Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             .

Commission file number 001-33740

 

 

LOGO

Cypress Sharpridge Investments, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   20-4072657

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

437 Madison Avenue, 33rd Floor

New York, New York

  10022
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(212) 612-3210

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Check one:

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

 

Outstanding at July 22, 2010

Common Stock ($0.01 par value)   29,698,240

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

          Page

PART I.

   Financial Information   

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

   1

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   22

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   38

Item 4T.

  

Controls and Procedures

   41

PART II.

   Other Information   

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   42

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   42

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   42

Item 3.

  

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

   42

Item 4.

  

(Removed and Reserved)

   42

Item 5.

  

Other Information

   42

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   42
  

SIGNATURES

   43


Table of Contents

PART I. Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

     June 30, 2010
(Unaudited)
    December 31,
2009*
 

ASSETS:

    

Investments in securities, at fair value (cost, $2,242,981,687 and $1,846,995,280, respectively)

   $ 2,297,490,481      $ 1,853,251,613   

Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value

     —          1,131,487   

Cash and cash equivalents

     140,625,097        1,889,667   

Receivable for securities sold

     2,125,012        2,724,805   

Interest receivable

     6,620,928        6,886,816   

Prepaid insurance

     815,377        89,642   

Prepaid and deferred offering costs

     —          222,266   
                

Total assets

     2,447,676,895        1,866,196,296   
                

LIABILITIES:

    

Repurchase agreements

     1,447,600,123        1,372,707,572   

Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value

     9,056,666        4,925,333   

Payable for securities purchased and terminated swap contract

     586,461,254        229,838,772   

Distribution payable

     11,260,592        10,316,082   

Accrued interest payable (including accrued interest on repurchase agreements of $260,523 and $353,856, respectively)

     1,772,724        3,387,431   

Related party management fee payable

     416,323        356,873   

Accrued offering costs

     219,242        —     

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     338,207        373,251   
                

Total liabilities

     2,057,125,131        1,621,905,314   
                

Contingencies (note 10)

    

NET ASSETS

   $ 390,551,764      $ 244,290,982   
                

Net Assets consist of:

    

Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized (29,692,654 and 18,756,512 shares issued and outstanding, respectively)

   $ 296,927      $ 187,565   

Additional paid in capital

     439,354,081        309,368,569   

Accumulated deficit

     (49,099,244     (65,265,152
                

NET ASSETS

   $ 390,551,764      $ 244,290,982   
                

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

   $ 13.15      $ 13.02   
                

 

* Derived from audited financial statements.

 

See notes to financial statements.

1


Table of Contents

CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS

JUNE 30, 2010 (UNAUDITED)

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES—UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 

     Face Amount    Fair Value

Fixed Income Securities - 588.3%(d)

     

Mortgage Pass-Through Agency RMBS - 585.0%(d)

     

Fannie Mae Pools - 464.1%(d)

     

2.58%, due 5/1/2034(b)

   $ 7,397,818    $ 7,789,237

2.6%, due 4/1/2035(a)(b)

     9,107,881      9,536,680

2.83%, due 3/1/2034(a)(b)

     34,797,268      36,359,665

2.86%, due 1/1/2035(a)(b)

     26,247,537      27,440,420

2.94%, due 8/1/2037(a)(b)

     20,889,934      21,861,619

3.15%, due 9/1/2034(a)(b)

     24,497,133      25,477,508

3.55%, due 10/1/2030(b)

     25,000,000      25,632,813

3.55%, due 8/1/2033(a)(b)

     4,489,690      4,673,150

3.58%, due 10/1/2030(b)

     50,000,000      51,343,750

3.6%, due 8/1/2030(b)

     50,000,000      51,875,000

3.62%, due 10/1/2030(b)

     50,000,000      51,343,750

3.65%, due 1/6/2040(b)

     20,036,173      20,812,575

3.65%, due 8/1/2030(b)

     50,000,000      51,937,500

3.69%, due 10/1/2030(b)

     50,000,000      51,476,563

3.7%, due 1/5/2040(b)

     14,743,298      15,338,543

3.7%, due 10/1/2030(b)

     25,000,000      25,742,188

3.7%, due 7/1/2039(a)(b)

     7,619,399      7,969,891

3.72%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     33,718,970      35,246,439

3.77%, due 1/5/2040(b)

     50,186,513      51,943,041

3.81%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     34,057,238      35,729,449

3.84%, due 7/1/2039(a)(b)

     19,420,730      20,289,353

3.85%, due 9/1/2030(b)

     50,000,000      51,796,875

3.98%, due 10/1/2039(a)(b)

     45,550,137      48,018,955

3.99%, due 7/1/2039(a)(b)

     20,311,184      21,278,346

3.99%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     22,041,673      23,198,860

4%, due 1/1/2025(a)

     46,886,423      48,834,225

4%, due 1/1/2025(a)

     74,969,041      78,013,195

4%, due 12/1/2024(a)

     24,462,278      25,478,514

4%, due 2/1/2025(a)

     48,742,996      50,722,228

4%, due 3/1/2025(a)

     49,311,095      51,313,395

4%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     41,496,565      43,641,937

4.08%, due 6/1/2039(a)(b)

     22,418,468      23,617,856

4.1%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     33,213,258      35,010,095

4.5%, due 1/5/2010(a)

     49,683,075      52,116,552

4.5%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     13,819,037      14,606,480

4.5%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     43,775,295      46,269,719

4.5%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     44,769,656      47,320,742

4.5%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     33,609,228      35,524,364

4.5%, due 11/1/2024(a)

     13,577,907      14,351,609

4.5%, due 11/1/2024(a)

     57,584,748      60,866,069

4.5%, due 2/1/2025(a)

     72,636,360      76,741,311

4.5%, due 4/1/2030(a)

     30,213,744      31,693,613

4.5%, due 5/1/2024(a)

     14,328,212      15,149,075

4.5%, due 5/1/2024(a)

     15,758,759      16,661,578

4.5%, due 6/1/2024(a)

     29,646,554      31,345,005

4.5%, due 6/1/2024(a)

     24,558,380      25,965,330

4.5%, due 6/1/2024(a)

     19,754,261      20,885,983

4.5%, due 9/1/2024(a)

     23,933,513      25,304,664

 

See notes to financial statements.

2


Table of Contents

CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

JUNE 30, 2010 (UNAUDITED)

 

     Face Amount    Fair Value

4.5%, due 9/1/2024(a)

   $ 25,493,915    $ 26,954,461

4.5%, due 9/1/2024(a)

     2,501,888      2,645,221

5.24%, due 3/1/2038(a)(b)

     17,928,504      19,097,693

5.28%, due 11/1/2037(a)(b)

     4,556,148      4,862,321

5.5%, due 9/1/2023(a)

     39,398,819      42,653,161

5.84%, due 8/1/2037(a)(b)

     23,265,041      24,842,701

5.88%, due 11/1/2036(a)(b)

     16,191,543      17,225,854

6%, due 4/1/2038(a)

     16,666,050      18,100,663

6%, due 5/1/2037(a)

     9,784,997      10,554,647
             

Total Fannie Mae Pools

     1,730,048,334      1,812,482,431
             

Freddie Mac Pools - 78.6%(d)

     

2.88%, due 4/1/2035(a)

     10,128,830      10,670,824

4.5%, due 1/1/2025(a)

     38,269,926      40,402,802

4.5%, due 12/1/2024

     16,983,127      17,929,638

4.5%, due 12/1/2024(a)

     17,831,777      18,825,585

4.5%, due 2/1/2025(a)

     48,576,439      51,283,722

4.5%, due 7/1/2024(a)

     60,096,690      63,483,138

4.75%, due 12/1/2038(a)(b)

     9,313,221      9,866,426

4.96%, due 5/1/2038(a)(b)

     37,923,685      40,273,810

5.5%, due 9/1/2023

     5,385,541      5,821,552

5.76%, due 11/1/2036(a)(b)

     21,474,336      22,855,690

5.86%, due 1/1/2036(b)

     3,189,643      3,326,104

5.97%, due 10/1/2037(a)(b)

     20,822,390      22,309,905
             

Total Freddie Mac Pools

     289,995,605      307,049,196
             

Ginnie Mae Pools - 42.3% (d)

     

3.5%, due 9/1/2040(b)

     50,000,000      51,343,750

3.5%, due 7/1/2030(b)

     85,000,000      87,656,250

4%, due 1/20/2040(a)(b)

     24,827,149      26,093,830
             

Total Ginnie Mae Pools

     159,827,149      165,093,830
             

Total Mortgage Pass-Through Agency RMBS (cost - $2,216,629,719)

     2,179,871,088      2,284,625,457
             

Collateralized Loan Obligation Securities - 3.3%(d)

     

AMMC CLO V, LTD(c)

     2,249,000      742,170

AMMC CLO VII, LTD(c)(e)

     3,900,000      1,482,000

ARES VIR CLO, LTD(c)(e)

     3,775,000      1,321,250

AVENUE CLO V, LTD(c)(e)

     2,000,000      360,000

BALLYROCK, CLO V, LTD(c)

     4,270,000      2,860,900

CARLYLE HIGH YIELD PARTNERS VIII, LTD(c)

     3,000,000      1,200,000

EATON VANCE CDO IX, LTD(c)

     2,500,000      768,750

FLAGSHIP CLO V, LTD(c)

     3,750,000      1,875,000

PRIMUS CLO I, LTD(c)

     2,500,000      950,000

TRIMARAN CLO VII, LTD(c)

     2,000,000      1,235,000
             

Total Collateralized Loan Obligation Securities (cost - $22,854,293)

     29,944,000      12,795,070
             

Structured Notes - 0.0%(d)

     

8.85%, due 4/15/2039(b)(c)

     3,497,675      69,954
             

Total Structured Notes (cost - $3,497,675)

     3,497,675      69,954
             

Total Investments in Securities (cost - $2,242,981,687)

   $ 2,213,312,763    $ 2,297,490,481
             

 

See notes to financial statements.

3


Table of Contents

CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

JUNE 30, 2010 (UNAUDITED)

 

     Notional Amount    Fair Value  

Unrealized Depreciation on Interest Rate Swap Contracts - (2.3%)(d)

     

May 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.71%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

   $ 240,000,000    $ (2,838,708

May 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.60%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     100,000,000      (844,724

June 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.38%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     300,000,000      (387,767

May 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 2.12%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     200,000,000      (3,393,545

May 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.88%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     200,000,000      (1,561,363

July 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.72%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     100,000,000      (30,559
               

Total Unrealized Depreciation on Interest Rate Swap Contracts (Cost, $0)

   $ 1,140,000,000    $ (9,056,666
               

 

LEGEND

 

(a)

Securities or a portion of the securities are pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements or interest rate swap contracts.

(b)

The coupon rate shown on floating or adjustable rate securities represents the rate at June 30, 2010.

(c)

Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At June 30, 2010, the fair value of these securities amounted to $12,865,024 or 3.3% of net assets.

(d)

Percentage of net assets.

(e)

Non-income producing security.

 

See notes to financial statements.

4


Table of Contents

CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

DECEMBER 31, 2009*

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES—UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 

     Face Amount    Fair Value

Fixed Income Securities - 758.6%(d)

     

Mortgage Pass-Through Agency RMBS - 754.7%(d)

     

Fannie Mae Pools - 652.2%(d)

     

2.907%, due 1/1/2035(a)(b)

   $ 29,968,527    $ 31,010,529

2.993%, due 4/1/2036(a)(b)

     39,693,779      41,083,061

3.004%, due 7/1/2036(a)(b)

     34,473,372      35,679,941

3.007%, due 10/1/2036(a)(b)

     33,776,514      34,958,692

3.024%, due 6/1/2036(a)(b)

     32,282,832      33,412,732

3.281%, due 9/1/2034(a)(b)

     28,217,356      29,147,118

3.533%, due 8/1/2037(a)(b)

     24,301,362      25,125,421

3.71%, due 7/1/2039(b)

     9,464,706      9,674,350

3.726%, due 3/1/2034(a)(b)

     38,348,806      39,680,660

3.736%, due 5/1/2034(a)(b)

     7,506,917      7,763,278

3.744%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     35,213,718      35,962,010

3.815%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     34,774,099      35,599,984

3.99%, due 10/1/2039(a)(b)

     52,564,978      54,059,795

3.997%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     24,760,921      25,472,797

4%, due 12/1/2024(a)

     25,206,097      25,367,574

4%, due 1/1/2025(a)

     49,442,119      49,758,858

4%, due 2/1/2025

     75,000,000      75,480,469

4%, due 3/1/2025

     50,000,000      49,984,375

4.028%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     48,482,758      49,914,454

4.053%, due 7/1/2039(b)

     41,086,634      42,324,164

4.071%, due 6/1/2039(a)(b)

     23,842,099      24,599,324

4.089%, due 7/1/2039(a)(b)

     39,480,789      40,711,405

4.1%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     47,540,515      48,996,443

4.11%, due 8/1/2033(a)(b)

     6,230,747      6,470,257

4.5%, due 1/1/2025

     75,000,000      76,945,313

4.5%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     14,215,383      14,624,075

4.5%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     35,133,397      36,143,482

4.5%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     49,070,971      50,481,761

4.5%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     48,847,852      50,252,228

4.5%, due 11/1/2024(a)

     61,023,597      62,778,025

4.5%, due 11/1/2024(a)

     14,050,143      14,454,084

4.5%, due 5/1/2024(a)

     17,126,118      17,618,494

4.5%, due 6/1/2024(a)

     32,265,407      33,193,038

4.5%, due 6/1/2024(a)

     21,583,471      22,203,996

4.5%, due 6/1/2024(a)

     27,170,767      27,951,927

4.5%, due 9/1/2024(a)

     27,005,239      27,781,640

4.5%, due 9/1/2024(a)

     28,600,339      29,422,599

4.5%, due 9/1/2024(a)

     2,928,860      3,013,065

4.562%, due 4/1/2035(a)(b)

     9,767,018      10,141,290

5.29%, due 3/1/2038(a)(b)

     23,875,089      25,188,219

5.5%, due 9/1/2023(a)

     47,390,027      50,204,995

5.564%, due 11/1/2037(a)(b)

     7,238,022      7,681,351

 

See notes to financial statements.

