Arlington Asset Investment Corp. - Annual Report: 2004 (Form 10-K)

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

  For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

OR

  For the transition period from                     to                     

Commission File Number: 000-50230

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

1001 Nineteenth Street North Arlington, VA 22209

(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

(703) 312-9500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Indicate by check mark 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 registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K:  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the Act):    Yes  x    No  ¨

The aggregate market value of the voting common equity stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2004, based on the last sales price reported on that date on the New York Stock Exchange of $19.79 per share, was approximately $2.9 billion. In determining this figure, the registrant has assumed that all of its directors and executive officers are affiliates. Such assumption should not be deemed to be conclusive for any other purpose.

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

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1

Table of Contents

CAUTIONS ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This Form 10-K and the information incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K include forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “plans,” “estimates” or “anticipates” or the negative of those words or other comparable terminology. Statements concerning projections, future performance developments, events, revenues, expenses, earnings, run rates, and any other guidance on present or future periods constitute forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, those relating to the effects of growth, our principal investing activities, levels of assets under management and our current equity capital levels. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. You should be aware that a number of important factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to:

We will not necessarily update the information presented or incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K if any of these forward looking statements turn out to be inaccurate. Risks affecting our business are described throughout this Form 10-K, especially in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 20. This entire Form 10-K, including the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes and any other documents incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K should be read for a complete understanding of our business and the risks associated with that business.

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Our Company

We are a leading investment banking company that provides investment banking, institutional brokerage and asset management services and invests as principal in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) non-conforming residential mortgages and other mortgage related assets, and makes merchant banking investments.

2

Table of Contents

We were formed through the merger in March 2003 of two existing companies, both engaged in related businesses and both managed by the Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. (Pre-Merger FBR) management team. Prior to the merger, FBR Asset Investment Corporation (FBR Asset) was a New York Stock Exchange listed REIT externally managed by a subsidiary of Pre-Merger FBR with a primary focus in mortgage-backed securities and merchant banking investments in debt and equity securities. Pre-Merger FBR was a New York Stock Exchange listed company engaged in the investment banking, institutional brokerage and asset management business. Upon completion of the merger, the surviving corporation assumed the name Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. and succeeded to the REIT status of FBR Asset for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

With the merged businesses combined, we have continued to operate, grow and diversify the businesses of Pre-Merger FBR and FBR Asset. Our investment banking, institutional brokerage and asset management businesses are conducted through taxable REIT subsidiaries and pay full income tax on their earnings at statutory corporate level income tax rates. Our mortgage-related investment and merchant banking businesses are conducted at the parent REIT level, generating and distributing their earnings as dividends to shareholders before taxes. This structure provides shareholders a security that pays a dividend at the REIT parent level and, at the taxable REIT subsidiary level, offers the possibility for growth through the ability to retain and reinvest after-tax earnings. We have recently diversified our business and portfolio strategy further by adding a fixed income and mortgage-backed securities trading unit to our institutional trading operation and by acquiring First NLC Financial Services, LLC (“First NLC”), a non-conforming residential mortgage loan originator that will generate non-conforming residential mortgage loans that we intend to hold in our investment portfolio. See “Recent Developments.”

We are a Virginia corporation and our principal executive offices are located at Potomac Tower, 1001 Nineteenth Street North, Arlington, Virginia, 22209.

Available Information

You may read and copy the definitive proxy materials and any other reports, statements or other information that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. These SEC filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the Internet worldwide web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. These SEC filings may also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, which is located at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

Our web site address is www.fbr.com. We make available free of charge through our website our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as the annual report to shareholders and Section 16 reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5 as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. In addition, our Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Statement of Business Principles (our code of ethics), Corporate Governance Guidelines, and the charters of our Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Governance and Risk Policy and Compliance Committees are available on our web site and are available in print, without charge, to any shareholder upon written request in writing c/o our Secretary at 1001 Nineteenth Street North, Arlington, VA 22209. Information at our web site should not be deemed to be a part of this report or incorporated into any other filings we make with the SEC.

Employees

As of December 31, 2004, we had 698 employees engaged in the following activities: 12 in principal investing activities; 138 in research; 191 in institutional brokerage (including sales and trading, private client

3

Table of Contents

services, and online brokerage); 168 in investment banking; 48 in asset management (including mutual fund servicing, trust, custody and other bank services); 103 in accounting, administration and operations; 25 in compliance, legal, risk management and internal audit; and 13 in the executive group. Our employees are not subject to any collective bargaining agreement and we believe that we have excellent relations with our employees.

Financial Information by Segment

We operate in three business segments (each of which is described below): principal investing, capital markets (which includes investment banking and institutional brokerage operations), and asset management. Financial information by business segment for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2003, and December 31, 2002, including the amount of net revenue contributed by each segment in such periods, is set forth in Note 14 to our Consolidated Financial Statements and is incorporated herein by reference.

As a result of the merger of FBR Asset and Pre-Merger FBR effective March 31, 2003, the current and historical information referenced above may not necessarily be comparable between prior years, particularly with respect to principal investing and asset management activities in 2003.

Principal Investing Business

The majority of our principal investing is in mortgage-backed securities, but we also invest in merchant banking opportunities, including equity securities, mezzanine debt and senior loans, including in non-real estate related assets, subject to maintaining our REIT status. As a result of our February 2005 acquisition of First NLC, we have begun to diversify our portfolio of mortgage related investments by holding in our portfolio a portion of the non-conforming residential mortgage loans that First NLC originates. These are loans that do not meet the conforming loan underwriting standards of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae. See “Recent Developments.”

We constantly evaluate the rates of return that can be achieved in each investment category and for each individual investment in which we participate. As a result of the significant decrease in short-term interest rates during 2002 and 2003 and the resulting shape of the yield curve, our agency-backed MBS investments have provided us with higher relative rates of return than most other investment opportunities we have evaluated. Although increases in short-term interest rates during the past year have reduced the rate of return on our MBS investments, we have continued to maintain a high allocation of our assets and capital in this sector. There is no assurance that our past experience will be indicative of future results and that MBS investments will continue to provide higher rates of returns. Consequently, we continue to evaluate investment opportunities against the returns available in each of our investment alternatives and endeavor to allocate our assets and capital with an emphasis toward the highest risk-adjusted return available. This strategy will cause us to have different allocations of capital in different environments.

On February 16, 2005, we completed the acquisition of First NLC Financial Services, LLC, a non-conforming mortgage originator. The acquisition of First NLC is a part of a broader strategy to expand the types of mortgage investments held in our REIT portfolio, thereby increasing our investment flexibility and ability to achieve high risk-adjusted rates of return in varied environments.

Mortgage-Backed Securities

Overview

We invest directly in residential mortgage-backed securities guaranteed as to principal and interest by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae (referred to as agency-backed MBS). The market value of these securities is not guaranteed by these companies. To a lesser extent, we also invest in MBS issued by private

4

Table of Contents

organizations (referred to as private-label MBS). We invest at least 55% of our MBS investments in whole-pool MBS. Those securities represent the entire ownership interest in pools of mortgage loans. Various government, government-related and private organizations assemble the pools of loans for sale to investors like us. These real estate-related investments, together with our other real estate-related assets, represent qualifying REIT assets under the federal tax code.

MBS differ from other forms of traditional fixed-income securities which normally provide for periodic payments of interest in fixed amounts with principal payments at maturity. Instead, MBS provide for a monthly payment that consists of both interest and principal. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly interest and principal payments made by borrowers on their mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the servicer or guarantor of the mortgage-backed securities. In addition, the principal on the MBS may be prepaid at any time due to prepayments on the underlying mortgage loans. These differences can result in significantly greater price and yield volatility than is the case with traditional fixed-income securities.

Mortgage prepayments are affected by factors including the level of interest rates, general economic conditions, the location and age of the mortgage, and other social and demographic conditions. Generally prepayments on pass-through mortgage-backed securities increase during periods of falling mortgage interest rates and decrease during periods of rising mortgage interest rates. Reinvestment of prepayments may occur at higher or lower interest rates than the original investment, thus affecting the yield on our portfolio.

We manage our portfolio of MBS investments to provide a high risk-adjusted return on capital. Our principal investment strategy has been to invest in adjustable-rate MBS of varying initial fixed periods and to finance these investments with short-term borrowings (generally 30 to 90 days). Although the coupon on adjustable-rate MBS will change over time, there are aspects of the security that result in the coupon being fixed for a period of time or the change in the coupon being limited. A significant portion of the adjustable-rate MBS we purchase are backed by mortgages that have fixed coupons for three to five years before adjusting annually thereafter (these types of securities are referred to as hybrid adjustable rate MBS). The initial fixed period results in the MBS having a longer duration than the short-term borrowing financing these investments. In addition, adjustable-rate mortgage loans typically have caps and floors that limit the maximum amount by which the mortgage coupon may be increased or decreased at periodic intervals or over the life of the security. To the extent that interest rates rise faster than mortgage rates are allowed to increase based on the interest rate caps, the change in the mortgage coupon may not fully offset increases in our funding costs. We manage this interest rate risk to a certain extent through the use of interest rate swaps and other derivative instruments. Because of the interest rate risk inherent in our investment strategy, we generally limit the leverage (debt-to-equity ratio) of the MBS portfolio to not greater than 12:1, although, from time to time leverage may increase due to decreases in the value of the underlying portfolio investments.

Description of Our Portfolio

At December 31, 2004, we owned 472 adjustable-rate MBS that had a market value of $11.7 billion, and had borrowed $3.5 billion through repurchase agreements and $7.3 billion though commercial paper to finance our investment in those securities. Our mortgage-backed securities at December 31, 2004, are further summarized below (in thousands):

5

Table of Contents

Fannie Mae Certificates

Federal National Mortgage Association, better known as “Fannie Mae,” is a privately owned, federally chartered corporation organized and existing under the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act. Fannie Mae provides funds to the mortgage market primarily by purchasing home mortgage loans from local lenders, thereby replenishing their funds for additional lending. Fannie Mae guarantees to registered holders of Fannie Mae certificates that it will distribute amounts representing scheduled principal and interest (at the rate provided by the Fannie Mae certificate) on the mortgage loans in the pool underlying the Fannie Mae certificate, whether or not received, and the full principal amount of any mortgage loan foreclosed or otherwise finally liquidated, whether or not the principal amount is actually received by Fannie Mae. The obligations of Fannie Mae under its guarantees are solely those of Fannie Mae and are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. If Fannie Mae were unable to satisfy its obligations, the distributions made to us would consist solely of payments and other recoveries on the underlying mortgage loans, and accordingly, monthly distributions to us would be adversely affected by delinquent payments and defaults on the mortgage loans. The securities issued by Fannie Mae have an implied “AAA” rating.

Freddie Mac Certificates

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, better known as “Freddie Mac,” is a privately owned government-sponsored enterprise created pursuant to Title III of the Emergency Home Finance Act of 1970. Freddie Mac’s principal activities currently consist of the purchase of mortgage loans or participation interests in mortgage loans and the resale of the loans and participations in the form of guaranteed mortgage-backed securities. Freddie Mac guarantees to holders of Freddie Mac certificates the timely payment of interest at the applicable pass-through rate and ultimate collection of all principal on the holder’s pro rata share of the unpaid principal balance of the underlying mortgage loans, but does not guarantee the timely payment of scheduled principal on the underlying mortgage loans. The obligations of Freddie Mac under its guarantees are solely those of Freddie Mac and are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. If Freddie Mac were unable to satisfy its obligations, the distributions made to us would consist solely of payments and other recoveries on the underlying mortgage loans, and accordingly, monthly distributions to us would be adversely affected by delinquent payments and defaults on those mortgage loans. The securities issued by Freddie Mac have an implied “AAA” rating.

Ginnie Mae Certificates

Government National Mortgage Association, better known as “Ginnie Mae,” is a wholly owned corporate instrumentality of the United States within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Title III of the National Housing Act of 1934 (the Housing Act) authorizes Ginnie Mae to guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest on certificates that represent an interest in a pool of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration under the Housing Act or partially guaranteed by the Veteran’s Administration under the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 and other loans eligible for inclusion in mortgage pools underlying Ginnie Mae certificates. Section 306(g) of the Housing Act provides that “the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of all amounts that may be required to be paid under any guaranty under this subsection.” An opinion, dated December 12, 1969, of an Assistant Attorney General of the United States provides that under section 306(g) of the Housing Act, Ginnie Mae certificates of the type that we may purchase are authorized to be made by Ginnie Mae and “would constitute general obligations of the United States backed by its full faith and credit.”

Private-Label Certificates

Privately-issued certificates are pass-through certificates that are not issued by one of the agencies and that are backed by a pool of single-family mortgage loans. These certificates are issued by originators of, investors in, and other owners of mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, savings banks, commercial banks, mortgage banks, investment banks and special purpose “conduit” subsidiaries of these institutions. While agency

6

Table of Contents

pass-through certificates are backed by the express obligation or guarantee of one of the agencies, as described above, privately-issued certificates are generally covered by one or more forms of private (i.e., non-governmental) credit enhancement. These credit enhancements provide an extra layer of loss coverage in the event that losses are incurred upon foreclosure sales or other liquidations of underlying mortgaged properties in amounts that exceed the equity holder’s equity interest in the property. Forms of credit enhancement include limited issuer guarantees, reserve funds, private mortgage guaranty pool insurance, over-collateralization and subordination. Subordination is a form of credit enhancement frequently used and involves the issuance of classes of senior and subordinated mortgage-backed securities. These classes are structured into a hierarchy to allocate losses on the underlying mortgage loans. Typically, one or more classes of senior securities are created which are rated in one of the two highest rating levels by one or more nationally recognized rating agencies and which are supported by one or more subordinated securities that bear losses on the underlying loans prior to the classes of senior securities. The private-label securities held in our MBS portfolio at December 31, 2004 were rated “AAA” by Standard & Poors.

Our MBS portfolio is comprised entirely of 1-year, 3-year or 5-year adjustable-rate MBS. The coupons on these securities are fixed until the initial reset date and then reset annually thereafter. The weighted average reset date for the portfolio as of December 31, 2004 was April 2007. The months to reset date for the MBS in our portfolio as of December 31, 2004 are summarized in the following table.

The table above does not include the effect of scheduled and unscheduled principal payments. A significant portion of the $10.7 billion of MBS face value that is to reset after the next 12 months will actually reset prior to that as borrowers make scheduled and unscheduled principal payments and we reinvest those proceeds into new investments. For a more detailed discussion regarding the interest rate sensitivity of our MBS portfolio and how we manage interest rate risk, see “Our Hedging & Interest Rate Risk Management” below.

Our Use of Leverage

We may reduce the amount of equity capital we have invested in mortgage backed-securities or other assets by funding a portion of those investments with repurchase agreements, commercial paper or other borrowing arrangements. To the extent that revenue derived from those assets exceeds our interest expense and other costs of the financing, our net income will be greater than if we had not borrowed funds and had not invested in the assets. Conversely, if the revenue from those assets does not sufficiently cover the expenses, our net income will be less or our net loss will be greater than if we had not borrowed funds.

We borrow funds to invest in MBS by entering into repurchase agreements or issuing commercial paper. Under repurchase agreements, assets are sold to a third party with the commitment to repurchase the same assets at a fixed price on an agreed date. The repurchase price reflects the purchase price plus an agreed upon market rate of interest. These repurchase agreements are accounted for as debt, secured by the underlying assets. In August 2003, we formed Georgetown Funding, LLC (Georgetown Funding) a special purpose Delaware limited liability company organized for the purpose of issuing extendable commercial paper notes in the asset-backed commercial paper market. We serve as administrator for Georgetown Funding’s commercial paper program and all of Georgetown Funding’s transactions are conducted with FBR. Through our administration agreement and repurchase agreements, we are the primary beneficiary of Georgetown Funding and consolidate this entity for

7

Table of Contents

financial reporting purposes. The commercial paper notes issued by Georgetown Funding are collateralized by MBS we own and are rated A1+/P1 by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service, respectively. We are able to finance up to $12 billion of MBS through commercial paper issued by Georgetown Funding.

Based upon allocated capital to our mortgage-backed securities portfolio and outstanding debt, the debt to equity ratio of our MBS Portfolio as of December 31, 2004, was 11.2 to 1. Lenders have generally permitted repurchase agreement borrowings against agency mortgage-backed securities at a debt-to-equity ratio of up to 30 to 1. Our articles of incorporation and bylaws do not impose any specific limits on permissible leverage and we may increase our leverage ratio in the future.

What follows are two examples of how the use of leverage can affect the return on equity invested in a hypothetical mortgage-backed security portfolio:

In example 1 above, we use borrowed funds to produce a return on equity of 18.10%. In example 2 above, we borrow less funds and reduce our rate of return to 10.10%. As mentioned elsewhere, however, borrowed funds can also lead to lower returns and greater losses than if we did not borrow funds. We execute these types of transactions by arranging loans in which we pledge our assets as collateral to secure our repayment obligations. Some of those loans may be margin loans in which a decline in the pledged assets’ market value could trigger an early repayment of the existing obligations. If we repay loans early, then the return on equity could be reduced. As reflected above, if we were required to increase the amount of equity capital we invested by $1.5 million in order to repay $1.5 million of the loan, then the return on equity would be reduced from 18.10% to 10.10%.

