EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1666291
Filing Year: 2023
Filename: 1666291_10-K_2023_0000950170-23-003074.json

---

ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business.
Our Company
We are a CRE finance company focused primarily on originating senior and subordinate loans on transitional CRE assets located in major U.S. markets, including mortgage loans secured by a first priority or subordinate mortgage on transitional CRE assets, and subordinate loans including mezzanine loans secured by a pledge of equity ownership interests in the direct or indirect property owner rather than directly in the underlying commercial properties. These loans are subordinate to a mortgage loan but senior to the property owner’s equity ownership interests. Transitional CRE assets are properties that require repositioning, renovation, rehabilitation, leasing, development or redevelopment or other value-added elements in order to maximize value. We believe our Sponsor’s real estate development, ownership and operations experience and infrastructure differentiates us in lending on these transitional CRE assets. Our objective is to be a premier provider of debt capital for transitional CRE assets and, in doing so, to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for our stockholders over time, primarily through dividends. We strive to create a diversified investment portfolio of CRE loans that we generally intend to hold to maturity. We focus primarily on originating loans ranging from $50 million to $300 million on transitional CRE assets located in major U.S. markets with attractive fundamental characteristics supported by macroeconomic tailwinds.
We were organized as a Maryland corporation on April 29, 2015 and commenced operations on August 25, 2015, and our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “CMTG”. We have elected and believe we have qualified to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2015. We are externally managed and advised by our Manager, an investment adviser registered with the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, (the "Advisers Act"). We operate our business in a manner that permits us to maintain our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
Our principal executive offices are located at c/o Mack Real Estate Credit Strategies, L.P., 60 Columbus Circle, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10023. Our website is www.clarosmortgage.com. The information found on, or otherwise accessible through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, nor does it form a part of, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our Manager and Our Sponsor
We are externally managed by our Manager, an affiliate of MRECS, which was founded in 2014 to focus on CRE credit investments as a core business affiliated with the broader MREG platform. Our Sponsor owns, develops, invests in and manages real estate equity, debt and securities on behalf of third-party institutional and high net worth investors, and the members of our Sponsor’s senior management team have, on average, more than 25 years of real estate and finance experience. We leverage our Sponsor’s platform to originate, underwrite, structure and asset manage a portfolio of loan assets that align with our differentiated investment strategy. In particular, we believe that MREG’s experience and infrastructure in the areas of real estate ownership, development and property management strengthens our ability to lend on transitional CRE assets which involve a level of borrower execution risk that traditional lenders and other debt market participants without our expertise may be unable or unwilling to adequately underwrite.
In performing its duties to us, our Manager benefits from the resources, relationships, fundamental real estate underwriting and management expertise of our Sponsor’s broad group of real estate professionals. Our Manager is led by Richard Mack, Michael McGillis, Kevin Cullinan, Priyanka Garg, Jai Agarwal and other members of our Sponsor’s senior management team. Pursuant to a management agreement between our Manager and us (the “Management Agreement”), our Manager is responsible for executing our loan origination, capital markets, portfolio management, asset management and monitoring activities and managing our day-to-day operations. To perform its role in a flexible and efficient manner, our Manager leverages professionals employed by our Sponsor whose services are made available to our Manager and, in turn, to us. We believe our Manager benefits from access to individuals with extensive experience in identifying, analyzing, acquiring, financing, hedging, managing and operating real estate investments across investment cycles, geographies, property types, investment types and strategies, including debt and equity interests, controlling and non-controlling investments, corporate and securities investments (including CMBS) and a variety of joint ventures. We believe that this experience of our Sponsor and its affiliates enables our Manager to
underwrite, originate and manage loans that facilitate the successful transition of CRE assets, with an appropriate level of execution risk and, in its judgment, relatively limited basis risk. Neither we nor our Manager employs personnel directly. In performing its duties to us, our Manager is at all times subject to the supervision, direction and management of our board of directors.
Our Investment Strategy
We seek primarily to originate, co-originate and acquire senior and subordinate loans on transitional CRE assets located in major U.S. markets and generally intend to hold our loans to maturity. In addition to our primary focus on major U.S. markets, we are also seeking to originate senior and subordinate loans on transitional CRE assets located in other markets that we be believe demonstrate favorable demographic trends as a result of, among other factors, de-urbanization, migration to states with lower tax rates, and perceived higher quality of life. We believe that our investment strategy currently provides significant opportunities for us to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns over time for our stockholders. However, to capitalize on the investment opportunities at different points in the economic and real estate investment cycle, we may modify or expand our investment strategy without our stockholders’ consent. We believe that the flexibility of our strategy supported by our Sponsor’s significant CRE experience and its extensive resources will allow us to take advantage of changing market conditions to maximize total returns for our stockholders.
Our financing strategy and investment process are discussed in more detail in “Our Financing Strategy” and “Investment Guidelines” below.
Our Target Assets
We originate, co-originate and acquire senior and subordinate loans on transitional CRE assets located primarily in major U.S. markets. Together, we refer to the following types of investments as our target assets:
Senior Loans: We focus primarily on originating senior loans on transitional CRE assets, including:
Mortgage Loans. Mortgage loans secured by a first priority or subordinate mortgage on transitional CRE assets. These loans are non-amortizing, require a balloon payment of principal at maturity (and in some cases, earlier pay downs in the case of loans that provide for partial releases of collateral upon the occurrence of specified events, such as the sale of condominium units) and are typically structured to be floating rate. Some of our loan commitments include a mixture of up-front and future funding obligations, with future fundings subject to the borrower achieving conditions precedent specified in the loan documents, such as meeting certain construction milestones and leasing thresholds.
Participations in Mortgage Loans. Participations in the mortgage loans we co-originate or acquire, for which other participations have been or are expected to be syndicated to other investors.
Subordinate Loans: We also invest in mezzanine loans, which are primarily originated or co-originated by us, and are usually secured by a pledge of equity ownership interests in the direct or indirect property owner rather than directly by the underlying commercial properties. These loans are subordinate to a mortgage loan but senior to the property owner’s equity ownership interests. These loans may be tranched into senior and junior mezzanine loans. Rights under these loans are generally governed by intercreditor agreements which typically include the right to cure defaults under senior loans. Subordinate loans may also include subordinated mortgage interests, which are mortgage loan interests that are subordinate to senior mortgage loans but senior to the property owner’s equity interests.
The allocation of our capital among our target assets will depend on prevailing market conditions at the time we invest and may change over time in response to changes in prevailing market conditions, including with respect to interest rates and general economic and credit market conditions as well as local economic conditions in markets where we are active. In addition, in the future we may invest in assets other than our target assets, in each case subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and our exclusion from registration under 1940 Act.
Our Portfolio
We began operations in August 2015 and, as of December 31, 2022, had a $7.4 billion diversified loan portfolio, based on carrying value, of senior and subordinate loans. We believe our current loan portfolio, comprised of loans that we view as representative of our target assets and investment philosophy, validates our ability to execute on our investment strategy, including lending to experienced and well-capitalized sponsors against high-quality transitional CRE assets primarily in major U.S. markets with attractive fundamental characteristics supported by macroeconomic tailwinds.
The below table summarizes our loan portfolio as of December 31, 2022 ($ in thousands):
Weighted Average(3)
Number
of Loans
Loan
Commitment(1)
Carrying Value (2)
Yield to Maturity(4)
Term to Fully
Extended
Maturity (in years)(5)
LTV(6)
Senior and subordinate loans
$
9,433,951
$
7,428,774
8.6
%
3.2
68.2
%
(1)Loan commitment represents principal outstanding plus remaining unfunded loan commitments.
(2)Net of specific CECL reserve of $60.3 million.
(3)Weighted averages are based on unpaid principal balance.
(4)All-in yield represents the weighted average annualized yield to initial maturity of each loan, inclusive of
coupon, and fees received, based on the applicable floating benchmark rate/floors (if applicable), in place as of December 31, 2022. For loans placed on non-accrual, the annualized yield to initial maturity used in calculating the weighted average annualized yield to initial maturity is 0%.
(5)Fully extended maturity assumes all extension options are exercised by the borrower upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions.
(6)LTV represents “loan-to-value” or “loan-to-cost”, which is calculated as our total loan commitment from time to time, as if fully funded, plus any financings that are pari passu with or senior to our loan, divided by our estimate of either (1) the value of the underlying real estate, determined in accordance with our underwriting process (typically consistent with, if not less than, the value set forth in a third-party appraisal) or (2) the borrower’s projected, fully funded cost basis in the asset, in each case as we deem appropriate for the relevant loan and other loans with similar characteristics. Underwritten values and projected costs should not be assumed to reflect our judgment of current market values or project costs, which may have changed materially since the date of origination. LTV is updated only in connection with a partial loan paydown and/or release of collateral, material changes to expected project costs, the receipt of a new appraisal (typically in connection with financing or refinancing activity) or a change in our loan commitment. Totals represent weighted average based on loan commitment, including non-consolidated senior interests and pari passu interests. Loans with specific CECL reserves are reflected as 100% LTV.
In February 2021, we foreclosed on a portfolio of seven limited-service hotel properties located in New York, New York that secured a mezzanine loan with an unpaid principal balance of $103.9 million as of February 8, 2021 that we originated in February 2018. Neither the prior mezzanine loan nor the portfolio of hotel properties is included in the table above. Our real estate owned investment at the time of foreclosure was encumbered by a securitized senior mortgage, which we assumed on February 8, 2021 with a principal balance of $300.0 million. On June 2, 2021, the terms of the securitized senior mortgage were modified, which included the repayment of $10.0 million of principal and extension of its maturity date by an additional three years to February 9, 2024, among other items. At December 31, 2022, the outstanding balance of our debt related to real estate owned was $290.0 million.
The following charts illustrate the diversification of our loan portfolio based on location and underlying property type, excluding our real estate owned investment, as of December 31, 2022, based on carrying value:
For additional information about our loan portfolio, refer to Item 7 - “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - II. Our Portfolio” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our Financing Strategy
We use diverse financing sources as part of a disciplined financing strategy. To date, we have financed our business through a combination of common stock issuances, repurchase facilities, asset-specific financing structures, borrowings under our $755.1 million secured term loan (the “Secured Term Loan”) as of December 31, 2022, and borrowings under our term participation facility (the “Term Participation Facility”). The amount and type of leverage we may employ for particular loans will depend on our Manager’s assessment of such loan’s characteristics, including the level of in place, if any, and projected stabilized operating cash flow, credit quality, liquidity, price volatility and other risks of the underlying collateral as well as the availability and attractiveness of particular types of financing at the relevant time. We seek to minimize the risks associated with recourse borrowings and generally seek fund our investments on a match-term and reference rate matched basis by minimizing the differences between the durations and indices of our investments and those of our liabilities, respectively, including in certain cases the potential use of derivatives; however, under certain circumstances, we may determine not to do so or we may otherwise be unable to do so. We also seek to diversify our financing counterparties.
As of December 31, 2022, we had $6.0 billion of capacity under our repurchase facilities and term participation facility, of which $4.2 billion was drawn. The weighted average remaining term to fully extended maturity of our outstanding borrowings (assuming we exercise all extension options and our counterparty agrees to such extension options), was 3.5 years based on unpaid principal balance as of December 31, 2022. We currently have master repurchase agreements with six counterparties.
We also utilize multiple asset-specific financing structures, with certain terms that are typically matched to the underlying loan asset. As of December 31, 2022, we had total capacity and unpaid principal balance of $760.2 million and $418.9 million, respectively, related to asset-specific financing structures. The asset-specific financing structures we utilize include notes payable arrangements and syndications of senior participations in the whole loans we originate.
Under certain circumstances, we utilize asset-specific financing structures that are considered non-consolidated senior interests, and therefore not reflected on our balance sheet. As of December 31, 2022, we had
$1.0 billion of non-consolidated senior interests. Such financing structures typically arise as a result of a subordinate, or mezzanine, loan held by us, and a first mortgage loan held by a third party.
As of December 31, 2022, we had amounts outstanding under our Secured Term Loan totaling $755.1 million. At December 31, 2022, the outstanding balance of our debt related to real estate owned was $290.0 million.
In addition to these types of financings, we may also use other forms of leverage, such as secured and unsecured credit facilities, structured financings such as CMBS and CLOs, derivative instruments and public and private secured and unsecured debt issuances by us or our subsidiaries, as well as issuances of public and private equity and equity-related securities.
As of December 31, 2022, our net debt-to-equity ratio was 2.2x. As of December 31, 2022, our total leverage ratio was 2.6x, and we expect that, going forward, our Total Leverage Ratio will range from 2.5x and 3.0x.
Investment Guidelines
Our Board has established the following investment guidelines:
•No investment will be made that would cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
•No investment will be made that would require us to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act;
Prior to the deployment of capital into investments, our Manager may cause our capital to be invested in any interest-bearing short-term investments, including money market funds, bank accounts, overnight repurchase agreements with primary federal reserve bank dealers collateralized by direct U.S. government obligations and other instruments or investments reasonably determined by our Manager to be of high quality. Our investment guidelines may be changed from time to time by our Board without our stockholders’ consent.
Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and our exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act, we typically seek to originate or acquire loans with initial terms of between two and four years. We intend to hold our loans to maturity. However, in order to maximize returns and manage portfolio risk while remaining opportunistic, we may dispose of loans earlier than anticipated. Additionally, our intention is that no more than 25% of our book value will be attributed to investments located outside of the U.S. To date, we have only invested in the U.S.
Operating and Regulatory Structure
REIT Qualification
We have elected and believe we have qualified to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2015. We believe that we have been organized and have operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and that our intended manner of operation will enable us to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. To qualify as a REIT, we must meet on a continuing basis, through our organization and actual investment and operating results, various requirements under the Code relating to, among other things, the sources of our gross income, the composition and values of our assets, our dividend levels and the diversity of ownership of shares of our stock. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year and do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates and may be precluded from qualifying as a REIT for the subsequent four taxable years following the year during which we failed to qualify as a REIT. Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to some U.S. federal, state and local taxes on our income or property. For more information regarding our election to qualify as a REIT, please see “Item 1A. Risk Factors-U.S. Federal Income Tax Risks.”
Competition
Our success depends, in part, on our ability to originate, acquire or manage assets at favorable spreads over our borrowing costs. In originating, acquiring and managing our target assets, we compete with other REITs, specialty finance companies, savings and loan associations, banks, mortgage bankers, insurance companies, mutual funds, institutional investors, investment banking firms, financial institutions, governmental bodies and other entities. In addition, there are numerous REITs and non-banking commercial lending platforms with similar asset origination, acquisition and management objectives and others may be organized in the future. These lenders will increase competition for the available supply of CRE debt on transitional assets suitable for purchase, origination and management. Many of our anticipated competitors are significantly larger than we are and have considerably greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do. Some competitors may have a lower cost of funds and access to financing sources that are not available to us, such as the U.S. Government and the FHLB system. Many of our competitors are not subject to the operating constraints associated with REIT tax compliance or maintenance of an exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish more relationships than us. Current market conditions, as well as changing marketing conditions from time to time, may attract more competitors, which may increase the supply of financing sources, which could adversely affect the volume and cost of our loans, and thereby adversely affect the market price of our common stock. In the face of this competition, we have access to our Manager’s and our Sponsor’s professionals and their industry expertise, which may provide us with a competitive advantage and help us assess investment risks and determine appropriate terms for certain potential investments. We believe these relationships enable us to compete more effectively for attractive investment opportunities. However, we may not be able to achieve our business goals or expectations due to the competitive risks that we face. For additional information concerning these competitive risks, refer to “Item 1A: Risk Factors-Risks Related to Our Investments-We operate in a competitive market for the origination and acquisition of attractive investment opportunities and competition may limit our ability to originate or acquire attractive risk-adjusted investments in our target assets, which could have a material adverse effect on us.”
Staffing
We are externally managed and advised by our Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement between our Manager and us. Our executive officers also serve as officers of our Sponsor. Our Manager has ongoing access to our Sponsor’s senior management team as part of the services agreement between MRECS and our Manager. We and our Manager do not have any employees.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we and our Manager are or may become party to legal proceedings, which arise in the ordinary course of our respective businesses. Neither we nor our Manager is currently subject to any legal proceedings that we or our Manager consider reasonably likely to have a material impact on our respective financial conditions.
Website Access to Reports
We maintain a website at www.clarosmortgage.com. We are providing the address to our website solely for the information of investors. The information on our website is not a part of, nor is it incorporated by reference into this report. Through our website, we make available, free of charge, our annual proxy statement, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(e) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish them to, the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains these reports at www.sec.gov.