5


Table of Contents

CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

DECEMBER 31, 2009*

 

     Face Amount    Fair Value

5.859%, due 8/1/2037(a)(b)

   $ 43,151,052    $ 45,822,102

5.937%, due 11/1/2036(a)(b)

     32,327,827      34,369,653

5.983%, due 12/1/2036(a)(b)

     31,889,626      33,890,062

6%, due 4/1/2038(a)

     25,259,295      26,873,364

6%, due 5/1/2037(a)

     15,167,653      16,088,329

6.113%, due 5/1/2037(a)(b)

     22,463,223      23,923,332
             

Total Fannie Mae Pools

     1,544,210,021      1,593,284,115
             

Freddie Mac Pools - 92.1%(d)

     

4.145%, due 4/1/2035(a)(b)

     11,093,925      11,503,069

4.5%, due 7/1/2024

     66,102,683      67,961,821

4.788%, due 12/1/2038(a)(b)

     11,411,495      11,960,387

4.978%, due 5/1/2038(a)(b)

     42,663,027      44,975,363

5.5%, due 9/1/2023(a)

     7,126,262      7,542,435

5.79%, due 11/1/2036(a)(b)

     39,662,375      41,981,830

5.956%, due 1/1/2036(a)(b)

     4,413,530      4,633,676

5.996%, due 10/1/2037(a)(b)

     32,382,377      34,406,275
             

Total Freddie Mac Pools

     214,855,674      224,964,856
             

Ginnie Mae Pools - 10.4%(d)

     

4.0%, due 1/1/2040(b)

     25,000,000      25,562,500
             

Total Ginnie Mae Pools

     25,000,000      25,562,500
             

Total Mortgage Pass-Through Agency RMBS (cost - $1,808,695,017)

     1,784,065,695      1,843,811,471
             

Collateralized Loan Obligation Securities - 3.8%(d)

     

AMMC CLO V, LTD(c)(e)

     2,249,000      494,780

AMMC CLO VII, LTD(c)(e)

     3,900,000      585,000

ARES VIR CLO, LTD(c)(e)

     3,775,000      792,750

AVENUE CLO V, LTD(c)

     2,000,000      80,000

BALLYROCK CLO 2006-2, LTD(c)

     4,270,000      1,750,700

CARLYLE HIGH YIELD PARTNERS VIII, LTD(c)

     3,000,000      210,000

EATON VANCE CDO IX, LTD(c)

     2,500,000      600,000

FLAGSHIP CLO V, LTD(c)

     3,750,000      825,000

PRIMUS CLO I, LTD(c)(e)

     2,500,000      500,000

START III CLO, LTD(c)

     3,000,000      2,660,400

TRIMARAN CLO VII, LTD(c)

     2,000,000      700,000
             

Total Collateralized Loan Obligation Securities (cost - $27,145,692)

     32,944,000      9,198,630
             

Structured Notes - 0.1%(d)

     

RESIX 2006-B B9, 6.233%, due 7/15/2038(b)(c)

     1,849,306      55,479

RESIX 2006-B B10, 7.733%, due 7/15/2038(b)(c)

     1,849,306      36,986

RESIX 2006-C B11, 7.483%, due 7/15/2038(b)(c)

     708,387      14,168

RESIX 2007-A B11, 6.733%, due 2/15/2039(b)(c)

     3,246,274      64,925

RESIX 2007-B B11, 8.733%, due 4/15/2039(b)(c)

     3,497,675      69,954
             

Total Structured Notes (cost - $11,154,571)

     11,150,948      241,512
             

Total Investments in Securities (cost$ - 1,846,995,280)

   $ 1,828,160,643    $ 1,853,251,613
             

 

See notes to financial statements.

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CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

DECEMBER 31, 2009*

 

     Notional Amount    Fair Value  

Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Interest Rate Swap Contracts - (1.6%)(d)

     

April 2012 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.691%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

   $ 240,000,000    $ (543,716 )

June 2012 Expiration, Pay Rate 2.266%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     200,000,000      (2,558,748 )

July 2012 Expiration, Pay Rate 2.125%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     200,000,000      (1,822,869

November 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 2.213%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     100,000,000      1,131,487   
               

Total Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Interest Rate Swap Contracts (Cost, $0)

   $ 740,000,000    $ (3,793,846 )
               

 

LEGEND

 

*

Derived from audited financial statements.

(a)

Securities or a portion of the securities are pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements or interest rate swap contracts.

(b)

The coupon rate shown on floating or adjustable rate securities represents the rate at December 31, 2009.

(c)

Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2009, the fair value of these securities amounted to $9,440,142 or 3.9% of net assets.

(d)

Percentage of net assets.

(e)

Non-income producing security.

 

See notes to financial statements.

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CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

INVESTMENT INCOME - Interest income

   $ 17,265,278      $ 9,727,375      $ 34,202,245      $ 19,048,720   
                                

EXPENSES:

        

Interest

     1,081,011        1,111,059        2,067,423        2,500,567   

Management fees

     1,151,973        786,999        2,227,523        1,498,768   

Related party management compensation

     314,872        102,923        645,345        533,218   

General, administrative and other

     619,250        524,416        1,444,664        944,590   
                                

Total expenses

     3,167,106        2,525,397        6,384,955        5,477,143   
                                

Net investment income

     14,098,172        7,201,978        27,817,290        13,571,577   
                                

GAINS AND (LOSSES) FROM INVESTMENTS:

        

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

     (2,167,600     (25,945 )     (9,420,482     1,415,931   

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

     34,535,276        12,469,386        48,252,461        18,006,631   
                                

Net gain (loss) from investments

     32,367,676        12,443,441        38,831,979        19,422,562   
                                

GAINS AND (LOSSES) FROM SWAP CONTRACTS:

        

Net swap interest income (expense)

     (3,137,823     (392,098 )     (6,432,243     (2,421,244 )

Net gain (loss) on termination of swap contracts

     (17,205,497     (10,804,123 )     (17,205,497     (10,804,123 )

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on swap contracts

     1,482,962        12,127,098        (5,262,820     13,821,700   
                                

Net gain (loss) from swap contracts

     (18,860,358 )     930,877        (28,900,560     596,333   
                                

NET INCOME

   $ 27,605,490      $ 20,576,296      $ 37,748,709      $ 33,590,472   
                                

NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:

        

Basic

   $ 1.47      $ 2.23     $ 2.01      $ 3.99  
                                

Diluted

   $ 1.46      $ 2.22      $ 2.01      $ 3.98  
                                

 

See notes to financial statements.

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CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (UNAUDITED)

 

     Three Months  Ended
June 30, 2010
    Six Months  Ended
June 30, 2010
 
    

Net income:

    

Net investment income

   $ 14,098,172      $ 27,817,290   

Net realized gain (loss) on investment securities

     (2,167,600     (9,420,482

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

     34,535,276        48,252,461   

Net gain (loss) on swap contracts

     (18,860,358     (28,900,560
                

Net income

     27,605,490        37,748,709   
                

Capital transactions:

    

Net proceeds from issuance of common shares

     129,449,529        129,449,529   

Distributions to shareholders

     (11,264,337     (21,582,801

Amortization of related party compensation

     314,872        645,345   
                

Increase in net assets from capital transactions

     118,500,064        108,512,073   
                

Total increase in net assets

     146,105,554        146,260,782   

Net assets:

    

Beginning of period

     244,446,210        244,290,982   
                

End of period

   $ 390,551,764      $ 390,551,764   
                

 

See notes to financial statements.

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CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

        

Net income

   $ 27,605,490      $ 20,576,296      $ 37,748,709      $ 33,590,472   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

        

Purchase of investment securities

     (583,433,889     (702,950,687     (864,685,141     (920,194,528

Proceeds from disposition of investment securities

     6,685,846        —          192,689,935        50,657,636   

Proceeds from paydowns of investment securities

     118,533,651        33,261,812        263,184,739        58,878,828   

Amortization of related party compensation

     314,872        102,923        645,345        533,218   

Amortization of premiums on investment securities

     (327,682     159,273        149,853        292,612   

Net realized (gain) loss on investment securities

     2,167,600        25,945        9,420,482        (1,415,931

Net realized (gain) loss on paydowns

     1,490,093        368,578        3,253,725        591,316   

Net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on swap contracts

     (1,482,962     (12,127,098     5,262,820        (13,821,700

Net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investments

     (34,535,276     (12,469,386     (48,252,461     (18,006,631

Change in assets and liabilities:

        

Receivable for securities sold

     22,702,445        52,610,837        599,793        (1,461,733

Interest receivable

     186,459        (1,546,645     265,888        (1,866,969

Prepaid insurance

     (641,138     269,009        (725,735     (561,724

Payable for securities purchased and terminated swap contract

     504,070,768        514,047,319        356,622,482        644,304,456   

Related party management fee payable

     62,915        69,923        59,450        90,139   

Accrued interest payable

     (3,150,024     (3,983,706     (1,614,707     (1,779,843

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     20,417        88,045        (35,044     (316,735
                                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     60,269,585        (111,497,562     (45,409,867     (170,487,117
                                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

        

Proceeds from repurchase agreements

     3,513,452,663        1,808,883,065        7,624,130,219        4,003,424,467   

Repayments of repurchase agreements

     (3,553,441,707     (1,752,743,470     (7,549,237,667     (3,891,904,962

Proceeds from issuance of common shares

     130,075,781        107,056,921        130,075,781        107,056,921   

Offering costs paid

     (184,745     (928,723     (184,745     (1,398,667

Distributions paid

     (10,322,209     (9,202,246     (20,638,291     (9,202,246
                                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     79,579,783        153,065,547        184,145,297        207,975,513   
                                

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     139,849,368        41,567,985        138,735,430        37,488,396   

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - Beginning of period

     775,729        3,076,551        1,889,667        7,156,140   
                                

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - End of period

   $ 140,625,097      $ 44,644,536      $ 140,625,097      $ 44,644,536   
                                

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

        

Interest paid

   $ 7,496,957      $ 5,486,863      $ 10,605,773      $ 8,007,886   
                                

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NONCASH FLOW INFORMATION:

        

Distributions declared, not yet paid

   $ 11,260,592      $ —        $ 11,260,592      $ —     
                                

Change in accrued offering costs

   $ 441,508      $ 1,155,973      $ 441,508      $ 1,220,785   
                                

 

See notes to financial statements.

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CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1. ORGANIZATION

Cypress Sharpridge Investments, Inc. (the “Company”) was formed as a Maryland corporation on January 3, 2006, and commenced operations on February 10, 2006. The Company is externally managed and advised by Cypress Sharpridge Advisors LLC (the “Manager”), a Delaware limited liability company, pursuant to a management agreement (the “Management Agreement”). The Manager is a joint venture between Cypress CSI Advisors LLC, a sponsor of private equity funds and leveraged buyouts of U.S. companies in the industrial, consumer, media and financial sectors, and Sharpridge Capital Management, L.P., a fixed income asset management company. Certain individuals associated with Cypress CSI Advisors LLC and Sharpridge Capital Management, L.P. serve on the Company’s board of directors and the Manager’s investment committee.

The Company has elected to be taxed and intends to continue to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and is required to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), with respect thereto. The Company’s strategy had been to invest a majority of its capital in residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) that are issued and guaranteed by a federally chartered corporation, 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”) (“Agency RMBS”), and subordinated tranches of asset-backed securities, including collateralized debt or loan obligations (“CLOs”). In March 2008, the board of directors amended the investment guidelines, pursuant to which the Company will invest exclusively in Agency RMBS. In March 2010, the board of directors further amended the investment guidelines so that the Company may also invest in collateralized mortgage obligations issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae. The Company’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CYS”.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying interim unaudited financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for investment companies (“GAAP”) and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10, Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The interim unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009, included in the annual report on Form 10-K. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the fiscal year.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those management estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash held in banks and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents is recorded in interest income.

Interest Rate Swap Contracts

The Company utilizes interest rate swaps to hedge the interest rate risk associated with the financing of its portfolio. Specifically, the Company seeks to hedge the exposure to potential interest rate mismatches between the interest earned on investments and the borrowing costs caused by fluctuations in short term interest rates. In a simple interest rate swap, one investor pays a floating rate of interest on a notional principal amount and receives a fixed rate of interest on the same notional principal amount for a specified period of time. Alternatively, an investor may pay a fixed rate and receive a floating rate. Interest rate swaps are asset/liability management tools.

During the term of the interest rate swap, the Company makes or receives periodic payments and unrealized gains or losses are recorded as a result of marking the swap to its fair value. When the swap is terminated, the Company will record a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Company’s basis in the contract, if any. The periodic payments and any realized or unrealized gains or losses are reported under gains and losses from swap contracts in the statement of operations. Swaps involve a risk that interest rates will move contrary to the Company’s expectations, thereby increasing its payment obligation.

 

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CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

The Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 946, Clarification of the Scope of Audit and Accounting Guide Investment Companies (“ASC 946”), prior to its deferral in February 2008. Under ASC 946, the Company uses financial reporting for investment companies, and accordingly, its investments including its interest rate swap contracts, are carried at fair value with changes in fair value included in earnings. Consequently, there is no impact to designating interest rate swaps as cash flow or fair value hedges under GAAP.

The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counterparty to the swap, limited to any gains recognized. However, the Company does not anticipate nonperformance by any counterparty. Should interest rates move unexpectedly, the Company may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the interest rate swap and may realize a loss.

Investment Valuation

Valuation of the Company’s investments is determined by management. Investments are valued using third-party pricing services and dealer quotes. The third-party pricing services use pricing models that incorporate such factors as coupons, primary and secondary mortgage rates, prepayment speeds, spread to the Treasury curves and interest rate swap curves, convexity, duration, periodic and life caps and credit enhancement. The dealer quotes incorporate common market pricing methods, including a spread measurement to the Treasury curves or interest rate swap curve as well as underlying characteristics of the particular security including coupon, periodic and life caps, rate reset period, issuer, additional credit support and expected life of the security. Management reviews all prices used to ensure that current market conditions are represented. This review includes comparisons of similar market transactions, alternative third-party pricing services and dealer quotes, or comparisons to a pricing model. The resulting unrealized gains and losses are reflected in the statement of operations.

Investment Transactions and Income

The Company records its transactions in securities on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses on securities transactions are recorded on an identified cost basis. Interest income and expense are recorded on the accrual basis. Interest income on Agency RMBS and structured notes is accrued based on outstanding principal amount of the securities and their contractual terms. Interest on CLOs is accrued at a rate determined based on estimated future cash flows and adjusted prospectively as future cash flow amounts are recast. For CLO securities placed on nonaccrual status or when the Company cannot reliably estimate cash flows, the cost recovery method is used. Amortization of premium and accretion of discount are recorded using the yield to maturity method, and are included in interest income in the statement of operations.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for share-based compensation issued to its non-management directors and executive officers and certain officers and employees of its Manager and its sub-advisors and other individuals who provide services to the Company, as designated by its Manager (“Manager Designees”), using the fair value based methodology prescribed by ASC 718, Share-Based Payment (“ASC 718”). Compensation cost related to restricted common stock and common stock options issued to the Manager Designees is initially measured at estimated fair value at the grant date, and is remeasured on subsequent dates to the extent the awards are unvested. Compensation cost related to non-management directors is measured at its estimated fair value at the grant date and amortized and expensed over the vesting period. The Company has elected to use the straight line method pursuant to ASC 718 to amortize compensation expense for the restricted common stock and common stock options granted to the Manager Designees.

