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FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORP - Quarter Report: 2015 September (Form 10-Q)

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2015

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

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015
Commission File Number 001-14951 
 ____________________________________________________________

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Federally chartered instrumentality
of the United States
 
52-1578738
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. employer identification number)
 
 
 
1999 K Street, N.W., 4th Floor,
Washington, D.C.
 
20006
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip code)
(202) 872-7700
(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.  (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
o
Accelerated filer
x
Non-accelerated filer
o
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
As of November 2, 2015, the registrant had outstanding 1,030,780 shares of Class A Voting Common Stock, 500,301 shares of Class B Voting Common Stock and 9,347,047 shares of Class C Non-Voting Common Stock.



Table of Contents
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


2

Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1. Financial Statements



3

Table of Contents

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
 
As of
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,516,536

 
$
1,363,387

Investment securities:
 

 
 

Available-for-sale, at fair value
2,031,629

 
1,938,499

Trading, at fair value
550

 
689

Total investment securities
2,032,179

 
1,939,188

Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 

 
 

Available-for-sale, at fair value
4,156,670

 
3,659,281

Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost
1,276,153

 
1,794,620

Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
5,432,823

 
5,453,901

USDA Securities:
 

 
 

Available-for-sale, at fair value
1,854,422

 
1,731,222

Trading, at fair value
31,936

 
40,310

Total USDA Securities
1,886,358

 
1,771,532

Loans:
 

 
 

Loans held for investment, at amortized cost
3,148,742

 
2,833,461

Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, at amortized cost
612,567

 
692,478

Allowance for loan losses
(4,775
)
 
(5,864
)
Total loans, net of allowance
3,756,534

 
3,520,075

Real estate owned, at lower of cost or fair value
1,402

 
421

Financial derivatives, at fair value
7,027

 
4,177

Interest receivable (includes $4,626 and $9,509, respectively, related to consolidated trusts)
73,963

 
106,874

Guarantee and commitment fees receivable
40,160

 
39,462

Deferred tax asset, net
48,409

 
33,391

Prepaid expenses and other assets
58,454

 
55,413

Total Assets
$
14,853,845

 
$
14,287,821

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Equity:
 

 
 

Liabilities:
 

 
 

Notes payable:
 

 
 

Due within one year
$
8,280,087

 
$
7,353,953

Due after one year
5,217,307

 
5,471,186

Total notes payable
13,497,394

 
12,825,139

Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties
612,994

 
424,214

Financial derivatives, at fair value
94,880

 
84,844

Accrued interest payable (includes $3,750 and $5,145, respectively, related to consolidated trusts)
37,830

 
48,355

Guarantee and commitment obligation
38,253

 
37,925

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
26,450

 
81,252

Reserve for losses
5,498

 
4,263

Total Liabilities
14,313,299

 
13,505,992

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6)


 


Equity:
 

 
 

Preferred stock:
 

 
 

Series A, par value $25 per share, 2,400,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding
58,333

 
58,333

Series B, par value $25 per share, 3,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding
73,044

 
73,044

      Series C, par value $25 per share, 3,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding
73,382

 
73,382

Common stock:
 

 
 

Class A Voting, $1 par value, no maximum authorization, 1,030,780 shares outstanding
1,031

 
1,031

Class B Voting, $1 par value, no maximum authorization, 500,301 shares outstanding
500

 
500

Class C Non-Voting, $1 par value, no maximum authorization, 9,412,379 shares and 9,406,267 shares outstanding, respectively
9,412

 
9,406

Additional paid-in capital
117,077

 
113,559

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax
(17,814
)
 
15,533

Retained earnings
225,386

 
201,013

Total Stockholders' Equity
540,351

 
545,801

Non-controlling interest
195

 
236,028

Total Equity
540,546

 
781,829

Total Liabilities and Equity
$
14,853,845

 
$
14,287,821

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.




4

Table of Contents

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments and cash equivalents
$
3,185

 
$
4,507

 
$
9,144

 
$
14,845

Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities
34,002

 
32,532

 
101,608

 
98,335

Loans
29,731

 
26,371

 
86,509

 
67,157

Total interest income
66,918

 
63,410

 
197,261

 
180,337

Total interest expense
34,735

 
48,886

 
102,425

 
126,114

Net interest income
32,183

 
14,524

 
94,836

 
54,223

Release of/(provision for) allowance for loan losses
1,164

 
(511
)
 
978

 
499

Net interest income after release of/(provision for) allowance for loan losses
33,347

 
14,013

 
95,814

 
54,722

Non-interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guarantee and commitment fees
3,532

 
3,644

 
10,297

 
11,131

(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities
(9,568
)
 
808

 
939

 
(12,468
)
(Losses)/gains on trading securities
(8
)
 
16,369

 
524

 
24,772

Gains/(losses) on sale of available-for-sale investment securities
3

 
(396
)
 
9

 
(238
)
(Losses)/gains on sale of real estate owned

 

 
(1
)
 
165

Other income
1,060

 
502

 
1,933

 
794

Non-interest (loss)/income
(4,981
)
 
20,927

 
13,701

 
24,156

Non-interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and employee benefits
5,236

 
4,693

 
16,662

 
14,038

General and administrative
3,676

 
3,123

 
9,873

 
9,205

Regulatory fees
600

 
593

 
1,800

 
1,781

Real estate owned operating costs, net
48

 
1

 
47

 
62

Provision for/(release of) reserve for losses
861

 
(1,315
)
 
1,235

 
(2,188
)
Non-interest expense
10,421

 
7,095

 
29,617

 
22,898

Income before income taxes
17,945

 
27,845

 
79,898

 
55,980

Income tax expense
6,327

 
7,564

 
24,327

 
55

Net income
11,618

 
20,281

 
55,571

 
55,925

Less: Net loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest
36

 
(5,412
)
 
(5,199
)
 
(16,778
)
Net income attributable to Farmer Mac
11,654

 
14,869

 
50,372

 
39,147

Preferred stock dividends
(3,295
)
 
(3,283
)
 
(9,886
)
 
(6,543
)
Loss on retirement of preferred stock

 

 
(8,147
)
 

Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
8,359

 
$
11,586

 
$
32,339

 
$
32,604

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share and dividends:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share
$
0.76

 
$
1.06

 
$
2.94

 
$
2.99

Diluted earnings per common share
$
0.74

 
$
1.02

 
$
2.85

 
$
2.87

Common stock dividends per common share
$
0.16

 
$
0.14

 
$
0.48

 
$
0.42

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


5

Table of Contents

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(unaudited)
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
(in thousands)
Net income
$
11,618

 
$
20,281

 
$
55,571

 
$
55,925

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized holding (losses)/gains on available-for-sale securities(1)
(34,846
)
 
2,070

 
(21,790
)
 
46,612

Unrealized (losses)/gains on cash flow hedges(2)
(2,077
)
 
30

 
(1,308
)
 
(99
)
Less reclassification adjustments included in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities(3)
(3,275
)
 
(3,131
)
 
(9,654
)
 
(9,338
)
Gains/(losses) on sale of available-for-sale investment securities(4)
(2
)
 
258

 
(6
)
 
155

Other income(5)
(347
)
 
(70
)
 
(589
)
 
(48
)
Other comprehensive loss
(40,547
)
 
(843
)
 
(33,347
)
 
37,282

Comprehensive (loss)/income
(28,929
)
 
19,438

 
22,224

 
93,207

Less: Comprehensive loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest
36

 
(5,412
)
 
(5,199
)
 
(16,778
)
Comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Farmer Mac
$
(28,893
)
 
$
14,026

 
$
17,025

 
$
76,429

(1) 
Presented net of income tax benefit of $18.8 million and expense of $1.1 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and income tax benefit of $11.7 million and expense of $25.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
(2) 
Presented net of income tax benefit of $1.1 million and expense of $16,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and income tax benefit of $0.7 million and $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
(3) 
Relates to the amortization of the unrealized gains on the hedged items prior to application of hedge accounting. Presented net of income tax benefit of $1.8 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and tax benefit of $5.2 million and $5.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
(4) 
Represents realized gains on sales of available-for-sale investment securities. Presented net of income tax benefit of $1,000 and expense of $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and income tax benefit of $3,000 and expense of $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
(5) 
Represents amortization of deferred gains related to certain available-for-sale USDA Securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities. Presented net of income tax benefit of $0.2 million and $38,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and income tax benefit of $0.3 million and $26,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


6

Table of Contents

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(unaudited)
  
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
(in thousands)
Preferred stock:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
8,400

 
$
204,759

 
2,400

 
$
58,333

Issuance of Series B preferred stock

 

 
3,000

 
73,061

Issuance of Series C preferred stock

 

 
3,000

 
$
73,379

Balance, end of period
8,400

 
$
204,759

 
8,400

 
$
204,773

Common stock:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance, beginning of period
10,937

 
$
10,937

 
10,886

 
$
10,886

Issuance of Class C common stock
110

 
110

 
50

 
50

Repurchase of Class C common stock
(104
)
 
(104
)
 

 

Balance, end of period
10,943

 
$
10,943

 
10,936

 
$
10,936

Additional paid-in capital:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance, beginning of period
 

 
$
113,559

 
 

 
$
110,722

Stock-based compensation expense
 

 
2,457

 
 

 
2,182

Issuance of Class C common stock
 

 
10

 
 

 
16

Stock-based award activity
 

 
1,051

 
 

 
(59
)
Balance, end of period
  

 
$
117,077

 
  

 
$
112,861

Retained earnings:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance, beginning of period
 

 
$
201,013

 
 

 
$
168,877

Net income attributable to Farmer Mac
 

 
50,372

 
 

 
39,147

Cash dividends:
 

 


 
 
 


Preferred stock, Series A ($1.1016 per share in 2015 and 2014)
 
 
(2,644
)
 
 
 
(2,644
)
Preferred stock, Series B ($1.2891 per share in 2015 and $0.8330 per share in 2014)
 
 
(3,867
)
 
 
 
(2,649
)
Preferred stock, Series C ($1.1250 per share in 2015 and $0.4167 per share in 2014)
 
 
(3,375
)
 
 
 
(1,250
)
Common stock ($0.48 per share in 2015 and $0.42 per share in 2014)
 

 
(5,280
)
 
 

 
(4,584
)
Repurchase of Class C common stock
 
 
(2,686
)
 
 
 

Loss on retirement of preferred stock, Farmer Mac II LLC
 
 
(8,147
)
 
 

 

Balance, end of period
 

 
$
225,386

 
 

 
$
196,897

Accumulated other comprehensive income:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance, beginning of period
 

 
$
15,533

 
 

 
$
(16,202
)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 

 
(33,347
)
 
 

 
37,282

Balance, end of period
 

 
$
(17,814
)
 
 

 
$
21,080

Total Stockholders' Equity
 

 
$
540,351

 
 

 
$
546,547

Non-controlling interest:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance, beginning of period
 

 
$
236,028

 
 

 
$
241,853

Redemption of Farmer Mac II LLC preferred stock
 
 
(235,853
)
 
 
 
(6,000
)
Investment in Contour - non-controlling interest
 
 
175

 
 
 

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
 
 
(155
)
 
 
 

Balance, end of period
 

 
$
195

 
 

 
$
235,853

Total Equity
 
 
$
540,546

 
 

 
$
782,400

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


7

Table of Contents

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
(in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
55,571

 
$
55,925

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 

Net amortization of deferred gains, premiums, and discounts on loans, investments, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, and USDA Securities
2,199

 
16,624

Amortization of debt premiums, discounts and issuance costs
9,601

 
7,384

Net change in fair value of trading securities, hedged assets, and financial derivatives
(8,705
)
 
3,537

(Gains)/losses on sale of available-for-sale investment securities
(9
)
 
238

Losses/(gains) on sale of real estate owned
1

 
(165
)
Total provision for/(release of) losses
257

 
(2,687
)
Deferred income taxes
2,182

 
(16,340
)
Stock-based compensation expense
2,457

 
2,183

Proceeds from repayment of trading investment securities
544

 
541

Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for sale
82,864

 
95,194

Net change in:
 
 
 
Interest receivable
32,911

 
43,124

Guarantee and commitment fees receivable
(698
)
 
381

Other assets
(2,369
)
 
(19,179
)
Securities sold, not yet purchased

 
1,657,901

Accrued interest payable
(10,525
)
 
(18,919
)
Other liabilities
(864
)
 
4,910

Net cash provided by operating activities
165,417

 
1,830,652

Cash flows from investing activities:
 

 
 

Net change in securities purchased under agreements to resell

 
(1,630,427
)
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities
(1,282,474
)
 
(1,171,063
)
Purchases of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities
(1,093,737
)
 
(1,074,019
)
Purchases of loans held for investment
(565,829
)
 
(567,774
)
Purchases of defaulted loans
(2,244
)
 
(440
)
Proceeds from repayment of available-for-sale investment securities
1,111,093

 
894,475

Proceeds from repayment of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities
901,327

 
1,098,901

Proceeds from repayment of loans purchased as held for investment
248,989

 
303,905

Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investment securities
83,735

 
770,149

Proceeds from sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
231,242

 
169,820

(Payments)/proceeds from sale of real estate owned
(1
)
 
1,224

Net cash used in investing activities
(367,899
)
 
(1,205,249
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 

 
 

Proceeds from issuance of discount notes
68,066,267

 
32,008,889

Proceeds from issuance of medium-term notes
3,406,037

 
2,644,707

Payments to redeem discount notes
(66,933,948
)
 
(33,360,658
)
Payments to redeem medium-term notes
(3,875,715
)
 
(2,121,000
)
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based awards
154

 
57

Payments to third parties on debt securities of consolidated trusts
(42,449
)
 
(34,080
)
Proceeds from common stock issuance
1,685

 
209

Proceeds from Series B Preferred stock issuance

 
73,061

Proceeds from Series C Preferred stock issuance

 
73,379

Common stock repurchased
(1,994
)
 

Investment in Contour
175

 

Redemption of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock
(244,000
)
 
(6,000
)
Dividends paid - Non-controlling interest - preferred stock
(5,415
)
 
(16,778
)
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock
(15,166
)
 
(8,832
)
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities
355,631

 
(747,046
)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
153,149

 
(121,643
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
1,363,387

 
749,313

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
1,516,536

 
$
627,670

 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.



8

Table of Contents

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

1.
ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The interim unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation ("Farmer Mac") and subsidiaries have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present a fair statement of the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows of Farmer Mac and subsidiaries for the interim periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual consolidated financial statements have been omitted as permitted by SEC rules and regulations. The December 31, 2014 consolidated balance sheet presented in this report has been derived from Farmer Mac's audited 2014 consolidated financial statements. Management believes that the disclosures are adequate to present fairly the consolidated financial statements as of the dates and for the periods presented. These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the 2014 consolidated financial statements of Farmer Mac and subsidiaries included in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015. That Form 10-K describes Farmer Mac's significant accounting policies, which include its policies on Principles of Consolidation; Cash and Cash Equivalents and Statements of Cash Flows; Transfers of Financial Assets and Liabilities; Investment Securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, and USDA Securities; Loans; Securitization of Loans; Real Estate Owned; Financial Derivatives; Notes Payable; Allowance for Loan Losses and Reserve for Losses; Earnings Per Common Share; Income Taxes; Stock-Based Compensation; Comprehensive Income; Long-Term Standby Purchase Commitments ("LTSPCs"); Fair Value Measurement; and Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs"). Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those that may be expected for the fiscal year. Presented below are Farmer Mac's significant accounting policies that contain updated information for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Farmer Mac and its three subsidiaries: (1) Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation ("FMMSC"), whose principal activities are to facilitate the purchase and issuance of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities; (2) Farmer Mac II LLC, whose principal activity is the operation of substantially all of the business related to the USDA Guarantees line of business – primarily the acquisition of USDA Securities; and (3) Contour Valuation Services, LLC, whose principal activity is to provide appraisal services related to agricultural real estate.  All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of VIEs in which Farmer Mac determined itself to be the primary beneficiary.  



9

Table of Contents

The following tables present, by line of business, details about the consolidation of VIEs:

Table 1.1
 
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities
 
As of September 30, 2015
 
Farm & Ranch
 
USDA Guarantees
 
Rural Utilities
 
Institutional Credit
 
Corporate
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
On-Balance Sheet:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, at amortized cost
$
612,567

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
612,567

Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties(1)
612,994

 

 

 

 

 
612,994

   Unconsolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Carrying value(2)

 
30,708

 

 
31,833

 

 
62,541

      Maximum exposure to loss(3)

 
31,218

 

 
30,000

 

 
61,218

   Investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        Carrying value(4)

 

 

 

 
539,828

 
539,828

        Maximum exposure to loss(3)(4)

 

 

 

 
538,462

 
538,462

Off-Balance Sheet:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Unconsolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Maximum exposure to loss(3)(5)
553,469

 
10,712

 

 
970,000

 

 
1,534,181

(1) 
Includes borrower remittances of $0.4 million which have not been passed through to third party investors as of September 30, 2015.
(2) 
Includes $0.5 million of unamortized premiums and discounts and fair value adjustments related to the USDA Guarantees line of business. Includes fair value adjustments related to the Institutional Credit line of business of $1.8 million.
(3) 
Farmer Mac uses unpaid principal balance and outstanding face amount of investment securities to represent maximum exposure to loss.
(4) 
Includes auction-rate certificates, asset-backed securities, and government-sponsored enterprise ("GSE")-guaranteed mortgage-backed securities.
(5) 
The amount under the Farm & Ranch line of business relates to unconsolidated trusts where Farmer Mac determined it was not the primary beneficiary due to shared power with an unrelated party.




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Table of Contents


 
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities
 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Farm & Ranch
 
USDA Guarantees
 
Rural Utilities
 
Institutional Credit
 
Corporate
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
On-Balance Sheet:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, at amortized cost(1)
$
421,355

 
$

 
$
271,123

 
$

 
$

 
$
692,478

Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties(2)
424,214

 

 

 

 

 
424,214

   Unconsolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Carrying value(3)

 
27,620

 

 
32,415

 

 
60,035

      Maximum exposure to loss(4)

 
27,832

 

 
30,000

 

 
57,832

   Investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        Carrying value(5)

 

 

 

 
409,657

 
409,657

        Maximum exposure to loss(4)(5)

 

 

 

 
412,690

 
412,690

Off-Balance Sheet:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Unconsolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Maximum exposure to loss(4)(6)
636,086

 
13,978

 

 
970,000

 

 
1,620,064

(1) 
Includes unamortized premiums related to the Rural Utilities line of business of $3.7 million.
(2) 
Includes borrower remittances of $2.9 million which have not been passed through to third party investors as of December 31, 2014.
(3) 
Includes $0.2 million of unamortized premiums and discounts and fair value adjustments related to the USDA Guarantees line of business. Includes fair value adjustments related to the Institutional Credit line of business of $2.4 million.
(4) 
Farmer Mac uses unpaid principal balance and the outstanding face amount of investment securities to represent maximum exposure to loss.
(5) 
Includes auction-rate certificates, asset-backed securities, and government-sponsored enterprise ("GSE")-guaranteed mortgage-backed securities.
(6) 
The amount under the Farm & Ranch line of business relates to unconsolidated trusts where Farmer Mac determined it was not the primary beneficiary due to shared power with an unrelated party.



(a)
Statements of Cash Flows

The following table sets forth information regarding certain non-cash transactions for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

Table 1.2

 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
(in thousands)
Non-cash activity:
 
 
 
Loans acquired and securitized as Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
$
231,242

 
$
169,820

Consolidation of Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities from off-balance sheet to loans held for investment in consolidated trusts and to debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties
231,242

 
172,268

Purchases of securities - traded, not yet settled
15,000

 

Issuance costs on the retirement of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock
8,147

 

Unsettled common stock repurchases
796

 

Transfers of available-for-sale Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities to held-to-maturity

 
1,612,086



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On January 1, 2014, Farmer Mac transferred $1.6 billion of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity because Farmer Mac determined it has the ability and intent to hold these securities until maturity or payoff. Farmer Mac transferred these securities at fair value which reflected an unrealized holding gain of $22.3 million. Farmer Mac accounts for held-to-maturity securities at amortized cost. The unrealized holding gain is being amortized out of accumulated other comprehensive income over the remaining life of the transferred securities.



12

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(b)
Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share ("EPS") is based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding.  Diluted earnings per common share is based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding adjusted to include all potentially dilutive common stock options, stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), and non-vested restricted stock awards.  The following schedule reconciles basic and diluted EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

Table 1.3

 
For the Three Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Net
Income
 
Weighted-Average Shares
 
$ per
Share
 
Net
Income
 
Weighted-Average Shares
 
$ per
Share
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic EPS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
8,359

 
11,028

 
$
0.76

 
$
11,586

 
10,930

 
$
1.06

Effect of dilutive securities(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Stock options, SARs and restricted stock

 
243

 
(0.02
)
 

 
442

 
(0.04
)
Diluted EPS
$
8,359

 
11,271

 
$
0.74

 
$
11,586

 
11,372

 
$
1.02

(1) 
For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, stock options and SARs of 476,699 and 118,583, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share of common stock because they were anti-dilutive. For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, contingent shares of non-vested restricted stock of 45,034 and 42,514, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share of common stock because performance conditions have not yet been met.



 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Net
Income
 
Weighted-Average Shares
 
$ per
Share
 
Net
Income
 
Weighted-Average Shares
 
$ per
Share
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic EPS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
32,339

 
10,992

 
$
2.94

 
$
32,604

 
10,914

 
$
2.99

Effect of dilutive securities(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Stock options, SARs and restricted stock

 
355

 
(0.09
)
 

 
446

 
(0.12
)
Diluted EPS
$
32,339

 
11,347

 
$
2.85

 
$
32,604

 
11,360

 
$
2.87

(1) 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, stock options and SARs of 302,598 and 91,011, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share of common stock because they were anti-dilutive. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, contingent shares of non-vested restricted stock of 40,194 and 38,874, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share of common stock because performance conditions have not yet been met.




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(c) New Accounting Standards

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, "Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis." This update modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are VIEs or voting interest entities and eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. It also affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships. ASU 2015-02 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of the new guidance will not have a material effect on Farmer Mac's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

(d)
Reclassifications

Beginning January 1, 2015, Farmer Mac classified all of the income from Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities that it holds in its portfolio as interest income. Prior to January 1, 2015, Farmer Mac classified a portion of the income from those securities, $2.5 million and $8.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, as guarantee and commitment fees. This change in classification does not affect the timing or amount of income recognized from these securities. The corresponding guarantee and commitment fee receivable balance as of December 31, 2014 also was reclassified to accrued interest receivable. Certain reclassifications of prior period information, including the aforementioned change, were made to conform to the current period presentation.




14

Table of Contents


2.
INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The following tables set forth information about Farmer Mac's investment securities as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
 
Table 2.1

 
As of September 30, 2015
 
Amount Outstanding
 
Unamortized Premium/(Discount)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Gains
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
(in thousands)
Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
$
46,500

 
$

 
$
46,500

 
$

 
$
(1,576
)
 
$
44,924

Floating rate asset-backed securities
81,868

 
(286
)
 
81,582

 
44

 
(508
)
 
81,118

Floating rate corporate debt securities
10,000

 

 
10,000

 

 
(9
)
 
9,991

Fixed rate corporate debt securities
10,000

 
(2
)
 
9,998

 
7

 

 
10,005

Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
856,089

 
3,717

 
859,806

 
3,588

 
(1,170
)
 
862,224

Fixed rate GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities(1)
728

 
3,223

 
3,951

 
4,022

 

 
7,973

Floating rate GSE subordinated debt
70,000

 

 
70,000

 

 
(3,888
)
 
66,112

Fixed rate senior agency debt
380,806

 
(103
)
 
380,703

 
83

 

 
380,786

Fixed rate U.S. Treasuries
568,194

 
130

 
568,324

 
172

 

 
568,496

Total available-for-sale
2,024,185

 
6,679

 
2,030,864

 
7,916

 
(7,151
)
 
2,031,629

Trading:
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Floating rate asset-backed securities
2,325

 

 
2,325

 

 
(1,775
)
 
550

Total investment securities
$
2,026,510

 
$
6,679

 
$
2,033,189

 
$
7,916

 
$
(8,926
)
 
$
2,032,179

(1)
Fair value includes $7.2 million of an interest-only security with a notional amount of $152.4 million.








15

Table of Contents

 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Amount Outstanding
 
Unamortized Premium/(Discount)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Gains
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
(in thousands)
Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
$
46,600

 
$

 
$
46,600

 
$

 
$
(6,024
)
 
$
40,576

Floating rate asset-backed securities
100,730

 
(74
)
 
100,656

 
283

 
(37
)
 
100,902

Floating rate corporate debt securities
10,000

 

 
10,000

 
91

 

 
10,091

Fixed rate corporate debt securities
30,000

 
(10
)
 
29,990

 
35

 

 
30,025

Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
605,053

 
3,431

 
608,484

 
4,712

 
(443
)
 
612,753

Fixed rate GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities(1)
853

 
3,542

 
4,395

 
3,807

 

 
8,202

Floating rate GSE subordinated debt
70,000

 

 
70,000

 

 
(3,680
)
 
66,320

Fixed rate senior agency debt
18,806

 
130

 
18,936

 
3

 

 
18,939

Floating rate U.S. Treasuries
75,000

 
(10
)
 
74,990

 

 
(11
)
 
74,979

Fixed rate U.S. Treasuries
975,194

 
462

 
975,656

 
72

 
(16
)
 
975,712

Total available-for-sale
1,932,236

 
7,471

 
1,939,707

 
9,003

 
(10,211
)
 
1,938,499

Trading:
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Floating rate asset-backed securities
2,868

 

 
2,868

 

 
(2,179
)
 
689

Total investment securities
$
1,935,104

 
$
7,471

 
$
1,942,575

 
$
9,003

 
$
(12,390
)
 
$
1,939,188

(1)
Fair value includes $7.3 million of an interest-only security with a notional amount of $152.4 million.

During the three months ended September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac received proceeds of $8.7 million from the sale of securities from its available-for-sale investment portfolio, resulting in realized gains of $0.1 million, compared to proceeds of $39.7 million for the same period in 2014, resulting in gross realized losses of $0.5 million and gross realized gains of $0.1 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac received proceeds of $83.7 million from the sale of securities from its available-for-sale investment portfolio, resulting in gross realized gains of $0.1 million, compared to proceeds of $770.1 million for the the nine months ended September 30, 2014, resulting in gross realized losses of $0.8 million and gross realized gains of $0.6 million. Farmer Mac also recognized $0.1 million in losses during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 related to other-than-temporary impairment on two auction-rate certificate securities. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac intends to sell these auction-rate certificate securities in fourth quarter 2015 at a price of 99.63 percent of par pursuant to a forward sales agreement.



16

Table of Contents

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, unrealized losses on available-for-sale investment securities were as follows:

Table 2.2

 
As of September 30, 2015
 
Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Unrealized loss position for
less than 12 months
 
Unrealized loss position for
more than 12 months
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
(in thousands)
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
$

 
$

 
$
18,124

 
$
(1,576
)
Floating rate asset-backed securities
25,391

 
(297
)
 
7,105

 
(211
)
Floating rate corporate debt securities
4,991

 
(9
)
 

 

Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
283,418

 
(679
)
 
93,530

 
(491
)
Floating rate GSE subordinated debt

 

 
66,112

 
(3,888
)
Total
$
313,800

 
$
(985
)
 
$
184,871

 
$
(6,166
)

 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Unrealized loss position for
less than 12 months
 
Unrealized loss position for
more than 12 months
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
(in thousands)
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
$

 
$

 
$
40,576

 
$
(6,024
)
Floating rate asset-backed securities
19,388

 
(37
)
 

 

Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
76,100

 
(164
)
 
76,867

 
(279
)
Floating rate GSE subordinated debt

 

 
66,320

 
(3,680
)
Floating rate U.S. Treasuries
74,980

 
(11
)
 

 

Fixed rate U.S. Treasuries
325,033

 
(16
)
 

 

Total
$
495,501

 
$
(228
)
 
$
183,763

 
$
(9,983
)

The unrealized losses presented above are principally due to a general widening of credit spreads from the dates of acquisition to September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, as applicable. The resulting decrease in fair values reflects an increase in the perceived risk by the financial markets related to those securities. As of September 30, 2015, all of the investment securities in an unrealized loss position either were backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government or had credit ratings of at least "AA+," except two that were rated "A-." As of December 31, 2014 , all of the investment securities in an unrealized loss position either were backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government or had credit ratings of at least "AA+," except one that was rated "A-." The unrealized losses were on 44 and 35 individual investment securities as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

As of September 30, 2015, 14 of the securities in loss positions had been in loss positions for more than 12 months and had a total unrealized loss of $6.2 million. As of December 31, 2014, 15 of the securities in loss positions had been in loss positions for more than 12 months and had a total unrealized loss of $10.0 million.  Securities in unrealized loss positions for 12 months or longer have a fair value as of


17

Table of Contents

September 30, 2015 that is, on average, approximately 97 percent of their amortized cost basis. Farmer Mac believes that all of these unrealized losses are recoverable within a reasonable period of time by way of maturity or changes in credit spreads. Accordingly, Farmer Mac has concluded that none of the unrealized losses on these available-for-sale investment securities represents other-than-temporary impairment as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Farmer Mac did not own any held-to-maturity investment securities as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac owned trading investment securities with an amortized cost of $2.3 million, a fair value of $0.6 million, and a weighted average yield of 4.29 percent. As of December 31, 2014, Farmer Mac owned trading investment securities with an amortized cost of $2.9 million, a fair value of $0.7 million, and a weighted average yield of 4.24 percent.

The amortized cost, fair value, and weighted average yield of available-for-sale investment securities by remaining contractual maturity as of September 30, 2015 are set forth below. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are included based on their final maturities, although the actual maturities may differ due to prepayments of the underlying assets.