Our Hedging & Interest Rate Risk Management

As of year end 2004, our commercial paper borrowings of $7.3 billion and repurchase agreement borrowings $3.5 billion generally have maturities of 30 to 90 days. As of December 31, 2004, the weighted average days-to-maturity on our outstanding repurchase agreements and commercial paper issuances was 32.2 days. The interest rates we earn on our MBS portfolio will change at different times over the next five years. However, as we noted, those reset dates do not reflect the true nature of our interest rate exposure since a significant portion of our MBS portfolio will reset or re-price prior to the reset date as borrowers make scheduled and unscheduled principal payments and we reinvest those principal payments into new investments. We measure the effect of scheduled and unscheduled principal payments on the interest-rate sensitivity of our MBS portfolio by calculating the effective duration of the portfolio. Duration is calculated based on the weighted average of the present value of a security’s cash flows and is used as a measure of the expected change in the market value of a security in response to changes in interest rates; the greater the security’s duration, the more sensitive the security’s market value is to changes in interest rates. For example, a three month, 5% fixed rate security with principal and interest due at maturity has a duration of 0.25 years, while the same security with a 30 year maturity has a duration of approximately 16 years. We estimate the effective duration of our MBS portfolio to be 0.78 years at December 31, 2004. This assumes borrowers make unscheduled principal payments at an average constant prepayment rate (CPR) of approximately 28% annually.

8

Table of Contents

We may from time to time utilize derivative financial instruments to hedge all or a portion of the interest rate risk associated with our borrowings. However, these derivative instruments will not be used for speculative purposes. Under the tax laws applicable to REITs, we generally will be able to enter into swap or cap agreements, options, futures contracts, forward rate agreements or similar financial instruments to hedge the cost of indebtedness that we may incur, or plan to incur, to acquire or carry real estate assets.

We engage in a variety of interest rate management techniques that are intended to more closely match the effective maturity of, and the interest received on, our assets with the effective maturity of, and the interest owed on, our liabilities. These techniques will generally be used directly, instead of through a corporate subsidiary that is fully subject to corporate income taxation. However, no assurances can be given that these investment and leverage strategies can successfully be implemented. Our interest rate management techniques may include:

These techniques may also be used in an attempt to protect us against declines in the market value of our assets that result from general trends in debt markets. The inability to match closely the maturities and interest rates, or the inability to protect adequately against declines in the market value of our assets, could result in losses with respect to our mortgage assets.

The interest rates on our short-term borrowing arrangements increase and decrease as short-term interest rates increase or decrease. The interest rate on the mortgage-backed securities remains constant for fixed-rate securities, and until the adjustment date for adjustable rate securities. If short-term rates increase significantly above the weighted average nominal yield of our mortgage portfolio (which was 3.23% as of December 31, 2004), the interest owed on the borrowings could exceed the interest income payable to us on our mortgage-backed securities.

From time to time, we use Eurodollar futures contracts and interest rate swap agreements to effectively fix a portion of our borrowing costs. Eurodollar contracts are three month investment contracts with interest rates based on three-month LIBOR. By selling a Eurodollar futures contract, which obligates us to buy back the futures contract prior to its maturity, we are able to lock-in a portion of our future three-month borrowing costs. For example, the Eurodollar futures contract will gain in value to us when interest rates increase thereby offsetting the effect of increasing interest rates on our future short-term borrowing costs. Similarly, the interest rate swap agreements have historically been structured such that we pay a fixed interest rate and receive a variable interest rate based on the three-month LIBOR to offset the potential adverse effects of rising interest rates under certain short-term repurchase agreements. We use Eurodollar futures contracts and interest rate swaps based on LIBOR to hedge our financing costs because our repurchase agreements and commercial paper borrowings carry interest rates that correspond to changes in LIBOR rates. Eurodollar futures contracts and interest rate swaps used in this manner are designated as cash flow hedges under SFAS 133.

For further information concerning Eurodollar futures contracts and interest rate swaps outstanding at December 31, 2004 and other information concerning our hedging and MBS investment activities, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Results of Operations” and “— Liquidity and Capital Resources”, and well as Notes 4 and 7 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

While we execute these techniques to reduce and manage our interest rate risk, no assurances can be given that these strategies can successfully be implemented. In addition, these techniques are not intended to eliminate risk since we do not strive to fully match the timing and amount of cash flows of our MBS investments and related borrowings. As a result, changes in interest rates could result in declines in the market value of our MBS

9

Table of Contents

portfolio and net interest income. For example, if both long-term and short-term interest rates were to increase significantly, it could be expected that:

At December 31, 2004, we held no fixed rate mortgage-backed securities.

Mortgage Loans

We acquired First NLC on February 16, 2005 as part of a broader strategy to diversify our portfolio by investing in non-conforming residential mortgage loans, and securities backed by these loans, that First NLC originates. As a result of the acquisition, we acquired approximately $480 million of non-conforming residential mortgage loans at closing. See “Recent Developments.”

Merchant Banking

Equity Investments

Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT, we invest from time to time in equity securities that may or may not be related to the real estate business. We follow a value-oriented investment approach and focus on the anticipated future cash flows to be generated by the underlying business, discounted by an appropriate rate to reflect both the risk of achieving those cash flows and the alternative uses for the capital to be invested. We also consider factors such as:

As of December 31, 2004, we had invested in approximately $347.9 million of equity securities of various companies. See, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, Merchant Banking and Other Long-Term Investments, page 64.

Mezzanine Debt and Senior Lending

We invest in short to medium-term mezzanine and senior loans that may have a higher risk credit profile and yield higher returns than the typical senior loan made by a commercial bank or other traditional lending institution. These loans:

We believe that more stringent credit standards and continued consolidation of commercial banks and other factors have resulted in an increased demand for alternative sources of debt financing. We lend money to companies in the real estate sector as well as in other sectors with which we are familiar such as energy and financial services.

10

Table of Contents

Composition of Our Assets and Equity Capital

At December 31, 2004, we had total assets of approximately $12.9 billion and shareholders equity of approximately $1.6 billion. These amounts were divided among our investments as follows:

Capital Markets Business

FBR TRS Holdings, Inc., a taxable REIT subsidiary holding company, is a holding company for our capital markets businesses that provide investment banking, institutional brokerage products and asset management and services.

Through these businesses, we provide financial products and services in the following broad industry sectors that we believe offer significant business opportunities: financial services, real estate, technology, healthcare, energy, consumer goods and diversified industries. We have continued to strengthen our business by adding coverage of new industry sectors in both institutional brokerage and investment banking, adding new products and services that benefit from our knowledge of each sector, and building a wider customer base.

In order for us to remain competitive, it is important for us to focus on our chosen industry sectors and within those sectors to offer products and services both to corporate issuers who are seeking advice and financing, and to our brokerage customers. We also believe it is important for us to be involved with companies early in their lifecycles (or even to be involved in creating businesses) in order to establish relationships that will provide us with ongoing revenues as these companies’ finance and advisory needs grow. As an investment bank with a merchant banking capability, we seek to provide our corporate clients with the financing and advisory services that they will need at all stages of their corporate lifecycle.

The majority of our non-REIT revenues have historically been generated from our investment banking, institutional brokerage and asset management businesses. In investment banking we provide a range of services, including capital raising services and merger and acquisition, restructuring and other advisory services.

Investment Banking

Capital Raising Services.    Our capital raising activities encompass a range of securities, structures and size ranges. We are a leading underwriter of equity securities in the United States and are dedicated to the successful completion and aftermarket performance of transactions we execute. Our strategy is to maintain long-term relationships with our corporate clients by serving their capital and advisory needs beyond their initial access to capital markets. We believe that our approach of understanding our chosen industry sectors in depth, combined with the advice we provide investment banking clients on capital structure and access to the capital markets has helped us increase our base of issuer clients.

Mergers and Acquisitions, Restructuring and Other Advisory Services.    Our mergers and acquisitions business builds on our capital markets expertise to evaluate merger and acquisition candidates and opportunities for our clients. We believe that our activities and reputation have created a network of relationships that enables us to quickly identify and execute mutually beneficial business combinations.

Restructuring and other financial advisory services have included valuation advice, fairness opinions, advice on mergers and acquisitions (including ongoing review of merger and acquisition opportunities), market comparable performance analysis, advice on dividend policy, and evaluation of stock repurchase programs.

11

Table of Contents

Institutional Brokerage

We focus on providing research, institutional sales and trading services to equity and high-yield investors in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. We execute securities transactions for institutional investors such as banks, mutual funds, insurance companies, hedge funds, money managers and pension and profit-sharing plans. Institutional investors normally purchase and sell securities in large quantities, which requires the special market making and trading expertise that we provide.

Our sales professionals work closely with our research analysts and our trading desk to provide the most up-to-date information to our institutional clients. Our sales, trading and research professionals work together to maintain regular contact with the specialized portfolio managers and buy-side analysts of each institutional client.

Our trading professionals facilitate trading in equity and high-yield securities. We make markets in NASDAQ and other securities, trade listed securities and service the trading desks of major institutions in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.

Online Distribution Services

Our online securities distribution channel provides traditional online brokerage services such as low-cost trades, quotes and news, and offers investors the opportunity to participate in initial public offerings and follow- on offerings in which we participate as an underwriter through our proprietary Offering Marketplace^SM. In addition, we offer online access to a mutual fund supermarket with over 8,000 funds.

Research

A key part of our strategy is to support our brokerage clients with specialized and in-depth research. Our analysts cover a universe of over 500 companies in our focus industry sectors. We provide research on common and preferred stocks, high-yield bonds, mortgage-backed and asset-backed bonds and special situations. In addition, our metro-Washington, D.C. based Economic and Policy Research Group provides general economic analysis and insight on the federal government’s activities as they effect the economy and the market.

Our research analysts operate under three guiding principles: (i) to provide objective, independent analysis of securities, their issuers, and their place in the capital markets; (ii) to identify undervalued investment opportunities in the capital markets, and (iii) to communicate effectively the fundamentals of these investment opportunities to potential investors. To achieve these objectives, we believe that industry specialization is necessary, and, as a result, we organize our research staff along industry lines. Each industry team works together to identify and evaluate industry trends and developments. Within industry groups, analysts are further subdivided into specific areas of focus so that they can maintain and apply specific industry knowledge to each investment opportunity they address.

We have focused our research efforts in what we believe are some of the fastest growing and most rapidly changing sectors of the United States and world economies. These sectors include financial services, real estate, insurance, technology, energy, healthcare and diversified industries. We believe that within these industry sectors there will be great demand for the products and services we offer and that this in turn will provide ample diversification opportunities for our business.

After initiating coverage on a company, our analysts seek to maintain a long-term relationship with that company and a long-term commitment to ensure that new developments are effectively communicated to our sales force and institutional investors. We produce full-length research reports, notes and earnings estimates on the companies we cover. In addition, our analysts distribute written updates on these issuers both internally and to our clients through the use of daily morning meeting notes, real-time electronic mail and other forms of immediate communication. Our clients can also receive analyst comments through electronic media, and our sales force receives intra-day updates at meetings and through regular announcements of developments.

12

Table of Contents

Asset Management Business

Our asset management subsidiaries are subsidiaries of FBR TRS Holdings, Inc. and also are taxable REIT subsidiaries. Since 1989, we have managed hedge funds and other alternative asset management products. Since 1996, we have expanded these specialized asset management capabilities, adding private equity, arbitrage, and venture capital funds and public mutual funds, both equity and fixed income, as part of our strategy to diversify our asset management product offerings. We use the expertise of our portfolio managers and other professionals to develop and implement investment products for institutional investors and, through our Private Wealth Management Group (PWM), for high net worth individual investors.

PWM seeks to offer creative money management solutions and investment ideas suited to high net worth individuals - generally individuals with investable assets in excess of $2 million. PWM offers a range of asset allocation and long range wealth management services. Management of assets allocated to various strategies is provided by us, and by external managers. PWM clients are also afforded access to our proprietary asset management products, institutional research and new securities issues. Using a consultative approach, PWM professionals research, interpret, evaluate and recommend sophisticated investment strategies. PWM provides hedging and monetizing solutions for significant equity positions. PWM professionals are knowledgeable in various aspects of the sale of restricted and control stocks, as well as the financing of employee stock option exercises. Individuals who own restricted or control stock receive PWM assistance with the complex regulations and paperwork required to sell such securities. For individuals unable to sell positions, PWM offers a number of strategies for preserving value in such assets, as well as the ability to borrow funds at favorable rates to provide liquidity.

Private Equity and Venture Capital Funds

At December 31, 2004, our private equity and venture capital funds had $52.5 million in gross assets under management and $70.9 million in productive capital on which our base management fees of 2% to 2.5% are calculated. In addition to base fees, these funds provide the potential for incentive income if certain benchmarks are met.

Hedge Funds

At December 31, 2004, our hedge funds had $631.6 million in gross assets under management and $488.7 million in productive capital on which our base management fees of 1% to 1.5% are calculated. In addition to base fees, these funds provide the potential for incentive income if certain benchmarks are met.

Mutual Funds

The FBR Family of Funds began business in 1997 and currently comprises six no-load equity mutual funds as well as a money market fund that invests in short term U.S. government securities, and two municipal bond funds.

At December 31, 2004, our mutual funds had assets under management of approximately $2.3 billion. We receive base asset management fees and mutual fund servicing fees on these assets for a total ranging from 0.40% to 1.25% in fees, depending on the fund. Through FBR National Trust (FBR Bank) we provide custody and administrative services to our funds. In addition, FBR Bank also provides trust and custody services for non-mutual fund assets.

Accounting, Administration and Operations

Our accounting, administration and operations personnel are responsible for financial controls, internal and external financial reporting, human resources and personnel services, office operations, information technology and telecommunications systems, the processing of securities transactions, and corporate communications. With

13

Table of Contents

the exception of payroll processing, which is performed by an outside service bureau, and customer account processing, which is performed by our clearing brokers, most data processing functions are performed internally. We believe that future growth will require implementation of new and enhanced communications and information systems and training of our personnel to operate such systems.

Compliance, Legal, Risk Management and Internal Audit

Our compliance, legal and risk management personnel (together with other appropriate personnel) are responsible for our compliance procedures with regard to the legal and regulatory requirements of our holding company and our operating businesses and for our procedures with regard to our exposure to market, credit, operations, liquidity, compliance, legal, reputational and equity ownership risk. In addition, our internal audit and compliance personnel test and audit for compliance with our policies and procedures. Our legal personnel also provide legal service throughout our company, including advice on managing legal risk. The supervisory personnel in these areas have direct access to senior management and to the Audit Committee and the Risk Policy and Compliance Committee of our Board of Directors to ensure their independence in performing these functions. In addition to our internal compliance, legal, risk management and internal audit personnel, we outsource particular functions to outside consultants and attorneys for their particular expertise.

Competition

We are engaged in the highly competitive financial services and investment industries. We compete for sales and trading, investment banking and other capital markets business directly with large Wall Street securities firms, securities subsidiaries of major commercial bank holding companies, and major regional securities firms. In our asset management business we compete with the same firms and with venture capital firms, large mutual fund companies, commercial banks and smaller niche players.

In addition to competing for customers and investments, we compete with other companies in the financial services and investment industries to attract and retain experienced and productive investment professionals. See “Risk Factors — General Risks Related to Our Business.”

Many competitors have greater personnel and financial resources than we do. Larger competitors are able to advertise their products and services on a national or regional basis and may have a greater number and variety of distribution outlets for their products, including retail distribution. Discount and Internet brokerage firms market their services through aggressive pricing and promotional efforts. In addition, some competitors have broader and more long-standing corporate relationships than we do and therefore, may possess a relative advantage with regard to access to deal flow and capital.

Recent rapid advancements in computing and communications technology, particularly the Internet, are substantially changing the means by which financial services and information are delivered. These changes are providing consumers with more direct access to a wide variety of financial and investment services, including market information and on-line trading and account information. Advancements in technology also create demand for more sophisticated levels of client services. We are committed to using technological advancements to provide a high level of client service to our target markets. Provision of these services may entail considerable cost without an offsetting source of revenue.

In acquiring mortgage assets, we compete with other mortgage REITs, specialty finance companies, savings and loan associations, banks, mortgage bankers, insurance companies, mutual funds, institutional investors, investment banking firms, other lenders, governmental bodies and other entities. In addition, there are numerous mortgage REITs with asset acquisition objectives similar to ours, and others may be organized in the future. The effect of the existence of additional REITs may be to increase competition for the available supply of mortgage assets suitable for purchase. Many of the anticipated competitors are significantly larger than us, have access to greater capital and other resources and may have other advantages over us.

14

Table of Contents

For a further discussion of the competitive factors affecting our business, see “Risk Factors — General Risks Related to Our Business and — Risks Related to Our Principal Investing Activities.”

Risk Management

In conducting our business, we are exposed to a range of risks including:

Market risk is the risk to our earnings or capital resulting from adverse changes in the values of assets resulting from movement in market interest rates, equity prices or foreign exchange rates.

Credit risk is the risk of loss due to an individual customer’s or institutional counterparty’s unwillingness or inability to pay its obligations.

Operations risk is the risk of loss resulting from systems failure, inadequate controls, human error, fraud or unforeseen catastrophes.

Liquidity risk is the potential that we would be unable to meet our obligations as they come due because of an inability to liquidate assets or obtain funding. Liquidity risk also includes the risk of having to sell assets at a loss to generate liquid funds, which is a function of the relative liquidity (market depth) of the asset(s) and general market conditions.

