ARBOR REALTY TRUST INC - Annual Report: 2012 (Form 10-K)

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

Commission file number: 001-32136

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o    No ý

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o    No ý

         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 ý    No o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, 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 ý    No o

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in the definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý

         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.

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

         The aggregate market value of the registrant's common stock, all of which is voting, held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2012 (computed based on the closing price on such date as reported on the NYSE) was $105.0 million. As of February 15, 2013, the registrant had 32,036,925 shares of common stock outstanding (excluding 2,650,767 shares held in treasury).

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

         Portions of the definitive proxy statement for the registrant's 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "2013 Proxy Statement"), to be filed within 120 days after the end of the registrant's fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This report contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the operating performance of our investments and financing needs. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "potential," "intend," "expect," "endeavor," "seek," "anticipate," "estimate," "overestimate," "underestimate," "believe," "could," "project," "predict," "continue" or other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, discuss future expectations, describe future plans and strategies, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition or state other forward-looking information. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, our actual results and performance could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects include, but are not limited to, changes in economic conditions generally and the real estate market specifically; adverse changes in the financing markets we access affecting our ability to finance our loan and investment portfolio; changes in interest rates; the quality and size of the investment pipeline and the rate at which we can invest our cash; impairments in the value of the collateral underlying our loans and investments; changes in the markets; legislative/regulatory changes; completion of pending investments; the availability and cost of capital for future investments; competition within the finance and real estate industries; and other risks detailed from time to time in our SEC reports. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements, which reflect our management's views as of the date of this report. The factors noted above could cause our actual results to differ significantly from those contained in any forward-looking statement. For a discussion of our critical accounting policies, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries—Significant Accounting Estimates and Critical Accounting Policies" under Item 7 of this report.

        Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this report to conform these statements to actual results.

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PART I

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

Overview

        Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. is a specialized real estate finance company that invests in a diversified portfolio of structured finance assets in the multi-family and commercial real estate markets. We invest primarily in real estate-related bridge and mezzanine loans, including junior participating interests in first mortgages, preferred and direct equity, and in limited cases, discounted mortgage notes and other real estate-related assets, which we refer to collectively as structured finance investments. We also hold investments in mortgage-related securities and real estate property. Our principal business objective is to maximize the difference between the yield on our investments and the cost of financing these investments to generate cash available for distribution, facilitate capital appreciation and maximize total return to our stockholders.

        We are organized to qualify as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for federal income tax purposes. A REIT is generally not subject to federal income tax on that portion of its REIT taxable income ("Taxable Income") that is distributed to its stockholders, provided that at least 90% of Taxable Income is distributed and provided that certain other requirements are met. Certain of our assets that produce non-qualifying income are held in taxable REIT subsidiaries. Unlike other subsidiaries of a REIT, the income of a taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to federal and state income taxes.

        We commenced operations in July 2003 and conduct substantially all of our operations and investing activities through our operating partnership, Arbor Realty Limited Partnership, and its subsidiaries. We serve as the general partner of our operating partnership, and own a 100% partnership interest in our operating partnership as of December 31, 2012.

        We are externally managed and advised by Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC ("ACM"), a national commercial real estate finance company that specializes in debt and equity financing for multi-family and commercial real estate, pursuant to the terms of a management agreement described below. ACM provides us with all of the services vital to our operations other than asset management, securitization and certain credit functions, and our executive officers and other staff are all employed by our manager, ACM, pursuant to the management agreement. The management agreement requires ACM to manage our business affairs in conformity with the policies and investment guidelines that are approved and monitored by our Board of Directors.

        We believe ACM's experience and reputation positions it to originate attractive investment opportunities for us. Our management agreement with ACM was developed to capitalize on synergies with ACM's origination infrastructure, existing business relationships and management expertise. ACM has granted us a right of first refusal to pursue all structured finance investment opportunities in the multi-family or commercial real estate markets that are identified by ACM or its affiliates. ACM continues to originate and service multi-family and commercial mortgage loans under Fannie Mae, Federal Housing Administration and conduit commercial lending programs. We believe that the customer relationships established from these lines of business may generate additional real estate investment opportunities for our business.

Current Market Conditions

        Global deleveraging by most financial institutions over the past several years has severely limited the availability of capital for most businesses, including those involved in the commercial real estate sector. As a result, we, along with most institutions in our industry, significantly reduced investment activity during the downturn. While there continue to be some effects from the past economic downturn, we have seen improvements in the market and investment opportunities are becoming available to us. As a result, we completed two public offering in 2012 in which we sold 7,000,000 shares

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of our common stock for net proceeds of approximately $36.7 million. We also entered into an "At-The-Market" ("ATM") equity offering sales agreement in the fourth quarter of 2012 whereby, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, from time to time we may issue and sell up to 6,000,000 shares of our common stock. In February 2013, we completed an underwritten public offering of 1.6 million shares of 8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock generating net proceeds of approximately $37.3 million after deducting underwriting fees and estimated offering costs.

        Further, we also completed a collateralized loan obligation ("CLO") in 2012 in which we issued $87.5 million of investment grade notes, and a second CLO in January 2013 in which we issued $177.0 million of investment grade notes. While there can be no assurance that we will continue to have access to the equity and debt markets, we will continue to pursue these and other available market opportunities as a means to increase our liquidity and capital base and if market conditions continue to stabilize, we will rely on these credit and equity markets to generate capital for financing the growth of our business. Additionally, in this current environment, we remain focused on managing our portfolio to preserve capital, generating and recycling liquidity from existing assets and actively managing our financing facilities.

        Global stock and credit markets have experienced prolonged price volatility, dislocations and liquidity disruptions over the past several years, which have caused market prices of many stocks to fluctuate substantially. Commercial real estate has been particularly adversely affected by the prolonged economic downturn. Although we have seen improvements, the overall market recovery still remains uncertain. Should the market regress, the commercial real estate sector may experience additional losses, challenges in complying with the terms of financing agreements, difficulties in raising capital, and challenges in obtaining investment financing on attractive terms.

        During the downturn, market conditions also resulted in the scarcity of certain types of financing, and, in certain cases, making terms for certain financings less attractive. We have seen improvements in the global debt and securitization market both in availability and pricing, however if conditions deteriorate in the future, lending institutions may be forced to exit markets such as repurchase lending, become insolvent, further tighten their lending standards or increase the amount of equity capital required to obtain financing. In addition, further deterioration would make it more difficult for borrowers to repay our loans as they may experience difficulties in selling assets, increased costs of financing or obtaining financing at all. It would also make it more difficult or unlikely for us to raise capital through the issuance of our common or preferred stock.

        The financial downturn that occurred has had a significant impact on our business, our borrowers and real estate values throughout all asset classes and geographic locations. If real estate values decline further, it may limit our new mortgage loan originations since borrowers often use increases in the value of their existing properties to support the purchase or investment in additional properties. Borrowers may also be less able to pay principal and interest on our loans. If real estate values decline further, this may also significantly increase the likelihood that we will continue to incur losses on our loans in the event of default because the value of our collateral may be insufficient to cover our investment in the loan. Any sustained period of increased payment delinquencies, foreclosures or losses could adversely affect both our net interest income from loans in our portfolio as well as our ability to originate, sell and securitize loans, which would significantly impact our revenues, results of operations, financial condition, business prospects and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. We have made, and continue to make modifications and extensions to loans when it is economically feasible to do so. In some cases, a modification is a more viable alternative to foreclosure proceedings when a borrower cannot comply with loan terms. In doing so, lower borrower interest rates, combined with non-performing loans, will lower our net interest margins when comparing interest income to our costs of financing.

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Our Corporate History

        On July 1, 2003, ACM contributed a portfolio of structured finance investments to our operating partnership. Concurrently with this contribution, we and our operating partnership entered into a management agreement with ACM pursuant to which ACM manages our investments for a base management fee and incentive compensation, and the nine person asset management group of ACM became our employees.

        In exchange for ACM's contribution of structured finance investments, our operating partnership issued approximately 3.1 million units of limited partnership interest, or operating partnership units, and approximately 0.6 million warrants to purchase additional operating partnership units at an initial exercise price of $15.00 per operating partnership unit to ACM. Concurrently, we, our operating partnership and ACM entered into a pairing agreement. Pursuant to the pairing agreement, each operating partnership unit issued to ACM and issuable to ACM upon exercise of its warrants for additional operating partnership units in connection with the contribution of initial assets was paired with one share of the Company's special voting preferred stock. In October 2004, ACM exercised these warrants and held approximately 3.8 million operating partnership units, constituting an approximately 16% limited partnership interest in our operating partnership. ACM had the ability to redeem each of these operating partnership units for cash or, at our election, one share of our common stock. We granted ACM certain demand and other registration rights with respect to the shares of common stock that could be issued upon redemption of these operating partnership units. Each of these operating partnership units were also paired with one share of our special voting preferred stock entitling ACM to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. Upon redemption of these operating partnership units, an equivalent number of shares of our special voting preferred stock would be redeemed and cancelled.

        Concurrently with ACM's contribution of investments to our operating partnership, we sold approximately 1.6 million of our units, each consisting of five shares of our common stock and one warrant to purchase an additional share of common stock at an initial exercise price of $15.00 per share, for $75.00 per unit in a private placement and agreed to register the shares of common stock underlying these units and warrants for resale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). In July 2004, we registered approximately 9.6 million shares of common stock underlying these units and warrants. At December 31, 2005, approximately 1.6 million warrants were exercised, of which 0.5 million were exercised "cashless", for a total of 1.3 million common shares issued pursuant to their exercise.

        In April 2004, we closed our initial public offering in which we issued and sold 6.3 million shares of common stock and a selling stockholder sold 22,500 shares of common stock, each at $20.00 per share. Concurrently with the initial public offering, we sold 0.5 million shares of common stock at the initial public offering price directly to an entity wholly-owned by one of our directors. The underwriters of our initial public offering exercised their overallotment option and, in May 2004, we issued and sold an additional 0.5 million shares of our common stock pursuant to such exercise.

        Since January 2005, we completed three non-recourse collateralized debt obligation ("CDO") transactions, whereby $1.44 billion of real estate-related and other assets were contributed to three newly-formed consolidated subsidiaries, which issued $1.21 billion of investment grade-rated floating-rate notes in three separate private placements. These proceeds were used to repay outstanding debt and resulted in a decreased cost of borrowed funds relating to the CDO assets.

        Since March 2005, we issued a total of $290.0 million of junior subordinated notes in private placements. The junior subordinated notes are unsecured, have a maturity of 25 to 28 years, and pay interest quarterly at a fixed rate or floating rate of interest based on three-month LIBOR. In February 2010, we retired $114.1 million of our junior subordinated notes in exchange for the re-issuance of certain of our own CDO bonds, as well as other assets.

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        In June 2007, we completed a public offering in which we sold 2,700,000 shares of our common stock registered for $27.65 per share, and received net proceeds of approximately $73.6 million after deducting the underwriting discount and the other estimated offering expenses. We used the proceeds to pay down debt and finance our loan and investment portfolio.

        In June 2008, our external manager exercised its right to redeem its approximate 3.8 million operating partnership units in our operating partnership for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis. In addition, the special voting preferred shares paired with each operating partnership unit, pursuant to the pairing agreement, were redeemed simultaneously and cancelled. ACM currently holds approximately 17% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock.

        In June 2010, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the 1933 Act with respect to an aggregate of $500.0 million of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares and warrants that may be sold by us from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 of the 1933 Act. On June 23, 2010, the SEC declared this shelf registration statement effective.

        In June 2012, we completed a public offering in which we sold 3,500,000 shares of our common stock for $5.40 per share, and received net proceeds of approximately $17.5 million after deducting the underwriting discount and other offering expenses. We used the net proceeds from the offering to make investments, to repurchase or pay liabilities and for general corporate purposes.

        In September 2012, we completed a non-recourse collateralized loan obligation ("CLO") transaction, whereby $125.1 million of real estate-related assets were contributed to a newly-formed consolidated subsidiary, which issued $87.5 million of investment grade-rated floating-rate notes. These proceeds were used to fund investments and repay borrowings under our credit facilities which resulted in a decreased cost of borrowed funds relating to the CLO assets.

        In October 2012, we completed another public offering in which we sold 3,500,000 shares of our common stock for $5.80 per share, and received net proceeds of approximately $19.2 million after deducting the underwriting discount and other offering expenses. We used the net proceeds from the offering to make investments, to repurchase or pay liabilities and for general corporate purposes.

        In December 2012, we entered into an "At-The-Market" ("ATM") equity offering sales agreement with JMP Securities LLC ("JMP") whereby, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, from time to time we may issue and sell through JMP up to 6,000,000 shares of our common stock. Sales of the shares, if any, will be made by means of ordinary brokers' transactions or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. As of February 15, 2013, JMP has sold 787,700 shares for net proceeds of $5.5 million. We currently have 32,036,925 shares of common stock outstanding.

        On January 28, 2013 we completed a second CLO in which we issued $177.0 million of investment grade notes and on February 1, 2013, we completed an underwritten public offering of 1.4 million shares of 8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock generating net proceeds of approximately $33.6 million after deducting underwriting fees and estimated offering costs. In addition, the underwriters were granted an over-allotment option for 210,000 shares of the preferred stock which expires in March 2013. On February 5, 2013, the underwriters exercised their option for 151,500 shares providing additional net proceeds of approximately $3.7 million. We currently have $416.4 million available under our shelf registration.

Our Investment Strategy

        Our principal business objectives are to invest in bridge and mezzanine loans, including junior participating interests in first mortgages, preferred and direct equity, mortgage-backed securities and other real estate-related assets predominantly in the multifamily and commercial real estate markets

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and actively manage our investment portfolio in order to generate cash available for distribution, facilitate capital appreciation and maximize total return to our stockholders. We believe the financing of multi-family and commercial real estate offers opportunities that demand customized financing solutions. We believe we can achieve these objectives through the following business and growth strategies:

        Provide Customized Financing.    We provide financing customized to the needs of our borrowers. We target borrowers who have demonstrated a history of enhancing the value of the properties they operate, but whose options may be limited by conventional bank financing and who may benefit from the sophisticated structured finance products we offer.

        Execute Transactions Rapidly.    We act quickly and decisively on proposals, provide commitments and close transactions within a few weeks and sometimes days, if required. We believe that rapid execution attracts opportunities from both borrowers and other lenders that would not otherwise be available. We believe our ability to structure flexible terms and close loans in a timely manner gives us a competitive advantage.

        Manage Credit Quality.    A critical component of our strategy in the real estate finance sector is our ability to manage the real estate risk that is underwritten by our manager and us. We actively manage the credit quality of our portfolio by using the expertise of our asset management group, which has a proven track record of structuring and repositioning structured finance investments to improve credit quality and yield.

        Use Arbor Commercial Mortgage's Relationships with Existing Borrowers.    We capitalize on ACM's reputation in the commercial real estate finance industry. ACM has relationships with a large borrower base nationwide. Since ACM's originators offer senior mortgage loans as well as our structured finance products, we are able to benefit from its existing customer base and use its senior lending business as a potential refinance vehicle for our structured finance assets.

        Offer Broader Products and Expand Customer Base.    We have the ability to offer a larger number of financing alternatives than ACM has been able to offer to its customers in the past. Our potential borrowers are able to choose from products offering various lengths of maturity, rate types and larger principal amounts than ACM could offer.

        Leverage the Experience of Executive Officers, Arbor Commercial Mortgage and Our Employees.    Our executive officers and employees, and those of ACM, have extensive experience originating and managing structured commercial real estate investments. Our senior management team has, on average, over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Our Targeted Investments

        We pursue lending and investment opportunities with property owners and developers who need interim financing until permanent financing can be obtained. We primarily target transactions where we believe we have competitive advantages, particularly our lower cost structure and in-house underwriting capabilities. Our structured finance investments generally have maturities of two to five years depending on type, have extension options when appropriate, and generally require a balloon payment of principal at maturity. Borrowers in the market for these types of loans include, but are not limited to, owners or developers seeking either to acquire or refurbish real estate or to pay down debt and reposition a property for permanent financing.

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        Our investment program emphasizes the following general categories of real estate-related activities:

        Bridge Financing.    We offer bridge financing products to borrowers who are typically seeking short-term capital to be used in an acquisition of property. The borrower has usually identified an undervalued asset that has been under managed and/or is located in a recovering market. From the borrower's perspective, shorter term bridge financing is advantageous because it allows for time to improve the property value through repositioning the property without encumbering it with restrictive long-term debt that may not reflect optimal leverage for non-stabilized property.

        The bridge loans we currently make typically range in size from $5 million to $30 million and are predominantly secured by first mortgage liens on the property. At December 31, 2012, variable interest rates ranged from 1.50% to 10.34% over 30-day LIBOR, with fixed rates ranging from 6.30% to 15.00%. However, our current target range is generally 5.50% to 7.50% over 30-day LIBOR. Additional yield enhancements may include origination fees, deferred interest, yield look-backs, and participating interests, which are equity interests in the borrower that share in a percentage of the underlying cash flows of the property. Borrowers generally use the proceeds of a conventional mortgage to repay a bridge loan.

        Junior Participation Financing.    We offer junior participation financing in the form of a junior participating interest in the senior debt. Junior participation financings have the same obligations, collateral and borrower as the senior debt. The junior participation interest is subordinated to the senior debt by virtue of a contractual agreement between the senior debt lender and the junior participating interest lender.

        Our junior participation loans typically range in size from $1 million to $60 million and have terms of up to ten years. At December 31, 2012, variable interest rates ranged from 1.00% to 5.71% over 30-day LIBOR, with fixed rates ranging from 4.00% to 10.07%. As in the case with our bridge loans, the yield on these investments may be enhanced by prepaid and deferred interest payments, yield look-backs and participating interests.

        Mezzanine Financing.    We offer mezzanine financing in the form of loans that are subordinate to a conventional first mortgage loan and senior to the borrower's equity in a transaction. Mezzanine financing may take the form of loans secured by pledges of ownership interests in entities that directly or indirectly control the real property or subordinated loans secured by second mortgage liens on the property. We may also require additional security such as personal guarantees, letters of credit and/or additional collateral unrelated to the property.

        Our mezzanine loans typically range in size from $1 million to $50 million and have terms of up to ten years. At December 31, 2012, variable interest rates ranged from 2.50% to 12.00% over 30-day LIBOR, with fixed rates ranging from 4.00% to 12.00%. As in the case with our bridge loans, the yield on these investments may be enhanced by prepaid and deferred interest payments, yield look-backs and participating interests.

        We hold a majority of our mezzanine loans through subsidiaries of our operating partnership that are pass-through entities for tax purposes or taxable subsidiary corporations.

        Preferred Equity Investments.    We provide financing by making preferred equity investments in entities that directly or indirectly own real property. In cases where the terms of a first mortgage prohibit additional liens on the ownership entity, investments structured as preferred equity in the entity owning the property serve as viable financing substitutes. With preferred equity investments, we typically become a member in the ownership entity.

