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 September 30, 2011

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

CYS 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.)

890 Winter Street, Suite 200

Waltham, Massachusetts

  02451
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(617) 639-0440

(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  x    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   x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (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 October 20, 2011

Common Stock ($0.01 par value)    82,750,953

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Table of Contents

 

          Page  

PART I.

  

Financial Information

     1   

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 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

     41   

PART II.

  

Other Information

     41   

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

     41   

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

     41   

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     55   

Item 3.

  

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

     55   

Item 4.

  

(Removed and Reserved)

     55   

Item 5.

  

Other Information

     55   

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

     55   
  

SIGNATURES

     57   


Table of Contents

PART I. Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (UNAUDITED)

 

(In thousands, except per share numbers)    September 30, 2011      December 31, 2010*  

ASSETS:

     

Investments in securities, at fair value (including pledged assets of $8,079,568 and $3,671,582, respectively)

   $ 9,493,117       $ 6,331,048   

Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value

     —           9,113   

Interest rate cap contracts, at fair value

     7,562         30,984   

Cash and cash equivalents

     7,180         1,510   

Receivable for securities sold

     3,486         —     

Interest receivable

     27,593         16,183   

Other assets

     1,379         429   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     9,540,317         6,389,267   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

     

Repurchase agreements

     7,540,669         3,443,843   

Interest rate swap contracts, at fair value

     96,369         9,757   

Payable for securities purchased

     762,122         2,234,401   

Distribution payable

     45,509         —     

Accrued interest payable (including accrued interest on repurchase agreements of $2,111 and $1,084, respectively)

     18,194         9,412   

Related party management fee payable

     —           800   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     3,247         715   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     8,466,110         5,698,928   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Contingencies (note 8)

     

NET ASSETS

   $ 1,074,207       $ 690,339   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

     

Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000 shares authorized (82,744 and 59,551 shares issued and outstanding, respectively)

   $ 827       $ 596   

Additional paid in capital

     1,019,401         739,005   

Retained earnings (Accumulated deficit)

     53,979         (49,262
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 1,074,207       $ 690,339   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

   $ 12.98       $ 11.59   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Derived from audited financial statements.

See notes to financial statements.

 

1


Table of Contents

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 (UNAUDITED)

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES—UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 

(In thousands)    Face Amount      Fair Value  

Fixed Income Securities - 883.7% (d)

     

Mortgage Pass-Through Agency RMBS - 874.9% (d)

     

Fannie Mae Pools - 784.6% (d)

     

2.810%, due 12/1/2041(b)

   $ 25,000       $ 25,664   

2.880%, due 12/1/2041(b)

     13,000         13,378   

2.988%, due 10/1/2040(a)(b)

     48,892         50,820   

3.001%, due 1/1/2041(a)(b)

     43,164         44,979   

3.032%, due 12/1/2040(a)(b)

     164,578         171,576   

3.050%, due 9/1/2041(b)

     50,336         51,971   

3.054%, due 9/1/2041(a)(b)

     49,881         51,984   

3.167%, due 9/1/2041(b)

     40,382         41,927   

3.170%, due 10/1/2041(b)

     50,000         51,969   

3.180%, due 7/1/2041(b)

     38,741         40,409   

3.204%, due 6/1/2041(a)(b)

     190,766         198,990   

3.216%, due 11/1/2040(a)(b)

     41,323         43,114   

3.221%, due 7/1/2040(a)(b)

     43,684         45,584   

3.244%, due 9/1/2041(a)(b)

     114,477         119,342   

3.241%, due 3/1/2041(a)(b)

     18,970         19,733   

3.246%, due 12/1/2040(a)(b)

     70,397         73,432   

3.288%, due 9/1/2041(a)(b)

     94,496         98,971   

3.262%, due 10/1/2041(a)(b)

     104,717         109,168   

3.252%, due 4/1/2041(a)(b)

     66,613         69,461   

3.252%, due 11/1/2040(a)(b)

     45,815         47,896   

3.257%, due 6/1/2041(a)(b)

     55,437         57,807   

3.275%, due 5/1/2041(a)(b)

     46,137         48,102   

3.286%, due 6/1/2041(a)(b)

     126,246         131,600   

3.300%, due 10/1/2041(b)

     150,000         156,657   

3.313%, due 6/1/2041(a)(b)

     34,422         35,816   

3.315%, due 4/1/2041(a)(b)

     39,238         40,875   

3.359%, due 8/1/2041(a)(b)

     31,627         32,918   

3.370%, due 5/1/2041(a)(b)

     24,037         25,033   

3.391%, due 4/1/2041(a)(b)

     47,779         49,889   

3.398%, due 4/1/2041(a)(b)

     57,210         59,710   

3.411%, due 6/1/2041(a)(b)

     119,766         125,071   

3.500%, due 10/1/2026

     450,000         469,969   

3.500%, due 1/1/2026(a)

     167,808         175,485   

3.500%, due 1/1/2026(a)

     143,435         149,997   

3.500%, due 2/1/2026(a)

     95,481         99,849   

3.500%, due 2/1/2026(a)

     142,558         149,080   

3.500%, due 2/1/2026(a)

     235,787         246,574   

3.500%, due 3/1/2026(a)

     95,737         100,116   

3.500%, due 3/1/2026(a)

     53,073         55,501   

3.500%, due 3/1/2026(a)

     91,311         95,488   

3.500%, due 4/1/2026

     49,171         51,421   

3.500%, due 5/1/2026(a)

     96,611         101,031   

3.500%, due 7/1/2021(a)

     288,426         303,416   

3.500%, due 12/1/2025(a)

     95,081         99,431   

 

See notes to financial statements.

2


Table of Contents

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS - Continued

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 (UNAUDITED)

 

     Face Amount      Fair Value  

3.500%, due 12/1/2025(a)

     93,848         98,142   

3.569%, due 7/1/2040(a)(b)

     15,964         16,706   

3.570%, due 8/1/2040(b)

     43,260         45,274   

3.578%, due 7/1/2040(a)(b)

     18,739         19,617   

3.587%, due 8/1/2040(a)(b)

     41,360         43,345   

3.599%, due 6/1/2041(a)(b)

     67,813         70,914   

3.624%, due 6/1/2041(b)

     68,053         71,170   

3.674%, due 7/1/2040(a)(b)

     40,409         42,467   

3.684%, due 8/1/2040(a)(b)

     42,914         45,117   

3.712%, due 5/1/2040(a)(b)

     36,436         38,422   

3.729%, due 8/1/2040(a)(b)

     10,725         11,300   

3.745%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     26,628         28,003   

3.825%, due 7/1/2040(a)(b)

     37,395         39,411   

3.958%, due 10/1/2039(a)(b)

     32,015         33,714   

3.968%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     16,344         17,264   

4.000%, due 1/1/2025(a)

     35,541         37,510   

4.000%, due 1/1/2025(a)

     57,600         60,828   

4.000%, due 1/1/2026(a)

     47,417         50,073   

4.000%, due 1/1/2026(a)

     47,587         50,254   

4.000%, due 2/1/2025(a)

     37,893         40,016   

4.000%, due 2/1/2026(a)

     46,891         49,519   

4.000%, due 2/1/2026(a)

     40,660         42,938   

4.000%, due 2/1/2026(a)

     14,875         15,708   

4.000%, due 2/1/2026(a)

     88,690         93,659   

4.000%, due 3/1/2025(a)

     37,356         39,449   

4.000%, due 3/1/2026(a)

     26,064         27,524   

4.000%, due 3/1/2026(a)

     191,602         202,338   

4.000%, due 3/1/2026(a)

     42,811         45,210   

4.000%, due 3/1/2026(a)

     47,555         50,219   

4.000%, due 4/1/2026(a)

     96,165         101,554   

4.000%, due 4/1/2026(a)

     7,780         8,216   

4.000%, due 4/1/2026(a)

     70,698         74,660   

4.000%, due 4/1/2026(a)

     156,356         165,116   

4.000%, due 4/1/2026(a)

     153,172         161,755   

4.000%, due 5/1/2026(a)

     45,094         47,621   

4.000%, due 5/1/2026(a)

     25,477         26,904   

4.000%, due 5/1/2026(a)

     191,792         202,538   

4.000%, due 6/1/2026(a)

     24,505         25,878   

4.000%, due 6/1/2026(a)

     104,515         110,371   

4.000%, due 6/1/2026(a)

     94,773         100,083   

4.000%, due 9/1/2030(a)

     87,482         92,575   

4.000%, due 9/1/2030(a)

     21,263         22,501   

4.000%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     9,418         9,940   

4.000%, due 10/1/2025(a)

     25,748         27,191   

4.000%, due 10/1/2025(a)

     27,569         29,114   

4.000%, due 10/1/2025(a)

     46,751         49,371   

4.000%, due 10/1/2030(a)

     46,722         49,442   

4.000%, due 10/1/2030(a)

     72,562         76,786   

 

See notes to financial statements.

3


Table of Contents

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS - Continued

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 (UNAUDITED)

 

     Face Amount      Fair Value  

4.000%, due 10/1/2030(a)

     69,676         73,733   

4.000%, due 10/1/2030(a)

     70,131         74,214   

4.000%, due 11/1/2025(a)

     46,061         48,642   

4.000%, due 11/1/2025(a)

     46,982         49,614   

4.000%, due 11/1/2025(a)

     9,102         9,612   

4.000%, due 12/1/2025(a)

     23,367         24,676   

4.000%, due 12/1/2025(a)

     68,894         72,755   

4.000%, due 12/1/2025(a)

     27,691         29,243   

4.000%, due 12/1/2025(a)

     25,804         27,040   

4.000%, due 12/1/2030(a)

     72,030         76,224   

4.500%, due 6/1/2025(a)

     28,163         30,027   

4.500%, due 2/1/2026(a)

     50,216         53,477   

4.500%, due 3/1/2024(a)

     11,507         12,254   

4.500%, due 3/1/2025(a)

     42,592         45,411   

4.500%, due 3/1/2026(a)

     64,840         69,131   

4.500%, due 4/1/2025(a)

     28,822         30,730   

4.500%, due 4/1/2030(a)

     27,260         29,017   

4.500%, due 5/1/2023(a)

     19,676         20,978   

4.500%, due 6/1/2024(a)

     15,212         16,199   

4.500%, due 8/1/2024(a)

     12,505         13,318   

4.500%, due 9/1/2024(a)

     18,347         19,538   

4.500%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     29,487         31,402   

4.500%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     30,563         32,548   

4.500%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     25,426         27,077   

4.500%, due 10/1/2030(a)

     47,964         51,055   

4.500%, due 11/1/2024

     39,691         42,268   

4.500%, due 11/1/2030(a)

     48,650         51,785   

4.500%, due 5/1/2030(a)

     44,287         47,140   

5.000%, due 5/1/2041(a)

     91,116         98,119   

5.000%, due 4/1/2041(a)

     168,708         181,673   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Fannie Mae Pools

     8,018,667         8,427,831   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Freddie Mac Pools - 76.1% (d)

     

2.980%, due 9/1/2041(b)

     50,244         52,377   

3.024%, due 9/1/2041(a)(b)

     50,032         52,156   

3.229%, due 12/1/2040(a)(b)

     44,867         46,988   

3.241%, due 2/1/2041(a)(b)

     40,099         41,918   

3.248%, due 1/1/2041(a)(b)

     47,987         50,178   

3.273%, due 6/1/2041(a)(b)

     48,708         50,792   

3.429%, due 9/1/2041(b)

     50,011         52,014   

3.500%, due 4/1/2026(a)

     191,694         200,078   

3.652%, due 6/1/2041(a)(b)

     47,978         50,230   

4.000%, due 10/1/2025(a)

     63,223         66,597   

4.500%, due 1/1/2025(a)

     28,655         30,444   

4.500%, due 2/1/2025(a)

     37,250         39,598   

4.500%, due 5/1/2025(a)

     17,427         18,526   

4.500%, due 7/1/2024(a)

     37,019         39,329   

4.500%, due 12/1/2024(a)

     12,575         13,360   

 

See notes to financial statements.

4


Table of Contents

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS - Continued

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 (UNAUDITED)

 

     Face Amount      Fair Value  

4.500%, due 12/1/2024(a)

     12,197         12,958   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Freddie Mac Pools

     779,966         817,543   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ginnie Mae Pools - 14.2% (d)

     

3.500%, due 7/20/2040(a)(b)

     80,027         84,233   

3.500%, due 7/20/2040(a)(b)

     47,205         49,686   

4.000%, due 1/20/2040(a)(b)

     17,660         18,740   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Ginnie Mae Pools

     144,892         152,659   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Mortgage Pass-Through Agency RMBS (Cost - $9,159,918)

     8,943,525         9,398,033   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury Bills - 7.0% (d)

     

0.060%, due 2/9/2012(e)

     75,000         74,990   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury Bills (Cost - $74,979)

     75,000         74,990   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Collateralized Loan Obligation Securities - 1.8%(d)

     

AMMC CLO V LTD(c)

     2,249         1,462   

AMMC CLO VII, LTD(c)

     3,900         2,730   

ARES VIR CLO, LTD(c)(f)

     3,775         1,812   

BALLYROCK CLO 2006-2, LTD(c)

     4,270         4,270   

CARLYLE HIGH YIELD PARTNERS VIII, LTD(c)

     3,000         2,100   

EATON VANCE CDO IX, LTD(c)

     2,500         1,725   

FLAGSHIP CLO V, LTD(c)

     3,750         2,625   

PHOENIX CLO II, LTD (formerly AVENUE CLO V)(c)

     2,000         1,620   

PRIMUS CLO I, LTD(c)

     2,500         1,750   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Collateralized Loan Obligation Securities (Cost - $16,524)

     27,944         20,094   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities (Cost - $9,251,421)

   $ 9,046,469       $ 9,493,117   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Notional
Amount
     Fair Value  

Interest Rate Cap Contracts - 0.7%(d)

     

December 2014 Expiration, Cap Rate 2.0725%

   $ 200,000       $ 819   

October 2015 Expiration, Cap Rate 1.4275%

     300,000         3,888   

November 2015 Expiration, Cap Rate 1.3600%

     200,000         2,855   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Interest Rate Cap Contracts (Cost, $14,681)

   $ 700,000       $ 7,562   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest Rate Swap Contracts - (9.0%)(d)

     

May 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.6000%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

   $ 100,000       $ (1,728

June 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.3775%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     300,000         (4,268

July 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.3650%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     300,000         (4,304

December 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.2640%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     400,000         (5,902

December 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.2813%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     500,000         (7,526

December 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.3088%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     400,000         (6,299

December 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.3225%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     400,000         (6,416

April 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.6700%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR (g)

     250,000         (1,483

July 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.7200%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     100,000         (2,835

July 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.7325%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     250,000         (7,232

August 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.3530%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     200,000         (3,710

September 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.31200%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     500,000         (8,692

 

See notes to financial statements.

5


Table of Contents

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS - Continued

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 (UNAUDITED)

 

     Notional
Amount
     Fair Value  

October 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.1725%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     240,000         (3,143

February 2015 Expiration, Pay Rate 2.1450%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     500,000         (22,296

June 2016 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.9400%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     300,000         (10,535
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Interest Rate Swap Contracts (Cost, $0)

   $ 4,740,000       $ (96,369
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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 September 30, 2011.

(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 September 30, 2011, the fair value of these securities amounted to $20,094 or 1.8% of net assets.

(d) 

Percentage of net assets.

(e) 

Zero coupon bond, rate shown represents purchase yield.

(f) 

Non-income producing security.

(g) 

Interest rate swap contains a one-time option to cancel at $0.

See notes to financial statements.

