S-8

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 8, 2023

File No. 333-________

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

READY CAPITAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization) 90-0729143 (I.R.S Employer Identification No.)

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 50^th Floor

New York, NY 10020

Tel: (212) 257-4600

(Address, including zip code, of Principal Executive Offices)

Ready Capital Corporation

2013 Equity Incentive Plan

(Full title of the plan)

Thomas E. Capasse
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer
Ready Capital Corporation
1251 Avenue of the Americas, 50th Floor
New York, NY 10020
Tel: (212) 257-4600

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

With copies to:

Michael J. Kessler, Esq.

David E. Brown, Esq.

Rebecca R. Valentino, Esq.

Alston & Bird LLP

90 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (202) 239-3300

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer x	Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨	Smaller reporting company ¨ Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.     o

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

(a)            The documents constituting Part I of this registration statement will be delivered to participants in the Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this registration statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this form, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

(b)            Upon written or oral request, Ready Capital Corporation (“we”, the “Company” or “Ready Capital”) will provide, without charge, the documents incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this registration statement. The documents are incorporated by reference in the Section 10(a) prospectus. We will also provide, without charge, upon written or oral request, other documents required to be delivered to participants pursuant to Rule 428(b). Requests for the above-mentioned information should be directed to Andrew Ahlborn at the address and telephone number on the cover of this registration statement.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this registration statement information we file with the SEC in other documents. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to another document we have filed with the SEC. The information relating to us contained in this registration statement should be read together with the information in the documents incorporated by reference.

We incorporate by reference, as of their respective dates of filing, the documents listed below (excluding any portions of such documents that have been “furnished” but not “filed” for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)):

· our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2023, as amended, which amendment was filed with the SEC on April 21, 2023;

· our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2023 and August 8, 2023, respectively;

· our Current Reports on Form 8-K (and amendments filed on Form 8-K/A, as applicable), filed with the SEC on February 28, 2023, May 23, 2023, May 30, 2023, May 31, 2023, June 1, 2023, August 7, 2023, August 16, 2023 and August 23, 2023 (other than Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01 (including any financial statements or exhibits relating thereto furnished pursuant to Item 9.01) of Form 8-K and not specifically incorporated by reference);

· the description of our Common Stock, contained in Exhibit 4.17 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2023, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

· all documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as amended (other than Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01 (including any financial statements or exhibits relating thereto furnished pursuant to Item 9.01) of Form 8-K and not specifically incorporated by reference), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities that remain unsold.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purpose of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated herein by reference modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such information so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part of this registration statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision eliminating the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from (1) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (2) active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. The charter of Ready Capital (the “Ready Capital Charter”) contains such a provision which eliminates the liability of its directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

The Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”) requires (unless the Ready Capital Charter provides otherwise, which it does not) indemnification of a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The MGCL permits indemnification of present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:

· the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was either (1) committed in bad faith or (2) the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

· the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

· in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

However, under the MGCL, Ready Capital may not indemnify a director or officer in a suit by it or in its right in which the director or officer was adjudged liable to it or in a suit in which the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case, a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses.

In addition, the MGCL permits Ready Capital to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon its receipt of:

· a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by Ready Capital; and

· a written undertaking by the director or officer or on the director’s or officer’s behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the director or officer did not meet the standard of conduct.

The Ready Capital Charter authorizes it to obligate it, and the Ready Capital Bylaws obligate it, to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to:

· any present or former director or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or

· any individual who, while a director or officer of Ready Capital and at its request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, manager, member or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.

The Ready Capital Charter and Ready Capital Bylaws also permit Ready Capital to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of Ready Capital in any of the capacities described above and any employee or agent of Ready Capital or a predecessor of Ready Capital.

Ready Capital has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and officers that provide for indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

Item 7. Exemption From Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
4.1	Articles of Amendment and Restatement of ZAIS Financial Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Form S-11, as amended (Registration No. 333-185938).
4.2	Articles Supplementary of ZAIS Financial Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registrant’s Form S-11, as amended (Registration No. 333-185938).
4.3	Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Sutherland Asset Management Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 4, 2016).
4.4	Articles of Amendment of Ready Capital Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2018).
4.5	Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Amendment of Ready Capital Corporation designating the shares of 6.25% Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.7 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on March 19, 2021).
4.6	Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Amendment of Ready Capital Corporation designating the shares of 6.50% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 10, 2021).
4.7	Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Amendment of Ready Capital Corporation designating the shares of Class B-1 Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, Class B-2 Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, Class B-3 Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and Class B-4 Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on March 21, 2022).
4.8	Certificate of Notice, dated May 11, 2022, relating to the automatic conversion of the Class B-1 Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, Class B-2 Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, Class B-3 Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and Class B-4 Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, into Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on May 10, 2022).
4.9	Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Amendment of Ready Capital Corporation reclassifying and designating the Class B-1 Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, Class B-2 Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, Class B-3 Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and Class B-4 Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, as Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on May 10, 2022).
4.10	Amended and Restated Bylaws of Ready Capital Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2018).
4.11	Specimen Common Stock Certificate of Ready Capital Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form S-4 filed on December 13, 2018).
5.1*	Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP.
23.1*	Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.2*	Consent of Moss Adams LLP (in respect of Broadmark Realty Capital Inc.).
23.3*	Consent of Alston & Bird LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1*	Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
99.1	Ready Capital Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 13, 2019).
107*	Filing fee table.

* filed herewith.

Item 9. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low and high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(ii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on September 8, 2023.

