exv10w4






Exhibit 10.4




INVESTMENT ALLOCATION AGREEMENT




     This INVESTMENT ALLOCATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of [ ], 2011, by
and among Orchid Island Capital, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), Bimini
Advisors, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Manager”), and Bimini Capital Management,
Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Bimini”).



     WHEREAS, the Company invests in residential mortgage-backed securities the principal and
interest payments of which are guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal
Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or the Government National Mortgage Association (the “Target
Assets”);



     WHEREAS, pursuant to a Management Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Management
Agreement”), by and between the Company and the Manager, the Company will be externally managed
and advised by the Manager, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary an affiliate of Bimini;



     WHEREAS, Bimini invests in certain of the Target Assets;



     WHEREAS, The Manager may in the future manage other accounts that invest in the Target Assets
(a “Manager Account”);



     WHEREAS, the Manager and Bimini wish to provide the Company with certain rights to invest in
Target Assets identified by Bimini or the Manager; and



     WHEREAS, the Manager and Bimini have agreed to the additional sponsorship and management
restrictions as set forth herein.



     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein made and intending to be
legally bound, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:



ARTICLE I




INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES


Section 1.01 Other Investment Vehicles.





	 	(a)	 	Each of the Manager and Bimini represent and warrant to the Company that
neither the Manager nor Bimini currently sponsor or manage any real estate
investment trust that has substantially the same investment strategy as Bimini or
the Company (a “Competing Investment Vehicle”).
	 
	 	(b)	 	Each of the Manager and Bimini agree that during the Term (as defined
below) of this Agreement, neither the Manager nor Bimini will sponsor or manage any
Competing Investment Vehicle.




 









 










Section 1.02 Allocation Agreement.





	 	(a)	 	The Manager and Bimini hereby agree that they will make available to the
Company pursuant to this Section 1.02 all investment opportunities in Target
Assets made available to the Manager or Bimini, as the case may be.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1.02(a) hereof, if the
amount of available Target Assets is less than the amount needed by the Company,
Bimini or any other Manager Account, either the Manager or Bimini, as the case may be,
shall allocate such Target Assets to each such Manager Account, Bimini and the Company
based on the following factors (the “Allocation Procedures”):






	 	(i)	 	the primary investment strategy of Bimini, the relevant Manager
Accounts and the Company;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	the effect of the Target Assets on the diversification of each
of Bimini’s, the relevant Manager Accounts’ and the Company’s portfolio by
coupon, purchase price, size, payment characteristics and leverage;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	the cash requirements of each of Bimini, the relevant Manager
Accounts and the Company;
	 
	 	(iv)	 	the anticipated cash flow of each of Bimini’s, the relevant
Manager Accounts’ and the Company’s portfolio; and
	 
	 	(v)	 	the amount of funds available to each of Bimini, the relevant
Manager Accounts and the Company and the length of time such funds have been
available for investment.






	 	(c)	 	Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Allocation
Procedures shall not be required to be followed by Bimini or the Manager (i) with
respect to the allocation of purchases of whole-pool residential mortgage-backed
securities and (ii) if such allocation procedures would result in an inefficiently
small amount of Target Assets being purchased for either Bimini, a Manager Account or
the Company, as the case may be.
	 
	 	(d)	 	If Target Assets are not allocated among Bimini, a Manager Account and/or the
Company pursuant to the Allocation Procedures due to the provisions of Section
1.2(c) hereof, either Bimini or the Manager, as the case may be, shall allocate
any future purchases of Target Assets that are not subject to the Allocation
Procedures in a manner such that, on an overall basis, each of Bimini, the relevant
Manager Accounts and the Company are treated equitably.




Section 1.03 Cross Transactions





	 	(a)	 	The Manager shall not cause the Company or any of its subsidiaries to
purchase assets, including Target Assets, from, or sell assets, including Target
Assets, to, any Manager Account (a “Cross Transaction”); provided, however,
that the Manager




 









 












	 	 	 	may cause the Company or any of its subsidiaries to enter into a Cross Transaction if
(i) such Cross Transaction is in the best interests of, and is consistent with the
investment objectives and policies of, the Company and (ii) unless otherwise approved
by a majority of the independent (as defined in the Company’s Corporate Governance
Guidelines) members (the “Independent Members”) of the Board of Directors of the
Company (the “Board”) or conducted in accordance with a policy that has been
approved by a majority of the Independent Members, such Cross Transaction is effected
at the then-current market price for the assets subject to such Cross Transaction.
	 
	 	(b)	 	If assets subject to a Cross Transaction do not have a readily observable
market price, then such Cross Transaction may be effected (i) at prices based upon
third party bids received through auction, (ii) at the average of the highest bid and
lowest offer quoted by third-party dealers or (iii) according to another pricing
methodology approved by the Manager’s Chief Compliance Officer.




