Document
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
​
FORM 10-Q
 
​

(Mark One)
☒    QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018
OR
☐    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
​    For the transition period from                  to                 

001-36844
(Commission file number)
 
​
GREAT AJAX CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
​
Maryland
State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization
47-1271842
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
9400 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy,
Suite 131
Beaverton, OR 97005
(Address of principal executive offices)
97005
(Zip Code)
503-505-5670
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes☒ No☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes☒ No☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definition 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 ☐
Emerging Growth Company ☐
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o No☒
As of November 6, 2018, 18,856,601 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, were outstanding, which includes 624,106 operating partnership units that are exchangeable on a one-for-one basis into shares of the registrant’s common stock.
 
​​


​
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


i

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.    Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
​
GREAT AJAX CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
($ in thousands except per share data)
September 30, 2018

December 31, 2017
ASSETS
(Unaudited)


Cash and cash equivalents
$
59,758


$
53,721

Cash held in trust
45,527


27,041

Mortgage loans, net(1,4)
1,272,644


1,253,541

Property held-for-sale, net(2)
20,463


24,947

Rental property, net
8,080


1,284

Investments at fair value
51,751


6,285

Receivable from servicer
13,106


17,005

Investments in affiliates
8,737


7,020

Prepaid expenses and other assets
12,410


4,894

Total assets
$
1,492,476


$
1,395,738

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
Secured borrowings, net(1,3,4)
$
631,207


$
694,040

Borrowings under repurchase transactions
420,461


276,385

Convertible senior notes, net(3)
103,162


102,571

Management fee payable
777


750

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
4,704


4,554

Total liabilities
1,160,311


1,078,300

Commitments and contingencies – see Note 7

 

Equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock $0.01 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding
—


—

Common stock $0.01 par value; 125,000,000 shares authorized, 18,856,601 shares at September 30, 2018 and 18,588,228 shares at December 31, 2017 issued and outstanding
189


186

Additional paid-in capital
258,854


254,847

Treasury stock
(232
)
 
—

Retained earnings
40,518


35,556

Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
(203
)

(233
)
Equity attributable to stockholders
299,126


290,356

Non-controlling interests(5)
33,039


27,082

Total equity
332,165


317,438

Total liabilities and equity
$
1,492,476


$
1,395,738

 
​(1)
Mortgage loans, net include $914.2 million and $996.2 million of loans at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, transferred to securitization trusts that are variable interest entities (“VIEs”); these loans can only be used to settle obligations of the VIEs. Secured borrowings consist of notes issued by VIEs that can only be settled with the assets and cash flows of the VIEs. The creditors do not have recourse to the primary beneficiary (Great Ajax Corp.). See Note 8 — Debt. Mortgage loans, net include $0.4 million and $0 of allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
(2)
Property held-for-sale, net, includes valuation allowances of $2.0 million and $1.8 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
(3)
Secured borrowings and Convertible senior notes are presented net of deferred issuance costs.

1


​(4)
As of September 30, 2018, balances for Mortgage loans, net includes $338.7 million and Secured borrowings, net of deferred costs includes $237.0 million from the 50% and 63% owned joint ventures, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, balances for Mortgage loans, net include $177.1 million and Secured borrowings, net of deferred costs includes $88.4 million from a 50% owned joint venture, all of which the Company consolidates under U.S. GAAP.
(5)
Non-controlling interests includes $19.9 million at September 30, 2018, from 50% and 63% owned joint ventures. Non-controlling interests includes $14.0 million at December 31, 2017, from a 50% owned joint venture, which the Company consolidates under U.S. GAAP.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated interim financial statements.
2

GREAT AJAX CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
($ in thousands except per share data)
September 30, 2018
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2018
 
September 30, 2017
INCOME
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
$
27,416

 
$
24,529

 
$
79,697

 
$
67,057

Provision for loan losses
(365
)
 
—

 
(365
)
 
—

Interest expense
(12,997
)
 
(10,775
)
 
(38,290
)
 
(27,719
)
Net interest income
14,054

 
13,754

 
41,042

 
39,338

Income from investments in affiliates
239

 
158

 
628

 
543

Other income
457

 
314

 
2,600

 
1,117

Total income
14,750

 
14,226

 
44,270

 
40,998

EXPENSE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related party expense – loan servicing fees
2,457

 
2,187

 
7,598

 
6,003

Related party expense – management fee
1,456

 
1,428

 
4,428

 
3,830

Loan transaction expense
(25
)
 
290

 
365

 
1,257

Professional fees
482

 
497

 
1,597

 
1,484

Real estate operating expenses
1,001

 
1,151

 
2,394

 
2,112

Other expense
964

 
910

 
2,920

 
2,482

Total expense
6,335

 
6,463

 
19,302

 
17,168

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss on debt extinguishment
836

 
—

 
836

 
218

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before provision for income taxes
7,579

 
7,763

 
24,132

 
23,612

Provision for income taxes
84

 
47

 
102

 
96

Consolidated net income
7,495

 
7,716

 
24,030


23,516

Less: consolidated net income attributable to the non-controlling interest
937

 
246

 
2,286

 
773

Consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders
$
6,558

 
$
7,470

 
$
21,744

 
$
22,743

Basic earnings per common share
$
0.35

 
$
0.41

 
$
1.16

 
$
1.25

Diluted earnings per common share
$
0.34

 
$
0.38

 
$
1.09

 
$
1.19

Weighted average shares – basic
18,691,393

 
18,072,045

 
18,599,088

 
18,019,434

Weighted average shares – diluted
26,592,806

 
25,246,764

 
26,488,984

 
22,380,788



The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated interim financial statements.
3

GREAT AJAX CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
($ in thousands)
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders
$
6,558


$
7,470

 
$
21,744

 
$
22,743

Other comprehensive income/(loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized gain/(loss) on investment, net of non-controlling interest
193

 
(39
)
 
30

 
(170
)
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Comprehensive income
$
6,751

 
$
7,431

 
$
21,774

 
$
22,573





The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated interim financial statements.
4

GREAT AJAX CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
($ in thousands)
Nine months ended
September 30, 2018
 
September 30, 2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Consolidated net income
$
24,030

 
$
23,516

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities
 
 
 
Stock-based management fee and compensation expense
2,969

 
2,248

Non-cash interest income accretion
(32,643
)
 
(32,019
)
Discount accretion on investment in debt securities
(255
)
 
(153
)
Gain on sale of property held-for-sale
(264
)
 
(170
)
Non-cash loan charges
—

 
26

Depreciation of property
94

 
56

Impairment of real estate owned
2,049

 
2,027

Provision for loan losses
365

 
—

Amortization of debt discount and prepaid financing costs
5,068

 
4,221

Undistributed income from investment in affiliates
(628
)
 
(543
)
Net change in operating assets and liabilities
 
 
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(7,245
)
 
(1,767
)
Receivable from servicer
3,683

 
(895
)
Accrued expenses, management fee payable, and other liabilities
177

 
604

Net cash from operating activities
(2,600
)
 
(2,849
)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Purchase of mortgage loans and related balances
(97,738
)
 
(239,992
)
Origination of commercial loans
(5,100
)
 
(7,042
)
Principal paydowns on mortgage loans
105,254

 
77,177

Principal paydowns on debt securities held as investments
4,656

 
—

Loans purchase deposit
(50
)
 
—

Purchase of debt securities
(48,798
)
 
—

Purchase of rental property
(5,896
)
 
—

Purchase of equity securities
(1,039
)
 
—

Proceeds from sale of property held-for-sale
12,943

 
11,922

Renovations of rental property
(264
)
 
—

Investment in Great Ajax FS LLC, including warrants
(1,750
)
 
—

Investment in equity method investee
—

 
(5,115
)
Distribution from affiliates
647

 
2,831

Net cash from investing activities
(37,135
)
 
(160,219
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Proceeds from repurchase transactions
182,128

 
84,592

Repayments on repurchase transactions
(38,052
)
 
(54,027
)
Proceeds from sale of secured borrowings
167,910

 
140,669

Repayments on secured borrowings
(232,432
)
 
(88,217
)
Proceeds from sale of convertible senior notes
—

 
105,325

Deferred financing costs
(2,215
)
 
(2,526
)
Sale of common stock pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan
140

 
123

Distribution to non-controlling interest
(3,107
)
 
(519
)
Issuance of non-controlling interest in subsidiaries
6,778

 
—

Dividends paid on common stock
(16,892
)
 
(15,099
)
Net cash from financing activities
64,258

 
170,321

NET CHANGE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND CASH HELD IN TRUST
24,523

 
7,253

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND CASH HELD IN TRUST, beginning of period
80,762

 
36,908

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND CASH HELD IN TRUST, end of period
$
105,285

 
$
44,161

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest
$
36,909

 
$
24,792

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Transfer of loans to rental property or property held-for-sale
$
10,974

 
$
17,927


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated interim financial statements.
5

Issuance of common stock for management fee and compensation expense
$
2,969

 
$
2,248

Issuance of shares to Great Ajax FS LLC
$
1,011

 
$
—

Transfer of property held-for-sale to loans
$
—

 
$
56

Non-cash adjustments to basis in mortgage loans
$
214

 
$
245

Unrealized gain/(loss) on available for sale securities, net of non-controlling interest and tax
$
30

 
$
(170
)
Treasury stock received through distributions from investment in Manager
$
232

 
$
—

Convertible senior notes conversion premium recognized in equity
$
—

 
$
2,687

Transfer of accrued interest to borrowings under repurchase agreement
$
—

 
$
397

Cumulative effect of accounting change recognized in equity
$
110

 
$
—

    
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the consolidated Balance Sheet to the amount shown in the consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as of September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017:
 
September 30, 2018
 
September 30, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents
$
59,758

 
$
43,086

Restricted cash
45,527

 
1,075

Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash shown on the consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
$
105,285

 
$
44,161



The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated interim financial statements.
6

GREAT AJAX CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(Unaudited)
($ in thousands)
Common
Stock shares
 
Common stock amount
 
Treasury stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
Non-controlling
Interest
 
Total
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2016
18,122,387

 
$
181

 
$
—

 
$
244,880

 
$
27,231

 
$
—

 
$
272,292

 
$
10,431

 
$
282,723

Net income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
22,743

 
—

 
22,743

 
773

 
23,516

Issuance of shares under dividend reinvestment plan
9,165

 
—

 
—

 
123

 
—

 
—

 
123

 
—

 
123

Stock-based management fee expense
78,887

 
2

 
—

 
1,580

 
—

 
—

 
1,582

 
—

 
1,582

Stock-based compensation expense
41,536

 
—

 
—

 
666

 
—

 
—

 
666

 
—

 
666

Dividends and distributions
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(15,099
)
 
—

 
(15,099
)
 
(519
)
 
(15,618
)
Conversion premium - Convertible senior notes
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,687

 
—

 
—

 
2,687

 
—

 
2,687

Other comprehensive loss
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(170
)
 
(170
)
 
—

 
(170
)
Balance at September 30, 2017
18,251,975

 
$
183

 
$
—

 
$
249,936

 
$
34,875

 
$
(170
)
 
$
284,824

 
$
10,685

 
$
295,509

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2017
18,588,228

 
$
186

 
$
—

 
$
254,847

 
$
35,556

 
$
(233
)
 
$
290,356

 
$
27,082

 
$
317,438

Net income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
21,744

 
—

 
21,744

 
2,286

 
24,030

Issuance of non-controlling interest in subsidiaries
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
6,778

 
6,778

Issuance of shares to Great Ajax FS LLC
75,001

 
1

 
—

 
1,010

 
—

 
—

 
1,011

 
—

 
1,011

Issuance of shares under dividend reinvestment plan
10,381

 
—

 
—

 
140

 
—

 
—

 
140

 
—

 
140

Stock-based management fee expense
147,274

 
2

 
—

 
2,098

 
—

 
—

 
2,100

 
—

 
2,100

Stock-based compensation expense
53,082

 
—

 
—

 
869

 
—

 
—

 
869

 
—

 
869

Dividends and distributions
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(16,892
)
 
—

 
(16,892
)
 
(3,107
)
 
(19,999
)
Other comprehensive income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
30

 
30

 
—

 
30

Cumulative effect of accounting change
—

 
—

 
—

 
(110
)
 
110

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Treasury stock
(17,365
)
 
—

 
(232
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(232
)
 
—

 
(232
)
Balance at September 30, 2018
18,856,601

 
$
189

 
$
(232
)
 
$
258,854

 
$
40,518

 
$
(203
)
 
$
299,126

 
$
33,039

 
$
332,165



The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated interim financial statements.
7

GREAT AJAX CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED INTERM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2018
(Unaudited)
Note 1 — Organization and Basis of Presentation
Great Ajax Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), is an externally managed real estate company formed on January 30, 2014, and capitalized on March 28, 2014, by its then sole stockholder, Aspen Yo (“Aspen”), a company affiliated with Aspen Capital, the trade name for the Aspen group of companies. The Company was formed to facilitate capital raising activities and to operate as a mortgage real estate investment trust (“REIT”). The Company primarily targets acquisitions of re-performing loans (“RPLs”) including residential mortgage loans and small balance commercial mortgage loans (“SBC loans”) and originations of SBC loans. RPLs are mortgage loans on which at least five of the seven most recent payments have been made, or the most recent payment has been made and accepted pursuant to an agreement, or the full dollar amount, to cover at least five payments has been paid in the last seven months. The SBC loans that the Company intends to opportunistically target, through acquisitions, or originations, generally have a principal balance of up to $5.0 million and are secured by multi-family residential and commercial mixed use retail/residential properties. Purchased SBC loans are generally RPLs. Additionally, the Company may invest in both residential and non-residential commercial properties directly either through a foreclosure event of a loan in its mortgage portfolio or, through a direct acquisition. The Company may also target investments in non-performing loans (“NPL”). NPLs are loans on which the most recent three payments have not been made. The Company may acquire NPLs, either directly or with third-party institutional investors if attractive opportunities exist. The Company’s manager is Thetis Asset Management LLC (the “Manager” or “Thetis”), an affiliated company. The Company owns 19.8% of the Manager and 8.0% of Great Ajax FS LLC ("GAFS" or "The Parent of our Servicer") which owns substantially all of the interest in Gregory Funding LLC ("Gregory" or the "Servicer"), the Company's loan servicer. The Company’s mortgage loans and real properties are serviced by Gregory, also an affiliated company. The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
The Company conducts substantially all of its business through its operating partnership, Great Ajax Operating Partnership L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), and its subsidiaries. The Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. GA-TRS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership that owns the equity interest in the Manager and the Parent of the Servicer. The Company elected to treat GA-TRS as a taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”) under the Code. Great Ajax Funding LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership formed to act as the depositor of mortgage loans into securitization trusts and to hold the subordinated securities issued by such trusts and any additional trusts the Company may form for additional secured borrowings. The Company generally securitizes its mortgage loans through securitization trusts and retains subordinated securities from the secured borrowings. These trusts are considered to be VIEs, and the Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of many of these VIEs. AJX Mortgage Trust I and AJX Mortgage Trust II are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership formed to hold mortgage loans used as collateral for financings under the Company’s repurchase agreements. In addition, the Company, through its Operating Partnership, holds real estate owned properties (“REO”) acquired upon the foreclosure or other settlement of its owned NPLs, as well as through outright purchases. GAJX Real Estate LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership formed to own, maintain, improve and sell REO properties purchased by the Company. The Company has elected to treat GAJX Real Estate LLC as a TRS under the Code.
In February 2018, the Company formed AJX Commercial Properties I to hold multi-family residential properties held as rentals. AJX Commercial Properties I is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership.
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates
The consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto for the period ended December 31, 2017, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 8, 2018.
Interim financial statements are unaudited and prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the requirements for reporting on Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring accruals considered necessary for the fair presentation of consolidated financial statements for the interim period presented, have been included. The current period’s results of operations will not necessarily be indicative of results that ultimately may be achieved for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. The consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as contained within the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and the rules and regulations of the SEC, as applied to interim financial statements.
The Company consolidates the results and balances of securitization trusts when it determines it is the primary beneficiary of the trust. The trusts are established to provide debt financing to the Company. The Company also consolidates

8

the results and balances of five subsidiaries with ownership interests held by third parties. AS Ajax E II LLC ("AS Ajax E II") holds a 5.0% interest in a Delaware trust that was formed to own residential mortgage loans and residential real estate assets; AS Ajax E II is 53.1% owned by the Company. Ajax Mortgage Loan Trusts 2017-D ("2017-D") and Ajax Mortgage Loan Trusts 2018-C (“2018-C”) are securitization trusts which holds mortgage loans, REO property and secured debt; 2017-D is 50.0% owned by the Company, and 2018-C is 63.0% owned by the Company. Banfield Holding LLC ("Banfield") holds an REO property that is 90.0% owned by the Company. The Company recognizes non-controlling interests in its consolidated financial statements for the amounts of the investments and income due to the third-party investors for its consolidated subsidiaries. The Operating Partnership is a majority owned partnership that has a non-controlling ownership interest that is included in non-controlling interests on the consolidated Balance Sheet. As of September 30, 2018, the Company owned 96.8% of the outstanding operating partnership units ("OP Units") and the remaining 3.2% of the OP Units were owned by an unaffiliated holder. All controlled subsidiaries are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements and all intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Company’s 19.8% investment in the Manager and 8.0% investment in GAFS are accounted for using the equity method because the Company can exercise influence on the operations of these entities through common officers and directors. There is no traded or quoted price for the interests in the Manager or GAFS since each is privately held.
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The Company considers significant estimates to include expected cash flows from mortgage loans and their resolution timelines, fair value measurements, and the net realizable value of REO properties held-for-sale.

Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Mortgage loans
Purchased mortgage loans are initially recorded at the purchase price, net of any acquisition fees or costs at the time of acquisition and are considered asset acquisitions. As part of the determination of the bid price for mortgage loans, the Company uses a proprietary discounted cash flow valuation model to project expected cash flows, and consider alternate loan resolution probabilities, including liquidation or conversion to REO. Observable inputs to the model include interest rates, loan amounts, status of payments and property types. Unobservable inputs to the model include discount rates, forecast of future home prices, alternate loan resolution probabilities, resolution timelines, the value of underlying properties and other economic and demographic data.
Loans acquired with deterioration in credit quality
The loans acquired by the Company have generally suffered some credit deterioration subsequent to origination. As a result, the Company is required to account for the mortgage loans pursuant to ASC 310-30, Accounting for Loans with Deterioration in Credit Quality. The Company’s recognition of interest income for loans within the scope of ASC 310-30 is based upon its having a reasonable expectation of the amount and timing of the cash flows expected to be collected. When the timing and amount of cash flows expected to be collected are reasonably estimable, the Company uses expected cash flows to apply the effective interest method of income recognition.
Under ASC 310-30, acquired loans may be aggregated and accounted for as a pool of loans if the loans have common risk characteristics. A pool is accounted for as a single asset with a single composite interest rate and an aggregate expectation of cash flows. RPLs have been determined to have common risk characteristics and are accounted for as a single loan pool for loans acquired within each three-month calendar quarter. Similarly, NPLs have been determined to have common risk characteristics and are accounted for as a single non-performing pool for loans acquired within each three-month calendar quarter. Excluded from the aggregate pools are loans that pay in full subsequent to the acquisition closing date but prior to pooling. Any gain or loss on these loans is recognized as Interest income in the period the loan pays in full.
The Company’s accounting for loans under ASC 310-30 gives rise to an accretable yield and a non-accretable amount. The excess of all undiscounted cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition over the initial investment in the loans is the accretable yield. Cash flows expected at acquisition include all cash flows directly related to the acquired loan, including those expected from the underlying collateral. The Company recognizes the accretable yield as Interest income on a prospective level yield basis over the life of the pool. The excess of a loan’s contractually required payments over the amount of cash flows expected at the acquisition is the non-accretable amount. The Company’s expectation of the amount of undiscounted cash flows expected to be collected is evaluated at the end of each calendar quarter. If the Company expects to collect greater cash flows over the life of the pool, the accretable yield amount increases and the expected yield to maturity is adjusted on a prospective basis. A provision for loan losses is established when it is probable the Company will not collect all amounts previously estimated to be collectible. Management assesses the credit quality of the portfolio and the adequacy of loan loss reserves on a quarterly basis, or more frequently as necessary. Significant judgment is required in this analysis. Depending on the expected

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recovery of its investment, the Company considers the estimated net recoverable value of the loan pools as well as other factors, such as the fair value of the underlying collateral. When a loan pool is determined to be impaired, the amount of loss accrual is calculated by comparing the recorded investment to the value determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at the loan pool’s effective interest rate or the fair value of the underlying collateral. Because these determinations are based upon projections of future economic events, which are inherently subjective, the amounts ultimately realized may differ materially from the carrying value as of the reporting date.
     Borrower payments on the Company’s mortgage loans are classified as principal, interest, payments of fees, or escrow deposits. Amounts applied as interest on the borrower account are similarly classified as interest for accounting purposes and are classified as operating cash flows in the Company’s consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Amounts applied as principal on the borrower account including amounts contractually due from borrowers that exceed the Company’s basis in loans purchased at a discount, are similarly classified as principal for accounting purposes and are classified as investing cash flows in the consolidated Statement of Cash Flows as required under U.S. GAAP. Amounts received as payments of fees are recorded in Other income and classified as operating cash flows in the consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Escrow deposits are recorded on the Servicer’s Balance Sheet and do not impact the Company’s cash flow.
Loans acquired or originated that have not experienced a deterioration in credit quality
While the Company generally acquires loans that have experienced deterioration in credit quality, it also acquires loans that have not experienced a deterioration in credit quality and originates small balance commercial loans. The Company recognizes any related loan discount and deferred expenses pursuant to ASC 310-20 by amortizing these amounts over the life of the loan.
Accrual of interest on individual loans is discontinued when management believes that, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts, the borrower’s financial condition is such that collection of interest is doubtful. The Company’s policy is to stop accruing interest when a loan’s delinquency exceeds 90 days. All interest accrued but not collected for loans that are placed on non-accrual status or subsequently charged-off are reversed against Interest income. Income is subsequently recognized on the cash basis until, in management’s judgment, the borrower’s ability to make periodic principal and interest payments returns and future payments are reasonably assured, in which case the loan is returned to accrual status.
An individual loan is considered to be impaired when, based on current events and conditions, it is probable the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due (both principal and interest) according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Impaired loans are carried at the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. For individual loans, a troubled debt restructuring is a formal restructuring of a loan where, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, a concession that would not otherwise be considered is granted to the borrower. The concession may be granted in various forms, including providing a below-market interest rate, a reduction in the loan balance or accrued interest, an extension of the maturity date, or a combination of these. An individual loan that has had a troubled debt restructuring is considered to be impaired and is subject to the relevant accounting for impaired loans. Loans are tested quarterly for impairment and impairment reserves are recorded to the extent the net realizable value of the underlying collateral falls below net book value.
If necessary, an allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses charged to expenses. The allowance is an amount that the Manager believes will be adequate to absorb probable losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible, based on evaluations of the collectability of loans.
Real Estate
The Company acquires REO properties directly through purchases, or when it forecloses on the borrower and takes title to the underlying property or the borrower surrenders the deed in lieu of foreclosure. Property is recorded at cost if purchased, or at the present value of future cash flows if obtained through foreclosure by the Company. Property that the Company expects to actively market for sale is classified as held-for-sale. Property held-for-sale is carried at the lower of its acquisition basis or net realizable value (fair market value less expected selling costs, and any additional costs necessary to prepare the property for sale). Fair market value is determined based on broker price opinions (“BPOs”), appraisals, or other market indicators of fair value including list price or contract price, if listed or under contract for sale at the balance sheet date. Net unrealized losses due to changes in market value are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income through real estate operating expenses. No depreciation or amortization expense is recognized on properties held-for-sale. Holding costs are generally incurred by the Servicer and are subtracted from the Servicer’s remittance of sale proceeds upon ultimate disposition of properties held-for-sale.
Rental property is property not held-for-sale. Rental properties are intended to be held as long-term investments but may eventually be reclassified as held-for-sale. Property is generally held for investment as rental property if the cash flows

