Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results

Conference Call and Webcast Scheduled for Tomorrow, Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time/8:00 a.m. Pacific Time

PASADENA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation (the “Company” or “WMC”) (NYSE: WMC) today reported its results for the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2020.

FOURTH QUARTER 2020 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • GAAP book value per share of $4.20, increased $0.13 from $4.07 in the third quarter
  • GAAP net income of $10.8 million, or $0.18 per basic and diluted share.
  • Core earnings of $7.2 million, or $0.12 per basic and diluted share.1
  • Economic return on book value was 4.7%1,2 for the quarter.
  • Economic book value per share of $4.19 increased 1.9% from $4.11 in the third quarter.1
  • 2.11% annualized net interest margin on our investment portfolio. 1,3,4
  • 2.1x recourse leverage as of December 31, 2020.
  • On December 17, 2020 we declared a fourth quarter common dividend of $0.06 per share.

FULL YEAR 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

Our full year financial results reflect the extremely challenging market conditions resulting from the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. During these challenging times, the Company focused on improving its balance sheet by reducing debt and leverage, increasing liquidity and shareholder equity, and completing new financing arrangements that significantly reduce the Company’s exposure to short term repurchase agreements. The following includes our full year financial results and the measures taken to strengthen our balance sheet:

  • GAAP net loss of $328.3 million, or $5.72 per basic and diluted share.
  • Core earnings of $32.6 million, or $0.57 per basic and diluted share.1
  • Economic return on book value was negative 59.1%1,2 for the year.
  • 1.93% annualized net interest margin on our investment portfolio. 1,3,4
  • In April, we closed an 18 month term financing arrangement without margin requirements for the entire unsecuritized Residential Whole Loan portfolio. This financing reduced our exposure to repurchase agreement financing and eliminated associated margin calls. In October 2020, we amended the facility to a limited mark to market facility with a 12 month term bearing an interest rate of one month LIBOR plus 2.75%.
  • In May, we closed a 12 month term financing arrangement, with a 12 month extension at the counterparty’s option, for Non-Agency RMBS and Non-Agency CMBS, significantly mitigating exposure to margin volatility.
  • Our Manager waived the management fees for March, April and May 2020.
  • In June, we completed a securitization of $355.8 million of our Residential Whole Loan investments, enabling the Company to secure $341.7 million of long-term financing at a weighted average interest rate of 2.0%.
  • In June, we raised $22.0 million of equity capital through the sale of 6.0 million shares at a premium to book value through our At-The-Market Program.
  • In July, the Company retired $5.0 million of its 6.75% Convertible Senior Notes at a 25% discount to par value, in exchange for the issuance of 1.4 million shares of our common stock.
  • Resumed our quarterly dividend in the third quarter for a total 2020 annual common dividend of $0.11 per share.
  • In the fourth quarter of 2020, we repurchased $25.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our convertible senior unsecured notes at an average discount of 13% to par value.

1 Non – GAAP measure.

2 Economic return is calculated by taking the sum of: (i) the total dividends declared; and (ii) the change in book value during the period and dividing by the beginning book value.

3 Includes interest-only securities accounted for as derivatives and the cost of interest rate swaps.

4 Excludes the consolidation of VIE trusts required under GAAP.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

“The Company finished the year with positive momentum, delivering a fourth quarter economic return on book value of 4.7%, sequentially improved core earnings and a dividend increase to $0.06 per share,” said Jennifer Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “We have continued to focus on strengthening our balance sheet, lowering leverage, reducing our exposure to mark-to-market funding, and improving the earnings power of the portfolio. We took important actions on these fronts in the fourth quarter, including extending some of our longer-term financing at attractive levels and repurchasing $25.0 million of our outstanding notes at an average discount of 13% to par value. We believe we are well positioned to benefit from what we anticipate will be the continued recovery of asset values and improved earnings sustainability of our portfolio.