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        Our preferred equity investments typically range in size from $1 million to $75 million, have terms up to ten years. At December 31, 2012, variable rates were 9.93% over 30-day LIBOR, with fixed rates ranging from 2.36% to 17.00%.

        Real Property Acquisitions.    We have, and may in the future, acquire real estate by foreclosure or through partial or full settlement of mortgage debt related to our loans. Our management team may identify such assets and initiate an asset-specific plan to maximize the value of the collateral, which can include appointing a third party property manager, completing the construction or renovation of the property, continuing the sale of condominium units, leasing or increasing the occupancy of the property, or selling the entire asset or a partial interest to a third party. As such, these transactions may require the use of additional capital prior to the completion of the specific plan. Additionally, we may identify real estate investment opportunities such as domestic real estate for repositioning and/or renovation and then disposition at an anticipated significant return. In these situations, we may act solely on our own behalf or in partnership with other investors. Typically, these transactions are analyzed with the expectation that we will have the ability to sell the property within a one to three year time period, achieving a significant return on invested capital. In connection with these transactions, speed of execution is often the most critical component to success. We may seek to finance a portion of the acquisition price through short-term financing, if available. Repayment of the short-term financing will either come from the sale of the property or conventional permanent debt.

        Note Acquisitions.    We may acquire real estate notes from lenders in situations where the borrower wishes to restructure and reposition its short-term debt and the lender wishes, for a variety of reasons (such as risk mitigation, portfolio diversification or other strategic reasons), to divest certain assets from its portfolio. These notes may be acquired at a discount. In such cases, we intend to use our management resources to resolve any disputes concerning the note or the property securing it and to identify and resolve any existing operational or any other problems at the property. We will then either restructure the debt obligation for immediate resale or sale at a later date, or reposition it for permanent financing. In some instances, we may take title to the property underlying the real estate note.

        Equity Securities.    We have, and may in the future, invest in equity securities such as the common stock of a commercial real estate specialty finance company. Investments in these securities have the risk of stock market fluctuations which may result in the loss of our principal investment.

        Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities.    We have, and may in the future, invest in residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS"). These securities may be purchased at a premium or discount to their face value which is amortized or accreted into interest income on an effective yield adjusted for actual prepayment activity over the expected remaining life of the related security as a yield adjustment. These securities may have underlying credit ratings assigned by the three leading nationally recognized rating agencies (Moody's Investor Service, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings) and are generally not insured or otherwise guaranteed.

        Commercial Real Estate Collateralized Debt Obligation Bonds.    We have, and may in the future, invest in securities such as commercial real estate CDO bonds. These certificates are usually purchased at a discount to their face value which is accreted into interest income, if deemed to be collectable, on an effective yield adjusted for actual prepayment activity over the expected remaining life of the related security as a yield adjustment. These securities have underlying credit ratings assigned by the three leading nationally recognized rating agencies (Moody's Investor Service, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings) and are generally not insured or otherwise guaranteed.

        Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities.    We have, and may in the future, invest in commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS"). These securities are usually purchased at a discount to their face value which is accreted into interest income, if deemed to be collectable, on an effective yield

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adjusted for actual prepayment activity over the expected remaining life of the related security as a yield adjustment. These securities have underlying credit ratings assigned by the three leading nationally recognized rating agencies (Moody's Investor Service, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings) and are generally not insured or otherwise guaranteed.

Our Structured Finance Investments

        We own a diversified portfolio of structured finance investments consisting primarily of real estate-related bridge, junior participation interests in first mortgages, and mezzanine loans as well as preferred equity investments.

        At December 31, 2012, we had 128 loans and investments in our portfolio, totaling $1.5 billion. These loans and investments were for 85 multi-family properties, 21 office properties, nine land properties, five hotel properties, three retail properties, three condominium properties and two commercial properties. We have an allowance for loan losses of $161.7 million at December 31, 2012 related to 20 loans in our portfolio with an aggregate carrying value, before loan loss reserves, of $240.2 million. The loan loss reserves were determined during our regular quarterly risk rating review process which is based on several factors including current market conditions, values and the operating status of these properties. We continue to actively manage all loans and investments in the portfolio in a manner consistent with our underwriting and asset management policy and procedures with the goal of maintaining the credit quality of our portfolio and limiting potential losses.

        The overall yield on our loan and investments portfolio in 2012 was 4.97% on average assets of $1.6 billion. This yield was computed by dividing the interest income earned during the year by the average assets during the year. Our cost of funds in 2012 was 3.23% on average borrowings of $1.3 billion. This cost of funds was computed by dividing the interest expense incurred during the year by the average borrowings during the year.

        Our average net investment (average assets less average borrowings) in 2012 was $339.4 million, resulting in average leverage (average borrowings divided by average assets) of 78.8%. Including average junior subordinated notes of $175.9 million as equity, our average leverage was 67.8%. The net interest income earned in 2012 yielded an 11.4% return on our average net investment during the year. This yield was computed by dividing net interest (interest income less interest expense) earned in 2012 by average equity (computed as average assets minus average borrowings) invested during the year.

        Our business plan contemplates that our leverage ratio, including our junior subordinated notes as equity, will be around 70% to 80% of our assets in the aggregate. However, including our junior subordinated notes as equity, our leverage is generally not to exceed 80% of the value of our portfolio assets, before loan loss reserves, when considering additional financing sources unless approval to exceed the 80% limit is obtained from our Board of Directors. See "Operating Policies and Strategies" below for further details.

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        The following table sets forth information regarding our loan and investment portfolio as of December 31, 2012:

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        The following table sets forth geographic and asset class information regarding our loan and investment portfolio as of December 31, 2012:

Our Investments in Securities

        We also own a diversified portfolio of mortgage-related securities.

        Equity Securities.    During 2007, we purchased 2,939,465 shares of common stock of Realty Finance Corporation, formerly CBRE Realty Finance, Inc., a commercial real estate specialty finance company for $16.7 million, which had a fair value of $0.3 million and are classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2012.

        Commercial Real Estate Collateralized Debt Obligation Bonds.    One commercial real estate CDO bond with a fair value of $1.1 million is classified as an available-for-sale security at December 31, 2012. The CDO bond security bears interest at a spread of 30 basis points over LIBOR, has a stated maturity of 39.3 years, but has an estimated remaining life of 3.3 years due to the maturities of the underlying assets.

        Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities.    A CMBS rake bond with a fair value of $2.1 million, collateralized by a portfolio of hotel properties, is classified as an available-for-sale security at December 31, 2012. The CMBS investment bears interest at a spread of 89 basis points over LIBOR, has a stated maturity of 7.5 years, but has an estimated remaining life of 1.5 years due to the maturity of the underlying asset.

        Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities.    16 RMBS investments, which are collateralized by portfolios of residential properties, were classified as securities held-to-maturity at December 31, 2012. The RMBS investments are reduced by principal paydowns, bear interest at a weighted average rate of 5.75%, have a weighted average stated maturity of 29.7 years but have average estimated lives of 4.0 years based on the estimated maturity of the RMBS investments, and a total carrying value of $43.0 million at December 31, 2012. The RMBS investments were financed with repurchase agreements with two financial institutions which generally finance 60% to 90% of the value of each individual

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RMBS investment and are also reduced by principal paydowns. The total financing amount was $35.8 million at December 31, 2012. We intend to hold the investments to maturity.

        For the year ended December 31, 2012, the total average yield on the above securities based on their face values was 4.51%, including the amortization of premium.

Regulatory Aspects of Our Investment Strategy

        Real Estate Exemption from Investment Company Act.    We believe that we conduct, and we intend to conduct, our business at all times in a manner that avoids registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act. Entities that are primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring "mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate," are currently exempt from registration under the Investment Company Act if they maintain at least 55% of their assets directly in qualifying real estate assets and meet certain other requirements. Assets that qualify for purposes of this 55% test include, among other things, direct investments in real estate and mortgage loans. Our bridge loans, which are secured by first mortgage liens on the underlying properties, and our loans that are secured by second mortgage liens on the underlying properties generally qualify for purposes of this 55% test. These two types of loans constituted more than 55% of our assets as of December 31, 2012. The regulatory authorities are currently reviewing the interpretive guidance under the above exemption. Refer to Item 1A "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Failure to maintain an exemption from regulation as an investment company under the Investment Company Act would adversely affect our results of operations" for more information.

        Investment Advisors Act.    Our manager is required to register under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, or the Investment Advisors Act, and is thereby subject to the extensive regulation prescribed by the statute and the regulations thereunder.

        Our investment guidelines provide that no more than 15% of our assets may consist of any type of mortgage-related securities and that the percentage of our investments in mortgage-related securities as compared to our structured finance investments be monitored on a regular basis.

Management Agreement

        On July 1, 2003, we and our operating partnership entered into a management agreement with ACM. On January 19, 2005, we, our operating partnership, Arbor Realty SR, Inc., one of our subsidiaries and ACM entered into an amended and restated management agreement with substantially the same terms as the original management agreement in order to add Arbor Realty SR, Inc. as a beneficiary of ACM's services. The management agreement was further amended in August 2009. Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement, our manager has agreed to service and manage our investments and to provide us with multi-family and commercial real estate-related structured finance investment opportunities, finance and other services necessary to operate our business. Our manager is required to provide a dedicated management team to provide these services to us, the members of which will devote such of their time to our management as our independent directors reasonably deem necessary and appropriate, commensurate with our level of activity from time to time. We rely to a significant extent on the facilities and resources of our manager to conduct our operations. For performing services under the management agreement, ACM receives a base management fee, incentive compensation and "success-based" compensation as described in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" under Item 7 of this report.

Operations

        Our Manager's Investment Services.    Under the management agreement, ACM is responsible for sourcing originations, providing underwriting services and processing approvals for all loans and other

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investments in our portfolio. ACM also provides certain administrative loan servicing functions with respect to our loans and investments. We are able to capitalize on ACM's well established operations and services in each area described below.

        Origination.    Our manager originates most of our investments. ACM has a network of sales offices located in Birmingham, Alabama; Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Boston, Massachusetts; Dallas, Texas; Los Angeles, California; New York, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Uniondale, New York. These offices are staffed by over 20 loan originators who solicit property owners, developers and mortgage loan brokers. In some instances, the originators accept loan applications meeting our underwriting criteria from a select group of mortgage loan brokers. While a large portion of ACM's marketing effort occurs at the branch level, ACM also markets its products in national industry publications and targeted direct mailings. ACM markets structured finance products and our product offerings using the same methods. Once potential borrowers have been identified, ACM determines which financing products best meet the borrower's needs. Loan originators in every branch office are able to offer borrowers the full array of ACM's and our structured finance products. After identifying a suitable product, ACM works with the borrower to prepare a loan application. Upon completion by the borrower, the application is forwarded to ACM's underwriters for due diligence.

        Underwriting.    ACM's loan originators work in conjunction with its underwriters who perform due diligence on all proposed transactions prior to loan approval and commitment. The underwriters analyze each loan application in accordance with the guidelines set forth below in order to determine the loan's conformity with respect to such guidelines. In general, ACM's underwriting guidelines require it to evaluate the following: the historic and current property revenues and expenses; the potential for near-term revenue growth and opportunity for expense reduction and increased operating efficiencies; the property's location, its attributes and competitive position within its market; the proposed ownership structure, financial strength and real estate experience of the borrower and property management; third party appraisal, environmental and engineering studies; market assessment, including property inspection, review of tenant lease files, surveys of property comparables and an analysis of area economic and demographic trends; review of an acceptable mortgagee's title policy and an "as built" survey; construction quality of the property to determine future maintenance and capital expenditure requirements; and the requirements for any reserves, including those for immediate repairs or rehabilitation, replacement reserves, tenant improvement and leasing commission costs, real estate taxes and property casualty and liability insurance. Key factors considered in credit decisions include, but are not limited to, debt service coverage, loan to value ratios and property, financial and operating performance. Consideration is also given to other factors, such as additional forms of security and identifying likely strategies to affect repayment. ACM continuously refines its underwriting criteria based upon actual loan portfolio experience and as market conditions and investor requirements evolve.

        Investment Approval Process.    ACM applies its established investment approval process to all loans and other investments proposed for our portfolio before submitting each proposal to us for final approval. A written report is generated for every loan or other investment that is submitted to ACM's credit committee for approval. The report includes a description of the prospective borrower and any guarantors, the collateral and the proposed use of investment proceeds, as well as borrower and property consolidated financial statements and analysis. In addition, the report includes an analysis of borrower liquidity, net worth, cash investment, income, credit history and operating experience. If the transaction is approved by a majority of ACM's credit committee, it is presented for approval to our credit committee, which consists of our chief executive officer, chief credit officer, and executive vice president of structured finance. All transactions require the approval of a majority of the members of our credit committee. Following the approval of any such transaction, ACM's underwriting and servicing departments, together with our asset management group, assure that all loan approval terms have been satisfied and conform with lending requirements established for that particular transaction. If

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our credit committee rejects the loan and our independent directors allow ACM or one of its affiliates to pursue it, ACM will have the opportunity to execute the transaction.

        Servicing.    ACM services our loans and investments through its internal servicing operations. Our manager currently services an expanding portfolio, consisting of 1,912 loans with outstanding balances of approximately $10.0 billion through its loan administration department in Buffalo, New York. ACM's loan servicing operations are designed to provide prompt customer service and accurate and timely information for account follow up, financial reporting and management review. Following the funding of an approved loan, all pertinent loan data is entered into ACM's data processing system, which provides monthly billing statements, tracks payment performance and processes contractual interest rate adjustments on variable rate loans. Our manager utilizes the operations of its loan administration department to service our portfolio with the same efficiency, accuracy and promptness. ACM also works closely with our asset management group to ensure the appropriate level of customer service and monitoring of these loans.

        Our Asset Management Operations.    Our asset management group is comprised of over 20 employees. Effective asset and portfolio management is essential to maximize the performance and value of a real estate investment. The asset management group customizes an asset management plan with the loan originators and underwriters to track each investment from origination through disposition. This group monitors each investment's operating history, local economic trends and rental and occupancy rates and evaluates the underlying property's competitiveness within its market. This group assesses ongoing and potential operational and financial performance of each investment in order to evaluate and ultimately improve its operations and financial viability. The asset management group performs frequent onsite inspections, conducts meetings with borrowers and evaluates and participates in the budgeting process, financial and operational review and renovation plans of each of the underlying properties. As an asset and portfolio manager, the asset management group focuses on increasing the productivity of onsite property managers and leasing brokers. This group communicates the status of each transaction against its established asset management plan to senior management, in order to enhance and preserve capital, as well as to avoid litigation and potential exposure.

        Timely and accurate identification of an investment's operational and financial issues and each borrower's objectives is essential to implementing an executable loan workout and restructuring process, if required. Since existing property management may not have the requisite expertise to manage the workout process effectively, our internal asset management group determines the current operating and financial status of an asset or portfolio and performs a liquidity analysis of the property and ownership entity and then, if appropriate, identifies and evaluates alternatives in order to maximize the value of an investment.

        Our asset management group continues to provide its services to ACM on a limited basis pursuant to an asset management services agreement between ACM and us. The asset management services agreement will be effective throughout the term of our management agreement and during the origination period described in the management agreement. In the event the services provided by our asset management group, pursuant to this agreement, exceed more than 15% per quarter, the level anticipated by our Board of Directors, we will negotiate in good faith with our manager an adjustment to our manager's base management fee under the management agreement, to reduce the scope of the services, the quantity of serviced assets or the time required to be devoted to the services by our asset management group.

Operating Policies and Strategies

        Investment Guidelines.    Our Board of Directors has adopted general guidelines for our investments and borrowings to the effect that: (1) no investment will be made that would cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT; (2) no investment will be made that would cause us to be regulated as an

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investment company under the Investment Company Act; (3) no more than 25% of our equity (including junior subordinated notes as equity), determined as of the date of such investment, will be invested in any single asset; (4) no single mezzanine loan or preferred equity investment will exceed $75 million; (5) our leverage (including junior subordinated notes as equity) will generally not exceed 80% of the unpaid principal balance of our assets, in the aggregate; (6) we will not co-invest with our manager or any of its affiliates unless such co-investment is otherwise in accordance with these guidelines and its terms are at least as favorable to us as to our manager or the affiliate making such co-investment; (7) no more than 15% of our gross assets may consist of mortgage-related securities. Any exceptions to the above general guidelines require the approval of our Board of Directors.

        Financing Policies.    We finance the acquisition of our structured finance investments primarily by borrowing against or "leveraging" our existing portfolio and using the proceeds to acquire additional mortgage assets. We expect to incur debt such that we will maintain an equity to assets ratio no less than 20% (including junior subordinated notes as equity), although the actual ratio may be lower from time to time depending on market conditions and other factors deemed relevant by our manager. Our charter and bylaws do not limit the amount of indebtedness we can incur, and the Board of Directors has discretion to deviate from or change our indebtedness policy at any time, provided that we are in compliance with our bank covenants. However, we intend to maintain an adequate capital base to protect against various business environments in which our financing and hedging costs might exceed the interest income from our investments.

        Our investments are financed primarily by collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations, junior subordinate notes, and through repurchase agreements and other financing facilities with institutional lenders. Although we expect that these will be the principal means of leveraging our investments, we may issue common stock, preferred stock or secured or unsecured notes of any maturity if it appears advantageous to do so.

        Credit Risk Management Policy.    We are exposed to various levels of credit risk depending on the nature of our underlying assets and the nature and level of credit enhancements supporting our assets. We originate or purchase mortgage loans that meet our minimum debt service coverage standards. ACM, as our manager, our chief credit officer, and our asset management group, reviews and monitors credit risk and other risks of loss associated with each investment. In addition, ACM seeks to diversify our portfolio of assets to avoid undue geographic, issuer, industry and certain other types of concentrations. Our Board of Directors monitors the overall portfolio risk and reviews levels of provision for loss.

        Interest Rate Risk Management Policy.    To the extent that it is consistent with our election to qualify as a REIT, we generally follow an interest rate risk management policy intended to mitigate the negative effects of major interest rate changes. We minimize our interest rate risk from borrowings by attempting to structure the key terms of our borrowings to generally correspond to the interest rate terms of our assets.

        We may enter into hedging transactions to protect our investment portfolio from interest rate fluctuations and other changes in market conditions. These transactions may include interest rate swaps, the purchase or sale of interest rate collars, caps or floors, options, mortgage derivatives and other hedging instruments. These instruments may be used to hedge as much of the interest rate risk as ACM determines is in the best interest of our stockholders, given the cost of such hedges and the need to maintain our status as a REIT. In general, income from hedging transactions does not constitute qualifying income for purposes of the REIT gross income requirements. To the extent, however, that a hedging contract reduces interest rate risk on indebtedness incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets, any income that is derived from the hedging contract, would not give rise to non-qualifying income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests. ACM may elect to have us bear a level of

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interest rate risk that could otherwise be hedged when it believes, based on all relevant facts, that bearing such risk is advisable.