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from use as a rental exceed the present value of expected cash flows from a sale. Depreciation is provided for using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets of three to 39 years. The Company performs an impairment analysis for rental property using estimated cash flows if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired, such as prolonged vacancy, identification of materially adverse legal or environmental factors, changes in expected ownership period or a decline in market value to an amount less than cost. This analysis is performed at the property level. The cash flows are estimated based on a number of assumptions that are subject to economic and market uncertainties including, among others, demand for rental properties, competition for customers, changes in market rental rates, costs to operate each property and expected ownership periods.
Renovations are performed by the Servicer, and those costs are then reimbursed to the Servicer. Any renovations on properties which the Company elects to hold as rental properties are capitalized as part of the property’s basis and depreciated over the remaining estimated useful life of the property. The Company may perform property renovations to maximize the value of a property for either its rental strategy or for resale.
Secured Borrowings
The Company, through securitization trusts which are VIEs, issues callable debt secured by its mortgage loans in the ordinary course of business. The secured borrowings facilitated by the trusts are structured as debt financings, and the mortgage loans used as collateral remain on the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheet as the Company is the primary beneficiary of the securitization trusts. These secured borrowing VIEs are structured as pass through entities that receive principal and interest on the underlying mortgages and distribute those payments to the holders of the notes. The Company’s exposure to the obligations of the VIEs is generally limited to its investments in the entities; the creditors do not have recourse to the primary beneficiary. Coupon interest expense on the debt is recognized using the accrual method of accounting. Deferred issuance costs, including original issue discount and debt issuance costs, are carried on the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheets as a deduction from Secured borrowings, and are amortized to interest expense on an effective yield basis based on the underlying cash flow of the mortgage loans serving as collateral. The Company assumes the debt will be called at the specified call date for purposes of amortizing discount and issuance costs because the Company believes it will have the intent and ability to call the debt on the call date. Changes in the actual or projected underlying cash flows are reflected in the timing and amount of deferred issuance cost amortization.
Repurchase Facilities
The Company enters into repurchase financing facilities under which it nominally sells assets to a counterparty and simultaneously enters into an agreement to repurchase the sold assets at a price equal to the sold amount plus an interest factor. Despite being legally structured as sales and subsequent repurchases, repurchase transactions are generally accounted for as debt secured by the underlying assets. At the maturity of a repurchase financing, unless the repurchase financing is renewed, the Company is required to repay the borrowing including any accrued interest and concurrently receives back its pledged collateral from the lender. The repurchase financings are treated as collateralized financing transactions; pledged assets are recorded as assets in the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheets, and the debt is recognized at the contractual amount. Interest is recorded at the contractual amount on an accrual basis. Costs associated with the set-up of a repurchasing contract are recorded as deferred issuance cost at inception and amortized over the contractual life of the agreement. Any draw fees associated with individual transactions and any facility fees assessed on the amounts outstanding are recorded as deferred costs when incurred and amortized over the contractual life of the related borrowing.
Convertible Senior Notes
On April 25, 2017, the Company completed the public offer and sale of $87.5 million in aggregate principal amount of its convertible senior notes (the “notes”) due 2024, with a follow-on offering of an additional $20.5 million in aggregate principal amount completed on August 18, 2017, which, combined with the notes from the April offering, form a single series of securities. The notes bear interest at a rate of 7.25% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year. The notes will mature on April 30, 2024, unless earlier converted or redeemed. During certain periods and subject to certain conditions the notes will be convertible by their holders into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion rate of 1.6388 shares of common stock per $25.00 principal amount of the notes, which represents a conversion price of approximately $15.26 per share of common stock. The conversion rate, and thus the conversion price, may be subject to adjustment under certain circumstances.
Coupon interest on the notes is recognized using the accrual method of accounting. Discount and deferred issuance costs are carried on the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheets as a deduction from the notes, and are amortized to interest expense on an effective yield basis through April 30, 2023, the date at which the notes can be converted. The Company assumes the debt will be converted at the specified conversion date for purposes of amortizing issuance costs because the Company believes such conversion will be in the economic interest of the holders. A discount of $2.7 million, representing the fair value of the embedded conversion feature, was recorded to stockholders’ equity. No sinking fund has been established for redemption of the principal.

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Management Fee and Expense Reimbursement
The Company is a party to the Management Agreement with the Manager, which has a 15-year term, expiring on July 8, 2029. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager implements the Company’s business strategy and manages the Company’s business and investment activities and day-to-day operations, subject to oversight by the Company’s Board of Directors. Among other services, the Manager provides the Company with a management team and necessary administrative and support personnel. Additionally, the Company pays directly for the internal audit function which reports directly to the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors. The Company does not currently have any employees that it pays directly and does not expect to have any employees that it pays directly in the foreseeable future. Each of the Company’s executive officers is an employee or officer, or both, of the Manager or the Servicer.
Under the Management Agreement by and between the Company and the Manager as amended and restated on October 27, 2015, the Company pays a quarterly base management fee based on its stockholders’ equity, including equity equivalents such as the Company's issuance of convertible senior notes, and may be required to pay a quarterly incentive management fee based on its cash distributions to its stockholders. Manager fees are expensed in the quarter incurred and the portion payable in common stock is included in stockholders’ equity at quarter end. See Note 9 — Related party transactions.
Servicing Fees
The Company is also a party to the Servicing Agreement (the "Servicing Agreement"), expiring July 8, 2029, with the Servicer. Under the Servicing Agreement by and between the Company and the Servicer, the Servicer receives an annual servicing fee rate of 0.65% annually of the Unpaid Principal Balance (“UPB”) for loans that are re-performing at acquisition and 1.25% annually of UPB for loans that are non-performing at acquisition. For certain of the Company’s joint ventures, the Servicing fee rate for RPLs is reduced to an annual servicing fee rate of 0.42% annually on a loan-by-loan basis for any loan that makes seven consecutive payments. Servicing fees are paid monthly. The total fees incurred by the Company for these services depend upon the UPB and type of mortgage loans that the Servicer services pursuant to the terms of the servicing agreement. The fees do not change if a RPL becomes non-performing or vice versa. Servicing fees for the Company’s real property assets are the greater of (i) the servicing fee applicable to the underlying mortgage loan prior to foreclosure, or (ii) 1.00% annually of the fair market value of the REO as reasonably determined by the Manager or 1.00% annually of the purchase price of any REO otherwise purchased by the Company. The Servicer is reimbursed for all customary, reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in the performance of its obligations, including the actual cost of any repairs and renovations undertaken on the Company’s behalf. The total fees incurred by the Company for these services will be dependent upon the UPB and type of mortgage loans that the Servicer services, property values, previous UPB of the relevant loan, and the number of REO properties. The Servicing Agreement will automatically renew for successive one-year terms, subject to prior written notice of non-renewal. In certain cases, the Company may be obligated to pay a termination fee. The Management Agreement will automatically terminate at the same time as the Servicing Agreement if the Servicing Agreement is terminated for any reason. See Note 9 — Related party transactions.
Stock-based Payments
A portion of the management fee is payable in cash, and a portion of the management fee is in shares of the Company’s common stock, which are issued to the Manager in a private placement and are restricted securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The number of shares issued to the Manager are determined based on the higher of the most recently reported book value or the average of the closing prices of the Company's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") on the five business days after the date on which the most recent regular quarterly dividend to holders of the common stock is paid. Management fees paid in common stock are recognized as an expense in the quarter incurred and recorded in stockholders' equity at quarter end. The shares vest immediately upon issuance. The Manager has agreed to hold any shares of common stock received by it as payment of the base management fee for at least three years from the date such shares of common stock are received.
Under the Company’s 2014 Director Equity Plan (the “Director Plan”), the Company may make stock-based awards to its directors. The Director Plan is designed to promote the Company’s interests by attracting and retaining qualified and experienced individuals for service as non-employee directors. The Director Plan is administered by the Company’s Board of Directors. The total number of shares of common stock or other stock-based award, including grants of long-term incentive plan units (“LTIP Units”) from the Operating Partnership, available for issuance under the Director Plan is 78,000 shares. The Company has issued to each of its independent directors restricted stock awards of 2,000 shares of its common stock upon joining the Board of Directors, which are subject to a one-year vesting period. The Company also periodically issues additional restricted stock awards to its independent directors under the Director Plan. In addition, each of the Company’s independent directors receives an annual fee of $75,000. The fee is payable quarterly, half in shares of the Company’s common stock and half in cash. Stock-based expense for the directors’ annual fee is expensed as earned, in equal quarterly amounts during the year, and recorded in stockholders' equity at quarter end.

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On June 7, 2016, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) to attract and retain non-employee directors, executive officers, key employees and service providers, including officers and employees of the Company’s affiliates. The 2016 Plan authorized the issuance of up to 5% of the Company’s outstanding shares from time to time on a fully diluted basis (assuming, if applicable, the exercise of all outstanding options and the conversion of all warrants and convertible senior notes, including OP Units and any LTIP Units, into shares of common stock). Grants of restricted stock under the 2016 Plan use grant date fair value of the stock as the basis for measuring the cost of the grant. The cost of grants of restricted stock to employees of the Company’s affiliates had previously been determined using the stock price as of the date at which the counterparty's performance is complete. However, pursuant to the issuance and early adoption of ASU 2018-07 in June 2018, the Company used the grant date fair value of the stock as the basis for measuring the cost of the grant. See “Recently Adopted Accounting Standards” below. Forfeitures of granted shares are accounted for in the period in which they occur. The share grants vest over three years, with one third of the shares vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. The shares may not be sold until the third anniversary of the grant date.
Directors’ Fees
The expense related to directors’ fees is accrued, and the portion payable in common stock is reflected in consolidated Stockholders’ equity in the period in which it is incurred.
Variable Interest Entities
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into various types of transactions with special purpose entities, which have primarily consisted of trusts established for the Company’s secured borrowings (See “Secured Borrowings” above and Note 8 to the consolidated Financial Statements). Additionally, from time to time, the Company may enter into joint ventures with unrelated entities. The Company evaluates each transaction and its resulting beneficial interest to determine if the entity formed pursuant to the transaction should be classified as a VIE. If an entity created in a transaction meets the definition of a VIE and the Company determines that it or a consolidated subsidiary is the primary beneficiary, the Company will include the entity in its consolidated financial statements.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents. The Company generally maintains cash and cash equivalents at insured banking institutions with minimum assets of $1 billion. Certain account balances exceed Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage and, as a result, there is a concentration of credit risk related to amounts on deposit in excess of FDIC insurance coverage.
Cash Held in Trust
Cash held in trust consists of restricted cash balances either legally due to lenders or held in trust for he benefit of the Company's secured borrowers, and is segregated from the Company’s other cash deposits. Cash held in trust is not available to the Company for any purposes other than the settlement of existing obligations.
Earnings per Share
The Company grants restricted shares which entitle the recipients to receive dividend equivalents during the vesting period on a basis equivalent to the dividends paid to holders of common shares. Unvested share-based compensation awards containing non-forfeitable rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents (collectively, “dividends”) are classified as “participating securities” and are included in the basic earnings per share calculation using the two-class method.
Under the two-class method, all earnings (distributed and undistributed) are allocated to common shares and participating securities, based on their respective rights to receive dividends. Basic earnings per share is determined by dividing net income available to common shareholders, reduced by income attributable to the participating securities, by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted earnings per share is determined by dividing net income attributable to diluted shareholders, which adds back to net income the interest expense, net of applicable income taxes, on the Company’s convertible senior notes, by the weighted-average common shares outstanding, assuming all dilutive securities, including stock grants, shares that would be issued in the event that OP Units are redeemed for shares of common stock of the Company, shares issued in respect of the stock-based portion of the base fee payable to the Manager and independent directors, and shares that would be issued in the event of conversion of the Company’s outstanding convertible senior notes, were issued. In the event the Company were to record a loss, potentially dilutive securities would be excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation, as their effect on loss per share would be anti-dilutive.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy has been established that requires an

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entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
•
Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.​
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Level 2 — Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.​
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Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.​
The degree of judgment utilized in measuring fair value generally correlates to the level of pricing observability. Assets and liabilities with readily available actively quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices generally will have a higher degree of pricing observability and a lesser degree of judgment utilized in measuring fair value. Conversely, assets and liabilities rarely traded or not quoted will generally have little or no pricing observability and a higher degree of judgment utilized in measuring fair value. Pricing observability is impacted by a number of factors, including the type of asset or liability, whether it is new to the market and not yet established, and the characteristics specific to the transaction.
The fair value of mortgage loans is estimated using the Manager’s proprietary pricing model which estimates expected cash flows with the discount rate used in the present value calculation representing the estimated effective yield of the loan. The Company reviews its discount rates periodically to ensure the assumptions used to calculate fair value are in line with market conditions.
The Company’s Investments in securities at fair value are carried at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in the Company’s consolidated Statements of Income.
The Company calculates the fair value for the secured borrowings on its consolidated balance sheets from securitization trusts by using the Company’s proprietary pricing model to estimate the cash flows expected to be generated from the underlying collateral with the discount rate used in the present value calculation representing an estimate of the average rate for debt instruments with similar durations and risk factors.
The Company’s borrowings under its repurchase agreements are short-term in nature, and the Manager believes it can renew the current borrowing arrangements on similar terms in the future. Accordingly, the carrying value of these borrowings approximates fair value.
The Company’s convertible senior notes are traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "AJXA"; the debt’s fair value is determined from the closing price on the balance sheet date.
Property held-for-sale is carried at the lower of its acquisition basis or net realizable value. Net realizable value is determined based on broker price opinions, appraisals, or other market indicators of fair value, which are then reduced by anticipated selling costs. Net unrealized losses due to changes in market value are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income.
Income Taxes
The Company elected REIT status upon the filing of its 2014 income tax return, and has conducted its operations in order to satisfy and maintain eligibility for REIT status. Accordingly, the Company does not believe it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax from the year ended December 31, 2014 forward on the portion of the Company’s REIT taxable income that is distributed to the Company’s stockholders as long as certain asset, income and stock ownership tests are met. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, it generally will not be permitted to qualify for treatment as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification is lost. In addition, notwithstanding the Company’s qualification as a REIT, it may also have to pay certain state and local income taxes, because not all states and localities treat REITs in the same manner that they are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
GA-TRS, GAJX Real Estate LLC, and any other TRS that the Company forms will be subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences or benefits attributable to differences between the carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which management expects those temporary differences to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period in which the change occurs. Subject to the Company’s judgment, it reduces a deferred tax asset by a valuation allowance if it is “more-likely-than-not” that some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and respective governmental taxing authorities. Significant

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judgment is required in evaluating tax positions, and the Company recognizes tax benefits only if it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority.
The Company evaluates tax positions taken in its consolidated financial statements under the interpretation for accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. As a result of this evaluation, the Company may recognize a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is “more-likely-than-not” that the tax position will be sustained on examination by taxing authorities.
The Company’s tax returns remain subject to examination and consequently, the taxability of the distributions and other tax positions taken by the Company may be subject to change. Distributions to stockholders generally will be primarily taxable as long-term capital gain, although a portion of such distributions may be designated as ordinary income or qualified dividend income, or may constitute a return of capital. The Company furnishes annually to each stockholder a statement setting forth distributions paid during the preceding year and their U.S. federal income tax treatment.
Investments in Securities at Fair Value
The Company’s investments in securities at fair value as of September 30, 2018 consist of common stock and investments in debt securities. The investments in debt securities are issued by related party trusts and are considered to be available for sale (See Note 9 - Related party transactions). The investments in common stock consist of listed shares of publicly traded real estate investment trusts. The debt securities are carried at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in the Company’s consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The common stock is carried at fair value with holding gains or losses recognized in the Company’s consolidated Statements of Income.
Segment Information
The Company’s primary business is acquiring, investing in and managing a portfolio of mortgage loans. The Company operates in a single segment focused on re-performing mortgages, and to a lesser extent non-performing mortgages and real property.
Reclassifications
The Company reclassified the balance of its Loans Purchase deposit account on its 2017 consolidated Balance Sheet to its Cash held in trust account to better reflect the nature of the asset. The Company believes this to be an immaterial classification. Additionally, certain other immaterial amounts in the Company’s 2017 consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net income or equity.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model requiring a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount reflecting the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 may be applied using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 deferring the effective date for ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company’s primary revenue stream, income from its investments in mortgage loans, is specifically excluded from the scope of ASU 2014-09 as is its accounting for its investments in debt securities and equity method investments.  Additionally, while contracts to sell REO are not excluded from the scope of ASU 2014-09, the Company does not believe its revenue recognition from contracts with buyers of REO would change under ASU 2014-09.  Accordingly, the adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not impact the Company’s revenue recognition policies. The Company adopted ASU 2014-09 in 2018 and elected to use the modified retrospective transition method which requires application of ASU 2014-09 to uncompleted contracts at the date of adoption however, periods prior to the date of adoption will not be retrospectively revised as the impact of the ASU on uncompleted contracts at the date of adoption had no impact.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall. ASU 2016-01 addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. Specifically the guidance (1) requires equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings, (2) simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment, (3) eliminates the requirement to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost, (4) requires the use of the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes, (5) requires an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option, (6) requires separate presentation of financial assets and liabilities by measurement category and form on the consolidated Balance Sheets or the notes to the financial statements, and (7) clarifies that the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset

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related to an available-for-sale security should be evaluated with other deferred tax assets. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-01 in 2018 with no effect on its consolidated assets or liabilities, consolidated net income or equity or cash flows on the date of adoption.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-15 provides guidance on the presentation and classification of specific cash flow items to improve consistency within the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 in 2018 with no effect on its consolidated assets or liabilities, consolidated net income or equity or cash flows.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Improvements to Nonemployee Share-based Payment Accounting. ASU 2018-07 simplifies the accounting for share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted, but no earlier than an entity's adoption of Topic 606. The Company elected to early-adopt ASU 2018-07 in 2018. The cumulative effect on prior periods arising from the adoption is $0.1 million and is reflected as an adjustment to the Company's consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2018. The effect during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 is a reduction in Management fee expense of $0.1 million and $0.2 million, and a corresponding increase of $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, in both the Company's Consolidated net income line and its Consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders line in its consolidated Statement of Income.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. The main objective of this guidance is to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity. To achieve this, the amendments in this guidance replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current U.S. GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. Specifically, the amendments in this guidance require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. An entity must use judgment in determining the relevant information and estimation methods that are appropriate in its circumstances. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted, beginning with fiscal years after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments in this update modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, based on the concepts in the concepts statement, including the consideration of costs and benefits. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted, including early adoption of any removed or modified disclosures addressed in this update and delay of additional disclosures until their effective date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement. The amendments in this update align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In August 2018, the SEC issued a final rule to amend certain disclosure requirements that were redundant, duplicative, overlapping or superseded by other SEC disclosure requirements, U.S. GAAP or IFRS. Among other changes, the amendments generally eliminated or otherwise reduced certain disclosure requirements of various SEC rules and regulations. However, in some cases, the amendments require additional information to be disclosed, including changes in stockholders’ equity in interim periods. On September 25, 2018, the SEC released guidance advising it will not object to a registrant adopting the requirement to include changes in stockholders’ equity in the Form 10-Q for the first quarter beginning after the effective date of the rule - e.g. for a calendar year-end company, the first quarter of fiscal year 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.


16

Note 3 — Mortgage Loans
The following table presents information regarding the carrying value for the Mortgage loan categories of RPL, NPL and originated as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 ($ in thousands):
Loan portfolio basis by asset type
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Residential RPLs
 
$
1,197,877

 
$
1,190,019

Purchased SBC (RPL)
 
24,968

 
8,605

Originated SBC
 
13,573

 
11,620

Residential NPLs
 
36,226

 
43,297

Total
 
$
1,272,644

 
$
1,253,541

Included on the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are approximately $1,272.6 million and $1,253.5 million, respectively, of RPLs, NPLs, and originated SBCs at carrying value. RPLs and NPLs are categorized as such at acquisition. The carrying value of RPLs and NPLs reflects the original investment amount, plus accretion of interest income, less principal and interest cash flows received. Additionally, originated SBC loans are carried at originated cost, less any loan discount. The carrying values at September 30, 2018 for the Company's loans in the table above are reduced by an allowance for loan losses of $0.4 million, which is allocated at the loan level and reflected in the totals for each line in the table above. The Company had no allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2017. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 the Company recognized $0.4 million provision for loan loss. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized no provision for loan loss. For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2018, the Company accreted $25.6 million and $76.7 million, respectively, into interest income with respect to its RPL and NPL portfolio. For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017, the Company accreted $24.0 million and $66.0 million, respectively, into interest income with respect to its RPL and NPL portfolio.
The Company’s mortgage loans are secured by real estate. The Company monitors the credit quality of the mortgage loans in its portfolio on an ongoing basis, principally by considering loan payment activity or delinquency status. In addition, the Company assesses the expected cash flows from the mortgage loans, the fair value of the underlying collateral and other factors, and evaluates whether and when it becomes probable that all amounts contractually due will not be collected.
The Company’s loan acquisitions for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2018 consisted of 271 and 422, respectively, purchased RPLs with UPB of $69.2 million and $104.5 million UPB, respectively, and six originated SBC loans with $4.8 million. Comparatively during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company acquired 109 and 1,351, respectively, purchased RPLs with $32.7 million and $285.2 million, respectively, UPB and two and six, respectively, originated SBC loans with $3.0 million and $7.1 million, respectively.
The Company acquired 11 purchased NPLs with $1.7 million UPB for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2018. No NPLs were directly purchased during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017. Also, the Company invested in debt securities that are secured by NPLs and RPLs (See Note 9 - Related party transactions).
The following table presents information regarding the accretable yield and non-accretable amount for purchased loans acquired during the following periods ($ in thousands):

 
Three months ended September 30, 2018
 
Three months ended September 30, 2017
 
Re-performing
loans

Non-performing
loans

Re-performing
loans

Non-performing
loans
Contractually required principal and interest
$
80,971

 
$
1,963

 
$
51,920

 
$
—

Non-accretable amount
(5,352
)
 
(478
)
 
(15,675
)
 
—

Expected cash flows to be collected
75,619

 
1,485

 
36,245

 
—

Accretable yield
(11,750
)
 
(54
)
 
(9,599
)
 
—

Fair value at acquisition
$
63,869

 
$
1,431

 
$
26,646

 
$
—


17

 
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
Re-performing
loans
 
Non-performing
loans
 
Re-performing
loans
 
Non-performing
loans
Contractually required principal and interest
$
138,860

 
$
1,963

 
$
456,353

 
$
—

Non-accretable amount
(23,629
)
 
(478
)
 
(145,780
)
 
—

Expected cash flows to be collected
115,231

 
1,485

 
310,573

 
—

Accretable yield
(19,483
)
 
(54
)
 
(70,581
)
 
—

Fair value at acquisition
$
95,748

 
$
1,431

 
$
239,992

 
$
—

    
The Company determines the accretable yield on new acquisitions by comparing the expected cash flows from the Company’s proprietary cash flow model to the remaining contractual cash flows at acquisition. The difference between the expected cash flows and the portfolio acquisition price is accretable yield. The difference between the remaining contractual cash flows and the expected cash flows is the non-accretable amount. The following table presents the accretable yield and non-accretable amount for loan portfolio purchases for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. Accretable yield and accretion amounts do not include any of the six or two originated SBC loans acquired at September 30, 2018 and 2017. Also, it does not include gains of $7,000 from loans that paid in full after acquisition but before boarding by the Servicer for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. No gains were recognized from loans that paid in full after acquisition but before boarding by the Servicer for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 ($ in thousands):

