the fair value of the residential loans held in Consolidated SLST based on the fair value of the CDOs issued by Consolidated SLST, including securities we own, as the fair value of these instruments is more observable. At December 31, 2020, the fair value of securities we owned in Consolidated SLST was $212.1 million.
(4)Weighted average yield calculated based on the weighted average fair value of the liabilities. Weighted average collateral prepayment rate, weighted average collateral default rate, and weighted average loss severity are calculated based on the weighted average unpaid balance of the liabilities.
The following table details the changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in earnings for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, for our Level 3 assets and liabilities held as of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Presented in unrealized gains (losses), net on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
(2)Presented in income from equity investments on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
The following table presents assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2019 on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets (dollar amounts in thousands):
The following table presents gains (losses) incurred for assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations (dollar amounts in thousands):
Residential Loans Held in Securitization Trusts - Impaired Loans, Net - Impaired residential loans held in securitization trusts were recorded at amortized cost less specific loan loss reserves. Impaired loan value was based on management’s estimate of the net realizable value taking into consideration local market conditions for the property, updated appraisal values of the property and estimated expenses required to remediate the impaired loan.
The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
In addition to the methodology to determine the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reported at fair value on a recurring basis and non-recurring basis, as previously described, the following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in arriving at the fair value of the Company’s other financial instruments in the table immediately above:
a.Cash and cash equivalents - Estimated fair value approximates the carrying value of such assets.
b.Repurchase agreements - The fair value of these repurchase agreements approximates cost as they are short term in nature.
c.Residential loan securitizations at amortized cost, net and non-Agency RMBS re-securitization - The fair value of these CDOs is based on discounted cash flows as well as market pricing on comparable obligations.
d.Subordinated debentures - The fair value of these subordinated debentures is based on discounted cash flows using management’s estimate for market yields.
e.Convertible notes - The fair value is based on quoted prices provided by dealers who make markets in similar financial instruments.
15. Stockholders’ Equity
(a)Preferred Stock
The Company had 200,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, with 20,872,888 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company has issued four series of cumulative redeemable preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”): 7.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”), 7.875% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”), 8.00% Series D Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series D Preferred Stock”) and 7.875% Series E Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series E Preferred Stock”). Each series of the Preferred Stock is senior to the Company’s common stock with respect to dividends and distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
In October 2019, the Company issued 6,900,000 shares of Series E Preferred Stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $25 per share, in an underwritten public offering for net proceeds of approximately $166.7 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. On November 27, 2019, the Company classified and designated an additional 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s authorized but unissued preferred stock as Series E Preferred Stock. On March 28, 2019, the Company classified and designated an additional 2,460,000 shares and 2,650,000 shares of the Company’s authorized but unissued preferred stock as Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock, respectively.
The following table summarizes the Company’s Preferred Stock issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Each series of fixed rate preferred stock is entitled to receive a dividend at the contractual rate shown, respectively, per year on its $25 liquidation preference. Each series of fixed-to-floating rate preferred stock is entitled to receive a dividend at the contractual rate shown, respectively, per year on its $25 liquidation preference up to, but excluding, the fixed-to-floating rate conversion date.
(2)Each series of Preferred Stock is not redeemable by the Company prior to the respective optional redemption date disclosed except under circumstances intended to preserve the Company’s qualification as a REIT and except upon occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in the Articles Supplementary designating the Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series D Preferred Stock and Series E Preferred Stock, respectively).
(3)Beginning on the respective fixed-to-floating rate conversion date, each of the Series D Preferred Stock and Series E Preferred Stock is entitled to receive a dividend on a floating rate basis according to the terms disclosed in footnote (4) below.
(4)On and after the fixed-to-floating rate conversion date, each of the Series D Preferred Stock and Series E Preferred Stock is entitled to receive a dividend at a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus the respective spread disclosed above per year on its $25 liquidation preference.
For each series of Preferred Stock, on or after the respective redemption date disclosed, the Company may, at its option, redeem the respective series of Preferred Stock in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price equal to $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends. In addition, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Preferred Stock in whole or in part, within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends.
The Preferred Stock generally do not have any voting rights, subject to an exception in the event the Company fails to pay dividends on such stock for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive). Under such circumstances, holders of the Preferred Stock voting together as a single class with the holders of all other classes or series of our preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Preferred Stock will be entitled to vote to elect two additional directors to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) until all unpaid dividends have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. In addition, certain material and adverse changes to the terms of any series of the Preferred Stock cannot be made without the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the series of Preferred Stock whose terms are being changed.