        To date, we have entered into various interest rate swaps in connection with the issuance of floating rate secured notes, the issuance of variable rate junior subordinate notes and to hedge the interest risk on forecasted outstanding LIBOR based debt. The notional amount of each interest rate swap agreement and the related terms have been designed to protect our investment portfolio from interest rate risk and to match the payment and receipts of interest on the underlying debt instruments, where applicable.

        Disposition Policies.    ACM evaluates our asset portfolio on a regular basis to determine if it continues to satisfy our investment criteria. Subject to certain restrictions applicable to REITs, ACM may cause us to sell our investments opportunistically and use the proceeds of any such sale for debt reduction, additional acquisitions, or working capital purposes.

        Equity Capital Policies.    Subject to applicable law, our Board of Directors has the authority, without further stockholder approval, to issue additional authorized common stock and preferred stock or otherwise raise capital, including through the issuance of senior securities, in any manner and on the terms and for the consideration it deems appropriate, including in exchange for property. We may in the future issue common stock in connection with acquisitions. We also may issue units of partnership interest in our operating partnership in connection with acquisitions of property. We may, under certain circumstances, repurchase our common stock in private transactions with our stockholders, if those purchases are approved by our Board of Directors.

        Conflicts of Interest Policies.    We, our executive officers, and ACM face conflicts of interests because of our relationships with each other. ACM currently has approximately 17% of the voting interest in our common stock. Mr. Kaufman, our chairman and chief executive officer, is the chief executive officer of ACM and beneficially owns approximately 92% of the outstanding membership interests of ACM. Mr. Martello, one of our directors, is the chief operating officer of Arbor Management, LLC (the managing member of ACM) and a trustee of two trusts which own minority membership interests in ACM. Mr. Bishar, our secretary, who was a director until January 27, 2012, is general counsel to ACM. Mr. Elenio, our chief financial officer and treasurer, is the chief financial officer of ACM. Each of Messrs. Kaufman, Martello, Bishar, and Elenio, as well as Mr. Weber, our executive vice president of structured finance and Mr. Kilgore, our executive vice president of structured securitization are members of ACM's executive committee and, excluding Mr. Kaufman, own minority membership interests in ACM.

        We have implemented several policies, through board action and through the terms of our charter and our agreements with ACM, to help address these conflicts of interest, including the following:

•

Our charter requires that a majority of our Board of Directors be independent directors and that only our independent directors make any determination on our behalf with respect to the relationships or transactions that present a conflict of interest for our directors or officers.



•

Our Board of Directors has adopted a policy that decisions concerning our management agreement with ACM, including termination, renewal and enforcement thereof or our participation in any transactions with ACM or its affiliates outside of the management agreement, including our ability to purchase securities and mortgages or other assets from ACM, or our ability to sell securities and assets to ACM, must be reviewed and approved by a majority of our independent directors.



•

Our management agreement provides that our determination to terminate the management agreement for cause or because the management fees are unfair to us or because of a change in control of our manager, will be made by a majority vote of our independent directors.

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•

Our independent directors will periodically review the general investment standards established by ACM under the management agreement.



•

Our management agreement with ACM provides that ACM may not assign duties under the management agreement, except to certain affiliates of ACM, without the approval of a majority of our independent directors.



•

Our management agreement provides that decisions to approve or reject investment opportunities rejected by our credit committee that ACM or Mr. Kaufman wish to pursue will be made by a majority of our independent directors.

        Our Board of Directors has approved the operating policies and the strategies set forth above. Our Board of Directors has the power to modify or waive these policies and strategies, or amend our agreements with ACM, without the consent of our stockholders to the extent that the Board of Directors (including a majority of our independent directors) determines that such modification or waiver is in the best interest of our stockholders. Among other factors, developments in the market that either affect the policies and strategies mentioned herein or that change our assessment of the market may cause our Board of Directors to revise its policies and strategies. However, if such modification or waiver involves the relationship of, or any transaction between, us and our manager or any affiliate of our manager, the approval of a majority of our independent directors is also required. We may not, however, amend our charter to change the requirement that a majority of our board consists of independent directors or the requirement that our independent directors approve related party transactions without the approval of two thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by our stockholders.

Compliance with Federal, State and Local Environmental Laws

        Properties that we may acquire directly or indirectly through partnerships, and the properties underlying our structured finance investments and mortgage-related securities, are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations. Under these laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner of real estate (including, in certain circumstances, a secured lender that acquires ownership or control of a property) may become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances or petroleum product releases at, on, under or in its property. These laws typically impose cleanup responsibility and liability without regard to whether the owner or control party knew of or was responsible for the release or presence of the hazardous or toxic substances. The costs of investigation, remediation or removal of these substances may be substantial and could exceed the value of the property. An owner or control party of a site may be subject to common law claims by third parties based on damages and costs resulting from environmental contamination emanating from a site. Certain environmental laws also impose liability in connection with the handling of or exposure to materials containing asbestos. These laws allow third parties to seek recovery from owners of real properties for personal injuries associated with materials containing asbestos. Our operating costs and the values of these assets may be adversely affected by the obligation to pay for the cost of complying with existing environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, as well as the cost of complying with future legislation, and our income and ability to make distributions to our stockholders could be affected adversely by the existence of an environmental liability with respect to properties we may acquire. We will endeavor to ensure that these properties are in compliance in all material respects with all federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations regarding hazardous or toxic substances or petroleum products.

Competition

        Our net income depends, in large part, on our manager's ability to originate structured finance investments with spreads over our borrowing costs. In originating these investments, our manager

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competes with other mortgage REITs, specialty finance companies, savings and loan associations, banks, mortgage bankers, insurance companies, mutual funds, institutional investors, investment banking firms, other lenders, governmental bodies and other entities, some of which may have greater financial resources and lower costs of capital available to them. In addition, there are numerous mortgage REITs with asset acquisition objectives similar to ours, and others may be organized in the future. The existence of additional REITs may increase competition for the available supply of structured finance assets suitable for purchase by us. Competitive variables include market presence and visibility, size of loans offered and underwriting standards. To the extent that a competitor is willing to risk larger amounts of capital in a particular transaction or to employ more liberal underwriting standards when evaluating potential loans, our origination volume and profit margins for our investment portfolio could be impacted. Our competitors may also be willing to accept lower returns on their investments and may succeed in buying the assets that we have targeted for acquisition. Although management believes that we are well positioned to continue to compete effectively in each facet of our business, there can be no assurance that we will do so or that we will not encounter further increased competition in the future that could limit our ability to compete effectively.

Employees

        We have 30 employees, including Messrs. Weber and Kilgore, Mr. Felletter, our senior vice president of asset management, Mr. Guziewicz, our chief credit officer, and a 23 person asset management group. Mr. Kaufman, our chief executive officer and Mr. Elenio, our chief financial officer are full time employees of ACM and are not directly compensated by us (other than pursuant to our equity incentive plans), however, a portion of their compensation is reimbursed by the management fee that we pay to ACM, as well as a cash performance plan for Mr. Kaufman as discussed in our Proxy Statement.

Corporate Governance and Internet Address

        We have adopted corporate governance guidelines and a code of business conduct and ethics, which delineate our standards for our directors, officers and employees, and the employees of our manager who provide services to us. We emphasize the importance of professional business conduct and ethics through our corporate governance initiatives.

        Our internet address is www.arborrealtytrust.com. We make available, free of charge through a link on our site, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to such reports, if any, as filed with the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable after such filing. Our site also contains our code of business conduct and ethics, code of ethics for chief executive and senior financial officers, corporate governance guidelines, stockholder communications with the Board of Directors, and the charters of the audit committee, nominating/corporate governance committee, and compensation committee of our Board of Directors. No information contained in or linked to our website is incorporated by reference in this report.

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ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

        Our business is subject to various risks, including the risks listed below. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected and the value of our common stock could decline.

Risks Related to Our Business

A prolonged economic slowdown, a lengthy or severe recession, or declining real estate values could harm our operations.

        Over the last several years, global stock and credit markets have experienced prolonged price volatility, dislocations and liquidity disruptions, which have caused market prices of many stocks to fluctuate substantially. We believe the risks associated with our business are more severe during periods of economic downturn if these periods are accompanied by declining real estate values. Declining real estate values would likely limit our new mortgage loan originations, since borrowers often use increases in the value of their existing properties to support the purchase or investment in additional properties. Borrowers may also be less able to pay principal and interest on our loans if the real estate economy weakens. Declining real estate values also significantly increase the likelihood that we will incur losses on our loans in the event of default because the value of our collateral may be insufficient to cover our cost on the loan. Any sustained period of increased payment delinquencies, foreclosures or losses could adversely affect both our net interest income from loans in our portfolio as well as our ability to originate, sell and securitize loans, which would significantly harm our revenues, results of operations, financial condition, business prospects and our ability to make distributions to the stockholders.

Prolonged disruptions in the financial markets could affect our ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms and have other adverse effects on us and the market price of our common stock.

        Commercial real estate is particularly adversely affected by a prolonged economic downturn and liquidity crisis. These circumstances materially impacted liquidity in the financial markets and resulted in the scarcity of certain types of financing, and, in certain cases, made certain financing terms less attractive. If these conditions persist, lending institutions may be forced to exit markets such as repurchase lending, become insolvent, further tighten their lending standards or increase the amount of equity capital required to obtain financing, and in such event, could make it more difficult for us to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all. Our profitability will be adversely affected if we are unable to obtain cost-effective financing for our investments. A prolonged downturn in the stock or credit markets may cause us to seek alternative sources of potentially less attractive financing, and may require us to adjust our business plan accordingly. In addition, these factors may make it more difficult for our borrowers to repay our loans as they may experience difficulties in selling assets, increased costs of financing or obtaining financing at all. These events in the stock and credit markets may also make it more difficult or unlikely for us to raise capital through the issuance of our common stock or preferred stock. These disruptions in the financial markets also may have a material adverse effect on the market value of our common stock and other adverse effects on us or the economy in general.

Increases in loan loss reserves and other impairments are likely if economic conditions deteriorate.

        A further decline in economic conditions could negatively impact the credit quality of our loans and investments portfolio. If we do not see a continued stabilization of the financial markets and such market conditions decline further, we will likely experience increases in loan loss reserves, potential defaults and other asset impairment charges.

Loan loss reserves are particularly difficult to estimate in a turbulent economic environment.

        We perform an evaluation of our loans on a quarterly basis to determine whether an impairment is necessary and adequate to absorb probable losses. The valuation process for our loans and investments

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portfolio requires us to make certain estimates and judgments, which are particularly difficult to determine during a period in which the availability of commercial real estate credit is limited and commercial real estate transactions have decreased. Our estimates and judgments are based on a number of factors, including projected cash flows from the collateral securing our commercial real estate loans, loan structure, including the availability of reserves and recourse guarantees, likelihood of repayment in full at the maturity of a loan, potential for a refinancing market coming back to commercial real estate in the future and expected market discount rates for varying property types. If our estimates and judgments are not correct, our results of operations and financial condition could be severely impacted.

Loan repayments are less likely in a volatile market environment.

        In a market in which liquidity is essential to our business, loan repayments have been a significant source of liquidity for us. However, many financial institutions have drastically curtailed new lending activity and real estate owners are having difficulty refinancing their assets at maturity. If borrowers are not able to refinance loans at their maturity, the loans could go into default and the liquidity that we would receive from such repayments will not be available. Furthermore, without a functioning commercial real estate finance market, borrowers that are performing on their loans will most likely extend such loans if they have that right, which will further delay our ability to access liquidity through repayments.

We may not be able to access the debt or equity capital markets on favorable terms, or at all, for additional liquidity, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

        Additional liquidity, future equity or debt financing may not be available on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. Our ability to access additional debt and equity capital depends on various conditions in these markets, which are beyond our control. If we are able to complete future equity offerings, they could be dilutive to our existing shareholders or could result in the issuance of securities that have rights, preferences and privileges that are senior to those of our other securities. Our inability to obtain adequate capital could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity and operating results.

We may be unable to invest excess equity capital on acceptable terms or at all, which would adversely affect our operating results.

        We may not be able to identify investments that meet our investment criteria and we may not be successful in closing the investments that we identify. In addition, the investments that we acquire with our equity capital may not produce a return on capital. There can be no assurance that we will be able to identify attractive opportunities to invest our equity capital, which would adversely affect our results of operations.

Changes in market conditions could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

        As with other publicly traded equity securities, the value of our common stock depends on various market conditions which may change from time to time. Among the market conditions that may affect the value of our common stock are the following:

•

the general reputation of REITs and the attractiveness of our equity securities in comparison to other equity securities, including securities issued by other real estate-based companies;



•

our financial performance; and



•

general stock and bond market conditions.

        The market value of our common stock is based primarily upon the market's perception of our growth potential and our current and potential future earnings and dividends. Consequently, our

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common stock may trade at prices that are higher or lower than our book value per share of common stock. If our future earnings or dividends are less than expected, it is likely that the market price of our common stock will diminish.

A declining portfolio could adversely affect the returns from our investments.

        Dislocations in the market could lead to a reduction in our loans and investments portfolio. If we do not have the opportunity to originate quality investments to replace the reductions in our portfolio, this reduction will likely result in reduced returns from our investments.

Our investments in commercial mortgage-related securities are subject to risks relating to the particular REIT issuer of the securities, which may result in losses to us.

        Our investments in commercial mortgage-related securities involve special risks relating to the particular issuer of the securities, including the financial condition and business outlook of the issuer. The issuers of these securities are experiencing many of the same risks of disruptions in the financial markets and economic conditions. In addition, our investments are also subject to the risks described above with respect to commercial real estate loans and mortgage-backed securities and similar risks, including risks of delinquency and foreclosure, the dependence upon the successful operation of, and net income from, real property, risks generally related to interests in real property, and risks that may be presented by the type and use of a particular commercial property. REITs have been severely impacted by the economic environment and have had very little access to the capital markets or the debt markets in order to meet their existing obligations or to refinance maturing debt.

Our investments in residential mortgage-related securities are subject to risks relating to the particular issuer of the securities, which may result in losses to us.

        Our investments in residential mortgage-related securities involve special risks relating to the particular issuer of the securities, including the financial condition of the individual borrowers and the value of the individual assets. The issuers of these securities are experiencing many of the same risks resulting from continued disruptions in the financial markets and deteriorating economic conditions. In addition, our investments are also subject to the risks with respect to residential real estate loans and mortgage-backed securities and similar risks, including risks of delinquency and foreclosure, and risks generally related to interests in real property.

We depend on key personnel with long standing business relationships, the loss of whom could threaten our ability to operate our business successfully.

        Our future success depends, to a significant extent, upon the continued services of ACM as our manager and ACM's officers and employees. In particular, the mortgage lending experience of Mr. Kaufman and Mr. Weber and the extent and nature of the relationships they have developed with developers and owners of multi-family and commercial properties and other financial institutions are critical to the success of our business. We cannot assure their continued employment with ACM or service as our officers. The loss of services of one or more members of our or ACM's management team could harm our business and our prospects.

The real estate investment business is highly competitive. Our success depends on our ability to compete with other providers of capital for real estate investments.

        Our business is highly competitive. Competition may cause us to accept economic or structural features in our investments that we would not have otherwise accepted and it may cause us to search for investments in markets outside of our traditional product expertise. We compete for attractive investments with traditional lending sources, such as insurance companies and banks, as well as other REITs, specialty finance companies and private equity vehicles with similar investment objectives, which

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may make it more difficult for us to consummate our target investments. Many of our competitors have greater financial resources and lower costs of capital than we do, which provides them with greater operating flexibility and a competitive advantage relative to us.

We may not achieve our targeted rate of return on our investments.

        We originate or acquire investments based on our estimates or projections of overall rates of return on such investments, which in turn are based upon, among other considerations, assumptions regarding the performance of assets, the amount and terms of available financing to obtain desired leverage and the manner and timing of dispositions, including possible asset recovery and remediation strategies, all of which are subject to significant uncertainty. In addition, events or conditions that we have not anticipated may occur and may have a significant effect on the actual rate of return received on an investment.

        As we acquire or originate investments for our balance sheet portfolio, whether as new additions or as replacements for maturing investments, there can be no assurance that we will be able to originate or acquire investments that produce rates of return comparable to returns on our previous or existing investments.

Our due diligence may not reveal all of a borrower's liabilities and may not reveal other weaknesses in its business.

        Before investing in a company or making a loan to a borrower, we will assess the strength and skills of such entity's management and other factors that we believe are material to the performance of the investment. In making the assessment and otherwise conducting customary due diligence, we will rely on the resources available to us and, in some cases, an investigation by third parties. This process is particularly important and subjective with respect to newly organized entities because there may be little or no information publicly available about the entities. There can be no assurance that our due diligence processes will uncover all relevant facts or that any investment will be successful.

We invest in junior participation loans which may be subject to additional risks relating to the privately negotiated structure and terms of the transaction, which may result in losses to us.

        We invest in junior participation loans which is a mortgage loan typically (i) secured by a first mortgage on a single commercial property or group of related properties and (ii) subordinated to a senior note secured by the same first mortgage on the same collateral. As a result, if a borrower defaults, there may not be sufficient funds remaining for the junior participation loan after payment is made to the senior note holder. Since each transaction is privately negotiated, junior participation loans can vary in their structural characteristics and risks. For example, the rights of holders of junior participation loans to control the process following a borrower default may be limited in certain investments. We cannot predict the terms of each junior participation investment. A junior participation may not be liquid and, consequently, we may be unable to dispose of underperforming or non-performing investments. The higher risks associated with a subordinate position in any investments we make could subject us to increased risk of losses.

We invest in mezzanine loans which are subject to a greater risk of loss than loans with a first priority lien on the underlying real estate.

        We invest in mezzanine loans that take the form of subordinated loans secured by second mortgages on the underlying property or loans secured by a pledge of the ownership interests of either the entity owning the property or a pledge of the ownership interests of the entity that owns the interest in the entity owning the property. These types of investments involve a higher degree of risk than long-term senior mortgage lending secured by income producing real property because the investment may become unsecured as a result of foreclosure by the senior lender. In the event of a

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bankruptcy of the entity providing the pledge of its ownership interests as security, we may not have full recourse to the assets of such entity, or the assets of the entity may not be sufficient to satisfy our mezzanine loan. If a borrower defaults on our mezzanine loan or debt senior to our loan, or in the event of a borrower bankruptcy, our mezzanine loan will be satisfied only after the senior debt. As a result, we may not recover some or all of our investment. In addition, mezzanine loans may have higher loan to value ratios than conventional mortgage loans, resulting in less equity in the property and increasing the risk of loss of principal.

Preferred equity investments involve a greater risk of loss than traditional debt financing.

        We invest in preferred equity investments, which involve a higher degree of risk than traditional debt financing due to a variety of factors, including that such investments are subordinate to other loans and are not secured by property underlying the investment. Furthermore, should the issuer default on our investment, we would only be able to proceed against the partnership in which we have an interest, and not the property underlying our investment. As a result, we may not recover some or all of our investment.

