Organization and Business Description

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Organization and Business Description

1. Organization and Business Description

Hatteras Financial Corp. (the “Company”) was incorporated in Maryland on September 19, 2007. The Company invests primarily in single-family residential mortgage assets, such as mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government   - Ginnie Mae - or by the U.S. Government sponsored enterprises - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - (“agency securities”). The Company is externally managed by Atlantic Capital Advisors, LLC (“ACA”).

The Company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”). As a result, the Company does not pay federal income taxes on taxable income distributed to shareholders if certain REIT qualification tests are met. It is the Company’s policy to distribute 100% of its taxable income, after application of available tax attributes, within the time limits prescribed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which may extend into the subsequent taxable year.  However, certain activities that the Company may perform may cause it to earn income which will not be qualifying income for REIT purposes.  The Company has designated certain of its subsidiaries as taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”) as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), to engage in such activities, and the Company may in the future form additional TRSs.