---

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Set forth below are some (but not all) of the risk factors that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects and our ability to service our debt and pay dividends to our stockholders (which we refer to collectively as “materially and adversely affecting us” or having “a material adverse
effect on us,” and comparable phrases) and the market price of our common stock. Some statements in this report, including statements in the following risk factors, constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks Related to Our Investments
Loans on properties in transition often involve a greater risk of loss than loans on stabilized properties, including the risk of cost overruns on and noncompletion of the construction or renovation of or other capital improvements to the properties underlying the loans we originate or acquire, and the risk that a borrower may fail to execute the business plan underwritten by us, potentially making it unable to refinance our loan at maturity, each of which could materially and adversely affect us.
We originate and acquire loans on transitional CRE properties to borrowers who are typically seeking capital for repositioning, renovation, rehabilitation, leasing, development, redevelopment or construction. The typical borrower under a loan on a transitional asset has usually identified an undervalued asset that has been under-managed and/or is located in an improving market. If the market in which the asset is located fails to materialize according to the borrower’s projections, or if the borrower fails to improve the quality of the asset’s management and/or the value of the asset, or if it costs the borrower more than estimated or takes longer to execute its business plan than estimated, including as a result of supply chain disruptions, the borrower may not receive a sufficient return on the asset to satisfy our loan or may experience a prolonged reduction of net operating income and may not be able to make payments on our loan on a timely basis or at all, which could materially and adversely affect us. Other risks may include: environmental risks, delays in legal and other approvals (e.g., certificates of occupancy), other construction and renovation risks and subsequent leasing of the property not being completed on schedule. Accordingly, we bear the risk that we may not recover some or all of our loan unpaid principal balance and interest thereon.
Furthermore, borrowers usually use the proceeds of permanent financing to repay a loan on a transitional property after the CRE property is stabilized. Loans on transitional CRE properties are therefore subject to risks of a borrower’s inability to obtain permanent financing to repay our loan. Our loans are also subject to risks of borrower defaults, bankruptcies, fraud and losses. In the event of any default under our loans, we bear the risk of loss of principal and non-payment of interest and fees to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the underlying asset and the principal amount and unpaid interest and fees of our loan. To the extent we suffer losses with respect to our loans, it could have a material adverse effect on us.
Difficult conditions in the commercial mortgage and real estate market, the capital markets and the economy generally, as a result of rising interest rates, general inflationary pressures and other factors, could make it difficult for our borrowers to satisfy their repayment obligations and may materially and adversely affect us.
We could be materially and adversely affected by conditions in the commercial mortgage and real estate markets, the capital markets and the economy generally. A deterioration of economic and real estate fundamentals generally and of local market conditions where our real estate collateral is located, have in the past negatively impacted, and could continue to negatively impact, our performance, the business prospects of our borrowers or the value of our real estate collateral. Market fluctuations or a general decline in real estate values or business prospects may also induce borrowers to voluntarily or involuntarily default on their loans and make it relatively more difficult for us to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns. Other factors beyond our control, such as changes in interest rates government regulations (such as rent control), changes in real property tax rates and operating expenses, changes in the general availability of debt financing (which may render the sale or refinancing of properties difficult or impracticable) may likewise have a material and adverse effect on our business. In particular, rising interest rates could cause our borrowers to become unwilling or unable to make payments on their loans, increasing default risk and making it more difficult for us to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns.
Because our investments are susceptible to general economic slowdowns or recessions, these kinds of changes in market conditions could lead to financial losses in our investments and a decrease in revenues, net income and assets. We may realize losses related to foreclosures or to the restructuring of the loans in our investment portfolio on terms that may be more favorable to borrowers than those underwritten at origination. Unfavorable economic conditions also could increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by
lenders not to extend credit to us. These events could prevent us from increasing investments and harm our operating results.
In addition, rising interest rates generally reduce the economic feasibility of and therefore the demand for transitional CRE loans due to the higher cost of borrowing. A reduction in the volume of CRE loans originated may affect the volume of certain target assets available to us, which could adversely affect our ability to acquire target assets that satisfy our investment objectives. If rising interest rates cause us to be unable to originate or acquire a sufficient volume of our target assets with a yield that is above our borrowing cost, our ability to satisfy our investment objectives to generate income and pay dividends may be materially and adversely affected.
We cannot predict the degree to which economic conditions generally, and the conditions for real estate debt investing in particular, will improve or decline. Any stagnation in or deterioration of the commercial mortgage or real estate markets may limit our ability to acquire our target assets on attractive terms or cause us to experience losses related to our assets, which could materially and adversely affect us.
We operate in a competitive market for the origination and acquisition of attractive investment opportunities and competition may limit our ability to originate or acquire attractive risk-adjusted investments in our target assets, which could have a material adverse effect on us.
We operate in a competitive market for the origination and acquisition of attractive risk-adjusted investment opportunities. A number of entities compete with us to make the types of investments that we originate or acquire. Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to originate or acquire our target assets on attractive terms. In originating our target assets, we compete with a variety of institutional lenders and investors, including other commercial mortgage REITs, specialty finance companies, public and private funds (including funds that our Manager or its affiliates may in the future sponsor, advise and/or manage), commercial and investment banks, commercial finance and insurance companies and other financial institutions. A number of entities have raised, or are expected to raise, significant amounts of capital pursuing strategies similar to ours, which may create additional competition for investment opportunities. Many of our competitors are significantly larger than we are and have considerably greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do. Some competitors may have a lower cost of funds and access to financing sources that are not available to us. Many of our competitors are not subject to the operating constraints associated with REITs or maintenance of our exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments, deploy more aggressive pricing or financing strategies and establish more relationships than us. Increased competition in our markets could result in a decrease in origination volumes, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects. Furthermore, competition for investments in our target assets may lead to the price of these assets increasing or return on investment declining, which may further limit our ability to generate desired returns. Also, as a result of this competition, desirable investments in our target assets may be limited in the future, and we may not be able to take advantage of attractive risk-adjusted investment opportunities from time to time. In addition, reduced CRE transaction volume could increase competition for available investment opportunities. We can provide no assurance that we will be able to continue to identify and make investments that are consistent with our investment objectives, or that the competitive pressures we face will not have a material adverse effect on us.
Furthermore, changes in the financial regulatory regime could decrease the current restrictions on banks and other financial institutions and allow them to compete for opportunities that were previously not available to them, or subject to significant capital requirements. See “-Risks Related to Our Company-Changes in laws or regulations governing our operations or those of our competitors, or changes in the interpretation thereof, or newly enacted laws or regulations, could result in increased competition for our target assets, require changes to our business practices and collectively could adversely impact our revenues and impose additional costs on us, which could materially and adversely affect us.”
Our investments are and may be concentrated in certain markets, property types and borrowers, among other factors, and will be subject to risk of default.
While we intend to diversify our loan portfolio of investments in the manner described in this report, we are not required to observe specific diversification criteria, and we have criteria outlined in our investment guidelines that can
only be changed with approval of our Board. Therefore, our portfolio of target assets is and may be concentrated in certain property types that are subject to higher risk of achieving their stated business plans or other concentration risk, or supported by properties concentrated in a limited number of geographic locations. For example, as of December 31, 2022, our real estate owned investment consisted of seven limited service hotel properties in New York, New York and 23% of our loans are secured by CRE assets (or equity interests relating thereto) located in the New York metropolitan area. Further, as of December 31, 2022, 41% of our loan investments were secured by multi-family properties (or equity interests relating thereto), 20% of our loan investments were secured by hospitality properties (or equity interests relating thereto), 15% of our loan investments were secured by office properties (or equity interests relating thereto), 6% of our loan investments were secured by for sale condominium properties (or equity interests relating thereto), 8% of our loan investments were secured by mixed-use properties (or equity interests relating thereto), 6% of our loan investments were secured by land properties (or equity interests relating thereto), 31% of our loan investments were construction loans (based on loan commitment), and our 15 largest loan investments represented 45% of our loan portfolio, in each case based on carrying value.
As of December 31, 2022, 4 investments with a carrying value of $357.3 million, or 4.8% of our portfolio were on non-accrual status.
The lack of liquidity in certain of the assets in our portfolio and our target assets generally may materially and adversely affect us.
The assets in our portfolio are relatively illiquid investments due to their short life, lack of (or limited) cash flow from property that is collateral for those loans, their potential unsuitability for securitization and the greater difficulty of recovery in the event of a borrower’s default. In addition, certain of our investments may become less liquid after our investment as a result of periods of delinquencies or defaults or turbulent market conditions. For example, there is an inverse relationship between credit spreads and the value of our existing assets such that widening in credit spreads diminishes the value of existing assets. The illiquidity of the assets in our portfolio and our target assets may make it more difficult for us to dispose of these assets in the event that we no longer intend to hold them until maturity or in the event of a defaulted loan, as the case may be, at advantageous times or in a timely manner. As a result, we expect many of our investments will be illiquid. If we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than an asset’s carrying value. As a result, our ability to strengthen our portfolio composition in response to changes in economic and other conditions may be relatively limited, which could materially and adversely affect us.
In the event of borrower distress or a default, we may lack the liquidity necessary to protect our investment or avoid a corresponding default on any obligations we may have in connection with our own financing.
In the event of borrower distress or a default, we may lack the liquidity necessary to protect our investment or avoid a corresponding default on any obligations we may have in connection with our own financing specifically related to, or otherwise impacted by, such investment. In the event of a default by a borrower on a non-recourse loan, we generally will have recourse only to the underlying asset (including any escrowed funds and reserves) collateralizing that loan, except to the extent of any creditworthy guarantees as discussed in “-Risks Related to Our Investments-Most of the CRE loans that we originate or acquire are non-recourse loans and the assets securing these loans may not be sufficient to protect us from a partial or complete loss if the borrower defaults on the loan, which could materially and adversely affect us.” In addition, declines in real estate values may induce mortgagors to voluntarily default on their loans, increasing the risk of foreclosure and loss of capital. If the underlying property collateralizing the loan is insufficient to satisfy the outstanding balance of such loan, after expenses incurred in connection with enforcing our rights, we may suffer a loss of principal or interest that adversely affects our liquidity and our ability to service or repay our own leverage. Real estate investments generally lack liquidity compared to other financial assets, and the increased lack of liquidity resulting from a borrower distress or a default may limit our ability to quickly stabilize or strengthen our portfolio or take other necessary actions to avoid a corresponding default on our financing.
We may be unable to refinance debt incurred to finance our loans, thereby increasing the amount of equity capital risk we bear with respect to particular loans or preventing us from deploying our equity capital in the optimal manner.
We may be unable to refinance our investments in our loans, thereby increasing the amount of equity capital risk we bear with respect to particular loans or preventing us from deploying our equity capital in the optimal manner. If we are unable to refinance such debt at appropriate times, we may be required to sell assets at a loss or on terms that are not advantageous to us or take action that could result in other negative consequences. We may only be able to partly refinance such debt if underwriting standards, including loan-to-value ratios and yield requirements, among other requirements, are stricter than when we originally financed our loans. Additionally, as a result of economic headwinds, certain of our borrowers may request term extensions, and we may not be able to obtain corresponding match-term financing or in certain cases obtain required approvals from our financing counterparties. Obtaining such approvals has required in the past and may require in the future reduction of advance rates on financing, increased borrowing costs or a combination thereof, which could have an adverse impact on our returns on equity and reduce our liquidity. If any of these events occur, our cash flows would be reduced, preventing us from deploying our equity capital in an optimal manner. If we are unable to refinance debt incurred to finance our loans, we also may have to forego other investment opportunities that require equity and our liquidity may be diminished.
As a result of our real estate owned investment, we are subject to the risks commonly associated with real estate owned holdings, including risks related to ownership of hotel properties in New York, New York, which differ from the risks associated with lending.
Borrowers under our loans may not have sufficient financial resources to satisfy their payment obligations to us, and we could be required to take ownership of the assets underlying a particular loan in lieu of full repayment of the principal amount and accrued interest on the loan. For example, in February 2021, we foreclosed on a portfolio of seven limited service hotel properties located in New York, New York that secured a mezzanine loan with a then unpaid principal balance of $103.9 million. Our real estate owned investment at the time of foreclosure was encumbered by a securitized senior mortgage, which certain subsidiaries assumed on February 8, 2021 with a principal balance of $300.0 million. As such, we are subject to the risks commonly associated with real estate owned holdings, including risks related to ownership of hotel properties in New York, New York, which include changes in general or local economic conditions, changes in supply of or demand for similar or competing properties in an area, changes in interest rates and availability and terms of permanent mortgage financing that may render the sale of a property difficult or unattractive, political instability or changes in prevailing policies, decreases in property values, changes in tax, real estate, environmental and zoning laws and the risk of uninsured or underinsured casualty loss. Further, our equity interest in our current, or any future, real estate owned investment is subordinate to any indebtedness secured by such property. To the extent that we decide or are required to take ownership of one or more additional properties, these risks will be heightened. Real estate owned investments are illiquid investments and we may be unable to adjust our portfolio in response to changes in economic or other conditions. In addition, the real estate market is affected by many factors, such as general economic conditions, availability of financing, interest rates and other factors, including supply and demand, that are beyond our control. We cannot predict whether we will be able to sell any real estate owned investment for the price or on the terms set by us, or whether any price or other terms offered by a prospective purchaser would be acceptable to us. We cannot predict the length of time needed to find a willing purchaser and to close the sale of a real estate owned investment. We may acquire properties that are subject to contractual “lock-out” provisions that could restrict our ability to dispose of the real estate owned investment for a period of time. In addition, U.S. federal tax laws that impose a 100% excise tax on gains from sales of dealer property by a REIT (generally, property held for sale, rather than investment) could limit our ability to sell properties and may affect our ability to sell properties without adversely affecting returns to our stockholders. These characteristics and restrictions could result in losses that would adversely affect our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition, potentially materially.
We may also be required to expend funds to correct defects or to make improvements before a real estate owned investment can be sold. We have experienced and expect to continue to experience increased operating costs and taxes in connection with our real estate owned investment, including costs related to owning the real estate owned investment in a taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”). If the real estate owned investment is owned by our TRS, income from the investment generally will be subject to corporate income tax. We cannot assure stockholders that we will have funds available to correct such defects, to make such improvements or to pay these operating costs. In acquiring
a real estate owned investment, we may agree or otherwise become subject to restrictions that prohibit the sale of that real estate owned investment for a period of time or impose other restrictions, such as a limitation on the amount of debt that can be placed or repaid on that real estate owned investment. These risks vary from the risks associated with lending and could materially and adversely affect us.
We generally determine the LTV for a loan in our portfolio prior to, or at the time of, our origination or acquisition of the loan and such LTVs may change significantly and in an adverse manner thereafter due to various circumstances.
We calculate the LTV for a loan in our portfolio as our total loan commitment from time to time, as if fully funded, plus any financings that are pari passu with or senior to our loan, divided by our estimate of either (1) the value of the underlying real estate, determined in accordance with our underwriting process (typically consistent with, if not less than, the value set forth in a third-party appraisal) or (2) the borrower’s projected, fully funded cost basis in the asset, in each case as we deem appropriate for the relevant loan and other loans with similar characteristics. Underwritten values and projected costs should not be assumed to reflect our judgment of current market values or project costs, which may have changed materially since the date of origination. LTV is updated only in connection with a partial loan paydown and/or release of collateral, material changes to expected project costs, the receipt of a new appraisal (typically in connection with financing or refinancing activity) or a change in our loan commitment. Because the LTV is determined as of the date of origination, the LTVs for our loans generally do not take into account post-origination changes in our borrowers’ business operations or creditworthiness, or in the value of our underlying real estate collateral, as a result of changing economic conditions or otherwise. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the LTV of our portfolio that we present in this report (i.e., our portfolio weighted average LTV of 68.2% as of December 31, 2022) is reflective of current LTV of our portfolio or the amount of subordinate value available in the event we foreclose on a loan.
There are increased risks involved with construction lending activities.
We intend to continue to originate and acquire loans which fund the construction of commercial properties. Construction lending generally is considered to involve a higher degree of risk than other types of lending due to a variety of factors, including the difficulties in estimating construction costs and anticipating construction delays and, generally, the dependency on timely, successful project completion and the lease-up or sale of units and commencement of operations post-completion of construction. In addition, since these loans generally entail greater risk than mortgage loans on income-producing property, we may need to establish or increase our current expected credit loss reserve in the future to account for the potential increase in probable incurred credit losses associated with these loans. Further, as the lender under a construction loan, we may be obligated to fund all or a significant portion of the loan at one or more future dates. We may not have the funds available at those future date(s) to meet our funding obligations under our construction loans. In that event, we would likely be in breach of the loan unless we are able to raise the funds from alternative sources, which we may not be able to achieve on favorable terms or at all.
If a borrower fails to complete the construction of a project or experiences cost overruns, there could be adverse consequences associated with the loan, including a loss of the value of the property underlying the loan, a borrower claim against us for failure to perform under the loan documents if we choose to stop funding, increased costs to the borrower that the borrower is unable to pay, a bankruptcy filing by the borrower, and abandonment by the borrower of the property underlying the loan. Furthermore, construction projects have faced delays, including as a result of disruptions in supply chains and cost increases associated with building materials and construction services necessary for construction, all of which can result in cost overruns to complete such projects. The failure of a borrower to complete construction, and these cost overruns or other related impacts, could have a material adverse effect on us.
Our investments in construction loans require us to make estimates about the fair value of land improvements that may be challenged by the IRS.
We have invested in, and may continue to invest in, construction loans, the interest from which will be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 95% REIT gross income tests, provided that certain requirements are met and, in the case of the 75% gross income test, the loan is treated as adequately secured by real property. There can be no assurance that the IRS would not successfully challenge our estimate of the value of the real property and our treatment
of the construction loans for purposes of the REIT income and assets tests, which may cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT.
Investments in subordinated mortgage interests, mezzanine loans and other assets that are subordinated or otherwise junior in a borrower’s capital structure may expose us to greater risk of loss.
We have originated or acquired, and may from time to time in the future originate or acquire, subordinated mortgage interests, mezzanine loans and other assets that are subordinated or otherwise junior to other financing in a borrower’s capital structure and that involve privately negotiated structures. To the extent we invest in subordinated debt or mezzanine tranches of a borrower’s capital structure, these investments and our remedies with respect thereto, including the ability to foreclose on any collateral securing the investments, will be subject to the rights of holders of more senior tranches in the borrower’s capital structure and, to the extent applicable, contractual intercreditor and/or participation agreement provisions. Significant losses related to these loans or investments could materially and adversely affect us.
As the terms of these investments are subject to contractual relationships among lenders, co-lending agents and others, they can vary significantly in their structural characteristics and other risks. For example, the rights of holders of subordinated mortgage interests to control the process following a borrower default may vary from transaction to transaction. Further, subordinated mortgage interests typically are secured by a single property and accordingly reflect the risks associated with significant concentration.
Like subordinated mortgage interests, mezzanine loans are by their nature structurally subordinated to more senior property-level financings. If a borrower defaults on our mezzanine loan or on debt senior to our loan, or if the borrower is in bankruptcy, our mezzanine loan will be satisfied only after the property-level debt and other senior debt is paid in full. As a result, a partial loss in the value of the underlying collateral can result in a total loss of the value of the mezzanine loan. In addition, even if we are able to foreclose on the underlying collateral following a default on a mezzanine loan, we would be substituted for the defaulting borrower and, to the extent income generated on the underlying property is insufficient to meet outstanding debt obligations on the property, we may need to commit substantial additional capital and/or deliver a replacement guarantee by a creditworthy entity, which could include us, to stabilize the property and prevent additional defaults to lenders with existing liens on the property. In addition, our investments in senior loans may be effectively subordinated to the extent we borrow under a warehouse line (which can be in the form of a repurchase facility) or similar facility and pledge the senior loan as collateral. Under these arrangements, the lender has a right to repayment of the borrowed amount before we can collect on the value of our loan, and therefore if the value of the pledged senior loan decreases below the amount we have borrowed, we would experience significant losses on the loan which could be material to our business.
Most of the CRE loans that we originate or acquire are non-recourse loans and the assets securing these loans may not be sufficient to protect us from a partial or complete loss if the borrower defaults on the loan, which could materially and adversely affect us.
Most of our CRE loans represent non-recourse obligations of the borrower, with the exception of certain limited purpose guarantees such as customary non-recourse carve-outs for certain “bad acts” by a borrower, environmental indemnities and, in some cases, completion guarantees, carry guarantees and limited payment guarantees. Consequently, we typically have no recourse (or very limited recourse for specified purposes) against the assets of the borrower or its sponsor other than our recourse to specified loan collateral. In the event of a borrower default under one or more of our loans, we will bear a risk of loss to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the specified collateral and the unpaid principal balance on our loan, absent recoveries to us under any applicable guarantees, which could materially and adversely affect us. In addition, we may incur substantial costs and delays in realizing the value of such collateral, including the cost of litigation to enforce remedies, which may or may not be successful, and we may be subject to lengthy court delays or other delays that are beyond our control. Further, although a loan may provide for limited recourse to a principal, parent or other affiliate of the borrower, there is no assurance that we will be able to recover our deficiency from any such party or that its assets would be sufficient to pay any otherwise recoverable claim. In the event of the bankruptcy of a borrower, the loans to that borrower will be deemed to be secured only to the extent of the value of any underlying collateral at the time of bankruptcy (as determined by the bankruptcy court), and the loan or lien securing the loan could be subject to the avoidance powers of the bankruptcy trustee or debtor-in-possession.
We may invest in derivative instruments, which would subject us to increased risk of loss.
Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT, we may invest in derivative instruments. Derivative instruments, especially when purchased in large amounts, may not be liquid, so that in volatile markets we may not be able to close out a position without incurring a loss. The prices of derivative instruments, including swaps, futures, forwards and options, are highly volatile and such instruments may subject us to significant losses. The value of such derivatives also depends upon the price of the underlying instrument or commodity. Derivatives and other customized instruments also are subject to the risk of non-performance by the relevant counterparty. In addition, actual or implied daily limits on price fluctuations and speculative position limits on the exchanges or over-the-counter markets in which we may conduct our transactions in derivative instruments may prevent prompt liquidation of positions, subjecting us to the potential of greater losses. Derivative instruments that may be purchased or sold by us may include instruments not traded on an exchange. The risk of non-performance by the obligor on such an instrument may be greater and the ease with which we can dispose of or enter into closing transactions with respect to such an instrument may be lessthan in the case of an exchange-traded instrument. In addition, significant disparities may exist between “bid” and “asked” prices for derivative instruments that are traded over-the-counter and not on an exchange. Such over-thecounter derivatives are also typically not subject to the same type of investor protections or governmental regulation as exchange-traded instruments. In addition, we may invest in derivative instruments that are neither presently contemplated nor currently available, but which may be developed in the future, to the extent such opportunities are both consistent with our investment objectives and legally permissible. Any of these investments may expose us to unique and presently indeterminate risks, the impact of which may not be capable of determination until such instruments are developed and/or we determine to make such an investment.
We may be subject to additional risks associated with CRE loan participations.
Some of our CRE loans are, and may in the future be, held in the form of participation interests or co-lender arrangements in which we share the loan rights, obligations and benefits with other lenders. With respect to participation interests, we may require the consent of these parties to exercise our rights under the loans, including rights with respect to amendment of loan documentation, enforcement proceedings upon a default and the institution of, and control over, foreclosure proceedings. In circumstances where we hold a minority interest, we may become bound to actions of the majority to which we otherwise would object. We may be adversely affected by this lack of control with respect to these interests.
U.S. and global financial systems have undergone significant disruption, and such disruption may negatively impact our ability to execute our investment strategy, which would materially and adversely affect us.
In recent years, the U.S. and global financial markets have undergone a significant disruption beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic, and continuing with supply-demand imbalances, changes in the employment market and employer practices (including remote work) and general economic uncertainty, the full ramifications of which are not yet known but could continue to materially and adversely affect us. These markets have also experienced significant disruptions in the past, during which times global credit markets collapsed, borrowers defaulted on their loans at historically high levels, banks and other lending institutions suffered heavy losses and the value of certain classes of real estate declined. During such periods, a significant number of borrowers became unable to pay principal and interest on outstanding loans as the value of their real estate declined. Declining real estate values could reduce the level of new senior and subordinate loan originations. Instability in the U.S. and global financial markets in the future could be caused by any number of factors beyond our control, including, without limitation, pandemics, terrorist attacks or other acts of war, prolonged civil unrest, political instability or uncertainty, military activities, or broad-based sanctions, should they continue for the long term or escalate, and adverse changes in national or international economic, market and political conditions. Any sustained period of increased payment delinquencies, foreclosures or losses could adversely affect both our net interest income from loans in our portfolio as well as our ability to execute our investment strategy, which would materially and adversely affect us.
Insurance proceeds on a property may not cover all losses, which could result in the corresponding non-performance of or loss on our investment related to such property.
There are certain types of losses, generally of a catastrophic nature, such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, terrorism or acts of war, which may be uninsurable or not economically insurable. Inflation, changes in building codes and ordinances, environmental considerations and other factors, including terrorism or acts of war, also might result in insurance proceeds insufficient to repair or replace a property if it is damaged or destroyed. Under these circumstances, the borrower’s receipt of insurance proceeds with respect to a property relating to one of our investments might not be adequate to restore our economic position with respect to our investment. Any uninsured loss could result in the loss of cash flow from, and the asset value of, the affected property and the value of our investment related to such property.
Our investments expose us to risks associated with debt-oriented real estate investments generally.
We seek to invest primarily in debt in or relating to real estate assets. Any deterioration of real estate fundamentals generally, and in the U.S. in particular, could negatively impact our performance by making it more difficult for our borrowers to satisfy their debt payment obligations to us, increasing the default risk applicable to borrowers, and/or making it relatively more difficult for us to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns. Changes in general economic conditions will affect the creditworthiness of our borrowers and may include economic and/or market fluctuations, changes in environmental, zoning and other laws, casualty or condemnation losses, regulatory limitations on rents, decreases in property values, changes in the appeal of properties to tenants, changes in supply and demand, fluctuations in real estate fundamentals (including average occupancy and room rates for hotel properties), energy supply shortages, various uninsured or uninsurable risks, natural disasters, terrorism, acts of war, changes in government regulations (such as rent control), political and legislative uncertainty, changes in real property tax rates and operating expenses, changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates changes in the availability of debt financing and/or mortgage funds which may render the sale or refinancing of properties difficult or impracticable, increased mortgage defaults, increases in borrowing rates, changes in consumer spending, negative developments in the economy that depress travel activity, demand and/or real estate values generally and other factors that are beyond our control. Recent concerns about the real estate market, rising interest rates, inflation, energy costs and geopolitical issues have contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the economy and markets going forward.
We cannot predict the degree to which economic conditions generally, and the conditions for CRE debt investing in particular, will improve or decline. Declines in the performance of relevant regional and global economies or in the CRE debt market could have a material adverse effect on us.
CRE-related investments that are secured, directly or indirectly, by CRE are subject to potential delinquency, foreclosure and loss, which could materially and adversely affect us.
CRE debt investments that are secured, directly or indirectly, by property are subject to risks of delinquency and foreclosure and risks of loss. The ability of a borrower to repay a loan secured, directly or indirectly, by an income-producing property typically depends primarily upon the successful operation of the property rather than upon the existence of independent income or assets of the borrower. If the net operating income of the property is reduced, or the cost of debt service increases, a borrower’s ability to repay our loan in a timely manner, or at all, may be impaired and therefore could reduce our return from an affected property or investment, which could materially and adversely affect us. Net operating income of an income-producing property can be affected by, among other things:
•tenant mix and tenant bankruptcies;
•success of tenant businesses and the ability to respond to evolving risks, including public health risks and governmental measures that may be promulgated in connection therewith
•renovations or repositionings during which operations may be limited or halted completely;
•property management decisions, including with respect to capital improvements, particularly in older building structures;
•property location and condition;
•competition from other properties offering the same or similar services;
•changes in laws that increase operating expenses or limit rents that may be charged;
•any need to address environmental contamination or compliance with environmental requirements at the property;
•changes in national, regional or local economic conditions and/or specific industry segments;
•declines in regional or local real estate values;
•declines in regional or local rental or occupancy rates;
•changes in real estate tax rates and other operating expenses;
•changes in governmental rules, regulations and fiscal policies, including Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code, or Treasury Regulations, and environmental legislation;
•fraudulent acts or theft on the part of the property owner, sponsor and/or manager;
•the potential for uninsured or under-insured property losses;
•acts of God, terrorism, social unrest and civil disturbances, which may decrease the availability of or increase the cost of insurance or result in uninsured losses; and
•adverse changes in zoning laws.
In addition, an increase in interest rates can decrease a borrower’s ability to service its debt even if net operating income remains stable.
In the event of any default under a loan held directly by us, we will bear a risk of loss to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the collateral and the sum of the unpaid principal of, accrued interest on and cost to enforce our rights under such loan. In the event of the bankruptcy of a loan borrower, the loan to that borrower will be deemed to be secured only to the extent of the value of any underlying collateral at the time of bankruptcy (as determined by the bankruptcy court), and the lien securing the mortgage loan will be subject to the avoidance powers of the bankruptcy trustee or debtor-in-possession to the extent the lien is unenforceable under state law. Foreclosure of a loan can be an expensive and lengthy process and could result in significant losses.
Prepayment rates may adversely affect the yield on our loans and the value of our portfolio of assets.
The value of our assets may be affected by prepayment rates on loans. As of December 31, 2022, based on unpaid principal balance, over 50% of our loans were open to repayment by the borrower without penalty. In periods of declining interest rates, prepayment rates on loans will generally increase. If interest rates decline at the same time as prepayment rates, the proceeds of such prepayments received during such periods are likely to be reinvested by us in assets yielding less than the yields on the assets that were prepaid. In periods of increasing interest rates and/or credit spreads, prepayment rates on loans will generally decrease, which could impact our liquidity, or increase our potential exposure to loan non-performance. In addition, if we originate or acquire mortgage-related securities or a pool of mortgage securities, we anticipate that the underlying mortgages will prepay at a projected rate generating an expected yield. If we purchase assets at a premium to par value, when borrowers prepay their loans faster than expected, the corresponding prepayments on the asset may reduce the expected yield on such securities because we will have to amortize the related premium on an accelerated basis. Conversely, if we purchase assets at a discount to par value, when borrowers prepay their loans slower than expected, the decrease in corresponding prepayments on the asset may reduce the expected yield on such securities because we will not be able to accrete the related discount as quickly as originally anticipated. In addition, as a result of the risk of prepayment, the market value of the prepaid assets may benefit less than other fixed income securities from declining interest rates.
Prepayment rates on loans may be affected by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the then-current level of interest rates, the availability of mortgage credit, the relative economic vitality of the area in which the related properties are located, the servicing of the loans, possible changes in tax laws, other opportunities for investment, and
other economic, social, geographic, demographic and legal factors and other factors beyond our control. Consequently, such prepayment rates cannot be predicted with certainty and no strategy can completely insulate us from prepayment or other such risks.
Difficulty in redeploying the proceeds from repayments of our existing loans and investments may cause our financial performance and returns to investors to suffer.
As our loans and investments are repaid, we will have to redeploy the proceeds we receive into new loans and investments, repay borrowings under our credit facilities, pay dividends to our stockholders or repurchase outstanding shares of our common stock. It is possible that we will fail to identify reinvestment options that would provide returns or a risk profile that is comparable to the asset that was repaid. If we fail to redeploy the proceeds we receive from repayment of a loan in equivalent or better alternatives, our financial performance and returns to investors could suffer.
A prolonged economic slowdown, a lengthy or severe recession or declining real estate values could impair our investments and harm our operations, which could materially and adversely affect us.
The risks associated with our business will be more severe during periods of economic slowdown or recession if these periods are accompanied by declining real estate values. Declining real estate values will likely reduce the level of loan originations since borrowers often use appreciation in the value of their existing properties to support the purchase or investment in additional properties. Borrowers may also be less able to pay principal and interest on our loans if the value of real estate weakens. Further, declining real estate values significantly increase the likelihood that we will incur losses on its loans in the event of default because the value of our collateral may be insufficient to cover its cost on the loan. Any sustained period of increased payment delinquencies, foreclosures or losses could adversely affect our ability to invest in, hold and finance loans. Any of the foregoing risks could materially and adversely affect us.
Recent macroeconomic trends, including inflation and rising interest rates, may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Throughout 2022, inflation in the United States has accelerated and is currently expected to continue at an elevated level in the near-term. Rising inflation could have an adverse impact on any floating rate debt we have incurred and may incur in the future, and our general and administrative expenses, as these costs could increase at a rate higher than our interest income and other revenue. In response to recent inflationary pressure, the U.S. Federal Reserve and other global central banks have raised interest rates in 2022 and 2023 and have indicated likely further interest rate increases. To the extent our borrowing costs increase faster than the interest income earned from our floating-rate loans, such increases may adversely affect our cash flows. In addition, such inflation may materially and adversely impact the ability of our borrowers to make required payments on our loans.
Provisions for loan losses are difficult to estimate.
Our provision for loan losses is evaluated on a quarterly basis. The determination of our provision for loan losses requires us to make certain estimates and judgments, which may be difficult to determine. Our estimates and judgments are based on a number of factors, including projected cash flow from the collateral securing our loans, debt structure, including the availability of reserves and recourse guarantees, likelihood of repayment in full at the maturity of a loan, potential for refinancing and expected market discount rates for varying property types, all of which remain uncertain and are subjective. Our estimates and judgments may not be correct and, therefore, our results of operations and financial condition could be severely impacted.
We may not have control over certain of our investments.
Our ability to manage our portfolio of investments may be limited by the form in which they are made. In certain situations, we may:
•acquire investments subject to rights of senior creditors and servicers under intercreditor or servicing agreements;
•pledge our investments as collateral for financing arrangements;
•acquire only a minority and/or a non-controlling participation in an underlying investment;
•co-invest with others through partnerships, joint ventures or other entities, thereby acquiring non-controlling interests; or
•rely on independent third-party management or servicing with respect to the management of an asset.
Therefore, we may not be able to exercise control over all aspects of our investments. Such investments may involve risks not present in investments as to which senior creditors, junior creditors or servicers are not involved. Our rights to control the process following a borrower default may be subject to the rights of senior or junior creditors or servicers whose interests may not be aligned with ours.
Joint venture investments could be adversely affected by our lack of sole decision-making authority, our reliance on joint venture partners’ financial condition and liquidity and disputes between us and our joint venture partners.
We have made, and may in the future make investments through joint ventures. Such joint venture investments may involve risks not otherwise present when we originate or acquire investments without partners, including the following:
•we may not have exclusive control over the investment or the joint venture, which may prevent us from taking actions that are in our best interest;
•joint venture agreements often restrict the transfer of a partner’s interest or may otherwise restrict our ability to sell the interest when we desire and/or on advantageous terms;
•any future joint venture agreements may contain buy-sell provisions pursuant to which one partner may initiate procedures requiring the other partner to choose between buying the other partner’s interest or selling its interest to that partner;
•we may not be in a position to exercise sole decision-making authority regarding the investment or joint venture, which could create the potential risk of creating impasses on decisions, such as with respect to acquisitions or dispositions;
•a partner may, at any time, have economic or business interests or goals that are, or that may become, inconsistent with our business interests or goals;
•a partner may be in a position to take action contrary to our instructions, requests, policies or objectives, including our policy with respect to maintaining our qualification as a REIT and our exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act;
•a partner may fail to fund its share of required capital contributions or may become bankrupt, which may mean that we and any other remaining partners generally would remain liable for the joint venture’s liabilities;
•our relationships with our partners are contractual in nature and may be terminated or dissolved under the terms of the applicable joint venture agreements and, in such event, we may not continue to own or operate the interests or investments underlying such relationship or may need to purchase such interests or investments at a premium to the market price to continue ownership;
•disputes between us and a partner may result in litigation or arbitration that could increase our expenses and prevent our Manager and our officers and directors from focusing their time and efforts on our business and could result in subjecting the investments owned by the joint venture to additional risk; or
•we may, in certain circumstances, be liable for the actions of a partner, and the activities of a partner could adversely affect our ability to continue to qualify as a REIT or maintain our exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act, even though we do not control the joint venture.
Any of the above may subject us to liabilities in excess of those contemplated and adversely affect the value of our future joint venture investments, which could materially and adversely affect us.
CRE valuation is inherently subjective and uncertain.
The valuation of CRE assets and therefore the valuation of any underlying collateral relating to loans made by us is inherently subjective and uncertain due to, among other factors, the individual nature of each property, its location, the expected future cash flows from that particular property, future market conditions, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demand for various types of real estate and the valuation methodology adopted. In addition, where we invest in construction loans, initial assessments will assume completion of the project. As a result, the valuations of the CRE assets against which we will make loans are subject to a large degree of uncertainty, which has increased due to the current market volatility, and are made on the basis of assumptions and methodologies that may not prove to be accurate, particularly in periods of volatility, low transaction flow or restricted debt or equity capital availability in the commercial or residential real estate markets.
The due diligence process that our Manager undertakes in regard to investment opportunities may not reveal all facts that may be relevant in connection with an investment and if our Manager incorrectly evaluates the risks of our investments, we may experience losses, which could materially and adversely affect us.
Before making investments for us, our Manager conducts due diligence that it deems reasonable and appropriate based on the facts and circumstances relevant to each potential investment. When conducting due diligence, our Manager may be required to evaluate a number of important issues, including but not limited to those relating to business, financial, tax, accounting, environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters, technology, cybersecurity, legal, regulatory and macroeconomic trends. Outside consultants, legal advisors and accountants may be involved in the due diligence process in varying degrees depending on the investment. Relying on the resources available to it, our Manager will evaluate our potential investments based on criteria it deems appropriate for the relevant investment. The nature and scope of our Manager’s ESG-related diligence, if any, will vary based on the nature of the investment opportunity and what our Manager deems appropriate under the circumstances, which may not reflect the preferred practices of any particular investor and may differ from other market practices. In addition, our Manager’s credit underwriting may not prove accurate, and actual results may vary materially from estimates. If our Manager’s assessment of an asset’s future performance is not accurate relative to the way we underwrite such asset, or our Manager’s due diligence process fails to identify material risks relating to such asset, we may experience losses with respect to such investment. Any such losses could materially and adversely affect us.
Moreover, investment analyses and decisions by our Manager may frequently be required to be undertaken on an expedited basis to take advantage of investment opportunities. In such cases, the information available to our Manager at the time of making an investment decision may be limited, and it may not have access to detailed information regarding such investment. Further, certain considerations covered by our Manager’s diligence, such as ESG-related risks, are continuously evolving, including from an assessment, regulatory and compliance standpoint, and our Manager may not accurately or fully anticipate such evolution. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our Manager will have knowledge of all circumstances that may adversely affect such investment.
We may foreclose on certain of the loans we originate or acquire, which could result in material losses.
Properties underlying our CRE loans may be subject to unknown or unquantifiable liabilities that may adversely affect the value of our investments. Such defects or deficiencies may include title defects, title disputes, liens or other encumbrances on the mortgaged properties. The discovery of such unknown defects, deficiencies and liabilities could affect the ability of our borrowers to make payments to us or could affect our ability to take title to and sell the underlying properties, which could materially and adversely affect us.
We may find it necessary or desirable to foreclose on certain of the loans we originate or acquire in order to preserve our investment. Any foreclosure process may be lengthy and expensive. Among the expenses that are likely to occur in any foreclosure would be the incurrence of substantial legal fees and potentially significant transfer taxes. If we foreclose on an asset, we may take title to the property securing that asset subject to any debt and debt service requirements then in effect, which was the case for the foreclosure resulting in our real estate owned investment. As a result, we cannot assure you that the value of the collateral underlying a foreclosed loan at or after the time a foreclosure is contemplated or completed will exceed our investment, including related foreclosure expenses and assumed indebtedness, or that operating cash flows from such investment will exceed debt service requirements, if any. As a result, a contemplated or completed foreclosure could result in significant losses. If we do not or cannot sell a foreclosed property, we would then come to own and operate it as “real estate owned.” Owning and operating real
property, such as our real estate owned investment, involves risks that are different (and in many ways more significant) than the risks faced in lending against a CRE asset.
Furthermore, claims may be asserted by other lenders or borrowers that might interfere with our ability to foreclose or otherwise enforce our rights. Borrowers may resist foreclosure actions by asserting numerous claims, counterclaims and defenses against us, including, without limitation, lender liability claims and defenses, even when the assertions may have no basis in fact, in an effort to prolong the foreclosure action and seek to force the lender into a modification of the loan or a favorable buyout of the borrower’s position in the loan. In some states, foreclosure actions can take several years or more to litigate. At any time prior to or during the foreclosure proceedings, the borrower may file for bankruptcy, which would have the effect of staying the foreclosure actions and further delaying the foreclosure process and potentially resulting in a reduction or discharge of a borrower’s debt. Foreclosure may create a negative public perception of the related property, resulting in a diminution of its value. Even if we are successful in foreclosing on a loan, the liquidation proceeds upon sale of the underlying real estate may not be sufficient to recover our cost basis in the loan, resulting in a loss to us. Furthermore, any costs or delays involved in the foreclosure of the loan or a liquidation of the underlying property will further reduce the net proceeds and, thus, increase any such loss. The incurrence of any such losses could materially and adversely affect us.
We may be subject to lender liability claims, and if we are held liable under such claims, we could be subject to losses.
A number of judicial decisions have upheld the right of borrowers to sue lending institutions on the basis of various evolving legal theories, collectively termed “lender liability.” Generally, lender liability is founded on the premise that a lender has either violated a duty, whether implied or contractual, of good faith and fair dealing owed to the borrower or has assumed a degree of control over the borrower resulting in the creation of a fiduciary duty owed to the borrower or its other creditors or stockholders. We cannot assure you that such claims will not arise or that we will not be subject to significant liability and losses if a claim of this type did arise.
Liability relating to environmental matters may impact the value of our loans or of properties that we may acquire upon foreclosure of the properties underlying our investments.
To the extent we take title to any of the properties underlying our investments, we may be subject to environmental liabilities arising from the foreclosed properties. Under various U.S. federal, state and local laws, an owner or operator of real property may become liable for the costs of removal of certain hazardous substances released on its property. These laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the release of the hazardous substances. The presence of hazardous substances on a property may adversely affect our ability to sell the property, and we may incur substantial remediation costs. As a result, the discovery of material environmental liabilities attached to those properties could materially and adversely affect us.
In addition, the presence of hazardous substances may adversely affect an owner’s ability to sell real estate or borrow using real estate as collateral. To the extent that an owner of a property underlying one of our loans becomes liable for removal costs, the ability of the owner to make payments to us may be reduced, which in turn may adversely affect the value of the relevant loan held by us and could materially and adversely affect us.
Climate change, and other risks relating to the environmental, social and governance impact of our investments or the underlying properties and development activities that we finance, could adversely affect our business.
We face a number of risks associated with climate change including risks stemming from the physical impacts of climate change and risks related to potential changes in applicable legislation and regulation, either of which could have a material adverse effect on the properties underlying our investments, our borrowers, or our performance. It is not possible to predict how legislation or new regulations that may be adopted to address greenhouse gasses, or GHG, emissions will impact our borrowers or CRE properties generally. Future environmental laws and regulations could require the owners of properties to make significant expenditures to attain and maintain compliance. More broadly, we face risks associated with the unpredictability of new legislation and regulation focused on ESG matters, as well as those associated with an increasing trend among certain investors to take ESG factors into account in determining whether to invest in companies. If we are involved with assets or entities associated with certain industries or activities
that are perceived to be causing or exacerbating climate change or other ESG-related issues, it may adversely impact our ability to raise capital from certain investors or harm our reputation. Conversely, if we avoid involvement with such industries or activities, it may limit our capital deployment opportunities to an extent that adversely affects our business.
Our business is subject to evolving corporate governance and public disclosure regulations and expectations, including with respect to environmental, social and governance matters, that could expose us to numerous risks.
Recently, there has been growing concern from advocacy groups, government agencies and the general public on ESG matters and increasingly regulators, customers, investors, employees and other stakeholders are focusing on ESG matters and related disclosures. Such governmental, investor and societal attention to ESG matters, including expanding mandatory and voluntary reporting, diligence, and disclosure on topics such as climate change, human capital, labor and risk oversight, could expand the nature, scope, and complexity of matters that we are required to manage, assess and report.
We are subject to changing rules and regulations promulgated by a number of governmental and self-regulatory organizations, including the SEC, the New York Stock Exchange and the Financial Accounting Standards Board. These rules and regulations continue to evolve in scope and complexity and many new requirements have been created in response to laws enacted by Congress, making compliance more difficult and uncertain. Further, new and emerging regulatory initiatives in the U.S. related to climate change and ESG could adversely affect our business.
These changing rules, regulations and stakeholder expectations have resulted in, and are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and increased management time and attention spent complying with or meeting such regulations and expectations. ESG, the ESG proposed rules and other sustainability matters and our response to these matters could harm our business, including in areas such as diversity, equity and inclusion, human rights, climate change and environmental stewardship, support for local communities, corporate governance and transparency and considering ESG factors in our investment processes. Further, we may choose to communicate certain initiatives and goals, regarding environmental matters, diversity, responsible sourcing and social investments and other ESG-related matters, in our SEC filings or in other public disclosures. These initiatives and goals within the scope of ESG could be difficult and expensive to implement, and we could be criticized for the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the disclosure. Statements about our ESG-related initiatives and goals, and progress against those goals, may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve and assumptions that are subject to change in the future. In addition, we could be criticized for the scope or nature of such initiatives or goals, or for any revisions to these goals. If we are unable to adequately address such ESG matters or if we fail to achieve progress with respect to our goals within the scope of ESG on a timely basis, or at all, or if we or our borrowers fail or are perceived to fail to comply with all laws, regulations, policies and related interpretations, it could negatively impact our reputation and our business results.
Risks Related to Sources of Financing and Hedging
We have a significant amount of debt outstanding and may incur a significant amount of additional debt in the future, which subjects us to increased risk of loss, which could materially and adversely affect us.
As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately $5.7 billion in consolidated indebtedness outstanding. In the future, subject to market conditions and availability, we may incur significant additional debt through repurchase facilities, asset-specific financing structures, and secured term loan borrowings. In addition to these types of financings, we may also use other forms of leverage, including secured and unsecured credit arrangements, structured financings such as CMBS and CLOs, derivative instruments, public and private secured and unsecured debt issuances by us or our subsidiaries.
Subject to compliance with the leverage covenants contained in our repurchase facilities and other financing arrangements, the amount of leverage we employ will vary depending on our available capital, our ability to obtain financing, the type of assets we are financing, whether the financing is match-funded, whether the financing is recourse or non-recourse, the debt restrictions and other covenants sought to be imposed by prospective and existing lenders and the stability of our loan portfolio’s cash flow, as well as general business conditions affecting lenders and the
broader debt capital markets, including overall supply and demand of credit. In addition, we may leverage individual assets at substantially higher levels than our targeted Total Leverage Ratio.
A significant amount of debt subjects us to many risks that, if realized, would materially and adversely affect us, including the risk that:
•our cash flow from operating activities could become insufficient to make required payments of principal and interest on our debt, which would likely result in (a) acceleration of the debt (and any other debt containing a cross-default or cross-acceleration provision), increasing the likelihood of further distress if refinancing is not available on favorable terms or at all, (b) our inability to borrow undrawn amounts under other existing financing arrangements, even if we have timely made all required payments under such arrangements, further compromising our liquidity, and/or (c) the loss of some or all of our assets that are pledged as collateral in connection with our financing arrangements (including assets transferred to lenders under repurchase facilities);
•our debt may increase our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions with no assurance that such debt will increase our investment yields in an amount sufficient to offset the associated risks relating to leverage;
•we may be required to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operating activities to payments on our debt, thereby reducing funds available for operations, future business opportunities, stockholder distributions and/or other purposes; and
•to the extent the maturity of certain debt (e.g., credit or repurchase facilities) occurs prior to the maturity of a related asset pledged or transferred as collateral for such debt (e.g., an underlying senior or subordinate loan made by us), we may not be able to refinance that debt on favorable terms or at all, which may reduce available liquidity and/or cause significant losses to us.
Although our Manager will seek to prudently manage our exposure to the risk of default on our debt, there can be no assurance that our financing strategy will be successful or that it will produce enhanced returns commensurate with the increased risk of loss that necessarily arises when using leverage. Our financing strategy may cause us to incur significant losses, which could materially and adversely affect us.
Our Secured Term Loan, Debt Related to Real Estate Owned, current financing facilities, and secured loans impose, and additional lending facilities may impose, financial and other covenants that restrict our operational flexibility, which could materially and adversely affect us.
Our Secured Term Loan, Debt Related to Real Estate Owned, current financing facilities, and secured loans contain, and additional financing facilities may contain, various customary covenants, including requiring us to meet or maintain certain financial ratios or other requirements that restrict our operational flexibility, including restrictions on dividends, distributions or other payments from our subsidiaries, and impede certain investments that we might otherwise make. In addition, certain of our existing lenders and counterparties, and future lenders or counterparties require us to maintain minimum amounts of cash or other liquid assets. As a result, we may not be able to leverage our assets as fully as we would otherwise choose, which could reduce our liquidity and returns on equity. If we are unable to meet these financial covenants, it could materially and adversely affect us. In addition, certain of our existing lenders require, and future lenders may require, us to agree that we would be in default if our Manager or one or more of its executive officers cease to serve in such capacity for any reason. If we fail to satisfy any of these covenants, such that a default arises, our lenders may be entitled to enforce remedies such as declaring outstanding amounts due and payable, terminating their commitments, requiring the posting of additional collateral and/or enforcing their security interests against existing collateral, unless we were able to negotiate a waiver, forbearance or other modification. Any such arrangement could be conditioned on an amendment to the lending or repurchase agreement and any related guarantee agreement on terms that may be unfavorable to us. Certain of our financings are, and may also in the future, contain cross-default and/or cross-acceleration provisions with respect to our other debt agreements or facilities. Any such provision could allow a financing counterparty to declare a default because of a default under a financing arrangement with a different financing counterparty, defaults across multiple financings resulting from a single event. This and any other type of default could make it difficult for us to satisfy the requirements necessary to maintain our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as liquidity generated from operating cash
flow is transferred to our lenders rather than distributed to our stockholders. As a result, a default on any of our debt could materially and adversely affect us.
Credit ratings assigned to us, our indebtedness or our investments will be subject to ongoing evaluations and revisions and we cannot assure you that those ratings will not be downgraded or withdrawn or placed on negative outlook, which could adversely impact us.
We and our Secured Term Loan are currently rated by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service and our Secured Term Loan is also rated. Our and our Secured Term Loan credit ratings could change based upon, among other things, our historical and projected business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, and prospects. Our issuer and senior secured debt credit ratings have in the past fluctuated, and currently have ratings of B+ (stable) from Standard and Poor's and Ba3 (stable) from Moody’s Investors Service. These ratings actions or any future downgrade, or withdrawal of a rating or any credit rating agency action that indicates that it has placed our rating on a “watch list” for a possible downgrading or lowering, or otherwise indicates that its outlook for our rating is negative, could increase our borrowing costs and our ability to access capital on favorable terms or at all and otherwise adversely affect us. Our ratings are subject to ongoing evaluation by credit rating agencies, and we cannot assure you that any ratings will not be changed adversely or withdrawn by a rating agency in the future if, in its judgment, circumstances warrant.
Some of our investments may also be rated by rating agencies such as Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s, DBRS, Inc., Realpoint LLC or Kroll Bond Rating Agency. Any credit ratings on our investments are subject to ongoing evaluation by credit rating agencies, and we cannot assure you that any ratings will not be changed or withdrawn by a rating agency in the future if, in its judgment, circumstances warrant. Any adverse ratings action or withdrawal on one of our investments could adversely impact us. For example, if a rating agency assigns a lower-than-expected rating or subsequently reduces or withdraws, or indicates that it may reduce or withdraw, its ratings of one or more of our investments in the future, the value and liquidity of such investment(s) could significantly decline, which would adversely affect the overall value of our loan portfolio and could result in losses upon our disposition of such investment(s) or the failure of borrowers underlying such investment(s) to satisfy their debt service obligations to us.
Further, any downgrade of the Company’s credit ratings by any of the credit agencies that cover our debt may make it more difficult and costly for us to access capital. There can be no assurances that our credit ratings will not be downgraded in the future, whether as a result of deteriorating general economic conditions, failure to successfully implement our operating strategy or the adverse impact on our results of operations or liquidity position of any of the above, or otherwise.
The arrangements that we currently use, or may in the future use, to finance our investments may require us to provide additional collateral or pay down debt based on the occurrence of certain events.
Some of our financing arrangements contain mark-to-market provisions creating a risk that a decline in the market value of the assets pledged or sold by us to the provider of the related financing will allow the lender or counterparty to make margin calls or otherwise force us to repay all or a portion of the funds advanced additional collateral. Our Manager generally seeks to structure credit and repurchase facilities that do not allow our lenders or counterparties to make margin calls or require additional collateral solely as a result of a disruption in the CMBS market, capital markets or credit markets, or a general increase or decrease of interest rate spreads or other similar benchmarks (as opposed to allowing such counterparties to make margin calls upon the occurrence of adverse “credit events” related to the collateral). However, some of our repurchase facilities contain, and certain of our future repurchase facilities or other financing facilities may contain, provisions allowing our lenders to make margin calls or require additional collateral solely upon the occurrence of adverse changes in the markets or interest rate or spread fluctuations, subject to minimum thresholds, among other factors. We have in the past pursued, and may continue to pursue, standstill agreements, pursuant to which we may agree to voluntary repayments in exchange for the lender agreeing not to exercise margin calls for a period of time, with our repurchase facility counterparties if or when we deem appropriate, although there is no assurance that such efforts will be successful. Under credit and repurchase facilities that provide for margin calls or require additional collateral based on the market value of the financed asset or assets, the lender or counterparty can generally require additional collateral upon the occurrence of a credit event specific to the collateral that adversely impacts the value of such collateral. From time to time, we may not have the
funds available to meet such a margin call, which would likely result in one or more defaults unless we are able to raise the requisite funds from alternative sources such as selling assets at a time when we would not otherwise choose to do so (which we may not be able to achieve on favorable terms or at all). In addition, the payment of margin calls and/or provision of additional collateral could reduce our cash available to make other, higher yielding investments (thereby decreasing our returns on equity). If we cannot meet these requirements, the lender or counterparty could accelerate our indebtedness and exercise remedies including retention or sale of assets pledged or transferred as collateral, increase the interest rate on advanced funds, increase the level of recourse on our borrowings, and/or terminate our ability to borrow funds from it, which could materially and adversely affect us. Additionally, any future loan modifications for our loans that have been financed with repurchase facilities will require the consent from the applicable lender prior to us entering into any such loan modification. There can be no assurance that such lender will consent to any such loan modifications or will not require us to take certain actions as a condition to obtaining such consent, which could materially and adversely affect us.
In our repurchase transactions, we are required to sell the assets to our lenders (i.e., repurchase agreement counterparties) in exchange for the delivery of cash from such lenders. At the maturity of the financing, the lenders are obligated to resell the same assets back to us upon payment of a repurchase price equal to the outstanding advance amount on such assets together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon and other amounts then due to the lenders. If a counterparty to our repurchase transactions defaults on its obligation to resell the asset back to us at the end of the transaction term, or if the value of the underlying security has declined as of the end of that term, or if we default on our obligations under the repurchase agreement, we will likely incur a loss on our repurchase transactions. If a lender or counterparty files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, our loans may become subject to bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, thus depriving us, at least temporarily, of the benefit of these assets. In addition, our repurchase agreements and credit facilities contain, and any new repurchase agreements or credit agreements we may enter into are likely to contain, cross-default and/or cross acceleration provisions. Such provisions allow a lender to declare a default under its facility with us on the basis of a default under a facility with a different lender. If a default occurs under any of our repurchase agreements or credit facilities and a lender terminates one or more of its repurchase agreements or credit facilities, we may need to enter into replacement repurchase agreements or credit facilities with different lenders. In these circumstances, we may not be successful in entering into replacement repurchase agreements or credit facilities on the same terms as the repurchase agreements or credit facilities that were terminated or at all. Also, because repurchase agreements and similar credit facilities are generally short-term commitments of capital, changes in conditions in the financing markets may make it more difficult for us to secure continued financing during times of market stress. During certain periods of a credit cycle, lenders may lose their ability or curtail their willingness to provide financing. If we are not able to arrange for replacement financing on acceptable terms, or if we default on any covenants or are otherwise unable to access funds under any of our repurchase agreements and credit facilities, we may have to curtail our asset origination and acquisition activities and/or dispose of investments. Such an event could restrict our access to financing and increase our cost of capital, which could materially and adversely affect us.
We depend or may depend on bank credit agreements and facilities, repurchase facilities and structured financing arrangements, public and private debt issuances and derivative instruments, in addition to transaction- or asset-specific financing arrangements and other sources of financing to execute our business plan, and our inability to access financing on favorable terms could have a material adverse effect on us.
Our ability to fund our investments may be impacted by our ability to secure bank credit facilities (including term loans and revolving facilities), repurchase facilities and structured financing arrangements, public and private debt issuances and derivative instruments, in addition to asset-specific financing arrangements and other sources of financing on acceptable terms. We utilize repurchase agreements to finance the acquisition of certain investments. In order for us to borrow funds under a repurchase agreement, our lender has the right to review the potential assets for which we are seeking financing and approve such assets in its sole discretion. Accordingly, we may be unable to obtain the consent of a lender to finance an investment and alternate sources of financing for such asset may not exist. We may also rely on short-term financing that would be especially exposed to changes in availability. Our access to sources of financing will depend upon a number of factors, over which we have little or no control, including:
•general economic or market conditions;
•the market’s view of the quality of our assets;
•the market’s view of performance of other companies executing a strategy comparable to ours;
•the market’s perception of our growth potential;
•our current and potential earnings liquidity and cash distributions;
•regulatory capital reform rules or other regulatory changes; and
•the market price of shares of our common stock.
We will need to periodically access the capital markets to raise cash to fund new investments or repay in whole or in part the financings associated with existing investments. Unfavorable economic or capital market conditions, such as the severe dislocation in the capital and credit markets caused most recently by a material increase in interest rates designed to combat inflation arising after the earlier stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and, before that, reflected by the global financial crisis of 2008, may increase our financing costs, limit our access to the capital markets and result in a decision by our potential lenders not to extend credit. An inability to successfully access the capital markets could limit our ability to grow our business and fully execute our business plan and could decrease our earnings and liquidity and materially and adversely affect us. In addition, any dislocation or weakness in the capital and credit markets, such as the dislocation that existed during the global financial crisis of 2008, could adversely affect our lenders and could cause one or more of our lenders to be unwilling or unable to provide us with financing or to increase the costs of that financing. In addition, as regulatory capital requirements imposed on our lenders are increased, they may be required to limit or increase the cost of financing they provide to us. In general, this could potentially increase our financing costs and reduce our liquidity or require us to sell assets at an inopportune time or price. No assurance can be given that we will be able to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all.
In addition, although we plan to seek to reduce our exposure to lender concentration-related risk by entering into financings with various counterparties, we are not required to observe specific lending counterparty diversification criteria. To the extent that our net exposure under our lending arrangements may become concentrated with one or more lenders, the adverse impacts of defaults or terminations by our lenders may be significantly greater.
Fluctuations in interest rates and credit spreads could increase our financing costs and/or reduce our ability to generate income on our investments, which could lead to a significant decrease in our results of operations, cash flows and the value of our investments or the underlying collateral and may limit our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.
Our primary interest rate exposures relate to the yield on our investments and the financing cost of our debt, as well as our exposure to interest rate swaps that we may utilize for hedging purposes either with respect to our investments or our indebtedness. Changes in interest rates affect our net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income we earn on our interest-earning investments and the interest expense we incur in financing these investments. In a period of rising interest rates, our interest expense on floating rate debt would increase, while any additional interest income we earn on floating rate investments may not equal or exceed the increase in interest expense. The interest earned on investments and incurred on debt that carry a fixed rate would not change. In a period of declining interest rates, the interest income on floating rate investments would decline, while any decline in the interest we are charged on our floating rate debt may not equal or exceed the decrease in interest income and the interest expense we incur. As noted above, the interest earned on investments and incurred on debt that carry a fixed rate would not change. Certain of our financings may have interest rate floors, which if the index rate were to fall below such floor our interest expense would essentially remain fixed. Consequently, changes in interest rates may significantly influence our net interest income. Interest rate fluctuations resulting in our interest expense exceeding interest income would result in operating losses, which could materially and adversely affect us. Changes in the level of interest rates also may affect our ability to originate or acquire investments, the value of our investments and our ability to realize gains from the disposition of assets. Increases in interest rates and credit spreads may also negatively affect demand for loans and could result in higher borrower default rates. In 2022 and 2023, the U.S. Federal Reserve raised benchmark overnight interest rates on multiple occasions and may further increase rates. For more information regarding changes in interest rates affecting borrower default rates, please see “-The planned discontinuance of LIBOR has affected and will continue to affect financial markets generally, and may adversely affect our interest income, interest expense, or both.” See also “-Prepayment rates may adversely affect the yield on our loans and the value of our portfolio of assets.”
Our operating results will depend, in part, on differences between the income earned on our investments, net of credit losses, and our financing costs. The yields we earn on our assets and our borrowing costs tend to move in the same direction in response to changes in interest rates. However, one can rise or fall faster than the other, causing our net interest income to expand or contract. In addition, we could experience a compression of the yield on our investments and our financing costs. Although we seek to match the terms of our liabilities to the expected lives and interest rate reference indices of loans that we originate or acquire, circumstances may arise in which our liabilities are shorter in duration than our investments, resulting in their adjusting faster in response to changes in interest rates. For any period during which our investments are not match-funded, the income earned on such investments may respond more slowly to interest rate fluctuations than the cost of our borrowings. Consequently, in such circumstances, increases in interest rates, particularly short-term interest rates, may immediately and significantly decrease our results of operations and cash flows, the market value of our investments and may adversely impact our ability to comply with covenants under our financings.
Our use of leverage may create a mismatch with the duration and interest rate reference index of the investments that we are financing.
We work to structure our financings to minimize the difference between the term of our investments and the term of the financing for such investments. In the event that a financing has a shorter term than the tenor of the financed investment, we may not be able to extend the financing or find appropriate replacement financing and any such failure would have an adverse impact on our liquidity and our returns. In the event that a financing has a shorter term than the financed investment, we may not be able to repay the financing when due or replace the financed investment with an optimal substitute or at all, which will negatively impact our desired leveraged returns.
We attempt to structure our financings to minimize any mismatch between the type of interest rate of our investments and the interest rate of related financings-financing floating rate investments with floating rate financing and fixed rate investments with fixed rate financing. Further, we work to match reference rates on floating rate liabilities used to finance floating rate assets. If such a rate-type matched product is not then available to us on favorable terms, we may use hedging instruments to effectively create such a match. For example, in the case of fixed rate investments, we may finance investments with floating rate financing, but effectively convert all or a portion of the attendant financing to fixed rate using hedging strategies. We routinely use LIBOR/SOFR floors on both our investments and our debt financings, with the financing LIBOR/SOFR floor typically at a lower rate than for our investments. For more information regarding changes in interest rates affecting borrower default rates, please see “-The planned discontinuance of LIBOR has affected and will continue to affect financial markets generally, and may adversely affect our interest income, interest expense, or both.”
Our attempts to mitigate these risks are subject to factors outside of our control, such as the availability to us of favorable financing and hedging options, which is subject to a variety of factors, of which duration and term matching are only two. A duration mismatch may also occur when borrowers prepay their loans faster or slower than expected. The risks of a duration mismatch are also magnified by the potential for the extension of loans in order to maximize the likelihood and magnitude of their recovery value in the event the loans experience credit or performance challenges. Employment of this asset management practice could effectively extend the duration of our investments, while our hedges or liabilities may have set maturity dates.
An increase in our borrowing costs relative to the interest that we receive on our leveraged assets would adversely affect our profitability and our cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
As certain borrowings mature, we may need to replace such borrowings with new financings, find other sources of liquidity or sell assets. As borrowing rates have increased from historically low levels that have been seen recently, at the time we enter into new borrowings, the spread between the returns on our investments and the cost of our borrowings may be reduced. In addition, there is no assurance that short-term interest rates may not increase further. For example, in response to recent inflationary pressure, the U.S. Federal Reserve and other global central banks have raised interest rates in 2022 and 2023 and have indicated likely further interest rate increases. This could adversely affect the return on our assets, which might reduce our earnings and, in turn, cash available for distribution to our stockholders, potentially materially.
Our existing and future financing arrangements and any debt securities we may issue could restrict our operations, limit our ability to pay dividends and expose us to additional risk.
Our existing and future financing arrangements and any debt securities we may issue in the future are or will be governed by a credit agreement, indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock. We will bear the cost of issuing and servicing these credit facilities, arrangements or securities.
These restrictive covenants and operating restrictions could have a material adverse effect on us, cause us to lose our REIT status, restrict our ability to finance or securitize new originations and acquisitions, force us to liquidate collateral and negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends to our stockholders.
We may enter into hedging transactions that could expose us to contingent liabilities in the future, which could materially and adversely affect us.
Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT, part of our investment strategy may involve entering into hedging transactions that could require us to fund cash payments in certain circumstances (such as the early termination of the hedging instrument caused by an event of default or other early termination event, or the decision by a counterparty to request the posting of margin to which it is contractually entitled under the terms of the hedging instrument). Our ability to fund a margin call will depend on the liquidity of our assets and access to capital at the time, and the need to fund these obligations could cause us to incur losses or otherwise materially and adversely affect us.
The extent of our hedging activity will vary in scope based on, among other things, the level and volatility of interest rates, the type of assets held, types of liabilities and other market conditions. Although these transactions are intended to reduce our exposure to various risks, hedging may fail to adequately protect or could adversely affect us because, among other things:
•hedging can be expensive, particularly during periods of volatile or rapidly changing interest rates;
•available hedges may not correspond directly with the risks for which protection is sought;
•the duration of the hedge may not match the duration of the related instrument for which protection is sought;
•the amount of income that a REIT may earn from certain hedging transactions (other than through our TRSs) is limited by U.S. federal income tax provisions;
•the credit quality of a hedging counterparty may be downgraded to such an extent that it impairs our ability to sell or assign our side of the hedging transaction; and
•the hedging counterparty may default on its obligations.
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act governs derivative transactions, including certain hedging instruments we may use in our risk management activities. Rules implemented by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or the CFTC, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act require, among other things, that certain derivatives be centrally cleared through a registered derivatives clearing organization, or DCO, and traded on a designated contract market or swap execution facility. These regulations could increase the operational and transactional cost of derivatives contracts in the form of intermediary fees and additional margin requirements imposed by DCOs and the clearing members of the DCOs through which we may clear derivatives, and affect the number and/or creditworthiness of available counterparties. Hedging instruments often are not traded on regulated exchanges or guaranteed by an exchange or its clearing house, and involve risks and costs that could result in material losses.
The cost of using hedging instruments increases as the period covered by the instrument lengthens. Although we may avoid substantial interest rate exposure by investing in floating rate mortgage loans, to the extent that we have interest rate exposure from fixed rate loans we may increase our hedging activity (and therefore our hedging costs) during periods of volatility. In addition, hedging instruments involve risk since they often are not traded on regulated
exchanges or guaranteed by an exchange or its clearing house. In general, derivative transactions entered into directly with counterparties, rather than through an exchange, receive fewer regulatory protections than transactions entered into on an exchange. Furthermore, the enforceability of agreements underlying hedging transactions may depend on compliance with applicable statutory and commodity and other regulatory requirements and, depending on the identity of the counterparty, applicable international requirements. In addition, if the business of a hedging counterparty fails we may not only lose unrealized profits but also be forced to cover our forward commitments, if any, at the then current market price.
Although we generally expect to have the right to terminate our hedging positions, it may not always be possible to dispose of or close out a hedging position without the consent of the hedging counterparty, and we may not be able to enter into an offsetting contract in order to cover our risk. We cannot assure you that a liquid secondary market will exist for hedging instruments purchased or sold, and we may be required to maintain a position until exercise or expiration, which could result in material losses.
We may fail to qualify for, or choose not to elect, hedge accounting treatment.
We intend to account for derivative and hedging transactions in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 815 “Derivatives and Hedging,” or ASC 815. Under these standards, we may fail to qualify for, or choose not to elect, hedge accounting treatment for a number of reasons, including if we use instruments that do not meet the FASB ASC 815 definition of a derivative (such as short sales), if we fail to satisfy the FASB ASC 815 hedge documentation and hedge effectiveness assessment requirements, or if our instruments are not highly effective. If we fail to qualify for, or choose not to elect, hedge accounting treatment, gains and losses on derivatives will be included in our operating results and may not be offset by a change in the fair value of the related hedged transaction or item.
Our investments may be subject to fluctuations in interest rates that may not be adequately protected, or protected at all, by our hedging strategies.
Though our primary strategy is to originate and acquire shorter term, floating rate loans, our investments may include loans with either floating interest rates or fixed interest rates. Floating rate investments earn interest at rates that adjust from time to time (typically monthly) based upon an index (typically one-month LIBOR or SOFR). The coupons earned by the floating rate loans fluctuate based upon interest rate reference indices (again, typically one-month LIBOR or SOFR) and, in a declining and/or low interest rate environment, these loans will earn lower rates of interest and this will impact our operating performance. Fixed interest rate investments, however, do not have adjusting interest rates and the relative value of the fixed cash flows from these investments will decrease as prevailing interest rates rise or increase as prevailing interest rates fall, causing potentially significant changes in value. We may employ various hedging strategies to limit the effects of changes in interest rates (and in some cases credit spreads), including engaging in interest rate swaps, caps, floors and other interest rate derivative products. We believe that no strategy can completely insulate us from the risks associated with interest rate changes and there is a risk that they may provide no protection at all. Hedging transactions involve certain additional risks such as counterparty risk, leverage risk, the legal enforceability of hedging contracts, the early repayment of hedged transactions and the risk that unanticipated and significant changes in interest rates may cause a significant loss of basis in the contract and a change in current period expense. We cannot make assurances that we will be able to enter into hedging transactions or that hedging transactions will adequately protect us against the foregoing risks.
Accounting for derivatives under GAAP is extremely complicated. Any failure by us to account for our derivatives properly in accordance with GAAP on our consolidated financial statements could adversely affect our earnings. In particular, cash flow hedges which are not perfectly correlated (and appropriately designated and/or documented as such) with variable rate financing will impact our reported income as gains and losses on the ineffective portion of the hedges.
The planned discontinuance of LIBOR has affected and will continue to affect financial markets generally, and may adversely affect our interest income, interest expense, or both.
On March 5, 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom, or the FCA, which regulates LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, or IBA, announced that all LIBOR tenors relevant to us will cease to be published or will no longer be representative after June 30, 2023 indicating that, as a result of
not having access to input data necessary to calculate LIBOR tenors relevant to us on a representative basis after June 30, 2023, the IBA would have to cease publication of such LIBOR tenors immediately after the last publication on June 30, 2023. The United States Federal Reserve has also advised banks to cease entering into new contracts that use U.S. dollar LIBOR as a reference rate. The Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rate Committee, or the ARRC, a committee convened by the Federal Reserve that includes major market participants, has identified the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or SOFR, a new index calculated by short-term repurchase agreements, backed by Treasury securities, as its preferred alternative rate for LIBOR. There are significant differences between LIBOR and SOFR, such as LIBOR being an unsecured lending rate while SOFR is a secured lending rate, and SOFR is an overnight rate while LIBOR reflects term rates at different maturities. To the extent our LIBOR-based borrowings are converted to SOFR, the differences between LIBOR and SOFR, and potential margin adjustments in connection with the transition, could result in higher interest costs for us, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Although SOFR is the ARRC’s recommended replacement rate, it is also possible that lenders may instead choose and alternative replacement rates that may differ from LIBOR in ways similar to SOFR or in other ways that would result in higher interest costs for us. We cannot predict the effect of the decision not to sustain LIBOR, or the potential transition to SOFR or another alternative reference rate as LIBOR’s replacement.
As of December 31, 2022, our loan portfolio included $7.4 billion of floating rate loans for which the interest rate was tied to LIBOR or SOFR. Additionally, we had $5.7 billion of floating rate debt tied to LIBOR or SOFR. To the extent that any relevant loan or debt instrument is outstanding at the time at which LIBOR is discontinued, its terms may provide for the relevant interest or payment calculations to be made by reference to an alternative benchmark rate or on some other basis. Our loan agreements relating to our investments and financing arrangements generally do provide for replacement reference rates in the event that LIBOR is no longer available or otherwise viable. Regardless, there can be no assurances as to what alternative base rates may be and whether such base rate will be more or less favorable than LIBOR and any other unforeseen impacts of the potential discontinuation of LIBOR. Any changes, reforms or replacements relating to LIBOR could increase our interest expense and could have an adverse impact on the market for or value of any LIBOR-linked securities, loans, derivatives and other financial obligations or extensions of credit held by or due to us or on our overall financial condition or results of operations. In addition, there could be a mismatch between the timing of adjusting the floating base rate from LIBOR to an alternative base rate up on the discontinuation of LIBOR, between our financing arrangements and our loan investments, which may have an immediate and significant adverse impact on our results of operations and cash flows and the market value of our investments. We are monitoring the developments with respect to the potential phasing out of LIBOR and are working with our lenders and borrowers to minimize the impact of any LIBOR transition on our financial condition and results of operations, but can provide no assurances regarding the impact of the discontinuation of LIBOR.
For information on the steps we are taking with regard to the transition from LIBOR to alternative reference rates, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk-LIBOR Transition."
We may use securitizations to finance our investments and make investments in CMBS, CLOs, and other similar structured finance investments, which may expose us to risks that could result in losses.
We may, to the extent consistent with our qualification as a REIT, seek to securitize certain of our loan portfolio investments. This would involve creating a special-purpose vehicle, contributing a pool of our assets to the entity, and selling interests in the entity on a non-recourse basis to purchasers (whom we would expect to be willing to accept a lower interest rate to invest in investment-grade loan pools) and may require us to retain a portion of the risk of the assets in accordance with risk retention laws and regulations, which would not allow us to sell or hedge our risk retention interests. We would expect to retain all or a portion of the equity in the securitized pool of portfolio investments. We may use short-term facilities to finance the acquisition of investments until sufficient eligible investments have been accumulated, at which time we would refinance these investments through a securitization, such as a CMBS, or issuance of CLOs, or the private placement of loan participations or other long-term financing. If we were to employ this strategy, we would be subject to the risk that we would not be able to acquire, during the period that our short-term facilities are available, sufficient eligible investments to maximize the efficiency of one of these financing strategies. We also would be subject to the risk that we would not be able to obtain short-term credit