Three months ended September 30, 2018

Three months ended September 30, 2017

Re-performing
loans

Non-performing
loans

Re-performing
loans

Non-performing
loans
Balance at beginning of period
$
302,454


$
5,558


$
299,812


$
9,475

Accretable yield additions
11,750


54


9,599


—

Accretion
(25,291
)

(269
)

(23,134
)

(828
)
Reclassification from (to) non-accretable amount, net
7,484


(550
)

4,536


266

Balance at end of period
$
296,397


$
4,793


$
290,813


$
8,913

 
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
Re-performing
loans
 
Non-performing
loans
 
Re-performing
loans
 
Non-performing
loans
Balance at beginning of period
$
344,141

 
$
7,370

 
$
239,858

 
$
12,065

Accretable yield additions
19,483

 
54

 
70,580

 
—

Accretion
(75,065
)
 
(1,612
)
 
(62,786
)
 
(3,258
)
Reclassification from (to) non-accretable amount, net
7,838

 
(1,019
)
 
43,161

 
106

Balance at end of period
$
296,397

 
$
4,793

 
$
290,813

 
$
8,913

During the three months ended September 30, 2018, the Company reclassified a net $6.9 million from non-accretable amount to accretable yield, consisting of a $7.5 million transfer from non-accretable amount to accretable yield for RPLs, and a $0.6 million transfer from accretable yield to non-accretable amount for NPLs. Comparatively, during the three months ended 2017, the Company reclassified a net $4.8 million from non-accretable amount to accretable yield, consisting of a $4.5 million transfer from non-accretable amount to accretable yield for its RPLs and $0.3 million from non-accretable amount to accretable yield on NPLs. The Company recalculates the amount of accretable yield and non-accretable amount on a quarterly basis. Reclassifications between the two categories are primarily based upon changes in expected cash flows and actual prepayments, including payoffs in full or in part. Additionally, the accretable yield and non-accretable amounts are revised when loans are reclassified to REO because the future expected cash flows are removed from the pool. The reclassification in the third quarter of 2018 and 2017 is based on an updated assessment of projected loan cash flows as compared to the projection at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. This is offset by the removal of the accretable yield for loans that are removed from the pool at foreclosure and loan payoffs, both in full or in part, prior to modeled expectations.
The Company performs an analysis of its expectation of the amount of undiscounted cash flows expected to be collected from its mortgage loan pools at the end of each calendar quarter. If the Company expects to collect greater cash flows over the life of the pool, the accretable yield amount increases and the expected yield to maturity is adjusted on a prospective

18

basis. A provision for loan losses is established when it is probable the Company will not collect all amounts previously estimated to be collectible. Management assesses the credit quality of the portfolio and the adequacy of loan loss reserves on a quarterly basis, or more frequently as necessary. During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded an impairment of $0.4 million of the value of two of its NPL pools acquired in 2014. An analysis of the balance in the allowance for loan losses account follows:
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2018
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2018
 
September 30, 2017
Allowance for loan losses, beginning of period
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

Current period additions to allowance account
(365
)
 
—

 
(365
)
 
—

Allowance for loan losses, end of period
$
(365
)
 
$
—

 
$
(365
)
 
$
—

The following table sets forth the carrying value of the Company’s mortgage loans, and related unpaid principal balance by delinquency status as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 ($ in thousands):
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Number of
loans
 
Carrying
value
 
Unpaid
principal
balance
 
Number of
loans
 
Carrying
value
 
Unpaid
principal
balance
Current
3,844

 
$
744,081

 
$
843,386

 
3,998

 
$
744,300

 
$
860,572

30
996

 
167,458

 
189,409

 
912

 
152,685

 
178,383

60
659

 
108,474

 
122,993

 
577

 
100,792

 
117,145

90
1,087

 
184,214

 
213,409

 
1,047

 
177,841

 
214,297

Foreclosure
272

 
68,417

 
80,603

 
367

 
77,923

 
94,826

Mortgage loans
6,858

 
$
1,272,644

 
$
1,449,800

 
6,901

 
$
1,253,541

 
$
1,465,223


Note 4 — Real Estate Assets, Net
The Company primarily acquires REO when a mortgage loan is foreclosed upon and the Company takes title to the property on the foreclosure date or the borrower surrenders the deed in lieu of foreclosure. Additionally, from time to time, the Company may acquire real estate assets in purchase transactions.
Rental Property
As of September 30, 2018, the Company owned 17 REO properties with an aggregate carrying value of $8.1 million held for investment as rentals, at which time 12 properties were rented. Two properties consist of multi-family apartment buildings that were acquired as of September 30, 2018 that have a current carrying value of $5.0 million. One property consists of a single tenant commercial property that was acquired during the three months ended September 30, 2018 that has a current carrying value of $0.8 million. One property was acquired as an RPL but transitioned to foreclosure prior to boarding by the Servicer, one was acquired through foreclosure, and 12 were transferred from Property held-for-sale, where all 12 were acquired through foreclosures. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had 14 REO properties with a carrying value of $1.3 million held for use as rentals, at which time five were rented. One of these properties was acquired as an RPL but transitioned to foreclosure prior to boarding by the Servicer, three were acquired through foreclosures, and 10 were transferred from Property held-for-sale, where all 10 were acquired through foreclosures.
Property Held-for-Sale
The Company classifies REO as held-for-sale if the REO is expected to be actively marketed for sale. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company’s net investments in REO held-for-sale were $20.5 million and $24.9 million, respectively, which include balances of $0.7 million and $1.8 million, respectively, for properties undergoing renovation or which are otherwise in the process of being brought to market. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, all of the additions to REO held-for-sale were acquired through foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure, and reclassified out of its mortgage loan portfolio.
The following table presents the activity in the Company’s carrying value of property held-for-sale for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 ($ in thousands):

19

 
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30,20181
 
September 30, 2017
Property Held-for-sale
 
Count
 
Amount
 
Count
 
Amount
 
Count
 
Amount
 
Count
 
Amount
Balance at beginning of period
 
130

 
$
22,807

 
167

 
$
28,278

 
136

 
$
24,947

 
149

 
$
23,882

Transfers from mortgage loans
 
19

 
3,248

 
20

 
3,683

 
73

 
10,974

 
110

 
17,395

Adjustments to record at lower of cost or fair value 
 
—

 
(897
)
 
—

 
(1,118
)
 
—

 
(2,049
)
 
—

 
(2,027
)
Disposals
 
(32
)
 
(4,448
)
 
(28
)
 
(3,526
)
 
(93
)
 
(12,680
)
 
(92
)
 
(11,753
)
Net transfers to Rental property
 
(1
)
 
(146
)
 
—

 
26

 
—

 
(590
)
 
(5
)
 
(153
)
Other
 
—

 
(101
)
 
1

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(139
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Balance at end of period
 
116

 
$
20,463

 
160

 
$
27,342

 
116

 
$
20,463

 
160

 
$
27,342

 
(1)
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, net transfers to rental property included the net impact of five properties transferred from held-for-sale to rental of $1.1 million and five properties transferred from rental to held-for-sale of $0.5 million.
Dispositions
During the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company sold 32 and 28 REO properties respectively, realizing net losses of approximately $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively. Comparatively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company sold 93 and 92 REO properties, realizing net gains of approximately $0.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively. These amounts are included in Other income on the Company's consolidated Statements of Income. The Company recorded a lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments in Real estate operating expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 of $0.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively. Comparatively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded lower of cost or estimated fair value adjustments of $2.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively.

Note 5 — Fair Value
The following tables set forth the fair value of financial assets and liabilities by level within the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 ($ in thousands):
 
 
​

 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
September 30, 2018
 
Carrying value
 
Quoted prices in active markets
 
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices
 
Unobservable inputs
Financial assets
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage loans, net
 
$
1,272,644

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
1,397,101

Investments in debt securities at fair value
 
$
50,695

 
$
—

 
$
50,695

 
$
—

Investments in equity securities at fair value
 
$
1,056

 
$
1,056

 
$
—

 
$
—

Investment in Manager
 
$
1,826

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
5,743

Investment in AS Ajax E
 
$
1,056

 
$
—

 
$
1,224

 
$
—

Investment in GAFS, including warrants
 
$
2,842

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
3,320

Financial liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secured borrowings, net
 
$
631,207

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
631,688

Borrowings under repurchase transactions
 
$
420,461

 
$
—

 
$
420,461

 
$
—

Convertible senior notes, net
 
$
103,162

 
$
107,698

 
$
—

 
$
—


20

​
 
​

 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
December 31, 2017
 
Carrying value
 
Quoted prices in active markets
 
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices
 
Unobservable inputs
Financial assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage loans, net
 
$
1,253,541

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
1,375,722

Investments in debt securities at fair value
 
$
6,285

 
$
—

 
$
6,285

 
$
—

Investment in Manager
 
$
850

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
6,427

Investment in AS Ajax E
 
$
1,201

 
$
—

 
$
1,224

 
$
—

Financial liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secured borrowings, net
 
$
694,040

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
693,255

Borrowings under repurchase transactions
 
$
276,385

 
$
—

 
$
276,385

 
$
—

Convertible senior notes, net
 
$
102,571

 
$
109,641

 
$
—

 
$
—

The fair value of mortgage loans is estimated using the Manager’s proprietary pricing model which estimates expected cash flows with the discount rate used in the present value calculation representing the estimated effective yield of the loan. The value of transfers of mortgage loans to REO is based upon the present value of future expected cash flows of the loans being transferred.
The Company values its Investments in securities at fair value using estimates provided by banking institutions for debt securities and the stock price on the NYSE for the equity securities (See Note 10 - Investments at fair value).
The Company's investment in the Manager is valued by applying an earnings multiple to expected earnings.
The Company’s investment in AS Ajax E is valued using estimates provided by banking institutions.
The fair value of the Company's investment in GAFS is presented by applying an earnings multiple to expected earnings.
The fair value of secured borrowings is estimated using the Manager’s proprietary pricing model which estimates expected cash flows of the underlying mortgage loans which collateralize the debt, and which drive the cash flows used to make interest payments. The discount rate used in the present value calculation of the mortgage loans used as collateral, therefore, represents the estimated effective yield on the secured debt. The discount rate is then applied to the face value of the secured debt to derive the debt's fair value.
The Company’s borrowings under repurchase agreement are short-term in nature, and the Company’s management believes it can renew the current borrowing arrangements on similar terms in the future. Accordingly, the carrying value of these borrowings approximates fair value.
The Company’s Convertible senior notes are traded on the NYSE; the debt’s fair value is determined from the NYSE closing price on the Balance Sheet date.
The carrying values of its Cash and cash equivalents, Cash held in trust, Receivable from servicer, Loans purchase deposit, Prepaid expenses and other assets, Management fee payable and Accrued expenses and other liabilities are equal to or approximate fair value.
Non-financial assets
Property held-for-sale is carried at the lower of its acquisition basis or net realizable value. Fair market value is determined based on appraisals, broker price opinions, or other market indicators of fair value. Since net unrealized losses due to changes in market value are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income, aggregate fair value for the Company’s REO Property is conservatively stated as its carrying value. The following tables set forth the fair value of non-financial assets by level within the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 ($ in thousands): 

21

 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
September 30, 2018
 
Carrying value
 
Nine months ended fair value adjustment recognized in the consolidated Statements of Income
 
Quoted prices in active markets
 
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices
 
Unobservable inputs
Non-financial assets
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Property held-for-sale
 
$
20,463

 
$
2,049

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
20,463

 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
December 31, 2017
 
Carrying value
 
Fiscal year 2017 fair value adjustment recognized in the consolidated Statements of Income
 
Quoted prices in active markets
 
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices
 
Unobservable inputs
Non-financial assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property held-for-sale
 
$
24,947

 
$
2,516

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
24,947

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company transferred the balance of its Property held-for-sale from Level 2 to Level 3 to reflect the additional uncertainty inherent in the estimation process for real estate values.

Note 6 — Affiliates
Unconsolidated Affiliates
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company acquired an 8.0% ownership interest in GAFS. The acquisition was completed in two transactions. January 26, 2018 was the initial closing date wherein the Company acquired a 4.9% interest in GAFS and three warrants, each exercisable for a 2.45% interest in GAFS upon payment of additional consideration, in exchange for consideration of $1.1 million of cash and 45,938 shares of the Company’s common stock with a value of approximately $0.6 million. On May 29, 2018 the additional closing was completed wherein the Company acquired an additional 3.1% interest in GAFS and three warrants, each exercisable for a 1.55% interest in GAFS, in exchange for consideration of $0.7 million of cash and 29,063 shares of the Company's common stock with a value of approximately $0.4 million. The Company accounts for its investment in GAFS using the equity method.
During the year ended December 31, 2017, a small-balance commercial loan secured by a commercial property in Portland, Oregon, in which the Company held a 40.5% interest through a Delaware trust, GA-E 2014-12, was paid off in full and the Company received a distribution of $2.6 million related to this investment. At September 30, 2018, all remaining cash in GA-E 2014-12 had been distributed to the investors in proportion to their ownership interests resulting in an additional nominal distribution to the Company. The Company used the equity method of accounting for its investment in GA-E 2014-12.
Upon the closing of the Company’s original private placement in July 2014, the Company received a 19.8% equity interest in the Manager, a privately held company for which there is no public market for its securities. The Company accounts for its investment in the Manager using the equity method.
On March 14, 2016, the Company formed AS Ajax E LLC, to hold an equity interest in a Delaware trust formed to own residential mortgage loans and residential real estate assets. AS Ajax E LLC owns a 5% equity interest in Ajax E Master Trust which holds a portfolio of RPLs. At the time of the original investment, the Company held a 24.2% interest in AS Ajax E LLC. In October 2016, additional capital contributions were made by third parties, and the Company’s ownership interest in AS Ajax E LLC was reduced to a lower percentage of the total. At both September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company’s interest in AS Ajax E LLC was approximately 16.5%. The Company accounts for its investment using the equity method.
The table below shows the net income, assets and liabilities for the Company’s unconsolidated affiliates at 100%, and at the Company’s share ($ in thousands):
Net income, assets and liabilities of unconsolidated affiliates at 100%

22

 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
Net income at 100%
 
2018

2017
 
2018
 
2017
Thetis Asset Management LLC
 
$
569

 
$
721

 
$
1,813

 
$
1,685

Great Ajax FS LLC(2)
 
$
805

 
$
—

 
$
1,231

 
$
—

AS Ajax E LLC
 
$
92

 
$
88

 
$
261

 
$
224

GA-E 2014-12
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
426

 
 
September 30, 2018

December 31, 2017
Assets and Liabilities at 100%
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
Great Ajax FS LLC(2)
 
$
73,081

 
$
51,191

 
$
—

 
$
—

Thetis Asset Management LLC
 
$
8,564

 
$
2,045

 
$
7,415

 
$
1,674

AS Ajax E LLC
 
$
6,544

 
$
18

 
$
7,293

 
$
5

GA-E 2014-12
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
7

 
$
5

Net income, assets and liabilities of unconsolidated affiliates at the Company's share
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
Net income at the Company's share
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Thetis Asset Management LLC
 
$
113

 
$
143

 
$
359

 
$
334

Great Ajax FS LLC(1)(2)
 
$
64

 
$
—

 
$
88

 
$
—

AS Ajax E LLC
 
$
15

 
$
14

 
$
43

 
$
37

GA-E 2014-12
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
173

 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Assets and Liabilities at the Company's share
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
Great Ajax FS LLC(2)
 
$
5,846

 
$
4,095

 
$
—

 
$
—

Thetis Asset Management LLC
 
$
1,696

 
$
405

 
$
1,468

 
$
331

AS Ajax E LLC
 
$
1,080

 
$
3

 
$
1,203

 
$
1

GA-E 2014-12
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
3

 
$
2

 
(1)
Net income at the Company's share is not directly proportionate to Net income at 100% due to the timing of the Company's acquisition during the quarter.
(2)
Amounts for the Company's share for 2017 are presented as zero since the Company's investment was a 2018 event.
 
​Consolidated affiliates
The Company consolidates the results and balances of securitization trusts which are established to provide debt financing to the Company by securitizing pools of mortgage loans. These trusts are considered to be VIEs, and the Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of the VIEs.
The Company also consolidates the activities and balances of its controlled affiliates, which include AS Ajax E II, which was established to hold an equity interest in a Delaware trust formed to own residential mortgage loans and residential real estate assets. As of September 30, 2018, AS Ajax E II LLC was 53.1% owned by the Company, with the remainder held by third parties. 2017-D and 2018-C are securitization trusts formed to hold mortgage loans, REO property and secured debt. As of September 30, 2018, 2017-D is 50% owned by the Company and 2018-C is 63.0% owned by the Company, with the remainder held by third-party institutional investors. The Company consolidates the results and balances of AS Ajax E II LLC, 2017-D and 2018-C in its consolidated financial statements, and recognizes a non-controlling interest on its consolidated Balance Sheet for the amount of the investment due to the third party investors. Additionally, non-controlling interests in the earnings of AS Ajax E II LLC, 2017-D and 2018-C are recognized in the Company’s consolidated Statement of Income, which consists of the proportionate amount of income attributable to the third party investors.

Note 7 — Commitments and Contingencies

23


The Company regularly enters into agreements to acquire additional mortgage loans and mortgage-related assets, subject to continuing diligence on such assets and other customary closing conditions. There can be no assurance that the Company will acquire any or all of the mortgage loans identified in any acquisition agreement as of the date of these consolidated financial statements, and it is possible that the terms of such acquisitions may change.
At September 30, 2018, the Company had commitments to purchase, subject to due diligence, 254 mortgage loans secured by single-family residences with aggregate UPB of $65.9 million. The Company will only acquire loans that meet the acquisition criteria for its own portfolios, or those of its third party institutional co-investors. See Note 15 - Subsequent Events, for remaining open acquisitions as of the filing date.
Litigation, Claims and Assessments
From time to time, the Company may be involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. As of September 30, 2018, the Company was not a party to, and its properties were not subject to, any pending or threatened legal proceedings that individually or in the aggregate, are expected to have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Note 8 — Debt
Repurchase Agreements
The Company has entered into two repurchase facilities whereby the Company, through two wholly-owned Delaware trusts (the “Trusts”), acquires pools of mortgage loans which are then sold by the Trusts, as “Seller” to two separate counterparties, the “buyer” or “buyers.” One facility has a ceiling of $250.0 million and the other $400.0 million at any one time. Upon the time of the initial sale to the buyer, the Trust, with a simultaneous agreement, also agrees to repurchase the pools of mortgage loans from the buyer. Mortgage loans sold under these facilities carry interest calculated based on a spread to one-month LIBOR, which are fixed for the term of the borrowing. The purchase price that the Trust realizes upon the initial sale of the mortgage loans to the buyer can vary between 70% and 85% of the asset’s acquisition price, depending upon the facility being utilized and/or the quality of the underlying collateral. The obligations of a Trust to repurchase these mortgage loans at a future date are guaranteed by the Operating Partnership. The difference between the market value of the asset and the amount of the repurchase agreement is generally the amount of equity the Company has in the position and is intended to provide the buyer with some protection against fluctuations in the value of the collateral, and/or a failure by the Company to repurchase the asset and repay the borrowing at maturity. The Company has also entered into two repurchase facilities substantially similar to the mortgage loan repurchase facilities where the pledged assets are the class B bonds and certificates from the Company's securitization transactions. The Company has effective control over the assets subject to all of these transactions; therefore, the Company’s repurchase transactions are accounted for as financing arrangements.
The Servicer services these mortgage loans pursuant to the terms of a Servicing Agreement by and among the Servicer and each Buyer which Servicing Agreement has the same fees and expenses terms as the Company’s Servicing Agreement described under Note 9 — Related party transactions. The Operating Partnership, as guarantor, will provide to the buyers a limited guaranty of certain losses incurred by the buyers in connection with certain events and/or the Seller’s obligations under the mortgage loan purchase agreement, following the breach of certain covenants by the Seller, the occurrence of certain bad acts by the Seller, the occurrence of certain insolvency events of the Seller or other events specified in the Guaranty. As security for its obligations under the Guaranty, the guarantor will pledge the Trust Certificate representing the Guarantor’s 100% beneficial interest in the Seller.
Additionally, the Company has sold subordinate securities from its mortgage securitizations in repurchase transactions. The following table sets forth the details of the Company’s repurchase transactions and facilities ($ in thousands):

24

 
 
​
 
​

 
September 30, 2018
Maturity Date
 
Origination date
 
Maximum
Borrowing
Capacity
 
Amount
Outstanding
 
Amount of
Collateral
 
Percentage of Collateral Coverage
 
Interest Rate
October 26, 2018
 
April 26, 2018
 
$
8,980

 
$
8,980

 
$
11,973

 
133
%
 
4.42
%
October 30, 2018
 
April 30, 2018
 
10,539

 
10,539

 
15,055

 
143
%
 
4.62
%
November 8, 2018
 
May 8, 2018
 
5,468

 
5,468

 
7,811

 
143
%
 
4.62
%
December 7, 2018
 
June 7, 2018
 
56,440

 
56,440

 
75,253

 
133
%
 
4.38
%
December 28, 2018
 
June 28, 2018
 
9,956

 
9,956

 
13,275

 
133
%
 
4.25
%
January 11, 2019
 
July 11, 2018
 
8,956

 
8,956

 
12,795

 
143
%
 
4.41
%
February 1, 2019
 
August 1, 2018
 
13,322

 
13,322

 
17,174

 
129
%
 
4.53
%
March 25, 2019
 
September 25, 2018
 
6,396

 
6,396

 
8,528

 
133
%
 
4.34
%
March 25, 2019
 
September 25, 2018
 
7,020

 
7,020

 
10,028

 
143
%
 
4.49
%
March 28, 2019
 
September 28, 2018
 
12,539

 
12,539

 
16,718

 
133
%
 
4.40
%
July 12, 2019
 
July 15, 2016
 
250,000

 
199,079

 
264,021

 
133
%
 
4.69
%
September 24, 2019
 
September 25, 2018
 
400,000

 
81,766

 
88,769

 
109
%
 
4.72
%
Totals
 
​
 
$
789,616

 
$
420,461

 
$
541,400

 
129
%
 
4.60
%
 
 
​
 
​

 
December 31, 2017
Maturity Date
 
Origination date
 
Maximum
Borrowing
Capacity
 
Amount
Outstanding
 
Amount of
Collateral
 
Percentage of Collateral Coverage
 
Interest Rate
April 30, 2018
 
October 31, 2017
 
$
10,601

 
$
10,601

 
$
15,145

 
143
%
 
3.66
%
May 8, 2018
 
November 8, 2017
 
15,227

 
15,227

 
21,754

 
143
%
 
3.69
%
June 7, 2018
 
December 7, 2017
 
66,678

 
66,678

 
88,904

 
133
%
 
3.59
%
November 21, 2018
 
November 22, 2017
 
200,000

 
3,775

 
8,215

 
218
%
 
4.79
%
July 12, 2019
 
July 15, 2016
 
250,000

 
180,104

 
234,724

 
130
%
 
4.03
%
Totals
 
​
 
$
542,506

 
$
276,385

 
$
368,742

 
133
%
 
3.91
%
The guaranty establishes a master netting arrangement; however, the arrangement does not meet the criteria for offsetting within the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheets. A master netting arrangement derives from contractual agreements entered into by two parties to multiple contracts that provides for the net settlement of all contracts covered by the agreements in the event of default under any one contract. The amount outstanding on the Company’s repurchase facilities and the carrying value of the Company’s loans pledged as collateral are presented as gross amounts in the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 in the table below ($ in thousands):
 
 
Gross amounts not offset in balance sheet
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Gross amount of recognized liabilities
 