 

6


Table of Contents

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2010 (UNAUDITED)*

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES—UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 

(In thousands)    Face Amount      Fair Value  

Investments in Securities - 917.1% (d)

     

Mortgage Pass-Through Agency RMBS - 914.1% (d)

     

Fannie Mae Pools - 802.1% (d)

     

3.000%, due 1/1/2041(a)(b)

   $ 50,363       $ 51,416   

3.013%, due 10/1/2040(a)(b)

     59,284         60,418   

3.042%, due 12/1/2040(b)

     194,331         199,189   

3.210%, due 11/1/2040(a)(b)

     49,731         50,957   

3.212%, due 12/1/2040(a)(b)

     100,076         103,078   

3.233%, due 7/1/2040(a)(b)

     47,318         48,667   

3.251%, due 11/1/2040(a)(b)

     49,712         50,762   

3.309%, due 8/1/2040(a)(b)

     47,107         48,594   

3.336%, due 9/1/2040(a)(b)

     48,525         49,858   

3.340%, due 9/1/2040(a)(b)

     55,821         57,416   

3.462%, due 11/1/2040(a)(b)

     24,735         25,193   

3.500%, due 12/1/2025(a)

     100,441         101,367   

3.500%, due 1/1/2026(a)

     179,924         181,582   

3.500%, due 12/1/2025

     4,139         4,177   

3.500%, due 12/1/2025

     16,274         16,424   

3.500%, due 12/1/2025(a)

     99,910         100,831   

3.500%, due 1/1/2026

     150,000         151,031   

3.500%, due 2/1/2026

     550,000         552,234   

3.500%, due 3/1/2026

     150,000         150,094   

3.500%, due 4/1/2026

     400,000         399,031   

3.506%, due 8/1/2040(a)(b)

     48,469         50,032   

3.558%, due 7/1/2040(a)(b)

     22,367         22,890   

3.571%, due 7/1/2040(a)(b)

     19,640         20,085   

3.579%, due 8/1/2040(a)(b)

     49,287         50,415   

3.605%, due 10/1/2040(a)(b)

     59,742         61,158   

3.605%, due 8/1/2040(a)(b)

     21,609         22,104   

3.615%, due 8/1/2040(a)(b)

     48,456         49,631   

3.648%, due 6/1/2040(a)(b)

     19,497         20,224   

3.664%, due 7/1/2040(a)(b)

     45,354         46,987   

3.676%, due 7/1/2039(a)(b)

     6,108         6,364   

3.679%, due 7/1/2040(a)(b)

     46,360         47,667   

3.683%, due 8/1/2040(a)(b)

     47,674         48,944   

3.688%, due 5/1/2040(a)(b)

     13,923         14,464   

3.694%, due 8/1/2040(a)(b)

     23,798         24,437   

3.755%, due 5/1/2040(a)(b)

     46,830         48,486   

3.771%, due 8/1/2040(a)(b)

     14,108         14,524   

3.776%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     29,583         30,984   

3.830%, due 7/1/2040(a)(b)

     46,251         47,773   

3.974%, due 10/1/2039(a)(b)

     38,779         40,546   

3.983%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     18,868         19,789   

4.000%, due 12/1/2025(a)

     25,104         25,951   

4.000%, due 12/1/2030(a)

     75,493         76,497   

4.000%, due 1/1/2026(a)

     50,369         52,069   

4.000%, due 12/1/2025(a)

     75,088         77,623   

 

See notes to financial statements.

7


Table of Contents

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS – Continued

DECEMBER 31, 2010 (UNAUDITED)*

 

     Face Amount      Fair Value  

4.000%, due 12/1/2025

     30,566         31,598   

4.000%, due 1/1/2026

     50,444         51,510   

4.000%, due 12/1/2025

     31,096         31,859   

4.000%, due 12/1/2024(a)

     22,837         23,554   

4.000%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     11,035         11,382   

4.000%, due 1/1/2025(a)

     41,384         42,683   

4.000%, due 1/1/2025(a)

     65,069         67,265   

4.000%, due 2/1/2025(a)

     43,086         44,540   

4.000%, due 3/1/2025(a)

     43,404         44,869   

4.000%, due 9/1/2030(a)

     96,940         98,229   

4.000%, due 9/1/2030(a)

     23,974         24,293   

4.000%, due 10/1/2025(a)

     27,531         28,460   

4.000%, due 10/1/2030(a)

     49,695         50,356   

4.000%, due 10/1/2030(a)

     74,994         75,992   

4.000%, due 10/1/2030(a)

     74,413         75,402   

4.000%, due 10/1/2025(a)

     29,823         30,830   

4.000%, due 10/1/2030(a)

     74,750         75,744   

4.000%, due 10/1/2025(a)

     49,680         51,356   

4.000%, due 11/1/2025(a)

     49,461         51,130   

4.000%, due 11/1/2025(a)

     50,118         51,810   

4.000%, due 11/1/2025(a)

     9,941         10,277   

4.000%, due 2/1/2026

     100,000         102,734   

4.063%, due 6/1/2039(a)(b)

     19,102         20,082   

4.096%, due 9/1/2039(a)(b)

     24,491         25,701   

4.500%, due 5/1/2024(a)

     12,186         12,856   

4.500%, due 6/1/2024(a)

     20,005         20,980   

4.500%, due 5/1/2024(a)

     13,063         13,700   

4.500%, due 6/1/2024(a)

     17,943         18,817   

4.500%, due 9/1/2024(a)

     21,594         22,647   

4.500%, due 9/1/2024(a)

     21,095         22,123   

4.500%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     36,292         38,062   

4.500%, due 9/1/2024(a)

     1,937         2,031   

4.500%, due 11/1/2024(a)

     11,631         12,198   

4.500%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     38,299         40,166   

4.500%, due 11/1/2024(a)

     49,978         52,415   

4.500%, due 10/1/2024(a)

     29,910         31,368   

4.500%, due 4/1/2030(a)

     28,916         29,998   

4.500%, due 5/1/2030(a)

     48,182         49,984   

4.500%, due 6/1/2025(a)

     33,361         35,050   

4.500%, due 10/1/2030(a)

     49,664         51,522   

4.500%, due 11/1/2030(a)

     50,338         52,221   

4.500%, due 2/1/2026

     300,000         314,109   

5.500%, due 9/1/2023(a)

     32,265         34,714   

5.500%, due 2/1/2041

     200,000         213,594   

6.000%, due 5/1/2037(a)

     8,749         9,401   

6.000%, due 4/1/2038(a)

     14,299         15,555   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Fannie Mae Pools

     5,403,989         5,537,130   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

8


Table of Contents

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS – Continued

DECEMBER 31, 2010 (UNAUDITED)*

 

     Face Amount      Fair Value  

Freddie Mac Pools - 88.6% (d)

     

3.052%, due 1/1/2041(a)(b)

     45,411         46,424   

3.200%, due 12/1/2040(a)(b)

     50,012         51,281   

3.247%, due 12/1/2040(b)

     49,646         50,980   

3.500%, due 3/1/2026

     200,000         199,938   

4.000%, due 10/1/2025(a)

     73,474         75,689   

4.500%, due 7/1/2024(a)

     48,351         50,527   

4.500%, due 2/1/2025(a)

     43,717         45,739   

4.500%, due 12/1/2024(a)

     15,509         16,207   

4.500%, due 12/1/2024(a)

     15,096         15,775   

4.500%, due 1/1/2025(a)

     33,201         34,696   

4.500%, due 5/1/2025(a)

     18,565         19,423   

5.500%, due 9/1/2023(a)

     4,998         5,360   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Freddie Mac Pools

     597,980         612,039   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ginnie Mae Pools - 23.4% (d)

     

3.500%, due 7/20/2040(a)(b)

     84,444         87,841   

3.500%, due 7/20/2040(a)(b)

     49,868         51,874   

4.000%, due 1/20/2040(a)(b)

     20,627         21,686   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Ginnie Mae Pools

     154,939         161,401   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Mortgage Pass-Through Agency RMBS (Cost - $6,308,441)

     6,156,908         6,310,570   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Collateralized Loan Obligation Securities - 3.0%(d)

     

AMMC CLO V LTD(c)

     2,249         1,349   

AMMC CLO VII, LTD(c)

     3,900         2,578   

ARES VIR CLO, LTD(c)(e)

     3,775         1,623   

BALLYROCK CLO 2006-2, LTD(c)

     4,270         3,843   

CARLYLE HIGH YIELD PARTNERS VIII, LTD(c)

     3,000         2,250   

EATON VANCE CDO IX, LTD(c)

     2,500         1,915   

FLAGSHIP CLO V, LTD(c)

     3,750         2,363   

PHOENIX CLO II, LTD (formerly AVENUE CLO V)(c)(e)

     2,000         1,127   

PRIMUS CLO I, LTD(c)

     2,500         1,750   

TRIMARAN CLO VII, LTD(c)

     2,000         1,680   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Collateralized Loan Obligation Securities (Cost - $21,183)

     29,944         20,478   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities (Cost - $6,329,624)

   $ 6,186,852       $ 6,331,048   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Notional
Amount
     Fair Value  

Interest Rate Cap Contracts - 4.5%(d)

     

December 2014 Expiration, Cap Rate 2.073%

   $ 200,000       $ 4,752   

October 2015 Expiration, Cap Rate 1.428%

     300,000         15,340   

November 2015 Expiration, Cap Rate 1.360%

     200,000         10,892   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Interest Rate Cap Contracts (Cost, $17,560)

   $ 700,000       $ 30,984   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest Rate Swap Contracts - (0.01)%(d)

     

May 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.600%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

   $ 100,000       $ (1,496

June 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.378%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     300,000         (2,718

July 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.365%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     300,000         (2,484

 

See notes to financial statements.

9


Table of Contents

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS – Continued

DECEMBER 31, 2010 (UNAUDITED)*

 

     Notional
Amount
     Fair Value  

December 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.3088%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     400,000         (776

December 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.2813%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     500,000         (539

December 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.2640%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     400,000         (255

December 2013 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.3225%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     400,000         (904

July 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.7200%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     100,000         (733

July 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.7325%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     250,000         (1,787

August 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.353%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     200,000         1,529   

September 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.312%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     500,000         5,460   

October 2014 Expiration, Pay Rate 1.1725%, Receive Rate 3-Month LIBOR

     240,000         4,059   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Interest Rate Swap Contracts (Cost, $0)

   $ 3,690,000       $ (644
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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, 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 December 31, 2010, the fair value of these securities amounted to $20,478 or 3.0% of net assets.

(d) 

Percentage of net assets.

(e) 

Non-income producing security.

See notes to financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
(In thousands, except per share numbers)    2011     2010     2011     2010  

INVESTMENT INCOME - Interest income

   $ 64,566      $ 16,311      $ 171,266      $ 50,514   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

        

Interest

     4,778        1,109        12,352        3,176   

Management fees

     2,291        1,695        8,442        3,923   

Compensation and benefits

     4,338        389        5,472        1,035   

General, administrative and other

     3,203        633        5,202        2,077   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     14,610        3,826        31,468        10,211   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

     49,956        12,485        139,798        40,303   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

GAINS AND (LOSSES) FROM INVESTMENTS:

        

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

     13,267        9,909        28,613        489   

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

     107,692        18,667        241,390        66,919   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) from investments

     120,959        28,576        270,003        67,408   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

GAINS AND (LOSSES) FROM SWAP AND CAP CONTRACTS:

        

Net swap and cap interest income (expense)

     (15,469     (4,809     (42,202     (11,241

Net gain (loss) on termination of swap contracts

     —          (6,292     (3,492     (23,498

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on swap and cap contracts

     (59,125     (28,051     (116,267     (33,314
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) from swap and cap contracts

     (74,594     (39,152 )     (161,961     (68,053
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME

   $ 96,321      $ 1,909      $ 247,840      $ 39,658   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE BASIC & DILUTED

        

Basic

   $ 1.16      $ 0.05      $ 3.15      $ 1.74   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ 1.16      $ 0.05      $ 3.15      $ 1.74   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

11


Table of Contents

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (UNAUDITED)

 

(In thousands)    Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011
    Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011
 

Net income:

    

Net investment income

   $ 49,956      $ 139,798   

Net realized gain (loss) on investment securities

     13,267        28,613   

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

     107,692        241,390   

Net gain (loss) on swap and cap contracts

     (74,594     (161,961
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     96,321        247,840   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital transactions:

    

Net proceeds from issuance of common shares

     29        275,936   

Distributions to shareholders

     (45,509     (144,599

Amortization of share based compensation

     3,557        4,691   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital transactions

     (41,923     136,028   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     54,398        383,868   

Net assets:

    

Beginning of period

     1,019,809        690,339   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,074,207      $ 1,074,207   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

12


Table of Contents

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
(In thousands)    2011     2010  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Net income

   $ 247,840      $ 39,658   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Purchase of investment securities

     (6,104,138     (3,737,688

Proceeds from disposition of investment securities

     2,355,791        716,341   

Principal repayments of investment securities

     828,994        378,035   

Amortization of share based compensation

     4,691        1,035   

Amortization of premiums on investment securities

     27,289        5,431   

Amortization of premiums on interest rate cap contracts

     2,879        —     

Net realized (gain) loss on investment securities

     (28,613     (489

Net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on swap and cap contracts

     116,267        33,314   

Net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investments

     (241,390     (66,919

Change in assets and liabilities:

    

Receivable for securities sold

     (3,486     (181,445

Interest receivable

     (11,410     (3,406

Other assets

     (950     (503

Payable for securities purchased and terminated swap contract

     (1,472,279     2,404,797   

Accrued interest payable

     8,782        2,887   

Related party management fee payable

     (800     328   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     2,532        183   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (4,268,001     (408,441
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from repurchase agreements

     31,273,293        10,802,939   

Repayments of repurchase agreements

     (27,176,468     (10,676,941

Net proceeds from issuance of common shares

     275,936        314,554   

Distributions paid

     (99,090     (31,899
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     4,273,671        408,653   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     5,670        212   

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - Beginning of period

     1,510        1,889   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - End of period

   $ 7,180      $ 2,101   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

    

Interest paid

   $ 47,975      $ 13,088   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NONCASH FLOW INFORMATION:

    

Distributions declared, not yet paid

   $ 45,509      $ 17,826   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

13


Table of Contents

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

CONDENSED NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1. ORGANIZATION

CYS Investments, Inc. (the “Company”) (formerly known as Cypress Sharpridge Investments, Inc.) was formed as a Maryland corporation on January 3, 2006, and commenced operations on February 10, 2006. 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 that are issued and guaranteed by a federally chartered corporation (“Agency RMBS”), 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”), and subordinated tranches of asset-backed securities, including collateralized debt or loan obligations (“CLOs”). Pursuant to the Company’s investment guidelines, the Company must invest exclusively in Agency RMBS including 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”.

On September 1, 2011, the Company acquired certain assets and entered into agreements to internalize the Company’s management (the “Internalization”). The Company previously had been managed by Cypress Sharpridge Advisors LLC (the “Manager”) pursuant to a management agreement (the “Management Agreement”). The Manager had entered into sub-advisory agreements with Sharpridge Capital Management, L.P. (“Sharpridge”) and an affiliate of The Cypress Group, pursuant to which the Manager was provided with all of the resources and assets (the “Assets”) used to operate the Company’s business and manage the Company’s assets. In connection with the completion of the Internalization, the Management Agreement, sub-advisory agreements and other ancillary agreements related thereto were terminated. No termination fee was incurred or paid as a result of terminating those agreements.

Under the terms of the Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement entered into in connection with the Internalization, the Company acquired the Assets from Sharpridge for a purchase price of $750,000 in cash. Additionally, all employees of Sharpridge as of August 31, 2011 have been hired by the Company. In connection with the execution of his employment agreement, the Chief Executive Officer received 150,000 shares of restricted stock on September 1, 2011 that will vest ratably over a five year vesting period, with one-fifth of the shares vesting on each of the first five anniversary dates of the grant date. In addition, the Company accelerated the vesting of the Chief Executive Officer’s outstanding shares of restricted stock issued prior to September 1, 2011, so that all such shares were vested and non-forfeitable on August 31, 2011, immediately prior to the completion of the Internalization. In connection with the Internalization, the Company changed its name from “Cypress Sharpridge Investments, Inc.” to “CYS Investments, Inc.” on September 1, 2011. The results of the Internalization were not material to the Company’s results of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying interim unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“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 condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2010, 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.

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.

Segment Reporting

The Company operates as a single segment reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, who manages the entire investment portfolio.

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 investments in money market funds. Interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents is recorded in interest income.

 

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Interest Rate Swap and Cap Contracts

The Company utilizes interest rate swaps and caps 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. In a simple interest rate cap, one investor pays a premium for a notional principal amount based on a capped interest rate (the “cap rate”). If the floating interest rate (the “floating rate”) exceeds the cap rate, the investor receives a payment from the cap counterparty equal to the difference between the floating rate and the cap rate on the same notional principal amount for a specified period of time. Alternatively, an investor may receive a premium and pay the difference in cap rate and floating rate. Interest rate swaps and caps are asset/liability management tools.

During the term of the interest rate swap or cap, the Company makes or receives periodic payments and unrealized gains or losses are recorded as a result of marking the swap and cap to their fair value. When the swap or cap is terminated, the Company records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Company’s cost basis in the contract, if any. The periodic payments, amortization of premiums on cap contracts and any realized or unrealized gains or losses are reported under gains and losses from swap and cap 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.

Because the Company uses financial reporting for investment companies, its investments, including its interest rate swap and cap contracts, are carried at fair value with changes in fair value included in earnings. Consequently, there would be no impact to designating interest rate swaps and caps 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 or cap, limited to the amount of collateral posted that exceeds the fair value of the contract. However, as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 the Company did not anticipate nonperformance by any counterparty. Should interest rates move unexpectedly, the Company may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the interest rate swap or cap and may realize a loss.

Investment Valuation

Valuation of the Company’s investments is determined by management 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.

Agency RMBS

The Company’s investments in Agency RMBS consist of whole-pool pass-through certificates backed by fixed rate, monthly reset adjustable-rate loans (“ARMs”) and hybrid ARMs, the principal and interest of which are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae. Hybrid ARMs have interest rates that have an initial fixed period (typically three, five, seven or ten years) and thereafter reset at regular intervals in a manner similar to ARMs.