Table 2.3

 
As of September 30, 2015
 
Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Weighted-
Average
Yield
 
(dollars in thousands)
Due within one year
$
959,025

 
$
959,287

 
0.27%
Due after one year through five years
94,816

 
95,302

 
1.17%
Due after five years through ten years
229,839

 
230,299

 
0.90%
Due after ten years
747,184

 
746,741

 
0.86%
Total
$
2,030,864

 
$
2,031,629

 
0.60%




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Table of Contents

3.
FARMER MAC GUARANTEED SECURITIES AND USDA SECURITIES

The following tables set forth information about on-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

Table 3.1

 
As of September 30, 2015
 
Unpaid Principal Balance
 
Unamortized Premium/(Discount)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Gains
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
(in thousands)
Held-to-maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AgVantage
$
1,275,549

 
$
604

 
$
1,276,153

 
$
15,137

 
$

 
$
1,291,290

Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AgVantage
$
4,162,940

 
$

 
$
4,162,940

 
$
37,899

 
$
(74,877
)
 
$
4,125,962

Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
31,218

 
(350
)
 
30,868

 
30

 
(190
)
 
30,708

Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
4,194,158

 
(350
)
 
4,193,808

 
37,929

 
(75,067
)
 
4,156,670

USDA Securities
1,826,258

 
2,034

 
1,828,292

 
26,481

 
(351
)
 
1,854,422

Total available-for-sale
$
6,020,416

 
$
1,684

 
$
6,022,100

 
$
64,410

 
$
(75,418
)
 
$
6,011,092

Trading:
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

USDA Securities
$
30,437

 
$
2,229

 
$
32,666

 
$
82

 
$
(812
)
 
$
31,936


 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Unpaid Principal Balance
 
Unamortized Premium/(Discount)
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Unrealized
Gains
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
(in thousands)
Held-to-maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AgVantage
$
1,785,340

 
$
9,280

 
$
1,794,620

 
$
6,211

 
$
(255
)
 
$
1,800,576

Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AgVantage
$
3,625,073

 
$

 
$
3,625,073

 
$
36,442

 
$
(29,853
)
 
$
3,631,662

Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
27,831

 
(442
)
 
27,389

 
237

 
(7
)
 
27,619

Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
3,652,904

 
(442
)
 
3,652,462

 
36,679

 
(29,860
)
 
3,659,281

USDA Securities
1,717,813

 
3,162

 
1,720,975

 
11,850

 
(1,603
)
 
1,731,222

Total available-for-sale
$
5,370,717

 
$
2,720

 
$
5,373,437

 
$
48,529

 
$
(31,463
)
 
$
5,390,503

Trading:
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

USDA Securities
$
38,412

 
$
2,748

 
$
41,160

 
$
114

 
$
(964
)
 
$
40,310




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Table of Contents

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, unrealized losses on held-to-maturity and available-for-sale on-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities were as follows:

Table 3.2

 
As of September 30, 2015
 
Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Unrealized loss position for
less than 12 months
 
Unrealized loss position for
more than 12 months
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
(in thousands)
Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AgVantage
$
1,560,161

 
$
(56,977
)
 
$
843,727

 
$
(17,900
)
Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
29,133

 
(190
)
 

 

USDA Securities

 

 
100,275

 
(351
)
Total available-for-sale
$
1,589,294

 
$
(57,167
)

$
944,002


$
(18,251
)

 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Held-to-Maturity and Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Unrealized loss position for
less than 12 months
 
Unrealized loss position for
more than 12 months
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
(in thousands)
Held-to-maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AgVantage
$
547

 
$
(1
)
 
$
49,745

 
$
(254
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AgVantage
$
685,131

 
$
(13,115
)
 
$
1,460,089

 
$
(16,738
)
Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
3,720

 
(7
)
 

 

USDA Securities
264,375

 
(1,549
)
 
97,817

 
(54
)
Total available-for-sale
$
953,226

 
$
(14,671
)
 
$
1,557,906

 
$
(16,792
)

The unrealized losses presented above are principally due to higher interest rates from the date of acquisition to September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, as applicable. The credit exposure related to Farmer Mac's USDA Guarantees line of business is covered by the full faith and credit guarantee of the United States. The unrealized losses from AgVantage securities were on 24 available-for-sale securities as of September 30, 2015. There were no unrealized losses from held-to-maturity AgVantage securities as of September 30, 2015. The unrealized losses from AgVantage securities were on 2 held-to-maturity securities and 23 available-for-sale securities as of December 31, 2014. As of September 30, 2015, 6 available-for-sale AgVantage securities had been in a loss position for more than 12 months with a total unrealized loss of $17.9 million. As of December 31, 2014, 15 available-for-sale AgVantage securities had been in a loss position for more than 12 months with a total unrealized loss of $16.7 million. AgVantage® is a registered trademark of Farmer Mac used to designate Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities that are general obligations of lenders secured by pools of eligible loans. These Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities are referred to as AgVantage securities. Each AgVantage security backed by agricultural mortgages requires some level of overcollateralization, or, in the case of rural utilities loans, 100 percent


20

Table of Contents

collateralization, and is secured by eligible loans of the issuing institution with a requirement that delinquent loans be removed from the collateral pool and then replaced with current eligible loans. Farmer Mac has concluded that none of the unrealized losses on its held-to-maturity Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and available-for-sale Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities are other-than-temporary impairment as of either September 30, 2015 or as of December 31, 2014.  Farmer Mac does not intend to sell these securities, and it is not more likely than not that Farmer Mac will be required to sell the securities before recovery of the amortized cost basis.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, Farmer Mac realized no gains or losses from the sale of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities.

The amortized cost, fair value, and weighted average yield of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities by remaining contractual maturity as of September 30, 2015 are set forth below. The balances presented are based on their final maturities, although the actual maturities may differ due to prepayments of the underlying assets.

Table 3.3

 
As of September 30, 2015
 
Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Weighted-
Average
Yield
 
(dollars in thousands)
Due within one year
$
569,257

 
$
573,156

 
2.79
%
Due after one year through five years
1,380,918

 
1,390,409

 
1.41
%
Due after five years through ten years
1,588,290

 
1,596,379

 
1.73
%
Due after ten years
2,483,635

 
2,451,148

 
2.48
%
Total
$
6,022,100

 
$
6,011,092

 
2.06
%
 
As of September 30, 2015
 
Held-to-Maturity Securities
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Weighted-
Average
Yield
 
(dollars in thousands)
Due within one year
$
632,791

 
$
634,917

 
2.30
%
Due after one year through five years
643,362

 
656,373

 
2.19
%
Total
$
1,276,153

 
$
1,291,290

 
2.24
%

As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac owned trading USDA Securities with an amortized cost of $32.7 million, a fair value of $31.9 million, and a weighted average yield of 5.50 percent. As of December 31, 2014, Farmer Mac owned trading USDA Securities with an amortized cost of $41.2 million, a fair value of $40.3 million, and a weighted average yield of 5.60 percent.  

4.
FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES

Farmer Mac enters into financial derivative transactions principally to protect against risk from the effects of market price or interest rate movements on the value of certain assets, future cash flows, or debt issuance, and not for trading or speculative purposes.  Certain financial derivatives are designated as fair


21

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value hedges of fixed rate assets classified as available-for-sale to protect against fair value changes in the assets related to a benchmark interest rate (i.e., LIBOR). Other financial derivatives are designated as cash flow hedges to mitigate the volatility of future interest rate payments on floating rate debt.

The following tables summarize information related to Farmer Mac's financial derivatives on a gross basis without giving consideration to master netting arrangements as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and the effects of financial derivatives on the consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

Table 4.1

  
As of September 30, 2015
  
 
 
Fair Value
 
Weighted-
Average
Pay Rate
 
Weighted-
Average Receive Rate
 
Weighted-
Average
Forward
Price
 
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Life (in years)
  
Notional Amount
 
Asset
 
(Liability)
 
 
 
 
  
(dollars in thousands)
Fair value hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pay fixed non-callable
$
1,226,075

 
$

 
$
(36,048
)
 
2.24%
 
0.30%
 
 
 
3.31
Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pay fixed non-callable
102,000

 

 
(2,720
)
 
2.23%
 
0.50%
 
 
 
6.99
No hedge designation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pay fixed non-callable
514,969

 
16

 
(55,941
)
 
4.02%
 
0.30%
 
 
 
8.69
Receive fixed non-callable
5,081,396

 
6,652

 
(46
)
 
0.19%
 
0.40%
 
 
 
0.59
Receive fixed callable
287,565

 
108

 
(3
)
 
0.17%
 
0.88%
 
 
 
2.76
Basis swaps
800,000

 
252

 
(60
)
 
0.15%
 
0.28%
 
 
 
2.53
Agency forwards
28,528

 

 
(312
)
 
 
 
 
 
100.50

 
 
Treasury futures
11,600

 

 
(52
)
 
 
 
 
 
128.28

 
 
Credit valuation adjustment
 
 
(1
)
 
302

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total financial derivatives
$
8,052,133

 
$
7,027

 
$
(94,880
)
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
Collateral pledged
 
 

 
48,111

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net amount
 
 
$
7,027

 
$
(46,769
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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As of December 31, 2014
  

 
Fair Value
 
Weighted-
Average
Pay Rate
 
Weighted-
Average Receive Rate
 
Weighted-
Average
Forward
Price
 
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Life (in years)
  
Notional Amount
 
Asset
 
(Liability)
 
 
 
 
  
(dollars in thousands)
Fair value hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pay fixed non-callable
$
1,000,000

 
$

 
$
(31,718
)
 
2.47%
 
0.23%
 
 
 
3.98
Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pay fixed non-callable
15,000

 

 
(289
)
 
2.43%
 
0.51%
 
 
 
6.23
No hedge designation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pay fixed non-callable
490,183

 
537

 
(51,224
)
 
4.23%
 
0.23%
 
 
 
7.05
Receive fixed non-callable
3,829,355

 
3,414

 
(461
)
 
0.14%
 
0.27%
 
 
 
0.55
Receive fixed callable
383,565

 
1

 
(877
)
 
0.12%
 
1.34%
 
 
 
3.47
Basis swaps
1,105,000

 
247

 
(406
)
 
0.11%
 
0.31%
 
 
 
2.42
Agency forwards
12,768

 

 
(53
)
 
 
 
 
 
101.00

 
 
Treasury futures
1,700

 

 
(3
)
 
 
 
 
 
126.60

 
 
Credit valuation adjustment
 
 
(22
)
 
187

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total financial derivatives
$
6,837,571

 
$
4,177

 
$
(84,844
)
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
Collateral pledged
 
 

 
46,627

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net amount
 
 
$
4,177

 
$
(38,217
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Table 4.2

 
(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities
  
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
  
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
(in thousands)
Fair value hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps(1)
$
(12,646
)
 
$
5,610

 
$
(4,330
)
 
$
5,010

Hedged items
15,834

 
(2,549
)
 
13,356

 
4,019

Gains on hedging activities
3,188

 
3,061

 
9,026

 
9,029

No hedge designation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
(11,478
)
 
(2,074
)
 
(5,637
)
 
(19,748
)
Agency forwards
(966
)
 
(210
)
 
(2,108
)
 
(1,297
)
Treasury futures
(312
)
 
31

 
(342
)
 
(452
)
(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives not designated in hedging relationships
(12,756
)
 
(2,253
)
 
(8,087
)
 
(21,497
)
(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities
$
(9,568
)
 
$
808

 
$
939

 
$
(12,468
)
(1) 
Included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness as of September 30, 2015, but excluded from the amounts in the table, were losses of $2.9 million and $8.6 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, attributable to the fair value of the swaps at the inception of the hedging relationship. Accordingly, the amounts recognized as hedge ineffectiveness for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were gains of $0.3 million and gains of $0.4 million, respectively. The comparable amounts as of September 30, 2014 were losses of $2.9 million and $8.7 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, attributable to the fair value of the swaps at the inception of the hedging relationship and, accordingly, gains of $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, attributable to hedge ineffectiveness.


As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, Farmer Mac's credit exposure to interest rate swap counterparties, excluding netting arrangements and any adjustment for nonperformance risk, but including accrued interest, was $12.4 million and $6.1 million, respectively; however, including netting arrangements and accrued interest, Farmer Mac's credit exposure was $0.2 million as of September 30, 2015 and $0.4 million as of December 31, 2014. Farmer Mac held no cash as collateral for its derivatives in net asset positions, resulting in uncollateralized net asset positions of $0.2 million as of September 30, 2015 and $0.4 million as of December 31, 2014.



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Table of Contents

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the fair value of Farmer Mac's derivatives in a net liability position including accrued interest but excluding netting arrangements and any adjustment for nonperformance risk, was $105.7 million and $99.4 million, respectively. Including netting arrangements and accrued interest, the fair value of Farmer Mac's derivatives in a net liability position at the counterparty level, was $93.0 million and $93.4 million as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.  Farmer Mac posted cash of $48.1 million and no investment securities as of September 30, 2015 and posted cash of $46.6 million and no investment securities as of December 31, 2014.  Farmer Mac records posted cash as a reduction in the outstanding balance of cash and cash equivalents and an increase in the balance of prepaid expenses and other assets. Any investment securities posted as collateral are included in the investment securities balances on the consolidated balance sheets.  If Farmer Mac had breached certain provisions of the derivative contracts as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, it could have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements or post additional collateral of $44.9 million and $46.8 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there were no financial derivatives in a net payable position where Farmer Mac was required to pledge collateral which the counterparty had the right to sell or repledge.

Of Farmer Mac's $8.0 billion notional amount of interest rate swaps outstanding as of September 30, 2015, $5.7 billion were cleared through swap clearinghouses. Of Farmer Mac's $6.8 billion notional amount of interest rate swaps outstanding as of December 31, 2014, $4.0 billion were cleared through swap clearinghouses.





25

Table of Contents


5.
LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOSSES

Loans

Farmer Mac classifies loans as either held for investment or held for sale. Loans held for investment are recorded at the unpaid principal balance, net of unamortized premium or discount and other cost adjustments. Loans held for sale are reported at the lower of cost or fair value determined on a pooled basis. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, Farmer Mac had no loans held for sale. The following table displays the composition of the loan balances as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

Table 5.1

 
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Unsecuritized
 
In Consolidated Trusts
 
Total
 
Unsecuritized
 
In Consolidated Trusts
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Farm & Ranch
$
2,166,125

 
$
612,567

 
$
2,778,692

 
$
2,118,867

 
$
421,355

 
$
2,540,222

Rural Utilities
982,078

 

 
982,078

 
718,213

 
267,396

 
985,609

Total unpaid principal balance(1)
3,148,203

 
612,567

 
3,760,770

 
2,837,080

 
688,751

 
3,525,831

Unamortized premiums, discounts and other cost basis adjustments
539

 

 
539

 
(3,619
)
 
3,727

 
108

Total loans
3,148,742

 
612,567

 
3,761,309

 
2,833,461

 
692,478

 
3,525,939

Allowance for loan losses
(4,158
)
 
(617
)
 
(4,775
)
 
(5,324
)
 
(540
)
 
(5,864
)
Total loans, net of allowance
$
3,144,584

 
$
611,950

 
$
3,756,534

 
$
2,828,137

 
$
691,938

 
$
3,520,075

(1) 
Unpaid principal balance is the basis of presentation in disclosures of outstanding balances for Farmer Mac's lines of business.

Allowance for Losses

Farmer Mac maintains an allowance for losses presented in two components on its consolidated balance sheets: (1) an allowance for loan losses to account for estimated probable losses on loans held, and (2) a reserve for losses to account for estimated probable losses on loans underlying LTSPCs and off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities.  As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, Farmer Mac reported allowances for losses of $10.3 million and $10.1 million, respectively. See Note 6 for more information about off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs.  



26

Table of Contents

The following is a summary of the changes in the total allowance for losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

Table 5.2

 
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of September 30, 2014
 
Allowance
for Loan
Losses
 
Reserve
for Losses
 
Total
Allowance
for Losses
 
Allowance
for Loan
Losses
 
Reserve
for Losses
 
Total
Allowance
for Losses
 
(in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
$
5,939

 
$
4,637

 
$
10,576

 
$
5,770

 
$
5,595

 
$
11,365

(Release of)/provision for losses
(1,164
)
 
861

 
(303
)
 
511

 
(1,315
)
 
(804
)
Charge-offs

 

 

 

 

 

   Recoveries

 

 

 
45

 

 
45

Ending Balance
$
4,775

 
$
5,498

 
$
10,273

 
$
6,326

 
$
4,280

 
$
10,606

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
$
5,864

 
$
4,263

 
$
10,127

 
$
6,866

 
$
6,468

 
$
13,334

(Release of)/provision for losses
(978
)
 
1,235

 
257

 
(499
)
 
(2,188
)
 
(2,687
)
Charge-offs
(111
)
 

 
(111
)
 
(86
)
 

 
(86
)
   Recoveries

 

 

 
45

 

 
45

Ending Balance
$
4,775

 
$
5,498

 
$
10,273

 
$
6,326

 
$
4,280

 
$
10,606


During third quarter 2015, Farmer Mac recorded releases to its allowance for loan losses of $1.2 million and provisions to its reserve for losses of $0.9 million. The releases to the allowance for loan losses recorded during third quarter 2015 were primarily attributable to a reduction in the specific allowance for a permanent planting loan based on the updated appraised value of the collateral underlying such loan. The provisions to the reserve for losses recorded during third quarter 2015 were attributable to an increase in the specific allowance on two impaired canola facility loans underlying an LTSPC with one borrower. Farmer Mac recorded no charge-offs to its allowance for loan losses during third quarter 2015.

During third quarter 2014, Farmer Mac recorded provisions to its allowance for loan losses of $0.5 million and releases to its reserve for losses of $1.3 million, primarily related to a decline in the balance of its ethanol-related agricultural storage and processing portfolio. Farmer Mac recorded no charge-offs and recoveries of $45,000 to its allowance for loan losses during third quarter 2014.



27

Table of Contents

The following tables present the changes in the total allowance for losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 by commodity type:

Table 5.3

 
September 30, 2015
 
Crops
 
Permanent
Plantings
 
Livestock
 
Part-time
Farm
 
Ag. Storage and
Processing
 
Other
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
$
2,653

 
$
2,221

 
$
1,760

 
$
433

 
$
3,502

 
$
7

 
$
10,576

Provision for/(release of) losses
110

 
(1,151
)
 
39

 
(49
)
 
748

 

 
(303
)
Charge-offs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending Balance
$
2,763

 
$
1,070

 
$
1,799

 
$
384

 
$
4,250

 
$
7

 
$
10,273

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
$
2,519

 
$
2,159

 
$
1,423

 
$
467

 
$
3,552

 
$
7

 
$
10,127

Provision for/(release of) losses
244

 
(1,089
)
 
376

 
28

 
698

 

 
257

Charge-offs

 

 

 
(111
)
 

 

 
(111
)
Ending Balance
$
2,763

 
$
1,070

 
$
1,799

 
$
384


$
4,250


$
7


$
10,273


 
September 30, 2014
 
Crops
 
Permanent
Plantings
 
Livestock
 
Part-time
Farm
 
Ag. Storage and
Processing
 
Other
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
$
2,390

 
$
2,217

 
$
1,311

 
$
444

 
$
4,999

 
$
4

 
$
11,365

Provision for/(release of) losses
123

 
74

 
(6
)
 
(3
)
 
(992
)
 

 
(804
)
Charge-offs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recoveries

 
45

 

 

 

 

 
45

Ending Balance
$
2,513

 
$
2,336

 
$
1,305

 
$
441

 
$
4,007

 
$
4

 
$
10,606

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
$
2,124

 
$
2,186

 
$
1,271

 
$
454

 
$
7,292

 
$
7

 
$
13,334

Provision for/(release of) losses
389

 
105

 
91

 
16

 
(3,285
)
 
(3
)
 
(2,687
)
Charge-offs

 

 
(57
)
 
(29
)
 

 

 
(86
)
Recoveries

 
45

 

 

 

 

 
45

Ending Balance
$
2,513

 
$
2,336

 
$
1,305

 
$
441

 
$
4,007

 
$
4

 
$
10,606



28

Table of Contents


The following tables present the unpaid principal balances of loans held and loans underlying LTSPCs and off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and the related total allowance for losses by impairment method and commodity type as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

Table 5.4

  
As of September 30, 2015
 
Crops
 
Permanent
Plantings
 
Livestock
 
Part-time
Farm
 
Ag. Storage and
Processing
 
Other
 
Total
  
(in thousands)
Ending Balance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collectively evaluated for impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet
$
1,771,015

 
$
396,674

 
$
430,598

 
$
92,327

 
$
24,469

 
$
79

 
$
2,715,162

Off-balance sheet
1,255,337

 
500,917

 
768,207

 
109,474

 
53,130

 
5,759

 
2,692,824

Total
$
3,026,352

 
$
897,591

 
$
1,198,805

 
$
201,801

 
$
77,599

 
$
5,838

 
$
5,407,986

Individually evaluated for impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet
$
20,840

 
$
29,378

 
$
4,331

 
$
8,981

 
$

 
$

 
$
63,530

Off-balance sheet
7,260

 
3,690

 
7,281

 
783

 
13,500

 

 
32,514

Total
$
28,100

 
$
33,068

 
$
11,612

 
$
9,764

 
$
13,500

 
$

 
$
96,044

Total Farm & Ranch loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet
$
1,791,855

 
$
426,052

 
$
434,929

 
$
101,308

 
$
24,469

 
$
79

 
$
2,778,692

Off-balance sheet
1,262,597

 
504,607

 
775,488

 
110,257

 
66,630

 
5,759

 
2,725,338

Total
$
3,054,452

 
$
930,659

 
$
1,210,417

 
$
211,565

 
$
91,099

 
$
5,838

 
$
5,504,030

Allowance for Losses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Collectively evaluated for impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet
$
1,848

 
$
445

 
$
717

 
$
59

 
$
357

 
$

 
$
3,426

Off-balance sheet
333

 
153

 
314

 
61

 
293

 
7

 
1,161

Total
$
2,181

 
$
598

 
$
1,031

 
$
120

 
$
650

 
$
7

 
$
4,587

Individually evaluated for impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet
$
383

 
$
351

 
$
379

 
$
236

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,349

Off-balance sheet
199

 
121

 
389

 
28

 
3,600

 

 
4,337

Total
$
582

 
$
472

 
$
768

 
$
264

 
$
3,600

 
$

 
$
5,686

Total Farm & Ranch loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet
$
2,231

 
$
796

 
$
1,096

 
$
295

 
$
357

 
$

 
$
4,775

Off-balance sheet
532

 
274

 
703

 
89

 
3,893

 
7

 
5,498

Total
$
2,763

 
$
1,070

 
$
1,799

 
$
384

 
$
4,250

 
$
7

 
$
10,273




29

Table of Contents

  
As of December 31, 2014
 
Crops
 
Permanent
Plantings
 
Livestock
 
Part-time
Farm
 
Ag. Storage and
Processing
 
Other
 
Total
  
(in thousands)
Ending Balance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collectively evaluated for impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet
$
1,621,360

 
$
359,517

 
$
406,049

 
$
57,851

 
$
29,003

 
$

 
$
2,473,780

Off-balance sheet
1,305,141

 
521,535

 
839,286

 
102,857

 
85,357

 
6,781

 
2,860,957

Total
$
2,926,501

 
$
881,052

 
$
1,245,335

 
$
160,708

 
$
114,360

 
$
6,781

 
$
5,334,737

Individually evaluated for impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet
$
12,307

 
$
35,904

 
$
6,571

 
$
11,660

 
$

 
$

 
$
66,442

Off-balance sheet
2,458

 
3,239

 
8,712

 
1,586

 

 

 
15,995

Total
$
14,765

 
$
39,143

 
$
15,283

 
$
13,246

 
$

 
$

 
$
82,437

Total Farm & Ranch loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet
$
1,633,667

 
$
395,421

 
$
412,620

 
$
69,511

 
$
29,003

 
$

 
$
2,540,222

Off-balance sheet
1,307,599

 
524,774

 
847,998

 
104,443

 
85,357

 
6,781

 
2,876,952

Total
$
2,941,266

 
$
920,195

 
$
1,260,618

 
$
173,954

 
$
114,360

 
$
6,781

 
$
5,417,174

Allowance for Losses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Collectively evaluated for impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet
$
1,824

 
$
495

 
$
658

 
$
51

 
$
503

 
$

 
$
3,531

Off-balance sheet
298

 
149

 
404

 
52

 
3,049

 
7

 
3,959

Total
$
2,122

 
$
644

 
$
1,062

 
$
103

 
$
3,552

 
$
7

 
$
7,490

Individually evaluated for impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet
$
283

 
$
1,410

 
$
328

 
$
312

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,333

Off-balance sheet
114

 
105

 
33

 
52

 

 

 
304

Total
$
397

 
$
1,515

 
$
361

 
$
364

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,637

Total Farm & Ranch loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet
$
2,107

 
$
1,905

 
$
986

 
$
363

 
$
503

 
$

 
$
5,864

Off-balance sheet
412

 
254

 
437

 
104

 
3,049

 
7

 
4,263

Total
$
2,519

 
$
2,159

 
$
1,423

 
$
467

 
$
3,552

 
$
7

 
$
10,127




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The following tables present by commodity type the unpaid principal balances, recorded investment, and specific allowance for losses related to impaired loans and the recorded investment in loans on nonaccrual status as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

Table 5.5

  
As of September 30, 2015
 
Crops
 
Permanent
Plantings
 
Livestock
 
Part-time
Farm
 
Ag. Storage and
Processing
 
Other
 
Total
  
(in thousands)
Impaired Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With no specific allowance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recorded investment
$
5,616

 
$
13,666

 
$
3,635

 
$
1,834

 
$

 
$

 
$
24,751

Unpaid principal balance
5,537

 
13,639

 
3,630

 
1,831

 

 

 
24,637

With a specific allowance:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Recorded investment(1)
22,672

 
19,462

 
8,007

 
7,958

 
13,500

 

 
71,599

Unpaid principal balance
22,563

 
19,429

 
7,982

 
7,933

 
13,500

 

 
71,407

Associated allowance
582

 
472

 
768

 
264

 
3,600

 

 
5,686

Total:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Recorded investment
28,288

 
33,128

 
11,642

 
9,792

 
13,500

 

 
96,350

Unpaid principal balance
28,100

 
33,068

 
11,612

 
9,764

 
13,500

 

 
96,044

Associated allowance
582

 
472

 
768

 
264

 
3,600

 

 
5,686

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recorded investment of loans on nonaccrual status(2)
$
3,541

 
$
15,397

 
$
4,361

 
$
6,016

 
$

 
$

 
$
29,315

(1) 
Impairment analysis was performed in the aggregate in consideration of similar risk characteristics of the assets and historical statistics on $64.6 million (67 percent) of impaired loans as of September 30, 2015, which resulted in a specific reserve of $1.2 million.
(2) 
Includes $11.3 million of loans that are less than 90 days delinquent but which have not met Farmer Mac's performance criteria for returning to accrual status.
  
As of December 31, 2014
 
Crops
 
Permanent
Plantings
 
Livestock
 
Part-time
Farm
 
Ag. Storage and
Processing
 
Other
 
Total
  
(in thousands)
Impaired Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With no specific allowance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recorded investment
$
4,877

 
$
5,837

 
$
9,576

 
$
2,001

 
$

 
$

 
$
22,291

Unpaid principal balance
4,723

 
5,750

 
9,386

 
1,981

 

 

 
21,840

With a specific allowance:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Recorded investment(1)
10,753

 
33,690

 
5,979

 
11,350

 

 

 
61,772

Unpaid principal balance
10,042

 
33,393

 
5,897

 
11,265

 

 

 
60,597

Associated allowance
397

 
1,515

 
361

 
364

 

 

 
2,637

Total:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Recorded investment
15,630

 
39,527

 
15,555

 
13,351

 

 

 
84,063

Unpaid principal balance
14,765

 
39,143

 
15,283

 
13,246

 

 

 
82,437

Associated allowance
397

 
1,515

 
361

 
364

 

 

 
2,637

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recorded investment of loans on nonaccrual status(2)
$
5,168

 
$
14,413

 
$
4,438

 
$
6,133

 
$

 
$

 
$
30,152

(1) 
Impairment analysis was performed in the aggregate in consideration of similar risk characteristics of the assets and historical statistics on $54.4 million (65 percent) of impaired loans as of December 31, 2014, which resulted in a specific reserve of $1.2 million.


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(2) 
Includes $11.7 million of loans that are less than 90 days delinquent but which have not met Farmer Mac's performance criteria for returning to accrual status.


The following table presents by commodity type the average recorded investment and interest income recognized on impaired loans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

Table 5.6

 
September 30, 2015
 
Crops
 
Permanent
Plantings
 
Livestock
 
Part-time
Farm
 
Ag. Storage and
Processing
 
Other
 
Total
  
(in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average recorded investment in impaired loans
$
27,133

 
$
37,911

 
$
12,534

 
$
9,989

 
$
13,500

 
$

 
$
101,067

Income recognized on impaired loans
33

 
234

 
76

 
76

 

 

 
419

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average recorded investment in impaired loans
$
23,176

 
$
39,337

 
$
13,923

 
$
11,248

 
$
6,750

 
$

 
$
94,434

Income recognized on impaired loans
373

 
459

 
273

 
226

 

 

 
1,331


 
September 30, 2014
 
Crops
 
Permanent
Plantings
 
Livestock
 
Part-time
Farm
 
Ag. Storage and
Processing
 
Other
 
Total
  
(in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average recorded investment in impaired loans
$
19,975

 
$
43,280

 
$
12,305

 
$
12,276

 
$

 
$

 
$
87,836

Income recognized on impaired loans
90

 
142

 
149

 
87

 

 

 
468

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average recorded investment in impaired loans
$
21,873

 
$
44,144

 
$
13,040

 
$
12,407

 
$

 
$
30

 
$
91,494

Income recognized on impaired loans
365

 
412

 
284

 
288

 

 

 
1,349


For the three months ended September 30, 2015, there were no troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs"). For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the recorded investment of loans determined to beTDRs was $1.1 million both before and after restructuring. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the recorded investment of loans determined to be TDRs was $4.5 million and $5.3 million, respectively, before restructuring and $5.1 million and $6.0 million, respectively, after restructuring. As of September 30, 2015, there were no TDRs identified during the previous 12 months that were in default under the modified terms. The impact of TDRs on Farmer Mac's allowance for loan losses was immaterial for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

When particular criteria are met, such as the default of the borrower, Farmer Mac becomes entitled to purchase the defaulted loans underlying Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities (commonly referred to as "removal-of-account" provisions).  Farmer Mac records all such defaulted loans at their unpaid principal balance during the period in which Farmer Mac becomes entitled to purchase the loans and therefore regains effective control over the transferred loans. In accordance with the terms of all LTSPCs, Farmer Mac acquires loans that are either 90 days or 120 days delinquent (depending on the provisions of the applicable agreement) upon the request of the counterparty. Subsequent to the purchase, these defaulted


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loans are treated as nonaccrual loans and, therefore, interest is accounted for on the cash basis.  Any decreases in expected cash flows are recognized as impairment.

During the three months ended September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac purchased one defaulted loan having an unpaid principal balance of $0.3 million from a pool underlying a Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Security. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac purchased three defaulted loans having an unpaid principal balance of $2.2 million from pools underlying Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities. During the three months ended September 30, 2014, Farmer Mac purchased no defaulted loans. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, Farmer Mac purchased one defaulted loan having an unpaid principal balance of $0.4 million from a pool underlying an LTSPC.
  
The following tables present information related to Farmer Mac's acquisition of defaulted loans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 and the outstanding balances and carrying amounts of all such loans as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

Table 5.7

 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
(in thousands)
Unpaid principal balance at acquisition date:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Loans underlying LTSPCs
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
440

  Loans underlying off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
263

 

 
2,244

 

    Total unpaid principal balance at acquisition date
263

 

 
2,244

 
440

Contractually required payments receivable
264

 

 
2,334

 
440

Impairment recognized subsequent to acquisition
1

 

 
110

 
69

Recovery/release of allowance for defaulted loans
882

 
47

 
1,003

 
54


 
As of
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in thousands)
Outstanding balance
$
25,412

 
$
24,921

Carrying amount
23,225

 
22,149






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Table of Contents

Net credit losses and 90-day delinquencies as of and for the periods indicated for loans held and loans underlying off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs are presented in the table below.  As of September 30, 2015, there were no delinquencies and no probable losses inherent in Farmer Mac's Rural Utilities loan portfolio and Farmer Mac had not experienced credit losses on any Rural Utilities loans.

