Quarterly Report (10-q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

ý	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017

OR

¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  For the transition period from ________ to ____________  

Commission File No. 001-35845  

FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 

Maryland	45-4966519
(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	Identification Number)

540 Madison Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10022

(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)

[phone]

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) 

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, a smaller reporting company to an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” "smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  

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

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act ¨

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class		Outstanding at November 8, 2017
Common stock, $0.01 par value		22,139,258

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP.

 

INDEX

 

PART I - Financial Information
Item 1.	Financial Statements
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2017 (unaudited) and December 31, 2016	3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 (unaudited) and September 30, 2016 (unaudited)	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 (unaudited) and September 30, 2016 (unaudited)	5
	Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 (unaudited)	6
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 (unaudited) and September 30, 2016 (unaudited)	7
	Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	8
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	38
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks	55
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	60
PART II - Other Information		61
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	61
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	61
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	61
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	61
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	61
Item 5.	Other Information	61
Item 6.	Exhibits	61
Signatures		62

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements  

FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

		9/30/2017 (1)				12/31/2016 (1)
		(unaudited)
ASSETS
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value (includes pledged securities of $1,309,061,643 and $876,121,505 for September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)		$	1,304,486,040			$	870,929,601
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, at fair value		495,486				2,849,536
Multi-family loans held in securitization trusts, at fair value		1,149,888,917				1,222,905,433
Residential loans held in securitization trusts, at fair value		125,403,499				141,126,720
Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value		2,993,997				3,440,809
Cash and cash equivalents		30,554,867				27,534,374
Restricted cash		15,437,341				10,355,222
Deferred offering costs		78,432				96,489
Accrued interest receivable		8,732,428				7,619,717
Investment related receivable		4,699,021				3,914,458
Derivative assets, at fair value		—				8,053,813
Other assets		912,719				775,031
Total assets		$	2,643,682,747			$	2,299,601,203
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
LIABILITIES:
Repurchase agreements:
Available-for-sale securities		$	1,237,661,000			$	804,811,000
Multi-family securitized debt obligations		1,128,773,402				1,204,583,678
Residential securitized debt obligations		119,882,464				134,846,348
Accrued interest payable		5,205,165				5,467,916
Derivative liabilities, at fair value		529,075				—
Dividends payable		29,349				39,132
Deferred income		202,896				203,743
Due to broker		—				4,244,678
Fees and expenses payable to Manager		587,000				880,000
Other accounts payable and accrued expenses		273,732				2,057,843
Total liabilities		2,493,144,083				2,157,134,338
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 15)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred Stock: par value $0.01 per share; 50,000,000 shares authorized, 8.75% Series A cumulative redeemable, $25 liquidation preference, 1,610,000 and 1,610,000 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively		37,156,972				37,156,972
Common Stock: par value $0.01 per share; 450,000,000 shares authorized, 22,139,258 and 17,539,258 shares issued and outstanding, at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively		221,393				175,348
Additional paid-in capital		224,063,268				204,264,868
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(5,643,099		)		(9,268,630		)
Cumulative distributions to stockholders		(100,438,604		)		(89,224,194		)
Accumulated earnings (deficit)		(4,821,266		)		(637,499		)
Total stockholders' equity		150,538,664				142,466,865
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	2,643,682,747			$	2,299,601,203

(1) Our consolidated balance sheets include assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities ("VIEs") as the Company is the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , assets of consolidated VIEs totaled $ 1,280,093,874 and $ 1,369,120,941 respectively, and the liabilities of consolidated VIEs totaled $ 1,253,353,428 and $ 1,344,404,080 respectively

See Notes 6 and 7 for further discussion

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

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

		Three Months Ended September 30, 2017				Three Months Ended September 30, 2016				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Revenues:
Interest income:
Available-for-sale securities		$	7,827,281			$	6,549,869			$	21,308,582			$	16,780,701
Mortgage loans held-for-sale		12,082				121,892				69,416				411,199
Multi-family loans held in securitization trusts		13,473,913				14,466,946				40,992,241				44,597,652
Residential loans held in securitization trusts		1,249,966				1,582,090				3,903,924				9,143,343
Cash and cash equivalents		63,264				11,754				138,745				26,409
Interest expense:
Repurchase agreements - available-for-sale securities		(4,118,639		)		(1,572,062		)		(9,087,956		)		(4,400,290		)
Repurchase agreements - mortgage loans held-for-sale		—				(57,449		)		—				(227,733		)
Multi-family securitized debt obligations		(12,766,808		)		(13,740,005		)		(38,866,888		)		(41,667,457		)
Residential securitized debt obligations		(995,293		)		(1,210,186		)		(3,100,616		)		(6,978,474		)
Net interest income		4,745,766				6,152,849				15,357,448				17,685,350
Other-than-temporary impairments
(Increase) decrease in credit reserves		—				(374,124		)		—				(541,342		)
Additional other-than-temporary credit impairment losses		—				(183,790		)		—				(183,790		)
Total impairment losses recognized in earnings		—				(557,914		)		—				(725,132		)
Other income:
Realized gain (loss) on sale of investments, net		(5,148,445		)		(749,604		)		(14,616,997		)		(3,361,609		)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on fair value option securities		—				(958,995		)		9,448,270				(3,569,744		)
Realized gain (loss) on derivative contracts, net		(1,636,725		)		(820,974		)		2,049,400				(3,167,877		)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on derivative contracts, net		307,263				3,340,600				(8,583,100		)		(7,172,338		)
Realized gain (loss) on mortgage loans held-for-sale		(221,197		)		60,427				(221,620		)		129,175
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on mortgage loans held-for-sale		28,794				(138,785		)		17,727				(2,885		)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on mortgage servicing rights		(102,945		)		(204,505		)		(457,720		)		(1,243,240		)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on multi-family loans held in securitization trusts		694,730				930,312				2,797,566				(5,604,839		)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on residential loans held in securitization trusts		(155,252		)		(764,599		)		(773,674		)		80,511
Other interest expense		—				(1,860,000		)		(152,322		)		(1,860,000		)
Servicing income		276,211				258,458				721,468				726,011
Other income		8,369				3				33,275				26,811
Total other income (loss)		(5,949,197		)		(907,662		)		(9,737,727		)		(25,020,024		)
Expenses:
Management fee		573,412				623,525				1,670,804				1,873,486
General and administrative expenses		1,288,978				1,171,421				4,120,807				4,483,064
Operating expenses reimbursable to Manager		915,452				1,184,391				3,086,304				3,573,445
Other operating expenses		225,502				161,036				770,189				1,393,303
Compensation expense		49,562				50,544				155,384				144,431
Total expenses		3,052,906				3,190,917				9,803,488				11,467,729
Net income (loss)		(4,256,337		)		1,496,356				(4,183,767		)		(19,527,535		)
Dividends to preferred stockholders		(880,509		)		(880,509		)		(2,631,744		)		(2,631,744		)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders		$	(5,136,846	)		$	615,847			$	(6,815,511	)		$	(22,159,279	)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders (basic and diluted)		$	(5,136,846	)		$	615,847			$	(6,815,511	)		$	(22,159,279	)
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding		22,139,258				14,600,193				19,342,188				14,601,306
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share		$	(0.23	)		$	0.04			$	(0.35	)		$	(1.52	)
Dividends declared per share of common stock		$	0.15			$	0.18			$	0.45			$	0.54

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

4

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

		Three Months Ended September 30, 2017				Three Months Ended September 30, 2016				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Net income (loss)		$	(4,256,337	)		$	1,496,356			$	(4,183,767	)		$	(19,527,535	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Increase (decrease) in net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net		(4,175,111		)		(979,421		)		(2,954,193		)		8,396,200
Reclassification adjustment for net gain (loss) included in net income (loss)		6,362,159				23,914				6,579,724				(6,523,410		)
Reclassification adjustment for other-than-temporary impairments included in net income (loss)		—				374,124				—				541,342
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		2,187,048				(581,383		)		3,625,531				2,414,132
Less: Dividends to preferred stockholders		(880,509		)		(880,509		)		(2,631,744		)		(2,631,744		)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common stockholders		$	(2,949,798	)		$	34,464			$	(3,189,980	)		$	(19,745,147	)

 

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

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity

(unaudited)

		Preferred Stock							Common Stock							Additional Paid in Capital				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)				Cumulative Distributions to Stockholders				Accumulated Earnings (Deficit)				Total Stockholders' Equity
		Shares			Par Value				Shares			Par Value
Balance at January 1, 2017		1,610,000			$	37,156,972			17,539,258			$	175,348			$	204,264,868			$	(9,268,630	)		$	(89,224,194	)		$	(637,499	)		$	142,466,865
Issuance of common stock, net		—			—				4,604,500			46,045				21,113,955				—				—				—				21,160,000
Cost of issuing common stock		—			—				—			—				(1,332,189		)		—				—				—				(1,332,189		)
Issuance of preferred stock, net		—			—				—			—				—				—				—				—				—
Redemption of preferred stock, net		—			—				—			—				—				—				—				—				—
Purchase of treasury stock, net		—			—				—			—				—				—				—				—				—
Restricted stock compensation expense		—			—				(4,500	)		—				16,634				—				—				—				16,634
Net income (loss)		—			—				—			—				—				—				—				(4,183,767		)		(4,183,767		)
Increase (decrease) in net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net		—			—				—			—				—				(2,954,193		)		—				—				(2,954,193		)
Reclassification adjustment for net gain (loss) included in net income (loss)		—			—				—			—				—				6,579,724				—				—				6,579,724
Reclassification adjustment for other-than-temporary impairments included in net income (loss)		—			—				—			—				—				—				—				—				—
Common dividends declared		—			—				—			—				—				—				(8,582,666		)		—				(8,582,666		)
Preferred dividends declared		—			—				—			—				—				—				(2,631,744		)		—				(2,631,744		)
Balance at September 30, 2017		1,610,000			$	37,156,972			22,139,258			$	221,393			$	224,063,268			$	(5,643,099	)		$	(100,438,604	)		$	(4,821,266	)		$	150,538,664

 

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

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)		$	(4,183,767	)		$	(19,527,535	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Other-than-temporary impairment charges		—				725,132
Amortization/accretion of available-for-sale securities premiums and discounts, net		(1,653,155		)		(5,257,442		)
Realized (gain) loss on sale of investments, net		14,616,997				3,361,609
Realized (gain) loss on derivative contracts, net		(2,049,400		)		3,167,877
Realized (gain) loss on mortgage loans held-for-sale		221,620				(129,175		)
Unrealized (gain) loss on fair value option securities		(9,448,270		)		3,569,744
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative contracts		8,583,100				7,172,338
Unrealized (gain) loss on mortgage loans held-for-sale		(17,727		)		2,885
Unrealized (gain) loss on mortgage servicing rights		457,720				1,243,240
Unrealized (gain) loss on multi-family loans held in securitization trusts		(2,797,566		)		5,604,839
Unrealized (gain) loss on residential loans held in securitization trusts		773,674				(80,511		)
Restricted stock compensation expense		16,634				29,014
Net change in:
Accrued interest receivable		(1,400,041		)		(672,852		)
Deferred offering costs		18,057				—
Other assets		(137,688		)		(398,140		)
Accrued interest payable		13,743				(43,909		)
Deferred income		(847		)		6,905
Fees and expenses payable to Manager		(293,000		)		(151,716		)
Other accounts payable and accrued expenses		(1,784,111		)		1,795,403
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		935,973				417,706
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of available-for-sale securities		(1,000,558,281		)		(454,443,440		)
Purchase of mortgage loans held-for-sale		—				(14,772,535		)
Purchase of mortgage servicing rights		(10,910		)		—
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities		469,004,262				230,557,084
Proceeds from mortgage loans held-for-sale		2,098,010				16,289,603
Proceeds from FHLBI stock		—				2,391,700
Net proceeds from (payments for) derivative contracts		2,049,188				(3,167,877		)
Principal payments from available-for-sale securities		98,107,847				66,007,840
Principal payments from mortgage loans held-for-sale		52,146				235,622
Investment related receivable		(784,563		)		(2,539,730		)
Due from broker		(4,244,678		)		—
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(434,286,979		)		(159,441,733		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (costs for) issuance of common stock		19,827,811				—
Purchase of treasury stock		—				(283,565		)
Dividends paid on common stock		(8,582,666		)		(7,885,803		)
Dividends paid on preferred stock		(2,641,527		)		(2,641,527		)
Proceeds from repurchase agreements - available-for-sale securities		10,247,863,000				5,603,428,000
Proceeds from repurchase agreements - mortgage loans held-for-sale		—				16,405,081
Principal repayments of FHLBI advances		—				(49,697,000		)
Principal repayments of repurchase agreements - available-for-sale securities		(9,815,013,000		)		(5,373,159,000		)
Principal repayments of repurchase agreements - mortgage loans held-for-sale		—				(18,783,717		)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		441,453,618				167,382,469
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		8,102,612				8,358,442
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period		37,889,596				34,315,356
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period		$	45,992,208			$	42,673,798
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid for interest		$	11,086,534			$	4,671,932
Non-cash investing and financing activities information
Dividends declared but not paid at end of period		$	29,349			$	29,349
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities		$	3,625,531			$	2,414,131
Consolidation of multi-family loans held in securitization trusts		$	1,154,277,919			$	1,271,754,540
Consolidation of residential loans held in securitization trusts		$	125,815,955			$	153,858,101
Consolidation of multi-family securitized debt obligations		$	1,133,138,620			$	1,253,797,808
Consolidation of residential securitized debt obligations		$	120,214,808			$	147,807,489

 

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

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Five Oaks Investment Corp. (the “Company”) is a Maryland corporation focused primarily on investing in, financing and managing residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”), multi-family mortgage backed securities (“Multi-Family MBS”, and together with RMBS, “MBS”), mortgage servicing rights and other mortgage-related investments. The Company is externally managed by Oak Circle Capital Partners, LLC (the “Manager”), an asset management firm incorporated in Delaware. The Company’s common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “OAKS.”

The Company was incorporated on March 28, 2012 and commenced operations on May 16, 2012 . The Company began trading as a publicly traded company on March 22, 2013.

The Company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and to comply with Sections 856 through 859 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the ("Code"). Accordingly, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent of its distributions to stockholders and as long as certain asset, income and share ownership tests are met. The Company invests in Agency RMBS, which are RMBS for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a U.S. Government agency such as the Government National Mortgage Association or a U.S. Government-sponsored entity such as the Federal National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. The Company also invests in Non-Agency RMBS, which are RMBS that are not guaranteed by a U.S. Government agency or a U.S. Government-sponsored entity. Additionally, the Company invests in Multi-Family MBS, which are MBS for which the principal and interest may be sponsored by a U.S. Government agency such as the Government National Mortgage Association or a U.S. Government-sponsored entity such as the Federal National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or may not be sponsored by a U.S. Government agency or a U.S. Government-sponsored entity. The Company also invests in residential mortgage loans, mortgage servicing rights, and may also invest in other mortgage-related investments.

On June 10, 2013, the Company established Five Oaks Acquisition Corp. (“FOAC”) as a wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”), for the acquisition and disposition of residential mortgage loans. The Company consolidates this subsidiary under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

On April 30, 2014, the Company established Five Oaks Insurance LLC (“FOI”) as a wholly owned subsidiary. FOI was dissolved on July 18, 2016. The Company previously consolidated this subsidiary under GAAP.

In September 2014, and October 2014, respectively, the Company acquired first loss tranches issued or backed by two Freddie Mac-sponsored Multi-Family MBS K series securitizations (the “FREMF 2011-K13 Trust” and the “FREMF 2012-KF01 Trust”). The Company determined that each of the trusts was a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and that in each case the Company remains the primary beneficiary, and accordingly consolidated the assets and liabilities of the trusts into the Company’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP. On April 21, 2016, and April 26, 2016, respectively, the Company completed two re-securitization transactions (the “Re-REMIC transactions”). The Company consolidates the assets and liabilities of the newly established trusts, in each case based upon the Company’s purchase of first-loss securities of the Re-REMIC transactions. Accordingly, the Company has determined that it remains the primary beneficiary of the underlying trusts and continues to consolidate the assets and liabilities of each underlying trust.

In October 2014, and December 2014, respectively, the Company also acquired first loss and subordinated tranches issued by two residential mortgage-backed securitizations (the “JPMMT 2014-OAK4 Trust” and the “CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trust”). During the second quarter of 2016, the Company sold the first loss and subordinated tranches issued by the JPMMT 2014-OAK4 Trust, and as a result, having determined that it is no longer the primary beneficiary of the trust, the Company no longer consolidates the assets and liabilities of that trust. The Company determined that CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trust was a VIE and that the Company continues to be the primary beneficiary, and accordingly consolidates the assets and liabilities of the trust into the Company’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

On March 23, 2015, the Company established Oaks Funding LLC as a wholly owned subsidiary of FOAC, to fulfill certain functions as depositor in respect of residential mortgage loan securitization transactions. The Company consolidates this subsidiary under GAAP.

On April 20, 2016, the Company established Oaks Funding II LLC as a wholly owned subsidiary of FOAC, to fulfill certain functions as depositor in respect of certain Re-REMIC transactions. The Company consolidates this subsidiary under GAAP.

On April 20, 2016, the Company established Oaks Holding I LLC as a wholly owned subsidiary to hold certain investment securities. The Company consolidates this subsidiary under GAAP.

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 has been derived from audited financial statements. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2017 , the condensed consolidated statements of operations and the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the condensed consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , and the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , are unaudited.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial reporting and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and note disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared under GAAP have been condensed or omitted. In the opinion of management, all adjustments are considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows have been included and are of a normal and recurring nature. The operating results presented for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the entire year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 , which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 16, 2017.

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of the Company and all its subsidiaries which are majority-owned, controlled by the Company or a variable interest entity where the Company is the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.

VIEs

An entity is referred to as a VIE if it lacks one or more of the following characteristics: (1) sufficient equity at risk to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support provided by any parties, including the equity holders; (2) as a group the holders of the equity investment at risk have (a) the power, through voting rights or similar rights, to direct the activities of a legal entity that most significantly impacts the entity's economic performance, (b) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the legal entity and (c) the right to receive the expected residual returns of the legal entity; and (3) the voting rights of these investors are proportional to their obligations to absorb the expected losses of the entity, their rights to receive the expected returns of their equity, or both, and whether substantially all of the entity's activities involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor that has disproportionately fewer voting rights. An investment that lacks one or more of the above three characteristics is considered to be a VIE. The Company reassesses its initial evaluation of an entity as a VIE based upon changes in the facts and circumstances pertaining to the VIE.

VIEs are required to be consolidated by their primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is determined to be the party that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. This determination may involve complex and subjective analyses. In general, the obligation to absorb losses is a function of holding a majority of the first loss tranche, while the ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs economic performance will be determined based upon the rights associated with acting as the directing certificate holder, or equivalent, in a given transaction. The Company is required to reconsider its evaluation of whether to consolidate a VIE each reporting period based upon changes in the facts and circumstances pertaining to the VIE.

The Company has evaluated its Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS investments to determine if each represents a variable interest in a VIE. The Company monitors these investments and analyzes them for potential consolidation. The Company's real estate securities investments represent variable interests in VIEs. At September 30, 2017 , the Company determined that it continues to be the primary beneficiary of two Multi-Family MBS transactions (FREMF 2011-K13 and FREMF 2012-KF01), and one residential mortgage loan transaction (CSMC 2014-OAK1), in each case based on its power to direct the trust’s activities and its obligations to absorb losses derived from the ownership of the first-loss tranches. In the case of the FREMF 2011-K13 and the FREMF 2012-KF01trusts, the Company determined that it is the primary beneficiary of certain intermediate trusts that have the power to direct the activities and the obligations to absorb losses of the underlying trusts. Accordingly, the Company consolidated the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of each of the underlying trusts, and has elected the fair value option in respect of the assets and liabilities of each trust. However, the Company's maximum exposure to loss from consolidated trusts was $26,740,446 and $24,716,861 , respectively, at September 30, 2017 , and December 31, 2016 . At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , with the exception of the listed transactions, the maximum exposure of the Company to VIEs was limited to the fair value of its investment in Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS as disclosed in Note 4 (Non-Agency RMBS $0 and $7,592,802 , respectively, and Multi-Family MBS $30,750,419 and $73,146,566 , respectively).

GAAP also requires the Company to consider whether securitizations it sponsors and other transfers of financial assets should be treated as sales or financings. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company transferred residential mortgage loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $518,455,163 to Oaks Mortgage Trust Series 2015-1 and Oaks Mortgage Trust Series 2015-2, and accounted for these transfers as sales for financial reporting purposes, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 860. The Company also determined that it was not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs because it lacked the power to direct the activities that will have the most significant economic impact on the entities, and as September 30, 2017 , this remains the case. The Company’s analysis incorporates the considerations applicable to Consolidation (Topic 810). The Company’s determination involves complex and subjective analysis resulting from the various legal and structural aspects of each transaction. This analysis has focused in particular on ASC 810-10-25-38C and 25-38D, along with ASC 810-10-25-38G and ASC 810-10-15-13A and 15-13B. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from these VIEs was limited to the fair value of its investments in Non-Agency RMBS issued by the two VIEs, with an aggregate fair value of $0 at September 30, 2017 ( December 31, 2016 : $4,413,403 ). This amount is included in Available-for-sale (“AFS”) securities on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company is party to customary and standard repurchase obligations in respect of loans that it has sold to the two VIEs to the extent they have breached standard representations and warranties, but is not a party to arrangements to provide financial support to the VIEs that the Company believes could expose it to additional loss.

Use of Estimates

The financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make a number of significant estimates. These include estimates of fair value of certain assets and liabilities, amount and timing of credit losses, prepayment rates, and other estimates that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities as of the date of the 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.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash and cash equivalents include cash held in bank accounts on an overnight basis and other short term deposit accounts with banks having original maturities of 90 days or less. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents in highly rated financial institutions, and at times these balances exceed insurable amounts.

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Restricted cash represents the Company’s cash held by counterparties as collateral against the Company’s securities, derivatives and/or repurchase agreements. Cash held by counterparties as collateral is not available to the Company for general corporate purposes, but may be applied against amounts due to securities, derivatives or repurchase counterparties or returned to the Company when the collateral requirements are exceeded, or at the maturity of the derivative or repurchase agreement.

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheet that sum to the total of the same amounts shown in the statement of cash flows.

	September 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
Cash and cash equivalents	$	30,554,867			$	27,534,374
Restricted cash	15,437,341				10,355,222
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	45,992,208			$	37,889,596

Deferred Income

Certain service revenues received in the period are recorded as a liability in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets in the line item “Deferred income”, for subsequent recognition as income in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Deferred Offering Costs

In accordance with ASC Subtopic 505-10, the direct costs incurred to issue shares classified as equity, such as legal and accounting fees, should be deducted from the related proceeds and the net amount recorded as stockholders’ equity. Accordingly, payments made by the Company in respect of such costs related to the issuance of shares are recorded as an asset in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets in the line item “Deferred offering costs”, for subsequent deduction from the related proceeds upon closing of the offering.

To the extent that certain costs, in particular legal fees, are known to have been accrued but have not yet been invoiced and paid, they are included in “Other accounts payable and accrued expenses” on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Available-for-Sale Securities, at Fair Value

Revenue Recognition, Premium Amortization, and Discount Accretion

Interest income on the Company’s AFS securities portfolio, with the exception of Non-Agency RMBS IOs (as further described below), is accrued based on the actual coupon rate and the outstanding principal balance of such securities. The Company recognizes interest income using the effective interest method for all AFS securities. As such, premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted into interest income over the lives of the securities in accordance with ASC 310-20, “Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs”, ASC 320-10, “Investments - Debt and Equity Securities” or ASC 325-40, “Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets”, as applicable. Total interest income is recorded in the “Interest Income” line item on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

On at least a quarterly basis for securities accounted for under ASC 320-10 and ASC 310-20 (generally Agency RMBS), prepayments of the underlying collateral must be estimated, which directly affect the speed at which the Company amortizes such securities. If actual and anticipated cash flows differ from previous estimates, the Company recognizes a “catch-up” adjustment in the current period to the amortization of premiums for the impact of the cumulative change in the effective yield through the reporting date.

Similarly, the Company also reassesses the cash flows on at least a quarterly basis for securities accounted for under ASC 325-40 and ASC 310-30 (generally Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS). In estimating these cash flows, there are a number of assumptions that are subject to uncertainties and contingencies. These include the rate and timing of principal and interest receipts (including assumptions of prepayments, repurchases, defaults and liquidations), the pass-through or coupon rate and interest rate fluctuations. In addition, interest payment shortfalls due to delinquencies on the underlying mortgage loans have to be judgmentally estimated. Differences between previously estimated cash flows and current actual and anticipated cash flows are recognized prospectively through an adjustment of the yield over the remaining life of the security based on the current amortized cost of the investment as adjusted for credit impairment, if any.

For investments purchased with evidence of deterioration of credit quality for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the Company will be unable to collect all contractually required payments receivable, the Company applies the provisions of ASC 310-30, “Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality.” ASC 310-30 addresses accounting for differences between contractual cash flows and cash flows expected to be collected from an investor’s initial investment in loans or debt securities acquired in a transfer if those differences are attributable, at least in part, to credit quality. ASC 310-30 limits the yield that may be accreted (accretable yield) to the excess of the investor’s estimate of undiscounted expected principal, interest and other cash flows (cash flows expected at acquisition to be collected) over the investor’s initial investment in the loan. ASC 310-30 requires that the excess of contractual cash flows over cash flows expected to be collected (nonaccretable difference) not be recognized as an adjustment of yield, loss accrual or valuation allowance.