facilities or would not be able to renew any short-term credit facilities after they expire should we find it necessary to extend our short-term credit facilities to allow more time to seek and acquire sufficient eligible investments for a long-term financing. The inability to consummate securitizations of our loan portfolio to finance our investments on a long-term basis could require us to seek other forms of potentially less attractive financing or to liquidate assets at an inopportune time or price, which could adversely affect our performance and our ability to grow our business. Additionally, a securitization transaction might magnify our exposure to losses because any equity interest we retain in the issuing entity would be subordinate to the notes issued to investors and we would, therefore, absorb all of the losses sustained with respect to a securitized pool of assets before the owners of the notes experience any losses.
Additionally, we may from time to time invest in subordinated classes of securities in a structure of securities secured by a pool of mortgages or loans. Accordingly, the securities are the first or among the first to bear the loss upon a restructuring or liquidation of the underlying collateral and last or among the last to receive payment of interest and principal.
Subordinate interests in securitized products generally are not actively traded and are relatively illiquid investments and volatility in trading markets for securitized products may cause the value of these investments to decline. In addition, if the underlying mortgage portfolio has been overvalued by the originator, or if the values subsequently decline and, as a result, less collateral value is available to satisfy interest and principal payments and any other fees in connection with the trust or other conduit arrangement for the securities, we may incur significant losses.
With respect to the CMBS, CLOs and other securitized products in which we may invest, control over the related underlying loans will be exercised through a special servicer or collateral manager designated by a “directing certificate holder” or a “controlling class representative,” or otherwise pursuant to the related securitization documents. We may acquire classes of CMBS, CLOs or other securitized products, for which we may not have the right to appoint the directing certificate holder or otherwise direct the special servicing or collateral management. With respect to the management and servicing of those loans, the related special servicer or collateral manager may take actions that could materially and adversely affect our interests.
We may be subject to losses arising from future guarantees of debt and contingent obligations of our subsidiaries, joint venture or co-investment partners or our borrowers.
We may from time to time guarantee the performance of our subsidiaries’ obligations, including, but not limited to, our repurchase agreements, credit facilities, derivative agreements and unsecured indebtedness. We may also agree to guarantee indebtedness incurred by a joint venture or co-investment partner. A guarantee may be on a joint and several basis with our joint venture or co-investment partner, in which case we may be liable in the event the partner defaults on its guarantee obligation. The non-performance of these obligations may cause losses to us in excess of the capital we initially may have invested or committed under these obligations and there is no assurance that we will have sufficient capital to cover any losses.
We are subject to counterparty risk associated with our hedging activities.
We are subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to derivative contracts (whether a clearing corporation in the case of exchange-traded instruments or another third-party in the case of over-the-counter instruments). If a counterparty becomes insolvent or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, we may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a dissolution, assignment for the benefit of creditors, liquidation, winding-up, bankruptcy, or other analogous proceeding. In the event of the insolvency of a counterparty to a derivative transaction, the derivative transaction would typically be terminated at its fair market value. If we are owed this fair market value in the termination of the derivative transaction and its claim is unsecured, we will be treated as a general creditor of the counterparty, and will not have any claim with respect to the underlying security. We may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in these circumstances. In addition, the business failure of a hedging counterparty with whom we enter into a hedging transaction will most likely result in its default, which may result in the loss of unrealized profits and force us to cover our commitments, if any, at the then current market price. Counterparty risk with respect to certain exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives may be further complicated by recently enacted U.S. financial reform legislation.
If we enter into certain hedging transactions or otherwise invest in certain derivative instruments, failure to obtain and maintain an exemption from being regulated as a commodity pool operator by our Manager could subject us to additional regulation and compliance requirements, which could materially and adversely affect us.
The Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and rules promulgated thereunder by the CFTC, or the CFTC Rules, establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for certain derivative instruments, including swaps, futures, options on futures and foreign exchange derivatives, or Regulated CFTC Instruments. Under this regulatory framework, many mortgage REITs that trade in Regulated CFTC Instruments may be considered “commodity pools” and the operators of such mortgage REITs would accordingly be considered “commodity pool operators,” or CPOs. Absent an applicable exemption, a CPO of a mortgage REIT (which otherwise falls within the statutory definition of commodity pool) must register with the CFTC and become subject to CFTC Rules applicable to registered CPOs, including with respect to disclosure, reporting, recordkeeping and business conduct in respect of the mortgage REIT. We may from time to time, directly or indirectly, invest in Regulated CFTC Instruments, which may subject us to oversight by the CFTC.
Our Manager expects to qualify for and rely upon relief from the CPO registration requirement in respect of us pursuant to the no-action relief issued in December 2012 by the CFTC staff to operators of qualifying mortgage REITs, and has submitted a claim for relief within the required time period. Our Manager expects to qualify for the no-action relief in respect of us on the basis that we satisfy the criteria specified in the CFTC no-action letter, in that we identify as a “mortgage REIT” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our trading in Regulated CFTC Instruments does not exceed a certain de minimis threshold identified in the no-action relief and our interests are not marketed to the public as or in a commodity pool or other trading vehicle. There can be no assurance, however, that the CFTC will not modify or withdraw the no-action letter in the future or that we will be able to continue to satisfy the criteria specified in the no-action letter in order to qualify for relief from CPO registration. The CFTC Rules with respect to commodity pools may be revised, which may affect our regulatory status or cause us to modify or terminate the use of Regulated CFTC Instruments in connection with our investment program. If we were required to register as a CPO in the future or change our business model to ensure that we can continue to satisfy the requirements of the no-action relief, it could materially and adversely affect us. Furthermore, we may determine to register as a CPO hereafter, and in such event we will operate in a manner designed to comply with applicable CFTC requirements, which requirements may impose additional obligations and costs on us.
The CFTC has substantial enforcement power with respect to violations of the laws over which it has jurisdiction. Among other things, the CFTC may suspend or revoke the registration of a person who fails to comply, prohibit such a person from trading or doing business with registered entities, impose civil monetary penalties, require restitution and seek fines or imprisonment for criminal violations. Additionally, a private right of action exists against those who violate the laws over which the CFTC has jurisdiction or who willfully aid, abet, counsel, induce or procure a violation of those laws. In the event we are unable to qualify for the no-action relief and fail to comply with the CFTC Rules, we may be unable to use Regulated CFTC Instruments or we may be subject to significant fines, penalties and other civil or governmental actions or proceedings, any of which could materially and adversely affect us.
Risks Related to Our Company
Our investment strategy, our investment guidelines, our target assets and our financing strategy may be changed without stockholder consent.
The investment guidelines approved by our Board, and required to be followed by our Manager, are broad. Moreover, these guidelines, as well as our investment strategy, target assets, financing strategy and policies with respect to investments, originations, acquisitions, growth, operations, indebtedness, hedging, capitalization, distributions and other corporate matters may be changed at any time without the consent of our stockholders, subject to applicable law. This could result in changes to the risk profile of our investment portfolio over time. A change in our investment strategy may also increase our exposure to interest rate risk, default risk and real estate market
fluctuations. Furthermore, a change in our target assets could result in our making investments in asset categories different from those described in this report. These changes could materially and adversely affect us.
Changes in laws or regulations governing our operations or those of our competitors, or changes in the interpretation thereof, or newly enacted laws or regulations, could result in increased competition for our target assets, require changes to our business practices and collectively could adversely impact our revenues and impose additional costs on us, which could materially and adversely affect us.
The laws and regulations governing our operations or those of our competitors, as well as their interpretation, may change from time to time, and new laws and regulations may be enacted. We may be required to adopt or suspend certain business practices as a result of any changes, which could impose additional costs on us, which could materially and adversely affect us. For example, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, some government entities instituted moratoria on business activities, construction, evictions and foreclosures and rent cancellation. These measures and future measures of this kind may adversely affect us or our borrowers. Furthermore, if “regulatory capital” or “capital adequacy” requirements-whether under the Dodd-Frank Act, Basel III, or other regulatory action-are further strengthened or expanded with respect to lenders that provide us with debt financing, or were to be imposed on us directly, they or we may be required to limit or increase the cost of financing they provide to us or that we provide to others. Among other things, this could potentially increase our financing costs, reduce our ability to originate or acquire loans and reduce our liquidity or require us to sell assets at an inopportune time or price.
In addition, various laws and regulations currently exist that restrict the investment activities of banks and certain other financial institutions but do not apply to us, which we believe creates opportunities for us to originate loans and participate in certain other investments that are not available or attractive to these more regulated institutions. However, proposals for legislation that would change how the financial services industry is regulated are continually being introduced in the U.S. Congress and in state legislatures. Federal financial regulatory agencies may adopt regulations and amendments intended to effect regulatory reforms including reforms to certain Dodd-Frank-related regulations. Prospective investors should be aware that changes in the regulatory and business landscape as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act and as a result of other current or future legislation and regulation may decrease the restrictions on banks and other financial institutions and allow them to compete with us for investment opportunities that were previously not available or attractive to, or otherwise pursued by, them, which could have a material adverse impact on us. See “-Risks Related to Our Investments-We operate in a competitive market for the origination and acquisition of attractive investment opportunities and competition may limit our ability to originate or acquire attractive risk-adjusted investments in our target assets, which could have a material adverse effect on us.”
Over the last several years, there also has been an increase in regulatory attention to the extension of credit outside of the traditional banking sector, raising the possibility that some portion of the non-bank financial sector will become subject to new regulation. While it cannot be known at this time whether any regulation will be implemented or what form it may take, increased regulation of non-bank lending could negatively impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, impose additional costs on us or otherwise materially and adversely affect us.
State licensing requirements will cause us to incur expenses and our failure to be properly licensed may have a material adverse effect on us.
Some jurisdictions require non-bank companies to hold licenses to conduct lending activities. State licensing statutes vary from state to state and may prescribe or impose: various recordkeeping requirements; restrictions on loan origination and servicing practices, including limits on finance charges and the type, amount and manner of charging fees; disclosure requirements; requirements that licensees submit to periodic examination; surety bond and minimum specified net worth requirements; periodic financial reporting requirements; notification requirements for changes in principal officers, stock ownership or corporate control; restrictions on advertising; and requirements that loan forms be submitted for review. Obtaining and maintaining state licenses will cause us to incur expenses and failure to be properly licensed under state law or otherwise may have a material adverse effect on us.
Actions of the U.S. government, including the U.S. Congress, Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury and other governmental and regulatory bodies, to stabilize or reform the financial markets, or market response to those actions, may not achieve the intended effect and could materially and adversely affect us.
The Dodd-Frank Act imposes significant investment restrictions and capital requirements on banking entities and other organizations that are significant to U.S. financial stability. For instance, the Volcker Rule provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act impose significant restrictions on the proprietary trading activities of “banking entities” (as defined under the Volcker Rule) and on their ability to acquire or retain an “ownership interest” (as defined under the Volcker Rule) in, “sponsor” (as defined under the Volcker Rule) or have certain relationships with “covered funds” (as defined under the Volcker Rule), unless pursuant to an exclusion or exemption under the Volcker Rule. The Dodd-Frank Act also subjects non-bank financial companies that have been designated as “systemically important” by the Financial Stability Oversight Council to increased capital requirements and quantitative limits for engaging in such activities, as well as consolidated supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act seeks to reform the asset-backed securitization market (including the mortgage-backed securities, or MBS, market) by requiring the retention of a portion of the credit risk inherent in each pool of securitized assets and by imposing additional registration and disclosure requirements. Rules of federal regulators that implement the Dodd-Frank Act’s risk retention requirements generally require sponsors of asset-backed securities to retain at least 5% of the credit risk relating to the assets that underlie each issuance of such securities. These rules apply to securitization transactions backed by all types of self-liquidating financial assets, including residential and commercial loans and leases. While the full impact of such rules, the Dodd-Frank Act as a whole and other like-minded regulatory actions and potential actions cannot be fully assessed in the immediate term with respect to our business, they may adversely affect the availability or terms of financing from our lender counterparties whether or not they benefit our business in other ways (such as by causing more CRE borrowers to seek financing from non-bank lenders like us, which could lead to improved pricing).
Recent and future legislative and regulatory developments, such as amendments to key provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and regulations thereunder, including provisions implementing the Volcker Rule and provisions setting forth capital and risk retention requirements may have an impact on the financial markets and financial services industry. For example, in June 2020, U.S. federal regulatory agencies amended the Volcker Rule’s restrictions on banking entities sponsoring and investing in certain covered hedge funds and private equity funds, including by adopting new exemptions allowing banking entities to sponsor and invest in credit funds, venture capital funds, customer facilitation funds and family wealth management vehicles. The amendments also reduced certain restrictions on extraterritorial fund activities and direct parallel or co-investments made alongside covered funds. The amendments will therefore expand the ability of banking entities to invest in and sponsor private funds. The ultimate consequences on our business remain uncertain and no assurances can be given whether these actions could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition.
Operational risks, including the risk of cyberattacks, may disrupt our businesses, result in losses and limit our growth.
We rely heavily on our Sponsor’s financial, accounting, treasury, communications and other data processing systems. These systems may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of tampering or a breach of the network security systems or otherwise. In addition, these systems are from time to time subject to cyberattacks, which may continue to increase in sophistication and frequency in the future. Attacks on us and our Sponsor’s and service providers’ systems could involve attempts that are intended to obtain unauthorized access to our proprietary information or personal identifying information of our stockholders or borrowers (and their beneficial owners), destroy data or disable, degrade or sabotage our systems, including through the introduction of computer viruses and other malicious code.
Cybersecurity incidents and cyberattacks have been occurring globally at a more frequent and severe level and will likely continue to increase in frequency in the future. Our information and technology systems as well as those of our Sponsor and other related parties, such as service providers, may be vulnerable to damage or interruption from cybersecurity breaches, computer viruses or other malicious code, network failures, computer and telecommunication failures, infiltration by unauthorized persons and other security breaches, usage errors by their respective professionals or service providers, power, communications or other service outages and catastrophic events such as fires, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes. As a result of the increased demand for remote working arrangements and our general reliance on internet technology, which may create additional opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities, we may face increased cybersecurity risks. Cyberattacks and other security threats could originate
from a wide variety of sources, including cyber criminals, nation state hackers, hacktivists and other outside parties. There has been an increase in the frequency and sophistication of the cyber and security threats we face, with attacks ranging from those common to businesses generally to those that are more advanced and persistent, which may target us or our Sponsor because we hold a significant amount of confidential and sensitive information. As a result, we and our Sponsor may face a heightened risk of a security breach or disruption with respect to this information. If successful, these types of attacks on our or our Sponsor’s network or other systems could have a material adverse effect on us, due to, among other things, the loss of investor or proprietary data, interruptions or delays in the operation of our business and damage to our reputation. There can be no assurance that measures we or our Sponsor takes to ensure the integrity of our systems will provide protection, especially because cyberattack techniques used change frequently or are not recognized until successful.
If unauthorized parties gain access to this information and technology systems, they may be able to steal, publish, delete or modify private and sensitive information, including non-public personal information related to stockholders or borrowers (and their beneficial owners) and material non-public information. Although we and our Sponsor have implemented, and our service providers may implement, various measures to manage risks relating to these types of events, these systems could prove to be inadequate and, if compromised, could become inoperable for extended periods of time, cease to function properly or fail to adequately secure private information. We do not control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by third-party service providers, and these third-party service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to us or our Sponsor, each of which could be negatively impacted as a result. Breaches such as those involving covertly introduced malware, impersonation of authorized users and industrial or other espionage may not be identified even with sophisticated prevention and detection systems, potentially resulting in further harm and preventing them from being addressed appropriately. The failure of these systems or of disaster recovery plans for any reason could cause significant interruptions in our operations and result in a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data, including personal information relating to stockholders, material non-public information and the intellectual property and trade secrets and other sensitive information in the possession of us or our Manager. We could be required to make a significant investment to remedy the effects of any failures, harm to our reputations, legal claims that we and our Manager may be subjected to, regulatory action or enforcement arising out of applicable privacy and other laws, adverse publicity and other events that may materially and adversely affect us.
In addition, our business highly depends on information systems and technology. The costs related to cyber or other security threats or disruptions may not be fully insured or indemnified by other means. Many jurisdictions in which we operate have laws and regulations relating to data privacy, cybersecurity and protection of personal information. Some jurisdictions have also enacted laws requiring companies to notify individuals of data security breaches involving certain types of personal data. Breaches in security could potentially jeopardize our or our Manager’s, its employees’, or our investors’ or counterparties’ confidential and other information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our computer systems and networks, or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our or our investors’, our counterparties’ or third parties’ operations, which could result in significant losses, increased costs, disruption of our business, liability to our investors and other counterparties, regulatory intervention or reputational damage. Furthermore, if we or our Manager fail to comply with the relevant laws and regulations, it could result in regulatory investigations and penalties, which could lead to negative publicity and may cause our investors to lose confidence in the effectiveness of our or our Manager’s security measures.
A disaster or a disruption in the infrastructure that supports our business, including a disruption involving electronic communications or other services used by us or third parties with whom we conduct business, could have a material adverse impact on our ability to continue to operate our business without interruption. Our and our Sponsor’s disaster recovery programs may not be sufficient to mitigate the harm that may result from such a disaster or disruption. In addition, insurance and other safeguards might only partially reimburse us for our losses, if at all.
Accounting rules for certain of our transactions are highly complex and involve significant judgment and assumptions. Changes in accounting interpretations or assumptions could impact our ability to timely prepare consolidated financial statements, which could materially and adversely affect us.
Accounting rules for transfers of financial assets, securitization transactions, loan loss reserves and other potential aspects of our operations are highly complex and involve significant judgment and assumptions. These complexities could lead to a delay in preparation of financial information and the delivery of this information to our
stockholders, including as a result of an increase in the number of loan modifications that we have processed and expect to process in the future due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in accounting interpretations or assumptions could impact our consolidated financial statements and our ability to timely prepare consolidated financial statements that accurately reflect our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations in accordance with prevailing accounting standards. Our inability to timely prepare our consolidated financial statements in the future could materially and adversely affect us.
Risks Related to Our Relationship with Our Manager and its Affiliates
Our future success depends on our Manager and its access to the key personnel and investment professionals of our Sponsor and its affiliates.
We are externally managed and advised by our Manager, an investment adviser registered with the SEC pursuant to the Advisers Act. We have no direct employees or facilities. We rely completely on our Manager and its affiliates to provide us with investment advisory services, which, in the case of our Manager’s affiliates, are provided to our Manager pursuant to a services agreement with MRECS. Our Manager is an affiliate of MRECS and all of our officers are employees or principals of MRECS or its affiliates. Our Manager has significant discretion as to the implementation of our investment and operating policies and strategies.
Accordingly, we believe that our success depends to a significant extent upon the efforts, experience, diligence, skill and network of business contacts of the officers, key personnel and investment professionals of our Sponsor and its affiliates, including our Manager. Our Manager, through the officers, key personnel and investment professionals of our Sponsor and its other affiliates, will evaluate, negotiate, close and monitor our investments and advise us regarding maintenance of our REIT status and exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act; therefore, our success depends on their continued service. The departure of any of the officers, key personnel or investment professionals of our Sponsor or its affiliates could have a material adverse effect on us and our operations and/or subject us to compensation-related claims in connection with our 2016 Incentive Award Plan (the “2016 Plan”).
We offer no assurance that our Manager will remain our investment manager or that we will continue to have access to the officers, key personnel and investment professionals of our Sponsor and its affiliates. The term of the Management Agreement with our Manager provides for automatic one-year renewals of the agreement following its original expiration date, unless it is otherwise terminated by our Board. If the Management Agreement is terminated and no suitable replacement is found to manage us, we may not be able to execute our investment strategy, which would materially and adversely affect us.
The personnel providing services to our Manager are not required to dedicate a specific portion of their time to the management of our business.
Neither our Sponsor nor any of its other affiliates is obligated to dedicate any specific personnel exclusively to our Manager, and in turn to us, nor will it or its personnel be obligated to dedicate any specific portion of their time to the management of our business other than the portion of our Manager’s time as is necessary and appropriate for our Manager to perform its services under the Management Agreement. As a result, we cannot provide any assurances regarding the amount of time our Manager or its affiliates will dedicate to the management of our business and our Manager and its affiliates may have conflicts in allocating its time, resources and services among our business and any other investment vehicles and accounts our Manager or its affiliates or their respective personnel may manage. Each of our officers is also an employee or principal of MRECS or its affiliates, who has now or may be expected to have significant responsibilities for other investment vehicles, whether focused on credit or equity investments, currently or in the future managed by our executive officers, our Manager or its affiliates. Consequently, we may not receive the level of support and assistance that we otherwise might receive if we were internally managed. Our Manager and its affiliates are not restricted from entering into other investment advisory relationships or from engaging in other business activities from time to time.
Our Manager manages our loan portfolio pursuant to very broad investment guidelines and is not required to seek the approval of our Board for investment decisions where certain criteria are met, which may result in riskier
decisions that could cause investment returns to be substantially below expectations including the potential for material losses.
Our Manager is authorized to follow very broad investment guidelines that provide it with broad discretion over investment, financing, asset allocation and hedging decisions. Our Board will periodically review our investment guidelines and our loan and investment portfolio but will not, and will not be required to, review and approve in advance all of our proposed loans and investments or the Manager’s financing, asset allocation or hedging decisions. In addition, in conducting periodic reviews, our directors may rely primarily on information provided to them by our Manager or its affiliates. Subject to maintaining our REIT qualification and our exclusion from regulation under the 1940 Act, our Manager has significant latitude within the broad investment guidelines in determining the types of loans and investments it makes for us, and how such loans and investments are financing or hedged, which could result in investment returns that are substantially below expectations or that result in losses, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We may compete with other investment vehicles managed by our Sponsor or its affiliates, including our Manager, or have other conflicts of interest with our Sponsor or its affiliates, including our Manager, which may result in decisions that are not in the best interests of our stockholders.
From time to time, we may compete with other investment vehicles managed by our Sponsor or its affiliates, including our Manager, or our interests may conflict with those of our Sponsor or its affiliates including our Manager. Representatives of our Sponsor also serve on our Board. Certain of our pre-IPO stockholders have representatives on our Board. In addition, certain of our pre-IPO stockholders have an ownership position in our Manager. There can be no assurance that we will be able to adopt policies and procedures that adequately identify and address all of the conflicts of interest that may arise. Some examples of potential conflicts include:
•Broad and Wide-Ranging Activities. Our Sponsor and its affiliates, including our Manager, engage in a broad spectrum of activities in the real estate industry. One or more of our Sponsor’s affiliates may have an investment strategy similar to ours, and therefore may engage in competing activities with us or otherwise may have business interests that conflict with ours.
•Allocation of Investment Opportunities. Certain inherent conflicts of interest arise from the fact that our Sponsor, and its affiliates, including our Manager, will provide investment management and other services both to us and other investment vehicles or accounts they manage. Our Sponsor and its affiliates, including our Manager, are not restricted from entering into other investment advisory relationships or from engaging in other business activities from time to time. Our Sponsor and its affiliates, including our Manager, are not legally prohibited from forming or managing investment vehicles or accounts that would have an investment strategy that is substantially similar to our core investment strategy and, regardless, the existing and future investment vehicles or accounts managed by our Sponsor or its affiliates may from time to time invest in assets that overlap with our target assets. If any such situation arises, investment opportunities may be allocated between us and the other investment vehicles or accounts in a manner that may result in fewer investment opportunities being allocated to us than would have otherwise been the case. Our Sponsor and its affiliates may also give advice to other sponsored vehicles or accounts that differs from advice given to us by our Manager even if the underlying investment objectives are similar. While our Sponsor and its affiliates will seek to manage potential conflicts of interest in a fair and equitable manner, the strategies employed by our Sponsor and its affiliates in managing other sponsored vehicles or accounts could conflict with the strategies employed by our Manager in managing our business. The business decisions of our Sponsor and its other affiliates with respect to other investment vehicles or accounts may adversely affect the marketability, exit strategy, prices and availability of the assets in which we invest. Conversely, participation in specific investment opportunities may be appropriate, at times, for both us and other investment vehicles or accounts sponsored by our Sponsor or its affiliates, which may result in us not participating in certain investment opportunities in which we would have otherwise participated. Additionally, we are not precluded from entering into other third-party joint ventures or additional co- investment arrangements that have the effect of diluting our stockholders' beneficial interest in certain of our investments. Consequently, a stockholder’s indirect economic interest in each investment, expressed as a percentage of the overall economic interests in the investments, may vary substantially. Economically, certain investors may have more or less opportunity to profit or exposure to losses with respect to each investment.
•Variation in Financial and Other Benefits. A conflict of interest could arise where the financial or other benefits available to our Manager or its affiliates (including our pre-IPO stockholders who hold an ownership position in our Manager) differ among the accounts, clients, entities, funds and/or investment companies, including us, which we refer to collectively as Clients, that they manage. If the amount or structure of the base management fee, incentive fee and/or other fees payable to our Sponsor or its affiliates differs among Clients, or if our Sponsor establishes management entities other than our Manager that do not include similar third-party ownership or participation interests, our Sponsor or its affiliates might be motivated to prioritize more lucrative Clients over others, including us. Similarly, the desire to maintain assets under management or to enhance our Sponsor’s performance record or to derive other rewards, financial or otherwise, could cause our Sponsor or its affiliates to afford preferential treatment to those Clients that could most significantly benefit our Sponsor, which may not include us. Our Sponsor or its affiliates may, for example, have an incentive to allocate favorable or limited opportunity investments or structure the timing of investments to favor those Clients. Additionally, our Sponsor or its affiliates or their respective personnel might be motivated to favor Clients in which it or they have the most significant direct or indirect ownership interest, which might consist of Clients other than us.
•Service Providers. Our service providers (including lenders, brokers, attorneys, and investment banking firms) may be sources of investment opportunities, counterparties therein or advisors with respect to those investment opportunities. This may influence our Manager in deciding whether to select a particular service provider. In addition, some service providers may be unavailable to us as a result of conflicts relating to other businesses of our Sponsor or its affiliates, including our Manager, and their respective transactions.
•Material, Non-Public Information. We, directly or through our Manager and its affiliates, may come into possession of material non-public information with respect to an issuer or borrower in which we have invested or may invest. Should this occur, our Manager may be restricted from buying or selling securities, derivatives or loans of the issuer or borrower on our behalf until such time as the information becomes public or is no longer deemed material. Disclosure of information to the personnel responsible for management of our business may be on a need-to-know basis only, and we may not be free to act upon any of that information. Therefore, we and/or our Manager may not have access to material non-public information in the possession of our Sponsor or its other affiliates which might be relevant to an investment decision to be made by our Manager on our behalf, and our Manager may initiate a transaction or purchase or sell an investment which, if the information had been known to it, may not have been undertaken. Due to these restrictions, our Manager may not be able to initiate a transaction on our behalf that it otherwise might have initiated and may not be able to purchase or sell an investment that it otherwise might have purchased or sold, which could negatively affect us.
•Possible Future Activities. Our Sponsor and its affiliates, including our Manager, may expand the range of services that they provide over time. Except as and to the extent expressly provided in the Management Agreement and as they may expressly agree in writing, our Sponsor and its affiliates will not be restricted in the scope of their business or in the performance of any services (whether now offered or undertaken in the future) even if these activities could give rise to conflicts of interest, and whether or not the conflicts are specifically described herein.
•Transactions with Other Vehicles or Accounts Managed by our Sponsor or its Affiliates. Though not currently expected, from time to time, we may enter into transactions with other vehicles or accounts managed by our Sponsor or its affiliates. These transactions will be conducted in accordance with the Management Agreement (including the requirement that the transactions be approved by us) and applicable laws and regulations
The structure of our Manager’s fees may not create effective incentives and may cause our Manager to make riskier investments.
We will pay our Manager base management fees irrespective of the performance of our investments. That may reduce our Manager’s incentive to devote sufficient effort to seeking attractive investment opportunities as compared to an arrangement in which all fees are performance-based. In addition, because the base management fees are based upon stockholders’ equity, our Manager may be incentivized to increase our equity even if doing so would dilute
potential returns for our existing stockholders. On the other hand, our Manager is also entitled to receive incentive fees based on our quarterly performance. These incentive fees may lead our Manager to place undue emphasis on the maximization of short-term net income at the expense of effective risk management in order to achieve higher incentive fees (for example, by causing our Manager to underwrite investments that are generally riskier and more speculative and/or by being unduly aggressive in deploying capital such that we fail to maintain adequate liquidity). This could result in increased risk to our loan portfolio. Accordingly, the structure of our Manager’s fees may fail to promote effective alignment of interests between our Manager and us at any given time, which could materially and adversely affect us.
Termination of the Management Agreement would be costly.
Termination of the Management Agreement would be costly. If we default in the performance or observance of any material term, condition or covenant contained in the Management Agreement and our Manager terminates the Management Agreement, the Management Agreement provides that we will pay our Manager a termination fee equal to three times the sum of the average annual base management fee and the average annual incentive fee earned during the 24-month period immediately preceding the date of termination, calculated as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter prior to the date of termination.
Our Manager’s liability is limited under the Management Agreement and we have agreed to indemnify our Manager against certain liabilities.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, our Manager will not assume any responsibility other than to render the services called for thereunder and will not be responsible for any action of our Board in following or declining to follow its advice or recommendations. Under the terms of the Management Agreement, our Manager, its officers, stockholders, members, managers, directors, employees, consultants and personnel and any person controlling or controlled by our Manager and any of those person’s officers, stockholders, members, managers, directors, employees, consultants and personnel and any person providing sub-advisory services to our Manager will not be liable to us, any subsidiary of ours, our Board, our stockholders or any subsidiary’s stockholders, members or partners for acts or omissions (including market movements or trade errors that may result from ordinary negligence, such as errors in the investment decision-making process or in the trade process) performed in accordance with and pursuant to the Management Agreement, except because of acts or omissions constituting fraud or gross negligence in the performance of our Manager’s duties under the Management Agreement or our Manager’s material breach of the Management Agreement, as determined by a judgment at first instance of a court of competent jurisdiction. We have agreed to indemnify our Manager, its officers, stockholders, members, managers, directors, employees, consultants, personnel, any person controlling or controlled by our Manager and any of those person’s officers, stockholders, members, managers, directors, employees, consultants and personnel and any person providing sub-advisory services to our Manager with respect to all expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims arising from acts or omissions of our Manager or such person made in good faith in the performance of our Manager’s duties under the Management Agreement and not constituting fraud or gross negligence in the performance of our Manager’s duties under the Management Agreement. As a result, we could experience poor performance or losses for which our Manager would not be liable.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
We have not established a minimum dividend payment level, and we may be unable to generate sufficient cash flows from our operations to pay dividends to our stockholders at any time in the future at a particular level, or at all, which could materially and adversely affect us.
We are generally required to annually distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, for us to qualify as a REIT, which requirement we currently intend to satisfy through quarterly distributions of all or substantially all of our REIT taxable income in such year, subject to certain adjustments. Our ability to pay dividends may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including due to the risk factors described in this report. Any distributions we make to our stockholders will be at the discretion of our Board and will depend upon our historical and anticipated REIT taxable income, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, financing agreements (including covenants), maintenance of our REIT qualification, our exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act, applicable provisions of
the MGCL and such other factors as our Board deems relevant. We believe that a change in any one of the following factors could adversely impair our ability to pay dividends to our stockholders:
•our ability to make investments that generate attractive risk-adjusted returns;
•margin calls, obligations to accelerate repayment of financings or other expenses that reduce our cash flow;
•defaults in our portfolio or decreases in the value of our portfolio
•the fact that anticipated operating expense levels may not prove accurate, as actual results may vary from estimates.
As a result, no assurance can be given that we will be able to pay dividends to our stockholders at any time in the future or that the level of any distributions we do make to our stockholders will achieve our targeted yield or increase or even be maintained over time, any of which could materially and adversely affect us.
Common stock eligible for future sale may have adverse effects on the market price of our common stock.
The sale of substantial amounts of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of shares of our common stock. In addition, our common stock ownership is fairly concentrated which somewhat limits the liquidity of the market of our stock. We can give no assurance that there will be greater liquidity in the trading market for our common stock in the future. If there is a limited liquidity in the trading market for our common stock, a sale of a large number of shares or four common stock could be adversely disruptive to the market price of our common stock. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate.
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 registering the resale of 16,058,983 shares of our common stock held by certain pre-initial public offering stockholders. These shares are freely tradable without compliance with Rule 144.
We have also filed a registration statement on Form S-8 registering shares of our common stock subject to issuance under the 2016 Plan. Shares covered by this registration statement are eligible for sale in the public market and subject to the Rule 144 limitations applicable to affiliates and vesting of such shares, as applicable. The issuance of these shares and their subsequent sale could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
The market price of shares of our common stock could drop significantly if the holders of these restricted shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to raise additional funds through future offerings of shares of our common stock or other equity securities.
Risks Related to Our Organization and Structure
Avoiding the need to register under the 1940 Act imposes significant limits on our operations. Your investment return may be reduced if we are required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act.
We intend to conduct our operations so that neither we nor any of our subsidiaries are required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act. Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act defines an investment company as any issuer that is, or holds itself out as being, engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. Section 3(a)(1)(C) of the 1940 Act defines an investment company as any issuer that is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities, and owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of such issuer’s total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis, which we refer to as the 40% test. Excluded from the term “investment securities,” among other things, are U.S. government securities and securities issued by majority-owned subsidiaries that are not themselves investment companies and are not relying on the exception from the definition of “investment company” set forth in Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act.
We are organized as a holding company and conduct our businesses primarily through our subsidiaries. We intend to conduct our operations so that we comply with the 40% test. The securities issued by any wholly-owned or
majority-owned subsidiaries that we may form in the future that are excepted from the definition of “investment company” based on Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act, together with any other investment securities we may own, may not have a value in excess of 40% of the value of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. We will monitor our holdings to ensure continuing and ongoing compliance with this test. In addition, we believe that we will not be considered an investment company under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act because we will not engage primarily or hold ourselves out as being engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. Rather, through our subsidiaries, we are primarily engaged in non-investment company businesses related to real estate.
The determination of whether an entity is a majority-owned subsidiary of our company is made by us. The 1940 Act defines a majority-owned subsidiary of a person as a company 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of which are owned by such person, or by another company which is a majority-owned subsidiary of such person. The 1940 Act further defines voting securities as any security presently entitling the owner or holder thereof to vote for the election of directors of a company. Generally, we treat companies in which we own at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities as majority-owned subsidiaries for purposes of the 40% test. We have not requested that the SEC or its staff approve our treatment of any company as a majority-owned subsidiary, and neither the SEC nor its staff has done so. If the SEC or its staff were to disagree with our treatment of one or more companies as majority-owned subsidiaries, we would need to adjust our strategy and our assets in order to continue to pass the 40% test. Any such adjustment in our strategy or assets could have a material adverse effect on us.
We expect certain of our subsidiaries to qualify for the exclusion from the definition of “investment company” pursuant to Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act, which is available for certain entities “primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate.” To qualify for the exclusion pursuant to Section 3(c)(5)(C), based on positions set forth by the staff of the SEC, each such subsidiary generally is required to hold (i) at least 55% of its assets in qualifying real estate assets and (ii) at least 80% of its assets in qualifying real estate assets and real estate-related assets. For our majority- or wholly-owned subsidiaries that will maintain this exclusion or another exclusion or exception under the 1940 Act (other than Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) thereof), our interests in these subsidiaries will not constitute “investment securities.” We expect each of our subsidiaries relying on Section 3(c)(5)(C) to rely on guidance published by the SEC staff or on our analyses of guidance published with respect to other types of assets to determine which assets are qualifying real estate assets and real estate-related assets.
Specifically, based on certain no-action letters and other guidance issued by the SEC staff, we expect to treat certain mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, subordinated mortgage interests and certain other assets that represent an actual interest in CRE or are a loan or lien fully secured by CRE as qualifying real estate assets. On the other hand, we expect to treat certain other types of mortgages, securities of REITs and certain other indirect interests in CRE as real estate-related assets. The SEC staff has not, however, published guidance with respect to the treatment of some of these assets under Section 3(c)(5)(C). To the extent the SEC staff publishes new or different guidance with respect to these matters, we may be required to adjust our strategy or assets accordingly. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain this exclusion from registration for certain of our subsidiaries. In addition, we may be limited in our ability to make certain investments, and these limitations could result in a subsidiary holding assets we might wish to sell or selling assets we might wish to hold.
We may hold a portion of our investments through partnerships, joint ventures, securitization vehicles or other entities with third-party investors. In connection with any such investment, and consistent with no-action letters and other guidance issued by the SEC staff addressing the classification of such investments for 1940 Act purposes, we generally intend to be active in the management and operation of any such entity and have the right to approve major decisions. We will not participate in joint ventures or similar arrangements in which we do not have or share control to the extent that we believe such participation would potentially threaten our ability to conduct our operations so that we comply with the 40% test or would otherwise potentially render any of our subsidiaries seeking to rely on Section 3(c)(5)(C) unable to rely on such exclusion.
It is possible that some of our subsidiaries may seek to rely on the 1940 Act exemption provided to certain structured financing vehicles by Rule 3a-7. Any such subsidiary would need to be structured to comply with any guidance that may be issued by the Division of Investment Management of the SEC on the restrictions contained in Rule 3a-7. In certain circumstances, compliance with Rule 3a-7 may require, among other things, that the indenture governing the subsidiary include limitations on the types of assets the subsidiary may sell or acquire out of the proceeds
of assets that mature, are refinanced or otherwise sold, on the period of time during which such transactions may occur, and on the level of transactions that may occur. We expect that the aggregate value of our interests in subsidiaries that may in the future seek to rely on Rule 3a-7, if any, will comprise less than 20% of our total assets on an unconsolidated basis.
We intend to conduct our operations so that we will not be deemed to be an investment company. However, if we were deemed to be an investment company, restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act, including limitations on our capital structure and our ability to transact with affiliates, could make it impractical for us to continue our business as contemplated and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Any change in the interpretive positions of the SEC or its staff with respect to Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act could have a material adverse effect on us.
In general, the SEC staff takes the position that a qualifying real estate asset is an asset that represents an actual interest in real estate or is a loan or lien fully secured by real estate. The SEC staff also takes the position that an asset that can be viewed as being the functional equivalent of, and provide its holder with the same economic experience as, a direct investment in real estate (or in a loan or lien fully secured by real estate) may be considered to be a qualifying real estate asset for purposes of Section 3(c)(5)(C). On the other hand, the SEC staff generally takes the position that an asset is not a qualifying real estate asset for purposes of Section 3(c)(5)(C) if it is an interest in the nature of a security in another person engaged in the real estate business (e.g., fractionalized interests in individual or pooled mortgages).
The interpretive positions of the SEC or its staff may change. For example, on August 31, 2011, the SEC issued a concept release and request for comments regarding the exclusion provided by Section 3(c)(5)(C) (Release No. IC-29778) in which it contemplated the possibility of issuing new rules or providing new interpretations of the exemption that might, among other things, define the phrase “liens on and other interests in real estate” or consider sources of income in determining a company’s “primary business.” To the extent the SEC staff publishes new or different guidance with respect to these matters, we may be required to adjust our strategy or assets accordingly. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain this exclusion from registration for certain of our subsidiaries. In addition, we may be limited in our ability to make certain investments, and these limitations could result in a subsidiary holding assets we might wish to sell or selling assets we might wish to hold.
As a consequence of our seeking to avoid the need to register under the 1940 Act on an ongoing basis, we and/or our subsidiaries may be restricted from making certain investments or may structure investments in a manner that would be less advantageous to us than would be the case in the absence of such requirements. For example, these restrictions will limit the ability of our subsidiaries to invest directly in CMBS that represent less than the entire ownership in a pool of mortgage loans, debt and equity tranches of securitizations and certain asset-backed securities, and equity interests in real estate companies or in assets not related to real estate. Further, the mortgage-related investments that we acquire are limited by the provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. We also may be required at times to adopt less efficient methods of financing certain of our mortgage-related investments, and we may be precluded from acquiring certain types of mortgage-related investments. Additionally, Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act prohibits us from issuing redeemable securities. If we fail to qualify for an exemption from registration as an investment company under the 1940 Act or an exclusion from the definition of an investment company, our ability to use leverage would be substantially reduced, and we would not be able to conduct our business as described in this report.
No assurance can be given that the SEC staff will concur with our classification of our or our subsidiaries’ assets or that the SEC staff will not, in the future, issue further guidance that may require us to reclassify those assets for purposes of qualifying for an exclusion or exemption from registration under the 1940 Act. To the extent that the SEC staff provides more specific guidance regarding any of the matters bearing upon the definition of “investment company” and the exclusions or exceptions to that definition, we may be required to adjust our investment strategies accordingly.
Additional guidance from the SEC staff could provide additional flexibility to us, or it could further inhibit our ability to pursue the investment strategies we have chosen. If the SEC or its staff take a position contrary to our view with respect to the characterization of any of the assets or securities we invest in, we may be deemed an unregistered
investment company. Therefore, in order not to be required to register as an investment company, we may need to dispose of a significant portion of our assets or securities or acquire significant other additional assets that may have lower returns than our expected portfolio, or we may need to modify our business plan to register as an investment company, which would result in significantly increased operating expenses and would likely entail significantly reducing our indebtedness, which could also require us to sell a significant portion of our assets, which would likely reduce our profitability. We cannot assure you that we would be able to complete these dispositions or acquisitions of assets, or deleveraging, on favorable terms, or at all. Consequently, any modification of our business plan could have a material adverse effect on us.
There can be no assurance that we and our subsidiaries will be able to successfully avoid operating as an unregistered investment company. If the SEC determined that we were an unregistered investment company, there would be a risk that we would be subject to monetary penalties and injunctive relief in an action brought by the SEC, that we would potentially be unable to enforce contracts with third parties and that third parties could seek to obtain rescission of transactions undertaken during the period for which it was established that we were an unregistered investment company. Any of these results would have a material adverse effect on us. Since we will not be subject to the 1940 Act, we will not be subject to its substantive provisions, including but not limited to, provisions requiring diversification of investments, limiting leverage and restricting investments in illiquid assets.
Rapid changes in the values of our other real estate-related investments may make it more difficult for us to maintain our qualification as a REIT or exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act.
If the market value or income potential of real estate-related investments declines as a result of increased interest rates, prepayment rates or other factors, we may need to increase our real estate investments and income and/or liquidate our non-qualifying assets in order to maintain our REIT qualification or exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act. If the decline in real estate asset values and/or income occurs quickly, this may be especially difficult to accomplish. This difficulty may be exacerbated by the illiquid nature of any non-qualifying assets that we may own. We may have to make investment decisions that we otherwise would not make absent the REIT and 1940 Act considerations, which could materially and adversely affect us.
Our rights and the rights of our stockholders to recover on claims against our directors and officers are limited, which could reduce your and our recovery against them if they negligently cause us to incur losses.
Maryland law permits us to include in our charter a provision limiting the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment and which is material to the cause of action. Our charter contains a provision which eliminates directors’ and officers’ liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
In addition our charter obligates us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to: (a) any present or former director or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or (b) any individual who, while a director or officer of the Company and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.
We also are permitted to purchase and maintain insurance or provide similar protection on behalf of any directors, officers, employees and agents, including our Manager and its affiliates, against any liability asserted which was incurred in any such capacity with us or arising out of that status. This may result in us having to expend significant funds, which will reduce the available cash for distribution to our stockholders.
Our charter contains provisions that are designed to reduce or eliminate duties of our non-employee directors with respect to corporate opportunities and competitive activities.
Our charter contains provisions designed to reduce or eliminate duties of our non-employee directors and any person our non-employee directors control to refrain from competing with us or to present to us business opportunities that otherwise may exist in the absence of such charter provisions. Under our charter, our non-employee directors or their affiliates will not be obligated to present to us opportunities unless those opportunities are expressly offered to such person in his or her capacity as a director of our company and those persons will be able to engage in competing activities without any restriction imposed as a result of their status as directors of our company.
Our charter contains provisions that make removal of our directors difficult, which could make it difficult for our stockholders to effect changes to our management or ownership.
Our charter provides that, subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred stock to elect or remove one or more directors, directors may be removed from office with or without cause, but only upon the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors; provided that consent of the Almanac Realty Investors business unit of NB Alternatives Advisor LLC (“Almanac”) shall also be required to remove any director that is a designee of Almanac. Vacancies on our Board, whether resulting from an increase in the number of directors or otherwise, will be filled by a majority vote of the remaining directors; provided that for so long as Almanac directly or indirectly owns 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock and for so long as Fuyou Investment Management Limited (“Fuyou”) is an affiliate of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (“Ping An”) and Fuyou, together with other affiliates of Ping An, owns 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock, respectively, if a vacancy on our Board occurs at any time with respect to any director that was designated for nomination by either Almanac or Fuyou, then a new designee of Almanac or Fuyou, as the case may be, will be nominated for election to serve, and will be elected, as a new director in accordance with our organizational documents. These requirements make it more difficult to change our management by removing and replacing directors and may prevent a change in control of the Company that is in the best interests of our stockholders.
Our charter does not permit any person to own more than (a) 9.6%, in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of our common stock, or (b) 9.6% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of our common stock, and any attempt to acquire shares of our common stock or any of our common stock in excess of these ownership limits will not be effective without a prior exemption by our Board.
For us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% of the value of our outstanding stock may be owned directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals during the last half of a taxable year. “Individuals” for this purpose include natural persons, private foundations, some employee benefit plans and trusts, and some charitable trusts. For the purpose of preserving our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, our charter prohibits beneficial or constructive ownership by any person of more than a certain percentage, currently 9.6%, in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of our common stock or more than a certain percentage, currently 9.6%, in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of our common stock.
The constructive ownership rules are complex and may cause shares of the outstanding common stock owned by a group of related individuals or entities to be deemed to be constructively owned by another individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of less than 9.6% of our outstanding shares of common stock or our common stock by an individual or entity could cause another individual or entity to own constructively in excess of 9.6% of our outstanding shares of common stock or our common stock, respectively, and thus violate one of the ownership limits. Any attempt to own or transfer shares of our common stock in violation of the ownership limits without the consent of our Board will result in either (a) the transfer of the shares in question to a trust for the exclusive benefit of a charitable beneficiary, or (b) the transfer being void, with the ultimate determination depending on the circumstances surrounding the transfer in question. In either case, the purported transferee shall acquire no rights in any shares purported to be transferred in excess of the ownership limits.
The ownership limits may have the effect of precluding a change in control of us by a third-party, even if the change in control would be in the best interests of our stockholders or would result in receipt of a premium to the price of shares of our common stock (and even if the change in control would not reasonably jeopardize our REIT status). The exemptions to the ownership limit granted to date may limit our Board’s power to increase the ownership limit or grant further exemptions in the future.
Our bylaws designate certain Maryland courts as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.
Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the following: any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, other than actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws; and any Internal Corporate Claim, as such term is defined in the MGCL, or any successor provision thereof, including, without limitation (i) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any of our present or former directors, officers or other employees to the corporation or to our stockholders; (ii) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our present or former directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL or our charter or bylaws; or (iii) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our present or former directors, officers or other employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that the stockholder believes is favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our bylaws inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving these matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect us.
In addition, our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any claim arising under the Securities Act. Although our bylaws contain the choice of forum provisions described above, it is possible that a court could rule that such provisions are inapplicable for a particular claim or action or that such provisions are unenforceable. For example, under the Securities Act, federal courts have concurrent jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act, and investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. In addition, the exclusive forum provisions described above do not apply to any actions brought under the Exchange Act.
Some provisions of our charter and bylaws and Maryland law may delay, deter or prevent takeover attempts, which may limit the opportunity of our stockholders to sell their shares at a favorable price.
Some of the provisions of Maryland law and our charter and bylaws discussed below could make it more difficult for a third-party to acquire us, even if doing so might be beneficial to our stockholders by providing them with the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium to the then current market price.
Issuance of Stock Without Stockholder Approval. Our charter authorizes our Board, without stockholder approval, to authorize the issuance of up to 500,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which 125 shares are classified as 12.5% Series A Redeemable Cumulative Preferred Stock. Our charter authorizes a majority of our entire Board, without stockholder approval, to amend our charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue. In addition, our Board, without stockholder approval, may reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock and may set the preferences, conversions or other rights, voting powers and other terms of the classified or reclassified shares. The issuance of any preferred stock could materially and adversely affect the rights of holders of our common stock and, therefore, could reduce the market price of our common stock. In addition, specific rights granted to future holders of our preferred stock could be used to restrict our ability to merge with, or sell assets to, a third party. The power of our Board to cause us to issue preferred stock could, in certain circumstances, make it more difficult, delay, deter, prevent or make it more costly to acquire or effect a change in control that might involve a premium price for shares of our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.
Advance Notice Bylaw. Our bylaws contain advance notice procedures for the introduction by a stockholder of new business by a stockholder. These provisions could, in certain circumstances, discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for you and other stockholders to elect stockholder-nominated directors and to propose and, consequently, approve stockholder proposals opposed by management.
Certain Provisions of Maryland Law. Certain provisions of the MGCL may have the effect of inhibiting a third-party from acquiring us or of impeding a change of control under circumstances that otherwise could provide our stockholders with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price of the shares, including:
•“business combination” provisions that, subject to limitations, prohibit certain business combinations between an “interested stockholder” (defined generally as any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of our outstanding shares of voting stock or an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding stock of the corporation) or an affiliate of any interested stockholder and us for five years after the most recent date on which the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, and thereafter imposes two super-majority stockholder voting requirements on these combinations; and
•“control share” provisions that provide that holders of “control shares” of our company (defined as voting shares of stock that, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned or controlled by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise one of three increasing ranges of voting power in electing directors) acquired in a “control share acquisition” (defined as the direct or indirect acquisition of issued and outstanding “control shares,” subject to certain exceptions) have no voting rights except to the extent approved by stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding all interested shares.
Pursuant to the Maryland Business Combination Act, our Board adopted a resolution exempting any business combination with any other person, provided that the business combination is first approved by the Board. Consequently, the five-year prohibition and the supermajority vote requirements do not apply to business combinations between us and any person, provided that the business combination is first approved by the Board. As a result, any person may be able to enter into business combinations with us that may not be in the best interest of our stockholders, without compliance with the supermajority vote requirements and the other provisions of the statute.
As permitted by the MGCL, our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions of our stock. There can be no assurance that this provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.
Additionally, Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL permits our Board, without stockholder approval and regardless of what currently is provided in our charter or bylaws, to implement certain takeover defenses, such as a classified board, some of which we do not have.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Risks
Failure to maintain our qualification as a REIT would materially and adversely affect us and the market price of our common stock.
We have elected to be taxed as a REIT commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2015. We believe that we have been organized and have operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and that our intended manner of operation will enable us to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. We have not requested and do not plan to request a ruling from the IRS that we qualify as a REIT and cannot assure you that we so qualify. If we fail to qualify as a REIT or lose our REIT qualification, we will face serious tax consequences that would substantially reduce the funds available for distribution to our stockholders for each of the years involved because:
•we would not be allowed a deduction for distributions to our stockholders in computing our REIT taxable income and would be subject to regular U.S. federal corporate income tax;
•we also could be subject to increased state and local taxes; and
•unless we are entitled to relief under applicable statutory provisions, we could not elect to be taxed as a REIT for four taxable years following the year during which we were disqualified.
Any such corporate tax liability could be substantial and would reduce our cash available for, among other things, our operations and distributions to our stockholders. In addition, if we fail to maintain our qualification as a REIT, we will not be required to pay dividends to our stockholders. As a result of all these factors, our failure to maintain our qualification as a REIT also could impair our ability to expand our business and raise capital, and would materially and adversely affect us and the market price of our common stock. Furthermore, we have from time to time owned direct or indirect interests in one or more entities that elected to be taxed as REITs under the Code. We refer to each such entity as a Subsidiary REIT. If a Subsidiary REIT failed to qualify as a REIT, then (i) the Subsidiary REIT would face the tax consequences described above, and (ii) the Subsidiary REIT’s failure to qualify as a REIT could have an adverse effect on our ability to comply with the REIT income and asset tests, and thus could impair our ability to qualify as a REIT unless we could avail ourselves of certain relief provisions.
Even if we remain qualified as a REIT, we may face other tax liabilities that reduce our cash flow, which could materially and adversely affect us.
Even if we maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we may be subject to some federal, state and local income, property and excise taxes on our income or property, including taxes on any undistributed income, tax on income from some activities conducted as a result of a foreclosure and, in certain cases, a 100% penalty tax, in the event we sell property as a dealer. In addition, any TRSs that we own will be subject to tax as regular corporations in the jurisdictions in which they operate.
Complying with REIT requirements may force us to liquidate, restructure or forego otherwise attractive investments.
To qualify as a REIT, we must ensure that we meet the REIT gross income tests annually and that, at the end of each calendar quarter, at least 75% of the value of our assets consists of cash, cash items, government securities, stock in REITs and other qualifying real estate assets, including certain mortgage loans and certain kinds of MBS and debt instruments of publicly offered REITs. The remainder of our investments in securities (other than government securities and REIT qualified real estate assets) 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 (other than government securities and securities that are qualifying real estate assets) can consist of the securities of any one issuer, and no more than 20% of the value of our total securities can be represented by securities of one or more TRSs. If we fail to comply with these requirements at the end of any calendar quarter, we must correct the failure within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter or qualify for certain statutory relief provisions to avoid losing our REIT qualification and suffering adverse tax consequences. As a result, we may be required to liquidate from our portfolio, or contribute to a TRS, otherwise attractive investments, and may be unable to pursue investments that would be otherwise advantageous to us in order
to satisfy the income or asset requirements for qualifying as a REIT. These actions could have the effect of reducing our income and amounts available for distribution to our stockholders.
Liquidation of assets may jeopardize our REIT qualification or create additional tax liability for us.
To continue to qualify as a REIT, we must comply with requirements regarding our assets and our sources of income. If we are compelled to liquidate our investments to repay obligations to our lenders, we may be unable to comply with these requirements, ultimately jeopardizing our qualification as a REIT, or we may be subject to a 100% tax on any resultant gain if we sell assets that are treated as dealer property or inventory.
The failure of mortgage loans or CMBS subject to a repurchase agreement or a mezzanine loan to qualify as real estate assets would adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT.
When we enter into repurchase agreements, we will nominally sell certain of our assets to a counterparty and simultaneously enter into an agreement to repurchase the sold assets. We believe that we will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as the owner of the assets that are the subject of any of these agreements notwithstanding that these agreements may transfer record ownership of the assets to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. It is possible, however, that the IRS could assert that we did not own the assets during the term of the repurchase agreement, in which case we could fail to qualify as a REIT.
In addition, we may acquire and originate mezzanine loans, which are loans secured by equity interests in a partnership or limited liability company that directly or indirectly owns real property. In Revenue Procedure 2003-65, the IRS provided a safe harbor pursuant to which a mezzanine loan, if it meets each of the requirements, will be treated by the IRS as a real estate asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests, and interest derived from the mezzanine loan will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the REIT 75% gross income test. Although Revenue Procedure 2003-65 provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. We may treat certain mezzanine loans that do not meet all of the requirements for reliance on this safe harbor as real estate assets giving rise to qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the REIT asset and income requirements, or otherwise not adversely affecting our qualification as a REIT. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge the tax treatment of these mezzanine loans, and if such a challenge were sustained, we could in certain circumstances be required to pay a penalty tax or fail to qualify as a REIT.
We may be required to report REIT taxable income for certain investments in excess of the economic income we ultimately realize from them.
We may acquire debt instruments in the secondary market for less than their face amount. The amount of the discount will generally be treated as “market discount” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accrued market discount is reported as income when, and to the extent that, any payment of principal of the debt instrument is made, unless we elect to include accrued market discount in income as it accrues. Principal payments on certain loans are made monthly, and consequently accrued market discount may have to be included in income each month as if the debt instrument were assured of ultimately being collected in full. If we collect less on the debt instrument than our purchase price plus the market discount we previously reported as income, we may not be able to benefit from any offsetting loss deductions.
In addition, we may acquire distressed debt investments, or loans that become “non-performing” following our acquisition thereof, that are subsequently modified by agreement with the borrower. If the amendments to the outstanding debt are “significant modifications” under applicable Treasury Regulations, the modified debt may be considered to have been reissued to us at a gain in a debt-for-debt exchange with the borrower. In that event, we may be required to recognize taxable gain to the extent the principal amount of the modified debt exceeds our adjusted tax basis in the unmodified debt, even if the value of the debt or the payment expectations have not changed.
Moreover, some of the CMBS that we may acquire may have been issued with original issue discount, or OID. We will be required to report such OID based on a constant yield method and will be taxed based on the assumption that all future projected payments due on such CMBS will be made. If such CMBS turns out not to be fully collectible, an offsetting loss deduction will become available only in the later year that uncollectibility is provable.
Finally, in the event that any debt instrument that we acquire is delinquent as to mandatory principal and interest payments, or in the event payments with respect to a particular debt instrument are not made when due, we may nonetheless be required to continue to recognize the unpaid interest as REIT taxable income as it accrues, despite doubt as to its ultimate collectability. We may also be required to accrue interest income with respect to subordinate MBS at its stated rate regardless of whether corresponding cash payments are received or are ultimately collectable. In each case, while an offsetting loss deduction generally should be available to us when the interest was determined to be uncollectible, the utility of that deduction could depend on our having REIT taxable income in that later year or thereafter.
The “taxable mortgage pool” rules may increase the taxes that we or our stockholders may incur, and may limit the manner in which we effect future securitizations.
Securitizations by us or our subsidiaries could result in the creation of taxable mortgage pools, or TMPs, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, we could have “excess inclusion income.” Certain categories of stockholders, such as non-U.S. stockholders eligible for treaty or other benefits, stockholders with net operating losses, and certain tax-exempt stockholders that are subject to unrelated business income tax, could be subject to increased taxes on a portion of their dividend income from us that is attributable to any excess inclusion income. In addition, to the extent that our common stock is owned by tax-exempt “disqualified organizations,” such as certain government-related entities and charitable remainder trusts that are not subject to tax on unrelated business taxable income, or UBTI, we may incur a corporate level tax on a portion of any excess inclusion income. Moreover, we could face limitations in selling equity interests in these securitizations to outside investors, or selling any debt securities issued in connection with these securitizations that might be considered to be equity interests for tax purposes. These limitations may prevent us from using certain techniques to maximize our returns from securitization transactions.
To maintain our REIT status, we may be forced to raise capital during unfavorable market conditions or pay dividends in the form of taxable stock distributions, and the unavailability of capital on favorable terms at the desired times, or at all, may cause us to curtail our investment activities and/or to dispose of assets at inopportune times, which could materially and adversely affect us.
To qualify as a REIT, we generally must distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income each year (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding net capital gains), and we will be subject to regular corporate income taxes to the extent that we distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and including net capital gains) each year. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which distributions we pay in any calendar year are less than the sum of 85% of our ordinary income, 95% of our net capital gains, and 100% of our undistributed income from prior years. To maintain our REIT status and avoid the payment of federal income and excise taxes, we may need to raise capital to meet the REIT distribution requirements, even if the then-prevailing market conditions are not favorable for raising capital. These capital needs could result from differences in timing between the actual receipt of income and inclusion of income for federal income tax purposes. For example, we may be required to accrue interest and discount income on mortgage loans, MBS, and other types of debt securities or interests in debt securities before we receive any payments of interest or principal on the assets. Our access to third-party sources of capital depends on a number of factors, including the market’s perception of our growth potential, our current and potential leverage, our outstanding equity on an actual and fully diluted basis and our current and potential future results of operations, liquidity, and financial condition. We cannot assure you that we will have access to capital on favorable terms at the desired times, or at all, which may cause us to curtail our investment activities and/or to dispose of assets at inopportune times, which could materially and adversely affect us. Alternatively, we may make taxable in-kind distributions of our own stock, which may cause our stockholders to be required to pay income taxes with respect to such distributions in excess of any cash they receive, or we may be required to withhold taxes with respect to such distributions in excess of any cash our stockholders receive.
Dividends payable by REITs, including us, generally do not qualify for the reduced tax rates available for some dividends, which may negatively affect the value of our common stock.
“Qualified dividends” payable to U.S. stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates are generally subject to tax at preferential rates, currently at a maximum federal rate of 20%. Dividends payable by REITs, however, generally are not eligible for the preferential tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income. However, U.S.
stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates generally may deduct up to 20% of the ordinary dividends (e.g., dividends not designated as capital gain dividends or qualified dividend income) received from a REIT for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026. Although this deduction reduces the effective U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to certain dividends paid by REITs (generally to 29.6% assuming the stockholder is subject to the 37% maximum rate), such tax rate is still higher than the tax rate applicable to corporate dividends that constitute qualified dividend income. Accordingly, investors who are individuals, trusts and estates may perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could materially and adversely affect the value of the stock of REITs, including the per share trading price of our common stock.
Complying with REIT requirements may limit our ability to hedge effectively.
The REIT provisions of the Code may limit our ability to hedge our assets and operations. Under these provisions, any income that we generate from transactions intended to hedge our interest rate exposure or currency fluctuations will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the REIT 75% and 95% gross income tests if (A) the instrument hedges either (i) interest rate risk on liabilities used to carry or acquire real estate assets or (ii) currency fluctuations with respect to items of income that qualify for purposes of the REIT 75% or 95% gross income tests or assets that generate such income or (B) the transaction is entered into to hedge the income or loss from prior hedging transactions, where the property or indebtedness which was the subject of the prior hedging transaction was extinguished or disposed of, and, in any such case, such instrument is properly identified under applicable Treasury Regulations. Income from hedging transactions that do not meet these requirements will generally constitute nonqualifying income for purposes of both the REIT 75% and 95% gross income tests. As a result of these rules, we may have to limit our use of hedging techniques that might otherwise be advantageous or implement those hedges through a TRS. This could increase the cost of our hedging activities because our TRS would be subject to tax on gains, or expose us to greater risks associated with changes in interest rates than we would otherwise want to bear. In addition, losses in a TRS will generally not provide any tax benefit, except for being carried forward against future taxable income in such TRS.
The tax on prohibited transactions will limit our ability to engage in transactions, including certain methods of securitizing mortgage loans, that would be treated as sales for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
A REIT’s net income from prohibited transactions is subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, but including mortgage loans, held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. We could be subject to this tax if we were to sell or securitize loans in a manner that was treated as a sale of the loans as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, in order to avoid the prohibited transactions tax, we may choose not to engage in certain sales of loans, other than through a TRS, and we may be required to limit the structures we use for securitization transactions, even though such sales or structures might otherwise be beneficial for us.
In connection with our acquisition of certain assets, we may rely on legal opinions or advice rendered or given or statements by the issuers of such assets, and the inaccuracy of any conclusions of such opinions, advice or statements may adversely affect our REIT qualification and result in significant corporate-level tax.
When purchasing securities, we may rely on opinions or advice of counsel for the issuer of the securities, or statements made in related offering documents, for purposes of determining whether the securities represent debt or equity securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and also to what extent those securities constitute qualifying real estate assets for purposes of the REIT asset tests and produce income which qualifies under the 75% and 95% REIT gross income tests. The inaccuracy of any these opinions, advice or statements may adversely affect our REIT qualification and result in significant corporate-level tax.
Legislative or other actions affecting REITs materially and adversely affect our stockholders and us.
The rules dealing with federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Changes to the tax laws, with or without retroactive application, could materially and adversely affect our stockholders and us. We cannot predict how changes in the tax
laws might affect our investors or us. New legislation, Treasury Regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions could significantly and negatively affect our ability to qualify as a REIT or the federal income tax consequences of such qualification, or the federal income tax consequences of an investment in us. Also, the law relating to the tax treatment of other entities, or an investment in other entities, could change, making an investment in other entities more attractive relative to an investment in a REIT.
General Risks
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse effect on us and may have a material adverse effect on us in the future and any other pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease in the markets in which we operate may have a material adverse effect on us in the future.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved from its emergence in early 2020, so has its global impact. The ongoing pandemic state has affected global supply chains, the labor market, and inflation, which continue to impact many industries, including the collateral underlying certain of our loans. In response, the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in 2022 and has indicated that it foresees further interest rate increases through 2023. The overall impact to the global economy will depend largely on the recovery of disrupted supply chains and industries, the extent of the labor market interruptions, the result of the Federal Reserves’ policies, and other government interventions. We have experienced and may experience negative impacts to our business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that could have significant adverse impacts on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity and ability to satisfy our debt service obligations and to pay dividends and distributions to security holders in a variety of ways that are difficult to predict. For example, the economic disruptions related to COVID-19 have resulted in significant market volatility, which we expect may lead to a decrease in prepayment rates and an increase in the number of our borrowers who exercise extension options or seek extensions outside of their existing agreements if certain conditions to exercising such extension options have not been achieved. In addition, the market volatility may negatively impact the market values of loans secured directly or indirectly by CRE assets, as well as our ability to finance our investments on attractive terms, or at all. The full extent of the impact and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will depend on future developments, including, among other factors, the duration and the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, including variants, potential resurgences of COVID-19, the impact of government interventions, uncertainty with respect to the duration or the severity of the global economic slowdown, and the performance or valuation outlook for CRE markets and certain property types. Additionally, the longer-term macro-economic effects of the pandemic continue to impact many industries, including those of certain of our borrowers, and the market turmoil and other changes associated with the pandemic may have lasting effects on our business and operations. In particular, the increase in remote working arrangements in response to the pandemic has contributed, and may further contribute, to a decline in commercial real estate values and reduced demand for commercial real estate compared to pre-pandemic levels, which may adversely impact certain of our borrowers and may persist even as the pandemic continues to subside.
If we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal control, we may not be able to accurately determine our financial results or prevent fraud, which could materially and adversely affect us.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud. We may in the future discover areas of our internal controls that need improvement. We cannot be certain that we will be successful in implementing or maintaining an effective system of internal control over our financial reporting. Furthermore, as we grow our business, our internal controls will become more complex, and we will require significantly more resources to ensure our internal controls remain effective. Additionally, the existence of any material weakness or significant deficiency would require our Manager to devote significant time and us to incur significant expense to remediate any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies and our Manager may not be able to remediate any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in a timely manner. The existence of any material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting could also result in errors in our financial statements that could require us to restate our financial statements, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and cause stockholders to lose confidence in our financial results, which could materially and adversely affect us.
The obligations associated with being a public company require significant resources and attention from our Manager’s senior management team.
As a public company with listed equity securities, we will need to comply with new laws, regulations and requirements, including the requirements of the Exchange Act, certain corporate governance provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, related regulations of the SEC and requirements of the
NYSE. The Exchange Act requires that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we establish and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting. These reporting and other obligations place significant demands on our Manager’s senior management team, administrative, operational and accounting resources and will cause us to incur significant expenses. We may need to upgrade our systems or create new systems, implement additional financial and other controls, reporting systems and procedures, and create or outsource an internal audit function. If we are unable to accomplish these objectives in a timely and effective fashion, our ability to comply with the financial reporting requirements and other rules that apply to reporting companies could be impaired.
The impact of any future terrorist attacks and the potential unavailability of affordable terrorism insurance expose us to certain risks.
Terrorist attacks, the anticipation of any such attacks, and the consequences of any military or other response by the U.S. and its allies may have an adverse impact on the U.S. financial markets and the economy in general. We cannot predict the severity of the effect that any such future events would have on the U.S. financial markets, the economy or our business. Any future terrorist attacks could adversely affect the credit quality of some of our investments. Some of our investments will be more susceptible to such adverse effects than others, particularly those secured by properties in major cities or properties that are, or are in close proximity to, prominent landmarks or public attractions. To the extent that protests, riots or other forms of civil unrest have a material adverse effect on our borrowers’ businesses or have the effect of decreasing demand for commercial real estate in such metropolitan areas, including as a result of a general decline in the desire to live, work in or travel to such metropolitan areas, the value of our investments, and our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected. We may suffer losses as a result of the adverse impact of any future terrorist attacks or civil unrest and these losses may materially and adversely affect us.
In addition, the enactment of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, or TRIA, requires insurers to make terrorism insurance available under their property and casualty insurance policies and provides federal compensation to insurers for insured losses. TRIA was reauthorized, with some adjustments to its provisions, in December 2019 for seven years through December 31, 2027. However, this legislation does not regulate the pricing of such insurance and there is no assurance that this legislation will be extended beyond 2027. The absence of affordable insurance coverage may adversely affect the general real estate lending market, lending volume and the market’s overall liquidity and may reduce the number of suitable investment opportunities available to us and the pace at which we are able to make investments. If the properties that we invest in are unable to obtain affordable insurance coverage, the value of those investments could decline and in the event of an uninsured loss, we could lose all or a portion of our investment.
The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly.
The capital and credit markets have recently experienced a period of extreme volatility and disruption. The market price and liquidity of the market for shares of our common stock may be significantly affected by numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be directly related to our operating performance.
Some of the factors that could negatively affect the market price of our common stock include:
•our actual or projected operating results, financial condition, cash flows and liquidity, or changes in investment strategy or prospects;
•actual or perceived conflicts of interest between us and our Manager or its affiliates or personnel;
•equity or equity-related issuances by us, or share resales by our stockholders, or the perception that such issuances or resales may occur;
•our inability to raise capital on attractive terms when needed, including the loss of one or more major financing sources;
•our inability to originate investments with attractive risk-adjusted returns;
•actual, anticipated or perceived accounting or internal control problems;
•publication of research reports about us, the CRE industry, CRE debt on transitional assets or interest rates;
•changes in market valuations of similar companies;
•adverse market reaction to any increased leverage we incur in the future;
•additions to or departures of key personnel of our Sponsor or its affiliates, including our Manager, or their key personnel;
•speculation in the press or investment community about us or other similar companies;
•changes in market interest rates, which may lead investors to demand a higher distribution yield for our common stock, if we have begun to pay dividends to our stockholders, and which could result in increased interest expenses on our debt;
•a compression of the yield on our investments and an increase in the cost of our liabilities;
•failure to maintain our REIT qualification and our exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act;
•price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market from time to time;
•a prolonged economic slowdown, a lengthy or severe recession or declining real estate values;
•general market and economic conditions, and trends including inflationary concerns and the current state of the credit and capital markets, and the impact of natural disasters, prolonged civil unrest, political instability or uncertainty, military activities, or broad-based sanctions, should they continue for the long term or escalate, global health crises, such as the outbreak of COVID-19, and other events on market and economic conditions;
•significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of securities of publicly-traded REITs or other companies in our sector, which are not necessarily related to the operating performance of these companies;
•changes in law, regulatory policies or tax guidelines, or interpretations thereof, particularly with respect to REITs;
•changes in the value of our portfolio;
•any shortfall in revenue or net income or any increase in losses from levels expected by investors or securities analysts;
•operating performance of companies comparable to us;
•level of competitive pressures from time to time;
•short-selling pressure with respect to shares of our common stock or commercial mortgage REITs generally;
•uncertainty surrounding the strength of the U.S. economic recovery;
•concerns regarding the high-yield debt market; and
•the other factors described under “Risk Factors.”
As noted above, market factors unrelated to our performance could also negatively impact the market price of our common stock. One of the factors that investors may consider in deciding whether to buy or sell our common stock is our distribution rate as a percentage of our stock price relative to market interest rates. If market interest rates increase, prospective investors may demand a higher distribution rate or seek alternative investments paying higher dividends or interest. As a result, interest rate fluctuations and conditions in the capital markets can affect the market price of our common stock. For instance, if interest rates rise, it is likely that the market price of our common stock will decrease as market rates on interest-bearing securities increase.
Future offerings of debt or equity securities, which would rank senior to our common stock, may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
If we decide to issue debt or equity securities in the future that would rank senior to our common stock, those securities generally will have a preference to our receipt of dividends and liquidation payments. It is likely that those securities will also be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock and those securities, as well as other equity securities we issue, may result in dilution to owners of our common stock. We and, indirectly, our stockholders, will bear the cost of issuing and servicing such securities. Because our decision to issue debt or equity securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing, nature or success of our future offerings. Thus holders of our common stock will bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and diluting the value of their stock holdings in us.

