a6278315.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

[X]             QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED:  MARCH 31, 2010

OR

[  ]             TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _______________ TO _________________

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER:  1-13447

ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
 
MARYLAND
22-3479661
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
 
1211 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, SUITE 2902
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
(Address of principal executive offices)

10036
 (Zip Code)

(212) 696-0100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:

   Yes    X     No___

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes _X_ No __

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
    Large accelerated filer  þ Accelerated filer  Non-accelerated filer  Smaller reporting company 
 
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes      No  þ

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the last practicable date:

Class
Outstanding at May 6, 2010
Common Stock, $.01 par value
559,686,133
 
 
 

 
ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 
            Item 1.  Financial Statements:
 
 
 
1
   
                March 31, 2010 and 2009
 
2
   
3
 
4
   
5
   
24
   
44
   
            Item 4. Controls and Procedures
45
   
 
 
 
            Item 1. Legal Proceedings
47
   
            Item 1A. Risk Factors
47
   
   
   
            Item 6. Exhibits
47
   
            SIGNATURES
49
 
 
 

 
Part I
Item1.  Financial Statements

ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
MARCH 31, 2010 AND DECEMBER 31, 2009
(dollars in thousands)
   
March 31, 2010
(Unaudited)
   
December 31, 2009(1)
 
ASSETS
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 905,955     $ 1,504,568  
Reverse repurchase agreements with affiliate
    255,580       328,757  
Reverse repurchase agreements
    276,586       425,000  
Mortgage-Backed Securities, at fair value
    67,239,930       64,805,725  
Agency debentures, at fair value
    2,931,945       915,752  
Investment with affiliates
    242,788       242,198  
Securities borrowed
    60,132       29,077  
Receivable for Mortgage-Backed Securities sold
    359,636       732,134  
Accrued interest and dividends receivable
    327,666       318,919  
Receivable from Prime Broker
    3,272       3,272  
Receivable for advisory and service fees
    11,714       12,566  
Intangible for customer relationships, net
    10,191       10,491  
Goodwill
    27,917       27,917  
Interest rate swaps, at fair value
    -       5,417  
Other assets     65,850        14,397   
                 
     Total assets
  $ 72,719,162     $ 69,376,190  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Liabilities:
               
  Repurchase agreements
  $ 53,784,480     $ 54,598,129  
  Payable for Investment Securities purchased
    7,498,712       4,083,786  
  Convertible Senior Notes
    600,000       -  
  Accrued interest payable
    88,346       89,460  
  Dividends payable
    363,785       414,851  
  Securities loaned
    60,377       29,057  
  Accounts payable and other liabilities
    70,290       10,005  
  Interest rate swaps, at fair value
    608,688       533,362  
                 
     Total liabilities
    63,074,678       59,758,650  
                 
6.00% Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock:
  4,600,000shares authorized, 2,603,969 and 2,604,614 shares issued
  and outstanding, respectively.
      63,098         63,114  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
    -       -  
                 
Stockholders’ Equity:
               
  7.875% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock:
    7,412,500 authorized, 7,412,500 shares issued and
    outstanding respectively
      177,088         177,088  
Common stock, par value $.01 per share, 987,987,500 authorized,
 559,668,624 and 553,134,877 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
    5,597       5,531  
Additional paid-in capital
    7,935,151       7,817,454  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    1,887,852       1,891,317  
Accumulated deficit
    (424,302 )     (336,964 )
                 
     Total stockholders’ equity
    9,581,386       9,554,426  
                 
Total liabilities, Series B Cumulative Convertible
  Preferred Stock and stockholders’ equity
  $ 72,719,162     $ 69,376,190  
 (1)    Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2009.                
                 
 See notes to consolidated financial statements.                
 
 
1

 
ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
QUARTERS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010 AND 2009
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

   
For the Quarter
Ended March 31,
2010
   
For the Quarter
Ended March 31,
2009
 
Interest income
           
  Investments
  $ 653,935     $ 716,015  
  Securities loaned
    454       -  
    Total interest income
    654,389     $ 716,015  
                 
Interest expense
               
  Repurchase agreements
    272,927       378,625  
  Convertible Senior Notes
    3,195       -  
  Securities borrowed
    387       -  
      Total interest expense
    276,509       378,625  
                 
Net interest income
    377,880       337,390  
 
Other (loss) income:
               
   Investment advisory and service fees
    12,546       7,761  
   Gain on sale of Investment Securities
    46,962       5,023  
   Dividend income
    7,964       918  
   Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps
    (116,732 )     35,545  
     Total other (loss) income
    (49,260 )     49,247  
                 
Expenses:
               
  Distribution fees
    360       428  
  General and administrative expenses
    40,021       29,882  
     Total expenses
    40,381       30,310  
                 
Income before income from equity method investments and income taxes
    288,239       356,327  
                 
 Income from equity method investment
    140       -  
                 
 Income taxes
    7,314       6,434  
                 
 Net income
    281,065       349,893  
                 
Dividends on preferred stock
    4,625       4,626  
 
Net income available to common shareholders
    276,440     $ 345,267  
                 
Net income available per share to common shareholders:
               
  Basic
  $ 0.50     $ 0.64  
  Diluted
  $ 0.49     $ 0.63  
                 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
         
  Basic
    554,995,092       542,903,110  
  Diluted
    575,859,564       548,551,328  
                 
Net income
  $ 281,065     $ 349,893  
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
               
  Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities
    7,416       820,178  
  Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps
    36,081       54,166  
  Reclassification adjustment for net (gains)  loss included in net income
    (46,962 )     (5,023 )
  Other comprehensive (loss) income
    (3,465 )     869,321  
Comprehensive income
  $ 277,600     $ 1,219,214  
                 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
2

 
ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2010
 (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

   
 
Preferred
Stock
   
Common
Stock
Par Value
   
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
   
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
   
Accumulated Deficit
   
 
 
Total
 
BALANCE, DECEMBER  31, 2009
  $ 177,088     $ 5,531     $ 7,817,454     $ 1,891,317     $ (336,964 )   $ 9,554,426  
                                                 
  Net income
    -       -       -       -       281,065       -  
  Other comprehensive loss
    -       -       -       (3,465 )     -       -  
  Comprehensive income
    -       -       -       -       -       277,600  
  Exercise of stock options
    -       1       1,057       -       -       1,058  
  Stock option expense and long-term compensation expense
    -       -       1,171       -       -       1,171  
  Conversion of Series B cumulative preferred stock
    -       -       16       -       -       16  
  Net proceeds from direct purchase and dividend reinvestment
    -       65       115,453       -       -       115,518  
  Preferred Series A dividends declared  $0.4925 per share
    -       -       -       -       (3,648 )     (3,648 )
  Preferred Series B dividends declared $0.375 per share
    -       -       -       -       (977 )     (977 )
  Common dividends declared, $0.65 per share
    -       -       -       -       (363,778 )     (363,778 )
                                                 
BALANCE, MARCH 31, 2010
  $ 177,088     $ 5,597     $ 7,935,151     $ 1,887,852     $ (424,302 )   $ 9,581,386  
                                                 
See notes to consolidated financial statements
                                               
 
 
3

 
ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
QUARTERS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010 AND 2009
(dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
   
For the Quarter Ended
March 31, 2010
   
For the Quarter Ended
March 31, 2009
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 281,065     $ 349,893  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
    Amortization of Mortgage Backed Securities premiums and discounts, net
    164,007       41,014  
    Amortization of intangibles
    407       1,088  
    Deferred expense amortization
    450       -  
    Gain on sale of Investment Securities
    (46,962 )     (5,023 )
    Stock option and long-term compensation expense
    1,171       879  
    Unrealized loss (gain) on interest rate swaps
    116,732       (35,545 )
    Gain on investment with affiliate, equity method
    (140 )     -  
    Decrease (increase) in accrued interest and dividend receivable
    1,746       (8,525 )
    (Increase) decrease in other assets
    (33,915 )     220  
    Proceeds from repurchase agreements from Broker Dealer
    250,140,649       1,086,026  
    Payments on repurchase agreements from Broker Dealer
    (248,827,060 )     (200,000 )
    Proceeds from reverse repo from Broker Dealer
    2,727,269       -  
    Payments on reverse repo from Broker Dealer
    (2,764,682 )     -  
    Proceeds from securities borrowed
    476,309       -  
    Payments on securities borrowed
    (507,364 )     -  
    Proceeds from securities loaned
    559,552       -  
    Payments on securities loaned
    (528,232 )     -  
    Decrease (increase) in advisory and service fees receivable
    851       (404 )
    Decrease in interest payable
    (1,115 )     (87,528 )
    Increase in accounts payable and other liabilities
    60,286       15,590  
         Net cash provided by operating activities
    1,821,024       1,157,685  
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
  Purchase of Mortgage-Backed Securities
    (6,980,855 )     (6,244,648 )
  Proceeds from sale of Mortgage-Backed Securities
    1,974,280       882,754  
  Principal payments of Mortgage-Backed Securities
    6,190,795       2,502,807  
  Agency debentures called
    -       602,000  
  Purchase of agency debentures
    (2,014,728 )     -  
  Payments on reverse repurchase agreements
    (4,032,426 )     -  
  Proceeds from reverse repurchase agreements
    4,291,430       109,639  
       Net cash used in investing activities
    (571,504 )     (2,147,448 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
  Proceeds from repurchase agreements
    57,522,092       89,786,336  
  Principal payments on repurchase agreements
    (59,649,330 )     (88,396,069 )
  Issuance of convertible notes
    582,000       -  
  Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    1,058       623  
  Proceeds from direct purchase and dividend reinvestment
    115,518       -  
  Dividends paid
    (419,471 )     (275,362 )
       Net cash (used) provided by financing activities
    (1,848,133 )     1,115,528  
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (598,613 )     125,765  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    1,504,568       909,353  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 905,955     $ 1,035,118  
                 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
               
  Interest paid
  $ 277,624     $ 466,153  
  Taxes paid
  $ 5,232     $ 8,357  
                 
Noncash investing activities:
               
  Receivable for Investment Securities Sold
  $ 359,636     $ 33,009  
  Payable for Investment Securities Purchased
  $ 7,498,712     $ 2,121,670  
  Net change in unrealized (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities and interest
     rate swaps, net of reclassification adjustment
  $ (3,465 )   $ 869,321  
                 
Noncash financing activities:
               
  Dividends declared, not yet paid
  $ 363,785     $ 272,170  
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
               
 
 
4

 
ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR QUARTERS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010 AND 2009
(Unaudited)
 
1.       ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
          Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (“Annaly” or the “Company”) was incorporated in Maryland on November 25, 1996.  The Company commenced its operations of purchasing and managing an investment portfolio of mortgage-backed securities on February 18, 1997, upon receipt of the net proceeds from the private placement of equity capital, and completed its initial public offering on October 14, 1997.  The Company is a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Fixed Income Discount Advisory Company (“FIDAC”) is a registered investment advisor and is a wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiary of the Company.  During the third quarter of 2008, the Company formed RCap Securities Inc. (“RCap”).  RCap was granted membership in the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) on January 26, 2009, and operates as broker-dealer.  RCap is a wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiary of the Company.  On October 31, 2008, the Company acquired Merganser Capital Management, Inc. (“Merganser”).  Merganser is a registered investment advisor and is a wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiary of the Company.

A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies follows:
 
      Basis of Presentation - The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10, Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X for interim financial statements.  Accordingly, they may not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").

      The consolidated interim financial statements are unaudited; however, in the opinion of the Company's management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair statement of the financial positions, results of operations, and cash flows have been included. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. The nature of the Company's business is such that the results of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, FIDAC, Merganser, and RCap.  All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

 Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and cash held in money market funds on an overnight basis.
 
Reverse Repurchase Agreements - The Company may invest its daily available cash balances via reverse repurchase agreements to provide additional yield on its assets.  These investments will typically be recorded as short term investments and will generally mature daily.  Reverse repurchase agreements are recorded at cost and are collateralized by mortgage-backed securities pledged by the counterparty to the agreement.  Reverse repurchase agreements entered into by RCap are part of the subsidiary’s daily matched book trading activity.  These reverse repurchase agreements are recorded on trade date at the contract amount, are collateralized by mortgage backed securities and generally mature within 90 days.  Margin calls are made by RCap as appropriate based on the daily valuation of the underlying collateral versus the contract price.  RCap generates income from the spread between what is earned on the reverse repurchase agreements and what is paid on the matched repurchase agreements.  Cash flows related to RCap’s matched book activity are included in cash flows from operating activity.

Securities borrowed and loaned transactions – RCap records securities borrowed and loaned transactions at the amount of cash collateral advanced or received. Securities borrowed transactions require RCap to provide the counterparty with collateral in the form of cash or other securities. RCap receives collateral in the form of cash or other securities for securities loaned transactions. For these transactions, the fees received or paid by RCap are recorded as interest income or expense. On a daily basis, RCap monitors the market value of securities borrowed or loaned against the collateral value and RCap may require counterparties to deposit additional collateral or return collateral pledged, when appropriate.
 
5

 
Mortgage-Backed Securities and Agency Debentures - The Company invests primarily in mortgage pass-through certificates, collateralized mortgage obligations and other mortgage-backed securities representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of mortgage loans, and certificates guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) or the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) (collectively, “Mortgage-Backed Securities”).  The Company also invests in agency debentures issued by Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”), Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. The Mortgage-Backed Securities and agency debentures are collectively referred to herein as “Investment Securities.”
 
The Company is required to classify its Investment Securities as either trading investments, available-for-sale investments or held-to-maturity investments.  Although the Company generally intends to hold most of its Investment Securities until maturity, it may, from time to time, sell any of its Investment Securities as part of its overall management of its portfolio.  Accordingly, the Company classifies all of its Investment Securities as available-for-sale.  All assets classified as available-for-sale are reported at estimated fair value, based on market prices from independent sources, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.  The Company’s investment in Chimera Investment Corporation (“Chimera”) is accounted for as available-for-sale equity securities.  The Company’s investment in CreXus Investment Corp. (“CreXus”) is accounted for under the equity method.

Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market concerns warrant such evaluation.  The Company determines if it (1) has the intent to sell the Investment Securities, (2) is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the securities before recovery, or (3) does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the Investment Securities.  Further, the security is analyzed for credit loss (the difference between the present value of cash flows expected to be collected and the amortized cost basis).  The credit loss, if any, will then be recognized in the statement of earnings, while the balance of impairment related to other factors will be recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”).  There were no losses on other-than-temporarily impaired securities for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.
 
The estimated fair value of Investment Securities, available-for-sale equity securities, receivable from prime broker and interest rate swaps is equal to their carrying value presented in the consolidated statements of financial condition.  Cash and cash equivalents, reverse repurchase agreements, securities borrowed, receivable for Mortgage-Backed Securities sold, accrued interest and dividends receivable, receivable for advisory and service fees, repurchase agreements with maturities shorter than one year, payable for Investment Securities purchased, securities loaned, dividends payable, accounts payable and other liabilities, and accrued interest payable, generally approximates fair value at March 31, 2010 due to the short term nature of these financial instruments.  The estimated fair value of long term structured repurchase agreements is reflected in the Note 9 to the financial statements.
 
Interest income is accrued based on the outstanding principal amount of the Investment Securities and their contractual terms.  Premiums and discounts associated with the purchase of the Investment Securities are amortized into interest income over the projected lives of the securities using the interest method.  The Company’s policy for estimating prepayment speeds for calculating the effective yield is to evaluate historical performance, consensus prepayment speeds, and current market conditions.  Dividend income on available-for-sale equity securities is recorded on the ex-date on an accrual basis.
 
Investment Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date.  Purchases of newly-issued securities are recorded when all significant uncertainties regarding the characteristics of the securities are removed, generally shortly before settlement date.  Realized gains and losses on sales of Investment Securities are determined on the specific identification method.
 
Derivative Financial Instruments/Hedging Activity - Prior to the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company designated interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges, whereby the swaps were recorded at fair value on the balance sheet as assets and liabilities with any changes in fair value recorded in OCI.  In a cash flow hedge, a swap would exactly match the pricing date of the relevant repurchase agreement.  Through the end of the third quarter of 2008 the Company continued to be able to effectively match the swaps with the repurchase agreements therefore entering into effective hedge transactions.  However, due to the volatility of the credit markets, it was no longer practical to match the pricing dates of both the swaps and the repurchase agreements.
 
