raw_content: ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC
  Form S-4/A
  S-4/A
  As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 31, 2018
  REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
  Maryland 2834 22-3479661
  incorporation or organization) (Primary Standard Industrial
  Classification Code Number) (I.R.S. Employer
  (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
  Anthony Green, Esq.
  (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
  Copies to:
  Adam O. Emmerich, Esq.
  Ronald C. Chen, Esq.
  Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
  Sean P. Reid
  MTGE Investment Corp.
  2 Bethesda Metro Center
  Thomas R. Salley, Esq.
  J. Kevin Mills, Esq.
  Cooley LLP (US)
  1299 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
  Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: May 16, 2018, the date on which the preliminary prospectus and tender offer materials were filed and sent to securityholders. The offer cannot, however, be completed prior to the time this Registration Statement becomes effective. Accordingly, any actual sale or purchase of securities pursuant to the offer will occur only after this Registration Statement is effective, subject to the conditions to the transactions described herein.
  If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box: ☐
  If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
  If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
  Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
  Large accelerated filer ☒ Accelerated filer ☐
  Non-accelerated filer ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company ☐
  If applicable, place an ☒ in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:
  Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer) ☐
  Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer) ☐
  The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
  The information in this document may change. The registrant may not complete the offer and issue these securities until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This document is not an offer to sell these securities, and the registrant is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer is not permitted.
  PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE, DATED MAY 31, 2018
  MOUNTAIN MERGER SUB CORPORATION,
  a direct wholly owned subsidiary of
  to Exchange Each Outstanding Share of Common Stock of
  $9.82 in Cash and
  0.9519 Shares of Common Stock of Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
  $19.65 in Cash
  (subject in each case to the election procedures and, in the case of an all-cash
  election or an all-stock election, to the proration procedures described
  in this document and related letter of election and transmittal)
  THE OFFER AND THE WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, ON JUNE 18, 2018, UNLESS EXTENDED.
  Annaly Capital Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Annaly”), through its direct wholly owned subsidiary Mountain Merger Sub Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Offeror”), is offering (the “offer”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus/offer to exchange and in the accompanying letter of election and transmittal, to exchange for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “MTGE common stock”), of MTGE Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation (“MTGE”), validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer:
  • $9.82 in cash; and
  • 0.9519 shares of Annaly common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Annaly common stock”), together with cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Annaly common stock.
  We refer to the above as the “mixed consideration.”
  In lieu of receiving the mixed consideration, holders of shares of MTGE common stock may elect to receive, for each share of MTGE common stock that they hold, (1) $19.65 in cash (we refer to this election as the “all-cash election” and this amount as the “all-cash consideration”) or (2) 1.9037 shares of Annaly common stock, together with cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Annaly common stock (we refer to this election as the “all-stock election” and this amount as the “all-stock consideration”). The mixed consideration, the all-cash consideration and the all-stock consideration (as applicable) will be paid without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes.
  MTGE common stockholders who validly tender and do not validly withdraw their shares of MTGE common stock in the offer but who do not make a valid election will receive the mixed consideration for their shares of MTGE common stock. MTGE common stockholders who make the all-cash election or the all-stock election will be subject to proration so that approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the offer will
  be paid in shares of Annaly common stock and approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the offer will be paid in cash. See “The Offer—Elections and Proration” for a description of the proration procedure.
  The purpose of the offer is for Annaly to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire common equity interest in, MTGE. The offer is the first step in Annaly’s plan to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of MTGE common stock. If the offer is completed, promptly following the consummation of the offer, Annaly intends to consummate a merger of MTGE with and into the Offeror, with the Offeror surviving the merger (which we refer to as the “merger”). The purpose of the merger is for Annaly to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of MTGE common stock that it did not acquire in the offer. In the merger, each issued and outstanding share of MTGE common stock that was not acquired by Annaly or the Offeror will be converted into the mixed consideration or, at the election of the holder of such shares, the all-cash consideration or all-stock consideration, subject to proration so that approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the merger will be paid in shares of Annaly common stock and approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the merger will be paid in cash. In addition, in the merger, each issued and outstanding share of MTGE’s 8.125% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “MTGE Series A preferred stock”) will be automatically converted into the right of the holders thereof to receive one newly issued share of Annaly’s 8.125% Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, which will have rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers substantially the same as those of the MTGE Series A preferred stock. After the merger, the MTGE business will be held in a wholly owned subsidiary of Annaly, and the former MTGE stockholders will no longer have any direct ownership interest in the surviving corporation.
  NOTICE OF OFFER AND MERGER UNDER SECTION 3-106.1 OF THE MARYLAND GENERAL CORPORATION LAW
  In accordance with Section 3-106.1(e) of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), notice of the offer and the merger and the transactions contemplated thereby is hereby given by Annaly and the Offeror. The Articles of Merger, pursuant to which the Merger will become effective, will be filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland not earlier than 30 days after the date of this preliminary prospectus/offer to exchange.
  The Offeror’s obligation to accept for exchange, and to exchange, shares of MTGE common stock for cash and shares of Annaly common stock in the offer is subject to a number of conditions, including that at least a majority of the outstanding shares of MTGE common stock have been validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) in the offer. See “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer” for a description of all of such conditions.
  Annaly common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “NLY,” and MTGE common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “MTGE.”
  The merger will not entitle MTGE stockholders to dissenters’ rights or rights of objecting stockholders under the MGCL and MTGE’s charter.
  For a discussion of certain factors that MTGE common stockholders should consider in connection with the offer, please read the section of this document entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 23.
  You are encouraged to read this entire document and the related letter of election and transmittal carefully, including the annexes and information referred to or incorporated by reference in this document.
  Neither Annaly nor the Offeror has authorized any person to provide any information or to make any representation in connection with the offer other than the information contained or incorporated by reference in this document, and if any person provides any information or makes any representation of this kind, that information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by Annaly or the Offeror.
  Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this document. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
  The date of this preliminary prospectus/offer to exchange is May 31, 2018.
  QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE OFFER AND THE MERGER
  SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF ANNALY
  SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF MTGE
  COMPARATIVE PER SHARE DATA (UNAUDITED)
  Risk Factors Relating to the Offer and the Merger
  Risk Factors Relating to Annaly as the Combined Company
  Risks Related to Annaly’s Business
  Risks Related to MTGE’s Business
  THE COMPANIES
  Annaly
  Offeror
  Background of the Offer and the Merger
  Annaly’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger
  MTGE’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger; Recommendation of the MTGE Board of Directors
  Opinion of the MTGE Special Committee’s Financial Advisor
  MTGE Unaudited Prospective Financial Information
  Annaly Unaudited Prospective Financial Information
  Elections and Proration
  Consequences of Tendering with No Election
  Distribution of Offering Materials
  Expiration of the Offer
  Extension, Termination and Amendment
  Exchange of Shares; Delivery of Cash and Annaly Shares
  Procedure for Tendering
  No Guaranteed Delivery
  Grant of Proxy
  Matters Concerning Validity and Eligibility
  Announcement of Results of the Offer
  Ownership of Annaly Common Stock After the Offer and the Merger
  Purpose of the Offer and the Merger; Dissenters’ Rights
  Plans for MTGE
  Effect of the Offer on the Market for the MTGE Shares; Nasdaq Listing; Registration Under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations
  Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals
  Interests of Certain Persons in the Offer and the Merger
  Certain Relationships With MTGE
  Management Agreement Termination
  Source and Amount of Funds
  Accounting Treatment
  Stock Exchange Listing
  Resale of Annaly Common Stock
  Exchange Agent Contact Information
  MERGER AGREEMENT
  The Merger
  Completion and Effectiveness of the Merger
  Merger Consideration for Common Stock
  No Rights of Objecting Stockholders
  Treatment of Shares of MTGE Preferred Stock
  Exchange of MTGE Stock Certificates or Book-Entry Shares for the Merger Consideration
  Treatment of MTGE Restricted Stock Units
  Material Adverse Effect
  No Solicitation of Other Offers by MTGE
  Change of Recommendation
  Conduct of Business Before Completion of the Merger
  Additional Dividends
  Existing Financing Cooperation
  Other Agreements
  Employee Matters
  Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification
  Conditions to the Merger
  Termination of the Merger Agreement
  Termination Fee and Expenses
  Effect of Termination
  Amendments; Enforcement and Remedies; Extensions and Waivers
  COMPARATIVE MARKET PRICE AND DIVIDEND MATTERS
  Market Price History
  MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
  DESCRIPTION OF ANNALY CAPITAL STOCK
  Description of Common Stock
  Description of Annaly Series H Preferred Stock
  Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Annaly’s Charter and Bylaws
  COMPARISON OF STOCKHOLDERS’ RIGHTS
  WHERE TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION
  Agreement and Plan of Merger A-1
  Opinion of Barclays Capital B-1
  Directors and Executive Officers of Annaly and the Offeror C-1
  This document incorporates by reference important business and financial information about Annaly, MTGE and their respective subsidiaries from documents filed with the SEC that have not been included in or delivered with this document. This information is available without charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, as well as from other sources. See “Where To Obtain More Information.”
  You can obtain the documents incorporated by reference in this document by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address and telephone number:
  Attention: Investor Relations
  1-888-8ANNALY
  http://www.annaly.com/investors
  In addition, if you have questions about the offer or the merger, or if you need to obtain copies of this document, the letter of election and transmittal or other documents incorporated by reference in this document, you may contact the information agent for this offer listed below. You will not be charged for any of the documents you request.
  D.F. King & Co., Inc.
  48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
  Bankers & Brokers Call: (212) 269-5550
  All Others Call Toll-Free: (800) 669-5550
  If you would like to request documents, please do so by June 11, 2018, in order to receive them before the expiration of the offer.
  Information included in this document relating to MTGE, including but not limited to the descriptions of MTGE and its business and the information under the headings “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data of MTGE,” “The Offer—Background of the Offer and the Merger,” “The Offer—MTGE’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger; Recommendation of the MTGE Board of Directors,” “The Offer—Opinion of the MTGE Special Committee’s Financial Advisor,” “The Offer—MTGE Unaudited Prospective Financial Information” and “The Offer—Interests of Certain Persons in the Offer and the Merger” appears in the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 dated May 16, 2018 and filed by MTGE with the SEC (the “Schedule 14D-9”). The Schedule 14D-9 was mailed to holders of shares of MTGE common stock on or about May 16, 2018.
  Below are some of the questions that you as a MTGE stockholder may have regarding the offer and the merger and answers to those questions. You are encouraged to carefully read the remainder of this document and the related letter of election and transmittal, including the annexes and information referred to or incorporated by reference in this document, because the information contained in this section and in the section entitled “Summary” is not complete. Additional important information is contained in the remainder of this document and the related letter of election and transmittal. See “Where To Obtain More Information.” As used in this document, unless otherwise indicated or the context requires, “Annaly,” “we” or “us” refers to Annaly Capital Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries; the “Offeror” refers to Mountain Merger Sub Corporation, a Maryland corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Annaly; and “MTGE” refers to MTGE Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries. The “acceptance time” for purposes of this document and the merger agreement is the time that Annaly will accept for payment, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, all shares of MTGE common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “MTGE common stock”), that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer.
  Who is offering to buy my shares of MTGE common stock and why I am receiving this document?
  Annaly Capital Management, Inc. and the Offeror are making this offer to exchange cash and shares of Annaly common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Annaly common stock”) for shares of MTGE common stock pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 2, 2018, entered into by Annaly, the Offeror and MTGE, which is referred to as the “merger agreement”. You are receiving this document because you own shares of MTGE common stock.
  Annaly is a leading diversified capital manager that invests in and finances residential and commercial assets. Annaly’s principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to its shareholders and to preserve capital through prudent selection of investments and continuous management of its portfolio. Annaly has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Annaly is externally managed by Annaly Management Company LLC.
  What are the classes and amounts of MTGE securities that Annaly is seeking to acquire in the offer?
  Annaly is seeking to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of MTGE common stock in the offer.
  What will I receive for my shares of MTGE common stock in the offer?
  Annaly and the Offeror are offering to exchange for each outstanding share of MTGE common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer:
  • 0.9519 shares of Annaly common stock together with cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Annaly common stock.
  In lieu of receiving the mixed consideration, holders of shares of MTGE common stock may elect to receive, for each share of MTGE common stock that they hold, (1) $19.65 in cash (we refer to this election as the “all-cash election” and this amount as the “all-cash consideration”) or (2) 1.9037 shares of Annaly common stock, together with cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Annaly common stock (we refer to this election as the “all-stock election” and this amount as the “all-stock consideration”). The mixed consideration, the all-cash consideration and the all-stock consideration (as applicable) will be paid without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes (such consideration, the “common transaction consideration”).
  MTGE common stockholders who validly tender and do not validly withdraw their shares of MTGE common stock in the offer but who do not make a valid election will receive the mixed consideration for their shares of MTGE common stock. MTGE common stockholders who make the all-cash election or the all-stock election will be subject to proration so that approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the offer will be paid in shares of Annaly common stock and approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the offer will be paid in cash. See “The Offer—Elections and Proration” for a description of the proration procedure.
  MTGE common stockholders should consider the potential effects of proration and should obtain current market quotations for shares of MTGE common stock and shares of Annaly common stock before deciding whether to tender pursuant to the offer and before electing the form of consideration they wish to receive. The market value of the stock portion of the common transaction consideration will change as the market value of Annaly common stock fluctuates during the offer period and thereafter. Please see “Risk Factors—Risk Factors Relating to the Offer and the Merger.”
  What will happen to my shares of MTGE preferred stock?
  If you own shares of MTGE’s 8.125% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “MTGE Series A preferred stock”), you do not need to do anything in connection with the offer, as the offer is not applicable to the MTGE Series A preferred stock. If the offer is completed, in connection with the completion of the merger, each issued and outstanding share of MTGE Series A preferred stock will be automatically converted into the right to receive one share of Annaly’s 8.125% Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Annaly Series H preferred stock”) on substantially the same terms.
  Will I have to pay any fee or commission to exchange my shares of MTGE common stock?
  If you are the record owner of your shares of MTGE common stock and you tender these shares in the offer, you will not have to pay any brokerage fees, commissions or similar expenses. If you own your shares of MTGE common stock through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee tenders your shares of MTGE common stock on your behalf, your broker or such other nominee may charge a fee for doing so. You should consult your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to determine whether any charges will apply.
  Why is Annaly making this offer and what is the purpose of the merger?
  The purpose of the offer is for Annaly to acquire control of, and ultimately own the entire common equity interest in, MTGE. The offer is the first step in Annaly’s plan to acquire all of the outstanding shares of MTGE common stock. Annaly intends to consummate the merger promptly following the completion of the offer. The purpose of the merger is for Annaly to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of MTGE common stock that it did not acquire in the offer. After the merger, the MTGE business will be held in a wholly owned subsidiary of Annaly, and the former MTGE stockholders will no longer have any direct ownership interest in this entity.
  What does the MTGE board of directors recommend?
  The MTGE board of directors, acting upon the unanimous recommendation of a special committee of the MTGE board of directors comprised of three independent directors (the “MTGE special committee”), has resolved to recommend that the MTGE stockholders accept the offer and tender their shares of MTGE common stock to Annaly in the offer. The MTGE board of directors, upon the unanimous recommendation of the MTGE special committee, also determined that the terms of the merger agreement and the transactions, including the offer, the merger and the issuance of shares of Annaly common stock in connection therewith, are in the best interests of MTGE and its stockholders, and declared the offer, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement advisable.
  See “The Offer—MTGE’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger; Recommendation of the MTGE Board of Directors” for more information. A description of the reasons for this recommendation is also set forth in MTGE’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the “Schedule 14D-9”) that is being mailed to you together with this document.
  What are the most significant conditions of the offer?
  The offer is conditioned upon, among other things, the following:
  1. Minimum Tender Condition—MTGE common stockholders having validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the offer and prior to the expiration of the offer a number of shares of MTGE common stock that, together with any shares of MTGE common stock then owned by Annaly and the Offeror, represents at least a majority of the then-outstanding shares of MTGE common stock at any expiration of the offer (the “minimum tender condition”);
  2. Effectiveness of Form S-4—The registration statement on Form S-4, of which this document is a part, having become effective under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and must not be the subject of any stop order or proceeding seeking a stop order, at any expiration of the offer;
  3. No MTGE Material Adverse Effect—There not having occurred and continuing prior to the expiration of the offer any change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, state of facts, event or occurrence after the date of the merger agreement that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on MTGE and its subsidiaries (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described under “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”);
  4. No Annaly Material Adverse Effect—There not having occurred and continuing prior to the expiration of the offer any change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, state of facts, event or occurrence after the date of the merger agreement that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on Annaly and its subsidiaries (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described under “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”);
  5. Accuracy of MTGE’s Representations and Warranties—The representations and warranties of MTGE contained in the merger agreement being true and correct as of the expiration of the offer, subject to specified materiality standards;
  6. MTGE’s Compliance with Covenants—MTGE must have, in all material respects, performed or complied with its obligations, agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with by it under the merger agreement at or prior to the expiration of the offer;
  7. Accuracy of Annaly’s and the Offeror’s Representations and Warranties—The representations and warranties of Annaly and the Offeror contained in the merger agreement being true and correct as of the expiration of the offer, subject to specified materiality standards;
  8. Annaly’s and the Offeror’s Compliance with Covenants—each of Annaly and the Offeror must have, in all material respects, performed or complied with their agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with by it under the merger agreement at or prior to the expiration of the offer;
  9. Listing of Annaly Common Stock and Annaly Preferred Stock—The shares of Annaly common stock to be issued in the offer and the merger and the shares of Annaly Series H preferred stock to be issued in the merger having been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance;
  10. No Legal Prohibition—No law, order or injunction (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) restraining or enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the offer or the merger must have been enacted, issued, promulgated or granted by a governmental entity of competent jurisdiction;
  11. Regulatory Approvals—The approvals of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), the HUD lenders/servicers of certain loans financed by HUD and the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), if required, must have been obtained at or prior to the expiration of the offer;
  12. Transaction Tax Opinions—The receipt of a written opinion by each of Annaly and MTGE from its legal counsel, dated as of the expiration date, to the effect that the offer and the merger, taken together, will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); and
  13. REIT Tax Opinions—The receipt of a written opinion by each of Annaly and MTGE from the other party’s tax counsel, dated as of the expiration date, to the effect that at all times since a specified date and, with respect to Annaly, through the expiration date or, with respect to MTGE, through and including the taxable year that ends on the effective time of the merger, such company has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code and, with respect to Annaly, that the proposed method of operation of Annaly will enable Annaly to continue to meet the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code.
  The offer is subject to certain other conditions set forth below in the section entitled “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer.” The conditions to the offer are for the sole benefit of Annaly and the Offeror and may be asserted by Annaly or the Offeror regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition (other than as a result of any action or inaction by Annaly or the Offeror that is completely within the control of Annaly or the Offeror), and may be waived by Annaly or the Offeror, by express and specific action to that effect, in whole or in part at any time and from time to time. However, certain specified conditions (including all the conditions noted above other than the conditions related to a material adverse effect on MTGE, accuracy of MTGE’s representations, MTGE’s compliance with covenants and receipt by Annaly of the transaction and REIT tax opinions noted above) may only be waived by Annaly or the Offeror with the express written consent of MTGE. Pursuant to the merger agreement, MTGE has the right to require that Annaly and the Offeror waive the conditions set forth in the fourth, seventh, eighth, twelfth and thirteenth paragraphs above (no material adverse effect on Annaly, accuracy of Annaly’s and the Offeror’s representations and warranties, Annaly’s and the Offeror’s compliance with covenants, MTGE’s receipt of the transaction tax opinion and MTGE’s receipt of the REIT tax opinion). There is no financing condition to the offer.
  How long will it take to complete the offer and the merger?
  The offer and the merger are expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2018, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions described in the sections entitled “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer” and “Merger Agreement—Conditions to the Merger.”
  How long do I have to decide whether to tender my shares of MTGE common stock in the offer?
  The offer is scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 18, 2018, unless further extended or terminated. Any extension, delay, termination, waiver or amendment of the offer will be followed as promptly as practicable by public announcement thereof to be made no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date. During any such extension, all of the shares of MTGE common stock previously tendered and not validly withdrawn will remain subject to the offer, subject to the rights of a tendering stockholder to withdraw such stockholder’s shares. “Expiration date” means 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 18, 2018, unless and until the Offeror has extended the period during which the offer is open, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, in which event the term “expiration date” means the latest time and date at which the offer, as so extended by the Offeror, will expire.
  Subject to the provisions of the merger agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and unless MTGE consents otherwise or the merger agreement is otherwise
  terminated, the Offeror must (1) extend the offer for one or more successive periods of up to 10 business days each (or for such longer period as may be agreed by MTGE) in order to further seek to satisfy the conditions to the offer in the event that any of the offer conditions (other than the minimum tender condition) have not been satisfied or validly waived as of any then scheduled expiration of the offer, (2) extend the offer for up to two successive periods of 10 business days each (or such longer or shorter period as may be agreed by MTGE) if each of the offer conditions (other than the minimum tender condition) has been satisfied or validly waived and the minimum tender condition has not been satisfied as of the scheduled expiration of the offer, and MTGE requests that the Offeror so extend the offer, and (3) extend the offer for the minimum period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or its staff or NYSE or Nasdaq that is applicable to the offer or the merger or to the extent necessary to resolve any comments of the SEC or its staff applicable to the offer, the merger, the Schedule TO or the related offer documents. However, the Offeror is not required to extend the offer beyond February 2, 2019 (which is the “outside date”).
  Any decision to extend the offer will be made public by an announcement regarding such extension as described under the section entitled “The Offer—Extension, Termination and Amendment.”
  How do I tender my shares of MTGE common stock?
  To tender your shares of MTGE common stock represented by physical certificates in the offer, you must deliver the certificates representing such shares, together with a completed letter of election and transmittal and any other documents required by the letter of election and transmittal, to Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (“Computershare”), the depositary and exchange agent for the offer, not later than the expiration date. The letter of election and transmittal is enclosed with this document.
  To tender your shares of MTGE common stock in electronic book-entry form, you must deliver an agent’s message in connection with a book-entry transfer, and any other required documents, to the exchange agent at its address set forth elsewhere in this document and follow the other procedures for book-entry tender set forth herein, not later than the expiration date.
  If your shares of MTGE common stock are held in “street name” (i.e., through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee), these shares can be tendered by your nominee by book-entry transfer through The Depository Trust Company.
  We are not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures and therefore you must allow sufficient time for the necessary tender procedures to be completed during normal business hours of The Depository Trust Company prior to the expiration date. Tenders received by the exchange agent after the expiration date will be disregarded and of no effect. In all cases, you will receive your consideration for your tendered shares of MTGE common stock only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of certificates for such shares (or of a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such shares) and a properly completed and duly executed letter of election and transmittal and any other required documents.
  For a complete discussion on the procedures for tendering your shares of MTGE common stock, see “The Offer—Procedure for Tendering.”
  Until what time can I withdraw tendered shares of MTGE common stock?
  You may withdraw your previously tendered shares of MTGE common stock at any time until the offer has expired and, if the Offeror has not accepted your shares of MTGE common stock for payment by July 15, 2018, you may withdraw them at any time on or after that date until the Offeror accepts shares for payment. Once the Offeror accepts your tendered shares of MTGE common stock for payment upon expiration of the offer, however, you will no longer be able to withdraw them. For a complete discussion of the procedures for withdrawing your shares of MTGE common stock, see “The Offer—Withdrawal Rights.”
  How do I withdraw previously tendered shares of MTGE common stock?
  To withdraw previously tendered shares of MTGE common stock, you must deliver a written notice of withdrawal with the required information to the exchange agent at any time that you have the right to withdraw shares. If you tendered shares of MTGE common stock by giving instructions to a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must instruct such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to arrange for the withdrawal of your shares of MTGE common stock and such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee must effectively withdraw such shares at any time that you have the right to withdraw shares. For a discussion on the procedures for withdrawing your shares of MTGE common stock, including the applicable deadlines for effecting withdrawals, see “The Offer—Withdrawal Rights.”
  When and how can I expect to receive the offer consideration in exchange for my tendered shares of MTGE common stock?
  The Offeror will exchange all validly tendered and not validly withdrawn shares of MTGE common stock promptly after the expiration date, subject to the terms thereof and the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the offer, as set forth in “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer.” The Offeror will deliver the consideration for your validly tendered and not validly withdrawn shares through the exchange agent, that will act as your agent for the purpose of receiving the common transaction consideration from the Offeror and transmitting such consideration to you. In all cases, you will receive the consideration for your tendered shares of MTGE common stock only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of certificates representing such shares of MTGE common stock (or a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such shares as described in the section entitled “The Offer—Procedure for Tendering”) and a properly completed and duly executed letter of election and transmittal and any other required documents for such shares.
  Why does the cover page to this document state that this offer is preliminary and subject to change, and that the registration statement filed with the SEC is not yet effective? Does this mean that the offer has not commenced?
  No. Completion of this document and effectiveness of the registration statement are not necessary to commence this offer. The offer was commenced on May 16, 2018, the date of the initial filing of the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this document is a part. The Offeror cannot, however, accept for exchange any shares of MTGE common stock tendered in the offer or exchange any shares until the registration statement is declared effective by the SEC and the other conditions to the offer have been satisfied or waived.
  What happens if I do not tender my shares of MTGE common stock?
  If, after consummation of the offer, Annaly and the Offeror own a majority of the outstanding shares of MTGE common stock, Annaly and the Offeror intend to promptly complete the merger. Upon consummation of the merger, each issued and outstanding share of MTGE common stock that has not been tendered and accepted for exchange in the offer will be converted in the merger into the right to receive, at the election of the holder, the all-cash consideration, the all-stock consideration or the mixed consideration, but the all-cash consideration and all-stock consideration will be subject to proration so that approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the merger will be paid in shares of Annaly common stock and approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the merger will be paid in cash. A letter of election and transmittal will be sent to you following the merger to make these elections. The election deadline to make these elections will be 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on the 20th calendar day following the date on which such forms of election and transmittal are mailed. If you do not make a valid election, you will be treated as if you had made an election to receive the mixed consideration.
  If the offer is completed, will MTGE continue as a public company?
  No. Annaly is required, on the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the merger agreement, to consummate the merger promptly following the purchase of shares of MTGE common
  stock in the offer. Upon the effective time of the merger, MTGE will no longer be publicly traded. If, for some reason, the merger does not take place, and Annaly (through the Offeror) purchases all of the shares of MTGE common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn, there may be so few remaining stockholders and publicly held shares that MTGE common stock will no longer be eligible to be traded through Nasdaq or other securities exchanges, there may not be an active public trading market for MTGE common stock, and MTGE may no longer be required to make filings with the SEC or otherwise comply with the SEC rules relating to publicly held companies.
  Will the offer be followed by a merger if all of the shares of MTGE common stock are not tendered in the offer?
  Yes, unless the conditions to the merger are not satisfied or waived. If the Offeror accepts for payment all of the shares of MTGE common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the offer, and the other conditions to the merger are satisfied or waived, the merger will take place promptly after the consummation of the offer. If the merger takes place, Annaly will own 100% of the equity of MTGE, and all of the remaining holders of MTGE common stock, other than Annaly and the Offeror, will have the right to receive the mixed consideration, the all-cash consideration or the all-stock consideration, in each case without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, with the form of such consideration to be subject to further proration as described in this document (such consideration, the “common transaction consideration”).
  Because the merger will be governed by Section 3-106.1 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), no stockholder vote will be required to consummate the merger in the event that the offer is consummated. Annaly is required, on the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the merger agreement, to consummate the merger promptly following the consummation of the offer. As such, Annaly does not expect there to be a significant period of time between the consummation of the offer and the consummation of the merger.
  Does Annaly have the financial resources to complete the offer and the merger?
  Yes. The common transaction consideration will consist of Annaly common stock and cash. The offer and the merger are not conditioned upon any financing arrangements or contingencies.
  What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences of receiving shares of Annaly common stock and/or cash in exchange for my shares of MTGE common stock in the offer and/or the merger?
  The offer and the merger, taken together, are intended to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. If the offer and the merger, taken together, qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders (as defined herein) of MTGE common stock who receive shares of Annaly common stock and/or cash in exchange for their shares pursuant to the offer and/or the merger generally will be as follows:
  • if a MTGE stockholder receives solely shares of Annaly common stock in exchange for its shares of MTGE common stock, such stockholder generally will not recognize any gain or loss, except with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Annaly common stock;
  • if a MTGE stockholder receives solely cash in exchange for its shares of MTGE common stock, such stockholder generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the stockholder’s tax basis in its MTGE common stock surrendered; and
  • if a MTGE stockholder receives a combination of Annaly common stock and cash in exchange for its shares of MTGE common stock, such stockholder generally will recognize gain (but not loss) in an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the sum of the cash and the fair market value of the Annaly common stock received, less the stockholder’s tax basis in its MTGE common stock surrendered, and (2) the amount of cash received.
  Non-U.S. holders (as defined herein) who receive a combination of Annaly common stock and cash in exchange for shares of MTGE common stock pursuant to the offer and/or the merger may be subject to U.S. withholding tax with respect to the cash consideration.
  Each MTGE stockholder should read the discussion under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” and should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of the offer and the merger to such stockholder in light of its particular circumstances.
  Will I have the right to have my shares of MTGE common stock appraised?
  No. Appraisal rights, rights of objecting stockholders or dissenters’ rights are not available in connection with the offer or the merger. See “The Offer—Purpose of the Offer and the Merger; Dissenters’ Rights.”
  Who should I call if I have questions about the offer?
  You may call D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent, at (800) 669-5550 (toll free for stockholders) or (212) 269-5550 (banks and brokers).
  Where can I find more information about Annaly and MTGE?
  You can find more information about Annaly and MTGE from various sources described in the section entitled “Where To Obtain More Information.”
  This section summarizes certain information presented in greater detail elsewhere in this document. However, this summary does not contain all of the information that may be important to MTGE stockholders. You are urged to carefully read the remainder of this document and the related letter of election and transmittal and the other documents to which we have referred because the information in this section and in the “Questions and Answers About the Offer and the Merger” section is not complete. See “Where To Obtain More Information.”
  The Offer (Page 29)
  Annaly and the Offeror are offering, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus/offer to exchange and in the accompanying letter of election and transmittal, to exchange for each outstanding share of MTGE common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer:
  • 0.9519 shares of Annaly common stock, together with cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Annaly common stock.
  In lieu of receiving the mixed consideration, holders of shares of MTGE common stock may elect to receive, for each share of MTGE common stock that they hold, either (1) $19.65 in cash (we refer to this election as the “all-cash election” and this amount as the “all-cash consideration”) or (2) 1.9037 shares of Annaly common stock, together with cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Annaly common stock (we refer to this election as the “all-stock election” and this amount as the “all-stock consideration”). The mixed consideration, the all-cash consideration and the all-stock consideration (as applicable) will be paid without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes (such consideration, the “common transaction consideration”).
  MTGE common stockholders who tender their shares of MTGE common stock in the offer but who do not make a valid election will receive the mixed consideration for their shares of MTGE common stock. MTGE common stockholders who make the all-cash election or the all-stock election will be subject to proration so that approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the offer will be paid in shares of Annaly common stock and approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the offer will be paid in cash. See “The Offer—Elections and Proration” for a description of the proration procedure.
  MTGE common stockholders will not receive any fractional shares of Annaly common stock in the offer or the merger. No fractional shares of Annaly common stock will be issuable in the offer or the merger and each MTGE stockholder who otherwise would be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Annaly common stock pursuant to the offer or the merger will be paid an amount in cash (without interest) equal to such fractional part of a share of Annaly common stock multiplied by the volume weighted average closing sale price per share of Annaly common stock as reported on the NYSE for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the time Annaly accepts for payment shares of MTGE common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the offer. See “The Merger Agreement—Fractional Shares.”
  Purpose of the Offer; The Merger; The Merger Consideration (Pages 66, 77 and 77)
  The purpose of the offer is for Annaly to acquire control of, and ultimately the 100% of the common equity interests in, MTGE. The offer is the first step in Annaly’s plan to acquire all of the outstanding shares of MTGE common stock. Annaly intends to consummate the merger promptly after the consummation of the offer. The purpose of the merger is for Annaly to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of MTGE common stock that it did not acquire in the offer.
  In the merger, each outstanding share of MTGE common stock that was not acquired by Annaly or the Offeror will be converted into the mixed consideration or, at the election of the holder of such shares, the all-cash consideration or all-stock consideration, subject to proration so that approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the merger will be paid in shares of Annaly common stock and approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the merger will be paid in cash. Following the merger, a letter of election and transmittal will be mailed to such non-tendering stockholders to make these elections. The election deadline to make these elections will be 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the 20th calendar day following the date on which the forms of election and transmittal are mailed. If you do not make an election, you will be treated as if you had made an election to receive the mixed consideration.
  In addition, in the merger, each issued and outstanding share of MTGE Series A preferred stock will be automatically converted into the right to receive one newly issued share of Annaly Series H preferred stock, which will have rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers substantially the same as those of the MTGE Series A preferred stock.
  After the merger, the MTGE business will be held by the Offeror, and the former MTGE common stockholders will no longer have any direct ownership interest in such entity.
  Annaly expects to consummate the merger promptly after the consummation of the offer in accordance with Section 3-106.1 of the MGCL, and no stockholder vote to approve the offer or the merger, adopt the merger agreement or approve any other action by the MTGE stockholders will be required in connection with the merger. See “The Offer—Purpose of the Offer and the Merger; Dissenters’ Rights.”
  Treatment of MTGE Restricted Stock Units (Page 82)
  At the effective time of the merger, each MTGE restricted stock unit, whether vested or unvested, will automatically be cancelled, with the holder of such restricted stock unit becoming entitled to receive (a) the mixed consideration in respect of each MTGE share underlying such restricted stock unit immediately prior to the effective time, and (b) a cash payment in lieu of any fractional share of Annaly common stock that such holder would otherwise be entitled to receive, in each case, less applicable tax withholdings.
  The Companies (Page 28)
  Annaly is a leading diversified capital manager that invests in and finances residential and commercial assets. Annaly’s principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to its shareholders and to preserve capital through prudent selection of investments and continuous management of its portfolio. Annaly has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Annaly is externally managed by Annaly Management Company LLC. Annaly common stock trades under the ticker symbol “NLY” on the NYSE.
  Mountain Merger Sub Corporation
  c/o Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
  The Offeror, a Maryland corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Annaly. The Offeror is newly formed and was organized for the purpose of making the offer and consummating the merger. The Offeror has not engaged in any business activities to date, and it has no material assets or liabilities of any kind, other than those incidental to its formation and those incurred in connection with the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the offer and the merger.
  2 Bethesda Metro Center, 12th Floor
  MTGE Investment Corp. is a real estate investment trust that invests in and manages a leveraged portfolio of agency mortgage investments, non-agency mortgage investments and other real estate-related investments. MTGE is externally managed and advised by MTGE Management, LLC, an affiliate of AGNC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC).
  MTGE’s common stock trades under the ticker symbol “MTGE” on Nasdaq.
  Annaly’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger (Page 38)
  The purpose of the offer is for Annaly to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire common equity interest in, MTGE. Annaly and the Offeror are making the offer and Annaly plans to complete the merger because it believes that the acquisition of MTGE by Annaly will expand and diversify Annaly’s investment portfolio, supporting the continued growth of Annaly’s businesses.
  Expiration of the Offer (Page 60)
  The offer is scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 18, 2018, unless further extended or terminated. “Expiration date” means 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 18, 2018, unless and until the Offeror has extended or terminated the period during which the offer is open, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, in which event the term “expiration date” means the latest time and date at which the offer, as so extended by the Offeror, will expire.
  Extension, Termination and Amendment (Page 61)
  Subject to the provisions of the merger agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and unless MTGE consents otherwise or the merger agreement is otherwise terminated, the Offeror must (1) extend the offer for one or more successive periods of up to 10 business days (or such longer period as may be agreed by MTGE) each in order to further seek to satisfy the conditions to the offer in the event that any of the offer conditions (other than the minimum tender condition) have not been satisfied or validly waived as of any then scheduled expiration of the offer, (2) extend the offer for up to two successive periods of 10 business days each (or for such longer or shorter period as may be agreed by MTGE) if each of the offer conditions (other than the minimum tender condition) has been satisfied or validly waived and the minimum tender condition has not been satisfied as of the scheduled expiration of the offer, and MTGE requests that the Offeror so extend the offer, and (3) extend the offer for the minimum period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or its staff or NYSE or Nasdaq which is applicable to the offer or the merger or to the extent necessary to resolve any comments of the SEC or its staff applicable to the offer, the merger, the Schedule TO or the related offer documents. However, the Offeror is not required to extend the offer beyond the outside date.
  The Offeror will effect any extension, termination, amendment or delay by giving oral or written notice to the exchange agent and by making a public announcement as promptly as practicable thereafter as described under “The Offer—Extension, Termination and Amendment.”
  In the case of an extension, any such announcement will be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on the next business day following the previously scheduled expiration date. Subject to applicable law (including Rules 14d-4(c) and 14d-6(d) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which require that any material change in the information published, sent or given to stockholders in connection with the offer be promptly disseminated to stockholders in a manner reasonably designed to inform them of such change) and without limiting the manner in which the Offeror may choose to make any public announcement, the Offeror assumes no obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement of this type other than by issuing a press release. During any extension, shares of MTGE common stock previously tendered and not validly withdrawn will remain subject to the offer, subject to the right of each MTGE stockholder to withdraw previously tendered shares of MTGE common stock.
  The merger agreement provides that the merger agreement may be terminated if the offer has not been consummated on or before 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on February 2, 2019, and the Offeror may not extend the offer beyond such date without the prior written consent of MTGE.
  No subsequent offering period will be available following the expiration of the offer.
  Conditions of the Offer (Page 68)
  The offer is subject to certain conditions, including:
  • that MTGE stockholders have validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the offer and prior to the expiration of the offer a number of shares of MTGE common stock that, together with any shares of MTGE common stock then owned by Annaly and the Offeror, represents at least a majority of the then-outstanding shares of MTGE common stock at any expiration of the offer;
  • the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this document is a part;
  • no material adverse effect on MTGE and its subsidiaries (as defined in the merger agreement and described under “The Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”) having occurred and continuing prior to the expiration of the offer;
  • no material adverse effect on Annaly and its subsidiaries (as defined in the merger agreement and described under “The Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”) having occurred and continuing prior to the expiration of the offer;
  • the truth and accuracy of MTGE’s representations and warranties made in the merger agreement, subject to specified materiality standards;
  • MTGE being in material compliance with its covenants under the merger agreement;
  • the truth and accuracy of Annaly’s and the Offeror’s representations and warranties made in the merger agreement, subject to specified materiality standards;
  • Annaly and the Offeror being in material compliance with their covenants under the merger agreement;
  • the listing on the NYSE of the shares of Annaly common stock to be issued in the offer and the merger and the shares of Annaly Series H preferred stock to be issued in the merger;
  • lack of legal prohibitions;
  • receipt of approvals of HUD, lenders/servicers of certain loans financed by HUD and Fannie Mae, if required;
  • the receipt of opinions by each of Annaly and MTGE from their respective legal counsel regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the offer and the merger; and
  • the receipt of opinions by each of Annaly and MTGE from the other party’s respective legal counsel regarding each of Annaly’s and MTGE’s qualification as a REIT.
