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DYNEX CAPITAL INC - Quarter Report: 2016 September (Form 10-Q)


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC  20549
FORM 10-Q
  x
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016
or
  o
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Commission File Number: 1-9819
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Virginia
52-1549373
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)
 
 
4991 Lake Brook Drive, Suite 100, Glen Allen, Virginia
23060-9245
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
 
(804) 217-5800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes           x           No           o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes           x           No           o

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

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

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

On October 31, 2016, the registrant had 49,150,424 shares outstanding of common stock, $0.01 par value, which is the registrant’s only class of common stock.



DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
FORM 10-Q
INDEX
 
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 (unaudited) and December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 (unaudited) and September 30, 2015 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 (unaudited) and September 30, 2015 (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 








i


PART I.        FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
($ in thousands except share data)
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
ASSETS
(unaudited)
 

Mortgage-backed securities (including pledged of $2,974,524 and $3,361,635, respectively)
$
3,110,467

 
$
3,493,701

Mortgage loans held for investment, net
20,366

 
24,145

Investment in limited partnership

 
10,835

Investment in FHLB stock
5,260

 
11,475

Cash and cash equivalents
73,406

 
33,935

Restricted cash
84,685

 
51,190

Derivative assets
12,985

 
7,835

Principal receivable on investments
9,594

 
6,193

Accrued interest receivable
19,501

 
22,764

Other assets, net
7,292

 
7,975

Total assets
$
3,343,556

 
$
3,670,048

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY


 
 

Liabilities:
 

 
 

Repurchase agreements
$
2,478,278

 
$
2,589,420

FHLB advances
263,000

 
520,000

Non-recourse collateralized financing
7,025

 
8,442

Derivative liabilities
84,023

 
41,205

Accrued interest payable
2,163

 
1,743

Accrued dividends payable
12,259

 
13,709

Other liabilities
1,889

 
3,504

 Total liabilities
2,848,637

 
3,178,023

 


 
 
Shareholders’ equity:
 

 
 

Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, 8.5% Series A Cumulative Redeemable; 8,000,000 shares authorized; 2,300,000 shares issued and outstanding ($57,500 aggregate liquidation preference)
$
55,407

 
$
55,407

Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, 7.625% Series B Cumulative Redeemable; 7,000,000 shares authorized; 2,250,000 shares issued and outstanding ($56,250 aggregate liquidation preference)
54,251

 
54,251

Common stock, par value $.01 per share, 200,000,000 shares authorized;
49,148,595 and 49,047,335 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
491

 
490

Additional paid-in capital
726,701

 
725,358

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
52,578

 
(12,768
)
Accumulated deficit
(394,509
)
 
(330,713
)
 Total shareholders' equity
494,919

 
492,025

 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
3,343,556

 
$
3,670,048

See notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

1


DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(UNAUDITED)
 (amounts in thousands except per share data)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Interest income
$
21,135

 
$
26,096

 
$
69,040

 
$
74,722

Interest expense
6,068

 
5,859

 
18,478

 
16,772

  Net interest income
15,067

 
20,237

 
50,562

 
57,950

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net
2,409

 
(52,749
)
 
(62,153
)
 
(60,982
)
Gain (loss) on sale of investments, net

 
113

 
(4,238
)
 
(70
)
Fair value adjustments, net
34

 
16

 
86

 
75

Other income (expense), net
545

 
(215
)
 
898

 
430

General and administrative expenses:
 
 
 
 


 
 
Compensation and benefits
(1,736
)
 
(2,327
)
 
(5,829
)
 
(6,794
)
Other general and administrative
(1,619
)
 
(2,052
)
 
(5,288
)
 
(6,596
)
Net income (loss)
14,700

 
(36,977
)
 
(25,962
)
 
(15,987
)
Preferred stock dividends
(2,294
)
 
(2,294
)
 
(6,882
)
 
(6,882
)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders
$
12,406

 
$
(39,271
)
 
$
(32,844
)
 
$
(22,869
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 


 
 
Change in net unrealized gain on available-for-sale investments
$
769

 
$
26,674

 
$
61,260

 
$
7,951

Reclassification adjustment for (gain) loss on sale of investments, net

 
(113
)
 
4,238

 
70

Reclassification adjustment for de-designated cash flow hedges
(99
)
 
857

 
(152
)
 
2,772

Total other comprehensive income
670

 
27,418

 
65,346

 
10,793

Comprehensive income (loss) to common shareholders
$
13,076

 
$
(11,853
)
 
$
32,502

 
$
(12,076
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per common share-basic and diluted
$
0.25

 
$
(0.74
)
 
$
(0.67
)
 
$
(0.42
)
Weighted average common shares-basic and diluted
49,147

 
52,777

 
49,102

 
54,043

See notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

2


DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)
($ in thousands)
 
Preferred
Stock
 
Common
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive (Loss) Income
 
Accumulated
Deficit
 
Total Shareholders' Equity
Balance as of December 31, 2015
$
109,658

 
$
490

 
$
725,358

 
$
(12,768
)
 
$
(330,713
)
 
$
492,025

Stock issuance

 

 
102

 

 

 
102

Restricted stock granted, net of amortization

 
2

 
2,064

 

 

 
2,066

Adjustments for tax withholding on share-based compensation

 
(1
)
 
(484
)
 

 

 
(485
)
Stock issuance costs amortization

 

 
(29
)
 

 

 
(29
)
Common stock repurchased

 

 
(310
)
 

 

 
(310
)
Net loss

 

 

 

 
(25,962
)
 
(25,962
)
Dividends on preferred stock

 

 

 

 
(6,882
)
 
(6,882
)
Dividends on common stock

 

 

 

 
(30,952
)
 
(30,952
)
Other comprehensive income

 

 

 
65,346

 

 
65,346

Balance as of September 30, 2016
$
109,658

 
$
491

 
$
726,701

 
$
52,578

 
$
(394,509
)
 
$
494,919

See notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

3


DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
($ in thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
Operating activities:
 
 
 
Net loss
$
(25,962
)
 
$
(15,987
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Decrease in accrued interest receivable
3,263

 
241

Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable
420

 
(409
)
Loss on derivative instruments, net
62,153

 
60,982

Loss on sale of investments, net
4,238

 
70

Fair value adjustments, net
(86
)
 
(75
)
Amortization of investment premiums, net
112,418

 
114,398

Other amortization and depreciation, net
1,186

 
4,143

Stock-based compensation expense
2,066

 
2,220

Other operating activities
(2,060
)
 
(3,064
)
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities
157,636

 
162,519

Investing activities:
 

 
 

Purchase of investments
(96,816
)
 
(1,066,461
)
Principal payments received on investments
337,719

 
384,063

Proceeds from sales of investments
94,033

 
339,332

Principal payments received on mortgage loans held for investment, net
3,709

 
12,241

Payment to acquire interest in limited partnership

 
(6,000
)
Distributions received from limited partnership
10,835

 

Net payments on derivatives, including terminations
(24,483
)
 
(37,502
)
Other investing activities
(105
)
 
(134
)
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) investing activities
324,892

 
(374,461
)
Financing activities:
 

 
 

Borrowings under repurchase agreements and FHLB advances
19,293,243

 
17,329,870

Repayments of repurchase agreement borrowings and FHLB advances
(19,661,384
)
 
(17,032,911
)
Principal payments on non-recourse collateralized financing
(1,443
)
 
(2,249
)
Increase in restricted cash
(33,495
)
 
(35,916
)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
102

 
129

Cash paid for repurchases of common stock
(310
)
 
(31,051
)
Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation
(485
)
 
(556
)
Dividends paid
(39,285
)
 
(46,682
)
Net cash and cash equivalents (used in) provided by financing activities
(443,057
)
 
180,634

 
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
39,471

 
(31,308
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
33,935

 
43,944

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
73,406

 
$
12,636

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Activity:
 

 
 

Cash paid for interest
$
18,185

 
$
14,366

See notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

4


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


NOTE 1 –ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Organization

Dynex Capital, Inc., ("Company”) was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia on December 18, 1987 and commenced operations in February 1988. The Company primarily earns income from investing on a leveraged basis in mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or U.S. Government sponsored agencies ("Agency MBS") and MBS issued by others ("non-Agency MBS").

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Dynex Capital, Inc. and its subsidiaries (together, “Dynex” or, as appropriate, the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Article 10, Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all significant adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements have been included. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim periods or for the entire year ending December 31, 2016. The unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC.

Reclassifications

Certain items in the prior periods' consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation. The Company's equity in income of limited partnership for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 is now included within "other income (expense), net" on the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income. This presentation change has no effect on reported total assets, total liabilities, results of operations, or cash flow activities.

Consolidation
 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and the accounts of its majority owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities ("VIE") for which it is the primary beneficiary. As a primary beneficiary, the Company has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and a right to receive benefits or absorb losses of the entity that could be potentially significant to the VIE. The Company is required to reconsider its evaluation of whether to consolidate a VIE each reporting period, based upon changes in the facts and circumstances pertaining to the VIE. The Company consolidates certain trusts through which it has securitized mortgage loans as a result of not meeting the sale criteria under GAAP at the time the financial assets were transferred to the trust. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates used by management include, but are not limited to, fair value measurements of its investments, other-than-temporary impairments, contingencies, and amortization of premiums and discounts. These items are discussed further below within this note to the consolidated financial statements.


5


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


Income Taxes

The Company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the corresponding provisions of state law. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet certain tests including investing in primarily real estate-related assets and the required distribution of at least 90% of its annual REIT taxable income to stockholders after consideration of its net operating loss ("NOL") carryforward and not including taxable income retained in its taxable subsidiaries. As a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to federal income tax on the amount of its income or capital gains that is distributed as dividends to shareholders.

The Company assesses its tax positions for all open tax years and determines whether the Company has any material unrecognized liabilities in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 740. The Company records these liabilities, if any, to the extent they are deemed more likely than not to have been incurred.

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

The Company calculates basic net income (loss) per common share by dividing net income (loss) to common shareholders for the period by weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding for that period. The Company did not have any potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2016 or September 30, 2015.

Holders of unvested shares of the Company's issued and outstanding restricted common stock are eligible to receive non-forfeitable dividends. As such, these unvested shares are considered participating securities as per ASC Topic 260-10 and therefore are included in the computation of basic net income (loss) per common share using the two-class method. Upon vesting, restrictions on transfer expire on each share of restricted stock, and each such share of restricted stock is converted to one equal share of common stock.

Because the Company's 8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and 7.625% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series B Preferred Stock”) are redeemable at the Company's option for cash only and may convert into shares of common stock only upon a change of control of the Company, the effect of those shares and their related dividends is excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per common share.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of cash the Company has pledged to cover initial and variation margin with its financing and derivative counterparties.

Mortgage-Backed Securities
 
The Company invests in Agency and non-Agency RMBS, CMBS and CMBS IO securities, all of which are designated as available-for-sale ("AFS"). All of the Company’s MBS are recorded at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet. Changes in unrealized gain (loss) on the Company's MBS are reported in other comprehensive income ("OCI") until each security is collected, disposed of, or determined to be other than temporarily impaired. Although the Company generally intends to hold its AFS securities until maturity, it may sell any of these securities as part of the overall management of its business. Upon the sale of an AFS security, any unrealized gain or loss is reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") into net income as a realized "gain (loss) on sale of investments, net" using the specific identification method.

The Company’s MBS pledged as collateral against repurchase agreements and derivative instruments are included in MBS on the consolidated balance sheets with the fair value of the MBS pledged disclosed parenthetically.


6


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


Interest Income, Premium Amortization, and Discount Accretion. Interest income on MBS is accrued based on the outstanding principal balance (or notional balance in the case of interest-only, or "IO", securities) and their contractual terms.  Premiums and discounts on Agency MBS as well as any non-Agency MBS rated 'AA' and higher at the time of purchase are amortized into interest income over the expected life of such securities using the effective yield method and adjustments to premium amortization are made for actual cash payments as well as changes in projected future cash payments. The Company's projections of future cash payments are based on input and analysis received from external sources and internal models, and include assumptions about the amount and timing of credit losses, loan prepayment rates, fluctuations in interest rates, and other factors. On at least a quarterly basis, the Company reviews and makes any necessary adjustments to its cash flow projections and updates the yield recognized on these assets.

The Company holds certain non-Agency MBS that had credit ratings of less than 'AA' at the time of purchase or were not rated by any of the nationally recognized credit rating agencies. A portion of these non-Agency MBS were purchased at discounts to their par value, which management does not believe to be substantial. The discount is accreted into income over the security's expected life, which reflects management's estimate of the security's projected cash flows. Future changes in the timing of projected cash flows or differences arising between projected cash flows and actual cash flows received may result in a prospective change in the effective yield on those securities.

Determination of MBS Fair Value. The Company estimates the fair value of the majority of its MBS based upon prices obtained from third-party pricing services and broker quotes. The remainder of the Company's MBS are valued by discounting the estimated future cash flows derived from cash flow models that utilize information such as the security's coupon rate, estimated prepayment speeds, expected weighted average life, collateral composition, estimated future interest rates, expected losses, and credit enhancements as well as certain other relevant information. Refer to Note 6 for further discussion of MBS fair value measurements.

Other-than-Temporary Impairment. MBS is considered impaired when its fair value is less than its amortized cost. The Company evaluates all of its impaired MBS for other-than-temporary impairments ("OTTI") on at least a quarterly basis. An impairment is considered other-than-temporary if: (1) the Company intends to sell the MBS; (2) it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the MBS before its fair value recovers; or (3) the Company does not expect to recover the full amortized cost basis of the MBS. If either of the first two conditions is met, the entire amount of the impairment is recognized in earnings. If the impairment is solely due to the inability to fully recover the amortized cost basis, the security is further analyzed to quantify any credit loss, which is the difference between the present value of cash flows expected to be collected on the MBS and its amortized cost. The credit loss, if any, is then recognized in earnings, while the balance of impairment related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income.

Following the recognition of an OTTI through earnings, a new cost basis is established for the security. Any subsequent recoveries in fair value may be accreted back into the amortized cost basis of the MBS on a prospective basis through interest income. Please see Note 2 for additional information related to the Company's evaluation for OTTI.

Secured Borrowings
 
The Company's repurchase agreements and Federal Home Loan Bank (or "FHLB") advances, which are used to finance its purchases of MBS, are accounted for as secured borrowings under which the Company pledges its securities as collateral to secure a loan, which is equal in value to a specified percentage of the estimated fair value of the pledged collateral. The Company retains beneficial ownership of the pledged collateral. At the maturity of a repurchase agreement, the Company is required to repay the loan and concurrently receives back its pledged collateral from the lender or, with the consent of the lender, the Company may renew the agreement at the then prevailing financing rate. A repurchase agreement lender may require the Company to pledge additional collateral in the event of a decline in the fair value of the collateral pledged. Repurchase agreement financing is recourse to the Company and the assets pledged. Most of the Company’s repurchase agreements are based on the September 1996 version of the Bond Market Association Master Repurchase Agreement, which generally provides that the lender, as buyer, is responsible for obtaining collateral valuations from a generally recognized source agreed to by both the Company and the lender, or, in an instance when such source is not available, the value determination is made by the lender.

As a result of a final rule issued by the Federal Housing Finance Administration ("FHFA") in January 2016 regarding the exclusion of captive insurance entities from membership in the FHLB, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Mackinaw

7


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


Insurance Company, LLC ("Mackinaw"), must terminate its membership in the FHLB of Indianapolis by February 19, 2017 and will no longer be permitted new advances or renewals of existing advances. FHLB advances outstanding on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016 will be repaid before December 31, 2016.

Derivative Instruments

The Company's derivative instruments, which currently include interest rate swaps and Eurodollar futures, are accounted for at fair value. Derivative instruments in a gain position are reported as derivative assets and derivative instruments in a loss position are reported as derivative liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. All periodic interest costs and changes in fair value of derivative instruments, including gains and losses realized upon termination, are recorded in "gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net" on the Company's consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Cash receipts and payments related to derivative instruments are classified in the investing activities section of our consolidated statements of cash flows in accordance with the underlying nature or purpose of the derivative transactions. Please refer to Note 4 for additional information regarding the Company's accounting for its derivative instruments.

Although MBS have characteristics that meet the definition of a derivative instrument, ASC Topic 815 specifically excludes these instruments from its scope because they are accounted for as debt securities under ASC Topic 320.

Share-Based Compensation

Pursuant to the Company’s 2009 Stock and Incentive Plan, the Company may grant share-based compensation to eligible employees, directors or consultants or advisers to the Company, including stock awards, stock options, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance shares, and restricted stock units. The Company's restricted stock currently issued and outstanding under this plan may be settled only in shares of its common stock, and therefore are treated as equity awards with their fair value measured at the grant date and recognized as compensation cost over the requisite service period with a corresponding credit to shareholders' equity. The requisite service period is the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for an award, which is equivalent to the vesting period specified in the terms of the time-based restricted stock award. None of the Company's restricted stock awards have performance based conditions. The Company does not currently have any share-based compensation issued or outstanding other than restricted stock.