6

 
As a result, the Company voluntarily discontinued hedge accounting after the third quarter of 2008 through a combination of de-designating previously defined hedge relationships and not designating new contracts as cash flow hedges.  The de-designation of cash flow hedges requires that the net derivative gain or loss related to the discontinued cash flow hedge should continue to be reported in accumulated OCI, unless it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur by the end of the originally specified time period or within an additional two-month period of time thereafter.  The Company continues to hold repurchase agreements in excess of swap contracts and has no indication that interest payments on the hedged repurchase agreements are in jeopardy of discontinuing.  Therefore, the deferred losses related to these derivatives that have been de-designated will not be recognized immediately and will remain in OCI. These losses are reclassified into earnings during the contractual terms of the swap agreements starting as of October 1, 2008.  Changes in the unrealized gains or losses on the interest rate swaps subsequent to September 30, 2008 are reflected in the Company’s statement of operations. 

       Credit Risk – The Company has limited its exposure to credit losses on its portfolio of Investment Securities by only purchasing securities issued by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or Ginnie Mae and agency debentures issued by the FHLB, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  The payment of principal and interest on the Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities are guaranteed by those respective agencies, and the payment of principal and interest on the Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.  Principal and interest on agency debentures are guaranteed by the agency issuing the debenture.  Substantially all of the Company’s Investment Securities have an actual or implied “AAA” rating.  The Company faces credit risk on the portions of its portfolio which are not Investment Securities.

     Market Risk - The current situation in the mortgage sector and the current weakness in the broader mortgage market could adversely affect one or more of the Company’s lenders and could cause one or more of the Company’s lenders to be unwilling or unable to provide additional financing.  This could potentially increase the Company’s financing costs and reduce liquidity.  If one or more major market participants fails, it could negatively impact the marketability of all fixed income securities, including government mortgage securities.  This could negatively impact the value of the securities in the Company’s portfolio, thus reducing its net book value.  Furthermore, if many of the Company’s lenders are unwilling or unable to provide additional financing, the Company could be forced to sell its Investment Securities at an inopportune time when prices are depressed.  Even with the current situation in the mortgage sector, the Company does not anticipate having difficulty converting its assets to cash or extending financing terms due to the fact that its Investment Securities have an actual or implied “AAA” rating and principal payment is guaranteed by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, or Ginnie Mae.

    Repurchase Agreements - The Company finances the acquisition of its Investment Securities through the use of repurchase agreements.  Repurchase agreements are treated as collateralized financing transactions and are carried at their contractual amounts, including accrued interest, as specified in the respective agreements.   Reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements with the same counterparty and the same maturity are presented net in the statement of financial condition when the terms of the agreements permit netting under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
    Convertible Senior Notes – The Company records the notes at their contractual amounts, including accrued interest.  The Company has analyzed whether the embedded conversion option should be bifurcated and has determined that bifurcation is not necessary.
 
7

 
     Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock - The Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series B Preferred Stock”) contains fundamental change provisions that allow the holder to redeem the Series B Preferred Stock for cash if certain events occur.  As redemption under these provisions is not solely within the Company’s control, the Company has classified the Series B Preferred Stock as temporary equity in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition.  The Company has analyzed whether the embedded conversion option should be bifurcated and has determined that bifurcation is not necessary.
 
   Income Taxes - The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT and intends to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), with respect thereto.  Accordingly, the Company will not be subjected to federal income tax to the extent of its distributions to shareholders and as long as certain asset, income and stock ownership tests are met.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries, FIDAC, Merganser, and RCap have made separate joint election to treat the subsidiaries as a taxable REIT subsidiary.  As such, each of the taxable REIT subsidiaries are taxable as a domestic C corporation and subject to federal, state, and local income taxes based upon its taxable income.  
 
  Use of Estimates - The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  All assets classified as available-for-sale and interest rate swaps are reported at their estimated fair value, based on market prices.  The Company’s policy is to obtain fair values from independent sources.  Fair values from one or more independent sources are compared to internal prices for reasonableness.  Actual results could differ from those estimates

      Goodwill and Intangible Assets - The Company’s acquisitions of FIDAC and Merganser were accounted for using the purchase method.  Under the purchase method, net assets and results of operations of acquired companies are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. In addition, the costs of FIDAC and Merganser were allocated to the assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets, and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The excess of purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired was recognized as goodwill.  Goodwill and intangible assets are periodically (but not less frequently than annually) reviewed for potential impairment.  Intangible assets with an estimated useful life are expected to amortize over a 10.5 year weighted average time period.  During the quarters ended March 31, 2010, and 2009, there were no impairment losses.
 
    Stock Based Compensation - The Company is required to measure and recognize in the consolidated financial statements the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions.  The compensation cost is reassessed based on the fair value of the equity instruments issued.
 
     The Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award (that is, over the requisite service period of the last separately vesting portion of the award).  The Company estimated fair value using the Black-Scholes valuation model.

A Summary of Recent Accounting Pronouncements Follows:

General Principles

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

     In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued The Accounting Standards Codification (Codification) which revises the framework for selecting the accounting principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements that are presented in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”).  The objective of the Codification is to establish the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB.  Codification is effective September 15, 2009.  In adopting the Codification, all non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature not included in the Codification is superseded and deemed non-authoritative.  Codification requires any references within the Company’s consolidated financial statements be modified from FASB issues to ASC.  However, in accordance with the FASB Accounting Standards Codification Notice to Constituents (v 2.0), the Company will not reference specific sections of the ASC but will use broad topic references.
 
8

 
Assets

Investments in Debt and Equity Securities (ASC 320)

New guidance was provided to make impairment guidance more operational and to improve the presentation and disclosure of other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) on debt and equity securities in financial statements.  This guidance was also the result of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) mark-to-market study mandated under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (“EESA”).  The SEC’s recommendation was to “evaluate the need for modifications (or the elimination) of current OTTI guidance to provide for a more uniform system of impairment testing standards for financial instruments.”  The guidance revises the OTTI evaluation methodology.  Previously the analytical focus was on whether the company had the “intent and ability to retain its investment in the debt security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.”   Now the focus is on whether the company (1) has the intent to sell the Investment Securities, (2) is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the Investment Securities before recovery, or (3) does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the Investment Securities.  Further, the security is analyzed for credit loss, (the difference between the present value of cash flows expected to be collected and the amortized cost basis).  The credit loss, if any, will then be recognized in the statement of operations, while the balance of impairment related to other factors will be recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI).  This guidance became effective for all of the Company’s interim and annual reporting periods ending June 30, 2009 with early adoption permitted for periods ending March 31, 2009 and the Company decided to early adopt.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company did not have unrealized losses in Investment Securities that were deemed other-than-temporary.

Broad Transactions

Business Combinations (ASC 805)

This guidance establishes principles and requirements for recognizing and measuring identifiable assets and goodwill acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in a business combination at their fair value at acquisition date.  ASC 805 alters the treatment of acquisition-related costs, business combinations achieved in stages (referred to as a step acquisition), the treatment of gains from a bargain purchase, the recognition of contingencies in business combinations, the treatment of in-process research and development in a business combination as well as the treatment of recognizable deferred tax benefits.  ASC 805 is effective for business combinations closed in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and is applicable to business acquisitions completed after January 1, 2009.  The Company did not make any business acquisitions during the quarter March 31, 2010. The adoption of ASC 805 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Consolidation (ASC 810)

On January 1, 2009, FASB amended the guidance concerning noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements, which requires the Company to make certain changes to the presentation of its financial statements.  This guidance requires the Company to classify noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as “minority interest”) as part of consolidated net income and to include the accumulated amount of noncontrolling interests as part of stockholders’ equity.  Similarly, in its presentation of stockholders’ equity, the Company distinguishes between equity amounts attributable to controlling interest and amounts attributable to the noncontrolling interests – previously classified as minority interest outside of stockholders’ equity.  In addition to these financial reporting changes, this guidance provides for significant changes in accounting related to noncontrolling interests; specifically, increases and decreases in its controlling financial interests in consolidated subsidiaries will be reported in equity similar to treasury stock transactions. If a change in ownership of a consolidated subsidiary results in loss of control and deconsolidation, any retained ownership interests are re-measured with the gain or loss reported in net earnings.
 
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Effective January 1, 2010, the consolidation standards have been amended by ASU 2009-17.  This amendment updates the existing standard and eliminates the exemption from consolidation of a Qualified Special Purpose Entity (“QSPE”).    The update requires an enterprise to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The analysis identifies the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the enterprise that has both: a) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity which could potentially be significant to the VIE.  The update requires enhanced disclosures to provide users of financial statements with more transparent information about an enterprises involvement in a VIE.  Further, ongoing assessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE are required.   At this time, the amendment has no material effect on the Company consolidated financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2010,  FASB amended the consolidation standard with ASU 2010-10 which indefinitely defers the effective date of  ASU 2009-17 for a reporting enterprises interest in entities for which it is industry practice to issue financial statements in accordance with investment company standards (ASC 946).   This deferral is expected to most significantly affect reporting entities in the investment management industry.  This amendment has no material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815)

Effective January 1, 2009 and adopted by the Company prospectively, the FASB issued additional guidance attempting  to improve the transparency of financial reporting by mandating the provision of additional information about how derivative and hedging activities affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows.  This guidance changed the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosure about (1) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (2) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for, and (3) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows.  To adhere to this guidance, qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts, gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements must be made.  This disclosure framework is intended to better convey the purpose of derivative use in terms of the risks that an entity is intending to manage.  The Company discontinued hedge accounting as of September 20, 2008, and therefore the effect of the adoption of this guidance was an increase in footnote disclosures.

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820)

In response to the deterioration of the credit markets, FASB issued guidance clarifying how Fair Value Measurements should be applied when valuing securities in markets that are not active.  The guidance provides an illustrative example, utilizing management’s internal cash flow and discount rate assumptions when relevant observable data do not exist.  It further clarifies how observable market information and market quotes should be considered when measuring fair value in an inactive market.  It reaffirms the notion of fair value as an exit price as of the measurement date and that fair value analysis is a transactional process and should not be broadly applied to a group of assets.  The guidance was effective upon issuance including prior periods for which financial statements had not been issued.  The implementation of this guidance did not have a material effect on the fair value of the Company’s assets as the valuation methodologies utilized by the Company are consistent with the guidance.

In October 2008 the EESA was signed into law.  Section 133 of the EESA mandated that the SEC conduct a study on mark-to-market accounting standards.  The SEC provided its study to the U.S. Congress on December 30, 2008.  Part of the recommendations within the study indicated that “fair value requirements should be improved through development of application and best practices guidance for determining fair value in illiquid or inactive markets.”  As a result of this study and the recommendations therein, on April 9, 2009, the FASB issued additional guidance for determining fair value when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased when compared with normal market activity for the asset or liability (or similar assets or liabilities).  This guidance became effective for the Company June 30, 2009 with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March 31, 2009.  The adoption does not have a major impact on the manner in which we estimate fair value, nor does it have any impact on the Company’s financial statement disclosures.

In August 2009, FASB provided further guidance (ASU 2009-05) regarding the fair value measurement of liabilities.  The guidance states that a quoted price for the identical liability when traded as an asset in an active market is a Level 1 fair value measurement.  If the value must be adjusted for factors specific to the liability, then the adjustment to the quoted price of the asset shall render the fair value measurement of the liability a lower level measurement.  This guidance has no material effect on the fair valuation of the Company’s liabilities.
 
10

 
In September 2009, FASB issued guidance (ASU 2009-12) on measuring the fair value of certain alternative investments.  This guidance offers investors a practical expedient for measuring the fair value of investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value (NAV) per share.  If an investment falls within the scope of the ASU, the reporting entity is permitted, but not required to use the investment’s NAV to estimate its fair value.  This guidance has no material effect on the fair valuation of the Company’s assets.  The Company does not hold any assets qualifying under this guidance.

In January 2010, FASB issued guidance (ASU 2010-06) which increased disclosure regarding the fair value of assets.  The key provisions of this guidance include the requirement to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 including a description of the reason for the transfers.  Previously this was only required of transfers between Level 2 and Level 3 assets.  Further, reporting entities are required to provide fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities; a class is potentially a subset of the assets or liabilities within a line item in the statement of financial position.  Additionally, disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements are required for either Level 2 or Level 3 assets.  This portion of the guidance was effective for the Company on December 31, 2009. The guidance also requires that the disclosure on any Level 3 assets presents separately information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements.  In other words, Level 3 assets are presented on a gross basis rather than as one net number.  However, this last portion of the guidance is not effective for the Company until December 31, 2010.  Adoption of this guidance results in increased footnote disclosure for the Company.

Financial Instruments (ASC 825)

On April 9, 2009, the FASB issued guidance which requires disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods as well as in annual financial statements.  The guidance became effective for the Company on June 30, 2009.  The adoption did not have any impact on financial reporting as all financial instruments are currently reported at fair value in both interim and annual periods.

Subsequent Events (ASC 855)
 
ASC 855 provides general standards governing accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued.  ASC 855 also provides guidance on the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements and the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date. The Company adopted the guidance effective June 30, 2009, and adoption had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2010, FASB issued ASU 2010-09 as an amendment to ASC 855.  This update eliminates the requirement to provide a specific date through which subsequent events were evaluated.  This update was issued to alleviate potential conflicts between ASC 855 and SEC reporting requirements.  The update was effective upon issuance and has no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Transfers and Servicing (ASC 860)

      In February 2008 FASB issued guidance addressing whether transactions where assets purchased from a particular counterparty and financed through a repurchase agreement with the same counterparty can be considered and accounted for as separate transactions, or are required to be considered “linked” transactions and may be considered derivatives.  This guidance requires purchases and subsequent financing through repurchase agreements be considered linked transactions unless all of the following conditions apply: (1) the initial purchase and the use of repurchase agreements to finance the purchase are not contractually contingent upon each other; (2) the repurchase financing entered into between the parties provides full  recourse to the transferee and the repurchase price is fixed; (3) the financial assets are readily obtainable in the market; and (4) the financial instrument and the repurchase agreement are not coterminous.  This guidance was effective for the Company on January 1, 2009 and the implementation did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.
 
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On June 12, 2009, the FASB issued guidance an amendment update to the accounting standards governing the transfer and servicing of financial assets .This amendment  updates the existing standard and eliminates  the concept of a Qualified Special Purpose Entity (“QSPE”); clarifies the surrendering of control to effect sale treatment; and modifies the financial components approach – limiting the circumstances in which a financial asset or portion thereof should be derecognized when the transferor maintains continuing involvement.  It defines the term “Participating Interest”.  Under this standard update, the transferor must recognize and initially measure at fair value all assets obtained and liabilities incurred as a result of a transfer, including any retained beneficial interest. Additionally, the amendment requires enhanced disclosures regarding the transferors risk associated with continuing involvement in any transferred assets.   The amendment is effective beginning January 1, 2010.   The Company believes the amendment has no material effect on the consolidated financial statements.


