Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and consolidate the financial statements of the Company and our controlled subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions, balances, revenues and expenses are eliminated upon consolidation. In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, which are necessary for a fair statement of our financial condition and results of operations for the periods presented.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Examples of estimates include, but are not limited to, estimates of the fair values of financial instruments, interest income on mortgage-backed and credit risk transfer securities, provision for loan losses and other-than-temporary impairment charges. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

The functional currency of the Company and its subsidiaries is U.S. dollars. Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the date of the transactions. At each balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are remeasured at the rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Gains and losses arising on revaluation are included in other investment income (loss), net on the consolidated statements of operations. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 we incurred foreign currency losses of $930,000 and gains of $4.1 million, respectively, primarily related to the revaluation of a commercial loan investment denominated in Pound Sterling. This commercial loan was repaid by the borrower during 2018.

Our reporting currency is U.S. dollars. Upon consolidation, the assets and liabilities of our investment in an unconsolidated venture whose functional currency is the Euro is translated to U.S. dollars using the period-end exchange rates. Equity accounts are translated at historical rates, except for the change in retained earnings during the year, which is the result of the income statement translation process. Revenue and expense accounts are translated using the weighted average exchange rate during the period. The cumulative translation adjustments associated with the investment in the unconsolidated venture are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of consolidated stockholders’ equity.

We report our MBS and GSE CRTs and derivative assets and liabilities at fair value as determined by an independent pricing service. We generally obtain one price per instrument from our primary pricing service. If the primary pricing service cannot provide a price, we will seek a value from other pricing services.

The pricing service uses two types of valuation approaches to determine the valuation of our various mortgage-backed and credit risk transfer securities: a market approach, which uses observable prices and other relevant information that is generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities; and an income approach, which uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single, discounted present value amount. In instances where sufficient market activity may not exist, the pricing service may utilize proprietary valuation models that may consider market transactions in comparable securities and the various relationships between securities in determining fair value and/or market characteristics to estimate relevant cash flows, which are then discounted to calculate the fair values. Observable inputs may include a combination of benchmark yields, executed trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, bids, offers and benchmark securities. In addition, the valuation models utilized by pricing services may consider additional pool level information such as prepayment speeds, default frequencies and default severities, if applicable. We and the pricing service continuously monitor market indicators and economic events to determine whether they may have an impact on our valuations.

The pricing service values interest rate swaps under the income approach using valuation models. The significant inputs in these models are readily available in public markets or can be derived from observable market transactions for substantially the full terms of the contracts.

Overrides of prices from pricing services are rare in the current market environment for the assets we hold. Examples of instances that would cause an override include if we recently traded the same security or there is an indication of market activity that would cause the pricing service price to no longer be indicative of fair value. In the rare instance where a price is adjusted, we have a control process to monitor the reason for such adjustment.

To gain comfort that pricing service prices are representative of current market information, we compare the transaction prices of security purchases and sales to the valuation levels provided by the pricing services. Price differences exceeding pre-defined tolerance levels are identified and investigated and may be challenged. Trends are monitored over time and if there are indications that the valuations are not comparable to market activity, the pricing services are asked to provide detailed information regarding their methodology and inputs. Transparency tools are also available from the pricing services which help us understand data points and/or market inputs used for pricing securities.

We also review daily price movements for interest rate swaps, futures, currency forward contracts and TBAs. Price movements exceeding pre-defined tolerance levels are investigated using an alternate price from another pricing service as well as available market information. Based on our findings, the primary pricing service may be challenged, or in rare cases, overridden with an alternate pricing source.

As described in Note 10 - “Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” we evaluate the source used to fair value our assets and liabilities and make a determination on its categorization within the fair value hierarchy. If the price of a security is obtained from quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets, the security is classified as a level 1 security. If the price of a security is obtained from quoted prices for similar instruments or model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable, the security is classified as a level 2 security. If the inputs appear to be unobservable, the security would be classified as a level 3 security. Transfers between levels, if any, are determined at the end of the reporting period.