Table 5.8

 
90-Day Delinquencies(1)
 
Net Credit Losses
 
As of
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
(in thousands)
On-balance sheet assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Farm & Ranch:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans
$
17,967

 
$
18,427

 
$
160

 
$
(66
)
Total on-balance sheet
$
17,967

 
$
18,427

 
$
160

 
$
(66
)
Off-balance sheet assets:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Farm & Ranch:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

LTSPCs
$
18,702

 
$
490

 
$

 
$

Total off-balance sheet
$
18,702

 
$
490

 
$

 
$

Total
$
36,669

 
$
18,917

 
$
160

 
$
(66
)
(1) 
Includes loans and loans underlying off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs that are 90 days or more past due, in foreclosure, or in bankruptcy, excluding loans performing under either their original loan terms or a court-approved bankruptcy plan.

Of the $18.0 million and $18.4 million of on-balance sheet loans reported as 90-day delinquencies as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, $2.1 million and $1.8 million were loans subject to "removal-of-account" provisions.



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Table of Contents

Credit Quality Indicators

The following tables present credit quality indicators related to Farm & Ranch loans held and loans underlying LTSPCs and off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:  

Table 5.9

  
As of September 30, 2015
 
Crops
 
Permanent
Plantings
 
Livestock
 
Part-time
Farm
 
Ag. Storage and
Processing
 
Other
 
Total
  
(in thousands)
Credit risk profile by internally assigned grade(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acceptable
$
1,753,713

 
$
396,674

 
$
386,273

 
$
92,327

 
$
24,469

 
$
79

 
$
2,653,535

Special mention(2)
17,302

 
136

 
44,325

 

 

 

 
61,763

Substandard(3)
20,840

 
29,242

 
4,331

 
8,981

 

 

 
63,394

Total on-balance sheet
$
1,791,855

 
$
426,052

 
$
434,929

 
$
101,308

 
$
24,469

 
$
79

 
$
2,778,692

Off-Balance Sheet:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acceptable
$
1,211,404

 
$
486,117

 
$
743,523

 
$
103,754

 
$
53,130

 
$
5,123

 
$
2,603,051

Special mention(2)
38,263

 
12,434

 
11,614

 
1,263

 

 
7

 
63,581

Substandard(3)
12,930

 
6,056

 
20,351

 
5,240

 
13,500

 
629

 
58,706

Total off-balance sheet
$
1,262,597

 
$
504,607

 
$
775,488

 
$
110,257

 
$
66,630

 
$
5,759

 
$
2,725,338

Total Ending Balance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acceptable
$
2,965,117

 
$
882,791

 
$
1,129,796

 
$
196,081

 
$
77,599

 
$
5,202

 
$
5,256,586

Special mention(2)
55,565

 
12,570

 
55,939

 
1,263

 

 
7

 
125,344

Substandard(3)
33,770

 
35,298

 
24,682

 
14,221

 
13,500

 
629

 
122,100

Total
$
3,054,452

 
$
930,659

 
$
1,210,417

 
$
211,565

 
$
91,099

 
$
5,838

 
$
5,504,030

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity analysis of past due loans(1)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

On-balance sheet
$
6,209

 
$
8,729

 
$
753

 
$
2,276

 
$

 
$

 
$
17,967

Off-balance sheet
692

 

 
4,322

 
188

 
13,500

 

 
18,702

90 days or more past due
$
6,901

 
$
8,729

 
$
5,075

 
$
2,464

 
$
13,500

 
$

 
$
36,669

(1) 
Amounts represent unpaid principal balance of risk-rated loans, which is the basis Farmer Mac uses to analyze its portfolio, and recorded investment of past due loans. 
(2) 
Assets in the "Special mention" category generally have potential weaknesses due to performance issues but are currently considered to be adequately secured.  
(3) 
Substandard assets have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses and there is a distinct possibility that some loss will be sustained if deficiencies are not corrected.



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Table of Contents

  
As of December 31, 2014
 
Crops
 
Permanent
Plantings
 
Livestock
 
Part-time
Farm
 
Ag. Storage and
Processing
 
Other
 
Total
  
(in thousands)
Credit risk profile by internally assigned grade(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On-balance sheet:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acceptable
$
1,604,546

 
$
353,487

 
$
375,010

 
$
57,239

 
$
29,003

 
$

 
$
2,419,285

Special mention(2)
16,814

 
6,030

 
31,039

 
612

 

 

 
54,495

Substandard(3)
12,307

 
35,904

 
6,571

 
11,660

 

 

 
66,442

Total on-balance sheet
$
1,633,667

 
$
395,421

 
$
412,620

 
$
69,511

 
$
29,003

 
$

 
$
2,540,222

Off-Balance Sheet
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acceptable
$
1,282,773

 
$
503,414

 
$
799,047

 
$
97,692

 
$
64,363

 
$
6,117

 
$
2,753,406

Special mention(2)
13,603

 
12,150

 
30,281

 
1,351

 

 
8

 
57,393

Substandard(3)
11,223

 
9,210

 
18,670

 
5,400

 
20,994

 
656

 
66,153

Total off-balance sheet
$
1,307,599

 
$
524,774

 
$
847,998

 
$
104,443

 
$
85,357

 
$
6,781

 
$
2,876,952

Total Ending Balance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acceptable
$
2,887,319

 
$
856,901

 
$
1,174,057

 
$
154,931

 
$
93,366

 
$
6,117

 
$
5,172,691

Special mention(2)
30,417

 
18,180

 
61,320

 
1,963

 

 
8

 
111,888

Substandard(3)
23,530

 
45,114

 
25,241

 
17,060

 
20,994

 
656

 
132,595

Total
$
2,941,266

 
$
920,195

 
$
1,260,618

 
$
173,954

 
$
114,360

 
$
6,781

 
$
5,417,174

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity analysis of past due loans(1)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

On-balance sheet
$
4,175

 
$
6,869

 
$
4,555

 
$
2,828

 
$

 
$

 
$
18,427

Off-balance sheet

 

 
490

 

 

 

 
490

90 days or more past due
$
4,175

 
$
6,869

 
$
5,045

 
$
2,828

 
$

 
$

 
$
18,917

(1) 
Amounts represent unpaid principal balance of risk-rated loans, which is the basis Farmer Mac uses to analyze its portfolio, and recorded investment of past due loans.  
(2) 
Assets in the "Special mention" category generally have potential weaknesses due to performance issues but are currently considered to be adequately secured.  
(3) 
Substandard assets have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses and there is a distinct possibility that some loss will be sustained if deficiencies are not corrected.



36

Table of Contents

Concentrations of Credit Risk

The following table sets forth the geographic and commodity/collateral diversification, as well as the range of original loan-to-value ratios, for all Farm & Ranch loans held and loans underlying off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

Table 5.10

 
As of
  
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
  
(in thousands)
By commodity/collateral type:
 
 
 
Crops
$
3,054,452

 
$
2,941,266

Permanent plantings
930,659

 
920,195

Livestock
1,210,417

 
1,260,618

Part-time farm
211,565

 
173,954

Ag. Storage and Processing
91,099

 
114,360

Other
5,838

 
6,781

Total
$
5,504,030

 
$
5,417,174

By geographic region(1):
 

 
 

Northwest
$
579,240

 
$
573,135

Southwest
1,693,048

 
1,753,606

Mid-North
1,933,020

 
1,873,041

Mid-South
688,615

 
627,615

Northeast
211,093

 
214,402

Southeast
399,014

 
375,375

Total
$
5,504,030

 
$
5,417,174

By original loan-to-value ratio:
 

 
 

0.00% to 40.00%
$
1,538,701

 
$
1,503,076

40.01% to 50.00%
1,193,443

 
1,191,804

50.01% to 60.00%
1,536,435

 
1,491,502

60.01% to 70.00%
1,072,182

 
1,091,759

70.01% to 80.00%
136,641

 
115,645

80.01% to 90.00%
26,628

 
23,388

Total
$
5,504,030

 
$
5,417,174

(1) 
Geographic regions:  Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY); Southwest (AZ, CA, CO, HI, NM, NV, UT); Mid-North (IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, NE, ND, SD, WI); Mid-South (AR, KS, LA, MO, OK, TX); Northeast (CT, DE, KY, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV); Southeast (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN).


The original loan-to-value ratio is calculated by dividing the loan principal balance at the time of guarantee, purchase, or commitment by the appraised value at the date of loan origination or, when available, the updated appraised value at the time of guarantee, purchase, or commitment.  Current loan-to-value ratios may be higher or lower than the original loan-to-value ratios.




37

Table of Contents

6.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET GUARANTEES AND LONG-TERM STANDBY PURCHASE COMMITMENTS

Farmer Mac offers two credit enhancement alternatives to direct loan purchases that allow approved lenders the ability to retain the cash flow benefits of their loans and increase their liquidity and lending capacity: (1) Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, which are available through each of the Farm & Ranch, USDA Guarantees, Rural Utilities, or Institutional Credit lines of business, and (2) LTSPCs, which are available through the Farm & Ranch or the Rural Utilities lines of business.

The following table presents the maximum principal amount of potential undiscounted future payments that Farmer Mac could be required to make under all off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, not including offsets provided by any recourse provisions, recoveries from third parties, or collateral for the underlying loans:

Table 6.1
Outstanding Balance of Off-Balance Sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
  
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
  
(in thousands)
Farm & Ranch:
 
 
 
Guaranteed Securities
$
553,469

 
$
636,086

USDA Guarantees:
 

 
 

Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
10,712

 
13,978

Institutional Credit:
 

 
 

AgVantage Securities
986,529

 
986,528

Revolving floating rate AgVantage facility(1)
300,000

 

Total off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
$
1,850,710

 
$
1,636,592

(1) 
Relates to a revolving floating rate AgVantage facility subject to specified contractual terms. Farmer Mac receives a fixed fee based on the full dollar amount of the facility.

Eligible loans and other eligible assets may be placed into trusts that are used as vehicles for the securitization of the transferred assets and the Farmer Mac-guaranteed beneficial interests in the trusts are sold to investors.  The following table summarizes the significant cash flows received from and paid to trusts used for Farmer Mac securitizations:

Table 6.2
 
For the Nine Months Ended
  
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
  
(in thousands)
Proceeds from new securitizations
$
231,242

 
$
169,820

Guarantee fees received
2,704

 
2,449

Purchases of assets from the trusts
2,244

 


Farmer Mac has recorded a liability for its obligation to stand ready under the guarantee in the guarantee and commitment obligation on the consolidated balance sheets.  This liability approximated $9.2 million as of September 30, 2015 and $11.1 million as of December 31, 2014. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the weighted-average remaining maturity of all loans underlying off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, excluding AgVantage securities, was 11.5 years and 12.0 years,


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respectively.  As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the weighted-average remaining maturity of the off-balance sheet AgVantage securities was 2.2 years and 2.4 years, respectively.

Long-Term Standby Purchase Commitments

An LTSPC is a commitment by Farmer Mac to purchase eligible loans from an identified pool of loans under specified circumstances set forth in the applicable agreement, either for cash or in exchange for Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, on one or more undetermined future dates.  As consideration for its assumption of the credit risk on loans underlying an LTSPC, Farmer Mac receives a commitment fee payable monthly in arrears in an amount approximating what would have been the guarantee fee if the transaction were structured as a swap for Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities.

The maximum principal amount of potential undiscounted future payments that Farmer Mac could be requested to make under all LTSPCs, not including offsets provided by any recourse provisions, recoveries from third parties, or collateral for the underlying loans, was $2.7 billion as of September 30, 2015 and $2.2 billion as of December 31, 2014.

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the weighted-average remaining maturity of all loans underlying LTSPCs was 14.5 years and 14.3 years, respectively.  For those LTSPCs issued or modified on or after January 1, 2003, Farmer Mac has recorded a liability for its obligation to stand ready under the commitment in the guarantee and commitment obligation on the consolidated balance sheets.  This liability approximated $29.1 million as of September 30, 2015 and $26.8 million as of December 31, 2014.

7.
EQUITY

Non-Controlling Interest in Farmer Mac II LLC

On January 25, 2010, Farmer Mac completed a private offering of $250.0 million of securities issued by a newly formed Delaware statutory trust.  The trust securities, called Farm Asset-Linked Capital Securities or "FALConS," represented undivided beneficial ownership interests in 250,000 shares of non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock (the "Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock") of Farmer Mac's subsidiary, Farmer Mac II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.  The Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock had a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. On May 14, 2014, Farmer Mac purchased $6.0 million of FALConS from certain holders. On March 30, 2015, Farmer Mac II LLC redeemed all of the outstanding shares of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock which, in turn, triggered the redemption of all of the outstanding FALConS on that same day. Farmer Mac recognized an expense of $8.1 million in deferred issuance costs upon the retirement of the Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock.

Common Stock

On September 8, 2015, Farmer Mac's board of directors approved a share repurchase program (“Share Repurchase Program”) authorizing Farmer Mac to repurchase up to $25 million of its outstanding Class C Non-Voting Common Stock over the next two years. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac had repurchased approximately 104,000 shares of Class C Non-Voting Common Stock at a cost of approximately $2.8 million pursuant to the Share Repurchase Program.
  


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Table of Contents

Capital Requirements

Farmer Mac is subject to the following capital requirements:
 
Statutory minimum capital requirement – Farmer Mac's statutory minimum capital level is an amount of core capital (stockholders' equity less accumulated other comprehensive income) equal to the sum of 2.75 percent of Farmer Mac's aggregate on-balance sheet assets, as calculated for regulatory purposes, plus 0.75 percent of the aggregate off-balance sheet obligations of Farmer Mac, specifically including:   
the unpaid principal balance of outstanding Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities;
instruments issued or guaranteed by Farmer Mac that are substantially equivalent to Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, including LTSPCs; and
other off-balance sheet obligations of Farmer Mac.
Statutory critical capital requirement – Farmer Mac's critical capital level is an amount of core capital equal to 50 percent of the total minimum capital requirement at that time.
Risk-based capital requirement – Farmer Mac's charter directs FCA to establish a risk-based capital stress test for Farmer Mac, using specified stress-test parameters.

Farmer Mac is required to comply with the higher of the minimum capital requirement and the risk-based capital requirement. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the minimum capital requirement was greater than the risk-based capital requirement. Farmer Mac's ability to declare and pay dividends on its preferred stock could be restricted if it fails to comply with applicable capital requirements.

As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac's minimum capital requirement was $442.8 million and its actual core capital level was $558.2 million, which was $115.4 million above the minimum capital requirement as of that date.  As of December 31, 2014, Farmer Mac's minimum capital requirement was $421.3 million and its actual core capital level was $766.3 million, which was $345.0 million above the minimum capital requirement as of that date.

In accordance with FCA's rule on Farmer Mac's capital planning, and as part of Farmer Mac's capital plan, Farmer Mac has adopted a policy for maintaining a sufficient level of Tier 1 capital (consisting of retained earnings, paid-in-capital, common stock, qualifying preferred stock, and accumulated other comprehensive income allocable to investments not included in one of the four operating lines of business) and imposing restrictions on common stock dividends and any discretionary bonus payments in the event that this capital falls below specified thresholds.

8.
FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES

As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac's assets and liabilities recorded at fair value included financial instruments valued at $6.1 billion whose fair values were estimated by management in the absence of readily determinable fair values (i.e., level 3).  These financial instruments measured as level 3 represented 41 percent of total assets and 74 percent of financial instruments measured at fair value as of September 30, 2015. As of December 31, 2014, Farmer Mac's assets and liabilities recorded at fair value included financial instruments valued at $5.5 billion whose fair values were estimated by management in the absence of readily determinable fair values.  These financial instruments measured as level 3 represented 38 percent of total assets and 73 percent of financial instruments measured at fair value as of December 31, 2014.



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Table of Contents

Net transfers in and/or out of the different levels within the fair value hierarchy are based on the fair values of the assets and liabilities as of the beginning of the reporting period.  There were no transfers within the fair value hierarchy for fair value measurements of Farmer Mac's investment securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, USDA Securities, and financial derivatives during the first nine months of 2015 and 2014. See Note 1(a) for information about the transfer of available-for-sale Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities to held-to-maturity as of January 1, 2014.



41

Table of Contents

The following tables present information about Farmer Mac's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques used by Farmer Mac to determine such fair value:

Table 8.1
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value as of September 30, 2015
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Recurring:
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
$

 
$

 
$
44,924

 
$
44,924

Floating rate asset-backed securities

 
81,118

 

 
81,118

Floating rate corporate debt securities

 
9,991

 

 
9,991

Fixed rate corporate debt securities

 
10,005

 

 
10,005

Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities

 
862,224

 

 
862,224

Fixed rate GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities

 
7,973

 

 
7,973

Floating rate GSE subordinated debt

 
66,112

 

 
66,112

Fixed rate senior agency debt

 
380,786

 

 
380,786

Fixed rate U.S. Treasuries
568,496

 

 

 
568,496

Total available-for-sale
568,496

 
1,418,209

 
44,924

 
2,031,629

Trading:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Floating rate asset-backed securities

 

 
550

 
550

Total trading

 

 
550

 
550

Total Investment Securities
568,496

 
1,418,209

 
45,474

 
2,032,179

Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Available-for-sale:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

AgVantage

 

 
4,125,962

 
4,125,962

Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities

 

 
30,708

 
30,708

Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities

 

 
4,156,670

 
4,156,670

USDA Securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Available-for-sale

 

 
1,854,422

 
1,854,422

Trading

 

 
31,936

 
31,936

Total USDA Securities

 

 
1,886,358

 
1,886,358

Financial derivatives

 
7,027

 

 
7,027

Total Assets at fair value
$
568,496

 
$
1,425,236

 
$
6,088,502

 
$
8,082,234

Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Financial derivatives
$
52

 
$
94,828

 
$

 
$
94,880

Total Liabilities at fair value
$
52

 
$
94,828

 
$

 
$
94,880

Nonrecurring:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Assets:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loans held for investment
$

 
$

 
$
1,852

 
$
1,852

REO

 

 
281

 
281

Total Nonrecurring Assets at fair value
$

 
$

 
$
2,133

 
$
2,133




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Table of Contents

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value as of December 31, 2014
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Recurring:
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
$

 
$

 
$
40,576

 
$
40,576

Floating rate asset-backed securities

 
100,902

 

 
100,902

Floating rate corporate debt securities

 
10,091

 

 
10,091

Fixed rate corporate debt

 
30,025

 

 
30,025

Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities

 
612,753

 

 
612,753

Fixed rate GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities

 
8,202

 

 
8,202

Floating rate GSE subordinated debt

 
66,320

 

 
66,320

Fixed rate senior agency debt

 
18,939

 

 
18,939

Floating rate U.S. Treasuries
74,979

 

 

 
74,979

Fixed rate U.S. Treasuries
975,712

 

 

 
975,712

Total available-for-sale
1,050,691

 
847,232

 
40,576

 
1,938,499

Trading:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Floating rate asset-backed securities

 

 
689

 
689

Total trading

 

 
689

 
689

Total Investment Securities
1,050,691

 
847,232

 
41,265

 
1,939,188

Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Available-for-sale:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

AgVantage

 

 
3,631,662

 
3,631,662

Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities

 

 
27,619

 
27,619

Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities

 

 
3,659,281

 
3,659,281

USDA Guaranteed Securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Available-for-sale

 

 
1,731,222

 
1,731,222

Trading

 

 
40,310

 
40,310

Total USDA Guaranteed Securities

 

 
1,771,532

 
1,771,532

Financial derivatives

 
4,177

 

 
4,177

Total Assets at fair value
$
1,050,691

 
$
851,409

 
$
5,472,078

 
$
7,374,178

Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Financial derivatives
$
3

 
$
84,841

 
$

 
$
84,844

Total Liabilities at fair value
$
3

 
$
84,841

 
$

 
$
84,844

Nonrecurring:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Assets:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loans held for investment
$

 
$

 
$
5,973

 
$
5,973

Total Nonrecurring Assets at fair value
$

 
$

 
$
5,973

 
$
5,973






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Table of Contents

The following tables present additional information about assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for which Farmer Mac has used significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value. Net transfers in and/or out of level 3 are based on the fair values of the assets and liabilities as of the beginning of the reporting period. There were no liabilities measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs during the three months ended September 30, 2015.

Table 8.2
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
  
Beginning
Balance
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Settlements
 
Realized and
Unrealized Gains/(Losses) included
in Income
 
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
included in Other
Comprehen-sive
Income
 
Ending
Balance
 
(in thousands)
Recurring:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
$
40,182

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
(100
)
 
$
4,842

 
$
44,924

Total available-for-sale
40,182

 

 

 

 
(100
)
 
4,842

 
44,924

Trading:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Floating rate asset-backed securities(1)
606

 

 

 
(106
)
 
50

 

 
550

Total trading
606

 

 

 
(106
)
 
50

 

 
550

Total Investment Securities
40,788

 

 

 
(106
)
 
(50
)
 
4,842

 
45,474

Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Available-for-sale:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

AgVantage
4,016,200

 
200,000

 

 
(59,311
)
 
15,834

 
(46,761
)
 
4,125,962

Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
35,008

 

 

 
(2,614
)
 

 
(1,686
)
 
30,708

Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
4,051,208

 
200,000

 

 
(61,925
)
 
15,834

 
(48,447
)
 
4,156,670

USDA Securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Available-for-sale
1,825,406

 
91,374

 

 
(51,282
)
 

 
(11,076
)
 
1,854,422

Trading(2)
33,770

 

 

 
(1,777
)
 
(57
)
 

 
31,936

Total USDA Securities
1,859,176

 
91,374

 

 
(53,059
)
 
(57
)
 
(11,076
)
 
1,886,358

Total Assets at fair value
$
5,951,172

 
$
291,374

 
$

 
$
(115,090
)
 
$
15,727

 
$
(54,681
)
 
$
6,088,502

(1) 
Unrealized gains are attributable to assets still held as of September 30, 2015 and are recorded in "(Losses)/gains on trading securities."
(2) 
Includes unrealized losses of $0.1 million attributable to assets still held as of September 30, 2015 that are recorded in "(Losses)/gains on trading securities."




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Table of Contents

Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value for the the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
  
Beginning
Balance
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Settlements
 
Realized and
Unrealized Gains/(Losses) included
in Income
 
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
included in Other
Comprehen-sive
Income
 
Ending
Balance
 
(in thousands)
Recurring:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
$
54,976

 
$

 
$
(14,550
)
 
$

 
$
(450
)
 
$
798

 
$
40,774

Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
195

 

 

 
(7
)
 

 
(1
)
 
187

Total available-for-sale
55,171

 

 
(14,550
)
 
(7
)
 
(450
)
 
797

 
40,961

Trading:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Floating rate asset-backed securities(1)
880

 

 

 
(127
)
 
24

 

 
777

Total trading
880

 

 

 
(127
)
 
24

 

 
777

Total Investment Securities
56,051

 

 
(14,550
)
 
(134
)
 
(426
)
 
797

 
41,738

Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Available-for-sale:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

AgVantage
3,416,512

 
295,700

 

 
(382,630
)
 
(2,549
)
 
9,293

 
3,336,326

Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
21,044

 

 

 
(200
)
 

 
(395
)
 
20,449

Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
3,437,556

 
295,700

 

 
(382,830
)
 
(2,549
)
 
8,898

 
3,356,775

USDA Securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Available-for-sale
1,636,930

 
97,275

 

 
(42,821
)
 

 
(3,503
)
 
1,687,881

Trading(2)
46,099

 

 

 
(3,079
)
 
(56
)
 

 
42,964

Total USDA Securities
1,683,029

 
97,275

 

 
(45,900
)
 
(56
)
 
(3,503
)
 
1,730,845

Total Assets at fair value
$
5,176,636

 
$
392,975

 
$
(14,550
)
 
$
(428,864
)
 
$
(3,031
)
 
$
6,192

 
$
5,129,358

(1) 
Unrealized gains are attributable to assets still held as of September 30, 2014 and are recorded in "(Losses)/gains on trading securities."
(2) 
Includes immaterial unrealized losses attributable to assets still held as of September 30, 2014 that are recorded in "(Losses)/gains on trading securities."



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Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value for the the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
  
Beginning
Balance
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Settlements
 
Realized and
Unrealized Gains/(Losses) included
in Income
 
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
included in Other
Comprehen-sive
Income
 
Ending
Balance
 
(in thousands)
Recurring:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
$
40,576

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
(100
)
 
$
4,448

 
$
44,924

Total available-for-sale
40,576

 

 

 

 
(100
)
 
4,448

 
44,924

Trading:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Floating rate asset-backed securities(1)
689

 

 

 
(543
)
 
404

 

 
550

Total trading
689

 

 

 
(543
)
 
404

 

 
550

Total Investment Securities
41,265

 

 

 
(543
)
 
304

 
4,448

 
45,474

Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Available-for-sale:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

AgVantage
3,631,662

 
664,175

 

 
(126,308
)
 
13,356

 
(56,923
)
 
4,125,962

Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
27,619

 
12,512

 

 
(9,032
)
 

 
(391
)
 
30,708

Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
3,659,281

 
676,687

 

 
(135,340
)
 
13,356

 
(57,314
)
 
4,156,670

USDA Securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Available-for-sale
1,731,222

 
291,981

 

 
(184,665
)
 

 
15,884

 
1,854,422

Trading(2)
40,310

 

 

 
(8,494
)
 
120

 

 
31,936

Total USDA Securities
1,771,532

 
291,981

 

 
(193,159
)
 
120

 
15,884

 
1,886,358

Total Assets at fair value
$
5,472,078

 
$
968,668

 
$

 
$
(329,042
)
 
$
13,780

 
$
(36,982
)
 
$
6,088,502

(1) 
Unrealized gains are attributable to assets still held as of September 30, 2015 and are recorded in "(Losses)/gains on trading securities."
(2) 
Includes unrealized gains of $0.2 million attributable to assets still held as of September 30, 2015 that are recorded in "(Losses)/gains on trading securities."


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Table of Contents

Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
  
Beginning
Balance
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Settlements
 
Realized and
Unrealized Gains/(Losses) included
in Income
 
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
included in Other
Comprehen-sive
Income
 
Transfers Out
 
Ending
Balance
 
(in thousands)
Recurring:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
$
65,285

 
$

 
$
(26,675
)
 
$

 
$
(825
)
 
$
2,989

 
$

 
$
40,774

Floating rate Government/GSE guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
205

 

 

 
(18
)
 

 

 

 
187

Total available-for-sale
65,490

 

 
(26,675
)
 
(18
)
 
(825
)
 
2,989

 

 
40,961

Trading:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Floating rate asset-backed securities(1)
928

 

 

 
(541
)
 
390

 

 

 
777

Total trading
928

 

 

 
(541
)
 
390

 

 

 
777

Total Investment Securities
66,418

 

 
(26,675
)
 
(559
)
 
(435
)
 
2,989

 

 
41,738

Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Available-for-sale:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

AgVantage
5,070,366

 
761,475

 

 
(915,218
)
 
4,019

 
27,770

 
(1,612,086
)
 
3,336,326

Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
21,234

 

 

 
(562
)
 

 
(223
)
 

 
20,449

Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
5,091,600

 
761,475

 

 
(915,780
)
 
4,019

 
27,547

 
(1,612,086
)
 
3,356,775

USDA Securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Available-for-sale
1,553,669

 
256,044

 

 
(162,917
)
 

 
41,085

 

 
1,687,881

Trading(2)
58,344

 

 

 
(15,541
)
 
161

 

 

 
42,964

Total USDA Securities
1,612,013

 
256,044

 

 
(178,458
)
 
161

 
41,085

 

 
1,730,845

Total Assets at fair value
$
6,770,031

 
$
1,017,519

 
$
(26,675
)
 
$
(1,094,797
)
 
$
3,745

 
$
71,621

 
$
(1,612,086
)
 
$
5,129,358

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial derivatives
$
(235
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
235

 
$

 
$

 
$

Total Liabilities at fair value
$
(235
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
235

 
$

 
$

 
$

(1) 
Unrealized gains are attributable to assets still held as of September 30, 2014 and are recorded in "(Losses)/gains on trading securities."
(2) 
Includes unrealized gains of $0.7 million attributable to assets still held as of September 30, 2014 that are recorded in "(Losses)/gains on trading securities."


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Table of Contents

The following tables present additional information about the significant unobservable inputs, such as discount rates and constant prepayment rates ("CPR"), used in the fair value measurements categorized in level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Table 8.3
 
 
As of September 30, 2015
Financial Instruments
 
Fair Value
 
Valuation Technique
 
Unobservable Input
 
Range (Weighted-Average)
 
 
(in thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
 
$
44,924

 
Indicative bids
 
Range of broker quotes
 
92.0% - 99.6% (96.6%)
Floating rate asset-backed securities
 
$
550

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
16.8% - 22.2% (19.9%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
CPR
 
10.0%
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AgVantage
 
$
4,125,962

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
1.06% - 3.08% (1.7%)
Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
 
$
30,708

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
1.1% - 4.1% (1.9%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
CPR
 
8% - 20% (10.0%)
USDA Securities
 
$
1,886,358

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
1.2% - 5.3% (3.2%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
CPR
 
0% - 19% (8.0%)

 
 
As of December 31, 2014
Financial Instruments
 
Fair Value
 
Valuation Technique
 
Unobservable Input
 
Range (Weighted-Average)
 
 
(in thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating rate auction-rate certificates backed by Government guaranteed student loans
 
$
40,576

 
Indicative bids
 
Range of broker quotes
 
82.0% - 94.0% (87.1%)
Floating rate asset-backed securities
 
$
689

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
14.3% - 23.9% (19.1%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
CPR
 
10.0%
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AgVantage
 
$
3,631,662

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
0.7% - 2.7% (1.3%)
Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
 
$
27,619

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
0.8% - 3.6% (1.9%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
CPR
 
0% - 21% (9.0%)
USDA Securities
 
$
1,771,532

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
1.1% - 5.3% (3.2%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
CPR
 
0% - 20% (8.0%)

The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities are prepayment rates and discount rates commensurate with the risks involved. Typically, significant increases (decreases) in any of these inputs in isolation may result in materially lower (higher) fair value measurements. Generally, in a rising interest rate environment, Farmer Mac would expect average discount rates to increase and would likely expect a corresponding decrease in forecasted prepayment rates. Conversely, in a declining interest rate environment, Farmer Mac would expect average discount rates to decrease and would likely expect a corresponding increase in forecasted prepayment rates. Prepayment rates are not presented in the table above for AgVantage securities because they generally do not pay down principal based on amortization schedules but instead typically have fixed maturity dates when the secured general obligations are due.


