The Company is party to the Management Agreement (which may be amended from time to time), pursuant to which the Manager manages the assets, operations, and affairs of the Company, in consideration of which the Company pays the Manager management and incentive fees. The descriptions of the Base Management Fees and Incentive Fees are detailed below.

The Operating Partnership pays the Manager 1.50% per annum of the total equity of the Operating Partnership calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP as of the end of each fiscal quarter (before deductions for base management fees and incentive fees payable with respect to such fiscal quarter), adjusted to exclude one-time events pursuant to changes in U.S. GAAP, as well as non-cash charges after discussion between the Manager and the Company's independent directors, and approval by a majority of the Company's independent directors in the case of non-cash charges.

obligation that is managed, structured, or originated by Ellington or one of its affiliates, or if the Company invests in any other investment fund or other investment for which Ellington or one of its affiliates receives management, origination, or structuring fees, then, unless agreed otherwise by a majority of the Company's independent directors, the base management and incentive fees payable by the Company to its Manager will be reduced by an amount equal to the applicable portion (as described in the Management Agreement) of any such management, origination, or structuring fees.

For the three-month period ended September 30, 2025, the total base management fee incurred was $6.2 million, consisting of $6.7 million of total gross base management fee incurred, less $0.5 million of management fee rebates. For the three-month period ended September 30, 2024, the total base management fee incurred was $6.0 million, consisting of $6.1 million of total gross base management fee incurred, less $0.1 million of management fee rebates. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2025, the total base management fee incurred was $18.5 million, consisting of $19.2 million of total gross base management fee incurred, less $0.6 million of management fee rebates. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, the total base management fee incurred was $17.6 million, consisting of $17.8 million of total gross base management fee incurred, less $0.2 million of management fee rebates. See "—Participation in CLO Transactions" and "—Investment in Affiliate" below for details on management fee rebates.

The Manager is entitled to receive a quarterly incentive fee equal to the positive excess, if any, 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 equity from operations of the Operating Partnership, after all base management fees but before any incentive fees for such period, and excluding any 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 Company's net increase in equity from operations (expressed as a positive number) or net decrease in equity from operations (expressed as a negative number) of the Operating Partnership for such fiscal quarter. As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, there was no Loss Carryforward.

For purposes of calculating the incentive fee, the "Hurdle Amount" means, with respect to any fiscal quarter, the result obtained by multiplying the (i) the total common equity of the Operating Partnership calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter, adjusted to exclude one-time events pursuant to changes in U.S. GAAP, as well as non-cash charges after discussion between the Manager and the Company's independent directors, and approval by a majority of the Company's independent directors in the case of non-cash charges and (ii) one-fourth of the greater of (A) 9% and (B) 3% plus the 10-year U.S. Treasury Rate for such fiscal quarter (the "Hurdle Rate"). The Hurdle Amount shall be appropriately adjusted for any issuances or repurchases of shares of common stock during the fiscal quarter. The payment of the incentive fee will be in a combination of shares of common stock and cash, provided that at least 10% of any quarterly payment will be made in shares of common stock.

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 10-year U.S. Treasury rate as of the beginning of such fiscal quarter, (ii) the sum of (A) the weighted average gross proceeds per share of all common stock and OP Unit issuances since inception of the Company and up to the end of such fiscal quarter, with each issuance weighted by both the number of shares of common stock and OP Units issued in such issuance and the number of days that such issued shares of common stock and OP Units were outstanding during such fiscal quarter, using a first-in first-out basis of accounting (i.e. attributing any share of common stock and OP Unit repurchases to the earliest issuances first) and (B) the result obtained by dividing (I) retained earnings attributable to shares of common stock and OP Units at the beginning of such fiscal quarter by (II) the average number of shares of common stock and OP Units outstanding for each day during such fiscal quarter, and (iii) the sum of (x) the average number of shares of common stock and long term incentive plan units of the Company outstanding for each day during such fiscal quarter, and (y) the average number of Convertible Non-controlling Interests outstanding for each day during such fiscal quarter. For purposes of determining the Hurdle Amount, issuances of common stock, and Convertible Non-controlling Interests (a) as equity incentive awards, (b) to the Manager as part of its base management fee or incentive fee and (c) to the

The Company incurred an incentive fee of $4.5 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2025. The Company did not incur an incentive fee for the three-month period ended September 30, 2025 nor the three- or nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024, since on a rolling four quarter basis, the Company's income did not exceed the prescribed hurdle amount.