  Subject to applicable SEC rules and regulations, the Offeror also reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time or from time to time to waive any condition identified as subject to waiver in “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer” by giving oral or written notice of such waiver to the exchange agent. However, certain specified conditions (including all conditions noted in the immediately preceding list other than third, fifth, sixth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth conditions listed above and other than the receipt by Annaly of the opinions noted above) may only be waived by Annaly or the Offeror with the express written consent of MTGE. Pursuant to the merger agreement, MTGE has the right to require that Annaly and the Offeror waive the fourth, seventh and eighth conditions listed above and the conditions related to receipt by MTGE of the opinions listed above.
  Withdrawal Rights (Page 63)
  Tendered shares of MTGE common stock may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration date. Additionally, if the Offeror has not agreed to accept the shares for exchange on or prior to July 15, 2018, MTGE common stockholders may thereafter withdraw their shares from tender at any time after such date until the Offeror accepts the shares for exchange. Once the Offeror accepts shares for exchange pursuant to the offer, all tenders not previously withdrawn become irrevocable.
  Procedure for Tendering (Page 63)
  To validly tender shares of MTGE common stock pursuant to the offer, MTGE common stockholders must:
  • deliver a properly completed and duly executed letter of election and transmittal, along with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents, and certificates for tendered shares of MTGE common stock to the exchange agent at its address set forth elsewhere in this document, all of which must be received by the exchange agent prior to the expiration date; or
  • deliver an agent’s message in connection with a book-entry transfer, and any other required documents, to the exchange agent at its address set forth elsewhere in this document, and shares must be tendered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry tender set forth herein (and a confirmation of receipt of that tender received), and in each case be received by the exchange agent prior to the expiration date.
  MTGE common stockholders who hold shares of MTGE common stock in “street name” through a bank, broker or other nominee holder, and desire to tender their shares of MTGE common stock pursuant to the offer, should instruct the nominee holder to do so prior to the expiration date.
  Exchange of Shares; Delivery of Cash and Annaly Shares (Page 62)
  Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of the offer (including, if the offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any extension or amendment), promptly following the expiration date, the Offeror will accept for exchange, and will exchange, all shares of MTGE common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to the expiration date.
  Elections and Proration (Page 57)
  By indicating their elections in the applicable section of the letter of election and transmittal, MTGE common stockholders may elect to receive the mixed consideration, the all-cash consideration or the all-stock consideration in exchange for each share of MTGE common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the offer, subject in each case to the election procedures and, in the case of elections of the all-cash consideration or the all-stock consideration, to the proration procedures described in this document and the related letter of election and transmittal. If a MTGE common stockholder decides to change its election after tendering its shares of MTGE common stock, it must first validly withdraw the tendered shares of MTGE common stock and then re-tender (and not validly withdraw) the shares prior to the expiration date, with a new letter of election and transmittal that indicates the revised election. MTGE common stockholders who tender their shares of MTGE common stock in the offer but who do not make a valid election will receive the mixed consideration for their shares of MTGE common stock.
  Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals (Page 71)
  Annaly and MTGE conduct operations in a number of jurisdictions where regulatory filings or approvals may be required or advisable in connection with the completion of the offer and the merger. In particular, because certain subsidiaries of MTGE are borrowers under loans insured by HUD or serviced loans insured by the U.S. Federal Housing Administration, an office of HUD, or owned by Fannie Mae, the approval of HUD and Fannie Mae may be required to close the offer. Additionally, it is a condition to the closing of the offer that these regulatory approvals, if required, are obtained, which condition may be waived by Annaly in its sole discretion. Annaly and MTGE have initiated a process to obtain these approvals.
  Annaly has been advised that the offer and the merger are exempt from the pre-notification and waiting period requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”). Therefore, we are not attempting to comply with those requirements. The fact that a transaction is exempt from the requirements of the HSR Act does not preclude the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission from seeking to prevent the transaction on the ground that it violates the United States antitrust laws. However, we do not believe that the offer or the merger will be viewed as violating the antitrust laws.
  Interests of Certain Persons in the Offer and the Merger (Page 72)
  In considering the recommendation of the MTGE board of directors that you accept the offer and tender your shares of MTGE common stock to the Offeror pursuant to the offer, you should be aware that the MTGE directors may have interests that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of MTGE stockholders generally, including the treatment of outstanding restricted stock units held by directors pursuant to the merger agreement, effective as of the closing of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.
  Management Agreement Termination (Page 73)
  In connection with the execution of the merger agreement, MTGE, MTGE TRS, LLC, the MTGE external manager, and Annaly entered into an amendment to the amended and restated MTGE management agreement dated as of July 1, 2016 (the “MTGE management agreement”), which provides that one month following completion of the merger, the MTGE management agreement will terminate (such time, the “termination time”). Pursuant to the termination provisions set forth in the MTGE management agreement, in the event the MTGE external manager is terminated without cause, it is entitled to a termination fee equal to three times the average annual management fee earned by the MTGE external manager during the 24-month period immediately preceding the most recently completed month prior to the termination. Accordingly, MTGE will pay the MTGE external manager $36,659,461.54 million upon the completion of the merger, and $5,000,000 at the termination
  time (for an aggregate termination fee of $41,659,461.54). The amendment provides that in addition to the termination fee, MTGE will pay the MTGE external manager for accrued management fees through and until the termination time and will reimburse the MTGE external manager for expenses it incurs prior to the termination time in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice to the extent reimbursable pursuant to the MTGE management agreement. In addition, the indemnification obligations included in the management agreement shall survive the termination. Subject to completion of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, Annaly has guaranteed payment of the termination fee and amounts that become owed to the Manager under the management agreement.
  The amendment to the MTGE management agreement also provides that the MTGE external manager may not intentionally and knowingly take any action, directly or indirectly, that is prohibited to be taken by MTGE representatives as it relates to such representatives’ non-solicitation obligations under the merger agreement, and the MTGE external manager is required to otherwise comply with the non-solicitation obligations applicable to MTGE representatives under the merger agreement. However, to the extent that MTGE is permitted to, and in fact does, engage in discussions or negotiations regarding an acquisition proposal in accordance with the merger agreement, the MTGE external manager may assist MTGE in such discussions or negotiations. The MTGE external manager further agreed that, other than those actions that MTGE is permitted to take under the merger agreement, or as required by law, it will not intentionally and knowingly take any action that would reasonably be expected to cause any of the conditions to the offer or the merger to fail to be satisfied.
  Source and Amount of Funds (Page 74)
  The offer and the merger are not conditioned upon any financing arrangements or contingencies.
  Annaly estimates the aggregate amount of cash consideration required to purchase the outstanding shares of MTGE common stock and consummate the merger will be approximately $450.1 million, plus related fees and expenses. Annaly anticipates that the funds needed to complete the transactions will be derived from available cash on hand. Neither Annaly nor the Offeror have any specific alternative financing plans in connection with the offer or the merger. See “The Offer—Source and Amount of Funds.”
  Dissenters’ Rights (Page 66)
  No appraisal rights, rights of objecting stockholders or dissenters’ rights are available in connection with the offer or the merger. See “The Offer—Purpose of the Offer and the Merger; Dissenters’ Rights.”
  Comparative Market Price and Dividend Matters (Page 98)
  Annaly common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “NLY” and MTGE common stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “MTGE.” On May 1, 2018, the trading day prior to public announcement of the merger agreement, the closing price per share of MTGE common stock on Nasdaq was $18.15, and the closing price per share of Annaly common stock on the NYSE was $10.34. On May 15, 2018, the most recent trading date prior to the mailing of this document, the closing price per share of MTGE common stock on Nasdaq was $19.65, and the closing price per share of Annaly common stock on the NYSE was $10.33.
  The market value of the stock portion of the common transaction consideration will change as the market value of Annaly common stock fluctuates during the offer period and thereafter. MTGE common stockholders should obtain current market quotations for MTGE common stock and Annaly common stock before deciding whether to tender their shares of MTGE common stock in the offer and before electing the form of common transaction consideration they wish to receive. See “Comparative Market Price and Dividend Matters.”
  Ownership of Annaly Common Stock After the Offer and the Merger (Page 66)
  Annaly estimates that former MTGE common stockholders would own, in the aggregate, approximately 4% of the shares of Annaly common stock outstanding after the merger. For a detailed discussion of the assumptions on which this estimate is based, see “The Offer—Ownership of Annaly Common Stock After the Offer and the Merger.”
  Comparison of Stockholders’ Rights (Page 149)
  The rights of Annaly common stockholders are different in some respects from the rights of MTGE common stockholders. Therefore, MTGE common stockholders who become Annaly common stockholders as a result of the offer and/or the merger will have different rights once they become Annaly common stockholders. The differences are described in more detail under “Comparison of Stockholders’ Rights.”
  Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences (Page 100)
  The offer and the merger, taken together, are intended to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. If the offer and the merger, taken together, qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, the U.S. federal income tax consequences U.S. holders (as defined herein) of MTGE common stock who receive shares of Annaly common stock and/or cash in exchange for their shares pursuant to the offer and/or the merger generally will be as follows:
  • if a MTGE stockholder receives solely cash in exchange for its shares of MTGE common stock, such stockholder generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the stockholder’s tax basis in its shares surrendered; and
  • if a MTGE stockholder receives a combination of Annaly common stock and cash in exchange for its shares of MTGE common stock, such stockholder generally will recognize gain (but not loss) in an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the sum of the cash and the fair market value of the Annaly common stock received, minus the stockholder’s tax basis in its shares surrendered, and (2) the amount of cash received.
  Accounting Treatment (Page 74)
  In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), Annaly will account for the acquisition of shares through the offer and the merger under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations.
  Questions about the Offer and the Merger
  Questions or requests for assistance or additional copies of this document may be directed to the information agent at the telephone number and addresses set forth below. Stockholders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the offer.
  The information agent for the offer is:
  The following table sets forth summary consolidated financial data for Annaly as of and for each of the five years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and as of and for each of the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. All references to “fiscal years,” unless otherwise noted, refer to the twelve-month fiscal year.
  The summary consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, were derived from Annaly’s audited consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2017, previously filed with the SEC on February 16, 2018 and incorporated by reference into this document. The summary consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, and for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, were derived from Annaly’s audited consolidated financial statements not included in or incorporated by reference into this document. The summary consolidated financial data as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was derived from Annaly’s unaudited consolidated financial statements included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2018, previously filed with the SEC on May 3, 2018 and incorporated by reference into this document. The summary consolidated financial data as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was derived from Annaly’s unaudited consolidated financial statements included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017, previously filed with the SEC on May 5, 2017 and which is not included in or incorporated by reference into this document.
  Such financial data should be read together with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, Annaly’s historical consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which are set forth in the above-referenced Annual Report on Form 10-K.
  (dollars in thousands, except
  per share data) For the Three Months Ended
  March 31, For the Years Ended December 31,
  Statement of Operations Data:
  $ 879,487 $ 587,727 $ 2,493,126 $ 2,210,951 $ 2,170,697 $ 2,632,398 $ 2,918,127
  367,421 198,425 1,008,354 657,752 471,596 512,659 624,714
  512,066 389,302 1,484,772 1,553,199 1,699,101 2,119,739 2,293,413
  Realized and unrealized gains (losses)
  844,689 74,265 199,493 84,204 (1,021,351 ) (2,791,399 ) 1,598,445
  Other income (loss)
  34,023 31,646 115,857 44,144 (13,717 ) 44,044 78,134
  Less: Total general and administrative expenses
  62,510 53,828 224,124 250,356 200,240 209,338 232,081
  Income (loss) before income taxes and income from equity method investment in affiliate
  1,328,268 441,385 1,575,998 1,431,191 463,793 (836,954 ) 3,737,911
  Less: Income taxes
  564 977 6,982 (1,595 ) (1,954 ) 5,325 8,213
  Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
  (96 ) (103 ) (588 ) (970 ) (809 ) (196 ) —
  Net income (loss) attributable to Annaly
  $ 33,766 $ 23,473 $ 109,635 $82,260 $ 71,968 $ 71,968 $ 71,968
  Net income (loss) available (related) to common stockholders
  Net income (loss) per share available (related) to common stockholders:
  $ 1.12 $ 0.41 $ 1.37 $ 1.39 $ 0.42 $ (0.96 ) $ 3.86
  1,159,617,848 1,018,942,746 1,065,923,652 969,787,583 947,062,099 947,539,294 947,337,915
  Other Financial Data:
  $ 100,382,233 $ 84,658,957 $ 101,760,050 $ 87,905,046 $ 75,190,893 $ 88,355,367 $ 81,922,460
  $ 13,942,935 $ 12,647,349 $ 14,871,573 $ 12,575,972 $ 11,905,922 $ 13,333,781 $ 12,405,055
  Dividends declared per common share
  Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)(2)
  4.11x 2.38x 2.06x 2.16x 1.36x 0.32x 3.39x
  Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends (1)(2)
  (1) Includes unrealized gains (losses) on investments and/or derivatives.
  (2) Fixed charges include realized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps.
  The following table sets forth summary consolidated financial data for MTGE as of and for each of the five years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and as of and for each of the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. All references to “fiscal years,” unless otherwise noted, refer to the twelve-month fiscal year.
  The summary consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was derived from MTGE’s audited consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2017, previously filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018 and incorporated by reference into this document. The summary consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, and for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, were derived from MTGE’s audited consolidated financial statements not included in or incorporated by reference into this document. The summary consolidated financial data as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was derived from MTGE’s unaudited consolidated financial statements included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2018, previously filed with the SEC on May 10, 2018 and incorporated by reference into this document. The summary consolidated financial data as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was derived from MTGE’s unaudited consolidated financial statements included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017, previously filed with the SEC on May 9, 2017 and which is not included or incorporated by reference into this document.
  Such financial data should be read together with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, MTGE’s historical consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which are set forth in the above-referenced Annual Report on Form 10-K.
  For the Quarter Ended
  March 31, For the Year Ended December 31,
  (all numbers in thousands, except per share data)
  $ 39,630 $ 33,757 $ 143,648 $ 147,770 $ 174,118 $ 183,358 $ 255,699
  (17,053 ) (10,165 ) (52,526 ) (39,582 ) (30,800 ) (28,631 ) (38,754 )
  22,577 23,592 91,122 108,188 143,318 154,727 216,945
  Net servicing loss
  (200 ) (2,427 ) (5,337 ) (17,690 ) (17,367 ) (15,213 ) (4,139 )
  Net healthcare investment income
  1,965 662 5,862 659 — — —
  Other gains (losses)
  (40,742 ) 22,069 90,158 (23,844 ) (139,062 ) 45,265 (270,676 )
  (4,967 ) (5,095 ) (21,029 ) (23,767 ) (25,205 ) (25,362 ) (25,921 )
  Benefit from (provision for) income tax, net
  — — 550 125 (42 ) (238 ) (679 )
  (21,367 ) 38,801 161,326 43,671 (38,358 ) 159,179 (84,470 )
  Dividend on preferred stock
  (1,117 ) (1,117 ) (4,468 ) (4,468 ) (4,468 ) (2,718 ) —
  Noncontrolling interest in net income
  5 (2 ) 9 (2 ) — — —
  Net income (loss) to common shareholders
  $ (22,479 ) $ 37,682 $ 156,867 $ 39,201 $ (42,826 ) $ 156,461 $ (84,470 )
  Net income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted
  $ (0.49 ) $ 0.82 $ 3.42 $ 0.85 $ (0.85 ) $ 3.06 $ (1.59 )
  Weighted average common shares – basic
  45,810 45,798 45,805 46,005 50,506 51,176 53,015
  Weighted average common shares –diluted
  $ 0.50 $ 0.45 $ 1.85 $ 1.60 $ 1.80 $ 2.60 $ 3.05
  Agency securities, at fair value
  $ 3,660,403 $ 2,997,725 $ 3,758,181 $ 2,803,168 $ 3,217,252 $ 4,384,139 $ 5,641,682
  Non-agency securities, at fair value
  $ 833,681 $ 948,495 $ 872,084 $ 1,134,469 $ 1,557,671 $ 1,168,834 $ 1,011,217
  Healthcare real estate assets
  $ 282,816 $ 119,129 $ 262,833 $ 93,266 $ — $ — $ —
  Financing arrangements
  $ 959,797 $ 949,837 $ 1,005,107 $ 932,730 $ 991,112 $ 1,175,969 $ 1,102,720
  Net asset value per common share
  $ 19.76 $ 19.54 $ 20.75 $ 19.17 $ 19.66 $ 21.91 $ 21.47
  Other Financial Data
  Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)
  (0.3)x 4.7x 4.0x 2.0x (0.3)x 6.2x (1.2)x
  (1) Fixed charges consist of primarily interest expense, as defined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, on our repurchase agreements.
  (3) There were no shares of preferred stock outstanding prior to 2014, therefore, there are no amounts for preferred stock dividends included in the above calculations.
  COMPARATIVE PER SHARE DATA
  The following table reflects historical information about basic and diluted earnings per share and cash dividends per share of common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, on a historical basis. In addition, the following table reflects historical information about book value per share for the three months ended March 31, 2018, on a historical basis.
  MTGE stockholders should read the information presented in the following table together with the historical financial statements of Annaly and MTGE and the related notes which are incorporated herein by reference.
  Historical MTGE
  Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2018:
  $ 1.12 ($ 0.49 )
  Cash dividends declared per share common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2018
  $ .30 $ 0.50
  Book value per share as of March 31, 2018
  Net income per share attributable to common stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2017:
  Cash dividends declared per share of common stock for the year ended December 31, 2017
  MTGE stockholders should carefully read this document and the other documents referred to or incorporated by reference into this document, including in particular the following risk factors, in deciding whether to tender their shares pursuant to the offer. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to Annaly or MTGE or that are not currently believed to be important may have adverse effects on the offer, the merger and the combined company.
  The stock portion of the common transaction consideration is fixed and will not be adjusted. Because the market price of Annaly common stock may fluctuate, MTGE common stockholders cannot be certain of the market value of the common transaction consideration they will receive in exchange for their shares of MTGE common stock in connection with the transactions or the value of Annaly common stock thereafter.
  In connection with the offer and the merger, MTGE common stockholders will receive, at their election, the mixed consideration, the all-cash consideration or the all-stock consideration. The mixed consideration and all-stock consideration provide for a fixed number of shares of Annaly common stock for each share of MTGE common stock. In addition, MTGE common stockholders who make the all-cash election or the all-stock election will be subject to proration so that approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the offer and merger will be paid in shares of Annaly common stock and approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the offer will be paid in cash. As a result, a portion of the consideration that MTGE common stockholders who make the all-cash election will receive in the offer and the merger may be a fixed number of shares of Annaly common stock. Because the number of shares of Annaly common stock being offered as part of the portion of the common transaction consideration will not vary based on the market value of Annaly common stock, the market value of the common transaction consideration that you will receive in the offer or the merger that is based on the value of Annaly common stock will vary based on the price of such stock at the time you receive the common transaction consideration. The market price of Annaly common stock may decline after the date of this document, after you tender your shares and/or after the offer and the merger are completed.
  A decline in the market price of Annaly common stock could result from a variety of factors, some of which are beyond Annaly’s control, including, among other things, an increase in interest rates, the possibility that Annaly may not achieve the expected benefits of the acquisition of MTGE as rapidly or to the extent anticipated, MTGE’s portfolio and businesses may not perform as anticipated following the transactions, the effect of Annaly’s acquisition of MTGE on Annaly’s financial results may not meet the expectations of Annaly, financial analysts or investors, or the addition and integration of MTGE’s business may be unsuccessful, take longer or be more disruptive than anticipated, as well as numerous factors affecting Annaly and its businesses that are unrelated to MTGE, including the price of the securities and loans in Annaly’s existing portfolio.
  Because the offer will not be completed until certain conditions have been satisfied or waived, a significant period of time may pass between the commencement of the offer, the time you tender your shares and the time that the Offeror accepts your shares for payment. See “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer.” Therefore, at the time you tender your shares of MTGE common stock pursuant to the offer, you will not know the exact market value of the stock portion of the common transaction consideration that will be issued if the Offeror accepts such shares for payment.
  See “Comparative Market Price and Dividend Matters” of this document. You are urged to obtain current market quotations for MTGE common stock and Annaly common stock.
  MTGE common stockholders may not receive all consideration in the form elected.
  MTGE common stockholders electing to receive either the all-cash consideration or the all-stock consideration in the offer will be subject to proration so that approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration
  in the offer will be paid in shares of Annaly common stock, and approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the offer will be paid in cash. Similarly, MTGE common stockholders electing to receive either the all-cash consideration or the all-stock consideration in the merger will be subject to proration so that approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the merger will be paid in shares of Annaly common stock, and approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the merger will be paid in cash. Accordingly, some of the consideration a MTGE common stockholder receives in the offer or the merger may differ from the type of consideration selected and such difference may be significant. This may result in, among other things, tax consequences that differ from those that would have resulted if the MTGE common stockholder had received solely the form of consideration elected. A discussion of the proration mechanism can be found under the heading “The Offer—Elections and Proration” and a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the offer and the merger can be found under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”
  The offer remains subject to conditions that neither Annaly nor MTGE can control.
  The offer is subject to conditions, including that at least a majority of the outstanding shares of MTGE common stock have been validly tendered in the offer (and not validly withdrawn), receipt of required regulatory approvals, lack of legal prohibitions, no material adverse effect (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described under the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”) having occurred with respect to MTGE, Annaly and their respective subsidiaries, the truth and accuracy of MTGE’s and Annaly’s and the Offeror’s representations and warranties made in the merger agreement, subject to specified materiality standards, MTGE, Annaly and the Offeror being in material compliance with their covenants under the merger agreement, the listing of the shares of the Annaly common and Series H preferred stock to be issued in the offer and the merger being authorized for listing on the NYSE, the receipt of opinions by each of Annaly and MTGE from their respective legal counsel to the effect that the offer and the merger, taken together, will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and that each of Annaly and MTGE (as applicable) meet and, in the case of Annaly, will continue to meet after closing of the merger, the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, and the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this document is a part, becoming effective. There are no assurances that some or all of the conditions to the offer will be satisfied or that the conditions will be satisfied in the time frame expected. If the conditions to the offer are not met, then Annaly may, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, allow the offer to expire, or amend or extend the offer. See “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer” for a discussion of the conditions to the offer.
  MTGE common stockholders who receive Annaly common stock in the offer will become Annaly common stockholders. Annaly common stock may be affected by different factors and Annaly common stockholders will have different rights than MTGE common stockholders.
  Upon consummation of the offer, MTGE common stockholders receiving shares of Annaly common stock will become common stockholders of Annaly. Annaly’s business differs from that of MTGE, and Annaly’s results of operations and the trading price of Annaly common stock may be adversely affected by factors different from those that would affect MTGE’s results of operations and stock price.
  In addition, holders of shares of Annaly common stock will have rights as Annaly common stockholders that differ from the rights they had as MTGE common stockholders before the offer or the merger. For a detailed comparison of the rights of Annaly common stockholders to the rights of MTGE common stockholders, see “Comparison of Stockholders’ Rights.”
  The receipt of shares of Annaly common stock in the offer and/or the merger may be taxable to MTGE common stockholders.
  The offer is conditioned upon the receipt of an opinion by each of Annaly and MTGE from their respective legal counsel to the effect that the offer and the merger, taken together, will qualify as a “reorganization” within
  the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. However, if the offer and the merger are not treated as component parts of an integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, if the merger is not completed or if the transaction otherwise fails to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, the exchange of shares of MTGE common stock for shares of Annaly common stock in the offer and/or the merger will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
  MTGE common stockholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to them of the offer and the merger, including any U.S. federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other tax consequences, and any tax return filing or other reporting requirements, in light of their particular circumstances.
  Annaly, as the combined company, may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the merger or those benefits may take longer to realize than expected.
  The full benefits of the transactions may not be realized as expected or may not be achieved within the anticipated time-frame, or at all. Failure to achieve the anticipated benefits of the transactions could adversely affect Annaly’s results of operations or cash flows, cause dilution to the earnings per share or book value per share of Annaly, decrease or delay the expected accretive effect of the transactions, and negatively impact the price of Annaly common stock.
  In addition, Annaly and MTGE will be required to devote significant attention and resources prior to closing to prepare for the post-closing operation of Annaly, as the combined company, and Annaly will be required post-closing to devote significant attention and resources to successfully integrate the MTGE portfolio and operating businesses into the existing Annaly structure. In particular, prior to the acquisition, Annaly will have limited experience managing MTGE’s healthcare real estate assets. These businesses present additional regulatory constraints and pose operational risks different from those that Annaly has successfully managed in the past. This integration process, coupled with managing new business lines, may disrupt Annaly’s businesses and, if ineffective, would limit the anticipated benefits of the merger and could adversely affect Annaly’s results of operations or cash flows, cause dilution to the earnings per share or book value per share of Annaly, decrease or delay the expected accretive effect of the transactions, and negatively impact the price of Annaly common stock.
  Annaly and MTGE will incur direct and indirect costs as a result of the offer and the merger.
  Annaly and MTGE will incur substantial expenses in connection with and as a result of completing the offer and the merger and, following the completion of the merger, Annaly expects to incur additional expenses in connection with integrating the MTGE portfolio and operating businesses into the existing Annaly structure. Factors beyond Annaly’s control could affect the total amount or timing of these expenses, many of which, by their nature, are difficult to estimate accurately.
  REITs are subject to a range of complex organizational and operational requirements.
  To qualify as a REIT, Annaly must distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its net income (excluding capital gains) to its stockholders. A REIT must also meet certain other requirements, including with respect to the nature of its income and assets, and the ownership of its stock. For any taxable year that Annaly fails to qualify as a REIT, it will not be allowed a deduction for dividends paid to its stockholders in computing its net taxable income and thus would become subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax as if it were a regular taxable corporation. In such an event, Annaly could be subject to potentially significant tax liabilities. Unless entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions, Annaly would also be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which it lost its qualification. If Annaly failed to qualify as a REIT, the market price of its common stock may decline, and Annaly may need to reduce substantially the amount of distributions to its stockholders because of its increased tax liability.
  You should read and consider the risk factors specific to Annaly’s business that will also affect Annaly, as the combined company, after the merger. These risks are described in Part I, Item 1A of Annaly’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, and in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this document. See “Where To Obtain More Information” for more detail on the information incorporated by reference in this document.
  You should read and consider the risk factors specific to MTGE’s business that will also affect Annaly, as the combined company, after the merger. These risks are described in Part I, Item 1A of MTGE’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, and in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this document. See “Where To Obtain More Information” for more detail on the information incorporated by reference in this document.
  Information both included and incorporated by reference in this document may contain forward-looking statements, concerning, among other things, Annaly’s and MTGE’s outlook, financial projections and business strategies, all of which are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms such as “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “expect,” “continue,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “project” and similar terms. These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses that we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable. However, we cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve these plans, intentions or expectations, including completing the offer and the merger on the terms summarized in this document. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any of them in light of new information, future events or otherwise. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on Annaly’s operations and future prospects or the consummation of the offer and the merger include, but are not limited to:
  • failure to satisfy the conditions to consummate the offer and the merger;
  • the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement;
  • the failure of the offer or the merger to close in a timely manner or at all for any other reason, including failure to receive required regulatory approvals;
  • the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the offer and the merger (collectively, the “transactions”);
  • the ability to successfully integrate MTGE following completion of the transactions;
  • failure to realize the expected benefits of the transactions in a timely manner or at all;
  • effects of the pendency of the transactions on relationships with employees and business partners;
  • general economic and business conditions;
  • global economic growth and activity;
  • industry conditions;
  • changes in interest rates, interest rate spreads and the yield curve;
  • changes in prepayment rates;
  • the availability of mortgage-backed securities and other securities for purchase;
  • the availability of financing, and, if available, the terms of any financing;
  • the ability to maintain qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
  • the ability to maintain an exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
  • changes in program requirements of HUD or Fannie Mae; and
  • changes in laws or regulations.
  These risks and uncertainties, along with the risk factors discussed or referenced under “Risk Factors” in this document, should be considered in evaluating any forward-looking statements contained in this document. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements in this section.
  Annaly’s common stock trades under the ticker symbol “NLY” on the NYSE.
  The address of Annaly’s principal executive offices is 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036. Annaly’s telephone number is (212) 696-0100.
  Annaly also maintains an Internet site at www.annaly.com. Annaly’s website and the information contained therein or connected thereto shall not be deemed to be incorporated herein, and you should not rely on any such information in making an investment decision.
  Mountain Merger Sub Corporation, a Maryland corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Annaly. The Offeror is newly formed, and was organized for the purpose of making the offer and consummating the merger. The Offeror has not engaged in any business activities to date and it has no material assets or liabilities of any kind, other than those incidental to its formation and those incurred in connection with the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the offer and the merger.
  The Offeror’s address is c/o Annaly Capital Management, Inc., 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036.
  MTGE Investment Corp. is a REIT that invests in and manages a leveraged portfolio of agency mortgage investments, non-agency mortgage investments and other real estate-related investments. MTGE is externally managed and advised by MTGE Management, LLC, an affiliate of AGNC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC).
  The address of MTGE’s principal executive offices is 2 Bethesda Metro Center, 12th Floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. MTGE’s telephone number is (301) 968-9220.
  MTGE also maintains an Internet site at www.mtge.com. MTGE’s website and the information contained therein or connected thereto shall not be deemed to be incorporated herein, and you should not rely on any such information in making an investment decision.
  In lieu of receiving the mixed consideration, each holder of shares of MTGE common stock may elect to receive, for each share of MTGE common stock that it holds, (1) $19.65 in cash (we refer to this election as the “all-cash election” and this amount as the “all-cash consideration”) or (2) 1.9037 shares of Annaly common stock, together with cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Annaly common stock (we refer to this election as the “all-stock election” and this amount as the “all-stock consideration”). The mixed consideration, the all-cash consideration and the all-stock consideration (as applicable) will be paid without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes (such consideration, the “common transaction consideration”).
  Each MTGE common stockholder who validly tenders and does not validly withdraw its shares of MTGE common stock in the offer that does not make a valid election will receive the mixed consideration for their shares of MTGE common stock. MTGE common stockholders who make the all-cash election or the all-stock election will be subject to proration so that approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the offer will be paid in shares of Annaly common stock and approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the offer will be paid in cash. See “The Offer—Elections and Proration” for a description of the proration procedure.
  The purpose of the offer is for Annaly to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire common equity interest in, MTGE. The offer is the first step in Annaly’s plan to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of MTGE common stock. If the offer is completed, Annaly intends to consummate promptly following the consummation of the offer a merger of MTGE with and into the Offeror, with the Offeror surviving the merger (which we refer to as the “merger”). The purpose of the merger is for Annaly to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of MTGE common stock that it did not acquire in the offer. In the merger, each outstanding share of MTGE common stock that was not acquired by Annaly or the Offeror will be converted into the mixed consideration or, at the election of the holder of such shares, the all-cash consideration or all-stock consideration, subject to proration so that approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the merger will be paid in shares of Annaly common stock and approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the merger will be paid in cash.
  In addition, in the merger, each outstanding share of MTGE Series A preferred stock will be automatically converted into the right to receive one newly issued share of the Annaly Series H preferred stock, which will have rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers substantially the same as those of the MTGE Series A preferred stock.
  After the merger, the MTGE business will be held by the Offeror, and the former MTGE stockholders will no longer have any direct ownership interest in the surviving corporation.
  MTGE is a hybrid mortgage REIT that invests in agency mortgage-backed securities, non-agency mortgage investments and other real estate-related assets, including skilled nursing and senior living facilities operated by third parties.
  MTGE is externally managed, meaning that all of its day-to-day operations and affairs are managed by a third-party manager, the MTGE external manager, subject to the oversight and direction of the MTGE board of directors. MTGE has no senior management employees. Rather, under the management agreement between MTGE and the MTGE external manager, the MTGE external manager provides MTGE with executive officers and other services and personnel. The MTGE external manager is wholly owned by AGNC Investment Corp. (“AGNC”). AGNC owns approximately 5.7% of outstanding MTGE common stock. All but one of the members of the MTGE board of directors during the relevant period were not affiliated with the MTGE external manager or AGNC. Gary Kain, who was MTGE’s Chief Executive Officer and a member of the MTGE board of directors during the relevant period, is also Chief Executive Officer of AGNC and a member of the AGNC board of directors. As described in more detail below, all relevant actions and decisions of the MTGE board of directors concerning the transaction were undertaken by and at the direction of the MTGE special committee formed by the MTGE board of directors to review a potential transaction, which was comprised entirely of independent members of the MTGE board of directors not affiliated with the MTGE external manager or AGNC.
  The MTGE board of directors regularly reviews MTGE’s operations, financial performance, capital structure, strategic initiatives and product portfolio and pipeline. As part of this ongoing review, the MTGE board of directors has regularly evaluated MTGE’s long-term strategy, as well as other strategic alternatives that might be available to enhance stockholder value.
  On or about January 11, 2018, David Finkelstein, Chief Investment Officer of Annaly, contacted Steve Abrahams (at the time a member of the MTGE board of directors and an independent director) on an informal basis regarding Annaly’s potential interest in a strategic transaction with MTGE. The independent members of the MTGE board of directors discussed the communication from Annaly in an executive session of independent directors at an in person meeting of the MTGE board of directors on January 30, 2018. The independent directors conferred by phone again on February 5, 2018, with a representative of Cooley LLP (“Cooley”), then outside legal counsel to the independent directors, also participating. The directors determined that the general expression of interest without specific terms was not yet actionable and no response was warranted at that time. They informed Mr. Kain of the contact from Annaly in his capacity as MTGE’s CEO and a member of the MTGE board of directors. After Mr. Abrahams resigned from the MTGE board of directors on February 12, 2018, Mr. Finkelstein contacted Julia Coronado, a member of the MTGE board of directors and an independent director, on an informal basis on or about February 16, 2018, regarding Annaly’s continuing potential interest in a strategic transaction with MTGE. Ms. Coronado informed Mr. Finkelstein that MTGE was not currently considering a strategic transaction, but acknowledged that Annaly was free to submit a more specific proposal.
  Subsequently, on February 22, 2018, Annaly delivered an unsolicited non-binding written proposal to Randy Dobbs, Chairman of the MTGE board of directors and an independent director, to acquire 100% of MTGE’s capital stock based on a valuation of 95% of the book value of MTGE common stock (the “Annaly February 22 Proposal”). The Annaly February 22 Proposal was based on publicly-available information and subject to completion of customary due diligence and other conditions. Annaly indicated that it was prepared to pay the purchase price in a consideration mix of cash and Annaly common stock to be agreed by the parties. With respect to MTGE’s outstanding shares of preferred stock, Annaly proposed to issue a new series of Annaly preferred stock on substantially similar terms. As part of its proposal, Annaly also requested a 30-day exclusive negotiation period.
  On February 26, 2018, the independent directors of the MTGE board of directors held a telephonic meeting to further discuss the process for determining whether to continue as an independent company or to pursue a strategic transaction, including the Annaly February 22 Proposal or an alternative transaction. Mr. Kain did not attend or participate in this meeting. Representatives of Cooley also attended this meeting and reviewed with the MTGE independent directors their legal duties in connection with their consideration of acquisition proposals. The independent directors were cognizant of the fact that AGNC, as the parent entity of the MTGE external manager, could be a logical acquirer of the company and may have interest in making an acquisition proposal if MTGE were to consider a strategic transaction. The independent directors were also mindful that Annaly or
  another acquirer would likely plan to terminate MTGE’s management relationship with the MTGE external manager without cause in connection with an acquisition and therefore MTGE would be required to pay a termination fee of approximately $42 million to the MTGE external manager pursuant to the termination provisions of the management agreement. The amount of the termination fee is prescribed in the management agreement and calculated based on three times the average annual management fee for the prior two-year period, and it was thought that the amount of the fee could affect the prices that Annaly or another acquirer might pay relative to AGNC if it were to make a proposal. Given these considerations and the potential conflicts of interest of AGNC and Mr. Kain, the independent directors and Cooley also discussed the formation of a special committee of the MTGE board of directors consisting of the independent directors to evaluate the Annaly February 22 Proposal and other strategic alternatives. As a next step, the independent directors of the MTGE board of directors instructed Mr. Dobbs to seek additional clarification from Annaly about certain terms of the Annaly February 22 Proposal (including the proposed cash-stock consideration mix, treatment of the potential termination fee payable to the MTGE external manager and integration and operational issues). Mr. Dobbs contacted Kevin Keyes, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Annaly, by email indicating that the board needed additional information before it could act on the proposal and consider a change in strategic direction.
  On March 1, 2018, Annaly delivered a presentation to the independent directors of the MTGE board of directors affirming its proposal to acquire MTGE based on a valuation of 95% of a mutually agreed upon book value of MTGE common stock and proposing an acquisition consideration mix of 50% cash and 50% Annaly common stock. Annaly also clarified that it was prepared to pay the full termination fee to the MTGE external manager. After reviewing this presentation, the independent directors of the MTGE board of directors further discussed the process for considering the proposal and alternatives, including the engagement of a financial advisor. Subsequently, Mr. Dobbs contacted Mr. Keyes by email to inform him that the independent directors were evaluating Annaly’s proposal.
  On March 15, 2018, the MTGE board of directors, including Mr. Kain, unanimously approved the formation of a special committee of independent directors comprised of Mr. Dobbs, Ms. Coronado and Rob Couch (the “MTGE special committee”) in connection with the consideration of the Annaly February 22 Proposal and strategic alternatives generally. In particular, the MTGE board of directors authorized the MTGE special committee to consider whether to pursue a strategic transaction with Annaly or other interested parties or remain independent, to negotiate the terms and conditions of a possible transaction, to reject or recommend to the MTGE board of directors for approval of a possible transaction, and to engage legal and financial advisors. The MTGE board of directors retained the authority to recommend any strategic transaction to MTGE’s stockholders. The MTGE board of directors appointed Mr. Dobbs as Chairman of the MTGE special committee. Cooley was engaged as counsel to the MTGE special committee.
  On March 22, 2018, the MTGE special committee held a telephonic meeting and conducted separate phone interviews with three investment banks (including Barclays) to act as financial advisor to the MTGE special committee in connection with the consideration of a potential strategic transaction. The MTGE special committee discussed the potential financial advisor candidates and their industry knowledge and experience and that the MTGE special committee desired to engage a financial advisor that would best assist the MTGE special committee in determining which alternative would best enhance shareholder value. Representatives of Cooley also attended the meeting and discussed with the MTGE special committee its legal duties in connection with the consideration of a potential strategic transaction.