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Disclosures on Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following table sets forth the estimated fair values and carrying values for financial assets, liabilities, and guarantees and commitments as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

Table 8.4

 
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
(in thousands)
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,516,536

 
$
1,516,536

 
$
1,363,387

 
$
1,363,387

Investment securities
2,032,179

 
2,032,179

 
1,939,188

 
1,939,188

Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
5,447,960

 
5,432,823

 
5,459,857

 
5,453,901

USDA Securities
1,886,358

 
1,886,358

 
1,771,532

 
1,771,532

Loans
3,793,936

 
3,756,534

 
3,547,424

 
3,520,075

Financial derivatives
7,027

 
7,027

 
4,177

 
4,177

Guarantee and commitment fees receivable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LTSPCs
31,143

 
29,972

 
29,095

 
27,807

Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
10,110

 
10,188

 
11,876

 
11,655

Financial liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes payable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due within one year
8,288,217

 
8,280,087

 
7,357,770

 
7,353,953

Due after one year
5,305,185

 
5,217,307

 
5,556,570

 
5,471,186

Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties
613,539

 
612,994

 
423,085

 
424,214

Financial derivatives
94,880

 
94,880

 
84,844

 
84,844

Guarantee and commitment obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LTSPCs
30,242

 
29,071

 
28,130

 
26,843

Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities
9,104

 
9,182

 
11,303

 
11,082


The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents is a reasonable estimate of their approximate fair value and is classified as level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Investment securities primarily are valued based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and are classified as level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Farmer Mac internally models the fair value of its loan portfolio, including loans held for sale, loans held for investment and loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, and USDA Securities by discounting the projected cash flows of these instruments at projected interest rates. The fair values are based on the present value of expected cash flows using management's best estimate of certain key assumptions, which include prepayment speeds, forward yield curves and discount rates commensurate with the risks involved. These fair value measurements do not take into consideration the fair value of the underlying property and are classified as level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. Financial derivatives primarily are valued using unadjusted counterparty valuations and are classified as level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the guarantee fees receivable/obligation and debt securities of consolidated trusts are estimated based on the present value of expected future cash flows of the underlying mortgage assets using management's best estimate of certain key assumptions, which include prepayments speeds, forward yield curves, and discount rates commensurate with the risks involved and are classified as level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. Notes payable are valued by discounting the expected cash flows of these instruments using a yield curve derived from market prices observed for similar agency securities and are


49

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also classified as level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. Because the cash flows of Farmer Mac's financial instruments may be interest rate path dependent, estimated fair values and projected discount rates for level 3 financial instruments are derived using a Monte Carlo simulation model. Different market assumptions and estimation methodologies could significantly affect estimated fair value amounts.

9.
BUSINESS SEGMENT REPORTING

Farmer Mac's operations consist of four reportable operating segments – Farm & Ranch, USDA Guarantees, Rural Utilities, and Institutional Credit. The Institutional Credit segment comprises Farmer Mac's guarantees of AgVantage securities related to general obligations of lenders that are secured by pools of eligible loans.

Farmer Mac uses these four segments to manage business risk, and each segment is based on distinct products and distinct business activities.  In addition to these four operating segments, a corporate segment is presented.  That segment represents activity in Farmer Mac's investment portfolio and other corporate activities.  The operating segment financial results include directly attributable revenues and expenses.  Corporate charges for administrative expenses that are not directly attributable to an operating segment are allocated based on headcount.

Farmer Mac uses core earnings to measure corporate economic performance and develop financial plans because, in management's view, core earnings is a useful alternative measure in understanding Farmer Mac's economic performance, transaction economics, and business trends.  Core earnings principally differs from net income attributable to common stockholders by excluding the effects of fair value fluctuations, which are not expected to have a cumulative net impact on financial condition or results of operations reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") if the related financial instruments are held to maturity, as is generally expected. Core earnings also differs from net income attributable to common stockholders by excluding specified infrequent or unusual transactions that Farmer Mac believes are not indicative of future operating results and that may not reflect the trends and economic financial performance of Farmer Mac's core business. This non-GAAP financial measure may not be comparable to similarly labeled non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by other companies. Farmer Mac's disclosure of this non-GAAP measure is intended to be supplemental in nature and is not meant to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as more important than, the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The financial information presented below reflects the accounts of Farmer Mac and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.  Accordingly, the core earnings for Farmer Mac's reportable operating segments will differ from the stand-alone financial statements of Farmer Mac's subsidiaries.  These differences will be due to various factors, including the reversal of unrealized gains and losses related to fair value changes of trading assets and financial derivatives, as well as the allocation of certain expenses such as dividends and interest expense related to the issuance of capital and the incurrence of indebtedness managed at the corporate level.  The allocation of general and administrative expenses that are not directly attributable to an operating segment may also result in differences.  


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Table of Contents

The following tables present core earnings for Farmer Mac's reportable operating segments and a reconciliation to consolidated net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

Table 9.1


Core Earnings by Business Segment
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
Farm & Ranch
 
USDA Guarantees
 
Rural 
Utilities
 
Institutional Credit
 
Corporate
 
Reconciling
Adjustments
 
Consolidated Net Income
 
(in thousands)
Interest income(1)
$
22,805

 
$
15,329

 
$
6,909

 
$
19,341

 
$
3,185

 
$
(651
)
 
$
66,918

Interest income related to consolidated trusts owned by third parties reclassified to guarantee fee income
(796
)
 

 

 

 

 
796

 

Interest expense(2)
(12,381
)
 
(10,699
)
 
(4,002
)
 
(8,070
)
 
(1,234
)
 
1,651

 
(34,735
)
Net effective spread
9,628

 
4,630

 
2,907

 
11,271

 
1,951

 
1,796

 
32,183

Guarantee and commitment fees
3,785

 
7

 
100

 
436

 

 
(796
)
 
3,532

Other income/(expense)(3)
513

 
13

 

 

 
(619
)
 
(8,420
)
 
(8,513
)
Non-interest income/(loss)
4,298

 
20

 
100

 
436

 
(619
)
 
(9,216
)
 
(4,981
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Release of allowance for loan losses
1,164

 

 

 

 

 

 
1,164

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for losses
(861
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(861
)
Other non-interest expense
(4,228
)
 
(986
)
 
(838
)
 
(522
)
 
(2,986
)
 

 
(9,560
)
Non-interest expense(4)
(5,089
)
 
(986
)
 
(838
)
 
(522
)
 
(2,986
)
 

 
(10,421
)
Core earnings before income taxes
10,001

 
3,664

 
2,169

 
11,185

 
(1,654
)
 
(7,420
)
(5) 
17,945

Income tax (expense)/benefit
(3,500
)
 
(1,282
)
 
(760
)
 
(3,915
)
 
533

 
2,597

 
(6,327
)
Core earnings before preferred stock dividends and attribution of income to non-controlling interest
6,501

 
2,382

 
1,409

 
7,270

 
(1,121
)
 
(4,823
)
(5) 
11,618

Preferred stock dividends

 

 

 

 
(3,295
)
 

 
(3,295
)
Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 
36

 

 
36

Segment core earnings/(losses)
$
6,501

 
$
2,382

 
$
1,409

 
$
7,270

 
$
(4,380
)
 
$
(4,823
)
(5) 
$
8,359

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets at carrying value
$
2,856,097

 
$
1,941,166

 
$
987,115

 
$
5,405,360

 
$
3,664,107

 
$

 
$
14,853,845

Total on- and off-balance sheet program assets at principal balance
5,504,030

 
1,898,625

 
1,500,307

 
6,725,017

 


 

 
15,627,979

(1) 
Includes reconciling adjustments for the amortization of premiums and discounts on assets consolidated at fair value to reflect core earnings amounts.
(2) 
Based on effective funding cost determined for each operating segment, including expenses related to interest rate swaps not designated as hedges, which are included in "(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities" on the consolidated financial statements.
(3) 
Includes reconciling adjustments for the reclassification of expenses related to interest rate swaps not designated as hedges and fair value adjustments on financial derivatives and trading assets. Also includes a reconciling adjustment related to the recognition of deferred gains over the estimated lives of certain Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities.
(4) 
Includes directly attributable costs and an allocation of indirectly attributable costs based on headcount.
(5) 
Net adjustments to reconcile core earnings before income taxes; core earnings before preferred stock dividends and attribution of income to non-controlling interest; and segment core earnings to corresponding income measures: income before income taxes, net income, and net income attributable to common stockholders, respectively.


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Table of Contents

Core Earnings by Business Segment
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
 
Farm & Ranch
 
USDA Guarantees
 
Rural 
Utilities
 
Institutional Credit
 
Corporate
 
Reconciling
Adjustments
 
Consolidated Net Income
 
(in thousands)
Interest income(1)
$
20,052

 
$
14,183

 
$
6,703

 
$
18,751

 
$
4,683

 
$
(962
)
 
$
63,410

Interest income related to consolidated trusts owned by third parties reclassified to guarantee fee income
(508
)
 

 

 

 

 
508

 

Interest expense(2)
(11,337
)
 
(9,110
)
 
(3,813
)
 
(8,928
)
 
(910
)
 
(14,788
)
 
(48,886
)
Net effective spread
8,207

 
5,073

 
2,890

 
9,823

 
3,773

 
(15,242
)
 
14,524

Guarantee and commitment fees
3,716

 
49

 

 
387

 

 
(508
)
 
3,644

Other income/(expense)(3)
369

 
13

 
9

 

 
(2,392
)
 
19,284

 
17,283

Non-interest income/(loss)
4,085

 
62

 
9

 
387

 
(2,392
)
 
18,776

 
20,927

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for loan losses
(511
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(511
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Release of reserve for losses
1,315

 

 

 

 

 

 
1,315

Other non-interest expense
(3,797
)
 
(747
)
 
(762
)
 
(478
)
 
(2,626
)
 

 
(8,410
)
Non-interest expense(4)
(2,482
)
 
(747
)
 
(762
)
 
(478
)
 
(2,626
)
 

 
(7,095
)
Core earnings before income taxes
9,299

 
4,388

 
2,137

 
9,732

 
(1,245
)
 
3,534

(5) 
27,845

Income tax (expense)/benefit
(3,255
)
 
(1,535
)
 
(749
)
 
(3,407
)
 
2,619

 
(1,237
)
 
(7,564
)
Core earnings before preferred stock dividends and attribution of income to non-controlling interest
6,044

 
2,853

 
1,388

 
6,325

 
1,374

 
2,297

(5) 
20,281

Preferred stock dividends

 

 

 

 
(3,283
)
 

 
(3,283
)
Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 
(5,412
)
 

 
(5,412
)
Segment core earnings/(losses)
$
6,044

 
$
2,853

 
$
1,388

 
$
6,325

 
$
(7,321
)
 
$
2,297

(5) 
$
11,586

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets at carrying value
$
2,428,603

 
$
1,772,333

 
$
981,300

 
$
5,016,670

 
$
4,326,791

 
$

 
$
14,525,697

Total on- and off-balance sheet program assets at principal balance
5,314,437

 
1,759,948

 
978,637

 
5,951,800

 
 
 

 
14,004,822

(1) 
Includes reconciling adjustments for the amortization of premiums and discounts on assets consolidated at fair value to reflect core earnings amounts and interest income related to securities purchased under agreements to resell.
(2) 
Based on effective funding cost determined for each operating segment, including expenses related to interest rate swaps not designated as hedges, which are included in "(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities" on the consolidated financial statements. Includes reconciling adjustments for interest expense related to securities sold, not yet purchased.
(3) 
Includes interest income and interest expense related to securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold, not yet purchased, respectively; reconciling adjustments for the reclassification of expenses related to interest rate swaps not designated as hedges and fair value adjustments on financial derivatives and trading assets; and a reconciling adjustment related to the recognition of deferred gains over the estimated lives of certain Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities.
(4) 
Includes directly attributable costs and an allocation of indirectly attributable costs based on headcount.
(5) 
Net adjustments to reconcile core earnings before income taxes; core earnings before preferred stock dividends and attribution of income to non-controlling interest; and segment core earnings to corresponding income measures: income before income taxes, net income, and net income attributable to common stockholders, respectively.



52

Table of Contents

Core Earnings by Business Segment
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
Farm & Ranch
 
USDA Guarantees
 
Rural 
Utilities
 
Institutional Credit
 
Corporate
 
Reconciling
Adjustments
 
Consolidated Net Income
 
(in thousands)
Interest income(1)
$
66,932

 
$
44,456

 
$
20,015

 
$
58,676

 
$
9,144

 
$
(1,962
)
 
$
197,261

Interest income related to consolidated trusts owned by third parties reclassified to guarantee fee income
(2,128
)
 

 

 

 

 
2,128

 

Interest expense(2)
(35,381
)
 
(31,135
)
 
(11,466
)
 
(26,120
)
 
(3,562
)
 
5,239

 
(102,425
)
Net effective spread
29,423

 
13,321

 
8,549

 
32,556

 
5,582

 
5,405

 
94,836

Guarantee and commitment fees
11,111

 
9

 
100

 
1,205

 

 
(2,128
)
 
10,297

Other income/(expense)(3)
760

 
100

 

 

 
(1,383
)
 
3,927

 
3,404

Non-interest income/(loss)
11,871

 
109

 
100

 
1,205

 
(1,383
)
 
1,799

 
13,701

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Release of allowance for loan losses
978

 

 

 

 

 

 
978

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for losses
(1,235
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(1,235
)
Other non-interest expense
(12,858
)
 
(2,396
)
 
(2,564
)
 
(1,589
)
 
(8,975
)
 

 
(28,382
)
Non-interest expense(4)
(14,093
)
 
(2,396
)
 
(2,564
)
 
(1,589
)
 
(8,975
)
 

 
(29,617
)
Core earnings before income taxes
28,179

 
11,034

 
6,085

 
32,172

 
(4,776
)
 
7,204

(5) 
79,898

Income tax (expense)/benefit
(9,862
)
 
(3,861
)
 
(2,129
)
 
(11,260
)
 
3,405

 
(620
)
 
(24,327
)
Core earnings before preferred stock dividends and attribution of income to non-controlling interest
18,317

 
7,173

 
3,956

 
20,912

 
(1,371
)
 
6,584

(5) 
55,571

Preferred stock dividends

 

 

 

 
(9,886
)
 

 
(9,886
)
Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 
(5,199
)
 

 
(5,199
)
Loss on retirement of preferred stock

 

 

 

 

 
(8,147
)
 
(8,147
)
Segment core earnings/(losses)
$
18,317

 
$
7,173

 
$
3,956

 
$
20,912

 
$
(16,456
)
 
$
(1,563
)
(5) 
$
32,339

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets at carrying value
$
2,856,097

 
$
1,941,166

 
$
987,115

 
$
5,405,360

 
$
3,664,107

 
$

 
$
14,853,845

Total on- and off-balance sheet program assets at principal balance
5,504,030

 
1,898,625

 
1,500,307

 
6,725,017

 
 
 

 
15,627,979

(1) 
Includes reconciling adjustments for the amortization of premiums and discounts on assets consolidated at fair value to reflect core earnings amounts.
(2) 
Based on effective funding cost determined for each operating segment, including expenses related to interest rate swaps not designated as hedges, which are included in "(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities" on the consolidated financial statements.
(3) 
Includes reconciling adjustments for the reclassification of expenses related to interest rate swaps not designated as hedges and fair value adjustments on financial derivatives and trading assets. Also includes a reconciling adjustment related to the recognition of deferred gains over the estimated lives of certain Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities.
(4) 
Includes directly attributable costs and an allocation of indirectly attributable costs based on headcount.
(5) 
Net adjustments to reconcile core earnings before income taxes; core earnings before preferred stock dividends and attribution of income to non-controlling interest; and segment core earnings to corresponding income measures: income before income taxes, net income, and net income attributable to common stockholders, respectively.


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Table of Contents

Core Earnings by Business Segment
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
 
Farm & Ranch
 
USDA Guarantees
 
Rural 
Utilities
 
Institutional Credit
 
Corporate
 
Reconciling
Adjustments
 
Consolidated Net Income
 
(in thousands)
Interest income(1)
$
57,988

 
$
40,449

 
$
21,228

 
$
59,206

 
$
15,103

 
$
(13,637
)
 
$
180,337

Interest income related to consolidated trusts owned by third parties reclassified to guarantee fee income
(1,552
)
 

 

 

 

 
1,552

 

Interest expense(2)
(33,295
)
 
(27,433
)
 
(13,395
)
 
(30,020
)
 
(3,028
)
 
(18,943
)
 
(126,114
)
Net effective spread
23,141

 
13,016

 
7,833

 
29,186

 
12,075

 
(31,028
)
 
54,223

Guarantee and commitment fees
11,432

 
98

 

 
1,153

 

 
(1,552
)
 
11,131

Other income/(expense)(3)
742

 
49

 
9

 

 
(3,566
)
 
15,791

 
13,025

Non-interest income/(loss)
12,174

 
147

 
9

 
1,153

 
(3,566
)
 
14,239

 
24,156

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Release of allowance for loan losses
499

 

 

 

 

 

 
499

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Release of reserve for losses
2,188

 

 

 

 

 

 
2,188

Other non-interest expense
(11,263
)
 
(2,242
)
 
(2,369
)
 
(1,415
)
 
(7,797
)
 

 
(25,086
)
Non-interest expense(4)
(9,075
)
 
(2,242
)
 
(2,369
)
 
(1,415
)
 
(7,797
)
 

 
(22,898
)
Core earnings before income taxes
26,739

 
10,921

 
5,473

 
28,924

 
712

 
(16,789
)
(5) 
55,980

Income tax (expense)/benefit
(9,358
)
 
(3,823
)
 
(1,917
)
 
(10,124
)
 
19,295

 
5,872

 
(55
)
Core earnings before preferred stock dividends and attribution of income to non-controlling interest
17,381

 
7,098

 
3,556

 
18,800

 
20,007

 
(10,917
)
(5) 
55,925

Preferred stock dividends

 

 

 

 
(6,543
)
 

 
(6,543
)
Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 
(16,778
)
 

 
(16,778
)
Segment core earnings/(losses)
$
17,381

 
$
7,098

 
$
3,556

 
$
18,800

 
$
(3,314
)
 
$
(10,917
)
(5) 
$
32,604

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets at carrying value
$
2,428,603

 
$
1,772,333

 
$
981,300

 
$
5,016,670

 
$
4,326,791

 
$

 
$
14,525,697

Total on- and off-balance sheet program assets at principal balance
5,314,437

 
1,759,948

 
978,637

 
5,951,800

 
 
 

 
14,004,822

(1) 
Includes reconciling adjustments for the amortization of premiums and discounts on assets consolidated at fair value to reflect core earnings amounts and interest income related to securities purchased under agreements to resell.
(2) 
Based on effective funding cost determined for each operating segment, including expenses related to interest rate swaps not designated as hedges, which are included in "(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities" on the consolidated financial statements. Includes reconciling adjustments for interest expense related to securities sold, not yet purchased.
(3) 
Includes interest income and interest expense related to securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold, not yet purchased, respectively; reconciling adjustments for the reclassification of expenses related to interest rate swaps not designated as hedges and fair value adjustments on financial derivatives and trading assets; and a reconciling adjustment related to the recognition of deferred gains over the estimated lives of certain Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities.
(4) 
Includes directly attributable costs and an allocation of indirectly attributable costs based on headcount.
(5) 
Net adjustments to reconcile core earnings before income taxes; core earnings before preferred stock dividends and attribution of income to non-controlling interest; and segment core earnings to corresponding income measures: income before income taxes, net income, and net income attributable to common stockholders, respectively.



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

Financial information included in this report is consolidated to include the accounts of Farmer Mac and its three subsidiaries – Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, Farmer Mac II LLC, and Contour Valuation Services, LLC. This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read together with (1) the interim unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes that appear elsewhere in this report and (2) Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 16, 2015.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements made in this report, and in particular in the "Management's Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 pertaining to management's current expectations as to Farmer Mac's future financial results, business prospects, and business developments.  Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance, or achievements. These statements typically are accompanied by, and identified with, terms such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "potential," "may," "should," and similar phrases.  This report includes forward-looking statements addressing Farmer Mac's:
 
prospects for earnings;
prospects for growth in business volume;
trends in net interest income and net effective spread;
trends in portfolio credit quality, delinquencies, and provisions for losses;
trends in expenses;
trends in investment securities;
prospects for asset impairments and allowance for losses;
changes in capital position; and
other business and financial matters.

Management's expectations for Farmer Mac's future necessarily involve a number of assumptions and estimates and the evaluation of risks and uncertainties.  Various factors or events, both known and unknown, could cause Farmer Mac's actual results to differ materially from the expectations as expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015, and uncertainties regarding:
 
the availability to Farmer Mac of debt and equity financing and, if available, the reasonableness of rates and terms;
legislative or regulatory developments that could affect Farmer Mac or its sources of business;
fluctuations in the fair value of assets held by Farmer Mac and its subsidiaries;
the rate and direction of development of the secondary market for agricultural mortgage and rural utilities loans, including lender interest in Farmer Mac credit products and the secondary market provided by Farmer Mac;
the general rate of growth in agricultural mortgage and rural utilities indebtedness;


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the impact of economic conditions, including the effects of drought and other weather-related conditions and fluctuations in agricultural real estate values, on agricultural mortgage lending and borrower repayment capacity;
developments in the financial markets, including possible investor, analyst, and rating agency reactions to events involving government-sponsored enterprises, including Farmer Mac;
changes in the level and direction of interest rates, which could, among other things, affect the value of collateral securing Farmer Mac's agricultural mortgage loan assets; and
volatility in commodity prices relative to costs of production and/or export demand for U.S. agricultural products.

In light of these potential risks and uncertainties, no undue reliance should be placed on any forward-looking statements expressed in this report.  Furthermore, Farmer Mac undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of revisions to any forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect new information or any future events or circumstances, except as otherwise mandated by the SEC. The information contained in this report is not necessarily indicative of future results.

Overview

During third quarter 2015, Farmer Mac increased its outstanding business volume by $497.9 million to $15.6 billion driven primarily by the addition of $522.3 million of Rural Utilities loans under LTSPCs, which was the first time Farmer Mac has provided LTSPCs on loans in the Rural Utilities line of business. Farmer Mac also added a $300.0 million revolving floating rate AgVantage facility during third quarter 2015. Farmer Mac's net effective spread improved $0.6 million in third quarter 2015 compared to second quarter 2015. Credit quality remained stable during the quarter.

On September 8, 2015, Farmer Mac's board of directors approved a share repurchase program (“Share Repurchase Program”) authorizing Farmer Mac to repurchase up to $25 million of its outstanding Class C Non-Voting Common Stock over the next two years. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac had repurchased approximately 104,000 shares of Class C Non-Voting Common Stock at a cost of approximately $2.8 million under the Share Repurchase Program.

The effects of Farmer Mac's cash management and liquidity initiative and capital restructuring initiative are explained in the comparisons of financial results between third quarter 2015 and third quarter 2014. These two initiatives were completed in first quarter 2015 and are described in more detail in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015.

Net Income and Core Earnings

Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders for third quarter 2015 was $8.4 million, compared to $11.6 million for third quarter 2014. The decrease was primarily attributable to the effects of unrealized fair value changes on financial derivatives and hedged assets, which was a $4.5 million after-tax loss in third quarter 2015, compared to a $2.7 million after-tax gain in third quarter 2014. The year-over-year decrease in net income attributable to common stockholders was partially offset by a decrease in preferred stock dividend expense of $3.5 million after-tax in third quarter 2015 compared to third quarter 2014, due to the redemption of all outstanding shares of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock on March 30, 2015. For more information about quarter-to-quarter changes in net income attributable to common stockholders, see "—Results of Operations."



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Farmer Mac's non-GAAP core earnings for third quarter 2015 were $13.2 million, compared to $9.3 million in third quarter 2014 and $11.6 million in second quarter 2015. The year-over-year increase was primarily attributable to: (1) a $3.5 million after-tax decrease in preferred dividend expense resulting from the redemption of all outstanding shares of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock in first quarter 2015; (2) a $1.8 million after-tax increase in net effective spread resulting from net growth in outstanding business volume, excluding the effect of the October 1, 2014 redemption of Farmer Mac's investment in $78.5 million of high yielding preferred stock; and (3) the absence in third quarter 2015 of $1.0 million after-tax in financing costs related to the cash management and liquidity initiative. The year-over-year increase in core earnings was offset in part by the loss of $1.9 million after-tax in preferred dividend income resulting from the fourth quarter 2014 redemption of $78.5 million of high-yielding preferred stock previously held in Farmer Mac's investment portfolio. In addition, operating expenses increased in third quarter 2015 by $0.7 million after-tax compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to higher compensation costs resulting from the consolidation of Farmer Mac's appraisal subsidiary, Contour Valuation Services, LLC, higher legal fees, and information services expenses related to corporate strategic initiatives. Credit expenses also increased $0.4 million after-tax. The increase in core earnings in third quarter 2015 compared to second quarter 2015 was primarily due to a $1.0 million decrease in credit expenses resulting from net releases to the allowance for losses of $0.2 million after-tax in third quarter 2015, compared to net provisions of $0.8 million after-tax in second quarter 2015, and an increase in net effective spread of $0.4 million after-tax resulting from overall portfolio growth in Farm & Ranch loans, USDA Securities, and Rural Utilities loans. Fair value changes on derivatives do not affect core earnings. For more information about the composition of core earnings, see "—Results of Operations."

Farmer Mac's net effective spread was $30.4 million (88 basis points) in third quarter 2015, compared to $29.8 million (97 basis points) in third quarter 2014 and $29.8 million (88 basis points) in second quarter 2015. The year-over-year decrease in basis points was primarily attributable to the loss of $2.1 million in preferred dividend income (7 basis points) from the October 2014 redemption of preferred stock held in Farmer Mac's investment portfolio. The year-over-year increase in dollars was primarily attributable to growth in outstanding business volume. The increase in dollars of net effective spread compared to second quarter 2015 was primarily due to growth in outstanding business volume.

Business Volume

Farmer Mac added $1.4 billion of new business volume during third quarter 2015. The new business volume included Rural Utilities loans added under LTSPCs of $522.3 million, the addition of a $300.0 million revolving floating rate AgVantage facility, purchases of AgVantage securities of $206.6 million, Farm & Ranch loan purchases of $176.0 million, USDA Securities purchases of $91.4 million, Farm & Ranch loans added under LTSPCs of $79.6 million, and Rural Utilities loan purchases of $53.6 million. Taking into account maturities and paydowns on existing assets, Farmer Mac's outstanding business volume was $15.6 billion as of September 30, 2015, an increase of $497.9 million from June 30, 2015, $1.0 billion from December 31, 2014, and $1.6 billion from September 30, 2014.

Capital

As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac's core capital level was $558.2 million, $115.4 million above the minimum capital level required by Farmer Mac's statutory charter.  As of December 31, 2014, Farmer Mac's core capital level was $766.3 million, which was $345.0 million above the minimum capital requirement. The decrease in capital in excess of the minimum capital level was due primarily to the redemption of the Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock in first quarter 2015.


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Credit Quality

Farmer Mac continued to maintain favorable credit metrics, as substandard assets and the total allowance for losses as a percentage of the Farm & Ranch portfolio remained at similar levels compared to second quarter 2015. During third quarter 2015, Farmer Mac reduced its total allowance for losses by $0.3 million, primarily due to a reduction in the specific allowance for a permanent planting loan and a decrease in the general allowance for processing loans underlying LTSPCs due to repayment of these loans at par. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac's 90-day delinquencies were $36.7 million (0.67 percent of the Farm & Ranch portfolio), up from $18.9 million (0.35 percent of the Farm & Ranch portfolio) as of December 31, 2014, and from $24.7 million (0.46 of the Farm & Ranch portfolio) as of September 30, 2014. The primary cause of the increase in 90-day delinquencies during third quarter 2015 was the delinquency of one borrower on two canola facility loans underlying an LTSPC that had been categorized as substandard assets in second quarter 2015 and became delinquent for 90 days or more during third quarter 2015. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac's exposure to this canola facility was $13.5 million. During third quarter 2015, Farmer Mac increased the allowance for losses by $1.3 million related to this canola facility. For more information about Farmer Mac's credit metrics, including 90-day delinquencies, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Risk Management—Credit Risk – Loans and Guarantees."

Results of Operations

Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended September 30, 2015 was $8.4 million, or $0.74 per diluted common share, compared to $11.6 million, or $1.02 per diluted common share, for the same period in 2014. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders was $32.3 million, or $2.85 per diluted common share, compared to $32.6 million, or $2.87 per diluted common share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Farmer Mac's non-GAAP core earnings were $13.2 million, or $1.17 per diluted common share for the three months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $9.3 million, or $0.82 per diluted common share for the same period in 2014. Farmer Mac's non-GAAP core earnings were $33.9 million, or $2.99 per diluted common share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $43.5 million, or $3.83 per diluted common share, for the same period in 2014.

Farmer Mac uses core earnings to measure corporate economic performance and develop financial plans because, in management's view, core earnings is a useful alternative measure in understanding Farmer Mac's economic performance, transaction economics, and business trends. Core earnings principally differs from net income attributable to common stockholders by excluding the effects of fair value fluctuations, which are not expected to have a cumulative net impact on financial condition or results of operations reported in accordance with GAAP if the related financial instruments are held to maturity, as is generally expected. Core earnings also differs from net income attributable to common stockholders by excluding specified infrequent or unusual transactions that Farmer Mac believes are not indicative of future operating results and that may not reflect the trends and economic financial performance of Farmer Mac's core business. Accordingly, the loss from retirement of the Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock in first quarter 2015 has been excluded from core earnings because it is not a frequently occurring transaction and not indicative of future operating results. This is also consistent with Farmer Mac's previous treatment of these types of origination costs associated with securities underwriting that are capitalized and deferred during the life of the security. The non-GAAP financial measure of core earnings used by Farmer Mac may not be comparable to similarly labeled non-GAAP


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financial measures disclosed by other companies. Farmer Mac's disclosure of this non-GAAP measure is intended to be supplemental in nature, and is not meant to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as more important than, the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.



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A reconciliation of Farmer Mac's net income attributable to common stockholders to core earnings is presented in the following table along with a breakdown of the composition of core earnings:

Table 1
Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders to Core Earnings
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
8,359

 
$
11,586

Less the after-tax effects of:
 
 
 

Unrealized (losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities
(4,489
)
 
2,685

Unrealized losses on trading assets(1)
(5
)
 
(21
)
Amortization of premiums/discounts and deferred gains on assets consolidated at fair value
(76
)
 
(440
)
Net effects of settlements on agency forward contracts
(253
)
 
73

      Sub-total
(4,823
)
 
2,297

Core earnings
$
13,182

 
$
9,289

 
 
 
 
Composition of Core Earnings:
 
 
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
Net effective spread
$
30,387

 
$
29,766

Guarantee and commitment fees
4,328

 
4,152

Other(2)
(93
)
 
(2,001
)
Total revenues
34,622

 
31,917

 
 
 
 
Credit related (income)/expense:
 
 
 
Release of losses
(303
)
 
(804
)
REO operating expenses
48

 
1

Gains on sale of REO

 

Total credit related income
(255
)
 
(803
)
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
Compensation and employee benefits
5,236

 
4,693

General and administrative
3,676

 
3,123

Regulatory fees
600

 
593

Total operating expenses
9,512

 
8,409

 
 
 
 
Net earnings
25,365

 
24,311

Income tax expense
8,924

 
6,327

Net (loss)/income attributable to non-controlling interest
(36
)
 
5,412

Preferred stock dividends
3,295

 
3,283

Core earnings
$
13,182

 
$
9,289

 
 
 
 
Core earnings per share:
 
 
 
  Basic
$
1.20

 
$
0.85

  Diluted
1.17

 
0.82

Weighted-average shares:
 
 
 
  Basic
11,028

 
10,930

  Diluted
11,271

 
11,372

(1) 
Excludes unrealized gains related to securities sold, not yet purchased of $16.4 million during the three months ended September 30, 2014.
(2) 
Includes $17.9 million of interest expense related to securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold, not yet purchased and $16.4 million of unrealized gains on securities sold, not yet purchased during the three months ended September 30, 2014.