We invest in multi-family and commercial real estate loans, which may involve a greater risk of loss than single family real estate loans.

        Our investments include multi-family and commercial real estate loans that are considered to involve a higher degree of risk than single family residential lending because of a variety of factors, including generally larger loan balances, dependency for repayment on successful operation of the mortgaged property and tenant businesses operating therein, and loan terms that include amortization schedules longer than the stated maturity and provide for balloon payments at stated maturity rather than periodic principal payments. In addition, the value of commercial real estate can be affected significantly by the supply and demand in the market for that type of property.

Volatility of values of multi-family and commercial properties may adversely affect our loans and investments.

        Multi-family and commercial property values and net operating income derived from such properties are subject to volatility and may be affected adversely by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, events such as natural disasters, including hurricanes and earthquakes, acts of war and/or terrorism and others that may cause unanticipated and uninsured performance declines and/or losses to us or the owners and operators of the real estate securing our investment; national, regional and local economic conditions, such as what we have experienced over the past several years (which may be adversely affected by industry slowdowns and other factors); local real estate conditions (such as an oversupply of housing, retail, industrial, office or other commercial space); changes or continued weakness in specific industry segments; construction quality, construction cost, age and design; demographic factors; retroactive changes to building or similar codes; and increases in operating expenses (such as energy costs). In the event a property's net operating income decreases, a borrower may have difficulty repaying our loan, which could result in losses to us. In addition, decreases in property values reduce the value of the collateral and the potential proceeds available to a borrower to repay our loans, which could also cause us to suffer losses.

Many of our commercial real estate loans are funded with interest reserves and our borrowers may be unable to replenish those interest reserves once they run out.

        Given the transitional nature of many of our commercial real estate loans, we often require borrowers to post reserves to cover interest and operating expenses until the property cash flows are projected to increase sufficiently to cover debt service costs. We also generally required the borrower to replenish reserves if they become depleted due to underperformance or if the borrower wants to exercise extension options under the loan. Despite low interest rates, revenues on the properties underlying any commercial real estate loan investments would decrease in an economic downturn,

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making it more difficult for borrowers to meet their payment obligations to us. In the future some of our borrowers may continue to have difficulty servicing our debt and will not have sufficient capital to replenish reserves, which could have a significant impact on our operating results and cash flows.

We may not have control over certain of our loans and investments.

        Our ability to manage our portfolio of loans and investments may be limited by the form in which they are made. In certain situations, we may acquire investments subject to rights of senior classes and servicers under inter-creditor or servicing agreements; acquire only a participation in an underlying investment; co-invest with third parties through partnerships, joint ventures or other entities, thereby acquiring non-controlling interests; or rely on independent third party management or strategic partners with respect to the management of an asset. Therefore, we may not be able to exercise control over the loan or investment. Such financial assets may involve risks not present in investments where senior creditors, servicers or third party controlling investors are not involved. Our rights to control the process following a borrower default may be subject to the rights of senior creditors or servicers whose interests may not be aligned with ours. A third party partner or co-venturer may have financial difficulties resulting in a negative impact on such assets and may have economic or business interests or goals which are inconsistent with ours. In addition, we may, in certain circumstances, be liable for the actions of our third party partners or co-venturers.

Real estate property acquisitions may fail to perform as expected.

        We may acquire new real estate properties through foreclosure proceedings or investment. Such newly acquired properties may not perform as expected and may subject us to unknown liabilities relating to such properties for clean-up of undisclosed environmental contamination or claims by tenants, vendors or other persons against the former owners of the properties. Inaccurate assumptions regarding future rental or occupancy rates could result in overly optimistic estimates of future revenues. In addition, future operating expenses or the costs necessary to bring an acquired property up to standards established for its intended market position may be underestimated.

The adverse resolution of a lawsuit could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

        The adverse resolution of litigation for which we have been named as a defendant could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The impact of any future terrorist attacks and the availability of terrorism insurance expose us to certain risks.

        The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 disrupted the U.S. financial markets, including the real estate capital markets, and negatively impacted the U.S. economy in general. Any future terrorist attacks, the anticipation of any such attacks, and the consequences of any military or other response by the United States and its allies may have a further adverse impact on the U.S. financial markets and the economy in general. We cannot predict the severity of the effect that any such future events would have on the U.S. financial markets, the economy or our business. Any future terrorist attacks could adversely affect the credit quality of some of our loans and investments. Some of our loans and investments will be more susceptible to such adverse effects than others. We may suffer losses as a result of the adverse impact of any future terrorist attacks and these losses may adversely impact our results of operations.

        In addition, the enactment of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, or the TRIA, and the subsequent enactment of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007, which extended TRIA through the end of 2014, requires insurers to make terrorism insurance available under their property and casualty insurance policies in order to receive federal compensation under TRIA for

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insured losses. However, this legislation does not regulate the pricing of such insurance. The absence of affordable insurance coverage may adversely affect the general real estate lending market, lending volume and the market's overall liquidity and may reduce the number of suitable investment opportunities available to us and the pace at which we are able to make investments. If the properties that we invest in are unable to obtain affordable insurance coverage, the value of those investments could decline and in the event of an uninsured loss, we could lose all or a portion of our investment.

We are required to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and furnish a report on our internal control over financial reporting.

        We are required to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Section 404 requires us to assess and attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and requires our independent registered public accounting firm to opine as to the adequacy of our assessment and effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In the future, we may not receive an unqualified opinion from our independent registered public accounting firm with regard to our internal control over financial reporting.

Failure to maintain an exemption from regulation as an investment company under the Investment Company Act would adversely affect our results of operations.

        We believe that we conduct, and we intend to conduct our business in a manner that allows us to avoid being regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Pursuant to Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act, entities that are primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring "mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate" are currently exempted from regulation thereunder. The staff of the SEC has provided guidance on the availability of this exemption. Specifically, the staff's position generally requires us to maintain at least 55% of our assets directly in "qualifying real estate interests." To constitute as a qualifying real estate interest under this 55% test, an interest in real estate must meet various criteria. Loans that are secured by equity interests in entities that directly or indirectly own the underlying real property, rather than a mortgage on the underlying property itself, and ownership of equity interests in real property owners may not qualify for purposes of the 55% test depending on the type of entity. Mortgage-related securities that do not represent all of the certificates issued with respect to an underlying pool of mortgages may also not qualify for purposes of the 55% test. Therefore, our ownership of these types of loans and equity interests may be limited by the provisions of the Investment Company Act. There can be no assurance that the laws and regulations governing the Investment Company Act status of REITs, including the guidance of the Division of Investment Management of the SEC regarding this exemption, will not change in a manner that adversely affects our operations. To the extent that we do not comply with the SEC staff's 55% test, another exemption or exclusion from registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act or other interpretations under the Investment Company Act, or if the SEC no longer permits our exemption, we may be deemed to be an investment company. If we fail to maintain an exemption or other exclusion from registration as an investment company we could, among other things, be required either (a) to substantially change the manner in which we conduct our operations to avoid being required to register as an investment company or (b) to register as an investment company, either of which could have an adverse effect on us and the market price of our common stock. If we were required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we would become subject to substantial regulation with respect to our capital structure (including our ability to use leverage), management, operations, transactions with affiliated persons (as defined in the Investment Company Act), portfolio composition, including restrictions with respect to diversification and industry concentration and other matters.

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Our manager is required to register under the Investment Advisors Act, and is subject to regulation under that Act.

        Following registration under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or the Investment Advisors Act, our manager is subject to the extensive regulation prescribed by that statute and the regulations thereunder. The SEC will oversee activities as a registered investment adviser under this regulatory regime. A failure to comply with the obligations imposed by the Investment Advisers Act, including record-keeping, advertising and operating requirements, disclosure obligations and prohibitions on fraudulent activities, could result in fines, censure, suspensions of personnel or investing activities or other sanctions, including revocation of our registration as an investment adviser. The regulations under the Investment Advisers Act are designed primarily to protect investors in our funds and other clients, and are not designed to protect holders of our publicly traded common stock. Even if a sanction imposed against our manager or its personnel involves a small monetary amount, the adverse publicity related to such sanction could harm our reputation and our relationship with our fund investors and impede our ability to raise additional capital or new funds. In addition, compliance with the Investment Advisors Act may require us to incur additional costs, and these costs may be material.

The Dodd-Frank Act may place restrictions on our business.

        In July 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act was signed into law. The Dodd-Frank Act represents a comprehensive overhaul of the financial services industry within the United States and, among other things, requires various federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, to adopt a broad range of new rules and regulations. These rules and regulations are intended to impose significant investment restrictions and capital requirements on banking entities and other organizations that are significant to U.S. financial markets. For instance, the Dodd-Frank Act will impose significant restrictions on the proprietary trading activities of certain banking entities and subject other systemically significant organizations regulated by the U.S. Federal Reserve to increased capital requirements and quantitative limits for engaging in such activities. The Dodd-Frank Act also seeks to reform the asset-backed securitization market (including the mortgage-backed securities market) by requiring the retention of a portion of the credit risk inherent in the pool of securitized assets and by imposing additional registration and disclosure requirements. Certain of the new requirements and restrictions exempt agency securities, other government issued or guaranteed securities, or other securities. Nonetheless, the Dodd-Frank Act also imposes significant regulatory restrictions on the origination of residential mortgage loans. Provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act relating to the regulation of derivatives may also result in a comprehensive reform of the derivatives market. While the full impact of the Dodd-Frank Act cannot be assessed until implementing regulations are finalized and ultimately adopted, the Dodd-Frank Act's extensive requirements may have a significant effect on the financial markets, and may affect the availability or terms of financing from our lender counterparties and the availability or terms of mortgage-backed securities, both of which could have an adverse effect on our business.

The impact of any future laws, as well as amendments to current laws, may place restrictions on our business.

        Additional legislation could impose additional financial obligations or restrictions with respect to our business. The continued difficult economic environment has placed an increased level of scrutiny on the financial services sector, which has already expedited, to some degree, the signing of the Dodd-Frank Act as noted above. While the Dodd-Frank Act does represent a comprehensive overhaul of the financial services industry, it is possible that additional legislation could be deemed necessary and signed into law. At this time, it is difficult to predict the exact nature of any future legislation and the extent to which such legislation, if any, will impact our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

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The effects of government regulation could negatively impact the market value of loans related to development projects.

        Loans related to development projects bear additional risk in that government regulation could impact the value of the project by limiting the development of the property. If the proper approvals for the completion of the project are not granted, the value of the collateral may be adversely affected which may negatively impact the value of the loan.

Risks Related to Our Financing and Hedging Activities

We may not be able to access financing sources on favorable terms, or at all, which could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan.

        We generally finance our assets over the short and long-term through a variety of means, including repurchase agreements, credit facilities, junior subordinated notes, CDOs, CLOs and other structured financings. Our ability to execute this strategy depends on various conditions in the markets for financing in this manner that are beyond our control, including lack of liquidity and wider credit spreads, which we have seen over the past several years. If conditions deteriorate, we cannot assure that these sources are feasible as a means of financing our assets, as there can be no assurance that any existing agreements will be renewed or extended at expiration. If our strategy is not viable, we will have to find alternative forms of long-term financing for our assets, as credit facilities and repurchase facilities may not accommodate long-term financing. This could subject us to more recourse indebtedness and the risk that debt service on less efficient forms of financing would require a larger portion of our cash flows, thereby reducing cash available for distribution to our stockholders, funds available for operations as well as for future business opportunities.

Credit facilities may contain restrictive covenants relating to our operations.

        Credit facilities may contain various financial covenants and restrictions, including minimum net worth, minimum liquidity and debt-to-equity ratios. Other restrictive covenants contained in credit facility agreements may include covenants that prohibit affecting a change in control, disposing of or encumbering assets being financed, maximum debt balance requirements, and restrictions from making material amendments to underwriting guidelines without approval of the lender. While we remain focused on actively managing our loans and investments portfolio, a continued weak environment will make maintaining compliance with future credit facilities' covenants more difficult. If we are not in compliance with any of these covenants, there can be no assurance that our lenders would waive or amend such non-compliance in the future and any such non-compliance could have a material adverse effect on us.

We may not be able to obtain the level of leverage necessary to optimize our return on investment.

        Our return on investment depends, in part, upon our ability to grow our balance sheet portfolio of invested assets through the use of leverage at a cost of debt that is lower than the yield earned on our investments. We typically obtain leverage through the issuance of CDOs, CLOs, credit agreements, repurchase agreements and other borrowings. Our future ability to obtain the necessary leverage on beneficial terms ultimately depends upon the quality of the portfolio assets that collateralize our indebtedness. Our failure to obtain and/or maintain leverage at desired levels, or to obtain leverage on attractive terms, would have a material adverse effect on our performance. Moreover, we may be dependent upon a few lenders to provide financing under credit agreements and repurchase agreements for our origination or acquisition of loans and investments and there can be no assurance that these agreements will be renewed or extended at expiration. Our ability to obtain financing through CDOs and CLOs is subject to conditions in the debt capital markets which are impacted by factors beyond our control that may at times be adverse and reduce the level of investor demand for such securities.

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The credit facilities and repurchase agreements that we may use to finance our investments may require us to provide additional collateral.

        We may use credit facilities and repurchase agreements to finance some of our investments in the future. If the market value of the loans or RMBS investments pledged or sold by us to a funding source decline in value, we may be required by the lending institution to provide additional collateral or pay down a portion of the funds advanced. We may not have the funds available to pay down such future debt, which could result in defaults. Posting additional collateral to support these potential repurchase and credit facilities would reduce our liquidity and limit our ability to leverage our assets. In the event we do not have sufficient liquidity to meet such requirements, lending institutions can accelerate the indebtedness, increase interest rates and terminate our ability to borrow. Further, facility providers may require us to maintain a certain amount of uninvested cash or set aside unlevered assets sufficient to maintain a specified liquidity position which would allow us to satisfy our collateral obligations. As a result, we may not be able to leverage our assets as fully as we would choose, which could reduce our return on assets. In the event that we are unable to meet these collateral obligations, our financial condition could deteriorate rapidly.

The repurchase agreements we may use to finance our RMBS securities are generally short term agreements and may not be renewed by the counterparty throughout the life of the collateralized security.

        The repurchase agreements we may use to finance the purchase of our RMBS securities are non-committed and expire every thirty days while the estimated life of these securities is significantly longer. While we fully expect these facilities to continually be renewed until our corresponding security position is liquidated, there is no guarantee or assurances that the counterparty will be willing or able to continue to extend the facility past the maturation date. If the counterparty does not renew the agreement, we would be required to repurchase the security immediately, or liquidate the securities in order to satisfy the amount owed under the facility. This could cause a forced liquidation of the securities which may result in a significant loss of value and may adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity and operating results.

Our use of leverage may create a mismatch with the duration and index of the investments that we are financing.

        We attempt to structure our leverage such that we minimize the difference between the term of our investments and the leverage we use to finance such an investment. In the event that our leverage is for a shorter term than the financed investment, we may not be able to extend or find appropriate replacement leverage and that would have an adverse impact on our liquidity and our returns. In the event that our leverage is for a longer term than the financed investment, we may not be able to repay such leverage or replace the financed investment with an optimal substitute or at all, which will negatively impact our desired leveraged returns.

        We attempt to structure our leverage such that we minimize the difference between the index of our investments and the index of our leverage—financing floating rate investments with floating rate leverage and fixed rate investments with fixed rate leverage. If such a product is not available to us from our lenders on reasonable terms, we may use hedging instruments to effectively create such a match. For example, in the case of fixed rate investments, we may finance such an investment with floating rate leverage, but effectively convert all or a portion of the attendant leverage to fixed rate using hedging strategies.

        Our attempts to mitigate such risk are subject to factors outside of our control, such as the availability to us of favorable financing and hedging options, which is subject to a variety of factors, of which duration and term matching are only two such factors.

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We utilize a significant amount of debt to finance our portfolio, which may subject us to an increased risk of loss, adversely affecting the return on our investments and reducing cash available for distribution.

        We utilize a significant amount of debt to finance our operations, which may compound losses and reduce the cash available for distributions to our stockholders. We generally leverage our portfolio through the use of securitizations, including the issuance of CDOs, CLOs, bank credit facilities, repurchase agreements, and other borrowings. The leverage we employ varies depending on our availability of funds, ability to obtain credit facilities, the loan-to-value and debt service coverage ratios of our assets, the yield on our assets, the targeted leveraged return we expect from our portfolio and our ability to meet ongoing covenants related to our asset mix and financial performance. Substantially all of our assets are pledged as collateral for our borrowings. In addition, we may acquire real estate property subject to debt obligations. Our return on our investments and cash available for distribution to our stockholders may be reduced to the extent that changes in market conditions cause the cost of our financing to increase relative to the income that we can derive from the assets we acquire.

        Our debt service payments, including payments in connection with any CDOs and CLOs, reduce the net income available for distributions. Moreover, we may not be able to meet our debt service obligations and, to the extent that we cannot, we risk the loss of some or all of our assets to foreclosure or sale to satisfy our debt obligations. Currently, neither our charter nor our bylaws impose any limitations on the extent to which we may leverage our assets.

We may guarantee some of our leverage and contingent obligations.

        We may guarantee the performance of some of our obligations in the future, including but not limited to any repurchase agreements, derivative agreements, and unsecured indebtedness. Non-performance on such obligations may cause losses to us in excess of the capital we initially may invest/commit to under such obligations and there is no assurance that we will have sufficient capital to cover any such losses.

We may not be able to acquire suitable investments for a CDO or CLO issuance, or we may not be able to issue CDOs or CLOs on attractive terms, or at all, which may require us to utilize more costly financing for our investments.

        We have financed, and, if the opportunities exist in the future, we may continue to finance certain of our investments through the issuance of CDOs and CLOs. During the period that we are acquiring investments for eventual long-term financing through CDOs and CLOs, we have typically financed these investments through repurchase and credit agreements. We use these agreements to finance our acquisition of investments until we have accumulated a sufficient quantity of investments, at which time we may refinance them through a securitization, such as a CDO or CLO issuance. As a result, we are subject to the risk that we will not be able to acquire a sufficient amount of eligible investments to maximize the efficiency of a CDO or CLO issuance. In addition, conditions in the debt capital markets may make the issuance of CDOs and CLOs less attractive to us even when we do have a sufficient pool of collateral, or we may not be able to execute a CDO or CLO transaction on terms favorable to us or at all. If we are unable to issue a CDO or CLO to finance these investments, we may be required to utilize other forms of potentially less attractive financing.

The use of CDO and CLO financings with over-collateralization and interest coverage requirements may have a negative impact on our cash flows.

