Form 10-Q

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10-Q 1 d331529d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012

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

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 001-34569

Ellington Financial LLC

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware

26-0489289

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

53 Forest Avenue, Old Greenwich, Connecticut 06870

(Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)

(203) 698-1200

(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 x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x 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. See definitions of “large accelerated filers” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 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 ¨ No x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.


Class		Outstanding at May 4, 2012
Common Shares Representing Limited Liability Company Interests, no par value		16,447,651

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

FORM 10-Q


PART I. Financial Information			2
Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)			2
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			37
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk			55
Item 4. Controls and Procedures			57
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION			57
Item 1. Legal Proceedings			57
Item 1A. Risk Factors			58
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			58
Item 5. Other Information			58
Item 6. Exhibits			58

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)


	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
(In thousands except share amounts)	*Expressed in U.S. Dollars*
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	51,546	$	62,737

Investments, financial derivatives and repurchase agreements:
Investments at fair value (Cost – $1,232,162 and $1,234,203)		1,225,584		1,212,483
Financial derivatives – assets at fair value (Cost – $105,906 and $118,281)		94,056		102,871
Repurchase agreements (Cost – $13,650 and $15,750)		13,650		15,750

Total investments, financial derivatives and repurchase agreements		1,333,290		1,331,104
Deposits with dealers held as collateral		32,362		34,163
Receivable for securities sold		642,218		533,708
Interest and principal receivable		6,138		6,127
Other assets		1,024		216

Total Assets	$	2,066,578	$	1,968,055


LIABILITIES
Investments and financial derivatives:
Investments sold short at fair value (Proceeds – $579,447 and $459,013)	$	579,852	$	462,394
Financial derivatives – liabilities at fair value (Proceeds – $21,088 and $9,636)		27,298		27,040

Total investments and financial derivatives		607,150		489,434
Reverse repurchase agreements		921,406		896,210
Due to brokers on margin accounts		65,497		79,735
Payable for securities purchased		70,688		127,517
Securitized debt (Proceeds – $1,495 and $0)		1,485		—
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		1,500		1,845
Base management fee payable		1,492		1,396
Interest and dividends payable		1,096		1,002

Total Liabilities		1,670,314		1,597,139

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY		396,264		370,916

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	2,066,578	$	1,968,055

ANALYSIS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common shares, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized;
(16,447,651 and 16,447,651 shares issued and outstanding)	$	387,367	$	362,047
Additional paid-in capital – LTIP units		8,897		8,869

Total Shareholders’ Equity	$	396,264	$	370,916

PER SHARE INFORMATION:
Common shares	$	24.09	$	22.55

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

AT MARCH 31, 2012

(UNAUDITED)


Current Principal/ Notional Value	Description	Rate	Maturity	Fair Value
(In thousands)				Expressed in U.S. Dollars
North America

Long Investments (309.28%) (a) (b) (o)

Mortgage-Backed Securities (308.14%)

Agency Securities (202.05%)

Fixed Rate Agency Securities (195.93%)

Principal and Interest - Fixed Rate Agency Securities (190.11%)

$ 153,574	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	1/42	$	161,433
35,021	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	11/41		36,778
31,190	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	1/42		32,730
24,071	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.50%	12/41		25,759
22,680	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	1/42		23,800
19,718	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	8/41		21,398
19,743	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	4/42		20,755
18,458	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool	5.00%	7/41		20,020
18,361	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.50%	9/41		19,649
18,045	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.50%	10/41		19,305
16,768	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	3/41		18,259
16,716	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.50%	9/41		17,820
13,480	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	11/41		14,150
13,443	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	1/42		14,123
13,099	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.50%	9/41		13,965
12,546	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	7/41		13,646
12,655	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	10/41		13,300
11,054	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	9/41		12,051
11,147	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.50%	4/26		11,976
11,075	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	1/42		11,618
10,305	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool	4.00%	1/41		10,812
9,471	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool	4.00%	12/41		9,924
9,133	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool	4.50%	2/41		9,765
9,114	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool	4.50%	10/41		9,705
9,080	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	7/26		9,643
8,194	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.50%	10/39		8,974
8,259	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool	4.00%	3/41		8,675
7,234	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.50%	5/40		7,922
7,491	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	3.50%	12/41		7,710
6,627	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	6/41		7,192
6,597	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	7/41		7,159
6,462	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	11/39		6,988
6,129	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	6/26		6,509
5,816	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	10/41		6,311
5,664	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	10/41		5,953
5,631	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	2/42		5,911
5,333	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool	6.00%	4/39		5,899
5,114	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	11/40		5,550
5,189	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.50%	8/41		5,532
4,869	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	8/41		5,308
4,909	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.50%	12/41		5,235
4,817	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.50%	4/41		5,165
4,684	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	9/41		5,107
4,532	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool	4.00%	2/42		4,755
4,250	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	6/40		4,612
4,085	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.50%	11/41		4,355

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

AT MARCH 31, 2012 (CONTINUED)

(UNAUDITED)


Current Principal/ Notional Value		Description	Rate	Maturity	Fair Value
(In thousands)					Expressed in U.S. Dollars
	Principal and Interest - Fixed Rate Agency Securities (190.11%) (continued)
$	4,026	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	9/41	$	4,231
	4,022	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	2/42		4,226
	3,853	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	10/41		4,181
	3,946	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool	4.00%	1/41		4,147
	3,887	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	1/42		4,084
	3,870	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.00%	4/42		4,082
	3,707	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool	4.50%	9/41		3,947
	3,263	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.50%	10/41		3,494
	3,034	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool	3.50%	1/42		3,113
	2,708	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.50%	10/41		2,889
	2,267	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	4.50%	4/42		2,433
	1,974	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.00%	7/41		2,147
	4,553	Other Federal National Mortgage Association Pools	6.00%	9/39 - 2/40		5,034
	1,193	Other Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool	6.00%	5/40		1,320
	731	Other Government National Mortgage Association Pool	5.50%	3/41		819

						753,353

	Interest Only - Fixed Rate Agency Securities (1.47%)
	30,340	Other Federal National Mortgage Association	4.00% - 5.50%	1/36 - 10/40		3,638
	13,128	Other Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation	5.00% - 5.50%	6/33 - 1/39		1,704
	8,171	Other Government National Mortgage Association	5.50%	3/36		475

						5,817

	TBA - Fixed Rate Agency Securities (4.35%)
	16,500	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool (30 Year)	4.00%	4/12		17,249

						17,249

	Total Fixed Rate Agency Securities (Cost $772,522)					776,419


	Floating Rate Agency Securities (6.12%)

	Principal and Interest - Floating Rate Agency Securities (6.07%)
	8,567	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.15%	5/38		9,033
	6,350	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.27%	12/35		6,687
	3,243	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.51%	7/37		3,481
	3,245	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.69%	4/36		3,441
	1,336	Other Federal National Mortgage Association Pool	5.27%	9/37		1,423

						24,065


	Interest Only - Floating Rate Agency Securities (0.05%)
	1,371	Other Federal National Mortgage Association	5.50%	8/36		199

						199


	Total Floating Rate Agency Securities (Cost $23,744)					24,264


	Total Agency Securities (Cost $796,266)					800,683

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

AT MARCH 31, 2012 (CONTINUED)

(UNAUDITED)


Current Principal/ Notional Value		Description	Rate	Maturity	Fair Value
(In thousands)					Expressed in U.S. Dollars

	Private Label Securities (106.09%)

	Principal and Interest - Private Label Securities (105.83%)
$	733,520	Various	0.30% - 9.35%	5/19 - 12/47	$	419,368


	Total Principal and Interest - Private Label Securities (Cost $429,977)					419,368


	Interest Only - Private Label Securities (0.26%)
	68,860	Various	0.50% - 0.65%	9/47		1,033


	Total Interest Only - Private Label Securities (Cost $572)					1,033


	Other Private Label Securities (0.00%)
	195,518	Various	—	6/37		—


	Total Other Private Label Securities (Cost $530)					—


	Total Private Label Securities (Cost $431,079)					420,401


	Total Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $1,227,345)					1,221,084


	Commercial Mortgage Loans (1.14%) (n)
	5,000	Various	6.25%	11/12		4,500


	Total Commercial Mortgage Loans (Cost $4,817)					4,500


	Total Long Investments (Cost $1,232,162)				$	1,225,584


	Repurchase Agreements (3.43%) (c)
$	13,650	Bank of America Securities	0.04%	4/12	$	13,650
		Collateralized by Par Value $13,000 U.S. Treasury Note, Coupon 1.75%, Maturity Date 5/16


	Total Repurchase Agreements (Cost $13,650)				$	13,650


	Investments Sold Short (-146.33%)

	TBA - Fixed Rate Agency Securities Sold Short (-142.93%) (d)
$	(169,000)	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool (30 Year)	4.00%	5/12	$	(176,816	)
	(154,370)	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool (30 Year)	4.00%	4/12		(161,847	)
	(75,000)	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool (30 Year)	5.00%	4/12		(81,015	)
	(28,610)	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool (30 Year)	4.50%	4/12		(30,430	)
	(26,000)	Government National Mortgage Association Pool (30 Year)	5.00%	4/12		(28,726	)
	(16,500)	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool (30 Year)	5.00%	4/12		(17,772	)
	(16,300)	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool (15 Year)	4.00%	4/12		(17,270	)
	(14,700)	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool (30 Year)	4.50%	5/12		(15,612	)
	(13,500)	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool (30 Year)	5.50%	4/12		(14,709	)
	(11,000)	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool (15 Year)	4.50%	4/12		(11,777	)
	(3,800)	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool (30 Year)	3.50%	4/12		(3,903	)
	(2,500)	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool (30 Year)	6.00%	4/12		(2,755	)
	(1,900)	Other Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pools (30 Year)	4.50% - 6.00%	4/12		(2,057	)
	(1,500)	Other Government National Mortgage Association Pool (30 Year)	5.50%	4/12		(1,677	)


	Total TBA - Fixed Rate Agency Securities Sold Short (Proceeds -$566,348)					(566,366	)


	U.S. Treasury Securities Sold Short (-3.40%)
	(13,000)	U.S. Treasury Note	1.75%	5/16		(13,486	)