Ms. Murphy continued, “We recorded GAAP net income of $10.8 million, or $0.18 per share, and core earnings of $0.12 per share during the fourth quarter. Core earnings improved from $0.10 per share in the third quarter, reflecting lower operating expenses, partially offset by slightly lower portfolio leverage and net interest margin. Our GAAP book value per share increased 3.2% during the quarter to $4.20 per share and has increased by 32.5% since June 30, 2020, when it reached its low, after the onset of the pandemic. Our commitment to shareholders remains protecting and growing the value of the portfolio, which will position us to deliver on our long-term objectives of generating sustainable core earnings that support an attractive dividend and enhancing value for our shareholders,” Ms. Murphy concluded.

Greg Handler, Interim Co-Chief Investment Officer of the Company, commented, “The equity and credit markets continued to rebound in the fourth quarter, driven by improved liquidity conditions across financial markets, the optimism resulting from the roll-out of vaccines and the potential for a new government stimulus package. This translated into higher valuations on a number of our portfolio holdings and an improvement in our book value. Our view remains that the economy will continue to gradually improve, although the timing and strength of that recovery remain dependent on the future course of the pandemic as well as fiscal and monetary stimulus. We have invested in assets we believe are high quality and with borrowers who have resources to be more resilient in a protracted downturn. In the meantime, we remain focused on maintaining sufficient liquidity and positioning our portfolio for potential future appreciation, which we believe will occur as the economy continues to reopen.”

2020 Quarterly Results

The below table reflects a summary of our operating results (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

 

For the Three Months Ended

GAAP Results

December 31, 2020

 

September 30, 2020

 

June 30, 2020(5)

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Interest Income

$

9,503

 

 

 

$

10,117

 

 

 

$

7,076

 

 

 

$

18,741

 

 

Other Income (Loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized gain (loss), net

1,327

 

 

 

718

 

 

 

(6,960

)

 

 

89,186

 

 

Unrealized gain (loss), net

3,994

 

 

 

54,690

 

 

 

16,040

 

 

 

(296,111

)

 

Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net

219

 

 

 

(88

)

 

 

(8,143

)

 

 

(189,691

)

 

Other, net

(46

)

 

 

(31

)

 

 

(45

)

 

 

461

 

 

Other Income (loss)

5,494

 

 

 

55,289

 

 

 

892

 

 

 

(396,155

)

 

Total Expenses

4,176

 

 

 

5,392

 

 

 

24,805

 

 

 

4,534

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

10,821

 

 

 

60,014

 

 

 

(16,837

)

 

 

(381,948

)

 

Income tax provision (benefit)

29

 

 

 

205

 

 

 

255

 

 

 

(93

)

 

Net income (loss)

10,792

 

 

 

59,809

 

 

 

(17,092

)

 

 

(381,855

)

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest

2

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

2

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders and participating securities

$

10,790

 

 

 

$

59,807

 

 

 

$

(17,094

)

 

 

$

(381,857

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per Common Share – Basic/Diluted

$

0.18

 

 

 

$

0.98

 

 

 

$

(0.31

)

 

 

$

(7.15

)

 

Non-GAAP Results

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Core earnings (1)

$

7,208

 

 

 

$

6,391

 

 

 

$

4,343

 

 

 

$

15,779

 

 

Core earnings per Common Share – Basic/Diluted

$

0.12

 

 

 

$

0.10

 

 

 

$

0.08

 

 

 

$

0.29

 

 

Weighted average yield(2)(4)

5.50

 

%

 

5.51

 

%

 

5.40

 

%

 

4.90

 

%

Effective cost of funds(3)(4)

4.10

 

%

 

3.94

 

%

 

3.98

 

%

 

3.28

 

%

Annualized net interest margin(2)(3)(4)

2.11

 

%

 

2.27

 

%

 

1.63

 

%

 

1.84

 

%

(1)

For a reconciliation of GAAP Income to Core earnings, please refer to the Reconciliation of Core earnings at the end of this press release.