Compliance risk is the risk of loss, including fines or penalties, from failing to comply with federal, state or local laws, rules and regulations pertaining to financial services activities.

Legal risk is the risk of loss, disruption or other negative effect on our operations or condition that arises from unenforceable contracts, lawsuits, adverse judgments, or adverse governmental or regulatory proceedings, or the threat thereof.

Reputational risk is the risk that negative publicity regarding our practices whether true or not will cause a decline in the customer base, costly litigation, or revenue reductions.

Equity Ownership Risk arises from making equity investments that create an ownership interest in portfolio companies, and is a combination of credit, market, operational, liquidity, compliance and reputation risks.

We have a corporate wide risk management program approved by our Board of Directors. This program sets forth various risk management policies, provides for a risk management committee and assigns risk management responsibilities. The program is designed to focus on the following:

We cannot provide assurance that our risk management program or our internal controls will prevent or reduce the risks to which we are exposed.

Regulation

In the United States, a number of federal regulatory agencies are charged with the integrity of the securities and other financial markets, safeguarding the safety and soundness of certain companies involved in the banking system and with protecting the interests of customers participating in those markets.

15

Table of Contents

We are subject to regulation by several federal agencies. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the federal agency that is primarily responsible for the regulation of broker-dealers and investment advisers doing business in the United States, and The Federal Reserve Board also promulgates regulations applicable to securities credit (margin) transactions involving broker-dealers and certain other institutions in the United States. Much of the regulation of broker-dealers has been delegated to self-regulatory organizations (SROs), principally the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) (and its subsidiaries NASD Regulation, Inc. and the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq)), and the national securities exchanges. These organizations (which are subject to oversight by the SEC) govern the industry, monitor daily activity and conduct periodic examinations of member broker-dealers. While FBR & Co. and our other broker-dealer subsidiaries are not members of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), our business is impacted by the exchange’s rules and our Class A common stock is listed for trading on the NYSE.

We own FBR National Trust Company, a national bank that engages only in fiduciary activities (FBR Bank). As FBR Bank is not a “bank” for purposes of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the BHC Act), we are not a bank holding company or a financial holding company under the BHC Act. We are the controlling shareholder of FBR Bank for purposes of supervision of by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), FBR Bank’s primary federal bank regulatory agency as well as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

FBR Bank is subject to minimum capital requirements imposed by the OCC. If FBR Bank fails to maintain a minimum capital level determined by the OCC (currently, Tier 1 capital of $7.4 million), we have agreed to infuse additional capital into FBR Bank pursuant to a Capital Assurances and Liquidity Maintenance Agreement (CALMA) between FBR Bank and us. Moreover, under the CALMA we will support FBR Bank’s on-going liquidity obligations, if necessary. These requirements supplement the prompt corrective action provisions typically used to resolve problems associated with insured depository institutions whose capital declines below certain levels. Under the OCC’s rules, in the event FBR Bank becomes undercapitalized, it must file a capital restoration plan with the OCC. The capital restoration plan will not be accepted by the OCC unless each controlling shareholder of the undercapitalized banking subsidiary guarantees the subsidiary’s compliance with the capital restoration plan up to a certain specified amount. Such guarantee from a depository institution’s controlling shareholder is entitled to a priority of payment in bankruptcy.

Securities firms are also subject to regulation by state securities commissions in the states in which they are required to be registered. FBR & Co. is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, and is a member of, and subject to regulation by the NASD and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. FBR Investment Services, Inc., (FBRIS) is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia; it is a member of the NASD.

We and our operating subsidiaries are also subject to the USA PATRIOT Act (PATRIOT Act), which requires financial institutions to adopt and implement policies and procedures designed to prevent and detect money laundering. FBR and its subsidiaries have adopted a comprehensive anti-money laundering compliance program that we believe is in compliance with the PATRIOT Act.

Restrictions on Transactions with Affiliates and Insiders and Tying

Transactions between FBR Bank and its non-banking affiliates are subject to Section 23B of the Federal Reserve Act which generally requires that certain transactions between a bank and its affiliates be on terms substantially the same, or at least as favorable to the bank, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with or involving nonaffiliated persons. FBR Bank is prohibited from requiring that its clients obtain services from us, but we can require that our clients obtain fiduciary services from FBR Bank as a condition of doing business with us.

16

Table of Contents

Regulation of Subsidiaries

Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries

As a result of federal and state registration and SRO memberships, FBR & Co. and FBRIS are subject to overlapping schemes of regulation which cover all aspects of their securities businesses. Such regulations cover matters including capital requirements, uses and safe-keeping of clients’ funds, conduct of directors, officers and employees, record-keeping and reporting requirements, supervisory and organizational procedures intended to assure compliance with securities laws and to prevent improper trading on material nonpublic information, employee-related matters, including qualification and licensing of supervisory and sales personnel, limitations on extensions of credit in securities transactions, clearance and settlement procedures, requirements for the registration, underwriting, sale and distribution of securities, and rules of the SROs designed to promote high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade. A particular focus of the applicable regulations concerns the relationship between broker-dealers and their customers. As a result, many aspects of the broker-dealer customer relationship are subject to regulation including, in some instances, suitability determinations as to certain customer transactions, limitations on the amounts that may be charged to customers, timing of proprietary trading in relation to customers’ trades and disclosures to customers.

As broker-dealers registered with the SEC and as member firms of the NASD, FBR & Co. and FBRIS are subject to the net capital requirements of the SEC and the NASD. These capital requirements specify minimum levels of capital, computed in accordance with regulatory requirements, that each firm is required to maintain and also limit the amount of leverage that each firm is able to obtain in its respective business.

Net capital is essentially defined as net worth (assets minus liabilities, as determined under generally accepted accounting principles), plus qualifying subordinated borrowings, less the value of all of a broker-dealer’s assets that are not readily convertible into cash (such as furniture, prepaid expenses and unsecured receivables), and further reduced by certain percentages (commonly called haircuts) of the market value of a broker-dealer’s positions in securities and other financial instruments. The amount of net capital in excess of the regulatory minimum is referred to as excess net capital.

The SEC’s capital rules also (i) require that broker-dealers notify it, in writing, two business days prior to making withdrawals or other distributions of equity capital or lending money to certain related persons if those withdrawals would exceed, in any 30-day period, 30% of the broker-dealer’s excess net capital, and that they provide such notice within two business days after any such withdrawal or loan that would exceed, in any 30-day period, 20% of the broker-dealer’s excess net capital, (ii) prohibit a broker-dealer from withdrawing or otherwise distributing equity capital or making related party loans if, after such distribution or loan, the broker-dealer would have net capital of less than $300,000 or if the aggregate indebtedness of the broker-dealer’s consolidated entities would exceed 1,000% of the broker-dealer’s net capital and in certain other circumstances, and (iii) provide that the SEC may, by order, prohibit withdrawals of capital from a broker-dealer for a period of up to 20 business days, if the withdrawals would exceed, in any 30-day period, 30% of the broker-dealer’s excess net capital and if the SEC believes such withdrawals would be detrimental to the financial integrity of the firm or would unduly jeopardize the broker-dealer’s ability to pay its customer claims or other liabilities.

Compliance with regulatory net capital requirements could limit those operations that require the intensive use of capital, such as underwriting and trading activities, and also could restrict our ability to withdraw capital from our affiliated broker-dealers, which in turn could limit our ability to pay dividends, repay debt and redeem or repurchase shares of our outstanding capital stock.

We believe that at all times FBR & Co. and FBRIS have been in compliance in all material respects with the applicable minimum net capital rules of the SEC and the NASD.

A failure of a U.S. broker-dealer to maintain its minimum required net capital would require it to cease executing customer transactions until it came back into compliance, and could cause it to lose its

17

Table of Contents

NASD membership, its registration with the SEC or require its liquidation. Further, the decline in a broker-dealer’s net capital below certain early warning levels, even though above minimum net capital requirements, could cause material adverse consequences to the broker-dealer and to us.

FBR & Co. and FBRIS are also subject to Risk Assessment Rules imposed by the SEC which require, among other things, that certain broker-dealers maintain and preserve certain information, describe risk management policies and procedures and report on the financial condition of certain affiliates whose financial and securities activities are reasonably likely to have a material impact on the financial and operational condition of the broker-dealers. Certain Material Associated Persons (as defined in the Risk Assessment Rules) of the broker-dealers and the activities conducted by such Material Associated Persons may also be subject to regulation by the SEC. In addition, the possibility exists that, on the basis of the information it obtains under the Risk Assessment Rules, the SEC could seek authority over our unregulated subsidiaries either directly or through its existing authority over our regulated subsidiaries.

Our broker-dealer business is also subject to regulation by various foreign governments and regulatory bodies. FBR & Co. is registered with and subject to regulation by the Ontario Securities Commission in Canada. Friedman, Billings, Ramsey International, Ltd. (FBRIL), our United Kingdom brokerage subsidiary, is subject to regulation by the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom pursuant to the United Kingdom Financial Services Act of 1986. Foreign regulation may govern all aspects of the investment business, including regulatory capital, sales and trading practices, use and safekeeping of customer funds and securities, record-keeping, margin practices and procedures, registration standards for individuals, periodic reporting and settlement procedures.

In the event of non-compliance by us or one of our subsidiaries with an applicable regulation, governmental regulators and one or more of the SROs may institute administrative or judicial proceedings that may result in censure, fine, civil penalties (including treble damages in the case of insider trading violations), the issuance of cease-and-desist orders, the deregistration or suspension of the non-compliant broker-dealer, the suspension or disqualification of officers or employees or other adverse consequences. The imposition of any such penalties or orders on us or our personnel could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

Asset Management Subsidiaries

Three of our asset management subsidiaries are registered as investment advisers with the SEC. As investment advisers registered with the SEC, they are subject to the requirements of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the SEC’s regulations thereunder. These requirements relate to, among other things, limitations on the ability of investment advisers to charge performance-based or non-refundable fees to clients, record-keeping and reporting requirements, disclosure requirements, limitations on principal transactions between an adviser or its affiliates and advisory clients, as well as general anti-fraud prohibitions. They may also be subject to certain state securities laws and regulations. The state securities law requirements applicable to registered investment advisers are in certain cases more comprehensive than those imposed under the federal securities laws. In addition, two of our asset management subsidiaries, FBR Fund Advisers, Inc. and Money Management Advisors, Inc., and the mutual funds they manage, are subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the SEC’s regulations thereunder.

In connection with much of our asset management activities, we, and the private investment vehicles that we manage, are relying on exemptions from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and under certain state securities laws and the laws of various foreign countries. Failure to comply with the initial and continuing requirements of any such exemptions could have a material adverse effect on the manner in which we and these vehicles carry on their activities, including penalties similar to those listed above for broker-dealers.

Impact of Regulation

Additional legislation and regulations, including those relating to the activities of financial holding companies, bank holding companies, banks, broker-dealers and investment advisers, changes in rules promulgated

18

Table of Contents

by the Board, SEC, OCC, NASD or other United States, states or foreign governmental regulatory authorities and SROs or changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules may adversely affect our manner of operation and our profitability. Our businesses may be materially affected not only by regulations applicable to us as a financial market intermediary, but also by regulations of general application. For example, the volume of our underwriting, merger and acquisition, securities trading and asset management activities in any year could be affected by, among other things, existing and proposed tax legislation, antitrust policy and other governmental regulations and policies (including the interest rate policies of the Board) and changes in interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules that affect the business and financial communities.

In addition, as discussed below in “Recent Developments”, subsequent to year-end we acquired a non-conforming mortgage loan originator which is subject to state and federal lending regulation. See “Risks Related to our Residential Mortgage Loan Origination Business” at page 36.

Recent Developments

Institutional Fixed Income and MBS Trading Business

On January 6, 2005, we created our institutional fixed income and MBS trading business when a team of Freddie Mac professionals joined our company. This new team has joined our existing Asset-Backed Securities trading unit.

Non-conforming Mortgage Loan Business

On February 16, 2005, we completed the acquisition of First NLC, a non-conforming residential mortgage loan originator, for $101 million, paid with a combination of cash and our stock. Non-conforming residential mortgages include loans to borrowers who do not meet the conforming underwriting guidelines of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae because of higher loan-to-value ratios, the nature or absence of income documentation, limited credit histories, high levels of consumer debt, past credit difficulties or other factors. Non-conforming loans also include loans to more creditworthy borrowers where the size of the loan exceeds underwriting guidelines. Loans are originated primarily based upon the borrower’s willingness and ability to repay the loan and the adequacy of the collateral. First NLC currently operates in 38 states and originates mortgage loans through both wholesale and retail channels, with a current origination run rate of approximately $4 billion annually. First NLC is a part of our principal investment group but operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary. We anticipate that the First NLC acquisition will help us to expand and add flexibility to our mortgage loan business by giving us the ability to originate, price, portfolio and sell non-conforming mortgage loan assets based on market conditions. See “Risks Related to our Residential Mortgage Loan Origination Business” at page 36.

We expect to hold in our portfolio a significant portion of the loans that First NLC originates and finance those loans through the issuance of asset-backed securities. The financing of these loans with asset-backed securities will significantly reduce the interest rate risk of these assets. We are also exploring the possibility of employing loss mitigation and credit enhancement strategies for these assets. The strategies we are considering include private mortgage insurance. Our decision of whether or not to employ these strategies will depend on, among other things, our assessment of the loss history of these assets and the cost effectiveness of employing various strategies.

In 2005, we anticipate redeploying a significant amount of our equity capital currently deployed in our agency backed MBS investments into non-conforming mortgage assets for investment purposes. The amount of capital deployed will vary from time to time and will depend on our ongoing evaluation of risk adjusted returns in our mortgage-backed securities, non-conforming mortgage loan and merchant banking businesses. We will acquire non-conforming mortgage assets through First NLC and from unaffiliated third parties.

19

Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our company involves various risks, including the risk that you might lose your entire investment. Our results of operations depend upon many factors including our ability to implement our business strategy, the availability of opportunities to acquire assets and make loans, the level and volatility of interest rates, the cost and availability of short- and long-term credit, financial market conditions, and general economic conditions.

The following discussion concerns some of the risks associated with our business. These risks are interrelated, and you should treat them as a whole. The risks described below are not the only risks that may affect us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or not identified below, may also materially and adversely affect the value of our common stock and our ability to distribute dividends.

General Risks Related to our Business

We may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of our recently completed acquisition of First NLC Financial Services, which could have an adverse effect on our earnings and in turn negatively affect the value of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

We expect to realize financial and operating benefits including improved returns on invested capital in mortgage loans originated by First NLC. However, we cannot predict with certainty when these benefits will occur, or the extent to which they actually will be achieved, if at all. The integration of First NLC will also require substantial attention from management. The diversion of management attention and any difficulties associated with integrating First NLC could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and on the value of our common stock.

We may not be able to manage our growth efficiently, which may adversely affect our results and may, in turn, negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

Over the last several years, we have experienced significant growth in our business activities, in the number of our employees and in our equity and assets. Our growth has required, and our growth will continue to require, increased investment in management and professionals, personnel, financial and management systems and controls and facilities, which could cause our operating margins to decline from historical levels, especially in the absence of revenue growth. In addition, as is common in the industry, our broker-dealer and mortgage loan origination subsidiaries will continue to be highly dependent on the effective and reliable operation of communications and information systems and business continuity plans. We believe that our anticipated future growth will require implementation of new and enhanced communications and information systems and training of our personnel to operate these systems. In addition, the scope of procedures for assuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations and NASD rules has changed as the size and complexity of our business has changed. As we continue to grow, we will continue to implement additional formal compliance procedures to reflect our growth. Any difficulty or significant delay in the implementation or operation of existing or new systems, compliance procedures or the training of personnel could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends.

The voting power of our principal shareholders and other officers, directors and nominees may result in corporate action with which you do not agree and may discourage third party acquisitions of our company and prevent our shareholders from receiving any premium above market price for their shares.

Emanuel J. Friedman and Eric F. Billings have significant influence over our operations through their ownership of our common stock, which together, as of March 2, 2005, represents approximately 23.8% of the total voting power of our common stock. In addition, Mr. Friedman and Mr. Billings each serve as one of our

20

Table of Contents

directors and as our Co-Chief Executive Officer. Messrs. Friedman and Billings and all of our other officers, directors and nominees, as a group, control, as of March 3, 2005, approximately 26.5% of our total voting power. The extent of the influence that Messrs. Friedman and Billings and our other officers, directors and nominees have over us may have the effect of discouraging offers to acquire control of our company and may preclude holders of our common stock from receiving any premium above market price for their shares that may be offered in connection with any attempt to acquire control of our company without the approval of Messrs. Friedman and Billings.

The trading prices of our Class A common stock may be adversely affected by factors outside of our control.

Any negative changes in the public’s perception of the prospects for companies in the REIT, the mortgage-backed securities, the merchant banking, or non-conforming mortgage industries; or in the investment banking, securities brokerage, asset management, or financial services industries could depress our stock price regardless of our results.

The following factors could contribute to the volatility of the price of our Class A common stock:

Many of these factors are beyond our control.