Subsequent increases in cash flows expected to be collected are generally recognized prospectively through adjustment of the investment’s yield over its remaining life. Decreases in cash flows expected to be collected are recognized as impairment to the extent that such decreases are due, at least in part, to an increase in credit loss expectations (“credit impairment”). To the extent that decreases in cash flows expected to be collected are the result of factors other than credit impairment, for example a change in rate of prepayments, such changes are generally recognized prospectively through adjustment of the investment’s yield over its remaining life.

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

The Company’s accrual of interest, discount and premium for U.S. federal and other tax purposes is likely to differ from the financial accounting treatment of these items as described above.

Gains and losses from the sale of AFS securities are recorded as realized gains (losses) within realized gain (loss) on sale of investments, net in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations. Upon the sale of a security, the Company will determine the cost of the security and the amount of unrealized gains or losses to reclassify out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings based on the specific identification method. Unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s AFS securities are recorded as unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

Impairment

The Company evaluates its MBS, on a quarterly basis, to assess whether a decline in the fair value of an AFS security below the Company's amortized cost basis is an other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”). The presence of OTTI is based upon a fair value decline below a security's amortized cost basis and a corresponding adverse change in expected cash flows due to credit related factors as well as non-credit factors, such as changes in interest rates and market spreads. Impairment is considered other-than-temporary if an entity (i) intends to sell the security, (ii) will more likely than not be required to sell the security before it recovers in value or (iii) does not expect to recover the security's amortized cost basis, even if the entity does not intend to sell the security. Under these scenarios, the impairment is other-than-temporary and the full amount of impairment should be recognized currently in earnings and the cost basis of the investment security is adjusted. However, if an entity does not intend to sell the impaired debt security and it is more likely than not that it will not be required to sell before recovery, an OTTI should be recognized to the extent that a decrease in future cash flows expected to be collected is due, at least in part, to an increase in credit impairment. A decrease in future cash flows due to factors other than credit, for example a change in the rate of prepayments, is considered a non-credit impairment. The full amount of the difference between the security’s previous and new cost basis resulting from credit impairment is recognized currently in earnings, and the difference between the new amortized cost basis and the cash flows expected to be collected is accreted as interest income in accordance with the effective interest method. Decreases in cash flows expected to be collected resulting from non-credit impairment are generally recognized prospectively through adjustment of the investment’s yield over its remaining life.

Mortgage Loans Held-for-Sale, at Fair Value

Mortgage loans held-for-sale are reported at fair value as a result of a fair value option election. See Note 3 - Fair Value Measurements for details on fair value measurement. Mortgage loans are currently classified as held-for-sale based upon the Company’s intent to sell them in the secondary whole loan market.

Interest income on mortgage loans held-for-sale is recognized at the loan coupon rate. Interest income recognition is suspended when mortgage loans are placed on non-accrual status. The accrual of interest on loans is discontinued when, in management’s opinion, the interest is considered non-collectible, and in all cases when payment becomes greater than 90 days past due. Loans return to accrual status when principal and interest become current and are anticipated to be fully collectible.

Multi-Family and Residential Mortgage Loans Held in Securitization Trusts

Multi-family and residential mortgage loans held in consolidated securitization trusts are comprised of multi-family mortgage loans held in the FREMF 2011-K13 Trust and the FREMF 2012-KF01Trust, and residential mortgage loans held in the CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trust, as of September 30, 2017 . Based on a number of factors, the Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of the VIEs underlying the trusts, met the criteria for consolidation and, accordingly, has consolidated the three trusts, including their assets, liabilities, income and expenses in its financial statements. The Company has elected the fair value option on each of the assets and liabilities held within the trusts. See Note 3 - Fair Value Measurement below for additional detail. As the result of the Company’s determination that it is not the primary beneficiary of JPMMT 2014-OAK4, Oaks Mortgage Trust Series 2015-1 and Oaks Mortgage Trust Series 2015-2, it does not consolidate these trusts.

Interest income on multi-family and residential mortgage loans held in securitization trusts is recognized at the loan coupon rate. Interest income recognition is suspended when mortgage loans are placed on non-accrual status. The accrual of interest on loans is discontinued when, in management’s opinion, the interest is considered non-collectible, and in all cases when payment becomes greater than 90 days past due. Loans return to accrual status when principal and interest become current and are anticipated to be fully collectible.

Mortgage Servicing Rights and Excess Servicing Rights, at Fair Value

Mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”) are associated with residential mortgage loans that the Company has purchased and subsequently sold or securitized. MSRs are held and managed at the Company’s TRS. As the owner of MSRs, the Company is entitled to receive a portion of the interest payments from the associated residential mortgage loan, and is obligated to service directly or through a sub-servicer, the associated loan. MSRs are reported at fair value as a result of a fair value option election. See Note 3 - Fair Value Measurement below for additional detail. Residential mortgage loans for which the Company owns the MSRs are directly serviced by one or more sub-servicers retained by the Company, since the Company does not directly service any residential mortgage loans.

MSR income is recognized at the contractually agreed rate, net of the costs of sub-servicers retained by the Company. If a sub-servicer with which the Company contracts were to default, an evaluation of MSR assets for impairment would be undertaken at that time.

To the extent that the Company determines it is the primary beneficiary of a residential mortgage loan securitization trust into which it has sold loans, any associated MSRs are eliminated on the consolidation of the trust. The trust is contractually obligated to pay a portion of the interest payments from the associated residential mortgage loans for the direct servicing of the loans, and after deduction of sub-servicing fees payable to contracted sub-servicers, the net amount, excess servicing rights, represents a liability of the trust. See Note 3 - Fair Value Measurement below for additional detail.

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Non-Agency RMBS IOs, at Fair Value

Non-Agency RMBS IOs that the Company owns are associated with residential mortgage loan securitizations that the Company has previously sponsored, and are reported at fair value as a result of a fair value option election. See Note 3 - Fair Value Measurements for details on fair value measurement. Interest income on IOs is recognized at the contractually agreed rate, and changes in fair value are recognized in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Repurchase Agreements

The Company finances the acquisition of certain of its mortgage-backed securities through the use of repurchase agreements. The repurchase agreements are generally short-term debt, which expire within one year. Borrowings under repurchase agreements generally bear interest rates at a specified margin over LIBOR and are generally uncommitted. In accordance with ASC 860 “Transfers and Servicing” the Company accounts for the repurchase agreements as collateralized financing transactions and they are carried at their contractual amounts, as specified in the respective agreements. The contractual amounts approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

Residential Loan Warehouse Facilities

The Company previously financed the acquisition of certain of its residential mortgage loans through the use of short-term, uncommitted residential loan warehouse facilities, which were structured as repurchase agreements. The Company accounted for outstandings under these facilities as collateralized financing transactions which were carried at their contractual amounts, and approximated fair value due to their short-term nature.

Secured Loans

In February 2015, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, FOI, became a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (“FHLBI”). As a member of FHLBI, FOI borrowed funds from FHLBI in the form of secured advances (“FHLB advances”). FHLB advances were treated as secured financing transactions and were carried at their contractual amounts. In connection with FHLB advances, FOI was required to purchase FHLBI stock, which was recorded on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as an asset. All FHLB stock was redeemed and all FHLB advances were repaid during 2016.

Multi-Family and Residential Securitized Debt Obligations

Multi-family and residential securitized debt obligations represent third-party liabilities of the FREMF 2011-K13 Trust, FREMF 2012-KF01 Trust and CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trust, and excludes liabilities of the trust acquired by the Company that are eliminated on consolidation. The third-party obligations of each trust do not have any recourse to the Company as the consolidator of each trust.

Backstop Guarantees

The Company, through FOAC and in return for fees, provides seller eligibility and backup guarantee services in respect of residential mortgage loans that are traded through one or more loan exchanges operated by MAXEX LLC ("MAXEX"). See Note 14 and 15 for additional information regarding MAXEX. To the extent that a loan seller approved by FOAC fails to honor its obligations to repurchase one or more loans based on an arbitration finding that such seller has breached its representations and warranties, FOAC provides a backstop guarantee of the repurchase obligation. The Company has evaluated its backstop guarantees pursuant to ASC 460, Guarantees, and has determined them to be performance guarantees, for which ASC 460 contains initial recognition and measurement requirements, and related disclosure requirements. FOAC is obligated in two respects: (i) a noncontingent liability, which represents FOAC's obligation to stand ready to perform under the terms of the guarantee in the event that the specified triggering event(s) occur, and (ii) the contingent liability, which represents FOAC's obligation to make future payments if those triggering events occur. FOAC recognizes the noncontingent liability at the inception of the guarantee at the fair value, which is the fee received or receivable, and is recorded on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet as a liability in the line item "Deferred income." The Company amortizes these fees into income on a straight-line basis over five years , based on an assumed constant prepayment rate of 15% for residential mortgage loans and other observable data. The Company's contingent liability is accounted for pursuant to ASC 450, Contingencies, pursuant to which the contingent liability must be recognized when its payment becomes probable and reasonably estimable.

Common Stock

At September 30, 2017 , and December 31, 2016 , the Company was authorized to issue up to 450,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company had 22,139,258 shares of common stock issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and 17,539,258 at December 31, 2016 .

Stock Repurchase Program

On December 15, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program (“Repurchase Program”), to repurchase up to $10 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Subject to applicable securities laws, repurchase of common stock under the Repurchase Program may be made at times and in amounts as the Company deems appropriate, using available cash resources. Shares of common stock repurchased by the Company under the Repurchase Program, if any, will be canceled and, until reissued by the Company, will be deemed to be authorized but unissued shares of common stock. The Repurchase Program may be suspended or discontinued by the Company at any time and without prior notice. As of December 31, 2016 , the Company had repurchased 126,856 shares of common stock at a weighted average share price of $5.09 . There has been no activity in 2017. As of September 30, 2017 , $9.4 million of common stock remained authorized for future share repurchases under the Repurchase Program.

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Preferred Stock

At September 30, 2017 , and December 31, 2016 , the Company was authorized to issue up to 50,000,000 share of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s Board. The Company had 1,610,000 shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding at both September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 .

Income Taxes

The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with the Company’s short taxable period ended December 31, 2012. So long as the Company qualifies as a REIT, with the exception of our taxable REIT subsidiaries, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes on its taxable income to the extent it annually distributes at least 90% of its net taxable income to stockholders and maintains its qualification as a REIT.

In addition to the Company’s election to be taxed as a REIT, the Company complies with Sections 856 through 859 of the Code. Accordingly, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent of its distributions to stockholders and as long as certain asset, income and share ownership tests are met. To maintain its qualification as a REIT, the Company must distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders and meet certain other requirements. The Company may also be subject to certain state, local and franchise taxes. Under certain circumstances, federal income and excise taxes may be due on its undistributed taxable income. If the Company were to fail to meet these requirements, it would be subject to U.S. federal income tax, which could have a material adverse impact on its results of operations and amounts available for distributions to its stockholders. The Company believes it will meet all of the criteria to maintain the Company's REIT qualification for the applicable periods, but there can be no assurance that these criteria will continue to be met in subsequent periods.

The Company assesses its tax positions for all open tax years and determines whether the Company has any material unrecognized liabilities in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. The Company records these liabilities to the extent the Company deems them more likely than not to be incurred. The Company's accounting policy with respect to interest and penalties is to classify these amounts as other interest expense. As further described in Note 19, the Company declared and paid in the fourth quarter of 2016 a deficiency dividend relating to a determination of an inability to offset certain net gains on hedging transactions in 2013 against net capital losses on the sale of certain mortgage-backed securities. In connection with this declaration, during the first quarter of 2017, the Company paid an amount of $2.01 million for interest charges to the IRS. The Company previously provisioned $1.86 million in the third quarter of 2016 in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets in the line item “Other accounts payable and accrued expenses”; the remaining balance of $0.15 million was expensed in the first quarter of 2017, which is included in “Other interest expense” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. The first quarter 2017 payment of $2.01 million is included in "cash paid for interest" in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

Certain activities of the Company are conducted through a TRS and therefore are taxed as a standalone U.S. C-Corporation. Accordingly, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

If a TRS generates net income, the TRS can declare dividends to the Company which will be included in its taxable income and necessitate a distribution to its stockholders. Conversely, if the Company retains earnings at a TRS level, no distribution is required and the Company can increase book equity of the consolidated entity.

Earnings per Share

The Company calculates basic and diluted earnings per share by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders for the period by the weighted-average shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding for that period. Diluted earnings per share takes into account the effect of dilutive instruments, such as warrants, stock options, and unvested restricted stock, but use the average share price for the period in determining the number of incremental shares that are to be added to the weighted-average number of shares outstanding. See Note 17 for details of the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company is required to recognize compensation costs relating to stock-based payment transactions in the financial statements. The Company accounts for share-based compensation issued to its Manager and non-management directors using the fair value based methodology prescribed by ASC 505, Equity ("ASC 505"), or ASC 718, Share-Based Payment (“ASC 718”), as appropriate. Compensation cost related to restricted common stock issued to the Manager is initially measured at estimated fair value at the grant date, and is remeasured on subsequent dates to the extent the awards are unvested. Additionally, compensation cost related to restricted common stock issued to the non-management directors is measured at its estimated fair value at the grant date and amortized and expensed over the vesting period. See Note 14 for details of stock-based awards issuable under the Manager Equity Plan.

Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Stockholders

Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of net income (loss), as presented in the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss), adjusted for changes in unrealized gain or loss on AFS securities (excluding Non-Agency RMBS IOs), reclassification adjustments for net gain (loss) and other-than-temporary impairments included in net income (loss) and dividends paid to preferred stockholders.

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

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 GAAP. ASU 2014-09 also creates a new topic in the Codification, Topic 606 ("ASC 606"). In addition to superseding and replacing nearly all existing GAAP revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance, ASC 606 does the following: (1) established a new control-based revenue recognition model; (2) changes the basis for deciding when revenue is recognized over time or at a point in time; (3) provides new and more detailed guidance on specific aspects of revenue recognition; and (4) expands and improves disclosures about revenue. 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.

In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-11, “Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Rescission of SEC Guidance Because of Accounting Standards Updates 2014-09 and 2014-16 Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the March 3, 2016 EITF Meeting.” The amendments make targeted improvements to clarify the principal versus agent assessment and are intended to make the guidance more operable and lead to more consistent application. The amendments in this update are effective immediately.

ASC 606 applies to all contracts with customers with exceptions for financial instruments and other contractual rights or obligations that are within the scope of other ASC Topics. Exclusions from the scope of ASC 606 include investment securities available for sale (subject to ASC 320, Investments - Debt and Equity Securities or ASC 325, Investments - Other); residential mortgage loans and multi-family loans (subject to either ASC 310, Receivables or ASC 825, Financial Instruments); and derivative assets and derivative liabilities (subject to ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging). The Company evaluated the applicability of this ASU with respect to its investment portfolio, considering the scope exceptions listed above, and has determined that the adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operations as the substantial majority of the Company's revenue is generated by financial instruments and other contractual rights and obligations that are not within the scope of ASC 606.

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. The Company has determined this ASU will not have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operation.

Stock Compensation

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, effective January 1, 2017, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions for both public and nonpublic entities. The areas for simplifications in the update involve several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classifications of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The Company has determined this ASU will not have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operation.

Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 which is a comprehensive amendment of credit losses on financial instruments. Currently GAAP requires an “incurred loss” methodology for recognizing credit losses that delays recognition until it is probable a loss has been incurred. The standard’s core principle is that an entity replaces the “incurred loss” impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. For public business entities that are SEC filers, the amendment in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company continued to assess the impact of this guidance.

Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, which amends ASC Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows (“ASC 230”), to reduce diversity in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The ASU is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has determined this ASU will not have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operation.

Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-17, to amend the consolidation guidance on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a VIE should treat indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. The ASU is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has determined this ASU has not had a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operation.

Restricted Cash

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, which amends ASC Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows, to reduce diversity in how entities present restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in ASU 2016-18 require restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and of end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows.

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

The ASU is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early application is permitted, provided that all of the amendments are adopted in the same period. The amendments of this ASU should generally be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company adopted the ASU beginning with the first quarter of 2017. The prior period consolidated statement of cash flows has been retrospectively adjusted to conform to this presentation.

NOTE 3 - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company discloses the fair value of its financial instruments according to a fair value hierarchy (Levels 1, 2 and 3, as defined). In accordance with GAAP, the Company is required to provide enhanced disclosures regarding instruments in the Level 3 category (which require significant management judgment), including a separate reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for each major category of assets and liabilities. Additionally, GAAP permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value (the “fair value option”), and the election of such choice is irrevocable. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are irrevocably recognized in earnings at each subsequent reporting date.

Available-for-sale Securities

The Company currently invests in Agency RMBS, Multi-Family MBS and Non-Agency RMBS.

Designation

The Company classifies its MBS securities as AFS investments. Although the Company generally intends to hold most of its investment securities until maturity, it may, from time to time, sell any of its investment securities as part of the overall management of its portfolio. All assets classified as AFS, except Non-Agency RMBS IOs, are reported at estimated fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, excluding other than temporary impairments, included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of shareholders' equity. As the result of a fair value election, unrealized gains and losses on Non-Agency RMBS IOs are recorded in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Determination of MBS Fair Value

The Company determines the fair values for the Agency RMBS, Multi-Family MBS and Non-Agency RMBS in its portfolio based on obtaining a valuation for each Agency RMBS, Multi-Family MBS and Non-Agency RMBS from third-party pricing services, and may also obtain dealer quotes, as described below. The third-party pricing services use common market pricing methods that may include pricing models that may incorporate such factors as coupons, prepayment speeds, spread to the Treasury curves and interest rate swap curves, duration, periodic and life caps and credit enhancement, as applicable. The dealers incorporate common market pricing methods, including a spread measurement to the Treasury curve or interest rate swap curve as well as underlying characteristics of the particular security, including coupon, periodic and life caps, collateral type, rate reset period and seasoning or age of the security, as applicable.

The Company obtains pricing data from a primary third-party pricing service for each Agency RMBS, Multi-Family MBS and Non-Agency RMBS. If other available market data indicates that the pricing data from the primary third-party service is materially inaccurate, or pricing data is unavailable from the primary third-party pricing service, the Company undertakes a review of other available prices and takes additional steps to determine fair value. In all cases, the Company validates its understanding of methodology and assumptions underlying the fair value used. The Company determines that the pricing data from the primary third-party service is materially inaccurate if it is not materially representative of where a specific security can be traded in the normal course of business. In making such determination, the Company follows a series of steps, including review of collateral marks from margin departments of repurchase agreement counterparties, utilization of bid list, inventory list and extensive unofficial market color, review of other third-party pricing service data and a yield analysis of each Multi-Family MBS and Non-Agency RMBS based on the pricing data from the primary third-party pricing service and the Company’s cash flow assumptions.

The Company reviews all pricing of Agency and Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS used to ensure that current market conditions are properly represented. This review includes, but is not limited to, comparisons of similar market transactions or alternative third-party pricing services, dealer quotes and comparisons to a pricing model. Values obtained from the third-party pricing service for similar instruments are classified as Level 2 securities if the pricing methods used are consistent with the Level 2 definition. If quoted prices for a security are not reasonably available from the pricing service, but dealer quotes are, the Company classifies the security as a Level 2 security. If neither is available, the Company determines the fair value based on characteristics of the security that are received from the issuer and based on available market information received from dealers and classifies it as a Level 3 security.

Mortgage Loans Held-for-Sale

Designation

The Company currently classifies its residential mortgage loans as held-for-sale (“HFS”) investments. HFS residential mortgage loans include loans that the Company is marketing for sale to third parties.

The Company has elected the fair value option for residential mortgage loans it has acquired and classifies as HFS. The fair value option was elected to help mitigate earnings volatility by better matching the asset accounting with any related hedges. The Company’s policy is to record separately interest income on these fair value elected loans. Additionally, upfront costs related to these loans are not deferred or capitalized. Fair value adjustments are reported in unrealized gain (loss) on mortgage loans held-for-sale on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The fair value option is irrevocable once the loan is acquired.

Determination of Mortgage Loan Fair Value

The Company determines the fair values of the mortgage loans in its portfolio from third-party pricing services. The third-party pricing services use common market pricing methods which may include pricing models that may incorporate such factors as coupons, prepayment speeds, spread to the Treasury curves and interest rate swap curves, duration, periodic and life caps, as applicable. In addition, the third-party pricing services benchmark their pricing models against observable pricing levels being quoted by a range of market participants active in the purchase and sale of residential mortgage loans.

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 3 - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Continued)

The Company obtains pricing data from a primary third-party pricing service for each mortgage loan. If other available market data indicates that the pricing data from the primary third-party service is materially inaccurate, or pricing data is unavailable from the primary third-party pricing service, the Company undertakes a review of other available prices and takes additional steps to determine fair value. In all cases, the Company validates its understanding of methodology and assumptions underlying the fair value used. The Company determines that the pricing data from the primary third-party service is materially inaccurate if it is not materially representative of the price at which a specific loan can be traded in the normal course of business.

The Company reviews all pricing of mortgage loans used to ensure that current market conditions are properly represented. This review includes, but is not limited to, comparisons of similar market transactions or alternative third-party pricing services, dealer quotes and comparisons to a pricing model. Values obtained from the third-party pricing service for similar instruments are classified as Level 2 assets if the pricing methods used are consistent with the Level 2 definition. If quoted prices for a loan are not reasonably available from the pricing service, but alternative quotes are, the Company classifies the loan as a Level 2 asset. If neither is available, the Company determines the fair value based on characteristics of the loan and based on other available market information and classifies it as a Level 3 asset.

MSRs and Excess Servicing Rights

Designation

MSRs are associated with residential mortgage loans that the Company has purchased and subsequently sold or securitized, and are typically acquired directly from loan originators and recognized at the time that loans have been transferred to a third party or a securitization, in each case providing such transfer has met the GAAP criteria for sale. The Company retains the rights to service certain loans that it has sold or securitized, but employs one or more sub-servicers to perform the servicing activities.

To the extent that the Company determines it is the primary beneficiary of a residential mortgage loan securitization trust into which it has sold loans, any associated MSRs are eliminated on the consolidation of the trust. The trust is contractually obligated to pay a portion of the interest payments from the associated residential mortgage loans for the direct servicing of the loans, and after deduction of sub-servicing fees payable to contracted sub-servicers, the net amount, excess servicing rights, represents a liability of the trust. Upon consolidation of the trust, the fair value of the excess servicing rights is equal to the related MSRs held at the Company’s TRS.

The Company has elected the fair value option in respect of MSRs and excess servicing rights.

Determination of Fair Value

The Company determines the fair value of its MSRs and excess servicing rights from third-party pricing services. The third-party pricing services use common market pricing methods that include market discount rates, prepayment speeds of serviced loans, the market cost of servicing, and observed market pricing for MSR purchase and sale transactions. Changes in the fair value of MSRs occur primarily as a result of the collection and realization of expected cashflows, as well as changes in valuation inputs and assumptions.

The Company obtains MSR pricing data from a primary third-party pricing service, and validates its understanding of methodology and assumptions underlying the fair value used. Fair values are estimated based on applying inputs to generate the net present value of estimated net servicing income, and as a consequence of the fact that these discounted cash flow models utilize certain significant unobservable inputs and observable MSR purchase and sale transactions are relatively infrequent, the Company classifies MSRs as a Level 3 asset.

See Note 12 for a further presentation on MSRs.

Multi-Family Mortgage Loans Held in Securitization Trusts and Multi-Family Securitized Debt Obligations

Designation

Multi-family mortgage loans held in consolidated securitization trusts are comprised of multi-family mortgage loans held in the FREMF 2011-K13 Trust and the FREMF 2012-KF01 Trust as of September 30, 2017 . Based on a number of factors, the Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of the VIEs underlying the trusts, met the criteria for consolidation and, accordingly, has consolidated the FREMF 2011-K13 Trust and the FREMF 2012-KF01 Trust, including their assets, liabilities, income and expenses in its financial statements. The Company has elected the fair value option on each of the assets and liabilities held within these trusts.

Determination of Fair Value

In accordance with ASU 2014-13, the Company has elected the fair value option in respect of the assets and liabilities of the FREMF 2011-K13 Trust and the FREMF 2012-KF01 Trust. The trusts are “static”, that is no reinvestment is permitted and there is very limited active management of the underlying assets. Under the ASU, the Company is required to determine whether the fair value of the financial assets or the fair value of the financial liabilities of each of the trusts is more observable, but in either case, the methodology results in the fair value of the assets of each of the trusts being equal to the fair value of their liabilities. The Company has determined that the fair value of the liabilities of each of the trusts is more observable, since in all cases prices for the liabilities are available from the primary third-party pricing service utilized for Multi-Family MBS, while the individual assets of each of the trusts are inherently incapable of precise measurement given their illiquid nature and the limitations on available information related to these assets. Given that the Company’s methodology for valuing the assets of the trusts is an aggregate value derived from the fair value of the trust liabilities, the Company has determined that the valuation of the trust assets in their entirety should be classified as Level 2 valuations.