 
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2.             MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES

The following tables present the Company’s available-for-sale Mortgage-Backed Securities portfolio as of  March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 which were carried at their fair value:

 
 
March 31, 2010
 
Federal Home Loan
Mortgage
Corporation
   
Federal National
Mortgage
Association
   
Government
National Mortgage
Association
   
Total Mortgage-
Backed Securities
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
Mortgage-Backed
                       
 Securities, gross
  $ 19,023,298     $ 44,340,657     $ 646,035     $ 64,009,990  
Unamortized discount
    (15,516 )     (26,121 )     -       (41,637 )
Unamortized premium
    328,404       999,187       17,705       1,345,296  
Amortized cost
    19,336,186       45,313,723       663,740       65,313,649  
                                 
Gross unrealized gains
    666,106       1,280,444       21,892       1,968,442  
Gross unrealized losses
    (13,504 )     (28,209 )     (448 )     (42,161 )
                                 
Estimated fair value
  $ 19,988,788     $ 46,565,958     $ 685,184     $ 67,239,930  
                                 
   
Amortized Cost
   
Gross Unrealized
Gain
   
Gross Unrealized
Loss
   
Estimated Fair
Value
 
       
Adjustable rate
  $ 15,505,157     $ 459,564     $ (15,302 )   $ 15,949,419  
                                 
Fixed rate
    49,808,492       1,508,878       (26,859 )     51,290,511  
                                 
Total
  $ 65,313,649     $ 1,968,442     $ (42,161 )   $ 67,239,930  

 
 
December 31, 2009
 
Federal Home Loan
Mortgage
Corporation
   
Federal National
Mortgage
Association
   
Government
National Mortgage
Association
   
Total Mortgage-
Backed Securities
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
Mortgage-Backed
                       
 Securities, gross
  $ 18,973,616     $ 41,836,554     $ 779,109     $ 61,589,279  
Unamortized discount
    (20,210 )     (28,167 )     -       (48,377 )
Unamortized premium
    301,700       974,861       20,382       1,296,943  
Amortized cost
    19,255,106       42,783,248       799,491       62,837,845  
                                 
Gross unrealized gains
    717,749       1,318,066       21,944       2,057,759  
Gross unrealized losses
    (27,368 )     (61,739 )     (772 )     (89,879 )
                                 
Estimated fair value
  $ 19,945,487     $ 44,039,575     $ 820,663     $ 64,805,725  
                                 
   
Amortized Cost
   
Gross Unrealized
Gain
   
Gross Unrealized
Loss
   
Estimated Fair
Value
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
Adjustable rate
  $ 16,345,988     $ 513,820     $ (68,488 )   $ 16,791,320  
                                 
Fixed rate
    46,491,857       1,543,939       (21,391 )     48,014,405  
                                 
Total
  $ 62, 837,845     $ 2,057,759     $ (89,879 )   $ 64,805,725  

 
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Actual maturities of Mortgage-Backed Securities are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities because actual maturities of Mortgage-Backed Securities are affected by the contractual lives of the underlying mortgages, periodic payments of principal, and prepayments of principal.  The following table summarizes the Company’s Mortgage-Backed Securities on March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, according to their estimated weighted-average life classifications:
 
 
   
March 31, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
 Weighted-Average Life  
Fair Value
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Amortized
Cost
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
Less than one year
  $ 3,408,270     $ 3,368,850     $ 2,796,707     $ 2,762,873  
Greater than one year and less than five years
    61,345,552       59,523,527       55,780,372       54,070,493  
Greater than or equal to five years
    2,486,108       2,421,272       6,228,646       6,004,479  
                                 
Total
  $ 67,239,930     $ 65,313,649     $ 64,805,725     $ 62,837,845  
 
The weighted-average lives of the Mortgage-Backed Securities at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 in the table above are based upon data provided through subscription-based financial information services, assuming constant principal prepayment rates to the reset date of each security.  The prepayment model considers current yield, forward yield, steepness of the yield curve, current mortgage rates, mortgage rate of the outstanding loans, loan age, margin and volatility.  The actual weighted average lives of the Mortgage-Backed Securities could be longer or shorter than estimated.

The following table presents the gross unrealized losses, and estimated fair value of the Company’s Mortgage-Backed Securities by length of time that such securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
 
   
Unrealized Loss Position For:
(dollars in thousands)
 
   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
   
Estimated
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Estimated
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Estimated
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
 
                                     
March 31, 2010
  $ 6,572,545     $ (27,785 )   $ 1,760,116     $ (14,376 )   $ 8,332,661     $ (42,154 )
                                                 
December 31, 2009
  $ 4,818,239     $ (22,869 )   $ 2,802,920     $ (67,010 )   $ 7,621,159     $ (89,879 )
 
The decline in value of these securities is solely due to market conditions and not the quality of the assets.  Substantially all of the Mortgage-Backed Securities are “AAA” rated or carry an implied “AAA” rating.  The investments are not considered other-than-temporarily impaired because the Company currently has the ability and intent to hold the investments to maturity or for a period of time sufficient for a forecasted market price recovery up to or beyond the cost of the investments.  Also, the Company is guaranteed payment of the principal amount of the securities by the government agency which created them.

The adjustable rate Mortgage-Backed Securities are limited by periodic caps (generally interest rate adjustments are limited to no more than 1% every nine months) and lifetime caps.  The weighted average lifetime cap was 10.1% at March 31, 2010 and 10.0% at December 31, 2009.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company sold $1.6 billion of Mortgage-Backed Securities, resulting in a realized gain of $47.0 million.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company sold $835.7 million of Mortgage-Backed Securities, resulting in a realized gain of $5.0 million.
 
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3.             AGENCY DEBENTURES

At March 31, 2010, the Company owned agency debentures with a carrying value of $2.9 billion, including an unrealized loss of $1.4 million.  At December 31, 2009, the Company owned agency debentures with a carrying value of $915.8 million including an unrealized loss of $3.0 million.

4.             AVAILABLE FOR SALE EQUITY SECURITIES

All of the available-for-sale equity securities are shares of Chimera and are reported at fair value.  The Company owned approximately 45.0 million shares of Chimera at a fair value of approximately $175.0 million at March 31, 2010 and approximately 45.0 million shares of Chimera at fair value of approximately $174.5 million at December 31, 2009.  At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the investment in Chimera had an unrealized gain of $36.1 million and $35.7 million, respectively.  Chimera is externally managed by FIDAC pursuant to a management agreement.

5.             INVESTMENT IN AFFILIATE, EQUITY METHOD

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company acquired 4,527,778 shares of CreXus Investment common stock at a price of $15.00 per share.  The Company owns approximately 25% of CreXus and accounts for its investment using the equity method.  CreXus is externally managed by FIDAC pursuant to a management agreement.  The quoted fair value of the Company’s investment in CreXus was $63.2 million at December 31, 2009.

6.             REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

At March 31, 2010, the Company did not have any amounts outstanding under its reverse repurchase agreement with Chimera.  At  December 31, 2009, the Company had lent $259.0 million to Chimera in a reverse repurchase agreement which is callable weekly.  This amount is included in the principal amount which approximates fair value in the Company’s Statements of Financial Condition.  The interest rate at December 31, 2009 was at the rate of 1.72%.  The collateral for this loan is mortgage-backed securities with a fair value of $314.3 million at December 31, 2009.
 
At March 31, 2010, RCap, in its ordinary course of business, financed though matched reverse repurchase agreements, at market rates, $108.2 million for a fund that is managed by FIDAC pursuant to a management agreement and $147.4 million to Chimera.  At March 31, 2010, RCap had an outstanding reverse repurchase agreement with a non-affiliate of $276.6 million.

The Company reports cash flows on reverse repurchase agreements as investment activities in the Statements of Cash Flows.  RCap reports cash flows on reverse repurchase agreements as operating activities in the Statements of Cash Flows.

7.             RECEIVABLE FROM PRIME BROKER
 
The net assets of the Fund owned by the Company are subject to English bankruptcy law, which governs the administration of Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (in administration) (“LBIE”), as well as the law of New York, which governs the contractual documents.  The Company invested approximately $45.0 million in the fund and has redeemed approximately $56.0 million.  The current assets of the Fund still remain at LBIE and affiliates of LBIE and the ultimate recovery of such amount remains uncertain.  The Company has entered into the Claims Resolution Agreement (the “CRA”) between LBIE and certain eligible offerees effective December 29, 2009 with respect to these assets.
 
Certain of the Company’s assets subject to the CRA are held directly at LBIE and the Company has valued such assets in accordance with the valuation date set forth in the CRA and the pricing information provided to the Company by LBIE.  The valuation date with respect to these assets as set forth in the CRA is September 19, 2008.
 
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Certain of the Company’s assets subject to the CRA are not held directly at LBIE and are believed to be held at affiliates of LBIE.  Given the great degree of uncertainty as to the status of the Company’s assets that are not directly held by LBIE and are believed to be held at affiliates of LBIE, the Company has valued such assets at an 80% discount, or $3.3 million.  The value of the net assets that are not directly held by LBIE and are believed to be held at affiliates of LBIE is determined on the basis of the best information available to us from time to time, legal and professional advice obtained for the purpose of determining the rights, and on the basis of a number of assumptions which we believe to be reasonable.
 
The Company can provide no assurance, however, that it will recover all or any portion of any of the net assets of the investment fund following completion of LBIE’s administration (and any subsequent liquidation).  
 
8.             FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
 
The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date.  The three levels are defined as follows:
 
Level 1– inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets and liabilities in active markets.
 
Level 2 – inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
 
Level 3 – inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to overall fair value.
 
Available for sale equity securities are valued based on quoted prices (unadjusted) in an active market.  Mortgage-Backed Securities and interest rate swaps are valued using quoted prices for similar assets and dealer quotes.  The dealer will incorporate common market pricing methods, including a spread measurement to the Treasury curve or interest rate swap curve as well as underlying characteristics of the particular security including coupon, periodic and life caps, rate reset period and expected life of the security.  Management ensures that current market conditions are represented.  Management compares similar market transactions and comparisons to a pricing model.  The Company’s Investment Securities’ characteristics are as follows:

 
Weighted
Average
Coupon on
Fixed Rate
Securities
 
Weighted
Average Coupon
on Adjustable
Rate Securities
 
 
Weighted Average
Yield
Weighted
Average
Lifetime Cap on
Adjustable Rate
Securities
Weighted Average
Term to Next
Adjustment on
Adjustable Rate
Securities
           
At March 31, 2010
5.50%
4.55%
2.92%
10.09%
32 months
           
At December 31, 2009
5.78%
4.55%
4.51%
10.09%
33 months
 
 
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The Company’s financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value on a recurring basis are valued as follows:
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
At March 31, 2010
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Assets:
                 
  Mortgage-Backed Securities
  $ -     $ 67,239,930       -  
  Agency debentures
    -       2,931,945       -  
  Available for sale equity securities
    174,983       -       -  
Liabilities:
                       
  Interest rate swaps
    -       608,688       -  
                         
At December 31, 2009
     
Assets:
                       
  Mortgage-Backed Securities
  $ -     $ 64,805,725       -  
  Agency debentures
    -       915,752       -  
  Available for sale equity securities
    174,533       -       -  
  Interest rate swaps
            5,417          
Liabilities:
                       
  Interest rate swaps
    -       533,362       -  
 
The classification of assets and liabilities by level remains unchanged at March 31, 2010, when compared to the previous quarter.

9.             REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

The Company had outstanding $53.8 billion and $59.6 billion of repurchase agreements with weighted average borrowing rates of 2.09% and 2.11%, after giving effect to the Company’s interest rate swaps, and weighted average remaining maturities of 166 days and 170 days as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  Investment Securities pledged as collateral under these repurchase agreements and interest rate swaps had an estimated fair value of $56.9 billion at March 31, 2010 and $57.9 billion at December 31, 2009.

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the repurchase agreements had the following remaining maturities:

   
March 31, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
1 day
  $ 5,000,336     $ -  
2 to 29 days
    26,372,405       38,341,206  
30 to 59 days
    11,237,539       7,163,255  
60 to 89 days
    -       192,005  
90 to 119 days
    831,183       139,966  
Over 120 days
    10,343,017       8,761,696  
Total
  $ 53,784,480     $ 54,598,128  
 
The Company did not have an amount at risk greater than 10% of the equity of the Company with any counterparty as of March 31, 2010 or December 31, 2009.

           The Company has entered into structured term repurchase agreements which provide the counterparty with the right to call the balance prior to maturity date.  These repurchase agreements totaled $7.0 billion and the fair value of the option to call was ($345.5 million) at March 31, 2010.  The repurchase agreements totaled $7.0 billion and the fair value of the option to call was ($352.4 million) at December 31, 2009.  Management has determined that the call option is not required to be bifurcated as it is deemed clearly and closely related to the debt instrument, therefore the fair value of the option is not recorded in the consolidated financial statements.
 
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The structured term repurchase agreements are modeled and priced such that the Company pays fixed interest rates to the counterparty and receives floating interest rates. The counterparty has the option to cancel the swap after an initial lockout period. Therefore the structured term repurchase agreements are priced as a combination of an interest rate swap with an embedded call option.

The Company reports cash flows from repurchase agreements as investment activities in the Statements of Cash Flows.  RCap reports cash flows from repurchase agreements as financing activities in the Statements of Cash Flows

10.       INTEREST RATE SWAPS

      In connection with the Company’s interest rate risk management strategy, the Company economically hedges a portion of its interest rate risk by entering into derivative financial instrument contracts.  As of March 31, 2010, such instruments are comprised of interest rate swaps, which in effect modify the cash flows on repurchase agreements.  The use of interest rate swaps creates exposure to credit risk relating to potential losses that could be recognized if the counterparties to these instruments fail to perform their obligations under the contracts.  In the event of a default by the counterparty, the Company could have difficulty obtaining its Mortgage-Backed Securities pledged as collateral for swaps.  The Company does not anticipate any defaults by its counterparties.

    The Company’s swaps are used to lock in the fixed rate related to a portion of its current and anticipated future 30-day term repurchase agreements.

The location and fair value of derivative instruments reported in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of March 31, 2010 are as follows:
 
 
Location on Statement
of Financial Condition
 
Notional Amount
 
Net Estimated Fair
Value/Carrying Value
 
     
(dollars in thousands)
 
March 31, 2010
Liabilities
  $ 22,773,000     $ 608,688  
December 31, 2009
Liabilities
  $ 18,823,300     $ 533,362  
December 31, 2009
Assets
  $ 2,700,000     $ 5,417  
 
The effect of derivatives on the Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income is as follows:
 
   
Location on Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income
 
   
Interest Expense
   
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on
Interest Rate Swaps
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2010
  $ 180,838     $ (116,732 )
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2009
  $ 176,559     $ 35,545  
 
The weighted average pay rate at March 31, 2010 was 3.66% and the weighted average receive rate was 0.24%.  The weighted average pay rate at March 31, 2009 was 4.55% and the weighted average receive rate was 0.55%.

11.     CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, Company issued $600.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 4% convertible senior notes due 2015 (“Convertible Senior Notes”) for net proceeds following underwriting expenses of approximately $582.0 million.  Interest on the Convertible Senior Notes is paid semi-annually at a rate of 4% per year and the Convertible Senior Notes will mature on February 15, 2015 unless earlier repurchased or converted.  The Convertible Senior Notes are convertible into shares of Common Stock at an initial conversion rate and conversion rate at March 31, 2010 of 46.6070 and 48.3595 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Senior Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $21.456  and $20.769 per share of Common Stock, respectively, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.
 
 
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12.     PREFERRED STOCK AND COMMON STOCK

(A)  
Common Stock Issuances
 
During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, 90,247 options were exercised under the Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, or Incentive Plan, for an aggregate exercise price of $1.5 million.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, 645 shares of Series B Preferred Stock were converted into 1,511 shares of common stock, respectively.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company raised $115.5 million by issuing 6.4 million shares, through the Direct Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Program.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, 423,160 options were exercised under the Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, or Incentive Plan, for an aggregate exercise price of $4.9 million.  During the year ended December 31, 2009, 7,550 shares of restricted stock were issued under the Incentive Plan.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, 1.4 million shares of Series B Preferred Stock were converted into 2.8 million shares of common stock, respectively.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company raised $141.8 million by issuing 8.4 million shares, through the Direct Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Program.

(B) Preferred Stock

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had issued and outstanding 7,412,500 shares of Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”), with a par value $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared). The Series A Preferred Stock must be paid a dividend at a rate of 7.875% per year on the $25.00 liquidation preference before the common stock is entitled to receive any dividends. The Series A Preferred Stock is redeemable at $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) exclusively at the Company's option commencing on April 5, 2009 (subject to the Company's right under limited circumstances to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock earlier in order to preserve its qualification as a REIT). The Series A Preferred Stock is senior to the Company's common stock and is on parity with the Series B Preferred Stock with respect to dividends and distributions, including distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series A Preferred Stock generally does not have any voting rights, except if the Company fails to pay dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive). Under such circumstances, the Series A Preferred Stock, together with the Series B Preferred Stock, will be entitled to vote to elect two additional directors to the Board, until all unpaid dividends have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. In addition, certain material and adverse changes to the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock cannot be made without the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock. Through March 31, 2010, the Company had declared and paid all required quarterly dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock.

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had issued and outstanding 2,603,969 and 2,604,614, respectively, shares of Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”), with a par value $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared). The Series B Preferred Stock must be paid a dividend at a rate of 6% per year on the $25.00 liquidation preference before the common stock is entitled to receive any dividends.
 