Contingencies

In the normal course of business, there may be various lawsuits, claims, and other contingencies pending against the Company. On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates whether to establish provisions for estimated losses from those matters. The Company recognizes a liability for a contingent loss when: (a) the underlying causal event has occurred prior to the balance sheet date; (b) it is probable that a loss has been incurred; and (c) there is a reasonable basis for estimating that loss. A liability is not recognized for a contingent loss when it is only possible or remotely possible that a loss has been incurred, however, possible contingent losses shall be disclosed. If the contingent loss (or an additional loss in excess of any accrual) is at least a reasonable possibility and material, then the Company discloses a reasonable estimate of the possible loss or range of loss, if such reasonable estimate can be made. If the Company cannot make a reasonable estimate of the possible material loss, or range of loss, then that fact is disclosed.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-02, Leases, which includes the following amendments:

for operating and finance leases, a lessee is required to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments in its consolidated balance sheet;
for finance leases, a lessee is required to recognize interest on the lease liability separately from amortization of the right-of-use asset in the statement of comprehensive income;
for finance leases, a lessee is required to classify repayments of the principal portion of the lease liability within financing activities and payments of interest on the lease liability and variable lease payments within operating activities in the statement of cash flows;

8


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


for operating leases, a lessee is required to recognize a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term on a generally straight-line basis in the statement of comprehensive income; and
for operating leases, a lessee is required to classify all cash payments within operating activities in the statement of cash flows.

Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. ASU No. 2016-02 is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect this ASU to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

The FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement cash flows. The amendments are effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect this ASU to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

The FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, which replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. For assets measured at amortized cost, the amendments in this ASU eliminate the probable initial recognition threshold in current GAAP and broaden the information that an entity must consider in developing its expected credit loss estimate to include the use of forecasted information. For assets classified as available-for-sale with changes in fair value recorded in other comprehensive income, measurement of credit losses will be similar to current GAAP. However, the amendments in this ASU require that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down, which is referred to in current GAAP as an other-than-temporary impairment. An entity will be able to record reversals of credit losses, if credit loss estimates decline, in net income for the current period. The amendments in this ASU will not permit an entity to use the length of time a debt security has been in an unrealized loss position to avoid recording a credit loss and removes the requirements to consider historical and implied volatility of the fair value of a security as well as recoveries or declines in fair value after the balance sheet date. The amendments in this ASU will affect an entity by varying degrees depending on the credit quality of the assets held by the entity, their duration, and how the entity applies current GAAP. These amendments will become effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and early adoption will be permitted as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. An entity will apply the amendments in this ASU through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The Company does not currently anticipate this ASU having an impact on its consolidated financial statements.

The FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 320) - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, in order to provide guidance for eight cash flow classification issues which are either unclear or do not have specific guidance under current GAAP. The issues identified are as follows:

debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs;
settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing;
contingent consideration payments made after a business combination;
proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims;
proceeds from settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies;
distributions received from equity method investees;
beneficial interests in securitization transactions; and
separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle.

The amendments in this ASU will become effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this ASU should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company does not expect this ASU to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

9


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


NOTE 2 – MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES
 
The majority of the Company's MBS are pledged as collateral to cover initial and variation margins for the Company's secured borrowings and derivative instruments. The following tables present the Company’s MBS by investment type as of the dates indicated:
 
September 30, 2016
 
Par
 
Net Premium (Discount)
 
Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Gain
 
Gross Unrealized Loss
 
Fair Value
 
WAC (1)
RMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency
$
1,239,856

 
$
61,141

 
$
1,300,997

 
$
5,270

 
$
(8,549
)
 
$
1,297,718

 
3.04
%
Non-Agency
41,514

 
(19
)
 
41,495

 
109

 
(54
)
 
41,550

 
3.58
%
 
1,281,370

 
61,122

 
1,342,492

 
5,379

 
(8,603
)
 
1,339,268

 
 
CMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency
898,317

 
11,048

 
909,365

 
35,901

 
(62
)
 
945,204

 
3.32
%
Non-Agency
82,190

 
(7,552
)
 
74,638

 
8,135

 
(1
)
 
82,772

 
4.89
%
 
980,507

 
3,496

 
984,003

 
44,036

 
(63
)
 
1,027,976

 
 
CMBS IO (2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency

 
385,968

 
385,968

 
8,597

 
(139
)
 
394,426

 
0.68
%
Non-Agency

 
344,792

 
344,792

 
4,921

 
(916
)
 
348,797

 
0.61
%
 

 
730,760

 
730,760

 
13,518

 
(1,055
)
 
743,223

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Total AFS securities:
$
2,261,877

 
$
795,378

 
$
3,057,255

 
$
62,933

 
$
(9,721
)
 
$
3,110,467

 
 
(1)
The current weighted average coupon ("WAC") is the gross interest rate of the pool of mortgages underlying the security weighted by the outstanding principal balance (or by notional balance in the case of an IO security).
(2)
The notional balance for Agency CMBS IO and non-Agency CMBS IO was $12,226,782 and $10,687,732, respectively, as of September 30, 2016.
 
December 31, 2015
 
Par
 
Net Premium (Discount)
 
Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Gain
 
Gross Unrealized Loss
 
Fair Value
 
WAC (1)
RMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency
$
1,536,733

 
$
77,617

 
$
1,614,350

 
$
4,362

 
$
(20,190
)
 
$
1,598,522

 
3.03
%
Non-Agency
66,003

 
(45
)
 
65,958

 
70

 
(818
)
 
65,210

 
3.25
%
 
1,602,736

 
77,572

 
1,680,308

 
4,432

 
(21,008
)
 
1,663,732

 
 
CMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency
876,751

 
13,252

 
890,003

 
10,542

 
(14,614
)
 
885,931

 
3.45
%
Non-Agency
156,218

 
(8,133
)
 
148,085

 
7,039

 
(941
)
 
154,183

 
4.29
%
 
1,032,969

 
5,119

 
1,038,088

 
17,581

 
(15,555
)
 
1,040,114

 
 
CMBS IO (2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency

 
421,857

 
421,857

 
5,922

 
(1,651
)
 
426,128

 
0.80
%
Non-Agency

 
365,554

 
365,554

 
1,992

 
(3,819
)
 
363,727

 
0.71
%
 

 
787,411

 
787,411

 
7,914

 
(5,470
)
 
789,855

 
 



 
 
 


 


 
 
 


 
 
Total AFS securities:
$
2,635,705

 
$
870,102

 
$
3,505,807

 
$
29,927

 
$
(42,033
)
 
$
3,493,701

 


(1)
The current weighted average coupon ("WAC") is the gross interest rate of the pool of mortgages underlying the security weighted by the outstanding principal balance (or by notional balance in the case of an IO security).

10


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


(2)
The notional balance for the Agency CMBS IO and non-Agency CMBS IO was $12,180,291 and $10,328,628, respectively, as of December 31, 2015.

Actual maturities of MBS are affected by the contractual lives of the underlying mortgage collateral, periodic payments of principal, prepayments of principal, and the payment priority structure of the security; therefore, actual maturities are generally shorter than the securities' stated contractual maturities.

The following table presents information regarding the sales included in "gain (loss) on sale of investments, net" on the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the periods indicated:
 
Three Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
Proceeds Received
 
Realized Gain (Loss)
 
Proceeds Received
 
Realized Gain (Loss)
Agency RMBS (1)
$

 
$

 
$
(2,694
)
 
$
(59
)
Agency CMBS IO

 

 
12,620

 
172

Non-Agency CMBS IO

 

 

 

 
$

 
$

 
$
9,926

 
$
113

(1)
There were no sales of Agency RMBS during the three months ended September 30, 2015. The amounts shown reflect an adjustment to proceeds received and the realized loss recognized during the three months ended September 30, 2015 related to pre-settlement factor changes.
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
Proceeds Received
 
Realized Gain (Loss)
 
Proceeds Received
 
Realized Gain (Loss)
Agency RMBS
$
54,178

 
$
(3,010
)
 
$
153,676

 
$
(2,256
)
Agency CMBS

 

 
98,887

 
(822
)
Non-Agency CMBS
33,640

 
(1,228
)
 

 

Agency CMBS IO

 

 
42,005

 
1,646

Non-Agency CMBS IO

 

 
44,764

 
1,362

 
$
87,818

 
$
(4,238
)
 
$
339,332

 
$
(70
)

The following table presents certain information for those MBS in an unrealized loss position as of the dates indicated:
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
Fair Value
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
# of Securities
 
Fair Value
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
# of Securities
Continuous unrealized loss position for less than 12 months:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency MBS
$
352,253

 
$
(1,484
)
 
40
 
$
1,332,849

 
$
(19,062
)
 
109
Non-Agency MBS
24,448

 
(99
)
 
5
 
351,650

 
(5,347
)
 
72
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuous unrealized loss position for 12 months or longer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency MBS
$
379,488

 
$
(7,266
)
 
61
 
$
775,484

 
$
(17,393
)
 
72
Non-Agency MBS
84,959

 
(872
)
 
28
 
8,306

 
(231
)
 
7

11


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)



Because the principal related to Agency MBS is guaranteed by the government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which have the implicit guarantee of the U.S. government, the Company does not consider any of the unrealized losses on its Agency MBS to be credit related. Although the unrealized losses are not credit related, the Company assesses its ability and intent to hold any Agency MBS with an unrealized loss until the recovery in its value. This assessment is based on the amount of the unrealized loss and significance of the related investment as well as the Company’s current leverage and anticipated liquidity. Based on this analysis, the Company has determined that the unrealized losses on its Agency MBS as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were temporary.

The Company reviews any non-Agency MBS in an unrealized loss position to evaluate whether any decline in fair value represents an OTTI. The evaluation includes a review of the credit ratings of these non-Agency MBS and the seasoning of the mortgage loans collateralizing these securities as well as the estimated future cash flows which include projected losses. The Company performed this evaluation for the non-Agency MBS in an unrealized loss position and has determined that there have not been any adverse changes in the timing or amount of estimated future cash flows that necessitate a recognition of OTTI amounts as of September 30, 2016 or December 31, 2015.

NOTE 3 – SECURED BORROWINGS
    
The Company’s secured borrowings, which consist of repurchase agreements and FHLB advances, that were outstanding as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are summarized in the table below:
 
 
September 30, 2016
Collateral Type
 
Balance
 
Weighted
Average Rate
 
Fair Value of
Collateral Pledged
Agency RMBS
 
$
1,156,635


0.70
%
 
$
1,204,542

Non-Agency RMBS
 
38,613

 
1.88
%
 
41,082

Agency CMBS
 
594,661

 
0.69
%
 
643,207

Non-Agency CMBS
 
69,687

 
1.50
%
 
82,573

Agency CMBS IO
 
322,632

 
1.38
%
 
378,875

Non-Agency CMBS IO
 
290,626

 
1.45
%
 
343,900

Securitization financing bond
 
5,424

 
1.86
%
 
5,882

Total repurchase agreements
 
$
2,478,278

 
0.91
%
 
$
2,700,061

FHLB advances (1)
 
263,000

 
0.51
%
 
274,953

Total secured borrowings
 
$
2,741,278

 
0.88
%
 
$
2,975,014


12


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


 
 
December 31, 2015
Collateral Type
 
Balance
 
Weighted
Average Rate
 
Fair Value of Collateral Pledged
Agency RMBS
 
$
1,439,436


0.47
%
 
$
1,483,152

Non-Agency RMBS
 
52,128

 
1.77
%
 
64,286

Agency CMBS
 
301,427

 
0.49
%
 
345,728

Non-Agency CMBS
 
126,378

 
1.26
%
 
143,785

Agency CMBS IOs
 
360,245

 
1.24
%
 
421,285

Non-Agency CMBS IOs
 
302,771

 
1.33
%
 
359,351

Securitization financing bond
 
7,035

 
1.65
%
 
8,054

Total repurchase agreements
 
$
2,589,420

 
0.75
%
 
$
2,825,641

FHLB advances (1)
 
520,000

 
0.40
%
 
541,771

Total secured borrowings
 
$
3,109,420

 
0.69
%
 
$
3,367,412

(1) As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, FHLB advances were collateralized primarily with Agency CMBS.

As of September 30, 2016, the weighted average remaining term to maturity of our repurchase agreements was 18 days compared to 22 days as of December 31, 2015. The remaining balance of FHLB advances is due in October 2016. The following table provides a summary of the original term to maturity of our secured borrowings as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:
Original Term to Maturity
 
September 30,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Less than 30 days
 
$
607,051

 
$
551,643

30 to 90 days
 
1,143,854

 
782,393

91 to 180 days
 
727,373

 
1,512,384

181 to 364 days
 
263,000

 

1 year or longer
 

 
263,000

 
 
$
2,741,278

 
$
3,109,420


The following table lists the counterparties with whom the Company had over 10% of its shareholders' equity at risk (defined as the excess of collateral pledged over the borrowings outstanding):
 
 
September 30, 2016
Counterparty Name
 
Balance
 
Weighted Average Rate
 
Equity at Risk
Wells Fargo Bank, N. A. and affiliates
 
$
300,761

 
1.40
%
 
$
54,432

    
Of the amount outstanding with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and affiliates, $287,538 is under a committed repurchase facility which has an aggregate maximum borrowing capacity of $350,000 and is scheduled to mature on August 6, 2018, subject to early termination provisions contained in the master repurchase agreement. The facility is collateralized primarily by CMBS IO, and its weighted average borrowing rate as of September 30, 2016 was 1.39%.

As of September 30, 2016, the Company had repurchase agreement amounts outstanding with 18 of its 32 available repurchase agreement counterparties. The Company's counterparties, as set forth in the master repurchase agreement with the counterparty, require the Company to comply with various customary operating and financial covenants, including, but not limited to, minimum net worth, maximum declines in net worth in a given period, and maximum leverage requirements as well as maintaining the Company's REIT status. In addition, some of the agreements contain cross default features, whereby default

13


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


under an agreement with one lender simultaneously causes default under agreements with other lenders. To the extent that the Company fails to comply with the covenants contained in these financing agreements or is otherwise found to be in default under the terms of such agreements, the counterparty has the right to accelerate amounts due under the master repurchase agreement. With respect to outstanding repurchase agreement and FHLB advance financings as of September 30, 2016, the Company was in compliance with all covenants.

Please see Note 5 for the Company's disclosures related to offsetting assets and liabilities.

NOTE 4 – DERIVATIVES

     The Company utilizes derivative instruments to economically hedge a portion of its exposure to interest rate risk. The Company primarily uses pay-fixed interest rate swaps and Eurodollar contracts to hedge its exposure to changes in interest rates and uses receive-fixed interest rate swaps to offset a portion of its pay-fixed interest rate swaps in order to manage its overall hedge position. The objective of the Company's risk management strategy is to mitigate declines in book value resulting from fluctuations in the fair value of the Company's assets from changing interest rates and to protect some portion of the Company's earnings from rising interest rates. Please refer to Note 1 for information related to the Company's accounting policy for its derivative instruments.
    
The table below summarizes information about the Company’s derivative instruments treated as trading instruments on its consolidated balance sheet as of the dates indicated:  
 
 
September 30, 2016
 
 
Derivative Assets
 
Derivative Liabilities
Trading Instruments
 
Fair Value
 
Notional
 
Fair Value
 
Notional
Interest rate swaps
 
$
12,985

 
$
425,000

 
$
(41,385
)
 
$
1,355,000

Eurodollar futures (1)
 

 

 
(42,638
)
 
6,300,000

Total
 
$
12,985

 
$
425,000

 
$
(84,023
)
 
$
7,655,000


 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
Derivative Assets
 
Derivative Liabilities
Trading Instruments
 
Fair Value
 
Notional
 
Fair Value
 
Notional
Interest rate swaps
 
$
7,835

 
$
460,000

 
$
(12,108
)
 
$
2,920,000

Eurodollar futures (1)
 

 

 
(29,097
)
 
6,300,000

Total
 
$
7,835

 
$
460,000

 
$
(41,205
)
 
$
9,220,000

(1)
The Eurodollar futures aggregate notional amount represents the total notional of the 3-month contracts with expiration dates from 2017 to 2020. The maximum notional outstanding for any future 3-month period did not exceed $725,000 as of September 30, 2016 or as of December 31, 2015.

The following table summarizes the volume of activity related to derivative instruments for the period indicated:
For the nine months ended September 30, 2016:
Beginning of Period Notional Amount
 
Additions
 
Settlement, Termination, Expiration or Exercise
 
End of Period Notional Amount
Receive-fixed interest rate swaps
$
425,000

 
$

 
$

 
$
425,000

Pay-fixed interest rate swaps (1)
2,955,000

 
1,250,000

 
(2,850,000
)
 
1,355,000

Eurodollar futures
6,300,000

 

 

 
6,300,000

 
$
9,680,000

 
$
1,250,000

 
$
(2,850,000
)
 
$
8,080,000

(1) The notional amount of pay-fixed interest rate swaps that were forward starting as of September 30, 2016 was $625,000.


14


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


The table below provides detail of the Company's "(loss) gain on derivative instruments, net" by type of derivative for the periods indicated:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
Type of Derivative Instrument
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Receive-fixed interest rate swaps
$
(2,976
)
 
$
6,975

 
$
11,301

 
$
9,757

Pay-fixed interest rate swaps
2,555

 
(48,697
)
 
(59,912
)
 
(45,797
)
Eurodollar futures
2,830

 
(11,027
)
 
(13,542
)
 
(24,942
)
(Loss) gain on derivative instruments, net
$
2,409

 
$
(52,749
)
 
$
(62,153
)
 
$
(60,982
)

There is a net unrealized gain of $769 remaining in AOCI on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016 which represents the activity related to interest rate swap agreements while they were previously designated as cash flow hedges, and this amount will be recognized in the Company's net income as a portion of "interest expense" over the remaining contractual life of the agreements. The Company estimates a credit of $319 will be reclassified to net income as a reduction of "interest expense" within the next 12 months.