	Total U.S. Treasury Securities Sold Short (Proceeds -$13,099)					(13,486	)


	Total Investments Sold Short (Proceeds -$579,447)				$	(579,852	)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

AT MARCH 31, 2012 (CONTINUED)

(UNAUDITED)


	Primary Risk Exposure	Notional Value			Range of Expiration Dates	Fair Value
(In thousands)						Expressed in U.S. Dollars
Financial Derivatives - Assets (23.74%)
Swaps (23.74%) (e)
Long Swaps:
Credit Default Swaps on Asset-Backed Indices (Cost - $464) (f)	Credit	$	12,198		6/36 - 7/36	$	538
Interest Rate Swaps (g)	Interest Rates		4,500		10/16		82
Short Swaps:
Credit Default Swaps on Asset-Backed Securities (h)	Credit		(57,875	)	9/34 - 12/36		48,746
Credit Default Swaps on Asset-Backed Indices: (i)	Credit
ABX.HE AAA 2006-2 Index			(61,791	)	5/46		31,178
Other			(51,846	)	8/37 - 10/52		13,507
Interest Rate Swaps (j)	Interest Rates		(600	)	12/21		5

Total Swaps (Cost $105,906)							94,056

Total Financial Derivatives - Assets (Cost $105,906)						$	94,056

Financial Derivatives - Liabilities (-6.89%)
Swaps (-6.88%)
Long Swaps:
Credit Default Swaps on Asset-Backed Indices (Proceeds - $20,178) (f)	Credit	$	46,618		8/37 - 2/51	$	(19,998	)
Interest Rate Swaps (g)	Interest Rates		12,900		1/17 - 3/17		(94	)
Short Swaps:
Credit Default Swaps on Corporate Bond Indices (k)	Credit		(78,250	)	6/17		(364	)
Credit Default Swaps on Asset-Backed Indices (i)	Credit		(12,198	)	6/36 - 7/36		(538	)
Interest Rate Swaps (j)	Interest Rates		(222,500	)	4/14 - 3/22		(6,003	)
Total Return Swaps (l)	Equity Market		(22,446	)	9/12 - 9/13		(249	)

Total Swaps (Proceeds -$21,088)							(27,246	)

Futures (-0.01%)
Short Futures:
Eurodollar Futures (m)	Interest Rates		(126,000	)	6/12 - 9/13		(52	)

Total Futures							(52	)

Total Financial Derivatives - Liabilities (Proceeds -$21,088)						$	(27,298	)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

AT MARCH 31, 2012 (CONCLUDED)

(UNAUDITED)

(a)	See Note 2 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(b)	At March 31, 2012, the Company’s long investments guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Government National Mortgage Association represented 173.71%, 28.02%, and 0.32% of shareholders’ equity, respectively.

(c)	In general, securities received pursuant to repurchase agreements were delivered to counterparties in short sale transactions.

(d)	At March 31, 2012, the Company’s short investments guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Government National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation represented 130.25%, 7.67%, and 5.01% of shareholders’ equity, respectively.

(e)	The following table shows the Company’s swap assets by dealer as a percentage of shareholders’ equity:


Dealer/Parent Company	Percent of Shareholders’ Equity
Affiliates of Morgan Stanley		6.69	%

(f)	For long credit default swaps on asset-backed indices, the Company sold protection.

(g)	For long interest rate swap contracts, a floating rate is being paid and a fixed rate is being received.

(h)	For short credit default swaps on asset-backed securities, the Company purchased protection.

(i)	For short credit default swaps on asset-backed indices, the Company purchased protection.

(j)	For short interest rate swap contracts, a fixed rate is being paid and a floating rate is being received.

(k)	For short credit default swaps on corporate bond indices, the Company purchased protection.

(l)	Notional amount represents number of underlying shares or par value times the closing price of the underlying security.

(m)	Every $1,000,000 notional value represents one contract.

(n)	Maturity date may be extended through November 4, 2015.

(o)

The table below shows the Company’s long investment ratings from Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s, or Fitch, as well as the Company’s long investments that were unrated but affiliated with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Ginnie Mae. Ratings tend to be a lagging credit indicator; as a result, the credit quality of the Company’s long investment holdings may be lower than the credit quality implied based on the ratings listed below. In situations where an investment has a split rating, the lowest provided rating is used. The ratings descriptions include ratings qualified with a “+”, “-”, “1”, “2”, or “3”.


Rating Description	Percentage of Shareholders’ Equity
Unrated but Agency-Guaranteed		202.05	%
Aaa/AAA/AAA		0.98	%
Aa/AA/AA		0.59	%
A/A/A		3.64	%
Baa/BBB/BBB		1.49	%
Ba/BB/BB or below		99.39	%
Unrated		1.14	%

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

AT DECEMBER 31, 2011

(UNAUDITED)


Current Principal/ Notional Value	Description	Rate			Maturity	Fair Value
(In thousands)						Expressed in U.S. Dollars
North America

Long Investments (326.89%) (a) (b) (o)

Mortgage-Backed Securities (322.98%)

Agency Securities (206.07%)

Fixed Rate Agency Securities (195.78%)

Principal and Interest - Fixed Rate Agency Securities (185.76%)

$ 85,000	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		4.50	%	10/41	$	90,611
25,882	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00	%	7/41		28,107
25,456	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		4.00	%	11/40		26,824
24,164	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.50	%	12/41		25,874
20,212	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00	%	8/41		21,937
18,867	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		5.00	%	7/41		20,417
18,434	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.50	%	9/41		19,738
18,120	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.50	%	10/41		19,397
17,391	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00	%	3/41		18,941
17,182	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.50	%	9/41		18,328
15,465	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		5.00	%	9/39		16,620
15,243	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.50	%	9/41		16,260
14,964	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.50	%	11/41		15,991
13,451	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.50	%	9/41		14,348
13,554	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.00	%	11/41		14,252
13,033	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.50	%	9/41		13,927
13,125	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.00	%	10/41		13,818
12,593	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00	%	7/41		13,699
11,361	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.50	%	4/26		12,154
11,095	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00	%	9/41		12,098
10,358	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		4.00	%	1/41		10,902
9,995	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		5.00	%	10/41		10,791
9,468	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.00	%	7/26		10,011
9,176	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		4.50	%	2/41		9,805
9,149	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		4.50	%	10/41		9,736
9,152	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.00	%	5/26		9,657
9,027	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.00	%	9/41		9,498
8,468	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.50	%	10/39		9,269
8,400	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		4.00	%	3/41		8,851
8,123	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00	%	9/41		8,836
7,437	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00	%	9/41		8,072
7,261	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.50	%	5/40		7,947
6,955	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00	%	6/41		7,553
6,878	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00	%	7/41		7,465

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

AT DECEMBER 31, 2011 (CONTINUED)

(UNAUDITED)


Current Principal/ Notional Value		Description	Rate		Maturity	Fair Value
(In thousands)						Expressed in U.S. Dollars
	Principal and Interest - Fixed Rate Agency Securities (185.76%) (continued)

	$6,852	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00%	5/41	$	7,437
	6,823	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00%	6/41		7,406
	6,759	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.00%	6/26		7,147
	5,836	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00%	10/41		6,334
	5,531	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		6.00%	4/39		6,095
	5,687	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.00%	10/41		5,987
	5,514	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00%	11/40		5,985
	5,711	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		3.50%	11/41		5,883
	5,549	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		4.00%	5/41		5,833
	5,209	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.50%	8/41		5,557
	4,888	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00%	8/41		5,330
	4,799	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00%	6/40		5,209
	4,837	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.50%	4/41		5,190
	4,702	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00%	9/41		5,127
	4,398	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		3.50%	10/41		4,522
	4,150	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00%	10/41		4,504
	4,230	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.00%	9/41		4,454
	4,158	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		4.00%	1/41		4,384
	4,100	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		4.50%	11/41		4,374
	3,724	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		4.50%	9/41		3,963
	3,751	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		3.50%	11/41		3,859
	2,565	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00%	7/41		2,791
	2,391	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.00%	11/41		2,595
	4,609	Other Federal National Mortgage Association Pools		6.00%	9/39 - 2/40		5,092
	1,197	Other Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		6.00%	5/40		1,319
	806	Other Government National Mortgage Association Pool		5.50%	3/41		907

							689,018

	Interest Only - Fixed Rate Agency Securities (1.38%)

	24,381	Other Federal National Mortgage Association		5.00% - 5.50%	1/36 - 10/40		2,734
	13,937	Other Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation		5.00% - 5.50%	6/33 - 1/39		1,772
	9,281	Other Government National Mortgage Association		5.50%	3/36		603

							5,109

	TBA - Fixed Rate Agency Securities (8.64%)

	30,500	Federal National Mortgage Association (30 Year)		4.00%	1/12		32,033

							32,033


	Total Fixed Rate Agency Securities (Cost $718,177)						726,160

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

AT DECEMBER 31, 2011 (CONTINUED)

(UNAUDITED)


Current Principal/ Notional Value		Description	Rate		Maturity	Fair Value
(In thousands)						Expressed in U.S. Dollars
	Floating Rate Agency Securities (10.29%)

	Principal and Interest - Floating Rate Agency Securities (10.23%)
	$ 9,464	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.10%	5/38	$	9,969
	6,675	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.28%	12/35		7,027
	6,627	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.29%	2/38		6,954
	3,364	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pool		2.71%	7/34		3,524
	3,261	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.52%	7/37		3,493
	3,247	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.69%	4/36		3,441
	1,906	Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.44%	9/37		2,023
	1,444	Other Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.01%	10/33		1,525

							37,956


	Interest Only - Floating Rate Agency Securities (0.06%)
	1,476	Other Federal National Mortgage Association Pool		5.50%	8/36		228

							228


	Total Floating Rate Agency Securities (Cost $37,594)						38,184


	Total Agency Securities (Cost $755,771)						764,344


	Private Label Securities (116.91%)

	Principal and Interest - Private Label Securities (114.91%)
	762,480	Various		0.35% - 9.35%	5/19 - 12/47		426,202


	Total Principal and Interest - Private Label Securities (Cost $456,170)						426,202


	Interest Only - Private Label Securities (0.48%)
	76,167	Various		0.50% - 6.91%	7/35 - 9/47		1,774