Forward Settling Transactions

The Company may engage in forward settling transactions. The Company records forward settling transactions on the trade date and maintains security positions such that sufficient liquid assets will be available to make payment on the settlement date for the securities purchased. Securities purchased on a forward settling basis are carried at fair value and begin earning interest on the settlement date. Losses may occur on these transactions due to changes in market conditions or the failure of counterparties to perform under the contract. The Company may transact in To-Be-Announced Securities (“TBAs”). As with other forward settling transactions, a seller agrees to issue TBAs at a future date. However, the seller does not specify the particular securities to be delivered. Instead, the Company agrees to accept any security that meets specified terms such as issuer, interest rate and terms of underlying mortgages. The Company records TBAs on the trade date utilizing information associated with the specified terms of the transaction as opposed to the specific mortgages. TBAs are carried at fair value and begin earning interest on the settlement date. Losses may occur due to the fact that the actual underlying mortgages received may be less favorable than those anticipated by the Company. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had pledged Agency RMBS with a fair value of $2.4 million and $10.1 million, respectively, on its open forward settling and TBA transactions.

 

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Repurchase Agreements

Repurchase agreements are borrowings that are collateralized by the Company’s Agency RMBS and are carried at their amortized cost, which approximates their fair value due to their short term nature, generally 30-90 days. The Company’s repurchase agreement counterparties are large institutional dealers in fixed income securities. Collateral is valued daily and counterparties may require additional collateral when appropriate. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, Agency RMBS owned with a fair value of approximately $7,911.7 million and $3,657.2 million, respectively, have been pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements for which the counterparty has the right to sell or repledge.

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 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 CLOs 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.

Reclassification and Presentation

The statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 had previously provided separate disclosure of related party management compensation which included the expense relating to restricted stock granted to non-employees (prior to the Internalization). The related party management compensation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 of $389,349 and $1,034,694, respectively, was reclassified to compensation and benefits in the presentation herein. The statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 had previously provided separate disclosure of amortization of related party management compensation which included the expense relating to restricted stock granted to non-employees (prior to the Internalization). The amortization of related party management compensation for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 of $1,034,694 was reclassified to amortization of share based compensation in the presentation herein.

Compensation and Benefits

Included in the Company’s compensation and benefits are salaries, incentive compensation, benefits, share based compensation and the expense relating to restricted stock granted to non-employees (prior to the Internalization). The Company accounts for share based compensation using the fair value based methodology prescribed by ASC 718, Share-Based Payment (“ASC 718”). Compensation cost related to restricted common stock issued is measured at its estimated fair value at the grant date and amortized and expensed over the vesting period. Prior to the Internalization on September 1, 2011, compensation cost related to restricted common stock and common stock options issued to the Company’s executive officers, certain employees of its Manager and its sub-advisors and other individuals who provide services to the Company was initially measured at estimated fair value at the grant date, and was remeasured on subsequent dates to the extent the awards were unvested.

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 April 2011, the FASB issued ASC 2011-03, Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860): Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements. In a typical repurchase agreement transaction, an entity transfers financial assets to a counterparty in exchange for cash with an agreement for the counterparty to return the same or equivalent financial assets for a fixed price in the future. Prior to this update, one of the factors in determining whether sale treatment could be used was whether the transferor maintained effective control of the transferred assets by having the ability to repurchase such assets. Based on this update, the FASB concluded that the assessment of effective control should focus on a transferor’s contractual rights and obligations with respect to transferred financial assets, rather than whether the transferor has the practical ability to perform in accordance with those rights or obligations. Therefore, this update removes the transferor’s ability criterion from consideration of effective control. This update is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011 and is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

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3. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Components of the computation of basic and diluted EPS were as follows (in thousands, except per share numbers):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Net income

   $ 96,321      $ 1,909      $ 247,840      $ 39,658   

Less dividends paid:

        

Common shares

     (45,138     (17,490     (143,293     (38,433

Unvested shares

     (371     (336     (1,306     (976
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed earnings

   $ 50,812      $ (15,917     103,241        249   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding:

        

Common shares

     81,898        30,265        77,950        22,267   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share:

        

Distributed earnings

   $ 0.55      $ 0.58      $ 1.84      $ 1.73   

Undistributed earnings

     0.61        (0.53     1.31        0.01   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 1.16      $ 0.05      $ 3.15      $ 1.74   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding:

        

Common shares

     81,898        30,265        77,950        22,267   

Net effect of dilutive warrants(1)

     —          12        1        12   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     81,898        30,277        77,951        22,279   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per common share:

        

Distributed earnings

   $ 0.55      $ 0.58      $ 1.84      $ 1.73   

Undistributed earnings

     0.61        (0.53     1.31        0.01   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 1.16      $ 0.05      $ 3.15      $ 1.74   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

The impact of equity instruments is not included in the computation of EPS for periods in which their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company had an aggregate of 131,000 stock options outstanding with a weighted average exercise price of $30.00 that were not included in the calculation of EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. These equity instruments may have a dilutive impact on future EPS.

4. INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES AND INTEREST RATE SWAP AND CAP CONTRACTS

The Company’s valuation techniques are based on observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect readily obtainable data from independent sources, while unobservable inputs 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.

The following tables provide a summary of the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

 

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September 30, 2011

 

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

Assets

          

Agency RMBS

   $ —         $ 9,398,033      $ —         $ 9,398,033   

U.S. Treasury Bills

     74,990         —          —           74,990   

CLOs

     —           —          20,094         20,094   

Interest rate cap contracts

     —           7,562        —           7,562   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 74,990      $ 9,405,595      $ 20,094       $ 9,500,679   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

          

Interest rate swap contracts(a)

   $ —         $ (96,369   $ —         $ (96,369
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

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

Assets

           

Agency RMBS

   $ —         $ 6,310,570       $ —         $ 6,310,570   

CLOs

     —           —           20,478         20,478   

Interest rate cap contracts

     —           30,984         —           30,984   

Interest rate swap contracts (a)

     —           9,113         —           9,113   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ —         $ 6,350,667       $ 20,478       $ 6,371,145   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

           

Interest rate swap contracts(a)

   $ —         $ 9,757       $ —         $ 9,757   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) Subject to master netting arrangements

The table below presents a reconciliation of changes in assets classified as Level 3 in the Company’s financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. There were no changes in the classification of assets during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. A discussion of the method of fair valuing these assets is included above in “Investment Valuation.” Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the assets is included in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in the statement of operations.

Fair Value Reconciliation, Level 3

(in thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011
    Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011
 

CLOs

    

Beginning balance Level 3 assets

   $ 24,141      $ 20,478   

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (1,816     4,275   

Sales, at cost

     (995     (995

Cash payments recorded as a reduction of cost basis

     (1,236     (3,664

Transfers into Level 3

     —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance Level 3 assets

   $ 20,094      $ 20,094   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Agency RMBS portfolio consisted of Agency RMBS as follows:

September 30, 2011

 

     Par Value      Fair Value      Weighted Average  

Asset Type

   (in thousands)      Cost/Par      Fair
Value/Par
     MTR(1)     Coupon     CPR(2)  

10 Year Fixed Rate

   $ 288,426       $ 303,416       $ 104.06       $ 105.20         N/A        3.50     6.2

15 Year Fixed Rate

     4,717,243         4,964,472         102.40         105.24         N/A        3.85     9.9

20 Year Fixed Rate

     608,028         644,471         102.33         105.99         N/A        4.14     8.1

30 Year Fixed Rate

     259,824         279,791         103.15         107.68         N/A        5.00     15.7

Hybrid ARMs

     3,070,004         3,205,883         102.25         104.43         66.0        3.32     19.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total/Weighted Average

   $  8,943,525       $  9,398,033       $ 102.42       $ 105.08         66.0 (3)      3.71     12.6
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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December 31, 2010

 

     Par Value      Fair Value      Weighted Average  

Asset Type

   (in thousands)      Cost/Par      Fair
Value/Par
     MTR (1)     Coupon     CPR (2)  

15 Year Fixed Rate

   $ 3,549,194       $ 3,622,862       $ 102.16       $ 102.08         N/A        3.87     23.1

20 Year Fixed Rate

     647,360         660,237         102.38         101.99         N/A        4.14     6.9

30 Year Fixed Rate

     223,047         238,549         105.60         106.95         N/A        5.55     28.2

Hybrid ARMs

     1,737,307         1,788,922         102.70         102.97         63.2        3.43     18.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total/Weighted Average

   $ 6,156,908       $ 6,310,570       $ 102.46       $ 102.50         63.2 (3)      3.83     18.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(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. After the fixed period, 100% of the hybrid ARMS in the portfolio reset annually.

(2) 

CPR, or “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) 

Weighted average months to reset of our Hybrid ARM portfolio.

As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company’s Agency RMBS were purchased at a net premium to their par value due to the average interest rates on these investments being higher than prevailing market rates. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, approximately $216.8 million and $152.7 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 September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the average final contractual maturity of the Company’s Agency RMBS portfolio is in year 2031. Based on current estimates, the Agency RMBS will have a weighted average expected life of less than five years. Interest income on Agency RMBS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $63.5 million and $168.3 million, respectively, and $15.6 million and $48.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.

In order to mitigate its interest rate exposure, the Company enters into interest rate swap and cap contracts. Below is a summary of the Company’s interest rate swap and cap contracts transacted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands).

 

Three & Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

   

Three & Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

Trade Date

   Transaction    Notional    

Trade Date

   Transaction    Notional  

February 2011

   Opened    $ 500,000      April 2010    Terminated    $ (400,000

March 2011

   Opened      250,000      April 2010    Opened      400,000   

May 2011

   Terminated      (300,000   May 2010    Terminated      (640,000

May 2011

   Opened      300,000      May 2010    Opened      740,000   

June 2011

   Opened      300,000      June 2010    Terminated      (100,000
     

 

 

         

Net Increase

      $ 1,050,000      June 2010    Opened      400,000   
     

 

 

         
        July 2010    Opened      750,000   
        August 2010    Terminated      (200,000
        August 2010    Opened      200,000   
        September 2010    Opened      500,000   
             

 

 

 
        Net Increase       $ 1,650,000   
             

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had net pledged Agency RMBS and U.S Treasury securities with a fair value of $165.5 million and $4.3 million, respectively, as collateral on interest rate swap and cap contracts. Below is a summary of our interest rate swap and cap contracts open as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (dollars in thousands):

 

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

Interest Rate Swaps

   Notional Amount      Fair Value    

Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location

       

September 30, 2011

   $ 0       $ 0      Assets

September 30, 2011

     4,740,000         (96,369   Liabilities

December 31, 2010

     2,140,000         9,113      Assets

December 31, 2010

     1,550,000         (9,757   Liabilities

 

     Notional
Amount
     Fair Value     

Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location

Interest Rate Caps

        

September 30, 2011

   $ 700,000       $ 7,562       Assets

December 31, 2010

     700,000         30,984       Assets

 

           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 September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
      2011     2010     2011     2010  

Interest rate swap and cap contracts

   Net gain (loss) from interest rate swap and cap contracts    $ (74,594   $ (39,152   $ (161,961   $ (68,053

 

(a) 

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

Credit Risk

At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company continued to minimize its exposure to credit losses on its mortgage assets by purchasing Agency RMBS. The payment of principal and interest on Agency RMBS is guaranteed by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or 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.

On August 5, 2011 Standard & Poor’s downgraded the U.S.’s credit rating to AA+ for the first time. Because Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are in conservatorship of the U.S. Government, the credit rating of Agency RMBS guaranteed by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or Ginnie Mae were also downgraded to AA+. While this downgrade did not have a significant impact on the fair value of the Agency RMBS in the Company’s portfolio, it has increased the uncertainty regarding the credit risk of Agency RMBS.

The Company’s CLOs 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 London InterBank Offered Rate (“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).

 

September 30, 2011

 

Outstanding borrowings

   $ 7,540,669   

Interest accrued thereon

   $ 2,111   

Weighted average borrowing rate

     0.28

Weighted average remaining maturity (in days)

     33.3   

Fair value of the collateral(1)

   $ 7,911,670   

 

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December 31, 2010

 

Outstanding borrowings

   $ 3,443,843   

Interest accrued thereon

   $ 1,084   

Weighted average borrowing rate

     0.32

Weighted average remaining maturity (in days)

     39.3   

Fair value of the collateral(1)

   $ 3,657,185   

 

(1) 

Collateral for borrowings consists of Agency RMBS.

At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company did not have any repurchase agreements where the amount at risk exceeded 10% of net assets.

6. SHARE CAPITAL

The Company has authorized 500,000,000 shares of common stock having par value of $0.01 per share. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had issued and outstanding 82,743,639 and 59,550,836 shares of common stock, respectively. The Company issued 23,192,803 and 40,794,324 shares of common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and year ended December 31, 2010, respectively.

There were no warrants outstanding at September 30, 2011. At December 31, 2010, the Company had warrants outstanding to purchase 15,200 additional shares of common stock with an exercise price of $11.00 with an expiration date of April 30, 2011.

The Company also authorized 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock having a par value of $0.01 per share. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, no such shares were issued or outstanding.

On February 15, 2011, the Company closed a public offering of 23,000,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $12.35 per share for total net proceeds of approximately $275.8 million, after the underwriting discount and commissions and expenses.

The Company sponsors a dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan through which stockholders may purchase additional shares of common stock by reinvesting some or all of the cash dividends received on shares of common stock. This plan became effective on June 22, 2010. Stockholders may also make optional cash purchases of shares of common stock subject to certain limitations detailed in the plan prospectus. From June 22, 2010 to December 31, 2010 the Company issued 607,902 shares under the plan raising approximately $8.0 million of net proceeds. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 the Company issued 9,192 shares under the plan raising approximately $116,064 of net proceeds. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, there were approximately 9.4 million shares available for issuance under this plan.

On June 7, 2011 the Company entered into a sales agreement with JMP Securities LLC whereby the Company may from time to time, publicly offer and sell up to 15,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock through at-the-market transactions and/or privately negotiated transactions. As of September 30, 2011 the Company had not sold any common stock under the sales agreement. As of September 30, 2011, 15,000,000 shares of common stock remained available for issuance to be sold under the sales agreement.

On September 1, 2011, the Company issued 150,000 shares of restricted stock in connection with the execution of an employment agreement with its Chief Executive Officer. The restricted stock will vest ratably over a five-year vesting period, with one-fifth of the shares vesting on each of the anniversary dates of the grant date. Additionally the Company accelerated the vesting of 257,000 shares of restricted stock owned by its Chief Executive Officer on August 31, 2011 in conjunction with the Internalization.

7. MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

On September 1, 2011, the Company announced that it completed the Internalization. The Company previously had been managed by the Manager pursuant to a Management Agreement. In connection with the completion of the Internalization, the Management Agreement, sub-advisory agreements and other ancillary agreements related thereto were terminated without the payment of any termination fee.

The Management Agreement provided, among other things, that the Company pay 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 was paid monthly, was equal to 1/12 of (A) 1.50% of the first $250,000,000 of Net Assets (as defined in the Management Agreement),

 

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(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 was 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 compensation and benefits on the statement of operations.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company incurred the following in base management fees and expense reimbursement (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,      Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Base Management Fees

   $ 2,105       $ 1,552       $ 7,835       $ 3,477   

Expense Reimbursement

     186         143         607         446   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,291       $ 1,695       $ 8,442       $ 3,923   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

8. 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 unknown. However, the Company was released from any obligations to the indemnify Manager or its sub-advisers in connection with the completion of the Internalization. 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 September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

9. 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 nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

     Per Share  
     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 12.35      $ 13.15      $ 11.59      $ 13.02   

Net income (loss):

        

Net investment income

     0.60 (a)      0.41 (a)      1.78 (a)      1.77 (a) 

Net gain (loss) from investments and swap and cap contracts

     0.56 (a)      (0.34 )(a)      1.37 (a)      (0.03 )(a) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     1.16        0.07        3.15        1.74   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital transactions:

        

Distributions to shareholders

     (0.55     (0.60     (1.75     (1.75

Issuance of common shares and amortization of share based compensation

     0.02 (a)      (0.09 )(a)      (0.01 )(a)      (0.48 )(a) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from capital transactions

     (0.53     (0.69     (1.76     (2.23
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 12.98      $ 12.53      $ 12.98      $ 12.53   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total return (%)

     9.55 %(b)      0.15 %(b)      27.09 %(b)      9.68 %(b) 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

        

Expenses before interest expense

     2.33 %(c)(d)      2.64 %(c)      2.47 %(c)(d)      3.09 %(c) 

Total expenses

     4.13 %(c)(d)      3.71 %(c)      4.17 %(c)(d)      4.49 %(c) 

Net investment income

     20.20 %(c)(d)      12.11 %(c)      19.45 %(c)(d)      17.72 %(c) 

 

(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.
(d) Includes $4.9 million of non-recurring expenses relating to the accelerated vesting of shares of restricted stock and other expenses associated with the Internalization. These non-recurring expenses represented 0.46% and 0.50% of average net assets, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively.

10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On October 1, 2011, an aggregate of 7,314 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.

Prepayment rates have risen in response to the current low level of mortgage interest rates. The CPR of the Company’s Agency RMBS portfolio was approximately 19.8% for the month of October 2011.

 

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

 

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In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we refer to CYS Investments, Inc. (formerly 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 whose principal and interest payments are 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”); ARMs refers to adjustable-rate mortgage loans that typically have interest rates that adjust annually to an increment over a specified interest rate index; and hybrids refers to ARMs 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.

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, 2010 filed on February 8, 2011.

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 interest rates and the housing and credit markets.