$
420,461

 
$
276,385

Gross amount pledged as collateral
 
541,400

 
368,742

Net amount
 
$
120,939

 
$
92,357

Secured Borrowings
From inception (January 30, 2014) to September 30, 2018, the Company has completed 13 secured borrowings pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, six of which were outstanding at September 30, 2018. The secured borrowings are structured as debt financings and not sales through a real estate investment conduit (“REMIC”), and the loans included in the secured borrowings remain on the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheet as the Company is the primary beneficiary of the securitization trusts, which are VIEs. The securitization VIEs are structured as pass through entities that receive principal and interest on the underlying mortgages and distribute those payments to the holders of the notes. The Company’s exposure to the obligations of the VIEs is generally limited to its investments in the entities. The notes that are issued by the securitization trusts are secured solely by the mortgages held by the applicable trusts and not by any of the Company’s other assets. The mortgage loans of the applicable trusts are the only source of repayment and interest on the notes issued by such trusts. The

25

Company does not guarantee any of the obligations of the trusts under the terms of the agreement governing the notes or otherwise.
The Company’s secured borrowings are structured with Class A notes, subordinate notes, and trust certificates, which have rights to the residual interests in the mortgages once the notes are repaid. With the exception of the Company’s 2017-D securitization, from which the Company sold a 50% interest, in the trust certificates to third parties and 2018-C securitization, from which the Company sold a 95% interest in the Class A notes and 37% in the Class B and Class C certificates, the Company has retained the subordinate notes and the trust certificates from the six secured borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2018.
The Class A notes for the 2017-D secured borrowing contains Class B certificates representing the residual interests in the mortgages held within the securitization trusts subsequent to repayment of the Class A debt. The Class A notes for the Company’s 2017-D secured borrowing carry no step-up in the interest rate. The Company has retained 50% of both the Class A notes and Class B certificates from 2017-D.
The Class A notes for the 2018-C secured borrowing contains Class B notes and Class C certificates representing the residual interest in the mortgages held within the securitization trusts subsequent to repayment for the Class A debt. The Class A notes of the Company's 2018-C secured borrowing carry no step-up in the interest rate. The Company has retained 5% of the Class A notes and 63% of the Class B notes and Class C certificates.
The Company's 2017-B secured borrowing carries no provision for a step-up in interest rate on any of the Class A, Class B or Class M notes.
For all of the Company's secured borrowings the Class A notes are senior, sequential pay, fixed rate notes, and with the exception of 2017-D and 2018-C, as noted above, the Class B notes are subordinate, sequential pay, fixed rate notes. The Class M notes issued under 2017-B are also mezzanine, sequential pay, fixed rate notes.
For all of the Company's secured borrowings, except 2017-B, 2017-D and 2018-C which contain no interest rate step-up, if the Class A notes have not been redeemed by the payment date or otherwise paid in full 36 months after issue, or in the case of 2017-C, 48 months after issue, an amount equal to the aggregate interest payment amount that accrued and would otherwise be paid to the subordinate notes will be paid as principal to the Class A notes on that date and each subsequent payment date until the Class A notes are paid in full. After the Class A notes are paid in full, the subordinate notes will resume receiving their respective interest payment amounts and any interest that accrued but was not paid while the Class A notes were outstanding. As the holder of the trust certificates, the Company is entitled to receive any remaining amounts in the trusts after the Class A notes and subordinate notes have been paid in full.
The following table sets forth the original terms of all notes from our secured borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2018 at their respective cutoff dates:
Issuing Trust/Issue Date
 
Interest Rate Step-up Date
 
Security
 
Original Principal
 
Interest Rate
Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2016-C/ October 2016
 
October 25, 2019
 
Class A notes due 2057
 
$102.6 million
 
4.00
%
 
 
April 25, 2020
 
Class B-1 notes due 2057(1,4)
 
$7.9 million
 
5.25
%
 
 
None
 
Class B-2 notes due 2057(1,4)
 
$7.9 million
 
5.25
%
 
 
 
 
Trust certificates(2)
 
$39.4 million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
Deferred issuance costs
 
$(1.6) million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2017-A/ May 2017
 
May 25, 2020
 
Class A notes due 2057
 
$140.7 million
 
3.47
%
 
 
November 25, 2020
 
Class B-1 notes due 2057(1)
 
$15.1 million
 
5.25
%
 
 
None
 
Class B-2 notes due 2057(1)
 
$10.8 million
 
5.25
%
 
 
 
 
Trust certificates(2)
 
$49.8 million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
Deferred issuance costs
 
$(2.0) million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2017-B/ December 2017
 
None
 
Class A notes due 2056
 
$115.8 million
 
3.16
%
 
 
None
 
Class M-1 notes due 2056(3)
 
$9.7 million
 
3.50
%
 
 
None
 
Class M-2 notes due 2056(3)
 
$9.5 million
 
3.50
%

26

 
 
None
 
Class B-1 notes due 2056(1)
 
$9.0 million
 
3.75
%
 
 
None
 
Class B-2 notes due 2056(1)
 
$7.5 million
 
3.75
%
 
 
 
 
Trust certificates(2)
 
$14.3 million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
Deferred issuance costs
 
$(1.8) million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2017-C/ November 2017
 
November 25, 2021
 
Class A notes due 2060
 
$130.2 million
 
3.75
%
 
 
May 25, 2022
 
Class B-1 notes due 2060(1)
 
$13.0 million
 
5.25
%
 
 
 
 
Trust certificates(2)
 
$42.8 million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
Deferred issuance costs
 
$(1.7) million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2017-D/ December 2017
 
None
 
Class A notes due 2057(5)
 
$177.8 million
 
3.75
%
 
 
None
 
Class B certificates (5)
 
$44.5 million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
Deferred issuance costs
 
$(1.1) million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2018-C/ September 2018
 
None
 
Class A notes due 2065(6)
 
$170.5 million
 
4.36
%
 
 
None
 
Class B notes due 2065(6)
 
$15.9 million
 
5.25
%
 
 
 
 
Trust certificates(6)
 
$40.9 million
 
—
%

 
 
 
Deferred issuance costs
 
$(2.1) million
 
—
%
 
(1)
The Class B notes are subordinate, sequential pay, fixed rate notes with Class B-2 notes subordinate to the Class B-1 notes. The Company has retained the Class B notes.​
(2)
The trust certificates issued by the trusts and the beneficial ownership of the trusts are retained by Great Ajax Funding LLC as the depositor. As the holder of the trust certificates, the Company is entitled to receive any remaining amounts in the trusts after the Class A notes, Class M notes, where present, and Class B notes have been paid in full.
(3)
The Class M notes are subordinate, sequential pay, fixed rate notes with Class M-2 notes subordinate to the Class M-1 notes. The Company has retained the Class M notes. ​
(4)
These securities are encumbered under a repurchase agreement.
(5)
Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust ("AJAXM") 2017-D is a joint venture in which a third party owns 50% of the Class A notes and 50% of the Class B certificates. The Company is required to consolidate 2017-D under GAAP and is reflecting 100% of the mortgage loans, in Mortgage loans, net. 50% of the Class A notes, which are held by the third party, are included in Secured borrowings, net. The 50% portion of the Class A notes retained by the Company have been encumbered under a repurchase agreement. 50% of the Class B certificates are recognized as Non-controlling interest.
(6)
AJAXM 2018-C is a joint venture in which a third party owns 95% of the Class A notes and 37% of the Class B notes and certificates. The Company is required to consolidate 2018-C under GAAP and is reflecting 100% of the mortgage loans, in Mortgage loans, net. 95% of the Class A notes and 37% of the Class B notes, which are held by the third party, are included in Secured borrowings, net. The 5% portion of the Class A notes retained by the Company have been encumbered under the repurchase agreement. Thirty-seven percent of the Class C certificates are recognized as Non-controlling interest.
Servicing for the mortgage loans in the Company’s securitizations is provided by the Servicer at a servicing fee rate of an annual servicing fee rate of 0.65% of outstanding UPB for RPLs at acquisition and 1.25% of outstanding UPB for loans that are non-performing at acquisition, and is paid monthly. For certain of the Company’s securitizations, the Servicing fee rate for RPLs is reduced to an annual servicing fee rate of 0.42% annually on a loan-by-loan basis for any loan that makes seven consecutive payments. The determination of RPL or NPL status is based on the status of the loan at acquisition and does not change regardless of the loan’s subsequent performance. The following table sets forth the status of the notes held by others at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and the securitization cutoff date:

27


 
Balances at September 30, 2018
 
Balances at December 31, 2017
 
Original balances at
securitization cutoff date
Class of Notes
 
Carrying value of mortgages
 
Bond principal balance
 
Percentage of collateral coverage
 
Carrying value of mortgages
 
Bond principal balance
 
Percentage of collateral coverage
 
Mortgage UPB
 
Bond principal balance
2016-A
 
$
1,493

 
$
—

 
—
%
 
$
110,585

 
$
82,556

 
134
%
 
$
158,485

 
$
101,431

2016-B
 
1,394

 
—

 
—
%
 
93,772

 
71,361

 
131
%
 
131,746

(1)
84,430

2016-C
 
106,463

 
74,510

 
143
%
 
116,357

 
88,400

 
132
%
 
157,808

 
102,575

2017-A
 
157,421

 
106,908

 
147
%
 
170,805

 
126,507

 
135
%
 
216,413

 
140,669

2017-B
 
134,865

 
103,237

 
131
%
 
143,799

 
115,846

 
124
%
 
165,850

 
115,846

2017-C
 
147,656

 
113,771

 
130
%
 
157,015

 
129,191

 
122
%
 
185,942

 
130,159

2017-D
 
167,847

 
71,907

(4)
233
%
 
203,870

 
88,903

(4)
229
%
 
203,870

(2)
88,903

2018-C
 
197,019

 
167,910

(5)
117
%
 
—

 
—

 
—
%
 
222,181

(3)
167,910

​
 
$
914,158

 
$
638,243

(6)
143
%
 
$
996,203

 
$
702,764

(6)
142
%
 
$
1,442,295

 
$
931,923

​
 
(1)
Includes $1.9 million of cash collateral.
(2)
Includes $26.7 million of cash collateral intended for use in the acquisition of additional mortgage loans.
(3)
Includes $45.5 million of cash collateral intended for use in the acquisition of additional mortgage loans.
(4)
The gross amount of senior bonds at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were $143.8 million and $177.8 million however, only $71.9 million and $88.9 million are reflected in Secured borrowings as the remainder is owned by the Company, respectively.
(5)
2018-C contains notes held by the third party institutional investors for senior bonds and class B bonds. The gross amount of the senior and class B bonds at September 30, 2018 were $170.5 million and $15.9 million, however, only $162.0 million and $5.9 million are reflected in Secured borrowings as the remainder is owned by the Company, respectively.
(6)
This represents the gross amount of Secured borrowings and excludes the impact of deferred issuance costs of $7.0 million and $8.8 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
​
The Company’s obligations under its secured borrowings are not fixed, and the payments on these borrowings are predicated upon cash flows received on the underlying mortgage loans.
Convertible Senior Notes
On April 25, 2017, the Company completed the issuance and sale of $87.5 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.25% convertible senior notes due 2024 in an underwritten public offering. The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the notes, after deducting the underwriter's discounts, commissions and offering expenses, were approximately $84.9 million. The carrying amount of the equity component of the transaction was $2.5 million representing the fair value to the notes' owners of the right to convert the notes into shares of the Company's common stock. The notes were issued at a 17.5% conversion premium and bear interest at a rate of 7.25% per year, payable quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on July 15, 2017.
On August 18, 2017, the Company completed the public offer and sale of an additional $20.5 million in aggregate principal amount of its 7.25% Convertible senior notes due 2024, which combined with the $87.5 million aggregate principal amount from its April offering, form a single series of notes. The net proceeds to the Company from the August 18, 2017 sale of the notes, after deducting the underwriter's discounts, commissions and offering expenses, were approximately $20.5 million. The carrying amount of the equity component of the August transaction was $0.2 million representing the fair value to the notes' owners of the right to convert the notes into shares of the Company's common stock.
The notes in the August transaction were issued at a 6.0% conversion premium and bear interest at a rate of 7.25% per year, payable quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on July 15, 2017. The notes will mature on April 30, 2024, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted.
Holders may convert their notes at their option prior to April 30, 2023 only under certain circumstances. In addition, the notes will be convertible irrespective of those circumstances from, and including, April 30, 2023 to, and including, the business day immediately preceding the maturity date. Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at the Company's election.
The conversion rate currently equals 1.6388 shares of the Company's common stock per $25.00 principal amount of notes which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $15.26 per share of common stock. The conversion rate, and thus the conversion price, may be subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. As of September 30, 2018, the amount by which the if-converted value falls short of the principal value for the entire series is $11.6 million.
The Company may not redeem the notes prior to April 30, 2022, and may redeem for cash all or any portion of the notes, at its option, on or after April 30, 2022 if the last reported sale price of its common stock has been at least 130% of the

28

conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which the Company provides notice of redemption at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. No "sinking fund" will be provided for the notes.
At September 30, 2018, the notes' UPB was $108.0 million, and discount and deferred expenses were $4.8 million. Interest expense of $2.2 million was recognized during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 which includes $0.2 million of amortization of discount and deferred expenses, respectively. The discount will be amortized through April 30, 2023, the date at which the notes can be converted. The effective interest rate of the notes for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was 8.65%.

Note 9 — Related Party Transactions
The Company’s consolidated Statements of Income included the following significant related party transactions ($ in thousands):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
Transaction
 
Consolidated Statement of Income location
 
Counterparty
 
2018
 
2017
Loan servicing fees
 
Related party expense – loan servicing fees
 
Gregory
 
$
2,457

 
$
2,187

Management fee
 
Related party expense – management fee
 
Thetis
 
1,456

 
1,428

Interest income
 
Interest income
 
Oileus Residential
Loan Trust
 
133

 
132

Income from equity investment
 
Income from investments in affiliates
 
Thetis
 
113

 
143

Interest income
 
Interest income
 
2018-B
 
99

 
—

Income from equity investment
 
Income from investments in affiliates
 
Great Ajax FS
 
64

 
—

Interest income
 
Interest income
 
2018-A
 
46

 
—

Interest income
 
Interest income
 
2018-D
 
5

 
—

Due diligence and related loan acquisition costs
 
Loan transaction expense
 
Gregory
 
—

 
41

Expense reimbursements
 
Other fees and expenses
 
Gregory
 
—

 
6

 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
Transaction
 
Consolidated Statement of Income location
 
Counterparty
 
2018
 
2017
Loan servicing fees
 
Related party expense – loan servicing fees
 
Gregory
 
$
7,598

 
$
6,003

Management fee
 
Related party expense – management fee
 
Thetis
 
4,428

 
3,830

Interest income
 
Interest income
 
Oileus Residential
Loan Trust
 
364

 
421

Income from equity investment
 
Income from investments in affiliates
 
Thetis
 
359

 
334

Interest income
 
Interest income
 
2018-A
 
251

 
—

Interest income
 
Interest income
 
2018-B
 
192

 
—

Due diligence and related loan acquisition costs
 
Loan transaction expense
 
Gregory
 
99

 
93

Income from equity investment
 
Income from investments in affiliates
 
Great Ajax FS
 
88

 
—

Expense reimbursements
 
Other fees and expenses
 
Gregory
 
40

 
40

Interest income
 
Interest income
 
2018-D
 
5

 
—

Expense reimbursements
 
Other fees and expenses
 
Great Ajax FS
 
—

 
16


29

The Company’s consolidated Balance Sheets included the following significant related party balances ($ in thousands):
 
 
As of September 30, 2018
Transaction
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet location
 
Counterparty
 
Amount
Receivables from Servicer
 
Receivable from Servicer
 
Gregory
 
$
13,106

Investment in subordinated debt securities
 
Investments at fair value
 
2018-D
 
19,230

Investment in subordinated debt securities
 
Investments at fair value
 
2018-B
 
14,807

Investment in subordinated debt securities
 
Investments at fair value
 
2018-A
 
9,821

Investment in subordinated debt securities
 
Investments at fair value
 
Oileus Residential
Loan Trust
 
6,837

Management fee payable
 
Management fee payable
 
Thetis
 
777

Expense reimbursements
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
Gregory
 
235

Servicing fees payable
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
Gregory
 
57

Expense reimbursement receivable
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
 
2018-A
 
13

Expense reimbursement receivable
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
 
2018-B
 
5

Expense reimbursements
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
Thetis
 
4

​
 
As of December 31, 2017
Transaction
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet location
 
Counterparty
 
Amount
Receivables from Servicer
 
Receivable from Servicer
 
Gregory
 
$
17,005

Investment in subordinated debt securities
 
Investments at fair value
 
Oileus Residential
Loan Trust
 
6,285

Management fee payable
 
Management fee payable
 
Thetis
 
750

Servicing fees payable
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
Gregory
 
217

In October 2016, the Company purchased subordinate debt securities for $6.3 million from Oileus Residential Loan Trust, a related party. At September 30, 2018, these securities were carried on the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value of $6.8 million, which approximates amortized cost.
In April 2018, the Company acquired 9.36% of each class of securities in Ajax Mortgage Trust 2018-A ("2018-A"), a related party securitization trust. The Company purchased the debt securities for $13.8 million from 2018-A. At September 30, 2018, these securities were carried on the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheet at a fair value of $9.8 million, which approximates amortized cost.
In June 2018, the Company acquired 20.0% of each class of securities in Ajax Mortgage Trust 2018-B ("2018-B"), a related party securitization trust. The Company purchased the debt securities for $15.8 million from 2018-B. At September 30, 2018, these securities were carried on the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value of $14.8 million, which approximates amortized cost.
In September 2018, the Company acquired 20.0% of each class of securities in Ajax Mortgage Trust 2018-D ("2018-D"), a related party securitization trust. The Company purchased the debt securities for $19.3 million from 2018-D. At September 30, 2018, these securities were carried on the Company's consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value of $19.2 million, which approximates amortized cost.
Management Agreement
The Company is a party to the Management Agreement with the Manager, which expires on July 8, 2029. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager implements the Company’s business strategy and manages the Company’s business and investment activities and day-to-day operations, subject to oversight by the Company’s Board of Directors. Among other services, the Manager, directly or through Aspen affiliates, provides the Company with a management team and necessary administrative and support personnel. The Company does not currently have any employees that it pays directly and does not expect to have any employees that it pays directly in the foreseeable future. Each of the Company’s executive officers is an employee or officer, or both, of the Manager or the Servicer.

30

Under the Management Agreement, the Company pays both a base management fee and an incentive fee to the Manager. The base management fee equals 1.5% of the Company's stockholders’ equity, including equity equivalents such as the Company's issuance of convertible senior notes, per annum and calculated and payable quarterly in arrears.
The initial $1.0 million of the quarterly base management fee will be payable 75% in cash and 25% in shares of the Company’s common stock. Any amount of the base management fee in excess of $1.0 million will be payable in shares of the Company’s common stock until payment is 50% in cash and 50% in shares (the “50/50 split”). Any remaining amount of the quarterly base management fee after the 50/50 split threshold is reached will be payable in equal amounts of cash and shares. The base management fee currently exceeds the 50/50 split threshold, and the Company is currently paying the management fee 50% in cash and 50% in shares. The Manager has agreed to hold any shares of common stock received by it as payment of the base management fee for at least three years from the date such shares of common stock are received.
The Manager is also entitled to an incentive fee, payable quarterly and calculated in arrears, of 20% of the amount by which total dividends on common stock and distributions on OP units exceeds 8% of book value on a per share basis. However, no incentive fee will be payable to the Manager with respect to any calendar quarter unless the Company’s cumulative core earnings, defined as U.S. GAAP net income or loss less non-cash equity compensation, unrealized gains or losses from mark-to-market adjustments, one-time adjustments to earnings resulting from changes to U.S. GAAP, and certain other non-cash items, is greater than zero for the most recently completed eight calendar quarters. In the event that the payment of the quarterly base management fee has not reached the 50/50 split, all of the incentive fee will be payable in shares of the Company’s common stock until the 50/50 split occurs. In the event that the total payment of the quarterly base management fee and the incentive fee has reached the 50/50 split, 20% of the remaining incentive fee is payable in shares of the Company’s common stock and 80% of the remaining incentive fee is payable in cash. To date, no incentive fees have been paid to the Manager. However, the Company anticipates an incentive fee of approximately $0.1 million will be paid in the fourth quarter of 2018.
The Company also reimburses the Manager for all third-party, out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Manager for managing its business, including third-party diligence and valuation consultants, legal expenses, auditors and other financial services. The reimbursement obligation is not subject to any dollar limitation. Expenses are reimbursed in cash on a monthly basis.
The Company will be required to pay the Manager a termination fee in the event that the Management Agreement is terminated as a result of (i) a termination by the Company without cause, (ii) its decision not to renew the Management Agreement upon the determination of at least two thirds of the Company’s independent directors for reasons including the failure to agree on revised compensation, (iii) a termination by the Manager as a result of the Company becoming regulated as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”) (other than as a result of the acts or omissions of the Manager in violation of investment guidelines approved by the Company’s Board of Directors), or (iv) a termination by the Manager if the Company defaults in the performance of any material term of the Management Agreement (subject to a notice and cure period). The termination fee will be equal to twice the combined base fee and incentive fees payable to the Manager during the 12-month period ended as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter prior to the date of termination.
Servicing Agreement
The Company is also a party to the Servicing Agreement, expiring July 8, 2029, with the Servicer. The Company’s overall servicing costs under the Servicing Agreement will vary based on the types of assets serviced.
Servicing fees range from 0.65% to 1.25% annually of current UPB (or the fair market value or purchase price of REO the Company owns or acquires), and are paid monthly. For certain of the Company’s securitization trusts, the servicing fee rate for RPLs is reduced to an annual servicing fee rate of 0.42% annually on a loan-by-loan basis for any loan that makes seven consecutive payments. The total fees incurred by the Company for these services depend upon the UPB and type of mortgage loans that the Servicer services pursuant to the terms of the Servicing Agreement. The fees are determined based on the loan’s status at acquisition and do not change if a performing loan becomes non-performing or vice versa.
The Company also reimburses the Servicer for all customary, reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in the performance of its obligations, including the actual cost of any repairs and renovations to REO properties held-for-sale. The total fees incurred by the Company for these services will be dependent upon the property value, previous UPB of the relevant loan, and the number of REO properties held-for-sale undergoing renovations.
If the Servicing Agreement has been terminated other than for cause and/or the Servicer terminates the servicing agreement, the Company will be required to pay a termination fee equal to the aggregate servicing fees payable under the servicing agreement for the immediate preceding 12-month period.

31

Trademark Licenses
Aspen has granted the Company a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, royalty-free license to use the name “Great Ajax” and the related logo. The Company also has a similar license to use the name “Thetis.” The agreement has no specified term. If the Management Agreement expires or is terminated, the trademark license agreement will terminate within 30 days. In the event that this agreement is terminated, all rights and licenses granted thereunder, including, but not limited to, the right to use “Great Ajax” in its name will terminate. Aspen also granted to the Manager a substantially identical non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, royalty-free license use of the name “Thetis.”

Note 10 — Investments at fair value
The Company holds investments in various debt and equity securities. The Company's debt securities are issued by securitization trusts, which are VIE's, that the Company has sponsored but which the Company does not consolidate since it has determined it is not the primary beneficiary. The Company's investments in common stock are all in publicly traded real estate investment trusts. All the Company's debt securities are considered to be available-for-sale.
 
 
As of September 30, 2018
$ in thousands
 
Basis1
 
Gross unrealized gains
 
Gross unrealized losses
 
Carrying value (fair value)
Debt securities due October 2056
 
$
6,647

 
$
190

 
$
—

 
$
6,837

Debt securities due April 2058
 
9,796

 
25

 
—

 
9,821

Debt securities due February 2057
 
15,242

 
—

 
(435
)
 
14,807

Debt securities due August 2058
 
19,230

 
—

 
—

 
19,230

Common stock (REIT)
 
1,039

 
17

 
—

 
1,056

Total investments at fair value
 
$
51,954

 
$
232

 
$
(435
)
 
$
51,751

 
 
As of December 31, 2017
$ in thousands
 
Basis1
 
Gross unrealized gains
 
Gross unrealized losses
 
Carrying value (fair value)
Debt securities due October 2056
 
$
6,518

 
$
—

 
$
(233
)
 
$
6,285

Total investments at fair value
 
$
6,518

 
$
—

 
$
(233
)
 
$
6,285

 
(1)
Basis amount is net of any realized amortized costs and principal paydowns.