We record our purchases of MBS and GSE CRTs on the trade date and report these securities at fair value as described above in the Fair Value Measurements section of this Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements. Although we generally intend to hold most of our MBS and GSE CRTs until maturity, we may sell any of these securities prior to maturity as part of our overall management of our investment portfolio.

Approximately $17.4 billion (80% ) of our MBS and GSE CRTs are accounted for under the fair value option as of December 31, 2019 (December 31, 2018: $11.6 billion or 67%). Under the fair value option, we recognize changes in fair value in our consolidated statements of operations as unrealized gains and losses. In our view, this election more appropriately reflects the results of our operations because MBS and GSE CRT fair value changes are accounted for in the same manner as fair value changes in our economic hedging instruments. We elected the fair value option for all MBS purchased on or after September 1, 2016, GSE CRTs purchased on or after August 24, 2015 and all RMBS interest-only securities.

We classify the remaining balance of our MBS and GSE CRTs as available-for-sale ($4.4 billion or 20% as of December 31, 2019; $5.8 billion or 33% as of December 31, 2018). Unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of stockholders' equity, until sale or disposition of the investment. Upon sale or disposition, the cumulative gain or loss previously reported in stockholders' equity is recognized in income. Realized gains and losses from sales of MBS are determined based upon the specific identification method.

GSE CRTs purchased prior to August 24, 2015 are reported at fair value but are accounted for as hybrid financial instruments consisting of a debt host contract and an embedded derivative. Unrealized gains or losses arising from changes in fair value of the debt host contract, excluding other-than-temporary impairment, are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income until sale or disposition of the investment. Upon sale or disposition of the debt host contract, the cumulative gain or loss previously reported in stockholders’ equity is recognized in income. Realized gains and losses from sales of GSE CRTs are determined based upon the specific identification method. Realized and unrealized gains or losses arising from changes in fair value of the embedded derivative are recognized in realized and unrealized credit derivative income (loss), net in our consolidated statements of operations. We elected the fair value option for GSE CRTs purchased on or after August 24, 2015 due to the complexities associated with bifurcation of GSE CRTs into a debt host contract and an embedded derivative.

We consider our portfolio of Agency RMBS and Agency CMBS to be of high credit quality under applicable accounting guidance. For non-Agency CMBS, non-Agency RMBS and GSE CRTs, we do not rely on ratings from third party agencies to determine the credit quality of the investment. We use internal models that analyze the loans underlying each security and evaluate factors including, but not limited to, delinquency status, loan-to-value ratios, borrower credit scores, occupancy status and geographic concentration to estimate the expected future cash flows. We place reliance on these internal models in determining credit quality.

While non-Agency CMBS, non-Agency RMBS and GSE CRTs with expected future losses would generally be purchased at a discount to par, the potential for a significant adverse change in expected cash flows remains. We therefore evaluate each security in an unrealized loss position for other-than-temporary impairment at least quarterly.

The determination of whether a security is other-than-temporarily impaired involves judgments and assumptions based on subjective and objective factors. Consideration is given to (i) our intent to sell the security and whether it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost and (ii) the financial condition and near-term prospects of recovery in fair value of the security. This includes a determination of estimated future cash flows through an evaluation of the characteristics of the underlying loans and the structural features of the investment. Underlying loan

We recognize in earnings and reflect as a reduction in the cost basis of the security the amount of any other-than-temporary impairment related to credit losses or impairments on securities that we intend to sell or for which it is more likely than not that we will need to sell before recoveries. The amount of the other-than-temporary impairment on debt securities related to other factors is recorded consistent with changes in the fair value of all other available-for-sale securities as a component of consolidated stockholders’ equity in other comprehensive income or loss with no change to the cost basis of the security.

