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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



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FORM 10-K



|x |  | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|- |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002



OR



| ̈ |  | TRANSACTION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|- |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM
                         TO



COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-13709



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ANWORTH
MORTGAGE ASSET

CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)



|MARYLAND                                                    |  | 52-2059785                          
|----------------------------------------------------------- |  | ------------------------------------
|(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation Organization) |  | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
|                                                           
|1299 OCEAN AVENUE, #250, SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA           |  | 90401                               
|(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                    |  | (Zip Code)                          



Registrants telephone number, including area code: (310) 255-4493

Securities registered
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: NONE

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:



COMMON STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE



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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 filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  x     No ̈



Indicate by check mark that disclosure of delinquent filers
pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. ̈



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes  x    No ̈



The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by
non-affiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the average closing bid and asked prices of such stock, as of June 28, 2002, was approximately $313,735,459. (All officers and directors of the registrant are considered affiliates.)



At March 21, 2003 the registrant had 26,403,601
shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.



DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE



Part III of the Form 10-K incorporates by reference certain portions of the Registrants proxy statement for its 2003 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the
fiscal year covered by this report.



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ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT



FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002



TABLE OF CONTENTS



|Item     |  |                                                                                       |  | Page
|-------- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | ----
|PART I  
|        
|1.       |  | Business                                                                              |  | 1   
|2.       |  | Property                                                                              |  | 18  
|3.       |  | Legal Proceedings                                                                     |  | 18  
|4.       |  | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders                                   |  | 18  
|        
|PART II 
|5.       |  | Market for Registrants Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters                 |  | 19  
|6.       |  | Selected Financial Data                                                               |  | 21  
|7.       |  | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |  | 23  
|7A.      |  | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk                            |  | 40  
|8.       |  | Financial Statements and Supplementary Information                                    |  | 43  
|9.       |  | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure  |  | 43  
|        
|PART III
|10.      |  | Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant                                    |  | 44  
|11.      |  | Executive Compensation                                                                |  | 44  
|12.      |  | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management                        |  | 44  
|13.      |  | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions                                        |  | 44  
|14.      |  | Controls and Procedures                                                               |  | 44  
|        
|PART IV 
|15.      |  | Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K                       |  | 45  





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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT



This Report contains or incorporates by reference certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements are those that predict or describe future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements as statements containing the words will,
believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, assume or other similar expressions. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are
subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control. These forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions that are difficult to predict and to various risks and
uncertainties. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, some of which are listed under the section Risk Factors at the end
of Item 7 of this Report. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.



As used in this Form 10-K, company, we, us, our, Anworth and
Anworth Mortgage refer to Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation.



PART I.



|Item 1. |  | BUSINESS
|------- |  | --------



Overview



We are in the business of investing
primarily in United States agency and other highly rated single-family adjustable-rate and fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities that we acquire in the secondary market. United States agency securities are securities that are obligations guaranteed
by the United States government or its agencies, such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. We seek attractive long-term investment returns by investing our equity capital and borrowed funds in such securities. Our returns are earned on the spread between
the yield on our earning assets and the interest cost of the funds we borrow. We have elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the United States Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, we routinely distribute substantially all
of the income generated from our operations to our stockholders. As long as we retain our REIT status, we generally will not be subject to federal or state taxes on our income to the extent that we distribute our net income to our stockholders.



At December 31, 2002, we had total assets
of $2,443.9 million and equity of $265.5 million, or $10.48 book value per share. As of that date, approximately 100% of our assets consisted of mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by an agency of the United States government such
as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae. For the year ended December 31, 2002, we reported net income of $31.7 million, or $1.80 per diluted share.



We were incorporated in Maryland on October 20, 1997 and commenced our operations on March 17, 1998. From the time of our inception
through June 13, 2002, we were externally managed pursuant to a management agreement with Anworth Mortgage Advisory Corporation, or the manager. As an externally managed company, we had no employees of our own and relied on the manager to
conduct our business and operations.



On
June 13, 2002, the manager merged with and into our company. The merger was approved by a special committee consisting solely of our independent directors, our full board of directors and the vote of a majority of our stockholders. The
stockholder of the manager, a trust controlled by Lloyd McAdams, our president, chairman and chief executive officer, and Heather U. Baines, one of our executive vice presidents, received 240,000 shares of our common stock as merger
consideration, which was worth approximately $3.2 million based on the closing price of our common stock on June 13, 2002. As a result of the merger, we are now an internally managed company, and certain of the managers employees
have become our employees. As a condition to the merger, we entered into direct employment contracts with Lloyd McAdams, Heather U. Baines and Joseph McAdams,



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adopted an incentive compensation plan for key employees, increased the size of our 1997 Stock Option and Awards Plan and provided for future
automatic increases in the size of that plan. Upon the closing of the merger, the management agreement terminated.



Our Strategy



Investment Strategy



Our strategy is to invest primarily in United States agency and other highly rated single-family adjustable-rate and fixed-rate
mortgage-backed securities that we acquire in the secondary market. We seek to acquire assets that will produce competitive returns after considering the amount and nature of the anticipated returns from the investment, our ability to pledge the
investment to secure collateralized borrowings and the costs associated with financing, managing, securitizing and reserving for these investments. We do not currently originate mortgage loans or provide other types of financing to the owners of
real estate.



Financing Strategy



We finance the acquisition of
mortgage-backed securities with short-term borrowings and, to a lesser extent, equity capital. The amount of short-term borrowings we employ depends on, among other factors, the amount of our equity capital. We use leverage to attempt to increase
potential returns to our stockholders. Pursuant to our capital and leverage policy, we seek to strike a balance between the under-utilization of leverage, which reduces potential returns to stockholders, and the over-utilization of leverage, which
could reduce our ability to meet our obligations during adverse market conditions.



We usually borrow at short-term rates using reverse repurchase agreements, or repurchase agreements. Repurchase agreements are generally short-term in nature. We actively manage the
adjustment periods and the selection of the interest rate indices of our borrowings against the adjustment periods and the selection of indices on our mortgage-related assets in order to limit our liquidity and interest rate related risks. We
generally seek to diversify our exposure by entering into repurchase agreements with multiple lenders. In addition, we enter into repurchase agreements with institutions we believe are financially sound and which meet credit standards approved by
our board of directors.



Growth Strategy



In addition to the strategies described
above, we intend to pursue other strategies to further grow our earnings and our dividends per share, which may include the following:



| |  |  | increasing the size of our balance sheet at a rate faster than the rate of increase in our operating expenses;
| | - |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | issuing new common stock when market opportunities exist to profitably increase the size of our balance sheet through the use of leverage; and
| | - |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | lowering our effective borrowing costs over time by seeking direct funding with collateralized lenders, rather than using financial intermediaries, and possibly
using commercial paper, medium term note programs, preferred stock and other forms of capital.
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Our Operating Policies and Programs



We have established the following four primary operating policies to implement our business strategies:



| |  |  | our Asset Acquisition Policy;
| | - |  | -----------------------------



| |  |  | our Capital and Leverage Policy;
| | - |  | --------------------------------



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| |  |  | our Credit Risk Management Policy; and
| | - |  | --------------------------------------



| |  |  | our Asset/Liability Management Policy.
| | - |  | --------------------------------------



Asset Acquisition Policy



Our asset acquisition policy provides guidelines for acquiring investments and contemplates that we will acquire a portfolio of
investments that can be grouped into specific categories. Each category and our respective investment guidelines are as follows:



| |  |  | Category IAt least 60% of our total assets will generally be adjustable or fixed-rate mortgage securities and short-term investments. Assets in this
category will be rated within one of the two highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or if not rated, will be obligations guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies, Fannie Mae
or Freddie Mac.
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | Category IIAt least 90% of our total assets will generally consist of Category I investments plus unrated mortgage loans, mortgage securities rated
at least investment grade by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or shares of other REITs or mortgage-related companies.
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | Category IIINo more than 10% of our total assets may be of a type not meeting any of the above criteria. Among the types of assets generally assigned to
this category are mortgage securities rated below investment grade and leveraged mortgage derivative securities.
| | - |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Under our Category III investment criteria, we may acquire other types of mortgage derivative securities, including, but not limited to,
interest only, principal only or other mortgage-backed securities that receive a disproportionate share of interest income or principal.



Capital and Leverage Policy



We employ a leverage strategy to increase our investment assets by borrowing against existing mortgage-related assets and using the
proceeds to acquire additional mortgage-related assets. We generally borrow between eight to twelve times the amount of our equity, although our borrowings may vary from time to time depending on market conditions and other factors deemed relevant
by our management company and our board of directors. We believe that this will leave an adequate capital base to protect against interest rate environments in which our borrowing costs might exceed our interest income from mortgage-related assets.
We enter into collateralized borrowings with institutions which meet credit standards approved by our board of directors.



Depending on the different cost of borrowing funds at different maturities, we may vary the maturities of our borrowed funds in an attempt
to produce lower borrowing costs. Our borrowings are short-term and we manage actively, on an aggregate basis, both the interest rate indices and interest rate adjustment periods of our borrowings against the interest rate indices and interest rate
adjustment periods on our mortgage-related assets.



Our mortgage-related assets are financed primarily at short-term borrowing rates through repurchase agreements and dollar-roll agreements. In the future we may also employ borrowings under lines of credit and other collateralized
financings that we may establish with approved institutional lenders.



Credit Risk Management Policy



We review credit risk and other risks of loss associated with each of our potential investments. In addition, we may diversify our portfolio of mortgage-related assets to avoid undue geographic, insurer, industry and certain other
types of concentrations. We may reduce certain risks from sellers and servicers through representations and warranties. We monitor the overall portfolio risk and determine appropriate levels of provision for loss.



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Compliance
with our credit risk management policy guidelines is determined at the time of purchase of mortgage assets, based upon the most recent valuation utilized by us. Such compliance is not affected by events subsequent to such purchase, including,
without limitation, changes in characterization, value or rating of any specific mortgage assets or economic conditions or events generally affecting any mortgage-related assets of the type held by us.



Asset/Liability Management Policy



Interest-Rate Risk
Management.    To the extent consistent with our election to qualify as a REIT, we follow an interest rate risk management program intended to protect our portfolio of mortgage-related assets and related debt against the
effects of major interest rate changes. Specifically, our interest rate management program is formulated with the intent to offset to some extent the potential adverse effects resulting from rate adjustment limitations on our mortgage-related assets
and the differences between interest rate adjustment indices and interest rate adjustment periods of our adjustable-rate mortgage-related assets and related borrowings.



Our interest rate risk management program encompasses a number of procedures, including the following:



| |  |  | monitoring and adjusting, if necessary, the interest rate sensitivity of our mortgage-related assets compared with the interest rate sensitivities of our borrowings;
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | attempting to structure our borrowing agreements relating to adjustable-rate mortgage-related assets to have a range of different maturities and interest rate
adjustment periods (although substantially all will be less than a year); and
| | - |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | actively managing, on an aggregate basis, the interest rate indices and interest rate adjustment periods of our mortgage-related assets compared to the interest rate
indices and adjustment periods of our borrowings.
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



As a result, we expect to be able to adjust the average maturity/adjustment period of our borrowings on an ongoing basis by changing the mix of maturities and interest rate adjustment periods as borrowings come due or are renewed.
Through the use of these procedures, we attempt to reduce the risk of differences between interest rate adjustment periods of our adjustable-rate mortgage-related assets and our related borrowings.



Depending on market conditions and the cost of the
transactions, we may conduct certain hedging activities in connection with the management of our portfolio, including periodically entering into derivative transaction with the objective of reducing interest rate risk. To the extent consistent with
our election to qualify as a REIT, we may adopt a hedging strategy intended to lessen the effects of interest rate changes and to enable us to earn net interest income in periods of generally rising, as well as declining or static, interest rates.
Specifically, hedging programs are formulated with the intent to offset some of the potential adverse effects of changes in interest rate levels relative to the interest rates on the mortgage-related assets held in our investment portfolio, and
differences between the interest rate adjustment indices and periods of our mortgage-related assets and our borrowings. We monitor carefully, and may have to limit, our asset/liability management program to assure that we do not realize excessive
hedging income, or hold hedges having excess value in relation to mortgage-related assets, which would result in our disqualification as a REIT or, in the case of excess hedging income, if the excess is due to reasonable cause and not willful
neglect, the payment of a penalty tax for failure to satisfy certain REIT income tests under the tax code. In addition, asset/liability management involves transaction costs that increase dramatically as the period covered by hedging protection
increases and that may increase during periods of fluctuating interest rates.



Prepayment Risk Management.    We also seek to lessen the effects of prepayment of mortgage loans underlying our securities at a faster or slower rate than anticipated. We
accomplish this by structuring a diversified portfolio with a variety of prepayment characteristics, investing in mortgage-related assets with prepayment prohibitions and penalties, investing in certain mortgage security structures that have
prepayment protections, and purchasing mortgage-related assets at a premium and at a discount. We invest in mortgage-related assets that on a portfolio basis do not have significant purchase price premiums. Under normal market



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conditions, we seek to maintain the aggregate capitalized purchase premium of the portfolio at 3% or less. In addition, we can purchase
principal only derivatives to a limited extent as a hedge against prepayment risks. We monitor prepayment risk through periodic review of the impact of a variety of prepayment scenarios on our revenues, net earnings, dividends, cash flow and net
balance sheet market value.



We believe that we
have developed cost-effective asset/liability management policies to mitigate prepayment risks. However, no strategy can completely insulate us from prepayment risks. Further, as noted above, certain of the federal income tax requirements that we
must satisfy to qualify as a REIT limit our ability to fully hedge our prepayment risks. Therefore, we could be prevented from effectively hedging our interest rate and prepayment risks.



Our Investments



Mortgage-Backed Securities



Pass-Through Certificates.    We principally invest in pass-through certificates, which are securities
representing interests in pools of mortgage loans secured by residential real property in which payments of both interest and principal on the securities are generally made monthly, in effect, passing through monthly payments made by the individual
borrowers on the mortgage loans which underlie the securities, net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-backed securities, arising from prepayments of principal due to sale of the
underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, net of fees and costs which may be incurred, may expose us to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. This is generally referred to as prepayment risk. Additionally, if a security
subject to prepayment has been purchased at a premium, the value of the premium would be lost in the event of prepayment. Like other fixed-income securities, when interest rates rise, the value of a mortgage-backed security generally will decline.



When interest rates are declining, however, the
value of mortgage-backed securities with prepayment features may not increase as much as other fixed-income securities. The rate of prepayments on underlying mortgages will affect the price and volatility of a mortgage-backed securities and may have
the effect of shortening or extending the effective maturity of the security beyond what was anticipated at the time of purchase. When interest rates rise, our holdings of mortgage-backed securities may experience reduced returns if the owners of
the underlying mortgages pay off their mortgages later than anticipated. This is generally referred to as extension risk.



Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage pass-through securities, although not the market value of the securities themselves,
may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the federal government, including securities backed by Ginnie Mae, or by agencies or instrumentalities of the federal government, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Mortgage-backed securities
created by non-governmental issuers, including commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers, may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees,
including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit, which may be issued by governmental entities, private insurers or the mortgage poolers.



Collateralized Mortgage Obligations.    Collateralized mortgage obligations, or
CMOs, are mortgage-backed securities. Interest and principal on a CMO are paid, in most cases, on a monthly basis. CMOs may be collateralized by whole mortgage loans, but are more typically collateralized by portfolios of mortgage pass-through
securities. CMOs are structured into multiple classes, with each class bearing a different stated maturity. Monthly payments of principal, including prepayments, are first returned to investors holding the shortest maturity class; investors holding
the longer maturity classes receive principal only after the first class has been retired. We will typically consider CMOs that are issued or guaranteed by the federal government or by any of its agencies or instrumentalities to be United States
government securities.



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Other
Mortgage-Backed Securities



Mortgage
Derivative Securities.    We may acquire mortgage derivative securities in an amount not to exceed 10% of our total assets. Mortgage derivative securities provide for the holder to receive interest only, principal only, or
interest and principal in amounts that are disproportionate to those payable on the underlying mortgage loans. Payments on mortgage derivative securities are highly sensitive to the rate of prepayments on the underlying mortgage loans. In the event
of faster or slower than anticipated prepayments on these mortgage loans, the rates of return on interests in mortgage derivative securities representing the right to receive interest only or a disproportionately large amount of interest, or
interest only derivatives, would be likely to decline or increase, respectively. Conversely, the rates of return on mortgage derivative securities representing the right to receive principal only or a disproportionate amount of principal, or
principal only derivatives, would be likely to increase or decrease in the event of faster or slower prepayments, respectively.



We may also invest in inverse floaters, a class of CMOs with a coupon rate that resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of
interest to which it is indexed, including LIBOR or the 11thDistrict Cost of Funds Index, or COFI. Any rise in
the index rate, which can be caused by an increase in interest rates, causes a drop in the coupon rate of an inverse floater while any drop in the index rate causes an increase in the coupon of an inverse floater. An inverse floater may behave like
a leveraged security since its interest rate usually varies by a magnitude much greater than the magnitude of the index rate of interest. The leverage-like characteristics inherent in inverse floaters are associated with greater volatility in their
market prices.



We may also invest in other
mortgage derivative securities that may be developed in the future.



Subordinated Interests.    We may also acquire subordinated interests, which are classes of mortgage-backed securities that are junior to other classes of the same series of mortgage-backed
securities in the right to receive payments from the underlying mortgage loans. The subordination may be for all payment failures on the mortgage loans securing or underlying such series of mortgage securities. The subordination will not be limited
to those resulting from particular types of risks, including those resulting from war, earthquake or flood, or the bankruptcy of a borrower. The subordination may be for the entire amount of the series of mortgage-related securities or may be
limited in amount.



Mortgage Warehouse
Participations.    We may also occasionally acquire mortgage warehouse participations as an additional means of diversifying our sources of income. We anticipate that these investments, together with our investments in other
Category III assets, will not in the aggregate exceed 10% of our total mortgage-related assets. These investments are participations in lines of credit to mortgage loan originators that are secured by recently originated mortgage loans that are
in the process of being sold to investors. Our investments in mortgage warehouse participations are limited because they are not qualified REIT assets under the tax code.



Other Mortgage-Related Assets



Mortgage Loans.    We may acquire and accumulate mortgage loans as part of our
investment strategy until a sufficient quantity has been accumulated for securitization into high-quality mortgage-backed securities in order to enhance their value and liquidity. We anticipate that any mortgage loans that we acquire and do not
immediately securitize, together with our investments in other mortgage-related assets that are not Category I assets, will not constitute more than 30% of our total mortgage-related assets at any time. All mortgage loans, if any, will be acquired
with the intention of securitizing them into high-credit quality mortgage securities. Despite our intentions, however, we may not be successful in securitizing these mortgage loans. To meet our investment criteria, mortgage loans acquired by us will
generally conform to the underwriting guidelines established by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or other credit insurers. Applicable banking laws generally require that an appraisal be obtained in connection with the original issuance of mortgage loans
by the lending institution. We do not intend to obtain additional appraisals at the time of acquiring mortgage loans.



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Mortgage loans
may be originated by or purchased from various suppliers of mortgage-related assets throughout the United States, including savings and loans associations, banks, mortgage bankers and other mortgage lenders. We may acquire mortgage loans directly
from originators and from entities holding mortgage loans originated by others. Our board of directors has not established any limits upon the geographic concentration of mortgage loans that we may acquire or the credit quality of suppliers of the
mortgage-related assets that we acquire.



Other Investments.    We may acquire other investments that include equity and debt securities issued by other primarily mortgage-related finance companies, interests in mortgage-related collateralized bond
obligations, other subordinated interests in pools of mortgage-related assets, commercial mortgage loans and securities, and residential mortgage loans other than high-credit quality mortgage loans. Although we expect that our other investments will
be limited to less than 10% of total assets, we have no limit on how much of our stockholders equity will be allocated to other investments. There may be periods in which other investments represent a large portion of our stockholders
equity.



Competition



When we invest in mortgage-backed securities and other
investment assets, we compete with a variety of institutional investors including other REITs, insurance companies, mutual funds, pension funds, investment banking firms, banks and other financial institutions that invest in the same types of
assets. Many of these investors have greater financial resources and access to lower costs of capital than we do.



Employees



As of December 31, 2002, we had ten employees, eight of whom were part-time.



Company



We were incorporated in Maryland on October 20, 1997 and commenced our operations on March 17,
1998. Our principal executive offices are located at 1299 Ocean Avenue, Suite 250, Santa Monica, California. Our telephone number is (310) 255-4493, and our website address is www.anworth.com. We make our annual reports on
Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file these reports with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.



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CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS



The following discussion summarizes particular United States
federal income tax considerations regarding our qualification and taxation as a REIT and particular United States federal income tax consequences resulting from the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock. This discussion is based
on current law and assumes that we have qualified at all times throughout our existence, and will continue to qualify, as a REIT for United States federal income tax purposes. The tax law upon which this discussion is based could be changed, and any
such change could have retroactive effect. The following discussion is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations. This summary neither gives a detailed discussion of any state, local or foreign tax considerations nor discusses all of the
aspects of United States federal income taxation that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances or to particular types of stockholders which are subject to special tax rules, such as insurance companies, tax-exempt entities,
financial institutions or broker-dealers, foreign corporations or partnerships, and persons who are not citizens or residents of the United States, stockholders that hold our stock as a hedge, part of a straddle, conversion transaction or other
arrangement involving more than one position, or stockholders whose functional currency is not the United States dollar. This discussion assumes that you will hold our common stock as a capital asset, generally property held for
investment, under the tax code.



You are urged to
consult with your own tax advisor regarding the specific consequences to you of the purchase, ownership and sale of stock in an entity electing to be taxed as a REIT, including the federal, state, local, foreign and other tax considerations of such
purchase, ownership, sale and election and the potential changes in applicable tax laws.



General



Our
qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon our ability to continue to meet the various qualification tests imposed under the tax code and discussed below relating to our actual annual operating results, asset diversification, distribution
levels and diversity of stock ownership. Accordingly, the actual results of our operations for any particular taxable year may not satisfy these requirements.



