UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to ___________
Commission File Number: 001-35236
Orchid Island Capital, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
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27-3269228
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(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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3305 Flamingo Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32963
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(772) 231-1400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
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Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
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Common Stock, $0.01 par value
|
NYSE MKT
|
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§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 ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller Reporting Company ý
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No ý
Number of shares outstanding at May 10, 2013: 3,341,665
ORCHID ISLAND CAPITAL, INC.
INDEX
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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ITEM 1. Financial Statements
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Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012
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1
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Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012
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2
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Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2013
|
3
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Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012
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4
|
ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
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17
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ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
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36
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ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures.
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36
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
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ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings.
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37
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ITEM 1A. Risk Factors.
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37
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ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
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37
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ITEM 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
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37
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ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
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37
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ITEM 5. Other Information.
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37
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ITEM 6. Exhibits.
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38
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SIGNATURES.
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39
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
ORCHID ISLAND CAPITAL, INC.
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BALANCE SHEETS
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(Unaudited)
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|
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|
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March 31, 2013
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|
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December 31, 2012
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|
ASSETS:
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|
|
|
|
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Mortgage-backed securities, at fair value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pledged to counterparties
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|
$ |
333,373,629 |
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|
$ |
109,604,559 |
|
Unpledged
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|
|
26,886,644 |
|
|
|
5,775,015 |
|
Total mortgage-backed securities
|
|
|
360,260,273 |
|
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|
115,379,574 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
2,669,966 |
|
|
|
2,537,257 |
|
Restricted cash
|
|
|
2,031,250 |
|
|
|
449,000 |
|
Accrued interest receivable
|
|
|
1,440,407 |
|
|
|
440,877 |
|
Due from affiliates
|
|
|
75,395 |
|
|
|
45,126 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets
|
|
|
245,427 |
|
|
|
9,122 |
|
Total Assets
|
|
$ |
366,722,718 |
|
|
$ |
118,860,956 |
|
|
|
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
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|
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|
|
|
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LIABILITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Repurchase agreements
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|
$ |
316,445,869 |
|
|
$ |
103,941,174 |
|
Accrued interest payable
|
|
|
64,049 |
|
|
|
54,084 |
|
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
|
|
|
138,591 |
|
|
|
140,723 |
|
Total Liabilities
|
|
|
316,648,509 |
|
|
|
104,135,981 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
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STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
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Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued
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and outstanding as of March 31, 2013 and no shares authorized as of December 31, 2012
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- |
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- |
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Common Stock, $0.01 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized, 3,341,665
|
|
|
|
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shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2013 and 1,000,000 shares authorized,
|
|
|
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|
|
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154,110 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2012
|
|
|
33,417 |
|
|
|
1,541 |
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
50,326,459 |
|
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|
15,409,459 |
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
(285,667 |
) |
|
|
(686,025 |
) |
Total Stockholders' Equity
|
|
|
50,074,209 |
|
|
|
14,724,975 |
|
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
|
|
$ |
366,722,718 |
|
|
$ |
118,860,956 |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
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|
ORCHID ISLAND CAPITAL, INC.
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STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
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(Unaudited)
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|
|
|
|
|
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Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
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2013
|
|
|
2012
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|
Interest income
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|
$ |
1,413,258 |
|
|
$ |
758,757 |
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(201,420 |
) |
|
|
(50,667 |
) |
Net interest income
|
|
|
1,211,838 |
|
|
|
708,090 |
|
Realized gains (losses) on mortgage-backed securities
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|
99,925 |
|
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(15,009 |
) |
Unrealized (losses) gains on mortgage-backed securities
|
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(29,160 |
) |
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114,335 |
|
Losses on Eurodollar futures contracts
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(483,925 |
) |
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(24,000 |
) |
Net portfolio income
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798,678 |
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783,416 |
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Expenses:
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Management fees
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125,100 |
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59,000 |
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Directors' fees and liability insurance
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41,462 |
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- |
|
Audit, legal and other professional fees
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144,150 |
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35,736 |
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Direct REIT operating expenses
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64,384 |
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50,006 |
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Other administrative
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23,224 |
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21,430 |
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Total expenses
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398,320 |
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166,172 |
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Net income
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$ |
400,358 |
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$ |
617,244 |
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Basic and diluted net income per share
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$ |
0.20 |
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$ |
0.63 |
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Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
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2,004,332 |
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981,665 |
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Dividends Declared Per Common Share:
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$ |
0.135 |
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|
$ |
- |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
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ORCHID ISLAND CAPITAL, INC.
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STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
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(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
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Additional
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Common
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Paid-in
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Accumulated
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Stock
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Capital
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Deficit
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Total
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Balances, January 1, 2013
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$ |
1,541 |
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|
$ |
15,409,459 |
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|
$ |
(686,025 |
) |
|
$ |
14,724,975 |
|
Net income
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- |
|
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- |
|
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400,358 |
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400,358 |
|
Cash dividend declared, $0.135 per share
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- |
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(451,124 |
) |
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- |
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(451,124 |
) |
Issuance of common stock pursuant to public offering
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23,600 |
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35,376,400 |
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- |
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35,400,000 |
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Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock dividend
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|
|
8,276 |
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(8,276 |
) |
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- |
|
|
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- |
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Balances, March 31, 2013
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|
$ |
33,417 |
|
|
$ |
50,326,459 |
|
|
$ |
(285,667 |
) |
|
$ |
50,074,209 |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
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ORCHID ISLAND CAPITAL, INC.
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STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
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(Unaudited)
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|
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 and 2012
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2013
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2012
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CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
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|
|
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Net income
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$ |
400,358 |
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|
$ |
617,244 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Realized and unrealized gains on mortgage-backed securities
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|
|
(70,765 |
) |
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(99,326 |
) |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued interest receivable
|
|
|
(999,530 |
) |
|
|
(39,022 |
) |
Prepaid expenses and other assets
|
|
|
(236,305 |
) |
|
|
(19,901 |
) |
Accrued interest payable
|
|
|
9,965 |
|
|
|
17,577 |
|
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
|
|
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(2,132 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
Due (from) to affiliates
|
|
|
(30,269 |
) |
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|
85,771 |
|
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
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|
(928,678 |
) |
|
|
562,342 |
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CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
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From mortgage-backed securities investments:
|
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Purchases
|
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(308,658,763 |
) |
|
|
(32,786,281 |
) |
Sales
|
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|
57,755,882 |
|
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|
891,456 |
|
Principal repayments
|
|
|
6,092,947 |
|
|
|
2,826,558 |
|
Increase in restricted cash
|
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|
(1,582,250 |
) |
|
|
(933,000 |
) |
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
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(246,392,184 |
) |
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|
(30,001,267 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Proceeds from repurchase agreements
|
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|
678,889,088 |
|
|
|
98,482,564 |
|
Principal payments on repurchase agreements
|
|
|
(466,384,393 |
) |
|
|
(68,819,108 |
) |
Cash dividend
|
|
|
(451,124 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
|
|
|
35,400,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
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|
247,453,571 |
|
|
|
29,663,456 |
|
|
|
|
|
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NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
|
|
132,709 |
|
|
|
224,531 |
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of the period
|
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|
2,537,257 |
|
|
|
1,891,914 |
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of the period
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|
$ |
2,669,966 |
|
|
$ |
2,116,445 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
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|
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Cash paid during the period for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Interest
|
|
$ |
191,455 |
|
|
$ |
33,090 |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
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|
ORCHID ISLAND CAPITAL, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
UNAUDITED
MARCH 31, 2013
NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Organization and Business Description
Orchid Island Capital, Inc., (“Orchid” or the “Company”), was incorporated in Maryland on August 17, 2010 for the purpose of creating and managing a leveraged investment portfolio consisting of residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”). From incorporation through February 20, 2013 Orchid was a wholly owned subsidiary of Bimini Capital Management, Inc. (“Bimini”). Orchid began operations on November 24, 2010. From incorporation through November 24, 2010, Orchid’s only activity was the issuance of common stock to Bimini. On February 20, 2013, Orchid completed the initial public offering (“IPO”) of its Common Stock in which it sold approximately 2.4 million shares of its common stock and raised proceeds of approximately $35.4 million. Following the IPO, Bimini owns approximately 29.38% of Orchid’s outstanding common stock.
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates
The accompanying financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The significant estimates affecting the accompanying financial statements are the fair values of MBS and Eurodollar futures contracts.
Statement of Comprehensive Income
In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) Topic 220, Comprehensive Income, a statement of comprehensive income has not been included as the Company has no items of other comprehensive income. Comprehensive income is the same as net income (loss) for the periods presented.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on deposit with financial institutions and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Restricted cash, totaling $2,031,000 at March 31, 2013 represents cash held by a broker as margin on Eurodollar futures contracts. Restricted cash, totaling approximately $449,000 at December 31, 2012 represents cash held on deposit as collateral with the repurchase agreement counterparties, which may be used to make principal and interest payments on the related repurchase agreements.
The Company maintains cash balances at two banks, and, at times, balances may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses related to these balances. All non-interest bearing cash balances were fully insured at December 31, 2012 due to a temporary federal program in effect from December 31, 2010 through December 31, 2012. Under the program, there was no limit to the amount of insurance for eligible accounts. Beginning January 1, 2013, insurance reverted to $250,000 per depositor at each financial institution. At March 31, 2013, the Company’s cash deposits exceeded federally insured limits by $2.3 million. Restricted cash balances are uninsured, but are held in separate customer accounts that are segregated from the general funds of the counterparty. The Company believes that it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents or restricted cash balances.
Mortgage-Backed Securities
The Company invests primarily in mortgage pass-through (“PT”) certificates, collateralized mortgage obligations, and interest only (“IO”) securities and inverse interest only (“IIO”) securities representing interest in or obligations backed by pools of mortgage-backed loans (collectively, “MBS”). MBS transactions are recorded on the trade date. These investments meet the requirements to be classified as available for sale under ASC 320-10-25, Debt and Equity Securities (which requires the securities to be carried at fair value on the balance sheet with changes in fair value charged to other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders’ equity). However, the Company has elected to account for its investment in MBS under the fair value option. Electing the fair value option allows the Company to record changes in fair value in the statement of operations, which, in management’s view, more appropriately reflects the results of our operations for a particular reporting period and is consistent with the underlying economics and how the portfolio is managed.
The fair value of the Company’s investments in MBS is governed by FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement. The definition of fair value in FASB ASC 820 focuses on the price that would be received to sell the asset or paid to transfer the liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value measurement assumes that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability either occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability, or in the absence of a principal market, occurs in the most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Estimated fair values for MBS are based on the average of third-party broker quotes received and/or independent pricing sources when available.
Income on PT MBS securities is based on the stated interest rate of the security. Premiums or discounts present at the date of purchase are not amortized. For IO securities, the income is accrued based on the carrying value and the effective yield. The difference between income accrued and the interest received on the security is characterized as a return of investment and serves to reduce the asset’s carrying value. At each reporting date, the effective yield is adjusted prospectively from the reporting period based on the new estimate of prepayments and the contractual terms of the security. For IIO securities, effective yield and income recognition calculations also take into account the index value applicable to the security. Changes in fair value of MBS during each reporting period are recorded in earnings and reported as unrealized gains or losses on mortgage-backed securities in the accompanying statements of operations.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company has entered into Eurodollar futures contracts to manage interest rate risk, facilitate asset/liability strategies and manage other exposures, and it may continue to do so in the future. The Company has elected to not treat any of its derivative financial instruments as hedges. FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, requires that all derivative instruments be carried at fair value. Changes in fair value are recorded in earnings for each period.