---

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.

---

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. Properties.
Our corporate headquarters office, which is leased by our manager’s affiliate, is located at 60 Columbus Circle, 20th Floor, New York, New York, 10023. We consider these facilities to be suitable and adequate for the management and operations of our business.

---

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
From time to time, we may be involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. As of December 31, 2022, we were not involved in any material legal proceedings. Refer to Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements for information on our commitments and contingencies.

---

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable
PART II

---

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
MARKET INFORMATION FOR COMMON STOCK, HOLDERS OF RECORD AND DIVIDEND POLICY
On November 3, 2021, our common stock began trading on the NYSE under the symbol “CMTG.” As of February 2, 2023, there were approximately 29 stockholders of record of our common stock. This does not include the number of stockholders that hold shares in “street name” through banks or broker-dealers.
We intend to pay regular quarterly dividends to our stockholders, although all future distributions will be declared and paid at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon cash generated by operating activities, our financial condition, capital requirements, annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Code and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant.
The following table sets forth the dividends declared during each calendar quarter for 2022, 2021, and 2020:
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
2022 Cash dividend
$
0.37
$
0.37
$
0.37
$
0.37
2021 Cash dividend
$
0.37
$
0.37
$
0.37
$
0.37
2020 Cash dividend
$
0.43
$
0.44
$
0.37
$
0.37
RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES; USE OF PROCEEDS FROM REGISTERED SECURITIES
None.
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
We entered into an agreement (the “10b5-1 Purchase Plan”) with Morgan & Stanley Co. LLC, pursuant to which Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as our agent, has bought in the open market $25.0 million in shares of our common stock in the aggregate during the period beginning on December 6, 2021 and ending 12 months thereafter.
The following table presents information with respect to the repurchase of our common stock during period from December 6, 2021 through October 24, 2022 ($ in thousands, except for share data and average price paid per share):
Period
Total number of shares purchased
Average Price Paid per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plan
December 6, 2021 - October 24, 2022
1,679,570
$
14.88
1,679,570
$
-
Total
1,679,570
$
14.88
1,679,570
$
-
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
Our equity compensation plan information required by this item will be included in the Proxy Statement to be filed relating to our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The information below shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, other than as provided in Item 201 of Regulation S-K, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically request that such information be treated as soliciting material
or specifically incorporate it by reference into a filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. The following graph is a comparison of the cumulative total stockholder return on shares of our common stock, the Russell 2000 Index (the “Russell 2000”), and the Bloomberg REIT Mortgage Index, a published industry index, from November 3, 2021 (the date our common stock began trading on the NYSE) to December 31, 2022. The graph assumes that $100 was invested on November 3, 2021 in our common stock, the Russell 2000 and the Bloomberg REIT Mortgage Index and that all dividends were reinvested without the payment of any commissions. There can be no assurance that the performance of our shares will continue in line with the same or similar trends depicted in the graph below.

