Agreements and transactions with related parties

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Agreements and transactions with related parties

Agreements and transactions with related parties

Note 17. Agreements and transactions with related parties

Management Agreement

The Company has entered into a management agreement with its Manager (the “Management Agreement”), which describes the services to be provided to the Company by its Manager and compensation for such services. The Company’s Manager is responsible for managing the Company’s day-to-day operations, subject to the direction and oversight of the Board.

Management fee. Pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager is paid a management fee calculated and payable quarterly in arrears equal to 1.5% per annum of the Company’s stockholders’ equity (as defined in the Management Agreement) up to $500 million and 1.00% per annum of stockholders’ equity in excess of $500 million.

The table below presents the management fee payable to the Manager.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022
Management fee - total	$	25.1 million	$	19.3 million
Management fee - amount unpaid	$	7.0 million	$	5.2 million

Incentive distribution. The Manager is entitled to an incentive distribution in an amount equal to the product of (i) 15% and (ii) the excess of (a) distributable earnings (which is referred to as core earnings in the partnership agreement of the operating partnership) on a rolling four-quarter basis over (b) an amount equal to 8.00% per annum multiplied by the weighted average of the issue price per share of the common stock or OP units multiplied by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, provided that distributable earnings over the prior twelve calendar quarters is greater than zero. For purposes of determining the incentive distribution payable to the Manager, distributable earnings is defined under the partnership agreement of the operating partnership in a manner that is similar to the definition of Distributable Earnings described below under Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Non-GAAP Financial Measures” included in this annual report on Form 10-K but with the following additional adjustments which (i) further exclude: (a) the incentive distribution, (b) unrealized gains or losses on LMM loans (not just MBS and MSRs), (c) depreciation and amortization (to the extent the Company forecloses on any property), and (d) one-time events pursuant to changes in U.S. GAAP and certain other non-cash charges after discussions between the Manager and the Company’s independent directors and after approval by a majority of the independent directors and (ii) do not exclude any realized gains or losses on the sales of MBS and on discontinued operations which were excluded from the definition of distributable earnings described under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.

The table below presents the incentive fee payable to the Manager.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022
Incentive fee distribution - total	$	1.8 million	$	3.1 million
Incentive fee distribution - amount unpaid	$	—	$	2.2 million

The Management Agreement may be terminated upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Company’s independent directors or the holders of a majority of the outstanding common stock (excluding shares held by employees and affiliates of the Manager), based upon (1) unsatisfactory performance by the Manager that is materially detrimental to the Company or (2) a determination that the management fee payable to the Manager is not fair, subject to the Manager’s right to prevent such a termination based on unfair fees by accepting a mutually acceptable reduction of management fees agreed to by at least two-thirds of the Company’s independent directors. The Manager must be provided with written notice of any such termination at least 180 days prior to the expiration of the then existing term. Additionally, upon such a termination by the Company without cause (or upon termination by the Manager due to the Company’s material breach), the management agreement provides that the Company will pay the Manager a termination fee equal to three times the average annual base management fee earned by the Manager during the prior 24 month period immediately preceding the date of termination, calculated as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter prior to the date of termination, except upon an internalization. Additionally, if the management agreement is terminated under circumstances in which the Company is obligated to make a termination payment to the Manager, the operating partnership shall repurchase, concurrently with such termination, the Class A special unit for an amount equal to three times the average annual amount of the incentive distribution paid or payable in respect of the Class A special unit during the 24 month period immediately preceding such termination, calculated as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter before the date of termination.

The current term of the Management Agreement will expire on October 31, 2024 and is automatically renewed for successive one-year terms on each anniversary thereafter; provided, however, that either the Company, under the certain limited circumstances described above that would require the Company and the operating partnership to make the payments described above, or the Manager may terminate the Management Agreement annually upon 180 days prior notice.

Expense reimbursement. In addition to the management fees and incentive distribution described above, the Company is also responsible for reimbursing the Manager for certain expenses paid by the Manager on behalf of the Company and for certain services provided by the Manager to the Company. Expenses incurred by the Manager and reimbursed by the Company are typically included in salaries and benefits or general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of income.

The table below presents reimbursable expenses payable to the Manager.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022
Reimbursable expenses payable to Manager - total	$	12.4 million	$	11.9 million
Reimbursable expenses payable to Manager - amount unpaid	$	6.2 million	$	7.8 million

Co-Investment with Manager

On July 15, 2022, the Company closed on a $125.0 million commitment to invest into a parallel vehicle, Waterfall Atlas Anchor Feeder, LLC (the “Fund”), a fund managed by the Manager, in exchange for interests in the Fund. In exchange for the Company’s commitment, the Company is entitled to 15% of any carried interest distributions received by the general partner of the Fund such that over the life of the Fund, the Company receives an internal rate of return of 1.5% over the internal rate of return of the Fund. The Fund focuses on commercial real estate equity through the acquisition of distressed and value-add real estate across property types with local operating partners. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has contributed $61.2 million of cash into the Fund for a remaining commitment of $63.8 million.