Financial Instruments
FASB ASC 825, Financial Instruments, requires disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value, either in the body of the financial statements or in the accompanying notes. MBS and Eurodollar futures contracts are accounted for at fair value in the balance sheets. The methods and assumptions used to estimate fair value for these instruments are presented in Note 11 of the financial statements.
The estimated fair value of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accrued interest receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets, due from affiliates, repurchase agreements, accrued interest payable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and others generally approximates their carrying values as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.
Repurchase Agreements
The Company finances the acquisition of the majority of its PT MBS through the use of repurchase agreements under master repurchase agreements. Pursuant to ASC Topic 860, Transfers and Servicing, we account for repurchase transactions as collateralized financing transactions, which are carried at their contractual amounts, including accrued interest, as specified in the respective agreements.
The Company’s repurchase agreements typically have maturities of less than six months at inception, with some having longer terms. Should a counterparty decide not to renew a repurchase agreement at maturity, the Company must either refinance with another lender or be in a position to satisfy the obligation. If, during the term of a repurchase agreement, a lender should file for bankruptcy, the Company might experience difficulty recovering its pledged assets, which could result in an unsecured claim against the lender for the difference between the amount loaned to the Company plus interest due to the counterparty and the fair value of the collateral pledged to such lender, including the accrued interest receivable and cash posted by the Company as collateral. At March 31, 2013, the Company had outstanding balances under repurchase agreements with nine lenders with a maximum amount at risk (the difference between the amount loaned to the Company, including interest payable, and the fair value of securities pledged, including accrued interest on such securities) of $17.7 million.
Manager Compensation
Our management agreement provides for the payment to our Manager of a management fee and reimbursement of certain operating expenses, which are accrued and expensed during the period for which they are earned or incurred. Refer to Note 12 for the terms of our management agreement.
Earnings Per Share
The Company follows the provisions of FASB ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated as net income attributable to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding or subscribed during the period. Diluted EPS is calculated using the “if converted” method for common stock equivalents, if any. However, the common stock equivalents are not included in computing diluted EPS if the result is anti-dilutive.
Income Taxes
Bimini has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and, until the closing of its IPO on February 20, 2013, Orchid was a “qualified REIT subsidiary” of Bimini under the Code. Beginning with its short tax period commencing on February 20, 2013 and ending December 31, 2013, Orchid expects to elect and intends to qualify to be taxed as a REIT. REITs are generally not subject to federal income tax on their REIT taxable income provided that they distribute to their stockholders at least 90% of their REIT taxable income on an annual basis. In addition, a REIT must meet other provisions of the Code to retain its tax status.
Orchid recognizes and measures its unrecognized tax benefits in accordance with FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes. Under that guidance, Orchid assesses the likelihood, based on their technical merit, that tax positions will be sustained upon examination based on the facts, circumstances and information available at the end of each period. All of Orchid’s tax positions are categorized as highly certain. There is no accrual for any tax, interest or penalties related to Orchid’s tax position assessment. The measurement of unrecognized tax benefits is adjusted when new information is available, or when an event occurs that requires a change.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-04, Liabilities (Topic 405) - Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation Is Fixed at the Reporting Date ("ASU 2013-04"). The objective of the amendments in this update is to provide guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this guidance is fixed at the reporting date, except for obligations addressed within existing GAAP. The amendments in ASU 2013-04 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013, and should be retrospectively applied to all prior periods presented for those obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements within the ASU's scope that exist at the beginning of an entity's fiscal year of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect that this ASU will have a material impact on its financial statements.
In January 2013, FASB released ASU 2013-01 Balance Sheet: Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, which served solely to clarify the scope of financial instruments included in ASU 2011-11 as there was concern about diversity in practice. The objectives of ASU 2013-01 and ASU 2011-11 are to support further convergence of US GAAP and IFRS requirements. These updates are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. We anticipate that the adoption of this ASU will have no effect on the Company’s financial statements.
In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, requiring improved information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either (1) offset in accordance with ASC 210-20-45 or ASC 815-10-45 or (2) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement. This information will enable users of an entity's financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on an entity's financial position, including the effect or potential effect of rights of setoff associated with certain financial instruments and derivative instruments in the scope of this ASU. The Company is required to apply the amendments for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The disclosures required are to be provided retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The adoption of this ASU had no effect on the Company’s financial statements.
In October 2011, the FASB issued a proposed ASU 2011-200, Financial Services-Investment Companies: Amendments to the Scope, Measurement, and Disclosure Requirements, which would amend the criteria in Topic 946 for determining whether an entity qualifies as an investment company for reporting purposes. As proposed, this ASU would affect the measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for Investment Companies, as defined, amend the investment company definition in ASC 946, and remove the current exemption for Real Estate Investment Trusts from this topic. If promulgated in its current form, this proposal may result in a material modification to the presentation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. On December 12, 2012, the FASB agreed that the accounting for real estate investments should be considered in a second phase of the Investment Companies project and that all REITs should be exempted from conclusions reached in phase I of the project. The Board has not yet agreed on the scope of phase II of the project. The Company is monitoring developments related to this proposal and is evaluating the effects it would have on the Company’s financial statements.
NOTE 2. MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES
The following table presents the Company’s MBS portfolio as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
|
December 31, 2012
|
|
Pass-Through Certificates:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hybrid Adjustable-rate Mortgages
|
|
$ |
112,485 |
|
|
$ |
59,485 |
|
Adjustable-rate Mortgages
|
|
|
6,485 |
|
|
|
6,531 |
|
Fixed-rate Mortgages
|
|
|
217,808 |
|
|
|
43,589 |
|
Total Pass-Through Certificates
|
|
|
336,778 |
|
|
|
109,605 |
|
Structured MBS Certificates:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest-Only Securities
|
|
|
21,141 |
|
|
|
2,884 |
|
Inverse Interest-Only Securities
|
|
|
2,341 |
|
|
|
2,891 |
|
Total Structured MBS Certificates
|
|
|
23,482 |
|
|
|
5,775 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
360,260 |
|
|
$ |
115,380 |
|
The following table summarizes the Company’s MBS portfolio as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, according to their contractual maturities. Actual maturities of MBS investments are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities and are affected by the contractual lives of the underlying mortgages, periodic payments of principal, and prepayments of principal.
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
December 31, 2012
|
|
Greater than five years and less than ten years
|
|
$ |
12,436 |
|
|
$ |
12,980 |
|
Greater than or equal to ten years
|
|
|
347,824 |
|
|
|
102,400 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
360,260 |
|
|
$ |
115,380 |
|
NOTE 3. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
As of March 31, 2013, the Company had outstanding repurchase obligations of approximately $316.4 million with a net weighted average borrowing rate of 0.42%. These agreements were collateralized by MBS with a fair value, including accrued interest, of approximately $334.2 million. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had outstanding repurchase obligations of approximately $103.9 million with a net weighted average borrowing rate of 0.49%. These agreements were collateralized by MBS with a fair value, including accrued interest, of approximately $109.9 million, and cash pledged to the counterparty of approximately $0.4 million.
As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company’s repurchase agreements had remaining maturities as summarized below:
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OVERNIGHT
|
|
BETWEEN 2
|
|
BETWEEN 31
|
|
|
GREATER
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1 DAY OR
|
|
AND
|
|
AND
|
|
|
THAN
|
|
|
|
|
|
LESS)
|
|
30 DAYS
|
|
90 DAYS
|
|
|
90 DAYS
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
Fair market value of securities pledged, including
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
accrued interest receivable
|
|
$ |
66,571 |
|
|
$ |
250,670 |
|
|
$ |
16,975 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
334,216 |
|
Repurchase agreement liabilities associated with
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
these securities
|
|
$ |
63,381 |
|
|
$ |
236,743 |
|
|
$ |
16,322 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
316,446 |
|
Net weighted average borrowing rate
|
|
|
0.40 |
% |
|
|
0.42 |
% |
|
|
0.42 |
% |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.42 |
% |
December 31, 2012
|
|
Fair market value of securities pledged, including
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
accrued interest receivable
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
109,863 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
109,863 |
|
Repurchase agreement liabilities associated with
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
these securities
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
103,941 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
103,941 |
|
Net weighted average borrowing rate
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.49 |
% |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.49 |
% |
Summary information regarding the Company’s amounts at risk with individual counterparties greater than 10% of the Company’s equity at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 is as follows:
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Maturity
|
|
Counterparties
|
|
at Risk(1)
|
|
|
(in Days)
|
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
|
|
$ |
6,075 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
|
|
$ |
3,714 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
South Street Securities, LLC
|
|
|
1,802 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
(1)
|
Equal to the fair value of securities sold, cash posted as collateral, plus accrued interest receivable, minus the sum of repurchase agreement liabilities and accrued interest payable.
|
NOTE 4. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
In connection with its interest rate risk management strategy, the Company economically hedges a portion of its interest rate risk by entering into derivative financial instrument contracts. The Company has not elected hedging treatment under GAAP, and as such all gains and losses on these instruments are reflected in earnings for all periods presented.
As of March 31, 2013, such instruments were comprised entirely of Eurodollar futures contracts. Eurodollar futures are cash settled futures contracts on an interest rate, with gains and losses credited and charged to the Company’s account on a daily basis. A minimum balance, or “margin”, is required to be maintained in the account on a daily basis. The Company is exposed to the changes in value of the futures by the amount of margin held by the broker. The table below presents information related to the Company’s Eurodollar futures positions at March 31, 2013. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had no outstanding futures positions.
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
Contract
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Notional
|
|
|
Open
|
|
Expiration Year
|
|
LIBOR Rate
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Equity(1)
|
|
2013
|
|
|
0.37 |
% |
|
$ |
250,000 |
|
|
$ |
54 |
|
2014
|
|
|
0.48 |
% |
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
2015
|
|
|
0.75 |
% |
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
(98 |
) |
2016
|
|
|
1.29 |
% |
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
(155 |
) |
2017
|
|
|
1.99 |
% |
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
(299 |
) |
|
|
|
1.01 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(484 |
) |
Cash posted as collateral, included in restricted cash
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,031 |
|
(1)
|
Open equity represents the cumulative gains / (losses) recorded on open futures positions.
|
The table below presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments on the income statement for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
Eurodollar futures contracts (short positions)
|
|
$ |
(484 |
) |
|
$ |
(24 |
) |
NOTE 5. CAPITAL STOCK
At December 31, 2012, the Company had the authority to issue 1,000,000 shares of $0.01 par value common stock. In connection with the Company’s IPO in February 2013, the Company’s charter was amended to increase the authorized capital stock to 600,000,000 shares of which (i) 500,000,000 shares are designated as common stock and (ii) 100,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock, each with a par value of $0.01 per share. Holders of shares of the common stock generally have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund, redemption or appraisal rights and have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any securities of the Company. Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, all holders of shares of the common stock will have equal liquidation and other rights.