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Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders to Core Earnings
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
32,339

 
$
32,604

Less the after-tax effects of:
 
 
 

Unrealized gains/(losses) on financial derivatives and hedging activities
5,317

 
(2,763
)
Unrealized gains on trading assets (1)
341

 
359

Amortization of premiums/discounts and deferred gains on assets consolidated at fair value(2)
(686
)
 
(8,646
)
Net effects of settlements on agency forward contracts
(289
)
 
133

Loss on retirement of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock(3)
(6,246
)
 

      Sub-total
(1,563
)
 
(10,917
)
Core earnings
$
33,902

 
$
43,521

 
 
 
 
Composition of Core Earnings:
 
 
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
Net effective spread
$
89,431

 
$
85,251

Guarantee and commitment fees
12,425

 
12,683

Other(4)
(522
)
 
(2,931
)
Total revenues
101,334

 
95,003

 
 
 
 
Credit related expense/(income):
 
 
 
Provision for/(release of) losses
257

 
(2,687
)
REO operating expenses
47

 
62

Losses/(gains) on sale of REO
1

 
(165
)
Total credit related expense/(income)
305

 
(2,790
)
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
Compensation and employee benefits
16,662

 
14,038

General and administrative
9,873

 
9,205

Regulatory fees
1,800

 
1,781

Total operating expenses
28,335

 
25,024

 
 
 
 
Net earnings
72,694

 
72,769

Income tax expense(5)
23,707

 
5,927

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest
5,199

 
16,778

Preferred stock dividends
9,886

 
6,543

Core earnings
$
33,902

 
$
43,521

 
 
 
 
Core earnings per share:
 
 
 
  Basic
$
3.08

 
$
3.99

  Diluted
2.99

 
3.83

Weighted-average shares:
 
 
 
  Basic
10,992

 
10,914

  Diluted
11,347

 
11,360

(1) 
Excludes unrealized gains related to securities sold, not yet purchased of $24.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
(2) 
Includes $7.5 million related to the acceleration of premium amortization in first quarter 2014 due to significant refinancing activity in the Rural Utilities line of business.
(3) 
Relates to the write-off of deferred issuance costs as a result of the retirement of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock.
(4) 
Includes $25.7 million of interest expense related to securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold, not yet purchased and $24.2 million of unrealized gains on securities sold, not yet purchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
(5) 
Includes the reduction of $11.6 million tax valuation allowance against capital loss carryforwards related to expected capital gains on securities sold, not yet purchased and a reduction in tax valuation allowance of $0.9 million associated with certain gains on investment portfolio assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.


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The following sections provide more detail regarding specific components of Farmer Mac's results of operations.

Net Interest Income.  Net interest income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $32.2 million and $94.8 million, respectively, compared to $14.5 million and $54.2 million for the same periods in 2014. The increase in net interest income primarily resulted from the absence of the following two items that did not recur in the first nine months of 2015 but were included in net interest income for the first nine months of 2014: (1) the acceleration of amortization of $11.6 million in premiums associated with certain Rural Utilities loans that were refinanced into other loan products in first quarter 2014; and (2) interest expense of $25.7 million associated with securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold, not yet purchased (related to Farmer Mac's cash management and liquidity initiative that began in second quarter 2014). The increase in net interest income was also attributable in part to an increase in the average outstanding balance of Farm & Ranch loans, USDA Securities, and AgVantage securities. The increase in net interest income was partially offset by the loss of $6.5 million in preferred dividend income due to the October 2014 redemption of high-yielding preferred stock previously held in Farmer Mac's investment portfolio. The overall net interest yield was 89 basis points for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to 53 basis points for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

The following table provides information regarding interest-earning assets and funding for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.  The average balance of non-accruing loans is included in the average balance of loans, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, and USDA Securities presented, though the related income is accounted for on a cash basis.  Therefore, as the average balance of non-accruing loans and the income received increases or decreases, the net interest yield will fluctuate accordingly.  The average balance of loans in consolidated trusts with beneficial interests owned by third parties is disclosed in the net effect of consolidated trusts and is not included in the average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  The interest income and expense associated with these trusts are shown in the net effect of consolidated trusts. 



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Table 2

  
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Average
Balance
 
Income/
Expense
 
Average
Rate
 
Average
Balance
 
Income/
Expense
 
Average
Rate
 
(dollars in thousands)
Interest-earning assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and investments(1)
$
3,227,893

 
$
9,144

 
0.38
%
 
$
3,585,567

 
$
14,845

 
0.55
%
Loans, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities(2)(3)
10,439,224

 
173,911

 
2.22
%
 
9,687,272

 
155,635

 
2.14
%
Total interest-earning assets
13,667,117

 
183,055

 
1.79
%
 
13,272,839

 
170,480

 
1.71
%
Funding:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Notes payable due within one year
5,711,356

 
8,343

 
0.19
%
 
4,570,664

 
5,321

 
0.16
%
Notes payable due after one year(4)
7,422,810

 
82,004

 
1.47
%
 
7,265,672

 
87,005

 
1.60
%
Other interest-bearing liabilities(5)

 

 
%
 
797,324

 
25,483

 
4.26
%
Total interest-bearing liabilities(6)
13,134,166

 
90,347

 
0.92
%
 
12,633,660

 
117,809

 
1.24
%
Net non-interest-bearing funding
532,951

 

 
 

 
639,179

 

 
 

Total funding
13,667,117

 
90,347

 
0.88
%
 
13,272,839

 
117,809

 
1.18
%
Net interest income/yield prior to consolidation of certain trusts
13,667,117

 
92,708

 
0.90
%
 
13,272,839

 
52,671

 
0.53
%
Net effect of consolidated trusts(7)
503,609

 
2,128

 
0.56
%
 
334,163

 
1,552

 
0.62
%
Adjusted net interest income/yield
$
14,170,726

 
$
94,836

 
0.89
%
 
$
13,607,002

 
$
54,223

 
0.53
%
(1) 
Average balance includes $793.1 million of securities purchased under agreements to resell in 2014. Includes $0.3 million of interest expense related to securities purchased under agreements to resell in 2014.
(2) 
Includes $11.6 million related to the acceleration of premium amortization in first quarter 2014 due to refinancing activity in the Rural Utilities line of business. Excludes interest income of $14.2 million and $9.9 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to consolidated trusts with beneficial interests owned by third parties.
(3) 
See Note 1(d) to the consolidated financial statements for more information about the reclassification of certain amounts in prior periods from guarantee and commitment fees to interest income related to on-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities.
(4) 
Includes current portion of long-term notes.
(5) 
Represents securities sold, not yet purchased.
(6) 
Excludes interest expense of $12.1 million and $8.3 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to consolidated trusts with beneficial interests owned by third parties.
(7) 
Includes the effect of consolidated trusts with beneficial interests owned by third parties.

The lower average rate earned on cash and investments during the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014 reflects the effect of the October 1, 2014 redemption of $78.5 million of high-yielding preferred stock previously held in Farmer Mac's investment portfolio and an increase in the average balance of cash and cash equivalents earning minimal yields. The average rate earned on cash and investments during the first nine months of 2014 included the effects of interest costs resulting from the slightly negative rate of return received on the securities purchased under agreements to resell (repos) that were part of Farmer Mac's cash management and liquidity initiative. Farmer Mac's positions in these securities were closed in fourth quarter 2014 and therefore did not have an effect during the first nine months of 2015 as compared to the first nine months of 2014.  The higher average rate on loans, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, and USDA Securities was due to the absence during the first nine months of 2015 of the acceleration of amortization in premiums associated with certain Rural Utilities loans that occurred in the first nine months of 2014, partially offset by the decline in market rates as reflected in the rates on loans and AgVantage securities acquired, reset, or refinanced during 2014 and 2015. The average rates on notes payable due within one year are consistent with general trends in average short-term rates during the period presented.  The downward trend in the average rate on notes payable due after one year for the first nine months of 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014 reflects the retirement of older debt and the issuance of new debt at lower market rates. Other interest-bearing liabilities consist of high coupon fixed-rate U.S. Treasury securities and represent Farmer Mac's positions in securities sold, not yet purchased entered into beginning in second quarter 2014 as part of Farmer Mac's cash management and liquidity initiative. These positions were closed in fourth quarter


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2014 and therefore did not have an effect during the first nine months of 2015 as compared to the first nine months of 2014.

The following table sets forth information regarding changes in the components of Farmer Mac's net interest income for the periods indicated.  For each category, information is provided on changes attributable to changes in volume (change in volume multiplied by old rate) and changes in rate (change in rate multiplied by old volume).  Combined rate/volume variances, the third element of the calculation, are allocated based on their relative size.  

Table 3

  
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 Compared to Same Period 2014
 
Increase/(Decrease) Due to
 
Rate
 
Volume
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
Income from interest-earning assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and investments(1)
$
(4,332
)
 
$
(1,369
)
 
$
(5,701
)
Loans, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities(2)
5,893

 
12,383

 
18,276

Total
1,561

 
11,014

 
12,575

Expense from other interest-bearing liabilities(3)
(31,968
)
 
4,506

 
(27,462
)
Change in net interest income prior to consolidation of certain trusts(4)
$
33,529

 
$
6,508

 
$
40,037

(1) 
Includes $0.3 million of interest expense and an average balance of $793.1 million related to securities purchased under agreements to resell in 2014.
(2) 
Includes $11.6 million related to the acceleration of premium amortization in first quarter 2014 due to refinancing activity in the Rural Utilities line of business.
(3) 
Includes $25.5 million of interest expense and average balance of $797.3 million related to securities sold, not yet purchased in 2014.
(4) 
Excludes the effect of debt in consolidated trusts with beneficial interests owned by third parties.  

The reasons for the decrease in income due to changes in rate on cash and investments, the increase in income due to changes in rate on loans, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, and USDA Securities, and the decrease in expense due to changes in rate are the same as described above. Aside from the decrease in income earned from cash and investments, the increases in income from interest-earning assets and in expense from other interest-bearing liabilities due to changes in volume reflect the increase in the average balance of on-balance sheet assets and the related funding for those assets, respectively, during the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014.

Net interest yield includes the amortization of premiums and discounts on assets consolidated at fair value and excludes the accrual of income and expense related to the contractual amounts due on financial derivatives that are not designated in hedge accounting relationships.  The following paragraphs describe the effects of these items on the net interest yield and the table below presents them as adjustments to reconcile to the net effective spread Farmer Mac earns on the difference between its interest-earning assets and its net funding costs, including payments for income and expense related to derivative financial instruments that are not designated as hedging instruments in a hedge accounting relationship ("undesignated financial derivatives").

Farmer Mac uses interest rate swaps to manage its interest rate risk exposure by synthetically modifying the interest rate reset or maturity characteristics of certain assets and liabilities.  The accrual of the contractual amounts due on interest rate swaps designated in fair value hedge accounting relationships is included as an adjustment to the yield of the hedged item and is included in interest income. For interest rate swaps not designated in hedge accounting relationships, Farmer Mac records the income or expense


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related to the accrual of the contractual amounts due in "(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities" on the consolidated statements of operations.  However, Farmer Mac does include the accrual of the contractual amounts due for undesignated financial derivatives in its calculation of net effective spread, which is intended to reflect the net spread between the asset and all of its related funding, including any associated derivatives, whether or not they are in a hedge accounting relationship.

Farmer Mac's net interest income and net interest yield include net yield adjustments related to the amortization of premiums and discounts on assets consolidated at fair value. These premiums and discounts are amortized as adjustments to yield in interest income over the contractual or estimated remaining lives of the underlying assets. Farmer Mac excludes these amounts from net effective spread because they either do not reflect actual cash premiums paid for the assets at acquisition or are not expected to have an economic effect on Farmer Mac's financial performance if the assets are held to maturity, as is generally expected. Farmer Mac also excluded from net effective spread the amount of interest expense included in net interest income that was incurred during the first nine months of 2014 related to securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold, not yet purchased because the associated benefits from these securities were not similarly recorded in net interest income, but rather were recorded as income tax benefits. Because Farmer Mac's positions in these securities were closed during fourth quarter 2014, adjustments to net interest income for interest expense related to these securities were not necessary for the first nine months of 2015.

The following table presents the net effective spread between Farmer Mac's interest-earning assets and its net funding costs.  This spread is measured by including income or expense related to undesignated financial derivatives (the income or expense related to financial derivatives designated in hedge accounting relationships is already included in net interest income) and excluding the amortization of premiums and discounts on assets consolidated at fair value and the interest expense related to securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold, not yet purchased. Farmer Mac's net effective spread was $30.4 million and $89.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to $29.8 million and $85.3 million for the same periods in 2014, respectively. In percentage terms, net effective spread for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was 0.88 percent and 0.87 percent, respectively, compared to 0.97 percent and 0.91 percent for the same periods in 2014, respectively. The contraction in net effective spread in percentage terms compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was primarily attributable to the loss of $6.5 million in preferred dividend income (7 basis points) from the October 2014 redemption of the high-yielding preferred stock previously held in Farmer Mac's investment portfolio and a higher average balance in cash and cash equivalents to increase Farmer Mac's liquidity position. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for more information regarding net effective spread from Farmer Mac's individual business segments. Additionally, see "—Supplemental Information" for quarterly net effective spread by line of business.



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Table 4
  
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Dollars
 
Yield
 
Dollars
 
Yield
 
Dollar
 
Yield
 
Dollar
 
Yield
 
(dollars in thousands)
Net interest income/yield prior to consolidation of certain trusts(1)(2)
$
31,387

 
0.91
 %
 
$
14,016

 
0.45
 %
 
$
92,708

 
0.90
 %
 
$
52,671

 
0.56
 %
Expense related to undesignated financial derivatives
(1,651
)
 
(0.05
)%
 
(2,949
)
 
(0.10
)%
 
(5,239
)
 
(0.05
)%
 
(6,537
)
 
(0.07
)%
Amortization of premiums on assets consolidated at fair value(2)
651

 
0.02
 %
 
783

 
0.03
 %
 
1,962

 
0.02
 %
 
13,374

 
0.14
 %
Interest expense related to securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold, not yet purchased

 
 %
 
17,916

 
0.59
 %
 

 
 %
 
25,743

 
0.28
 %
Net effective spread
$
30,387

 
0.88
 %
 
$
29,766

 
0.97
 %
 
$
89,431

 
0.87
 %
 
$
85,251

 
0.91
 %
(1) 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, net interest yield is adjusted to remove the average balance of $1.6 billion and $0.8 billion, respectively, related to securities purchased under agreements to resell.
(2) 
Includes $11.6 million related to the acceleration of premium amortization in first quarter 2014 due to refinancing activity in the Rural Utilities line of business.


Provision for and Release of Allowance for Loan Losses and Reserve for Losses.

The following table summarizes the components of Farmer Mac's total allowance for losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

Table 5
 
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
 
Allowance
for Loan
Losses
 
Reserve
for Losses
 
Total
Allowance
for Losses
 
Allowance
for Loan
Losses
 
Reserve
for Losses
 
Total
Allowance
for Losses
 
 
(in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
 
$
5,939

 
$
4,637

 
$
10,576

 
$
5,770

 
$
5,595

 
$
11,365

(Release of)/provision for losses
 
(1,164
)
 
861

 
(303
)
 
511

 
(1,315
)
 
(804
)
Charge-offs
 

 

 

 

 

 

   Recoveries
 

 

 

 
45

 

 
45

Ending Balance
 
$
4,775

 
$
5,498

 
$
10,273

 
$
6,326

 
$
4,280

 
$
10,606

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
 
$
5,864

 
$
4,263

 
$
10,127

 
$
6,866

 
$
6,468

 
$
13,334

(Release of)/provision for losses
 
(978
)
 
1,235

 
257

 
(499
)
 
(2,188
)
 
(2,687
)
Charge-offs
 
(111
)
 

 
(111
)
 
(86
)
 

 
(86
)
   Recoveries
 

 

 

 
45

 

 
45

Ending Balance
 
$
4,775

 
$
5,498

 
$
10,273

 
$
6,326

 
$
4,280

 
$
10,606


The releases to the allowance for loan losses recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were primarily attributable to a reduction in the specific allowance for a permanent planting loan based on the updated appraised value of the collateral underlying such loan. The provisions to the reserve


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for losses during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were primarily attributable to a $1.3 million increase in the specific allowance for two impaired canola facility loans underlying an LTSPC with one borrower. The establishment in second quarter 2015 of a specific allowance for these loans was due to a downgrade in risk rating resulting from collateral shortfalls relative to the unpaid principal balance for such loans, and the increase in the specific allowance for these loans was due to the borrower's delinquency for 90 days or more during third quarter 2015. The provisions to the reserve for losses during third quarter 2015 were partially offset by a decrease in the general allowance of processing loans underlying LTSPCs due to repayment of these loans at par. The net provisions to the allowance for loan losses recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2014 were primarily related to an increase in the general allowance due to overall net volume growth in the on-balance sheet Farm & Ranch portfolio and an increase in the specific allowance for loans individually evaluated for impairment. The net releases to the total allowance for losses during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were primarily related to a decrease in the general allowance due to substantial paydowns of on-balance sheet ethanol loans and loans underlying LTSPCs. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, Farmer Mac's allowance for loan losses was $4.8 million and $5.9 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac's reserve for losses was $5.5 million, compared to $4.3 million as of December 31, 2014. See Note 5 and "—Risk Management—Credit Risk – Loans and Guarantees."

Guarantee and Commitment Fees.  Guarantee and commitment fees, which compensate Farmer Mac for assuming the credit risk on loans underlying off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs, were $3.5 million and $10.3 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $3.6 million and $11.1 million for the same periods in 2014, respectively. The decrease in guarantee and commitment fees was primarily attributable to a lower average balance outstanding for off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs. See Note 1(d) to the consolidated financial statements for more information about the reclassification of certain amounts in prior periods from guarantee and commitment fees to interest income related to on-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities.

Losses and Gains on Financial Derivatives and Hedging Activities.  The effect of unrealized and realized gains and losses on Farmer Mac's financial derivatives and hedging activities was net losses of $9.6 million and net gains of $0.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to net gains of $0.8 million and net losses of $12.5 million for the same periods in 2014, respectively.



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The components of gains and losses on financial derivatives and hedging activities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 are summarized in the following table:

Table 6

 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
(in thousands)
Fair value hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized (losses)/gains due to fair value changes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial derivatives(1)
$
(12,646
)
 
$
5,610

 
$
(4,330
)
 
$
5,010

Hedged items
15,834

 
(2,549
)
 
13,356

 
4,019

Gains on hedging activities
3,188

 
3,061

 
9,026

 
9,029

No hedge designation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized (losses)/gains due to fair value changes
(10,094
)
 
1,070

 
(845
)
 
(13,279
)
Realized:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expense related to financial derivatives
(1,651
)
 
(2,949
)
 
(5,239
)
 
(6,537
)
Losses due to terminations or net settlements
(1,011
)
 
(374
)
 
(2,003
)
 
(1,681
)
Losses on financial derivatives not designated in hedging relationships
(12,756
)
 
(2,253
)
 
(8,087
)
 
(21,497
)
(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities
$
(9,568
)
 
$
808

 
$
939

 
$
(12,468
)
(1) 
Included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness as of September 30, 2015, but excluded from the amounts in the table, were losses of $2.9 million and $8.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, attributable to the fair value of the swaps at the inception of the hedging relationship. Accordingly, the amounts recognized as hedge ineffectiveness for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were gains of $0.3 million and gains of $0.4 million. The comparable amounts as of September 30, 2014 were losses of $2.9 million and $8.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, attributable to the fair value of the swaps at the inception of the hedging relationship and, accordingly, gains of $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, attributable to hedge ineffectiveness.

Changes in the fair values of Farmer Mac's open derivative positions for both designated and undesignated hedges are captured in the table above in unrealized losses due to fair value changes and are primarily the result of fluctuations in long-term interest rates. For financial derivatives designated in fair value hedges, changes in the fair values of the hedged items attributable to the hedged risk are also included in the table above in unrealized gains/(losses) due to fair value changes. The accrual of periodic cash settlements for interest paid or received from Farmer Mac's interest rate swaps that are not designated in hedge accounting relationships is shown as expense related to financial derivatives.  Payments or receipts to terminate derivative positions or net cash settled forward sales contracts on the debt of other GSEs and U.S. Treasury futures that are not designated in hedge accounting relationships are included in losses due to terminations or net settlements.    

Losses and Gains on Trading Securities.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac recorded unrealized losses on trading securities of $8,000 and unrealized gains of $0.5 million, respectively, compared to unrealized gains of $16.4 million and $24.8 million during the same periods in 2014, respectively. Of the total unrealized losses and unrealized gains recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, $57,000 of losses and $0.1 million of gains, respectively, related to financial assets selected to be carried at fair value with changes in fair value included in earnings (the fair value option). Of the total unrealized gains during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, $16.4 million and $24.2 million, respectively, related to securities sold, not yet purchased as part of Farmer Mac's cash management and liquidity initiative and $0.1 million of losses and


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$0.2 million of gains, respectively, related to financial assets accounted for under the fair value option. Farmer Mac has not elected to account for any financial assets under the fair value option since 2008.

Gains and Losses on Sale of Available-for-Sale Investment Securities. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac realized net gains of $3,000 and $9,000, respectively, compared to realized net losses of $0.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2014. The realized net gains recognized during the first nine months of 2015 were from sales of securities from the available-for-sale investment portfolio which were partially offset by $0.1 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses on two available-for-sale auction rate certificates. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac intends to sell the securities in fourth quarter 2015 at a price of 99.63 percent of par pursuant to a forward sales agreement. The realized net losses in the first nine months of 2014 related to sales of two auction-rate certificates at a price of 97 percent of par that resulted in realized losses of $0.8 million, which were partially offset by realized gains from sales of other securities from the available-for-sale investment portfolio.

Other Income. Other income totaled $1.1 million and $1.9 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $0.5 million and $0.8 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2014. Other income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 included: (1) the recognition of $0.5 million and $0.9 million, respectively, of gains previously deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income related to fair value changes of certain available-for-sale securities contributed to Farmer Mac II LLC in 2010; (2) the recognition of $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of appraisal fees received by Farmer Mac's consolidated appraisal company subsidiary, Contour Valuation Services, LLC, which was formed in fourth quarter 2014; and (iii) other miscellaneous items.

Compensation and Employee Benefits.  Compensation and employee benefits were $5.2 million and $16.7 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $4.7 million and $14.0 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2014. The increase in compensation and employee benefits in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014 was due primarily to higher incentive compensation driven by meeting certain performance targets, an increase in headcount, annual salary adjustments, and adjustments to stock compensation expense to reflect changes in forfeiture rates. The increase in annual salary adjustments reflects a change in 2014 to the allocation of total compensation elements for Farmer Mac's executive officers that resulted in a shift in compensation toward base salary and annual cash compensation and a commensurate reduction in the targeted value of equity-based long-term incentive compensation. Additionally, compensation costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 included $0.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively, in compensation costs for Farmer Mac's consolidated appraisal company subsidiary, Contour Valuation Services, LLC.

General and Administrative Expenses.  General and administrative expenses, including legal, audit, and consulting fees, were $3.7 million and $9.9 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $3.1 million and $9.2 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2014. The increase in general and administrative expenses in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014 was due primarily to legal fees incurred for the preparation of comment letters in response to FCA's proposed rule on Farmer Mac's board governance and standards of conduct and higher consulting fees and information services expenses related to corporate strategic initiatives. Additionally, general and administrative costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 included $0.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively, in operating expenses for Farmer Mac's consolidated appraisal company subsidiary.


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Regulatory Fees.  Regulatory fees (which consist of the fees paid to FCA) were $0.6 million and $1.8 million, respectively, for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. FCA has advised Farmer Mac that its estimated fees for the federal fiscal year ending September 30, 2016 will remain at the same level ($0.6 million per federal fiscal quarter) as the prior federal fiscal year.  After the end of a federal government fiscal year, FCA may revise its prior year estimated assessments to reflect actual costs incurred, and has issued both additional assessments and refunds in the past.

Income Tax Expense.  Income tax expense totaled $6.3 million and $24.3 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2015, compared to an income tax expense of $7.6 million and $0.1 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2014. The increase in income tax expense in the first nine months ending September 30, 2015 was a result of higher pre-tax income and the absence of the income tax benefit of $11.6 million related to the cash management and liquidity initiative that was recorded in second quarter 2014. The consolidated tax benefits of the dividends declared on Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock, which is presented as "Net loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest" on the consolidated statements of operations on a pre-tax basis, and, for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the loss on retirement of the Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock were the primary reasons Farmer Mac's effective tax rate was lower than the statutory federal rate of 35 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

Loss on Retirement of Preferred Stock. On March 30, 2015, Farmer Mac II LLC redeemed all of the outstanding shares of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock, which, in turn, triggered the redemption of all of the outstanding FALConS on that same day. As a result, Farmer Mac recognized an expense of $8.1 million of deferred issuance costs related to those shares of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock as "Loss on retirement of preferred stock" on the consolidated statements of operations.


Business Volume.  During third quarter 2015, Farmer Mac added $1.4 billion of new business volume. Specifically, Farmer Mac:
 
added $522.3 million of Rural Utilities loans under LTSPCs;
added a $300.0 million revolving floating rate AgVantage facility;
purchased $206.6 million of AgVantage securities;
purchased $176.0 million of newly originated Farm & Ranch loans;
purchased $91.4 million of USDA Securities;
added $79.6 million of Farm & Ranch loans under LTSPCs; and
purchased $53.6 million of Rural Utilities loans.





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Farmer Mac's outstanding business volume was $15.6 billion as of September 30, 2015, an increase of $497.9 million from June 30, 2015 and an increase of $1.0 billion from December 31, 2014. The increase in Farmer Mac's outstanding business volume was driven by the addition of $522.3 million of rural utilities loans under LTSPCs, as well as broad-based portfolio growth across most of Farmer Mac's other products, including AgVantage securities, Farm & Ranch loans, and USDA Securities. The large LTSPC transaction completed in third quarter 2015 is the first time Farmer Mac has provided LTSPCs under its Rural Utilities line of business. Of the new business volume in AgVantage securities for third quarter 2015, a $300.0 million revolving floating rate AgVantage facility with the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation ("CFC") was added as an off-balance commitment because CFC had not drawn on the facility as of September 30, 2015. Farmer Mac receives a fixed fee based on the full dollar amount of the facility. If CFC draws on this facility, the amounts drawn will be presented as on-balance sheet AgVantage securities, and Farmer Mac will earn a spread on the drawn balance.
  
The following table sets forth purchases of non-delinquent eligible loans, new loans added under LTSPCs, and new guarantees during the periods indicated in the Farm & Ranch, USDA Guarantees, and Rural Utilities lines of business, as well as purchases of AgVantage securities in the Institutional Credit line of business:

Table 7

Farmer Mac New Purchases, Guarantees, and LTSPCs
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
(in thousands)
Farm & Ranch:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans
$
175,965

 
$
150,243

 
$
503,116

 
$
501,766

LTSPCs
79,621

 
77,368

 
241,876

 
297,812

USDA Guarantees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
USDA Securities
91,374

 
97,275

 
291,981

 
256,044

   Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities

 

 
12,512

 

Rural Utilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans
53,552

 
9,936

 
62,255

 
68,528

LTSPCs
522,262

 

 
522,262

 

Institutional Credit:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AgVantage
206,602

 
295,700

 
728,767

 
825,165

Revolving floating rate AgVantage facility
300,000

 

 
300,000

 

Total purchases, guarantees, and LTSPCs
$
1,429,376

 
$
630,522

 
$
2,662,769

 
$
1,949,315


New business volume for loans within the Farm & Ranch line of business for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was in line with the same period in 2014 and demand seems stable. Prepayment rates remained subdued and contributed to favorable trends in net loan growth. New business volume for LTSPCs within the Farm & Ranch line of business for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 reflected decreased demand for pools of loans under LTSPCs by Farm Credit System institutions. The increase in new business volume in the USDA Guarantees line of business for the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 reflected an increase in lender usage of USDA guaranteed loan programs and the resulting increase in loans available for purchase on the secondary market, as well as the increasing willingness of banks to sell the lower-return guaranteed portions of these loans to fund other new loan originations. Rural Utilities loan purchase volume


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remained low due to reduced demand associated with slow historical economic growth and greater energy efficiency in recent years. Changes in AgVantage securities volume are primarily driven by the generally larger transaction sizes for that product and the fluctuating funding and liquidity needs of Farmer Mac's customer network and scheduled maturity amounts.

The purchase price of non-delinquent eligible loans and portfolios is their respective fair value based on current market interest rates and Farmer Mac's target net yield. The purchase price includes an amount to compensate Farmer Mac for credit risk that is similar to the guarantee or commitment fees it receives for assuming credit risk on loans underlying off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs.  Based on market conditions, Farmer Mac either retains the loans it purchases or securitizes them and retains or sells Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities backed by those loans.  Historically, Farmer Mac has retained the vast majority of loans it has purchased.  The weighted-average age of the Farm & Ranch non-delinquent eligible loans purchased and retained (excluding the purchases of defaulted loans) during third quarter 2015 and 2014 was less than one year. Of those loans, 71 percent and 57 percent, respectively, had principal amortization periods longer than the maturity date, resulting in balloon payments at maturity, with a weighted-average remaining term to maturity of 18.8 years and 16.3 years, respectively.

During third quarter 2015 and 2014, Farmer Mac securitized some of the Farm & Ranch loans it had purchased and sold the resulting Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities in the amount of $118.8 million and $43.0 million, respectively. Farmer Mac consolidates these loans and presents them as "Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, at amortized cost" on the consolidated balance sheets. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, $83.1 million and $166.7 million, respectively, of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities were sold to Zions First National Bank ("Zions"), which is a related party to Farmer Mac, compared to $39.6 million and $147.2 million of sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

The following table sets forth information regarding the Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities issued during the periods indicated:

Table 8

 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
(in thousands)
Loans securitized and sold as Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities
$
118,802

 
$
42,963

 
$
231,242

 
$
172,268

AgVantage Securities
206,602

 
295,700

 
728,767

 
825,165

Total Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities Issuances
$
325,404

 
$
338,663

 
$
960,009

 
$
997,433




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The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding volume in each of Farmer Mac's four lines of business as of the dates indicated:

Table 9

Lines of Business - Outstanding Business Volume
 
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
 
(in thousands)
On-balance sheet:
 
 
 
Farm & Ranch:
 
 
 
Loans
$
2,166,125

 
$
2,118,867

Loans held in trusts:
 
 
 
Beneficial interests owned by third party investors
612,567

 
421,355

USDA Guarantees:
 
 
 
USDA Securities
1,856,695

 
1,756,224

Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
31,218

 
27,832

Rural Utilities:
 
 
 
Loans(1)
982,078

 
718,213

Loans held in trusts:
 
 
 
Beneficial interests owned by Farmer Mac(1)

 
267,396

Institutional Credit:
 
 
 
AgVantage Securities
5,438,488

 
5,410,413

Total on-balance sheet
$
11,087,171

 
$
10,720,300

Off-balance sheet:
 
 
 
Farm & Ranch:
 
 
 
LTSPCs
$
2,171,869

 
$
2,240,866

Guaranteed Securities
553,469

 
636,086

USDA Guarantees:
 
 
 
Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
10,712

 
13,978

Rural Utilities:
 
 
 
LTSPC
518,229

 

Institutional Credit:
 
 
 
AgVantage Securities
986,529

 
986,528

Revolving floating rate AgVantage facility(2)
300,000

 

Total off-balance sheet
$
4,540,808

 
$
3,877,458

Total
$
15,627,979

 
$
14,597,758

(1) 
Reflects the unwinding of certain consolidated trusts with the effect that loans previously consolidated on the balance sheet as "Loans held in trusts" currently are included within "Loans."
(2) 
As of September 30, 2015, this facility had not been utilized. Farmer Mac receives a fixed fee based on the full dollar amount of the facility. If CFC draws on the facility, the amounts drawn will be presented as on-balance sheet AgVantage securities, and Farmer Mac will earn a spread on the drawn balance.