We have made an election to be taxed as a REIT under the tax code commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1998. We currently
expect to continue operating in a manner that will permit us to maintain our qualification as a REIT. All qualification requirements for maintaining our REIT status, however, may not have been or will not continue to be met.



So long as we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally
will be permitted a deduction for dividends we pay to our stockholders. As a result, we generally will not be required to pay federal corporate income taxes on our net income that is currently distributed to our stockholders. This treatment
substantially eliminates the double taxation that ordinarily results from investment in a corporation. Double taxation means taxation once at the corporate level when income is earned and once again at the stockholder level when this
income is distributed. We will be required to pay federal income tax, however, as follows:



| |  |  | we will be required to pay tax at regular corporate rates on any undistributed real estate investment trust taxable income, including undistributed net
capital gain;
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | we may be required to pay the alternative minimum tax on our items of tax preference; and
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | if we have (a) net income from the sale or other disposition of foreclosure property which is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course
of business, or (b) other nonqualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be required to pay tax at the highest corporate rate on this income. Foreclosure property is generally defined as property acquired through foreclosure or after a
default on a loan secured by the property or on a lease of the property.
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



We will be required to pay a 100% tax on any net income from prohibited transactions. Prohibited transactions are, in general, sales or other taxable dispositions of property, other than foreclosure
property, held



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primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. Under existing law, whether property is held as inventory or primarily
for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business depends on all the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction.



If we fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test discussed below, but nonetheless maintain our qualification
as a REIT because certain other requirements are met, we will be subject to a tax equal to:



| |  |  | the greater of (i) the amount by which 75% of our gross income exceeds the amount qualifying under the 75% gross income test described below, and (ii) the amount by
which 90% of our gross income exceeds the amount qualifying under the 95% gross income test described below, multiplied by
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------



We will be required to pay a 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amounts actually distributed if we fail to
distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of:



| |  |  | 85% of our real estate investment trust ordinary income for the year;
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | 95% of our real estate investment trust capital gain net income for the year; and
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | any undistributed taxable income from prior periods.
| | - |  | ----------------------------------------------------



This distribution requirement is in addition to, and different from the distribution requirements discussed below in the section entitled
Annual Distribution Requirements.



If
we acquire any asset from a corporation which is or has been taxed as a C corporation under the tax code in a transaction in which the basis of the asset in our hands is determined by reference to the basis of the asset in the hands of the C
corporation, and we subsequently recognize gain on the disposition of the asset during the ten-year period beginning on the date on which we acquired the asset, then we will be required to pay tax at the highest regular corporate tax rate on this
gain to the extent of the excess of:



| |  |  | the fair market value of the asset, over
| | - |  | ----------------------------------------



| |  |  | our adjusted basis in the asset, in each case determined as of the date on which we acquired the asset.
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



A C corporation is generally defined as a corporation required
to pay full corporate-level tax. The results described in the preceding paragraph with respect to the recognition of gain will apply unless the C corporation makes an election under Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-7T(c). If such an election
were made, the C corporation would recognize taxable gain or loss as if it had sold the assets we acquired from the C corporation to an unrelated party at fair market value on the date we acquired the assets.



Finally, we could be subject to an excise tax if our dealings
with any taxable REIT subsidiaries (defined below) are not at arms length.



Requirements for Qualification as a REIT



The tax code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:



| |  |  | that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | that issues transferable shares or transferable certificates to evidence beneficial ownership;
| | - |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | that would be taxable as a domestic corporation but for tax code Sections 856 through 859;
| | - |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | that is not a financial institution or an insurance company within the meaning of the tax code;
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | that is beneficially owned by 100 or more persons;
| | - |  | --------------------------------------------------



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| |  |  | not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals, including specified entities, during
the last half of each taxable year; and
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | that meets other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its distributions.
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The tax code provides that all of the first four conditions
stated above must be met during the entire taxable year and that the fifth condition must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of twelve months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than twelve months. The fifth and
sixth conditions do not apply until after the first taxable year for which an election is made to be taxed as a REIT.



For purposes of the sixth condition, pension trusts and other specified tax-exempt entities generally are treated as individuals, except
that a look-through exception generally applies with respect to pension funds.



Stock Ownership Tests



Our stock must be beneficially held by at least 100 persons, the 100 Stockholder Rule, and no more than 50% of the value of our stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer
individuals at any time during the last half of the taxable year, the 5/50 Rule. For purposes of the 100 Stockholder Rule only, trusts described in Section 401(a) of the tax code and exempt under Section 501(a) of the tax code, are
generally treated as persons. These stock ownership requirements must be satisfied in each taxable year other than the first taxable year for which an election is made to be taxed as a REIT. We are required to solicit information from certain of our
record stockholders to verify actual stock ownership levels, and our charter provides for restrictions regarding the transfer of our stock in order to aid in meeting the stock ownership requirements. If we were to fail either of the stock ownership
tests, we would generally be disqualified from REIT status.



Income Tests



We must
satisfy two gross income requirements annually to maintain our qualification as a REIT:



| |  |  | We must derive directly or indirectly at least 75% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, from specified real estate sources,
including rental income, interest on obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, gain from the disposition of qualified real estate assets, i.e., interests in real property, mortgages secured by
real property or interests in real property, and some other assets, and income from certain types of temporary investments, or the 75% gross income test; and
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | We must derive at least 95% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, from (a) the sources of income that satisfy the 75% gross
income test, (b) dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, including some interest rate swap and cap agreements, options, futures and forward contracts entered into to hedge variable rate debt incurred to
acquire qualified real estate assets, or (c) any combination of the foregoing, or the 95% gross income test.
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



For purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests, a REIT is deemed to have earned a proportionate share of the income earned by any
partnership, or any limited liability company treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, in which it owns an interest, which share is determined by reference to its capital interest in such entity, and is deemed to have earned the
income earned by any qualified REIT subsidiary (in general, a 100% owned corporate subsidiary of a REIT).



Interest earned by a REIT ordinarily does not qualify as income meeting the 75% or 95% gross income tests if the determination of all or
some of the amount of interest depends in any way on the income or profits of any person. Interest will not be disqualified from meeting such tests, however, solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales.



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If we fail to
satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for the year if we are entitled to relief under the tax code. Generally, we may avail ourselves of the relief provisions if:



| |  |  | our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect;
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | we attach a schedule of the sources of our income to our federal income tax return; and
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | any incorrect information on the schedule was not due to fraud with intent to evade tax.
| | - |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



If we are entitled to avail ourselves of the relief provisions, we will maintain our qualification as a REIT
but will be subject to certain penalty taxes as described above. We may not, however, be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions in all circumstances. If these relief provisions do not apply to a particular set of circumstances, we will
not qualify as a REIT.



Asset Tests



At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we must
satisfy four tests relating to the nature and diversification of our assets:



| |  |  | at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by qualified real estate assets (including mortgage loans), cash, cash items and government
securities;
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | not more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by securities, other than those securities included in the 75% asset test;
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | of the investments included in the 25% asset class, the value of any one issuers securities may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets, and we
generally may not own more than 10% by vote or value of any one issuers outstanding securities, in each case except with respect to stock of any taxable REIT subsidiaries; and
| | - |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | the value of the securities we own in any taxable REIT subsidiaries may not exceed 20% of the value of our total assets.
| | - |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



A taxable REIT subsidiary is any corporation in
which we own stock and as to which we and such corporation jointly elect to treat such subsidiary as a taxable REIT subsidiary. For purposes of the asset tests, we will be deemed to own a proportionate share of the assets of any partnership, or any
limited liability company treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, in which we own an interest, which share is determined by reference to our capital interest in the entity, and will be deemed to own the assets owned by any
qualified REIT subsidiary and any other entity that is disregarded for federal income tax purposes.



After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our status as a REIT for failure to satisfy the
asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in asset values. If we fail to satisfy the asset tests because we acquire securities or other property during a quarter, we can cure this failure by disposing of sufficient
nonqualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. For this purpose, an increase in our interests in any partnership or limited liability company in which we own an interest will be treated as an acquisition of a portion of the
securities or other property owned by that partnership or limited liability company.



Annual Distribution Requirements



To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to our stockholders in an amount at least equal to the sum of:



| |  |  | 90% of our REIT taxable income, and
| | - |  | -------------------------------------



| |  |  | 90% of our after tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property, minus
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------



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| |  |  | the excess of the sum of specified items of our non-cash income items over 5% of REIT taxable income, as described below.
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



For purposes of these distribution requirements, our
REIT taxable income is computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction (described below) and net capital gain. For purposes of this test, non-cash income means income attributable to leveled stepped rents, certain original issue
discount, certain like-kind exchanges that are later determined to be taxable and income from cancellation of indebtedness. In addition, our taxable income would exceed our net income for financial reporting purposes to the extent that compensation
paid to our chief executive officer and our other four highest paid officers exceeds $1,000,000 for any such officer for any calendar year. Since payments under our 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan do not qualify as performance-based compensation
under Section 162(m) of the tax code, a portion of the payments made under such plan to certain of such officers would not be deductible for federal income tax purposes under such circumstances. Moreover, if we disposed of any asset we acquired from
a corporation which is or has been a C corporation in a transaction in which our basis in the asset is determined by reference to the basis of the asset in the hands of that C corporation and we elected not to recognize gain currently in connection
with the acquisition of such asset, we would be required to distribute at least 90% of the after-tax gain, if any, we recognize on a disposition of the asset within the ten-year period following our acquisition of such asset, to the extent that such
gain does not exceed the excess of:



| |  |  | the fair market value of the asset on the date we acquired the asset, over
| | - |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | our adjusted basis in the asset on the date we acquired the asset.
| | - |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------



Only distributions that qualify for the dividends paid deduction available to REITs under the tax
code are counted in determining whether the distribution requirements are satisfied. We must make these distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if they are declared before we timely file our tax
return for that year, paid on or before the first regular dividend payment following the declaration and we elect on our tax return to have a specified dollar amount of such distributions treated as if paid in the prior year. For these and other
purposes, dividends declared by us in October, November or December of one taxable year and payable to a stockholder of record on a specific date in any such month shall be treated as both paid by us and received by the stockholder during such
taxable year, provided that the dividend is actually paid by us by January 31 of the following taxable year.



In addition, dividends distributed by us must not be preferential. If a dividend is preferential, it will not qualify for the dividends
paid deduction. To avoid being preferential, every stockholder of the class of stock to which a distribution is made must be treated the same as every other stockholder of that class, and no class of stock may be treated other than according to its
dividend rights as a class.



To the extent that
we do not distribute all of our net capital gain, or we distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our REIT taxable income, as adjusted, we will be required to pay tax on this undistributed income at regular ordinary and capital
gain corporate tax rates.



Failure to Qualify as a REIT



If we fail to qualify for taxation as a
REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions of the tax code do not apply, we will be required to pay tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income in that taxable year and all subsequent taxable years at
regular corporate rates. Distributions to stockholders in any year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT will not be deductible by us and we will not be required to distribute any amounts to our stockholders. As a result, we anticipate that our
failure to qualify as a REIT would reduce the cash available for distribution to our stockholders. In addition, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, all distributions to stockholders will be taxable at ordinary income rates to the extent of our current
and accumulated earnings and profits. In this event, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we will also be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for
the four taxable years following the year in which we lose our qualification.



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Taxation Of Taxable United
States Stockholders



For purposes of the
discussion in this Form 10-K, the term United States stockholder means a holder of our stock that is, for United States federal income tax purposes:



| |  |  | a citizen or resident of the United States;
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------



| |  |  | a corporation, partnership, or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof or in the District of Columbia,
unless Treasury regulations provide otherwise;
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
| | - |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | a trust whose administration is subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and which has one or more United States persons who have the authority to
control all substantial decisions of the trust.
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Distributions Generally



Distributions out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, other than capital gain dividends, will be taxable to United States stockholders as ordinary income. Provided that we continue to qualify as a REIT, dividends paid
by us will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction generally available to United States stockholders that are corporations. To the extent that we make distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, the
distributions will be treated as a tax-free return of capital to each United States stockholder, and will reduce the adjusted tax basis which each United States stockholder has in our stock by the amount of the distribution, but not below zero.
Distributions in excess of a United States stockholders adjusted tax basis in its stock will be taxable as capital gain, and will be taxable as long-term capital gain if the stock has been held for more than one year. If we declare a dividend
in October, November, or December of any calendar year which is payable to stockholders of record on a specified date in such a month and actually pay the dividend during January of the following calendar year, the dividend is deemed to be paid by
us and received by the stockholder on December 31stof the previous year. Stockholders may not include in their own
income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses.



Capital Gain Distributions



Distributions designated by us as capital gain dividends will be taxable to United States stockholders as capital gain income. We can designate distributions as capital gain dividends to the extent of our net capital gain for the
taxable year of the distribution. This capital gain income will generally be taxable to non-corporate United States stockholders at a 20% or 25% rate based on the characteristics of the asset we sold that produced the gain. United States
stockholders that are corporations may be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income.



An 18% capital gains rate applies to certain assets acquired after December 31, 2000, and to certain assets held on January 1, 2001, as to
which an election is made to treat such assets as having been sold and then reacquired on the same date. If the election is made, the asset will be deemed to be sold at its fair market value and any gain, but not loss, will be recognized. Although
the IRS has yet to issue any official guidance on how the 18% rate would apply to distributions made by us, the IRS has indicated in income tax forms that the lower rate will apply to designated capital gain distributions we make to the extent that
the gain is derived from the disposition of a capital asset acquired by us after December 31, 2000 and held for more than five years at the time of disposition.



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Retention
of Net Capital Gains



We may elect to
retain, rather than distribute as a capital gain dividend, our net capital gains. If we were to make this election, we would pay tax on such retained capital gains. In such a case, our stockholders would generally:



| |  |  | include their proportionate share of our undistributed net capital gains in their taxable income;
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | receive a credit for their proportionate share of the tax paid by us in respect of such net capital gain; and
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | increase the adjusted basis of their stock by the difference between the amount of their share of our undistributed net capital gain and their share of the tax paid
by us.
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Passive Activity Losses,
Investment Interest Limitations and Other Considerations of Holding Our Stock



Distributions we make and gains arising from the sale or exchange of our stock by a United States stockholder will not be treated as passive activity income. As a result, United States stockholders
will not be able to apply any passive losses against income or gains relating to our stock. Distributions by us, to the extent they do not constitute a return of capital, generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of
computing the investment interest limitation under the tax code. Further, if we, or a portion of our assets, were to be treated as a taxable mortgage pool, any excess inclusion income that is allocated to you could not be offset by any losses or
other deductions you may have.



Dispositions
of Stock



A United States stockholder that
sells or disposes of our stock will recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash or the fair market value of any property the stockholder receives on the sale or other
disposition and the stockholders adjusted tax basis in the stock. This gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the stockholder has held the stock for more than one year. In general, any loss
recognized by a United States stockholder upon the sale or other disposition of our stock that the stockholder has held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent the stockholder received distributions from us
which were required to be treated as long-term capital gains.



Information Reporting and Backup Withholding



We report to our United States stockholders and the IRS the amount of dividends paid during each calendar year, and the amount of any tax withheld. Under the backup withholding rules, a stockholder may be subject to backup
withholding with respect to dividends paid and redemption proceeds unless the holder is a corporation or comes within other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or provides a taxpayer identification number or social security
number, certifying as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A United States stockholder that does not provide us with its correct taxpayer identification
number or social security number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. A United States stockholder can meet this requirement by providing us with a correct, properly completed and executed copy of IRS Form W-9 or a substantially
similar form. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount paid as backup withholding will be creditable against the stockholders income tax liability, if any, and otherwise be refundable. In addition, we may be required to withhold
a portion of capital gain distributions made to any stockholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status.



The backup withholding tax rate is 30% for amounts distributed after December 31, 2001 and on or before December 31, 2003. After 2003, the
backup withholding tax rate will be gradually reduced until 2006, when the backup-withholding rate will be 28%.



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Taxation of Tax-Exempt
Stockholders



The IRS has ruled that amounts
distributed as a dividend by a REIT will be treated as a dividend by the recipient and excluded from the calculation of unrelated business taxable income when received by a tax-exempt entity. Based on that ruling, provided that a tax-exempt
stockholder has not held our stock as debt financed property within the meaning of the tax code, i.e., property the acquisition or holding of which is financed through a borrowing by the tax-exempt United States stockholder, the stock is
not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business, and we do not hold a residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit, REMIC, that gives rise to excess inclusion income, as defined in Section 860E of the tax code,
dividend income on our stock and income from the sale of our stock should not be unrelated business taxable income to a tax-exempt stockholder. However, if we were to hold residual interests in a REMIC, or if we or a pool of our assets were to be
treated as a taxable mortgage pool, a portion of the dividends paid to a tax-exempt stockholder may be subject to tax as unrelated business taxable income. Although we do not believe that we, or any portion of our assets, will be treated
as a taxable mortgage pool, no assurance can be given that the IRS might not successfully maintain that such a taxable mortgage pool exists.



For tax-exempt stockholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and
qualified group legal services plans exempt from federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) and (c)(20) of the tax code, respectively, income from an investment in our stock will constitute unrelated business taxable income
unless the organization is able to properly claim a deduction for amounts set aside or placed in reserve for certain purposes so as to offset the income generated by its investment in our stock. Any prospective investors should consult their tax
advisors concerning these set aside and reserve requirements.



Notwithstanding the above, however, a substantial portion of the dividends you receive may constitute unrelated business taxable income if we are treated as a pension-held REIT and you are a pension trust which:



| |  |  | is described in Section 401(a) of the tax code; and
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | holds more than 10%, by value, of the interests in the REIT.
| | - |  | ------------------------------------------------------------



Tax-exempt pension funds that are described in Section 401(a) of the tax code and exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of the tax code are
referred to below as qualified trusts.



A REIT is a pension-held REIT if:



| |  |  | it would not have qualified as a REIT but for the fact that Section 856(h)(3) of the tax code provides that stock owned by a qualified trust shall be treated, for
purposes of the 5/50 Rule, described above, as owned by the beneficiaries of the trust, rather than by the trust itself; and
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | either at least one qualified trust holds more than 25%, by value, of the interests in the REIT, or one or more qualified trusts, each of which owns more than 10%,
by value, of the interests in the REIT, holds in the aggregate more than 50%, by value, of the interests in the REIT.
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The percentage of any REIT dividend treated as unrelated business taxable income is equal to the ratio of:



| |  |  | the unrelated business taxable income earned by the REIT, less directly related expenses, treating the REIT as if it were a qualified trust and therefore subject to
tax on unrelated business taxable income, to
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | the total gross income, less directly related expenses, of the REIT.
| | - |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------



A de minimis exception applies where the percentage is less than 5% for any year. As a result of the
limitations on the transfer and ownership of stock contained in our charter, we do not expect to be classified as a pension-held REIT.



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Taxation of Non-United
States Stockholders



The rules governing
federal income taxation of non-United States stockholders are complex and no attempt will be made herein to provide more than a summary of these rules. Non-United States stockholders mean beneficial owners of shares of our
stock that are not United States stockholders (as such term is defined in the discussion above under the heading entitled Taxation of Taxable United States Stockholders).



PROSPECTIVE NON-UNITED STATES STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF
FOREIGN, FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL INCOME TAX LAWS WITH REGARD TO AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STOCK AND OF OUR ELECTION TO BE TAXED AS A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, INCLUDING ANY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.



Distributions to non-United States stockholders that are not
attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of United States real property interests and that are not designated by us as capital gain dividends or retained capital gains will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are
made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. These distributions will generally be subject to a withholding tax equal to 30% of the distribution unless an applicable tax treaty reduces or eliminates that tax. However, if income from
an investment in our stock is treated as effectively connected with the non-United States stockholders conduct of a United States trade or business, the non-United States stockholder generally will be subject to federal income tax at graduated
rates in the same manner as United States stockholders are taxed with respect to those distributions, and also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a non-United States stockholder that is a corporation. We expect to withhold
tax at the rate of 30% on the gross amount of any distributions made to a non-United States stockholder unless:



| |  |  | a lower treaty rate applies and any required form, for example IRS Form W-8BEN, evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate is filed by the non-United States
stockholder with us; or
| | - |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | the non-United States stockholder files an IRS Form W-8ECI with us claiming that the distribution is effectively connected income.
| | - |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Any portion of the dividends paid to non-United States
stockholders that is treated as excess inclusion income will not be eligible for exemption from the 30% withholding tax or a reduced treaty rate.



Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to non-United States stockholders to the
extent that these distributions do not exceed the adjusted basis of the stockholders stock, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of that stock. To the extent that distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits
exceed the adjusted basis of a non-United States stockholders stock, these distributions will give rise to tax liability if the non-United States stockholder would otherwise be subject to tax on any gain from the sale or disposition of its
stock, as described below. Because it generally cannot be determined at the time a distribution is made whether or not such distribution may be in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, the entire amount of any distribution normally
will be subject to withholding at the same rate as a dividend. However, amounts so withheld are creditable against United States tax liability, if any, or refundable by the IRS to the extent the distribution is subsequently determined to be in
excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. We are also required to withhold 10% of any distribution in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits if our stock is a United States real property interest because we are
not a domestically controlled REIT, as discussed below. Consequently, although we intend to withhold at a rate of 30% on the entire amount of any distribution, to the extent that we do not do so, any portion of a distribution not subject to
withholding at a rate of 30% may be subject to withholding at a rate of 10%.



Distributions attributable to our capital gains which are not attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of a United States real property interest generally will not be subject to income taxation,
unless (1) investment in



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our stock is effectively connected with the non-United States stockholders U.S. trade or business (or, if an income tax treaty applies,
is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment of the non-United States stockholder), in which case the non-United States stockholder will be subject to the same treatment as United States stockholders with respect to such gain (except that a
corporate non-United States stockholder may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax), or (2) the non-United States stockholder is a non-resident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year
and certain other conditions are satisfied, in which case the non-resident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individuals capital gains.