Common Stock Issuances
During July 2012, Bimini acquired 4,110 additional shares of common stock of the Company in satisfaction of an amount due to Bimini at June 30, 2012 of approximately $411,000 for prior management fees, overhead allocations and direct expense reimbursements.
On February 20, 2013, Orchid completed the IPO of its common stock in which it sold 2,360,000 shares of its common stock and raised proceeds of $35,400,000.
Stock Dividend
On February 14, 2013, Orchid’s Board of Directors declared a stock dividend whereby 5.37 shares of common stock were issued for each share of common stock outstanding. The 827,555 shares distributed pursuant to this dividend were issued to Bimini on February 20, 2013, immediately prior to the Company’s IPO.
Cash Dividends
The table below presents the cash dividends declared on the Company’s common stock during 2013.
Declaration Date
|
Record Date
|
Payment Date
|
|
Per Share Amount
|
|
|
Total
|
|
March 8, 2013
|
March 25, 2013
|
March 27, 2013
|
|
$ |
0.135 |
|
|
$ |
451,125 |
|
April 10, 2013
|
April 25, 2013
|
April 30, 2013
|
|
|
0.135 |
|
|
|
451,125 |
|
May 9, 2013
|
May 28, 2013
|
May 31, 2013
|
|
|
0.135 |
|
|
|
451,125 |
|
NOTE 6. EXPENSES
The table below presents the Company’s operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
Directors fees and liability insurance
|
|
$ |
41,462 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Legal fees
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Other professional fees
|
|
|
130,150 |
|
|
|
35,736 |
|
Management fees
|
|
|
125,100 |
|
|
|
59,000 |
|
Other direct REIT operating expenses
|
|
|
64,384 |
|
|
|
50,006 |
|
Other administrative expenses
|
|
|
23,224 |
|
|
|
21,430 |
|
Total expenses
|
|
$ |
398,320 |
|
|
$ |
166,172 |
|
NOTE 7. STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
In October 2012, our Board of Directors adopted and Bimini, then our sole stockholder, approved, our 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) to recruit and retain employees, directors and other service providers, including employees of our Manager and other of our affiliates. The Incentive Plan provides for the award of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock award, performance units, other equity-based awards (and dividend equivalents with respect to awards of performance units and other equity-based awards) and incentive awards. The Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors except that our full Board of Directors will administer awards made to directors who are not employees of us or our affiliates. The Incentive Plan provides for awards of up to an aggregate of 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock (on a fully diluted basis) at the time of the awards, subject to a maximum aggregate 4,000,000 shares of our common stock that may be issued under the Incentive Plan. To date, no awards have been made under the Incentive Plan.
NOTE 8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
From time to time, the Company may become involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. Management is not aware of any reported or unreported contingencies at March 31, 2013.
NOTE 9. INCOME TAXES
The Company will generally not be subject to federal income tax on its REIT taxable income to the extent that it distributes its REIT taxable income to its stockholders and satisfies the ongoing REIT requirements, including meeting certain asset, income and stock ownership tests. A REIT must generally distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders, of which 85% generally must be distributed within the taxable year, in order to avoid the imposition of an excise tax. The remaining balance may be distributed up to the end of the following taxable year, provided the REIT elects to treat such amount as a prior year distribution and meets certain other requirements.
NOTE 10. EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS)
The table below reconciles the numerator and denominator of EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.
(in thousands, except per-share information)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
Basic and diluted EPS per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerator for basic and diluted EPS per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income - Basic and diluted
|
|
$ |
400 |
|
|
$ |
617 |
|
Weighted average common shares:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common shares outstanding or to be
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
issued at the balance sheet date
|
|
|
3,342 |
|
|
|
982 |
|
Effect of weighting
|
|
|
(1,338 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Weighted average shares-basic and diluted
|
|
|
2,004 |
|
|
|
982 |
|
Income per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted
|
|
$ |
0.20 |
|
|
$ |
0.63 |
|
On February 14, 2013, Orchid’s Board of Directors declared a stock dividend whereby 5.37 shares of common stock were issued for each share of common stock outstanding. 827,555 shares distributed as the dividend were issued to Bimini on February 20, 2013, immediately prior to Orchid’s IPO. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the 981,665 common shares, which includes the 154,110 shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 2012 and the 827,555 shares distributed as a stock dividend, is used for the EPS computation, as Bimini was the sole stockholder during the entire period.
NOTE 11. FAIR VALUE
Authoritative accounting literature establishes a framework for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities and defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) as opposed to the price that would be paid to acquire the asset or received to assume the liability (an entry price). A fair value measure should reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including the assumptions about the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique, the effect of a restriction on the sale or use of an asset and the risk of nonperformance. Required disclosures include stratification of balance sheet amounts measured at fair value based on inputs the Company uses to derive fair value measurements. These stratifications are:
·
|
Level 1 valuations, where the valuation is based on quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities traded in active markets (which include exchanges and over-the-counter markets with sufficient volume),
|
·
|
Level 2 valuations, where the valuation is based on quoted market prices for similar instruments traded in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market, and
|
·
|
Level 3 valuations, where the valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market, but observable based on Company-specific data. These unobservable assumptions reflect the Company’s own estimates for assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques typically include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, but may also include the use of market prices of assets or liabilities that are not directly comparable to the subject asset or liability.
|
Our MBS are valued using Level 2 valuations, and such valuations currently are determined by the Company based on the average of third-party broker quotes and/or by independent pricing sources when available. Because the price estimates may vary, the Company must make certain judgments and assumptions about the appropriate price to use to calculate the fair values. Alternatively, the Company could opt to have the value of all of our positions in MBS determined by either an independent third-party or do so internally.
MBS and Eurodollar futures contracts were recorded at fair value on a recurring basis during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012. When determining fair value measurements, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset. When possible, the Company looks to active and observable markets to price identical assets. When identical assets are not traded in active markets, the Company looks to market observable data for similar assets. The following table presents financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quoted Prices
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in Active
|
|
|
Significant
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Markets for
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
Significant
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Identical
|
|
|
Observable
|
|
|
Unobservable
|
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
Inputs
|
|
|
Inputs
|
|
|
|
Measurements
|
|
|
(Level 1)
|
|
|
(Level 2)
|
|
|
(Level 3)
|
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mortgage-backed securities
|
|
$ |
360,260 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
360,260 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Eurodollar futures contracts
|
|
|
2,031 |
|
|
|
2,031 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mortgage-backed securities
|
|
$ |
115,380 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
115,380 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, there were no transfers of financial assets or liabilities between levels 1, 2 or 3.
NOTE 12. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Management Agreement
The Company entered into a management agreement with Bimini, which provided for an initial term through December 31, 2011 with automatic one-year extension options. The agreement was extended under the option to December 31, 2013, but was terminated at the completion of the Company’s IPO. At the completion of the IPO, the Company entered into a management agreement with Bimini Advisors, LLC (“Bimini Advisors” or “our Manager”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bimini, which provides for an initial term through February 20, 2016 with automatic one-year extensions and is subject to certain termination rights. Under the terms of the management agreement, Bimini Advisors will be responsible for administering the business activities and day-to-day operations of the Company. Bimini Advisors will receive a monthly management fee in the amount of:
·
|
One-twelfth of 1.5% of the first $250 million of the Company’s equity, as defined in the management agreement,
|
·
|
One-twelfth of 1.25% of the Company’s equity that is greater than $250 million and less than or equal to $500 million, and
|
·
|
One-twelfth of 1.00% of the Company’s equity that is greater than $500 million.
|
The Company is obligated to reimburse Bimini Advisors for any direct expenses incurred on its behalf. In addition, once the Company’s Equity, as defined, equals $100 million, Bimini Advisors will begin allocating to the Company, it’s pro rata portion of certain overhead costs as defined in the management agreement. Should the Company terminate the management agreement without cause, it shall pay to Bimini Advisors a termination fee equal to three times the average annual management fee, as defined in the management agreement, before or on the last day of the initial term or automatic renewal term.
The Company was obligated to reimburse Bimini for its costs incurred under the original management agreement. In addition, the Company was required to pay Bimini a monthly fee of $7,200, which represents an allocation of overhead expenses for items that include, but are not limited to, occupancy costs, insurance and administrative expenses. These expenses were allocated based on the ratio of the Company’s assets and Bimini’s consolidated assets. Total expenses recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 for the management fee and costs incurred was approximately $140,000 and $81,000, respectively.
Payment of Certain Offering Expenses
Bimini Advisors has paid, or has agreed to reimburse Orchid for all offering expenses in connection with the Company’s IPO. During the year ended December 31, 2012, these expenses were approximately $247,000. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, Bimini Advisors paid additional expenses related to this offering of approximately $3,019,000. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2012, Bimini Advisors paid certain expenses totaling approximately $833,000 on behalf of the Company associated with a failed merger attempt. The Company has no obligation or intent to reimburse Bimini Advisors, either directly or indirectly, for the offering costs or attempted merger costs, therefore they are not included in the Company's financial statements. At March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the net amount due from affiliates was approximately $75,000 and $45,000, respectively.
Board Memberships
John B. Van Heuvelen, one of our independent directors, owns shares of common stock of Bimini. Robert Cauley, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Board of Directors, also serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bimini and owns shares of common stock of Bimini. Hunter Haas, our Chief Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer, Secretary and a member of our Board of Directors, also serves as the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer of Bimini and owns shares of common stock of Bimini.
Consulting Agreement
In September 2010, we entered into a consulting agreement with W Coleman Bitting, who became one of our independent directors in February 2013. The terms of the consulting agreement provided that Mr. Bitting would advise us with respect to financing alternatives, business strategies and related matters as requested during the term of the agreement. In exchange for his services, the consulting agreement provided that we pay Mr. Bitting an hourly fee of $150 and reimburse him for all out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of his services. During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, we paid Mr. Bitting approximately $3,800 and $5,700, respectively, under this agreement. Mr. Bitting’s consulting agreement was terminated upon completion of the Company’s IPO. The total compensation Mr. Bitting received under the consulting agreement was approximately $115,000.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes to those statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q. The discussion may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are those that are not historical in nature. As a result of many factors, such as those set forth under “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements.
Overview
We are a specialty finance company that invests in Agency RMBS. Our investment strategy focuses on, and our portfolio consists of, two categories of Agency RMBS: (i) traditional pass-through Agency RMBS and (ii) structured Agency RMBS, such as CMOs, IOs, IIOs and POs, among other types of structured Agency RMBS. From inception through the closing of the initial public offering of our common stock, we were managed by Bimini. We are currently externally managed by Bimini Advisors, a registered investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
We were formed by Bimini in August 2010 and commenced operations on November 24, 2010. At December 31, 2012, Bimini was our sole stockholder. We completed our initial public offering on February 20, 2013. In that offering we raised $35.4 million from the sale of 2,360,000 shares of our common stock.