We may experience significant fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to the volatile nature of the investment banking and securities business and the sensitivity of our principal investing business to changes in interest rates and fluctuations in the stock market and we may therefore fail to meet profitability and/or dividend expectations, which may, in turn, affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

Our revenues and operating results may fluctuate from quarter to quarter and from year to year due to a combination of factors, including:

21

Table of Contents

Any one of these factors could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to distribute dividends.

An increase in market interest rates may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

One of the factors that investors may consider in deciding whether to buy or sell our common stock is our dividend rate as a percentage of our share price, relative to market interest rates. If market interest rates increase, prospective investors may desire a higher dividend rate on our common stock or seek securities paying higher dividends or interest. For instance, if interest rates rise without an increase in our dividend rate, the market price of our common stock could decrease because potential investors may require a higher yield on our common stock as market rates on interest-bearing securities, such as bonds, rise.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain or increase our current distribution rate.

As a REIT, we must distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income to our shareholders, other than any net capital gain and excluding the retained earnings of our taxable REIT subsidiaries. We currently anticipate that our taxable REIT subsidiaries will retain most or all of their earnings and profits, which would make these earnings and profits unavailable for distribution to our shareholders. As a result, we may need to generate sufficient taxable income outside of our taxable REIT subsidiaries to maintain our current dividend rate. There can be no assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient taxable income to maintain this dividend rate or maintain our tax status as a REIT.

Loss of Investment Company Act exemption would adversely affect us and negatively affect the market price of shares of our common stock and the ability to distribute dividends.

We believe that we currently are not, and we intend to continue operating our company so that we will not become, regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 because we are “primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate.” Specifically, we have invested, and intend to continue investing, at least 55% of our assets in mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities that represent the entire ownership in a pool of mortgage loans and at least an additional 25% of our assets in mortgages, mortgage-backed securities, securities of REITs, and other real estate-related assets.

22

Table of Contents

If we fail to qualify for this exemption, we could be required to restructure our activities. For example, if the market value of our investments in equity securities were to increase by an amount that resulted in less than 55% of our assets being invested in mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities that represent the entire ownership in a pool of mortgage loans, we might have to sell equity securities in order to qualify for exemption under the Investment Company Act. The sale could occur under adverse market conditions.

Failure to procure adequate capital and funding would adversely affect our results and may, in turn, negatively affect the market price of shares of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

We depend upon the availability of adequate funding and capital for our operations. For example, we invest in mortgage-backed securities funded by short-term borrowings. In addition, our broker-dealer, banking and other financial services subsidiaries are dependent on the availability of adequate capital to satisfy applicable regulatory capital requirements. As a REIT, we are required to distribute annually at least 90% of our taxable income, other than any net capital gain and excluding taxable REIT subsidiary earnings, to our shareholders and are therefore not able to retain our earnings for new investments. However, our taxable REIT subsidiaries are able to retain (and likely will continue to retain) earnings for investment in new capital, subject to the various REIT requirements. We have historically satisfied our capital needs from equity contributions, internally generated funds and loans from third parties. We cannot assure you that any, or sufficient, funding or capital will continue to be available to us in the future on terms that are acceptable to us. In the event that we cannot obtain sufficient funding on acceptable terms, there may be a negative impact on the market price of our common stock and our ability to distribute dividends.

We face intense competition for personnel which could adversely affect our business and in turn negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

Our business is dependent on the highly skilled, and often highly specialized, individuals we employ. Retention of specialists to manage our mortgage-backed securities portfolio, research analysts, private equity specialists, sales and trading personnel, investment banking personnel, asset management personnel, and technology, lending, management and administrative professionals are particularly important to our prospects. Competition for the recruiting and retention of employees may increase elements of our compensation costs. We cannot assure you that, in order to support our growth plans, we will be able to recruit and hire a sufficient number of new employees with the desired qualifications in a timely manner. We regularly review our compensation policies, including stock incentives. Nonetheless, our incentives may be insufficient in light of competition for experienced professionals in the investment industry, particularly if the value of our stock declines or fails to appreciate sufficiently to be a competitive source of a portion of professional compensation. Increased compensation costs could adversely affect the amount of cash available for distribution to shareholders and our failure to recruit and retain qualified employees could materially and adversely affect our future operating results.

We are dependent on a small number of key senior professionals and loss of the professionals could adversely affect our results and may, in turn, negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends.

We do not currently have employment agreements with our senior officers and other key professionals. The loss of professionals, particularly a senior professional with a broad range of contacts in an industry, could materially and adversely affect our operating results. Our investment banking strategy is to establish relationships with prospective corporate clients in advance of any transaction, and to maintain these relationships by providing advisory services to corporate clients in equity, debt and merger and acquisition transactions. These relationships depend in part upon the individual employees who represent us in our dealings with our clients. From time to time, other companies in the investment industry have experienced losses of professionals in all areas of the

23

Table of Contents

investment business. The level of competition for key personnel includes competition from non-brokerage U.S. and foreign financial services companies, commercial banks, other investment banks and venture capital firms, all of which may target or increase their efforts in some of the same industries that we serve. In particular, we face competition for experienced research analysts, sales and trading personnel, and investment bankers of the type on which our business is highly dependent. We cannot assure you that losses of key personnel will not occur.

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

Our business is highly dependent on communications and information systems, including systems provided by our clearing brokers, for our mortgage brokers and borrowers and by and for other third parties. Any failure or interruption of our systems, the systems of our clearing brokers or mortgage brokers or third-party trading or information systems could cause delays or other problems in our securities trading activities, including mortgage-backed securities trading activities, and mortgage loan origination capabilities which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends.

In addition, our clearing brokers provide elements of our principal disaster recovery system. We cannot assure you that we, our clearing brokers or our mortgage brokers will not suffer any systems failure or interruption, including one caused by an earthquake, fire, other natural disaster, power or telecommunications failure, act of God, act of war, terrorism or otherwise, or that we or our clearing brokers’ back-up procedures and capabilities in the event of any such failure or interruption will be adequate. The occurrence of any failures or interruptions could significantly harm our business.

We may not be able to keep up with rapid technological change, which may adversely affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

There are significant technical and financial risks in the development of new services and products or enhanced versions of existing services and products. We cannot assure you that we will be able to:

If we are unable to develop and introduce enhanced or new services or products quickly enough to respond to market or customer requirements, or if we or our services and products do not achieve market acceptance, our business, financial condition and operating results will be materially adversely affected and our cash available for distribution to shareholders may be negatively impacted.

Indemnification agreements with our directors and officers may increase the costs to us of litigation against our company.

Our charter documents allow indemnification of our officers, directors and agents to the maximum extent permitted by Virginia law. We have entered into indemnification agreements with these persons. In the future we may be the subject of indemnification assertions under these charter documents or agreements by our officers,

24

Table of Contents

directors or agents who are or may become defendants in litigation. Amounts paid pursuant to these indemnification agreements could adversely affect our financial results and the amount of cash available for distribution to shareholders.

Risks Related to Investment Banking, Institutional Brokerage, Sales and Trading, Asset Management and Other Fee-Based Financial Services Businesses Operated by us through our Taxable REIT Subsidiaries

We may be adversely affected by the general risks of the financial services and investment banking business.

Through taxable REIT subsidiaries, including FBR & Co. (our primary broker-dealer subsidiary), we operate investment banking, trading, brokerage, asset management and other fee-based financial services businesses. The financial and investment business is, by its nature, subject to numerous and substantial risks, particularly in volatile or illiquid markets and in markets influenced by sustained periods of low or negative economic growth. As a financial services and investment banking firm, we and our operating results may be adversely affected by a number of factors, which include:

Any one of these factors could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends.

We may experience significant losses if the value of our trading and investment accounts deteriorates, which could negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends.

From time to time in connection with underwriting, asset management, trading and other activities, we own large amounts, or have commitments to purchase large amounts, of the securities of companies. This ownership subjects us to significant risks.

We conduct our securities trading, market-making and investment activities primarily for our own account, which subjects our capital to significant risks. We are exposed to risks which include market, credit, leverage, real estate, counterparty and liquidity risks, which could result in losses. These activities often involve the purchase, sale or short sale of securities as principal in markets that may be characterized as relatively illiquid or that may be particularly susceptible to rapid fluctuations in liquidity and price. These losses could negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to distribute dividends.

25

Table of Contents

We may experience reduced revenues during periods of declining prices or reduced demand for public offerings and merger and acquisition transactions or reduced activity in the secondary markets in sectors on which we have historically focused, which could negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends.

Our revenues are, and our revenues are likely to be, lower during periods of declining prices or inactivity in the markets for securities of companies in the sectors in which we have historically focused. These markets have historically experienced significant volatility not only in the number and size of equity offerings and merger and acquisition transactions, but also in the aftermarket trading volume and prices of securities.

In particular, information technology and biotechnology company stocks, which are an area of focus in our investment banking and brokerage activities, are extremely volatile.

A significant amount of our revenues historically resulted from underwritten transactions by companies in our targeted industries, from aftermarket trading for such companies, and from proprietary investments and fees and incentive income received from assets under management. Underwriting activities in those targeted industries can decline for a number of reasons, including increased competition for underwriting business or periods of market uncertainty caused by concerns over inflation, rising interest rates or related issues. For example, during the second half of 1998, the market for equity offerings deteriorated and the market prices of many of the securities which we had underwritten and made a market in, and securities in which we and our asset management vehicles were invested, were subject to considerable volatility and declines in price. These factors led to a significant reduction in underwriting revenues, to significant market making losses for us, and to a significant reduction in the stream of fees received from our asset management vehicles. Underwriting and brokerage fees can also be materially adversely affected if a company or industry segment associated with these activities disappoints in quarterly performance relative to analysts’ expectations or by changes in long-term prospects. These losses in revenue could negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to distribute dividends.

We may experience reduced investment banking or other revenues due to economic, political and market conditions, which could negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends.

Reductions in public offering, merger and acquisition, portfolio company valuation and securities trading activities, due to any one or more changes in economic, political or market conditions could cause our revenues from investment banking, trading, lending, sales and asset management activities to decline materially. Many national and international factors affect the amount and profitability of these activities, including:

Fluctuations in revenues and net income also occur due to the overall level of market activity which, among other things, affects the flow of investment dollars and the size, number and timing of investment banking transactions. In addition, a downturn in the level of market activity can lead to a decrease in brokerage revenues. Therefore, revenues and operating results in any particular period may not be representative of full year results and may vary significantly from year to year and from quarter to quarter.

26

Table of Contents

We may experience reduced revenues due to declining market volume, price and liquidity, which can also cause counterparties to fail to perform and may negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

Our revenues may decrease in the event of a decline in the market volume of securities transactions, prices or liquidity. Declines in the volume of securities transactions and in market liquidity generally result in lower revenues from trading activities and commissions. Lower price levels of securities may also result in a reduced volume of underwriting transactions, and could cause a reduction in our revenues from investment banking fees, as well as losses from declines in the market value of securities held by us in trading and investment, lending and underwriting positions, reduced asset management fees and incentive income and withdrawals of funds under management. Sudden sharp declines in market values of securities can result in illiquid markets, lack of access to lending and the failure of issuers and counterparties to perform their obligations, as well as increases in claims and litigation, including arbitration claims from customers. In such markets, we have incurred, and may incur in the future, reduced revenues or losses in our principal trading, market-making, investment banking, lending and asset management activities. Such losses could negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to distribute dividends.

We may incur losses associated with underwriting activities, which could adversely affect results and may negatively affect the market price of our common stock and the ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

Participation in underwritings involves both economic and regulatory risks. As an underwriter, FBR & Co. may incur losses if it is unable to resell the securities it is committed to purchase or if it is forced to liquidate its commitment at less than the agreed purchase price. In addition, the trend, for competitive and other reasons, toward larger commitments on the part of lead underwriters means that, from time to time, an underwriter may retain significant ownership of individual securities. Finally, it has been our anecdotal experience that increased competition has eroded and is expected to continue to erode underwriting spreads. These factors, along with our concentration in a limited number of industry sectors, may negatively affect our financial results, the market price of our common stock and our ability to distribute dividends.

We focus on relatively few industries, which may limit our revenues and may adversely affect our operating results and negatively impact the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends.

Our investment banking business is dependent on revenues related to securities issued by companies in specific industry sectors. The financial services, real estate, technology, healthcare, energy and diversified industries sectors account for the majority of our investment banking, asset management, institutional trading and research activities. Therefore, any downturn in the market for the securities of companies in these industries, or factors affecting such companies, could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition. In 1998 and 1999, the specialty finance companies, equity REITs and mortgage REITs on which FBR & Co. focused experienced a significant downturn which, in turn, adversely affected us. The frequency and size of securities offerings can vary significantly from industry to industry due to economic, legislative, regulatory and political factors. Underwriting activities in a particular industry can decline for a number of reasons.

We also derive a significant portion of our revenues from institutional brokerage (sales and trading) transactions related to the securities of companies in these sectors. Our revenues from such institutional brokerage transactions may decline when underwriting activities in these industry sectors decline, the volume of trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange declines, or when industry sectors or individual companies report results below investors’ expectations.

The timing of recognition of investment banking revenue from a significant transaction can materially affect our quarterly operating results, which may negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

FBR & Co. records its revenues from an underwriting transaction only when the underwriting is completed. FBR & Co. records revenues from merger and acquisition transactions only when it has rendered the services and

27

Table of Contents

the client is contractually obligated to pay; generally, most of the fee is earned only after the transaction closes. Accordingly, the timing of FBR & Co.’s recognition of revenue from a significant transaction can materially affect its quarterly operating results. FBR & Co. has structured its investment banking operations based on expectations of a high level of demand for underwriting and corporate finance transactions. As a result, we have fixed costs associated with those businesses consistent with those expected levels of business. Accordingly, those businesses could experience losses if demand for these transactions is lower than expected.

We have potential conflicts of interest with our officers and employees which could result in decisions that are not in your best interests.

From time to time, our officers and employees may invest in private or public companies in which we, or one of our affiliates, is or could potentially be an investor or for which we carry out investment banking assignments, publish research or act as a market maker. In addition, we have in the past and will likely in the future organize businesses, such as our hedge, private equity and venture capital funds, in which our employees may acquire minority interests or profit interests. There are risks that, as a result of such investment or profit interest, an officer or employee may have incentives to take actions that would conflict with our best interests. We believe that we have in place compliance procedures and practices designed to monitor the activities of our officers and employees in this regard, but we cannot guarantee that these procedures and practices will be effective.

Our access to confidential information through the broker-dealer business and investment management business may restrict our ability to take action with respect to some investments, which, in turn, may negatively affect the potential return to shareholders.

We may obtain confidential information about the companies in which we have invested or may invest. If we do possess confidential information about such companies, there may be restrictions on the ability to dispose of, increase the amount of, or otherwise take action with respect to an investment in those companies. Our management of investment funds could create a conflict of interest to the extent the fund managers are aware of inside information concerning potential investment targets or to the extent the fund managers wish to invest in companies for which FBR & Co. is underwriting securities. We believe that we have in place compliance procedures and practices designed to ensure that inside information is not used for making investment decisions on behalf of the funds and to monitor funds invested in our investment banking clients. We cannot assure you, however, that these procedures and practices will be effective. In addition, this conflict and these procedures and practices may limit the freedom of our fund managers to make potentially profitable investments on behalf of those funds, which could have an adverse effect on our operations. These limitations imposed by access to confidential information could therefore negatively affect the potential market price of our common stock and the ability to distribute dividends.

Our business is dependent on cash inflows to mutual funds and other pooled investment vehicles, which could result in our experiencing operating losses if cash flows slow, and negatively impact cash available for distribution to shareholders.

A slowdown or reversal of cash inflows to mutual funds and other pooled investment vehicles could lead to lower underwriting and brokerage revenues for us since mutual funds and other pooled investment vehicles purchase a significant portion of the securities offered in public offerings and traded in the secondary markets. Demand for new equity offerings has been driven in part by institutional investors, particularly large mutual funds and hedge funds, seeking to invest on behalf of their investors. Our brokerage business is particularly dependent on the institutional market. The public may redeem mutual funds as a result of a decline in the market generally or as a result of a decline in mutual fund net asset values. To the extent that a decline in cash inflows into mutual funds reduces demand by fund managers for initial public or secondary offerings, FBR and our business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. Moreover, a slowdown in investment activity by mutual funds may have an adverse effect on the securities markets generally. Such environments may adversely affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to distribute dividends.

28

Table of Contents

Our investment banking and other financial services businesses face significant competition from larger financial services firms with greater resources which could reduce our market share and harm our financial performance which may, in turn, adversely affect the market price of our common stock and ability to distribute dividends.

We are engaged in, through our broker-dealer subsidiaries and other taxable REIT subsidiaries, the highly competitive financial services, underwriting, securities brokerage, principal investing, asset management and banking businesses. We compete directly with large Wall Street securities firms, established venture capital funds, securities subsidiaries of major commercial bank holding companies, major regional firms, smaller “niche” players and those offering competitive services via the Internet. To an increasing degree, we also compete for various segments of the financial services business with other institutions, such as commercial banks, savings institutions, mutual fund companies, life insurance companies and financial planning firms. Our industry focus also subjects us to direct competition from a number of specialty securities firms, smaller investment banking boutiques and venture capital funds that specialize in providing services to those industry sectors. If we are not able to compete successfully in this environment, our business, operating results and financial condition will be adversely affected, which may adversely affect the cash available for distribution to shareholders.