For any year in which we qualify as a REIT, distributions that are attributable to gain from the sale or
exchange of a United States real property interest, which includes some interests in real property, but generally does not include an interest solely as a creditor in mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities, will be taxed to a non-United States
stockholder under the provisions of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, or FIRPTA. Under FIRPTA, distributions attributable to gain from sales of United States real property interests are taxed to a non-United States stockholder
as if that gain were effectively connected with the stockholders conduct of a United States trade or business. Non-United States stockholders thus would be taxed at the normal capital gain rates applicable to stockholders, subject to
applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals. Distributions subject to FIRPTA also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a non-United States corporate
stockholder. We are required to withhold 35% of any distribution that we designate (or, if greater, the amount that we could designate) as a capital gains dividend. The amount withheld is creditable against the non-United States stockholders
FIRPTA tax liability.



Gains recognized by a
non-United States stockholder upon a sale of our stock generally will not be taxed under FIRPTA if we are a domestically controlled REIT, which is a REIT in which at all times during a specified testing period less than 50% in value of the stock was
held directly or indirectly by non-United States stockholders. Because our stock is publicly traded, we cannot assure our investors that we are or will remain a domestically controlled REIT. Even if we are not a domestically-controlled REIT,
however, a non-United States stockholder that owns, actually or constructively, 5% or less of our stock throughout a specified testing period will not recognize taxable gain on the sale of our stock under FIRPTA if the shares are traded on an
established securities market.



If gain from the
sale of the stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-United States stockholder would be subject to the same treatment as United States stockholders with respect to that gain, subject to applicable alternative minimum tax, a special
alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals, and the possible application of the 30% branch profits tax in the case of non-United States corporations. In addition, the purchaser of the stock could be required to withhold 10%
of the purchase price and remit such amount to the IRS.



Gains not subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to a non-United States stockholder if:



| |  |  | the non-United States stockholders investment in the stock is effectively connected with a trade or business in the United States, in which case the non-United
States stockholder will be subject to the same treatment as United States stockholders with respect to that gain; or
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | the non-United States stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and other
conditions are met, in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individuals capital gains.
| | - |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Information Reporting and Backup Withholding



If the proceeds of a disposition of our stock are paid by or through a U.S. office of a broker-dealer, the
payment is generally subject to information reporting and to backup withholding (currently at a rate of 30%,



17



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##### Table of Contents

subject to reduction in years after 2003) unless the disposing non-United States stockholder certifies as to his name, address and non-U.S.
status or otherwise establishes an exemption. Generally, U.S. information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to a payment of disposition proceeds if the payment is made outside the U.S. through a foreign office of a foreign
broker-dealer. If the proceeds from a disposition of our stock are paid to or through a foreign office of a U.S. broker-dealer or a non-U.S. office of a foreign broker-dealer that is (i) a controlled foreign corporation for federal
income tax purposes, (ii) a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income from all sources for a three-year period was effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, (iii) a foreign partnership with one or more partners who are U.S. persons
and who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital interest in the partnership, or (iv) a foreign partnership engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, then (i) backup withholding will not apply unless the
broker-dealer has actual knowledge that the owner is not a foreign stockholder, and (ii) information reporting will not apply if the non-United States stockholder satisfies certification requirements regarding its status as a foreign stockholder.



State, Local and Foreign Taxation



We may be required to pay state, local and foreign taxes in
various state, local and foreign jurisdictions, including those in which we transact business or make investments, and our stockholders may be required to pay state, local and foreign taxes in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions,
including those in which they reside. Our state, local and foreign tax treatment may not conform to the federal income tax consequences summarized above. In addition, a stockholders state, local and foreign tax treatment may not conform to the
federal income tax consequences summarized above. Consequently, prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect of state, local and foreign tax laws on an investment in our stock.



|Item 2. |  | PROPERTY
|------- |  | --------



We
sublease approximately 5,500 square feet of office space in Santa Monica, California under a sublease agreement with Pacific Income Advisers, Inc. that expires in 2012.



|Item 3. |  | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
|------- |  | -----------------



We are
not a party to any material pending legal proceedings.



|Item 4. |  | SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
|------- |  | ---------------------------------------------------



No
matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the quarter ended December 31, 2002.



18



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##### Table of Contents

PART II



|Item 5. |  | MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
|------- |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------



Market Information



Our common stock began trading under the
symbol ANH on the American Stock Exchange on March 17, 1998. Preceding March 17, 1998, there had been no public market for our common stock. The high and low sale prices for our common stock as reported by the American Stock Exchange for the periods
indicated are as follows:



|               |  | 2001 |      | 2002
|-------------- |  | ---- | ---- | ----
|               |  | High |      | Low 
|First Quarter  |  | $    | 5.35 |     
|Second Quarter |  | $    | 6.90 |     
|Third Quarter  |  | $    | 8.08 |     
|Fourth Quarter |  | $    | 9.85 |     



Holders



As of March 21, 2003 there were
approximately 452 record holders of our common stock. On March 21, 2003, the last reported sale price of the common stock on the American Stock Exchange was $13.05 per share.



Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities



On June 13, 2002, Anworth Mortgage Advisory Corporation, our external manager, merged with and into our
company. The stockholder of the manager, a trust controlled by Lloyd McAdams, our president, chairman and chief executive officer, and Heather U. Baines, one of our executive vice presidents, received 240,000 unregistered shares of our common
stock as merger consideration, which was worth approximately $3.2 million based on the closing price of our common stock on June 13, 2002. The shares were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act of 1933.



Dividends



We pay cash dividends on a quarterly basis. The following
table lists the cash dividends declared on each share of our common stock for our most recent two fiscal years. The dividends listed below were based primarily on the board of directors evaluation of earnings for each listed quarter and were
declared on the date indicated.



|                                          |  | Cash Dividends Per Share |      | Date Dividend Declared
|----------------------------------------- |  | ------------------------ | ---- | ----------------------
|2001                                      |  |                          |      |                       
|First Quarter ended March 31, 2001        |  | $                        | 0.20 |                       
|Second Quarter ended June 30, 2001        |  | $                        | 0.24 |                       
|Third Quarter ended September 30, 2001(1) |  | $                        | 0.54 |                       
|Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2001(2) |  | $                        | 0.25 |                       
|Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2001(3) |  | $                        | 0.30 |                       
|2002                                      |  |                          |      |                       
|First Quarter ended March 31, 2002        |  | $                        | 0.50 |                       
|Second Quarter ended June 30, 2002        |  | $                        | 0.50 |                       
|Third Quarter ended September 30, 2002    |  | $                        | 0.50 |                       
|Fourth Quarter ended December 31, 2002(4) |  | $                        | 0.50 |                       

---

|(1) |  | The dividend of $0.54 was based on our retained earnings as of September 30, 2001, of which $0.42 was earned in the third quarter of 2001 and the remaining $0.12 was
earned in prior quarters.
|--- |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(2) |  | On October 15, 2001, our board of directors declared a dividend of $0.25, paid on January 15, 2002, for purposes of year-end REIT compliance requirements.
|--- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(3) |  | The dividend was paid on January 22, 2002 to holders of record as of the close of business on December 20, 2001.
|--- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(4) |  | The dividend was paid on January 27, 2003 to holders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2002.
|--- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



19



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##### Table of Contents



Equity Compensation Plan
Information



The following table provides
information as of December 31, 2002 with respect to our common shares issuable under our equity compensation plans:



|Plan Category                                                 |  | (a) Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding
options, warrants and rights |  | (b) Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and
rights |       | (c) Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
|------------------------------------------------------------- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----- | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1)     |  | 655,179                                                                                         |  | $                                                                               | 10.10 |                                                                                                                                                
|Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders(2) |  | N/A                                                                                             |  |                                                                                 | N/A   |                                                                                                                                                
|                                                              |  |                                                                                                 |  |                                                                                 |       |                                                                                                                                                
|Total                                                         |  | 655,179                                                                                         |  | $                                                                               | 10.10 |                                                                                                                                                

---

|(1) |  | The Anworth 1997 Stock Option and Awards Plan, as amended, allows for the granting of stock options and other awards to eligible individuals, which generally
includes directors, officers, employees and consultants. The plan does not segregate the number of securities remaining available for future issuance among stock options and other awards. The 519,104 shares authorized for future issuance represents
the total number of shares available through any combination of stock options or other awards. The share reserve under the plan automatically increases on the first trading day in January each calendar year by an amount equal to two (2%) percent of
the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding on the last trading day of December in the prior calendar year, but in no event will this annual increase exceed 300,000 shares and in no event will the total number of shares of common
stock in the share reserve (as adjusted for all such annual increases) exceed 3 million shares. See Note 7 to our financial statements.
|--- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(2) |  | The Company has not authorized the issuance of its equity securities under any plan not approved by security holders.
|--- |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



20



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##### Table of Contents



|Item 6. |  | SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
|------- |  | -----------------------



The
selected financial data as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002 are derived from our audited financial statements included in this Form 10-K. The selected financial data as of December 31, 2000,
1999 and 1998 and for the year ended December 31, 1999 and for the period from commencement of operations on March 17, 1998 to December 31, 1998 are derived from audited financial statements not included in this Form 10-K. You should read these
selected financial data together with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our audited and unaudited financial statements and notes thereto that are included in this Form 10-K
beginning on page F-1.



|                                     |  | Period from March 17 to December 31,          |        |   | Year Ended December 31, |  
|------------------------------------ |  | --------------------------------------------- | ------ | - | ----------------------- | -
|                                     |  | 1998                                          |        |   | 1999                    |  
|                                     |  | (amounts in thousands, except per share data) |       
|Statement of Operations Data:        |  |                                               |        |   |                         |  
|Days in period                       |  |                                               | 290    |   |                         |  
|Interest and dividend income         |  | $                                             | 8,570  |   |                         | $
|Interest expense                     |  |                                               | (7,378 | ) |                         |  
|                                     |  |                                               |        |   |                         |  
|Net interest income                  |  |                                               | 1,192  |   |                         |  
|Gain on sales                        |  |                                               |       |   |                         |  
|Expenses                             |  |                                               | (307   | ) |                         |  
|                                     |  |                                               |        |   |                         |  
|Net income                           |  | $                                             | 885    |   |                         | $
|                                     |  |                                               |        |   |                         |  
|Basic net income per average share   |  | $                                             | 0.38   |   |                         | $
|Diluted net income per average share |  | $                                             | 0.38   |   |                         | $
|Dividends declared per share (1)     |  | $                                             | 0.37   |   |                         | $
|Weighted average shares outstanding  |  |                                               | 2,316  |   |                         |  



|                                    |  | At December 31,                              
|----------------------------------- |  | ---------------------------------------------
|                                    |  | 1998                                         
|                                    |  | (amounts in thousands, except per share data)
|Balance Sheet Data:                 |  |                                              
|Mortgage-backed securities, net     |  | $                                            
|Total assets                        |  | $                                            
|Repurchase agreements               |  | $                                            
|Total liabilities                   |  | $                                            
|Stockholders equity                |  | $                                            
|Number of common shares outstanding |  |                                              
|Book value per share                |  | $                                            



21



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##### Table of Contents



|                                                         |  | Period from March 17 to December 31, |         |   | Year Ended December 31, |  
|-------------------------------------------------------- |  | ------------------------------------ | ------- | - | ----------------------- | -
|                                                         |  | 1998                                 |         |   | 1999                    |  
|                                                         |  | (dollar amounts in thousands)        |        
|Other Data (unaudited):                                  |  |                                      |         |   |                         |  
|Average earnings assets                                  |  | $                                    | 181,445 |   |                         | $
|Average borrowings                                       |  | $                                    | 165,496 |   |                         | $
|Average equity (2)                                       |  | $                                    | 19,060  |   |                         | $
|Yield on interest earning assets (3)                     |  |                                      | 5.94    | % |                         |  
|Cost of funds on interest bearing liabilities            |  |                                      | 5.61    | % |                         |  
|Annualized Financial Ratios (unaudited) (2)(4):          |  |                                      |         |   |                         |  
|Net interest margin (net interest income/average assets) |  |                                      | 0.83    | % |                         |  
|G&A expenses as a percentage of average assets (5)       |  |                                      | 0.21    | % |                         |  
|Return on average assets (5)                             |  |                                      | 0.61    | % |                         |  
|Return on average equity (5)                             |  |                                      | 5.84    | % |                         |  

---

|(1) |  | On September 26, 2000, our board of directors announced that, beginning with the third quarter of 2000, dividends would generally be declared after each quarter-end
rather than during the applicable quarter.
|--- |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(2) |  | Average equity excludes fair value adjustment for mortgage-backed securities.
|--- |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(3) |  | Excludes gain on sale of securities.
|--- |  | ------------------------------------

|(4) |  | Each ratio for 1998 has been computed by annualizing the results for the 290-day period ended December 31, 1998.
|--- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(5) |  | Excludes management and incentive fees paid to the manager, incentive compensation paid to our employees and the acquisition costs of $3,475,000 paid for the
manager.
|--- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



22



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##### Table of Contents



|Item 7. |  | MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
|------- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The
following discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ
materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including those set forth under Risk Factors herein.



General



We were formed in October 1997 to invest primarily in mortgage-related assets, including mortgage pass-through certificates,
collateralized mortgage obligations, mortgage loans and other securities representing interests in, or obligations backed by, pools of mortgage loans which can be readily financed. We commenced operations on March 17, 1998 upon the closing of our
initial public offering. Our principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to stockholders based upon the spread between the interest income on our mortgage-backed securities and the costs of borrowing to finance our
acquisition of mortgage-backed securities.



From
the time of our inception through June 13, 2002, we were externally managed by Anworth Mortgage Advisory Company, or the manager, pursuant to a management agreement. As an externally managed company, we had no employees of our own and relied on the
manager to conduct our business and operations. On June 13, 2002, the manager merged with and into our company. The merger was approved by a special committee consisting solely of our independent directors, our full board of directors and the vote
of a majority of our stockholders. Upon the closing of the merger, the management agreement terminated.



The market value of our common stock issued, valued as of the consummation of the merger, in excess of the fair value of the net tangible
assets acquired, has been accounted for as a non-cash charge to operating income. Since we did not acquire tangible net assets from the manager in the merger, the non-cash charge equaled the value of the consideration paid in the merger, which was
approximately $3.2 million. This non-cash charge did not reduce our taxable income of which at least 90% must be paid as dividends to stockholders to maintain our status as a REIT. It did, however, reduce our reportable net income. In addition, we
incurred $295,000 in merger related expenses.



Over the past year, the continued dramatic decline in the general level of interest rates has had a materially positive impact on our financial results. As a result of the interest rate reductions by the Federal Reserve Board, the
one-month LIBOR rate has declined from 1.87% as of December 31, 2001 to 1.38% as of December 31, 2002. This decline in short-term interest rates has reduced the rates at which we borrow funds to finance our portfolio holdings. Our cost of financing
has declined from 4.16% for the year ended December 31, 2001 to 2.14% for the year ended December 31, 2002.



We are organized for tax purposes as a REIT. Accordingly, we generally distribute substantially all of our earnings to stockholders
without paying federal or state income tax at the corporate level on the distributed earnings. As of December 31, 2002, our qualified REIT assets (real estate assets, as defined in the tax code, cash and cash items and government securities) were
greater than 90% of our total assets, as compared to the tax code requirement that at least 75% of our total assets must be qualified REIT assets. Greater than 99% of our 2002 revenue qualifies for both the 75% source of income test and the 95%
source of income test under the REIT rules. We believe we met all REIT requirements regarding the ownership of our common stock and the distributions of our net income. Therefore, we believe that we continue to qualify as a REIT under the provisions
of the tax code.



23



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##### Table of Contents



Results Of Operations



Years Ended December 31, 2002 and
2001



For the year ended December 31,
2002, our net income was $31,670,000, or $1.80 per diluted share, based on an average of 17,590,888 shares outstanding. For the year ended December 31, 2001, our net income was $3,706,000, or $1.50 per diluted share, based on an average of 2,466,817
shares outstanding. Net interest income is comprised of the interest income earned on mortgage investments less interest expense from borrowings. The increase in our profitability in 2002 over 2001 was due to the continued decline in the general
level of interest rates, allowing us to decrease our borrowing expense at a rate greater than the rate at which the interest income on our assets declined. There is no assurance that this trend will continue in 2003.



Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2002
totaled $37,279,000, or 55.8% of total interest income, compared to $4,405,000, or 40.9% of total interest income, for the year ended December 31, 2001. As a result of investing the proceeds of our common stock offerings, our assets and borrowings
have increased significantly from last year. This has resulted in a large increase in our income and interest expense in 2002 compared to 2001. The increase in our spread, the difference between the yield on interest earning assets and the cost of
funds on interest bearing liabilities, was due primarily to short-term interest rates paid on our borrowings decreasing more than the interest rates earned on our mortgage-backed assets. Also, during the year ended December 31, 2002, we realized a
net gain on the sale of assets in the amount of $4,708,605, or 7.0% of total interest income, compared to $430,000 or 4.0% of total interest income, during the year ended December 31, 2001.



For the year ended December 31, 2002, our operating expenses
increased to $4,701,227, or 7.0% of total interest income, from $323,000, or 3.0% of total interest income, for the year ended December 31, 2001. This increase was due primarily to increased expenses associated with compensation paid under our
incentive compensation plan resulting from increased earnings.



Our return on average equity was 19.79% for the year ended December 31, 2002, compared to 18.28% for the year ended December 31, 2001. Excluding management and incentive fees paid to our management company, incentive compenation paid
to our employees and the acquisition costs of $3,475,000 paid for the manager, our return on average equity was 25.20% for the year ended December 31, 2002.



We paid the manager an incentive fee of $1,741,393 for the period between January 1, 2002 and June 13, 2002,
the date of our merger. In 2001, the manager earned an incentive fee of $598,000. We paid incentive compensation under our 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan of $3,054,911 for the period between June 13, 2002, the date of our merger, and December 31,
2002.



Years Ended December 31, 2001 and
2000



For the year ended December 31,
2001, our net income was $3,706,000, or $1.50 per diluted share, based on an average of 2,466,817 shares outstanding. For the year ended December 31, 2000, our net income was $1,261,000, or $0.54 per diluted share based on an average of 2,330,987
shares outstanding. The increase in our profitability in 2001 over 2000 was due to the dramatic decline in the general level of interest rates, allowing us to decrease our borrowing expense at a rate greater than the rate at which the interest
income on our assets declined.



Net interest
income for the year ended December 31, 2001 totaled $4,405,000, or 40.9% of total interest income, compared to $1,640,000, or 15.9% of total interest income, for the year ended December 31, 2000. Also, during the year ended December 31, 2001, we
realized a net gain on the sale of assets in the amount of $430,000, or 4.0% of total interest income.



For the year ended December 31, 2001, our operating expenses, other than management and incentive fees, increased to $323,000, or 3.0% of
total interest income, from $212,000, or 2.1% of total interest income, for the year ended December 31, 2000.



24



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##### Table of Contents



Our return on
average equity was 18.28% for the year ended December 31, 2001, compared to 6.58% for the year ended December 31, 2000. The manager earned an incentive fee of $598,000 for the year ended December 31, 2001, compared to no incentive fee for the
year ended December 31, 2000.



Return on
Average Equity Prior to Gain on Sale of Securities



The table below shows the components of return on average equity(1):



|                                     |  | Net Interest Income/Equity |   |  | G&A Expense(2)/ Equity |   |  | Net Income(2)(3)/ Equity |  
|------------------------------------ |  | -------------------------- | - |  | ---------------------- | - |  | ------------------------ | -
|For the year ended December 31, 2002 |  | 23.29                      | % |  | 1.03                   | % |  | 22.26                    | %
|For the year ended December 31, 2001 |  | 21.72                      | % |  | 2.62                   | % |  | 19.10                    | %
|For the year ended December 31, 2000 |  | 8.56                       | % |  | 1.98                   | % |  | 6.58                     | %

---

|(1) |  | Average equity excludes unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities.
|--- |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(2) |  | Excludes management and incentive fees paid to the manager, incentive compensation paid to our employees and the costs to acquire the manager.
|--- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(3) |  | Excludes gain on sales of securities.
|--- |  | -------------------------------------



Average Cash Equivalents and Average Mortgage Assets



The table below shows our average balances of cash equivalents and mortgage assets, the annualized yields
earned on each type of earning assets, the yield on average earning assets and interest income:



|                                     |  | Average Cash Equivalents     |       | Average Amortized Cost of Mortgage Assets |   | Average Earning Assets |  | Yield on Average Cash Equivalents |           |  | Yield on Average Amortized Cost of Mortgage Assets |   |  | Yield on Average Earning Assets |   |  | Dividend and Interest Income
|------------------------------------ |  | ---------------------------- | ----- | ----------------------------------------- | - | ---------------------- |  | --------------------------------- | --------- |  | -------------------------------------------------- | - |  | ------------------------------- | - |  | ----------------------------
|                                     |  | (dollar amount in thousands)
|For the year ended December 31, 2002 |  | $                            | 8,560 |                                           | $ | 1,495,790              |  | $                                 | 1,504,350 |  | 1.88                                               | % |  | 4.47                            | % |  | 4.44                        
|For the year ended December 31, 2001 |  | $                            | 3,444 |                                           | $ | 164,446                |  | $                                 | 167,890   |  | 4.00                                               | % |  | 6.46                            | % |  | 6.41                        
|For the year ended December 31, 2000 |  | $                            | 2,122 |                                           | $ | 150,167                |  | $                                 | 152,289   |  | 5.88                                               | % |  | 6.79                            | % |  | 6.77                        



Average Borrowed Funds and Annualized Average Cost of Funds



The table below shows our average borrowed funds and annualized average cost of funds:



|                                 |  | Average Borrowed Funds |           | Interest Expense |   | Average Cost of Funds | 
|-------------------------------- |  | ---------------------- | --------- | ---------------- | - | --------------------- | 
|For the year ended Dec. 31, 2002 |  | $                      | 1,384,887 |                  | $ | 29,576                | 
|For the year ended Dec. 31, 2001 |  | $                      | 152,870   |                  | $ | 6,363                 | 
|For the year ended Dec. 31, 2000 |  | $                      | 135,631   |                  | $ | 8,674                 | 



25



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##### Table of Contents



Operating
Expenses/Total Assets



The table below shows
operating expenses as a percent of total assets:



|                                     |  | Management Fee & Other Expenses(1)/ Total Assets |   |  | Incentive Fee and Incentive Compensation/ Total Assets |   |  | Total G&A Expenses(1)/ Total Assets |  
|------------------------------------ |  | ------------------------------------------------ | - |  | ------------------------------------------------------ | - |  | ----------------------------------- | -
|For the year ended December 31, 2002 |  | 0.08                                             | % |  | 0.20                                                   | % |  | 0.28                                | %
|For the year ended December 31, 2001 |  | 0.13                                             | % |  | 0.14                                                   | % |  | 0.27                                | %
|For the year ended December 31, 2000 |  | 0.23                                             | % |  |                                                       |   |  | 0.23                                | %

---

|(1) |  | Excludes costs to acquire the manager of $3,475,000.
|--- |  | ----------------------------------------------------



Financial Condition



At December 31, 2002, we held total assets of $2,443.9 million, consisting primarily of $2,091 million of adjustable-rate
mortgage-backed securities, $339 million of fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities. This balance sheet size represents an approximate 475% increase over our balance sheet size at December 31, 2001. At December 31, 2002, we were well
within our asset allocation guidelines, with approximately 100% of total assets consisting of mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by an agency of the United States government such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae. Of the adjustable-rate
mortgage-backed securities owned by us, 46% were adjustable-rate pass-through certificates that reset at least once a year. The remaining 54% were 3/1and 5/1hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities.
Hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities have an initial interest rate that is fixed for a certain period, usually three to five years, and then adjust annually for the remainder of the term of the loan.