Our business objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted total returns over the long term through a combination of capital appreciation and the payment of regular monthly distributions. We intend to achieve this objective by investing in and strategically allocating capital between the two categories of Agency RMBS described above. We seek to generate income from (i) the net interest margin on our leveraged pass-through Agency RMBS portfolio and the leveraged portion of our structured Agency RMBS portfolio, and (ii) the interest income we generate from the unleveraged portion of our structured Agency RMBS portfolio. We intend to fund our pass-through Agency RMBS and certain of our structured Agency RMBS, such as fixed and floating rate tranches of CMOs and POs, through short-term borrowings structured as repurchase agreements. However, we do not intend to employ leverage on the securities in our structured Agency RMBS portfolio that have no principal balance, such as IOs and IIOs. We do not intend to use leverage in these instances because the securities contain structural leverage. Pass-through Agency RMBS and structured Agency RMBS typically exhibit materially different sensitivities to movements in interest rates. Declines in the value of one portfolio may be offset by appreciation in the other. The percentage of capital that we allocate to our two Agency RMBS asset categories will vary and will be actively managed in an effort to maintain the level of income generated by the combined portfolios, the stability of that income stream and the stability of the value of the combined portfolios. We believe that this strategy will enhance our liquidity, earnings, book value stability and asset selection opportunities in various interest rate environments.
We intend to qualify and will elect to be taxed as a REIT under the Code commencing with our short taxable year ending December 31, 2013. We generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent that we annually distribute all of our REIT taxable income to our stockholders and qualify as a REIT.
Factors that Affect our Results of Operations and Financial Condition
A variety of industry and economic factors may impact our results of operations and financial condition. These factors include:
·
|
prepayment rates on mortgages underlying our Agency RMBS, and credit trends insofar as they affect prepayment rates;
|
·
|
the difference between Agency RMBS yields and our funding and hedging costs;
|
·
|
competition for investments in Agency RMBS;
|
·
|
recent actions taken by the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury; and
|
·
|
other market developments.
|
In addition, a variety of factors relating to our business may also impact our results of operations and financial condition. These factors include:
·
|
our degree of leverage;
|
·
|
our access to funding and borrowing capacity;
|
·
|
our hedging activities;
|
·
|
the market value of our investments; and
|
·
|
the requirements to qualify as a REIT and the requirements to qualify for a registration exemption under the Investment Company Act.
|
We anticipate that, for any period during which changes in the interest rates for our adjustable rate assets do not coincide with interest rate changes on the corresponding liabilities, such assets will re-price more slowly than the corresponding liabilities. Consequently, changes in interest rates, particularly short term interest rates, may significantly influence our net income.
Our net income may be affected by a difference between actual prepayment rates and our projections. Prepayments on loans and securities may be influenced by changes in market interest rates and homeowners’ ability and desire to refinance their mortgages.
Results of Operations
Described below are the Company’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2013, as compared to the Company’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012.
Net Income Summary
Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was $0.4 million, or $0.20 per share. Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $0.6 million, or $0.63 per share. The components of net income for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, along with the changes in those components, are presented in the table below:
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Interest income
|
|
$ |
1,413 |
|
|
$ |
759 |
|
|
$ |
654 |
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(201 |
) |
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
(150 |
) |
Net interest income
|
|
|
1,212 |
|
|
|
708 |
|
|
|
504 |
|
(Losses) gains on MBS and Eurodollar futures
|
|
|
(413 |
) |
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
(488 |
) |
Net portfolio income
|
|
|
799 |
|
|
|
783 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
Expenses
|
|
|
(399 |
) |
|
|
(166 |
) |
|
|
(233 |
) |
Net income
|
|
$ |
400 |
|
|
$ |
617 |
|
|
$ |
(217 |
) |
GAAP and Non-GAAP Reconciliation
To date, we have used derivatives, specifically Eurodollar futures contracts, to hedge the interest rate risk on repurchase agreements in a rising rate environment. We have not elected to designate our derivative holdings for hedge accounting treatment under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. Changes in fair value of these instruments are presented in a separate line item in our Statements of Operations. As such, for financial reporting purposes, interest expense and cost of funds are not impacted by the fluctuation in value of the Eurodollar futures contracts. In the future, we may use other derivative instruments to hedge our interest expense and/or elect to designate our derivative holdings for hedge accounting treatment.
For the purpose of computing net interest income and ratios relating to cost of funds measures throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, interest expense includes gains or losses on Eurodollar futures contracts. Presenting the effects of the Eurodollar positions with the interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities reflects total economic interest expense on these obligations and the economic effect of our hedging strategy. Interest expense, including gains or losses on Eurodollar futures contracts, is referred to as economic interest expense. Net interest income, including gains or losses on Eurodollar futures contracts, is referred to as economic net interest income.
We believe that economic interest expense and economic net interest income provides meaningful information to consider, in addition to the respective amounts prepared in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP measures help us to evaluate our financial position and performance without the effects of certain transactions and GAAP adjustments that are not necessarily indicative of our current investment portfolio or operations.
Our presentation of the economic value of our hedging strategy has important limitations. First, other market participants may calculate economic interest expense and economic net interest income differently than we calculate them. Second, while we believe that the calculation of the economic value of our hedging strategy described above helps to present our financial position and performance, it may be of limited usefulness as an analytical tool. Therefore, the economic value of our investment strategy should not be viewed in isolation and is not a substitute for interest expense and net interest income computed in accordance with GAAP.
The following table presents the effect of our hedging strategy on interest expense and net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and for each quarter during 2012.
(dollars in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAAP
|
|
|
Eurodollar
|
|
|
Economic
|
|
|
GAAP
|
|
|
Economic
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
Gains /
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
Net Interest
|
|
|
Net Interest
|
|
|
|
Expense
|
|
|
(Losses)
|
|
|
Expense
|
|
|
Income
|
|
|
Income
|
|
Three Months Ended,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
$ |
201 |
|
|
$ |
(484 |
) |
|
$ |
685 |
|
|
$ |
1,211 |
|
|
$ |
727 |
|
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
94 |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
379 |
|
|
|
378 |
|
September 30, 2012
|
|
|
58 |
|
|
|
(14 |
) |
|
|
72 |
|
|
|
639 |
|
|
|
625 |
|
June 30, 2012
|
|
|
74 |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
695 |
|
|
|
694 |
|
March 31, 2012
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
(24 |
) |
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
708 |
|
|
|
684 |
|
Net Interest Income
During the three months ended March 31, 2013, we generated $0.7 million of economic net interest income, consisting of $1.4 million of interest income from MBS assets offset by $0.7 million of economic interest expense on repurchase liabilities. For the comparable period ended March 31, 2012, we generated $0.7 million of economic net interest income, consisting of $0.8 million of interest income from MBS assets offset by $0.1 million of economic interest expense on repurchase liabilities.
The table below provides information on our portfolio average balances, interest income, yield on assets, average repurchase agreement balances, economic interest expense, economic cost of funds, economic net interest income and economic net interest spread for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and for each quarter in 2012.
(dollars in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yield on
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Economic
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
|
MBS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Economic
|
|
|
Economic
|
|
|
Portfolio
|
|
|
Economic
|
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
MBS
|
|
|
Repurchase
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
Cost of
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
|
Held(1)
|
|
|
Income(2)
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
Agreements(1)
|
|
|
Expense(3)
|
|
|
Funds
|
|
|
Income(3)
|
|
|
Spread
|
|
Three Months Ended,
|
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
$ |
237,820 |
|
|
$ |
1,412 |
|
|
|
2.38 |
% |
|
$ |
210,194 |
|
|
$ |
685 |
|
|
|
1.30 |
% |
|
$ |
727 |
|
|
|
1.08 |
% |
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
91,094 |
|
|
|
473 |
|
|
|
2.08 |
% |
|
|
80,256 |
|
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
0.47 |
% |
|
|
378 |
|
|
|
1.61 |
% |
September 30, 2012
|
|
|
64,378 |
|
|
|
697 |
|
|
|
4.33 |
% |
|
|
53,698 |
|
|
|
72 |
|
|
|
0.54 |
% |
|
|
625 |
|
|
|
3.79 |
% |
June 30, 2012
|
|
|
73,559 |
|
|
|
769 |
|
|
|
4.18 |
% |
|
|
62,407 |
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
0.48 |
% |
|
|
694 |
|
|
|
3.70 |
% |
March 31, 2012
|
|
|
70,585 |
|
|
|
759 |
|
|
|
4.30 |
% |
|
|
59,157 |
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
0.50 |
% |
|
|
684 |
|
|
|
3.80 |
% |
(1)
|
Portfolio yields and costs of borrowings presented in the table above and the tables on page 21 are calculated based on the average balances of the underlying investment portfolio/repurchase agreement balances and are annualized for the quarterly periods presented. Average balances for quarterly periods are calculated using two data points, the beginning and ending balances. Average balances for the year to date periods are calculated as the average of the average quarterly periods.
|
(2)
|
Interest income presented in the table above includes only interest earned on the Company’s MBS investments and excludes interest earned on cash balances, and excludes the impact of discounts or premiums on MBS investments, as discounts or premiums are not amortized under the fair value option. Interest income and net portfolio interest income may not agree with the information presented in the statements of operations.
|
(3)
|
Economic interest expense and economic net interest income presented in the table above and the table on page 21 includes the effect of our Eurodollar futures positions that were entered into as an economic hedge against the increase in interest on repurchase agreements in a rising rate environment.
|
Interest Income and Average Earning Asset Yield
Our interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 was $1.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively. We had average MBS holdings of $237.8 million and $70.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The yield on our portfolio was 2.38% and 4.30% for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2012, there was a $0.7 million increase in interest income due to a $167.2 million increase in average MBS, partially offset by a 192 basis point decrease in the yield on average MBS for the three months ended March 31, 2013 when compared to the three months ended March 31, 2012.
The table below presents the average portfolio size, income and yields of our respective sub-portfolios, consisting of structured MBS and PT MBS.
(dollars in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average MBS Held
|
|
|
Interest Income
|
|
|
Realized Yield on Average MBS
|
|
|
|
PT
|
|
|
Structured
|
|
|
|
|
|
PT
|
|
|
Structured
|
|
|
|
|
|
PT
|
|
|
Structured
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MBS
|
|
|
MBS
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
MBS
|
|
|
MBS
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
MBS
|
|
|
MBS
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Three Months Ended,
|
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
$ |
223,191 |
|
|
$ |
14,629 |
|
|
$ |
237,820 |
|
|
$ |
1,415 |
|
|
$ |
(3 |
) |
|
$ |
1,412 |
|
|
|
2.54 |
% |
|
|
(0.06 |
)% |
|
|
2.38 |
% |
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
84,617 |
|
|
|
6,477 |
|
|
|
91,094 |
|
|
|
597 |
|
|
|
(124 |
) |
|
|
473 |
|
|
|
2.82 |
% |
|
|
(7.66 |
)% |
|
|
2.08 |
% |
September 30, 2012
|
|
|
56,519 |
|
|
|
7,859 |
|
|
|
64,378 |
|
|
|
410 |
|
|
|
287 |
|
|
|
697 |
|
|
|
2.90 |
% |
|
|
14.59 |
% |
|
|
4.33 |
% |
June 30, 2012
|
|
|
65,320 |
|
|
|
8,239 |
|
|
|
73,559 |
|
|
|
593 |
|
|
|
176 |
|
|
|
769 |
|
|
|
3.63 |
% |
|
|
8.56 |
% |
|
|
4.18 |
% |
March 31, 2012
|
|
|
61,936 |
|
|
|
8,649 |
|
|
|
70,585 |
|
|
|
530 |
|
|
|
229 |
|
|
|
759 |
|
|
|
3.43 |
% |
|
|
10.56 |
% |
|
|
4.30 |
% |
Interest Expense and the Cost of Funds
We had average outstanding repurchase agreements of $210.2 million and $59.2 million and total economic interest expense of $0.7 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Our average economic cost of funds was 1.30% and 0.50% for three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. There was a 80 basis point increase in the average economic cost of funds and a $151.0 million increase in average outstanding repurchase agreements during the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2012.