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 this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, 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 the availability of such exemption in the future; and

 

   

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

 

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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. In addition, our investment guidelines permit investments in collateralized mortgage obligations issued by a government agency or a government sponsored entity that are collateralized by Agency RMBS (“CMOs”), although we had not invested in any CMOs as of September 30, 2011. 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 regularly utilize forward settling transactions, including forward-settling purchases of Agency RMBS where the pool is “to-be-announced” (“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. For our other forward settling transactions, we agree to purchase, for future delivery, Agency RMBS; however, unlike our TBAs, these forward settling transactions reference an identified Agency RMBS.

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 generally 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.

On September 1, 2011, we acquired certain assets and entered into agreements to internalize our management (the “Internalization”). We previously had been managed by Cypress Sharpridge Advisors LLC (the “Manager”) pursuant to a management agreement (the “Management Agreement”). The Manager had entered into sub-advisory agreements with Sharpridge Capital Management, L.P. (“Sharpridge”) and an affiliate of The Cypress Group, pursuant to which the Manager was provided with all of the resources and assets (the “Assets”) used to operate the Company’s business and manage the Company’s assets. In connection with the completion of the Internalization, the Management Agreement, sub-advisory agreements and other ancillary agreements related thereto were terminated. No termination fees were incurred or paid as a result of terminating those agreements. Under the terms of the asset purchase and sale agreement entered into in connection with the Internalization, we acquired the Assets from Sharpridge for a purchase price of $750,000 in cash. In addition, we accelerated the vesting of the Chief Executive Officer’s outstanding shares of restricted stock issued prior to September 1, 2011, so that all such shares were vested and non-forfeitable on August 31, 2011, immediately prior to the completion of the Internalization.

We also entered into employment agreements with our Chief Executive Officer and President, Kevin E. Grant, to continue to serve as our Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Investment Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Frances R. Spark, to continue to serve as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, our Chief Operating Officer, Richard E. Cleary, to continue to serve as our Chief Operating Officer and Assistant Secretary, and our Secretary, Thomas A. Rosenbloom, to continue to serve as our Executive Vice President of Business Development, General Counsel and Secretary. In connection with the execution of Mr. Grant’s employment agreement, Mr. Grant received 150,000 shares of restricted stock on September 1, 2011 that will vest ratably over a five-year vesting period, with one-fifth of the shares vesting on each of the first five anniversary dates of the grant date. In addition, the Company accelerated the vesting of all of Mr. Grant’s outstanding shares of restricted stock issued prior to September 1, 2011, so that all such shares were vested and non-forfeitable as of August 31, 2011. Additionally, all other current employees of Sharpridge as of August 31, 2011 have been hired by the Company.

 

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In connection with the Internalization, the Company changed its name from “Cypress Sharpridge Investments, Inc.” to “CYS Investments, Inc.” on September 1, 2011.

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 volatility in the U.S. interest rate markets in 2011 has produced opportunities in our markets. Early in 2011, optimism about an economic acceleration caused many economists to increase their U.S. GDP forecast, with some predicting a U.S. Federal Reserve tightening in early in 2012. The performance of the U.S. economy in 2011 has been disappointing, and as a result in August 2011 the Federal Reserve announced that it intends to keep the Federal Funds Target Rate near zero through mid-2013. This has further reinforced predictions of slow economic growth. The U.S. unemployment rate remains at around 9% and in September 2011 President Obama announced his jobs program. The jobs program calls for continuing payroll tax cuts, increased infrastructure investment and other measures to be funded by the U.S. government. The jobs program also seeks to implement further deficit reduction measures. There is uncertainty as to whether this jobs plan will be approved by Congress. In addition, President Obama announced an initiative to expand refinancing options for homeowners with high interest rate mortgages to reduce their mortgages to current low levels, which are near 4%. This proposal has prompted a concern of increasing prepayment rates. It remains uncertain how many homeowners may qualify for whatever new programs might be introduced. We believe inflation and wage pressure expectations remain low. While earlier in the year several foreign central banks aggressively tightened monetary policy in their countries to moderate growth and commodity inflation, the problems of the euro zone debt contagion continue to weigh heavily on the global economy and prospects for economic growth. At this time there is a growing expectation for a slowdown in economic growth globally. This environment and the $400 billion maturity extension program described below in “—Government Activity” have created strong demand for U.S. government guaranteed assets and Agency RMBS have benefited.

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

Interest Rates and Liquidity

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 long term interest rates continued to fall. The 10 Year U.S. Treasury rate has fallen from 3.29% at the beginning of 2011 to as low as 1.72% during September of 2011, ending the month at 1.92%. The main

 

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drivers of the decrease in long term interest rates continue to be weaker than expected economic data and market fears about sovereign debt in the euro zone.

With the conclusion of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s second round of quantitative easing at the end of June 2011, investors were initially concerned about higher interest rates in the U.S., but economic growth has been generally regarded as disappointing. The U.S. Federal Reserve’s announcement in September 2011 to extend maturities of their holdings of U.S. Treasuries and to reinvest principal and interest from their holdings of Agency RMBS corroborated the view that economic growth was disappointing. The mortgage market has continued to benefit from the falling interest rate environment with rates reaching record lows.

Currently the U.S. economy appears to be in a period of slow growth with little inflationary pressure. The U.S. Federal Funds Target Rate remains at 0-0.25%, with no change since mid-December 2008. Since December 2009, 30-Day LIBOR has also remained low with a rate of 0.239% at September 30, 2011; however 30-Day and 3-Month LIBOR both increased slightly during the third quarter of 2011, by five basis points and 13 basis points, respectively. The availability of repurchase agreement financing is stable with interest rates between 0.23% and 0.38% for 30-90 day repurchase agreements at September 30, 2011. 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  

September 30, 2011

     0.239     0.374     0.25

June 30, 2011

     0.186     0.246     0.25

March 31, 2011

     0.243     0.303     0.25

December 31, 2010

     0.261     0.303     0.25

September 30, 2010

     0.256     0.290     0.25

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

Source: Bloomberg

Longer-term interest rates fell sharply in 2010 and fell further in the third quarter of 2011. Rates on three-year interest rate swaps, currently one of our primary hedging vehicles, decreased by 78 basis points during the year ended December 31, 2010, from 2.06% to 1.28%; and have further decreased to 0.74% at September 30, 2011. Meanwhile, the 3-Month LIBOR, which is the rate used to calculate the interest payments we receive on interest rate swaps and interest rate caps, if any, increased by five basis points during the year ended December 31, 2010, ending 2010 at 0.30%. While this rate was as low as 0.25% at June 30, 2011 it has increased to 0.37% at September 30, 2011.

While the yield on a par-priced Fannie Mae Agency RMBS backed by 15 year fixed rate mortgage loans started 2011 at 3.40% it has fallen sharply during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, to 2.12%. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, the Company purchased $2,340.0 million of Agency RMBS with a weighted average yield of 2.76%.

Yields on U.S. Treasury securities followed a similar trend as Agency RMBS, with the yield on five year U.S. Treasury notes of 2.01% at the beginning of 2011 and decreasing to 0.95% at September 30, 2011. The following table illustrates this situation by comparing market levels for three benchmark securities or rates, the yield on five year U.S. Treasury Notes, the three year interest rate swap rate and the price of 15 year Fannie Mae 4.0% Agency RMBS:

 

Date

   Five Year U.S.
Treasury  Note
    Three Year Interest
Rate  Swap Rates
    Market Prices of 15
Year Fannie Mae

4.0% Agency RMBS
 

September 30, 2011

     0.95     0.736   $ 105.453   

June 30, 2011

     1.76     1.147   $ 104.203   

March 31, 2011

     2.28     1.571   $ 102.609   

December 31, 2010

     2.01     1.279   $ 102.578   

September 30, 2010

     1.26     0.871   $ 104.391   

June 30, 2010

     1.77     1.332   $ 103.891   

March 31, 2010

     2.54     1.805   $ 101.359   

December 31, 2009

     2.68     2.056   $ 100.766   

Source: Bloomberg

One of the main factors impacting market prices of Agency RMBS during the first three months of 2010 was the U.S. Federal Reserve’s program to purchase Agency RMBS, which commenced in January 2009 and was terminated on March 31, 2010. In total, $1.25 trillion of Agency RMBS were purchased. The market expectation was that when this program terminated, the demand for these

 

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securities would decrease and likely reduce the market price for Agency RMBS. However, we continue to see strong demand as these securities remain desirable assets in the current economic environment. While the impact of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s second round of quantitative easing announced in November 2010 had little impact on market prices of Agency RMBS, the September 2011 announcement of the $400 billion maturity extension program described below in “—Government Activity” has resulted in increased market prices for these securities.

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 RMBS that they issued, all mortgage loans that are more than 120 days delinquent. The impact of these programs is reflected in the constant prepayment rate, or CPR, of our portfolio. Because a substantial portion of our portfolio consists of Agency RMBS backed by 15 year fixed rate mortgage loans, which have low delinquency rates, these programs did not cause a significant increase in the CPR of our portfolio.

During the year ended December 31, 2010, the prepayment rates changed primarily in line with the delinquent loan purchase programs described above. During the first nine months of 2011, prepayment rates on Agency RMBS decreased compared to 2010. The continued weak U.S. housing market and high unemployment have reduced many U.S. homeowners ability to refinance their mortgages. While prepayment rates were historically low in the summer of 2011, they have begun to increase as mortgages rates continue to push against historical lows. The following table shows the prepayment rates for Fannie Mae Agency RMBS backed by 15 year and 30 year fixed rate mortgages:

 

     Jan-10     Feb-10     Mar-10     Apr-10     May-10     Jun-10     Jul-10     Aug-10     Sep-10     Oct-10     Nov-10     Dec-10  

15 Year

     13.9     12.1     15.5     15.7     16.5     16.8     16.8     21.4     23.0     24.1     25.3     24.6

30 Year

     15.4     14.7     27.7     28.9     28.1     17.5     18.5     23.6     24.9     25.6     27.0     25.8

 

     Jan-11     Feb-11     Mar-11     Apr-11     May-11     Jun-11     Jul-11     Aug-11     Sep-11  

15 Year

     17.8     13.6     13.7     12.2     12.2     14.7     15.6     18.4     23.0

30 Year

     19.5     15.5     15.4     13.4     13.0     14.9     14.9     16.8     21.4

LOGO

Source: eMBS

Based on data published by Freddie Mac, mortgage rates on 30 year fixed rate mortgages fell by 40 basis points to 4.11% during the three months ended September 30, 2011. This drop in rate has caused an increase in the CPR of our Agency RMBS portfolio to approximately 19.8% for the month of October 2011, and we expect CPR to continue to rise for the remainder of the fourth quarter of 2011.

Government Activity

 

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On September 21, 2011, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced the maturity extension program where it intends to sell $400 billion of shorter-term U.S. Treasury securities by the end of June 2012 and use the proceeds to buy longer-term U.S. Treasury securities. This program is intended to extend the average maturity of the securities in the Federal Reserve’s portfolio. By reducing the supply of longer-term U.S. Treasury securities in the market, this action should put downward pressure on longer-term interest rates, including rates on financial assets that investors consider to be close substitutes for longer-term U.S. Treasury securities, like certain types of Agency RMBS. The reduction in longer-term interest rates, in turn, may contribute to a broad easing in financial market conditions that the Federal Reserve hopes will provide additional stimulus to support the economic recovery.

In September 2011, the White House announced they are working on a major plan to allow some of the 11 million homeowners who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth to refinance. We believe the most likely route would be a revamp of the Home Affordable Refinance Program (“HARP”) to expand access to refinancing for qualified individuals and families whose homes have lost value with the possibility of increasing the HARP ceiling above 125% loan to value. There are many challenging issues to this proposal, notably the question as to whether a 125% loan qualifies as a mortgage or an unsecured consumer loan. The chances of this initiative’s success have created additional uncertainty in the RMBS market, particularly with respect to possible increases in prepayment rates.

In February 2011, the U.S. Department of the Treasury along with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released a report titled “Reforming America’s Housing Finance Market” to Congress outlining recommendations for reforming the U.S. housing system, specifically Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and transforming the government’s involvement in the housing market. It is unclear how future legislation may impact the housing finance market and the investing environment for Agency RMBS as the method of reform is undecided and has not yet been defined by the regulators.

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the Act. 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 Act’s implementation has not yet been defined by the regulators.

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. In addition, in February 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan (“HASP”), which is a multi-faceted plan intended to prevent residential mortgage foreclosures. While the effect of these programs has not been as extensive as originally expected, the effect of such programs as the HASP 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.

Credit Spreads

Over the past few 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 book value. Due to these tightening credit spreads our book value has increased. 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 this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Financial Condition

As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Agency RMBS in our portfolio were purchased at a net premium to their par value due to the average interest rates on these investments being higher than prevailing market rates. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we had approximately $216.8 million and $152.7 million, respectively, of unamortized premium included in the cost basis of our investments.

As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, our Agency RMBS portfolio consisted of the following assets:

September 30, 2011

 

     Par Value      Fair Value      Weighted Average  

Asset Type

   (in thousands)      Cost/Par      Fair
Value/Par
     MTR(1)     Coupon     CPR(2)  

10 Year Fixed Rate

   $ 288,426       $ 303,416       $ 104.06       $ 105.20         N/A        3.50     6.2

15 Year Fixed Rate

     4,717,243         4,964,472         102.40         105.24         N/A        3.85     9.9

20 Year Fixed Rate

     608,028         644,471         102.33         105.99         N/A        4.14     8.1

30 Year Fixed Rate

     259,824         279,791         103.15         107.68         N/A        5.00     15.7

Hybrid ARMs

     3,070,004         3,205,883         102.25         104.43         66.0        3.32     19.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total/Weighted Average

   $ 8,943,525       $ 9,398,033       $ 102.42       $ 105.08         66.0 (3)      3.71     12.6
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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December 31, 2010

 

     Par Value      Fair Value      Weighted Average  

Asset Type

   (in thousands)      Cost/Par      Fair
Value/Par
     MTR(1)     Coupon     CPR(2)  

15 Year Fixed Rate

   $ 3,549,194       $ 3,622,862       $ 102.16       $ 102.08         N/A        3.87     23.1

20 Year Fixed Rate

     647,360         660,237         102.38         101.99         N/A        4.14     6.9

30 Year Fixed Rate

     223,047         238,549         105.60         106.95         N/A        5.55     28.2

Hybrid ARMs

     1,737,307         1,788,922         102.70         102.97         63.2        3.43     18.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total/Weighted Average

   $ 6,156,908       $ 6,310,570       $ 102.46       $ 102.50         63.2 (3)      3.83     18.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(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. After the fixed period, 100% of the hybrid ARMS in the portfolio reset annually.

(2) 

CPR, or “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) 

Weighted average months to reset of our Hybrid ARM portfolio.

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 September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the average final contractual maturity of the mortgage portfolio is in year 2031.

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. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 we had CLOs with a fair value of $20.1 million and $20.5 million, respectively.

Hedging Instruments

We generally intend to hedge as much of the interest rate risk as 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 we are 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 and caps 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. In a simple interest rate cap, one investor pays a premium for a notional principal amount based on a capped interest rate (the “cap rate”). When the floating interest rate (the “floating rate”) exceeds the cap rate, the investor receives a payment from the cap counterparty equal to the difference between the floating rate and the cap rate on the same notional principal amount for a specified period of time. Alternatively, an investor may receive a premium and pay the difference in cap rate and floating rate.

 

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At September 30, 2011, we were a party to 15 interest rate swaps and three interest rate caps (whereby we will receive interest payments when three-month LIBOR exceeds the cap rate) with maturities between May 2013 and June 2016 with an aggregate notional amount of $5,440 million and a fair value of approximately $(88.8) million. At December 31, 2010, we were a party to 12 interest rate swaps and three interest rate caps (whereby we will receive interest payments when three-month LIBOR exceeds the cap rate) with maturities between May 2013 and November 2015 with an aggregate notional amount of $4,390.0 million and a fair value of approximately $30.3 million. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the weighted average fixed rate on our interest rate swaps was 1.491% and 1.354%, respectively. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 the weighted average cap rate on our interest rate caps was 1.593%.

The current fair value of interest rate swaps and caps 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 September 30, 2011, we had approximately $7,540.7 million of liabilities pursuant to repurchase agreements with 24 counterparties that had weighted average interest rates of approximately 0.28%, and maturities of between 11 and 175 days. In addition, as of September 30, 2011, we had approximately $762.1 million in payables for securities purchased. A portion of the payable for securities purchased will be financed through repurchase agreements. At December 31, 2010, we had approximately $3,443.8 million of liabilities pursuant to repurchase agreements with 20 counterparties that had weighted average interest rates of approximately 0.32%, and maturities of between seven and 80 days. In addition, as of December 31, 2010 we had approximately $2,234.4 million in payables for securities purchased. Because we measure leverage as total liabilities divided by net assets, the approximately $762.1 million and $2,234.4 million payable for securities purchased is included in our September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 leverage ratio of 7.9 to 1 and 8.3 to 1, respectively. Below is a summary of our payable for securities purchased as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (in thousands).