Competition from commercial banks has increased because of acquisitions of securities firms by commercial banks, as well as internal expansion by commercial banks into the securities business. This competition could adversely affect our operating results.

We face intense competition in the asset management business from a variety of sources, including venture capital funds, private equity funds, mutual funds, hedge funds and other asset managers. We compete for investor funds as well as for the opportunity to participate in transactions.

Many of our competitors have greater personnel and financial resources than we do. Larger competitors are able to advertise their products and services on a national or regional basis and may have a greater number and variety of distribution outlets for their products, including retail distribution. In addition, some competitors have a much longer history of investment activities than we do and, therefore, may possess a relative advantage with regard to access to business and capital.

We are subject to extensive government regulation which could adversely affect our results, which may, in turn, affect the market price of the shares of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

The securities business is subject to extensive regulation under federal and state laws in the United States, and also is subject to regulation in the foreign countries in which we will conduct investment banking and securities brokerage and asset management activities. Compliance with these laws, rules and regulations can be expensive, and any failure to comply could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Compliance with many of the regulations applicable to us involves a number of risks, particularly in areas where applicable regulations may be subject to interpretation. In the event of non-compliance with an applicable regulation, governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations such as the NASD may institute administrative or judicial proceedings that may result in:

29

Table of Contents

The imposition of any penalties or orders on us could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. The investment banking and brokerage businesses have recently come under intense scrutiny at both the state and federal level and the cost of compliance and the potential liability for non-compliance has increased as a result.

The Company is subject to various reviews, examinations, investigations and other inquiries by governmental agencies and SROs (together, regulatory matters). As previously disclosed, the Company’s broker-dealer subsidiary, FBR & Co., is involved in investigations by the SEC and the NASD concerning its role in 2001 as a placement agent for an issuer in a PIPE (private investment in public equity) transaction. The Company continues to cooperate fully with the investigations. To date the investigations are continuing.

As previously disclosed, one of the Company’s investment adviser subsidiaries, Money Management Associates, Inc. (“MMA”) and one of its now closed mutual funds, are involved in an investigation by the SEC with regard to certain losses sustained by the fund in 2003. The Company continues to cooperate fully with the investigation. To date the investigation is continuing.

Since no proceedings have been initiated in any of the above investigations, it is inherently difficult to predict the outcome of the investigations, or their affect on FBR & Co., MMA or the Company. It is possible that either or both agencies may initiate proceedings as a result of any of the investigations. Any such proceedings could result in adverse judgments, injunctions, fines, penalties or other relief against FBR & Co., MMA or one or more of the officers or employees of these companies.

There can be no assurance that these matters individually or in aggregate will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations in a future period.

Many aspects of the Company’s business involve substantial risks of liability and litigation. Underwriters, broker-dealers and investment advisers are exposed to liability under Federal and state securities laws, other Federal and state laws and court decisions, including decisions with respect to underwriters’ liability and limitations on indemnification, as well as with respect to the handling of customer accounts. For example, underwriters may be held liable for material misstatements or omissions of fact in a prospectus used in connection with the securities being offered and broker-dealers may be held liable for statements made by their securities analysts or other personnel. In certain circumstances, broker-dealers and asset managers may also be held liable by customers and clients for losses sustained on investments. In recent years, there has been an increasing incidence of litigation and actions by government agencies and SROs involving the securities industry, including class actions that seek substantial damages. The Company is also subject to the risk of litigation, including litigation that may be without merit. As the Company intends to actively defend such litigation, significant legal expenses could be incurred. An adverse resolution of any future litigation against the Company could materially affect the Company’s operating results and financial condition.

The regulatory environment in which we operate is also subject to change. Our business may be adversely affected as a result of new or revised legislation or regulations imposed by the SEC, the Internal Revenue Service, other United States or foreign governmental regulatory authorities or the NASD. We also may be adversely affected by changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules by these governmental authorities and the NASD.

Additional regulation, changes in existing laws and rules, or changes in interpretations or enforcement of existing laws and rules often directly affect the method of operation and profitability of securities firms such as Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc. (FBR & Co.), our primary broker-dealer subsidiary, and REITs like us. We cannot predict what effect these types of changes might have. Our businesses may be materially affected not

30

Table of Contents

only by regulations applicable to us as a financial market intermediary or REITs, but also by regulations of general application. For example, the volume of underwriting, merger and acquisition, asset management and principal investment business in a given time period could be affected by, among other things, existing and proposed tax legislation, antitrust policy and other governmental regulations and policies (including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board) and changes in interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules that affect the business and financial communities. The level of business and financing activity in each of the industries on which we focus can be affected not only by such legislation or regulations of general applicability, but also by industry-specific legislation or regulations.

Litigation and potential securities laws liabilities may adversely affect our business and may, in turn, negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends.

Many aspects of our business involve substantial risks of liability, litigation and arbitration, which could adversely affect us. As an underwriter, a broker-dealer and an investment adviser, we and our taxable REIT subsidiaries will be exposed to substantial liability under federal and state securities laws, other federal and state laws and court decisions, including decisions with respect to underwriters’ liability and limitations on the ability of issuers to indemnify underwriters, as well as with respect to the handling of customer accounts. For example, underwriters may be held liable for material misstatements or omissions of fact in a prospectus used in connection with the securities being offered and broker-dealers may be held liable for statements made by their securities analysts or other personnel. Broker-dealers and asset managers may also be held liable by customers and clients for losses sustained on investments if it is found that they caused such losses. In recent years, there has been an increasing incidence of litigation involving the securities industry, including class actions that seek substantial damages and frequently name as defendants underwriters of a public offering and investment banks that provide advisory services in merger and acquisition transactions. In addition, because of our principal equity investing and senior secured and mezzanine lending strategies, we may be exposed to litigation alleging control person or lender liability. We will also be subject to the risk of other litigation, including litigation that may be without merit. We will actively defend any litigation and, therefore, we could incur significant legal expenses. We will carry limited insurance that may cover only a portion of any such expenses. In addition, increasing costs of insurance for our investment banking business may further limit the coverage to which we have access. An adverse resolution of any existing or future lawsuits against us or our subsidiaries could materially adversely affect our operating results and financial condition and may, in turn, negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends. In addition to these financial costs and risks, the defense of litigation or arbitration may materially divert the efforts and attention of our management and staff from their other responsibilities.

Risks Related to our Principal Investing Activities

Declines in the market values of our mortgage-backed securities and other investments may adversely affect periodic reported results and credit availability, which may reduce earnings and, in turn, cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

A substantial portion of our assets are investments in mortgage-backed securities and other investment securities. Most of those assets are classified for accounting purposes as “available-for-sale.” Changes in the market values of those assets will be directly charged or credited to shareholders’ equity. As a result, a decline in values may reduce the book value of our assets. Moreover, if the decline in value of an available-for-sale security is other than temporary, such decline will reduce earnings, as will a decline in the value of securities not classified as available-for-sale for accounting purposes.

A decline in the market value of our assets may adversely affect us particularly in instances where we have borrowed money based on the market value of those assets. If the market value of those assets declines, the lender may require us to post additional collateral to support the loan. If we were unable to post the additional collateral, we would have to sell the assets at a time when we might not otherwise choose to do so. A reduction in credit available may reduce our earnings and, in turn, cash available for distribution to shareholders.

31

Table of Contents

Use of leverage could adversely affect our operations, particularly with respect to our mortgage-backed securities portfolio and negatively affect cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

Using debt to finance the purchase of mortgage-backed securities and other investment securities will expose us to the risk that margin calls will be made and that we will not be able to meet those margin calls. To meet margin calls, we may sell mortgage-backed securities and those sales of mortgage-backed securities could result in realized losses, and negatively affect cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

While it is not our current policy to leverage our equity securities or loan investments, if we were to leverage these investments, this leverage could expose us to the risk that margin calls will be made and that we will not be able to meet them. A leveraged company’s income and net assets will tend to increase or decrease at a greater rate than if borrowed money were not used.

We will enter into repurchase agreements to finance mortgage related investments, which can amplify the effect of a decline in value resulting from an interest rate increase. For example, assume that we finance $96 million through repurchase agreements to acquire $100 million of 8% mortgage-backed securities. If prevailing interest rates increase from 8% to 9%, the value of the mortgage-backed securities may decline to a level below the amount required to be maintained under the terms of the repurchase agreements. If the mortgage-backed securities were then sold, we would have to transfer additional assets to secure the borrowings.

Changes in interest rates could negatively affect the value of our mortgage-backed securities, which could result in reduced earnings or losses and negatively affect the cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

We invest indirectly in mortgage loans by purchasing mortgage-backed securities and we currently intend to continue this investment strategy. Under a normal yield curve, an investment in mortgage-backed securities will decline in value if long-term interest rates increase. Despite Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae guarantees of the mortgage-backed securities we own, those guarantees do not protect us from declines in market value caused by changes in interest rates. Declines in market value may ultimately reduce earnings or result in losses to us, which may negatively affect cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

A significant risk associated with our current portfolio of mortgage-backed securities is the risk that both long-term and short-term interest rates will increase significantly. If long-term rates were to increase significantly, the market value of these mortgage-backed securities would decline and the weighted average life of the investments would increase. We could realize a loss if the securities were sold. At the same time, an increase in short-term interest rates would increase the amount of interest owed on the repurchase agreements we enter into in order to finance the purchase of mortgage-backed securities.

Market values of mortgage-backed securities may decline without any general increase in interest rates for a number of reasons, such as increases in defaults, increases in voluntary prepayments and widening of credit spreads.

An increase in our borrowing costs relative to the interest we receive on our mortgage-backed securities may adversely affect our profitability, which may negatively affect cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

As our repurchase agreements and other short-term borrowing instruments mature, we will be required either to enter into new repurchase agreements or to sell a portion of our mortgage-backed securities or other investment securities. An increase in short-term interest rates at the time that we seek to enter into new repurchase agreements would reduce the spread between our returns on our mortgage-backed securities and the cost of our borrowings. This change in interest rates would adversely affect our returns on our mortgage-backed securities portfolio, which might reduce earnings and, in turn, cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

32

Table of Contents

Prepayment rates could negatively affect the value of our mortgage-backed securities, which could result in reduced earnings or losses and negatively affect the cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

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

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

Rapid changes in the values of our mortgage-backed securities and other real estate assets may make it more difficult for us to maintain our REIT status or exemption from the Investment Company Act.

If the market value or income potential of our mortgage-backed securities and mezzanine loans declines as a result of increased interest rates, prepayment rates or other factors, we may need to increase our real estate investments and income and/or liquidate our non-qualifying assets in order to maintain our REIT status or exemption from the Investment Company Act. If the decline in real estate asset values and/or income occurs quickly, this may be especially difficult to accomplish. This difficulty may be exacerbated by the illiquid nature of many of our non-real estate assets. We may have to make investment decisions that we otherwise would not make absent the REIT and Investment Company Act considerations.

Hedging against interest rate exposure may adversely affect our earnings, which could adversely affect cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

We have entered into and may enter into interest rate swap agreements or pursue other hedging strategies. Our hedging activity will vary in scope based on the level and volatility of interest rates and principal prepayments, the type of mortgage-backed securities held, and other changing market conditions. Interest rate hedging may fail to protect or could adversely affect us because, among other things:

Our hedging activity may adversely affect our earnings, which could adversely affect cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

Our assets are likely to include mezzanine or senior unsecured loans that may have greater risks of loss than secured senior loans and if those losses are realized, it could adversely affect our earnings, which could adversely affect our cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

We expect our assets to include a significant amount of loans that involve a higher degree of risk than long-term senior secured loans. First, the loans may not be secured by mortgages or liens on assets. Even if secured,

33

Table of Contents

these loans may have higher loan-to-value ratios than a senior secured loan. Furthermore, our right to payment and the security interest may be subordinated to the payment rights and security interests of the senior lender. Therefore, we may be limited in our ability to enforce our rights to collect these loans and to recover any of the loan balance through a foreclosure of collateral.

Our loans may have an interest only payment schedule, with the principal amount remaining outstanding and at risk until the maturity of the loan. In this case, a borrower’s ability to repay its loan may be dependent upon a liquidity event that will enable the repayment of the loan.

In addition to the above, numerous other factors may affect a company’s ability to repay its loan, including the failure to meet its business plan, a downturn in its industry or negative economic conditions. A deterioration in a company’s financial condition and prospects may be accompanied by deterioration in the collateral for the loan. Losses in our loans could adversely affect our earnings, which could adversely affect cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

Loans that we make to highly leveraged companies may have a greater risk of loss which, in turn, could adversely affect cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

Leverage may have material adverse consequences to the companies to which we make loans and to us as an investor in these companies. These companies may be subject to restrictive financial and operating covenants. The leverage may impair these companies’ ability to finance their future operations and capital needs. As a result, these companies’ flexibility to respond to changing business and economic conditions and to business opportunities may be limited. A leveraged company’s income and net assets will tend to increase or decrease at a greater rate than if borrowed money were not used. As a result, leveraged companies have a greater risk of loss. Losses on our loans could adversely affect our earnings, which could adversely affect cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

Our due diligence may not reveal all of a portfolio company’s liabilities and may not reveal other weaknesses in a portfolio company’s business.

Before making an investment in a business entity, we assess the strength and skills of the entity’s management and other factors that we believe will determine the success of the investment. In making the assessment and otherwise conducting customary due diligence, we 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 companies. Against this background, there can be no assurance that our due diligence processes will uncover all relevant facts or that any investment will be successful.

We depend on management and have limited ability to influence management of portfolio companies.

We do not control the management, investment decisions or operations of the enterprises in which we have investments. Management of those enterprises may decide to change the nature of their assets or business plan, or management may otherwise change in a manner that is not satisfactory to us. We typically have no ability to affect these management decisions, and as noted below, may have only limited ability to dispose of these investments.

We may make investments that have limited liquidity, which may reduce the return on those investments to our shareholders.

The equity securities of a new entity in which we invest are likely to be restricted as to resale and may otherwise be highly illiquid. We expect that there will be restrictions on our ability to resell the securities of any private or newly-public company that we acquire for a period of at least one year after we acquire those securities. In addition, applicable REIT tax provisions may cause sales of certain assets to be disadvantageous. Thereafter, a public market sale may be subject to volume limitations or dependent upon securing a registration statement for a secondary offering of the securities.

34

Table of Contents

The securities of newly-public entities may trade less frequently and in smaller volume than securities of companies that are more widely held and have more established trading patterns. Thus, sales of these securities may cause their values to fluctuate more sharply. Furthermore, because we are the corporate parent of FBR & Co., our ability to invest in companies may be constrained by applicable securities laws and the rules of the NASD. This is because FBR & Co. is a registered broker-dealer and its investment and trading activities are regulated by the SEC and NASD. For example, the NASD’s rules may limit our ability to invest in the securities of companies whose securities are underwritten by FBR & Co.

The short- and medium-term loans we make are based, in part, upon our knowledge of the borrower and its industry. In addition, we do not yet nor may we ever have a significant enough portfolio of loans to easily sell them to a third party. As a result, these loans are and may continue to be highly illiquid.

Prices of the equity securities of new entities in which we invest may be volatile. We may make investments that are significant relative to the portfolio company’s overall capitalization, and resales of significant amounts of these securities might adversely affect the market and the sales price for the securities.

Disposition value of investments is dependent upon general and specific market conditions which could result in a decline of the value of the investments.

Even if we make an appropriate investment decision based on the intrinsic value of an enterprise, there is no assurance that the trading market value of the investment will not decline, perhaps materially, as a result of general market conditions. For example, an increase in interest rates, a general decline in the stock markets, or other market conditions adverse to companies of the type in which we invest could result in a decline in the value of our investments.

The market for investment opportunities is competitive, which could make it difficult for us to purchase or originate investments at attractive yields, which could have an adverse effect on cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

We gain access to good investment opportunities only to the extent that they become known to us. Gaining access to good investment opportunities is a highly competitive business. We compete with other companies that have greater capital, more long-standing relationships, broader product offerings and other advantages. Competitors include, but are not limited to, business development companies, small business investment companies, commercial lenders and mezzanine funds and other broker-dealers. Increased competition would make it more difficult for us to purchase or originate investments at attractive yields, which could have an adverse effect on cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

We may incur losses as a result of our technology sector investment activities, which could negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

Our technology sector investments are made primarily through funds which we manage and funds which a third party acts as a manager. These funds may invest in technology companies in the early stages of their development. Our business and prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in early stages of development, particularly companies in new and rapidly evolving markets. Moreover, these funds may invest in privately held companies as to which little public information is available. Accordingly, we depend on these fund managers to obtain adequate information to evaluate the potential returns from investing in these companies. Fund managers may or may not be successful in this task. Also, these companies frequently have less diverse product lines and smaller market presence than large competitors. They are thus generally more vulnerable to economic downturns and may experience substantial variations in operating results.

Moreover, many of these technology sector portfolio companies will require additional equity funding to satisfy their continuing working capital requirements. Because of the circumstances of those companies or

35

Table of Contents

market conditions, it is possible that one or more of these portfolio companies will not be able to raise additional financing or may be able to do so only at a price or on terms that are unfavorable to them. Adverse returns with respect to these technology sector investment activities could adversely affect us and our operating results, which could negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to distribute dividends.