The Series B Preferred Stock is not redeemable. The Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion rate that adjusts from time to time upon the occurrence of certain events, including if the Company distributes to its common shareholders in any calendar quarter cash dividends in excess of $0.11 per share. Initially, the conversion rate was 1.7730 shares of common shares per $25 liquidation preference.   At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the conversion ratio was 2.4164 shares of common stock per $25 liquidation preference.  Commencing April 5, 2011, the Company has the right in certain circumstances to convert each Series B Preferred Stock into a number of common shares based upon the then prevailing conversion rate. The Series B Preferred Stock is also convertible into common shares at the option of the Series B preferred shareholder at anytime at the then prevailing conversion rate. The Series B Preferred Stock is senior to the Company's common stock and is on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends and distributions, including distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series B Preferred Stock generally does not have any voting rights, except if the Company fails to pay dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive). Under such circumstances, the Series B Preferred Stock, together with the Series A Preferred Stock, will be entitled to vote to elect two additional directors to the Board, until all unpaid dividends have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. In addition, certain material and adverse changes to the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock cannot be made without the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series A Preferred Stock. Through March 31, 2010, the Company had declared and paid all required quarterly dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, 645 shares of Series B Preferred Stock were converted into 1,511 shares of common stock.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, 1,355,961 shares of Series B Preferred Stock were converted into 2,801,000 shares of common stock.
 
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(C) Distributions to Shareholders

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company declared dividends to common shareholders totaling $363.8 million or $0.65 per share, which was paid to shareholders on April 29, 2010.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company declared dividends to Series A Preferred shareholders totaling approximately $3.6 million or $0.4925 per share, and Series B shareholders totaling approximately $1.0 million or $0.375 per share, which were paid to shareholders on March 31, 2010.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company declared dividends to common shareholders totaling $272.2 million or $0.50 per share, which were paid to shareholders on April 29, 2009.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company declared dividends to Series A Preferred shareholders totaling approximately $3.6 million or $0.492188 per share, and Series B shareholders totaling approximately $978,000 or $0.375 per share, which were paid to shareholders on March 31, 2009.

13.           NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

The following table presents a reconciliation of the net income and shares used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.
 
   
For the Quarters Ended
 
   
March 31, 2010
   
March 31, 2009
 
Net income attributable to controlling interest
  $ 281,065     $ 349,893  
Less: Preferred stock dividends
    4,625       4,626  
Net income available to common shareholders, prior to adjustment for
  Series B dividends, if necessary
  $ 276,440     $ 345,267  
                 
Add: Preferred Series B dividends, if Series B shares are dilutive
    976       978  
         Convertible Senior Note interest, if Note is dilutive
    3,195       -  
Net income available to common shareholders, as adjusted
  $ 280,611     $ 346,245  
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding-basic
    554,995       542,903  
                 
Add:  Effect of dilutive stock options and
    224       113  
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
    6,293       5,535  
Convertible Senior Note
    14,347          
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding-diluted
    575,859       548,551  

Options to purchase 566,000 and 4.5 million shares of common stock were outstanding and considered anti-dilutive as their exercise price and option expense exceeded the average stock price for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.

14.          LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

The Company has adopted a long term stock incentive plan for executive officers, key employees and non-employee directors (the “Incentive Plan”).  The Incentive Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee of the board of directors to grant awards, including non-qualified options as well as incentive stock options as defined under Section 422 of the Code.  The Incentive Plan authorizes the granting of options or other awards for an aggregate of the greater of 500,000 shares or 9.5% of the diluted outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, up to ceiling of 8,932,921 shares.  Stock options are issued at the current market price on the date of grant, subject to an immediate or four year vesting in four equal installments with a contractual term of 5 or 10 years.  The grant date fair value is calculated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model.
 
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For the Quarter ended
 
   
March 31, 2010
   
March 31, 2009
 
   
 
Number of
Shares
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   
 
Number of
Shares
   
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 
Options outstanding at the beginning of
 quarter
    7,271,503     $ 15.20       5,180,164     $ 15.87  
Exercised
    (90,247 )     11.72       (55,887 )     11.17  
Options outstanding at the end of quarter
    7,181,256     $ 15.24       5,124,277     $ 15.92  
Options exercisable at the end of the quarter
    1,769,180     $ 17.23       2,241,702     $ 16.12  
 
The weighted average remaining contractual term was approximately 7.4 years for stock options outstanding and approximately 4.3 years for stock options exercisable as of March 31, 2010.  As of March 31, 2010, there was approximately $12.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation awards.  That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.7 years.

The weighted average remaining contractual term was approximately 7.3 years for stock options outstanding and approximately 5.5 years for stock options exercisable as of March 31, 2009.  As of March 31, 2009, there was approximately $8.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation awards.  That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.1 years.

15.      INCOME TAXES

As a REIT, the Company is not subject to federal income tax on earnings distributed to its shareholders. Most states recognize REIT status as well. The Company has decided to distribute the majority of its income and retain a portion of the permanent difference between book and taxable income arising from Section 162(m) of the Code pertaining to employee remuneration.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiaries recorded $1.3 million of income tax expense for income attributable to those subsidiaries, and the portion of earnings retained based on Code Section 162(m) limitations.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company recorded $6.0 million of income tax expense for a portion of earnings retained based on Section 162(m) limitations.  The effective tax rate was 54% for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.
 
                During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiaries recorded $533,000 of income tax expense for income attributable to those subsidiaries, and the portion of earnings retained based on Code Section 162(m) limitations.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company recorded $5.9 million of income tax expense for a portion of earnings retained based on Section 162(m) limitations.  The effective tax rate was 54% for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.
 
                The effective tax rates were calculated based on the Company’s estimated taxable income after dividends paid deduction and differ from the federal statutory rate as a result of state and local taxes and permanent difference pertaining to employee remuneration as discussed above.
 
The statutory combined federal, state, and city corporate tax rate is 45%.  This amount is applied to the amount of estimated REIT taxable income retained (if any, and only up to 10% of ordinary income as all capital gain income is distributed) and to taxable income earned at the taxable subsidiaries.  Thus, as a REIT, the Company’s effective tax rate is significantly less as it is allowed to deduct dividend distributions.
 
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 16.          LEASE COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
 The Company amended its lease to increase the amount of space it leases and extended it to December 2015.  Merganser has a non-cancelable lease for office space, which commenced on May 2003 and expires in May 2014.  The Company’s aggregate future minimum lease payments total $9.6 million.   The following table details the lease payments.

Year Ending December
 
Lease Commitment
   
Sublease Income
   
Net Amount
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
2010 (remaining)
  $ 1,571     $ 42     $ 1,529  
2011
    2,120       -       2,120  
2012
    2,130       -       2,130  
2013
    2,170       -       2,170  
2014
    1,677       -       1,677  
    $ 9,668     $ 42     $ 9,626  
 
From time to time, the Company is involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business.  In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and therefore no accrual is required as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

Merganser’s prior owners may receive additional consideration as an earn-out during 2012 if Merganser meets specific performance goals under the merger agreement.  The Company cannot currently calculate how much consideration will be paid under the earn-out provisions because the payment amount will vary depending upon whether and the extent to which Merganser achieves specific performance goals.  Any amounts paid under this provision will be recorded as additional goodwill.
 
17.       INTEREST RATE RISK

        The primary market risk to the Company is interest rate risk.  Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary and tax policies, domestic and international economic and political considerations and other factors beyond the Company’s control.  Changes in the general level of interest rates can affect net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income earned on interest-earning assets and the interest expense incurred in connection with the interest-bearing liabilities, by affecting the spread between the interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  Changes in the level of interest rates also can affect the value of the Investment Securities and the Company’s ability to realize gains from the sale of these assets.  A decline in the value of the Investment Securities pledged as collateral for borrowings under repurchase agreements could result in the counterparties demanding additional collateral pledges or liquidation of some of the existing collateral to reduce borrowing levels.  Liquidation of collateral at losses could have an adverse accounting impact, as discussed in Note 1.

The Company seeks to manage the extent to which net income changes as a function of changes in interest rates by matching adjustable-rate assets with variable-rate borrowings.  The Company may seek to mitigate the potential impact on net income of periodic and lifetime coupon adjustment restrictions in the portfolio of Investment Securities by entering into interest rate agreements such as interest rate caps and interest rate swaps. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009  the Company entered into interest rate swaps to pay a fixed rate and receive a floating rate of interest, with a total notional amount of $22.8 billion and $21.5 billion, respectively.
 
Changes in interest rates may also have an effect on the rate of mortgage principal prepayments and, as a result, prepayments on Mortgage-Backed Securities.  The Company will seek to mitigate the effect of changes in the mortgage principal repayment rate by balancing assets purchased at a premium with assets purchased at a discount.  To date, the aggregate premium exceeds the aggregate discount on the Mortgage-Backed Securities.  As a result, prepayments, which result in the expensing of unamortized premium, will reduce net income compared to what net income would be absent such prepayments.
 
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18.           RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

At March 31, 2010, the Company had $10.3 billion of repurchase agreements outstanding with RCap.  The weighted average interest rate is 0.29% and the terms are one to two months.  These agreements are collateralized by agency mortgage backed securities, with an estimated market value of  $10.6 billion. For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, RCap had $7.9 million in interest income from the Company.
 
At December 31, 2009, the Company had lent $259.0 million to Chimera in a reverse repurchase agreement which is callable weekly.  This amount is included in the principal amount which approximates fair value in the Company’s Statement of Financial Condition.  The interest rate at December 31, 2009 was at the rate of 1.72%.

On April 15, 2009, the Company purchased approximately 25.0 million shares of Chimera common stock at a price of $3.00 for aggregate proceeds of approximately $74.9 million.  On May 27, 2009, the Company purchased approximately 4.7 million shares of Chimera common stock at a price of $3.22 for aggregate proceeds of approximately $15.2 million.  Chimera is managed by FIDAC, and the Company owns approximately 6.8% of Chimera's common stock.

19.  REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

Annaly’s broker dealer subsidiary is subject to regulations of the securities business that include but are not limited to trade practices, use and safekeeping of funds and securities, capital structure, recordkeeping, and conduct of directors, officers and employees. 

As a self clearing, registered broker dealer, RCap Securities, Inc. is subject to the minimum net capital requirements of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).  As of March 31, 2010, RCap had a minimum net capital requirement of $2.3 million and would be required to notify FINRA if capital was to fall below the early warning threshold of $2.8 million.  RCap consistently operates with capital significantly in excess of its regulatory capital requirements. RCap’s regulatory net capital as defined by SEC Rule 15c3-1, as of March 31, 2010 was $175.1 million with excess net capital of $172.8 million.
 
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Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this quarterly report, and certain statements contained in our future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC" or the "Commission"), in our press releases or in our other public or shareholder communications may not be based on historical facts and are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements, which are based on various assumptions, (some of which are beyond our control) may be identified by reference to a future period or periods, or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may," "will," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "continue," or similar terms or variations on those terms, or the negative of those terms. Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates, changes in the yield curve, changes in prepayment rates, the availability of mortgage-backed securities and other securities for purchase, the availability of financing, and, if available, the terms of any financings, changes in the market value of our assets, changes in business conditions and the general economy, changes in governmental regulations affecting our business, and our ability to maintain our classification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, and risks associated with the investment advisory business of our subsidiaries, including the removal by their clients of assets they manage, their regulatory requirements, and competition in the investment advisory business, and risks associated with the broker dealer business of our subsidiary. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Overview

We are a real estate investment trust, or REIT, that owns, manages, and finances a portfolio of real estate related investment securities, including mortgage pass-through certificates, collateralized mortgage obligations (or CMOs), agency callable debentures, and other securities representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of mortgage loans.  Our principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to our stockholders from the spread between the interest income on our investment securities and the costs of borrowing to finance our acquisition of investment securities and from dividends we receive from our subsidiaries.  Our wholly-owned subsidiaries offer diversified real estate, asset management and other financial services.  FIDAC and Merganser are our wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiaries that are registered investment advisors that generate advisory and service fee income.  RCap is our wholly-owned broker dealer taxable REIT subsidiary which generates fee income.
 
We are primarily engaged in the business of investing, on a leveraged basis, in mortgage pass-through certificates, collateralized mortgage obligations and other mortgage-backed securities representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of mortgage loans issued or guaranteed by Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”) (collectively, “Mortgage-Backed Securities”).  We also invest in Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”), Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae debentures.  The Mortgage-Backed Securities and agency debentures are collectively referred to herein as “Investment Securities.”

Under our capital investment policy, at least 75% of our total assets must be comprised of high-quality mortgage-backed securities and short-term investments.  High quality securities means securities that (1) are rated within one of the two highest rating categories by at least one of the nationally recognized rating agencies, (2) are unrated but are guaranteed by the United States government or an agency of the United States government, or (3) are unrated but we determine them to be of comparable quality to rated high-quality mortgage-backed securities.
 
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The remainder of our assets, comprising not more than 25% of our total assets, may consist of other qualified REIT real estate assets which are unrated or rated less than high quality, but which are at least “investment grade” (rated “BBB” or better by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) or the equivalent by another nationally recognized rating agency) or, if not rated, we determine them to be of comparable credit quality to an investment which is rated “BBB” or better.  In addition, we may directly or indirectly invest part of this remaining 25% of our assets in other types of securities, including without limitation, unrated debt, equity or derivative securities, to the extent consistent with our REIT qualification requirements.  The derivative securities in which we invest may include securities representing the right to receive interest only or a disproportionately large amount of interest, as well as inverse floaters, which may have imbedded leverage as part of their structural characteristics.

We may acquire Mortgage-Backed Securities backed by single-family residential mortgage loans as well as securities backed by loans on multi-family, commercial or other real estate related properties.  To date, substantially  all of the Mortgage-Backed Securities that we have acquired have been backed by single-family residential mortgage loans.

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.  Pursuant to the current federal tax regulations, one of the requirements of maintaining our status as a REIT is that we must distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and by excluding any net capital gain) to our stockholders, subject to certain adjustments.

The results of our operations are affected by various factors, many of which are beyond our control.  Our results of operations primarily depend on, among other things, our net interest income, the market value of our assets and the supply of and demand for such assets.  Our net interest income, which reflects the amortization of purchase premiums and accretion of discounts, varies primarily as a result of changes in interest rates, borrowing costs and prepayment speeds, the behavior of which involves various risks and uncertainties.  Prepayment speeds, as reflected by the Constant Prepayment Rate, or CPR, and interest rates vary according to the type of investment, conditions in financial markets, competition and other factors, none of which can be predicted with any certainty.  In general, as prepayment speeds on our Mortgage-Backed Securities portfolio increase, related purchase premium amortization increases, thereby reducing the net yield on such assets.  The CPR on our Mortgage-Backed Securities portfolio averaged 34% , and 16% for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Since changes in interest rates may significantly affect our activities, our operating results depend, in large part, upon our ability to effectively manage interest rate risks and prepayment risks while maintaining our status as a REIT.
 
  The table below provides quarterly information regarding our average balances, interest income, yield on assets, average repurchase agreement balances, interest expense, cost of funds, net interest income and net interest rate spreads for the quarterly periods presented.
 
    Average
Investment
Securities
Held (1)
    Total
Interest
Income
    Yield on
Average
Investment
Securities
    Average
Balance of
Repurchase
Agreements
   
Interest
Expense
    Average
Cost of
Funds
    Net Interest
Income
    Net
Interest
Rate
Spread
 
   
(ratios for the quarters have been annualized, dollars in thousands)
 
Quarter Ended
  March 31, 2010
  $ 61,983,900     $ 654,389       4.22 %   $ 55,298,875     $ 276,509       2.00 %   $ 377,880       2.22 %
Quarter Ended
  December 31, 2009
  $ 62,128,320     $ 751,663       4.84 %   $ 55,919,885     $ 286,764       2.05 %   $ 464,899       2.79 %
Quarter Ended
  September 30, 2009
  $ 60,905,025     $ 744,523       4.89 %   $ 54,914,435     $ 307,777       2.24 %   $ 436,746       2.65 %
Quarter Ended
  June 30, 2009
  $ 56,420,189     $ 710,401       5.04 %   $ 50,114,663     $ 322,596       2.57 %   $ 387,805       2.47 %
Quarter Ended
  March 31, 2009
  $ 54,763,268     $ 716,015       5.23 %   $ 48,497,444     $ 378,625       3.12 %   $ 337,390       2.11 %
(1) Does not reflect unrealized gains/(losses).
 