	Total Interest Only - Private Label Securities (Cost $1,471)						1,774


	Other Private Label Securities (1.52%)
	201,831	Various		—	6/37 - 9/46		5,650


	Total Other Private Label Securities (Cost $6,011)						5,650


	Total Private Label Securities (Cost $463,652)						433,626


	Total Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $1,219,423)						1,197,970


	Commercial Mortgage Loans (1.19%) (n)
	5,000	Various		6.25%	11/12		4,400


	Total Commercial Mortgage Loans (Cost $4,789)						4,400


	U.S. Treasury Securities (2.72%)
	10,000	U.S. Treasury Note		2.00%	11/21		10,113


	Total U.S. Treasury Securities (Cost $9,991)						10,113


	Total Long Investments (Cost $1,234,203)					$	1,212,483

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

AT DECEMBER 31, 2011 (CONTINUED)

(UNAUDITED)


Current Principal/ Notional Value		Description	Rate			Maturity	Fair Value
(In thousands)							Expressed in U.S. Dollars
	Repurchase Agreements (4.24% ) (c)
	$ 15,750	Bank of America Securities Collateralized by Par Value $15,000 U.S. Treasury Note, Coupon 1.75%, Maturity Date 5/16		0.01%		1/12	$	15,750


	Total Repurchase Agreements (Cost $15,750)						$	15,750


	Investments Sold Short (-124.66%)

	TBA - Fixed Rate Agency Securities Sold Short (-120.43%) (d)
	$(147,700)	Federal National Mortgage Association (30 Year)		4.50	%	1/12	$	(157,185	)
	(114,200)	Federal National Mortgage Association (30 Year)		5.00	%	1/12		(123,376	)
	(31,000)	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (30 Year)		5.00	%	1/12		(33,316	)
	(30,400)	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (30 Year)		4.50	%	1/12		(32,217	)
	(26,000)	Government National Mortgage Association (30 Year)		5.00	%	1/12		(28,805	)
	(25,300)	Federal National Mortgage Association (15 Year)		4.00	%	1/12		(26,688	)
	(13,500)	Federal National Mortgage Association (30 Year)		5.50	%	1/12		(14,700	)
	(11,000)	Federal National Mortgage Association (15 Year)		4.50	%	1/12		(11,727	)
	(8,400)	Federal National Mortgage Association (30 Year)		3.50	%	1/12		(8,640	)
	(4,400)	Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (30 Year)		3.50	%	1/12		(4,517	)
	(2,500)	Federal National Mortgage Association (30 Year)		6.00	%	1/12		(2,753	)
	(1,500)	Other Government National Mortgage Association (30 Year)		5.50	%	1/12		(1,685	)
	(1,000)	Other Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (30 Year)		6.00	%	1/12		(1,098	)


	Total TBA - Fixed Rate Agency Securities Sold Short (Proceeds -$443,893)							(446,707	)


	U.S. Treasury Securities Sold Short (-4.23%)
	(15,000)	U.S. Treasury Note		1.75	%	5/16		(15,687	)


	Total U.S. Treasury Securities Sold Short (Proceeds -$15,120)							(15,687	)


	Total Investments Sold Short (Proceeds -$459,013)						$	(462,394	)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

AT DECEMBER 31, 2011 (CONTINUED)

(UNAUDITED)


	Primary Risk Exposure	Notional Value			Range of Expiration Dates	Fair Value
(In thousands)						Expressed in U.S. Dollars
Financial Derivatives - Assets (27.73%)
Swaps (27.73%) (e)
Long Swaps:
Interest Rate Swaps (g)	Interest Rates	$	4,500		10/16	$	68
Short Swaps:
Credit Default Swaps on Asset-Backed Securities (h)	Credit		(74,787	)	9/34 - 12/36		61,498
Credit Default Swaps on Asset-Backed Indices: (i)	Credit
ABX.HE AAA 2006-2 Index			(62,842	)	5/46		35,542
Other			(19,800	)	3/49 - 10/52		4,761
Credit Default Swaps on Corporate Bond Indices (k)	Credit		(106,500	)	12/16		963
Interest Rate Swaps (j)	Interest Rates		(25,000	)	12/14		27

Total Swaps (Cost $118,281)							102,859

Futures (-0.00%)
Short Futures:
Eurodollar Futures (m)	Interest Rates		(147,000	)	3/12 - 9/13		12

Total Futures							12

Total Financial Derivatives - Assets (Cost $118,281)						$	102,871

Financial Derivatives - Liabilities (-7.29%)
Swaps (-7.29%)
Long Swaps:
Credit Default Swaps on Asset-Backed Indices (Proceeds - $9,636) (f)	Credit	$	22,615		6/36 - 2/51	$	(9,548	)
Short Swaps:
Interest Rate Swaps (j)	Interest Rates		(280,400	)	4/14 - 12/21		(17,218	)
Total Return Swaps (l)	Equity Market		(20,571	)	9/12 - 9/13		(274	)

Total Swaps (Proceeds -$9,636)							(27,040	)

Total Financial Derivatives - Liabilities (Proceeds -$9,636)						$	(27,040	)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

AT DECEMBER 31, 2011 (CONCLUDED)

(UNAUDITED)

(a)	See Note 2 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(b)	At December 31, 2011, the Company’s long investments guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and the Government National Mortgage Association represented 142.04%, 63.62%, and 0.41% of shareholders’ equity, respectively.

(c)	In general, securities received pursuant to repurchase agreements were delivered to counterparties in short sale transactions.

(d)	At December 31, 2011, the Company’s short investments guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and the Government National Mortgage Association represented 93.03%, 19.18%, and 8.22% of shareholders’ equity, respectively.

(e)	The following table shows the Company’s swap assets by dealer as a percentage of shareholders’ equity:


Dealer/Parent Company	Percent of Shareholders’ Equity
Affiliates of Morgan Stanley		8.15	%
Affiliates of Credit Suisse		7.27	%
Affiliates of Deutsche Bank		5.65	%

(f)	For long credit default swaps on asset backed indices, the Company sold protection.

(g)	For long interest rate swap contracts, a floating rate is being paid and a fixed rate is being received.

(h)	For short credit default swaps on asset backed securities, the Company purchased protection.

(i)	For short credit default swaps on asset backed indices, the Company purchased protection.

(j)	For short interest rate swap contracts, a fixed rate is being paid and a floating rate is being received.

(k)	For short credit default swaps on corporate bond indices, the Company purchased protection.

(l)	Notional value represents number of underlying shares or par value times the closing price of the underlying security.

(m)	Every $1,000,000 in notional value represents one contract.

(n)	Maturity date may be extended through November 4, 2015.

(o)

rating is used. The ratings descriptions include ratings qualified with a “+”, “-”, “1”, “2”, or “3”.


Rating Description	Percentage of Shareholders’ Equity
U.S. Treasury Securities		2.72	%
Unrated but Agency-Guaranteed		206.07	%
Aaa/AAA/AAA		1.25	%
Aa/AA/AA		1.88	%
A/A/A		5.44	%
Baa/BBB/BBB		3.46	%
Ba/BB/BB or below		103.36	%
Unrated		2.71	%

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)


	Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012			Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2011
(In thousands except per share amounts)	*Expressed in U.S. Dollars*
INVESTMENT INCOME
Interest income	$	15,733		$	15,849

EXPENSES
Base management fee		1,492			1,481
Incentive fee		—			612
Share-based LTIP expense		28			38
Interest expense		1,832			1,543
Professional fees		278			553
Compensation expense		375			248
Insurance expense		177			167
Agency and administration fees		213			240
Custody and other fees		304			295
Directors’ fees and expenses		74			74

Total expenses		4,773			5,251

NET INVESTMENT INCOME		10,960			10,598

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS AND FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES
Net realized gain (loss) on:
Investments		8,147			8,236
Swaps		(19,928	)		3,739
Futures		(8	)		(371	)

		(11,789	)		11,604

Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on:
Investments		18,130			(9,251	)
Swaps		14,817			(2,163	)
Futures		(63	)		319

		32,884			(11,095	)

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS AND FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES		21,095			509

NET INCREASE IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS	$	32,055		$	11,107

NET INCREASE IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS PER SHARE:
Basic and Diluted	$	1.90		$	0.66

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)


	Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012			Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2011
(In thousands)	*Expressed in U.S. Dollars*
CHANGE IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS
Net investment income	$	10,960		$	10,598
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and financial derivatives		(11,789	)		11,604
Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on investments and financial derivatives		32,884			(11,095	)

Net increase in shareholders’ equity resulting from operations		32,055			11,107

CHANGE IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY RESULTING FROM SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTIONS
Shares issued in connection with incentive fee payment		—			142
Dividends paid⁽¹⁾		(6,735	)		(22,126	)
Share-based LTIP awards		28			38

Net decrease in shareholders’ equity from shareholder transactions		(6,707	)		(21,946	)

Net increase (decrease) in shareholders’ equity		25,348			(10,839	)
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY, BEGINNING OF PERIOD		370,916			403,672

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY, END OF PERIOD	$	396,264		$	392,833

⁽¹⁾	For the three month periods ending March 31, 2012 and 2011, dividends totaling $0.40 and $1.31, respectively, per common share and LTIP unit outstanding were declared and paid.