  On March 23, 2018, Annaly submitted an updated non-binding written proposal to Mr. Dobbs providing additional detail on the terms on which Annaly would be prepared to acquire MTGE based on its continuing analysis of MTGE (the “Annaly March 23 Proposal”). Annaly proposed to acquire MTGE in an all-cash transaction for 95% of MTGE’s book value per share, which equated to $19.71 per share based on MTGE’s book value per share of $20.75 as of December 31, 2017. This valuation represented a 10.7% premium to MTGE’s share price of $17.80 as of March 22, 2018. Annaly indicated that the final price would be based on the book value as of a more recent valuation date and indicated a willingness to include Annaly common shares in the mix
  of consideration if the MTGE special committee preferred a stock component. Annaly reiterated that it was prepared to proceed and complete due diligence expeditiously. Annaly again requested a 30-day exclusive negotiation period. Subsequent to receipt of the Annaly March 23 Proposal, Mr. Dobbs contacted Mr. Keyes by email to inform him that the independent directors were evaluating Annaly’s updated proposal.
  During this period the MTGE special committee concluded discussions with the financial advisor candidates, and on March 25, 2018, the MTGE special committee informed Barclays of its decision to engage Barclays as its financial advisor in connection with the consideration of a potential strategic transaction. The MTGE special committee entered into the formal engagement agreement with Barclays on March 29, 2018.
  On April 2, 2018, the MTGE special committee held a telephonic meeting, with representatives of Barclays and Cooley also attending, to discuss the Annaly March 23 Proposal. The MTGE special committee, together with input from Cooley, discussed the importance of adequately considering strategic alternatives in addition to the Annaly March 23 Proposal in connection with fulfilling its fiduciary duties. The MTGE special committee authorized Barclays to inform Annaly that it had been retained by the MTGE special committee. The MTGE special committee also instructed Barclays to consider additional prospective acquirers, including AGNC, that may be interested in a strategic transaction.
  On April 2, 2018, representatives of Barclays held a telephonic conference call with Mr. Keyes and other representatives of Annaly to clarify certain aspects of the Annaly March 23 Proposal.
  On April 6, 2018, the MTGE special committee held a telephonic meeting to further discuss the Annaly March 23 Proposal, with representatives of Barclays and Cooley also attending. Barclays made a presentation to the MTGE special committee to assist its consideration of the Annaly March 23 Proposal. Barclays reviewed MTGE’s current positioning and outlook relative to its peer group and provided an initial framework for analyzing MTGE’s valuation. Barclays also reviewed reasons for the MTGE board of directors to continue pursuing MTGE’s diversification strategy as a stand-alone company and reasons to pursue potential strategic alternatives. Barclays also reviewed the current M&A market for the REIT industry and the potential interest of other parties, including AGNC, in a possible strategic transaction with MTGE. Barclays and Cooley also discussed with the MTGE special committee potential sale process considerations and strategy, including how to respond to Annaly and a process to solicit additional parties on their interest in a potential strategic transaction. The MTGE special committee decided to continue its consideration of the various alternatives and instructed Barclays to continue its analysis of the Annaly March 23 Proposal and consideration of other prospective acquirers.
  On April 9, 2018, the MTGE special committee held a telephonic meeting, with representatives of Barclays and Cooley also attending, to continue its consideration of the Annaly March 23 Proposal and alternatives. Barclays made a presentation to the MTGE special committee comparing Annaly’s proposal to a hypothetical acquisition by AGNC. The MTGE special committee and Barclays viewed AGNC as a logical acquirer with the ability and potential willingness to pay a higher price for MTGE. Barclays also reviewed various process alternatives, and the MTGE special committee instructed Barclays to solicit additional parties, including AGNC, that were believed to be the most able and willing to pay the highest price for MTGE.
  On April 10, 2018, Annaly delivered an updated non-binding written proposal to Mr. Dobbs that increased Annaly’s proposed price to approximately 98.0% of the book value of MTGE common stock (which equated to $20.33 per common share net of expenses based on MTGE’s book value per share as of December 31, 2017), subject to due diligence and other conditions (the “Annaly April 10 Proposal”). The Annaly April 10 Proposal assumed that Annaly would bear the full cost of the $42 million management termination fee and up to $20 million of additional transaction expenses. Annaly reiterated that it was prepared to pay 100% of the consideration in cash or include a stock component in the consideration mix if the MTGE board of directors preferred. Annaly also indicated that its proposal would expire on April 13, 2018 unless the parties entered into an exclusivity agreement prior to that time.
  The MTGE special committee held a telephonic meeting on April 11, 2018 to discuss the Annaly April 10 Proposal, with representatives of Barclays and Cooley also attending. Barclays presented its updated valuation analysis of MTGE and Annaly’s latest proposal, including the desirability and relative value of a stock consideration component and the potential for a higher after-tax return for stockholders. The MTGE special committee also discussed Annaly’s request for exclusivity and the desirability of obtaining an alternative acquisition proposal from AGNC and other potentially interested parties. The MTGE special committee instructed Barclays to contact AGNC again to encourage it to make an alternative proposal, and to reach out to other potential acquirers.
  On April 11, 2018, Barclays reached out to two large REITs (“Company A” and “Company B”, respectively) whom Barclays considered would be the most interested and able to engage in a potential strategic transaction. Company A initially declined to pursue an acquisition of MTGE based on its relationship with AGNC. Company B expressed an interest in pursuing an acquisition of MTGE, and Barclays encouraged Company B to work to be in a position to respond with a proposal regarding valuation of MTGE by April 13, 2018. Barclays also contacted AGNC again, who indicated that it would respond with a proposed valuation of MTGE common stock by April 13, 2018.
  On April 12, 2018, in a follow up call with Barclays, Company A expressed interest in a potential acquisition but did not indicate a proposed valuation and never submitted an acquisition proposal.
  On April 12, 2018, AGNC delivered a non-binding written proposal to Barclays to acquire 100% of the shares of MTGE common stock at 95% of the book value of MTGE common stock, which represented a price of $19.72 per share net of the termination fee and other expenses based on the book value of MTGE common stock as of December 31, 2017 (the “AGNC April 12 Proposal”). AGNC proposed a consideration mix of cash (20%) and AGNC common stock (80%) for MTGE common stock, with MTGE preferred stock being exchanged for AGNC preferred stock containing substantially similar terms.
  On April 13, 2018, Company B verbally indicated that it was considering an offer representing approximately 100% of book value of MTGE common stock based on the latest book value estimate.
  On April 13, 2018, the MTGE special committee held a telephonic meeting, with representatives of Barclays and Cooley also attending, to discuss the process and the status of the various proposals. Barclays reviewed and compared the Annaly April 10 Proposal and the AGNC April 12 Proposal. From a financial point of view, the MTGE special committee considered the Annaly April 10 Proposal more favorable to MTGE stockholders based on the higher price and higher mix of cash consideration. Barclays also updated the MTGE special committee on the status of potential proposals from Company A and Company B. Company A had not followed up with an indicative valuation. Barclays noted that the verbal proposal from Company B was based on deal consideration comprised 100% of stock of the acquirer and would likely require a vote of the stockholders of both Company B and MTGE as a condition to closing. The MTGE special committee and Barclays considered the proposal as less favorable to MTGE stockholders. Barclays advised the MTGE special committee that it believed it was unlikely that MTGE would receive an improved offer from Company B in advance of Annaly’s deadline to enter into exclusivity.
  Based on the status of the various proposals, the MTGE special committee considered the risk probability that Annaly may withdraw its proposal, which the MTGE special committee considered to be the most favorable from a financial point of view, if MTGE did not enter into an exclusivity agreement with Annaly and considered the terms and conditions on which the MTGE special committee may be willing to enter into an exclusive negotiating period with Annaly. The MTGE special committee instructed Barclays to encourage AGNC to increase its price and submit its best offer and to explore an exclusivity arrangement with Annaly based on mutual agreement on certain key terms, including: (1) the diligence and regulatory approval timetables, (2) shortening the exclusivity period to 10-14 days, (3) retaining flexibility for MTGE to elect an all cash transaction or a cash-stock mix based on further analysis and reverse due diligence, and (4) early termination of exclusivity if Annaly adversely changed its price or other material terms of its proposal.
  Later that day, the MTGE special committee held another telephonic meeting, with representatives of Barclays and Cooley also attending. Barclays reported that AGNC indicated a willingness to increase its price to 96.0%-96.5% of book value contingent upon the satisfaction of certain conditions but that was likely its best offer and any final agreement at this price would be contingent on a number of factors, including AGNC’s stock price performance. Barclays also reported that Company A and Company B had not submitted any further proposals. Following discussion, the MTGE special committee instructed Barclays and Cooley to attempt to negotiate an acceptable exclusivity agreement with Annaly.
  Following that meeting and over the weekend, Barclays and Cooley discussed and negotiated the terms of a confidentiality and exclusivity agreement with Annaly’s financial advisors, Wells Fargo Securities (“Wells Fargo”) and Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. (“Sandler O’Neill”), and counsel, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (“Wachtell Lipton”). On April 16, 2018, MTGE and Annaly signed a confidentiality agreement that included mutual confidentiality restrictions, mutual standstill covenants and a 14-day exclusive negotiating period consistent with the terms authorized by the MTGE special committee. The agreement also included information sharing protocols that would facilitate the MTGE special committee’s ability to rely on the MTGE external manager during its strategic review process (and, as necessary, during negotiations with third parties) without sharing confidential information with the MTGE external manager regarding the terms of Annaly’s proposal and without sharing with the MTGE external manager reverse due diligence information concerning Annaly. The parties also discussed the potential regulatory approvals required for a transaction between the parties and a process for conducting due diligence and reverse due diligence. Certain employees of the MTGE external manager were identified to assist the MTGE special committee and its advisors in facilitating information sharing and Annaly’s due diligence review of MTGE, negotiation of certain operationally-specific sections of the merger agreement, the preparation of disclosure schedules to the merger agreement, and the provision of financial projections based on MTGE’s business plan to provide a baseline against which the MTGE special committee, with the assistance of Barclays, could evaluate MTGE’s prospects, stand-alone value and potential strategic transactions, including Annaly’s proposal.
  Barclays opened a data room to Annaly and its advisors on April 16, 2018 containing information for their diligence process.
  Later that day, on April 16, 2018, Cooley delivered a first draft of a merger agreement to Wachtell Lipton. Among other terms, the initial draft provided for a two-step transaction with an exchange offer followed by a merger pursuant to which all outstanding common shares would be exchanged for cash or a mix of cash and Annaly common stock to be agreed, all outstanding preferred shares would be exchanged for a new class of Annaly preferred stock on substantially the same terms, the full acceleration of all non-executive director equity awards, and customary deal protection terms and exceptions, including rights for the MTGE board of directors to respond to unsolicited acquisition proposals received after the announcement of a transaction, to change its recommendation to MTGE’s stockholders following receipt of a superior proposal and to terminate the merger agreement to accept a superior proposal, subject in certain cases to the payment of a termination fee to Annaly equal to 2.5% of the transaction value of MTGE’s common equity.
  On April 17, 2018, the MTGE special committee held a telephonic meeting, with representatives of Barclays and Cooley also attending. Barclays and Cooley reported on the execution of the confidentiality and exclusivity agreement and the advisors reviewed the status and timeline of a potential transaction.
  On April 17, 2018, Barclays and Cooley received access to a data room from Annaly for the purposes of reverse due diligence. On April 18, 2018, representatives of Barclays, Annaly, Wells Fargo and Sandler O’Neill met at Annaly’s offices in New York City, with representatives of Cooley and Wachtell Lipton joining telephonically, to discuss their respective due diligence investigations. Representatives of the MTGE external manager also joined telephonically, but only for the portion of the meeting covering Annaly’s due diligence investigation of MTGE.
  Between April 18, 2018 and April 23, 2018, Wachtell Lipton and Cooley exchanged drafts of the merger agreement and had various phone calls to discuss the drafts and open issues. Among other issues, Annaly
  proposed a higher termination fee (equal to 3.5% of the transaction value of MTGE’s common equity) if the MTGE board of directors changed its recommendation or terminated the agreement to accept a superior proposal. Annaly also requested that the MTGE external manager enter into an amendment to the management agreement concurrently with MTGE’s entry into a merger agreement to memorialize the parties’ understanding that the management agreement would be terminated without cause early in connection with the transaction closing.
  Also during this time, MTGE and Annaly held a series of due diligence and reverse due diligence calls with their respective advisors. These calls covered, among other topics, financial diligence on MTGE and Annaly, accounting diligence on MTGE and Annaly, diligence on Annaly’s financial projections, diligence on MTGE’s healthcare real estate assets and diligence on Annaly’s commercial real estate assets.
  On April 20, 2018, the MTGE special committee had a telephonic meeting, with representatives of Barclays and Cooley also attending. Barclays made a presentation regarding the valuation of Annaly’s common stock and how a hypothetical cash stock election could operate and be valued based on a 50%-50% mix and proration. The MTGE special committee and their advisors continued this discussion at a subsequent telephonic meeting on April 22, 2018. They discussed the value to MTGE’s stockholders of an all cash transaction versus a mix of cash and stock consideration at various trading prices for Annaly’s common stock and the potential desirability of a collar to protect against a drop in the trading price of Annaly’s common stock between announcement and closing of a potential transaction. They also discussed Annaly’s preference to announce a transaction prior to its quarterly earnings call scheduled for May 3, 2018 and the potential impact of the earnings release and a transaction announcement on Annaly’s stock price. Barclays also reported that no new unsolicited proposals had been received from AGNC, Company A, Company B or any other party since MTGE entered into exclusive negotiations with Annaly. After discussion, the MTGE special committee instructed Barclays to communicate to Annaly that MTGE would continue to negotiate expeditiously but would not be unduly rushed and to explore with Annaly’s advisors whether Annaly would agree to a stock exchange ratio collar.
  On April 24, 2018, the MTGE special committee had a telephonic meeting, with representatives of Barclays and Cooley also attending. Cooley reviewed the material terms of the proposed merger agreement, including the expected timing of the exchange offer and regulatory approvals, the deal protection provisions and termination fee, and the closing conditions. The MTGE special committee and advisors also reviewed the economic terms of Annaly’s proposal and expressed a preference for a mix of cash and stock consideration. After discussion, the MTGE special committee instructed Barclays to provide further analysis of a cash-stock election and provided guidance to Cooley on the open merger agreement issues. The MTGE special committee also noted the potential for extending the exclusive negotiation period and determined it would be appropriate to extend for seven days to provide for an additional period of negotiation if needed after Annaly’s earnings announcement on May 3, 2018. Later that day, representatives of MTGE and Annaly had a call, with Cooley and Wachtell Lipton (along with regulatory counsel) present, to negotiate the representations and covenants in the merger agreement. That evening, Cooley and Wachtell Lipton continued to discuss the merger agreement and timing of regulatory approvals.
  On April 25, 2018 and April 28, 2018, Cooley and Wachtell Lipton had calls with MTGE’s and Annaly’s outside federal and HUD regulatory counsel, respectively, to discuss required approvals and timelines. Cooley sent Wachtell Lipton a revised draft of the merger agreement later in the day on April 25, 2018.
  In the evening of April 25, 2018, MTGE agreed to Annaly’s request to extend exclusivity for seven additional days to May 7, 2018.
  On April 26, 2018, AGNC delivered an updated unsolicited non-binding written proposal to Barclays that increased its price to 98.25% of book value, which equated to $19.50 per share net of the termination fee and other expenses based on the $19.85 book value of MTGE’s common stock as of April 19, 2018 (the “AGNC April 26 Proposal”). AGNC continued to propose a consideration mix of cash (20%) and AGNC common stock (80%). The AGNC April 26 Proposal was higher than the Annaly April 10 Proposal (98.0%) based on percentage
  of book value, but neither the MTGE special committee nor its advisors were permitted to engage with AGNC with respect to the April 26 Proposal because MTGE was under exclusivity with Annaly. Barclays reached out to Annaly to inform them that MTGE had received an unsolicited offer from AGNC with a higher price. Barclays did not disclose the terms of the revised AGNC proposal but indicated that the MTGE special committee was no longer in a position to recommend the Annaly April 10 proposal.
  On April 27, 2018, Wachtell Lipton sent a revised draft of the merger agreement to Cooley and a draft of Annaly’s disclosure letter.
  On April 28, 2018, Cooley sent a draft of MTGE’s disclosure letter to Wachtell Lipton.
  On April 29, 2018, the MTGE special committee held a telephonic meeting, with representatives of Barclays and Cooley also attending, to discuss the AGNC April 26 Proposal. At the beginning of the meeting, Barclays informed the MTGE special committee that it had just received an enhanced verbal proposal from Annaly to increase its price from 98.0% to 100% of the book value of MTGE’s common stock based on a consideration mix of cash (50%) and Annaly common stock (50%) (the “Annaly April 29 Proposal”). Barclays reviewed a presentation on the AGNC April 26 Proposal with the MTGE special committee and compared the Annaly April 29 Proposal that was just received. Barclays informed the MTGE special committee that the Annaly April 29 Proposal was $0.35 per share higher than the AGNC April 26 Proposal after adjusting both prices to reflect a $19.75 per fully diluted share book value valuation as of March 31, 2017. Barclays also informed the MTGE special committee that Annaly was keenly focused on signing the merger agreement and announcing the transaction prior to its earnings call scheduled for the morning of May 3, 2018. To facilitate that timetable, Annaly was also prepared to negotiate the amendment with the MTGE external manager and deliver a termination notice after the merger agreement was signed and announced.
  On April 30, 2018, Cooley and Wachtell Lipton discussed the merger agreement terms. Over the course of that discussion, Cooley expressed its view that the merger agreement should be revised to clarify that submission of an acquisition proposal by AGNC after announcement of a merger agreement with Annaly should not be attributed to MTGE (because AGNC is a related-party through the management relationship) or deemed a breach of MTGE’s covenant not to solicit acquisition proposals. Cooley also proposed a termination fee of 3.0% of the transaction value of MTGE’s common equity. Subsequently, Wachtell Lipton sent Cooley a revised draft of the merger agreement and the disclosure letters. Wachtell Lipton’s draft of the merger agreement did not address the acquisition proposal clarification and proposed a 3.33% termination fee.
  That evening, the MTGE special committee held a telephonic meeting, with representatives of Barclays and Cooley also attending, to review the status of the open economic and legal terms. Barclays reported that Annaly rejected the concept of a stock exchange ratio collar but was willing to consider offering an independent member of the MTGE board of directors a seat on the Annaly board of directors if that was important to the MTGE special committee. The MTGE special committee instructed Barclays to continue to negotiate for the collar and board seat with Annaly and gave guidance to Cooley with respect to addressing the open legal terms. Cooley and Wachtell Lipton had another call following the MTGE special committee meeting to discuss the open issues in the merger agreement. Following this call, Wachtell Lipton sent Cooley a further revised draft of the merger agreement.
  On May 1, 2018, Cooley and Wachtell Lipton had another call to discuss the merger agreement. Wachtell Lipton communicated that, in light of AGNC’s proposal, Annaly’s position was that MTGE should pay a higher termination fee (of 6%) in the event MTGE changes its recommendation or terminates the merger agreement in connection with an AGNC superior proposal. Cooley responded that a 6% termination fee and a two-tier termination fee would not be acceptable to the MTGE special committee. Later that day Cooley also sent a revised draft of MTGE’s disclosure letter to Wachtell Lipton.
  On May 1, 2018, the MTGE external manager provided Barclays (who subsequently provided to Annaly, Wells Fargo and Sandler O’Neill) an updated estimate of the book value of MTGE’s common stock of $19.65 per
  fully diluted share as of April 30, 2018. Representatives of Annaly, Wells Fargo, Sandler O’Neill, Barclays and the MTGE external manager held an additional telephonic conference that evening to conduct additional due diligence on this updated estimate.
  Over the course of the evening of May 1, 2018 and the morning of May 2, 2018, the advisors of the MTGE special committee and Annaly continued to negotiate resolutions of the open issues. Subject to final approval by the MTGE special committee, Barclays, Wells Fargo and Sandler O’Neill agreed on the cash and exchange ratio calculations based on a transaction price of $19.65 per share price net of expenses (representing 100% of the book value of MTGE’s common shares as of April 30, 2018) and an Annaly stock price of $10.32 per share (based on a volume weighted average trading price for Annaly’s common stock for the ten trading day period ended April 30, 2018), with MTGE stockholders having the right to elect, for each share of MTGE common stock, $19.65 in cash, 1.9037 shares of Annaly common stock, or $9.82 in cash and 0.9519 shares of Annaly common stock, without a collar and subject to proration so that 50% of the aggregate consideration is payable in cash and 50% of the aggregate consideration is payable in shares of Annaly common stock; that an acquisition proposal submitted by AGNC would be treated like an acquisition proposal submitted by any other party; and that there would be a single termination fee of 3.9% of the transaction value of MTGE’s common equity (or approximately $35.1 million).
  During the evening of May 1, 2018, representatives of Annaly and representatives of the MTGE external manager also spoke concerning the termination of the management agreement and Annaly’s need for a short transition period after closing. They agreed to negotiate an amendment to the management agreement that could be executed concurrently with the execution of the merger agreement.
  Also on May 1, 2018 and May 2, 2018, representatives of Annaly and their advisors held several telephonic conferences with representatives of MTGE, MTGE’s advisors and the MTGE external manager to complete due diligence.
  On the morning of May 2, 2018, the MTGE special committee held a telephonic meeting, with representatives of Barclays and Cooley also attending. Representatives of Barclays reviewed the sales process and its financial analysis of the proposed economic terms. At the conclusion of its presentation, Barclays rendered to the MTGE special committee its oral opinion, which was subsequently confirmed by delivery of a written opinion, dated as of May 2, 2018, that, as of the date of such opinion, and based upon and subject to the matters and the limitations set forth therein, the aggregate consideration to be paid to the holders of MTGE common stock (other than as specified in such opinion) is fair from a financial point of view to such holders. For a more detailed discussion of Barclays’ opinion, please see below under the caption “Opinion of the MTGE Special Committee’s Financial Advisor.” The opinion of Barclays is attached to MTGE’s Schedule 14D-9 as Annex A. Representatives of Cooley then reviewed the material terms of the proposed merger agreement and the proposed authorizing resolutions for approval by the MTGE special committee. Cooley also reported that Annaly and the MTGE external manager were in the process of negotiating an amendment to the management agreement, which needed to be completed prior to final MTGE special committee approval. Following discussion, the meeting was adjourned until later in the day.
  Following the meeting of the MTGE special committee, the MTGE board of directors held a telephonic meeting, with representatives of Cooley also attending. At this meeting, consistent with the board’s prior determination, Mr. Kain informed the other members of the MTGE board of directors that he would recuse himself from the board’s deliberations and vote on the proposed transaction in light of his role with AGNC. After Mr. Kain left the meeting, the MTGE board of directors then suspended its meeting agreeing to reconvene later in the day once the final terms of the transaction were negotiated.
  During the day of May 2, 2018, MTGE, Annaly, the MTGE external manager, Cooley and Wachtell Lipton finalized the merger agreement, disclosure schedules and the amendment to the management agreement.
  At 4:00 p.m. on May 2, 2018, the MTGE special committee held a telephonic meeting to approve the final terms of the transaction, with representatives of Barclays and Cooley also attending. During this meeting, Cooley
  updated the MTGE special committee on the final terms of the merger agreement and amendment to the management agreement. Following consideration of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including consideration of the factors described in “MTGE’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger; Recommendation of the MTGE Board of Directors,” the MTGE special committee unanimously recommended that the MTGE board of directors (a) determine that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the offer and the merger, are advisable to, and in the best interests of, MTGE and its stockholders, (b) agree that the merger shall be effected under Section 3-106.1 of the MGCL, (c) approve the execution, delivery and performance by MTGE of the merger agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the offer and the merger, and (d) resolve to recommend that the stockholders of MTGE tender their shares in connection with the offer.
  The prior meeting of the MTGE board of directors reconvened immediately following the meeting of the MTGE special committee. During this meeting, the independent directors of the MTGE board (a) determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the offer and the merger, are advisable to, and in the best interests of, MTGE and its stockholders, (b) agreed that the merger shall be effected under Section 3-106.1 of the MGCL, (c) approved the execution, delivery and performance by MTGE of the merger agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the offer and the merger, and (d) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of MTGE tender their shares in connection with the offer.
  Following the MTGE board meeting, the definitive merger agreement was executed and publicly announced on the afternoon of May 2, 2018 after the close of the market.
  In reaching its decision to approve the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the offer and the merger, Annaly’s board of directors consulted with Annaly’s senior management team and external manager, as well as Annaly’s outside advisors, and considered a number of factors, including the following material factors (not in any relative order of importance), which it viewed as supporting its decision to approve the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the offer and the merger:
  • the fact that MTGE’s portfolio consists primarily of agency and non-agency residential backed mortgage securities and healthcare real estate assets and the expectation that these assets will be complementary to Annaly’s existing portfolio;
  • the expectation that the combined company’s enhanced capital base will support the continued growth of all businesses;
  • the expectation that the acquisition would create incremental efficiency and growth opportunities;
  • the fact that the offer and merger are expected to be accretive to Annaly’s core earnings and to provide a competitive cash-on-cash return;
  • the expectation that the merger and offer would further enhance Annaly’s leadership position in the fragmented mortgage REIT market;
  • the amount and form of consideration to be paid in the offer and merger, including the fact that the exchange ratio and aggregate mix of consideration to be paid are fixed;
  • the view that the terms and conditions of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the representations, warranties, covenants, closing conditions and termination provisions, are comprehensive and favorable to completing the proposed transaction;
  • the fact that the merger agreement places limitations on MTGE’s ability to seek a superior proposal and requires MTGE to pay Annaly a termination fee of $35,118,500 if Annaly or MTGE terminates the merger agreement under certain circumstances, including if MTGE consummates or enters into an agreement with respect to a competing acquisition proposal within a specified time period after termination of the merger agreement under certain circumstances;
  • the scope and results of the due diligence investigation of MTGE conducted by Annaly management and outside advisors, and the findings of that investigation;
  • current financial market conditions and forecast and the current and historical market prices, and trading information with respect to, shares of Annaly and MTGE common stock; and
  • the recommendation of Annaly’s management and external manager in favor of the offer and the merger.
  The Annaly board of directors also considered a variety of uncertainties and risks and other potentially negative factors concerning the transactions, including the following (not in any relative order of importance):
  • the risk that the acquisition of MTGE might not be completed in a timely manner or at all and the attendant adverse consequences for Annaly’s and MTGE’s businesses as a result of the pendency of the acquisition and operational disruption;
  • costs associated with the offer and the merger;
  • the risk that the offer and merger may not be consummated despite the parties’ efforts or that the closing of the transactions may be unduly delayed due to regulatory processes or other factors outside of the parties’ control;
  • the risks associated with the occurrence of events which may materially and adversely affect the operations or financial condition of MTGE and its subsidiaries, which may not entitle Annaly to terminate the merger agreement;
  • the risk that the potential benefits of the acquisition may not be fully or partially achieved, or may not be achieved within the expected time frame;
  • the challenges and difficulties relating to combining the portfolios and operations of Annaly and MTGE;
  • the risk of diverting Annaly’s management’s focus and resources from other strategic opportunities and from operational matters while working to implement the transaction with MTGE, and other potential disruption associated with combining the companies, and the potential effects of such diversion and disruption on the businesses of Annaly and MTGE;
  • the effects of general competitive, economic, political and market conditions and fluctuations on Annaly, MTGE or the combined company; and
  • various other risks associated with the acquisition and the businesses of Annaly, MTGE and the combined company, some of which are discussed or referenced under “Risk Factors.”
  The Annaly board of directors concluded that the potential negative factors associated with the acquisition were outweighed by the potential benefits that it expected Annaly to achieve as a result of the offer and the merger. Accordingly, the Annaly board of directors approved the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the offer and the merger.
  The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered by the Annaly board of directors is not intended to be exhaustive, but includes the material factors considered by the Annaly board of directors. In view of the variety of factors considered in connection with its evaluation of the acquisition, the Annaly board of directors did not find it practicable to, and did not, quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors considered in reaching its determination. In addition, individual directors may have given different weights to different factors. The Annaly board of directors did not undertake to make any specific determination as to whether any factor, or any particular aspect of any factor, supported or did not support its ultimate determination. The Annaly board of directors based its determination on the totality of the information presented.
  The MTGE board of directors, acting upon the unanimous recommendation of the MTGE special committee, has (i) determined that the terms of the offer, the merger and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, are in the best interests of MTGE and its stockholders, (ii) declared the offer, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement advisable, (iii) approved the execution and delivery by MTGE of the merger agreement, the performance by MTGE of its covenants and agreements contained in the merger agreement and the consummation of the offer, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions contained therein, and (iv) resolved to recommend that MTGE stockholders accept the offer and tender their shares of MTGE common stock to Annaly in the offer.
  In evaluating the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the offer, the merger and the issuance of shares of Annaly common stock in connection therewith, the MTGE special committee (consisting entirely of independent directors) and the MTGE board of directors consulted with their financial and legal advisors, including Barclays, as financial advisor to the MTGE special committee, and Cooley, as counsel to the MTGE special committee.
  In the course of reaching a determination that the offer and the merger are in the best interests of MTGE and its stockholders, and a recommendation that the holders of MTGE common stock accept the offer and tender their shares of MTGE common stock to Annaly in the offer, the MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered numerous factors, including the following material factors and benefits of the offer and the merger, each of which the MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors believed supported its determination and recommendation:
  • Recommendation of the MTGE Special Committee. The MTGE board of directors considered the unanimous recommendation of the MTGE special committee that the MTGE board of directors determine that the terms of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the offer, the merger and the issuance of shares of Annaly common stock in connection therewith, are in the best interests of MTGE and its stockholders and declare the offer, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement advisable, as well as the independence of the members of the MTGE special committee making such recommendation and the independence, experience and expertise of Barclays as the financial advisor to the MTGE special committee.
  • Industry and Business Considerations. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered the current and historical industry conditions and the financial condition, results of operations, business, and financing prospects of MTGE, including the following:
  • the challenges facing the residential mortgage REIT sector in general, including significant uncertainty regarding the outlook for interest rates as well as uncertainty regarding the outlook for the financial markets generally;
  • the challenges facing MTGE in particular, including that, since June 23, 2017, the price per share of MTGE common stock has traded at a discount to MTGE’s tangible book value per share, which makes raising equity capital to fund new investments dilutive to shareholders and has made it difficult for MTGE to significantly increase its size and scale through capital market transactions; and
  • the general views of the members of the MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors with respect to the business, financial condition, current business strategy and prospects of MTGE, including the potential challenges for MTGE to continue to access financing resources on acceptable terms.
  • Offer Price and Right to Participate in Annaly’s Future Growth. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered:
  • the fact that the value of the consideration represents a premium of approximately 12% to the 60-day volume-weighted average price of MTGE common stock ending on April 30, 2018;
  • the fact that for each outstanding share of MTGE common stock accepted for payment in the offer or converted and exchanged in the merger the holder thereof will be entitled to receive approximately 50% of the consideration in Annaly common stock and, therefore, participate in the upside potential of the combined company;
  • the ability for stockholders to elect stock consideration which may allow them to defer a portion of their taxable gain;
  • the fact that in lieu of receiving the mixed consideration, holders of shares of MTGE common stock may elect to receive, for each share of MTGE common stock that they hold, the all-cash consideration or the all-stock consideration, in each case, subject to proration;
  • the belief of the MTGE special committee that as a result of extensive negotiations between the parties it had obtained Annaly’s best and final offer for the MTGE common stock, which was increased multiple times from Annaly’s initial proposal of 95% of book value to 100% of book value per share; and
  • the offer and the merger are expected to be immediately accretive to Annaly’s earnings per share.
  • Evaluation of Strategic Alternatives. The MTGE special committee’s and the MTGE board of directors’ belief that the value offered to MTGE’s stockholders in the offer and merger was more favorable to MTGE’s stockholders on a risk-adjusted basis than the potential value of remaining an independent public company and that the value per share obtained was the highest per share consideration that was reasonably attainable. This belief was supported in part by the results of the MTGE special committee’s evaluation of strategic alternatives, through which MTGE and its financial advisors engaged with other parties that were believed to be the most able and willing to pay the highest price for MTGE and MTGE received alternative acquisition proposals that were not as favorable to MTGE and its stockholders as the offer and merger with Annaly (as more fully described above in “—Background of the Offer and the Merger”).
  • Negotiations with Annaly. The MTGE special committee considered the course of negotiations between MTGE and Annaly, resulting in multiple increases in the price per share originally offered by Annaly, as well as several changes in the terms and conditions of the merger agreement from the terms and conditions proposed by Annaly that were favorable to MTGE. The MTGE special committee believed, based on these negotiations, that the offer price was the highest price per share that Annaly was willing to pay and that the merger agreement contained the most favorable terms to MTGE to which Annaly was willing to agree.
  • No Financing Condition. The MTGE special committee considered the contractual representation of Annaly and Offeror that they would have access to sufficient funds to pay the amounts required to be paid under the merger agreement and that the offer and the merger are not subject to a financing condition.
  • Benefits of Combining with Annaly of Increased Scale, Portfolio Diversity and other Operating Considerations. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered the following benefits and operating considerations in combining with Annaly:
  • the increased portfolio diversification of the combined company, taking into account Annaly’s diversified portfolio of agency and non-agency mortgage-backed securities, commercial real estate debt and equity and commercial credit and MTGE’s portfolio which consists of agency and non-agency residential mortgage backed securities and healthcare real estate assets;
  • the potential access to capital and asset acquisition opportunities resulting from the scale and resources of the combined company, the fact that Annaly’s average expenses have historically been a lower percentage of assets and equity than other residential mortgage REITs, and the potential for increased capital allocation alternatives for the combined company;
  • the potential access to additional financing resources that would not be available to MTGE as a stand-alone company; and
  • the continuing access to Annaly’s external manager with broad expertise and resources to invest across a range of asset classes at a cost that has historically been a lower percentage of assets and equity than other residential mortgage REITs.
  • Opinion of Barclays and Related Analysis. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered the oral opinion of Barclays, subsequently confirmed in writing, dated May 2, 2018, that, as of such date, based upon and subject to the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations upon the review undertaken by Barclays in preparing its written opinion, as set forth in such written opinion, the Aggregate Consideration (as defined in the written opinion) to be offered to the holders of the shares of MTGE common stock (other than the stockholders of Cancelled Shares (as defined in the written opinion)) in the offer was fair from a financial point of view to such holders, as more fully described below in “—Opinion of MTGE’s Financial Advisor.” The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors were aware that Barclays will become entitled to certain fees upon consummation of the offer and merger, as more fully described below in “—Opinion of the MTGE Special Committee’s Financial Advisor.”
  • Other Terms of the Merger Agreement. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered certain other terms of the merger agreement, which are more fully described under the caption “Merger Agreement.” Certain provisions of the merger agreement that the MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered important included:
  • the merger agreement provides for the prompt commencement of the offer, which may enable holders of MTGE common stock who tender their shares into the offer to receive their consideration more quickly than in a transaction structured as a one-step merger;
  • the ability to respond to unsolicited acquisition proposals by the MTGE board of directors, upon the recommendation of the MTGE special committee and determination that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors’ duties under applicable law, and to engage in negotiations or discussions with third parties regarding alternative transactions under certain circumstances (see “Merger Agreement—No Solicitation of Other Offers by MTGE” for more information);
  • the right of the MTGE board of directors to change or withdraw its recommendation to holders of MTGE common stock, following receipt of an unsolicited superior proposal or upon the occurrence of certain other intervening events and upon the recommendation of the MTGE special committee and determination that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors’ duties under applicable law (see “Merger Agreement—No Solicitation of Other Offers by MTGE” for more information);
  • the right of the MTGE board of directors to terminate the merger agreement and to accept a superior proposal, if certain conditions are met, subject to the payment of the termination fee to Annaly (see “Merger Agreement—Termination of the Merger Agreement—Termination by MTGE” for more information);
  • the fact that Offeror’s obligations to purchase (and Annaly’s obligation to cause the Offeror to purchase) the shares of MTGE common stock tendered in the offer and to close the merger are subject to limited conditions, and that the offer and the merger are reasonably likely to be consummated; and
  • the fact that the Offeror must generally extend the offer for one or more periods until the offer conditions have been satisfied.
  The MTGE special committee in making its recommendation to the MTGE board of directors and the MTGE board of directors in making its determination also identified and considered the following potentially negative factors in its deliberations:
  • Fluctuations in the Price of Annaly Common Stock. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered the fact that holders of shares of MTGE common stock who receive shares of Annaly common stock in the offer or the merger will receive a fixed number of shares of Annaly common stock which is based on the MTGE common stock being valued at $19.65 per share and the volume weighted average closing price of Annaly common stock for the ten trading day period ended April 30, 2018, and such number of shares will not be adjusted for any decrease in the trading price of shares of Annaly common stock between the date of the merger agreement and the completion of the offer or the merger, and the fact that MTGE is not permitted to terminate the merger agreement solely because of changes in the market price of shares of Annaly common stock;
  • Non-Solicitation Covenant. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered the fact that the merger agreement imposes restrictions on soliciting and responding to competing acquisition proposals from third parties;
  • Termination Fee. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered that the termination fee of $35,118,500.00 payable in cash to Annaly if the merger agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, including if the merger agreement is terminated in order for the MTGE board of directors to accept a superior proposal, may discourage third parties that may otherwise have an interest in a business combination with, or an acquisition of, MTGE from pursuing such a transaction;
  • Interim Operating Covenants. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered that the merger agreement imposes restrictions on the conduct of the business of MTGE and its subsidiaries prior to the consummation of the merger (see “Merger Agreement—Conduct of Business Before Completion of the Merger—Restrictions on MTGE’s Operations”);
  • Risks the Offer and Merger May Not Be Completed. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered the following factors in connection with the risk that the offer and the merger may not be completed:
  • the risk that the conditions to the offer may not be satisfied and that, therefore, shares of MTGE common stock may not be purchased pursuant to the offer and the merger may not be consummated; and
  • the risks and costs to MTGE of the adverse effect of the resulting public announcement of any termination of the merger agreement on the market price of shares of MTGE common stock, and operating results of MTGE, particularly in light of the diversion of management resources from operational matters and other strategic opportunities and the costs incurred in connection with the transaction;
  • Potential Conflict of Interest Relating to Termination of Management Agreement. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered the potential conflict of interest created as a result of the amendment to, and termination of, the management agreement in connection with the transaction and the resulting payment of a termination fee to the MTGE external manager;
  • Interests of Directors and Executive Officers. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered the interests of certain directors and executive officers in the merger, each as more fully described “The Offer—Interests of Certain Persons in the Offer and the Merger.”;
  • Regulatory Approvals. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered the period of time necessary to obtain the regulatory approvals that would be required to consummate the offer;
  • Cash Component of Consideration. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors considered that the holders of MTGE common stock who receive cash consideration, either because of an affirmative election or because of subsequent proration, will not be able to participate in the future benefits of the combined company and the fact that the receipt of cash will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and
  • Other Risks of the Offer and the Merger. The MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors also considered the following additional risks:
  • the substantial costs to be incurred in connection with the transaction;
  • the absence of appraisal rights for holders of MTGE common stock under Maryland law and MTGE’s charter; and
  • the risks described in the section captioned “Risk Factors” in the prospectus/offer to exchange.