The following table presents the CPR experienced on our Mortgage-Backed Securities portfolio, on an annualized basis, for the quarterly periods presented.

Quarter Ended
CPR
   
March 31, 2010
34%
December 31, 2009
19%
September 30, 2009
21%
June 30, 2009
19%
March 31, 2009
16%
 
 
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We believe that the CPR in future periods will depend, in part, on changes in and the level of market interest rates across the yield curve, with higher CPRs expected during periods of declining interest rates and lower CPRs expected during periods of rising interest rates.

We continue to explore alternative business strategies, alternative investments and other strategic initiatives to complement our core business strategy of investing, on a leveraged basis, in high quality Investment Securities.  No assurance, however, can be provided that any such strategic initiative will or will not be implemented in the future.

For the purposes of computing ratios relating to equity measures, throughout this report, equity includes Series B preferred stock, which has been treated under GAAP as temporary equity.  In this “Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, net income attributable to controlling interest is referred to as net income.

Recent Developments

The liquidity crisis which commenced in August 2007 continued through the first quarter of 2010.  During this period of market dislocation, fiscal and monetary policymakers have established new liquidity facilities for primary dealers and commercial banks, reduced short-term interest rates, and passed legislation that is intended to address the challenges of mortgage borrowers and lenders.  This legislation, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, seeks to forestall home foreclosures for distressed borrowers and assist communities with foreclosure problems.  Although these aggressive steps are intended to protect and support the US housing and mortgage market, we continue to operate under difficult market conditions.

Subsequent to June 30, 2008, there were increased market concerns about Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae’s ability to withstand future credit losses associated with securities held in their investment portfolios, and on which they provide guarantees, without the direct support of the U.S. Government.  In September 2008, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed into the conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, their federal regulator, pursuant to its powers under The Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008, a part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.  As the conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the FHFA controls and directs the operations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and may (1) take over the assets of and operate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with all the powers of the shareholders, the directors, and the officers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and conduct all business of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; (2) collect all obligations and money due to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; (3) perform all functions of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which are consistent with the conservator’s appointment; (4) preserve and conserve the assets and property of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; and (5) contract for assistance in fulfilling any function, activity, action or duty of the conservator.

In addition to FHFA becoming the conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Treasury and FHFA have entered into Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements (PSPAs) between the Treasury and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pursuant to which the Treasury will ensure that each of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac maintains a positive net worth.  On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury amended the terms of the U.S. Treasury’s  PSPAs with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to remove the $200 billion per institution limit established under the PSPAs until the end of 2012.  The U.S. Treasury also amended the PSPAs with respect to the requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to reduce their portfolios.

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, or EESA, was also enacted.  The EESA provides the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury with the authority to establish a Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, to purchase from financial institutions up to $700 billion of equity or preferred securities, residential or commercial mortgages and any securities, obligations, or other instruments that are based on or related to such mortgages, that in each case was originated or issued on or before March 14, 2008, as well as any other financial instrument that the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, determines the purchase of which is necessary to promote financial market stability, upon transmittal of such determination, in writing, to the appropriate committees of the U.S. Congress.  The EESA also provides for a program that would allow companies to insure their troubled assets.
 
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In addition, the U.S. Government, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or Federal Reserve, and other governmental and regulatory bodies have taken or are considering taking other actions to address the financial crisis.  The Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, or TALF, was first announced by the U.S. Department of Treasury, or the Treasury, on November 25, 2008, and has been expanded in size and scope since its initial announcement.  Under the TALF, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York makes non-recourse loans to borrowers to fund their purchase of eligible assets, currently certain asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities but not residential mortgage-backed securities.   The FRBNY has announced that it extended accepting applications for credit under the TALF program to June 30, 2010 for newly-issued commercial mortgage-backed securities.  The FRBNY has also announced that it stopped accepting applications for credit under the TALF program on March 31, 2010 for all other TALF-eligible collateral.

In addition, on March 23, 2009 the government announced that the Treasury in conjunction with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, and the Federal Reserve, would create the Public-Private Investment Program, or PPIP.  The PPIP aims to recreate a market for specific illiquid residential and commercial loans and securities through a number of joint public and private investment funds.  The PPIP is designed to draw new private capital into the market for these securities and loans by providing government equity co-investment and attractive public financing.  As these programs are still in early stages of operations, it is not possible for us to predict how these programs will impact our business.

There can be no assurance that the EESA, TALF, PPIP or other policy initiatives will have a beneficial impact on the financial markets, including current extreme levels of volatility.  We cannot predict whether or when such actions may occur or what impact, if any, such actions could have on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The liquidity crisis could adversely affect one or more of our lenders and could cause one or more of our lenders to be unwilling or unable to provide us with additional financing.  This could potentially increase our financing costs and reduce liquidity.  If one or more major market participants fails, it could negatively impact the marketability of all fixed income securities, including Agency mortgage-backed securities, and this could negatively impact the value of the securities in our portfolio, thus reducing its net book value.  Furthermore, if many of our lenders are unwilling or unable to provide us with additional financing, we could be forced to sell our Investment Securities at an inopportune time when prices are depressed.  Even with the current situation in the mortgage sector we do not anticipate having difficulty converting our assets to cash or extending financing, due to the fact that our investment securities have an actual or implied “AAA” rating and principal payment is guaranteed.

Earlier this year, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae announced that they would be purchasing seriously delinquent mortgage loans out of securities that they currently guarantee.  The loans which they consider seriously delinquent are those loans that are more than 120 days past due.  Freddie Mac announced that its repurchase of these loans would result in principal payments being passed through to the mortgage-backed security holders on March 15, 2010 and April 15, 2010.   Fannie Mae announced that it would begin to repurchase delinquent loans in March 2010.  Fannie Mae announced that it plans to conduct the repurchases over several months and to time the repurchases according to coupon rate, from highest to lowest over that period.  The repurchases could materially impact the rate of principal prepayments on our Agency mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac because of higher premium amortization expense, a decline in higher yielding Agency mortgage-backed securities assets and an increase in lower yielding cash investments.  As of March 31, 2010, we had net purchase premiums of $1.3 billion, or 2.0% of current par value, on our Agency mortgage-backed securities.

Critical Accounting Policies

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on the amounts reported in our financial statements.  These financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP.  In preparing the financial statements, management is required to make various judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts.  Changes in these estimates and assumptions could have a material effect on our financial statements.  The following is a summary of our policies most affected by management’s judgments, estimates and assumptions.
 
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Fair Value of Investment Securities:  All assets classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair value, based on market prices.  Although we generally intend to hold most of our Investment Securities until maturity, we may, from time to time, sell any of our Investment Securities as part our overall management of our portfolio.  Accordingly, we are required to classify all of our Investment Securities as available-for-sale.  Our policy is to obtain fair values from independent sources.  Fair values from independent sources are compared to internal prices for reasonableness.  Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market concerns warrant such evaluation.  The determination of whether a security is other-than-temporarily impaired involves judgments and assumptions based on subjective and objective factors.  Consideration is given to (1) our intent to sell the Investment Securities, (2) whether it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the Investment Securities before recovery, or (3) whether we do not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the Investment Securities.  Further, the security is analyzed for credit loss (the difference between the present value of cash flows expected to be collected and the amortized cost basis).  The credit loss, if any, will then be recognized in the statement of earnings, while the balance of impairment related to other factors will be recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”).

Interest Income:  Interest income is accrued based on the outstanding principal amount of the Investment Securities and their contractual terms.  Premiums and discounts associated with the purchase of the Investment Securities are amortized or accreted into interest income over the projected lives of the securities using the interest method.  Our policy for estimating prepayment speeds for calculating the effective yield is to evaluate historical performance, Wall Street consensus prepayment speeds, and current market conditions.  If our estimate of prepayments is incorrect, we may be required to make an adjustment to the amortization or accretion of premiums and discounts that would have an impact on future income.

Derivative Financial Instruments/Hedging Activity:   Prior to the fourth quarter of 2008, we designated interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges, whereby the swaps were recorded at fair value on our balance sheet as assets and liabilities with any changes in fair value recorded in OCI.  In a cash flow hedge, a swap would exactly match the pricing date of the relevant repurchase agreement.  Through the end of the third quarter of 2008 we continued to be able to effectively match the swaps with the repurchase agreements therefore entering into effective hedge transactions.  However, due to the volatility of the credit markets, it is no longer practical to match the pricing dates of both the swaps and the repurchase agreements.

As a result, we voluntarily discontinued hedge accounting after the third quarter of 2008 through a combination of de-designating previously defined hedge relationships and not designating new contracts as cash flow hedges.  The de-designation of cash flow hedges requires that the net derivative gain or loss related to the discontinued cash flow hedge should continue to be reported in accumulated OCI, unless it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur by the end of the originally specified time period or within an additional two-month period of time thereafter.  We continue to hold repurchase agreements in excess of swap contracts and have no indication that interest payments on the hedged repurchase agreements are in jeopardy of discontinuing.  Therefore, the deferred losses related to these derivatives that have been de-designated will not be recognized immediately and will remain in OCI.  These losses are reclassified into earnings during the contractual terms of the swap agreements starting as of October 1, 2008.  Changes in the unrealized gains or losses on the interest rate swaps subsequent to September 30, 2008 are reflected in our statement of operations.

      Repurchase Agreements:  We finance the acquisition of our Investment Securities through the use of repurchase agreements.  Repurchase agreements are treated as collateralized financing transactions and are carried at their contractual amounts, including accrued interest, as specified in the respective agreements.  Repurchase agreements entered into by RCap are matched with reverse repurchase agreements and are recorded on trade date with the duration of such repurchase agreements mirroring those of the matched reverse repurchase agreements.  These repurchase agreements entered into by RCap are recorded at the contract amount and margin calls are filled by RCap as required based on any deficiencies in collateral versus the contract price.  RCap generates income from the spread between what is earned on the reverse repurchase agreements and what is paid on the repurchase agreements.  Intercompany transactions are eliminated in the statement of financial condition, statement of operations, and statement of cash flows.  Cash flows related to RCap’s repurchase agreements are included in cash flows from operating activity.

 Income Taxes:  We have elected to be taxed as a REIT and intend to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), with respect thereto.  Accordingly, we will not be subjected to federal income tax to the extent of our distributions to shareholders and as long as certain asset, income and stock ownership tests are met.  We, FIDAC, Merganser, and RCap have made separate joint elections to treat FIDAC, Merganser, and RCap as taxable REIT subsidiaries.  As such, FIDAC, Merganser, and RCap are taxable as domestic C corporations and subject to federal and state and local income taxes based upon their taxable income.
 
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          Impairment of Goodwill and Intangibles:  Our acquisition of FIDAC and Merganser were accounted for using the purchase method.  The cost of FIDAC and Merganser were allocated to the assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets and the liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The excess of cost over the fair value of the net assets acquired was recognized as goodwill.  Goodwill and finite-lived intangible assets are periodically reviewed for potential impairment.  This evaluation requires significant judgment.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

General Principles

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (ASC 105)

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued The Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“Codification”) which revises the framework for selecting the accounting principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements that are presented in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”).  The objective of the Codification is to establish the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB.  Codification is effective September 30, 2009.  In adopting the Codification, all non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature not included in the Codification is superseded and deemed non-authoritative.  Codification requires any references within the consolidated financial statements be modified from FASB issues to ASC.  However, in accordance with the FASB Accounting Standards Codification Notice to Constituents (v 2.0), we will not reference specific sections of the ASC but will use broad topic references.

Our recent accounting pronouncements section is formatted to reflect the same organizational structure as the ASC.  Broad topic references will be updated with pending content as they are released.

Assets

Investments in Debt and Equity Securities (ASC 320)

New guidance was provided to make impairment guidance more operational and to improve the presentation and disclosure of other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”) on debt and equity securities in financial statements.  This guidance was also the result of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) mark-to-market study mandated under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (“EESA”).  The SEC’s recommendation was to “evaluate the need for modifications (or the elimination) of current OTTI guidance to provide for a more uniform system of impairment testing standards for financial instruments.”  The guidance revises the OTTI evaluation methodology.  Previously the analytical focus was on whether we had the “intent and ability to retain its investment in the debt security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.”   Now the focus is on whether we have (1) the intent to sell the Investment Securities, (2) it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the Investment Securities before recovery, or (3) it does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the Investment Securities.  Further, the security is analyzed for credit loss, (the difference between the present value of cash flows expected to be collected and the amortized cost basis).  The credit loss, if any, will then be recognized in the statement of operations, while the balance of impairment related to other factors will be recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (“OCI”).  This guidance became effective for all interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009 with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009 and we decided to early adopt.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, we did not have unrealized losses in Investment Securities that were deemed other-than-temporary.

Broad Transactions

Business Combinations (ASC 805)

This guidance establishes principles and requirements for recognizing and measuring identifiable assets and goodwill acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in a business combination at their fair value at acquisition date.  ASC 805 alters the treatment of acquisition-related costs, business combinations achieved in stages (referred to as a step acquisition), the treatment of gains from a bargain purchase, the recognition of contingencies in business combinations, the treatment of in-process research and development in a business combination as well as the treatment of recognizable deferred tax benefits.  ASC 805 is effective for business combinations closed in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and is applicable to business acquisitions completed after January 1, 2009.  We did not make any business acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2009.  The adoption of ASC 805 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
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Consolidation (ASC 810)

On January 1, 2009, FASB amended the guidance concerning noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements, which requires us to make certain changes to the presentation of its financial statements.  This guidance requires us to classify noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as “minority interest”) as part of consolidated net income and to include the accumulated amount of noncontrolling interests as part of stockholders’ equity.  Similarly, in its presentation of stockholders’ equity, we distinguish between equity amounts attributable to controlling interest and amounts attributable to the noncontrolling interests – previously classified as minority interest outside of stockholders’ equity.  In addition to these financial reporting changes, this guidance provides for significant changes in accounting related to noncontrolling interests; specifically, increases and decreases in its controlling financial interests in consolidated subsidiaries will be reported in equity similar to treasury stock transactions.  If a change in ownership of a consolidated subsidiary results in loss of control and deconsolidation, any retained ownership interests are re-measured with the gain or loss reported in net earnings.

Effective January 1, 2010, the consolidation standards have been amended by ASU 2009-17.  This amendment updates the existing standard and eliminates the exemption from consolidation of a Qualified Special Purpose Entity (“QSPE”).    The update requires an enterprise to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity (“VIE”).  The analysis identifies the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the enterprise that has both: a) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity which could potentially be significant to the VIE.  The update requires enhanced disclosures to provide users of financial statements with more transparent information about an enterprises involvement in a VIE.  Further, ongoing assessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary on a VIE are required.  At this time, the amendment has no material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

On January 27, 2010, the FASB voted to indefinitely defer the effective date of  ASU 2009-17 for a reporting enterprises interest in entities for which it is industry practice to issue financial statements in accordance with investment company standards (ASC 946).  This deferral is expected to most significantly affect reporting entities in the investment management industry.  This amendment has no material effect on our  consolidated financial statements.
 
Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815)

Effective January 1, 2009 and adopted by us prospectively, the FASB issued additional guidance attempting  to improve the transparency of financial reporting by mandating the provision of additional information about how derivative and hedging activities affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows.  This guidance changed the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosure about (1) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (2) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for, and (3) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows.  To adhere to this guidance, qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts, gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements must be made.  This disclosure framework is intended to better convey the purpose of derivative use in terms of the risks that an entity is intending to manage.  We discontinued hedge accounting as of September 30, 2008, and therefore the effect of the adoption of this guidance was an increase in note disclosures.
 
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Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820)

In response to the deterioration of the credit markets, FASB issued guidance clarifying how Fair Value Measurements should be applied when valuing securities in markets that are not active.  The guidance provides an illustrative example, utilizing management’s internal cash flow and discount rate assumptions when relevant observable data do not exist.  It further clarifies how observable market information and market quotes should be considered when measuring fair value in an inactive market.  It reaffirms the notion of fair value as an exit price as of the measurement date and that fair value analysis is a transactional process and should not be broadly applied to a group of assets.  The guidance was effective upon issuance including prior periods for which financial statements had not been issued.  The implementation of this guidance did not have a material effect on the fair value of the Company’s assets as the valuation methodologies utilized by us are consistent with the guidance.