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)


	Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012			Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2011
(In thousands)	*Expressed in U.S. Dollars*
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
NET INCREASE IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS	$	32,055		$	11,107
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Reconciliation of the net increase in shareholders’ equity resulting from operations to net cash used in operating activities:
Change in net unrealized (gain) loss on investments and financial derivatives		(32,884	)		11,095
Net realized (gain) loss on investments and financial derivatives		11,789			(11,604	)
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts (net)		(2,346	)		(2,721	)
Purchase of investments		(827,052	)		(966,316	)
Proceeds from disposition of investments		814,756			879,456
Proceeds from principal payments of investments		29,722			23,898
Proceeds from investments sold short		566,348			983,292
Repurchase of investments sold short		(450,793	)		(1,016,337	)
Payments made to open financial derivatives		(40,628	)		(29,424	)
Proceeds received to close financial derivatives		41,907			66,611
Proceeds received to open financial derivatives		21,564			7,963
Payments made to close financial derivatives		(18,952	)		(14,134	)
Shares issued in connection with incentive fee payment		—			142
Share-based LTIP expense		28			38
(Increase) decrease in assets:
(Increase) decrease in repurchase agreements		2,100			(14,441	)
Increase in receivable for securities sold		(108,510	)		(158,678	)
(Increase) decrease in deposits with dealers held as collateral		1,801			(1,477	)
(Increase) decrease in interest and principal receivable		(11	)		450
Increase in other assets		(828	)		(489	)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
Decrease in due to brokers on margin accounts		(14,238	)		(31,821	)
Increase (decrease) in payable for securities purchased		(56,829	)		166,776
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses		(323	)		570
Increase (decrease) in incentive fee payable		—			470
Increase in interest and dividends payable		94			260
Increase in base management fee payable		96			1,481

Net cash used in operating activities		(31,134	)		(93,833	)

Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Offering costs paid		—			(134	)
Dividends paid		(6,735	)		(22,126	)
Proceeds from issuance of securitized debt		1,522			—
Principal payments on securitized debt		(40	)		—
Reverse repurchase agreements, net of repayments		25,196			121,742

Net cash provided by financing activities		19,943			99,482

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(11,191	)		5,649
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD		62,737			35,791

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	$	51,546		$	41,440

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid	$	1,727		$	1,283

Shares issued in connection with incentive fee payment (non-cash)	$	—		$	142

Share-based LTIP awards (non-cash)	$	28		$	38

Aggregate TBA trade activity (buys + sells) (non-cash)	$	4,179,427		$	5,633,198

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2012

(UNAUDITED)

1. Organization and Investment Objective

Ellington Financial LLC was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on July 9, 2007 and commenced operations on August 17, 2007. EF Securities LLC, a wholly owned consolidated subsidiary of Ellington Financial LLC, was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on October 12, 2007 and commenced operations on November 30, 2007. EF Mortgage LLC, a wholly owned consolidated subsidiary of Ellington Financial LLC, was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on June 3, 2008 and commenced operations on July 8, 2008. EF CMO LLC, a wholly owned consolidated subsidiary of EF Mortgage LLC, was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on June 3, 2008 and commenced operations on July 8, 2008. EF Special Transactions LLC, a wholly owned consolidated subsidiary of EF CMO LLC, was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on December 14, 2011 and commenced operations on January 31, 2012. Ellington Financial LLC, EF Securities LLC, EF Mortgage LLC, EF CMO LLC and EF Special Transactions LLC are hereafter collectively referred to as the “Company.” All inter-company accounts are eliminated in consolidation.

On October 14, 2010, the Company closed its initial public offering of its common shares representing limited liability company interests, or common shares, pursuant to which it sold 4,500,000 common shares to the public at a public offering price of $22.50. The Company raised approximately $101.3 million in gross proceeds, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $94.7 million after deducting underwriting discounts and other offering costs. The Company’s common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “EFC.”

The Company is a specialty finance company that acquires and manages mortgage-related assets, including residential mortgage-backed securities, or “RMBS,” backed by prime jumbo, Alt-A, manufactured housing and subprime residential mortgage loans, RMBS for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a U.S. government agency or a U.S. government-sponsored enterprise, mortgage-related derivatives, commercial mortgage-backed securities, or “CMBS,” commercial mortgage loans and other commercial real estate debt, as well as corporate debt and equity securities and derivatives. The Company may also opportunistically acquire and manage other types of mortgage-related and financial asset classes, such as residential whole mortgage loans, asset-backed securities, or “ABS,” backed by consumer and commercial assets and non-mortgage-related derivatives.

Ellington Financial Management LLC (“EFM” or the “Manager”) is a registered investment advisor that serves as the Manager to the Company pursuant to the terms of the Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement effective August 2, 2011 (the “Management Agreement”). EFM is an affiliate of Ellington Management Group, L.L.C., an investment management firm and also a registered investment advisor. In accordance with the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager implements the investment strategy and manages the business and operations on a day-to-day basis for the Company and performs certain services for the Company, subject to oversight by the Board of Directors.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

(A) Basis of Presentation: The Company’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America for investment companies, ASC 946, Financial Services—Investment Companies (“ASC 946”), for interim financial information. ASC 946 requires, among other things, that investments be reported at fair value in the financial statements. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year.

(B) Valuation: The Company applies ASC 820-10, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures (“ASC 820-10”), to its holdings of financial instruments. ASC 820-10 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:

•

Level 1—inputs to the valuation methodology are observable and reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets,

•

Level 2—inputs to the valuation methodology other than quoted prices included in Level 1 are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, and

•

Level 3—inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in these securities.

(C) Securities Transactions and Investment Income: Securities transactions are generally recorded on trade date. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are calculated based on identified cost. Interest income, which includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums on mortgage-backed securities, or “MBS,” commercial mortgage loans, U.S. Treasury securities and securitized debt, is recognized over the life of the investment using the effective interest method. For purposes of determining the effective interest rate, management estimates the future expected cash flows of its investment holdings based on assumptions including, but not limited to, prepayment and default rate assumptions. These assumptions are re-evaluated not less than quarterly and require the use of a significant amount of judgment. Principal write-offs are generally treated as realized losses.

(D) Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include amounts held in an interest bearing overnight account and money market funds. As of March 31, 2012, 49% and 51% of cash and cash equivalents were held in the JP Morgan U.S. Treasury Plus Premier Fund and an interest bearing account at the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, all cash was held in an interest bearing account at the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.

(E) Financial Derivatives: The Company enters into various types of financial derivatives. The two major types utilized are swaps and futures.

Swaps: The Company may enter into various types of swaps, including interest rate swaps, credit default swaps and total return swaps. The primary risk associated with the Company’s interest rate swap activity is interest rate risk. The primary risk associated with the Company’s total return swap activity has been equity market risk. The primary risk associated with the Company’s credit default swaps is credit risk.

The Company is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. To help mitigate interest rate risk, the Company enters into interest rate swaps. Interest rate swaps are contractual agreements whereby one party pays a floating rate of interest on a notional principal amount and receives a fixed rate on the same notional principal, or vice versa, for a fixed period of time. Interest rate swaps change in value with movements in interest rates.

The Company enters into credit default swaps. A credit default swap is a contract under which one party agrees to compensate another party for the financial loss associated with the occurrence of a “credit event” in relation to a “reference amount” or notional value of a credit obligation (usually a bond, loan or basket of bonds or loans). The definition of a credit event often varies from contract to contract. A credit event may occur (i) when the underlying reference asset(s) fails to make scheduled principal or interest payments to its holders, (ii) with respect to credit default swaps referencing mortgage/asset-backed securities and indices, when the underlying reference obligation is downgraded below a certain rating level or (iii) with respect to credit default swaps referencing corporate entities and indices, upon the bankruptcy of the underlying reference obligor. The Company typically writes (sells) protection to take a “long” position or purchases (buys) protection to take a “short” position with respect to underlying reference assets or to hedge exposure to other investment holdings.

The Company enters into total return swaps in order to take a “long” or “short” position with respect to an underlying referenced asset. The Company is subject to market price volatility of the underlying referenced asset. A total return swap involves commitments to pay interest in exchange for a market-linked return based on a notional value. To the extent that the total return of the security, group of securities or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest obligation, the Company will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty.

Swaps change in value with movements in interest rates or total return of the referenced securities. During the term of swap contracts, changes in value are recognized as unrealized gains or losses. When the contracts are terminated, the Company will realize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Company’s basis in the contract, if any. Periodic payments or receipts required by swap agreements are recorded as unrealized gains or losses when accrued and realized gains or losses when received or paid. Upfront payments paid/received by the Company to open swap contracts are recorded as an asset and/or liability on the Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity and are recorded as a realized gain or loss on the termination date. The Company may be required to deliver or receive cash or securities as collateral upon entering into swap transactions.

The Company’s swap contracts are generally governed by International Swaps and Derivatives Association, or “ISDA,” trading agreements, which are separately negotiated agreements with dealer counterparties. Changes in the relative value of the swap transactions may require the Company or the counterparty to post or receive additional collateral. Typically, a collateral payment or receipt is triggered based on the net change in the value of all contracts governed by a particular ISDA trading agreement. Collateral received from counterparties is included in Due to brokers on margin accounts on the Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity. Collateral paid to counterparties is included in Deposits with dealers held as collateral on the Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity. Entering into swap contracts involves market risk in excess of amounts recorded on the Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity.

Futures Contracts: A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a financial instrument for a set price on a future date. The Company enters into Eurodollar futures contracts to hedge its interest rate risk. Initial margin deposits are made upon entering into futures contracts and can be either cash or securities. During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized gains or losses by marking to market on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. Variation margin payments are made or received periodically, depending upon whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. When the contract is closed, the Company records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds of the closing transaction and the Company’s basis in the contract.

Derivative instruments disclosed on the Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments include: credit default swaps on asset-backed securities, credit default swaps on asset-backed indices, credit default swaps on corporate bond indices, interest rate swaps, total return swaps and Eurodollar futures contracts.

Swap assets are included in Financial derivatives—assets at fair value on the Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity. Swap liabilities are included in Financial derivatives—liabilities at fair value on the Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity. In addition, swap contracts are summarized by type on the Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments. Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts is in Financial derivatives—assets at fair value on the Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity. Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts is included in Financial derivatives—liabilities at fair value on the Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity. For total return swaps, credit default swaps, interest rate swaps and futures, notional values reflected on the Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments represent approximately 105%, 102%, 90% and 89%, respectively, of average monthly notional values of each such category outstanding during the three month period ended March 31, 2012. For total return swaps, interest rate swaps, credit default swaps and futures, notional values reflected on the Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments represent approximately 354%, 111%, 92% and 65%, respectively, of average monthly notional values of each such category outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2011. The Company uses average monthly notional values outstanding to indicate the volume of activity with respect to these instruments.

(F) Investments Sold Short: When the Company sells securities short, it typically satisfies its security delivery settlement obligation by obtaining the security sold from the same or a different counterparty via repurchase agreement. The Company generally is required to deliver cash or securities as collateral to the repurchase agreement counterparty. The amount by which the market value of the obligation falls short of or exceeds the proceeds from the short sale is treated as an unrealized gain or loss, respectively. A realized gain or loss will be recognized upon the termination of a short sale if the market price is less or greater than the proceeds originally received.