  Although the foregoing discussion sets forth the material factors considered by the MTGE special committee in making its recommendation to the MTGE board of directors and the MTGE board of directors in reaching its determination, it does not include all of the factors considered by either the MTGE special committee or the MTGE board of directors, and each director may have considered different factors or given different weights to different factors. In view of the variety of factors and the amount of information considered, neither the MTGE special committee nor the MTGE board of directors found it practicable to, and did not, make specific assessments of, quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors considered in reaching its recommendation. Both the MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors realized that there can be no assurance about future results, including results expected or considered in the factors above. However, both the MTGE special committee and the MTGE board of directors concluded that the potential positive factors described above significantly outweighed the negative factors described above. The recommendations were made after consideration of all of the factors as a whole.
  THE MTGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ACTING UPON THE UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION OF THE MTGE SPECIAL COMMITTEE, HAS DETERMINED THAT THE TERMS OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTION, INCLUDING THE OFFER, THE MERGER AND THE ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF ANNALY COMMON STOCK IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, WERE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF MTGE AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS, DECLARED THE OFFER, THE MERGER AND THE OTHER TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THE MERGER AGREEMENT ADVISABLE, APPROVED THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY BY MTGE OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT, THE PERFORMANCE BY MTGE OF ITS COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE CONSUMMATION OF THE OFFER, THE MERGER AND THE OTHER TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THE MERGER AGREEMENT ON THE TERMS AND SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS CONTAINED THEREIN, AND RECOMMENDS THAT MTGE STOCKHOLDERS ACCEPT THE OFFER AND TENDER THEIR SHARES OF MTGE COMMON STOCK TO ANNALY IN THE OFFER.
  In considering the MTGE special committee’s recommendation and the MTGE board of directors’ determination with respect to the offer and the merger, you should be aware that the MTGE external manager and certain executive officers of MTGE and the MTGE external manager have arrangements that cause them to have interests in the transaction that are different from, or are in addition to, the interests of MTGE stockholders generally “The Offer—Interests of Certain Persons in the Offer and the Merger.”
  The MTGE special committee engaged Barclays to act as its financial advisor with respect to pursuing strategic alternatives for MTGE, including a possible sale of MTGE, pursuant to an engagement letter dated March 29, 2018. On May 2, 2018, Barclays rendered its oral opinion (which was subsequently confirmed in writing) to the MTGE special committee that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions stated in its opinion, the aggregate consideration to be offered to the stockholders of MTGE in the proposed offer and merger is fair, from a financial point of view, to such stockholders.
  The full text of Barclays’ written opinion, dated as of May 2, 2018, is attached as Annex B to this document. Barclays’ written opinion sets forth, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed, factors considered and limitations upon the review undertaken by Barclays in rendering its opinion. You are encouraged to read the opinion carefully in its entirety. The following is a summary of Barclays’ opinion and the methodology that Barclays used to render its opinion. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion.
  Barclays’ opinion, the issuance of which was approved by Barclays’ Fairness Opinion Committee, is addressed to the MTGE special committee, addresses only the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the aggregate consideration to be offered to the stockholders of MTGE and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder of MTGE as to whether or not such stockholder should tender the shares of common stock pursuant to the offer or how such stockholder should act with respect to the transaction. The terms of the proposed transaction were determined through arm’s-length negotiations between the MTGE special committee and Annaly and were approved by the MTGE board of directors (following the unanimous recommendation of the MTGE special committee). Barclays did not recommend any specific form of consideration to MTGE or that any specific form of consideration constituted the only appropriate consideration for the proposed transaction. Barclays was not requested to address, and its opinion does not in any manner address, MTGE’s underlying business decision to proceed with or effect the proposed transaction, the likelihood of the consummation of the proposed transaction, or the relative merits of the proposed transaction as compared to any other transaction in which MTGE may engage. In addition, Barclays expressed no opinion on, and its opinion does not in any manner address, the fairness of the amount or the nature of any compensation paid to the MTGE external manager or to any officers, directors or employees of any parties to the proposed transaction, or any class of such persons, relative to the aggregate consideration to be offered to the stockholders of MTGE in the proposed transaction. No limitations were imposed by the MTGE special committee upon Barclays with respect to the investigations made or procedures followed by it in rendering its opinion.
  In arriving at its opinion, Barclays, among other things:
  • reviewed and analyzed a draft of the merger agreement, dated as of May 1, 2018, and the specific terms of the proposed transaction as set forth therein;
  • reviewed and analyzed publicly available information concerning MTGE that Barclays believed to be relevant to its analysis, including MTGE’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017;
  • reviewed and analyzed publicly available information concerning Annaly that Barclays believed to be relevant to its analysis, including Annaly’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017;
  • reviewed and analyzed financial and operating information with respect to the business, operations and prospects of MTGE furnished to Barclays by MTGE, including financial projections of MTGE prepared by the MTGE external manager (the “MTGE Projections”);
  • reviewed and analyzed financial and operating information with respect to the business, operations and prospects of Annaly furnished to Barclays by Annaly, including financial projections of Annaly prepared by Annaly Management Company LLC, the manager of Annaly (the “Annaly Manager”) (the “Annaly Projections”);
  • reviewed and analyzed a trading history of MTGE common stock from August 4, 2011 through May 1, 2018 and a trading history of Annaly common stock from August 4, 2011 to May 1, 2018, and a comparison of that trading history with those of other companies that Barclays deemed relevant;
  • reviewed and analyzed a comparison of the historical financial results and present financial condition of MTGE and Annaly with those of other companies that Barclays deemed relevant;
  • reviewed and analyzed published estimates of independent research analysts with respect to the future financial performance and net asset value of MTGE and Annaly and price targets of MTGE and Annaly;
  • reviewed and analyzed a comparison of the financial terms of the proposed transaction with the financial terms of certain other transactions that Barclays deemed relevant;
  • had discussions with the MTGE external manager and the Annaly Manager concerning Annaly’s business, operations, assets, liabilities, financial condition and prospects;
  • had discussions with the MTGE external manager and the Annaly Manager concerning MTGE’s business, operations, assets, liabilities, financial condition and prospects; and
  • has undertaken such other studies, analyses and investigations as Barclays deemed appropriate.
  In arriving at its opinion, Barclays assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of the financial and other information used by Barclays without any independent verification of such information (and had not assumed responsibility or liability for any independent verification of such information). Barclays also relied upon the assurances of each of the MTGE external manager and the Annaly Manager that they were not aware of any facts or circumstances that would make such information inaccurate or misleading. With respect to the MTGE Projections, upon the advice and at the direction of the MTGE special committee, Barclays has assumed that such projections, based on the assumptions stated therein, have been reasonably prepared and reflect the most reasonable currently available estimates and judgments of the MTGE external manager as to MTGE’s future financial performance and that MTGE would perform substantially in accordance with such projections. With respect to the Annaly Projections, upon the advice and at the direction of the MTGE special committee, Barclays has assumed that such projections, based on the assumptions stated therein, have been reasonably prepared and reflect the most reasonable currently available estimates and judgments of the Annaly Manager as to Annaly’s future financial performance and that Annaly would perform substantially in accordance with such projections. In arriving at its opinion, Barclays assumed no responsibility for and expressed no view as to any such projections or estimates or the assumptions on which they were based. In arriving at its opinion, Barclays did not conduct a physical inspection of the properties and facilities of MTGE or Annaly and did not make or obtain any evaluations or appraisals of the assets or liabilities of MTGE or Annaly. Barclays’ opinion was necessarily based upon market, economic and other conditions as they existed on, and could be evaluated as of, May 2, 2018. Barclays assumed no responsibility for updating or revising its opinion based on events or circumstances that may have occurred after May 2, 2018. Barclays expressed no opinion as to the prices at which shares of MTGE common stock would trade following the announcement of the proposed transaction or shares of Annaly common stock would trade following the announcement or consummation of the proposed transaction. Barclays’ opinion should not be viewed as providing any assurance that the market value of the shares of Annaly common stock to be held by the stockholders of MTGE after the consummation of the proposed transaction will be in excess of the market value of MTGE common stock owned by such stockholders at any time prior to the announcement or consummation of the proposed transaction.
  Barclays assumed that the executed merger agreement would conform in all material respects to the last draft reviewed by Barclays. Additionally, Barclays assumed the accuracy of the representations and warranties
  contained in the merger agreement and all the agreements related thereto. Barclays also assumed, upon the advice and at the direction of the MTGE special committee, that all material governmental, regulatory and third party approvals, consents and releases for the proposed transaction would be obtained within the constraints contemplated by the merger agreement and that the proposed transaction will be consummated in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement without waiver, modification or amendment of any material term, condition or agreement thereof. Barclays did not express any opinion as to any tax or other consequences that might result from the proposed transaction, nor did Barclays’ opinion address any legal, tax, regulatory or accounting matters, as to which Barclays understood MTGE had obtained such advice as it deemed necessary from qualified professionals.
  In connection with rendering its opinion, Barclays performed certain financial, comparative and other analyses as summarized below. In arriving at its opinion, Barclays did not ascribe a specific range of values to the MTGE common stock but rather made its determination as to fairness, from a financial point of view, to MTGE’s stockholders of the aggregate consideration to be offered to such stockholders in the proposed offer and merger on the basis of various financial and comparative analyses. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and involves various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial and comparative analyses and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances. Therefore, a fairness opinion is not readily susceptible to summary description.
  In arriving at its opinion, Barclays did not attribute any particular weight to any single analysis or factor considered by it but rather made qualitative judgments as to the significance and relevance of each analysis and factor relative to all other analyses and factors performed and considered by it and in the context of the circumstances of the particular transaction. Accordingly, Barclays believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole, as considering any portion of such analyses and factors, without considering all analyses and factors as a whole, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the process underlying its opinion.
  Summary of Material Financial Analyses
  The following is a summary of the material financial analyses used by Barclays in preparing its opinion to the MTGE special committee. The summary of Barclays’ analyses and reviews provided below is not a complete description of the analyses and reviews underlying Barclays’ opinion. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process involving various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of analysis and review and the application of those methods to particular circumstances, and, therefore, is not readily susceptible to summary description.
  For the purposes of its analyses and review, Barclays made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business, economic, market and financial conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of MTGE or any other parties to the proposed transaction. No company, business or transaction considered in Barclays’ analyses and review is identical to MTGE, Annaly, the Offeror or the proposed transaction, and an evaluation of the results of those analyses and reviews is not entirely mathematical. Rather, the analyses and reviews involve complex considerations and judgments concerning financial and operating characteristics and other factors that could affect the acquisition, public trading or other values of the companies, businesses or transactions considered in Barclays’ analyses and reviews. None of MTGE, the Manager, Annaly, the Offeror, Barclays or any other person assumes responsibility if future results are materially different from those discussed. Any estimates contained in these analyses and reviews and the ranges of valuations resulting from any particular analysis or review are not necessarily indicative of actual values or predictive of future results or values, which may be significantly more or less favorable than as set forth below. In addition, analyses relating to the value of companies, businesses or securities do not purport to be appraisals or reflect the prices at which the companies, businesses or securities may actually be sold. Accordingly, the estimates used in, and the results derived from, Barclays’ analyses and reviews are inherently subject to substantial uncertainty.
  The summary of the financial analyses and reviews summarized below include information presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand the financial analyses and reviews used by Barclays, the tables must be read together with the text of each summary, as the tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses and reviews. Considering the data in the tables below without considering the full description of the analyses and reviews, including the methodologies and assumptions underlying the analyses and reviews, could create a misleading or incomplete view of Barclays’ analyses and reviews.
  Selected Comparable Company Analysis
  In order to assess how the market values shares of similar publicly traded companies and to provide a range of relative implied equity values per share of MTGE and of Annaly, Barclays reviewed and compared specific financial and operating data relating to MTGE and Annaly, respectively, with selected companies that Barclays, based on its experience in the Mortgage REIT industry, deemed comparable to MTGE and Annaly, respectively. The selected comparable companies with respect to MTGE were:
  • Two Harbors Investment Corp.
  • Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
  • ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc.
  • Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc.
  The selected comparable companies with respect to Annaly were:
  • AGNC Investment Corp.
  • Capstead Mortgage Corporation
  Barclays calculated and compared various financial multiples and ratios of MTGE and Annaly and the selected comparable companies. As part of its selected comparable company analysis, Barclays calculated and analyzed each applicable company’s (i) price per share as of May 1, 2018 as a multiple of tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2017 (“P/TBV 12/31”) and as of March 31, 2018, (“P/TBV 3/31”), (ii) ratio of its current stock price to its calendar year 2018 estimated earnings per share (commonly referred to as a price earnings ratio, or P/E), based on each of (x) the MTGE Projections (“Mgt.”)(1) and (y) market data, with such median based upon research reports available to Barclays (“Street”) and (iii) implied dividend yield by annualizing the dividends paid in the most recent quarter.
  The results of this selected comparable company analysis are summarized below:
  MTGE Peers
  Low Mean Median High
  P / TBV(1)
  0.88x 0.92x 0.92x 0.97x
  P / ‘18E Earnings(2)
  8.1x 8.9x 9.1x 9.3x
  10.0 % 11.1 % 11.0 % 12.3 %
  (1) Tangible book value based on latest tangible book value publically available
  (2) 2018 Earnings based on Median analyst estimates available to Barclays through FactSet
  Metric Selected Companies
  Range Implied Share Price
  P/TBV 3/31
  $ 19.61 0.85x – 0.95x $ 16.67 – $18.63
  P/TBV 12/31
  P/2018E (Mgt.)(1)
  $ 2.29 8.5x – 9.5x $ 19.47 – $21.76
  P/2018E (Street)
  Annualized Dividend Yield
  $ 2.00 12.0% – 10.0% $ 16.67 – $20.00
  (1) Represents Net Spread, Dollar Roll and Healthcare Income, excluding “catch up” amortization.
  Annaly Peers
  7.9x 10.6x 9.3x 14.5x
  7.0 % 9.5 % 10.0 % 11.4 %
  $ 10.40 0.90x – 1.00x $ 9.36 – $10.40
  P/2018E (Mgt.)
  $ 1.18 8.0x – 10.5x $ 9.47 – $12.43
  Barclays selected the comparable companies listed above because of similarities in one or more business or operating characteristics with MTGE or Annaly, as applicable. However, because no selected comparable company is exactly the same as MTGE or Annaly, as applicable, Barclays believed that it was inappropriate to, and therefore did not, rely solely on the quantitative results of the selected comparable company analysis. Accordingly, Barclays also made qualitative judgments concerning differences between the business, financial and operating characteristics and prospects of MTGE or Annaly, as applicable, and the selected comparable companies that could affect the public trading values of each in order to provide a context in which to consider the results of the quantitative analysis. These qualitative judgments related primarily to the differing sizes, growth prospects, profitability levels and degree of operational risk between MTGE or Annaly, as applicable, and the companies included in the selected company analysis.
  Barclays noted that on the basis of the selected comparable company analysis, the transaction consideration of $19.65 per MTGE share was (i) above the range of implied values per share of $16.67 – $18.63 derived from the P/TBV 3/31 calculation, (ii) above the range of implied values per share of $17.53 – $19.59 derived from the P/TBV 12/31 calculation, (iii) within the range of implied values per share of $19.47 – $21.76 derived from the P/2018E (Mgt.) calculation, (iv) above the range of implied values per share of $16.83 – $18.81 derived from the P/2018E (Street) calculation and (v) within the range of implied values per share of $16.67 – $20.00 derived from the annualized dividend yield calculation.
  Barclays also noted that on the basis of the selected comparable company analysis, the transaction exchange ratio price of $10.32 per Annaly share was within the range of implied exchange ratios per share of (i) $9.36 – $10.40 derived from the P/TBV 3/31 calculation and (ii) $9.47 – $12.43 derived from the P/2018E (Mgt.)
  calculation, and below the range of implied exchange ratios per share of (iii) $10.43 – $12.00 derived from the annualized dividend yield calculation. The exchange ratio price of $10.32 is the price per share of Annaly shares which was used in the calculation of exchange ratios.
  Selected Precedent Transactions Analysis
  Barclays reviewed and compared the purchase prices and financial multiples paid in selected other transactions that Barclays, based on its experience with merger and acquisition transactions, deemed relevant. Barclays chose such transactions with a focus on U.S. target companies based on, among other things, the similarity of the applicable target companies in the transactions to MTGE with respect to the size, industry or business mix, margins, competitive dynamics and other characteristics of their businesses. Barclays reviewed the following transactions:
  Date Announced
  Acquiror
  Two Harbors Investment Corp.
  CYS Investments, Inc.
  Hatteras Financial Corporation
  Sutherland Asset Management Corp
  ZAIS Financial Corp.
  ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc.
  JAVELIN Mortgage Investment Corp.
  Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.
  Apollo Residential Mortgage
  The reasons for and the circumstances surrounding each of the selected precedent transactions analyzed were diverse and there are inherent differences in the business, operations, financial conditions and prospects of MTGE and the companies included in the selected precedent transaction analysis. Although none of the selected transactions is directly comparable to the transaction, the target companies in the selected transactions were companies that, for purposes of analysis, may be considered similar to MTGE.
  Accordingly, for the above selected transactions, based on information from SEC filings, SNL Financial and FactSet, Barclays calculated and reviewed the final announced transaction price as a multiple of the target company’s last reported book value as of the time of announcement, which is referred to as “Transaction P/BV”. The following table sets forth the transactions analyzed based on such characteristics and the results of such analysis:
  Transaction P/BV
  Barclays noted that on the basis of the selected precedent transaction analysis, the transaction consideration of $19.65 per share was within the range of implied values per share of $16.67 – $20.60 calculated using March 31, 2018 tangible book value.
  Dividend Discount Analysis of MTGE
  Barclays performed a dividend discount analysis on MTGE using the MTGE Projections and certain publicly available information, which was used as a basis for discount rates and terminal value range. Barclays used two different methods to calculate annual discount rates that were then applied to the MTGE Projections and a range of terminal values estimated using a price to tangible book value ratio (“P/TBV”) methodology. In one method, Barclays calculated a range implied by the dividend yield of selected comparable companies, resulting in a selected discount range of 10.0% to 12.0%. Barclays then applied those discount rates to the projected quarterly dividends for MTGE from 2Q2018 through 4Q2020 (as set forth in MTGE Projections) and to an estimated terminal value (based on projected tangible book value in 4Q2020). Barclays calculated the net present value of the dividends and the net present value of the terminal value, which was based on applying the value range of 0.85x to 0.95 to quarter-11 tangible book value, and then divided by the number of fully diluted shares to get an implied value per share. This analysis assumed 100% of Net Spread, Dollar Roll and Healthcare
  Income, excluding “catch up” amortization, is paid out through dividends to common shareholders of MTGE. This analysis resulted in a range of implied present values per share of MTGE common stock of $17.59 to $19.86. In the other method, Barclays calculated a discount range implied by the capital asset pricing model, resulting in a selected range of 8.0% to 9.5%. Barclays then applied those discount rates to the projected quarterly dividends for MTGE from 2Q2018 through 4Q2020 (as set forth in MTGE Projections) and to an estimated terminal value (based on projected tangible book value in 4Q2020). This analysis resulted in a range of implied present values per share of MTGE common stock of $18.55 to $20.75
  Barclays noted that on the basis of the dividend discount analysis, the transaction consideration of $19.65 was within the range of implied values per share calculated using the MTGE Projections.
  Dividend Discount Analysis of Annaly
  Barclays performed a dividend discount analysis on Annaly using the Annaly Projections and certain publicly available information, which was used as a basis for discount rates and terminal value range. Additionally, based on diligence, a 2.0% decline in tangible book value per share was modeled over the forecast period. Barclays used two different methods to calculate annual discount rates that were then used in the subsequent dividend discount analysis and applied to the Annaly Projections and a range of terminal values estimated using a P/TBV methodology. In one method, Barclays calculated a discount range implied by the dividend yield of selected comparable companies, resulting in a selected range of 10.0% to 11.5%. Barclays then applied those discount rates to the Annaly Projections and calculated the net present value of the dividends and the net present value of the terminal value, which was based on applying the value range of 0.90x to 1.00x to quarter-6 tangible book value, and then divided by the number of fully diluted shares (1,160 million shares) to get an implied value per share. This analysis assumed 100% of core earnings (Ex. PAA) are paid out through dividends to common shareholders of Annaly. This analysis resulted in a range of implied present values per share of Annaly common stock of $9.37 to $10.43. In the other method, Barclays calculated a discount range implied by the capital asset pricing model, resulting in a selected range of 6.0% to 8.0%. Barclays then applied those discount rates to the Annaly Projections and an estimated terminal value (based on projected tangible book value in 4Q2020). This analysis resulted in a range of implied present values per share of Annaly common stock of $9.80 to $10.99
  Barclays noted that on the basis of the dividend discount analysis, the transaction exchange ratio price of $10.32 was within the range of implied values per share calculated using the Annaly Projections.
  Barclays also reviewed and considered other factors, which were not considered part of its financial analyses in connection with rendering its advice, but were references for informational purposes, including, among other things, the Historical Trading and the Analyst Target Prices, each described below.
  Historical Trading
  To illustrate the trend in the historical trading prices of the MTGE and Annaly shares, respectively, Barclays reviewed, for informational purposes, historical data with regard to the trading prices of such shares for the period from August 4, 2011 to May 1, 2018 and compared such data with the relative stock price performances during the same periods of the respective selected companies listed under the caption “Selected Comparable Company Analysis” above.
  Barclays noted that during the period from May 1, 2017 to May 1, 2018, the price of the MTGE common stock ranged from $16.15 to $20.00 and that during the period from May 1, 2017 to May 1, 2018, the price of the Annaly common stock ranged from $10.00 to $12.73.
  Analyst Target Prices
  Barclays reviewed, for informational purposes, as of May 1, 2018, the publicly available price targets of the MTGE and Annaly common stock published by equity research analysts associated with various Wall Street firms and available through FactSet and SNL Financial. The research analysts’ price target per share of MTGE common stock ranged from $19.00 – $21.00 per share and the price target per share of Annaly common stock ranged from $10.00 – $11.50 per share. The publicly available share price targets published by such equity research analysts do not necessarily reflect the current market trading price for MTGE or Annaly common stock and these estimates are subject to uncertainties, including future financial performance of MTGE and Annaly and future market conditions.
  Barclays is an internationally recognized investment banking firm and, as part of its investment banking activities, is regularly engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, investments for passive and control purposes, negotiated underwritings, competitive bids, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for estate, corporate and other purposes. The MTGE special committee selected Barclays because of its familiarity with MTGE and its qualifications, reputation and experience in the valuation of businesses and securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions generally, as well as substantial experience in transactions comparable to the proposed transaction.
  Barclays is acting as financial advisor to the MTGE special committee in connection with the proposed transaction and will receive compensation for its services in connection with the proposed transaction, $500,000 of which became payable from MTGE to Barclays upon the delivery of Barclays’ opinion, which is referred to as the “Opinion Fee”. The Opinion Fee was not contingent upon the conclusion of Barclays’ opinion or the consummation of the proposed transaction. A retainer fee of $125,000 per month, which is referred to as the “Retainer Fee” also became payable to Barclays as of March 29, 2018 . The Retainer Fee may not exceed $500,000. Barclays will receive compensation of $7 million upon consummation of the offer against which the amounts paid pursuant to the Opinion Fee (but not the Retainer Fee) will be credited. In addition, MTGE has agreed to reimburse Barclays for a portion of its reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the proposed transaction and to indemnify Barclays for certain liabilities that may arise out of its engagement by MTGE and the rendering of Barclays’ opinion. Barclays has performed various investment banking services for MTGE and Annaly in the past, and is likely to perform such services in the future, and has received, and is likely to receive, customary fees for such services. Specifically, in the past two years, Barclays has not performed any investment banking and financial services for MTGE or Annaly for which it has earned investment banking fees.
  Barclays, its subsidiaries and its affiliates engage in a wide range of businesses from investment and commercial banking, lending, asset management and other financial and non-financial services. In the ordinary course of its business, Barclays and its affiliates may actively trade and effect transactions in the equity, debt and/or other securities (and any derivatives thereof) and financial instruments (including loans and other obligations) of MTGE and Annaly for its own account and for the accounts of its customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold long or short positions and investments in such securities and financial instruments.
  MTGE does not publicly disclose projections as to future interest income, performance, earnings or other results due to, among other reasons, the uncertainty and subjectivity of the underlying assumptions and estimates as well as the high likelihood that actual results will vary from any such estimates. As a result, MTGE does not endorse the unaudited prospective financial information included in this document as a reliable indication of future results.
  At the request of the special committee’s financial advisor, and on behalf of the special committee, the MTGE external manager prepared the MTGE limited unaudited prospective financial information (identified below). This limited unaudited prospective financial information is being included in this document solely because it was made available to the special committee and its financial advisor for use in connection with the financial advisor’s analyses and opinion. The MTGE limited unaudited prospective financial information was also made available to Annaly and its financial advisors. While the limited unaudited prospective financial information presented below was reviewed by the special committee, such information was not reviewed or approved by the full MTGE board of directors. As such, the unaudited prospective financial information may vary from subsequent forecasts, financial plans, guidance and/or actual results due to a number of factors, including (but not limited to) changes in the MTGE investment portfolio and changes in interest rates, trading activity, market valuations, general market and economic conditions, capital commitments, other unexpected changes that cannot be predicted with any certainty, or at all, and the other factors described below. Although presented with numerical specificity, the limited unaudited prospective financial information reflects numerous assumptions and estimates as to future events made by the MTGE external manager.
  Additionally, MTGE’s future financial results may also materially differ from those expressed in the unaudited prospective financial information due to numerous factors that are beyond MTGE’s, Annaly’s or anyone else’s ability to control or predict, including with respect to the interest rate environment, industry performance, competitive factors, industry consolidation, general business, economic, regulatory, market and financial conditions, as well as matters specific to MTGE’s business, including with respect to MTGE’s investment and capital allocation strategy and future business initiatives. The assumptions underlying the unaudited prospective financial information may not prove to have been, or may no longer be, accurate.
  The MTGE external manager estimated the unaudited prospective financial information in the context of the business, economic, regulatory, market and financial conditions that existed at that time, and the unaudited prospective financial information has not been updated to reflect revised prospects for MTGE’s business and investment portfolio, changes in general business, economic, regulatory, market and financial conditions, or any other transaction or event that has occurred or that may occur and that was not anticipated at the time such unaudited prospective financial information was prepared, including costs and expenses of the merger or other obligations or limitations on its business, operations, affairs or activities imposed by the merger agreement.
  Specifically, the unaudited prospective financial information as of December 31, 2017, is based on the MTGE unaudited balance sheet and unaudited investment portfolio as of March 31, 2018 and does not take into account any circumstances or events occurring after April 1, 2018, and specifically does not include any financial or other consequences resulting from the May 2, 2018 announcement of the offer and the merger or subsequent integration planning activities to follow. Additionally, the unaudited prospective financial information does not give effect to any other changes that may result from the offer, the merger or the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement or compliance with the terms of the merger agreement.
  Moreover, the unaudited prospective financial information was based upon numerous assumptions, and the realization of any or all of these assumptions is uncertain. As such, stockholders are cautioned not to place undue, if any, reliance on the unaudited prospective financial information included in this document, including in making a decision as to whether to tender their shares of MTGE common stock in the offer. The following are among the assumptions used for preparing the unaudited prospective financial information:
  • no material change in leverage;
  • fed funds rate projected increase of 50 basis points over the next four quarters;
  • no material change in agency mortgage backed securities and non-agency mortgage backed securities spreads;
  • no capital raises or repurchase or retirement of shares throughout the projection period;
  • no changes in common shares outstanding; and
  • no changes in tangible book value over the forecast period.
  Given the high degree of uncertainty of the aforementioned assumptions, actual results are likely to differ from the unaudited prospective financial information, and such differences may be material. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the unaudited prospective financial information reflects any change in or intention to change MTGE dividend payment practices, and the merger agreement imposes limitations on the payment of dividends.
  THE UNAUDITED PROSPECTIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS DOCUMENT HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE UPDATED SINCE THE DATE OF ITS PREPARATION TO REFLECT CIRCUMSTANCES EXISTING AT OR AFTER THE DATE OF ITS PREPARATION OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF FUTURE EVENTS AFTER MARCH 31, 2018, EVEN IN THE EVENT THAT ANY OR ALL OF THE ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING SUCH PROSPECTIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION ARE NO LONGER APPROPRIATE, EXCEPT AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW.
  The inclusion of this information should not be regarded as an indication that MTGE, the MTGE external manager, the MTGE board of directors, Barclays, the Offeror, Annaly, the Annaly board of directors or any other recipient of this information considered, or now considers, it to be necessarily predictive of actual future results. There can be no assurance that the prospective results will be realized or that actual results will not be significantly higher or lower than estimated.
  Since the unaudited prospective financial information included in this document covers multiple quarterly periods, such information by its nature becomes less predictive with each successive quarterly period. Holders of shares of MTGE common stock are urged to review the information under the caption “Risk Factors” and SEC filings of MTGE for a description of risk factors with respect to the business of MTGE. See “Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and “Where to Obtain More Information.”
  The unaudited prospective financial information was not prepared with a view toward public disclosure, nor was it prepared with a view toward compliance with published guidelines of the SEC or the guidelines established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for preparation and presentation of prospective financial information.
  Ernst & Young LLP has not audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to the accompanying unaudited prospective financial information for the purpose of its inclusion herein, and accordingly, Ernst & Young LLP does not express an opinion or provide any form of assurance on such information or its achievability, and assumes no responsibility for, and disclaims any association with, the unaudited prospective financial information. The Ernst & Young LLP report incorporated by reference into this document relates to MTGE’s historical financial information. It does not extend to the prospective financial information of MTGE and should not be read to do so.
  The inclusion of the unaudited prospective financial information below should not be deemed an admission or representation by MTGE, the MTGE external manager, the Offeror, Annaly, Barclays, or any of their affiliates with respect to such information or that such information is or was viewed by any such person as material information regarding MTGE, and in fact MTGE views such information as non-material because such information is based on preliminary assessments of future performance that are inconsistent with past experience, practice and results and involves inherent risks and uncertainties.
  The unaudited prospective financial information is not being included in this document to influence your decision whether to tender your shares of MTGE common stock in the offer, but solely because such information was provided to Barclays and/or Annaly.
  The unaudited prospective financial information should be evaluated, if at all, only in conjunction with the historical financial statements and other information regarding MTGE contained in MTGE’s public filings with the SEC. In light of the foregoing factors and the uncertainties inherent in the unaudited prospective financial information, stockholders are cautioned not to place undue, if any, reliance on the unaudited prospective financial information included in this document, including in making a decision as to whether to tender their shares of MTGE common stock in the offer.
  MTGE Forecast
  (in millions, except per share data) Q2-2018 Q3-2018 Q4-2018 2019 2020
  Net Spread, Dollar Roll and Healthcare Income, excluding “catch up” amortization
  $ 27 $ 26 $ 26 $ 106 $ 106
  Net Spread, Dollar Roll and Healthcare Income Per Common Share, excluding “catch up” amortization
  $ 0.58 $ 0.56 $ 0.57 $ 2.32 $ 2.32
  The following information was used for reference:
  ($ per share) Q2-2018 Q3-2018 Q4-2018 2019 2020
  Median Street Estimate(1)
  $ 0.50 $ 0.50 $ 0.50 $ 1.85 —
  (1) EPS estimated based on median analyst estimates available to Barclays through FactSet.
  Annaly does not publicly disclose projections as to future interest income, performance, earnings or other results due to, among other reasons, the uncertainty and subjectivity of the underlying assumptions and estimates as well as the high likelihood that actual results will vary from any such estimates. As a result, Annaly does not endorse the unaudited prospective financial information included in this document as a reliable indication of future results.
  Annaly is including the limited unaudited prospective financial information in this document solely because it was among the financial information made available to Barclays and the MTGE board of directors in connection with their evaluation of the offer and the merger. The limited unaudited prospective financial information presented below was not reviewed or approved by the Annaly board of directors, and is not the result of any formal internal review or process. As such, the unaudited prospective financial information may vary significantly from subsequent forecasts, financial plans, guidance and/or actual results due to a number of factors, including (but not limited to) changes in interest rates, trading activity, market valuations, general market and economic conditions, capital commitments, other unexpected changes that cannot be predicted with any certainty or at all, and the other factors described below. Although presented with numerical specificity, the limited unaudited prospective financial information reflects numerous assumptions and estimates as to future events made by the management of Annaly.
  Additionally, Annaly’s future financial results may also materially differ from those expressed in the unaudited prospective financial information due to numerous factors that are beyond Annaly’s, the combined company’s or anyone else’s ability to control or predict, including with respect to the interest rate environment, industry performance, competitive factors, industry consolidation, general business, economic, regulatory, market and financial conditions, as well as matters specific to Annaly’s business, including with respect to future business initiatives. The assumptions underlying the unaudited prospective financial information may not prove to have been, or may no longer be, accurate.
  Annaly’s management estimated the unaudited prospective financial information in the context of the business, economic, regulatory, market and financial conditions that existed at that time, and the unaudited prospective financial information has not been updated to reflect revised prospects for Annaly’s business,
  changes in general business, economic, regulatory, market and financial conditions, or any other transaction or event that has occurred or that may occur and that was not anticipated at the time such unaudited prospective financial information was prepared.
  Specifically, the unaudited prospective financial information does not take into account any circumstances or events occurring after April 19, 2018, the date it was prepared, and specifically does not include any financial consequences resulting from the May 2, 2018 announcement of the offer and the merger or subsequent integration planning activities to follow. Additionally, the unaudited prospective financial information does not give effect to any other changes that may result from the offer, the merger or the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.
  Moreover, the unaudited prospective financial information was based upon several assumptions, and the realization of any or all of these assumptions is less than certain. As such, stockholders are cautioned not to place undue, if any, reliance on the unaudited prospective financial information included in this document, including in making a decision as to whether to tender their shares of MTGE common stock in the offer. The following are among the assumptions used for preparing the unaudited prospective financial information:
  • static interest rates through the prospective periods with no change in overall level of interest rates or shape of the yield curve;
  • no material changes in overall size of portfolio assets;
  • no material changes in leverage;
  • no material changes in portfolio net interest margins or net interest spreads; and
  • no material changes in hedge ratio or net duration measures.
  Given the relatively static nature of the aforementioned assumptions, actual results are likely to differ from the unaudited prospective financial information, and such differences may be material.
  THE UNAUDITED PROSPECTIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS DOCUMENT HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE UPDATED SINCE THE DATE OF ITS PREPARATION TO REFLECT CIRCUMSTANCES EXISTING AFTER THE DATE OF ITS PREPARATION OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF FUTURE EVENTS, EVEN IN THE EVENT THAT ANY OR ALL OF THE ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING SUCH PROSPECTIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION ARE NO LONGER APPROPRIATE, EXCEPT AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW.
  The inclusion of this information should not be regarded as an indication that the Offeror, Annaly, its board of directors, Barclays, MTGE, its board of directors or any other recipient of this information considered, or now considers, it to be necessarily predictive of actual future results. There can be no assurance that the prospective results will be realized or that actual results will not be significantly higher or lower than estimated.
  Since the unaudited prospective financial information included in this document covers multiple quarterly periods, such information by its nature becomes less predictive with each successive quarterly period. Holders of shares of MTGE common stock are urged to review the section of this document titled “Risk Factors” and SEC filings of Annaly for a description of risk factors with respect to the business of Annaly. See “Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and “Where to Obtain More Information”.
  Ernst & Young LLP has not audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to the accompanying unaudited prospective financial information (or unaudited prospective financial information presented under the heading “MTGE Unaudited Prospective Financial Information”) for the purpose of its inclusion herein, and accordingly, Ernst & Young LLP does not express an opinion or provide any form of assurance on such information or its achievability, and assumes no responsibility for, and disclaims any association with, the unaudited prospective financial information. The Ernst & Young LLP report incorporated by reference into this document relates to Annaly’s historical financial information. It does not extend to the prospective financial information of Annaly and should not be read to do so.
  The inclusion of the unaudited prospective financial information below should not be deemed an admission or representation by Annaly, the Offeror, MTGE, Barclays, or any of their affiliates with respect to such information or that such information is or was viewed by any such person as material information regarding Annaly, and in fact Annaly views such information as non-material because such information is based on preliminary assessments of future performance and involves inherent risks and uncertainties.
  The unaudited prospective financial information is not being included in this document to influence your decision whether to tender your shares of MTGE common stock in the offer, but because such information was provided to MTGE’s board of directors and MTGE’s financial advisor.
  The unaudited prospective financial information should be evaluated, if at all, in conjunction with the historical financial statements and other information regarding Annaly contained in Annaly’s public filings with the SEC. In light of the foregoing factors and the uncertainties inherent in the unaudited prospective financial information, stockholders are cautioned not to place undue, if any, reliance on the unaudited prospective financial information included in this document, including in making a decision as to whether to tender their shares of MTGE common stock in the offer.
  The following table presents the limited unaudited prospective financial data with respect to Annaly that were made available to Barclays and MTGE in connection with their evaluation of the offer and the merger:
  For the quarter ending
  ($ in ‘000s) June 30,
  2018 September 30,
  2018 December 31,
  2018 March 31,
  2019 June 30,
  $ 800,616 $ 817,063 $ 825,171 $ 833,144 $ 843,156 $ 853,468
  Core Earnings (ex. PAA) (1)
  (1) Core earnings is a non-GAAP measure and is defined as net income (loss) excluding gains or losses on disposals of investments and termination or maturity of interest rate swaps, unrealized gains or losses on interest rate swaps and investments measured at fair value through earnings, net gains and losses on trading assets, impairment losses, net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, transaction expenses and certain other non-recurring gains or losses, and inclusive of TBA dollar roll income (a component of Net gains (losses) on trading assets) and realized amortization of MSRs (a component of net unrealized gains (losses) on investments measured at fair value through earnings). Core earnings (excluding PAA) excludes the premium amortization adjustment representing the cumulative impact on prior periods, but not the current period, of quarter-over-quarter changes in estimated long-term prepayment speeds related to Annaly’s Agency mortgage-backed securities.
  MTGE common stockholders electing the mixed consideration will not be subject to proration; however, holders electing the all-cash consideration or the all-stock consideration may receive a different form of consideration than selected. MTGE common stockholders who make the all-cash election or the all-stock election will be subject to proration so that approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the offer will be paid in cash and approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the offer will be paid in shares of
  Annaly common stock. MTGE common stockholders who validly tender and do not validly withdraw their shares of MTGE common stock in the offer but who do not make a valid election will receive the mixed consideration for their shares of MTGE common stock. See “Consequences of Tendering with No Election” for more information.