Since all of our repurchase agreements are short-term, changes in market rates directly affect our interest expense. Our average economic cost of funds was 109 basis points above average one-month LIBOR and 82 basis points above average six-month LIBOR for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. The average term to maturity of the outstanding repurchase agreements increased from 15 days at December 31, 2012 to 17 days at March 31, 2013.
The table below presents the average repurchase agreements outstanding, economic interest expense and average economic cost of funds, and average one-month and six-month LIBOR rates for each quarter in 2013 and 2012.
(dollars in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Economic
|
|
|
Economic
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of Funds
|
|
|
Cost of Funds
|
|
|
|
Balance of
|
|
|
Economic
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Relative to
|
|
|
Relative to
|
|
|
|
Repurchase
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
Economic
|
|
|
One-Month
|
|
|
Six-Month
|
|
|
Average One-
|
|
|
Average Six-
|
|
|
|
Agreements
|
|
|
Expense
|
|
|
Cost of Funds
|
|
|
LIBOR
|
|
|
LIBOR
|
|
|
Month LIBOR
|
|
|
Month LIBOR
|
|
Three Months Ended,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
$ |
210,194 |
|
|
$ |
685 |
|
|
|
1.30 |
% |
|
|
0.21 |
% |
|
|
0.48 |
% |
|
|
1.09 |
% |
|
|
0.82 |
% |
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
80,256 |
|
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
0.47 |
% |
|
|
0.22 |
% |
|
|
0.59 |
% |
|
|
0.25 |
% |
|
|
(0.12 |
)% |
September 30, 2012
|
|
|
53,698 |
|
|
|
72 |
|
|
|
0.54 |
% |
|
|
0.23 |
% |
|
|
0.70 |
% |
|
|
0.31 |
% |
|
|
(0.16 |
)% |
June 30, 2012
|
|
|
62,407 |
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
0.48 |
% |
|
|
0.24 |
% |
|
|
0.74 |
% |
|
|
0.24 |
% |
|
|
(0.26 |
)% |
March 31, 2012
|
|
|
59,157 |
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
0.50 |
% |
|
|
0.26 |
% |
|
|
0.76 |
% |
|
|
0.24 |
% |
|
|
(0.26 |
)% |
Gains or Losses
The table below presents our gains or losses for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Realized gains (losses) on sales of MBS
|
|
$ |
100 |
|
|
$ |
(15 |
) |
|
$ |
115 |
|
Unrealized losses on MBS
|
|
|
(29 |
) |
|
|
114 |
|
|
|
(143 |
) |
Total gains on MBS
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
|
99 |
|
|
|
(28 |
) |
Losses on Eurodollar futures
|
|
|
(484 |
) |
|
|
(24 |
) |
|
|
(460 |
) |
During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company received proceeds of $57.8 million and $0.9 million, respectively, from the sales of MBS. We do not expect to sell assets on a frequent basis, but may from time to time sell existing assets to acquire new assets, which our management believes might have higher risk-adjusted returns or to manage our balance sheet as part of our asset/liability management strategy.
Expenses
Total operating expenses were $0.4 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The table below provides a breakdown of operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Directors fees and liability insurance
|
|
$ |
41,462 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
41,462 |
|
Legal fees
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
Other professional fees
|
|
|
130,150 |
|
|
|
35,736 |
|
|
|
94,414 |
|
Management fees
|
|
|
125,100 |
|
|
|
59,000 |
|
|
|
66,100 |
|
Other direct REIT operating expenses
|
|
|
64,384 |
|
|
|
50,006 |
|
|
|
14,378 |
|
Other expenses
|
|
|
23,224 |
|
|
|
21,430 |
|
|
|
1,794 |
|
Total expenses
|
|
$ |
398,320 |
|
|
$ |
166,172 |
|
|
|
232,148 |
|
Under the terms of a management agreement that was in effect during all of 2012 and through the date of the IPO, the Company paid Bimini a monthly management fee equal to 1/12 of 1.50% per annum of the Stockholders’ Equity (as defined in the management agreement) of the Company. In addition, the Company paid Bimini a monthly fee of $7,200, which represents an allocation of overhead expenses for items that include, but are not limited to, occupancy costs, insurance and administrative expenses. These expenses were allocated based on the ratio of the Company’s assets and Bimini’s consolidated assets. At the completion of the IPO, the Company entered into a management agreement with Bimini Advisors, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bimini, which provides for an initial term through February 20, 2016 with automatic one-year extensions and is subject to certain termination rights. Under the terms of the new management agreement, overhead costs will not be allocated to the Company until its Equity, as defined, equals $100 million.
Financial Condition:
Mortgage-Backed Securities
As of March 31, 2013, our MBS portfolio consisted of $360.3 million of agency or government MBS at fair value and had a weighted average coupon on assets of 3.14%. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, we received principal repayments of $6.1 million compared to $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012. The average prepayment speeds for the quarters ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 were 20.0% and 23.8%, respectively.
The following table presents the constant prepayment rate (“CPR”) experienced on our structured and PT MBS sub-portfolios, on an annualized basis, for the quarterly periods presented. Assets that were not owned for the entire quarter have been excluded from the calculation. The exclusion of certain assets during periods of high trading activity can create a very high, and often volatile, reliance on a small sample of underlying loans.
|
|
|
|
|
Structured
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PT MBS
|
|
|
MBS
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Three Months Ended,
|
|
Portfolio (%)
|
|
|
Portfolio (%)
|
|
|
Portfolio (%)
|
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
|
9.2 |
|
|
|
33.0 |
|
|
|
20.0 |
|
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
42.3 |
|
|
|
28.6 |
|
September 30, 2012
|
|
|
4.2 |
|
|
|
38.7 |
|
|
|
25.0 |
|
June 30, 2012
|
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
41.4 |
|
|
|
38.7 |
|
March 31, 2012
|
|
|
11.0 |
|
|
|
31.2 |
|
|
|
23.8 |
|
The following tables summarize certain characteristics of the Company’s agency and government mortgage related securities as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
Average
|
|
Average
|
Weighted
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
of
|
Weighted
|
Maturity
|
|
Coupon
|
Average
|
Average
|
|
|
Fair
|
Entire
|
Average
|
in
|
Longest
|
Reset in
|
Lifetime
|
Periodic
|
Asset Category
|
|
Value
|
Portfolio
|
Coupon
|
Months
|
Maturity
|
Months
|
Cap
|
Cap
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustable Rate MBS
|
$
|
6,485
|
1.8%
|
4.20%
|
255
|
1-Sep-35
|
2.05
|
10.04%
|
2.00%
|
Fixed Rate MBS
|
|
217,808
|
60.5%
|
3.27%
|
282
|
1-Mar-43
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
Hybrid Adjustable Rate MBS
|
|
112,485
|
31.2%
|
2.62%
|
356
|
1-Feb-43
|
106.54
|
7.62%
|
2.00%
|
Total Mortgage-backed Pass-through
|
|
336,778
|
93.5%
|
3.07%
|
306
|
1-Mar-43
|
100.85
|
7.75%
|
2.00%
|
Interest-Only Securities
|
|
21,141
|
5.9%
|
3.94%
|
245
|
25-Dec-42
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
Inverse Interest-Only Securities
|
|
2,341
|
0.6%
|
6.15%
|
306
|
25-Nov-40
|
NA
|
6.35%
|
NA
|
Total Structured MBS
|
|
23,482
|
6.5%
|
4.16%
|
251
|
25-Dec-42
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
Total Mortgage Assets
|
$
|
360,260
|
100.0%
|
3.14%
|
303
|
1-Mar-43
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustable Rate MBS
|
$
|
6,531
|
5.7%
|
4.20%
|
258
|
1-Sep-35
|
3.46
|
10.04%
|
2.00%
|
Fixed Rate MBS
|
|
43,589
|
37.8%
|
3.24%
|
181
|
1-Dec-40
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
Hybrid Adjustable Rate MBS
|
|
59,485
|
51.6%
|
2.69%
|
357
|
1-Nov-42
|
100.51
|
7.69%
|
2.00%
|
Total Mortgage-backed Pass-through
|
|
109,605
|
95.0%
|
3.00%
|
281
|
1-Nov-42
|
90.91
|
7.93%
|
2.00%
|
Interest-Only Securities
|
|
2,884
|
2.5%
|
3.52%
|
151
|
25-Dec-39
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
Inverse Interest-Only Securities
|
|
2,891
|
2.5%
|
6.13%
|
309
|
25-Nov-40
|
NA
|
6.34%
|
NA
|
Total Structured MBS
|
|
5,775
|
5.0%
|
4.83%
|
230
|
25-Nov-40
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
Total Mortgage Assets
|
$
|
115,380
|
100.0%
|
3.09%
|
278
|
1-Nov-42
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
|
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
Agency
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Entire Portfolio
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Entire Portfolio
|
|
Fannie Mae
|
|
$ |
228,668 |
|
|
|
63.47 |
% |
|
$ |
113,235 |
|
|
|
98.14 |
% |
Freddie Mac
|
|
|
106,817 |
|
|
|
29.65 |
% |
|
|
2,145 |
|
|
|
1.86 |
% |
Ginnie Mae
|
|
|
24,775 |
|
|
|
6.88 |
% |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.00 |
% |
Total Portfolio
|
|
$ |
360,260 |
|
|
|
100.00 |
% |
|
$ |
115,380 |
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
|
December 31, 2012
|
|
Weighted Average Pass Through Purchase Price
|
|
$ |
105.22 |
|
|
$ |
105.65 |
|
Weighted Average Structured Purchase Price
|
|
$ |
12.05 |
|
|
$ |
9.91 |
|
Weighted Average Pass Through Current Price
|
|
$ |
105.25 |
|
|
$ |
105.81 |
|
Weighted Average Structured Current Price
|
|
$ |
12.18 |
|
|
$ |
7.84 |
|
Effective Duration (1)
|
|
|
2.911 |
|
|
|
1.209 |
|
(1) Effective duration of 2.911 indicates that an interest rate increase of 1.0% would be expected to cause a 2.911% decrease in the value of the MBS in the Company’s investment portfolio at March 31, 2013. An effective duration of 1.209 indicates that an interest rate increase of 1.0% would be expected to cause a 1.209% decrease in the value of the MBS in the Company’s investment portfolio at December 31, 2012. These figures include the structured securities in the portfolio but not the effect of the Company’s funding cost hedges.