Mortgage-Backed Securities by Type of Issuer



The following table presents a schedule of
mortgage-backed securities owned at December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, classified by type of issuer:



|                |  | At December 31, 2002          |           |                      | At December 31, 2001 |  
|--------------- |  | ----------------------------- | --------- | -------------------- | -------------------- | -
|                |  | FairValue                     |           | Portfolio Percentage |                      |  
|                |  | (dollar amounts in thousands) |          
|FNMA            |  | $                             | 1,631,425 |                      | 67.1                 | %
|FHLMC           |  |                               | 651,645   |                      | 26.8                 | %
|GNMA            |  |                               | 147,033   |                      | 6.1                  | %
|                |  |                               |           |                      |                      |  
|Total Portfolio |  | $                             | 2,430,103 |                      | 100.0                | %



26



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##### Table of Contents



Mortgage-Backed Securities by Interest Rate Index



The following table classifies our portfolio of mortgage-backed securities owned at December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, by type of interest rate index (with respect to our hybrid ARMs, the fair value of these securities
appears on the line associated with the index based on which the security will eventually reset, once the initial fixed interest rate period has expired):



|                                    |  | December 31, 2002             |           |                      | December 31, 2001 |  
|----------------------------------- |  | ----------------------------- | --------- | -------------------- | ----------------- | -
|                                    |  | FairValue                     |           | Portfolio Percentage |                   |  
|                                    |  | (dollar amounts in thousands) |          
|One-month LIBOR                     |  | $                             | 77,055    |                      | 3.2               | %
|Six-month LIBOR                     |  |                               | 17,614    |                      | 0.7               | %
|One-year LIBOR                      |  |                               | 613,325   |                      | 25.2              | %
|Six-month Certificate of Deposit    |  |                               | 1,239     |                      | 0.1               | %
|One-year Constant Maturity Treasury |  |                               | 1,370,783 |                      | 56.4              | %
|Cost of Funds Index                 |  |                               | 11,313    |                      | 0.5               | %
|Fixed rate                          |  |                               | 338,774   |                      | 13.9              | %
|                                    |  |                               |           |                      |                   |  
|Total Portfolio                     |  | $                             | 2,430,103 |                      | 100.0             | %



Our
mortgage-backed securities portfolio had a weighted average coupon of 5.21% at December 31, 2002. The weighted average one-month constant prepayment rates of our mortgage-backed securities portfolio were 29.3%, 36.0% and 34.6%, respectively, for the
months of October, November and December 2002. At December 31, 2002, the unamortized net premium paid for our mortgage-backed securities was $60.8 million.



We analyze our mortgage-backed securities and the extent to which prepayments impact the yield of the
securities. When actual prepayments exceed expectations, we amortize the premiums paid on mortgage assets over a shorter time period, resulting in a reduced yield to maturity on our mortgage assets. Conversely, if actual prepayments are less than
the assumed constant prepayment rate, the premium would be amortized over a longer time period, resulting in a higher yield to maturity. We monitor our prepayment expectations versus our actual prepayment experience on a monthly basis in order to
adjust the amortization of the net premium.



As
of December 31, 2002, the fair value of our portfolio of mortgage-related assets classified as available for sale was $14.86 million, or 0.61% greater than the amortized cost of our portfolio.



Hedging



We periodically enter into derivative transactions, in the form of forward purchase commitments, which are
intended to hedge our exposure to rising rates on funds borrowed to finance our investments in securities. We have designated these transactions as cash flow hedges. We also enter into derivative transactions, also in the form of forward purchase
commitments, which are not designated as hedges. Other than these types of transactions, we have not entered into any hedging agreements to date.



As part of our asset/liability management policy, we may enter into hedging agreements such as interest rate caps, floors or swaps. These
agreements would be entered into to try to reduce interest rate risk and would be designed to provide us with income and capital appreciation in the event of certain changes in interest rates. We review the need for hedging transactions on a regular
basis consistent with our capital investment policy.



During the year ended December 31, 2002, we entered into various mortgage-backed securities transactions where we agreed to take delivery of the securities more than one month from the trade date. As directed by accounting rules for
these types of extended delivery transactions, the economic benefit or cost that occurs between the trade date and the delivery date are designated as a derivative gain or loss. We were not a party to any derivative transactions as of December 31,
2002.



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Liquidity And Capital
Resources



Our primary source of funds
consists of repurchase agreements, which totaled $2,154 million at December 31, 2002. Our other significant source of funds for the year ended December 31, 2002 consisted of payments of principal and interest from our mortgage securities
portfolio in the amount of $538.6 million. As of December 31, 2002, we had raised approximately $32.9 million in capital under our amended dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan, $32.1 million of which was raised in 2002.



In the future, we expect that our primary sources of funds
will consist of borrowed funds under repurchase agreement transactions with one- to twelve-month maturities and of monthly payments of principal and interest on our mortgage-backed securities portfolio. Our liquid assets generally consist of
unpledged mortgage-backed securities, cash and cash equivalents.



Our borrowings had a weighted average interest cost during the year ended December 31, 2002 of 2.14% compared with 4.16% for the year ended December 31, 2001. As of December 31, 2002, all of our repurchase agreements were fixed-rate
term repurchase agreements with original maturities ranging from one to twenty-four months. On December 31, 2002, we had borrowing arrangements with seventeen different financial institutions and had borrowed funds under repurchase agreements
with fifteen of these firms. Because we borrow money based on the fair value of our mortgage-backed securities and because increases in short-term interest rates can negatively impact the valuation of mortgage-backed securities, our borrowing
ability could be limited and lenders may initiate margin calls in the event short-term interest rates increase or the value of our mortgage-backed securities declines for other reasons. During the year ended December 31, 2002, we had adequate cash
flow, liquid assets and unpledged collateral with which to meet our margin requirements during the period.



From time to time, we raise additional equity dependent upon market conditions and other factors. In that regard, we completed a public
offering on February 28, 2002 that raised approximately $40 million in net proceeds, and a public offering on June 26, 2002 that raised approximately $126 million in net proceeds. We also intend to raise additional equity through the issuance of
capital stock as described in our registration statement on Form S-3 that was initially declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission in September 2002. The registration statement was subsequently amended and the post-effective
amendment was declared effective in January 2003.



In December 2002, we entered into a sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., or Cantor, to sell up to 4,800,000 shares of common stock from time to time through a controlled equity offering program under which Cantor acts as
sales agent. Sales of the shares have been and will be made by means of ordinary brokers transactions on the American Stock Exchange at market prices and through privately negotiated transactions. We intend to make such sales when we believe
the issuance of stock would be accretive to our shareholders. To date, we have sold 587,570 shares under the controlled equity offering program, which provided net proceeds of approximately $7.1 million. The sales agent received an aggregate of
approximately $218,000, which represents a commission of 3% on the gross sales price per share of the sales under the sales agreement through March 21, 2003.



Stockholders Equity



We use available for sale treatment for our mortgage-backed securities. These assets are carried on the balance sheet at fair value rather
than historical amortized cost. Based upon such available for sale treatment, our equity base at December 31, 2002 was $265.5 million, or $10.48 per share.



With our available for sale accounting treatment, unrealized fluctuations in fair values of assets do not impact GAAP income or taxable
income but rather are reflected on the balance sheet by changing the carrying value of the asset and reflecting the change in stockholders equity under Accumulated other comprehensive income, unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale
securities.



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As a result of
this mark-to-market accounting treatment, our book value and book value per share are likely to fluctuate far more than if we used historical amortized cost accounting. As a result, comparisons with companies that use historical cost accounting for
some or all of their balance sheet may not be meaningful.



Unrealized changes in the fair value of mortgage-backed securities have one significant and direct effect on our potential earnings and dividends: positive mark-to-market changes will increase our equity base and allow us to increase
our borrowing capacity while negative changes will tend to limit borrowing capacity under our capital investment policy. A very large negative change in the net market value of our mortgage-backed securities might reduce our liquidity, requiring us
to sell assets with the likely result of realized losses upon sale. Accumulated other comprehensive income, unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities was $14.86 million, or 0.61%, of the amortized cost of mortgage-backed
securities at December 31, 2002.



Critical Accounting Policies



Management has the obligation to ensure
that its policies and methodologies are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. During 2002, management reviewed and evaluated its critical accounting policies and believes them to be appropriate.



The preparation of financial statements in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to makes estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the accompanying financial statements. In preparing these financial statements, management has
made its best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. We do not believe that there is a great likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported related to
accounting policies described below. Nevertheless, application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.



Our accounting policies are described in Note 1
to our financial statements. Management believes the more significant of these to be as follows:



Revenue Recognition



The most significant source of our revenue is derived from our investments in mortgage-backed securities. We reflect income using the effective yield method, which, through amortization of premiums and
accretion of discounts, recognizes periodic income over the estimated life of the investment on a constant yield basis, as adjusted for estimated prepayment activity. Management believes our revenue recognition policies are appropriate to reflect
the substance of the underlying transactions.



Valuation of Investment Securities



We carry our investment securities on its balance sheet at fair value. The fair values of our mortgage-backed securities are generally based on market prices provided by certain dealers who make markets in such securities. The fair
values of other marketable securities are obtained from the last reported sale of such securities on its principal exchange or, if no representative sale is reported, the mean between the closing bid and ask prices. If, in the opinion of management,
one or more securities prices reported to us are not reliable or unavailable, management estimates the fair value based on characteristics of the security it receives from the issuer and available market information. The fair values reported reflect
estimates and may not necessarily be indicative of the amounts we could realize in a current market exchange.



Income Taxes



Our financial results do not reflect provisions for current or deferred income taxes. Management believes that we have and intend to
continue to operate in a manner that will continue to allow us to be taxed as a REIT and as a result does not expect to pay substantial corporate level taxes. Many of these requirements, however, are highly technical and complex. If we were to fail
to meet these requirements, we would be subject to federal income tax.



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RISK FACTORS



An investment in our stock involves a number of risks. Before making a decision to purchase our
securities, you should carefully consider all of the risks described in this annual report. If any of the risks discussed in this annual report actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely
affected. If this were to occur, the trading price of our securities could decline significantly and you may lose all or part of your investment.



Risk Related To Our Business



Interest rate mismatches between our adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities and our borrowings used to fund our purchases of the assets may
reduce our income during periods of changing interest rates.



We fund most of our acquisitions of adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities with borrowings that have interest rates based on indices and repricing terms similar to, but of shorter maturities than, the interest rate
indices and repricing terms of our mortgage-backed securities. Accordingly, if short-term interest rates increase, this may adversely affect our profitability.



Most of the mortgage-backed securities we acquire are adjustable-rate securities. This means that their interest rates may vary over time
based upon changes in a short-term interest rate index. Therefore, in most cases the interest rate indices and repricing terms of the mortgage-backed securities that we acquire and their funding sources will not be identical, thereby creating an
interest rate mismatch between assets and liabilities. While the historical spread between relevant short-term interest rate indices has been relatively stable, there have been periods when the spread between these indices was volatile. During
periods of changing interest rates, these mismatches could reduce our net income, dividend yield and the market price of our stock.



The interest rates on our borrowings generally adjust more frequently than the interest rates on our adjustable-rate mortgage-backed
securities. For example, on December 31, 2002, our adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities had a weighted average term to next rate adjustment of approximately 16 months, while our borrowings had a weighted average term to next rate
adjustment of 166 days. Accordingly, in a period of rising interest rates, we could experience a decrease in net income or a net loss because the interest rates on our borrowings adjust faster than the interest rates on our adjustable-rate
mortgage-backed securities.



We may experience reduced net
interest income from holding fixed-rate investments during periods of rising interest rates.



We generally fund our acquisition of fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities with short-term borrowings. During periods of rising interest
rates, our costs associated with borrowings used to fund acquisition of fixed-rate assets are subject to increases while the income we earn from these assets remains substantially fixed. This reduces or could eliminate the net interest spread
between the fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities that we purchase and our borrowings used to purchase them, which could lower our net interest income or cause us to suffer a loss. On December 31, 2002, 14% of our mortgage-backed securities
were fixed-rate securities.



Increased levels of
prepayments from mortgage-backed securities may decrease our net interest income.



Pools of mortgage loans underlie the mortgage-backed securities that we acquire. We generally receive payments from principal payments that are made on these underlying mortgage loans. When borrowers
prepay their mortgage loans faster than expected, this results in prepayments that are faster than expected on the mortgage-backed securities. Faster than expected prepayments could adversely affect our profitability, including in the following
ways:



| |  |  | We usually purchase mortgage-backed securities that have a higher interest rate than the market interest rate at the time. In exchange for this higher interest
rate, we pay a premium over the par value
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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to acquire the security. In accordance with accounting rules, we amortize this premium over the term of the mortgage-backed security. If the
mortgage-backed security is prepaid in whole or in part prior to its maturity date, however, we expense the premium that was prepaid at the time of the prepayment. On December 31, 2002, approximately 98% of our mortgage-backed securities were
acquired at a premium.



| |  |  | We anticipate that a substantial portion of our adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities may bear interest rates that are lower than their fully indexed rates,
which are equivalent to the applicable index rate plus a margin. If an adjustable-rate mortgage-backed security is prepaid prior to or soon after the time of adjustment to a fully indexed rate, we will have held that mortgage-backed security while
it was less profitable and lost the opportunity to receive interest at the fully indexed rate over the remainder of its expected life.
| | - |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | If we are unable to acquire new mortgage-backed securities similar to the prepaid mortgage-backed securities, our financial condition, results of operation and cash
flow would suffer.
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Prepayment
rates generally increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, but changes in prepayment rates are difficult to predict. Prepayment rates also may be affected by conditions in the housing and financial markets, general
economic conditions and the relative interest rates on fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage loans.



While we seek to minimize prepayment risk to the extent practical, in selecting investments we must balance prepayment risk against other
risks and the potential returns of each investment. No strategy can completely insulate us from prepayment risk.



We may incur increased borrowing costs related to repurchase agreements and that would adversely affect our profitability.



Currently, all of our borrowings are collateralized borrowings in the form of repurchase agreements. If the
interest rates on these repurchase agreements increase, that would adversely affect our profitability.



Our borrowing costs under repurchase agreements generally correspond to short-term interest rates such as LIBOR or a short-term Treasury
index, plus or minus a margin. The margins on these borrowings over or under short-term interest rates may vary depending upon:



| |  |  | the movement of interest rates;
| | - |  | -------------------------------



| |  |  | the availability of financing in the market; and
| | - |  | ------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | the value and liquidity of our mortgage-backed securities.
| | - |  | ----------------------------------------------------------



Interest rate caps on our adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities may reduce our income or cause us to suffer a loss during periods of rising
interest rates.



Our adjustable-rate
mortgage-backed securities are typically subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps. Periodic interest rate caps limit the amount an interest rate can increase during any given period. Lifetime interest rate caps limit the amount an
interest rate can increase through maturity of a mortgage-backed security. Our borrowings are not subject to similar restrictions. Accordingly, in a period of rapidly increasing interest rates, the interest rates paid on our borrowings could
increase without limitation while caps would limit the interest rates on our adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities. This problem is magnified for our adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities that are not fully indexed. Further, some
adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities may be subject to periodic payment caps that result in a portion of the interest being deferred and added to the principal outstanding. As a result, we could receive less cash income on adjustable-rate
mortgage-backed securities than we need to pay interest on our related borrowings. These factors could lower our net interest



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income or cause us to suffer a loss during periods of rising interest rates. On December 31, 2002, approximately 86% of our mortgage-backed
securities were adjustable-rate securities.



Our leveraging
strategy increases the risks of our operations.



We generally borrow between eight and twelve times the amount of our equity, although our borrowings may at times be above or below this amount. We incur this leverage by borrowing against a substantial portion of the market value of
our mortgage-backed securities. Use of leverage can enhance our investment returns. Leverage, however, also increases risks. In the following ways, the use of leverage increases our risk of loss and may reduce our net income by increasing the risks
associated with other risk factors, including a decline in the market value of our mortgage-backed securities or a default of a mortgage-related asset:



| |  |  | The use of leverage increases our risk of loss resulting from various factors including rising interest rates, increased interest rate volatility, downturns in the
economy, and reductions in the availability of financing or deteriorations in the conditions of any of our mortgage-related assets.
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | A majority of our borrowings are secured by our mortgage-backed securities, generally under repurchase agreements. A decline in the market value of the
mortgage-backed securities used to secure these debt obligations could limit our ability to borrow or result in lenders requiring us to pledge additional collateral to secure our borrowings. In that situation, we could be required to sell
mortgage-backed securities under adverse market conditions in order to obtain the additional collateral required by the lender. If these sales are made at prices lower than the carrying value of the mortgage-backed securities, we would experience
losses.
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | A default of a mortgage-related asset that constitutes collateral for a loan could also result in an involuntary liquidation of the mortgage-related asset, including
any cross-collateralized mortgage-backed securities. This would result in a loss to us of the difference between the value of the mortgage-related asset upon liquidation and the amount borrowed against the mortgage-related asset.
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | To the extent we are compelled to liquidate qualified REIT assets to repay debts, our compliance with the REIT rules regarding our assets and our sources of income
could be negatively affected, which would jeopardize our status as a REIT. Losing our REIT status would cause us to lose tax advantages applicable to REITs and may decrease our overall profitability and distributions to our stockholders.
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



We have not extensively used derivatives to
mitigate our interest rate and prepayment risks and this leaves us exposed to certain risks.



Our policies permit us to enter into interest rate swaps, caps and floors and other derivative transactions to help us reduce our interest
rate and prepayment risks described above. We have made only limited use of these types of instruments as discussed under Hedging above. We have determined that, generally, the costs of these transactions outweigh their benefits. This
strategy saves us the additional costs of such hedging transactions, but it leaves us exposed to the types of risks that such hedging transactions would be designed to reduce. If we decide to enter into derivative transactions in the future, these
transactions may mitigate our interest rate and prepayment risks but cannot eliminate these risks. Additionally, the use of derivative transactions could have a negative impact on our earnings.



An increase in interest rates may adversely affect our book value.



Increases in interest rates may
negatively affect the market value of our mortgage-related assets. Our fixed-rate securities are generally more negatively affected by these increases. In accordance with accounting rules, we reduce our book value by the amount of any decrease in
the market value of our mortgage-related assets.



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We may invest in
leveraged mortgage derivative securities that generally experience greater volatility in market prices, thus exposing us to greater risk with respect to their rate of return.



We may acquire leveraged mortgage derivative securities that may expose us to a high level of interest rate
risk. The characteristics of leveraged mortgage derivative securities result in greater volatility in their market prices. Thus, acquisition of leveraged mortgage derivative securities would expose us to the risk of greater price volatility in our
portfolio and that could adversely affect our net income and overall profitability.



We depend on borrowings to purchase mortgage-related assets and reach our desired amount of leverage. If we fail to obtain or renew sufficient funding on favorable terms, we will be limited in our ability to acquire
mortgage-related assets and our earnings and profitability would decline.



We depend on short-term borrowings to fund acquisitions of mortgage-related assets and reach our desired amount of leverage. Accordingly, our ability to achieve our investment and leverage objectives
depends on our ability to borrow money in sufficient amounts and on favorable terms. In addition, we must be able to renew or replace our maturing short-term borrowings on a continuous basis. Moreover, we depend on a few lenders to provide the
primary credit facilities for our purchases of mortgage-related assets.



If we cannot renew or replace maturing borrowings, we may have to sell our mortgage-related assets under adverse market conditions and may incur permanent capital losses as a result. Any number of these factors in
combination may cause difficulties for us, including a possible liquidation of a major portion of our portfolio at disadvantageous prices with consequent losses, which may render us insolvent.



Possible market developments could cause our lenders to require us to
pledge additional assets as collateral. If our assets are insufficient to meet the collateral requirements, then we may be compelled to liquidate particular assets at an inopportune time.



Possible market developments, including a sharp rise in
interest rates, a change in prepayment rates or increasing market concern about the value or liquidity of one or more types of mortgage-related assets in which our portfolio is concentrated, may reduce the market value of our portfolio, which may
cause our lenders to require additional collateral.



This requirement for additional collateral may compel us to liquidate our assets at a disadvantageous time, thus adversely affecting our operating results and net profitability.



Our use of repurchase agreements to borrow funds may give our lenders
greater rights in the event that either we or a lender files for bankruptcy.



Our borrowings under repurchase agreements may qualify for special treatment under the bankruptcy code, giving our lenders the ability to avoid the automatic stay provisions of the bankruptcy code and
to take possession of and liquidate our collateral under the repurchase agreements without delay in the event that we file for bankruptcy. Furthermore, the special treatment of repurchase agreements under the bankruptcy code may make it difficult
for us to recover our pledged assets in the event that a lender files for bankruptcy. Thus, the use of repurchase agreements exposes our pledged assets to risk in the event of a bankruptcy filing by either a lender or us.