Income Taxes

The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT and intends to continue to comply with provisions of the Code with respect thereto. As a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to federal or state income tax. To maintain its qualification as a REIT, the Company must distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders and meet certain other tests relating to assets and income.

Earnings Per Share (“EPS”)

Basic EPS is computed using the two class method by dividing net income (loss) after adjusting for the impact of unvested stock awards deemed to be participating securities, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding calculated excluding unvested stock awards. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income (loss) after adjusting for the impact of unvested stock awards deemed to be participating securities, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding calculated excluding unvested stock awards, giving effect to common stock options and warrants, if they are not anti-dilutive. See note 3 for EPS computations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2010, the FASB provided additional disclosure requirements for fair value measurements under ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. The new pronouncement requires a reporting entity to disclose the amounts of significant

 

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CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers. In addition, the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) should present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements (that is, on a gross basis rather than as one net number). The Company adopted the pronouncement in January 2010, and it did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

3. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Components of the computation of basic and diluted EPS were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

Net income

   $ 27,605,490      $ 20,576,296      $ 37,748,709      $ 33,590,472   

Less dividends paid:

        

Common shares

     (10,929,247     (9,142,442     (20,942,890     (9,142,442

Unvested shares

     (335,090     (59,803     (639,911     (59,803
                                

Undistributed earnings

     16,341,153        11,374,051        16,165,908        24,388,227   
                                

Basic weighted average shares outstanding:

        

Common shares

     18,328,076        9,211,172        18,267,333        8,412,479   
                                

Basic earnings per common share:

        

Distributed earnings

   $ 0.60      $ 0.99      $ 1.15      $ 1.09   

Undistributed earnings

     0.87        1.24        0.86        2.90   
                                

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 1.47      $ 2.23      $ 2.01      $ 3.99   
                                

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding:

        

Common shares

     18,328,076        9,211,172        18,267,333        8,412,479   

Net effect of dilutive warrants

     11,883        3,798        12,556        1,910   
                                
     18,339,959        9,214,970        18,279,889        8,414,389   
                                

Diluted earnings per common share:

        

Distributed earnings

   $ 0.60      $ 0.99      $ 1.15      $ 1.09   

Undistributed earnings

     0.86        1.23        0.86        2.89   
                                

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 1.46      $ 2.22      $ 2.01      $ 3.98   
                                

4. INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES AND INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS

The Company’s valuation techniques are based on observable inputs. Observable inputs reflect readily obtainable data from independent sources, while unobservable inputs would reflect the Company’s market assumptions. ASC 820 classifies these inputs into the following hierarchy:

Level 1 Inputs—Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2 Inputs—Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.

Level 3 Inputs—Instruments with primarily unobservable value drivers.

 

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CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

Disclosures about the fair value of securities and derivatives, based on the level of inputs is summarized below:

June 30, 2010

 

     Fair Value Measurements Using
   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total
     (in thousands)

Assets

           

Agency RMBS

   $ —      $ 2,284,625    $ —      $ 2,284,625

CLOs and Structured Notes

     —        12,865      —        12,865
                           

Total

   $ —      $ 2,297,490    $ —      $ 2,297,490
                           

Liabilities

           

Interest rate swap contracts

   $ —      $ 9,057    $ —      $ 9,057
                           

Total

   $ —      $ 9,057    $ —      $ 9,057
                           

December 31, 2009

 

     Fair Value Measurements Using
   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total
     (in thousands)

Assets

           

Agency RMBS

   $ —      $ 1,843,811    $ —      $ 1,843,811

CLOs and Structured Notes

     —        9,440      —        9,440

Interest rate swap contracts

     —        1,132      —        1,132
                           

Total

   $ —      $ 1,854,383    $ —      $ 1,854,383
                           

Liabilities

           

Interest rate swap contracts

   $ —      $ 4,925    $ —      $ 4,925
                           

Total

   $ —      $ 4,925    $ —      $ 4,925
                           

The Agency RMBS portfolio consisted of:

June 30, 2010

 

     Par Amount   
Fair Value
   Weighted Average  

Security Description

         Coupon     Months to
Reset(1)
   Constant
Prepayment
Rate(2)
 
     (in thousands)                  

Agency RMBS collateralized by hybrid ARMs

   $ 988,450    $ 1,029,590    3.9   61.2    30.5

Agency RMBS collateralized by short-reset hybrid ARMs(3)

     178,411      187,217    3.6      8.3    28.0   

Agency RMBS collateralized by fixed rate mortgages

     1,013,010      1,067,818    4.2      N/A    9.8   
                     

Total Agency RMBS

   $ 2,179,871    $ 2,284,625        
                     

December 31, 2009

 

     Par Amount   
Fair Value
   Weighted Average  

Security Description

         Coupon     Months to
Reset(1)
   Constant
Prepayment
Rate(2)
 
     (in thousands)                  

Agency RMBS collateralized by hybrid ARMs

   $ 565,396    $ 586,834    4.5   46.8    23.4

Agency RMBS collateralized by short-reset hybrid ARMs(3)

     263,728      275,717    4.5      13.3    19.0   

Agency RMBS collateralized by monthly reset ARMs

     140,226      145,134    3.0      1    11.2   

Agency RMBS collateralized by fixed rate mortgages

     814,716      836,126    4.5      N/A    9.0   
                     

Total Agency RMBS

   $ 1,784,066    $ 1,843,811        
                     

 

(1)

“Months to Reset” is the number of months remaining before the fixed rate on a hybrid ARM becomes a variable rate. At the end of the fixed period, the variable rate will be determined by the margin and the pre-specified caps of the ARM.

(2)

“Constant Prepayment Rate” (“CPR”) is a method of expressing the prepayment rate for a mortgage pool that assumes that a constant fraction of the remaining principal is prepaid each month or year. Specifically, the CPR is an annualized version of the prior three month prepayment rate. Securities with no prepayment history are excluded from this calculation.

(3)

“Short-reset” is defined as 24 months or less to reset.

 

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CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

In early March 2010, both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae announced they would purchase from the pools of mortgage loans underlying their mortgage pass-through certificates all mortgage loans that are more than 120 days delinquent. Freddie Mac implemented its purchase program in February 2010 with actual purchases beginning in March 2010. Fannie Mae began their process in March 2010 and announced it would implement the initial purchases over a period of three months, beginning in April 2010. The impact of these programs thus far is reflected in the CPR of the Company’s portfolio. Further, both agencies announced that on an ongoing basis they would purchase loans from the pools of mortgage loans underlying their mortgage pass-through certificates that become 120 days delinquent.

As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company’s Agency RMBS were purchased at a net premium to their par value, with a weighted average amortized cost of $101.7 and $101.4, respectively, due to the average interest rates on these investments being higher than prevailing market rates at the time of purchase. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, approximately $37.1 million and $25.0 million, respectively, of unamortized premium was included in the cost basis of the securities.

Actual maturities of Agency RMBS are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities (which range up to 30 years), as they are affected by the contractual lives of the underlying mortgages, periodic payments and prepayments of principal. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the average final contractual maturity of the Company’s Agency RMBS portfolio is in year 2032 and 2031, respectively. Based on current estimates, the Company’s Agency RMBS will have an average expected life of less than five years. Interest income on Agency RMBS for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 was $16.5 million, $32.9 million, $9.4 million and $18.3 million, respectively.

In order to mitigate its interest rate exposure, the Company enters into interest rate swap contracts. The Company had the following interest rate swap transactions during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

 

Three & Six Months Ended June 30, 2010

       Three & Six Months Ended June 30, 2009  

Trade Date

   Transaction    Notional        Trade Date    Transaction    Notional  

April 2010

   Terminated    $ (200,000,000      April 2009    Terminated    $ (240,000,000

April 2010

   Opened      200,000,000         April 2009    Opened      240,000,000   

April 2010

   Terminated      (200,000,000      June 2009    Opened      200,000,000   

April 2010

   Opened      200,000,000         June 2009    Opened      200,000,000   
                      

May 2010

   Terminated      (240,000,000      Net Increase       $ 400,000,000   
                      

May 2010

   Opened      240,000,000              

May 2010

   Terminated      (200,000,000           

May 2010

   Opened      200,000,000              

May 2010

   Terminated      (200,000,000           

May 2010

   Opened      200,000,000              

May 2010

   Opened      100,000,000              

June 2010

   Opened      300,000,000              

June 2010

   Terminated      (100,000,000           

June 2010

   Opened      100,000,000              
                      

Net Increase

      $ 400,000,000              
                      

 

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CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had pledged Agency RMBS with a fair value of $21.3 and $19.5 million, respectively, as collateral on interest rate swap contracts. Below is a summary of our interest rate swap contracts:

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815(a)

As of June 30, 2010

   Pay Rate    

Receive
Rate

   Notional
Amount
   Fair Value    

Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location

Expiration Date

            

May 2013

   1.7050   3-Month  LIBOR(b)    $ 240,000,000    $ (2,838,708   Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value

May 2013

   1.6000   3-Month  LIBOR(b)      100,000,000      (844,724   Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value

June 2013

   1.3775   3-Month LIBOR(b)      300,000,000      (387,767   Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value

May 2014

   2.1200   3-Month  LIBOR(b)      200,000,000      (3,393,545   Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value

May 2014

   1.8825   3-Month LIBOR(b)      200,000,000      (1,561,363   Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value

July 2014

   1.7200   3-Month LIBOR(b)      100,000,000      (30,559   Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value
                      

Total

        $ 1,140,000,000    $ (9,056,666  
                      

As of December 31, 2009

   Pay Rate    

Receive

Rate

   Notional
Amount
   Fair Value    

Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location

Expiration Date

            

April 2012

   1.6910   3-Month LIBOR(b)    $ 240,000,000    $ (543,716   Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value

June 2012

   2.2660   3-Month LIBOR(b)      200,000,000      (2,558,748   Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value

July 2012

   2.1250   3-Month LIBOR(b)      200,000,000      (1,822,869   Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value

November 2013

   2.2125   3-Month LIBOR(b)      100,000,000      1,131,487      Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value
                      

Total

        $ 740,000,000    $ (3,793,846  
                      

 

           Amount of Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in Income on Derivative

Derivatives not designated as hedging
Instruments under ASC 815(a)

  

Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in

Income on Derivative

   Three Months Ended June 30,    Six Months Ended June 30,
      2010     2009    2010     2009

Interest rate swap contracts

   Net gain (loss) from interest rate swap contracts    $ (18,860,358   $ 930,877    $ (28,900,560   $ 596,333

 

(a)

See note 2 for additional information on the Company’s purpose for entering into interest rate swaps and the decision not to designate them as hedging instruments.

(b)

London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”).

Credit Risk

As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company has reduced its exposure to credit losses on its mortgage assets by holding primarily only Agency RMBS. The payments of principal and interest on the Agency RMBS are guaranteed by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae. In September 2008, both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were placed in the conservatorship of the United States government. While it is hoped that the conservatorship will help stabilize Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s losses and overall financial position, there can be no assurance that it will succeed or that, if necessary, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae will be able to satisfy their guarantees of Agency RMBS.

The Company’s CLOs and structured notes do not have the backing of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae. Payment of principal and interest is dependent on the performance of the underlying loans, which are subject to borrower default and possible losses.

5. BORROWINGS

The Company leverages its Agency RMBS portfolio through the use of repurchase agreements. Each of the borrowing vehicles used by the Company bears interest at floating rates based on a spread above or below the LIBOR. The fair value of borrowings under repurchase agreements approximates their carrying amount due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.

Certain information with respect to the Company’s borrowings is summarized in the following tables. Each of the borrowings listed is contractually due in one year or less (dollars in thousands).

 

June 30, 2010

      

Outstanding borrowings

   $ 1,447,600   

Interest accrued thereon

   $ 261   

Weighted average borrowing rate

     0.32

Weighted average remaining maturity (in days)

     41.82   

Fair value of the collateral(1)

   $ 1,539,697   

 

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CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

December 31, 2009

      

Outstanding borrowings

   $ 1,372,708   

Interest accrued thereon

   $ 354   

Weighted average borrowing rate

     0.28

Weighted average remaining maturity (in days)

     27.6   

Fair value of the collateral(1)

   $ 1,445,191   

 

(1)

Collateral for borrowings consists of Agency RMBS.

At June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company did not have any repurchase agreements where the amount at risk exceeded 10% of the Company’s net assets.

6. SHARE CAPITAL

The Company authorized 500,000,000 shares of common stock having par value of $0.01 per share. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had issued and outstanding 29,692,654 and 18,756,512 shares of common stock, respectively, and warrants to purchase an additional 78,190 shares of common stock.

Below is a description of the warrants outstanding at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

June 30, 2010

 

Expiration

   Additional shares
of common stock
   Exercise Price

April 30, 2011

   78,190    $ 11.00

December 31, 2009

 

Expiration

   Additional shares
of common stock
   Exercise Price

April 30, 2011

   78,190    $ 11.00

The Company is also authorized to issue shares of preferred stock. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, no such shares were issued or outstanding.

On June 30, 2010, the Company closed a public offering of 10,925,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $12.50 per share for total net proceeds of approximately $129.4 million, after the underwriting discount and commissions and estimated expenses.

7. STOCK OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK

The Company has adopted a stock incentive plan (the “2006 Stock Incentive Plan”) that provides for the grant of non-qualified common stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted common stock and other share-based awards. The compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors administers the plan. Awards under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan may be granted to the Company’s directors and executive officers and Manager Designees.

The exercise price for any stock option granted under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan may not be less than 100% of the fair value of the shares of common stock at the time the common stock option is granted. Each common stock option must terminate no later than ten years from the date it is granted. The 2006 Stock Incentive Plan authorizes a total of 3,333,333 shares that may be used to satisfy awards under the plan. New shares will be issued on the exercise of any option. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the remaining shares that have been authorized but not yet issued under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan were 2,375,706 and 2,386,848, respectively. The following table summarizes restricted common stock transactions for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

 

Three and six months ended June 30, 2010

   Officers and
Employees(1)
  
Directors
    Total  

Unvested Shares as of December 31, 2009

   538,000    14,988      552,988   

Issued

   —      4,332      4,332   

Vested

   —      (3,100   (3,100
                 

Unvested Shares as of March 31, 2010

   538,000    16,220      554,220   

Issued

   —      6,810      6,810   

Vested

   —      (2,732   (2,732
                 

Unvested Shares as of June 30, 2010

   538,000    20,298      558,298   
                 

 

17


Table of Contents

CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

Three and six months ended June 30, 2009

   Officers and
Employees(1)
    Directors     Total  

Unvested Shares as of December 31, 2008

   81,307      11,155      92,462   

Issued

   —        3,100      3,100   

Vested

   (43,140   (2,581   (45,721
                  

Unvested Shares as of March 31, 2009

   38,167      11,674      49,841   

Issued

   —        2,732      2,732   

Vested

   —        (2,738   (2,738
                  

Unvested Shares as of June 30, 2009

   38,167      11,668      49,835   
                  

 

(1)

Includes grants to the Company’s executive officers and Manager Designees.