A portion of the Company's interest rate swaps were entered into under bilateral agreements which contain cross-default provisions with other agreements between the parties. In addition, these bilateral agreements contain financial and operational covenants similar to those contained in our repurchase agreements, as described in Note 3. With respect to interest rate agreements under which interest rate swaps were entered into as of September 30, 2016, the Company was in compliance with all covenants.
Please see Note 5 for the Company's disclosures related to offsetting assets and liabilities.

NOTE 5 – OFFSETTING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

The Company's derivatives, repurchase agreements, and FHLB advances are subject to underlying agreements with master netting or similar arrangements, which provide for the right of offset in the event of default or in the event of bankruptcy of either party to the transactions. The Company reports its assets and liabilities subject to these arrangements on a gross basis. The following tables present information regarding those assets and liabilities subject to such arrangements as if the Company had presented them on a net basis as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:
 
Offsetting of Assets
 
Gross Amount of Recognized Assets
 
Gross Amount Offset in the Balance Sheet
 
Net Amount of Assets Presented in the Balance Sheet
 
Gross Amount Not Offset in the Balance Sheet (1)
 
Net Amount
Financial Instruments Received as Collateral
 
Cash Received as Collateral
September 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative assets
$
12,985

 
$

 
$
12,985

 
$
(12,985
)
 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015:
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 


Derivative assets
$
7,835

 
$

 
$
7,835

 
$
(7,835
)
 
$

 
$



15


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


 
Offsetting of Liabilities
 
Gross Amount of Recognized Liabilities
 
Gross Amount Offset in the Balance Sheet
 
Net Amount of Liabilities Presented in the Balance Sheet
 
Gross Amount Not Offset in the Balance Sheet (1)
 
Net Amount
Financial Instruments Posted as Collateral
 
Cash Posted as Collateral
September 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative liabilities
$
84,023

 
$

 
$
84,023

 
$
(16,253
)
 
$
(67,770
)
 
$

Repurchase agreements
2,478,278

 

 
2,478,278

 
(2,478,278
)
 

 

FHLB advances
263,000

 

 
263,000

 
(263,000
)
 

 

 
$
2,825,301

 
$

 
$
2,825,301

 
$
(2,757,531
)
 
$
(67,770
)
 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative liabilities
$
41,205

 
$

 
$
41,205

 
$
(9,079
)
 
$
(32,111
)
 
$
15

Repurchase agreements
2,589,420

 

 
2,589,420

 
(2,589,420
)
 

 

FHLB advances
520,000

 

 
520,000

 
(520,000
)
 

 

 
$
3,150,625

 
$

 
$
3,150,625

 
$
(3,118,499
)
 
$
(32,111
)
 
$
15

(1)
Amount disclosed for collateral received by or posted to the same counterparty include cash and the fair value of MBS up to and not exceeding the net amount of the asset or liability presented in the balance sheet. The fair value of the actual collateral received by or posted to the same counterparty may exceed the amounts presented.

NOTE 6 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC Topic 820 clarifies that fair value should be based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability and also requires an entity to consider all aspects of nonperformance risk, including the entity's own credit standing, when measuring fair value of a liability. ASC Topic 820 established a valuation hierarchy of three levels as follows:
 
Level 1 – Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the measurement date.
Level 2 – Inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in inactive markets for identical or similar assets or liabilities; or inputs either directly observable or indirectly observable through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument’s anticipated life.  
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs are supported by little or no market activity. The unobservable inputs represent management’s best estimate of how market participants would price the asset or liability at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model.  
The following table presents the fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities presented on its consolidated balance sheets, segregated by the hierarchy level of the fair value estimate, that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated:

16


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


 
September 30, 2016
 
Fair Value
 
Level 1 - Unadjusted Quoted Prices in Active Markets
 
Level 2 - Observable Inputs
 
Level 3 - Unobservable Inputs
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities
$
3,110,467

 
$

 
$
3,097,055

 
$
13,412

Derivative assets
12,985

 

 
12,985

 

Total assets carried at fair value
$
3,123,452

 
$

 
$
3,110,040

 
$
13,412

Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Derivative liabilities
$
84,023

 
$
42,638

 
$
41,385

 
$

Total liabilities carried at fair value
$
84,023

 
$
42,638

 
$
41,385

 
$

 
December 31, 2015
 
Fair Value
 
Level 1 - Unadjusted Quoted Prices in Active Markets
 
Level 2 - Observable Inputs
 
Level 3 - Unobservable Inputs
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities
$
3,493,701

 
$

 
$
3,477,266

 
$
16,435

Derivative assets
7,835

 

 
7,835

 

Total assets carried at fair value
$
3,501,536

 
$

 
$
3,485,101

 
$
16,435

Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Derivative liabilities
$
41,205

 
$
29,097

 
$
12,108

 
$

Total liabilities carried at fair value
$
41,205

 
$
29,097

 
$
12,108

 
$


The Company did not have assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of September 30, 2016 or December 31, 2015.

The Company's derivative assets and liabilities include interest rate swaps and Eurodollar futures. Interest rate swaps are valued using the income approach with the primary input being the forward interest rate swap curve, which is considered an observable input and thus their fair values are considered Level 2 measurements. Eurodollar futures are valued based on closing exchange prices on these contracts. Accordingly, the fair values of these financial futures are classified as Level 1 measurements.

Agency MBS, as well as a majority of non-Agency MBS, are substantially similar to securities that either are currently actively traded or have been recently traded in their respective market. Their fair values are derived from an average of multiple dealer quotes and thus are considered Level 2 fair value measurements. The Company’s remaining non-Agency MBS are comprised of securities for which there are not substantially similar securities that trade frequently, and their fair values are therefore considered Level 3 measurements. The Company determines the fair value of its Level 3 securities by discounting the estimated future cash flows derived from cash flow models using pricing indicators or assumptions determined by the Company. Significant inputs into those pricing models are Level 3 in nature due to the lack of readily available market quotes. Information utilized in those pricing models include the security’s credit rating, coupon rate, estimated prepayment speeds, expected weighted average life, collateral composition, estimated future interest rates, expected credit losses, and credit enhancement as well as certain other relevant information. Significant changes in any of these inputs in isolation would result in a significantly different fair value measurement. Level 3 assets are generally most sensitive to the default rate and severity assumptions.


17


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


The table below presents information about the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement for the Company's Level 3 non-Agency CMBS and RMBS as of September 30, 2016:
 
Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements (1)
 
Prepayment Speed
 
Default Rate
 
Severity
 
Discount Rate
Non-Agency CMBS
20 CPY
 
2.0
%
 
35.0
%
 
10.1
%
Non-Agency RMBS
10 CPR
 
1.0
%
 
20.0
%
 
5.6
%
(1)
Data presented are weighted averages.

The activity of the instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs is presented in the following table for the period indicated:
 
Level 3 Fair Value
 
Non-Agency CMBS
 
Non-Agency RMBS
 
Total assets
Balance as of December 31, 2015
$
14,903

 
$
1,532

 
$
16,435

Unrealized (loss) gain included in OCI
(427
)
 
19

 
(408
)
Principal payments
(3,223
)
 
(182
)
 
(3,405
)
Accretion
790

 

 
790

Balance as of September 30, 2016
$
12,043

 
$
1,369

 
$
13,412


The following table presents a summary of the carrying value and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of the dates indicated:
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities
$
3,110,467

 
$
3,110,467

 
$
3,493,701

 
$
3,493,701

Mortgage loans held for investment, net(1)
20,366

 
16,996

 
24,145

 
20,849

Investment in FHLB stock
5,260

 
5,260

 
11,475

 
11,475

Derivative assets
12,985

 
12,985

 
7,835

 
7,835

Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Repurchase agreements (2)
$
2,478,278

 
$
2,478,278

 
$
2,589,420

 
$
2,589,420

FHLB advances (2)
263,000

 
263,000

 
520,000

 
520,000

Non-recourse collateralized financing (1)
7,025

 
6,802

 
8,442

 
8,102

Derivative liabilities
84,023

 
84,023

 
41,205

 
41,205

(1)
The Company determines the fair value of its mortgage loans held for investment, net and its non-recourse collateralized financing using internally developed cash flow models with inputs similar to those used to estimate the fair value of the Company's Level 3 non-Agency MBS.
(2)
The carrying value of repurchase agreements and FHLB advances generally approximates fair value due to their short term maturities.

NOTE 7 – SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Preferred Stock


18


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


The Company has 2,300,000 shares of its 8.50% Series A Preferred Stock and 2,250,000 shares of its 7.625% Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2016 (collectively, the "Preferred Stock"). The Preferred Stock has no maturity and will remain outstanding indefinitely unless redeemed or otherwise repurchased or converted into common stock pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Stock. Except under certain limited circumstances intended to preserve the Company's REIT status, upon the occurrence of a change in control as defined in Article IIIA, Section 7(d) of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, or to avoid the direct or indirect imposition of a penalty tax in respect of, or to protect the tax status of, any of the Company’s real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMIC”) interests or a REMIC in which the Company may acquire an interest (as permitted by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation), the Company may not redeem the Series A Preferred Stock prior to July 31, 2017 or the Series B Preferred Stock prior to April 30, 2018. On or after these dates, at any time and from time to time, the Preferred Stock may be redeemed in whole, or in part, at the Company's option at a cash redemption price of $25.00 per share plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends. The Series A Preferred Stock pays a cumulative cash dividend equivalent to 8.50% of the $25.00 liquidation preference per share each year and the Series B Preferred Stock pays a cumulative cash dividend equivalent to 7.625% of the $25.00 liquidation preference per share each year. Because the Preferred Stock is redeemable only at the option of the issuer, it is classified as equity on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. The Company announced that it will pay its regular quarterly dividends on its Preferred Stock for the third quarter on October 14, 2016 to shareholders of record as of October 1, 2016.
    
Common Stock

The following table presents a summary of the changes in the number of common shares outstanding for the periods presented:
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
Balance as of beginning of period
49,047,335

 
54,739,111

Common stock issued under DRIP
15,714

 
16,862

Common stock issued under stock and incentive plans
214,878

 
263,829

Common stock forfeited for tax withholding on share-based compensation
(80,888
)
 
(67,296
)
Common stock repurchased during the period
(48,444
)
 
(4,383,716
)
Balance as of end of period
49,148,595

 
50,568,790

 
The Company had 7,416,520 shares of common stock that remain available to offer and sell through its sales agent, JMP Securities LLC, under its "at the market", or "ATM" program, as of September 30, 2016.
    
The Company's Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan ("DRIP") allows registered shareholders to automatically reinvest some or all of their quarterly common stock dividends in shares of the Company’s common stock and provides an opportunity for investors to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, potentially at a discount to the prevailing market price. Of the 3,000,000 shares reserved for issuance under the Company's DRIP, there were 2,411,824 shares remaining for issuance as of September 30, 2016. The Company declared a third quarter common stock dividend of $0.21 per share payable on October 31, 2016 to shareholders of record as of October 5, 2016. There was no discount for shares purchased through the DRIP during the third quarter of 2016.
    
Of the $50,000 authorized by the Company's Board of Directors for the repurchase of its common stock through December 31, 2016, approximately $8,518 remains available for repurchase at the Company's option as of September 30, 2016.

2009 Stock and Incentive Plan. Of the 2,500,000 shares of common stock authorized for issuance under its 2009 Stock and Incentive Plan, the Company had 860,106 available for issuance as of September 30, 2016. Total stock-based compensation expense recognized by the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $623 and $2,066 compared to $745 and $2,220 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.
  
The following table presents a rollforward of the restricted stock activity for the periods indicated:

19


NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
($ in thousands except per share data)


 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Restricted stock outstanding as of beginning of period
561,089

 
696,597

 
696,597

 
731,809

Restricted stock granted

 

 
214,878

 
263,829

Restricted stock vested

 

 
(350,386
)
 
(299,041
)
Restricted stock outstanding as of end of period
561,089

 
696,597

 
561,089

 
696,597


The combined grant date fair value of the restricted stock issued by the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $1,349 compared to $2,167 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. As of September 30, 2016, the fair value of the Company’s outstanding restricted stock remaining to be amortized into compensation expense is $2,781 which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 years.

NOTE 8 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated events and circumstances occurring as of and through the date this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q was filed with the SEC and has determined that there have been no significant events or circumstances that qualify as a "recognized" or "nonrecognized" subsequent event as defined by ASC Topic 855.


20


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our unaudited financial statements and the accompanying notes included in Part 1, Item 1. “Financial Statements” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our audited financial statements and the accompanying notes included in Part II, Item 8 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. References herein to “Dynex,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” include Dynex Capital, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. In addition to current and historical information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to our future business, financial condition or results of operations. For a description of certain factors that may have a significant impact on our future business, financial condition or results of operations, see “Forward-Looking Statements” at the end of this discussion and analysis.

For a complete description of our business including our operating policies, investment philosophy and strategy, financing and hedging strategies, and other important information, please refer to Part I, Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

Company Overview

We are an internally managed mortgage real estate investment trust, or mortgage REIT, which invests in residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities on a leveraged basis. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "DX". We also have two series of preferred stock outstanding, our 8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock") which is traded on the NYSE under the symbol "DXPRA", and our 7.625% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred Stock") which is traded on the NYSE under the symbol "DXPRB". Our objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns to our shareholders over the long term that are reflective of a leveraged, high quality fixed income portfolio with a focus on capital preservation. We seek to provide returns to our shareholders primarily through regular quarterly dividends, and also through capital appreciation.

We invest in Agency and non-Agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) consisting of residential MBS (“RMBS”), commercial MBS (“CMBS”) and CMBS interest-only ("IO") securities. Agency MBS have a guaranty of principal payment by an agency of the U.S. government or a U.S. government-sponsored entity ("GSE") such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Non-Agency MBS have no such guaranty of payment. Due to the guaranty of principal payment by a GSE, Agency MBS are the highest credit quality MBS available for investment. We seek to invest in Agency MBS and higher quality non-Agency MBS (typically rated 'A' or better by one or more of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations) to limit our exposure to credit losses and to minimize fluctuations in fair value from widening in credit spreads. In addition, Agency MBS and higher-rated non-Agency MBS are typically more liquid (i.e., they are more easily converted into cash either through sales or pledges as collateral for repurchase agreement borrowings) than lower-rated MBS.

Our primary source of income is net interest income, which is the excess of the interest income earned on our investments over the cost of financing these investments. We invest our capital pursuant to our Operating Policies as approved by our Board of Directors which include an Investment Policy and Investment Risk Policy. We use leverage to enhance the returns on our invested capital by pledging our investments as collateral for borrowings such as repurchase agreements as discussed further below.

RMBS. Our Agency RMBS investments include MBS collateralized by adjustable-rate mortgage loans ("ARMs"), which have interest rates that generally will adjust at least annually to an increment over a specified interest rate index, and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage loans ("hybrid ARMs"), which are loans that have a fixed rate of interest for a specified period (typically three to ten years) and then adjust their interest rate at least annually to an increment over a specified interest rate index. Agency ARMs also include hybrid Agency ARMs that are past their fixed-rate periods or within twelve months of their initial reset period. We may also invest in fixed-rate Agency RMBS from time to time.


21


We also invest in non-Agency RMBS, which do not carry a principal guarantee from the U.S. government or a GSE. Non-Agency RMBS are collateralized by non-conforming residential mortgage loans and are tranched into different credit classes of securities with payments to junior classes subordinate to senior classes. Some of the non-Agency RMBS that we invest in may be collateralized by loans which are delinquent, the repayment of which is expected to come from foreclosure and liquidation of the underlying real estate. We generally invest in senior classes of non-Agency RMBS which may include unrated securities. We seek to invest in non-Agency RMBS that we judge to have sufficiently high collateralization to be likely to protect the principal balance of our investment from credit losses on the underlying loans.

CMBS. Our Agency and non-Agency CMBS are collateralized by first mortgage loans and are primarily fixed-rate securities backed by multifamily housing and other commercial real estate property types such as office building, retail, hospitality, and health care. Loans underlying CMBS generally are geographically diverse, are fixed-rate, mature in ten to twelve years and have amortization terms of up to 30 years. Typically these loans have some form of prepayment protection provisions (such as prepayment lock-out) or prepayment compensation provisions (such as yield maintenance or prepayment penalty). Yield maintenance and prepayment penalty requirements are intended to create an economic disincentive for the loans to prepay. Non-Agency CMBS also includes securities that are backed by pools of single-family rental homes which have variable-rates that reset monthly based on an index rate, such as LIBOR.

CMBS IO. CMBS IO are interest-only securities issued as part of a CMBS securitization and represent the right to receive a portion of the monthly interest payments (but not principal cash flows) on the unpaid principal balance of the underlying pool of commercial mortgage loans. We invest in both Agency-issued and non-Agency issued CMBS IO. The loans collateralizing CMBS IO pools are very similar in composition to the pools of loans that generally collateralize CMBS as discussed above. Since CMBS IO securities have no principal associated with them, the interest payments received are based on the unpaid principal balance of the underlying pool of mortgage loans, which is often referred to as the notional amount. Because CMBS IO receive no principal payments, these securities generally have some form of prepayment protection from early repayment of the loan including absolute loan prepayment lock-outs, loan prepayment penalties, or yield maintenance requirements associated with the underlying loans similar to CMBS described above. There are no prepayment protections, however, if the loan defaults and is partially or wholly repaid earlier as a result of loss mitigation actions taken by the underlying loan servicer, and therefore yields on CMBS IO investments are dependent upon the underlying loan performance.