        The terms of CDOs and CLOs will generally provide that the principal amount of investments must exceed the principal balance of the related bonds by a certain amount and that interest income exceeds interest expense by a certain amount. Generally, CDO and CLO terms provide that, if certain delinquencies and/or losses or other factors cause a decline in collateral or cash flow levels, the cash

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flow otherwise payable on subordinated classes may be redirected to repay senior classes of CDOs and CLOs until the issuer or the collateral is in compliance with the terms of the governing documents. Other tests (based on delinquency levels or other criteria) may restrict our ability to receive interest payments from assets pledged to secure CDOs and CLOs. We cannot assure that the performance tests will be satisfied. If our investments fail to perform as anticipated, our over-collateralization, interest coverage or other credit enhancement expense associated with our CDO and CLO financings will increase. With respect to future CDOs and CLOs we may issue, we cannot assure, in advance of completing negotiations with the rating agencies or other key transaction parties as to the actual terms of the delinquency tests, over-collateralization and interest coverage terms, cash flow release mechanisms or other significant factors upon which net income to us will be calculated. Failure to obtain favorable terms with regard to these matters may adversely affect the availability of net income to us.

We may not be able to find suitable replacement investments for CLO reinvestment periods.

        CLOs have periods where principal proceeds received from assets securing the CLO can be reinvested for a defined period of time, commonly referred to as a reinvestment period. Our ability to find suitable investments during the reinvestment period that meet the criteria set forth in the CLO governing documents and by rating agencies may determine the success of our CLO investments. Our potential inability to find suitable investments may cause, among other things, lower returns, interest deficiencies, hyper-amortization of the senior CLO liabilities and may cause us to reduce the life of the CLO and accelerate the amortization of certain fees and expenses.

We may be required to repurchase loans that we have sold or to indemnify holders of our CDOs and CLOs.

        If any of the loans we originate or acquire and sell or securitize through CDOs and CLOs do not comply with representations and warranties we make about certain characteristics of the loans, the borrowers and the underlying properties, we may be required to repurchase those loans or replace them with substitute loans. In addition, in the case of loans that we have sold instead of retained, we may be required to indemnify persons for losses or expenses incurred as a result of a breach of a representation or warranty. Repurchased loans typically require a significant allocation of working capital to carry on our books, and our ability to borrow against such assets is limited. Any significant repurchases or indemnification payments could adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.

Our loans and investments may be subject to fluctuations in interest rates which may not be adequately protected, or protected at all, by our hedging strategies.

        Our current balance sheet investment program emphasizes loans with both floating interest rates and fixed interest rates. Floating rate investments earn interest at rates that adjust from time to time (typically monthly) based upon an index (typically LIBOR), allowing this portion of our portfolio to be insulated from changes in value due specifically to changes in interest rates. Fixed interest rate investments, however, do not have adjusting interest rates and, as prevailing interest rates change, the relative value of the fixed cash flows from these investments will cause potentially significant changes in value. Depending on market conditions, fixed rate assets may become a greater portion of our new loan originations. We may employ various hedging strategies to limit the effects of changes in interest rates (and in some cases credit spreads), including engaging in interest rate swaps, caps, floors and other interest rate derivative products. No strategy can completely insulate us from the risks associated with interest rate changes and there is a risk that they may provide no protection at all and potentially compound the impact of changes in interest rates. Hedging transactions involve certain additional risks such as counterparty risk, the legal enforceability of hedging contracts, the early repayment of hedged transactions and the risk that unanticipated and significant changes in interest rates may cause a

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significant loss of basis in the contract and a change in current period expense. We cannot make assurances that we will be able to enter into hedging transactions or that such hedging transactions will adequately protect us against the foregoing risks. In addition, cash flow hedges which are not perfectly correlated (and appropriately designated and documented as such) with a variable rate financing will impact our reported income as gains and losses on the ineffective portion of such hedges will be recorded on our Statement of Operations.

Hedging instruments often are not guaranteed by an exchange or its clearing house and involve risks and costs.

        The cost of using hedging instruments increases as the period covered by the instrument lengthens 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 currently are often not guaranteed by an exchange or its clearing house. The enforceability of agreements underlying derivative transactions may depend on compliance with applicable statutory, 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 will most likely 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. Although generally we will seek to reserve the right to terminate our hedging positions, it may not always be possible 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 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 contingent liabilities in the future.

        Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT, part of our investment strategy involves entering into derivative contracts that could require us to fund cash payments in the future under certain circumstances (e.g., the early termination of the derivative agreement caused by an 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 swap positions with the respective counterparty and could also include other fees and charges. These 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, and the need to fund these obligations could adversely impact our financial condition.

Changes in values of our derivative contracts could adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition.

        Certain of our derivative contracts, which are designed to hedge interest rate risk associated with a portion of our loans and investments, could require the funding of additional cash collateral for changes in the market value of these contracts. Due to the continued volatility in the financial markets, the value of these contracts have declined substantially. As a result, as of December 31, 2012, we funded approximately $20.0 million in cash related to these contracts. If we continue to experience significant changes in the outlook of interest rates, these contracts could continue to decline in value, which would require additional cash to be funded. However, at maturity, the value of these contracts return to par and all cash will be recovered. We may not have available cash to meet these requirements, which could result in the early termination of these derivatives, leaving us exposed to interest rate risk associated with these loans and investments, which could adversely impact our financial condition.

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We are subject to certain counterparty risks related to our derivative contracts.

        We periodically hedge a portion of our interest rate risk by entering into derivative financial instrument contracts. As a result of the continued global credit crisis, there is a risk that counterparties could fail, shut down, file for bankruptcy or be unable to pay out contracts. The failure of a counterparty that holds collateral that we post in connection with certain interest rate swap agreements could result in the loss of such collateral.

Risks Related to Our Corporate and Ownership Structure

We are substantially controlled by ACM and Mr. Kaufman.

        Mr. Ivan Kaufman, our chairman, chief executive officer and president and the chief executive officer of ACM, beneficially owns approximately 92% of the outstanding membership interests of ACM. ACM currently has approximately 17% of the voting power of our outstanding stock. As a result of Mr. Kaufman's beneficial ownership of stock held by ACM as well as his beneficial ownership of additional shares of our common stock, Mr. Kaufman currently has approximately 18% of the voting power of our outstanding stock. Because of his position with us and our manager and his ability to effectively vote a substantial minority of our outstanding stock, Mr. Kaufman has significant influence over our policies and strategy.

Our charter as amended generally does not permit ownership in excess of 5% of our capital stock, and attempts to acquire our capital stock in excess of this limit are ineffective without prior approval from our Board of Directors.

        For the purpose of preserving our REIT qualification, our charter as amended generally prohibits a direct or constructive ownership by any person of more than 5% (by value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding shares of our common stock or 5% (by value) of our outstanding shares of capital stock, unless an exemption is granted by the Board of Directors. For purposes of this calculation, warrants held by such person will be deemed to have been exercised if such exercise would result in a violation. Our charter's constructive ownership rules are complex and may cause the outstanding stock owned by a group of related individuals or entities to be deemed to be constructively owned by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of less than these percentages of the outstanding stock by an individual or entity could cause that individual or entity to own constructively in excess of these percentages of the outstanding stock and thus be subject to our charter's ownership limit. Any attempt to own or transfer shares of our common or preferred stock in excess of the ownership limit without the consent of the Board of Directors will result in the shares being automatically transferred to a charitable trust or otherwise voided. Our Board of Directors have approved resolutions under our charter allowing Ivan Kaufman and ACM, in relation to Mr. Kaufman's controlling equity interest, C. Michael Kojaian, one of our independent directors, as well as an outside investor to own more than the ownership interest limit of our common stock stated in our charter as amended.

Our staggered board and other provisions of our charter and bylaws may prevent a change in our control.

        Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes of directors. The current terms of the Class I, Class II and Class III directors will expire in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. Directors of each class are chosen for three year terms upon the expiration of their current terms, and each year one class of directors is elected by the stockholders. The staggered terms of our directors may reduce the possibility of a tender offer or an attempt at a change in control, even though a tender offer or change in control might be in the best interest of our stockholders. In addition, our charter and bylaws also contain other provisions that may delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.

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Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest with Our Manager

We are dependent on our manager with whom we have conflicts of interest.

        We have only 30 employees, including Messrs. Weber, Kilgore, Felletter, and Guziewicz, and are dependent upon our manager to provide services to us that are vital to our operations. ACM, our manager, currently has approximately 17% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our capital stock and Mr. Kaufman, our chairman and chief executive officer and the chief executive officer of ACM, beneficially owns these shares. Mr. Martello, one of our directors, is the chief operating officer of Arbor Management, LLC (the managing member of ACM) and a trustee of two trusts which own minority membership interests in ACM. Mr. Bishar, our secretary who was a director until January 27, 2012, is general counsel to ACM. Mr. Elenio, our chief financial officer and treasurer, is the chief financial officer of ACM. Each of Messrs. Kaufman, Martello, Bishar, Elenio, Weber and Kilgore are members of ACM's executive committee and all, including Mr. Felletter, but excluding Mr. Kaufman, own minority membership interests in ACM.

        We may enter into transactions with ACM outside the terms of the management agreement with the approval of a majority vote of the independent members of our Board of Directors. Transactions required to be approved by a majority of our independent directors include, but are not limited to, our ability to purchase securities, mortgages and other assets from ACM or to sell securities and assets to ACM. ACM may from time to time provide permanent mortgage loan financing to clients of ours, which will be used to refinance bridge financing provided by us. We and ACM may also make loans to the same borrower or to borrowers that are under common control. Additionally, our policies and those of ACM may require us to enter into intercreditor agreements in situations where loans are made by us and ACM to the same borrower.

        We have entered into a management agreement with our manager under which our manager provides us with all of the services vital to our operations other than asset management and securitization services. Certain matters relating to our organization were not approved at arm's length and the terms of the contribution of assets to us may not be as favorable to us as if the contribution was with an unaffiliated third party.

        The results of our operations are dependent upon the availability of, and our manager's ability to identify and capitalize on, investment opportunities. Our manager's officers and employees are also responsible for providing the same services for ACM's portfolio of investments. As a result, they may not be able to devote sufficient time to the management of our business operations.

Our directors have approved very broad investment guidelines for our manager and do not approve each investment decision made by our manager.

        Our manager is authorized to follow very broad investment guidelines. Our directors will periodically review our investment guidelines and our investment portfolio. However, our board does not review each proposed investment. In addition, in conducting periodic reviews, the directors rely primarily on information provided to them by our manager. Furthermore, transactions entered into by our manager may be difficult or impossible to unwind by the time they are reviewed by the directors. Our manager has great latitude within the broad investment guidelines in determining the types of assets it may decide are proper investments for us.

Our manager has broad discretion to invest funds and may acquire structured finance assets where the investment returns are substantially below expectations or that result in net operating losses.

        Our manager has broad discretion, within the general investment criteria established by our Board of Directors, to allocate our capital and to determine the timing of investment of such capital. Such discretion could result in allocation of capital to assets where the investment returns are substantially

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below expectations or that result in net operating losses, which would materially and adversely affect our business, operations and results.

        The management compensation structure that we have agreed to with our manager may cause our manager to invest in high risk investments. Our manager is entitled to a base management fee, which is based on an agreed upon budget which represents the actual cost of managing the business. Our manager is also entitled to receive incentive compensation based in part upon our achievement of targeted levels of funds from operations. In evaluating investments and other management strategies, the opportunity to earn incentive compensation based on funds from operations may lead our manager to place undue emphasis on the maximization of funds from operations at the expense of other criteria, such as preservation of capital, in order to achieve higher incentive compensation. Investments with higher yield potential are generally riskier or more speculative. This could result in increased risk to the value of our invested portfolio.

Risk Related to Our Status as a REIT

If we fail to remain qualified as a REIT, we will be subject to tax as a regular corporation and could face a substantial tax liability.

        We conduct our operations to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. However, qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex Internal Revenue Code provisions for which only limited judicial and administrative authorities exist. Even a technical or inadvertent mistake could jeopardize our REIT status. Our continued qualification as a REIT will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, stockholder ownership and other requirements on a continuing basis. In addition, our ability to satisfy the requirements to qualify as a REIT depends in part on the actions of third parties over which we have no control or only limited influence, including in cases where we own an equity interest in an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

        Furthermore, new tax legislation, administrative guidance or court decisions, in each instance potentially with retroactive effect, could make it more difficult or impossible for us to qualify as a REIT. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any tax year, then:

•

we would be taxed as a regular domestic corporation, which, among other things, means we would be unable to deduct distributions to stockholders in computing taxable income and would be subject to federal income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates;



•

any resulting tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to stockholders; and



•

unless we were entitled to relief under applicable statutory provisions, we would be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the subsequent four taxable years following the year during which we lost our qualification, and thus, our cash available for distribution to stockholders would be reduced for each of the years during which we did not qualify as a REIT.

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, including taxes on any undistributed income, tax on income from some activities conducted as a result of a foreclosure, and state or local income, property and transfer taxes, such as mortgage recording taxes. Any of these taxes would decrease cash available for distribution to our stockholders. In addition, in order to meet the REIT qualification requirements, or to avert the imposition of a 100% tax that applies to certain gains derived by a REIT from dealer property or inventory, we may hold some of our assets through taxable subsidiary corporations, the income of which would be subject to federal and state income tax. The income and any tax on or

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distribution requirements attributable to certain debt extinguishment transactions realized in 2009 and 2010 have been deferred to future periods at our election.

The "taxable mortgage pool" rules may increase the taxes that we or our stockholders may incur, and may limit the manner in which we effect future securitizations.

        Certain of our securitizations have resulted in the creation of taxable mortgage pools for federal income tax purposes. So long as 100% of the equity interests in a taxable mortgage pool are owned by an entity that qualifies as a REIT, including our subsidiary Arbor Realty SR, Inc., we would generally not be adversely affected by the characterization of the securitization as a taxable mortgage pool. Certain categories of stockholders, however, such as foreign stockholders eligible for treaty or other tax benefits, stockholders with net operating losses, and certain tax-exempt stockholders that are subject to unrelated business income tax, could be subject to increased taxes on a portion of their dividend income from us that is attributable to the taxable mortgage pool. In addition, to the extent that our stock is owned by tax-exempt "disqualified organizations," such as certain government-related entities that are not subject to tax on unrelated business income, we could incur a corporate level tax on a portion of our income from the taxable mortgage pool. In that case, we may reduce the amount of our distributions to any disqualified organization whose stock ownership gave rise to the tax. Moreover, we could be precluded from selling equity interests in these securitizations to outside investors, or selling any debt securities issued in connection with these securitizations that might be considered to be equity interests for tax purposes. These limitations may prevent us from using certain techniques to maximize our returns from securitization transactions.

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. We may be required to make distributions to stockholders at disadvantageous times or when we do not have funds readily available for distribution. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our ability to operate solely on the basis of maximizing profits.

Complying with REIT requirements may force us to liquidate otherwise attractive investments.

        To qualify as a REIT we must ensure that at the end of each calendar quarter at least 75% of the value of our assets consists of cash, cash items, government securities and qualified REIT real estate assets. The remainder of our investment in securities generally cannot comprise more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, or more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities, of any one issuer. In addition, in general, no more than 5% of the value of our assets (other than assets which qualify for purposes of the 75% asset test) may consist of the securities of any one issuer, and no more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries. If we fail to comply with these requirements at the end of any calendar quarter, we must correct such failure within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter to avoid losing our REIT status and suffering adverse tax consequences. As a result, we may be required to liquidate otherwise attractive investments.

Liquidation of collateral may jeopardize our REIT status.

        To continue to qualify as a REIT, we must comply with requirements regarding our assets and our sources of income. If we are compelled to liquidate investments to satisfy our obligations to future lenders, we may be unable to comply with these requirements, ultimately jeopardizing our status as a REIT.

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We may be unable to generate sufficient revenue from operations to pay our operating expenses and to pay dividends to our stockholders.

        As a REIT, we are generally required to distribute at least 90% of our taxable income each year to our stockholders. In order to qualify for the tax benefits accorded to REITs, we intend to declare quarterly dividends and to make distributions to our stockholders in amounts such that we distribute all or substantially all of our taxable income each year, subject to certain adjustments. However, our ability to make distributions may be adversely affected by the risk factors described in this report. In the event of future investment opportunities, a downturn in our operating results and financial performance or unanticipated declines in the value of our asset portfolio, we may be unable to declare or pay quarterly dividends or make distributions to our stockholders. The timing and amount of dividends are in the sole discretion of our Board of Directors, which considers, among other factors, our earnings, financial condition, debt service obligations and applicable debt covenants, REIT qualification requirements and other tax considerations and capital expenditure requirements as our board may deem relevant from time to time.

        Among the factors that could adversely affect our results of operations and impair our ability to make distributions to our stockholders are:

•

use of funds and our ability to make profitable structured finance investments;



•

defaults in our asset portfolio or decreases in the value of our portfolio;



•

the fact that anticipated operating expense levels may not prove accurate, as actual results may vary from estimates; and



•

increased debt service requirements, including those resulting from higher interest rates on variable rate indebtedness.

        A change in any one of these factors could affect our ability to make distributions. If we are not able to comply with the restrictive covenants and financial ratios contained in future credit facilities, our ability to make distributions to our stockholders may also be impaired. We cannot assure that we will be able to make distributions to our stockholders in the future or that the level of any distributions we make will increase over time.

We may need to borrow funds in order to satisfy our REIT distribution requirements, and a portion of our distributions may constitute a return of capital. Debt service on any borrowings for this purpose will reduce our cash available for distribution.

        In order to qualify as a REIT, we must generally, among other requirements, distribute at least 90% of our taxable income, subject to certain adjustments, to our stockholders each year. To the extent that we satisfy the distribution requirement, but distribute less than 100% of our taxable income, we will be subject to federal corporate income tax on our undistributed taxable income. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax if the actual amount that we pay out to our stockholders in a calendar year is less than a minimum amount specified under federal tax laws.

        From time to time, we may generate taxable income greater than our net income for financial reporting purposes, or our taxable income may be greater than our cash flow available for distribution to our stockholders. In addition, we have deferred the recognition of taxable income from certain debt extinguishment transactions that occurred in 2009 and 2010 and will give rise to taxable income, but no corresponding cash flow, in future years. If we do not have other funds available in these situations we could be required to borrow funds, issue stock or sell investments and our equity securities at disadvantageous prices or find another alternative source of funds to make distributions sufficient to enable us to satisfy the REIT distribution requirement and to avoid corporate income tax and the 4% excise tax in a particular year.

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

        Recently enacted legislation resulted in an increase in the highest marginal tax rates applicable to individuals and other non-corporate taxpayers. As of January 1, 2013, capital gain income (including capital gain dividends that we pay) and ordinary income (including dividends that we pay which are not capital gain dividends) are generally taxable at top marginal rates of 20% and 39.6%, respectively. Certain U.S. stockholders who are individuals, trusts or estates and whose income exceeds certain thresholds are required to pay a 3.8% Medicare tax on our dividends and gain from the sale of our stock. The top tax rate on "qualified dividend income" received by U.S. stockholders taxed at individual rates is now 20% but, with limited exceptions, our dividends are generally not eligible for taxation at such preferential rate. At any time, the federal income tax laws governing REITs or the administrative interpretations of those laws may change. Any such changes may have a retroactive effect, and could adversely affect us or our stockholders.

