# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001055160
**File Stem:** 0001104659-23-003106
**Filing Date:** 2023-1
**Character Count:** 9382
**Document Hash:** 691b2dc6b14ebc9c1fb0fdb8c7d5d046
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001104659-23-003106.hdr.sgml**: 20230111

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001104659-23-003106

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 4

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 1

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20230109

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20230111

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20230111

**REPORTING-OWNER**: 

**OWNER DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Knutson Craig L
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001431830

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 4
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-13991
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23524229

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** C/O MFA MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS, INC.
- **STREET 2:** 350 PARK AVENUE, 21ST FLOOR
- **CITY:** NEW YORK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10022
**ISSUER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** MFA FINANCIAL, INC.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001055160
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
- **IRS NUMBER:** 133974868
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** MD
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 350 PARK AVENUE
- **STREET 2:** 20TH FL
- **CITY:** NEW YORK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10022
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 2122076400

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 350 PARK AVE
- **STREET 2:** 20TH FLOOR
- **CITY:** NEW YORK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10022

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** MFA MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20020809

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** AMERICA FIRST MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS INC
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19980211

### UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
**Washington, D.C. 20549**

## FORM 4

### STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

[ ] Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **1. Name and Address of Reporting Person**<sup>*</sup><br>Knutson Craig L<br><sub>(Last) (First) (Middle)</sub><br>C/O MFA FINANCIAL, INC.<br>ONE VANDERBILT AVENUE, 48TH FLOOR<br><sub>(Street)</sub><br>NEW YORK, NY 10017<br><sub>(City) (State) (Zip)</sub> | **3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)**<br>2023-01-09 | **5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer**<br>(Check all applicable)<br>[X] Director [ ] 10% Owner<br>[X] Officer (give title below) [ ] Other (specify below)<br>_CEO and President_ |
| **2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol**<br>MFA FINANCIAL, INC. [ MFA ] | **4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)**<br>  | **6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)**<br>[X] Form filed by One Reporting Person<br>[ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person |

---

## Table I - Non-Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | Amount | (A) or (D) | Price | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Common Stock | 2023-01-09 |  | M<sup>(1)</sup> |  | 35268<sup>(2)</sup> | A | 0<sup>(3)</sup> | 384950 | D |  |
| Common Stock | 2023-01-09 |  | M<sup>(4)</sup> |  | 7045<sup>(2)</sup> | A | 0<sup>(3)</sup> | 391995 | D |  |
| Common Stock | 2023-01-09 |  | F<sup>(5)</sup> |  | 19565 | D | $10.25 | 372430 | D |  |

---

## Table II - Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | (A) | (D) | Date Exercisable | Expiration Date | Title | Amount or Number of Shares | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Phantom Shares | <sup>(6)</sup> | 2023-01-09 |  | M<sup>(6)</sup> |  |  | 35268<sup>(7)</sup> | 2023-01-09 | 2023-01-09 | Common Stock | 35268<sup>(7)</sup> | <sup>(6)</sup> | 944678<sup>(7)</sup> | D |  |
| Phantom Shares | <sup>(8)</sup> | 2023-01-09 |  | M<sup>(8)</sup> |  |  | 71668<sup>(7)(9)(10)</sup> | 2023-01-09 | 2023-01-09 | Common Stock | 71668<sup>(7)(9)(10)</sup> | <sup>(8)</sup> | 873010<sup>(7)</sup> | D |  |

---

### Footnotes:

(1) Shares acquired pursuant to the settlement of time-based restricted stock units (i.e., phantom stock) granted to the Reporting Person in February 2020.

(2) Number of shares acquired upon settlement has been adjusted to reflect the issuer's 1-for-4 reverse stock split effected on April 4, 2022.

(3) Each phantom share is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock of MFA Financial, Inc.  Each phantom share was settled in one share of common stock of MFA Financial, Inc.

(4) Shares acquired in connection with the settlement of performance-based restricted stock units (i.e., phantom stock) ("PRSUs") granted to the Reporting Person in February 2020 as discussed in Notes 8, 9 and 10 below.  The number of shares reported includes 1,927 shares representing the settlement (in the form of additional shares of common stock) of dividend equivalents that accrued during the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2022, in respect of the PRSUs that vested and whose settlement is reported herein.

(5) The reported disposition represents the surrender of shares to satisfy tax obligations arising from the settlement of phantom shares described in Notes 1 and 4 above.

(6) Settlement of time-based restricted stock units (i.e., phantom stock) granted to the Reporting Person in February 2020.  Each phantom share is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock of MFA Financial, Inc.  Each phantom share was settled in one share of common stock of MFA Financial, Inc.

(7) Number of securities has been adjusted to reflect the issuer's 1-for-4 reverse stock split effected on April 4, 2022.

(8) Settlement of performance-based restricted stock units (i.e., phantom stock) ("PRSUs") granted to the Reporting Person in February 2020.  Each phantom share is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock of MFA Financial, Inc.  Each phantom share was settled in one share of common stock of MFA Financial, Inc.

(9) The number of PRSUs reported in Table II represents the "target" number of PRSUs that were granted to the reporting person in February 2020.  Per the terms of the award agreement governing the PRSUs, the number of underlying shares of MFA common stock that the recipient ultimately became entitled to receive at the time of vesting ranged from 0% to 200% of the target number of PRSUs granted, subject to the achievement of a pre-established performance metric. The vesting of these PRSUs was based on MFA's total stockholder return for the three years ended December 31, 2022.

(10) The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of MFA Financial, Inc. has confirmed and certified that the PRSUs vested at a level below target, as reflected in Table I above (see Note 4).  In addition, per the terms of the award agreement governing the PRSUs, the number of PRSUs that vested was adjusted to reflect the value of any dividends paid on MFA's common stock during the performance period in respect of the number of PRSUs that ultimately vested.

**Signature:** /s/ Craig L. Knutson  
**Date:** 2023-01-11

### Remarks:

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

**Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.**