(2)

Includes interest-only securities accounted for as derivatives.

(3)

Includes the net amount paid, including accrued amounts for interest rate swaps and premium amortization for MAC interest rate swaps during the periods.

(4)

Excludes the consolidation of VIE trusts required under GAAP.

(5)

The consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2020 was revised during the three months ended September 30, 2020 to reflect the under accrual of interest expense in the amount of $1.5 million.

Portfolio Composition

As of December 31, 2020, the Company owned an aggregate investment portfolio with a fair market value totaling $3.2 billion. The following tables set forth additional information regarding the Company’s investment portfolio as of December 31, 2020:

Portfolio Characteristics

Credit Sensitive Portfolio

The Company’s Non-QM residential portfolio, in our view, is performing well, given the challenging economic background. The loans in a forbearance plan at the end of December 2020, excluding loans that were in forbearance that are now in repayment period, represented approximately 0.24% of the total outstanding loans. We see this as a strong indication that borrowers with meaningful equity in their homes will prioritize their mortgage payment in order to remain current on that obligation.

The Company’s Commercial Loans and Non-Agency CMBS portfolios are performing in line with expectations under the current pandemic conditions. The Non-Agency CMBS portfolios have an original LTV of 64.4%, The Company believes there is a reasonable likelihood that the majority of the delinquent loans that serve as collateral for the Non-Agency CMBS will return to performing status in the coming months although there is no assurance that this will be the case. The Commercial Loan portfolio carries a 65.1% original LTV and all but one of the loans remains current.

The Company’s CRE mezzanine loan with an outstanding principal balance of $90 million is receiving interest payments from a reserve that will become exhausted in June 2021. The Company expects this mezzanine loan will become non performing upon depletion of such reserve.

The Company commenced foreclosure proceedings for its delinquent commercial loan with an outstanding principal balance of $30.0 million, secured by a hotel. However, on February 24, 2021, the borrower filed for bankruptcy protection. The Company expects to move forward with the foreclosure subject to the bankruptcy process, and believes there is a reasonable likelihood that the outstanding principal balance of $30 million will be recovered, although there is no assurance.

The following table summarizes certain characteristics of our credit sensitive portfolio by investment category as of December 31, 2020 (dollars in thousands):

 

Principal Balance

 

Amortized Cost

 

Fair Value

 

Weighted

Average Coupon(1)

Non-Agency RMBS

$

38,112

 

 

$

23,463

 

 

$

21,416

 

 

1.6

%

Non-Agency RMBS IOs and IIOs

 

N/A

 

 

6,271

 

 

3,965

 

 

0.4

%

Non-Agency CMBS

235,497

 

 

210,239

 

 

164,081

 

 

5.0

%

Residential Whole Loans

984,555

 

 

1,007,004

 

 

1,008,782

 

 

5.1

%

Residential Bridge Loans

15,247

 

 

15,250

 

 

13,916

 

 

9.4

%

Securitized Commercial Loans(1)

1,739,793

 

 

1,604,320

 

 

1,605,335

 

 

4.3

%

Commercial Loans

325,444

 

 

325,297

 

 

310,523

 

 

6.4

%

Other Securities

51,537

 

 

49,420

 

 

48,754

 

 

4.4

%

 

$

3,390,185

 

 

$

3,241,264

 

 

$

3,176,772

 

 

4.8

%

(1)

Includes Residential Bridge Loans carried at amortized cost of $1.1 million as of December 31, 2020. The fair value of these loans was $1.1 million as of December 31, 2020.