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The following table summarizes by maturity date the scheduled principal amortization of loans held, loans underlying off-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities (excluding AgVantage securities) and LTSPCs, USDA Securities, and Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities as of September 30, 2015:

Table 10
Schedule of Principal Amortization as of September 30, 2015
 
Loans Held
 
Loans Underlying Off-Balance Sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs
 
 USDA Securities and Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
2015
$
54,266

 
$
65,222

 
$
113,064

 
$
232,552

2016
179,510

 
265,555

 
137,204

 
582,269

2017
186,965

 
246,637

 
113,670

 
547,272

2018
204,031

 
650,978

 
132,563

 
987,572

2019
177,818

 
185,869

 
126,004

 
489,691

Thereafter
2,958,180

 
1,829,306

 
1,276,120

 
6,063,606

Total
$
3,760,770

 
$
3,243,567

 
$
1,898,625

 
$
8,902,962



Of the $15.6 billion outstanding principal balance of volume included in Farmer Mac's four lines of business as of September 30, 2015, $6.7 billion were AgVantage securities included in the Institutional Credit line of business.  Unlike business volume in the form of purchased loans, USDA Securities, and loans underlying LTSPCs and non-AgVantage Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, most AgVantage securities do not require periodic payments of principal based on amortization schedules and instead have fixed maturity dates when the secured general obligation is due. The following table summarizes by maturity date the outstanding principal amount of both on- and off-balance sheet AgVantage securities as of September 30, 2015:

Table 11

AgVantage Balances by Year of Maturity
 
As of
 
September 30, 2015
 
(in thousands)
2015
$
35,812

2016
1,348,298

2017
1,572,419

2018(1)
1,212,340

2019
320,350

Thereafter(2)
2,235,798

Total
$
6,725,017

(1) 
Includes the expiration of the $300.0 million revolving floating rate AgVantage facility. As of September 30, 2015, this facility had not been utilized.
(2) 
Includes various maturities ranging from 2020 to 2044.





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The weighted-average remaining maturity of the outstanding AgVantage securities shown in the table above was 4.4 years as of September 30, 2015.  As a general matter, if maturing AgVantage securities are not replaced with new AgVantage securities, either from the same issuer or from new business, or if the spread earned by Farmer Mac on new AgVantage securities that replace maturing AgVantage securities is lower than the spread earned on the maturing securities, Farmer Mac's income could be adversely affected.

As part of fulfilling its guarantee obligations for Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities and commitments to purchase eligible loans underlying LTSPCs, Farmer Mac purchases defaulted loans, all of which are at least 90-days delinquent or in material non-monetary default at the time of purchase, out of the loan pools underlying those securities and LTSPCs, and records the purchased loans as such on its balance sheet.  The purchase price for a defaulted loan purchased out of a pool of loans backing Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities is the then-current outstanding principal balance of the loan plus accrued and unpaid interest.  The purchase price for a defaulted loan purchased under an LTSPC is the then-current outstanding principal balance of the loan, with accrued and unpaid interest on the defaulted loan payable out of any future loan payments or liquidation proceeds as received.  The purchase price of a defaulted loan is not an indicator of the expected loss on that loan; many other factors affect expected loss, if any, on any loan so purchased. The weighted-average age of delinquent loans purchased out of securitized pools and LTSPCs was 7 years during third quarter 2015. Farmer Mac did not purchase any delinquent loans during third quarter 2014. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Risk Management—Credit Risk – Loans and Guarantees."

The following table presents Farmer Mac's purchases of defaulted loans underlying Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs for the periods indicated:

Table 12

 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
(in thousands)
Defaulted loans purchased underlying Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities owned by third party investors
$
263

 
$

 
$
2,244

 
$

Defaulted loans purchased underlying LTSPCs

 

 

 
440

Total loan purchases
$
263

 
$

 
$
2,244

 
$
440


Outlook  

Farmer Mac continues to provide a stable source of liquidity, capital, and risk management tools as the secondary market that helps meet the financing needs of rural America. While the pace of Farmer Mac's growth will depend on the capital and liquidity needs of the participants in the rural financing business, Farmer Mac foresees opportunities for continued growth. More specifically, Farmer Mac believes that its Farm & Ranch, USDA Guarantees, Rural Utilities, and Institutional Credit lines of business all have opportunities for growth, driven by several key factors:

As agricultural and rural utilities lenders face increased equity capital requirements under new regulatory frameworks or rating agency requirements, or seek to reduce exposure due to lending limits or concentration limits, Farmer Mac can provide relief for those institutions through loan purchases, guarantees, or LTSPCs.


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Lending in the rural utilities industry may increase as rural utilities seek alternatives for financing, including refinancing existing debt.
As a result of targeted marketing and product development efforts, Farmer Mac's lender network and customer base continues to expand, which may generate additional demand for Farmer Mac's products from new sources.

Farmer Mac believes that these growth opportunities will be important in replacing income earned on the loans and other assets as they mature, pay down, or are reinvested at potentially lower spreads.

Agricultural Sector. The agricultural sector includes many diverse industries that respond in different ways to changes in economic conditions. Those individual industries often are affected differently, sometimes positively and sometimes negatively, by prevailing domestic and global economic factors and regional weather conditions. This results in cycles where one or more industries may be under stress at the same time that others are not. In addition, borrowers that rely on non-farm sources of income as a significant percentage of overall income may experience stress associated with weakness in the general economy. The profitability of agricultural industries is also affected by commodity inventories and their associated market prices, which can vary largely as a result of weather patterns, access to water supply, and harvest conditions that may affect supply. The strength of the U.S. dollar relative to other worldwide currencies could also potentially adversely affect the demand for certain U.S. agricultural exports, which may result in producers receiving lower commodity prices.

Farmer Mac continues to monitor land values and commodity prices in response to cyclical swings. Although farmland values and commodity prices have declined recently in some sectors, primarily in the Midwest, Farmer Mac believes that its portfolio remains sufficiently diversified, both geographically and by commodity, and that its portfolio has generally demonstrated historically high credit quality and low delinquency rates to endure reasonably foreseeable volatility in farmland values and commodity prices. Farmer Mac also continues to closely monitor sector profitability, economic conditions, and agricultural land value and geographic trends to tailor underwriting practices to changing conditions. For more information about the loan balances and loan-to-value ratios for Farm & Ranch loans in Farmer Mac's portfolio as of September 30, 2015, see "—Risk Management—Credit Risk – Loans and Guarantees."

The western part of the United States, including California, continues to experience drought conditions, with the water level in many California reservoirs at historically low levels. Although to date Farmer Mac has not observed any material effect on its portfolio from drought conditions, the persistence of extreme drought conditions in the western states could have an adverse effect on Farmer Mac’s delinquency rates or loss experience. This is particularly true in the permanent plantings sector, where the value of the related collateral is closely tied to the production value and capability of the permanent plantings. Farmer Mac continues to remain informed about the drought and its effects on the agricultural industries located in the western states and on Farmer Mac's Farm & Ranch portfolio through regular discussions with its loan servicers that service loans in drought-stricken areas, as well as customers and other lenders in the industry.

Farmer Mac continues to monitor the establishment and evolution of legislation and regulations that affect farmers, ranchers, and rural lenders. Many federal agricultural policies previously in effect have been altered with the enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014, including those affecting crop subsidies, crop insurance, and other aspects of agricultural production. Farmer Mac will continue to monitor the effects of these altered federal agricultural policies as the USDA adopts final regulations implementing the Agricultural Act of 2014.


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Farmer Mac's marketing efforts directed towards the Farm & Ranch line of business focus on lenders that have demonstrated a commitment to agricultural lending based on their lending history. Farmer Mac directs its outreach efforts to these lenders through direct personal contact, which is facilitated through Farmer Mac's frequent participation in state and national banking conferences, its alliances with the American Bankers Association and the Independent Community Bankers of America, and its business relationships with members of the Farm Credit System. In the Farm & Ranch line of business, Farmer Mac has experienced continuing stable demand for its loan products. Demand for Farmer Mac's secondary market tools could also increase as rural lenders adapt to new and changing regulations, which may require lenders to obtain more liquidity and capital to continue their lending practices.

Farmer Mac also directs marketing efforts towards the agricultural industry by trying to identify and develop relationships with potential issuers of AgVantage securities who can pledge loans as collateral to obtain financing as part of Farmer Mac's Institutional Credit line of business. As part of these efforts, Farmer Mac has recently increased its focus on wholesale financing for institutional investors in agricultural assets that qualify as eligible collateral under Farmer Mac's charter. In July 2014, Farmer Mac expanded its AgVantage product to this new type of issuer and refers to this product variation as the Farm Equity AgVantage product. Farmer Mac directs its outreach efforts to these potential issuers through its business relationships within the agricultural community and through executive outreach to institutions whose profile presents opportunity to benefit from wholesale financing. As institutional investment in agricultural assets continues to grow, Farmer Mac believes that it is in a unique position to help increase access to capital for these types of counterparties and thereby provide a new source of capital to benefit rural America. Farmer Mac designed the Farm Equity AgVantage product to provide an efficient, low-cost source of financing tailored to meet the needs of institutional investors that can be adapted to many different types of organizational structures and for both public and private institutional investors. Although this product is in the early stages of development, Farmer Mac believes there is opportunity to expand this type of business as both the trend toward institutional investment in agricultural assets and awareness of the Farm Equity AgVantage product continue to grow. For more information about the Farm Equity AgVantage product, see "Business—Farmer Mac Lines of Business—Institutional Credit" in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015 and "—Risk Management—Credit Risk – Institutional."

Rural Utilities Industry. Reduced demand for capital within the rural utilities industry has increased competition for rural cooperative borrowers among lenders that either are not eligible or choose not to participate in Farmer Mac's Rural Utilities line of business. The rural utilities industry may experience needs for financing over the next several years to make improvements in response to environmental and clean energy policies and to refinance government loans made by the USDA's Rural Utilities Service. In addition, CFC, the rural utilities lender that is the only current participant in Farmer Mac's Rural Utilities line of business, may experience increased needs for term funding and LTSPC business from Farmer Mac as a result of new requirements implemented by debt rating agencies. In third quarter 2015, CFC utilized Farmer Mac's LTSPC product for the first time. Domestic economic indicators also continue to show modest growth, and as the economy strengthens, Farmer Mac believes that demand for rural utilities loans may increase. Farmer Mac also foresees opportunities for growth pertaining to the rural utilities industry within Farmer Mac's Institutional Credit line of business related to the increasing trend in the past year of rural utilities cooperatives beginning to shift their debt refinancing activities away from the Rural Utilities Service and towards market-based lenders, including rural utilities cooperative lenders. Farmer Mac has the opportunity to help these lenders as they seek lower-cost wholesale financing alternatives, which could allow them to become more competitive in pursuing these refinancing opportunities.



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Balance Sheet Review

Assets.  Farmer Mac's total assets as of September 30, 2015 were $14.9 billion, compared to $14.3 billion as of December 31, 2014.  The increase in total assets was primarily attributable to an increase in cash and cash equivalents and total loans, net of allowance.

As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac had $1.5 billion of cash and cash equivalents and $2.0 billion of investment securities, compared to $1.4 billion of cash and cash equivalents and $1.9 billion of investment securities as of December 31, 2014. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac had $5.4 billion of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, $1.9 billion of USDA Securities, and $3.8 billion of loans, net of allowance. This compares to $5.5 billion of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, $1.8 billion of USDA Securities, and $3.5 billion of loans, net of allowance, as of December 31, 2014.

Liabilities.  Farmer Mac's total liabilities increased to $14.3 billion as of September 30, 2015 from $13.5 billion as of December 31, 2014.  The increase in liabilities was primarily attributable to an increase in notes payable due within one year.

Equity.  As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac had total equity of $540.5 million, comprised of stockholders' equity of $540.4 million and non-controlling interest of $0.2 million related to Farmer Mac's appraisal subsidiary, Contour Appraisal Services, LLC.  As of December 31, 2014, Farmer Mac had total equity of $781.8 million, comprised of stockholders' equity of $545.8 million and non-controlling interest of $236.0 million.  The decrease in total equity was a result of the redemption of all of the outstanding shares of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock (presented as "Non-controlling interest" within equity on Farmer Mac's consolidated balance sheets) during first quarter 2015 and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income due to decreases in the fair value of available-for-sale securities, offset in part by an increase in retained earnings. The decrease in the fair value of available-for-sale securities was driven primarily by less favorable funding spreads to LIBOR.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements 

Farmer Mac offers approved lenders two credit enhancement alternatives to increase their liquidity or lending capacity while retaining the cash flow benefits of their loans: (1) Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, which are available through each of the Farm & Ranch, USDA Guarantees, Rural Utilities, and Institutional Credit lines of business; and (2) LTSPCs, which are available through the Farm & Ranch and Rural Utilities lines of business. For securitization trusts where Farmer Mac is the primary beneficiary, the trust assets and liabilities are included on Farmer Mac's consolidated balance sheet. For the remainder of these transactions, and in the event of deconsolidation, both of these alternatives result in the creation of off-balance sheet obligations for Farmer Mac. See Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements for more information about consolidation and Farmer Mac's off-balance sheet business activities. See "—Business Volume" for more information about the two types of off-balance sheet transactions that Farmer Mac completed with CFC for the first time during third quarter 2015 – an LTSPC transaction and a revolving floating rate AgVantage facility for the issuance of Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities that is currently not drawn upon but on which Farmer Mac earns an annual fee on the full facility size.

Risk Management

Credit Risk – Loans and Guarantees.  Farmer Mac is exposed to credit risk resulting from the inability of borrowers to repay their loans in conjunction with a deficiency in the value of the collateral relative to the outstanding balance of the loan and the costs of liquidation.  Farmer Mac is exposed to credit risk on:


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loans held;
loans underlying Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities; and
loans underlying LTSPCs.

Farmer Mac generally assumes 100 percent of the credit risk on loans held, loans underlying LTSPCs in the Farm & Ranch and Rural Utilities lines of business and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities in the Farm & Ranch line of business. Farmer Mac has direct credit exposure to loans in non-AgVantage transactions and indirect credit exposure to loans that secure AgVantage transactions because AgVantage securities represent a general obligation of an issuer that is in turn secured by qualified loans.  The credit exposure of Farmer Mac and Farmer Mac II LLC on USDA Securities, including those underlying Farmer Mac Guaranteed USDA Securities, is covered by the full faith and credit of the United States.  Therefore, Farmer Mac believes that Farmer Mac and Farmer Mac II LLC have little or no credit risk exposure in the USDA Guarantees line of business because of the USDA guarantee.  As of September 30, 2015, neither Farmer Mac nor Farmer Mac II LLC had experienced any credit losses on any business under the USDA Guarantees line of business, and neither expects to incur any such losses in the future.

Farmer Mac has established underwriting, collateral valuation, and documentation standards for agricultural real estate mortgage loans and rural utilities loans. Farmer Mac believes that these standards mitigate the risk of loss from borrower defaults and provide guidance about the management, administration, and conduct of underwriting and appraisals to all participating and potential lenders.  These standards were developed on the basis of industry norms for agricultural real estate mortgage loans and rural utilities loans and are designed to assess the creditworthiness of the borrower, as well as the value of the collateral securing the loan.  Farmer Mac evaluates and adjusts these standards on an ongoing basis based on current and anticipated market conditions.  For more information about Farmer Mac's underwriting and collateral valuation standards, see "Business—Farmer Mac Lines of Business—Farm & Ranch—Underwriting and Collateral Valuation (Appraisal) Standards" and "Business—Farmer Mac Lines of Business—Rural Utilities—Underwriting" in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015.

Farmer Mac requires approved lenders to make representations and warranties regarding the conformity of eligible agricultural mortgage and rural utilities loans to Farmer Mac's standards, the accuracy of loan data provided to Farmer Mac, and other requirements related to the loans.  Sellers are responsible to Farmer Mac for breaches of those representations and warranties, and Farmer Mac has the ability to require a seller to cure, replace, or repurchase a loan sold or transferred to Farmer Mac if any breach of a representation or warranty is discovered that was material to Farmer Mac's decision to purchase the loan or that directly or indirectly causes a default or potential loss on a loan sold or transferred by the seller to Farmer Mac.  Farmer Mac has not required a seller to cure or repurchase a loan purchased by Farmer Mac for breach of a representation or warranty in the last three years. In addition to relying on the representations and warranties of lenders, Farmer Mac also underwrites all of the agricultural mortgage loans (other than rural housing and part-time farm mortgage loans) and rural utilities loans that it holds in its portfolio. For rural housing and part-time farm mortgage loans, Farmer Mac relies on representations and warranties from the seller that those loans conform to Farmer Mac's specified underwriting criteria without exception. For more information about Farmer Mac's loan eligibility requirements, see "Business—Farmer Mac Lines of Business—Farm & Ranch—Loan Eligibility" and "Business—Farmer Mac Lines of Business—Rural Utilities—Loan Eligibility" in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015.
 


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Under contracts with Farmer Mac and in consideration for servicing fees, Farmer Mac-approved central servicers service loans in accordance with Farmer Mac's requirements.  Central servicers are responsible to Farmer Mac for serious errors in the servicing of those loans.  If a central servicer materially breaches the terms of its servicing agreement with Farmer Mac, such as failing to forward payments received or releasing collateral without Farmer Mac's consent, or experiences insolvency or bankruptcy, Farmer Mac has the right to terminate the servicing relationship for a particular loan or the entire portfolio serviced by the central servicer. In addition, Farmer Mac can proceed against the central servicer in arbitration or exercise any remedies available to it under law. In the last three years, Farmer Mac has not exercised any remedies or taken any formal action against any central servicers. For more information about Farmer Mac's servicing requirements, see "Business—Farmer Mac Lines of Business—Farm & Ranch—Servicing" and "Business—Farmer Mac Lines of Business—Rural Utilities—Servicing" in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015.

Farmer Mac's AgVantage securities are general obligations of institutions approved by Farmer Mac and are secured by eligible loans in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal amount of the security. Farmer Mac excludes the loans that secure AgVantage securities from the credit risk metrics it discloses because Farmer Mac has only indirect credit risk on those loans and because of the other characteristics of AgVantage securities that mitigate credit risk. Those characteristics include a general obligation of an issuing institution approved by Farmer Mac, the required collateralization level for the securities, and the requirement for delinquent loans to be removed from the pool of pledged loans and replaced with current eligible loans.  As such, all AgVantage securities are secured by current loans representing at least 100 percent of the outstanding amount of these securities.  As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac had not experienced any credit losses on any AgVantage securities and does not expect to incur any such losses in the future. See "—Credit Risk – Institutional" for more information about Farmer Mac's credit risk on AgVantage securities.

Farmer Mac has developed different underwriting standards for rural utilities loans that depend on whether direct or indirect credit exposure is assumed on a loan and whether the borrower is an electric distribution cooperative or a G&T cooperative. As of September 30, 2015, there were no delinquencies in Farmer Mac's portfolio of rural utilities loans, and Farmer Mac has not experienced any credit losses on rural utilities loans since Congress authorized Farmer Mac's Rural Utilities line of business in 2008. Based on this performance, Farmer Mac excludes the loans in the Rural Utilities line of business from the credit risk metrics it discloses. Farmer Mac's direct credit exposure to rural utilities loans and loans underlying LTSPCs as of September 30, 2015 was $1.5 billion across 38 states, of which $0.5 billion were loans to electric distribution cooperatives and $1.0 billion were loans to G&T cooperatives. Farmer Mac also had indirect credit exposure to the rural utilities loans securing AgVantage securities and included in the Institutional Credit line of business, some of which are loans to G&T cooperatives. For more information, see "—Credit Risk – Institutional."

Farmer Mac maintains an allowance for loan losses to cover estimated probable losses on loans held and a reserve for losses to cover estimated probable losses on loans underlying LTSPCs and off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities.  The methodology that Farmer Mac uses to determine the level of its allowance for losses is described in Note 2(j) to the consolidated financial statements included in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015. Management believes that this methodology produces a reasonable estimate of probable losses, as of the balance sheet date, for all loans held and loans underlying off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs.



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The following table summarizes the components of Farmer Mac's total allowance for losses for three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

Table 13
 
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
 
Allowance
for Loan
Losses
 
Reserve
for Losses
 
Total
Allowance
for Losses
 
Allowance
for Loan
Losses
 
Reserve
for Losses
 
Total
Allowance
for Losses
 
 
(in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
 
$
5,939

 
$
4,637

 
$
10,576

 
$
5,770

 
$
5,595

 
$
11,365

(Release of)/provision for losses
 
(1,164
)
 
861

 
(303
)
 
511

 
(1,315
)
 
(804
)
Charge-offs
 

 

 

 

 

 

   Recoveries
 

 

 

 
45

 

 
45

Ending Balance
 
$
4,775

 
$
5,498

 
$
10,273

 
$
6,326

 
$
4,280

 
$
10,606

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
 
$
5,864

 
$
4,263

 
$
10,127

 
$
6,866

 
$
6,468

 
$
13,334

(Release of)/provision for losses
 
(978
)
 
1,235

 
257

 
(499
)
 
(2,188
)
 
(2,687
)
Charge-offs
 
(111
)
 

 
(111
)
 
(86
)
 

 
(86
)
   Recoveries
 

 

 

 
45

 

 
45

Ending Balance
 
$
4,775

 
$
5,498

 
$
10,273

 
$
6,326

 
$
4,280

 
$
10,606


Activity affecting the allowance for loan losses and reserve for losses is discussed in "—Results of Operations—Provision for and Release of Allowance for Loan Losses and Reserve for Losses." As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac's allowances for losses totaled $10.3 million, or 19 basis points of the outstanding principal balance of loans held for investment and loans underlying LTSPCs and off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities, compared to $10.1 million, or 19 basis points, as of December 31, 2014.

Farmer Mac's 90-day delinquency measure includes loans 90 days or more past due, as well as loans in foreclosure and non-performing loans where the borrower is in bankruptcy. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac's 90-day delinquencies were $36.7 million (0.67 percent of the Farm & Ranch portfolio), compared to $18.9 million (0.35 percent of the Farm & Ranch portfolio) as of December 31, 2014 and $24.7 million (0.46 percent of the Farm & Ranch portfolio) as of September 30, 2014. Those 90-day delinquencies were comprised of 37 delinquent loans as of September 30, 2015, compared with 29 delinquent loans as of December 31, 2014 and 41 delinquent loans as of September 30, 2014. The increase in 90-day delinquencies during third quarter 2015 was primarily related to the delinquency of one borrower on two canola facility loans underlying an LTSPC that had been categorized as substandard assets during second quarter 2015 and became delinquent for 90 days or more during third quarter 2015. Farmer Mac had $13.5 million of exposure to this borrower as of September 30, 2015. Farmer Mac expects that over time its 90-day delinquency rate will eventually revert closer to Farmer Mac's historical averages due to macroeconomic and other potential factors, but Farmer Mac has not yet seen an impact on its portfolio or a rise in delinquencies related to these factors. Farmer Mac's average 90-day delinquency rate for the Farm & Ranch line of business over the last fifteen years is approximately 1.00 percent.



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The following table presents historical information regarding Farmer Mac's 90-day delinquencies in the Farm & Ranch line of business compared to the principal balance of all Farm & Ranch loans held and loans underlying off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs:

Table 14
 
 
Farm & Ranch Line of Business
 
90-Day
Delinquencies
 
Percentage
 
(dollars in thousands)
As of:
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2015
$
5,504,030

 
$
36,669

 
0.67
%
June 30, 2015
5,485,570

 
31,852

 
0.58
%
March 31, 2015
5,347,248

 
32,101

 
0.60
%
December 31, 2014
5,417,174

 
18,917

 
0.35
%
September 30, 2014
5,314,437

 
24,661

 
0.46
%
June 30, 2014
5,310,664

 
25,911

 
0.49
%
March 31, 2014
5,293,975

 
29,437

 
0.56
%
December 31, 2013
5,163,080

 
28,296

 
0.55
%
September 30, 2013
5,035,748

 
33,042

 
0.66
%

When analyzing the overall risk profile of its lines of business, Farmer Mac takes into account more than the Farm & Ranch loan delinquency percentages provided above. The lines of business also include AgVantage securities and rural utilities loans, neither of which have any delinquencies, and USDA Securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Across all of Farmer Mac's lines of business, 90-day delinquencies represented 0.23 percent of total outstanding business volume as of September 30, 2015, compared to 0.13 percent as of December 31, 2014 and 0.18 percent as of September 30, 2014.

As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac individually evaluated $31.8 million of the $96.4 million of recorded investment in impaired loans for collateral shortfalls against updated appraised values, other updated collateral valuations, or discounted values. For the remaining $64.6 million of impaired assets for which updated valuations were not available, Farmer Mac evaluated them in the aggregate in consideration of their similar risk characteristics and historical statistics. Farmer Mac recorded specific allowances of $5.7 million for undercollateralized assets as of September 30, 2015. Farmer Mac's non-specific or general allowances were $4.6 million as of September 30, 2015.

Loans in the Farm & Ranch line of business are all secured by first liens on agricultural real estate. Accordingly, Farmer Mac's exposure on a loan is limited to the difference between (1) the total of the accrued interest, advances, and the principal balance of a loan and (2) the value of the property less the cost to sell. Measurement of that excess or shortfall is the best predictor and determinant of loss, compared to other measures that evaluate the efficiency of a particular farm operator.  Debt service ratios depend upon farm operator efficiency and leverage, which can vary widely within a geographic region, commodity type, or an operator's business and farming skills.  A loan's original loan-to-value ratio is one of many factors Farmer Mac considers in evaluating loss severity and is calculated by dividing the loan principal balance at the time of guarantee, purchase, or commitment by the appraised value at the date of loan origination or, when available, updated appraised value at the time of guarantee, purchase, or commitment.  Other factors include, but are not limited to, other underwriting standards, commodity and farming forecasts, and regional economic and agricultural conditions.



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Loan-to-value ratios depend upon the market value of a property, as determined in accordance with Farmer Mac's collateral valuation standards.  As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the average unpaid loan balance for loans outstanding in the Farm & Ranch line of business was $584,000 and $589,000, respectively. The original loan-to-value ratio is based on the original appraised value that has not been indexed to provide a current market value or reflect amortization of loans. The weighted average original loan-to-value ratio for Farm & Ranch loans purchased during third quarter 2015 was 48 percent, compared to 43 percent for loans purchased in the same period for 2014. The weighted average original loan-to-value ratio for all Farm & Ranch loans held and all loans underlying off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs was approximately 46 percent as of September 30, 2015 and 47 percent as of December 31, 2014. The weighted-average original loan-to-value ratio for all 90-day delinquencies was 41 percent and 46 percent, respectively, as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

The weighted average current loan-to-value ratio, which is the loan-to-value ratio based on original appraised value but which reflects loan amortization since purchase, for Farm & Ranch loans held and loans underlying off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs was approximately 43 percent and 44 percent, respectively, as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.







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The following table presents outstanding Farm & Ranch loans held and loans underlying LTSPCs and off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities and 90-day delinquencies as of September 30, 2015 by year of origination, geographic region, commodity/collateral type, and original loan-to-value ratio:

Table 15
Farm & Ranch 90-Day Delinquencies as of September 30, 2015
 
Distribution of Farm & Ranch Line of Business
 
Farm & Ranch Line of Business
 
90-Day Delinquencies(1)
 
Percentage
 
(dollars in thousands)
By year of origination:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Before 2002 and prior
8
%
 
$
411,994

 
$
4,581

 
1.11
%
2003
2
%
 
130,712

 
106

 
0.08
%
2004
3
%
 
148,699

 
861

 
0.58
%
2005
4
%
 
207,592

 
1,780

 
0.86
%
2006
4
%
 
199,869

 
4,376

 
2.19
%
2007
3
%
 
186,452

 
6,115

 
3.28
%
2008
4
%
 
224,375

 
1,886

 
0.84
%
2009
3
%
 
170,219

 
584

 
0.34
%
2010
5
%
 
266,385

 

 
%
2011
6
%
 
356,061

 
14,042

 
3.94
%
2012
13
%
 
741,003

 

 
%
2013
20
%
 
1,099,231

 
1,152

 
0.10
%
2014
14
%
 
777,379

 
1,186

 
0.15
%
2015
11
%
 
584,059

 

 
%
Total
100
%
 
$
5,504,030

 
$
36,669

 
0.67
%
By geographic region(2):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Northwest
11
%
 
$
579,240

 
$
17,027

 
2.94
%
Southwest
31
%
 
1,693,048

 
7,161

 
0.42
%
Mid-North
35
%
 
1,933,020

 
2,472

 
0.13
%
Mid-South
12
%
 
688,615

 
1,237

 
0.18
%
Northeast
4
%
 
211,093

 
483

 
0.23
%
Southeast
7
%
 
399,014

 
8,289

 
2.08
%
Total
100
%
 
$
5,504,030

 
$
36,669

 
0.67
%
By commodity/collateral type:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Crops
55
%
 
$
3,054,452

 
$
6,901

 
0.23
%
Permanent plantings
17
%
 
930,659

 
8,729

 
0.94
%
Livestock
22
%
 
1,210,417

 
5,075

 
0.42
%
Part-time farm
4
%
 
211,565

 
2,464

 
1.16
%
Ag. Storage and Processing
2
%
 
91,099

 
13,500

 
14.82
%
Other

 
5,838

 

 
%
Total
100
%
 
$
5,504,030

 
$
36,669

 
0.67
%
By original loan-to-value ratio:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0.00% to 40.00%
28
%
 
$
1,538,701

 
$
10,443

 
0.68
%
40.01% to 50.00%
22
%
 
1,193,443

 
2,512

 
0.21
%
50.01% to 60.00%
28
%
 
1,536,435

 
7,797

 
0.51
%
60.01% to 70.00%
20
%
 
1,072,182

 
15,081

 
1.41
%
70.01% to 80.00%(3)
2
%
 
136,641

 
688

 
0.50
%
80.01% to 90.00%(3)
%
 
26,628

 
148

 
0.56
%
Total
100
%
 
$
5,504,030

 
$
36,669

 
0.67
%
(1) 
Includes loans held and loans underlying off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities and LTSPCs that are 90 days or more past due, in foreclosure, and in bankruptcy, excluding loans performing under either their original loan terms or a court-approved bankruptcy plan.
(2) 
Geographic regions:  Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY); Southwest (AZ, CA, CO, HI, NM, NV, UT); Mid-North (IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, NE, ND, SD, WI); Mid-South (AR, KS, LA, MO, OK, TX); Northeast (CT, DE, KY, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV); Southeast (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN).
(3) 
Primarily part-time farm loans. Loans with an original loan-to-value ratio of greater than 80% are required to have private mortgage insurance.