The following table presents details related to portfolio assets acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
2012
|
|
|
|
Total Cost
|
|
|
Average Price
|
|
|
Weighted Average Yield
|
|
|
Total Cost
|
|
|
Average Price
|
|
|
Weighted Average Yield
|
|
Pass-through MBS
|
|
$ |
289,850 |
|
|
|
105.13 |
|
|
|
2.08 |
% |
|
$ |
32,332 |
|
|
|
105.06 |
|
|
|
1.96 |
% |
Structured MBS
|
|
|
18,809 |
|
|
|
14.21 |
|
|
|
0.76 |
% |
|
|
454 |
|
|
|
6.22 |
|
|
|
21.85 |
% |
Our portfolio of PT MBS will typically be comprised of adjustable-rate MBS, fixed-rate MBS and hybrid adjustable-rate MBS. We seek to acquire low duration assets that offer high levels of protection from mortgage prepayments. Although the duration of an individual asset can change as a result of changes in interest rates, we strive to maintain a hedged PT MBS portfolio with an effective duration of less than 2.0. The stated contractual final maturity of the mortgage loans underlying our portfolio of PT MBS generally ranges up to 30 years. However, the effect of prepayments of the underlying mortgage loans tends to shorten the resulting cash flows from our investments substantially. Prepayments occur for various reasons, including refinancing of underlying mortgages and loan payoffs in connection with home sales.
The duration of our interest only (“IO”) and inverse interest only (“IIO”) portfolio will vary greatly depending on the structural features of the securities. While prepayment activity will always affect the cash flows associated with the securities, the interest only nature of IO’s may cause their durations to become extremely negative when prepayments are high, and less negative when prepayments are low. With respect to IIO’s, prepayments affect their durations in a similar fashion to that of IO’s, but the floating rate nature of their coupon (which is inversely related to the level of one month LIBOR) cause their price movements – and model duration - to be affected by changes in both prepayments and one month LIBOR – both current and anticipated levels. As a result, the duration of IIO securities will also vary greatly.
Prepayments on the loans underlying our MBS can alter the timing of the cash flows from the underlying loans to us. As a result, we gauge the interest rate sensitivity of its assets by measuring their effective duration. While modified duration measures the price sensitivity of a bond to movements in interest rates, effective duration captures both the movement in interest rates and the fact that cash flows to a mortgage related security are altered when interest rates move. Accordingly, when the contract interest rate on a mortgage loan is substantially above prevailing interest rates in the market, the effective duration of securities collateralized by such loans can be quite low because of expected prepayments. Although some of the fixed-rate MBS in our portfolio are collateralized by loans with a lower propensity to prepay when the contract rate is above prevailing rates, their price movements track securities with like contract rates and therefore exhibit similar effective duration.
We face the risk that the market value of its assets will increase or decrease at different rates than that of our liabilities, including its hedging instruments. Accordingly, we assess our interest rate risk by estimating the duration of our assets and the duration of our liabilities. We generally calculate duration using various third party models. However, empirical results and various third party models may produce different duration numbers for the same securities.
The following sensitivity analysis shows the estimated impact on the fair value of our interest rate-sensitive investments as of March 31, 2013, assuming rates instantaneously fall 100 basis points (“bps”), rise 100 bps and rise 200 bps, adjusted to reflect the impact of convexity, which is the measure of the sensitivity of our Agency RMBS’s effective duration to movements in interest rates.
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair
|
|
|
$ Change in Fair Value
|
|
|
% Change in Fair Value
|
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
-100BPS
|
|
|
+100BPS
|
|
|
+200BPS
|
|
|
-100BPS
|
|
|
+100BPS
|
|
|
+200BPS
|
|
Adjustable Rate MBS
|
|
$ |
6,485 |
|
|
$ |
136 |
|
|
$ |
(173 |
) |
|
$ |
(347 |
) |
|
|
2.09 |
% |
|
|
(2.67 |
)% |
|
|
(5.35 |
)% |
Hybrid Adjustable Rate MBS
|
|
|
112,485 |
|
|
|
1,468 |
|
|
|
(5,077 |
) |
|
|
(11,198 |
) |
|
|
1.31 |
% |
|
|
(4.51 |
)% |
|
|
(9.96 |
)% |
Fixed Rate MBS
|
|
|
217,808 |
|
|
|
8,953 |
|
|
|
(12,660 |
) |
|
|
(25,435 |
) |
|
|
4.11 |
% |
|
|
(5.81 |
)% |
|
|
(11.68 |
)% |
Interest-Only MBS
|
|
|
21,141 |
|
|
|
(5,292 |
) |
|
|
4,276 |
|
|
|
5,789 |
|
|
|
(25.03 |
)% |
|
|
20.23 |
% |
|
|
27.38 |
% |
Inverse Interest-Only MBS
|
|
|
2,341 |
|
|
|
(419 |
) |
|
|
588 |
|
|
|
871 |
|
|
|
(17.89 |
)% |
|
|
25.12 |
% |
|
|
37.20 |
% |
Total Portfolio
|
|
$ |
360,260 |
|
|
$ |
4,846 |
|
|
$ |
(13,046 |
) |
|
$ |
(30,320 |
) |
|
|
1.35 |
% |
|
|
(3.62 |
)% |
|
|
(8.42 |
)% |
The Company has economically hedged a portion of its interest rate risk by entering into Eurodollar futures contracts. The Company did not elect hedging treatment under the applicable accounting standards, and as such, all gains or losses on these instruments are reflected in earnings. The table below reflects the impact on operations as of March 31, 2013, assuming rates fall 100 bps, rise 100 bps and rise 200 bps:
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notional
|
|
$ Change in Fair Value
|
|
|
% Change in Fair Value
|
|
|
|
Amount(1)
|
|
|
-100BPS
|
|
|
+100BPS
|
|
|
+200BPS
|
|
|
-100BPS
|
|
|
+100BPS
|
|
|
+200BPS
|
|
Repurchase Agreement Hedges
|
|
$ |
4,750,000 |
|
|
$ |
(6,569 |
) |
|
$ |
11,875 |
|
|
$ |
23,750 |
|
|
|
(0.56 |
)% |
|
|
1.01 |
% |
|
|
2.02 |
% |
(1) Represents the total cumulative contract/notional amount of Eurodollar futures contracts outstanding.
In addition to changes in interest rates, other factors impact the fair value of our interest rate-sensitive investments, such as the shape of the yield curve, market expectations as to future interest rate changes and other market conditions. Accordingly, in the event of changes in actual interest rates, the change in the fair value of our assets would likely differ from that shown above and such difference might be material and adverse to our stockholders.
Repurchase Agreements
As of March 31, 2013, we had had established borrowing facilities in the repurchase agreement market with nine counterparties which we believe provide borrowing capacity in excess of our needs. None of these lenders are affiliated with the Company. As of March 31, 2013, we had funding in place with all nine counterparties. These borrowings are secured by the Company’s MBS and bear interest rates that are based on a spread to LIBOR.
As of March 31, 2013, we had obligations outstanding under the repurchase agreements of approximately $316.4 million with a net weighted average borrowing cost of 0.42%. The remaining maturity of our outstanding repurchase agreements obligations ranged from 1 to 82 days, with a weighted average remaining maturity of 17 days. Securing the repurchase agreement obligations as of March 31, 2013, are MBS with an estimated fair value, including accrued interest, of approximately $334.2 million and a weighted average maturity of 307 months. Through May 10, 2013, we have been able to maintain our repurchase facilities with comparable terms to those that existed at March 31, 2013 with maturities through June 21, 2013.
The table below presents information about our period end and average repurchase agreement obligations for each quarter in 2013 and 2012.
(dollars in thousands)
|
|
Three Months Ended,
|
|
Ending Balance of Repurchase Agreements
|
|
|
Average Balance of Repurchase Agreements
|
|
|
Difference Between Ending Repurchase Agreements and Average Repurchase Agreements
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Percent
|
|
March 31, 2013
|
|
|
316,446 |
|
|
|
210,194 |
|
|
|
106,252 |
|
|
|
50.55 |
%(a) |
December 31, 2012
|
|
|
103,941 |
|
|
|
80,256 |
|
|
|
23,685 |
|
|
|
29.51 |
%(b) |
September 30, 2012
|
|
|
56,571 |
|
|
|
53,698 |
|
|
|
2,873 |
|
|
|
5.35 |
% |
June 30, 2012
|
|
|
50,825 |
|
|
|
62,407 |
|
|
|
(11,582 |
) |
|
|
(18.56 |
)%(c) |
March 31, 2012
|
|
|
73,988 |
|
|
|
59,157 |
|
|
|
14,831 |
|
|
|
25.07 |
%(d) |
(a)
|
The higher ending balance relative to the average balance during the quarter ended March 31, 2013 reflects the deployment of the proceeds of the Company’s IPO. During the quarter ended March 31, 2013, the Company’s investment in PT MBS increased $227.2 million.
|
(b)
|
The higher ending balance relative to the average balance reflects a shift in the portfolio allocation towards PT MBS that the Company funds through the repo market. During the quarter ended December 31, 2012, the Company’s investment in PT MBS increased $50.0 million.
|
(c)
|
The lower ending balance relative to the average balance reflects a shift in the portfolio allocation towards Structured MBS that the Company does not fund through the repo market. During the quarter ended June 30, 2012, the Company’s investment in PT MBS decreased $23.8 million.
|
(d)
|
The higher ending balance relative to the average balance reflects a shift in the portfolio allocation towards assets that the Company funds through the repo market. During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, the Company’s investment in PT MBS increased $30.6 million.
|
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity is our ability to turn non-cash assets into cash, purchase additional investments, repay principal and interest on borrowings, fund overhead, fulfill margin calls and pay dividends. Our principal immediate sources of liquidity include cash balances, unencumbered assets and borrowings under repurchase agreements. Our borrowing capacity will vary over time as the market value of our interest earning assets varies. Our balance sheet also generates liquidity on an on-going basis through payments of principal and interest we receive on our MBS portfolio. Management believes that we currently have sufficient liquidity and capital resources available for (a) the acquisition of additional investments consistent with the size and nature of our existing MBS portfolio, (b) the repayments on borrowings and (c) the payment of dividends to the extent required for our continued qualification as a REIT.
Because our PT MBS portfolio consists entirely of government and agency securities, we do not anticipate having difficulty converting our assets to cash should our liquidity needs ever exceed our immediately available sources of cash. Our structured MBS portfolio also consists entirely of governmental agency securities, although they typically do not trade with comparable bid / ask spreads as PT MBS. However, we anticipate that we would be able to liquidate such securities readily, even in distressed markets, albeit with potential haircuts.
Our master repurchase agreements have no stated expiration, but can be terminated at any time at our option or at the option of the counterparty. However, once a definitive repurchase agreement under a master repurchase agreement has been entered into, it generally may not be terminated by either party. A negotiated termination can occur, but may involve a fee to be paid by the party seeking to terminate the repurchase agreement transaction.
Under our repurchase agreement funding arrangements, we are required to post margin at the initiation of the borrowing. The margin posted represents the haircut, which is a percentage of the market value of the collateral pledged. To the extent the market value of the asset collateralizing the financing transaction declines, the market value of our posted margin will be insufficient and we will be required to post additional collateral. Conversely, if the market value of the asset pledged increases in value, we would be over collateralized and we could then call our repo counterparty and have excess margin returned to us. Our lenders typically value our pledged securities daily to ensure the adequacy of our margin and make margin calls as needed, as do we. Typically, but not always, the parties agree to a minimum threshold amount for margin calls so as to avoid the need for nuisance margin calls on a daily basis. At March 31, 2013, the weighted average haircut our repurchase agreement counterparties required us to hold was approximately 5.08% of the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral.
