Redeemable Preferred Stock and Stockholders Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Redeemable Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity

Redeemable Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity

Note 20. Redeemable Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity

Common stock dividends

The table below presents dividends declared by the Board on common stock during the last twelve months.

Declaration Date	Record Date	Payment Date	Dividend per Share
December 15, 2022	December 30, 2022	January 31, 2023	$	0.40
March 15, 2023	March 31, 2023	April 28, 2023	$	0.40
May 15, 2023	May 30, 2023	June 15, 2023	$	0.26
May 15, 2023	June 30, 2023	July 31, 2023	$	0.14
September 15, 2023	September 29, 2023	October 31, 2023	$	0.36
December 14, 2023	December 29, 2023	January 31, 2024	$	0.30

Stock incentive plans

The Company currently maintains the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan which authorize the Compensation Committee of the Board to approve grants of equity-based awards to the Company’s officers and directors, and employees of the Manager and its affiliates. The 2013 Equity Incentive Plan provided for grants of equity-based awards up to an aggregate of 5% of the shares of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding from time to time on a fully diluted basis. On August 22, 2023, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan which replaces the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and provides for grants of equity-based awards of up to 5.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock. As of August 22, 2023, no further awards will be granted under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, and the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan remains in effect only for so long as awards granted thereunder remain outstanding. The Company currently settles stock-based incentive awards with newly issued shares. The fair value of the RSUs and RSAs granted, which is determined based upon the stock price on the grant date, is recorded as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting periods for the awards, with an offsetting increase in stockholders’ equity.

In 2023, 2022, and 2021, the Company granted 413,852, 327,692, and 287,787, respectively, of time-based RSAs under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan to certain key employees. These awards generally vest ratably in equal annual installments over a three-year period based solely on continued employment or service. Additionally, the 2021 RSAs include the 128,533 shares of common stock issued to Red Stone executives as part of the Company’s acquisition of Red Stone, a privately owned real estate finance and investment company that provided innovative financial products and services to multifamily affordable housing. The Company further granted in these years 75,639, 45,162, and 36,968, respectively, of time-based RSAs and RSUs to directors of the Company, which vest ratably in equal installments quarterly over a one-year period. Directors have the option to defer receipt of shares and receive as RSUs at a later settlement date of their choosing. Dividends are paid on all above-mentioned time-based awards, vested and non-vested.

Additionally, as part of the Broadmark Merger, the Company assumed the Broadmark RSU Awards outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and converted them into 736,666 Company RSUs after applying the Exchange Ratio. The Broadmark RSU Awards have the same terms and conditions as were applicable to them immediately prior to the Effective Time and, accordingly, are not dividend eligible.

The table below summarizes RSU and RSA activity.

	Restricted Stock Units/Awards
(in thousands, except share data)	Number of Shares	Grant date fair value		Weighted-average grant date fair value (per share)
Outstanding, December 31, 2022	827,163	$	12,258	$	14.82
Granted	441,296		5,728		12.98
Vested	(333,470)		(4,946)		14.83
Forfeited	(4,536)		(61)		13.62
Outstanding, March 31, 2023	930,453	$	12,979	$	13.95
Granted	782,017		8,005		10.24
Vested	(356,317)		(3,689)		10.35
Forfeited	(8,074)		(108)		13.44
Outstanding, June 30, 2023	1,348,079	$	17,187	$	12.75
Vested	(349,033)		(3,615)		10.36
Outstanding, September 30, 2023	999,046	$	13,572	$	13.58
Granted	2,844		29		10.11
Vested	(227,795)		(3,371)		14.80
Forfeited	(26,287)		(342)		12.99
Outstanding, December 31, 2023	747,808	$	9,888	$	13.22

During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $7.6 million and $7.5 million, respectively, of non-cash compensation expense related to its stock-based incentive plan in the consolidated statements of income. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, approximately $9.9 million and $12.3 million, respectively, of non-cash compensation expense related to unvested awards had not yet been charged to net income. These costs are expected to be amortized into compensation expense ratably over the course of the remaining vesting periods.