Because assets we acquire may experience periods of illiquidity, we may
lose profits or be prevented from earning capital gains if we cannot sell mortgage-related assets at an opportune time.



We bear the risk of being unable to dispose of our mortgage-related assets at advantageous times or in a timely manner because
mortgage-related assets generally experience periods of illiquidity. The lack of liquidity may result from the absence of a willing buyer or an established market for these assets, as well as legal or



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contractual restrictions on resale. As a result, the illiquidity of mortgage-related assets may cause us to lose profits or the ability to
earn capital gains.



We depend on our key personnel and the
loss of any of our key personnel could severely and detrimentally affect our operations.



We depend on the diligence, experience and skill of our officers and other employees for the selection, structuring and monitoring of our
mortgage-related assets and associated borrowings. Our key officers include Lloyd McAdams, President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph McAdams, Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Director, Thad Brown, Chief Financial
Officer, Evangelos Karagiannis, Vice President, and Bistra Pashamova, Vice President. The loss of any key person could harm our entire business, financial condition, cash flow and results of operations.



Our officers devote a portion of their time to another company in
capacities that could create conflicts of interest that may adversely affect our investment opportunities; this lack of a full-time commitment could also adversely affect our operating results.



Lloyd McAdams, Joseph McAdams, Evangelos Karagiannis and
others are involved in investing both our assets and approximately $4 billion in mortgage-backed securities and other fixed income assets for institutional clients and individual investors through Pacific Income Advisers, Inc., or PIA. A trust
controlled by Lloyd McAdams and Heather U. Baines is the principal stockholder of PIA. These multiple responsibilities could conceivably create conflicts of interest if these officers are presented with opportunities that may benefit both us and the
clients of PIA. These officers allocate investments among our portfolio and the clients of PIA by determining the entity or account for which the investment is most suitable. In making this determination, these officers consider the investment
strategy and guidelines of each entity or account with respect to acquisition of assets, leverage, liquidity and other factors that our officers determine appropriate. These officers, however, have no obligation to make any specific investment
opportunities available to us and the above mentioned conflicts of interest may result in decisions or allocations of securities that are not in our best interests.



Each of our officers is also an officer and employee of PIA and devotes a portion of their time to PIA. Their
service to PIA reduces the time and effort that they can dedicate to managing our company and this may adversely affect our overall management and operating results.



Our incentive compensation plan may create an incentive to increase the risk of our mortgage portfolio in an attempt to
increase compensation.



In addition to
their base salaries, management and key employees are eligible to earn incentive compensation for each fiscal year pursuant to our incentive compensation plan. Under the plan, the aggregate amount of compensation that may be earned by all employees
equals a percentage of taxable net income, before incentive compensation, in excess of the amount that would produce an annualized return on average net worth equal to the ten-year US Treasury Rate plus 1%. In any fiscal quarter in which our taxable
net income is an amount less than the amount necessary to earn this threshold return, we calculate negative incentive compensation for that fiscal quarter which will be carried forward and will offset future incentive compensation earned under the
plan, but only with respect to those participants who were participants during the fiscal quarter(s) in which negative incentive compensation was generated. Although negative incentive compensation is used to offset future incentive compensation, as
our management evaluates different mortgage-backed securities for our investment, there is a risk that management will cause us to assume more risk than is prudent.



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Our board of directors
may change our operating policies and strategies without prior notice or stockholder approval and such changes could harm our business, results of operation and stock price.



Our board of directors can modify or waive our current operating policies and our strategies without prior
notice and without stockholder approval. We cannot predict the effect any changes to our current operating policies and strategies may have on our business, operating results and stock price, however, the effects may be adverse.



Competition may prevent us from acquiring mortgage-related assets at
favorable yields and that would negatively impact our profitability.



Our net income largely depends on our ability to acquire mortgage-related assets at favorable spreads over our borrowing costs. In acquiring mortgage-related assets, we compete with other REITs,
investment banking firms, savings and loan associations, banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, other lenders and other entities that purchase mortgage-related assets, many of which have greater financial resources than us. As a result, we may
not in the future be able to acquire sufficient mortgage-related assets at favorable spreads over our borrowing costs. If that occurs, our profitability will be harmed.



Our investment policy involves risks associated with the credit quality of our investments. If the credit quality of
our investments declines or if there are defaults on the investments we make, our profitability may decline and we may suffer losses.



Our mortgage-backed securities have primarily been agency certificates that, although not rated, carry an implied AAA rating.
Agency certificates are mortgage-backed securities where either Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae guarantees payments of principal or interest on the certificates. Our capital investment policy, however, provides us with the ability to acquire a material
amount of lower credit quality mortgage-backed securities. If we acquire mortgage-backed securities of lower credit quality, our profitability may decline and we may incur losses if there are defaults on the mortgages backing those securities or if
the rating agencies downgrade the credit quality of those securities or the securities of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.



Risks Related to REIT Compliance and Other Matters



If we are disqualified as a REIT, we will be subject to tax as a regular corporation and face substantial tax liability.



We believe that since our initial public offering in 1998 we
have operated so as to qualify as a REIT under the tax code, and we intend to continue to meet the requirements for taxation as a REIT. Nevertheless, we may not remain qualified as a REIT in the future. Qualification as a REIT involves the
application of highly technical and complex tax code provisions for which only a limited number of judicial or administrative interpretations exist. Even a technical or inadvertent mistake could jeopardize our REIT status. Furthermore, Congress or
the IRS might change tax laws or regulations and the courts might issue new rulings, in each case potentially having retroactive effect that could make it more difficult or impossible for us to qualify as a REIT. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in
any tax year, then:



| |  |  | we would be taxed as a regular domestic corporation, which, among other things, means being unable to deduct distributions to stockholders in computing taxable
income and being subject to federal income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates;
| | - |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | any resulting tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to stockholders; and
| | - |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | unless we were entitled to relief under applicable statutory provisions, we would be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the subsequent four taxable years
following the year during which we lost our qualification, and thus, our cash available for distribution to stockholders would be reduced for each of the years during which we do not qualify as a REIT.
| | - |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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Complying with REIT
requirements may cause us to forego otherwise attractive opportunities.



In order to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we must continually satisfy tests concerning, among other things, our sources of income, the nature and diversification of our
mortgage-backed securities, the amounts we distribute to our stockholders and the ownership of our stock. We may also be required to make distributions to stockholders at disadvantageous times or when we do not have funds readily available for
distribution. Thus, compliance with REIT requirements may hinder our ability to operate solely on the basis of maximizing profits.



Complying with REIT requirements may limit our ability to hedge effectively



The REIT provisions of the tax code may substantially limit our ability to hedge mortgage-backed securities
and related borrowings by requiring us to limit our income in each year from qualified hedges, together with any other income not generated from qualified REIT real estate assets, to less than 25% of our gross income. In addition, we must limit our
aggregate income from hedging and services from all sources, other than from qualified REIT real estate assets or qualified hedges, to less than 5% of our annual gross income. As a result, although we do not currently engage in hedging transactions,
we may in the future have to limit our use of advantageous hedging techniques. This could result in greater risks associated with changes in interest rates than we would otherwise want to incur. If we were to violate the 25% or 5% limitations, we
may have to pay a penalty tax equal to the amount of income in excess of those limitations, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability. If we fail to satisfy the 25% and 5% limitations, unless our failure was due to reasonable
cause and not due to willful neglect, we could lose our REIT status for federal income tax purposes.



Complying with REIT requirements may force us to liquidate otherwise attractive investments.



In order to qualify as a REIT, we must also ensure that at the end of each calendar quarter at least 75% of the value of our assets
consists of cash, cash items, government securities and qualified REIT real estate assets. The remainder of our investment in securities generally cannot include more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer or more than 10%
of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer. In addition, in general, no more than 5% of the value of our assets can consist of the securities of any one issuer. If we fail to comply with these requirements, we must dispose of
a portion of our assets within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter in order to avoid losing our REIT status and suffering adverse tax consequences.



Complying with REIT requirements may force us to borrow to make distributions to stockholders.



As a REIT, we must distribute 90% of our annual taxable
income (subject to certain adjustments) to our stockholders. From time to time, we may generate taxable income greater than our net income for financial reporting purposes from, among other things, amortization of capitalized purchase premiums, or
our taxable income may be greater than our cash flow available for distribution to stockholders. For example, our taxable income would exceed our net income for financial reporting purposes to the extent that compensation paid to our chief executive
officer and our other four highest paid officers exceeds $1,000,000 for any such officer for any calendar year under Section 162(m) of the tax code. Since payments under our 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan do not qualify as performance-based
compensation under Section 162(m), a portion of the payments made under such plan to certain of such officers would not be deductible for federal income tax purposes under such circumstances. If we do not have other funds available in these
situations, we may be unable to distribute substantially all of our taxable income as required by the REIT provisions of the tax code. Thus, we could be required to borrow funds, sell a portion of our mortgage-backed securities at disadvantageous
prices or find another alternative source of funds. These alternatives could increase our costs or reduce our equity.



Failure to maintain an exemption from the Investment Company Act would adversely affect our results of operations.



We believe that we conduct our business in a manner that
allows us to avoid being regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. If we fail to continue to qualify



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for an exemption from registration as an investment company, our ability to use leverage would be substantially reduced and we would be
unable to conduct our business as planned. The Investment Company Act exempts entities that are primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate. Under the
SECs current interpretation, qualification for this exemption generally requires us to maintain at least 55% of our assets directly in qualifying real estate interests. Mortgage-backed securities that do not represent all the certificates
issued with respect to an underlying pool of mortgages may be treated as securities separate from the underlying mortgage loans and thus may not qualify for purposes of the 55% requirement. Therefore, our ownership of these mortgage-backed
securities is limited by the Investment Company Act. In meeting the 55% requirement under the Investment Company Act, we treat as qualifying interests mortgage-backed securities issued with respect to an underlying pool for which we hold all issued
certificates. If the SEC or its staff adopts a contrary interpretation, we could be required to sell a substantial amount of our mortgage-backed securities under potentially adverse market conditions. Further, in order to maintain our exemption from
registration as an investment company, we may be precluded from acquiring mortgage-backed securities whose yield is somewhat higher than the yield on mortgage-backed securities that could be purchased in a manner consistent with the exemption.



Additional Risk Factors



We may not be able to use the money we raise to acquire investments at
favorable prices.



We intend to seek to
raise additional capital from time to time if we determine that it is in the best interests of our stockholders, including through public offerings of our stock. The net proceeds of any offering could represent a significant increase in our equity.
Depending on the amount of leverage that we use, the full investment of the net proceeds of any offering might result in a substantial increase in our total assets. There can be no assurance that we will be able to invest all of such additional
funds in mortgage-backed securities at favorable prices. We may not be able to acquire enough mortgage-backed securities to become fully invested after an offering, or we may have to pay more for mortgage-backed securities than we have historically.
In either case, the return that we earn on stockholders equity may be reduced.



We have not established a minimum dividend payment level and there are no assurances of our ability to pay dividends in the future.



We intend to pay quarterly dividends and to make distributions to our stockholders in amounts such that all
or substantially all of our taxable income in each year, subject to certain adjustments, is distributed. This, along with other factors, should enable us to qualify for the tax benefits accorded to a REIT under the tax code. We have not established
a minimum dividend payment level and our ability to pay dividends may be adversely affected by the risk factors described in this annual report on Form 10-K. All distributions will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend
on our earnings, our financial condition, maintenance of our REIT status and such other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant from time to time. There are no assurances of our ability to pay dividends in the future.



If we raise additional capital, our earnings per share and
dividends per share may decline since we may not be able to invest all of the new capital during the quarter in which additional shares are sold and possibly the entire following calendar quarter.



We may incur excess inclusion income that would increase the tax
liability of our stockholders.



In
general, dividend income that a tax-exempt entity receives from us should not constitute unrelated business taxable income as defined in Section 512 of the tax code. If we realize excess inclusion income and allocate it to stockholders, this income
cannot be offset by net operating losses. If the stockholder was a tax-exempt entity, then this income would be fully taxable as unrelated business taxable income under Section 512 of the tax code. If the stockholder was foreign, then it would be
subject to federal income tax withholding on this income without reduction pursuant to any otherwise applicable income-tax treaty.



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Excess
inclusion income could result if we held a residual interest in a REMIC. Excess inclusion income also would be generated if we were to issue debt obligations with two or more maturities and the terms of the payments on these obligations bore a
relationship to the payments that we received on our mortgage-backed securities securing those debt obligations. We generally structure our borrowing arrangements in a manner designed to avoid generating significant amounts of excess inclusion
income. We do, however, enter into various repurchase agreements that have differing maturity dates and afford the lender the right to sell any pledged mortgage securities if we default on our obligations. The IRS may determine that these borrowings
give rise to excess inclusion income that should be allocated among stockholders. Furthermore, some types of tax-exempt entities, including, without limitation, voluntary employee benefit associations and entities that have borrowed funds to acquire
their shares of our common stock, may be required to treat a portion of or all of the dividends they may receive from us as unrelated business taxable income. We also invest in equity securities of other REITs. If we were to receive excess inclusion
income from another REIT, we may be required to distribute the excess inclusion income to our stockholders, which may result in the recognition of unrelated business taxable income.



Our charter does not permit ownership of over 9.8% of our common or preferred stock and attempts to acquire our common
or preferred stock in excess of the 9.8% limit are void without prior approval from our board of directors.



For the purpose of preserving our REIT qualification and for other reasons, our charter prohibits direct or constructive ownership by any
person of more than 9.8% of the lesser of the total number or value of the outstanding shares of our common stock or more than 9.8% of the outstanding shares of our preferred stock. Our charters constructive ownership rules are complex and may
cause the outstanding stock owned by a group of related individuals or entities to be deemed to be constructively owned by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of less than 9.8% of the outstanding stock by an individual or entity
could cause that individual or entity to own constructively in excess of 9.8% of the outstanding stock, and thus be subject to our charters ownership limit. Any attempt to own or transfer shares of our common or preferred stock in excess of
the ownership limit without the consent of the board of directors shall be void, and will result in the shares being transferred by operation of law to a charitable trust. Our board of directors has granted Lloyd McAdams, our President, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, and his family members an exemption from the 9.8% ownership limitation as set forth in our charter documents. This exemption permits Lloyd McAdams, Heather Baines and Joseph McAdams collectively to hold up to 19% of our
outstanding shares.



Because provisions contained in
Maryland law, our charter and our bylaws may have an anti-takeover effect, investors may be prevented from receiving a control premium for their shares.



Provisions contained in our charter and bylaws, as well as Maryland corporate law, may have anti-takeover
effects that delay, defer or prevent a takeover attempt, which may prevent stockholders from receiving a control premium for their shares. For example, these provisions may defer or prevent tender offers for our common stock or purchases
of large blocks of our common stock, thereby limiting the opportunities for our stockholders to receive a premium for their common stock over then-prevailing market prices. These provisions include the following:



| |  |  | Ownershiplimit.    The ownership limit in our charter limits related investors, including, among other things, any voting group, from
acquiring over 9.8% of our common stock without our permission.
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | Preferred stock.    Our charter authorizes our board of directors to issue preferred stock in one or more classes and to establish the
preferences and rights of any class of preferred stock issued. These actions can be taken without soliciting stockholder approval.
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | Maryland business combination statute.    Maryland law restricts the ability of holders of more than 10% of the voting power of a
corporations shares to engage in a business combination with the corporation.
| | - |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | Maryland control share acquisition statute.    Maryland law limits the voting rights of control shares of a corporation in the
event of a control share acquisition.
| | - |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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Issuances of large
amounts of our stock could cause the price of our stock to decline.



We may issue additional shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock that are convertible into common stock. If we issue a significant number of shares of common stock or convertible preferred
stock in a short period of time, there could be a dilution of the existing common stock and a decrease in the market price of the common stock.



Future offerings of debt securities, which would be senior to our common stock upon liquidation, or equity securities, which would dilute our
existing stockholders and may be senior to our common stock for the purposes of dividend distributions, may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.



In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by making additional offerings of debt or
equity securities, including commercial paper, medium-term notes, senior or subordinated notes and classes of preferred stock or common stock. Upon liquidation, holders of our debt securities and shares of preferred stock and lenders with respect to
other borrowings will receive a distribution of our available assets prior to the holders of our common stock. Our preferred stock, if issued, may have a preference on dividend payments that could limit our ability to make a dividend distribution to
the holders of our common stock. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future
offerings. Thus, our stockholders bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common stock.



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|Item 7A. |  | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
|-------- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------



We seek
to manage the interest rate, market value, liquidity, prepayment and credit risks inherent in all financial institutions in a prudent manner designed to insure our longevity while, at the same time, seeking to provide an opportunity for stockholders
to realize attractive total rates of return through ownership of our common stock. While we do not seek to avoid risk completely, we do seek, to the best of our ability, to assume risk that can be quantified from historical experience, to actively
manage that risk, to earn sufficient compensation to justify taking those risks and to maintain capital levels consistent with the risks we undertake.



Interest Rate Risk



We primarily invest in adjustable-rate, hybrid and fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities. Hybrid mortgages are adjustable-rate mortgages
that have a fixed interest rate for an initial period of time (typically three years or greater) and then convert to a one-year adjustable-rate for the remaining loan term. Our debt obligations are generally repurchase agreements of limited duration
that are periodically refinanced at current market rates.



Adjustable-rate mortgage-backed assets are typically subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps that limit the amount an adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities interest rate can change during any given period.
Adjustable-rate mortgage securities are also typically subject to a minimum interest rate payable. Our borrowings are not subject to similar restrictions. Hence, in a period of increasing interest rates, interest rates on our borrowings could
increase without limitation, while the interest rates on our mortgage-related assets could be limited. This problem would be magnified to the extent we acquire mortgage-backed securities that are not fully indexed. Further, some adjustable-rate
mortgage-backed securities may be subject to periodic payment caps that result in some portion of the interest being deferred and added to the principal outstanding. These factors could lower our net interest income or cause a net loss during
periods of rising interest rates, which would negatively impact our liquidity, net income and our ability to make distributions to stockholders.



We fund the purchase of a substantial portion of our adjustable-rate mortgage-backed debt securities with borrowings that have interest
rates based on indices and repricing terms similar to, but of somewhat shorter maturities than, the interest rate indices and repricing terms of the mortgage assets. Thus, we anticipate that in most cases the interest rate indices and repricing
terms of our mortgage assets and our funding sources will not be identical, thereby creating an interest rate mismatch between assets and liabilities. During periods of changing interest rates, such interest rate mismatches could negatively impact
our net income, dividend yield and the market price of our common stock.



Most of our adjustable-rate assets are based on the one-year constant maturity treasury rate and our debt obligations are generally based on LIBOR. These indices generally move in parallel, but there can be no assurance that
this will continue to occur.



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Our
adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities and borrowings reset at various different dates for the specific asset or obligation. In general, the repricing of our debt obligations occurs more quickly than on our assets. Therefore, on average, our
cost of funds may rise or fall more quickly than does our earnings rate on the assets.



Further, our net income may vary somewhat as the spread between one-month interest rates and six- and twelve-month interest rates varies.



As of December 31, 2002, our mortgage-backed securities and borrowings will prospectively reprice based on
the following time frames:



|                                           |  | Assets                        |           |                              | Borrowings |  
|------------------------------------------ |  | ----------------------------- | --------- | ---------------------------- | ---------- | -
|                                           |  | Amount                        |           | Percent of Total Investments |            |  
|                                           |  | (dollar amounts in thousands) |          
|Investment Type/Rate Reset Dates           |  |                               |           |                              |            |  
|Fixed-Rate Investments                     |  | $                             | 338,774   |                              | 14         | %
|                                          
|Adjustable Rate Investments/Obligations:   |  |                               |           |                              |            |  
|Less than 3 months                         |  |                               | 237,031   |                              | 10         | %
|Greater than 3 months and less than 1 year |  |                               | 727,640   |                              | 30         | %
|Greater than 1 year and less than 2 years  |  |                               | 269,481   |                              | 11         | %
|Greater than 2 years and less than 3 years |  |                               | 851,656   |                              | 35         | %
|Greater than 3 years and less than 5 years |  |                               | 5,521     |                              | 0          | %
|Total                                      |  | $                             | 2,430,103 |                              | 100        | %



Market Value Risk



Substantially all of our mortgage-backed securities and equity securities are classified as available for sale assets. As such, they are reflected at fair value (i.e., market value) with the adjustment to fair value reflected as part
of accumulated other comprehensive income that is included in the equity section of our balance sheet. The market value of our assets can fluctuate due to changes in interest rates and other factors.



Liquidity Risk



Our primary liquidity risk arises from financing
long-maturity mortgage-backed securities with short-term debt. The interest rates on our borrowings generally adjust more frequently than the interest rates on our adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities. For example, at December 31, 2002,
our adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities had a weighted average term to next rate adjustment of approximately 16 months, while our borrowings had a weighted average term to next rate adjustment of 166 days. Accordingly, in a period of rising
interest rates, our borrowing costs will usually increase faster than our interest earnings from mortgage-backed securities. As a result, we could experience a decrease in net income or a net loss during these periods. Our assets that are pledged to
secure short-term borrowings are high-quality, liquid assets. As a result, we have not had difficulty rolling over our short-term debt as it matures. There can be no assurance that we will always be able to roll over our short-term debt. At
December 31, 2002, we had $254 million of debt which could be considered long-term debt with a term greater than one-year.