The Preferred Stock has no stated maturity, is not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption and will remain outstanding indefinitely unless repurchased or redeemed by the Company or converted into the Company’s common stock in connection with a Change of Control.
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder of Preferred Stock will have the right (unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Preferred Stock) to convert some or all of the Preferred Stock held by such holder into a number of shares of our common stock per share of the applicable series of Preferred Stock determined by a formula, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions described in the applicable Articles Supplementary for such series.
(b) Dividends on Preferred Stock
From the time of original issuance of the Preferred Stock through December 31, 2019, the Company declared and paid all required quarterly dividends on such series of stock. On March 23, 2020, the Company announced that it had suspended quarterly dividends on its Preferred Stock that would have been payable in April 2020 to focus on conserving capital during the difficult market conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 15, 2020, the Company reinstated the payment of dividends on its Preferred Stock and declared dividends in arrears for the quarterly period that began on January 15, 2020 and ended on April 14, 2020. The following table presents the relevant information with respect to quarterly cash dividends declared on the Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock commencing January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020 and on the Series E Preferred Stock from its time of original issuance through December 31, 2020:
(1)Preferred Stock dividends declared on June 15, 2020 included cash dividends in arrears for the quarterly period that began on January 15, 2020 and ended on April 14, 2020 and cash dividends for the quarterly period that began on April 15, 2020 and ended on July 14, 2020.
(2)Cash dividend for the partial quarterly period that began on October 18, 2019 and ended on January 14, 2020.
(c)Dividends on Common Stock
On March 23, 2020, the Company announced that it had suspended its quarterly dividend on common stock for the first quarter of 2020 to focus on conserving capital during the difficult market conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the Company did not declare a cash dividend on its common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on common stock for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020. The following table presents cash dividends declared by the Company on its common stock with respect to the quarterly periods commencing January 1, 2018 and ended December 31, 2020:
During 2020, aggregate dividends for our common stock were $0.225 per share. For tax reporting purposes, the 2020 dividends were classified as ordinary income and return of capital in the amounts of $0.180 and $0.045, respectively, per share. During 2019, aggregate dividends for our common stock were $0.80 per share. For tax reporting purposes, the 2019 dividends were classified as ordinary income, capital gain distribution and return of capital in the amounts of $0.42, $0.13 and $0.25, respectively, per share. During 2018, aggregate dividends for our common stock were $0.80 per share. For tax reporting purposes, the 2018 dividends were classified as ordinary income, capital gain distribution and return of capital in the amounts of $0.37, $0.12 and $0.31, respectively, per share.
(d)Public Offering of Common Stock
The following table details the Company's public offerings of common stock during the three years ended December 31, 2020 (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1) Proceeds are net of underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses
(e)Equity Distribution Agreements
On August 10, 2017, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement (the “Common Equity Distribution Agreement”) with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“Credit Suisse”), as sales agent, pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, having a maximum aggregate sales price of up to $100.0 million, from time to time through Credit Suisse. On September 10, 2018, the Company entered into an amendment to the Common Equity Distribution Agreement that increased the maximum aggregate sales price to $177.1 million. The Company has no obligation to sell any of the shares of common stock issuable under the Common Equity Distribution Agreement and may at any time suspend solicitations and offers under the Common Equity Distribution Agreement.
There were no shares of the Company's common stock issued under the Common Equity Distribution Agreement during the year ended December 31, 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 2,260,200 shares of its common stock under the Common Equity Distribution Agreement, at an average price of $6.12 per share, resulting in total net proceeds to the Company of $13.6 million. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 14,588,631 shares of its common stock under the Common Equity Distribution Agreement, at an average price of $6.19 per share, resulting in total net proceeds to the Company of $89.0 million. As of December 31, 2020, approximately $72.5 million of common stock remains available for issuance under the Common Equity Distribution Agreement.