In October 2016, the Company purchased subordinate debt securities for $6.3 million from Oileus Residential Loan Trust. These notes have a stated final maturity of October 25, 2056. At September 30, 2018, these securities were carried on the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value of $6.8 million, which approximates amortized cost. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded unrealized gains of $0.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively, which are reflected in the Company's consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recorded unrealized losses of $39,000 and $0.2 million, respectively, which are reflected in the Company's consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
In April 2018, the Company purchased 9.36% of each class of securities in 2018-A, a related party securitization trust established to hold approximately $160.0 million in UPB of mortgage loans, including 485 RPLs and 11 NPLs, financed with secured debt of $128.0 million. The Company considered whether the securitization trust should be consolidated, and concluded that it should not, as the Company does not have the power over activities that are most important to the economic performance of the trust, and the trust is not for the primary benefit of the Company. The investments meet the definition of a debt security, and the Company accounts for its investment in 2018-A as Investments at fair value. The Company purchased the debt securities for $13.8 million. These notes have a stated final maturity of April 1, 2058. At September 30, 2018, these securities were carried on the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value of $9.8 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded unrealized gains of $25,000. The notes are considered to be available for sale, and are carried at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in the Company’s consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
    In June 2018, the Company acquired 20.0% of each class of securities in 2018-B, a related party securitization trust established to hold approximately $94.8 million in UPB of mortgage loans, including 312 RPLs and 74 NPLs, financed with secured debt of $66.4 million. The Company considered whether the securitization trust should be consolidated, and concluded that it should not, as the Company does not have the power over activities that are most important to the economic performance

32

of the trust, and the trust is not for the primary benefit of the Company. The investments meet the definition of a debt security, and the Company accounts for its investment in 2018-B as Investments at fair value. The Company purchased the debt securities for $15.8 million. These notes have a stated final maturity of February 26, 2057. At September 30, 2018, these securities were carried on the Company’s consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value of $14.8 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded unrealized losses of $0.4 million. The notes are considered to be available for sale, and are carried at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in the Company’s consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
    In September 2018, the Company acquired 20.0% of each class of securities in 2018-D, a related party securitization trust established to hold approximately $100.8 million in UPB of mortgage loans, includes 470 RPLs, financed with secured debt of $149.1 million. The Company considered whether the securitization trust should be consolidated, and concluded that it should not, as the Company does not have the power over activities that are most important to the economic performance of the trust, and the trust is not for the primary benefit of the Company. The investments meet the definition of a debt security, and the Company accounts for its investment in 2018-D as Investments at fair value. The Company purchased the debt securities for $19.3 million. These notes have a stated final maturity in August 25, 2058. At September 30, 2018, these securities were carried on the Company's consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value of $19.2 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded no unrealized gains or losses.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 the Company purchased shares of common stock that are all in publicly traded real estate investment trusts. At September 30, 2018, these securities were carried on the Company's consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value of $1.1 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded unrealized gains of $17,000, which are reflected in the Company's consolidated Statements of Income.

Note 11 — Stock-based Payments and Director Fees
Pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement, the Company pays a portion of the base fee to the Manager in shares of its common stock with the number of shares determined based on the higher of the most recently reported book value or the average of the closing prices of its common stock on the NYSE on the five business days after the date on which the most recent regular quarterly dividend to holders of its common stock is paid. The Company recognized a base management fee to the Manager for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 of $1.6 million, of which the Company recorded $0.8 million in 49,229 shares of its common stock. The shares issued to the Manager are restricted securities subject to transfer restrictions, and were issued in private placement transactions, with 49,229 shares still issuable at September 30, 2018. See Note 9 — Related party transactions.
In addition, each of the Company’s independent directors receives an annual retainer of $75,000, payable quarterly, half of which is paid in shares of the Company’s common stock on the same basis as the stock portion of the management fee payable to the Manager and half in cash.
The following table sets forth the Company’s stock-based management fees and independent director fees ($ in thousands except share amounts):
Management Fees and Director Fees
 
For the three months ended September 30,
​
2018
 
2017
 
Number of shares
 
Amount of expense recognized(1)
 
Number of shares
 
Amount of expense recognized(1)
Management fees
49,229

 
$
775

 
43,463

 
$
678

Independent director fees
2,384

 
38

 
2,404

 
38

Totals
51,613

 
$
813

 
45,867

 
$
716


33

 
For the nine months ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Number of shares
 
Amount of expense recognized(1)
 
Number of Shares
 
Amount of expense recognized(1)
Management fees
147,849

 
$
2,310

 
101,998

 
$
1,580

Independent director fees
7,204

 
114

 
7,280

 
113

Totals
155,053

 
$
2,424

 
109,278

 
$
1,693

 
(1)
All management fees and independent director fees are fully expensed in the period in which the underlying expense is incurred.​
​Restricted Stock
Each independent director is issued a restricted stock award of 2,000 shares of the Company’s common stock subject to a one-year vesting period upon initial appointment to the Company’s Board. On August 17, 2016, the Company granted 153,000 shares of restricted stock to employees of its Manager and Servicer, which was reduced in 2017 by forfeitures of 4,000 shares and in 2018 by forfeitures of 2,666 shares. On July 24, 2017, the Company granted 39,000 shares of restricted stock to employees of its Manager and Servicer, and on July 31, 2018, the Company granted 36,500 shares of restricted stock to employees of its Manager and Servicer. The shares vest over three years, with one third of the shares vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. The shares may not be sold until the third anniversary of the grant date. The 2017 and 2018 grants also include a provision whereby the shares vest automatically upon the death of the grantee. Grants of restricted stock use grant date fair value of the stock as the basis for measuring the cost of the grant.
In the first quarter of 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a grant of 3,000 shares of stock to each independent director, with subsequent issuance in the second quarter of 2018. Half of the shares vested immediately upon issuance and the other half are subject to a one-year vesting period.

34

The following table sets forth the activity in the Company’s restricted stock plans ($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
​
 
Total Grants

Current period activity

Non-vested shares at September 30, 2018

Fully-vested shares at September 30, 2018
Three months ended September 30, 2018
 
Total shares granted
 
Total expected cost of grant
 
Shares granted during the year
 
Grant expense recognized for the three months ended September 30, 2018
 
Shares
 
Per share grant date fair value
 
Shares
 
Per share grant date fair value
Directors’ Grants(1)
 
12,000

 
$
162

 
12,000

 
$
20

 
6,000

 
$
13.48

 
6,000

 
$
13.48

Employee and Service Provider Grant 2016(2,5)
 
146,334

 
1,976

 
—

 
163

 
47,889

 
13.50

 
98,445

 
13.50

Employee and Service Provider Grant, granted 2017(3)
 
39,000

 
544

 
—

 
45

 
26,000

 
13.95

 
13,000

 
13.95

Employee and Service Provider Grant, granted 2018(4)
 
36,500

 
496

 
36,500

 
27

 
36,500

 
13.58

 
—

 
—

Totals
 
233,834

 
$
3,178

 
48,500

 
$
255

 
116,389

 
$
13.56

 
117,445

 
$
13.55

 
(1)
Half of the 12,000 shares granted vest immediately while the remaining shares vest ratably over a one-year period from the grant date. Weighted average remaining life of unvested shares at September 30, 2018 is 0.4 years.
(2)
Vesting is ratable over three-year period from grant date. Weighted average remaining life of grant at September 30, 2018 is 0.9 years.
(3)
Vesting is ratable over three-year period from grant date. Weighted average remaining life of grant at September 30, 2018 is 1.8 years.
(4)
Vesting is ratable over three-year period from grant date. Weighted average remaining life of grant at September 30, 2018 is 2.9 years.
(5)
Total is shown net of 2017 forfeitures of 4,000 shares and 2018 forfeitures of 2,666.

 
 
Total Grants
 
Current period activity
 
Non-vested shares at September 30, 2017
 
Fully-vested shares at September 30, 2017
Three months ended September 30, 2017
 
Total shares granted
 
Total expected cost of grant
 
Shares granted during the year
 
Grant expense recognized for the three months ended September 30, 2017
 
Shares
 
Per share grant date fair value
 
Shares
 
Per share grant date fair value
Directors’ Grants(1)
 
10,000

 
$
146

 
—

 
$
—

 
—

 
$
—

 
10,000

 
$
14.61

Employee and Service Provider Grant 2016(2,4)
 
149,000

 
2,040

 
—

 
170

 
99,333

 
13.78

 
49,667

 
13.78

Employee and Service Provider Grant 2017(3)
 
39,000

 
546

 
39,000

 
30

 
39,000

 
13.95

 
—

 
—

Totals
 
198,000

 
$
2,732

 
39,000

 
$
200

 
138,333

 
$
13.83

 
59,667

 
$
13.92

 
(1)
Vesting period is one-year from grant date. Grant is fully vested at September 30, 2017.
(2)
Vesting is ratable over three-year period from grant date. Weighted average remaining life of grant at September 30, 2017 is 1.9 years.
(3)
Vesting is ratable over three-year period from grant date. Weighted average remaining life of grant at September 30, 2017 is 2.8 years.
(4)
Total is shown net of 2017 forfeitures of 4,000 shares.

35

​
 
Total Grants

Activity

Non-vested shares at September 30, 2018

Fully-vested shares at September 30, 2018
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
 
Total shares granted

Total expected cost of grant

Shares granted during the year

Grant expense recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2018

Shares

Per share grant date fair value

Shares

Per share grant date fair value
Directors’ Grants(1)
 
12,000

 
$
162

 
12,000

 
$
128

 
6,000

 
$
13.48

 
6,000

 
$
13.48

Employee and Service Provider Grant 2016(2,5)
 
146,334

 
1,976

 
—

 
466

 
47,889

 
13.50

 
98,445

 
13.50

Employee and Service Provider Grant 2017(3)
 
39,000

 
544

 
—

 
136

 
26,000

 
13.95

 
13,000

 
13.95

Employee and Service Provider Grant 2018(4)
 
36,500

 
496

 
36,500

 
27

 
36,500

 
13.58

 
—

 
—

Totals
 
233,834

 
$
3,178

 
48,500

 
$
757

 
116,389

 
$
13.56

 
117,445

 
$
13.55

 
(1)
Half of the 12,000 shares granted vest immediately while the remaining shares vest ratably over a one-year period from the grant date. Weighted average remaining life of unvested shares at September 30, 2018 is 0.4 years.
(2)
Vesting is ratable over three-year period from grant date. Weighted average remaining life of grant at September 30, 2018 is 0.9 years.
(3)
Vesting is ratable over three-year period from grant date. Weighted average remaining life of grant at September 30, 2018 is 1.8 years.
(4)
Vesting is ratable over three-year period from grant date. Weighted average remaining life of grant at September 30, 2018 is 2.9 years.
(5)
Total is shown net of 2017 forfeitures of 4,000 shares and 2018 forfeitures of 2,666.
 
 
Total Grants
 
Activity
 
Non-vested shares at September 30, 2017
 
Fully-vested shares at September 30, 2017
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
Total shares granted
 
Total expected cost of grant
 
Shares granted during the year
 
Grant expense recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
Shares
 
Per share grant date fair value
 
Shares
 
Per share grant date fair value
Directors’ Grants(1)
 
10,000

 
$
146

 
—

 
$
14

 
—

 
$
—

 
10,000

 
$
14.61

Employee and Service Provider Grant 2016(2,4)
 
149,000

 
2,040

 
—

 
511

 
99,333

 
13.78

 
49,667

 
13.78

Employee and Service Provider Grant 2017(3)
 
39,000

 
546

 
39,000

 
30

 
39,000

 
13.95

 
—

 
—

Totals
 
198,000

 
$
2,732

 
39,000

 
$
555

 
138,333

 
$
13.83

 
59,667

 
$
13.92

 
(1)
Vesting period is one-year from grant date. Grant is fully vested at September 30, 2017.
(2)
Vesting is ratable over three-year period from grant date. Weighted average remaining life of grant at September 30, 2017 is 1.9 years.
(3)
Vesting is ratable over three-year period from grant date. Weighted average remaining life of grant at September 30, 2017 is 2.8 years.
(4)
Total is shown net of 2017 forfeitures of 4,000 shares.
​​
Note 12 — Income Taxes
As a REIT, the Company must meet certain organizational and operational requirements including the requirement to distribute at least 90% of its annual REIT taxable income to its stockholders. As a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent the Company distributes its REIT taxable income to its stockholders and provided the Company satisfies the REIT requirements including certain asset, income, distribution and stock ownership tests. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT, and does not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, it will be subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes and may be precluded from qualifying as a REIT for the subsequent four taxable years following the year in which it lost its REIT qualification.

36


The Company’s consolidated Financial Statements include the operations of two TRS entities, GA-TRS and GAJX Real Estate LLC, which are subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes on their taxable income.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company’s consolidated taxable income was $6.5 million and $19.8 million, respectively; and provisions for income taxes of $0.1 million and $0.1 million were recorded for the three and nine month periods, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company’s consolidated taxable income was $2.1 million and $16.1 million; and provisions for income taxes of $47,000 and $0.1 million, respectively, were recorded for the three and nine month periods, respectively. The Company recognized no deferred income tax assets or liabilities on its consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2018 or 2017. The Company also recorded no interest or penalties for either the three or nine months ended September 30, 2018 or 2017.

Note 13 — Earnings per Share
The following table sets forth the components of basic and diluted EPS ($ in thousands, except share and per share):
 
Three months ended September 30, 2018
 
Three months ended September 30, 2017
 
Income
(Numerator)
 
Shares
(Denominator)
 
Per Share
Amount
 
Income
(Numerator)
 
Shares
(Denominator)
 
Per Share
Amount
Basic EPS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders
$
6,558

 
18,691,393

 
 
 
$
7,470

 
18,072,045

 
 
Allocation of earnings to participating restricted shares
(70
)
 
—

 
 
 
(86
)
 
—

 
 
Consolidated net income attributable to unrestricted common stockholders
$
6,488

 
18,691,393

 
$
0.35

 
$
7,384

 
18,072,045

 
$
0.41

Effect of dilutive securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Partnership units
223

 
624,106

 
 
 
246

 
624,106

 
 
Restricted stock grants and Manager and director fee shares
70

 
202,856

 
 
 
86

 
210,261

 
 
Interest expense (add back) and assumed conversion of shares from convertible senior notes
2,151

 
7,074,451

 
 
 
1,905

 
6,340,352

 
 
Diluted EPS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders and dilutive securities
$
8,932

 
26,592,806

 
$
0.34

 
$
9,621

 
25,246,764

 
$
0.38


37

​
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
Income
(Numerator)
 
Shares
(Denominator)
 
Per Share
Amount
 
Income
(Numerator)
 
Shares
(Denominator)
 
Per Share
Amount
Basic EPS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders
21,744

 
18,599,088

 
 
 
$
22,743

 
18,019,434

 
 
Allocation of earnings to participating restricted shares
(242
)
 
—

 
 
 
(251
)
 
—

 
 
Consolidated net income attributable to unrestricted common stockholders
$
21,502

 
18,599,088

 
$
1.16

 
$
22,492

 
18,019,434

 
$
1.25

Effect of dilutive securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Partnership units
724

 
624,106

 
 
 
773

 
624,106

 
 
Restricted stock grants and Manager and director fee shares
242

 
209,108

 
 
 
251

 
201,304

 
 
Interest expense (add back) and assumed conversion of shares from convertible senior notes
6,439

 
7,056,682

 
 
 
3,160

 
3,535,944

 
 
Diluted EPS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders and dilutive securities
$
28,907

 
26,488,984

 
$
1.09

 
$
26,676

 
22,380,788

 
$
1.19


Note 14 — Equity
Common stock
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 the Company had 18,856,601 and 18,588,228 shares, respectively, of $0.01 par value common stock outstanding with 125,000,000 shares authorized at each period end.
Preferred stock
The Company had no shares of preferred stock outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. There were 25,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
Treasury stock
As of September 30, 2018 the Company held 17,365 shares of treasury stock received through a distribution of the Company's shares previously held by its Manager. The Company held no treasury stock at December 31, 2017.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
The Company sponsors a dividend reinvestment plan through which stockholders may purchase additional shares of the Company’s common stock by reinvesting some or all of the cash dividends received on shares of the Company’s common stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, 10,381 and 9,165 shares, respectively, were issued under the plan for total proceeds of approximately $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
At-the-Market Offering
The Company has entered into an equity distribution agreement under which the Company may sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $50.0 million from time to time in any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, no shares were sold under the at-the-market program.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The Company recognizes temporary holding gains or losses on investments in debt securities as components of Other comprehensive income (loss). Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was as follows ($ in thousands):

38

Investments in securities:
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Unrealized gains
 
$
474

 
$
9

Unrealized losses
 
(677
)
 
(242
)
Income tax related to items of other comprehensive income
 
—

 
—

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
$
(203
)
 
$
(233
)
Non-controlling Interest
At September 30, 2018, the Company had non-controlling interests attributable to ownership interests by five legal entities.
The Company’s Operating Partnership, which is majority-owned by the Company, had 624,106 partnership units held by an independent third party at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The Company consolidates the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Operating Partnership.
During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company established AS Ajax E II LLC, to purchase and hold an investment in a Delaware trust which holds single family residential real estate loans, SBC loans and other real estate assets. AS Ajax E II LLC is 46.9% held by third parties. As of September 30, 2018 the Company has retained 53.1% of AS Ajax E II LLC and consolidates the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the entity.
During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company established 2017-D, a securitization trust, which is 50% held by an institutional investor. As of September 30, 2018 the Company has retained 50% of 2017-D and consolidates the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the trust.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the Company established 2018-C, a securitization trust, which is 37.0% held by an institutional investor. The Company has retained 63.0% of 2018-C and consolidates the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the trust.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the Company established Banfield, to purchase and hold REO property, which is 10.0% held by a third party. The Company has retained 90.0% of Banfield and consolidates the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the entity.

Note 15 — Subsequent Events
Loan Acquisitions
Since quarter end the Company acquired 413 residential RPLs with aggregate UPB of $75.3 million in four transactions from four sellers for our own account. The RPLs were acquired at 89.3% of UPB and the estimated market value of the underlying collateral is $109.9 million. The purchase price equaled 61.2% of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral. In a joint venture with a third party institutional investor, the Company also acquired 99 RPLs with aggregate UPB of $28.3 million from a single seller. The RPLs were acquired at 92.2% of UPB and the estimated market value of the underlying collateral is $45.6 million. The purchase price equaled 57.3% of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral.
Additionally, the Company has also agreed to acquire, subject to due diligence, 2,069 residential RPLs, four SBC RPLs and 486 NPLs with UPB of $561.1 million, $3.4 million and $105.0 million, respectively, in six transactions from six different sellers. The purchase price of the residential RPLs equals 91.0% of UPB and 55.0% of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral of $928.4 million. The purchase price of the SBC RPLs equals 100.0% of UPB and 65.0% of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral of $5.2 million. The purchase price of the NPLs equals 93.5% of UPB, 68.8% of the borrowers' total amount due and 57.5% of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral of $170.7 million. Some of these loans are expected to be acquired through joint ventures with institutional investors.
The Company also agreed to acquire three commercial properties for an aggregate purchase price of $10.0 million and collateral value of $10.0 million in three separate transactions from three different sellers.
Call of Subordinate Debt Securities
On October 25, 2018, Oileus Residential Loan Trust called the subordinate debt securities held by the Company as investments. The debt securities were called at par value resulting in no gain or loss from the Company's carrying value at September 30, 2018.
Dividend Declaration
On October 30, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.32 per share, to be paid on November 30, 2018 to stockholders of record as of November 16, 2018.

39


Management Fees
On November 7, 2018, the Company issued 49,229 shares of its common stock to the Manager in payment of the portion of the base management fee which is payable in common stock for the third quarter of 2018 in a private transaction. The management fee expense associated with these shares was recorded as an expense in the third quarter of 2018.
Directors’ Retainer
On November 7, 2018, the Company issued to each of its four independent directors 596 shares of its common stock in payment of half of their quarterly director fees for the third quarter of 2018.

40



CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business” and elsewhere in this annual report constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “should,” “will” and “would” or the negatives of these terms or other comparable terminology.
The forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance, taking into account all information currently available to us. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us or are within our control. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider these risks, along with the following factors that could cause actual results to vary from our forward-looking statements:
•
the factors referenced in this annual report, including those set forth under “Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations";
•
our ability to implement our business strategy;​
•
difficulties in identifying re-performing loans (“RPLs”), small balance commercial mortgage loans (“SBC loans”) and properties to acquire; the impact of changes to the supply of, value of and the returns on RPLs and SBC loans;​
•
our ability to compete with our competitors;​
•
our ability to control our costs;​
•
the impact of changes in interest rates and the market value of the collateral underlying our RPL and non-performing loan (“NPL”) portfolios or of our other real estate assets;​
•
our ability to convert NPLs into performing loans, or to modify or otherwise resolve such loans;​
•
our ability to convert NPLs to properties that can generate attractive returns either through sale or rental;​
•
our ability to obtain financing arrangements on favorable terms, or at all;​
•
our ability to retain our engagement of our Manager;​
•
the failure of the Servicer to perform its obligations under the Servicing Agreement;​
•
general volatility of the capital markets;​
•
the impact of adverse real estate, mortgage or housing markets and changes in the general economy;​
•
changes in our business strategy;
•
our failure to qualify or maintain qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”);​​
•
our failure to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”); and​
•
the impact of adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes.​

41

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
In this quarterly report on Form 10-Q (“report”), unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “Great Ajax,” “we,” “the company,” “our” and “us” refer to the activities of and the assets and liabilities of the business and operations of Great Ajax Corp.; “operating partnership” refers to Great Ajax Operating Partnership L.P., a Delaware limited partnership; “our Manager” refers to Thetis Asset Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; “Aspen Capital” refers to the Aspen Capital group of companies; “Aspen” and “Aspen Yo” refers to Aspen Yo LLC, an Oregon limited liability company that is part of Aspen Capital; and “the Servicer” and “Gregory” refer to Gregory Funding LLC, an Oregon limited liability company and our affiliate, and an indirect subsidiary of Aspen Yo.
 
