DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021


1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (the “Company” or “Annaly”) is a Maryland corporation that commenced operations on February 18, 1997. The Company is a leading diversified capital manager that invests in and finances residential and commercial assets. The Company owns a portfolio of real estate related investments, including mortgage pass-through certificates, collateralized mortgage obligations, credit risk transfer (“CRT”) securities, other securities representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of mortgage loans, residential mortgage loans, mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”) and corporate debt. The Company’s principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to its stockholders and optimize its returns through prudent management of its diversified investment strategies.

The Company is an internally-managed company that has elected to be taxed as a Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) as defined under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”). Prior to the closing of the Internalization (as defined in Note 19) on June 30, 2020, the Company was externally managed by Annaly Management Company LLC (the “Former Manager”).

The Company’s investment groups are primarily comprised of the following:


Investment Groups			Description
Annaly Agency Group			Invests in Agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) collateralized by residential mortgages which are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae and complementary investments within the Agency market, including MSRs and Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities.
Annaly Residential Credit Group			Invests primarily in non-Agency residential whole loans and securitized products within the residential and commercial markets.

Annaly Middle Market Lending Group			Provides financing to private equity backed middle market businesses, focusing primarily on senior debt within select industries.

In March 2021, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell and exit its Commercial Real Estate (“CRE”) business. Subject to customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals, the sale of the CRE business is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2021. Refer to the“Sale of Commercial Real Estate Business” Note for additional information.