(2)

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had real estate owned (“REO”) properties with an aggregate carrying value of $1.1 million related to foreclosed Bridge Loans. The REO properties are classified in “Other assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Agency Portfolio

The following table summarizes certain characteristics of our Agency portfolio by investment category as of December 31, 2020 (dollars in thousands):

 

Principal Balance

 

Amortized Cost

 

Fair Value

 

Net Weighted Average Coupon

Agency RMBS Interest-Only Strips

 

N/A

 

 

$

89

 

 

$

143

 

 

2.1

%

Agency RMBS Interest-Only Strips, accounted for as derivatives

 

N/A

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

1,565

 

 

2.6

%

Total Agency RMBS

 

 

89

 

 

1,708

 

 

2.5

%

Total

$

 

 

$

89

 

 

$

1,708

 

 

2.5

%

Portfolio Financing and Hedging

Financing

Repurchase Agreements

The Company continued to improve its balance sheet by reducing debt and leverage, increasing liquidity and shareholder equity.

Residential Whole Loan Facility

On April 21, 2020, the Company entered into amendments with respect to certain of its residential whole loan facilities. These amendments mainly served to convert an existing residential whole loan facility into a term facility by removing any mark to market margin requirements, and to consolidate the Company’s Non-Qualified Mortgage loans, which were previously financed by three separate, unaffiliated counterparties, into a single facility. The target advance rate under the amended and restated facility was approximately 84% of the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the loans. The facility’s scheduled maturity was October 5, 2021. All principal payments and income generated by the loans during the term of the facility were used to pay principal and interest on the facility. Upon the securitization or sale by the Company of any whole loan subject to this amended and restated facility, the counterparty was entitled to receive a 30% premium recapture fee of all realized value on any whole loans above such counterparty’s amortized basis as well as an exit fee of 0.50% of the loan amount in circumstances where the counterparty was not involved in the disposition of the loans.

As a result of refinancing the Residential Whole Loans through a securitization, the Company accrued a premium recapture fee of approximately $20.5 million, which was payable at the maturity of the facility, and was recorded in “Financing fees” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

On October 6, 2020 the Company entered into an amendment with respect to this residential whole loan facility. The amendment converted the existing residential loan facility to a limited mark to market margin facility that bears an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.75%, with a LIBOR floor of 0.25%. The target advance rate under the amended facility is 84% and the facility matures on October 5, 2021. In connection with the amendment to the facility, the Company paid $12.0 million of the premium recapture fee and the balance of $8.5 million is payable at the maturity of the amended facility on October 5, 2021.The premium recapture fee was eliminated for investments financed under the amended facility.

As of December 31, 2020 approximately $67.1 million in non QM loans remained in the facility with a borrowing amount of $30.2 million.

Non-Agency CMBS and Non-Agency RMBS Facility

On May 4, 2020, the Company supplemented one of its existing securities repurchase facilities to consolidate most of its CMBS and RMBS assets, which were financed by multiple counterparties, into a single term facility with limited mark to market margin requirements. Pursuant to the agreement, a margin deficit will not occur until such time as the loan to value ratio surpasses a certain threshold (the “LTV Trigger”), on a weighted average basis per asset type, calculated on a portfolio level. If this threshold is reached, the Company may elect to provide cash margin or sell certain assets to the extent necessary to lower the ratio. The term of this facility is 12 months, subject to 12 month extensions at the counterparty’s option. All interest income generated by the assets during the term of the facility will be paid to the Company no less often than monthly. Interest on the facility is due from the Company at a rate of three-month LIBOR plus 5.0% payable quarterly in arrears. Half of all principal repayments on the underlying assets will be applied to repay the obligations owed to the counterparty, with the remainder paid to the Company, unless the LTV Trigger has occurred, in which case all principal payments will be applied to repay the obligations. As of December 31, 2020, the outstanding balance under this facility was $95.1 million.