Our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 1. Consolidated interim financial statements of this report and in Item 8. Financial statements and supplementary data in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the sections entitled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A. of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Part II, Item 1A. of this report, as well as other cautionary statements and risks described elsewhere in this report and our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.​
Overview
Great Ajax Corp. is a Maryland corporation that is organized and operated in a manner intended to allow us to qualify as a REIT. We primarily target acquisitions of re-performing loans ("RPLs"), including residential mortgage loans and small balance commercial (“SBC”) loans. RPLs are mortgage loans on which at least five of the seven most recent payments have been made, or the most recent payment has been made and accepted pursuant to an agreement, or the full dollar amount to cover at least five payments has been paid in the last seven months. We opportunistically originate SBC loans that have a principal balance of up to $5 million and are secured by multi-family residential and commercial mixed use retail/residential properties. Purchased SBC loans are generally RPLs. Additionally, we may invest in single-family and smaller commercial properties directly either through a foreclosure event of a loan in our mortgage portfolio or through a direct acquisition. We may also target investments in non-performing loans (“NPL”). NPLs are loans on which the most recent three payments have not been made. We may acquire NPLs either directly or with joint venture partners. We own a 19.8% equity interest in the Manager and an 8.0% equity interest in the parent company of our Servicer. GA-TRS is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership that owns the equity interest in the Manager and the Servicer. We have elected to treat GA-TRS as a taxable REIT subsidiary under the Code. Our mortgage loans and real properties are serviced by the Servicer, also an affiliated company.
In September 2014, we formed Great Ajax Funding LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, to act as the depositor of mortgage loans into securitization trusts and to hold the subordinated securities issued by such trusts and any additional trusts we may form for additional secured borrowings. AJX Mortgage Trust I and AJX Mortgage Trust II are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership formed to hold mortgage loans used as collateral for financings under the our repurchase agreements. On February 1, 2015, we formed GAJX Real Estate LLC, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, to own, maintain, improve and sell certain REO purchased by us. We have elected to treat GAJX Real Estate LLC as a TRS under the Code.
In February 2018, we formed AJX Commercial Properties I to hold multi-family residential properties held as rentals. AJX Commercial Properties I is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership.
We elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes beginning with our taxable year ended December 31, 2014. Our qualification as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, various complex requirements under the Code relating to, among other things, the sources of our gross income, the composition and values of our assets, our distribution levels and the diversity of ownership of our capital stock. We believe that we are organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, and that our current intended manner of operation enables us to meet the requirements for taxation as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Our Portfolio
The following table outlines the carrying value of our portfolio of mortgage loan assets and single-family and smaller commercial properties as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 ($ in millions):

42

 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
RPL Residential Mortgage Loans
 
$
1,197.9

 
$
1,190.0

RPL SBC Loans
 
25.0

 
8.6

Originated SBC Loans
 
13.6

 
11.6

NPLs
 
36.2

 
43.3

REO
 
28.5

 
26.2

Investments in debt securities
 
50.7

 
6.3

Total Real Estate Assets
 
$
1,351.9

 
$
1,286.0

We closely monitor the status of our mortgage loans and, through our Servicer, work with our borrowers to improve their payment records.
Market Trends and Outlook
We believe that certain cyclical trends continue to drive a significant realignment within the mortgage sector. These trends and their effects include:
•
historically low interest rates and elevated operating costs resulting from new regulatory requirements that continue to drive sales of residential mortgage assets by banks and other mortgage lenders;​
•
declining home ownership due to rising prices, low inventory and increased down payment requirements that have increased the demand for single-family and multi-family residential rental properties;​
•
rising home prices are increasing homeowner equity and reducing the incidence of strategic default;​
•
rising prices have resulted in millions of homeowners being in the money to refinance;​
•
the Dodd-Frank risk retention rules for asset backed securities have reduced the universe of participants in the securitization markets;​
•
the lack of a robust market for non-conforming mortgage loans in the aftermath of the financial crisis​; and
•
continuing increases in interest rates will result in lower refinancing volume and home prices increases will slow.
The current market landscape is also generating new opportunities in residential mortgage-related whole loan strategies. The origination of subprime and alternative residential mortgage loans remain substantially below 2008 levels and the qualified mortgage and ability-to-repay rule requirements have put pressure on new originations. Additionally, many banks and other mortgage lenders have increased their credit standards and down payment requirements for originating new loans.
The combination of these factors has also resulted in a significant number of families that cannot qualify to obtain new residential mortgage loans. We believe the U.S. federal regulations addressing “qualified mortgages” based, among other factors on employment status, debt-to-income level, impaired credit history or lack of savings, limit mortgage loan availability from traditional mortgage lenders. In addition, we believe that many homeowners displaced by foreclosure or who either cannot afford to own or cannot be approved for a mortgage will prefer to live in single-family rental properties with similar characteristics and amenities to owned homes as well as smaller multi-family residential properties. In certain demographic areas, new households are being formed at a rate that exceeds the new homes being added to the market, which we believe favors future demand for non-federally guaranteed mortgage financing for single-family and smaller multi-family rental properties. For all these reasons, we believe that demand for single-family and smaller multi-family rental properties will increase in the near term and remain at heightened levels for the foreseeable future.
We also believe that banks and other mortgage lenders have strengthened their capital bases and are more aggressively foreclosing on delinquent borrowers or selling these loans to dispose of their inventory. Additionally, many NPL buyers are now interested in reducing their investment duration and have begun selling RPLs.
We believe that investments in residential RPLs with positive equity provide an optimal investment value. As a result, we are currently focusing on acquiring pools of RPLs, though we may acquire NPLs, either directly or with joint venture partners, if attractive opportunities exist. Through our Servicer, work with our borrowers to improve their payment records. Once there is a period of continued performance, we expect that borrowers will typically refinance these loans at or near the estimated value of the underlying property.
We also believe there are significant attractive investment opportunities in the SBC loan and property markets and originate as well as purchase these loans particularly in urban areas where there is a sustainable trend of young adults desiring

43

to live near where they work. We focus on densely populated urban areas where we expect positive economic change based on certain demographic, economic and social statistical data. The primary lenders for smaller multi-family and mixed retail/residential properties are community banks and not regional and national banks and large institutional lenders. We believe the primary lenders and loan purchasers are less interested in these assets because they typically require significant commercial and residential mortgage credit and underwriting expertise, special servicing capability and active property management. It is also more difficult to create the large pools that these primary banks, lenders and portfolio acquirers typically desire. Many community banks also remain under financial and regulatory pressure since the financial crisis and are now beginning to sell smaller commercial mortgage loans as property values have begun to increase. We continually monitor opportunities to increase our holdings of these SBC loans and properties.
Factors That May Affect Our Operating Results
Acquisitions. Our operating results depend heavily on sourcing residential RPLs and SBC loans and, when attractive opportunities are identified, of NPLs. We believe that there is currently a large supply of RPLs available to us for acquisition and we believe the available supply provides for a steady acquisition pipeline of assets since large institutions are active sellers in the market. We expect that our residential mortgage loan portfolio may grow at an uneven pace, as opportunities to acquire distressed residential mortgage loans may be irregularly timed and may involve large portfolios of loans, and the timing and extent of our success in acquiring such loans cannot be predicted. In addition, for any given portfolio of loans that we agree to acquire, we typically acquire fewer loans than originally expected, as certain loans may be resolved prior to the closing date or may fail to meet our diligence standards. The number of loans not acquired typically constitutes a small portion of a particular portfolio. In any case where we do not acquire the full portfolio, we make appropriate adjustments to the applicable purchase price.
Financing. Our ability to grow our business by acquiring residential RPLs and SBC loans depends on the availability of adequate financing, including additional equity financing, debt financing or both in order to meet our objectives. We intend to leverage our investments with debt, the level of which may vary based upon the particular characteristics of our portfolio and on market conditions. We have funded and intend to continue to fund our asset acquisitions with non-recourse secured borrowings in which the underlying collateral is not marked-to-market and employ repurchase agreements without the obligation to mark-to-market the underlying collateral to the extent available. We securitize our whole loan portfolios, primarily as a financing tool, when economically efficient to create long-term, fixed rate, non-recourse financing with moderate leverage, while retaining one or more tranches of the subordinate MBS so created. The secured borrowings are structured as debt financings and not real estate investment conduit (“REMIC”) sales, and the loans included in the secured borrowings generally remain on our consolidated balance sheet. We completed the securitization transactions pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in which we issued notes primarily secured by seasoned, performing and non-performing mortgage loans primarily secured by first liens on one-to-four family residential properties.     
To qualify as a REIT under the Code, we generally will need to distribute at least 90% of our taxable income each year (subject to certain adjustments) to our stockholders. This distribution requirement limits our ability to retain earnings and thereby replenish or increase capital to support our activities.
Resolution Methodologies. We, through the Servicer, or our affiliates, employ various loan resolution methodologies with respect to our residential mortgage loans, including loan modification, collateral resolution and collateral disposition. The manner in which a NPL is resolved will affect the amount and timing of revenue we will receive. Our preferred resolution methodology is to modify NPLs. Once successfully modified and there is a period of continued performance, we expect that borrowers will typically refinance these loans at or near the estimated value of the underlying property. We believe modification followed by refinancing generates near-term cash flows, provides the highest possible economic outcome for us and is a socially responsible business strategy because it keeps more families in their homes. In certain circumstances, we may also consider selling these modified loans. Through historical experience, we expect that many of our NPLs will enter into foreclosure or similar proceedings, ultimately becoming REO that we can sell or convert into single-family rental properties that we believe will generate long-term returns for our stockholders. REO property can be converted into single-family rental properties or they may be sold through REO liquidation and short sale processes. We expect the timelines for each of the different processes to vary significantly, and final resolution could take up to 48 months or longer from the loan acquisition date. The exact nature of resolution will depend on a number of factors that are beyond our control, including borrower willingness, property value, availability of refinancing, interest rates, conditions in the financial markets, regulatory environment and other factors. To avoid the 100% prohibited transaction tax on the sale of dealer property by a REIT, we may dispose of assets that may be treated as held “primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business” by contributing or selling the asset to a TRS prior to marketing the asset for sale.
The state of the real estate market and home prices will determine proceeds from any sale of real estate. We will opportunistically and on an asset-by-asset basis determine whether to rent any REO we acquire, whether upon foreclosure or otherwise, we may determine to sell such assets if they do not meet our investment criteria. In addition, while we seek to track

44

real estate price trends and estimate the effects of those trends on the valuations of our portfolios of residential mortgage loans, future real estate values are subject to influences beyond our control. Generally, rising home prices are expected to positively affect our results. Conversely, declining real estate prices are expected to negatively affect our results.
Conversion to Rental Property. From time to time we will retain an REO property as a rental property and may acquire rental properties through direct purchases at attractive prices. The key variables that will affect our residential rental revenues over the long-term will be the extent to which we acquire properties, which, in turn, will depend on the amount of our capital invested, average occupancy and rental rates in our owned rental properties. We expect the timeline to convert multi-family and single-family loans, into rental properties will vary significantly by loan, which could result in variations in our revenue and our operating performance from period to period. There are a variety of factors that may inhibit our ability, through the Servicer, to foreclose upon a residential mortgage loan and get access to the real property within the time frames we model as part of our valuation process. These factors include, without limitation: state foreclosure timelines and the associated deferrals (including from litigation); unauthorized occupants of the property; U.S. federal, state or local legislative action or initiatives designed to provide homeowners with assistance in avoiding residential mortgage loan foreclosures that may delay the foreclosure process; U.S. federal government programs that require specific procedures to be followed to explore the non-foreclosure outcome of a residential mortgage loan prior to the commencement of a foreclosure proceeding; and declines in real estate values and high levels of unemployment and underemployment that increase the number of foreclosures and place additional pressure on the already overburdened judicial and administrative systems. We do not expect to retain a material number of single family residential properties for use as rentals. We do, however, intend to focus, on retaining multi-unit residences derived from foreclosures, or outright purchases as rentals.
Expenses. Our expenses primarily consist of the fees and expenses payable by us under the Management Agreement and the Servicing Agreement. Additionally, our Manager incurs direct, out-of-pocket costs related to managing our business, which are contractually reimbursable by us. Depreciation and amortization is a non-cash expense associated with the ownership of rental real estate properties, and other fixed assets, and generally remains relatively consistent each year at an asset level since we depreciate our properties and other assets on a straight-line basis over a fixed life. Interest expense consists of the costs to borrow money.
Changes in Home Prices. As discussed above, generally, rising home prices are expected to positively affect our results, particularly as it should result in greater levels of re-performance of mortgage loans, faster refinancing of those mortgage loans, more re-capture of principal on greater than 100% LTV (loan-to-value) mortgage loans and increased recovery of the principal of the mortgage loans upon sale of any REO. Conversely, declining real estate prices are expected to negatively affect our results, particularly if the home price should decline below our purchase price for the loans and especially if borrowers determine that it is better to strategically default as their equity in their homes decline. While home prices have risen to nearly pre-Great Recession levels in many parts of the United States, there are still significant regions where values have not materially increased. When we analyze loan and property acquisitions we do not take home price appreciation HPA into account except for rural properties for which we model negative HPA related to our expectation of worse than expected property condition.
We typically concentrate our investments in specific urban geographic locations in which we expect stable or better property markets, although we do not use any appreciation expectation in the performance modeling.
Changes in Market Interest Rates. With respect to our business operations, increases in interest rates, in general, may over time cause: (1) the value of our mortgage loan and MBS (retained from our secured borrowings) portfolio to decline; (2) coupons on our adjustable rate mortgages (“ARM”) and hybrid ARM mortgage loans and MBS to reset, although on a delayed basis, to higher interest rates; (3) prepayments on our mortgage loans and MBS portfolio to slow, thereby slowing the amortization of our purchase premiums and the accretion of our purchase discounts; (4) the interest expense associated with our borrowings to increase; and (5) to the extent we enter into interest rate swap agreements as part of our hedging strategy, the value of these agreements to increase. Conversely, decreases in interest rates, in general, may over time cause: (a) prepayments on our mortgage loan and MBS portfolio to increase, thereby accelerating the accretion of our purchase discounts; (b) the value of our mortgage loan and MBS portfolio to increase; (c) coupons on our ARM and hybrid ARM mortgage loans and MBS to reset, although on a delayed basis, to lower interest rates; (d) the interest expense associated with our borrowings to decrease; and (e) to the extent we enter into interest rate swap agreements as part of our hedging strategy, the value of these agreements to decrease.
Market Conditions. Due to the dramatic repricing of real estate assets during the most recent financial crisis and the continuing uncertainty in the direction and continuing strength of the real estate markets, we believe a void in the debt and equity capital available for investing in real estate has been created as many financial institutions, insurance companies, finance companies and fund managers face insolvency or have determined to reduce or discontinue investment in debt or equity related to real estate. We believe the dislocations in the residential real estate market have resulted or will result in an “over-correction” in the repricing of real estate assets, creating a potential opportunity for us to capitalize on these market dislocations and capital void.

45

We believe that in spite of the continuing uncertain market environment for mortgage-related assets, current market conditions offer potentially attractive investment opportunities for us, even in the face of a riskier and more volatile market environment, as the depressed trading prices of our target assets have caused a corresponding increase in available yields. We expect that market conditions will continue to impact our operating results and will cause us to adjust our investment and financing strategies over time as new opportunities emerge and risk profiles of our business change.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Various elements of our accounting policies, by their nature, are inherently subject to estimation techniques, and other subjective assessments. In particular, we have identified three policies that, due to the judgment and estimates inherent in those policies, are critical to understanding our consolidated financial statements. These policies relate to (i) accounting for Interest income on our mortgage loan portfolio; (ii) accounting for Interest expense on our secured borrowings; and (iii) accounting for Interest expense on our borrowings under repurchase agreements. We believe that the judgment and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements are appropriate given the factual circumstances at the time. However, given the sensitivity of our consolidated financial statements to these critical accounting policies, the use of other judgments or estimates could result in material differences in our results of operations or financial condition. For further information on our critical accounting policies, please refer to the Critical accounting policies in our Form 10-K for our calendar year ended December 31, 2017, as there have been no changes to these policies.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to the notes to our interim financial statements for a description of relevant recent accounting pronouncements.
Emerging Growth Company
We are subject to reporting and other obligations under the Exchange Act. The Jumpstart Our Business Startup Act of 2012 ("JOBS Act") contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for “emerging growth companies,” including certain requirements relating to accounting standards and compensation disclosure. Until this quarter we qualified as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. As a result of our recent issuance of senior debt associated with our 2018-C securitization, we and our subsidiaries have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt over the past 36-month period resulting in the loss of our status as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act. (See Note 8 - Debt).
 

Results of Operations
For the three months ended September 30, 2018, we had net income attributable to common stockholders of $6.6 million, or $0.35 per share, for basic and $0.34 for diluted common shares. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, we had net income attributable to common stockholders of $7.5 million, or $0.41 per share, for basic and $0.38 for diluted common shares. Key items for the three months ended September 30, 2018 include:
•
Purchased $64.4 million of RPLs and $1.4 million of NPLs with an aggregate UPB of $70.9 million and underlying collateral value of $106.1 million; and originated $4.8 million of SBCs.
•
Interest income from mortgage loans and investments portfolio of $27.4 million; net interest income of $14.1 million.
•
Net income attributable to common stockholders of $6.6 million.
•
Basic earnings per share of $0.35 per share.
•
Taxable income of $0.35 per share.
•
Book value per share of $15.61 at September 30, 2018.
•
Collected $55.8 million on our mortgage loan and REO portfolios through payments, payoffs and sales of REO.
•
Held $59.8 million of cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2018.
 

46


Table 1: Results of Operations
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
($ in thousands)
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
INCOME
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
$
27,416

 
$
24,529

 
$
79,697

 
$
67,057

Provision for loan losses
(365
)
 
—

 
(365
)
 
—

Interest expense
(12,997
)
 
(10,775
)
 
(38,290
)
 
(27,719
)
Net interest income
14,054

 
13,754

 
41,042

 
39,338

Income from investments in affiliates
239

 
158

 
628

 
543

Other income
457

 
314

 
2,600

 
1,117

Total income
14,750

 
14,226

 
44,270

 
40,998

EXPENSE

 

 
 
 

Related party expense – loan servicing fees
2,457

 
2,187

 
7,598

 
6,003

Related party expense – management fees
1,456

 
1,428

 
4,428

 
3,830

Loan transaction expenses
(25
)
 
290

 
365

 
1,257

Professional fees
482

 
497

 
1,597

 
1,484

Real estate operating expenses
1,001

 
1,151

 
2,394

 
2,112

Other expense
964

 
910

 
2,920

 
2,482

Total expense
6,335

 
6,463

 
19,302

 
17,168

Loss on debt extinguishment
836

 
—

 
836

 
218

Income before provision for income taxes
7,579

 
7,763

 
24,132

 
23,612

Provision for income taxes
84

 
47

 
102

 
96

Consolidated net income
7,495

 
7,716

 
24,030

 
23,516

Less: consolidated net income attributable to the non-controlling interest
937

 
246

 
2,286

 
773

Consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders
$
6,558

 
$
7,470

 
$
21,744

 
$
22,743

Net Interest Income
Our primary source of income is accretion earned on our mortgage loan portfolio offset by the interest expense incurred to fund portfolio acquisitions. Net interest income increased to $14.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 from $13.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. For the nine month period, net interest income increased to $41.0 million from $39.3 million for the comparable nine month period ended September 30, 2017. The key driver of increased net interest income was portfolio growth offset by a provision for loan losses in the third quarter of 2018. The $0.4 million in impairments were based on a reduction in forecasted cash flows that caused a 40 basis point drop in yield over the remaining life of the two loan pools. These two pools total approximately $24.4 million in remaining carrying value. Despite the recent rise in interest rates, we continued to see a high volume of payoffs through the third quarter as borrowers continued to refinance or sell the underlying property. The increase in the quality of the portfolio has resulted in a lower cost of funds on our securitization transactions, though borrowing costs on our repurchase transactions have risen slightly, resulting in an overall increase in borrowing costs by five basis points.
The weighted average balance of our mortgage loan portfolio increased to $1,227.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 from $1,064.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. Additionally, we collected $55.8 million in cash payments and proceeds on our mortgage loans and REO held-for-sale for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to collections of $44.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017.
The interest income detail for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 are included in the table below ($ in thousands):

47

Table 2: Interest income detail
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Accretable yield recognized on credit impaired loans1
$
25,567

 
$
23,962

 
$
76,668

 
$
66,044

Interest income earned on originated SBC loans
694

 
239

 
1,172

 
392

Other interest income
599

 
326

 
1,235

 
617

Bank interest income
191

 
2

 
257

 
4

Total Interest income
$
27,051

 
$
24,529

 
$
79,332

 
$
67,057

(1)
Includes net impact of $0.4 million in allowance for loan losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. No allowance for loan losses were recognized for three and nine months ending September 30, 2017.
The average yield on our mortgage loan portfolio increased for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 primarily from increased cash flow velocity on our mortgage loan portfolio. For the nine month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the average yield on our mortgage loan portfolio declined due to an increase in the percentage of RPLs that have remained performing. RPLs generally have a longer duration than NPLs resulting in increased expected principal and interest collections over the life of the loan but lower current period income as cash collections occur over a longer period.
The average balance of our mortgage loan portfolio and debt outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 are included in the table below ($ in thousands):
Table 3: Average Balances
 
For the three months ended September 30,
​
2018
 
2017
Average mortgage loan portfolio(1)
$
1,227,262

 
$
1,064,826

Total average asset level debt
$
948,893

 
$
791,377

(1)
The 2018 average balance for the mortgage loan portfolio is calculated using daily activity. Prior periods are calculated using monthly averages.
Other Income
Other income increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the three and nine months ended 2017 due to increased fee income from the federal government's Home Affordable Modification Program ("HAMP"), increases in late fee collections and higher rental income from recent acquisitions of commercial real estate properties, partially offset by higher realized losses on REO. A breakdown of Other income is provided in the table below ($ in thousands):
Table 4: Other Income
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2018(1)
 
2017(1)
 
2018(1)
 
2017(1)
HAMP fees
 
$
298

 
$
195

 
$
1,296

 
$
458

Late fee income
 
236

 
157

 
675

 
456

Other income
 
161

 
14

 
332

 
32

Net gain/(loss) on sale of Property held-for-sale
 
(238
)
 
(52
)
 
297

 
170

Total Other Income
 
$
457

 
$
314

 
$
2,600

 
$
1,116

 
(1)
Includes reclass of income from equity investments from Other income to Income from investments in affiliates.
​
Expenses
Total expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2018 decreased from the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to lower Loan transaction expense. Total expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased from the nine months ended September 30, 2017 due to overall growth in the portfolio. Loan servicing fees and Management fees increased in September 30, 2018 relative to 2017 due to continued growth in the Company’s asset and equity bases. A breakdown of Expenses is provided in the table below ($ in thousands):

48

Table 5: Expenses
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Related party expense – loan servicing fees
 
$
2,457

 
$
2,187

 
$
7,598

 
$
6,003

Related party expense - management fee
 
1,456

 
1,428

 
4,428

 
3,830

Real estate operating expenses
 
1,001

 
1,151

 
2,394

 
2,112

Other expense
 
964

 
910

 
2,920

 
2,482

Professional fees
 
482

 
497

 
1,597

 
1,484

Loan transaction expense
 
(25
)
 
290

 
365

 
1,257

Total expenses
 
$
6,335

 
$
6,463

 
$
19,302

 
$
17,168

Other expense increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, primarily due to restricted stock granted to our employees and service providers, increases in borrowing related expense and insurance expense. A breakdown of other expense is provided in the table below ($ in thousands):
Table 6: Other Expense
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017(1)
 
2018
 
2017(1)
Employee and service provider share grants
 
$
236

 
$
201

 
$
628

 
$
539

Insurance
 
163

 
130

 
415

 
403

Borrowing related expenses
 
114

 
159

 
445

 
387

Travel, meals, entertainment
 
110

 
90

 
329

 
268

Directors' fees and grants
 
105

 
83

 
378

 
261

Other expense
 
86

 
154

 
254

 
398

Software licenses and amortization
 
57

 
—

 
153

 
—

Internal audit services
 
48

 
45

 
119

 
111

Taxes and regulatory expense
 
45

 
48

 
199

 
115

Total Other expense
 
$
964

 
$
910

 
$
2,920

 
$
2,482

 
(1)
Includes reclass of prior servicer servicing fee from related party expense - loan servicing fee to Other expense, reclass of communications to Other expense, and reclass of internal audit services from other expense.
Equity and Net Book Value per Share
Our net book value per share was $15.61 and $15.45 at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, an increase of $0.16 due primarily to the $4.9 million net increase in equity from our earnings after subtracting the effect of dividends paid, and partially from the issuance of shares for partial ownership interest in GAFS, offset by higher distributions to non-controlling interests. While GAAP does not specifically define the parameters for calculating book value, we believe our calculation is representative of our book value on a per share basis, and our Manager believes book value per share is a valuable metric for evaluating our business. The net book value per share is calculated by dividing equity, after adjusting for the anticipated conversion of the senior convertible notes into shares of common stock, and the subtraction of non-controlling interests classified in equity, by total adjusted shares outstanding, which include OP Units (which are redeemable on a 1-for-1 basis into shares of our common stock) and shares for Manager and director fees which were approved but still unissued as of the date indicated, unvested employee and service provider stock grants and the common shares from assumed conversion of our Senior convertible notes. A breakdown of our book value per share is set forth in the table below ($ in thousands except per share amounts):

49


Table 7: Book Value per Share
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Outstanding shares
18,856,601

 
18,588,228

Adjustments for:
 
 
 
Operating partnership units
624,106

 
624,106

Unvested grants of restricted stock, and Manager and director shares earned but not issued as of the date indicated
51,613

 
51,082

Conversion of convertible senior notes into shares of common stock
7,079,616

 
7,047,216

Total adjusted shares outstanding
26,611,936

 
26,310,632

 
 
 
 
Equity at period end
$
332,165

 
$
317,438

Net increase in equity from expected conversion of convertible senior notes
105,313

 
105,313

Adjustment for equity due to non-controlling interests
(22,157
)
 
(16,314
)
Adjusted equity
$
415,321

 
$
406,437

Book value per share
$
15.61

 
$
15.45


Mortgage Loan Portfolio
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we acquired 271 and 422 RPLs for acquisition prices of $64.4 million and $96.3 million, respectively, representing 93.1% and 92.2% of UPB, respectively. Comparatively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we acquired 109 and 1,351 RPLs, respectively, for $26.6 million and $240.0 million, respectively, representing 81.4% and 84.2% of UPB, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we acquired 11 NPLs for an acquisition price of $1.4 million, representing 84.2% of UPB. No NPLs were acquired directly during the three and nine month periods ended 2017. We ended the period with $1,272.6 million of mortgage loans with an aggregate UPB of $1,449.8 million as of September 30, 2018 and $1,053.3 million of mortgage loans with an aggregate UPB of $1,257.2 million as of September 30, 2017. Also, we invested in debt securities secured by NPLs and RPLs (See Note 9 - Related party transactions).
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we originated six SBC loans with UPB of $4.8 million that represented 72.7% of the underlying collateral value of $6.7 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we originated two and six SBC loans with UPB of $3.0 million and $7.1 million that represented 51.3% and 56.3% of the underlying collateral value of $5.8 million and $12.6 million, respectively.
The following table shows loan portfolio acquisitions that includes paid in full loans after acquisition but before boarding by the Servicer, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, and 2017 ($ in thousands):
Table 8: Loan Portfolio Acquisitions (excludes loan originations)
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2018(1)
 
2017
 
2018(1)
 
2017
RPLs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Count
 
271

 
109

 
422

 
1,351

UPB
 
$
69,211

 
$
32,718

 
$
104,459

 
$
285,163

Purchase price
 
$
64,428

 
$
26,645

 
$
96,307

 
$
239,992

Purchase price % of UPB
 
93.1
%
 
81.4
%
 
92.2
%
 
84.2
%
NPLs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Count
 
11

 
—

 
11

 
—

UPB
 
$
1,700

 
$
—

 
$
1,700

 
$
—

Purchase price
 
$
1,431

 
$
—

 
$
1,431

 
$
—

Purchase price % of UPB
 
84.2
%
 
—
%
 
84.2
%
 
—
%
 
(1)
Includes the impact of 256 mortgage loans with a purchase price of $47.4 million and UPB of $52.8 million acquired through a 63% owned joint venture that we consolidate.

