Company: MFAN
Filing Date: 2025-04-18
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0001140361-25-014577
Chunk: 7

Company: MFA FINANCIAL, INC.
Filing Date: 2025-04-18
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 7
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 such authority). If you hold your shares in “street name” (i.e., through a broker or other nominee), your broker or nominee will not vote your shares on non-routine matters unless you provide instructions on how to vote your shares. You can instruct your broker or nominee how to vote your shares by following the voting procedures provided by your broker or nominee. Abstentions do not count as votes cast on any of the election of directors, the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP, the advisory (non-binding) Say-on-Pay vote or the proposal to approve the Amended Plan and will have no effect on the results of such proposals. Broker non-votes, if any, do not count as votes cast on the election of directors, the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP, the advisory (non-binding) Say-on-Pay vote or the vote on the Amended Plan and will have no effect on the results of such proposals.

| MFA Financial, Inc. | 4 | 2025 Proxy Statement |

TABLE OF CONTENTS Corporate Governance Role of the Board Pursuant to our Charter and Bylaws and the Maryland General Corporation Law, our business and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board. The Board is responsible for establishing broad corporate policies and for our overall performance and direction, but is not involved in our day-to-day operations. Members of the Board keep informed of our business by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees, by, among other things, reviewing analyses, reports and other materials provided to them and through discussions with our chief executive officer (“CEO”) and other executive officers. Board Leadership Structure We currently separate the roles of the Chairman of the Board (the “Board Chair”) and CEO, with the Board Chair held by a non- executive independent director. Under our Bylaws, the Board Chair does not automatically serve as CEO, and the Board Chair may be an executive or non-executive of the Company. At present, our Board believes that the separation of roles, while not required, fosters clear accountability and enhances the Board’s oversight of and independence from management, as well as assisting the Board’s ability to carry out its roles and responsibilities on behalf of stockholders. The Board also believes that the current leadership structure fosters effective decision making and alignment on corporate strategy. In addition, the Board believes that separation of the Board Chair and CEO roles strengthens risk management and allows our CEO to focus more of his time and energy on day-to-day management and operations of the business