UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549




FORM 10‑K

10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

transition period from __ to __

Commission File Number: 001-32171


bcmi20221231_10kimg001.jpg

Bimini Capital Management, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland

 

72-1571637

Maryland72-1571637

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)


3305 Flamingo Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32963

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


(772) 231-1400

(Registrant'sRegistrant’s telephone number, including area code)




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

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

Title of Each Class

Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes No ý

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes No ý

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý 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 ý No

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large“large accelerated filer," "accelerated” “accelerated filer," "smaller” “smaller reporting company," and "emerging“emerging growth company"company” in Rule 12b‑2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☐Accelerated filer ☐Non-accelerated☐         Non-accelerated filer ☒         Smaller Reporting Company ý

☒         Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

☐         

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐ 

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐     

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrants’ executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to Section 240.10D-1(b). ☐         

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes No ý

☒         

State the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2017:

Title of each Class Shares held by non-affiliates  Aggregate market value held by non-affiliates 
Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value  8,673,781  $24,300,000(a)
Class B Common Stock, $0.001 par value  20,760  $1,000(b)
Class C Common Stock, $0.001 par value  31,938  $1,500(b)
2022:

Title of each Class

Shares held by non-affiliates

Aggregate market value held by non-affiliates

Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value

6,321,777

$10,620,585(a)

Class B Common Stock, $0.001 par value

20,760

$1,000 (b)

Class C Common Stock, $0.001 par value

31,938

$1,500 (b)

(a) The aggregate market value was calculated by using the last sale price of the Class A Common Stock as of June 30, 2017.

2022.

(b) The market value of the Class B and Class C Common Stock is an estimate based on their initial purchase price.


Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant'sRegistrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

Title of each Class

Latest Practicable Date

 

Shares Outstanding

 

Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value

March 9, 201810, 2023

  12,743,95910,019,888 

Class B Common Stock, $0.001 par value

March 9, 201810, 2023

  31,938 

Class C Common Stock, $0.001 par value

March 9, 2018

 31,938

March 10, 2023

 31,938

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant'sRegistrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 20182023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Registrant are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10‑K.K (this “Report”).

BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.


INDEX



PART I

1

109

3031

31

31

31

ITEM 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

32
[Reserved].

33

34

5955

6056

9182

9182

9283
PART III

ITEM 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions the Prevent Inspections.

83

ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

9384

9384

ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

9384

9384

9384

85

ITEM 16. Form 10-K Summary.

87

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS


We make forward-looking statements in this annual reportReport that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. When we use the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "should," "may," "plans," "projects," "will,"“believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “should,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” or similar expressions, or the negative of these words, we intend to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the following subjects are forward-looking by their nature:


·

our business and investment strategy;

·

our expected operating results;

·

our ability to acquire investments on attractive terms;

·

the effect of actual or proposed actions of the U.S. government, including the U.S. Federal Reserve with respect to(the "Fed"), the Federal Housing Finance Agency (the "FHFA"), the Federal Housing Administration (the "FHA"), the Federal Open Markets Committee (the "FOMC") and the U.S. Treasury, on interest rates, monetary policy, or interest rates;fiscal policy and the housing and credit markets;

·

the effect of rising interest rates on unemployment, inflation and mortgage supply and demand;

·the effect of increased prepayment rates on the value of our assets;

·

our ability to access the capital markets;

·

our ability to obtain future financing arrangements;

·

our ability to successfully hedge the interest rate risk and prepayment risk associated with our portfolio;

·

the federal conservatorship of the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie MaeMae”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie MacMac”) and related efforts, along with any changes in laws and regulations affecting the relationship between Fannie MaeFannie-Mae and Freddie Mac and the U.S. Government;government;

·our ability to make distributions to our stockholders in

the future;impact of inflation on general economic conditions and monetary policy;

·mortgage loan modification programs and future legislative action;

market trends;

·

our understanding of our competition and our ability to compete effectively;

·

our ability to quantify risk based on historical experience;

·the termination of our status as a Real Estate Investment Trust for federal income tax purposes effective January 1, 2015 and our ability to use net operating loss ("NOLs")carryforwards to reduce our taxable income;
·

our ability to forecast our tax attributes, which are based upon various facts and assumptions, and our ability to protect and use our NOLs to offset future taxable income, including whether our recently adopted shareholder rights plan will be effective in preventing an ownership change that would significantly limit our ability to utilize such losses;NOLs;

·

the impact of possible future changes in tax laws;laws or tax rates;

·

our ability to maintain our exemption from registrationthe obligation to register under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”);

the ongoing effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the potential future outbreak of other highly infectious or contagious diseases on the Investment Company Act;Agency MBS market and on our results of future operations, financial position, and liquidity;

·market trends;

geo-political events, such as the crisis in Ukraine, government responses to such events and the related impact on the economy both nationally and internationally;

·

expected capital expenditures; and

·

the impact of technology on our operations and business.business, and

the phase-out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) index, transition from LIBOR to the alternative reference rate (the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR")) and the impact on our LIBOR sensitive funding hedges, liabilities and assets.


The forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance, taking into account all information currently available to us. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us. Some of these factors are described under the caption ''Risk Factors''‘‘Risk Factors’’ in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict those events or how they may affect us. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to, and do not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


PART I

ITEM1. BUSINESS


Overview


Bimini Capital Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("(“Bimini Capital"Capital” and, collectively with its subsidiaries, the "Company," "we"“Company,” “we”, "us"“us” or "our"“our”) is a specialty finance company that operates in two business segments: investing in mortgage-backed securities ("MBS"(“MBS”) and Orchid Island Capital, Inc. (“Orchid”) common stock in our own portfolio, and serving as the external manager of Orchid Island Capital, Inc. ("Orchid") which also invests in MBS. In both cases, the principal and interest payments of these MBS are guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, ("Mae, Freddie Mac")Mac or the Government National Mortgage Association ("(“Ginnie Mae"Mae” and, collectively with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, "GSEs"“GSEs”) and are backed primarily by single-family residential mortgage loans. We refer to these types of MBS as Agency“Agency MBS. The investment strategy focuses on, and the portfolios consist of, two categories of Agency MBS: (i) traditional pass-through Agency MBS, such as mortgage pass-through certificates and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) issued by the GSEs and (ii) structured Agency MBS, such as collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"), interest only securities ("IOs"(“IOs”), inverse interest only securities ("IIOs"(“IIOs”) and principal only securities ("POs"(“POs”), among other types of structured Agency MBS. The Company'sCompany’s operations are classified into two principal reportable segments: the asset management segment and the investment portfolio segment.


The investment portfolio segment includes the investment activities conducted at Bimini Capital and itsCapital’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Royal Palm Capital, LLC ("(“Royal Palm"Palm”). The investment portfolio segment receives revenue in the form of interest and dividend income on its investments. The investment portfolio is internally managed by Bimini Capital's wholly-owned subsidiary, Bimini Advisors Holdings, LLC ("Bimini Advisors) pursuant to the terms of a management agreement. References to the general management of the Company'sCompany’s portfolio of MBS refer to the operations of Bimini Capital and Royal Palm.


The Company, through Royal Palm’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Bimini Advisors Holdings, LLC (“Bimini Advisors”), serves as the external manager of Orchid and from this arrangement the Company receives management fees and expense reimbursements. The asset management segment includes these investment advisory services provided by Bimini Advisors to Orchid.


Management of Orchid


Orchid is externally managed and advised by our wholly-owned subsidiary, Bimini Advisors, and its MBS investment team pursuant to the terms of a management agreement. As Manager, Bimini Advisors is responsible for administering Orchid'sOrchid’s business activities and day-to-day operations. Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement, Bimini Advisors provides Orchid with its management team, including its officers, along with appropriate support personnel. Bimini Advisors is at all times subject to the supervision and oversight of Orchid'sOrchid’s board of directors, of which a majority of the members are independent, and is only permitted to perform such functions delegated by Orchid'sOrchid’s Board.


Bimini Advisors receives a monthly management fee in the amount of:


·

One-twelfth of 1.5% of the first $250 million of the Orchid'sOrchid’s equity, as defined in the management agreement,

·

One-twelfth of 1.25% of the Orchid'sOrchid’s equity that is greater than $250 million and less than or equal to $500 million, and

·

One-twelfth of 1.00% of the Orchid'sOrchid’s equity that is greater than $500 million.


Orchid is obligated to reimburse Bimini Advisors for any direct expenses incurred on its behalf. In addition, Bimini Advisors allocates to Orchid its pro rata portion of certain overhead costs as set forth in the management agreement. Should Orchid terminate the management agreement without cause, it shall pay to Bimini Advisors a termination fee equal to three times the average annual management fee, as defined in the management agreement, before or on the last day of the initial term or automatic renewal term.


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The Investment and Capital Allocation Strategy


Investment Strategy


With respect to our own portfolio, the business objective is to providegenerate attractive risk-adjusted total returns to our investors over the long term through a combination of capital appreciation.appreciation and interest income. We intend to achieve this objective by investing in and strategically allocating capital between pass-through Agency MBS and structured Agency MBS. We seek to generate income from (i) the net interest margin on the leveraged pass-through Agency MBS portfolio and the leveraged portion of the structured Agency MBS portfolio, and (ii) the interest income we generate from the unleveraged portion of the structured Agency MBS portfolio. We also seek to minimize the volatility of both the net asset value of, and income from, the portfolio through a process which emphasizes capital allocation, asset selection, liquidity and active interest rate risk management.


In addition, we also hold an investment, and earn dividends, on Orchid common stock.

We fund the pass-through Agency MBS and certain of the structured Agency MBS such as fixed and floating rate tranches of CMOs and POs, through repurchase agreements. However, we generally do not employ leverage on the structured Agency MBS that have no principal balance, such as IOs and IIOs.IIOs, because those securities contain structural leverage. We may pledge a portion of these assets to increase the cash balance, but we do not intend to invest the cash derived from pledging the assets. Otherwise, we do not use leverage in these instances because the securities contain structural leverage.


The target asset categories and principal assets in which we intend to invest are as follows:


Pass-through Agency MBS


We invest in pass-through securities, which are securities secured by residential real property in which payments of both interest and principal on the securities are generally made monthly. In effect, these securities pass through the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on the mortgage loans that underlie the securities, net of fees paid to the loan servicer orand the guarantor of the securities. Pass-through certificates can be divided into various categories based on the characteristics of the underlying mortgages, such as the term or whether the interest rate is fixed or variable.


The payment of principal and interest on mortgage pass-through securities issued by Ginnie Mae, but not the market value, is guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the federal government. Payment of principal and interest on mortgage pass-through certificates issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but not the market value, is guaranteed by the respective agency issuing the security.


A key feature of most mortgage loans is the ability of the borrower to repay principal earlier than scheduled. This is called a prepayment. Prepayments arise primarily due to sale of the underlying property, refinancing, foreclosure or foreclosure.accelerated amortization by the borrower. Prepayments result in a return of principal to pass-through certificate holders. This may result in a lower or higher rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. This is generally referred to as prepayment uncertainty. If a security purchased at a premium prepays at a higher-than-expected rate, then the value of the premium would be eroded at a faster-than-expected rate. Similarly, if a discount mortgage prepays at a lower-than-expected rate, the amortization towards par would be accumulated at a slower-than-expected rate. The possibility of these undesirable effects is sometimes referred to as "prepayment“prepayment risk."


In general, declining interest rates tend to increase prepayments, and rising interest rates tend to slow prepayments. Like other fixed-income securities, when interest rates rise, the value of Agency MBS generally declines. The rate of prepayments on underlying mortgages will affect the price and volatility of Agency MBS and may shorten or extend the effective maturity of the security beyond what was anticipated at the time of purchase. If interest rates rise, our holdings of Agency MBS may experience reduced spreads over our funding costs if the borrowers of the underlying mortgages pay off their mortgages later than anticipated. This is generally referred to as "extension"“extension” risk.

The mortgage loans underlying pass-through certificates can generally be classified into the following three categories:


·

Fixed-Rate Mortgages. Fixed-rate mortgages are those where the borrower pays an interest rate that is constant throughout the term of the loan. Traditionally, most fixed-rate mortgages have an original term of 30 years. However, shorter terms (also referred to as "final“final maturity dates"dates”) are quitealso common. Because the interest rate on the loan never changes, even when market interest rates change, there can be a divergence between the interest rate on the loan and current market interest rates over time. This in turn can make fixed-rate mortgages price-sensitive to market fluctuations in interest rates. In general, the longer the remaining term on the mortgage loan, the greater the price sensitivity to movements in interest rates and, therefore, the likelihood for greater price variability.

·

ARMs. ARMs are mortgages for which the borrower pays an interest rate that varies over the term of the loan. The interest rate usually resets based on market interest rates, although the adjustment of such an interest rate may be subject to certain limitations. Traditionally, interest rate resets occur at regular intervals (for example, once per year). We refer to such ARMs as "traditional"“traditional” ARMs. Because the interest rates on ARMs fluctuate based on market conditions, ARMs tend to have interest rates that do not deviate from current market rates by a large amount. This in turn can mean that ARMs have less price sensitivity to interest rates and, consequently, are less likely to experience significant price volatility.

·

Hybrid Adjustable-Rate Mortgages. Hybrid ARMs have a fixed-rate for the first few years of the loan, often three, five, seven or ten years, and thereafter reset periodically like a traditional ARM. Effectively, such mortgages are hybrids, combining the features of a pure fixed-rate mortgage and a traditional ARM. Hybrid ARMs have price sensitivity to interest rates similar to that of a fixed-rate mortgage during the period when the interest rate is fixed and similar to that of an ARM when the interest rate is in its periodic reset stage. However, because many hybrid ARMs are structured with a relatively short initial time span during which the interest rate is fixed, even during that segment of its existence, the price sensitivity may be high.

Collateralized Mortgage Obligation MBS

CMOs are a type of MBS the principal and interest of which are paid, in most cases, on a monthly basis. CMOs may be collateralized by whole mortgage loans, but are more typically collateralized by pools of mortgage pass-through securities issued directly by or under the auspices of the GSEs. CMOs are structured into multiple classes, with each class bearing a different stated maturity. Monthly payments of principal, including prepayments, are first returned to investors holding the shortest maturity class. Investors holding the longer maturity classes receive principal only after the first class has been retired. Generally, fixed-rate MBS are used to collateralize CMOs. However, the CMO tranches need not all have fixed-rate coupons. Some CMO tranches have floating rate coupons that adjust based on market interest rates, subject to some limitations. Such tranches, often called “CMO floaters,” can have relatively low price sensitivity to interest rates.


Structured Agency MBS


We also invest in structured Agency MBS, which include CMOs, IOs, IIOs and POs. The payment of principal and interest, as appropriate,to the extent accrued and payable to the security, on structured Agency MBS issued by Ginnie Mae, but not the market value, is guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the federal government. Payment of principal and interest, as appropriate,to the extent accrued an payable to the security, on structured Agency MBS issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but not the market value, is guaranteed by the respective agency issuing the security. The types of structured Agency MBS in which we invest are described below.


·
CMOs. CMOs are a type of MBS the principal and interest of which are paid, in most cases, on a monthly basis. CMOs may be collateralized by whole mortgage loans, but are more typically collateralized by portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities issued directly by or under the auspices of Ginnie Mae, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. CMOs are structured into multiple classes, with each class bearing a different stated maturity. Monthly payments of principal, including prepayments, are first returned to investors holding the shortest maturity class. Investors holding the longer maturity classes receive principal only after the first class has been retired. Generally, fixed-rate mortgages are used to collateralize CMOs. However, the CMO tranches need not all have fixed-rate coupons. Some CMO tranches have floating rate coupons that adjust based on market interest rates, subject to some limitations. Such tranches, often called "CMO floaters," can have relatively low price sensitivity to interest rates.
·

IOs. IOs represent the stream of interest payments on a pool of mortgages, either fixed-rate mortgages or hybrid ARMs. Holders of IOs have no claim to any principal payments. The value of IOs depends primarily on two factors, which are prepayments and interest rates. Prepayments on the underlying pool of mortgages reduce the stream of interest payments going forward, hence IOs are highly sensitive to prepayment rates. IOs are also sensitive to changes in interest rates. An increase in interest rates reduces the present value of future interest payments on a pool of mortgages. On the other hand, an increase in interest rates has a tendency to reduce prepayments, which increases the expected absolute amount of future interest payments.

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- 3 -

·

IIOs. IIOs represent the stream of interest payments on a pool of mortgages that underlie MBS, either fixed-rate mortgages or hybrid ARMs. Holders of IIOs have no claim to any principal payments. The value of IIOs depends primarily on three factors, which are prepayments, London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"coupon interest rate (i.e. “SOFR”), and term interest rates. Prepayments on the underlying pool of mortgages reduce the stream of interest payments, making IIOs highly sensitive to prepayment rates. The coupon on IIOs is derived from both the coupon interest rate on the underlying pool of mortgages and 30-day LIBOR.SOFR. IIOs are typically created in conjunction with a floating rate CMO that has a principal balance and which is entitled to receive all of the principal payments on the underlying pool of mortgages. The coupon on the floating rate CMO is also based on 30-day LIBOR.SOFR. Typically, the coupon on the floating rate CMO and the IIO, when combined, equal the coupon on the pool of underlying mortgages. The coupon on the pool of underlying mortgages typically represents a cap or ceiling on the combined coupons of the floating rate CMO and the IIO. Accordingly, when the value of 30-day LIBORSOFR increases, the coupon of the floating rate CMO will increase and the coupon on the IIO will decrease. When the value of 30-day LIBORSOFR falls, the opposite is true. Accordingly, the value of IIOs are sensitive to the level of 30-day LIBORSOFR and expectations by market participants of future movements in the level of 30-day LIBOR.SOFR. IIOs are also sensitive to changes in interest rates. An increase in interest rates reduces the present value of future interest payments on a pool of mortgages. On the other hand, an increase in interest rates has a tendency to reduce prepayments, which increases the expected absolute amount of future interest payments.

·

POs. POs represent the stream of principal payments on a pool of mortgages. Holders of POs have no claim to any interest payments, although the ultimate amount of principal to be received over time is known, equaling the principal balance of the underlying pool of mortgages. The timing of the receipt of the principal payments is not known. The value of POs depends primarily on two factors, which are prepayments and interest rates. Prepayments on the underlying pool of mortgages accelerate the stream of principal repayments, making POs highly sensitive to the rate at which the mortgages in the pool are prepaid. POs are also sensitive to changes in interest rates. An increase in interest rates reduces the present value of future principal payments on a pool of mortgages. Further, an increase in interest rates has a tendency to reduce prepayments, which decelerates, or pushes further out in time, the ultimate receipt of the principal payments. The opposite is true when interest rates decline.


Mortgage REIT Common Stock


We also maintain an investment in the common stock of Orchid. Because Orchid is a mortgage REIT that invests primarily in assets similar assets ofto those in which the Company invests, we consider this investment as a proxy for our overall investment strategy. We do not currently invest in other REIT common stock, but may dosubject to certain limitations we are not prohibited from doing so in the future.


Our investment strategy consists of the following components:


·

investing in pass-through Agency MBS and certain structured Agency MBS such as fixed and floating rate tranches of CMOs and POs, on a leveraged basis to increase returns on the capital allocated to this portfolio;

·

investing in certain structured Agency MBS, such as IOs and IIOs, generally on an unleveraged basis in order to (i) increase returns due to the structural leverage contained in such securities, (ii) enhance liquidity due to the fact that these securities will be unencumbered or, when encumbered, the cash from such borrowings may be retained and (iii) diversify portfolio interest rate risk due to the different interest rate sensitivity these securities have compared to pass-through Agency MBS;

·

investing in Agency MBS in order to minimize credit risk;

·

investing in REIT common stock;stock, including Orchid;

·

investing in assets that will cause us to maintain our exclusion from regulation as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.


Our management team makes investment decisions based on various factors, including, but not limited to, relative value, expected cash yield, supply and demand, costs of hedging, costs of financing, liquidity requirements, expected future interest rate volatility and the overall shape of the U.S. Treasury and interest rate swap yield curves. We do not attribute any particular quantitative significance to any of these factors, and the weight we give to these factors depends on market conditions and economic trends.

Over time, we will modify our investment strategy as market conditions change to seek to maximize the returns from our investment portfolio. We believe that this strategy will enable us to provide attractive long-term returns to our stockholders.


Capital Allocation Strategy


The percentage of capital invested in each of our two asset categories will vary and will be managed in an effort to maintain the level of income generated by the combined portfolios, the stability of that income stream and the stability of the value of the combined portfolios. Typically, pass-through Agency MBS and structured Agency MBS exhibit materially different sensitivities to movements in interest rates. Declines in the value of one portfolio may be offset by appreciation in the other, although we cannot assure you that this will be the case. Additionally, we will seek to maintain adequate liquidity as we allocate capital.


The value of our investment in Orchid common stock typically fluctuates with Orchid’s book value, which is affected by the same factors that affect our MBS investments,

We allocate our capital to assist our interest rate risk management efforts. The unleveraged portfolio does not require unencumbered cash or cash equivalents to be maintained in anticipation of possible margin calls. To the extent more capital is deployed in the unleveraged portfolio, our liquidity needs will generally be less.


During periods of rising interest rates, refinancing opportunities available to borrowers typically decrease because borrowers are not able to refinance their current mortgage loans with new mortgage loans at lower interest rates. In such instances, securities that are highly sensitive to refinancing activity, such as IOs and IIOs, typically increase in value. Our capital allocation strategy allows us to redeploy our capital into such securities when and if we believe interest rates will be higher in the future, thereby allowing us to hold securities the value of which we believe is likely to increase as interest rates rise. Also, by being able to re-allocate capital into structured Agency MBS, such as IOs, during periods of rising interest rates, we may be able to offset the likely decline in the value of our pass-through Agency MBS, which are negatively impacted by rising interest rates.


Financing Strategy


We borrow against our pass-through Agency MBS and certain of our structured Agency MBS using short-term repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement (or "repo") transaction acts as a financing arrangement under which we effectively pledge our investment securities as collateral to secure a loan. Our borrowings currently consistthrough repo transactions are generally short-term and have maturities ranging from one day to one year but may have maturities up to five or more years. Our financing rates are typically impacted by the U.S. Federal Funds rate and other short-term benchmark rates and liquidity in the Agency MBS repo and other short-term funding markets. The terms of short-termour master repo agreements generally conform to the terms in the standard master repurchase agreements. agreement as published by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association ("SIFMA") as to repayment, margin requirements and the segregation of all securities sold under the repurchase transaction. In addition, each lender may require that we include supplemental terms and conditions to the standard master repurchase agreement to address such matters as additional margin maintenance requirements, cross default and other provisions. The specific provisions may differ for each lender and certain terms may not be determined until we engage in individual repo transactions.

We may use other sources of leverage, such as secured or unsecured debt or issuances of preferred stock. We do not have a policy limiting the amount of leverage we may incur. However, we generally expect that the ratio of our total liabilities compared to our equity, which we refer to as our leverage ratio, will not exceed 12 to 1 and will generally be less than 1210 to 1. Our amount of leverage may vary depending on market conditions and other factors that we deem relevant.


We allocate our capital between two sub-portfolios. The pass-through Agency MBS portfolio will be leveraged generally through repurchase agreement funding. The structured Agency MBS portfolio generally will not be leveraged. The leverage ratio is calculated by dividing our total liabilities by total stockholders'stockholders’ equity at the end of each period. The amount of leverage typically will be a function of the capital allocated to the pass-through Agency MBS portfolio and the amount of haircuts required by our lenders on our borrowings. When the capital allocation to the pass-through Agency MBS portfolio is high, we expect that the leverage ratio will be high sincebecause more capital is being explicitly leveraged and less capital is un-leveraged. If the haircuts required by our lenders on our borrowings are higher, all else being equal, our leverage will be lower sincebecause our lenders will lend less against the value of the capital deployed to the pass-through Agency MBS portfolio. The allocation of capital between the two portfolios will be a function of several factors:

·

The relative durations of the respective portfolios — We generally seek to have a combined hedged duration at or near zero. If our pass-through securities have a longer duration, we will allocate more capital to the structured security portfolio or hedges to achieve a combined duration close to zero.

·

The relative attractiveness of pass-through securities versus structured securities — To the extent we believe the expected returns of one type of security are higher than the other, we will allocate more capital to the more attractive securities, subject to the caveat that its combined duration remains at or near zero.zero and subject to maintaining our qualification for exemption under the Investment Company Act.

·

Liquidity — We seek to maintain adequate cash and unencumbered securities relative to our repurchase agreement borrowings well in excess of anticipated price or prepayment related margin calls from our lenders. To the extent we feel price or prepayment related margin calls will be higher/lower, we will typically allocate less/more capital to the pass-through Agency MBS portfolio. Our pass-through Agency MBS portfolio likely will be our only source of price or prepayment related margin calls because we generally will not apply leverage to our structured Agency MBS portfolio. From time to time we may pledge a portion of our structured securities and retain the cash derived so it can be used to enhance our liquidity.


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Risk Management


We invest in Agency MBS and Orchid common stock to mitigate credit risk. Additionally, our Agency MBS, as well as Orchid’s, are backed by a diversified base of mortgage loans to mitigate geographic, loan originator and other types of concentration risks.


Interest Rate Risk Management


We believe that the risk of adverse interest rate movements represents the most significant risk to the value of our portfolio. This risk arises because (i) the interest rate indices used to calculate the interest rates on the mortgages underlying our assets may be different from the interest rate indices used to calculate the interest rates on the related borrowings, and (ii) interest rate movements affecting our borrowings may not be reasonably correlated with interest rate movements affecting our assets. We attempt to mitigate our interest rate risk by using the techniques described below:


Agency MBS Backed by ARMs. We seek to minimize the differences between interest rate indices and interest rate adjustment periods of our Agency MBS backed by ARMs and related borrowings. At the time of funding, we typically align (i) the underlying interest rate index used to calculate interest rates for our Agency MBS backed by ARMs and the related borrowings and (ii) the interest rate adjustment periods for our Agency MBS backed by ARMs and the interest rate adjustment periods for our related borrowings. As our borrowings mature or are renewed, we may adjust the index used to calculate interest expense, the duration of the reset periods and the maturities of our borrowings.


Agency MBS Backed by Fixed-Rate Mortgages. As interest rates rise, our borrowing costs increase; however, the income on our Agency MBS backed by fixed-rate mortgages remains unchanged. We may seek to limit increases to our borrowing costs through the use of interest rate swap or cap agreements, options, put or call agreements, futures contracts, forward rate agreements or similar financial instruments to effectivelyeconomically convert our floating-rate borrowings into fixed-rate borrowings.


Agency MBS Backed by Hybrid ARMs. During the fixed-rate period of our Agency MBS backed by hybrid ARMs, the security is similar to Agency MBS backed by fixed-rate mortgages. During this period, we may employ the same hedging strategy that we employ for our Agency MBS backed by fixed-rate mortgages. Once our Agency MBS backed by hybrid ARMs convert to floating rate securities, we may employ the same hedging strategy as we employ for our Agency MBS backed by ARMs.


Derivative Instruments. We may enter into derivative instruments to economically hedge against the possibility that rising rates may adversely impact the valuecost of our repurchase agreement liabilities. The principal instruments that the Company has used to date are Eurodollar, federal funds ("Fed Funds") and Treasury Note ("T-Note"(“T-Note”) futures contracts and options to enter into interest rate swaps ("(“interest rate swaptions"swaptions”), and “to-be-announced” (“TBA”) securities transactions, but we may enter into other transactionsderivatives in the future.

A futures contract is a legally binding agreement to buy or sell a financial instrument in a designated future month at a price agreed upon at the initiation of the contract by the buyer and seller. A futures contract differs from an option in that an option gives one of the counterparties a right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell, while a futures contract represents an obligation of both counterparties to buy or sell a financial instrument at a specified price.

Interest rate swaptions provide us the option to enter into an interest rate swap agreement for a predetermined notional amount, stated term and pay and receive interest rates in the future. We may enter into swaption agreements that provide us the option to enter into a pay fixed rate interest rate swap ("payer swaption"), or swaption agreements that provide us the option to enter into a receive fixed interest rate swap ("receiver swaptions").


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Additionally, our structured Agency MBS generally exhibit sensitivities to movements in interest rates different than our pass-through Agency MBS. To the extent they do so, our structured Agency MBS may protect us against declines in the market value of our combined portfolio that result from adverse interest rate movements, although we cannot assure you that this will be the case.


We may purchase a portion of our Agency MBS through forward settling transactions, including "to-be-announced" ("TBA") securities transactions. 

We account for TBA securities as derivative instruments if either theinstruments. Gains and losses associated with TBA securities do not settletransactions are reported in gain (loss) on derivative instruments in the shortest periodaccompanying consolidated statements of time possible or if we cannot assert that it is probable at the inception of the TBA transaction, and throughout its term, that we will take physical delivery of the Agency MBS for a long position, or make delivery of the Agency MBS for a short position, upon settlement of the trade.


operations.

Prepayment Risk Management


The risk of mortgage prepayments is another significant risk to our portfolio. When prevailing interest rates fall below the coupon rate of a mortgage, mortgage prepayments are likely to increase. Conversely, when prevailing interest rates increase above the coupon rate of a mortgage, mortgage prepayments are likely to decrease.


When prepayment rates increase, we may not be able to reinvest the money received from prepayments at yields comparable to those of the securities prepaid. Additionally, some of our structured Agency MBS, such as IOs and IIOs, may be negatively affected by an increase in prepayment rates because their value is wholly contingent on the underlying mortgage loans having an outstanding principal balance.


A decrease in prepayment rates may also have an adverse effect on our portfolio. For example, if we invest in POs, the purchase price of such securities will be based, in part, on an assumed level of prepayments on the underlying mortgage loan. Because the returns on POs decrease the longer it takes the principal payments on the underlying loans to be paid, a decrease in prepayment rates could decrease our returns on these securities.


Prepayment risk also affects our hedging activities. When an Agency MBS backed by a fixed-rate mortgage or hybrid ARM is acquired with borrowings, we may cap or fix our borrowing costs for a period close to the anticipated average life of the fixed-rate portion of the related Agency MBS. If prepayment rates are different than our projections, the term of the related hedging instrument may not match the fixed-rate portion of the security, which could cause us to incur losses.


Because our business may be adversely affected if prepayment rates are different than our projections, we seek to invest in Agency MBS backed by mortgages with well-documented and predictable prepayment histories. To protect against increases in prepayment rates, we invest in Agency MBS backed by mortgages that we believe are less likely to be prepaid. For example, we invest in Agency MBS backed by mortgages (i) with loan balances low enough such that a borrower would likely have little incentive to refinance, (ii) extended to borrowers with credit histories weak enough to not be eligible to refinance their mortgage loans, (iii) that are newly originated fixed-rate or hybrid ARMs or (iv) that have interest rates low enough such that a borrower would likely have little incentive to refinance. To protect against decreases in prepayment rates, we may also invest in Agency MBS backed by mortgages with characteristics opposite to those described above, which would typically be more likely to be refinanced. We may also invest in certain types of structured Agency MBS as a means of mitigating our portfolio-wide prepayment risks. For example, certain tranches of CMOs are less sensitive to increases in prepayment rates, and we may invest in those tranches as a means of hedging against increases in prepayment rates.


Liquidity Management Strategy


Because of our use of leverage, we manage liquidity to meet our lenders'lenders’ margin calls by maintaining cash balances or unencumbered assets well in excess of anticipated margin calls; and making margin calls on our lenders when we have an excess of collateral pledged against our borrowings.

We also attempt to minimize the number of margin calls we receive by:


·

Deploying capital from our leveraged Agency MBS portfolio to our unleveraged Agency MBS portfolio;

·

Investing in Agency MBS backed by mortgages that we believe are less likely to be prepaid to decrease the risk of excessive margin calls when monthly prepayments are announced. Prepayments are declared, and the market value of the related security declines, before the receipt of the related cash flows. Prepayment declarations give rise to a temporary collateral deficiency and generally result in margin calls by lenders;

·Obtaining funding arrangements which defer or waive prepayment-related margin requirements in exchange for payments to the lender tied to the dollar amount of the collateral deficiency and a predetermined interest rate;
·

Investing in REIT common stock; and

·

Reducing our overall amount of leverage.


To the extent we are unable to adequately manage our interest rate exposure and are subjected to substantial margin calls, we may be forced to sell assets at an inopportune time which in turn could impair our liquidity and reduce our borrowing capacity and book value.


We did not experience significant margin call activity in 2022.

Investment Company Act Exemption


We operate our business so that we are exempt from registration under the Investment Company Act. We rely on the exemption provided by Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act, which applies to companies in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on, and interests in, real estate. In order to rely on the exemption provided by Section 3(c)(5)(C), we must maintain at least 55% of our assets in qualifying real estate assets. For the purposes of this test, structured Agency MBS are non-qualifying real estate assets. We monitor our portfolio periodically and prior to each investment to confirm that we continue to qualify for the exemption. To qualify for the exemption, we make investments so that at least 55% of the assets we own consist of qualifying mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate, which we refer to as qualifying real estate assets, and so that at least 80% of the assets we own consist of real estate-related assets, including our qualifying real estate assets.


We treat whole-pool pass-through Agency MBS as qualifying real estate assets based on no-action letters issued by the staff of the SEC. In August 2011, the SEC, through a concept release, requested comments on interpretations of Section 3(c)(5)(C). To the extent that the SEC or its staff publishes new or different guidance with respect to these matters, we may fail to qualify for this exemption. We manage our pass-through Agency MBS portfolio such that we have sufficient whole-pool pass-through Agency MBS to ensure we maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act. At present, we generally do not expect that our investments in structured Agency MBS will constitute qualifying real estate assets, but will constitute real estate-related assets for purposes of the Investment Company Act.


Employees


and Human Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2017,2022, we had 8 full-time employees.


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salaried employees, none of whom are subject to a collective bargaining agreement. We provide a variety of benefit programs including a 401(k) plan and health, dental and other insurance. We believe our relationship with our employees is excellent.

Competition


Our net income depends on our ability to acquire Agency MBS for our portfolio at favorable spreads over our borrowing costs. Our net income also depends on our ability to execute the same investment strategy for the Orchid portfolio, for which we receive management fees and expense reimbursement payments. When we invest in Agency MBS and other investment assets, we compete with a variety of institutional investors, including mortgage REITs, insurance companies, mutual funds, pension funds, investment banking firms, banks and other financial institutions that invest in the same types of assets, the Federal Reserve Bank and other governmental entities or government sponsored entities. Many of these investors have greater financial resources and access to lower costs of capital than we do. The existence of these competitive entities, as well as the possibility of additional entities forming in the future, may increase the competition for the acquisition of mortgage related securities, resulting in higher prices and lower yields on assets.


Available Information


Our investor relations website is www.biminicapital.com.https://ir.biminicapital.com. We make available on the website under "Financial Information/"Financials/SEC filings," free of charge, our annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K and any other reports (including any amendments to such reports) as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish such materials to the SEC. Information on our website, however, is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  All reports filed with the SEC may also be read and copied at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Further information regarding the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.Report. In addition, all of our filed reports can be obtained at the SEC'sSEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

SummaryofRiskFactors

Below is a summary of the principal factors that make an investment in our common stock speculative or risky. This summary does not address all of the risks that we face. Additional discussion of the risks summarized in this risk factor summary, and other risks that we face, can be found below under the heading Risk Factors and should be carefully considered, together with other information in this Report and our other filings with the SEC, before making an investment decision regarding our common stock.

Changes in interest rates may negatively affect the value of our investments and increase the cost of our borrowings, which could result in reduced earnings or losses.

An increase in interest rates may also cause a decrease in the volume of newly issued, or investor demand for, Agency MBS, which could materially adversely affect our ability to acquire assets that satisfy our investment objectives and our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Interest rate mismatches between our Agency MBS and our borrowings may reduce our net interest margin during periods of changing interest rates, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Downgrades of the U.S. credit rating, automatic spending cuts, or a government shutdown could negatively impact our liquidity, financial condition and earnings.

Although structured Agency MBS are generally subject to the same risks as our pass-through Agency MBS, certain types of risks may be enhanced depending on the type of structured Agency MBS in which we invest.

New laws may be passed affecting the relationship between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, on the one hand, and the federal government, on the other, which could adversely affect the price of, or our ability to invest in and finance Agency MBS.

Purchases and sales of Agency MBS by the Fed may adversely affect the price and return associated with Agency MBS

Changes in the levels of prepayments on the mortgages underlying our Agency MBS might decrease net interest income or result in a net loss, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Failure to procure adequate repurchase agreement financing, or to renew or replace existing repurchase agreement financing as it matures, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Adverse market developments could cause our lenders to require us to pledge additional assets as collateral. If our assets were insufficient to meet these collateral requirements, we might be compelled to liquidate particular assets at inopportune times and at unfavorable prices, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

Hedging against interest rate exposure may not completely insulate us from interest rate risk and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our use of leverage could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We rely on analytical models and other data to analyze potential asset acquisition and disposition opportunities and to manage our portfolio. Such models and other data may be incorrect, misleading or incomplete, which could cause us to purchase assets that do not meet our expectations or to make asset management decisions that are not in line with our strategy.

Valuations of some of our assets may be based on estimates, may fluctuate over short periods of time and may differ from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these assets existed.

If our lenders default on their obligations to resell the Agency MBS back to us at the end of the repo transaction term, or if the value of the Agency MBS has declined by the end of the repo transaction term or if we default on our obligations under the repo transaction, we will lose money on these transactions, which, in turn, may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We have issued long-term debt to fund our operations which can increase the volatility of our earnings and stockholders’ equity.

Clearing facilities or exchanges upon which some of our hedging instruments are traded may increase margin requirements on our hedging instruments in the event of adverse economic developments.

We depend primarily on two individuals to operate our business, and the loss of one or both of such persons could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may change our investment strategy, investment guidelines and asset allocation without notice or stockholder consent, which may result in riskier investments.

Loss of our exemption from regulation under the Investment Company Act would negatively affect the value of shares of our common stock.

Failure to obtain and maintain an exemption from being regulated as a commodity pool operator could subject us to additional regulation and compliance requirements and may result in fines and other penalties which could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.

Our ownership limitations and certain other provisions of applicable law and our charter and bylaws may restrict business combination opportunities that would otherwise be favorable to our stockholders.

The termination of our management agreement with Orchid would significantly reduce our revenues in the near term.

We cannot predict the effect that government policies, laws and plans adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, any other global pandemic, or global recessionary economic conditions will have on us.

Our investment in Orchid Island Capital, Inc. or other mortgage REIT common stock may fluctuate in value which may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risk Factors

You should carefully consider the risks described below and all other information contained in this Annual Report, on Form 10-K, including our annual consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto, before making an investment decision regarding our common stock. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be harmed by any of these risks. Similarly, these risks could cause the market price of our common stock to decline and you might lose all or part of your investment. Our forward-looking statements in this annual reportReport are subject to the following risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by our forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors below.


Risks Related to Our Business


Increases

Changes in interest rates may negatively affect the value of our investments and increase the cost of our borrowings, which could result in reduced earnings or losses.


Under a normal yield curve,market conditions, an investment in Agency MBS will decline in value if interest rates increase. In addition, net interest income could decrease if the yield curve becomesis inverted or flat. While Fannie Mae, Freddie Macone or Ginnie Maemore of the GSEs guarantee the principal and interest payments related to the Agency MBS we own, these guarantees dothis guarantee does not protect us from declines in market value caused by changes in interest rates. Declines in the market value of our investments may ultimately result in losses to us, which may reduce earnings and cash available to fund our operations.


Significant increases in both long-term and short-term interest rates pose a substantial risk associated with our investment in Agency MBS. If long-term rates were to increase significantly, the market value of our Agency MBS would decline, and the duration and weighted average life of the investments would increase. We could realize a loss if the securities were sold. At the same time, an increase in short-term interest rates would increase the amount of interest owed on our repurchase agreements used to finance the purchase of Agency MBS, which would decrease cash. Using this business model, we are particularly susceptible to the effects of an inverted yield curve, where short-term rates are higher than long-term rates. Although rare in a historical context, the U.S. and many countries in Europe have experienced inverted yield curves in recent months.curves. Given the volatile nature of the U.S. economy and the Federal Reserve's recent increase andpotential future increases in short-term interest rates, there can be no guarantee that the yield curve will not become and/or remain inverted. If this occurs, it could result in a decline in the value of our Agency MBS, our business, financial position and results of operations.


Decreases in market interest rates may also adversely affect our results of operations and financial conditions.  During periods of declining interest rates or prolonged low interest rates, the interest rates we earn on our new assets may be lower. In addition, prepayments on existing mortgages may increase causing yields on our MBS to be lower, to the extent they are carried at a premium. 

An increase in interest rates may also cause a decrease in the volume of newly issued, or investor demand for, Agency MBS, which could materially adversely affect our ability to acquire assets that satisfy our investment objectives and our business, financial condition and results of operations.


Rising interest rates generally reduce the demand for consumer credit, including mortgage loans, due to the higher cost of borrowing. A reduction in the volume of mortgage loans may affect the volume of Agency MBS available to us, which could affect our ability to acquire assets that satisfy our investment objectives. Rising interest rates may also cause Agency MBS that were issued prior to an interest rate increase to provide yields that exceed prevailing market interest rates. If rising interest rates cause us to be unable to acquire a sufficient volume of Agency MBS or Agency MBS with a yield that exceeds our borrowing costs, our ability to satisfy our investment objectives and to generate income, our business, financial condition and results of operations.


Interest rate mismatches between our Agency MBS and our borrowings may reduce our net interest margin during periods of changing interest rates, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our portfolio includes Agency MBS backed by ARMs, hybrid Arms and fixed-rate mortgages, and the mix of these securities in the portfolio may be increased or decreased over time. Additionally, the interest rates on ARMs and hybrid ARMs may vary over time based on changes in a short-term interest rate index, of which there are many.


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We finance our acquisitions of pass-through Agency MBS with short-term financing. During periods of rising short-term interest rates, the income we earn on these securities will not change (with respect to Agency MBS backed by fixed-rate mortgage loans) or will not increase at the same rate (with respect to Agency MBS backed by ARMs and hybrid ARMs) as our related financing costs, which may reduce our net interest margin or result in losses.