Residential Mortgage Loans Held in Securitization Trusts and Residential Securitized Debt Obligations

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 3 - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Continued)

Designation

Residential mortgage loans held in consolidated securitization trusts are comprised of residential mortgage loans held in the CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trust as of September 30, 2017 . Based on a number of factors, the Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of the VIE underlying the trust, met the criteria for consolidation and, accordingly, has consolidated the CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trust including its assets, liabilities, income and expenses in its financial statements. The Company has elected the fair value option on each of the assets and liabilities held within the trust. As the result of the Company’s determination that it is not the primary beneficiary of JPMMT 2014-OAK4, Oaks Mortgage Trust Series 2015-1 and Oaks Mortgage Trust Series 2015-2, it does not consolidate these trusts.

Determination of Fair Value

In accordance with ASU 2014-13, the Company has elected the fair value option in respect of the assets and liabilities of the CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trust. The trust is “static”, that is no reinvestment is permitted and there is very limited active management of the underlying assets. Under the ASU, the Company is required to determine whether the fair value of the financial assets or the fair value of the financial liabilities of the trust is more observable, but in either case, the methodology results in the fair value of the assets of the trust being equal to the fair value of its liabilities. The Company has determined that the fair value of the liabilities of the trust is more observable, since in all cases prices for the liabilities are available from the primary third-party pricing service utilized for Non-Agency RMBS, with the exception of the excess servicing rights, which are available from an alternative third-party pricing service. While the individual assets of the trust, i.e. the underlying residential mortgage loans, are capable of being priced, the Company has determined that the pricing of the liabilities is more easily and readily determined. Given that the Company’s methodology for valuing the assets of the trust is an aggregate value derived from the fair value of the trust’s liabilities, the Company has determined that the valuation of the trust assets in their entirety should be classified as Level 2 valuations.

Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments

In accordance with FASB guidance ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging”, all derivative financial instruments, whether designated for hedging relationships or not, are recorded at fair value on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as assets or liabilities. The Company obtains valuation information for each derivative financial instrument from the related derivative counterparty. If other available market data indicates that the valuation information from the counterparty is materially inaccurate, or pricing data is unavailable from the counterparty, the Company shall undertake a review of other available valuation information, including third party pricing services and/or dealers, and shall take additional steps to determine fair value. The Company reviews all valuations of derivative financial instruments used to ensure that current market conditions are properly represented. This review includes, but is not limited to, comparisons of similar market transactions or alternative third-party pricing services, dealer quotes and comparisons to a pricing model. Values based on quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, including exchange-traded instruments, are classified as Level 1 valuations. Values obtained from the derivative counterparty, the third-party pricing service or dealers, as appropriate, for similar instruments are classified as Level 2 valuations if the pricing methods used are consistent with the Level 2 definition. If none of these sources is available, the Company determines the fair value based on characteristics of the instrument and based on available market information received from dealers and classifies it as a Level 3 valuation.

At the inception of a derivative contract, the Company determines whether or not the instrument will be part of a qualifying hedge accounting relationship. Due to the volatility of the credit markets and difficulty in effectively matching pricing or cash flows, the Company has elected to treat all current derivative contracts as trading instruments. The changes in fair value of derivatives accounted for as trading instruments are reported in the condensed consolidated statement of operations as unrealized gain (loss) on derivative contracts, net.

The Company enters into interest rate derivative contracts for a variety of reasons, including minimizing significant fluctuations in earnings or market values on certain assets or liabilities that may be caused by changes in interest rates. The Company may, at times, enter into various forward contracts, including short securities, Agency to-be-announced securities (“TBAs”), options, futures, swaps and caps. Due to the nature of these instruments, they may be in a receivable/asset position or a payable/liability position at the end of an accounting period. Amounts payable to, and receivable from, the same party under contracts may be offset as long as the following conditions are met: (a) each of the two parties owes the other determinable amounts; (b) the reporting party has the right to offset the amount owed with the amount owed by the other party; (c) the reporting party intends to offset; and (d) the right of offset is enforceable by law. If the aforementioned conditions are not met, amounts payable to and receivable from are presented by the Company on a gross basis in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Other Financial Instruments

The carrying value of short term instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, receivables and repurchase agreements whose term is less than twelve months, generally approximates fair value due to the short term nature of the instruments.

NOTE 4 – AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES

The following table presents the Company’s AFS investment securities by collateral type at fair value as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 4 - AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES (Continued)

		September 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
Available-for-sale securities:
Agency
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation		$	524,557,546			$	326,958,046
Federal National Mortgage Association		749,178,075				463,232,187
Non-Agency		—				7,592,802
Multi-Family		30,750,419				73,146,566
Total available-for-sale securities		$	1,304,486,040			$	870,929,601

The following tables present the amortized cost and fair value of the Company’s AFS investment securities by collateral type as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :

		September 30, 2017
		Agency				Non-Agency				Multi-Family				Total
Face Value		$	1,253,891,405			$	—			$	38,666,386			$	1,292,557,791
Unamortized premium		23,409,353				—				—				23,409,353
Unamortized discount
Net, unamortized		(643,743		)		—				(7,630,953		)		(8,274,696		)
Amortized Cost		1,276,657,015				—				31,035,433				1,307,692,448
Gross unrealized gain		1,970,238				—				17,043				1,987,281
Gross unrealized (loss)		(4,891,632		)		—				(302,057		)		(5,193,689		)
Fair Value		$	1,273,735,621			$	—			$	30,750,419			$	1,304,486,040

		December 31, 2016
		Agency				Non-Agency (1)				Multi - Family				Total
Face Value		$	779,219,115			$	4,393,771			$	100,907,815			$	884,520,701
Unamortized premium		17,748,138				—				—				17,748,138
Unamortized discount
Designated credit reserve and OTTI (2)		—				(1,929,833		)		—				(1,929,833		)
Net, unamortized		(1,311,292		)		(369,887		)		(26,160,083		)		(27,841,262		)
Amortized Cost		795,655,961				2,094,051				74,747,732				872,497,744
Gross unrealized gain		2,663,975				234,647				509,519				3,408,141
Gross unrealized (loss)		(8,129,703		)		—				(2,110,685		)		(10,240,388		)
Fair Value		$	790,190,233			$	2,328,698			$	73,146,566			$	865,665,497

(1)	Non-Agency AFS does not include interest-only securities with a notional amount of $509,109,248 , book value of $14,712,374 , unrealized loss of $9,448,270 and a fair value of $5,264,104 as of December 31, 2016 .

(2)	Discount designated as Credit Reserve is generally not expected to be accreted into interest income. Amounts disclosed reflect Credit Reserve of $0 and $1,929,833 , at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively.

At September 30, 2017 , the Company did not intend to sell any of its MBS that were in an unrealized loss position, and it is “more likely than not” that the Company will not be required to sell these MBS before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be at their maturity.

The Company did not recognize credit-related OTTI losses through earnings during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . As of September 30, 2016 , the Company recognized credit-related losses of $0.73 million on one non-Agency RMBS for the nine months then ended.

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 4 - AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES (Continued)

Non-Agency RMBS on which OTTI is recognized have experienced, or are expected to experience, credit-related adverse cash flow changes, or credit impairment. The Company’s estimate of cash flows for its Non-Agency RMBS is based on its review of the underlying mortgage loans securing these RMBS. The Company considers information available about the structure of the securitization, including structural credit enhancement, if any, and the past and expected future performance of underlying mortgage loans, including timing of expected future cash flows, prepayment rates, default rates, loss severities, delinquency rates, percentage of non-performing loans, FICO scores at loan origination, year of origination, loan-to-value ratios, geographic concentrations, as well as Rating Agency reports, general market assessments, and dialogue with market participants. Significant judgment is used in both the Company’s analysis of the expected cash flows for its Non-Agency RMBS and any determination of OTTI that is the result, at least in part, of credit impairment. 

The following tables present the composition of OTTI charges recorded by the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 :

		Three Months Ended September 30,
		2017				2016
Cumulative credit (loss) at beginning of period		$	(3,074,728	)		$	(3,803,650	)
Additions:
Initial (increase) in credit reserves		—				—
Subsequent (increase) in credit reserves		—				(374,124		)
Initial additional other-than-temporary credit impairment losses		—				—
Subsequent additional other-than-temporary credit impairment losses		—				(183,790		)
Reductions:
For securities sold decrease in credit reserves		—				—
For securities sold decrease in other-than-temporary impairment		—				—
Cumulative credit (loss) at end of period		$	(3,074,728	)		$	(4,361,564	)

		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2017				2016
Cumulative credit (loss) at beginning of period		$	(3,074,728	)		$	(3,636,432	)
Additions:
Initial (increase) in credit reserves		—				—
Subsequent (increase) in credit reserves		—				(541,342		)
Initial additional other-than-temporary credit impairment losses		—				—
Subsequent additional other-than-temporary credit impairment losses		—				(183,790		)
Reductions:
For securities sold decrease in credit reserves		—				—
For securities sold decrease in other-than-temporary impairment		—				—
Cumulative credit (loss) at end of period		$	(3,074,728	)		$	(4,361,564	)

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 4 - AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES (Continued)

The following table presents the components comprising the carrying value of AFS securities not deemed to be other than temporarily impaired by length of time the securities had an unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 . At September 30, 2017 , the Company held 58 AFS securities, of which 41 were in an unrealized loss position for less than twelve consecutive months and five were in an unrealized loss for more than twelve months. At December 31, 2016 , the Company held 46 AFS securities, of which 31 were in an unrealized loss position for less than twelve consecutive months and five were in an unrealized loss position for more than twelve months:

		Less than 12 months								Greater than 12 months								Total
		Estimated Fair Value				Gross Unrealized Losses				Estimated Fair Value				Gross Unrealized Losses				Estimated Fair Value				Gross Unrealized Losses
September 30, 2017		$	936,982,575			$	(4,278,357	)		$	65,049,336			$	(915,332	)		$	1,002,031,911			$	(5,193,689	)
December 31, 2016		$	619,414,077			$	(8,129,704	)		$	45,879,433			$	(2,110,684	)		$	665,293,510			$	(10,240,388	)

To the extent the Company determines there are likely to be decreases in cash flows expected to be collected, and as a result of non-credit impairment, such changes are generally recognized prospectively through adjustment of the security’s yield over its remaining life.

The following table presents a summary of the Company’s net realized gain (loss) from the sale of AFS securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 :

		Three Months Ended September 30, 2017				Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
AFS securities sold, at cost		$	421,186,153			$	41,467,395
AFS principal payments, at cost		—				32,736,219
Proceeds from AFS securities sold		$	416,037,708			$	41,283,816
Proceeds from AFS principal payments		—				32,170,194
Net realized gain (loss) on sale of AFS securities		$	(5,148,445	)		$	(749,604	)

		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
AFS securities sold, at cost		$	483,621,259			$	233,054,347
AFS principal payments, at cost		—				66,872,340
Proceeds from AFS securities sold		$	469,004,262			$	230,557,238
Proceeds from AFS principal payments		—				66,007,840
Net realized gain (loss) on sale of AFS securities		$	(14,616,997	)		$	(3,361,609	)

The following tables present the fair value of AFS investment securities by rate type as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :

		September 30, 2017
		Agency				Non-Agency				Multi-Family				Total
Adjustable rate		$	1,272,865,817			$	—			$	—			$	1,272,865,817
Fixed rate		869,804				—				30,750,419				31,620,223
Total		$	1,273,735,621			$	—			$	30,750,419			$	1,304,486,040

		December 31, 2016
		Agency				Non-Agency				Multi- Family				Total
Adjustable rate		$	788,727,476			$	7,592,802			$	—			$	796,320,278
Fixed rate		1,462,757				—				73,146,566				74,609,323
Total		$	790,190,233			$	7,592,802			$	73,146,566			$	870,929,601

20

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 4 - AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES (Continued)

The following tables present the fair value of AFS investment securities by maturity date as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :

		September 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
Greater than or equal to one year and less than five years		$	1,217,555,664			$	399,872,894
Greater than or equal to five years		86,930,376				471,056,707
Total		$	1,304,486,040			$	870,929,601

As described in Note 2, when the Company purchases a credit-sensitive AFS security at a significant discount to its face value, the Company generally does not amortize into income a significant portion of this discount that the Company is entitled to earn because it does not expect to collect it due to the inherent credit risk of the security. The Company may also record an OTTI for a portion of its investment in the security to the extent the Company believes that the amortized cost will exceed the present value of expected future cash flows. The amount of principal that the Company does not amortize into income is designated as an off balance sheet credit reserve on the security, with unamortized net discounts or premiums amortized into income over time to the extent realizable.

Actual maturities of AFS securities are affected by the contractual lives of the associated mortgage collateral, periodic payments of principal, and prepayments of principal. Therefore actual maturities of available-for-sale securities are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities. Stated contractual maturities are generally greater than ten years .

The following tables present the changes for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016 of the unamortized net discount and designated credit reserves on the Company’s MBS:

		September 30, 2017
		Designated credit reserve				Unamortized net discount				Total
Beginning Balance as of January 1, 2017		$	(1,929,833	)		$	(27,841,262	)		$	(29,771,095	)
Acquisitions		—				—				—
Dispositions		1,929,833				16,982,632				18,912,465
Accretion of net discount		—				2,583,934				2,583,934
Realized gain on paydowns		—				—				—
Realized credit losses		—				—				—
Addition to credit reserves		—				—				—
Release of credit reserves		—				—				—
Ending Balance at September 30, 2017		$	—			$	(8,274,696	)		$	(8,274,696	)

		December 31, 2016
		Designated credit reserve				Unamortized net discount				Total
Beginning Balance as of January 1, 2016		$	(8,891,565	)		$	(57,280,275	)		$	(66,171,840	)
Acquisitions		—				—				—
Dispositions		4,893,913				21,637,637				26,531,550
Accretion of net discount		—				6,703,365				6,703,365
Realized gain on paydowns		—				325,709				325,709
Realized credit losses		3,023,911				(183,790		)		2,840,121
Addition to credit reserves		(1,021,433		)		1,021,433				—
Release of credit reserves		65,341				(65,341		)		—
Ending Balance at December 31, 2016		$	(1,929,833	)		$	(27,841,262	)		$	(29,771,095	)

Gains and losses from the sale of AFS securities are recorded within realized gain (loss) on sale of investments, net in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s AFS securities are recorded as unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net in the Company's condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss). For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , the Company had unrealized gains (losses) on AFS securities of $(2,954,193) .

21

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 4 - AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES (Continued)

The following tables present components of interest income on the Company’s AFS securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 :

		Three Months Ended September 30, 2017												Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
		Coupon interest				Net (premium amortization)/ discount accretion				Interest income				Coupon interest				Net (premium amortization)/ discount accretion				Interest income
Agency		$	7,870,458			$	(514,600	)		$	7,355,858			$	4,006,740			$	118,440			$	4,125,180
Non-Agency		—				—				—				581,097				359,052				940,149
Multi-Family		—				471,423				471,423				239,213				1,245,327				1,484,540
Total		$	7,870,458			$	(43,177	)		$	7,827,281			$	4,827,050			$	1,722,819			$	6,549,869

		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017												Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
		Coupon interest				Net (premium amortization)/ discount accretion				Interest income				Coupon interest				Net (premium amortization)/ discount accretion				Interest income
Agency		$	19,613,173			$	(263,230	)		$	19,349,943			$	8,629,039			$	222,570			$	8,851,609
Non-Agency		42,254				9,946				52,200				2,139,698				1,235,030				3,374,728
Multi-Family		—				1,906,439				1,906,439				754,522				3,799,842				4,554,364
Total		$	19,655,427			$	1,653,155			$	21,308,582			$	11,523,259			$	5,257,442			$	16,780,701

NOTE 5 – MORTGAGE LOANS HELD-FOR-SALE, at FAIR VALUE

Mortgage loans held-for-sale consists of residential mortgage loans carried at fair value as a result of the fair value option. The following table presents the carrying value of the Company’s mortgage loans held-for-sale as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :

		September 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
Amortized cost		$	495,486			$	2,867,263
Fair value adjustment		—				(17,727		)
Carrying value		$	495,486			$	2,849,536

The geographic concentrations of credit risk exceeding 5% of the total loan balances related to the mortgage loans held-for-sale as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are as follows:

		September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
Texas		100.0	%		56.0	%
Kentucky		—	%		24.4	%
North Carolina		—	%		19.6	%

NOTE 6 – THE FREMF TRUSTS

The Company has elected the fair value option on the assets and liabilities of the FREMF 2011-K13 Trust and the FREMF 2012-KF01 Trust, which requires that changes in valuations of the trusts be reflected in the Company’s statements of operations. The Company’s net investment in the trusts is limited to the Multi-Family MBS comprised of first loss PO securities and IO securities acquired by the Company in 2014 with an aggregate net carrying value of $21,139,299 at September 30, 2017 and $18,342,040 at December 31, 2016 .

22

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 6 – THE FREMF TRUSTS (Continued)

The condensed consolidated balance sheets of the FREMF trusts at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are set out below:

Balance Sheets		September 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
Assets
Multi-family mortgage loans held in securitization trusts		$	1,149,888,917			$	1,222,905,433
Receivables		4,389,002				4,617,642
Total assets		$	1,154,277,919			$	1,227,523,075
Liabilities and Equity
Multi-family securitized debt obligations		$	1,128,773,402			$	1,204,583,678
Payables		4,365,218				4,597,357
Total liabilities		$	1,133,138,620			$	1,209,181,035
Equity		21,139,299				18,342,040
Total liabilities and equity		$	1,154,277,919			$	1,227,523,075

The multi-family mortgage loans held in securitization trusts had an unpaid principal balance of $1,083,704,636 at September 30, 2017 and $1,147,753,367 at December 31, 2016 . The multi-family securitized debt obligations had an unpaid principal balance of $1,083,704,636 at September 30, 2017 and $1,147,753,367 at December 31, 2016 .

The condensed consolidated statements of operations of the FREMF trusts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 are as follows:

Statements of Operations		Three Months Ended September 30, 2017				Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
Interest income		$	13,473,913			$	14,466,946
Interest expense		12,766,808				13,740,005
Net interest income		$	707,105			$	726,941
General and administrative fees		(634,222		)		(670,157		)
Unrealized gain (loss) on multi-family loans held in securitization trusts		694,730				930,312
Net income (loss)		$	767,613			$	987,096

Statements of Operations		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Interest income		$	40,992,241			$	44,597,652
Interest expense		38,866,888				41,667,457
Net interest income		$	2,125,353			$	2,930,195
General and administrative fees		(1,922,771		)		(2,052,857		)
Unrealized gain (loss) on multi-family loans held in securitization trusts		2,797,566				(5,604,839		)
Net income (loss)		$	3,000,148			$	(4,727,501	)

23

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 6 – THE FREMF TRUSTS (Continued)

The geographic concentrations of credit risk exceeding 5% of the total loan balances related to the FREMF trusts as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are as follows:

	September 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
New York	16.5	%		Texas	17.9	%
Texas	14.2	%		New York	15.7	%
Washington	8.7	%		Washington	8.4	%
Colorado	7.8	%		Colorado	7.5	%
Georgia	5.7	%		Georgia	5.5	%

NOTE 7 – RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOAN SECURITIZATION TRUSTS

The Company has elected the fair value option on the assets and liabilities of the CSMC 2014-OAK1Trust, which requires that changes in valuations of the trust be reflected in the Company’s statements of operations. The Company’s net investment in the trust is limited to the Non-Agency RMBS comprised of subordinated and first loss securities, IO securities and excess servicing rights acquired by the Company in 2014 with an aggregate net carrying value of $5,601,147 at September 30, 2017 and $6,374,821 at December 31, 2016 . The Company previously consolidated the assets and liabilities of the JPMMT 2014-OAK4Trust, but based on the sale of subordinated and first loss securities during the second quarter of 2016, has determined that it is no longer the primary beneficiary of the trust, and accordingly no longer consolidates the assets and liabilities of this trust.

The condensed consolidated balance sheets of the residential mortgage loan securitization trusts at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are set out below:

Balance Sheets		September 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
Assets
Residential mortgage loans held in securitization trusts		$	125,403,499			$	141,126,720
Receivables		412,456				471,146
Total assets		$	125,815,955			$	141,597,866
Liabilities and Equity
Residential securitized debt obligations		$	119,882,464			$	134,846,348
Payables		332,344				376,697
Total liabilities		$	120,214,808			$	135,223,045
Equity		5,601,147				6,374,821
Total liabilities and equity		$	125,815,955			$	141,597,866

The residential mortgage loans held in securitization trusts had an unpaid principal balance of $123,424,731 at September 30, 2017 and $140,690,705 at December 31, 2016 . The residential mortgage loan securitized debt obligations had an unpaid principal balance of $123,424,731 at September 30, 2017 and $140,690,705 at December 31, 2016 .

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 7 – RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOAN SECURITIZATION TRUSTS (Continued)

The condensed consolidated statements of operations of the residential mortgage loan securitization trusts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 are as follows:

Statements of Operations		Three Months Ended September 30, 2017				Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
Interest income		$	1,249,966			$	1,582,090
Interest expense		995,293				1,210,186
Net interest income		$	254,673			$	371,904
General and administrative fees		(11,003		)		(13,653		)
Unrealized gain (loss) on residential loans held in securitization trusts		(155,252		)		(764,599		)
Net income (loss)		$	88,418			$	(406,348	)

Statements of Operations		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Interest income		$	3,903,924			$	9,143,343
Interest expense		3,100,616				6,978,474
Net interest income		$	803,308			$	2,164,869
General and administrative fees		(34,227		)		(254,424		)
Unrealized gain (loss) on residential loans held in securitization trusts		(773,674		)		80,511
Net income (loss)		$	(4,593	)		$	1,990,956

The geographic concentrations of credit risk exceeding 5% of the total loan balances related to the residential mortgage loan securitization trusts as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are as follows:

	September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
California	36.6	%		37.6	%
Washington	16.0	%		15.4	%
Massachusetts	7.9	%		8.4	%
Florida	6.2	%		5.7	%

NOTE 8 – USE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE ENTITIES AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

A Special Purpose Entity (“SPE”) is an entity designed to fulfill a specific limited purpose of the company that organized it, and a SPE is frequently used for the purpose of securitizing, or re-securitizing, financial assets. SPEs are typically structured as pass-through entities that receive principal and interest on the underlying collateral and distribute those payments to certificate holders. As a consequence of their purpose and design, SPEs are typically VIEs.

As further discussed in Notes 2, 6 and 7, the Company has evaluated its investments in Multi-Family MBS and Non-Agency RMBS and has determined that they are VIEs. The Company has then undertaken an analysis of whether it is the primary beneficiary of any of these VIEs, and has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of the FREMF 2011-K13 Trust, FREMF 2012-KF01Trust and CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trust. Accordingly, the Company consolidated the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of these trusts in its financial statements as of and for the periods ending September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 . However, the assets of each of the trusts are restricted, and can only be used to fulfill the obligations of the respective trusts. Additionally, the obligations of each of the trusts do not have any recourse to the Company as the consolidator of the trusts. The Company has elected the fair value option in respect of the assets and liabilities of the trusts.

For the Company’s remaining Multi-Family and Non-Agency MBS investments that are VIEs, the Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary, and accordingly these investments are accounted for as further described in Notes 2, 6 and 7. As further described in Note 2, GAAP also requires the Company to consider whether securitizations the Company sponsors and other transfers of financial assets should be treated as sales or financings. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company transferred residential mortgage loans to Oaks Mortgage Trust Series 2015-1 and Oaks Mortgage Trust 2015-2, and accounted for these transfers as sales for financial reporting purposes, in accordance with ASC 860. The Company also determined that it was not the primary

25

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements March 31, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 9 – USE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE ENTITIES AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (continued)

beneficiary of these VIEs because it lacked the power to direct the activities that will have the most significant economic impact on the entities. The Company no longer has an exposure to loss from these VIEs as they were sold during the first quarter of 2017.

NOTE 9 - RESTRICTED CASH

As of September 30, 2017 , the Company is required to maintain certain cash balances with counterparties for broker activity and collateral for the Company's repurchase agreements in non-interest bearing accounts.

The following table presents the Company's restricted cash balances as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :

		September 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
Restricted cash balance held by:
Broker counterparties for derivatives trading		$	5,647,225			$	(4,244,678	)
Repurchase counterparties as restricted collateral		9,790,116				10,355,222
Total		$	15,437,341			$	6,110,544

NOTE 10 – BORROWINGS

Repurchase Agreements

The Company has entered into repurchase agreements at September 30, 2017 to finance its portfolio of investments. The repurchase agreements bear interest at a contractually agreed rate. The repurchase obligations mature and typically reinvest every 30 days to one year and have a weighted average aggregate interest rate of 1.37% at September 30, 2017 . Repurchase agreements are accounted for as secured borrowings since the Company maintains effective control of the financed assets. The following table summarizes certain characteristics of the Company’s repurchase agreements at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :

		September 30, 2017											December 31, 2016
		Amount outstanding				Weighted average interest rate			Market value of collateral held				Amount outstanding				Weighted average interest rate			Market value of collateral held
Agency		$	1,215,217,000			1.34	%		$	1,273,735,621			$	755,221,000			0.97	%		$	790,190,232
Non-Agency		2,750,000				3.13	%		4,575,603				7,313,000				2.39	%		12,784,707
Multi-Family		19,694,000				2.99	%		30,750,419				42,277,000				2.52	%		73,146,566
Total		$	1,237,661,000			1.37	%		$	1,309,061,643			$	804,811,000			1.07	%		$	876,121,505

At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , the repurchase agreements had the following remaining maturities:

		September 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
< or equal to 30 days		$	1,234,911,000			$	737,823,000
31 to 60 days		—				19,897,000
61 to 90 days		2,750,000				47,091,000
Total		$	1,237,661,000			$	804,811,000

Under the repurchase agreements, the respective lender retains the right to mark the underlying collateral to fair value. A reduction in the value of pledged assets would require the Company to provide additional collateral or fund margin calls. In addition, the repurchase agreements are subject to certain financial covenants, the most restrictive of which requires that, on the last day of any fiscal quarter, our total stockholders’ equity shall not be less than the greater of (1) $75,000,000 or (2) 50% of the highest stockholders’ equity on the last day of the preceding eight fiscal quarters. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 .