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The following table presents Farmer Mac's cumulative net credit losses relative to the cumulative original balance for all Farm & Ranch loans purchased and loans underlying LTSPCs and off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities as of September 30, 2015 by year of origination, geographic region, and commodity/collateral type.  The purpose of this information is to present information regarding losses relative to original Farm & Ranch purchases, guarantees, and commitments.

Table 16

Farm & Ranch Credit Losses Relative to Cumulative
Original Loans, Guarantees, and LTSPCs as of September 30, 2015
 
Cumulative Original Loans, Guarantees and LTSPCs
 
 Cumulative Net Credit Losses
 
 Cumulative Loss Rate
 
(dollars in thousands)
By year of origination:
 
 
 
 
 
Before 2001
$
7,028,744

 
$
10,987

 
0.16
 %
2001
1,040,308

 
178

 
0.02
 %
2002
1,086,368

 
89

 
0.01
 %
2003
932,255

 
350

 
0.04
 %
2004
739,031

 
311

 
0.04
 %
2005
894,364

 
(184
)
 
(0.02
)%
2006
903,002

 
9,545

 
1.06
 %
2007
712,703

 
4,686

 
0.66
 %
2008
781,998

 
3,247

 
0.42
 %
2009
530,759

 
1,508

 
0.28
 %
2010
639,396

 

 
 %
2011
716,068

 

 
 %
2012
1,063,348

 

 
 %
2013
1,336,611

 

 
 %
2014
887,529

 

 
 %
2015
615,173

 

 
 %
Total
$
19,907,657

 
$
30,717

 
0.15
 %
By geographic region(1):
 

 
 

 
 

Northwest
$
2,730,953

 
$
7,402

 
0.27
 %
Southwest
6,956,764

 
9,036

 
0.13
 %
Mid-North
5,049,965

 
12,830

 
0.25
 %
Mid-South
2,297,957

 
(211
)
 
(0.01
)%
Northeast
1,249,254

 
169

 
0.01
 %
Southeast
1,622,764

 
1,491

 
0.09
 %
Total
$
19,907,657

 
$
30,717

 
0.15
 %
By commodity/collateral type:
 

 
 

 
 

Crops
$
9,131,703

 
$
4,310

 
0.05
 %
Permanent plantings
4,044,810

 
9,332

 
0.23
 %
Livestock
4,905,798

 
3,859

 
0.08
 %
Part-time farm
1,047,866

 
1,204

 
0.11
 %
Ag. Storage and Processing
632,181

 
12,012

 
1.90
 %
Other
145,299

 

 
 %
Total
$
19,907,657

 
$
30,717

 
0.15
 %
(1) 
Geographic regions:  Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY); Southwest (AZ, CA, CO, HI, NM, NV, UT); Mid-North (IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, NE, ND, SD, WI); Mid-South (AR, KS, LA, MO, OK, TX); Northeast (CT, DE, KY, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV); Southeast (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN).


Analysis of portfolio performance indicates that commodity type is the primary determinant of Farmer Mac's exposure to loss on a given loan. Within most commodity groups, certain geographic areas allow greater economies of scale or proximity to markets than others and, consequently, may result in more


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successful operations within the commodity group. Certain geographic areas also offer better growing conditions and market access than others and, consequently, may result in more versatile and more successful operators within a given commodity group.  Farmer Mac's board of directors has established policies regarding geographic and commodity concentration to maintain adequate diversification and measure concentration risk.

However, in Farmer Mac's experience, the degree to which the collateral for a commodity group is single-use or highly improved is a more significant determinant of the probability of ultimate losses on a given loan than diversity of geographic location within a commodity group. Commodity groups that tend to be single-use or highly improved include permanent plantings (for example, nut crops), agricultural storage and processing facilities (for example, canola plants and grain processing facilities), and certain livestock facilities (for example, dairy facilities). The versatility of a borrower's operation (and in the case of persisting adverse economic conditions, the borrower's ability to switch commodity groups) will more likely result in profitability for the borrower and, consequently, a lower risk of decreased value for the underlying collateral. Producers of agricultural commodities that require highly improved property are less able to adapt their operations when faced with adverse economic conditions. In addition, in the event of a borrower's default, the prospective sale value of the collateral is more likely to decrease and the related loan may become undercollateralized.  This analysis is consistent with corresponding commodity analyses, which indicate that Farmer Mac has experienced higher loss and collateral deficiency rates in permanent planting loans and agricultural storage and processing loans, for which the collateral is typically highly improved and specialized.




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The following tables present concentrations of Farm & Ranch loans held and loans underlying LTSPCs and off-balance sheet Farm & Ranch Guaranteed Securities by commodity type within geographic region and cumulative credit losses by origination year and commodity type:

Table 17

 
As of September 30, 2015
 
Farm & Ranch Concentrations by Commodity Type within Geographic Region
 
Crops
 
Permanent
Plantings
 
Livestock
 
Part-time
Farm
 
Ag. Storage and
Processing
 
Other
 
Total
 
(dollars in thousands)
By geographic region(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Northwest
$
294,709

 
$
80,710

 
$
160,901

 
$
29,420

 
$
13,500

 
$

 
$
579,240

 
5.4
%
 
1.5
%
 
2.9
%
 
0.5
%
 
0.2
%
 
%
 
10.5
%
Southwest
519,223

 
656,656

 
457,380

 
43,580

 
15,802

 
407

 
1,693,048

 
9.4
%
 
11.9
%
 
8.3
%
 
0.8
%
 
0.4
%
 
%
 
30.8
%
Mid-North
1,656,670

 
25,777

 
183,553

 
32,458

 
30,017

 
4,545

 
1,933,020

 
30.1
%
 
0.5
%
 
3.3
%
 
0.6
%
 
0.5
%
 
0.1
%
 
35.1
%
Mid-South
397,331

 
25,293

 
223,191

 
29,293

 
13,213

 
294

 
688,615

 
7.2
%
 
0.5
%
 
4.1
%
 
0.5
%
 
0.2
%
 
%
 
12.5
%
Northeast
76,513

 
20,245

 
54,172

 
51,611

 
8,424

 
128

 
211,093

 
1.4
%
 
0.4
%
 
1.0
%
 
0.9
%
 
0.2
%
 
%
 
3.9
%
Southeast
110,006

 
121,978

 
131,220

 
25,203

 
10,143

 
464

 
399,014

 
2.0
%
 
2.1
%
 
2.4
%
 
0.5
%
 
0.2
%
 
%
 
7.2
%
Total
$
3,054,452

 
$
930,659

 
$
1,210,417

 
$
211,565

 
$
91,099

 
$
5,838

 
$
5,504,030

 
55.5
%
 
16.9
%
 
22.0
%
 
3.8
%
 
1.7
%
 
0.1
%
 
100.0
%
(1) 
Geographic regions:  Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY); Southwest (AZ, CA, CO, HI, NM, NV, UT); Mid-North (IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, NE, ND, SD, WI); Mid-South (AR, KS, LA, MO, OK, TX); Northeast (CT, DE, KY, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV); Southeast (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN).





        


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Table 18

 
As of September 30, 2015

Farm & Ranch Cumulative Credit Losses/(Recoveries) by Origination Year and Commodity Type
 
Crops
 
Permanent
Plantings
 
Livestock
 
Part-time
Farm
 
Ag. Storage and
Processing
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
By year of origination:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1995 and Prior
$
277

 
$
(79
)
 
$
(107
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
91

1996
(721
)
 
2,296

 
(73
)
 

 

 
1,502

1997
(397
)
 
2,785

 
(131
)
 

 

 
2,257

1998
(438
)
 
1,803

 
1,781

 

 

 
3,146

1999
(108
)
 
723

 
158

 
296

 

 
1,069

2000
7

 
1,907

 
1,049

 
(41
)
 

 
2,922

2001
45

 
1

 
132

 

 

 
178

2002

 

 

 
89

 

 
89

2003
309

 

 

 
41

 

 
350

2004

 

 
162

 
149

 

 
311

2005
(87
)
 
(263
)
 

 
166

 

 
(184
)
2006
1,616

 

 
40

 
201

 
7,688

 
9,545

2007
1,083

 
11

 
779

 
303

 
2,510

 
4,686

2008
2,626

 

 

 

 
621

 
3,247

2009
98

 
148

 
69

 

 
1,193

 
1,508

2010

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

2013

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

Total
$
4,310

 
$
9,332

 
$
3,859

 
$
1,204

 
$
12,012

 
$
30,717


Farmer Mac regularly conducts detailed, statistical stress tests of its portfolio for credit risk and compares those results to current and historical credit quality metrics and to the various statutory, regulatory, and Farmer Mac's board of directors' capital policy metrics. Farmer Mac's methodologies for pricing its guarantee and commitment fees, managing credit risk, and providing adequate allowances for losses consider all of the foregoing factors and information.

Credit Risk – Institutional.  Farmer Mac is exposed to credit risk arising from its business relationships with other institutions including:
 
issuers of AgVantage securities;
approved lenders and servicers; and
interest rate swap counterparties.

Farmer Mac approves AgVantage counterparties and manages institutional credit risk related to those AgVantage counterparties by requiring them to meet Farmer Mac's standards for creditworthiness for the particular counterparty and transaction.  The required collateralization level is established at the time of issuance and does not change during the life of the security.  In AgVantage transactions, the corporate obligor is required to remove from the pool of pledged collateral any loan that becomes more than 30 days


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delinquent in the payment of principal or interest and to substitute an eligible loan that is current in payment to maintain the minimum required collateralization level.  In the event of a default on the general obligation, Farmer Mac would have recourse to the pledged collateral and have rights to the ongoing borrower payments of principal and interest. For Farm Equity AgVantage counterparties, Farmer Mac also requires that the counterparty (1) maintain a higher collateralization level, through lower loan-to-value ratio thresholds and higher overcollateralization than required for traditional AgVantage securities and (2) comply with specified financial covenants for the life of the related Farm Equity AgVantage security to avoid default. For a more detailed description of AgVantage securities, see "Business—Farmer Mac Lines of Business—Institutional Credit—AgVantage Securities" in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015.

The unpaid principal balance of outstanding on-balance sheet AgVantage securities secured by loans eligible for the Farm & Ranch line of business totaled $3.4 billion as of September 30, 2015 and $3.7 billion as of December 31, 2014. The unpaid principal balance of on-balance sheet AgVantage securities secured by loans eligible for the Rural Utilities line of business totaled $2.1 billion as of September 30, 2015 and $1.7 billion as of December 31, 2014. In addition, the unpaid principal balance of outstanding off-balance sheet AgVantage transactions totaled $1.3 billion and $1.0 billion as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

The following table provides information about the issuers of AgVantage securities, as well as the required collateralization levels for those transactions as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

Table 19

 
 
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
Counterparty
 
Balance
 
Credit Rating
 
Required Collateralization
 
Balance
 
Credit Rating
 
Required Collateralization
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
AgVantage:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MetLife(1)
 
$
2,550,000

 
AA-
 
103%
 
$
2,750,000

 
AA-
 
103%
CFC(2)
 
2,395,293

 
A
 
100%
 
1,741,601

 
A
 
100%
Rabo Agrifinance, Inc.
 
1,500,000

 
None
 
106%
 
1,700,000

 
None
 
106%
Other(3)
 
86,334

 
(4) 
 
102% to 120%
 
110,387

 
(3) 
 
102% to 120%
Farm Equity AgVantage(5)
 
193,390

 
None
 
110%
 
94,953

 
None
 
110%
Total outstanding
 
$
6,725,017

 
 
 
 
 
$
6,396,941

 
 
 
 
(1) 
Includes securities issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and MetLife Insurance Company USA.
(2) 
Includes $300.0 million related to a revolving floating rate AgVantage facility. Farmer Mac receives a fixed fee based on the full dollar amount of the facility. This facility had not been drawn upon as of September 30, 2015.
(3) 
Consists of AgVantage securities issued by 5 different issuers as of both September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 .
(4) 
Includes $26.2 million related to an issuer with a credit rating of BBB- and $60.1 million related to 4 issuers without a credit rating as of September 30, 2015 and $50.2 million related to an issuer with a credit rating of BBB- and $60.2 million related to 4 issuers without a credit rating as of December 31, 2014.
(5) 
Consists of securities from 2 separate issuers as of both September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Farmer Mac manages institutional credit risk related to lenders and servicers by requiring those institutions to meet Farmer Mac's standards for creditworthiness.  Farmer Mac monitors the financial condition of those institutions by evaluating financial statements and bank credit rating agency reports.  For more information about Farmer Mac's lender eligibility requirements, see "Business—Farmer Mac Lines of Business—Farm & Ranch—Approved Lenders" and "Business—Farmer Mac Lines of Business—Rural Utilities—Approved Lenders" in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015.


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Farmer Mac manages institutional credit risk related to its interest rate swap counterparties through collateralization provisions contained in each of its swap agreements that varies based on the market value of its swaps portfolio with each counterparty. In addition, Farmer Mac transacts interest rate swaps with multiple counterparties to ensure a more even distribution of institutional credit risk related to its swap transactions. Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act"), mandatory clearing of certain interest rate derivative transactions became effective for Farmer Mac during second quarter 2013, and Farmer Mac has been able to use the clearing process for cleared swap transactions as another mechanism for managing its derivative counterparty risk. Credit risk related to interest rate swap contracts is discussed in "—Risk Management—Interest Rate Risk" and Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements.

Credit Risk Other Investments. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac had $1.5 billion of cash and cash equivalents and $2.0 billion of investment securities. The management of the credit risk inherent in these investments is governed by Farmer Mac's internal policies as well as FCA regulations, which establish limitations on dollar amount, issuer concentration, and credit quality. Those regulations can be found at 12 C.F.R. §§ 652.1-652.45 (the "Liquidity and Investment Regulations"). In addition to establishing a portfolio of highly liquid investments as an available source of cash, the goals of Farmer Mac's investment policies are designed to minimize Farmer Mac's exposure to financial market volatility, preserve capital, and support Farmer Mac's access to the debt markets.

The Liquidity and Investment Regulations and Farmer Mac's policies generally require each investment or issuer of an investment to be highly rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization ("NRSRO").  Investments in mortgage securities and asset-backed securities are required to have a rating in the highest NRSRO category. Corporate debt securities with maturities of no more than five years but more than three years are required to be rated in one of the two highest categories; corporate debt securities with maturities of three years or less are required to be rated in one of the three highest categories.  Some investments do not require a rating, such as U.S. Treasury securities and other obligations fully insured by the United States government or a government agency or diversified investment funds regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940.  Investments in diversified investment funds are further limited to those funds that are holding only instruments approved for direct investment by Farmer Mac.

The Liquidity and Investment Regulations and Farmer Mac's policies also establish concentration limits, which are intended to limit exposure to any one counterparty. The Liquidity and Investment Regulations limit Farmer Mac's total credit exposure to any single issuer of securities and uncollateralized financial derivatives to 25 percent of Farmer Mac's regulatory capital (as of September 30, 2015, 25 percent of Farmer Mac's regulatory capital was $142.1 million), though Farmer Mac's current policy, for any investments made after the effective date of this policy, limits this total credit exposure to 5 percent of its regulatory capital (as of September 30, 2015, 5 percent of Farmer Mac's regulatory capital was $28.4 million). These exposure limits do not apply to obligations of the United States or GSEs, though Farmer Mac is restricted by the Liquidity and Investment Regulations and its own policy from investing more than 100 percent of its regulatory capital in any one GSE.

Interest Rate Risk.  Farmer Mac is subject to interest rate risk on all assets retained on its balance sheet because of possible timing differences in the cash flows of the assets and related liabilities.  This risk is primarily related to loans held, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, and USDA Securities due to the ability of borrowers to prepay their loans before the scheduled maturities, thereby increasing the risk of asset and


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liability cash flow mismatches.  Cash flow mismatches in a changing interest rate environment can reduce the earnings of Farmer Mac if assets repay sooner than expected and the resulting cash flows must be reinvested in lower-yielding investments when Farmer Mac's funding costs cannot be correspondingly reduced, or if assets repay more slowly than expected and the associated debt must be replaced by higher-cost debt. As discussed below, Farmer Mac manages this interest rate risk by funding assets purchased with liabilities matching the duration and cash flow characteristics of the assets purchased.

The goal of interest rate risk management at Farmer Mac is to create and maintain a portfolio that generates stable earnings and value across a variety of interest rate environments. Farmer Mac's primary strategy for managing interest rate risk is to fund asset purchases with liabilities that have similar duration and cash flow characteristics so that they will perform similarly as interest rates change. To match these characteristics, Farmer Mac issues discount notes and both callable and non-callable medium-term notes across a spectrum of maturities. Farmer Mac issues callable debt to offset the prepayment risk associated with some loans. By using a blend of liabilities that includes callable debt, the interest rate sensitivities of the liabilities tend to increase or decrease as interest rates change in a manner similar to changes in the interest rate sensitivities of the assets. Farmer Mac also uses financial derivatives to better match the durations of Farmer Mac's assets and liabilities, thereby reducing overall interest rate sensitivity.

Taking into consideration the prepayment provisions and the default probabilities associated with its loan assets, Farmer Mac uses prepayment models to project and value cash flows associated with these assets.  Because borrowers' behaviors in various interest rate environments may change over time, Farmer Mac periodically evaluates the effectiveness of these models compared to actual prepayment experience and adjusts and refines the models as necessary to improve the precision of subsequent prepayment forecasts.

In certain cases, yield maintenance provisions and other prepayment penalties contained in agricultural mortgage loans and rural utilities loans reduce, but do not eliminate, prepayment risk.  Those provisions require borrowers to make an additional payment when they prepay their loans, thus compensating Farmer Mac for the shortened duration of the prepaid loan.  As of September 30, 2015, 1 percent of the total outstanding balance of loans in the Farm & Ranch line of business where Farmer Mac either owned the loan or the beneficial interest in the underlying loan had yield maintenance provisions and less than 1 percent had other forms of prepayment protection (together covering 2 percent of all loans with fixed interest rates).  Of the Farm & Ranch loans purchased in third quarter 2015, none had yield maintenance or another form of prepayment protection. As of September 30, 2015, none of Farmer Mac's USDA Securities had yield maintenance provisions; however, 6 percent contained prepayment penalties.  Of the USDA Securities purchased in third quarter 2015, 5 percent contained various forms of prepayment penalties.  As of September 30, 2015, 62 percent of the rural utilities loans owned by Farmer Mac had yield maintenance provisions. Of the rural utilities loans purchased in third quarter 2015, 88 percent contained prepayment penalties.

Farmer Mac's purchases of eligible loan assets expose Farmer Mac to interest rate risk arising primarily from uncertainty as to when the borrowers will repay the outstanding principal balance on the related loans. Generally, the values of Farmer Mac's eligible loan assets, and the debt issued to fund these assets, increase when interest rates decline, and their values decrease as interest rates rise. Furthermore, changes in interest rates may affect loan prepayment rates which may, in turn, affect durations and values of the loans. Declining interest rates generally increase prepayment rates, which shortens the duration of these assets, while rising interest rates tend to slow loan prepayments, thereby extending the duration of the loans.


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Farmer Mac is also subject to interest rate risk on loans that Farmer Mac has committed to acquire (other than delinquent loans through LTSPCs) but has not yet purchased.  When Farmer Mac commits to purchase those loans, it is exposed to interest rate risk between the time it commits to purchase the loans and the time it either:
 
sells Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities backed by the loans; or
issues debt to retain the loans in its portfolio.

Farmer Mac manages the interest rate risk related to these loans, and any related Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities or debt issuance, through the use of forward sale contracts on the debt securities of other GSEs and futures contracts involving U.S. Treasury securities.  Farmer Mac uses forward sale contracts on GSE securities to reduce its interest rate exposure to changes in both U.S. Treasury rates and spreads on Farmer Mac debt and certain Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities. Issuing debt to fund the loans as investments does not fully eliminate interest rate risk due to the possible timing differences in the cash flows of the assets and related liabilities, as discussed above.

Farmer Mac's $1.5 billion of cash and cash equivalents mature within three months and are funded with discount notes having similar maturities. As of September 30, 2015, $2.026 billion of the $2.032 billion of investment securities (nearly 100 percent) were floating rate securities with rates that adjust within one year or fixed rate securities with original maturities between three months and one year. Those securities are funded with effectively floating rate debt that closely matches the rate adjustment dates of the associated investments. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac had outstanding discount notes of $6.1 billion, medium-term notes that mature within one year of $2.2 billion, and medium-term notes that mature after one year of $5.2 billion.

Recognizing that interest rate sensitivity may change with the passage of time and as interest rates change, Farmer Mac assesses this exposure on a regular basis and, if necessary, readjusts its portfolio of assets and liabilities by:
 
purchasing assets in the ordinary course of business;
refinancing existing liabilities; or
using financial derivatives to alter the characteristics of existing assets or liabilities.
 
Farmer Mac regularly stress tests its portfolio for interest rate risk and uses a variety of metrics to quantify and manage its interest rate risk. These metrics include sensitivity to interest rate movements of market value of equity ("MVE") and net interest income ("NII") as well as duration gap analysis. MVE represents management's estimate of the present value of all future cash flows from on- and off-balance sheet assets, liabilities, and financial derivatives, discounted at current interest rates and appropriate spreads. However, MVE is not indicative of the market value of Farmer Mac as a going concern because these market values are theoretical and do not reflect future business activities. MVE sensitivity analysis is used to measure the degree to which the market values of Farmer Mac's assets and liabilities change for a given change in interest rates. Because this analysis evaluates the impact of interest rate movements on the value of all future cash flows, this measure provides an evaluation of Farmer Mac's long-term interest rate risk.

Farmer Mac's NII is the difference between the yield on its interest-earning assets and its funding costs. Farmer Mac's NII may be affected by changes in market interest rates resulting from timing differences


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between maturities and re-pricing characteristics of assets and liabilities. The direction and magnitude of any such effect depends on the direction and magnitude of the change in interest rates as well as the composition of Farmer Mac's portfolio. The NII forecast represents an estimate of the net interest income that Farmer Mac's current portfolio is expected to produce over a twelve-month horizon. As a result, NII sensitivity statistics provide a short-term view of Farmer Mac's interest rate sensitivity.

Duration is a measure of a financial instrument's sensitivity to small changes in interest rates. Duration gap is the difference between the estimated durations of Farmer Mac's assets and liabilities. Because duration is a measure of market value sensitivity, duration gap summarizes the extent to which estimated market value sensitivities for assets and liabilities are matched. Duration gap provides a relatively concise measure of the interest rate risk inherent in Farmer Mac's outstanding book of business.

A positive duration gap denotes that the duration of Farmer Mac's assets is greater than the duration of its liabilities. A positive duration gap indicates that the market value of Farmer Mac's assets is more sensitive to small interest rate movements than is the market value of its liabilities. Conversely, a negative duration gap indicates that Farmer Mac's assets are less sensitive to small interest rate movements than are its liabilities.

Each of the metrics is produced using asset/liability models and is derived based on management's best estimates of such factors as projected interest rates, interest rate volatility, and prepayment speeds. Accordingly, these metrics should be understood as estimates rather than precise measurements. In addition, actual results may differ to the extent there are material changes to Farmer Mac's portfolio or changes in strategies undertaken to mitigate unfavorable sensitivities to interest rate changes.

The following schedule summarizes the results of Farmer Mac's MVE and NII sensitivity analysis as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 to an immediate and instantaneous uniform or "parallel" shift in the yield curve:

Table 20

 
 
Percentage Change in MVE from Base Case
Interest Rate Scenario
 
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
+100 basis points
 
2.7
 %
 
3.2
 %
-25 basis points
 
(1.7
)%
 
(1.8
)%

 
 
Percentage Change in NII from Base Case
Interest Rate Scenario
 
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
+100 basis points
 
2.1
 %
 
4.3
 %
-25 basis points
 
(5.0
)%
 
(8.7
)%


Farmer Mac's board of directors has established policies and procedures regarding MVE and NII sensitivity. These policies include the measurement of MVE and NII sensitivity to more severe decreasing interest rate scenarios that are consistent in magnitude with the increasing interest rate scenarios. However, given the low interest rate environment, such rate scenarios produce negative interest rates, and, as a result, do not produce results that are meaningful. Consequently, Farmer Mac measures and reports MVE and NII sensitivity to a down 25 basis point interest rate shock.



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As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac's effective duration gap was minus 2.3 months, compared to minus 2.6 months as of December 31, 2014.  During 2015, longer term interest rates declined while shorter term LIBOR rates increased. Despite this rate movement, Farmer Mac's overall interest rate sensitivity remained relatively stable and at relatively low levels.

The economic effects of financial derivatives are included in Farmer Mac's MVE, NII, and duration gap analyses.  Farmer Mac enters into the following financial derivative transactions principally to protect against risk from the effects of market price or interest rate movements on the value of assets, future cash flows, credit exposure, and debt issuance, not for trading or speculative purposes:
 
"pay-fixed" interest rate swaps, in which Farmer Mac pays fixed rates of interest to, and receives floating rates of interest from, counterparties;
"receive-fixed" interest rate swaps, in which Farmer Mac receives fixed rates of interest from, and pays floating rates of interest to, counterparties; and
"basis swaps," in which Farmer Mac pays variable rates of interest based on one index to, and receives variable rates of interest based on another index from, counterparties.

As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac had $8.0 billion combined notional amount of interest rate swaps, with terms ranging from less than one year to twenty-five years, of which $1.8 billion were pay-fixed interest rate swaps, $5.4 billion were receive-fixed interest rate swaps, and $0.8 billion were basis swaps.

Farmer Mac enters into interest rate swap contracts to adjust the characteristics of its debt to match more closely the cash flow and duration characteristics of its loans and other assets, thereby reducing interest rate risk and often times deriving an overall lower effective cost of borrowing than would otherwise be available to Farmer Mac in the conventional debt market.  Specifically, interest rate swaps synthetically convert the variable cash flows related to the forecasted issuance of short-term debt into effectively fixed rate medium-term notes that match the anticipated duration and interest rate characteristics of the corresponding assets.  Farmer Mac evaluates the overall cost of using the swap market as a funding alternative and uses interest rate swaps to manage specific interest rate risks for specific transactions. Certain financial derivatives are designated as fair value hedges of fixed rate assets classified as available-for-sale to protect against fair value changes in the assets related to a benchmark interest rate (e.g., LIBOR).

Farmer Mac has used callable interest rate swaps (in conjunction with the issuance of short-term debt) as an alternative to callable medium-term notes with equivalently structured maturities and call options.  The call options on the swaps are designed to match the prepayment options on those assets without prepayment protection.  The blended durations of the swaps are also designed to match the duration of the related assets over their estimated lives.  If the assets prepay, the swaps can be called and the short-term debt repaid; if the assets do not prepay, the swaps remain outstanding and the short-term debt is rolled over, effectively providing fixed rate callable funding over the lives of the related assets.  Thus, the economics of the assets are closely matched to the economics of the interest rate swap and funding combination.

As discussed in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements, all financial derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value as a freestanding asset or liability. Changes in the fair values of financial derivatives are reported in "(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities" in the consolidated statements of operations. For financial derivatives designated in fair value hedging relationships, changes in the fair values of the hedged items related to the risk being hedged are also


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reported in "(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities" in the consolidated statements of operations. For financial derivatives designated in cash flow hedging relationships, the effective portion of the derivative gain/loss is recorded in other comprehensive income; amounts are disclosed as a reclassification out of other comprehensive income when the hedge transaction affects earnings. Any ineffective portion of designated hedge transactions is recognized immediately in "(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities".  All of Farmer Mac's financial derivative transactions are conducted under standard collateralized agreements that limit Farmer Mac's potential credit exposure to any counterparty.  As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac had uncollateralized net exposures of $0.2 million to one counterparty. As of December 31, 2014, Farmer Mac had uncollateralized net exposures of $0.4 million to two counterparties.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Farmer Mac regularly accesses the capital markets for funding, and Farmer Mac has maintained access to the capital markets at favorable rates throughout 2014 and the first nine months of 2015. Assuming continued access to the capital markets, Farmer Mac believes it has sufficient liquidity and capital resources to support its operations for the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future. Farmer Mac also has a liquidity contingency plan to manage unanticipated disruptions in its access to the capital markets. That plan involves borrowing through repurchase agreement arrangements and the sale of liquid assets. Farmer Mac is required to maintain a minimum of 90 days of liquidity under the Liquidity and Investment Regulations. In accordance with the methodology for calculating available days of liquidity prescribed by those regulations, Farmer Mac maintained an average of 159 days of liquidity during third quarter 2015 and had 124 days of liquidity as of September 30, 2015.
                              
Debt Issuance.  Farmer Mac funds its purchases of eligible loan assets and investment assets and finances its operations primarily by issuing debt obligations of various maturities through a network of dealers in the public capital markets.  Farmer Mac works to enhance its funding operations by undertaking extensive debt investor relations initiatives, including conducting non-deal roadshows with institutional investors, making periodic dealer sales force presentations, and speaking at fixed income investor conferences throughout the United States. Debt obligations issued by Farmer Mac include discount notes and fixed and floating rate medium-term notes, including callable notes.

Farmer Mac's board of directors has authorized the issuance of up to $18.0 billion of discount notes and medium-term notes (of which $13.5 billion was outstanding as of September 30, 2015), subject to periodic review of the adequacy of that level relative to Farmer Mac's borrowing requirements. Farmer Mac's board of directors increased that authorization from $15.0 billion to $18.0 billion in June 2015. Farmer Mac invests the proceeds of its debt issuances in purchases of loans, USDA Securities, Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, and investment assets in accordance with policies established by its board of directors and subject to regulations established by FCA.

Liquidity.  The funding and liquidity needs of Farmer Mac's lines of business are driven by the purchase and retention of eligible loans, USDA Securities, and Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities (including AgVantage securities); the maturities of Farmer Mac's discount notes and medium-term notes; and payment of principal and interest on Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities.  Farmer Mac's primary sources of funds to meet these needs are the proceeds of its debt issuances, fees for its guarantees and commitments, net effective spread, loan repayments, and maturities of AgVantage securities.
 


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Farmer Mac uses a combination of pay-fixed interest rate swaps and receive-fixed interest rate swaps to mitigate its exposure to interest rate risk and monitors the effects of actual and potential fair value changes on its capital position. From time to time, Farmer Mac uses pay-fixed interest rate swaps, combined with a planned series of discount note or short-term floating rate medium-term note issuances, as an alternative source of effectively fixed rate funding. While the swap market may provide favorable effectively fixed rates, interest rate swap transactions expose Farmer Mac to the risk of future variability of its own issuance spreads versus corresponding LIBOR rates. If the spreads on the Farmer Mac discount notes or short-term floating rate medium-term notes were to deteriorate relative to LIBOR, Farmer Mac would be exposed to a commensurate reduction on its net interest yield on the notional amount of its pay-fixed interest rate swaps and its LIBOR-based floating rate assets. Conversely, if the rates on the Farmer Mac discount notes or short-term floating rate medium-term notes were to improve relative to LIBOR, Farmer Mac would benefit from a commensurate increase on its net interest yield on the notional amount of its pay-fixed interest rate swaps and its LIBOR-based floating rate assets.