50

Table 9: Loan originations
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Originated SBC loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Count
 
6

 
2

 
6

 
6

UPB
 
$
4,833

 
$
2,980

 
$
4,833

 
$
7,104

Undrawn UPB at origination
 
$
694

 
$
200

 
$
694

 
$
360

Issue price % of collateral value
 
72.7
%
 
51.3
%
 
72.7
%
 
56.3
%
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, 128 and 408 mortgage loans, representing 2.0% and 5.9% of our ending UPB, were liquidated. Comparatively, during the three and nine months ended 2017, 120 and 269 mortgage loans, representing 1.9% and 3.6% of our ending UPB, were liquidated. Our loan portfolio activity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 are presented below ($ in thousands):
Table 10: Loan Portfolio Activity
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
Beginning carrying value
 
$
1,231,195

 
$
1,044,745

 
$
1,253,541

 
$
869,091

 
Mortgage loan portfolio acquisitions, net cost basis
 
65,859

 
26,645

 
97,738

 
239,992

 
Mortgage loan portfolio originations
 
4,833

 
2,945

(1)
4,833

 
7,042

(1)
Draws on SBC loans
 
—

 
—

 
267

 
—

 
Accretion recognized
 
25,940

 
23,963

 
77,079

 
66,199

 
Payments received, net
 
(50,973
)
 
(41,702
)
 
(149,159
)
 
(111,357
)
 
Reclassifications to REO
 
(3,248
)
 
(3,683
)
 
(10,974
)
 
(17,927
)
 
Interim payoffs
 
(530
)
 
—

 
(530
)
 


 
Allowance for loan losses
 
(365
)
 
—

 
(365
)
 
—

 
Other
 
(67
)
 
372

 
214

 
245

 
Ending carrying value
 
$
1,272,644

 
$
1,053,285

 
$
1,272,644

 
$
1,053,285

 
 
(1)
Includes the net impact of UPB at origination and issue price.
Table 11: Portfolio Composition

51

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, our portfolios consisted of the following ($ in thousands):
September 30, 2018(1,2)
 
December 31, 2017(1)
No. of Loans
6,858

 
No. of Loans
6,901

Total UPB
$
1,449,800

 
Total UPB
$
1,465,223

Interest-Bearing Balance
$
1,355,022

 
Interest-Bearing Balance
$
1,370,563

Deferred Balance(3)
$
94,779

 
Deferred Balance(3)
$
94,660

Market Value of Collateral(4)
$
1,983,629

 
Market Value of Collateral(4)
$
1,954,661

Price/Total UPB(5)
81.7
%
 
Price/Total UPB(5)
81.0
%
Price/Market Value of Collateral
61.7
%
 
Price/Market Value of Collateral
61.7
%
Weighted Average Coupon
4.49
%
 
Weighted Average Coupon
4.33
%
Weighted Average LTV(6)
86.2
%
 
Weighted Average LTV(6)
88.0
%
Weighted Average Remaining Term (months)
314

 
Weighted Average Remaining Term (months)
324

No. of first liens
6,834

 
No. of first liens
6,879

No. of second liens
24

 
No. of second liens
22

No. of Rental Properties
17

 
No. of Rental Properties
14

Market Value of Rental Properties
$
8,704

 
Market Value of Rental Properties
$
1,838

Capital Invested in Rental Properties
$
8,245

 
Capital Invested in Rental Properties
$
1,353

Price/Market Value of Rental Properties
94.7
%
 
Price/Market Value of Rental Properties
73.6
%
RPLs loans
96.1
%
 
RPLs loans
95.6
%
NPLs loans
2.9
%
 
NPLs loans
3.5
%
Originated SBC loans
1.0
%
 
Originated SBC loans
0.9
%
No. of Other REO
116

 
No. of Other REO
136

Market Value of Other REO(7)
$
22,746

 
Market Value of Other REO(7)
$
28,080

 
​
(1)
Includes the impact of 1,003 mortgage loans with a purchase price of $177.3 million, UPB of $194.3 million and collateral value of $295.3 million acquired in the fourth quarter of 2017 through a 50% owned joint venture which we consolidate.
(2)
Includes impact of 256 mortgage loans with a purchase price of $47.4 million, UPB of $52.8 million and collateral value of $68.1 million acquired in the in the third quarter of 2018 through a 63.0% owned joint venture which we consolidate.
(3)
Amounts that have been deferred in connection with a loan modification on which interest does not accrue. These amounts generally become payable at the time of maturity.​
(4)
As of date of acquisition.
(5)
At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, our loan portfolio consists of fixed rate (52.8% of UPB), ARM (10.5% of UPB) and Hybrid ARM (36.7% of UPB); and fixed rate (58.1% of UPB), ARM (10.2% of UPB) and Hybrid ARM (31.7% of UPB), respectively.​
(6)
UPB as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, divided by market value of collateral and weighted by the UPB of the loan.​
(7)
Market value of REO is based on net realizable value. Fair market value is determined based on appraisals, BPOs, or other market indicators of fair value including list price or contract price.
Real Estate property acquisitions
During the quarter, we acquired two commercial properties, consisting of a ten-unit apartment building in Miami, Florida, for $1.6 million and a single-tenant commercial property in Burleson, Texas, for $0.8 million.

Table 12: Portfolio Characteristics
The following tables present certain characteristics about our mortgage loans by year of origination as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively ($ in thousands):

52

Portfolio at September 30, 2018
 
Years of Origination
 
After 2008
 
2006 – 2008
 
2001 – 2005
 
1990 – 2000
 
Prior to 1990
Number of loans
560

 
4,102

 
1,820

 
359

 
17

Unpaid principal balance
$
139,364

 
$
972,155

 
$
310,403

 
$
27,135

 
$
743

Mortgage loan portfolio by year of origination
9.6
%
 
67.1
%
 
21.4
%
 
1.9
%
 
—
%
Loan Attributes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average loan age (months)
76.4

 
140

 
170.8

 
246.7

 
381.4

Weighted Average loan-to-value
77.9
%
 
90.7
%
 
75.9
%
 
65.9
%
 
26.4
%
Delinquency Performance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
63.5
%
 
57.7
%
 
58.1
%
 
46.4
%
 
55.3
%
30 days delinquent
11.4
%
 
13.0
%
 
13.5
%
 
21.1
%
 
5.2
%
60 days delinquent
6.5
%
 
8.9
%
 
8.0
%
 
9.3
%
 
10.1
%
90+ days delinquent
10.9
%
 
14.8
%
 
15.8
%
 
19.4
%
 
25.5
%
Foreclosure
7.7
%
 
5.6
%
 
4.6
%
 
3.8
%
 
3.9
%
Portfolio at December 31, 2017
​
Years of Origination
 
After 2008
 
2006 – 2008
 
2001 – 2005
 
1990 – 2000
 
Prior to 1990
Number of loans
544

 
4,129

 
1,833

 
371

 
24

Unpaid principal balance
$
124,301

 
$
991,242

 
$
320,487

 
$
28,358

 
$
835

Mortgage loan portfolio by year of origination
8.5
%
 
67.7
%
 
21.9
%
 
1.9
%
 
0.1
%
Loan Attributes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average loan age (months)
73.6

 
130.8

 
161.6

 
237.5

 
371.3

Weighted Average loan-to-value
82.2
%
 
91.9
%
 
77.6
%
 
64.2
%
 
25.5
%
Delinquency Performance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
58.3
%
 
58.6
%
 
60.6
%
 
47.9
%
 
51.6
%
30 days delinquent
9.9
%
 
12.5
%
 
11.9
%
 
13.8
%
 
10.8
%
60 days delinquent
8.0
%
 
7.8
%
 
8.4
%
 
8.7
%
 
18.1
%
90+ days delinquent
13.6
%
 
15.0
%
 
13.2
%
 
21.1
%
 
16.1
%
Foreclosure
10.2
%
 
6.1
%
 
5.9
%
 
8.5
%
 
3.4
%

53

Table 13: Loans by State
The following table identifies our mortgage loans by state, number of loans, loan value, collateral value and percentages thereof at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 ($ in thousands):
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
State
 
Count
 
UPB
 
% UPB
 
Collateral
Value(1)
 
% of
Collateral
Value
 
State
 
Count
 
UPB
 
% UPB
 
Collateral
Value(1)
 
% of
Collateral
Value
CA
 
1,150

 
422,593

 
29.1
%
 
629,245

 
31.7
%
 
CA
 
1,124

 
410,510

 
28.0
%
 
581,838

 
29.8
%
FL
 
837

 
155,309

 
10.7
%
 
198,811

 
10.0
%
 
FL
 
813

 
153,418

 
10.5
%
 
191,298

 
9.8
%
NY
 
328

 
111,349

 
7.7
%
 
164,508

 
8.3
%
 
TX
 
460

 
48,238

 
3.3
%
 
79,820

 
4.1
%
MD
 
291

 
74,292

 
5.1
%
 
84,113

 
4.2
%
 
GA
 
383

 
52,926

 
3.6
%
 
63,587

 
3.3
%
NJ
 
281

 
68,402

 
4.7
%
 
81,998

 
4.1
%
 
NY
 
341

 
114,223

 
7.8
%
 
170,154

 
8.7
%
GA
 
393

 
53,792

 
3.7
%
 
66,559

 
3.4
%
 
NJ
 
301

 
79,403

 
5.4
%
 
95,765

 
4.9
%
TX
 
460

 
48,216

 
3.3
%
 
81,572

 
4.1
%
 
NC
 
286

 
41,703

 
2.8
%
 
52,807

 
2.7
%
VA
 
224

 
46,796

 
3.2
%
 
59,492

 
3.0
%
 
MD
 
280

 
70,691

 
4.8
%
 
80,029

 
4.1
%
MA
 
205

 
46,674

 
3.2
%
 
62,551

 
3.2
%
 
MA
 
223

 
50,371

 
3.4
%
 
66,679

 
3.4
%
IL
 
212

 
44,566

 
3.1
%
 
49,923

 
2.5
%
 
IL
 
221

 
47,508

 
3.2
%
 
52,362

 
2.7
%
NC
 
277

 
40,859

 
2.8
%
 
52,712

 
2.7
%
 
VA
 
219

 
47,611

 
3.2
%
 
59,924

 
3.1
%
AZ
 
195

 
33,449

 
2.3
%
 
42,131

 
2.1
%
 
PA
 
191

 
21,270

 
1.5
%
 
28,317

 
1.4
%
WA
 
130

 
30,447

 
2.1
%
 
43,611

 
2.2
%
 
AZ
 
180

 
30,560

 
2.1
%
 
36,862

 
1.9
%
NV
 
128

 
25,899

 
1.8
%
 
31,631

 
1.6
%
 
SC
 
145

 
19,330

 
1.3
%
 
26,258

 
1.3
%
PA
 
182

 
20,733

 
1.4
%
 
27,017

 
1.4
%
 
WA
 
137

 
33,049

 
2.3
%
 
46,187

 
2.4
%
SC
 
143

 
18,919

 
1.3
%
 
26,195

 
1.3
%
 
TN
 
133

 
15,424

 
1.1
%
 
22,005

 
1.1
%
MI
 
113

 
17,689

 
1.2
%
 
26,500

 
1.3
%
 
NV
 
130

 
27,143

 
1.9
%
 
31,918

 
1.6
%
CO
 
78

 
15,590

 
1.1
%
 
25,738

 
1.3
%
 
OH
 
121

 
15,005

 
1.0
%
 
16,897

 
0.9
%
OH
 
123

 
15,145

 
1.0
%
 
17,106

 
0.9
%
 
MI
 
120

 
18,773

 
1.3
%
 
27,949

 
1.4
%
TN
 
124

 
14,263

 
1.0
%
 
20,740

 
1.0
%
 
IN
 
106

 
11,075

 
0.8
%
 
13,422

 
0.7
%
OR
 
69

 
13,904

 
1.0
%
 
20,201

 
1.0
%
 
MO
 
82

 
10,729

 
0.7
%
 
13,142

 
0.7
%
CT
 
62

 
11,401

 
0.8
%
 
14,495

 
0.7
%
 
CO
 
76

 
15,756

 
1.1
%
 
25,263

 
1.3
%
MN
 
62

 
11,062

 
0.8
%
 
14,062

 
0.7
%
 
OR
 
70

 
13,763

 
0.9
%
 
20,013

 
1.0
%
IN
 
108

 
11,037

 
0.8
%
 
13,349

 
0.7
%
 
CT
 
67

 
12,392

 
0.8
%
 
15,228

 
0.8
%
MO
 
85

 
10,662

 
0.7
%
 
13,058

 
0.7
%
 
MN
 
66

 
11,773

 
0.8
%
 
14,910

 
0.8
%
UT
 
62

 
10,060

 
0.7
%
 
14,693

 
0.7
%
 
UT
 
66

 
10,827

 
0.7
%
 
15,425

 
0.8
%
HI
 
23

 
8,718

 
0.6
%
 
12,098

 
0.6
%
 
LA
 
64

 
6,641

 
0.5
%
 
10,052

 
0.5
%
LA
 
63

 
6,414

 
0.4
%
 
9,916

 
0.5
%
 
AL
 
51

 
6,436

 
0.4
%
 
7,393

 
0.4
%
AL
 
51

 
6,266

 
0.4
%
 
7,418

 
0.4
%
 
KY
 
44

 
5,538

 
0.4
%
 
6,709

 
0.3
%
WI
 
42

 
6,088

 
0.4
%
 
7,190

 
0.4
%
 
WI
 
43

 
6,403

 
0.4
%
 
7,478

 
0.4
%
DE
 
31

 
5,883

 
0.4
%
 
6,625

 
0.3
%
 
OK
 
39

 
3,651

 
0.2
%
 
5,096

 
0.3
%
DC
 
21

 
5,484

 
0.4
%
 
8,706

 
0.4
%
 
DE
 
34

 
6,552

 
0.4
%
 
7,390

 
0.4
%
KY
 
41

 
4,929

 
0.3
%
 
6,199

 
0.3
%
 
NM
 
27

 
4,443

 
0.3
%
 
5,158

 
0.3
%
NM
 
26

 
4,262

 
0.3
%
 
4,955

 
0.2
%
 
MS
 
25

 
2,603

 
0.2
%
 
3,092

 
0.2
%
RI
 
19

 
4,142

 
0.3
%
 
5,081

 
0.3
%
 
HI
 
24

 
8,748

 
0.6
%
 
12,679

 
0.6
%
NH
 
19

 
3,502

 
0.2
%
 
5,005

 
0.3
%
 
NH
 
22

 
3,912

 
0.3
%
 
5,582

 
0.3
%
OK
 
36

 
2,934

 
0.2
%
 
4,470

 
0.2
%
 
KS
 
21

 
1,596

 
0.1
%
 
2,412

 
0.1
%
MS
 
25

 
2,523

 
0.2
%
 
3,092

 
0.2
%
 
RI
 
21

 
4,575

 
0.3
%
 
5,238

 
0.3
%
ID
 
16

 
2,085

 
0.1
%
 
3,333

 
0.2
%
 
WV
 
21

 
3,037

 
0.2
%
 
3,780

 
0.2
%
IA
 
20

 
1,859

 
0.1
%
 
2,339

 
0.1
%
 
DC
 
20

 
5,282

 
0.4
%
 
8,369

 
0.4
%
WV
 
17

 
1,851

 
0.1
%
 
2,375

 
0.1
%
 
IA
 
20

 
1,891

 
0.1
%
 
2,339

 
0.1
%
ME
 
12

 
1,703

 
0.1
%
 
1,958

 
0.1
%
 
AR
 
19

 
1,670

 
0.1
%
 
2,066

 
0.1
%
AR
 
18

 
1,575

 
0.1
%
 
1,943

 
0.1
%
 
ID
 
16

 
2,032

 
0.1
%
 
3,298

 
0.2
%
KS
 
20

 
1,464

 
0.1
%
 
2,342

 
0.1
%
 
ME
 
12

 
1,718

 
0.1
%
 
1,958

 
0.1
%
PR
 
8

 
948

 
0.1
%
 
1,249

 
0.1
%
 
PR
 
9

 
1,098

 
0.1
%
 
1,399

 
0.1
%
NE
 
6

 
733

 
0.1
%
 
896

 
0.1
%
 
NE
 
6

 
742

 
0.1
%
 
896

 
—
%
​



54

September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
State
 
Count
 
UPB
 
% UPB
 
Collateral
Value(1)
 
% of
Collateral
Value
 
State
 
Count
 
UPB
 
% UPB
 
Collateral
Value(1)
 
% of
Collateral
Value
SD
 
4

 
723

 
0.1
%
 
928

 
0.1
%
 
WY
 
5

 
609

 
0.1
%
 
760

 
—
%
MT
 
4

 
602

 
0.1
%
 
905

 
0.1
%
 
MT
 
4

 
620

 
0.1
%
 
905

 
—
%
WY
 
5

 
602

 
0.1
%
 
760

 
—
%
 
SD
 
4

 
733

 
0.1
%
 
928

 
—
%
ND
 
4

 
521

 
0.1
%
 
750

 
—
%
 
AK
 
4

 
511

 
0.1
%
 
760

 
—
%
VT
 
2

 
471

 
0.1
%
 
470

 
—
%
 
ND
 
3

 
239

 
—
%
 
400

 
—
%
AK
 
3

 
410

 
—
%
 
615

 
—
%
 
VT
 
2

 
472

 
—
%
 
465

 
—
%
 
 
6,858

 
1,449,800

 
100
%
 
1,983,629

 
100
%
 
 
 
6,901

 
1,465,223

 
100
%
 
1,954,661

 
100
%
 
​
(1)
As of date of acquisition.​
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Source and Uses of Cash
Our primary sources of cash have consisted of proceeds from our securities offerings, our secured borrowings, repurchase agreements, principal and interest payments on our loan portfolio, and sales of properties held-for-sale. Depending on market conditions, we expect that our primary financing sources will continue to include secured borrowings, repurchase agreements, and securities offerings in addition to transaction or asset specific funding arrangements and credit facilities (including term loans and revolving facilities). We expect that these sources of funds will be sufficient to meet our short-term and long-term liquidity needs. From time to time, we may invest with third parties and acquire interests in loans and other real estate assets through investments in joint ventures.
As of September 30, 2018, substantially all of our invested capital was in RPLs, NPLs, REO property held-for-sale and debt securities. We also held approximately $59.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, an increase of $6.0 million from our balance of $53.7 million at December 31, 2017. Our average daily cash balance during the quarter was $40.7 million, a decrease of $7.0 million from our average daily cash balance of $47.7 million during the three months ended December 31, 2017.
Our operating cash outflows, including the effect of restricted cash, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $2.6 million and $2.8 million, respectively. Our primary operating cash inflow is cash interest payments on our mortgage loan pools of $44.4 million and $34.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Operating cash flows are negative for all periods, however, as a result of non-cash interest income accretion of $32.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and $32.0 million for the nine months ended 2017. Though the ownership of mortgage loans and other real estate assets is our business, GAAP requires that operating cash flows do not include the portion of principal payments that are allocable to the discount we recognize on our mortgage loans including proceeds from loans that pay in full or are liquidated in a short sale or third party sale at foreclosure or the proceeds on the sales of our property held-for-sale. These activities are all considered to be Investing activities under GAAP, and the cash flows from these activities are included in the Investing section of our consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, our investing cash outflows of $37.1 million and $160.2 million were driven primarily by acquisitions of mortgage loans and the purchase of debt securities, offset by principal payments on and payoffs of our mortgage loan portfolio, proceeds on the sale of our property held-for-sale. Principal payments, payoffs and proceeds on the sale of our property held-for-sale were $162.7 million and $124.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Our financing cash flows are driven primarily by funding used to acquire mortgage loan pools. We fund our mortgage loan pool acquisitions primarily through secured borrowings, repurchase agreements and the proceeds from our securities offerings. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we had net financing cash inflows of $64.3 million as we issued secured notes for proceeds of $167.9 million offset by the pay down of existing debt obligations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we had net cash inflows from financing activities of $170.3 million as we issued notes, convertible into shares of common stock for net proceeds of $105.3 million, and issued secured notes for proceeds of $140.7 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 we paid $20.0 million and $15.6 million, respectively, in combined dividends and distributions.
Financing Activities — Equity offerings
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we did not sell any shares of common stock for proceeds under our At-the-Market Issuance Sales Agreements which we established in October 2016, to sell, through our agents, shares of

55


common stock with an aggregate offering price of up to $50.0 million. In accordance with the terms of the agreements, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock at any time and from time to time through the sales agents. Sales of the shares, if any, will be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale.
Financing Activities — Secured Borrowings and Convertible Senior Notes
From inception (January 30, 2014) to September 30, 2018, we have completed 13 secured borrowings pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, six of which were outstanding at September 30, 2018. The secured borrowings are structured as debt financings and not REMIC sales, and the loans included in the secured borrowings remain on our consolidated Balance Sheet as we are the primary beneficiary of the secured borrowing trusts, which are VIEs. The secured borrowing VIEs are structured as pass through entities that receive principal and interest on the underlying mortgages and distribute those payments to the holders of the notes. Our exposure to the obligations of the VIEs is generally limited to our investments in the entities. The notes that are issued by the secured borrowing trusts are secured solely by the mortgages held by the applicable trusts and not by any of our other assets. The mortgage loans of the applicable trusts are the only source of repayment and interest on the notes issued by such trusts. We do not guarantee any of the obligations of the trusts under the terms of the agreement governing the notes or otherwise.
Our secured borrowings are structured with Class A notes, subordinate notes, and trust certificates, which have rights to the residual interests in the mortgages once the notes are repaid. With the exception of our 2017-D secured borrowings, from which we sold a 50% interest in the residual equity to third parties and 2018-C secured borrowings, from which we sold a 95% interest in the Class A notes and 37% in the Class B and Class C certificates, we have retained the subordinate notes and the trust certificates from the six secured borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2018.
The Class A notes for the 2017-D secured borrowing contains Class B certificates representing the residual interests in the mortgages held within the securitization trusts subsequent to repayment of the Class A debt. The Class A notes for our 2017-D secured borrowing carry no step-up in the interest rate. We have retained 50% of both the Class A notes and Class B certificates from 2017-D.
The Class A notes for the 2018-C secured borrowing contains Class B notes and Class C certificates representing the residual interest in the mortgages held within the securitization trusts subsequent to repayment for the Class A debt. The Class A notes for our 2018-C secured borrowing carry no step-up in the interest rate. We have retained 5% of the Class A notes and 63% of the Class B notes and Class C certificates.
Our 2017-B secured borrowing carries no provision for a step-up in interest rate on any of the Class A, Class B or Class M notes.
For all of our secured borrowings the Class A notes are senior, sequential pay, fixed rate notes, and with the exception of 2017-D and 2018-C as noted above, the Class B notes are subordinate, sequential pay, fixed rate notes. The Class M notes issued under 2017-B are also mezzanine, sequential pay, fixed rate notes.
For all of the our secured borrowings, except 2017-B, 2017-D and 2018-C which contain no interest rate step-up, if the Class A notes have not been redeemed by the payment date or otherwise paid in full 36 months after issue, or in the case of 2017-C, 48 months after issue, an amount equal to the aggregate interest payment amount that accrued and would otherwise be paid to the subordinate notes will be paid as principal to the Class A notes on that date and each subsequent payment date until the Class A notes are paid in full. After the Class A notes are paid in full, the subordinate notes will resume receiving their respective interest payment amounts and any interest that accrued but was not paid while the Class A notes were outstanding. As the holder of the trust certificates, the Company is entitled to receive any remaining amounts in the trusts after the Class A notes and subordinate notes have been paid in full.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we issued no Convertible senior notes; however, during the nine months ended December 31, 2017, we completed the issuance and sale of $108.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.25% Convertible senior notes due 2024, in two underwritten public offerings, with the notes from both offerings forming a single series of notes. Our net proceeds from the sale of the notes, after deducting the underwriter's discounts, commissions and offering expenses, were approximately $105.3 million. The carrying amount of the equity component of both transactions was $2.7 million representing the fair value to the notes' owners of the right to convert the notes into shares of our common stock. The notes bear interest at a rate of 7.25% per year, payable quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year.