Financing. We finance our investments primarily through the use of uncommitted repurchase agreements. We pledge our MBS as collateral to secure the loans and advances made by the counterparty. Repurchase agreements carry a rate of interest which is usually based on a spread to LIBOR and fixed for the term of the borrowing which is typically 30-180 days. Repurchase agreement financing is provided principally by major financial institutions and broker-dealers.

Our captive insurance subsidiary, Mackinaw Insurance Company, LLC ("Mackinaw"), is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") of Indianapolis and as such has access to FHLB advances. In January 2016, the Federal Housing Finance Administration ("FHFA") released a final rule on FHLB membership which excludes captive insurance entities from FHLB membership on a going-forward basis and provides termination rules for current captive insurance members. Under the final rule, Mackinaw's membership in the FHLB of Indianapolis will be terminated in February 2017. Mackinaw had one remaining advance outstanding of $263.0 million as of September 30, 2016 which was repaid in full at its maturity in October 2016.

Hedging. We use derivative instruments to mitigate our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates which could impact our earnings, cash flow or book value. Currently, we use interest rate swap agreements and Eurodollar futures as our principal hedging instruments. Given the nature of our investing and financing activities, in a period of rising interest rates our earnings and cash flow may be negatively impacted by borrowing costs increasing faster than income from our assets, and our book value may decline as a result of declining market values of our MBS. We enter into derivative instruments in an attempt to partially or fully mitigate our exposure to these events.

Factors that Affect Our Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Our financial performance is driven by the performance of our investment portfolio and related funding and derivative hedging activity which are impacted by multiple factors, many of which are related to macroeconomic conditions, geopolitical conditions, central bank and government policy, and other factors beyond our control. These factors include, but are not limited

22


to, the absolute level of interest rates, the relative steepness of interest rate curves, changes in market expectations of future interest rates, actual and estimated future prepayment rates on our investments, competition for investments, economic conditions and their impact on the credit performance of our investments, and market required yields as reflected by market credit spreads. All of these factors are influenced by market forces and generally are exacerbated during periods of market volatility.

The performance of our investment portfolio, the cost and availability of financing and the availability of investments at acceptable risk-adjusted returns could also be influenced by regulatory actions and regulatory policy measures of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, the FHFA, the U. S. Department of the Treasury (the "Treasury"), and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve") and could also be influenced by reactions in U.S. markets from activities of central banks around the world.

Our business model may also be impacted by other factors such as the availability and cost of financing and the state of the overall credit markets. Reductions in the availability of financing for our investments could significantly impact our business and force us to sell assets that we otherwise would not sell, potentially at losses depending on market conditions. Regulatory developments since the 2008 financial crisis have impacted large U.S. domiciled banks and their broker dealer subsidiaries by requiring such entities to hold more capital against their assets, including reverse repurchase agreements. In general, this has led to reduced lending capacity in the repurchase agreement market and higher costs. We have not yet experienced a reduction in the availability of repurchase agreement financing but have seen indications of higher costs from several lenders. Money market funds supply a large amount of liquidity to the repurchase agreement market, and changes to regulations of these funds may also impact the cost and amount of repurchase agreement financing. Other factors that could also impact our business include changes in regulatory requirements, including requirements to qualify for registration under the 1940 Act, and REIT requirements.

We believe that regulatory impacts on financial institutions, many of which are our trading and financing counterparties, continue to pose a threat to the overall liquidity in the capital markets. In particular, higher capital requirements under U.S. banking regulations adopted in 2013 and 2014 and limitations on the proprietary trading activities of large U.S. financial institutions under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act ("the "Dodd-Frank Act") could result in reduced liquidity in times of market stress. U.S. federal banking regulators continue to explore further increasing regulatory and capital requirements for large U.S. financial institutions. While the Federal Reserve continues to reinvest principal payments received on its Agency RMBS portfolio, it is unlikely that this activity will provide enough liquidity to the market in times of stress, which could result in volatile asset prices. Further, the impact on market liquidity of our investments and the financing markets could be negatively impacted if the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee (or "FOMC") suddenly changes market expectations of the targeted Federal Funds Rate or takes other actions which have the effect of tightening monetary policy.

As discussed above, investing in mortgage-related securities on a leveraged basis subjects us to a number of risks including interest rate risk, prepayment and reinvestment risk, credit risk, market value risk and liquidity risk, which are discussed in "Liquidity and Capital Resources" within this Item 2 and in Part I, Item 3 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as well as in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. Please see these Items for a detailed discussion of these risks and the potential impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

Market Conditions and Recent Activity

At the very end of the second quarter of 2016, U.S. interest rates rallied sharply as the yield curve flattened due in large part to the unexpected results of the Brexit vote (i.e., United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union). After the initial market shock from the Brexit vote, markets calmed and during the balance of the third quarter, interest rates increased ending near their highs for the quarter, and credit spreads tightened as market volatility ebbed.


23


The chart below shows the highest and lowest rates during the quarter ended September 30, 2016 as well as the rates as of September 30, 2016 for the indicated U.S. Treasury securities:
a3q16form10-_chartx33635.jpg

The table below shows examples of credit spreads in basis points for certain investment types in our MBS portfolio as of the end of each quarter since September 30, 2015:
Investment Type:
 
9/30/2015
 
12/31/2015
 
3/31/2016
 
6/30/2016
 
9/30/2016
Agency ARM 5/1 (Agency RMBS)
 
26

 
22

 
32

 
38

 
32

Agency DUS (Agency CMBS)
 
76

 
89

 
86

 
94

 
80

Freddie K AAA IO (Agency CMBS IO)
 
200

 
225

 
260

 
255

 
230

AAA CMBS IO (Non-Agency CMBS IO)
 
225

 
240

 
265

 
240

 
215

Freddie K B (Non-Agency CMBS)
 
305

 
350

 
420

 
325

 
265


In our opinion, financial markets are reflecting the uncertainty around the efficacy of the U.S. and global central bank policy as well as the growth trajectory of and expected inflation in the U.S. Volatility in interest rates and credit spreads reflect the extraordinary central bank involvement in the global capital markets, including maintaining shot-term zero or negative interest rate policies, asset purchases, and participation in the short-term funding markets. These actions have added liquidity to the markets, reduced volatility and, in many cases, distorted asset prices. Markets appear on edge for any shift in central bank policy, and recently central bank rhetoric has shifted from emphasizing the role of quantitative easing to emphasizing an increased role for fiscal policy in stimulating growth. In the U.S., measured inflation has stabilized and has the potential to rise as energy and commodity prices are modestly increasing from their lower levels a year ago. Gross domestic product in the U.S. has also rebounded and unemployment rates in the U.S. are reasonably stable. While other economic indicators have exhibited some weakness, given the overall stability in the U.S. economy, the Federal Reserve appears poised to raise the targeted Federal Funds rate in December 2016. We believe that regardless of whether the Federal Reserve raises the Federal Funds rate at that time, the lack of significant progress toward growth and inflation goals of the Federal Reserve and central banks globally will limit the number and frequency of future rate increases by the Federal Reserve in the medium term.


24




Highlights of the Third Quarter of 2016 and Management's Outlook

Comprehensive income to common shareholders for the third quarter of 2016 was $13.1 million, consisting of net income to common shareholders of $12.4 million and other comprehensive income of $0.7 million. Net income to common shareholders for the third quarter of 2016 included net interest income of $15.1 million, a decline of $(1.7) million compared to the second quarter of 2016. This decline in net interest income resulted primarily from an increase in prepayments on RMBS as well as a smaller investment portfolio versus the second quarter of 2016. Net income to common shareholders also included a net gain on derivatives of $2.4 million for the third quarter of 2016 compared to a net loss on derivatives of $(16.3) million for the prior quarter. This increase of $18.7 million was driven primarily by the impact of rising interest rates during the third quarter of 2016 which favorably impacted the fair value of derivative instruments in our hedging portfolio. Other comprehensive income for the third quarter of 2016 consisted primarily of net unrealized gains on MBS of $0.8 million compared to net unrealized gains on MBS of $23.0 million for the second quarter of 2016. As noted above under "Market Conditions and Recent Activity", credit spreads tightened, particularly on CMBS, increasing the fair value of MBS during the third quarter of 2016; however, the majority of that benefit was offset by the increase in interest rates which put downward pressure on MBS prices during the third quarter.     

Core net operating income to common shareholders is a non-GAAP measure management uses as an estimate of the net interest earnings of the Company's investments, including net periodic interest costs of effective derivative instruments, after operating expenses. Core net operating income declined $(0.8) million to $9.7 million for the third quarter of 2016 from $10.5 million for the second quarter of 2016, primarily due to the decline in net interest income as discussed above. Lower net periodic interest costs on derivative instruments during the third quarter of 2016 partially offset the decline in net interest income due to the Company's termination of $500.0 million in net pay-fixed interest rate swaps earlier in the year. The Company had terminated these instruments given management's view at that time that the Federal Reserve was unlikely to increase the Federal Funds rate in the near term and likely not until the fourth quarter of 2016 or early 2017. The Company's operating expenses were also lower during the third quarter of 2016 compared to the prior quarter, mainly due to lower general and administrative expenses. Please see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" at the end of "Executive Overview" of Part 1, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional important information about non-GAAP measures as well as a reconciliation of core net operating income to GAAP net income (loss) for the periods discussed.

Book value per common share increased $0.07 during the third quarter to $7.76 as of September 30, 2016 compared to $7.69 as of June 30, 2016, an increase driven primarily by the positive impact of higher interest rates on the fair value of our derivatives as well as the positive impact of tighter credit spreads on the fair value of MBS, which more than offset the decline in fair value of MBS from higher interest rates. During the third quarter of 2016, we continued to maintain lower leverage and a long duration portfolio position while reinvesting marginally through limited purchases of high quality assets.

We believe that the long-term fundamentals that have anchored global bond yields at low (and in some cases, negative) interest rates have not dissipated, and there are still several factors that will limit a sustained rise in long-term interest rates in the U.S. In particular, excessive global leverage in our opinion continues to destabilize growth around the world. In addition, we believe inflation is limited by overcapacity and the inability of countries to stimulate aggregate demand without the expansion of credit. Demographic trends should also bolster demand for fixed income assets into the future, keeping long-term yields lower. Given our view that high global debt, moderate inflation, and favorable demographic trends will prevent a sustainable move toward significantly higher interest rates, we have positioned our portfolio for the expected continued low interest rate environment and also to protect against excessive volatility in asset prices and interest rates, primarily by investing in higher quality assets and reducing our leverage. High quality CMBS and CMBS IO investments reduce our exposure to credit risk versus lower rated investments and provide less exposure to prepayment volatility versus RMBS, while our investments in Agency RMBS provide balance if short-term interest rates rise and provide complementary cash flows with little extension risk.

As interest rates have increased subsequent to the end of the third quarter of 2016, we have seen better investment opportunities. So far in the fourth quarter of 2016, we have added investments with a combined book value of over $266 million. We expect to modestly grow our investment portfolio and modestly increase leverage in the fourth quarter of 2016 to mitigate the negative impact on earnings from the expected Federal Funds interest rate hike in December 2016. While we did not adjust our hedging portfolio in the third quarter of 2016, we expect to more actively manage our hedging portfolio for the balance of

25


2016 to reduce the impact on the Company from higher interest rates. We have added forward starting interest rate swaps subsequent to September 30, 2016 to mitigate a portion of our exposure to higher interest rates, including additional exposure from the assets purchased so far in the fourth quarter.


Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the Company's operating results presented in accordance with GAAP, the information presented within "Executive Overview" and "Results of Operations" contains the following non-GAAP financial measures: core net operating income to common shareholders (including per common share), adjusted interest expense and adjusted cost of funds, and adjusted net interest income and spread. Management uses core net operating income (including per common share) as an estimate of the net interest earnings from our investments after operating expenses. In connection with core net operating income, management uses adjusted interest expense, adjusted cost of funds, adjusted net interest income, and adjusted net interest spread because management considers net periodic interest costs related to the Company's derivative instruments as an additional cost of using repurchase agreements to finance investments. Because these measures are used in the Company's internal analysis of financial and operating performance, management believes that they provide greater transparency to our investors of management's view of our economic performance. Management also believes that the presentation of these measures, when analyzed in conjunction with the Company's GAAP operating results, allows investors to more effectively evaluate and compare the performance of the Company to that of its peers even though peer companies may present non-GAAP measures on a different basis than the Company's. Because these non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain items used to compute GAAP net income to common shareholders and GAAP interest expense, these non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, the Company's GAAP results as reported on its consolidated statements of comprehensive income. In addition, because not all companies use identical calculations, the Company's presentation of non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly-titled measures of other companies.

Schedules reconciling adjusted interest expense, adjusted cost of funds, adjusted net interest income, and adjusted net interest spread to their related GAAP financial measures are provided within "Results of Operations". The following table presents a reconciliation of our GAAP net income (loss) to our core net operating income for the periods presented:
 
Three Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
June 30,
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
2016
 
2016
GAAP net income (loss) to common shareholders
$
12,406

 
$
(5,525
)
Amortization of de-designated cash flow hedges (1)
(99
)
 
(80
)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, net
(2,564
)
 
15,811

Loss on sale of investments, net

 
297

Fair value adjustments, net
(34
)
 
(28
)
Core net operating income to common shareholders
$
9,709

 
$
10,475

 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
49,147

 
49,119

Core net operating income per common share
$
0.20

 
$
0.21

(1) Included in GAAP interest expense and relates to the amortization of the balance remaining in accumulated other
comprehensive loss as of June 30, 2013 as a result of discontinuing cash flow hedge accounting.



CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based in large part upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of

26


assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base these estimates and judgments on historical experience and assumptions believed to be reasonable under current facts and circumstances. Actual results, however, may differ from the estimated amounts we have recorded. The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations also consider certain non-GAAP financial measures as described in "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in this Part I, Item 2.
Critical accounting policies are defined as those that require management's most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, and which may result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. Our accounting policies that require the most significant management estimates, judgments, or assumptions, or that management believes includes the most significant uncertainties, and are considered most critical to our results of operations or financial position relate to fair value measurements, amortization of investment premiums, and other-than-temporary impairments. Our critical accounting policies are discussed in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 under “Critical Accounting Policies”. There have been no significant changes in our critical accounting policies during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

We continue to favor investing in prepayment protected CMBS and CMBS IO versus RMBS which carry a higher risk of prepayment (and therefore have less predictable cash flows) in the current low interest rate environment. In the third quarter of 2016, we began selectively reinvesting some of our capital, primarily in Agency CMBS and CMBS IO, as we were able to purchase assets at higher and more attractive risk-adjusted returns than seen earlier in 2016, while keeping our leverage low given the potentially volatile market environment. Prior to the third quarter of 2016, we used principal payments on our investments and proceeds from sales to reduce balance sheet leverage during the first six months of the year. We have also sold certain MBS during 2016 that we believed would underperform in an environment in which interest rates are likely to remain range-bound for an extended period and where asset prices are likely to remain volatile within that range. Over the course of the last twelve months, our investment portfolio has declined approximately 17% (based on amortized cost). The chart below presents the amortized cost of our MBS investments by collateral type as of the end of each period presented:    
a3q16form10-_chartx34862.jpg
    
In addition to the sections below, please refer to Note 2 of the Unaudited Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained within Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information relating to our MBS. The following sections provide additional information on our investment portfolio as well as related financing.

RMBS


27


Activity related to our RMBS for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is as follows:
($ in thousands)
Agency RMBS
 
Non-Agency RMBS
 
Total
Balance as of December 31, 2015
$
1,598,522

 
$
65,210

 
$
1,663,732

Purchases

 

 

Principal payments
(243,920
)
 
(24,488
)
 
(268,408
)
Sales
(57,187
)
 

 
(57,187
)
Net (amortization) accretion
(12,245
)
 
26

 
(12,219
)
Change in fair value
12,548

 
802

 
13,350

Balance as of September 30, 2016
$
1,297,718

 
$
41,550

 
$
1,339,268


Agency RMBS. As of September 30, 2016, the majority of our variable-rate Agency RMBS portfolio resets based on one-year LIBOR, which was approximately 1.55% as of September 30, 2016 compared to 1.18% as of December 31, 2015. Of these investments, approximately 26% will reset their coupon within the next twelve months at a weighted average margin of 1.80% above one-year LIBOR. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we sold certain lower yielding Agency ARMs that were at or near their interest rate reset periods and which were expected to reset at interest rates lower than their current coupon.