Risks Related to our Residential Mortgage Loan Origination Business

Our mortgage loans are secured by interests in real property and we may suffer a loss if the value of the underlying property declines.

The mortgage loans we originate are secured by interests in real property. If the value of the property underlying a mortgage loan decreases, our risk of loss with respect to the mortgage loan increases. In the event there is a default under a mortgage loan, our sole recourse may be to foreclose on the mortgage loan to recover the outstanding amount under the mortgage loan. If the value of the property is lower than the amount of the mortgage loan, we would suffer a loss. If the losses are significant enough, they could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

We are subject to increased risk of default, foreclosure and losses associated with our strategy of focusing on non-prime mortgage loan originations.

We are a lender in the single-family, non-prime, residential mortgage market, which means that we focus our marketing efforts on borrowers who may be unable to obtain mortgage financing from conventional mortgage origination sources because they do not satisfy the loan amount limitations, credit, collateral, documentation or other underwriting standards prescribed by conventional mortgage sources. A significant number of the loans we originate are to borrowers with derogatory credit items including delinquent mortgage payments, civil judgments, bankruptcies and foreclosures. These non-prime loans generally involve a higher risk of delinquency, foreclosure and losses than loans made to prime borrowers. Delinquency interrupts the flow of projected interest income from a mortgage loan, and default can ultimately lead to a loss if the net realizable value of the real property securing the mortgage loan is insufficient to cover the principal and interest due on the loan. Also, our cost of financing and servicing a delinquent or defaulted loan is generally higher than for a performing loan. We generally bear the risk of delinquency and default on loans beginning when we originate them. In whole loan sales, our risk of delinquency typically only extends to prepayment or early payment defaults, but when we securitize a mortgage loan, we continue to bear some exposure to delinquencies and losses through our over-collateralization obligations and the loans underlying our on-balance sheet securitization transactions. We also re-acquire the risks of delinquency and default for loans that we are obligated to repurchase. As a result, we will need to establish allowances based on the amount of the anticipated delinquencies and losses on our mortgage loans. In addition, our mortgage loan underwriting standards do not prohibit our borrowers from obtaining secondary financing at the time of origination of our first lien mortgage loans (or at any time thereafter). Secondary financing would reduce a borrower’s equity in the mortgaged property compared to the amount indicated in our loan- to-value ratio determination at the time we made our credit decision, thereby increasing the risk of default on the loan. We attempt to manage these risks with risk-based loan pricing and appropriate underwriting policies and loan collection methods. However, if such policies and methods are insufficient to control our delinquency and default risks and do not result in appropriate loan pricing and appropriate allowance for loss allowances, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

We may underestimate the default risk of, and therefore under-price, the mortgage loans that we originate.

There can be no assurance that the criteria and methods, such as our proprietary credit scoring models, risk-based mortgage loan pricing and other underwriting procedures and guidelines and loan collection methods, that we employ to manage the risks associated with mortgage loan borrowers who have negative credit characteristics will be effective to manage the risk of mortgage loan default. If we were to underestimate the default risk of, or under-price, the mortgage loans that we originate, our results of operations would be adversely affected, possibly to a material degree.

36

Table of Contents

The residential mortgage origination business is a cyclical industry, is currently at a relatively high level and is expected to decline in 2005 and subsequent years, which could reduce our current levels of loan origination and our ability to generate net income in the future.

The residential mortgage origination business historically has been a cyclical industry, enjoying periods of strong growth and profitability followed by periods of shrinking volumes and industry-wide losses. The residential mortgage industry has experienced rapid growth over the past three years largely due to historically low interest rates. The Mortgage Bankers Association of America has predicted that total residential mortgage originations, which include both prime and non-prime mortgage loans, will decrease in 2005 relative to the 2003 and 2004 levels due to stable or rising interest rates. During periods of rising interest rates, rate and term refinancing originations decrease, as higher interest rates provide reduced economic incentives for borrowers to refinance their existing mortgages. Our historical performance may not be indicative of results in a rising interest rate environment, and our results of operations may be materially adversely affected if interest rates rise. In addition, our recent and rapid growth may distort some of our ratios and financial statistics and may make period-to-period comparisons difficult. In light of this growth and our change in business strategy, among other factors, our historical performance and operating and origination data may be of little relevance in predicting our future performance.

We face intense competition that could adversely affect our market share and our revenues.

We face intense competition from finance, investment banking and mortgage banking companies, other mortgage REITs, Internet-based lending companies for which entry barriers are relatively low, and, to a growing extent, from traditional bank and thrift lenders that have entered the mortgage industry. As we seek to expand our business further, we will face a significant number of additional competitors, that may be well established in the markets we desire to penetrate. Some of our competitors are much larger than we are, have better name recognition than we do and have far greater financial and other resources than we do.

Further, we compete with federally chartered institutions and their operating subsidiaries that also operate in a multi-state market environment. Federal statutes and rules governing federally chartered banks and thrifts allow those entities to engage in mortgage lending in multiple states on a substantially uniform basis and without the need to comply with state licensing and other laws (including new state “predatory lending” laws) affecting mortgage lenders. Federal regulators have expressed their position that these preemption provisions benefit mortgage subsidiaries of federally chartered institutions, as well. In January 2004, the Comptroller of the Currency finalized preemption rules that confirm and expand the scope of this federal preemption for national banks and their operating subsidiaries. Such federal preemption rules and interpretations generally have been upheld in the courts. In addition, such federally chartered institutions and their operating subsidiaries have defenses under federal law to allegations of noncompliance with such state and local laws that are unavailable to us. Moreover, at least one national rating agency has announced that, in recognition of the benefits of federal preemption, it will not require additional credit enhancement by federal institutions when they issue securities backed by mortgages from a state with predatory lending laws. As a non-federal entity, we will continue to be subject to such rating agency requirements arising from state or local lending-related laws or regulations. Accordingly, as a mortgage lender that is generally subject to the laws of each state in which we do business, except as may specifically be provided in federal rules applicable to all lenders (such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act or Truth in Lending Act), unlike those competitors, we are generally subject to all state and local laws applicable to mortgage lenders in each jurisdiction where we lend, including new laws directed at nonconforming mortgage lending, as described below under “Business — Government Regulation.” This disparity may have the effect of giving those federal entities legal and competitive advantages.

In addition to finance, investment banking and mortgage banking companies, other mortgage REITs, Internet-based lending companies, traditional banks and thrift lenders, government-sponsored entities such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are expanding their participation in the mortgage industry. These government-sponsored entities have a size and cost-of-funds advantage that allows them to purchase loans with lower rates or fees than we are able to offer. While these entities are not legally authorized to originate mortgage loans, they do have the authority to buy loans. A material expansion of their involvement in the market to purchase non-prime

37

Table of Contents

loans could change the dynamics of the industry by virtue of their sheer size, pricing power and the inherent advantages of a government charter. In addition, if as a result of their purchasing practices Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac experiences significantly higher-than-expected losses, these losses could adversely affect the overall investor perception of the non-prime mortgage industry.

The intense competition in the mortgage industry has also led to rapid technological developments, evolving industry standards and frequent releases of new products and enhancements. As mortgage products are offered more widely through alternative distribution channels, such as the Internet, we may be required to make significant changes to our current wholesale and retail origination structure and information systems to compete effectively. An inability to continue enhancing our current systems and Internet capabilities, or to adapt to other technological changes in the industry, could significantly harm our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.

Competition in the mortgage industry can take many forms, affecting interest rates and costs of a loan, stringency of underwriting standards, convenience in obtaining a loan, customer service, loan amounts and loan terms and marketing and distribution channels. The need to maintain mortgage loan volume in a competitive environment may create price competition, which could cause us to lower the interest rates that we charge borrowers and could lower the value of our mortgage loans held for sale or retained in our investment portfolio, or credit competition, which could cause us to adopt less stringent underwriting standards. The combination of price competition and credit competition could result in greater loan risk without compensating pricing. If we do not address either or both of these competitive pressures in response to our competitors, we may lose market share, reduce the volume of our loan originations and sales and significantly harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The expected cyclical decline in the mortgage industry’s overall level of originations following 2003 may lead to increased competition for the remaining loans. We cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to compete effectively in the markets we serve and our results of operations, financial condition and business could also be materially adversely affected to the extent our competitors significantly expand their activities in our markets.

The poor performance of a pool of loans we securitize could increase the expense of our subsequent securitizations, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and business.

The poor performance of a pool of mortgage loans that we securitize could increase the expense of any subsequent securitizations we bring to market. Increased expenses on our securitizations could reduce the net interest income we receive on our investment portfolio. A change in the market’s demand for our mortgage-backed securities or a decline in the securitization market generally could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and business prospects.

Our ability to generate net interest income from the mortgage loans we retain in our portfolio is dependent upon the success of our portfolio-based model of securitizations, which is subject to several risks.

We expect to generate a substantial portion of our earnings and cash flow from the net interest income earned on the loans we originate, securitize in non-REMIC securitizations and retain in an investment portfolio. A substantial portion of the net interest income generated by these securitized loans will be based upon the difference, or spread, between the weighted average interest earned on the mortgage loans held in our investment portfolio and the interest payable to holders of the asset-backed securities we issue in our securitizations. The interest expense on the asset-backed securities is typically adjusted monthly relative to market interest rates. Because the interest expense associated with the asset-backed securities typically adjusts faster than the interest income from the mortgage loans, the net interest income derived from our spread can be volatile and decrease in response to changes in interest rates. Also, the net interest income we receive from our investment portfolio of mortgage loans will likely decrease and our cash flow will be reduced if there are defaults on a significant

38

Table of Contents

number of our loans or if a large number of loans prepay prior to their scheduled maturities. The effects will be magnified if the defaults or prepayments occur with respect to mortgage loans with interest rates that are high relative to the rest of our loans.

In connection with the securitization of the mortgage loans held in our portfolio, we may issue senior securities with various ratings that are priced at a spread over an identified benchmark rate, such as the yield on U.S. Treasury bonds, interest rate swaps or the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR). If the spread that investors demand over the benchmark rate widens and the rates we charge on our loans are not commensurately increased, our spread may be compressed and we may experience a material adverse effect on the net interest income from our securitizations and therefore experience a reduction in the economic value of the pool of mortgage loans in our investment portfolio.

Our portfolio-based model is based on our expectation that the interest income we receive from the mortgage loans held in our investment portfolio will exceed the interest expense of the debt we incur to finance those loans. In other words, we expect to increase our net earnings by using debt to “leverage” our return on equity. However, our investment portfolio income is at risk for the expense of repaying our debt as well as for the performance of the loans. This is true both for the short-term financing we use prior to securitization and for the securitization debt that we incur as long-term financing of our mortgage loans held for investment.

We are subject to two risks during the period our loans held for investment are financed with short-term borrowings that we are not subject to relative to our securitization debt: first, we may be required to make additional payments to our lenders (known as “margin calls”) relative to our short-term financing if the lenders determine that the market value of the mortgage loans they hold as collateral has declined, which could happen at any time as a result of increases in market interest rates; and second, we are obligated to repay the entire amount of the debt, without limitation, regardless of the value of the mortgage loans. If we are required to make margin call payments to our lenders, it could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. On the other hand, our securitization debt will be long-term structured debt on which we never have margin calls and are at risk only for the amount we have invested in the loans, that is, the funded amount of the loans, pledged to secure the mortgage-backed securities we issue. We generally will not be obligated to repay the holders of our securitized debt if the mortgage loans pledged to secure the mortgage-backed securities we have issued default and there is not enough cash from the mortgage loans to pay the mortgage-backed securities as they become due.

We will rely upon our ability to securitize the mortgage loans held in our investment portfolio to generate cash proceeds for repayment of our warehouse lines and repurchase facilities and to originate additional mortgage loans. We cannot assure you, however, that we will be successful in securitizing these loans. In the event that it is not possible or economical for us to complete the securitization of our mortgage loans, we may continue to hold these loans and bear the risks of interest rate changes and loan defaults and delinquencies, which may cause us to exceed our capacity under our warehouse lines and repurchase facilities and be unable or limited in our ability to originate future mortgage loans, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. If we determine that we should sell all or part of our loans rather than securitizing them, there could be significant adverse effects on our net income and stockholder distributions as a result of federal corporate income tax that would be imposed on gains from such sales which would be made through our taxable REIT subsidiary, FNLC Services Inc.

Fannie Mae, which we currently believe is one of the largest purchasers of mortgage-backed securities, may not be able to purchase the mortgage-backed securities we issue in securitizations structured as financings.

We believe that Fannie Mae may not be authorized to purchase non-REMIC mortgage-backed securities. We do not intend to structure our securitizations as REMICs. As a result, we may not have access to a substantial purchaser of mortgage-backed securities. If this occurs, and if we cannot find alternative purchasers of mortgage-backed securities, then our results of operations could be adversely affected.

39

Table of Contents

The use of securitizations with over-collateralization requirements may have a negative impact on our cash flow.

We expect that our mortgage loan securitizations may restrict our cash flow if loan delinquencies exceed specified levels. The terms of the securitizations will generally provide that, if loan delinquencies or losses exceed specified levels set based on analysis by the rating agencies (or the financial guaranty insurer, if applicable) of the characteristics of the loans pledged to collateralize the mortgage-backed securities, the required level of over-collateralization may be increased or may be prevented from decreasing as would otherwise be permitted if losses and/or delinquencies did not exceed those levels. Other terms of the securitizations, triggered by delinquency levels or other criteria, may also restrict our ability to receive net interest income that we would otherwise be entitled to in connection with a securitization transaction. We cannot assure you that loan delinquencies and losses will be limited to levels necessary to permit us to maximize our cash flows. Nor can we provide you, in advance of completing negotiations with the rating agencies and other key transaction parties that may be involved with our future securitizations, information regarding the actual terms of delinquency tests, over-collateralization requirements, cash flow release mechanisms or other significant terms affecting the calculation of net interest income to us. Our failure to negotiate, or otherwise obtain, favorable securitization terms may materially and adversely affect the availability of net interest income to us. As a new issuer of masset-backed securities, we may be required to provide higher than average levels of credit enhancement and over-collateralization on our initial securitizations, which may delay our receipt of net interest income from our securitizations. Even after we have established ourselves as an issuer of mortgage-backed securities, if any of our loan pools fail to perform, our credit enhancement expenses likely will increase.

Fluctuating or rising interest rates may adversely affect the amount of net interest income we receive.

The interest payable on the floating-rate asset-backed securities we issue in securitizations generally will adjust monthly and will be based on shorter term floating interest rates, while the interest income we receive from our mortgage loans generally will either be fixed, adjust less frequently than monthly or be subject to caps on the rates the borrowers pay. Accordingly, when interest rates rise, the interest rates that we pay to finance our mortgage loan originations may rise faster than the interest rates on our mortgage loans, which could cause the net interest income generated by our mortgage loan portfolio to decrease.

Fluctuations in interest rates may affect our profitability several other ways, including but not limited to the following:

A decrease in the value of the mortgage loans used as collateral under our credit facilities could cause us to default under our credit facilities.

The amount available to us under our warehouse lines of credit and repurchase facilities depends in large part on the lender’s valuation of the mortgage loans that secure the facilities. Each credit facility provides the lender the right, under certain circumstances, to re-evaluate the loan collateral that secures our outstanding borrowings at any time. In the event the lender determines that the value of the loan collateral has decreased, it has the right to initiate a margin call. A margin call would require us to provide the lender with additional collateral or to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings at a time when we may not have a sufficient inventory of loans or cash to satisfy the margin call and at a time when the market value of our loans may be at a low. Accordingly, any failure by us to meet a margin call could cause us to default under our credit facilities and otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

40

Table of Contents

If we are unable to realize cash proceeds from loan sales in excess of the loan acquisition cost, our financial position would be adversely affected.

Although we intend to retain a substantial portion of the mortgage loans we originate, we will continue to sell some of our loans. The net cash proceeds received from loan sales consist of the premiums we receive on sales of loans in excess of the outstanding principal balance, minus the discounts on loans that we sell for less than the outstanding principal balance. The proceeds we receive on loan sales are dependent on demand for consumer credit. Economic slowdowns or recessions may be accompanied by decreased real estate values and an increased rate of delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures. Potential purchasers might reduce the premiums they pay for the loans during these periods to compensate for any increased risks. Any sustained decline in demand for loans or increase in delinquencies, defaults or foreclosures is likely to significantly harm the pricing of our future loans sales such that it falls below our costs to originate loans. If we are unable to originate loans at a cost lower than the cash proceeds realized from loan sales, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

We have limited experience hedging the interest rate risk associated with retaining a portfolio of mortgage loans over the long term, and any hedging strategies we may use may not be successful in mitigating these risks.

We may use various derivative financial instruments to provide a level of protection against interest rate risks, but no hedging strategy can protect us completely. Additionally, we have limited experience hedging interest rate volatility arising from retaining a portfolio of mortgage loans over the long term. When interest rates change, we expect the gain or loss on derivatives to be offset by a related but inverse change in the value of our mortgage loans. We cannot assure you, however, that our use of derivatives will fully offset the risks related to changes in interest rates. It is likely that there will be periods during which we will recognize losses on our derivative financial instruments under our required accounting rules that will not be fully offset by gains we recognize on loans held for sale or loans held for investment. The derivative financial instruments that we select may not have the effect of reducing our price risk on our loans, including our interest rate risk. In addition, the nature and timing of hedging transactions may influence the effectiveness of these strategies. Poorly designed strategies, or improperly executed transactions or unanticipated market fluctuations could actually increase our risk and losses. In addition, hedging strategies involve transaction and other costs. Any hedging strategy or derivatives we use may not adequately offset the risk of interest rate volatility and our hedging transactions may result in losses. Finally, complying with the REIT requirements may limit our ability to enter into certain hedging transactions.