The following table sets forth additional information regarding the Company’s portfolio financing arrangements as of December 31, 2020 (dollars in thousands):

Repurchase Agreements

 

Balance

 

Weighted Average

Interest Rate

(end of period)

 

Weighted Average

Remaining Maturity

(days)

Short Term Borrowings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agency RMBS

 

$

1,418

 

 

1.34

%

 

59

Non-Agency CMBS

 

10,313

 

 

2.25

%

 

14

Residential Whole Loans(1)

 

29,800

 

 

3.71

%

 

15

Residential Bridge Loans(1)

 

11,254

 

 

2.73

%

 

36

Commercial Loans(1)

 

34,375

 

 

3.32

%

 

75

Membership Interest

 

18,844

 

 

2.90

%

 

29

Other Securities

 

2,594

 

 

4.51

%

 

19

Subtotal

 

108,598

 

 

3.19

%

 

39

Long Term Borrowings

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Agency CMBS(3)

 

66,767

 

 

5.23

%

 

126

Non-Agency RMBS

 

14,643

 

 

5.23

%

 

126

Residential Whole Loans(1) (2)

 

30,224

 

 

3.00

%

 

278

Commercial Loans (2)

 

124,937

 

 

2.17

%

 

287

Other Securities

 

13,677

 

 

5.24

%

 

126

Subtotal

 

250,248

 

 

3.74

%

 

225

Repurchase agreements borrowings

 

358,846

 

 

3.57

%

 

169

Less unamortized debt issuance costs

 

1,923

 

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

Repurchase agreements borrowings, net

 

$

356,923

 

 

3.57

%

 

169

(1)

Repurchase agreement borrowings on loans owned are through trust certificates. The trust certificates are eliminated in consolidation.

(2)

Certain Residential Whole Loans and Commercial Loans were financed under two longer term repurchase agreements. The Residential Whole facility is 18 months and the Commercial Loan facility automatically rolls until such time as they are terminated or until certain conditions of default. The weighted average remaining maturity days was calculated using expected weighted life of the underlying collateral.

(3)

Includes repurchase agreement borrowings on securities eliminated upon VIE consolidation.

Certain of the financing arrangements provide the counterparty with the right to terminate the agreement if the Company does not maintain certain equity, liquidity and leverage metrics. With the exception of one repurchase agreement for which the Company received a waiver, the Company was in compliance with the terms of such financial tests as of December 31, 2020.

Convertible Senior Unsecured Notes

At December 31, 2020, the Company had $175.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% convertible senior unsecured notes. The notes mature on October 1, 2022, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased by the holders pursuant to their terms, and are not redeemable by the Company except during the final three months prior to maturity. The initial conversion rate was 83.1947 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes and represented a conversion price of $12.02 per share of common stock.

On July 1, 2020, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,354,084 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), in exchange for $5.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2022 Notes pursuant to separate privately negotiated exchange agreements entered into on July 1, 2020 soliciting such exchange.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company repurchased $25 million aggregate principal amount of the 2022 Notes at an approximate 13% discount to par value, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Residential Mortgage-Backed Notes

The Company has completed two Residential Whole Loan securitizations. The mortgage-backed notes issued are non-recourse to the Company and effectively finance $939.2 million of Residential Whole Loans as of December 31, 2020.

Arroyo 2019-2

The following table summarizes the residential mortgage-backed notes issued by the Company’s Arroyo 2019-2 securitization trust at December 31, 2020 (dollars in thousands):

Classes

Principal Balance

Coupon

Carrying Value

Contractual Maturity

Offered Notes:

 

 

 

 

Class A-1

$

511,623

 

3.3

%

$

511,620

 

4/25/2049

Class A-2

27,414

 

3.5

%

27,414

 

4/25/2049

Class A-3

43,433

 

3.8

%

43,430

 

4/25/2049

Class M-1

25,055

 

4.8

%

25,055

 

4/25/2049

Subtotal

$

607,525

 

 

$

607,519

 

 

Less: Unamortized Deferred Financing Costs

 

N/A

 

 

4,398

 

 

Total

$

607,525

 

 

$

603,121

 

 

The Company retained the subordinate bonds and these bonds had a fair market value of $43.2 million at December 31, 2020. The retained Arroyo 2019-2 subordinate bonds are eliminated in consolidation. The securitized debt of the Arroyo 2019-2 Trust can only be settled with the residential loans that serve as collateral for the securitized debt and is non-recourse to the Company.