The underlying mortgage loans for variable-rate RMBS are subject to periodic interest rate caps which limit the amount by which the security’s coupon rate may change during any given period and lifetime interest rate caps which limit the maximum interest rate on the loans collateralizing these securities. As shown in the table below, our variable-rate Agency RMBS are generally well within their periodic and lifetime interest rate caps. The following table presents certain interest rate information for these investments by weighted average months to reset ("MTR") as of the dates indicated:
 
September 30, 2016
($ in thousands)
Par Value
 
Reset Margin to LIBOR
 
WAC
 
WAVG Periodic Interest Cap
 
WAVG Life Interest Cap
0-12 MTR
322,417

 
1.80
%
 
3.13
%
 
2.76
%
 
9.73
%
13-36 MTR
276,568

 
1.79
%
 
3.17
%
 
5.00
%
 
8.18
%
37-60 MTR
131,120

 
1.80
%
 
3.60
%
 
5.00
%
 
8.60
%
61-84 MTR
485,841

 
1.71
%
 
2.75
%
 
5.00
%
 
7.76
%
85-120 MTR
23,910

 
1.59
%
 
3.14
%
 
5.00
%
 
8.13
%
Total
$
1,239,856

 
1.76
%
 
3.04
%
 
4.42
%
 
8.46
%
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
Par Value
 
Reset Margin to LIBOR
 
WAC
 
WAVG Periodic Interest Cap
 
WAVG Life Interest Cap
0-12 MTR
$
309,826

 
1.79
%
 
2.75
%
 
2.40
%
 
10.00
%
13-36 MTR
380,455

 
1.79
%
 
3.47
%
 
5.00
%
 
9.01
%
37-60 MTR
91,769

 
1.80
%
 
2.97
%
 
5.00
%
 
8.35
%
61-84 MTR
541,720

 
1.76
%
 
3.09
%
 
5.00
%
 
8.48
%
85-120 MTR
197,473

 
1.62
%
 
2.56
%
 
5.00
%
 
7.78
%
ARMs and Hybrid ARMs
1,521,243

 
1.76
%
 
3.04
%
 
4.47
%
 
8.82
%
Fixed
15,490

 
n/a

 
2.50
%
 
n/a

 
n/a

Total
$
1,536,733

 
 
 
3.03
%
 
 
 
 
    
Non-Agency RMBS. Our non-Agency RMBS portfolio consists primarily of senior tranches of securitizations collateralized by non-performing loans and re-performing loans which receive monthly principal and interest payments and have estimated average lives remaining in a range of one and two years. These securities have coupon step-up features of 3.0% if the

28


securities are not fully repaid or redeemed by their expected maturity date which is generally three years from issuance. Although these investments do not have a credit rating issued by any of the nationally recognized statistical ratings organization, they have substantial credit enhancement within the securitization structure, and we have not experienced any losses of principal on these investments to date.

CMBS

During the third quarter of 2016, we purchased Agency CMBS as higher interest rates drove yields higher on these investments relative to prior periods. Activity related to our CMBS for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is as follows:
($ in thousands)
Agency CMBS
 
Non-Agency CMBS
 
Total
Balance as of December 31, 2015
$
885,931

 
$
154,183

 
$
1,040,114

Purchases
56,614

 

 
56,614

Principal payments
(33,584
)
 
(39,128
)
 
(72,712
)
Sales

 
(34,868
)
 
(34,868
)
Premium/discount (amortization)/accretion, net
(3,668
)
 
549

 
(3,119
)
Change in fair value
39,911

 
2,036

 
41,947

Balance as of September 30, 2016
$
945,204

 
$
82,772

 
$
1,027,976


Our Agency CMBS are collateralized primarily by fixed rate mortgage loans secured by multifamily properties. Our non-Agency CMBS are collateralized by fixed rate mortgage loans secured by properties such as office, single-family rental, retail, and multifamily. Both Agency and non-Agency CMBS will generally have some form of prepayment protection provisions (such as prepayment lock-outs) or prepayment compensation provisions (such as yield maintenance or prepayment penalties) to prevent early voluntary prepayment of principal.

Since Agency CMBS are guaranteed by the GSEs with respect to return of principal, our credit exposure is limited to any premium on those securities. Non-Agency CMBS are not guaranteed and therefore our entire investment is exposed to credit losses from the underlying loans collateralizing the CMBS. The following table presents the par value, amortized cost, and weighted average months to estimated maturity of our CMBS investments as of the dates indicated by year of origination:
 
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
($ in thousands)
 
Par Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Months to Estimated Maturity (1)
 
Par Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Months to Estimated Maturity (1)
Year of Origination:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2008 and prior
 
$
64,109

 
$
59,018

 
30
 
$
83,396

 
$
78,766

 
38
2009 to 2012
 
207,327

 
214,020

 
36
 
254,870

 
264,087

 
40
2013 to 2014
 
42,980

 
43,410

 
98
 
78,501

 
78,931

 
63
2015 to 2016
 
666,091

 
667,555

 
112
 
616,202

 
616,304

 
120
 
 
$
980,507

 
$
984,003

 
90
 
$
1,032,969

 
$
1,038,088

 
89
(1)
Months to estimated maturity is an average weighted by the amortized cost of the investment.


29


The majority of the collateral underlying our non-Agency CMBS is comprised of single-family rental and multi-family properties. The following charts present the collateral underlying our non-Agency CMBS by property type as of the dates indicated:

a3q16form10-_chartx36848.jpga3q16form10-_chartx37749.jpg
The collateral underlying our non-Agency CMBS investments is geographically dispersed in order to mitigate exposure to any particular region of the country. The U.S. state with the largest percentage of collateral underlying our non-Agency CMBS was Texas at 17% as of September 30, 2016 compared to Florida at 32% as of December 31, 2015. The following charts present the geographic diversification of the collateral underlying our non-Agency CMBS by the top 5 states as of the dates indicated:
a3q16form10-_chartx38591.jpga3q16form10-_chartx39916.jpg
CMBS IO

Activity related to our CMBS IO for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is as follows:
($ in thousands) (1)
Agency CMBS IO
 
Non-Agency CMBS IO
 
Total
Balance as of December 31, 2015
$
426,128

 
$
363,727

 
$
789,855

Purchases
19,609

 
20,593

 
40,202

Sales

 

 

Premium amortization, net
(55,498
)
 
(41,355
)
 
(96,853
)
Change in fair value
4,187

 
5,832

 
10,019

Balance as of September 30, 2016
$
394,426

 
$
348,797

 
$
743,223


30


(1)
Amounts shown for CMBS IO represent premium only and exclude underlying notional balances.

The majority of our CMBS IO investments are collateralized primarily by fixed rate mortgage loans. Agency CMBS IO are exclusively collateralized by multifamily properties and are issued by securitization trusts sponsored by one of the GSEs. Non-Agency CMBS IO are secured by multifamily properties as well as office, retail, and hotel. Both types of CMBS IO have some form of prepayment protection (such as prepayment lock-outs or defeasance requirements) or prepayment compensation provisions (such as yield maintenance or prepayment penalties). Our CMBS IO investments are investment grade-rated with the majority rated 'AAA' by at least one of the nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations.

Because income earned from CMBS IO is based on interest payments received on the underlying commercial mortgage loan pools, our return on these investments is negatively impacted by defaults, foreclosures, and liquidations on or of the underlying mortgage loans that result in involuntary prepayments. In order to manage our exposure to credit performance, we generally invest in senior tranches of these securities and where we have evaluated the credit profile of the underlying loan pool and can monitor credit performance. In addition, because underwriting standards vary over time, we consider the year of origination of the loans underlying CMBS IO in our selection of investments. The following table presents our CMBS IO investments as of September 30, 2016 by year of origination:
 
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
($ in thousands)
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Remaining WAL  (1)
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Remaining WAL  (1)
Year of Origination:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2010
 
$
10,267

 
$
10,703

 
20

 
$
12,843

 
$
13,472

 
24

2011
 
37,472

 
39,861

 
25

 
45,731

 
48,482

 
28

2012
 
109,734

 
112,696

 
28

 
131,085

 
133,086

 
31

2013
 
135,250

 
137,833

 
34

 
154,445

 
155,299

 
38

2014
 
199,922

 
202,249

 
40

 
223,542

 
221,933

 
44

2015
 
203,236

 
205,024

 
47

 
219,765

 
217,583

 
50

2016
 
34,879

 
34,857

 
54

 

 

 

 
 
$
730,760

 
$
743,223

 
39

 
$
787,411

 
$
789,855

 
41

(1) Remaining weighted average life ("WAL") represents an estimate of the number of months of interest earnings remaining for the investments by year of origination.

Approximately half of the collateral underlying our non-Agency CMBS IO is comprised of retail and multifamily properties. The following charts present the property type of the collateral underlying our non-Agency CMBS IO as of the dates indicated:
a3q16form10-_chartx40802.jpga3q16form10-_chartx41581.jpg
The collateral underlying our non-Agency CMBS IO investments is geographically dispersed in order to mitigate exposure to any particular region of the country. The U.S. state with the largest percentage of collateral underlying our non-

31


Agency CMBS IO was California at 13% as of September 30, 2016 and 12% as of December 31, 2015. The following charts present the geographic diversification of the collateral underlying our non-Agency CMBS IO by the top 5 states as of the dates indicated:
a3q16form10-_chartx42776.jpga3q16form10-_chartx44151.jpg

Derivative Assets and Liabilities
    
Our derivative assets and liabilities consist of interest rate swap agreements and Eurodollar futures, which we use to hedge our earnings and book value exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. Eurodollar futures represent forward starting 3-month LIBOR contracts and allow us to synthetically replicate swap curves and/or hedge specific points on the swap curve where we may have duration risk by shorting contracts at various points of the LIBOR curve. We use both pay-fixed and receive-fixed interest rate swaps to manage our overall hedge position.

    The following graphs present the notional balance and net weighted average pay-fixed rate for our derivatives as of their effective dates:
a3q16form10-_chartx45046.jpg


32


a3q16form10-_chartx46713.jpg
    
Since December 31, 2015, we substantially reduced the notional balance of our derivatives position given our outlook for interest rates, particularly short-term interest rates. We terminated a notional of $2.9 billion in pay-fixed interest rate swaps with a weighted average pay-fixed rate of 1.18% and added interest rate swaps with a combined notional of $1.3 billion at a net weighted average pay-fixed rate of 0.97%. These transactions reduced our hedges of interest rate risk for 2016 through 2021 and modestly increased hedges of interest rate risk in 2022 through 2025. We regularly monitor and adjust our hedging portfolio in response to many factors including, but not limited to, changes in our investment portfolio, shifts in the yield curve, and our expectations with respect to the future path of interest rates and interest rate volatility.

Secured Borrowings
 
Our secured borrowings have declined approximately 12% from December 31, 2015 to September 30, 2016 because we used a portion of sale proceeds and principal payments from MBS to pay down our borrowings in lieu of reinvesting. Due to the final rule issued by the FHFA in January 2016, we cannot obtain new FHLB advances or renewals of existing advances. We replaced our FHLB advances that matured during the first quarter of 2016 with repurchase agreement financing. Our remaining FHLB advance of $263.0 million as of September 30, 2016 matured in October 2016, and we replaced this financing with repurchase agreement borrowings at a higher interest rate than the fixed rate of 0.51% on FHLB advances as of September 30, 2016.

The majority of our repurchase agreement borrowings are collateralized with Agency MBS which have historically had lower liquidity risk than non-Agency MBS. The following table presents the amount pledged and leverage against the fair value of our non-Agency MBS investments by credit rating as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

33


 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
($ in thousands)
Fair Value
 
Amount Pledged
 
Related Borrowings
 
Fair Value
 
Amount Pledged
 
Related Borrowings
Non-Agency CMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AAA
$
37,455

 
$
37,455

 
$
33,675

 
$
60,192

 
$
53,589

 
$
48,400

AA
14,155

 
14,155

 
11,706

 
51,599

 
51,599

 
45,870

A
19,950

 
19,950

 
17,067

 
34,771

 
34,771

 
29,211

Below A/Not Rated
11,212

 
11,013

 
7,239

 
7,621

 
3,826

 
2,897

   
$
82,772

 
$
82,573

 
$
69,687

 
$
154,183

 
$
143,785

 
$
126,378

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Agency CMBS IO:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AAA
$
293,363

 
$
289,257

 
$
243,326

 
$
294,712

 
$
303,659

 
$
255,652

AA
49,663

 
48,872

 
42,325

 
53,974

 
53,111

 
44,940

Below A/Not Rated
5,771

 
5,771

 
4,975

 
15,041

 
2,581

 
2,179

 
$
348,797


$
343,900

 
$
290,626

 
$
363,727

 
$
359,351

 
$
302,771

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Agency RMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Below A/Not Rated
$
41,550

 
$
41,082

 
$
38,613

 
$
65,210

 
$
64,286

 
$
52,128

 
$
41,550

 
$
41,082

 
$
38,613

 
$
65,210

 
$
64,286

 
$
52,128


Please refer to Note 3 of the Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contained within Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as well as "Interest Expense and Cost of Funds" within "Results of Operations" and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” contained within this Item 2 for additional information relating to our borrowings.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The discussions below provide information on items on our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). These discussions include both GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures which management utilizes in its internal analysis of financial and operating performance. Please read the section "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" at the end of "Executive Overview" in Part 1, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional important information about these measures.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Spread

The tables below present GAAP net interest income and related net interest spread for our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and also present adjusted net interest income and adjusted net interest spread, which are non-GAAP measures. Adjusted net interest income and adjusted net interest spread include net periodic interest costs of derivative instruments as part of interest expense ("adjusted interest expense" which is discussed and reconciled later in this section) whereas GAAP net interest income and GAAP net interest spread do not.

34


 
Three Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
($ in thousands)
Amount
 
Yield
 
Amount
 
Yield
GAAP interest income
$
21,135

 
2.75
 %
 
$
26,096

 
2.69
 %
GAAP interest expense
6,068

 
0.85
 %
 
5,859

 
0.67
 %
GAAP net interest income/spread
15,067

 
1.90
 %
 
20,237

 
2.02
 %
Amortization of de-designated cash flow hedges (1)
(99
)
 
(0.01
)%
 
857

 
0.10
 %
Net periodic interest costs of derivative instruments
(155
)
 
(0.02
)%
 
(1,752
)
 
(0.21
)%
Adjusted net interest income/spread
$
14,813

 
1.87
 %
 
$
19,342

 
1.91
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average interest earning assets (2)
$
3,110,884

 
 
 
$
3,818,142

 
 
Average balance of borrowings (3)
$
2,806,948

 
 
 
$
3,405,850

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
($ in thousands)
Amount
 
Yield
 
Amount
 
Yield
GAAP interest income
$
69,040

 
2.80
 %
 
$
74,722

 
2.67
 %
GAAP interest expense
18,478

 
0.83
 %
 
16,772

 
0.67
 %
GAAP net interest income/spread
50,562

 
1.97
 %
 
57,950

 
2.00
 %
Amortization of de-designated cash flow hedges (1)
(152
)
 
(0.01
)%
 
2,772

 
0.11
 %
Net periodic interest costs of derivative instruments
(2,321
)
 
(0.10
)%
 
(4,407
)
 
(0.18
)%
Adjusted net interest income/spread
$
48,089

 
1.86
 %
 
$
56,315

 
1.93
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average interest earning assets (2)
$
3,260,510

 

 
$
3,715,318

 
 
Average balance of borrowings (3)
$
2,939,139

 

 
$
3,280,542

 
 
(1)
Included in GAAP interest expense and relates to the amortization of the balance remaining in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of June 30, 2013 as a result of discontinuing cash flow hedge accounting.
(2)
Average balances are calculated as a simple average of the daily amortized cost and exclude unrealized gains and losses as well as securities pending settlement if applicable.
(3)
Average balances are calculated as a simple average of the daily borrowings outstanding for both repurchase agreement and non-recourse collateralized financing.

Net interest income and adjusted net interest income decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same periods in 2015 primarily due to a smaller investment portfolio, lower prepayment penalty income, and higher borrowing costs during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. These impacts offset increased yields on our investment portfolio that are largely due to our decision to shift a higher percentage of our MBS portfolio to higher-yielding CMBS and CMBS IO. Details on the factors impacting the net interest earnings of our investment portfolio are provided below.

Interest Income and Effective Yields on MBS. Interest income includes gross interest earned from the coupon rate on the securities, premium amortization and discount accretion, and other interest income resulting from prepayment penalty income or other yield maintenance items on CMBS and CMBS IO securities. Effective yields are calculated by dividing gross interest income and scheduled premium amortization/discount accretion (both of which are annualized for any reporting period less than 12 months) by the average balance of investments outstanding during the reporting period. Effective yields also include prepayment penalty income as well as adjustments to premium amortization/discount accretion that arise when we change our prepayment projections and when actual prepayments differ from previously projected prepayments (collectively, "prepayment adjustments"); however, because these amounts are not annualized, they receive less weight when calculating effective yield as a percentage of the average balance than gross interest income and scheduled amortization.


35


The following table presents information regarding interest income earned and effective yield on our MBS by investment type for the periods indicated:
 
Three Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
($ in thousands)
Interest Income
 
Average
Balance (1)
 
Effective Yield
 
Interest Income
 
Average
Balance (1)
 
Effective Yield
RMBS:


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency
$
5,230

 
$
1,338,079

 
1.78
%
 
$
5,897

 
$
1,782,348

 
1.68
%
Non-Agency
477

 
52,322

 
3.62
%
 
665

 
73,234

 
3.63
%
 
5,707

 
1,390,401

 
1.85
%
 
6,562

 
1,855,582

 
1.76
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CMBS:


 


 
 
 
 
 


 
 
Agency
6,509

 
878,131

 
2.90
%
 
6,986

 
963,236

 
2.91
%
Non-Agency
1,240

 
96,109

 
5.70
%
 
4,700

 
200,827

 
5.53
%
 
7,749

 
974,240

 
3.17
%
 
11,686

 
1,164,063

 
3.36
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CMBS IO:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency
3,857

 
381,038

 
3.82
%
 
4,047

 
419,573

 
3.80
%
Non-Agency
3,584

 
343,821

 
3.94
%
 
3,470

 
350,383

 
3.91
%

7,441

 
724,859

 
3.88
%
 
7,517

 
769,956

 
3.85
%
 


 


 
 
 
 
 


 
 
Total MBS portfolio:
$
20,897

 
$
3,089,500

 
2.75
%
 
$
25,765

 
$
3,789,601

 
2.68
%
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
Interest Income
 
Average
Balance (1)
 
Effective Yield
 
Interest Income
 
Average
Balance (1)
 
Effective Yield
RMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency
$
18,831

 
$
1,440,870

 
1.77
%
 
$
24,267

 
$
1,964,949

 
1.69
%
Non-Agency
1,590

 
58,439

 
3.63
%
 
1,718

 
62,707

 
3.65
%
 
20,421

 
1,499,309

 
1.84
%
 
25,985

 
2,027,656

 
1.75
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CMBS:


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency
20,303

 
875,719

 
3.02
%
 
16,354

 
697,808

 
3.08
%
Non-Agency
4,954

 
114,721

 
5.73
%
 
9,322

 
204,168

 
5.66
%
 
25,257

 
990,440

 
3.33
%
 
25,676

 
901,976

 
3.66
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CMBS IO:


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agency
11,847

 
396,479

 
3.92
%
 
12,088

 
420,057

 
3.82
%
Non-Agency
10,795

 
351,618

 
4.04
%
 
9,939

 
334,330

 
3.94
%
 
22,642

 
748,097

 
3.97
%
 
22,027

 
754,387

 
3.88
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total MBS portfolio:
$
68,320


$
3,237,846

 
2.79
%
 
$
73,688

 
$
3,684,019

 
2.65
%
(1)
Average balances are calculated as a simple average of the daily amortized cost and exclude unrealized gains and losses as well as securities pending settlement if applicable.