As discussed earlier, we invest a portion of our capital in structured Agency RMBS. We do not fund these investments in the repurchase market but instead purchase directly, thus reducing – but not eliminating - the Company’s reliance on access to repurchase agreement funding. The leverage inherent in structured securities replaces the leverage obtained by acquiring PT securities and funding them in the repurchase market. This structured MBS strategy has been a core element of the Company’s overall investment strategy since inception.
The following table summarizes the effect on our liquidity and cash flows from contractual obligations for repurchase agreements and interest expense on repurchase agreements.
(in thousands)
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|
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|
|
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Obligations Maturing
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|
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Within One Year
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One to Three Years
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Three to Five Years
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More than Five Years
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|
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Total
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Repurchase agreements
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$ |
316,446 |
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|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
316,446 |
|
Interest expense on repurchase agreements(1)
|
|
|
123 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
123 |
|
Totals
|
|
$ |
316,569 |
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|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
316,569 |
|
|
(1) Interest expense on repurchase agreements is based on current interest rates as of March 31, 2013 and the remaining term of the liabilities existing at that date.
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In the coming periods, we expect to continue to finance our activities in a manner that is consistent with our current operations via repurchase agreements. As of March 31, 2013, we had cash and cash equivalents of $2.7 million. We generated cash flows of $6.5 million from principal and interest payments on our MBS and $678.9 million from repurchase agreement funding during the three months ended March 31, 2013.
Stockholders’ Equity
On February 13, 2013, we announced the sale of 2,360,000 shares of common stock at a price of $15.00 per share in a public offering. The aggregate net proceeds we received before expenses in this sale were $35.4 million. The offering was completed on February 20, 2013. On February 14, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a stock dividend whereby 5.37 shares of common stock were issued for each share of common stock outstanding. 827,555 shares distributed as the dividend were issued to Bimini on February 20, 2013, immediately prior to Orchid’s initial public offering. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the 981,665 common shares, which includes the 154,110 shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 2012 and the 827,555 shares distributed as a stock dividend, is used for the Company’s earnings per share computations, as Bimini has been the sole stockholder during the entire period.
Outlook
Regulatory Developments with Respect to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the Dodd-Frank Act
In response to the credit market disruption and the deteriorating financial conditions of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Congress and the U.S. Treasury undertook a series of actions that culminated with putting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in conservatorship in September 2008. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) now operates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as conservator, in an effort to stabilize the entities. The FHFA also noted that during the conservatorship period, it would work to enact new regulations for minimum capital standards, prudent safety and soundness standards and portfolio limits of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Although the U.S. Government has committed significant resources to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Agency RMBS guaranteed by either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Moreover, the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury noted that the guarantee structure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac required examination and that changes in the structures of the entities were necessary to reduce risk to the financial system. Such changes may involve an explicit U.S. Government backing of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Agency RMBS or the express elimination of any implied U.S. Government guarantee and, therefore, creation of credit risk with respect to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Agency RMBS. Additionally, on February 11, 2011, the U.S. Treasury issued a White Paper titled “Reforming America’s Housing Finance Market” that lays out, among other things, proposals to limit or potentially wind down the role that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac play in the mortgage market.
On October 4, 2012, the FHFA released a white paper entitled Building a New Infrastructure for the Secondary Mortgage Market (the “FHFA White Paper”). This release follows up on the FHFA’s February 21, 2012 Strategic Plan for Enterprise Conservatorships, which set forth three goals for the next phase of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conservatorships. These three goals are to (i) build a new infrastructure for the secondary mortgage market, (ii) gradually contract Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s presence in the marketplace while simplifying and shrinking their operations, and (iii) maintain foreclosure prevention activities and credit availability for new and refinanced mortgages. The FHFA White Paper proposes a new infrastructure for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that has two basic goals.
The first such goal is to replace the current, outdated infrastructures of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with a common, more efficient infrastructure that aligns the standards and practices of the two entities, beginning with core functions performed by both entities such as issuance, master servicing, bond administration, collateral management and data integration. The second goal is to establish an operating framework for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that is consistent with the progress of housing finance reform and encourages and accommodates the increased participation of private capital in assuming credit risk associated with the secondary mortgage market. The FHFA recognizes that there are a number of impediments to their goals which may or may not be surmountable, such as the absence of any significant secondary mortgage market mechanisms beyond Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae, and that their proposals are in the formative stages. As a result, it is unclear if the proposals will be enacted. If such proposals are enacted, it is unclear how closely what is enacted will resemble the proposals from the FHFA White Paper or what the effects of the enactment will be. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — We cannot predict the impact, if any, on our earnings or cash available for distribution to our stockholders of the FHFA’s proposed revisions to Fannie Mae’s, Freddie Mac’s and Ginnie Mae’s existing infrastructures to align the standards and practices of the three entities.”
The effect of the actions taken and to be taken by the U.S. Treasury and FHFA remains uncertain. Given the public reaction to the substantial funds made available to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, future funding for both is likely to face increased scrutiny. New and recently enacted laws, regulations and programs related to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may adversely affect the pricing, supply, liquidity and value of Agency RMBS and otherwise materially harm our business and operations. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — The federal conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and related efforts, along with changes in laws and regulations affecting the relationship between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the U.S. Government, may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.”
The Dodd-Frank Act provides for new regulations on financial institutions and creates new supervisory and advisory bodies, including the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Dodd-Frank Act tasks many agencies with issuing a variety of new regulations, including rules related to mortgage origination and servicing, securitization and derivatives. Because a significant number of regulations under the Dodd-Frank Act have either not yet been proposed or not yet been adopted in final form, it is not possible for us to predict how the Dodd-Frank Act will impact our business. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Actions of the U.S. Government for the purpose of stabilizing the financial markets may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.”
Interest Rates
The Federal Reserve has taken a number of steps over the last few years to lower both short and long-term interest rates. In August 2011, the Federal Reserve announced that it expected to maintain the Federal Funds Rate at a low level at least through mid-2013, and on January 25, 2012 it extended that outlook through late 2014. Additionally, on September 21, 2011, the Federal Reserve announced the extension of the maturities of its U.S. Treasury securities portfolio by selling approximately $400 billion in short-term U.S. Treasury securities and purchasing an equivalent amount of longer-term U.S. Treasury securities. This program, known as “Operation Twist,” lasted through December 2012. The goal of Operation Twist was to lower the yields on longer-term U.S. Treasury securities, which in turn should lower interest rates that are tied to such yields, such as mortgage rates and interest rates on commercial loans.
In September 2012, the Federal Reserve announced an open-ended program to expand its holdings of long-term securities by purchasing an additional $40 billion of Agency RMBS per month until key economic indicators, such as the unemployment rate, showed signs of improvement. This program, known as “QE3”, when combined with other programs to extend the average maturity of the Federal Reserve’s holdings of securities and reinvest principal payments from the Federal Reserve’s holdings of agency debt and Agency RMBS into Agency RMBS, was expected to increase the Federal Reserve’s holdings of long-term securities by $85 billion each month. The Federal Reserve also announced that it would keep the target range for the Federal Funds Rate between zero and 0.25% through at least mid-2015, which is six months longer than previously expected.
The Federal Reserve provided further guidance to the market in December 2012 by stating that it intended to keep the Federal Funds Rate close to zero while the unemployment rate is above 6.5% and as long as inflation does not rise above 2.5%. In December 2012, the Federal Reserve also announced that it would initially begin buying $45 billion of long-term Treasury bonds each month and noted that such amount may increase in the future. This bond purchase program replaced the program known as “Operation Twist,” in which the Federal Reserve repurchased approximately $45 billion of long-term Treasury bonds each month and sold approximately the same amount of short-term Treasury bonds. The Federal Reserve expects these measures to put downward pressure on long-term interest rates.
Although historically correlated with movements in the Federal Funds Rate, European inter-bank lending rates, specifically LIBOR, are independently affected by the fiscal and budgetary problems of the member countries of the European Union. The European Central Bank, International Monetary Fund and member countries have provided emergency funding mechanisms to support members facing the inability to raise new debt at acceptable levels (such as Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain). To the extent this crisis persists or worsens, LIBOR may increase substantially.
Although, long-term interest rates are currently at historically low levels, they are still high relative to short-term interest rates. We believe that the relationship between long and short-term interest rates will remain relatively unchanged so long as the U.S. economic recovery and inflation rates remain tepid. If the economic recovery were to strengthen or inflation rates increase, the Federal Reserve may decide to abandon its current low-interest rate policies and/or increase interest rates. Although an increase in the Federal Funds Rate would most likely result in an increase in LIBOR, other European-specific factors, such as a credit disruption in the European inter-bank credit market, could cause an increase in LIBOR independent of movements in the Federal Funds Rate.
Prepayment Rates, Refinancings and Loan Modification Programs
As a result of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy and global economic conditions, prevailing interest rates, especially mortgage interest rates, are at historically low levels. Generally, lower mortgage interest rates leads to increased refinancings and, consequently, prepayments on mortgages and RMBS. However, as a result of the continuing depressed levels of home prices (due in part to the supply of new and existing homes for sale, plus the “shadow” inventory of homes expected to be on the market as a result of future foreclosures) and the tighter underwriting standards of lenders, refinancing activity has yet to react to prevailing interest rate incentives available to borrowers as market participants expected.
In response to the low level of refinancing activity, the Obama administration has instituted programs to assist borrowers struggling with their mortgage payments or unable to refinance. For example, the government has expanded the HARP program, which is a program whereby eligible borrowers who owe more money on their mortgage loans than the value of their homes (commonly known as being “underwater” on a mortgage loan) can receive assistance refinancing their mortgage loans by loosening the eligibility requirements for refinancing. On April 11, 2013, the FHFA extended the HARP program by two years to December 31, 2015. In response to the expanded HARP program, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have announced guidelines for compliance with the expanded program. Additionally, in March 2010 both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced they would purchase all mortgages loans that are more than 120 days delinquent from the pools of mortgage loans underlying RMBS they have issued.
Current programs such as the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP, and the Principal Reduction Alternative, or the PRA, are designed to assist borrowers in modifying their mortgage loans.
During his State of the Union address on January 24, 2012, President Obama alluded to additional steps his administration intended to take to further its refinancing and loan modification efforts. The details of the President’s plan were released on February 1, 2012 and include a proposal to allow homeowners with “underwater” mortgages to refinance with lower-rate, FHA-insured mortgage loans.
Effect on Us
Regulatory developments, movements in interest rates and prepayment rates as well as loan modification programs affect us in many ways, including the following:
Effects on our Assets
A change in or elimination of the guarantee structure of Agency RMBS may increase our costs (if, for example, guarantee fees increase) or require us to change our investment strategy altogether. For example, the elimination of the guarantee structure of Agency RMBS may cause us to change our investment strategy to focus on non-Agency RMBS, which in turn would require us to significantly increase our monitoring of the credit risks of our investments in addition to interest rate and prepayment risks.