  The number of shares of MTGE common stock eligible to receive the all-cash consideration in the offer will be equal to 50.0% multiplied by the sum of the total number of shares making an all-cash election in the offer and the total number of shares making an all-stock election in the offer (such product is referred to as the “maximum all-cash shares in offer”).
  The number of shares of MTGE common stock eligible to receive the all-stock consideration in the offer will be equal to 50.0% multiplied by the sum of the total number of shares making an all-cash election in the offer and the total number of shares making an all-stock election in the offer (such product is referred to as the “maximum all-stock shares in offer”).
  Over-Election of Cash
  If the aggregate number of shares attributable to holders of MTGE common stock making an all-cash election in the offer is greater than the maximum all-cash shares in offer, such shares will be subject to proration. To determine the amount of proration, an “offer cash proration factor” will apply. The “offer cash proration factor” will be equal to:
  • the maximum all-cash shares in offer
  divided by
  • the aggregate number of shares of MTGE common stock for which an all-cash election in the offer has been made.
  Proration will be calculated so that for each MTGE common stockholder making an all-cash election, the number of shares of MTGE common stock entitled to the all-cash consideration will be equal to the number of shares of MTGE common stock for which such stockholder has made an all-cash election, multiplied by the offer cash proration factor (as calculated above), rounded down to the nearest share. The shares of MTGE common stock that do not receive the all-cash consideration as a result of such proration will instead receive the all-stock consideration.
  If following proration a MTGE common stockholder would be entitled to receive a fractional share of Annaly common stock, such stockholder will instead receive an amount in cash (without interest) equal to the amount of such fraction multiplied by the volume weighted average closing sale price per share of Annaly common stock as reported on the NYSE for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the acceptance time.
  Over-Election of Cash Example
  For purposes of this example, assume the following:
  • there are 100,000,000 outstanding shares of MTGE common stock;
  • MTGE stockholders make a mixed election with respect to 50,000,000 (or 50%) shares of MTGE common stock;
  • MTGE stockholders make the all-cash election with respect to 30,000,000 (or 30%) shares of MTGE common stock;
  • MTGE stockholders make the all-stock election with respect to 20,000,000 (or 20%) shares of MTGE common stock; and
  • The 10-day volume weighted average closing sale price per share of Annaly common stock as reported on the NYSE for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the acceptance time is $10.41 per share.
  In this example, without proration, there would be an over-election of cash because the number of shares of MTGE common stock making the all-cash election is 30,000,000, which is greater than 25,000,000, which is the maximum all-cash shares in offer (calculated as follows: 0.50 × (30,000,000 + 20,000,000)). To adjust for the over-election, the number of shares of MTGE common stock making the all-cash election will be multiplied by the offer cash proration factor of 0.8333, with the resulting number of shares rounded down to the nearest share. The offer cash proration factor is calculated by dividing 25,000,000 (which is the maximum all-cash shares in offer) by 30,000,000 (which is the aggregate number of shares of MTGE common stock making an all-cash election in the offer).
  In this example, a MTGE stockholder who makes an all-cash election for 100 shares of MTGE common stock would be entitled to receive the all-cash consideration for 83 of those shares (calculated as follows: 100 shares × 0.8333 offer cash proration factor, rounded down to the nearest share), and the all-stock consideration for the remaining 17 of those shares. This equates to $1,630.95 in cash (calculated as follows: 83 shares × $19.65 all-cash consideration per share) plus 32.3629 shares of Annaly common stock (calculated as follows: 17 shares × 1.9037 shares of Annaly common stock, the all-stock consideration per share). Because fractional shares of Annaly common stock will be converted to cash, the number of actual shares of Annaly common stock such holder would be entitled to receive would be 32, with the additional 0.3629 shares of Annaly common stock converted into $3.77 in cash (calculated as follows: 0.3629 × $10.41).
  See “Risk Factors—Risk Factors Relating to the Offer and the Merger—MTGE common stockholders may not receive all consideration in the form elected.”
  Over-Election of Stock
  If the aggregate number of shares attributable to holders of MTGE common stock making an all-stock election in the offer is greater than the maximum all-stock shares in offer, such shares will be subject to proration. To determine the amount of proration, an “offer stock proration factor” will apply. The “offer stock proration factor” will be equal to:
  • the maximum all-stock shares in offer
  • the aggregate number of shares of MTGE common stock for which an all-stock election in the offer has been made.
  Proration will be calculated so that for each MTGE common stockholder making an all-stock election, the number of shares of MTGE common stock entitled to the all-stock consideration will be equal to the number of shares of MTGE common stock for which such stockholder has made an all-stock election, multiplied by the offer stock proration factor (as calculated above), rounded down to the nearest share. The shares of MTGE common stock that do not receive the all-stock consideration as a result of proration will instead receive the all-cash consideration.
  Over-Election of Stock Example
  • MTGE stockholders make the mixed election with respect to 20,000,000 (or 20%) shares of MTGE common stock;
  • The 10-day volume weighted average closing sale price per share of Annaly common stock as reported on the NYSE for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on trading day immediately preceding the acceptance time is $10.41 per share.
  In this example, without proration, there would be an over-election of stock because the number of shares of MTGE common stock making the all-stock election is 70,000,000, which is greater than 40,000,000, which is the maximum all-stock shares in offer (calculated as follows: 0.5 × (10,000,000 + 70,000,000)). To adjust for the over-election, the number of shares of MTGE common stock making the all-stock election will be multiplied by the offer stock proration factor of 0.5714, with the resulting number of shares rounded down to the nearest share. The offer stock proration factor is calculated by dividing 40,000,000 (which is the maximum all-stock shares in offer) by 70,000,000 (which is the aggregate number of shares of MTGE common stock making an all-stock election in the offer).
  In this example, a MTGE stockholder who makes an all-stock election for 100 shares of MTGE common stock would be entitled to receive the all-stock consideration for 57 of those shares (calculated as follows: 100 shares × 0.5714 offer stock proration factor, rounded down to the nearest share), and the all-cash consideration for the remaining 43 of those shares. This equates to $844.95 in cash (calculated as follows: 43 shares × $19.65 all-cash consideration per share) plus 108.5109 shares of Annaly common stock (calculated as follows: 57 shares × 1.9037 shares of Annaly common stock, the all-stock consideration per share). Because fractional shares of Annaly common stock will be converted to cash, the number of actual shares of Annaly common stock such holder would be entitled to receive would be 108, with the additional 0.5109 shares converted into $5.31 in cash (calculated as follows: 0.5109 × $10.41).
  See “Risk Factors—Risk Factors Relating to the Offer and Merger—MTGE common stockholders may not receive all consideration in the form elected.”
  MTGE common stockholders who validly tender and do not validly withdraw their shares of MTGE common stock in the offer that do not make an election will be deemed to have elected to receive the mixed consideration.
  This document, the related letter of election and transmittal and other relevant materials will be delivered to record holders of shares of MTGE common stock and to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and similar persons whose names, or the names of whose nominees, appear on MTGE’s stockholder list or, if applicable, who are listed as participants in a clearing agency’s security position listing, so that they can in turn send these materials to beneficial owners of shares of MTGE common stock.
  The offer is scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 18, 2018, unless further extended or terminated. “Expiration date” means 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 18, 2018, unless and until the Offeror has
  extended or terminated the period during which the offer is open, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, in which event the term “expiration date” means the latest time and date at which the offer, as so extended by the Offeror, will expire.
  Subject to the provisions of the merger agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and unless MTGE consents otherwise or the merger agreement is otherwise terminated, the Offeror must (1) extend the offer for one or more successive periods of up to 10 business days each (or for such longer period as may be agreed by MTGE) in order to further seek to satisfy the conditions to the offer in the event that any of the offer conditions (other than the minimum tender condition) have not been satisfied or validly waived as of any then scheduled expiration of the offer, (2) extend the offer for up to two successive periods of 10 business days each (or such longer or shorter period as may be agreed by MTGE) if each of the offer conditions (other than the minimum tender condition) has been satisfied or validly waived and the minimum tender condition has not been satisfied as of the scheduled expiration of the offer, and (3) extend the offer for the minimum period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or its staff or NYSE or Nasdaq that is applicable to the offer or the merger or to the extent necessary to resolve any comments of the SEC or its staff applicable to the offer, the merger, the Schedule TO or the related offer documents. However, the Offeror is not required to extend the offer beyond the outside date.
  The merger agreement prohibits the Offeror and Annaly from making certain changes to the offer or waiving certain conditions to the offer without the express written consent of MTGE. Changes to the offer that require the express written consent of MTGE include changes (i) to the terms or conditions to the offer that change the form of consideration to be paid in the offer, (ii) that decrease the amount of consideration in the offer or the number of shares sought in the offer, (iii) that extend the offer (other than extensions required by law or SEC or NYSE or Nasdaq regulation, extensions (x) of up to 10 business days each (or such longer period as may be agreed by MTGE) if either any of the conditions to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition) have not been satisfied or validly waived as of the then-scheduled expiration date in order to seek the satisfaction of such conditions, (y) of 10 business days each (or such longer or shorter period as may be agreed by MTGE) if all of the conditions (other than the minimum tender condition) have been satisfied or validly waived as of the then-scheduled expiration date in order to seek the satisfaction of the minimum tender condition, or (z) for any period necessary to meet the notice requirements for a short form merger pursuant to Section 3-106.1(e)(1) of the MGCL), (iv) that impose conditions in the offer not included in the merger agreement, or (v) that amend or modify any other terms or conditions of the offer in any manner that is adverse or would reasonably be expected to be adverse to MTGE common stockholders in their capacities as such. Conditions to the offer that the Offeror and Annaly may not waive without the express written consent of MTGE include (i) the minimum tender condition, (ii) effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this document is a part, (iii) there not having occurred a material adverse effect (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described under “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”) with respect to Annaly and its subsidiaries, (iv) the accuracy of Annaly’s and the Offeror’s representations and warranties, (v) Annaly and the Offeror’s compliance with covenants under the merger agreement, (vi) the approval for listing on the NYSE of the shares of Annaly common stock to be issued in the offer and the merger and Series H preferred stock to be issued in the merger, (vii) lack of legal prohibitions, (viii) the receipt of an opinion by MTGE from its legal counsel to the effect that the offer and the merger, taken together, will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and (ix) the receipt of a written opinion by MTGE from Annaly’s legal counsel to the effect that since a specified date Annaly has and through the expiration date meets the requirements for REIT qualification under the Code, and that the proposed method of operation of Annaly will enable Annaly to continue to meet the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code.
  The Offeror will effect any extension, termination, amendment or delay by giving oral or written notice to the exchange agent and by making a public announcement as promptly as practicable thereafter. In the case of an extension, any such announcement will be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on the next business day
  following the previously scheduled expiration date. Subject to applicable law (including Rules 14d-4(c) and 14d-6(d) under the Exchange Act, which require that any material change in the information published, sent or given to stockholders in connection with the offer be promptly disseminated to stockholders in a manner reasonably designed to inform them of such change) and without limiting the manner in which the Offeror may choose to make any public announcement, the Offeror assumes no obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement of this type other than by issuing a press release.
  If the Offeror materially changes the terms of the offer or the information concerning the offer, or if the Offeror waives a material condition of the offer, the Offeror will extend the offer to the extent legally required under the Exchange Act. If, prior to the expiration date, the Offeror changes the percentage of shares being sought or the consideration offered, that change will apply to all MTGE common stockholders whose shares are accepted for exchange pursuant to the offer. If, at the time notice of that change is first published, sent or given to MTGE common stockholders, the offer is scheduled to expire at any time earlier than the 10th business day from and including the date that such notice is first so published, sent or given, the Offeror will extend the offer until the expiration of that 10 business day period. For purposes of the offer, a “business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday and consists of the time period from 12:01 a.m. through 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time.
  Annaly has retained Computershare as the depositary and exchange agent for the offer and the merger (the “exchange agent”) to handle the exchange of shares for the common transaction consideration in each of the offer and the merger. In addition, the exchange agent will handle the exchange of shares of MTGE Series A preferred stock for the shares of Annaly Series H preferred stock.
  Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of the offer (including, if the offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment), the Offeror will accept for exchange, and will exchange, shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn promptly after the expiration date. In all cases, a MTGE stockholder will receive consideration for tendered shares of MTGE common stock only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of certificates for those shares, or a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of those shares into the exchange agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), a properly completed and duly executed letter of election and transmittal, or an agent’s message in connection with a book-entry transfer, and any other required documents.
  For purposes of the offer, the Offeror will be deemed to have accepted for exchange shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn if and when it notifies the exchange agent of its acceptance of those shares pursuant to the offer. The exchange agent will deliver to the applicable MTGE common stockholders any cash and shares of Annaly common stock issuable in exchange for shares validly tendered and accepted pursuant to the offer promptly after receipt of such notice. The exchange agent will act as the agent for tendering MTGE common stockholders for the purpose of receiving cash and shares of Annaly common stock from the Offeror and transmitting such cash and stock to the tendering MTGE common stockholders. MTGE common stockholders will not receive any interest on any cash that the Offeror pays in the offer, even if there is a delay in making the exchange.
  If the Offeror does not accept any tendered shares of MTGE common stock for exchange pursuant to the terms and conditions of the offer for any reason, or if certificates are submitted representing more shares than are tendered for, the Offeror will return certificates for such unexchanged shares without expense to the tendering stockholder or, in the case of shares tendered by book-entry transfer into the exchange agent’s account at DTC pursuant to the procedures set forth below in “—Procedure for Tendering,” the shares to be returned will be credited to an account maintained with DTC as soon as practicable following expiration or termination of the offer.
  MTGE common stockholders can withdraw tendered shares of MTGE common stock at any time until the expiration date and, if the Offeror has not agreed to accept the shares for exchange on or prior to July 15, 2018, MTGE common stockholders can thereafter withdraw their shares from tender at any time after such date until the Offeror accepts shares for exchange.
  For the withdrawal of shares to be effective, the exchange agent must receive a written notice of withdrawal from the MTGE stockholder at one of its addresses set forth elsewhere in this document, prior to the expiration date. The notice must include the MTGE stockholder’s name, address, social security number, the certificate number(s), the number of shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder, if it is different from that of the person who tendered those shares, and any other information required pursuant to the offer or the procedures of DTC, if applicable.
  A financial institution must guarantee all signatures on the notice of withdrawal, unless the shares to be withdrawn were tendered for the account of an eligible institution. Most banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses are able to provide signature guarantees. An “eligible institution” is a financial institution that is a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program.
  If shares have been tendered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer discussed under the section entitled “—Procedure for Tendering,” any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn shares and must otherwise comply with DTC’s procedures. If certificates have been delivered or otherwise identified to the exchange agent, the name of the registered holder and the serial numbers of the particular certificates representing the shares withdrawn must also be furnished to the exchange agent, as stated above, prior to the physical release of such certificates.
  The Offeror will decide all questions as to the form and validity (including time of receipt) of any notice of withdrawal in its sole discretion, and its decision will be final and binding to the fullest extent permitted by law, subject to the rights of holders of shares of MTGE common stock to challenge such decision in a court of competent jurisdiction. None of the Offeror, Annaly, MTGE, the exchange agent, the information agent or any other person is under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in any tender or notice of withdrawal or will incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. Any shares validly withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for purposes of the offer. However, a MTGE stockholder may re-tender withdrawn shares by following the applicable procedures discussed under the section “—Procedure for Tendering” at any time prior to the expiration date.
  For a MTGE common stockholder to validly tender shares of MTGE common stock held of record pursuant to the offer, a MTGE common stockholder must:
  • if such shares are in certificated form, deliver to the exchange agent a properly completed and duly executed letter of election and transmittal, along with any required signature guarantees and any other documents required by the letter of election and transmittal, and certificates for tendered shares of MTGE common stock held in certificate form, at one of its addresses set forth elsewhere in this document before the expiration date; or
  • if such shares are in electronic book-entry form, deliver an agent’s message in connection with a book-entry transfer, and any other required documents, to the exchange agent at its address set forth elsewhere in this document and follow the other procedures for book-entry tender set forth herein, all of which must be received by the exchange agent prior to the expiration date.
  If shares of MTGE common stock are held in “street name” (i.e., through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee), those shares may be tendered by the nominee holding such shares by book-
  entry transfer through DTC. To validly tender such shares held in street name, MTGE common stockholders should instruct such nominee to do so prior to the expiration date.
  The term “agent’s message” means a message transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the exchange agent and forming a part of a book-entry confirmation, which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the DTC participant tendering the shares that are the subject of such book-entry confirmation, that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of election and transmittal and that the Offeror may enforce that agreement against such participant.
  The exchange agent has established an account with respect to the shares at DTC in connection with the offer, and any financial institution that is a participant in DTC may make book-entry delivery of shares by causing DTC to transfer such shares prior to the expiration date into the exchange agent’s account in accordance with DTC’s procedure for such transfer. However, although delivery of shares may be effected through book-entry transfer at DTC, the letter of election and transmittal with any required signature guarantees, or an agent’s message, along with any other required documents, must, in any case, be received by the exchange agent at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this document prior to the expiration date. The Offeror cannot assure MTGE common stockholders that book-entry delivery of shares will be available. If book-entry delivery is not available, MTGE common stockholders must tender shares by means of delivery of MTGE share certificates. We are not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures and, therefore, you must allow sufficient time for the necessary tender procedures to be completed during normal business hours of DTC prior to the expiration date. Tenders received by the exchange agent after the expiration date will be disregarded and of no effect.
  Signatures on all letters of election and transmittal must be guaranteed by an eligible institution, except in cases in which shares are tendered either by a registered holder of shares who has not completed the box entitled “Special Issuance Instructions” or the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” on the letter of election and transmittal or for the account of an eligible institution.
  If the certificates for shares are registered in the name of a person other than the person who signs the letter of election and transmittal, or if certificates for unexchanged shares are to be issued to a person other than the registered holder(s), the certificates must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name or names of the registered owner or owners appear on the certificates, with the signature(s) on the certificates or stock powers guaranteed by an eligible institution.
  The method of delivery of MTGE share certificates and all other required documents, including delivery through DTC, is at the option and risk of the tendering MTGE stockholder, and delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the exchange agent. If delivery is by mail, the Offeror recommends registered mail with return receipt requested and properly insured. In all cases, MTGE stockholders should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery.
  To prevent U.S. federal backup withholding with respect to any cash payments, each MTGE stockholder that is a “United States person” (as defined in the Code), other than a stockholder exempt from backup withholding who otherwise establishes its exemption from U.S. federal backup withholding, must provide the exchange agent with its correct taxpayer identification number and certify that it is not subject to backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax by completing the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9 included in the letter of election and transmittal. Certain stockholders (including, among others, certain foreign persons) are not subject to these backup withholding requirements. In order for a MTGE stockholder that is a foreign person to qualify as an exempt recipient for purposes of U.S. federal backup withholding, the stockholder must submit an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or other applicable IRS Form W-8, signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to such person’s exempt status. In addition, MTGE stockholders that are foreign persons may be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty) with respect to cash received pursuant to the offer and/or the merger. See the discussion under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”
  The tender of shares pursuant to any of the procedures described above will constitute a binding agreement between the Offeror and the tendering MTGE stockholder upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of the offer (including, if the offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment).
  We are not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures and, therefore, MTGE common stockholders must allow sufficient time for the necessary tender procedures to be completed during normal business hours of DTC prior to the expiration date. MTGE common stockholders must tender their shares of MTGE common stock in accordance with the procedures set forth in this document. In all cases, the Offeror will exchange shares tendered and accepted for exchange pursuant to the offer only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of certificates for shares (or timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such shares into the exchange agent’s account at DTC as described above), a properly completed and duly executed letter of election and transmittal (or an agent’s message in connection with a book-entry transfer) and any other required documents.
  By executing a letter of election and transmittal as set forth above, a MTGE stockholder irrevocably appoints the Offeror’s designees as such MTGE stockholder’s attorneys-in-fact and proxies, each with full power of substitution, to the full extent of such stockholder’s rights with respect to its shares tendered and accepted for exchange by the Offeror and with respect to any and all other shares and other securities issued or issuable in respect of those shares on or after the expiration date. That appointment is effective, and voting rights will be affected, when and only to the extent that the Offeror accepts tendered shares of MTGE common stock for exchange pursuant to the offer and deposits with the exchange agent the cash consideration or the shares of Annaly common stock consideration for such shares. All such proxies will be considered coupled with an interest in the tendered shares of MTGE common stock and therefore will not be revocable. Upon the effectiveness of such appointment, all prior proxies that the MTGE stockholder has given will be revoked, and such stockholder may not give any subsequent proxies (and, if given, they will not be deemed effective). The Offeror’s designees will, with respect to the shares for which the appointment is effective, be empowered, among other things, to exercise all of such stockholder’s voting and other rights as they, in their sole discretion, deem proper at any annual, special or adjourned meeting of the MTGE’s stockholders or otherwise.
  The Offeror reserves the right to require that, in order for shares to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon the exchange of such shares, the Offeror must be able to exercise full voting rights with respect to such shares. However, prior to acceptance for exchange by the Offeror in accordance with terms of the offer, the appointment will not be effective, and the Offeror will have no voting rights as a result of the tender of shares.
  Tendering registered MTGE stockholders who tender shares directly to the exchange agent will not be obligated to pay any charges or expenses of the exchange agent or any brokerage commissions. Tendering MTGE stockholders who hold MTGE shares through a broker or bank should consult that institution as to whether or not such institution will charge the stockholder any service fees in connection with tendering shares pursuant to the offer. Except as set forth in the instructions to the letter of election and transmittal, transfer taxes on the exchange of shares pursuant to the offer will be paid by the Offeror.
  The Offeror will determine questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for exchange of any tender of shares, in its sole discretion, and its determination will be final and
  binding to the fullest extent permitted by law, subject to the rights of holders of shares of MTGE common stock to challenge such determination in a court of competent jurisdiction. The Offeror reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders of shares that it determines are not in the proper form or the acceptance of or exchange for which may be unlawful. The Offeror also reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the tender of any shares. No tender of shares will be deemed to have been validly made until all defects and irregularities in tenders of such shares have been cured or waived by the Offeror. None of the Offeror, Annaly, MTGE, the exchange agent, the information agent nor any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the tender of any shares or will incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. The Offeror’s interpretation of the terms and conditions of the offer (including the letter of election and transmittal and instructions thereto) will be final and binding to the fullest extent permitted by law.
  MTGE common stockholders who have any questions about the procedure for tendering shares in the offer should contact the information agent at the address and telephone number set forth elsewhere in this document.
  Annaly will announce the final results of the offer, including whether all of the conditions to the offer have been satisfied or waived and whether the Offeror will accept the tendered shares of MTGE common stock for exchange, as promptly as practicable following the expiration date. The announcement will be made by a press release in accordance with applicable securities laws and stock exchange requirements.
  It is estimated that former common stockholders of MTGE will own in the aggregate approximately 4% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Annaly immediately following the consummation of the offer and the merger, assuming that:
  • Annaly acquires through the offer and the merger 100% of the outstanding shares of MTGE common stock;
  • Annaly issues 43,631,378 shares of Annaly common stock as part of the consideration in the offer and the merger; and
  • immediately following completion of the offer and the merger, there are 1,203,328,965 shares of Annaly common stock outstanding (calculated by adding 1,159,697,587, the number of shares of Annaly common stock outstanding as of May 14, 2018, plus 43,631,378, the number of shares of Annaly common stock estimated to be issued as part of the offer and merger consideration).
  Purpose of the Offer and the Merger
  The purpose of the offer is for Annaly to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire common equity interest in, MTGE. The offer, as the first step in the acquisition of MTGE, is intended to facilitate the acquisition of MTGE. The purpose of the merger is for Annaly to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of MTGE common stock it did not acquire in the offer. If the offer is successful, Annaly intends to consummate the merger promptly after the consummation of the offer. After the merger, the MTGE business will be held in a wholly owned subsidiary of Annaly, and the former MTGE stockholders will no longer have any direct ownership interest in the surviving corporation.
  No Stockholder Approval
  If the offer is consummated, Annaly is not required to and will not seek the approval of MTGE’s remaining public stockholders before effecting the merger. Section 3-106.1 of the MGCL provides that following
  consummation of a successful tender offer for any and all of the outstanding shares of the target corporation, and subject to certain other statutory requirements, if the acquiring corporation owns at least the percentage of the shares, and of each class or series of the shares, of the target corporation that would otherwise be required to approve a merger involving the target corporation, and the other stockholders receive the same consideration for their stock in the merger as was payable in the tender offer, the acquiring corporation can effect a merger without the action of the other stockholders of the target corporation. Accordingly, if Annaly consummates the offer, it intends to effect the closing of the merger without a vote of the MTGE stockholders in accordance with Section 3-106.1 of the MGCL.
  Pursuant to the MGCL and MTGE’s charter, no appraisal rights, rights of objecting stockholders or dissenters’ rights are available to MTGE stockholders in connection with the offer or the merger.
  “Going Private” Transactions
  The SEC has adopted Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act, which is applicable to certain “going private” transactions, and which may under certain circumstances be applicable to the merger or another business combination following the purchase of shares pursuant to the offer in which the Offeror seeks to acquire the remaining shares not held by it. The Offeror believes that Rule 13e-3 will not be applicable to the merger because it is anticipated that the merger will be effected within one year following the consummation of the offer and, in the merger, stockholders will receive the same consideration as that paid in the offer.
  In connection with the offer, Annaly has reviewed and will continue to review various possible business strategies that it might consider in the event that the Offeror acquires control of MTGE. Following a review of additional information regarding MTGE, these changes could include, among other things, changes in MTGE’s business, operations, personnel, corporate structure and capitalization.
  Delisting and Termination of Registration
  If MTGE qualifies for termination of registration under the Exchange Act after the offer is consummated, Annaly intends to seek to have MTGE withdraw the MTGE common stock and preferred stock from listing on Nasdaq and to terminate the registration of MTGE common stock and preferred stock under the Exchange Act. See “—Effect of the Offer on the Market for MTGE Shares; Nasdaq Listing; Registration Under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations.”
  Upon consummation of the merger, the directors and officers of the Offeror immediately prior to the merger will be the directors and officers of the surviving corporation from and after the effective time of the merger.
  Effect of the Offer on the Market for MTGE Shares
  If the offer is successful, there will be no market for the MTGE common stock because the Offeror intends to consummate the merger promptly following the consummation of the offer.
  Nasdaq Listing
  The MTGE common stock and the MTGE Series A preferred stock are currently listed on Nasdaq. Immediately following the consummation of the merger (which is expected to occur promptly following the
  consummation of the offer), the MTGE common stock and the MTGE Series A preferred stock will no longer meet the requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq because the only stockholder of the surviving corporation will be Annaly. Nasdaq requires, among other things, that any listed shares have at least 450 total stockholders, provided the listed shares satisfy certain trading volume requirements, or 2,200 total stockholders otherwise. Immediately following the consummation of the merger, Annaly expects to cause the delisting of the MTGE common stock and preferred stock from Nasdaq.
  Margin Regulations
  The shares of MTGE common stock are currently “margin securities” under the Regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), which designation has the effect, among other effects, of allowing brokers to extend credit on the collateral of shares of MTGE common stock. Depending upon factors similar to those described above regarding the market for MTGE common stock and stock listing, it is possible that, following the offer, the shares of MTGE common stock would no longer constitute “margin securities” for the purposes of the margin regulations of the Federal Reserve Board and, therefore, could no longer be used as collateral for loans made by brokers.
  Registration under the Exchange Act
  The MTGE common stock and preferred stock are currently registered under the Exchange Act. Such registration may be terminated upon application by MTGE to the SEC if MTGE shares are neither listed on a national securities exchange nor held by 300 or more holders of record. Termination of registration of MTGE shares under the Exchange Act would substantially reduce the information required to be furnished by MTGE to its stockholders and to the SEC and would make certain provisions of the Exchange Act no longer applicable to MTGE, such as the short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the requirement of furnishing a proxy statement pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act in connection with meetings of stockholders and the related requirement of furnishing an annual report to stockholders and the requirements of Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act with respect to “going private” transactions. Furthermore, the ability of “affiliates” of MTGE and persons holding “restricted securities” of MTGE to dispose of such securities pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act may be impaired. If registration of MTGE shares under the Exchange Act were terminated, MTGE shares would no longer be “margin securities” or be eligible for listing on Nasdaq as described above. After consummation of the offer and the merger, Annaly and the Offeror currently intend to cause MTGE to terminate the registration of MTGE shares under the Exchange Act as soon as the requirements for termination of registration are met.
  Notwithstanding any other provisions of the offer and in addition to the Offeror’s rights to extend, amend or terminate the offer in accordance with the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, the Offeror and Annaly are not required to accept for exchange or, subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC (including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act), exchange the common transaction consideration for any tendered shares of MTGE common stock, if at any expiration of the offer any of the following conditions have not been satisfied or waived:
  1. Minimum Tender Condition—MTGE stockholders having validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the offer and prior to the expiration of the offer a number of shares of MTGE common stock that, together with any shares of MTGE common stock then owned by Annaly and the Offeror, represents at least a majority of the then-outstanding shares of MTGE common stock at any expiration of the offer;
  2. Effectiveness of Form S-4—The registration statement on Form S-4, of which this document is a part, having become effective under the Securities Act, and must not be the subject of any stop order or proceeding seeking a stop order, at any expiration of the offer;
  3. No MTGE Material Adverse Effect—There not having occurred and continuing prior to the expiration of the offer any change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, state of facts, event or occurrence after the date of the merger agreement that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on MTGE and its subsidiaries (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described under “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”);
  4. No Annaly Material Adverse Effect—There not having occurred and continuing prior to the expiration of the offer any change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, state of facts, event or occurrence after the date of the merger agreement that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on Annaly and its subsidiaries (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described under “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”);
  5. Accuracy of MTGE’s Representations and Warranties—The representations and warranties of MTGE contained in the merger agreement must be true and correct as of the expiration of the offer as though made on and as of the expiration of the offer (except for representations and warranties that by their terms speak specifically as of the date of the merger agreement or another date, in which case as of such date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any qualification as to materiality or material adverse effect) have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on MTGE (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described under “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”); provided that (1) MTGE’s representations and warranties related to the absence of a material adverse effect on MTGE (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described under “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”) having occurred from December 31, 2017 through May 2, 2018 (the date of the merger agreement), its qualification as a REIT under the Code and its exemption under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”) must be true and correct in all respects, (2) MTGE’s representations and warranties related to its subsidiaries, restricted stock units schedule, authority, the opinion of its financial advisor, state takeover statutes and brokers must be true and correct in all material respects, and (3) MTGE’s representations and warranties related to its capitalization must be true and correct in all respects, except for any de minimis exceptions;
  6. MTGE’s Compliance with Covenants—MTGE must have in all material respects performed or complied with the obligations, agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with by it under the merger agreement at or prior to the expiration of the offer;
  7. Accuracy of Annaly’s and the Offeror’s Representations and Warranties—The representations and warranties of Annaly and the Offeror contained in the merger agreement must be true and correct as of the expiration of the offer as though made on and as of the expiration of the offer (except for representations and warranties that by their terms speak specifically as of the date of the merger agreement or another date, in which case as of such date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any qualification as to materiality or material adverse effect) have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on Annaly (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described under “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”); provided that (1) Annaly’s representations and warranties related to the absence of a material adverse effect on Annaly (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described under “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”) having occurred from December 31, 2017 through May 2, 2018 (the date of the merger agreement), its qualification as a REIT under the Code, and its exemption under the Investment Company Act must be true and correct in all respects, (2) Annaly’s representations and warranties related to authority must be true and correct in all material respects, and (3) Annaly’s representations related to its capitalization must be true and correct in all respects, except for any de minimis exceptions;
  8. Annaly’s and Offeror’s Compliance with Covenants—Annaly and the Offeror must have in all material respects performed or complied with the agreements or covenants required to be performed or complied with by them under the merger agreement on or prior to the expiration of the offer;
  11. Regulatory Approvals—The required approvals of HUD, the lenders/servicers of certain loans financed by HUD and Fannie Mae, if required, must have been obtained at or prior to the expiration of the offer;
  12. MTGE Transaction Tax Opinion—MTGE must have received an opinion of Cooley LLP, counsel to MTGE, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to MTGE, dated as of the expiration date, to the effect that, based on facts, representations and assumptions described or referred to in such opinion, the offer and the merger, taken together, will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code;
  13. REIT Tax Opinion with Respect to Annaly—MTGE shall have received a written opinion of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, tax counsel to Annaly, in form and substance as set forth in an exhibit to the merger agreement and with such changes as are mutually agreeable to Annaly and MTGE, dated as of the expiration date, to the effect that, based on facts, representations and assumptions described or referred to in such opinion, at all times since the taxable year ended December 31, 2014 and through the expiration date, Annaly has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, and the proposed method of operation of Annaly will enable Annaly to continue to meet the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code;
  14. Annaly Transaction Tax Opinion—Annaly must have received an opinion of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, counsel to Annaly, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Annaly, dated as of the expiration date, to the effect that, based on facts, representations and assumptions described or referred to in such opinion, the offer and the merger, taken together, will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code;
  15. REIT Tax Opinion with Respect to MTGE—Annaly shall have received a written opinion of Hogan Lovells US LLP, tax counsel to MTGE, in form and substance as set forth in an exhibit to the merger agreement and with such changes as are mutually agreeable to Annaly and MTGE, dated as of the expiration date, to the effect that, based on facts, representations and assumptions described or referred to in such opinion, at all times commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2011 and through and including the taxable year that ends on the effective time of the merger, MTGE has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code;
  16. Officer’s Certificate—Annaly must have received from MTGE a certificate dated as of the expiration date and signed by MTGE’s Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions related to the accuracy of MTGE’s representations and warranties, MTGE’s compliance with covenants and the absence of a MTGE material adverse effect; and
  17. No Termination of the Merger Agreement—The merger agreement will not have been terminated in accordance with its terms.
  The foregoing conditions are in addition to, and not a limitation of, the rights of Annaly and the Offeror to extend, terminate or modify the offer in accordance with the terms and conditions of the merger agreement.
  Except for certain conditions, the waiver of which require the consent of MTGE, the conditions to the offer are for the sole benefit of Annaly and the Offeror and may be asserted by Annaly or the Offeror regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition (other than as a result of any action or inaction by Annaly or the Offeror that is completely within the control of Annaly or the Offeror) or may be waived by Annaly or the Offeror, by express and specific action to that effect, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, in each case. However, certain specified conditions may only be waived by Annaly or the Offeror with the express written consent of MTGE. These conditions include the minimum tender condition, the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this document is a part, the absence of an Annaly material adverse effect, the accuracy of Annaly’s and the Offeror’s representations and warranties, Annaly’s and Offeror’s compliance with covenants, the shares of Annaly common and preferred stock to be issued in the offer and the merger having been approved for listing on the NYSE, lack of legal prohibitions, the receipt of an opinion by MTGE from its legal counsel to the effect that the offer and the merger, taken together, will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and the receipt of a written opinion by MTGE from Annaly’s tax counsel, dated as of the expiration date, to the effect that at all times since December 31, 2014 through the expiration date, Annaly has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code and that the proposed method of operation of Annaly will enable Annaly to continue to meet the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code. Pursuant to the merger agreement, MTGE has the right to require that Annaly and the Offeror waive the conditions relating to the absence of an Annaly material adverse effect, the accuracy of Annaly’s and the Offeror’s representations and warranties, Annaly’s and Offeror’s compliance with covenants, the receipt of an opinion by MTGE from its legal counsel to the effect that the offer and the merger, taken together, will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and the receipt of a written opinion by MTGE from Annaly’s tax counsel, dated as of the expiration date, to the effect that at all times since December 31, 2014 through the expiration date, Annaly has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code and that the proposed method of operation of Annaly will enable Annaly to continue to meet the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code. There is no financing condition to the offer.
  Annaly and MTGE conduct operations in a number of jurisdictions where regulatory filings or approvals may be required or advisable in connection with the completion of the offer and the merger. In particular, because certain subsidiaries of MTGE are borrowers under loans insured by HUD or serviced loans insured by the U.S. Federal Housing Administration, an office of HUD, or owned by Fannie Mae, the approval of HUD and Fannie Mae may be required to close the offer. Additionally, it is a condition to the closing of the offer that these regulatory approvals, if required, are obtained, which condition may be waived by Annaly in its sole discretion. The merger agreement provides that the parties must use their reasonable best efforts to obtain the approvals that are necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the offer and the merger. Annaly and MTGE have initiated a process to obtain these approvals.
  Although we do not expect regulatory authorities to raise any significant objections in connection with their review of the offer and merger, we cannot assure you that we will obtain all required regulatory approvals on a timely basis (or at all) or that these regulatory approvals will not contain terms, conditions or restrictions that would be detrimental to the combined company after the completion of the offer and the merger.
  Annaly has been advised that the offer and the merger are exempt from the pre-notification and waiting period requirements of the HSR Act. Therefore, we are not attempting to comply with those requirements. The fact that a transaction is exempt from the requirements of the HSR Act does not preclude the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission from seeking to prevent the transaction on the ground that it violates the United States antitrust laws. However, we do not believe that the offer or the merger will be viewed as violating the antitrust laws.
  Subsequent to the public announcement of the proposed acquisition of MTGE by Annaly, three civil actions were filed challenging the adequacy of the disclosures disseminated in connection with the proposed transaction. On May 25, 2018, Jeroen Van Poeck, a purported stockholder of MTGE, commenced an action in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland against MTGE, certain current MTGE directors named therein, Annaly and the Offeror. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 14(e) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 challenging the adequacy of the public disclosures made concerning the proposed transaction. The plaintiff seeks, among other things, an injunction preventing consummation of the proposed transaction, rescission of the proposed transaction or damages in the event it is consummated, and the award of attorneys’ fees and expenses. On May 25, 2018, Giampaolo Dell’Acqua, a purported stockholder of MTGE, commenced a putative class action in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland against MTGE, certain current and former MTGE directors named therein, Annaly and the Offeror. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 14(e) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 challenging the adequacy of the public disclosures made concerning the proposed transaction. The plaintiff seeks, among other things, an injunction preventing consummation of the proposed transaction, rescission of the proposed transaction or damages in the event it is consummated, and the award of attorneys’ fees and expenses. On May 30, 2018, Anthony Franchi, a purported stockholder of MTGE, commenced a putative class action in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland against MTGE, certain current MTGE directors named therein, Annaly and Offeror. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 14(e), 14(d) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 challenging the adequacy of the public disclosures made concerning the proposed transaction. The plaintiff seeks, among other things, an injunction preventing consummation of the proposed transaction, rescission of the proposed transaction or damages in the event it is consummated, and the award of attorneys’ fees and expenses. The defendants believe the claims asserted in the actions are without merit.
  MTGE directors may have interests in the offer, the merger, and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of the MTGE stockholders generally. These interests may create actual or potential conflicts of interest. The MTGE board of directors was aware of these interests during its deliberations and considered them, among other matters, in approving the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, as more fully discussed below in “The Offer—MTGE’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger; Recommendation of the MTGE Board of Directors.”
