Note 8 — Derivative Instruments

Interest Rate Swap Agreements, Swaptions, TBAs and Treasury Futures

In order to help mitigate exposure to higher short-term interest rates in connection with borrowings under its repurchase agreements, the Company enters into interest rate swap agreements and swaption agreements. Interest rate swap agreements establish an economic fixed rate on related borrowings because the variable-rate payments received on the interest rate swap agreements largely offset interest accruing on the related borrowings, leaving the fixed-rate payments to be paid on the interest rate swap agreements as the Company’s effective borrowing rate, subject to certain adjustments including changes in spreads between variable rates on the interest rate swap agreements and actual borrowing rates. A swaption is an option granting its owner the right but not the obligation to enter into an underlying swap. The Company’s interest rate swap agreements and swaptions have not been designated as qualifying hedging instruments for GAAP purposes.

In order to help mitigate duration risk and manage basis risk, the Company utilizes Treasury futures and forward-settling purchases and sales of RMBS where the underlying pools of mortgage loans are TBAs. Pursuant to these TBA transactions, the Company agrees to purchase or sell, for future delivery, Agency RMBS with certain principal and interest terms and certain types of underlying collateral, but the particular Agency RMBS to be delivered is not identified until shortly before the TBA settlement date. Unless otherwise indicated, references to Treasury futures include options on Treasury futures.

The following table summarizes the outstanding notional amounts of derivative instruments as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

Derivatives	December 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Notional amount of interest rate swaps	$	1,380,000	$	1,067,950
Notional amount of swaptions		110,000		155,000
Notional amount of TBAs, net		35,000		26,900
Notional amount of Treasury futures		80,000		-
Notional amount of options on Treasury futures		-		-
Total notional amount	$	1,605,000	$	1,249,850

The following table presents information about the Company’s interest rate swap agreements as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

	Notional Amount		Weighted Average Pay Rate			Weighted Average Receive Rate			Weighted Average Years to Maturity
December 31, 2018	$	1,380,000		2.18	%		2.61	%		5.0
December 31, 2017	$	1,067,950		1.83	%		1.44	%		4.9

The following table presents information about the Company’s interest rate swaption agreements as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

	Notional Amount		Weighted Average Pay Rate			Weighted Average Receive Rate^(A)	Weighted Average Years to Maturity
December 31, 2018	$	110,000		3.25	%	LIBOR-BBA%		10.0
December 31, 2017	$	155,000		2.88	%	LIBOR-BBA%		10.8

(A)	Floats in accordance with LIBOR.

The following table presents information about realized gain (loss) on derivatives, which is included on the consolidated statements of income for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

Realized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives

	Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) Location	Year Ended December 31,
Derivatives	Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) Location	2018		2017		2016
Interest rate swaps	Realized gain (loss) on derivatives, net	$	(2,149)	$	(1,573)	$	(6,600)
Swaptions	Realized gain (loss) on derivatives, net		(1,451)		(680)		(884)
TBAs	Realized gain (loss) on derivatives, net		(2,315)		(1,339)		(316)
Treasury futures	Realized gain (loss) on derivatives, net		26		(1,962)		(163)
Total		$	(5,889)	$	(5,554)	$	(7,963)

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

The Company has netting arrangements in place with all of its derivative counterparties pursuant to standard documentation developed by the International Swap and Derivatives Association. Under GAAP, if the Company has a valid right of offset, it may offset the related asset and liability and report the net amount. The Company presents interest rate swaps, swaptions and Treasury futures assets and liabilities on a gross basis in its consolidated balance sheets, but in the case of interest rate swaps beginning in 2018, net of variation margin. The Company presents TBA assets and liabilities on a net basis in its consolidated balance sheets. The Company presents repurchase agreements in this section even though they are not derivatives because they are subject to master netting arrangements. However, repurchase agreements are presented on a gross basis. Additionally, the Company does not offset financial assets and liabilities with the associated cash collateral on the consolidated balance sheets.

The following tables present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements and can potentially be offset on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

As of December 31, 2018

						Net Amounts of Assets		Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
	Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets or Liabilities		Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet			and Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet		Financial Instruments			Cash Collateral Received (Pledged)			Net Amount
Assets
Interest rate swaps	$	23,176	$	-		$	23,176	$	(23,176	)	$	-		$	-
Swaptions		170		-			170		(170	)		-			-
TBAs		349		(181	)		168		(168	)		-			-
Treasury futures		744		-			744		(57	)		(687	)		-
Total Assets	$	24,439	$	(181	)	$	24,258	$	(23,571	)	$	(687	)	$	-

Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	$	1,598,592	$	-		$	1,598,592	$	(1,591,094	)	$	(7,498	)	$	-
Interest rate swaps		3,816		-			3,816		(3,816	)		-			-
TBAs		181		(181	)		-		-			-			-
Total Liabilities	$	1,602,589	$	(181	)	$	1,602,408	$	(1,594,910	)	$	(7,498	)	$	-

As of December 31, 2017

					Net Amounts of Assets		Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
	Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets or Liabilities		Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet		and Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet		Financial Instruments			Cash Collateral Received (Pledged)		Net Amount
Assets
Interest rate swaps	$	12,994	$	—	$	12,994	$	(12,994	)	$	—	$	—
Swaptions		802		—		802		(802	)		—		—
TBAs		34		—		34		(34	)		—		—
Total Assets	$	13,830	$	—	$	13,830	$	(13,830	)	$	—	$	—

Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	$	1,666,537	$	—	$	1,666,537	$	(1,637,922	)	$	(28,615	)	$	—
Interest rate swaps		342		—		342		32			(374	)		—
Treasury futures		2		—		2		177			(179	)		—
Total Liabilities	$	1,666,881	$	—	$	1,666,881	$	(1,637,713	)	$	(29,168	)	$	—