Lower long-term interest rates can affect the value of our Agency RMBS in a number of ways. If prepayment rates are relatively low (due, in part, to the refinancing problems described above), lower long-term interest rates can increase the value of higher-coupon Agency RMBS. This is because investors typically place a premium on assets with yields that are higher than market yields. Although lower long-term interest rates may increase asset values in our portfolio, we may not be able to invest new funds in similarly-yielding assets.
If prepayment levels increase, the value of our Agency RMBS affected by such prepayments may decline. This is because a principal prepayment accelerates the effective term of an Agency RMBS, which would shorten the period during which an investor would receive above-market returns (assuming the yield on the prepaid asset is higher than market yields). Also, prepayment proceeds may not be able to be reinvested in similar-yielding assets. Agency RMBS backed by mortgages with high interest rates are more susceptible to prepayment risk because holders of those mortgages are most likely to refinance to a lower rate. IOs and IIOs, however, may be the types of Agency RMBS most sensitive to increased prepayment rates. Because the holder of an IO or IIO receives no principal payments, the values of IOs and IIOs are entirely dependent on the existence of a principal balance on the underlying mortgages. If the principal balance is eliminated due to prepayment, IOs and IIOs essentially become worthless. Although increased prepayment rates can negatively affect the value of our IOs and IIOs, they have the opposite effect on POs. Because POs act like zero-coupon bonds, meaning they are purchased at a discount to their par value and have an effective interest rate based on the discount and the term of the underlying loan, an increase in prepayment rates would reduce the effective term of our POs and accelerate the yields earned on those assets, which would increase our net income.
Because we base our investment decisions on risk management principles rather than anticipated movements in interest rates, in a volatile interest rate environment we intend to allocate more capital to structured Agency RMBS with shorter durations, such as short-term fixed and floating rate CMOs. We believe these securities have a lower sensitivity to changes in long-term interest rates than other asset classes. We may also mitigate our exposure to changes in long-term interest rates by investing in IOs and IIOs, which typically have different sensitivities to changes in long-term interest rates than pass-through Agency RMBS, particularly pass-through Agency RMBS backed by fixed-rate mortgages.
We do not believe our investment portfolio will be materially affected by loan modification programs because Agency RMBS backed by loans that would qualify for such programs (i.e. seriously delinquent loans) will be purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac at their par value prior to the implementation of such programs. However, if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were to modify or end their repurchase programs or if the U.S. Government modified its loan modification programs to modify non-delinquent mortgage loans, our investment portfolio could be negatively impacted.
Effects on our borrowing costs
We leverage our pass-through Agency RMBS portfolio and a portion of our structured Agency RMBS with principal balances through the use of short-term repurchase agreement transactions. The interest rates on our debt are determined by market levels of both the Federal Funds Rate and LIBOR. An increase in the U.S. Federal Funds Rate or LIBOR would increase our borrowing costs, which could affect our interest rate spread if there is no corresponding increase in the interest we earn on our assets. This would be most prevalent with respect to our Agency RMBS backed by fixed rate mortgage loans because the interest rate on a fixed-rate mortgage loan does not change even though market rates may change.
In order to protect our net interest margin against increases in short-term interest rates, we may enter into interest rate swaps, which effectively convert our floating-rate repurchase agreement debt to fixed-rate debt.
Summary
The relatively large spread between short and long-term interest rates has positively affected our net interest margin. However, changes in prepayment rates could negatively affect our net interest margin and the value of our assets. Furthermore, increases in the Federal Funds Rate and LIBOR could significant increase our financing costs, which could lower our net interest margin.
In addition, as discussed above, due to economic conditions in the United States and Europe, interest rates are at exceptionally low levels and are expected to remain low for an extended period. The low level of interest rates has impacted the level of refinancing activity on Agency RMBS and yields on assets available to us. Refinancing activity has accelerated and may accelerate further as the housing finance industry slowly recovers from the financial crisis that emerged in 2008. Yields on assets available to us have also declined, especially since the U.S. Federal Reserve commenced “Operation Twist” in 2011 and announced an open-ended program to expand its holdings of longer-term securities by purchasing an additional $40 billion of Agency RMBS per month beginning in September 2012. In response to these developments, we have allocated capital from the pass-through Agency RMBS portfolio to the structured Agency RMBS portfolio to avoid excessive prepayment related margin calls and to maintain a low duration on the portfolio as a whole. We are able to maintain a low duration on the portfolio by combining two asset types which have negatively correlated interest rate sensitivities; the pass-through Agency RMBS portfolio which has a positive duration and the structured Agency RMBS portfolio which typically has a negative duration. Further, in order to avoid excessive prepayment speeds on the pass-through Agency RMBS portfolio, we often acquire assets with less exposure to prepayments, and such assets have a longer duration because they are generally collateralized by 15 or 30 year mortgages. This increases the need to add structured Agency RMBS to maintain a low duration for the total portfolio. Borrowing costs have not been affected by these developments and remain at historically low levels.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. GAAP requires our management to make some complex and subjective decisions and assessments. Our most critical accounting policies involve decisions and assessments which could significantly affect reported assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Management has identified its most critical accounting policies:
Mortgage-Backed Securities
Our investments in Agency RMBS are accounted for under the fair value option. We acquire our Agency RMBS for the purpose of generating long-term returns, and not for the short-term investment of idle capital. Changes in the fair value of securities accounted for under the fair value option are reflected as part of our net income or loss in our statement of operations, as opposed to a component of other comprehensive income in our statement of stockholders’ equity if they were instead reclassified as available-for-sale securities. We elected to account for all of our Agency RMBS under the fair value option in order to reflect changes in the fair value of our Agency RMBS in our statement of operations, which we believe more appropriately reflects the results of our operations for a particular reporting period. GAAP requires the use of a three-level valuation hierarchy to disclose the classification of fair value measurements used for determining the fair value of our Agency RMBS. These levels include:
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Level 1 valuations, where the valuation is based on quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities traded in active markets (which include exchanges and over-the-counter markets with sufficient volume),
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Level 2 valuations, where the valuation is based on quoted market prices for similar instruments traded in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market, and
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Level 3 valuations, where the valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market, but observable based on Company- specific data. These unobservable assumptions reflect the Company’s own estimates for assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques typically include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, but may also include the use of market prices of assets or liabilities that are not directly comparable to the subject asset or liability.
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Our Agency RMBS are valued using Level 2 valuations, and such valuations currently are determined by our manager based on the average of third-party broker quotes and/or by independent pricing sources when available. Because the price estimates may vary, our manager must make certain judgments and assumptions about the appropriate price to use to calculate the fair values. Alternatively, our manager could opt to have the value of all of our positions in Agency RMBS determined by either an independent third-party or do so internally.
In managing our portfolio, Bimini Advisors employs the following four-step process at each valuation date to determine the fair value of our Agency RMBS:
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First, our Manager obtains fair values from subscription-based independent pricing sources. These prices are used by both our Manager as well as many of our repurchase agreement counterparty on a daily basis to establish margin requirements for our borrowings.
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Second, our Manager requests non-binding quotes from one to four broker-dealers for each of its Agency RMBS in order to validate the values obtained by the pricing service. Our Manager requests these quotes from broker-dealers that actively trade and make markets in the respective asset class for which the quote is requested.
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Third, our Manager reviews the values obtained by the pricing source and the broker-dealers for consistency across similar assets.
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Finally, if the data from the pricing services and broker-dealers is not homogenous or if the data obtained is inconsistent with our Manager’s market observations, our Manager makes a judgment to determine which price appears the most consistent with observed prices from similar assets and selects that price. To the extent our Manager believes that none of the prices are consistent with observed prices for similar assets, which is typically the case for only an immaterial portion of our portfolio each quarter, our Manager may use a third price that is consistent with observed prices for identical or similar assets. In the case of assets that have quoted prices such as Agency RMBS backed by fixed-rate mortgages, our Manager generally uses the quoted or observed market price. For assets such as Agency RMBS backed by ARMs or structured Agency RMBS, our Manager may determine the price based on the yield or spread that is identical to an observed transaction or a similar asset for which a dealer mark or subscription-based price has been obtained.
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Management believes its pricing methodology to be consistent with the definition of fair value described in FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements.
Repurchase Agreements
We finance the acquisition of a portion of our Agency RMBS through repurchase transactions under master repurchase agreements. Repurchase transactions will be treated as collateralized financing transactions and will be carried at their contractual amounts, including accrued interest.
In instances where we acquire Agency RMBS through repurchase agreements with the same counterparty from whom the Agency RMBS were purchased, we account for the purchase commitment and repurchase agreement on a net basis and record a forward commitment to purchase Agency RMBS as a derivative instrument if the transaction does not comply with the criteria in FASB ASC 860, Transfers and Servicing, for gross presentation. If the transaction complies with the criteria for gross presentation, we present the assets and the related financing on a gross basis in our statements of financial condition, and the corresponding interest income and interest expense in our statement of operations. Such forward commitments are recorded at fair value with subsequent changes in fair value recognized in income. Additionally, we record the cash portion of our investment in Agency RMBS as a mortgage related receivable from the counterparty on our balance sheet.
Income Recognition
Since we commenced operations, we have elected to account for all of our Agency RMBS under the fair value option.
All of our Agency RMBS are either pass-through securities or structured Agency RMBS, including CMOs, IOs, IIOs or POs. Income on pass-through securities, POs and CMOs that contain principal balances is based on the stated interest rate of the security. As a result of accounting for our MBS under the fair value option, premium or discount present at the date of purchase is not amortized. For IOs, IIOs and CMOs that do not contain principal balances, income is accrued based on the carrying value and the effective yield. The difference between income accrued and the interest received on the security is characterized as a return of investment and serves to reduce the asset’s carrying value. At each reporting date, the effective yield is adjusted prospectively from the reporting period based on the new estimate of prepayments, current interest rates and current asset prices. The new effective yield is calculated based on the carrying value at the end of the previous reporting period, the new prepayment estimates and the contractual terms of the security. Changes in fair value of all of our Agency RMBS during the period are recorded in earnings and reported as unrealized gains (losses) on mortgage-backed securities in the accompanying statements of operations. For IIO securities, effective yield and income recognition calculations also take into account the index value applicable to the security.
Capital Expenditures
At March 31, 2013, we had no material commitments for capital expenditures.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of March 31, 2013, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Dividends
To qualify as a REIT, we must pay annual dividends to our stockholders of at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gains. We paid our first dividend on March 27, 2013 to stockholders of record as of March 25, 2013 in an amount of $0.135 per share of our common stock. We also declared dividends on April 10, 2013 to stockholders of record as of April 25, 2013 in an amount of $0.135 per share of our common stock payable on April 30, 2013, and on May 9, 2013 to stockholders of record as of May 28, 2013 in an amount of $0.135 per share of our common stock payable on May 31, 2013. We intend to pay regular monthly dividends to our stockholders.
Inflation
Virtually all of our assets and liabilities are interest rate sensitive in nature. As a result, interest rates and other factors influence our performance far more so than does inflation. Changes in interest rates do not necessarily correlate with inflation rates or changes in inflation rates. Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and our distributions will be determined by our Board of Directors consistent with our obligation to distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income on an annual basis in order to maintain our REIT qualification; in each case, our activities and balance sheet are measured with reference to historical cost and/or fair market value without considering inflation.