  Consideration for MTGE Restricted Stock Units in the Merger
  As of May 2, 2018, MTGE’s directors held outstanding 38,407 shares of MTGE restricted stock units. Pursuant to, and as further described in, the merger agreement, at the effective time of the merger, each MTGE restricted stock unit held by a MTGE non-executive director that is outstanding, whether vested or unvested, immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will automatically be cancelled, with the holder of such restricted stock unit becoming entitled to receive the mixed consideration in respect each share of MTGE common stock underlying the restricted stock unit immediately prior to the effective time. MTGE non-executive directors who otherwise would be entitled to receive a fractional share of Annaly common stock in respect of their restricted stock unit will instead receive an amount in cash (without interest) equal to the amount of such fraction multiplied by the volume weighted average closing sale price per share of Annaly common stock as reported on the NYSE for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the acceptance time, less any applicable tax withholding.
  The estimated aggregate value, based on a price per share of MTGE common stock of $19.55, which is the average closing price per share of MTGE common stock on Nasdaq over the first five business days following the first public announcement of the merger on May 2, 2018, of the unvested restricted stock units held by the MTGE non-executive directors as of May 16, 2018 is $512,151.
  MTGE Management Agreement
  In connection with the execution of the merger agreement, MTGE, MTGE TRS, LLC, the MTGE external manager and Annaly entered into an amendment to the MTGE management agreement, which provides that one month following completion of the merger, the MTGE management agreement will terminate (such time, the “termination time”). Pursuant to the termination provisions set forth in the Management Agreement, in the event the MTGE external manager is terminated without cause, it is entitled to a termination fee equal to three times the average annual management fee earned by the MTGE external manager during the 24-month period immediately preceding the most recently completed month prior to the termination. Accordingly, MTGE will pay the MTGE external manager $36,659,461.54 upon the completion of the merger, and $5,000,000 one month following completion of the merger, at the termination time (for an aggregate termination fee of $41,659,461.54). The amendment provides that in addition to the termination fee, MTGE will pay the MTGE external manager for accrued management fees through and until the termination time and will reimburse the MTGE external manager for expenses it incurs prior to the termination time in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice to the extent reimbursable pursuant to the MTGE management agreement. The indemnification obligations included in the management agreement shall survive the termination. Subject to completion of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, Annaly has guaranteed payment of the termination fee and amounts that become owed to the MTGE external manager under the management agreement. For more information, see “—Management Agreement Termination” below.
  MTGE Special Committee Fees
  Each member of the MTGE special committee earns cash committee fees in connection with their service on the MTGE special committee. Each member of the MTGE special committee receives a monthly retainer in the amount of $10,000, effective March 15, 2018 and for as long as the MTGE special committee is formed and continues to work, up to an aggregate amount of $60,000 for each member of the special committee. As of the date of this document, Randy E. Dobbs, Julia L. Coronado and Robert M. Couch earned aggregate fees of $90,000 for their role on the MTGE special committee.
  Indemnification of Directors and Officers
  The merger agreement provides that Annaly will and will cause the ultimate surviving company of the merger to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law and provided pursuant to organizational documents of MTGE or its subsidiaries, or any indemnification agreements in existence as of the time of the merger agreement that were provided to Annaly (including the MTGE management agreement), each current and former director, officer and agent of MTGE and its subsidiaries against costs and expenses in connection with claims asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the effective time of the merger, in respect of acts or omissions occurring or alleged to have occurred at or prior to the effective time of the merger, based on or arising out of the fact that such person is or was serving as an officer, director, employee, agent or fiduciary of MTGE or its subsidiaries or any other entity if such service was at the request or for the benefit of MTGE or any of its subsidiaries. In addition, for a period of six years following the effective time of the merger, Annaly and Offeror are required to maintain in effect the provisions in any organizational documents of MTGE and its subsidiaries and contracts (including the MTGE management agreement) of MTGE and its subsidiaries regarding elimination of liability, indemnification, and advancement of expenses in favor of the current and former directors, officers, and agents of MTGE and its subsidiaries that are in existence as of the time of the merger agreement and were provided to Annaly prior to the date of the merger agreement, except to the extent that any such contract provides for an earlier termination. For a more complete description of the indemnification of the officers and directors of MTGE and its subsidiaries, see “The Merger Agreement—Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification.”
  As of the date of this document, Annaly does not own any shares of MTGE common stock. Neither Annaly nor the Offeror have effected any transaction in securities of MTGE in the past 60 days. As of the date of this
  document, David Finkelstein, Annaly’s Chief Investment Officer, beneficially owns 5,525 shares of MTGE Series A preferred stock. To the best of Annaly’s and the Offeror’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, none of the other persons listed on Annex C hereto, nor any of their respective associates or majority-owned subsidiaries, beneficially owns or has the right to acquire any securities of MTGE or has effected any transaction in securities of MTGE during the past 60 days.
  In connection with the execution of the merger agreement, MTGE, MTGE TRS, LLC, the MTGE external manager and Annaly entered into an amendment to the MTGE management agreement, which provides that one month following completion of the merger, the MTGE management agreement will terminate. MTGE will pay the MTGE external manager $36,659,461.54 upon the completion of the merger, and $5,000,000 one month following completion of the merger, at the termination time. The indemnification obligations included in the management agreement shall survive the termination. Subject to completion of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, Annaly has guaranteed payment of the termination fee and amounts that become owed to the Manager under the management agreement. The amendment provides that in addition to the termination fee, MTGE will pay the MTGE external manager for accrued management fees through and until the termination time and will reimburse the MTGE external manager for expenses it incurs prior to the termination time in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice to the extent reimbursable pursuant to the MTGE management agreement.
  The amendment to the MTGE management agreement also provides that the MTGE external manager may not intentionally and knowingly take any action, directly or indirectly, that is prohibited to be taken by MTGE representatives as it relates to such representatives’ non-solicitation obligations under the merger agreement, and the MTGE external manager is otherwise required to comply with the non-solicitation obligations applicable to MTGE representatives under the merger agreement. However, to the extent that MTGE is permitted to, and in fact does, engage in discussions or negotiations regarding an acquisition proposal in accordance with the merger agreement, the MTGE external manager may assist MTGE in such discussions or negotiations. The MTGE external manager further agreed that, other than those actions that MTGE is permitted to take under the merger agreement, or as required by law, it will not intentionally and knowingly take any action that would reasonably be expected to cause any of the conditions to the offer or the merger to fail to be satisfied.
  Except for those rights that, pursuant to the express terms of the amendment to the MTGE management agreement, survive the termination, including indemnification obligations and the payment of certain accrued management fees and expenses, the amendment to the MTGE management agreement provides that each party to the amendment to the MTGE management agreement and their respective affiliates fully and unconditionally release any claims or liabilities whatsoever that they may have against each other party and the affiliates of each other party arising under, or pursuant to, the MTGE management agreement.
  Annaly estimates the aggregate amount of cash consideration required to purchase the outstanding shares of MTGE common stock and consummate the merger will be approximately $450.1 million, plus related fees and expenses. Annaly anticipates that the funds needed to complete the transactions will be derived from available cash on hand. Neither Annaly nor the Offeror have any specific alternative financing arrangements or alternative financing plans in connection with the offer or the merger.
  Annaly has retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. as information agent in connection with the offer and the merger. The information agent may contact holders of shares by mail, email, telephone, facsimile and personal interview and may request brokers, dealers and other nominee stockholders to forward material relating to the offer and the
  merger to beneficial owners of shares. Annaly will pay the information agent reasonable and customary compensation for these services in addition to reimbursing the information agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Annaly agreed to indemnify the information agent against certain liabilities and expenses in connection with the offer, including certain liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws.
  In addition, Annaly has retained Computershare as exchange agent in connection with the offer and the merger. Annaly will pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary compensation for its services in connection with the offer and the merger, will reimburse the exchange agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will indemnify the exchange agent against certain liabilities and expenses, including certain liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws.
  Annaly will reimburse brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies and other nominees, upon request, for customary clerical and mailing expenses incurred by them in forwarding offering materials to their customers. Except as set forth above, neither Annaly nor the Offeror will pay any fees or commissions to any broker, dealer or other person for soliciting tenders of shares pursuant to the offer.
  In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, Annaly will account for the acquisition of shares through the offer and the merger under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations.
  Shares of Annaly common stock and preferred stock are listed on the NYSE. Annaly intends to submit a supplemental listing application to list on the NYSE the shares of Annaly common stock and Annaly Series H preferred stock that Annaly will issue in the offer and the merger. Such listing (subject to official notice of issuance) is a condition to completion of the offer.
  All shares of Annaly common stock and/or Annaly Series H preferred stock (as applicable) received by MTGE stockholders as consideration in the offer and/or the merger will be freely tradable for purposes of the Securities Act, except for Annaly common stock and/or preferred stock received by any person who is deemed an “affiliate” of Annaly at the time of the closing of the merger. Annaly common stock and/or preferred stock held by an affiliate of Annaly may be resold or otherwise transferred without registration in compliance with the volume limitations, manner of sale requirements, notice requirements and other requirements under Rule 144 or as otherwise permitted under the Securities Act. This document does not cover resales of Annaly common stock and/or preferred stock received upon completion of the merger by any person, and no person is authorized to make any use of this document in connection with any resale.
  The contact information for the exchange agent for the offer and the merger is:
  By First Class, Registered or Certified Mail:
  Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
  c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions
  By Express or Overnight Delivery:
  250 Royall Street, Suite V
  The following summary describes certain material provisions of the merger agreement entered into by Annaly, the Offeror and MTGE, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex A. This summary may not contain all of the information about the merger agreement that is important to MTGE common stockholders, and MTGE common stockholders are encouraged to read the merger agreement carefully in its entirety. The legal rights and obligations of the parties are governed by the specific language of the merger agreement and not this summary.
  Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, the Offeror is offering to exchange for each outstanding share of MTGE common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer:
  • 0.9519 shares of Annaly common stock.
  In lieu of receiving the mixed consideration, holders of shares of MTGE common stock may elect to receive, for each share of MTGE common stock that they hold, (1) $19.65 in cash (we refer to this election as the “all-cash election” and this amount as the “all-cash consideration”) or (2) 1.9037 shares of Annaly common stock (we refer to this election as the “all-stock election” and this amount as the “all-stock consideration”). The mixed consideration, the all-cash consideration and the all-stock consideration (as applicable) will be paid without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes.
  See “The Offer—Elections and Proration” for a detailed description of the proration procedures applicable to the offer.
  The Offeror’s obligation to accept for exchange and to exchange shares of MTGE common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Offeror of certain conditions, including the valid tender of at least a majority of the shares of MTGE common stock outstanding as of the expiration of the offer, including any shares of MTGE common stock then owned by Annaly and the Offeror (the “minimum tender condition”), as more fully described under “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer.”
  Under the merger agreement, unless MTGE consents otherwise or the merger agreement is otherwise terminated, the Offeror must extend the offer:
  • for any period required by law, or by any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC, the SEC’s staff or NYSE or Nasdaq applicable to the offer or merger, or to the extent necessary to resolve any comments of the SEC or its staff applicable to the offer, the Schedule TO, the registration statement of which this document is a part, or any other related document;
  • for one or more successive periods of up to 10 business days each (or such longer period as may be agreed by MTGE) if any of the conditions to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition) have not been satisfied or validly waived as of any then-scheduled expiration of the offer in order to permit satisfaction of such condition or conditions; and
  • for up to two successive periods of 10 business days each (or for such longer or shorter period as may be agreed by MTGE) if each condition to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition) has been satisfied or validly waived and the minimum tender condition has not been satisfied as of any then-scheduled expiration of the offer, and MTGE requests that the Offeror so extend the offer.
  No extension will impair, limit or otherwise restrict the right of the parties to terminate the merger agreement pursuant to its terms.
  The merger agreement may be terminated by either Annaly or MTGE if the acceptance time has not occurred by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on February 2, 2019, which is referred to as the “outside date” (as described below under “—Termination of the Merger Agreement”). The Offeror will not be required to extend the offer beyond the outside date.
  The “acceptance time” for purposes of the merger agreement is the time that the Offeror accepts for payment all shares of MTGE common stock that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer.
  For a more complete description of the offer, see “The Offer.”
  The merger agreement provides that, promptly following the acceptance time, the parties will effect the merger of MTGE with and into the Offeror, with the Offeror continuing as the surviving corporation in the merger. After the merger, the surviving corporation will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Annaly, and the former MTGE stockholders will not have any direct equity ownership interest in the surviving corporation.
  Under the merger agreement, the closing of the merger must occur as promptly as practicable after the acceptance time, and in any case no later than the second business day after satisfaction or permitted waiver of the conditions to closing of the merger, unless Annaly or MTGE agrees otherwise in writing (see “—Conditions to the Merger”). The merger will become effective at the time the articles of merger are accepted for record by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland unless a later date (not to exceed 30 days after the acceptance for record of the articles of merger) is specified therein.
  In the merger, MTGE common stockholders will have the opportunity to elect to receive the mixed consideration, the all-cash consideration or the all-stock consideration, subject to proration of the all-cash consideration or the all-stock consideration, in each case without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes (such consideration, the “common transaction consideration”).
  Election Procedures
  Each MTGE common stockholder as of immediately prior to the consummation of the merger will be entitled to elect to receive the mixed consideration, the all-cash consideration or the all-stock consideration. The election will be made on a form of election and transmittal that will be mailed promptly after the effective time of the merger to record holders of shares of MTGE common stock and to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and similar persons who names, or the names of whose nominees, appear on MTGE’s stockholder list or, if applicable, who are listed as participants in a clearing agency’s security position listing, so that they can complete the forms of election and transmittal on behalf of beneficial owners of shares of MTGE common stock. To make such election, MTGE common stockholders must submit an effective, properly completed form of election and transmittal to the exchange agent before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on the 20th calendar day following the date on which the forms of election are mailed (the “merger election deadline”). Holders of record of shares of MTGE common stock who hold such shares as nominees, trustees or in other representative capacities may submit multiple forms of election on behalf of their respective beneficial holders.
  Any form of election and transmittal may be revoked or changed by the person who submitted such form of election by written notice received by the exchange agent prior to the merger election deadline. If a form of
  election and transmittal is revoked prior to the merger election deadline, the shares of MTGE common stock represented by such form of election and transmittal will be deemed to have elected to receive the mixed consideration, unless a subsequent form of election and transmittal is properly submitted prior to the merger election deadline.
  The exchange agent will have reasonable discretion to determine whether any election, revocation or change has been properly or timely made and to disregard immaterial defects in any form of election and transmittal, and any good-faith decisions of the exchange agent regarding such matters will be binding and conclusive. The exchange agent will have no obligation to notify any person of a defect in such person’s form of election.
  Consequences of Failing to Make an Election in the Merger
  MTGE common stockholders with shares to be converted into the common transaction consideration in the merger who do not make an election will be deemed to have elected to receive the mixed consideration.
  Proration
  MTGE common stockholders electing the mixed consideration will not be subject to proration; however, holders electing the all-cash consideration or the all-stock consideration may receive a different form of consideration than selected. MTGE common stockholders who make the all-cash election or the all-stock election will be subject to proration so that approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the merger will be paid in cash and approximately 50.0% of the aggregate consideration in the merger will be paid in shares of Annaly common stock.
  The number of shares of MTGE common stock eligible to receive the all-cash consideration in the merger will be equal to 50.0% multiplied by the sum of the total number of shares making an all-cash election in the merger and the total number of shares making an all-stock election in the merger (such product is referred to as the “maximum all-cash shares in merger”).
  The number of shares of MTGE common stock eligible to receive the all-stock consideration in the merger will be equal to 50.0% multiplied by the sum of the total number of shares making an all-cash election in the merger and the total number of shares making an all-stock election in the merger (such product is referred to as the “maximum all-stock shares in merger”).
  If the aggregate number of shares attributable to holders of MTGE common stock making an all-cash election in the merger is greater than the maximum all-cash shares in merger, such shares will be subject to proration. To determine the amount of proration, a “merger cash proration factor” will apply. The “merger cash proration factor” will be equal to:
  • the maximum all-cash shares in merger
  • the aggregate number of shares of MTGE common stock for which an all-cash election in the merger has been made.
  Proration will be calculated so that for each MTGE common stockholder making an all-cash election, the number of shares of MTGE common stock entitled to the all-cash consideration will be equal to the number of shares of MTGE common stock for which such stockholder has made an all-cash election, multiplied by the merger cash proration factor (as calculated above), rounded down to the nearest share. The shares of MTGE common stock that do not receive the all-cash consideration as a result of such proration will instead receive the all-stock consideration.
  In this example, without proration, there would be an over-election of cash because the number of shares of MTGE common stock making the all-cash election is 30,000,000, which is greater than 25,000,000, which is the maximum all-cash shares in merger (calculated as follows: 0.50 × (30,000,000 + 20,000,000)). To adjust for the over-election, the number of shares of MTGE common stock making the all-cash election will be multiplied by the merger cash proration factor of 0.8333, with the resulting number of shares rounded down to the nearest share. The merger cash proration factor is calculated by dividing 25,000,000 (which is the maximum all-cash shares in merger) by 30,000,000 (which is the aggregate number of shares of MTGE common stock making an all-cash election in the merger).
  In this example, a MTGE stockholder who makes an all-cash election for 100 shares of MTGE common stock would be entitled to receive the all-cash consideration for 83 of those shares (calculated as follows: 100 shares × 0.8333 merger cash proration factor, rounded down to the nearest share), and the all-stock consideration for the remaining 17 of those shares. This equates to $1630.95 in cash (calculated as follows: 83 shares × $19.65 all-cash consideration per share) plus 32.3629 shares of Annaly common stock (calculated as follows: 17 shares × 1.9037 shares of Annaly common stock, the all-stock consideration per share). Because fractional shares of Annaly common stock will be converted to cash, the number of actual shares of Annaly common stock such holder would be entitled to receive would be 32, with the additional 0.3629 shares of Annaly common stock converted into $3.77 in cash (calculated as follows: 0.3629 × $10.41).
  If the aggregate number of shares attributable to holders of MTGE common stock making an all-stock election in the merger is greater than the maximum all-stock shares in merger, such shares will be subject to proration. To determine the amount of proration, a “merger stock proration factor” will apply. The “merger stock proration factor” will be equal to:
  • the maximum all-stock shares in merger
  • the aggregate number of shares of MTGE common stock for which an all-stock election in the merger has been made.
  Proration will be calculated so that for each MTGE common stockholder making an all-stock election, the number of shares of MTGE common stock entitled to the all-stock consideration will be equal to the number of shares of MTGE common stock for which such stockholder has made an all-stock election, multiplied by the merger stock proration factor (as calculated above), rounded down to the nearest share. The shares of MTGE common stock that do not receive the all-stock consideration as a result of proration will instead receive the all-cash consideration.
  If, following proration, a MTGE common stockholder would be entitled to receive a fractional share of Annaly common stock, such stockholder will instead receive an amount in cash (without interest) equal to the amount of such fraction multiplied by the volume weighted average closing sale price per share of Annaly common stock as reported on the NYSE for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the acceptance time.
  In this example, without proration, there would be an over-election of stock because the number of shares of MTGE common stock making the all-stock election is 70,000,000, which is greater than 40,000,000, which is the maximum all-stock shares in merger (calculated as follows: 0.50 × (10,000,000 + 70,000,000)). To adjust for the over-election, the number of shares of MTGE common stock making the all-stock election will be multiplied by the merger stock proration factor of 0.5714, with the resulting number of shares rounded down to the nearest share. The merger stock proration factor is calculated by dividing 40,000,000 (which is the maximum all-stock shares in merger) by 70,000,000 (which is the aggregate number of shares of MTGE common stock making an all-stock election in the merger).
  In this example, a MTGE stockholder who makes an all-stock election for 100 shares of MTGE common stock would be entitled to receive the all-stock consideration for 57 of those shares (calculated as follows: 100 shares × 0.5714 merger stock proration factor, rounded down to the nearest share), and the all-cash consideration for the remaining 43 of those shares. This equates to $844.95 in cash (calculated as follows: 43 shares × $19.65 all-cash consideration per share) plus 108.5109 shares of Annaly common stock (calculated as follows: 57 shares × 1.9037 shares of Annaly common stock, the all-stock consideration per share). Because fractional shares of Annaly common stock will be converted to cash, the number of actual shares of Annaly
  common stock such holder would be entitled to receive would be 108, with the additional 0.5109 shares covered into $5.31 in cash (calculated as follows: 0.5109 × $10.41).
  See “Risk Factors—MTGE common stockholders may not receive all consideration in the form elected.”
  Pursuant to MTGE’s charter, MTGE stockholders will not be entitled to rights of objecting stockholders as a result of the offer or merger.
  The merger agreement provides that each issued and outstanding share of MTGE Series A preferred stock issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will be automatically converted into the right to receive one newly issued share of Annaly Series H preferred stock, which will have rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers substantially the same as those of the MTGE Series A preferred stock.
  Annaly has retained Computershare as the depositary and exchange agent for the offer and the merger to handle the exchange of shares of MTGE common stock for the common transaction consideration, and to handle the exchange of shares of MTGE Series A preferred stock for the shares of Annaly Series H preferred stock, as applicable.
  To effect the exchange of shares of MTGE common stock, promptly after the effective time of the merger, Annaly will cause the exchange agent to mail to each record holder of shares of MTGE common stock a form of election and letter of transmittal and instructions for surrendering the book-entry shares and/or the stock certificates that formerly represented shares for the common transaction consideration. See “—Merger Consideration for Common Stock—Election Procedures.” After surrender to the exchange agent of book-entry shares and/or certificates that formerly represented shares of MTGE common stock for cancellation, together with an executed form of election and transmittal, the record holder of the surrendered book-entry shares and/or certificates will be entitled to receive the applicable common transaction consideration. To effect the exchange of shares of MTGE Series A preferred stock, promptly after the effective time of the merger, the exchange agent will mail to each record holder of MTGE Series A preferred stock a form of letter of transmittal and instructions for surrendering the book-entry shares and/or stock certificates that formerly represented shares for the shares of Annaly Series H preferred stock. After surrender to the exchange agent of book-entry shares and/or certificates that formerly represented MTGE Series A preferred stock for cancellation, together with an executed form of letter of transmittal, the record holder of the surrendered book-entry shares and/or certificates will be entitled to receive shares of Annaly Series H preferred stock.
  After the effective time of the merger, each book-entry share and stock certificate formerly representing shares of MTGE common stock and MTGE Series A preferred stock that has not been surrendered will represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the applicable common transaction consideration and shares of Annaly Series H preferred stock to which such applicable holder is entitled by virtue of the merger and any dividends or other distributions payable to such holder upon such surrender.
  Annaly will not issue fractional shares of Annaly common stock in the offer or the merger. Instead, each holder of shares of MTGE common stock who otherwise would be entitled to receive a fractional share of Annaly common stock will be entitled to receive an amount of cash (without interest) equal to such fractional
  part of a share of Annaly common stock multiplied by the volume weighted average closing sale price per share of Annaly common stock as reported on the NYSE for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the acceptance time.
  At the effective time of the merger, each MTGE restricted stock unit whether vested or unvested, will automatically be cancelled, with the holder of such restricted stock unit becoming entitled to receive the mixed consideration in respect of each share of MTGE common stock underlying the restricted stock unit immediately prior to the effective time. Holders of MTGE restricted stock units who otherwise would be entitled to receive a fractional share of Annaly common stock will instead receive an amount in cash (without interest) equal to the amount of such fraction multiplied by the volume weighted average closing sale price per share of Annaly common stock as reported on the NYSE for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the acceptance time, less any applicable tax withholding.
  The merger agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the parties. These include representations and warranties of MTGE with respect to:
  • organization and qualification;
  • subsidiaries;
  • capitalization;
  • corporate authority relative to the merger agreement and the transactions;
  • governmental consents;
  • no violations;
  • SEC filings;
  • financial statements;
  • internal controls and procedures;
  • absence of undisclosed liabilities;
  • absence of certain changes or events;
  • compliance with applicable laws;
  • permits;
  • employee benefit plans;
  • tax matters;
  • labor matters;
  • investigations;
  • litigation;
  • intellectual property;
  • real property;
  • material contracts;
  • mortgage-backed securities;
  • insurance;
  • information supplied;
  • opinion of financial advisor to the MTGE special committee;
  • state takeover statutes;
  • the Investment Company Act; and
  • finders and brokers.
  The merger agreement also contains customary representations and warranties of Annaly and the Offeror, including among other things:
  • corporate authority relative to the merger agreement and transactions;
  • availability of sufficient funds to consummate the offer and merger;
  • absence of Offeror activity prior to the date of the merger agreement;
  • Annaly’s lack of ownership of shares of MTGE common stock; and
  • the Investment Company Act.
  The representations and warranties contained in the merger agreement are generally qualified by “material adverse effect,” as defined in the merger agreement and described below under “—Material Adverse Effect.” The representations and warranties contained in the merger agreement will expire at the effective time of the merger. The representations, warranties and covenants made by MTGE in the merger agreement are qualified by information contained in the confidential disclosure schedules delivered to Annaly and the Offeror in connection with the execution of the merger agreement and by filings that MTGE has made with the SEC prior to the date of the merger agreement. The representations, warranties and covenants made by Annaly and the Offeror in the merger agreement are qualified by information contained in the confidential disclosure schedules delivered to MTGE in connection with the execution of the merger agreement and by filings that Annaly has made with the SEC prior to the date of the merger agreement. Stockholders are not third-party beneficiaries of these representations and warranties under the merger agreement and should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of MTGE or any of its affiliates or of Annaly or any of its affiliates.
  A “material adverse effect” with respect to Annaly or MTGE, means (1) any material adverse effect on the ability of such party to consummate the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the offer and the merger, by the outside date, or (2) any change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, state of facts, event or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business, assets, liabilities or operations of such party and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, with respect to clause (2), no such change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, state of facts, event or occurrence resulting or arising from any of the following will be deemed to constitute a material adverse effect or will be taken into account when determining whether a material adverse effect exists or has occurred or is reasonably expected to exist or occur:
  (a) any changes in general U.S. or global economic conditions;
  (b) conditions (or changes therein) in any industry or industries in which such party operates;
  (c) general legal, tax, economic, political and/or regulatory conditions, or changes therein, including any changes affecting financial, credit, foreign exchange or capital market conditions;
  (d) any changes in U.S. GAAP or interpretation thereof or, with respect to MTGE, other applicable accounting regulations or principles or interpretations thereof;
  (e) any adoption, implementation, promulgation, repeal, modification, amendment, reinterpretation, change or proposal of any applicable law of or by any governmental entity;
  (f) any failure by such party to meet internal or published projections or internal budgets, plans or forecasts, in and of itself (provided that the facts or occurrences giving rise or contributing to such failure that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of a “material adverse effect” may be taken into account);
  (g) any change in the trading price of such party’s common stock (provided that facts or occurrences giving rise or contributing to such change that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of “material adverse effect” may be taken into account);
  (h) any change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, state of facts, event or occurrence arising out of changes in geopolitical conditions, acts of terrorism or sabotage, war, armed hostility, weather or other force majeure events, including a material worsening of conditions threatened or existing as of the date of the merger agreement;
  (i) the execution and delivery of the merger agreement or the consummation of the offer and the merger, or the public announcement (or, with respect to MTGE, the pendency) of the merger agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby (other than for purposes of the parties’ representation and warranties related to governmental consents and no violations, or any other representation or warranty to the extent such representation or warranty is to address the consequences resulting from the execution and delivery of the merger agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby);
  (j) any action expressly required to be taken by such party under the merger agreement;
  (k) any action or failure to take any action that is consented to or requested by the other party, in each case, in writing; and
  (l) any claims, actions, investigations, suits and proceedings brought or threatened by stockholders of either Annaly or MTGE (whether on behalf of MTGE, Annaly or otherwise) asserting allegations of breach of duty relating to the merger agreement or violations of securities laws solely in connection with the offer or the merger;
  provided that with respect to the exceptions in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (h), if the change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, state of facts, event or occurrence has had a disproportionate adverse impact on such party relative to other companies of comparable size operating in the same industry, then the
  incremental impact of such event shall be taken into account for the purpose of determining whether a “material adverse effect” has occurred.
  Under the terms of the merger agreement, subject to certain exceptions described below, MTGE has agreed that, from the date of the merger agreement until the earlier of the acceptance time or the date the merger agreement is validly terminated, MTGE will not, and will cause its subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees and other representatives not to, directly or indirectly:
  • solicit, initiate, or knowingly encourage or facilitate (including by way of providing non-public information) any inquiry, proposal or offer, or the making, submission or announcement of any inquiry, proposal or offer, in each case which constitutes or would be reasonably expected to lead to an “acquisition proposal” (as defined in the merger agreement and as described below);
  • participate in any negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any non-public information relating to MTGE or any of its subsidiaries in connection with, an actual or potential acquisition proposal (other than to state that the terms of the merger agreement prohibit such negotiations); or
  • approve or recommend, or propose publicly to approve or recommend, any acquisition proposal.
  In addition, under the merger agreement, MTGE has agreed that it will:
  • immediately cease, and will cause its subsidiaries and its and their respective directors, officers, employees and other representatives to cease, any and all existing discussions or negotiations, or provision of any non-public information to any party, with respect to any acquisition proposal or potential acquisition proposal;
  • promptly request that each person that executed a confidentiality agreement within the eighteen months preceding the date of the merger agreement with MTGE relating to an acquisition proposal or a potential acquisition proposal promptly destroy or return to MTGE all non-public information relating to such acquisition proposal, MTGE, or MTGE’s businesses or assets (provided MTGE is not required to make such request if the confidentiality agreements were executed more than one year prior to the date of the merger agreement and MTGE had previously made such a request); and
  • take no action to exempt any person (other than Annaly or the Offeror) from the restrictions on business combinations in any applicable state takeover statute or, with respect to a person who has made or is considering making an acquisition proposal, the stock ownership limitations contained in MTGE’s charter and bylaws or otherwise cause such restrictions or limitations not to apply.
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, submission of an acquisition proposal by the MTGE external manager or its affiliates and their actions related thereto will not be deemed a breach or violation of the foregoing non-solicit provisions of the merger agreement so long as the directors and officers and other representatives of MTGE not otherwise affiliated with the MTGE external manager did not take actions that would breach the non-solicit provisions with respect to such acquisition proposal.
  Under the merger agreement, MTGE is obligated to promptly notify Annaly (and in any event within the earlier of thirty-six hours and one business day) after the receipt by MTGE or any of its subsidiaries or representatives of any acquisition proposal, any proposals or inquiries that would reasonably be expected to lead to an acquisition proposal, or any inquiry or request for non-public information relating to MTGE or any subsidiary by any person who has made or would reasonably be expected to make any acquisition proposal. The notice must indicate the identity of the person making the proposal, inquiry or request and the material terms and conditions of any such proposal or offer or the nature of the information requested pursuant to any such inquiry or request, including copies of all written requests, proposals, correspondence or offers (including any proposed agreements received by MTGE or any of its subsidiaries or representatives). MTGE also must keep Annaly
  informed, on a prompt and timely basis, of the status and material terms of any such acquisition proposal or potential proposal (including any amendments or proposed amendments), and as to the nature of any information requested and must provide to Annaly copies of all written materials received or sent by MTGE related to such proposal, inquiry or request. MTGE also must promptly provide Annaly with any material non-public information concerning MTGE provided to any other person in connection with any acquisition proposal that was not previously provided to Annaly.
  Notwithstanding the prohibitions described above, if MTGE receives prior to the acceptance time an unsolicited, written acquisition proposal that did not result from a breach of MTGE’s non-solicitation obligations, MTGE is permitted to furnish non-public information to such person and engage in discussions or negotiations with such person with respect to the acquisition proposal, as long as:
  • the MTGE board of directors, upon the recommendation of the MTGE special committee, determines in good faith, after consulting with MTGE’s outside legal and financial advisors, that such proposal constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a “superior proposal” (as defined in the merger agreement and described below);
  • the MTGE board of directors determines in good faith, after consulting with MTGE’s outside legal and financial advisors, that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors’ duties under applicable law; and
  • prior to providing any such information, the person making the acquisition proposal enters into a confidentiality agreement containing terms that are no less favorable in the aggregate to MTGE than those contained in the confidentiality agreement between Annaly and MTGE (provided that the confidentiality agreement is not required to include a standstill provision) and that does not in any way restrict MTGE or its representatives from complying with its disclosure obligations under the merger agreement.
  If MTGE decides to begin providing information or to engage in discussions or negotiations concerning an acquisition proposal, it must promptly notify Annaly (and in any event within the earlier of thirty-six hours and one business day) in writing after making such decision.
  An “acquisition proposal” for purposes of the merger agreement means any offer, proposal or indication of interest from any person or group (other than Annaly or a subsidiary of Annaly) at any time relating to any transaction or series of related transactions involving:
  • any acquisition or purchase of more than 20% of any class of MTGE voting or equity securities (excluding any MTGE preferred stock);
  • any tender offer (including a self-tender offer) or exchange offer that would result in any person or group beneficially owning more than 20% of any class of MTGE voting or equity securities if consummated (excluding any MTGE preferred stock);
  • any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, joint venture, recapitalization or reorganization, or any similar transaction, in each case involving MTGE and any other person, if it would result in the MTGE stockholders prior to such transaction holding less than 80% of the equity interests in the surviving or resulting entity of such transaction; or
  • any sale, lease (other than in the ordinary course of business), exchange, transfer or other disposition to any person or group of more than 20% of the consolidated assets of MTGE and its subsidiaries (measured by their fair market value).
  A “superior proposal” for purposes of the merger agreement means a bona fide acquisition proposal which the MTGE board of directors determines in good faith (after consultation with MTGE’s outside legal and financial advisors) would result in a transaction more favorable to the MTGE stockholders from a financial point of view than the offer and the merger, taking into account all relevant factors as determined in good faith by the
  MTGE board of directors (including all the terms and conditions of such proposal (including the transaction consideration, conditionality, timing, certainty of financing and likelihood of consummation of such proposals) and the merger agreement (and any changes to the terms of the merger agreement proposed by Annaly in response to any acquisition proposal)). When determining whether an offer constitutes a superior proposal, references in the definition of the term “acquisition proposal” to “20%” will be changed to be references to “50%” and references to “80%” will be changed to be references to “50%.”
  The merger agreement requires the MTGE board of directors to recommend that MTGE common stockholders accept the offer and tender their shares of MTGE common stock in the offer. The MTGE board of directors (including any committee) may not, and may not resolve or agree to (any of the following being a “change of recommendation”):
  • approve or recommend, or propose publicly to approve or recommend, any acquisition proposal;
  • withdraw, change, amend, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to Annaly, the recommendation of the MTGE board of directors in favor of the offer and the merger, or propose publicly to do any of the foregoing;
  • fail to publicly recommend against an acquisition proposal within 10 business days of being requested to do so by Annaly, if such acquisition proposal is an exchange or tender offer that has been commenced (provided Annaly can only make one such request with respect to such acquisition proposal, unless the acquisition proposal is amended or supplemented, in which case Annaly can make one request with respect to such amendment or supplement);
  • fail to reaffirm the recommendation of the MTGE board of directors in favor of the offer and the merger within 10 business days of being requested to do so by Annaly if an acquisition proposal has been publicly disclosed (provided Annaly can only make one such request with respect to such acquisition proposal, unless the acquisition proposal is amended or supplemented, in which case Annaly can make one request with respect to such amendment or supplement); or
  • enter into any merger agreement, acquisition agreement, reorganization agreement, letter of intent or similar agreement or document relating to, or any other agreement or commitment providing for, any acquisition proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement entered into in accordance with the merger agreement containing terms that are no less favorable in the aggregate to MTGE than those contained in the confidentiality agreement between Annaly and MTGE).
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the MTGE board of directors may take such actions if, prior to the acceptance time:
  • an intervening event (as defined in the merger agreement and described below) has occurred, and the MTGE board of directors, upon the recommendation of the MTGE special committee, has determined in good faith (after consultation with MTGE’s outside financial advisors and outside legal counsel) that failure to make such change of recommendation would be inconsistent with the directors’ duties under applicable law; or
  • MTGE has received an unsolicited acquisition proposal which the MTGE board of directors, upon recommendation of the MTGE special committee, has determined in good faith (after consultation with MTGE’s outside financial and legal advisors) both (a) that such unsolicited acquisition proposal is a superior proposal, and (b) that failure to make a change of recommendation and terminate the merger agreement would be inconsistent with the MTGE directors’ duties under applicable law, and in such case the MTGE board of directors must also cause MTGE to terminate the merger agreement in order to enter into a definitive agreement providing for such unsolicited acquisition proposal.
  Prior to making a change of recommendation for any reason set forth above, MTGE must give Annaly three business days’ prior written notice of its intent to make a change of recommendation. The notice must specify in
  reasonable detail the reasons for any change in recommendation due to an intervening event or the material terms and conditions of the acquisition proposal for any change in recommendation due to a superior proposal. In each case, MTGE must negotiate in good faith, and cause its representatives (including its executive officers) to negotiate in good faith (and to the extent Annaly desires to negotiate, and does negotiate, Annaly must cause its representatives (including its executive officers) to negotiate in good faith)), any proposal from Annaly to amend the merger agreement in a way that would eliminate the need to make a change of recommendation, and the MTGE board of directors must make the required determination regarding its duties again at the end of such three business day negotiation period after in good faith taking into account any amendments proposed by Annaly. With respect to any change of recommendation due to a superior proposal, each time there is any material amendment, revision or change to the terms of the then-existing superior proposal (including any revision to the amount, form or mix of consideration proposed to be received by MTGE’s stockholders as a result of such superior proposal, whether or not material), MTGE must give notice to Annaly of such amendment, revision or change and the three business day period described above will be extended until at least two business days after the time Annaly receives such notice, and MTGE must not make a change of recommendation prior to the end of each such extended period.
  An “intervening event” for purposes of the merger agreement is any event, change in circumstance or development that is material to MTGE and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) and was not known or reasonably foreseeable by the MTGE board of directors as of or prior to the date of the merger agreement and which becomes known to the MTGE board of directors prior to the acceptance time. However, the following may not be an intervening event for purposes of the merger agreement: (a) the receipt, existence or terms of an acquisition proposal or any matter relating thereto or a consequence thereof, or (b) changes, in and of itself, in the market price or trading volume of MTGE common stock or Annaly common stock or the fact that MTGE meets or exceeds (or that Annaly fails to meet or exceed) internal or published projections, forecasts or revenue or earnings predictions for any period.
  Nothing in the merger agreement prohibits the MTGE board of directors from taking and disclosing to the MTGE stockholders a position contemplated by Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A promulgated under the Exchange Act, if failure to do so would violate applicable law, or from making any “stop, look and listen” communication to MTGE’s stockholders pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act (except if such disclosure is a change of recommendation, the disclosure may only be made to the extent otherwise permitted under the merger agreement, as described above).