---

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. [Reserved]

---

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical data, this discussion contains forward-looking statements about our business, operations and financial performance based on current expectations that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those in this discussion as a result of various factors, including but not limited to those discussed in Part 1. Item 1A, “Risk Factors”and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Introduction
We are a CRE finance company focused primarily on originating loans on transitional CRE assets located in major U.S. markets, including mortgage loans secured by a first priority or subordinate mortgage on transitional CRE assets, and subordinate loans including mezzanine loans secured by a pledge of equity ownership interests in the direct or indirect property owner rather than directly in the underlying commercial properties. These loans are subordinate to a mortgage loan but senior to the property owner’s equity ownership interests. Transitional CRE assets are properties that require repositioning, renovation, rehabilitation, leasing, development or redevelopment or other value-added elements in order to maximize value. We believe our Sponsor’s real estate development, ownership and operations experience and infrastructure differentiates us in lending on these transitional CRE assets. Our objective is to be a premier provider of debt capital for transitional CRE assets and, in doing so, to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for our stockholders over time, primarily through dividends. We strive to create a diversified investment portfolio of CRE loans that we generally intend to hold to maturity. We focus primarily on originating loans ranging from $50 million to $300 million on transitional CRE assets located in major markets with attractive fundamental characteristics supported by macroeconomic tailwinds.
We were organized as a Maryland corporation on April 29, 2015 and commenced operations on August 25, 2015, and are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “CMTG”. We have elected and believe we have qualified to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2015. We are externally managed and advised by our Manager, an investment adviser registered with the SEC pursuant to the Advisers Act. We operate our business in a manner that permits us to maintain our exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act.
I. Key Financial Measures and Indicators
As a CRE finance company, we believe the key financial measures and indicators for our business are net income per share, dividends declared per share, Distributable Earnings per share, Distributable Earnings excluding realized losses per share, book value per share, adjusted book value per share, Net Debt-to-Equity Ratio and Total Leverage Ratio. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we had net income per share of $0.79, dividends declared per share of $1.48, Distributable Earnings per share of $1.38, and Distributable Earnings excluding realized losses per share of $1.47. As of December 31, 2022, our book value per share was $17.48, our adjusted book value per share was $18.20, our Net-Debt-to-Equity Ratio was 2.2x, and our Total Leverage Ratio was 2.6x. We use Net Debt-to-Equity Ratio and Total Leverage Ratio, financial measures which are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, to evaluate our financial leverage, which in the case of our Total Leverage Ratio, makes certain adjustments that we believe provide a more conservative measure of our financial condition.
Net Income Per Share and Dividends Declared Per Share
The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted net (loss) income per share and dividends declared per share ($ in thousands, except share and per share data):
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders
$
(22,653
)
$
112,064
$
170,537
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted
138,457,076
139,306,311
134,539,645
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share of common stock
$
(0.17
)
$
0.79
$
1.27
Dividends declared per share of common stock
$
0.37
$
1.48
$
1.48
Distributable Earnings
Distributable Earnings is a non-GAAP measure used to evaluate our performance excluding the effects of certain transactions, non-cash items and GAAP adjustments, as determined by our Manager, that we believe are not necessarily indicative of our current performance and operations. Distributable Earnings is a non-GAAP measure, which we define as net income in accordance with GAAP, excluding (i) non-cash stock-based compensation expense (income), (ii) real estate depreciation and amortization, (iii) any unrealized gains or losses from mark-to-market valuation changes (other than permanent impairments) that are included in net income for the applicable period, (iv) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and (v) certain non-cash items, which in the judgment of our Manager, should not be included in Distributable Earnings. Pursuant to the Management Agreement, we use Core Earnings, which is substantially the same as Distributable Earnings excluding incentive fees, to determine the incentive fees we pay our Manager. Distributable Earnings is substantially the same as Core Earnings, as defined in the Management Agreement, for the periods presented.
Distributable Earnings, and other similar measures, have historically been a useful indicator of a mortgage REITs’ ability to cover its dividends, and to mortgage REITs themselves in determining the amount of any dividends. Distributable Earnings is a key factor, among others, considered by the Board in setting the dividend and as such we believe Distributable Earnings is useful to investors. Accordingly, we believe providing Distributable Earnings on a supplemental basis to our net income as determined in accordance with GAAP is helpful to our stockholders in assessing the overall performance of our business.
We believe that Distributable Earnings provides meaningful information to consider in addition to our net income and cash flows from operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP. We believe Distributable Earnings helps us to evaluate our performance excluding the effects of certain transactions, non-cash items and GAAP adjustments, as determined by our Manager, that we believe are not necessarily indicative of our current performance and operations. Distributable Earnings does not represent net income or cash flows from operating activities and should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP net income, an indication of our cash flows from operating activities, a measure of our liquidity or an indication of funds available for our cash needs. In addition, our methodology for calculating Distributable Earnings may differ from the methodologies employed by other companies to calculate the same or similar supplemental performance measures and, accordingly, our reported Distributable Earnings may not be comparable to the Distributable Earnings reported by other companies.
While Distributable Earnings excludes the impact of our unrealized current provision for credit losses, loan losses are charged off and recognized through Distributable Earnings when deemed non-recoverable. Non-recoverability is determined (i) upon the resolution of a loan (i.e. when the loan is repaid, fully or partially, or in the case of foreclosure, when the underlying asset is sold), or (ii) with respect to any amount due under any loan, when such amount is determined to be non-collectible. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded a $84.4 million increase in the CECL reserve, which has been excluded from Distributable Earnings.
In determining distributable earnings per share, the dilutive effect of unvested RSUs is considered. The weighted-average diluted shares outstanding used for Distributable Earnings has been adjusted from weighted-average diluted shares under GAAP to include unvested RSUs.
The table below summarizes the reconciliation from weighted-average diluted shares under GAAP to the weighted-average diluted shares used for Distributable Earnings:
Weighted-Averages
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Diluted Shares - GAAP
139,306,311
134,539,645
Unvested RSUs
1,190,126
-
Diluted Shares - Distributable Earnings
140,496,437
134,539,645
The following table provides a reconciliation of net (loss) income attributable to common stock to Distributable Earnings ($ in thousands, except share and per share data):
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Net (loss) income attributable to common stock:
$
(22,653
)
$
112,064
$
170,537
Adjustments:
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense
3,427
7,457
8,812
Provision for (reversal of) current expected credit loss
reserve
71,377
84,361
(8,962
)
Gain on foreclosure of real estate owned
-
-
(1,430
)
Other income
-
-
(5,855
)
Depreciation expense
2,039
8,041
7,113
Unrealized gain on interest rate cap
(429
)
(6,042
)
-
Distributable Earnings prior to principal charge-offs
$
53,761
$
205,881
$
170,215
Principal charge-offs
(27
)
(11,527
)
(1,761
)
Distributable Earnings
$
53,734
$
194,354
$
168,454
Weighted average diluted shares - Distributable
Earnings
140,616,356
140,496,437
134,539,645
Diluted Distributable Earnings per share prior to
principal charge-offs
$
0.38
$
1.47
$
1.27
Diluted Distributable Earnings per share
$
0.38
$
1.38
$
1.25
Book Value Per Share
We believe that presenting book value per share adjusted for the general current expected credit loss reserve and accumulated depreciation is useful for investors as it enhances the comparability across the industry. We believe that our investors and lenders consider book value excluding these items as an important metric related to our overall capitalization.
The following table sets forth the calculation of our book value and our adjusted book value per share ($ in thousands, except share and per share data):
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Total Stockholders’ Equity
$
2,456,471
$
2,604,267
Non-controlling interest
-
(37,636
)
Stockholders’ Equity, net of non-controlling interest
$
2,456,471
$
2,566,631
Number of shares of common stock outstanding and RSUs
140,542,274
139,840,088
Book Value per share(1)
$
17.48
$
18.35
Add back: accumulated depreciation on real estate owned
$
0.11
$
0.05
Add back: general CECL reserve
$
0.61
$
0.48
Adjusted Book Value per share
$
18.20
$
18.88
(1)Calculated as (i) total stockholders’ equity less non-controlling interest divided by (ii) number of shares of common stock outstanding and RSUs at period end.
II. Our Portfolio
The below table summarizes our loan portfolio as of December 31, 2022 ($ in thousands):
Weighted Average(3)
Number
of Loans
Loan
Commitment(1)
Carrying Value (2)
Yield to Maturity(4)
Term to Fully
Extended
Maturity (in years)(5)
LTV(6)
Senior and subordinate loans
$
9,433,951
$
7,428,774
8.6
%
3.2
68.2
%
(1)Loan commitment represents principal outstanding plus remaining unfunded loan commitments.
(2)Net of specific CECL reserve of $60.3 million.
(3)Weighted averages are based on unpaid principal balance.
(4)All-in yield represents the weighted average annualized yield to initial maturity of each loan, inclusive of coupon, and fees received, based on the applicable floating benchmark rate/floors (if applicable), in place as of December 31, 2022. For loans placed on non-accrual, the annualized yield to initial maturity used in calculating the weighted average annualized yield to initial maturity is 0%.
(5)Fully extended maturity assumes all extension options are exercised by the borrower upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions.
(6)LTV represents “loan-to-value” or “loan-to-cost”, which is calculated as our total loan commitment from time to time, as if fully funded, plus any financings that are pari passu with or senior to our loan, divided by our estimate of either (1) the value of the underlying real estate, determined in accordance with our underwriting process (typically consistent with, if not less than, the value set forth in a third-party appraisal) or (2) the borrower’s projected, fully funded cost basis in the asset, in each case as we deem appropriate for the relevant loan and other loans with similar characteristics. Underwritten values and projected costs should not be assumed to reflect our judgment of current market values or project costs, which may have changed materially since the date of origination. LTV is updated only in connection with a partial loan paydown and/or release of collateral, material changes to expected project costs, the receipt of a new appraisal (typically in connection with financing or refinancing activity) or a change in our loan commitment. Totals represent weighted average based on loan commitment, including non-consolidated senior interests and pari passu interests. Loans with specific CECL reserves are reflected as 100% LTV.
Portfolio Activity and Overview
The following table summarizes changes in unpaid principal balance within our portfolio, for both our loans and for our interests in loans (i.e., loans in which we have acquired an interest in a loan for which the transferor did not account for the transaction as a sale under GAAP) ($ in thousands):
Three Months Ended
December 31, 2022
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
Loans
Receivable
Interests
in Loans
Receivable
Total
Loans
Receivable
Interests
in Loans
Receivable
Total
Unpaid principal balance,
beginning of period
$
7,380,506
$
-
$
7,380,506
$
6,441,238
$
161,566
$
6,602,804
Initial funding of loans
34,370
-
34,370
2,030,456
-
2,030,456
Advances on loans
198,480
-
198,480
679,258
17,080
696,338
Loan repayments
(74,804
)
-
(74,804
)
(1,484,880
)
(178,646
)
(1,663,526
)
Principal charge-offs
(27
)
-
(27
)
(11,527
)
-
(11,527
)
Sale of loans receivable
-
-
-
(116,020
)
-
(116,020
)
Total net fundings/(payoffs)
158,019
-
158,019
1,097,287
(161,566
)
935,721
Unpaid principal balance,
end of period
$
7,538,525
$
-
$
7,538,525
$
7,538,525
$
-
$
7,538,525
The following table details our loan investments individually based on unpaid principal balances as of December 31, 2022 ($ in thousands):
Loan Number
Loan type
Origination Date
Loan Commitment(1)
Unpaid Principal Balance
Carrying Value (2)
Fully Extended Maturity(3)
Property Type
Construction (4)
Location
Risk Rating
Senior
12/16/2021
405,000
399,499
396,894
6/16/2027
Multifamily
-
CA
Senior
11/1/2019
390,000
390,000
388,918
11/1/2026
Multifamily
-
NY
Senior
7/12/2018
280,000
280,000
281,123
8/1/2023
Hospitality
-
NY
Senior
7/26/2021
225,000
224,079
222,928
7/26/2026
Hospitality
-
GA
Senior
10/18/2019
259,987
221,605
221,605
10/18/2024
For Sale Condo
Y
CA
Senior
10/4/2019
252,057
213,452
213,113
10/1/2025
Mixed-Use
Y
DC
Senior
6/30/2022
227,000
211,222
208,866
6/30/2029
Hospitality
-
CA
Senior
12/27/2018
210,000
208,797
166,790
2/1/2025
Mixed-Use
-
NY
Senior
8/17/2022
235,000
207,941
205,966
8/17/2027
Hospitality
-
CA
Senior
9/7/2018
192,600
192,600
192,355
10/18/2024
Land
-
NY
Senior
2/15/2022
262,500
190,288
188,100
2/15/2027
Multifamily
Y
CA
Senior
1/14/2022
170,000
170,000
168,847
1/14/2027
Multifamily
-
CO
Senior
4/14/2022
193,400
166,700
165,223
4/14/2027
Multifamily
-
MI
Senior
9/26/2019
258,400
163,955
162,697
9/26/2026
Office
-
GA
Senior
9/20/2019
225,000
159,391
157,832
12/31/2025
For Sale Condo
Y
FL
Senior
9/8/2022
160,000
151,509
150,087
9/8/2027
Multifamily
-
AZ
Senior
2/28/2019
150,000
150,000
149,938
2/28/2024
Office
-
CT
Senior
1/9/2018
148,500
148,500
148,500
1/9/2024
Hospitality
-
VA
Senior
12/30/2021
147,500
147,500
147,215
12/30/2025
Multifamily
-
PA
Senior
8/8/2019
154,999
138,749
120,036
8/8/2026
Multifamily
-
CA
Senior
4/26/2022
151,698
133,059
131,611
4/26/2027
Multifamily
-
TX
Senior
12/10/2021
130,000
130,000
129,279
12/10/2026
Multifamily
-
VA
Subordinate
12/9/2021
125,000
125,000
124,755
1/1/2027
Office
-
IL
Senior
9/24/2021
127,535
122,535
121,712
9/24/2028
Hospitality
-
TX
Senior
9/30/2019
122,500
122,500
122,373
2/9/2027
Office
-
NY
Senior
4/29/2019
120,000
119,510
119,336
4/29/2024
Mixed-Use
-
NY
Senior
3/1/2022
122,000
118,600
117,779
2/28/2027
Multifamily
-
TX
Senior
8/8/2022
115,000
115,000
114,126
8/8/2027
Multifamily
-
CO
Senior
7/20/2021
113,500
113,500
113,272
7/20/2026
Multifamily
-
IL
Senior
2/13/2020
124,810
112,442
112,088
2/13/2025
Office
-
CA
Senior
6/17/2022
127,250
111,521
110,146
6/17/2027
Multifamily
-
TX
Senior
6/7/2018
104,250
104,250
105,343
1/15/2022
Land
-
NY
Senior
12/15/2021
103,000
103,000
102,396
12/15/2026
Multifamily
-
TN
Senior
4/1/2020
141,084
97,774
96,781
4/1/2026
Office
Y
TN
Senior
10/11/2017
97,500
97,500
97,094
10/31/2023
Hospitality
-
CA
Senior
8/2/2021
100,000
96,710
96,189
8/2/2026
Office
-
CA
Senior
1/27/2022
100,800
95,877
95,216
1/27/2027
Multifamily
-
NV
Senior
3/31/2020
87,750
87,750
87,750
2/9/2025
Office
-
TX
Senior
8/1/2022
115,250
78,500
78,201
7/30/2026
Hospitality
Y
NY
Senior
7/10/2018
76,369
76,369
74,169
7/10/2025
Hospitality
-
CA
Senior
4/5/2019
75,500
75,500
75,452
4/5/2024
Mixed-Use
-
NY
Senior
12/14/2018
75,000
75,000
75,000
3/8/2023
Multifamily
-
DC
Senior
7/27/2022
76,000
73,686
73,211
7/27/2027
Multifamily
-
UT
Senior
3/22/2021
148,303
71,142
70,199
3/22/2026
Other
Y
MA
Senior
8/27/2021
84,810
69,869
69,298
8/27/2026
Office
-
GA
Senior
7/31/2019
67,000
67,000
67,000
1/30/2022
Land
-
NY
Senior
12/22/2021
76,350
64,468
63,907
12/22/2026
Multifamily
-
TX
Senior
11/2/2021
77,115
60,294
59,669
11/2/2026
Multifamily
Y
FL
Senior
8/29/2018
60,000
60,000
59,900
8/31/2023
Hospitality
-
NY
Senior
6/3/2021
79,600
58,829
58,281
6/3/2026
Other
-
MI
Senior
1/19/2022
73,677
54,070
53,487
1/19/2027
Hospitality
-
TN
Senior
1/10/2022
130,461
50,805
49,506
1/9/2027
Other
Y
PA
Senior
3/15/2022
53,300
49,844
49,459
3/15/2027
Multifamily
-
AZ
Senior
11/4/2022
140,000
40,086
38,703
11/9/2026
Other
Y
MA
Senior
2/4/2022
44,768
38,002
37,658
2/4/2027
Multifamily
-
TX
Senior
2/2/2022
90,000
35,104
34,199
2/2/2027
Office
Y
WA
Senior
12/30/2021
34,918
34,918
34,678
12/30/2025
For Sale Condo
-
VA
Subordinate
12/21/2018
32,902
32,902
33,059
6/21/2022
Land
-
NY
Senior
4/18/2019
30,000
30,000
29,950
5/1/2023
Office
-
MA
Senior
12/30/2021
141,791
29,643
28,291
12/30/2026
Mixed-use
Y
FL
Subordinate
7/2/2021
30,200
28,861
28,888
7/2/2024
Land
-
FL
Senior
11/24/2021
60,255
25,988
25,403
11/24/2026
Multifamily
Y
NV
Senior
2/17/2022
28,479
24,525
24,324
2/17/2027
Multifamily
-
TX
Senior
8/2/2019
19,873
19,873
20,095
2/2/2024
For Sale Condo
-
NY
Senior
1/31/2022
34,641
18,736
18,416
1/31/2027
Other
Y
FL
Senior
6/30/2022
48,500
16,753
16,290
6/30/2026
Other
Y
NV
Senior
5/13/2022
202,500
14,640
12,617
5/13/2027
Mixed-Use
Y
VA
Senior
10/13/2022
106,500
6,812
5,749
10/13/2026
Other
Y
NV
Senior
1/4/2022
32,795
3,501
3,177
1/4/2027
Other
Y
GA
Senior
7/1/2019
3,500
3,500
3,500
12/30/2020
Other
-
Other
Senior
4/19/2022
23,378
2,856
2,624
4/19/2027
Other
Y
GA
Senior
2/25/2022
53,984
1,723
1,184
2/25/2027
Other
Y
GA
Senior
2/18/2022
32,083
1,352
1,032
2/18/2027
Other
Y
FL
Subordinate
8/2/2018
7/9/2023
Other
-
NY
Senior
4/19/2022
24,245
(110
)
4/19/2027
Other
Y
GA
Senior
9/2/2022
176,257
-
(1,763
)
9/2/2027
Multifamily
Y
UT
Senior
12/21/2022
112,100
-
(1,121
)
12/21/2027
Multifamily
Y
WA
Total
9,433,951
7,538,525
7,428,774
General CECL reserve
(68,347
)
Grand Total/Weighted Average
9,433,951
7,538,525
7,360,427
30.6%
3.2
(1)Loan commitment represents principal outstanding plus remaining unfunded loan commitments.
(2)Net of specific CECL reserve on applicable loans.
(3)Fully extended maturity assumes all extension options are exercised by the borrower upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions.
(4)Based on loan commitment as of December 31, 2022.
Real Estate Owned, Net
On February 8, 2021, we acquired legal title to a portfolio of hotel properties located in New York, NY through a foreclosure. Prior to February 8, 2021, the hotel portfolio represented the collateral for the $103.9 million mezzanine loan that we held, which was in default as a result of the borrower failing to pay debt service. The hotel portfolio appears as real estate owned, net on our consolidated balance sheet and, as of December 31, 2022, was encumbered by a $290.0 million securitized senior mortgage, which is included as a liability on our consolidated balance sheet. Refer to Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements for additional details.
Asset Management
Our Manager proactively manages the loans in our portfolio from closing to final repayment and our Sponsor has dedicated asset management employees to perform asset management services. Following the closing of an investment, the asset management team rigorously monitors the loan, with an emphasis on ongoing financial, legal, market condition and quantitative analyses. Through the final repayment of a loan, the asset management team maintains regular contact with borrowers, servicers and local market experts monitoring performance of the collateral, anticipating borrower, property and market issues, and enforcing our rights and remedies when appropriate.
From time to time, some of our borrowers may experience delays in the execution of their business plans. As a transitional lender, we work with our borrowers to execute loan modifications which could include additional equity contributions from borrowers, repurposing of reserves, temporary deferrals of interest or principal, or partial deferral of coupon interest as payment-in-kind interest. We have completed a number of loan modifications to date, and we may continue to make additional modifications depending on the business plans, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations of our borrowers.
Our Manager reviews our loan portfolio at least quarterly, undertakes an assessment of the performance of each loan, and assigns it a risk rating between “1” and “5,” from least risk to greatest risk, respectively. The weighted average risk rating of our total loan portfolio was 3.2 at December 31, 2022.
Current Expected Credit Losses
On January 1, 2021, we adopted ASU 2016-13, which implemented the CECL accounting model. Following adoption, we recorded a $78.3 million cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded a principal charge-off of $11.5 million against a loan made to the personal estate of a former borrower. Prior to the charge-off, the loan had an unpaid principal balance of $15.0 million and a specific CECL reserve of $6.0 million, resulting in a carrying value of $9.0 million. Following the charge-off, the loan's carrying value is $3.5 million, which represents estimated collection. The loan is on non-accrual status and is in maturity default.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded a net provision of $84.4 million for current expected credit losses. The total current expected credit loss reserve increased to $146.4 million as of December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to the increase in the size of our loan portfolio, worsening macroeconomic forecasts, and specific CECL reserves of $65.5 million related to three loans.
During the fourth quarter of 2021, we received principal repayments of $81.7 million on a senior loan with an unpaid principal balance of $95.0 million, and a maturity date of May 31, 2021, and recorded a principal charge-off of $1.8 million. Following the principal repayment in December 2021, the maturity date of the loan was extended to January 1, 2023. As of December 31, 2021, the loan had a specific CECL reserve of $0.3 million which represented
additional collectible interest through the maturity date. During the fourth quarter of 2022, this loan was repaid, resulting in a principal charge off of $27,000.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, we recorded a specific CECL reserve of $42.0 million in connection with a senior loan with an unpaid principal balance and carrying value prior to any specific CECL reserve of $208.8 million and an initial maturity date of February 1, 2023. As of December 31, 2021, the loan had a carrying value of $207.5 million. The loan is collateralized by a mixed-use building in New York, NY. As of December 31, 2022, this loan is on non-accrual status.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, we recorded a specific CECL reserve of $18.3 million in connection with a senior loan with an unpaid principal balance of $138.8 million, a carrying value prior to any specific CECL reserve of $138.3 million and an initial maturity date of August 8, 2024. As of December 31, 2021, the loan had a carrying value of $134.6 million. The loan is collateralized by a portfolio of multifamily properties located in San Francisco, CA. As of December 31, 2022, this loan is on non-accrual status.
Fair market values used to determine specific CECL reserves are calculated using a discounted cash flow model, a sales comparison approach, or a market capitalization approach. Estimates of fair market values include assumptions of property specific cash flows over estimated holding periods, discount rates approximating 6.0%, and market capitalization rates ranging from 4.5% to 6.0%. These assumptions are based upon the nature of the properties, recent sales and lease comparables, and anticipated real estate and capital market conditions.
Portfolio Financing
Our portfolio financing arrangements include repurchase facilities, asset-specific financing structures, mortgages on real estate owned and Secured Term Loan borrowings.
The following table summarizes our loan portfolio financing ($ in thousands):
December 31, 2022
Capacity
Borrowing
Outstanding
Weighted
Average
Spread(1)
Repurchase agreements and term participation facility
$
5,700,000
$
4,012,818
+ 2.25%
Repurchase agreements - Side Car
271,171
211,572
+ 4.51%
Loan participations sold
264,252
264,252
+ 3.68%
Notes payable
495,934
154,629
+ 3.09%
Secured Term Loan
755,090
755,090
+ 4.50%
Debt related to real estate owned
290,000
290,000
+ 2.78%
Total / weighted average
$
7,776,447
$
5,688,361
+ 2.75%
(1)Weighted average spread over the applicable benchmark rate is based on unpaid principal balance. One-month LIBOR and SOFR as of December 31, 2022 were 4.39% and 4.36%, respectively. Fixed rate loans are presented as a spread over the relevant floating benchmark rates.
	Refer to Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements for additional details on financings.
Repurchase Agreements and Term Participation Facility
We finance certain of our loans using repurchase facilities and term participation facilities. As of December 31, 2022, aggregate borrowings outstanding under our secured revolving repurchase and term participation facilities totaled $4.2 billion, with a weighted average coupon of one-month LIBOR or one-month term SOFR plus 2.4% per annum. All weighted averages are based on unpaid principal balance. As of December 31, 2022, outstanding borrowings under these facilities had a weighted average term to fully extended maturity (assuming we exercise all extension options and our counterparty agrees to such extension options) of 3.5 years.
Each of the repurchase facilities contains “margin maintenance” provisions, which are designed to allow the counterparty to require additional collateral to secure borrowings against assets that are determined to have experienced a diminution in value. Since inception through December 31, 2022, we have not received any margin calls under any of our repurchase facilities. The repurchase facility lender has the benefit of cross-collateralization across the loans in the facility.
Our term participation facility lender has the benefit of cross-collateralization across the loans in the facility. We present the loan participation sold as a liability on our consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2022, four of our loans were financed through the term participation facility.
Loan Participations Sold
We finance certain investments via the sale of a participation in loans receivable that we own, and we present the loan participation sold as a liability on our consolidated balance sheet when such arrangement does not qualify as a sale under GAAP. In instances where we have multiple loan participations with the same lender, the financings are generally not cross-collateralized. Each of our loan participations sold is generally term-matched to its corresponding loan collateral. As of December 31, 2022, three of our loans were financed with loan participations sold.
Notes Payable
We finance certain investments on a term-matched basis, that is generally non-recourse. Such financings are collateralized by our loans receivable, which we refer to as notes payable. Each of our notes payable is generally term-matched to its corresponding loan collateral. As of December 31, 2022, six of our loans were financed with notes payable.
Secured Term Loan
We have a secured term loan of $755.1 million which we originally entered into on August 9, 2019. Our secured term loan is presented net of any original issue discount and transaction expenses which are deferred and recognized as a component of interest expense over the life of the loan using the effective interest method.
On December 2, 2021, we entered into a modification of our secured term loan which reduced the interest rate to the greater of (i) one-month term SOFR plus a 0.10% credit spread adjustment and (ii) 0.50%, plus a credit spread of 4.50%. The secured term loan matures on August 9, 2026. As of December 31, 2022, our secured term loan has an unpaid principal balance of $755.1 million and a carrying value of $736.9 million.
Debt Related to Real Estate Owned
On February 8, 2021 we assumed a $300.0 million securitized senior mortgage in connection with a Uniform Commercial Code foreclosure on a portfolio of seven limited service hotels located in New York, New York. In June 2021, we modified the securitized senior mortgage, which resulted in an extension of the contractual maturity date to February 9, 2024, a principal repayment of $10.0 million, and the payment of $7.6 million of fees and modification costs, among other items. The securitized senior mortgage is non-recourse to us. Our debt related to real estate owned as of December 31, 2022 has an unpaid principal balance of $290.0 million, a carrying value of $289.4 million and a stated rate of one-month LIBOR plus 2.78%, subject to a one-month LIBOR floor of 0.75%. See Derivatives below for further detail of our interest rate cap.
Derivatives
As part of the agreement to amend the terms of our debt related to real estate owned on June 2, 2021, we acquired an interest rate cap with a notional amount of $290.0 million and a maturity date of February 15, 2024 for $275,000. The fair value of the interest rate cap is $6.0 million at December 31, 2022.
The interest rate cap effectively limits the maximum interest rate of our debt related to real estate owned to 5.78%. Changes in the fair value of our interest rate cap are recorded as an unrealized gain or loss on interest rate cap
on our consolidated statements of operations and the fair value is recorded in other assets on our consolidated balance sheets. Proceeds received from our counterparty related to the interest rate cap are recorded as proceeds from interest rate cap on our consolidated statements of operations. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recognized approximately $495,000 as proceeds from interest rate cap.
Acquisition Facility
On June 29, 2022, we entered into a $150.0 million full recourse credit facility. The facility generally provides interim financing for eligible loans for up to 180 days at an initial advance rate of 75%, which begins to decline after the 90th day. The facility matures on June 29, 2025 and earns interest at a rate of one-month term SOFR, plus a 0.10% credit spread adjustment, plus a spread of 2.25%. With the consent of our lenders, and subject to certain conditions, the commitment of the facility may be increased up to $500.0 million. As of December 31, 2022, the outstanding balance of the facility is $0.
As of December 31, 2022, we were in compliance with all financial covenants under our financings.
Non-Consolidated Senior Interests Sold and Non-Consolidated Senior Interests Held by Third Parties
In certain instances, we use structural leverage through the non-recourse syndication of a match-term senior loan interest to a third party which qualifies for sale accounting under GAAP, or through the acquisition of a subordinate loan for which a non-recourse senior interest is retained by a third party. In such instances, the senior loan is not included on our consolidated balance sheet.
The following table summarizes our non-consolidated senior interests and related retained subordinate interests as of December 31, 2022 ($ in thousands):
Non-Consolidated Senior Interests
Loan
Count
Loan
Commitment
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
Carrying
Value
Weighted Average Spread(1)(2)
Term to
Fully
Extended
Maturity
(in years)(3)
Floating rate non-consolidated senior loans
$
111,000
$
108,642
N/A
+ 5.04%
0.8
Retained floating rate subordinate loans
63,102
61,763
61,947
+ 11.55%
0.7
Fixed rate non-consolidated senior loans
$
861,073
$
859,660
N/A
3.47
%
3.9
Retained fixed rate subordinate loans
125,927
125,927
125,668
8.49
%
4.0
(1)Non-consolidated senior interests are indexed to one-month LIBOR, which was 4.39% at December 31, 2022.
(2)Weighted average is based on unpaid principal balance.
(3)Term to fully extended maturity is determined based on the maximum maturity of each of the corresponding loans, assuming all extension options are exercised by the borrower; provided, however, that our loans may be repaid prior to such date.
Floating and Fixed Rate Portfolio
Our business model seeks to minimize our exposure to changing interest rates by originating floating rate loans and as much as possible, match-funding the duration of our financing of such loans and using the same benchmark indices, typically one-month LIBOR or one-month term SOFR. As of December 31, 2022, 98.0% of our loans based on unpaid principal balance were floating rate and the majority of our floating rate loans were financed with liabilities that require interest payments based on floating rates also determined by reference to one-month LIBOR or one-month term SOFR plus a spread, which resulted in approximately $1.7 billion of net floating rate exposure.
The following table details our net floating rate exposure as of December 31, 2022 ($ in thousands):
Net Floating
Rate Exposure(1)
Floating rate assets
$
7,389,225
Floating rate liabilities
(5,668,361
)
Net floating rate exposure
$
1,720,864
(1)Our floating rate loans and related liabilities are all indexed to one-month LIBOR or one-month term SOFR. One-month LIBOR and one-month term SOFR as of December 31, 2022 were 4.39% and 4.36%, respectively. Amounts include loans on non-accrual status.
LIBOR and certain other floating rate benchmark indices to which our floating rate loans and other loan agreements are tied to, are the subject of recent national, international and regulatory guidance and proposals for reform. On March 5, 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom, or the FCA, which regulates. LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, or IBA, announced that all LIBOR tenors relevant to us will cease to be published or will no longer be representative after June 30, 2023 (and that all other LIBOR tenors will cease to be published or will no longer be representative either after December 31, 2021, or after June 30, 2023). The U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of large U.S. financial institutions, has identified the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or SOFR, a new index calculated using short-term repurchase agreements backed by Treasury securities, as its preferred alternative rate for USD LIBOR.
Our agreements generally allow for a new interest rate index to be used if LIBOR is no longer available. We have begun and expect to continue to utilize alternative rates referenced in our agreements or negotiate a replacement reference rate for LIBOR.
We have an interest rate cap with a notional amount of $290.0 million and a maturity date of February 15, 2024 on our debt related to real estate owned. The interest rate cap effectively limits the maximum interest rate of our debt related to real estate owned to 5.78%. We have not employed other interest rate derivatives (interest rate swaps, caps, collars or swaptions) to hedge our loan portfolio’s cash flow or fair value exposure to increases in interest rates, but we may do so in the future.
Refer to “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk-LIBOR Transition” below for additional information.
Results of Operations - Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:
Operating Results
The following table sets forth information regarding our consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 ($ in thousands, except per share data):
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
$ Change
% Change
Revenue
Interest and related income
$
470,668
$
415,263
$
55,405
%
Less: interest and related expense
246,937
180,589
66,348
%
Net interest income
223,731
234,674
(10,943
)
%
Revenue from real estate owned
63,470
27,984
35,486
%
Total revenue
287,201
262,658
24,543
%
Expenses
Management fees - affiliate
39,461
39,135
%
General and administrative expenses
18,686
12,591
6,095
%
Stock-based compensation expense
7,457
8,812
(1,355
)
%
Real estate owned:
Operating expenses
41,982
25,081
16,901
%
Interest expense
14,170
15,643
(1,473
)
%
Depreciation
8,041
7,113
%
Total expenses
129,797
108,375
21,422
%
Realized gain (loss) on sale of loan
30,090
(141
)
30,231
%
Proceeds from interest rate cap
-
%
Unrealized gain on interest rate cap
6,042
-
6,042
%
Gain on foreclosure of real estate owned
-
1,430
(1,430
)
%
Income from equity method investment
2,485
-
2,485
%
Other income
-
5,855
(5,855
)
%
(Provision for) reversal of current expected credit loss reserve
(84,361
)
8,962
(93,323
)
%
Net income
$
112,155
$
170,389
$
(58,234
)
%
Net income (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests
$
$
(164
)
$
%
Net income attributable to preferred stock
$
-
$
$
(16
)
%
Net income attributable to common stock
$
112,064
$
170,537
$
(58,473
)
%
Net income per share of common stock:
Basic and diluted
$
0.79
$
1.27
$
(0.48
)
%
Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
Revenue
Revenue increased $24.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to December 31, 2021. The increase is primarily due to an increase in revenue from real estate owned of $35.5 million due to improved travel and demand at the hotel portfolio in 2022. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in net interest income of $10.9 million for the comparative period, which was driven by an increase in interest expense of $66.3 million, as a result of increased borrowing levels and reference rate increases, offset in part by an increase in interest income of $55.4 million as a result of an increased loans receivable balance and average reference rate increases over the year ended December 31, 2022.
Expenses
Expenses are primarily comprised of base management fees payable to our Manager, general and administrative expenses, stock-based compensation expense, operating expenses from real estate owned, interest expense from debt
related to real estate owned, and depreciation on real estate owned. Expenses increased by $21.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to:
(i) an increase in operating expenses from real estate owned of $16.9 million during the comparative period, due to increased variable operating expenses in connection with higher occupancy levels at the hotel portfolio during the comparative period;
(ii) an increase in general and administrative expenses of $6.0 million during the comparative period, due primarily to an increase in general operating expenses incurred in connection with becoming a public company as of November 3, 2021;
(iii) offset by a decrease in interest expense on debt related to real estate owned of $1.5 million primarily as a result of additional interest expense on debt related to real estate owned incurred in connection with the modification of debt during 2021, offset in part by the reference rate increases and the debt related to real estate owned being outstanding for longer during 2022.
Realized gain on sale of loan
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we realized a gain on the sale of a loan of $30.1 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 where we realized a loss on the sale of a loan of $0.2 million.
Proceeds from interest rate cap
Proceeds from interest rate cap was $0.5 million higher during the comparative period due to LIBOR exceeding our interest rate cap's 3% strike price during the fourth quarter of 2022.
Unrealized gain on interest rate cap
Unrealized gain on interest rate cap was $6.0 million higher during the comparative period due to the recognition of a $6.0 million increase in the fair value of the interest rate cap during 2022 as a result of rising interest rates.
Gain on foreclosure of real estate owned
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized a gain of $1.4 million on the foreclosure of a portfolio of seven limited-service hotel properties located in New York, New York. This gain is based upon the estimated fair value of the hotel properties of $414.0 million as determined by a third-party appraisal, and our assumption of working capital and debt related to real estate owned, relative to our basis in the investment at the time of foreclosure. The fair value was determined using discount rates ranging from 8.50% to 8.75% and a terminal capitalization rate of 6.00% on projected net operating profits on the hotels.
Income from equity method investment
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recognized income from our equity method investment of $2.5 million as a result of us accounting for our investment in CMTG/TT as an equity method investment commencing in the third quarter of 2022. We did not hold any investments accounted for under the equity method during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Other Income
During the year ended December 31, 2021, 292,731 fully-vested time-based RSU awards were forfeited prior to their delivery pursuant to the terms of the RSU award documents, resulting in us reversing previously recognized compensation expense associated with these RSU awards.
(Provision for) reversal of current expected credit loss reserve
The provision for current expected credit loss reserves was $72.8 million higher than the provision for current expected credit loss reserves during the comparative period, due to additional specific CECL reserves of $65.5 million
relating to three loans. Additional reserves of $18.8 million incurred during the year ended December 31, 2022 relate to the increase in the size of the portfolio and worsening macroeconomic forecasts.
See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -Results of Operations - Year Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020” in our Form 10-K, which is accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, for a comparison of year ended December 2021 and 2020.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Capitalization
We have capitalized our business to date primarily through the issuance of shares of our common stock and borrowings under our secured financings and our Secured Term Loan. As of December 31, 2022, we had 138,376,144 shares of our common stock outstanding, representing $2.5 billion of stockholders’ equity and we also had $5.7 billion of outstanding borrowings under our secured financings, our Secured Term Loan, our debt related to real estate owned, and our acquisition facility. As of December 31, 2022, our secured financings consisted of six secured revolving repurchase facilities for loan investments with capacity of $5.0 billion and an outstanding balance of $4.0 billion, a term participation facility with capacity of $1.0 billion and an outstanding balance of $257.5 million, nine asset-specific financings for loan investments with capacity $760.2 million and an outstanding balance of $418.9 million and an acquisition facility with a capacity of $150.0 million and no outstanding balance. As of December 31, 2022, our Secured Term Loan had an outstanding balance of $755.1 million and our debt related to real estate owned had an outstanding balance of $290.0 million.
Net Debt-to-Equity Ratio and Total Leverage Ratio
Net Debt-to-Equity Ratio and Total Leverage Ratio are non-GAAP measures that we use to evaluate our financial leverage, which in the case of our Total Leverage Ratio, makes certain adjustments that we believe provide a more conservative measure of our financial condition.
Net Debt-to-Equity Ratio is calculated as the ratio of asset specific debt (repurchase agreements, loan participations sold, net, notes payable, net, term participation facility, and debt related to real estate owned, net) and secured term loan, less cash and cash equivalents to total equity.
Total Leverage Ratio is similar to Net Debt-to-Equity Ratio, however it includes non-consolidated senior interests sold and non-consolidated senior interests held by third parties. Non-consolidated senior interests sold and non-consolidated senior interests held by third parties, as applicable, are secured by the same collateral as our loan and are structurally senior in repayment priority relative to our loan. We believe the inclusion of non-consolidated senior interests sold and non-consolidated senior interests held by third parties provides a meaningful measure of our financial leverage.
The following table presents our Net Debt-to-Equity Ratios and Total Leverage Ratios as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 ($ in thousands):
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Asset specific debt
$
4,927,098
$
3,995,061
Secured term loan, net
736,853
$
739,762
Total debt
5,663,951
4,734,823
Less: cash and cash equivalents
(306,456
)
(310,194
)
Net Debt
$
5,357,495
$
4,424,629
Total Stockholders’ Equity
$
2,456,471
$
2,604,267
Net Debt-to-Equity Ratio
2.2x
1.7x
Non-consolidated senior loans
968,302
1,063,939
Total Leverage
$
6,325,797
$
5,488,568
Total Leverage Ratio
2.6x
2.1x
Sources of Liquidity
Our primary sources of liquidity include cash and cash equivalents, interest income from our loans, loan repayments, available borrowings under our secured revolving repurchase facilities and identified borrowing capacity related to our notes payable and loan participations sold, borrowings under our Secured Term Loan, and proceeds from the issuance of our common stock. The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, our sources of available liquidity ($ in thousands):
December 31,
December 31,
Cash and cash equivalents
$
306,456
$
310,194
Loan principal payments held by servicer(1)
-
67,100
Approved and undrawn credit capacity
213,113
19,283
Total sources of liquidity
$
519,569
$
396,577
(1)Represents loan principal payments held in lockboxes or by our third-party loan servicer as of the balance sheet date which were remitted to us during the subsequent remittance cycle, net of the related secured debt balance.
We have $364.8 million unpaid principal balance of unencumbered loans at December 31, 2022. Our ability to finance certain of these unencumbered loans is subject to pledging additional collateral that is subsequently approved by our financing counterparty.
Liquidity Needs
In addition to our ongoing loan origination and acquisition activity, our primary liquidity needs include future fundings to our borrowers on our unfunded loan commitments, interest and principal payments on outstanding borrowings under our financings, operating expenses and dividend payments to our stockholders necessary to satisfy REIT dividend requirements. Additionally, our financing, repurchase and term loan agreements require us to maintain minimum levels of liquidity in order to satisfy certain financial covenants. We currently maintain, and seek to maintain, excess cash and liquidity to comply with minimum liquidity requirements under our financings, and if necessary, to reduce borrowings under our secured financings, including our repurchase agreements.
As of December 31, 2022, we had aggregate unfunded loan commitments of $1.9 billion which comprise funding for capital expenditures and construction, leasing costs, and interest and carry costs, and their funding will vary depending on the progress of capital projects, leasing, and cash flows at the properties securing our loans. Therefore, the exact timing and amounts of such future loan fundings are uncertain and will depend on the current and future performance of the underlying collateral assets. We expect to fund our loan commitments over the remaining maximum term of the related loans, which have a weighted-average future funding period of 4.0 years.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Our contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2022 were as follows ($ in thousands):
Payment Timing
Total
Obligations
Less than
1 year
1 to
3 years
3 to
5 years
More than
5 years
Unfunded loan commitments(1)
$
1,895,426
$
928,960
$
839,712
$
126,754
$
-
Secured financings, term loan agreement,
and debt related to real estate owned
-principal and interest(2,3)
6,861,002
776,113
2,939,815
3,145,074
-
Total
$
8,756,428
$
1,705,073
$
3,779,527
$
3,271,828
$
-
(1)The allocation of our unfunded loan commitments is based on the earlier of our expected funding date and the commitment expiration date. As of December 31, 2022, we have $1.2 billion of expected or in-place financings to fund our remaining loan commitments.
(2)The allocation of our secured financings and term loan agreement is based on the earlier of the fully extended maturity date of each individual borrowing or the maximum maturity date under the respective agreement, and assumes two loans with aggregate borrowings outstanding of $75.2 million that are in maturity default have an extended maturity date in 2023.
(3)Amounts include the related future interest payment obligations, which are estimated by assuming the amounts outstanding under our secured financing agreements and one-month LIBOR or one-month term SOFR in effect as of December 31, 2022 will remain constant into the future. This is only an estimate, as actual amounts borrowed and rates will vary over time. Our floating rate loans and related liabilities are indexed to one-month LIBOR or one-month SOFR. Totals exclude non-consolidated senior interests.
We are required to pay our Manager, in cash, a base management fee and incentive fees (to the extent earned) on a quarterly basis in arrears. The tables above do not include the amounts payable to our Manager under the Management Agreement as they are not fixed and determinable.
As a REIT, we generally must distribute substantially all of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, to stockholders in the form of dividends to comply with certain of the provisions of the Code. To the extent that we satisfy this distribution requirement but distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our undistributed REIT taxable income. Our REIT taxable income does not necessarily equal our net income as calculated in accordance with GAAP or our Distributable Earnings as described previously.
Loan Maturities
The following table summarizes the future scheduled repayments of principal based on fully-extended maturity dates for the loan portfolio as of December 31, 2022 ($ in thousands):
Year
Unpaid
Principal
Balance(1)
Loan
Commitment(1)
543,427
543,427
956,449
996,660
1,040,619
1,158,404
1,980,151
2,694,457
2,476,470
3,478,816
Thereafter
333,757
354,535
Total
$
7,330,873
$
9,226,299
(1)Excludes $207.7 million in principal balance of loans that are in maturity default.
Cash Flows
The following table provides a breakdown of the net change in our cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 ($ in thousands):
December 31,
December 31,
Net cash flows provided by operating activities
$
111,028
$
213,557
Net cash flows used in investing activities
(773,302
)
(373,196
)
Net cash flows provided by financing activities
676,297
62,801
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
14,023
$
(96,838
)
We experienced a net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of $14.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to a net decrease of $96.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2021.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we made initial fundings of $2.0 billion of new loans and $602.3 million of advances on existing loans and made repayments on financings arrangements of $1.3 billion. We received $2.2 billion of proceeds from borrowings under our financing arrangements, received $1.7 billion from loan repayments and received $132.2 million of sales proceeds.
Income Taxes
We have elected and believe we have qualified to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with our initial taxable year ended December 31, 2015. We generally must distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain, to maintain our REIT status. To the extent that we satisfy this distribution requirement, but distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our undistributed REIT taxable income. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax if the actual amount that we pay (or are treated as paying) out to our stockholders in a calendar year is less than a minimum amount specified under U.S. federal tax laws. Our real estate owned is held in a TRS. Our TRS is not consolidated for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is taxed separately as a corporation. For financial reporting purposes, a provision or benefit for current and deferred taxes is established for the portion of earnings or expense recognized by us with respect to our TRS.
Our qualification as a REIT also depends on our ability to meet various other requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code, which relate to organizational structure, diversity of stock ownership and certain restrictions with regard to the nature of our assets and the sources of our income. Even if we qualify as a REIT, we may be subject to certain U.S. federal income and excise taxes and state and local taxes on our income and assets. If we fail to maintain our qualification as a REIT for any taxable year, we may be subject to material penalties as well as federal, state and local income tax on our REIT taxable income at regular corporate rates and we would not be able to qualify as a REIT for the subsequent four full taxable years. As of December 31, 2022, we were in compliance with all REIT requirements.
Refer to Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements for additional information about our income taxes.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2022, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires our Manager to make estimates, judgements and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. We believe that all of the decisions and estimates are reasonable, based upon the information available to us. We believe that the following accounting policies are those most critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.
Refer to Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for a description of our significant accounting policies.
Current Expected Credit Losses
The current expected credit loss ("CECL") reserve required under ASU 2016-13 “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326)” (“ASU 2016-13”), reflects our current estimate of potential credit losses related to our loan portfolio. The initial CECL reserve recorded on January 1, 2021 was reflected as a direct charge to retained earnings on our consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity. Subsequent changes to the CECL reserve are recognized through a provision for or reversal of current expected credit loss reserve on our consolidated statements of operations. ASU 2016-13 specifies the reserve should be based on relevant information about past events, including historical loss experience, current portfolio, market conditions and reasonable and supportable macroeconomic forecasts for the duration of each loan.
For our loan portfolio, we perform a quantitative assessment of the impact of CECL using the Weighted Average Remaining Maturity, or WARM, method. The application of the WARM method to estimate a general CECL reserve requires judgment, including the appropriate historical loan loss reference data, the expected timing and amount of future loan fundings and repayments, the current credit quality of our portfolio, and our expectations of performance and market conditions over the relevant time period.
The WARM method requires us to reference historical loan loss data from a comparable data set and apply such loss rate to each of our loans over their expected remaining term, taking into consideration expected economic conditions over the forecasted timeframe. Our general CECL reserve reflects our forecast of the current and future macroeconomic conditions that impact the performance of the commercial real estate assets securing our loans and the borrower's ultimate ability to repay. These estimates include unemployment rates, price indices for commercial properties, and market liquidity, all of which may influence the likelihood and magnitude of potential credit losses for our loans during their anticipated term. Additionally, further adjustments may be made based upon loan positions senior to ours, the risk rating of a loan, whether a loan is a construction loan, or economic conditions specific to the property type of a loan's underlying collateral.
To estimate an annual historical loss rate, we obtained historical loss rate data for loans most comparable to our loan portfolio from a commercial mortgage backed securities database licensed by a third party, Trepp, LLC which contains historical loss rates from January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2022.
When evaluating the current and future macroeconomic environment, we consider the aforementioned macroeconomic factors. Historical data for each metric is compared to historical commercial real estate loan losses in order to determine the relationship between the two variables. We use projections of each macroeconomic factor, obtained from a third party, to approximate the impact the macroeconomic outlook may have on our loss rate. Selections of these economic forecasts require judgement about future events that, while based on the information available to us as of the balance sheet date, are ultimately unknowable with certainty, and the actual economic conditions could vary significantly from the estimates we made. Following a reasonable and supportable forecast period, we use a straight-line method of reverting to the historical loss rate. Additionally, we assess the obligation to extend credit through our unfunded loan commitments over each loan’s contractual period, adjusted for projected fundings from interest reserves if applicable, which is considered in the estimate of the general CECL reserve. For both the funded and unfunded portions of our loans, we consider our internal risk rating of each loan as the primary credit quality indicator underlying our assessment.
In certain circumstances we may determine that a loan is no longer suited for the WARM method due to its unique risk characteristics, where we have deemed the borrower/sponsor to be experiencing financial difficulty and the repayment of the loan’s principal is collateral-dependent. We may instead elect to employ different methods to estimate loan losses that also conform to ASU 2016-13 and related guidance.
For such loan we would measure the specific reserve of each loan separately by using the fair value of the collateral or the net present value of its expected future cash flows. If the fair value of the collateral is less than the carrying value of the loan, an asset-specific reserve is created as a component of our overall current expected credit loss reserve (following the adoption of CECL, or as a loan loss reserve prior to the adoption of CECL). Specific reserves are equal to the excess of a loan’s carrying value to the net present value of its expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective rate or the fair value of the collateral, less estimated costs to sell, if recovery of our investment is expected from the sale of the collateral.
If we have determined that a loan or a portion of a loan is uncollectible, we will write-off the loan through an adjustment to our current expected credit loss reserve based on the net present value of expected future cash flows or the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell, if repayment is expected from the sale of the collateral. Significant judgment is required in determining impairment and in estimating the resulting credit loss reserve, and actual losses, if any, could materially differ from those estimates.
Real estate owned, net
We may assume legal title or physical possession of the underlying collateral of a defaulted loan through foreclosure. Foreclosed real estate owned, net is initially recorded at estimated fair value and is presented net of accumulated depreciation and impairment charges and the assets and liabilities are presented separately when legal title or physical possession is assumed. If the fair value of the real estate is lower than the carrying value of the loan,
the difference, along with any previously recorded specific CECL reserves, are recorded as a realized loss on investments in the consolidated statement of operations. Conversely, if the fair value of the real estate is greater than the carrying value of the loan, the difference, along with any previously recorded specific CECL reserves, are recorded as a realized gain on investments in the consolidated statement of operations.
Acquisition of real estate is accounted for using the acquisition method under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 805, "Business Combinations." We recognize and measure identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, if applicable, based on their relative fair values. If applicable, we recognize and measure intangible assets and expense acquisition-related costs in the periods in which the costs are incurred and the services are received.
Real estate assets that are acquired for investment are assumed at their estimated fair value at acquisition and presented net of accumulated depreciation and impairment charges, if any. Upon acquisition, we allocate the value of acquired real estate assets based on the fair value of the acquired land, building, furniture, fixtures and equipment, and intangible assets, if applicable. Real estate assets are depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 5 to 40 years.
Real estate assets are evaluated for indicators of impairment on a quarterly basis. Factors that we may consider in our impairment analysis include, among others: (1) significant underperformance relative to historical or anticipated operating results; (2) significant negative industry or economic trends; (3) costs necessary to extend the life or improve the real estate asset; (4) significant increase in competition; and (5) ability to hold and dispose of the real estate asset in the ordinary course of business. A real estate asset is considered impaired when the sum of estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the real estate asset over the estimated remaining holding period is less than the carrying amount of such real estate asset. Cash flows include operating cash flows net of anticipated capital proceeds generated by the real estate asset. If the sum of such estimated cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the real estate, an impairment charge is recorded equal to the excess of the carrying value of the real estate asset over the fair value.
When determining the fair value of a real estate asset, we make certain assumptions including, but not limited to, consideration of projected operating cash flows, comparable selling prices and projected cash flows from the eventual disposition of the real estate asset based upon our estimate of a capitalization rate and discount rate.