    



36



The following tables present the estimated impact of changes in average balances, yields, and prepayment adjustments on interest income for the periods indicated:
 
Three Months Ended
 
September 30, 2016 vs. September 30, 2015
 
Increase (Decrease) in Interest Income
 
Due to Change In
($ in thousands)
 
Average Balance
 
Coupon and Scheduled Amortization
 
Prepayment Adjustments (1)
RMBS
$
(855
)
 
$
(2,095
)
 
$
91

 
$
1,149

CMBS
(3,937
)
 
(1,427
)
 
(15
)
 
(2,495
)
CMBS IO
(76
)
 
(359
)
 
(123
)
 
406

Total
$
(4,868
)
 
$
(3,881
)
 
$
(47
)
 
$
(940
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2016 vs. September 30, 2015
 
Increase (Decrease) in Interest Income
 
Due to Change In
 
 
Average Balance
 
Coupon and Scheduled Amortization
 
Prepayment Adjustments (1)
RMBS
$
(5,564
)
 
$
(7,377
)
 
$
592

 
$
1,221

CMBS
(419
)
 
2,229

 
(720
)
 
(1,928
)
CMBS IO
615

 
(180
)
 
(199
)
 
994

Total
$
(5,368
)
 
$
(5,328
)
 
$
(327
)
 
$
287

(1)
Prepayment adjustments represent effective interest amortization adjustments related to changes in actual and projected prepayment speeds for RMBS and net prepayment compensation for CMBS and CMBS IO.

Interest income from MBS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 decreased compared to the same periods in 2015 primarily due to our lower average balance of investments. In addition, we received lower net prepayment penalty income from our CMBS investments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same periods in 2015. Partially offsetting lower prepayment penalty income, our Agency RMBS had lower premium amortization expense related to changes in projected and actual prepayments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same periods in 2015.

Effective yield earned by our MBS portfolio increased 7 and 14 basis points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2015. The increases were primarily due to the shift in the composition of our MBS portfolio toward higher yielding CMBS and CMBS IO relative to RMBS. Additionally, sales of lower yielding assets and lower prepayment activity on our Agency RMBS contributed to the overall increase in effective yield earned by our MBS portfolio.
    

37


The following table presents details on the calculation of effective yields shown in the prior table for the periods indicated:
 
Three Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
($ in thousands)
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
RMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Coupon and scheduled amortization
$
6,689

 
1.92
 %
 
$
8,693

 
1.87
 %
Prepayment adjustments (1)
(982
)
 
(0.07
)%
 
(2,131
)
 
(0.11
)%
 
5,707

 
1.85
 %
 
6,562

 
1.76
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CMBS:


 
 
 
 
 
 
Coupon and scheduled amortization
7,903

 
3.19
 %
 
9,345

 
3.16
 %
Prepayment adjustments (1)
(154
)
 
(0.02
)%
 
2,341

 
0.20
 %
 
7,749

 
3.17
 %
 
11,686

 
3.36
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CMBS IO:


 
 
 
 
 
 
Coupon and scheduled amortization
6,895

 
3.81
 %
 
7,378

 
3.83
 %
Prepayment adjustments (1)
546

 
0.07
 %
 
139

 
0.02
 %
 
7,441

 
3.88
 %
 
7,517

 
3.85
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total MBS portfolio:
$
20,897

 
2.75
 %
 
$
25,765

 
2.68
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
RMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Coupon and scheduled amortization
$
21,525

 
1.91
 %
 
$
28,310

 
1.86
 %
Prepayment adjustments (1)
(1,104
)
 
(0.07
)%
 
(2,325
)
 
(0.11
)%
 
20,421

 
1.84
 %
 
25,985

 
1.75
 %
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
CMBS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Coupon and scheduled amortization
24,241

 
3.23
 %
 
22,732

 
3.34
 %
Prepayment adjustments (1)
1,016

 
0.10
 %
 
2,944

 
0.32
 %
 
25,257

 
3.33
 %
 
25,676

 
3.66
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CMBS IO:


 
 
 


 


Coupon and scheduled amortization
21,279

 
3.79
 %
 
21,658

 
3.83
 %
Prepayment adjustments (1)
1,363

 
0.18
 %
 
369

 
0.05
 %
 
22,642

 
3.97
 %
 
22,027

 
3.88
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total MBS portfolio:
$
68,320

 
2.79
 %
 
$
73,688

 
2.65
 %
(1)
Prepayment adjustments represent effective interest amortization adjustments related to changes in actual and projected prepayment speeds for RMBS and prepayment compensation, net of amortization for CMBS and CMBS IO.

Effective yield on RMBS for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 increased 9 basis points compared to the same periods in 2015 because we sold lower yielding RMBS over the past twelve months and because we experienced lower prepayment activity on our Agency RMBS, resulting in smaller adjustments from premium amortization on our effective yield as shown in the table above. The rate at which we amortize the premiums we pay for our investments is impacted by actual and

38


forecasted prepayments, which is measured by the constant prepayment rate ("CPR") for Agency RMBS. We are projecting a 3 month average CPR of 19.8% on our Agency RMBS for the fourth quarter of 2016. The following graph shows our actual 3 month average CPRs for Agency RMBS for the periods indicated:
a3q16form10-_chartx36847.jpg

Effective yield on CMBS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 declined 19 and 33 basis points, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2015. Our purchases of CMBS added to our portfolio since September 30, 2015 were originated in a lower interest rate environment resulting in downward pressure on our average CMBS portfolio yield. The weighted average gross coupon rate earned on our CMBS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was 3.48% and 3.54%, respectively, compared to 3.53% and 3.83%, respectively, for the same periods in 2015.

Effective yield on CMBS IO for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 increased 3 and 9 basis points, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2015 primarily because of the increase in prepayment penalty income of $0.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively.
    
Interest Expense and Cost of Funds. The following table summarizes the components of interest expense as well as average balances and cost of funds for the periods indicated:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
($ in thousands)
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Interest expense on repurchase agreement borrowings
$
5,800

 
$
4,890

 
$
17,440

 
$
13,821

Interest expense on FHLB advances
343

 
94

 
1,118

 
100

Amortization of de-designated cash flow hedges (1)
(99
)
 
857

 
(152
)
 
2,772

Non-recourse collateralized financing and other interest expense
24

 
18

 
72

 
79

Total interest expense
$
6,068

 
$
5,859

 
$
18,478

 
$
16,772

 


 
 
 


 
 
Average balance of repurchase agreements
$
2,536,562

 
$
3,220,391

 
$
2,623,225

 
$
3,208,142

Average balance of FHLB advances
263,000

 
176,747

 
308,022

 
62,785

Average balance of non-recourse collateralized financing
7,386

 
8,712

 
7,892

 
9,615

Average balance of borrowings
$
2,806,948

 
$
3,405,850

 
$
2,939,139

 
$
3,280,542

Cost of funds (2)
0.85
%
 
0.67
%
 
0.83
%
 
0.67
%
(1) Amount recorded in accordance with GAAP related to the amortization of the balance remaining in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of June 30, 2013 as a result of our discontinuation of cash flow hedge accounting.
(2)
Cost of funds is calculated by dividing annualized interest expense by the average balance of borrowings outstanding during the period.

The following table presents the estimated impact of the change in average balances and borrowing rates of repurchase agreement and FHLB borrowings as well as other differences in interest expense for the comparative periods presented:

39


($ in thousands)
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 vs. September 30, 2015
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 vs. September 30, 2015
Change in borrowing rates on repurchase agreements and FHLB advances
$
2,036

 
$
6,083

Change in average balance of repurchase agreements and FHLB advances
(877
)
 
(1,446
)
Decrease in amortization of de-designated cash flow hedges
(956
)
 
(2,924
)
Decrease in non-recourse collateralized financing and other interest expense
6

 
(7
)
Total change in interest expense
$
209

 
$
1,706

    
The increase in our interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same periods in 2015 was due to higher borrowing rates on our repurchase agreement financings. Our average borrowing rate on our repurchase agreements increased 29 basis points to 0.86% for the third quarter of 2016 compared to 0.57% for the same quarter of 2015 and increased 27 basis points to 0.83% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to 0.56% for the same nine month period in 2015. Our borrowing rates were impacted by increases in short-term interest rates, particularly one-month LIBOR which has increased approximately 30 basis points since September 30, 2015. The impact of higher short-term interest rates on our borrowing rates was partially offset by the shortening of our average term to maturity for our repurchase agreement borrowings, particularly on our Agency RMBS and CMBS.

Because we use derivative instruments as economic hedges of our interest rate risk exposure, management considers net periodic interest costs from derivative instruments to be an additional cost of financing investments. As such, management utilizes a non-GAAP financial measure "adjusted interest expense" which includes the net periodic interest costs of our effective derivative instruments excluded from GAAP interest expense. The table below presents the reconciliation of GAAP interest expense and cost of funds to our adjusted interest expense and adjusted cost of funds for the periods indicated:
 
Three Months Ended

September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
($ in thousands)
Amount
 
Rate
 
Amount
 
Rate
Interest expense/cost of funds
$
6,068

 
0.85
%
 
$
5,859

 
0.67
 %
Amortization of de-designated cash flow hedges (1)
99

 
0.01
%
 
(857
)
 
(0.10
)%
Net periodic interest costs of derivative instruments
155

 
0.02
%
 
1,752

 
0.21
 %
Adjusted interest expense/adjusted cost of funds
$
6,322

 
0.88
%
 
$
6,754

 
0.78
 %
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
Amount
 
Rate
 
Amount
 
Rate
Interest expense/cost of funds
$
18,478

 
0.83
%
 
$
16,772

 
0.67
 %
Amortization of de-designated cash flow hedges (1)
152

 
0.01
%
 
(2,772
)
 
(0.11
)%
Net periodic interest costs of derivative instruments
2,321

 
0.10
%
 
4,407

 
0.18
 %
Adjusted interest expense/adjusted cost of funds
$
20,951

 
0.94
%
 
$
18,407

 
0.74
 %
(1)
Amount recorded as a portion of "interest expense" in accordance with GAAP and is related to the amortization of the balance in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of June 30, 2013 related to the derivatives for which we discontinued cash flow hedge accounting.
    
Net periodic interest costs from effective interest rate swaps were significantly lower for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same periods in 2015 because we had smaller average notional balances outstanding during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to those periods in 2015. These costs are discussed further below.

Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments, Net

The following table provides information on the components of our "gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net" for the periods indicated:

40


 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
($ in thousands)
 
2016
 
2015
Type of Derivative Instrument
 
Net Periodic Interest Costs
 
Change in Fair Value (1)
 
Total
 
Net Periodic Interest Costs
 
Change in Fair Value (1)
 
Total
Receive-fixed interest rate swaps
 
$
1,265

 
$
(4,241
)
 
$
(2,976
)
 
$
1,337

 
$
5,638

 
$
6,975

Pay-fixed interest rate swaps
 
(1,420
)
 
3,975

 
2,555

 
(3,089
)
 
(45,608
)
 
(48,697
)
Eurodollar futures
 

 
2,830

 
2,830

 

 
(11,027
)
 
(11,027
)
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net
 
$
(155
)
 
$
2,564

 
$
2,409

 
$
(1,752
)
 
$
(50,997
)
 
$
(52,749
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
Net Periodic Interest Costs
 
Change in Fair Value (1)
 
Total
 
Net Periodic Interest Costs
 
Change in Fair Value (1)
 
Total
Receive-fixed interest rate swaps
 
$
4,009

 
$
7,291

 
$
11,300

 
$
3,709

 
$
6,048

 
$
9,757

Pay-fixed interest rate swaps
 
(6,330
)
 
(53,581
)
 
(59,911
)
 
(8,116
)
 
(37,681
)
 
(45,797
)
Eurodollar futures
 

 
(13,542
)
 
(13,542
)
 

 
(24,942
)
 
(24,942
)
Loss on derivative instruments, net
 
$
(2,321
)
 
$
(59,832
)
 
$
(62,153
)
 
$
(4,407
)
 
$
(56,575
)
 
$
(60,982
)
(1)
Amount shown is inclusive of realized gains (losses) from terminated instruments.

The fair value of our derivatives increased by $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 due to an increase in interest rates during the period at almost all maturity points of the curve; however, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the fair value of our derivatives decreased by $59.8 million as interest rates throughout the majority of 2016 have been lower in general compared to December 31, 2015, particularly at the three year and longer maturity points on the curve. Similarly, we experienced unfavorable changes in fair value of our derivatives during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 as a result of declining interest rates. In addition, we had a significantly larger hedging portfolio during much of 2015, the majority of which was added when interest rates were higher and expected to increase further; however, as interest rates began to fall during 2015, the fair value of these derivatives declined. As part of the management of our exposure to higher interest rates, we add and terminate swaps in part based on our investment portfolio and in part based on our expectations with respect to the future path of interest rates, in particular short-term interest rates which impact our funding costs. As part of this process, we terminated a net notional amount of approximately $3.0 billion in pay-fixed interest rate swaps since September 30, 2015. These terminations of pay-fixed interest rate swaps led to a decrease in net periodic interest costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same periods in 2015. The table below provides additional information regarding the average notional balances and weighted average net pay-fixed rates of our receive-fixed and pay-fixed interest rate swaps outstanding during the periods indicated:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
($ in thousands)
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Average notional balance
$
305,000

 
$
661,739

 
$
549,617

 
$
568,187

Weighted average net pay-fixed rate
0.64
%
 
1.30
%
 
1.06
%
 
1.10
%


Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments, Net

Sales of our investments occur in the ordinary course of business as we manage our risk, capital and liquidity profiles, and as we allocate capital to preferred investment opportunities. The following tables provide information related to our loss on sale of investments, net for the periods indicated:

41


 
Three Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
($ in thousands)
Amortized cost basis sold
 
(Loss) gain on sale of investments, net
 
Amortized cost basis sold
 
(Loss) gain on sale of investments, net
Agency RMBS
$

 
$

 
$
(2,634
)
 
$
(59
)
Agency CMBS IO

 

 
12,448

 
172

 
$

 
$

 
$
9,814

 
$
113

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
Amortized cost basis sold
 
(Loss) gain on sale of investments, net
 
Amortized cost basis sold
 
(Loss) gain on sale of investments, net
Agency RMBS
$
57,187

 
$
(3,010
)
 
$
155,932

 
$
(2,256
)
Agency CMBS

 

 
99,709

 
(822
)
Non-Agency CMBS
34,868

 
(1,228
)
 

 

Agency CMBS IO

 

 
40,359

 
1,646

Non-Agency CMBS IO

 

 
43,403

 
1,362

 
$
92,055

 
$
(4,238
)
 
$
339,403

 
$
(70
)

The Agency RMBS we sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were lower yielding ARMs that were at or near their interest rate reset periods and which were expected to reset at interest rates lower than their current coupon. Non-Agency CMBS sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were yielding significantly below the portfolio average. Sale proceeds were used to pay down repurchase agreement borrowings during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

General and Administrative Expenses

Compensation and benefits expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $0.6 million and $1.0 million lower compared to the same periods in 2015 primarily due to lower employee costs. Other general and administrative expenses were $0.4 million and $1.3 million lower for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same periods in 2015 due primarily to lower legal and professional fees.

Other Comprehensive Income

The following table provides detail on the changes in fair value by type of MBS which are recorded as unrealized gains (losses) in other comprehensive income on our consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
($ in thousands)
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Agency RMBS
$
(1,765
)
 
$
4,438

 
$
12,548

 
$
9,212

Non-Agency RMBS
390

 
(224
)
 
802

 
(209
)
Agency CMBS
(1,226
)
 
18,335

 
40,093

 
1,373

Non-Agency CMBS
(377
)
 
951

 
2,036

 
850

Agency CMBS IO
1,616

 
2,735

 
4,187

 
(674
)
Non-Agency CMBS IO
2,131

 
326

 
5,832

 
(2,531
)
   Unrealized gain on available-for-sale investments
$
769

 
$
26,561

 
$
65,498

 
$
8,021



42


The fair value of MBS increased $0.8 million for the third quarter of 2016. Credit spread tightening on our investments favorably impacted the fair value of MBS during the third quarter of 2016; however, the majority of that benefit was offset by the impact of increasing interest rates. In comparison, the fair value of MBS increased considerably during the third quarter of 2015 due primarily to declining interest rates during that period, which were only partially offset by credit spread widening during that same period.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the increase in fair value of MBS of $65.5 million was primarily due to general declines in interest rates since December 31, 2015. The lower interest rate environment in 2016 has favorably impacted the fair value of longer duration investments such as Agency CMBS. By comparison, credit spreads impacted the fair value of MBS overall very little since December 31, 2015. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, credit spreads widened considerably compared to December 31, 2014, partially offsetting favorable impacts on fair value of MBS resulting from interest rates declining since December 31, 2014.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
 Our primary sources of liquidity include borrowings under repurchase arrangements and monthly principal and interest payments we receive on our investments. Additional sources may also include proceeds from the sale of investments, equity offerings, and payments received from counterparties from interest rate swap agreements. We use our liquidity to manage our business including funding investment purchases and other operating costs, repaying borrowings and meeting margin calls from our lenders, making payments to counterparties as required under interest rate swap agreements, and to pay dividends on our preferred and common stock. We may also use liquidity to repurchase shares of our stock.
 