We carry commercial loans held-for-investment at amortized cost, net of any provision for loan losses. An individual loan is considered impaired when it is deemed probable that the Company will not be able to recover its investment and any other anticipated future payments. We generally consider the following factors in evaluating whether a commercial loan is impaired:

When an individual commercial loan is deemed to be impaired, we record a provision to reduce the carrying value of the loan to the current present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, or if the loan is collateral dependent, we reduce the carrying value to the estimated fair value of the collateral, with a corresponding charge to provision for loan losses on our consolidated statements of operations.

Interest income on MBS is accrued based on the outstanding principal or notional balance of the securities and their contractual terms. Premiums or discounts are amortized or accreted into interest income over the life of the investment using the effective interest method.

Interest income on our MBS where we may not recover substantially all of our initial investment is based on estimated future cash flows. We estimate future expected cash flows at the time of purchase and determine the effective interest rate based on these estimated cash flows and our purchase price. Over the life of the investments, we update these estimated future cash flows and compute a revised yield based on the current amortized cost of the investment. In estimating these future cash flows, there are a number of assumptions that are subject to uncertainties and contingencies, including but not limited to the rate and timing of principal payments (prepayments, repurchases, defaults and liquidations), the pass through or coupon rate, and interest rate fluctuations. These uncertainties and contingencies are difficult to predict and are subject to future events that may impact our estimate and our interest income. Changes in our original or most recent cash flow projections may result in a prospective change in interest income recognized on these securities, or the amortized cost of these securities. For non-Agency RMBS not of high credit quality, when actual cash flows vary from expected cash flows, the difference is recorded as an adjustment to the amortized cost of the security and the security's yield is revised prospectively.

For Agency RMBS and Agency CMBS that cannot be prepaid in such a way that we would not recover substantially all of our initial investment, interest income recognition is based on contractual cash flows. We do not estimate prepayments in applying the effective interest method.

Interest income on GSE CRTs purchased prior to August 24, 2015 is accrued based on the coupon rate of the debt host contract which reflects the credit risk of GSE unsecured senior debt with a similar maturity. Premiums or discounts associated with the purchase of GSE CRTs are amortized or accreted into interest income over the life of the debt host contract using the effective interest method. The difference between the coupon rate on the hybrid instrument and the coupon rate on the debt host

contract is considered premium income associated with the embedded derivative and is recorded in realized and unrealized credit derivative income (loss), net in our consolidated statements of operations. Interest income on GSE CRTs purchased on or after August 24, 2015 is based on estimated future cash flows.

We recognize interest income from commercial and other loans when earned and deemed collectible, or until a loan becomes past due based on the terms of the loan agreement. Any related origination fees, net of origination cost are amortized into interest income using the effective interest method over the life of the loan. Interest received after a loan becomes past due or impaired is used to reduce the outstanding loan principal balance. When a delinquent loan previously placed on nonaccrual status has cured, meaning all delinquent principal and interest have been remitted by the borrower, the loan is placed back on accrual status. Alternately, loans that have been individually impaired may be placed back on accrual status if restructured and after the loan is considered re-performing. A restructured loan is considered re-performing when the loan has been current for at least 12 months.

We consider all highly liquid investments that have original or remaining maturity dates of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents in excess of the FDIC deposit insurance limit of $250,000 per institution. We mitigate our risk of loss by actively monitoring our counterparties.

Restricted cash represents cash posted with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (“FHLBI”) as collateral for secured loans and cash posted with counterparties as collateral for various derivative instruments. Cash posted with counterparties as collateral is not available for general corporate purposes.

Due from counterparties represents cash posted with our counterparties as collateral for our derivatives and repurchase agreements. Collateral held payable represents cash posted with us by counterparties as collateral under our derivatives and repurchase agreements. To the extent we receive collateral other than cash from our counterparties, such assets are not included in our consolidated balance sheets. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we either sell such assets or pledge the assets as collateral pursuant to a repurchase agreement, the cash received and the corresponding liability is reflected on the consolidated balance sheets.

