Long-Term Debt

FHLBC Borrowings

In July 2014, our FHLB-member subsidiary entered into a borrowing agreement with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. At December 31, 2017, under this agreement, our subsidiary could incur borrowings up to $2.00 billion, also referred to as “advances,” from the FHLBC secured by eligible collateral, including residential mortgage loans. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we borrowed an additional $519 million under this agreement, which increased our total borrowings to $2.00 billion. Under a final rule published by the Federal Housing Finance Agency in January 2016, our FHLB-member subsidiary will remain an FHLB member through the five-year transition period for captive insurance companies. Our FHLB-member subsidiary's existing $2.00 billion of FHLB debt, which matures beyond this transition period, is permitted to remain outstanding until its stated maturity. As residential loans pledged as collateral for this debt pay down, we are permitted to pledge additional loans or other eligible assets to collateralize this debt; however, we do not expect to be able to increase our subsidiary's FHLB debt above the existing $2.00 billion maximum.

At December 31, 2017, $2.00 billion of advances were outstanding under this agreement, which were classified as long-term debt, with a weighted average interest rate of 1.38% and a weighted average maturity of approximately eight years. At December 31, 2016, $2.00 billion of advances were outstanding under this agreement, which were classified as long-term debt, with a weighted average interest rate of 0.64% and a weighted average maturity of nine years. Advances under this agreement incur interest charges based on a specified margin over the FHLBC’s 13-week discount note rate, which resets every 13 weeks. Total advances under this agreement were secured by residential mortgage loans with a fair value of $2.43 billion at December 31, 2017. This agreement also requires our subsidiary to purchase and hold stock in the FHLBC in an amount equal to a specified percentage of outstanding advances. At December 31, 2017, our subsidiary held $43 million of FHLBC stock that is included in Other assets in our consolidated balance sheets.

The following table presents maturities of our FHLBC borrowings by year at December 31, 2017.

Table 13.1 – Maturities of FHLBC Borrowings by Year



(In Thousands)	December 31, 2017
2024	$	470,171
2025	887,639
2026	642,189
Total FHLBC Borrowings	$	1,999,999

For additional information about our FHLBC borrowings, see Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Risks Relating to Debt Incurred under Short- and Long-Term Borrowing Facilities.”

Convertible Notes

In August 2017, we issued $245 million principal amount of 4.75% convertible senior notes due 2023. These convertible notes require semi-annual interest payments at a fixed coupon rate of 4.75% until maturity or conversion, which will be no later than August 15, 2023. After deducting the underwriting discount and offering costs, we received $238 million of net proceeds. Including amortization of deferred debt issuance costs, the weighted average interest expense yield on these convertible notes is approximately 5.3% per annum. At December 31, 2017, these notes were convertible at the option of the holder at a conversion rate of 53.8394 common shares per $1,000 principal amount of convertible senior notes (equivalent to a conversion price of $18.57 per common share). Upon conversion of these notes by a holder, the holder will receive shares of our common stock. At December 31, 2017, the outstanding principal amount of these notes was $245 million. At December 31, 2017, the accrued interest payable balance on this debt was $4 million and the unamortized deferred issuance costs were $7 million.

In November 2014, RWT Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Redwood Trust, Inc., issued $205 million principal amount of 5.625% exchangeable senior notes due 2019. These exchangeable notes require semi-annual interest payments at a fixed coupon rate of 5.625% until maturity or exchange, which will be no later than November 15, 2019. After deducting the underwriting discount and offering costs, we received $198 million of net proceeds. Including amortization of deferred debt issuance costs, the weighted average interest expense yield on these exchangeable notes is approximately 6.3% per annum. At December 31, 2017, these notes were exchangeable at the option of the holder at an exchange rate of 46.1798 common shares per $1,000 principal amount of exchangeable senior notes (equivalent to an exchange price of $21.65 per common share). Upon exchange of these notes by a holder, the holder will receive shares of our common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we did not repurchase any of these notes. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we repurchased $4 million par value of these notes at a discount and recorded a gain on extinguishment of debt of $0.3 million in Realized gains, net on our consolidated statements of income. At December 31, 2017, the outstanding principal amount of these notes was $201 million. At December 31, 2017, the accrued interest payable balance on this debt was $1 million and the unamortized deferred issuance costs were $2 million.

In March 2013, we issued $288 million principal amount of 4.625% convertible senior notes due 2018. These convertible notes require semi-annual interest payments at a fixed coupon rate of 4.625% until maturity or conversion, which will be no later than April 15, 2018. After deducting the underwriting discount and offering costs, we received $279 million of net proceeds. Including amortization of deferred debt issuance costs, the weighted average interest expense yield on these convertible notes is approximately 4.8% per annum. At December 31, 2017, these notes were convertible at the option of the holder at a conversion rate of 41.1320 common shares per $1,000 principal amount of convertible senior notes (equivalent to a conversion price of $24.31 per common share). Upon conversion of these notes by a holder, the holder will receive shares of our common stock. During the second quarter of 2017, $288 million principal amount of these convertible notes and $2 million of unamortized deferred issuance costs were reclassified from long-term debt to short-term debt, as the maturity of the notes was less than one year as of April 2017. Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2017, we repurchased $37 million par value of these notes at a premium and recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1 million in Realized gains, net on our consolidated statements of income. At December 31, 2017, the outstanding principal amount of these notes was $250 million. At December 31, 2017, the accrued interest payable balance on this debt was $2 million and the unamortized deferred issuance costs were $0.2 million.

Trust Preferred Securities and Subordinated Notes

At December 31, 2017, we had trust preferred securities and subordinated notes outstanding of $100 million and $40 million, respectively. This debt requires quarterly interest payments at a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 2.25% until the notes are redeemed. The $100 million trust preferred securities will be redeemed no later than January 30, 2037, and the $40 million subordinated notes will be redeemed no later than July 30, 2037. Prior to 2014, we entered into interest rate swaps with aggregate notional values totaling $140 million to hedge the variability in this long-term debt interest expense. Including hedging costs and amortization of deferred debt issuance costs, the weighted average interest expense yield on our trust preferred securities and subordinated notes is approximately 6.9% per annum. At both December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the accrued interest payable balance on our trust preferred securities and subordinated notes was $1 million.

Under the terms of this debt, we covenant, among other things, to use our best efforts to continue to qualify as a REIT. If an event of default were to occur in respect of this debt, we would generally be restricted under its terms (subject to certain exceptions) from making dividend distributions to stockholders, from repurchasing common stock or repurchasing or redeeming any other then-outstanding equity securities, and from making any other payments in respect of any equity interests in us or in respect of any then-outstanding debt that is pari passu or subordinate to this debt.