Downgrades of the U.S. credit rating, automatic spending cuts, or a government shutdown could negatively impact our liquidity, financial condition and earnings.

U.S. debt ceiling and budget deficit concerns have increased the possibility of additional credit-rating downgrades and economic slowdowns, or a recession in the United States. Although U.S. lawmakers passed legislation to raise the federal debt ceiling on multiple occasions, ratings agencies have lowered or threatened to lower the long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States. The impact of this or any further downgrades to the U.S. government’s sovereign credit rating or its perceived creditworthiness could adversely affect the U.S. and global financial markets and economic conditions. These developments could cause interest rates and borrowing costs to rise, which may negatively impact the value of our investments and our ability to access the debt markets on favorable terms. In addition, disagreements over the federal budget may cause the U.S. federal government to shut down for periods of time. Adverse political and economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We invest in structured Agency MBS, including CMOs, IOs, IIOs and POs. Although structured Agency MBS are generally subject to the same risks as our pass-through Agency MBS, certain types of risks may be enhanced depending on the type of structured Agency MBS in which we invest.


The structured Agency MBS in which we invest are securitizations (i) issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae,the GSEs, (ii) collateralized by Agency MBS and (iii) divided into various tranches that have different characteristics (such as different maturities or different coupon payments). These securities may carry greater risk than an investment in pass-through Agency MBS. For example, certain types of structured Agency MBS, such as IOs, IIOs and POs, are more sensitive to prepayment risks than pass-through Agency MBS. If we were to invest in structured Agency MBS that were more sensitive to prepayment risks relative to other types of structured Agency MBS or pass-through Agency MBS, we may increase our portfolio-wide prepayment risk.


Differences in the stated maturity of our fixed rate assets, or in the timing of interest rate adjustments on our adjustable-rate assets, and our borrowings may adversely affect our profitability.


We rely primarily on short-term and/or variable rate borrowings to acquire fixed-rate securities with long-term maturities. In addition, we may have adjustable rate assets with interest rates that vary over time based upon changes in an objective index, such as LIBOR, or the U.S. Treasury rate.rate or the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”). These indices generally reflect short-term interest rates but these assets may not reset in a manner that matches our borrowings.


The relationship between short-term and longer-term interest rates is often referred to as the "yield curve." Ordinarily, short-term interest rates are lower than longer-term interest rates. If short-term interest rates rise disproportionately relative to longer-term interest rates (a "flattening" of the yield curve), our borrowing costs may increase more rapidly than the interest income earned on our assets. Because our investments generally bear interest at longer-term rates than we pay on our borrowings, a flattening of the yield curve would tend to decrease our net interest income and the market value of our investment portfolio. Additionally, to the extent cash flows from investments that return scheduled and unscheduled principal are reinvested, the spread between the yields on the new investments and available borrowing rates may decline, which would likely decrease our net income. It is also possible that short-term interest rates may exceed longer-term interest rates (a yield curve "inversion"), in which event, our borrowing costs may exceed our interest income and we could incurresult in operating losses.


We cannot predict the impact, if any, on our earnings or cash available for distributions to our stockholders, to the extent we make any, of the proposed restructuring of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (the "FHFA"), Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae to align the standards and practices of these entities.

On February 21, 2012, the FHFA released its Strategic Plan for Enterprise Conservatorships, which set forth three objectives for the next phase of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conservatorships:  (i) build a new infrastructure for the secondary mortgage market, (ii) gradually contract Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's presence in the marketplace while simplifying and shrinking their operations, and (iii) maintain foreclosure prevention activities and credit availability for new and refinanced mortgages.  On October 4, 2012, the FHFA released its white paper entitled Building a New Infrastructure for the Secondary Mortgage Market, which proposes a new Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac infrastructure built around two principles.

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First, replace Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's current infrastructures with a common infrastructure that efficiently aligns the standards and practices

The FHFA recognizes challenges faced in these formative stages which may or may not be surmountable, such as the absence of meaningful secondary mortgage market mechanisms beyond Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae.  As a result, there is significant uncertainty regarding the terms on which these proposals may be enacted. As a result, we cannot be certain what the effects of the enactment will have on our book value, earnings or cash.

The reduction in the pace of purchases

Purchases and sales of Agency MBS by the Fed may adversely affect the supply, price and returnreturns associated with Agency RMBS.


MBS.

The Federal Reserve (the "Fed") ownsFed owned approximately $1.7$2.6 trillion of Agency MBS as of December 31, 2017. The Fed's former2022. After nearly doubling its Agency MBS holdings from $1.4 trillion in March 2020 to a peak of over $2.7 trillion in April of 2022 as a result of its COVID-19 policy was to reinvest principal payments from its holdingsresponse, the Fed halted purchases of Agency MBS into newin September 2022 and began allowing up to $35 billion per month of Agency MBS purchases. Duringto run off its meeting in September 2017,balance sheet.  This, combined with the FOMC directed the Open Market Trading Desk (the "Desk") atFed’s aggressive hikes to the Fed BankFunds rate in an effort to curb inflation, has resulted in an increase in interest rates and an inversion of New Yorkthe yield curve that has negatively impacted the market value of Agency MBS.  With prepayments slowing in response to graduallyrising mortgage rates, Agency MBS runoffs may not reduce the reinvestmentFed’s balance sheet quickly enough to meet its stated policy goals, raising the possibility of principal payments from the Fed's securities holdings commencing in October 2017. Specifically, the FOMC directed the Desk to reinvest each month's principal payments from Treasury securities, agency debt, andFed selling Agency MBS onlyoutright.  These actions by the Fed to date, along with interest rate increases, have adversely impacted the extent that such payments exceed gradually rising caps. The Fed also announced at the September 2017 meeting thatprices and returns of Agency MBS.  While it would be reducing its holdings of Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities, starting in October 2017.


While we cannotis very difficult to predict the impact of these actions bya continuing Fed portfolio runoff or potential sales of Agency MBS on the Fed on thesupply, prices and liquidity of Agency MBS, we expect that during periods in which the Fed purchases significant volumes of Agency MBS, yields on Agency MBS may be lower and refinancing volumes may be higher than they would have been absent their large scale purchases. As a result, returns on Agency MBS may be adversely affected. There

Short-term interest rates are currently higher than long-term interest rates.This phenomenon, typically referred to as an inverted treasury or yield curve, occurred during 2022 and may continue well into the future.Under such conditions the Companys funding costs may equal or exceed yields available on the Company assets, adversely impacting our financial condition and results of operations and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

As the Federal Reserve began to increase over-night funding rates during 2022 short-term interest rates began to rise faster than longer-term interest rates and eventually the treasury yield curve became inverted, whereby yields on short-terms rates exceeded yields on long-term interest rates.  This condition has continued into 2023 and may continue into the future.  Consistent with this development, funding costs associated with the Company’s borrowings have increased relative to yields on the Company’s MBS securities.  As a result, the Company’s net interest income has declined.  The Company has employed various hedging strategies to off-set the phenomenon.  However, such hedges may not be adequate to protect the Company’s net interest income in the future, adversely affecting our financial conditions, results of operations and the Company may have to reduce or even eliminate is also a risk that as the Fed reduces its purchasesmonthly distributions of Agency MBS or if it decides to sell some or all of its holdings of Agency MBS, the pricing of our Agency MBS portfolio may be adversely affected.


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dividends.

Increased levels of prepayments on the mortgages underlying our Agency MBS might decrease net interest income or result in a net loss, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


In the case of residential mortgages, there are seldom any restrictions on borrowers'borrowers’ ability to prepay their loans. Prepayment rates generally increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. Prepayment rates also may be affected by other factors, including, without limitation, conditions in the housing and financial markets, governmental action, general economic conditions and the relative interest rates on ARMs, hybrid ARMs and fixed-rate mortgage loans. With respect to PTpass-through Agency MBS, faster-than-expected prepayments could also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations in various ways, including, if we are unable to quickly acquire new Agency MBS that generate comparable returns to replace the following:


·A portion of our PT Agency MBS backed by ARMs and hybrid ARMs may initially bear interest at rates that are lower than their fully indexed rates, which are equivalent to the applicable index rate plus a margin. If a PT MBS backed by ARMs or hybrid ARMs is prepaid prior to or soon after the time of adjustment to a fully-indexed rate, we will have held that Agency MBS while it was less profitable and lost the opportunity to receive interest at the fully-indexed rate over the remainder of its expected life.
·If we are unable to acquire new Agency MBS to replace the prepaid Agency MBS, our returns on capital may be lower than if we were able to quickly acquire new Agency MBS.

prepaid Agency MBS.

When we acquire structured Agency MBS, we anticipate that the underlying mortgages will prepay at a projected rate, generating an expected yield. When the prepayment rates on the mortgages underlying our structured Agency MBS are higher than expected, our returns on those securities may be materially adversely affected. For example, the value of our IOs and IIOs are extremely sensitive to prepayments because holders of these securities do not have the right to receive any principal payments on the underlying mortgages. Therefore, if the mortgage loans underlying our IOs and IIOs are prepaid, such securities would cease to have any value, which, in turn, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


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

A decrease in prepayment rates on the mortgages underlying our Agency MBS might decrease net interest income or result in a net loss, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


Certain of our structured Agency MBS may be adversely affected by a decrease in prepayment rates. For example, because POs are similar to zero-coupon bonds, our expected returns on such securities will be contingent on our receiving the principal payments of the underlying mortgage loans at expected intervals that assume a certain prepayment rate. If prepayment rates are lower than expected, we will not receive principal payments as quickly as we anticipated and, therefore, our expected returns on these securities will be adversely affected, which, in turn, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


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


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Interest rate caps on the ARMs and hybrid ARMs backing our Agency MBS may reduce our net interest margin during periods of rising interest rates, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


ARMs and hybrid ARMs are typically subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps. Periodic interest rate caps limit the amount an interest rate can increase during any given period. Lifetime interest rate caps limit the amount an interest rate can increase through the maturity of the loan. Our borrowings typically are not subject to similar restrictions. Accordingly, in a period of rapidly increasing interest rates, our financing costs could increase without limitation while caps could limit the interest we earn on the ARMs and hybrid ARMs backing our Agency MBS. This problem is magnified for ARMs and hybrid ARMs that are not fully indexed because such periodic interest rate caps prevent the coupon on the security from fully reaching the specified rate in one reset. Further, some ARMs and hybrid ARMs may be subject to periodic payment caps that result in a portion of the interest being deferred and added to the principal outstanding. As a result, we may receive less cash income on Agency MBS backed by ARMs and hybrid ARMs than necessary to pay interest on our related borrowings. Interest rate caps on Agency MBS backed by ARMs and hybrid ARMs could reduce our net interest margin if interest rates were to increase beyond the level of the caps, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


Failure to procure adequate repurchase agreement financing, or to renew or replace existing repurchase agreement financing as it matures, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


We intend to maintain master repurchase agreements with several counterparties. We cannot assure you that any, or sufficient, repurchase agreement financing will be available to us in the future on terms that are acceptable to us. Any decline in the value of Agency MBS, or perceived market uncertainty about their value, would make it more difficult for us to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all, or maintain our compliance with the terms of any financing arrangements already in place. We may be unable to diversify the credit risk associated with our lenders. In the event that we cannot obtain sufficient funding on acceptable terms, our business, financial condition and results of operations.


operations may be adversely affected.

Furthermore, because we intend to rely primarily on short-term borrowings to fund our acquisition of Agency MBS, our ability to achieve our investment objectiveobjectives will depend not only on our ability to borrow money in sufficient amounts and on favorable terms, but also on our ability to renew or replace on a continuous basis our maturing short-term borrowings. If we are not able to renew or replace maturing borrowings, we will have to sell some or all of our assets, possibly under adverse market conditions. In addition, if the regulatory capital requirements imposed on our lenders change, they may be required to significantly increase the cost of the financing that they provide to us. Our lenders also may revise their eligibility requirements for the types of assets they are willing to finance or the terms of such financings, based on, among other factors, the regulatory environment and their management of perceived risk.

Adverse market developments could cause our lenders to require us to pledge additional assets as collateral. If our assets were insufficient to meet these collateral requirements, we might be compelled to liquidate particular assets at inopportune times and at unfavorable prices, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


Adverse market developments, including a sharp or prolonged rise in interest rates, a change in prepayment rates or increasing market concern about the value or liquidity of one or more types of Agency MBS, might reduce the market value of our portfolio, which might cause our lenders to initiate margin calls. A margin call means that the lender requires us to pledge additional collateral to re-establish the ratio of the value of the collateral to the amount of the borrowing. The specific collateral value to borrowing ratio that would trigger a margin call is not set in the master repurchase agreements and not determined until we engage in a repurchaserepo transaction under these agreements. Our fixed-rate Agency MBS generally are more susceptible to margin calls as increases in interest rates tend to more negatively affect the market value of fixed-rate securities. If we are unable to satisfy margin calls, our lenders may foreclose on our collateral. The threat or occurrence of a margin call could force us to sell, either directly or through a foreclosure, our Agency MBS under adverse market conditions. Because of the significant leverage we expect to have, we may incur substantial losses upon the threat or occurrence of a margin call, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


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This risk is magnified given that the Company’s equity capital, particularly its tangible equity, is relatively small.

Hedging against interest rate exposure may not completely insulate us from interest rate risk and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


We may enter into interest rate cap or swap agreements or pursue other hedging strategies, including the purchase of puts, calls or other options and futures contracts in order to hedge the interest rate risk of our portfolio. In general, our hedging strategy depends on our view of our entire portfolio consisting of assets, liabilities and derivative instruments, in light of prevailing market conditions. We could misjudge the condition of our investment portfolio or the market. Our hedging activity will vary in scope based on the level and volatility of interest rates and principal prepayments, the type of Agency MBS we hold and other changing market conditions. Hedging may fail to protect or could adversely affect us because, among other things:


·

hedging can be expensive, particularly during periods of rising and volatile interest rates;

·

available interest rate hedging may not correspond directly with the interest rate risk for which protection is sought;

·

the duration of the hedge may not match the duration of the related liability;

·

certain types of hedges may expose us to risk of loss beyond the fee paid to initiate the hedge;

·

the credit quality of the counterparty on the hedge may be downgraded to such an extent that it impairs our ability to sell or assign our side of the hedging transaction; and

·

the counterparty in the hedging transaction may default on its obligation to pay.


There are no perfect hedging strategies, and interest rate hedging may fail to protect us from loss. Alternatively, we may fail to properly assess a risk to our investment portfolio or may fail to recognize a risk entirely, leaving us exposed to losses without the benefit of any offsetting hedging activities. The derivative financial instruments we select may not have the effect of reducing our interest rate risk. The nature and timing of hedging transactions may influence the effectiveness of these strategies. Poorly designed strategies or improperly executed transactions could actually increase our risk and losses. In addition, hedging activities could result in losses if the event against which we hedge does not occur.


These risks are magnified given that the Company’s equity capital, particularly its tangible equity, is relatively small. 

Moreover, the expected transition from LIBOR to alternative reference rates adds additional complications to our hedging activity. For example, we may enter into SOFR-based swaps to hedge rising borrowing costs, which may not fully offset such rising costs as well as LIBOR-based swaps may have in the past.

Because of the foregoing risks, our hedging activity could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our use of certain hedging techniques may expose us to counterparty risks.


To the extent that our hedging instruments are not traded on regulated exchanges, guaranteed by an exchange or its clearinghouse, or regulated by any U.S. or foreign governmental authorities, there may not be requirements with respect to record keeping, financial responsibility or segregation of customer funds and positions. Furthermore, the enforceability of agreements underlying hedging transactions may depend on compliance with applicable statutory, and commodityexchange and other regulatory requirements and, depending on the domicile of the counterparty, applicable international requirements. Consequently, if any of these issues causes a counterparty to fail to perform under a derivative agreement we could incur a significant loss.


For example, if a counterparty underswap exchange utilized in an interest rate swaptionswap agreement that we enter into as part of our hedging strategy cannot perform under the terms of the interest rate swaptionswap agreement, we may not receive payments due under that agreement, and, thus, we may lose any potential benefit associated with the interest rate swaption.swap. Additionally, we may also risk the loss of any collateral we have pledged to secure our obligations under these swaptionswap agreements if the counterpartyexchange becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy. Similarly, if an interest rate swaption counterparty fails to perform under the terms of the interest rate swaption agreement, in addition to not being able to exercise or otherwise cash settle the agreement, we could also incur a loss for the premium paid for that swaption.



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Our use of leverage could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We calculate our leverage ratio by dividing our total liabilities by total equity at the end of each period. Under normal market conditions, we generally expect our leverage ratio to be less than 10 to 1, although at times our borrowings may be above or below this level. We incur this indebtedness by borrowing against a substantial portion of the market value of our pass-through Agency MBS and a portion of our structured Agency MBS. Our total indebtedness, however, is not expressly limited by our policies and will depend on our prospective lenders’ estimates of the stability of our portfolio’s cash flow. As a result, there is no limit on the amount of leverage that we may incur. We face the risk that we might not be able to meet our debt service obligations or a lender’s margin requirements from our income and, to the extent we cannot, we might be forced to liquidate some of our Agency MBS at unfavorable prices. Our use of leverage could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, our borrowings are secured by our pass-through Agency MBS and a portion of our structured Agency MBS under repurchase agreements. A decline in the market value of the pass-through Agency MBS or structured Agency MBS used to secure these debt obligations could limit our ability to borrow or result in lenders requiring us to pledge additional collateral to secure our borrowings. In that situation, we could be required to sell Agency MBS under adverse market conditions in order to obtain the additional collateral required by the lender. If these sales are made at prices lower than the carrying value of the Agency MBS, we would experience losses. If we experience losses as a result of our use of leverage, such losses could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

It may be uneconomical to "roll" our TBA dollar roll transactions or we may be unable to meet margin calls on our TBA contracts, which could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.


We may utilize TBA dollar roll transactions as a means of investing in and financing Agency MBS securities. TBA contracts enable us to purchase or sell, for future delivery, Agency MBS with certain principal and interest terms and certain types of collateral, but the particular Agency MBS to be delivered are not identified until shortly before the TBA settlement date. Prior to settlement of the TBA contract we may choose to move the settlement of the securities out to a later date by entering into an offsetting position (referred to as a "pair off"), net settling the paired off positions for cash, and simultaneously purchasing a similar TBA contract for a later settlement date, collectively referred to as a "dollar roll." The Agency MBS purchased for a forward settlement date under the TBA contract are typically priced at a discount to Agency MBS for settlement in the current month. This difference (or discount) is referred to as the "price drop." The price drop is the economic equivalent of net interest income earned from carrying the underlying Agency MBS over the roll period (interest income less implied financing cost) and is commonly referred to as "dollar roll income.". Consequently, TBA dollar roll transactions and such forward purchases of Agency MBS represent a form of off-balance sheet financing and increase our "at risk" leverage.

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Under certain market conditions, TBA dollar roll transactions may result in negative carry income whereby the Agency MBS purchased for a forward settlement date under the TBA contract are priced at a premium to Agency MBS for settlement in the current month. Additionally, sales of some or all of the Fed's holdings of Agency MBS or declines in purchases of Agency MBS by the Fed could adversely impact the dollar roll market. Under such conditions, it may be uneconomical to roll our TBA positions prior to the settlement date and we could have to take physical delivery of the underlying securities and settle our obligations for cash. We may not have sufficient funds or alternative financing sources available to settle such obligations. In addition, pursuant to the margin provisions established by the Mortgage-Backed Securities Division ("MBSD") of the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation ("FICC"), we are subject to margin calls on our TBA contracts. Further, our Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreements ("MSFTAs")clearing and custody agreements may require us to post additional margin above the levels established by the MBSD. Negative carry income on TBA dollar roll transactions or failure to procure adequate financing to settle our obligations or meet margin calls under our TBA contracts could result in defaults or force us to sell assets under adverse market conditions and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.


Volatile market conditions for mortgages and mortgage-related assets as well as the broader financial markets can result in a significant contraction in liquidity for mortgages and mortgage-related assets, which may adversely affect the value of the assets in which we invest.

Our results of operations are materially affected by conditions in the markets for mortgages and mortgage-related assets, including Agency MBS, as well as the broader financial markets and the economy generally.

Significant adverse changes in financial market conditions can result in a deleveraging of the global financial system and the forced sale of large quantities of mortgage-related and other financial assets. Concerns over rising interest rates, growing inflation, economic recession, geopolitical issues including events such as the COVID-19 pandemic or other global pandemics, the war in Ukraine, the military conflict between Ukraine and Russia, policy priorities of a new U.S. presidential administration, trade wars, unemployment, the availability and cost of financing, the mortgage market and a declining real estate market or prolonged government shutdown may contribute to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the economy and markets.

Increased volatility and deterioration in the markets for mortgages and mortgage-related assets as well as the broader financial markets may adversely affect the performance and market value of our Agency MBS and our investment in Orchid common stock. If these conditions exist, institutions from which we seek financing for our investments may tighten their lending standards, increase margin calls or become insolvent, which could make it more difficult for us to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all. Our profitability and financial condition may be adversely affected if we are unable to obtain cost-effective financing for our investments.

Our forward settling transactions, including TBA transactions, subject us to certain risks, including price risks and counterparty risks.


We purchase a substantial portionsome of our Agency MBS through forward settling transactions, including TBAs. In a forward settling transaction, we enter into a forward purchase agreement with a counterparty to purchase either (i)  an identified Agency MBS, or (ii) a TBA, or to-be-issued, Agency MBS with certain terms. As with any forward purchase contract, the value of the underlying Agency MBS may decrease between the contracttrade date and the settlement date. Furthermore, a transaction counterparty may fail to deliver the underlying Agency MBS at the settlement date. If any of these risks were to occur, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.


We rely on analytical models and other data to analyze potential asset acquisition and disposition opportunities and to manage our portfolio. Such models and other data may be incorrect, misleading or incomplete, which could cause us to purchase assets that do not meet our expectations or to make asset management decisions that are not in line with our strategy.


We rely on analytical models, and information and other data supplied by third parties. These models and data may be used to value assets or potential asset acquisitions and dispositions and in connection with our asset management activities. If our models and data prove to be incorrect, misleading or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon could expose us to potential risks.


Our reliance on models and data may induce us to purchase certain assets at prices that are too high, to sell certain other assets at prices that are too low or to miss favorable opportunities altogether. Similarly, any hedging activities that are based on faulty models and data may prove to be unsuccessful.


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Some models, such as prepayment models, may be predictive in nature. The use of predictive models has inherent risks. For example, such models may incorrectly forecast future behavior, leading to potential losses. In addition, the predictive models used by us may differ substantially from those models used by other market participants, resulting in valuations based on these predictive models that may be substantially higher or lower for certain assets than actual market prices. Furthermore, because predictive models are usually constructed based on historical data supplied by third parties, the success of relying on such models may depend heavily on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied historical data, and, in the case of predicting performance in scenarios with little or no historical precedent (such as extreme broad-based declines in home prices, or deep economic recessions or depressions), such models must employ greater degrees of extrapolation and are therefore more speculative and less reliable.


Models may also include LIBOR as an input. Thus, the transition away from LIBOR to SOFR may require changes to the models and/or impair the historical relationships patterned within these models as a result of less historical data than is currently available for LIBOR.

All valuation models rely on correct market data input. If incorrect market data is entered into even a well-founded valuation model, the resulting valuations will be incorrect. However, even if market data is inputted correctly, "model prices"“model prices” will often differ substantially from market prices, especially for securities with complex characteristics or whose values are particularly sensitive to various factors. If our market data inputs are incorrect or our model prices differ substantially from market prices, our business, financial condition and results of operations.


operations could be materially adversely affected.

Valuations of some of our assets are inherently uncertain, may be based on estimates, may fluctuate over short periods of time and may differ from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these assets existed. As a result, the values of some of our assets are uncertain.


While in many cases our determination of the fair value of our assets is based on valuations provided by third-party dealers and pricing services, we can and do value assets based upon our judgment, and such valuations may differ from those provided by third-party dealers and pricing services. Valuations of certain assets are often difficult to obtain or are unreliable. In general, dealers and pricing services heavily disclaim their valuations. Additionally, dealers may claim to furnish valuations only as an accommodation and without special compensation, and so they may disclaim any and all liability for any direct, incidental or consequential damages arising out of any inaccuracy or incompleteness in valuations, including any act of negligence or breach of any warranty. Depending on the complexity and illiquidity of an asset, valuations of the same asset can vary substantially from one dealer or pricing service to another. The valuation process during times of market distress can be particularly difficult and unpredictable and during such time the disparity of valuations provided by third-party dealers can widen.


Our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders could be materially adversely affected if our fair value determinations of these assets were materially higher than the values that would exist if a ready market existed for these assets.


Because the assets that we acquire might experience periods of illiquidity, we might be prevented from selling our Agency MBS at favorable times and prices, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


Agency MBS generally experience periods of illiquidity. Such conditions are more likely to occur for structured Agency MBS because such securities are generally traded in markets much less liquid than the PTpass-through Agency MBS market. As a result, we may be unable to dispose of our Agency MBS at advantageous times and prices or in a timely manner. The lack of liquidity might result from the absence of a willing buyer or an established market for these assets as well as legal or contractual restrictions on resale. The illiquidity of Agency MBS could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


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Our use of leverage could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Under normal market conditions, we generally expect our leverage ratio to be less than 12 to 1, although at times our borrowings may be above this level. We incur this indebtedness by borrowing against a substantial portion of the market value of our PT Agency MBS and a portion of our structured Agency MBS. Our total indebtedness, however, is not expressly limited by our policies and will depend on our prospective lenders' estimates of the stability of our portfolio's cash flow. As a result, there is no limit on the amount of leverage that we may incur. We face the risk that we might not be able to meet our debt service obligations or a lender's margin requirements from our income and, to the extent we cannot, we might be forced to liquidate some of our Agency MBS at unfavorable prices. Our use of leverage could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operation and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders. For example, our repurchase agreement borrowings are secured by our PT Agency MBS and may be secured by a portion of our structured Agency MBS under repurchase agreements. A decline in the market value of the PT Agency MBS or structured Agency MBS used to secure these debt obligations could limit our ability to borrow or result in lenders requiring us to pledge additional collateral to secure our borrowings. In that situation, we could be required to sell Agency MBS under adverse market conditions in order to obtain the additional collateral required by the lender. If these sales are made at prices lower than the carrying value of the Agency MBS, we would experience losses.

If we experience losses as a result of our use of leverage, such losses could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our use of repurchase agreements may give our lenders greater rights in the event that either we or any of our lenders file for bankruptcy, which may make it difficult for us to recover our collateral in the event of a bankruptcy filing.


Our borrowings under repurchase agreements may qualify for special treatment under the bankruptcy code, giving our lenders the ability to avoid the automatic stay provisions of the bankruptcy code and to take possession of and liquidate our collateral under the repurchase agreements without delay if we file for bankruptcy. Furthermore, the special treatment of repurchase agreements under the bankruptcy code may make it difficult for us to recover our pledged assets in the event that any of our lenders files for bankruptcy. Thus, the use of repurchase agreements exposes our pledged assets to risk in the event of a bankruptcy filing by either our lenders or us. In addition, if the lender is a broker or dealer subject to the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, or an insured depository institution subject to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, our ability to exercise our rights to recover our investment under a repurchase agreement or to be compensated for any damages resulting from the lender'slender’s insolvency may be further limited by those statutes.

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If a repurchase agreement counterparty defaults on their obligations to resell the Agency MBS back to us at the end of the repo transaction term, or if the value of the Agency MBS has declined by the end of the repurchaserepo transaction term or if we default on our obligations under the repurchaserepo transaction, we will lose money on these transactions, which, in turn, may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


When we engage in a repurchaserepo transaction, we initially sell securities to the financial institution under one of our master repurchase agreements in exchange for cash, and our counterparty is obligated to resell the securities to us at the end of the term of the transaction, which is typically from 24 to 90 days but may be up to 364 days or more. The cash we receive when we initially sell the securities is less than the value of those securities, which is referred to as the haircut.“haircut.” Many financial institutions from which we may obtain repurchase agreement financing have increased their haircuts in the past and may do so again in the future. If theseWhen haircuts are increased, we will beare required to post additional cash or securities as collateral for our Agency MBS. If our counterparty defaults on its obligation to resell the securities to us, we would incur a loss on the transaction equal to the amount of the haircut (assuming there was no change in the value of the securities). We would also lose money on a repurchaserepo transaction if the value of the underlying securities had declined as of the end of the transaction term, as we would have to repurchase the securities for their initial value but would receive securities worth less than that amount. Any losses we incur on our repurchaserepo transactions could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


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If we default on one of our obligations under a repurchaserepo transaction, the counterparty can terminate the transaction and cease entering into any other repurchaserepo transactions with us. In that case, we would likely need to establish a replacement repurchase facility with another financial institution in order to continue to leverage our portfolio and carry out our investment strategy. There is no assurance we would be able to establish a suitable replacement facility on acceptable terms or at all.


We have issued long-term debt to fund our operations which can increase the volatility of our earnings and stockholders'stockholders equity.


In October 2005, Bimini Capital completed a private offering of trust preferred securities of Bimini Capital Trust II, of which $26.8 million are still outstanding. The Company must pay interest on these junior subordinated notes on a quarterly basis at a rate equal to current three month LIBOR rate plus 3.5%. On March 15, 2022, the President of the United States of America signed into law the Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act (the "LIBOR Act"). Under the LIBOR Act, on July 1, 2023, a benchmark replacement recommended by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Board”) will replace LIBOR in certain contracts, including the trust preferred securities of Bimini Capital Trust II. Accordingly, the LIBOR Act, as implemented by the final regulations of the Board, provides that after June 30, 2023 the an appropriate SOFR index will be used to determine the interest rate on the junior subordinated notes. To the extent the Company'sCompany’s does not generate sufficient earnings to cover the interest payments on the debt, our earnings and stockholders'stockholders’ equity may be negatively impacted.


The Company considers the junior subordinated notes as part of its long-term capital base. Therefore, for purposes of all disclosure in this report concerning our capital or leverage, the Company considers both stockholders'stockholders’ equity and the $26.8 million of junior subordinated notes to constitute capital.


The Company has also elected to account for its investments in MBS under the fair value option and, therefore, will report MBS on our financial statements at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. Changes in the value of the MBS do not impact the outstanding balance of the junior subordinated notes but rather our stockholders'stockholders’ equity. Therefore, changes in the value of our MBS will be absorbed solely by our stockholders'stockholders’ equity. Because our stockholdersstockholders’ equity is small in relation to our total capital, such changes may result in significant changes in our stockholders'stockholders’ equity.


Clearing facilities or exchanges upon which some of our hedging instruments are traded may increase margin requirements on our hedging instruments in the event of adverse economic developments.


In response to events having or expected to have adverse economic consequences or which create market uncertainty, clearing facilities or exchanges upon which some of our hedging instruments, such as EurodollarT-Note, Fed Funds and Treasury NoteEurodollar futures contracts, are traded may require us to post additional collateral against our hedging instruments. In the event that future adverse economic developments or market uncertainty result in increased margin requirements for our hedging instruments, it could materially adversely affect our liquidity position, business, financial condition and results of operations.

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Our inability to access funding or the terms on which such funding is available could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, particularly in times of significant market dislocations.

Our ability to fund our operations, meet financial obligations and finance asset acquisitions is dependent upon our ability to secure and maintain our repurchase agreements with our counterparties. Because repurchase agreements are short-term commitments of capital, lenders may respond to market conditions in ways that make it more difficult for us to renew or replace on a continuous basis our maturing short-term borrowings and have imposed and may continue to impose more onerous terms when rolling such financings. If we are not able to renew our existing repurchase agreements or arrange for new financing on terms acceptable to us, or if we are required to post more collateral or face larger haircuts, we may have to curtail our asset acquisition activities and/or dispose of assets.

Issues related to financing are exacerbated in times of significant dislocation in the financial markets, for example, such as those experienced related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is possible our lenders will become unwilling or unable to provide us with financing, and we could be forced to sell our assets at an inopportune time when prices are depressed. In addition, if the regulatory capital requirements imposed on our lenders change, they may be required to significantly increase the cost of the financing that they provide to us. Our lenders also have revised and may continue to revise the terms of such financings, including haircuts and requiring additional collateral in the form of cash, based on, among other factors, the regulatory environment and their management of actual and perceived risk. Moreover, the amount of financing we receive under our repurchase agreements will be directly related to our lenders’ valuation of our assets that collateralize the outstanding borrowings. Typically, repurchase agreements grant the lender the absolute right to re-evaluate the fair market value of the assets that cover outstanding borrowings at any time. If a lender determines in its sole discretion that the value of the assets has decreased, the lender has the right to initiate a margin call. These valuations may be different than the values that we ascribe to these assets and may be influenced by recent asset sales at distressed levels by forced sellers. A margin call requires us to transfer additional assets to a lender without any advance of funds from the lender for such transfer or to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings. Significant margin calls could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, business, liquidity and ability to make distributions to our stockholders, and could cause the value of our common stock to decline. In addition, we experienced an increase in haircuts on financings we have rolled. As haircuts are increased, we are required to post additional collateral. We may also be forced to sell assets at significantly depressed prices to meet such margin calls and to maintain adequate liquidity. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we experienced margin calls in 2020 well beyond historical norms. As of December 31, 2022, we had met all margin call requirements, but a sufficiently deep and/or rapid increase in margin calls or haircuts could have an adverse impact on our liquidity.

We may change our investment strategy, investment guidelines and asset allocation without notice or stockholder consent, which may result in riskier investments.


Our Board of Directors has the authority to change our investment strategy or asset allocation at any time without notice to or consent from our stockholders. To the extent that our investment strategy changes in the future, we may make investments that are different from, and possibly riskier than, the investments described in this annual report.Report. A change in our investment strategy may increase our exposure to interest rate and real estate market fluctuations. Furthermore, a change in our asset allocation could result in our allocating assets in a different manner than as described in this annual report.


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Report.

Competition might prevent us from acquiring Agency MBS at favorable yields, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities. Our net income largely depends on our ability to acquire Agency MBS at favorable spreads over our borrowing costs. In acquiring Agency MBS, we compete with a variety of institutional investors, including mortgage REITs, investment banking firms, savings and loan associations, banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, other lenders, other entities that purchase Agency MBS, the Federal Reserve,Fed, other governmental entities and government-sponsored entities, many of which have greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do. Some competitors may have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that may not be available to us, such as funding from the U.S. Government.government. Additionally, many of our competitors are required to maintain an exemption from the Investment Company Act. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments. Furthermore, competition for investments in Agency MBS may lead the price of such investments to increase, which may further limit our ability to generate desired returns. As a result, we may not be able to acquire sufficient Agency MBS at favorable spreads over our borrowing costs, which would materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The occurrence of cyber-incidents, or a deficiency in our cybersecurity or in those of any of our third-party service providers could negatively impact our business by causing a disruption to our operations, a compromise or corruption of our confidential information or damage to our business relationships or reputation, all of which could negatively impact our business and results of operations.

A cyber-incident is considered to be any adverse event that threatens the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of our information resources or the information resources of our third-party service providers. More specifically, a cyber-incident is an intentional attack or an unintentional event that can include gaining unauthorized access to systems to disrupt operations, corrupt data, or steal confidential information. As our reliance on technology has increased, so have the risks posed to our systems, both internal and those we have outsourced. The primary risks that could directly result from the occurrence of a cyber-incident include operational interruption and private data exposure. We have implemented processes, procedures and controls to help mitigate these risks, but these measures, as well as our focus on mitigating the risk of a cyber-incident, do not guarantee that our business and results of operations will not be negatively impacted by such an incident.

We are highly dependent on communications and information systems operated by third parties, and systems failures could significantly disrupt our business, which may, in turn, adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


Our business is highly dependent on communications and information systems that allow us to monitor, value, buy, sell, finance and hedge our investments. These systems are operated by third parties and, as a result, we have limited ability to ensure their continued operation. In the event of a systems failure or interruption, we will have limited ability to affect the timing and success of systems restoration. Any failure or interruption of ourthese systems could cause delays or other problems in our securities trading activities, including Agency MBS trading activities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.


Computer malware, ransomware, viruses, and computer hacking and phishing attacks have become more prevalent in the financial services industry and may occur on our or certain of our third party service providers' systems in the future. We rely heavily on our financial, accounting and other data processing systems. Although we have not detected a breach to date, financial services institutions have reported breaches of their systems, some of which have been significant. Even with all reasonable security efforts, not every breach can be prevented or even detected. It is possible that we, or certain of our third-party service providers have experienced an undetected breach, and it is likely that other financial institutions have experienced more breaches than have been detected and reported. There is no assurance that we, or certain of the third parties that facilitate our business activities, have not or will not experience a breach. It is difficult to determine what, if any, negative impact may directly result from any specific interruption or cyber-attacks or security breaches of our networks or systems (or the networks or systems of certain third parties that facilitate our business activities) or any failure to maintain performance, reliability and security of certain of our third-party service providers' technical infrastructure, but such computer malware, ransomware, viruses, and computer hacking and phishing attacks may negatively affect our operations.

We depend primarily on two individuals to operate our business, and the loss of one or both of such persons could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


We depend substantially on two individuals, Robert E. Cauley, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and G. Hunter Haas, our President, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to manage our business. We depend on the diligence, experience and skill of Mr. Cauley and Mr. Haas in managing all aspects of our business, including the selection, acquisition, structuring and monitoring of securities portfolios and associated borrowings. Although we have entered into contracts and compensation arrangements with Mr. Cauley and Mr. Haas that encourage their continued employment, those contracts may not prevent either Mr. Cauley or Mr. Haas from leaving our company. The loss of either of them could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we issue debt securities, our operations may be restricted and we will be exposed to additional risk.


If we decide to issue debt securities in the future, it is likely that such securities will be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our Class A Common Stock. We, and indirectly our stockholders, will bear the cost of issuing and servicing such securities. Holders of debt securities may be granted specific rights, including but not limited to, the right to hold a perfected security interest in certain of our assets, the right to accelerate payments due under the indenture, rights to restrict dividend payments, and rights to approve the sale of assets. Such additional restrictive covenants and operating restrictions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.


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No assurance can be given that

The replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders. 

Effective January 1, 2022, the actions taken by a new administrationICE Benchmark Administration Limited, the administrator of LIBOR, ceased the publication of one-week and two-month USD LIBOR and will cease the publications of the remaining tenors of USD LIBOR (one, three, six, and 12-month) immediately after June 30, 2023. Our repurchase agreement borrowings previously carried a rate of interest based on short term rate indices that tracked LIBOR. The impact of phasing out LIBOR on these and other financial instruments is uncertain and may negatively impact their value, liquidity or effectiveness. The transition to an alternative rate, such as the SOFR, which is an index calculated by reference to short-term repurchase agreements backed by U.S. GovernmentTreasury securities, will require careful and deliberate consideration and implementation so as not to disrupt the stability of financial markets. There is no guarantee that a transition from LIBOR to SOFR or any other alternative rate will not result in, among other things, financial market disruptions, significant increases in benchmark rates, or short-term interest rates, any of which could have an adverse effect on our profitability, liquidity, and financial condition.

More generally, any of the above changes or any other consequential changes to LIBOR or any other “benchmark” as a result of international, national or other proposals for reform or other initiatives or investigations, or any further uncertainty in relation to the timing and manner of implementation of such changes, could have a material adverse effect on the value of and return on any securities based on or linked to a “benchmark.”

New laws may be passed affecting the relationship between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, on the one hand, and the federal government, on the other, which could adversely affect the price of, or our ability to invest in and finance, Agency MBS.

The interest and principal payments we expect to receive on the Agency MBS in which we invest are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae. Principal and interest payments on Ginnie Mae certificates are directly guaranteed by the U.S. government. Principal and interest payments relating to the securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are only guaranteed by each respective GSE.

In September 2008, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed into the conservatorship of the 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 (the “Recovery Act”). In addition to the FHFA becoming the conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the U.S. Treasury entered into Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements (“PSPAs”) with the FHFA and have taken various actions intended to provide Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with additional liquidity in an effort to ensure their financial stability. In September 2019, the FHFA and the U.S. Treasury agreed to modifications to the PSPAs that will permit Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively. As of September 30, 2020, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had retained equity capital of approximately $21 billion and $14 billion, respectively. In December 2020, a final rule was published in the federal register regarding GSE capital framework (the “December rule”), which requires Tier 1 capital in excess of 4% (approximately $265 billion) and a risk-weight floor of 20% for residential mortgages. On January 14, 2021, the U.S. Treasury and the FHFA executed letter agreements (the “January agreement”) allowing the GSEs to continue to retain capital up to their regulatory minimums, including buffers, as prescribed in the December rule. These letter agreements provide, in part, (i) there will be no exit from conservatorship until all material litigation is settled and the GSEs have common equity Tier 1 capital of at least 3% of their assets, (ii) the GSEs will comply with the FHFA’s regulatory capital framework, (iii) higher-risk single-family mortgage acquisitions will be restricted to current levels, and (iv) the U.S. Treasury and the FHFA will establish a timeline and process for future GSE reform. On September 14, 2021, the U.S. Treasury and the FHFA suspended certain policy provisions in the January agreement, including limits on loans acquired for cash consideration, multifamily loans, loans with higher risk characteristics and second homes and investment properties. On September 15, 2021, the FHFA announced a notice of proposed rulemaking for the purpose of seekingamending the December rule to, stimulateamong other things, reduce the economy will achieveTier 1 capital and risk-weight floor requirements.

Shortly after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed in federal conservatorship, the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury suggested that the guarantee payment structure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the U.S. housing finance market should be re-examined. The future roles of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could be significantly reduced and the nature of their intended effectguarantees could be eliminated or will benefitconsiderably limited relative to historical measurements. The U.S. Treasury could also stop providing credit support to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the future. Any changes to the nature of the guarantees provided by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could redefine what constitutes an Agency MBS and could have broad adverse market implications. If Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac was eliminated, or their structures were to change in a material manner that is not compatible with our business and further, government or market developmentsmodel, we would not be able to acquire Agency MBS from these entities, which could adversely affect us.