Restrictions on share accumulation in REITs could discourage a change of control of us.

        In order for us to qualify as a REIT, not more than 50% of the value of our outstanding shares of capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals during the last half of a taxable year.

        In order to prevent five or fewer individuals from acquiring more than 50% of our outstanding shares and a resulting failure to qualify as a REIT, our charter as amended provides that, subject to certain exceptions, no person, including entities, may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, more than 5.0% of the aggregate value or number of shares (whichever is more restrictive) of our outstanding common stock, or more than 5.0%, by value, of our outstanding shares of capital stock of all classes, in the aggregate. For purposes of the ownership limitations, warrants held by a person will be deemed to have been exercised if such exercise would result in a violation of the charter provisions.

        Shares of our stock that would otherwise be directly or indirectly acquired or held by a person in violation of the ownership limitations are, in general, automatically transferred to a trust for the benefit of a charitable beneficiary, and the purported owner's interest in such shares is void. In addition, any person who acquires shares in excess of these limits is obliged to immediately give written notice to us and provide us with any information we may request in order to determine the effect of the acquisition on our status as a REIT.

        While these restrictions are designed to prevent any five individuals from owning more than 50% of our shares, they could also discourage a change in control of our company. These restrictions may also deter tender offers that may be attractive to stockholders or limit the opportunity for stockholders to receive a premium for their shares if an investor makes purchases of shares to acquire a block of shares.

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

        The REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code may limit our ability to hedge our operations. Under current law, income that we generate from derivatives or other transactions intended to hedge various risks may be treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of the REIT income tests, unless certain requirements are met, and our position in such a hedging or derivative transaction, to the extent that it has positive value, may be treated as a non-qualifying asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests. As a result of these rules, we may have to limit our use of hedging techniques that might otherwise be advantageous, which could result in greater risks associated with interest rate or other changes than we would otherwise incur.

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ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

        Not applicable.

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

        Arbor Commercial Mortgage, our manager, leases our shared principal executive and administrative offices, located at 333 Earle Ovington Boulevard in Uniondale, New York.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        We are not involved in any material litigation nor, to our knowledge, is any material litigation threatened against us other than the following:

        On June 15, 2011, three related lawsuits were filed by the Extended Stay Litigation Trust (the "Trust"), a post-bankruptcy litigation trust alleged to have standing to pursue claims that previously had been held by Extended Stay, Inc. and the Homestead Village L.L.C. family of companies (together "ESI") (formerly Chapter 11 debtors, together the "Debtors") that have emerged from bankruptcy. Two of the lawsuits were filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, and the third in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County. (The New York State Court action has been removed to the Bankruptcy Court). There are 73 defendants in the three lawsuits, including 55 corporate and partnership entities and 18 individuals. A subsidiary of ours and certain other entities that are affiliates of ours are included as defendants.

        The lawsuits all allege, as a factual basis and background, certain facts surrounding the June 2007 leveraged buyout of ESI from affiliates of Blackstone Capital. Our subsidiary, Arbor ESH II, LLC, had a $115.0 million investment in the Series A1 Preferred Units of a holding company of Extended Stay, Inc. The New York State Court action and one of the two federal court actions name as defendants, Arbor ESH II, LLC, Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC and ABT-ESI LLC, an entity in which we have a membership interest, among the broad group of defendants. These two actions were commenced by substantially identical complaints. The defendants are alleged in these complaints, among other things, to have breached fiduciary and contractual duties by causing or allowing the Debtors to pay illegal dividends or other improper distributions of value at a time when the Debtors were insolvent. These two complaints also allege that the defendants aided and abetted, induced, or participated in breaches of fiduciary duty, waste, and unjust enrichment ("Fiduciary Duty Claims") and name a director of ours, and a former general counsel of Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC, each of whom had served on the Board of Directors of ESI for a period of time. We are defending these two defendants and paying the costs of such defense. On the basis of the foregoing allegations, the Trust has asserted claims under a number of common law theories, seeking the return of assets transferred by the Debtors prior to the Debtors' bankruptcy filing.

        In the third action, filed in Bankruptcy Court, the same plaintiff, the Trust, has named Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC and ABT-ESI LLC, together with a number of other defendants and asserts claims, including constructive and fraudulent conveyance claims under state and federal statutes, as well as a claim under the Federal Debt Collection Procedure Act.

        The complaints seek among other things, damages of not less than $2.1 billion, plus punitive damages, on a joint and several basis, from each defendant in connection with the Fiduciary Duty Claims and the return of in excess of $50.0 million which is alleged to have been wrongfully received by the holders of the Series A1 Preferred Units, including Arbor ESH II, LLC. We have moved to dismiss the referenced actions and intend to vigorously defend against the claims asserted therein.

        We have not made a loss accrual for this litigation because we believe that it is not probable that a loss has been incurred and an amount cannot be reasonably estimated.

ITEM 4.    MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

        Not applicable.

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PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

        Our common stock has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ABR" since our initial public offering in April 2004. The following table sets forth for the indicated periods the high and low sales prices for our common stock, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, and the dividends declared and paid with respect to such periods.

        We are organized and conduct our operations to qualify as a real estate investment trust, or a REIT, which requires that we distribute at least 90% of taxable income. No assurance, however, can be given as to the amounts or timing of future distributions as such distributions are subject to our taxable earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and such other factors as our Board of Directors deems relevant.

        On February 14, 2013, the closing sale price for our common stock, as reported on the NYSE, was $7.41. As of February 14, 2013, there were 6,112 record holders of our common stock, including persons holding shares in broker accounts under street names.

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

        The following table presents information as of December 31, 2012 regarding the Stock Incentive Plan and the incentive compensation provisions of our management agreement with Arbor Commercial Mortgage, which are our only equity compensation plans:

        In February 2013, the Board of Directors authorized the issuance of approximately 200,000 shares of restricted common stock under the Plan to certain employees of ours and ACM. The effective date of the grant will be February 28, 2013 and will vest over a two year period. One third of the shares will vest as of the date of grant, one third will vest in February 2014, and the remaining third will vest in February 2015. Consistent with its historical practice of granting annual stock based awards to independent directors, certain executive officers of the Company, certain employees of the Company and the Manager with respect to their service to the Company in the most recently completed fiscal year, in 2013, the Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant independent directors, certain executives and certain employees stock-based awards, consisting of shares of our common stock that vest immediately or over a multi-year vesting schedule and/or stock options with a multi-year vesting schedule under our Stock Incentive Plan with respect to their service to the Company in 2012.

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Performance Graph

        Set forth below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total stockholder return on shares of our common stock with the cumulative total return of the NAREIT All REIT Index and the Russell 2000 Index. The five year period commences on December 31, 2007 and ends on December 31, 2012, the end of our most recently completed fiscal year. The graph assumes an investment of $100 on January 1, 2008 and the reinvestment of any dividends. This graph is not necessarily indicative of future price performance. The information included in the graph and table below was obtained from SNL Financial LC, Charlottesville, VA.© 2013.

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

Total Return Performance

        In accordance with SEC rules, this section entitled "Performance Graph" shall not be incorporated by reference into any of our future filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or to be filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

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Recent Issuances of Unregistered Securities; Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities

        In connection with a debt restructuring with Wachovia Bank in the third quarter of 2009, we issued warrants that entitle Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) to purchase one million shares of our common stock at an average strike price of $4.00. The warrants were issued without registration in reliance on the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act. Of such warrants, 500,000 warrants at a price of $3.50, 250,000 warrants at a price of $4.00 and 250,000 warrants at a price of $5.00. All of the warrants are currently exercisable, expire on July 23, 2015 and no warrants have been exercised to date.

        In June 2010, our registration statement to permit the resale of the shares underlying the one million warrants was declared effective by the SEC and we paid all of the expenses related to the registration. The registration statement is currently effective.

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ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF
ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

        The following tables present selected historical consolidated financial information for the periods indicated. The selected historical consolidated financial information presented below under the captions "Consolidated Statement of Operations Data" and "Consolidated Balance Sheet Data" have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, which management considers necessary for a fair presentation of the historical consolidated financial statements for such period. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. In addition, since the information presented below is only a summary and does not provide all of the information contained in our historical consolidated financial statements, including the related notes, you should read it in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our historical consolidated financial statements, including the related notes, included elsewhere in this report.

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ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        You should read the following discussion in conjunction with the sections of this report entitled "Risk Factors", "Forward-Looking Statements", and "Selected Consolidated Financial Information of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries" and the historical consolidated financial statements of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries, including related notes, included elsewhere in this report.

Overview

        We are a Maryland corporation formed in June 2003 to invest in multi-family and commercial real estate-related bridge loans, junior participating interests in first mortgages, mezzanine loans, preferred and direct equity and, in limited cases, discounted mortgage notes and other real estate-related assets, which we refer to collectively as structured finance investments. We have also invested in mortgage-related securities. We conduct substantially all of our operations through our operating partnership and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

        Our operating performance is primarily driven by the following factors:

•

Net interest income earned on our investments—Net interest income represents the amount by which the interest income earned on our assets exceeds the interest expense incurred on our borrowings. If the yield earned on our assets decreases or the cost of borrowings increases, this will have a negative impact on earnings. However, if the yield earned on our assets increases or the cost of borrowings decreases, this will have a positive impact on earnings. Net interest income is also directly impacted by the size and performance of our asset portfolio. See "Current Market Conditions, Risks and Recent Trends" below for risks and trends of our net interest income.



•

Credit quality of our assets—Effective asset and portfolio management is essential to maximize the performance and value of a real estate/mortgage investment. Maintaining the credit quality of our loans and investments is of critical importance. Loans that do not perform in accordance with their terms may have a negative impact on earnings and liquidity.



•

Cost control—We seek to minimize our operating costs, which consist primarily of employee compensation and related costs, management fees and other general and administrative expenses. If there are increases in foreclosures and non-performing loans and investments, certain of these expenses, particularly employee compensation expenses and asset management related expenses, may increase.

        We are organized and conduct our operations to qualify as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") and to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code with respect thereto. A REIT is generally not subject to federal income tax on its REIT—taxable income which is distributed to its stockholders, provided that at least 90% of its REIT—taxable income is distributed and provided that certain other requirements are met. As of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, we were in compliance with all REIT requirements and, therefore, have not provided for income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, except for $0.4 million of federal alternative minimum tax and $0.2 million of estimated state income taxes incurred in those states that do not adopt the federal tax law that allows us to elect to defer income generated from certain debt extinguishment transactions, recorded in 2012. Under current federal tax law, the gain and the tax on the gain of certain debt extinguishment transactions realized in 2009 and 2010 have been deferred to future periods at our election. For the year ended December 31, 2010, we recorded $0.9 million of estimated state income taxes incurred in those states that do not adopt the federal tax law that allows us to elect to defer income generated from certain debt extinguishment transactions as well as a deferred tax provision of $1.7 million. Certain REIT income may be subject to state and local income taxes. Our assets or

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operations that would not otherwise comply with the REIT requirements, are owned or conducted by our taxable REIT subsidiaries, the income of which is subject to federal and state income tax. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we recorded a $1.4 million receivable for the refund of federal income taxes paid by a taxable REIT subsidiary in a prior year, which was received in 2012. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, we did not record a provision for income taxes related to the assets that are held in taxable REIT subsidiaries.

Current Market Conditions, Risks and Recent Trends

        Global stock and credit markets have experienced prolonged price volatility, dislocations and liquidity disruptions over the past several years, which have caused market prices of many stocks to fluctuate substantially. Commercial real estate has been particularly adversely affected by the past economic downturn. Although we have seen some improvements, the overall market recovery remains uncertain. Should the market regress, the commercial real estate sector may experience additional losses, challenges in complying with the terms of financing agreements, difficulty in raising capital, and challenges in obtaining investment financing with attractive terms or at all. If market conditions continue to stabilize, we will rely on the credit and equity markets to generate capital for financing the growth of our business.

        These circumstances have materially impacted liquidity in the financial markets and have resulted in the scarcity of certain types of financing, and, in certain cases, making terms for certain financings less attractive. If these conditions persist, lending institutions may be forced to exit markets such as repurchase lending, become insolvent, further tighten their lending standards or increase the amount of equity capital required to obtain financing, and in such event, could make it more difficult for us to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all. Our profitability will be adversely affected if we are unable to obtain cost-effective financing for our investments. A prolonged downturn in the stock or credit markets may cause us to seek alternative sources of potentially less attractive financing, and may require us to adjust our business plan accordingly. In addition, these factors may make it more difficult for our borrowers to repay our loans as they may experience difficulties in selling assets, increased costs of financing or obtaining financing at all. These events in the stock and credit markets may also make it more difficult or unlikely for us to raise capital through the issuance of our common stock or preferred stock. These disruptions in the financial markets also may have a material adverse effect on the market value of our common stock and other adverse effects on us or the economy in general.

        The past economic downturn has had a significant impact on our business, our borrowers and real estate values throughout all asset classes and geographic locations. If real estate values decline further, it may limit our new mortgage loan originations since borrowers often use increases in the value of their existing properties to support the purchase or investment in additional properties. Borrowers may also be less able to pay principal and interest on our loans. Declining real estate values may also significantly increase the likelihood that we will incur losses on our loans in the event of default because the value of our collateral may be insufficient to cover our cost on the loan. Any sustained period of increased payment delinquencies, foreclosures or losses could adversely affect both our net interest income from loans in our portfolio as well as our ability to originate, sell and securitize loans, which would significantly impact our revenues, results of operations, financial condition, business prospects and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. In addition, our investments are also subject to the risks described above with respect to commercial real estate loans and mortgage-backed securities and similar risks, including risks of delinquency and foreclosure, the dependence upon the successful operation of, and net income from, real property, risks generally related to interests in real property, and risks that may be presented by the type and use of a particular commercial property.

        During fiscal year 2012, we recorded $23.8 million of new provisions for loan losses, due to declining collateral values, and $0.9 million in net recoveries of reserves. During fiscal year 2011, we recorded $44.8 million of new provisions for loan losses, $6.3 million in net recoveries of reserves, and

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$5.7 million of loss on sale and restructuring of loans. During fiscal year 2010, we recorded $100.9 million of new provisions for loan losses, due to declining collateral values, $18.1 million in net recoveries of reserves, and a $7.2 million loss on sale and restructuring of loans. In addition, we acquired two new real estate owned properties through a transfer from a creditor trust and a purchase out of bankruptcy, respectively, in the first quarter of 2011. We have made, and continue to make modifications and extensions to loans when it is economically feasible to do so. In some cases, a modification is a more viable alternative to foreclosure proceedings when a borrower cannot comply with loan terms. In doing so, lower borrower interest rates, combined with non-performing loans, will lower our net interest margins when comparing interest income to our costs of financing. These trends may persist with a prolonged economic downturn and we feel if they do, there will be continued modifications and delinquencies in the foreseeable future, which may result in reduced net interest margins and additional losses throughout our sector.

        While there continue to be effects from the economic downturn, we have seen market opportunities becoming available to us based on our strategic positioning. As a result, we completed a public offering in the second quarter of 2012 in which we sold 3,500,000 shares of our common stock for net proceeds of approximately $17.5 million and another public offering in the fourth quarter of 2012 in which we sold 3,500,000 shares of our common stock for net proceeds of approximately $19.2 million. We used the net proceeds from these offerings to make investments, to repurchase or pay liabilities and for general corporate purposes. We also entered into an "At-The-Market" ("ATM") equity offering sales agreement in the fourth quarter of 2012 whereby, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, from time to time we may issue and sell up to 6,000,000 shares of our common stock. As of February 15, 2013, JMP has sold 787,700 shares for net proceeds of $5.5 million.

        Further, we also completed our first collateralized loan obligation ("CLO") in the third quarter of 2012 in which we issued $87.5 million of investment grade notes and a second CLO in January 2013 in which we issued $177.0 million of investment grade notes. While there can be no assurance that we will continue to have access to the equity and debt markets, we will continue to pursue these and other available market opportunities as means to increase our liquidity and capital base.

        On February 1, 2013, we completed an underwritten public offering of 1.4 million shares of 8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock generating net proceeds of approximately $33.6 million after deducting underwriting fees and estimated offering costs. In addition, the underwriters were granted an over-allotment option for 210,000 shares of the preferred stock which expires in March 2013. On February 5, 2013, the underwriters exercised their option for 151,500 shares providing additional net proceeds of approximately $3.7 million.

        Refer to Item 1A "Risk Factors" above and Item 7A. "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" below for additional risk factors.

Sources of Operating Revenues

        We derive our operating revenues primarily through interest received from making real estate-related bridge, mezzanine and junior participation loans and preferred equity investments. Interest income earned on these loans and investments represented approximately 69%, 75% and 97% of our total revenues in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

        Interest income may also be derived from profits on equity participation interests. No such interest income was recognized in 2012, 2011 and 2010.

        We also derive interest income from our investments in residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS"), commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS") and commercial real estate collateralized debt obligation ("CDO") bond securities. Interest on these investments represented approximately 3%, 1% and 2% of our total revenues in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

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        Property operating income is derived from our hotel and multifamily real estate owned assets. In 2012 and 2011, property operating income represented approximately 27% and 24% of our total revenues, respectively. The operation of a portfolio of hotel properties that we own is seasonal with the majority of revenues earned in the first two quarters of the calendar year. No such income was recognized in 2010.

        Additionally, we derive operating revenues from other income that represents net interest income and gains and losses recorded on our linked transactions, as well as loan structuring and defeasance fees, and miscellaneous asset management fees associated with our loans and investments portfolio. Revenue from other income represented approximately 1% of our total revenues in 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Income or Loss from Equity Affiliates and Gain or Loss on Sale of Loans and Real Estate

        We derive income or loss from equity affiliates relating to joint ventures that were formed with equity partners to acquire, develop and/or sell real estate assets. These joint ventures are not majority owned or controlled by us, and are not consolidated in our financial statements. These investments are recorded under either the equity or cost method of accounting as appropriate. We record our share of net income and losses from the underlying properties of our equity method investments and any other-than-temporary impairment of these investments on a single line item in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as income or loss from equity affiliates. In 2012 and 2010, loss from equity affiliates totaled $0.7 million and $1.3 million, respectively, while in 2011, income from equity affiliates was $3.7 million.

        We also may derive income or loss from the sale of loans and real estate. We may acquire real estate by foreclosure or through partial or full settlement of mortgage debt or for investment in order to stabilize the property and dispose of it for a future anticipated return. We may also acquire real estate notes generally at a discount from lenders in situations where the borrower wishes to restructure and reposition its short-term debt and the lender wishes to divest certain assets from its portfolio. In 2012, we sold a real estate property that was part of a portfolio of hotel assets to a third party for a gain of $0.5 million as well as two real estate held-for-sale properties acquired by deed-in-lieu of foreclosure to third parties for a total gain of $3.5 million. In 2010, we sold a real estate held-for-sale property acquired by a foreclosure sale to a third party for a gain of $1.3 million. No such gain or loss was recorded in 2011.