On March 29, 2019, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement (the “Preferred Equity Distribution Agreement”) with JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC, as sales agent, pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell shares of the Company's Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock, having a maximum aggregate gross sales price of up to $50.0 million, from time to time through the sales agent. On November 27, 2019, the Company entered into an amendment to the Preferred Equity Distribution Agreement that increased the maximum aggregate sales price to $131.5 million. The amendment also provided for the inclusion of sales of the Company’s Series E Preferred Stock. The Company has no obligation to sell any of the shares of Preferred Stock issuable under the Preferred Equity Distribution Agreement and may at any time suspend solicitations and offers under the Preferred Equity Distribution Agreement.
There were no shares of Preferred Stock issued under the Preferred Equity Distribution Agreement during the year ended December 31, 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 1,972,888 shares of Preferred Stock under the Preferred Equity Distribution Agreement, at an average price of $24.88 per share, resulting in total net proceeds to the Company of $48.4 million. As of December 31, 2020, approximately $82.4 million of Preferred Stock remains available for issuance under the Preferred Equity Distribution Agreement.
16. Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share
The Company calculates basic earnings (loss) per common share by dividing net income (loss) attributable to the Company’s common stockholders for the period by weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding for that period. Diluted earnings (loss) per common share takes into account the effect of dilutive instruments, such as convertible notes, performance share units and restricted stock units, and the number of incremental shares that are to be added to the weighted-average number of shares outstanding.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company's Convertible Notes were determined to be anti-dilutive and were not included in the calculation of diluted loss per common share. During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company’s Convertible Notes were determined to be dilutive and were included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share under the “if-converted” method. Under this method, the periodic interest expense (net of applicable taxes) for dilutive notes is added back to the numerator and the number of shares that the notes are entitled to (if converted, regardless of whether they are in or out of the money) are included in the denominator.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the RSUs awarded under the 2017 Plan were determined to be anti-dilutive and were not included in the calculation of diluted loss per common share. There were no RSUs outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the PSUs awarded under the 2017 Plan were determined to be anti-dilutive and were not included in the calculation of diluted loss per common share. During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, PSUs awarded under the 2017 Plan were determined to be dilutive and were included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share under the treasury stock method. Under this method, common equivalent shares are calculated assuming that target PSUs vest according to the PSU Agreements and unrecognized compensation cost is used to repurchase shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at the average market price during the reported period.
The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common share for the periods indicated (dollar and share amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):
17. Stock Based Compensation
In May 2017, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2017 Plan, with such stockholder action resulting in the termination of the Company’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”). In June 2019, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the 2017 Plan to increase the shares reserved under the 2017 Plan by 7,600,000 shares of common stock. The terms of the 2017 Plan are substantially the same as the 2010 Plan. At December 31, 2020, there were no common shares of non-vested restricted stock outstanding under the 2010 Plan.
Pursuant to the 2017 Plan, eligible employees, officers and directors of the Company are offered the opportunity to acquire the Company’s common stock through the award of restricted stock and other equity awards under the 2017 Plan. The maximum number of shares that may be issued under the 2017 Plan is 13,170,000.
Of the common stock authorized at December 31, 2020, 5,540,536 shares remain available for issuance under the 2017 Plan. The Company’s non-employee directors have been issued 507,821 shares under the 2017 Plan as of December 31, 2020. The Company’s employees have been issued 1,881,380 shares of restricted stock under the 2017 Plan as of December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2020, there were 1,603,766 shares of non-vested restricted stock outstanding, 4,798,517 common shares reserved for issuance in connection with PSUs under the 2017 Plan and 441,746 common shares reserved for issuance in connection with RSUs under the 2017 Plan.
Of the common stock authorized at December 31, 2019, 9,053,166 shares were reserved for issuance under the 2017 Plan. The Company’s non-employee directors had been issued 228,750 shares under the 2017 Plan as of December 31, 2019. The Company’s employees had been issued 827,126 shares of restricted stock under the 2017 Plan as of December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2019, there were 755,286 shares of non-vested restricted stock outstanding and 3,060,958 common shares reserved for issuance in connection with outstanding PSUs under the 2017 Plan.
(a)Restricted Common Stock Awards
During the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized non-cash compensation expense on its restricted common stock awards of $3.8 million, $2.2 million and $1.3 million, respectively. Dividends are paid on all restricted stock issued, whether those shares have vested or not. Non-vested restricted stock is forfeited upon the recipient’s termination of employment, subject to certain exceptions. There were no forfeitures of shares for the year ended December 31, 2020. There were forfeitures of 1,575 shares for the year ended December 31, 2019 and forfeitures of 5,120 shares for the year ended December 31, 2018.