September 30, 2011

 

Forward Settling Purchases

   Settle Date      Par Value      Payable  

FHLMC - 30 Year 3.4% Hybrid ARM

     10/7/2011       $ 50,011       $ 51,526   

FNMA - 15 Year 3.5% Fixed

     10/18/2011         450,000         465,759   

FNMA - 30 Year 3.2% Hybrid ARM

     10/24/2011         50,000         51,326   

FNMA - 30 Year 3.3% Hybrid ARM

     10/26/2011         150,000         154,516   

FNMA - 30 Year 2.8% Hybrid ARM

     12/20/2011         25,000         25,650   

FNMA - 30 Year 2.9% Hybrid ARM

     12/20/2011         13,000         13,345   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
      $ 738,011       $ 762,122   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

Forward Settling Purchases

   Settle Date      Par Value      Payable  

FNMA - 15 Year 3.5% Fixed

     1/19/2011       $ 150,000       $ 154,622   

FNMA - 15 Year 4.0% Fixed

     1/19/2011         31,096         32,008   

FNMA - 30 Year 3.25% Hybrid ARM

     1/25/2011         49,646         51,433   

FNMA - 30 Year 5.5% Fixed

     2/10/2011         200,000         212,556   

FNMA - 15 Year 3.5% Fixed

     2/15/2011         550,000         563,952   

FNMA - 15 Year 4.0% Fixed

     2/15/2011         100,000         103,835   

FNMA - 15 Year 4.5% Fixed

     2/15/2011         300,000         313,627   

FNMA - 15 Year 3.5% Fixed

     3/16/2011         150,000         150,934   

FHLMC - 15 Year 3.5% Fixed

     3/16/2011         200,000         200,260   

FNMA - 15 Year 3.5% Fixed

     4/18/2011         400,000         399,661   

FNMA - 15 Year 4.0% Fixed

     4/18/2011         50,444         51,513   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
      $ 2,181,186       $ 2,234,401   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Summary Financial Data:

 

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     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(In thousands)    2011     2010     2011     2010  

Investment income - Interest income

        

Interest Income - Agency RMBS

   $ 63,548      $ 15,649      $ 168,263      $ 48,521   

Interest Income - CLOs, Structured Notes & Cash Equivalents

     1,018        662        3,003        1,993   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total interest income

     64,566        16,311        171,266        50,514   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

        

Interest expense

     4,778        1,109        12,352        3,176   

Operating expenses

     9,832        2,717        19,116        7,035   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     14,610        3,826        31,468        10,211   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

     49,956        12,485        139,798        40,303   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) from investments

     120,959        28,576        270,003        67,408   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

GAINS AND (LOSSES) FROM SWAP AND CAP CONTRACTS:

        

Net swap and cap interest income (expense)

     (15,469     (4,809     (42,202     (11,241

Net gain (loss) on termination of swap contracts

     —          (6,292     (3,492     (23,498

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on swap and cap contracts

     (59,125     (28,051     (116,267     (33,314
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) from swap and cap contracts

     (74,594     (39,152     (161,961     (68,053
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME

   $ 96,321      $ 1,909      $ 247,840      $ 39,658   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income per common share (diluted)

   $ 1.16      $ 0.05      $ 3.15      $ 1.74   

Distributions per common share

   $ 0.55      $ 0.60      $ 1.75      $ 1.75   

Key Portfolio Statistics*

        

Average Agency RMBS(1)

   $ 8,350,710      $ 1,736,623      $ 6,948,539      $ 1,717,956   

Average repurchase agreements (2)

     7,474,253        1,406,200        6,114,159        1,468,400   

Average net assets (3)

     1,061,373        409,020        966,675        304,138   

Average yield on Agency RMBS (4)

     3.02     3.58     3.24     3.78

Average cost of funds and hedge (5)

     1.07     1.67     1.19     1.31

Interest rate spread net of hedge (6)

     1.95     1.91     2.05     2.47

Operating expense ratio (7)

     2.33     2.64     2.47     3.09

Leverage ratio (at period end) (8)

     7.9:1        7.5:1        7.9:1        7.5:1   

 

(1) 

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

(2) 

Our average repurchase agreements for the period were calculated by averaging the month end repurchase agreement balance during the period.

(3) 

Our average net assets for the period were calculated by averaging the month end net assets during the period.

(4) 

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

(5) 

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

(6) 

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

(7) 

Our operating expense ratio is calculated by dividing operating expenses by average net assets.

(8) 

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

 

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* 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 and cap 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 and cap interest income (expense). Core Earnings allows management to isolate the interest income (expense) associated with our swaps and caps 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 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 and cap 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.

 

(In thousands)    Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2011     2010     2011     2010  

Non-GAAP Reconciliation:

        

NET INCOME

   $ 96,321      $ 1,909      $ 247,840      $ 39,658   

Net (gain) loss from investments

     (120,959     (28,576     (270,003     (67,408

Net (gain) loss on termination of swap contracts

     —          6,292        3,492        23,498   

Net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on swap and cap contracts

     59,125        28,051        116,267        33,314   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Core Earnings

   $ 34,487      $ 7,676      $ 97,596      $ 29,062   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

Net Income. Net income increased $94.4 million to $96.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to net income of $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The major components of this increase are detailed below.

Net Gain (Loss) From Investments. Net gain from investments increased by $92.4 million to $121.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $28.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. This increase was primarily the result of the increase in valuations of Agency RMBS on a larger portfolio. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, the price of a Fannie Mae Agency RMBS backed by 15 year 4.0% mortgages increased $1.25, more than the $0.50 increase during the three months ended September 30, 2010. In addition, the average settled Agency RMBS held during the three months ended September 30, 2011 of $8,350.7 million was significantly higher than the $1,736.6 million held during the three months ended September 30, 2010.

Net Gain (Loss) from Swap and Cap Contracts. Net loss from swap and cap contracts increased by $35.4 million to a loss of $74.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to a loss of $39.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase was primarily due to the change in swap rates combined with the change in the size of our interest rate swap and cap (“hedge”) portfolio. During the three months ended September 30, 2011 the average balance of our hedge portfolio was $5,440.0 million notional amount compared to $640.0 million notional amount during the three months ended September 30,

 

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2010. In addition, during the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, three year swap rates decreased by 41 basis points and 46 basis points, respectively.

Interest Income. Interest income, which consists of interest income on Agency RMBS, subordinated tranches of CLOs, structured notes and short term investments, increased by $48.3 million to $64.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to $16.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The change in interest income was primarily due to the increased size of our Agency RMBS portfolio. During the three months ended September 30, 2011 our average Agency RMBS portfolio was $8,350.7 million, compared to $1,736.6 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010. 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 September 30, 2011 and 2010, our average yield on Agency RMBS was 3.02% and 3.58%, respectively.

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. When we cannot reliably estimate cash flows for CLOs, a nonaccrual (cost recovery) recognition method is used. Interest income on subordinated tranches of CLOs increased to $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Additionally, for the three months ended September 30, 2011, we received $1.2 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 $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $3.7 million to $4.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase was due to the increase in our average repurchase agreements. During the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, our average repurchase agreements were $7,474.3 million and $1,406.2 million, respectively. In addition, we had an average rate on our repurchase agreements of 0.25% and 0.31% during the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Operating Expenses. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, operating expenses increased by $7.1 million to $9.8 million compared to $2.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The primary reason for the increase in our operating expenses was the non-recurring expenses of $4.9 million, or 0.46% of average net assets, relating to the accelerated vesting of shares of restricted stock and other expenses associated with the Internalization. Our expenses as a percentage of average net assets decreased to 2.33% during the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to 2.64% during the three months ended September 30, 2010. This decrease was primarily the result of the increase in net assets. During the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 our average net assets were $1,061.4 million and $409.0 million, respectively.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

Net Income. Net income increased $208.1 million to $247.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to net income of $39.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The major components of this increase are detailed below.

Net Gain (Loss) From Investments. Net gain from investments increased by $202.6 million to $270.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $67.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. While the increase in valuations of Agency RMBS was not as large during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to 2010, because the increase was on a larger portfolio the dollar impact was greater. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 the price of a Fannie Mae Agency RMBS backed by 15 year 4.0% mortgage increased $2.875, less than the $3.625 increase during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, however the average settled Agency RMBS held during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $6,948.5 million, significantly higher than the $1,718.0 million held during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Net Gain (Loss) from Swap and Cap Contracts. Net loss from swap and cap contracts increased by $93.9 million to a loss of $162.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to a loss of $68.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The decrease was primarily due to the change in swap rates combined with the change in the size of our hedge portfolio. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 the average balance of our hedge portfolio was $5,115.0 million notional amount compared to $1,165.0 million notional amount during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, three year swap rates decreased by 54 basis points and 119 basis points, respectively.

Interest Income. Interest income, which consists of interest income on Agency RMBS, subordinated tranches of CLOs, structured notes and short term investments, increased by $120.8 million to $171.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to $50.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The change in interest income was primarily due

 

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to the increased size of our Agency RMBS portfolio. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 our average Agency RMBS portfolio was $6,948.5 million, compared to $1,718.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. 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 nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, our average yield on Agency RMBS was 3.24% and 3.78%, respectively.

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. When we cannot reliably estimate cash flows for CLOs, a nonaccrual (cost recovery) recognition method is used. Interest income on subordinated tranches of CLOs increased to $3.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $1.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Additionally, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 we received $3.7 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 $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $9.2 million to $12.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to $3.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase was due to the increase in our average repurchase agreements. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, our average repurchase agreements were $6,114.2 million and $1,468.4 million, respectively. Our rates on repurchase agreements decreased to 0.27% during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to 0.29% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.

Operating Expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, operating expenses increased by $12.1 million to $19.1 million compared to $7.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 though our expenses as a percentage of average net assets also decreased to 2.47% during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to 3.09% during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 largely due to an increase in net assets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 average net assets were $966.8 million and $304.1 million, respectively. Included in the increase in our operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 were the non-recurring expenses of $4.9 million, or 0.50% of average net assets, relating to the accelerated vesting of shares of restricted stock and other expenses associated with the Internalization. In addition, our management fees increased by $4.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as a result of an increase in our net assets discussed above.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations for repurchase agreements, interest expense on repurchase agreements and the office lease at September 30, 2011 (dollars in thousands).

 

September 30, 2011    Within One
Year
     One to three
Years
     Three to
Five Years
     Total  

Repurchase agreements

   $ 7,540,669       $ —         $ —         $ 7,540,669   

Interest expense on repurchase agreements, based on rates at September 30, 2011

     4,070         —           —           4,070   

Long-term operating lease obligation

     311         562         —           873   

Total

   $ 7,545,050       $ 562       $ —         $ 7,545,612   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
December 31, 2010    Within One
Year
     One to three
Years
     Three to
Five Years
     Total  

Repurchase agreements

   $ 3,443,843       $ —         $ —         $ 3,443,843   

Interest expense on repurchase agreements, based on rates at December 31, 2010

     2,269         —           —           2,269   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,446,112       $ —         $ —         $ 3,446,112   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

We enter into interest rate swap and cap contracts as a means of mitigating our interest rate risk on forecasted interest expense associated with repurchase agreements for the term of the swap or cap contract. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we had the following interest rate swap and cap contracts (dollars in thousands):

As of September 30, 2011

 

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Counterparty

   Total
Notional
     Fair
Value
    Accrued
Interest
    Amount
At Risk  (1)
     Weighted
Average
Maturity
in Years
 

Deutsche Bank

   $ 1,090,000       $ (14,753   $ (4,873   $ 18,900         2.6   

Goldman Sachs

     1,800,000         (43,189     (4,186     24,216         2.8   

Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.

     550,000         (17,767     (2,593     8,577         3.8   

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

     2,000,000         (13,098     (4,431     9,207         2.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

Total

   $ 5,440,000       $ (88,807   $ (16,083   $ 60,900      
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

As of December 31, 2010

 

            

Counterparty

   Total
Notional
     Fair
Value
    Accrued
Interest
    Amount
At Risk (1)
     Weighted
Average
Maturity
in Years
 

Deutsche Bank

   $ 840,000       $ 4,684      $ (1,593   $ 7,609         3.4   

Goldman Sachs

     1,300,000         4,429        (2,081     4,210         3.3   

Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.

     250,000         (1,786     (1,835     7,903         3.5   

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

     2,000,000         23,013        (2,819     6,635         3.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

Total

   $ 4,390,000       $ 30,340      $ (8,328   $ 26,357      
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

(1) 

Equal to the fair value of pledged securities plus accrued interest income, minus the fair value of the interest rate swap and cap and accrued interest income and expense.

We enter into certain contracts that contain a variety of indemnification obligations, principally with brokers and counterparties to interest rate swap contracts and repurchase agreements. The maximum potential future payment amount we could be required to pay under these indemnification obligations is unknown. 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 September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. In addition, as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we had a $762.1 million and $2,234.4 million payable for securities purchased, respectively, a portion of which will be financed through repurchase agreements. Because we measure leverage as total liabilities divided by net assets, the amount of payable for securities purchased is included in our September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 leverage ratio of 7.9 to 1 and 8.3 to 1, respectively. A summary of our payable for securities purchased as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 is included in the “Financial Condition—Liabilities” section.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, 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 September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we had not guaranteed any obligations of unconsolidated entities or entered into any commitment or had any intent to provide funding to any such entities.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of funds are borrowings under repurchase arrangements and monthly principal repayments and interest payments on our investments. Other sources of funds may include proceeds from debt and equity offerings and asset sales. As of September 30, 2011, we had repurchase agreements totaling $7,540.7 million, with a weighted average borrowing rate of 0.28%. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 we received $829.0 million of principal repayments and $159.9 million of interest payments compared to $378.0 million and $47.1 million, respectively. We held cash and cash equivalents of $7.2 million and $1.5 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

 

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During 2010 and on February 15, 2011, we closed public offerings totaling 39.8 million and 23.0 million shares of our common stock, respectively, for total net proceeds of approximately $481.0 million and $275.8 million, respectively, after the underwriting discount and commissions and expenses.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, our operations used net cash of $4,268.0 million and $408.4 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, we had net purchases of securities (net of purchases, sales and principal repayments) of $2,919.4 million and $2,643.3 million, respectively. The increase in net purchases of securities was the result of investing the $275.8 million of total net proceeds of the February 15, 2011 public offering and maintaining our leverage ratio.

We sponsor a dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan through which stockholders may purchase additional shares of common stock by reinvesting some or all of the cash dividends received on shares of common stock. This plan became effective on June 22, 2010. Stockholders may also make optional cash purchases of shares of common stock subject to certain limitations detailed in the plan prospectus. From June 22, 2010 to December 31, 2010, we issued 607,902 shares under the plan raising approximately $8.0 million of net proceeds. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we issued 9,192 shares under the plan raising approximately $116,064 in net proceeds. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, there were approximately 9.4 million shares available for issuance under this plan.

On June 7, 2011 we entered into a sales agreement with JMP Securities LLC to, from time to time, publicly offer and sell up to 15,000,000 shares of our common stock in at-the-market transactions and/or privately negotiated transactions. As of September 30, 2011 we had not sold any common stock under the sales agreement. As of September 30, 2011, 15,000,000 shares of common stock remained available for issuance to be sold under the sales agreement.

The following tables present certain information regarding our risk exposure on our repurchase agreements as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

September 30, 2011

 

Counterparty

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

Bank of America Securities LLC

   $ 250,205         3.3   $ 13,870         19   

Bank of Nova Scotia

     201,194         2.7        6,266         46   

Barclays Capital, Inc.

     439,823         5.8        21,303         44   

BNP Paribas Securities Corp

     290,852         3.9        14,945         45   

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

     490,663         6.5        29,810         49   

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

     341,569         4.5        18,072         19   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     325,788         4.3        14,137         19   

Daiwa Securities America, Inc.

     452,711         6.0        23,197         26   

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

     541,056         7.2        31,625         37   

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     438,177         5.8        24,413         18   

Guggenheim Liquidity Services, LLC

     48,362         0.6        2,385         53   

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Financial Services LLC

     239,269         3.2        13,179         31   

ING Financial Markets LLC

     217,885         2.9        11,338         11   

Jefferies & Company, Inc.

     104,769         1.4        5,787         19   

LBBW Securities LLC

     177,442         2.4        9,736         52   

MF Global Securities Inc.

     248,138         3.3        13,738         26   

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.

     327,904         4.3        17,427         46   

Mizuho Securities USA, Inc.

     363,449         4.8        18,569         33   

Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc.

     182,124         2.4        10,180         45   

Nomura Securities International, Inc.

     454,746         6.0        24,086         45   

South Street Securities LLC

     378,802         5.0        22,765         53   

The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC

     238,285         3.2        12,094         23   

UBS Securities LLC

     346,386         4.6        19,335         22   

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     441,070         5.9        14,187         21   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    
   $ 7,540,669         100.0   $ 392,444      
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

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(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 September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we had approximately $631.0 million and $423.4 million, respectively, in Agency RMBS, U.S. Treasury securities and 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 our operating expenses and fund our distributions to stockholders. 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.

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. 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 September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, our total liabilities were $8,466.1 million and $5,698.9 million, respectively, which represented an leverage ratio of 7.9 to 1 and 8.3 to 1, respectively.

Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures about Short-Term Borrowings

The following table discloses quantitative data about our short-term borrowings under repurchase agreements during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
(In millions)    2011     2010     2011     2010  

Outstanding at Period End

   $ 7,540.7      $ 1,498.7      $ 7,540.7      $ 1,498.7   

Weighted Average Rate at Period End

     0.28     0.29     0.28     0.29

Average Outstanding During Period (1)

   $ 7,474.3      $ 1,406.2      $ 6,114.2      $ 1,468.4   

Weighted Average Rate During Period

     0.25     0.31     0.27     0.29

Largest Month End Balance During Period

   $ 7,548.1      $ 1,498.7      $ 7,548.1      $ 1,665.1   

 

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(1) 

Calculated based on the average month end balance during the period.

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, our repurchase agreement balance remained stable with the average of $7,474.3 million during the period compared to $7,540.7 at the end of the period. The same was true of the three months ended September 30, 2010, during which time our average repurchase agreement balance was $1,406.2 million compared to an ending balance of $1,498.7. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 our ending repurchase agreement balance increased from an average of $6,114.2 million to $7,540.7 million due to forward settling purchases made with the net proceeds from our February 2011 equity offering settling and being financed through repurchase agreements. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, our repurchase agreement balance was relatively stable ending the period at $1,498.7 million compared to an average balance during the period of $1,468.4 million. Our highest repurchase agreement balance during the period was $1,665.1 million at February 28, 2010. This was due to making adjustments to the portfolio in anticipation of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy-back programs described in “— Trends and Recent Market Impacts.”

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 September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, 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 “Business-Risk Management” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 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 and cap 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 and contracts as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 described in detail under Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Contractual Obligations and Commitments” in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

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.

 

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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 are 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 management’s experience, estimates, models and assumptions. These analyses rely on models that 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.

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

 

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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 faster amortization of any remaining capitalized premium amount.

We seek 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 Income

The following sensitivity analysis table shows the estimated impact of our interest rate-sensitive investments and repurchase agreement liabilities on the fair value of our assets and our net income, exclusive of the effect of changes in fair value on our net income, at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, assuming a static portfolio and that rates instantaneously fall 25, 50 and 75 basis points and rise 25, 50 and 75 basis points.

September 30, 2011

 

Change in Interest Rates

   Projected Change in the
Fair Value of Our Assets
    Projected Change in
Our Net
Income(1)
 

- 75 basis points

     1.05     2.90

- 50 basis points

     0.87     1.94

- 25 basis points

     0.51     0.97

No Change

     0     0.00

+ 25 basis points

     -0.48     -4.84

+ 50 basis points

     -1.08     -9.68

+ 75 basis points

     -1.78     -14.52

December 31, 2010

 

Change in Interest Rates

   Projected Change in the
Fair Value of Our Assets
    Projected Change in
Our Net
Income(1)
 

- 75 basis points

     2.79     1.69

- 50 basis points

     1.93     0.97

- 25 basis points

     0.99     0.26

No Change

     0.00     0.00

+ 25 basis points

     -1.03     -4.05

+ 50 basis points

     -2.01     -7.64

+ 75 basis points

     -3.19     -11.22

 

(1) 

Exclusive of the changes in fair value on net income

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 do not take into account the effect that our hedging instruments, mainly interest rate swaps and caps, would have on the fair value of our portfolio, but do take into account the effect that our hedging instruments, would have on our net income, exclusive of the effect of changes in fair value on our net 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 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 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 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 in many ways, including through its Risk Management Committee. The Risk Management Committee was established to oversee our senior management’s risk-related responsibilities, including reviewing management policies and performance against these policies and related benchmarks.

 

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As part of our risk management process, our management actively manages the interest rate, liquidity, prepayment and counterparty risks associated with our Agency RMBS portfolio. Our management 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 management 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 six 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 management 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.

Our management seeks to mitigate our counterparty risk by (i) diversifying our exposure across a broad number of counterparties, (ii) limiting our exposure to any one counterparty and (iii) monitoring the financial stability of our counterparties.

 

Item 4. 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 September 30, 2011. 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 September 30, 2011, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

PART II. Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The Company is not currently subject to any material legal proceedings.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Investment in our common stock involves significant risks. If any of the risks discussed in this report occur, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. The risk factors set forth below amend and restate the risk factors contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 and are not the only risks that may affect us. Some statements in this report, including statements in the following risk factors, constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Risks Related To Our Business

Increases in interest rates and adverse market conditions may negatively affect the value of our investments and increase the cost of our borrowings, which could result in reduced earnings or losses and reduced cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

 

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We invest indirectly in mortgage loans by purchasing Agency RMBS. Under a normal yield curve, an investment in Agency RMBS will decline in value if long term interest rates increase. In addition, net interest income could decrease if the yield curve became inverted or flat. Despite Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae guarantees of the principal and interest payments related to the Agency RMBS we own, those guarantees do not protect us from declines in market value caused by changes in interest rates. Declines in the market value of our investments may ultimately result in losses to us, which may reduce earnings and negatively affect cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

A significant risk associated with our investment in Agency RMBS is the risk that both long term and short term interest rates will increase significantly. If long term rates were to increase significantly, the market value of our Agency RMBS would decline and the duration and weighted average life of the investments would increase. We could realize a loss if the securities were sold. At the same time, an increase in short term interest rates would increase the amount of interest owed on our repurchase agreements used to finance the purchase of Agency RMBS, which would decrease cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

Market values of our investments may decline without any general increase in interest rates for a number of reasons, such as increases in defaults, increases in voluntary prepayments for those investments that we have that are subject to prepayment risk, and widening of credit spreads. If the market values of our investments were to decline for any reason, the value of your investment could also decline.

We leverage our portfolio investments in Agency RMBS, which may adversely affect our return on our investments and may reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

We leverage our portfolio investments in Agency RMBS through borrowings under repurchase agreements. Leverage can enhance our potential returns but can also exacerbate losses. The percentage of leverage will vary depending on our ability to obtain these financing facilities and the lender’s and rating agencies’ estimate of the stability of the portfolio investments’ cash flow. As of September 30, 2011, our leverage (measured by dividing total liabilities by net assets) was approximately 7.9 to 1. Our return on our investments and cash available for distribution to our stockholders may be reduced if market conditions cause the cost of our financing to increase relative to the income that can be derived from the assets acquired, which could adversely affect the price of our common stock. In addition, our debt service payments will reduce cash flow available for distributions to stockholders. We may not be able to meet our debt service obligations. To the extent that we cannot meet our debt service obligations, we risk the loss of some or all of our assets to foreclosure or sale to satisfy our debt obligations.

Our lenders may require us to provide additional collateral, especially when the market values for our investments decline, which may restrict us from leveraging our assets as fully as desired, and reduce our liquidity, earnings and cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

We currently use repurchase agreements to finance our investments in Agency RMBS. Our repurchase agreements allow the lenders, to varying degrees, to determine a new market value of the collateral to reflect current market conditions. If the market value of the securities pledged or sold by us to a funding source declines in value, we may be required by the lender to provide additional collateral or pay down a portion of the funds advanced on minimal notice, which is known as a margin call. Posting additional collateral will reduce our liquidity and limit our ability to leverage our assets, which could adversely affect our business. Additionally, in order to satisfy a margin call, we may be required to liquidate assets at a disadvantageous time, which could cause us to incur further losses and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, and may impair our ability to maintain our current level of distributions to our stockholders. 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 September 30, 2011, we had approximately $631.0 million in Agency RMBS, U.S. Treasury securities, cash and cash equivalents available to satisfy future margin calls. In the event we do not have sufficient liquidity to satisfy these margin calls, lending institutions can accelerate our indebtedness, increase our borrowing rates, liquidate our collateral and terminate our ability to borrow. Such a situation would likely result in a rapid deterioration of our financial condition and possibly necessitate a filing for protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

Hedging against interest rate exposure may not completely insulate us from interest rate risk and may adversely affect our earnings, which could adversely affect cash available for distributions to our stockholders.

Subject to compliance with the requirements to qualify as a REIT, we engage in certain hedging transactions to limit our exposure to changes in interest rates and therefore may expose ourselves to risks associated with such transactions. We may utilize instruments such as interest rate swaps, caps, collars and floors and Eurodollar and U.S. Treasury futures to seek to hedge the interest rate risk associated with our portfolio. Hedging against a decline in the values of our portfolio positions does not eliminate the possibility of fluctuations in the values of such positions or prevent losses if the values of such positions decline. However, we may establish other hedging positions designed to gain from those same developments, thereby offsetting the decline in the value of such portfolio positions. Such hedging transactions may also limit the opportunity for gain if the values of the portfolio positions should

 

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increase. Moreover, it may not be possible to hedge against an interest rate fluctuation that is so generally anticipated that we are not able to enter into a hedging transaction at an acceptable price.

The success of our hedging transactions depends on our ability to accurately predict movements of interest rates and credit spreads. Therefore, while we may enter into such transactions to seek to reduce interest rate risks, unanticipated changes in interest rates may result in poorer overall investment performance than if we had not engaged in any such hedging transactions. In addition, the degree of correlation between price movements of the instruments used in a hedging strategy and price movements in the portfolio positions being hedged may vary. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, we may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Any such imperfect correlation may prevent us from achieving the intended hedge and expose us to risk of loss.

We currently hedge against interest rate risk. Our hedging activity varies in scope based on the level and volatility of interest rates, the type of portfolio investments held, and other changing market conditions. 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 volatile interest rates;

 

   

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

 

   

the duration of the hedge may not match the duration of the related liability;

 

   

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 counterparty in the hedging transaction may default on its obligation to pay.

Our interest rate hedging activity may adversely affect our earnings, which could adversely affect cash available for distribution to our stockholders and negatively impact our stock price.

The federal conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and related efforts, along with any changes in laws and regulations affecting the relationship between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the U.S. Government, may adversely affect our business.

The payments we receive on the Agency RMBS in which we invest depend upon a steady stream of payments on the mortgages underlying the securities and are guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Ginnie Mae is part of a U.S. Government agency and its guarantees are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are U.S. Government-sponsored entities, or GSEs, but their guarantees are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

Since 2007, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have reported substantial losses and a need for substantial amounts of additional capital. In response to the deteriorating financial condition of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the recent credit market disruption, Congress and the U.S. Treasury undertook a series of actions to stabilize these GSEs and the financial markets, generally. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 was signed into law on July 30, 2008, and established the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, with enhanced regulatory authority over, among other things, the business activities of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the size of their portfolio holdings. On September 7, 2008, in response to the deterioration in the financial condition of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the FHFA placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship, which is a statutory process pursuant to which the FHFA will operate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as conservator in an effort to stabilize the entities, and together with the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. Federal Reserve, has undertaken actions designed to boost investor confidence in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, support the availability of mortgage financing and protect taxpayers. Appointing FHFA as conservator of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac allows the FHFA to control the actions of the two GSEs without forcing them to liquidate, which would be the case under receivership. In addition, the U.S. Treasury has taken steps to capitalize and provide financing to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and agreed to purchase direct obligations and Agency RMBS issued or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Shortly after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed in federal conservatorship, the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, in announcing the actions, noted that the guarantee structure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac required examination and that changes in the structures of the entities were necessary to reduce risk to the financial system. The future roles of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could be significantly reduced and the nature of their guarantees could be eliminated or considerably limited relative to historical measurements. Any changes to the nature of the guarantees provided by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could redefine what constitutes Agency RMBS and could have broad adverse market implications as well as negatively impact us.

 

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The problems faced by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac resulting in their being placed into federal conservatorship have stirred debate among some federal policy makers regarding the continued role of the U.S. Government in providing liquidity for the residential mortgage market. Following expiration of the current authorization, each of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could be dissolved and the U.S. Government could decide to stop providing liquidity support of any kind to the mortgage market. If Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac were eliminated, or their structures were to change radically, we would not be able to acquire Agency RMBS from these companies, which would drastically reduce the amount and type of Agency RMBS available for investment, which are our primary investments. As of September 30, 2011, 99.8% of our investments had the principal and interest guaranteed by either Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae or the U.S. Treasury.

Our income could be negatively affected in a number of ways depending on the manner in which related events unfold. For example, the current credit support provided by the U.S. Treasury to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and any additional credit support it may provide in the future, could have the effect of lowering the interest rate we receive from Agency RMBS, thereby tightening the spread between the interest we earn on our portfolio of targeted investments and our cost of financing that portfolio. A reduction in the supply of Agency RMBS could also increase the prices of Agency RMBS we seek to acquire by reducing the spread between the interest we earn on our portfolio of targeted assets and our cost of financing that portfolio.

As indicated above, recent legislation has changed the relationship between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the U.S. Government and requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to reduce the amount of mortgage loans they own or for which they provide guarantees on Agency RMBS. The effect of the actions taken by the U.S. Government remains uncertain. Furthermore, the scope and nature of the actions that the U.S. Government will ultimately undertake are unknown and will continue to evolve. Future legislation could further change the relationship between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the U.S. Government, and could also nationalize or eliminate these GSEs entirely. Any law affecting these GSEs may create market uncertainty and have the effect of reducing the actual or perceived credit quality of securities issued or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. As a result, such laws could increase the risk of loss on investments in Fannie Mae and/or Freddie Mac Agency RMBS. It is also possible that such laws could adversely impact the market for such securities and spreads at which they trade. All of the foregoing could materially adversely affect the pricing, supply, liquidity and value of our target assets and otherwise materially adversely affect our business, operations and financial condition.

Certain actions by the U.S. Federal Reserve could cause a flattening of the yield curve, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

On September 21, 2011, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced “Operation Twist,” which is a program by which it intends to purchase, by the end of June 2012, $400 billion of U.S. Treasury securities with remaining maturities between six and 30 years and sell an equal amount of U.S. Treasury securities with remaining maturities of three years or less. The effect of Operation Twist could be a flattening in the yield curve, which could result in increased prepayment rates due to lower long-term interest rates and a narrowing of our net interest margin. Consequently, Operation Twist and any other future securities purchase programs by the U.S. Federal Reserve could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

Mortgage loan modification programs and future legislative action may adversely affect the value of, and the returns on, the Agency RMBS in which we invest.

During the second half of 2008, the U.S. Government, through the Federal Housing Authority, or FHA, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, commenced implementation of programs designed to provide homeowners with assistance in avoiding residential mortgage loan foreclosures. These and any future 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.

In addition, in February 2009 the U.S. Treasury announced the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, or HASP, which is a multi-faceted plan, intended to prevent residential mortgage foreclosures by, among other things:

 

   

allowing certain homeowners whose homes are encumbered by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac conforming mortgages to refinance those mortgages into lower interest rate mortgages with either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac;

 

   

creating the Homeowner Stability Initiative, which is intended to utilize various incentives for banks and mortgage servicers to modify residential mortgage loans with the goal of reducing monthly mortgage principal and interest payments for certain qualified homeowners; and

 

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allowing judicial modifications of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conforming residential mortgage loans during bankruptcy proceedings.

It is likely that loan modifications would result in increased prepayments on some Agency RMBS. See”—Prepayment rates could negatively affect the value of our Agency RMBS, which could result in reduced earnings or losses and negatively affect the cash available for distribution to our stockholders,” for information relating to the impact of prepayments on our business.

These and any future loan modification programs, as well as future legislative or regulatory actions, including amendments to the bankruptcy laws, that result in the modification of outstanding mortgage loans may adversely affect the value of, and the returns on, the Agency RMBS in which we invest.

The recent downgrade of the U.S.’s credit rating and any future downgrades of the U.S.’s credit rating may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

On August 5, 2011, Standard & Poor’s downgraded the U.S.’s credit rating for the first time in history. Because Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are in conservatorship of the U.S. Government, downgrades to the U.S.’s credit rating could impact the credit risk associated with Agency RMBS and, therefore, decrease the value of the Agency RMBS in our portfolio. In addition, the downgrade of the U.S. Government’s credit rating has created broader financial turmoil and uncertainty, which has weighed heavily on the global banking system. Therefore, the recent downgrade of the U.S.’s credit rating and any future downgrades of the U.S.’s credit rating may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Prepayment rates could negatively affect the value of our Agency RMBS, which could result in reduced earnings or losses and negatively affect the cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

In the case of residential mortgage loans, there are seldom any restrictions on borrowers’ abilities to prepay their loans. Homeowners tend to prepay mortgage loans faster when applicable mortgage interest rates decline. Furthermore, both HASP and Operation Twist could cause an increase in prepayment rates. Consequently, owners of the loans have to reinvest the money received from the prepayments at the lower prevailing interest rates. Conversely, homeowners tend not to prepay mortgage loans when mortgage interest rates remain steady or increase. Consequently, owners of the loans are unable to reinvest money that would have otherwise been received from prepayments at the higher prevailing interest rates. This volatility in prepayment rates may affect our ability to maintain targeted amounts of leverage on our Agency RMBS portfolio and may result in reduced earnings or losses for us and negatively affect the cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

Despite Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae guarantees of principal and interest related to the Agency RMBS we own, those guarantees do not protect investors against prepayment risks.

Our portfolio investments are recorded at fair value based on market quotations from pricing services and broker/dealers. The value of our common stock could be adversely affected if our determinations regarding the fair value of these investments were materially higher than the values that we ultimately realize upon their disposal.