If the prepayment rates for our mortgage loans are higher than expected, our results of operations may be significantly harmed.

The rate and timing of unscheduled payments and collections of principal on our loans held in our investment portfolio are impossible to predict accurately and will be affected by a variety of factors, including, without limitation, the level of prevailing interest rates, restrictions on voluntary prepayments contained in the loans, the availability of lender credit and other economic, demographic, geographic, tax and legal factors. Additionally we are often obligated to reimburse purchasers of these loans for a portion of the premium that we receive from the sale for any loan that is repaid within the first six months of the date of sale of the loan to the purchaser. In general, if prevailing interest rates fall significantly below the interest rate on a loan, the borrower is more likely to prepay the then higher-rate loan than if prevailing rates remain at or above the interest rate on the loan. Unexpected and increased levels of principal prepayments could adversely affect our results of operations to the extent we are unable to reinvest the funds we receive at an equivalent or higher rate, if at all. In addition, a large amount of prepayments, especially prepayments on loans with interest rates that are high relative to the rest of the mortgage loans in our investment portfolio, will likely decrease the net interest income we receive from securitizations. Also, elevated prepayment levels will cause the amortization of deferred costs to increase and reduce net interest income.

We may be required to repurchase or substitute mortgage loans that we have sold or securitized, as the case may be, or to indemnify holders of our asset-backed securities, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and business.

When we originate a mortgage loan, we make certain representations and warranties regarding certain characteristics of the loans, the borrowers and the underlying properties. If we are found to have breached any of

41

Table of Contents

these representations and warranties, we may be required to repurchase or substitute those loans or, in the case of securitized loans, replace them with substitute loans or cash, as the case may be. If this occurs, we may have to bear any associated losses directly. In addition, in the case of loans that we sold, we may be required to indemnify the purchasers of the loans 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 these loans is limited. Furthermore, repurchased mortgage loans typically can be sold only at a significant discount to the unpaid principal balance. Any repurchases, substitutions or indemnification payments could significantly harm our results of operations.

The success of our investment portfolio management and securitization business will depend in part upon a third party’s ability to effectively service the loans held in our investment portfolio and in our securitizations.

Historically, we have not serviced loans. We must continue to contract with a third-party to service the loans for us to fully implement our strategy The fees paid to a servicer will reduce our net interest income. Furthermore, our net interest income will depend in part upon the effectiveness of the third-party servicer. We cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to contract with a third-party servicer on reasonable terms or at all. We also cannot assure you that we or a servicer will be able to service the loans according to industry standards either at the outset or in the future. Any failure to service the loans properly will harm our operating results.

A prolonged economic slowdown, a lengthy or severe recession or declining real estate values could harm our operations, particularly if it results in a decline in the real estate market.

The risks associated with our business are more acute during periods of economic slowdown or recession because these periods may be accompanied by decreased demand for consumer credit and declining real estate values. Declining real estate values likely will reduce our level of new originations, because borrowers frequently use increases in the value of their homes to support new loans and higher levels of borrowings. Declining real estate values also negatively affect loan-to-value ratios, or LTVs, of our existing loans and significantly increase the likelihood that borrowers will default on existing loans. Any sustained period of economic slowdown or recession could adversely affect our net interest income from mortgage loans in our investment portfolio, as well as our ability to originate, sell and securitize loans, which conditions would significantly harm our results of operations.

If we are unable to maintain our network of independent brokers, our mortgage loan origination business will decrease and if we are unable to grow our network of independent brokers our ability to increase our total mortgage loan originations volume may be hampered.

A significant portion of the mortgage loans that we originate comes from independent brokers in our wholesale channels. Our brokers are not contractually obligated to do business with us. Further, our competitors also have relationships with our brokers and actively compete with us in our efforts to obtain loans from our brokers and to expand our broker networks. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in maintaining our existing relationships or expanding our broker networks, the failure of which could negatively affect the volume and pricing of our loans, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be subject to losses due to fraudulent and negligent acts on the part of loan applicants, mortgage brokers, other vendors and our employees.

When we originate mortgage loans, we rely heavily upon information supplied by third parties, including the information contained in the loan application made by the applicant, property appraisal, title information and employment and income documentation. If a third party misrepresents any of this information and if we do not discover the misrepresentation prior to funding the loan, the value of the loan may be significantly lower than

42

Table of Contents

anticipated. As a practical matter, we generally bear the risk of loss associated with the misrepresentation whether it is made by the loan applicant, the mortgage broker, another third party or one of our employees. A loan with respect to which a material misrepresentation has been made is typically unsalable or subject to repurchase if it was sold prior to detection of the misrepresentation. In addition, the persons and entities that make such material misrepresentations, are often difficult to locate, and it is nearly impossible to recoup any monetary losses that we may have suffered, as a result of such material misrepresentations from those who have made them.

For a portion of the mortgage loans we originate, we required no or limited documentation of the borrowers’ income and bank account information. Instead, we based our credit decisions largely on the borrowers’ credit score and credit history, the collateral value of the property securing the loan and the effect of the loan on the borrowers’ debt service. There is a higher risk of default on loans where there is little or no documentation of the borrowers’ income.

We will incur significant costs related to governmental regulation.

Our business is subject to extensive regulation, supervision and licensing by federal, state and local governmental authorities and is subject to various laws and judicial and administrative decisions imposing requirements and restrictions on a substantial portion of our operations. Our lending and servicing activities are subject to numerous federal laws and regulations, including the Truth-in-Lending Act and Regulation Z (including the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994), the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, or RESPA, the Fair Housing Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, or HMDA, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the privacy requirements of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, or the FACT Act. We also are required to comply with a variety of state and local consumer protection laws and are subject to the rules and regulations of, and examination by state regulatory authorities with respect to originating, processing, underwriting, selling, securitizing and servicing mortgage loans. These requirements can and do change as statutes and regulations are amended.

These statutes and regulations, among other things, impose licensing obligations upon us, establish eligibility criteria for mortgage loans, prohibit discrimination, provide for inspections and appraisals of properties securing mortgage loans, require credit reports on mortgage loan applicants, regulate assessment, servicing-related fees collection, foreclosure and claims handling, investment and interest payments on escrow balances and payment features, mandate certain disclosures and notices to borrowers and, in some cases, fix maximum interest rates, finance charges, fees and mortgage loan amounts. We will incur significant costs to comply with governmental regulations, which will have a negative effect on our net income.

If we do not obtain the necessary state licenses and approvals, we will not be allowed to acquire, fund or originate mortgage loans in some states, which would adversely affect our operations and may result in our inability to qualify as a REIT.

Most states in which we do business require that we be licensed to conduct our business. As part of our acquisition of First NLC Financial Services, we will be required to obtain various new licenses and approvals under existing licenses. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain all the necessary licenses and approvals in a timely manner or at all.

Our inability to comply with the large body of complex laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels associated with our business could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

Because we expect our subsidiary, FNLC Services Inc. to be licensed, approved or authorized to originate mortgage loans in 38 states, we must comply with the laws and regulations, as well as judicial and administrative

43

Table of Contents

decisions, in all of these jurisdictions, as well as an extensive body of federal law and regulations. The volume of new or modified laws and regulations has increased in recent years, and, in addition, individual cities and counties have begun to enact laws that restrict non-prime mortgage loan origination activities in those cities and counties. The laws and regulations of each of these jurisdictions are different, complex and, in some cases, in direct conflict with each other. As our operations continue to grow, it may be more difficult to comprehensively identify, accurately interpret, properly program our technology systems and effectively train our personnel with respect to all of these laws and regulations, thereby potentially increasing our exposure to the risks of noncompliance with these laws and regulations. Our failure to comply with these laws and regulations can lead to:

Any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and business. We cannot assure you that more restrictive laws, rules and regulations will not be adopted in the future, or that existing laws and regulations will not be interpreted in a more restrictive manner, that could make compliance more difficult or expensive.

We are also subject to examination by state regulatory authorities in each of the states in which we operate. To resolve issues raised in these examinations, we have in the past, and may in the future, be required to take various corrective actions, including changing certain business practices and making refunds in certain circumstances to borrowers.

Further, federally chartered institutions and their operating subsidiaries, with which we compete, operate with the benefit of broad federal preemption under their federal charters and federal regulations in a multi-state market environment. Unlike those competitors, we are generally subject to state and local laws applicable to mortgage lenders in each jurisdiction where we lend, including new laws directed at non-prime mortgage lending. In addition, such federally-chartered institutions have defenses under federal law to allegations of noncompliance with such state and local laws that are unavailable to us.

The laws and regulations described above are subject to legislative, administrative and judicial interpretation, and certain of these laws and regulations have been infrequently interpreted or only recently enacted. Infrequent interpretations of these laws and regulations or an insignificant number of interpretations of recently enacted regulations can result in ambiguity with respect to permitted conduct under these laws and regulations. Any ambiguity under the regulations to which we are subject may lead to regulatory investigations or enforcement actions and private causes of action, such as class action lawsuits, with respect to our compliance with the applicable laws and regulations. As a mortgage lender, we may be also subject to regulatory enforcement actions and private causes of action from time to time with respect to our compliance with applicable laws and regulations. We cannot assure you that future examinations or governmental actions will not cause us to change certain business practices, make refunds or take other actions that would be financially or competitively detrimental to us.

44

Table of Contents

We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain or maintain all necessary licenses and approvals in a timely manner or at all. Failure to obtain and maintain these licenses and approvals would limit, delay and disrupt (1) our ability to increase REIT qualifying assets and income and (2) our operations in certain geographical regions, and perhaps nationwide, and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and business.

The complex federal, state and municipal laws governing loan servicing activities could increase our exposure to the risk of noncompliance.

As we increase our servicing of the loans we originate, we will be confronted with the laws and regulations, as well as judicial and administrative decisions, of all relevant jurisdictions pertaining to loan servicing, as well as an extensive body of federal laws and regulations. The volume of new or modified laws and regulations has increased in recent years and, in addition, some individual municipalities have begun to enact laws that restrict loan servicing activities. The laws and regulations of each of these jurisdictions are different, complex and, in some cases, in direct conflict with each other. As our servicing operations continue to grow, it may be more difficult to comprehensively identify, to accurately interpret and to properly program our technology systems and effectively train our personnel with respect to all of these laws and regulations, thereby potentially increasing our exposure to the risks of noncompliance with the laws and regulations pertaining to loan servicing. Our failure to comply with these laws could lead to, among other things: (i) civil and criminal liability, including potential monetary penalties; (ii) legal defenses delaying or otherwise harming the servicer’s ability to enforce loans, or giving the borrower the right to rescind or cancel the loan transactions; (iii) class action lawsuits; and (iv) administrative enforcement actions. This could harm our results of operations, financial condition and business prospects.

New legislation could restrict our ability to make mortgage loans, which could adversely impact our results of operations, financial condition and business.

Several states, counties and cities are considering or have passed laws or regulations aimed at curbing “predatory lending” practices. The federal government is also considering legislative and regulatory proposals in this regard. In general, these proposals involve lowering the existing Federal Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act thresholds for defining a “high-cost” loan, and establishing enhanced protections and remedies for borrowers who receive such high-cost loans. However, many of these laws and regulations extend beyond curbing predatory lending practices to restrict commonly accepted lending activities. For example, some of these laws and regulations prohibit or limit prepayment charges or severely restrict a borrower’s ability to finance the points and fees charged in connection with the origination of a mortgage loan. Passage of these laws and regulations could reduce our mortgage loan origination volume. In fact, we have withdrawn from certain jurisdictions due to such legislation and any new legislation may cause us to withdraw from additional jurisdictions. Some of these restrictions expose a lender to risks of litigation and regulatory sanction no matter how carefully a mortgage loan is underwritten or originated. In addition, an increasing number of these laws, rules and regulations seek to impose liability for violations on purchasers of mortgage loans, regardless of whether a purchaser knew of or participated in the violation. Accordingly, for reputational reasons, the purchasers and lenders that buy our mortgage loans or provide financing for our mortgage loan originations may not want to buy or finance any mortgage loans subject to these types of laws, rules and regulations. These purchasers and lenders are not contractually required to purchase or finance such mortgage loans. In addition, for reputational reasons and because of the enhanced risk, many whole-loan purchasers will not buy and rating agencies may refuse to rate any securitization containing any mortgage loan labeled as a “high-cost” loan under any local, state or federal law or regulation. Accordingly, these laws and regulations severely constrict the secondary market and limit the acceptable standards of mortgage loan production in our industry. This could effectively preclude us from originating mortgage loans that fit within the newly defined parameters and could have a material adverse effect on our ability to securitize or sell mortgage loans and, therefore, our results of operations, financial condition and business.

In addition, many of these state laws, rules and regulations are not applicable to the mortgage operations of national banks, federal thrifts or their subsidiaries, which gives the mortgage operations of these institutions a

45

Table of Contents

competitive advantage over us. If, for competitive reasons, we were to decide to relax our self-imposed restrictions on originating and purchasing mortgage loans subject to these laws, we would be subject to greater risks for actual or perceived non-compliance with such laws, rules, and regulations, including demands for indemnification or loan repurchases from our lenders and purchasers of our mortgage loans, class action lawsuits, increased defenses to foreclosure of individual loans in default, individual claims for significant monetary damages, and administrative enforcement actions. Any of the foregoing could significantly harm our results of operations, financial condition and business.

Furthermore, members of Congress and government officials have from time to time suggested the elimination of the mortgage interest deduction for federal income tax purposes, either entirely or in part, based on borrower income, type of loan or principal amount. Because many of our mortgage loans are made to borrowers for the purpose of consolidating consumer debt or financing other consumer needs, the competitive advantage of tax deductible interest, when compared with alternative sources of financing, could be eliminated or seriously impaired by such government action. Accordingly, the reduction or elimination of these tax benefits to borrowers could have a material adverse effect on the demand for the mortgage loan products we offer.

We may be subject to various legal actions, which if decided adversely could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

Because the non-prime mortgage lending and servicing business by its nature involves the collection of numerous accounts, the validity of liens and compliance with local, state and federal lending laws, mortgage lenders and servicers, including us, are subject to numerous claims and legal actions in the ordinary course of business. These legal actions include lawsuits styled as class actions and alleging violations of various federal, state and local regulations and laws. In addition, in recent years, both state and federal regulators and enforcement agencies have subjected the practices of non-prime mortgage lenders to particularly intense regulatory scrutiny, which has resulted in a number of well publicized governmental and other investigations of certain of our competitors. Lawsuits can be very expensive, harm a company’s reputation and otherwise disrupt operations. We cannot assure you that we will not be the subject of legal actions that could materially adversely affect our financial condition.

The conduct of the independent brokers through whom we originate our wholesale mortgage loans could subject us to fines or other penalties.

The mortgage brokers through whom we originate wholesale mortgage loans have parallel and separate legal obligations to which they are subject. While these laws may not explicitly hold the originating lenders responsible for the legal violations of mortgage brokers, federal and state agencies increasingly have sought to impose such liability. Recently, for example, the United States Federal Trade Commission, or the FTC, entered into a settlement agreement with a mortgage lender where the FTC characterized a broker that had placed all of its loan production with a single lender as the “agent” of the lender; the FTC imposed a fine on the lender in part because, as “principal,” the lender was legally responsible for the mortgage broker’s unfair and deceptive acts and practices. The United States Department of Justice in the past has sought to hold mortgage lenders responsible for the pricing practices of mortgage brokers, alleging that the mortgage lender is directly responsible for the total fees and charges paid by the borrower under the Fair Housing Act, even if the lender neither dictated what the mortgage broker could charge nor kept the money for its own account. Although we exercise little or no control over the activities of the independent mortgage brokers from whom we obtain our wholesale loans, we may be subject to fines or other penalties based upon the conduct of our independent mortgage brokers. Further, we have in the past made refunds to our borrowers because of the conduct of mortgage brokers and it is possible that we may in the future be subject to additional payments, fines or other penalties based upon the conduct of the brokers with whom we do business.

“Do not call” registry and “Do not fax” rules may limit our ability to market our products and services.

Our marketing operations, including the activities of brokers who originate mortgage loans for us, may be restricted by the development of various federal and state laws, including “do not call” list requirements and “do not

46

Table of Contents

fax” requirements. Federal and state laws have been enacted that permit consumers to protect themselves from unsolicited marketing telephone calls. In 2003, the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, amended its rules to establish a national “do not call” registry. Generally, vendors are prohibited from calling anyone on that registry unless the consumer has initiated the contact or given prior consent. Even though court decisions in 2003 questioned the FTC’s authority to effect such a registry and raised First Amendment issues, the FTC put the registry into operation. A 2004 U.S. Court of Appeals decision has held that the FTC rules do not conflict with the freedom of commercial speech under the First Amendment, which has increased the likelihood that the FTC rules will remain in effect. In October 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal seeking to overturn the Tenth Circuit ruling. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1981 and rules issued by the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, prohibit vendors from sending unsolicited fax advertisements. Currently, a fax is not unsolicited if the sender has an established business relationship with the recipient. However, beginning July 1, 2005, a fax advertisement may be sent only if the sender has a signed, written consent from the recipient that includes the fax number to which any advertisements may be sent. In view of the public concern with privacy, we cannot assure you that additional rules that restrict or make more costly the marketing activities that we or our vendors employ will not be adopted. Such regulations may restrict our ability to market our products and services to new customers effectively. Furthermore, compliance with these regulations may prove costly and difficult, and we, or our vendors, may incur penalties for improperly conducting our marketing activities.