The incoming administrationour business operations. Such changes would likely have a similar impact on the business operations of Orchid, which could adversely affect the value and performance of our investment in Orchid common stock and the amount of management fees and expense reimbursements we receive from Orchid.

On June 23, 2021, the Supreme Court ruled in Collins v. Mnuchin, a case presenting a question of the U.S. Government has announcedconstitutionality of the FHFA and its director’s protection from being replaced at will by the President. The Supreme Court held that it may implement initiatives intended to stimulate the U.S. economy. No assurance can be given that these initiatives will beneficially impact the economyFHFA did not exceed its powers or our business. To the extent the markets respond favorably to these initiatives, if these initiatives do not function as intended or interest rates increasefunctions as a result of these initiatives,conservator under the pricing, supply, liquidityRecovery Act, and value of our assets andthat the availability of financing on attractive termsPresident may be materially adversely affected.


Adoptionreplace the director at will. On June 23, 2021, President Biden appointed Sandra Thompson as acting director of the Basel III standards and other proposed supplementary regulatory standards may negatively impact our access to financing or affect the terms of our future financing arrangements.

In response to various financial crises and the volatility of financial markets, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, an international body comprised of senior representatives of bank supervisory authorities and central banks from 27 countries, including the United States, adopted the Basel III standards several years ago. The final package of Basel III reforms was approved by the G20 leaders in November 2010. In January 2013, the Basel Committee agreed to delay implementation of the Basel III standards and expanded the scope of assets permitted to be included in a bank's liquidity measurement. In 2014, the Basel Committee announced that it would propose additional changes to capital requirements for banks over the next few years. U.S. regulators have elected to implement substantially all of the Basel III standards. These new standards, including the Supplementary Leverage Ratio imposed by the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which will be fully phased in by 2019, will require banks to hold more capital, predominantly in the form of common equity, than under the current capital framework. These increased bank capital requirements may constrain our ability to obtain attractive future financings and increase the cost of such financings if they are obtained.

In April 2014, U.S. regulators adopted rules requiring enhanced supplementary leverage ratio standards beginning in January 2018, which would impose capital requirements more stringent than those of the Basel III standards for the most systematically significant banking organizations in the U.S. Adoption and implementation of the Basel III standards and the supplemental regulatory standards adopted by U.S. regulators may negatively impact our access to financing or affect the terms of our future financing arrangements.

FHFA.

Our investment in Orchid Island Capital, Inc. or other mortgage REIT common stock may fluctuate in value which materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


Investments in the securities of companies that own Agency MBS will be subject to all of the risks associated with the direct ownership of Agency MBS discussed above that could adversely affect the market price of the investment and the ability of the REIT to pay dividends. In addition, the market value of the common stock could be affected by market conditions beyond the Company's control.Company’s control, such as limited liquidity in trading market for the common stock. A decrease in the dividend payment rate or the market value of the common stock could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.


In addition, the Company’s ability to dispose of the common stock investment because selling investments in Orchid’s common equity securities may be hindered due to its relationship as Orchid’s manager and the possession of inside information. Also, if we or other significant investors sell or are perceived as intending to sell a substantial number of shares in a short period of time, the market price of our remaining shares could be adversely affected.

The termination of our management agreement with Orchid couldwould significantly reduce our revenues.


revenues in the near term.

Orchid is externally managed and advised by Bimini Advisors. As Manager, Bimini Advisors is responsible for administering Orchid'sOrchid’s business activities and day-to-day operations. Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement, Bimini Advisors provides Orchid with its management team, including its officers, along with appropriate support personnel.


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In exchange for these services, Bimini Advisors receives a monthly management fee. In addition, Orchid is obligated to reimburse Bimini Advisors for any direct expenses incurred on its behalf and Bimini Advisors allocates to Orchid its pro rata portion of certain overhead costs. The significance of these management fees and overhead reimbursements has increased, and is expected to continue to increase, as Orchid'sOrchid’s capital base continues to grow. If Orchid were to terminate the management agreement without cause, it would be obligated to pay to Bimini Advisors a termination fee equal to three times the average annual management fee, as defined in the management agreement, before or on the last day of the initial term or automatic renewal term. The loss of these revenues, if it were to occur, would have a severe and immediate impact on the Company.


We may be subject to adverse legislative or regulatory changes that could reduce the market price of our common stock.


At any time, laws or regulations, or the administrative interpretations of those laws or regulations, which impact our business and Maryland corporations may be amended. In addition, the markets for MBS and derivatives, including interest rate swaps, have been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent years. We cannot predict when or if any new law, regulation or administrative interpretation, or any amendment to any existing law, regulation or administrative interpretation, will be adopted or promulgated or will become effective. Additionally, revisions to these laws, regulations or administrative interpretations could cause us to change our investments. We could be materially adversely affected by any such change to any existing, or any new, law, regulation or administrative interpretation, which could reduce the market price of our common stock.

We may incur losses as a result of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of a pandemic and acts of terrorism.

The occurrence of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of a pandemic, such as coronavirus, or other widespread health emergency (or concerns over the possibility of such an emergency) terrorist attacks could create economic and financial disruptions, and could lead to operational difficulties that could impair our ability to manage our businesses.

We are subject to risks related to corporate social responsibility.

Our business faces public scrutiny related to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) activities. We risk damage to our reputation if we fail to act responsibly in a number of areas, such as diversity and inclusion, environmental stewardship, support for local communities, corporate governance and transparency and considering ESG factors in our investment processes. Adverse incidents with respect to ESG activities could impact the cost of our operations and relationships with investors, all of which could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Additionally, new legislative or regulatory initiatives related to ESG could adversely affect our business.

Risks Related to Our Organization and Structure


Loss of our exemption from regulation under the Investment Company Act would negatively affect the value of shares of our common stock.


We have operated and intend to continue to operate our business so as to be exempt from registration under the Investment Company Act, because we are "primarily“primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate." Specifically, we invest and intend to continue to invest so that at least 55% of the assets that we own on an unconsolidated basis consist of qualifying mortgages and other liens and interests in real estate, which are collectively referred to as "qualifying“qualifying real estate assets," and so that at least 80% of the assets we own on an unconsolidated basis consist of real estate-related assets (including our qualifying real estate assets). We treat Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae whole-pool residential mortgage pass-through securities issued with respect to an underlying pool of mortgage loans in which we hold all of the certificates issued by the pool as qualifying real estate assets based on no-action letters issued by the SEC. To the extent that the SEC publishes new or different guidance with respect to these matters, we may fail to qualify for this exemption.


If we fail to qualify for this exemption and for any other exemption, we could be required to restructure our activities in a manner that, or at a time when, we would not otherwise choose to do so, which could negatively affect the value of shares of our common stock and our ability to distribute dividends. For example, if the market value of our investments in CMOs or structured Agency MBS, neither of which are qualifying real estate assets for Investment Company Act purposes, were to increase by an amount that resulted in less than 55% of our assets being invested in pass-through Agency MBS, we might have to sell CMOs or structured Agency MBS in order to maintain our exemption from the Investment Company Act. The sale could occur during adverse market conditions, and we could be forced to accept a price below that which we believe is acceptable.


Alternatively, if we fail to qualify for this exemption and for any other exemption, we may have to register under the Investment Company Act and we could become subject to substantial regulation with respect to our capital structure (including our ability to use leverage), management, operations, transactions with affiliated persons (as defined in the Investment Company Act), portfolio composition, including restrictions with respect to diversification and industry concentration, and other matters.


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We may be required at times to adopt less efficient methods of financing certain of our securities, and we may be precluded from acquiring certain types of higher yielding securities. The net effect of these factors would be to lower our net interest income. If we fail to qualify for an exemption from registration as an investment company or an exclusion from the definition of an investment company, our ability to use leverage would be substantially reduced, and we would not be able to conduct our business as described in this prospectus. Our business will be materially and adversely affected if we fail to qualify for and maintain an exemption from regulation pursuant to the Investment Company Act.

Failure to obtain and maintain an exemption from being regulated as a commodity pool operator could subject us to additional regulation and compliance requirements and may result in fines and other penalties which could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.


The Dodd-Frank Act established a comprehensive regulatory framework for derivative contracts commonly referred to as "swaps."“swaps.” As a result, any investment fund that trades in swaps may be considered a "commodity“commodity pool," which would cause its operators (in some cases the fund'sfund’s directors) to be regulated as "commodity“commodity pool operators," ("CPOs"” (“CPOs”). Under new rules adopted by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, (the "CFTC"“CFTC”), those funds that become commodity pools solely because of their use of swaps must register with the National Futures Association (the "NFA"“NFA”). Registration requires compliance with the CFTC'sCFTC’s regulations and the NFA'sNFA’s rules with respect to capital raising, disclosure, reporting, recordkeeping and other business conduct.


We use hedging instruments in conjunction with our investment portfolio and related borrowings to reduce or mitigate risks associated with changes in interest rates, mortgage spreads, yield curve shapes and market volatility. These hedging instruments may include interest rate swaps, interest rate futures and options on interest rate futures. We do not currently engage in any speculative derivatives activities or other non-hedging transactions using swaps, futures or options on futures. We do not use these instruments for the purpose of trading in commodity interests, and we do not consider the Company or its operations to be a commodity pool as to which CPO registration or compliance is required.


We have received a no-action letter from the CFTC for relief from registration as a commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor.

The CFTC has substantial enforcement power with respect to violations of the laws over which it has jurisdiction, including their anti-fraud and anti-manipulation provisions. For example, the CFTC may suspend or revoke the registration of or the no-action relief afforded to a person who fails to comply with commodities laws and regulations, prohibit such a person from trading or doing business with registered entities, impose civil money penalties, require restitution and seek fines or imprisonment for criminal violations. In the event that the CFTC asserts that we are not entitled to the no-action letter relief claimed, we may be obligated to furnish additional disclosures and reports, among other things. Further, a private right of action exists against those who violate the laws over which the CFTC has jurisdiction or who willfully aid, abet, counsel, induce or procure a violation of those laws. In the event that we fail to comply with statutory requirements relating to derivatives or with the CFTC'sCFTC’s rules thereunder, including the no-action letter described above, we may be subject to significant fines, penalties and other civil or governmental actions or proceedings, any of which could have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.


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Our Rights Plan could inhibit a change in our control that would otherwise be favorable to our stockholders.

In December 2015, our Board of Directors adopted a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Plan"“Rights Plan”) in an effort to protect against a possible limitation on our ability to use our net operating losses "(NOLs"“(NOLs”) and net capital losses ("NCLs"(“NCLs”) by discouraging investors from aggregating ownership of our Class A Common Stock and triggering an "ownership change"“ownership change” for purposes of Sections 382 and 383 of the Code. Under the terms of the Rights Plan, in general, if a person or group acquires ownership of 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock without the consent of our Board of Directors (an "Acquiring Person"“Acquiring Person”), all of our other stockholders will have the right to purchase securities from us at a discount to such securities'securities’ fair market value, thus causing substantial dilution to the Acquiring Person. As a result, the Rights Plan may have the effect of inhibiting or impeding a change in control not approved by our Board of Directors and, notwithstanding its purpose, could adversely affect our shareholders'shareholders’ ability to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price for our common stock in connection with such a transaction. In addition, because our Board of Directors may consent to certain transactions, the Rights Plan gives our Board of Directors significant discretion over whether a potential acquirer'sacquirer’s efforts to acquire a large interest in us will be successful. There can be no assurance that the Rights Plan will prevent an "ownership change"“ownership change” within the meaning of Sections 382 and 383 of the Code, in which case we may lose all or most of the anticipated tax benefits associated with our prior losses.

Certain provisions of applicable law and our charter and bylaws may restrict business combination opportunities that would otherwise be favorable to our stockholders.


Our charter and bylaws and Maryland law contain provisions that may delay, defer or prevent a change in control or other transaction that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders, including business combination provisions, supermajority vote and cause requirements for removal of directors, provisions that vacancies on our Board of Directors may be filled only by the remaining directors, for the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred, the power of our Board of Directors to increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of stock or the number of shares of any class or series of stock, to cause us to issue additional shares of stock of any class or series and to fix the terms of one or more classes or series of stock without stockholder approval, the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock and advance notice requirements for director nominations and stockholder proposals. These provisions, along with the restrictions on ownership and transfer contained in our charter and certain provisions of Maryland law described below, could discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of us, which could adversely affect the market price of our securities.


Our rights and the rights of our stockholders to take action against our directors and officers are limited, which could limit your recourse in the event of actions that may be considered to be not in your best interests.


Our charter limits the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from:


·

actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or

·

a final judgment based upon a finding of active and deliberate dishonesty by the director or officer that was material to the cause of action adjudicated.


We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers that obligate us to indemnify them to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. In addition, our charter authorizes the Company to obligate itself to indemnify our present and former directors and officers for actions taken by them in those and other capacities to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. Our bylaws require us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify each present and former director or officer in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service to us. In addition, we may be obligated to advance the defense costs incurred by our directors and officers. As a result, we and our stockholders may have more limited rights against our directors and officers than might otherwise exist absent the provisions in our charter, bylaws and indemnification agreements or that might exist with other companies.


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Certain provisions of Maryland law could inhibit changes in control.


Certain provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law ( the "MGCL"“MGCL”), may have the effect of inhibiting a third party from making a proposal to acquire us or impeding a change of control under circumstances that otherwise could provide our stockholders with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price of our common stock, including:


·"

business combination"combination” provisions that, subject to limitations, prohibit certain business combinations between us and an "interested stockholder"“interested stockholder” (defined generally as any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of our outstanding voting stock or an affiliate or associate of ours who, at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of our then-outstanding stock) or an affiliate of an interested stockholder for five years after the most recent date on which the stockholder became an interested stockholder, and thereafter require two supermajority stockholder votes to approve any such combination; and

·"

control share"share” provisions that provide that a holder of "control shares"“control shares” of the Company (defined as voting shares of stock which, when aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), entitle the acquiror to exercise one of three increasing ranges of voting power in electing directors) acquired in a "control“control share acquisition"acquisition” (defined as the direct or indirect acquisition of ownership or control of issued and outstanding "control“control shares," subject to certain exceptions) generally has no voting rights with respect to the control shares except to the extent approved by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding all interested shares.

We have elected to opt-out of these provisions of the MGCL, in the case of the business combination provisions, by resolution of our Board of Directors (provided that such business combination is first approved by our Board of Directors, including a majority of our directors who are not affiliates or associates of such person), and in the case of the control share provisions, pursuant to a provision in our bylaws. However, our Board of Directors may by resolution elect to repeal the foregoing opt-out from the business combination provisions of the MGCL, and we may, by amendment to our bylaws, opt in to the control share provisions of the MGCL in the future.


U.S. Federal Income Tax Risks


An investment in our common stock has various income tax risks.


This summary of certain tax risks is limited to the U.S. federal income tax risks addressed below. Additional risks or issues may exist that are not addressed in this Form 10-K and that could affect the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment of us or our stockholders. This summary is not intended to be used and cannot be used by any stockholder to avoid penalties that may be imposed on stockholders under the Code. Management strongly urges shareholders to seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independenttheir tax advisor concerning the effects of federal, state and local income tax law on an investment in our common stock.


Our ability to use net operating loss ("NOL"(NOL) carryovers and net capital loss ("NCL"(NCL) carryovers to reduce our taxable income may be limited.


We must have taxable income or net capital gains to benefit from our NOL and NCL, as well as certain other tax attributes. Although we believe that a significant portion of our NOLs will be available to use to offset the future taxable income of Bimini Capital and Royal Palm, no assurance can be provided that we will have taxable income or gains in the future to apply against our remaining NOLs and NCLs.

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In addition, our NOL and NCL carryovers may be limited by Sections 382 and 383 of the Code if we undergo an "ownership“ownership change." Generally, an "ownership change"“ownership change” occurs if certain persons or groups increase their aggregate ownership in our company by more than 50 percentage points looking back over the relevant testing period. If an ownership change occurs, our ability to use our NOLs and NCLs to reduce our taxable income in a future year would be limited to a Section 382 limitation equal to the fair market value of our stock immediately prior to the ownership change multiplied by the long-term tax-exempt interest rate in effect for the month of the ownership change. In the event of an ownership change, NOLs and NCLs that exceed the Section 382 limitation in any year will continue to be allowed as carryforwards for the remainder of the carryforward period and such losses can be used to offset taxable income for years within the carryforward period subject to the Section 382 limitation in each year. However, if the carryforward period for any NOL or NCL were to expire before that loss had been fully utilized, the unused portion of that loss would be lost. The carryforward period for NOLs incurred through 2017 is 20 years from the year in which the losses giving rise to the NOLs were incurred, and the carryforward period for NCL is five years from the year in which the losses giving rise to the NCL were incurred. Our use of new NOLs or NCLs arising after the date of an ownership change would not be affected by the Section 382 limitation (unless there were another ownership change after those new losses arose).


Based on our knowledge of our stock ownership, we do not believe that an ownership change has occurred since our losses were generated. Accordingly, we believe that at the current time there is no annual limitation imposed by the application of Section 382 on our use of NOLs or NCLs.  However, for post-2017 losses, the Jobs and Tax Cuts Act of 2017 modified the general rule such that an NOL carryover can only offset 80 percent of taxable income in the year it is utilized, so our post-2017 NOLs are limited by this tax law change. The rules for pre-2017 NOLs remain unchanged, and NCLsare 100% available to reduce futureoffset taxable income.  In addition, post-2017 NOLs can now be carried forward indefinitely instead of being limited to 20 years for pre-2017 NOLs. The determination of whether an ownership change has occurred or will occur is complicated and depends on changes in percentage stock ownership among stockholders. We adopted the Rights Plan described above in order to discourage or prevent an ownership change. However, there can be no assurance that the Rights Plan will prevent an ownership change. In addition, we have not obtained, and currently do not plan to obtain, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, regarding our conclusion as to whether our losses are subject to any such limitations. Furthermore, we may decide in the future that it is necessary or in our interest to take certain actions that could result in an ownership change. Therefore, no assurance can be provided as to whether an ownership change has occurred or will occur in the future.

Preserving the ability to use our NOLs and NCLs may cause us to forgo otherwise attractive opportunities.


Limitations imposed by Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code may discourage us from, among other things, redeeming our stock or issuing additional stock to raise capital or to acquire businesses or assets. Accordingly, our desire to preserve our NOLs and NCLs may cause us to forgo otherwise attractive opportunities.


Changes in tax laws could adversely affect our future results.


We have recorded a net deferred tax asset in the consolidated balance sheet based on the differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets using enacted tax rates. When U.S. corporate income tax rates change, we are required to reevaluate our deferred tax assets using the new tax rate. Changes in enacted tax rates require an adjustment to the carrying value of our deferred tax assets with a corresponding charge or benefit to earnings in the period of the tax rate change. Based on the size of our deferred tax assets, any such adjustment could be significant.


We adjusted the carrying value of our deferred tax assets in connection with the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Reform Act"), which was signed into law on December 22, 2017.  The Tax Reform Act significantly revised the U.S. corporate income tax code by, among other things, lowering the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles require that the impact of tax legislation be recognized in the period in which the law was enacted. As a result, we recorded an income tax provision of $19.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, including a charge of $25.9 million during the fourth quarter due to a re-measurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities to reflect the lower corporate tax rate.

-26-


Failure to qualify as a REIT in prior years could subject us to federal income tax consequences.

Prior to our 2015 tax year, we operated in a manner that was intended to cause us to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. However, the tax laws governing REITs are extremely complex, and interpretations of the tax laws governing qualification as a REIT are limited. Qualifying as a REIT required us to meet numerous income and other tests. Given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, and the possibility of changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given that we qualified for any particular year.

If we failed to qualify as a REIT prior to our 2015 tax year and we do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we would have to pay federal income tax on our taxable income, if any, for the year of the failure and for the following four years.
Bimini Capital may recognize excess inclusion income that would increase the tax liability of its stockholders.

If Bimini Capital recognize excess inclusion income and that is allocated to its stockholders, this income cannot be offset by net operating losses of its stockholders. If the stockholder is a tax-exempt entity, then this income would be fully taxable as unrelated business taxable income under Section 512 of the Code. If the stockholder is a foreign person, such income would be subject to federal income tax withholding without reduction or exemption pursuant to any otherwise applicable income tax treaty. In addition, to the extent Bimini Capital's stock is owned by tax-exempt "disqualified organizations," such as government-related entities that are not subject to tax on unrelated business taxable income, although Treasury regulations have not yet been drafted to clarify the law, it may incur a corporate level tax at the highest applicable corporate tax rate on the portion of our excess inclusion income that is allocable to such disqualified organizations.

Excess inclusion income could result if Bimini Capital holds a residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit, or REMIC. Excess inclusion income also could be generated if Bimini Capital were to issue debt obligations with two or more maturities and the terms of the payments on these obligations bore a relationship to the payments received on its mortgage-related securities securing those debt obligations (i.e., if Bimini Capital were to own an interest in a taxable mortgage pool). Bimini Capital does not expect to acquire significant amounts of residual interests in REMICs, other than interests already owned by its subsidiary, which is treated as a separate taxable entity for these purposes. Bimini Capital intends to structure borrowing arrangements in a manner designed to avoid generating significant amounts of excess inclusion income. Bimini Capital does, however, expect to enter into various repurchase agreements that have differing maturity dates and afford the lender the right to sell any pledged mortgaged securities if Bimini Capital should default on its obligations.

Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest in Our Relationship with Orchid


Bimini Capital

Royal Palm and Orchid may compete for opportunities to acquire assets, which are allocated in accordance with the Investment Allocation Agreement by and among Orchid and Bimini Advisors.


From time to time we may seek to purchase for Bimini CapitalRoyal Palm the same or similar assets that we seek to purchase for Orchid. In such an instance, we may allocate such opportunities in a manner that preferentially favors Orchid. We will make available to either Bimini CapitalRoyal Palm or Orchid opportunities to acquire assets that we determine, in our reasonable and good faith judgment, based on the objectives, policies and strategies, and other relevant factors, are appropriate for either entity in accordance with the Investment Allocation Agreement among Bimini Capital, Orchid and Bimini Advisors.


-27-


Because many of Bimini Capital'sRoyal Palm’s targeted assets are typically available only in specified quantities and because many of our targeted assets are also targeted assets for Orchid, we may not be able to buy as much of any given asset as required to satisfy the needs of both Bimini CapitalRoyal Palm and Orchid. In these cases, the Investment Allocation Agreement will require the allocation of such assets to both accounts in proportion to their needs and available capital. The Investment Allocation Agreement will permit departure from such proportional allocation when (i) allocating purchases of whole-pool Agency MBS, because those securities cannot be divided into multiple parts to be allocated among various accounts, and (ii) such allocation would result in an inefficiently small amount of the security being purchased for an account. In that case, the Investment Allocation Agreement allows for a protocol of allocating assets so that, on an overall basis, each account is treated equitably.


There are conflicts of interest in our relationships with Orchid, which could result in decisions that aremay be considered as being not in the best interests of Bimini Capital'sCapitals stockholders.


We are subject to conflicts of interest arising out of Bimini Advisors relationship as Manager of Orchid. All of our executive officers may have conflicts between their duties to Bimini Capital and their duties to Orchid as its Manager.


Bimini Capital may acquire or sell assets in which Orchid may have an interest. Similarly, Orchid may acquire or sell assets in which Bimini Capital has or may have an interest. Although such acquisitions or dispositions may present conflicts of interest, we nonetheless may pursue and consummate such transactions. Additionally, Bimini Capital may engage in transactions directly with Orchid, including the purchase and sale of all or a portion of a portfolio asset.


Our officers devote as much time to Bimini Capital and to Orchid as they deem appropriate. However, these officers may have conflicts in allocating their time and services among Bimini Capital and Orchid. During turbulent conditions in the mortgage industry, distress in the credit markets or other times when we will need focused support and assistance from employees, Orchid and other entities for which we may act as manager in the future will likewise require greater focus and attention, placing personnel resources in high demand. In such situations, Bimini Capital may not receive the necessary support and assistance it requires or would otherwise receive if it were not acting as manager of one or more other entities.

Mr. Cauley, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Board of Directors, also serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orchid and owns shares of common stock of Orchid at the time of this filing and may continue to hold shares in the future. Mr. Haas, our Chief Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer and President, is a member of the Board of Directors of Orchid, serves as the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer of Orchid and owns shares of common stock of Orchid at the time of this filing and may continue to hold shares in the future. Mr. Dwyer and Mr. Jaumot, the two independent members of our Board of Directors, own shares of common stock of Orchid at the time of this filing and may continue to own shares in the future. Accordingly, Messrs. Cauley, Haas, Dwyer and Jaumot may have a conflict of interest with respect to actions by Bimini Capital or Bimini Advisors that relate to Orchid as its Manager.


Bimini continues to hold an investment in the common stock of Orchid. In evaluating opportunities for ourselves and Orchid, this may lead us to emphasize certain asset acquisition, disposition or management objectives over others, such as balancing risk or capital preservation objectives against return objectives. This could increase the risks or decrease the returns of your investment in our common stock.


-28-


Orchid may elect not to renew the management agreement without cause which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


Orchid may elect not to renew the management agreement, even without cause. The management agreement is automatically renewed in accordance with the terms of the agreement, each year, on February 20. However, with the consent of the majority of theirOrchid’s independent directors, and upon providing 180-days'180-days’ prior written notice, Orchid may elect not to renew the management agreement. If Orchid elects to not renew the agreement because of a decision by its Board of Directors that the management fee is unfair, Bimini Advisors will have the right to renegotiate a mutually agreeable management fee. If Orchid elects to not renew the management agreement without cause, it is required to pay Bimini Advisors a termination fee equal to three times the average annual management fee incurred during the prior 24-month period immediately preceding the most recently completed calendar quarter prior to the effective date of termination. Notwithstanding the termination fee, nonrenewal of the management agreement may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


Risks Related to Our Common Stock


Investing in our common stock may involve a high degree of risk.


The investments we make in accordance with our investment objectives may result in a high amount of risk when compared to alternative investment options and volatility or loss of principal. Our investments may be highly speculative and aggressive, and therefore an investment in our common stock may not be suitable for someone with lower risk tolerance.


There is a limited market for our Class A Common Stock.


Our Class A Common Stock trades on the OTCQB under the symbol "BMNM"“BMNM”. We may apply to list our Class A Common Stock on a national securities market if, in the future; however,future, we qualify for such a listing. However, even if listed on a national securities market, the ability to buy and sell our Class A Common Stock may be limited due to our small public float, and significant sales may depress or result in a decline in the market price of our Class A Common Stock. Additionally, until such time that our Class A Common Stock is approved for listing on anothera national securities market, our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional securities may be limited. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to:


·

the likelihood that an actual market for our common stock will develop, or be continued once developed;

·

the liquidity of any such market;

·

the ability of any holder to sell shares of our common stock; or

·

the prices that may be obtained for our common stock.

We have not made distributions to our stockholders since 2011.


Our Board of Directors has not authorized the payment of any cash dividends to our stockholders since 2011. All distributions will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor and will depend on our earnings, our financial condition and such other factors as our Board of Directors may deem relevant from time to time.  As a result of the termination of our REIT status effective as of January 1, 2015, we are planning to retain any available funds and future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, for the foreseeable future, weWe do not expect to make distributions.


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distributions for the foreseeable future.

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


In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by making additional offerings of debt or equity securities, including commercial paper, medium-term notes, senior or subordinated notes and classes of preferred stock or common stock, as well as warrants to purchase shares of common stock or convertible preferred stock. Upon the liquidation of the Company, holders of our debt securities and shares of preferred stock and lenders with respect to other borrowings will receive a distribution of our available assets prior to the holders of our common stock. Additional equity offerings by us may dilute the holdings of our existing stockholders or reduce the market value of our common stock, or both. Furthermore, our Board of Directors may, without stockholder approval, amend our charter to increase the aggregate number of our shares or the number of shares of any class or series that we have the authority to issue, and to classify or reclassify any unissued shares of common stock or preferred stock. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future securities offerings. Our stockholders are therefore subject to the risk of our future securities offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and diluting their common stock.


The market value of our common stock may be volatile.


The market value of shares of our common stock may be highly volatile and subject to wide price fluctuations. In addition, the trading volume in our common stock may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur. Some of the factors that could negatively affect the share price or trading volume of our common stock include:


·

actual or anticipated variations in our operating results or distributions;results;

·

changes in our earnings estimates or publication of research reports about us or the real estate, REIT, or specialty finance industry;

·

increases in market interest rates that affect the value of our MBS portfolios;

·

changes in our book value;

·

changes in market valuations of similar companies;

·

adverse market reaction to any increased indebtedness we incur in the future;

·departures

changes of key management personnel;

·

actions by institutional stockholders;

·

speculation in the press or investment community; and

·

general market and economic conditions.


We cannot make any assurances that the market price of our common stock will not fluctuate or decline significantly in the future.


Shares

Sales of our common stock eligible for future sale may harm our share price.


We cannot predict

There is very limited liquidity in the effect, if any, of future sales of shares of our common stock, or the availability of sharestrading market for future sales, on the market price of our common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of shares of our common stock, or the perception that these sales could occur, may harm prevailing market prices for our common stock. The 2011 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan provides for grants

- 30 -

None.

-30-

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.


Our executive offices and principal administrative offices are located at 3305 Flamingo Drive, Vero Beach, Florida, 32963, in an office building which Bimini Capital owns. This facility is shared with our subsidiaries and Orchid. This property is suitable and adequate for our business as currently conducted.


ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.


On April 22, 2020, the Company received a demand for payment from Citigroup, Inc. in the amount of $33.1 million related to the indemnification provisions of various mortgage loan purchase agreements (“MLPA’s”) entered into between Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp and Royal Palm Capital, LLC (f/k/a Opteum Financial Services, LLC) prior to the date Royal Palm’s mortgage origination operations ceased in 2007. In November 2021, Citigroup notified the Company of additional indemnity claims totaling $0.2 million. The demands are based on Royal Palm’s alleged breaches of certain representations and warranties in the related MLPA’s. The Company believes the demands are without merit and intends to defend against the demands vigorously. No provision or accrual has been recorded as of December 31, 2022 related to the Citigroup demands.

We are not party to any other material pending legal proceedings as described in Item 103 of Regulation S-K.


ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.


Not Applicable.

PART II


ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.


SECURITIES.

Market Information


Our Class A Common Stock is traded over-the-counter under the symbol "BMNM"“BMNM”. As of February 7, 2018,March 10, 2023, we had 12,743,95910,019,888 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding, which were held by 147103 shareholders of record and 1,484851 beneficial owners whose shares were held in "street name"“street name” by brokers and depository institutions.


The following table is a summary of historical prices of our Class A Common Stock.

  High  Low  Close  Dividends Declared 
2017            
First quarter $3.00  $2.41  $2.65  $- 
Second quarter  3.00   2.55   2.80   - 
Third quarter  2.95   2.60   2.79   - 
Fourth quarter  2.79   2.54   2.61   - 
2016              . 
First quarter $1.88  $0.59  $1.64  $- 
Second quarter  1.74   1.07   1.38   - 
Third quarter  2.70   1.26   2.50   - 
Fourth quarter  2.70   1.69   2.62   - 

As of December 31, 2017,March 10, 2023, we had 31,938 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding, which were held by 2 holders of record and 31,938 shares of Class C Common Stock outstanding, which were held by one holder of record. There is no established public trading market for our Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock.


Dividend Distribution Policy


We have not made a distribution to stockholders since 2011. We are planningdo not expect to retain any available funds and future earnings to fundmake distributions for the development and growth of our business, so future distributions should not be expected.


foreseeable future.

Preferred Stock

Our charter authorizes us to issue preferred stock that could have a preference over our common stock with respect to distributions. We currently have no intentionIf we were to issue any preferred stock, but if we do, the distribution preference on the preferred stock could limit our ability to make distributions to the holders of our common stock.


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Securities Authorized For Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans


None.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

None.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On August 12, 2011, Bimini Capital's shareholdersMarch 26, 2018, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) approved the 2011 Long Term Compensationa Stock Repurchase Plan (the "Plan"“2018 Repurchase Plan”). ThePursuant to the 2018 Repurchase Plan, is intended to permit the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), stock awards, performance units and other equity-based and incentive awardsCompany could purchase up to an aggregate500,000 shares of 4,000,000 shares (but no more than 10% of the number of shares ofits Class A Common Stock outstanding on any particular grant date),from time to time, subject to adjustments andcertain limitations as provided inimposed by Rule 10b-18 of the Plan.Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The following table provides information as2018 Repurchase Plan was terminated on September 16, 2021.

On September 16, 2021, the Board authorized a share repurchase plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 of December 31, 2017 concerning sharesthe Securities Exchange Act of our common stock authorized for issuance under1934 (the “2021 Repurchase Plan”). Pursuant to the 2021 Repurchase Plan,.


��       Number of securities 
        remaining available for 
   Total number of securities  Weighted-average  future issuance under 
   to be issued upon exercise  exercise price of  equity compensation plans 
   of outstanding options,  of outstanding options,  (excluding securities 
   warrants and rights  warrants and rights  reflected in column (a)) 
Plan Category (a)  (b)    
Equity compensation plans approved by         
 by security holders  41,000   -   2,621,667
(2) 
Equity compensation plans not approved            
by security holders(1)
  -   -   - 
Total  41,000   -   2,621,667 

(1)We do not have any equity compensation plans that have not been approved by our stockholders.
(2)Represents the maximum number of shares remaining available for future issuance under the terms of the Incentive Plan irrespective of the 10% limitation described above.  Taking into account the 10% limitation and the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2017, no shares are available for future issuance under the terms of the Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2017.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

None.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company did not repurchase anymay purchase shares of its Class A Common Stock from time to time for an aggregate purchase price not to exceed $2.5 million.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 signed into law during in August 2022 includes a provision for an excise tax equal to 1% of the fair market value of any stock repurchased by covered corporations during a taxable year, subject to certain limits and provisions. The excise tax is effective beginning in 2023. While we may complete transactions subject to the new excise tax, we do not expect a material impact to our financial condition or result of operations.

The table below presents the Company’s share repurchase activity for the three months ended December 31, 2017.


2022.

  

Total Number of Shares Repurchased

  

Weighted-Average Price Paid Per Share

  

Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Programs

  

Approximate Dollar Amount of Shares That May Yet Be Repurchased Under the Authorization

 

October 1, 2022 - October 31, 2022

  -  $-   -  $1,494,444 

November 1, 2022 - November 30, 2022

  70,000   1.07   70,000   1,419,544 

December 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022

  156,921   1.05   156,921   1,254,427 

Totals / Weighted Average

  226,921  $1.06   226,921  $1,254,427 

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

[RESERVED]


Not Applicable.
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'SMANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.


The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes to those statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The discussion may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are those that are not historical in nature. As a result of many factors, such as those set forth under "Risk Factors"“Risk Factors” in this Form 10-K, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements.


Overview


Bimini Capital Management, Inc. ("Bimini Capital" or the "Company") is a holding company that was formed in September 2003. The Company'sCompany’s principal wholly-owned operating subsidiaries are Bimini Advisors Holdings, LLC andsubsidiary is Royal Palm Capital, LLC. We operate in two business segments: the asset management segment, which includes (a) the investment advisory services provided by Royal Palm’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Bimini Advisors Holdings, LLC, to Orchid, and (b) the investment portfolio segment, which includes the investment activities conducted by Bimini Capital and Royal Palm.


Bimini Advisors Holdings, LLC and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bimini Advisors, LLC (a(an investment advisor registered investment advisor)with the Securities and Exchange Commission), are collectively referred to as "Bimini“Bimini Advisors." Bimini Advisors serves as the external manager of the portfolio of Orchid Island Capital, Inc. ("Orchid"). From this arrangement, the Company receives management fees and expense reimbursements. As manager, Bimini Advisors is responsible for administering Orchid's business activities and day-to-day operations.operations and commencing April 1, 2022, provides certain repurchase agreement trading, clearing and administrative services. Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement, Bimini Advisors provides Orchid with its management team, including its officers, along with appropriate support personnel. Bimini Advisors is at all times subject to the supervision and oversight of Orchid's board of directors and has only such functions and authority as delegated to it. In addition, the Company receives dividends from its investment in Orchid common shares.


Royal Palm Capital, LLC (collectively with its wholly-owned subsidiaries referred to as "Royal Palm"“Royal Palm”) maintains an investment portfolio, consisting primarily of residential mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") issued and guaranteed by a federally chartered corporation or agency ("Agency MBS"). We also invest in the common stock of Orchid. Our investment strategy focuses on, and our portfolio consists of, two categories of Agency MBS: (i) traditional pass-through Agency MBS, ("such as mortgage pass-through certificates issued by the “GSEs” and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) issued by the GSEs (“PT MBS"MBS”) and (ii) structured Agency MBS, such as collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"), interest only securities ("IOs"), inverse interest only securities ("IIOs") and principal only securities ("POs"), among other types of structured Agency MBS. In addition, Royal Palm receives dividends from its investment in Orchid common shares.

Stock Repurchase Plans

On March 26, 2018, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a Stock Repurchase Plan the “2018 Repurchase Plan”). Pursuant to the 2018 Repurchase Plan, we could purchase up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock from time to time, subject to certain limitations imposed by Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The 2018 Repurchase Plan was terminated on September 16, 2021. During the period beginning January 1, 2021 through September 16, 2021, the Company repurchased a total of 1,195 shares under the 2018 Repurchase Plan at an aggregate cost of approximately $2,298, including commissions and fees, for a weighted average price of $1.92 per share. From commencement of the 2018 Repurchase Plan, through its termination, the Company repurchased a total of 71,598 shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $169,243, including commissions and fees, for a weighted average price of $2.36 per share.

On September 16, 2021, the Board authorized a share repurchase plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “2021 Repurchase Plan”). Pursuant to the 2021 Repurchase Plan, we may purchase shares of our Class A Common Stock from time to time for an aggregate purchase price not to exceed $2.5 million. Share repurchases may be executed through various means, including, without limitation, open market transactions. The 2021 Repurchase Plan does not obligate the Company to purchase any shares, and it expires on September 16, 2023. The authorization for the 2021 Repurchase Plan may be terminated, increased or decreased by the Company’s Board of Directors in its discretion at any time. From the commencement of the 2021 Repurchase Plan, through December 31, 2022, we repurchased a total of 774,593 shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $1.2 million, including commissions and fees, for a weighted average price of $1.61 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company repurchased a total of 682,306 shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $1.1 million, including commissions and fees, for a weighted average price of $1.54 per share. 

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 signed into law during in August 2022 includes a provision for an excise tax equal to 1% of the fair market value of any stock repurchased by covered corporations during a taxable year, subject to certain limits and provisions. The excise tax is effective beginning in 2023. While we may complete transactions subject to the new excise tax, we do not expect a material impact to our financial condition or result of operations.

Tender Offer

In July 2021, we completed a “modified Dutch auction” tender offer and paid $1.5 million, excluding fees and related expenses, to repurchase 812,879 shares of our Class A common stock, which were retired, at a price of $1.85 per share.

Factors that Affect our Results of Operations and Financial Condition


A variety of industry and economic factors may impact our results of operations and financial condition. These factors include:


·

interest rate trends;

·

increases in our cost of funds resulting from increases in the Federal Funds rate that are controlled by the Fed that occurred in 2022 and are likely to occur in 2023;

the difference between Agency MBS yields and our funding and hedging costs;

·

competition for, and supply of, investments in Agency MBS;

·

actions taken by the U.S. government, including the presidential administration, the Federal ReserveFed, the FOMC, the FHFA and the U.S. Treasury;

·

prepayment rates on mortgages underlying our Agency MBS, and credit trends insofar as they affect prepayment rates;

·

the equity markets and the ability of Orchid to raise additional capital; and

·

other market developments.


In addition, a variety of factors relating to our business may also impact our results of operations and financial condition. These factors include:


·

our degree of leverage;

·

our access to funding and borrowing capacity;

·

our borrowing costs;

·

our hedging activities;

·

the market value of our investments;

·

the requirements to qualify for a registration exemption under the Investment Company Act;

·

our ability to use net operating loss carryforwards and net capital loss carryforwards to reduce our taxable income;

·

the impact of possible future changes in tax laws;laws or tax rates;

increases in or cost of funds resulting from increases in the Fed Funds rate that are controlled by the Fed which have occurred in 2022, and are likely to continue to occur, in 2023;
·

our ability to manage the portfolio of Orchid and maintain our role as manager.manager; and

the financial performance of Orchid and resulting changes in Orchid's shareholders equity, the carrying value of our investment, dividend income and our advisory services revenue.

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Change in Tax Law

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Reform Act") was signed into law by President Trump. The Tax Reform Act significantly revised the U.S. corporate income tax code by, among other things, lowering the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. On the same date, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 which specifies, among other things, that reasonable estimates of the income tax effects of the Tax Reform Act should be used, if determinable. U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") requires that the impact of tax legislation be recognized in the period in which the law was enacted. As such, we recorded an income tax provision of $19.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, including a charge of $25.9 million during the fourth quarter due to a remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities to reflect the lower corporate tax rate. The year 2017 tax provision represents the Company's current best estimate based on management's current interpretation of the Tax Reform Act and may change as the Company receives additional clarification and implementation guidance.

Results of Operations


Described below are the Company'sCompany’s results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017,2022, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016.2021.

Net (Loss) Income Summary


Consolidated net loss for the year ended December 31, 20172022 was $16.5$19.8 million, or $1.30$1.90 basic and diluted lossincome per share of Class A Common Stock, as compared to consolidated net income of $3.4$0.3 million, or $0.27$0.02 basic and diluted incomeloss per share of Class A Common Stock, for the year ended December 31, 2016.


2021.