In October 2008 the EESA was signed into law.  Section 133 of the EESA mandated that the SEC conduct a study on mark-to-market accounting standards.  The SEC provided its study to the U.S. Congress on December 30, 2008.  Part of the recommendations within the study indicated that “fair value requirements should be improved through development of application and best practices guidance for determining fair value in illiquid or inactive markets.”  As a result of this study and the recommendations therein, on April 9, 2009, the FASB issued additional guidance for determining fair value when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased when compared with normal market activity for the asset or liability (or similar assets or liabilities).  The guidance gives specific factors to evaluate if there has been a decrease in normal market activity and if so, provides a methodology to analyze transactions or quoted prices and make necessary adjustments to fair value.  The objective is to determine the point within a range of fair value estimates that is most representative of fair value under current market conditions.  This guidance became effective for  us June 30, 2009 with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March 31, 2009.  The adoption does not have a major impact on the manner in which we estimate fair value, nor does it have any impact on our financial statement disclosures.

In August 2009, FASB provided further guidance (ASU 2009-05) regarding the fair value measurement of liabilities.  The guidance states that a quoted price for the identical liability when traded as an asset in an active market is a Level 1 fair value measurement.  If the value must be adjusted for factors specific to the liability, then the adjustment to the quoted price of the asset shall render the fair value measurement of the liability a lower level measurement.  This guidance has no material effect on the fair valuation of our liabilities.

In September 2009, FASB issued guidance (ASU 2009-12) on measuring the fair value of certain alternative investments.  This guidance offers investors a practical expedient for measuring the fair value of investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value (“NAV”) per share.  If an investment falls within the scope of the ASU, the reporting entity is permitted, but not required to use the investment’s NAV to estimate its fair value.  This guidance has no material effect on the fair valuation of our assets.  We do not hold any assets qualifying under this guidance.

In January 2010, FASB issued guidance (ASU 2010-06) which increases disclosure regarding the fair value of assets.  The key provisions of this guidance include the requirement to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 including a description of the reason for the transfers.  Previously this was only required of transfers between Level 2 and Level 3 assets.  Further, reporting entities are required to provide fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities; a class is potentially a subset of the assets or liabilities within a line item in the statement of financial position.  Additionally, disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements are required for either Level 2 or Level 3 assets.  This portion of the guidance is effective for us on December 31, 2009. The guidance also requires that the disclosure on any Level 3 assets presents separately information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements.  In other words, Level 3 assets are presented on a gross basis rather than as one net number.  However, this last portion of the guidance is not effective for us until December 31, 2010.  Adoption of this guidance results in increased footnote disclosure.

Financial Instruments (ASC 825)

On April 9, 2009, the FASB issued guidance which requires disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods as well as in annual financial statements.  The guidance became effective for us on June 30, 2009.  The adoption did not have any impact on financial reporting as all financial instruments are currently reported at fair value in both interim and annual periods.
 
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Subsequent Events (ASC 855)

General standards governing accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued.  ASC 855 also provides guidance on the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements and the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date.  We adopted the guidance effective June 30, 2009, and adoption had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2010, FASB issued ASU 2010-09 as an amendment to ASC 855.  This update eliminates the requirement to provide a specific date through which subsequent events were evaluated.  This update was issued to alleviate potential conflicts between ASC 855 and SEC reporting requirements.  The update was effective upon issuance and has no impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Transfers and Servicing (ASC 860)

In February 2008 FASB issued guidance addressing whether transactions where assets purchased from a particular counterparty and financed through a repurchase agreement with the same counterparty can be considered and accounted for as separate transactions, or are required to be considered “linked” transactions and may be considered derivatives.  This guidance requires purchases and subsequent financing through repurchase agreements be considered linked transactions unless all of the following conditions apply: (1) the initial purchase and the use of repurchase agreements to finance the purchase are not contractually contingent upon each other; (2) the repurchase financing entered into between the parties provides full recourse to the transferee and the repurchase price is fixed; (3) the financial assets are readily obtainable in the market; and (4) the financial instrument and the repurchase agreement are not coterminous.  This guidance was effective January 1, 2009 and the implementation did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

On June 12, 2009, the FASB issued guidance an amendment update to the accounting standards governing the transfer and servicing of financial assets. This amendment  updates the existing standard and eliminates the concept of a Qualified Special Purpose Entity (“QSPE”); clarifies the surrendering of control to effect sale treatment; and modifies the financial components approach – limiting the circumstances in which a financial asset or portion thereof should be derecognized when the transferor maintains continuing involvement.  It defines the term “Participating Interest.”  Under this standard update, the transferor must recognize and initially measure at fair value all assets obtained and liabilities incurred as a result of a transfer, including any retained beneficial interest. Additionally, the amendment requires enhanced disclosures regarding the transferors risk associated with continuing involvement in any transferred assets.   The amendment is effective beginning January 1, 2010.  We have determined the amendment has no material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
 
32

 
Results of Operations:

Net Income Summary

For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, our net income was $281.1 million or $.50 basic income per average share related to common shareholders, as compared to $349.9 million net income or $0.64 basic net income per average share for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.  Net income per average share decreased by $0.14 per average share available to common shareholders and total net income decreased $68.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, when compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2009.  We attribute the decrease in net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 from the quarter ended March 31, 2009 to the recording of unrealized losses related to interest rate swaps of $116.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, as compared to an unrealized gain of $35.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

The table below presents the net income summary for the quarters ended March 31, 2010, and 2009.

Net Income Summary
(dollars in thousands, except for per share data)

   
Quarter Ended
March 31, 2010
   
Quarter Ended
March 31, 2009
 
Interest income:
           
  Investments
  $ 653,935     $ 716,015  
  Securities loaned
    454       -  
     Total interest income
    654,389       716,015  
                 
Interest expense:
   Repurchase agreements
    272,927       378,625  
   Securities borrowed
    387       -  
   Convertible  Senior Notes
    3,195       -  
      Total interest expense
    276,509       378,625  
                 
Net interest income
    377,880       337,390  
                 
Other income:
               
  Investment advisory and service fees
    12,546       7,761  
  Gain on sale of investment securities
    46,962       5,023  
  Dividend income
    7,964       918  
  Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swaps
    (116,732 )     35,545  
     Total other income
    (49,260 )     49,247  
                 
Expenses:
               
  Distribution fees
    360       428  
  General and administrative expenses
    40,021       29,882  
     Total expenses
    40,381       30,310  
                 
Income before income from equity method and income  taxes
    288,239       356,327  
                 
Income from equity method investment
    140       -  
                 
Income taxes
    7,314       6,434  
                 
Net income
    281,065       349,893  
                 
Dividends on preferred stock
    4,625       4,626  
                 
Net income available to common shareholders
  $ 276,440     $ 345,267  
                 
Weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding
    554,995,092       542,903,110  
Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding
    590,530,927       548,551,328  
                 
Basic net income per average common share
  $ 0.50     $ 0.64  
Diluted net income per average common share
  $ 0.49     $ 0.63  
                 
Average total assets
  $ 71,047,676     $ 59,157,435  
Average equity
  $ 9,631,012     $ 7,751,275  
                 
Return on average total assets
    1.58 %     2.37 %
Return on average equity
    11.67 %     18.06 %
 
 
33

 
                Interest Income and Average Earning Asset Yield

We had average earning assets of $62.0 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.  We had average earning assets of $54.8 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.  Our primary source of income is interest income.  Our interest income was $654.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and $716.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.  The yield on average investment securities was 4.22%, and 5.23% for the quarters ending March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The prepayment speeds increased to an average of 34% CPR for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 from an average of 16% CPR for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2009, interest income declined by $61.7 million due to the decline in yield on average investment securities of 101 basis points.  The decline in yield was, in part, due to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae purchasing seriously delinquent mortgage loans out of securities, which resulted in prepayment speeds increasing to an average of 34% CPR for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 from an average of 16% CPR for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.
 
Interest Expense and the Cost of Funds

Our largest expense is the cost of borrowed funds.  We had average borrowed funds of $55.3 billion and total interest expense of $276.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.  We had average borrowed funds of $48.5 billion and total interest expense of $378.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.  Our average cost of funds was 2.00% for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and 3.12% for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. The cost of funds rate decreased by 112 basis points and the average borrowed funds increased by $6.8 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, when compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2009. Interest expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 decreased by $102.1 million when compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2009, due to the substantial decrease in the average cost of funds rate.  Since a substantial portion of our repurchase agreements are short term, changes in market rates are directly reflected in our interest expense.  Our average cost of funds was 1.77% above average one-month LIBOR and 1.60% above average six-month LIBOR for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.
 
The table below shows our average borrowed funds and average cost of funds as compared to average one-month and average six-month LIBOR for the quarters ended March 31, 2010, the year ended December 31, 2009 and four quarters in 2009.
 
34

 
Average Cost of Funds
(Ratios for the four quarters in 2009 have been annualized, dollars in thousands)
 
   
Average
Borrowed
Funds
   
Borrowed
Funds at
Period End
   
Interest
Expense
   
Average
Cost of
Funds
   
Average
One-
Month
LIBOR
   
Average
Six-
Month
LIBOR
   
Average
One-Month
LIBOR
Relative to
Average Six-Month
LIBOR
   
Average Cost
of Funds
Relative to
Average
One-Month
LIBOR
   
Average
Cost of
Funds
Relative to
Average
Six-Month
LIBOR
 
For the Quarter Ended
   March 31, 2010
  $ 55,298,875     $ 54,384,480     $ 276,509       2.00 %     0.23 %     0.40 %     (0.17 %)     1.77 %     1.60 %
For the Year Ended
  December 31, 2009
  $ 52,361,607     $ 54,598,129     $ 1,295,762       2.47 %     0.33 %     1.11 %     (0.78 %)     2.14 %     1.36 %
For the Quarter Ended
   December 31, 2009
  $ 55,919,885     $ 54,598,129     $ 286,764       2.05 %     0.24 %     0.52 %     (0.28 %)     1.81 %     1.53 %
For the Quarter Ended
  September 30, 2009
  $ 54,914,435     $ 55,842,840     $ 307,777       2.24 %     0.27 %     0.84 %     (0.57 %)     1.97 %     1.40 %
For the Quarter Ended
  June 30, 2009
  $ 50,114,663     $ 51,326,930     $ 322,596       2.57 %     0.37 %     1.39 %     (1.02 %)     2.20 %     1.18 %
For the Quarter Ended
  March 31, 2009
  $ 48,497,444     $ 48,951,178     $ 378,625       3.12 %     0.46 %     1.74 %     (1.28 %)     2.66 %     1.38 %
 
Net Interest Income

Our net interest income, which equals interest income less interest expense, totaled $377.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, and $337.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.  Our net interest income increased by $40.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2009, because of the increased interest rate spread.  Our net interest rate spread for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was 2.22%, which was 11 basis points greater than the interest rate spread of for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 of 2.11%.  This 11 basis point increase in interest rate spread for first quarter of 2010 over the spread for first quarter of 2009 was the result of the decrease in the average cost of funds of 112 basis points, which was only partially offset by a decrease in average yield on average interest earning assets of 101 basis points.

The table below shows our interest income by average Investment Securities held, total interest income, yield on average interest earning assets, average balance of repurchase agreements, interest expense, average cost of funds, net interest income, and net interest rate spread for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the year ended December 31, 2009 and four quarters in 2009.

Net Interest Income
 (Ratios for the four quarters in 2009 have been annualized, dollars in thousands)
 
   
Average
Investment
Securities
Held
   
Total
Interest
Income
   
Yield on
Average
Interest
Earning
Assets
   
Average
Balance of
Repurchase
Agreements
   
Interest
Expense
   
Average
Cost of
Funds
   
Net Interest
Income
   
Net
Interest
Rate
Spread
 
For the Quarter Ended
   March 31, 2010
  $ 61,983,900     $ 654,389       4.22 %   $ 55,298,875     $ 276,509       2.00 %   $ 377,880       2.22 %
For the Year Ended
   December 31, 2009
  $ 58,554,200     $ 2,922,602       4.99 %   $ 52,361,607     $ 1,295,762       2.47 %   $ 1,626,840       2.52 %
 For the Quarter Ended
   December 31, 2009
  $ 62,128,320     $ 751,663       4.84 %   $ 55,919,885     $ 286,764       2.05 %   $ 464,899       2.79 %
 For the Quarter Ended
   September 30, 2009
  $ 60,905,025     $ 744,523       4.89 %   $ 54,914,435     $ 307,777       2.24 %   $ 436,746       2.65 %
For the Quarter Ended
   June 30, 2009
  $ 56,420,189     $ 710,401       5.04 %   $ 50,114,663     $ 322,596       2.57 %   $ 387,805       2.47 %
For the Quarter Ended
   March 31, 2009
  $ 54,763,268     $ 716,015       5.23 %   $ 48,497,444     $ 378,625       3.12 %   $ 337,390       2.11 %
 
 
35

 
Investment Advisory and Service Fees

FIDAC and Merganser are registered investment advisors specializing in managing fixed income securities.  At March 31, 2010, FIDAC and Merganser had under management approximately $11.6 billion in net assets and $20.3 billion in gross assets, compared to $8.5 billion in net assets and $16.3 billion in gross assets at March 31, 2009. Net investment advisory and service fees for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 totaled $12.2 million and $7.3 million, respectively, net of fees paid to third parties pursuant to distribution service agreements for facilitating and promoting distribution of shares or units to FIDAC’s clients.  Gross assets under management will vary from time to time because of changes in the amount of net assets FIDAC and Merganser manage as well as changes in the amount of leverage used by the various funds and accounts FIDAC manages. 
 
 
Gains and Losses on Sales of Investment Securities and Interest Rate Swaps

For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, we sold Investment Securities with a carrying value of $1.6 billion for aggregate net gain of $47.0 million.  For the quarter ended March 31,2009, we sold Investment Securities with a carrying value of $835.7 million for an aggregate net gain of $5.0 million.  We do not expect to sell assets on a frequent basis, but may from time to time sell existing assets to move into new assets, which our management believes might have higher risk-adjusted returns, or to manage our balance sheet as part of our asset/liability management strategy.

Income from Trading Securities

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, there was no income from trading securities.  There was no gross income from trading securities for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

Dividend Income

Dividend income from our investment in Chimera totaled $7.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 compared to $918,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.  Dividend income from our investment in CreXus totaled $316,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

Loss on Other-Than-Temporarily Impaired Securities

At each quarter end, we review each of our securities to determine if an other-than-temporary impairment charge would be necessary.  The charge is taken if we determine that we do not intend to hold securities that were in an unrealized loss position for a period of time, to maturity if necessary, sufficient for a forecasted market price recovery up to or beyond the cost of the investments or if we are required to sell for regulatory or other reasons.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 there was no loss on other-than-temporarily impaired securities.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses were $40.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 compared to $29.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. G&A expenses as a percentage of average total assets was 0.23% and0.20% for the quarters ended March 31, 2010, and 2009, respectively.  The increase in G&A expenses of $10.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was primarily the result of increased compensation costs as staff increased from 61 at March 31, 2009 to 92 at March 31, 2010.

The table below shows our total G&A expenses as compared to average total assets and average equity for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the year ended December 31, 2009 and four quarters in 2009.

G&A Expenses and Operating Expense Ratios
(ratios for the quarters have been annualized, dollars in thousands)
 
   
Total G&A Expenses
   
Total G&A
Expenses/Average Assets
   
Total G&A
Expenses/Average Equity
 
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2010
  $ 40,021         0.23 %       1.66 %  
For the Year Ended December 31, 2009
  $ 130,152         0.20 %       1.51 %  
For the Quarter Ended December 31, 2009
  $ 36,880         0.21 %       1.55 %  
For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2009
  $ 33,344         0.19 %       1.47 %  
For the Quarter Ended June 30, 2009
  $ 30,046         0.19 %       1.41 %  
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2009
  $ 29,882         0.20 %       1.54 %  
 
 
36

 
Net Income and Return on Average Equity

Our net income was $281.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and $349.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.  Our annualized return on average equity was 11.67% for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, and 18.06% for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. Net income decreased by $68.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2009, primarily due the unrealized loss on interest rate swaps of $116.8 million.