We are subject to significant legal and reputational risks and expenses under federal and state laws concerning privacy, use, and security of customer information.

The scope of business activity affected by “privacy” concerns is likely to expand and will affect our business. The federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley financial reform legislation imposes significant privacy obligations on us in connection with the collection, use and security of financial and other non-public information provided to us by applicants and borrowers. We adopted a privacy policy and adopted controls and procedures to comply with the law after it took effect on July 1, 2001. Privacy rules also require us to protect the security and integrity of the customer information we use and hold. Although we have systems and procedures designed to help us with these privacy requirements, we cannot assure you that more restrictive laws and regulations will not be adopted in the future, or that governmental bodies will not interpret existing laws or regulations in a more restrictive manner, making compliance more difficult or expensive. These requirements also increase the risk that we may be subject to liability for non-compliance.

A number of states are considering privacy amendments that may be more demanding than federal law, and California recently has enacted two statutes — the California Financial Information Privacy Act (also know as SB-1) and the California Online Privacy Protection Act, both of which took effect on July 1, 2004. Under SB-1, a financial company must allow its customers to opt out of the sharing of their information with affiliates in separately regulated lines of business and must receive a customer opt-in before confidential customer data may be shared with unaffiliated companies (subject to certain exceptions). A federal court rejected the effort of three financial trade associations to prevent SB-1 from taking effect, and as of July 1, 2004, the California Department of Financial Institutions announced that it would require immediate compliance with SB-1. Under the new California Online Privacy Act, all operators of commercial websites and online services that allow interaction with California consumers (even if no transactions may be effected online) must post privacy policies meeting statutory requirements. The FTC, which administers the federal privacy rules for mortgage lenders, has determined that privacy laws in several states are not preempted by Gramm-Leach-Bliley, most recently new privacy laws enacted by Vermont and Illinois. In view of the public concern with privacy, we cannot assure you that additional rules that restrict or make more costly our activities and the activities of our vendors will not be adopted and will not restrict the marketing of our products and services to new customers.

Because laws and rules concerning the use and protection of customer information are continuing to develop at the federal and state levels, we expect to incur increased costs in our effort to be and remain in full compliance with these requirements. Nevertheless, despite our efforts, we will be subject to legal and reputational risks in connection with our collection and use of customer information, and we cannot assure you that we will not be

47

Table of Contents

subject to lawsuits or compliance actions under such state or federal privacy requirements. Furthermore, to the extent that a variety of inconsistent state privacy rules or requirements are enacted, our compliance costs could substantially increase.

Our inability to rely on the Alternative Mortgage Transactions Parity Act to preempt certain state law restrictions on prepayment charges could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and business.

The value of a mortgage loan depends, in part, upon the expected period of time that the mortgage loan will be outstanding. If a borrower pays off a mortgage loan in advance of this expected period, the holder of the mortgage loan does not realize the full value expected to be received from the mortgage loan. A prepayment charge payable by a borrower who repays a mortgage loan earlier than expected helps offset the reduction in value resulting from the early payoff. Consequently, the value of a mortgage loan is enhanced to the extent it includes a prepayment charge and a mortgage lender can offer a lower interest rate and lower loan fees on a mortgage loan which has a prepayment charge. Certain state laws restrict or prohibit prepayment charges on mortgage loans and, until July 1, 2003, we relied on the federal Alternative Mortgage Transactions Parity Act, or the Parity Act, and related rules issued in the past by the Office of Thrift Supervision, or the OTS, to preempt state limitations on prepayment charges related to adjustable rate mortgage loans. The Parity Act was enacted to extend the federal preemption that federally chartered depository institutions enjoy related to adjustable rate mortgage loans to all qualifying financial institutions, including mortgage banking companies. However, on September 25, 2002, the OTS released a new rule that reduced the scope of the Parity Act preemption and, as a result, we are no longer able to rely on the Parity Act to preempt state restrictions on prepayment charges. The effective date of the new rule was July 1, 2003. In July 2004, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld the OTS action withdrawing its Parity Act regulations and, as a result, non-federal housing creditors are subject to state law concerning prepayment and late fees. The elimination of this federal preemption requires us to comply with state restrictions on prepayment charges. These restrictions prohibit us from making any prepayment charge in certain states and restrict the amount and duration of prepayment charges that we may impose in other states. This may place us at a competitive disadvantage relative to certain state and federally chartered depository institutions that will continue to enjoy federal preemption of such state restrictions. Such institutions may still impose prepayment charges without regard to state restrictions and, as a result, may be able to offer mortgage loans with interest rate and loan fee structures that are more attractive than the interest rate and loan fee structures that we are able to offer. This competitive disadvantage could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and business.

If many of our borrowers become subject to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003, our cash flows and interest income may be adversely affected.

Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003, which re-enacted the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, a borrower who enters military service after the origination of his or her mortgage loan generally may not be required to pay interest above an annual rate of 6%, and the lender is restricted from exercising certain enforcement remedies, during the period of the borrower’s active duty status. This act also applies to a borrower who was on reserve status and is called to active duty after origination of the mortgage loan. In view of the large number of U.S. Armed Forces personnel on active duty and likely to be on active duty in the future, our compliance with this act could reduce our cash flow and the interest payments collected from those borrowers, and in the event of default, delay or prevent us from exercising the remedies for default that otherwise would be available to us.

We are exposed to environmental liabilities with respect to properties to which we take title.

In the course of our business, we may foreclose and take title to residential properties, and, if we do take title, we could be subject to environmental liabilities with respect to these properties. The laws and regulations related to environmental contamination often impose liability without regard to responsibility for the contamination. We may be liable to a governmental entity or third parties for property damage, personal injury,

48

Table of Contents

investigation and clean-up costs incurred by these parties in connection with environmental contamination, or we may be required to investigate or clean up hazardous or toxic substances, or chemical releases at a property. The costs associated with investigation or remediation activities could be substantial. If we ever become subject to significant environmental liabilities, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Tax Risks of our Business and Structure

Our ownership limitation may restrict change of control or business combination opportunities in which our shareholders might receive a premium for their shares.

In order for us to qualify as a REIT, no more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals during the last half of any calendar year. “Individuals” include natural persons, private foundations, some employee benefit plans and trusts, and some charitable trusts. In order to preserve our REIT status, our amended and restated articles of incorporation generally prohibit any shareholder from directly or indirectly owning more than 9.9% of any class or series of our outstanding common stock or preferred stock.

The ownership limitation could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction in which holders of our common stock might receive a premium for their shares over the then prevailing market price or which holders might believe to be otherwise in their best interests.

U.S. federal income tax requirements may restrict our operations, which could restrict our ability to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities, which could negatively affect the cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

We intend to continue to operate in a manner that is intended to cause us to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the U.S. federal income tax laws governing REITs are extremely complex, and interpretations of the U.S. federal income tax laws governing qualification as a REIT are limited. Qualifying as a REIT requires us to meet various tests regarding the nature of our assets and our income, the ownership of our outstanding stock, and the amount of our distributions on an ongoing basis. In some instances, compliance with these tests may not be completely within our control. For example, some of our investments are in equity securities of other REITs, which generally are qualifying assets and produce qualifying income for purposes of the REIT qualification tests. The failure of the REITs in which we invest to maintain their REIT status, however, could jeopardize our REIT status. Accordingly, we cannot be certain that we will be successful in operating so as to qualify as a REIT.

At any time, new laws, interpretations, or court decisions may change the federal tax laws regarding, or the U.S. federal income tax consequences of, qualification as a REIT. In addition, compliance with the REIT qualification tests could restrict our ability to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities in non-qualifying assets, which would negatively affect the cash available for distribution to our shareholders. For example, we may be required to limit our investment in non-REIT equity securities and mezzanine loans to the extent that such loans are not secured by real property.

Our ownership of and relationship with our taxable REIT subsidiaries will be limited and a failure to comply with the limits would jeopardize our REIT status and may result in the application of a 100% excise tax.

A REIT may own up to 100% of the stock of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries. A taxable REIT subsidiary may earn income that would not be qualifying income if earned directly by the parent REIT. Both the subsidiary and the REIT must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a taxable REIT subsidiary. A corporation of which a taxable REIT subsidiary directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the stock will automatically be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. Overall, no more than 20% of the value of a

49

Table of Contents

REIT’s assets may consist of stock or securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries. A taxable REIT subsidiary will pay income tax at regular corporate rates on any income that it earns. In addition, the taxable REIT subsidiary rules limit the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a taxable REIT subsidiary to its parent REIT to assure that the taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. The rules also impose a 100% excise tax on certain transactions between a taxable REIT subsidiary and its parent REIT that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis.

All of our operating businesses are conducted through taxable REIT subsidiaries. Our taxable REIT subsidiaries pay corporate income tax on their taxable income, and their after-tax net income is available for distribution to us but is not required to be distributed to us.

The aggregate value of the taxable REIT subsidiary stock and securities currently owned by us is significantly less than 20% of the value of our total assets (including the taxable REIT subsidiary stock and securities). Furthermore, we will monitor the value of our investments in our taxable REIT subsidiaries for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the rule that no more than 20% of the value of our assets may consist of taxable REIT subsidiary stock and securities (which is applied at the end of each calendar quarter). In addition, we will scrutinize all of our transactions with our taxable REIT subsidiaries for the purpose of ensuring that they are entered into on arm’s-length terms in order to avoid incurring the 100% excise tax described above. There can be no complete assurance, however, that we will be able to comply with the 20% limitation on ownership of taxable REIT subsidiary stock and securities on an ongoing basis so as to maintain REIT status or to avoid application of the 100% excise tax imposed on certain non-arm’s-length transactions.

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

In order to qualify as a REIT, an entity must distribute to its shareholders, each calendar year, at least 90% of its taxable income, other than any net capital gain and excluding any retained earnings of taxable REIT subsidiaries. To the extent that a REIT satisfies the 90% distribution requirement, but distributes less than 100% of its taxable income, it will be subject to federal corporate income tax on its undistributed income. In addition, the REIT will incur a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which its distributions in any calendar year are less than the sum of:

We intend to continue to pay out our REIT taxable income to our shareholders in a manner intended to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement and to avoid both corporate income tax and the 4% excise tax. However, there is no requirement that taxable REIT subsidiaries distribute their after-tax net income to their parent REIT or their shareholders and our taxable REIT subsidiaries may elect not to make any distributions to us.

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

50

Table of Contents

Failure to qualify as a REIT would subject us to U.S. federal income tax, which would reduce the cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any calendar year, we would be required to pay U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income. We might need to borrow money or sell assets in order to pay that tax. Our payment of income tax would decrease the amount of our income available for distribution to our shareholders. Furthermore, if we cease to be a REIT, we no longer would be required to distribute substantially all of our taxable income to our shareholders. Unless our failure to qualify as a REIT were excused under federal tax laws, we could not re-elect REIT status until the fifth calendar year following the year in which we failed to qualify.

The requirement that we distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to our shareholders, other than net capital gains and excluding the retained earnings of our taxable REIT subsidiaries, each year will result in our shareholders receiving periodic taxable distributions.

In order to qualify as a REIT, we must distribute to our shareholders, each calendar year, at least 90% of our taxable income; other than net capital gains and excluding the taxable income of our taxable REIT subsidiaries. As a result, our shareholders receive periodic distributions from us. These distributions generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Our ordinary REIT dividends generally are not eligible for the reduced tax rates applicable to dividends paid by regular C corporations.

A sale of assets acquired from FBR Group within ten years after the merger would result in corporate income tax, which would reduce the cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

If we sell any asset that we acquired from FBR Group, including the stock and securities of certain of our taxable REIT subsidiaries, within ten years after the merger and recognize a taxable gain on the sale, we will be taxed at the highest corporate rate on an amount equal to the lesser of:

This rule potentially could inhibit us from selling assets acquired from FBR Group within ten years after the merger.

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

The federal income tax laws governing REITs or the administrative interpretations of those laws may be amended at any time. Any of those new laws or interpretations may take effect retroactively and could adversely affect us or you as a shareholder.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Our principal executive offices are located at Potomac Tower, 1001 Nineteenth Street North, Arlington, Virginia 22209. We also carry out aspects of all of our businesses at that location. We lease more than four floors of our headquarters building in Arlington, Virginia, totaling approximately 189,288 square feet. We also lease offices in the following locations and conduct certain portions of our businesses in those locations as indicated: Bethesda, Maryland (asset management); Boston, Massachusetts (capital markets and asset management); Chicago, Illinois (capital markets); Cleveland, Ohio (capital markets); Dallas, TX (capital markets); Denver, Colorado (capital markets); Houston, Texas (capital markets); Irvine, California (capital markets); New York, New York (capital markets); Phoenix, AZ (asset management); Portland, Oregon (asset management);

51

Table of Contents

Reston, VA; San Francisco, California (capital markets); Seattle, Washington (asset management); Vienna, Austria (capital markets); and London, England (capital markets). We lease approximately 107,382 total square feet in these other offices. We believe that our present facilities, together with current options to extend lease terms and occupy additional space, are adequate for our current and presently projected needs.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

As of December 31, 2004, the Company was not a defendant or plaintiff in any lawsuits or arbitrations that are expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or statements of operations. The Company is a defendant in a small number of civil lawsuits and arbitrations (together, litigation) relating to its various businesses.

In addition, the Company is subject to various reviews, examinations, investigations and other inquiries by governmental agencies and SROs (together, regulatory matters). As previously disclosed, the Company’s broker- dealer subsidiary, FBR & Co., is involved in investigations by the SEC and the NASD concerning its role in 2001 as a placement agent for an issuer in a PIPE (private investment in public equity) transaction. The Company continues to cooperate fully with the investigations. To date the investigations are continuing.

As previously disclosed, one of the Company’s investment adviser subsidiaries. Money Management Associates, Inc. (“MMA”) and one of its now closed mutual funds, are involved in an investigation by the SEC with regard to certain losses sustained by the fund in 2003. The Company continues to cooperate fully with the investigation. To date the investigation is continuing.

Since no proceedings have been initiated in any of the above investigations, it is inherently difficult to predict the outcome of the investigations or their affect on FBR & Co., MMA or the Company. It is possible that either or both agencies may initiate proceedings as a result of any of the investigations. Any such proceedings could result in adverse judgments, injunctions, fines, penalties or other relief against FBR & Co., MMA or one or more of the officers or employees of these companies.

There can be no assurance that these matters individually or in aggregate will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations in a future period. However, based on management’s review with counsel, resolution of these matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Many aspects of the Company’s business involve substantial risks of liability and litigation. Underwriters, broker-dealers and investment advisers are exposed to liability under Federal and state securities laws, other Federal and state laws and court decisions, including decisions with respect to underwriters’ liability and limitations on indemnification, as well as with respect to the handling of customer accounts. For example, underwriters may be held liable for material misstatements or omissions of fact in a prospectus used in connection with the securities being offered and broker-dealers may be held liable for statements made by their securities analysts or other personnel. In certain circumstances, broker-dealers and asset managers may also be held liable by customers and clients for losses sustained on investments. In recent years, there has been an increasing incidence of litigation and actions by government agencies and SROs involving the securities industry, including class actions that seek substantial damages. The Company is also subject to the risk of litigation, including litigation that may be without merit. As the Company intends to actively defend such litigation, significant legal expenses could be incurred. An adverse resolution of any future litigation against the Company could materially affect the Company’s operating results and financial condition.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITIES HOLDERS

None.

52

Table of Contents

Our Class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FBR.” The following table shows the high and low sales prices of our Class A common stock during each fiscal quarter during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the cash distributions per share declared during those periods. Following our merger with FBR Asset Investment Corporation effective March 31, 2003, we adopted the dividend policy of FBR Asset Investment Corporation. Prior to our merger with FBR Asset Investment Corporation, FBR Group did not pay dividends.

On March 2, 2005, there were approximately 444 record holders of our Class A common stock, including shares held in “street name” by nominees who are record holders.

There is no established public trading market for our Class B common stock and on March 2, 2005, there were approximately 41 record holders of our Class B common stock. Class B shares receive dividends in the same amounts and on the same dates as Class A shares.

Information regarding securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2004 will be incorporated by reference from our annual proxy statement (under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management”) to be filed with respect to our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on or about June 9, 2005.

We intend to make regular quarterly distributions to our Class A and Class B shareholders.

In order to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we must distribute to our shareholders with respect to each year at least 90% of our taxable income. Although we generally intend to distribute to our shareholders each year an amount equal to our taxable income for that year, distributions paid by us will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our actual cash flow, our financial condition, capital requirements, the annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and other factors our board of directors deems relevant.

53

Table of Contents

ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

54

Table of Contents