The components of net (loss) income for the yearsyears ended December 31, 20172022 and 2016,2021, along with the changes in those components are presented in the table below:


(in thousands)         
  2017  2016  Change 
Revenues $16,004  $12,067  $3,937 
Interest expense  (3,033)  (1,856)  (1,177)
Net revenues  12,971   10,211   2,760 
Other (expense) income  (3,673)  60   (3,733)
Expenses  (6,403)  (5,743)  (660)
Net income before income tax provision  2,895   4,528   (1,633)
Income tax provision  19,378   1,142   18,236 
Net (loss) income $(16,483) $3,386  $(19,869)

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(in thousands)

            
  

2022

  

2021

  

Change

 

Advisory services revenue

 $12,996  $9,788  $3,208 

Interest and dividend income

  3,155   4,262   (1,107)

Interest expense

  (2,131)  (1,113)  (1,018)

Net revenues

  14,020   12,937   1,083 

Other expense

  (12,146)  (4,744)  (7,402)

Expenses

  (9,839)  (8,286)  (1,553)

Net loss before income tax provision (benefit)

  (7,965)  (93)  (7,872)

Income tax provision (benefit)

  11,858   (368)  12,226 

Net (loss) income

 $(19,823) $275  $(20,098)

GAAP and Non-GAAP Reconciliation


Economic Interest Expense and Economic Net Interest Income


We use derivative instruments, specifically Eurodollar and Treasury Note ("T-Note"(“T-Note”) futures contracts and TBA short positions to hedge a portion of the interest rate risk on our repurchase agreements and junior subordinate notes in a rising rate environment.


We have not elected to designatedesignated our derivative holdings forfinancial instruments as hedge accounting treatment under the Financial Accounting Standards Board, (the "FASB"), Accounting Standards Codification, ("ASC"), Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging.relationships, but rather hold them for economic hedging purposes. Changes in fair value of these instruments are presented in a separate line item in our consolidated statements of operations and not included in interest expense. As such, for financial reporting purposes, interest expense and cost of funds are not impacted by the fluctuation in value of the derivative instruments.


For the purpose of computing economic net interest income and ratios relating to cost of funds measures, GAAP interest expense, has beenas reflected in our consolidated statements of operations, is adjusted to reflect the realized and unrealized gains or losses on specificcertain derivative instruments the Company uses that pertain to each period presented. We believe that adjusting our GAAP interest expense for the periods presented by the gains or losses on allthese derivative instruments wouldmay not accurately reflect our economic interest expense for these periods.


The reason is that these derivative instruments may cover periods that extend into the future, not just the current period. Any realized or unrealized gains or losses on the derivative instruments reflect the change in market value of the instrument caused by changes in underlying interest rates applicable to the term covered by the instrument, which changes are reflected of the future periods covered by the derivative instrument, not just the current period.

For each period presented, we have combined the effects of the derivative financial instruments in place for the respective period with the actual interest expense incurred on our borrowings to reflect total economic interest expense for the applicable period. Interest expense, including the effect of derivative instruments for the period, is referred to as economic interest expense. Net interest income, when calculated to include the effect of derivative instruments for the period, is referred to as economic net interest income.

We believe that economic interest expense and economic net interest income provide meaningful information to consider, in addition to the respective amounts prepared in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP measures help management to evaluate our financial position and performance without the effects of certain transactions and GAAP adjustments that are not necessarily indicative of our current investment portfolio or operations. The gains or losses on derivative instruments presented in our consolidated statements of operations are not necessarily representative of the total interest rate expense that we will ultimately realize. This is because as interest rates move up or down in the future, the gains or losses we ultimately realize, and which will affect our total interest rate expense in future periods, may differ from the unrealized gains or losses recognized as of the reporting date.

Our presentation of the economic value of our hedging strategy has important limitations. First, other market participants may calculate economic interest expense and economic net interest income differently than the way we calculate them. Second, while the we believe that the calculation of the economic value of our hedging strategy described above helps to present our financial position and performance, it may be of limited usefulness as an analytical tool. Therefore, the economic value of our investment strategy should not be viewed in isolation and is not a substitute for interest expense and net interest income computed in accordance with GAAP.


-36-


The tables below present a reconciliation of the adjustments discussed above to interest expense shown for each period relative to our derivative instruments, and the consolidated statements of operations line item, gains (losses) on derivative instruments, calculated in accordance with GAAP for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 20162021 and for each quarter during 20172022 and 2016.


Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments - Recognized in Consolidated Statement of Operations (GAAP) 
(in thousands)         
     Junior    
  Repurchase  Subordinated    
Three Months Ended Agreements  Debt  Total 
December 31, 2017 $546  $237  $783 
September 30, 2017  (13)  (6)  (19)
June 30, 2017  (581)  (251)  (832)
March 31, 2017  15   7   22 
December 31, 2016  496   1,037   1,533 
September 30, 2016  326   182   508 
June 30, 2016  (353)  (404)  (757)
March 31, 2016  (787)  (513)  (1,300)
             
(in thousands)            
      Junior     
  Repurchase  Subordinated     
Years Ended Agreements  Debt  Total 
December 31, 2017 $(33) $(13) $(46)
December 31, 2016  (318)  302   (16)

Losses on Derivative Instruments - Attributed to Current Period (Non-GAAP) 
(in thousands)         
     Junior    
  Repurchase  Subordinated    
Three Months Ended Agreements  Debt  Total 
December 31, 2017 $(170) $(42) $(212)
September 30, 2017  (162)  (40)  (202)
June 30, 2017  (152)  (37)  (189)
March 31, 2017  (116)  (60)  (176)
December 31, 2016  (122)  (57)  (179)
September 30, 2016  (93)  (55)  (148)
June 30, 2016  (60)  (77)  (137)
March 31, 2016  (45)  (80)  (125)
             
(in thousands)            
      Junior     
  Repurchase  Subordinated     
Years Ended Agreements  Debt  Total 
December 31, 2017 $(600) $(179) $(779)
December 31, 2016  (320)  (269)  (589)

-37-


Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments - Attributed to Future Periods (Non-GAAP) 
(in thousands)         
     Junior    
  Repurchase  Subordinated    
Three Months Ended Agreements  Debt  Total 
December 31, 2017 $716  $279  $995 
September 30, 2017  149   34   183 
June 30, 2017  (429)  (214)  (643)
March 31, 2017  131   67   198 
December 31, 2016  618   1,094   1,712 
September 30, 2016  419   237   656 
June 30, 2016  (293)  (327)  (620)
March 31, 2016  (742)  (433)  (1,175)
             
(in thousands)            
      Junior     
  Repurchase  Subordinated     
Years Ended Agreements  Debt  Total 
December 31, 2017 $567  $166  $733 
December 31, 2016  2   571   573 

Economic Net Portfolio Interest Income 
(in thousands) 
     Interest Expense on Repurchase Agreements  Net Portfolio 
        Effect of     Interest Income 
  Interest  GAAP  Non-GAAP  Economic  GAAP  Economic 
Three Months Ended Income  Basis  
Hedges(1)
  
Basis(2)
  Basis  
Basis(3)
 
December 31, 2017 $1,978  $685  $(170) $855  $1,293  $1,123 
September 30, 2017  1,514   504   (162)  666   1,010   848 
June 30, 2017  1,269   324   (152)  476   945   793 
March 31, 2017  1,293   283   (116)  399   1,010   894 
December 31, 2016  1,285   251   (122)  373   1,034   912 
September 30, 2016  1,108   195   (92)  287   913   821 
June 30, 2016  1,025   174   (60)  234   851   791 
March 31, 2016  817   127   (45)  172   690   645 
                         
(in thousands) 
      Interest Expense on Repurchase Agreements  Net Portfolio 
          Effect of      Interest Income 
  Interest  GAAP  Non-GAAP  Economic  GAAP  Economic 
Years Ended Income  Basis  
Hedges(1)
  
Basis(2)
  Basis  
Basis(3)
 
December 31, 2017 $6,054  $1,796  $(600) $2,396  $4,258  $3,658 
December 31, 2016  4,235   747   (319)  1,066   3,488   3,169 

2021. 

Gains (Losses) on Futures Contracts

(in thousands)

                            
  

Attributed to Current Period (Non-GAAP)

  

Attributed to Future Periods (Non-GAAP)

     

Three Months Ended

 

Repurchase Agreements

  

Junior Subordinated Debt

  

Total

  

Repurchase Agreements

  

Junior Subordinated Debt

  

Total

  

Statement of Operations

 

December 31, 2022

 $(185) $(48) $(233) $192  $48  $240  $7 

September 30, 2022

  (184)  (48)  (232)  1,028   48   1,076   844 

June 30, 2022

  (186)  (48)  (234)  136   48   184   (50)

March 31, 2022

  (185)  (48)  (233)  185   48   233   - 

December 31, 2021

  (707)  (60)  (767)  707   60   767   - 

September 30, 2021

  (709)  (57)  (766)  709   57   766   - 

June 30, 2021

  (708)  (58)  (766)  708   58   766   - 

March 31, 2021

  (708)  (58)  (766)  708   58   766   - 

Years Ended

                            

December 31, 2022

 $(740) $(192) $(932) $1,541  $192  $1,733  $801 

December 31, 2021

  (2,832)  (233)  (3,065)  2,832   233   3,065   - 

(in thousands)

 
      

Interest Expense on Repurchase Agreements

  

Net Portfolio Interest Income

 

Three Months Ended

 

Interest Income

  

GAAP Basis

  

Effect of Non-GAAP Hedges(1)

  

Economic Basis(2)

  

GAAP Basis

  

Economic Basis(3)

 

December 31, 2022

 $534  $401  $185  $586  $133  $(52)

September 30, 2022

  445   210   184   394   235   51 

June 30, 2022

  392   73   186   259   319   133 

March 31, 2022

  491   31   185   216   460   275 

December 31, 2021

  511   21   707   728   490   (217)

September 30, 2021

  537   24   709   733   513   (196)

June 30, 2021

  578   31   708   739   547   (161)

March 31, 2021

  611   40   708   748   571   (137)

Years Ended

                        

December 31, 2022

 $1,862  $715  $740  $1,455  $1,147  $407 

December 31, 2021

  2,237   116   2,832   2,948   2,121   (711)

(1)

Reflects the effect of derivative instrument hedges for only the period presented.

(2)

Calculated by subtracting the effect of derivative instrument hedges attributed to the period presented from GAAP interest expense.

(3)

Calculated by adding the effect of derivative instrument hedges attributed to the period presented to GAAP net portfolio interest income.


-38-

- 37 -


Economic Net Interest Income 
(in thousands) 
  Net Portfolio  Interest Expense on Junior Subordinated Notes       
  Interest Income     Effect of     Net Interest Income 
  GAAP  Economic  GAAP  Non-GAAP  Economic  GAAP  Economic 
Three Months Ended Basis  
Basis(1)
  Basis  
Hedges(2)
  
Basis(3)
  Basis  
Basis(4)
 
December 31, 2017 $1,293  $1,123  $324  $(42) $366  $969  $757 
September 30, 2017  1,010   848   316   (40)  356   694   492 
June 30, 2017  945   793   306   (37)  343   639   450 
March 31, 2017  1,010   894   292   (60)  352   718   542 
December 31, 2016  1,034   912   291   (57)  348   743   564 
September 30, 2016  913   821   278   (55)  333   635   488 
June 30, 2016  851   791   276   (77)  353   575   438 
March 31, 2016  690   645   264   (80)  344   426   301 
                             
(in thousands) 
  Net Portfolio  Interest Expense on Junior Subordinated Notes         
  Interest Income      Effect of      Net Interest Income 
  GAAP  Economic  GAAP  Non-GAAP  Economic  GAAP  Economic 
Years Ended Basis  
Basis(1)
  Basis  
Hedges(2)
  
Basis(3)
  Basis  
Basis(4)
 
December 31, 2017 $4,258  $3,658  $1,238  $(179) $1,417  $3,020  $2,241 
December 31, 2016  3,488   3,169   1,109   (269)  1,378   2,379   1,791 

Economic Net Interest Income

(in thousands)

 
  

Net Portfolio

  

Interest Expense on Long-Term Debt

         
  

Interest Income

              

Net Interest Income

 

Three Months Ended

 

GAAP Basis

  

Economic Basis(1)

  

GAAP Basis

  

Effect of Non-GAAP Hedges(2)

  

Economic Basis(3)

  

GAAP Basis

  

Economic Basis(4)

 

December 31, 2022

 $133  $(52) $477  $48  $525  $(344) $(577)

September 30, 2022

  235   51   379   48   427   (144)  (376)

June 30, 2022

  319   133   304   48   352   15   (219)

March 31, 2022

  460   275   256   48   304   204   (29)

December 31, 2021

  490   (217)  249   60   309   241   (526)

September 30, 2021

  513   (196)  248   57   305   265   (501)

June 30, 2021

  547   (161)  250   58   308   297   (469)

March 31, 2021

  571   (137)  250   58   308   321   (445)

Years Ended

                            

December 31, 2022

 $1,147  $407  $1,416  $192  $1,608  $(269) $(1,201)

December 31, 2021

  2,121   (711)  997   233   1,230   1,124   (1,941)

(1)

Calculated by adding the effect of derivative instrument hedges attributed to the period presented to GAAP net portfolio interest income.

(2)

Reflects the effect of derivative instrument hedges for only the period presented.

(3)

Calculated by subtracting the effect of derivative instrument hedges attributed to the period presented from GAAP interest expense.

(4)

Calculated by adding the effect of derivative instrument hedges attributed to the period presented to GAAP net interest income.


Segment Information


We have two operating segments. The asset management segment includes the investment advisory services provided by Bimini Advisors to Orchid and Royal Palm. The investment portfolio segment includes the investment activities conducted by Bimini Capital and Royal Palm. Segment information for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 20162021 is as follows:

(in thousands)

                     
  

Asset Management

  

Investment Portfolio

  

Corporate

   

Eliminations

  

Total

 

2022

                     

Advisory services, external customers

 $12,996  $-  $-   $-  $12,996 

Advisory services, other operating segments(1)

  115   -   -    (115)  - 

Interest and dividend income

  -   3,155   -    -   3,155 

Interest expense

  -   (715)  (1,416)

(2)

  -   (2,131)

Net revenues

  13,111   2,440   (1,416)   (115)  14,020 

Other (expense) income

  -   (12,212)  66 

(3)

  -   (12,146)

Operating expenses(4)

  (7,805)  (2,034)  -    -   (9,839)

Intercompany expenses(1)

  -   (115)  -    115   - 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 $5,306  $(11,921) $(1,350)  $-  $(7,965)

Year end assets

 $1,970  $77,483  $6,864   $-  $86,317 

 
(in thousands)               
  Asset  Investment          
  Management  Portfolio  Corporate  Eliminations  Total 
2017               
Advisory services, external customers $7,431  $-  $-  $-  $7,431 
Advisory services, other operating segments(1)
  207   -   -   (207)  - 
Interest and dividend income  -   8,572   1   -   8,573 
Interest expense  -   (1,796)  (1,237
)(2)
  -   (3,033)
Net revenues  7,638   6,776   (1,236)  (207)  12,971 
Other income  -   (4,306)  634
(3) 
  -   (3,672)
Operating expenses(4)
  (3,016)  (3,387)  -   -   (6,403)
Intercompany expenses(1)
  -   (207)  -   207   - 
Income (loss) before income taxes $4,622  $(1,124) $(602) $-  $2,896 
Assets $1,632  $267,429  $15,528  $-  $284,589 
-39-

- 38 -

                
  Asset  Investment          
  Management  Portfolio  Corporate  Eliminations  Total 
2016               
Advisory services, external customers $5,489  $-  $-  $-  $5,489 
Advisory services, other operating segments(1)
  94   -   -   (94)  - 
Interest and dividend income  -   6,576   2   -   6,578 
Interest expense  -   (747)  (1,109
)(2)
  -   (1,856)
Net revenues  5,583   5,829   (1,107)  (94)  10,211 
Other income  -   (2,675)  2,735
(3) 
  -   60 
Operating expenses(4)
  (2,640)  (3,103)  -   -   (5,743)
Intercompany expenses(1)
  -   (94)  -   94   - 
Income (loss) before income taxes $2,943  $(43) $1,628  $-  $4,528 
Assets $1,856  $199,883  $21,131  $-  $222,870 

  

Asset Management

  

Investment Portfolio

  

Corporate

   

Eliminations

  

Total

 

2021

                     

Advisory services, external customers

 $9,788  $-  $-   $-  $9,788 

Advisory services, other operating segments(1)

  147   -   -    (147)  - 

Interest and dividend income

  -   4,262   -    -   4,262 

Interest expense

  -   (116)  (997)

(2)

  -   (1,113)

Net revenues

  9,935   4,146   (997)   (147)  12,937 

Other expense

  -   (4,898)  154 

(3)

  -   (4,744)

Operating expenses(4)

  (5,676)  (2,609)  -    -   (8,285)

Intercompany expenses(1)

  -   (147)  -    147   - 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 $4,259  $(3,508) $(843)  $-  $(92)

Year end assets

 $1,901  $111,022  $9,162   $-  $122,085 

(1)

Includes advisory services revenue received by Bimini Advisors from Royal Palm.

(2)

Includes interest on junior subordinated note.long-term debt.

(3)

Includes income recognized on the forgiveness of the PPP loan and gains (losses) on Eurodollar futures contracts entered into as a hedge on junior subordinated notes and fair value adjustments on retained interests in securitizations.notes.

(4)

Corporate expenses are allocated based on each segment'ssegment’s proportional share of total revenues.


Asset Management Segment


Advisory Services Revenue


Advisory services revenue consistconsists of management fees and overhead reimbursements charged to Orchid for the management of its portfolio pursuant to the terms of a management agreement. We receive a monthly management fee in the amount of:


·

One-twelfth of 1.5%1.50% of the first $250 million of the Orchid'sOrchid’s month-end equity, as defined in the management agreement,

·

One-twelfth of 1.25% of the Orchid'sOrchid’s month-end equity that is greater than $250 million and less than or equal to $500 million, and

·

One-twelfth of 1.00% of the Orchid'sOrchid’s month-end equity that is greater than $500 million.

On April 1, 2022, pursuant to the third amendment to the management agreement entered into on November 16, 2021, the Company began providing certain repurchase agreement trading, clearing and administrative services to Orchid that had been previously provided by AVM, L.P. under an agreement terminated on March 31, 2022.  In consideration for such services, Orchid pays the following fees to the Company:

A daily fee equal to the outstanding principal balance of repurchase agreement funding in place as of the end of such day multiplied by 1.5 basis points for the amount of aggregate outstanding principal balance less than or equal to $5 billion, and multiplied by 1.0 basis point for any amount of aggregate outstanding principal balance in excess of $5 billion, and


A fee for the clearing and operational services provided by personnel of the Manager equal to $10,000 per month.

In addition, Orchid is obligated to reimburse us for any direct expenses incurred on its behalf and to pay to us an amount equal to Orchid's pro rata portion of certain overhead costs set forth in the management agreement. The management agreement has been renewed through February 20182024 and provides for automatic one-year extension options. Should Orchid terminate the management agreement without cause, it will be obligated to pay to us a termination fee equal to three times the average annual management fee, as defined in the management agreement, before or on the last day of the automatic renewal term.


-40-

- 39 -

The following table summarizes the advisory services revenue received from Orchid for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 20162021 and each quarter during 20172022 and 2016.


($ in thousands)               
  Average  Average Advisory Services 
  Orchid  Orchid  Management  Overhead    
Three Months Ended MBS  Equity  Fee  Allocation  Total 
December 31, 2017 $3,837,575  $459,322  $1,625  $408  $2,033 
September 30, 2017  3,834,083   441,193   1,528   412   1,940 
June 30, 2017  3,499,922   406,395   1,400   388   1,788 
March 31, 2017  3,142,095   371,691   1,302   368   1,670 
December 31, 2016  2,761,836   341,236   1,220   338   1,558 
September 30, 2016  2,362,377   280,421   1,052   336   1,388 
June 30, 2016  2,100,151   251,648   945   329   1,274 
March 31, 2016  2,067,527   266,806   971   298   1,269 
                     
($ in thousands)                    
  Average  Average Advisory Services 
  Orchid  Orchid  Management  Overhead     
Years Ended MBS  Equity  Fee  Allocation  Total 
December 31, 2017 $3,578,419  $419,650  $5,855  $1,576  $7,431 
December 31, 2016  2,322,973   285,028   4,188   1,301   5,489 

2021.

($ in thousands)

                        
          

Advisory Services

 
  

Average

  

Average

          

Repurchase,

     
  

Orchid

  

Orchid

  

Management

  

Overhead

  

Clearing and

     

Three Months Ended

 

MBS

  

Equity

  

Fee

  

Allocation

  

Administrative

  

Total

 

December 31, 2022

 $3,370,608  $823,516  $2,566  $560  $150  $3,276 

September 30, 2022

  3,571,037   839,935   2,616   522   174   3,312 

June 30, 2022

  4,260,727   866,539   2,631   519   183   3,333 

March 31, 2022

  5,545,844   853,577   2,634   441   0   3,075 

December 31, 2021

  6,056,259   806,382   2,587   443   0   3,030 

September 30, 2021

  5,136,331   672,384   2,157   390   0   2,547 

June 30, 2021

  4,504,887   542,679   1,791   395   0   2,186 

March 31, 2021

  4,032,716   456,687   1,621   404   0   2,025 

Years Ended

                        

December 31, 2022

 $4,187,054  $845,892  $10,447  $2,042  $507  $12,996 

December 31, 2021

  4,932,548   619,533   8,156   1,632   -   9,788 

Investment Portfolio Segment


Net Portfolio Interest Income


We define net portfolio interest income as interest income on MBS less interest expense on repurchase agreement funding. During the year ended December 31, 2017,2022, we generated $4.3$1.1 million of net portfolio interest income, consisting of $6.1$1.9 million of interest income from MBS assets offset by $1.8$0.7 million of interest expense on repurchase liabilities. For the year ended December 31, 2016,2021, we generated $3.5$2.1 million of net portfolio interest income, consisting of $4.2$2.2 million of interest income from MBS assets offset by $0.7$0.1 million of interest expense on repurchase liabilities. The $1.9$0.4 million increasedecrease in interest income for the year ended December 31, 20172022 was due to a 13$19.6 milliondecrease in average MBS balances, partially offset by a 58 basis point ("bp") increase in yields earned on the portfolio, combined with a $43.9portfolio. The $0.6 millionincrease in average MBS balances.  The $1.0 million increase in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 20172022 was due to a combination136 bp increase in cost of funds, partially offset by a $42.3$20.8 million increasedecrease in average repurchase liabilities and a 51 basis point increase in cost of funds.


liabilities.

Our economic interest expense on repurchase liabilities for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 20162021 was $2.4$1.5 million and $1.1$2.9 million, respectively, resulting in $3.7$0.4 million and $3.2$(0.7) million of economic net portfolio interest income (expense), respectively.


-41-


The tables below provide consolidated information on our portfolio average balances, interest income, yield on assets, average repurchase agreement balances, interest expense, cost of funds, net interest income and net interest rate spread for each quarter in 20172022 and 20162021 and for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 20162021 on both a GAAP and economic basis.

($ in thousands)

                                
  

Average

      

Yield on

  

Average

  

Interest Expense

  

Average Cost of Funds

 
  

MBS

  

Interest

  

Average

  

Repurchase

  

GAAP

  

Economic

  

GAAP

  

Economic

 

Three Months Ended

 

Held(1)

  

Income(2)

  

MBS

  

Agreements(1)

  

Basis

  

Basis(2)

  

Basis

  

Basis(3)

 

December 31, 2022

 $45,081  $534   4.74% $43,656  $401  $586   3.68%  5.37%

September 30, 2022

  41,402   445   4.30%  40,210   210   394   2.09%  3.92%

June 30, 2022

  46,607   392   3.36%  45,870   73   259   0.63%  2.25%

March 31, 2022

  57,741   491   3.40%  56,846   31   216   0.22%  1.52%

December 31, 2021

  62,597   511   3.27%  61,019   21   728   0.14%  4.77%

September 30, 2021

  66,692   537   3.22%  67,253   24   733   0.14%  4.36%

June 30, 2021

  70,925   578   3.26%  72,241   31   739   0.17%  4.09%

March 31, 2021

  69,017   611   3.54%  69,104   40   748   0.23%  4.33%

Years Ended

                                

December 31, 2022

 $47,708  $1,862   3.90% $46,646  $715  $1,455   1.53%  3.12%

December 31, 2021

  67,308   2,237   3.32%  67,404   116   2,948   0.17%  4.37%


- 40 -
($ in thousands)                        
  Average     Yield on  Average  Interest Expense  Average Cost of Funds 
  MBS  Interest  Average  Repurchase  GAAP  Economic  GAAP  Economic 
Three Months Ended 
Held(1)
  
Income(2)
  MBS  
Agreements(1)
  Basis  
Basis(2)
  Basis  
Basis(3)
 
December 31, 2017 $203,841  $1,978   3.88% $193,778  $685  $855   1.41%  1.77%
September 30, 2017  170,237   1,514   3.56%  161,003   504   666   1.25%  1.66%
June 30, 2017  134,188   1,269   3.78%  126,341   324   476   1.02%  1.51%
March 31, 2017  128,098   1,293   4.04%  119,938   283   398   0.94%  1.33%
December 31, 2016  131,952   1,285   3.89%  123,909   251   373   0.81%  1.20%
September 30, 2016  122,220   1,108   3.63%  114,858   195   287   0.68%  1.00%
June 30, 2016  110,017   1,025   3.73%  103,259   174   234   0.67%  0.91%
March 31, 2016  96,592   817   3.39%  90,014   127   173   0.57%  0.77%
                                 
($ in thousands)                                
  Average      Yield on  Average  Interest Expense  Average Cost of Funds 
  MBS  Interest  Average  Repurchase  GAAP  Economic  GAAP  Economic 
Years Ended 
Held(1)
  
Income(2)
  MBS  
Agreements(1)
  Basis  
Basis(2)
  Basis  
Basis(3)
 
December 31, 2017 $159,091  $6,054   3.81% $150,265  $1,796  $2,395   1.20%  1.59%
December 31, 2016  115,195   4,235   3.68%  108,010   747   1,067   0.69%  0.99%


($ in thousands)            
  Net Portfolio  Net Portfolio 
  Interest Income  Interest Spread 
  GAAP  Economic  GAAP  Economic 
Three Months Ended Basis  
Basis(2)
  Basis  
Basis(4)
 
December 31, 2017 $1,293  $1,123   2.47%  2.11%
September 30, 2017  1,010   848   2.31%  1.90%
June 30, 2017  945   793   2.76%  2.27%
March 31, 2017  1,010   894   3.10%  2.71%
December 31, 2016  1,034   912   3.08%  2.69%
September 30, 2016  913   821   2.95%  2.63%
June 30, 2016  851   791   3.06%  2.82%
March 31, 2016  690   644   2.82%  2.62%
                 
($ in thousands)                
  Net Portfolio  Net Portfolio 
  Interest Income  Interest Spread 
  GAAP  Economic  GAAP  Economic 
Years Ended Basis  
Basis(2)
  Basis  
Basis(4)
 
December 31, 2017 $4,258  $3,658   2.61%  2.22%
December 31, 2016  3,488   3,168   2.99%  2.69%

($ in thousands)

                
  

Net Portfolio

  

Net Portfolio

 
  

Interest Income

  

Interest Spread

 
  

GAAP

  

Economic

  

GAAP

  

Economic

 

Three Months Ended

 

Basis

  

Basis(2)

  

Basis

  

Basis(4)

 

December 31, 2022

 $133  $(52)  1.06%  (0.63)%

September 30, 2022

  235   51   2.21%  0.38%

June 30, 2022

  319   133   2.73%  1.11%

March 31, 2022

  460   275   3.18%  1.88%

December 31, 2021

  490   (217)  3.13%  (1.50)%

September 30, 2021

  513   (196)  3.08%  (1.14)%

June 30, 2021

  547   (161)  3.09%  (0.83)%

March 31, 2021

  571   (137)  3.31%  (0.79)%

Years Ended

                

December 31, 2022

 $1,147  $407   2.37%  0.78%

December 31, 2021

  2,121   (711)  3.15%  (1.05)%

(1)

Portfolio yields and costs of borrowings presented in the tables above and the tables on pages 43 and 44 are calculated based on the average balances of the underlying investment portfolio/repurchase agreement balances and are annualized for the periods presentedpresented.

(2)

Economic interest expense and economic net interest income presented in the tables above and the tables on page 4344 include the effect of derivative instrument hedges for only the period presented.

(3)

Represents interest cost of our borrowings and the effect of derivative instrument hedges attributed to the period related to hedging activities divided by average MBS held.

(4)

Economic net interest spread is calculated by subtracting average economic cost of funds from yield on average MBS.


-42-

Interest Income and Average Earning Asset Yield


Our interest income was $6.1$1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 20172022 and $4.2$2.2 million for year ended December 31, 2016.2021. Average MBS holdings were $159.1$47.7 million and $115.2$67.3 million for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 2016,2021, respectively. The $1.9$0.4 million increasedecrease in interest income was due to a 13 basis point increase in yields, combined with a $43.9$19.6 million increasedecrease in average MBS holdings.


holdings, partially offset by a 58 bp increase in yields.

The tablestable below presentpresents the consolidated average portfolio size, income and yields of our respective sub-portfolios, consisting of structured MBS and pass-through MBS ("(“PT MBS"MBS”). for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and each quarter during 2022 and 2021.

($ in thousands)

                                    
  

Average MBS Held

  

Interest Income

  

Realized Yield on Average MBS

 
  

PT

  

Structured

      

PT

  

Structured

      

PT

  

Structured

     

Three Months Ended

 

MBS

  

MBS

  

Total

  

MBS

  

MBS

  

Total

  

MBS

  

MBS

  

Total

 

December 31, 2022

 $42,125  $2,956  $45,081  $473  $61  $534   4.49%  8.31%  4.74%

September 30, 2022

  38,384   3,018   41,402   383   62   445   3.99%  8.17%  4.30%

June 30, 2022

  43,568   3,039   46,607   333   59   392   3.06%  7.75%  3.36%

March 31, 2022

  54,836   2,905   57,741   472   19   491   3.45%  2.61%  3.40%

December 31, 2021

  59,701   2,896   62,597   500   11   511   3.35%  1.55%  3.27%

September 30, 2021

  64,641   2,051   66,692   533   4   537   3.30%  0.91%  3.22%

June 30, 2021

  70,207   718   70,925   579   (1)  578   3.30%  (0.11)%  3.26%

March 31, 2021

  68,703   314   69,017   605   6   611   3.53%  6.54%  3.54%

Years Ended

                                    

December 31, 2022

 $44,728  $2,980  $47,708  $1,661  $201  $1,862   3.71%  6.74%  3.90%

December 31, 2021

  65,813   1,495   67,308   2,217   20   2,237   3.37%  1.39%  3.32%


($ in thousands)                           
  Average MBS Held  Interest Income  Realized Yield on Average MBS 
  PT  Structured     PT  Structured     PT  Structured    
Three Months Ended MBS  MBS  Total  MBS  MBS  Total  MBS  MBS  Total 
December 31, 2017 $201,165  $2,676  $203,841  $1,955  $23  $1,978   3.89%  3.55%  3.88%
September 30, 2017  167,081   3,156   170,237   1,524   (10)  1,514   3.65%  (1.28)%  3.56%
June 30, 2017  130,519   3,669   134,188   1,220   49   1,269   3.74%  5.33%  3.78%
March 31, 2017  123,163   4,935   128,098   1,210   83   1,293   3.93%  6.67%  4.04%
December 31, 2016  127,627   4,325   131,952   1,238   47   1,285   3.88%  4.32%  3.89%
September 30, 2016  119,411   2,809   122,220   1,092   16   1,108   3.66%  2.19%  3.63%
June 30, 2016  106,653   3,364   110,017   1,008   17   1,025   3.78%  2.05%  3.73%
March 31, 2016  92,365   4,227   96,592   783   34   817   3.39%  3.25%  3.39%
                                     
($ in thousands)                                    
  Average MBS Held  Interest Income  Realized Yield on Average MBS 
  PT  Structured      PT  Structured      PT  Structured     
Years Ended MBS  MBS  Total  MBS  MBS  Total  MBS  MBS  Total 
December 31, 2017 $155,482  $3,609  $159,091  $5,909  $145  $6,054   3.80%  4.01%  3.81%
December 31, 2016  111,514   3,681   115,195   4,121   114   4,235   3.70%  3.09%  3.68%

- 41 -

Interest Expense on Repurchase Agreements and the Cost of Funds


Our average outstanding repurchase agreements were $150.3$46.7 million and $108.0$67.4 million, generating interest expense of $1.8$0.7 million and $0.7$0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 2016,2021, respectively.  Our average cost of funds was 1.20%1.53% and 0.69%0.17% for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 2016,2021, respectively.  There was a 51 basis point 136 bp increase in the average cost of funds and a $42.3$20.7 million increasedecrease in average outstanding repurchase agreements during the year ended December 31, 20172022 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016.  


2021.  

Our economic interest expense was $2.4$1.5 million and $1.1$3.0 million for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 2016,2021, respectively. There was an 60 basis point increasea 125 bp decrease in the average economic cost of funds to 1.59%3.12% for the year ended December 31, 20172022 from 0.99%4.37% for the previous year. The $1.3 million increase in economic interest expense was due to the $42.3 million increase in average outstanding repurchase agreements during the year ended December 31, 2017, combined with the negative performance of our derivative agreements attributed to the current period.


Since all of our repurchase agreements are short-term, changes in market rates directly affect our interest expense. Our average cost of funds calculated on a GAAP basis was 5 basis points above42 bps below the one-month average one-month LIBORSOFR and 21 basis points below33 bps above the six-month average six-month LIBORSOFR for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.2022. Our average economic cost of funds was 41 basis points 117 bps above the one-month average one-month LIBORSOFR and 15 basis points 192 bps above the six-month average six-month LIBORSOFR for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.2022. The average term to maturity of the outstanding repurchase agreements decreased from 4016 days at December 31, 20162021 to 3815 days at December 31, 2017.


-43-


2022.

The tables below present the consolidated average outstanding balance under all repurchase agreements, interest expense and average economic cost of funds, and one-month average one-month and six-month LIBORaverage SOFR rates for each quarter in 20172022 and 20162021 and for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 20162021 on both a GAAP and economic basis.

($ in thousands)

                    
  

Average

                 
  

Balance of

  

Interest Expense

  

Average Cost of Funds

 
  

Repurchase

  

GAAP

  

Economic

  

GAAP

  

Economic

 

Three Months Ended

 

Agreements

  

Basis

  

Basis

  

Basis

  

Basis

 

December 31, 2022

 $43,656  $401  $586   3.68%  5.37%

September 30, 2022

  40,210   210   394   2.09%  3.92%

June 30, 2022

  45,870   73   259   0.63%  2.25%

March 31, 2022

  56,846   31   216   0.22%  1.52%

December 31, 2021

  61,019   21   728   0.14%  4.77%

September 30, 2021

  67,253   24   733   0.14%  4.36%

June 30, 2021

  72,241   31   739   0.17%  4.09%

March 31, 2021

  69,104   40   748   0.23%  4.33%

Years Ended

                    

December 31, 2022

 $46,646  $715  $1,455   1.53%  3.12%

December 31, 2021

  67,404   116   2,948   0.17%  4.37%

          

Average GAAP Cost of Funds

  

Average Economic Cost of Funds

 
          

Relative to Average

  

Relative to Average

 
  

Average SOFR

  

One-Month

  

Six-Month

  

One-Month

  

Six-Month

 

Three Months Ended

 

One-Month

  

Six-Month

  

SOFR

  

SOFR

  

SOFR

  

SOFR

 

December 31, 2022

  4.06%  2.89%  (0.38)%  0.79%  1.31%  2.48%

September 30, 2022

  2.47%  1.43%  (0.38)%  0.66%  1.45%  2.49%

June 30, 2022

  1.09%  0.39%  (0.46)%  0.24%  1.16%  1.86%

March 31, 2022

  0.16%  0.07%  0.06%  0.15%  1.36%  1.45%

December 31, 2021

  0.05%  0.05%  0.09%  0.09%  4.72%  4.72%

September 30, 2021

  0.05%  0.03%  0.09%  0.11%  4.31%  4.33%

June 30, 2021

  0.03%  0.03%  0.14%  0.14%  4.06%  4.06%

March 31, 2021

  0.01%  0.06%  0.22%  0.17%  4.32%  4.27%

Years Ended

                        

December 31, 2022

  1.95%  1.20%  (0.42)%  0.33%  1.17%  1.92%

December 31, 2021

  0.04%  0.04%  0.13%  0.13%  4.33%  4.33%


($ in thousands)               
  Average             
  Balance of  Interest Expense  Average Cost of Funds 
  Repurchase  GAAP  Economic  GAAP  Economic 
Three Months Ended Agreements  Basis  Basis  Basis  Basis 
December 31, 2017 $193,778  $685  $855   1.41%  1.77%
September 30, 2017  161,003   504   666   1.25%  1.66%
June 30, 2017  126,341   324   476   1.02%  1.51%
March 31, 2017  119,938   283   398   0.94%  1.33%
December 31, 2016  123,909   251   373   0.81%  1.20%
September 30, 2016  114,858   195   287   0.68%  1.00%
June 30, 2016  103,259   174   234   0.67%  0.91%
March 31, 2016  90,014   127   172   0.57%  0.77%
                     
($ in thousands)                    
  Average                 
  Balance of  Interest Expense  Average Cost of Funds 
  Repurchase  GAAP  Economic  GAAP  Economic 
Years Ended Agreements  Basis  Basis  Basis  Basis 
December 31, 2017 $150,265  $1,796   2,395   1.20%  1.59%
December 31, 2016  108,010   747   1,066   0.69%  0.99%

        Average GAAP Cost of Funds  Average Economic Cost of Funds 
        Relative to Average  Relative to Average 
  Average LIBOR  One-Month  Six-Month  One-Month  Six-Month 
Three Months Ended One-Month  Six-Month  LIBOR  LIBOR  LIBOR  LIBOR 
December 31, 2017  1.36%  1.62%  0.05%  (0.21)%  0.41%  0.15%
September 30, 2017  1.20%  1.45%  0.05%  (0.20)%  0.46%  0.21%
June 30, 2017  1.05%  1.43%  (0.03)%  (0.41)%  0.46%  0.08%
March 31, 2017  0.82%  1.37%  0.12%  (0.43)%  0.51%  (0.04)%
December 31, 2016  0.62%  1.28%  0.19%  (0.47)%  0.58%  (0.08)%
September 30, 2016  0.49%  1.09%  0.19%  (0.41)%  0.51%  (0.09)%
June 30, 2016  0.44%  0.92%  0.23%  (0.25)%  0.47%  (0.01)%
March 31, 2016  0.40%  0.84%  0.17%  (0.27)%  0.37%  (0.07)%
                         
          Average GAAP Cost of Funds  Average Economic Cost of Funds 
          Relative to Average  Relative to Average 
  Average LIBOR  One-Month  Six-Month  One-Month  Six-Month 
Years Ended One-Month  Six-Month  LIBOR  LIBOR  LIBOR  LIBOR 
December 31, 2017  1.11%  1.47%  0.09%  (0.27)%  0.48%  0.12%
December 31, 2016  0.49%  1.03%  0.20%  (0.34)%  0.50%  (0.04)%

- 42 -

Dividend Income


At December 31, 2017 from Orchid

Effective August 30, 2022, Orchid effected a 1-for-5 reverse stock split, converting every five shares of issued and 2016, weoutstanding Orchid common stock into one share of common stock. All share and per share amounts reported in this annual report with respect to Orchid’s common stock have been adjusted to reflect this reverse stock split.

We owned 1,520,036569,071 and 1,395,036519,071 shares of Orchid common stock as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Orchid paid total dividends of $1.68$2.475 per share during both 20172022 and 2016.$3.90 per share during 2021. During the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 2016,2021, we received dividends on this commoncommon stock investment of approximately $2.5$1.3 million and $2.3$2.0 million, respectively.


-44-


Long-Term Debt

Junior Subordinated Notes


Debt

Interest expense on our junior subordinated debt securities was approximately $1.2$1.4 million and $1.1$1.0 million for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 2016,2021, respectively. The average rate of interest paid for the year ended December 31, 20172022 was 4.69%5.25% compared to 4.19%3.66% for the year ended December 31, 2016.2021. The junior subordinated debt securities pay interest at a floating rate. The rate is adjusted quarterly and set at a spread of 3.50% over the prevailing three-month LIBOR rate on the determination date. As of December 31, 2017,2022, the interest rate was 5.09%8.27%.


Note Payable

On October 30, 2019, the Company borrowed $680,000 from a bank. The note is payable in equal monthly principal and interest installments of approximately $4,500 through October 30, 2039. Interest accrues at 4.89% through October 30, 2024. Thereafter, interest accrues based on the weekly average yield to the United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of 5 years, plus 3.25%. The note is secured by a mortgage on the Company’s office building.

Paycheck Protection Plan Loan

On April 13, 2020, the Company received approximately $152,000 through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) of the CARES Act in the form of a low interest loan. The Small Business Administration notified the Company that, effective as of April 22, 2021, all principal and accrued interest under the PPP loan has been forgiven.

Gains or Losses and Other Income


The table below presents our gains or losses and other income for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 2016.2021.

(in thousands)

            
  

2022

  

2021

  

Change

 

Realized (losses) gains on sales of MBS

 $(858) $69  $(927)

Unrealized losses on MBS

  (5,916)  (3,099)  (2,817)

Total losses on MBS

  (6,774)  (3,030)  (3,744)

Gains on derivative instruments

  801   -   801 

Gains on retained interests in securitizations

  66   -   66 

Unrealized losses on Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock

  (6,239)  (1,869)  (4,370)


- 43 -
(in thousands)         
  2017  2016  Change 
Realized (losses) gains on sales of MBS $(1) $180  $(181)
Unrealized losses on MBS  (2,066)  (3,786)  1,720 
Total losses on MBS  (2,067)  (3,606)  1,539 
Losses on derivative instruments  (46)  (16)  (30)
Gains on retained interests  645   2,425   (1,780)
Unrealized (losses) gains on Orchid Island Capital, Inc.  (2,207)  1,256   (3,463)


We invest in MBS with the intent to earn net income from the realized yield on those assets over thetheir related funding and hedging costs, and not for purposesthe purpose of making short term gains from trading in these securities. However, we have sold, and may continue to sell, existing assets to acquire new assets, which our management believes might have higher risk-adjusted returns in light of current or anticipated interest rates, federal government programs or general economic conditions or to manage our balance sheet as part of our asset/liability management strategy. During the year ended December 31, 2017,2022, we received proceeds of $1.7$23.1 million from the sales of MBS compared to $73.1$13.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.