A summary of the activity of the Company’s non-vested restricted stock collectively under the 2010 Plan and 2017 Plan for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, is presented below:
(1)The grant date fair value of restricted stock awards is based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock at the grant date.
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had unrecognized compensation expense of $5.9 million and $3.1 million, respectively, related to the non-vested shares of restricted common stock under the 2017 Plan and 2010 Plan, collectively. The unrecognized compensation expense at December 31, 2020 is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.8 years. The total fair value of restricted shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $1.8 million, $1.3 million and $1.1 million, respectively. The requisite service period for restricted stock awards at issuance is three years and the restricted common stock either vests ratably over the requisite service period or at the end of the requisite service period.
(b)Performance Share Units
During the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company granted PSUs that had been approved by the Compensation Committee and the Board. Each PSU represents an unfunded promise to receive one share of the Company’s common stock once the performance condition has been satisfied. The awards were issued pursuant to and are consistent with the terms and conditions of the 2017 Plan.
The PSU awards are subject to performance-based vesting under the 2017 Plan pursuant to the PSU Agreements. Vesting of the PSUs will occur at the end of three years based on the following:
•If three-year TSR performance relative to the Company’s identified performance peer group (the “Relative TSR”) is less than the 30th percentile, then 0% of the target PSUs will vest;
•If three-year Relative TSR performance is equal to the 30th percentile, then the Threshold % (as defined in the individual PSU Agreements) of the target PSUs will vest;
•If three-year Relative TSR performance is equal to the 50th percentile, then 100% of the target PSUs will vest; and
•If three-year Relative TSR performance is greater than or equal to the 80th percentile, then the Maximum % (as defined in the individual PSU Agreements) of the target PSUs will vest.
The percentage of target PSUs that vest for performance between the 30th, 50th, and 80th percentiles will be calculated using linear interpolation.
TSR for the Company and each member of the peer group will be determined by dividing (i) the sum of the cumulative amount of such entity’s dividends per share for the performance period and the arithmetic average per share volume weighted average price (the “VWAP”) of such entity’s common stock for the last thirty (30) consecutive trading days of the performance period minus the arithmetic average per share VWAP of such entity’s common stock for the last thirty (30) consecutive trading days immediately prior to the performance period by (ii) the arithmetic average per share VWAP of such entity’s common stock for the last thirty (30) consecutive trading days immediately prior to the performance period.
The grant date fair value of the PSUs was determined through a Monte-Carlo simulation of the Company’s common stock total shareholder return and the common stock total shareholder return of its identified performance peer companies to determine the Relative TSR of the Company’s common stock over a future period of three years. For the PSUs granted in 2020, 2019 and 2018, the inputs used by the model to determine the fair value are (i) historical stock price volatilities of the Company and its identified performance peer companies over the most recent three year period and correlation between each company’s stock and the identified performance peer group over the same time series and (ii) a risk free rate for the period interpolated from the U.S. Treasury yield curve on grant date.
The PSUs granted during the year ended December 31, 2020 include DERs which shall remain outstanding from the grant date until the earlier of the settlement or forfeiture of the PSU to which the DER corresponds. Each vested DER entitles the holder to receive payments in an amount equal to any dividends paid by the Company in respect of the share of the Company’s common stock underlying the PSU to which such DER relates. Upon vesting of the PSUs, the DER will also vest. DERs will be forfeited upon forfeiture of the corresponding PSUs. The DERs may be settled in cash or stock at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.
A summary of the activity of the target PSU Awards under the 2017 Plan for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, is presented below:
(1)The grant date fair value of the PSUs was determined through a Monte-Carlo simulation of the Company’s common stock total shareholder return and the common stock total shareholder return of its identified performance peer companies to determine the Relative TSR of the Company’s common stock over a future period of three years.
As of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, there was $5.7 million, $4.5 million and $2.6 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to the non-vested portion of the PSUs, respectively. The unrecognized compensation cost related to the non-vested portion of the PSUs at December 31, 2020 is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years. Compensation expense related to the PSUs was $5.0 million, $2.9 million and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Restricted Stock Units
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company granted RSUs that had been approved by the Compensation Committee and the Board. Each RSU represents an unfunded promise to receive one share of the Company's common stock upon satisfaction of the vesting provisions. The awards were issued pursuant to and are consistent with the terms and conditions of the 2017 Plan. The requisite service period for RSUs at issuance is three years and the RSUs vest ratably over the requisite service period.