All of our current portfolio investments are, and some of our future portfolio investments will be, in the form of securities that are not publicly traded. The fair value of securities and other investments that are not publicly traded may not be readily determinable. We currently value and will continue to value these investments monthly at fair value as determined in good faith by our management based on market quotations from pricing services and brokers/dealers. Because such quotations and valuations are inherently uncertain, they may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates, and our determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a public market for these securities existed. The value of our common stock could be adversely affected if our determinations regarding the fair value of these investments were materially higher than the values that we ultimately realize upon their disposal.

Our delayed delivery transactions, including “to-be-announced” transactions, or TBAs, subject us to certain risks, including price risks and counterparty risks.

We purchase a substantial portion of our Agency RMBS through delayed delivery transactions, including TBAs. In a delayed delivery transaction, we enter into a forward purchase agreement with a counterparty to purchase either (i) an identified Agency RMBS, or (ii) a to-be-issued (or “to-be-announced”) Agency RMBS with certain terms. As with any forward purchase contract, the value of the underlying Agency RMBS may decrease between the contract date and the settlement date. Furthermore, a transaction

 

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counterparty may fail to deliver the underlying Agency RMBS at the settlement date. If any of the above risks were to occur, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

An increase in our borrowing costs relative to the interest we receive on our assets may impair our profitability and thus our cash available for distributions to our stockholders.

As our repurchase agreements and other short term borrowings mature, we must either enter into new borrowings or liquidate certain of our investments at times when we might not otherwise choose to do so. Lenders may seek to use a maturity date as an opportune time to demand additional terms or increased collateral requirements that could be adverse to us and harm our operations. An increase in short term interest rates when we seek new borrowings would reduce the spread between our returns on our assets and the cost of our borrowings. This would reduce the returns on our assets which might reduce earnings and in turn cash available for distributions to our stockholders. We generally expect that the interest rates tied to our borrowings will adjust more rapidly than the interest rates tied to the assets in which we invest.

If the lending institution under one or more of our repurchase agreements defaults on its obligation to resell the underlying security back to us at the end of the agreement term, we will lose money on our repurchase transactions.

When we engage in a repurchase transaction, we will initially sell securities to the transaction counterparty under a master repurchase agreement in exchange for cash from the counterparty. The counterparty is obligated to resell the same securities back to us at the end of the term of the repurchase agreement, which typically is 30 to 90 days, but which may be up to one year. If the counterparty in a repurchase transaction defaults on its obligation to resell the securities back to us we will incur a loss on the transaction equal to the amount of the haircut (assuming no change in the value of the securities). Losses incurred on our repurchase transactions would adversely affect our earnings and our cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

If we default on our obligations under our repurchase agreements, we may be unable to establish a suitable replacement facility on acceptable terms or at all.

If we default on one of our obligations under a repurchase agreement, the counterparty may terminate the agreement and cease entering into any other repurchase agreements with us. In that case, we would likely need to establish a replacement repurchase facility with another financial institution in order to continue to leverage our investment portfolio and carry out our investment strategy. We may be unable to establish a suitable replacement repurchase facility on acceptable terms or at all.

Our repurchase agreements may give our lenders greater rights in the event that we file for bankruptcy.

Our borrowings under repurchase agreements may qualify for special treatment under the bankruptcy code, giving our lenders the ability to avoid the automatic stay provisions of the bankruptcy code and to take possession of and liquidate our collateral under the repurchase agreements without delay if we file for bankruptcy. Furthermore, the special treatment of repurchase agreements under the bankruptcy code may make it difficult for us to recover our pledged assets under a repurchase agreement in the event that a lender party to such an agreement files for bankruptcy. Thus, the use of repurchase agreements exposes our pledged assets to increased risk in the event we or any of our lenders files for bankruptcy.

Failure to procure adequate funding and capital would adversely affect our results and may, in turn, negatively affect the value of our common stock and our ability to distribute dividends to our stockholders.

We depend upon the availability of adequate funding and capital for our operations. To maintain our status as a REIT, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income annually, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain, to our stockholders and therefore are not able to retain our earnings for new investments. We cannot assure you that any, or sufficient, funding or capital will be available to us in the future on terms that are acceptable to us. In the event that we cannot obtain sufficient funding and capital on acceptable terms, there may be a negative impact on the value of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders, and you may lose part or all of your investment.

Loss of our exemption from regulation under the Investment Company Act would negatively affect the value of shares of our common stock and our ability to distribute cash to our stockholders.

We have operated and intend to continue to operate our business so as to be exempt from registration under the Investment Company Act because we are “primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate.” Specifically, we invest and intend to continue to invest so that at least 55% of the assets that we own on an unconsolidated basis consist of qualifying mortgages and other liens and interests in real estate, which are collectively referred to as

 

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“qualifying real estate assets,” and so that at least 80% of the assets we own on an unconsolidated basis consist of real estate related assets (including our qualifying real estate assets). We treat Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae whole-pool residential mortgage pass-through securities issued with respect to an underlying pool of mortgage loans in which we hold all of the certificates issued by the pool as qualifying real estate assets. Although CMOs are real estate related assets, they are not “qualifying real estate assets” for purposes of the Investment Company Act.

On September 1, 2011, the SEC issued a concept release (No. IC-29778; File No. SW7-34-11, Companies Engaged in the Business of Acquiring Mortgages and Mortgage-Related Instruments) pursuant to which it is reviewing whether certain companies that invest in RMBS and rely on the exemption from registration under Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act (such as us) should continue to be allowed to rely on such exemption from registration.

If we fail to qualify for this exemption, or the SEC determines that companies that invest in RMBS are no longer able to rely on this exemption, we could be required to restructure our activities in a manner that, or at a time when, we would not otherwise choose to do so, or we may be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, either of which could negatively affect the value of shares of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

We are dependent on our key personnel and the loss of such key personnel could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

We are dependent on the efforts of our key officers and employees, including Kevin E. Grant, our Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Investment Officer. The loss of Mr. Grant’s services could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders. Although we have an employment agreement with him, we cannot assure you he will remain employed with us.

We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities.

A number of entities compete with us to make the types of investments that we make. We compete with other REITs, financial companies, public and private funds, commercial and investment banks and commercial finance companies. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. Several other REITs have recently raised, or are expected to raise, significant amounts of capital, and may have investment objectives that overlap with ours, which may create competition for investment opportunities. Some competitors may have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish more relationships than us. We cannot assure you that the competitive pressures we face will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, as a result of this competition, we may not be able to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities from time to time, and we can offer no assurance that we will be able to identify and make investments that are consistent with our investment objectives.

Our financial condition and results of operations will depend on our ability to manage future growth effectively.

Our ability to achieve our investment objectives will depend on our ability to grow, which will depend, in turn, on our ability to identify and invest in securities that meet our investment criteria. Accomplishing this result on a cost-effective basis largely will be a function of our ability to structure and implement the investment process and our access to financing on acceptable terms. In order to grow, we need to hire, train, supervise and manage new employees successfully. However, we can offer no assurance that any of those employees will contribute substantial value to us. Any failure to manage our future growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may change our investment strategy and asset allocation without notice or stockholder consent, which may result in riskier investments.

Our board of directors has the authority to change our investment strategy or asset allocation at any time without notice to or consent from our stockholders. In 2008, our board of directors amended our investment guidelines to require that we invest exclusively in Agency RMBS. In 2010, our board of directors modified our investment guidelines to permit investments in CMOs. To the extent that our investment strategy changes in the future, we may make investments that are different from, and possibly riskier than, the investments described in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. A change in our investment strategy may increase our exposure to interest rate and real estate market fluctuations. Furthermore, a change in our asset allocation could result in our allocating assets in a different manner than as described in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

 

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Our board of directors does not approve each investment decision made by our management.

Our directors periodically review our investment guidelines and our investment portfolio. However, our board of directors does not review all of our proposed investments. In addition, in conducting periodic reviews, the directors may rely primarily on information provided to them by our management. Furthermore, transactions entered into or structured for us by our management may be difficult or impossible to unwind by the time they are reviewed by the directors.

Hedging instruments often are not traded on regulated exchanges, guaranteed by an exchange or a clearing house, or regulated by any U.S. or foreign governmental authorities and involve risks and costs.

The cost of using hedging instruments increases as the period covered by the instrument increases and during periods of rising and volatile interest rates. We may increase our hedging activity and thus increase our hedging costs during periods when interest rates are volatile or rising and hedging costs have increased.

In addition, hedging instruments involve risk since they often are not traded on regulated exchanges, guaranteed by an exchange or its clearing house, or regulated by any U.S. or foreign governmental authorities. Consequently, there are no requirements with respect to record keeping, financial responsibility or segregation of customer funds and positions. Furthermore, the enforceability of agreements underlying derivative transactions may depend on compliance with applicable statutory and commodity and other regulatory requirements and, depending on the identity of the counterparty, applicable international requirements. The business failure of a hedging counterparty with whom we enter into a hedging transaction most likely will result in a default. Default by a party with whom we enter into a hedging transaction may result in the loss of unrealized profits and force us to cover our resale commitments, if any, at the then current market price. In addition, we may not always be able to dispose of or close out a hedging position without the consent of the hedging counterparty, and we may not be able to enter into an offsetting contract to cover our risk. We cannot assure you that a liquid secondary market will exist for hedging instruments purchased or sold, and we may be required to maintain a position until exercise or expiration, which could result in losses.

We may enter into derivative contracts that could expose us to unexpected economic losses in the future.

Swaps, caps and certain options and other custom instruments are subject to the risk of non-performance by the counterparty, including risks relating to the creditworthiness of the counterparty. In addition, we also are subject to the risk of the failure of any of the exchanges or clearing houses on which we trade. Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT, we may enter into interest rate swaps and caps. Swap and cap agreements can be individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap and cap agreements may increase or decrease exposure to long term or short term interest rates (in the United States or abroad), foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices, baskets of equity securities, or inflation rates. Swap agreements can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names. We are not precluded from any particular form of swap or option agreement if we determine it is consistent with our investment objectives and policies.

Swap and cap agreements tend to shift investment exposure from one type of investment to another. Depending on how they are used, swap and cap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of our portfolio. The most significant factor in the performance of swap agreements is the change in the specific interest rate, currency, individual equity values or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from us. If a swap agreement calls for payments or collateral transfers by us, we must be prepared to make such payments and transfers when due. Additionally, if a counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of swap agreements with the counterparty can be expected to decline, potentially resulting in losses by us.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and certain commodity exchanges have established limits referred to as speculative position limits or position limits on the maximum net long or net short position that any person or group of persons may hold or control in particular futures and options. Limits on trading in options contracts also have been established by the various options exchanges. It is possible that trading decisions may have to be modified and that positions held may have to be liquidated to avoid exceeding such limits. Such modification or liquidation, if required, could adversely affect our operations and profitability.

Part of our investment strategy involves entering into derivative contracts that could require us to fund cash payments in the future under certain circumstances, such as the early termination of the derivative agreement caused by any event of default or other early termination event, or the decision by a counterparty to request margin securities it is contractually owed under the terms of the derivative contract. The amount due would be equal to the unrealized loss of the open derivative positions with the respective counterparty and could also include other fees and charges. These potential payments will be contingent liabilities and therefore may not appear on our balance sheet. The economic losses will be reflected in our financial results of operations, and our ability to fund these obligations will depend on the liquidity of our assets and access to capital at the time. The need to fund these obligations could adversely impact our financial condition.

 

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We are highly dependent on communications and information systems operated by third parties, and systems failures could significantly disrupt our business, which may, in turn, negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

Our business is highly dependent on communications and information systems that allow us to monitor, value, buy, sell, finance and hedge our investments. These systems are operated by third parties and, as a result, we have limited ability to ensure their continued operation. In the event of systems failure or interruption, we will have limited ability to affect the timing and success of systems restoration. Any failure or interruption of our systems could cause delays or other problems in our securities trading activities, including Agency RMBS trading activities, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

CMOs may be subject to greater risks than whole-pool Agency RMBS.

In March 2010, our board of directors amended our investment guidelines to allow us to invest in CMOs. CMOs are securitizations issued by a government agency or a government sponsored entity that are collateralized by Agency RMBS that are divided into various tranches that have different characteristics (such as different maturities or different coupon payments), and, therefore, may carry greater risk than an investment in whole-pool Agency RMBS. For example, certain CMO tranches, such as interest-only securities, principal-only securities, support securities and securities purchased at a significant premium, are more sensitive to prepayment risks than other tranches or whole-pool Agency RMBS. In addition, the yield on floating rate and inverse floating rate tranches are sensitive to changes in the interest rate index used to calculate the coupon on such classes. If we were to invest in CMO tranches that were more sensitive to prepayment risks relative to other CMO tranches or whole-pool Agency RMBS, we may increase our portfolio-wide prepayment and interest rate risk.

Our investments in subordinated tranches of CLOs may be subject to losses and the assets collateralizing such CLOs subject us to specific risks that could adversely affect our operating results.

We have invested a small portion of our total assets in lower-rated or non-rated deeply subordinated tranches of CLOs collateralized primarily by corporate leveraged loans, and to a lesser extent, by corporate debt securities. Leveraged loans can be illiquid and are subject to price volatility. To the extent that they are non-investment grade, they may also bear risks associated with high-yield bonds. In general, losses on a loan or other asset included in a securitization will be borne first by equity support, a cash reserve fund or a letter of credit, if any, and then by the subordinated security holders. In the event of nonpayment on the loan or other asset and the exhaustion of any equity support, reserve fund, letter of credit and any classes of securities junior to those in which we invest, we will not be able to recover all of our investment in the securities we purchased. In addition, if the underlying asset portfolio sustains losses, or if the value of the underlying collateral declines and, as a result, less collateral is available to satisfy payments due on the related CLO, then payments to us as subordinated holders of the CLO could be reduced or halted, or we could sustain losses in our investment. In addition, failure to adequately manage a CLO could result in, among other things, mistimed collateral sales and purchases, purchasing underperforming collateral, and inadequate cash flow processing, all of which could negatively affect the performance of the CLO. As a result, we could sustain loses and/or lose a portion, or potentially all, of our investment in CLOs, which could adversely impact our results of operations, financial condition, and business.

If we issue debt securities, our operations may be restricted and we will be exposed to additional risk.

If we decide to issue debt securities in the future, it is likely that such securities will be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock. We, and indirectly our stockholders, will bear the cost of issuing and servicing such securities. Holders of debt securities may be granted specific rights, including but not limited to, the right to hold a perfected security interest in certain of our assets, the right to accelerate payments due under the indenture, rights to restrict dividend payments, and rights to approve the sale of assets. Such additional restrictive covenants and operating restrictions could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

Risks Related to Our Organization and Structure

Our charter and bylaws contain provisions that may inhibit potential acquisition bids that you and other stockholders may consider favorable, and the market price of our common stock may be lower as a result.

Our charter and bylaws contain provisions that may have an anti-takeover effect and inhibit a change in our board of directors. These provisions include the following:

There are ownership limits and restrictions on transferability and ownership in our charter.

 

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In order to qualify as a REIT for each taxable year after 2006, not more than 50% of the value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”) to include natural persons and certain entities) during the second half of any calendar year and our shares must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of twelve months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. To assist us in meeting these requirements, subject to some exceptions, our charter generally prohibits any stockholder from beneficially or constructively owning more than 9.8% in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of any class or series of our outstanding capital stock unless an exemption is granted by our board of directors in its sole discretion. For purposes of this calculation, warrants treated as held by a person will be deemed to have been exercised. However, warrants held by other unrelated persons will not be deemed to have been exercised.

This ownership restriction may:

 

   

discourage a tender offer or other transactions or a change in the composition of our board of directors or control that might involve a premium price for our shares or otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders; or

 

   

result in shares issued or transferred in violation of such restriction being automatically transferred to a trust for a charitable beneficiary and thereby resulting in a forfeiture of such shares.

Our charter permits our board of directors to issue common or preferred stock with terms that may discourage a third party from acquiring us. Our charter permits our board of directors to amend our charter, without approval of our stockholders, to increase the total number of authorized shares of stock or the number of shares of any class or series, and to cause the issuance of common or preferred stock, having preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption as determined by our board of directors. Thus, our board of directors could authorize the issuance of common or preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction in which holders of some or a majority of our shares might receive a premium for their shares over the then-prevailing market price of our shares.

Our charter and bylaws contain other possible anti-takeover provisions.

Our charter and bylaws contain other provisions that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us or the removal of existing directors and, as a result, could prevent our stockholders from being paid a premium for their common stock over the then-prevailing market price.

Certain provisions of Maryland law could inhibit changes in control.

Certain provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or MGCL, may have the effect of inhibiting a third party from making a proposal to acquire us or impeding a change of control under circumstances that otherwise could provide our stockholders with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price of our common stock, including:

 

   

“business combination” provisions that, subject to limitations, prohibit certain business combinations between us and an “interested stockholder” (defined generally as any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of our shares or an affiliate thereof) for five years after the most recent date on which the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, and thereafter special stockholder voting requirements on these combinations; and

 

   

“control share” provisions that provide that “control shares” of our company (defined as shares which, when aggregated with other shares controlled by the stockholder, entitle the stockholder to exercise one of three increasing ranges of voting power in electing directors) acquired in a “control share acquisition” (defined as the direct or indirect acquisition of ownership or control of “control shares”) have no voting rights except to the extent approved by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding all interested shares.