2021. 

The fair value of our MBS portfolio and derivative instruments, and the gains (losses) reported on those financial instruments, are driven in part by changes in yields and interest rates, the spreads that MBS trade relative to comparable duration U.S. Treasuries or swaps, as well as varying levels of demand for MBS, which affect the pricing of the securities in our portfolio. The unrealized gains and losses on MBS may also include the premium lost as a result of prepayments on the underlying mortgages, decreasing unrealized gains or increasing unrealized losses as prepayment speeds or premiums increase. To the extent MBS are carried at a discount to par, unrealized gains or losses on MBS would also include discount accreted as a result of prepayments on the underlying mortgages, increasing unrealized gains or decreasing unrealized losses as speeds on discounts increase. The table below presents historical interest rate data as of the end of each quarter end during 20172022 and 2016.


        15 Year  30 Year  Three 
  5 Year  10 Year  Fixed-Rate  Fixed-Rate  Month 
  
Treasury Rate(1)
  
Treasury Rate(1)
  
Mortgage Rate(2)
  
Mortgage Rate(2)
  
Libor(3)
 
December 31, 2017  2.21%  2.40%  3.39%  3.95%  1.61%
September 30, 2017  1.93%  2.33%  3.11%  3.81%  1.32%
June 30, 2017  1.88%  2.30%  3.17%  3.90%  1.26%
March 31, 2017  1.93%  2.40%  3.41%  4.20%  1.13%
December 31, 2016  1.93%  2.45%  3.43%  4.20%  0.98%
September 30, 2016  1.16%  1.61%  2.76%  3.46%  0.85%
June 30, 2016  1.01%  1.49%  2.84%  3.57%  0.65%
March 31, 2016  1.22%  1.79%  2.97%  3.69%  0.63%

2021.

      15 Year 30 Year 90 Day
  

5 Year

 

10 Year

 

Fixed-Rate

 

Fixed-Rate

 

Average

  

Treasury Rate(1)

 

Treasury Rate(1)

 

Mortgage Rate(2)

 

Mortgage Rate(2)

 

SOFR(3)

December 31, 2022

 

4.00%

 

3.88%

 

5.68%

 

6.42%

 

3.62%

September 30, 2022

 

4.04%

 

3.80%

 

5.96%

 

6.70%

 

2.13%

June 30, 2022

 

3.00%

 

2.97%

 

4.83%

 

5.70%

 

0.70%

March 31, 2022

 

2.42%

 

2.33%

 

3.83%

 

4.67%

 

0.09%

December 31, 2021

 

1.26%

 

1.51%

 

2.33%

 

3.11%

 

0.05%

September 30, 2021

 

1.00%

 

1.53%

 

2.28%

 

3.01%

 

0.05%

June 30, 2021

 

0.87%

 

1.44%

 

2.34%

 

3.02%

 

0.02%

March 31, 2021

 

0.94%

 

1.75%

 

2.45%

 

3.17%

 

0.04%

(1)

Historical 5 Year and 10 Year Treasury Rates are obtained from quoted end of day prices on the Chicago Board Options Exchange.

(2)

Historical 30 Year and 15 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Rates are obtained from Freddie Mac'sMac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

(3)

Historical LIBOR areSOFR is obtained from the Intercontinental Exchange Benchmark Administration Ltd.Federal Reserve Bank of New York.


The retained interests in securitizations represent the residual net interest spread remaining after payments on the notes issued through the securitization.  Fluctuations in value of retained interests are primarily driven by projections of future interest rates (the forward LIBOR curve), the discount rate used to determine the present value of the residual cash flows and prepayment and loss estimates on the underlying mortgage loans.  During

Operating Expenses

For the year ended December 31, 2017, we recorded gains on retained interests of $0.62022, our total operating expenses were approximately $9.8  million compared to gains of $2.4approximately $8.3  million for the year ended December 31, 2016.


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Operating Expenses

For the year ended December 31, 2017, our total operating expenses were approximately $6.4 million compared to approximately $5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.2021. The table below presents a breakdown of operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 2016.2021.

(in thousands)

            
  

2022

  

2021

  

Change

 

Compensation and benefits

 $6,530  $5,721  $809 

Legal fees

  101   137   (36)

Accounting, auditing and other professional fees

  404   377   27 

Directors’ fees and liability insurance

  804   763   41 

Administrative and other expenses

  2,000   1,287   713 
  $9,839  $8,285  $1,554 

Beginning with the second quarter of 2022, Bimini began providing certain repurchase agreement trading, clearing and administrative services to Orchid.  Providing these services required Bimini to increase staffing and other resources, causing an increase in compensation related expenses of approximately $0.6 million for year ended December 31, 2022, and increases in other administrative expenses of approximately $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 .


- 44 -
(in thousands)         
  2017  2016  Change 
Compensation and benefits $3,852  $3,325  $527 
Legal fees  111   210   (99)
Accounting, auditing and other professional fees  344   389   (45)
Directors' fees and liability insurance  659   622   37 
Other G&A expenses  1,437   1,198   239 
  $6,403  $5,744  $659 

Income Taxes

In 2022, we recorded an income tax provision of $11.9 million, including a $12.2 million increase in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance as a result of management’s reassessment, as of December 31, 2022, of the Company’s ability to utilize tax net operating losses (“NOLs”) to offset future taxable income.  In 2021, we recorded an income tax benefit of $0.4 million, including a $2.2 million decrease in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance as a result of management’s reassessment, as of December 31, 2021, of the Company’s ability to utilize NOLs to offset future taxable income.

Financial Condition:


Mortgage-Backed Securities


As of December 31, 2017,2022, our MBS portfolio consisted of  $209.7$45.9  million of agency or government MBS at fair value and had a weighted average coupon of 4.21%3.67%. During the year ended December 31, 2017,2022, we received principal repayments of $12.5$8.2 million compared to $13.1$14.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.2021. The average prepayment speeds for the quarters ended December 31, 20172022 and 20162021 were 8.8%8.3% and 11.1%21.1%, respectively.


The following table presents the three-month constant prepayment rate ("CPR"(“CPR”) experienced on our structured and PT MBS sub-portfolios, on an annualized basis, for the quarterly periods presented. CPR is a method of expressing the prepayment rate for a mortgage pool that assumes that a constant fraction of the remaining principal is prepaid each month or year. Specifically, the CPR in the chart below represents the three month prepayment rate of the securities in the respective asset category.  Assets that were not owned for the entire quarter have been excluded from the calculation.  The exclusion of certain assets during periods of high trading activity can create a very high, and often volatile, reliance on a small sample of underlying loans.


     Structured    
  PT MBS  MBS  Total 
Three Months Ended Portfolio (%)  Portfolio (%)  Portfolio (%) 
December 31, 2017  7.2   16.9   8.8 
September 30, 2017  5.2   18.8   8.3 
June 30, 2017  5.9   20.4   9.9 
March 31, 2017  4.8   18.8   8.8 
December 31, 2016  5.5   27.3   11.1 
September 30, 2016  9.4   19.7   13.6 
June 30, 2016  7.8   20.4   12.6 
March 31, 2016  11.8   16.6   14.3 

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Structured

    
  

PT MBS

  

MBS

  

Total

 

Three Months Ended

 

Portfolio (%)

  

Portfolio (%)

  

Portfolio (%)

 

December 31, 2022

 8.2  8.4  8.3 

September 30, 2022

 13.1  7.5  10.8 

June 30, 2022

 17.2  22.9  20.0 

March 31, 2022

 18.5  25.6  20.9 

December 31, 2021

 13.7  35.2  21.1 

September 30, 2021

 15.5  26.9  18.3 

June 30, 2021

 21.0  31.3  21.9 

March 31, 2021

 18.5  16.4  18.3 

The following tables summarize certain characteristics of our PT MBS and structured MBS as of December 31, 20172022 and 2016:2021:

($ in thousands)

                  
              

Weighted

   
      

Percentage

      

Average

   
      

of

  

Weighted

  

Maturity

   
  

Fair

  

Entire

  

Average

  

in

 

Longest

 

Asset Category

 

Value

  

Portfolio

  

Coupon

  

Months

 

Maturity

 

December 31, 2022

                  

Fixed Rate MBS

 $42,974   93.6%  4.07%  329 

1-Aug-52

 

Structured MBS

  2,919   6.4%  2.84%  300 

15-May-51

 

Total MBS Portfolio

 $45,893   100.0%  3.67%  327 

1-Aug-52

 

December 31, 2021

                  

Fixed Rate MBS

 $58,029   95.4%  3.69%  330 

1-Sep-51

 

Structured MBS

  2,774   4.6%  2.88%  306 

15-May-51

 

Total MBS Portfolio

 $60,803   100.0%  3.41%  329 

1-Sep-51

 

- 45 -

($ in thousands)      
     Weighted 
   Percentage Average 
   ofWeightedMaturity 
  FairEntireAverageinLongest
Asset Category ValuePortfolioCouponMonthsMaturity
December 31, 2017      
Fixed Rate PT MBS$207,17998.8%4.21%3211-Dec-47
Interest-Only Securities 1,4760.7%3.43%22925-Dec-39
Inverse Interest-Only Securities 1,0370.5%5.01%27825-Apr-41
Total Mortgage Assets$209,692100.0%4.21%3201-Dec-47
December 31, 2016      
Fixed Rate PT MBS$124,29995.4%4.24%3471-Oct-46
Interest-Only Securities 2,6542.0%3.48%24525-Dec-39
Inverse Interest-Only Securities 3,3492.6%5.52%32525-Dec-46
Total Mortgage Assets$130,302100.0%4.26%34425-Dec-46
($ in thousands)            
  December 31, 2017  December 31, 2016 
     Percentage of     Percentage of 
Agency Fair Value  Entire Portfolio  Fair Value  Entire Portfolio 
Fannie Mae $178,581   85.2% $120,961   92.8%
Freddie Mac  30,896   14.7%  8,870   6.8%
Ginnie Mae  215   0.1%  471   0.4%
Total Portfolio $209,692   100.0% $130,302   100.0%

  December 31, 2017  December 31, 2016 
Weighted Average Pass-through Purchase Price $109.06  $110.31 
Weighted Average Structured Purchase Price $6.02  $6.74 
Weighted Average Pass-through Current Price $107.13  $107.54 
Weighted Average Structured Current Price $7.06  $10.40 
Effective Duration (1)
  3.832   4.769 

($ in thousands)

                
  

December 31, 2022

  

December 31, 2021

 
      

Percentage of

      

Percentage of

 

Agency

 

Fair Value

  

Entire Portfolio

  

Fair Value

  

Entire Portfolio

 

Fannie Mae

 $33,883   73.8% $39,703   65.3%

Freddie Mac

  12,010   26.2%  21,100   34.7%

Total Portfolio

 $45,893   100.0% $60,803   100.0%

  

December 31, 2022

  

December 31, 2021

 

Weighted Average Pass-through Purchase Price

 $105.30  $109.33 

Weighted Average Structured Purchase Price

 $4.48  $4.81 

Weighted Average Pass-through Current Price

 $95.58  $109.30 

Weighted Average Structured Current Price

 $13.37  $9.87 

Effective Duration (1)

  4.323   2.103 

(1)

Effective duration is the approximate percentage change in price for a 100 basis pointbp change in rates. An effective duration of 3.8324.323 indicates that an interest rate increase of 1.0% would be expected to cause a 3.832%4.323% decrease in the value of the MBS in our investment portfolio at December 31, 2017.2022. An effective duration of 4.7692.103 indicates that an interest rate increase of 1.0% would be expected to cause a 4.769%2.103% decrease in the value of the MBS in our investment portfolio at December 31, 2016.2021. These figures include the structured securities in the portfolio but do include the effect of our funding cost hedges. Effective duration quotes for individual investments are obtained from The Yield Book, Inc.


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The following table presents a summary of our portfolio assets acquired during the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 2016.


($ in thousands)                  
 2017 2016 
  Total Cost  Average Price  Weighted Average Yield  Total Cost  Average Price  Weighted Average Yield 
PT MBS $95,585  $107.37   2.74% $133,100  $110.31   2.42%
Structured MBS  -   -   -   2,993   11.43   5.15%

2021.

($ in thousands)

                        
  

2022

  

2021

 
  

Total Cost

  

Average Price

  

Weighted Average Yield

  

Total Cost

  

Average Price

  

Weighted Average Yield

 

PT MBS

 $23,192  $99.13   4.22% $23,338  $106.48   1.41%

Structured MBS

  -   -   -   2,852   10.01   3.44%

Our portfolio of PT MBS is typically comprised of adjustable-rate MBS, fixed-rate MBS and hybrid adjustable-rate MBS. We generally seek to acquire low duration assets that offer high levels of protection from mortgage prepayments provided that they are reasonably priced by the market.  Although the duration of an individual asset can change as a result of changes in interest rates, we strive to maintain a hedged PT MBS portfolio with an effective duration of less than 2.0. The stated contractual final maturity of the mortgage loans underlying our portfolio of PT MBS generally ranges up to 30 years. However, the effect of prepayments of the underlying mortgage loans tends to shorten the resulting cash flows from our investments substantially. Prepayments occur for various reasons, including refinancing of underlying mortgages, and loan payoffs in connection with home sales.


sales, and borrowers paying more than their scheduled loan payments, which accelerates the amortization of the loans.

The duration of our IO and IIO portfolio will vary greatly depending on the structural features of the securities. While prepayment activity will always affect the cash flows associated with the securities, the interest only nature of IO'sIO’s may cause their durations to become extremely negative when prepayments are high, and less negative when prepayments are low. Prepayments affect the durations of IIO'sIIO’s similarly, but the floating rate nature of the coupon of IIOs (which is inversely related to the level of one month LIBOR) cause their price movements - and model duration - to be affected by changes in both prepayments and one month LIBOR - both current and anticipated levels. As a result, the duration of IIO securities will also vary greatly.


Prepayments on the loans underlying our MBS can alter the timing of the cash flows received by us. As a result, we gauge the interest rate sensitivity of its assets by measuring their effective duration. While modified duration measures the price sensitivity of a bond to movements in interest rates, effective duration captures both the movement in interest rates and the fact that cash flows to a mortgage related security are altered when interest rates move. Accordingly, when the contract interest rate on a mortgage loan is substantially above prevailing interest rates in the market, the effective duration of securities collateralized by such loans can be quite low because of expected prepayments.

We face the risk that the market value of our PT MBS assets will increase or decrease at different rates than that of our structured MBS or liabilities, including our hedging instruments. Accordingly, we assess our interest rate risk by estimating the duration of our assets and the duration of our liabilities. We generally calculate duration and effective duration using various third partythird-party models or obtain these quotes from third parties.third-parties. However, empirical results and various third-party models may produce different duration numbers for the same securities.


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The following sensitivity analysis shows the estimated impact on the fair value of our interest rate-sensitive investments and hedge positions as of December 31, 2017,2022, assuming rates instantaneously fall 100 basis points ("bps"),bps, rise 100 bps and rise 200 bps, adjusted to reflect the impact of convexity, which is the measure of the sensitivity of our hedge positions and Agency MBS'MBS’ effective duration to movements in interest rates.


($ in thousands)                     
  Fair  $ Change in Fair Value  % Change in Fair Value 
MBS Portfolio Value  -100BPS  +100BPS  +200BPS  -100BPS  +100BPS  +200BPS 
Fixed Rate MBS $207,179  $5,989  $(10,427) $(22,982)  2.89%  (5.03)%  (11.09)%
Interest-Only MBS  1,476   (619)  358   617   (41.90)%  24.27%  41.75%
Inverse Interest-Only MBS  1,037   (132)  (84)  (280)  (12.76)%  (8.12)%  (27.03)%
Total MBS Portfolio $209,692  $5,238  $(10,153) $(22,645)  2.50%  (4.84)%  (10.80)%

($ in thousands)                     
  Notional  $ Change in Fair Value  % Change in Fair Value 
  
Amount(1)
  -100BPS  +100BPS  +200BPS  -100BPS  +100BPS  +200BPS 
Eurodollar Futures Contracts                     
Repurchase Agreement Hedges $960,000  $(1,343) $2,400  $4,800   (0.57)%  1.02%  2.05%
Junior Subordinated Debt Hedges  416,000   (582)  1,040   2,080   (0.57)%  1.02%  2.05%
  $1,376,000  $(1,925) $3,440  $6,880   (0.57)%  1.02%  2.05%
                             
Gross Totals     $3,313  $(6,713) $(15,765)            

(1)Represents the total cumulative contract/notional amount of Eurodollar futures contracts.

($ in thousands)

                            
      

$ Change in Fair Value

  

% Change in Fair Value

 

MBS Portfolio

 

Fair Value

  

-100BPS

  

+100BPS

  

+200BPS

  

-100BPS

  

+100BPS

  

+200BPS

 

Fixed Rate MBS

 $42,974  $1,948  $(2,164) $(4,468)  4.53%  (5.04)%  (10.40)%

Interest-Only MBS

  2,914   (131)  68   92   (4.50)%  2.33%  3.16%

Inverse Interest-Only MBS

  5   2   (2)  (3)  40.00%  (40.00)%  (60.00)%

Total MBS Portfolio

 $45,893  $1,819  $(2,098) $(4,379)  3.96%  (4.57)%  (9.54)%

In addition to changes in interest rates, other factors impact the fair value of our interest rate-sensitive investments and hedging instruments, such as the shape of the yield curve, market expectations as to future interest rate changes and other market conditions. Accordingly, in the event of changes in actual interest rates, the change in the fair value of our assets would likely differ from that shown above and such difference might be material and adverse to the our stockholders.


Repurchase Agreements


As of December 31, 2017,2022, we had established borrowing facilities in the repurchase agreement market with a number of commercial banks and other financial institutions and had borrowings in place with five of these counterparties. We believe these facilities provide borrowing capacity in excess of our needs. None of these lenders are affiliated with the Company. These borrowings are secured by our MBS and cash.


As of December 31, 2017,2022, we had obligations outstanding under the repurchase agreements of approximately $200.2$43.8 million with a net weighted average borrowing cost of 1.52%4.48%. The remaining maturity of our outstanding repurchase agreement obligations ranged from 1612 to 7231 days, with a weighted average maturity of 3815 days. Securing the repurchase agreement obligation as of December 31, 20172022 are MBS with an estimated fair value, including accrued interest, of $210.0 $45.9 million and a weighted average maturity of 321328 months, and cash posted as collateral of $2,208,000.$0.5 million. Through March 9, 2018,10, 2023, we have been able to maintain our repurchase facilities with comparable terms to those that existed at December 31, 20172022 with maturities through April 2, 2018.


-49-


28, 2023.

The table below presents information about our period-end and average repurchase agreement obligations for each quarter in 20172022 and 2016.2021.

($ in thousands)

 
  

Ending Balance of Repurchase

  

Maximum Balance of Repurchase

  

Average Balance of Repurchase

  

Difference Between Ending Repurchase Agreements and Average Repurchase Agreements

 

Three Months Ended

 

Agreements

  

Agreements

  

Agreements

  

Amount

  

Percent

 

December 31, 2022

 $43,818  $44,780  $43,656  $162   0.37%

September 30, 2022

  43,494   46,977   40,210   3,284   8.17%

June 30, 2022

  36,926   53,289   45,870   (8,944)  (19.50)%

March 31, 2022

  54,815   58,772   56,846   (2,031)  (3.57)%

December 31, 2021

  58,878   62,139   61,019   (2,141)  (3.51)%

September 30, 2021

  63,160   72,047   67,253   (4,093)  (6.09)%

June 30, 2021

  71,346   72,372   72,241   (895)  (1.24)%

March 31, 2021

  73,136   76,004   69,104   4,032   5.83%


- 47 -
($ in thousands) 
        Difference Between Ending 
  Ending Balance  Average Balance  Repurchase Agreements and 
  of Repurchase  of Repurchase  Average Repurchase Agreements 
Three Months Ended Agreements  Agreements  Amount  Percent 
December 31, 2017 $200,183  $193,778  $6,405   3.31%
September 30, 2017  187,374   161,003   26,371   16.38
%(1)
June 30, 2017  134,633   126,341   8,292   6.56%
March 31, 2017  118,049   119,938   (1,889)  (1.57)%
December 31, 2016  121,828   123,909   (2,081)  (1.68)%
September 30, 2016  125,991   114,858   11,133   9.69%
June 30, 2016  103,725   103,259   466   0.45%
March 31, 2016  102,794   90,014   12,780   14.20
%(2)


(1)The higher ending balance relative to the average balance during the quarter ended September 30, 2017 reflects the growth of the portfolio. During the quarter ended September 30, 2017, the Company's investment in PT MBS increased $56.1 million.
(2)The higher ending balance relative to the average balance during the quarter ended March 31, 2016 reflects the repositioning of the portfolio. During the quarter ended March 31, 2016, the Company's investment in PT MBS increased $26.2 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources


Liquidity is our ability to turn non-cash assets into cash, purchase additional investments, repay principal and interest on borrowings, fund overhead and fulfill margin calls. Our principal immediateWe have both internal and external sources of liquidity. However, our material unused sources of liquidity include cash balances, unencumbered assets the availabilityand our ability to borrow under repurchase agreements, and fees and dividends received from Orchid.  Our borrowing capacity will vary over time as the market value of our interest earningsell encumbered assets varies.to raise cash. Our balance sheet also generates liquidity on an on-going basis through payments of principal and interest we receive on our MBS portfolio and fromdividends we receive on our investment in Orchid common stock.

Internal Sources of Liquidity

Our internal sources of liquidity include our cash flows received from the retained interestsbalances, unencumbered assets and the collectionour ability to liquidate our encumbered security holdings. Our balance sheet also generated liquidity on an ongoing basis through payments of servicing advances.  Management believes thatprincipal and interest we currently have sufficient liquidity and capital resources available for (a) the acquisition of additional investments consistent with the size and nature ofreceive on our existing MBS portfolio (b) the repaymentsand dividends we receive on borrowings, (c) the payment of overhead and operating expenses, and the payment of other accrued obligations.


Ourour investment in Orchid common stock.

We employ a hedging strategy for hedging our funding coststhat typically involves taking short positions in Eurodollar futures, T-Note futures, swaptionsTBAs or other instruments. Since inception we have primarily used short positions in Eurodollar futures. When the market causes these short positions to decline in value we are required to meet margin calls with cash. This can reduce our liquidity position to the extent other securities in our portfolio move in price in such a way that we do not receive enough cash through margin calls to offset the Eurodollar related margin calls. If this were to occur in sufficient magnitude, the loss of liquidity might force us to reduce the size of the levered portfolio, pledge additional structured securities to raise funds or risk operating the portfolio with less liquidity.


External Sources of Liquidity

Our primary external sources of liquidity are our ability to (i) borrow under master repurchase agreements and (ii) use the TBA security market. Our borrowing capacity will vary over time as the market value of our interest earning assets varies. Our master repurchase agreements have no stated expiration, but can be terminated at any time at our option or at the option of the counterparty. However, once a definitive repurchase agreement under a master repurchase agreement has been entered into, it generally may not be terminated by either party. A negotiated termination can occur, but may involve a fee to be paid by the party seeking to terminate the repurchase agreement transaction.


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Under our repurchase agreement funding arrangements, we are required to post margin at the initiation of the borrowing. The margin posted represents the haircut, which is a percentage of the market value of the collateral pledged. To the extent the market value of the asset collateralizing the financing transaction declines, the market value of our posted margin will be insufficient and we will be required to post additional collateral. Conversely, if the market value of the asset pledged increases in value, we would be over collateralized and we would be entitled to have excess margin returned to us by the counterparty. Our lenders typically value our pledged securities daily to ensure the adequacy of our margin and make margin calls as needed, as do we. Typically, but not always, the parties agree to a minimum threshold amount for margin calls so as to avoid the need for nuisance margin calls on a daily basis. Our master repurchase agreements do not specify the haircut; rather haircuts are determined on an individual repurchaserepo transaction basis.


As discussed above, we We did not experience any significant margin call activity during 2022.

We invest a portion of our capital in structured MBS. We generally do not apply leverage to this portion of our portfolio. The leverage inherent in structured securities replaces the leverage obtained by acquiring PT securities and funding them in the repurchaserepo market. This structured MBS strategy has been a core element of the Company'sCompany’s overall investment strategy since 2008. However, we have and may continue to pledge a portion of our structured MBS in order to raise our cash levels, but generally will not pledge these securities in order to acquire additional assets.


In future periods we expect to continue to finance our activities through repurchase agreements.agreements and through revenues from our advisory services business. As of December 31, 2017,2022, we had cash and cash equivalents of $6.1$6.0 million. We generated cash flows of $18.3$10.1 million from principal and interest payments on our MBS portfolio and $1.1 million from retained interests and had average repurchase agreements outstanding of $150.3$46.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2017.2022. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2017,2022, we received approximately $7.3$13.0 million in management fees and expense reimbursements as manager of Orchid and approximately $2.5$1.3 million in dividends from our investment in Orchid common shares.stock.


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The table below summarizes the effect that certain future contractual obligations existing as

(in thousands)               
  Obligations Maturing 
  Within  One to Three  Three to Five  More than Five  Total 
  Year  Years  Years  Years  Total 
Repurchase agreements $200,183  $-  $-  $-  $200,183 
Interest expense on repurchase agreements(1)
  603   -   -   -   603 
Junior subordinated notes(2)
  -   -   -   26,000   26,000 
Interest expense on junior subordinated notes(1)
  1,404   2,686   2,683   17,390   24,163 
Settlement obligation  250   250   -   -   500 
Totals $202,440  $2,936  $2,683  $43,390  $251,449 

(1)Interest expense on repurchase agreements and junior subordinated notes are based on current interest rates as of December 31, 2017 and the remaining term of liabilities existing at that date.
(2)The Company holds a common equity interest in Bimini Capital Trust II.  The amount presented represents the net cash outlay of the Company.

Outlook


Orchid Island Capital Inc.


To

Orchid Island Capital reported fourth quarter 2022 income of $34.9 million and its shareholders equity increased from $400.4 million to $438.8 million from September 30, 2022 to December 31, 2022.  The market conditions described below led to the extent Orchid is able to increase its capital base over time, we will benefit via increased management fees.  In addition, in income as agency MBS generally outperformed comparable duration treasuries during the period and Orchid’s hedge positions also benefited from increases in interest rates.

Orchid is obligated to reimburse us for direct expenses paid on its behalf and to pay to us Orchid'sOrchid’s pro rata share of overhead as defined in the management agreement.  As a stockholder of Orchid, we will also continue to share in distributions, if any, paid by Orchid to its stockholders.


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The independent Board  Our operating results are also impacted by changes in the market value of Directorsour holdings of Orchid hascommon shares, although these market value changes do not impact our cash flows from Orchid. 

Economic Summary 

As 2022 ended, the abilitymarkets' and the Fed's outlook for the economy, inflation and the path of monetary policy began to terminatediverge.  The seeds for the management agreementdivergence were planted as the third quarter of 2022 came to an end and thus end our abilitythe Fed had finally succeeded in convincing the market that they had much work to collect management feesdo in removing accommodation and share overhead costs.  Should Orchid terminatethat the management agreement without cause,process would take longer than the market had expected.  Public comments by Fed officials became uniformly hawkish – pointing to substantially more rate increases – and the incoming inflation data for July, August and September of 2022 was quite strong.  The combined effect of the data and the clear intentions of the Fed to aggressively fight to prevent inflation from spiraling out of control and becoming entrenched in consumer behavior dispelled any notion that the Fed would not succeed in their pursuit of their dual mandate – price stability and full employment.  In fact, the Fed was so successful at convincing the market it will pay us a termination fee equalwould aggressively remove accommodation and slow inflation that the market began to three times the average annual management fee, as definedlook beyond this step in the management agreement, before orprocess and instead focus on the last dayramifications of such policy removal – namely a slowing of the current automatic renewal term.


Interest Rateseconomy.

The change of focus – or “pivot” – on the part of the market occurred in late October and early November of 2022, largely in response to inflation data.  The consumer price index ("CPI") for October and November of 2022, released in November and December of 2022, were much lower than previous months. While such figures were revised higher in early February 2023, at the MBS Market


time, the market interpreted this development as evidence that inflation had peaked and was coming down quickly.  The market reaction reflected an assumption that the Fed would succeed in taming inflation quicker than the Fed was expecting and that the rate hikes envisioned by the Fed and reflected in their summary of economic projections would instead cause the economy to slow too much and that the Fed would have to lower rates beginning in late 2023. 

The divergence in expectations emanated from service sector inflation expectations.  As the first quarter of 2023 began, it became clear goods inflation was dropping quickly.  This was a result of Covid-19 induced supply constraints abating and consumer demand shifting from goods to services.  The market expected that the real estate sector, always very sensitive to interest rates, was in decline and would no longer be a source of inflation outside of the lagged effects of rents, which was anticipated to ebb soon.  What remained was non-shelter related services inflation.  The Fed recognizes wage pressures are the primary source of inflation in this case.  Accordingly measures of labor market tightness and wage inflation have become the Fed’s focus.  To the extent such measures remain elevated, Fed actions will likely continue to reflect their tightening bias.  As we move further into 2023, incoming economic data implies inflation is not slowing as appeared to be the case during the fourth quarter of 2017 marked a reversal2022 nor has economic activity slowed materially. Hence, market expectations for additional rate hikes and the possible time frame over which the Fed will be required to maintain higher rates has converged with the Fed's expectations.

Interest Rates

The Fed raised the Fed Funds target range twice during the fourth quarter of 2022 and the high end of the trend in place for the first nine months of the year. The shifts that occurred were numerous.  Perhaps the most significant from a long-term perspectiverange was the surprise success the Trump administration had in passing a substantive tax package – The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Act").  The significance of the Act was two-fold.  On the one hand, its passage ended the Trump administration's string of legislative failures, and on the other, we believe the legislation should be stimulative for the economy.  Passage of the Act coincided with continuing strong economic data and contributed to the "risk on" sentiment in the markets.  The result was a continuation of the ever-increasing levels in the equity markets, particularly the domestic equity markets, as well as other risk assets such as commodities, investment grade and sub-investment grade debt.


Some of the clouds on the economic horizon that existed4.50% at the end of the third quarteryear – an increase of 2017 did not prove125 basis points during the quarter.  The Fed raised the target rate by another 25 basis points in February 2023. Moreover, the market expects the Fed will continue to be troubling.raise the target further in 2023, perhaps as much as 100 basis points including the February 2023 increase. Importantly, the Fed, as evidenced by their own “dot plot”, a summary of committee members' expectations of the Fed Funds rate over their forecast period, anticipates the Fed Funds rate will peak at approximately 5.125% by mid-2023 and remain above 5% throughout the balance of 2023.  The three hurricanes that made landfallmarket now appears to agree with this outcome as evidenced by current pricing in the futures market. Yields on U.S. in August and September 2017 did not impact economic growth in a material way, and President Trump's selectionTreasury securities with maturities of the new chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, was perceived as a "status quo" selection by the markets, and not a shift in the hawkish direction.

A second significant event that impacted the marketsone year or less increased substantially during the fourth quarter of 2017 actually occurred late2022, with the shortest maturities increasing the most – reflective of the actual and anticipated increases in overnight funding levels driven by the Fed.  Such increases were as much as 134 basis points in the third quarter of 2017.  At the conclusioncase of the September 2017 meetingone-month U.S. Treasury bill.

As the fourth quarter unfolded, with the market expecting the Fed to succeed in containing inflation and ultimately slowing the economy in the process, longer maturity interest rates were essentially unchanged during the fourth quarter.  During the month of October 2022, the hawkish rhetoric from the Fed and strong inflation data initially caused long-term rates to increase substantially from August 2022 levels near 2.6% to approximately 4.25% in late October 2022 in the case of the FOMC, chair Janet Yellen stated that10-year U.S. Treasury. However, longer-term rates slowly declined for much of the Fed viewed recent soft inflation data as owing to transitory factors and that they remained confident that inflation would trend towards their 2% target levelbalance of the fourth quarter before a 40-basis point increase over the medium term.  This acknowledgementlast two weeks of the year. The late December 2022 increase was triggered by additional hawkish comments by the Fed that they would look past soft inflation data in the near term, and continue to remove accommodation, forced the market to revisit expectations for additional interest rate hikes.  While there was a substantial gap in the markets pricing for additional Fed rate hikes and the extent of hikes implied in the Fed's "dot plot" prior to the September 2017at their December meeting this gap closed markedlyreinforced by similar language by the end of the year.  Fed public comments since the September 2017 meeting, coupled with continued strong data, have reinforced the market's thinking.  The Fed's "dot plot" implies three rate hikes in 2018European Central Bank and current market pricing is over 2.5 hikes, a meaningful closing of the gap that existed in August and early September 2017 when the 10-year US T-Note flirted with breaking below 2%.  The yield on the 10-year U.S. T-Note reached 2.406% by December 29, 2017 and approached 3.0% in February 2018.


Duringilliquid holiday trading conditions.  For the fourth quarter of 2017, inflation data was mixed and year over year figures remained below2022, U.S. Treasury maturities beyond the Fed's 2% target.  2-year point were largely unchanged. 

The combination of benign inflation readingsthe extreme upward movement in short maturity yields described above and a Fed that seems intent on removing accommodation, even more so as strong economic data continues to be released, has caused the yield curve to flatten.  This trend has continued into 2018.  The market is convinced the Fed will be vigilantessentially unchanged yields for longer maturity U.S. Treasuries resulted in staying ahead of inflation, and therefore longer dated treasuries, that are most sensitive to inflation, have increased in yield far less than short term treasuries that are more sensitive to Fed rate increases.  The fact the Fed is ahead of their central bank peers at removing accommodation has allowed yield spreads between U.S. rates and sovereign debt rates across Europe and Japan to remain large, helping to keep additional downward pressure on longer term rates in the U.S.


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The mortgage market was impacted by these events in a positive way.  The strong "risk on" tone of the markets continued to drive spreads available in the various investment grade and sub-investment grade markets tighter.  This enabled spreads available in the Agency MBS market to appear relatively attractive and continue to tighten over the course of the quarter.  In early January 2018, the spread of the 30-year, fixed rate conventional mortgage to the 10-year U.S. T-Note hit its tightest level since early 2013 in early January 2018.  This spread has since widened as longer-term rates continue to inch higher, causing extension fears to enter the market – the fear that mortgage cash flows will extend materially as prepayment activity is driven lower by higher prevailing mortgage rates available to borrowers. Thean extreme flattening of the yield curve tends to hurt fixed income markets generally as spreads on these assets relative to funding levels are compressed.  However,the point the curve became inverted.  This continued the trend that began in early July of 2022.  Over the course of the fourth quarter of 2022, the extent of the inversion increased substantially.  In the case of the spread between the 2-year and 10-year U.S. Treasuries the inversion reached 84 basis points in early December and 88 basis points in the case of the spread between the 10-year U.S. Treasury and the Fed Funds rate.  Historically such inversions signaled market expectations of a recession on the horizon, as was the case in late 2022.

The Agency MBS Market

The Agency MBS market we believe this effect is off-set somewhatreturns for 2022 were negative – down 11.9%.  However, the sector posted positive returns for the fourth quarter of 2.1%, which was 110 bps higher than comparable duration swaps.  As described above, expectations for the economy and rates diverged between those of the Fed and the markets during the last two months of the fourth quarter of 2022.  During the fourth quarter, the markets' appetite for riskier assets improved in anticipation that the Fed was nearing the end of its tightening cycle and would be easing monetary conditions by the seasonal slow-downend of 2023. This led the higher risk sectors of the fixed income markets to outperform, as investment and non-investment grade corporates outperformed U.S. Treasuries, Agency MBS and Agency debt by a considerable margin. 

The performance of the Agency MBS sector was not uniformly positive for the fourth quarter.  As described above, early in prepaymentthe quarter U.S. Treasury yields achieved their highest levels in many years in late October of 2022.  Agency MBS spreads to comparable duration spreads also reached their widest levels since the great financial crisis, easily surpassing the levels observed in March of 2020.  As market sentiment turned mid-quarter and risk appetite improved the attractive levels of Agency MBS, like most other asset classes, were viewed as very attractive.  The sector’s performance was driven to a large extent by the extremes reached in late October 2022.  However, the spreads available in the sector remain wider than those observed prior to the onset of the pandemic in early 2020.  The absence of the largest of the traditional buyers of the asset class – banks, and since March of 2020, the Fed, may result in the sector recovering slowly towards pre-pandemic levels, if it can do so at all. 

Within the Agency MBS sector, 30-year fixed rate coupons slightly outperformed 15-year and GNMA fixed rate securities, both in absolute and relative terms.  Within the 30-year fixed rate sector lower/discount coupon securities generated the best relative/excess returns to comparable duration U.S. Treasuries and swaps.

Recent Legislative and Regulatory Developments

In response to the deterioration in the markets for U.S. Treasuries, Agency MBS and other mortgage and fixed income markets resulting from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fed implemented a program of quantitative easing. Through November of 2021, the Fed was committed to purchasing $80 billion of U.S. Treasuries and $40 billion of Agency MBS each month. In November of 2021, it began tapering its net asset purchases each month, ended net asset purchases by early March of 2022, and ended asset purchases entirely in September of 2022. On May 4, 2022, the FOMC announced a plan for reducing the Fed’s balance sheet. In June of 2022, in accordance with this plan, the Fed began reducing its balance sheet by a maximum of $30 billion of U.S. Treasuries and $17.5 billion of Agency MBS each month. On September 21, 2022, the FOMC announced the Fed’s decision to continue reducing the balance sheet by a maximum of $60 billion of U.S Treasuries and $35 billion of Agency MBS per month.

On January 29, 2021, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance extending eviction moratoriums for covered persons put in place by the CARES Act through March 31, 2021. The FHFA subsequently extended the foreclosure moratorium for loans backed by the Enterprisesand the eviction moratorium for real estate owned by the Enterprisesuntil July 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, respectively. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department subsequently extended the FHA foreclosure and eviction moratoria to July 31, 2021, and September 30, 2021, respectively.  Despite the expirations of these foreclosure moratoria, a final rule adopted by the CFPB on June 28, 2021, effectively prohibited servicers from initiating a foreclosure before January 1, 2022, in most instances. Foreclosure activity has risen since the end of the moratorium, with foreclosure starts in 2022 up 169% from 2021, but remaining 26% lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2019 and 88% lower than the peak in 2009. 

On September 30, 2019, the FHFA announced that occurs around year endthe Enterpriseswere allowed to increase their capital buffers to $25 billion and into$20 billion, respectively, from the prior limit of $3 billion each. This step could ultimately lead to the Enterprisesbeing privatized and represents the first quarter.  Going forward,concrete step on the balance between slower prepayment activity,road to Enterprise reform.  In December 2020, the FHFA released a final rule on a new regulatory framework for the Enterpriseswhich seeks to implement both a risk-based capital framework and thusminimum leverage capital requirements. On January 14, 2021, the U.S. Treasury and the FHFA executed letter agreements allowing the Enterprisesto continue to retain capital up to their regulatory minimums, including buffers, as prescribed in the December rule.  These letter agreements provide, in part, (i) there will be no exit from conservatorship until all material litigation is settled and the Enterprise has common equity Tier 1 capital of at least 3% of its assets, (ii) the Enterpriseswill comply with the FHFA’s regulatory capital framework, (iii) higher-risk single-family mortgage originationacquisitions will be restricted to current levels, and (iv) the U.S. Treasury and the FHFA will establish a timeline and process for future Enterprise reform. However, no definitive proposals or legislation have been released or enacted with respect to ending the conservatorship, unwinding the Enterprises, or materially reducing the roles of the Enterprises in the U.S. mortgage market. On September 14, 2021, the U.S. Treasury and the FHFA suspended certain policy provisions in the January agreement, including limits on loans acquired for cash consideration, multifamily loans, loans with higher risk characteristics and second homes and investment properties.  On February 25, 2022, the FHFA published a final rule, effective as of April 26, 2022, amending the Enterprise capital framework established in December 2020 by, among other things, replacing the fixed leverage buffer equal to 1.5% of an Enterprise’s adjusted total assets with a dynamic leverage buffer equal to 50% of an Enterprise’s stability capital buffer, reducing the risk weight floor from 10% to 5%, and removing the requirement that the Enterprises must apply an overall effectiveness adjustment to their credit risk transfer exposures. On June 14, 2022, the Enterprises announced that they would each charge a 50 bps fee for commingled securities issued on or after July 1, 2022 to cover the additional capital required for such securities under the Enterprise capital framework, which was subsequently reduced purchaseson January 19, 2023 to 9.375 bps for commingled securities issued on or after April 1, 2023 to address industry concern that the fee posed a risk to the fungibility of the Uniform Mortgage-Backed Security (“UMBS”) and negatively impacted liquidity and pricing in the market for TBA securities.

In 2017, policymakers announced that LIBOR will be replaced by December 31, 2021. The directive was spurred by the fact that banks are uncomfortable contributing to the LIBOR panel given the shortage of underlying transactions on which to base levels and the liability associated with submitting an unfounded level. However, the ICE Benchmark Administration, in its capacity as administrator of USD LIBOR, has announced that it intends to extend publication of USD LIBOR (other than one-week and two-month tenors) by 18 months to June 2023.  Notwithstanding this extension, a joint statement by key regulatory authorities calls on banks to cease entering into new contracts that use USD LIBOR as a reference rate by no later than December 31, 2021.