Farmer Mac maintains cash, cash equivalents (including U.S. Treasury securities and other short-term money market instruments), and other investment securities that can be drawn upon for liquidity needs.  The following table presents these assets as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

Table 21
 
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014

 
(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,516,536

 
$
1,363,387

Investment securities:
 

 
 

Guaranteed by U.S. Government and its agencies
1,025,457

 
1,404,156

Guaranteed by GSEs
898,211

 
398,600

Corporate debt securities
19,996

 
40,116

Asset-backed securities
88,515

 
96,316

Total
$
3,548,715

 
$
3,302,575


Farmer Mac's asset-backed investment securities include callable, highly rated auction-rate certificates ("ARCs"), the interest rates on which are reset through an auction process, most commonly at intervals of 28 days, or at formula-based floating rates as set forth in the related transaction documents in the event of a failed auction.  These formula-based floating rates, which may at times reset to zero, are intended to preserve the underlying principal balance of the securities and avoid overall cash shortfalls.  Accordingly, payments of accrued interest may be delayed and are ultimately subject to cash availability. Beginning in mid-February 2008, there were widespread failures of the auction mechanism designed to provide regular liquidity to these types of securities.  Consequently, Farmer Mac has not sold any of its ARCs into the auctions since that time.  All ARCs held by Farmer Mac are collateralized entirely by pools of Federal Family Education Loan Program guaranteed student loans that are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.  Farmer Mac continues to believe that the credit quality of these securities is high, based on the underlying collateralization and the securities' ratings.  To date, Farmer Mac has received all interest due on ARCs it holds and expects to continue to do so. Farmer Mac does not believe that the auction failures will affect Farmer Mac's liquidity or its ability to fund its operations or make dividend payments.  All ARCs held by Farmer Mac are callable by the issuers at par at any time.

The carrying value of Farmer Mac's ARCs investments was $44.9 million as of September 30, 2015, compared to $40.6 million as of December 31, 2014. During third quarter 2015, Farmer Mac recognized in earnings $0.1 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses on two ARCs. As of September 30,


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2015, Farmer Mac intended to sell the securities in fourth quarter 2015 at a price of 99.63 percent of par pursuant to a forward sales agreement. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac's carrying value of all of its ARCs investments was 97 percent of par.  The discounted carrying value reflects uncertainty regarding the ability to obtain par in the absence of any active market trading. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements for more information on the carrying value of ARCs.

Capital. Farmer Mac is subject to the following capital requirements – minimum, critical, and risk-based. Farmer Mac is required to comply with the higher of the minimum capital requirement and the risk-based capital requirement. The minimum capital requirement is expressed as a percentage of on-balance sheet assets and off-balance sheet obligations. The critical capital requirement is equal to one-half of the minimum capital amount. Farmer Mac's statutory charter does not specify the required level of risk-based capital but directs FCA to establish a risk-based capital stress test for Farmer Mac, using specified stress test parameters. Certain enforcement powers are given to FCA depending on Farmer Mac's compliance with these capital standards. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac was in compliance with its statutory capital requirements and was classified as within "level I" (the highest compliance level). See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements for more information about Farmer Mac's capital position and see "Business—Government Regulation of Farmer Mac—Regulation—Capital Standards" in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015 for more information on the statutory and regulatory capital requirements applicable to Farmer Mac.

In accordance with FCA's rule on capital planning, Farmer Mac's board of directors has adopted a policy for maintaining a sufficient level of "Tier 1" capital (consisting of retained earnings, paid-in-capital, common stock, qualifying preferred stock, and accumulated other comprehensive income allocable to investments not included in one of the four operating lines of business). That policy imposes restrictions on Tier 1-eligible dividends and any discretionary bonus payments in the event that Tier 1 capital falls below specified thresholds. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, Farmer Mac's Tier 1 capital ratio was 11.5% and 11.3%, respectively. For more information about Farmer Mac's capital adequacy policy and FCA's rule on capital planning, see "Business—Government Regulation of Farmer Mac—Regulation—Capital Standards" in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015. As of September 30, 2015, Farmer Mac was in compliance with its capital adequacy policy.

Regulatory Matters

The Dodd-Frank Act contains a variety of provisions designed to regulate financial markets. Certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, including those regarding derivatives, corporate governance, and executive compensation, apply to Farmer Mac. On October 22, 2015, the Federal Reserve Board, FCA, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency adopted a joint final rule to establish minimum requirements for the exchange of initial and variation margin between swap dealers or major swap participants and their counterparties to non-cleared swaps. Farmer Mac does not expect that any of the final rules that have been passed, including the final rule establishing margin requirements for non-cleared swaps, or that are anticipated to be passed under the Dodd-Frank Act will have a material effect on Farmer Mac's business activities and operations or financial condition. Farmer Mac will continue to monitor all applicable developments in the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act and expects to be able to adapt successfully to any new applicable legislative and regulatory requirements.



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Other Matters

Common Stock Dividends. On November 4, 2015, Farmer Mac's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share on all classes of its common stock. The quarterly dividend will be payable on December 31, 2015 to holders of record of common stock as of December 16, 2015. For the first, second, and third quarters of 2015, Farmer Mac paid a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share on all classes of its common stock. For each quarter in 2014, Farmer Mac paid a quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share on all classes of its common stock. Farmer Mac's ability to declare and pay dividends on common stock could be restricted if it fails to comply with applicable capital requirements. See "Business—Government Regulation of Farmer Mac—Regulation—Capital Standards—Enforcement Levels" in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015.

Preferred Stock Dividends. On November 4, 2015, Farmer Mac's Board of Directors also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3672 per share on its Series A Preferred Stock, $0.4297 per share on its Series B Preferred Stock, and $0.375 per share on its Series C Preferred Stock. Farmer Mac will pay the quarterly dividends on each series of preferred stock for the period from, but not including, October 17, 2015 to and including January 17, 2016, which will be payable on January 17, 2016 to holders of record as of January 2, 2016. For each of the first, second, and third quarters of 2015 and for each quarter of 2014, Farmer Mac paid a quarterly dividend of $0.3672 per share on its Series A Preferred Stock. For each of the first, second, and third quarters of 2015 and for the last two quarters of 2014, Farmer Mac paid a quarterly dividend of $0.4297 per share on its Series B Preferred Stock, and for the period from, but not including, its issuance date on March 25, 2014 through and including the regularly scheduled quarterly payment date of April 17, 2014, Farmer Mac paid an initial dividend of $0.105 per share on its Series B Preferred Stock. For each of the first, second, and third quarters of 2015 and for the last quarter of 2014, Farmer Mac paid a quarterly dividend of $0.375 per share on its Series C Preferred Stock, and for the period from, but not including, its issuance date on June 20, 2014 through and including the regularly scheduled quarterly payment date of October 17, 2014, Farmer Mac paid an initial dividend of $0.4875 per share on its Series C Preferred Stock.



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Supplemental Information

The following tables present quarterly and annual information regarding new business volume, repayments, and outstanding business volume:

Table 22
New Business Volume
 
Farm & Ranch
 
USDA Guarantees
 
Rural Utilities
 
Institutional Credit
 
 
 
Loans
 
LTSPCs
 
USDA Securities
 
Loans
 
LTSPCs
 
AgVantage
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
For the quarter ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2015
$
175,965

 
$
79,621

 
$
91,374

 
$
53,552

 
$
522,262

 
$
506,602

 
$
1,429,376

June 30, 2015
196,927

 
102,944

 
123,933

 

 

 
307,250

 
731,054

March 31, 2015
130,224

 
59,311

 
89,186

 
8,703

 

 
214,915

 
502,339

December 31, 2014
196,058

 
72,045

 
86,942

 
6,972

 

 
454,490

 
816,507

September 30, 2014
150,243

 
77,368

 
97,275

 
9,936

 

 
295,700

 
630,522

June 30, 2014
159,116

 
34,850

 
90,785

 
4,689

 

 
300,775

 
590,215

March 31, 2014
192,407

 
185,594

 
67,984

 
53,903

 

 
228,690

 
728,578

December 31, 2013
245,770

 
75,731

 
58,438

 
41,374

 

 
295,000

 
716,313

September 30, 2013
193,089

 
198,783

 
70,372

 
5,107

 

 
353,500

 
820,851

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
697,824

 
369,857

 
342,986

 
75,500

 

 
1,279,655

 
2,765,822

December 31, 2013
824,881

 
540,798

 
361,894

 
86,965

 

 
1,273,500

 
3,088,038





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Table 23
Repayments of Assets by Line of Business
 
Farm & Ranch
 
USDA Guarantees
 
Rural Utilities
 
Institutional Credit
 
 
 
Loans
 
Guaranteed Securities
 
LTSPCs
 
USDA Securities
 
Loans
 
LTSPCs
 
AgVantage
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
For the quarter ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scheduled
$
37,524

 
$
11,178

 
$
45,943

 
$
19,785

 
$
25,662

 
$
4,033

 
$
609,524

 
$
753,649

Unscheduled
70,242

 
11,164

 
61,075

 
35,394

 

 

 

 
177,875

September 30, 2015
$
107,766

 
$
22,342

 
$
107,018

 
$
55,179

 
$
25,662

 
$
4,033

 
$
609,524

 
$
931,524

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scheduled
$
8,687

 
$
11,126

 
$
34,064

 
$
31,064

 
$
19

 
$

 
$
9,245

 
$
94,205

Unscheduled
48,659

 
11,299

 
47,714

 
45,357

 
13,910

 

 

 
166,939

June 30, 2015
$
57,346

 
$
22,425

 
$
81,778

 
$
76,421

 
$
13,929

 
$

 
$
9,245

 
$
261,144

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scheduled
$
39,803

 
$
21,163

 
$
53,747

 
$
33,388

 
$
25,805

 
$

 
$
81,922

 
$
255,828

Unscheduled
59,731

 
16,687

 
68,330

 
38,914

 
390

 

 

 
184,052

March 31, 2015
$
99,534

 
$
37,850

 
$
122,077

 
$
72,302

 
$
26,195

 
$

 
$
81,922

 
$
439,880

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scheduled
$
7,000

 
$
19,821

 
$
28,472

 
$
16,966

 
$

 
$

 
$
9,349

 
$
81,608

Unscheduled
29,284

 
21,907

 
58,882

 
31,890

 

 

 

 
141,963

December 31, 2014
$
36,284

 
$
41,728

 
$
87,354

 
$
48,856

 
$

 
$

 
$
9,349

 
$
223,571

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scheduled
$
37,361

 
$
11,560

 
$
45,631

 
$
18,123

 
$
43,612

 
$

 
$
383,130

 
$
539,417

Unscheduled
59,601

 
15,002

 
54,683

 
29,539

 

 

 

 
158,825

September 30, 2014
$
96,962

 
$
26,562

 
$
100,314

 
$
47,662

 
$
43,612

 
$

 
$
383,130

 
$
698,242

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scheduled
$
9,813

 
$
13,623

 
$
52,622

 
$
28,681

 
$

 
$

 
$
361,831

 
$
466,570

Unscheduled
45,094

 
13,575

 
42,550

 
38,465

 
19,622

 

 

 
159,306

June 30, 2014
$
54,907

 
$
27,198

 
$
95,172

 
$
67,146

 
$
19,622

 
$

 
$
361,831

 
$
625,876

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scheduled
$
41,587

 
$
24,430

 
$
48,157

 
$
29,319

 
$
23,744

 
$

 
$
176,268

 
$
343,505

Unscheduled
63,329

 
9,747

 
59,856

 
39,086

 
55,164

 

 

 
227,182

March 31, 2014
$
104,916

 
$
34,177

 
$
108,013

 
$
68,405

 
$
78,908

 
$

 
$
176,268

 
$
570,687

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scheduled
$
6,729

 
$
24,367

 
$
36,063

 
$
17,463

 
$
6,897

 
$

 
$
303,087

 
$
394,606

Unscheduled
54,277

 
11,586

 
61,147

 
30,651

 

 

 

 
157,661

December 31, 2013
$
61,006

 
$
35,953

 
$
97,210

 
$
48,114

 
$
6,897

 
$

 
$
303,087

 
$
552,267

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scheduled
$
34,455

 
$
13,133

 
$
47,143

 
$
21,235

 
$
31,994

 
$

 
$
258,488

 
$
406,448

Unscheduled
84,889

 
12,232

 
81,761

 
39,514

 
5,259

 

 

 
223,655

September 30, 2013
$
119,344

 
$
25,365

 
$
128,904

 
$
60,749

 
$
37,253

 
$

 
$
258,488

 
$
630,103

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scheduled
$
95,761

 
$
69,434

 
$
174,882

 
$
93,089

 
$
67,356

 
$

 
$
930,578

 
$
1,431,100

Unscheduled
197,308

 
60,231

 
215,971

 
138,980

 
74,786

 

 

 
687,276

December 31, 2014
$
293,069

 
$
129,665

 
$
390,853

 
$
232,069

 
$
142,142

 
$

 
$
930,578

 
$
2,118,376

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scheduled
$
82,440

 
$
77,702

 
$
170,690

 
$
94,672

 
$
61,400

 
$

 
$
846,011

 
$
1,332,915

Unscheduled
286,825

 
67,917

 
264,314

 
195,684

 
5,259

 

 

 
819,999

December 31, 2013
$
369,265

 
$
145,619

 
$
435,004

 
$
290,356

 
$
66,659

 
$

 
$
846,011

 
$
2,152,914





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Table 24

Lines of Business - Outstanding Business Volume
 
Farm & Ranch
 
USDA Guarantees
 
Rural Utilities
 
Institutional Credit
 
 
 
Loans
 
Guaranteed Securities
 
LTSPCs
 
USDA Securities
 
Loans
 
LTSPCs
 
AgVantage
 
Total
 
(in thousands)
As of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2015
$
2,778,692

 
$
553,469

 
$
2,171,869

 
$
1,898,625

 
$
982,078

 
$
518,229

 
$
6,725,017

 
$
15,627,979

June 30, 2015
2,710,493

 
575,811

 
2,199,266

 
1,862,430

 
954,188

 

 
6,827,939

 
15,130,127

March 31, 2015
2,570,912

 
598,236

 
2,178,100

 
1,814,918

 
968,117

 

 
6,529,934

 
14,660,217

December 31, 2014
2,540,222

 
636,086

 
2,240,866

 
1,798,034

 
985,609

 

 
6,396,941

 
14,597,758

September 30, 2014
2,380,448

 
677,814

 
2,256,175

 
1,759,948

 
978,637

 

 
5,951,800

 
14,004,822

June 30, 2014
2,327,167

 
704,376

 
2,279,121

 
1,710,335

 
1,012,313

 

 
6,039,230

 
14,072,542

March 31, 2014
2,222,958

 
731,574

 
2,339,443

 
1,686,696

 
1,027,246

 

 
6,100,286

 
14,108,203

December 31, 2013
2,135,467

 
765,751

 
2,261,862

 
1,687,117

 
1,052,251

 

 
6,047,864

 
13,950,312

September 30, 2013
1,950,704

 
801,703

 
2,283,341

 
1,676,793

 
1,017,774

 

 
6,055,951

 
13,786,266



Table 25

On-Balance Sheet Outstanding Business Volume
 
Fixed Rate
 
5- to 10-Year ARMs & Resets
 
1-Month to 3-Year ARMs
 
Total Held in Portfolio
 
(in thousands)
As of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2015
$
4,889,894

 
$
2,147,916

 
$
4,049,361

 
$
11,087,171

June 30, 2015
5,136,559

 
2,118,999

 
4,102,075

 
11,357,633

March 31, 2015
5,006,542

 
2,020,600

 
3,857,363

 
10,884,505

December 31, 2014
5,020,085

 
2,002,943

 
3,697,272

 
10,720,300

September 30, 2014
4,823,897

 
1,919,353

 
3,324,703

 
10,067,953

June 30, 2014
4,955,560

 
1,881,625

 
3,247,011

 
10,084,196

March 31, 2014
4,890,979

 
1,834,352

 
3,304,094

 
10,029,425

December 31, 2013
4,980,500

 
1,827,744

 
3,113,224

 
9,921,468

September 30, 2013
4,970,420

 
1,802,255

 
2,924,785

 
9,697,460





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Table of Contents

The following table presents the quarterly net effective spread by segment:

Table 26

 
Net Effective Spread by Line of Business
 
 
 
Farm & Ranch
 
USDA Guarantees
 
Rural Utilities
 
Institutional Credit(1)
 
Corporate
 
Net Effective Spread
 
Dollars
 
Yield
 
Dollars
 
Yield
 
Dollars
 
Yield
 
Dollars
 
Yield
 
Dollars
 
Yield
 
Dollars
 
Yield
 
(dollars in thousands)
For the quarter ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2015
$
9,628

 
1.80
%
 
$
4,630

 
0.99
%
 
$
2,907

 
1.18
%
 
$
11,271

 
0.81
%
 
$
1,951

 
0.25
%
 
$
30,387

 
0.88
%
June 30, 2015
9,681

 
1.82
%
 
4,466

 
0.98
%
 
2,838

 
1.18
%
 
10,860

 
0.78
%
 
1,942

 
0.25
%
 
29,787

 
0.88
%
March 31, 2015(2)
10,114

 
1.97
%
 
4,225

 
0.95
%
 
2,804

 
1.15
%
 
10,425

 
0.77
%
 
1,689

 
0.20
%
 
29,257

 
0.86
%
December 31, 2014(3)
8,682

 
1.71
%
 
5,250

 
1.19
%
 
2,908

 
1.18
%
 
9,871

 
0.78
%
 
1,732

 
0.26
%
 
28,443

 
0.91
%
September 30, 2014
8,207

 
1.68
%
 
5,073

 
1.18
%
 
2,890

 
1.16
%
 
9,823

 
0.78
%
 
3,773

 
0.59
%
 
29,766

 
0.97
%
June 30, 2014
7,820

 
1.64
%
 
4,159

 
0.99
%
 
2,953

 
1.16
%
 
9,957

 
0.78
%
 
4,160

 
0.57
%
 
29,049

 
0.92
%
March 31, 2014(4)
7,114

 
1.53
%
 
3,784

 
0.91
%
 
1,990

 
0.73
%
 
9,406

 
0.74
%
 
4,142

 
0.56
%
 
26,436

 
0.84
%
December 31, 2013(4)
10,113

 
2.20
%
 
4,022

 
0.97
%
 
2,379

 
0.89
%
 
9,088

 
0.72
%
 
4,420

 
0.58
%
 
30,022

 
0.94
%
September 30, 2013
7,980

 
1.86
%
 
4,505

 
1.09
%
 
2,974

 
1.12
%
 
9,117

 
0.72
%
 
4,117

 
0.57
%
 
28,693

 
0.93
%
(1) 
See Note 1(d) to the consolidated financial statements for more information about the reclassification of certain amounts in prior periods from guarantee and commitment fees to interest income related to on-balance sheet Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities.
(2) 
Beginning in first quarter 2015, Farmer Mac revised its methodology for interest expense allocation among the Farm & Ranch, USDA Guarantees, and Rural Utilities lines of business. As a result of this revision, a greater percentage of interest expense has been allocated to the longer-term assets included within the USDA Guarantees and Rural Utilities lines of business. Net effective spread for periods prior to the quarter ended March 31, 2015 does not reflect this revision.
(3) 
On October 1, 2014, $78.5 million of preferred stock issued by CoBank was called, resulting in a loss of net effective spread of $2.1 million or 30 basis points
in the corporate segment. The impact on consolidated net effective spread was 7 basis points.
(4) 
First quarter 2014 includes the impact of spread compression in the Rural Utilities line of business from the early refinancing of loans (41 basis points). Fourth quarter 2013 includes the impact in net effective spread in the Farm & Ranch line of business of one-time adjustments for recovered buyout interest and yield maintenance (40 basis points in aggregate) and the impact of spread compression in the Rural Utilities line of business from the early refinancing of loans (26 basis points).


























102

Table of Contents

The following table presents quarterly core earnings reconciled to net income attributable to common stockholders:

Table 27
 
 
 
September 2015
 
June 2015
 
March 2015
 
December 2014
 
September 2014
 
June 2014
 
March 2014
 
December 2013
 
September 2013
 
(in thousands)
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net effective spread(1)
$
30,387

 
$
29,787

 
$
29,257

 
$
28,443

 
$
29,766

 
$
29,049

 
$
26,436

 
$
30,022

 
$
28,693

Guarantee and commitment fees
4,328

 
4,085

 
4,012

 
4,096

 
4,152

 
4,216

 
4,315

 
4,252

 
4,134

Other(2)
(93
)
 
(24
)
 
(405
)
 
(1,285
)
 
(2,001
)
 
(520
)
 
(410
)
 
427

 
(466
)
Total revenues
34,622

 
33,848

 
32,864

 
31,254

 
31,917

 
32,745

 
30,341

 
34,701

 
32,361

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit related (income)/expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Release of)/provision for losses
(303
)
 
1,256

 
(696
)
 
(479
)
 
(804
)
 
(2,557
)
 
674

 
12

 
(36
)
REO operating expenses
48

 

 
(1
)
 
48

 
1

 
59

 
2

 
3

 
35

Losses/(gains) on sale of REO

 

 
1

 
28

 

 
(168
)
 
3

 
(26
)
 
(39
)
Total credit related (income)/expense
(255
)
 
1,256

 
(696
)
 
(403
)
 
(803
)
 
(2,666
)
 
679

 
(11
)
 
(40
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and employee benefits
5,236

 
5,733

 
5,693

 
4,971

 
4,693

 
4,889

 
4,456

 
4,025

 
4,523

General and administrative
3,676

 
3,374

 
2,823

 
2,992

 
3,123

 
3,288

 
2,794

 
3,104

 
2,827

Regulatory fees
600

 
600

 
600

 
600

 
593

 
594

 
594

 
594

 
593

Total operating expenses
9,512

 
9,707

 
9,116

 
8,563

 
8,409

 
8,771

 
7,844

 
7,723

 
7,943

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
25,365

 
22,885

 
24,444

 
23,094

 
24,311

 
26,640

 
21,818

 
26,989

 
24,458

Income tax expense/(benefit)(3)
8,924

 
8,091

 
6,692

 
4,858

 
6,327

 
(4,734
)
 
4,334

 
5,279

 
6,263

Net (loss)/income attributable to non-controlling interest
(36
)
 
(119
)
 
5,354

 
5,414

 
5,412

 
5,819

 
5,547

 
5,546

 
5,547

Preferred stock dividends
3,295

 
3,296

 
3,295

 
3,296

 
3,283

 
2,308

 
952

 
882

 
881

Core earnings
$
13,182

 
$
11,617

 
$
9,103

 
$
9,526

 
$
9,289

 
$
23,247

 
$
10,985

 
$
15,282

 
$
11,767

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reconciling items (after-tax effects):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized (losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities
(4,489
)
 
10,388

 
(582
)
 
(3,717
)
 
2,685

 
(3,053
)
 
(2,395
)
 
8,003

 
4,632

Unrealized (losses)/gains on trading assets
(5
)
 
110

 
236

 
679

 
(21
)
 
(46
)
 
426

 
(50
)
 
(407
)
Amortization of premiums/discounts and deferred gains on assets consolidated at fair value
(76
)
 
(81
)
 
(529
)
 
(811
)
 
(440
)
 
(179
)
 
(8,027
)
 
(10,864
)
 
(421
)
Net effects of settlements on agency forwards
(253
)
 
128

 
(164
)
 
(30
)
 
73

 
236

 
(176
)
 
114

 
(158
)
Loss on retirement of Farmer Mac II LLC Preferred Stock

 

 
(6,246
)
 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
8,359

 
$
22,162

 
$
1,818

 
$
5,647

 
$
11,586

 
$
20,205

 
$
813

 
$
12,485

 
$
15,413

(1) 
The difference between first quarter 2014 and fourth quarter 2013 net effective spread was due to the impact of one-time adjustments for recovered buyout interest and yield maintenance of $1.8 million in fourth quarter 2013, $0.6 million associated with the early refinancing of AgVantage securities and the recasting of certain Rural Utilities loans, and a lower day count in first quarter 2014.
(2) 
Fourth quarter 2014 and third quarter 2014 include $13.6 million and $17.9 million, respectively, of interest expense related to securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold, not yet purchased and $12.8 million and $16.4 million, respectively of gains on securities sold, not yet purchased. First quarter 2014 includes additional hedging costs of $0.6 million. Fourth quarter 2013 includes gains on the repurchase of debt of $1.5 million, partially offset by realized losses on the sale of available-for-sale securities of $0.9 million and additional hedging costs of $0.2 million. Second quarter 2013 includes $3.1 million of realized gains from the sale of an available-for-sale investment security.
(3) 
Fourth quarter 2014 and second quarter 2014 reflect a reduction of $1.4 million and $11.6 million, respectively, in the tax valuation allowance against capital loss carryforwards related to capital gains on securities sold, not yet purchased. First quarter 2014 and fourth quarter 2013 reflect a reduction in tax valuation allowance of $0.8 million and $2.1 million, respectively, associated with certain gains on investment portfolio assets. Second quarter 2013 includes the reduction of $1.1 million of tax valuation allowance against capital loss carryforwards related to realized gains from the sale of an available-for-sale investment security.


103

Table of Contents

Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Farmer Mac is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates.  Farmer Mac manages this market risk by entering into various financial transactions, including financial derivatives, and by monitoring and measuring its exposure to changes in interest rates.  See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Risk Management—Interest Rate Risk" for more information about Farmer Mac's exposure to interest rate risk and its strategies to manage such risk.  For information regarding Farmer Mac's use of financial derivatives and related accounting policies, see Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements.

Item 4.
Controls and Procedures

Management's Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Farmer Mac maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its periodic filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), including this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis. These disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to Farmer Mac's management on a timely basis to allow decisions regarding required disclosure. Management, including Farmer Mac's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of Farmer Mac's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of September 30, 2015.
  
Farmer Mac carried out the evaluation of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures, required by paragraph (b) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that Farmer Mac's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2015.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There were no changes in Farmer Mac's internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended September 30, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Farmer Mac's internal control over financial reporting.



104


PART II

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings

None.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There were no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in Farmer Mac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015.

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

(a)Farmer Mac is a federally chartered instrumentality of the United States and its debt and equity securities are exempt from registration pursuant to Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
  
During third quarter 2015, the following transactions occurred related to Farmer Mac's equity securities that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and were not otherwise reported on a Current Report on Form 8-K:

Class C Non-Voting Common Stock. Under Farmer Mac's policy that permits directors of Farmer Mac to elect to receive shares of Class C Non-Voting Common Stock in lieu of their cash retainers, Farmer Mac issued an aggregate of 91 shares of its Class C Non-Voting Common Stock on July 8, 2015 to the three directors who elected to receive stock in lieu of their cash retainers. Farmer Mac calculated the number of shares issued to the directors based on a price of $29.06 per share, which was the closing price of the Class C Non-Voting Common Stock on June 30, 2015 as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.

(b)
Not applicable.

(c)
The table below sets forth information regarding Farmer Mac's purchases of shares of its outstanding Class C Non-Voting Common Stock during the quarter ended September 30, 2015:

 
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased(1)
 
Average Price Paid per Share
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan(1)
 
Approximate Maximum Dollar Value That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plan
 
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share information)
Period:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
July 1, 2015 – July 31, 2015(2)
 

 
$

 

 
$

August 1, 2015 – August 31, 2015(2)
 

 

 

 

September 1, 2015 – September 30, 2015
 
103,712

 
26.87

 
103,712

 
22,213

Total
 
103,712

 
26.87

 

 

(1) 
On September 8, 2015, Farmer Mac's board of directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing Farmer Mac to repurchase up to $25 million of its outstanding Class C Non-Voting Common Stock until September 7, 2017. Repurchases of Class C Non-Voting Common Stock will be made at management's discretion from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices, through private transactions, or block trades, in each case subject to compliance with all SEC rules and other legal requirements, and may be made in part under one or more Rule 10b5-1 plans. The timing and amount of repurchases will depend on market conditions, share price, applicable legal requirements, and other factors.
(2) 
No shares of Class C Non-Voting Common Stock were purchased during this period.




105

Table of Contents

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

(a) None.

(b) None.

Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5.     Other Information

(a) None.

(b) None.




106

Table of Contents

Item 6. Exhibits

(3)           Exhibits.
*
 
3.1
 
 
Title VIII of the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as most recently amended by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Previously filed as Exhibit to Form 10-Q filed August 12, 2008).
*
 
3.2
 
 
Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K filed June 9, 2014).
*
 
4.1
 
 
Specimen Certificate for Farmer Mac Class A Voting Common Stock (Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Form 10-Q filed May 15, 2003).
*
 
4.2
 
 
Specimen Certificate for Farmer Mac Class B Voting Common Stock (Previously filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Form 10-Q filed May 15, 2003).
*
 
4.3
 
 
Specimen Certificate for Farmer Mac Class C Non-Voting Common Stock (Previously filed as Exhibit 4.3 to Form 10-Q filed May 15, 2003).
*
 
4.4
 
 
Specimen Certificate for 5.875% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (Previously filed as Exhibit 4.4.1 to Form 10-Q filed May 9, 2013).
*
 
4.4.1
 
 
Certificate of Designation of Terms and Conditions of 5.875% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-A filed January 17, 2013).
*
 
4.5
 
 
Specimen Certificate for 6.875% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B (Previously filed as Exhibit 4.5 to Form 10-Q filed May 12, 2014).
*
 
4.5.1
 
 
Certificate of Designation of Terms and Conditions of 6.875% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B (Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-A filed March 25, 2014).
*
 
4.6
 
 
Specimen Certificate for 6.000% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C (Previously filed as Exhibit 4.6 to Form 10-Q filed August 11, 2014).
*
 
4.6.1
 
 
Certificate of Designation of Terms and Conditions of 6.000% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C (Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-A filed June 20, 2014).
**
 
10.1
 
 
Master Note Purchase Agreement dated as of July 31, 2015 between Farmer Mac, Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, and National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation
**#
 
10.2
 
 
First Supplemental Note Purchase Agreement dated as of July 31, 2015 between Farmer Mac, Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, and National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation
**
 
10.3
 
 
Second Amended, Restated and Consolidated Pledge Agreement dated as of July 31, 2015 between Farmer Mac, Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, and U.S. Bank National Association
**
 
10.4
 
 
Long Term Standby Commitment to Purchase dated as of August 31, 2015 between Farmer Mac and National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation
**†
 
10.5
 
 
Description of compensation arrangement between Farmer Mac and its directors, effective July 1, 2015.
**
 
31.1
 
 
Certification of Registrant's principal executive officer relating to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
**
 
31.2
 
 
Certification of Registrant's principal financial officer relating to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
**
 
32
 
 
Certification of Registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer relating to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
*
Incorporated by reference to the indicated prior filing.
**
Filed with this report.
#
Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.
Management contract or compensatory plan.




107

Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION

          /s/ Timothy L. Buzby
 
November 9, 2015
By:
Timothy L. Buzby
 
Date
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 

          /s/ R. Dale Lynch
 
November 9, 2015
By:
R. Dale Lynch
 
Date
 
Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 




108