Section 1.04 Principal Transactions. The Manager shall not cause the Company or any of its
subsidiaries to purchase assets, including Target Assets, from, or sell assets, including Target
Assets, to, the Manager or Bimini (or any related party of the Manager or Bimini, including their
respective employees and their employees’ families) (a “Principal Transaction”); provided,
however, that the Manager may cause the Company or any of its subsidiaries to enter into a
Principal Transaction if such Principal Transaction has been previously approved by a majority of
the Independent Members. Such approval shall include the approval of the pricing methodology
(including for assets with no readily observable market price) to be used in the Principal
Transaction and shall be evidenced by a signed written consent of a majority of the Independent
Members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Principal Transaction shall include any Cross
Transaction in which the Manager, Bimini or any of their respective related parties (including
their respective employees and their employees’ families) has a substantial (as determined by the
Independent Members) ownership interest.



Section 1.05 Split-Price Executions. If our Manager combines the purchase or sale of
Target Assets for the Company with the purchase or sale of Target Assets for Bimini or a Manager
Account or both, the purchase price assigned to such Target Assets allocated to the Company shall
be either (i) the average price of all such Target Assets or (ii) based on another methodology that
treats each recipient of such Target Assets in a fair and consistent manner.




ARTICLE II




MISCELLANEOUS


Section 2.01 Term; Termination. The “Term” of this Agreement shall begin on the date hereof
and end on the Termination Date (as defined below). This Agreement shall terminate on the earlier
of the date (i) on which the Management Agreement terminates or expires in accordance with its
terms, and (ii) the Manager is no longer a subsidiary or an affiliate of Bimini (the “Termination
Date”).






 









 







Section 2.02 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties
hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by telecopy), and, unless otherwise expressly
provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered against receipt or
upon actual receipt of (i) personal delivery, (ii) delivery by reputable overnight courier, (iii)
delivery by facsimile transmission with telephonic confirmation or (iv) delivery by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as set forth below (or to such
other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto in accordance with this
Section 2.02):




	 	 	 

	The Company:

	 	Orchid Island Capital, Inc.
	 

	 	3305 Flamingo Drive
	 

	 	Vero Beach, Florida 32963
	 

	 	Fax: (772) 231-8896
	 
	 	 
	with a copy to:

	 	Hunton & Williams LLP
	 

	 	Riverfront Plaza, East Tower
	 

	 	951 East Byrd Street
	 

	 	Richmond, Virginia 23219
	 

	 	Attention: S. Gregory Cope, Esq.
	 

	 	Fax: (804) 343-4833
	 
	 	 
	The Manager or Bimini:

	 	Bimini Capital Management, Inc.
	 

	 	3305 Flamingo Drive
	 

	 	Vero Beach, Florida 32963
	 

	 	Fax: (772) 231-8896
	 
	 	 
	with a copy to:

	 	Moye White LLP
	 

	 	16 Market Square, 6th Floor
	 

	 	1400 16th Street
	 

	 	Denver, Colorado 80202-1486
	 

	 	Attention: David Roos
	 

	 	Fax: (303) 292-4510





Section 2.03 Binding Nature of Agreement; Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal
representatives, successors and assigns as provided herein.



Section 2.04 Integration. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding
among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and
contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or
written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to the subject matter hereof. The express terms
hereof control and supersede any course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with
any of the terms hereof.



Section 2.05 Amendments; Waivers. Neither this Agreement nor any terms hereof may be
amended, supplemented or modified except in an instrument in writing executed by the parties





 









 







hereto. No waiver of any term or condition hereof or obligation hereunder shall be valid unless
made in writing and signed by the party to which performance is due.



Section 2.06 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES
UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE
LAW OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR ANY DISTRICT WITHIN SUCH STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY ACTION
OR JUDGMENT RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY AND TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN SUCH COURT.



Section 2.07 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY
CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT
ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN
RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.



Section 2.08 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in
exercising, on the part of a party hereto, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall
operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power
or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are
cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.



Section 2.09 Costs and Expenses. Each party hereto shall bear its own costs and expenses
(including the fees and disbursements of counsel and accountants) incurred in connection with the
negotiations and preparation of this Agreement and all matters incident thereto.



Section 2.10 Section Headings. The section and subsection headings in this Agreement are
for convenience in reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the interpretation of
any provisions hereof.



Section 2.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties to this Agreement
on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken
together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.



Section 2.12 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any





 









 







such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.




[Signature Page Follows]



 









 





     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date
first written above.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	ORCHID ISLAND CAPITAL, INC.

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Robert Cauley 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Chief Executive Officer 	 
	 
	 	BIMINI ADVISORS, INC.

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Hunter Haas 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 
	 	BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Hunter Haas 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 



Signature Page to the Investment Allocation Agreement