Arroyo 2020-1

The following table summarizes the residential mortgage-backed notes issued by the Company’s Arroyo 2020-1 securitization trust at December 31, 2020 (dollars in thousands):

Classes

Principal Balance

Coupon

Carrying Value

Contractual Maturity

Offered Notes:

 

 

 

 

Class A-1A

$

222,117

 

1.7

%

$

222,112

 

3/25/2055

Class A-1B

26,357

 

2.1

%

26,357

 

3/25/2055

Class A-2

13,518

 

2.9

%

13,517

 

3/25/2055

Class A-3

17,963

 

3.3

%

17,963

 

3/25/2055

Class M-1

11,739

 

4.3

%

11,739

 

3/25/2055

Subtotal

291,694

 

 

291,688

 

 

Less: Unamortized Deferred Financing Costs

 

N/A

 

 

2,519

 

 

Total

$

291,694

 

 

$

289,169

 

 

The Company retained the subordinate bonds and these bonds had a fair market value of $27.7 million at December 31, 2020. The retained Arroyo 2020-1 subordinate bonds are eliminated in consolidation. The securitized debt of the Arroyo 2020-1 Trust can only be settled with the residential loans that serve as collateral for the securitized debt and is non-recourse to the Company.

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Notes

RETL 2019 Trust

The following table summarizes RETL 2019 Trust’s commercial mortgage pass-through certificates, at December 31, 2020 (dollars in thousands), which is non-recourse to the Company:

Classes

Principal Balance

Coupon

Fair Value

Contractual Maturity

Class B

$

502

 

1.7

%

$

492

 

3/15/2021

Class C

308,400

 

2.3

%

296,933

 

3/15/2021

Class X-EXT(1)

 

N/A

 

1.1

%

31

 

3/15/2021

 

$

308,902

 

 

$

297,456

 

 

(1)

Class X-EXT is an interest-only class with an initial notional balance of $308.4 million.

The above table does not reflect the class HRR bond held by the Company because the bond is eliminated in consolidation. The bond had a fair market value of $41.9 million at December 31, 2020. The securitized debt of the RETL 2019 Trust can only be settled with the commercial loan, with an outstanding principal balance of approximately $354.2 million at December 31, 2020, that serves as collateral for the securitized debt and is non-recourse to the Company.

CSMC 2014 USA

The following table summarizes CSMC 2014 USA’s commercial mortgage pass-through certificates at December 31, 2020 (dollars in thousands), which is non-recourse to the Company:

Classes

Principal Balance

Coupon

Fair Value

Contractual Maturity

Class A-1

$

120,391

 

3.3

%

$

120,443

 

9/11/2025

Class A-2

531,700

 

4.0

%

538,469

 

9/11/2025

Class B

136,400

 

4.2

%

137,970

 

9/11/2025

Class C

94,500

 

4.3

%

85,140

 

9/11/2025

Class D

153,950

 

4.4

%

127,092

 

9/11/2025

Class E

180,150

 

4.4

%

131,906

 

9/11/2025

Class F

153,600

 

4.4

%

99,859

 

9/11/2025

Class X-1(1)

 

n/a

 

0.5

%

12,794

 

9/11/2025

Class X-2(1)

 

n/a

 

0.4

%

2,593

 

9/11/2025

 

$

1,370,691

 

 

$

1,256,266

 

 

(1)

Class X-1 and X-2 are interest-only classes with notional balances of $652.1 million and $733.5 million as of December 31, 2020, respectively.

The above table does not reflect the portion of the class F bond held by the Company because the bond is eliminated in consolidation.

Contacts

Investor Relations Contact:

Larry Clark

Financial Profiles, Inc.

(310) 622-8223

lclark@finprofiles.com

Media Contact:

Tricia Ross

Financial Profiles, Inc.

(310) 622-8226

tross@finprofiles.com

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