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 10 – BORROWINGS (Continued)

The following tables summarize certain characteristics of the Company’s repurchase agreements at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :

		September 30, 2017
Repurchase Agreement Counterparties		Amount Outstanding				Percent of total amount outstanding			Weighted days to maturity		Market Value of collateral held
Wells Fargo Bank		$	214,930,000			17.37	%		9		$	225,340,847
Other North America		755,260,000				61.02	%		14		802,125,608
Asia (1)		264,721,000				21.39	%		17		277,019,585
Europe (1)		2,750,000				0.22	%		80		4,575,603
Total		$	1,237,661,000			100.00	%		14		$	1,309,061,643

(1) Counterparties domiciled in Europe and Asia, or their U.S. subsidiaries.

		December 31, 2016
Repurchase Agreement Counterparties		Amount Outstanding				Percent of total amount outstanding			Weighted days to maturity		Market Value of collateral held
Wells Fargo Securities		$	33,666,000			4.18	%		8		$	57,627,433
Other North America		703,788,000				87.45	%		16		742,690,286
Asia (1)		62,733,000				7.79	%		14		66,198,478
Europe (1)		4,624,000				0.58	%		44		9,605,308
Total		$	804,811,000			100.00	%		16		$	876,121,505

(1) Counterparties domiciled in Europe and Asia, or their U.S. subsidiaries.

NOTE 11 – DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS HEDGING AND NON-HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The Company enters into a variety of derivative instruments in connection with its risk management activities. The Company's primary objective for executing these derivatives and non-derivative instruments is to mitigate the Company's economic exposure to future events that are outside its control. The Company's derivative financial instruments are utilized principally to manage market risk and cash flow volatility associated with interest rate risk (including associated prepayment risk) related to certain assets and liabilities. As part of its risk management activities, the Company may, at times, enter into various forward contracts, including short securities, Agency to-be-announced securities, or TBAs, options, futures, swaps, swaptions and caps. In executing on the Company's risk management strategy, the Company has entered into interest rate swap, swaption agreements, TBA’s and futures contracts. Amounts receivable and payable under interest rate swap agreements are accounted for as unrealized gain (loss) on derivative contracts, net in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

The following summarizes the Company's significant asset and liability derivatives, the risk exposure for these derivatives and the Company's risk management activities used to mitigate certain of these risks. While the Company uses derivative instruments to achieve the Company's risk management activities, it is possible that these instruments will not effectively mitigate all or a substantial portion of the Company's market rate risk. In addition, the Company might elect, at times, not to enter into certain hedging arrangements in order to maintain compliance with REIT requirements.

Balance Sheet Presentation

The following tables present the gross fair value and notional amounts of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :

		September 30, 2017
		Derivative Assets											Derivative Liabilities
		Contracts			Fair value				Notional				Contracts			Fair value				Notional
Eurodollar Futures		—			$	—			$	—			11,590			$	(529,075	)		$	11,590,000,000
Total		—			$	—			$	—			11,590			$	(529,075	)		$	11,590,000,000

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 11 – DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS HEDGING AND NON-HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Continued)

		December 31, 2016
		Derivative Assets											Derivative Liabilities
		Contracts			Fair value				Notional				Contracts			Fair value				Notional
Eurodollar Futures		10,501			$	8,053,813			$	10,501,000,000			—			$	—			$	—
Total		10,501			$	8,053,813			$	10,501,000,000			—			$	—			$	—

Offsetting of Financial Assets and Liabilities

The Company’s repurchase agreements are governed by underlying agreements that provide for a right of setoff in the event of default of either counterparty to the agreement. The Company also has in place with its counterparties ISDA Master Agreements (“Master Agreements”) for its derivative contracts. In accordance with the Master Agreements with each counterparty, if on any date amounts would otherwise be payable in the same currency and in respect of the same transaction by each party to the other, then, on such date, each party’s obligation to make payment of any such amount will be automatically satisfied and discharged and, if the aggregate amount that would otherwise have been payable by one party exceeds the aggregate amount that would otherwise have been payable by the other party, it is replaced by an obligation upon the party by whom the larger aggregate amount would have been payable to pay to the other party the excess of the larger aggregate amount over the smaller aggregate amount. The Company has pledged financial collateral as restricted cash to its counterparties for its derivative contracts and repurchase agreements. See Note 2 for specific details on the terms of restricted cash with counterparties and Note 9 for the amounts of restricted cash outstanding.

Under 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 Agreements 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 below tables provide a reconciliation of these assets and liabilities that are subject to Master Agreements or similar agreements and can be potentially offset on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :

As of September 30, 2017 the Company did not have any assets subject to Master Agreements or similar agreements.

		December 31, 2016
														Gross amounts not offset   in the Balance Sheet (1)
Description		Gross amounts  of recognized assets				Gross amounts  offset in the Balance Sheet				Net amounts of assets presented in the Balance Sheet				Financial instruments				Cash collateral (Received)/ Pledged				Net amount
Futures		$	8,053,813			$	—			$	8,053,813			$	—			$	—			$	8,053,813
Total		$	8,053,813			$	—			$	8,053,813			$	—			$	—			$	8,053,813

		September 30, 2017
														Gross amounts not offset in the Balance Sheet (1)
Description		Gross amounts of recognized liabilities				Gross amounts offset in the Balance Sheet				Net amounts of liabilities presented in the Balance Sheet				Financial instruments				Cash collateral (Received)/ Pledged				Net Amount
Futures		$	(529,075	)		$	—			$	(529,075	)		$	—			$	529,075			$	—
Repurchase agreements		$	(1,237,661,000	)		$	—			$	(1,237,661,000	)		$	—			$	—			$	(1,237,661,000	)
Total		$	(1,238,190,075	)		$	—			$	(1,238,190,075	)		$	—			$	529,075			$	(1,237,661,000	)

December 31, 2016

Gross amounts not offset   in the Balance Sheet (1)

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 11 – DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS HEDGING AND NON-HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Continued)

Description		Gross amounts of recognized liabilities				Gross amounts offset in the Balance Sheet				Net amounts of liabilities presented in the Balance Sheet				Financial instruments				Cash collateral (Received)/ Pledged				Net Amount
Repurchase agreements		$	(804,811,000	)		$	—			$	(804,811,000	)		$	—			$	—			$	(804,811,000	)
Total		$	(804,811,000	)		$	—			$	(804,811,000	)		$	—			$	—			$	(804,811,000	)

(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 Master Agreements or similar agreements, or counterparties may have pledged excess cash collateral to the Company that exceed the corresponding financial assets. These excess amounts are excluded from the tables above.

Income Statement Presentation

The Company has not applied hedge accounting to its current derivative portfolio held to mitigate the interest rate risk associated with its debt portfolio. As a result, the Company is subject to volatility in its earnings due to movement in the unrealized gains and losses associated with its interest rate swaps, swaptions and any other derivative instruments.

The following table summarizes the underlying hedged risks and the amount of gains and losses on derivative instruments reported net in the condensed consolidated statement of operations as realized gain (loss) on derivative contracts, net and unrealized gain (loss) on derivative contracts, net for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 :

		Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
Primary underlying risk		Amount of realized gain (loss)				Amount of unrealized appreciation (depreciation)				Total
Interest rate:
Futures		$	(1,636,725	)		$	307,263			$	(1,329,462	)
Total		$	(1,636,725	)		$	307,263			$	(1,329,462	)

		Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
Primary underlying risk		Amount of realized gain (loss)				Amount of unrealized appreciation (depreciation)				Total
Interest rate:
Futures		$	(820,974	)		$	3,340,600			$	2,519,626
Total		$	(820,974	)		$	3,340,600			$	2,519,626

		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Primary underlying risk		Amount of realized gain (loss)				Amount of unrealized appreciation (depreciation)				Total
Interest rate:
Futures		$	2,049,400			$	(8,583,100	)		$	(6,533,700	)
Total		$	2,049,400			$	(8,583,100	)		$	(6,533,700	)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

Primary underlying risk

Amount of realized gain (loss)

Amount of unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

Total

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 11 – DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS HEDGING AND NON-HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Continued)

Interest rate:
Futures		$	(3,167,877	)		$	(7,172,338	)		$	(10,340,215	)
Total		$	(3,167,877	)		$	(7,172,338	)		$	(10,340,215	)

NOTE 12 - MSRs

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , the Company retained the servicing rights associated with an aggregate principal balance of $352,061,683 of residential mortgage loans that the Company had previously transferred to three residential mortgage loan securitization trusts. The Company’s MSRs are held and managed at the Company’s TRS, and the Company employs one or more licensed sub-servicers to perform the related servicing activities. To the extent that the Company determines it is the primary beneficiary of a residential mortgage loan securitization trust into which it has sold loans, any associated MSRs are eliminated on the consolidation of the trust. The trust is contractually obligated to pay a portion of the interest payments from the associated residential mortgage loans for the direct servicing of the loans, and after deduction of sub-servicing fees payable to contracted sub-servicers, the net amount, excess servicing rights, represents a liability of the trust. Upon consolidation of the trust, the fair value of the excess servicing rights is equal to the related MSRs held at the Company’s TRS. As a result of the Company’s determination that it is not the primary beneficiary of OAKS Mortgage Trust 2015-1 and OAKS Mortgage Trust 2015-2, it does not consolidate these trusts, and as a consequence, MSRs associated with these trusts are recorded on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2017 . In addition, the Company previously consolidated the assets and liabilities of the JPMMT 2014-OAK4Trust, but based on the sale of subordinated and first loss securities during the second quarter of 2016, has determined that it is no longer the primary beneficiary of the trust, and accordingly no longer consolidates its assets and liabilities. As a consequence, MSRs associated with this trust are also recorded on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2017 .

The following table presents the Company’s MSR activity as of September 30, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016 :

		September 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
Balance at beginning of year		$	3,440,809			$	4,268,673
MSRs relating to sales to securitizations		10,910				—
MSRs related to deconsolidation of securitization trust		—				364,163
Changes in fair value due to:
Changes in valuation inputs or assumptions used in valuation model		(50,751		)		(102,855		)
Other changes to fair value (1)		(406,971		)		(1,089,172		)
Balance at end of period		$	2,993,997			$	3,440,809
Loans associated with MSRs (2)		$	352,061,683			$	397,925,409
MSR values as percent of loans (3)		0.85		%		0.86		%

(1)	Amounts represent changes due to realization of expected cash flows.

(2)	Amounts represent the principal balance of loans associated with MSRs outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively.

(3)	Amounts represent the carrying value of MSRs at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively divided by the outstanding balance of the loans associated with these MSRs.

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 12 - MSRs (Continued)

The following tables presents the components of servicing income recorded on the Company’s statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , and September 30, 2016 :

		Three Months Ended September 30, 2017				Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
Servicing income		$	276,211			$	258,458
Total servicing income		$	276,211			$	258,458

		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Servicing income		$	721,468			$	726,011
Total servicing income		$	721,468			$	726,011

NOTE 13 – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

GAAP defines fair value and provides a consistent framework for measuring fair value under GAAP. ASC 820 “Fair Value Measurement” expands fair value financial statement disclosure requirements. ASC 820 does not require any new fair value measurements and only applies to accounting pronouncements that already require or permit fair value measures, except for standards that relate to share-based payments.

Valuation techniques are based on observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect readily obtainable data from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s market assumptions. The three levels are defined as follows:

•	Level 1 Inputs – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

•	Level 2 Inputs – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.

•	Level 3 Inputs – Instruments with primarily unobservable value drivers.

The following tables summarize the valuation of the Company’s assets and liabilities at fair value within the fair value hierarchy levels as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :

		September 30, 2017
		Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets Level 1				Significant other observable inputs Level 2				Unobservable inputs Level 3				Balance as of September 30, 2017
Assets:
Residential mortgage-backed securities (a)		$	—			$	1,304,486,040			$	—			$	1,304,486,040
Residential mortgage loans		—				495,486				—				495,486
Multi-Family mortgage loans held in securitization trusts		—				1,149,888,917				—				1,149,888,917
Residential mortgage loans held in securitization trusts		—				125,403,499				—				125,403,499
Mortgage servicing rights		—				—				2,993,997				2,993,997
Total		$	—			$	2,580,273,942			$	2,993,997			$	2,583,267,939
Liabilities:
Multi-family securitized debt obligations		$	—			$	(1,128,773,402	)		$	—			$	(1,128,773,402	)
Residential securitized debt obligations		—				(119,882,464		)		—				(119,882,464		)
Futures		(529,075		)		—				—				(529,075		)
Total		$	(529,075	)		$	(1,248,655,866	)		$	—			$	(1,249,184,941	)

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 13 – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Continued)

		December 31, 2016
		Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets Level 1				Significant other observable inputs Level 2				Unobservable inputs Level 3				Balance as of December 31, 2016
Assets:
Residential mortgage-backed securities (a)		$	—			$	870,929,601			$	—			$	870,929,601
Residential mortgage loans		—				2,849,536				—				2,849,536
Multi-Family mortgage loans held in securitization trusts		—				1,222,905,433				—				1,222,905,433
Residential mortgage loans held in securitization trusts		—				141,126,720				—				141,126,720
Mortgage servicing rights		—				—				3,440,809				3,440,809
Futures		8,053,813				—				—				8,053,813
Total		$	8,053,813			$	2,237,811,290			$	3,440,809			$	2,249,305,912
Liabilities:
Multi-family securitized debt obligations		$	—			$	(1,204,583,678	)		$	—			$	(1,204,583,678	)
Residential securitized debt obligations		—				(134,846,348		)		—				(134,846,348		)
Total		$	—			$	(1,339,430,026	)		$	—			$	(1,339,430,026	)

(a)	For more detail about the fair value of the Company’s MBS and type of securities, see Note 3 and Note 4.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and year ended December 31, 2016 , the Company had no transfers between any of the levels of the fair value hierarchy. Transfers between levels are deemed to take place on the last day of the reporting period in which the transfer takes place.

As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , the Company had $2,993,997 and $3,440,809 , respectively, in Level 3 assets. The Company’s Level 3 assets are comprised of MSRs. Accordingly, for more detail about Level 3 assets, also see Note 12.

The following table provides quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s MSRs classified as Level 3 fair value assets at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :

As of September 30, 2017
Valuation Technique		Unobservable Input		Range			Weighted Average
Discounted cash flow		Constant prepayment rate		8.0 - 25.4%			13.2	%
		Discount rate		12.0	%		12.0	%

As of December 31, 2016
Valuation Technique		Unobservable Input		Range			Weighted Average
Discounted cash flow		Constant prepayment rate		8.0 - 26.5%			13.7	%
		Discount rate		12.0	%		12.0	%

NOTE 14 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Management Fee

The Company is externally managed and advised by the Manager. Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement, the Company pays the Manager a management fee equal to 1.5% per annum, calculated and payable monthly in arrears. For purposes of calculating the management fee, the Company’s stockholders’ equity means the sum of the net proceeds from all issuances of the Company’s equity securities since inception (allocated on a pro rata daily basis for such issuances during the fiscal quarter of any such issuance), plus the Company’s retained earnings at the end of the most recently completed calendar quarter (without taking into account any non-cash equity compensation expense incurred in current or prior periods), less any amount that the Company pays for repurchases of the Company’s common stock since inception, and excluding any unrealized gains, losses or other items that do not affect realized net income (regardless of whether such items are included in other comprehensive income or loss, or in net income). This amount will be adjusted to exclude one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain non-cash items after discussions between the Manager and the Company’s independent directors and approval by a majority of the Company’s independent directors. To the extent asset impairment reduces the Company’s retained earnings at the end of any completed calendar quarter, it will reduce the

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 14 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Continued)

management fee for such quarter. The Company’s stockholders’ equity for the purposes of calculating the management fee could be greater than the amount of stockholders’ equity shown on the financial statements. The initial term of the management agreement expired on May 16, 2014 , but there continue to be automatic, one -year renewals at the end of the initial term and each year thereafter.

On June 7, 2017, the Company agreed to waive a portion equal to 0.75% of its 1.50% management fee on the net proceeds of the June 16, 2017 common stock offering, for the next twelve monthly payments, beginning with the payment due for the month of June 2017. The net amount of management fee to be waived over this twelve month period is $149,415 .

For the three months ended September 30, 2017 , the Company incurred management fees of $573,412 , net of $37,661 in management fees waived ( September 30, 2016 : $623,525 ), included in Management Fee in the condensed consolidated statement of operations, of which $187,000 ( September 30, 2016 : $208,000 ) was accrued but had not been paid, included in fees and expenses payable to Manager in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , the Company incurred management fees of $ 1,670,804 , net of $41,755 in management fees waived ( September 30, 2016 : $ 1,873,486 ), included in Management Fee in the condensed consolidated statement of operations, of which $187,000 ( September 30, 2016 : $208,000 ) was accrued but had not been paid, included in fees and expenses payable to Manager in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Expense Reimbursement

Pursuant to the management agreement, the Company is required to reimburse the Manager for operating expenses related to the Company incurred by the Manager, including accounting services, auditing and tax services, technology and office facilities, operations, compliance, legal and filing fees, and miscellaneous general and administrative costs, including the cost of non-investment management personnel of the Manager who spend all or a portion of their time managing the Company’s affairs.

On August 7, 2017, we received a commitment letter ("the Commitment Letter") from Oak Circle. The Commitment Letter provides that in furtherance of dialogues between our Board of Directors and Oak Circle to seek additional economies in the expenses for which Oak Circle may seek reimbursement from us pursuant to our Management Agreement, pursuant to the Commitment Letter Oak Circle represents, covenants, and commits to us that in respect of the 12-month period commencing October 1, 2017, Oak Circle will not seek reimbursement for, and we shall not be obligated to reimburse Oak Circle for, any non-investment management professional compensation-related expenses pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Management Agreement in excess of $2,000,000 unless otherwise agreed upon by our Board of Directors.

For the three months ended September 30, 2017 , the Company incurred reimbursable expenses of $915,452 ( September 30, 2016 : $1,184,391 ), included in operating expenses reimbursable to Manager in the condensed consolidated statement of operations, of which $400,000 ( September 30, 2016 : $483,187 ) was accrued but had not yet been paid, included in fees and expenses payable to Manager in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , the Company incurred reimbursable expenses of $ 3,086,304 ( September 30, 2016 : $ 3,573,445 ), included in operating expenses reimbursable to Manager in the condensed consolidated statement of operations, of which $400,000 ( September 30, 2016 : $483,187 ) was accrued but had not yet been paid, included in fees and expenses payable to Manager in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Manager Equity Plan

The Company has adopted a Manager Equity Plan under which the Company may compensate the Manager and the Company’s independent directors or consultants, or officers whom it may employ in the future. In turn, the Manager, in its sole discretion, grants such awards to its directors, officers, employees or consultants. The Company will be able to issue under the Manager Equity Plan up to 3.0% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock (on a fully diluted basis) at the time of each award.

Stock based compensation arrangements may include incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, unrestricted stock awards and other awards based on the Company’s common stock.

The following table summarizes the activity related to restricted common stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 :

		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2017							2016
		Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Market Value				Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Market Value
Outstanding Unvested Shares at Beginning of Period		4,500			$	5.97			15,500			$	12.79
Granted		—			—				4,500			5.97
Vested		(4,500	)		5.97				(15,500	)		12.79

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 14 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Continued)

Outstanding Unvested Shares at End of Period		—			$	—			4,500			$	5.97

MAXEX LLC

The Company’s lead independent director is also an independent director of an entity, MAXEX LLC (“ MAXEX ”), with which the Company has a commercial business relationship. The objective of MAXEX, together with its subsidiaries, is to create a whole loan mortgage trading platform which encompasses a centralized counterparty with a standardized purchase and sale contract and an independent dispute resolution process. As of December 31, 2016 , the Company had sold approximately $22.5 million of residential mortgage loans to a third party buyer that were effected through MAXEX, for which the Company did not receive compensation other than receipt of loan sale proceeds from the third party; the Company has sold an additional $ 2.1 million loans through MAXEX in 2017. As of September 30, 2017 , the Company has received $241,455 in fees, net of $51,904 in marketing fees paid to MAXEX, relating to its provision to MAXEX of seller eligibility review and backstop services. These fees are recorded on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet as a liability in the line item "Deferred Income". See Note 15 for additional disclosure relating to the backstop services.

NOTE 15 – GUARANTEES

The Company, through FOAC, is party to customary and standard loan repurchase obligations in respect of residential mortgage loans that it has sold into securitizations or to third parties, to the extent it is determined that there has been a breach of standard seller representations and warranties in respect of such loans. To date, the Company has not been required to repurchase any loan due to a claim of breached seller representations and warranties.

In July 2016, the Company announced that it would no longer aggregate and securitize residential mortgage loans; however given FOAC's extensive experience understanding and analyzing seller rep and warranty risk, the Company has sought to capitalize on its infrastructure and knowledge to become the provider of seller eligibility review and backstop services to MAXEX. See Note 14 for a further description of MAXEX. MAXEX's wholly owned clearinghouse subsidiary, Central Clearing and Settlement LLC ("CCAS") functions as the central counterparty with which buyers and sellers transact, and acts as the buyer's counterparty for each transaction. Pursuant to a Master Agreement dated June 15, 2016, as amended August 29, 2016 and January 30, 2017, among MAXEX, CCAS and FOAC, FOAC provides seller eligibility review services under which it reviews, approves and monitors sellers that are to sell loans via CCAS. Once approved, and having signed the standardized loan sale contract, the seller then sells loan(s) to CCAS, and CCAS simultaneously sells loan(s) to the buyer on substantially the same terms including representations and warranties. To the extent that a seller approved by FOAC fails to honor its obligations to repurchase a loan based on an arbitration finding that it breached its representations and warranties, FOAC is obligated to backstop the seller's repurchase obligation. The term of the backstop guarantee is the earlier of the contractual maturity of the underlying mortgage, or its earlier repayment in full; however, the incidence of claims for breaches of representations and warranties over time is considered unlikely to occur more than five years from the sale of a mortgage.

The maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company could be required to make under the outstanding backstop guarantees, which represents the outstanding balance of all underlying mortgage loans sold by approved sellers to CCAS, was estimated to be $548,849,202 as of September 30, 2017 and $469,015,145 as of December 31, 2016 . Amounts payable in excess of the outstanding principal of the related mortgage, for example any premium paid by the loan buyer or costs associated with collecting mortgage payments, are not currently estimable. Amounts that may become payable under the backstop guarantee are normally recoverable from the related seller, as well as from any payments received on (or from sale of property securing) the mortgage loan repurchased. Pursuant to the Master Agreement, FOAC is required to maintain minimum available liquidity equal to the greater of (i) $5.0 million or (ii) 0.10% of the aggregate unpaid principal balance of loans backstopped by FOAC, either directly or through a credit support agreement acceptable by MAXEX. As of September 30, 2017 , the Company was not aware of any circumstances expected to lead to the triggering of a backstop guarantee obligation. The Company assessed its backstop guarantee obligation as of September 30, 2017 in accordance with ASC 460, "Guarantees", and the carrying value of the liability was the unamortized portion of fees receivable in respect of the issuance of the guarantees. See Note 2 for information on the Company's accounting policy with respect to guarantee fees receivable.

In addition, the Company enters into certain contracts that contain a variety of indemnification obligations, principally with the Manager, brokers and counterparties to repurchase agreements. The maximum potential future payment amount the Company could be required to pay under these indemnification obligations is unlimited. The Company has not incurred any costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to the indemnification obligations. As a result, the estimated fair value of these agreements is minimal. Accordingly, the Company recorded no liabilities for these agreements as of September 30, 2017 .

NOTE 16 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Ownership and Warrants

As a result of the May 2012 and March 2013 private offerings of common stock to XL Investments Ltd, an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of XL Group Ltd, XL Investments Ltd owns a significant minority investment in the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the May 2012 private offering, the Company agreed to issue to XL Investments Ltd warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock. The warrants were subsequently issued, effective as of September 29, 2012, and entitled XL Investments Ltd, commencing on July 25, 2013 ( 120 days following the closing of the Company’s IPO) to purchase an aggregate of 3,125,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a per share exercise price equal to 105% of the $15.00 IPO price, or $15.75 . Pursuant to the terms of the warrants and as a result of the deficiency dividend paid on December 27, 2016, the exercise price of the warrants was adjusted to $13.11 per share of common stock, and the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants increased to 3,753,492 . XL Global, Inc., a subsidiary of XL Group Ltd, holds a minority stake in the Manager.