Our liquid assets fluctuate based on our investment activities and changes in the fair value of our MBS and derivative instruments. We seek to maintain sufficient liquidity to support our operations and to meet our anticipated liquidity demands, including potential margin calls from lenders (as discussed further below). We measure, manage, and forecast our liquidity on a daily basis. Our available liquid assets include unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, unencumbered Agency MBS, and certain unencumbered non-Agency MBS that can be pledged as collateral for margin calls or converted reasonably quickly into cash. As of September 30, 2016, our available liquid assets were $203.8 million, which consisted of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $73.4 million and unencumbered Agency MBS of $130.4 million, compared to $150.3 million as of December 31, 2015.

We perform sensitivity analysis on our liquidity based on changes in the fair value of our investments due to changes in interest rates, credit spreads, lender haircuts and prepayment speeds as well as changes in our derivative instruments due to changes in interest rates. In performing this analysis we will also consider the current state of the fixed income markets and the repurchase agreement markets in order to determine if market forces such as supply-demand imbalances or structural changes to these markets could change the liquidity of MBS or the availability of financing. The objective of our analysis is to assess the adequacy of our liquidity to withstand potential adverse events. We may change our leverage targets based on market conditions and our perceptions of the liquidity of our investments.

We closely monitor our debt-to-invested equity ratio (which is the ratio of debt financing to invested equity for any investment) as part of our liquidity management process as well as our overall enterprise level debt-to-equity ratio. We also monitor the ratio of our available liquidity to outstanding repurchase agreement borrowings, which fluctuates due to changes in the fair value of collateral we have pledged to our lenders. On an enterprise level basis, our current operating policies limit our total liabilities-to-shareholders' equity to 7 times our shareholders' equity. Our total liabilities decreased to 5.8 times shareholders' equity as of September 30, 2016 from 6.5 times as of December 31, 2015 because we have used principal payments received on MBS and proceeds received from sales of MBS primarily to pay down borrowings instead of reinvesting during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

We have historically had ample sources of liquidity to fund our activities and operations. The ability to fund our operations in the future depends in large measure on the availability of credit through repurchase agreement financing and the liquidity of our investments. Credit markets have historically experienced brief periods of extreme volatility such as what occurred in 2008 and 2009. Such events are typically marked by concerns regarding counterparty credit, severe market illiquidity, and steep declines in asset prices. In recent periods U.S. financial regulatory agencies (such as the Office of Financial Research in the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve) have expressed some concern about the stability of repurchase agreement financing for mortgage REITs in a sharply rising interest rate environment, and regulatory reform in the form of certain provisions of the Basel III capital framework (and supplemental bank capital rules) and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act could impact the overall availability of credit by restricting the number of repurchase agreement lenders and the credit made available by such lenders. In times of severe market stress, repurchase agreement availability could be rapidly reduced and the terms on which we can borrow could be materially altered, particularly given the focus on these markets by the federal financial and banking regulators. Competition from other REITs, banks, hedge funds, and the federal government for capacity with our repurchase

43


agreement lenders could also reduce our repurchase agreement availability. While we do not anticipate such events in the near term, a reduction in our borrowing capacity could force us to sell assets in order to repay our lenders or could otherwise restrict our ability to operate our business.

Depending on our liquidity levels, investment opportunities, the condition of the credit markets, and other factors, we may from time to time consider the issuance of debt, equity, or other securities. We may also sell investments in order to provide additional liquidity for our operations. While we will attempt to avoid dilutive or otherwise costly issuances, depending on market conditions, in order to manage our liquidity we could be forced to issue equity or debt securities which are dilutive to our capital base or our profitability.

Repurchase Agreements

The following table presents information regarding the balances of our repurchase agreement borrowings for the periods indicated:
($ in thousands)
Balance Outstanding As of Quarter End
 
Average Balance Outstanding For the Quarter Ended
 
Maximum Balance Outstanding During the Quarter Ended
September 30, 2016
$
2,478,278

 
$
2,536,562

 
$
2,599,491

June 30, 2016
2,600,480

 
2,645,431

 
2,722,019

March 31, 2016
2,722,019

 
2,688,633

 
2,838,607

December 31, 2015
2,589,420

 
2,766,755

 
3,097,492

September 30, 2015
3,055,069

 
3,220,391

 
3,405,692


     Our repurchase agreement borrowings are generally renewable at the discretion of our lenders without guaranteed roll-over terms. Given the short-term and uncommitted nature of most of our repurchase agreement financing, we attempt to maintain unused capacity under our existing repurchase agreement credit lines with multiple counterparties which helps protect us in the event of a counterparty's failure to renew existing repurchase agreements either with favorable terms or at all. As of September 30, 2016, we had repurchase agreement borrowings outstanding with 18 of our 32 available repurchase agreement counterparties at a weighted average borrowing rate of 0.91% compared to 0.75% as of December 31, 2015. Our repurchase agreement borrowings generally carry a rate of interest based on a spread to an index such as LIBOR.

For our repurchase agreement borrowings, we are required to post and maintain margin to the lender (i.e., collateral in excess of the repurchase agreement financing) in order to support the amount of the financing. This excess collateral is often referred to as a "haircut" (and which we also refer to as equity at risk). As the collateral pledged is generally MBS, the fair value of the collateral can fluctuate with changes in market conditions. If the fair value of the collateral falls below the haircut required by the lender, the lender has the right to demand additional margin, or collateral, to increase the haircut back to the initial amount. These demands are typically referred to as "margin calls". Declines in the value of investments occur for any number of reasons including but not limited to changes in interest rates, changes in ratings on an investment, changes in actual or perceived liquidity of the investment, or changes in overall market risk perceptions. Additionally, values in Agency RMBS will also decline from the payment delay feature of those securities. Agency RMBS have a payment delay feature whereby Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announce principal payments on Agency RMBS but do not remit the actual principal payments and interest for 20 days in the case of Fannie Mae and 40 days in the case of Freddie Mac. Because these securities are financed with repurchase agreements, the repurchase agreement lender generally makes a margin call for an amount equal to the product of their advance rate on the repurchase agreement and the announced principal payments on the Agency RMBS. This causes a temporary use of our liquidity to meet the margin call until we receive the principal payments and interest 20 to 40 days later. 

The following table presents the weighted average minimum haircut contractually required by our counterparties for MBS pledged as collateral for our repurchase agreement borrowings as of the dates indicated:
 
September 30, 2016
 
June 30, 2016
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
September 30, 2015
Agency RMBS and CMBS
5.1
%
 
4.9
%
 
5.1
%
 
5.0
%
 
5.0
%
Non-Agency RMBS and CMBS
17.0
%
 
15.8
%
 
16.0
%
 
14.5
%
 
14.1
%
CMBS IO
15.4
%
 
15.5
%
 
15.4
%
 
15.4
%
 
15.3
%

44



The counterparties with whom we have the greatest amounts of equity at risk may vary significantly during any given period due to the short-term and generally uncommitted nature of the repurchase agreement borrowings. Equity at risk is defined as the amount pledged as collateral to the counterparty in excess of the borrowed amount outstanding. This equity at risk represents the potential loss to the Company if the counterparty is unable or unwilling to return collateral securing the repurchase agreement borrowing at its maturity. The following tables present the five counterparties with whom we had the greatest amounts of equity at risk as of September 30, 2016 and as of December 31, 2015:
 
September 30, 2016
($ in thousands)
Amount Outstanding
 
Equity at Risk
Well Fargo Bank, N.A. and affiliates
$
300,761

 
$
54,432

JP Morgan Securities, LLC
275,538

 
44,155

South Street Financial Corporation
534,241

 
30,609

Royal Bank of Canada
77,693

 
15,406

BNP Paribas
75,226

 
11,789

Remaining counterparties
1,214,819

 
65,392

 
$
2,478,278

 
$
221,783


 
December 31, 2015
($ in thousands)
Amount Outstanding
 
Equity at Risk
Well Fargo Bank, N.A. and affiliates
$
297,916

 
$
56,193

JP Morgan Securities, LLC
298,823

 
46,197

South Street Financial Corporation
431,950

 
25,952

Royal Bank of Canada
187,993

 
23,091

BNP Paribas
102,211

 
15,038

Remaining counterparties
1,270,527

 
69,750

 
$
2,589,420

 
$
236,221


The following table discloses our repurchase agreement amounts outstanding and the value of the related collateral pledged by geographic region of our counterparties as of September 30, 2016:
($ in thousands)
Amount Outstanding
 
Market Value of Collateral Pledged
North America
$
1,717,687


$
1,893,036

Asia
493,882


517,896

Europe
266,709


289,129

 
$
2,478,278

 
$
2,700,061


Certain of our repurchase agreement counterparties require us to comply with various operating and financial covenants. The financial covenants include requirements that we maintain minimum shareholders' equity (usually a set minimum, or a percentage of the highest amount of shareholders' equity since the date of the agreement), maximum decline in shareholders' equity (expressed as a percentage decline in any given period), and limits on maximum leverage (as a multiple of shareholders' equity). Operating requirements include, among other things, requirements to maintain our status as a REIT and to maintain our listing on the NYSE. Violations of one or more of these covenants could result in the lender declaring an event of default which would result in the termination of the repurchase agreement and immediate acceleration of amounts due thereunder. In addition, some of the agreements contain cross default features, whereby default with one lender simultaneously causes default under agreements with other lenders. Violations could also restrict us from paying dividends or engaging in other transactions that are necessary for us to maintain our REIT status.

We monitor and evaluate on an ongoing basis the impact these customary financial covenants may have on our operating and financing flexibility. Currently, we do not believe we are subject to any covenants that materially restrict our financing flexibility.

45



Derivative Instruments

Our derivative instruments require us to post initial margin at inception and variation margin based on subsequent changes in the fair value of the derivatives. The collateral posted as margin by us is typically in the form of cash or Agency MBS. Generally, as interest rates decline due to market changes, we will be required to post collateral with counterparties on our pay-fixed derivative instruments and receive collateral from our counterparties on our receive-fixed derivative instruments, and vice versa as interest rates increase. As of September 30, 2016, we had Agency MBS with a fair value of $5.4 million and cash of $84.7 million posted as credit support under these agreements.

Approximately $370 million of the Company's interest rate swaps were entered into under bilateral agreements which contain cross-default provisions with other agreements between the parties. In addition, these bilateral agreements contain financial and operational covenants similar to those contained in our repurchase agreements, as described above.

Dividends

As a REIT, we are required to distribute to our shareholders amounts equal to at least 90% of our REIT taxable income for each taxable year after consideration of our tax NOL carryforwards. We generally fund our dividend distributions through our cash flows from operations. If we make dividend distributions in excess of our operating cash flows during the period, whether for purposes of meeting our REIT distribution requirements or other strategic reasons, those distributions are generally funded either through our existing cash balances or through the return of principal from our investments (either through repayment or sale). 

We have a net operating tax loss ("NOL") carryforward that we could use to offset our REIT taxable income distribution requirement. This NOL carryforward had an estimated balance of approximately $89.8 million as of September 30, 2016. We also have deferred tax hedge losses on terminated derivative instruments, which will be recognized over the original periods that were being hedged by the terminated derivatives. These losses have already been recognized in our GAAP earnings but will reduce taxable income over the next ten years as noted in the following table:
($ in thousands)
Tax Hedge Loss Deduction
2016
$
30,804

2017
18,321

2018
7,675

2019 - 2026
15,387

 
$
72,187


If any of the deferred tax hedge losses for the years noted in the table above result in dividend distributions to our shareholders in excess of REIT taxable income, the excess dividends distributed will be considered a return of capital to the shareholder. As of September 30, 2016, we estimated that approximately 70% of our 2016 common stock dividends will represent a return of capital to shareholders and not a distribution of REIT taxable income, principally as a result of the amount of the tax hedge loss deduction.

Contractual Obligations
 
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations by payment due date as of September 30, 2016:
($ in thousands)
 
Payments due by period
Contractual Obligations:
 
Total
 
< 1 year
 
1-3 years
 
3-5 years
 
> 5 years
Repurchase agreements (1)
 
$
2,479,399

 
$
2,479,399

 
$

 
$

 
$

FHLB advances (1)
 
263,077

 
263,077

 

 

 

Non-recourse collateralized financing (2)
 
7,129

 
1,971

 
2,620

 
1,464

 
1,074

Operating lease obligations
 
755

 
208

 
435

 
112

 

Total
 
$
2,750,360

 
$
2,744,655

 
$
3,055

 
$
1,576

 
$
1,074

(1) Includes estimated interest payments calculated using interest rates in effect as of September 30, 2016.

46


(2) Amounts shown are for principal only and exclude interest obligations as those amounts are not significant. Non-recourse collateralized financing represents securitization financing that is payable solely from loans and securities pledged as collateral. Payments due by period were estimated based on the principal repayments forecasted for the underlying loans and securities, substantially all of which is used to repay the associated financing outstanding.

Other Matters

As of September 30, 2016, we do not believe that any off-balance sheet arrangements exist that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our current or future financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. In addition, we do not have any material commitments for capital expenditures and have not obtained any commitments for funds to fulfill any capital obligations.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
There are no recently issued accounting pronouncements which have had or are currently expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Please refer to Note 1 to the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part 1, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding recently issued accounting pronouncements.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
Certain written statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not historical facts constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the 1933 Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act . Statements in this report addressing expectations, assumptions, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, future events, developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, and future operating results are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs, assumptions, and expectations as of the date of this report regarding future events and operating performance, taking into account all information currently available to us, and are applicable only as of the date of this report. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of words such as “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “plan” “may”, “will”, “intend”, “should”, “could” or similar expressions. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which are not historical facts and may be based on projections, assumptions, expectations, and anticipated events that do not materialize. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to, and do not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may include, but are not limited to:

Our business and investment strategy including our ability to generate acceptable risk-adjusted returns and our target investment allocations;
Monetary policy, including targeted rates and economic indicators, and regulatory initiatives of the Federal Reserve (including the FOMC) and other financial regulators;
Our financing strategy including our target leverage ratios and anticipated trends in financing costs, and our hedging strategy including changes to the derivative instruments to which we are a party, and changes to government regulation of hedging instruments and our use of these instruments;
Our investment portfolio composition and target investments;
Our investment portfolio performance, including the fair value, yields, and forecasted prepayment speeds of our investments;
Our liquidity and ability to access financing, and the anticipated availability and cost of financing;
Our stock repurchase activity and the impact of stock repurchases;
Our use of and restrictions on using our tax NOL carryforward;
The status of pending litigation;
The competitive environment in the future, including competition for investments and the availability of financing;
Estimates of future interest expenses, including related to the Company's repurchase agreements and derivative instruments;
The status of regulatory rule-making or review processes and the status of reform efforts and other business developments in the repurchase agreement financing market;
Market, industry and economic trends, how these trends and related economic data may impact the behavior of market participants and financial regulators; and

47


Interest rates.

Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Not all of these risks and other factors are known to us. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible to predict those events or how they may affect us. The projections, assumptions, expectations or beliefs upon which the forward-looking statements are based can also change as a result of these risks or other factors.  If such a risk or other factor materializes in future periods, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements.

While it is not possible to identify all factors, some of the factors that may cause actual results to differ from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, or that may cause our projections, assumptions, expectations or beliefs to change, include the following:

the risks and uncertainties referenced in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, particularly those set forth under and incorporated by reference into Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors”
our ability to find suitable reinvestment opportunities;
changes in economic conditions;
changes in interest rates and interest rate spreads, including the repricing of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities;
our investment portfolio performance particularly as it relates to cash flow, prepayment rates and credit performance;
actual or anticipated changes in Federal Reserve monetary policy;
adverse reactions in financial markets related to the budget deficit or national debt of the United States government; potential or actual default by the United States government on Treasury securities; and potential or actual downgrades to the sovereign credit rating of the United States;
the cost and availability of financing, including the future availability of financing due to changes to regulation of, and capital requirements imposed upon, financial institutions;
the cost and availability of new equity capital;
changes in our use of leverage;
changes to our investment strategy, operating policies, dividend policy or asset allocations;
the quality of performance of third-party servicer providers of our loans and loans underlying our securities;
the level of defaults by borrowers on loans we have securitized;
changes in our industry;
increased competition;
changes in government regulations affecting our business;
changes in the repurchase agreement financing markets and other credit markets;
changes to the market for interest rate swaps and other derivative instruments, including changes to margin requirements on derivative instruments;
government initiatives to support the U.S financial system and U.S. housing and real estate markets; or to reform the U.S. housing finance system including by imposing standards for originating residential mortgage loans;
GSE reform or other government policies and actions;
ownership shifts under Section 382 that further limit the use of our tax NOL carryforward; and
exposure to current and future claims and litigation.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We seek to manage various risks inherent in our business strategy, which include interest rate, prepayment, reinvestment, market value, credit, and liquidity risks. These risks can and do cause fluctuations in our net income, other comprehensive income, and book value. We attempt to manage these risks and earn an acceptable return for our shareholders as discussed below.