The table below shows our net interest income, net investment advisory and service fees, gain (loss) on sale of Mortgage-Backed Securities and termination of interest rate swaps, loss on other-than-temporarily impaired securities, income from trading securities, G&A expenses, income taxes, each as a percentage of average equity, and the return on average equity for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the year ended December 31, 2009 and four quarters in 2009.

Components of Return on Average Equity
(Ratios for the quarters have been annualized)
 
 
Net Interest
Income/
Average
Equity
Net
Investment
Advisory and
Service
Fees/Average
Equity
Gain/(Loss) on Sale of
Mortgage-Backed
Securities and Realized
and Unrealized
Gain/(Loss) Interest
Rate Swaps/ Average
Equity
Loss on other-
than-
temporarily
impaired
securities/
Average Equity
Dividend
income from
available-
for-sale
equity
securities
G&A
Expenses
/ Average
Equity
Income
Taxes/
Average
Equity
Return on
Average
Equity
For the Quarter Ended
   March 31, 2010
15.69%
 
0.51%
(2.90%)
 
-
 
0.33%
(1.66%)
 
(0.30%)
11.67%
For the Year Ended
  December 31, 2009
18.82%
 
0.55%
5.19%
 
(0.16%)
 
0.20%
(1.51%)
 
(0.40%)
 
22.69%
For the Quarter Ended
  December 31, 2009
19.58%
 
0.61%
12.79%
 
(0.57%)
 
0.31%
(1.55%)
 
(0.44%)
 
30.73%
For the Quarter Ended
  September 30, 2009
19.30%
 
0.63%
(5.66%)
 
-
 
0.24%
(1.47%)
 
(0.42%)
12.60%
For the Quarter Ended
  June 30, 2009
18.30%
 
0.53%
10.97%
 
-
 
0.15%
(1.41%)
 
(0.37%)
28.17%
For the Quarter Ended
   March 31, 2009
17.41%
 
0.38%
2.09%
 
-
 
0.05%
(1.54%)
 
(0.33%)
18.06%
 
Financial Condition

Investment Securities, Available for Sale

All of our Mortgage-Backed Securities at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were adjustable-rate or fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities backed by single-family mortgage loans.  Substantially all of the mortgage assets underlying these mortgage-backed securities were secured with a first lien position on the underlying single-family properties.  Substantially all of our mortgage-backed securities were Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or Ginnie Mae mortgage pass-through certificates or CMOs, which carry an implied “AAA” rating.  All of our agency debentures are callable and carry an implied “AAA” rating.  We carry all of our earning assets at fair value.

We accrete discount balances as an increase in interest income over the life of discount investment securities and we amortize premium balances as a decrease in interest income over the life of premium investment securities.  At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 we had on our balance sheet a total of $44.2 million and $49.2 million, respectively, of unamortized discount (which is the difference between the remaining principal value and current historical amortized cost of our investment securities acquired at a price below principal value) and a total of $1.3 billion and $1.3  billion, respectively, of unamortized premium (which is the difference between the remaining principal value and the current historical amortized cost of our investment securities acquired at a price above principal value).

We received mortgage principal repayments of $6.2 billion and $2.5 billion for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, respectively. The average prepayment speed for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 was 34% and 16%, respectively.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the average CPR increased to 34% from 16% during the quarter ended March 31, 2009, due to an increase return of principal from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae purchasing seriously delinquent mortgage loans out of mortgage pools we own.  Given our current portfolio composition, if mortgage principal prepayment rates were to increase over the life of our mortgage-backed securities, all other factors being equal, our net interest income would decrease during the life of these mortgage-backed securities as we would be required to amortize our net premium balance into income over a shorter time period.  Similarly, if mortgage principal prepayment rates were to decrease over the life of our mortgage-backed securities, all other factors being equal, our net interest income would increase during the life of these mortgage-backed securities as we would amortize our net premium balance over a longer time period.
 
37

 
The table below summarizes certain characteristics of our Investment Securities at March 31, 2010, December 31, 2009, September 30, 2009, June 30, 2009, and March 31, 2009.
 
Investment Securities
(dollars in thousands)
   
Principal Amount
   
Net
Premium
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Amortized
Cost/Principal
Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Fair
Value/Principal
Amount
   
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
At March 31, 2010
  $ 66,937,615     $ 1,309,423     $ 68,247,038       101.96 %   $ 70,171,875       104.83 %     3.87 %
At December 31, 2009
  $ 62,508,927     $ 1,247,717     $ 63,756,644       102.00 %   $ 65,721,477       105.14 %     4.51 %
At September 30, 2009
  $ 64,253,006     $ 1,126,493     $ 65,379,499       101.75 %   $ 67,463,376       105.00 %     4.70 %
At June 30, 2009
  $ 63,300,232     $ 924,873     $ 64,225,105       101.46 %   $ 65,782,019       103.92 %     4.75 %
At March 31, 2009
  $ 56,718,404     $ 668,295     $ 57,386,699       101.18 %   $ 58,785,456       103.64 %     4.98 %

The table below summarizes certain characteristics of our Investment Securities at March 31, 2010, December 31, 2009, September 30, 2009, June 30, 2009, and March 31, 2009.  The index level for adjustable-rate Investment Securities is the weighted average rate of the various short-term interest rate indices, which determine the coupon rate.

Adjustable-Rate Investment Security Characteristics
(dollars in thousands)
   
Principal Amount
   
Weighted
Average
Coupon
Rate
 
Weighted
Average Term to
Next Adjustment
 
Weighted
Average Lifetime
Cap
   
Weighted
Average
Asset
Yield
   
Principal Amount at
Period End as % of
Total Investment
Securities
 
At March 31, 2010
  $ 15,366,206       4.55 %
32 months
    10.09 %     2.92 %     22.96 %
At December 31, 2009
  $ 16,196,473       4.55 %
33 months
    10.09 %     3.23 %     25.91 %
At September 30, 2009
  $ 18,561,525       4.59 %
33 months
    10.11 %     3.37 %     28.89 %
At June 30, 2009
  $ 19,657,988       4.64 %
34 months
    10.12 %     3.49 %     31.06 %
At March 31, 2009
  $ 19,558,480       4.66 %
34 months
    10.06 %     3.74 %     34.48 %

Fixed-Rate Investment Security Characteristics
(dollars in thousands)
   
Principal
Amount
   
Weighted Average
Coupon Rate
   
Weighted Average
Asset Yield
   
Principal Amount at Period
End as % of Total Investment
Securities
 
At March 31, 2010
  $ 51,571,411       5.50 %     4.16 %     77.04 %
At December 31, 2009
  $ 46,312,455       5.78 %     4.95 %     74.09 %
At September 30, 2009
  $ 45,691,481       5.89 %     5.14 %     71.11 %
At June 30, 2009
  $ 43,642,244       5.94 %     5.32 %     68.94 %
At March 31, 2009
  $ 37,159,924       6.08 %     5.64 %     65.52 %

           At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we held Investment Securities with coupons linked to various indices.  The following tables detail the portfolio characteristics by index.

Adjustable-Rate Investment Securities by Index
March 31, 2010
 
 
One-
Month
Libor
 
Six-
Month
Libor
 
Twelve
Month
Libor
 
12-Month
Moving
Average
 
11th
District
Cost of
Funds
 
1-Year
Treasury
Index
 
Monthly
Federal
Cost of
Funds
 
Other
Indexes(1)
Weighted Average Term  to Next Adjustment
 1 mo.
 
 
 
14 mo.
 
 
 
44 mo.
 
1 mo.
 
 
 
9 mo.
 
 
 
47  mo.
 
 
 
1 mo.
 
13 mo.
Weighted Average Annual  Period Cap
6.41 %
 
1.57%
 
2.01%
 
0.36%
 
0.77%
 
1.94%
 
0.00%
 
1.80%
Weighted Average Lifetime Cap at
  March 31, 2010
7.05%
 
 
11.17%
 
 
10.70%
 
8.29%
 
 
10.50%
 
 
10.98 %
 
 
13.44%
 
11.67 %
Investment  Principal Value  as Percentage of
 Investment Securities at March 31, 2010
3.41%
 
 
1.21%
 
 
14.53%
 
1.17%
 
 
0.70%
 
 
1.82%
 
 
0.08%
 
0.04%
(1)  Combination of indexes that account for less than 0.05% of total investment securities.
 
38

 
Adjustable-Rate Investment Securities by Index
December 31, 2009
 
 
One-
Month
Libor
 
Six-
Month
Libor
 
Twelve
Month
Libor
 
12-
Month
Moving
Average
 
11th
District
Cost of
Funds
 
1-Year
Treasury
Index
 
Monthly 
Federal
Cost of
Funds
 
Other
Indexes(1)
Weighted Average Term to Next Adjustment
 1 mo.
 
 
16 mo.
 
 
45 mo.
 
1 mo.
 
 
7 mo.
 
 
50  mo.
 
 
1 mo.
 
12 mo.
Weighted Average Annual  Period Cap
6.40%
 
1.58%
 
2.01%
 
0.42%
 
0.77%
 
1.95%
 
0.00%
 
1.82%
Weighted Average Lifetime Cap at
  December 31, 2009
7.04%
 
 
11.20
 
 
10.85%
 
8.12%
 
 
.51%
 
 
10.98%
 
 
13.43%
 
11.71%
Investment  Principal Value  as Percentage of
 Investment Securities at December 31, 2009
4.59%
 
 
1.40%
 
 
15.77%
 
1.10%
 
 
.76%
 
 
2.15%
 
 
0.09%
 
0.05%
(1)   Combination of indexes that account for less than 0.05% of total investment securities.
 
Reverse Repurchase Agreements

At March 31, 2010, we did not have any amounts outstanding under our reverse repurchase agreement with Chimera.  At December 31, 2009, we lent $259.0 million to Chimera pursuant to our reverse repurchase agreement with Chimera.  This amount was included in the principal amount which approximates fair value in our Statement of Financial Condition.  The interest rate at December 31, 2009 was 1.72%.  The collateral for this loan was mortgage-backed securities with a fair value of $314.3 million at December 31, 2009.
 
At March 31, 2010, RCap, in its ordinary course of business, financed though matched reverse repurchase agreements, at market rates, $108.2 million for a fund that is managed by FIDAC pursuant to a management agreement and $147.4 million to Chimera.  At March 31, 2010, RCap had an outstanding reverse repurchase agreement with a non-affiliate of $276.6 million.
 
The average daily reverse repurchase agreements balance for RCap and Annaly during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 was $470.2 million and $479.0 million, respectively.
 
Receivable from Prime Broker on Equity Investment

The net assets of the investment fund we owned are subject to English bankruptcy law, which governs the administration of Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (in administration) (“LBIE”), as well as the law of New York, which governs the contractual documents.  We invested approximately $45.0 million in the fund and have redeemed approximately $56.0 million.  The current assets of the fund still remain at LBIE and affiliates of LBIE and the ultimate recovery of such amount remains uncertain.  We have entered into the Claims Resolution Agreement between LBIE and certain eligible offerees effective December 29, 2009 with respect to these assets (the “CRA”).
 
Certain of our assets subject to the CRA are held directly at LBIE and we have valued such assets in accordance with the valuation date set forth in the CRA and the pricing information provided to the Company by LBIE.  The valuation date with respect to these assets as set forth in the CRA is September 19, 2008.
 
Certain of our assets subject to the CRA are not held directly at LBIE and are believed to be held at affiliates of LBIE.  Given the great degree of uncertainty as to the status of our assets that are not directly held by LBIE and are believed to be held at affiliates of LBIE, the Company has valued such assets at an 80% discount.  The value of the net assets that are not directly held by LBIE and are believed to be held at affiliates of LBIE is determined on the basis of the best information available to us from time to time, legal and professional advice obtained for the purpose of determining the rights, and on the basis of a number of assumptions which we believe to be reasonable.
 
We can provide no assurance, however, that we will recover all or any portion of any of the net assets of the investment fund following completion of LBIE’s administration (and any subsequent liquidation).  
 
39

 
Borrowings
 
As of March 31, 2010, substantially all our debt has consisted entirely of borrowings collateralized by a pledge of our Investment Securities.  These borrowings appear on our balance sheet as repurchase agreements.  At March 31, 2010, we had established uncommitted borrowing facilities in this market with 30 lenders in amounts which we believe are in excess of our needs.  All of our Investment Securities are currently accepted as collateral for these borrowings.  However, we limit our borrowings, and thus our potential asset growth, in order to maintain unused borrowing capacity and thus increase the liquidity and strength of our balance sheet.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the term to maturity of our borrowings ranged from one day to 10 years.  Additionally, we have entered into structured borrowings giving the counterparty the right to call the balance prior to maturity.  At March 31, 2010 and 2009, the weighted average cost of funds for all of our borrowings was 2.00% and 2.78%, respectively, including the effect of the interest rate swaps, and the weighted average term to next rate adjustment was 166 days and 219 days, respectively.
 
During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, we issued $600.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4% convertible senior notes due 2015 (“Convertible Senior Notes”) for net proceeds following underwriting expenses of approximately $582.0 million.  Interest on the Convertible Senior Notes is paid semi-annually at a rate of 4% per year and the Convertible Senior Notes will mature on February 15, 2015 unless earlier repurchased or converted.  The Convertible Senior Notes are convertible into shares of Common Stock at an initial conversion rate and conversion rate at March 31, 2010 of 46.6070 and 48.3595 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Senior Notes, which was equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $21.456  and $20.769 per share of Common Stock, respectively, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.

Liquidity
 
Liquidity, which is our ability to turn non-cash assets into cash, allows us to purchase additional investment securities and to pledge additional assets to secure existing borrowings should the value of our pledged assets decline.  Potential immediate sources of liquidity for us include cash balances and unused borrowing capacity.  Unused borrowing capacity will vary over time as the market value of our investment securities varies.  Our non-cash assets are largely actual or implied AAA assets, and accordingly, we have not had, nor do we anticipate having, difficulty in converting our assets to cash.  Our balance sheet also generates liquidity on an on-going basis through mortgage principal repayments and net earnings held prior to payment as dividends.  Should our needs ever exceed these on-going sources of liquidity plus the immediate sources of liquidity discussed above, we believe that in most circumstances our investment securities could be sold to raise cash.  The maintenance of liquidity is one of the goals of our capital investment policy.  Under this policy, we limit asset growth in order to preserve unused borrowing capacity for liquidity management purposes.
 
Borrowings under our repurchase agreements increased by $4.8 billion to $53.8 billion at March 31, 2010, from $49.0 billion at March 31, 2009.  Even though borrowing increased over the year, leverage decreased from 6.0:1 to 5.6:1.

We anticipate that, upon repayment of each borrowing under a repurchase agreement, we will use the collateral immediately for borrowing under a new repurchase agreement.  We have not at the present time entered into any commitment agreements under which the lender would be required to enter into new repurchase agreements during a specified period of time, nor do we presently plan to have liquidity facilities with commercial banks.

Under our repurchase agreements, we may be required to pledge additional assets to our repurchase agreement counterparties (i.e., lenders) in the event the estimated fair value of the existing pledged collateral under such agreements declines and such lenders demand additional collateral (a “margin call”), which may take the form of additional securities or cash.  Similarly, if the estimated fair value of investment securities increases due to changes in market interest rates of market factors, lenders may release collateral back to us.  Specifically, margin calls result from a decline in the value of our Mortgage-Backed Securities securing our repurchase agreements, prepayments on the mortgages securing such Mortgage-Backed Securities and to changes in the estimated fair value of such Mortgage-Backed Securities generally due to principal reduction of such Mortgage-Backed Securities from scheduled amortization and resulting from changes in market interest rates and other market factors.  Through March 31, 2010, we did not have any margin calls on our repurchase agreements that we were not able to satisfy with either cash or additional pledged collateral.  However, should prepayment speeds on the mortgages underlying our Mortgage-Backed Securities and/or market interest rates suddenly increase, margin calls on our repurchase agreements could result, causing an adverse change in our liquidity position.
 
 
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The following table summarizes the effect on our liquidity and cash flows from contractual obligations for repurchase agreements, interest expense on repurchase agreements, the non-cancelable office lease and employment agreements at March 31, 2010.  The table does not include the effect of net interest rate payments under our interest rate swap agreements.  The net swap payments will fluctuate based on monthly changes in the receive rate.  At March 31, 2010, the interest rate swaps had a net negative fair value of $608.7  million.