---

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Interest Rate Risk
Rising interest rates will generally increase our net interest income, while declining interest rates will generally decrease our net interest income.
During 2022, the Federal Reserve began a campaign to combat inflation by increasing interest rates by a total of 4.25% throughout the year. In January 2023, the Federal Reserve raised rates another 0.25% and signaled further increases in coming quarters. Higher interest rates imposed by the Federal Reserve may increase our interest expense and may impact the ability of our borrowers to service our debt.
The following table illustrates the impact on our interest income and interest expense for the twelve-month period following December 31, 2022, assuming a decrease in LIBOR or SOFR of 50 and 100 basis points and an increase in LIBOR or SOFR of 50 and 100 basis points in the applicable interest rate benchmark (based on one-month LIBOR of 4.39% and one-month term SOFR of 4.36% as of December 31, 2022) ($ in thousands, except per share data):
Decrease
Increase
Assets (Liabilities)
Subject to Interest Rate Sensitivity
Change in
100 Basis Points
50 Basis Points
50 Basis Points
100 Basis Points
$
1,720,864
Net interest income
$
(15,963
)
$
(7,982
)
$
7,982
$
15,963
Net interest income per share
$
(0.11
)
$
(0.06
)
$
0.06
$
0.11
LIBOR Transition
On March 5, 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority of the U.K. (the “FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced (the “FCA Announcement”) that all relevant LIBOR tenors will cease to be published or will no longer be representative after June 30, 2023. The FCA Announcement coincides with the March 5, 2021 announcement of LIBOR’s administrator, the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (the “IBA”), indicating that, as a result of not having access to input data necessary to calculate relevant LIBOR tenors on a representative basis after June 30, 2023, the IBA would have to cease publication of such LIBOR tenors immediately after the last publication on June 30, 2023. Further, on March 15, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which includes the Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act, was signed into law in the United States. This legislation establishes a uniform benchmark replacement process for financial contracts maturing after June 30, 2023 that do not contain clearly defined or practicable fallback provisions. The legislation also creates a safe harbor that shields lenders from litigation if they choose to utilize a replacement rate recommended by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.
The United States Federal Reserve has also advised banks to cease entering into new contracts that use USD LIBOR as a reference rate. The Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rate Committee, a committee convened by the Federal Reserve that includes major market participants, has identified the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or SOFR, a new index calculated by short-term repurchase agreements, backed by Treasury securities, as its preferred alternative rate for LIBOR. There are significant differences between LIBOR and SOFR, such as LIBOR being an unsecured lending rate while SOFR is a secured lending rate, and SOFR is an overnight rate while LIBOR reflects term rates at different maturities. If our LIBOR-based borrowings are converted to SOFR, the differences between LIBOR and SOFR, could result in higher interest costs for us, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Although SOFR is the ARRC’s recommended replacement rate, it is also possible that lenders may instead choose alternative replacement rates that may differ from LIBOR in ways similar to SOFR or in other ways that would result in higher interest costs for us. We cannot predict the effect of the decision not to sustain LIBOR, or the potential transition to SOFR or another alternative reference rate as LIBOR’s replacement.
Credit Risk
Our loans and other investments are also subject to credit risk, including the risk of default. In particular, changes in general economic conditions will affect the creditworthiness of borrowers and/or the value of underlying real estate collateral relating to our investments. By its very nature, our investment strategy emphasizes prudent risk management and capital preservation by primarily originating senior loans utilizing underwriting techniques resulting in relatively conservative loan-to-value ratio levels to insulate us from loan losses absent a significant diminution in collateral value. In addition, we seek to manage credit risk through performance of extensive due diligence on our collateral, borrower and guarantors, as applicable, that evaluates, among other things, title, environmental and physical condition of collateral, comparable sales and leasing analysis of similar collateral, the quality of and alternative uses for the real estate collateral being underwritten, submarket trends, our borrower’s track record and the reasonableness of the borrower’s projections prior to originating a loan. Subsequent to loan origination, we also manage credit risk through proactive investment monitoring and, whenever possible, limiting our own leverage to partial recourse or non-recourse, match-funding financing. Notwithstanding these efforts, there can be no assurance that we will be able to avoid losses in all circumstances. The performance and value of our loans and investments depend upon the borrower’s ability to improve and operate the properties that serve as our collateral so that they produce cash flows adequate to pay interest and principal due to us. To monitor this risk, our Sponsor’s asset management team monitors the performance of our loan portfolio and our Sponsor’s asset management and origination teams maintain regular contact with borrowers, co-lenders and local market experts to monitor the performance of the underlying loan collateral, anticipate borrower, property and market issues and, to the extent necessary or appropriate, enforce our rights as the lender.
In addition, we are exposed to the risks generally associated with the CRE market, including variances in occupancy rates, capitalization rates, absorption rates and other macroeconomic factors beyond our control. We seek to manage these risks through our underwriting, loan structuring, financing structuring and asset management processes.
In the event that we are forced to foreclose, our broader Sponsor platform includes professionals experienced in CRE development, ownership, property management and asset management which enables us to execute the workout of a troubled loan and protect investors’ capital in a way that we believe many non-traditional lenders cannot.
Capital Markets Risks
We are exposed to risks related to the equity and debt capital markets and our related ability to raise capital through the issuance of our common stock or other debt or equity-related instruments. As a REIT, we are required to distribute a significant portion of our REIT taxable income annually, which constrains our ability to retain and accumulate operating earnings and therefore requires us to utilize debt or equity capital to finance the growth of our business. We seek to mitigate these risks by monitoring the debt and equity capital markets, the maturity profile of our in-place loan portfolio related to secured financings, and future loan funding requirements to inform our decisions on the amount, timing and terms of capital we raise.
Each of the repurchase facilities involves “margin maintenance” provisions, which are designed to allow the repurchase lender to maintain a certain margin of credit enhancement against the loan assets which serve as collateral. A substantial deterioration in the commercial real estate capital markets may negatively impact the value of assets pledge to lenders that have margin maintenance provisions in their facilities. The lender’s margin amount is typically based on a percentage of the market value of the loan asset and/or mortgaged property collateral. However, certain of our repurchase facilities permit valuation adjustments solely as a result of collateral-specific credit events, while other repurchase facilities contain provisions also allowing our lenders to make margin calls or require additional collateral upon the occurrence of adverse changes in the markets or interest rate or spread fluctuations, subject to minimum thresholds, among other factors. As of December 31, 2022 we have not received any margin calls under any of our repurchase facilities.
Prepayment Risk
Prepayment risk is the risk that principal will be repaid prior to initial maturity, which may require us to identify new investment opportunities to deploy such capital at a similar rate of return in order to avoid an overall reduction in our net interest income. We may structure our loans with spread maintenance, minimum multiples and make-whole provisions to protect against early repayment. Typically, investments are structured with the equivalent of 12 to 24 months’ spread maintenance or a minimum level of income that an investment is contractually obligated to return. In general, an increase in prepayment rates accelerates the accretion of deferred income, including origination fees and exit fees, which increases interest income earned on the asset during the period of repayment. Conversely, if capital that is repaid is not subsequently redeployed into investment opportunities generating a similar return, future periods may experience reduced net interest income.
Repayment / Extension Risk
Loans are expected to be repaid at maturity, unless the borrower repays early or meets contractual conditions to qualify for a maturity extension. However, in the case of a loan maturity extension, we are often entitled to extension fees, principal paydowns and/or spread increases. Our Manager computes the projected weighted average life of our assets based on the initial and fully extended scheduled maturity dates of loans in our portfolio. Higher interest rates imposed by the Federal Reserve may lead to an increase in the number of our borrowers who exercise extension options, which could extend beyond the term of certain secured financing agreements we use to finance our loan investments. This could have a negative impact on our results of operations, and in some situations, we may be forced to sell assets to maintain adequate liquidity, which could cause us to incur losses.
Counterparty Risk
The nature of our business requires us to hold cash and cash equivalents and obtain financing from various financial institutions. This exposes us to the risk that these financial institutions may not fulfill their obligations to us under these various contractual arrangements. We mitigate this exposure by depositing our cash and cash equivalents and entering into financing agreements with high credit-quality institutions.
The nature of our loans and other investments also exposes us to the risk that our loan counterparties are unable to execute their business plans, and as a result do not make required interest and principal payments on scheduled due dates, as well as the impact of our borrowers’ tenants not making scheduled rent payments when contractually due. We seek to manage this risk through a comprehensive credit analysis prior to making an investment and rigorous monitoring of our borrowers’ progress in executing their business plans as well as market conditions that may affect the underlying collateral, through our asset management process. Each loan is structured with various lender
protections that are designed to prevent fraudulent behavior or other bad acts by borrowers, as well as require borrowers to adhere to their stated business plans while the loan is outstanding. Such protections may include, without limitation: cash management accounts, “bad boy” carveout guarantees, completion guarantees, guarantor minimum net worth and liquidity requirements, approval rights over major decisions, and performance tests throughout the loan term.
Our relationships with our repurchase agreement providers subject us to counterparty risks in the event a counterparty is unable to fund its undrawn credit capacity, particularly in the event of a counterparty’s bankruptcy. We seek to manage this risk by diversifying our financing sources across counterparties and financing types.
Currency Risk
To date, we have made no loans and hold no assets or liabilities denominated or payable in foreign currencies, although we may do so in the future.
We may in the future hold assets denominated or payable in foreign currencies, which would expose us to foreign currency risk. As a result, a change in foreign currency exchange rates may have a positive or an adverse impact on the valuation of our assets, as well as our income and dividends. Any such changes in foreign currency exchange rates may impact the measurement of such assets or income for the purposes of our REIT tests and may affect the amounts available for payment of dividends to our stockholders.
Although not required, if applicable, we may hedge any currency exposures in a prudent manner. However, such currency hedging strategies may not eliminate all of our currency risk due to, among other things, uncertainties in the timing and/or amount of payments received on the related investments and/or unequal, inaccurate or unavailability of hedges to perfectly offset changes in future exchange rates. Additionally, we may be required under certain circumstances to collateralize our currency hedges for the benefit of the hedge counterparty, which could adversely affect our liquidity.
Real Estate Risk
The market values of loans secured directly or indirectly by CRE assets are subject to volatility and may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic discussed above, national, regional, local and foreign economic conditions (which may be adversely affected by industry slowdowns and other factors); regional or local real estate conditions; changes or continued weakness in specific industry segments; construction quality, age and design; demographic factors; changes to building or similar codes and regulatory requirements (such as rent control); and changes in real property tax rates. In addition, decreases in property values reduce the value of the loan collateral and the potential proceeds available to a borrower to repay the underlying loans, which could also cause us to suffer losses. We seek to manage these risks through our underwriting, loan structuring, financing structuring and asset management processes.
Financing Risk
We finance our business through a variety of means, including the syndication of non-consolidated senior interests, notes payable, borrowings under our repurchase facilities, the syndication of pari passu portions of our loans, the syndication of senior participations in our originated senior loans, and our secured term loan. Over time, as market conditions change, we may use other forms of financing in addition to these methods of financing. Weakness or volatility in the debt capital markets, the CRE and mortgage markets, changes in regulatory requirements, and the economy generally, in particular as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent rapid increase in interest rates that central banks are using to combat inflation could adversely affect one or more of our lenders or potential lenders and could cause one or more of our lenders or potential lenders to be unwilling or unable to provide us with financing or to increase the costs of that financing or otherwise offer unattractive terms for that financing. In addition, we may seek to finance our business through the issuance of our common stock or other equity or equity-related instruments, though there is no assurance that such financing will be available on a timely basis with attractive terms, or at all.