Performance-based equity awards under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan

2023 performance-based RSUs. In June 2023, the Company granted, to certain key employees, 222,552 performance-based RSUs which may be earned based on the achievement of performance goals by the end of 2024 in relation to the Broadmark Merger. The awards are allocated 30% to awards that vest based on cost savings in 2024 as a percentage of the pre-merger Broadmark expense run rate, 15% to awards that vest based on the volume of Broadmark product originated from the time of the merger through the end of 2024, 30% to awards that vest based on the generation of incremental liquidity from asset level financing, portfolio run-off, sales or corporate re-levering through the end of 2024, and 25% to awards that vest based on distributable return on equity (“ROE”) for 2024. Subject to the level of achievement of these goals during the performance period, the actual number of shares that the key employees receive may range from 0% to 200% of the target award. The fair value of the performance-based RSUs granted is recorded as compensation expense over the vesting period and will vest 2/3rds on December 31, 2024, and 1/3rd on December 31, 2025, with an offsetting increase in stockholders’ equity. Any awards earned on December 31, 2024 based on achievement of the applicable performance metrics but vesting on December 31, 2025 will convert into RSAs that are eligible to vest on December 31, 2025 based on the key employee’s continued employment or service through that date.

In February 2023, the Company granted, to certain key employees, 92,451 performance-based RSUs which are allocated 50% to awards that may be earned based on achievement of performance goals related to distributable return on equity (“ROE”) for the three-year forward-looking period ending December 31, 2025 and 50% to awards that may be earned based on achievement of performance goals related to relative total shareholder return (“TSR”) for such three-year forward-looking performance period relative to the performance of a designated peer group. Subject to the distributable ROE metric and relative TSR achieved during the performance period, the actual number of shares that the key employees receive at the end of the performance period may range from 0% to 200% of the target award. The fair value of the performance-based RSUs is recorded as compensation expense over the performance period and will cliff vest at the end of the three-year performance period, with an offsetting increase in stockholders’ equity.

2022 performance-based RSUs. In February 2022, the Company granted, to certain key employees, 84,566 performance-based RSUs which are allocated 50% to awards that may be earned based on  achievement of performance goals related to distributable ROE for the three-year forward-looking period ending December 31, 2024 and 50% to awards that may be earned based on achievement of performance goals related to relative TSR for such three-year forward-looking performance period relative to the performance of a designated peer group. Subject to the distributable ROE metric and relative TSR achieved during the vesting period, the actual number of shares that the key employees receive at the end of the performance period may range from 0% to 200% of the target award. The fair value of the performance-based RSUs is recorded as compensation expense over the performance period and will cliff vest at the end of a three-year performance period, with an offsetting increase in stockholders’ equity.

2021 performance-based RSUs. In February 2021, the Company granted, to certain key employees, 43,327 performance-based RSUs which are allocated 50% to awards that may be earned based on achievement of performance goals related to absolute TSR for the three-year forward-looking period ending December 31, 2023 and 50% to awards that may be earned based on achievement of performance goals related to TSR for such three-year forward-looking performance period relative to the performance of a designated peer group. Subject to the absolute and relative TSR achieved during the performance period, the actual number of shares that the key employees receive at the end of the performance period may range from 0% to 300% of the target award. Following the conclusion of the performance period on December 31, 2023, the Board determined that the relative TSR target goal was achieved and the absolute TSR goal was not achieved. As such, on January 9, 2024 the Board approved the settlement of 29,215 performance-based RSUs. The fair value of the performance-based RSUs granted was recorded as compensation expense over the performance period with an offsetting increase in stockholders’ equity.

Preferred Stock

In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, any outstanding preferred stock ranks senior to the outstanding common stock with respect to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets.