The shares of restricted common stock granted to the Company’s executive officers, Manager Designees and directors were valued using the fair value at the time of grant, which was $13.51 and $13.38 for shares granted on January 1, 2010 and April 1, 2010, respectively, and $12.89 and $14.64 for shares granted on January 1, 2009 and April 1, 2009, respectively. Pursuant to ASC 718 the Company is required to value any unvested shares of restricted common stock granted to the Company’s executive officers and Manager Designees at the fair value at each reporting period. The Company valued the unvested restricted common stock at $12.66 and $13.51 per share at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted common stock granted as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was $6,361,400 and $7,314,402, respectively.

There were no common stock option transactions for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, there were 131,088 options outstanding and exercisable, with a weighted average exercise price of $30.00. The common stock options, all of which had vested by March 31, 2009, were valued using the Black-Scholes model using the following assumptions:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2009

Expected life

   7.0 years          

Discount rate

   2.832%

Volatility

   86.78%

Dividend yield

   15.69%

The estimated fair value of the common stock options was $3.31 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The components of share based compensation expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,    Six Months Ended June 30,
     2010    2009    2010    2009

Options granted to CEO

   $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 57,278

Restricted shares granted to officers and employees(1)

     247,717      59,739      524,378      388,222

Restricted shares granted to certain directors

     67,155      43,184      120,967      87,718
                           

Total shared based compensation expense

   $ 314,872    $ 102,923    $ 645,345    $ 533,218
                           

 

(1)

Includes grants to the Company’s executive officers and Manager Designees.

8. MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Manager manages the Company’s day-to-day operations, subject to the direction and oversight of the Company’s board of directors. The Management Agreement was executed on February 10, 2006. The initial term of the Management Agreement expired on December 31, 2008, and it was automatically renewed for a one-year term and will continue to be automatically renewed for one-

 

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Table of Contents

CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

year terms on each anniversary date thereafter. The Management Agreement may be terminated upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Company’s independent directors, or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. In the event the Management Agreement is terminated as described above, the Company shall pay to the Manager a termination fee in accordance with the provisions of the Management Agreement.

The Management Agreement provides, among other things, that the Company pays to the Manager, in exchange for managing the day-to-day operations of the Company, certain fees and reimbursements, consisting of a base management fee and reimbursement for out-of-pocket and certain other costs incurred by the Manager and on behalf of the Company. The base management fee, which is paid monthly, is equal to 1/12 of (A) 1.50% of the first $250,000,000 of Net Assets (as defined in the Management Agreement), (B) 1.25% of such Net Assets that are greater than $250,000,000 and less than or equal to $500,000,000, and (C) 1.00% of such Net Assets that are greater than $500,000,000. The Company is also required to reimburse the Manager for its pro-rata portion of rent, utilities, legal and investment services, market information systems and research publications and materials. In addition, the Company recognized share-based compensation expense related to common stock options and restricted common stock granted to the Company’s executive officers and Manager Designees which is included in related party management compensation on the statement of operations and described in note 7.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 the Company incurred the following in base management fees and expense reimbursement:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,    Six Months Ended June 30,
     2010    2009    2010    2009

Base Management Fees

   $ 986,850    $ 508,193    $ 1,924,047    $ 917,973

Expense Reimbursement

     165,123      278,806      303,476      580,795
                           

Total

   $ 1,151,973    $ 786,999    $ 2,227,523    $ 1,498,768
                           

9. INCOME TAXES

The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under Section 856 of the Code and intends to continue to comply with the provisions of the Code. As a REIT, the Company generally is not subject to federal or state income tax. To maintain its qualification as a REIT, the Company must distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders each year and meet certain other tests relating to assets and income. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, the Company will be subject to federal income tax on its taxable income at regular corporate rates. The Company may also be subject to certain state and local taxes. Under certain circumstances, even though the Company qualifies as a REIT, federal income and excise taxes may be due on its undistributed taxable income. No provision for income taxes has been provided in the accompanying financial statements because the Company has paid or will pay dividends in amounts approximating its taxable income.

Book/tax differences primarily relate to amortization of realized losses on swaps, offering costs, related party management compensation expense and income on CLOs.

The tax character of the $2.10 of distributions declared to shareholders during 2009 was determined to be $0.48 as ordinary income and $1.62 as return of capital.

10. CONTINGENCIES

The Company enters into certain contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications, principally with the Manager and brokers. The maximum potential amount of future payment the Company could be required to make under these indemnification provisions is unlimited. The Company has not incurred any costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification agreements. As a result, the estimated fair value of these agreements is minimal. Accordingly, the Company has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

11. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISK OR CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK

In the normal course of its business, the Company trades various financial instruments and enters into various investment activities with off-balance sheet risk, including interest rate swap contracts. These financial instruments contain varying degrees of off-balance sheet risk whereby losses resulting from changes in the fair values of the securities underlying the financial instruments or the Company’s obligations thereunder may ultimately exceed the amount recognized in the statement of assets and liabilities.

The contract amounts of the swap contracts do not represent the Company’s risk of loss due to counterparty nonperformance. The Company’s exposure to credit risk associated with counterparty nonperformance on swap contracts is limited to the unrealized gains, if any, inherent in such contracts which are recognized in the statement of assets and liabilities. Any counterparty nonperformance of these transactions is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition.

 

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Table of Contents

CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

The Company’s investments are primarily concentrated in securities that pass through collections of principal and interest from underlying mortgages, and there is a risk that some borrowers on the underlying mortgages will default. Therefore, mortgage-backed securities may bear some exposure to credit losses. However, the Company mitigates credit risk by primarily holding securities that are either guaranteed by government (or government-sponsored) agencies.

The Company bears certain other risks typical in investing in a portfolio of mortgage-backed securities. The principal risks potentially affecting the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows include the risks that: (a) interest rate changes can negatively affect the fair value of the Company’s mortgage-backed securities, (b) interest rate changes can influence borrowers’ decisions to prepay the mortgages underlying the securities, which can negatively affect both cash flows from, and the fair value of, the securities, and (c) adverse changes in the fair value of the Company’s mortgage-backed securities and/or the inability of the Company to renew short term borrowings under repurchase agreements can result in the need to sell securities at inopportune times and incur realized losses.

The Company enters into derivative transactions with counterparties as hedges of interest rate exposure and in the course of investing. In the event of nonperformance by a counterparty, the Company is potentially exposed to losses, although the counterparties to these agreements are primarily major financial institutions with investment grade ratings.

The Company is subject to interest rate risk. Generally, the value of fixed income securities will change inversely with changes in interest rates. As interest rates rise, the market value of fixed income securities tends to decrease. Conversely, as interest rates fall, the market value of fixed income securities tends to increase.

The Company’s principal trading activities are primarily with brokers and other financial institutions located in North America. All securities transactions of the Company are cleared by multiple major securities firms pursuant to customer agreements. At June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, substantially all the investments in securities and receivable for securities sold are positions with and amounts due from these brokers. The Company had substantially all of its individual counterparty concentrations with these brokers and their affiliates.

12. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

In accordance with financial reporting requirements applicable to investment companies, the Company has included below certain financial highlight information for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.

 

     Per Share  
     Three months ended June 30,     Six months ended June 30,  
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 13.03      $ 14.64      $ 13.02      $ 12.89   

Net income:

        

Net investment income

     0.75 (a)      0.81 (a)      1.48 (a)      1.62 (a) 

Net gain (loss) from investments and swap contracts

     0.72 (a)      1.50 (a)      0.53 (a)      2.39 (a) 
                                

Net income

     1.47        2.31        2.01        4.01   

Capital transactions:

        

Distributions to shareholders

     (0.60     (1.20     (1.15     (1.20

Issuance of common shares and amortization of restricted shares

     (0.75 )(a)      (3.09 ) (a)      (0.73 ) (a)      (3.04 ) (a) 
                                

Net decrease in net asset value from capital transactions

     (1.35     (4.29     (1.88     (4.24
                                

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 13.15      $ 12.66      $ 13.15      $ 12.66   
                                

Total return (%)

     5.53 %(b)      (5.33 )%(b)      9.83 %(b)      7.53 %(b) 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

        

Expenses before interest expense

     3.21 % (c)      4.38 %(c)      3.39 %(c)      5.06 %(c) 

Expenses

     4.87 % (c)      7.82 %(c)      5.02 %(c)      9.31 %(c) 

Net investment income

     21.69 %(c)      22.31 %(c)      21.87 %(c)      23.07 %(c) 

Supplemental Data

        

Net assets, end of period (000)

   $ 390,552      $ 229,558      $ 390,552      $ 229,558   

 

(a)

Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. Average shares outstanding include vested and unvested restricted shares and differs from weighted average shares outstanding used in calculating EPS (see note 3).

 

(b)

Calculated based on net asset value per share. Not computed on an annualized basis.

 

(c)

Computed on an annualized basis.

 

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CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On July 1, 2010, an aggregate of 5,586 shares of restricted common stock were granted to certain directors as a portion of their compensation for serving on the Company’s board of directors.

Since June 30, 2010 through July 16, 2010, the Company has made additional forward settling purchases of $965.6 million comprised of $470.5 million of Agency RMBS collateralized by fixed rate mortgages and $495.1 million Agency RMBS collateralized by hybrid ARMS. In addition since June 30, 2010 to July 16, 2010 the Company entered into additional interest rate swaps of $550.0 million of notional amount.

 

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Table of Contents
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we refer to Cypress Sharpridge Investments, Inc. as “we,” “us,” “our company,” or “our,” unless we specifically state otherwise or the context indicates otherwise. The following defines certain of the commonly used terms in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q: RMBS refers to residential mortgage-backed securities; agency securities or Agency RMBS refers to our RMBS that are issued or guaranteed by a federally chartered corporation, 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”); hybrids refers to hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage loans that have interest rates that are fixed for a specified period of time and, thereafter, generally adjust annually to an increment over a specified interest rate index; and ARMs refers to hybrids and adjustable-rate mortgage loans which typically have interest rates that adjust annually to an increment over a specified interest rate index.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and accompanying notes included in Item 1 of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q as well as our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 filed on February 10, 2010.

Forward Looking Statements

When used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or in press releases or other written or oral communications, statements which are not historical in nature, including those containing words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “continue,” “intend,” “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, and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The forward-looking statements we make in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include, but are not limited to, statements about the following:

 

   

increases in interest rates and inflation;

 

   

our investment, financing and hedging strategy and the success of these strategies;

 

   

the effect of increased prepayment rates on our portfolio;

 

   

our ability to convert our assets into cash or extend the financing terms related to our assets;

 

   

our ability to quantify risks based on historical experience;

 

   

our ability to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and to maintain an exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”);

 

   

our assessment of counterparty risk;

 

   

our liquidity;

 

   

our asset valuation policies;

 

   

our distribution policy; and

 

   

the effect of recent U.S. Government actions on the housing and credit markets.

 

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Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance, taking into account all information currently available to us. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations are subject to risks and uncertainties and can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. The following factors could cause actual results to vary from our forward-looking statements:

 

   

the factors referenced in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, including those set forth under the section captioned “Risk Factors;”

 

   

changes in our investment, financing and hedging strategy;

 

   

the adequacy of our cash flow from operations and borrowings to meet our short term liquidity requirements;

 

   

the liquidity of our portfolio;

 

   

unanticipated changes in our industry, interest rates, the credit markets, the general economy or the real estate market;

 

   

changes in interest rates and the market value of our Agency RMBS;

 

   

changes in the prepayment rates on the mortgage loans underlying our Agency RMBS;

 

   

our ability to borrow to finance our assets;

 

   

changes in government regulations affecting our business;

 

   

our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes;

 

   

our ability to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act; and

 

   

risks associated with investing in real estate assets, including changes in business conditions and the general economy.

These and other risks, uncertainties and factors, including those described elsewhere in this report, 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.

Overview

We are a specialty finance company created with the objective of achieving consistent risk-adjusted investment income. We seek to achieve this objective by investing, on a leveraged basis, in Agency RMBS. We are currently managed by Cypress Sharpridge Advisors LLC, a joint venture between affiliates of The Cypress Group and Sharpridge Capital Management, L.P. We commenced operations in February 2006 and completed our initial public offering in June 2009. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CYS”.

We earn investment income from our investment portfolio, and we use leverage to seek to enhance our returns. Our net investment income is generated primarily from the difference, or net spread, between the interest income we earn on our investment portfolio and the cost of our borrowings and hedging activities. The amount of net investment income we earn on our investments depends in part on our ability to control our financing costs, which comprise a significant portion of our operating expenses. Although we leverage our portfolio investments in Agency RMBS to seek to enhance our potential returns, leverage also may exacerbate losses.

While we use hedging to mitigate some of our interest rate risk, we do not hedge all of our exposure to changes in interest rates. This is because there are practical limitations on our ability to insulate our portfolio from all potential negative consequences associated with changes in short term interest rates in a manner that will allow us to seek attractive spreads on our portfolio.

In addition to investing in issued pools of Agency RMBS, we occasionally utilize forward-settling purchases of Agency RMBS where the pool is “to-be-announced”, or TBAs. Pursuant to these TBA transactions, we agree to purchase, 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.

In March 2010, the board of directors amended our investment guidelines to permit investments in collateralized mortgage obligations issued by a government agency or a government sponsored entity that are collateralized by Agency RMBS (“CMOs”). As of June 30, 2010, we had not invested in any CMOs.

On June 30, 2010, the Company successfully completed a public offering of 10,925,000 shares of common stock, raising approximately $129.4 million of net proceeds, bringing the total number of shares of common stock outstanding to 29,692,654 at June 30, 2010.

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT 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 and ownership tests and recordkeeping requirements are fulfilled. Even if we maintain our qualification as a REIT, we may be subject to some federal, state and local taxes on our income.

 

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Factors that Affect our Results of Operations and Financial Condition

A variety of industry and economic factors may impact our results of operations and financial condition. These factors include:

 

   

interest rate trends;

 

   

prepayment rates on mortgages underlying our Agency RMBS, and credit trends insofar as they affect prepayment rates;

 

   

competition for investments in Agency RMBS;

 

   

actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury; and

 

   

other market developments.

In addition, a variety of factors relating to our business may also impact our results of operation and financial condition. These factors include:

 

   

our degree of leverage;

 

   

our access to funding and borrowing capacity;

 

   

our borrowing costs;

 

   

our hedging activities;

 

   

changes in the credit ratings of the securities in our portfolio;

 

   

the market value of our investments; and

 

   

the REIT requirements and the requirements to qualify for a registration exemption under the Investment Company Act.