READY CAPITAL CORPORATION
By:	/s/ Thomas E. Capasse
	Name:	Thomas E. Capasse
	Title:	Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the individuals whose signatures appear below constitute and appoint Thomas E. Capasse, Andrew Ahlborn and Jack J. Ross, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents with full and several power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement and Power of Attorney have been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on September 8, 2023.

Signature	Title
/s/ Thomas E. Capasse Thomas E. Capasse	Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer
/s/ Jack J. Ross	President and Director
Jack J. Ross
/s/ Frank P. Filipps	Director
Frank P. Filipps
/s/ Daniel J. Hirsch	Director
Daniel J. Hirsch
/s/ Kevin M. Luebbers	Director
Kevin M. Luebbers
/s/ Meredith Marshall	Director
Meredith Marshall
/s/ Pinkie D. Mayfield	Director
Pinkie D. Mayfield
/s/ Dominique Mielle	Director
Dominique Mielle
/s/ Gilbert E. Nathan	Director
Gilbert E. Nathan
/s/ Andrea Petro	Director
Andrea Petro
/s/ J. Mitchell Reese	Director
J. Mitchell Reese
/s/ Todd M. Sinai	Director
Todd M. Sinai

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

90 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10016

202-239-3300 | Fax: 202-239-3333

September 8, 2023

Ready Capital Corporation

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 50th Floor

New York, NY 10020

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8 – Ready Capital Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Ready Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s filing of the above-referenced registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed on the date hereof by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), 1,674,798 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Shares”), which may be issued by the Company upon vesting of outstanding awards under the Ready Capital Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). This opinion is provided pursuant to the requirements of Item 8(a) of Form S-8 and Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K.

In the capacity described above, we have considered such matters of law and of fact, including the examination of originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records and documents of the Company, including, without limitation, resolutions adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, or other appropriate governing bodies of the Company, the organizational documents of the Company, certificates of officers and representatives (who, in our judgment, are likely to know the facts upon which the opinion or confirmation will be based) of the Company, certificates of public officials and such other documents as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth. We also have made such further legal and factual examinations and investigations as we deemed necessary for purposes of expressing the opinion set forth herein.

As to certain factual matters relevant to this opinion letter, we have relied upon the representations and warranties made in originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records, agreements, documents and instruments, including without limitation, certificates and statements of responsible officers of the Company, and certificates of public officials. Except to the extent expressly set forth herein, we have made no independent investigations with regard thereto, and, accordingly, we do not express any opinion or belief as to matters that might have been disclosed by independent verification.

In our examination of the relevant documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

Alston & Bird LLP	www.alston.com
Atlanta    |    Beijing    |    Brussels    |    Charlotte    |    Dallas    |    Fort Worth    |    London    |    Los Angeles    |    New York    |    Raleigh    |    San Francisco    |    Silicon Valley    | Washington, D.C.

Our opinion set forth below is limited to the laws of the State of Maryland that, in our professional judgment, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Registration Statement, and federal laws of the United States of America to the extent referred to specifically herein. We do not express any opinion herein concerning any other laws, statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations.

Based on the foregoing,  and subject, in all respects, to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth in this opinion letter, it is our opinion that the Shares to be issued under the Plan are duly authorized, and, when issued by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

This opinion letter is provided for use solely in connection with the Registration Statement, and may not be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purpose without our prior express written consent, which may be granted or withheld in our sole discretion. The only opinion rendered by us consists of those matters set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, and no opinion may be implied or inferred beyond the opinion expressly stated. Our opinion expressed herein is as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable law or any other matters that may come to our attention after the date hereof that may affect our opinion expressed herein.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Securities Act, or that we are otherwise within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ ALSTON & BIRD LLP

Alston & Bird LLP	www.alston.com
Atlanta    |    Beijing    |    Brussels    |    Charlotte    |    Dallas    |    Fort Worth    |    London    |    Los Angeles    |    New York    |    Raleigh    |    San Francisco    |    Silicon Valley    | Washington, D.C.

EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 28, 2023, relating to the financial statements of Ready Capital Corporation, and the effectiveness of Ready Capital Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Ready Capital Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2022.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

New York, New York

September 8, 2023

EX-23.2

Exhibit 23.2 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Ready Capital Corporation, of our report dated March 1, 2023, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Broadmark Realty Capital Inc. (the “Company”) and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of the Company, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Moss Adams LLP 

Phoenix, Arizona

September 8, 2023

EX-FILING FEES

Exhibit 107

CALCULATION OF FILING FEE TABLES

Form S-8

(Form Type)

Ready Capital Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

Security Type	Security Class Title	Fee Calculation Rule	Amount Registered	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit	Maximum Aggregate Offering Price	Fee Rate	Amount of Registration Fee
Equity	Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share	457(h)	1,674,798(1)(3)	$10.71(2)	$17,937,086.58(2)	0.00011020	$1,976.67
Total Offering Amounts					$17,937,086.58(2)		$1,976.67
Total Fee Offsets				n/a			—
Net Fee Due							$1,976.67

⁽¹⁾ Amount to be registered consists of an additional 1,674,798 shares of common stock of Ready Capital Corporation that may be issued upon vesting of outstanding awards under the Ready Capital Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.

⁽²⁾ Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) and 457(c) under the Securities Act, based on the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as reported on the NYSE on September 6, 2023.

⁽³⁾ Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares that may be offered or issued as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.