Significant Accounting Estimates and Critical Accounting Policies

        Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification™, the authoritative reference for accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that could affect the reported amounts in our consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. A summary of our significant accounting policies is presented in Note 2 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" set forth in Item 8 hereof. Set forth below is a summary of the accounting policies that management believes are critical to the preparation of the consolidated financial statements included in this report. Certain of the accounting policies used in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are particularly important for an understanding of the financial position and results of operations presented in the historical consolidated financial statements included in this report and require the application of significant judgment by management and, as a result, are subject to a degree of uncertainty.

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Loans, Investments and Securities

        Loans held for investment are intended to be held to maturity and, accordingly, are carried at cost, net of unamortized loan origination costs and fees, loan purchase discounts, and net of the allowance for loan losses when such loan or investment is deemed to be impaired. We invest in preferred equity interests that, in some cases, allow us to participate in a percentage of the underlying property's cash flows from operations and proceeds from a sale or refinancing. At the inception of each such investment, management must determine whether such investment should be accounted for as a loan, joint venture or as real estate. To date, management has determined that all such investments are properly accounted for and reported as loans.

        At the time of purchase, we designate a security as available-for-sale, held-to-maturity, or trading depending on our ability and intent to hold it to maturity. We do not have any securities designated as trading as of December 31, 2012. Securities available-for-sale are reported at fair value with the net unrealized gains or losses reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, while securities held-to-maturity are reported at amortized cost. Unrealized losses that are determined to be other-than-temporary are recognized in earnings up to their credit component. The determination of other-than-temporary impairment is a subjective process requiring judgments and assumptions. The process may include, but is not limited to, assessment of recent market events and prospects for near-term recovery, assessment of cash flows, internal review of the underlying assets securing the investments, credit of the issuer and the rating of the security, as well as our ability and intent to hold the investment to maturity. Management closely monitors market conditions on which it bases such decisions.

        We also assess certain of our securities, other than those of high credit quality, to determine whether significant changes in estimated cash flows or unrealized losses on these securities, if any, reflect a decline in value which is other-than-temporary and, accordingly, should be written down to their fair value against earnings. On a quarterly basis, we review these changes in estimated cash flows, which could occur due to actual prepayment and credit loss experience, to determine if an other-than-temporary impairment is deemed to have occurred. The determination of other-than-temporary impairment is a subjective process requiring judgments and assumptions and is not necessarily intended to indicate a permanent decline in value. We calculate a revised yield based on the current amortized cost of the investment, including any other-than-temporary impairments recognized to date, and the revised yield is then applied prospectively to recognize interest income.

        From time to time, we may enter into an agreement to sell a loan. These loans are considered held-for-sale and are valued at the lower of the loan's carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. For the sale of loans, recognition occurs when ownership passes to the buyer.

Impaired Loans, Allowance for Loan Losses, Loss on Sale and Restructuring of Loans and Charge-offs

        Loans are considered impaired when, based upon current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due for both principal and interest according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. We evaluate each loan in our portfolio on a quarterly basis. Our loans are individually specific and unique as it relates to product type, geographic location, and collateral type, as well as to the rights and remedies and the position in the capital structure our loans and investments have in relation to the underlying collateral. We evaluate all of this information as well as general market trends related to specific classes of assets, collateral type and geographic locations, when determining the appropriate assumptions such as capitalization and market discount rates, as well as the asset's operating income and cash flows, in estimating the value of the underlying collateral when determining if a loan is impaired. We utilize internally developed valuation models and techniques primarily consisting of discounted cash flow and direct capitalization models in determining the fair value of the underlying collateral on an individual loan. We may also obtain a third party appraisal,

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which may value the collateral through an "as-is" or "stabilized value" methodology. Such appraisals may be used as an additional source of valuation information only and no adjustments are made to appraisals. Included in the evaluation of the capitalization and market discount rates, we consider not only assumptions specific to the collateral but also geographical and industry trends that could impact the collateral's value.

        If upon completion of the valuation, the fair value of the underlying collateral securing the impaired loan is less than the net carrying value of the loan, an allowance is created with a corresponding charge to the provision for loan losses. The allowance for each loan is maintained at a level that is believed to be adequate by management to absorb probable losses. We had a $161.7 million allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2012 related to 20 loans in our portfolio with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $240.2 million, before loan loss reserves. At December 31, 2011, we had a $185.4 million allowance for loan losses related to 24 loans in our portfolio with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $285.0 million, before loan loss reserves.

        Loan terms may be modified if we determine that based on the individual circumstances of a loan and the underlying collateral, a modification would more likely increase the total recovery of the combined principal and interest from the loan. Any loan modification is predicated upon a goal of maximizing the collection of the loan. Typical triggers for a modification would include situations where the projected cash flow is insufficient to cover required debt service, when asset performance is lagging the initial projections, where there is a requirement for rebalancing, where there is an impending maturity of the loan, and where there is an actual loan default. Loan terms that have been modified have included, but are not limited to interest rate, maturity date and in certain cases, principal amount. Length and amounts of each modification have varied based on individual circumstances and are determined on a case by case basis. If the loan modification constitutes a concession whereas we do not receive ample consideration in return for the modification, and the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties and cannot repay the loan under the current terms, then the modification is considered by us to be a troubled debt restructuring. If we receive a benefit, either monetary or strategic, and the above criteria are not met, the modification is not considered to be a troubled debt restructuring. We record interest on modified loans on an accrual basis to the extent that the modified loan is contractually current.

        Loss on restructured loans is recorded when we grant a concession to a borrower in the form of principal forgiveness related to a payoff or the substitution or addition of a new debtor for the original borrower or when we incur costs on behalf of the borrower related to the modification, payoff or the substitution or addition of a new debtor for the original borrower. When a loan is restructured, we record the investment at net realizable value, taking into account the cost of all concessions at the date of restructuring. The reduction in the recorded investment is recorded as a charge to the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the period in which the loan is restructured. In addition, a gain or loss may be recorded upon the sale of a loan to a third party as a charge to the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the period in which the loan was sold. No loss on sale and restructuring of loans was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2012. During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, we recorded loss on sale and restructuring of loans of $5.7 million and $7.2 million, respectively.

        Charge-offs to the allowance for loan losses occur when losses are confirmed through the receipt of cash or other consideration from the completion of a sale; when a modification or restructuring takes place in which we grant a concession to a borrower or agree to a discount in full or partial satisfaction of the loan; when we take ownership and control of the underlying collateral in full satisfaction of the loan; when loans are reclassified as other investments; or when significant collection efforts have ceased and it is highly likely that a loss has been realized. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, we recorded charge-offs to the allowance for loan losses of $46.6 million, $58.8 million and $194.9 million, respectively.

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Real Estate Owned and Held-For-Sale

        Real estate owned, shown net of accumulated depreciation and impairment charges, is comprised of real property acquired by foreclosure or through partial or full settlement of mortgage debt. The real estate acquired is recorded at the estimated fair value at the time of acquisition.

        Costs incurred in connection with the foreclosure of the properties collateralizing the real estate loans are expensed as incurred and costs subsequently incurred to extend the life or improve the assets subsequent to foreclosure are capitalized.

        We allocate the purchase price of operating properties to land, building, tenant improvements, deferred lease cost for the origination costs of the in-place leases, intangibles for the value of the above or below market leases at fair value and to any other identified intangible assets or liabilities. We finalize the purchase price allocation on these assets within one year of the acquisition date. We amortize the value allocated to the in-place leases over the remaining lease term. The value allocated to the above or below market leases are amortized over the remaining lease term as an adjustment to rental income.

        Real estate assets, including assets acquired by foreclosure or through partial or full settlement of mortgage debt, that are operated for the production of income are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. Ordinary repairs and maintenance which are not reimbursed by the tenants are expensed as incurred. Major replacements and betterments which improve or extend the life of the asset are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful life.

        Our properties are individually reviewed for impairment each quarter, if events or circumstances change indicating that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. We recognize impairment if the undiscounted estimated cash flows to be generated by the assets are less than the carrying amount of those assets. Measurement of impairment is based upon the estimated fair value of the assets. Upon evaluating a property for impairment, many factors are considered, including estimated current and expected operating cash flows from the property during the projected holding period, costs necessary to extend the life or improve the asset, expected capitalization rates, projected stabilized net operating income, selling costs, and the ability to hold and dispose of such real estate owned in the ordinary course of business. Valuation adjustments may be necessary in the event that effective interest rates, rent-up periods, future economic conditions, and other relevant factors vary significantly from those assumed in valuing the property. If future evaluations result in a diminution in the value of the property, the reduction will be recognized as an impairment charge at that time.

        Real estate is classified as held-for-sale when management commits to a plan of sale, the asset is available for immediate sale, there is an active program to locate a buyer, and it is probable the sale will be complete within one year. Properties classified as held-for-sale are not depreciated and the results of their operations are shown in discontinued operations. Real estate assets that are expected to be disposed of are valued, on an individual asset basis, at the lower of their carrying amount or their fair value less costs to sell.

        We recognize sales of real estate properties upon closing. Payments received from purchasers prior to closing are recorded as deposits. Profit on real estate sold is recognized upon closing using the full accrual method when the collectability of the sale price is reasonably assured and we are not obligated to perform significant activities after the sale. Profit may be deferred in whole or in part until collectability of the sales price is reasonably assured and the earnings process is complete.

Revenue Recognition

        Interest income.    Interest income is recognized on the accrual basis as it is earned from loans, investments and securities. In certain instances, the borrower pays an additional amount of interest at the time the loan is closed, an origination fee, a prepayment fee and/or deferred interest upon

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maturity. In some cases, interest income may also include the amortization or accretion of premiums and discounts arising from the purchase or origination of the loan or security. This additional income, net of any direct loan origination costs incurred, is deferred and accreted into interest income on an effective yield or "interest" method adjusted for actual prepayment activity over the life of the related loan or security as a yield adjustment. Income recognition is suspended for loans when, in the opinion of management a full recovery of all contractual principal is not probable. Income recognition is resumed when the loan becomes contractually current and performance is resumed. We record interest income on certain impaired loans to the extent cash is received, in which a loan loss reserve has been recorded, as the borrower continues to make interest payments. We recorded loan loss reserves related to these loans as it was deemed that full recovery of principal and interest was not probable.

        Several of our loans provide for accrual of interest at specified rates, which differ from current payment terms. Interest is recognized on such loans at the accrual rate subject to management's determination that accrued interest and outstanding principal are ultimately collectible, based on the underlying collateral and operations of the asset. If management cannot make this determination, interest income above the current pay rate is recognized only upon actual receipt.

        Given the transitional nature of some of our real estate loans, we may require funds to be placed into an interest reserve, based on contractual requirements, to cover debt service costs. We will analyze these interest reserves on a periodic basis and determine if any additional interest reserves are needed. Recognition of income on loans with funded interest reserves are accounted for in the same manner as loans without funded interest reserves. We will not recognize any interest income on loans in which the borrower has failed to make the contractual interest payment due or has not replenished the interest reserve account. As of December 31, 2012, we had total interest reserves of $8.3 million on 40 loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $475.6 million and had three non-performing loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $38.4 million with a funded interest reserve of $0.1 million. Income from non-performing loans is generally recognized on a cash basis only to the extent it is received. Full income recognition will resume when the loan becomes contractually current and performance has recommenced.

        Additionally, interest income is recorded when earned from equity participation interests, referred to as equity kickers. These equity kickers have the potential to generate additional revenues to us as a result of excess cash flow distributions and/or as appreciated properties are sold or refinanced. We did not record interest income on such investments for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 or 2010.

        Property operating income.    Property operating income represents income associated with the operation of commercial real estate properties classified as real estate owned. We recognize revenue for these activities when the fees are fixed or determinable, or are evidenced by an arrangement, collection is reasonably assured and the services under the arrangement have been provided. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, we recorded approximately $30.2 million and $23.4 million, respectively, of property operating income relating to real estate owned properties. We did not have property operating income in 2010. As of December 31, 2012, we had two real estate owned properties, a portfolio of multifamily assets that was purchased by us out of bankruptcy and a portfolio of hotel assets that was transferred to us by the owner, a creditor trust. Both of these portfolios were acquired in the first quarter of 2011. Additionally, a real estate investment that was part of the portfolio of hotel properties was sold in 2012, and two real estate investments were reclassified from real estate owned to real estate held-for-sale in 2011, resulting in the reclassification of all of the operating activity from these properties from property operating income and expenses into discontinued operations for all prior periods. For more details see Note 6 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" set forth in Item 8 hereof.

        Other income.    Other income represents net interest income and gains and losses recorded on our linked transactions, as well as loan structuring, defeasance, and miscellaneous asset management fees

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associated with our loans and investments portfolio. We recognize these forms of income when the fees are fixed or determinable, are evidenced by an arrangement, collection is reasonably assured and the services under the arrangement have been provided.

Stock-Based Compensation

        We have granted certain of our employees, directors, and employees of ACM, stock awards consisting of shares of our common stock that vest immediately or annually over a multi-year period, subject to the recipient's continued service to us. We record stock-based compensation expense at the grant date fair value of the related stock-based award with subsequent remeasurement for any unvested shares granted to non-employees. Such amounts are expensed against earnings, at the grant date (for the portion that vests immediately) or ratably over the respective vesting periods. Dividends are paid on restricted stock as dividends are paid on shares of our common stock whether or not they are vested. Stock-based compensation is disclosed in our Consolidated Statement of Operations under "employee compensation and benefits" for employees and under "selling and administrative" expense for non-employees.

Income Taxes

        We are organized and conduct our operations to qualify as a REIT and to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code with respect thereto. A REIT is generally not subject to federal income tax on taxable income which is distributed to its stockholders, provided that at least 90% of its taxable income is distributed and provided that certain other requirements are met. Certain REIT income may be subject to state and local income taxes. Our assets or operations that would not otherwise comply with the REIT requirements, are owned or conducted by our taxable REIT subsidiaries, the income of which is subject to federal and state income tax. Under current federal tax law, the income and the tax on such income attributable to certain debt extinguishment transactions realized in 2009 and 2010 have been deferred to future periods at our election.

        Current accounting guidance clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements. This guidance prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. This guidance also provides clarity on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and disclosure.

Hedging Activities and Derivatives

Hedging Activities

        We recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities at fair value and these amounts are recorded in other assets or other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Additionally, the fair value adjustments will affect either accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings, or net income (loss) depending on whether the derivative instrument qualifies as a hedge for accounting purposes and, if so, the nature of the hedging activity. We use derivatives for hedging purposes rather than speculation. Fair values are approximated based on current market data received from financial sources that trade such instruments and are based on prevailing market data and derived from third party proprietary models based on well recognized financial principles and reasonable estimates about relevant future market conditions.

Derivatives

        We record all derivatives in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. Additionally, the accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether a company has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge

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accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge or the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge. We may enter into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain of our risks, even though hedge accounting does not apply or we elect not to apply hedge accounting.

        In the normal course of business, we may use a variety of derivative financial instruments to manage, or hedge, interest rate risk. These derivative financial instruments must be effective in reducing its interest rate risk exposure in order to qualify for hedge accounting. When the terms of an underlying transaction are modified, or when the underlying hedged item ceases to exist, all changes in the fair value of the instrument are marked-to-market with changes in value included in net income (loss) for each period until the derivative instrument matures or is settled. Any derivative instrument used for risk management that does not meet the hedging criteria is marked-to-market with the changes in value included in net income (loss). In cases where a derivative financial instrument is terminated early, any gain or loss is generally amortized over the remaining life of the hedged item.

        During the year ended December 31, 2012, one basis swap matured with a notional value of approximately $110.1 million, ten interest rate swaps matured with a combined notional value of approximately $196.4 million and one interest rate cap matured with a notional value of approximately $7.0 million. In addition, the notional value on four basis swaps decreased by approximately $140.4 million pursuant to the contractual terms of the respective swap agreements and the notional value on an interest rate swap decreased by approximately $6.4 million pursuant to the contractual terms of the respective swap agreement. In certain circumstances, we may finance the purchase of RMBS investments through a repurchase agreement with the same counterparty which may qualify as a linked transaction. If both transactions are entered into contemporaneously or in contemplation of each other, the transactions are presumed to be linked transactions and we account for the purchase of such securities and the repurchase agreement on a combined basis as a forward contract derivative at fair value which is reported in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet with changes in the fair value of the assets and liabilities underlying linked transactions and associated interest income and expense reported in other income on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The analysis of transactions under these rules requires management's judgment and experience. During year ended December 31, 2012, we purchased 12 RMBS investments which qualified as linked transactions. The RMBS investments, net of their respective financing, had a total fair value at December 31, 2012 of $10.8 million which is recorded in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. During the year ended December 31, 2011, we entered into a LIBOR Cap with a notional value of approximately $73.3 million that was designated as a cash flow hedge and a LIBOR Cap with a notional value of approximately $6.0 million that was not designated as a cash flow hedge. In addition, the notional value on four basis swaps decreased by approximately $202.8 million pursuant to the contractual terms of the respective swap agreements, the notional value on two interest rate swaps decreased by approximately $14.2 million pursuant to the contractual terms of the respective swap agreements, and six interest rate swaps matured with a combined notional value of approximately $111.3 million. Gains and losses on terminated swaps are deferred and recognized in interest expense over the original life of the hedged item. The fair value of our qualifying hedge portfolio has increased by approximately $8.1 million from December 31, 2011 as a result of the maturities and the amortized notional value of swaps, combined with a change in the projected LIBOR rates and credit spreads of both parties.

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        Because the valuations of our derivatives are based on estimates, the fair value may change if our estimates are inaccurate. For the effect of hypothetical changes in market interest rates on our interest rate swaps, see "Interest Rate Risk" in "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk", set forth in Item 7A hereof.

Variable Interest Entities

        We have evaluated our loans and investments, mortgage related securities, investments in equity affiliates, junior subordinated notes, CDOs and CLO, in order to determine if they qualify as Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs") or as variable interests in VIEs. This evaluation resulted in our determination that our bridge loans, junior participation loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity investments, investments in equity affiliates, junior subordinated notes, CDOs, CLO and investments in debt securities were potential VIEs or variable interests in VIEs. A VIE is defined as an entity in which equity investors (i) do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest, and/or (ii) do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support from other parties. A VIE is required to be consolidated by its primary beneficiary, which is defined as the party that (i) has the power to control the activities that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and (ii) has the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

        We consolidate our CDO and CLO subsidiaries, which qualify as VIEs, of which we are the primary beneficiary. These CDOs and CLOs invest in real estate and real estate-related securities and are financed by the issuance of CDO and CLO debt securities. We, or one of our affiliates, is named collateral manager, servicer, and special servicer for all CDO and CLO collateral assets which we believes gives us the power to direct the most significant economic activities of the entity. We also have exposure to CDO and CLO losses to the extent of our equity interests and also have rights to waterfall payments in excess of required payments to CDO and CLO bond investors. As a result of consolidation, equity interests in these CDOs and CLOs have been eliminated, and the Consolidated Balance Sheet reflects both the assets held and debt issued by the CDOs and CLOs to third parties. Our operating results and cash flows include the gross amounts related to CDO and CLO assets and liabilities as opposed to our net economic interests in the CDO and CLO entities.