The Company classifies Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, or Series C Preferred Stock, on the balance sheets using the guidance in ASC 480-10-S99. The Series C Preferred Stock contains certain fundamental change provisions that allow the holder to redeem the preferred stock for cash only if certain events occur, such as a change in control. As of December 31, 2023, the conversion rate was 1.4188 shares of common stock per $25 principal amount of the Series C Preferred Stock, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $17.62 per share of common stock. As redemption under these circumstances is not solely within the Company’s control, the Series C Preferred Stock has been classified as temporary equity. The Company has analyzed whether the conversion features should be bifurcated under the guidance in ASC 815 and has determined that bifurcation is not necessary.

The table below presents details on preferred equity by series.

				Preferential Cash Dividends					Carrying Value (in thousands)
Series	Shares Issued and Outstanding (in thousands)	Par Value		Liquidation Preference		Rate per Annum	Annual Dividend (per share)		December 31, 2023
C	335		0.0001	$	25.00	6.25%	$	1.56	$	8,361
E	4,600		0.0001	$	25.00	6.50%	$	1.63	$	111,378

In the table above,

● Shareholders are entitled to receive dividends, when and as authorized by the Board, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. Dividends for Series C Preferred Stock are payable quarterly on the 15th day of January, April, July and October of each year or if not a business day, the next succeeding business day. Dividends for Series E preferred stock are payable quarterly on or about the last day of each January, April, July and October of each year. Any dividend payable on the preferred stock for any partial dividend period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Dividends will be payable in arrears to holders of record as they appear on the Company’s records at the close of business on the last day of each of March, June, September and December, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable dividend payment date.

● The Company declared dividends of $0.1 million and $1.9 million of its Series C Preferred Stock and Series E Preferred Stock during the three months ended December 31, 2023. The dividends were paid on January 12, 2024 for Series C Preferred Stock and on January 31, 2024 for Series E Preferred Stock to the holders of record as of the close of business on December 29, 2023.

● The Company may, at its option, redeem the Series E Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, for cash at a redemption price equal to 100% of the liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, to the redemption date. Series E Preferred Stock is not redeemable prior to June 10, 2026, except under certain conditions.

Public and Private Warrants

As part of the Broadmark Merger, the Company assumed public and private placement warrants that represented the right to purchase shares of Broadmark Common Stock. As of December 31, 2023, there were 41.7 million public warrants outstanding, each representing the right to purchase 0.1180825 shares of our common stock, and 5.2 million private placement warrants outstanding, each representing the right to purchase 0.47233 shares of common stock. In the aggregate, the Company has outstanding warrants to purchase approximately 7.4 million shares of common stock at a price of $24.34 per whole share. Settlement of outstanding warrants will be in shares of common stock, unless the Company elects (solely in the Company’s discretion) to settle warrants the Company has called for redemption in cash, and subject to customary adjustment in the event of business combinations and certain tender offers. Unless earlier redeemed, the public warrants will expire on November 19, 2024.

The liability for the private placement warrants was less than $0.1 million as of December 31, 2023 and is included in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

Equity ATM Program

On July 9, 2021, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement, as amended on March 8, 2022 (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”) with JMP Securities LLC (the “Sales Agent”) pursuant to which the Company may sell, from time to time, shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $150 million, through the Sales Agent either as agent or principal (the “Equity ATM Program”). As of December 31, 2022, the Company sold 1.1 million shares of common stock at an average price of $15.82 per share through the Equity ATM Program, for net proceeds of $17.2 million, after deducting offering related expenses paid of $0.3 million. The Company made no such sales through the Equity ATM Program during the year ended December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, shares representing approximately $78.4 million remain available for sale under the Equity ATM Program.

Other

On January 14, 2022, the Company completed a public offering of 7 million shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, at a price of $15.30 per share. The Company received aggregate net proceeds of approximately $106.6 million, after deducting offering expenses.