On December 7, 2021, the CFPB released a final rule that amends Regulation Z, which implemented the Truth in Lending Act, aimed at addressing cessation of LIBOR for both closed-end (e.g., home mortgage) and open-end (e.g., home equity line of credit) products. The rule, which mostly became effective in April of 2022, establishes requirements for the selection of replacement indices for existing LIBOR-linked consumer loans. Although the rule does not mandate the use of SOFR as the alternative rate, it identifies SOFR as a comparable rate for closed-end products and states that for open-end products, the CFPB has determined that ARRC’s recommended spread-adjusted indices based on SOFR for consumer products to replace the one-month, three-month, or six-month USD LIBOR index “have historical fluctuations that are substantially similar to those of the LIBOR indices that they are intended to replace.” The CFPB reserved judgment, however, on a SOFR-based spread-adjusted replacement index to replace the one-year USD LIBOR until it obtained additional information.

On March 15, 2022, the Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act (the “LIBOR Act”) was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471). The LIBOR Act provides for a statutory replacement benchmark rate for contracts that use LIBOR as a benchmark and do not contain any fallback mechanism independent of LIBOR. Pursuant to the LIBOR Act, SOFR becomes the new benchmark rate by operation of law for any such contract. The LIBOR Act establishes a safe harbor from litigation for claims arising out of or related to the use of SOFR as the recommended benchmark replacement. The LIBOR Act makes clear that it should not be construed to disfavor the use of any benchmark on a prospective basis.

On July 28, 2022, the Fed will be criticalpublished a proposed rule to implement the LIBOR Act, which was adopted on December 16, 2022.  The final rule, which went into effect on February 27, 2023, sets benchmark SOFR rates to replace overnight, one-month, three-month, six-month and 12-month LIBOR contracts and provides mechanisms for converting most existing LIBOR contracts, including Agency MBS, performance.  to SOFR no later than June 30, 2023.

The shapeLIBOR Act also attempts to forestall challenges that it is impairing contracts. It provides that the discontinuance of LIBOR and the automatic statutory transition to a replacement rate neither impairs or affects the rights of a party to receive payment under such contracts, nor allows a party to discharge their performance obligations or to declare a breach of contract. It amends the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 to state that the “the right of any holder of any indenture security to receive payment of the yield curve will alsoprincipal of and interest on such indenture security shall not be important fordeemed to be impaired or affected” by application of the relative performanceLIBOR Act to any indenture security.

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Recent Regulatory Developments

The scope and nature of the actions the U.S. government or the Fed will ultimately undertake are unknown and will continue to evolve.  Although the Trump administration has made statements of its intentions to reform housing finance, these potential policy changes will require congressional action.  In addition, the Fed has made statements regarding additional increases to the Federal Funds Rate in 2018 and beyond.


At its September 2017 meeting, the FOMC agreed to start the program for gradually reducing the Fed's holdings of Agency MBS and U.S. Treasuries, starting in October 2017, as part of its overall approach to monetary policy normalization, by reducing its reinvestment of Agency MBS and U.S. Treasuries held in the System Open Market Account.

Effect on Us


Regulatory developments, movements in interest rates and prepayment rates affect us in many ways, including the following:


Effects on our Assets


A change in or elimination of the guarantee structure of Agency MBS may increase our costs (if, for example, guarantee fees increase) or require us to change our investment strategy altogether. For example, the elimination of the guarantee structure of Agency MBS may cause us to change our investment strategy to focus on non-Agency MBS, which in turn would require us to significantly increase our monitoring of the credit risks of our investments in addition to interest rate and prepayment risks.


Lower long-term interest rates can affect the value of our Agency MBS in a number of ways.

If prepayment rates are relatively low (due, in part, to the refinancing problems described above), lower long-term interest rates can increase the value of higher-couponour  Agency MBS. This is because investors typically place a premium on assets with coupon/yields that are higher than coupon /yields available in the market. To the extent such securities per-pay slower than would otherwise be the case, we benefit from an above market yields.coupon/yield for longer, enhancing the return from the security. Although lower long-term interest rates may increase asset values in our portfolio, we may not be able to invest new funds in similarly-yielding assets.


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If prepayment levels increase, the value of our Agency MBS affected by such prepayments may decline. This is because a principal prepayment accelerates the effective term of an Agency MBS, which would shorten the period during which wean investor would receive above-market returns (assuming the yield on the prepaid asset is higher than market yields). Also, weprepayment proceeds may not be able to reinvest prepayment proceedsbe reinvested in similar-yielding assets. Agency MBS backed by mortgages with high interest rates are more susceptible to prepayment risk because holders of those mortgages are most likely to refinance to a lower rate. IOs and IIOs, however, may be the types of Agency MBS most sensitive to increased prepayment rates. Because the holder of an IO or IIO receives no principal payments, the values of IOs and IIOs are entirely dependent on the existence of a principal balance on the underlying mortgages. If the principal balance is eliminated due to prepayment, IOs and IIOs essentially become worthless. Although increased prepayment rates can negatively affect the value of our IOs and IIOs, they have the opposite effect on POs. Because POs act like zero-coupon bonds, meaning they are purchased at a discount to their par value and have an effective interest rate based on the discount and the term of the underlying loan, an increase in prepayment rates would reduce the effective term of our POs and accelerate the yields earned on those assets, which would increase our net income.


Higher long-term rates can also affect the value of our Agency MBS.  As long-term rates rise, rates available to borrowers also rise.  This tends to cause prepayment activity to slow and extend the expected average life of mortgage cash flows.  As the expected average life of the mortgage cash flows increase,increases, coupled with higher discount rates, the value of Agency MBS declines.  Some of the instruments the Company useswe use to hedge our Agency MBS assets, such as Eurodollarinterest rate futures,, swaps and swaptions, are stable average life instruments.  This means that to the extent we use such instruments to hedge our Agency MBS assets, our hedges may not adequately protect us from price declines, and therefore may negatively impact our book value.  ForIt is for this reason we use interest only securities in our portfolio. As interest rates rise, the expected average life of these securities increase,increases, causing generally positive price movements as the number and size of the cash flows increase the longer the underlying mortgages remain outstanding. This makes interest only securities desirable hedge instruments for pass-through Agency MBS.

As the economy has rebounded from the financial crisis, the Fed has taken steps to remove the considerable accommodation that was employed to combat the crisis.  At the conclusion of its meeting in September 2017, the Fed announced it would implement caps on the amount of Agency MBS assets it would allow to run off- or not be re-invested – starting in October 2017.  Previously the Fed re-invested all of the principal repayments it received each month on the Agency MBS assets it had acquired during their quantitative easing programs.  By capping the amount they would allow to run off each month, the Fed was effectively limiting the amount it would re-invest.  Pursuant to the September 2017 announcement, the cap would eventually reach $20 billion per month by the end of 2018.  At the time of the Fed's announcement, its monthly re-investments were approximately $20 billion per month as well, so this implied the Fed would stop, or nearly stop, re-investing its monthly pay-downs by the end of 2018.  The purchases each month by the Fed have been a significant source of demand indescribed above, the Agency MBS market began to experience severe dislocations in mid-March 2020 as a result of the economic, health and asmarket turmoil brought about by COVID-19. On March 23, 2020, the Fed announced that it is reduced slowly over the course of 2018 and essentially eliminated beyond 2018, the removal of this source of demand could negatively impactwould purchase Agency MBS prices.  The extentand U.S. Treasuries in the amounts needed to support smooth market functioning, which this negatively impactslargely stabilized the Agency MBS market, but ended these purchases in March 2022 and announced plans to reduce its balance sheet. The Fed’s planned reduction of its balance sheet could negatively impact our investment portfolio. Further, the moratoriums on foreclosures and evictions described above will likely delay potential defaults on loans that would otherwise be a functionbought out of Agency MBS pools as described above.  Depending on the ultimate resolution of the levelforeclosure or evictions, when and if it occurs, these loans may be removed from the pool into which they were securitized. If this were to occur, it would have the effect of supply each month – asdelaying a prepayment on our securities until such time. To the supply/demand balance affectsextent our Agency MBS assets were acquired at a premium to par, this will tend to increase the price of anyrealized yield on the asset – and whether or not another source of demand emergesin question. To the extent they were acquired at a discount, this will tend to replacedecrease the Fed.


realized yield on the asset in question. 

Because we base our investment decisions on risk management principles rather than anticipated movements in interest rates, in a volatile interest rate environment we may allocate more capital to structured Agency MBS with shorter durations, such as short-term fixed and floating rate CMOs.durations. We believe these securities have a lower sensitivity to changes in long-term interest rates than other asset classes. We may attempt to mitigate our exposure to changes in long-term interest rates by investing in IOs and IIOs, which typically have different sensitivities to changes in long-term interest rates than PT MBS, particularly PT MBS backed by fixed-rate mortgages.


If Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were to modify or end their repurchase programs, our investment portfolio could be negatively impacted.

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Effects on our borrowing costs


We leverage our PT MBS portfolio and a portion of our structured Agency MBS with principal balances through the use of short-term repurchase agreement transactions. The interest rates on our debt are determined by market levels of both the Federal Funds Rate and LIBOR. An increaseshort term interest rate markets. Increases in the FederalFed Funds Raterate, SOFR or LIBOR wouldtypically increase our borrowing costs, which could affect our interest rate spread if there is no corresponding increase in the interest we earn on our assets. This would be most prevalent with respect to our Agency MBS backed by fixed rate mortgage loans because the interest rate on a fixed-rate mortgage loan does not change even though market rates may change.


In order to protect our net interest margin against increases in short-term interest rates, we may enter into interest rate swaps, which effectivelyeconomically convert our floating-rate repurchase agreement debt to fixed-rate debt, or utilize other hedging instruments such as Eurodollar, Fed Funds and T-Note futures contracts or interest rate swaptions.


Summary


The market direction changed appreciably during

During the fourth quarter of 2017.  As we entered 2017, risk assets2022 the trends in incoming economic data began to change, indicating the actions of the Fed to remove accommodation and slow demand were performing very well asstarting to take hold.  The most interest rate sensitive sectors of the Trump administration took officeeconomy, mainly housing and housing related, were slowing precipitously.  Demand and consumption for goods – reflected in late Januarysales and appeared to be very pro-business.  The markets looked forward to a roll back of recently expanding regulations across many industries, a new and hopefully improved health care act, tax reform and possibly much needed infrastructure spending to refurbish the nation's aging roads, highways, bridges and airports.  While the administration made bold promises, there was little delivered.  Market optimism was quickly replaced with pessimism.  Geopolitical events surfaced in April, specifically the Korean peninsula.  These events kept the market on edge and induced sporadic flight to quality rallies as headlines hit the market from time to time. Starting in March, incomingproduction data – were clearly slowing.  Even inflation data, as evidenced by the CPI and Personal Consumption  Expenditures  data, slowed during the quarter as well although such data was consistently below expectations.  Insubsequently revised higher in early February of 2023. The one big exception was the labor market and wages – which were still tight in the case of the core Consumer Price Index ("CPI") measure,labor market and increasing in the year over year figure movedcase of wages.  To central bankers, and in particular the Fed, this was problematic.  As consumers migrated their consumption from 2.3% in January 2017goods to 1.7% by Mayservices as the effects of the pandemic wore off service inflation remained elevated due to persistent worker shortages and has not moved back above 1.8% since.the resulting wage pressures as employers struggled to fill positions. The Fed remains convinced these readings are being driven by temporary or transitory phenomenon,identified non-shelter related services inflation as the focus of their efforts to contain inflation and inflation expectations.  In their efforts to rein in service related inflation, the Fed has continued to raise the Fed Funds rate – and plans to continue doing so into 2023.  In fact, the Fed raised the Fed Funds rate at their February 2023 meeting and indicated additional hikes were likely while simultaneously stating their intention to hold rates at what they deem to be restrictive territory into 2024.

The financial markets were reluctant to accept that inflation will reverse and head back towardsthe Fed would be so aggressive in their 2% target over the medium term. This was a significant development and it marked a clear changetightening until late in the biasthird quarter of 2022 when the Fed appeared to finally convince the markets of the extent and timing of the tightening plans.  The market reacted swiftly as interest rates increased rapidly from August through late October of 2022.  Short maturity rates increased the most, in anticipation of the Fed raising Fed Funds as high as 5.0% in 2023.  However, the market view, as expressed in interest rates, futures and the shape of the U.S. Treasury curve, differed from the view of the Fed, during the last two months of 2022 and early 2023.  Market pricing at the end of 2022 indicated a dovishbelief that the Fed would succeed in reining in inflation sooner than the Fed did, and that in so doing it would ultimately slow the economy so much that the Fed would have to pivot and move to lower rates by the end of 2023. The result of this view was a more hawkish,deeply inverted U.S. Treasury yield curve, with short term rates of maturities of two-years or aggressive stance.  Overless far in excess of longer maturity U.S. Treasuries. However, economic data released in early 2023 has not been consistent with the coursemarket's view, as inflation measures remain stubbornly high, the economy does not appear to be slowing and wage pressures have not abated. The market's view has moved into alignment with the Fed's expectations as evidenced by pricing in the futures markets.

The Agency MBS market returns for 2022 were -11.9%.  However, the sector returned +2.1% for the fourth quarter of 2022.  The turning point coincided with the markets pivot towards believing the Fed tightening cycle was nearing its end and that the economy would slow in 2023.  In October 2022, spreads on Agency MBS reached levels not seen since the great financial crisis.  However, as market sentiment turned in November and December of 2022, these spread levels appeared quite attractive.  This was also true of most risk assets.  As a result, the sector performed very well over the balance of the fourth quarter of 2017 and into early 2018, the market has grown to accept this outcome - as reflected2022, which resulted in Fed Funds futures pricing.


Latean increase in the fourthvaluation of our assets.  In the case of even riskier asset classes the performance has been even better. As the first quarter of 2017,2023 unfolds, the Trump administration had its first major legislative success when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was passed.  The legislation was viewed as very pro-growth and it addedAgency MBS sector is still trading at spread levels well above levels observed prior to the high-levelCOVID-19 pandemic.  However, the absence of animal spiritstwo of the largest buyers of the sector, banks and, "risk on" tonesince the onset of the pandemic, the Fed may result in the markets. Risk markets performed very well into year endsector recovering more slowly towards pre-pandemic levels, if such levels are even obtained at all.  The risk to the sector would be a re-acceleration of inflation and incoming economic data was consistently strong. These developments drove the markets to price in a more aggressive Fed going forward. More importantly, the combination of benign inflation readings, coupled with hawkish Fed expectations, caused the yield curve to flatten significantly in 2017, to multi-year lows.

The Agency MBS market has performed well in this environment, resulting in low volatility and tight trading spreads across most comparable asset classes. In early January 2018, current coupon, 30-year fixed rate mortgages traded at their tightest spread to comparable duration treasuries since early 2013. Going forward, the balance between prepayment activity, and thus mortgage origination levels, and reduced purchases byneed for the Fed will be critical for Agency MBS performance.  The shapeto tighten monetary policy even further. Data released in February of the yield curve will also be important for the relative performance of higher versus lower coupon mortgages, as a flatter yield curve tends to cause lower coupon mortgages to out-perform higher coupon mortgages, our core holding.  On the other hand, if incoming inflation data were to exceed market expectations, not only would the Fed be very likely to carry out their professed intentions to raise rates three times in 2018 and more so in the years after, but2023 heightens this would also put upward pressure on longer-term rates and volatility, both negatively impacting Agency MBS performance.

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concern.

Critical Accounting Policies


Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements.  TheseEstimates

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company's significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the Company's accompanying consolidated financial statements.


GAAP requires the Company'sour management to make some complex and subjective decisions and assessments. The Company'sOur most critical accounting policies involve decisions and assessments which could significantly affect reported assets, and liabilities, as well as reported revenues and expenses. The Company believes that all ofManagement has identified the decisions and assessments upon whichfollowing as its financial statements are based were reasonable at the time made based upon information available to it at that time.

Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Bimini Capital, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Bimini Advisors and Royal Palm. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

most critical accounting estimates:

Mortgage-Backed Securities


Our investments in MBS are accounted for under theat fair value option.value. We acquire our MBS for the purpose of generating long-term returns, and not for the short-term investment of idle capital. Changes

As discussed in Note 14 to the fair value of securities accounted for under the fair value option are reflected as part offinancial statements, our net income or loss in our consolidated statement of operations, as opposed to a component of other comprehensive income in our consolidated statement of stockholder's equity if they were instead reclassified as available-for-sale securities. We elected to account for all of our MBS under the fair value option in order to reflect changes in the fair value of our MBS in our consolidated statement of operations, which we believe more appropriately reflects the results of our operations for a particular reporting period. GAAP requires the use of a three-level valuation hierarchy to disclose the classification of fair value measurements used for determining the fair value of our MBS. These levels include:


·Level 1 valuations, where the valuation is based on quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities traded in active markets (which include exchanges and over-the-counter markets with sufficient volume),
·Level 2 valuations, where the valuation is based on quoted market prices for similar instruments traded in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market, and
·Level 3 valuations, where the valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market, but observable based on Company- specific data. These unobservable assumptions reflect the Company's own estimates for assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques typically include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, but may also include the use of market prices of assets or liabilities that are not directly comparable to the subject asset or liability.

Our MBS are valued using Level 2 valuations, and such valuations currently are determined based on independent pricing sources and/or third party broker quotes, when available. Because the price estimates may vary, management must make certain judgments and assumptions about the appropriate price to use to calculate the fair values. Alternatively, the Company could opt to have the value of all of our positions in MBS determined by either an independent third-party or do so internally. In managing our portfolio, the Company employs the following four-step process at each valuation date to determine the fair value of our MBS.

·

First, the Company obtains fair values from subscription-based independent pricing services. These prices are used by both the Company as well as our repurchase agreement counterparty on a daily basis to establish margin requirements for our borrowings.

·

Second, the Company requests non-binding quotes from one to four broker-dealers for certain MBS in order to validate the values obtained by the pricing service. The Company requests these quotes from broker-dealers that actively trade and make markets in the respective asset class for which the quote is requested.

·

Third, the Company reviews the values obtained by the pricing source and the broker-dealers for consistency across similar assets.

·

Finally, if the data from the pricing services and broker-dealers is not homogenous or if the data obtained is inconsistent with management'smanagement’s market observations, the Company makes a judgment to determine which price appears the most consistent with observed prices from similar assets and selects that price. To the extent management believes that none of the prices are consistent with observed prices for similar assets, which is typically the case for only an immaterial portion of our portfolio each quarter, the Company may use a third price that is consistent with observed prices for identical or similar assets. In the case of assets that have quoted prices such as Agency MBS backed by fixed-rate mortgages, the Company generally uses the quoted or observed market price. For assets such as Agency MBS backed by ARMs or structured Agency MBS, the Company may determine the price based on the yield or spread that is identical to an observed transaction or a similar asset for which a dealer mark or subscription-based price has been obtained.


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Management believes its pricing methodology to be consistent with the definition of fair value described in FASB ASCFinancial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements.

Measurements.


Investment in Orchid Island Capital, Inc. Common Stock

The Company has elected the fair value option for its investment in Orchid common shares.  The change in the fair value of this investment and dividends received on this investment are reflected in other income in the consolidated statements of operations.  We estimate the fair value of our investment in Orchid on a market approach using "Level 1" inputs based on the quoted market price of Orchid's common stock on the NYSE. Electing the fair value option requires the Company to record changes in fair value in the consolidated statements of operations, which, in management's view, more appropriately reflects the results of our operations for a particular reporting period and is consistent with how the investment is managed.

Advisory Services

Orchid is externally managed and advised by Bimini Advisors pursuant to the terms of a management agreement.  Under the terms of the management agreement Orchid is obligated to pay Bimini Advisors a monthly management fee and a pro rata portion of certain overhead costs and to reimburse the Company for any direct expenses incurred on its behalf.

Retained Interests in Securitizations

Retained interests in the subordinated tranches of securities created in securitization transactions were initially recorded at their fair value when issued by Royal Palm. Subsequent adjustments to fair value are reflected in earnings. Quoted market prices for these assets are generally not available, so the Company estimates fair value based on the present value of expected future cash flows using management's best estimates of key assumptions, which include expected credit losses, prepayment speeds, weighted-average life, and discount rates commensurate with the inherent risks of the asset.

Derivative Financial Instruments
 
We use derivative instruments to manage interest rate risk, facilitate asset/liability strategies and manage other exposures, and we may continue to do so in the future. The principal instruments that we have used to date are T-Note and Eurodollar futures contracts and interest rate swaptions, but we may enter into other derivatives in the future.

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We have elected not to treat any

Repurchase Agreements

We finance the acquisition of a significant portion of our MBS through repurchase transactions under master repurchase agreements. Repurchase transactions are treated as collateralized financing transactions and are carried at their contractual amounts, including accrued interest, which due to their short term nature approximate fair value.

Income Recognition


All of our MBS are either PT MBS or structured MBS, including CMOs, IOs, IIOs or POs. Income on PT MBS, POs and CMOs that contain principal balances is based on the stated interest rate of the security. As a result of accounting for our MBS under the fair value option, premium or discount present at the date of purchase is not amortized. For IOs, IIOs and CMOs that do not contain principal balances, income is accrued based on the carrying value and the effective yield. As cash is received it is first applied to accrued interest and then to reduce the carrying value of the security. At each reporting date, the effective yield is adjusted prospectively from the reporting period based on the new estimate of prepayments, current interest rates and current asset prices. The new effective yield is calculated based on the carrying value at the end of the previous reporting period, the new prepayment estimates and the contractual terms of the security. Changes in fair value of all of our MBS during the period are recorded in earnings and reported as unrealized gains or losses on mortgage-backed securities in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. For IIO securities, effective yield and income recognition calculations also take into account the index value applicable to the security.


Income Taxes


Income taxes are provided for using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. The measurement of net deferred tax assets is adjusted by a valuation allowance if, based on the Company'sCompany’s evaluation, it is more likely than not that they will not be realized. A majority of the Company'sCompany’s net deferred tax assets, which consist primarily of NOLs, are expected to be realized over an extended number of years. Management'sManagement’s conclusion is supported by the revenuetaxable income projections which include forecasts of management fees, Orchid dividends and net interest income, and the subsequent reinvestment of those amounts into the MBS portfolio over the extended period to carry forward NOLs.portfolio. However, management reassesses its valuation allowance conclusions whenever there is a material change in those estimates could lead management to reassess its valuation allowance conclusions.


The Company's U.S. federaltaxable income tax returns for years ended on or after December 31, 2014 remain open for examination. Although management believes its calculations for tax returns are correct and the positions taken thereon are reasonable, the final outcome of tax audits could be materially different from the tax returns filed by the Company, and those differences could result in significant costs or benefits to the Company.

The Company measures, recognizes and presents its uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes.  Under that guidance, the Company assesses the likelihood, based on their technical merit, that tax positions will be sustained upon examination based on the facts, circumstances and information available at the end of each period.  The measurement of uncertain tax positions is adjusted when new information is available, or when an event occurs that requires a change. The Company recognizes tax positions in the financial statements only when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by the relevant taxing authority based on the technical merits of the position. A position that meets this standard is measured at the largest amount of benefit that will more likely than not be realized upon settlement. The difference between the benefit recognized and the tax benefit claimed on a tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit and is recorded as a liability in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company records income tax-related interest and penalties, if applicable, within the income tax provision.

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projections.

Capital Expenditures


At December 31, 2017,2022, we had no material commitments for capital expenditures.


Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

At December 31, 2017, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Inflation

Virtually all of our assets and liabilities are interest rate sensitive in nature. As a result, interest rates and other factors influence our performance far more so than does inflation. Changes in interest rates do not necessarily correlate with inflation rates or changes in inflation rates. Our activities and balance sheet are measured with reference to historical cost and/or fair market value without considering inflation.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

As a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, we are not required to provide disclosure pursuant to this Item. However, we have elected to include much of the information in Item 7 above, beginning on page 46.


Not Applicable.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.


Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Index to Financial Statements


 

Page

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (BDO USA, LLP: West Palm Beach, FL; PCAOB ID#243)

61

57

Consolidated Balance Sheets

62

59

Consolidated Statements of Operations

63

60

Consolidated Statements of Equity

64

61

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

65

62

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

63

66

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


Shareholders

Stockholders and Board of Directors

Bimini Capital Management, Inc.

Vero Beach, Florida


Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Bimini Capital Management, Inc. (the "Company"“Company”) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 20172022 and 2016,2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders'stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2017,2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "consolidated“consolidated financial statements"statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and subsidiaries at December 31, 20172022 and 2016,2021, and the results of theirits operations and theirits cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 20172022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company'sCompany’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company'sCompany’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB"(“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.


We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company'sCompany’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate. 

Realizability of deferred tax assets

As described in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has recorded $65.2 million in gross deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2022 and recorded a related valuation allowance of $42.0 million. The Company applies significant judgment in assessing the projections of future taxable income in the determination of the amount of deferred tax assets that were more-likely-than-not to be realized in the future. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.


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We identified assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets as a critical audit matter. Specifically, we identified that there is significant judgment required by the Company in formulating the forecast of taxable income over the net operating loss expiration periods to determine the amount of deferred tax assets that were more-likely-than-not to be realized in the future. Auditing these forecasts involved especially challenging auditor judgment, including the need for the involvement of individuals with specialized knowledge and skill in assessing these elements.

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:

Evaluating the positive and negative evidence in assessing whether the deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be utilized, including evaluating the trends of historical financial results, projected sources of taxable income in future periods, and market information (such as interest yield curves).  

Assessing the reasonableness of the Company’s historical ability to make forecasts of future taxable income, by performing a retrospective review of the prior year’s estimate.

Utilizing personnel with specialized knowledge and skill in income taxes to assist in the evaluation of the appropriateness of the Company’s analysis of the realizability of the deferred tax assets.

Valuation of Investments in Mortgage-Backed Securities

As described in Notes 1 and 14 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company accounts for its mortgage-backed securities at fair value, which totaled $45.9 million as of December 31, 2022.  The fair value of mortgage-backed securities is based on independent pricing sources and/or third-party broker quotes, when available. Because the price estimates may vary, the Company must make certain judgments and assumptions about the appropriate price to use to calculate the fair values based on various techniques including observing the most recent market for like or identical assets (including security coupon rate, maturity, yield, prepayment speed), market credit spreads, and model driven approaches.

We identified the valuation of mortgage-backed securities as a critical audit matter.  The principal considerations for our determination are: (i) the potential for bias in how the Company subjectively selects the price from multiple pricing sources to determine the fair value of the mortgage-backed securities and (ii) the audit effort involved, including the involvement of valuation professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.    

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:   

Reviewing the range of values used for each investment position, and assessing the price selected for potential bias by comparing the price to the high, low and average of the range of pricing sources.    

Utilizing personnel with specialized knowledge and skill in valuation to develop an independent estimate of the fair value of each investment position by:

o

considering the stated security coupon rate, maturity, yield, and prepayment speeds, and comparing to the fair value used by the Company;   

o

comparing the Company’s fair value estimate of certain securities to recent available market transactions.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

Certified Public Accountants


We have served as the Company's auditor since 2008.


West Palm Beach, Florida

March 9, 201810, 2023

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BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
DECEMBER 31, 2017 and 2016 
       
  2017  2016 
ASSETS:      
Mortgage-backed securities, at fair value      
Pledged to counterparties $209,269,791  $129,582,386 
Unpledged  422,341   719,603 
Total mortgage-backed securities  209,692,132   130,301,989 
Cash and cash equivalents  6,103,250   4,429,459 
Restricted cash  2,649,610   1,221,978 
Investment in Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock, at fair value  14,105,934   15,108,240 
Retained interests in securitizations  653,380   1,113,736 
Accrued interest receivable  746,121   512,760 
Property and equipment, net  3,359,312   3,407,040 
Deferred tax assets, net  44,524,584   63,833,063 
Other assets  2,754,474   2,942,139 
Total Assets $284,588,797  $222,870,404 
         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY        
         
LIABILITIES:        
Repurchase agreements $200,182,751  $121,827,586 
Junior subordinated notes due to Bimini Capital Trust II  26,804,440   26,804,440 
Accrued interest payable  346,444   114,199 
Other liabilities  1,562,914   1,977,281 
Total Liabilities  228,896,549   150,723,506 
         
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:        
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 100,000  shares        
designated Series A Junior Preferred Stock, 9,900,000 shares undesignated;        
no shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2016  -   - 
Class A Common stock, $0.001 par value; 98,000,000 shares designated: 12,660,627        
shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 12,631,627 shares        
issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2016  12,661   12,632 
Class B Common stock, $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares designated, 31,938 shares        
issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2016  32   32 
Class C Common stock, $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares designated, 31,938 shares        
issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2016  32   32 
Additional paid-in capital  334,878,779   334,850,838 
Accumulated deficit  (279,199,256)  (262,716,636)
Stockholders' Equity  55,692,248   72,146,898 
Total Liabilities and Equity $284,588,797  $222,870,404 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

 

BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

December 31, 2022 and 2021

  

2022

  

2021

 

ASSETS:

        

Mortgage-backed securities, at fair value

        

Pledged to counterparties

 $45,716,793  $60,788,129 

Unpledged

  176,643   15,015 

Total mortgage-backed securities

  45,893,436   60,803,144 

Cash and cash equivalents

  6,010,799   8,421,410 

Restricted cash

  763,000   1,391,000 

Investment in Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock, at fair value

  5,975,248   11,679,107 

Accrued interest receivable

  204,018   229,942 

Property and equipment, net

  1,997,313   2,024,190 

Deferred tax assets, net of allowances

  23,178,243   35,036,312 

Due from affiliates

  1,130,713   1,062,155 

Other assets

  1,164,181   1,437,381 

Total Assets

 $86,316,951  $122,084,641 
         

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

        
         

LIABILITIES:

        

Repurchase agreements

 $43,817,999  $58,877,999 

Long-term debt

  27,416,239   27,438,976 

Accrued interest payable

  194,629   55,610 

Other liabilities

  2,764,005   2,712,206 

Total Liabilities

  74,192,872   89,084,791 
         

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)

          
         

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

        

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 100,000 shares designated Series A Junior Preferred Stock, 9,900,000 shares undesignated; no shares issued and outstanding

  -   - 

Class A Common stock, $0.001 par value; 98,000,000 shares designated: 10,019,888 shares and 10,702,194 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

  10,020   10,702 

Class B Common stock, $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares designated, 31,938 shares issued and outstanding

  32   32 

Class C Common stock, $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares designated, 31,938 shares issued and outstanding

  32   32 

Additional paid-in capital

  329,828,268   330,880,252 

Accumulated deficit

  (317,714,273)  (297,891,168)

Stockholders' Equity

  12,124,079   32,999,850 

Total Liabilities and Equity

 $86,316,951  $122,084,641 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
For the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 
       
  2017  2016 
Revenues:      
Advisory services $7,431,359  $5,488,691 
Interest income  6,054,381   4,235,081 
Dividend income from Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock  2,518,660   2,343,660 
Total revenues  16,004,400   12,067,432 
Interest expense:        
Repurchase agreements  (1,795,753)  (747,374)
Junior subordinated notes  (1,237,614)  (1,108,610)
Net revenues  12,971,033   10,211,448 
         
Other (expense) income:        
Unrealized losses on mortgage-backed securities  (2,066,256)  (3,785,939)
Realized (losses) gains on mortgage-backed securities  (689)  179,667 
Unrealized (losses) gains on Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock  (2,206,541)  1,255,533 
Losses on derivative instruments  (46,031)  (15,638)
Gains on retained interests in securitizations  645,221   2,425,190 
Other income  1,578   1,125 
Total other (expense) income  (3,672,718)  59,938 
         
Expenses:        
Compensation and related benefits  3,851,925   3,324,955 
Directors' fees and liability insurance  658,752   621,873 
Audit, legal and other professional fees  455,167   599,243 
Administrative and other expenses  1,436,941   1,197,593 
Total expenses  6,402,785   5,743,664 
         
Net income before income tax provision  2,895,530   4,527,722 
Income tax provision  19,378,150   1,141,718 
         
Net (loss) income $(16,482,620) $3,386,004 
         
Basic and Diluted Net (Loss) Income Per Share of:        
CLASS A COMMON STOCK        
Basic and Diluted $(1.30) $0.27 
CLASS B COMMON STOCK        
Basic and Diluted $(1.30) $0.27 
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:        
CLASS A COMMON STOCK        
Basic and Diluted  12,633,216   12,698,122 
CLASS B COMMON STOCK        
Basic and Diluted  31,938   31,938 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 
- 59 -

 

BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

For the Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

  

2022

  

2021

 

Revenues:

        

Advisory services

 $12,995,504  $9,788,340 

Interest income

  1,862,480   2,237,217 

Dividend income from Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock

  1,292,701   2,024,379 

Total revenues

  16,150,685   14,049,936 

Interest expense:

        

Repurchase agreements

  (715,386)  (116,179)

Long-term debt

  (1,415,624)  (996,794)

Net revenues

  14,019,675   12,936,963 
         

Other income (expense):

        

Unrealized losses on mortgage-backed securities

  (5,915,904)  (3,098,866)

Realized losses (gains) on mortgage-backed securities

  (858,001)  69,498 

Unrealized losses on Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock

  (6,239,189)  (1,868,657)

Gains (losses) on derivative instruments

  800,820   (198)

Gains on retained interests in securitizations

  65,928   - 

Other income

  341   154,191 

Other expense, net

  (12,146,005)  (4,744,032)
         

Expenses:

        

Compensation and related benefits

  6,530,349   5,721,315 

Directors' fees and liability insurance

  804,186   762,735 

Audit, legal and other professional fees

  504,602   513,925 

Administrative and other expenses

  1,999,569   1,287,387 

Total expenses

  9,838,706   8,285,362 
         

Net loss before income tax provision (benefit)

  (7,965,036)  (92,431)

Income tax provision (benefit)

  11,858,069   (367,845)
         

Net (loss) income

 $(19,823,105) $275,414 
         

Basic and Diluted Net (Loss) Income Per Share of:

        

CLASS A COMMON STOCK

        

Basic and Diluted

 $(1.90) $0.02 

CLASS B COMMON STOCK

        

Basic and Diluted

 $(1.90) $0.02 

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:

        

CLASS A COMMON STOCK

        

Basic and Diluted

  10,393,855   11,198,434 

CLASS B COMMON STOCK

        

Basic and Diluted

  31,938   31,938 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
-63-- 60 -

BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

  Stockholders' Equity     
  

Common Stock

  

Additional

  

Accumulated

     
  

Shares

  

Par Value

  

Paid-in Capital

  

Deficit

  

Total

 

Balances, January 1, 2021

  11,672,431  $11,673  $332,642,758  $(298,166,582) $34,487,849 

Net income

  -   -   -   275,414   275,414 

Class A common shares repurchased and retired

  (906,361)  (907)  (1,762,506)  -   (1,763,413)

Balances, December 31, 2021

  10,766,070   10,766   330,880,252   (297,891,168)  32,999,850 

Net loss

  -   -   -   (19,823,105)  (19,823,105)

Class A common shares repurchased and retired

  (682,306)  (682)  (1,051,984)  -   (1,052,666)

Balances, December 31, 2022

  10,083,764  $10,084  $329,828,268  $(317,714,273) $12,124,079 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY 
Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 
             
   Stockholders' Equity    
  Common  Additional  Accumulated    
  Stock  Paid-in Capital  Deficit  Total 
Balances, January 1, 2016 $12,437  $334,630,263  $(266,102,640) $68,540,060 
Net income  -   -   3,386,004   3,386,004 
Issuance of Class A common shares pursuant to stock                
based compensation plans  259   193,491   -   193,750 
Amortization of stock based compensation  -   27,084   -   27,084 
                 
Balances, December 31, 2016  12,696   334,850,838   (262,716,636)  72,146,898 
Net loss  -   -   (16,482,620)  (16,482,620)
Issuance of Class A common shares pursuant to stock                
based compensation plans  29   (29)  -   - 
Amortization of stock based compensation  -   27,970   -   27,970 
                 
Balances, December 31, 2017 $12,725  $334,878,779  $(279,199,256) $55,692,248 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

 

BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

  

2022

  

2021

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

        

Net (loss) income

 $(19,823,105) $275,414 

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:

        

Depreciation

  73,053   69,250 

Deferred income tax provision (benefit)

  11,858,069   (367,845)

Unrealized losses on mortgage-backed securities

  5,915,904   3,098,866 

Realized losses (gains) on mortgage-backed securities

  858,001   (69,498)

Gains retained interests in securitizations

  (65,928)  - 

PPP loan forgiveness

  -   (153,724)

Unrealized losses on Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock

  6,239,189   1,868,657 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

        

Accrued interest receivable

  25,924   (27,750)

Due from affiliates

  (68,558)  (429,684)

Other assets

  273,200   29,266 

Accrued interest payable

  139,019   (50,248)

Other liabilities

  51,799   1,290,797 

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

  5,476,567   5,533,501 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

        

From mortgage-backed securities investments:

        

Purchases

  (23,191,724)  (26,189,505)

Sales

  23,096,853   13,063,248 

Principal repayments

  8,230,674   14,471,976 

Payments received on retained interests in securitizations

  65,928   - 

Purchases of Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock

  (535,330)  - 

Acquisition of property and equipment

  (46,176)  - 

NET CASH PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES

  7,620,225   1,345,719 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

        

Proceeds from repurchase agreements

  391,823,690   293,283,000 

Principal repayments on repurchase agreements

  (406,883,690)  (299,476,114)

Principal repayments on long-term debt

  (22,737)  (21,640)

Class A common shares repurchased and retired

  (1,052,666)  (1,763,413)

NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES

  (16,135,403)  (7,978,167)
         

NET DECREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH

  (3,038,611)  (1,098,947)

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of the year

  9,812,410   10,911,357 

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of the year

 $6,773,799  $9,812,410 
         

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

        

Cash paid during the year for:

        

Interest

 $1,991,991  $1,164,780 

Income taxes

 $-  $- 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
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- 62 -
BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 
Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 
       
  2017  2016 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:      
Net (loss) income $(16,482,620) $3,386,004 
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Stock based compensation and equity plan amortization  27,970   220,834 
Depreciation  77,107   85,572 
Deferred income tax provision  19,308,479   999,179 
Losses on mortgage-backed securities  2,066,945   3,606,272 
Gains on retained interests in securitizations  (645,221)  (2,425,190)
Unrealized losses (gains) on Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock  2,206,541   (1,255,533)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
Accrued interest receivable  (233,361)  (161,711)
Other assets  187,665   (240,484)
Accrued interest payable  232,245   30,242 
Other liabilities  (414,367)  (556,161)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES  6,331,383   3,689,024 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:        
From mortgage-backed securities investments:        
Purchases  (95,585,190)  (136,092,749)
Sales  1,654,834   73,061,443 
Principal repayments  12,473,268   13,111,444 
Payments received on retained interests in securitizations  1,105,577   2,435,732 
Purchases of Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock  (1,204,235)  (1,859,277)
Purchases of property and equipment  (29,379)  - 
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES  (81,585,125)  (49,343,407)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:        
Proceeds from repurchase agreements  1,028,157,893   1,041,580,945 
Principal repayments on repurchase agreements  (949,802,728)  (996,987,608)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES  78,355,165   44,593,337 
         
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH  3,101,423   (1,061,046)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of the year  5,651,437   6,712,483 
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of the year $8,752,860  $5,651,437 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid during the year for:        
Interest $2,801,122  $1,825,742 
Income taxes $295,943  $540,627 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES:        
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 
         

BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT,INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES


Business Description


Bimini Capital Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("(“Bimini Capital"Capital” or the "Company"“Company”) formed in September 2003, is a holding company. The Company'sCompany operates in two business segments through its principal wholly-owned operating subsidiaries are Bimini Advisors Holdings, LLC (formerly known as Bimini Advisors, Inc.) andsubsidiary, Royal Palm Capital, LLC, (formerly known as MortCo TRS, LLC).


which includes its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bimini Advisors Holdings, LLC.

Bimini Advisors Holdings, LLC and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bimini Advisors, LLC (a (an investment advisor registered investment advisor)with the Securities and Exchange Commission), are collectively referred to as "Bimini Advisors." Bimini Advisors manages a residential mortgage-backed securities ("MBS"(“MBS”) portfolio for Orchid Island Capital, Inc. ("Orchid") and receives fees for providing these services.


 Effective April 1, 2022, Bimini Advisors started providing certain repurchase agreement trading, clearing and administrative services to Orchid that were previously provided by a third party. Bimini Advisors also manages the MBS portfolio of Royal Palm Capital, LLC.

Royal Palm Capital, LLC maintains an investment portfolio, consisting primarily of MBS investments and shares of Orchid common stock, for its own benefit. Royal Palm Capital, LLC and its wholly-owned subsidiaries are collectively referred to as "Royal Palm."


Consolidation


The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Bimini Capital, Bimini Advisors and Royal Palm. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.


Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 810, Consolidation, requires the consolidation of a variable interest entity ("VIE") by an enterprise if it is deemed the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Bimini Capital has a common share investment in a trust used in connection with the issuance of Bimini Capital's junior subordinated notes. See Note 11 for a description of the accounting used for this VIE.

Basis of Presentation


The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"(“GAAP”). In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows have been included and are of a normal and recurring nature.


Use of Estimates


The preparation of 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates affecting the accompanying consolidated financial statements include determining the fair values of MBS investment in Orchid common shares,and derivatives, and retained interests, and determining the amounts of asset valuation allowances, and the levelcomputation of the income tax provision or benefit and the deferred tax asset allowances recorded for each accounting period. As described in more detail in Note 15, estimates used for the deferred tax assets and associated asset allowances are numerous and the projection periods extend over the remaining lives of the net operating losses, to 2029 in the case of Royal Palm and 2036 in the case of Bimini.  Such estimates can change materially from year to year as market conditions change or Orchid Island Capital grows through the issuance of new equity.


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Statement of Comprehensive Income

In accordance with ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income, a statement of comprehensive income has not been included as the Company has no items of other comprehensive income.  Comprehensive income is the same as net income (loss) for all periods presented.

Segment Reporting


The Company'sCompany’s operations are classified into two principal reportable segments: the asset management segment and the investment portfolio segment. These segments are evaluated by management in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The accounting policies of the operating segments are the same as the Company'sCompany’s accounting policies described in this note with the exception that inter-segment revenues and expenses are included in the presentation of segment results. For further information see Note 18.

15.