   
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
Contractual Obligations
 
Within One
Year
   
One to
Three Years
   
Three to
Five Years
   
More than
Five Years
   
Total
 
Repurchase agreements
  $ 48,604,480     $ 3,380,000     $ 400,000     $ 1,400,000     $ 53,784,480  
Interest expense on repurchase
agreements, based on rates at 03-31-10
    233,211       240,789       134,439       133,443       741,882  
Convertible Senior Notes      -       -       600       -       600  
Long-term operating lease obligations
    2,101       4,262       3,305       -       9,668  
Employment contracts
    85,537       17,824       -       -       103,361  
Total
  $ 48,925,329     $ 3,642,875     $ 537,344     $ 1,533,443     $ 54,639,991  

Stockholders’ Equity

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, 90,247 options were exercised under the Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, or Incentive Plan, for an aggregate exercise price of $1.5 million.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, 645 shares of Series B Preferred Stock were converted into 1,511 shares of common stock, respectively.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, we raised $115.5 million by issuing 6.4 million shares, through the Direct Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Program.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, 423,160 options were exercised under the Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, or Incentive Plan, for an aggregate exercise price of $4.9 million.  During the year ended December 31, 2009, 7,550 shares of restricted stock were issued under the Incentive Plan.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, 1.4 million shares of Series B Preferred Stock were converted into 2.8 million shares of common stock, respectively.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company raised $141.8 million by issuing 8.4 million shares, through the Direct Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Program.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, we declared dividends to common shareholders totaling $363.8 million or $0.65 per share, which was paid to shareholders on April 29, 2010.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, we declared dividends to Series A Preferred Stock shareholders totaling approximately $3.6 million or $0.4925 per share, and Series B Preferred Stock shareholders totaling approximately $1.0 million or $0.375 per share, which were paid to shareholders on March 31, 2010.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, we declared dividends to common shareholders totaling $272.2 million or $0.50 per share, which were paid to shareholders on April 29, 2009.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company declared dividends to Series A Preferred Stock shareholders totaling approximately $3.6 million or $0.492188 per share, and Series B Preferred Stock shareholders totaling approximately $978,000 or $0.375 per share, which were paid to shareholders on March 31, 2009.

Unrealized Gains and Losses
 
With our “available-for-sale” accounting treatment, unrealized fluctuations in market values of assets do not impact our GAAP or taxable income but rather are reflected on our balance sheet by changing the carrying value of the asset and stockholders’ equity under “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss).”  As a result of the de-designation of interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges during the quarter ended December 31, 2009, unrealized gains and losses in our interest rate swaps impact our GAAP income.

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

The table below shows unrealized gains and losses on the Investment Securities, available-for-sale equity securities and interest rate swaps in our portfolio prior to de-designation.

Unrealized Gains and Losses
 (dollars in thousands)
       
   
March 31,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
   
September 30,
2009
   
June 30,
2009
   
March 31,
2009
 
Unrealized gain
  $ 2,009,923     $ 2,093,709       2,158,882       1,719,536     $ 1,502,319  
Unrealized loss
    (122,071 )     (202,392 )     (198,888 )     (357,402 )     (380,768 )
Net Unrealized (loss) gain
  $ 1,887,852     $ 1,891,317       1,959,994       1,362,134     $ 1,121,551  
                                         
 
Unrealized changes in the estimated net fair value of investment securities have one direct effect on our potential earnings and dividends: positive changes increase our equity base and allow us to increase our borrowing capacity while negative changes tend to limit borrowing capacity under our capital investment policy.  A very large negative change in the net fair value of our investment securities might impair our liquidity position, requiring us to sell assets with the likely result of realized losses upon sale.

Leverage

Our debt-to-equity ratio at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was 5.6:1 and 5.7:1, respectively.  We generally expect to maintain a ratio of debt-to-equity of between 8:1 and 12:1, although the ratio may vary from this range from time to time based upon various factors, including our management’s opinion of the level of risk of our assets and liabilities, our liquidity position, our level of unused borrowing capacity and over-collateralization levels required by lenders when we pledge assets to secure borrowings.

Our target debt-to-equity ratio is determined under our capital investment policy.  Should our actual debt-to-equity ratio increase above the target level due to asset acquisition or market value fluctuations in assets, we would cease to acquire new assets.  Our management will, at that time, present a plan to our board of directors to bring us back to our target debt-to-equity ratio; in many circumstances, this would be accomplished over time by the monthly reduction of the balance of our Mortgage-Backed Securities through principal repayments.
 
Asset/Liability Management and Effect of Changes in Interest Rates

We continually review our asset/liability management strategy with respect to interest rate risk, mortgage prepayment risk, credit risk and the related issues of capital adequacy and liquidity.  Our goal is to provide attractive risk-adjusted stockholder returns while maintaining what we believe is a strong balance sheet.
 
We seek to manage the extent to which our net income changes as a function of changes in interest rates by matching adjustable-rate assets with variable-rate borrowings.  In addition, we have attempted to mitigate the potential impact on net income of periodic and lifetime coupon adjustment restrictions in our portfolio of investment securities by entering into interest rate swaps.  At March 31, 2010, we had entered into swap agreements with a total notional amount of $22.8 billion.  We agreed to pay a weighted average pay rate of 3.66% and receive a floating rate based on one month LIBOR.  At December 31, 2009, we had entered into swap agreements with a total notional amount of $21.5 billion.  We agreed to pay a weighted average pay rate of 3.85% and receive a floating rate based on one month LIBOR.  We may enter into similar derivative transactions in the future by entering into interest rate collars, caps or floors or purchasing interest only securities.
 
 
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Changes in interest rates may also affect the rate of mortgage principal prepayments and, as a result, prepayments on mortgage-backed securities.  We seek to mitigate the effect of changes in the mortgage principal repayment rate by balancing assets we purchase at a premium with assets we purchase at a discount.  To date, the aggregate premium exceeds the aggregate discount on our mortgage-backed securities.  As a result, prepayments, which result in the expensing of unamortized premium, will reduce our net income compared to what net income would be absent such prepayments.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We do not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.  Further, we have not guaranteed any obligations of unconsolidated entities nor do we have any commitment or intent to provide funding to any such entities.  As such, we are not materially exposed to any market, credit, liquidity or financing risk that could arise if we had engaged in such relationships.

Capital Resources

At March 31, 2010, we had no material commitments for capital expenditures.

Inflation

Virtually all of our assets and liabilities are financial in nature.  As a result, interest rates and other factors drive our performance far more than does inflation.  Changes in interest rates do not necessarily correlate with inflation rates or changes in inflation rates.  Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and our dividends are based upon our net income as calculated for tax purposes; in each case, our activities and balance sheet are measured with reference to historical cost or fair market value without considering inflation.

Other Matters

We calculate that at least 75% of our assets were qualified REIT assets, as defined in the Code for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.   We also calculate that our revenue qualifies for the 75% source of income test and for the 95% source of income test rules for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.  Consequently, we met the REIT income and asset test. We also met all REIT requirements regarding the ownership of our common stock and the distribution of our net income.  Therefore, as of quarter ended of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we believe that we qualified as a REIT under the Code.

We at all times intend to conduct our business so as not to become regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Company Act.  If we were to become regulated as an investment company, then our use of leverage would be substantially reduced.  The Investment Company Act exempts entities that are “primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate” (qualifying interests).  Under current interpretation of the staff of the SEC, in order to qualify for this exemption, we must maintain at least 55% of our assets directly in qualifying interests and at least 80% of our assets in qualifying interests plus other real estate related assets.  In addition, unless certain mortgage securities represent all the certificates issued with respect to an underlying pool of mortgages, the Mortgage-Backed Securities may be treated as securities separate from the underlying mortgage loans and, thus, may not be considered qualifying interests for purposes of the 55% requirement.  We calculate that as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we were in compliance with this requirement.

 
43

 
 
ITEM 3 QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

MARKET RISK
 
Market risk is the exposure to loss resulting from changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and equity prices.  The primary market risk to which we are exposed is interest rate risk, which is highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary and tax policies, domestic and international economic and political considerations and other factors beyond our control.  Changes in the general level of interest rates can affect our net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income earned on interest-earning assets and the interest expense incurred in connection with our interest-bearing liabilities, by affecting the spread between our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  Changes in the level of interest rates also can affect the value of our Mortgage-Backed Securities and our ability to realize gains from the sale of these assets.  We may utilize a variety of financial instruments, including interest rate swaps, caps, floors, inverse floaters and other interest rate exchange contracts, in order to limit the effects of interest rates on our operations.  When we use these types of derivatives to hedge the risk of interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities, we may be subject to certain risks, including the risk that losses on a hedge position will reduce the funds available for payments to holders of securities and that the losses may exceed the amount we invested in the instruments.

Our profitability and the value of our portfolio (including interest rate swaps) may be adversely affected during any period as a result of changing interest rates.  The following table quantifies the potential changes in net interest income and portfolio value, should interest rates go up or down 25, 50 and 75 basis points, assuming the yield curves of the rate shocks will be parallel to each other and the current yield curve.  All changes in income and value are measured as percentage changes from the projected net interest income and portfolio value at the base interest rate scenario.  The base interest rate scenario assumes interest rates at March 31, 2010 and various estimates regarding prepayment and all activities are made at each level of rate shock.  Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates.

 
 
Change in Interest Rate
 
Projected Percentage Change in
Net Interest Income
Projected Percentage Change in
Portfolio Value, with Effect of
Interest Rate Swaps
     
-75 Basis Points
4.11%
1.01%
-50 Basis Points
2.70%
0.74%
-25 Basis Points
1.33%
0.40%
Base Interest Rate
   
+25 Basis Points
(1.33%)
(0.48%)
+50 Basis Points
(2.67%)
(1.04%)
+75 Basis Points
(4.00%)
(1.69%)
     
 
ASSET AND LIABILITY MANAGEMENT
 
Asset and liability management is concerned with the timing and magnitude of the repricing of assets and liabilities.  We attempt to control risks associated with interest rate movements.  Methods for evaluating interest rate risk include an analysis of our interest rate sensitivity "gap," which is the difference  between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within a given time period.  A gap is considered positive when the amount of interest-rate sensitive assets exceeds the amount of interest-rate sensitive liabilities.  A gap is considered negative when the amount of interest-rate sensitive liabilities exceeds interest-rate sensitive assets.  During a period of rising interest rates, a negative gap would tend to adversely affect net interest income, while a positive gap would tend to result in an increase in net interest income.  During a period of falling interest rates, a negative gap would tend to result in an increase in net interest income, while a positive gap would tend to affect net interest income adversely.  Because different types of assets and liabilities with the same or similar maturities may react differently to changes in overall market rates or conditions, changes in interest rates may affect net interest income positively or negatively even if an institution were perfectly matched in each maturity category.
 
 
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The following table sets forth the estimated maturity or repricing of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities at March 31, 2010.  The amounts of assets and liabilities shown within a particular period were determined in accordance with the contractual terms of the assets and liabilities, except adjustable-rate loans, and securities are included in the period in which their interest rates are first scheduled to adjust and not in the period in which they mature and does include the effect of the interest rate swaps.  The interest rate sensitivity of our assets and liabilities in the table could vary substantially based on actual prepayment experience.
 
     
Within 3
Months
     
4-12 Months
     
More than 1
Year to 3
Years
     
3 Years and
Over
     
Total
 
    (dollars in thousands)
Rate Sensitive Assets:
                             
 Investment Securities (Principal)
  $ 4,334,007     $ 1,899,273     $ 2,889,672     $ 57,814,663     $ 66,937,615  
 Cash Equivalents
    905,955       -       -       -       905,955  
 Reverse Repurchase
   Agreements
    532,166       -       -       -       532,166  
 Securities Borrowed
    60,132       -       -       -       60,132  
  Total Rate Sensitive Assets
    5,832,260       1,899,273       2,889,672       57,814,663       68,435,868  
                                         
Rate Sensitive Liabilities:
                                       
  Repurchase Agreements,
                                       
    with the effect of swaps
    21,809,213       8,226,267       11,521,350       12,227,650       53,784,480  
  Convertible Senior Notes
                            600,000       600,000  
  Securities Loaned
    60,377       -       -       -       60,377  
   Total Rate Sensitive Liabilities
    21,869,590       8,226,267       11,521,350       12,827,650       54,444,857  
                                         
                                         
Interest rate sensitivity gap
  $ (16,637,330 )   $ (6,326,994 )   $ (8,631,678 )   $ 44,987,013     $ 13,991,011  
                                         
Cumulative rate sensitivity gap
  $ (16,637,330 )   $ (22,364,324 )   $ (30,996,002 )   $ 13,991,011          
                                         
Cumulative interest rate
sensitivity gap as a percentage of
total rate-sensitive assets
    (24 %)     (33 %)     (46 %)     21 %        

Our analysis of risks is based on management’s experience, estimates, models and assumptions.  These analyses rely on models which utilize estimates of fair value and interest rate sensitivity.  Actual economic conditions or implementation of investment decisions by our management may produce results that differ significantly from the estimates and assumptions used in our models and the projected results shown in the above tables and in this report.  These analyses contain certain forward-looking statements and are subject to the safe harbor statement set forth under the heading, “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

ITEM 4        CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”), reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report.  Based on that review and evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that our current disclosure controls and procedures, as designed and implemented, (1) were effective in ensuring that information regarding the Company and its subsidiaries is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, by our employees, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and (2) were effective in providing reasonable assurance that information the Company must disclose in its periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods prescribed by the SEC’s rules and forms.
 
 
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There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to affect our internal controls over financial reporting.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
46

 
 
 
PART II.         OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.            LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, we are involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business.  In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A – Risk Factors of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (the “Form 10-K”).  The materialization of any risks and uncertainties identified in our Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements contained in this report together with those previously disclosed in the Form 10-K or those that are presently unforeseen could result in significant adverse effects on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.  See Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.


Item 6.  EXHIBITS

Exhibits:

The exhibits required by this item are set forth on the Exhibit Index attached hereto.

EXHIBIT INDEX
     
3.1
Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (Registration No. 333-32913) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 5, 1997).
 
3.2
Articles of Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement 333-74618) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 2002).
 
3.3   
Articles of Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Form 8-K (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 2006).
 
3.4 Articles of Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Registrant's Form 10-Q (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 2008).  
3.5
Form of Articles Supplementary designating the Registrant’s 7.875% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, liquidation preference $25.00 per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registrant’s 8-A filed April 1, 2004).
 
3.6
Articles Supplementary of the Registrant’s designating an additional 2,750,000 shares of the Company’s 7.875% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, as filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland on October 15, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s 8-K filed October 4, 2004).
 
3.7
Articles Supplementary designating the Registrant’s 6% Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, liquidation preference $25.00 per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s 8-K filed April 10, 2006).
 
3.8
 Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (Registration No. 333-32913) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 5, 1997).
 
 
 
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4.1
Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (Registration No. 333-32913) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 17, 1997).
 
4.2
Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-74618) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 5, 2001).
 
4.3
Specimen Series A Preferred Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on April 1, 2004).
 
4.4
Specimen Series B Preferred Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 10, 2006).
 
31.1
Certification of Michael A.J. Farrell, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
31.2
Certification of Kathryn F. Fagan, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
32.1
Certification of Michael A.J. Farrell, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of the Registrant, 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 Kathryn F. Fagan, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
Exhibit 101.INS XBRL
Instance Document*
 
Exhibit 101.SCH XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Schema Document*
 
Exhibit 101.CAL XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document*
 
Exhibit 101.DEF XBRL
Additional Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document Created*
 
Exhibit 101.LAB XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document*
 
Exhibit 101.PRE XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document*
 

*  Submitted electronically herewith.  Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at March 31, 2010 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2009 (Derived from the audited consolidated statement of financial condition at December 31, 2009); (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009; (iii) Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) for the quarter ended March 31, 2010; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009; and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.  Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that this interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.
 
 
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
   
Dated:    May 6, 2010
By: /s/ Michael A.J. Farrell
 
Michael A.J. Farrell
 
(Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer,
President and authorized officer of registrant)
   
Dated:    May 6, 2010
By: /s/ Kathryn F. Fagan
 
Kathryn F. Fagan
 
(Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and
 
principal financial and chief accounting officer)
 
 
 
 
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