The Management Agreement requires the Company to pay a termination fee to the Manager in the event of (1) the Company's termination or non-renewal of the Management Agreement without cause or (2) the Company's termination of the Management Agreement based on unsatisfactory performance by the Manager that is materially detrimental to the Company or (3) the Manager's termination of the Management Agreement upon a default by the Company in the performance of any material term of the Management Agreement. Such termination fee will be equal to the amount of three times the sum of (i) the average annual quarterly base management fee amounts paid or payable with respect to the two 12-month periods ending on the last day of the latest fiscal quarter completed on or prior to the date of the notice of termination or non-renewal and (ii) the average annual quarterly incentive fee amounts paid or payable with respect to the two 12-month periods ending on the last day of the latest fiscal quarter completed on or prior to the date of the notice of termination or non-renewal.

Under the terms of the Management Agreement the Company is required to reimburse the Manager for operating expenses related to the Company that are incurred by the Manager, including expenses relating to legal, accounting, due diligence, other services, and all other costs and expenses. The Company's reimbursement obligation is not subject to any dollar limitation. Expenses will be reimbursed in cash within 60 days following delivery of the expense statement by the Manager; provided, however, that such reimbursement may be offset by the Manager against amounts due to the Company from the Manager. The Company will not reimburse the Manager for the salaries and other compensation of the Manager's personnel except that the Company will be responsible for expenses incurred by the Manager in employing certain dedicated or partially dedicated personnel as further described below.

The Company reimburses the Manager for the allocable share of the compensation, including, without limitation, wages, salaries, and employee benefits paid or reimbursed, as approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors to certain dedicated or partially dedicated personnel who spend all or a portion of their time managing the Company's affairs, based upon the percentage of time devoted by such personnel to the Company's affairs. In their capacities as officers or personnel of the Manager or its affiliates, such personnel will devote such portion of their time to the Company's affairs as is necessary to enable the Company to operate its business.

For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, the Company reimbursed the Manager $15.8 million and $19.6 million, respectively, for previously incurred operating expenses. As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the outstanding payable to the Manager for operating expenses was $7.5 million and $2.4 million, respectively, which are included in Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The Company is a party to a mortgage loan purchase and sale flow agreement, with a mortgage loan originator (the "Related-Party MLPA") in which the Company holds a non-controlling equity investment, whereby the Company purchases residential mortgage loans that satisfy certain specified criteria. The Company also provided a $5.0 million line of credit to the mortgage originator. Under the terms of this line of credit, the Company has agreed to make advances to the mortgage originator solely for the purpose of funding specifically identified residential mortgage loans designated for sale to the Company. To the extent the advances are drawn by the mortgage originator, it must pay interest, at a rate of 15% per annum, on the outstanding balance of each advance from the date the advance is made until such advance is repaid in full. The mortgage originator is required to repay advances in full no later than two business days following the date that the Company purchases the related residential mortgage loans from the mortgage originator. As of both September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, there were no advances outstanding. The Company has also entered into agreements whereby it guarantees the performance of such mortgage originator under third-party master repurchase agreements. See Note 24, Commitments and Contingencies, for further information on the Company's guarantees of the third-party borrowing arrangements and certain loan purchase

The Company is a party to an agreement with another mortgage loan originator in which the Company holds a non-controlling equity investment, whereby the Company purchases residential mortgage loans that satisfy certain specified criteria (the "Related Party Loan Purchase Agreement"). As of both September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the fair value of the Company's investment in such mortgage loan originator was $1.5 million.