The RSUs granted during the year ended December 31, 2020 include DERs which shall remain outstanding from the grant date until the earlier of the settlement or forfeiture of the RSU to which the DER corresponds. Each vested DER entitles the holder to receive payments in an amount equal to any dividends paid by the Company in respect of the share of the Company’s common stock underlying the RSU to which such DER relates. Upon vesting of the RSUs, the DER will also vest. DERs will be forfeited upon forfeiture of the corresponding RSUs. The DERs may be settled in cash or stock at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.
A summary of the activity of the RSU awards under the 2017 Plan for the year ended December 31, 2020 is presented below:
(1)The grant date fair value of RSUs is based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock at the grant date.
As of December 31, 2020 there was $1.8 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to the non-vested portion of the RSUs. The unrecognized compensation cost related to the non-vested portion of the RSUs at December 31, 2020 is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years. Compensation expense related to the RSUs for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $0.9 million.
18. Income Taxes
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company qualified to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As long as the Company qualifies as a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes on its taxable income to the extent it annually distributes at least 100% of its taxable income to stockholders and does not engage in prohibited transactions. Certain activities the Company performs may produce income that will not be qualifying income for REIT purposes. The Company has designated its TRSs to engage in these activities. The tables below reflect the taxes accrued at the TRS level and the tax attributes included in the consolidated financial statements.
The income tax provision (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, is comprised of the following components (dollar amounts in thousands):
The Company’s estimated taxable income differs from the statutory U.S. federal rate as a result of state and local taxes, non-taxable REIT income, valuation allowance and other differences. A reconciliation of the statutory income tax (benefit) provision to the effective income tax provision (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are as follows (dollar amounts in thousands).
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities
The major sources of temporary differences included in the deferred tax assets and their deferred tax effect as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
(1)Included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
(2)Included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company, through wholly owned TRSs, had incurred net operating losses in the aggregate amount of approximately $16.1 million. The Company’s carryforward net operating losses of approximately $15.2 million can be carried forward indefinitely until they are offset by future taxable income. The remaining $0.9 million of net operating losses will expire between 2036 and 2037 if they are not offset by future taxable income. Additionally, as of December 31, 2020, the Company, through one of its wholly-owned TRSs, had also incurred approximately $13.0 million in capital losses. The Company’s carryforward capital losses will expire between 2023 and 2025 if they are not offset by future capital gains.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets as management does not believe that it is more likely than not that these deferred tax assets will be realized. The change in the valuation for the current year is approximately $2.5 million. We will continue to monitor positive and negative evidence related to the utilization of the remaining deferred tax assets for which a valuation allowance continues to be provided.
The Company files income tax returns with the U.S. federal government and various state and local jurisdictions. The Company’s federal, state and city income tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and related tax authorities generally for three years after they were filed. The Company has assessed its tax positions for all open years and concluded that there are no material uncertainties to be recognized.
Based on the Company’s evaluation, the Company has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in the Company’s financial statements. To the extent that the Company incurs interest and accrued penalties in connection with its tax obligations, including expenses related to the Company’s evaluation of unrecognized tax positions, such amounts will be included in income tax expense.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted in the U.S. This legislation was intended to support the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic with temporary changes to income and non-income based tax laws. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the changes did not have a material impact to our financial statements. We will continue to monitor as additional guidance is issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service and others.
19. Net Interest Income
The following table details the components of the Company's interest income and interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively (dollar amounts in thousands):
20. Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)
The following table is a comparative breakdown of our unaudited quarterly results for the immediately preceding eight quarters (amounts in thousands, except per share data):
Schedule IV - Mortgage Loans on Real Estate
(dollar amounts in thousands)
December 31, 2020
Reconciliation of Balance Sheet Reported Amounts of Mortgage Loans on Real Estate
(1)As of January 1, 2020, the Company has elected to account for all residential loans using the fair value option (see Note 2).
(2)During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company sold first loss PO securities included in the Consolidated K-Series and, as a result, de-consolidated the multi-family loans held in the Consolidated K-Series and transferred its remaining securities owned in the Consolidated K-Series to investment securities available for sale (see Notes 2 and 4).