        As of December 31, 2012, we have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of 54 VIEs in which we have a variable interest. These VIEs had an aggregate carrying amount of $655.0 million and exposure to real estate debt of approximately $4.6 billion at December 31, 2012. For all other investments, we have determined they are not VIEs or variable interests in VIEs. As such, we have continued to account for these loans and investments as a loan or joint venture, as appropriate. A summary of our identified VIEs or variable interests in VIEs is presented in Note 9 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" set forth in Item 8 hereof.

Fair Value Measurements

        Fair value is defined as the price at which an asset could be exchanged in a current transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties. A liability's fair value is defined as the amount that would be paid to transfer the liability to a new obligor, not the amount that would be paid to settle the liability with the creditor. Where available, fair value is based on observable market prices or parameters or derived from such prices or parameters. Where observable prices or inputs are not available, valuation models are applied. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the instruments or market and the instruments' complexity.

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        Assets and liabilities disclosed at fair value are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. Hierarchical levels directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair valuation of these assets and liabilities, are as follows:

•

Level 1—Inputs are unadjusted and quoted prices exist in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date. The types of assets and liabilities carried at Level 1 fair value generally are government and agency securities, equities listed in active markets, investments in publicly traded mutual funds with quoted market prices and listed derivatives.



•

Level 2—Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument's anticipated life. Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices in markets that are not active for an identical or similar asset or liability, and quoted market prices in active markets for a similar asset or liability. Fair valued assets and liabilities that are generally included in this category are non-government securities, municipal bonds, certain hybrid financial instruments, certain mortgage and asset-backed securities, certain corporate debt, certain commitments and guarantees, certain private equity investments and certain derivatives.



•

Level 3—Inputs reflect management's best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. These valuations are based on significant unobservable inputs that require a considerable amount of judgment and assumptions. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model. Generally, assets and liabilities carried at fair value and included in this category are certain mortgage and asset-backed securities, certain corporate debt, certain private equity investments, certain municipal bonds, certain commitments and guarantees and certain derivatives.

        Determining which category an asset or liability falls within the hierarchy requires significant judgment and we evaluate our hierarchy disclosures each quarter.

        At December 31, 2012, we measured certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, including available-for-sale securities and derivative financial instruments. The fair values of certain available-for-sale securities are approximated based on current market quotes received from financial sources that trade such securities. The fair values of available-for-sale equity securities traded in active markets are approximated using Level 1 inputs, while the fair values of certain available-for-sale debt securities that are approximated using current, non-binding market quotes received from financial sources that trade such investments are valued using Level 3 inputs. The fair values of certain CMBS and CDO securities are estimated by us using Level 3 inputs that require significant judgments, which include assumptions regarding capitalization rates, leasing, creditworthiness of major tenants, occupancy rates, availability of financing, exit plan, loan sponsorship, actions of other lenders and other factors deemed necessary by management. In addition, fair values of interest rate swap derivatives are approximated using Level 2 inputs based on current market data received from financial sources that trade such instruments and are based on prevailing market data and derived from third party proprietary models based on well recognized financial principles including counterparty risks, credit spreads and interest rate projections, as well as reasonable estimates about relevant future market conditions. These items are included in other assets and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. We incorporate credit valuation adjustments in the fair values of our derivative financial instruments to reflect counterparty nonperformance risk. The fair values of forward contract derivatives are approximated using Level 3 inputs in internally developed valuation models, which are compared to current non-binding market quotes for the underlying RMBS received from pricing services and financial sources that trade such investments.

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        At December 31, 2012, we measured certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Loans held for investment are intended to be held to maturity and, accordingly, are carried at cost, net of unamortized loan origination costs and fees, loan purchase discounts, and net of the allowance for loan losses when such loan or investment is deemed to be impaired. We consider a loan impaired when, based upon current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due for both principal and interest according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. We perform evaluations of our loans to determine if the fair value of the underlying collateral securing the impaired loan is less than the net carrying value of the loan, which may result in an allowance and corresponding charge to the provision for loan losses. These valuations require significant judgments, which include assumptions regarding capitalization rates, leasing, creditworthiness of major tenants, occupancy rates, availability of financing, exit plan, loan sponsorship, actions of other lenders and other factors deemed necessary by management. In addition, real estate investments held-for-sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value, less costs to sell. Measurement of fair value requires significant judgments, which include assumptions regarding cash flows, capitalization rates, occupancy rates, availability of financing, exit plan, and other factors deemed necessary by management as well as discussions with active market participants.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

        In December 2011, the FASB issued updated guidance on disclosure about offsetting assets and liabilities which amends U.S. GAAP to conform more to the disclosure requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). Under the updated guidance, an entity is required to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. The scope would include certain derivatives (including bifurcated embedded derivatives,) repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions. This guidance is effective as of the first quarter of 2013 and we are currently evaluating the impact it may have on our financial disclosure.

        In June 2011, the FASB issued updated guidance on comprehensive income which amends U.S. GAAP to conform to IFRS disclosure requirements. The amendment eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity and requires a separate Statement of Comprehensive Income or two consecutive statements in the Statement of Operations and in a separate Statement of Comprehensive Income. This guidance was effective as of the first quarter of 2012, except for guidance on the disclosure of reclassification adjustments which was postponed for re-deliberation by the FASB, and early adoption was permitted. We early adopted the guidance in the fourth quarter of 2011, with the exception of the disclosure of reclassification adjustments postponed for re-deliberation by the FASB. As the guidance only amends existing disclosure requirements, its adoption did not have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements. In February 2013, the FASB issued updated guidance on the disclosure of reclassification adjustments. The updated guidance requires us to disclose, either on the face of the financial statements or in the notes to the financial statements, the financial statement effects on earnings from items that are reclassified out of other comprehensive income, by component. This guidance is effective as of the first quarter of 2013 and we are currently evaluating the impact it may have on our financial disclosure.

        In May 2011, the FASB issued updated guidance on fair value measurement which amends U.S. GAAP to conform to IFRS measurement and disclosure requirements. The guidance amends certain fair value measurement principles and enhances disclosure requirements by requiring a description of the process for valuing items categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy, quantitative disclosure of unobservable inputs used to make these measurements and, in certain cases, the sensitivity of the measurements to changes in these inputs. This guidance was effective as of the

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first quarter of 2012, applied prospectively, and its adoption did not have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

        In April 2011, the FASB issued updated guidance on the transfer of financial assets which primarily removes certain criteria from the consideration of effective control over assets subject to repurchase agreements when determining the recognition of a sale. The removal of these criteria will generally result in the assets transferred pursuant to the repurchase agreement being accounted for as a secured borrowing, with both the transferred asset and repurchase liability recorded on the transferor's balance sheet. This guidance was effective as of the first quarter of 2012, applied prospectively to transactions which occur subsequent to the effective date, and its adoption did not have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Changes in Financial Condition

        Our loan and investment portfolio balance, including our available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities, at December 31, 2012 was $1.5 billion, with a weighted average current interest pay rate of 4.77%. Including certain fees and costs associated with the loan and investment portfolio, the weighted average current interest rate was 5.04%. This is compared to $1.5 billion at December 31, 2011, with a weighted average current interest pay rate of 4.59%. Including certain fees and costs associated with the loan and investment portfolio, the weighted average current interest rate was 4.82%. At December 31, 2012, advances on our financing facilities totaled $1.2 billion, with a weighted average funding cost of 2.82%, which excludes changes in the market value of certain interest rate swaps and financing costs. Including the financing costs, the weighted average funding rate was 3.12%. This is compared to $1.3 billion at December 31, 2011 with a weighted average funding cost of 3.20%, which excludes changes in the market value of certain interest rate swaps and financing costs. Including the financing costs, the weighted average funding rate was 3.54%.

        Cash and cash equivalents decreased $26.0 million, or 47%, to $29.2 million at December 31, 2012 compared to $55.2 million at December 31, 2011. All highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents. The decrease was primarily due to funding new loan originations and investments, payment of dividends and purchasing our own CDO bonds, net of proceeds received from our two equity offerings in 2012, proceeds from new financing facilities, loan payoffs, paydowns and interest from our investments.

        Restricted cash decreased $24.8 million, or 37%, to $42.5 million at December 31, 2012 compared to $67.3 million at December 31, 2011. Restricted cash is kept on deposit with the trustees for our CDOs, all three of which have reached their respective replenishment dates as of January 2012, and primarily represents proceeds from loan payoffs and paydowns net of principal repayments to the CDO bondholders, as well as unfunded loan commitments and interest payments received from loans. The decrease was primarily due to loan principal repayments net of payoffs and partial paydowns. Our real estate owned assets acquired in 2011 also have restricted cash balances totaling $1.0 million and $2.0 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, due to escrow requirements.

        Loans and investments increased $23.2 million, or 2%, to $1.33 billion at December 31, 2012 compared to $1.30 billion at December 31, 2011. During the year ended December 31, 2012, we originated 34 loans totaling $274.5 million that had an aggregate weighted average rate of interest of 7.35%, as well as received full satisfaction of 21 loans totaling $239.9 million that had an aggregate weighted average rate of interest of 5.47%. We also received partial repayment on four loans totaling $9.6 million. We also refinanced and/or modified eight loans totaling $202.3 million which increased the rate of interest on the modified loans from an aggregate weighted average rate of interest of 5.37% to 5.51%, and 26 loans totaling approximately $248.0 million were extended, $46.6 million of which was in accordance with an extension option of the corresponding loan agreement.

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        Since December 31, 2012, we have originated seven new loans for a total of $74.8 million as well as purchased two RMBS investments for a total of $24.8 million which were financed with $19.2 million of debt. We also received $28.2 million for the repayment in full of three loans.

        Securities held-to-maturity increased $13.0 million, or 43.6%, to $43.0 million at December 31, 2012 compared to $29.9 million at December 31, 2011 as a result of purchasing 18 RMBS investments in 2012, net of paydowns received during the year ended December 31, 2012. See Note 4 of the "Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements" set forth in Item 8 hereof for a further description of these transactions.

        Real estate held-for-sale decreased $62.1 million to $0 at December 31, 2012 compared to $62.1 million at December 31, 2011. In the third and fourth quarters of 2011, we entered into negotiations to sell two real estate investments with carrying values of $19.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively, to third parties. In the first quarter of 2012, the two investments were sold and a total gain on sale of real estate held-for-sale of $3.5 million was recorded in our Consolidated Statement of Operations. In the second quarter of 2012 we surrendered a property held-for-sale with a carrying value of $41.4 million to the first mortgage lender in full satisfaction of a $41.4 million mortgage note payable. See Note 6 of the "Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements" set forth in Item 8 hereof for a further description of these transactions.

        Other assets increased $8.3 million, or 18%, to $55.2 million at December 31, 2012 compared to $46.9 million at December 31, 2011. The increase was primarily due to 12 RMBS investments recorded on a combined basis with the related repurchase financing as linked transactions at a total fair value of $10.8 million, net of a $2.0 million decrease in cash collateral posted against our interest rate swaps and a $0.5 million net decrease in various other receivables and prepaid expenses. See Item 7A "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for further information relating to our derivatives.

        Repurchase agreements and credit facilities increased $54.6 million, or 72%, to $130.7 million at December 31, 2012 compared to $76.1 million at December 31, 2011 due to financing the purchase of 18 RMBS investments classified as securities held-to-maturity, net of paydowns, with two repurchase agreements during the year ended December 31, 2012, which had a combined total net increase of $9.7 million. Also, in 2012, we entered into a $15.0 million committed revolving line of credit which had an outstanding balance of $15.0 million at December 31, 2012, a $12.6 million warehousing facility which had an outstanding balance of $12.6 million at December 31, 2012 and a $17.3 million warehousing facility which had an outstanding balance of $17.3 million at December 31, 2012. See "Sources of Liquidity—Repurchase Agreements and Credit Facilities" below.

        Collateralized debt obligations decreased $190.2 million, or 19%, to $812.5 million at December 31, 2012 compared to approximately $1.0 billion at December 31, 2011 primarily due to $107.8 million of payments to investors due to runoff and amortization, as well as repurchases of Class B, C, D, E, F, G and H notes originally issued by our CDO II and CDO III issuing entities with an aggregate face value of $66.2 million, and a $15.4 million decrease in the revolving note facility of one of our CDOs. See "Sources of Liquidity—CDOs" below.

        Collateralized loan obligation was $87.5 million at December 31, 2012 due to the completion of a collateralized loan obligation in the third quarter of 2012 in which we securitized $125.1 million of assets and issued $87.5 million of investment grade notes. See "Sources of Liquidity—CLO" below.

        Notes payable decreased $34.0 million, or 40%, to $51.5 million at December 31, 2012 compared to $85.5 million at December 31, 2011 due to the sale of a $50.0 million mezzanine loan which relieved a $32.0 million junior loan participation liability in the second quarter of 2012 and the payoff of an $11.8 million mezzanine loan which relieved a $2.0 million junior loan participation liability in the third quarter of 2012. See "Sources of Liquidity—Notes Payable" below.

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        Mortgage notes payable—held-for-sale decreased $62.2 million to $0 at December 31, 2012 compared to $62.2 million at December 31, 2011 primarily due to the satisfaction of a $20.8 million first lien mortgage upon the sale to a third party of a property held-for-sale in the first quarter of 2012 as well as the surrender of a property held-for-sale to the first mortgage lender in full satisfaction of a $41.4 million mortgage note payable in the second quarter of 2012. See "Sources of Liquidity—Mortgage Notes Payable—Held-For-Sale" below for further details.

        Due to borrowers increased $20.2 million to $23.1 million at December 31, 2012 compared to $2.8 million at December 31, 2011 due to an increase in unfunded commitments on the loans originated during the year ended December 31, 2012.

        Other liabilities decreased $9.8 million, or 12%, to $72.8 million at December 31, 2012 compared to $82.6 million at December 31, 2011. The decrease was primarily due to an $8.0 million decrease in accrued interest payable as a result of an increase in the fair value of our interest rate swaps and a $3.2 million decrease in accrued expenses and payables, net of $1.4 million of effective yield amortization on our junior subordinated notes.

        On October 31, 2012, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.11 per share of common stock with respect to the three months ended September 30, 2012. The dividend was paid on November 28, 2012 to common shareholders of record at the close of business on November 20, 2012 and the ex-dividend date was November 16, 2012. On August 3, 2012, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share of common stock with respect to the three months ended June 30, 2012. The dividend was paid on August 28, 2012 to common shareholders of record at the close of business on August 21, 2012 and the ex-dividend date was August 17, 2012. On May 4, 2012, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.075 per share of common stock with respect to the three months ended March 31, 2012. The dividend was paid on May 29, 2012 to common shareholders of record at the close of business on May 22, 2012 and the ex-dividend date was May 18, 2012. On February 12, 2013, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per share of common stock with respect to the three months ended December 31, 2012. The dividend is payable on March 12, 2013 to common shareholders of record at the close of business on March 5, 2013 and the ex-dividend date is March 1, 2013. No dividends were declared in 2011.

        In June 2012, we completed a public offering in which we sold 3,500,000 shares of our common stock for $5.40 per share, and received net proceeds of approximately $17.5 million after deducting the underwriting discount and other offering expenses. In October 2012, we completed another public offering in which we sold 3,500,000 shares of our common stock for $5.80 per share, and received net proceeds of approximately $19.2 million after deducting the underwriting discount and other offering expenses. We used the net proceeds from the offerings to make investments, to repurchase or pay liabilities and for general corporate purposes. On December 31, 2012, we entered into an ATM equity offering sales agreement with JMP Securities LLC ("JMP") whereby, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, from time to time we may issue and sell through JMP up to 6,000,000 shares of our common stock. Sales of the shares, if any, will be made by means of ordinary brokers' transactions or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. As of February 15, 2013, JMP has sold 787,700 shares for net proceeds of $5.5 million. We currently have 32,036,925 shares of common stock outstanding.

        On February 1, 2013, we completed an underwritten public offering of 1.4 million shares of 8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock generating net proceeds of approximately $33.6 million after deducting underwriting fees and estimated offering costs. In addition, the underwriters were granted an over-allotment option for 210,000 shares of the preferred stock which expires in March 2013. On February 5, 2013, the underwriters exercised their option for 151,500 shares providing additional net proceeds of approximately $3.7 million. We currently have $416.4 million available under the shelf registration.

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        On April 3, 2012, we issued an aggregate of 90,000 shares of fully vested common stock to the non-management members of the Board of Directors, as well as 6,255 shares of fully vested common stock to a former director who was also the corporate secretary, under the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated in 2009 (the "Plan"), and recorded approximately $0.5 million to selling and administrative expense in our Consolidated Statement of Operations in 2012. On March 19, 2012, we issued 10,000 shares of fully vested common stock under the Plan to a director who is also an officer of the managing member of ACM, and accrued approximately $0.1 million to selling and administrative expense in our Consolidated Statement of Operations in 2012. On January 22, 2012, we issued 15,000 shares of fully vested common stock under the Plan to a director who was re-appointed to the Board of Directors on December 19, 2011, and accrued approximately $0.1 million to selling and administrative expense in our Consolidated Statement of Operations in 2011. In February 2013, the Board of Directors authorized the issuance of approximately 200,000 shares of restricted common stock under the Plan to certain employees of ours and ACM. The effective date of the grant will be February 28, 2013 and will vest over a two year period. One third of the shares will vest as of the date of grant, one third will vest in February 2014, and the remaining third will vest in February 2015.

        In December 2011, the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase plan that enabled us to buy up to 0.5 million shares of our common stock beginning January 3, 2012. At management's discretion, shares could be acquired from time to time on the open market, through privately negotiated transactions or pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan. A Rule 10b5-1 plan permits us to repurchase shares at times when we might otherwise be prevented from doing so. The program expired on July 3, 2012, as of which date we had repurchased a total 170,170 shares of our common stock under this stock repurchase plan at a total cost of $0.7 million and an average cost of $4.02 per share. In June 2011, the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase plan that enabled us to buy up to 1.5 million shares of our common stock. At management's discretion, shares could be acquired from time to time on the open market, through privately negotiated transactions or pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan. As of December 31, 2011, we repurchased all of the 1.5 million shares of our common stock under this stock repurchase plan at a total cost of $5.7 million and an average cost of $3.83 per share.

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Comparison of Results of Operations for Year Ended 2012 and 2011

        The following table sets forth our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011: