TWO Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP, have been condensed or omitted according to such SEC rules and regulations. However, management believes that the disclosures included in these interim condensed consolidated financial statements are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial condition of the Company at March 31, 2016 and results of operations for all periods presented have been made. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 should not be construed as indicative of the results to be expected for future periods or the full year.

The condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make a number of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates include estimates of fair value of certain assets and liabilities, amount and timing of credit losses, prepayment rates, the period of time during which the Company anticipates an increase in the fair values of real estate securities sufficient to recover unrealized losses in those securities, and other estimates that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of certain revenues and expenses during the reported period. It is likely that changes in these estimates (e.g., valuation changes due to supply and demand, credit performance, prepayments, interest rates, or other reasons) will occur in the near term. The Company’s estimates are inherently subjective in nature and actual results could differ from its estimates and the differences may be material.

The condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of all subsidiaries; inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The Company’s Chief Investment Officer manages the investment portfolio as a whole and resources are allocated and financial performance is assessed on a consolidated basis.

All trust entities in which the Company holds investments that are considered VIEs for financial reporting purposes were reviewed for consolidation under the applicable consolidation guidance. Whenever the Company has both the power to direct the activities of a trust that most significantly impact the entity’s performance, and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entity that could be significant, the Company consolidates the trust.

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

Certain of the Company’s repurchase agreements are governed by underlying agreements that provide for a right of setoff in the event of default of either party to the agreement. The Company also has netting arrangements in place with all derivative counterparties pursuant to standard documentation developed by the International Swap and Derivatives Association, or ISDA, or central clearing exchange agreements, in the case of centrally cleared interest rate swaps. Additionally, the Company and the counterparty or clearing agency are required to post cash collateral based upon the net underlying market value of the Company’s open positions with the counterparty.

Under U.S. GAAP, if the Company has a valid right of setoff, it may offset the related asset and liability and report the net amount. The Company presents repurchase agreements subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements on a gross basis, and derivative assets and liabilities subject to such arrangements on a net basis, based on derivative type and counterparty, in its condensed consolidated balance sheets. Separately, the Company presents cash collateral subject to such arrangements on a net basis, based on counterparty, in its condensed consolidated balance sheets. However, the Company does not offset financial assets and liabilities with the associated cash collateral on its condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The following tables present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements and can potentially be offset on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:



	March 31, 2016
										Gross Amounts Not Offset with Financial Assets (Liabilities) in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets ⁽¹⁾
(in thousands)	Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets (Liabilities)			Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets			Net Amounts of Assets (Liabilities) Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets			Financial Instruments			Cash Collateral (Received) Pledged		Net Amount
Assets
Derivative assets	$	311,134		$	(113,287	)	$	197,847		$	(77,038	)	$	—	$	120,809
Total Assets	$	311,134		$	(113,287	)	$	197,847		$	(77,038	)	$	—	$	120,809
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	$	(6,189,852	)	$	—		$	(6,189,852	)	$	6,189,852		$	—	$	—
Derivative liabilities	(190,325		)	113,287			(77,038		)	77,038			—		—
Total Liabilities	$	(6,380,177	)	$	113,287		$	(6,266,890	)	$	6,266,890		$	—	$	—



	December 31, 2015
										Gross Amounts Not Offset with Financial Assets (Liabilities) in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets ⁽¹⁾
(in thousands)	Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets (Liabilities)			Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets			Net Amounts of Assets (Liabilities) Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets			Financial Instruments			Cash Collateral (Received) Pledged		Net Amount
Assets
Derivative assets	$	325,755		$	(54,246	)	$	271,509		$	(7,285	)	$	—	$	264,224
Total Assets	$	325,755		$	(54,246	)	$	271,509		$	(7,285	)	$	—	$	264,224
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	$	(5,008,274	)	$	—		$	(5,008,274	)	$	5,008,274		$	—	$	—
Derivative liabilities	(61,531		)	54,246			(7,285		)	7,285			—		—
Total Liabilities	$	(5,069,805	)	$	54,246		$	(5,015,559	)	$	5,015,559		$	—	$	—

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(1)

Amounts presented are limited in total to the net amount of assets or liabilities presented in the condensed consolidated balance sheets by instrument. Excess cash collateral or financial assets that are pledged to counterparties may exceed the financial liabilities subject to a master netting arrangement or similar agreement, or counterparties may have pledged excess cash collateral to the Company that exceed the corresponding financial assets. These excess amounts are excluded from the table above, although separately reported within restricted cash, due from counterparties, or due to counterparties in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.