Investment related receivable consists of receivables for mortgage-backed and credit risk transfer securities that we have sold but have not settled with the buyer and accrued interest and principal paydowns on mortgage-backed and credit risk transfer securities. Investment related payable consists of liabilities for mortgage-backed and credit risk transfer securities that we have purchased but have not settled with the seller.

Our non-controlling investments in unconsolidated ventures are included in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets and are accounted for under the equity method. Capital contributions, distributions, profits and losses of the entities are allocated in accordance with the terms of the entities’ operating agreements. Such allocations may differ from the stated percentage interests, if any, as a result of preferred returns and allocation formulas as described in the entities' operating agreements.

We finance our purchases of mortgage-backed and credit risk transfer securities primarily through the use of repurchase agreements. Repurchase agreements are treated as collateralized financing transactions and are carried at their contractual amounts, including accrued interest, as specified in the respective agreements.

We record the mortgage-backed and credit risk transfer securities and the related repurchase agreement financing on a gross basis in our consolidated balance sheets, and the corresponding interest income and interest expense on a gross basis in our consolidated statements of operations.

Our wholly-owned subsidiary, IAS Services LLC, is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (“FHLBI”). As a member of the FHLBI, IAS Services LLC has borrowed funds from the FHLBI in the form of secured advances. FHLBI advances are treated as secured financing transactions and are carried at their contractual amounts.

We calculate basic earnings (loss) per share by dividing net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders for the period by the weighted-average number of shares of our common stock outstanding for that period. Diluted earnings per share takes into account the effect of dilutive instruments, such as OP Units, exchangeable senior notes, and unvested restricted stock awards and uses the average share price for the period in determining the number of incremental shares that are to be added to the weighted-average number of shares outstanding.

Under the terms of our 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”), our independent directors are eligible to receive quarterly stock awards as part of their compensation for serving as directors, In addition, we may compensate the officers and employees of our Manager and its affiliates under the Incentive Plan under the terms of our management agreement.

Share-based compensation arrangements may include share options, restricted and non-restricted share awards, performance-based awards and share appreciation rights. Compensation related to stock awards is recognized in the consolidated financial statements based on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued on the date of grant.

Our comprehensive income consists of net income, as presented in the consolidated statements of operations, adjusted for unrealized gains and losses on MBS purchased prior to September 1, 2016 and the debt host contract associated with GSE CRTs purchased prior to August 24, 2015; reclassification of amortization of net deferred gains and losses on de-designated interest rate swaps to repurchase agreements interest expense and currency translation adjustments on an investment in an unconsolidated venture. Unrealized gains and losses on our MBS purchased prior to September 1, 2016 and the debt host contract associated with GSE CRTs purchased prior to August 24, 2015 are reclassified into net income upon their sale.

We record all derivatives on our consolidated balance sheets at fair value. At the inception of a derivative contract, we determine whether the instrument will be part of a qualifying hedge accounting relationship or whether we will account for the contract as a trading instrument. We have elected not to apply hedge accounting to all new derivative contracts entered into after January 1, 2014. Changes in the fair value of our derivatives are recorded in gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net in our consolidated statements of operations. Net interest paid or received under our interest rate swaps is also recognized in gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net in our consolidated statements of operations.

Prior to 2014, we applied hedge accounting to our interest rate swap agreements. Effective December 31, 2013, we voluntarily discontinued hedge accounting for our interest rate swap agreements by de-designating the interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges. As long as we expect the forecasted transactions that were being hedged (i.e., rollovers of our repurchase agreement borrowings) to still occur, the balance recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) from the interest rate swap activity through December 31, 2013 will remain in AOCI and be recognized in our consolidated statements of operations as interest expense over the remaining term of the interest rate swaps.