We have elected to opt out of these provisions of the MGCL, in the case of the business combination provisions of the MGCL, by resolution of our board of directors, and in the case of the control share provisions of the MGCL, pursuant to a provision in our bylaws. However, our board of directors may by resolution elect to repeal the foregoing opt-outs from the business combination provisions of the MGCL, and we may, by amendment to our bylaws, opt in to the control share provisions of the MGCL in the future.

 

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Our rights and the rights of our stockholders to take action against our directors and officers are limited, which could limit your recourse in the event of actions not in your best interests.

Our charter limits the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from:

 

   

actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or

 

   

a final judgment based upon a finding of active and deliberate dishonesty by the director or officer that was material to the cause of action adjudicated.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers that obligate us to indemnify them to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. In addition, our charter authorizes our company to obligate itself to indemnify our present and former directors and officers for actions taken by them in those capacities to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. Our bylaws require us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify each present or former director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service to us. In addition, we may be obligated to fund the defense costs incurred by our directors and officers.

We may be subject to adverse legislative or regulatory changes that could reduce the market price of our common stock.

At any time, laws or regulations, or the administrative interpretations of those laws or regulations, that impact our business and Maryland corporations may be amended. In addition, the markets for MBS and derivatives, including swaps, have been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent years. We cannot predict when or if any new law, regulation or administrative interpretation, or any amendment to any existing law, regulation or administrative interpretation, will be adopted or promulgated or will become effective. Additionally, revisions in these laws, regulations or administrative interpretations could cause us to change our investments. We could be adversely affected by any such change in, or any new, law, regulation or administrative interpretation, which could reduce the market price of our common stock.

Tax Risks

Failure to qualify as a REIT would subject us to federal income tax, which could adversely affect the value of the shares of our common stock and would reduce the cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

We operate in a manner that is intended to cause us to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. However, the federal income tax laws governing REITs are complex, and interpretations of the federal income tax laws governing qualification as a REIT are limited. Qualifying as a REIT requires us to meet various tests regarding the nature of our assets and our income, the ownership of our outstanding stock, and the amount of our distributions on an ongoing basis.

Our ability to satisfy the asset tests depends upon the characterization and fair market values of our assets, some of which are not susceptible to a precise determination, and for which we will not obtain independent appraisals. Our compliance with the REIT income and quarterly asset requirements also depends upon our ability to successfully manage the composition of our income and assets on an ongoing basis. Although we intend to operate so that we will qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given that we will so qualify for any particular year.

If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any calendar year, we would be required to pay federal income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates, and dividends paid to our stockholders would not be deductible by us in computing our taxable income. Further, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, we might need to borrow money or sell assets in order to pay any resulting tax. Our payment of income tax would decrease the amount of our income available for distribution to our stockholders. Furthermore, if we fail to maintain our qualification as a REIT, we no longer would be required to distribute substantially all of our REIT taxable income to our stockholders. Unless our failure to qualify as a REIT was subject to relief under federal tax laws, we could not re-elect to qualify as a REIT until the fifth calendar year following the year in which we failed to qualify.

Our ability to invest in and dispose of securities through forward settling transactions could be limited by our REIT status, and we could lose our REIT status as a result of these investments.

 

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We have purchased, and may purchase in the future, Agency RMBS through contracts for forward settling transactions, including where the pool is “to-be-announced”, or TBAs. In certain instances, rather than take delivery of the Agency RMBS subject to a contract for a forward settling transaction, we will dispose of the contract for a forward settling transaction through a dollar roll transaction in which we agree to purchase similar securities in the future at a predetermined price or otherwise, which may result in the recognition of income or gains. We account for dollar roll transactions as purchases and sales. The law is unclear regarding whether contracts for forward settling transactions will be qualifying assets for the 75% asset test and whether income and gains from dispositions of contracts for forward settling transactions will be qualifying income for the 75% gross income test.

Until such time as we seek and receive a favorable private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, or we are advised by counsel that contracts for forward settling transactions should be treated as qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test, we will limit our net investment in contracts for forward settling transactions and any non-qualifying assets to no more than 25% of our assets at the end of any calendar quarter. Further, until such time as we seek and receive a favorable private letter ruling from the IRS or we are advised by counsel that income and gains from the disposition of contracts for forward settling transactions should be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, we will limit our gains from dispositions of contracts for forward settling transactions and any non-qualifying income to no more than 25% of our gross income for each calendar year. Accordingly, our ability to purchase Agency RMBS through contracts for forward settling transactions and to dispose of contracts for forward settling transactions, through dollar roll transactions or otherwise, could be limited.

Moreover, even if we are advised by counsel that contracts for forward settling transactions should be treated as qualifying assets or that income and gains from dispositions of contracts for forward settling transactions should be treated as qualifying income, it is possible that the IRS could successfully take the position that such assets are not qualifying assets and such income is not qualifying income. In that event, we could be subject to a penalty tax or we could fail to qualify as a REIT if (i) the value of our contracts for forward settling transactions, together with our non-qualifying assets for the 75% asset test, exceeded 25% of our gross assets at the end of any calendar quarter or (ii) our income and gains from the disposition of contracts for forward settling transactions, together with our non-qualifying income for the 75% gross income test, exceeded 25% of our gross income for any taxable year.

Complying with REIT requirements may cause us to forego otherwise attractive opportunities.

To qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we must continually satisfy tests concerning, among other things, the sources of our income, the nature and diversification of our assets, the amounts we distribute to our stockholders and the ownership of our stock. In order to meet these tests, we may be required to forego attractive business or investment opportunities. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our ability to operate solely on the basis of maximizing profits.

Liquidation of assets may jeopardize our REIT qualification.

To qualify as a REIT, we must comply with requirements regarding our assets and our sources of income. If we are compelled to liquidate our investments to repay obligations to our lenders, we may be unable to comply with these requirements, ultimately jeopardizing our qualification as a REIT, or we may be subject to a 100% tax on any resultant gain if we sell assets that are treated as dealer property or inventory.

Failure to make required distributions would subject us to tax, which would reduce the cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

In order to qualify as a REIT, an entity must distribute to its stockholders, each calendar year, at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain. To the extent that a REIT satisfies the 90% distribution requirement, but distributes less than 100% of its taxable income, it will be subject to federal corporate income tax on its undistributed income. In addition, a REIT will incur a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which its distributions in any calendar year are less than the sum of:

 

   

85% of its REIT ordinary income for that year;

 

   

95% of its REIT capital gain net income for that year; and

 

   

100% of its undistributed taxable income from prior years.

We intend to continue to make distributions in the future to our stockholders in a manner intended to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement and to avoid both federal corporate income tax and the 4% nondeductible excise tax. However, there is no

 

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requirement that TRSs distribute their after-tax net income to their parent REIT or their stockholders, and if we utilize a TRS it may determine not to make any distributions to us.

Our taxable income may substantially exceed our net income as determined based on GAAP because, for example, realized capital losses will be deducted in determining our GAAP net income, but may not be deductible in computing our taxable income. In addition, we may invest in assets that generate taxable income in excess of economic income or in advance of the corresponding cash flow from the assets, referred to as phantom income. Although some types of phantom income are excluded in determining the 90% distribution requirement, we will incur corporate income tax and the 4% nondeductible excise tax with respect to any phantom income items if we do not distribute those items on an annual basis. As a result of the foregoing, we may generate less cash flow than taxable income in a particular year. In that event, we may be required to use cash reserves, incur debt or liquidate non-cash assets at rates or times that we regard as unfavorable in order to satisfy the distribution requirement and to avoid federal corporate income tax and the 4% nondeductible excise tax in that year.

We may satisfy the 90% distribution test with taxable distributions of our stock or debt securities. Pursuant to Revenue Procedure 2010-12 (“Revenue Procedure”), the IRS has indicated that it will treat distributions from certain publicly traded REITs that are paid part in cash and part in stock as dividends that would satisfy the REIT’s annual distribution requirements and qualify for the dividends paid deduction for federal income tax purposes. In order to qualify for such treatment, the Revenue Procedure requires that at least 10% of the total distribution be payable in cash and that each stockholder have a right to elect to receive its entire distribution in cash. If too many stockholders elect to receive cash, each stockholder electing to receive cash must receive a proportionate share of the cash to be distributed (although no stockholder electing to receive cash may receive less than 10% of such stockholder’s distribution in cash). This Revenue Procedure applies to distributions declared on or before December 31, 2012 with respect to taxable years ending on or before December 31, 2011. It is unclear whether and to what extent we will be able to pay taxable dividends in later years that are payable in cash or stock. Although we have no current intention of paying dividends in our own stock, if in the future we choose to pay dividends in our own stock, our stockholders may be required to pay tax in excess of the cash that they receive.

Complying with REIT requirements may limit our ability to hedge effectively.

The REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code limit our ability to hedge Agency RMBS and related borrowings. Under these provisions, we must limit our aggregate gross income from non-qualifying hedges, fees, and certain other non-qualifying sources to 5% or less of our annual gross income. As a result, we might in the future have to limit our use of advantageous hedging techniques or implement those hedges through a domestic TRS. This could increase the cost of our hedging activities, because a domestic TRS would be subject to tax on gains, or leave us exposed to greater risks associated with changes in interest rates than we would otherwise want to bear.

Withholding tax may apply to our dividends after December 31, 2013 and proceeds of sales in respect of our common stock after December 31, 2014.

United States federal withholding tax at a 30% rate will apply to payments of dividends after December 31, 2013 and gross proceeds from sales of our stock after December 31, 2014 made to foreign financial institutions (and certain of their affiliates) unless the payee foreign financial institution agrees, among other things, to disclose the identity of certain United States persons and United States owned foreign entities with accounts at the institution (or the institution’s affiliates) and to annually report certain information about such accounts. The withholding tax also will apply to payments of dividends and gross proceeds of sales to certain foreign entities that do not disclose the name, address and taxpayer identification number of any substantial United States owners (or certify that they do not have any substantial United States owners).

Thus, if a stockholder holds our shares through a foreign financial institution or foreign corporation or trust, dividends and gross proceeds of sales made after the applicable dates may be subject to a 30% withholding tax. Stockholders that are not United States persons may be subject to withholding tax on our dividends under current law.

The taxation of corporate dividends may adversely affect the value of our stock.

Legislation enacted in 2003, 2006 and 2010, among other things, generally reduces to 15% the maximum marginal rate of tax payable by taxpayers taxed at individual rates on dividends received from a regular C corporation until January 1, 2013. This reduced tax rate, however, will not apply to dividends paid by a REIT on its stock, except for certain limited amounts. While the earnings of a REIT that are distributed to its stockholders generally will still be subject to less federal income taxation than earnings of a non-REIT C corporation that are distributed to its stockholders net of corporate-level income tax, this legislation could cause taxpayers taxed at individual rates to view the stock of regular C corporations as more attractive relative to the stock of a REIT than was the case prior to the enactment of the legislation, because the dividends from regular C corporations will generally be taxed at a lower rate while

 

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dividends from REITs will generally be taxed at the same rate as the investor’s other ordinary income. We cannot predict what effect, if any, this legislation may have on the value of the stock of REITs in general or on the value of our common stock in particular, either in terms of price or relative to other investments.

The failure of Agency RMBS subject to a repurchase agreement to qualify as real estate assets would adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT.

We have entered into sale and repurchase agreements under which we nominally sold certain of our Agency RMBS to a counterparty and simultaneously entered into an agreement to repurchase the sold assets. We believe that we are treated for federal income tax purposes as the owner of the Agency RMBS that are the subject of any such agreement notwithstanding that such agreements may transfer record ownership of such assets to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. It is possible, however, that the IRS could successfully assert that we did not own the Agency RMBS during the term of the sale and repurchase agreement, in which case we could fail to qualify as a REIT.

We may lose our REIT qualification or be subject to a penalty tax if the IRS, successfully challenges our characterization of income from our investments in subordinated tranches of CLOs issued by foreign corporations.

We likely will be required to include in our income, even without the receipt of actual distributions, earnings from our investment in the subordinated tranches of CLOs and issued by foreign corporations. We intend to treat certain of these income inclusions as qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test but not the 75% gross income test. The provisions that set forth what income is qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test provide that gross income derived from dividends, interest and certain other enumerated classes of passive income qualify for purposes of the 95% gross income test. Income inclusions from equity investments in foreign corporations are technically neither actual dividends nor any of the other enumerated categories of income specified in the 95% gross income test for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the IRS has issued private letter rulings to other REITs holding that income inclusions from equity investments in foreign corporations would be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. Private letter rulings may be relied upon only by the taxpayers to whom they are issued, and the IRS may revoke a private letter ruling. Based on those private letter rulings and advice of counsel, we intend to treat such income inclusions as qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. Nevertheless, because this income does not meet the literal requirements of the REIT provisions, it is possible that the IRS could successfully take the position that such income is not qualifying income. In the event that such income was determined not to qualify for the 95% gross income test, we would be subject to a penalty tax with respect to such income to the extent it and our other non-qualifying income exceeds 5% of our gross income or we could fail to qualify as a REIT. In addition, if such income was determined not to qualify for the 95% gross income test, we would need to invest in sufficient qualifying assets, or sell some of our interests in other foreign corporations, to ensure that the income recognized by us from our investment in the subordinated tranches of CLOs issued by foreign corporations does not exceed 5% of our gross income, or we would cease to qualify as a REIT.

If the CLO issuers in which we have invested are subject to federal income tax at the entity level, it would greatly reduce the amounts those entities would have available to pay their creditors and to distribute to us.

We have invested in subordinated tranches of CLOs which are treated as equity for federal income tax purposes. The CLO issuers in which we have invested will be treated as corporations for federal income tax purposes. The CLO issuers are organized in foreign countries. There is a specific exemption from federal income tax for non-U.S. corporations that restrict their activities in the United States to trading stock and securities (or any activity closely related thereto) for their own account whether such trading (or such other activity) is conducted by the corporation or its employees or through a resident broker, commission agent, custodian or other agent. We expect that the CLO issuers in which we have invested will rely on that exemption or otherwise operate in a manner so that they will not be subject to federal income tax on their net income at the entity level. If the IRS were to succeed in challenging that tax treatment, it could greatly reduce the amount that those CLO issuers would have available to pay to their creditors and to distribute to us.

Even if we remain qualified as a REIT, we may face other tax liabilities that reduce our cash flow.

Even if we remain qualified for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to certain federal, state and local taxes on our income and assets. Any of these taxes would decrease cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

We may be subject to adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes that could reduce the market price of our common stock.

At any time, the federal income tax laws or regulations governing REITs or the administrative interpretations of those laws or regulations may be amended. We cannot predict when or if any new federal income tax law, regulation or administrative

 

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interpretation, or any amendment to any existing federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation, will be adopted or promulgated or will become effective and any such law, regulation or interpretation may take effect retroactively. We and our stockholders could be adversely affected by any such change in, or any new, federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation. Additionally, revisions in federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could cause us to change our investments and commitments and affect the tax considerations of an investment in us.

 

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

  3.1***    Articles of Amendment, effective as of September 1, 2011
10.1***    Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, between the Company and Kevin E. Grant
10.2***    Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, between the Company and Frances R. Spark
10.3***    Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, between the Company and Richard E. Cleary
10.4***    Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, between the Company and Thomas A. Rosenbloom
10.5***    Incentive Compensation Plan
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
99.1***    Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, between the Company and Sharpridge

Exhibit 101.INS XBRL

   Instance Document (1)

Exhibit 101.SCH XBRL

   Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (1)

Exhibit 101.CAL XBRL

   Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (1)

Exhibit 101.LAB XBRL

   Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (1)

Exhibit 101.PRE XBRL

   Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (1)

 

* Filed herewith.

 

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** Furnished herewith.
*** Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 1, 2011.
(1) Submitted electronically herewith. Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Statements of Assets and Liabilities at September 30, 2011(Unaudited) and December 31, 2010 (Derived from the audited balance sheet at December 31, 2010); (ii) Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; (iii) Condensed Statement of Changes in Net Assets (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011; (iv) Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; and (v) Condensed Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that this interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

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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.

 

    CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.
Dated: October 20, 2011     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

  3.1***   Articles of Amendment, effective as of September 1, 2011
10.1***   Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, between the Company and Kevin E. Grant
10.2***   Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, between the Company and Frances R. Spark
10.3***   Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, between the Company and Richard E. Cleary
10.4***   Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, between the Company and Thomas A. Rosenbloom
10.5***   Incentive Compensation Plan
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
99.1***   Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, between the Company and Sharpridge

 

Exhibit 101.INS XBRL    Instance Document (1)
Exhibit 101.SCH XBRL    Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (1)
Exhibit 101.CAL XBRL    Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (1)
Exhibit 101.LAB XBRL    Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (1)
Exhibit 101.PRE XBRL    Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (1)

 

* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith.
*** Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 1, 2011.
(1) Submitted electronically herewith. Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Statements of Assets and Liabilities at September 30, 2011 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2010 (Derived from the audited balance sheet at December 31, 2010); (ii) Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; (iii) Condensed Statement of Changes in Net Assets (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011; (iv) Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; and (v) Condensed Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that this interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

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