Common Stock

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 16 - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Continued)

The Company has 450,000,000 authorized shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, with 22,139,258 and 17,539,258 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively.

On December 27, 2016, the Company paid a deficiency dividend in the amount of $19,384,684 representing $1.33 for each common share, payable in a combination of cash and stock with an aggregate payment of 20% of the deficiency dividend, or $3,878,042 , in cash and 80% of the deficiency dividend, or $15,506,642 , in stock. Pursuant to this deficiency dividend, the Company issued 2,936,864 shares of common stock for $5.28 per share.

On June 16, 2017, the Company issued 4,600,000 shares of common stock, including the concurrent exercise of the underwriters' overallotment option, for $4.60 per share. Net estimated proceeds to the Company were $19.8 million .

Stock Repurchase Program

On December 15, 2015, the Company’s board of directors authorized a stock repurchase program (or the “Repurchase Program”), to repurchase up to $10 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Shares of the Company’s common stock may be purchased in the open market, including through block purchases, or through privately negotiated transactions, or pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b 18(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases will be determined at the Company’s discretion and the program may be suspended, terminated or modified at any time for any reason. Among other factors, the Company intends to only consider repurchasing shares of the Company’s common stock when the purchase price is less than the Company’s estimate of the Company’s current net asset value per common share. Shares of common stock repurchased by the Company under the Repurchase Program, if any, will be canceled and, until reissued by the Company, will be deemed to be authorized but unissued shares of the Company’s common stock. As of December 31, 2016 , the Company had repurchased 126,856 shares of common stock at a weighted average share price of $5.09 . No share repurchases were made during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . As of September 30, 2017 , $9.4 million of common stock remained authorized for future share repurchase under the Repurchase Program.

Preferred Stock

The Company has 50,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, with 1,610,000 shares of 8.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”), par value of $0.01 per share and liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, issued and outstanding as of both September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 . The Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to receive a dividend rate of 8.75% per year on the $25 liquidation preference and is senior to the common stock with respect to distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Company declares quarterly and pays monthly dividends on the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, in arrears, on the 27th day of each month to holders of record at the close of business on the 15th day of each month. No dividends may be paid on the Company's common stock unless full cumulative dividends have been paid on the preferred stock. The Company has paid full cumulative dividends on its preferred stock on a monthly basis since it was first issued in December 2013.

Distributions to stockholders

For the 2017 taxable year to date, the Company has declared dividends to common stockholders totaling $ 8,582,666 , or $ 0.45 per share. The following table presents cash dividends declared by the Company on its common stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 :

Declaration Date		Record Date		Payment Date		Dividend Amount				Cash Dividend Per Weighted Average Share
December 27, 2016		January 17, 2017		January 30, 2017		$	876,963			$	0.04534
December 27, 2016		February 15, 2017		February 27, 2017		$	876,963			$	0.04534
December 27, 2016		March 15, 2017		March 30, 2017		$	876,963			$	0.04534
March 16, 2017		April 17, 2017		April 27, 2017		$	876,963			$	0.04534
March 16, 2017		May 15, 2017		May 30, 2017		$	876,963			$	0.04534
March 16, 2017		June 15, 2017		June 29, 2017		$	876,963			$	0.04534
June 14, 2017		July 17, 2017		July 28, 2017		$	1,106,963			$	0.05723
June 14, 2017		August 15, 2017		August 30, 2017		$	1,106,963			$	0.05723
June 14, 2017		September 15, 2017		September 28, 2017		$	1,106,963			$	0.05723

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 16 - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Continued)

The following table presents cash dividends declared by the Company on its Series A Preferred Stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 :

Declaration Date		Record Date		Payment Date		Dividend Amount				Cash Dividend Per Weighted Average Share
December 27, 2016		January 17, 2017		January 27, 2017		$	293,503			$	0.18230
December 27, 2016		February 15, 2017		February 27, 2017		$	293,503			$	0.18230
December 27, 2016		March 15, 2017		March 27, 2017		$	293,503			$	0.18230
March 16, 2017		April 17, 2017		April 27, 2017		$	293,503			$	0.18230
March 16, 2017		May 15, 2017		May 30, 2017		$	293,503			$	0.18230
March 16, 2017		June 15, 2017		June 27, 2017		$	293,503			$	0.18230
June 14, 2017		July 17, 2017		July 27, 2017		$	293,503			$	0.18230
June 14, 2017		August 15, 2017		August 28, 2017		$	293,503			$	0.18230
June 14, 2017		September 15, 2017		September 27, 2017		$	293,503			$	0.18230

NOTE 17 - EARNINGS PER SHARE

In accordance with ASC 260, outstanding instruments that contain rights to non-forfeitable dividends are considered participating securities. The Company is required to apply the two-class method or the treasury stock method of computing basic and diluted earnings per share when there are participating securities outstanding. The Company has determined that outstanding unvested restricted shares issued under the Manager Equity Plan are participating securities, and they are therefore included in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share. The following tables provide additional disclosure regarding the computation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 :

		Three Months Ended September 30, 2017								Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
Net income (loss)						$	(4,256,337	)						$	1,496,356
Less dividends paid:
Common stock		$	3,320,889							$	2,628,161
Preferred stock		880,509								880,509
						4,201,398								3,508,670
Undistributed earnings (deficit)						$	(8,457,735	)						$	(2,012,314	)

		Unvested Share-Based Payment Awards				Common Stock				Unvested Share-Based Payment Awards				Common Stock
Distributed earnings		$	0.15			$	0.15			$	0.18			$	0.18
Undistributed earnings (deficit)		(0.38		)		(0.38		)		(0.14		)		(0.14		)
Total		$	(0.23	)		$	(0.23	)		$	0.04			$	0.04

		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017								Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Net income (loss)						$	(4,183,767	)						$	(19,527,535	)
Less dividends paid:
Common stock		$	8,582,666							$	7,885,803
Preferred stock		2,631,744								2,631,744
						11,214,410								10,517,547
Undistributed earnings (deficit)						$	(15,398,177	)						$	(30,045,082	)

		Unvested Share-Based Payment Awards				Common Stock				Unvested Share-Based Payment Awards				Common Stock
Distributed earnings		$	0.45			$	0.45			$	0.54			$	0.54
Undistributed earnings (deficit)		(0.80		)		(0.80		)		(2.06		)		(2.06		)
Total		$	(0.35	)		$	(0.35	)		$	(1.52	)		$	(1.52	)

No adjustment was required for the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the warrants described in Note 16 because the warrants’ exercise price is greater than the average market price of the common shares for the period, and thereby anti-dilutive.

NOTE 18 – SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company invests in a portfolio comprised of MBS, residential mortgage loans, and other mortgage-related investments, and operates as a single reporting segment.

NOTE 19 - INCOME TAXES

Certain activities of the Company are conducted through a TRS, FOAC, and FOAC is therefore subject to tax as a corporation. Pursuant to ASC 740, deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The following table reconciles the Company’s TRS GAAP net income (loss) to taxable income (in thousands):

		As of September 30, 2017			As of December 31, 2016
GAAP consolidated net income (loss) attributable to Five Oaks Investment Corp		(4,184	)		$	(7,990	)
GAAP net loss (income) from REIT operations		3,981			6,654
GAAP net income (loss) of taxable subsidiary		(203	)		(1,336		)
Capitalized transaction fees		(31	)		(41		)
Unrealized gain (loss)		597			1,964
Deferred income		(1	)		204
Tax income of taxable subsidiary before utilization of net operating losses		362			791
Utilizations of net operating losses		(362	)		(791		)
Net tax income of taxable subsidiary		—			$	—

The TRS has a deferred tax asset on which the Company has a 100% valuation allowance, comprised of the following (in thousands):

		As of September 30, 2017			As of December 31, 2016
Accumulated net operating losses of TRS		620			758
Unrealized gain		354			127
Capitalized transaction costs		184			196
Deferred income		77			77
AMT Credit		12			12
Deferred tax asset (liability)		1,247			1,170
Valuation allowance		(1,247	)		(1,170	)
Net non-current deferred tax asset (liability)		—			—

The Company has provided a valuation allowance against its deferred tax asset that results in no deferred tax asset at September 30, 2017 , and December 31, 2016 . The Company recorded a 100% valuation allowance related to the TRS net deferred tax asset because it believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be fully realized. The valuation allowance increased by $ 77,000 as a result of the corresponding increase in the deferred tax asset. The realization of the deferred tax asset associated with net operating losses is dependent on projections of future taxable income, for which there is uncertainty when considering historic results and the nature of the business. Accordingly, no provision or benefit (current or deferred tax expense) for income taxes has been reflected in the

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FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

NOTE 19 - INCOME TAXES (Continued)

accompanying financial statements. At September 30, 2017 , the TRS had net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of $ 1.6 million , which are available to offset future taxable income and begin expiring in 2034.

As of September 30, 2017 , the Company is not aware of any material uncertain tax positions, but the Company could be subject to federal and state taxes for its open tax years of 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The Company declared and paid in the fourth quarter of 2016 a deficiency dividend relating to a determination of an inability to offset certain net gains on hedging transactions in 2013 against capital losses on the sale of certain mortgage-backed securities. In connection with this declaration, the Company provisioned an amount of $1.86 million in 2016 for interest charges expected to be paid to the IRS following the payment of the dividend. On March 8, 2017, the Company paid an amount of $2.01 million to the IRS for interest charges related to the fourth quarter deficiency dividend payment. The amount paid exceeded the provision of $1.86 million taken in 2016 due to the timing of the payment and accordingly the Company recorded additional interest expense of $0.15 million , which is included in "Other interest expense" in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations. The first quarter 2017 payment of $2.01 million is included in "cash paid for interest" in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

NOTE 20 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

We have reviewed subsequent events occurring through the date that these condensed consolidated financial statements were issued, and determined that no subsequent events occurred that would require accrual or additional disclosures.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION

 

In this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, or this “report”, we refer to Five Oaks Investment Corp. as “we,” ”us,” or “our,” unless we specifically state otherwise or the context indicates otherwise. We refer to our external manager, Oak Circle Capital Partners, LLC, as our “Manager” or “Oak Circle”.

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes to our financial statements which are included in Item 1 of this report, as well as information contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, or our 2016 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on March 16, 2017.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

We make forward-looking statements in this report that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. You can identify forward-looking statements by use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “continue,” “intend,” “should,” “may” or similar expressions or other comparable terms, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking: the return on equity; the yield on investments; the ability to borrow to finance assets; and risks associated with investing in real estate assets, including changes in business conditions and the general economy. Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance, taking into account all information currently available to us. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on those forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors are contained in our 2016 10-K which is available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov .

 

Overview  

 

We are a Maryland corporation that, together with our subsidiaries, is focused on investing on a leveraged basis in mortgage-backed securities, or MBS, and other real estate-related assets. From our IPO in March 2013 until the second quarter of 2015, we implemented a strategy of transitioning to an operating company focused on credit while maintaining a relative value investment approach across the whole residential mortgage market. Beginning in the second half of 2015, we have made what we believe to be necessary and appropriate adjustments to our investment strategy which we present below. In particular, we have sought to simplify our business model by ceasing the aggregation of residential mortgage loans, substantially reducing our Non-Agency RMBS assets, increasing our Agency RMBS exposure, and reducing expenses.

 

We continue to believe that a leveraged investment strategy focused on credit-sensitive MBS has become both less attractive, and more risky, than in the past, in large part due to the reduced availability of short-term repurchase agreement financing for private-label MBS. Conversely, repurchase agreement financing for Agency RMBS currently continues to be available to us on acceptable terms, and we believe that money market fund reforms instituted in late 2016 have led to an overall improvement in the availability and pricing of Agency repurchase agreements. As a consequence, we have proactively sold all of our legacy Non-Agency RMBS securities, and substantially all of our new issue Non-Agency RMBS securities. We have also opportunistically sold a number of Multi-Family MBS positions. The capital released by these sales has predominantly been reinvested into Agency RMBS, which we believe to be easier for us to finance, and easier for stockholders to understand. Further, additional investments made with the proceeds of our common equity issuance in the second quarter have been entirely concentrated in Agency RMBS, with a specific focus on Agency hybrid ARMs.

 

Having determined in August 2016 that we would no longer aggregate prime jumbo mortgage loans, we have now substantially completed the reduction of personnel and other overhead expenses associated with our prime jumbo business, with estimated annual cost savings of $2 million. We continue to work on additional cost savings that are expected to be realized during the remainder of 2017 from the ongoing simplification of our business model. We also intend to continue reviewing opportunities to reallocate capital into complimentary business sectors with positive fundamentals that do not rely on short-term repurchase agreement financing.

Our objective is to provide attractive cash flow returns over time to our investors, while implementing our strategy. To achieve these objectives, we currently invest in the following assets:

 

•	Agency RMBS, which are residential mortgage-backed securities, for which a U.S. Government agency such as Ginnie Mae or a federally chartered corporation such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, guarantees payments of principal and interest of the securities;

• Securitizations backed by multi-family mortgage loans, or Multi-Family MBS;

• Non-Agency RMBS, which are RMBS that are not issued or guaranteed by a U.S. Government sponsored entity; and

• Other mortgage-related investments, including mortgage servicing rights.

We currently finance our investments in Agency RMBS, Multi-Family MBS and Non-Agency RMBS primarily through short-term borrowings structured as repurchase agreements. Our primary sources of income are net interest income from our investment portfolio and non-interest income from our mortgage loan-related activities. Net interest income represents the interest income we earn on investments less the expenses of funding and hedging these investments.

 

We are externally managed and advised by Oak Circle pursuant to a management agreement between us and Oak Circle. Oak Circle, which was formed for the purpose of becoming our Manager, manages us exclusively and, unless and until Oak Circle agrees to manage any additional investment vehicle, it will not have to allocate investment opportunities in our target assets with any other REIT, investment pool or other entity. As our Manager, Oak Circle implements our business strategy, performs investment advisory services and activities with respect to our assets and is responsible for performing all of our day-to-day operations. Oak Circle is an investment adviser registered with the SEC.

 

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT and comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code with respect thereto. Accordingly, we are generally not subject to federal income tax on our REIT taxable income that we currently distribute to our stockholders so long as we maintain our qualification as a REIT. Our continued qualification as a REIT depends on our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, various complex requirements under the Internal Revenue Code relating to, among other things, the source of our gross income, the composition and values of our assets, our distribution levels and the concentration of ownership of our capital stock. Even if we maintain our qualification as a REIT, we may become subject to some federal, state and local taxes on our income generated in our wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiary, Five Oaks Acquisition Corp., or FOAC.

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Third Quarter 2017 Summary

 

•

We reported an economic loss on common equity of 2.59%, comprised of a $0.29 decrease in book value per share and a $0.15 dividend per common share. The decrease in book value was due to increased financing costs during the quarter which contracted our net interest margin, continued wider spreads on Agency hybrid ARM securities relative to 15 and 30-year collateral, contributing to unrealized losses on our investment portfolio and realized losses on our hedge portfolio.

•

During the quarter, we rotated out of $416.0 million of seasoned shorter duration Agency ARMs and into $513.6 million of new issue longer duration Agency ARMs. This rotation allowed us to increase the yield of the Agency portfolio from 2.34% as at second quarter period end to 2.47% as at third quarter period end by replacing the lower yielding seasoned Agency ARMs with new issue higher yielding Agency ARMs which we anticipate should benefit our net interest income in future quarters.

FOAC and Our Residential Mortgage Loan Business

 

In June 2013, we established FOAC as a Taxable REIT Subsidiary, or TRS, to increase the range of our investments in mortgage-related assets. Until August 1, 2016, FOAC aggregated mortgage loans primarily for sale into securitization transactions, with the expectation that we would purchase the subordinated tranches issued by the related securitization trusts, and that these would represent high quality credit investments for our portfolio. Residential mortgage loans for which FOAC owns the MSRs continue to be directly serviced by one or more licensed sub-servicers since FOAC does not directly service any residential mortgage loans.

 

As noted earlier, we previously determined to cease the aggregation of prime jumbo loans for the foreseeable future, and therefore no longer maintain warehouse financing to acquire prime jumbo loans. We estimate that through the reduction of personnel and other overhead expenses associated with our former prime jumbo business, we can generate annual cost savings of $2 million; substantially all of these reductions have been completed as of September 30, 2017 . We do not expect the changes to our mortgage loan business strategy to impact the existing MSRs that we own, or the securitizations we have sponsored to date.

 

Multi-Family and Residential Mortgage Loan Consolidation Reporting Requirements

 

As of September 30, 2017 , we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of two Multi-Family MBS securitization trusts, the FREMF 2011-K13 Trust and the FREMF 2012-KF01 Trust, and one prime jumbo residential mortgage securitization trust, CSMC 2014-OAK1, based in each case on our ownership of all or substantially all of the most subordinated, or first-loss, tranches in each transaction as well as the related control rights.

 

We have elected the fair value option on the assets and liabilities held within each of the three trusts. In accordance with ASU 2014-13, we are required to determine whether the fair value of the financial assets or the fair value of the financial liabilities of each trust is more observable, but in either case, the methodology results in the fair value of the assets of each trust being equal to the fair value of the respective trust’s liabilities.

 

Securitization trusts are structured as pass-through entities that receive principal and interest on the underlying collateral and distribute those payments to the certificate holders. Although our condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2017 includes the gross assets and liabilities of the three trusts, the assets of each trust are restricted and can only be used to fulfill the obligations of the individual entity. Additionally, the obligations of the trusts do not have any recourse to us as the consolidator of the trusts. Accordingly, we are only exposed to the risk of loss on our net investment in the trusts.

 

We do not have any claims to the assets (other than the security represented by our first loss tranche(s)) or obligations for the liabilities of any of the trusts. Our maximum exposure to loss from our consolidation is our carrying value of $26.7 million as of September 30, 2017 , which represents our net aggregate investment in the trusts as set out below. As a result, for the purpose of describing our investment activities, we may present them on a net investment basis.

 

As of September 30, 2017 , we had $ 2,643,682,747 of total assets on a GAAP basis, as compared to $ 2,299,601,203 as of December 31, 2016 . A reconciliation of our net investment in the trusts with our condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 follows:

		September 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
Multi-family mortgage loans held in securitization trusts, at fair value (1)		$	1,154,277,919			$	1,227,523,075
Multi-family securitized debt obligations (2)		$	1,133,138,620			$	1,209,181,035
Net investment amount of Multi-Family MBS trusts held by us		$	21,139,299			$	18,342,040
Residential mortgage loans held in securitization trusts, at fair value (1)		$	125,815,955			$	141,597,866
Residential securitized debt obligations (2)		$	120,214,808			$	135,223,045
Net investment amount of residential mortgage loan trusts held by us		$	5,601,147			$	6,374,821

(1)       Includes related receivables

(2)       Includes related payables

 

Five Oaks Insurance

 

On January 12, 2016, the regulator of the FHLB system, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or the FHFA, published a Final Rule that amended FHLB membership regulations for captive insurance subsidiaries. Under the amended regulations, FOI was required to terminate its membership and repay its advances on or before February 19, 2017 in order to be eligible for timely full stock redemption. On July 18, 2016, the State of Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services approved FOI's order for voluntary dissolution. All FHLBI advances were repaid and all of the FHLBI stock had been redeemed prior to the end of 2016.

 

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Factors Impacting Our Operating Results

 

Market conditions .    The results of our operations are and will continue to be affected by a number of factors and primarily depend on, among other things, the level of our net interest income, the market value of our assets and the supply of, and demand for, our target assets in the marketplace. Our net interest income, which reflects the amortization of purchase premiums and accretion of purchase discounts, will vary primarily as a result of changes in market interest rates and prepayment speeds, as measured by the constant prepayment rate, or CPR, on our MBS and mortgage loans. Interest rates vary according to the type of investment, conditions in the financial markets, competition and other factors, none of which can be predicted with any certainty. Our operating results are also impacted by unanticipated credit events experienced by borrowers whose mortgage loans are included in our MBS, or whose loans we own directly. Our operating results will also be affected by general U.S. residential real estate fundamentals and the overall U.S. economic environment. In particular, our strategy is influenced by the specific characteristics of the residential real estate markets, including prepayment rates, credit market conditions and interest rate levels.

 

On September 20, 2017, the Federal Reserve maintained its target range for the federal funds rate at 1% to 1.25%. The Federal Reserve also indicated that it would likely contemplate additional rate increases in 2017 and beyond in a manner consistent with policy normalization, while indicating that such additional increases would likely be gradual and data dependent. Additionally, the Federal Reserve announced it will initiate the balance sheet normalizations program in October that was announced in the June 2017 Addendum to the Committee's Policy Normalization Principles and Plans. This plan details the approach the FOMC intends to use to reduce the Federal Reserve's holding of Treasury and agency securities. For payments of principal that the Federal Reserve receives from its holdings of agency debt and mortgage-backed securities, the Committee anticipates that the cap will be $4 billion per month and will increase in steps of $4 billion at three-month intervals over 12 months until it reaches $20 billion per month. There is still considerable uncertainty concerning the speed at which the Federal Reserve will continue to raise rates. Such uncertainty and volatility often leads to asset price volatility, wider spreads and increased hedging costs, which in turn could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

  

Changes in market interest rates .    With respect to our business operations, increases in interest rates, in general, may over time cause: (1) the value of our MBS and loan portfolio to decline; (2) coupons on our adjustable-rate and hybrid RMBS to reset, although on a delayed basis, to higher interest rates; (3) prepayments on our MBS and loan portfolio to slow, thereby slowing the amortization of our purchase premiums and the accretion of our purchase discounts; (4) the interest expense associated with our borrowings to increase; and (5) to the extent we enter into interest rate swap agreements or other derivative contracts as part of our hedging strategy, the value of these agreements to increase. Conversely, decreases in interest rates, in general, may over time cause: (1) prepayments on our MBS and loan portfolio to increase, thereby accelerating the amortization of our purchase premiums and the accretion of our purchase discounts; (2) the value of our MBS and loan portfolio to increase; (3) coupons on our adjustable-rate and hybrid RMBS to reset, although on a delayed basis, to lower interest rates; (4) the interest expense associated with our borrowings to decrease; and (5) to the extent we enter into interest rate swap agreements or other derivative contracts as part of our hedging strategy, the value of these agreements to decrease. 

 

Credit risk .    We are subject to varying degrees of credit risk in connection with our Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS investments. Our Manager seeks to mitigate this credit risk by estimating expected losses on these assets and purchasing such assets at appropriate discounted prices, e.g. for Non-Agency RMBS. Nevertheless, unanticipated credit losses could occur, which could adversely impact our operating results. Additionally, if the market's view of credit risk deteroriates, or the yield required to invest in such credit risk increases, this will lead to an increase in credit spreads, and a resultant decline in the market prices of such assets, even if our estimate of expected losses does not change. In turn, this can be expected to lead to a reduction in our stockholders' equity, and may also trigger margin calls under our repurchase agreements used to finance our credit sensitive assets.

 

Liquidity and financing markets. Liquidity is a measurement of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including ongoing commitments to pay dividends, fund investments and repay borrowings and other general business needs. Our primary sources of liquidity are net proceeds of common or preferred stock issuance, net cash provided by operating activities, cash from repurchase agreements, and other financing arrangements. We previously noted a tightening trend in the balance sheet capacity of repurchase agreement counterparties due to a combination of higher capital requirements such as the Basel III capital reforms, other regulatory restrictions, enhanced risk management and generally lower risk appetite among many financial institutions. Consequently, we have observed a reduced willingness of certain financial institutions to commit capital to support the trading of fixed income securities, and in turn, a consequent reduction in certain cases in the availability of financing for certain credit-sensitive MBS. We anticipate our primary sources of financing in 2017 will be issuance of common stock and repurchase agreements and other similar financing arrangements.

Prepayment speeds .    Prepayment speeds, as reflected by the CPR, vary according to interest rates, the type of residential mortgage loan, conditions in financial markets and housing markets, availability of residential mortgages, borrowers' credit profiles, competition and other factors, none of which can be predicted with any certainty. CPR, expressed as a percentage over a pool of residential mortgages, is the rate at which principal is expected to prepay in the given year (usually the next one). For example, if a certain residential mortgage loan pool has a CPR of 9%, then 9% of the existing pool principal outstanding is expected to prepay over the next year. In general, when interest rates rise, it is relatively less attractive for borrowers to refinance their residential mortgage loans, and as a result, prepayment speeds tend to decrease. When interest rates fall, however, prepayment speeds tend to increase. When house price appreciation is positive, prepayment rates may increase, and when house prices depreciate in value, prepayment rates may decline. For RMBS and loans purchased at a premium, as prepayment speeds increase, the amount of income we will earn on these investments will be less than expected because the purchase premium we will pay for the bonds amortizes faster than expected. Conversely, decreases in prepayment speeds result in income greater than expected and can extend the period over which we amortize the purchase premium. For RMBS and loans purchased at a discount, as prepayment speeds increase, the amount of income we will earn will be greater than expected because of the acceleration of the accretion of the discount into interest income. Conversely, decreases in prepayment speeds result in income less than expected and can extend the period over which we accrete the purchase discount into interest income. Generally, our Multi-Family MBS investments are not subject to prepayment risk, because scheduled repayments on the underlying multi-family mortgage loans are allocated to the most senior security in each transaction, and unscheduled repayments are held in the trust until the maturity date of the MBS securities. As a result, our Multi-Family MBS investments are generally scheduled to be repaid in full on a bullet maturity date.

 

Changes in market value of our assets .    Other than our residential mortgage loans, as discussed below, it is our business strategy to hold our target assets as long-term investments. As such, our investment securities (with the exception of Non-Agency RMBS IOs) are carried at their fair value, as available-for-sale, or AFS, when applicable, in accordance with ASC 320-10 "Investments-Debt and Equity Securities," with changes in fair value recorded through accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), a component of stockholders' equity, rather than through earnings. However, at least on a quarterly basis, we monitor our target assets for other-than-temporary impairment, which could result in our recognizing a charge through earnings. See "-Critical Accounting Policies" for further details. The primary exception to this accounting policy relates to residential mortgage loans, which we intend to sell, either into a securitization transaction, or into the secondary market. We have elected the fair value option for mortgage loan assets, as well as Non-Agency RMBS IOs, and as such, changes in the market value of these assets will directly impact our earnings. In addition, to the extent that as a result of our purchase of subordinated securities issued by Multi-Family MBS and residential mortgage loan securitization trusts, we determine that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts and accordingly consolidate their assets and

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liabilities; we have elected the fair value option in respect of these trusts. As such, changes in the market values of the consolidated trusts will also directly impact our earnings.

 

Governmental actions . Since 2008, when both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed under the conservatorship of the U.S. government, there have been a number of proposals to reform the U.S. housing finance system in general, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in particular. As a result of the recent change in presidential administration, we anticipate debate on residential housing and mortgage reform to continue through 2017 and beyond, but a deep divide persists between factions in Congress and as such it remains unclear what shape any reform would take and what impact, if any, reform would have on mortgage REITs.

Investment Portfolio

  

On a GAAP basis, we had increased our overall investments in MBS from $ 1,252.4 million as of June 30, 2017 to $ 1,304.5 million as of September 30, 2017 . Within this total, on a quarter-over-quarter basis we had increased our Agency RMBS from $ 1,221.9 million to $ 1,273.7 million and increased our Multi-Family MBS from $ 30.5 million to $ 30.8 million. These changes reflect the application of our current investment strategy discussed under “Overview”.

 

On a non-GAAP basis, our MBS investments increased from $ 1,277.5 million as of June 30, 2017 to $ 1,330.2 million as of September 30, 2017 . The non-GAAP total includes our net investment in our consolidated Multi-Family MBS and residential mortgage loan trusts. Within these totals, on a quarter-over-quarter basis we had increased our Agency RMBS from $ 1,221.9 million to $ 1,273.7 million, decreased our Non-Agency RMBS from $ 4.7 million to $ 4.6 million and increased our Multi-Family MBS from $ 51.0 million to $ 51.9 million. On a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, our investment in residential mortgage loans declined from $2.8 million as of June 30, 2017 to $0.5 million at September 30, 2017 .

 

We use leverage to increase potential returns to our stockholders. To that end, subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT and our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act, we use borrowings to fund the origination or acquisition of our target assets. We accomplish this by borrowing against existing assets through repurchase agreements. Neither our organizational documents nor our investment guidelines places any limit on the maximum amount of leverage that we may use, and we are not required to maintain any particular debt-to-equity leverage ratio. We may also change our financing strategy and leverage without the consent of our stockholders.

 

The leverage that we employ is specific to each asset class in which we invest and will be determined based on several factors, including potential asset price volatility, margin requirements, the current cycle for interest rates, the shape of the yield curve, credit, security price, the outlook for interest rates and our ability to use and the effectiveness of interest rate hedges. We analyze both historical interest rate and credit volatility and market-driven implied volatility for each asset class in order to determine potential asset price volatility. Our leverage targets attempt to risk-adjust asset classes based on each asset class's potential price volatility. The goal of our leverage strategy is to ensure that, at all times, our investment portfolio's leverage ratio is appropriate for the level of risk inherent in the investment portfolio and that each asset class has individual leverage targets that are appropriate for its potential price volatility.

The following tables summarize certain characteristics of our investment portfolio as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (i) as reported in accordance with GAAP, which excludes our net investment in Multi-Family MBS and prime jumbo mortgage securitization trusts; (ii) to show separately our net investments in Multi-Family MBS and prime jumbo mortgage securitization trusts; and (iii) on a non-GAAP combined basis (which reflects the inclusion of our net investment in Multi-Family MBS and prime jumbo mortgage securitization trusts combined with our GAAP-reported MBS):   

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September 30, 2017  

GAAP Basis                              

		Principal Balance				Unamortized Premium (Discount)				Designated Credit Reserve				Amortized Cost				Unrealized Gain/ (Loss)				Fair Value				Net Weighted Average Coupon(1)			Average Yield(2)
$ in thousands
Agency RMBS
15 year fixed-rate		$	862			$	20			$	—			$	882			$	(12	)		$	870			2.50	%		1.85	%
Hybrid RMBS		1,253,030				22,746				—				1,275,776				(2,910		)		1,272,866				2.65	%		2.47	%
Total Agency RMBS		1,253,892				22,766				—				1,276,658				(2,922		)		1,273,736				2.65	%		2.47	%
Non-Agency RMBS		—				—				—				—				—				—				—	%		—	%
Non-Agency MBS IO, fair value option		—				—				—				—				—				—				—	%		—	%
Total Non-Agency RMBS		—				—				—				—				—				—				—	%		—	%
Multi-Family MBS		—				—				—				—				—				—				—	%		—	%
Multi-Family MBS PO		38,666				(7,631		)		—				31,035				(285		)		30,750				0.00	%		6.32	%
Total Multi-Family MBS		38,666				(7,631		)		—				31,035				(285		)		30,750				0.00	%		6.32	%
Residential Mortgage Loans		495				—				—				495				—				495				4.38	%		4.38	%
Total/Weighted Average (GAAP)		$	1,293,053			$	15,135			$	—			$	1,308,188			$	(3,207	)		$	1,304,981			2.57	%		2.56	%

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Non-GAAP Adjustments                            

		Principal Balance				Unamortized Premium (Discount)				Designated Credit Reserve				Amortized Cost				Unrealized Gain/ (Loss)				Fair Value				Net Weighted Average Coupon(1)			Average Yield(2)
$ in thousands
Agency RMBS
15 year fixed-rate		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			—			—
Hybrid RMBS		—				—				—				—				—				—				—			—
Total Agency RMBS		—				—				—				—				—				—				—			—
Non-Agency RMBS		4,345				(1,086		)		—				3,259				63				3,322				3.74	%		4.99	%
Non-Agency MBS IO, fair value option		129,613				—				—				7,805				(6,551		)		1,254				0.38	%		6.28	%
Total Non-Agency RMBS		133,958				(1,086		)		—				11,064				(6,488		)		4,576				0.49	%		5.90	%
Multi-Family MBS		8,197				(2,690		)		—				5,508				1,700				7,208				3.49	%		5.19	%
Multi-Family MBS PO		—				—				—				—				—				—				—	%		—	%
Multi-Family MBS PO, fair value option		21,940				—				—				10,483				3,449				13,932				0.00	%		0.00	%
Total Multi-Family MBS		30,137				(2,690		)		—				15,991				5,149				21,140				0.95	%		1.78	%
Residential Mortgage Loans		—				—				—				—				—				—				—			—
Total/Weighted Average (Non-GAAP)		$	164,095			$	(3,776	)		$	—			$	27,055			$	(1,339	)		$	25,716			0.57	%		3.47	%

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  Non-GAAP Basis

		Principal Balance				Unamortized Premium (Discount)				Designated Credit Reserve				Amortized Cost				Unrealized Gain/ (Loss)				Fair Value				Net Weighted Average Coupon(1)			Average Yield(2)
$ in thousands
Agency RMBS
15 year fixed-rate		$	862			$	20			$	—			$	882			$	(12	)		$	870			2.50	%		1.85	%
Hybrid RMBS		1,253,030				22,746				—				1,275,776				(2,910		)		1,272,866				2.65	%		2.47	%
Total Agency RMBS		1,253,892				22,766				—				1,276,658				(2,922		)		1,273,736				2.65	%		2.47	%
Non-Agency RMBS		4,345				(1,086		)		—				3,259				63				3,322				3.74	%		4.99	%
Non-Agency MBS IO, fair value option		129,613				—				—				7,805				(6,551		)		1,254				0.38	%		6.28	%
Total Non-Agency RMBS		133,958				(1,086		)		—				11,064				(6,488		)		4,576				0.49	%		5.90	%
Multi-Family MBS		8,197				(2,690		)		—				5,508				1,700				7,208				3.49	%		5.19	%
Multi-Family MBS PO		38,666				(7,631		)		—				31,035				(285		)		30,750				0.00	%		6.32	%
Multi-Family MBS PO, fair value option		21,940				—				—				10,483				3,449				13,932				0.00	%		0.00	%
Total Multi-Family MBS		68,803				(10,321		)		—				47,026				4,864				51,890				0.42	%		4.78	%
Residential Mortgage Loans		495				—				—				495				—				495				4.38	%		4.38	%
Total/Weighted Average (Non-GAAP)		$	1,457,148			$	11,359			$	—			$	1,335,243			$	(4,546	)		$	1,330,697			2.35	%		2.58	%

(1)	Weighted average coupon is presented net of servicing and other fees .

(2)	Average yield incorporates future prepayment assumptions as discussed in Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

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December 31, 2016

GAAP Basis    

		Principal Balance				Unamortized Premium (Discount)				Designated Credit Reserve				Amortized Cost				Unrealized Gain/ (Loss)				Fair Value				Net Weighted Average Coupon(1)			Average Yield(2)
$ in thousands
Agency RMBS
15 year fixed-rate		$	1,458			$	34			$	—			$	1,492			$	(29	)		$	1,463			2.50	%		1.89	%
Hybrid RMBS		777,761				16,403				—				794,164				(5,437		)		788,727				2.51	%		2.12	%
Total Agency RMBS		779,219				16,437				—				795,656				(5,466		)		790,190				2.51	%		2.12	%
Non-Agency RMBS		4,394				(370		)		(1,930		)		2,094				235				2,329				0.93	%		11.68	%
Non-Agency MBS IO, fair value option		509,109				—				—				14,712				(9,448		)		5,264				0.32	%		11.03	%
Total Non-Agency RMBS		513,503				(370		)		(1,930		)		16,806				(9,213		)		7,593				0.32	%		11.11	%
Multi-Family MBS		—				—				—				—				—				—				—	%		—	%
Multi-Family MBS PO		100,908				(26,160		)		—				74,748				(1,601		)		73,147				0.00	%		6.77	%
Multi-Family MBS PO, fair value option		—				—				—				—				—				—				—	%		—	%
Total Multi-Family MBS		100,908				(26,160		)		—				74,748				(1,601		)		73,147				0.00	%		6.77	%
Residential Mortgage Loans		2,850				—				—				2,867				(18		)		2,849				4.06	%		4.03	%
Total/Weighted Average (GAAP)		$	1,396,480			$	(10,093	)		$	(1,930	)		$	890,077			$	(16,298	)		$	873,779			1.53	%		2.69	%

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Non-GAAP Adjustments

		Principal Balance				Unamortized Premium (Discount)				Designated Credit Reserve				Amortized Cost				Unrealized Gain/ (Loss)				Fair Value				Net Weighted Average Coupon(1)			Average Yield(2)
$ in thousands
Agency RMBS
15 year fixed-rate		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			—			—
Hybrid RMBS		—				—				—				—				—				—				—			—
Total Agency RMBS		—				—				—				—				—				—				—			—
Non-Agency RMBS		4,345				(1,086		)		—				3,259				25				3,284				3.75	%		5.00	%
Non-Agency MBS IO, fair value option		157,629				—				—				7,805				(5,897		)		1,908				0.39	%		7.92	%
Total Non-Agency RMBS		161,974				(1,086		)		—				11,064				(5,872		)		5,192				0.48	%		7.06	%
Multi-Family MBS		8,197				(2,690		)		—				5,508				906				6,414				3.01	%		4.47	%
Multi-Family MBS PO		—				—				—				—				—				—				—	%		—	%
Multi-Family MBS PO, fair value option		21,940				—				—				10,483				1,445				11,928				0.00	%		0.00	%
Total Multi-Family MBS		30,137				(2,690		)		—				15,991				2,351				18,342				0.82	%		1.54	%
Residential Mortgage Loans		—				—				—				—				—				—				—			—
Total/Weighted Average (Non-GAAP)		$	192,111			$	(3,776	)		$	—			$	27,055			$	(3,521	)		$	23,534			0.52	%		3.80	%

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Non-GAAP Basis

 

		Principal Balance				Unamortized Premium (Discount)				Designated Credit Reserve				Amortized Cost				Unrealized Gain/ (Loss)				Fair Value				Net Weighted Average Coupon(1)			Average Yield(2)
$ in thousands
Agency RMBS
15 year fixed-rate		$	1,458			$	34			$	—			$	1,492			$	(29	)		$	1,463			2.50	%		1.89	%
Hybrid RMBS		777,761				16,403				—				794,164				(5,437		)		788,727				2.51	%		2.12	%
Total Agency RMBS		779,219				16,437				—				795,656				(5,466		)		790,190				2.51	%		2.11	%
Non-Agency RMBS		8,739				(1,456		)		(1,930		)		5,353				260				5,613				2.33	%		7.62	%
Non-Agency MBS IO, fair value option		666,738				—				—				22,517				(15,345		)		7,172				0.34	%		9.95	%
Total Non-Agency RMBS		675,477				(1,456		)		(1,930		)		27,870				(15,085		)		12,785				0.36	%		9.50	%
Multi-Family MBS		8,197				(2,690		)		—				5,508				906				6,414				3.01	%		4.47	%
Multi-Family MBS PO		100,908				(26,160		)		—				74,748				(1,601		)		73,147				0.00	%		6.77	%
Multi-Family MBS PO, fair value option		21,940				—				—				10,483				1,445				11,928				0.00	%		0.00	%
Total Multi-Family MBS		131,045				(28,850		)		—				90,739				750				91,489				0.19	%		5.85	%
Residential Mortgage Loans		2,850				—				—				2,867				(18		)		2,849				4.06	%		4.03	%
Total/Weighted Average (Non-GAAP)		$	1,588,591			$	(13,869	)		$	(1,930	)		$	917,132			$	(19,819	)		$	897,313			1.41	%		2.72	%

(1)	Weighted average coupon is presented net of servicing and other fees .

(2)	Average yield incorporates future prepayment assumptions as discussed in Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

For financial statement reporting purposes, GAAP requires us to consolidate the assets and liabilities of three Multi-Family MBS and prime jumbo residential mortgage securitization trusts. Accordingly, the measures in the foregoing tables and charts prepared on a GAAP basis at September 30, 2017 do not include our net investments in the three Multi-Family MBS and prime jumbo residential mortgage securitization trusts. However, our maximum exposure to loss from consolidation of the three trusts is $ 26.7 million as of September 30, 2017 . Similarly, the tables and charts prepared on a GAAP basis at December 31, 2016 do not include our net investments in three Multi-Family MBS and prime jumbo residential mortgage securitization trusts; our maximum exposure to loss from consolidation of the three trusts was $ 24.7 million at December 31, 2016 . We therefore have also presented certain information that includes our net investments in the Multi-Family MBS and prime jumbo residential mortgage securitization trusts. This information constitutes non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K, as promulgated by the SEC. We believe that this non-GAAP information enhances the ability of investors to analyze our MBS portfolio and the performance of our Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS in the same way that we assess our MBS portfolio and such assets. While we believe the non-GAAP information included in this report provides supplemental information to assist investors in analyzing that portion of our portfolio composed of Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS, these measures are not in accordance with GAAP, and they should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, our financial information calculated in accordance with GAAP. Our GAAP financial results and the reconciliations from these results should be carefully evaluated.

The following table summarizes certain characteristics of our investment portfolio on a non-GAAP combined basis (including our net investments in consolidated Multi-Family MBS and residential loan securitization trusts), at fair value, according to their estimated weighted average life classifications as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively:

 

		September 30, 2017 Fair Value				December 31, 2016 Fair Value
Less than or equal to one year		$	—			$	—
Greater than one year and less than five years		1,239,079,567				418,701,976
Greater than or equal to five years		91,121,375				475,761,570
Total		$	1,330,200,942			$	894,463,546

 

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The increase in shorter maturity is due to the continued redeployment of capital out of credit assets and into Agency hybrid-ARM securities.

 

Variances between GAAP and tax income.     Due to the potential timing differences in the recognition of GAAP net income compared to REIT taxable income on our investments, our net income and the unamortized amount of purchase discounts and premiums calculated in accordance with GAAP may differ significantly from such amounts calculated for purposes of determining our REIT taxable income. In accordance with GAAP, a portion of the purchase discounts on our Non-Agency RMBS are allocated to a Credit Reserve and, as such, are not expected to be accreted into interest income. Accordingly, potential timing differences arise with respect to the accretion of market discount into income for tax purposes as compared to GAAP.  

 

Financing and other liabilities.     We enter into repurchase agreements to finance the majority of our Agency and Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS. These agreements are secured by our Agency and Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS and bear interest at rates that have historically moved in close relationship to the London Interbank Offer Rate, or LIBOR. As of September 30, 2017 , we had entered into repurchase agreements totaling $ 1,237.7 million, on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, compared to $ 1,146.6 million at June 30, 2017.

 

The following table summarize the average balance, the end of period balance and the maximum balance at month-end of our repurchase agreements for the period from January 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis:  

  

Period ended September 30, 2017		Repurchase Agreements for Available-for-Sale Securities
GAAP and non-GAAP basis		Period Average Balance				End of Period Balance			Maximum Balance at Month-End During the Period
Period from January 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017		$	1,025,736,271			1,237,661,000			1,237,661,000

 

  Hedging instruments.     Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT, we generally hedge as much of our interest rate risk as we deem prudent in light of market conditions. No assurance can be given that our hedging activities will have the desired beneficial impact on our results of operations or financial condition, and as the result of heightened volatility in financial markets, the results of our hedging activities have not always had such desired beneficial impact.

 

Interest rate hedging may continue to fail to protect or could adversely affect us because, among other things: 

 

• our investment policies do not contain specific requirements as to the percentages or amount of interest rate risk that we are required to hedge;

• available interest rate hedging may not correspond directly with the interest rate risk for which protection is sought;

• the duration of the hedge may not match the duration of the related liability;

• the party owing money in the hedging transaction may default on its obligation to pay;

• the credit quality of the party owing money on the hedge may be downgraded to such an extent that it impairs our ability to sell or assign our side of the hedging transaction;

• the value of derivatives used for hedging may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with accounting rules to reflect changes in fair value. Downward adjustments or mark-to-market losses would reduce our stockholders' equity; and

• changes to our investment or risk management strategy may cause us to reduce the amount of our interest rate hedges at times of greater market volatility, which may in turn cause us to realize losses on such hedges.

The following table summarize our hedging activity as of September 30, 2017 :

September 30, 2017

 

Expiration Year		Contracts			Notional (1)						Fair Value
Eurodollar Futures Contracts (Short Positions)
2017		585			$	585,000,000					$	(42,475	)
2018		2,440			2,440,000,000						124,738
2019		2,440			2,440,000,000						(90,350		)
2020		2,440			2,440,000,000						(262,575		)
2021		2,440			2,440,000,000						(181,038		)
2022		1,245			1,245,000,000						(77,375		)
Total		11,590			11,590,000,000						$	(529,075	)

  

(1)       The $ 11,590,000,000 total notional amount of Eurodollar futures contracts as of September 30, 2017 represents the accumulation of Eurodollar futures contracts that mature on a quarterly basis between December 2017 and September 2022. The maximum notional outstanding for settlement within any single future quarterly period did not exceed $ 610,000,000 as of September 30, 2017 .

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Stockholders’ Equity and Book Value Per Share   

 

As of September 30, 2017 , our stockholders’ equity was $ 150.5 million comprised of $ 37.2 million of preferred equity and $ 113.3 million of common equity, and our book value per common share was $ 5.12 on a basic and fully diluted basis. Our stockholders’ equity decreased by $ 6.4 million compared to our stockholders’ equity as of June 30, 2017, while book value per common share decreased by 5.4% from the previous quarter-end amount of $ 5.41 . The decrease in book value per common share was principally the result of increased financing costs which contracted net interest margin; continued wider spreads on Agency hybrid ARM securities relative to 15 year collateral, contributing to unrealized losses on our investment portfolio and realized losses on our hedge portfolio.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates  

 

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. These accounting principles may require us to make some complex and subjective decisions and assessments. Our most critical accounting policies involve decisions, assessments and estimates that could affect our reported assets and liabilities, as well as our reported revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from these estimates. All of our estimates upon which our financial statements are based are based upon information available to us at the time of making the estimate. For a discussion of our critical accounting policies, see “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” beginning on page 9 of this report.   

 

Capital Allocation

 

The following tables set forth our allocated capital by investment type at September 30, 2017 :

Non-GAAP Basis		September 30, 2017
		Agency MBS				Multi-Family MBS(1)				Non-Agency RMBS(1)				Residential Loans (2)				Unrestricted Cash(3)				Total
Market Value		$	1,273,735,621			$	51,889,718			$	4,575,603			$	4,515,027			$	30,554,867			$	1,365,270,836
Repurchase Agreements		(1,215,217,000		)		(19,694,000		)		(2,750,000		)		—				—				(1,237,661,000		)
Hedges		(529,075		)		—				—				—				—				(529,075		)
Other(4)		8,098,103				(29,483		)		51,804				3,610				(103,472		)		8,020,562
Restricted Cash		15,437,341				—				—				—				—				15,437,341
Equity Allocated		$	81,524,990			$	32,166,235			$	1,877,407			$	4,518,637			$	30,451,395			$	150,538,664
% Equity		54.2		%		21.4		%		1.2		%		3.0		%		20.2		%		100.0		%

 

1.	Includes the fair value of our net investments in the FREMF 2011-K13, FREMF 2012-KF01 and CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trusts.

2. Includes MSRs with a fair value of $ 4,019,541 .

3. Includes cash and cash equivalents.

4.	Includes interest receivable, prepaid and other assets, interest payable, dividend payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities.

 

This information constitutes non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K, as promulgated by the SEC. We believe that this non-GAAP information enhances the ability of investors to better understand the capital necessary to support each income-earning asset category, and thus our ability to generate operating earnings. While we believe the non-GAAP information included in this report provides supplemental information to assist investors in analyzing our portfolio, these measures are not in accordance with GAAP, and they should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, our financial information calculated in accordance with GAAP.

  

Results of Operations   

 

As of September 30, 2017 , we continued to consolidate the assets and liabilities of two Multi-Family MBS securitization trusts, the FREMF 2011-K13 Trust, and the FREMF 2012-KF01 Trust and one prime jumbo residential mortgage securitization trust, CSMC 2014-OAK1. Our results of operations, and in particular the gross amount of interest income and interest expense reported, were impacted in part by the reduced principal balances of these consolidated securitization trusts, due to amortization of the loans underlying the trusts.

The table below presents certain information from our Statement of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 , respectively:

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		Three Months Ended September 30, 2017				Three Months Ended September 30, 2016				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Revenues:
Interest income:
Available-for-sale securities		$	7,827,281			$	6,549,869			$	21,308,582			$	16,780,701
Mortgage loans held-for-sale		12,082				121,892				69,416				411,199
Multi-family loans held in securitization trusts		13,473,913				14,466,946				40,992,241				44,597,652
Residential loans held in securitization trusts		1,249,966				1,582,090				3,903,924				9,143,343
Cash and cash equivalents		63,264				11,754				138,745				26,409
Interest expense:
Repurchase agreements - available-for-sale securities		(4,118,639		)		(1,572,062		)		(9,087,956		)		(4,400,290		)
Repurchase agreements - mortgage loans held-for-sale		—				(57,449		)		—				(227,733		)
Multi-family securitized debt obligations		(12,766,808		)		(13,740,005		)		(38,866,888		)		(41,667,457		)
Residential securitized debt obligations		(995,293		)		(1,210,186		)		(3,100,616		)		(6,978,474		)
Net interest income		4,745,766				6,152,849				15,357,448				17,685,350
Other-than-temporary impairments
(Increase) decrease in credit reserves		—				(374,124		)		—				(541,342		)
Additional other-than-temporary credit impairment losses		—				(183,790		)		—				(183,790		)
Total impairment losses recognized in earnings		—				(557,914		)		—				(725,132		)
Other income:
Realized gain (loss) on sale of investments, net		(5,148,445		)		(749,604		)		(14,616,997		)		(3,361,609		)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on fair value option securities		—				(958,995		)		9,448,270				(3,569,744		)
Realized gain (loss) on derivative contracts, net		(1,636,725		)		(820,974		)		2,049,400				(3,167,877		)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on derivative contracts, net		307,263				3,340,600				(8,583,100		)		(7,172,338		)
Realized gain (loss) on mortgage loans held-for-sale		(221,197		)		60,427				(221,620		)		129,175
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on mortgage loans held-for-sale		28,794				(138,785		)		17,727				(2,885		)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on mortgage servicing rights		(102,945		)		(204,505		)		(457,720		)		(1,243,240		)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on multi-family loans held in securitization trusts		694,730				930,312				2,797,566				(5,604,839		)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on residential loans held in securitization trusts		(155,252		)		(764,599		)		(773,674		)		80,511
Other interest expense		—				(1,860,000		)		(152,322		)		(1,860,000		)
Servicing income		276,211				258,458				721,468				726,011
Other income		8,369				3				33,275				26,811
Total other income (loss)		(5,949,197		)		(907,662		)		(9,737,727		)		(25,020,024		)
Expenses:
Management fee		573,412				623,525				1,670,804				1,873,486
General and administrative expenses		1,288,978				1,171,421				4,120,807				4,483,064
Operating expenses reimbursable to Manager		915,452				1,184,391				3,086,304				3,573,445
Other operating expenses		225,502				161,036				770,189				1,393,303
Compensation expense		49,562				50,544				155,384				144,431
Total expenses		3,052,906				3,190,917				9,803,488				11,467,729
Net income (loss)		(4,256,337		)		1,496,356				(4,183,767		)		(19,527,535		)
Dividends to preferred stockholders		(880,509		)		(880,509		)		(2,631,744		)		(2,631,744		)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders		$	(5,136,846	)		$	615,847			$	(6,815,511	)		$	(22,159,279	)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders (basic and diluted)		$	(5,136,846	)		$	615,847			$	(6,815,511	)		$	(22,159,279	)
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding		22,139,258				14,600,193				19,342,188				14,601,306
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share		$	(0.23	)		$	0.04			$	(0.35	)		$	(1.52	)
Dividends declared per share of common stock		$	0.15			$	0.18			$	0.45			$	0.54

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Net Income Summary

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , our net loss attributable to common stockholders was $ 6,815,511 , or $ 0.35 basic and diluted net loss per average share, compared with a net loss of $ 22,159,279 , or $ 1.52 basic and diluted net loss per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 .  The principal drivers of this variance were a change in total other income (loss) from a loss of $ 25,020,024 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 to a smaller loss of $ 9,737,727 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and a decrease in total expenses from $ 11,467,729 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 to $ 9,803,488 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 .

For the three months ended September 30, 2017 , our net loss attributable to common stockholders was $ 5,136,846 , or $ 0.23 basic and diluted net loss per average share, compared with a net gain of $ 615,847 , or $ 0.04 basic and diluted net gain per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2016 .  The principal drivers of this variance were a change in total other income (loss) from a loss of $ 907,662 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 to a higher loss of $ 5,949,197 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 , which more than offset a decrease in total expenses from $ 3,190,917 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 to $ 3,052,906 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 .

 

Interest Income and Interest Expense  

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , our interest income was $ 66,412,908 and $ 70,959,304 , respectively. Our interest expense was $ 51,055,460 and $ 53,273,954 respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and the nine months ended September 30, 2016 . The period-over-period decrease in interest income and interest expense was primarily a result of the reduced principal balances of the consolidated multi-family and residential mortgage loan securitization trusts.

For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and the three months ended September 30, 2016 , our interest income was $ 22,626,506 and $ 22,732,551 , respectively. Our interest expense was $ 17,880,740 and $ 16,579,702 respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and the three months ended September 30, 2016 . The period-over-period decrease in interest income was a result of the reduced principal balances of the consolidated multi-family and residential mortgage loan securitization trusts which more than offset the increased interest income on our larger AFS portfolio. The period-over-period increase in interest expense was a result of the reduced principal balances of the consolidated multi-family and residential mortgage loan securitization trusts which was more than offset by increased financing costs associated with our repurchase agreements on our larger AFS portfolio.

 

Net Interest Income

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , our net interest income was $ 15,357,448 and $ 17,685,350 , respectively, with the decreased income a result of increased financing costs and reduced principal balances of the consolidated multi-family and residential mortgage loan securitization trusts.

For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and the three months ended September 30, 2016 , our net interest income was $ 4,745,766 and $ 6,152,849 , respectively, with the decreased income a result of increased financing costs and reduced principal balances of the consolidated multi-family and residential mortgage loan securitization trusts.

 

Other Income (Loss)

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , we incurred a loss of $9,737,727, which reflects the impact of net realized losses on sales of investments of $14,616,997, net unrealized losses on interest rate hedges of $8,583,100, net realized losses of $221,620 on mortgage loans held for sale, net unrealized losses on mortgage servicing rights of $457,720, net unrealized losses on residential mortgage loans held in the CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trust of $773,674 and $152,322 other interest expense related to our 2013 deficiency dividend, which more than offset net unrealized gains on fair value option securities of $9,448,270, net realized gains on interest rate hedges of $2,049,400, net unrealized gain on mortgage loans held for sale of $17,727, net unrealized gains on multi-family loans held in the 2011-K13 and 2012-KF01 Trusts of $2,797,566, net mortgage servicing income of $721,468 and other income of $33,275. As noted earlier, unrealized gains or losses on AFS securities (except Non-Agency RMBS IOs), which typically offset unrealized losses on interest rate hedges, are a component of other comprehensive income, or OCI, and as such are reflected in stockholders' equity rather than in our consolidated statement of operations.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , we incurred a loss of $25,020,024, which reflects the impact of volatile interest rates and investment sales particularly in the first half of the year, Re-REMIC transactions effected during the period and a one-time other interest expense provision, in turn generating net realized losses on sales of investments of $3,361,609, net unrealized losses on interest rate hedges of $7,172,338, net realized losses of $3,167,877 on interest rate hedges and net unrealized losses on mortgage servicing rights of $1,243,240. Additionally, we incurred net unrealized losses on multi-family loans held in the 2011-K13 and 2012-KF01 Trusts of $5,604,839, unrealized losses on mortgage loans of $2,885 and net unrealized losses on fair value option securities of $3,569,744. We also incurred a $1,860,000 other interest expense related to our 2013 deficiency dividend. These losses in aggregate more than offset net unrealized gain on residential mortgage loans held in JPMMT 2014-OAK4 and CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trusts of $80,511, net realized gain on mortgage loans of $129,175, net mortgage servicing income of $726,011 and net other income of $26,811. As noted above, unrealized gains on AFS securities, which typically offset unrealized losses on interest rate hedges, are a component of other comprehensive income, or OCI, and as such are reflected in stockholder's equity rather than in our statement of operations.

The period-over-period decrease in other loss was driven in large part by the change from an unrealized loss on fair value option securities of $3,569,744 for the first nine months of 2016 to an unrealized gain of $9,448,270 for the first nine months of 2017, a change from an unrealized loss of $5,604,839 on multi-family loans held in securitization trusts in 2016 to an unrealized gain of $2,797,566 in 2017, a change from a realized loss of derivatives of $3,167,877 in 2016 to a realized gain of $2,049,400 in 2017 and a net change in realized loss on sale of investments of $11,255,388.

For the three months ended September 30, 2017 , we incurred a loss of $5,949,197, which reflects the impact of net realized losses on sales of investments of $5,148,445, net realized losses on interest rate hedges of $1,636,725, net realized losses of $221,197 on mortgage loans held for sale, net unrealized losses on mortgage servicing rights of $102,945 and net unrealized losses on residential mortgage loans held in the CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trust of $155,252, which more than offset net unrealized gains on interest rate hedges of $307,263, net unrealized gain on mortgage loans held for sale of $28,794, net unrealized gains on multi-family loans held in the 2011-K13 and 2012-KF01 Trusts of $694,730, net mortgage servicing income of $276,211 and other income of $8,369. As noted earlier, unrealized

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gains or losses on AFS securities (except Non-Agency RMBS IOs), which typically offset unrealized losses on interest hedges, are a component of other comprehensive income, or OCI, and as such are reflected in stockholders' equity rather than in our consolidated statement of operations.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2016 , we incurred a loss of $907,662, which reflects the impact of net realized losses on sales of investments of $749,604, net unrealized losses on fair value option securities of $958,995, net realized losses of $820,974 on interest rate hedges, unrealized losses on mortgage loans held for sale of $138,785, net unrealized losses on mortgage servicing rights of $204,505, net unrealized loss on residential mortgage loans held in the CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trust of $764,599 and $1,860,000 other interest expense related to our 2013 deficiency dividend, which more than offset net unrealized gain on interest rate hedges of $3,340,600, realized gain on mortgage loans held for sale of $60,427, net unrealized gain on multi-family loans held in the 2011-K13 and 2012-KF01 Trusts of $930,312 and net mortgage servicing income of $258,458.

The period-over-period increase in other loss was principally due to a net decline of $4,398,841 in realized losses on sales of investments together with a net decline of $3,033,337 in unrealized losses on derivatives from period to period, which more than offset the net decline of $1,860,000 of other interest expense from period to period.

 

Expenses

 

In connection with our consolidation of the consolidated trusts, we are required to include the expenses of the trusts in our condensed consolidated statement of operations, although we are not actually responsible for the payment of these trust expenses.

 

We incurred management fees of $ 1,670,804 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 representing amounts payable to our Manager under our management agreement. We also incurred operating expense of $ 8,132,684 , of which $ 3,086,304 was payable to our Manager and $ 5,046,380 was payable directly by us.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , we incurred management fees of $ 1,873,486 representing amounts payable to our Manager under our management agreement. We also incurred other operating expense of $ 9,594,243 of which $ 3,573,445 was payable to our Manager and $ 6,020,798 was payable directly to us.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2017 , we incurred management fees of $ 573,412 representing amounts payable to our Manager under our management agreement. We also incurred other operating expense of $ 2,479,494 of which $ 915,452 was payable to our Manager and $ 1,564,042 was payable directly to us.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2016 , we incurred management fees of $ 623,525 representing amounts payable to our Manager under our management agreement. We also incurred other operating expense of $ 2,567,392 of which $ 1,184,391 was payable to our Manager and $ 1,383,001 was payable directly to us.

The year over year reduction in expenses was primarily due to elimination of expenses previously associated with our prime jumbo mortgage loan business.

On August 7, 2017, we received a commitment letter (the "Commitment Letter") from Oak Circle. The Commitment Letter provides that in thefurtherance of dialogues between our Board of Directors and Oak circle to seek additional economies in the expenses for which Oak Circle may seek reimbursement from us pursuant to our Management Agreement, pursuant to the Commitment Letter Oak Circle represents, covenants and commits to us that in respect of the 12-month period commencing October 1, 2017, Oak Circle will not seek reimbursement for, and we shall not be obligated to reimburse Oak Circle for, any non-investment management professional compensation-related expenses pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Management Agreement in excess of $2,000,000 unless otherwise agreed upon by our Board of Directors.

 

Other-Than-Temporary Impairment (OTTI)

 

We review each of our securities on a quarterly basis to determine if an OTTI charge is necessary. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , we did not recognize any OTTI losses. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , we recognized $557,914 and $725,132, respectively in OTTI losses. The OTTI recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 reflected an increase in the Company's credit loss expectations on certain Non-Agency RMBS with a fair value of $12,459,965 as of period end. For further information about evaluating AFS securities for other-than-temporary impairments, refer to Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Net Income (Loss) and Return on Equity  

 

Our net loss attributable to common stockholders was $ 6,815,511 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , after accounting for preferred stock dividends of $ 2,631,744 , representing an annualized loss of 4.29% on average stockholders' equity of $ 212,317,950 . As noted earlier, unrealized net gains or losses on AFS securities are not reflected in our statement of operations, but are instead a component of OCI. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , our comprehensive loss attributable to common stockholders was $ 3,189,980 which included $ 3,625,531 in other comprehensive income. This represents an annualized loss of 2.01% on average stockholders' equity.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , our net loss attributable to common stockholders was $ 22,159,279 after accounting for preferred stock dividends of $ 2,631,744 , representing an annualized loss of 15.62% on average stockholders' equity of $ 188,991,056 . As noted earlier, unrealized gains or losses on AFS securities (except Non-Agency RMBS IOs) are not reflected in our statements of operations, but are instead a component of OCI. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , our comprehensive loss attributable to common stockholders was $ 19,745,147 which included $ 2,414,132 in other comprehensive income. This represented an annualized loss of 13.92% on average stockholders’ equity.

For the three months ended September 30, 2017 , our net loss attributable to common stockholders was $ 5,136,846 after accounting for preferred stock dividends of $ 880,509 , representing an annualized loss of 9.08% on average stockholders' equity of $ 224,407,206 . As noted earlier, unrealized gains or losses on AFS securities (except Non-Agency RMBS IOs) are not reflected in our statements of operations, but are instead a component of OCI. For the three months ended September 30, 2017 , our comprehensive loss attributable to common stockholders was $ 2,949,798 which included $ 2,187,048 in other comprehensive income. This represented an annualized loss of 5.22% on average stockholders’ equity.

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For the three months ended September 30, 2016 , our net income attributable to common stockholders was $ 615,847 after accounting for preferred stock dividends of $ 880,509 , representing an annualized gain of 1.29% on average stockholders' equity of $ 189,026,057 . As noted earlier, unrealized gains or losses on AFS securities (except Non-Agency RMBS IOs) are not reflected in our statements of operations, but are instead a component of OCI. For the three months ended September 30, 2016 , our comprehensive gain attributable to common stockholders was $ 34,464 which included $ 581,383 in other comprehensive loss. This represented an annualized gain of 0.07% on average stockholders’ equity.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Liquidity is a measurement of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including ongoing commitments to pay dividends, fund investments, comply with margin requirements, and repay borrowings and other general business needs. Our primary sources of funds for liquidity consist of net cash provided by operating activities, cash from repurchase agreements, and other financing arrangements. We currently finance Agency and Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS primarily through the use of repurchase agreements.

 

Our target assets, excluding those such as Multi-Family MBS that are structured as principal only securities, generate ongoing liquidity through principal and interest payments. In addition, as part of our overall investment and risk management strategies, we may from time to time sell certain assets and these sales are generally expected to provide additional liquidity. Certain of our assets such as Multi-Family MBS and residential mortgage loans may be subject to longer trade timelines, and as a result, market conditions could significantly and adversely affect the liquidity of our assets.

 

In addition, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we previously recorded our assets. Assets that are illiquid are more difficult to finance, and to the extent that we use leverage to finance assets that become illiquid, we may lose that leverage or have it reduced. Assets tend to become less liquid during times of financial stress, which is often the time that liquidity is most needed. As a result, our ability to sell assets or vary our portfolio in response to changes in economic and other conditions may be limited by liquidity constraints, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

As noted earlier, our defensive approach includes our efforts to emphasize liquidity, both to meet margin calls (as discussed below) and to be able to better absorb the effects on our financing from potential exits of certain of our repo counterparties from the securities trading and/or financing business. As a result of ongoing capital disintermediation, several large banks have announced significant reductions in personnel and rationalization of their fixed income business.

 

We intend to continue to maintain a level of liquidity in relation to our assets that enables us to meet reasonably anticipated margin calls but that also allows us to be substantially invested in Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS. We may misjudge the appropriate amount of our liquidity by maintaining excessive liquidity, which would lower our investment returns, or by maintaining insufficient liquidity, which would force us to liquidate assets into unfavorable market conditions and harm our operating results.  As of September 30, 2017 , we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $ 30.6 million available to meet margin calls on our repurchase agreements and derivative instruments, compared to $ 41.4 million as of June 30, 2017.

 

As of September 30, 2017 , net proceeds from repurchase agreements related to available-for-sale securities totaled $ 1,237.7 million, on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, with a weighted-average borrowing rate of 1.37% , on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, which we used to finance our Agency RMBS, Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS. As of September 30, 2017 , we had an overall debt-to-equity ratio of 8.2:1 on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, compared to 7.3:1 as of June 30, 2017. The increase is due primarily to the deployment of the follow-on equity offering proceeds into Agency ARM securities. The repurchase obligations mature and reinvest every 30 to 360 days. See "Contractual Obligations and Commitments" below. We expect to continue to borrow funds in the form of repurchase agreements. As of September 30, 2017 , for our available-for-sale securities we had established repurchase borrowing arrangements with various investment banking firms and other lenders and had outstanding borrowings with 15 of these lenders totaling $ 1,237.7 million, on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis.

 

Under our repurchase agreements we may be required to pledge additional assets to our repurchase agreement counterparties (lenders) in the event that the estimated fair value of the existing pledged collateral under such agreements declines and such lenders demand additional collateral, which may take the form of additional securities or cash. We are subject to various financial covenants under our borrowing agreements and derivative contracts, which include minimum net worth and/or profitability requirements, maximum debt-to-equity ratios and minimum market capitalization requirements. As of September 30, 2017 , we were in compliance with all of our financial covenants in, and were not in default under any of, such agreements and contracts. Generally, our borrowing agreements contain a financing rate, term and trigger levels for margin calls and haircuts depending on the types of collateral and the counterparties involved. If the estimated fair value of the investment securities increases due to changes in market interest rates or market factors, lenders may release collateral back to us. Specifically, margin calls may result from a decline in the value of the investments securing our borrowing agreements, prepayments on the residential mortgages securing our MBS investments and from changes in the estimated fair value of such investments generally due to principal reduction of such investments from scheduled amortization and resulting from changes in market interest rates and other market factors. Counterparties also may choose to increase haircuts based on credit evaluations of us and/or the performance of the bonds in question. Across all of our borrowing facilities, the haircuts range from a low of 5% to a high of 40% , and the weighted average haircut was 5.55% as of September 30, 2017 . Declines in the value of our securities or loan portfolio can trigger margin calls by our lenders under our borrowing agreements. Should prepayment speeds on the residential mortgages underlying our MBS investments or market interest rates increase, margin calls on our borrowing agreements could result, causing an adverse change in our liquidity position. 

 

If the decline in market value of our securities collateralizing our borrowing facilities, or the combination of declining market value of our pledged securities and increasing haircuts, were to exceed the amount of our available liquidity, we would have to sell assets and may not realize sufficient proceeds to repay the amounts we owe to our lenders. However, as our liquidity decreased, we would attempt to de-leverage in an effort to avoid such a situation. In the period ended September 30, 2017 , we did experience certain margin calls, generally the result of either principal paydowns on, or decreased market prices of, our MBS investments, and all such margin calls were promptly met. In general, periods of heightened market volatility will result in more frequent changes in the prices of MBS investments, and thus increased frequency of margin calls.   

 

Upon repayment of each borrowing under a borrowing agreement, we may use the collateral immediately for borrowing under a new borrowing agreement. We have not at the present time entered into any other commitment agreements under which the lender would be required to enter into new borrowing agreements during a specified period of time.  

 

As of September 30, 2017 , we consolidated the assets and liabilities of two Multi-Family MBS securitization trusts, the FREMF 2011-K13 Trust, and the FREMF 2012-KF01 Trust, and one prime jumbo residential mortgage securitization trust, CSMC 2014-OAK1. The assets of the trusts are restricted and can only be used to fulfill their respective obligations. Accordingly, the obligations of the trusts, which we classify as Multi-Family MBS securitized debt obligations and

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residential securitized debt obligations, do not have any recourse to us as the consolidator of the trusts. As of September 30, 2017 , the fair value of these non-recourse liabilities aggregated to $ 1,248,655,866 and they are excluded from discussion and analysis of our leverage.

On June 21, 2017, we completed an underwritten public offering of common stock at a price of $4.60 per share, and issued 4,600,000 shares (including 600,000 shares pursuant to a full exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option) for estimated net proceeds of $19.8 million, after deducting the underwriting discount and the estimated fees and expenses payable by us.

 

Forward-Looking Statements Regarding Liquidity   

 

Based upon our current portfolio, leverage rate and available borrowing arrangements, we believe that the net proceeds of our prior Equity Sales combined with cash flow from operations and available borrowing capacity, will be sufficient to enable us to meet anticipated short-term (one year or less) liquidity requirements to fund our investment activities, pay fees under our management agreement, fund our distributions to stockholders and for other general corporate expenses.  

 

To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we generally must distribute annually at least 90% of our "REIT taxable income" (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain). These distribution requirements limit our ability to retain earnings and thereby replenish or increase capital for operations.  

 

   Contractual Obligations and Commitments    

 

We entered into a contractual arrangement with our Manager when we commenced operations on May 16, 2012. Our Manager is entitled to receive a management fee and the reimbursement of certain expenses. Because our management agreement provides that our Manager is responsible for managing our affairs, our executive officers, who are employees of our Manager and not our employees, will not receive cash compensation from us for serving as our executive officers. We have no employees.  

 

The Five Oaks Investment Corp. Manager Equity Plan, or the Manager Equity Plan, includes provisions for grants of restricted common stock and other equity based awards to our Manager and to our independent directors, consultants or officers whom we may directly employ in the future. In turn, our Manager will grant such awards to its employees, officers (including our current officers), members, directors or consultants. Grants to our Manager will be allocated firstly to non-member employees and officers of our Manager, and then the balance of the grants to members (including our officers) proportionally based on each member's respective ownership of our Manager. The grants to be made to our Manager and then by our Manager pursuant to such are intended to provide customary incentive compensation to those persons employed by our Manager on whose performance we rely (including our officers). The total number of shares that may be granted subject to awards under the Manager Equity Plan will be equal to an aggregate of 3.0% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of our common stock (on a fully diluted basis) at the time of each award (other than any shares issued or subject to awards made pursuant to the Manager Equity Plan). No grants were made under the Manager Equity Plan during the period January 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 . 

 

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations for borrowings under repurchase agreements at September 30, 2017 :  

GAAP and non GAAP  

		Payments Due by Period
$ in thousands		Total				Less Than 1 Year			1 - 3 Years			3 - 5 Years			More Than 5 Years
Repurchase agreements related to available-for-sale securities		$	1,237,661			1,237,661			—			—			—
Total contractual obligations (1)		$	1,237,661			1,237,661			—			—			—

   

(1)

We exclude multi-family securitized debt obligations, residential securitized debt obligations and related interest expense from the contractual obligations disclosed in the table above as this debt is non-recourse to us, is not cross-collateralized and must be satisfied exclusively from the proceeds of the respective multi-family mortgage loans or residential mortgage loans and related assets held in the securitization trusts.

In addition, we enter into certain contracts that contain a variety of indemnification obligations, principally with our Manager, brokers and counterparties to repurchase agreements. The maximum potential future payment amount we could be required to pay under these indemnification obligations is unlimited. We have not incurred any costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification obligations. As a result, the estimated fair value of these agreements is minimal. Accordingly, we recorded no liabilities for these agreements as of September 30, 2017 . 

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements    

 

As of September 30, 2017 , we did not maintain any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance, or special purpose or variable interest entities, established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. Further, as of September 30, 2017 , we had not guaranteed any obligations of unconsolidated entities or entered into any commitment or intent to provide funding to any such entities.   

In connection with the provision of seller eligibility and backstop guarantee services provided to MAXEX, we account for the related noncontingent liability at its fair value on our condensed consolidated balance sheet as a liability; as of September 30, 2017 , the amount of the liability recorded was $ 202,896 . The maximum potential amount of future payments that we could be required to make under the outstanding backstop guarantees was $ 548,849,202 . In accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies, any contingent liability must be recognized when a payment becomes probable and reasonably estimable; as of September 30, 2017 , no such contingent liability was required to be recognized.

 

Distributions   

 

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We intend to continue to make regular monthly distributions to holders of our common stock. U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT distribute annually at least 90% of its "REIT taxable income" (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain) and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its "REIT taxable income." We generally intend to make regular monthly distributions to our stockholders in an amount equal to all or substantially all of our taxable income. Although FOAC no longer aggregates and securitizes residential mortgages, it continues to generate taxable income from MSRs and other mortgage-related activities. This taxable income will be subject to regular corporate income taxes. We generally anticipate the retention of profits generated and taxed at FOAC. Before we make any distribution on our common stock, whether for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise, we must first meet both our operating requirements and debt service on our repurchase agreements, other debt payable and on our Series A Preferred Stock. If cash available for distribution to our stockholders is less than our taxable income, we could be required to sell assets or borrow funds to make cash distributions, or we may make a portion of the required distribution in the form of a taxable stock distribution or distribution of debt securities.   

 

We intend to continue to announce in advance monthly dividends to be paid during each calendar quarter. If substantially all of our taxable income has not been paid by the close of any calendar year, we intend to declare a special dividend prior to the end of such calendar year, to achieve this result. On September 15, 2017, we announced that our board of directors had declared monthly cash dividend rates for the fourth quarter of 2017 of $0.05 per share of common stock.  

 

Inflation    

 

Virtually all of our assets and liabilities will be 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" (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain) 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. Given the financial nature of substantially all of the Company’s assets and liabilities, and the very low level of inflation, the Company does not believe inflation has had a material impact on the Company’s results of operations during the last two years.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS

 

We seek to manage our risks related to the credit quality of our assets, interest rates, liquidity, prepayment speeds and market value while providing an opportunity to stockholders to realize attractive risk-adjusted returns through ownership of our common stock. Although we do not seek to avoid risk completely, we believe that risk can be quantified from historical experience and we seek to manage our risk levels in order to earn sufficient compensation to justify the risks we undertake and to maintain capital levels consistent with taking such risks.  

 

To reduce the risks to our portfolio, we employ portfolio-wide and security-specific risk measurement and management processes in our daily operations. Our Manager's risk management tools include software and services licensed or purchased from third parties, in addition to proprietary software and analytical methods developed by our Manager. These tools have not fully protected us from market risks, and there can be no assurance that they will do so in the future.