The Company has entered into various agreements with a residential mortgage loan originator (the "RTL Originator") in which it holds a non-controlling equity investment. Under the terms of such agreements, the Company has the option to purchase additional non-controlling equity interests at certain valuation thresholds. The Company also entered into a Commitment Letter Agreement (the "RTL Commitment Agreement") whereby it committed to purchase eligible loans originated by the RTL Originator; see Note 24, Commitments and Contingencies, for further information on the Company's commitment under the RTL Commitment Agreement. The RTL Originator has been determined to be a VIE. The Company has evaluated the RTL Originator and determined that the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the RTL Originator. As of both September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the fair value of the Company's non-controlling equity investment in the RTL Originator was $0.6 million, which is included on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in Investments in unconsolidated entities, at fair value.

The Company has entered into various agreements with another residential mortgage loan originator (the "Residential Originator") which included acquiring a minority stake in such originator. Under the terms of such agreements, the Company provided financing, in the form of a secured promissory note (the "Residential Originator Note"), under which the Residential Originator can borrow up to $14.0 million. The Residential Originator Note is subject to an interest rate of 10% per annum through May 2025 and then 15% per annum until maturity on December 1, 2029. As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the outstanding balance and fair value of the Residential Originator Note was $14.0 million and $8.5 million, respectively, which is included in Loans, at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company also entered into a Forward Commitment Letter Agreement (the "Residential Commitment Agreement") whereby it committed to purchase eligible loans originated by the Residential Originator; see Note 24, Commitments and Contingencies, for further information on the Company's commitment under the Residential Commitment Agreement and the Residential Originator Note. The Residential Originator has been determined to be a VIE. The Company has evaluated the Residential Originator and determined that the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the Residential Originator. As of both September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the fair value of the Company's non-controlling equity investment in the Residential Originator was $2.5 million.

The Company holds an investment in common and preferred stock of a consumer loan originator (the "Consumer Loan Originator"). An employee of Ellington, who serves as an officer of the Company, also serves on the board of the Consumer Loan Originator, as the Company's representative. In January 2025, the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement whereby the Company extended a revolving line of credit to the Consumer Loan Originator of up to $1.0 million (the "Consumer LOC") which matures in January 2028. The outstanding borrowing under the Consumer LOC is subject to a floating interest rate equal to one-month SOFR plus 4.00% per annum. As of September 30, 2025, outstanding advances under the Consumer LOC were $0.2 million. The Company, through a wholly-owned trust subsidiary, and the Consumer Loan Originator, entered into an amended consumer loan purchase and sale flow agreement (the "Amended PSFA") whereby the Company purchases consumer loans that satisfy certain specified criteria. The Company has beneficial interests in the loan cash flows, net of servicing-related fees and expenses, including financing expenses. As discussed in Note 14, the Company has entered into a secured revolving borrowing facility to finance certain of its consumer loans. As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the total fair value of the Company's beneficial interests was $54.1 million and $60.2 million, respectively, which is included in Securities, at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.


Effective Date of Promissory Note	Maturity Date of Promissory Note			Interest Rate as of		Outstanding Borrowings as of				Fair Value(1) as of
		Maximum Borrowing		September 30, 2025	December 31, 2024	September 30, 2025		December 31, 2024		September 30, 2025		December 31, 2024
		(In thousands)				(In thousands)
May 2021(2)	December 31, 2025	$	6,000	12.0%	12.0%	$	—	$	1,000	$	—	$	1,000
February 2022(3)	December 31, 2025	750		7.0%	7.0%	625		625		625		625


June 9, 2025	June 9, 2028	1,750		9.0%	n/a	350		—		350		—

The Company purchased certain of its consumer loans through an affiliate (the "Purchasing Entity") under various purchase agreements. The Company's beneficial interests in the consumer loans purchased through the Purchasing Entity are evidenced by participation certificates issued by trusts that hold legal title to the loans. These trusts are owned by a related party of Ellington and were established to hold such loans. Through its participation certificates, the Company participates in the cash flows of the underlying loans held by each trust. The total amount of consumer loans underlying the Company's participation certificates and held in the related party trust was $0.2 million and $0.4 million as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.