48


Interest Rate Risk

Investing in interest-rate sensitive investments on a leveraged basis subjects our results to interest rate risk primarily from the mismatch between interest-rate reset dates or maturity of our assets and the reset-dates or maturity of our liabilities. Borrowing costs on our liabilities are generally based on prevailing market rates and reset more frequently than interest rates on our assets. While having interest rate risk is a basic tenet of our investment strategy, we attempt to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates by investing in instruments that have short maturities/interest reset dates, entering into derivative instruments (such as interest rate swaps and Eurodollar futures) to hedge this risk and by managing our investment portfolio within interest rate risk tolerances set by our Board of Directors. Our current goal is to maintain net portfolio duration (a measure of interest rate risk) within a range of 0.5 to 1.5 years. Our portfolio duration may drift outside of this target range at various times based on the composition of our investment portfolio including derivative instruments, and in light of our expectations with respect to interest rates and FOMC monetary policy. In addition, duration is driven by model inputs, and in the case of Agency RMBS, the most important inputs include anticipated prepayment speeds. Estimates of prepayment speeds can vary significantly by investor for the same security and therefore estimates of security and portfolio duration can vary significantly.

During a period of rising interest rates (particularly short term rates in a flattening yield curve environment), our borrowing costs will increase faster than our asset yields, negatively impacting our net interest income. The amount of the impact will depend on the composition of portfolio and on the effectiveness of our hedging instruments at the time, as well as the magnitude and the duration of the increase in interest rates. In addition, our Agency RMBS reset based on one-year LIBOR and have limits or caps on the initial, aggregate, or periodic amount that an interest rate may reset while our liabilities do not have interest rate reset caps. As of September 30, 2016, we had a positive net duration gap in our investment portfolio, which means our liabilities mature or reset sooner than our investments, and we had not fully hedged this difference with derivative instruments. Therefore, increases in interest rates, particularly rapid changes, will negatively impact the market value of our investments, thereby reducing our book value. In addition to the information set forth in the tables below, see "Market Value Risk" below for further discussion of the risks to the market value of our investments. For further discussion of the reset features of our hybrid ARMs, please refer to "Financial Condition-RMBS" within Part 1, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Effect of Changes in Interest Rates on Adjusted Net Interest Income and Market Value. The table below shows the projected sensitivity of our adjusted net interest income and the market value of our investments and derivative instruments carried at fair value as they existed as of September 30, 2016 based on an instantaneous parallel shift in market interest rates as set forth in the table below. In light of the low interest rate environment at September 30, 2016, the only declining rate scenario that we present is a downward shift of 25 basis points. In order to include the impact of changes in interest rates on our effective derivative instruments, we are presenting the percentage change in adjusted net interest income (instead of net interest income) because net interest income does not include the net interest payments/receipts on these instruments.

The "percentage change in adjusted net interest income" includes the impact of changes in expected prepayment speeds on our investments and assumes that net proceeds received from pay downs on the investment portfolio are reinvested in MBS in amounts proportionate to the portfolio composition that existed as of September 30, 2016 and at yields consistent with those as of that date, adjusted for the parallel shift in the rates below. Changes in types of investments, the returns earned on these investments, future interest rates, credit spreads, the shape of the yield curve, the availability of financing, and/or the mix of our investments and financings including derivative instruments may cause actual results to differ significantly from the modeled results. There can be no assurance that assumed events used for the model below will occur, or that other events will not occur, that will affect the outcomes; therefore, the tables below and all related disclosures constitute forward-looking statements.
Parallel Shift in Interest Rates
 
Percentage change in market value (1)
 
Percentage change in adjusted net interest income
+100
 
(1.4)%
 
(35.3)%
+50
 
(0.6)%
 
(17.2)%
-25
 
0.3%
 
7.2%

49


(1)
Includes changes in market value of our investments and derivative instruments, but excludes changes in market value of our financings because they are not carried at fair value on our balance sheet. The projections for market value do not assume any change in credit spreads.

Management also considers changes in the shape of the interest rate curves in assessing and managing portfolio interest rate risk. Often interest rates do not move in a parallel fashion from quarter to quarter. The table below shows the projected change in market value of our investment portfolio net of derivative hedge instruments for instantaneous changes in the shape of the U.S. Treasury ("UST") curve (with similar changes to the interest rate swap and Eurodollar curves) as of September 30, 2016.
Basis point change in
 2-year UST
 
Basis point change in
 10-year UST
 
Percentage change in market value (1)
0
 
+25
 
0.05%
+10
 
+50
 
(0.02)%
+25
 
+75
 
(0.16)%
+25
 
+0
 
(0.25)%
+50
 
+0
 
(0.49)%
-10
 
-50
 
(0.01)%
(1)
Includes changes in market value of our investments and derivative instruments, but excludes changes in market value of our financings because they are not carried at fair value on our balance sheet. The projections for market value do not assume any change in credit spreads.

As shown in the table above, our interest rate exposure is more concentrated in the 2-year part of the UST curve versus the 10-year UST consistent with our hedge position after the terminations of derivative instruments during the second quarter of 2016. In the case of a downward shift of 10 basis points in the 2-year yield and a downward shift of 50 basis points in 10-year yield leads to a projected decrease in our aggregate market value of (0.01)% because as the yield curve flattens, the negative impact of faster prepayments on our RMBS outstrips the benefit of lower interest rates on our long duration position.

 
Market Value Risk

Our investments fluctuate in market value due to changes in credit spreads, spot and forward interest rates, actual and anticipated prepayments and other factors. Changes in the market values of our investments are reflected in other comprehensive income, shareholders' equity, and book value per common share. Changes in credit spreads represent the market's valuation of the perceived riskiness of assets relative to risk-free rates, and widening credit spreads reduces the market value of our investments as market participants require additional yield to hold riskier assets. Credit spreads could change based on macroeconomic or systemic factors as well as the factors specific to a particular security such as prepayment performance or credit performance. Other factors that could impact credit spreads include technical issues such as supply and demand for a particular type of security or FOMC monetary policy. Likewise, most of our investments are fixed rate or reset in rate over a period of time, and as interest rates rise, we would expect the market value of these investments to decrease. We use derivative instruments to hedge our exposure to rising interest rates, though often not on a one-to-one basis. We do not seek to hedge our exposure to credit spreads, prepayments or other factors other than through asset selection.

Fluctuations in credit spreads typically vary based on the type of investment. In general, Agency MBS credit spreads experience less volatility than non-Agency MBS credit spreads. This is due to the fact that market participants generally view Agency MBS, given their guarantee of principal by GSEs, as more liquid (i.e., more easily converted into cash) than non-Agency MBS.

The table below is an estimate of the projected change in our portfolio market value given the indicated change in market credit spreads as of September 30, 2016:

50


Basis Point Change in Market Credit Spreads
 
Percentage change in market value of investments
+50
 
(1.9)%
+25
 
(1.0)%
-25
 
1.0%
-50
 
2.0%

Prepayment and Reinvestment Risk

Prepayment risk is the risk of an early, unscheduled return of principal on an investment. We are subject to prepayment risk from premiums paid on investments which we acquire. Purchase premiums on our investments are amortized as a reduction in interest income using the effective yield method under GAAP. Principal prepayments on our investments are influenced by changes in market interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic, government policy and other factors beyond our control.

We have prepayment risk for all of our investments which we own at a premium to their par value. The majority of the loans underlying our RMBS are ARMs or hybrid ARMs and do not have any specific prepayment protection. Prepayments on these loans generally accelerate in a declining interest rate environment, as the loans age, and as the loans near their respective interest rate reset dates, particularly the initial reset date. Our prepayment models anticipate acceleration of prepayments in these events. To the extent the actual prepayments exceed our modeled prepayments, or if we change our future prepayment expectations, we will record adjustments to our premium amortization which may negatively impact our net interest income and could impact the fair value of our RMBS.

As an indication of our prepayment risk on our RMBS portfolio, the following table summarizes information for our Agency RMBS portfolio regarding the net premium and weighted average coupon by months until interest rate reset ("MTR") or until maturity in the case of fixed-rate securities as of the end of the past four quarters:     
 
September 30, 2016
 
June 30, 2016
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
($ in thousands)
Net Premium
 
WAC
 
Net Premium
 
WAC
 
Net Premium
 
WAC
 
Net Premium
 
WAC
0-12 MTR
$
18,536

 
3.13%
 
$
18,456

 
3.05%
 
$
14,715

 
2.65%
 
$
18,098

 
2.75%
13-36 MTR
15,545

 
3.17%
 
17,910

 
3.21%
 
24,000

 
3.32%
 
23,401

 
3.47%
37-60 MTR
9,536

 
3.60%
 
6,141

 
3.61%
 
3,630

 
3.68%
 
4,202

 
2.97%
> 60 MTR
17,524

 
2.77%
 
23,051

 
2.87%
 
27,911

 
2.91%
 
31,924

 
2.95%
Fixed rate

 
—%
 

 
—%
 

 
—%
 
(8
)
 
2.50%
Total
$
61,141

 
3.04%
 
$
65,558

 
3.01%
 
$
70,256

 
3.01%
 
$
77,617

 
3.03%
Par balance
$
1,239,856

 
 
 
$
1,329,159

 
 
 
$
1,423,270

 
 
 
$
1,536,733

 
 
Premium, net as a % of par value
4.9
%
 
 
 
4.9
%
 
 
 
4.9
%
 
 
 
5.1
%
 
 

Loans underlying our CMBS and CMBS IO securities typically have some form of prepayment protection provisions (such as prepayment lock-outs) or prepayment compensation provisions (such as yield maintenance or prepayment penalties). Yield maintenance and prepayment penalty requirements are intended to create an economic disincentive for the loans to prepay; however, the amount of the prepayment penalty required to be paid may decline over time, and as loans age, interest rates decline, or market values of collateral supporting the loans increase, prepayment penalties may lessen as an economic disincentive to the borrower. Generally, our experience has been that prepayment lock-out and yield maintenance provisions result in stable prepayment performance from period to period. There are no prepayment protections, however, if the loan defaults and is partially or wholly repaid earlier as a result of loss mitigation actions taken by the underlying loan servicer. Historically, we have experienced low default rates on loans underlying CMBS and CMBS IO.

Because CMBS IO consist of rights to interest on the underlying commercial mortgage loan pools and do not have rights to principal payments on the underlying loans, prepayment risk on these securities would be particularly acute without

51


these prepayment protection provisions. CMBS IO prepayment protection and compensation provisions vary by issuer of the security (i.e. Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Ginnie Mae, or non-Agency). The majority of our Agency CMBS IO are issued by Freddie Mac and these securities generally have initial prepayment lock-outs followed by a defeasance period which on average extends to within six months of the stated maturities of the underlying loans. Non-Agency CMBS IO generally have prepayment protection in the form of prepayment lock-outs and defeasance provisions. The following table details the fair value of our CMBS IO portfolio by issuer as of the end of the periods indicated:
($ in thousands)
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Fannie Mae
$
21,093

 
$
24,177

Freddie Mac
373,333

 
401,951

Non-Agency CMBS IO
348,797

 
363,727

 
$
743,223

 
$
789,855


We seek to manage our prepayment risk on our MBS by diversifying our investments, seeking investments which we believe will have superior prepayment performance, and investing in securities which have some sort of prepayment prohibition or yield maintenance (as is the case with CMBS and CMBS IO). With respect to RMBS, we will seek to invest in RMBS where we believe the underlying loans have favorable prepayment characteristics such as lower loan balances or favorable origination, borrower or geographic characteristics.

We are also subject to reinvestment risk as a result of the prepayment, repayment and sales of our investments. In order to maintain our investment portfolio size and our earnings, we need to reinvest capital received from these events into new interest-earning assets. If we are unable to find suitable reinvestment opportunities, interest income on our investment portfolio and investment cash flows could be negatively impacted. Yields on assets in which we have reinvested in recent periods have generally been lower than yields on existing assets due to lower overall interest rates and more competition for these as investment assets. As a result, our interest income has declined in recent periods and may continue to decline in the future. In addition, based on market conditions, our leverage, and our liquidity profile, we may decide to not reinvest the cash flows we receive from our investment portfolio even when attractive reinvestment opportunities are available, or we may decide to reinvest in assets with lower yield but greater liquidity. If we retain rather than reinvest capital as in the first six months of 2016, or if we invest it in lower yielding assets for liquidity reasons, the size of our investment portfolio and the amount of net interest income generated by our investment portfolio will likely decline.
 
Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk that we will not receive all contractual amounts due on investments that we own due to default by the borrower or due to a deficiency in proceeds from the liquidation of the collateral securing the obligation. We are also particularly exposed to credit risk on investments that we own at a premium. For investments owned at premiums, defaults on the underlying loan typically result in the complete loss of any remaining unamortized premium we paid.

We attempt to mitigate our credit risk by purchasing Agency MBS and higher quality non-Agency MBS. Agency MBS have credit risk to the extent that Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac fails to remit payments on the MBS for which they have issued a guaranty of payment. Given the improved financial performance and conservatorship of these entities and the continued support of the U.S. government, we believe this risk is low. For our non-Agency MBS, we seek to purchase investment grade securities (rated 'BBB' or better by a least one of the nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations) or securities that we believe are short-duration and which will have strong credit performance. We do not currently seek to purchase heavily discounted, credit sensitive MBS.

The majority of our non-Agency securities are CMBS and CMBS IO. The return we earn on these securities is dependent on the credit performance of the underlying commercial loans. In particular, since investments in CMBS IO pay interest from the underlying commercial mortgage loan pools, returns are more negatively impacted by liquidations of loans in the underlying loan pool.


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In order to manage our exposure to credit performance, we generally invest in securities with higher credit ratings and in securities where we have evaluated the credit profile of the underlying loan pool and can monitor its credit performance. With respect to non-Agency RMBS, our purchases have been very short duration MBS backed by pools of re-performing or non-performing loans.

The following table presents information on our non-Agency MBS by credit rating as of September 30, 2016:
 
September 30, 2016
($ in thousands)
CMBS
 
 CMBS IO
 
RMBS
 
Total
 
Percentage
AAA
$
37,455

 
$
293,363

 
$

 
$
330,818

 
69.9
%
AA
14,155

 
49,663

 

 
63,818

 
13.5
%
A
19,950

 

 

 
19,950

 
4.2
%
Below A or not rated
11,212

 
5,771

 
41,550

 
58,533

 
12.4
%
 
$
82,772

 
$
348,797

 
$
41,550

 
$
473,119

 
100.0
%


 Liquidity Risk

We have liquidity risk principally from the use of recourse repurchase agreements to finance our ownership of securities. In general, our repurchase agreements provide a source of uncommitted short-term financing that finances a longer-term asset, thereby creating a mismatch between the maturity of the asset and of the associated financing. Our repurchase agreements are renewable at the discretion of our lenders and do not contain guaranteed roll-over terms. If we fail to repay the lender at maturity, the lender has the right to immediately sell the collateral and pursue us for any shortfall if the sales proceeds are inadequate to cover the repurchase agreement financing. In addition, repurchase agreements are collateral based and declines in the market value of our investments subject us to liquidity risk.

For further information, including how we attempt to mitigate liquidity risk and monitor our liquidity position, please refer to “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Part 1, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure controls and procedures.

Our management evaluated, with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2016 to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting.

Our management is also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended September 30, 2016 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION


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ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various legal proceedings. Although the ultimate outcome of these legal proceedings cannot be ascertained at this time, and the results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company believes, based on current knowledge, that the resolution of any of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or liquidity. However, the resolution of any of the proceedings could have a material impact on consolidated results of operations or cash flows in a given future reporting period as the proceedings are resolved.

There have been no material changes during the three months ended September 30, 2016 with regard to the legal proceedings involving a former affiliate of the Company, Dynex Commercial, Inc. (also known as DCI Commercial, Inc.) (“DCI”) discussed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 and which are continuing against DCI.

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

Risks and uncertainties identified in our forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q together with those previously disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 or those that are presently unforeseen could result in significant adverse effects on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.  See “Forward-Looking Statements” contained in Part I, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as well as Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.


ITEM 2.    UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company has been authorized by its Board of Directors to repurchase up to $50 million of its outstanding shares of common stock through December 31, 2016. Subject to applicable securities laws and the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock designation and the Series B Preferred Stock designation, both of which are contained in our Articles of Incorporation, future repurchases of common stock will be made at times and in amounts as the Company deems appropriate, provided that the repurchase price per share is less than the Company's estimate of the current net book value of a share of common stock. Repurchases may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

There were no repurchases of the Company's common stock during the three months ended September 30, 2016.

ITEM 3.    DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4.    MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
        
None.

ITEM 5.    OTHER INFORMATION

None.


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ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
Description
3.1
Restated Articles of Incorporation, effective June 2, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Dynex's Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed September 17, 2014).
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws, adopted as of May 17, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Dynex’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 5, 2016).
31.1
Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

31.2
Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

32.1
Certification of principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

101
The following materials from Dynex Capital, Inc.'s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2016, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language), filed herewith: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited), (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited), (iii) Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity (unaudited), (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited), and (v) Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.
    



55


SIGNATURES
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
November 7, 2016
/s/ Byron L. Boston
 
 
Byron L. Boston
 
 
Chief Executive Officer, President,
 
 
Co-Chief Investment Officer, and Director
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
Date:
November 7, 2016
/s/ Stephen J. Benedetti
 
 
Stephen J. Benedetti
 
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)