(G) Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Repurchase Agreements: The Company enters into reverse repurchase agreements with third-party broker-dealers whereby it sells securities under agreements to be repurchased at an agreed-upon price and date. Interest on the value of repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements issued and outstanding is based upon competitive market rates at the time of issuance. The Company accounts for reverse repurchase agreements as collateralized borrowings. When the Company enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, the lender establishes and maintains an account containing cash and securities having a value not less than the repurchase price, including accrued interest, of the reverse repurchase agreement. The Company enters into repurchase agreement transactions with third-party broker-dealers whereby it purchases securities under agreements to resell at an agreed-upon price and date. In general, securities received pursuant to repurchase agreements are delivered to counterparties of short sale transactions. Assets held pursuant to repurchase agreements are reflected as assets on the Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity. Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements that are conducted with the same counterparty may be reported on a net basis if they meet the requirements of ASC 210-20, Balance Sheet Offsetting. There are no repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements netted in the consolidated financial statements.

Reverse repurchase agreements are carried at their contractual amounts, which the Company believes is the best estimate of fair value. At March 31, 2012, the Company’s open reverse repurchase agreements had remaining terms that averaged 43 days and ranged from 2 to 180 days and had interest rates that averaged 0.79% and ranged from 0.32% to 2.60%. At March 31, 2012, approximately 38% of open reverse repurchase agreements were with two counterparties. At December 31, 2011, the Company’s open reverse repurchase agreements had remaining terms that averaged 33 days and ranged from 3 to 180 days and had interest rates that averaged 0.82% and ranged from 0.08% to 2.56%. At December 31, 2011, approximately 73% of open reverse repurchase agreements were with four counterparties.

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 860-20, Sales of Financial Assets, which requires an initial transfer of a financial asset and a repurchase financing that was entered into contemporaneously or in contemplation of the initial transfer to be evaluated as a linked transaction unless certain criteria are met, including that the transferred asset must be readily obtainable in the marketplace. As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company did not have any material seller financing. No transactions are accounted for as linked transactions at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

(H) Securitized Debt: The Company entered into a resecuritization transaction which is accounted for as a collateralized borrowing. The asset contributed to the securitization was not derecognized but rather, the liability issued by the securitization was recorded to reflect the term financing of the re-securitized asset. Under ASC 820-10, the Company has elected to carry securitized debt at fair value.

(I) Purchased Options: The Company has entered into options primarily to help mitigate overall market risk. When the Company purchases an option, an amount equal to the premium paid is recorded as an asset and is subsequently marked-to-market. Premiums paid for purchasing options that expire unexercised are recognized on the expiration date as realized losses. If an option is exercised, the premium paid is subtracted from the proceeds of the sale or added to the cost of the purchase to determine whether the Company has realized a gain or loss on the related investment transaction. When the Company enters into a closing transaction, the Company will realize a gain or loss depending upon whether the amount from the closing transaction is greater or less than the premiums paid. The Company had no purchased options outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

(J) When-Issued/Delayed Delivery Securities: The Company may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. Securities purchased or sold on a when-issued basis are traded for delivery beyond the normal settlement date at a stated price or yield, and no income accrues to the purchaser prior to settlement. Purchasing or selling securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis involves the risk that the market price or yield at the time of settlement may be lower or higher than the agreed-upon price or yield, in which case a realized loss may be incurred.

The Company transacts in the forward settling To Be Announced MBS (“TBA”) market. The Company typically does not take delivery of TBAs, but rather settles with its trading counterparties on a net basis. The market value of the securities that the Company is required to purchase pursuant to a TBA transaction may decline below the agreed-upon purchase price. Conversely, the market value of the securities that the Company is required to sell pursuant to a TBA transaction may increase above the agreed upon sale

price. As part of its TBA activities, the Company may “roll” its TBA positions, whereby the Company may sell (buy) securities for delivery (receipt) in an earlier month and simultaneously contract to repurchase (sell) similar, but not identical, securities at an agreed-upon price on a fixed date in a later month (with the later-month price typically lower than the earlier-month price). The Company accounts for its TBA transactions (including those related to TBA rolls) as purchases and sales. As of March 31, 2012, total assets included $17.2 million of TBAs as well as $566.8 million of receivable for securities sold relating to unsettled TBA sales. As of December 31, 2011, total assets included $32.0 million of TBAs as well as $443.7 million of receivable for securities sold relating to unsettled TBA sales.

As of March 31, 2012, total liabilities included $566.4 million of TBAs sold short as well as $17.4 million of payable for securities purchased relating to unsettled TBA purchases. As of December 31, 2011, total liabilities included $446.7 million of TBAs sold short as well as $32.5 million of payable for securities purchased relating to unsettled TBA purchases. On a net basis, as of March 31, 2012, the Company held a net short position in TBAs of $549.1 million while at December 31, 2011, the Company held a net short position in TBAs of $414.7 million.

(K) Offering Costs/Placement Fees: Offering costs and placement fees are charged against shareholders’ equity.

(L) LTIP Units: Long term incentive plan units (“LTIP units”) have been issued to the Company’s dedicated personnel, independent directors as well as the Manager. Costs associated with LTIP units issued to dedicated personnel and independent directors are amortized over the vesting period in accordance with ASC 718-10, Compensation—Stock Compensation. Costs associated with LTIP units issued to the Manager are amortized over the vesting period in accordance with ASC 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees. The vesting period for units issued to dedicated personnel and independent directors under the Ellington Incentive Plan for Individuals (the “Individual LTIP”) is typically one year. The vesting period for units issued to the Manager under the Ellington Incentive Plan for Entities (the “Manager LTIP”) occurred over a three year period that ended in August 2010. The cost of the Manager LTIP units fluctuated with the price per share until the vesting date, whereas the cost of the Individual LTIP units is based on the price per share at the initial grant date.

(M) Dividends: Dividends payable are recorded in the consolidated financial statements on the ex-dividend date.

(N) Shares Repurchased: Common shares that are repurchased by the Company subsequent to issuance decrease total number of shares outstanding and issued.

(O) Earnings Per Share (“EPS”): Basic EPS is computed using the two class method by dividing net increase (decrease) in shareholders’ equity resulting from operations after adjusting for the impact of long term incentive plan units deemed to be participating securities, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding calculated excluding long term incentive units. Because the Company’s long term incentive plan units are deemed to be participating securities and the Company has no other equity securities outstanding, basic and diluted EPS are the same. See Note 8 for EPS computations.

(P) Income Taxes: The Company intends to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, partnerships are not subject to entity-level tax on their income, but the income of a partnership is taxable to its owners on a flow-through basis.

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 740-10, Income Taxes (“ASC 740-10”), which requires management to determine whether a tax position of the Company is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement which could result in the Company recording a tax liability that would reduce shareholders’ equity. The Company did not have any additions to its unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions related either to the current period or to 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 or 2007 (its open tax years), and no reductions resulting from tax positions of prior years or due to settlements, and thus had no unrecognized tax benefits since inception. The Company does not expect any change in unrecognized tax benefits within the next fiscal year.

The Company may take positions with respect to certain tax issues which depend on legal interpretation of facts or applicable tax regulations. Should the relevant tax regulators successfully challenge any such positions, the Company might be found to have a tax liability that has not been recorded in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Also, management’s conclusions regarding ASC 740-10 may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date based on factors including, but not limited to, further implementation guidance from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), and ongoing analyses of tax laws, regulations and interpretations thereof.

(Q) Subsequent Events: The Company applies the provisions of ASC 855-10, Subsequent Events, in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements. This standard establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued.

(R) Recent Accounting Pronouncements: In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (“ASU 2011-11”). This amends ASU 210-20, Balance Sheet Offsetting, to require new disclosures about balance sheet offsetting for derivative and financial instruments which are offset on the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity. The update requires disclosure of gross asset and liability amounts for financial instruments shown net on the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity. ASU 2011-11 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 and is to be applied retrospectively. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2011-11 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

On May 12, 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) (“ASU 2011-04”). The amendments are of two types: (i) those that clarify the FASB’s intent about the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements and (ii) those that change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurement. The amendments that change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or disclosing information about fair value measurements relate to (i) measuring the fair value of the financial instruments that are managed within a portfolio; (ii) application of premium and discount in a fair value measurement; and (iii) additional disclosures about fair value measurements. The update is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. As a result of the adoption of this update, the Company has added disclosure to Note 3 about the significant unobservable inputs underlying its Level 3 assets and liabilities.

On April 29, 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-03, Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860), Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements (“ASU 2011-03”). This modifies the criteria for determining when repurchase agreements and other similar transactions would be accounted for as financings (secured borrowings/lending agreements) as opposed to sales (purchases) with commitments to repurchase (resell). ASU 2011-03 is effective prospectively for new transfers and existing transactions that are modified in the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The adoption of ASU 2011-03 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

3. Valuation

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for the Company’s financial instruments.

Level 1 valuation methodologies include the observation of quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets, often received from widely recognized data providers.

Level 2 valuation methodologies include the observation of (i) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, (ii) inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (for example, interest rates and yield curves) in active markets and (iii) quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

Level 3 valuation methodologies include (i) the use of proprietary models that require the use of a significant amount of judgment and the application of various assumptions including, but not limited to, prepayment and default rate assumptions and (ii) the solicitation of valuations from third parties (typically, broker-dealers). Third-party valuation providers often utilize proprietary models that are highly subjective and also require the use of a significant amount of judgment and the application of various assumptions including, but not limited to, prepayment and default rate assumptions. The Manager utilizes such information to assign a good faith valuation (the estimated price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction at the valuation date) to such financial instruments. The Manager has been able to obtain third-party valuations on the vast majority of the Company’s financial instruments and expects to continue to solicit third-party valuations on substantially all of the Company’s financial instruments in the future to the extent practical.

The Manager uses its judgment based on its own models, the assessments of its portfolio managers and third-party valuations it obtains, to determine and assign fair values to the Company’s Level 3 financial instruments. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the financial instruments existed and the differences could be material to the consolidated financial statements.