Prepayment Risk



Prepayments are the full or partial repayment of principal prior to the original term to maturity of a mortgage loan and typically occur
due to refinancing of mortgage loans. Prepayment rates on mortgage-related securities vary from time to time and may cause changes in the amount of our net interest income. Prepayments of adjustable-rate mortgage loans usually can be expected to
increase when mortgage interest rates fall below the



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then-current interest rates on such loans and decrease when mortgage interest rates exceed the then-current interest rate on such loans,
although such effects are not predictable. Prepayment experience also may be affected by the conditions in the housing and financial markets, general economic conditions and the relative interest rates on fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage
loans underlying mortgage-backed securities. The purchase prices of mortgage-backed securities are generally based upon assumptions regarding the expected amounts and rates of prepayments. Where slow prepayment assumptions are made, we may pay a
premium for mortgage-backed securities. To the extent such assumptions differ from the actual amounts of prepayments, we could experience reduced earnings or losses. The total prepayment of any mortgage-backed securities purchased at a premium by us
would result in the immediate write-off of any remaining capitalized premium amount and a reduction of our net interest income by such amount. Finally, in the event that we are unable to acquire new mortgage-backed securities to replace the prepaid
mortgage-backed securities, our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations could be harmed.



We often purchase mortgage-backed securities that have a higher interest rate than the market interest rate at the time. In exchange for
this higher interest rate, we must pay a premium over par value to acquire these securities. In accordance with accounting rules, we amortize this premium over the term of the mortgage-backed security. As we receive repayments of mortgage principal,
we amortize the premium balances as a reduction to our income. If the mortgage loans underlying a mortgage-backed security are prepaid at a faster rate than we anticipate, we would have to amortize the premium at a faster rate. This would reduce our
income. At December 31, 2002, unamortized mortgage premium balances of mortgage-backed securities for financial accounting purposes were $60.8 million, or 2.5% of total assets.



Tabular Presentation



The information presented in the table below projects the impact of sudden changes in interest rates on our
2003 projected net income and net assets as more fully discussed below based on investments in place on December 31, 2002, and includes all of our interest-rate sensitive assets and liabilities. We acquire interest-rate sensitive assets and fund
them with interest-rate sensitive liabilities. We generally plan to retain such assets and the associated interest rate risk to maturity.



|Change in Interest Rates |  | Percentage Change in Net Income |  | Percentage Change in Net Assets
|------------------------ |  | ------------------------------- |  | -------------------------------
|2.0%                    |  | 60.6%                          |  | 0.7%                           
|1.0%                    |  | 36.7%                          |  | 0.9%                           
|0.0%                     |  |                                |  |                               
|1.0%                     |  | 38.2%                           |  | 1.7%                          
|2.0%                     |  | 36.6%                           |  | 3.9%                          



Many
assumptions are made to present the information in the above table, as such, there can be no assurance that assumed events will occur or that other events will not occur that would affect the outcomes; therefore, the above table and all related
disclosure constitutes forward-looking statements. The analysis presented utilizes assumptions and estimates based on managements judgment and experience. Furthermore, future sales, acquisitions and restructuring could materially change our
interest rate risk profile.



The table quantifies
the potential changes in net income and net asset value should interest rates immediately change (are shocked). The results of interest rate shocks of plus and minus 100 and 200 basis points are presented. The cash flows associated with
the portfolio of mortgage-backed securities for each rate shock are calculated based on a variety of assumptions, including prepayment speeds, time until coupon reset, yield on future acquisitions, slope of the yield curve and size of the portfolio.
Assumptions made on the interest-rate sensitive liabilities, which are repurchase agreements, include anticipated interest rates (no negative rates are utilized), collateral requirements as a percent of the repurchase agreement and amount of
borrowing. Assumptions made in calculating the impact on net asset value of interest rate shocks include interest rates, prepayment rates and the yield spread of mortgage-backed securities relative to prevailing interest rates.



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Our
asset/liability structure is generally such that a decrease in interest rates would be expected to result in an increase to net interest income, as our cost of funds are generally shorter term than our interest earning assets. Nevertheless, given
the impact of prepayment assumptions and other assumptions coupled with the low level of interest rates at December 31, 2002, the interest rate shocks presented in the above table would cause net income to decrease under each of the interest
rate shock scenarios presented. When interest rates are shocked, prepayment assumptions are adjusted based on managements best estimate of the effects of changes in interest rates on prepayment speeds. For example, under current market
conditions, a 100 basis point decline in interest rates is estimated to result in a 32% increase in the prepayment rate of our mortgage-backed securities portfolio. The base interest rate scenario assumes interest rates at December 31,
2002. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimated in the table.



Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements



In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Financial Accounting Standards, or FAS, No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based CompensationTransition and
Disclosure, or FAS 148,. FAS 148, amends FAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,, or FAS 123, by providing alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of
accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, FAS 148 amends the disclosure requirements of FAS 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for
stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. FAS 148 is not expected to have a significant impact on us.



In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46 Consolidation of Variable Interest Entitiesan interpretation
of ARB No. 51, or FIN 46, in an effort to improve financial reporting by achieving more consistent application of consolidation policies to variable interest entities, or VIEs. In general, VIEs lack substantial equity or substance as an
entity. Their risks and returns generally inure to those other that the holders of the VIEs equity (who are referred to as primary beneficiaries). VIEs are required to be consolidated by their primary beneficiaries. As of December
31, 2002, we did not have any interests in VIEs and does not believe that the provisions of FIN 46 will have a material effect on our financial statements.



|Item 8. |  | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
|------- |  | --------------------------------------------------



The
financial statements and related financial information required to be filed hereunder are indexed under Item 14 of this report and are incorporated herein by reference.



|Item 9. |  | CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
|------- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



None.



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PART III



|ITEM 10. |  | DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
|-------- |  | --------------------------------------------------



The
information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference from the information under the captions entitled Election of Directors-Information Regarding Nominees for Director, Executive Officers and Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC no later than April 30, 2003.



|ITEM 11. |  | EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
|-------- |  | ----------------------



The
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the information under the caption entitled Executive Compensation in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC no later than April 30, 2003.



|ITEM 12. |  | SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
|-------- |  | --------------------------------------------------------------



The
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the information under the caption entitled Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC no
later than April 30, 2003.



|ITEM 13. |  | CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
|-------- |  | ----------------------------------------------



The
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the information under the caption entitled Certain Transactions and Relationships in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC no later than April 30,
2003.



|ITEM 14. |  | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
|-------- |  | -----------------------



Within
the 90 days prior to the date of this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and
operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in
timely alerting them to material information relating to us required to be included in our periodic SEC filings.



There were no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent
to the date of the evaluation referred to above. There were no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses, and therefore there were no corrective actions taken.



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PART IV



|Item 15. |  | EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
|-------- |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------



(a)  Documents filed as part of this report:



(1)  The following financial statements of the Company are included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:



| |  |  | Report of Independent Accountants;
| | - |  | ----------------------------------



| |  |  | Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001;
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | Statements of Operations: Years Ended December 31, 2002, December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000;
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | Statements of Stockholders Equity: Years Ended December 31, 2002, December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000;
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | Statements of Cash Flows: Years Ended December 31, 2002, December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000; and
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | Notes to Financial Statements.
| | - |  | ------------------------------



(2)  Schedules to financial statements:



All financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are either inapplicable or
the information required is provided in the Companys Financial Statements and Notes thereto, included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.



(3)  The following exhibits are either filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference:



|Exhibit Number |  | Description                                                                                                                                                                                            
|-------------- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|3.1(1)         |  | Amended Articles of Incorporation                                                                                                                                                                      
|3.2(1)         |  | Bylaws                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|4.1(1)         |  | Specimen Common Stock certificate                                                                                                                                                                      
|4.2(2)         |  | Specimen Preferred Stock certificate                                                                                                                                                                   
|10.1(3)        |  | 1997 Stock Option and Awards Plan, as amended                                                                                                                                                          
|10.2(4)        |  | 2002 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan                                                                                                                                                     
|10.3(3)        |  | 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan                                                                                                                                                                       
|10.4(3)        |  | Agreement and Plan of Merger dated April 18, 2002 by and among Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation
(Anworth), Anworth Mortgage Advisory Corporation (the Manager) and the shareholder of the Manager
|10.5(5)        |  | Employment Agreement dated January 1, 2002, between the Manager and Lloyd McAdams                                                                                                                      
|10.6(5)        |  | Employment Agreement dated January 1, 2002, between the Manager and Heather U. Baines                                                                                                                  
|10.7(5)        |  | Employment Agreement dated January 1, 2002, between the Manager and Joseph E. McAdams                                                                                                                  
|10.8(5)        |  | Addendum to Employment Agreement dated April 18, 2002, among Anworth, the Manager and Lloyd
McAdams                                                                                                    
|10.9(5)        |  | Addendum to Employment Agreement dated April 18, 2002, among Anworth, the Manager and Heather U.
Baines                                                                                                
|10.10(5)       |  | Addendum to Employment Agreement dated April 18, 2002, among Anworth, the Manager and Joseph E.
McAdams                                                                                                
|10.11(5)       |  | Second Addendum to Employment Agreement dated as of June 13, 2002 by and among Anworth and Joseph E.
McAdams                                                                                           
|10.12(5)       |  | Sublease dated June 13, 2002, between Anworth and Pacific Income Advisers, Inc.                                                                                                                        



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|Exhibit Number |  | Description                                                                                                                                                   
|-------------- |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|10.13(6)       |  | Administrative Agreement dated October 14, 2002, between Anworth and Pacific Income Advisers,
Inc.                                                            
|10.14(7)       |  | Sales Agreement dated December 30, 2002, between Anworth and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.                                                                          
|10.15          |  | Amendment to Sales Agreement dated January 10, 2003, between Anworth and Cantor Fitzgerald &
Co.                                                              
|10.16          |  | Deferred Compensation Plan                                                                                                                                    
|23.1           |  | Consent of Independent Accountants                                                                                                                            
|99.1           |  | Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer provided pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|99.2           |  | Certifications of the Chief Financial Officer provided pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

---

|(1) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-11, Registration No. 333-38641, which became effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the Act), on March 12, 1998.
|--- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(2) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-85036, which became effective under the Act on June 13, 2002.
|--- |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(3) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Definitive Proxy Statement filed pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as filed with the Securities
Exchange Commission on May 17, 2002.
|--- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(4) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-91480, which became effective under the Act on July 3, 2002.
|--- |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(5) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August
14, 2002.
|--- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(6) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on November 14, 2002.
|--- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(7) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-99005, which became effective
on January 14, 2003.
|--- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



(b)  Reports on Form 8-K.



We filed the following current reports on Form 8-K during the quarter ended December 31, 2002:



| |  |  | Form 8-K dated November 11, 2002 to announce the issuance of our press release that announced our earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 (Item 9).
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | Form 8-K dated December 20, 2002 to announce the issuance of our press release that addressed the declaration of a dividend for the quarter ended December 31, 2002
(Item 9).
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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SIGNATURES



Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.



DATED: March 25, 2003

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATIONBy:

/s/    JOSEPH
LLOYD MCADAMSJoseph Lloyd McAdams Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer




Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.



|Signature                                       |  | Title                                                                                    |  | Date          
|----------------------------------------------- |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | --------------
|                                               
|/s/    JOSEPH LLOYD
MCADAMSJoseph Lloyd
McAdams |  | Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Chief
Executive) |  | March 25, 2003
|                                               
|/s/    THAD M. BROWNThad M. Brown               |  | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)                                   |  | March 25, 2003
|                                               
|/s/    JOSEPH E.
MCADAMSJoseph E.
McAdams       |  | Executive Vice President Chief Investment Officer and Director                           |  | March 25, 2003
|                                               
|/s/    CHARLES H. BLACKCharles H. Black         |  | Director                                                                                 |  | March 25, 2003
|                                               
|/s/    JOE E. DAVISJoe E. Davis                 |  | Director                                                                                 |  | March 25, 2003
|                                               
|/s/    CHARLES F. SMITHCharles F. Smith         |  | Director                                                                                 |  | March 25, 2003
|                                               
|/s/    LEE A. AULT, IIILee A. Ault, III         |  | Director                                                                                 |  | March 25, 2003





47



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##### Table of Contents

CERTIFICATION



I, Joseph Lloyd McAdams, certify that:



1.  I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation;



2.  Based on my knowledge, this annual
report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
covered by this annual report;



3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of
the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;



4.  The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and
15d-14) for the registrant and we have:



(a)  designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities,
particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;



(b)  evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the Evaluation
Date); and



(c)  presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;



5.  The registrants other certifying officer
and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):



(a)  all significant deficiencies
in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrants auditors any material weaknesses in
internal controls; and



(b)  any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal controls; and



6.  The registrants other certifying officer and I have indicated in this annual report
whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.



Date: March 25, 2003



/s/    JOSEPH LLOYD
MCADAMSJoseph Lloyd McAdams, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer




48



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##### Table of Contents

CERTIFICATION



I, Thad M. Brown, certify that:



1.  I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation;



2.  Based on my knowledge, this annual
report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
covered by this annual report;



3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of
the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;



4.  The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and
15d-14) for the registrant and we have:



(a)  designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities,
particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;



(b)  evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the Evaluation
Date); and



(c)  presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;



5.  The registrants other certifying officer
and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):



(a)  all significant deficiencies
in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrants auditors any material weaknesses in
internal controls; and



(b)  any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal controls; and



6.  The registrants other certifying officer and I have indicated in this annual report
whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.



Date: March 25, 2003



/s/    THAD M.
BROWNThad M. Brown, Chief Financial Officer




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ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



|                                                                                        |  | Page
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | ----
|Report of Independent Auditors                                                          |  | F-2 
|Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and 2001                                         |  | F-3 
|Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and
2000           |  | F-4 
|Statements of Stockholders Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and
2000 |  | F-5 
|Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and
2000           |  | F-6 
|Notes to Financial Statements                                                           |  | F-7 



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##### Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation



In our opinion, the accompanying balance sheets and the related statements of operations, stockholders
equity and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation at December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years
in the period then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.



PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Los Angeles, California

January 18, 2003



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##### Table of Contents

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)



|                                                                                                                                         |  | December 31, 2002 |           |   | December 31, 2001 |  
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | ----------------- | --------- | - | ----------------- | -
|ASSETS                                                                                                                                   |  |                   |           |   |                   |  
|Mortgage backed securities                                                                                                               |  | $                 | 2,430,103 |   |                   | $
|Other marketable securities                                                                                                              |  |                   |          |   |                   |  
|Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                |  |                   | 906       |   |                   |  
|Accrued interest and dividend receivable                                                                                                 |  |                   | 11,673    |   |                   |  
|Prepaid expenses and other                                                                                                               |  |                   | 1,202     |   |                   |  
|                                                                                                                                         |  |                   |           |   |                   |  
|                                                                                                                                         |  | $                 | 2,443,884 |   |                   | $
|                                                                                                                                         |  |                   |           |   |                   |  
|LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY                                                                                                      |  |                   |           |   |                   |  
|Liabilities                                                                                                                              |  |                   |           |   |                   |  
|Reverse repurchase agreements                                                                                                            |  | $                 | 2,153,870 |   |                   | $
|Payable for purchase of mortgage-backed securities                                                                                       |  |                   |          |   |                   |  
|Accrued interest payable                                                                                                                 |  |                   | 9,944     |   |                   |  
|Dividends payable                                                                                                                        |  |                   | 12,673    |   |                   |  
|Accrued expenses and other                                                                                                               |  |                   | 1,875     |   |                   |  
|                                                                                                                                         |  |                   |           |   |                   |  
|                                                                                                                                         |  |                   | 2,178,362 |   |                   |  
|                                                                                                                                         |  |                   |           |   |                   |  
|STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY                                                                                                                     |  |                   |           |   |                   |  
|Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized 20,000 shares; no shares issued
and outstanding                                    |  |                   |          |   |                   |  
|Common stock; par value $.01 per share; authorized 100,000 shares; 25,396 and 7,001
issued and 25,346 and 6,951 outstanding respectively |  |                   | 253       |   |                   |  
|Additional paid in capital                                                                                                               |  |                   | 256,610   |   |                   |  
|Accumulated other comprehensive income, unrealized gain on available for sale
securities                                                 |  |                   | 14,860    |   |                   |  
|Retained earnings (deficit)                                                                                                              |  |                   | (5,218    | ) |                   |  
|Unearned restricted stock                                                                                                                |  |                   | (754      | ) |                   |  
|Treasury stock at cost (50 shares)                                                                                                       |  |                   | (229      | ) |                   |  
|                                                                                                                                         |  |                   |           |   |                   |  
|                                                                                                                                         |  |                   | 265,522   |   |                   |  
|                                                                                                                                         |  |                   |           |   |                   |  
|                                                                                                                                         |  | $                 | 2,443,884 |   |                   | $
|                                                                                                                                         |  |                   |           |   |                   |  





See notes to financial statements.



F-3



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##### Table of Contents

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)



|                                                                         |  | For the Year Ended December 31, 2002 |         |   | For the Year Ended December 31, 2001 |   |        | For the Year Ended December 31, 2000 | 
|------------------------------------------------------------------------ |  | ------------------------------------ | ------- | - | ------------------------------------ | - | ------ | ------------------------------------ | 
|Interest and dividend income net of amortization of premium and discount |  | $                                    | 66,855  |   |                                      | $ | 10,768 |                                      | 
|Interest expense                                                         |  |                                      | (29,576 | ) |                                      |   | (6,363 | )                                    | 
|                                                                         |  |                                      |         |   |                                      |   |        |                                      | 
|Net interest income                                                      |  |                                      | 37,279  |   |                                      |   | 4,405  |                                      | 
|                                                                         |  |                                      |         |   |                                      |   |        |                                      | 
|Gain on sale of securities                                               |  |                                      | 4,709   |   |                                      |   | 430    |                                      | 
|                                                                        
|Expenses: (Note 6)                                                       |  |                                      |         |   |                                      |   |        |                                      | 
|External management fee                                                  |  |                                      | (400    | ) |                                      |   | (208   | )                                    | 
|External incentive fee                                                   |  |                                      | (1,741  | ) |                                      |   | (598   | )                                    | 
|Compensation and benefits                                                |  |                                      | (551    | ) |                                      |   |       |                                      | 
|Incentive compensation                                                   |  |                                      | (3,055  | ) |                                      |   |       |                                      | 
|Cost to acquire external manager                                         |  |                                      | (3,475  | ) |                                      |   |       |                                      | 
|Other expense                                                            |  |                                      | (1,096  | ) |                                      |   | (323   | )                                    | 
|                                                                         |  |                                      |         |   |                                      |   |        |                                      | 
|Total expenses                                                           |  |                                      | (10,318 | ) |                                      |   | (1,129 | )                                    | 
|                                                                         |  |                                      |         |   |                                      |   |        |                                      | 
|Net Income                                                               |  | $                                    | 31,670  |   |                                      | $ | 3,706  |                                      | 
|                                                                         |  |                                      |         |   |                                      |   |        |                                      | 
|                                                                        
|Basic earnings per share                                                 |  | $                                    | 1.81    |   |                                      | $ | 1.52   |                                      | 
|                                                                         |  |                                      |         |   |                                      |   |        |                                      | 
|                                                                        
|Average number of shares outstanding                                     |  |                                      | 17,461  |   |                                      |   | 2,442  |                                      | 
|                                                                         |  |                                      |         |   |                                      |   |        |                                      | 
|                                                                        
|Diluted earnings per share                                               |  | $                                    | 1.80    |   |                                      | $ | 1.50   |                                      | 
|                                                                         |  |                                      |         |   |                                      |   |        |                                      | 
|                                                                        
|Average number of diluted shares outstanding                             |  |                                      | 17,591  |   |                                      |   | 2,467  |                                      | 
|                                                                         |  |                                      |         |   |                                      |   |        |                                      | 
|                                                                        
|Dividends declared per share                                             |  | $                                    | 2.00    |   |                                      | $ | 1.64   |                                      | 
|                                                                         |  |                                      |         |   |                                      |   |        |                                      | 







See notes to financial statements.



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##### Table of Contents

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY



Years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

(in thousands except per share amounts)



|                                                     |  | Common Stock Shares |  | Common Stock Par Value |     | Additional Paid-in Capital |   | Accum. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |   | Retained Earnings (deficit) |   |  | Unearned Restricted Stock |         |   | Treasury Stock at Cost |   |      | Comprehensive Income |  | Total |     
|---------------------------------------------------- |  | ------------------- |  | ---------------------- | --- | -------------------------- | - | ---------------------------------------- |  | - | --------------------------- | - |  | ------------------------- | ------- | - | ---------------------- | - | ---- | -------------------- |  | ----- | ----
|Balance, December 31, 1999                           |  | 2,307               |  | $                      | 23  |                            | $ | 19,070                                   |  | $ | (2,351                      | ) |  | $                         | 19      |   |                        | $ |     |                      |  | $     | (229
|Issuance of common stock                             |  | 43                  |  |                        | 1   |                            |   | 173                                      |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Available-for-sale securities, Fair value adjustment |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   | 1,165                       |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Net income                                           |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           | 1,261   |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|                                                     |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Comprehensive income                                 |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|                                                     |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Dividends declared$0.40 per share                   |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           | (931    | ) |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|                                                     |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Balance, December 31, 2000                           |  | 2,350               |  | $                      | 24  |                            | $ | 19,243                                   |  | $ | (1,186                      | ) |  | $                         | 349     |   |                        | $ |     |                      |  | $     | (229
|                                                     |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Issuance of common stock                             |  | 4,601               |  |                        | 46  |                            |   | 35,081                                   |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Available-for-sale securities, Fair value adjustment |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   | 1,891                       |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Net income                                           |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           | 3,706   |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|                                                     |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Comprehensive income                                 |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|                                                     |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Dividends declared$1.64 per share                   |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           | (3,928  | ) |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|                                                     |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Balance, December 31, 2001                           |  | 6,951               |  | $                      | 70  |                            | $ | 54,324                                   |  | $ | 705                         |   |  | $                         | 127     |   |                        | $ |     |                      |  | $     | (229
|                                                     |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Issuance of common stock                             |  | 18,335              |  |                        | 182 |                            |   | 201,493                                  |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Available-for-sale securities, Fair value adjustment |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   | 14,155                      |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Net income                                           |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           | 31,670  |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|                                                     |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Comprehensive income                                 |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|                                                     |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Restricted stock issuance                            |  | 60                  |  |                        | 1   |                            |   | 793                                      |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   | (794 | )                    |  |       |     
|Amortization of restricted stock                     |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   | 40   |                      |  |       |     
|Dividends declared$2.00 per share                   |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           | (37,015 | ) |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|                                                     |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     
|Balance, December 31, 2002                           |  | 25,346              |  | $                      | 253 |                            | $ | 256,610                                  |  | $ | 14,860                      |   |  | $                         | (5,218  | ) |                        | $ | (754 | )                    |  | $     | (229
|                                                     |  |                     |  |                        |     |                            |   |                                          |  |   |                             |   |  |                           |         |   |                        |   |      |                      |  |       |     



See notes
to financial statements.