We anticipate that, for any period during which changes in the interest rates earned on our assets do not coincide with interest rate changes on the corresponding liabilities, such assets will reprice more slowly than the corresponding liabilities. Consequently, changes in interest rates, particularly short term interest rates, may significantly influence our net investment income.

Our net investment income may be affected by a difference between actual prepayment rates and our projections. Prepayments on loans and securities may be influenced by changes in market interest rates and homeowners’ ability and desire to refinance their mortgages. To the extent we have acquired assets at a premium or discount to par value, changes in prepayment rates may impact our anticipated yield.

Trends and Recent Market Impacts

The following trends and recent market impacts may also affect our business:

Interest Rates and Liquidity

In 2010, the U.S. economy appears to be in a weak recovery with little or no inflationary pressures. This has continued the very low interest rate environment with the U.S. Federal Funds Target Rate still at 0-0.25%, with no change since mid-December 2008. There is little sign of an increase in the U.S. Federal Funds Target Rate in the near future. During the same period, 30-Day LIBOR has also remained low, though the rate has increased from 0.23% at December 31, 2009 to 0.35% at June 30, 2010 as rates have been affected by events in Europe, particularly the Greek credit crisis and its impact on the Eurozone. The availability of repurchase agreement financing is stable with financing costs at around 0.30%. These rates have slightly decoupled from 30-Day LIBOR with which they have generally been correlated. The following table shows 30-Day LIBOR, 3-Month LIBOR and the U.S. Federal Funds Target Rate at the end of each respective fiscal quarter:

 

Date

   30-Day LIBOR     3-Month LIBOR     Federal Funds Target Rate  

June 30, 2010

   0.348   0.534   0.25

March 31, 2010

   0.249   0.292   0.25

December 31, 2009

   0.231   0.251   0.25

September 30, 2009

   0.246   0.287   0.25

June 30, 2009

   0.309   0.595   0.25

March 31, 2009

   0.500   1.192   0.25

December 31, 2008

   0.436   1.425   0.25

Source: Bloomberg

Rates on three-year interest rate swaps, currently one of our primary hedging vehicles, decreased by 82 basis points during the 12 months ended June 30, 2010 to 1.33% and by 47 basis points since March 31, 2010; meanwhile 3-Month LIBOR, which we receive on the swaps, has increased over the last three months from 0.29% at March 31, 2010 to 0.53% at June 30, 2010, resulting in a significant reduction in our hedging costs.

 

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Yields on mortgage securities have fallen to the lowest levels in more than a year with prices reaching record highs. While the yield on a par-priced Fannie Mae Agency RMBS backed by 30-year mortgage loans rose by 63 basis points over the 12 months ended March 31, 2010, by June 30, 2010 the yield had fallen by 76 basis points to 3.75%. However, financing costs and hedging costs have fallen, which has consequently allowed us to maintain a net interest margin of approximately 2.83% on our portfolio for the three months ended June 30, 2010.

Through early 2010 we saw yields on U.S. Treasury securities rise with the yield on five-year U.S. Treasury notes rising by 89 basis points during the 12 months ended March 31, 2010 while at the same time market prices of Agency RMBS rose. In the three months ended June 30, 2010, we have experienced falling yields on U.S. Treasury securities and continued rising market prices of Agency RMBS. The following table is illustrative of this situation by comparing market levels for two benchmark securities, the yield on five-year U.S. Treasury Notes and the price of 15-year Fannie Mae 4.5% Agency RMBS:

 

Date

   Five-Year U.S. Treasury Note     Market Prices of 15-Year Fannie  Mae
4.5% Agency RMBS

June 30, 2010

   1.77   $ 105.484

March 31, 2010

   2.55   $ 103.670

December 31, 2009

   2.68   $ 102.984

September 30, 2009

   2.31   $ 103.547

June 30, 2009

   2.56   $ 102.000

March 31, 2009

   1.66   $ 103.000

December 31, 2008

   1.55   $ 102.375

Source: Bloomberg

One of the main factors impacting market prices was the U.S. Federal Reserve’s program to purchase Agency RMBS which had commenced in January 2009 and was terminated on March 31, 2010. In total, $1.25 trillion of Agency RMBS was purchased. While these purchases have ended, the program continues to impact the market supply as the government settles short sales and failed purchases. In addition, through the course of 2009 the U.S. Treasury purchased $250 billion of Agency RMBS. When these programs terminated the market expectation was that it might cause a decrease in demand for these securities which would likely reduce their market price. This has not happened, however, and we continue to see strong demand as these securities remain desirable assets in this rather volatile economic environment.

Prepayment Rates and Loan Buy-back Programs

In early March 2010, both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae announced they would purchase from the pools of mortgage loans underlying their mortgage pass-through certificates all mortgage loans that are more than 120 days delinquent. Freddie Mac implemented its purchase program in February 2010 with actual purchases beginning in March 2010. Fannie Mae began its process in March 2010 and announced it would implement the initial purchases over a period of three months, beginning in April 2010. Further, both agencies announced that on an ongoing basis they would purchase loans from the pools of mortgage loans underlying their mortgage pass-through certificates that become 120 days delinquent. The impact of these programs thus far is reflected in the constant prepayment rate, or CPR, of our portfolio. Our holdings of Agency RMBS backed by 15 year mortgages protect us to a large degree from these prepayments as the delinquency rate of 15 year mortgages is very low, according to data released by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The effect of these purchase programs on our portfolio has been lower than expected and the CPR of our overall portfolio was 17.4% for the second quarter of 2010.

During 2009, prepayment rates on Agency RMBS moved up slightly by the end of the year. During the six months ended June 30, 2010, the prepayment rates changed primarily in line with the delinquent loan purchase programs described above. The following table shows the prepayment rates for Agency RMBS backed by fixed rate mortgages:

 

     Jan-09     Feb-09     Mar-09     Apr-09     May-09     Jun-09     Jul-09     Aug-09     Sep-09     Oct-09     Nov-09     Dec-09  

Fannie Mae

   16.4   22.2   21.7   21.4   23.4   22.6   18.3   15.0   13.7   15.7   14.9   18.5

Freddie Mac

   17.3      24.5      24.1      23.8      24.8      24.4      19.3      13.9      12.5      14.2      15.7      18.2   

Ginnie Mae

   23.8      24.4      25.6      28.2      29.6      24.0      19.5      17.5      20.7      21.0      23.2      29.0   

 

     Jan-10     Feb-10     Mar-10     Apr-10     May-10     Jun-10  

Fannie Mae

   15.7   14.9   27.7   29.1   27.0   17.8

Freddie Mac

   14.7      40.8      18.2      16.7      14.7      17.4   

Ginnie Mae

   13.8      14.8      13.3      11.8      13.1      13.2   

 

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LOGO

Financial Regulatory Reform Bill and Other Government Activity

Certain programs initiated by the U.S. Government, through the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), to provide homeowners with assistance in avoiding residential mortgage loan foreclosures are currently in effect. The programs may involve, among other things, the modification of mortgage loans to reduce the principal amount of the loans or the rate of interest payable on the loans, or to extend the payment terms of the loans. One such program is the Hope for Homeowners program, which is effective from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2011 and will enable certain distressed borrowers to refinance their mortgages into FHA-insured loans. In addition, in February 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan (“HASP”), which is a multi-faceted plan that also is intended to prevent residential mortgage foreclosures.

While the effect of these programs has not been as extensive as originally expected, programs such as the Hope for Homeowners program and HASP may have the effect of increasing prepayment rates and reducing the principal or interest payments on residential mortgage loans held by certain types of borrowers. The effect of such programs for holders of Agency RMBS could be that such holders would experience changes in the anticipated yields of their Agency RMBS due to (i) increased prepayment rates on their Agency RMBS and (ii) lower interest and principal payments on their Agency RMBS.

In July 2010 the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was passed by Congress. This legislation aims to restore responsibility and accountability to the financial system. It is unclear how this legislation may impact the borrowing environment, investing environment for Agency RMBS and interest rate swaps and other derivatives as much of the Bill’s implementation has not yet been defined by the regulators.

Credit Spreads

Over the past several years, the credit markets generally experienced tightening credit spreads (specifically, spreads between U.S. Treasury securities and other securities that are identical in all respects except for ratings) mainly due to the strong demand for lending opportunities. Generally, when credit spreads tighten the value of Agency RMBS increases, which results in an increase in our

 

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book value. Credit spreads have recently tightened, which has resulted in an increase in our book value. If credit spreads were to widen, we expect the market value of Agency RMBS would decrease, which could reduce our book value but also create an attractive opportunity to reinvest principal and interest from our existing portfolio as well as deploy new capital into higher-yielding Agency RMBS.

For a discussion of additional risks relating to our business see “Risk Factors” disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 filed on February 10, 2010 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2010 filed on April 23, 2010 and “—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”

Financial Condition

As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Agency RMBS in our portfolio were purchased at a net premium to their par value, with a weighted average amortized cost of $101.7 and $101.4, respectively, due to the average interest rates on these investments being higher than prevailing market rates. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we had approximately $37.1 million and $25.0 million, respectively, of unamortized premium included in the cost basis of our investments.

As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, our Agency RMBS portfolio consisted of the following assets:

June 30, 2010

 

     Par Amount   
Fair Value
   Weighted Average  

Security Description

         Coupon     Months to
Reset(1)
   Constant
Prepayment
Rate(2)
 
     (in thousands)                  

Agency RMBS collateralized by hybrid ARMs

   $ 988,450    $ 1,029,590    3.9   61.2    30.5

Agency RMBS collateralized by short-reset hybrid ARMs(3)

     178,411      187,217    3.6      8.3    28.0   

Agency RMBS collateralized by fixed rate mortgages

     1,013,010      1,067,818    4.2      N/A    9.8   
                     

Total Agency RMBS

   $ 2,179,871    $ 2,284,625        
                     

December 31, 2009

 

     Par Amount   
Fair Value
   Weighted Average  

Security Description

         Coupon     Months to
Reset(1)
   Constant
Prepayment
Rate(2)
 
     (in thousands)                  

Agency RMBS collateralized by hybrid ARMs

   $ 565,396    $ 586,834    4.5   46.8    23.4

Agency RMBS collateralized by short-reset hybrid ARMs(3)

     263,728      275,717    4.5      13.3    19.0   

Agency RMBS collateralized by monthly reset ARMs

     140,226      145,134    3.0      1    11.2   

Agency RMBS collateralized by fixed rate mortgages

     814,716      836,126    4.5      N/A    9.0   
                     

Total Agency RMBS

   $ 1,784,066    $ 1,843,811        
                     

 

(1)

“Months to Reset” is the number of months remaining before the fixed rate on a hybrid ARM becomes a variable rate. At the end of the fixed period, the variable rate will be determined by the margin and the pre-specified caps of the ARM.

(2)

“Constant Prepayment Rate” is a method of expressing the prepayment rate for a mortgage pool that assumes that a constant fraction of the remaining principal is prepaid each month or year. Specifically, the constant prepayment rate is an annualized version of the prior three month prepayment rate. Securities with no prepayment history are excluded from this calculation.

(3)

“Short-reset” is defined as 24 months or less to reset.

Actual maturities of Agency RMBS are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities (which range up to 30 years), as they are affected by the contractual lives of the underlying mortgages, periodic payments and prepayments of principal. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 the average final contractual maturity of the mortgage portfolio is in year 2032 and 2031, respectively.

The average expected life of our Agency RMBS reflects the estimated average period of time the securities in the portfolio will remain outstanding. The average expected lives of our Agency RMBS do not exceed five years, based upon prepayment models obtained through subscription-based financial information service providers. The prepayment model considers current yield, forward yield, steepness of the yield curve, current mortgage rates, the mortgage rate of the outstanding loan, loan age, margin and volatility. The actual lives of the Agency RMBS in our investment portfolio could be longer or shorter than those estimates depending on the actual prepayment rates experienced over the lives of the applicable securities.

 

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As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 we had $12.8 million and $9.2 million of CLOs at fair value, respectively. In addition, as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 we had $0.1 million and $0.2 million of structured notes at fair value, respectively.

Hedging Instruments

We generally intend to hedge as much of the interest rate risk we determine is in the best interests of our stockholders. Our policies do not contain specific requirements as to the percentages or amount of interest rate risk that our Manager is required to hedge. No assurance can be given that our hedging activities will have the desired beneficial impact on our results of operations or financial condition.

Interest rate hedging may fail to protect or could adversely affect us because, among other things:

 

   

interest rate hedging can be expensive, particularly during periods of rising and volatile interest rates;

 

   

available interest rate hedging may not correspond directly with the interest rate risk for which protection is sought;

 

   

due to prepayments on assets and repayments of debt securing such assets, the duration of the hedge may not match the duration of the related liability or asset;

 

   

the credit quality of the hedging counterparty may be downgraded to such an extent that it impairs our ability to sell or assign our side of the hedging transaction; and

 

   

the hedging counterparty may default on its obligation to pay.

We engage in interest rate swaps as a means of mitigating our interest rate risk on forecasted interest expense associated with repurchase agreements for the term of the swap contract. An interest rate swap is a contractual agreement entered into by two counterparties under which each agrees to make periodic payments to the other for an agreed period of time based upon a notional amount of principal. Under the most common form of interest rate swap, commonly known as a fixed-floating interest rate swap, a series of fixed interest rate payments on a notional amount of principal is exchanged for a series of floating interest rate payments on such notional amount.

At June 30, 2010 we were a party to six interest rate swaps with maturities between May 2013 and July 2014 with an aggregate notional amount of $1,140.0 million and a fair value of approximately $(9.1) million. At December 31, 2009, we were a party to four interest rate swaps with maturities between April 2012 and November 2013 with an aggregate notional amount of $740.0 million and a fair value of approximately $(3.8) million. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the weighted average fixed pay rate on our interest rate swaps was 1.7149% and 2.034%, respectively.

The current fair value of interest rate swaps is heavily dependent on the current market fixed rate, the corresponding term structure of floating rates (known as the yield curve) as well as the expectation of changes in future floating rates. As expectations of future floating rates change, the fair value of interest rate swaps changes.