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Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

A variable interest entity ("VIE") is consolidated by an enterprise if it is deemed the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Bimini Capital has a common share investment in a trust used in connection with the issuance of Bimini Capital's junior subordinated notes. The Company obtains interests in VIEs through its investments in mortgage-backed securities. The interests in these VIEs are passive in nature and are not expected to result in the Company obtaining a controlling financial interest in these VIEs in the future. As a result, the Company does not consolidate these VIEs and accounts for the interest in these VIEs as mortgage-backed securities. See Note 3 for additional information regarding the Company's investments in mortgage-backed securities. The maximum exposure to loss for these VIEs is the carrying value of the mortgage-backed securities.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash


Cash and cash equivalents include cash on deposit with financial institutions and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase. Restricted cash includes cash pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements and derivative instruments. The following table presents the Company'sCompany’s cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016.


(in thousands)    
 20172016
Cash and cash equivalents$6,103,250$4,429,459
Restricted cash 2,649,610 1,221,978
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash$8,752,860$5,651,437

2021.

  

2022

  

2021

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 $6,010,799  $8,421,410 

Restricted cash

  763,000   1,391,000 

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 $6,773,799  $9,812,410 

The Company maintains cash balances at several banks and, at excess margin with an exchange clearing member. At times, these balances may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses related to these balances. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures eligible accounts up to $250,000$250,000 per depositor at each financial institution. At December 31, 2017, the Company's cash deposits exceeded federally insured limits by approximately $3.8 million. Restricted cash balances are uninsured, but are held in separate customer accounts that are segregated from the general funds of the counterparty. The Company limits uninsured balances to only large, well-known banks and derivative counterpartiesexchange clearing members and believes that it is not exposed to significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents or restricted cash balances.


Advisory Services


Orchid is externally managed and advised by Bimini Advisors pursuant to the terms of a management agreement. Under the terms of the management agreement, Orchid is obligated to pay Bimini Advisors a monthly management fee and a pro rata portion of certain overhead costs and to reimburse the Company for any direct expenses incurred on its behalf.


Revenues from management fees are recognized over the period of time in which the service is performed in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 606,Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Further information regarding the management agreement is presented in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

Mortgage-Backed Securities


The Company invests primarily in mortgage pass-through ("PT"(“PT”) certificates,mortgage-backed securities issued by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or Ginnie Mae (“MBS”), collateralized mortgage obligations and(“CMOs”), interest-only ("IO"(“IO”) securities and inverse interest-only ("IIO"(“IIO”) securities representing interest in or obligations backed by pools of mortgage-backed loans. The Company refers to MBS and CMOs as PT MBS. The Company refers to IO and IIO securities as structured MBS. The Company has elected to account for its investment in MBS under the fair value option. Electing the fair value option requires the Company to record changes in fair value in the consolidated statement of operations, which, in management'smanagement’s view, more appropriately reflects the results of our operations for a particular reporting period and is consistent with the underlying economics and how the portfolio is managed.


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The Company records MBS transactions on the trade date. Security purchases that have not settled as of the balance sheet date are included in the MBS balance with an offsetting liability recorded, whereas securities sold that have not settled as of the balance sheet date are removed from the MBS balance with an offsetting receivable recorded.


The fair

Fair value of the Company's investment in MBS is governed by ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement.  The definition of fair value in ASC Topic 820 focuses ondefined as the price that would be received to sell the asset or paid to transfer the liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value measurement assumes that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability either occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability, or in the absence of a principal market, occurs in the most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Estimated fair values for MBS are based on independent pricing sources and/or third party-party broker quotes, when available.


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Income on PT MBS is based on the stated interest rate of the security. Premiums or discounts present at the date of purchase are not amortized. Premium lost and discount accretion resulting from monthly principal repayments are reflected in unrealized gains (losses)and losses on MBS in the consolidated statements of operations. For IO securities, the income is accrued based on the carrying value and the effective yield. The difference between income accrued and the interest received on the security is characterized as a return of investment and serves to reduce the asset'sasset’s carrying value. At each reporting date, the effective yield is adjusted prospectively from thefor future reporting periodperiods based on the new estimate of prepayments and the contractual terms of the security. For IIO securities, effective yield and income recognition calculations also take into account the index value applicable to the security. Changes in fair value of MBS during each reporting period are recorded in earnings and reported as unrealized gains or losses on mortgage-backed securities in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The amount reported as unrealized gains or losses on mortgage backedmortgage-backed securities thus captures the net effect of changes in the fair market value of securities caused by market developments and any premium or discount lost as a result of principal repayments during the period.


  Realized gains and losses on sales of MBS and U.S. Treasury Notes, using the specific identification method, are reported as a separate component of net portfolio income on the statement of operations.

Orchid Island Capital, Inc. Common Stock


The Company has elected the fair value optionaccounts for its investment in Orchid common shares.shares at fair value. The change in the fair value of this investment and dividends received on this investment are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017.operations. We estimate the fair value of our investment in OrchidOrchid's common shares on a market approach using "Level 1"“Level 1” inputs based on the quoted market price of Orchid'sOrchid’s common stock on a national stock exchange. Electing the fair value option requires the Company to record changes in fair value in the consolidated statements of operations, which, in management's view, more appropriately reflects the results of our operations for a particular reporting period and is consistent with how the investment is managed.


Retained Interests in Securitizations


Retained

The Company holds retained interests in the subordinated tranches of securities created in securitization transactions were initiallytransactions. These retained interests currently have a recorded at their fair value when issued by Royal Palm. Subsequent adjustments to fair value areof zero, as the prospect of future cash flows being received is uncertain. Any cash received from the retained interests is reflected as a gain in the consolidated statements of operations. Quoted market prices for these assets are generally not available, so the Company estimates fair value based on the present value of expected future cash flows using management's best estimates of key assumptions, which include expected credit losses, prepayment speeds, weighted-average life, and discount rates commensurate with the inherent risks of the asset.


Derivative Financial Instruments


The Company useshas historically used derivative instruments to manage interest rate risk, facilitate asset/liability strategies and manage other exposures, and it may continue to do so in the future. The principal instruments that the Company has used to date are Treasury Note ("T-Note"(“T-Note”) and Eurodollar futures contracts, butand “to-be-announced” (“TBA”) securities.

The Company accounts for TBA securities as derivative instruments. Other types of derivative instruments may be used in the future. Gains and losses associated with derivative transactions are reported in gain (loss) on derivative instruments in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company may enter into other derivatives in the future.


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only held T-Note futures contracts. The Company has elected not to treat anyrecorded income of its derivative financialapproximately $0.8 million on these instruments as hedges in order to alignduring the accounting treatment of its derivativeyear ended December 31, 2022.  Losses recorded during the year ended December 31, 2021 were negligible.

Derivative instruments with the treatment of its portfolio assets under the fair value option election. FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, requires that all derivative instruments beare carried at fair value.  Changesvalue, and changes in fair value are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations for each period. The Company’s derivative financial instruments are not designated as hedge accounting relationships, but rather are used as economic hedges of its portfolio assets and liabilities. Gains and losses on derivatives, except those that result in cash receipts or payments, are included in operating activities on the statements of cash flows. Cash payments and cash receipts from settlements of derivatives, including current period net cash settlements on interest rate swaps, is classified as an investing activity on the statements of cash flows. The Company's derivative agreements generally contain provisions that allow for netting or setting off derivative assets and liabilities with the counterparty; however, related assets and liabilities are reported on a gross basis in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Derivative instruments in a gain position are reported as derivative assets at fair value and derivative instruments in a loss position are reported as derivative liabilities at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. 

- 65 -


Holding derivatives creates exposure to credit risk related to the potential for failure on the part ofby counterparties to honor their commitments.  In addition, the Company may be required to post collateral based on any declines in the market value of the derivatives. In the event of default by a counterparty, the Company may have difficulty recovering its collateral and may not receive payments provided for under the terms of the agreement. ToThe Company’s derivative agreements require it to post or receive collateral to mitigate this risk,such risk. In addition, the Company uses only registered central clearing exchanges and well-established commercial banks as counterparties.


counterparties, monitors positions with individual counterparties and adjusts posted collateral as required. The Company’s futures contracts are exchange traded contracts that are valued based on exchange pricing with daily margin requirements. The margin requirement varies based on the market value of the open position and the equity retained in the account. Margin posted is treated as settlement of the outstanding value of the futures contract. Any margin excess or deficit outstanding is recorded as a receivable or payable as of the date of the Company’s balance sheets. The Company realizes gains and losses on these contracts upon expiration equal to the difference between the current fair value of the underlying asset and the contractual price of the futures contract.

Financial Instruments


ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, requires disclosure of the

The fair value of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value is disclosed either in the body of the consolidated financial statements or in the accompanying notes. MBS, Orchid common stock Eurodollar futures contracts, interest rate swaptions and retained interests in securitization transactionsderivative assets and liabilities are accounted for at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. The methods and assumptions used to estimate fair value for these instruments are presented in Note 1714 of the consolidated financial statements.


The estimated fair value of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accrued interest receivable, other assets, repurchase agreements, accrued interest payable and other liabilities generally approximates their carrying value as Level 2 assets under the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2017 2022 and December 31, 2016,2021 due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.


It is impractical to estimate the

The fair value of the Company'sCompany’s junior subordinated notes.  Currently, therenote approximates its carrying value. The carrying value is a limited market for these typesreasonable estimate of instruments andfair value since the Company is unable to ascertain what interest rates would be available to the Company for similar financial instruments. Informationinstrument carries a floating rate that resets frequently. Further information regarding carrying amount and effective interest rate for these instrumentsthis instrument is presented in Note 119 to the consolidated financial statements.


Property and Equipment, net


Property and equipment, net, consists of computer equipment with a depreciable life of 3 years, office furniture and equipment with depreciable lives of 8 to 20 years, land which has no depreciable life, and buildings and improvements with depreciable lives of 30 years. Property and equipment is recorded at acquisition cost and depreciated to their respective salvage values using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.


Depreciation is included in administrative and other expenses in the consolidated statement of operations.

Repurchase Agreements


The Company finances the acquisition of the majority of its PT MBS through the use of repurchase agreements under master repurchase agreements. Pursuant to ASC Topic 860, Transfers and Servicing, the Company accountsRepurchase agreements are accounted for repurchase transactions as collateralized financing transactions, which are carried at their contractual amounts, including accrued interest, as specified in the respective agreements.


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Share-Based Compensation

The Company follows the provisions of ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, to account for stock and stock-based awards.  For stock and stock-based awards issued to employees, a compensation charge is recorded against earnings over the vesting period based on the fair value of the award.  The Company applies a zero forfeiture rate for its equity based awards, as such awards have been granted to a limited number of employees and historical forfeitures have been minimal.  A significant forfeiture, or an indication that significant forfeitures may occur, would result in a revised forfeiture rate which would be accounted for prospectively as a change in an estimate. For transactions with non-employees in which services are performed in exchange for the Company's common stock or other equity instruments, the transactions are recorded on the basis of the fair value of the service received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more readily measurable at the date of issuance.

Earnings Per Share


The Company follows the provisions of ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, which requires companies with complex capital structures, common stock equivalents or two (or more) classes of securities that participate in dividend distributions to present both basic and diluted earnings per share ("EPS") on the face of the consolidated statement of operations.

Basic EPS is calculated as income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is calculated using the treasury stock or two-classtwo-class method, as applicable for common stock equivalents. However, the common stock equivalents are not included in computing diluted EPS if the result is anti-dilutive.


Outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, participating and convertible into Class A Common Stock, are entitled to receive dividends in an amount equal to the dividends declared, if any, on each share of Class A Common Stock if, as and when authorized and declared by the Board of Directors.Stock. Accordingly, shares of the Class B Common Stock are included in the computation of basic EPS using the two-classtwo-class method and, consequently, are presented separately from Class A Common Stock.


The shares of Class C Common Stock are not included in the basic EPS computation as these shares do not have participation rights. The outstanding shares of Class B and Class C Common Stock are not included in the computation of diluted EPS for the Class A Common Stock as the conditions for conversion into shares of Class A Common Stock were not met.


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Income Taxes


For the calendar year ended December 31, 2015, Bimini Capital, Bimini Advisors, Inc. and Royal Palm were separate taxpaying entities for income tax purposes and filed separate Federal income tax returns. Bimini Advisors, Inc. remained a separate tax paying entity through January 31, 2016; on that date, Bimini Advisors, Inc. was reorganized (as Bimini Advisors Holdings, LLC) to be an LLC wholly-owned by Bimini Capital. Beginning with the tax period starting on February 1, 2016, Bimini Capital and Bimini Advisors are combined as a single tax paying entity. Royal Palm continues to be treated as a separate tax paying entity.

Income taxes are provided for using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. The measurement of net deferred tax assets is adjusted by a valuation allowance if, based on the Company'sCompany’s evaluation, it is more likely than not that they will not be realized.


The Company'sCompany’s U.S. federal income tax returns for years ended on or after December 31, 2014 2019 remain open for examination. Although management believes its calculations for tax returns are correct and the positions taken thereon are reasonable, the final outcome of tax audits could be materially different from the tax returns filed by the Company, and those differences could result in significant costs or benefits to the Company.


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The Company measures, recognizes For tax filing purposes, Bimini Capital and presents its uncertainincludable subsidiaries, and Royal Palm and its includable subsidiaries, file as separate tax positions in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes.  Under that guidance, thepaying entities.

The Company assesses the likelihood, based on their technical merit, that uncertain tax positions will be sustained upon examination based on the facts, circumstances and information available at the end of each period. The measurement of uncertain tax positions is adjusted when new information is available, or when an event occurs that requires a change. The Company recognizes tax positions in the consolidated financial statements only when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by the relevant taxing authority based on the technical merits of the position. A position that meets this standard is measured at the largest amount of benefit that will more likely than not be realized upon settlement. The difference between the benefit recognized and the tax benefit claimed on a tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit and is recorded as a liability in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company records income tax-related interest and penalties, if applicable, within the income tax provision.


On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Reform Act") was signed into law by President Trump. The Tax Reform Act significantly revised the U.S. corporate income tax code by, among other things, lowering the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. On the same date, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 which specifies, among other things, that reasonable estimates of the income tax effects of the Tax Reform Act should be used, if determinable. The Company has accounted for the effects of the Tax Reform Act using reasonable estimates based on currently available information and its interpretations thereof. This accounting may change due to, among other things, changes in interpretations the Company has made and the issuance of new tax or accounting guidance. GAAP requires that the effects of a change in tax rate on the value of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities be recognized upon enactment. See Note 15 for further details of the impact of the Tax Reform Act on the Company.

Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements


In November 2016, March 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU"(“ASU”) 2016-18, Statement2020-04 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of Cash Flows – (Topic 230): Restricted Cash.the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2016-18 requires2020-04 provides optional expedients and exceptions to GAAP requirements for modifications on debt instruments, leases, derivatives, and other contracts, related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR,”), and certain other floating rate benchmark indices, or collectively, IBORs, to alternative reference rates. ASU 2020-04 generally considers contract modifications related to reference rate reform to be an event that restricted cashdoes not require contract remeasurement at the modification date nor a reassessment of a previous accounting determination. The guidance in ASU 2020-04 is optional and restricted cash equivalents may be included elected over time, through December 31, 2022, as components of total cash and cash equivalents as presented on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those years, beginning after reference rate reform activities occur. In December 15, 2017.  Early application is permitted.  The Company adopted the ASU beginning with the first quarter of 2017.  The prior period consolidated statement of cash flows has been retroactively adjusted to conform to this presentation.


In August 2016, 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows –2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.848)," deferring the sunset date provided in ASU 2016-15 addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those years, beginning after 2020-04 from December 15, 2017.  Early application is permitted.  31, 2022 to December 31, 2024.  The Company does not believe the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses2021-01 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 requires credit losses on most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments to be measured using an expected credit loss model (referred to as the current expected credit loss (CECL) model)848). ASU 2016-132021-01 expands the scope of ASC 848 to include all affected derivatives and give market participants the ability to apply certain aspects of the contract modification and hedge accounting expedients to derivative contracts affected by the discounting transition. In addition, ASU 2021-01 adds implementation guidance to permit a company to apply certain optional expedients to modifications of interest rate indexes used for margining, discounting or contract price alignment of certain derivatives as a result of reference rate reform initiatives and extends optional expedients to account for a derivative contract modified as a continuation of the existing contract and to continue hedge accounting when certain critical terms of a hedging relationship change to modifications made as part of the discounting transition. The guidance in ASU 2021-01 is effective for fiscal years,immediately and for interim periods within those years, beginning after available generally through December 15, 2019.  Early application is permitted for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2018.31, 2024, as reference rate reform activities occur. The Company does not believe the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.


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In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.  ASU 2016-01 provides guidance for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial assets and financial liabilities.  ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017 and, for most provisions, is effective using the cumulative-effect transition approach.  Early application is permitted for certain provisions.  The Company does not believe the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which implements a common revenue standard and clarifies the principles used for recognizing revenue. The amendments in the ASU clarify that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The amendments in ASU No. 2014-09 will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. A significant amount of the Company's revenues are derived from net interest income on financial assets and liabilities, which are excluded from the scope of the amended guidance. The Company does not believe the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 2. ADVISORY SERVICES


Bimini Advisors serves as the manager and advisor for Orchid pursuant to the terms of a management agreement. As Manager, Bimini Advisors is responsible for administering Orchid's business activities and day-to-day operations. Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement, Bimini Advisors provides Orchid with its management team, including its officers, along with appropriate support personnel. Bimini Advisors is at all times subject to the supervision and oversight of Orchid's board of directors and has only such functions and authority as delegated to it. Bimini Advisors receives a monthly management fee in the amount of:

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·One-twelfth

One-twelfth of 1.5%1.50% of the first $250$250 million of the Orchid'sOrchid’s month-end equity, as defined in the management agreement,

·One-twelfth

One-twelfth of 1.25% of the Orchid'sOrchid’s month-end equity that is greater than $250$250 million and less than or equal to $500$500 million, and

·One-twelfth

One-twelfth of 1.00% of the Orchid'sOrchid’s month-end equity that is greater than $500$500 million.

On April 1, 2022, pursuant to the third amendment to the management agreement entered into on November 16, 2021, the Company began providing certain repurchase agreement trading, clearing and administrative services to Orchid that had been previously provided by AVM, L.P. under an agreement terminated on March 31, 2022.  In consideration for such services, Orchid will pay the following fees to the Company:

A daily fee equal to the outstanding principal balance of repurchase agreement funding in place as of the end of such day multiplied by 1.5 basis points for the amount of aggregate outstanding principal balance less than or equal to $5 billion, and multiplied by 1.0 basis point for any amount of aggregate outstanding principal balance in excess of $5 billion, and
A fee for the clearing and operational services provided by personnel of the Manager equal to $10,000 per month.

Orchid is obligated to reimburse Bimini Advisors for any direct expenses incurred on its behalf and to pay to Bimini Advisors an amount equal to Orchid's pro rata portion of certain overhead costs set forth in the management agreement. Orchid is required to pay Bimini Advisors by the 15th day of the month following the month the services are performed. The management agreement has been renewed through February 2019 20, 2024 and provides for automatic one-yearone-year extension options.options thereafter. Should Orchid terminate the management agreement without cause, it will be obligated to pay to Bimini Advisors a termination fee equal to three times the average annual management fee, as defined in the management agreement, before or on the last day of the automatic renewal term.


The following table summarizes the advisory services revenue from Orchid for the years ended December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016.


(in thousands)      
  2017  2016 
Management fee $5,855  $4,188 
Allocated overhead  1,576   1,301 
Total $7,431  $5,489 

2021.

(in thousands)

        
  

2022

  

2021

 

Management fee

 $10,447  $8,156 

Allocated overhead

  2,042   1,632 

Repurchase, clearing and administrative fee

  507   - 

Total

 $12,996  $9,788 

At December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016,2021, the net amount due from Orchid was approximately $0.8$1.1 million and $0.6$1.1 million, respectively.  These amounts are included in "other assets" in the consolidated balance sheets.  During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, Orchid accrued cash and equity compensation payable to officers and employees of Bimini of $0.6 million and $0.8, respectively.  This compensation is not included in the consolidated statements of operations.


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NOTE 3. MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES


The following table presents the Company'sCompany’s MBS portfolio as of December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016:


(in thousands)      
  2017  2016 
Pass-Through MBS:      
Fixed-rate Mortgages $207,179  $124,299 
Total Pass-Through MBS  207,179   124,299 
Structured MBS:        
Interest-Only Securities  1,476   2,654 
Inverse Interest-Only Securities  1,037   3,349 
Total Structured MBS  2,513   6,003 
Total $209,692  $130,302 

2021:

(in thousands)

        
  

2022

  

2021

 

Fixed-rate MBS

 $42,974  $58,029 

Structured MBS

  2,919   2,774 

Total

 $45,893  $60,803 

The following table summarizes the Company's MBS portfolio as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, according to the contractual maturities of the securities in the portfolio. Actual maturities of MBS investments are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities and are affected by the contractual lives of the underlying mortgages, periodic payments of principal, and prepayments of principal.


(in thousands)      
 2017 2016 
Greater than or equal to ten years $209,692  $130,302 
Total $209,692  $130,302 

NOTE 4.  RETAINED INTERESTS IN SECURITIZATIONS

The following table summarizes the estimated fair valueis a summary of the Company's retained interests in asset backed securities asnet loss (gain) from the sale of MBS for the years ended December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016:2021:

(in thousands)

        
  

2022

  

2021

 

Proceeds from sales of MBS

 $23,097  $13,063 

Carrying value of MBS sold

  23,955   12,994 

Net loss (gain) on sales of MBS

 $(858) $69 
         

Gross gain sales of MBS

 $-  $69 

Gross loss on sales of MBS

  (858)  - 

Net loss (gain) on sales of MBS

 $(858) $69 

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(in thousands)       
SeriesIssue Date 2017  2016 
HMAC 2004-2May 10, 2004 $-  $143 
HMAC 2004-3June 30, 2004  177   364 
HMAC 2004-4August 16, 2004  386   463 
HMAC 2004-5September 28, 2004  90   144 
              Total  $653  $1,114 

NOTE 5.4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET


The composition of property and equipment at December 31, 2017 2022 and 20162021 follows:

(in thousands)

        
  

2022

  

2021

 

Land

 $1,185  $1,185 

Buildings and improvements

  1,827   1,827 

Computer equipment and software

  45   26 

Office furniture and equipment

  220   193 

Total cost

  3,277   3,231 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

  (1,280)  (1,207)

Property and equipment, net

 $1,997  $2,024 


(in thousands)      
  2017  2016 
Land $2,247  $2,247 
Buildings and improvements  1,827   1,827 
Computer equipment and software  165   177 
Office furniture and equipment  198   180 
Total cost  4,437   4,431 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization  1,078   1,024 
Property and equipment, net $3,359  $3,407 

Depreciation of property and equipment totaled approximately $77,000 and $86,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

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NOTE 6.5. OTHER ASSETS


AND OTHER LIABILITIES

The composition of other assets at December 31, 2017 2022 and 20162021 follows:


(in thousands) 
  2017  2016 
Prepaid expenses $468  $756 
Servicing advances  243   245 
Servicing sale receivable, including accrued interest  222   309 
Investment in Bimini Capital Trust II  804   804 
Due from affiliates  797   566 
Other  220   262 
Total other assets $2,754  $2,942 

Receivables are carried

(in thousands)

        
  

2022

  

2021

 

Investment in Bimini Capital Trust II

 $804  $804 

Prepaid expenses

  261   297 

Servicing advances

  -   159 

Other

  99   177 

Total other assets

 $1,164  $1,437 

The composition of other liabilities at their estimated collectible amounts.  December 31, 2022 and 2021 follows:

(in thousands)

        
  

2022

  

2021

 

Accrued payroll

 $2,600  $2,600 

Accrued liabilities

  104   81 

Accounts payable

  60   31 

Total other assets

 $2,764  $2,712 

NOTE 6. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting frompledges certain of its MBS as collateral under repurchase agreements with financial institutions. Interest rates are generally fixed based on prevailing rates corresponding to the inabilityterms of the counterparty to make required payments, if any. Management considersborrowings, and interest is generally paid at the following factors when determiningtermination of a borrowing. If the collectabilityfair value of specific accounts: past transaction activity, current economic conditions and changes in payment terms. Amounts thatthe pledged securities declines, lenders will typically require the Company determines are no longer collectible are written off.to post additional collateral or pay down borrowings to re-establish agreed upon collateral requirements, referred to as "margin calls." Similarly, if the fair value of the pledged securities increases, lenders may release collateral back to the Company. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, management determined that no allowance for doubtful accounts was necessary.  Collections on amounts previously written off are included in income as received.


NOTE 7.   REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

As of December 31, 2017,2022, the Company had outstanding repurchase agreement obligations of approximately $200.2 million with a net weighted average borrowing rate of 1.52%.  These agreements were collateralized by MBS with a fair value, including accrued interest, of approximately $210.0 million, and cash pledged to counterparty of approximately $2.2 million. met all margin call requirements.

As of December 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding repurchase agreement obligations of approximately $121.8 million with a net weighted average borrowing rate of 0.99%.  These agreements were collateralized by MBS with a fair value, including accrued interest, of approximately $130.1 million, 2022 and cash pledged to counterparty of approximately $0.5 million.


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As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016,2021, the Company'sCompany’s repurchase agreements had remaining maturities as summarized below:

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($ in thousands)               
   OVERNIGHT  BETWEEN 2  BETWEEN 31  GREATER    
   (1 DAY OR  AND  AND  THAN    
  LESS)  30 DAYS  90 DAYS  90 DAYS  TOTAL 
December 31, 2017               
Fair value of securities pledged, including accrued               
interest receivable $-  $94,649  $115,350  $-  $209,999 
Repurchase agreement liabilities associated with                    
these securities $-  $90,686  $109,497  $-  $200,183 
Net weighted average borrowing rate  -   1.47%  1.56%  -   1.52%
December 31, 2016                    
Fair value of securities pledged, including accrued                    
interest receivable $-  $71,565  $41,334  $17,172  $130,071 
Repurchase agreement liabilities associated with                    
these securities $-  $66,919  $38,733  $16,176  $121,828 
Net weighted average borrowing rate  -   1.01%  0.96%  0.98%  0.99%

 

($ in thousands)

                    
  

OVERNIGHT

  

BETWEEN 2

  

BETWEEN 31

  

GREATER

     
  

(1 DAY OR

  

AND

  

AND

  

THAN

     
  

LESS)

  

30 DAYS

  

90 DAYS

  

90 DAYS

  

TOTAL

 

December 31, 2022

                    

Fair value of securities pledged, including accrued interest receivable

 $-  $42,553  $3,364  $-  $45,917 

Repurchase agreement liabilities associated with these securities

 $-  $40,492  $3,326  $-  $43,818 

Net weighted average borrowing rate

  -   4.50%  4.29%  -   4.48%

December 31, 2021

                    

Fair value of securities pledged, including accrued interest receivable

 $-  $60,859  $159  $-  $61,018 

Repurchase agreement liabilities associated with these securities

 $-  $58,793  $85  $-  $58,878 

Net weighted average borrowing rate

  -   0.14%  0.70%  -   0.14%

In addition, cash pledged to counterparties as collateral for repurchase agreements was approximately $0.5 million and $1.4 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

If, during the term of a repurchase agreement, a lender files for bankruptcy, the Company might experience difficulty recovering its pledged assets,, which could result in an unsecured claim against the lender for the difference between the amount loaned to the Company plus interest due to the counterparty and the fair value of the collateral pledged to such lender,, including the accrued interest receivable, and cash posted by the Company as collateral, if any. At December 31, 2017 2022 and December 31, 2016,2021, the Company had an aggregate amount at risk (the difference between the amount loaned to the Company, including interest payable, and the fair value of securities and cash pledged (if any), including accrued interest on such securities) with all counterparties of approximately $11.7$2.5 million and $8.4$3.5 million, respectively.  Summary information regarding amounts at risk with individual counterparties greater than 10% of equity at December 31, 2022 is presented in the table below. The Company did not have an amount at risk with any individual counterparty greater than 10% of the Company'sCompany’s equity at December 31, 2017 and 2016.


NOTE 8. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

In connection with its interest rate risk management strategy, the Company economically hedges a portion of the cost of its repurchase agreement funding and junior subordinated notes by entering into derivatives and other hedging contracts.  To date, the Company has entered into Eurodollar and T-Note futures contracts, but may enter into other contracts in the future.  The Company has not elected hedging treatment under GAAP, and as such all gains or losses (realized and unrealized) on these instruments are reflected in earnings for all periods presented.

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, such instruments were comprised entirely of Eurodollar futures contracts.  Eurodollar and T-Note futures are cash settled futures contracts on an interest rate, with gains or losses credited or charged to the Company's account on a daily basis and reflected in earnings as they occur. A minimum balance, or "margin", is required to be maintained in the account on a daily basis. The Company is exposed to the changes in value of the futures by the amount of margin held by the broker.  This margin represents the collateral the Company has posted for its open positions and is recorded on the consolidated balance sheets as part of restricted cash.

Eurodollar and T-Note futures are cash settled futures contracts on an interest rate, with gains and losses credited or charged to the Company's cash accounts on a daily basis. A minimum balance, or "margin", is required to be maintained in the account on a daily basis. The tables below present information related to the Company's Eurodollar futures positions at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

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($ in thousands)            
As of December 31, 2017            
  Repurchase Agreement Funding Hedges 
  Average  Weighted  Weighted    
  Contract  Average  Average    
  Notional  Entry  LIBOR  Open 
Expiration Year Amount  Rate  Rate  
Equity(1)
 
2018 $60,000   1.90%  1.97% $41 
2019  60,000   2.32%  2.27%  (31)
2020  60,000   2.60%  2.36%  (145)
2021  60,000   2.80%  2.42%  (230)
Total / Weighted Average $60,000   2.41%  2.25% $(365)

($ in thousands)            
As of December 31, 2017            
  Junior Subordinated Debt Funding Hedges 
  Average  Weighted  Weighted    
  Contract  Average  Average    
  Notional  Entry  LIBOR  Open 
Expiration Year Amount  Rate  Rate  
Equity(1)
 
2018 $26,000   1.84%  1.97% $33 
2019  26,000   1.63%  2.27%  166 
2020  26,000   1.95%  2.36%  107 
2021  26,000   2.22%  2.42%  51 
Total / Weighted Average $26,000   1.91%  2.25% $357 

($ in thousands)            
As of December 31, 2016            
  Repurchase Agreement Funding Hedges 
  Average  Weighted  Weighted    
  Contract  Average  Average    
  Notional  Entry  LIBOR  Open 
Expiration Year Amount  Rate  Rate  
Equity(1)
 
2017 $60,000   1.32%  1.28% $(26)
2018  60,000   1.90%  1.82%  (49)
2019  60,000   2.32%  2.21%  (69)
2020  60,000   2.60%  2.45%  (88)
2021  60,000   2.80%  2.64%  (93)
Total / Weighted Average $60,000   2.19%  2.08% $(325)

($ in thousands)            
As of December 31, 2016            
  Junior Subordinated Debt Funding Hedges 
  Average  Weighted  Weighted    
  Contract  Average  Average    
  Notional  Entry  LIBOR  Open 
Expiration Year Amount  Rate  Rate  
Equity(1)
 
2017 $26,000   1.93%  1.28% $(169)
2018  26,000   1.84%  1.82%  (6)
2019  26,000   1.63%  2.21%  150 
2020  26,000   1.95%  2.45%  132 
2021  26,000   2.22%  2.64%  110 
Total / Weighted Average $26,000   1.91%  2.08% $217 
(1)Open equity represents the cumulative gains (losses) recorded on open futures positions from inception.
2021.

($ in thousands)

            
      

% of

  

Weighted

 
      

Stockholders'

  

Average

 
  

Amount

  

Equity

  

Maturity

 

Repurchase Agreement Counterparty

 

at Risk

  

at Risk

  

(in Days)

 

Mirae Asset Securities (USA) Inc.

 $1,322   10.9%  14 
 

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Losses From Derivative Instruments, Net

The table below presents the effect of the Company's derivative financial instruments on the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

(in thousands)      
  Consolidated 
  2017  2016 
Eurodollar futures contracts (short positions) - Repurchase agreement funding hedges $(32) $(318)
Eurodollar futures contracts (short positions)- Junior subordinated debt funding hedges  (14)  302 
Net losses on derivative instruments $(46) $(16)

Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features

The use of derivatives creates exposure to credit risk relating to potential losses that could be recognized in the event that the counterparties to these instruments fail to perform their obligations under the contracts. The Company attempts to minimize this risk in several ways. For instruments which are not centrally cleared on a registered exchange, the Company limits it counterparties to major financial institutions with acceptable credit ratings, and by monitoring positions with individual counterparties. In addition, the Company may be required to pledge assets as collateral for its derivatives, whose amounts vary over time based on the market value, notional amount and remaining term of the derivative contract. In the event of a default by a counterparty, the Company may not receive payments provided for under the terms of its derivative agreements, and may have difficulty obtaining its assets pledged as collateral for its derivatives. The cash and cash equivalents pledged as collateral for the Company's derivative instruments are included in restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheets.

NOTE 9.7. PLEDGED ASSETS


Assets Pledged to Counterparties


The tablestable below summarize oursummarizes Bimini’s assets pledged as collateral under ourits repurchase agreements and derivative agreements as of December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016.2021.

($ in thousands)

                        
  

December 31, 2022

  

December 31, 2021

 
  

Repurchase

  

Derivative

      

Repurchase

  

Derivative

     

Assets Pledged to Counterparties

 

Agreements

  

Agreements

  

Total

  

Agreements

  

Agreements

  

Total

 

PT MBS - at fair value

 $42,975  $-  $42,975  $58,029  $-  $58,029 

Structured MBS - at fair value

  2,742   -   2,742   2,759   -   2,759 

Accrued interest on pledged securities

  200   -   200   230   -   230 

Cash

  454   309   763   1,391   -   1,391 

Total

 $46,371  $309  $46,680  $62,409  $-  $62,409 

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($ in thousands)         
As of December 31, 2017         
  Repurchase  Derivative    
Assets Pledged to Counterparties Agreements  Agreements  Total 
PT MBS - at fair value $207,179  $-  $207,179 
Structured MBS - at fair value  2,091   -   2,091 
Accrued interest on pledged securities  730   -   730 
Cash  2,208   442   2,650 
Total $212,208  $442  $212,650 

($ in thousands)         
As of December 31, 2016         
  Repurchase  Derivative    
Assets Pledged to Counterparties Agreements  Agreements  Total 
PT MBS - at fair value $124,298  $-  $124,298 
Structured MBS - at fair value  5,284   -   5,284 
Accrued interest on pledged securities  489   -   489 
Cash  456   766   1,222 
Total $130,527  $766  $131,293 

Assets Pledged from Counterparties

The table below summarizes assets pledged to Bimini from counterparties under repurchase agreements as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. Cash received as margin is recognized in cash and cash equivalents with a corresponding amount recognized as an increase in repurchase agreements in the consolidated balance sheets.

($ in thousands)

        

Assets Pledged to Bimini

 

2022

  

2021

 

Cash

 $148  $106 

Total

 $148  $106 
 
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NOTE 10.8. OFFSETTING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES


The Company'sCompany’s repurchase agreements are subject to underlying agreements with master netting or similar arrangements, which provide for the right of offset in the event of default or in the event of bankruptcy of either party to the transactions. The Company reports its assets and liabilities subject to these arrangements on a gross basis. The following table presents information regarding those assets and liabilities subject to such arrangements as if the Company had presented them on a net basis as of December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016.


(in thousands)                  
Offsetting of Liabilities 
     Net Amount Gross Amount Not Offset in the   
     of Liabilities Consolidated Balance Sheet   
   Gross Amount Presented Financial     
 Gross Amount Offset in the in the Instruments Cash   
 of Recognized Consolidated Consolidated Posted as Posted as Net 
 Liabilities Balance Sheet Balance Sheet Collateral Collateral Amount 
December 31, 2017                  
Repurchase Agreements $200,183  $-  $200,183  $(197,975) $(2,208) $- 
December 31, 2016                        
Repurchase Agreements $121,828  $-  $121,828  $(121,372) $(456) $- 

2021.

(in thousands)

                        

Offsetting of Liabilities

 
          

Net Amount

  

Gross Amount Not Offset in the

     
          

of Liabilities

  

Consolidated Balance Sheet

     
      

Gross Amount

  

Presented

  

Financial

         
  

Gross Amount

  

Offset in the

  

in the

  

Instruments

  

Cash

     
  

of Recognized

  

Consolidated

  

Consolidated

  

Posted as

  

Posted as

  

Net

 
  

Liabilities

  

Balance Sheet

  

Balance Sheet

  

Collateral

  

Collateral

  

Amount

 

December 31, 2022

                        

Repurchase Agreements

 $43,818  $-  $43,818  $(43,364) $(454) $- 
  $43,818  $-  $43,818  $(43,364) $(454) $- 

December 31, 2021

                        

Repurchase Agreements

 $58,878  $-  $58,878  $(57,487) $(1,391) $- 
  $58,878  $-  $58,878  $(57,487) $(1,391) $- 

The amounts disclosed for collateral received by or posted to the same counterparty are limited to the amount sufficient to reduce the asset or liability presented in the consolidated balance sheet to zero in accordance with ASU No. 2011-11, as amended by ASU No. 2013-01.zero. The fair value of the actual collateral received by or posted to the same counterparty typically exceeds the amounts presented. See Note 97 for a discussion of collateral posted for, or received against, repurchase obligations and derivative instruments.


NOTE 9. LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt at December 31, 2022 and 2021 is summarized as follows:

(in thousands)

        
  

2022

  

2021

 

Junior subordinated debt

 $26,804  $26,804 

Note payable

  612   635 

Total

 $27,416  $27,439 

NOTE 11.  TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES

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Junior Subordinated Debt

During 2005, Bimini Capital sponsored the formation of a statutory trust, known as Bimini Capital Trust II ("BCTII"(“BCTII”) of which 100% of the common equity is owned by Bimini Capital. It was formed for the purpose of issuing trust preferred capital securities to third-partythird-party investors and investing the proceeds from the sale of such capital securities solely in junior subordinated debt securities of Bimini Capital. The debt securities held by BCTII are the sole assets of BCTII.


As of December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016,2021, the outstanding principal balance on the junior subordinated debt securities owed to BCTII was $26.8 million. The BCTII trust preferred securities and Bimini Capital's BCTII Junior Subordinated Notes have a rate of interest that floats at a spread of 3.50% over the prevailing three-monththree-month LIBOR rate. As of December 31, 2017,2022, the interest rate was 5.09%8.27%. The BCTII trust preferred securities and Bimini Capital's BCTII Junior Subordinated Notes require quarterly interest distributions and are redeemable at Bimini Capital's option, in whole or in part and without penalty. Bimini Capital's BCTII Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future senior indebtedness.


BCTII is a VIE because After June 30, 2023, an appropriate SOFR index will be used to determine the holders of the equity investment at risk do not have adequate decision making ability over BCTII's activities. Since Bimini Capital's investment in BCTII's common equity securities was financed directly by BCTII as a result of its loan of the proceeds to Bimini Capital, that investment is not considered to be an equity investment at risk. Since Bimini Capital's common share investment in BCTII is not a variable interest Bimini Capital is not the primary beneficiary of BCTII. Therefore, Bimini Capital has not consolidated the financial statements of BCTII into its consolidated financial statements and this investment is accounted forrate on the equity method.

junior subordinated notes.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements present Bimini Capital's BCTII Junior Subordinated Notes issued to BCTII as a liability and Bimini Capital's investment in the common equity securities of BCTII as an asset (included in other assets). For financial statement purposes, Bimini Capital records payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes issued to BCTII as interest expense.


Secured Note Payable

On October 30, 2019, the Company borrowed $680,000 from a bank. The note is payable in equal monthly principal and interest installments of approximately $5,000 through October 30, 2039. Interest accrues at 4.89% through October 30, 2024. Thereafter, interest accrues based on the weekly average yield to the United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of 5 years, plus 3.25%. The note is secured by a mortgage on the Company’s office building.

Paycheck Protection Plan Loan

On April 13, 2020, the Company received approximately $152,000 through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) of the CARES Act in the form of a low interest loan. The PPP loan had a fixed rate of 1.00% and a term of two years, if not forgiven, in whole or in part. The Small Business Administration notified the Company that, effective April 22, 2021, all principal and accrued interest under the PPP loan was forgiven.

The table below presents the future scheduled principal payments on the Company’s long-term debt.

(in thousands)

    

Year Ending December 31,

 

Amounts

 

2023

 $24 

2024

  25 

2025

  26 

2026

  28 

2027

  29 

Thereafter

  27,284 

Total

 $27,416 
 
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NOTE 12.10. CAPITAL STOCK


Authorized Shares


The total number of shares of capital stock which the Company has the authority to issue is 110,000,000 shares, classified as 100,000,000 shares of common stock, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The Board of Directors has the authority to classify any unissued shares by setting or changing in any one or more respects the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of such shares.

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Common Stock


Of the 100,000,000 authorized shares of common stock, 98,000,000 shares were designated as Class A common stock, 1,000,000 shares were designated as Class B common stock and 1,000,000 shares were designated as Class C common stock. Holders of shares of common stock have no sinking fund or redemption rights and have no pre-emptive rights to subscribe for any of the Company'sCompany’s securities. All common shares have a $0.001 par value.


ClassA Common Stock


Each outstanding share of Class A common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors. Holders of shares of Class A common stock are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors.


Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of stock and to the provisions of the Company's charter, as amended, regarding the restrictions on transfer of stock, holders of shares of Class A common stock are entitled to receive dividends on such stock if, as and when authorized and declared by the Board of Directors.


ClassB Common Stock


Each outstanding share of Class B common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of common stockholders, including the election of directors. Holders of shares of Class B common stock are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. Holders of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock shall vote together as one class in all matters except that any matters which would adversely affect the rights and preferences of Class B common stock as a separate class shall require a separate approval by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock. Holders of shares of Class B common stock are entitled to receive dividends on each share of Class B common stock in an amount equal to the dividends declared on each share of Class A common stock if, as and when authorized and declared by the Board of Directors.