The table below reflects the value of the Company’s Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 financial instruments at March 31, 2012:


(In thousands)
Description	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	51,546		$	—		$	—		$	51,546

Investments at fair value-
Agency residential mortgage-backed securities	$	—		$	794,667		$	6,016		$	800,683
Private label residential mortgage-backed securities		—			—			408,230			408,230
Private label commercial mortgage-backed securities		—			—			12,171			12,171
Commercial mortgage loans		—			—			4,500			4,500

Total investments at fair value		—			794,667			430,917			1,225,584

Financial derivatives-assets at fair value-
Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities		—			—			48,746			48,746
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices		—			45,223			—			45,223
Interest rate swaps		—			87			—			87

Total financial derivatives-assets at fair value		—			45,310			48,746			94,056

Repurchase agreements		—			13,650			—			13,650

Total investments, financial derivatives-assets at fair value and repurchase agreements	$	—		$	853,627		$	479,663		$	1,333,290


Liabilities:
Investments sold short at fair value-
U.S. Treasury and Agency residential mortgage-backed securities	$	—		$	(579,852	)	$	—		$	(579,852	)

Financial derivatives-liabilities at fair value-
Credit default swaps on corporate indices		—			(364	)		—			(364	)
Credit default swaps on asset backed indices		—			(20,536	)		—			(20,536	)
Total return swaps		—			(249	)		—			(249	)
Interest rate swaps		—			(6,097	)		—			(6,097	)
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts		(52	)		—			—			(52	)

Total financial derivatives-liabilities at fair value		(52	)		(27,246	)		—			(27,298	)

Securitized debt		—			—			(1,485	)		(1,485	)

Total investments sold short, financial derivatives-liabilities at fair value and securitized debt	$	(52	)	$	(607,098	)	$	(1,485	)	$	(608,635	)

Investments under the Agency residential mortgage-backed securities Level 3 category are investments in Agency interest only RMBS securities. There were no transfers of financial instruments between Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 during the three month period ended March 31, 2012.

The following table identifies the significant unobservable inputs that affect the valuation of the Company’s Level 3 assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2012:


	Fair Value as of March 31, 2012		Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Range						Weighted Average
Description	Fair Value as of March 31, 2012		Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Min			Max			Weighted Average
	(In thousands)
Private label residential mortgage-backed securities ⁽¹⁾	$	406,745	Discounted Cash Flows	Yield		4.7	%		22.7	%		9.5	%

				Projected Collateral Prepayments		0.6	%		38.8	%		16.4	%
				Projected Collateral Losses		4.2	%		88.4	%		36.7	%
				Projected Collateral Recoveries		0.0	%		42.6	%		20.7	%
				Projected Collateral Scheduled Amortization		3.0	%		89.4	%		26.2	%

												100.0	%

Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities		48,746	Net Discounted Cash Flows
				Projected Collateral Prepayments		5.3	%		36.2	%		13.1	%
				Projected Collateral Losses		25.2	%		62.1	%		49.1	%
				Projected Collateral Recoveries		11.7	%		34.0	%		20.3	%
				Projected Collateral Scheduled Amortization		7.7	%		37.0	%		17.5	%

												100.0	%

Private label commercial mortgage-backed securities and Commercial mortgage loans		16,671	Discounted Cash Flows	Yield		7.9	%		10.9	%		9.7	%

				Projected Collateral Losses		0.0	%		30.5	%		4.6	%
				Projected Collateral Recoveries		0.0	%		46.4	%		14.9	%
				Projected Collateral Scheduled Amortization		47.8	%		100.0	%		80.5	%

												100.0	%

Agency interest only residential mortgage-backed securities		6,016	Option Adjusted Spread (“OAS”)	LIBOR OAS⁽²⁾		741			2,754			1,107

				Projected Collateral Prepayments		74.3	%		93.0	%		81.8	%
				Projected Collateral Scheduled Amortization		7.0	%		25.7	%		18.2	%

												100.0	%

⁽¹⁾	Includes securitized debt with a fair value of $1.5 million as of March 31, 2012.

⁽²⁾	Shown in basis points.

Collateral prepayments, losses, recoveries and scheduled amortization are projected over the remaining life of the collateral and expressed as a percentage of the collateral’s current principal balance.

The Company uses a LIBOR Option Adjusted Spread (“OAS”) valuation methodology to value its Agency interest only RMBS assets. In the LIBOR OAS methodology, cash flows are projected using Ellington’s models over multiple interest rate scenarios, and these projected cash flows are then discounted using the LIBOR rates implied by each interest rate scenario. The LIBOR OAS of an asset is then computed as the unique constant yield spread that, when added to all LIBOR rates in each interest rate scenario generated by the model, will equate (a) the expected present value of the projected asset cash flows over all model scenarios to (b) the actual current market price of the asset. LIBOR OAS is therefore model-dependent. Generally speaking, LIBOR OAS measures the additional yield spread over LIBOR that an asset provides at its current market price after taking into account any interest rate options embedded in the asset.

Material changes in any of the inputs above in isolation could result in a significant change to reported fair value measurements. Additionally, fair value measurements are impacted by the interrelationships of these inputs. For example, a higher expectation of collateral prepayments will generally result in a lower expectation of collateral losses. Conversely, higher losses will generally result in lower prepayments. Because the Company’s credit default swaps on asset-backed security holdings represent credit default swap contracts whereby the Company has purchased credit protection, such default swaps on asset-backed securities generally have the directionally opposite sensitivity to prepayments, losses and recoveries as compared to the Company’s long securities holdings. Prepayments do not represent a significant input for the Company’s commercial mortgage-backed securities and commercial mortgage loans. Losses and recoveries do not represent a significant input for the Company’s Agency RMBS interest only securities, given the guarantee of the issuing government agency or government-sponsored enterprise.

The Company’s reverse repurchase agreements are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. These liabilities are classified as Level 2 liabilities based on the adequacy of the collateral and their short term nature.

The table below reflects the value of the Company’s Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 financial instruments at December 31, 2011:


(In thousands)
Description	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	62,737	$	—		$	—	$	62,737

Investments at fair value-
U.S. Treasury and Agency residential mortgage-backed securities	$	—	$	769,120		$	5,337	$	774,457
Private label residential mortgage-backed securities		—		—			417,533		417,533
Private label commercial mortgage-backed securities		—		—			16,093		16,093
Commercial mortgage loans		—		—			4,400		4,400

Total investments at value		—		769,120			443,363		1,212,483

Financial derivatives-assets at fair value-
Credit default swaps on corporate indices		—		963			—		963
Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities		—		—			61,498		61,498
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices		—		40,303			—		40,303
Interest rate swaps		—		95			—		95
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts		12		—			—		12

Total financial derivatives-assets at fair value		12		41,361			61,498		102,871

Repurchase agreements		—		15,750			—		15,750

Total investments, financial derivatives-assets at fair value and repurchase agreements	$	12	$	826,231		$	504,861	$	1,331,104


Liabilities:
Investments sold short at fair value-
U.S. Treasury and Agency residential mortgage-backed securities	$	—	$	(462,394	)	$	—	$	(462,394	)

Financial derivatives-liabilities at fair value-
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices		—		(9,548	)		—		(9,548	)
Total return swaps		—		(274	)		—		(274	)
Interest rate swaps		—		(17,218	)		—		(17,218	)

Total financial derivatives-liabilities at fair value		—		(27,040	)		—		(27,040	)

Total investments sold short and financial derivatives-liabilities at fair value	$	—	$	(489,434	)	$	—	$	(489,434	)

Investments under the U.S. Treasury and Agency residential mortgage-backed securities Level 3 category are investments in Agency interest only RMBS securities. There were no transfers of financial instruments between Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 during the year ended December 31, 2011.

The tables below include a roll-forward of the Company’s financial instruments for the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively (including the change in fair value), for financial instruments classified by the Company within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.

Level 3—Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs:

Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012


(In thousands)	Beginning Balance as of December 31, 2011		Accreted Discounts / Amortized Premiums			Realized Gain/ (Loss)			Change in Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)		Purchases		Sales			Transfers In and/or Out of Level 3		Ending Balance as of March 31, 2012
Assets:
Investments at fair value-
Agency residential mortgage-backed securities	$	5,337	$	(624	)	$	—		$	431	$	872	$	—		$	—	$	6,016
Private label residential mortgage-backed securities		417,533		4,374			6,201			17,660		98,678		(136,216	)		—		408,230
Private label commercial mortgage-backed securities		16,093		117			344			1,688		1,308		(7,379	)		—		12,171
Commercial mortgage loans		4,400		28			—			72		—		—			—		4,500

Total investments at fair value		443,363		3,895			6,545			19,851		100,858		(143,595	)		—		430,917

Financial derivatives- assets at fair value
Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities		61,498		—			(4,744	)		6,799		123		(14,930	)		—		48,746

Total financial derivatives- assets at fair value		61,498		—			(4,744	)		6,799		123		(14,930	)		—		48,746

Total investments and financial derivatives-assets at fair value	$	504,861	$	3,895		$	1,801		$	26,650	$	100,981	$	(158,525	)	$	—	$	479,663

Liabilities:
Securitized debt	$	—	$	(13	)	$	—		$	10	$	—	$	(1,482	)	$	—	$	(1,485	)

Total securitized debt	$	—	$	(13	)	$	—		$	10	$	—	$	(1,482	)	$	—	$	(1,485	)

All amounts of net realized and change in net unrealized gain (loss) in the table above are reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. The table above incorporates changes in net unrealized gain (loss) for both Level 3 financial instruments held by the Company at March 31, 2012, as well as Level 3 financial instruments disposed of by the Company during the three month period ended March 31, 2012. For Level 3 financial instruments held by the Company at March 31, 2012, change in net unrealized gain (loss) of $12.7 million, $(4.5) million and $0.01 million, for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 relate to investments, financial derivative-assets and securitized debt, respectively.