  Restrictions on MTGE’s Operations
  The merger agreement provides for certain restrictions on MTGE’s and its subsidiaries’ activities until either the completion of the merger or the termination of the merger agreement. In general, unless required by law, specifically permitted or required by the merger agreement, otherwise approved in writing by Annaly (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or reasonably necessary (as determined in the reasonable judgment of MTGE upon advice of counsel) for MTGE to maintain its qualification as a REIT under the Code for any period or portion of a period ending on or prior to the effective time of the merger or to avoid incurring entity level income or excise taxes under the Code, MTGE is required to:
  • maintain its status as a REIT;
  • conduct, and cause its subsidiaries to conduct, its and their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, and use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its and their respective present business organizations, goodwill and ongoing businesses and its and their respective present relationships with customers, suppliers, vendors, governmental entities, program lenders, employees, and other persons with which it and they have material business relationships; and
  maintain compliance with a liquidity ratio test measuring the ratio of aggregate fair value of unencumbered mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by a U.S. government agency,
  unencumbered factor payment receivables due from a U.S. government agency and unrestricted cash and cash equivalents to the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness of MTGE and its subsidiaries in respect of repurchase agreements, warehouse facilities, “to be announced” contracts and similar financing arrangements.
  In addition, unless required by law, specifically permitted or required by the merger agreement, otherwise approved in writing by Annaly (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or reasonably necessary (as determined in the reasonable judgment of MTGE upon advice of counsel) for MTGE to maintain its qualification as a REIT under the Code for any period or portion of a period ending on or prior to the effective time of the merger or to avoid incurring entity level income or excise taxes under the Code, none of MTGE nor any MTGE subsidiary may, among other things, directly or indirectly (subject to specified exceptions):
  • amend, waive, rescind or otherwise change its organizational documents, or with respect to any person who has made or is considering making an acquisition proposal, waive the stock ownership limitation contained in MTGE’s charter (unless the merger agreement has been validly terminated);
  • enter into any agreement with respect to voting or registration of its capital stock or other equity interests;
  • authorize, declare or pay any dividends or distributions on its outstanding capital stock, other than, among other exceptions, (a) regular quarterly cash dividends on its outstanding shares of common stock with declaration, record and payment dates consistent with past practice and at a rate not to exceed a quarterly rate of $0.50 per share, (b) dividends expressly provided in the merger agreement, as described below under “—Additional Dividends,” and (c) dividends on the outstanding shares of the MTGE Series A preferred stock, with declaration, record and payment dates consistent with past practice, at a rate not to exceed a quarterly rate as specified by the terms of the MTGE Series A preferred stock;
  • split, combine, subdivide, reduce or reclassify any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests, or redeem, purchase, or otherwise acquire any of its capital stock or other equity interests;
  • issue or authorize the issuance of any securities in substitution of its capital stock or other equity interests;
  • (a) increase the compensation or benefits payable to any of its directors, executive officers or employees, (b) grant any increase in severance pay or termination pay to any director, executive officer or employee (other than as required by certain of MTGE’s benefit plans in effect as of the date of the merger agreement and made available to Annaly), (c) pay or award, or commit to pay or award, any bonuses or incentive compensation to any director, executive officer or employee, (d) enter into any employment, severance or retention agreement, (e) establish, adopt, enter into, amend or terminate any collective bargaining agreement or MTGE benefit plan or arrangement that would be a MTGE benefit plan if in existence on the date of the merger agreement, (f) take any action to amend or waive any performance or vesting criteria or accelerate vesting, exercisability or funding under any MTGE benefit plan, (g) terminate the employment of any employee other than for cause, (h) hire any new employees or (i) provide any funding for any MTGE benefit plan through any “rabbi trust,” or similar arrangement;
  • take any action that would increase the absolute notional value of the asset base of MTGE and its subsidiaries by more than 10% over the notional value of the asset base of MTGE and its subsidiaries of the date of the merger agreement, excluding any increases in the size of the asset base resulting from mark to market valuation adjustments;
  acquire, authorize or announce an intention to so acquire, or enter into any agreements providing for any acquisitions of, any assets or equity interests in any person, entity or business or division thereof, or otherwise engage in any mergers, consolidations, acquisitions or business combinations, other than
  (a) transactions between MTGE and a wholly owned subsidiary of MTGE, (b) acquisitions of agency mortgage-backed securities (including “to be announced” agency mortgage-backed securities) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (c) acquisitions of non-agency mortgage-backed securities (including agency credit risk transfer securities) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
  • restructure, reorganize, dissolve or liquidate;
  • make loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person or entity, other than (a) loans among MTGE and its wholly owned subsidiaries, (b) advances for reimbursable employee expenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, (c) subservicing advances (including, without limitation, in respect to legal fees) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (d) transactions under repurchase agreements entered into the ordinary course of MTGE’s business and consistent with past practice;
  • except as otherwise permitted under the merger agreement, sell, lease, license, assign, abandon, permit to lapse, transfer, exchange, swap or otherwise dispose of, or subject to a lien (other than a permitted lien), any properties, rights or assets (including shares of MTGE or its subsidiaries), other than sales of assets in the ordinary course of business so long as such dispositions do not exceed a cumulative aggregate of $300 million in notional value in any 30-day period based on trade dates (excluding the monthly sale of agency flow new production mortgage-backed securities, “to be announced” agency mortgage-backed securities and transactions under repurchase agreements financing or refinancing of mortgage-backed securities and credit risk transfer securities in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice);
  • enter into specified “material contracts” (as defined in the merger agreement); modify, amend or terminate any material contract; waive, release or assign any rights or claims thereunder; acquire any healthcare owned property (as defined in the merger agreement); or subject any healthcare owned property to any lien;
  • make or commit to make any capital expenditure, other than in accordance with MTGE’s budget previously disclosed to Annaly and other than as may be expressly required under any operator lease or real property lease in existence as of the date of the merger agreement and made available to Annaly;
  • waive, release, assign, compromise or settle any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding in excess of $500,000 (other than (x) compromises or settlements up to the amount to the amount reserved for the applicable legal contingency as reflected in the consolidated financial statements of MTGE made available to Annaly or (y) compromises or settlement of legal contingencies for which MTGE or any MTGE subsidiary reasonably and in good faith determined based on past practices will be reimbursed in fully by investors (and where such compromise or settlement does not exceed in the aggregate $2,000,000 excluding any amounts reimbursed));
  • change any financial accounting policies, practices, principles or procedures, or any method of reporting income, deductions or other material items for financial accounting purposes;
  • (a) make or change any material tax election or liquidate any MTGE subsidiary for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (b) adopt or change any tax accounting period or material method of tax accounting, (c) file any amended tax return if the filing of such amended tax return would result in a material increase in the taxes payable by MTGE or any of its subsidiaries, (d) settle or compromise any material liability for taxes or any tax audit or other proceeding relating to a material amount of taxes, (e) enter into any closing or similar agreement with any tax authority, (f) surrender any right to claim a material refund of taxes, or (g) except in the ordinary course of business, agree to an extension or waiver of the statute of limitations with respect to a material amount of taxes (other than, in each case, (i) to the extent necessary based on advice of counsel to preserve MTGE’s qualification as a REIT or (ii) to qualify or preserve the status of any MTGE subsidiary as a disregarded entity or partnership, or as a qualified REIT subsidiary or taxable REIT subsidiary);
  • take any action, or fail to take any action, which action or failure to act would reasonably be expected to cause (a) MTGE to fail to qualify as a REIT or (b) any MTGE subsidiary to cease being treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or a qualified REIT subsidiary or a taxable REIT subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, or if such subsidiary was not treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary as of the date of the merger agreement, to be so treated;
  • redeem, repurchase, prepay, defease, incur, assume, endorse, guarantee or otherwise become liable for, or modify in any material respect, the terms of any indebtedness, derivatives or hedging arrangements, or issue or sell any debt securities or rights to acquire any debt securities;
  • fail to maintain all financial books and records in all material respects in accordance with GAAP (or any interpretation thereof);
  • fail to duly and timely file all material reports and other material documents required to be filed with Nasdaq, SEC or any governmental entity or program lender, subject to extensions permitted by law or applicable rules and regulations;
  • enter into any transactions or contracts with any affiliates or other person that would be required to be disclosed by MTGE under Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the SEC, or with the MTGE external manager or its affiliates;
  • enter into any transactions or contracts that would restrict the ability of Annaly and the Offeror to engage after the acceptance time or the effective time of the merger in all activities in which MTGE was engaged as of the date of the merger agreement;
  • take any action, or fail to take any action, which action or failure would reasonably be expected to cause MTGE or any of its subsidiaries to be required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act;
  • take any action or fail to take any action, which action or failure would reasonably be expected to cause MTGE or any of its subsidiaries to fail to be eligible for relief from certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 related to the use of swaps as hedging instruments;
  • enter into any new line of business;
  • fail to pay the premiums on or cancel MTGE’s insurance policies;
  • amend in any material respect the investment policy of MTGE or any of its subsidiaries in effect as of the date of the merger agreement, or fail to comply with such investment policy;
  • terminate, materially amend, materially restate, materially supplement or waive any material rights under certain operator leases entered into by MTGE with respect to MTGE’s healthcare properties;
  • transfer, market, sell, lease, license, mortgage, pledge, surrender, encumber, divest, cancel, abandon, create or incur liens, or allow to lapse or expire or otherwise dispose of any real property other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;
  • enter into any partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement or other similar agreement with any entity that is not a wholly owned subsidiary, or distribute or otherwise make available any offering document for purposes of, or make any commitments with respect to, obtaining equity capital; or
  • agree or authorize, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the foregoing actions.
  Restrictions on Annaly’s Operations
  The merger agreement provides for certain restrictions on Annaly’s and its subsidiaries’ activities until either the completion of the merger or the termination of the merger agreement. In general, unless required by law, specifically permitted or required by the merger agreement, otherwise approved in writing by MTGE (which
  approval may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or reasonably necessary (as determined in the reasonable judgment of Annaly upon advice of counsel) for Annaly to maintain its qualification as a REIT under the Code for any period or portion of a period ending on or prior to the effective time of the merger or to avoid incurring entity level income or excise taxes under the Code, Annaly is required to maintain its status as a REIT and conduct, and cause its subsidiaries to conduct, its and their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, and use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its and their respective present business organizations, goodwill and ongoing businesses and its and their respective present relationships with customers, suppliers, vendors, governmental entities and other persons with which it and they have material business relations.
  In addition, unless required by law, specifically permitted or required by the merger agreement, otherwise approved in writing by MTGE (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or reasonably necessary (as determined in the reasonable judgment of Annaly upon advice of counsel) for Annaly to maintain its qualification as a REIT under the Code for any period or portion of a period ending on or prior to the effective time of the merger or to avoid incurring entity level income or excise taxes under the Code, none of Annaly nor any Annaly subsidiary may, among other things, directly or indirectly (subject to specified exceptions):
  • authorize, declare or pay any dividends or distributions on its outstanding capital stock, other than (a) regular quarterly cash dividends on its outstanding shares of common stock with declaration, record and payment dates consistent with past practice, (b) dividends expressly provided in the merger agreement, as described below in “—Additional Dividends,” and (c) dividends on the outstanding shares of its Series C, Series D, Series F and Series G cumulative redeemable preferred stock, with declaration, record and payment dates consistent with past practice, at a rate not to exceed a quarterly rate as specified by the terms of its Series C, Series D, Series F and Series G cumulative redeemable preferred stock, respectively;
  • split, combine, reduce or reclassify any shares of its capital stock;
  • amend Annaly’s charter or bylaws in a way that would prevent or materially impede or delay the consummation of the offer, the merger or the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement or that would be material and adverse to the holders of MTGE common stock relative to the treatment of existing holders of Annaly common stock;
  • fail to duly and timely file all material reports and other material documents required to be filed with the NYSE, SEC or any program lender, subject to extensions permitted by law or applicable rules and regulations;
  • adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation of Annaly or resolutions providing for a complete or partial liquidation, dissolution or recapitalization of Annaly;
  • take any action, or fail to take any action, which action or failure would reasonably be expected to cause Annaly to fail to qualify as a REIT; or
  The merger agreement provides that MTGE will declare a dividend to its stockholders, with a record and payment date as of the close of business on the fourth business day prior to the day on which the acceptance time occurs, and the payment date for which will be on the business day on which the acceptance time occurs. The per share dividend amount will be the per share amount of MTGE’s then-most recent quarterly dividend, prorated for the number of days between the record date of MTGE’s last dividend, plus any additional amount required to satisfy the requirements for REIT distributions under the Code and to avoid the imposition of income tax and excise tax under the Code. It is expected that Annaly will declare and pay a comparable stub-period dividend, with a record date as of the close of business on the last business day prior to the day on which the acceptance time occurs.
  The merger agreement provides that during the period prior to the effective time of the merger, MTGE and Annaly will give each other and each other’s representatives reasonable access during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice to all of their respective properties, offices, contracts, personnel (other than, with respect to MTGE, MTGE external manager’s portfolio management personnel), books and records, and will furnish promptly to the other party all information concerning their business, properties and personnel as the other party reasonably requests, including with respect to MTGE, information about its (x) financing reporting, cash management, accounts payable and receivable and portfolio level information and (y) the duration and notional balance of MTGE’s mortgaged-backed securities, “to be announced” agency mortgage-backed securities, credit risk transfer securities, legacy residential mortgage-backed securities and swaptions. However, neither party is required to disclose information that may not be disclosed pursuant to contractual or legal restrictions or to avoid loss of legal privileges, provided that the disclosing party will use commercially reasonable efforts to make alternative arrangements for disclosure that do not violate such restrictions or to the maximum extent possible that does not result in loss of a privilege.
  The merger agreement provides that MTGE and its subsidiaries are required to, and are required to use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause their representatives to, (a) cooperate with Annaly and the Offeror in connection with the replacement, backstopping or amendment, as of the effective time of the merger, of outstanding financial guaranties, letters of credit, letters of guaranty, surety bonds and other similar instruments and obligations of MTGE and its subsidiaries, including granting any waivers in respect thereof and facilitating the migration of such financial products to the facilities of Annaly or its affiliates and the satisfaction or amendment, as of the effective time of the merger, of derivative financial instruments or arrangements (including any swaps, caps, floors, futures, forward contracts and option agreements), and (b) obtain and deliver to Annaly, no later than three business days prior to the effective time of the merger, customary payoff letters for any indebtedness of MTGE or any of its subsidiaries.
  Under the merger agreement, Annaly and MTGE are required to use reasonable best efforts to prepare and file or otherwise provide all documentation to effect all necessary applications, notices, petitions, filings, and other documents in order to consummate the offer or the merger; and obtain all waiting period expirations or terminations, consents, clearances, waivers, licenses, orders, registrations, approvals, permits, and authorizations necessary or advisable to be obtained from any third party and/or any governmental entity and/or program lender in order to consummate the offer or the merger.
  All of MTGE’s executive officers are employees of the parent of the Manager, and receive no compensation from MTGE. There are no agreements or understandings, whether written or unwritten, between any executive officer of MTGE and MTGE or Annaly concerning any type of compensation, whether present, deferred or contingent, that is based upon or otherwise relates to the merger.
  As of the date of this document, a subsidiary of MTGE employed four individuals. Each of the four continuing employees, who are not and have not been an officer or employee of the Manager, is party to a severance agreement providing for certain payments upon such continuing employee’s termination by his or her employer, Residential Credit Solutions, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of MTGE, without cause. Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, Annaly will, and will cause the surviving corporation or a subsidiary thereof to, comply with certain existing severance agreements between MTGE or a subsidiary of MTGE and certain employees of a MTGE subsidiary, provided that after the closing Annaly may amend, modify or otherwise alter each such severance agreement in accordance with its terms.
  In addition, with respect to any continuing employees, Annaly has agreed (a) to ensure, or cause the surviving corporation or any subsidiary thereof to ensure, that no limitations or exclusions as to pre-existing conditions, evidence of insurability or good health, waiting periods or actively-at-work exclusions or other limitations or restrictions on coverage are applicable to any continuing employees or their dependents or beneficiaries under any welfare benefit plans sponsored by Annaly and its subsidiaries in which such continuing employees or their dependents or beneficiaries first become eligible to participate following the effective time of the merger, except to the extent that such exclusions, limitations or restrictions would apply under the analogous benefit plan in which a continuing employee was a participant or was eligible to participate immediately prior to the effective time, and (b) that any costs or expenses incurred by continuing employees (and their dependents or beneficiaries) up to (and including) the effective time of the merger shall be taken into account for purposes of satisfying applicable deductible, co-payment, coinsurance, maximum out-of-pocket provisions and like adjustments or limitations on coverage under any such Annaly plans for the plan year in which the closing date occurs, except to the extent such exclusions, limitations or restrictions would apply or costs or expenses would not be taken into account for such purposes under the analogous benefit plan in which any such continuing employee was a participant or was eligible to participate immediately prior to the effective time of the merger.
  Furthermore, with respect to each employee benefit plan, policy or practice, including severance, vacation and paid time off plans, policies or practices, sponsored or maintained by Annaly or its affiliates in which the continuing employees become eligible to participate after the effective time, Annaly has agreed to credit continuing employees for all service with MTGE and its affiliates and their predecessors prior to the closing date for purposes of eligibility to participate, vesting credit, eligibility to commence benefits, and benefit accrual, but excluding (i) benefit accrual under any defined benefit pension plan or retiree medical program and (ii) any such credit that would result in a duplication of benefits.
  Under the merger agreement, for a period of no less than six years after the effective time of the merger, Annaly and the Offeror must indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law and provided pursuant to organizational documents of MTGE or its subsidiaries, or any indemnification agreements in existence as of the time of the merger agreement that were provided to Annaly (including the MTGE management agreement), each current and former director, officer, agent or fiduciary of MTGE and its subsidiaries against costs and expenses in connection with claims asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the effective time of the merger, in respect of acts or omissions occurring or alleged to have occurred at or prior to the effective time of the merger, based on or arising out of the fact that such person is or was serving as an officer, director, employee or agent of MTGE or its subsidiaries or any other entity if such service was at the request or for the benefit of MTGE or any of its subsidiaries. In addition, for a period of six years following the effective time of the merger, Annaly and Offeror are required to maintain in effect the provisions in any organizational documents of MTGE and its subsidiaries and contracts (including the MTGE management agreement) of MTGE and its subsidiaries regarding elimination of liability, indemnification, and advancement of expenses in favor of the current and former directors, officers, and agents of MTGE and its subsidiaries that are in existence as of the time of the merger agreement and were provided to Annaly prior to the date of the merger agreement, except to the extent that any such contract provides for an earlier termination.
  At or prior to the acceptance time, MTGE, in consultation with Annaly, is required to purchase a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance “tail” insurance policy for a period of six years after the effective time of the merger with respect to acts or omissions committed at or prior to the effective time of the merger, including the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, provided that MTGE will, in cooperation with Annaly, use commercially reasonably efforts to obtain the most favorable pricing and most comprehensive coverage reasonably available and MTGE will not commit or spend on such “tail” policy more than 300% of the last aggregate annual premium paid by MTGE for its directors’ and officers’ liability insurance prior to the date of the merger agreement. If the cost of such “tail” policy would be in excess of such 300% threshold, MTGE will be permitted to purchase as much coverage as reasonably practicable for such amount. Following the effective time
  of the merger, Annaly will cause such “tail” policy to be maintained in full force and effect for its full term, and cause all obligations thereunder to be honored by the surviving corporation.
  The respective obligations of MTGE, Annaly and the Offeror to complete the merger under the merger agreement are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:
  • the Offeror having accepted for payment all shares of MTGE common stock validly tendered in the offer and not validly withdrawn;
  • no governmental entity of competent jurisdiction having issued or granted any order or injunction (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect as of immediately prior to the effective time of the merger which has the effect of restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the merger; and
  • no governmental entity of competent jurisdiction having enacted, issued or promulgated any law that is in effect as of immediately prior to the effective time of the merger that has the effect of restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the merger.
  Termination by Annaly or MTGE
  The merger agreement may be terminated at any time before the acceptance time:
  • by mutual written consent of Annaly and MTGE;
  • by either Annaly or MTGE, if:
  • any governmental entity of competent jurisdiction has issued a final, non-appealable order, injunction, decree or ruling permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the offer and/or the merger, provided that such termination right is not available to any party whose action or failure to fulfill any obligation under the merger agreement has proximately caused the issuance of such order, injunction, decree or ruling;
  • the acceptance time has not occurred on or before 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on February 2, 2019 (the “outside date”), provided that such termination right is not available to any party whose action or failure to fulfill any obligation under the merger agreement has proximately caused any of the conditions to the closing of the offer to fail to be satisfied and such action or failure to act constitutes a material breach of the merger agreement; or
  • the offer shall have terminated or expired in accordance with its terms (subject to the rights and obligations of Annaly to extend the offer) without all the conditions to the offer having been satisfied, provided that such termination right is not available to any party whose action or failure to fulfill any obligation under the merger agreement has proximately caused any of the conditions to the closing of the offer to fail to be satisfied and such action or failure to act constitutes a material breach of the merger agreement.
  Termination by MTGE
  The merger agreement may be terminated at any time before the acceptance time by MTGE:
  • in order for MTGE to enter into a definitive agreement providing for a superior proposal, as long as (a) MTGE has complied with its obligations to provide notice to, and negotiate with, Annaly regarding amendments to the merger agreement, as described under “—Change of Recommendation” prior to such termination and (b) immediately prior (and as a condition) to such termination, MTGE pays to Annaly the termination fee of $35,118,500; or
  • if (a) Annaly and/or the Offeror has breached, failed to perform or violated their respective covenants or agreements under the merger agreement or any of the representations and warranties of Annaly and the Offeror have become inaccurate, in each case in a manner that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions to the consummation of the offer related to Annaly’s and/or the Offeror’s compliance with their covenants and agreements or the accuracy of Annaly’s and/or the Offeror’s representations and warranties to be satisfied, (b) such breach, failure to perform, violation or inaccuracy is not capable of being cured by the outside date, or, if capable of being cured by the outside date, is not cured by Annaly and/or the Offeror within 30 calendar days following receipt of written notice from MTGE, and (c) MTGE is not then in material breach of the merger agreement.
  Termination by Annaly and the Offeror
  The merger agreement may be terminated at any time before the acceptance time by Annaly if:
  • MTGE or the MTGE board of directors (or any committee thereof) has made a change of recommendation or breached its non-solicitation/no change of recommendation obligations under the merger agreement in any material respect; or
  • (a) MTGE has breached, failed to perform or violated its covenants or agreements under the merger agreement or any of the representations and warranties of MTGE have become inaccurate, in each case in a manner that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions to the consummation of the offer related to MTGE’s compliance with its covenants and agreements or the accuracy of MTGE’s representations and warranties to be satisfied, (b) such breach, failure to perform, violation or inaccuracy is incapable of being cured by the outside date or, if capable of being cured by the outside date, is not cured by MTGE within 30 calendar days following receipt of written notice from Annaly, and (c) Annaly and the Offeror are not then in material breach of the merger agreement.
  Except as set forth below, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the merger agreement, the offer and the merger will be paid by the party incurring such fee or expense.
  Termination Fee
  The merger agreement provides that MTGE will pay Annaly a termination fee of $35,118,500.00 (the “termination fee”) if:
  • Annaly terminates the merger agreement because of a change of recommendation by MTGE or the MTGE board of directors (or any committee thereof);
  • Annaly terminates the merger agreement because MTGE or the MTGE board of directors (or any committee thereof) has breached its non-solicitation/no change of recommendation obligations under the merger agreement in any material respect;
  • MTGE terminates the merger agreement in order to enter into a definitive agreement providing for a superior proposal; or
  (a) either Annaly or MTGE terminates the merger agreement as a result of having reached the outside date, the offer having terminated or expired in accordance with its terms without all conditions to the offer having been satisfied or Annaly terminates the merger agreement as a result of a breach, failure to perform or violation by MTGE of its covenants or agreements under the merger agreement that gives rise to the failure of any of the conditions to the consummation of the offer related to MTGE’s compliance with its covenants and agreements to be satisfied (and such breach, failure, or violation is incapable of being cured by the outside date or, if capable of being cured by such time, is not cured within 30 days after receiving written notice from Annaly), (b) an acquisition proposal has been
  publicly disclosed after the date of the merger agreement and prior to the date of such termination and shall not have been publicly withdrawn prior to the termination of the merger agreement, and (c) within 12 months of such termination any acquisition proposal is consummated or a definitive agreement with respect to any acquisition proposal is entered into and such acquisition proposal is thereafter consummated (with references to “20%” and “80%” in the definition of acquisition proposal being replaced with references to “50%” for this purpose).
  In no event will MTGE be obligated to pay the termination fee on more than one occasion.
  In the event of the valid termination of the merger agreement prior to the acceptance time for the offer in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, the merger agreement will become null and void, and there will be no liability or further obligation on the part of Annaly, the Offeror or MTGE, except that the confidentiality agreement and certain miscellaneous provisions of the merger agreement shall survive and provided that no party will be relieved of liability for fraud or any willful breach of the merger agreement prior to such termination or any requirement to pay the termination fee.
  The merger agreement may be amended, modified, or supplemented by written agreement of the parties at any time.
  Enforcement and Remedies
  Under the merger agreement, the parties have agreed that, prior to the valid termination of the merger agreement, each party will be entitled to:
  • an injunction or injunctions to prevent or remedy any breaches or threatened breaches of the merger agreement by any other party;
  • a decree or order of specific performance specifically enforcing the terms and provisions of the merger agreement; and
  • any further equitable relief.
  Extensions and Waivers
  Under the merger agreement, at any time prior to the effective time of the merger, each party may:
  • extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties;
  • waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other party, as applicable; and
  • waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained in the merger agreement for the benefit of the waiving party.
  Annaly common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “NLY,” and MTGE common stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “MTGE.” The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, as reported by the NYSE or Nasdaq, as applicable, the per share high and low sales prices of each company’s common stock.
  Annaly Common Stock MTGE Common Stock
  High Low Dividend High Low Dividend
  First Calendar Quarter
  $ 11.09 $ 10.29 $ 0.30 $ 19.39 $ 17.76 $ 0.50
  Second Calendar Quarter
  $ 10.55 $ 9.19 $ 0.30 $ 18.29 $ 15.90 $ 0.50
  Third Calendar Quarter
  Fourth Calendar Quarter
  Second Calendar Quarter (through May 30, 2018)
  $ 10.62 $ 10.17 $ 20.15 $ 17.60
  On May 1, 2018, the last trading day prior to public announcement of the merger agreement, the closing price per share of MTGE common stock on Nasdaq was $18.15, and the closing price per share of Annaly common stock on the NYSE was $10.34. On May 15, 2018, the most recent trading date prior to the mailing of this document, the closing price per share of MTGE common stock on Nasdaq was $19.65, and the closing price per share of Annaly common stock on the NYSE was $10.33. The market value of the stock portion of the common transaction consideration will change as the market value of Annaly common stock fluctuates during the offer period and thereafter. MTGE common stockholders should obtain current market quotations for shares of MTGE common stock and shares of Annaly common stock before deciding whether to tender their shares of MTGE common stock in the offer and before electing the form of common transaction consideration they wish to receive.
  In accordance with our requirement for maintaining REIT status, Annaly will distribute to stockholders aggregate dividends equaling at least 90% of its REIT taxable income for each taxable year and will endeavor to distribute at least 100% of its REIT taxable income so as not to be subject to tax. Distributions of economic profits from our enterprise could be classified as return of capital due to differences between book and tax accounting rules. Annaly may make additional returns of capital when the potential risk-adjusted returns from new investments fail to exceed our cost of capital. Subject to the limitations of applicable securities and state corporation laws, Annaly can return capital by making purchases of its own stock or through payment of dividends.
  Annaly has not established a minimum dividend payment level and its ability to pay dividends may be adversely affected. In addition, unrealized changes in the estimated fair value of available-for-sale investments
  may have a direct effect on dividends. All distributions will be made at the discretion of Annaly’s board of directors and will depend on our earnings, our financial condition, maintenance of our REIT status and such other factors as Annaly’s board of directors may deem relevant from time to time.
  The merger agreement provides that MTGE will declare a dividend to its stockholders, with a record date as of the close of business on the fourth business day prior to the day on which the acceptance time occurs, and the payment date for which will be on the business day on which the acceptance time occurs. The per share dividend amount will be the per share amount of MTGE’s then-most recent quarterly dividend, prorated for the number of days between the record date of MTGE’s last dividend and the fourth business day prior to the acceptance time, plus any additional amount required to satisfy the requirements for REIT distributions under the Code and to avoid the imposition of income tax and excise tax under the Code. It is expected that Annaly will declare and pay a comparable stub-period dividend, with a record date as of the close of business on the last business day prior to the day on which the acceptance time occurs.
  The following is a discussion of (i) the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the offer and the merger, taken together, to holders of MTGE common stock and (ii) the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to Annaly’s qualification and taxation as a REIT and to the ownership and disposition of Annaly common stock received pursuant to the offer and/or the merger. This summary is based on provisions of the Code, final, temporary or proposed Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial opinions, published positions of the IRS and all other applicable authorities, all as in effect as of the date of this document and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Any such change could affect the accuracy of the statements and conclusions set forth in this document.
  For purposes of this discussion, the term “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of MTGE common stock or Annaly common stock, as applicable, that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
  • an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
  • a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;
  • an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or
  • a trust if (1) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) it has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
  For purposes of this discussion, the term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of MTGE common stock or Annaly common stock, as applicable, that is neither a U.S. holder nor a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
  If an entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds MTGE common stock or Annaly common stock, as applicable, the tax treatment of a partner in such entity generally will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. If you are a partner in a partnership holding MTGE common stock or Annaly common stock, as applicable, please consult your tax advisor.
  This discussion only addresses holders of MTGE common stock (or, following the offer and the merger, Annaly common stock) who hold their shares as capital assets under the Code (generally, property held for investment). Further, this summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a holder in light of the holder’s particular circumstances or that may be applicable to holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law (including, for example, financial institutions, dealers in securities, traders in securities that elect mark-to-market treatment, insurance companies, mutual funds, tax-exempt organizations (except as described in “ —Taxation of Tax-Exempt Holders of Annaly Common Stock” below), partnerships or other flow-through entities and their partners or members, U.S. expatriates, controlled foreign corporations and passive foreign investment companies, holders liable for the alternative minimum tax, U.S. holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, holders who hold their MTGE common stock (or, following the offer and the merger, Annaly common stock) as part of a hedge, straddle, constructive sale or conversion transaction, holders who acquired their MTGE common stock (or, in connection with the offer and/or the merger, Annaly common stock) through the exercise of employee stock options or other compensation arrangements and, except to the extent discussed below, non-U.S. holders). This discussion does not address any tax consequences arising under the unearned income Medicare contribution tax pursuant to the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (except as described in “ —Taxation of U.S. Holders of Annaly Common Stock” below), the tax consequences of transactions occurring prior to, concurrently with or after the offer and/or merger (whether or not such transactions are in connection with the offer and/or merger) are
  not discussed, including without limitation the tax consequences of the payment of dividends to holders of MTGE common stock prior to the offer and/or merger, nor does it address any tax considerations under state, local or non-U.S. laws or U.S. federal laws other than those pertaining to the U.S. federal income tax.
  MTGE stockholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the particular tax consequences (including the application and effect of any state, local or non-U.S. income and other tax laws) to them of the offer and the merger, and of acquiring, holding and disposing of Annaly common stock received pursuant to the offer and/or the merger, in light of their particular circumstances.
  Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Offer and the Merger
  The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the offer and the merger to holders of MTGE common stock. Except to the extent specifically discussed below, this summary does not address the tax consequences of any transaction other than the offer and the merger. In addition, no information is provided herein with respect to the tax consequences of the offer and the merger under applicable state, local or non-U.S. laws or U.S. federal laws other than those pertaining to the U.S. federal income tax.
  Treatment of the Offer and the Merger as a “Reorganization”
  It is a condition to the consummation of the offer that each of Annaly and MTGE receive an opinion from their respective legal counsel to the effect that the offer and the merger, taken together, will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. Such opinions will be based on factual representations contained in letters provided by Annaly and MTGE, and on certain customary factual assumptions, all of which must continue to be true and accurate as of the consummation of the offer. However, no ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS as to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the offer and the merger. Consequently, there can be no assurance that the offer and the merger, taken together, will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. There also can be no assurance that the IRS will not disagree with, or challenge, any of the conclusions described below.
  Consequences of the Offer and the Merger to U.S. Holders
  If the offer and the merger, taken together, qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders who receive shares of Annaly common stock and/or cash in exchange for shares pursuant to the offer and/or the merger generally will be as follows:
  U.S. Holders Who Receive Solely Annaly Common Stock
  A U.S. holder who receives solely shares of Annaly common stock pursuant to the offer and/or the merger will not recognize any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Annaly common stock (see the discussion under “—Cash in Lieu of a Fractional Share”). The aggregate tax basis of the shares of Annaly common stock received (including any fractional shares deemed received and exchanged for cash) will be equal to the U.S. holder’s aggregate tax basis in the MTGE common stock surrendered. The holding period of the Annaly common stock received (including any fractional shares deemed received and exchanged for cash) will include the U.S. holder’s holding period of the MTGE common stock surrendered (see the discussion under “—Cash in Lieu of a Fractional Share”).
  If a U.S. holder acquired different blocks of MTGE common stock at different times and different prices, such U.S. holder should consult its tax advisor as to the determination of the tax bases and holding periods of the shares of Annaly common stock received in the offer and/or the merger.
  U.S. holders electing to receive the all-stock consideration in the offer may be subject to proration (see the discussion under “The Offer—Elections and Proration”), which may result in the receipt of a portion of the
  merger consideration in cash, in addition to Annaly common stock. See the discussion under “—U.S. Holders Who Receive a Combination of Shares of Annaly Common Stock and Cash” for a general description of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of the receipt of Annaly common stock and cash.
  U.S. Holders Who Receive Solely Cash
  A U.S. holder who receives solely cash in exchange for MTGE common stock pursuant to the offer and/or the merger will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between (1) the amount of cash received and (2) such U.S. holder’s tax basis in the MTGE common stock surrendered. Any such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if, as of the date of the exchange, the U.S. holder’s holding period in the MTGE common stock surrendered exceeds one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
  U.S. holders electing to receive the all-cash consideration in the offer may be subject to proration (see the discussion under “The Offer—Elections and Proration”), which may result in the receipt of a portion of the merger consideration in Annaly common stock, in addition to cash. See the discussion under “—U.S. Holders Who Receive a Combination of Shares of Annaly Common Stock and Cash” for a general description of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of the receipt of Annaly common stock and cash.
  U.S. Holders Who Receive a Combination of Shares of Annaly Common Stock and Cash
  A U.S. holder who receives a combination of Annaly common stock and cash (other than cash in lieu of a fractional share of Annaly common stock) pursuant to the offer and/or the merger generally will recognize gain (but not loss) in an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the sum of the amount of cash (other than cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Annaly common stock) and the fair market value of the Annaly common stock received, less the adjusted tax basis of the MTGE common stock surrendered in exchange therefor, and (2) the amount of cash received by the U.S. holder (other than cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Annaly common stock). Any gain that the U.S. holder recognizes generally will be long-term capital gain if, as of the date of the exchange, the U.S. holder’s holding period in its MTGE common stock surrendered exceeds one year.
  If a U.S. holder of MTGE common stock acquired different blocks of shares at different times or at different prices, any gain or loss will be determined separately with respect to each block of MTGE common stock, and such U.S. holder’s tax basis and holding period in its Annaly common stock received in the offer and/or the merger may be determined with reference to each identifiable block of MTGE common stock. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the manner in which cash and shares of Annaly common stock received in the offer and/or the merger is allocated among different blocks of MTGE common stock and with respect to identifying the bases or holding periods of particular shares of Annaly common stock received in the offer and/or the merger.
  In certain cases, if a U.S. holder actually or constructively owns Annaly common stock other than Annaly common stock received in the transaction, the gain that is recognized by the U.S. holder could be treated as having the effect of the distribution of a dividend under the tests described in Section 302 of the Code, in which case such gain would be treated as dividend income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In such cases, corporate U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential applicability of the “extraordinary dividend” provisions of the Code.
  The aggregate tax basis of the Annaly common stock received (including any fractional shares deemed received and exchanged for cash) by a U.S. holder that exchanges its MTGE common stock for a combination of Annaly common stock and cash will be equal to the U.S. holder’s aggregate adjusted tax basis of the shares surrendered, reduced by the amount of cash received by the U.S. holder (excluding any cash received instead of fractional shares of Annaly common stock) and increased by the amount of gain, if any, recognized by the U.S. holder (excluding any gain recognized with respect to cash received in lieu of fractional shares of Annaly common stock) on the exchange.
  The holding period of the Annaly common stock received (including any fractional shares deemed received and exchanged for cash; see the discussion under “—Cash in Lieu of a Fractional Share”) will include the holding period of the MTGE common stock surrendered. U.S. holders receiving a combination of Annaly common stock and cash should consult their tax advisors regarding the manner in which cash and Annaly common stock should be allocated among the U.S. holder’s shares and the manner in which the above rules would apply in the U.S. holder’s particular circumstances.
  Cash in Lieu of a Fractional Share
  A U.S. holder that receives cash in lieu of a fractional share of Annaly common stock generally will be treated as having received such fractional share in the offer and/or the merger and then as having received cash in exchange for such fractional share. Gain or loss generally will be recognized based on the difference between the amount of cash received in lieu of the fractional share and the tax basis allocated to such fractional share of Annaly common stock. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if, as of the date of the exchange, the holding period for such shares is greater than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
  Consequences of the Offer and the Merger to Non-U.S. Holders
  If the offer and the merger, taken together, qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, a non-U.S. holder’s gain or loss from the offer and/or the merger will be determined in the same manner as that of a U.S. holder. A non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation on any gain recognized from the receipt of the exchange consideration, unless (1) the gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. holder, (2) the non-U.S. holder is an individual who has been present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of disposition and certain other conditions are satisfied, or (3) the non-U.S. holder’s MTGE common stock constitutes a “U.S. real property interest,” (a “USRPI”), within the meaning of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”).
  A non-U.S. holder whose gain is effectively connected with the conduct of trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the non-U.S. holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable) will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such gain on a net basis in the same manner as a U.S. holder. In addition, a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or lesser rate under an applicable income tax treaty) on the after-tax amount of such effectively connected gain.
  A non-U.S. holder who is an individual present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the merger and who meets certain other requirements will be subject to a flat 30% tax on the gain derived from the merger, which may be offset by U.S.-source capital losses of such non-U.S. holder, if any.
  If the non-U.S. holder’s MTGE common stock constitutes a USRPI under FIRPTA, such non-U.S. holder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the gain recognized in the exchange on a net basis in the same manner as a U.S. holder. A non-U.S. holder’s MTGE common stock generally will not constitute a USRPI, and gain recognized by a non-U.S. holder generally will not be taxed under FIRPTA, if (1) MTGE is treated as a “domestically controlled REIT” on the effective date of the exchange, (2) the non-U.S. holder owned (after application of certain constructive ownership rules) not more than 10% of the MTGE common stock at any time during the five years preceding the effective date of the exchange, or (3) MTGE is not and has not been at any time during the shorter of (i) the five years preceding the effective date of the exchange and (ii) the non-U.S. holder’s holding period for its MTGE common stock, a United States real property holding corporation (a “USRPHC”). MTGE believes that it is and, at the effective time of the exchange, will be a “domestically controlled REIT,” although there can be no assurances in that regard.