F-5



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##### Table of Contents

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)



|                                                                                  |  | For the year ended December 31, 2002 |            |   | For the year ended December 31, 2001 |   |          | For the year ended December 31, 2000 | 
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | ------------------------------------ | ---------- | - | ------------------------------------ | - | -------- | ------------------------------------ | 
|Operating Activities:                                                             |  |                                      |            |   |                                      |   |          |                                      | 
|Net income                                                                        |  | $                                    | 31,670     |   |                                      | $ | 3,706    |                                      | 
|Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities: |  |                                      |            |   |                                      |   |          |                                      | 
|Amortization                                                                      |  |                                      | 14,248     |   |                                      |   | 1,186    |                                      | 
|Gain on sale                                                                      |  |                                      | (4,709     | ) |                                      |   | (430     | )                                    | 
|Amortization of restricted stock                                                  |  |                                      | 40         |   |                                      |   |         |                                      | 
|Non-cash portion of costs incurred in acquiring external manager                  |  |                                      | 3,180      |   |                                      |   |         |                                      | 
|Decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivable                                |  |                                      | (9,380     | ) |                                      |   | (1,203   | )                                    | 
|Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other                                 |  |                                      | (1,192     | ) |                                      |   | 3        |                                      | 
|Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable                                   |  |                                      | 8,651      |   |                                      |   | (413     | )                                    | 
|Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and other                                 |  |                                      | 1,011      |   |                                      |   | 829      |                                      | 
|                                                                                  |  |                                      |            |   |                                      |   |          |                                      | 
|Net cash provided by operating activities                                         |  |                                      | 43,519     |   |                                      |   | 3,678    |                                      | 
|Investing Activities:                                                             |  |                                      |            |   |                                      |   |          |                                      | 
|Available-for-sale securities:                                                    |  |                                      |            |   |                                      |   |          |                                      | 
|Purchases                                                                         |  |                                      | (2,855,365 | ) |                                      |   | (300,303 | )                                    | 
|Proceeds from sales                                                               |  |                                      | 272,512    |   |                                      |   | 5,387    |                                      | 
|Principal payments                                                                |  |                                      | 538,563    |   |                                      |   | 51,690   |                                      | 
|                                                                                  |  |                                      |            |   |                                      |   |          |                                      | 
|Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities                               |  |                                      | (2,044,290 | ) |                                      |   | (243,226 | )                                    | 
|Financing Activities:                                                             |  |                                      |            |   |                                      |   |          |                                      | 
|Net borrowings from reverse repurchase agreements                                 |  |                                      | 1,828,563  |   |                                      |   | 203,416  |                                      | 
|Proceeds from common stock issued, net                                            |  |                                      | 198,495    |   |                                      |   | 35,127   |                                      | 
|Repurchase of common stock                                                        |  |                                      |           |   |                                      |   |         |                                      | 
|Dividends paid                                                                    |  |                                      | (25,671    | ) |                                      |   | (2,599   | )                                    | 
|                                                                                  |  |                                      |            |   |                                      |   |          |                                      | 
|Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities                               |  |                                      | 2,001,387  |   |                                      |   | 235,944  |                                      | 
|                                                                                  |  |                                      |            |   |                                      |   |          |                                      | 
|Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                              |  |                                      | 616        |   |                                      |   | (3,604   | )                                    | 
|Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                                  |  |                                      | 290        |   |                                      |   | 3,894    |                                      | 
|                                                                                  |  |                                      |            |   |                                      |   |          |                                      | 
|Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                                        |  | $                                    | 906        |   |                                      | $ | 290      |                                      | 
|                                                                                  |  |                                      |            |   |                                      |   |          |                                      | 
|Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information, Cash paid for interest          |  | $                                    | 20,925     |   |                                      | $ | 6,776    |                                      | 
|Supplemental Disclosure of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities             |  |                                      |            |   |                                      |   |          |                                      | 
|Mortgage securities purchased, not yet settled                                    |  | $                                    |           |   |                                      | $ | 40,819   |                                      | 
|Common Stock issued in connection with acquisition of external manager            |  | $                                    | 3,180      |   |                                      | $ |         |                                      | 



See notes
to financial statements.



F-6



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##### Table of Contents

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



NOTE
1.    ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES



Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation (the Company) was incorporated in Maryland on October 20, 1997. The Company commenced its operations of purchasing and managing an investment portfolio of
primarily adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities on March 17, 1998, upon completion of the initial public offering of its common stock.



A summary of the Companys significant accounting policies follows:



CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS



Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. The
carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates their fair value.



SECURITIES



The Company
invests primarily in adjustable-rate mortgage pass-through certificates and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities (ARM securities). Hybrid ARM securities have an initial interest rate that is fixed for a certain period,
usually three to five years, and then adjusts annually for the remainder of the term of the loan.



The Company classifies its investments as either trading investments, available-for-sale investments or held-to-maturity investments.
Management determines the appropriate classification of the securities at the time they are acquired and evaluates the appropriateness of such classifications at each balance sheet date. The Company currently classifies all of its securities as
available-for-sale. All assets that are classified as available-for-sale are carried at fair value and unrealized gains or losses are included in other comprehensive income or loss as a component of stockholders equity.



Interest income is accrued based on the outstanding principal
amount of the ARM securities and their contractual terms. Premiums and discounts associated with the purchase of ARM securities are amortized into interest income over the estimated lives of the assets adjusted for estimated prepayments using the
effective yield method.



Securities are recorded
on the date the securities are purchased or sold (the trade date). Realized gains or losses from securities transactions are determined based on the specific identified cost of the securities.



DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS



The Company periodically enters into derivative transactions,
in the form of forward purchase commitments, which are intended to hedge its exposure to rising rates on funds borrowed to finance our investments in securities. The Company has designated these transactions as cash flow hedges. The Company also
enters into derivative transactions also in the form of forward purchase commitments, which are not designated as hedges.



During the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company purchased certain new issue MBS on a forward basis, i.e. for settlement beyond the
next ordinary settlement date. Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 133 (FAS 133), Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended and interpreted, such transactions are considered derivative
instruments and are carried on the balance sheet at their fair value. The Company designated the forward purchase agreements related to fixed-rate MBS as cash flow



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ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)



hedges for the settlements of the purchases. The change in fair value of the hedge is included as Other Comprehensive Income to the extent
the hedge is effective. After the settlement date of the forward purchase, the fair value of the hedge is transferred from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to earnings over the estimated life of the hedged item. The ineffective amount of
hedges is recognized in earnings each quarter.



As the Company enters into hedging transactions, it formally documents the relationship between the hedging instruments and the hedged items. The Company has also documented its risk-management policies, including objectives and
strategies, as it relates to its hedging activities. The Company assesses, both at inception of the hedging activity and on an on-going basis, whether or not the hedging activity is highly effective. When it is determined that a hedge is not highly
effective, the Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively. As of December 31, 2002, the Company had no derivative instruments outstanding.



CREDIT RISK



At December 31, 2002, the Company had limited its exposure to credit losses on its portfolio of ARM securities by purchasing primarily
securities from Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) and Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA). The payment of principal and interest on the FHLMC and FNMA mortgage backed securities are guaranteed by those
respective agencies. At December 31, 2002, because of the government agencies guarantee, all of the Companys mortgage backed securities have an implied AAA rating.



INCOME TAXES



The Company intends to elect to be taxed as a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and to comply with the provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code with respect thereto (the Code). Accordingly, the Company is not subject to Federal income tax to the extent that its distributions to stockholders satisfy the REIT requirements and certain asset, income and stock
ownership tests are met.



STOCK BASED COMPENSATION



The Company accounts for stock-based
compensation using the fair value based method prescribed by Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (FAS 123). The Company follows the disclosure requirements of FAS 123 (see Note 7)
and intends to disclose stock-based compensation information quarterly in fiscal 2003.



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ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)





EARNINGS PER SHARE
(EPS)



Basic EPS is computed by dividing net
income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS assumes the conversion, exercise or issuance of all potential common stock equivalents unless the effect is to reduce a loss or increase in the income
per share. For the year ended December 31, 2000, stock options that could potentially dilute basic EPS in the future were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would have been antidilutive. The computation of EPS for the
years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 is as follows:



2002



|                                      |  | Income                              |        | Average Shares |        | Earnings Per Share |  
|------------------------------------- |  | ----------------------------------- | ------ | -------------- | ------ | ------------------ | -
|                                      |  | (in thousands exceptper share data) |       
|For the year ended December 31, 2002: |  |                                     |        |                |        |                    |  
|Basic EPS                             |  | $                                   | 31,670 |                | 17,461 |                    | $
|Effect of dilutive securities:        |  |                                     |        |                |        |                    |  
|Stock options                         |  |                                     |        |                | 130    |                    |  
|                                      |  |                                     |        |                |        |                    |  
|Diluted EPS                           |  | $                                   | 31,670 |                | 17,591 |                    | $
|                                      |  |                                     |        |                |        |                    |  



2001



|                                      |  | Income                              |       | Average Shares |       | Earnings Per Share |  
|------------------------------------- |  | ----------------------------------- | ----- | -------------- | ----- | ------------------ | -
|                                      |  | (in thousands exceptper share data) |      
|For the year ended December 31, 2001: |  |                                     |       |                |       |                    |  
|Basic EPS                             |  | $                                   | 3,706 |                | 2,442 |                    | $
|Effect of dilutive securities:        |  |                                     |       |                |       |                    |  
|Stock options                         |  |                                     |       |                | 25    |                    |  
|                                      |  |                                     |       |                |       |                    |  
|Diluted EPS                           |  | $                                   | 3,706 |                | 2,467 |                    | $
|                                      |  |                                     |       |                |       |                    |  



USE OF ESTIMATES



The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.



RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS



In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Financial Accounting
Standards No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based CompensationTransition and Disclosure (FAS 148). FAS 148, amends FAS 123 by providing alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based
method of accounting for stock based employee compensation. In addition, FAS 148 amends the disclosure requirements of FAS 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for
stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. FAS 148 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company.



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ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)





In January
2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46 Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities an interpretation of ARB No. 51 (FIN 46) in an effort to improve financial reporting by achieving more consistent application
of consolidation policies to variable interest entities (VIEs). VIEs, as defined in FIN 46, were often referred to as special purposes entities in the past. In general, VIEs lack substantial equity or substance as an entity. Their risks
and returns generally inure to those other that the holders of the VIEs equity (who are referred to as primary beneficiaries). VIEs are required to be consolidated by their primary beneficiaries. As of December 31, 2002, the
Company did not have any interests in VIEs and does not believe that the provisions of FIN 46 will have a material effect on the Companys financial statements.



NOTE 2.    SECURITIES



The following table summarizes the Companys mortgage-backed securities (MBS) classified as
available-for-sale as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, which are carried at their fair value (in thousands):



December 31, 2002



|                    |  | Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation |         |   | Federal National Mortgage Association |   |           | Other Mortgage-backed Securities  |  | Total MBS Assets |        
|------------------- |  | -------------------------------------- | ------- | - | ------------------------------------- | - | --------- | --------------------------------- |  | ---------------- | -------
|Amortized Cost      |  | $                                      | 631,329 |   |                                       | $ | 1,620,040 |                                   |  | $                | 146,605
|Paydowns receivable |  |                                        | 17,269  |   |                                       |   |          |                                   |  |                  |       
|Unrealized gains    |  |                                        | 3,500   |   |                                       |   | 12,120    |                                   |  |                  | 428    
|Unrealized losses   |  |                                        | (453    | ) |                                       |   | (735      | )                                 |  |                  |       
|                    |  |                                        |         |   |                                       |   |           |                                   |  |                  |        
|Fair value          |  | $                                      | 651,645 |   |                                       | $ | 1,631,425 |                                   |  | $                | 147,033
|                    |  |                                        |         |   |                                       |   |           |                                   |  |                  |        
|                   
|December 31, 2001   |  |                                        |         |   |                                       |   |           |                                   |  |                  |        
|                    |  | Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation |         |   | Federal National Mortgage Association |   |           | Other Mortgage- backed Securities |  | Total MBS Assets |        
|Amortized Cost      |  | $                                      | 137,937 |   |                                       | $ | 280,458   |                                   |  | $                |       
|Paydowns receivable |  |                                        | 1,426   |   |                                       |   |          |                                   |  |                  |       
|Unrealized gains    |  |                                        | 222     |   |                                       |   | 921       |                                   |  |                  |       
|Unrealized losses   |  |                                        | (226    | ) |                                       |   | (524      | )                                 |  |                  |       
|                    |  |                                        |         |   |                                       |   |           |                                   |  |                  |        
|Fair value          |  | $                                      | 139,359 |   |                                       | $ | 280,855   |                                   |  | $                |       
|                    |  |                                        |         |   |                                       |   |           |                                   |  |                  |        



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ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)





In
addition, at December 31, 2001, the Company held positions in preferred stock of another mortgage REIT, valued at $1,803,000. The following table summarizes the Companys securities as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 at their fair value (in
thousands):



December 31, 2002

|                    |  | ARMS |         |   | HYBRIDS |   |           | FIXED |  |   | REIT Stock |   | Total |  
|------------------- |  | ---- | ------- | - | ------- | - | --------- | ----- |  | - | ---------- | - | ----- | -
|Amortized Cost      |  | $    | 954,505 |   |         | $ | 1,110,088 |       |  | $ | 333,381    |   |       | $
|Paydowns receivable |  |      | 8,960   |   |         |   | 8,309     |       |  |   |           |   |       |  
|Unrealized gains    |  |      | 2,235   |   |         |   | 8,420     |       |  |   | 5,393      |   |       |  
|Unrealized losses   |  |      | (1,030  | ) |         |   | (158      | )     |  |   |           |   |       |  
|                    |  |      |         |   |         |   |           |       |  |   |            |   |       |  
|Fair value          |  | $    | 964,670 |   |         | $ | 1,126,659 |       |  | $ | 338,774    |   |       | $
|                    |  |      |         |   |         |   |           |       |  |   |            |   |       |  
|                   
|December 31, 2001   |  |      |         |   |         |   |           |       |  |   |            |   |       |  
|                    |  | ARMS |         |   | HYBRIDS |   |           | FIXED |  |   | REIT Stock |   | Total |  
|Amortized Cost      |  | $    | 250,525 |   |         | $ | 99,454    |       |  | $ | 68,416     |   |       | $
|Paydowns receivable |  |      | 625     |   |         |   | 801       |       |  |   |           |   |       |  
|Unrealized gains    |  |      | 658     |   |         |   | 57        |       |  |   | 428        |   |       |  
|Unrealized losses   |  |      | (216    | ) |         |   | (439      | )     |  |   | (95        | ) |       |  
|                    |  |      |         |   |         |   |           |       |  |   |            |   |       |  
|Fair value          |  | $    | 251,592 |   |         | $ | 99,873    |       |  | $ | 68,749     |   |       | $
|                    |  |      |         |   |         |   |           |       |  |   |            |   |       |  



Included
in gain on sale of the securities for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 are gross realized gains of $4,708,605 and $430,000 and gross realized losses of $0 and $0, respectively. Included in interest income on the statement of operations for
the year ended December 31, 2002 are gains on derivative transactions of $542,000 which resulted from forward purchase transactions designated as cash flow hedges that were subsequently terminated and forward purchase transactions that were not
designated as hedges. At December 31, 2002 the Company was not a party to any derivative transactions and there was no derivative gain or loss included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.



NOTE 3.    REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS



The Company has entered into reverse
repurchase agreements to finance most of its ARM securities. The reverse repurchase agreements are short-term borrowings that bear interest rates that have historically moved in close relationship to LIBOR (London Interbank Offer Rate). At December
31, 2002, these agreements were collateralized by mortgage backed securities with a fair value of $2,338,405,137.



At December 31, 2002, the repurchase agreements had a weighted average interest rate of 1.92%, an average maturity of 166 days and the
following remaining maturities (in thousands):



|Within 59 days |  | $ | 689,233  
|-------------- |  | - | ---------
|60 to 89 days  |  |   | 361,942  
|90 to 365 days |  |   | 848,583  
|Over one year  |  |   | 254,112  
|               |  |   |          
|               |  | $ | 2,153,870
|               |  |   |          



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ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)





NOTE
4.    FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS



ARM securities and other marketable securities are reflected in the financial statements at estimated fair value. Management bases its fair value estimates for ARM securities and other marketable securities primarily on
third-party bid price indications provided by dealers who make markets in these financial instruments when such indications are available. However, the fair value reported reflects estimates and may not necessarily be indicative of the amounts the
Company could realize in a current market exchange. Cash and cash equivalents, interest receivable, reverse repurchase agreements and payables for securities purchased are reflected in the financial statements at their costs, which approximates
their fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments.



NOTE 5.    PUBLIC OFFERINGS AND CAPITAL STOCK



On February 19, 2002, the Company completed a follow-on offering of common stock, $0.01 par value. The Company issued 4,200,000 shares of common stock pursuant to a public offering at a price of $8.85
per share and received net proceeds of $34,778,000, net of underwriting discount of $0.553125 per share and other offering expenses. On February 28, 2002, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option, purchasing an additional 630,000
shares of common stock. As a result, the Company received additional net proceeds of $5,227,000, net of the underwriting discount of $0.553125 per share.



On June 26, 2002, the Company completed a follow-on offering of common stock, $0.01 par value. The Company issued 10,350,000 shares of
common stock pursuant to a public offering at a price of $13.00 per share and received net proceeds of $126,063,000, net of underwriting discount of $.8125 per share and other offering expenses. Included in the offering were 1,350,000 shares of
common stock sold upon the exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option.



On August 30, 2002, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission offering up to $350 million of the capital stock of the Company. The
registration statement was declared effective on September 10, 2002. As of December 31, 2002, the entire $350 million remained available for issuance under the registration statement.



In December 2002, the Company entered into a sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.,
(Cantor), to sell up to 4,800,000 shares of common stock from time to time through a controlled equity offering program under which Cantor acts as sales agent. Sales of the shares have been and will be made by means of ordinary
brokers transactions on the American Stock Exchange at market prices and through privately negotiated transactions. The Company intends to make such sales when it believes the issuance of stock would be accretive to shareholders. Commencing
February 10, 2003 and during the period ended March 21, 2003, the Company has sold 587,570 shares under the controlled equity offering program, which provided net proceeds of approximately $7.1 million (unaudited). The sales agent
received an aggregate of approximately $218,000, which represents a commission of 3% on the gross sales price per share of the sales under the sales agreement through March 21, 2003 (unaudited).



In September of 1999, the Company filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission its Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan. The plan allows shareholders and non-shareholders to purchase shares of the Companys common stock and to reinvest dividends in additional shares of the
Companys common stock. The plan was amended in June, 2002 and December, 2002 to increase the number of shares available thereunder. Through December 31, 2002, the Company raised equity capital of $32.9 million as a result of this plan, $32.1
million of which was raised in 2002.



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ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)





The
Companys authorized capital includes 20 million shares of $.01 par value preferred stock. The preferred stock may be issued in one or more classes or series, with such distinctive designations, rights and preferences as determined by the Board
of Directors.



During the year ended December 31,
2002, the Company declared dividends to stockholders totaling $2.00 per share, of which $1.50 was paid in 2002, and $0.50 was paid on January 27, 2003. For Federal income tax purposes such dividends are ordinary income ($1.92) and long-term
capital gains distributions ($0.08) to the Companys stockholders.



NOTE 6.    TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES



Merger Transaction



From the time of its inception through June 13, 2002, the Company was externally managed by the Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement. As an externally managed company, the Company had no employees of its own and relied on the
Manager to conduct its business and operations.



Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Company paid the Manager an annual base management fee equal to 1% of the first $300 million of average net invested assets (as defined in the Management Agreement), plus 0.8% of the
portion above $300 million. In addition to the base management fee, the Manager received as incentive compensation for each fiscal quarter an amount equal to 20% of the amount of taxable net income of the Company, before incentive compensation, for
such fiscal quarter in excess of the amount that would produce an annualized return on equity (calculated by multiplying the return on equity for such fiscal quarter by four) equal to the Ten-Year U.S. Treasury Rate for such fiscal quarter plus 1%.
For the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, the Company paid the Manager $400,000, $208,000 and $167,000, respectively, in base management fees. The Company paid the Manager $1,741,000, $598,000 and $0 in incentive compensation for the
years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.



On June 13, 2002, the Manager merged with and into the Company pursuant to the Merger. The Merger was approved by a special committee consisting solely of the Companys independent directors, the Companys full board of
directors and the vote of a majority of the Companys stockholders. The stockholder of the Manager, a trust controlled by Lloyd McAdams, the Companys President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Heather U. Baines, one of the
Companys Executive Vice Presidents, received 240,000 shares of the Companys common stock as merger consideration, which was worth approximately $3.2 million based on the closing price of the Companys common stock on June 13, 2002.



As a result of the Merger, the Company is now an
internally managed company, and certain employees of the Manager have become employees of the Company. As a condition to the Merger, the Company entered into direct employment contracts with Lloyd McAdams, Heather U. Baines and Joseph McAdams,
adopted an incentive compensation plan for key employees, increased the size of its 1997 Stock Option and Awards Plan and provided for future automatic increases in the size of that plan. Upon the closing of the Merger, the Management Agreement
terminated.



The market value of the
Companys common stock issued, valued as of the consummation of the Merger, in excess of the fair value of the net tangible assets acquired, has been accounted for as a non-cash charge to operating income. Since the Company did not acquire
tangible net assets from the Manager in the merger, the non-cash charge equaled the value of the consideration paid in the Merger, which was approximately $3.2 million. This non-cash charge does not reduce the Companys taxable income of
which at least 90% must be paid as dividends to stockholders to maintain the Companys status as a REIT. It does, however, reduce the Companys reportable net income. In addition, the Company incurred $295,000 in merger related expenses.