56

The following table sets forth the original terms of all outstanding notes from our secured borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2018 at their respective cutoff dates:
Table 14: Secured Borrowings
Issuing Trust/Issue Date
 
Interest Rate Step-up Date
 
Security
 
Original Principal
 
Interest Rate
Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2016-C/ October 2016
 
October 25, 2019
 
Class A notes due 2057
 
$102.6 million
 
4.00
%
 
 
April 25, 2020
 
Class B-1 notes due 2057(1,4)
 
$7.9 million
 
5.25
%
 
 
None
 
Class B-2 notes due 2057(1,4)
 
$7.9 million
 
5.25
%
 
 
 
 
Trust certificates(2)
 
$39.4 million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
Deferred issuance costs
 
$(1.6) million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2017-A/ May 2017
 
May 25, 2020
 
Class A notes due 2057
 
$140.7 million
 
3.47
%
 
 
November 25, 2020
 
Class B-1 notes due 2057(1)
 
$15.1 million
 
5.25
%
 
 
None
 
Class B-2 notes due 2057(1)
 
$10.8 million
 
5.25
%
 
 
 
 
Trust certificates(2)
 
$49.8 million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
Deferred issuance costs
 
$(2.0) million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2017-B/ December 2017
 
None
 
Class A notes due 2056
 
$115.8 million
 
3.16
%
 
 
None
 
Class M-1 notes due 2056(3)
 
$9.7 million
 
3.50
%
 
 
None
 
Class M-2 notes due 2056(3)
 
$9.5 million
 
3.50
%
 
 
None
 
Class B-1 notes due 2056(1)
 
$9.0 million
 
3.75
%
 
 
None
 
Class B-2 notes due 2056(1)
 
$7.5 million
 
3.75
%
 
 
 
 
Trust certificates(2)
 
$14.3 million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
Deferred issuance costs
 
$(1.8) million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2017-C/ November 2017
 
November 25, 2021
 
Class A notes due 2060
 
$130.2 million
 
3.75
%
 
 
May 25, 2022
 
Class B-1 notes due 2060(1)
 
$13.0 million
 
5.25
%
 
 
 
 
Trust certificates(2)
 
$42.8 million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
Deferred issuance costs
 
$(1.7) million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2017-D/ December 2017
 
None
 
Class A notes due 2057(5)
 
$177.8 million
 
3.75
%
 
 
None
 
Class B certificates (5)
 
$44.5 million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
Deferred issuance costs
 
$(1.1) million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2018-C/ September 2018
 
None
 
Class A notes due 2065(6)
 
$170.5 million
 
4.36
%
 
 
None
 
Class B notes due 2065(6)
 
$15.9 million
 
5.25
%
 
 
 
 
Trust certificates(6)
 
$40.9 million
 
—
%
 
 
 
 
Deferred issuance costs
 
$(2.1) million
 
—
%
​
 
(1)
The Class B notes are subordinate, sequential pay, fixed rate notes with Class B-2 notes subordinate to the Class B-1 notes. We have retained the Class B notes.​
(2)
The trust certificates issued by the trusts and the beneficial ownership of the trusts are retained by Great Ajax Funding LLC as the depositor. As the holder of the trust certificates, we are entitled to receive any remaining amounts in the trusts after the Class A notes, Class M notes, where present, and Class B notes have been paid in full.
(3)
The Class M notes are subordinate, sequential pay, fixed rate notes with Class M-2 notes subordinate to the Class M-1 notes. We retained the Class M notes. ​
(4)
These securities are encumbered under a repurchase agreement.
(5)
AJAXM 2017-D is a joint venture in which a third party owns 50% of the Class A notes and 50% of the Class B certificates. We are required to consolidate 2017-D and are reflecting 100% of the mortgage loans, in Mortgage loans, net. 50% of the Class A notes, which are held by the third party,

57

are included in Secured borrowings, net. The 50% portion of the Class A notes retained by us have been encumbered under a repurchase agreement. 50% of the Class B certificates are recognized as Non-controlling interest.
(6)
AJAXM 2018-C is a joint venture in which a third party owns 95% of the Class A notes and 37% of the Class B notes and certificates. We are required to consolidate 2018-C and are reflecting 100% of the mortgage loans, in Mortgage loans, net. 95% of the Class A notes and 37% of the Class B notes, which are held by the third party, are included in Secured borrowings, net. The 5% portion of the Class A notes retained by us have been encumbered under the repurchase agreement. Thirty-seven percent of the Class C certificates are recognized as Non-controlling interest.
Repurchase Transactions
We entered into two repurchase facilities whereby we, through two wholly-owned Delaware trusts (the “Trusts”), acquire pools of mortgage loans which are then sold by the Trusts, as “Seller” to two separate counterparties, the “buyer” or “buyers.” One facility has a ceiling of $250.0 million and the other $400.0 million at any one time. Upon the time of the initial sale to the buyer, each Trust, with a simultaneous agreement, also agrees to repurchase the pools of mortgage loans from the buyer. Mortgage loans sold under these facilities carry interest calculated based on a spread to one-month LIBOR, which are fixed for the term of the borrowing. The purchase price that the Trust realizes upon the initial sale of the mortgage loans to the buyer can vary between 70% and 85% of the asset’s acquisition price, depending upon the facility being utilized and/or the quality of the underlying collateral. The obligations of the Trust to repurchase these mortgage loans at a future date are guaranteed by the Operating Partnership. The difference between the market value of the asset and the amount of the repurchase agreement is generally the amount of equity we have in the position and is intended to provide the buyer with some protection against fluctuations in the value of the collateral, and/or a failure by us to repurchase the asset and repay the borrowing at maturity. We entered into an additional repurchase facility that is similar to the mortgage loan repurchase facilities. However, the pledged assets are the class B bonds and certificates from our securitization transactions. We have effective control over the assets subject to all of these transactions; therefore, our repurchase transactions are accounted for as financing arrangements.
A summary of our outstanding repurchase transactions at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 follows ($ in thousands):
Table 15: Repurchase Transactions by Maturity Date
 
September 30, 2018
Maturity Date
 
Origination date
 
Maximum
Borrowing
Capacity
 
Amount
Outstanding
 
Amount of
Collateral
 
Percentage of Collateral Coverage
 
Interest Rate
October 26, 2018
 
April 26, 2018
 
$
8,980

 
$
8,980

 
$
11,973

 
133
%
 
4.42
%
October 30, 2018
 
April 30, 2018
 
10,539

 
10,539

 
15,055

 
143
%
 
4.62
%
November 8, 2018
 
May 8, 2018
 
5,468

 
5,468

 
7,811

 
143
%
 
4.62
%
December 7, 2018
 
June 7, 2018
 
56,440

 
56,440

 
75,253

 
133
%
 
4.38
%
December 28, 2018
 
June 28, 2018
 
9,956

 
9,956

 
13,275

 
133
%
 
4.25
%
January 11, 2019
 
July 11, 2018
 
8,956

 
8,956

 
12,795

 
143
%
 
4.41
%
February 1, 2019
 
August 1, 2018
 
13,322

 
13,322

 
17,174

 
129
%
 
4.53
%
March 25, 2019
 
September 25, 2018
 
6,396

 
6,396

 
8,528

 
133
%
 
4.34
%
March 25, 2019
 
September 25, 2018
 
7,020

 
7,020

 
10,028

 
143
%
 
4.49
%
March 28, 2019
 
September 28, 2018
 
12,539

 
12,539

 
16,718

 
133
%
 
4.40
%
July 12, 2019
 
July 15, 2016
 
250,000

 
199,079

 
264,021

 
133
%
 
4.69
%
September 24, 2019
 
September 25, 2018
 
400,000

 
81,766

 
88,769

 
109
%
 
4.72
%
Totals
 
 
 
$
789,616

 
$
420,461

 
$
541,400

 
129
%
 
4.60
%
 
 
​
 
​
 
December 31, 2017
Maturity Date
 
Origination date
 
Maximum
Borrowing
Capacity
 
Amount
Outstanding
 
Amount of
Collateral
 
Percentage of Collateral Coverage
 
Interest Rate
April 30, 2018
 
October 31, 2017
 
$
10,601

 
$
10,601

 
$
15,145

 
143
%
 
3.66
%
May 8, 2018
 
November 8, 2017
 
15,227

 
15,227

 
21,754

 
143
%
 
3.69
%
June 7, 2018
 
December 7, 2017
 
66,678

 
66,678

 
88,904

 
133
%
 
3.59
%
November 21, 2018
 
November 22, 2017
 
200,000

 
3,775

 
8,215

 
218
%
 
4.79
%
July 12, 2019
 
July 15, 2016
 
250,000

 
180,104

 
234,724

 
130
%
 
4.03
%
Totals
 
 
 
$
542,506

 
$
276,385

 
$
368,742

 
133
%
 
3.91
%

58

As of September 30, 2018, we had $420.5 million outstanding under our repurchase transactions compared to $276.4 million as of December 31, 2017. The maximum month-end balance outstanding during the three months ended September 30, 2018 was $420.5 million, compared to a maximum month-end balance for the three months ended December 31, 2017, of $323.1 million. The following table presents certain details of our repurchase transactions for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 ($ in thousands):
Table 16:    Repurchase Balances
 
 
Three months ended
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Balance at the end of period
 
$
420,461

 
$
276,385

Maximum month-end balance outstanding during the quarter
 
$
420,461

 
$
323,060

Average balance
 
$
318,677

 
$
297,569

The increase in our average balance from $297.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 to our average balance of $318.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was due to a net increase in repurchase financing during the three months ended September 30, 2018, as a result of increased investments in mortgage loans.
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we did not have any credit facilities or other outstanding debt obligations other than the repurchase facilities, secured borrowings and our senior convertible notes.
We are not required by our investment guidelines to maintain any specific debt-to-equity ratio, and we believe that the appropriate leverage for the particular assets we hold depends on the credit quality and risk of those assets, as well as the general availability and terms of stable and reliable financing for those assets.
We may declare dividends based on, among other things, our earnings, our financial condition, our working capital needs, new opportunities, and distribution requirements imposed on REITs. The declaration of dividends to our stockholders and the amount of such dividends are at the discretion of our Board of Directors. On October 30, 2018, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.32 per share, to be paid on November 30, 2018 to stockholders of record as of November 16, 2018. Our Management Agreement with our Manager requires the payment of an incentive management fee above the amount of the base management fee if we distribute a quarterly dividend out of our taxable income on shares of our common stock in excess of 8% (on an annualized basis) of our stock’s book value. Our dividend payments are driven by the amount of our taxable income, subject to IRS rules for maintaining our status as a REIT.
Our most recently declared quarterly dividend represents a payment of approximately 8.13% on an annualized basis of our book value of $15.61 per share at September 30, 2018. To date, no incentive fees have been paid to the Manager. However, the Company anticipates an incentive fee of approximately $0.1 million will be paid in the fourth quarter of 2018. See Note 9 — Related party transactions.
We believe that our capital resources will be sufficient to enable us to meet anticipated short-term and long-term liquidity requirements.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Other than the trusts which hold assets pledged as security against our borrowings, our investments in debt securities and equity method investments discussed elsewhere in this report, we do not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-Balance Sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. Further, we have not guaranteed any obligations of unconsolidated entities nor do we have any commitment or intent to provide funding to any such entities. As such, we are not materially exposed to any market, credit, liquidity or financing risk that could arise if we had engaged in such relationships.
Table 17: Contractual Obligations
A summary of our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is as follows ($ in thousands):

59

September 30, 2018
 
Payments Due by Period
($ in thousands)
 
Total
 
Less than
1 Year
 
1 – 3 Years
 
3 – 5 Years
 
More than
5 Years
Convertible senior notes
 
$
108,000

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
108,000

Borrowings under repurchase agreements
 
420,461

 
420,461

 
—

 
—

 
—

Interest on convertible senior notes
 
40,952

 
8,680

 
17,592

 
14,680

 
—

Interest on repurchase agreements
 
12,605

 
12,605

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total
 
$
582,018

 
$
441,746

 
$
17,592

 
$
14,680

 
$
108,000

​
December 31, 2017
 
Payments Due by Period
($ in thousands)
 
Total
 
Less than
1 Year
 
1 – 3 Years
 
3 – 5 Years
 
More than
5 Years
Convertible senior notes
 
$
108,000

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
108,000

Borrowings under repurchase agreements
 
276,386

 
96,282

 
180,104

 
—

 
—

Interest on convertible senior notes
 
47,414

 
8,626

 
17,472

 
18,558

 
2,758

Interest on repurchase agreements
 
12,631

 
8,787

 
3,844

 
—

 
—

Total
 
$
444,431

 
$
113,695

 
$
201,420

 
$
18,558

 
$
110,758

Our secured borrowings are not included in the table above as such borrowings are non-recourse to us and are only paid to the extent that cash flows from mortgage loans (in the securitization trust) collateralizing the debt are received. Accordingly, a projection of contractual maturities over the next five years is inapplicable.
Inflation
Virtually all of our assets and liabilities are interest-rate sensitive in nature. As a result, interest rates and other factors influence our performance far more so than does inflation. Changes in interest rates do not necessarily correlate with inflation rates or changes in inflation rates. Our activities and consolidated Balance Sheet are measured with reference to historical cost and/or fair market value without considering inflation.
Subsequent Events
Since quarter end, we acquired 413 residential RPLs with aggregate UPB of $75.3 million in four transactions from four sellers. The RPL were acquired at 89.3% of UPB and the estimated market value of the underlying collateral is $109.9 million. The purchase price equaled 61.2% of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral. In a joint venture with a third party institutional investor, we have also acquired 99 RPLs with aggregate UPB of $28.3 million from a single seller. The RPLs were acquired at 92.2% of UPB and the estimated market value of the underlying collateral is $45.6 million. The purchase price equaled 57.3% of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral.
Additionally, we have also agreed to acquire, subject to due diligence, 2,069 residential RPLs, four SBC RPLs and 486 NPLs with UPB of $561.1 million, $3.4 million and $105.0 million, respectively, in six transactions from six different sellers. The purchase price of the residential RPLs equals 91.0% of UPB and 55.0% of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral of $928.4 million. The purchase price of the SBC RPLs equals 100.0% of UPB and 65.0% of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral of $5.2 million. The purchase price of the NPLs equals 93.5% of UPB, 68.8% of the borrowers' total amount due and 57.5% of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral of $170.7 million. Some of these loans are expected to be acquired through joint ventures with institutional investors.
We also agreed to acquire three commercial properties for an aggregate purchase price of $10.0 million and collateral value of $10.0 million in three separate transactions from three different sellers.
On October 25, 2018, Oileus Residential Loan Trust called the subordinate debt securities held by the Company as investments. The debt securities were called at par value resulting in no gain or loss from the carrying value at September 30, 2018.
On October 30, 2018, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.32 per share, to be paid on November 30, 2018 to common stockholders of record as of November 16, 2018.
On November 7, 2018, we issued 49,229 shares of our common stock to our Manager in payment of the portion of the base management fee which is payable in common stock for the third quarter of 2018 in a private transaction. The management fee expense associated with these shares was recorded as an expense in the third quarter of 2018.

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On November 7, 2018, we issued to each of our four independent directors 596 shares of common stock in payment of half of their quarterly director fees for the third quarter of 2018.
​Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The primary components of our market risk are related to real estate risk, interest rate risk, prepayment risk and credit risk. We seek to actively manage these and other risks and to acquire and hold assets at prices that we believe justify bearing those risks, and to maintain capital levels consistent with those risks.
Real Estate Risk
Residential property values are subject to volatility and may be affected adversely by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, national, regional and local economic conditions (which may be adversely affected by industry slowdowns and other factors); local real estate conditions (such as an oversupply of housing); construction quality, age and design; demographic factors; and retroactive changes to building or similar codes. Increases in interest rates will result in lower refinancing volume, and home price increases will slow. Decreases in property values could cause us to suffer losses.
Interest Rate Risk
We expect to continue to securitize our whole loan portfolios, primarily as a financing tool, when economically efficient to create long-term, fixed rate, non-recourse financing with moderate leverage, while retaining one or more tranches of the subordinate MBS so created. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary and tax policies, domestic and international economic and political considerations and other factors beyond our control. Changes in interest rates may affect the fair value of the mortgage loans and real estate underlying our portfolios as well as our financing interest rate expense. Additionally, rises in interest rates may result in a lower refinance volume of our portfolio.
We believe that a rising interest rate environment could have a positive effect on our operations to the extent we own rental real property or seek to sell real property. Rising interest rates could be accompanied by inflation and higher household incomes which generally correlate closely to higher rent levels and property values. It is possible that the value of our real estate assets and our net income could decline in a rising interest rate environment to the extent that our real estate assets are financed with floating rate debt and there is no accompanying increase in loan yield and rental yield or property values.
Prepayment Risk
Prepayment risk is the risk of change, whether an increase or a decrease, in the rate at which principal is returned in respect of the mortgage loans we will own as well as the mortgage loans underlying our retained MBS, including both through voluntary prepayments and through liquidations due to defaults and foreclosures. This rate of prepayment is affected by a variety of factors, including the prevailing level of interest rates as well as economic, demographic, tax, social, legal and other factors. Prepayment rates, besides being subject to interest rates and borrower behavior, are also substantially affected by government policy and regulation. Changes in prepayment rates will have varying effects on the different types of assets in our portfolio. We attempt to take these effects into account. We will generally purchase RPLs and NPLs at discounts from UPB and underlying property values. An increase in prepayments would accelerate the repayment of the discount and lead to increased yield on our assets while also causing re-investment risk that we can find additional assets with the same interest and return levels. A decrease in prepayments would likely have the opposite effects.
Credit Risk
We are subject to credit risk in connection with our assets. While we will engage in diligence on assets we will acquire, such due diligence may not reveal all of the risks associated with such assets and may not reveal other weaknesses in such assets, which could lead us to misprice acquisitions. Property values are subject to volatility and may be affected adversely by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, national, regional and local economic conditions (which may be adversely affected by industry slowdowns and other factors), local real estate conditions (such as an oversupply of housing), changes or continued weakness in specific industry segments, construction quality, age and design, demographic factors and retroactive changes to building or similar codes.
There are many reasons borrowers will fail to pay including but not limited to, in the case of residential mortgage loans, reductions in personal income, job loss and personal events such as divorce or health problems, and in the case of commercial mortgage loans, reduction in market rents and occupancies and poor property management services by borrowers. We will rely on the Servicer to mitigate our risk. Such mitigation efforts may include loan modifications and prompt foreclosure and property liquidation following a default. If a sufficient number of re-performing borrowers default, our results of operations will suffer and we may not be able to pay our own financing costs.

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Item 4.    Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report on Form 10-Q. The controls evaluation was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and procedures designed to reasonably assure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), such as this Report on Form 10-Q, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are also designed to reasonably assure that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Based on the controls evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC, and that material information related to our company and our consolidated subsidiaries is made known to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, particularly during the period when our periodic reports are being prepared.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

62

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.    Legal Proceedings
Neither we nor any of our affiliates are the subject of any material legal or regulatory proceedings. We and our affiliates may be involved, from time to time, in legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
For information regarding factors that could affect our results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity, see the risk factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. There have been no material changes from these previously disclosed risk factors.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Securities
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
On August 8, 2018 we issued 49,464 shares of our common stock to the Manager in payment of the stock-based portion of the management fee due for the third quarter of 2018 in a private transaction. The management fee expense associated with these shares was recorded as an expense in the second quarter of 2018. These shares were issued in reliance on the exemption from registration set forth in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
On August 8, 2018 we issued each of our independent directors 601 shares of common stock in partial payment of their quarterly director fees for the third quarter of 2018. These shares were issued in reliance on the exemption from registration set forth in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
On August 10, 2018 we issued 36,500 shares of our common stock to employees of our Manager and Servicer. These shares were issued in reliance on the exemption from registration set forth in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
Item 6. Exhibits
The exhibits listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed or furnished as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.


63

EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
​
Exhibit Description
31.1*
​
31.2*
​
32.1*
​
32.2*
​
101.INS**
​
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH**
​
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL**
​
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF**
​
XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB**
​
XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
101.PRE**
​
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
​
 
*
Filed herewith.​
**
Furnished herewith.​


64

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
GREAT AJAX CORP.
 
 
 
 
 
Date: November 7, 2018
By:
/s/ Lawrence Mendelsohn
 
 
 
Lawrence Mendelsohn
 
 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
Date: November 7, 2018
By:
/s/ Mary Doyle
 
 
 
Mary Doyle
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 


65