The Company has beneficial interests in residential mortgage loans and REO held in a trust owned by a related party of Ellington. Through these beneficial interests, the Company participates in the cash flows of the underlying loans held by such trust. The total amount of residential mortgage loans and REO underlying the Company's beneficial interests and held in the related party trust was $1.8 billion and $2.1 billion as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.

The Company is a co-investor in certain commercial mortgage loans and REO with other investors, including various unrelated third parties and various affiliates of Ellington. Each co-investor in a particular loan has an interest in the limited liability company that owns such loan or REO. As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the aggregate fair value of the Company's investments in the jointly owned limited liability companies was approximately $98.1 million and $102.2 million, respectively. Such investments are included in Investments in unconsolidated entities, on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The consumer, residential mortgage, and certain commercial mortgage loans that are the subject of the foregoing loan transactions are held in trusts, each of which the Company has determined to be a VIE. The Company has evaluated each of these VIEs and determined that the Company has the power to direct the activities of each VIE that most significantly impact such VIE's economic performance and the Company has the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. As a result the Company has determined it is the primary beneficiary of each of these VIEs and has consolidated each VIE.

The Company is a co-investor, together with other affiliates of Ellington, in Jepson Holdings Limited ("Jepson"), the parent of an entity (the "Jepson Risk Retention Vehicle") that has sponsored various European mortgage loan securitizations. The Jepson Risk Retention Vehicle is expected to hold certain of the notes it issues for each securitization it completes in order to comply with European risk retention rules. As of both September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company's equity investment in Jepson Holdings Limited had a fair value of $0.3 million. See Note 8 for additional details on this equity investment.

The Company is a co-participant with certain other entities managed by Ellington or its affiliates (the "Affiliated Entities") in various entities (each, a "Joint Entity"), which were formed in order to facilitate the financing of commercial mortgage loans, residential mortgage loans, and REO (collectively, the "Mortgage Loan and REO Assets"), through repurchase agreements. Each Joint Entity has a master repurchase agreement with a particular financing counterparty.

In connection with the financing of the Mortgage Loan and REO Assets under repurchase agreements, each of the Company and the Affiliated Entities transferred certain of their respective Mortgage Loan and REO Assets to one of the Joint Entities in exchange for its pro rata share of the financing proceeds that the respective Joint Entity received from the financing counterparty. While the Company's Mortgage Loan and REO Assets were transferred to the Joint Entity, the Company's Mortgage Loan and REO Assets and the related debt were not derecognized for financial reporting purposes, in accordance with ASC 860-10, because the Company continued to retain the risks and rewards of ownership of its Mortgage Loan and REO Assets. As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Joint Entities had aggregate outstanding issued debt under the repurchase agreements in the amount of $887.9 million and $734.0 million, respectively. The Company's segregated silo of this debt as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, was $358.4 million and $202.6 million, respectively, and is included under the caption Repurchase agreements on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. To the extent that there is a default under the repurchase agreements, all of the assets of each respective Joint Entity, including those beneficially owned by any non-defaulting owners of such Joint Entity, could be used to satisfy the outstanding obligations under such repurchase agreement. As of both September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, no party to any of the repurchase agreements was in default.