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ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)





2002 Incentive
Compensation Plan



The Company adopted its
2002 Incentive Compensation Plan which became effective on the effective date of the Merger. Under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, eligible employees of the Company have the opportunity to earn incentive compensation for each fiscal quarter.
The total aggregate amount of compensation that may be earned by all employees equals a percentage of taxable net income, before incentive compensation, in excess of the amount that would produce an annualized return on average net worth equal to
the ten-year US Treasury Rate plus 1% (the Threshold Return).



In any fiscal quarter in which the Companys taxable net income is an amount less than the amount necessary to earn the Threshold Return, the Company will calculate negative incentive compensation
for that fiscal quarter which will be carried forward and will offset future incentive compensation earned under the plan, but only with respect to those participants who were participants during the fiscal quarter(s) in which negative incentive
compensation was generated.



The percentage of
taxable net income in excess of the Threshold Return earned under the plan by all employees is calculated based on the Companys quarterly average net worth, as defined in the Incentive Compensation Plan. The percentage rate used in this
calculation is based on a blended average of the following tiered percentage rates:



| |  |  | 25% for the first $50 million of average net worth;
| | - |  | ---------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | 15% for the average net worth between $50 million and $100 million;
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | 10% for the average net worth between $100 million and $200 million;
| | - |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | 5% for the average net worth in excess of $200 million.
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------



The 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan requires that the Company pay all amounts earned thereunder each quarter (subject to offset for
accrued negative incentive compensation), and the Company will be required to pay a percentage of such amounts to certain of its executives pursuant to the terms of their employment agreements. For the year ended December 31, 2002, eligible
employees under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan earned $3,055,000 in incentive compensation.



Employment Agreements



Upon the closing of the Merger, the Company assumed the existing employment agreements of Lloyd McAdams, Joseph McAdams and Heather U. Baines. Such agreements were modified by the addenda entered into
between the Company and each of the executives as described below. Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreements, Lloyd McAdams serves as the Companys President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Heather U. Baines and Joseph
McAdams serve as the Companys Executive Vice Presidents. Heather U. Baines receives a $50,000 annual base salary, Lloyd McAdams receives a base salary equal to the greater of (i) $120,000 per annum, or (ii) a per annum amount equal to 0.125%
of the Companys book value, not to exceed $250,000. Joseph McAdams receives a base salary equal to the greater of (i) $100,000 per annum, or (ii) a per annum amount equal to 0.10% of the Companys book value, not to exceed $250,000.



These employment agreements, as modified by the
addenda, also have the following provisions:



| |  |  | the three executives are entitled to participate in the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan and each of these individuals are provided a minimum percentage of the
amounts earned under such plan. Lloyd McAdams is entitled to 45% of all amounts paid under the plan; Joe McAdams is entitled to 25% of all
| | - |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)



| | amounts paid under the plan, and Heather U. Baines is entitled to 5% of all amounts paid under the plan. The three executives may be paid up
to 50% of their respective incentive compensation earned under such plan in the form of Company common stock;
| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | the incentive compensation plan may not be amended without the consent of the three executives;
| | - |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | in the event of a registered public offering of the Companys shares, the three executives are entitled to piggyback registration rights in connection with such
offering;
| | - |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | in the event any of the three executives is terminated without cause or if they terminate for good reason, or in the case of Lloyd McAdams or
Joseph McAdams, their employment agreements are not renewed, then the executives would be entitled to: (1) all base salary due under the contracts, (2) all discretionary bonus due under the contracts, (3) a lump sum payment of an amount equal to
three years of the executives then-current base salary, (4) payment of COBRA medical coverage for eighteen months, (5) immediate vesting of all pension benefits, (6) all incentive compensation to which the executives would have been entitled
to under the contract prorated through the termination date, and (7) all expense reimbursements and benefits due and owing the executives through the termination. In addition, under these circumstances Lloyd McAdams and Joseph McAdams would each be
entitled to a lump sum payment equal to 150% of the greater of (i) the highest amount paid or payable to all employees under the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan during any one of the three fiscal years prior to their termination, and (ii) the
highest amount paid, or that would be payable, under the plan during any of the three fiscal years following their termination. Ms. Baines would also be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to all incentive compensation that Ms. Baines would have
been entitled to under the plan during the three year period following her termination;
| | - |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | the three executives received restricted stock grants of 20,000 shares each, which grants vest in equal, annual installments over ten years following the effective
date of the merger; and
| | - |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |  |  | the three executives are each subject to a one-year non-competition provision following termination of their employment.
| | - |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



In connection with the 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan, the
Company granted 60,000 shares of restricted stock to the above executives. The value of such shares is reflected on the Companys balance sheet as a reduction to stockholders equity. This amount is being amortized to expense over the ten
year restricted period until such shares vest and is accounted for as unearned restricted stock.



Agreements with Pacific Income Advisers, Inc.



On June 13, 2002, the Company entered into a sublease with Pacific Income Advisers, Inc. (PIA), a company owned by a trust
controlled by officers of the Company. Under the sublease, the Company leases approximately 5,500 square feet of office space from PIA and currently pays $44.04 per square foot in rent to PIA. The sublease runs through June 30, 2012 unless earlier
terminated pursuant to the master lease. During the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company paid rent of $133,221 to PIA under the sublease which is included in Other Expenses on the Statements of Operations.



The future minimum lease commitment is as follows:



|Year              |  | 2003 |         | 2004 |   | 2005    |  | 2006 |         | 2007 |   | Thereafter |  | Total Commitment
|----------------- |  | ---- | ------- | ---- | - | ------- |  | ---- | ------- | ---- | - | ---------- |  | ----------------
|Commitment Amount |  | $    | 249,480 |      | $ | 256,960 |  | $    | 264,660 |      | $ | 272,580    |  | $               



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ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)





On October
14, 2002, the Company entered into an administrative agreement with PIA. Under the administrative agreement, PIA provides administrative services and equipment to the Company in the nature of accounting, human resources, operational support and
information technology, and the Company pays an annual fee of 7 basis points on the first $225,000,000 of stockholder equity and 3.5 basis points thereafter (paid quarterly in advance) for those services. The administrative agreement is for an
initial term of one year and will renew for successive one year terms thereafter unless either party gives notice of termination at least 90 days before the expiration of the then current annual term. The Company may also terminate the
administrative agreement upon 30 days notice for any reason and immediately if there is a material breach by PIA. Included in Other Expenses on the Statement of Operations are fees of $39,059 paid to PIA in connection with this agreement.



Deferred Compensation Plan



On January 15, 2003, the Company adopted the Anworth Mortgage
Asset Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (the Deferred Compensation Plan), which permits eligible officers of the Company to defer the payment of all or a portion of their cash compensation in excess of the $1,000,000 annual
limitation on deductible compensation imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code. Under this limitation, compensation paid to our chief executive officer and our four other highest paid officers is not deductible by us for income tax purposes to the
extent the amount paid to any such officer exceeds $1,000,000 in any calendar year, unless such compensation qualifies as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m). The Companys board of directors designates the eligible officers who
may participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan from among the group consisting of the Companys chief executive officer and our other four highest paid officers. To date, the board has designated Lloyd McAdams, our President, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, and Joseph McAdams, our Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, as the only officers who may participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan. Each eligible officer becomes a participant in the Deferred
Compensation Plan by making a written election to defer the payment of cash compensation. With certain limited exceptions, the election must be filed with the Company before January 1 of the calendar year in which the compensation will be deferred.
The election is effective for the entire calendar year and may not be terminated or modified for that calendar year. If a participant wishes to defer compensation in a subsequent calendar year, a new deferral election must be made before the January
1 of that year.



Amounts deferred under the
Deferred Compensation Plan are not be paid to the participant as earned, but are credited to a bookkeeping account maintained by the Company in the name of the participant. The balance in the participants account is credited with earnings at a
rate of return equal to the annual dividend yield on the Companys common stock. Each participant is a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to all deferrals and earnings credited to his or her account under the Deferred
Compensation Plan. A participants account shall be distributed to the participant: (i) no later than thirty days after the participants termination of employment with the Company, or (ii) immediately upon the occurrence of a change of
control of the Company (as defined the Deferred Compensation Plan). Additionally, the Company may, but are not required to, pay amounts to a participant from his or her account if: (i) the participants cash compensation in any calendar year is
below the $1,000,000 deduction limit imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code, or (ii) the participants compensation is not otherwise subject to the Section 162(m) limitation. The Company may not, however, pay any amount to a participant under
the Deferred Compensation Plan unless the amount has been in the participants account for at least two years from the end of the calendar year in which the amount was credited to the account. A participant may designate a beneficiary to
receive his or her account in the event of the participants death. Except as described above in this paragraph, or upon the termination of the Deferred Compensation Plan, no amounts may be paid to a participant from his or her account.



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##### Table of Contents

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)





NOTE
7.    STOCK OPTION PLAN



The Company has adopted the Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 1997 Stock Option and Awards Plan (the Stock Plan). As of December 31, 2002, the Company was authorized to grant options to purchase an aggregate of up to
1,500,000 shares of the Companys common stock, which authorization increased to 1,800,000 shares on January 2, 2003 pursuant to the annual automatic increase provisions of the Stock Plan. The Stock Plan authorizes the Board of Directors, or a
committee of the Board of Directors, to grant incentive stock options (ISOs) as defined under section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, options not so qualified (NQSOs), dividend equivalent rights
(DERs) and stock appreciation rights (SARs). The exercise price for any option granted under the Stock Plan may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the shares of common stock at the time the option is granted.
As of December 31, 2002, 519,104 shares remained available for future issuance under the Stock Plan through any combination of stock options or other awards. The share reserve under the Stock Plan automatically increases on the first trading
day in January each calendar year by an amount equal to two (2%) percent of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding on the last trading day of December in the prior calendar year, but in no event will this annual increase exceed
300,000 shares and in no event will the total number of shares of common stock in the share reserve (as adjusted for all such annual increases) exceed 3 million shares.



During the period ended December 31, 1998, the Company had granted 148,000 options at an exercise price of $9
per share and 136,000 DERs. For these options, those granted to officers became exercisable over a three year period following their date of grant, while those granted to directors become exercisable six months after their date of grant. During the
year ended December 31, 1999, the Company granted an additional 50,000 options at an exercise price per share of $4.60 and 12,500 DERs. These options became exercisable three years after the date of grant. During the year ended December 31,
2001, the Company granted an additional 140,856 options at exercise prices per share which range from $6.70 to $7.81. These options became exercisable on the date of grant. During the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company granted an additional
494,245 options at exercise prices which range from $9.45 to $11.25 and issued 91,112 shares directly under the Stock Plan in payment of amounts earned under the Companys 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan and 60,000 shares pursuant to
restricted stock grants. The options became exercisable six months to one year following the date of grant, depending on when the option was granted. All options granted in 2002 expire in 2012. The DERs are payable only when their associated stock
options are exercised, thereby reducing the effective strike price of such options. The Company recognizes compensation expense at the time the average market price of the stock exceeds the effective strike price of the options. Since inception, the
Company has recorded $73,000 in compensation expense related to the DERs. During the quarter ended June 30, 2001, 114,000 of the outstanding DERs were truncated, and shortly after June 30, 2001 the remaining 34,500 DERs were
truncated. After the dividend declared on April 20, 2001, no more dividends accrued to the DERs, thereby fixing the effective strike price of the options.



F-17



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##### Table of Contents

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)





The
Company adopted the disclosure-only provisions of FAS 123. Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for grants under the Stock Option Plan. Had compensation cost for the Companys stock option plan been determined based on the fair
value at the grant date for awards consistent with the provisions of FAS 123, the Companys net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated in the table below. The fair value of each option
grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model:



|                                       |  | 2002 |           |   | 2001 |   |         | 2000
|-------------------------------------- |  | ---- | --------- | - | ---- | - | ------- | ----
|Net incomeas reported (in thousands)  |  | $    | 31,670    |   |      | $ | 3,706   |     
|Net incomepro forma (in thousands)    |  | $    | 31,670    |   |      | $ | 3,445   |     
|Basic earnings per shareas reported   |  | $    | 1.81      |   |      | $ | 1.52    |     
|Basic earnings per sharepro forma     |  | $    | 1.81      |   |      | $ | 1.41    |     
|Diluted earnings per shareas reported |  | $    | 1.80      |   |      | $ | 1.50    |     
|Diluted earnings per sharepro forma   |  | $    | 1.80      |   |      | $ | 1.40    |     
|Assumptions:                           |  |      |           |   |      |   |         |     
|Dividend yield                         |  |      | 17        | % |      |   | 10      | %   
|Expected volatility                    |  |      | 27        | % |      |   | 41      | %   
|Risk-free interest rate                |  |      | 1.23      | % |      |   | 4.98    | %   
|Expected lives                         |  |      | 8.8 years |   |      |   | 7 years |     



|                                                               |  | 2002   |          | 2001 |                                 | 2000
|-------------------------------------------------------------- |  | ------ | -------- | ---- | ------------------------------- | ----
|                                                               |  | Shares |          |      | Weighted Average Exercise Price |     
|Outstanding, beginning of year(1)                              |  |        | 395,539  |      |                                 | $   
|Granted                                                        |  |        | 494,245  |      |                                 |     
|Exercised(1)                                                   |  |        | (234,605 | )    |                                 |     
|Expired                                                        |  |        |         |      |                                 |     
|                                                               |  |        |          |      |                                 |     
|Outstanding, end of year(1)                                    |  |        | 655,179  |      |                                 | $   
|                                                               |  |        |          |      |                                 |     
|Weighted average fair value of options granted during the year |  | $      | 0.07     |      |                                 |     
|Options exercisable at year end(1)                             |  |        | 299,179  |      |                                 |     

---

|(1) |  | Includes shares accrued pursuant to DERs
|--- |  | ----------------------------------------



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##### Table of Contents

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)





The
following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2002:



|Exercise Price |  | Effective Exercise Price Including DERs |       | Options Outstanding |         |     | Remaining Contractual Life (Yrs.) |     | Exercisable at 12/31/02 |        
|-------------- |  | --------------------------------------- | ----- | ------------------- | ------- | --- | --------------------------------- | --- | ----------------------- | -------
|$4.60          |  | $                                       | 4.35  |                     | 2,644   | (1) |                                   | 6.3 |                         | 2,644  
|$6.70          |  | $                                       | 6.70  |                     | 520     |     |                                   | 8.5 |                         | 520    
|$7.10          |  | $                                       | 7.10  |                     | 9,000   |     |                                   | 8.6 |                         | 9,000  
|$7.37          |  | $                                       | 7.37  |                     | 11,296  |     |                                   | 3.5 |                         | 11,296 
|$7.81          |  | $                                       | 7.81  |                     | 25,000  |     |                                   | 3.6 |                         | 25,000 
|$9.00          |  | $                                       | 6.60  |                     | 112,474 | (1) |                                   | 5.2 |                         | 112,474
|$9.45          |  | $                                       | 9.45  |                     | 138,245 |     |                                   | 9.1 |                         | 138,245
|$11.20         |  | $                                       | 11.20 |                     | 336,000 |     |                                   | 9.8 |                         |       
|$11.25         |  | $                                       | 11.25 |                     | 20,000  |     |                                   | 9.8 |                         |       
|               |  |                                         |       |                     |         |     |                                   |     |                         |        
|               |  |                                         |       |                     | 655,179 |     |                                   | 8.8 |                         | 299,179

---

|(1) |  | Includes shares accrued pursuant to DERs
|--- |  | ----------------------------------------



NOTE 8.    SUMMARIZED QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)



The following tables summarize quarterly results for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 (unaudited).
Earnings per share amounts for the each quarter and the full years have been calculated separately. Accordingly, quarterly amounts may not add to the annual amounts because of substantial differences in the average shares outstanding during each
period and, with regard to diluted earnings per share amounts they may also differ because of the inclusion of the effect of potentially dilutive securities only in the periods in which such effect would have been dilutive.



For the year ended December 31, 2002:



|                                               |  | First Quarter |        |   | Second Quarter |   |        | Third Quarter |  |   | Fourth Quarter |  
|---------------------------------------------- |  | ------------- | ------ | - | -------------- | - | ------ | ------------- |  | - | -------------- | -
|Interest and dividend income                   |  | $             | 7,925  |   |                | $ | 12,217 |               |  | $ | 23,134         |  
|Interest expense                               |  |               | (3,007 | ) |                |   | (5,114 | )             |  |   | (10,469        | )
|Net interest income                            |  |               | 4,918  |   |                |   | 7,103  |               |  |   | 12,665         |  
|Gain on sale                                   |  |               | 223    |   |                |   | 1,433  |               |  |   | 1,838          |  
|Expenses                                       |  |               | (1,026 | ) |                |   | (4,847 | )             |  |   | (2,402         | )
|Net Income                                     |  | $             | 4,115  |   |                | $ | 3,689  |               |  | $ | 12,101         |  
|Basic earnings per share                       |  | $             | 0.45   |   |                | $ | 0.29   |               |  | $ | 0.52           |  
|Diluted earnings per share                     |  | $             | 0.45   |   |                | $ | 0.29   |               |  | $ | 0.52           |  
|Average number of shares outstanding (diluted) |  |               | 9,214  |   |                |   | 12,823 |               |  |   | 23,433         |  



F-19



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##### Table of Contents

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)





For the
year ended December 31, 2001:



|                                               |  | First Quarter |        |   | Second Quarter |   |        | Third Quarter |  |   | Fourth Quarter |  
|---------------------------------------------- |  | ------------- | ------ | - | -------------- | - | ------ | ------------- |  | - | -------------- | -
|Interest and dividend income                   |  | $             | 2,556  |   |                | $ | 2,518  |               |  | $ | 2,564          |  
|Interest expense                               |  |               | (1,921 | ) |                |   | (1,650 | )             |  |   | (1,403         | )
|Net interest income                            |  |               | 635    |   |                |   | 868    |               |  |   | 1,161          |  
|Gain on sale                                   |  |               | 71     |   |                |   | 81     |               |  |   | 166            |  
|Expenses                                       |  |               | (162   | ) |                |   | (255   | )             |  |   | (303           | )
|Net Income                                     |  | $             | 544    |   |                | $ | 694    |               |  | $ | 1,024          |  
|Basic earnings per share                       |  | $             | 0.23   |   |                | $ | 0.29   |               |  | $ | 0.43           |  
|Diluted earnings per share                     |  | $             | 0.23   |   |                | $ | 0.29   |               |  | $ | 0.42           |  
|Average number of shares outstanding (diluted) |  |               | 2,354  |   |                |   | 2,368  |               |  |   | 2,423          |  



F-20



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##### Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX



|Exhibit Number |     |  | Description                                                                                                                                                                                            
|-------------- | --- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|3.1            | (1) |  | Amended Articles of Incorporation                                                                                                                                                                      
|              
|3.2            | (1) |  | Bylaws                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|              
|4.1            | (1) |  | Specimen Common Stock certificate                                                                                                                                                                      
|              
|4.2            | (2) |  | Specimen Preferred Stock certificate                                                                                                                                                                   
|              
|10.1           | (3) |  | 1997 Stock Option and Awards Plan, as amended                                                                                                                                                          
|              
|10.2           | (4) |  | 2002 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan                                                                                                                                                     
|              
|10.3           | (3) |  | 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan                                                                                                                                                                       
|              
|10.4           | (3) |  | Agreement and Plan of Merger dated April 18, 2002 by and among Anworth Mortgage Asset
Corporation (Anworth), Anworth Mortgage Advisory Corporation (the Manager) and the shareholder of the Manager
|              
|10.5           | (5) |  | Employment Agreement dated January 1, 2002, between the Manager and Lloyd
McAdams                                                                                                                      
|              
|10.6           | (5) |  | Employment Agreement dated January 1, 2002, between the Manager and Heather U.
Baines                                                                                                                  
|              
|10.7           | (5) |  | Employment Agreement dated January 1, 2002, between the Manager and Joseph E.
McAdams                                                                                                                  
|              
|10.8           | (5) |  | Addendum to Employment Agreement dated April 18, 2002, among Anworth, the Manager and
Lloyd McAdams                                                                                                    
|              
|10.9           | (5) |  | Addendum to Employment Agreement dated April 18, 2002, among Anworth, the Manager and
Heather U. Baines                                                                                                
|              
|10.10          | (5) |  | Addendum to Employment Agreement dated April 18, 2002, among Anworth, the Manager and
Joseph E. McAdams                                                                                                
|              
|10.11          | (5) |  | Second Addendum to Employment Agreement dated as of June 13, 2002 by and among
Anworth and Joseph E. McAdams                                                                                           
|              
|10.12          | (5) |  | Sublease dated June 13, 2002, between Anworth and Pacific Income Advisers,
Inc.                                                                                                                        
|              
|10.13          | (6) |  | Administrative Agreement dated October 14, 2002, between Anworth and Pacific Income
Advisers, Inc.                                                                                                     
|              
|10.14          | (7) |  | Sales Agreement dated December 30,2002, between Anworth and Cantor Fitzgerald &
Co.                                                                                                                    
|              
|10.15          |     |  | Amendment to Sales Agreement dated January 10, 2003, between Anworth and Cantor
Fitzgerald & Co.                                                                                                       
|              
|10.16          |     |  | Deferred Compensation Plan                                                                                                                                                                             
|              
|23.1           |     |  | Consent of Independent Accountants                                                                                                                                                                     
|              
|99.1           |     |  | Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer provided pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002                                         
|              
|99.2           |     |  | Certifications of the Chief Financial Officer provided pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002                                         

---

|(1) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-11, Registration No. 333-38641, which became effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the Act), on March 12, 1998.
|--- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(2) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-85036, which became effective under the Act on June 13, 2002.
|--- |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(3) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Definitive Proxy Statement filed pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as filed with the Securities
Exchange Commission on May 17, 2002.
|--- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(4) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-91480, which became effective under the Act on July 3, 2002.
|--- |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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##### Table of Contents

|(5) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August
14, 2002.
|--- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(6) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
November 14, 2002.
|--- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|(7) |  | Incorporated by reference from our Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-99005, which became effective
on January 14, 2003
|--- |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------