Liabilities

We have entered into repurchase agreements to finance some of our purchases of Agency RMBS. These agreements are secured by our Agency RMBS and bear interest at rates that have historically moved in close relationship to LIBOR. At June 30, 2010, we had approximately $1,447.6 million of liabilities pursuant to repurchase agreements with 18 counterparties that had weighted average interest rates of approximately 0.32%, and maturities of between six and 83 days. In addition, as of June 30, 2010, we had approximately $583.8 million in payables for securities purchased and $2.6 million payable for termination of a swap contract. A portion of the payable for securities purchased will be financed through repurchase agreements. The increase in payable for securities purchased of $583.8 million at June 30, 2010 compared to $229.8 million at December 31, 2009 is primarily due to increased purchases to invest the net proceeds from the public offering that closed on June 30, 2010. Because we measure leverage as total liabilities divided by net assets, the approximately $586.4 million payable for securities purchased and termination of swap contract is included in our June 30, 2010 leverage ratio of 5.3 to 1. At December 31, 2009, we had approximately $1,372.7 million of liabilities pursuant to repurchase agreements with 16 counterparties that had weighted average interest rates of approximately 0.28%, and maturities of between four and 68 days. In addition, as of December 31, 2009 we had approximately $229.8 million in payables for securities purchased, a portion of which will be financed through repurchase agreements. Because we measure leverage as total liabilities divided by net assets, the approximately $229.8 million payable for securities purchased is included in our December 31, 2009 leverage ratio of 6.6 to 1. Below is a summary of our payable for securities purchased as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

 

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June 30, 2010

 

Forward Settling Purchases

   Settle Date    Par Amount    Payable

GNMA - 30 Year 3.5% Hybrid ARM

   7/22/2010    $ 85,000,000    $ 86,872,656

FNMA - 30 Year 3.65% Hybrid ARM

   8/23/2010      50,000,000      50,968,750

FNMA - 30 Year 3.7% Hybrid ARM

   8/23/2010      20,036,173      20,439,374

FNMA - 30 Year 3.6% Hybrid ARM

   8/23/2010      50,000,000      51,312,500

GNMA - 30 Year 3.5% Hybrid ARM

   9/22/2010      50,000,000      50,984,375

FNMA - 30 Year 3.767% Hybrid ARM

   9/22/2010      50,186,513      51,680,346

FNMA - 30 Year 3.699% Hybrid ARM

   9/24/2010      14,743,298      15,146,722

FNMA - 30 Year 3.845% Hybrid ARM

   9/29/2010      50,000,000      51,492,188

FNMA - 30 Year 3.7% Hybrid ARM

   10/21/2010      25,000,000      25,718,750

FNMA - 30 Year 3.58% Hybrid ARM

   10/21/2010      50,000,000      51,218,750

FNMA - 30 Year 3.615% Hybrid ARM

   10/21/2010      50,000,000      51,187,500

FNMA - 30 Year 3.55% Hybrid ARM

   10/21/2010      25,000,000      25,542,969

FNMA - 30 Year 3.69% Hybrid ARM

   10/22/2010      50,000,000      51,234,375
                

Total

      $ 569,965,984    $ 583,799,255
                

December 31, 2009

 

Forward Settling Purchases

   Settle Date    Par Amount    Payable

FNMA - 15 Year 4.0% Fixed

   1/19/2010    $ 75,000,000    $ 76,439,088

GNMA - 30 Year 4.0% Hybrid ARM

   1/25/2010      25,000,000      25,541,301

FNMA - 15 Year 4.5% Fixed

   2/17/2010      75,000,000      77,118,775

FNMA - 15 Year 4.0% Fixed

   3/16/2010      50,000,000      50,739,608
                

Total

      $ 225,000,000    $ 229,838,772
                

 

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Summary Financial Data

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

Investment income - Interest income

        

Interest Income - Agency RMBS

   $ 16,478,509      $ 9,357,129      $ 32,871,036      $ 18,309,112   

Interest Income - CLOs, Structured Notes & Cash Equivalents

     786,769        370,246        1,331,209        739,608   
                                

Total interest income

     17,265,278        9,727,375        34,202,245        19,048,720   
                                

EXPENSES:

  

Interest expense

     1,081,011        1,111,059        2,067,423        2,500,567   

Non-Investment expenses

     2,086,095        1,414,338        4,317,532        2,976,576   
                                

Total expenses

     3,167,106        2,525,397        6,384,955        5,477,143   
                                

Net investment income

     14,098,172        7,201,978        27,817,290        13,571,577   
                                

Net gain (loss) from investments

     32,367,676        12,443,441        38,831,979        19,422,562   
                                

GAINS AND (LOSSES) FROM SWAP CONTRACTS:

  

Net swap interest income (expense)

     (3,137,823     (392,098     (6,432,243     (2,421,244

Net gain (loss) on termination of swap contracts

     (17,205,497     (10,804,123     (17,205,497     (10,804,123

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on swap contracts

     1,482,962        12,127,098        (5,262,820     13,821,700   
                                

Net gain (loss) from swap contracts

     (18,860,358     930,877        (28,900,560     596,333   
                                

NET INCOME

   $ 27,605,490      $ 20,576,296      $ 37,748,709      $ 33,590,472   
                                

Net income per common share (diluted)

   $ 1.46      $ 2.22      $ 2.01      $ 3.98   

Distributions per common share

   $ 0.60      $ 1.20      $ 1.15      $ 1.20   

Key Portfolio Statistics*

        

Average Agency RMBS(1)

   $ 1,661,529,971      $ 789,520,805      $ 1,695,139,442      $  751,231,814   

Average repurchase agreements

     1,473,952,875        693,518,835        1,500,971,324        654,456,996   

Average net assets

     260,661,753        129,484,724        256,549,906        118,650,116   

Average yield on Agency RMBS (2)

     3.98     4.75     3.91     4.91

Average cost of funds & hedge (3)

     1.15     0.87     1.14     1.52

Interest rate spread net of hedge (4)

     2.83     3.88     2.77     3.39

Leverage ratio (at period end) (5)

     5.3:1        5.9:1        5.3:1        5.9:1   

 

(1)

Our average Agency RMBS for the period was calculated by averaging the cost basis of our settled Agency RMBS during the period.

(2)

Our average yield on Agency RMBS for the period was calculated by dividing our interest income from Agency RMBS by our average Agency RMBS.

(3)

Our average cost of funds and hedge for the period was calculated by dividing our total interest expense, including our net swap interest income (expense), by our average repurchase agreement.

(4)

Our interest rate spread net of hedge for the period was calculated by subtracting our average cost of funds from our average yield on Agency RMBS.

(5)

Our leverage ratio was calculated by dividing total liabilities by net assets.

* All percentages are annualized.

Core Earnings:

Core Earnings represents a non-GAAP financial measure and is defined as net income (loss) excluding net realized gain (loss) on investments, net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, net realized gain (loss) on termination of swap contracts and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on swap contracts. In order to evaluate the effective yield of the portfolio, management uses Core Earnings to reflect the net investment income of our portfolio as adjusted to reflect the net swap interest income (expense). Core Earnings allows management to isolate the interest income (expense) associated with our swaps in order to monitor and project our borrowing costs and interest rate spread. In addition, management utilizes Core Earnings as a key metric in conjunction with other portfolio and market factors to determine the appropriate leverage and hedging ratios, as well as the overall structure of the portfolio.

We adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 946, Clarification of the Scope of Audit and Accounting Guide Investment Companies (“ASC 946”), prior to its deferral in February 2008, while most, if not all, other public companies that invest only in Agency RMBS have not adopted ASC 946. Under ASC 946, we use the financial reporting specified for investment

 

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companies, and accordingly, our investments are carried at fair value with changes in fair value included in earnings. Most other public companies that invest only in Agency RMBS include most changes in the fair value of their investments within shareholders’ equity, not in earnings. As a result, investors are not able to readily compare our results of operations to those of most of our competitors. We believe that the presentation of our Core Earnings is useful to investors because it provides a means of comparing our Core Earnings to those of our competitors. In addition, because Core Earnings isolates the net swap interest income (expense) it provides investors with an additional metric to identify trends in our portfolio as they relate to the interest rate environment.

The primary limitation associated with Core Earnings as a measure of our financial performance over any period is that it excludes the effects of net realized gain (loss) from investments. In addition, our presentation of Core Earnings may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies, who may use different calculations. As a result, Core Earnings should not be considered as a substitute for our GAAP net income (loss) as a measure of our financial performance or any measure of our liquidity under GAAP.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  

Non-GAAP Reconciliation:

   2010     2009     2010     2009  

NET INCOME

   $ 27,605,490      $ 20,576,296      $ 37,748,709      $ 33,590,472   

Net (gain) loss from investments

     (32,367,676     (12,443,441     (38,831,979     (19,422,562

Net (gain) loss on termination of swap contracts

     17,205,497        10,804,123        17,205,497        10,804,123   

Net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on swap contracts

     (1,482,962     (12,127,098     5,262,820        (13,821,700
                                

Core Earnings

   $ 10,960,349      $ 6,809,880      $ 21,385,047      $ 11,150,333   
                                

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended June 30, 2010 Compared to the Three Months Ended June 30, 2009

Net Income. Net income increased $7.0 million to $27.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, compared to net income of $20.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. The major components of this increase are detailed below.

Net Gain (Loss) From Investments. Net gain (loss) from investments increased by $19.9 million to $32.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $12.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. This increase was primarily the result of the decrease in longer term interest rates and therefore increases in prices of Agency RMBS. During the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 the price of an Agency RMBS backed by 15-year 4.5% mortgages increased 1.81 points and decreased 1.00 points, respectively.

Net Gain (Loss) from Swap Contracts. Net gain (loss) from swap contracts decreased by $19.8 million to $(18.9) million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $0.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. The net gain (loss) on swap contracts was primarily due to the change in swap rates combined with the change in the size of our interest rate swap portfolio. During the three months ended June 30, 2010 we added net $400.0 million of notional amount of interest rate swaps ending the period with $1,140.0 million of notional amount of interest rate swaps. During the three months ended June 30, 2009 we added net $400.0 million of notional amount of interest rate swaps ending the period with $640.0 million of notional amount of interest rate swaps. During the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, three year swap rates decreased by 47 basis points and increased by 47 basis points, respectively. During the three months ended June 30, 2010 the Company rebalanced its hedges. It extended their average maturity to 3.4 years at June 30, 2010 from 2.4 years at March 31, 2010. In addition this rebalancing reduced the weighted average interest rate strike to 1.7% at June 30, 2010 from 2.0% at March 31, 2010.

Interest Income. Interest income, which consists of interest income on Agency RMBS, subordinated tranches of CLOs, structured notes and short term investments and other debt securities, increased by $7.6 million to $17.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to $9.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. The change in interest income was primarily due to the increased size of our portfolio. During the three months ended June 30, 2010 our average Agency RMBS portfolio was $1,661.5 million, compared to $789.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2009. However, the increased income due to the size of our portfolio was offset by the decrease in the average yield on Agency RMBS. During the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, our average yield on Agency RMBS was 3.98% and 4.75%, respectively. This was primarily caused by the increase in prices/lower yields on Agency RMBS as described above.

Interest on CLO and collateralized debt obligation (“CDO”) securities is accrued at a rate determined based on estimated future cash flows and adjusted prospectively as future cash flow amounts are recast. When the Company cannot reliably estimate cash flows for CDO and CLO securities, a nonaccrual (cost recovery) recognition method is used. Interest income on subordinated tranches of CLOs increased to $0.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $0.1 million for the three months ended June

 

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30, 2009. Additionally, for the three months ended June 30, 2010 the Company received $1.1 million of distributions from CLOs that were accounted for as a reduction of the cost basis and thereby excluded from our interest income and Core Earnings. This compared to $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Total cash received on our CLO portfolio during the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 was as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,
     2010    2009

AMMC CLO V, LTD

   $ 296,380    $ —  

BALLYROCK CLO 2006-2, LTD

     343,602      —  

CARLYLE HIGH YIELD PARTNERS VIII, LTD

     177,758      —  

EATON VANCE CDO IX, LTD

     295,284      —  

FLAGSHIP CLO V, LTD

     267,769      89,346

PRIMUS CLO I, LTD

     139,022      —  

START III CLO, LTD

     130,829      138,652

TRIMARAN CLO VII, LTD

     127,265      121,290
             

Total

   $ 1,777,909    $ 349,288
             

Total Expenses. Interest expense was unchanged at $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Our average repurchase agreements increased to $1,474.0 million compared to $693.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. However, the effect of the higher repurchase agreements was offset by a decrease in the average rate on our repurchase agreements of 0.29% compared with 0.64% during the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

For the three months ended June 30, 2010, non-investment expenses increased by $0.7 million to $2.1 million compared to $1.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009. However, expenses as a percentage of net assets decreased significantly during the three months ended June 30, 2010 to 3.21% compared to 4.38% during the three months ended June 30, 2009. The primary reason for the decrease was that we had a larger asset base. Our average net assets were $260.7 million and $129.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Non-investment expenses consist of management fees payable to our Manager in accordance with our management agreement, amortization related to restricted stock and stock options granted to our executive officers, certain officers and employees of our Manager and its sub-advisors and other individuals who provide services to us, as designated by our Manager, and our independent directors, directors’ fees, insurance premium expenses for directors and officers insurance and other general and administrative expenses, including legal and accounting fees.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 Compared to the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009

Net Income. Net income increased $4.1 million to $37.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $33.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009. The major components of this increase are detailed below.

Net Gain (Loss) from Swap Contracts. Net gain (loss) from swap contracts decreased by $29.5 million to $(28.9) million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $0.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009. The net gain (loss) on swap contracts was primarily due to the change in swap rates combined with the change in the size of our interest rate swap portfolio. During the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, we added net $400.0 million each period of notional amount of interest rate swaps. During the six months ended June 30, 2010 the Company rebalanced its hedges. It extended their average maturity to 3.4 years at June 30, 2010 from 2.6 years at December 31, 2009. In addition this rebalancing reduced the weighted average interest rate strike to 1.7% at June 30, 2010 from 2.0% at December 31, 2009. The following is a chart of 3-year swap rates for the period from December 31, 2008 to June 30, 2010:

 

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LOGO

Net Gain (Loss) From Investments. Net gain (loss) from investments increased by $19.4 million to $38.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to $19.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009. This increase was primarily the result of the decrease in longer term interest rates and therefore increases in prices of Agency RMBS on investments of $2,297.5 million at June 30, 2010 compared to $1,519.7 million at June 30, 2009. During the six months ended June 30, 2010, the price of an Agency RMBS backed by 15-year 4.5% mortgages increased 2.5 points while it decreased 0.4 points during the six months ended June 30, 2009.

Interest Income. Interest income, which consists of interest income on Agency RMBS, subordinated tranches of CLOs, structured notes and short term investments and other debt securities, increased by $15.2 million to $34.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to $19.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009. The change in interest income was primarily due to the increased size of our portfolio. During the six months ended June 30, 2010 our average Agency RMBS portfolio was $1,695.1 million, compared to $751.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2009. However, this increase was partially offset by the decrease in the average yield on Agency RMBS. During the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, our average yield on Agency RMBS was 3.91% and 4.91%, respectively. This was primarily caused by the increase in prices/lower yields on Agency RMBS as described above. Interest income on structured notes and short term investments was $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $0.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009.

