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)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

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. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. All per share amounts, common shares outstanding and restricted shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and all prior periods reflect the Company’s one-for-two reverse stock split, which was effected on November 1, 2017 at 5:01 p.m. Eastern Time (refer to Note 20 - Equity for additional information). 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, 2016. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial condition of the Company at September 30, 2017 and results of operations for all periods presented have been made. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 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. 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 entities’ performance, and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entities that could be significant, the Company consolidates the trust.

Due to its controlling ownership interest in Granite Point during the periods presented, the Company consolidates Granite Point on its financial statements and reflects noncontrolling interest for the portion of equity and comprehensive income not attributable to the Company. During this consolidation period, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations reflect all of Granite Point’s commercial real estate investments and financing. No other subsidiary of the Company invests in, finances or manages commercial real estate debt and related instruments. Effective November 1, 2017 (the date the 33.1 million shares of Granite Point common stock were distributed to the Company’s common stockholders), the Company no longer has a controlling interest in Granite Point and, therefore, will prospectively deconsolidate the financial condition and results of operations Granite Point and its subsidiaries from its financial statements.

Convertible Senior Notes

Convertible senior notes include unsecured convertible debt that are carried at their unpaid principal balance, net of any unamortized deferred issuance costs, on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. Interest on the notes is payable semiannually until such time the notes mature or are converted into shares of the Company’s common stock.

Noncontrolling Interest

Pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 810, Consolidation, changes in a parent’s ownership interest (and transactions with noncontrolling interest stockholders in the subsidiary) while the parent retains its controlling interest in its subsidiary should be accounted for as equity transactions. The Company adjusts the carrying amount of noncontrolling interest to reflect (i) changes in its ownership interest in Granite Point and (ii) the portion of comprehensive income and dividends declared by Granite Point that are not attributable to the Company, with the offset to equity

Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares outstanding during the period. For both basic and diluted per share calculations, potential common shares represents issued and unvested shares of restricted stock, which have full rights to the common stock dividend declarations of the Company. If the assumed conversion of convertible notes into common shares is dilutive, diluted earnings per share is adjusted by adding back the periodic interest expense (net of any tax effects) associated with dilutive convertible notes to net income attributable to common stockholders and adding the shares issued in an assumed conversion to the diluted weighted average share count. All per share amounts, common shares outstanding and restricted shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and all prior periods reflect the Company’s one-for-two reverse stock split, which was effected on November 1, 2017 at 5:01 p.m. Eastern Time (refer to Note 20 - Equity for additional information).

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 by 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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:



	September 30, 2017
										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	$	279,300		$	(40,995	)	$	238,305		$	(11,312	)	$	—	$	226,993
Total Assets	$	279,300		$	(40,995	)	$	238,305		$	(11,312	)	$	—	$	226,993
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	$	(18,297,392	)	$	—		$	(18,297,392	)	$	18,297,392		$	—	$	—
Derivative liabilities	(52,307		)	40,995			(11,312		)	11,312			—		—
Total Liabilities	$	(18,349,699	)	$	40,995		$	(18,308,704	)	$	18,308,704		$	—	$	—



	December 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	$	388,522		$	(64,340	)	$	324,182		$	(12,501	)	$	—	$	311,681
Total Assets	$	388,522		$	(64,340	)	$	324,182		$	(12,501	)	$	—	$	311,681
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	$	(9,316,351	)	$	—		$	(9,316,351	)	$	9,316,351		$	—	$	—
Derivative liabilities	(76,841		)	64,340			(12,501		)	12,501			—		—
Total Liabilities	$	(9,463,192	)	$	64,340		$	(9,398,852	)	$	9,398,852		$	—	$	—

____________________

(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.

Recently Issued and/or Adopted Accounting Standards

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU No. 2014-09, which is a comprehensive revenue recognition standard that supersedes virtually all existing revenue guidance under U.S. GAAP. The standard’s core principle is that an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. As a result of the issuance of ASU No. 2015-14 in August 2015 deferring the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 by one year, the ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning on or after December 15, 2017, with early adoption prohibited. The Company has evaluated the new guidance and determined that interest income, gains and losses on financial instruments and income from servicing residential mortgage loans are outside the scope of ASC 606, Revenues from Contracts with Customers. For income from servicing residential mortgage loans, the Company considered that the FASB Transition Resource Group members generally agreed that an entity should look to ASC 860, Transfers and Servicing, to determine the appropriate accounting for these fees and ASC 606 contains a scope exception for contracts that fall under ASC 860. As a result, the Company has determined that the adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, which changes how entities measure certain equity investments and present changes in the fair value of financial liabilities measured under the fair value option that are attributable to their own credit. The ASU requires certain recurring disclosures and is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning on or after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. Early adoption of this ASU did not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.

Lease Classification and Accounting

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, which requires lessees to recognize on their balance sheets both a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning on or after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company has determined this ASU will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, which changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments. Allowances for credit losses on AFS debt securities will be recognized, rather than direct reductions in the amortized cost of the investments. The new model also requires the estimation of lifetime expected credit losses and corresponding recognition of allowance for losses on trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans, and other instruments held at amortized cost. The ASU requires certain recurring disclosures and is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning on or after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning on or after December 15, 2018. The Company is evaluating the adoption of this ASU to determine the impact it may have on its condensed consolidated financial statements, which at the date of adoption, is expected to increase the allowance for credit losses with a resulting negative adjustment to retained earnings, with offsetting impacts to accumulated other comprehensive income.

Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments and Restricted Cash

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, which clarifies how entities should classify certain cash receipts and cash payments and how the predominance principle should be applied on the statement of cash flows. Additionally, in November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, which requires entities to show the changes in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, but no longer present transfers between cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. Both ASUs are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning on or after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. Early adoption of these ASUs did not impact the Company’s financial condition or results of operations but impacted the presentation of the statements of cash flows and related footnote disclosures. The Company included restricted cash of $343.8 million, $408.3 million, $264.9 million and $262.6 million as of September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016, September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, with cash and cash equivalents, as shown on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.