  A non-U.S. holder that receives cash in lieu of a fractional share of Annaly common stock generally will be treated as having received such fractional share in the offer and/or the merger and then as having received cash in exchange for such fractional share. Gain or loss generally will be recognized based on the difference between the amount of cash received in lieu of the fractional share and the tax basis allocated to such fractional share of Annaly common stock and will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation in a manner described below in “—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations Applicable to Annaly’s Treatment as a REIT and to Holders of Annaly Common Stock—Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders—Dispositions of Annaly Common Stock.”
  Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
  Information reporting and backup withholding (currently, at a rate of 24% for payments made before January 1, 2026) may apply to payments made in connection with the offer and/or the merger. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a holder who (a) in the case of a holder who is a U.S. person as defined in the instructions to the IRS Form W-9, furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding on IRS Form W-9, (b) in the case of a holder who is not such a U.S. person, furnishes the appropriate IRS Form W-8, or (c) is otherwise exempt from backup withholding and complies with other applicable rules and certification requirements. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against such holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS on a timely basis. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption.
  Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations Applicable to Annaly’s Treatment as a REIT and to Holders of Annaly Common Stock
  The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to Annaly’s treatment as a REIT and to holders of Annaly common stock who receive such stock pursuant to the offer and/or the merger. For purposes of this discussion, references to “we” or “us” refer to Annaly, and references to “our common stock” refer to Annaly common stock.
  We elected to be taxed as a REIT under the U.S. federal income tax laws beginning with our taxable year ended December 31, 1997. We believe that we have operated in a manner qualifying us as a REIT since our election and intend to continue to so operate. Moreover, our continued qualification and taxation as a REIT depends on our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, through actual operating results, certain qualification tests in the U.S. federal income tax laws. Those qualification tests involve the percentage of our income that we earn from specified sources, the percentages of our assets that fall within specified categories, the diversity of our share ownership and the percentage of our earnings that we distribute. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations for any particular taxable year will satisfy such requirements. As a result, we may have to use one or more of the REIT savings provisions described below, which would require us to pay an excise or penalty tax (which could be material) in order to maintain our REIT qualification. For a discussion of the tax consequences of our failure to qualify as a REIT, see “—Failure to Qualify,” below.
  The sections of the Code and the corresponding regulations that govern the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a REIT and its stockholders are highly technical and complex. The following discussion is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative interpretations thereof.
  Provided that we qualify for taxation as a REIT, generally we will be entitled to a deduction for dividends that we pay and therefore will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on that portion of our net taxable income that we distribute currently to our stockholders, although taxable income generated by domestic taxable REIT subsidiaries, if any, will be subject to regular corporate income.
  If we qualify as a REIT, we will nonetheless be subject to U.S. federal tax as follows:
  • We will pay U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income, including net capital gain, that we do not distribute to stockholders during, or within a specified time after, the calendar year in which the income is earned.
  • For taxable years beginning prior to December 31, 2017, under some circumstances, we may be subject to the “alternative minimum tax” due to our undistributed items of tax preference and alternative minimum tax adjustments.
  • If we have net income from “prohibited transactions,” which are, in general, sales or other dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, other than foreclosure property, such income will be subject to a 100% tax.
  • If we elect to treat property that we acquire in connection with a foreclosure of a mortgage loan or from certain leasehold terminations as “foreclosure property,” which is, in general, property acquired by us as a result of having bid in a foreclosure or through other legal means subsequent to a default on a lease of such property or on an indebtedness secured by such property, we may thereby avoid (a) the 100% tax on gain from a resale of that property (if the sale would otherwise constitute a prohibited transaction) and (b) the inclusion of any income from such property not qualifying for purposes of the REIT gross income tests discussed below, but the income from the sale or operation of the property may be subject to U.S. corporate income tax at the highest applicable rate (currently 21%).
  • If due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect we fail to satisfy either the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test discussed below, but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because other requirements are met, we will be subject to a 100% tax on the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, multiplied in either case by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.
  • If we fail to satisfy the asset tests (other than a de minimis failure of the 5% asset test of the 10% vote or value test, as described below under “—Asset Tests”) as long as the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we dispose of the assets or otherwise comply with such asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify such failure and we file a schedule with the IRS describing the assets that caused such failure, we will pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the amount determined by multiplying the net income generated by the non-qualifying assets by the highest U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to corporations during the periods when such assets would have caused us to fail to satisfy such asset tests.
  • If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than the gross income tests and the asset tests, and the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure.
  • We may be required to pay monetary penalties to the IRS in certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet recordkeeping requirements intended to monitor our compliance with rules relating to the composition of a REIT’s stockholders, as described below in “—Requirements for Qualification.”
  • If we fail to distribute during a calendar year at least the sum of:
  • 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such calendar year;
  • 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such calendar year; and
  • any undistributed taxable income from earlier periods,
  we will pay a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amount we actually distributed, plus any retained amounts on which income tax has been paid at the corporate level.
  We may elect to retain and pay income tax on our net long-term capital gain. In that case, a U.S. holder would include its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain (to the extent we
  make a timely designation of such gain to the holder) in its income, and would receive a credit or a refund for its proportionate share of the tax we paid.
  • We will be subject to a 100% excise tax on amounts received by us from a taxable REIT subsidiary (or on certain expenses deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary or income earned by a taxable REIT subsidiary) if certain arrangements between us and a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours, as further described below, do not reflect arm’s-length terms.
  • With respect to an interest in a taxable mortgage pool or a residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit, or REMIC, the ownership of which is attributed to us or to a REIT in which we own an interest, although the law on the matter is unclear as to the ownership of an interest in a taxable mortgage pool, we may be taxable at the highest corporate rate on the amount of any excess inclusion income for the taxable year allocable to the percentage of our stock that is held in record name by “disqualified organizations.” For a discussion of “excess inclusion income,” see “—Taxable Mortgage Pools.” A “disqualified organization” includes:
  • The U.S.;
  • any state or political subdivision of the U.S.;
  • any foreign government;
  • any international organization;
  • any agency or instrumentality of any of the foregoing;
  • any other tax-exempt organization, other than a farmer’s cooperative described in Section 521 of the Code, that is exempt both from income taxation and from taxation under the unrelated business taxable income provisions of the Code; and
  • any rural electrical or telephone cooperative.
  • We do not anticipate owning REMIC residual interests; we may, however, own 100% of the equity interests in one or more collateralized debt obligation, or CDO, offerings or one or more trusts formed in connection with our securitization transactions, but we intend to structure each CDO offering and each securitization transaction so that the issuing entity would not be classified as a TMP. See “—Taxable Mortgage Pools.”
  • If we acquire any assets from a non-REIT C corporation in a carry-over basis transaction, we could be liable for specified tax liabilities inherited from that non-REIT C corporation with respect to that corporation’s “built-in gain” in its assets. Built-in gain is the amount by which an asset’s fair market value exceeds its adjusted tax basis at the time we acquire the asset. Applicable U.S. Treasury regulations, however, allow us to avoid the recognition of gain and the imposition of corporate level tax with respect to a built-in gain asset acquired in a carry-over basis transaction from a non-REIT C corporation unless and until we dispose of that built-in gain asset during the five-year period following its acquisition, at which time we would recognize, and would be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate on, the built-in gain.
  In addition, notwithstanding our qualification as a REIT, we may also have to pay certain state and local income taxes because not all states and localities treat REITs in the same manner as they are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Moreover, as further described below, any domestic taxable REIT subsidiary in which we own an interest will be subject to U.S. federal, state and local corporate income tax on its taxable income. We could also be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.
  The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:
  1. that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;
  2. the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest;
  3. that would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code;
  4. that is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to certain provisions of the Code;
  5. the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons;
  6. of which not more than 50% in value of the outstanding shares are owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) after applying certain attribution rules;
  7. that makes an election to be taxed as a REIT for the current taxable year or has made such an election for a previous taxable year, and satisfies all relevant filing and other administrative requirements that must be met to elect and maintain REIT-qualification, which has not been terminated or revoked; and
  8. that meets other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its distributions.
  Conditions (1) through (4), inclusive, must be met during the entire taxable year. Condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months other than the first taxable year for which an election to become a REIT is made. Condition (6) must be met during the last half of each taxable year but neither conditions (5) nor (6) apply to the first taxable year for which an election to become a REIT is made. For purposes of determining the stock ownership requirement described in (6) above, an “individual” generally includes a supplemental unemployment compensation benefits plan, a private foundation, or a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes. An “individual,” however, generally does not include a trust that is a qualified employee pension or profit sharing trust under the U.S. federal income tax laws, and beneficiaries of such a trust will be treated as holding our stock in proportion to their actuarial interests in the trust for purposes of the requirement described in (6) above. We believe that we have maintained and will maintain sufficient diversity of ownership to allow us to continue to satisfy conditions (5) and (6) above. In addition, our charter contains restrictions regarding the ownership and transfer of our stock that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will be able to satisfy these share ownership requirements. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, we will fail to qualify as a REIT.
  If we comply with regulatory rules pursuant to which we are required to send annual letters to holders of our stock requesting information regarding the actual ownership of our stock (as discussed below), and we do not know, or, exercising reasonable diligence, would not have known, whether we failed to meet requirement (6) above, we will be treated as having met the requirement.
  To monitor compliance with the share ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above, we generally are required to maintain records regarding the actual ownership of our stock. To do so, we must demand written statements each year from the record holders of significant percentages of our stock pursuant to which the record holders must disclose the actual owners of the shares (i.e., the persons required to include our dividends in their gross income). We must maintain a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with this demand as part of our records. We could be subject to monetary penalties if we fail to comply with these record-keeping requirements. If you fail or refuse to comply with the demands, you will be required by U.S. Treasury regulations to submit a statement with your tax return disclosing your actual ownership of our stock and other information. In addition, we must satisfy all relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the IRS to elect and maintain REIT status, use a calendar year for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and comply with the record keeping requirements of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder.
  Ownership of Disregarded Entities and Partnership Interests. An unincorporated domestic entity, such as a partnership, limited liability company, or trust that has a single owner generally is not treated as an entity separate from its parent for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including for purposes of the gross income and asset tests applicable to REITs. An unincorporated domestic entity with two or more owners generally is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the case of a REIT that is a partner in an entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, U.S. Treasury regulations provide that the REIT is deemed to own its proportionate share of the partnership’s assets and to earn its proportionate share of the partnership’s gross income based on its pro rata share of capital interests in the partnership for purposes of the asset and gross income tests applicable to REITs, as described below. However, solely for purposes of the 10% value test, described below (see “—Asset Tests”), the determination of a REIT’s interest in partnership assets will be based on the REIT’s proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership, excluding for these purposes, certain excluded securities as described in the Code. In addition, the assets and gross income of the partnership generally are deemed to retain the same character in the hands of the REIT. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets and items of income of partnerships in which we own an equity interest is treated as assets and items of income of our company for purposes of applying the REIT requirements described below. Consequently, to the extent that we directly or indirectly hold a preferred or other equity interest in a partnership or limited liability company, the partnership’s or limited liability company’s assets and operations may affect our ability to qualify as a REIT, even though we may have no control or only limited influence over the partnership.
  Under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, Congress revised the rules applicable to U.S. federal income tax audits of partnerships and the collection of any tax resulting from any such audits or other tax proceedings, generally for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. Under the new rules, the partnership itself may be liable for a hypothetical increase in partner-level taxes (including interest and penalties) resulting from an adjustment of partnership tax items on audit, regardless of changes in the composition of the partners (or their relative ownership) between the year under audit and the year of the adjustment. The new rules also include an elective alternative method under which the additional taxes resulting from the adjustment are assessed from the affected partners, subject to a higher rate of interest than otherwise would apply. Many questions remain as to how the new rules will apply, especially with respect to partners that are REITs, and it is not clear at this time what effect this new legislation will have on us. However, these changes could increase the U.S. federal income tax, interest, and/or penalties otherwise borne by us in the event of a U.S. federal income tax audit of a subsidiary partnership.
  Qualified REIT Subsidiaries. If a REIT owns a corporate subsidiary that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary,” the separate existence of that subsidiary is disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Generally, a qualified REIT subsidiary is a corporation, other than a taxable REIT subsidiary, all of the stock of which is owned directly or indirectly by the REIT. All assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the qualified REIT subsidiary will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the REIT itself. A qualified REIT subsidiary of ours is not subject to U.S. federal corporate income taxation, although it may be subject to state and local taxation in some states.
  In the event that a qualified REIT subsidiary ceases to be wholly owned by us (for example, if any equity interest in the subsidiary is acquired by a person other than us or another disregarded subsidiary of us), the subsidiary’s separate existence would no longer be disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Instead, it would have multiple owners and would be treated as either a partnership or a taxable corporation. Such an event could, depending on the circumstances, adversely affect our ability to satisfy the various asset and gross income tests applicable to REITs, including the requirement that REITs generally may not own, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the value or voting power of the outstanding securities of another corporation. See “—Asset Tests” and “—Income Tests.”
  Taxable REIT Subsidiaries. A taxable REIT subsidiary is an entity that is taxable as a corporation in which we directly or indirectly own stock and that elects with us to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. In addition, if a taxable REIT subsidiary owns, directly or indirectly, securities representing 35% or more of the vote or value
  of a subsidiary corporation, that subsidiary will also be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. However, an entity will not qualify as a taxable REIT subsidiary if it directly or indirectly operates or manages a lodging or health care facility or, generally, provides to another person, under a franchise, license or otherwise, rights to any brand name under which any lodging facility or health care facility is operated. We generally may not own more than 10%, as measured by voting power or value, of the securities of a corporation that is not a qualified REIT subsidiary unless we and such corporation elect to treat such corporation as a taxable REIT subsidiary. Overall, no more than 20% of the value of a REIT’s assets (25% for our taxable years between 2009 and 2017) may consist of stock or securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries.
  Income earned by a taxable REIT subsidiary is not attributable to the REIT. As a result, income that might not be qualifying income for purposes of the income tests applicable to REITs could be earned by a taxable REIT subsidiary without affecting our status as a REIT.
  Several provisions of the Code regarding the arrangements between a REIT and its taxable REIT subsidiaries ensure that a taxable REIT subsidiary will be subject to an appropriate level of U.S. federal income taxation. For example, a taxable REIT subsidiary is limited in its ability to deduct interest payments made to affiliated REITs. In addition, we would be obligated to pay a 100% penalty tax on some payments that we receive from, or on certain expenses deducted by, a taxable REIT subsidiary if the IRS were to assert successfully that the economic arrangements between us and a taxable REIT subsidiary are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties. Any income earned by a taxable REIT subsidiary that is attributable to services provided to us, or on our behalf to any of our tenants, that is less than the amounts that would have been charged based upon arm’s-length negotiations, will also be subject to a 100% penalty tax. We intend to scrutinize all of our transactions with any of our subsidiaries that are treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary in an effort to ensure that we do not become subject to this penalty tax; however, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in avoiding this penalty tax. Also, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, overall limitations on the deductibility of net interest expense could apply to any taxable REIT subsidiary.
  Taxable Mortgage Pools. An entity, or a portion of an entity, that does not elect to be treated as a REMIC may be classified as a taxable mortgage pool, or TMP, under the Code if:
  • substantially all of its assets consist of debt obligations or interests in debt obligations;
  • more than 50% of those debt obligations are real estate mortgages or interests in real estate mortgages as of specified testing dates;
  • the entity has issued debt obligations (liabilities) that have two or more maturities; and
  • the payments required to be made by the entity on its debt obligations “bear a relationship” to the payments to be received by the entity on the debt obligations that it holds as assets.
  Under the U.S. Treasury regulations, if less than 80% of the assets of an entity (or a portion of an entity) consists of debt obligations, these debt obligations are considered not to comprise “substantially all” of its assets, and therefore the entity would not be treated as a taxable mortgage pool.
  We do not intend to structure or enter into securitization or financing transactions that will cause us to be viewed as owning interests in one or more TMPs. Generally, if an entity or a portion of an entity is classified as a TMP, then the entity or portion thereof is treated as a taxable corporation and it cannot file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return with any other corporation. If, however, a REIT owns 100% of the equity interests in a TMP, then the TMP is a qualified REIT subsidiary and, as such, ignored as an entity separate from the REIT.
  If, notwithstanding our intent to avoid having the issuing entity in any of our securitization or financing transactions classified as a TMP, one or more of such transactions were so classified, then as long as we owned 100% of the equity interests in the TMP, all or a portion of the income that we recognize with respect to our investment in the TMP will be treated as excess inclusion income. Section 860E(c) of the Code defines the term
  “excess inclusion” with respect to a residual interest in a REMIC. The IRS, however, has yet to issue guidance on the computation of excess inclusion income on equity interests in a TMP held by a REIT. Generally, however, excess inclusion income with respect to our investment in any TMP and any taxable year will equal the excess of (i) the amount of income we accrue on our investment in the TMP over (ii) the amount of income we would have accrued if our investment were a debt instrument having an issue price equal to the fair market value of our investment on the day we acquired it and a yield to maturity equal to 120% of the long-term applicable federal rate in effect on the date we acquired our interest. The term “applicable federal rate” refers to rates that are based on weighted average yields for Treasury securities and are published monthly by the IRS for use in various tax calculations. If we undertake securitization transactions that are TMPs, the amount of excess inclusion income we recognize in any taxable year could represent a significant portion of our total taxable income for that year.
  Although we intend to structure our securitization and financing transactions so that we will not recognize any excess inclusion income, we cannot assure you that we will always be successful in this regard. If, notwithstanding our intent, we recognized excess inclusion income, then under guidance issued by the IRS we would be required to allocate the excess inclusion income proportionately among the dividends we pay to our stockholders and we must notify our stockholders of the portion of our dividends that represents excess inclusion income. The portion of any dividend you receive that is treated as excess inclusion income is subject to special rules. First, your taxable income can never be less than the sum of your excess inclusion income for the year; excess inclusion income cannot be offset with net operating losses or other allowable deductions. Second, if you are a tax-exempt organization and your excess inclusion income is subject to the unrelated business income tax, then the excess inclusion portion of any dividend you receive will be treated as unrelated business taxable income. Third, dividends paid to Non-U.S. holders who hold stock for investment and not in connection with a trade or business conducted in the U.S. will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax without regard to any reduction in rate otherwise allowed by any applicable income tax treaty.
  If we recognize excess inclusion income, and one or more disqualified organizations are record holders of shares of common stock, we will be taxable at the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate on the portion of any excess inclusion income equal to the percentage of our stock that is held by disqualified organizations. In such circumstances, we may reduce the amount of our distributions to a disqualified organization whose stock ownership gave rise to the tax. To the extent that our common stock owned by disqualified organizations is held by a broker/dealer or other nominee, the broker/dealer or other nominee would be liable for a tax at the highest corporate tax rate on the portion of our excess inclusion income allocable to our common stock held by the broker/dealer or other nominee on behalf of the disqualified organizations.
  If we own less than 100% of the equity interests in a TMP, the foregoing rules would not apply. Rather, the entity would be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and would potentially be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax. This could adversely affect our compliance with the REIT gross income and asset tests described above. We currently do not have, and currently do not intend to enter into any securitization or financing transaction that is a TMP in which we own some, but less than all, of the equity interests, and we intend to monitor the structure of any TMPs in which we have an interest to ensure that they will not adversely affect our status as a REIT. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in this regard.
  Tax-exempt investors, non-U.S. investors and taxpayers with net operating losses should carefully consider the tax consequences described above and are urged to consult their tax advisors in connection with their decision to invest in our common stock.
  Income Tests
  To qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income requirements, each of which is applied on an annual basis. First, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year generally must be derived directly or indirectly from:
  • rents from real property;
  • interest on debt secured by a mortgage on real property or on interests in real property;
  • dividends or other distributions on, and gain from the sale of, shares in other REITs;
  • gain from the sale or other disposition of real property (including interests in real property and interests in mortgages on real property) that is not treated as inventory property or property held for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business;
  • abatements and refunds of taxes on real property;
  • income and gain derived from foreclosure property (as described above);
  • amounts (other than amounts the determination of which depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person) received or accrued as consideration for entering into agreements (i) to make loans secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property or (ii) to purchase or lease real property (including interests in real property and interests in mortgages on real property);
  • income derived from a REMIC in proportion to the real estate assets held by the REMIC, unless at least 95% of the REMIC’s assets are real estate assets, in which case all of the income derived from the REMIC; and
  • interest or dividend income from investments in stock or debt instruments attributable to the temporary investment of new capital during the one-year period following our receipt of new capital that we raise through equity offerings or public offerings of debt obligations with at least a five-year term.
  Second, at least 95% of our gross income for each taxable year must be derived from sources that qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test, and from (i) dividends, (ii) interest and (iii) gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities (provided that such stock or securities are not inventory property, i.e., property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business), or any combination of these.
  Gross income from our sale of property that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business is excluded from both the numerator and the denominator in both gross income tests. In addition, income and gain from hedging transactions that we enter into to hedge indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets and that are clearly and timely identified as such will be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator for purposes of both gross income tests. In addition, certain foreign currency gains will be excluded from gross income for purposes of one or both of the gross income tests. Finally, gross income attributable to cancellation of indebtedness income will be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator for purposes of both of the gross income tests. The following paragraphs discuss the specific application of the gross income tests to us. We will monitor the amount of our non-qualifying income and we will seek to manage our portfolio to comply at all times with the gross income tests, but we cannot assure you that we will be successful in this effort. The following paragraphs discuss some of the specific applications of the gross income tests to us.
  Interest. The term “interest,” as defined for purposes of both gross income tests, generally excludes any amount that is based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person, however, it generally includes the following: (i) an amount that is received or accrued based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales, and (ii) an amount that is based on the income or profits of a debtor, as long as the debtor derives substantially all of its income from the real property securing the debt by leasing substantially all of its interest in the property, and only to the extent that the amounts received by the debtor would be qualifying “rents from real property” if received directly by a REIT. We do not expect that any of our loans will be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person.
  Interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, including, for this purpose, original issue discount, prepayment penalties, loan assumption fees and late payment charges that are not compensation for services, generally is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. If a
  loan is secured by real property and other property and the highest principal amount of a loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value of the real property securing the loan as of the date (i) we agreed to originate or acquire the loan or (ii) as discussed below, in the event of a “significant modification,” the date we modified the loan, a portion of the interest income from such loan will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test but will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. However, in the case of a loan that is secured by both real property and personal property, if the fair market value of such personal property does not exceed 15% of the total fair market value of all property securing the loan, then the personal property securing the loan will be treated as real property for purposes of determining the interest on such loan is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. If apportionment is required, the portion of the interest income that will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test will be equal to the portion of the principal amount of the loan that is not secured by real property—that is, the amount by which the loan exceeds the value of the real estate that is security for the loan.
  We expect that the mortgage-backed securities, or MBS, in which we invest generally will be treated either as interests in a grantor trust or as regular interests in a REMIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that all interest income from such MBS will be qualifying income for the 95% gross income test. In the case of MBS treated as interests in grantor trusts, we would be treated as owning an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the mortgage loans held by the grantor trust. The interest on such mortgage loans would be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test to the extent that the obligation is secured by real property, as discussed above. In the case of MBS treated as regular interests in a REMIC, income derived from REMIC interests will generally be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. If less than 95% of the assets of the REMIC are real estate assets, however, then only a proportionate part of our interest in the REMIC and income derived from the interest will qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test. In addition, some REMIC securitizations include imbedded interest swap or cap contracts or other derivative instruments that potentially could produce non-qualifying income for the holder of the related REMIC securities.
  We purchase and sell Agency MBS through to-be-announced forward contracts, or TBAs, and recognize income or gains from the disposition of those TBAs, through dollar roll transactions or otherwise. While there is no direct authority with respect to the qualification of income or gains from dispositions of TBAs as gains from the sale of real property (including interests in real property and interests in mortgages on real property) or other qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, we treat income and gains from our TBAs as qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, based on an opinion of prior tax counsel substantially to the effect that for purposes of the 75% REIT gross income test, any gain recognized by us in connection with the settlement of our TBAs should be treated as gain from the sale or disposition of an interest in mortgages on real property. If the IRS were to successfully challenge this opinion of counsel, we could be subject to a penalty tax or we could fail to remain qualified as a REIT if a sufficient portion of our income consists of income or gains from the disposition of TBAs.
  We own interests in mezzanine loans, which are loans secured by equity interests in an entity that directly or indirectly owns real property, rather than by a direct mortgage of the real property. In Revenue Procedure 2003-65, the IRS established a safe harbor under which loans secured by a first priority security interest in the ownership interests in a partnership or limited liability company owning real property will be treated as real estate assets for purposes of the REIT asset tests described below, and interest derived from those loans will be treated as qualifying income for both the 75% and 95% gross income tests, provided several requirements are satisfied. Although the Revenue Procedure provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. Moreover, our mezzanine loans may not meet all of the requirements for reliance on the safe harbor. To the extent any mezzanine loans that we acquire do not qualify for the safe harbor described above, the interest income from the loans will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but there is a risk that such interest income will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. We believe we have invested, and intend to continue to invest, in mezzanine loans in a manner that will enable us to continue to satisfy the REIT gross income and asset tests.
  We may modify the terms of our mortgage or mezzanine loans. Under the Code, if the terms of a loan are modified in a manner constituting a “significant modification,” such modification triggers a deemed exchange of the original loan for the modified loan. IRS Revenue Procedure 2014-51 provides a safe harbor pursuant to which we will not be required to redetermine the fair market value of the real property securing a loan for purposes of the gross income and asset tests in connection with a loan modification that is (i) occasioned by a borrower default or (ii) made at a time when we reasonably believe that the modification to the loan will substantially reduce a significant risk of default on the original loan. To the extent we significantly modify loans in a manner that does not qualify for that safe harbor, we will be required to redetermine the value of the real property securing the loan at the time it was significantly modified, which could result in a portion of the interest income on the loan being treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. In determining the value of the real property securing such a loan, we generally will not obtain third-party appraisals but rather will rely on internal valuations.
  The interest, original issue discount, and market discount income that we will receive from our mortgage-related assets generally will be qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests. Some of our investments, such as the investments we acquire through our middle market lending activities, will not be secured by mortgages on real property or interests in real property. Our interest income from those investments will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but not the 75% gross income test.
  We also invest in excess mortgage servicing rights (“MSR”), which represent the portion of the servicing fee paid to mortgage servicers in excess of the reasonable compensation that would be charged for mortgage servicing in an arm’s length transaction. In private letter rulings issued to taxpayers, the IRS has ruled substantially to the effect that interest received in respect of an excess MSR will be considered interest on obligations. Private letter rulings cannot be relied upon by persons other than the taxpayer to which they were issued. Nonetheless, we treat income from any excess MSR that have terms consistent with those described in such private letter rulings as qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. In the event that such income were determined not to qualify for the 75% gross income test, we could be subject to a penalty tax or we could fail to qualify as a REIT if such income, together with our other income that does not qualify for the 75% gross income test, were to exceed 25% of our gross income for any taxable year.
  We have entered, and intend to enter, into financing arrangements that are structured as sale and repurchase agreements pursuant to which we would nominally sell certain of our assets to a counterparty and simultaneously enter into an agreement to repurchase these assets at a later date in exchange for a purchase price. Economically, these agreements are financings that are secured by the assets sold pursuant thereto. We believe that we would be treated for REIT asset and income test purposes as the owner of the assets that are the subject of any such sale and repurchase agreement notwithstanding that such agreements may transfer record ownership of the assets to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. It is possible, however, that the IRS could assert that we did not own the assets during the term of the sale and repurchase agreement, in which case we could fail to qualify as a REIT.
  Hedging Transactions. We may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Hedging transactions could take a variety of forms, including interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements, options, futures contracts, forward rate agreements or similar financial instruments. Except to the extent provided by U.S. Treasury regulations, any income from a hedging transaction we enter into (i) in the normal course of our business primarily to manage risk of interest rate or price changes or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, to acquire or carry real estate assets, which is clearly identified as specified in U.S. Treasury regulations before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated or entered into, including gain from the sale or disposition of such a transaction, (ii) primarily to manage risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% gross income tests that is clearly identified as such before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated or entered into and satisfies other identification requirements, or (iii) in connection with the effective termination of certain hedging transactions described
  above, will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests. To the extent that we enter into other types of hedging transactions, the income from those transactions is likely to be treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of both of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT.
  We may conduct some or all of our hedging activities through a taxable REIT subsidiary or other corporate entity, the income of which may be subject to U.S. federal income tax, rather than by participating in the arrangements directly or through pass-through subsidiaries.
  Fee Income. Fee income generally will be qualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests if it is received in consideration for entering into an agreement to make a loan secured by real property and the fees are not determined by income and profits. Other fees generally are not qualifying income for purposes of either gross income test. Any fees earned by a taxable REIT subsidiary will not be included for purposes of the gross income tests.
  Rents from Real Property. To the extent that we own or acquire real property or an interest therein, rents we receive will qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if several conditions are met. These conditions relate to the identity of the tenant, the computation of the rent payable, and the nature of the property leased. First, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from rents from real property solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Second, we, or an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of the value of our stock, must not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the assets or net profits of the tenant, or, if the tenant is a corporation, 10% or more of the voting power or value of all classes of stock of the tenant. Rents received from such tenant that is a taxable REIT subsidiary, however, will not be excluded from the definition of “rents from real property” as a result of this condition if either (i) at least 90% of the space at the property to which the rents relate is leased to third parties, and the rents paid by the taxable REIT subsidiary are comparable to rents paid by our other tenants for comparable space, or (ii) the property is a qualified lodging or qualified health facility and such property is operated on behalf of the taxable REIT subsidiary by a person who is an “independent contractor” and certain other requirements are met. Third, if rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to the personal property will not qualify as rents from real property. Finally, for rents to qualify as “rents from real property” for purposes of the gross income tests, we are only allowed to provide services that are both usually or “customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of real property and not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant.” We may, however, render services to our tenants through an “independent contractor” who is adequately compensated and from whom we do not derive revenue. We may also own a taxable REIT subsidiary which provides non-customary services to tenants without tainting our rental income from the related properties.
  Even if a REIT furnishes or renders services that are non-customary with respect to a property, if the greater of (i) the amounts received or accrued, directly or indirectly, or deemed received by the REIT with respect to such services, or (ii) 150% of our direct cost in furnishing or rendering the services during a taxable year is not more than 1% of all amounts received or accrued, directly or indirectly by the REIT with respect to the property during the same taxable year, then only the amounts with respect to such non-customary services are not treated as rent for purposes of the REIT gross income tests.
  In connection with the offer and the merger, we will acquire certain senior housing properties. As described above, rental revenue will generally not qualify as “rents from real property” for purposes of the REIT income tests if we directly or constructively hold a 10% or greater interest, as measured by vote or value, in the lessee’s equity. Rents we receive from a tenant that also is our taxable REIT subsidiary, however, will generally not be excluded from the definition of “rents from real property” as a result of our ownership interest in the taxable REIT subsidiary if the property to which the rents relate is a “qualified lodging facility” or a “qualified healthcare
  property” and such property is operated on behalf of the taxable REIT subsidiary by a person who is an “eligible independent contractor.” An operator will qualify as an eligible independent contractor if it meets certain ownership tests with respect to us, and if, at the time the operator enters into the property management agreement, the operator is actively engaged in the trade or business of operating qualified healthcare properties for any person who is not a related person to us or the taxable REIT subsidiary. A “qualified healthcare property” means any real property (or any personal property incidental thereto) that is, or that is necessary or incidental to the use of, a healthcare facility. Certain of the senior housing properties that we own are leased to a taxable REIT subsidiary in a structure intended to satisfy the foregoing conditions. If, however, any of the above conditions were not satisfied, then the rents from such a lease would not be considered income from a qualifying source for purposes of the REIT rules, which could cause us to incur penalty taxes or to fail to qualify as a REIT.
  Prohibited Transactions Tax. A REIT will incur a 100% tax on the net income derived from any sale or other disposition of property, other than foreclosure property, that the REIT holds primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. Whether a REIT holds an asset primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business depends, however, on the facts and circumstances in effect from time to time, including those related to a particular asset. Nevertheless, we generally intend to conduct our operations so that no asset that we own will be treated as, or as having been, held for sale to customers, and that a sale of any such asset will not be treated as having been in the ordinary course of our business. We cannot assure you that we will comply with certain safe harbor provisions or that we will avoid owning property that may be characterized as property that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. The 100% tax will not apply to gains from the sale of property that is held through a taxable REIT subsidiary or other taxable corporation, although such income will be subject to tax in the hands of the corporation at regular corporate income tax rates.
  Foreclosure Property. Foreclosure property is any real property, including interests in real property, and any personal property incident to such real property:
  • that is acquired by a REIT as the result of the REIT having bid in such property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced such property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of law, after there was a default or default was imminent on a lease of such property or on indebtedness that such property secured;
  • for which the related loan was acquired by the REIT at a time when the default was not imminent or anticipated; and
  • for which the REIT makes a proper election to treat the property as foreclosure property.
  However, a REIT will not be considered to have foreclosed on a property where the REIT takes control of the property as a mortgagee-in-possession and cannot receive any profit or sustain any loss except as a creditor of the mortgagor.
  Property generally ceases to be foreclosure property at the end of the third taxable year following the taxable year in which the REIT acquired the property, or longer if an extension is granted by the Secretary of the Treasury. This grace period terminates and foreclosure property ceases to be foreclosure property on the first day:
  • on which a lease is entered into for the property that, by its terms, will give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test, or any amount is received or accrued, directly or indirectly, pursuant to a lease entered into on or after such day that will give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test;
  • on which any construction takes place on the property, other than completion of a building or any other improvement, if more than 10% of the construction was completed before default became imminent; or
  • which is more than 90 days after the day on which the REIT acquired the property and the property is used in a trade or business that is conducted by the REIT, other than through an independent contractor from whom the REIT itself does not derive or receive any income or a taxable REIT subsidiary.
  We will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate on any income from foreclosure property, other than income that otherwise would be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, less expenses directly connected with the production of that income. However, income from foreclosure property, including gain from the sale of foreclosure property held for sale in the ordinary course of a trade or business, will qualify for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
  We may have the option to foreclose on mortgage loans when a borrower is in default. The foregoing rules could affect a decision by us to foreclose on a particular mortgage loan and could affect whether we choose to foreclose with regard to a particular mortgage loan.
  Foreign Currency Gain. Certain foreign currency gains will be excluded from gross income for purposes of one or both of the gross income tests. “Real estate foreign exchange gain” will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Real estate foreign exchange gain generally includes foreign currency gain attributable to any item of income or gain that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, foreign currency gain attributable to the acquisition or ownership of (or becoming or being the obligor under) obligations secured by mortgages on real property or an interest in real property and certain foreign currency gain attributable to certain “qualified business units” of a REIT that satisfies the 75% gross income test and 75% asset test on a stand-alone basis. “Passive foreign exchange gain” will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. Passive foreign exchange gain generally includes real estate foreign exchange gain as described above, and also includes foreign currency gain attributable to any item of income or gain that is qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test and foreign currency gain attributable to the acquisition or ownership of (or becoming or being the obligor under) obligations. These exclusions for real estate foreign exchange gain and passive foreign exchange gain do not apply to any foreign currency gain derived from dealing, or engaging in substantial and regular trading, in securities. Such gain is treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
  Dividends. Our dividend income from stock in any corporation (other than any REIT) and from any taxable REIT subsidiary will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but not the 75% gross income test. If we own stock in other REITs, the dividends that we receive from those REITs and our gain on the sale of the stock in those REITs will be qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests. However, if a REIT in which we own stock fails to qualify as a REIT in any year, our income from such REIT would be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but not the 75% gross income test.
  Phantom Income. Due to the nature of the assets in which we will invest, we may be required to recognize taxable income from certain assets in advance of our receipt of cash flow from or proceeds from disposition of such assets, and may be required to report taxable income that exceeds the economic income ultimately realized on such assets.
  We may acquire debt instruments or MBS in the secondary market for less than their face amount. The amount of such discount generally will be treated as “market discount” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accrued market discount is reported as income when, and to the extent that, any payment of principal of the debt instrument is made, unless we elect to include accrued market discount in income as it accrues. Principal payments on certain loans are made monthly, and consequently accrued market discount may have to be included in income each month as if the debt instrument were assured of ultimately being collected in full. If we collect less on the debt instrument than our purchase price plus the market discount we had previously reported as income, we may not be able to benefit from any offsetting loss deductions.
  We may agree to modify the terms of distressed and other loans we hold. These modifications may be considered “significant modifications” for U.S. federal income tax purposes that give rise to a deemed
  debt-for-debt exchange upon which we may recognize taxable income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash.
  Some of the loans and debt securities that we acquire may have been issued with original issue discount. In general, we will be required to accrue original issue discount based on the constant yield to maturity of the debt securities, and to treat it as taxable income in accordance with applicable U.S. federal income tax rules even though such yield may exceed cash payments, if any, received on such debt instrument. Under the recent tax legislation informally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or TCJA, we generally will be required to take certain amounts in income no later than the time such amounts are reflected on certain financial statements. The application of this rule may require the accrual of income with respect to our debt instruments or MBS, such as original issue discount or market discount, earlier than would be the case under the general tax rules, although the precise application of this rule is unclear at this time. This rule generally will be effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 or, for debt instruments or MBS issued with original issue discount, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2018. To the extent that this rule requires the accrual of income earlier than under the general tax rules, it could increase our “phantom income,” which may make it more likely that we could be required to borrow funds or take other action to satisfy the REIT distribution requirements for the taxable year in which this “phantom income” is recognized. We currently do not expect that this rule will have a material impact on the timing of accrual of our income or on the amount of our distribution requirement.
  In addition, in the event that any debt instruments or debt securities acquired by us are delinquent as to mandatory principal and interest payments, or in the event payments with respect to a particular debt instrument are not made when due, we may nonetheless be required to continue to recognize the unpaid interest as taxable income. Similarly, we may be required to accrue interest income with respect to subordinated MBS at the stated rate regardless of whether corresponding cash payments are received.
  Finally, we may be required under the terms of indebtedness that we incur to use cash received from interest payments to make principal payments on that indebtedness, with the effect of recognizing income but not having a corresponding amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
  As a result of each of these potential timing differences between income recognition or expense deduction and cash receipts or disbursements, there is a significant risk that we may have substantial taxable income in excess of cash available for distribution. In that event, we may need to borrow funds or take other action to satisfy the REIT distribution requirements for the taxable year in which this “phantom income” is recognized. See “—Annual Distribution Requirements.”
  Failure to Satisfy Gross Income Tests. If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% and 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for that year if we are entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. These relief provisions generally would be available if our failure to meet such tests is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, and we attach a sche
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