Interest on CLO and collateralized debt obligation (“CDO”) securities is accrued at a rate determined based on estimated future cash flows and adjusted prospectively as future cash flow amounts are recast. When the Company cannot reliably estimate cash flows for CDO and CLO securities a nonaccrual (cost recovery) recognition method is used. Interest income on subordinated tranches of CLOs increased to $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009. Additionally, for the six months ended June 30, 2010 the Company received $1.6 million of distributions from CLOs that were accounted for as a reduction of the cost basis and thereby excluded from our interest income and Core Earnings. This compared to $1.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009. Total cash received on our CLO portfolio during the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 was as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,
     2010    2009

AMMC CLO V, LTD

   $ 386,222    $ —  

AVENUE CLO V, LTD

     —        29,316

BALLYROCK CLO 2006-2, LTD

     629,690      60,299

CARLYLE HIGH YIELD PARTNERS VIII, LTD

     252,595      173,763

EATON VANCE CDO IX, LTD

     295,284      25,262

FLAGSHIP CLO V, LTD

     488,325      387,604

PRIMUS CLO I, LTD

     139,022      —  

START III CLO, LTD

     261,682      282,596

TRIMARAN CLO VII, LTD

     248,738      285,278
             

Total

   $ 2,701,558    $ 1,244,118
             

 

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Total Expenses. Interest expense decreased by $0.4 million to $2.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to $2.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009. The decrease was due to a decrease in short-term interest rates. During the six months ended June 30, 2010, the average rate on our repurchase agreements was 0.28% compared with 0.77% during the six months ended June 30, 2009. However, the decrease in short-term rates was partially offset by the increase in our average repurchase agreements. Our average repurchase agreements were $1,501.0 million compared to $654.5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

For the six months ended June 30, 2010, non-investment expenses increased by $1.3 million to $4.3 million compared to $3.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009. However, expenses as a percentage of net assets decreased significantly during the six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to June 30, 2009 to 3.39% and 5.06% for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The primary reason for the decrease was that we had a larger asset base. Our average net assets were $256.5 million and $118.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The base management fee under our management agreement is payable monthly in arrears in an amount equal to 1/12 th of (a) 1.50% of the first $250,000,000 of our net assets, (b) 1.25% of our net assets that are greater than $250,000,000 and less than or equal to $500,000,000, and (c) 1.00% of our net assets that are greater than $500,000,000. Pursuant to that agreement, our Manager is also entitled to receive, in certain circumstances, a termination fee and reimbursement of certain expenses as described therein. Such fees and expenses do not have fixed and determinable payments.

We enter into repurchase agreements to finance some of our purchases of Agency RMBS. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we had outstanding approximately $1,447.6 million and $1,372.7 million, respectively, of liabilities pursuant to repurchase agreements that had weighted average borrowing rates of approximately 0.32% and 0.28%, respectively, and maturities of between six and 83 days and four and 68 days, respectively. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, interest payable on our repurchase agreements was $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

We enter into interest rate swap contracts as a means of mitigating our interest rate risk on forecasted interest expense associated with repurchase agreements for the term of the swap contract. At June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we had the following interest rate swap contracts:

As of June 30, 2010

 

Counterparty

   Expiration
Date
   Pay Rate     Receive Rate    Notional
Amount
   Fair
Value
 

Deutsche Bank Group

   May 2013    1.7050   3-Month LIBOR    $ 240,000,000    $ (2,838,708

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   May 2013    1.6000   3-Month LIBOR      100,000,000      (844,724

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   June 2013    1.3775   3-Month LIBOR      300,000,000      (387,767

Deutsche Bank Group

   May 2014    2.1200   3-Month LIBOR      200,000,000      (3,393,545

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   May 2014    1.8825   3-Month LIBOR      200,000,000      (1,561,363

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   July 2014    1.7200   3-Month LIBOR      100,000,000      (30,559
                       

Total

           $ 1,140,000,000    $ (9,056,666
                       
As of December 31, 2009   

Counterparty

   Expiration
Date
   Pay Rate     Receive Rate    Notional Amount    Fair
Value
 

Deutsche Bank Group

   April 2012    1.6910   3-Month LIBOR    $ 240,000,000    $ (543,716

Deutsche Bank Group

   June 2012    2.2660   3-Month LIBOR      200,000,000      (2,558,748

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   July 2012    2.1250   3-Month LIBOR      200,000,000      (1,822,869

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   November 2013    2.2125   3-Month LIBOR      100,000,000      1,131,487   
                       

Total

           $ 740,000,000    $ (3,793,846
                       

We enter into certain contracts that contain a variety of indemnification obligations, principally with our Manager, brokers and counterparties to interest rate swap contracts and repurchase agreements. The maximum potential future payment amount we could be

 

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required to pay under these indemnification obligations is unlimited. We have not incurred any costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification obligations. As a result, the estimated fair value of these agreements is minimal. Accordingly, we recorded no liabilities for these agreements as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

In addition, as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we had a $583.8 million and $229.8 million payable for securities purchased, respectively, a portion of which will be financed through repurchase agreements. The increase in payable for securities purchased of $583.8 million at June 30, 2010 compared to $229.8 million at December 31, 2009 is primarily due to increased purchases to invest the net proceeds from the public offering that closed on June 30, 2010. Because we measure leverage as total liabilities divided by net assets, the amount of payable for securities purchased is included in our June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 leverage ratio of 5.3 to 1 and 6.6 to 1, respectively. Below is a summary of our payable for securities purchased as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

June 30, 2010

 

Forward Settling Purchases

   Settle Date    Par Amount    Payable

GNMA - 30 Year 3.5% Hybrid ARM

   7/22/2010    $ 85,000,000    $ 86,872,656

FNMA - 30 Year 3.65% Hybrid ARM

   8/23/2010      50,000,000      50,968,750

FNMA - 30 Year 3.7% Hybrid ARM

   8/23/2010      20,036,173      20,439,374

FNMA - 30 Year 3.6% Hybrid ARM

   8/23/2010      50,000,000      51,312,500

GNMA - 30 Year 3.5% Hybrid ARM

   9/22/2010      50,000,000      50,984,375

FNMA - 30 Year 3.767% Hybrid ARM

   9/22/2010      50,186,513      51,680,346

FNMA - 30 Year 3.699% Hybrid ARM

   9/24/2010      14,743,298      15,146,722

FNMA - 30 Year 3.845% Hybrid ARM

   9/29/2010      50,000,000      51,492,188

FNMA - 30 Year 3.7% Hybrid ARM

   10/21/2010      25,000,000      25,718,750

FNMA - 30 Year 3.58% Hybrid ARM

   10/21/2010      50,000,000      51,218,750

FNMA - 30 Year 3.615% Hybrid ARM

   10/21/2010      50,000,000      51,187,500

FNMA - 30 Year 3.55% Hybrid ARM

   10/21/2010      25,000,000      25,542,969

FNMA - 30 Year 3.69% Hybrid ARM

   10/22/2010      50,000,000      51,234,375
                

Total

      $ 569,965,984    $ 583,799,255
                

December 31, 2009

 

Forward Settling Purchases

   Settle Date    Par Amount    Payable

FNMA - 15 Year 4.0% Fixed

   1/19/2010    $ 75,000,000    $ 76,439,088

GNMA - 30 Year 4.0% Hybrid ARM

   1/25/2010      25,000,000      25,541,301

FNMA - 15 Year 4.5% Fixed

   2/17/2010      75,000,000      77,118,775

FNMA - 15 Year 4.0% Fixed

   3/16/2010      50,000,000      50,739,608
                

Total

      $ 225,000,000    $ 229,838,772
                

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we did not maintain any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance, or special purpose or variable interest entities, established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. Further, as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we had not guaranteed any obligations of unconsolidated entities or entered into any commitment or intent to provide funding to any such entities.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

On June 30, 2010, the Company closed a public offering of 10,925,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $12.50 per share for total net proceeds of approximately $129.4 million, after the underwriting discount and commissions and estimated expenses.

During the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, our operations provided (used) cash of $60.3 million and $(111.5) million, respectively. During the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, we had net purchases of securities (net of purchases, sales and paydown proceeds) of $458.2 million and $669.7 million, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2010 and

 

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2009 our operations used cash of $(45.4) million and $(170.5) million, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 we had net purchases of securities (net of purchases, sales and paydown proceeds) of $408.8 million and $810.7 million, respectively.

We held cash and cash equivalents of $140.6 million and $1.9 million at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. As of June 30, 2010, our source of funds, excluding our equity offerings, consisted of net proceeds from repurchase agreements totaling $1,447.6 million, with a weighted average borrowing rate of 0.32%, which we used to finance the acquisition of Agency RMBS. As of June 30, 2010, we had established 26 borrowing arrangements with various investment banking firms and other lenders, 18 of which had outstanding borrowings. As of December 31, 2009, our source of funds, excluding our equity offerings, consisted of net proceeds from repurchase agreements totaling $1,372.7 million, with a weighted average borrowing rate of 0.28%, which we used to finance the acquisition of Agency RMBS. We expect to continue to borrow funds in the form of repurchase agreements. As of December 31, 2009, we had established 25 borrowing arrangements with various investment banking firms and other lenders, 16 of which had outstanding borrowings.

The following tables present certain information regarding our risk exposure on our repurchase agreements as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

June 30, 2010

 

Counterparty

   Total
Outstanding
Borrowings
   % of
Total
    Amount at Risk (1)    Weighted Average
Maturity in Days

Bank of America Securities LLC

   $ 74,448,000    5.2   $ 6,516,218    8

Barclays Capital, Inc.

     114,160,080    7.9        8,376,341    68

BNP Paribas

     95,535,000    6.6        5,470,959    83

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

     80,566,000    5.6        5,355,443    64

Credit Suisse First Boston

     46,628,447    3.2        2,355,765    19

Daiwa Securities America, Inc.

     60,626,000    4.2        3,991,593    7

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

     132,036,000    9.1        10,192,815    9

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     162,750,000    11.2        10,092,720    69

Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.

     125,724,230    8.7        9,947,225    6

Guggenheim Liquidity Services, LLC

     49,320,000    3.4        3,117,352    71

ING Financial Markets LLC

     75,313,000    5.2        4,630,269    67

Jefferies & Company, Inc.

     24,617,000    1.7        1,418,146    8

LBBW Securities LLC

     102,994,000    7.1        6,625,464    83

MF Global, Ltd

     57,594,000    4.0        2,777,062    46

Mizuho Securities USA, Inc.

     43,699,000    3.0        2,698,646    21

Morgan Keegan & Co.

     34,421,000    2.4        3,031,217    6

Nomura Securities International, Inc.

     42,316,420    2.9        2,750,318    26

South Street Securities LLC

     124,851,946    8.6        7,521,331    19
                      

Total

   $ 1,447,600,123    100.0   $ 96,868,884   
                      

 

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December 31, 2009

 

Counterparty

   Total
Outstanding
Borrowings
   % of
Total
    Amount at Risk (1)    Weighted Average
Maturity in Days

Bank of America Securities LLC

   $ 93,068,000    6.8   $ 9,029,721    7

Barclays Capital, Inc.

     107,654,754    7.8        6,157,773    60

BNP Paribas

     99,865,000    7.3        5,096,043    29

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

     47,521,000    3.5        2,730,716    53

Credit Suisse First Boston

     48,635,251    3.5        1,636,061    19

Daiwa Securities America, Inc.

     51,031,000    3.7        2,151,365    8

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

     125,247,000    9.1        9,140,161    7

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     134,802,000    9.8        8,005,697    42

Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.

     135,004,688    9.8        7,263,592    5

ING Financial Markets LLC

     78,581,000    5.7        3,865,514    22

Jefferies & Company, Inc.

     59,209,000    4.3        2,702,664    11

LBBW Securities LLC

     58,992,000    4.3        2,622,859    15

MF Global, Ltd

     122,066,000    8.9        3,304,281    60

Mizuho Securities USA, Inc.

     81,474,579    6.0        4,024,203    20

Morgan Keegan & Co.

     41,894,000    3.1        3,110,849    4

South Street Securities LLC

     87,662,300    6.4        6,401,808    50
                      

Total

   $ 1,372,707,572    100.0   $ 77,243,307   
                      

 

(1)

Equal to the fair value of pledged securities plus accrued interest income, minus the sum of repurchase agreement liabilities and accrued interest expense.

Our repurchase agreements do not include substantive provisions other than those covenants and other customary provisions contained in the standard master repurchase agreement as published by the Bond Market Association (now the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association). The repurchase agreements generally require us to transfer additional securities to the counterparty in the event the value of the securities then held by the counterparty in the margin account falls below specified levels and contain events of default in cases where we breach our obligations under the agreement. We receive margin calls from our repurchase agreement counterparties from time to time in the ordinary course of business similar to other entities in the specialty finance business. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we had approximately $276.0 million and $153.0 million, respectively, in Agency RMBS, cash and cash equivalents available to satisfy future margin calls. To date, we have maintained sufficient liquidity to meet margin calls, and we have never been unable to satisfy a margin call, although no assurance can be given that we will be able to satisfy requests from our lenders to post additional collateral in the future.

An event of default or termination event under the standard master repurchase agreement would give our counterparty the option to terminate all repurchase transactions existing with us and make any amount due by us to the counterparty to be payable immediately.

We have made and intend to continue to make regular quarterly distributions of all or substantially all of our REIT taxable income to holders of our common stock. In order to qualify as a REIT and to avoid federal corporate income tax on the income that we distribute to our stockholders, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain, on an annual basis. This requirement can impact our liquidity and capital resources.

For our short term (one year or less) and long term liquidity, we also rely on the cash flow from operations, primarily monthly principal and interest payments to be received on our Agency RMBS, as well as any primary securities offerings authorized by our board of directors.

Based on our current portfolio, leverage rate and available borrowing arrangements, we believe that our cash flow from operations and the utilization of borrowings will be sufficient to enable us to meet anticipated short term (one year or less) liquidity requirements such as to fund our investment activities, pay fees under our management agreement, fund our distributions to stockholders and for general corporate expenses. However, an increase in prepayment rates substantially above our expectations could cause a temporary liquidity shortfall due to the timing of the necessary margin calls on the financing arrangements and the actual receipt of the cash related to principal paydowns. If our cash resources are at any time insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we may have to issue debt or additional equity securities or sell Agency RMBS in our portfolio. If required, the sale of Agency RMBS at prices lower than their amortized cost would result in realized losses. We believe that we have additional capacity through repurchase agreements to leverage our equity further should the need for additional short term (one year or less) liquidity arise.

 

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Our ability to meet our long term (greater than one year) liquidity and capital resource requirements will be subject to obtaining additional debt financing and equity capital. We may increase our capital resources by obtaining long term credit facilities or making public or private offerings of equity or debt securities, possibly including classes of preferred stock, common stock, commercial paper, medium-term notes, CDOs, collateralized mortgage obligations and senior or subordinated notes. Such financing will depend on market conditions for capital raises and for the investment of any proceeds. If we are unable to renew, replace or expand our sources of financing on substantially similar terms, it may have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We generally seek to borrow between six and 10 times the amount of our net assets. At June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, our total liabilities were $2,057.1 million and $1,621.9 million, respectively, which represented a leverage ratio of 5.3 to 1 and 6.6 to 1, respectively.