We are a party to hybrid financial instruments that contain embedded derivative instruments. For securities that we did not elect the fair value option, we assess at inception, whether the economic characteristics of the embedded derivative instruments are clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the remaining component of the financial

instrument (i.e., the debt host contract), whether the financial instrument is remeasured to fair value through earnings and whether a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded instrument would meet the definition of a derivative instrument. When it is determined that (1) the embedded instrument possesses economic characteristics that are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the debt host contract, (2) the financial instrument is not remeasured to fair value through earnings and (3) a separate instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument, the embedded instrument qualifies as an embedded derivative that is separated from the debt host contract. The embedded derivative is recorded at fair value, and changes in fair value are recorded in realized and unrealized credit derivative income (loss), net in our consolidated statements of operations.

We evaluate the terms and conditions of our holdings of futures contracts, currency forward contracts and to-be-announced (“TBA”) securities to determine if an instrument has the characteristics of an investment or should be considered a derivative under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, futures contracts, currency forward contracts and TBAs having the characteristics of derivatives are accounted for at fair value with such changes recognized in gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net in the consolidated statements of operations. The fair value of these futures contracts, currency forward contracts and TBAs is included in derivative assets or derivative liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

We elected to be taxed as a REIT commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2009. Accordingly, we will generally not be subject to U.S. federal and applicable state and local corporate income tax to the extent that we make qualifying distributions to our stockholders, and provided we satisfy on a continuing basis, through actual investment and operating results, the REIT requirements including certain asset, income, distribution and stock ownership tests. If we fail to qualify as a REIT and do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we will be subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes and may be precluded from qualifying as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which we lost our REIT qualification. Accordingly, our failure to qualify as a REIT could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and amounts available for distribution to stockholders.

Our dividends paid deduction for qualifying dividends to our stockholders is computed using our REIT taxable income as opposed to net income reported on the consolidated financial statements. REIT taxable income will generally differ from net income because the determination of REIT taxable income is based on tax regulations and not financial accounting principles.

We have elected or applied to elect to treat two of our subsidiaries as taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”). In general, TRSs may hold assets and engage in activities that we cannot hold or engage in directly and generally may engage in any real estate or non-real estate-related business. TRSs are subject to U.S. federal, state and local corporate income taxes. Our TRSs did not generate material taxable income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted the accounting guidance that aligns the measurement and classification for stock-based payments to non-employees with the guidance for stock-based payments to employees. Under the new guidance, the measurement of equity-classified non-employee awards is fixed at the grant date. The implementation of the guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In June 2016, new accounting guidance was issued for reporting credit losses for assets measured at amortized cost and available-for-sale securities. The new guidance significantly changes how entities will measure credit losses for most financial assets, including loans, that are not measured at fair value through net income. The guidance replaces the existing “incurred loss” model with an “expected loss” model for instruments measured at amortized cost and requires entities to record allowances for available-for-sale debt securities rather than reduce the carrying amount, as they do today under the other-than-temporary impairment model. The new guidance also simplifies the accounting model for purchased credit-impaired debt securities and loans. We are required to adopt the new guidance as of January 1, 2020.

The new guidance specifically excludes available-for-sale securities measured at fair value through net income. The Company elected the fair value option for all MBS purchased on or after September 1, 2016 and GSE CRTs purchased on or after August 24, 2015. Accordingly, the impact of the new guidance on accounting for our debt securities is limited to the

approximately $4.4 billion of MBS and GSE CRT securities that we purchased prior to election of the fair value option and hold as of December 31, 2019. We are not required to record an allowance for credit losses on January 1, 2020 for our purchased credit deteriorated securities because all of our purchased credit deteriorated securities were in an unrealized gain position as of December 31, 2019.

We have one commercial loan as of December 31, 2019 that is carried at amortized cost. We will implement the new guidance for this loan on a modified retrospective basis by electing the fair value option. The implementation of the new guidance will not have a material impact on our financial statements.