---

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 238)
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Schedule IV - Mortgage Loans on Real Estate
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of changes in stockholders’ equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes and financial statement schedule as of December 31, 2022 listed in the accompanying index (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for credit losses in 2021.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
General Current Expected Credit Loss Reserve - Loan Risk Ratings
As described in Notes 2 and 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s general current expected credit loss (CECL) reserve was $86.1 million on loans receivable held-for-investment and unfunded loan commitments of $9.1 billion as of December 31, 2022. Management arrives at their general CECL reserve using the Weighted Average Remaining Maturity, or WARM method. The application of the WARM method to estimate a general CECL reserve requires judgment, including the appropriate historical loan loss reference data, the expected timing and amount of future loan fundings and repayments, the current credit quality of the portfolio, and management’s expectations of performance and market conditions over the relevant time period. Management evaluates the credit quality of each of the loans receivable on an individual basis and assigns a risk rating at least quarterly. Management developed a loan grading system for all outstanding loans receivable that are collateralized directly or indirectly by real estate. Grading criteria include as-is or as-stabilized debt yield, term of loan, property type, property or collateral location, loan type and other more subjective variables that include, as-is or as-stabilized collateral value, market conditions, industry conditions and sponsor’s financial stability. Management utilizes the grading system to determine each loan’s risk of loss and to provide a determination as to whether an individual loan is impaired and whether a specific CECL reserve is necessary.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the loan risk ratings used in the determination of the general CECL reserve is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management in evaluating the credit quality and assigning the loan risk ratings,used in estimating the general CECL reserve and (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence related to management’s significant judgments in evaluating the credit quality and assigning the loan risk ratings.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s evaluation of the credit quality and assignment of a loan risk rating to each loan which is used in estimating the general CECL reserve. These procedures also included, among others, testing management’s process for evaluating the credit quality and assigning the loan risk ratings used in estimating the general CECL reserve. Testing management’s process included (i) evaluating the appropriateness of management’s loan grading criteria and evaluating the reasonableness of the loan risk ratings applied which involved considering
leasing trends, property financial statements, and other evidence utilized by management to support their conclusions, and (ii) testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data used in assigning loan risk ratings.
Specific Current Expected Credit Loss Reserve
As described in Notes 2 and 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s specific current expected credit loss (CECL) reserve was $60.3 million on loans receivable held-for-investment of $347.6 million as of December 31, 2022. In certain circumstances, management may determine that a loan is no longer suited for the WARM method due to its unique risk characteristics, where management has deemed the borrower/sponsor to be experiencing financial difficulty and the repayment of the loan’s principal is collateral-dependent. Management may instead elect to employ different methods to estimate loan losses that also conform to ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses, and related guidance. For such loans, management would measure the specific reserve of each loan separately by using the fair value of the collateral or the net present value of its expected future cash flows. Specific reserves are equal to the excess of a loan’s carrying value to the net present value of its expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective rate or the fair value of the collateral, less estimated costs to sell, if recovery of the investment is expected from the sale of the collateral. The fair market value used to determine specific CECL reserves was calculated using a discounted cash flow model, a sales comparison approach, or a market capitalization approach. This included assumptions of property-specific cash flows over estimated holding periods, discount rates, and market capitalization rates. These assumptions are based upon the nature of the properties, recent sales and lease comparables, and anticipated real estate and capital market conditions.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the specific CECL reserve is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management in estimating the fair value of the collateral used in measuring the specific CECL reserve; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s market capitalization rate assumption; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to the specific CECL reserve, including controls over the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the collateral. These procedures also included, among others, testing management’s process for estimating the fair value of the collateral used in measuring the specific CECL reserve. Testing management’s process included (i) the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in evaluating the appropriateness of the valuation methods and evaluating the reasonableness of the market capitalization rate assumption and (ii) testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data used in the valuation methods.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 16, 2023
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
($ in thousands, except share data)
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$
306,456
$
310,194
Restricted cash
41,703
23,942
Loan principal payments held by servicer
-
154,600
Loans receivable held-for-investment
7,489,074
6,407,305
Less: current expected credit loss reserve
(128,647
)
(67,010
)
Loans receivable held-for-investment, net
7,360,427
6,340,295
Equity method investment
41,880
-
Interests in loans receivable held-for-investment, net
-
161,850
Real estate owned, net
401,189
406,887
Other assets
89,858
57,503
Total assets
$
8,241,513
$
7,455,271
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Repurchase agreements
$
3,966,859
$
3,489,511
Term participation facility
257,531
-
Loan participations sold, net
263,798
167,744
Notes payable, net
149,521
48,000
Secured term loan, net
736,853
739,762
Debt related to real estate owned, net
289,389
289,806
Other liabilities
59,223
54,457
Dividends payable
52,001
51,741
Management fee payable - affiliate
9,867
9,983
Total liabilities
5,785,042
4,851,004
Commitments and contingencies - Note 14
Stockholders' Equity
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 140,055,714 and
140,055,714 shares issued and 138,376,144 and 139,840,088 shares outstanding at
December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively
1,400
1,400
Additional paid-in capital
2,712,316
2,726,190
Accumulated deficit
(257,245
)
(160,959
)
Total Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. equity
2,456,471
2,566,631
Non-controlling interests
-
37,636
Total stockholders' equity
2,456,471
2,604,267
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
8,241,513
$
7,455,271
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
($ in thousands, except share and per share data)
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
December 31, 2020
Revenue
Interest and related income
$
470,668
$
415,263
$
445,940
Less: interest and related expense
246,937
180,589
172,232
Net interest income
223,731
234,674
273,708
Revenue from real estate owned
63,470
27,984
-
Total revenue
287,201
262,658
273,708
Expenses
Management fees - affiliate
39,461
39,135
38,960
Incentive fees - affiliate
-
-
7,766
General and administrative expenses
18,686
12,591
9,004
Stock-based compensation expense
7,457
8,812
5,670
Real estate owned:
Operating expenses
41,982
25,081
-
Interest expense
14,170
15,643
-
Depreciation
8,041
7,113
-
Total expenses
129,797
108,375
61,400
Realized gain (loss) on sale of loan
30,090
(141
)
(640
)
Proceeds from interest rate cap
-
-
Unrealized gain on interest rate cap
6,042
-
-
Gain on foreclosure of real estate owned
-
1,430
-
Income from equity method investment
2,485
-
-
Other income
-
5,855
-
(Provision for) reversal of current expected credit loss reserve
(84,361
)
8,962
(6,000
)
Net income
$
112,155
$
170,389
$
205,668
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
(164
)
3,259
Net income attributable to preferred stock
-
Net income attributable to common stock
$
112,064
$
170,537
$
202,378
Net income per share of common stock:
Basic and diluted
$
0.79
$
1.27
$
1.52
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic and diluted
139,306,311
134,539,645
132,980,316
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
($ in thousands, except share data)
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Shares
Par
Value
Shares
Par
Value
Repurchased Shares
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
Accumulated Deficit
Non-controlling
Interests
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
Redeemable
Common
Stock
Balance at December 31, 2019
$
122,041,736
$
1,220
-
$
2,417,375
$
(34,308
)
$
46,535
$
2,431,072
$
141,735
Issuance of common stock
-
-
3,500,000
-
69,965
-
-
70,000
-
Redemption of preferred stock
(125
)
(125
)
-
-
-
-
-
-
(125
)
Stock-based compensation expense
-
-
-
-
-
5,808
-
-
5,808
-
Contributions from non-controlling interests
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,029
1,029
-
Offering costs
-
-
-
-
-
(916
)
-
-
(916
)
(53
)
Dividends declared
-
(31
)
-
-
-
-
(204,434
)
-
(204,465
)
(11,830
)
Distributions to non-controlling interests
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(15,537
)
(15,537
)
-
Accretion of redeemable common stock
-
-
-
-
-
(396
)
-
-
(396
)
Net income
-
-
-
-
-
191,270
3,259
194,560
11,108
Balance at December 31, 2020
$
125,541,736
$
1,255
-
$
2,491,836
$
(47,472
)
$
35,286
$
2,481,030
$
141,356
Adoption of ASU 2016-13
-
-
-
-
-
-
(73,975
)
-
(73,975
)
(4,276
)
Issuance of common stock
-
-
7,206,994
-
102,968
-
-
103,040
-
Redemption of preferred stock
(125
)
(125
)
-
-
-
-
-
-
(125
)
-
Stock-based compensation expense
-
-
-
-
-
2,929
-
-
2,929
-
Repurchased shares
-
-
-
-
(215,626
)
(3,602
)
-
-
(3,602
)
-
Contributions from non-controlling interests
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,514
2,514
-
Offering costs
-
-
-
-
-
(11,824
)
-
-
(11,824
)
(14
)
Dividends declared
-
(16
)
-
-
-
-
(194,945
)
-
(194,961
)
(8,214
)
Accretion of redeemable common stock
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1
)
-
(1
)
Conversion of temporary equity to
permanent equity
-
-
7,306,984
-
143,883
(5,875
)
-
138,081
(138,081
)
Net income (loss)
-
-
-
-
-
161,309
(164
)
161,161
9,228
Balance at December 31, 2021
-
$
-
140,055,714
$
1,400
(215,626
)
$
2,726,190
$
(160,959
)
$
37,636
$
2,604,267
$
Repurchased shares
-
-
-
-
(1,463,944
)
(21,398
)
-
-
(21,398
)
-
Contributions from non-controlling interests
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Offering costs
-
-
-
-
-
(30
)
-
-
(30
)
-
Stock-based compensation expense
-
-
-
-
-
7,554
-
-
7,554
-
Dividends declared
-
-
-
-
-
-
(208,350
)
-
(208,350
)
-
Net income
-
-
-
-
-
-
112,064
112,155
-
Deconsolidation of subsidiary
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(38,633
)
(38,633
)
-
Balance at December 31, 2022
-
$
-
140,055,714
$
1,400
(1,679,570
)
$
2,712,316
$
(257,245
)
$
-
$
2,456,471
$
-
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
($ in thousands)
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
December 31, 2020
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income
$
112,155
$
170,389
$
205,668
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Accretion of origination fees on loans receivable
(24,763
)
(25,237
)
(27,859
)
Accretion of origination fees on interests in loans receivable
(204
)
(1,250
)
(451
)
Amortization of financing costs
20,454
21,307
19,638
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense
7,554
8,812
5,670
Other income
-
(5,855
)
-
Depreciation on real estate owned
8,041
7,113
-
Unrealized gain on interest rate cap
(6,042
)
-
-
Income from equity method investment
(2,485
)
-
-
Distribution from equity method investment
-
-
Realized gain on sale of loan
(30,090
)
Gain on foreclosure of real estate owned
-
(1,430
)
-
Non-cash advances on loans receivable in lieu of interest
(78,452
)
(69,291
)
(90,065
)
Non-cash advances on interests in loans receivable in
lieu of interest
(2,427
)
(18,733
)
(13,782
)
Non-cash advances on secured financings in lieu of interest
18,134
19,869
Repayment of non-cash advances on loans receivable in
lieu of interest
21,609
126,865
15,784
Repayment of non-cash advances on interests in loans receivable in
lieu of interest
13,178
27,903
1,566
Repayment of non-cash advances on secured financings in
lieu of interest
-
(40,556
)
(1,238
)
Provision for (reversal of) current expected credit loss reserve
84,361
(8,962
)
6,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other assets
(25,757
)
(602
)
Other liabilities
12,602
4,862
Management fee payable - affiliate
(51
)
Incentive fee payable - affiliate
-
(187
)
(3,050
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
111,028
213,557
140,495
Cash flows from investing activities
Deconsolidation of subsidiary
(515
)
-
-
Loan originations, acquisitions and advances, net of fees
(2,597,799
)
(2,924,699
)
(791,667
)
Advances of interests in loans receivable
(14,653
)
(101,767
)
(118,582
)
Repayments of loans receivable
1,539,364
2,312,184
535,565
Repayments of interests in loans receivable
165,468
269,988
15,417
Extension and exit fees received from loans receivable
6,625
9,269
2,048
Extension and exit fees received from interests in loans receivable
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash acquired from
foreclosure of properties
-
9,580
-
Foreclosure of real estate owned
-
(11,463
)
-
Sale of loans receivable
132,151
48,006
151,017
Reserves and deposits held for loans receivable
(2,102
)
15,441
(3,112
)
Capital expenditures on real estate owned
(2,343
)
-
-
Net cash used in investing activities
(773,302
)
(373,196
)
(208,861
)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
($ in thousands)
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31, 2021
December 31, 2020
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
-
103,040
70,000
Repurchase of common stock
(21,398
)
(3,602
)
-
Redemption of preferred stock
-
(125
)
(125
)
Contributions from non-controlling interests
2,514
1,029
Offering costs
(300
)
(13,068
)
(949
)
Dividends paid on common stock and restricted stock units
(208,090
)
(196,712
)
(207,569
)
Dividends paid on redeemable common stock
-
(8,214
)
(12,431
)
Dividends paid on preferred stock
-
(16
)
(31
)
Distributions to non-controlling interests
-
-
(15,537
)
Proceeds from secured financings
2,248,013
1,997,562
817,159
Proceeds from secured term loan
-
-
325,000
Payment of financing costs
(24,104
)
(22,652
)
(30,124
)
Payment of exit fees on secured financings
-
(864
)
(138
)
Repayments of secured financings
(1,311,103
)
(1,779,225
)
(779,641
)
Repayments of secured term loan
(7,627
)
(5,837
)
(5,321
)
Repayments of debt related to real estate owned
-
(10,000
)
-
Net cash provided by financing activities
676,297
62,801
161,322
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
14,023
(96,838
)
92,956
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period
334,136
430,974
338,018
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period
$
348,159
$
334,136
$
430,974
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
306,456
$
310,194
$
427,512
Restricted cash, end of period
41,703
23,942
3,462
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period
$
348,159
$
334,136
$
430,974
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest
$
227,631
$
158,729
$
131,579
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Dividends accrued
$
52,001
$
51,741
$
53,480
Loan principal payments held by servicer
$
-
$
154,600
$
12,980
Accrued financing costs
$
3,750
$
6,250
$
Accrued offering costs
$
-
$
$
1,516
Deposits applied against sale proceeds
$
14,761
$
-
$
-
Deconsolidation of subsidiary:
Loan receivable
$
78,507
$
-
$
-
Other assets
-
-
Other liabilities
(130
)
-
-
Management fee payable - affiliate
(65
)
-
-
Net carrying value of deconsolidated subsidiary's net assets
$
78,329
$
-
$
-
Working capital consolidated
$
-
$
(18,546
)
$
-
Settlement of loan receivable
$
-
$
(103,901
)
$
-
Real estate acquired in settlement of loan receivable
$
-
$
414,000
$
-
Assumption of debt related to real estate owned
$
-
$
(300,000
)
$
-
Conversion of restricted stock units to common stock; common stock
$
-
$
$
-
Conversion of restricted stock units to common stock; additional paid in capital
$
-
$
(17
)
$
-
Conversion of temporary equity to permanent equity; redeemable common stock
$
-
$
(138,081
)
$
-
Conversion of temporary equity to permanent equity; stockholder's equity
$
-
$
138,081
$
-
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1. Organization
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. (referred to throughout this report as the “Company,” “we”, “us” and “our”) is a Maryland Corporation formed on April 29, 2015 for the purpose of creating a diversified portfolio of income-producing loans collateralized by institutional quality commercial real estate. We commenced operations on August 25, 2015 (“Commencement of Operations”) and generally conduct our business through wholly-owned subsidiaries. Unless the context requires otherwise, any references to the Company refers to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. The Company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “CMTG”.
We elected and intend to maintain our qualification to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Internal Revenue Code"), for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, we generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax on that portion of our income that we distribute to stockholders. See Note 13 - Income Taxes regarding taxes applicable to the Company.
We are externally managed by Claros REIT Management LP (the “Manager”), our affiliate, through a management agreement (the "Management Agreement") pursuant to which the Manager provides a management team and other professionals who are responsible for implementing our business strategy, subject to the supervision of our board of directors (the "Board"). In exchange for its services, the Manager is entitled to management fees and incentive fees. See Note 11 - Related Party Transactions regarding the Management Agreement.
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
We consolidate all entities that are controlled either through majority ownership or voting rights. We also identify entities for which control is achieved through means other than through voting rights (a variable interest entity or "VIE") using the analysis as set forth in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 810, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities and determines when and which variable interest holder, if any, should consolidate the VIE. We have no consolidated variable interest entities as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates that are particularly susceptible to our judgment include, but are not limited to, the adequacy of current expected credit loss reserve and impairment of certain assets.
Risks and Uncertainties
In the normal course of business, we primarily encounter two significant types of economic risk: credit and market. Credit risk is the risk of default on our loans receivable that results from a borrower's or counterparty's inability or unwillingness to make contractually required payments. Market risk reflects changes in the value of the loans receivable due to changes in interest rates, spreads or other market factors, including risks that impact the value of the collateral underlying our investments. We believe that the carrying values of our loans receivable are reasonable taking into consideration these risks along with estimated financings, collateral values and other information.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic has evolved since its onset during the first quarter of 2020, and while the global economy has begun to recover, uncertainty around future developments remain. COVID-19 has also affected global supply chains, the labor market, and inflation, which continue to impact many industries, including the collateral underlying certain of our loans. In response, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates in 2022 and has indicated that it foresees further interest rate increases in 2023. The overall impact to the global economy will depend largely on the recovery of disrupted supply chains and industries, the extent of the labor market interruptions, the result of the Federal Reserves’ policies, and other government interventions. The current and future financial, economic and capital markets environment could remain uneven, and presents uncertainty and risk with respect to the performance of our loans receivable and real estate owned, our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and ability to pay dividends.
On March 5, 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority of the U.K. (the “FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced (the “FCA Announcement”) that all relevant LIBOR tenors will cease to be published or will no longer be representative after June 30, 2023. The FCA Announcement coincides with the March 5, 2021 announcement of LIBOR’s administrator, the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (the “IBA”), indicating that, as a result of not having access to input data necessary to calculate relevant LIBOR tenors on a representative basis after June 30, 2023, the IBA would have to cease publication of such LIBOR tenors immediately after the last publication on June 30, 2023. Further, on March 15, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which includes the Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act, was signed into law in the United States. This legislation establishes a uniform benchmark replacement process for financial contracts maturing after June 30, 2023 that do not contain clearly defined or practicable fallback provisions. The legislation also creates a safe harbor that shields lenders from litigation if they choose to utilize a replacement rate recommended by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.
The United States Federal Reserve has also advised banks to cease entering into new contracts that use USD LIBOR as a reference rate. The Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rate Committee, a committee convened by the Federal Reserve that includes major market participants, has identified the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or SOFR, a new index calculated by short-term repurchase agreements, backed by Treasury securities, as its preferred alternative rate for LIBOR. There are significant differences between LIBOR and SOFR, such as LIBOR being an unsecured lending rate while SOFR is a secured lending rate, and SOFR is an overnight rate while LIBOR reflects term rates at different maturities. If our LIBOR-based borrowings are converted to SOFR, the differences between LIBOR and SOFR, could result in higher interest costs for us, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Although SOFR is the ARRC’s recommended replacement rate, it is also possible that lenders may instead choose alternative replacement rates that may differ from LIBOR in ways similar to SOFR or in other ways that would result in higher interest costs for us. We cannot predict the effect of the decision not to sustain LIBOR, or the potential transition to SOFR or another alternative reference rate as LIBOR’s replacement.
Regardless, there can be no assurances as to what additional alternative base rates may be and whether such base rate will be more or less favorable than LIBOR and any other unforeseen impacts of the discontinuation of LIBOR. We are actively assessing and monitoring the risks associated with the planned discontinuation or unavailability of certain reference rates, including LIBOR, and the transition to alternative reference rates, but can provide no assurances regarding the impact of the discontinuation of LIBOR.
Tax Risks - We are subject to significant tax risks. If we fail to maintain our qualification as a REIT in a given taxable year, we may be subject to penalties as well as federal, state and local income tax on our taxable income, which could be material. We will also not be able to qualify as a REIT for the subsequent four taxable years, unless entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions.
A REIT must distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains. In addition to the 90% distribution requirement, a REIT is subject to a nondeductible excise tax if it fails to make certain minimum distributions by calendar year-end. The excise tax imposed is equal to 4% of the excess of the required distribution (specified under U.S. federal tax law) over the distributed amount for such year. Distribution of the remaining balance may extend until timely filing of the REIT’s tax return in the subsequent taxable year. Qualifying distributions of taxable income are deductible by a REIT in computing taxable income.
Regulatory Risks - We are subject to significant regulatory risks. If we were unable to rely upon an exemption from registration available under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, we could be required to
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
restructure its assets or activities, including the disposition of assets during periods of adverse market conditions that could result in material losses to us.
Loans Receivable Held-for-Investment
Loans that we have originated or acquired and have the intent and ability to hold to maturity or payoff are reported at their unpaid principal balances net of any unearned income, unamortized deferred fees and expected credit losses, if applicable. Loan origination, extension and exit fees are deferred and recognized in interest income over the estimated life of the loans using the effective interest method, adjusted for actual prepayments.
Interests in Loans Receivable Held-for-Investment
Loans that we have acquired in a transfer that did not meet the qualifications of a sale and have the intent and ability to hold to maturity or payoff are reported at their unpaid principal balances net of any unearned income, unamortized deferred fees and expected credit losses, if applicable. Loan discounts, extension fees and exit fees are deferred and recognized in interest income over the estimated life of the loans using the effective interest method, adjusted for actual prepayments.
Non-cash Advances in Lieu of Interest
We hold certain loans whereby a portion of the loan’s unfunded commitment may be used to fund monthly interest payments, so long as certain conditions are met. As a result, such loan’s unpaid principal balance increases on the interest payment date and we do not receive cash. This feature is referred to as non-cash advance in lieu of interest, and the increase in unpaid principal balance is reflected in the operating section of our consolidated statements of cash flows, as opposed to the investing section as if the cash had been directly advanced to a borrower. We also have certain financings that allow for non-cash advances in lieu of interest, and the increase in unpaid principal balance is reflected in the operating section of our consolidated statements of cash flows, as opposed to the financing section as if cash had been directly received by us.
Current Expected Credit Losses
The current expected credit loss (“CECL”) reserve required under ASU 2016-13 “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326)” (“ASU 2016-13”), reflects our current estimate of potential credit losses related to our loan portfolio. The initial CECL reserve recorded on January 1, 2021 was reflected as a direct charge to retained earnings on our consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity. Subsequent changes to the CECL reserve are recognized through a provision for or reversal of current expected credit loss reserve on our consolidated statements of operations. ASU 2016-13 specifies the reserve should be based on relevant information about past events, including historical loss experience, current portfolio, market conditions and reasonable and supportable macroeconomic forecasts for the duration of each loan.
General CECL Reserve
Our loans are typically collateralized by real estate, or in the case of mezzanine loans, by an equity interest in an entity that owns real estate. We consider key credit quality indicators in underwriting loans and estimating credit losses, including, but not limited to: the capitalization of borrowers and sponsors; the expertise of the borrowers and sponsors in a particular real estate sector and geographic market; collateral type; geographic region; use and occupancy of the property; property market value; loan-to-value (“LTV”) ratio; loan amount and lien position; our risk rating for the same and similar loans; and prior experience with the borrower and sponsor. This information is used to assess the financial and operating capability, experience and profitability of the borrower/sponsor. Ultimate repayment of our loans is sensitive to interest rate changes, general economic conditions, liquidity, LTV ratio, existence of a liquid investment sales market for commercial properties, and availability of replacement short-term or long-term financing.
We regularly evaluate on a loan-by-loan basis, the extent and impact of any credit deterioration associated with the performance and/or value of the underlying collateral property, the financial and operating capability of the borrower/sponsor, the financial strength of loan guarantors, if any, and the overall economic environment, real estate sector, and geographic sub-market in which the borrower operates, at least quarterly. Such analyses are completed and reviewed by asset management personnel and evaluated by senior management, who utilize various data sources,
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
including, to the extent available (i) periodic financial data such as property occupancy, tenant profile, rental rates, operating expenses, the borrower’s exit plan, and capitalization and discount rates, (ii) site inspections, (iii) sales and financing comparables, (iv) current credit spreads for refinancing and (v) other market data.
Commencing the third quarter of 2022, we arrived at our general CECL reserve using the Weighted Average Remaining Maturity, or WARM method, which is an acceptable loss-rate method for estimating CECL reserves by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"). The application of the WARM method to estimate a general CECL reserve requires judgment, including the appropriate historical loan loss reference data, the expected timing and amount of future loan fundings and repayments, the current credit quality of our portfolio, and our expectations of performance and market conditions over the relevant time period.
The WARM method requires us to reference historical loan loss data from a comparable data set and apply such loss rate to each of our loans over their expected remaining term, taking into consideration expected economic conditions over the forecasted timeframe. Our general CECL reserve reflects our forecast of the current and future macroeconomic conditions that impact the performance of the commercial real estate assets securing our loans and the borrower's ultimate ability to repay. These estimates include unemployment rates, price indices for commercial properties, and market liquidity, all of which may influence the likelihood and magnitude of potential credit losses for our loans during their anticipated term. Additionally, further adjustments may be made based upon loan positions senior to ours, the risk rating of a loan, whether a loan is a construction loan, or the economic conditions specific to the property type of a loan's underlying collateral.
To estimate an annual historical loss rate, we obtained historical loss rate data for loans most comparable to our loan portfolio from a commercial mortgage-backed securities database licensed by a third party, Trepp LLC, which contains historical loss rates from January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2022.
When evaluating the current and future macroeconomic environment, we consider the aforementioned macroeconomic factors. Historical data for each metric is compared to historical commercial real estate loan losses in order to determine the relationship between the two variables. We use projections of each macroeconomic factor, obtained from a third party, to approximate the impact the macroeconomic outlook may have on our loss rate. Selections of these economic forecasts require judgement about future events that, while based on the information available to us as of the balance sheet date, are ultimately unknowable with certainty, and the actual economic conditions could vary significantly from the estimates we made. Following a reasonable and supportable forecast period, we use a straight-line method of reverting to the historical loss rate. Additionally, we assess the obligation to extend credit through our unfunded loan commitments over each loan’s contractual period, adjusted for projected fundings from interest reserves if applicable, which is considered in the estimate of the general CECL reserve. For both the funded and unfunded portions of our loans, we consider our internal risk rating of each loan as the primary credit quality indicator underlying our assessment.
We evaluate the credit quality of each of our loans receivable on an individual basis and assign a risk rating at least quarterly. We have developed a loan grading system for all of our outstanding loans receivable that are collateralized directly or indirectly by real estate. Grading criteria include as-is or as-stabilized debt yield, term of loan, property type, property or collateral location, loan type and other more subjective variables that include as-is or as-stabilized collateral value, market conditions, industry conditions and sponsor’s financial stability. We utilize the grading system to determine each loan’s risk of loss and to provide a determination as to whether an individual loan is impaired and whether a specific CECL reserve is necessary. Based on a 5-point scale, the loans are graded “1” through “5,” from less risk to greater risk, which gradings are defined as follows:
1.Very Low Risk
2.Low Risk
3.Medium Risk
4.High Risk/Potential for Loss: A loan that has a risk of realizing a principal loss
5.Impaired/Loss Likely: A loan that has a very high risk of realizing a principal loss or has otherwise incurred a principal loss
Specific CECL Reserve
In certain circumstances we may determine that a loan is no longer suited for the WARM method due to its unique risk characteristics, where we have deemed the borrower/sponsor to be experiencing financial difficulty and
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
the repayment of the loan’s principal is collateral-dependent. We may instead elect to employ different methods to estimate loan losses that also conform to ASU 2016-13 and related guidance.
For such loan we would measure the specific reserve of each loan separately by using the fair value of the collateral or the net present value of its expected future cash flows. If the fair value of the collateral is less than the carrying value of the loan, an asset-specific reserve is created as a component of our overall current expected credit loss reserve (following the adoption of CECL, or as a loan loss reserve prior to the adoption of CECL). Specific reserves are equal to the excess of a loan’s carrying value to the net present value of its expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective rate or the fair value of the collateral, less estimated costs to sell, if recovery of our investment is expected from the sale of the collateral.
If we have determined that a loan or a portion of a loan is uncollectible, we will write-off the loan through an adjustment to our current expected credit loss reserve based on the net present value of expected future cash flows or the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell, if repayment is expected from the sale of the collateral. Significant judgment is required in determining impairment and in estimating the resulting credit loss reserve, and actual losses, if any, could materially differ from those estimates.
For additional information on our General and Specific CECL Reserve please refer to Note 3-"Loans Portfolio-Current Expected Credit Losses”.
Financial Instruments
Financial instruments held by us include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, loan principal payments held by servicer, loans receivable held-for-investment, interests in loans receivable held for investment, other assets, other liabilities, repurchase agreements, term participations, notes payable, loan participations sold, secured term loans and debt related to real estate owned. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, loan principal payments held by servicer, and other liabilities approximates their current carrying amount.
GAAP requires the categorization of the fair value of financial instruments into three broad levels that form a hierarchy based on the transparency of inputs to the valuation. See Note 8 - Fair Value Measurements for details of our valuation policy.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
We consider all investments with original maturities of three months or less, at the time of acquisition, to be cash equivalents. We maintain cash accounts which from time to time exceed the insured maximum of $250,000 per account. The carrying amount of such cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash includes reserve balances for interest, real estate taxes, and insurance, as well as lockbox accounts held pursuant to the terms of certain financings. The carrying amount of restricted cash approximates fair value.
Real Estate Owned (and Associated Debt)
We may assume legal title or physical possession of the underlying collateral of a defaulted loan through foreclosure. If we intend to hold, operate or develop the property for a period of at least 12 months, the asset is classified as real estate owned, net. If we intend to market a property for sale in the near subsequent term, the asset is classified as real estate held for sale. Real estate owned is initially recorded at estimated fair value and is subsequently presented net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using a straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 5 to 40 years.
Real estate assets are evaluated for indicators of impairment on a quarterly basis. Factors that we may consider in our impairment analysis include, among others: (1) significant underperformance relative to historical or anticipated operating results; (2) significant negative industry or economic trends; (3) costs necessary to extend the life or improve the real estate asset; (4) significant increase in competition; and (5) ability to hold and dispose of the real estate asset in the ordinary course of business. A real estate asset is considered impaired when the sum of estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the real estate asset over the estimated remaining holding period is less than the carrying amount of such real estate asset. Cash flows include operating cash flows net of anticipated capital proceeds generated by the real estate asset. If the sum of such estimated cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the real estate, an impairment charge is recorded equal to the excess of the carrying value of the real estate
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
asset over the fair value. When determining the fair value of a real estate asset, we make certain assumptions including, but not limited to, consideration of projected operating cash flows, comparable selling prices and projected cash flows from the eventual disposition of the real estate asset based upon our estimate of a capitalization rate and discount rate. There were no impairments of our real estate owned as of December 31, 2022.
Debt assumed in an acquisition/foreclosure of real estate is recorded at its estimated fair value at the time of the acquisition and is subsequently presented net of unamortized debt issuance costs. Debt related to real estate owned is non-recourse to us.
Equity Method Investment
We account for our investments in entities in which we have the ability to significantly influence, but do not have a controlling interest, by using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method for which we have not elected a fair value option, the investment, originally recorded at cost, is adjusted to recognize our share of earnings or losses as they occur and for additional contributions made or distributions received. We look at the nature of the cash distributions received to determine the proper character of cash flow distributions on the accompanying consolidated statement of cash flows as either returns on investment, which would be included in operating activities, or returns of investment, which would be included in investing activities.
At each reporting period we assess whether there are any indicators of other than temporary impairment of our equity investments. There were no other than temporary impairments of our equity method investment as of December 31, 2022.
Derivative Financial Instruments
In the normal course of business, we are exposed to the effect of interest rate changes and may undertake a strategy to limit these risks through the use of derivatives. We may use derivatives primarily to reduce the impact that increases in interest rates will have on our floating rate liabilities, which may consist of interest rate swaps, interest rate caps, collars, and floors.
We recognize derivatives on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value within other assets. To determine the fair value of derivative instruments, we use a variety of methods and assumptions that are based on market conditions as of the balance sheet date, such as discounted cash flows and option-pricing models.
We have not designated any derivatives as hedges to qualify for hedge accounting for financial reporting purposes and fluctuations in the fair value of derivatives have been recognized as unrealized gain on interest rate cap in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Payments received from our counterparties in connection with our derivative are recognized on our consolidated statements of operations as proceeds from interest rate cap.
Other Assets
Other assets include accrued interest receivable, miscellaneous receivables, prepaid expenses, deferred tax asset (net of any valuation allowance), deposits funded relating to unclosed transactions, deferred financing costs related to certain financing facilities, derivative financial instruments, and repurchased shares not yet settled.
Deferred Financing Costs
Deferred financing costs included within other assets on our consolidated balance sheets include costs related to the establishment and ongoing operations of repurchase agreements and term participation facility. These costs are amortized as interest expense using the straight-line method over the contractual term of the repurchase agreements or the contractual term of the collateral asset for the term participation facility.
Costs related to obtaining notes payable, loan participations sold, secured term loans, and debt related to real estate owned are presented on our consolidated balance sheets as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
obligations. These costs are amortized over the contractual term of the obligations as interest expense using the effective interest method.
Secured Financings
We evaluate whether a financing transaction constitutes a sale through legal isolation of the transferred financial asset from us, the ability of the transferee to pledge or exchange the transferred financial asset without constraint and the transfer of control of the transferred financial asset.
Repurchase Agreements
We finance certain of our loans receivable using repurchase agreements. Under a repurchase agreement, an asset is sold to a counterparty to be repurchased at a later date at a predetermined price. Prior to repurchase, interest is paid to the counterparty based upon the sales price and a predetermined interest rate. Other than amounts guaranteed by us, borrowings under the repurchase agreements are non-recourse to us. In some cases, the repurchase facility counterparty has the benefit of cross-collateralization across the loans in the facility. We account for our repurchase agreements as secured financings under GAAP. When treated as a secured financing, the transferred assets remain on our consolidated balance sheets, and the financing proceeds are recorded as a liability.
Term Participation Facility
We financed certain of our loans receivable through selling a senior interest in the loan receivable to a counterparty. The facility provides for capacity to finance additional loans receivable. The lender has the benefit of cross-collateralization across the loans in the facility. We present the term participation facility as a liability on our consolidated balance sheets.
Loan Participations Sold, Net
Loan participations sold represent an interest in a loan receivable that we sold, however, we present the loan participation sold as a liability on our consolidated balance sheets because the arrangement does not qualify as a sale under GAAP. Other than amounts guaranteed by us, these participations are non-recourse and remain on our consolidated balance sheets until the loan is repaid. The gross presentation of the loan participations sold does not impact equity or net income.
Notes Payable, Net
We finance certain of our loans receivable using direct financing, collateralized by the loans receivable. Other than amounts guaranteed by us, borrowings under notes payable are non-recourse to us.
Secured Term Loan, Net
Our secured term loan is collateralized by a pledge of equity in certain subsidiaries and their related assets, as well as a first priority security interest in selected assets. The secured term loan is presented net of any original issue discount, and transaction expenses are deferred and recognized in interest expense over the life of the loan using the effective interest method.
Other Liabilities
Other liabilities include interest payable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, our general CECL reserve related to our unfunded loan commitments, reserves held for loans receivable, and deposits held.
Revenue Recognition
Interest income from loans receivable is recorded on the accrual basis based on the unpaid principal balance amount and the contractual terms of the loans. Recognition of fees, premiums, discounts and direct costs associated with these investments is deferred until the loan is advanced and is then amortized or accreted into interest income over the term of the loan as an adjustment to yield using the effective interest method based on expected cash flows through the expected recovery period. Income accrual may be suspended for loans when we determine that the payment of income and principal is no longer probable. Once income accrual is suspended, any previously recognized
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
interest income deemed uncollectible is reversed against interest income. Factors considered when making this determination include our assessment of the underlying collateral value, delinquency in excess of 90 days, and overall market conditions. While on non-accrual status, based on our estimation as to collectability of principal, loans are either accounted for on a cash basis, where interest income is recognized only upon actual receipt of cash, or on a cost-recovery basis, where all cash receipts reduce a loan's carrying value. If and when a loan is brought back into compliance with its contractual terms, and our Manager has determined that the borrower has demonstrated an ability and willingness to continue to make contractually required payments related to the loan, we resume accrual of interest.
In accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, revenue is recognized when we transfer promised services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those services. ASC 606 includes a five-step framework that requires an entity to: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when the entity satisfies a performance obligation. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer. A contract's transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when the performance obligation is satisfied. Our contracts generally have a single performance obligation, such as renting a hotel room to a customer, or providing food and beverage to a customer, or providing a hotel property related good or service to a customer. Our performance obligations are generally satisfied at a point in time.
Revenue from real estate owned represents revenue associated with the operations of hotel properties classified as real estate owned. Revenue from the operations of the hotel properties is recognized when guestrooms are occupied, services have been rendered or fees have been earned. Revenues are recorded net of any discounts and sales and other taxes collected from customers. Revenues consist of room sales, food and beverage sales and other hotel revenues.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation consists of both time-based and performance-based awards issued to certain individuals employed by (or members of) affiliates of the Manager. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized in earnings on a straight-line basis over the applicable award's vesting period. Forfeitures of stock-based compensation awards are recognized as they occur.
Redeemable Common Stock
We account for our common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that features redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. Certain of our common stock featured certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. These rights terminated upon the completion of our initial public offering on November 3, 2021. Accordingly, on this date redeemable common stock was reclassified to common stock at its redemption value. References to common stock in 2021 and 2020 include redeemable common stock.
Common Stock
Common stock issued and outstanding excludes Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) which have not been delivered, regardless of vesting status. Fully vested RSUs are included in the calculation of basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding and receive dividends payable on common stock.
On October 6, 2021, we effected a reverse stock split of shares of our common stock on a 2-for-1 basis. All references to common stock outstanding, restricted stock units, share data and per common stock share amounts have been stated to reflect the effect of the reverse stock split for all periods presented.
Non-Controlling Interests
The non-controlling interests included on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021 represented the common equity interests in CMTG/TT Mortgage REIT LLC ("CMTG/TT") that were not owned by us. Effective August 1, 2022, the operating agreement of CMTG/TT was amended and we are not deemed to be the primary
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
beneficiary in accordance with ASC 810 and do not consolidate the joint venture. See Note 4 - Equity Method Investment for further detail. Prior to August 1, 2022, the portion of CMTG/TT's consolidated equity and results of operations allocated to non-controlling interest was equal to the remaining 49% ownership of CMTG/TT. As of December 31, 2021, CMTG/TT’s total equity was $76.8 million of which $37.6 million was characterized as non-controlling interests.
Offering Costs
Certain costs related to equity offerings, including legal, professional accounting and other third-party fees that are directly associated with equity offerings, are recorded in stockholders' equity as a reduction of additional paid-in capital.
For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 we incurred offering costs of $30,000, $11.8 million, and $0.9 million, respectively, which have been charged against additional paid-in capital on the consolidated balance sheets.
Repurchased Shares
We account for the repurchases of our common stock based on the settlement date. Payments for stock repurchases that are not yet settled as of the reporting date are included in other assets on our consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2022, we have not retired any repurchased shares.
Reportable Segments
We evaluate the operating performance of our investments as a whole. We previously determined that we had two operating segments and one reporting segment as a result of the foreclosure of the hotel portfolio on February 8, 2021. In the first quarter of 2022, our Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) determined that we evaluate the operating performance of our investments as a whole and make operating decisions accordingly. Therefore, we have one operating segment and one reporting segment, with activities related to investing in income-producing loans collateralized by institutional quality commercial real estate. This change has been applied retrospectively to all periods presented.
Reclassifications
Certain prior period amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the results of operations or financial position for any period presented.
Recent Accounting Guidance
On March 31, 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-02, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures”, (“ASU 2022-02”). The standard eliminates the recognition and measurement guidance for troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) for creditors that have adopted ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, ("CECL"). In addition to eliminating the TDR accounting guidance, ASU 2022-02 changes existing disclosure requirements and introduces new disclosures related to certain modifications of instruments with borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. The standard is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. During the second quarter of 2022, we adopted this standard effective January 1, 2022 and the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
The FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740), (“ASU 2019-12”). ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. ASU 2019-12 also improves the consistent application of, and simplifies, GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. We adopted ASU 2019-12 on January 1, 2022 and the adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
The FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, (“ASU 2020-04”). ASU 2020-04 provides optional expedients and exceptions
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions that reference the London Interbank Offering Rate ("LIBOR") or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. ASU 2020-04 is effective upon issuance of ASU 2020-04 for contract modifications and hedging relationships on a prospective basis. We have not adopted any of the optional expedients or exceptions through December 31, 2022, but will continue to evaluate the possible adoption of any such expedients or exceptions during the effective period as circumstances evolve.
Note 3. Loans Portfolio
Loans Receivable
Our loans receivable portfolio as of December 31, 2022 was comprised of the following loans ($ in thousands, except for number of loans):
Number of
Loans
Loan Commitment(1)
Unpaid Principal Balance
Carrying
Value (2)
Weighted Average Spread(3)
Weighted Average Interest Rate(4)
Loans receivable held-for-
investment:
Variable:
Senior loans(5)
$
9,221,549
$
7,327,462
$
7,217,564
+ 3.92%
8.05
%
Subordinate loans
63,102
61,763
61,947
+ 11.55%
15.95
%
9,284,651
7,389,225
7,279,511
+ 3.98%
8.11
%
Fixed:
Senior loans(5)
$
23,373
$
23,373
$
23,595
8.50
%
Subordinate loans
125,927
125,927
125,668
8.49
%
149,300
149,300
149,263
8.49
%
Total/Weighted Average
$
9,433,951
$
7,538,525
$
7,428,774
8.12
%
General CECL reserve
(68,347
)
Loans receivable held-for-investment, net
$
7,360,427
(1)Loan commitment represents principal outstanding plus remaining unfunded loan commitments.
(2)Net of specific CECL reserve of $60.3 million.
(3)The weighted average is expressed as a spread over the relevant floating benchmark rates. One-month LIBOR and SOFR as of December 31, 2022 were 4.39% and 4.36%, respectively. Weighted average is based on unpaid principal balance as of December 31, 2022. For loans placed on non-accrual, the spread used in calculating the weighted average spread is 0%.
(4)Reflects the weighted average interest rate based on the applicable floating benchmark rate (if applicable), including LIBOR/SOFR floors (if applicable). Weighted average is based on unpaid principal balance as of December 31, 2022 and includes loans on non-accrual status. For loans placed on non-accrual, the interest rate used in calculating the weighted average spread is 0%.
(5)Senior loans include senior mortgages and similar loans, including related contiguous subordinate loans (if any), and pari passu participations in senior mortgage loans.
Our loans receivable portfolio as of December 31, 2021 was comprised of the following loans ($ in thousands, except for number of loans):
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Number of
Loans
Loan Commitment(1)
Unpaid Principal
Balance
Carrying
Value (2)
Weighted Average Spread(3)
Weighted Average Interest Rate(4)
Loans receivable held-for-investment
Variable:
Senior loans(5,6)
$
7,163,032
$
6,119,619
$
6,085,351
+ 4.06%
5.16
%
Subordinate loans
137,079
133,119
133,552
+ 10.38%
11.37
%
7,300,111
6,252,738
6,218,903
+ 4.19%
5.29
%
Fixed:
Senior loans(5)
$
62,573
$
62,573
$
56,449
N/A
10.09
%
Subordinate loans
125,927
125,927
125,620
N/A
8.49
%
188,500
188,500
182,069
9.02
%
Total/Weighted Average
$
7,488,611
$
6,441,238
$
6,400,972
N/A
5.40
%
General CECL reserve
(60,677
)
Loans receivable held-for-investment, net
$
6,340,295
(1)Loan commitment represents principal outstanding plus unfunded loan commitments.
(2)Net of specific CECL reserve of $6.3 million.
(3)The weighted average spread is expressed as a spread over the relevant floating benchmark rates. One-month LIBOR as of December 31, 2021 was 0.10%. Weighted average is based on unpaid principal balance as of December 31, 2021 and includes loans on non-accrual status.
(4)Reflects the weighted average interest rate based on the applicable floating benchmark rate (if applicable), including LIBOR/SOFR floors (if applicable). Weighted average is based on unpaid principal balance as of December 31, 2021 and includes loans on non-accrual status.
(5)Senior loans include senior mortgages and similar loans, including related contiguous subordinate loans (if any), and pari passu participations in senior mortgage loans.
(6)Includes a fixed rate loan with an unpaid principal balance of $33.5 million and a loan commitment of $39.7 million as of December 31, 2021, which shares the same collateral as floating rate loans with an unpaid principal balance of $103.1 million and a loan commitment of $104.4 million at December 31, 2021.
Activity relating to the loan receivable portfolio for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 ($ in thousands):
Unpaid Principal Balance
Deferred Fees
Specific CECL Reserve
Carrying Value (1)
Balance at December 31, 2021
$
6,441,238
$
(33,933
)
$
(6,333
)
$
6,400,972
Initial funding of new loan originations and acquisitions
2,030,456
-
-
2,030,456
Advances on existing loans
602,254
-
-
602,254
Non-cash advances in lieu of interest
77,004
1,447
-
78,451
Origination fees, extension fees and exit fees
-
(41,537
)
-
(41,537
)
Repayments of loans receivable
(1,463,271
)
-
-
(1,463,271
)
Repayments of non-cash advances in lieu of interest
(21,609
)
-
-
(21,609
)
Accretion of fees
-
24,763
-
24,763
Sale proceeds
(146,912
)
-
-
(146,912
)
Gain (loss) on sale
30,892
(191
)
-
30,701
Specific CECL reserve
-
-
(65,494
)
(65,494
)
Principal charge-offs
(11,527
)
-
11,527
-
Balance at December 31, 2022
$
7,538,525
$
(49,451
)
$
(60,300
)
$
7,428,774
General CECL reserve
$
(68,347
)
Carrying Value
$
7,360,427
(1)Balance at December 31, 2021 does not include general CECL reserve.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Unpaid Principal Balance
Deferred Fees
Specific CECL Allowance
Carrying Value (1)
Balance at December 31, 2020
$
6,152,331
$
(20,506
)
$
(6,000
)
$
6,125,825
Initial funding of new loan originations and acquisitions
2,331,328
-
-
2,331,328
Advances on existing loans
623,198
-
-
623,198
Non-cash advances in lieu of interest
68,859
-
69,291
Origination fees, extension fees and exit fees
-
(39,096
)
-
(39,096
)
Repayments of loans receivable
(2,453,804
)
-
-
(2,453,804
)
Repayments of non-cash advances in lieu of interest
(126,865
)
-
-
(126,865
)
Accretion of fees
-
25,237
-
25,237
Sale proceeds
(48,006
)
-
-
(48,006
)
Gain (loss) on sale
(141
)
-
-
(141
)
Specific CECL Allowance
-
-
(2,094
)
(2,094
)
Transfer to real estate owned, net
(103,901
)
-
-
(103,901
)
Principal charge-offs
(1,761
)
-
1,761
-
Balance at December 31, 2021
$
6,441,238
$
(33,933
)
$
(6,333
)
$
6,400,972
General CECL Allowance
$
(60,677
)
Carrying Value
$
6,340,295
In the second quarter of 2022, we sold a senior loan with a carrying value of $116.2 million and recognized a realized gain of $30.1 million. The financial asset was legally isolated, the transferee has the ability to pledge the assets without constraint and control has been transferred to the transferee. We have determined the transaction constituted a sale.
Through CMTG/TT, a previously consolidated joint venture, we held a 51.0% interest in $78.5 million of subordinate loans secured by land in New York, which had been on non-accrual status since October 2021. During the third quarter of 2022, we directly acquired the senior position of the loan of $73.5 million and converted the whole loan from a land loan into a construction loan to finance the development of a hotel. The borrower simultaneously committed additional equity to the project. Immediately following the conversion of the loan, we own $115.3 million of total loan commitments, of which $78.5 million has been funded and is included in loans receivable held-for-investments on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2022, as well as 51.0% of the remaining $78.5 million of subordinate loans held through CMTG/TT which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 4 - Equity Method Investment for further detail. The new loans accrue interest at the new contractual rates.
In the second quarter of 2022, we modified a loan with a borrower who was experiencing financial difficulties, resulting in a decrease in the index rate floor from 1.57% to 1.00% and modified extension requirements. As of December 31, 2022, the loan had an amortized cost basis of $87.8 million and represents approximately 1.2% of total loans receivable held-for-investment, net. The loan is considered as part of the general CECL reserve. As of December 31, 2022, the borrower is current on all contractually obligated payments
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Concentration of Risk
The following table presents our loans receivable and interests in loans receivable portfolio by loan type, as well as property type and geographic location of the properties collateralizing these loans as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 ($ in thousands):
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Loan Type (1)
Carrying Value (1)
Percentage
Carrying Value (2)
Percentage
Senior loans(3)
$
7,241,159
%
$
6,303,664
%
Subordinate loans
187,615
%
259,172
%
$
7,428,774
%
$
6,562,836
%
General CECL reserve
$
(68,347
)
$
(60,691
)
$
7,360,427
$
6,502,145
Property Type
Carrying Value (1)
Percentage
Carrying Value (2)
Percentage
Multifamily
$
3,044,892
%
$
1,986,628
%
Hospitality
1,551,946
%
1,176,842
%
Office
1,086,018
%
1,113,805
%
Mixed-use(4)
615,599
%
734,613
%
For Sale Condo
434,210
%
710,660
%
Land
426,645
%
631,713
%
Other
269,464
%
208,575
%
$
7,428,774
%
$
6,562,836
%
General CECL reserve
$
(68,347
)
$
(60,691
)
$
7,360,427
$
6,502,145
Geographic Location
Carrying Value (1)
Percentage
Carrying Value (2)
Percentage
United States
West
$
2,450,710
%
$
1,156,896
%
Northeast
1,999,648
%
2,734,550
%
Southeast
1,008,590
%
836,904
%
Mid Atlantic
809,908
%
1,235,527
%
Southwest
694,887
%
269,461
%
Midwest
461,531
%
309,298
%
Other
3,500
%
20,200
%
$
7,428,774
%
$
6,562,836
%
General CECL reserve
$
(68,347
)
$
(60,691
)
$
7,360,427
$
6,502,145
(1)Net of specific CECL reserve of $60.3 million.
(2)Net of specific CECL reserve of $6.3 million.
(3)Senior loans include senior mortgages and similar credit quality loans, including related contiguous subordinate loans and pari passu participations in senior mortgage loans.
(4)Mixed-use comprises of 4% office, 2% retail, 1% for sale condo, 1% multifamily, and immaterial hospitality and signage components.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Interest Income and Accretion
The following table summarizes our interest and accretion income from loans receivable held-for-investment, from interests in loans receivable held-for-investment, and from interest on cash balances for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 ($ in thousands):
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
December 31, 2020
Coupon interest
$
441,320
$
386,731
$
413,228
Interest on cash, cash equivalents, and other income
4,381
2,045
4,402
Accretion of fees
24,967
26,487
28,310
Total interest and related income(1)
$
470,668
$
415,263
$
445,940
(1)We recognized $5.1 million, $7.3 million, and $5.9 million in pre-payment penalties and accelerated fees during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 respectively.
Loan Risk Ratings
As further described in Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, we evaluate the credit quality of our loan portfolio on a quarterly basis. In conjunction with our quarterly loan portfolio review, we assess the risk factors of each loan and assign a risk rating based on several factors. Factors considered in the assessment include, but are not limited to, current loan-to-value, debt yield, structure, cash flow volatility, exit plan, current market environment and sponsorship level. Loans are rated “1” (less risk) through “5” (greater risk), which ratings are defined in Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
The following tables allocate the principal balance and carrying value of the loans receivable and interests in loans receivable based on our internal risk ratings as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 ($ in thousands):
December 31, 2022
Risk Rating
Number of Loans
Unpaid Principal Balance
Carrying Value (1)
% of Total of Carrying Value
-
$-
$-
0%
0%
6,181,207
6,136,300
83%
1,005,345
1,001,235
13%
351,046
290,326
4%
$7,538,525
$7,428,774
100%
General CECL reserve
(68,347)
$7,360,427
(1)Net of specific CECL reserve of $60.3 million.
December 31, 2021
Risk Rating
Number of Loans
Unpaid Principal Balance
Carrying Value (1)
% of Total of Carrying Value
$35,721
$35,699
1%
705,886
703,714
10%
4,678,785
4,649,076
71%
1,155,879
1,154,147
18%
26,533
20,200
0%
$6,602,804
$6,562,836
100%
General CECL reserve
(60,691)
$6,502,145
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(1)Net of specific CECL reserve of $6.3 million.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the average risk rating of our portfolio was 3.2 and 3.1, respectively, weighted by unpaid principal balance.
The following table presents the carrying value and significant characteristics of our loans receivable on non-accrual status as of December 31, 2022 ($ in thousands):
Property Type
Location
Risk Rating
Unpaid Principal Balance
Carrying Value Before Specific CECL Reserve
Specific
CECL Reserve
Carrying Value
Interest Recognition Method / as of Date
Multifamily
CA
$
138,749
$
138,329
$
(18,293
)
$
120,036
Cost recovery/ 12/1/2022
Mixed-Use
NY
208,797
208,797
(42,007
)
166,790
Cash basis/ 11/1/2022(1)
Land
NY
67,000
67,000
-
67,000
Cash basis/ 11/1/2021
Other
Other
3,500
3,500
-
3,500
Cost recovery/ 7/1/2020
Total non-accrual (2)
$
418,046
$
417,626
$
(60,300
)
$
357,326
(1)Interest income of $1.1 million was recognized on this loan while on non-accrual status during the year ended December 31, 2022.
(2)Loans classified as non-accrual represented 4.8% of the total loan portfolio at December 31, 2022, based on carrying value. Excludes three loans with an aggregate carrying value of $360.0 million that are in maturity default.
The following table presents the carrying value and significant characteristics of our loans receivable on non-accrual status as of December 31, 2021 ($ in thousands):
Property Type
Location
Risk Rating
Unpaid Principal Balance
Carrying Value Before Specific CECL Reserve
Specific
CECL Reserve
Carrying Value
Interest Recognition Method / as of Date
Hospitality
CA
81,380
77,530
-
77,530
Cash basis/ 12/1/2021 (1)
Other
Other
11,533
11,533
(333
)
11,200
Cost recovery/ 5/1/2021
Total current
92,913
89,063
(333
)
88,730
Land
NY
116,020
116,211
-
116,211
Cash basis/ 5/1/2020
Land
NY
75,579
76,069
-
76,069
Cash basis/ 8/1/2020
Land
NY
67,000
67,000
-
67,000
Cash basis/ 11/1/2021
Other
Other
15,000
15,000
(6,000
)
9,000
Cost recovery/ 7/1/2020
Total delinquent
273,599
274,280
(6,000
)
268,280
Total non-accrual(2)
$
366,512
$
363,343
$
(6,333
)
$
357,010
(1) Interest income of $0.4 million was recognized on this loan while on non-accrual status during the year ended December 31, 2021.
(2) Loans classified as non-accrual represented 5.6% of the total loan portfolio at December 31, 2021, based on carrying value.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Current Expected Credit Losses
The current expected credit loss reserve required under GAAP reflects our current estimate of potential credit losses related to our loan portfolio. See Note 2 for further discussion of our current expected credit loss reserve.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded a principal charge-off of $11.5 million against a loan made to the personal estate of a former borrower. Prior to the charge-off, the loan had an unpaid principal balance of $15.0 million and a specific CECL reserve of $6.0 million, resulting in a carrying value of $9.0 million. Following the charge-off, the loan's carrying value is $3.5 million, which represents estimated collection. The loan is on non-accrual status and is in maturity default.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded a net provision of $84.4 million for current expected credit losses. The total current expected credit loss reserve increased to $146.4 million as of December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to the increase in the size of our loan portfolio, worsening macroeconomic forecasts, and specific CECL reserves of $65.5 million related to three loans.
During the fourth quarter of 2021, we received principal repayments of $81.7 million on a senior loan with an unpaid principal balance of $95.0 million, and a maturity date of May 31, 2021, and recorded a principal charge-off of $1.8 million. Following the principal repayment in December 2021, the maturity date of the loan was extended to January 1, 2023. As of December 31, 2021, the loan had a specific CECL reserve of $0.3 million which represented additional collectible interest through the maturity date. During the fourth quarter of 2022, this loan was repaid, resulting in a principal charge off of $27,000.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, we recorded a specific CECL reserve of $42.0 million in connection with a senior loan with an unpaid principal balance and carrying value prior to any specific CECL reserve of $208.8 million and an initial maturity date of February 1, 2023. As of December 31, 2021, the loan had a carrying value of $207.5 million. The loan is collateralized by a mixed-use building in New York, NY. As of December 31, 2022, this loan is on non-accrual status.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, we recorded a specific CECL reserve of $18.3 million in connection with a senior loan with an unpaid principal balance of $138.8 million, a carrying value prior to any specific CECL reserve of $138.3 million and an initial maturity date of August 8, 2024. As of December 31, 2021, the loan had a carrying value of $134.6 million. The loan is collateralized by a portfolio of multifamily properties located in San Francisco, CA. As of December 31, 2022, this loan is on non-accrual status.
Fair market values used to determine specific CECL reserves are calculated using a discounted cash flow model, a sales comparison approach, or a market capitalization approach. Estimates of fair market values include assumptions of property specific cash flows over estimated holding periods, discount rates approximating 6.0%, and market capitalization rates ranging from 4.5% to 6.0%. These assumptions are based upon the nature of the properties, recent sales and lease comparables, and anticipated real estate and capital market conditions.
The following table illustrates the quarterly changes in the current expected credit loss reserve for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively ($ in thousands):
General CECL Reserve
Specific CECL Reserve (1)
Loans Receivable Held-for-Investment
Interests in Loans Receivable Held-for-Investment
Accrued Interest Receivable
Unfunded Loan Commitments (2)
Total General CECL Reserve
Total
Total reserve at
December 31, 2020
$
6,000
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
6,000
Initial CECL reserve,
January 1, 2021
-
64,274
13,214
78,251
78,251
Increase (reversal)
2,094
(3,597
)
(392
)
(139
)
(6,928
)
(11,056
)
(8,962
)
Principal charge-offs
(1,761
)
-
-
(1,761
)
Total reserve,
December 31, 2021
$
6,333
$
60,677
$
$
$
6,286
$
67,195
$
73,528
Increase (reversal)
65,494
7,670
(14
)
(218
)
11,429
18,867
84,361
Principal charge-offs
(11,527
)
-
-
-
-
-
(11,527
)
Total
December 31, 2022
$
60,300
$
68,347
$
-
$
-
$
17,715
$
86,062
$
146,362
Reserve at
December 31, 2022
0.8
%
1.1
%
1.9
%
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(1)As of December 31, 2020, amounts represent specific loan loss provisions recorded on assets before the adoption of ASU 2016-13. After the adoption of ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2021, amounts represent specific CECL reserve.
(2)The CECL reserve for unfunded commitments is included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Our primary credit quality indicator is our internal risk rating, which is further discussed above. The following table presents the carrying value of our loans receivable as of December 31, 2022 by year of origination and risk rating ($ in thousands):
Carrying Value by Origination Year as of December 31, 2022
Risk Rating
Number of Loans
Carrying Value (1)
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
-
-
-
-
-
6,136,300
2,074,609
1,727,767
96,781
1,498,612
641,437
97,094
1,001,235
78,201
165,487
199,838
229,697
328,012
-
301,853
-
-
-
135,063
166,790
-
Charge-Offs
(11,527
)
-
-
-
(11,500
)
(27
)
-
$
7,428,774
$
2,152,810
$
1,893,254
$
296,619
$
1,851,872
$
1,137,125
$
97,094
(1) Net of specific CECL reserves of $60.3 million.
Interests in Loans Receivable Held-for-Investment
We had no interests in loans receivable as of December 31, 2022.
Our interests in loans receivable portfolio as of December 31, 2021 was comprised of the following loans ($ in thousands):
Number of
Loans
Loan Commitment(3)
Unpaid Principal Balance
Carrying Value
Stated Rate(2)
Interest Rate(4)
Senior loans(1)
$
200,727
$
161,566
$
161,864
L + 4.25%
5.50%
Current expected credit loss reserve
(14
)
Interests in loans receivable held-for-investment, net
$
161,850
(1)Senior loans include senior mortgages and similar loans, including related contiguous subordinate loans (if any), and pari passu participations in senior mortgage loans.
(2)One-month LIBOR as of December 31, 2021 was 0.10%.
(3)Loan commitment represents principal outstanding plus unfunded loan commitments.
(4)Reflects the interest rate based on the applicable floating benchmark rate (if applicable), including LIBOR/SOFR floors (if applicable).
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Activity relating to the interests in loan receivable portfolio for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 ($ in thousands):
Unpaid Principal Balance
Deferred Fees
Carrying Value(1)
Balance at December 31, 2021
$
161,566
$
$
161,864
Advances on existing interests in loans receivable
14,653
-
14,653
Non-cash advances in lieu of interest
2,427
-
2,427
Origination fees, extension fees and exit fees
-
(502
)
(502
)
Repayments of interests in loans receivable
(165,468
)
-
(165,468
)
Repayments of non-cash advances in lieu of interest
(13,178
)
-
(13,178
)
Accretion of origination fees, net
-
Balance at December 31, 2022
$
-
$
-
$
-
(1)Balance at December 31, 2021 does not include general CECL reserve.
Unpaid Principal Balance
Deferred Fees
Carrying Value(1)
Balance at December 31, 2020
$
338,957
$
(687
)
$
338,270
Advances on existing interests in loans receivable
101,767
-
101,767
Non-cash advances in lieu of interest
18,733
-
18,733
Origination fees, extension fees and exit fees
-
(265
)
(265
)
Repayments of interests in loans receivable
(269,988
)
-
(269,988
)
Repayments of non-cash advances in lieu of interest
(27,903
)
-
(27,903
)
Accretion of origination fees, net
-
1,250
1,250
Balance at December 31, 2021
$
161,566
$
$
161,864
The following table details overall statistics for our loans receivable and interests in loans receivable portfolio ($ in thousands):
Loans Receivable
Interests in Loans Receivable
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Weighted average yield to maturity
8.6
%
5.6
%
N/A
6.7
%
Weighted average term to fully extended maturity
3.2 years
3.3 years
N/A
1.6 years
Note 4. Equity Method Investment
On June 8, 2016, we acquired a 51% interest in CMTG/TT upon commencement of its operations. During its active investment period, CMTG/TT originated loans collateralized by institutional quality commercial real estate. CMTG/TT has been consolidated in our financial statements from its inception through July 31, 2022. On August 1, 2022, the sole remaining loan held by this joint venture was converted to a new construction loan. In connection with the conversion, we amended the operating agreement of CMTG/TT. Effective August 1, 2022, we are not deemed to be the primary beneficiary of CMTG/TT in accordance with ASC 810 and do not consolidate the joint venture. We did not recognize a gain or loss as this transaction occurred simultaneously with the conversion of the aforementioned loan, and thus there was no change in the underlying value of our 51% equity interest in CMTG/TT. See Note 3 for further details. As of December 31, 2022, the carrying value of our 51% equity interest in CMTG/TT approximated $41.9 million.
Note 5. Real Estate Owned, Net
On February 8, 2021, we acquired legal title to a portfolio of hotel properties located in New York, NY through a foreclosure. Prior to February 8, 2021, the hotel portfolio represented the collateral for a $103.9
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
million mezzanine loan held by us. The loan was in default as a result of the borrower failing to pay debt service. A $300.0 million securitized senior mortgage held by a third party was in default as well. The securitized senior mortgage is non-recourse to us. We recorded a gain of $1.4 million resulting from the foreclosure of the loan, which was based upon the estimated fair value of the hotel properties as determined by a third-party appraisal. The fair value of $414.0 million was determined using discount rates ranging from 8.50% to 8.75% and a terminal capitalization rate of 6.00%, and was allocated $123.1 to land and $290.9 million to building and improvements, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, the aggregate cost of our real estate owned for federal income tax purposes was $427.3 million.
On June 2, 2021, terms of the securitized senior mortgage were modified to include an extension of the maturity date to February 9, 2024, a principal repayment of $10.0 million, and the payment of $7.6 million of fees and modification costs, which included among other items, $6.3 million of interest expense, $1.1 million of general and administrative expenses, and $0.2 million of debt issuance costs.
The following table presents additional detail related to our real estate owned, net as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 ($ in thousands):
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Land
$
123,100
$
123,100
Building
284,400
284,400
Capital improvements
2,343
-
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
6,500
6,500
Real estate owned
416,343
414,000
Less: accumulated depreciation
(15,154
)
(7,113
)
Real estate owned, net
$
401,189
$
406,887
Note 6. Debt Obligations
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we financed certain of our loans receivables using repurchase agreements, a term participation facility, the sale of loan participations, and notes payable. The financings bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR/SOFR plus a credit spread or at a fixed rate. Financing agreements generally contain covenants that include certain financial requirements, including maintenance of minimum liquidity, minimum tangible net worth, maximum debt to tangible net worth ratio, and minimum debt service coverage ratio as defined in agreements. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we are in compliance with all covenants under our financing agreements.
The following table summarizes our portfolio financings as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 ($ in thousands):
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Capacity
Borrowing Outstanding
Weighted
Average
Spread(1)
Capacity
Borrowing Outstanding
Weighted
Average
Spread(1)
Repurchase agreements and term
participation facility(2)
$
5,700,000
$
4,012,818
+ 2.25%
$
4,065,000
$
3,274,508
+ 2.00%
Repurchase agreements - Side Car
271,171
211,572
+ 4.51%
271,171
215,003
+ 4.50%
Loan participations sold
264,252
264,252
+ 3.68%
168,322
168,322
+ 3.79%
Notes payable
495,934
154,629
+ 3.09%
48,000
48,000
+ 4.00%
Secured Term Loan
755,090
755,090
+ 4.50%
762,717
762,717
+ 4.50%
Debt related to real estate owned
290,000
290,000
+ 2.78%
290,000
290,000
+ 2.78%
Total/weighted average
$
7,776,447
$
5,688,361
+ 2.75%
$
5,605,210
$
4,758,550
+ 2.65%
(1)Weighted average spread over the applicable benchmark rate is based on unpaid principal balance. One-month LIBOR and SOFR as of December 31, 2022 were 4.39% and 4.36%, respectively.
(2)The repurchase facilities are partially recourse to us. The maximum guarantees under our repurchase agreements range from 25% to 50% of borrowings outstanding. As of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the weighted average recourse limitation on our repurchase and term participation facilities was 28% and 27%, respectively.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Repurchase Agreements and Term Participation Facility
Repurchase Agreements
The following table summarizes our repurchase agreements by lender as of December 31, 2022 ($ in thousands):
Lender
Initial Maturity (1)
Fully
Extended
Maturity
Maximum Capacity
Borrowing
Outstanding
Undrawn
Capacity
JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. - Main Pool
6/29/2025
6/29/2027
$
1,500,000
$
1,272,079
$
227,921
JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. - Side Car
5/27/2023
5/27/2024
271,171
211,572
59,599
Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.(2)
1/26/2024
1/26/2025
1,000,000
859,624
140,376
Goldman Sachs Bank USA(3)
5/31/2024
5/31/2025
500,000
356,014
143,986
Barclays Bank PLC
12/20/2024
12/20/2025
500,000
176,384
323,616
Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch
6/26/2023
6/26/2026
400,000
345,583
54,417
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
9/29/2023
9/29/2026
800,000
745,603
54,397
Total
$
4,971,171
$
3,966,859
$
1,004,312
(1)Facility maturity dates may be extended based on certain conditions being met.
(2)On January 24, 2023, we exercised our option to extend the initial maturity of this facility from January 26, 2023 to January 26, 2024.
(3)On January 13, 2023, this facility was modified such that the initial maturity was extended from May 31, 2023 to May 31, 2024.
The following table summarizes our repurchase agreements by lender as of December 31, 2021 ($ in thousands):
Lender
Initial
Maturity (1)
Fully
Extended
Maturity
Maximum Capacity
Borrowing
Outstanding
Undrawn
Capacity
JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. - Main Pool(2)
6/29/2025
6/29/2027
$
1,250,000
$
1,173,280
$
76,720
JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. - Side Car
5/27/2023
5/27/2024
271,171
215,003
56,168
Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.(3)
1/26/2023
1/26/2024
1,000,000
1,000,000
-
Goldman Sachs Bank USA
5/31/2022
5/31/2023
750,000
410,551
339,449
Barclays Bank PLC
12/20/2022
12/20/2025
500,000
193,884
306,116
Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch
6/26/2022
6/26/2023
265,000
211,372
53,628
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
9/29/2023
9/29/2026
300,000
285,421
14,579
Total
$
4,336,171
$
3,489,511
$
846,660
(1)Facility maturity dates may be extended based on certain conditions being met.
(2)On January 14, 2022, the facility capacity was increased to $1.5 billion.
(3)On January 25, 2022, the reference rate on this facility was changed from LIBOR to SOFR, and the fully extended maturity was extended to January 26, 2025.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Liabilities under our repurchase agreements as of December 31, 2022 are summarized as follows ($ in thousands):
Lender
Borrowing Outstanding
Carrying
Value
Carrying
Value of
Collateral(1)
JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. - Main Pool
$1,272,079
$1,272,079
$1,815,531
JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. - Side Car
211,572
211,572
460,481
Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.
859,624
859,624
1,340,573
Goldman Sachs Bank USA
356,014
356,014
551,091
Barclays Bank PLC
176,384
176,384
269,973
Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch
345,583
345,583
591,592
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
745,603
745,603
952,845
Total
$3,966,859
$3,966,859
$5,982,086
(1)Net of specific CECL reserve of $60.3 million.
Liabilities under our repurchase agreements as of December 31, 2021 are summarized as follows ($ in thousands):
Lender
Borrowings Outstanding
Carrying
Value
Carrying
Value of
Collateral
JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. - Main Pool
$1,173,280
$1,173,280
$1,626,719
JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. - Side Car
215,003
215,003
436,325
Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.
1,000,000
1,000,000
1,709,758
Goldman Sachs Bank USA
410,551
410,551
589,825
Barclays Bank PLC
193,884
193,884
283,716
Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch
211,372
211,372
327,671
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
285,421
285,421
362,742
Total
$3,489,511
$3,489,511
$5,336,756
Term Participation Facility
On November 4, 2022, we entered into a master participation and administration agreement to finance certain of our mortgage loans. The lender has the benefit of cross-collateralization across the loans in the facility. The facility has a maximum committed amount of $1.0 billion. As of December 31, 2022, $481.4 million was committed of which $257.5 million was outstanding. Per the terms of the agreement, we may finance loans on this facility until the end of the one year revolving period, ending November 4, 2023. Upon the end of the revolving period, the term participation facility will mature five years following the date of the most recently financed loan on the facility. As of December 31, 2022, the maturity date of the facility is December 21, 2027.
Our term participations as of December 31, 2022 are summarized as follows (in thousands):
Contractual Maturity Date
Borrowing Outstanding
Carrying Value
Carrying Value of Collateral
12/21/2027
$
257,531
$
257,531
$
375,769
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Loan Participations Sold
Our loan participations sold as of December 31, 2022 are summarized as follows ($ in thousands):
Contractual
Maturity
Date
Maximum
Extension
Date
Borrowings Outstanding
Carrying
Value
Carrying
Value of
Collateral (1)
8/1/2023
8/1/2023
$
138,322
$
138,322
$
281,123
10/18/2023
10/18/2024
105,930
105,645
192,355
12/31/2024
12/31/2025
20,000
19,831
157,833
Total
$
264,252
$
263,798
$
631,311
(1)Includes cash reserve balances.
Our loan participations sold as of December 31, 2021 are summarized as follows ($ in thousands):
Contractual
Maturity
Date
Maximum
Extension
Date
Borrowings Outstanding
Carrying
Value
Carrying
Value of
Collateral
8/1/2022
8/1/2023
$
148,322
$
148,133
$
290,783
12/31/2024
12/31/2025
20,000
19,611
130,061
Total
$
168,322
$
167,744
$
420,844
Notes Payable
Our notes payable as of December 31, 2022 are summarized as follows ($ in thousands):
Contractual
Maturity
Date
Maximum
Extension
Date
Borrowing Outstanding
Carrying
Value
Carrying
Value of
Collateral
12/31/2024
12/31/2025
$
103,592
$
102,467
$
157,833
2/2/2026
2/2/2027
28,288
27,292
34,199
6/30/2025
6/30/2026
4,777
4,354
16,290
9/2/2026
9/2/2027
-
(1,234
)
(1,763
)
11/22/2024
11/24/2026
16,055
15,497
25,403
10/13/2025
10/13/2026
1,917
1,145
5,749
Total
$
154,629
$
149,521
$
237,711
Our notes payable as of December 31, 2021 are summarized as follows ($ in thousands):
Contractual
Maturity
Date(2)
Maximum
Extension
Date
Borrowings Outstanding
Carrying
Value
Carrying
Value of
Collateral (1)
1/4/2022
1/4/2022
$
48,000
$
48,000
$
116,512
(1)Includes all cash reserve balances held by the servicer.
(2)In January 2022, the initial maturity was extended to July 5, 2022 and the maximum maturity date was extended to January 4, 2023.
Secured Term Loan, Net
On August 9, 2019, we entered into a $450.0 million secured term loan. On December 1, 2020, the secured term loan was modified to increase the aggregate principal amount by $325.0 million, increase the interest rate, and to increase the quarterly amortization payment. On December 2, 2021, we entered into a modification of our secured term loan which reduced the interest rate to the greater of (i) one-month term SOFR plus a 0.10% credit spread adjustment, and (ii) 0.50%, plus a credit spread of 4.50%.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The secured term loan as of December 31, 2022 is summarized as follows ($ in thousands):
Contractual Maturity Date
Stated Rate (1)
Interest Rate
Borrowing Outstanding
Carrying Value
8/9/2026
S + 4.50%
8.96%
$
755,090
$
736,853
(1)One-month term SOFR at December 31, 2022 was 4.36%.
The secured term loan as of December 31, 2021 is summarized as follows ($ in thousands):
Contractual Maturity Date
Stated Rate (1)
Interest Rate
Borrowings Outstanding
Carrying Value
8/9/2026
S + 4.50%
5.00%
$
762,717
$
739,762
(1)One-month term SOFR at December 31, 2021 was 0.05%.
The secured term loan is partially amortizing, with principal payments of $1.9 million due in quarterly installments.
Debt Related to Real Estate Owned, Net
On February 8, 2021 we assumed a $300.0 million securitized senior mortgage in connection with a UCC foreclosure on a portfolio of seven limited service hotels. On June 2, 2021, we entered into an agreement to amend the terms of the securitized senior mortgage which included an extension of the maturity date to February 9, 2024, a principal repayment of $10.0 million, and the payment of $7.6 million of fees and modification costs, which included among other items, $6.3 million of interest expense, $1.1 million of general and administrative expenses, and $0.2 million of debt issuance costs.
Our debt related to real estate owned as of December 31, 2022 is summarized as follows ($ in thousands):
Contractual Maturity Date
Stated Rate (1)
Net Interest Rate(1)
Borrowings Outstanding
Carrying Value
2/9/24
L + 2.78%
5.78%
$
290,000
$
289,389
(1)One-month LIBOR at December 31, 2022 was 4.39%, which exceeds the 3.00% ceiling provided by our interest rate cap. See Note 7 - Derivatives for further detail of our interest rate cap.
Our debt related to real estate owned as of December 31, 2021 is summarized as follows ($ in thousands):
Contractual Maturity Date
Stated Rate (1)
Interest Rate
Borrowings Outstanding
Carrying Value
2/9/24
L + 2.78%
3.53%
$
290,000
$
289,806
(1)One-month LIBOR at December 31, 2021 was 0.10%.
Acquisition Facility
On June 29, 2022, we entered into a $150.0 million full recourse credit facility. The facility generally provides interim financing for eligible loans for up to 180 days at an initial advance rate of 75%, which begins to decline after the 90th day. The facility matures on June 29, 2025 and earns interest at a rate of one-month term SOFR, plus a 0.10% credit spread adjustment, plus a spread of 2.25%. With the consent of our lenders, and subject to certain conditions, the commitment of the facility may be increased up to $500.0 million. As of December 31, 2022, the outstanding balance of the facility is $0.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Interest Expense and Amortization
The following table summarizes our interest and amortization expense on secured financings, debt related to real estate owned, and on the secured term loan for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 ($ in thousands):
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
Interest expense on secured financings
$
178,036
$
113,300
$
132,389
Interest expense on secured term loan
48,756
46,038
20,205
Interest expense on debt related to real estate owned(1)
14,170
15,643
-
Amortization of financing costs
20,145
21,251
19,638
Total interest and related expense
$
261,107
$
196,232
$
172,232
(1)Interest on debt related to real estate owned includes $309,000 and $56,000 of amortization of financing costs for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Note 7. Derivatives
As part of the agreement to amend the terms of our debt related to real estate owned on June 2, 2021, we acquired an interest rate cap with a notional amount of $290.0 million and a maturity date of February 15, 2024 for $275,000.
The interest rate cap effectively limits the maximum interest rate of our debt related to real estate owned to 5.78%. Changes in the fair value of our interest rate cap are recorded as an unrealized gain or loss on interest rate cap on our consolidated statements of operations and the fair value is recorded in other assets on our consolidated balance sheets. Proceeds received from our counterparty related to the interest rate cap are recorded as proceeds from interest rate cap on our consolidated statements of operations. The fair value of the interest rate cap is $6.0 million at December 31, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recognized approximately $495,000 of proceeds from interest rate cap.
Note 8. Fair Value Measurements
ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures” establishes a framework for measuring fair value as well as disclosures about fair value measurements. It emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the standards establish a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).
Level 1 inputs utilize unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability other than quoted prices, such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability which are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement fall is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.
Financial Instruments Reported at Fair Value
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The fair value of our interest rate cap is determined by using the market standard methodology of discounting the future expected cash receipts that would occur if variable interest rates rise above the strike rate of the interest rate cap. The variable interest rates used in the calculation of projected receipts on the interest rate cap are based on a third-party expert's expectation of future interest rates derived from observable market interest rate curves and volatilities. Our interest rate cap is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy and is valued at $6.0 million at December 31, 2022 and $0 at December 31, 2021.
Financial Instruments Not Reported at Fair Value
The carrying value and estimated fair value of financial instruments not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis but required to be disclosed at fair value were as follows ($ in thousands):
December 31, 2022
Fair Value Hierarchy Level
Carrying
Value
Unpaid Principal Balance
Fair Value
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Loans receivable held-for-
investment, net
$
7,360,427
$
7,538,525
$
7,331,207
$
-
$
-
$
7,331,207
Repurchase agreements
3,966,859
3,966,859
3,966,859
-
-
3,966,859
Term Participation Facility
257,531
257,531
255,296
-
-
255,296
Loan participations sold, net
263,798
264,252
261,417
-
-
261,417
Notes payable, net
149,521
154,629
153,282
-
-
153,282
Secured term loan, net
736,853
755,090
743,764
-
-
743,764
Debt related to real estate owned,
net
289,389
290,000
281,568
-
-
281,568
December 31, 2021
Fair Value Hierarchy Level
Carrying
Value
Unpaid Principal Balance
Fair Value
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Loans receivable held-for-
investment, net
$
6,340,295
$
6,441,238
$
6,434,157
$
-
$
-
$
6,434,157
Interests in loans receivable
held-for-investment, net
161,850
161,566
161,883
-
-
161,883
Repurchase agreements
3,489,511
3,489,511
3,484,834
-
-
3,484,834
Loan participations sold, net
167,744
168,322
168,738
-
-
168,738
Notes payable, net
48,000
48,000
48,000
-
-
48,000
Secured term loan, net
739,762
762,717
762,717
-
-
762,717
Debt related to real estate owned,
net
289,806
290,000
281,723
-
-
281,723
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 9. Equity
Common Stock
Our charter provides for the issuance of up to 500,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.01 per share. We had 140,055,714 common stock issued and 138,376,144 and 139,840,088 common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The following table provides a summary of the number of common stock outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, including redeemable stock:
Year Ended
Common Stock Outstanding
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
2020 (1)
Beginning balance
139,840,088
132,848,720
129,348,720
Issuance of common stock
-
5,524,934
3,500,000
Conversion of fully vested RSUs to common stock
-
1,682,060
-
Repurchase of common stock
(1,463,944
)
(215,626
)
-
Ending balance
138,376,144
139,840,088
132,848,720
(1)Amount at December 31, 2020 includes fully vested RSUs, which includes 877,498 of common stock underlying the vested RSUs.
Preferred Stock
Our charter provides for the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.01 per share. On December 15, 2021, we redeemed 125 preferred shares at a price of $1,000 per share and there were no preferred shares outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. All preferred shares had been issued at a price of $1,000 per share and were entitled to a 12.5% cash dividend, paid semi-annually.
Repurchased Shares
We entered into an agreement (the “10b5-1 Purchase Plan”) with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, pursuant to which Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as our agent, would buy in the open market up to $25.0 million of our common stock in the aggregate during the period beginning on December 6, 2021 and ending at the earlier of 12 months and the date on which all the capital committed to the 10b5-1 Purchase Plan is expended. The 10b5-1 Purchase Plan required Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC to purchase shares of our common stock on our behalf when the market price per share was below the book value per common stock, subject to certain daily limits prescribed by the 10b5-1 Purchase Plan. For the period from December 6, 2021 through December 31, 2022, our full $25.0 million commitment was used to repurchase 1,679,570 shares of common stock at an average price per share of $14.88. As of December 31, 2022 all of the capital committed to the 10b5-1 Purchase Plan has been expended.
Dividends
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The following table details our dividend activity for common and preferred stock ($ in thousands, except per share data):
For the Quarter Ended
March 31, 2022
June 30, 2022
September 30, 2022
December 31, 2022
Amount
Per
Share
Amount
Per
Share
Amount
Per
Share
Amount
Per
Share
Dividends declared - common
stock
$
51,672
$
0.37
$
51,659
$
0.37
$
51,420
$
0.37
$
51,202
$
0.37
Record Date - common stock
March 31, 2022
June 30, 2022
September 30, 2022
December 30, 2022
Payment Date - common stock
April 15, 2022
July 15, 2022
October 14, 2022
January 13, 2023
For the Quarter Ended
March 31, 2021
June 30, 2021
September 30, 2021
December 31, 2021
Amount
Per
Share
Amount
Per
Share
Amount
Per
Share
Amount
Per
Share
Dividends declared - common
stock
$
50,000
$
0.37
$
50,000
$
0.37
$
50,000
$
0.37
$
51,741
$
0.37
Dividends declared - preferred
stock(1)
$
$
0.03
$
$
0.03
$
$
0.03
$
$
0.03
Record Date - common stock
March 19, 2021
June 16, 2021
September 17, 2021
December 31, 2021
Payment Date - common stock
April 1, 2021
July 7, 2021
October 7, 2021
January 15, 2022
(1)Includes 125 preferred units issued at a price of $1,000 per unit and entitled to a 12.50% dividend paid semi-annually that were redeemed on December 15, 2021 at a price of $1,000 per unit.
For the Quarter Ended
March 31, 2020
June 30, 2020
September 30, 2020
December 31, 2020
Amount
Per
Share
Amount
Per
Share
Amount
Per
Share
Amount
Per
Share
Dividends declared - common
stock
$
56,000
$
0.43
$
59,000
$
0.44
$
50,000
$
0.37
$
50,000
$
0.37
Dividends declared - preferred
stock
$
$
0.03
$
$
0.03
$
$
0.03
$
$
0.03
Record Date - common stock
March 4, 2020
June 18, 2020
September 29, 2020
December 22, 2020
Payment Date - common stock
April 2, 2020
July 1, 2020
October 1, 2020
January 4, 2021
Note 10. Earnings Per Share
We calculate basic earnings per share (“EPS”) using the two-class method, which defines unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends as participating securities. Under the two-class method, earnings (distributed and undistributed) are allocated to common stock and participating securities based on their respective rights. Basic EPS is calculated by dividing our net income attributable to common stockholders minus participating securities' share in earnings by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Diluted EPS is calculated under the more dilutive of the treasury stock or the two-class method. Under the treasury stock method, diluted EPS is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding plus the incremental potential shares of common stock assumed issued during the period if they are dilutive
As of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 we had no dilutive securities. As a result, basic and diluted EPS are the same. The calculation of basic and diluted EPS is as follows ($ in thousands, except for share and per share data):
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
112,064
$
170,537
$
202,378
Dividends on participating securities
(2,397
)
-
-
Participating securities' share in earnings
-
-
-
Basic earnings
$
109,667
$
170,537
$
202,378
Weighted average shares of common stock
outstanding, basic and diluted(1)
139,306,311
134,539,645
132,980,316
Net income per share of common stock, basic
and diluted
$
0.79
$
1.27
$
1.52
(1)Amounts at December 31, 2020 include fully vested RSUs, which includes 877,498 common stock underlying vested RSUs. Amounts at December 31, 2022 include fully vested RSUs, which include 6,850 common stock underlying vested RSUs.
For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, 1,190,126, 0, and 0 weighted average unvested restricted stock units ("RSUs"), respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS because the effect was anti-dilutive.
Note 11. Related Party Transactions
Our activities are managed by the Manager. Pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager is responsible for originating investment opportunities, providing asset management services and administering our day-to-day operations. The Manager is entitled to receive a management fee, an incentive fee and a termination fee as defined below.
The following table summarizes our management fees ($ in thousands):
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
Management fees
$
39,461
$
39,135
$
38,960
Incentive fees
-
-
7,766
Total
$
39,461
$
39,135
$
46,726
Management Fees
Effective October 1, 2015, the Manager earns a base management fee in an amount equal to 1.50% per annum of Stockholders’ Equity. Management fees are reduced by our pro rata share of any management fees and incentive fees (if incentive fees are not incurred by us) paid to the Manager by CMTG/TT. Management fees are paid quarterly, in arrears. Management fees of $9.9 million, and $10.0 million were accrued and were included in management fee payable - affiliate, in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2022 and 2021.
On August 2, 2022 our Management Agreement was amended and restated, primarily to provide for reimbursement of allocable costs, including compensation of the Manager’s non-investment professionals, to provide for automatic one-year renewals of the agreement following its original expiration date, unless it is otherwise terminated by our Board, and to remove historical provisions that are no longer relevant to our business and certain reporting requirements that are not customary for a public company.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Incentive Fees
The Manager is entitled to an incentive fee equal to 20% of the excess of our Core Earnings on a rolling four-quarter basis, as defined in the Management Agreement, over a 7.00% return on Stockholders’ Equity, as defined in the Management Agreement. Incentive fees are reduced by our pro rata share of any incentive fees paid to the Manager by CMTG/TT.
The Manager is entitled to an incentive fee equal to 3.33% of the excess of CMTG/TT’s Core Earnings on a rolling four-quarter basis, as defined in the Management Agreement, over a 7.00% return on Unitholders’ Equity of CMTG/TT.
There were no accrued incentive fees on our consolidated balance sheets at years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Termination Fees
If we elect to terminate the Management Agreement, we are required to pay the Manager a termination fee equal to three times the sum of the average total annual amount of management fees and the average annual incentive fee paid by us over the prior two years.
Reimbursable Expenses
The Manager or its affiliates are entitled to reimbursement for certain documented costs and expenses incurred by them on our behalf, as set forth in the Management Agreement, excluding any expenses specifically required to be borne by the Manager under the Management Agreement. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, we incurred $1.3 million, $0 and $0.1 million of reimbursements of out-of-pocket costs incurred on our behalf by our Manager, respectively, which are included in general and administrative expenses on our consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, $0.7 million and $0 of reimbursements of out-of-pocket costs due to our Manager are included in other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets.
Loans Receivable Held-for-Investment
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we have one loan with an unpaid principal balance of $97.8 million and $54.0 million, respectively, and a loan commitment of $141.1 million, whereby the borrower is an affiliate of a shareholder of our common stock who owns approximately 10.9% of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2022.
Note 12. Stock-Based Compensation
We are externally managed and do not currently have any employees. On March 30, 2016, we adopted the 2016 Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan”) to promote the success and enhance the value of the Company by linking the individual interests of employees of the Manager and its affiliates to those of our stockholders. The maximum number of shares that may be issued under the Plan is equal to 8,281,594 shares.
On June 14, 2022, the Board granted an aggregate of 2,130,000 time-based RSUs to employees of the Manager or its affiliates, which vest in three equal installments on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of July 1, 2022, subject to the applicable participant’s continued service through each vesting date. Each RSU was granted with the right to receive dividend equivalents. The fair value of the 2,130,000 RSUs was $18.72 per share based on the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant.
On May 24, 2022, we adopted the Deferred Compensation Plan to provide our directors and certain executives with an opportunity to defer payment of their stock-based compensation or RSUs and director cash fees, if applicable, pursuant to the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan.
The Board awards time-based RSUs to eligible non-employee Board members on an annual basis as part of such Board members’ annual compensation in accordance with the Non-Employee Director Compensation Program. The time-based awards are generally issued in the second quarter on the date of the annual meeting of our stockholders, in conjunction with the director’s election to the Board, and the awards vest on the earlier of (x) the one-year
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
anniversary of the grant date and (y) the date of the next annual meeting of our stockholders following the grant date, subject to the applicable participants' continued service through such vesting date. In June 2022, the eligible non-employee members of the Board were automatically granted an aggregate of 29,280 time-based RSUs under the Plan. Each RSU was granted with the right to receive dividend equivalents. Additionally, certain directors elected to defer their RSUs pursuant to the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan. Such deferred awards will become payable on the earliest to occur of the participant’s separation from service or a change in control. The fair value of the 29,280 RSUs was determined to be $20.49 per share on the grant date based on the closing price of our common stock on such date.
On April 4, 2019, the Board granted 877,498 time-based RSUs pursuant to the Plan which immediately became vested. Dividend equivalent payments accrued as if those shares were outstanding for all dividends declared during the period beginning August 25, 2015. The fair value of the 877,498 time-based RSUs was recognized immediately and was determined to be $20.00 per share on the grant date based on our share issuances proximate to the grant date. On April 4, 2021, 584,767 fully vested RSUs were delivered and converted to common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2021, 292,731 time-based RSUs were forfeited prior to their delivery, resulting in the reversal of $5.9 million of previously recognized stock-based compensation expense which is included as other income in the consolidated statements of operations.
On April 4, 2019, the Board granted 1,622,499 performance-based RSUs pursuant to the Plan of which 0% to 100% were scheduled to vest at the conclusion of a three-year performance period commencing on January 1, 2019, at varying levels, if we achieved a minimum cumulative Total Stockholder Return Percentage in excess of 18% over that period. Total Stockholder Return Percentage is equal to the quotient of (i) the sum of (A) the tangible net book value per common stock as of year ended December 31, 2021 less $19.84 and (B) the aggregate amount of dividends paid with respect to common stock during the performance period, (ii) and $19.84, calculated on a fully diluted basis. Dividend equivalents were scheduled to accrue and be paid to participants at the conclusion of the performance period based on the number of RSUs that vested. The fair value of the 1,622,499 performance-based RSUs was determined to be $20.00 per share on the grant date based on our share issuances proximate to the grant date. In the event that a change in control or an initial public offering (“IPO”) had occurred prior to the completion of the performance period, the RSUs would have immediately vested prior to such change in control or IPO and dividend equivalents would have become payable. During the year ended December 31, 2021, 525,206 performance based RSUs were forfeited. Upon completion of our IPO in November 2021, 1,097,293 RSUs immediately vested and dividend equivalents of $4.9 million were paid.
For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, we recognized $7.5 million, $8.8 million, and $5.7 million, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense related to the RSUs. Stock-based compensation expense is considered non-cash compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020.
Under our Deferred Compensation Plan, certain of our Board members elected to receive the annual fees and/or time-based RSUs to which they are entitled under our Non-Employee Director Compensation Program in the form of deferred RSUs. Accordingly, during the year ended December 31, 2022, we issued 6,850 of deferred RSUs in lieu of cash fees to such directors, and recognized a related expense of approximately $98,000, which is included in general and administrative expenses on our consolidated statements of operations.
Stock-based compensation expense is recognized in earnings on a straight-line basis over the applicable award’s vesting period. Forfeitures of stock-based compensation awards are recognized as they occur. As of December 31, 2022, total unrecognized compensation expense was $33.0 million based on the grant date fair value of RSUs granted. This expense is expected to be recognized over a remaining period of 2.4 years from December 31, 2022.
The following table details the time-based RSU activity during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:
Time-based Restricted
Stock Units
Performance-based Restricted
Stock Units
Number of Restricted
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Per Share
Number of Restricted
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Per Share
Unvested, December 31, 2021
-
$
-
-
$
-
Granted
2,159,280
$
18.74
-
-
Unvested, December 31, 2022
2,159,280
$
18.74
-
$
-
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Time-based Restricted
Stock Units
Performance-based Restricted
Stock Units
Number of Restricted
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Per Share
Number of Restricted
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Per Share
Unvested, December 31, 2020
-
$
-
1,622,499
$
20.00
Forfeited/cancelled
-
-
(525,206
)
-
Vested
-
-
(1,097,293
)
$
(20.00
)
Unvested, December 31, 2021
-
$
-
-
$
-
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 13. Income Taxes
We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2015 and expect to continue to operate so as to qualify as a REIT. As a result, we will generally not be subject to federal and state income tax on that portion of our income that we distribute to stockholders if we distribute at least 90% of our taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gains and activity conducted within our taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”), and comply with certain other requirements to qualify as a REIT. Since Commencement of Operations, we have been in compliance with all REIT requirements and we plan to continue to operate so that we meet the requirements for taxation as a REIT. Therefore, other than amounts relating to our TRS, as described below, we have not provided for current income tax expense related to our REIT taxable income for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020. Additionally, no provision has been made for federal or state income taxes in the accompanying financial statements, as we believe we have met the prescribed requisite requirements.
Our real estate owned is held in a TRS. A TRS is a corporation that is owned directly or indirectly by a REIT and has jointly elected with the REIT to be treated as a TRS for tax purposes. For years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not record a provision for income taxes, which was due to a full valuation allowance that was established against deferred taxes.
At December 31, 2022 and 2021, due to a full valuation allowance that was established against our deferred tax assets, we did not have a deferred tax asset or deferred tax liability. The deferred tax asset and valuation allowance at December 31, 2022 were $16.6 million and $16.6 million, respectively. The deferred tax asset and valuation allowance at December 31, 2021 were $14.6 million and $14.6 million, respectively.
The components of the deferred tax asset at December 31, 2022 consisted of an investment basis difference in real estate owned of approximately $4.0 million, a net operating loss carryforward of approximately $14.7 million, and net unrealized gain (a deferred tax liability) of approximately $2.1 million. The components of the deferred tax asset at December 31, 2021 consisted of an investment basis difference in real estate owned of approximately $4.0 million and a net operating loss carryforward of approximately $10.6 million.
We recognize tax benefits for uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the position is sustainable based on its technical merits. Interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions, if applicable, are included as a component of the provision for income taxes in our consolidated statements of income. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we have not recorded any amounts for uncertain tax positions.
The federal statutory rate for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 was 21%. The Company’s effective tax rate differs from its combined U.S. federal, state and local corporate statutory tax rate primarily due to income earned at the REIT, which is not subject to tax, due to the deduction for qualifying distributions made by the Company, and any change in the valuation allowance.
Our tax returns are subject to audit by taxing authorities. Tax years 2019 onwards remain open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions in which we are subject to taxes.
Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies
We hold a 51% interest in CMTG/TT as a result of committing to invest $124.9 million in CMTG/TT. Distributions representing repayment proceeds from CMTG/TT’s loans may be recalled by CMTG/TT, if the repayment occurred at least six months prior to the loan’s initial maturity date. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we contributed $163.1 million and $162.1 million, respectively, to CMTG/TT and have received return of capital distributions of $123.3 million, of which $111.1 million were recallable. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, CMTG’s remaining capital commitment to CMTG/TT was $72.9 million and $73.8 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had aggregate unfunded loan commitments of $1.9 billion and $1.1 billion respectively, which amounts will generally be funded to finance lease-related or capital expenditures by our borrowers, subject to them achieving certain conditions precedent to such funding. These future commitments will expire over the remaining term of the loans, none of which exceed five years.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Our contractual payments due under all borrowings were as follows as of December 31, 2022 ($ in thousands):
Year
Amount (1)
2023(2)
386,660
853,634
1,500,210
1,870,234
1,077,623
Total
$
5,688,361
(1)Contractual paydowns under all borrowings are based on the earlier of (i) the fully extended maturity date of each agreement, or (ii) the fully extended maturity of our underlying loans.
(2)Assumes two loans with aggregate borrowings outstanding of $75.2 million that are in maturity default, with fully extended maturities before December 31, 2022, have an extended maturity date in 2023.
In the normal course of business, we may enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations and provide for general indemnifications. Our maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against us that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, we expect the risk of loss to be remote.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 15. Subsequent Events
We have evaluated subsequent events through the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and determined that the following events or transactions have occurred:
1. We received the full repayment of 1 loan with an unpaid principal balance of $75.0 million at December 31, 2022.
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Schedule IV - Mortgage Loans on Real Estate
As of December 31, 2022
($ in thousands, except for number of loans)
Type of Loan (2)
Description/Location
Number
of
investments
Interest
Payment
Rates(1)
Maximum
Maturity
Date (3)
Periodic
Payment
Terms (4)
Prior
Liens (5)
Face
Amount
of
Loans
Carrying
Amount
of
Loans (6) (7)
Principal
Amount of
Loans
Subject to
Delinquent
Principal
or Interest
Senior Mortgage Loans
Senior loans in excess of 3% of the carrying amount of total loans
Senior mortgage loan
Multifamily/West
+ 2.90%
I/O
N/A
$
399,499
$
396,894
$
-
Senior mortgage loan
Multifamily/Northeast
+ 2.75%
I/O
N/A
390,000
388,918
-
Senior mortgage loan
Hospitality/Northeast
+ 5.44%
I/O
N/A
280,000
281,123
-
Senior mortgage loan
Hospitality/Southeast
+ 4.80%
I/O
N/A
224,079
222,928
-
Senior mortgage loan
For-Sale Condo/West
+ 4.95%
I/O
N/A
221,605
221,605
221,605
N/A
1,515,183
1,511,468
221,605
Senior loans less than 3% of the carrying amount of total loans
Senior mortgage loans
Various
Floating:
+ 2.75% - 10.50%
2020 - 2029
I/O
N/A
5,835,652
5,729,691
522,297
Fixed:
10.00%
Subordinate Loans
Subordinate loans less than 3% of the carrying amount of total loans
Mezzanine loans
Various
Floating:
+ 10.51 & 12.75%
2022-2027
I/O
N/A
187,690
187,615
32,902
Fixed:
7.35% & 8.50%
Total loans
N/A
$
7,538,525
$
7,428,774
$
776,804
General CECL reserve
N/A
N/A
$
(68,347
)
N/A
Total loans after general CECL reserves
N/A
$
7,538,525
$
7,360,427
$
776,804
(1)As a spread over one month LIBOR or SOFR.
(2)Includes loans receivable held-for-investment and interests in loans receivable held-for-investment
(3)Maximum maturity date assumes all extension options are exercised.
(4)I/O = interest only until final maturity unless otherwise noted, P = Loans are subject to spread maintenance premiums or other prepayment penalty if paid before date specified within the loan agreement.
(5)Represents third party liens only
(6)The tax basis of the loans included above is $7,490,392 as of December 31, 2022.
(7)Includes specific CECL reserve of $60.3 million.
Reconciliation of Mortgage Loans on Real Estate (1)
Balance at January 1,
$
6,502,145
$
6,464,095
Additions during period:
Loan fundings
2,647,363
3,056,293
Payment in kind interest
80,878
88,024
Amortization of deferred fees and expenses
24,967
26,487
Realized gain on sale of investments
30,701
-
Deductions during period:
Collections of principal, including sales proceeds
(1,810,438
)
(2,926,566
)
Deferred origination fees and expenses
(42,039
)
(39,361
)
Realized loss on sale of investments
-
(141
)
Transfer to real estate owned
-
(103,901
)
Provision for current expected credit losses (2)
(73,150
)
(62,785
)
Balance at December 31,
$
7,360,427
$
6,502,145
(1)Includes Mortgage and Mezzanine loans
(2)See Note 3 - Loans Portfolio of the consolidated financial statements for information on current expected credit losses.