Inflation

Virtually all of our assets and liabilities are interest rate sensitive in nature. As a result, interest rates and other factors influence our performance far more than inflation. Changes in interest rates do not necessarily correlate with inflation rates or changes in inflation rates. Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and our distributions are determined by our board of directors based in part on our REIT taxable income as calculated according to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code; in each case, our activities and balance sheet are measured with reference to fair value without considering inflation.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the primary component of our market risk was interest rate risk, as described below. While we do not seek to avoid risk completely, we do believe that risk can be quantified from historical experience and seek to actively manage risk, to earn sufficient compensation to justify taking risks and to maintain capital levels consistent with the risks we undertake. Our board of directors has a risk management committee that oversees our risk management process. See “BusinessRisk Management” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 for a further discussion of our risk management committee and risk mitigation practices.

Interest Rate Risk

We are subject to interest rate risk in connection with our investments in Agency RMBS collateralized by ARMs, hybrid ARMs and fixed rate mortgage loans and our related debt obligations, which are generally repurchase agreements of limited duration that are periodically refinanced at current market rates. We seek to mitigate this risk through utilization of derivative contracts, primarily interest rate swap agreements.

Effect on Net Investment Income. We fund our investments in long term Agency RMBS collateralized by ARMs, hybrid ARMs and fixed rate mortgage loans with short term borrowings under repurchase agreements. During periods of rising interest rates, the borrowing costs associated with those Agency RMBS tend to increase while the income earned on such Agency RMBS (during the fixed rate component of such securities) may remain substantially unchanged. This results in a narrowing of the net interest spread between the related assets and borrowings and may even result in losses.

We are a party to the interest rate swap contracts listed below as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

As of June 30, 2010

 

Counterparty

   Expiration
Date
   Pay Rate     Receive Rate    Notional
Amount
   Fair
Value
 

Deutsche Bank Group

   May 2013    1.7050   3-Month LIBOR    $ 240,000,000    $ (2,838,708

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   May 2013    1.6000   3-Month LIBOR      100,000,000      (844,724

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   June 2013    1.3775   3-Month LIBOR      300,000,000      (387,767

Deutsche Bank Group

   May 2014    2.1200   3-Month LIBOR      200,000,000      (3,393,545

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   May 2014    1.8825   3-Month LIBOR      200,000,000      (1,561,363

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   July 2014    1.7200   3-Month LIBOR      100,000,000      (30,559
                       

Total

           $ 1,140,000,000    $ (9,056,666
                       
As of December 31, 2009   

Counterparty

   Expiration
Date
   Pay Rate     Receive Rate    Notional
Amount
   Fair
Value
 

Deutsche Bank Group

   April 2012    1.6910   3-Month LIBOR    $ 240,000,000    $ (543,716

Deutsche Bank Group

   June 2012    2.2660   3-Month LIBOR      200,000,000      (2,558,748

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   July 2012    2.1250   3-Month LIBOR      200,000,000      (1,822,869

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   November 2013    2.2125   3-Month LIBOR      100,000,000      1,131,487   
                       

Total

           $ 740,000,000    $ (3,793,846
                       

 

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Hedging techniques are partly based on assumed levels of prepayments of our Agency RMBS. If prepayments are slower or faster than assumed, the life of the Agency RMBS will be longer or shorter, which would reduce the effectiveness of any hedging strategies we may use and may cause losses on such transactions.

Occasionally we invest in Agency RMBS collateralized by ARMs which are based on mortgages whose coupon rates reset monthly based on the Monthly Treasury Average, or “MTA”. However, our borrowing costs pursuant to our repurchase agreements are generally based on 30-day LIBOR, which may change more quickly than the MTA index. Hence, in a rapidly rising interest rate environment, we would expect our net interest margin to decrease, temporarily. In a falling interest rate environment, we would expect our net interest margin to rise temporarily. For a discussion of the effects of interest rate changes on our Agency RMBS collateralized by hybrid ARMs and fixed-rate mortgages, see “—Extension Risk.

Effect on Fair Value. Another component of interest rate risk is the effect changes in interest rates will have on the fair value of our assets. We face the risk that the fair value of our assets will increase or decrease at different rates than that of our liabilities, including our hedging instruments.

We primarily assess our interest rate risk by estimating the duration of our assets and the duration of our liabilities. Duration essentially measures the market price volatility of financial instruments as interest rates change. We generally calculate duration using various third-party financial models and empirical data. Different models and methodologies can produce different duration numbers for the same securities.

Extension Risk. We invest in Agency RMBS collateralized by hybrid ARMs, which have interest rates that are fixed for the first few years of the loan (typically three, five, seven or 10 years) and thereafter reset periodically on the same basis as Agency RMBS collateralized by ARMs. We compute the projected weighted average life of our Agency RMBS collateralized by hybrid ARMs based on assumptions regarding the rate at which the borrowers will prepay the underlying mortgages. In general, when Agency RMBS collateralized by fixed rate or hybrid ARMs is acquired with borrowings, we may, but are not required to, enter into an interest rate swap agreement or other hedging instrument that effectively fixes our borrowing costs for a period close to the anticipated weighted average life of the fixed rate portion of the related Agency RMBS. This strategy is designed to protect us from rising interest rates by fixing our borrowing costs for the duration of the fixed rate period of the collateral underlying the related Agency RMBS.

We have structured our swaps to expire in conjunction with the estimated weighted average life of the fixed period of the mortgages underlying our Agency RMBS portfolio. However, in a rising interest rate environment, the weighted average life of the fixed rate mortgages underlying our Agency RMBS could extend beyond the term of the swap agreement or other hedging instrument. This could have a negative impact on our results from operations, as borrowing costs would no longer be fixed after the term of the hedging instrument while the income earned on the remaining Agency RMBS would remain fixed for a period of time. This situation may also cause the market value of our Agency RMBS to decline, with little or no offsetting gain from the related hedging transactions. In extreme situations, we may be forced to sell assets to maintain adequate liquidity, which could cause us to incur losses.

Interest Rate Cap Risk. Both the ARMs and hybrid ARMs that collateralize our Agency RMBS are typically subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps and floors, which limit the amount by which the security’s interest yield may change during any given period. However, our borrowing costs will not be subject to similar restrictions. Therefore, in a period of increasing interest rates, the interest costs on our borrowings could increase without limitation by caps, while the interest-rate yields on our Agency RMBS would effectively be limited by caps. This problem will be magnified to the extent that we acquire Agency RMBS that are collateralized by hybrid ARMs that are not fully indexed. In addition, the underlying mortgages may be subject to periodic payment caps that result in some portion of the interest being deferred and added to the principal outstanding. This could result in our receipt of less cash income on our Agency RMBS than we need in order to pay the interest cost on our related borrowings. These factors could lower our net investment income or cause a net loss during periods of rising interest rates, which would harm our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

Interest Rate Mismatch Risk. We intend to fund a substantial portion of our acquisitions of Agency RMBS with borrowings that, after the effect of hedging, have interest rates based on indices and repricing terms similar to, but of somewhat shorter maturities than, the interest rate indices and repricing terms of the Agency RMBS. Thus, we anticipate that in most cases the interest rate indices and repricing terms of our Agency RMBS and our funding sources will not be identical, thereby creating an interest rate mismatch between assets and liabilities. Therefore, our cost of funds would likely rise or fall more quickly than would our earnings rate on assets. During periods of changing interest rates, such interest rate mismatches could negatively impact our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. To mitigate interest rate mismatches, we may utilize the hedging strategies discussed above.

Our analysis of risks is based on our Manager’s experience, estimates, models and assumptions. These analyses rely on models which utilize estimates of fair value and interest rate sensitivity. Actual economic conditions or implementation of investment decisions by our management may produce results that differ significantly from the estimates and assumptions used in our models and the projected results reflected herein.

 

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Prepayment Risk

Prepayments are the full or partial repayment of principal prior to the original contractual maturity of a mortgage loan and typically occur due to refinancing of mortgage loans. Prepayment rates for existing Agency RMBS generally increase when prevailing mortgage interest rates fall. In addition, prepayment rates on Agency RMBS collateralized by ARMs and hybrid ARMs generally increase when the difference between long term and short term interest rates declines or becomes negative. Some ARMs underlying our Agency RMBS may bear initial teaser mortgage interest rates that are lower than their fully-indexed rates, which refers to the applicable index rates plus a margin. In the event that such an ARM is prepaid prior to or soon after the time of adjustment to a fully-indexed rate, the holder of the related Agency RMBS would have held such security while it was less profitable and lost the opportunity to receive interest at the fully-indexed rate over the expected life of the Agency RMBS. We currently do not own any Agency RMBS collateralized by ARMs with teaser mortgage interest rates. Additionally, we currently own Agency RMBS that were purchased at a premium. The prepayment of such Agency RMBS at a rate faster than anticipated would result in a write-off of any remaining capitalized premium amount.

In early March 2010, both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae announced they would purchase from the pools of mortgage loans underlying their mortgage pass-through certificates all mortgage loans that are more than 120 days delinquent. Freddie Mac implemented its purchase program in February 2010 with actual purchases beginning in March 2010. Fannie Mae began their process in March 2010 and announced it would implement the initial purchases over a period of three months, beginning in April 2010. Further, both agencies announced that on an ongoing basis they would purchase loans from the pools of mortgage loans underlying their mortgage pass-through certificates that become 120 days delinquent. The impact of these programs thus far is reflected in the CPR of our portfolio. Our holdings of Agency RMBS backed by 15 year mortgages protect us to a large degree from these prepayments as the delinquency rate of 15 year mortgages is very low, according to data released by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Our Manager seeks to mitigate our prepayment risk by investing in Agency RMBS with (i) a variety of prepayment characteristics, (ii) prepayment prohibitions and penalties and (iii) prepayment protections, as well as by balancing Agency RMBS purchased at a premium with Agency RMBS purchased at a discount.

Effect on Fair Value and Net Investment Income

Another component of interest rate risk is the effect changes in interest rates will have on the fair value of our assets and our net investment income. We face the risk that the fair value of our assets and net investment income will increase or decrease at different rates than that of our liabilities, including our hedging instruments.

We primarily assess our interest rate risk by estimating the duration of our assets and the duration of our liabilities. Duration essentially measures the market price volatility of financial instruments as interest rates change. We generally calculate duration using various financial models and empirical data. Different models and methodologies can produce different duration numbers for the same securities.

The following sensitivity analysis table shows the estimated impact on the fair value and net investment income of our interest rate-sensitive investments and repurchase agreement liabilities at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, assuming a static portfolio and that rates instantaneously fall 25, 50 and 75 basis points and rise 25, 50 and 75 basis points.

June 30, 2010

 

Change in Interest Rates

   Projected Change in the
Fair Value of Our Assets
    Projected Change in
Our Net
Investment Income
 

- 75 basis points

   1.09   1.63

- 50 basis points

   0.81   1.06

- 25 basis points

   0.43   0.48

No Change

   0.00   0.00

+ 25 basis points

   -0.60   -2.87

+ 50 basis points

   -1.24   -5.74

+ 75 basis points

   -1.95   -8.61

 

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December 31, 2009

 

Change in Interest Rates

   Projected Change in the
Fair Value of Our Assets
    Projected Change in
Our Net
Investment Income
 

- 75 basis points

   0.83   2.50

- 50 basis points

   0.65   1.35

- 25 basis points

   0.38   0.29

No Change

   0.00   0.00

+ 25 basis points

   -0.45   -1.59

+ 50 basis points

   -0.98   -4.76

+ 75 basis points

   -1.57   -6.85

While the charts above reflect the estimated immediate impact of interest rate increases and decreases on a static portfolio, we rebalance our portfolio from time to time either to take advantage or minimize the impact of changes in interest rates. Additionally, the effects of interest rate changes on our portfolio illustrated in the above chart does not take into account the effect that our hedging instruments, mainly interest rate swaps, would have on the fair value of our portfolio, but does take into account the effect that our hedging instruments, mainly interest rate swaps, would have on our net investment income. Generally, our interest rate swaps reset in the quarter following changes in interest rates. It is important to note that the impact of changing interest rates on fair value and net investment income can change significantly when interest rates change beyond 75 basis points from current levels. Therefore, the volatility in the fair value of our assets could increase significantly when interest rates change beyond 75 basis points. In addition, other factors impact the fair value of and net investment income from our interest rate-sensitive investments and hedging instruments, such as the shape of the yield curve, market expectations as to future interest rate changes and other market conditions. Accordingly, in the event of changes in actual interest rates, the change in the fair value of our assets and our net investment income would likely differ from that shown above, and such difference might be material and adverse to our stockholders.

Risk Management

Our board of directors exercises its oversight of risk management principally through its Risk Management Committee. The Risk Management Committee oversees our senior management’s and our Manager’s risk-related responsibilities, including reviewing management policies and performance against these policies and related benchmarks.

As part of our risk management process, our Manager seeks to actively manage the interest rate, liquidity and prepayment risks associated with our Agency RMBS portfolio. Our Manager seeks to mitigate our interest rate risk exposure by entering into various hedging instruments in order to minimize our exposure to potential interest rate mismatches between the interest we earn on our investments and our borrowing costs.

Our Manager seeks to mitigate our liquidity risks by monitoring our liquidity position on a daily basis and maintaining a prudent level of leverage, which we currently consider to be between 6 and 10 times the amount of net assets in our overall portfolio, based on current market conditions and various other factors, including the health of the financial institutions that lend to us under our repurchase agreements and the presence of special liquidity programs provided by domestic and foreign central banks.

Our Manager seeks to mitigate our prepayment risk by investing in Agency RMBS with (i) a variety of prepayment characteristics, (ii) prepayment prohibitions and penalties and (iii) prepayment protections, as well as by balancing Agency RMBS purchased at a premium with Agency RMBS purchased at a discount.

 

Item 4T. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2010. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2010, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

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PART II. Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The Company and the Manager are not currently subject to any material legal proceedings.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on February 10, 2010 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on April 23, 2010.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

 

Item 4. (Removed and Reserved).

 

Item 5. Other Information

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

  (a) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description of Exhibit

  31.1*   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
  31.2*   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
  32.1**   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
  32.2**   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002

 

* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 

    CYPRESS SHARPRIDGE INVESTMENTS, INC.
Dated: July 22, 2010     BY:   /S/    FRANCES R. SPARK        
      Frances R. Spark
      Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
      (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

  31.1*   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
  31.2*   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
  32.1**   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
  32.2**   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002

 

* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith.

 

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