Each of the Joint Entities has been determined to be a VIE. The Company has evaluated each of these VIEs and determined that it continued to retain the risks and rewards of ownership of certain of the Mortgage Loan and REO Assets, where such Mortgage Loan and REO Assets and the related debt are segregated for the Company and each of the Affiliated Entities. On account of the segregation of certain of each co-participant's assets and liabilities within each of the Joint Entities, as well as the retention by each co-participant of control over its segregated Mortgage Loan and REO Assets within the Joint Entities, the Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of, and has consolidated its segregated silo of assets and liabilities within, each of the Joint Entities. See Note 12 and Note 14 for additional information.

As discussed in Note 13, the Company participated in the Ellington-sponsored CLO Securitizations. The CLO Manager is entitled to receive management and incentive fees in accordance with the respective management agreements between the CLO Manager and the respective CLO Issuers. In accordance with the Management Agreement, the Manager rebates to the Company the portion of the management fees payable by each CLO Issuer to the CLO Manager that are allocable to the Company's participating interest in the unsecured subordinated notes issued by such CLO Issuer. For the three-month periods ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, the amount of such management fee rebates was $36 thousand and $0.1 million, respectively. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, the amount of such management fee rebates was $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

During the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2025, the Company purchased $0.1 million and $1.1 million, respectively, of various underperforming corporate debt securities from certain of the Ellington-sponsored CLO Securitizations. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, the Company purchased $1.2 million of various underperforming corporate debt and equity securities from certain of the Ellington-sponsored CLO Securitizations; no such purchases were made during the three-month period ended September 30, 2024. Such purchases are effected at market prices determined through the procedures set forth in the indentures of the respective Ellington-sponsored CLO Securitizations.

The Company has an investment in the common shares of Ellington Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (the "Affiliated REIT"), which is an affiliate of the Company managed by an affiliate of Ellington (the "Affiliate REIT Manager"). The Company, Ellington, and various unrelated third parties (collectively, the "Affiliated REIT Founding Investors") entered into various agreements committing to invest in the common stock of the Affiliated REIT. The Company has contributed $25.0 million and has no remaining commitment to fund any additional capital calls of the Affiliated REIT. As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the fair value of the Company's investment in the Affiliated REIT was $26.3 million and $19.1 million, respectively. In accordance with the management agreement between the Affiliated REIT and the Affiliate REIT Manager (the "REIT Management Agreement"), investors pay a quarterly base management fee and, if certain performance hurdles are met, a performance fee. In accordance with the Management Agreement, the Manager rebates to the Company the applicable portion of the management fee and performance fee payable to the Affiliated REIT Manager; for each of the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2025, the amount of such management fee rebates was $0.5 million.

In connection with the commitment to contribute capital to the Affiliated REIT, each of the Affiliated REIT Founding Investors entered into an agreement with the Affiliate REIT Manager whereby each of the Affiliated REIT Founding Investors participates in a net revenue share arrangement based on each Affiliated REIT Founding Investors’ pro rata share of the Affiliate REIT’s initial capital (the "Revenue Share Arrangement"). Under the terms of the Revenue Share Arrangement, each of the Affiliated REIT Founding Investors, including the Company, is entitled to receive from the Affiliate REIT Manager an

amount equal to the product of (i) a fixed percentage and (ii) the management and performance fees earned by, less certain expenses incurred by, the Affiliate REIT Manager. The Revenue Share Arrangement will continue in perpetuity for each Affiliated REIT Founding Investor given (i) such Affiliate REIT Founding Investor has not defaulted on its obligation to fund its capital calls, and (ii) the REIT Management Agreement has not been terminated or is not renewed. To the extent that the net revenue share received by the Company is less than the management fees and performance fees incurred by the Company with respect to its investment in the Affiliated REIT, the Manager will rebate to the Company such difference.

The directors of the Affiliated REIT are currently: Michael Vranos, the Company's Co-Chief Investment Officer; Laurence Penn, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and President and a member of the Board of Directors; and Mark Tecotzky, the Company's Co-Chief Investment Officer. The Company has evaluated its interests in the Affiliated REIT, which is a VIE. Because the Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the Affiliated REIT's economic performance, the Company determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of the Affiliated REIT.