---

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.

---

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of December 31, 2022 an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2022.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of CMTG, (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements in our consolidated financial statements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As of December 31, 2022, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on that evaluation, our management, concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2022.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, as stated in their report which appears herein.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) during the three months ended December 31, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

---

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information.
Not applicable.

---

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed not later than April 30, 2023 with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act.

---

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed not later than April 30, 2023 with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act.

---

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed not later than April 30, 2023 with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act.

---

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed not later than April 30, 2023 with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act.

---

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed not later than April 30, 2023 with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act.
PART IV

---

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
The following documents are filed as part of this annual report on Form 10-K
(1) and (2) Financial Statements and schedules: See index to financial statements and schedules included in Item 8.
(3) Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
Description
3.1
Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. (incorporated by referenced to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-LK, dated November 5, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 001-40993)
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. (incorporated by referenced to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-LK, dated November 5, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 001-40993)
4.1
Specimen Common Stock Certificate of Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
4.2
Description of Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K, dated March 16, 2022, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 001-40993)
10.1
Amended and Restated Management Agreement of Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. and Claros REIT Management LP, dated August 2, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, dated August 2, 2022, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 001-40993)
10.2
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. 2016 Incentive Award Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.3
Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.4
Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.5
Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Non-Deferral Form) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, dated May 10, 2022, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 001-40993)
10.6
Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Deferral Form) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, dated May 10, 2022, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 001-40993)
10.7
Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. Non-Employee Director Compensation Program (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.8
Form of Indemnification Agreement with directors and certain officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.9
Registration Rights Agreement between Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. and Claros REIT Holdings LP, dated July 8, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.10
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement between Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. and CMTG Investor, L.P., dated July 8, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.11
Registration Rights Agreement between Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. and Fuyou Investment Management Limited, dated July 8, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.12
Registration Rights Agreement between Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. and Delta Master Trust, dated January 17, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.13
Registration Rights Agreement between Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. and Beaverhead Capital, LLC, dated May 15, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 11.12 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.14
Master Repurchase and Securities Contract Agreement, by and between Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. and CMTG MS Finance LLC, dated as of January 26, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.15
First Amendment to Master Repurchase and Securities Contract Agreement, by and between Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. and CMTG MS Finance LLC, dated as of June 26, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.16
Second Amendment to Master Repurchase and Securities Contract Agreement, by and between Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. and CMTG MS Finance LLC, dated as of March 13, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.17
Third Amendment to Master Repurchase and Securities Contract Agreement, by and between Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. and CMTG MS Finance LLC, dated as of November 1, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.18
Fourth Amendment to Master Repurchase and Securities Contract Agreement, by and between Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. and CMTG MS Finance LLC, dated as of February 3, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.19
Fifth Amendment to Master Repurchase and Securities Contract Agreement, by and between Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. and CMTG MS Finance LLC, dated as of February 21, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.20
Sixth Amendment to Master Repurchase and Securities Contract Agreement, by and between Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. and CMTG MS Finance LLC, dated as of March 17, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.21
Seventh Amendment to Master Repurchase and Securities Contract Agreement, by and between Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. and CMTG MS Finance LLC, dated as of April 10, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.22
Eighth Amendment to Master Repurchase and Securities Contract Agreement, by and between Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. and CMTG MS Finance LLC, dated as of January 29, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.23
Ninth Amendment to Master Repurchase and Securities Contract Agreement, by and between Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. and CMTG MS Finance LLC, dated as of September 9, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.24
Guaranty made by Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. in favor of Morgan Stanley Bank, N. A., dated as of January 26, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.25
Master Repurchase Agreement by and between Barclays Bank PLC and CMTG BB Finance LLC, dated as of December 21, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.26
First Amendment to Master Repurchase Agreement by and between Barclays Bank PLC and CMTG BB Finance LLC, dated as of October 31, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.27
Omnibus Amendment by and between CMTG BB Finance LLC and Barclays Bank PLC, dated as of February 27, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.28
Second Amendment to Master Repurchase Agreement by and between Barclays Bank PLC and CMTG BB Finance LLC, dated as of August 19, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.29
Guaranty made by Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. in favor of Barclays Bank PLC, dated as of December 21, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.30
Master Repurchase Agreement and Securities Contract by and between CMTG SG Finance LLC and Société Générale, New York Branch, dated as of April 30, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.31
Guaranty made by Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. in favor of Société Générale, New York Branch, dated as of April 30, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.32
Amended and Restated Uncommitted Master Repurchase Agreement between CMTG JP Finance LLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, dated as of May 27, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.33
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement by and between CMTG JP Finance LLC, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, dated as of January 14, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 21, 2022, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 001-40993
10.34
Guarantee Agreement made by Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, dated as of June 29, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.35
Master Repurchase Agreement between CMTG DB Finance LLC and Deutsche Bank AG, Cayman Islands Branch, dated as of June 26, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.44 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.36
Extension Letter to Master Repurchase Agreement between CMTG DB Finance LLC and Deutsche Bank AG, Cayman Islands Branch, dated as of May 7, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.37
First Amendment to Master Repurchase Agreement between CMTG DB Finance LLC and Deutsche Bank AG, Cayman Islands Branch, dated as of September 3, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.38
Omnibus Assignment, Assumption and Recognition Agreement, among Deutsche Bank AG, Cayman Islands Branch, Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, CMTG DB Finance LLC, CMTG DB Finance - Series I, CMTG DB Finance - Series II, Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. and CMTG DB Finance Holdco LLC, dated as of September 3, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.47 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.39
Guaranty made by Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. in favor of Deutsche Bank AG, Cayman Islands Branch, dated as of June 26, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.48 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.40
Term Loan Credit Agreement between Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., dated as of August 9, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.49 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.41
Loan Guaranty by and among the subsidiary guarantors named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., dated as of August 9, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.50 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.42
Amendment No. 1 to Term Loan Credit Agreement by and among Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc., the subsidiary guarantors named therein, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., dated as of December 1, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.51 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.43
Amendment No. 3 to Term Loan Credit Agreement by and among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors named therein, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent, dated as of December 2, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 3, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 001-40993
10.44
Pledge and Security Agreement by and among Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc., the subsidiary guarantors named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., dated as of August 9, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.52 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.45
Master Repurchase Agreement between CMTG WF Finance LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated as of September 29, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.53 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.46
Amendment No. 2 to Master Repurchase and Securities Contract by and between CMTG WF Finance LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated as of March 7, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 9, 2022, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 001-40993)
10.47
Guarantee Agreement made by Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated as of September 29, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.54 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
10.48
Master Participation and Administration Agreement, dated as of November 4, 2022, by and among JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, CMTG JPM Term Holdco LLC, CMTG JPM Term Funding LLC and Situs Asset Management LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, dated November 9, 2022, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 001-40993)
10.49
Amended and Restated Repurchase and Securities Contract Agreement, dated as of March 7, 2022, by and between CMTG GS Finance LLC and Goldman Sachs Bank USA (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, dated August 2, 2022, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 001-40993)
10.50*
Amended and Restated Guarantee Agreement, dated as of March 7, 2022, by and between Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA
21.1
Subsidiaries of Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11, dated October 28, 2021, filed by the Company, Commission File No. 333-260140)
23.1*
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
31.1*
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
*
Filed herewith