Each share of Class B common stock shall automatically be converted into one share of Class A common stock on the first day of the fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter during which the Company's Board of Directors were notified that, as of the end of such fiscal quarter, the stockholders' equity attributable to the Class A common stock, calculated on a pro forma basis as if conversion of the Class B common stock (or portion thereof to be converted) had occurred, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP, equals no less than $150.00 per share (adjusted equitably for any stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends or the like); provided, that the number of shares of Class B common stock to be converted into Class A common stock in any quarter shall not exceed an amount that will cause the stockholders' equity attributable to the Class A common stock calculated as set forth above to be less than $150.00 per share; provided further, that such conversions shall continue to occur until all shares of Class B common stock have been converted into shares of Class A common stock; and provided further, that the total number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of the Class B common stock shall not exceed 3% of the total shares of common stock outstanding prior to completion of an initial public offering of Bimini Capital's Class A common stock.


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ClassC Common Stock


No dividends will be paid on the Class C common stock. Holders of shares of Class C common stock are not entitled to vote on any matter submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors, except that any matters that would adversely affect the rights and privileges of the Class C common stock as a separate class shall require the approval of a majority of the Class C common stock.


Each share of Class C common stock shall automatically be converted into one share of Class A common stock on the first day of the fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter during which the Company's Board of Directors were notified that, as of the end of such fiscal quarter, the stockholders' equity attributable to the Class A common stock, calculated on a pro forma basis as if conversion of the Class C common stock had occurred and giving effect to the conversion of all of the shares of Class B common stock as of such date, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP, equals no less than $150.00 per share (adjusted equitably for any stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends or the like); provided, that the number of shares of Class C common stock to be converted into Class A common stock shall not exceed an amount that will cause the stockholders' equity attributable to the Class A common stock calculated as set forth above to be less than $150.00 per share; and provided further, that such conversions shall continue to occur until all shares of Class C common stock have been converted into shares of Class A common stock and provided further, that the total number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of the Class C common stock shall not exceed 3% of the total shares of common stock outstanding prior to completion of an initial public offering of Bimini Capital's Class A common stock.

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Preferred Stock


General


There are 10,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock, with a $0.001 par value per share. The Company's Board of Directors has the authority to classify any unissued shares of preferred stock and to reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of any series of preferred stock previously authorized by the Board of Directors. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series of preferred stock, the Board of Directors is required by the Company'sCompany’s charter to fix the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each such class or series.


Classified and Designated Shares


Pursuant to the Company'sCompany’s supplementary amendment of its charter, effective November 3,2005, and by resolutions adopted on September 29,2005, the Company'sCompany’s Board of Directors classified and designated 1,800,000 shares of the authorized but unissued preferred stock, $0.001 par value, as Class A Redeemable Preferred Stock and 2,000,000 shares of the authorized but unissued preferred stock as Class B Redeemable Preferred Stock.


Preferred Stock


The Class A Redeemable Preferred Stock and Class B Redeemable Preferred Stock rank equal to each other and shall have the same preferences, rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms; provided, however that the redemption provisions of the Class A Redeemable Preferred Stock and the Class B Redeemable Preferred Stock differ. Each outstanding share of Class A Redeemable Preferred Stock and Class B Redeemable Preferred Stock shall have one-fifthone-fifth of a vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders (or such lesser fraction of a vote as would be required to comply with the rules and regulations of the NYSE relating to the Company'sCompany’s right to issue securities without obtaining a stockholder vote). Holders of shares of preferred stock shall vote together with holders of shares of common stock as one class in all matters that would be subject to a vote of stockholders.


-80-

The previously outstanding shares of Class A Redeemable Preferred Stock were converted into Class A common stock on April 28, 2006. No shares of the Class B Redeemable Preferred Stock have ever been issued.


In 2015 the Board approved Articles Supplementary to the Company'sCompany’s charter reclassifying and designating 1,800,000 shares of authorized but unissued Class A Redeemable Preferred Stock and 2,000,000 shares of authorized but unissued Class B Redeemable Preferred Stock into undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company ("(“Preferred Stock"Stock”). After giving effect to the reclassification and designation of the shares of Class A Preferred Stock and Class B Preferred Stock, the Company has authority to issue 10,000,000 shares of undesignated Preferred Stock and no shares of Class A Preferred Stock or Class B Preferred Stock. The Articles Supplementary were filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the "SDAT"“SDAT”) and became effective upon filing on December 21, 2015.


In 2015 the Board approved Articles Supplementary to the Company'sCompany’s charter creating a new series of Preferred Stock designated as Series A Junior Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the "Series“Series A Preferred Stock"Stock”). The Articles Supplementary were filed with the SDAT and became effective upon filing on December 21, 2015.


Rights Plan


On December 21, 2015 the Board adopted a rights agreement and declared a distribution of one preferred stock purchase right ("Right"(“Right”) for each outstanding share of the Company'sCompany’s Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock. The distribution was payable to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 21, 2015.


The Rights. Subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Plan, if the Rights become exercisable, each Right would initially represent the right to purchase from the Company one ten-thousandthten-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock for a purchase price of $4.76, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Rights Plan (the "Purchase Price"“Purchase Price”). If issued, each fractional share of Series A Preferred Stock would give the stockholder approximately the same distribution, voting and liquidation rights as does one share of the Company'sCompany’s Class A common stock. However, prior to exercise, a Right does not give its holder any rights as a stockholder of the Company, including without limitation any distribution, voting or liquidation rights.

- 74 -


Exercisability. The Rights will generally not be exercisable until the earlier of (i) 10 business days after a public announcement by the Company that a person or group has acquired 4.9% or more of the outstanding Class A common stock without the approval of the Board of Directors (an "Acquiring Person"“Acquiring Person”) and (ii) 10 business days after the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by a person or group for 4.9% or more of the Class A common stock.


The date that the Rights may first become exercisable is referred to as the "Distribution“Distribution Date." Until the Distribution Date, the Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock certificates will represent the Rights and will contain a notation to that effect. Any transfer of shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock and/or Class C common stock prior to the Distribution Date will constitute a transfer of the associated Rights. After the Distribution Date, the Rights may be transferred other than in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock or Class C common stock.


After the Distribution Date and following a determination by the Board that a person is an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right and payment of the Purchase Price, that number of shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock or Class C common stock, as the case may be, having a market value of two times the Purchase Price (or, at our option, shares of Series A Preferred Stock or other consideration as provided in the Rights Plan).


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Exchange. After the Distribution Date and following a determination by the Board that a person or group is an Acquiring Person, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such an Acquiring Person which will have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Class A common stock, Class B common stock or Class C common stock, as the case may be, or a fractional share of Series A Preferred Stock (or of a share of a similar class or series of the Company'sCompany’s preferred stock having similar Rights, preferences and privileges) of equivalent value, per Right (subject to adjustment).


Expiration. The Rights and the Rights Plan will expire on the earliest of (i) December 21,2025, (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed pursuant to the Rights Plan, (iii) the time at which the Rights are exchanged pursuant to the Rights Plan, (iv) the repeal of Section 382 of the Code or any successor statute if the Board determines that the Rights Plan is no longer necessary for the preservation of the applicable tax benefits, (v) the beginning of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board determines that no applicable tax benefits may be carried forward and (vi) the close of business on June 30,2016 if approval of the Rights Plan by the Company'sCompany’s stockholders has not been obtained.


Redemption. At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the Board may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (the "Redemption Price"“Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.


Anti-Dilution Provisions. The Board may adjust the Purchase Price, the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock or other securities issuable and the number of outstanding Rights to prevent dilution that may occur as a result of certain events, including among others, a stock dividend, a forward or reverse stock split or a reclassification of the preferred shares or Class A common stock, Class B common stock or Class C common stock. No adjustments to the Purchase Price of less than 1% will be made.


Anti-Takeover Effects. While this was not the purpose of the Board when adopting the Rights Plan, the Rights will have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause substantial dilution to any person or group that attempts to acquire the Company without the approval of the Board. As a result, the overall effect of the Rights may be to render more difficult or discourage any attempt to acquire the Company even if such acquisition may be favorable to the interests of the Company'sCompany’s stockholders. Because the Board can redeem the Rights, the Rights should not interfere with a merger or other business combination approved by the Board.


Amendments. Before the Distribution Date, the Board may amend or supplement the Rights Plan without the consent of the holders of the Rights. After the Distribution Date, the Board may amend or supplement the Rights Plan only to cure an ambiguity, to alter time period provisions, to correct inconsistent provisions, or to make any additional changes to the Rights Plan, but only to the extent that those changes do not impair or adversely affect, in any material respect, any Rights holder and do not result in the Rights again becoming redeemable, and no such amendment may cause the Rights again to become redeemable or cause this Rights Plan again to become amendable other than in accordance with the applicable timing of the Rights Plan.


Issuances of Common Stock

The table below presents information related to the Company's Class A Common Stock issued during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Shares Issued Related To: 2017  2016 
Incentive plan shares  29,000   258,333 
Total shares of Class A Common Stock issued  29,000   258,333 

On January 12, 2018, Robert Cauley and Hunter Haas each purchased 41,666 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock at a price of $2.40 per share directly from the Company.  These newly issued shares are not reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017.

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There were no issuances of the Company's Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock andor Class C Common Stock during the years ended December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016.2021.

- 75 -


NOTE 13.    STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS
Bimini Capital

Stock Repurchase Plans

On August 12, 2011, Bimini Capital's shareholders approved the 2011 Long Term Compensation Plan (the "2011 Plan") to assist the Company in recruiting and retaining employees, directors and other service providers by enabling them to participate in the success of Bimini Capital and to associate their interest with those of the Company and its stockholders.  The 2011 Plan is intended to permit the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), stock awards, performance units and other equity-based and incentive awards.  The maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2011 Plan pursuant to the exercise of options and SARs, the grant of stock awards or other equity-based awards and the settlement of incentive awards and performance units is equal to 4,000,000 shares.


Share Awards

During 2016, the Compensation Committee of March 26, 2018, the Board of Directors of Bimini Capitalthe Company (the "Committee"“Board”) approved certain performance bonuses for members of management.  These bonuses were awarded primarily in recognition of service in 2015.  The bonuses consisted of cash of approximately $0.5 million and 258,333 fully vesteda Stock Repurchase Plan (the “2018 Repurchase Plan”). Pursuant to the 2018 Repurchase Plan, the Company could purchase up to 500,000 shares of the Company'sits Class A Common Stock withfrom time to time, subject to certain limitations imposed by Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The 2018 Repurchase Plan was terminated on September 16, 2021. During the period beginning January 1, 2021 through September 16, 2021, the Company repurchased a total of 1,195 shares under the 2018 Repurchase Plan at an approximate valueaggregate cost of $0.2 million, or $0.75approximately $2,298, including commissions and fees, for a weighted average price of $1.92 per share. TheFrom the inception of the 2018 Repurchase Plan through its termination, the Company repurchased a total of 71,598 shares were issued under at an aggregate cost of approximately $169,243, including commissions and fees, for a weighted average price of $2.36 per share.

On September 16, 2021, the 2011 Plan. For purposesBoard authorized a share repurchase plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 of these bonuses,the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “2021 Repurchase Plan”). Pursuant to the 2021 Repurchase Plan, the Company may purchase shares of the Company's common stock were valued based on the closing price of the Company'sits Class A Common Stock on January 15, 2016,from time to time for an aggregate purchase price not to exceed $2.5 million. Share repurchases may be executed through various means, including, without limitation, open market transactions. The 2021 Repurchase Plan does not obligate the bonus date. The expense relatedCompany to this bonus was accrued at December 31, 2015purchase any shares, and it did not affectexpires on September 16, 2023. The authorization for the results2021 Repurchase Plan may be terminated, increased or decreased by the Company’s Board of operations forDirectors in its discretion at any time. During the year ended December 31, 2016.  There were no2022, the Company repurchased a total of 682,306 shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $1.1 million, including commissions and fees, for a weighted average price of $1.54 per share awards duringunder the 2021 repurchase Plan. During the year ended December 31, 2017.


Performance Units

The Committee may issue Performance Units2021, the Company repurchased a total of 92,287 shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $0.2 million, including commissions and fees, for a weighted average price of $2.09 per share under the 2011 Plan2021 repurchase Plan.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 signed into law during in August 2022 includes a provision for an excise tax equal to 1% of the fair market value of any stock repurchased by covered corporations during a taxable year, subject to certain officerslimits and employees.  "Performance Units" represent provisions. The excise tax is effective beginning in 2023.

Tender Offer

In July 2021, the participant's rightCompany completed a “modified Dutch auction” tender offer and paid an aggregate of $1.5 million, excluding fees and related expenses, to receive an amount, based on the value of a specified number ofrepurchase 812,879 shares of Bimini Capital’s Class A common stock ifat a price of $1.85 per share. The aggregate cost of the termstender offer, including commissions and conditions prescribed by the Committee are satisfied.  The Committee will determine the requirements that must be satisfied before Performance Units are earned, including but not limited to any applicable performance period and performance goals.  Performance goals may relate to the Company's financial performance or the participant's performance or such other criteria determined by the Committee, including goals stated with reference to the performance measures discussed below.  If Performance Units are earned, they will be settled in cash, shares of common stock or a combination thereof.fees, was approximately $1.6 million.


The following table presents the activity related to Performance Units during the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

  2017  2016 
     Weighted-     Weighted- 
     Average     Average 
     Grant-Date     Grant-Date 
  Shares  Fair Value  Shares  Fair Value 
Nonvested, at January 1  70,000  $1.23   77,500  $1.22 
Vested during the period  (29,000)  1.78   -   - 
Forfeited during the period  -   -   (7,500)  1.15 
Nonvested, at December 31  41,000  $0.84   70,000  $1.23 

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($ in thousands)      
  2017  2016 
Compensation expense recognized during the year $28  $27 
Unrecognized compensation expense at year end $11  $39 
Weighted-average remaining vesting term (in years)  0.9   1.5 
Intrinsic value of unvested shares at year end $107  $183 

NOTE 14.11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES


From time to time, the Company may become involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business.

On April 22, 2020, the Company received a demand for payment from Citigroup, Inc. in the amount of $33.1 million related to the indemnification provisions of various mortgage loan purchase agreements (“MLPA’s”) entered into between Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp and Royal Palm Capital, LLC (f/k/a Opteum Financial Services, LLC) prior to the date Royal Palm’s mortgage origination operations ceased in 2007. In November 2021, Citigroup notified the Company of additional indemnity claims totaling $0.2 million. The demands are based on Royal Palm’s alleged breaches of certain representations and warranties in the related MLPA’s. The Company believes the demands are without merit and intends to defend against the demands vigorously. No provision or accrual has been recorded as of December 31, 2022.related to the Citigroup demands.

Management is not aware of any other significant reported or unreported contingencies at December 31, 2017.2022.


NOTE 15.12. INCOME TAXES


On December 22, 2017,

In 2022, the Tax Reform Act was signed into law by President Trump. The Tax Reform Act significantly revised the U.S. corporate income tax code by, among other things, lowering the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. On the same date, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 which specifies, among other things, that reasonable estimates of the income tax effects of the Tax Reform Act should be used, if determinable. GAAP requires that the impact of tax legislation be recognized in the period in which the law was enacted. The Company recorded an income tax provision of $19.4$11.9 million, for the year ended December 31, 2017, including a charge of $25.9$12.2 million due to a remeasurement ofincrease in the deferred tax assets and liabilities resulting from the tax rate reduction. The year 2017 tax provision represents the Company's current best estimate based on management's current interpretationasset valuation allowance, primarily as a result of management’s reassessment of the Tax Reform ActCompany’s ability to utilize net operating losses (“NOLs”) and may change ascapital loss carryforwards to offset future taxable income. In 2021, the Company receives additional clarificationrecorded an income tax benefit of $0.4 million, including a $2.2 million decrease in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance as a result of management’s reassessment of the Company’s ability to utilize NOLs and implementation guidance.capital loss carryforwards to offset future taxable income.

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The income tax provisionbenefit included in the consolidated statements of operations consists of the following for the years ended December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016:


(in thousands)      
  2017  2016 
Current $70  $143 
Deferred  19,308   999 
Income tax provision $19,378  $1,142 

2021:

(in thousands)

        
  

2022

  

2021

 

Current

 $-  $- 

Deferred

  11,858   (368)

Income tax provision (benefit), net

 $11,858  $(368)

The income tax provision differs from the amount computed by applying the federal income tax statutory rate of 3521 percent on income or loss before income tax expense. A reconciliation of income tax at the statutory rate to income tax provision for the years ended December 31, 2017 2022 and 20162021 is presented in the table below.


(in thousands)      
  2017  2016 
Federal tax based on statutory rate applicable for each year $984  $1,539 
State income tax  157   245 
Reduction of deferred tax asset due to enacted decrease in future tax rates  25,852   - 
Reduction of deferred tax asset valuation allowance  (7,628)  (780)
Other  13   138 
Income tax provision $19,378  $1,142 

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(in thousands)

        
  

2022

  

2021

 

Federal tax benefit based on statutory rate applicable for each year

 $(1,673) $(19)

State income tax benefit

  (344)  (8)

Non-deductible expenses

  1,249   631 

Increase (decrease) of deferred tax asset valuation allowance

  12,188   (2,191)

Other

  438   1,219 

Income tax provision (benefit)

 $11,858  $(368)

Deferred tax assets consisted of the following as of December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016:


(in thousands) 
  2017  2016 
Deferred tax assets:      
Net operating loss carryforwards $59,691  $96,500 
Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock  2,349   3,291 
 MBS  1,038   1,425 
Management agreement  813   1,267 
Tax hedges  49   366 
Accrued expenses  148   330 
Other  661   697 
   64,749   103,876 
Valuation allowance  (20,224)  (40,043)
Net deferred tax assets $44,525  $63,833 

2021:

(in thousands)

        
  

2022

  

2021

 

Deferred tax assets:

        

Net operating loss carryforwards

 $56,278  $58,391 

Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock

  4,530   3,198 

MBS unrealized losses and gains

  1,118   582 

Capital loss carryforwards

  2,395   1,423 

Management agreement

  813   813 

Other

  16   413 
   65,150   64,820 

Valuation allowance

  (41,972)  (29,784)

Net deferred tax assets

 $23,178  $35,036 

As of December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016, Bimini Capital2021, the Company had tax capital loss carryforwards of approximately $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively, which can be used to offset future realized tax capital gains.  The capital loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2019.  In addition, as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, Bimini Capital had estimated federal NOL carryforwards of approximately $19.1approximately $260.6 million and $19.3$267.7 million, respectively, and estimated Florida NOL carryforwards of $18.5$35.5 million and $18.6$39.6 million, respectively.respectively. The NOL carryforwards can be used to offset future taxable income and will begin to expire in 2028.


As of December 31, 2017, Royal Palm had tax capital loss carryforwards of approximately $0.1 million which can be used to offset future realized tax capital gains.  The capital loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2022. In addition, as of December 31, 2017, Royal Palm had estimated federal NOL carryforwards of approximately $253.5 million and estimated available Florida NOLs of approximately $26.0 million. As of December 31, 2016, Royal Palm had estimated federal NOL carryforwards of approximately $257.0 million and estimated available Florida NOLs of approximately $29.5 million.  These NOLs can be used to offset future taxable income and will begin to expire in 2025.

2026.

In connection with Orchid's Orchid’s 2013 IPO, Bimini Advisors paid for, and expensed for GAAP purposes, certain offering costs totaling approximately $3.2 million. For tax purposes, these offering costs created an intangible asset related to the Orchid management agreement with a tax basis of $3.2 million. The deferred tax asset related to the intangible asset at December 31, 2017 2022 and 20162021 totaled approximately$0.8$0.8 million and $1.3$0.8 million, respectively.


In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers both positive and negative evidence whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of capital loss and NOL carryforwards is dependent upon the generation of future capital gains and taxable income in periods prior to their expiration. TheAs of December 31, 2022, the valuation allowance relates primarily torecognized against the deferred tax asset is based on management’s estimated projections of future taxable income, and the projected ability to utilize the NOL carryforwards of Bimini Capital and Royal Palm in future periods and is based on management's estimated projections of futureto offset that projected taxable income. With respect toincome before the utilization of NOL carryforwards at Bimini, management must estimate the dividends the Company will receive on its Orchid share holdings as well as the management fees and overhead sharing payments it will receive from Orchid. With respect to the MBS portfolio at Royal Palm, management makes estimates of various metrics such as the yields on the assets it will acquire, its future funding costs, future prepayment speeds and net interest margin, among others.  Management must also estimate the dividends it will receive on its Orchid shares and the cash flows it will receive on the retained interests.NOLs expire. Utilization of the NOLs is based on these estimates and the assumptions that management will be able to reinvest retained earnings in order to grow the MBS portfolio going forward and that market value will not be eroded due to adverse market conditions or hedging inefficiencies. With respect to the taxable income projections, management estimates the dividends expected to be received on its Orchid share holdings as well as the management fees and overhead sharing payments it will receive from Orchid. With respect to the MBS portfolio, management makes estimates of various metrics such as the yields on the assets it plans to acquire, its future funding and interest costs, future prepayment speeds and net interest margin, among others. Estimates were also made for other assets and expenses. Changes in the taxable income projections have a direct impact on the amount of the valuation allowance, and the impact in any reporting period may be significant. These estimates and assumptions may change from year to year to the extent Orchid grows,Orchid’s book value changes, thus increasingchanging projected management fees and overhead sharing payments, and/or market conditions, changeincluding changes in interest rates, such that estimates with respect to the portfolio metrics warrant revisions.


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Royal Palm holds

The Company continues to hold a minimal amount of residual interests in various real estate mortgage investment conduits ("REMICs"(“REMICs”), some of which generate excess inclusion income ("EII"(“EII”), a type of taxable income pursuant to specific provisions of. These residual interests have no recorded value on the Code.  During 2010 (as part ofbalance sheet. In its 2009 tax return, the filing of its 2009 tax returns), Royal Palm reachedCompany disclosed a tax filing position related to the EII taxable income that was different from what was reported in previous periods, and has since included a notice of inconsistent treatment in its tax returns.  Royal Palm continuesreturns to file its tax returns following its 2009disclose the position. The tax filing position and it continueswill continue to include a notice of inconsistent treatment in each return.


be disclosed with respect to the remaining securitizations as long as they are held.

The Company does has not believe it has identified any unrecognized tax benefits includedthat would result in liabilities its consolidated financial statements. The Company has not had any settlements in the current period with taxing authorities nor has itand is not currently under audit. Additionally, no tax benefits have been recognized tax benefitsin the consolidated financial statements as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations.


NOTE 16.13. EARNINGS PER SHARE


Shares of Class B common stock, participating and convertible into Class A common stock, are entitled to receive dividends in an amount equal to the dividends declared on each share of Class A common stock if, and when, authorized and declared by the Board of Directors. Following the provisions of FASB ASC 260, theThe Class B common stock is included in the computation of basic EPS using the two-classtwo-class method, and consequently is presented separately from Class A common stock. Shares of Class B common stock are not included in the computation of diluted Class A EPS as the conditions for conversion to Class A common stock were not met at December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016.


2021.

Shares of Class C common stock are not included in the basic EPS computation as these shares do not have participation rights. Shares of Class C common stock are not included in the computation of diluted Class A EPS as the conditions for conversion to Class A common stock were not met at December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016.


The Company has dividend eligible stock incentive plan shares that were outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. The basic and diluted per share computations include these unvested incentive plan shares if there is income available to Class A common stock, as they have dividend participation rights. The stock incentive plan shares have no contractual obligation to share in losses. Since there is no such obligation, the incentive plan shares would not be included in the basic and diluted EPS computations when no income is available to Class A common stock even though they are considered participating securities.

2021.

The table below reconciles the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS.

(in thousands, except per-share information)

        
  

2022

  

2021

 

Basic and diluted EPS per Class A common share:

        

(Loss) income attributable to Class A common shares:

        

Basic and diluted

 $(19,762) $274 

Weighted average common shares:

        

Class A common shares outstanding at the balance sheet date

  10,020   10,702 

Effect of weighting

  374   496 

Weighted average shares-basic and diluted

  10,394   11,198 

(Loss) income per Class A common share:

        

Basic and diluted

 $(1.90) $0.02 

(in thousands, except per-share information)

        
  

2022

  

2021

 

Basic and diluted EPS per Class B common share:

        

(Loss) income attributable to Class B common shares:

        

Basic and diluted

 $(61) $1 

Weighted average common shares:

        

Class B common shares outstanding at the balance sheet date

  32   32 

Effect of weighting

  -   - 

Weighted average shares-basic and diluted

  32   32 

(Loss) income per Class B common share:

        

Basic and diluted

 $(1.90) $0.02 

(in thousands, except per-share information)      
  2017  2016 
Basic and diluted EPS per Class A common share:      
(Loss) income attributable to Class A common shares:      
Basic and diluted $(16,441) $3,378 
Weighted average common shares:        
Class A common shares outstanding at the balance sheet date  12,661   12,632 
Unvested dividend-eligible share based compensation        
outstanding at the balance sheet date  -   70 
Effect of weighting  (28)  (4)
Weighted average shares-basic and diluted  12,633   12,698 
(Loss) income per Class A common share:        
Basic and diluted $(1.30) $0.27 

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(in thousands, except per-share information)      
  2017  2016 
Basic and diluted EPS per Class B common share:      
(Loss) income attributable to Class B common shares:      
Basic and diluted $(42) $8 
Weighted average common shares:        
Class B common shares outstanding at the balance sheet date  32   32 
Effect of weighting  -   - 
Weighted average shares-basic and diluted  32   32 
(Loss) income per Class B common share:        
Basic and diluted $(1.30) $0.27 

NOTE 17.14. FAIR VALUE


Authoritative accounting literature establishes a framework for using fair

Fair value to measure assets and liabilities and defines fair value asis the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) as opposed to the price that would be paid to acquire the asset or received to assume the liability (an entry price). A fair value measure should reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including the assumptions about the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique, the effect of a restriction on the sale or use of an asset and the risk of non-performance. Required disclosures include stratification of balance sheet amounts measured at fair value based on inputs the Company uses to derive fair value measurements. These stratifications are:


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·

Level 1 valuations, where the valuation is based on quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities traded in active markets (which include exchanges and over-the-counter markets with sufficient volume),

·

Level 2 valuations, where the valuation is based on quoted market prices for similar instruments traded in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market, and

·

Level 3 valuations, where the valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market, but observable based on Company-specific data. These unobservable assumptions reflect the Company'sCompany’s own estimates for assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques typically include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, but may also include the use of market prices of assets or liabilities that are not directly comparable to the subject asset or liability.


The Company's MBS are valued using Level 2 valuations, and such valuations are determined by the Company based on independent pricing sources and/or third-party broker quotes, when available. Because the price estimates may vary, the Company must make certain judgments and assumptions about the appropriate price to use to calculate the fair values. Alternatively, the Company could opt to have the value of all of its MBS positions determined by either an independent third-party or could do so internally.

MBS, Orchid common stock, retained interests and futures contractsTBA securities were all recorded at fair value on a recurring basis during 20172022 and 2016.2021. When determining fair value measurements, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset. When possible, the Company looks to active and observable markets to price identical assets. When identical assets are not traded in active markets, the Company looks to market observable data for similar assets. FairRetained interests have a recorded fair value measurements forof zero as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, as the prospect of future cash flows is uncertain. Any cash received from the retained interests is reflected as a gain in the consolidated statements of operations.

The Company's MBS and TBA securities are generatedvalued using Level 2 valuations, and such valuations currently are determined by the Company based on independent pricing sources and/or third party broker quotes. Because the price estimates may vary, the Company must make certain judgments and assumptions about the appropriate price to use to calculate the fair values. The Company and the independent pricing sources use various valuation techniques to determine the price of the Company’s securities. These techniques include observing the most recent market for like or identical assets (including security coupon, maturity, yield, and prepayment speeds), spread pricing techniques to determine market credit spreads (option adjusted spread, zero volatility spread, spread to the U.S. Treasury curve or spread to a benchmark such as a TBA security), and model that requires managementdriven approaches (the discounted cash flow method, Black Scholes and SABR models which rely upon observable market rates such as the term structure of interest rates and the volatility). The appropriate spread pricing method used is based on market convention. The pricing source determines the spread of recently observed trade activity or observable markets for assets similar to makethose being priced. The spread is then adjusted based on variances in certain characteristics between the market observation and the asset being priced. Those characteristics include: type of asset, the expected life of the asset, the stability and predictability of the expected future cash flows of the asset, whether the coupon of the asset is fixed or adjustable, the guarantor of the security if applicable, the coupon, the maturity, the issuer, size of the underlying loans, year in which the underlying loans were originated, loan to value ratio, state in which the underlying loans reside, credit score of the underlying borrowers and other variables if appropriate. The fair value of the security is determined by using the adjusted spread.

The Company’s futures contracts are Level 1 valuations, as they are exchange-traded instruments and quoted market prices are readily available. Futures contracts are settled daily. The Company’s interest rate swaps and interest rate swaptions are Level 2 valuations. The fair value of interest rate swaps is determined using a significant numberdiscounted cash flow approach using forward market interest rates and discount rates, which are observable inputs. The fair value of assumptions.interest rate swaptions is determined using an option pricing model.


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The following table presents financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016:


(in thousands)            
     Quoted Prices       
     in Active  Significant    
     Markets for  Other  Significant 
     Identical  Observable  Unobservable 
  Fair Value  Assets  Inputs  Inputs 
  Measurements  (Level 1)  (Level 2)  (Level 3) 
December 31, 2017            
Mortgage-backed securities $209,692  $-  $209,692  $- 
Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock  14,106   14,106   -   - 
Retained interests  653   -   -   653 
December 31, 2016                
Mortgage-backed securities $130,302  $-  $130,302  $- 
Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock  15,108   15,108   -   - 
Retained interests  1,114   -   -   1,114 

The following table illustrates a roll forward for all assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:

(in thousands)      
  Retained Interests 
  2017  2016 
Balances, January 1 $1,114  $1,124 
Gain included in earnings  645   2,425 
Collections  (1,106)  (2,435)
Balances, December 31 $653  $1,114 

2021:

(in thousands)

                
      

Quoted Prices

         
      

in Active

  

Significant

     
      

Markets for

  

Other

  

Significant

 
      

Identical

  

Observable

  

Unobservable

 
  

Fair Value

  

Assets

  

Inputs

  

Inputs

 
  

Measurements

  

(Level 1)

  

(Level 2)

  

(Level 3)

 

December 31, 2022

                

Mortgage-backed securities

 $45,893  $-  $45,893  $- 

Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock

  5,975   5,975   -   - 

December 31, 2021

                

Mortgage-backed securities

 $60,803  $-  $60,803  $- 

Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock

  11,679   11,679   -   - 

During the years ended December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016,2021, there were no transfers of financial assets or liabilities between levels 1,2 or 3.


Our retained interests are valued based on a discounted cash flow approach.  These values are sensitive to changes in unobservable inputs, including: estimated prepayment speeds, default rates and loss severity, weighted-average life, and discount rates.  Significant increases or decreases in any of these inputs may result in significantly different fair value measurements.

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The following table summarizes the significant quantitative information about our level 3 fair value measurements as of December 31, 2017.

 
Retained interest fair value ($ in thousands)
  $ 653
  CPR Range  
Prepayment Assumption (Weighted Average)  
Constant Prepayment Rate 10% (10%)  
  Severity Range  
Default AssumptionsProbability of Default(Weighted Average) Range Of Loss Timing
Real Estate Owned100%22.7% Next 10 Months
Loans in Foreclosure100%22.7%  Month 4 - 13
Loans 90 Day Delinquent100%45% Month 11-28
Loans 60 Day Delinquent85%45% Month 11-28
Loans 30 Day Delinquent75%45% Month 11-28
Current Loans3.3%45% Month 29 and Beyond
  Remaining Life Range Discount Rate Range
Cash Flow RecognitionValuation Technique(Weighted Average) (Weighted Average)
Nominal Cash FlowsDiscounted Cash Flow11.5 - 14.5 (12.1) 27.50% (27.50%)
Discounted Cash FlowsDiscounted Cash Flow1.0 - 3.3 (2.4) 27.50% (27.50%)

NOTE 18.15. SEGMENT INFORMATION


The Company'sCompany’s operations are classified into two principal reportable segments; the asset management segment and the investment portfolio segment.


The asset management segment includes the investment advisory services provided by Bimini Advisors to Orchid and Royal Palm. As discussed in Note 2, the revenues of the asset management segment consist of management fees and overhead reimbursements received pursuant to a management agreement with Orchid. Total revenue received under this management agreement for the years ended December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016,2021, were approximately $7.4$13.0 million and $5.5$9.8 million, respectively, accounting for approximately 46%80% and 45%70% of consolidated revenues, respectively.


The investment portfolio segment includes the investment activities conducted by Bimini Capital and Royal Palm. The investment portfolio segment receives revenue in the form of interest and dividend income on its investments.


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Segment information for the years ended December 31, 2017 2022 and 20162021 is as follows:

(in thousands)

                     
  

Asset Management

  

Investment Portfolio

  

Corporate

   

Eliminations

  

Total

 

2022

                     

Advisory services, external customers

 $12,996  $-  $-   $-  $12,996 

Advisory services, other operating segments(1)

  115   -   -    (115)  - 

Interest and dividend income

  -   3,155   -    -   3,155 

Interest expense

  -   (715)  (1,416)

(2)

  -   (2,131)

Net revenues

  13,111   2,440   (1,416)   (115)  14,020 

Other (expense) income

  -   (12,212)  66 

(3)

  -   (12,146)

Operating expenses(4)

  (7,805)  (2,034)  -    -   (9,839)

Intercompany expenses(1)

  -   (115)  -    115   - 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 $5,306  $(11,921) $(1,350)  $-  $(7,965)

Year end assets

 $1,970  $77,483  $6,864   $-  $86,317 

 
(in thousands)          
 AssetInvestment   
 ManagementPortfolioCorporateEliminationsTotal
2017          
Advisory services, external customers$7,431$-$-$-$7,431
Advisory services, other operating segments(1)
 207 - - (207) -
Interest and dividend income - 8,572 1 - 8,573
Interest expense - (1,796) 
 (1,237)(2)
 - (3,033)
Net revenues 7,638 6,776 (1,236) (207) 12,971
Other income - (4,306) 
 634 (3)
 - (3,672)
Operating expenses(4)
 (3,016) (3,387) - - (6,403)
Intercompany expenses(1)
 - (207) - 207 -
Income (loss) before income taxes$4,622$(1,124)$(602)$-$2,896
Assets$1,632$267,429$15,528$-$284,589
           
 AssetInvestment   
 ManagementPortfolioCorporateEliminationsTotal
2016          
Advisory services, external customers$5,489$-$-$-$5,489
Advisory services, other operating segments(1)
 94 - - (94) -
Interest and dividend income - 6,576 2 - 6,578
Interest expense - (747) 
 (1,109)(2)
 - (1,856)
Net revenues 5,583 5,829 (1,107) (94) 10,211
Other income - (2,675) 
 2,735 (3)
 - 60
Operating expenses(4)
 (2,640) (3,103) - - (5,743)
Intercompany expenses(1)
 - (94) - 94 -
Income (loss) before income taxes$2,943$(43)$1,628$-$4,528
Assets$1,856$199,883$21,131$-$222,870
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Asset Management

  

Investment Portfolio

  

Corporate

   

Eliminations

  

Total

 

2021

                     

Advisory services, external customers

 $9,788  $-  $-   $-  $9,788 

Advisory services, other operating segments(1)

  147   -   -    (147)  - 

Interest and dividend income

  -   4,262   -    -   4,262 

Interest expense

  -   (116)  (997)

(2)

  -   (1,113)

Net revenues

  9,935   4,146   (997)   (147)  12,937 

Other expense

  -   (4,898)  154 

(3)

  -   (4,744)

Operating expenses(4)

  (5,676)  (2,609)  -    -   (8,285)

Intercompany expenses(1)

  -   (147)  -    147   - 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 $4,259  $(3,508) $(843)  $-  $(92)

Year end assets

 $1,901  $111,022  $9,162   $-  $122,085 

(1)

(1)

Includes advisory services revenue received by Bimini Advisors from Royal Palm.

(2)

(2)

Includes interest on junior subordinated note.long-term debt.

(3)

(3)

Includes income recognized on the forgiveness of the PPP loan and gains (losses) on Eurodollar futures contracts entered into as a hedge on junior subordinated notes and fair value adjustments on retained interests in securitizations.notes.

(4)

(4)

Corporate expenses are allocated based on each segment'ssegment’s proportional share of total revenues.


NOTE 19.16. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS


Other Relationships with Orchid


At December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016,2021, the Company owned 1,520,036 and 1,395,036  shares of Orchid common stock respectively, representing approximately 2.9%1.6% and 4.2%1.5%, respectively, of Orchid'sOrchid’s outstanding common stock.stock, on such dates. During the years ended December 31, 2017 2022 and 2016,2021, the Company received dividends on this common stock investment of approximately $2.5$1.3 million and $2.3$2.0 million, respectively.


Robert Cauley, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Board of Directors, also serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orchid, receivesis eligible to receive compensation from Orchid and owns shares of common stock of Orchid.  Also, Hunter Haas, our Chief Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer, also serves as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Secretary of Orchid, is a member of Orchid'sOrchid’s Board of Directors, receivesis eligible to receive compensation from Orchid, and owns shares of common stock of Orchid. Robert J. Dwyer and Frank E. Jaumot, our independent directors, each own shares of common stock of Orchid.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.


We had no disagreements with our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on any matter of accounting principles or practices or financial statement disclosure.


ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.


Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures


As of the end of the period covered by this report (the "evaluation date"“evaluation date”), the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company'sCompany’s management, including the Company'sCompany’s Chief Executive Officer ("(“the CEO"CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer ("(“the CFO"CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company'sCompany’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act.Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Based on this evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded that the Company'sCompany’s disclosure controls and procedures, as designed and implemented, were effective as of the evaluation date (1) 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) 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'sSEC’s rules and forms.


Changes in Internal ControlsControl over Financial Reporting


There were no significant changes in the Company'sCompany’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company'sCompany’s most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company'sCompany’s internal control over financial reporting.


Management's In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Company employees began working from home on March 23, 2020 and generally returned to the office in June 2021. Management took measures to ensure that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting were unchanged during this period.

Managements Report of Internal Control over Financial Reporting


Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company'sCompany’s principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the Company'sCompany’s board of directors, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:


·

pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

·

provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and

·

provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company'sCompany’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.


Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. As a result, even systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance regarding the preparation and presentation of consolidated financial statements. Moreover, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.


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The Company'sCompany’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company'sCompany’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017.2022. In making this assessment, the Company'sCompany’s management used criteria set forth in Internal Control—ControlIntegrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.


Based on management'smanagement’s assessment, the Company'sCompany’s management believes that, as of December 31, 2017,2022, the Company'sCompany’s internal control over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.

None.

ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.

Not applicable.


None.
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PART III


ITEM 10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.


The information required by this Item 10 and not otherwise set forth below is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's definitive Proxy Statement relating to the Company's 2018Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which the Company expects to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to Regulation 14A, not later than 120 days after December 31, 20172022 (the "Proxy Statement").


ITEM 11.Executive Compensation.


The information required by this Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.


ITEM 12.Security Ownership Ofof Certain Beneficial Owners Andand Management Andand Related Stockholder Matters.


The information required by this Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement and to Part II, Item 5 of this Form 10-K.


ITEM 13.Certain Relationships Andand Related Transactions, and Director Independence.


The information required by this Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.


ITEM 14.Principal Accountant Fees Andand Services.


The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.

PART IV


ITEM 15.Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.


a.

Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements of the Company, together with the report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm thereon, are set forth in Part II-Item 8 of this Form 10-K and are incorporated herein by reference.


The following information is filed as part of this Form 10-K:

 

Page

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (BDO USA, LLP; West Palm Beach, FL; PCAOB ID#243)

61

57

Consolidated Balance Sheets

62

59

Consolidated Statements of Operations

63

60

Consolidated Statements of Equity

64

61

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

65

62

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

66

63


b.Financial Statement Schedules.

Not applicable.


c.Exhibits.


Exhibit No


4.1

4.2

10.1

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10.2

10.3

Second Amendment to Management Agreement dated as of June 30, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated July 3, 2014.

10.4

Third Amendment to Management Agreement dated as of November 16, 2021, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 17, 2021, filed with the SEC on November 18, 2021.

10.5

Investment Allocation Agreement among the Company, Orchid Island Capital, Inc. and Bimini Advisors, LLC dated February 20, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company'sCompany’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 20, 2013, filed with the SEC on February 20, 2013.*

10.6

10.7

Agreement between the Company and G. Hunter Haas, IV dated June 30, 2009, regarding compensation payable in connection with certain termination or change of control events, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 2, 2009.*

21.1

Subsidiaries of the Registrant**

101.INS


104Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

*

Management compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

**

**

Filed herewith.

***

Furnished herewith

****

Submitted electronically herewith.

ITEM 16.Form 10-K Summary.

The Company has elected not to provide summary information.


None.


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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

BIMINI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.


Date:March 9, 2018
By:/s/ Robert E. Cauley 
   
Robert E. Cauley
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer



Date:March 9, 2018
By:/s/ G. Hunter Haas, IV 
   

Date:          March 10, 2023

By:

/s/ Robert E. Cauley

Robert E. Cauley

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Date:          March 10, 2023

By:

/s/ G. Hunter Haas, IV

G. Hunter Haas, IV

President, Chief Financial Officer,

Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer (Principal

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal

Accounting Officer)


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on March 9, 2018.

10, 2023.

Signature

 

Capacity

   

/s/ Robert E. Cauley

  

Robert E. Cauley

 

Director, Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer

   

/s/ G. Hunter Haas, IV

  

G. Hunter Haas, IV

 

President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

   

/s/ Robert J. Dwyer

  

Robert J. Dwyer

 

Director

   

/s/ Frank E. Jaumot

  

Frank E. Jaumot

 

Director

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