 

While changes in the fair value of our Agency RMBS are generally not credit-related, changes in the fair value of our Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS, including our net investments in consolidated Multi-Family MBS and residential loan securitization trusts, may reflect both market and interest rate conditions as well as credit risk. In evaluating our asset/liability management and Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS credit performance, our Manager considers the credit characteristics underlying our Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS, including our net investments in consolidated Multi-Family MBS and residential loan securitization trusts. The following table presents certain information about our Agency RMBS, Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS (including our net investments in consolidated Multi-Family MBS and residential loan securitization trusts) as of September 30, 2017 on a combined non-GAAP basis. Information presented with respect to weighted average loan to value, weighted average FICO scores and other information is aggregated based on information reported at the time of mortgage origination and therefore does not reflect changes to home values or borrower characteristics since the mortgage origination.

 

		September 30, 2017
		Non-Agency RMBS(1)				Multi-Family MBS(2)				Agency RMBS
Portfolio Characteristics:
Number of Securities		4				6				54
Carrying Value/ Estimated Fair Value		$	4,575,603			$	51,889,718			$	1,273,735,621
Amortized Cost		$	11,063,920			$	47,026,522			$	1,276,657,015
Current Par Value		$	133,958,222			$	68,803,934			$	1,253,891,405
Carrying Value to Current Par		3.4		%		75.4		%		101.6		%
Amortized Cost to Current Par		8.3		%		68.3		%		101.8		%
Net Weighted Average Coupon		0.49		%		0.42		%		2.65		%
3 Month CPR (3)		12.0				NA				5.8

 

Non-Agency RMBS Characteristics

		September 30, 2017
Collateral Attributes:		Prime Jumbo New Issue

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Weighted Average Loan Age (months)		41
Weighted Average Original Loan-to-Value		61.4	%
Weighted Average Original FICO (4)		770
Weighted Average Loan Size		784.0
Current Performance:
60+ Day Delinquencies		1.4	%
Average Credit Enhancement (5)		16.6	%

		September 30, 2017(1)
Coupon Type		Carrying Value				% of Non-Agency RMBS
Fixed Rate		$	4,575,603			100.0	%
Collateral Type
Prime		$	4,575,603			100.0	%
Loan Origination Year
Post-2011		$	4,575,603			100.0	%

___________________________

1.	Includes our net investment in the CSMC 2014-OAK1 Trust at September 30, 2017 on a combined, non-GAAP basis.

2.	Includes our net investment in the 2011-K13 and 2012-KF01 Trusts at September 30, 2017 on a combined, non-GAAP basis.

3.	Three-month CPR is reflective of the prepayment speed on the underlying securitization; however CPR is not necessarily indicative of the proceeds received on our investments. Proceeds received on our RMBS depend on the location of our RMBS within the payments structure of each underlying security.

4.	FICO represents a mortgage industry accepted credit score of a borrower, which was developed by Fair Isaac Corporation.

5.	Average credit enhancement remaining on our Non-Agency RMBS portfolio, which is the average amount of protection available to absorb future credit losses due to defaults on the underlying collateral

 

The following table presents the rating of our Non-Agency RMBS at September 30, 2017 , including our net investments in consolidated residential loan securitization trusts, on a combined non-GAAP basis. The rating indicates the opinion of the rating agency as to the creditworthiness of the investment, indicating the obligor's ability to meet its full financial commitment on the obligation. A rating of "NR" is assigned when major rating agencies do not provide any rating for such security.    

Current Rating (6)		Fair Value				% of Non-Agency RMBS
Rated AAA		$	1,254,190			27.4	%
Not Rated		$	3,321,413			72.6	%

________________________

6.	Reported based on the lowest rating issued by a rating agency, if more than one rating is issued on the security at the date presented.

 

The mortgages securing our Non-Agency RMBS are collateralized by properties located within many geographic regions across the United States. The following table presents the five largest geographic concentrations of the mortgages collateralizing our Non-Agency RMBS, including our net investments in consolidated residential loan securitization trusts, at September 30, 2017 on a combined, non-GAAP basis: 

Property Location		Fair Value				% of Non-Agency RMBS
California		$	1,697,810			37.1	%
Washington		$	737,039			16.1	%
Massachusetts		$	381,772			8.3	%

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Florida		$	280,697			6.1	%
Tennessee		$	206,076			4.5	%

 

Our Multi-Family MBS investments are primarily Freddie Mac Multifamily K Certificates backed by pools of multifamily mortgage loans or re-REMICs of underlying Freddie Mac Multifamily K Certificates. These certificates are not guaranteed by Freddie Mac and repayment is therefore based solely on the performance of the underlying pool of loans. These loans have prepayment lock-out provisions which reduce the risk of early repayment of our investment.

 

The following table presents the rating of our Multi-Family MBS at September 30, 2017 , including our net investment in the 2011-K13 and 2012-KF01 Trusts, on a combined non-GAAP basis. The rating indicates the opinion of the rating agency as to the creditworthiness of the investment, indicating the obligor’s ability to meet its full financial commitment on the obligation. A rating of "NR" is assigned when major rating agencies do not provide any rating for such security:

Current Rating		Fair Value				% of Multi-Family MBS
Rated BB-		$	30,750,419			59.3	%
Not Rated		$	21,139,299			40.7	%

Weighted Average Life Breakdown	Carrying Value
Greater than one year and less than five years	$	1,239,079,567
Greater than or equal to five years	$	91,121,375

 

Interest rate risk  

 

Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including fiscal and monetary policies and domestic and international economic and political considerations, as well as other factors beyond our control. We are subject to interest rate risk in connection with our assets and related financing obligations. Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT, we engage in a variety of interest rate management techniques that seek to mitigate the influence of interest rate changes on the values of our assets. 

 

Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT, we utilize derivative financial instruments, including interest rate swaps, swaptions, TBAs and futures, to hedge the interest rate and related market risks associated with our portfolio. We seek to hedge interest rate risk with respect to both the fixed income nature of our assets and the financing of our portfolio. In hedging interest rates with respect to our fixed income assets, we seek to reduce the risk of losses on the value of our investments that may result from changes in interest rates in the broader markets. In utilizing interest rate hedges with respect to our financing, we seek to improve risk-adjusted returns and, where possible, to obtain a favorable spread between the yield on our assets and the cost of our financing. We rely on our Manager's expertise to manage these risks on our behalf.

 

Interest rate effect on net interest income   

 

Our operating results depend in large part on differences between the income earned on our assets and our cost of borrowing and hedging activities. The costs associated with our borrowings are generally based on prevailing market interest rates. During a period of rising interest rates, our borrowing costs generally will increase while the yields earned on our existing portfolio of leveraged fixed-rate MBS will remain static. Moreover, interest rates may rise at a faster pace than the yields earned on our leveraged adjustable-rate and hybrid MBS. Both of these factors could result in a decline in our net interest spread and net interest margin. The severity of any such decline would depend on our asset/liability composition at the time, as well as the magnitude and duration of the interest rate increase. Further, an increase in short-term interest rates could also have a negative impact on the market value of our target assets. If any of these events happen, we could experience a decrease in net income or incur a net loss during these periods, which could adversely affect our liquidity and results of operations. 

 

Our hedging techniques are partly based on assumed levels of prepayments of our target assets. If prepayments are slower or faster than assumed, the life of the investment will be longer or shorter, which would reduce the effectiveness of any hedging strategies we may use and may cause losses on such transactions. Hedging strategies involving the use of derivative securities are highly complex and may produce volatile returns. 

 

We acquire adjustable-rate and hybrid MBS. These are assets in which some of the underlying mortgages are typically subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps and floors, which may limit the amount by which the security's interest yield may change during any given period. However, our borrowing costs pursuant to our financing agreements are not subject to similar restrictions. Therefore, in a period of increasing interest rates, interest rate costs on our borrowings could increase without limitation, while the interest-rate yields on our adjustable-rate and hybrid MBS could effectively be limited by caps. This issue will be magnified to the extent we acquire adjustable-rate and hybrid MBS that are not based on mortgages that are fully indexed. In addition, adjustable-rate and hybrid MBS may be subject to periodic payment caps that result in some portion of the interest being deferred and added to the principal outstanding. If this happens, we could receive less cash income on such assets than we would need to pay for interest costs on our related borrowings. These factors could lower our net interest income or cause a net loss during periods of rising interest rates, which would harm our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

 

Interest rate mismatch risk  

 

We fund the majority of our adjustable-rate and hybrid MBS assets with borrowings that are based on LIBOR, while the interest rates on these assets may be indexed to other index rates, such as the one-year Constant Maturity Treasury index, the Monthly Treasury Average index or the 11th District Cost of Funds Index. Accordingly, any increase in LIBOR relative to these indices may result in an increase in our borrowing costs that is not matched by a corresponding increase in the interest earnings on these assets. Any such interest rate index mismatch could adversely affect our profitability, which may negatively impact distributions to our stockholders. To mitigate interest rate mismatches, we utilize the hedging strategies discussed above. 

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Our analysis of risks is based on our Manager's experience, estimates, models and assumptions. These analyses rely on models that utilize estimates of fair value and interest rate sensitivity. Actual economic conditions or implementation of decisions by our Manager may produce results that differ significantly from the estimates and assumptions used in our models. 

 

We use a variety of recognized industry models, as well as proprietary models, to perform sensitivity analyses, which are derived from primary assumptions for prepayment rates, discount rates and credit losses. The primary assumption used in this model is implied market volatility of interest rates. The information presented in the following interest sensitivity table projects the potential impact of sudden parallel changes in interest rates on our financial results and financial condition over the next 12 months, based on our interest sensitive financial instruments at September 30, 2017 :

  September 30, 2017

Change in Interest  rates			Percentage Change in  Projected Net Interest  Income(1)			Percentage Change in  Projected Portfolio  Value(2)
1.00	%		(72.05	)%		(1.10	)%
0.50	%		(36.03	)%		(0.45	)%
(0.50	)%		36.03	%		(0.08	)%
(1.00	)%		72.05	%		(0.21	)%

_________________________

 

(1)	Includes underlying interest income and interest expense associated with our net investment in the 2011-K13 and 2012-KF01 Trusts.

(2)	Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS only. Includes the fair value of our net investment in the FREMF 2011-K13 and 2012-KF01Trusts.

The interest rate sensitivity table quantifies the potential changes in net interest income and portfolio value, which includes the value of our derivatives, should interest rates immediately change. The interest rate sensitivity table presents the estimated impact of interest rates instantaneously rising 50 and 100 basis points and falling 50 and 100 basis points. The cash flows associated with our portfolio of MBS for each rate change are calculated based on assumptions, including prepayment speeds, yield on future acquisitions, slope of the yield curve and size of the portfolio. Assumptions made on the interest rate sensitive liabilities, which are assumed to relate to repurchase agreements, include anticipated interest rates, collateral requirements as a percent of the repurchase agreement, amount and term of borrowing. 

 

The MBS securities, at fair value, included in the foregoing interest rate sensitivity table under "Percentage Change in Projected Portfolio Value" were limited to Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS, including the fair value of our net investment in the 2011-K13 and 2012-KF01 Trusts.

 

Due to the significantly discounted prices and underlying credit risks of our Non-Agency RMBS, we believe our Non-Agency RMBS valuations are inherently de-sensitized to changes in interest rates. As such, we cannot project the impact to these financial instruments and have excluded these RMBS from the interest rate sensitivity analysis. However, these Non-Agency RMBS have been included in the "Percentage Change in Projected Net Interest Income" analysis. 

 

Certain assumptions have been made in connection with the calculation of the information set forth in the foregoing interest rate sensitivity table and, as such, there can be no assurance that assumed events will occur or that other events will not occur that would affect the outcomes. The base interest rate scenario assumes interest rates at September 30, 2017 . The analysis utilizes assumptions and estimates based on the judgment and experience of our Manager's team. Furthermore, while we generally expect to retain such assets and the associated interest rate risk to maturity, future purchases and sales of assets could materially change our interest rate risk profile. 

 

The change in annualized net interest income does not include any benefit or detriment from faster or slower prepayment rates on our Agency RMBS, Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS. We anticipate that faster prepayment speeds in lower interest rate scenarios will generate lower realized yields on premium Agency RMBS and higher realized yields on discount Agency and Non-Agency RMBS. Similarly, we anticipate that slower prepayment speeds in higher interest rate scenarios will generate higher realized yields on premium Agency RMBS and lower realized yields on discount Agency and Non-Agency RMBS. Although we have sought to construct our portfolio to limit the effect of changes in prepayment speeds, there can be no assurance this will actually occur, and the realized yield of our portfolio may be significantly different than we anticipate in changing interest rate scenarios. 

 

Given the low interest rates at September 30, 2017 , we applied a floor of 0% for all anticipated interest rates included in our assumptions. Because of this floor, we anticipate that any hypothetical interest rate shock decrease would have a limited positive impact on our funding costs; however, because prepayments speeds are unaffected by this floor, we expect that any increase in our prepayment speeds (occurring as a result of any interest rate decrease or otherwise) could result in an acceleration of our premium amortization on Agency RMBS and accretion of discount on our Agency and Non-Agency RMBS purchased at a discount. As a result, because this floor limits the positive impact of any interest rate decrease on our funding costs, hypothetical interest rate decreases could cause the fair value of our financial instruments and our net interest income to decline. 

 

The information set forth in the interest rate sensitivity table and all related disclosures constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimated in the foregoing interest rate sensitivity table. 

 

  Prepayment risk  

 

Prepayment risk is the risk that principal will be repaid at a different rate than anticipated. As we receive prepayments of principal on our assets, premiums paid on such assets will be amortized against interest income. In general, an increase in prepayment rates will accelerate the amortization of purchase premiums, thereby reducing the interest income earned on the assets. Conversely, discounts on such assets are accreted into interest income. In general, an increase in prepayment rates will accelerate the accretion of purchase discounts, thereby increasing the interest income earned on the assets. 

 

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Normally, we believe that we will be able to reinvest proceeds from scheduled principal payments and prepayments at acceptable yields; however, no assurances can be given that, should significant prepayments occur, market conditions would be such that acceptable investments could be identified and the proceeds timely reinvested. 

 

Extension risk   

 

We compute the projected weighted-average life of our investments based upon assumptions regarding the rate at which borrowers will prepay the underlying mortgages. In general, when a fixed-rate or hybrid adjustable-rate security is acquired with borrowings, we may, but are not required to, enter into an interest rate swap agreement or other hedging instrument that effectively fixes our borrowing costs for a period close to the anticipated average life of the fixed-rate portion of the related assets. This strategy is designed to protect us from rising interest rates, because the borrowing costs are fixed for the duration of the fixed-rate portion of the related target asset. 

 

However, if prepayment rates decrease in a rising interest rate environment, then the life of the fixed-rate portion of the related assets could extend beyond the term of the swap agreement or other hedging instrument. This could have a negative impact on our results from operations, as borrowing costs would no longer be fixed after the end of the hedging instrument, while the income earned on the fixed-rate or hybrid adjustable-rate assets would remain fixed. This situation could also cause the market value of our fixed-rate or hybrid adjustable-rate assets to decline, with little or no offsetting gain from the related hedging transactions. In extreme situations, we could be forced to sell assets to maintain adequate liquidity, which could cause us to incur losses.

 

Market risk  

 

Market value risk .    Our AFS securities are reflected at their estimated fair value, with the difference between amortized cost and estimated fair value reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income. The estimated fair value of these securities fluctuates primarily due to changes in interest rates, market valuation of credit risks and other factors. Generally, in a rising interest rate environment, we would expect the fair value of these securities to decrease; conversely, in a decreasing interest rate environment, we would expect the fair value of these securities to increase. As market volatility increases or liquidity decreases, the fair value of our assets may be adversely impacted. 

 

The sensitivity analysis table presented in "Interest rate mismatch risk" sets forth the estimated impact of an instantaneous parallel shift in the yield curve, up and down 50 and 100 basis points, on the market value of our interest rate-sensitive investments and net interest income, at September 30, 2017 , assuming a static portfolio. When evaluating the impact of changes in interest rates, prepayment assumptions and principal reinvestment rates are adjusted based on our Manager's expectations. The analysis presented utilized assumptions, models and estimates of our Manager based on the judgment and experience of our Manager's team.  

 

Real estate risk .    MBS, residential and multi-family property values are subject to volatility and may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including national, regional and local economic conditions; local real estate conditions (such as an oversupply of housing); changes or continued weakness in specific industry segments; construction quality, age and design; demographic factors; and retroactive changes to building or similar codes. Decreases in property values reduce the value of the collateral for mortgage loans and the potential proceeds available to borrowers to repay the loans, which could cause us to suffer losses on our Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS investments. 

 

Liquidity risk  

 

Our liquidity risk is principally associated with our financing of long-maturity assets with short-term borrowings in the form of repurchase agreements. Although the interest rate adjustments of these assets and liabilities fall within the guidelines established by our operating policies, maturities are not required to be, nor are they, matched. 

 

Should the value of our assets pledged as collateral suddenly decrease, margin calls relating to our repurchase agreements could increase, causing an adverse change in our liquidity position. Additionally, if one or more of our repurchase agreement counterparties chose not to provide on-going funding, our ability to finance would decline or exist at possibly less advantageous terms. As such, we cannot assure that we will always be able to roll over our repurchase agreements. See "Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources" for further information about our liquidity and capital resource management. 

 

Credit risk   

 

We believe that our investment strategy will generally keep our risk of credit losses low to moderate. However, we retain the risk of potential credit losses on all of the loans underlying our Non-Agency RMBS and Multi-Family MBS, as well as residential mortgage loans that we own. With respect to our Non-Agency RMBS that are senior in the credit structure, credit support contained in RMBS deal structures provides a level of protection from losses. We seek to manage the remaining credit risk through our pre-acquisition due diligence process and by factoring assumed credit losses into the purchase prices we pay for Non-Agency RMBS. In addition, with respect to any particular target asset, our Manager's investment team evaluates relative valuation, supply and demand trends, shape of yield curves, prepayment rates, delinquency and default rates, recovery of various sectors and vintage of collateral. In particular, the evaluation process involves modeling under various different scenarios the future cash flows expected to be generated by a specific security based on the current and projected delinquency and default status of the portfolio, and expected recoveries derived primarily from LTV metrics, relative to the purchase price of the RMBS. At purchase, our Manager estimates the proportion of the discount that we do not expect to recover and incorporates it into our Manager's expected yield and accretion calculations. As part of our Non-Agency RMBS surveillance process, our Manager tracks and compares each security's actual performance over time to the performance expected at the time of purchase or, if our Manager has modified its original purchase assumptions, to its revised performance expectations. To the extent that actual performance of our Non-Agency RMBS deviates materially from our Manager's expected performance parameters, our Manager may revise its performance expectations, such that the amount of purchase discount designated as credit discount may be increased or decreased over time. At times, we may enter into credit default swaps or other derivative instruments in an attempt to manage our credit risk. Nevertheless, unanticipated credit losses could adversely affect our operating results. With respect to our Multi-Family MBS, to date we have purchased subordinated tranches in, or backed by, multi-family securitizations sponsored by Freddie Mac that in certain cases represent the most junior tranche in the capital structure. Our pre-acquisition due diligence process involves an analysis of the multi-family loan portfolio underlying the relevant security, in order to determine the adequacy of available credit enhancement and/or the purchase price discount to absorb potential credit losses on the portfolio. 

 

Risk Management   

 

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To the extent consistent with maintaining our REIT qualification, we will seek to manage risk exposure to protect our investment portfolio against the effects of major interest rate changes. We may generally seek to manage this risk by:

 

•	relying on our Manager's investment selection process;

•	monitoring and adjusting, if necessary, the reset index and interest rate related to Agency and Non-Agency RMBS and other mortgage-related investments and our financings;

•	attempting to structure our financing agreements to have a range of different maturities, terms, amortizations and interest rate adjustment periods;

•	using hedging instruments, primarily eurodollar futures, but also interest rate swap agreements, options, interest rate cap agreements, floors and forward sales to adjust the interest rate sensitivity of Agency RMBS and other mortgage-related investments and our borrowings; and

•	actively managing, on an aggregate basis, the interest rate indices, interest rate adjustment periods and gross reset margins of Agency RMBS and other mortgage-related investments and the interest rate indices and adjustment periods of our financings.

In executing on our current risk management strategy, we have entered into futures transactions.

 

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e)) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or Exchange Act, that are designed to ensure that information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to paragraph (b) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 as September 30, 2017 . Based upon our evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2017 , as a result of the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as described below.

 

As previously disclosed in our 2016 10-K, in connection with our determination of an inability to offset net gains realized on certain hedging transactions in 2013 for federal income tax purposes with net capital losses realized in 2013 on the sale of certain securities, during the quarter ended September 30, 2016 management and our Audit Committee identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. A “material weakness” is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weakness consisted of a failure to ensure adequate timely technical review of the position proposed and analysis undertaken by our nationally recognized tax consulting specialist and taken by us in calculating our REIT taxable income for 2013. As a result, we declared on November 9, 2016, and paid on December 27, 2016, a deficiency dividend to reduce our 2013 undistributed taxable income, as adjusted, and satisfy the REIT distribution requirements. The material weakness did not impact any prior period GAAP financial statements, and thus did not result in any misstatements of our annual audited or interim financial statements. Nonetheless, when taken together with the material weakness described below, management and our Audit Committee have concluded that remediation measures additional to those noted below are necessary to enhance our control environment.

 

In connection with the preparation of our financial statements for inclusion in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, or our 2015 10-K, management and our Audit Committee identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. Such material weakness did not result in any misstatements in our audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2015 10-K, but did require adjustments during the 2015 annual audit with respect to net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, total other comprehensive income, and basic and diluted income (loss) per share in our preliminary 2015 consolidated financial statements, and required the restatement of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the periods ended June 30, 2015 and September 30, 2015, originally included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the second and third quarters of 2015, respectively (as described in detail in Note 20 to the audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2015 10-K).

 

The material weakness consisted of a failure of our control over the critical timely review of account balances to determine whether the appropriate accounting policy and methodology had been applied, which in turn resulted in the incorrect reporting of unrealized losses on two Non-Agency RMBS IOs for which we had elected the fair value option at the inception of each transaction. Such losses were incorrectly reported through other comprehensive income (OCI) instead of through our statements of operations for each of the quarter and year-to-date periods ended June 30, 2015 and September 30, 2015, respectively. The first IO was acquired in the Oaks Mortgage Trust Series 2015-1 transaction completed in April 2015, and the second IO was acquired in the Oaks Mortgage Trust Series 2015-2 transaction completed in November 2015. In connection with the preparation of our third quarter financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2017, we identified a further instance of a failure of our control over the depth and timeliness review of account balances, specifically relating to the asset and liability balances of securitizations that we consolidate in our financial statements. A discrepancy between the liability balance reported in a remittance report for one of the consolidated trusts and the balance recorded in a consolidation workbook required an adjustment to the asset and liability balances during the preparation of our condensed consolidated balance sheet for the period ended September 30, 2017. While the adjustment did not impact our stockholders' equity or our net income, if uncorrected, such a discrepancy could cause our reported total asset and liability balances to be inaccurate, possibly by material amounts.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

To remediate the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to our REIT taxable income in 2013, we have implemented certain changes to the design of our internal controls. Specifically, for any REIT tax matters that we have not previously addressed, we are now required to obtain a written technical review and conclusion from a nationally recognized accounting firm or law firm, which must be presented to and approved by our Audit Committee prior to our adoption of the related conclusion.

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To remediate the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the depth and timeliness of review of account balances (and consequent deficiencies in our disclosure controls and procedures), including the most recent instance, we have continued and will continue to implement certain changes to the design of our internal controls. Specifically, we have contracted with a nationally recognized accounting systems and services provider to provide us with a more robust accounting system that will improve the effectiveness of correct accounting treatment for transactions that we enter into. Implementation of the new system is now complete, and we are now in the process, with the assistance of a third-party regulatory compliance service provider and an experienced financial reporting consultant, of formalizing enhanced written policies and procedures appropriate to the design and operation of controls and procedures applicable to the new system. Significant progress was made during the third quarter in terms of completing the documentation of procedures and controls, and we anticipate the completion of this and the commencement of testing during the fourth quarter of 2017. In addition, we intend to enhance the timeliness and strengthen the review process in respect of consolidated trust account balances to ensure that the related control operates at the level of precision necessary to effectively and timely identify, investigate and resolve any discrepancies.

 

We believe the actions described above will be sufficient to remediate the identified material weakness and strengthen our internal control over financial reporting, as well as our disclosure controls and procedures. However, while the new and enhanced systems are now in place, the enhanced controls relating thereto are not as yet fully operational, and we may determine to take additional measures to address our control deficiencies or to modify the remediation plans described above. The identified material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting will not be considered remediated until the new controls are fully implemented, in operation for a sufficient period of time, tested and concluded by management to be designed and operating effectively. We cannot currently estimate when such remediation will be complete, nor can we currently ascertain whether additional actions will be required, or the costs therefor.

 

Except as described above, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 that occurred during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

   

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, we may be involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. As of the date hereof, neither we nor, to our knowledge, our Manager, are subject to any legal proceedings that we or our Manager considers to be material (individually or in the aggregate). 

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors previously disclosed in Item 1A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

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

 

None.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

The exhibits listed on the accompanying Index of Exhibits are filed herewith as a part of this report. Such Index is incorporated herein by reference.

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

	FIVE OAKS INVESTMENT CORP.
Dated: November 8, 2017	By	/s/ David C. Carroll
		David C. Carroll
		Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board (Principal Executive Officer)
Dated: November 8, 2017	By	/s/ David Oston
		David Oston
		Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary and Director (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number		Exhibit Description
31.1*		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1**		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2**		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS*		XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

	*	Filed herewith
	**	Furnished herewith

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