Level 3—Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs:

Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2011


(In thousands)	Beginning Balance as of December 31, 2010		Accreted Discounts / Amortized Premiums			Realized Gain/(Loss)		Change in Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)			Purchases		Sales			Transfers In and/or Out of Level 3		Ending Balance as of March 31, 2011
Assets:
Investments at fair value-
Agency residential mortgage-backed securities	$	—	$	(93	)	$	—	$	8		$	4,383	$	—		$	—	$	4,298
Private label residential mortgage-backed securities		338,839		3,649			11,177		(6,637	)		96,427		(88,773	)		—		354,682
Private label commercial mortgage-backed securities		1,850		83			772		(248	)		15,345		(4,719	)		—		13,083
Commercial mortgage loans		—		15			—		(15	)		4,675		—			—		4,675

Total investments at value		340,689		3,654			11,949		(6,892	)		120,830		(93,492	)		—		376,738

Financial derivatives- assets at fair value
Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities		102,850		—			2,681		(3,251	)		376		(12,274	)		—		90,382

Total financial derivatives- assets at fair value		102,850		—			2,681		(3,251	)		376		(12,274	)		—		90,382

Total investments and financial derivatives-assets at fair value	$	443,539	$	3,654		$	14,630	$	(10,143	)	$	121,206	$	(105,766	)	$	—	$	467,120

All amounts of net realized and change in net unrealized gain (loss) in the table above are reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. The table above incorporates changes in net unrealized gain (loss) for both Level 3 financial instruments held by the Company at March 31, 2011, as well as Level 3 financial instruments disposed of by the Company during the three month period ended March 31, 2011. For Level 3 financial instruments held by the Company at March 31, 2011, change in net unrealized gain (loss) of $(1.5) million and $(3.4) million for the three month period ended March 31, 2011 relate to investments and financial derivative-assets, respectively.

4. Financial Derivatives

Gains and losses on the Company’s derivative contracts for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are summarized in the tables below:

March 31, 2012:


Derivative Type	Primary Risk Exposure	Net Realized Gain/(Loss) for the Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012			Change in Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss) for the Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012
(In thousands)
Financial derivatives - assets
Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities	Credit	$	(4,744	)	$	6,799
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices	Credit		(5,493	)		(3,790	)
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices	Credit		(1,548	)		570
Interest rate swaps	Interest Rates		—			(8	)
Eurodollar futures	Interest Rates		(8	)		(11	)

			(11,793	)		3,560

Financial derivatives - liabilities
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices	Credit		4,309			34
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices	Credit		3			66
Total return swaps	Equity Market		(2,056	)		25
Interest rate swaps	Interest Rates		(10,399	)		11,121
Eurodollar futures	Interest Rates		—			(52	)

			(8,143	)		11,194

Total		$	(19,936	)	$	14,754

March 31, 2011:


Derivative Type	Primary Risk Exposure	Net Realized Gain/(Loss) for the Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2011			Change in Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss) for the Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2011
(In thousands)
Financial derivatives - assets
Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities	Credit	$	2,681		$	(3,251	)
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices	Credit		(5,046	)		879
Interest rate swaps	Interest Rates		(267	)		802

			(2,632	)		(1,570	)

Financial derivatives - liabilities
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices	Credit		6,421			(9	)
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices	Credit		(50	)		(35	)
Interest rate swaps	Interest Rates		—			(549	)
Eurodollar futures	Interest Rates		(371	)		319

			6,000			(274	)

Total		$	3,368		$	(1,844	)

As of March 31, 2012, the Company is party to credit derivatives contracts in the form of credit default swaps on mortgage/asset-backed indices (ABS index or ABS indices). As a seller of credit protection via ABS indices, the Company receives periodic payments from protection buyers, and is obligated to make payments to the protection buyer upon the occurrence of a “credit event” with respect to underlying reference assets. Written credit derivatives held by the Company at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, are summarized below:


Credit Default Swaps on Asset Backed Indices	Amount at March 31, 2012			Amount at December 31, 2011
(In thousands)
Fair Value of Written Credit Derivatives, Net	$	(19,460	)	$	(9,548	)
Fair Value of Purchased Credit Derivatives Offsetting Written Credit Derivatives with Third Parties⁽¹⁾	$	7,952		$	—
Notional Amount of Written Credit Derivatives⁽²⁾	$	(58,816	)	$	(22,615	)
Notional Amount of Purchased Credit Derivatives Offsetting Written Credit Derivatives with Third Parties⁽¹⁾	$	39,016		$	—

⁽¹⁾	Offsetting transactions with third parties include purchased credit derivatives which have the same reference obligation.

⁽²⁾

The notional value is the maximum amount that a seller of ABS indices would be obligated to pay, and a buyer of credit protection would receive upon occurrence of a “credit event.” Movements in the value of credit default swap transactions may require the Company or the counterparty to post or receive collateral. Amounts due or owed under an ABS index contract may be offset against amounts due or owed on another ABS index contract with the same ISDA counterparty.

Unless terminated by mutual agreement by both the buyer and seller, ABS index contracts typically terminate at the earlier of the (i) date the buyer of protection delivers the reference asset to the seller in exchange for payment of the notional balance following the occurrence of a credit event or (ii) date the reference asset is paid off in full, retired, or otherwise ceases to exist. Implied credit spreads may be used to determine the market value of swap contracts and are reflective of the cost of buying/selling protection. Higher spreads would indicate a greater likelihood that a seller will be obligated to perform (i.e., make payment) under the swap contract. In situations where the credit quality of an underlying reference asset has deteriorated, credit spreads combined with a percentage of notional values paid up front (points up front) are frequently used as an indication of ABS index risk. ABS index credit protection sellers entering the market would expect to be paid a percentage of the current notional balance up front (points up front) approximately equal to the fair value of the contract in order to write protection on the reference assets underlying the Company’s

ABS index contracts. Stated spreads at March 31, 2012 on ABS index contracts where the Company wrote protection range between 9 and 458 basis points on contracts that were outstanding at this date. Stated spreads at December 31, 2011 on ABS index contracts where the Company wrote protection range between 350 and 442 basis points on contracts that were outstanding at this date. However, participants entering the market at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 would likely transact on similar contracts with material points upfront given these spreads. Total net up-front payments received relating to ABS index contracts outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $19.7 million and $9.6 million, respectively.

5. Base Management Fee and Incentive Fee

The Company has engaged the Manager to manage the assets, operations and affairs of the Company and pays various management fees associated with that arrangement. Effective August 2, 2011, the Board of Directors approved a Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement between the Company and the Manager. The Base Management Fees and Incentive Fees payable under the agreement are detailed below.

Base Management Fees

The Manager receives an annual base management fee in an amount equal to 1.50% per annum of the Company’s shareholders’ equity as of the end of each fiscal quarter (before deductions for base management fees and incentive fees payable with respect to such fiscal quarter). The base management fee is payable quarterly in arrears.

Summary information—For both three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the total base management fees incurred by the Company were $1.5 million.

Incentive Fees

The Manager is entitled to receive a quarterly incentive fee equal to the positive excess of (i) the product of (A) 25% and (B) the excess of (1) Adjusted Net Income (described below) for the Incentive Calculation Period (which means such fiscal quarter and the immediately preceding three fiscal quarters) over (2) the sum of the Hurdle Amounts (described below) for the Incentive Calculation Period, over (ii) the sum of the incentive fees already paid or payable for each fiscal quarter in the Incentive Calculation Period preceding such fiscal quarter.

For purposes of calculating the incentive fee, “Adjusted Net Income,” for the Incentive Calculation Period means the net increase in shareholders’ equity from operations, after all base management fees but before any incentive fees for such period, and excluding non-cash equity compensation expenses for such period as reduced by any Loss Carryforward (as described below) as of the end of the fiscal quarter preceding the Incentive Calculation Period.

For purposes of calculating the incentive fee, the “Loss Carryforward” as of the end of any fiscal quarter is calculated by determining the excess, if any, of (1) the Loss Carryforward as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter over (2) the net increase in shareholders’ equity from operations (expressed as a positive number) or net decrease in shareholders’ equity from operations (expressed as a negative number) for such fiscal quarter. As of March 31, 2012, there was no Loss Carryforward.

For purposes of calculating the incentive fee, the “Hurdle Amount” means, with respect to any fiscal quarter, the product of (i) one-fourth of the greater of (A) 9% and (B) 3% plus the ten-year U.S. Treasury rate for such fiscal quarter, (ii) the sum of (A) the weighted average gross proceeds per share of all our common share issuances up to the end of such fiscal quarter, with each issuance weighted by both the number of shares issued in such issuance and the number of days that such issued shares were outstanding during such fiscal quarter, using a first-in first-out basis of accounting (i.e., attributing any share repurchases to the earliest issuances first) and (B) the result obtained by dividing (I) retained earnings attributable to common shares at the beginning of such fiscal quarter by (II) the average number of common shares outstanding for each day during such fiscal quarter, and (iii) the average number of common shares and LTIP units outstanding for each day during such fiscal quarter. For purposes of determining the Hurdle Amount, issuances of common shares (a) as equity incentive awards, (b) to the Manager as part of its base management fee or incentive fee and (c) to the Manager or any of its affiliates in privately negotiated transactions, are excluded from the calculation. The payment of the incentive fee will be in a combination of common shares and cash, provided that at least 10% of any quarterly payment will be made in common shares.

Summary information— No incentive fee was incurred for the three month period ended March 31, 2012. Total incentive fee incurred for the three month period ended March 31, 2011 was $0.6 million.

6. Long-Term Incentive Plan Units

In connection with its initial offering in 2007, the Company established the Manager Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Manager LTIP”) and the Individual Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Individual LTIP”). Pursuant to the terms of the Manager LTIP, the Company issued 375,000 long-term incentive plan units to its Manager. Pursuant to the terms of the Individual LTIP, each year since inception the Company has issued annual awards to its independent directors and, beginning in 2010, issued awards to certain of its dedicated personnel.

As of August 17, 2010, LTIP units awarded to the Manager were fully vested and expensed. LTIP units held pursuant to the Manager LTIP are generally exercisable by the holder at any time after vesting. Each LTIP unit is convertible into one common share. There is no cash flow effect from the issuance of the Manager LTIP units. Since inception, the aggregate expense associated with the Manager LTIP was $8.6 million.

Individual LTIP units in the amount of 3,750 units were granted to the Company’s independent directors on each of August 17, 2007, December 31, 2008, October 1, 2009, October 1, 2010 and September 15, 2011. Excluding the September 15, 2011 award, these grants have fully vested. The vesting period for awards issued to directors under the Individual LTIP has generally been one year from the date of grant. In addition, on December 12, 2011 and December 15, 2010, the Company issued a total of 3,000 LTIP units and 2,500 LTIP units, respectively, to certain of its dedicated personnel. Excluding the December 12, 2011 award, these grants have fully vested. The grant awarded on December 12, 2011 will vest on December 31, 2012. Units held pursuant to the Individual LTIP are generally exercisable by the holder at any time after vesting. Each unit is convertible into one common share. Costs associated with the Individual LTIP are measured as of the grant date and expensed ratably over the vesting period. The total expense associated with the Individual LTIP units awarded to the independent directors for the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, was $0.02 million and $0.03 million, respectively. The total expense associated with the Individual LTIP units awarded to the Company’s dedicated personnel for the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was approximately $0.01 million and $0.01 million. Unrecognized expense related to unvested Individual LTIP units awarded to independent directors was $0.03 million at March 31, 2012 and $0.05 million at December 31, 2011. Unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested Individual LTIP units awarded to certain of the Company’s dedicated personnel was $0.04 million at March 31, 2012 and $0.05 million at December 31, 2011. Since inception, 8,750 common shares were issued in connection with the conversion of Individual LTIP units awarded to independent directors at the direction of the three award holders and $0.02 million was transferred from the share-based LTIP awards to common shares in shareholders’ equity.

If all of the LTIP units that have previously been issued were to be fully vested and exchanged for common shares as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares would increase to 16,838,151 shares, resulting in shareholders’ equity per share of $23.53 and $22.03 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

Detailed below is a roll-forward of the Company’s LTIP units outstanding for the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Three Month Periods Ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011:


	Three Month Period Ended						Three Month Period Ended
	March 31, 2012						March 31, 2011
			Director/						Director/
	Manager		Employee		Total		Manager		Employee		Total
LTIP Units Outstanding (12/31/2011 and 12/31/2010, respectively)		375,000		15,500		390,500		375,000		10,000		385,000
Granted		—		—		—		—		—		—
Exercised		—		—		—		—		—		—

LTIP Units Outstanding (3/31/2012 and 3/31/2011, respectively)		375,000		15,500		390,500		375,000		10,000		385,000

LTIP Units Vested and Outstanding (3/31/2012 and 3/31/2011, respectively)		375,000		8,750		383,750		375,000		3,750		378,750

7. Common Share Capitalization

On August 17, 2007, in connection with the initial offering of common shares of the Company, 12,500,000 shares were issued with no par value. In addition, 50 shares were issued to the Manager for the initial formation of the Company. On October 14, 2010, in connection with the closing of the initial public offering of common shares of the Company, 4,500,000 common shares were issued at a price of $22.50 per share.

The following tables set forth the dividend distributions authorized by the Board of Directors payable to shareholders and LTIP holders for the periods indicated below:

Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012:

Dividend Per Share

Dividend Amount

Record Date

Payment Date

(In thousands except for per share amounts)

First Quarter

0.70

11,787

June 1, 2012

June 15, 2012

* Estimated

Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2011:

Dividend Per Share

Dividend Amount

Record Date

Payment Date

(In thousands except for per share amounts)

First Quarter

0.40

6,757

June 1, 2011

June 15, 2011

Dividends are declared and paid on a quarterly basis in arrears.

Detailed below is a roll-forward of the Company’s common shares outstanding for the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:


	Three Month Period		Three Month Period
	Ended March 31, 2012		Ended March 31, 2011
Common Shares Outstanding (12/31/2011 and 12/31/2010, respectively)		16,447,651		16,498,342
Share Activity:
Shares issued in connection with incentive fee payment		—		6,400

Common Shares Outstanding (3/31/2012 and 3/31/2011, respectively)		16,447,651		16,504,742

On August 4, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the adoption of a $10 million share repurchase program. The program, which is open-ended in duration, allows the Company to make repurchases from time to time on the open market or in negotiated transactions. Repurchases are at the Company’s discretion, subject to applicable law, share availability, price and the Company’s financial performance, among other considerations. As of March 31, 2012, the Company repurchased 60,980 shares at an aggregate cost of $1.1 million, or at an average per share price of $17.22.

8. Earnings Per Share

The components of the computation of basic and diluted EPS were as follows:


	Three Month Period Ended March 31,
	2012			2011
(In thousands except share amounts)
Net increase in shareholders’ equity resulting from operations	$	32,055		$	11,107

Net increase in shareholders’ equity resulting from operations available to common share and LTIP holders:		32,055			11,107
Net increase in shareholders’ equity resulting from operations - common shares		31,312			10,854
Net increase in shareholders’ equity resulting from operations - LTIPs		743			253
Dividends Paid:
Common Shares		(6,579	)		(21,621	)
LTIPs		(156	)		(505	)

Total dividends paid to common share and LTIP holders		(6,735	)		(22,126	)

Undistributed earnings:
Common Shares		24,733			(10,768	)
LTIPs		587			(251	)

Total undistributed earnings attributable to common share and LTIP holders	$	25,320		$	(11,019	)
Weighted average shares outstanding (basic and diluted):
Weighted average common shares outstanding		16,447,651			16,501,400
Weighted average participating LTIPs		390,500			385,000
Basic earnings per common share:
Distributed	$	0.40		$	1.31
Undistributed		1.50			(0.65	)

	$	1.90		$	0.66

Diluted earnings per common share:
Distributed	$	0.40		$	1.31
Undistributed		1.50			(0.65	)

	$	1.90		$	0.66

The Company pays quarterly dividends in arrears. Dividends paid in the table above relate to the respective period’s prior period earnings.

9. Counterparty Risk

As of March 31, 2012, investments with an aggregate value of approximately $1.1 billion were held with dealers as collateral for various reverse repurchase agreements. The investments held as collateral include securities in the amount of $52.5 million that were sold prior to period end but for which such sale had not settled as of March 31, 2012.

The following table details the percentage of such collateral held by counterparties who hold greater than 15% of the aggregate $1.1 billion in collateral for various reverse repurchase agreements as of March 31, 2012. In addition to the below, unencumbered investments, on a settlement date basis, of approximately $138.7 million were held in custody at the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.


Dealer		% of Total Collateral on Reverse Repurchase Agreements
CS First Boston		21%
Daiwa Capital Markets America Inc		15%

The following table details the percentage of collateral amounts held by dealers who hold greater than 15% of the Company’s Deposits with dealers held as collateral account as of March 31, 2012:


Dealer		% of Total Deposits with Dealers Held as Collateral
Bank of America		44%
Citigroup		39%

The following table details the percentage of amounts held by dealers who hold greater than 15% of the Company’s Receivable for securities sold as of March 31, 2012:


Dealer		% of Total Receivable for Securities Sold
CS First Boston		37%
Wells Fargo Securities		21%
Citigroup		17%

10. Contingencies and Commitments

The Company provides current directors and officers with a limited indemnification against liabilities arising in connection with the performance of their duties to the Company.

In the normal course of business the Company may also enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations, warranties and general indemnifications. The Company’s maximum exposure under these arrangements, including future claims that may be made against the Company that have not yet occurred, is unknown. The Company has not incurred any costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification agreements. The Company has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

11. Financial Highlights

Results of Operations for a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods:


	Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012			Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2011
Beginning Shareholders’ Equity Per Share (12/31/11 and 12/31/10, respectively)	$	22.55		$	24.47
Net Investment Income		0.67			0.64
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains		1.28			0.03

Results of Operations ⁽¹⁾		1.95			0.67
Dividends Paid ⁽²⁾		(0.41	)		(1.34	)
Ending Shareholders’ Equity Per Share (3/31/12 and 3/31/11, respectively) ⁽³⁾	$	24.09		$	23.80

Shares Outstanding, end of period		16,447,651			16,504,742

(1)	Calculated based on average common shares outstanding and can differ from the calculation for EPS (See Note 8).

(2)

Dividends paid include dividends paid on common shares and LTIP units. For the three month periods ending March 31, 2012 and 2011, dividends totaling $0.40 and $1.31, respectively, per common share and LTIP unit outstanding were declared and paid. Dividends paid of $0.41 and $1.34 per share for the three month periods ending March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, above reflect the impact of dividing the total dividend payment, inclusive of LTIP units, by average common shares outstanding, exclusive of LTIP units.

(3)	If all LTIP units previously issued were vested and exchanged for common shares as of March 31, 2012 and 2011, shareholders’ equity per share would be $23.53 and $23.26, respectively.

Total Return:

The Company calculates its total return two ways, one based on its reported net asset value and the other based on its publicly-traded share price. This latter return is considered a market based return, and is only computed for periods following the completion of the Company’s October 2010 initial public offering, since the Company’s shares were not publicly traded before such time. The following table illustrates the Company’s total return for the periods presented based on net asset value:

Net Asset Based Total Return for a Shareholder:⁽¹⁾


	Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012	Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2011
Total Return before Incentive Fee	8.66%	2.80%
Incentive Fee	0.00%	(0.16)%

Total Return after Incentive Fee	8.66%	2.64%

(1)	Total return is calculated for all shareholders’ equity accounts, excluding the Managers’ shareholder equity, taken as a whole for each period. Total Return is calculated assuming reinvestment of all distributions at shareholders’ equity per share during the period.

Supplemental Information—Net Asset Based Total Return for a Shareholder assuming conversion of all LTIP units: ⁽¹⁾


		Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012
Total Return before Incentive Fee		6.14%
Incentive Fee		0.00%

Total Return after Incentive Fee		6.14%

(1)

Total return is calculated assuming all LTIP units had been converted into common shares at March 31, 2012. Total return represents all shareholders’ equity accounts, excluding Manager shares, outstanding for the entire period. LTIP units outstanding at March 31, 2012 totaled 390,500 and represent 2.32% of total shares and LTIP units outstanding as of that date.

Market Based Total Return for a Shareholder:

For the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company’s market based total return based on the closing price as reported by the New York Stock Exchange was 16.21% and 9.55%, respectively. Calculation of market based total return assumes the reinvestment of dividends.

Net Investment Income Ratio to Average Shareholders’ Equity: ⁽¹⁾


	Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012	Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2011
Net Investment Income ⁽²⁾	11.51%	11.22%

(1)	Average shareholders’ equity is calculated using month end values.

(2)	Includes all items of income and expenses on an annualized basis except for incentive fee expense which is included on a non-annualized basis.

Expense Ratios to Average Shareholders’ Equity: ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾


	Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012	Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2011
Operating expenses before incentive fee and interest expense	(3.09)%	(3.14)%
Incentive fee	0.00%	(0.15)%
Interest expense	(1.92)%	(1.57)%

Large Accelerated Filer

Non-Accelerated Filer

Accelerated Filer

Smaller Reporting Company